@halfharted.bsky.social
Orla looked back. The dropped torch illuminating the mass of bodies streaming through the broken fence. 20? 30? All heading their way. She slams the door. "Barricade it."
"Mum, what are they?" Harla asks her head sticking down through the hatch.
"I don't know - but they are not getting in!"
"Mum, what are they?" Harla asks her head sticking down through the hatch.
"I don't know - but they are not getting in!"
June 15, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Orla looked back. The dropped torch illuminating the mass of bodies streaming through the broken fence. 20? 30? All heading their way. She slams the door. "Barricade it."
"Mum, what are they?" Harla asks her head sticking down through the hatch.
"I don't know - but they are not getting in!"
"Mum, what are they?" Harla asks her head sticking down through the hatch.
"I don't know - but they are not getting in!"
"That's not them... Back, back to the house. Quickly!" Brian followed without question. His grey complexion decidedly paler than before. " They... They're not... They're different...", he muttered as he raced Orla for the door. Smiffy was ready - swinging open the oaken door for them.
June 13, 2025 at 5:15 AM
"That's not them... Back, back to the house. Quickly!" Brian followed without question. His grey complexion decidedly paler than before. " They... They're not... They're different...", he muttered as he raced Orla for the door. Smiffy was ready - swinging open the oaken door for them.
Bill, Wilma and several other bodies flow through. Hands outstretched and teeth clacking. Without a thought Brain swings his hammer at the approaching Bill catching him square in the ribs, picking him up and moving him a few feet to the side. The ribs obviously crushed but Bill's face shows no pain.
June 12, 2025 at 6:16 AM
Bill, Wilma and several other bodies flow through. Hands outstretched and teeth clacking. Without a thought Brain swings his hammer at the approaching Bill catching him square in the ribs, picking him up and moving him a few feet to the side. The ribs obviously crushed but Bill's face shows no pain.
Brain stepped forward jabbing his torch at them, a few inches separating the burning log and the outstretched hands of the others. Rather than flinching away they lunged with renewed vigor, their bodies pressing against the rough hewn fence. A fence designed more to keep things in than out. Snap.
June 11, 2025 at 6:20 AM
Brain stepped forward jabbing his torch at them, a few inches separating the burning log and the outstretched hands of the others. Rather than flinching away they lunged with renewed vigor, their bodies pressing against the rough hewn fence. A fence designed more to keep things in than out. Snap.
About 15 feet from the fence they stopped. "Bill? Wilma? Whats occurring?" Asked Orla as Brain waved his lit stick in the general direction of the wailing mass of bodies. The answer consisted of more moaning and the clacking of teeth. "Okay... Well maybe it's time for y'all to fukc of home yeah?"
June 10, 2025 at 4:21 PM
About 15 feet from the fence they stopped. "Bill? Wilma? Whats occurring?" Asked Orla as Brain waved his lit stick in the general direction of the wailing mass of bodies. The answer consisted of more moaning and the clacking of teeth. "Okay... Well maybe it's time for y'all to fukc of home yeah?"
The flickers revealed several faces. Some recognizable, like the Gordon's from the neighbouring farm, and some that were completely unknown. They all had one thing in common - glassy, dead eyes and their inhuman moan. Some appeared to be injured, dark blood staining their skin and clothes.
June 10, 2025 at 6:24 AM
The flickers revealed several faces. Some recognizable, like the Gordon's from the neighbouring farm, and some that were completely unknown. They all had one thing in common - glassy, dead eyes and their inhuman moan. Some appeared to be injured, dark blood staining their skin and clothes.
With the barn door safely barred their attention turned back to the fence. "We should go and... Parley?" Orla asked. "Or at least get a closer look."
"Yeah that one." They inch closer. The moans becoming all the more frenzied as they approach. Finally the orange light of the torch illuminates them.
"Yeah that one." They inch closer. The moans becoming all the more frenzied as they approach. Finally the orange light of the torch illuminates them.
June 9, 2025 at 6:11 AM
With the barn door safely barred their attention turned back to the fence. "We should go and... Parley?" Orla asked. "Or at least get a closer look."
"Yeah that one." They inch closer. The moans becoming all the more frenzied as they approach. Finally the orange light of the torch illuminates them.
"Yeah that one." They inch closer. The moans becoming all the more frenzied as they approach. Finally the orange light of the torch illuminates them.
Slowly, the pair moved forward. The lumbering figures seemed to be stopping at the edge of the property. The rough hewn wooden fence seemed to be doing its job for now. "Quickly, get the cows to the barn." Orla muttered quietly. Gates were opened and the 5 bovines were moved with fear induced haste.
June 8, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Slowly, the pair moved forward. The lumbering figures seemed to be stopping at the edge of the property. The rough hewn wooden fence seemed to be doing its job for now. "Quickly, get the cows to the barn." Orla muttered quietly. Gates were opened and the 5 bovines were moved with fear induced haste.
Orla's jaw hung low, she thought she had judged him better than that. Within seconds her instincts were proved right as he returned, a makeshift torch in one hand and a sledgehammer in the other. "Got a bad feeling about this. So I wanna see the bad." Holding the guttering flame high they advanced.
June 1, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Orla's jaw hung low, she thought she had judged him better than that. Within seconds her instincts were proved right as he returned, a makeshift torch in one hand and a sledgehammer in the other. "Got a bad feeling about this. So I wanna see the bad." Holding the guttering flame high they advanced.
"We need them. Brain - with me. Smiffy - stay. Keep an eye on the little one."
The door was opened and the half-orc and Goliath stepped out, unsure of what was coming. Slowly they moved forward gazing into the ever darkening trees.
"Fuck this." Uttered the labourer as he darted back inside.
The door was opened and the half-orc and Goliath stepped out, unsure of what was coming. Slowly they moved forward gazing into the ever darkening trees.
"Fuck this." Uttered the labourer as he darted back inside.
June 1, 2025 at 1:11 PM
"We need them. Brain - with me. Smiffy - stay. Keep an eye on the little one."
The door was opened and the half-orc and Goliath stepped out, unsure of what was coming. Slowly they moved forward gazing into the ever darkening trees.
"Fuck this." Uttered the labourer as he darted back inside.
The door was opened and the half-orc and Goliath stepped out, unsure of what was coming. Slowly they moved forward gazing into the ever darkening trees.
"Fuck this." Uttered the labourer as he darted back inside.
In the living space Orla picked up a cleaver in her powerful hand and swung it around in a circular motion to loosen up her wrist.
"I've got a bad feeling about this."
"Should we go out?", Brain asked as he rolled his shoulders, "the animals..."
"Fukc the animals!" The half elf muttered.
"I've got a bad feeling about this."
"Should we go out?", Brain asked as he rolled his shoulders, "the animals..."
"Fukc the animals!" The half elf muttered.
May 30, 2025 at 11:26 AM
In the living space Orla picked up a cleaver in her powerful hand and swung it around in a circular motion to loosen up her wrist.
"I've got a bad feeling about this."
"Should we go out?", Brain asked as he rolled his shoulders, "the animals..."
"Fukc the animals!" The half elf muttered.
"I've got a bad feeling about this."
"Should we go out?", Brain asked as he rolled his shoulders, "the animals..."
"Fukc the animals!" The half elf muttered.
The Rotten: dnd novella 12/?
Harla scurried up the ladder into the sleeping area - not out of any real obedience but because she knew she could get a better view from the window up there. They looked like people... But they moved funny. Unsure on their feet. Stumbling. Wailing. Coming their way.
Harla scurried up the ladder into the sleeping area - not out of any real obedience but because she knew she could get a better view from the window up there. They looked like people... But they moved funny. Unsure on their feet. Stumbling. Wailing. Coming their way.
May 29, 2025 at 8:09 AM
The Rotten: dnd novella 12/?
Harla scurried up the ladder into the sleeping area - not out of any real obedience but because she knew she could get a better view from the window up there. They looked like people... But they moved funny. Unsure on their feet. Stumbling. Wailing. Coming their way.
Harla scurried up the ladder into the sleeping area - not out of any real obedience but because she knew she could get a better view from the window up there. They looked like people... But they moved funny. Unsure on their feet. Stumbling. Wailing. Coming their way.
Orla pushed the half giant aside as she peered out of the window. Shards of setting sun pierced through the trees to the west of the property. The light flickering. Something was moving in the trees. A lot of somethings. The moaning ever growing. "Harla- to bed."
May 28, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Orla pushed the half giant aside as she peered out of the window. Shards of setting sun pierced through the trees to the west of the property. The light flickering. Something was moving in the trees. A lot of somethings. The moaning ever growing. "Harla- to bed."
As the last haunting note hang in the air a new melody arose. No one in the room, not the livestock... But something outside. Something....wailing. Moaning. Growing louder. "What the fukc is that?" Muttered Brain as he unloaded from his much too small perch. "Language." Uttered Orla in reflex.
May 27, 2025 at 10:51 AM
As the last haunting note hang in the air a new melody arose. No one in the room, not the livestock... But something outside. Something....wailing. Moaning. Growing louder. "What the fukc is that?" Muttered Brain as he unloaded from his much too small perch. "Language." Uttered Orla in reflex.
Before long the dulcet hum of the battered free reed wind instrument picked up a solemn tune. Little Harla started singing along with a string of beautiful nonsense words and the others tapped out the tune as the dishes were washed and put away. A loose harmony arising from the eclectic sounds.
May 26, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Before long the dulcet hum of the battered free reed wind instrument picked up a solemn tune. Little Harla started singing along with a string of beautiful nonsense words and the others tapped out the tune as the dishes were washed and put away. A loose harmony arising from the eclectic sounds.
Dnd novella w2: Smiffy, Brain, Harla and Orla were just finishing their rather opulent stew of beans n beef. The last beams of orange sunlight streaming through the threadbare curtains as the cattle lowed and spoons scraped bases of wooden bowls. Contended, they leaned back in their rickety chairs.
May 25, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Dnd novella w2: Smiffy, Brain, Harla and Orla were just finishing their rather opulent stew of beans n beef. The last beams of orange sunlight streaming through the threadbare curtains as the cattle lowed and spoons scraped bases of wooden bowls. Contended, they leaned back in their rickety chairs.
Now during this particular sunset our collective was incomplete. The meager harvest had been a little less meager than expected and Hank and Lucky had taken the surplus to the small town a days rickety cart ride away. The rest gathered in the farmhouse for what passes as an opulent meal for them.
May 23, 2025 at 5:19 AM
Now during this particular sunset our collective was incomplete. The meager harvest had been a little less meager than expected and Hank and Lucky had taken the surplus to the small town a days rickety cart ride away. The rest gathered in the farmhouse for what passes as an opulent meal for them.
The 6th and final member of the Peabody collective is Smiffy, a good for nothing but will try anything half-elf who adds a certain charm to the group. They can always provide ditties to suit any given occasion. Either with their gravelly vocals or the battered harmonica that swings from their neck.
May 22, 2025 at 5:32 PM
The 6th and final member of the Peabody collective is Smiffy, a good for nothing but will try anything half-elf who adds a certain charm to the group. They can always provide ditties to suit any given occasion. Either with their gravelly vocals or the battered harmonica that swings from their neck.
With the technical knowhow we have the fast hands and faster wit of farmhand Lucky. They can turn their surprisingly nimble sausage fingers to almost any task. Not much taller than Harla but an awful lot wider, as you would expect from any self respecting dwarf.
May 21, 2025 at 4:26 PM
With the technical knowhow we have the fast hands and faster wit of farmhand Lucky. They can turn their surprisingly nimble sausage fingers to almost any task. Not much taller than Harla but an awful lot wider, as you would expect from any self respecting dwarf.
Most notably we have Brain the Goliath who lives up to all the expectations. Strong as a rock, thick as a stone. Handy with a sledgehammer, be it for posts or skulls. He takes on the role of executioner/butcher when the need arises.
May 20, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Most notably we have Brain the Goliath who lives up to all the expectations. Strong as a rock, thick as a stone. Handy with a sledgehammer, be it for posts or skulls. He takes on the role of executioner/butcher when the need arises.
Then we have their heir and daughter herself, Harla. Originality never had been their strong point. She stands a mere 3 feet despite her mothers largesse. A halfling in all but named species. A fine family we could call the full time crew. However, a few migrant workers have been helping of late.
May 19, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Then we have their heir and daughter herself, Harla. Originality never had been their strong point. She stands a mere 3 feet despite her mothers largesse. A halfling in all but named species. A fine family we could call the full time crew. However, a few migrant workers have been helping of late.
As the erstwhile owners, or at least residers, we have Hank, a human, with brown hair. So exotic. His wife Orla, a half orc of not insignificant stature or body art. Together they try to forge an honest, righteous and virtuous life to set an example for their tempestuous offspring.
May 19, 2025 at 8:01 PM
As the erstwhile owners, or at least residers, we have Hank, a human, with brown hair. So exotic. His wife Orla, a half orc of not insignificant stature or body art. Together they try to forge an honest, righteous and virtuous life to set an example for their tempestuous offspring.
This is Peabody farm. Run by nobody named Peabody. Infact, no one living here has even met a Peabody. But names, as they often do, continue long after the meat has decayed.
May 19, 2025 at 7:35 PM
This is Peabody farm. Run by nobody named Peabody. Infact, no one living here has even met a Peabody. But names, as they often do, continue long after the meat has decayed.
The sun sets on a small farm consisting of a dilapidated farmhouse, 3 ramshackle barns and a few acres of land ringed by a rusty fence. It nestles serenely in an expanse of, what you might call on an optimistic day, scrubland. On any other day you would call it what it is - inhospitable desert.
May 19, 2025 at 5:49 PM
The sun sets on a small farm consisting of a dilapidated farmhouse, 3 ramshackle barns and a few acres of land ringed by a rusty fence. It nestles serenely in an expanse of, what you might call on an optimistic day, scrubland. On any other day you would call it what it is - inhospitable desert.