h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Welcome to my journal!

I've signed up for the NaJoPoMo (National Journal Posting Month) A87709062 and this journal marks the starting point of it for my part. Why not join in yourself?

Time: 2 am
Temperature: 7.5ºC/45.5ºF (unusually warm for the season, I mean - it is November after all!)
Weather: too dark to see

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Omens of Oblivion: Imprisoned


Freya woke up with a humongous headache. Did she really get that drunk last night? Actually, she couldn't remember a single detail from the day before. She lay with her eyes closed for a while, then opened them, squinting, fearing the daylight would make the headache worse. There was actually much less light than she had expected, the only source being a small barred window placed high up on a wall. Confused, she let her gaze wander, taking in stone walls, dirt floor, a bone, a human skull...

A human skull? The sight of it quickly got Freya up, swinging her legs over the edge of the cot - and immediately regretting it as it made her head throb with pain. She buried her face in her hands and only then did she notice that her wrists were shackled. Freya closed her eyes and waited for a wave of nausea to pass. When she opened her eyes again, the skeletal remains of a human being were still there.

Carefully, Freya got up on somewhat wobbly legs and looked around. She saw the flickering light of a torch from the other end of the room and stumbled towards it, only to find an iron barred gate in her way. She tried to open it, but it was locked. It would seem she was imprisoned.

Leaning her forehead against the bars, hoping their coolness would ease the pain in her head, Freya noticed that the pain seemed to recede to a spot in the back of her head. Carefully investigating the area with her fingers, she found a bump the size of a quail's egg. Well, that might explain the memory loss - Freya had heard that blows to the head sometimes had that effect, mostly only for a short time. Hopefully she'd regain her memory soon.

Suddenly Freya caught sight of someone moving in the opposite cell. A Dark Elf approached his cell door and started whispering at her. He tauntingly confirmed that she was indeed in a prison and what was worse, it seemed to be death row! Death row?! At his words her blood ran cold. How could this be? What had she done? Freya ransacked her brains, but got none the wiser. There must have been a mistake - a terrible mistake!

'Hey! You hear that? The guards are coming - for you!'

The Elf cackled evilly before withdrawing. There was the sound of approaching footsteps, and people talking.

'My sons - they are dead, aren't they?' said a tired voice

Soon the guards stood before her. The female captain didn't seem very pleased at finding the cell occupied.

'Stand back, prisoner! We won't hesitate to kill you if you get in our way!' she ordered.

As she took a few steps back, Freya caught a glimpse of someone who did not look like a guard - in fact, his dress implied he was someone important. But who? And was this to be... the final hour of her life?

http://a-picture-per-day.blogspot.com/2011/10/omens-of-oblivion-imprisoned.html

I'll be watching with interest as this story unfolds...

A good beginning, Titania. I'll be amazed if you manage such a fantastic cliff-hanger for 29 days in a row! But keep it up!

Thank you It's a fan fiction story based on the computer game Oblivion, so the story includes some quotes from the NPCs in the game. Not sure yet whether to stick with the main quest story line or wing it a bit, we'll see.

The main quest would give the story proper continuity... but would you really want to post several days' worth of "The count refused to help me while there was an Oblivion gate nearby..."

Well, I'm not very fond of those gates popping up everywhere after you rescue Martin...

Incidentally I might have to steal this idea for a replay of Fallout: New Vegas...

Fab start!

Steal away, Mr D

Thanks Hyp! (who helped me brainstorm for a title)

And I hope it's not too much of blatant advertising if I mention the ingame print screens have been manipulated using what used to be called Photoshop Express, a free online gadget, but you'll have to register first. And possibly allow them to use the pics you upload, I didn't bother to read the agreement in detail I'm afraid.

Ooh! A story! An EXCITING story!

*settles down to await the next installment*

[-B4-]



(I didn't realize we were leaving calling cards to let authors know we stopped by to read, even if we didn't comment, until about halfway through. So, I thought I'd let you know for sure: I was here!)