The Dirge: Season One Episode One

By Xavier P. Otter III

The Dirge has begun! The Selected five Dwarves and their mascot, the world’s only purple otter, are quickly finding out the Quest they are facing is not a vacation on an Elfish cruise ship. Pursued by dragons they are preparing to face the Isle of Deeds; an Island that they quickly discover is protected by The Guardians of the dead.

Follow them as they discover that their new Eye Pieces do more than just mark them as Selected, they provide new ‘Gifts’ from the Dirge. Learning these secrets may be the key to finding the High Instructor’s pendant, but they have to survive long enough to discover them.

How can this newly formed coalition of Dwarves face down dragons, the Minotaur, an all-powerful witch, and various personifications of Death itself in order to accomplish this Pre-quest? Can they work together to solve ancient riddles, get passed giants, rebirth the undying, and befriend those that only trust the dead? Will they find help from outside their party? Or will they simply join those that are protected, in their eternal slumber being welcomed to the Isle of Deeds by The Guardians?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Artisan Publishing Guild, LLC
• Release date: Jul 26, 2014
• ISBN: 9780991443789

Book preview

The Dirge -

Season One Episode One

Book One: The Dirge Series

Xavier P. Otter III

07/25/2014

Published by: Artisan Publishing Guild, LLC

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Edited by: Adele Symonds

Cover by: Katherine J.

The Dirge - Season One Episode One

Xavier P. Otter III

Copyright 2014 by Artisan Publishing Guild, LLC

Smashwords Edition

Dedication -

To the Purple Otter Syndicate, those that understand being different is what makes the world a beautiful place. Setting their own rules and not forcing the square peg in the round hole. Embrace you, even if you are a Purple Otter!!!

Love and Strength - Xavier P. Otter III

Author's Note

We at the Purple Otter Syndicate want to welcome you the first Season of The Dirge... As Dr. Kilgen and the group are setting out on an adventure to save the Dwarven race using their steam powered machines want you to understand this is a fictional book. The way they apply real world elements could be dangerous if attempted in our world. Be a smart Otter and ask an adult before trying any of Dr. Kilgen's ideas.

Love and Strength - Xavier P. Otter III

Chapter One

We need to get off the Didgeri Dirge, Clang shouted over the wind that had just picked up. Two water spouts could be seen off the port bow. Daniel it's now or never! The scribe responded by jumping into the lifeboat so that Clang and Callum could lower it to the water below. It had been three weeks since the five travelers and their side kick, the world's only purple otter, were selected for the Dirge, a quest to re-establish the Dwarven Kingdom. It began in the wake of King Hume and Queen Acaira's assassinations at the hands of the new Dragon Queen, Nawlhefra and her allies the Unicorns. As they rowed, they were all thinking about how they had got to this point.

The first two weeks following the Dirge selection went quickly as the group prepared for the quest in various ways. Clang had them drilling every morning to get a feel for the way each of them thought. Callum, Clang and quite often Xavier, in the mechanical copper bear, would join them. The group would work most of the remaining time on fighting as a team. Several dozen Dwarves would spar against them at a time.

Beatrice would head to the ship they were given for the mission to prepare the mobile forge. The first job was cutting in a chimney from the orlap through the floors of the upper decks and insulating the wood from the radiant heat. Once that was accomplished the task of putting fired stone and various types of insulation throughout the orlap began. When she finished, the lowest deck on this ship looked more like an actual forge than a wooden ship.

Daniel and Dr. Kilgen spent the majority of their time in the Dirge library. This special room had been sealed off since the last Dirge. Now that it was opened again only the selected could enter. The room knew them owing to an eyepiece that each of them had been branded with during the selection. Daniel concentrated on looking through every book on Dragons and Unicorns he could find. While Dr. Kilgen read about inventions and machines that the earlier generations of Dwarves had thought of, yet could not see through to fruition.

The eyepiece did more than just admit them to the library, as Callum discovered. He had been surprised when shortly after being selected his new eyepiece started zooming in on concealed crickets and cockroaches in the walls. This was made even worse when someone was standing outside his room and the eyepiece focused on them, while he had his back to the door. After confessing these oddities to his father, Dr. Kilgen started establishing tests, finding that Callum's eyepiece allowed him to see living creatures through walls, even if under a cloaking device. It had taken him some time but he was learning to control this strange feature. The others all tested theirs but they didn't seem to have the same capability.

During the second week an Elvin contingent visited the Dwarven Capital. They travelled with King Aubriar's cousin, Aweleria who had been sleeping in a special wagon when they pulled up. The reason for the visit was to pass along some Elvin blacksmithing techniques to Beatrice. The wagon driver knew to head directly to the royal forge. Beatrice had been talking with Niamut, the Master Blacksmith of the Dwarven race, about the forge design on the Didgeri Dirge. When they went out to meet the King's cousin, Beatrice's eyepiece began dissecting the wagon into sections. The sections quickly broke into constructible pieces. Luckily for her Callum had already figured out how to stop his eyepiece from focusing on every passing creature and he was able to explain it to her.

Beatrice take the oar, we need Callum to watch for our friends below, Dr. Kilgen said, adding direction, Daniel you keep an eye on those ghosts.

We have four spectral beings at our two o'clock. Daniel said.

And creatures coming below us at both three and nine o'clock. Callum added.

I guess we stay the course. Clang said.

What in Sister Stone is that? Dr. Kilgen asked looking straight ahead.

Where? Callum and Daniel both said turning to see where the doctor was looking. It turned out to be the direction they were going.

There is nothing there. Daniel said.

I don't see anything either. Callum added.

Well I see it and its bigger than the Didgeri Dirge and its headed right at us. Dr. Kilgen said.

Does it look menacing? Clang asked.

Um what? the doctor asked.

Dad does it look like it is out to kill us or save us, I'd hate to run away from the Cavalry. Beatrice interjected.

It... Dr. Kilgen's visible eye rolled back into his head and he let the trance take him. The boat continued in the direction of the Isle of Deeds.

The creatures have changed their angle of pursuit. They are angling to our twelve. Callum said.

Stay the course still? Beatrice asked.

"All we can do at this point, the water spouts have closed between us and our ship. I can see the ghosts at this point and they will not intercept us. I wish