THUNDERLIPS!
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The doors to the lodge explode inward. Plaster and splinters spray the floor while the doors hang on by sheer force of will. Light streams in the drawing room, bathing two individuals standing at the entry way wearing nothing but bear pelts and boots. One carries a large earthbreaker which the other strokes with tender movements. A strong scent of musk wafts into the room on the morning breeze.
THUNDERLIPS! RETURNS TO DEMAND A MARRIAGE CEREMONY!
AS THE FIRST SIGN OF HIS LOVE, THUNDERLIPS! SET UPON EVERY BEAR HE COULD. TUNDERNOTTER SANG AS SKULLS WERE CRUSHED AND BACKS WERE BROKE. THE MOUNTAINS ECHOED A CHORUS CELEBRATING THE MARTIAL APTITUDE OF THUNDERLIPS! TWELVE BEARS DID HE MEET AND TWELVE BEARS DID HE SLAY.
THUNDERLIPS! BESTED THE CENTAUR CHAMPION IN RACE ACROSS KORTOS. THE WIND BLEW FIERCE! RAIN PELTED GOLARION, TURNING EARTH AND STONE TO MUD. ROCKS GAVE AS BOTH CLIMBED HIGHER AND HIGHER. EACH CONTESTANT MOUNTED MANY MOUNTAINS. DESNA SMILED UPON THUNDERLIPS! WHEN CENTAUR PULLED AHEAD, THE GODDESS OF THE NORTH STAR BLESSED THUNDERLIPS! TO NULLIFY THE CENTAUR'S ADVANTAGE OF FOUR LEGS. EVENTUALLY THE TWO MEN NEARED THE FINISH. LAST RESERVES OF ENERGY EXPENDED, MUSCLES CRAMPING, UNTIL IN FINAL ACT WHEN SHE WHO SINGS THE SONG OF STARS SENT A GREAT BUTTERFLY TO CARRY THUNDERLIPS TO VICTORY. THE FINISH SAW CENTAURS WEEPING FOR THEY KNEW SUCH A SIGHT WAS NOT TO HAPPEN AGAIN IN THEIR LIFE. AFTER THERE WAS A FEAST. ALL SANG, DANCED, ATE, DRANK, AND LAUGHED WHEN THE MOON WAS WHITE UNTIL IT WAS WHITE AGAIN. MADELINE BLAKROS SHOWED HER AFFECTIONS NIGHTLY.
THUNDERLIPS! CONQUERED THE HIGH DOLPHIN SPEAKER OF THE GILLMEN IN CIRCUMNAVIGATION OF KORTOS. STORMS LASHED THE SEA, BEASTS GATHERED TO WITNESS THE SPECTACLE, GOZRAH HIMSELF BLESSED EACH AS THEY ENTERED THE SEA. EACH WAS A MIGHTY SWIMMER! EACH SHOWED NO QUIT! EACH LAP AROUND KORTOS A TIE! NEITHER FOE SHOWED ANY FATIGUE! WHEN THE DOLPHIN SPEAKER FALTERED, NAMESAKE BEASTS GAVE HIM ENERGY TO CONTINUE! WHEN THUNDERLIPS! SHOWED SIGNS OF DURESS, MIGHTY WHALES PROPELLED HIM THROUGH THE SEA. FINALLY, WHEN NEITHER MAN WOULD ADMIT DEFEAT, GOZREH DECLARED THUNDERLIPS! THE WINNER FOR SUCH A FEAT OF ENDURANCE HE HAD NEVER SEEN, ALL IN THE CAUSE OF LOVE. ALL GILLMEN AND ALL BEASTS OF THE SEA PRESENT NODDED IN AGREEMENT FOR SUCH A THING WAS ALL TOO TRUE. AFTER THERE WAS A FEAST. ALL SANG, SWAM, ATE, DRANK, AND LAUGHED WHEN THE MOON WAS WHITE UNTIL IT WAS WHITE AGAIN. MADELINE BLAKROS SHOWED HER AFFECTIONS NIGHTLY.
THUNDERLIPS! VANQUISHED THE KING OF THE BULLS IN SINGLE COMBAT. THE MIGHTIEST OF THE MIGHTY MINOTAURS SOUGHT OUT THUNDERLIPS! TO CHALLENGE HIM TO PERSONAL COMBAT. HE ROARED AND MOVED IN A CIRCLE, PERFORMING THE ANCIENT DANCE OF HIS TRIBE. THUNDERLIPS! SANG THE SONG OF HIS FATHER'S FATHER CALLING OUT EACH DEED MORE IMPRESSIVE THAN THE LAST. FOR SEVEN DAYS AND SEVEN NIGHTS DID THE TWO MEN RECOUNT THE VALOR OF THEIR ANCESTORS. WORD SPREAD THROUGH THE FOREST. A PRIEST OF CAYDEN CAILIEN APPEARED AS IF BY MAGIC, EXPLAINING HE RECEIVED A VISION OF A GREAT FEAST ABOUT TO HAPPEN. SOME CLAIM IT WAS THE GOD HIMSELF COME TO WATCH AND ENJOY. A WANDERING PRIESTESS OF SHELYN APPEARED, EXPLAINING SHE HAD RECEIVED A VISION OF A LOVE SO GREAT THE GODS THEMSELVES TOOK NOTICE. SOME SAY SHE WAS THE GODDESS HERSELF COME TO SANCTIFY THE LOVE BETWEEN THUNDERLIPS! AND MADELINE.
WHEN THEY COULD RECOUNT NO MORE DID THEY TURN TO FACE ONE ANOTHER. THE EARTH SHOOK, MOUNTAINS CRUMBLED, TREES FELL, AND A NOISE LIKE THAT OF THE PITS OF HELL OPENING EXPLODED WHEN THE COMBATANTS MET. SHOULDER TO SHOULDER. CHEST TO CHEST. ARM TO ARM. HORN TO HEAD. GIANTS, STORM CLOUD AND STONE, GATHERED TO WATCH THE ENSUING TEST OF STRENGTH. TREANTS BLOTTED OUT THE SUN SO GREAT WERE THEIR NUMBERS. ALL ROARED WHEN THEIR FAVORITE GAINED AN ADVANTAGE OR FOUND HIMSELF DISADVANTAGED. SUCH WAS THE DIN THAT KURGESS HIMSELF APPEARED.
THE MIGHTY CONTEST RAGED. THE MOON TURNED WHITE THEN WHITE AGAIN. EACH MAN DETERMINED TO BEST THE OTHER. THE WIND HOWLED. THE RAIN SCREAMED. BUT NEITHER COULD DROWN OUT THE ROAR OF THE CROWD AS THUNDERLIPS! PINNED THE MIGHTIEST OF THE MIGHTY TO THE EARTH AND HELD HIM THERE. SOME CLAIM IT WAS CAYDEN CAILEAN WHO REWARDED THUNDERLIPS!'S BRAVERY. SOME SAY IT WAS DESNA WHO REWARDED THUNDERLIPS!'S LUCK. SOME SAY IT WAS KURGESS WHO REWARDED THUNDERLIPS!'S STRENGTH.
ALL AGREE IT WAS SHELYN WHO REWARDED THUNDERLIPS!'S LOVE.
AFTER THERE WAS A FEAST. ALL SANG, DANCED, ATE, DRANK, AND LAUGHED WHEN THE MOON WAS WHITE UNTIL IT WAS WHITE AGAIN. MADELINE BLAKROS SHOWED HER AFFECTIONS NIGHTLY.
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THUNDERLIPS! rips open a cask of salt pork. He chews with a purpose as if he were in a trance. Madeline opens a keg of mead which she holds over THUNDERLIPS!'S open mouth. Finally, THUNDERLIPS! after having his fill of meat and mead, the two stare at each other with a look that can only be described as lusty.THUNDERLIPS! and Madeline both breathe deep, exhaling small hisses. Small wispy creatures begin to form around both, some male and some female in shape and form.
Several hours later, the room is a complete mess. Bits of wood, stone, furniture, glass, and wagon cart lie strewn across the ground. The wispy creatures have disappeared. The only sound left is the quiet, contented snoring of two people.