A teller of tales, from fan readings of existing works to original creations from out my peculiar swede... also sporadic and atypical let's plays... whatever springs to mind really.
This poem reminds me of the times you told me about leaving your self-made treasures in public places for people to find. So, I guess one can say it's based on a true story. Makes for a beautiful poem as well, sad and hopeful at the same time. There's probably many people who can relate to the narrator, searching for more, for something hidden, something deeper in their ordinary lives. I for one, would love to just go about my day and randomly come across a magic ring or some mysterious tome. Let's hope that the gift giver's gifts aren't in vain, and that people appreciative of them found them.
@squirerichard27109 күн бұрын
(Only loosely based, to be fair, as I cannot get away with referring to myself as 'The youth' anymore.) As ever, many thanks and glad you enjoyed. I would indeed hope that appreciative souls stumbled upon such things, and put them to use in their own efforts with necromancy or the like. Failing that, suitably appreciative magpies would be a fine thing too.
@notromeosjuliet4837Ай бұрын
Short and sweet, and Percy definitely earned that pint. The scream effect in the beginning is really funny, sounds a bit more like a screaming bird than a person, but the thought of Percy making that shrill noise sure is funny...or was it the corpse that made it? The poor corpse, it must suck trying to be scary but the wheezing from his cut throat ruining the effect. Still, getting in this scenario would certainly make me rethink my life choices if I were Percy...just a little bit.
@squirerichard2710Ай бұрын
Nope, that was Percy achieving an impressive pitch at the sight of a returning corpse, who in turn was perhaps a little quick to the trigger but I suppose courtesy is a low priority when you've just endured the stress of crawling out of your own grave. It's one of those situations where no one's really in the right. Oh well. Glad you enjoyed.
@notromeosjuliet4837Ай бұрын
I really admire your skill to come up with a story and make it sound like a tale that has been passed on through the ages. Stoneguard sounds like it could be a real place, and the story of how it came to be sounds like a myth that people in that region tell about it. I enjoyed this story of unlikely friendship, and while you are great at writing about war and conflict, you are just as good when it comes to writing about peaceful times. This is one of the stories that would be great to listen to during deepest, dark winter, while sitting by the fireplace. And then you'll wonder: Are the dwarves meeting the people at Stoneguard this very moment?
@squirerichard2710Ай бұрын
Many thanks as ever, this one was inspired by various York wanderings last week, mostly in places where the sun would not enter... which makes it sound far more dramatic than it was. Your point about Stoneguard's potential for myth is one I must admit I hadn't really considered, that hints at a potential continuation, people finding the old citadel a thousand years after it was lost to time... I'll think on this.
@notromeosjuliet4837Ай бұрын
Not going to lie, this one was tough. Never would have guessed bananas as one of the answers, but maybe that because I prefer them slightly green and bitter. And while I might not have guessed the last riddle's answer, I think it made for an exceptionally nice poem.
@squirerichard2710Ай бұрын
A curious notion; did I make a riddle that much more unfathomable through my own banana bias? Glad you liked the last one. That you didn't get it is somewhat enviable. May <REDACTED> be a distant and unfathomable thing for as long as it can.
@notromeosjuliet48372 ай бұрын
Epic. It feels a bit like a teaser, like there is more to come. Would be really cool if you continued the story at some point.
@squirerichard27102 ай бұрын
As yet I've got nothing more for these two I'm afraid, I figured less was more... however that's an opinion that often does a 180 with me so time will tell. Thanks as ever.
@notromeosjuliet48372 ай бұрын
I've said it a million times before, but it's crazy how you keep coming up with new riddles. Let me do the math, so this is video number 19, there's five riddles per video, so you are currently at 95 different riddles. That's super impressive, considering they are not repetitive, and writing the short poems can't be easy either. Hats off to you.
@squirerichard27102 ай бұрын
Many thanks indeed; it didn't actually occur to me that it'd be that many. I suppose I shall have to make something especially irksome for next episode's 100th. Writing riddles does become much simpler when you're writing on a bus, I find. It becomes the distraction rather than being thwarted by them elsewhere.
@varyar772 ай бұрын
4/5
@squirerichard27102 ай бұрын
Nicely done
@notromeosjuliet48372 ай бұрын
Even though the story itself is very melancholy, I can't help but be captivated by the beauty of the poem. Or maybe it's because I'm prone to melancholy anyway, so I think to myself:'Yes, it's tragic, but strangely comforting.' Sure, I'm not wandering the afterlife, possibly stuck inbetween worlds, but isn't that the way life feels sometimes? You are stuck in an endless, repetitive cycle, that is slowly lulling you in, smothering you, and you don't even know how you got there. This poem is probably a new favourite.
@squirerichard27102 ай бұрын
Like to the first circle of hell... or thereabouts, I've forgotten the specifics of Dante's Inferno, but anyway, eternity in the countryside could ultimately be far worse, and perhaps even a very slight upgrade on life's soulless routine? Hayfever and stinging nettles notwithstanding. In any case, thanks as ever, glad you enjoyed.
@notromeosjuliet48372 ай бұрын
Honestly, it's hard not to agree with the pirate's point: If the people wanted their riches back, they should go and take them. Sure, if we all acted like pirates, life would descend into complete anarchy. But at least the pirate's way is simple and straightforward, you want something, you take it or die trying. The narrator seems to be content with his life, he seems to have a great time actually. And that makes me want to say 'Screw it!' and be a pirate too. There is something incredibly appealing about the pirate lifestyle in stories, even though reality is often disappointing. You've captured the carefree nature of the pirate really well, he'll just go wherever the sea takes him. Btw, glad you're back, I missed listening to your poems.
@squirerichard27102 ай бұрын
Many thanks (Didn't realize it'd been that long since the last one. It's funny how one week suddenly three out of nowhere.) I think to some degree, pirates were a resultant middle finger extended to society at the time, which left little option for a great many people to make an honest go of life, compounded by opportunism of course... and Bartholomew Roberts may have been having a mid-life crisis. An easy source of romantic whimsies is the pirate's life, or even not, the idea of spurning the world and stealing things is hard not to like.
@notromeosjuliet48373 ай бұрын
Let's just say, I did not see that twist coming. At all. But it works. At first you perceive the narrator as the character he plays, and you feel for him. He might not be the bravest, but he wants to make a difference for his people. And then boom, turns out he's kind of a mastermind from a different place in the universe altogether, stuck in a desperate war of his own, fighting an even greater foe. His soul stealing is an awful thing to do, but when one fights for existence itself, one has to take desperate measures. With the things he's seen and fought against, he feels like he's more than a mere mortal man at this point. To fight off the darkness he can't rely on the things a regular mortal can rely on, he has to take a look at the bigger picture, perhaps in the way a god would, trying to save existence itself. Whatever moral struggles he faces remind him of his humanity, for he is, in fact not a god (at least that's my interpretation). As always, you are great at writing inner struggle and moral dilemma. The narration and sound editing are great as well.
@squirerichard27103 ай бұрын
You judge him less harshly than I was inclined to. When writing this I largely got the impression of a nation so convinced of its own worth and rightness that thieving 'lesser' souls from elsewhere wouldn't trouble them overmuch for all their lip serviceto regret, (especially after it became commonplace.) I probably should have put more weaseliness into the last lines. Ah well, glad you enjoyed and thanks as ever for commenting.
@varyar773 ай бұрын
Excellent work as always.
@squirerichard27103 ай бұрын
Many thanks indeed.
@notromeosjuliet48373 ай бұрын
Yay, this time I got most of them right. Impressive how you keep the riddles coming, it can't be easy.
@squirerichard27103 ай бұрын
Nicely done; sometimes ideas for random things spring to my head with ease, but more often than not it involves a lot of frustrated seething as I try to think up things to spin some irksome verses about.
@TheBlackDogChronicles4 ай бұрын
What a compelling tale. Thank you for the presentation Richard, and for the composition by NotRomeo'sJuliet.
@squirerichard27104 ай бұрын
Thanks Huw, and long time no see, (so to speak) come to think of it... which in turn reminds me there's much I need to listen to from TBDC; so much to do, so unhelpful a memory. In any case, glad you enjoyed this one.
@notromeosjuliet48374 ай бұрын
I love your rendition of my poem, you did an amazing job. Your narration was great, especially when it came to the creature from the lake. You made it sound like you've been to hell and back, witnessed unimaginable horrors. Your voice for the lake witch was also very well done. At this point it's probably almost superfluous to say, that your editing, both visual and acoustic, is on point, as always. It was very nice to get to listen to the story, you made it come alive, and did a wonderful job. Besides, it's the first time anyone ever adapted one of my texts, so of course I'm super excited about it. Let's just say, you were the perfect person for the job, thank you very much.
@squirerichard27104 ай бұрын
Many thanks indeed, I'm glad you liked it... and somewhat relieved. Every time I adapt a friend's work there's always a much greater sense of 'Am I doing this right?' 'Have I missed the point entirely here?' etc. I've said already but will say again, you wrote a most nifty tale of dread, a fitting Halloween work for Easter Monday.
@notromeosjuliet48374 ай бұрын
Remind me never to attend a goblin party. Sure, you made it sound like a blast, people eating aside, but I'm getting to the age where hangovers are so hellish, you don't need to wake up in a ditch to curse yourself for drinking too much. Back to the people eating, though, it's interesting how the humans in alliance with the goblins seem to have gotten so used, even curious about this goblin custom. A change of perspective can do wonders, the narrator is pretty non-chalant about the whole feast, while the poor bastards being eaten likely wished they had never been born. Despite being incredibly grim, at first glance the story seems joyous. And it was very enjoyable to listen to, which is why I'll probably give it another listen right now. There's nothing like a goblin party. Edit: Your narration is great, btw, I love the dark humour, it's very fitting. The narrator seems like a curious guy, I wonder what else he may get up to when he doesn't drink himself into a stupor.
@squirerichard27104 ай бұрын
Ahhh, I know what you mean. Long ago I gave up alcohol simply because my liver, once young and lusty and trustworthy, betrayed me to hangover-anguish. (Also there was just wasn't much point to it after university.) I might be tempted to make an exception at such a party as this, however, though I imagine I'd wake to find myself halfway up a tree, surrounded by three nests of easily offended hornets. My thinking is that this is an old city with generations of humans and goblins living together so that the former has comparitively little contact with their own kind, a fact which doesn't trouble them much. There may also be several generations of intermarriage and people who are varying percentages of both species, if such a thing was possible, which it probably isn't. Even in fantasy that'd probably be a hard sell. Still, to the humans of Rhishkyn, I imagine there's a significant divide between them and the rest of their species... and if humans bring war to their doorstep, they're naught but meat for the table. I might twist together a map for this city, if time allows, which it probably won't. Ah well, thanks as ever for stopping by, glad you enjoyed.
@Cellmate4121624 ай бұрын
Love this take on AM. I’m actually a new fan of I Have No Mouth & I Must Scream. The story makes Cyberpunk 2077 & Edge Runners look like Disneyland.
@notromeosjuliet48374 ай бұрын
Even though I like all of your stories, your horror stories are my favourites(as well as the fantasy ones, and this one is both, so I'm doubly lucky). You are excellent at expressing the feeling of dread while still remaining poetic. Another great one.
@squirerichard27104 ай бұрын
Many thanks as ever. (With horror and fantasy in mind, I will say that I have something special tucked away for Halloween this year. (Not a Reaping Night sequel I'm afraid but something proper nonetheless.) That said, I may lose patience and do it much earlier, time will tell.))
@notromeosjuliet48374 ай бұрын
I loved the way this was edited, it made the story very immersive. The story itself was rather bleak, and while the aliens(?) from whose perspective it is told , are clearly doing terrible things, I can't help but find them interesting. They seem far removed from humanity, and logical in a way that is almost robotic. But I also think the way they look at humans closely resembles the way we look at pets. The way the narrator is fond of humans reminds me of someone being fond of their well-behaved dog. Then again, the dog would be well loved by its owner, while the humans in the story are likely replaceable. Well-written as always, now I hope that a fate like this shall never befall us.
@squirerichard27104 ай бұрын
If you think the happenstances shown here are bad, you should see what they did to Earth during the war years... and some three hundred years beforehand... but I digress, thanks as ever for stopping by and for your in-depth analysis, they're always a pleasure to read. Didn't really consider the dog angle, that certainly makes sense, though it does make things... less grim than intended, in a way, at least to me. I have a few more poems from this particular universe-of-sorts stashed away, I may use this format again.
@notromeosjuliet48375 ай бұрын
I loved the music, it slaps. Makes you feel like you are participating in a game show. Got three out of five this time around, which isn't my worst result. Probably one of my better tries. Keep it up ;)
@squirerichard27105 ай бұрын
Was feeling something with an 'overdramatic 90s edge to it this time. Three out of five is a fine thing, I dare say this episode was trickier than most.
@varyar775 ай бұрын
2/5 today. I had wrapping paper instead of the ___ and the last one threw me because I had the wrong idea fixed in my brain :D Hope you feel better ASAP!
@squirerichard27105 ай бұрын
Many thanks, I'm (somewhat) confident that I'm on the mend. Good to see you stop by for another round. Just one thing, can you edit the answer out of your comment, if ye please? Just in case.
@varyar775 ай бұрын
@@squirerichard2710Of course - done!
@squirerichard27105 ай бұрын
@@varyar77 Cheers
@Jackaroo.5 ай бұрын
❤
@notromeosjuliet48375 ай бұрын
Loved that "it makes sense in context" at the end. I hope this trailer proves to be effective, your channel certainly deserves a lot more traffic.
@squirerichard27105 ай бұрын
Well, I'm 85% sure it makes sense in context... a bit. Anyway, many thanks. So, for that matter, does yours. 162 subscribers (at the time of writing) is far too few considering the quality works you weave.
@notromeosjuliet48375 ай бұрын
That was beautiful
@notromeosjuliet48375 ай бұрын
I was listening to this while working on my blender project, and the last story was especially engrossing. So, when the alarm sound went off at the end I was slightly taken aback. The video didn't feel long at all, I was so convinced there was going to be more and then it was over. I know that I compliment your writing skills a lot, but it's impressive that you managed to leave a self-professed romance hater like me wanting more. As I already mentioned, the last story was particularly well done. So were the others, most of which I already knew. Hadn't come across that last story yet, but I'm glad I listened to it. What I appreciate about this compilation is, that despite being focused on romantic love, each story looks at the concept from a different perspective: young love, forbidden love, lost love, unrequited love. And I'd be a bloody liar if I said I couldn't relate at least to some of it.
@squirerichard27105 ай бұрын
In retrospect, the 'fin' horn probably didn't warrant repeating, it's a better fit for Halloween than Valentine's day. Still, flamingos are best when introduced dramatically... probably. Many thanks indeed for your ever-heartening praise. It's nice indeed to know that even my shrivelled, prune-like heart can turn out such stories to engross and even resonate, and with more variety than I really considered when putting this together. The dark whispers I often mention were particularly cretinous for this collection. I've actually written a good deal more for that last story and, if you wish, I could send it to you. Sadly I'm unlikely to be recording it any time soon though. I'm buried alive in projects and schemes, more so than usual. Thanks again
@notromeosjuliet48375 ай бұрын
I should never get too comfortable when it comes to figuring out these riddles. Was on a bit of a roll with the first three, only for the last two to kick me in the butt. Guess I needed to be humbled. Very fun to play along, as always.
@squirerichard27105 ай бұрын
Glad to hear I've not completely lost my irksome edge... nor gotten too successful with it for that matter. Glad you enjoyed.
@notromeosjuliet48376 ай бұрын
This is awesome, I'd love to see how this Goddess fits in with the rest of the multiverse's lore. She's a tragic character for sure, and I can imagine there are many heroes like her, who suffered similar fates in the fight against the Void. I think your narration was particularly well done this time around, even better than what you usually do. And you are great at it, but this time you made it especially immersive. The visuals were a nice touch, as well. Looking forward to more.
@squirerichard27106 ай бұрын
Many thanks as ever, and yep, many like her indeed, and in the seemingly endless way of alternate universes, many more who *are* her as well. I'm planning to do at least one more tale with this character, hope I can maintain such an immersive production quality.
@notromeosjuliet48376 ай бұрын
Not going to lie, this one was tricky. It was also a lot of fun, keep the riddles coming.
@squirerichard27106 ай бұрын
Inevitably, some are more eponymous(ly irksome) than others.
@notromeosjuliet48376 ай бұрын
While I never walked through a graveyard at night, I am convinced it would pretty much feel exactly like the poem describes it. I've only walked through the forest at night and it was almost total darkness and very quiet. A graveyard must be similar, only that instead of unseen animals being out and about, you have a bunch of dead people in the ground. And if you only hear the slightest sound, your imagination is bound to run wild...only that it wasn't merely the protagonist's imagination in this case. The fact that neither he, nor the watcher knows what ghoulish fiend was lurking there in there shadows makes it even creepier. But that is something I've noticed about a lot of your work: You don't describe the monsters and whatnot a whole lot; you let us catch a glimpse or hear a sound, and it's unsettling and enough to get our imagination going. I've always found the unseen way more terrifying than a monster in its full glory, it feeds right into the fear of the unknown. It's the same in horror movies, the ghost or monster is at its scariest when you only catch a glimpse of it. You know something is there, but you don't know what exactly it is, only that it's really bad news. When you have to imagine things for yourself, stories tend to stick with you longer. All of this rambling serves to say you did an amazing job once again, and you have a real talent for narrative poetry. And the 'based on a true story' at the end is a nice touch. Those who know will know.
@squirerichard27106 ай бұрын
Wandering through a forest at night sounds far creepier on the face of it; larger for one thing, easier to get lost and with a thousand swaying trees whose shadows seem to reach for you as they writhe in the whistling gale... and then there's a chance you'll run into a cabin inhabited by less than pleasant shadow beasts and their fell-matron... but anyway, many thanks as ever, glad you enjoyed and glad to see my vague beast-weaving worked... though it may have been diminished slightly after describing it like that, I fear.
@varyar776 ай бұрын
A lovely tale for a dark morning!
@squirerichard27106 ай бұрын
Plenty of those left to us, I fear. Many thanks.
@notromeosjuliet48376 ай бұрын
Great poem. It feels like a glimpse into a very intriguing character, and makes you wonder. Who is this prince, why was he banished and what events did he live through over the course of his long banishment? Since you told me a little about Y'thalren before I can fill in some of the blanks, but I have to say, this knowledge only makes him more interesting.
@squirerichard27106 ай бұрын
Many thanks, alas there's not much I can say here about Y'thalren, this short poem relies on the ambiguity surrounding him... also, as he wanders through realities, the story probably gets twisted anyway. Was it ten centuries or three? Was it hell he left or Tahmath Shalvykryne? etc.
@rodolfocallahan44586 ай бұрын
*Promo SM*
@varyar777 ай бұрын
4/5 this time. Merry Christmas, sir!
@squirerichard27107 ай бұрын
Not bad at all, and Merry Christmas
@notromeosjuliet48377 ай бұрын
Merry Christmas 😊 this time around your riddles are extra cool. They all had a special something about them, and that isn't to say that your previous riddles weren't great, but just that these ones are even better.
@squirerichard27107 ай бұрын
Merry Christmas, and many thanks.
@varyar777 ай бұрын
A superb reading. Really captures the quiet despair of the writer.
@squirerichard27107 ай бұрын
Many thanks indeed; it's good (and surprising) to know that my voice acting efforts paid off. The dark whispers in my brain would have me believe I sound like a hungover brick with every attempt.
@notromeosjuliet48377 ай бұрын
Once again very atmospheric. As a listener one gets a sense of impending doom, and it keeps building up, making you uneasy, bracing yourself for what's to come. Even though I know what's coming, you still managed to create an air of mystery, this fear of the unknown. It's looming in the darkness and no one can escape. Also, I like how the imagery contributes to the sense of claustrophobia and being trapped. As always, you did an amazing job.
@squirerichard27107 ай бұрын
It's ever an encouraging thing to read your detailed reviews and be assured I didn't fumble the ball into the ditch of failure. (I'll devise a better analogy later... is that an analogy? I need more coffee.) In any case, many thanks.
@notromeosjuliet48377 ай бұрын
This short makes me want to listen to the whole story again. You did an outstanding job with the editing, and of course the story itself is very well-written.
@squirerichard27107 ай бұрын
Many thanks indeed, I couldn't have done it without your help, of course.
@notromeosjuliet48377 ай бұрын
I must have mentioned it before, but my mornings are always greatly improved when trying to figure out the answers to your riddles. This time around I even did okay, none of the answers had me going "how could I have missed that?" I either got close to the answer or got it correct, which might be a good omen for the day. Starting out with a feeling of success. Of course I also enjoy watching the riddles videos when I'm struggling to figure out the answers. I have to say, the fourth riddle took me buy surprise, the sudden change in your voice. It made me think about Reaping Night for a moment. You would have made for a great flesh-eating hag yourself.
@squirerichard27107 ай бұрын
You have indeed, and that's partly why I try to upload on Mondays. Good to hear they make for an uplifting watch. 'You would have made for a great flesh-eating hag yourself.' - That sounds like a sentence I should insert randomly into completely unrelated conversations at work... or perhaps not.
@notromeosjuliet48378 ай бұрын
That dragon king sounds like a total badass.
@notromeosjuliet48378 ай бұрын
Great poem, I wonder where the witches will be sailing to in their ships. The music and the background added to the overall mystical atmosphere. It made it feel like you were reading out of the witch chronicles of your ancestors.
@squirerichard27108 ай бұрын
Well first of all the Plague Worlds and abandoned Velnibeth holdings need setting in order in the name of the Vampire Queen Cynewyn and after that... uh, anyway, many thanks as ever, glad you enjoyed.
@wizzy57348 ай бұрын
4/5. Im getting better at these.
@wizzy57348 ай бұрын
Thank you Squire Richard, and may ye have a good year!!!!❤
@squirerichard27108 ай бұрын
Many thanks; you too.
@theshadowpresence93948 ай бұрын
However, in my defense, I don't care. 😂
@notromeosjuliet48378 ай бұрын
Thank you so much for collaborating with me again😊 Recording this poem was a lot of fun, I enjoyed this character a lot. Got to love a selfish, but confident rogue living according to their own rules. It did make me wonder how she turned out that way, though. I came with a little backstory myself, but it would be interesting to see what you had in mind, and if the stories match up at all. Once again, I am impressed with your sound editing skills, you can really make a scene come alive. You did a fantastic job on both the city and the tavern. Whenever you feel like working together again, I'll certainly be looking forward to it.
@squirerichard27108 ай бұрын
Always a pleasure to do one of these collaborative projects. Glad to hear you had fun. As for the backstory, I don't imagine this rogue-type was ever the most pleasant of people, but whichever organization she belongs to, whose very symbol serves to put her above the law, has given her a complete disdain for said law; the fact that she so easily shoots someone on a whim and cheerfully takes a bribe to keep quiet about a (probable) murder implies a similar disdain for life itself. Kind of imagining she belongs to some manner of religious defacto-mafia; perhaps she's in the service of a deity the ordinary citizens really don't want to risk offending, or perhaps they stand as a bulwark against something far worse, to the extent that a blind eye is turned to a whimsy-killing or two. As for anything more specific, I confess I didn't really go into that much detail. In any case, thanks again; we'll have to do this again sometime.
@notromeosjuliet48378 ай бұрын
Yesssss, I got it right🎉
@notromeosjuliet48379 ай бұрын
It's always a good day when I get to start it by watching one of your riddles videos. Despite being terrible at answering the riddles, it's always enjoyable to guess. Wakes my brain up, too. So, keep them coming, I'm glad this series is still ongoing😊
@squirerichard27109 ай бұрын
Will do, it's nice to know I can redeem the occasional Monday with this riddle-work (and this Monday has seemed more Monday-esque than most and warrants nothing less, methinks.)
@varyar779 ай бұрын
3/5 this time. Keep them coming!
@squirerichard27109 ай бұрын
Not bad at all; I dare say this batch might have had some of my trickiest ones to date. I shall return in due course with the lucky 13th episode.
@lloydmartel9 ай бұрын
Very original take!
@varyar779 ай бұрын
Happy Halloween, sir!
@squirerichard27109 ай бұрын
Thanks, to you as well.
@notromeosjuliet48379 ай бұрын
The vampire flower at the end of the video really took me by surprise. I normally don't like jump scares (at all), but that one was hilarious. There were quite a few stories in this video I hadn't come across yet. I especially enjoyed the Blood Bride story, she sure is an interesting character. Other stories I remembered, like the thief takers and the hotel room story. I liked how you compiled a great variety of different tales, they are all very original, and none is like the others. The most freaky one for me was definitely Down, being buried alive is one of my greatest, hopefully irrational fears. The thought of it makes my skin crawl, thanks for the claustrophobia. It is definitely a perfect Halloween video, I shall come back to it when I'm in the mood for something spooky again.
@squirerichard27109 ай бұрын
That vampire daffodil was something of a logo for all my creations during my teenage years. Nice to dust it off after all these years. Glad you enjoyed, and my apologies for any passing moments of claustrophobia. (I think the Blood Bride story might have originally been intended for Valentine's Day, come to think of it, but it works as a semi-pleasant interlude for Halloween purposes too.) Thanks again.
Пікірлер
This poem reminds me of the times you told me about leaving your self-made treasures in public places for people to find. So, I guess one can say it's based on a true story. Makes for a beautiful poem as well, sad and hopeful at the same time. There's probably many people who can relate to the narrator, searching for more, for something hidden, something deeper in their ordinary lives. I for one, would love to just go about my day and randomly come across a magic ring or some mysterious tome. Let's hope that the gift giver's gifts aren't in vain, and that people appreciative of them found them.
(Only loosely based, to be fair, as I cannot get away with referring to myself as 'The youth' anymore.) As ever, many thanks and glad you enjoyed. I would indeed hope that appreciative souls stumbled upon such things, and put them to use in their own efforts with necromancy or the like. Failing that, suitably appreciative magpies would be a fine thing too.
Short and sweet, and Percy definitely earned that pint. The scream effect in the beginning is really funny, sounds a bit more like a screaming bird than a person, but the thought of Percy making that shrill noise sure is funny...or was it the corpse that made it? The poor corpse, it must suck trying to be scary but the wheezing from his cut throat ruining the effect. Still, getting in this scenario would certainly make me rethink my life choices if I were Percy...just a little bit.
Nope, that was Percy achieving an impressive pitch at the sight of a returning corpse, who in turn was perhaps a little quick to the trigger but I suppose courtesy is a low priority when you've just endured the stress of crawling out of your own grave. It's one of those situations where no one's really in the right. Oh well. Glad you enjoyed.
I really admire your skill to come up with a story and make it sound like a tale that has been passed on through the ages. Stoneguard sounds like it could be a real place, and the story of how it came to be sounds like a myth that people in that region tell about it. I enjoyed this story of unlikely friendship, and while you are great at writing about war and conflict, you are just as good when it comes to writing about peaceful times. This is one of the stories that would be great to listen to during deepest, dark winter, while sitting by the fireplace. And then you'll wonder: Are the dwarves meeting the people at Stoneguard this very moment?
Many thanks as ever, this one was inspired by various York wanderings last week, mostly in places where the sun would not enter... which makes it sound far more dramatic than it was. Your point about Stoneguard's potential for myth is one I must admit I hadn't really considered, that hints at a potential continuation, people finding the old citadel a thousand years after it was lost to time... I'll think on this.
Not going to lie, this one was tough. Never would have guessed bananas as one of the answers, but maybe that because I prefer them slightly green and bitter. And while I might not have guessed the last riddle's answer, I think it made for an exceptionally nice poem.
A curious notion; did I make a riddle that much more unfathomable through my own banana bias? Glad you liked the last one. That you didn't get it is somewhat enviable. May <REDACTED> be a distant and unfathomable thing for as long as it can.
Epic. It feels a bit like a teaser, like there is more to come. Would be really cool if you continued the story at some point.
As yet I've got nothing more for these two I'm afraid, I figured less was more... however that's an opinion that often does a 180 with me so time will tell. Thanks as ever.
I've said it a million times before, but it's crazy how you keep coming up with new riddles. Let me do the math, so this is video number 19, there's five riddles per video, so you are currently at 95 different riddles. That's super impressive, considering they are not repetitive, and writing the short poems can't be easy either. Hats off to you.
Many thanks indeed; it didn't actually occur to me that it'd be that many. I suppose I shall have to make something especially irksome for next episode's 100th. Writing riddles does become much simpler when you're writing on a bus, I find. It becomes the distraction rather than being thwarted by them elsewhere.
4/5
Nicely done
Even though the story itself is very melancholy, I can't help but be captivated by the beauty of the poem. Or maybe it's because I'm prone to melancholy anyway, so I think to myself:'Yes, it's tragic, but strangely comforting.' Sure, I'm not wandering the afterlife, possibly stuck inbetween worlds, but isn't that the way life feels sometimes? You are stuck in an endless, repetitive cycle, that is slowly lulling you in, smothering you, and you don't even know how you got there. This poem is probably a new favourite.
Like to the first circle of hell... or thereabouts, I've forgotten the specifics of Dante's Inferno, but anyway, eternity in the countryside could ultimately be far worse, and perhaps even a very slight upgrade on life's soulless routine? Hayfever and stinging nettles notwithstanding. In any case, thanks as ever, glad you enjoyed.
Honestly, it's hard not to agree with the pirate's point: If the people wanted their riches back, they should go and take them. Sure, if we all acted like pirates, life would descend into complete anarchy. But at least the pirate's way is simple and straightforward, you want something, you take it or die trying. The narrator seems to be content with his life, he seems to have a great time actually. And that makes me want to say 'Screw it!' and be a pirate too. There is something incredibly appealing about the pirate lifestyle in stories, even though reality is often disappointing. You've captured the carefree nature of the pirate really well, he'll just go wherever the sea takes him. Btw, glad you're back, I missed listening to your poems.
Many thanks (Didn't realize it'd been that long since the last one. It's funny how one week suddenly three out of nowhere.) I think to some degree, pirates were a resultant middle finger extended to society at the time, which left little option for a great many people to make an honest go of life, compounded by opportunism of course... and Bartholomew Roberts may have been having a mid-life crisis. An easy source of romantic whimsies is the pirate's life, or even not, the idea of spurning the world and stealing things is hard not to like.
Let's just say, I did not see that twist coming. At all. But it works. At first you perceive the narrator as the character he plays, and you feel for him. He might not be the bravest, but he wants to make a difference for his people. And then boom, turns out he's kind of a mastermind from a different place in the universe altogether, stuck in a desperate war of his own, fighting an even greater foe. His soul stealing is an awful thing to do, but when one fights for existence itself, one has to take desperate measures. With the things he's seen and fought against, he feels like he's more than a mere mortal man at this point. To fight off the darkness he can't rely on the things a regular mortal can rely on, he has to take a look at the bigger picture, perhaps in the way a god would, trying to save existence itself. Whatever moral struggles he faces remind him of his humanity, for he is, in fact not a god (at least that's my interpretation). As always, you are great at writing inner struggle and moral dilemma. The narration and sound editing are great as well.
You judge him less harshly than I was inclined to. When writing this I largely got the impression of a nation so convinced of its own worth and rightness that thieving 'lesser' souls from elsewhere wouldn't trouble them overmuch for all their lip serviceto regret, (especially after it became commonplace.) I probably should have put more weaseliness into the last lines. Ah well, glad you enjoyed and thanks as ever for commenting.
Excellent work as always.
Many thanks indeed.
Yay, this time I got most of them right. Impressive how you keep the riddles coming, it can't be easy.
Nicely done; sometimes ideas for random things spring to my head with ease, but more often than not it involves a lot of frustrated seething as I try to think up things to spin some irksome verses about.
What a compelling tale. Thank you for the presentation Richard, and for the composition by NotRomeo'sJuliet.
Thanks Huw, and long time no see, (so to speak) come to think of it... which in turn reminds me there's much I need to listen to from TBDC; so much to do, so unhelpful a memory. In any case, glad you enjoyed this one.
I love your rendition of my poem, you did an amazing job. Your narration was great, especially when it came to the creature from the lake. You made it sound like you've been to hell and back, witnessed unimaginable horrors. Your voice for the lake witch was also very well done. At this point it's probably almost superfluous to say, that your editing, both visual and acoustic, is on point, as always. It was very nice to get to listen to the story, you made it come alive, and did a wonderful job. Besides, it's the first time anyone ever adapted one of my texts, so of course I'm super excited about it. Let's just say, you were the perfect person for the job, thank you very much.
Many thanks indeed, I'm glad you liked it... and somewhat relieved. Every time I adapt a friend's work there's always a much greater sense of 'Am I doing this right?' 'Have I missed the point entirely here?' etc. I've said already but will say again, you wrote a most nifty tale of dread, a fitting Halloween work for Easter Monday.
Remind me never to attend a goblin party. Sure, you made it sound like a blast, people eating aside, but I'm getting to the age where hangovers are so hellish, you don't need to wake up in a ditch to curse yourself for drinking too much. Back to the people eating, though, it's interesting how the humans in alliance with the goblins seem to have gotten so used, even curious about this goblin custom. A change of perspective can do wonders, the narrator is pretty non-chalant about the whole feast, while the poor bastards being eaten likely wished they had never been born. Despite being incredibly grim, at first glance the story seems joyous. And it was very enjoyable to listen to, which is why I'll probably give it another listen right now. There's nothing like a goblin party. Edit: Your narration is great, btw, I love the dark humour, it's very fitting. The narrator seems like a curious guy, I wonder what else he may get up to when he doesn't drink himself into a stupor.
Ahhh, I know what you mean. Long ago I gave up alcohol simply because my liver, once young and lusty and trustworthy, betrayed me to hangover-anguish. (Also there was just wasn't much point to it after university.) I might be tempted to make an exception at such a party as this, however, though I imagine I'd wake to find myself halfway up a tree, surrounded by three nests of easily offended hornets. My thinking is that this is an old city with generations of humans and goblins living together so that the former has comparitively little contact with their own kind, a fact which doesn't trouble them much. There may also be several generations of intermarriage and people who are varying percentages of both species, if such a thing was possible, which it probably isn't. Even in fantasy that'd probably be a hard sell. Still, to the humans of Rhishkyn, I imagine there's a significant divide between them and the rest of their species... and if humans bring war to their doorstep, they're naught but meat for the table. I might twist together a map for this city, if time allows, which it probably won't. Ah well, thanks as ever for stopping by, glad you enjoyed.
Love this take on AM. I’m actually a new fan of I Have No Mouth & I Must Scream. The story makes Cyberpunk 2077 & Edge Runners look like Disneyland.
Even though I like all of your stories, your horror stories are my favourites(as well as the fantasy ones, and this one is both, so I'm doubly lucky). You are excellent at expressing the feeling of dread while still remaining poetic. Another great one.
Many thanks as ever. (With horror and fantasy in mind, I will say that I have something special tucked away for Halloween this year. (Not a Reaping Night sequel I'm afraid but something proper nonetheless.) That said, I may lose patience and do it much earlier, time will tell.))
I loved the way this was edited, it made the story very immersive. The story itself was rather bleak, and while the aliens(?) from whose perspective it is told , are clearly doing terrible things, I can't help but find them interesting. They seem far removed from humanity, and logical in a way that is almost robotic. But I also think the way they look at humans closely resembles the way we look at pets. The way the narrator is fond of humans reminds me of someone being fond of their well-behaved dog. Then again, the dog would be well loved by its owner, while the humans in the story are likely replaceable. Well-written as always, now I hope that a fate like this shall never befall us.
If you think the happenstances shown here are bad, you should see what they did to Earth during the war years... and some three hundred years beforehand... but I digress, thanks as ever for stopping by and for your in-depth analysis, they're always a pleasure to read. Didn't really consider the dog angle, that certainly makes sense, though it does make things... less grim than intended, in a way, at least to me. I have a few more poems from this particular universe-of-sorts stashed away, I may use this format again.
I loved the music, it slaps. Makes you feel like you are participating in a game show. Got three out of five this time around, which isn't my worst result. Probably one of my better tries. Keep it up ;)
Was feeling something with an 'overdramatic 90s edge to it this time. Three out of five is a fine thing, I dare say this episode was trickier than most.
2/5 today. I had wrapping paper instead of the ___ and the last one threw me because I had the wrong idea fixed in my brain :D Hope you feel better ASAP!
Many thanks, I'm (somewhat) confident that I'm on the mend. Good to see you stop by for another round. Just one thing, can you edit the answer out of your comment, if ye please? Just in case.
@@squirerichard2710Of course - done!
@@varyar77 Cheers
❤
Loved that "it makes sense in context" at the end. I hope this trailer proves to be effective, your channel certainly deserves a lot more traffic.
Well, I'm 85% sure it makes sense in context... a bit. Anyway, many thanks. So, for that matter, does yours. 162 subscribers (at the time of writing) is far too few considering the quality works you weave.
That was beautiful
I was listening to this while working on my blender project, and the last story was especially engrossing. So, when the alarm sound went off at the end I was slightly taken aback. The video didn't feel long at all, I was so convinced there was going to be more and then it was over. I know that I compliment your writing skills a lot, but it's impressive that you managed to leave a self-professed romance hater like me wanting more. As I already mentioned, the last story was particularly well done. So were the others, most of which I already knew. Hadn't come across that last story yet, but I'm glad I listened to it. What I appreciate about this compilation is, that despite being focused on romantic love, each story looks at the concept from a different perspective: young love, forbidden love, lost love, unrequited love. And I'd be a bloody liar if I said I couldn't relate at least to some of it.
In retrospect, the 'fin' horn probably didn't warrant repeating, it's a better fit for Halloween than Valentine's day. Still, flamingos are best when introduced dramatically... probably. Many thanks indeed for your ever-heartening praise. It's nice indeed to know that even my shrivelled, prune-like heart can turn out such stories to engross and even resonate, and with more variety than I really considered when putting this together. The dark whispers I often mention were particularly cretinous for this collection. I've actually written a good deal more for that last story and, if you wish, I could send it to you. Sadly I'm unlikely to be recording it any time soon though. I'm buried alive in projects and schemes, more so than usual. Thanks again
I should never get too comfortable when it comes to figuring out these riddles. Was on a bit of a roll with the first three, only for the last two to kick me in the butt. Guess I needed to be humbled. Very fun to play along, as always.
Glad to hear I've not completely lost my irksome edge... nor gotten too successful with it for that matter. Glad you enjoyed.
This is awesome, I'd love to see how this Goddess fits in with the rest of the multiverse's lore. She's a tragic character for sure, and I can imagine there are many heroes like her, who suffered similar fates in the fight against the Void. I think your narration was particularly well done this time around, even better than what you usually do. And you are great at it, but this time you made it especially immersive. The visuals were a nice touch, as well. Looking forward to more.
Many thanks as ever, and yep, many like her indeed, and in the seemingly endless way of alternate universes, many more who *are* her as well. I'm planning to do at least one more tale with this character, hope I can maintain such an immersive production quality.
Not going to lie, this one was tricky. It was also a lot of fun, keep the riddles coming.
Inevitably, some are more eponymous(ly irksome) than others.
While I never walked through a graveyard at night, I am convinced it would pretty much feel exactly like the poem describes it. I've only walked through the forest at night and it was almost total darkness and very quiet. A graveyard must be similar, only that instead of unseen animals being out and about, you have a bunch of dead people in the ground. And if you only hear the slightest sound, your imagination is bound to run wild...only that it wasn't merely the protagonist's imagination in this case. The fact that neither he, nor the watcher knows what ghoulish fiend was lurking there in there shadows makes it even creepier. But that is something I've noticed about a lot of your work: You don't describe the monsters and whatnot a whole lot; you let us catch a glimpse or hear a sound, and it's unsettling and enough to get our imagination going. I've always found the unseen way more terrifying than a monster in its full glory, it feeds right into the fear of the unknown. It's the same in horror movies, the ghost or monster is at its scariest when you only catch a glimpse of it. You know something is there, but you don't know what exactly it is, only that it's really bad news. When you have to imagine things for yourself, stories tend to stick with you longer. All of this rambling serves to say you did an amazing job once again, and you have a real talent for narrative poetry. And the 'based on a true story' at the end is a nice touch. Those who know will know.
Wandering through a forest at night sounds far creepier on the face of it; larger for one thing, easier to get lost and with a thousand swaying trees whose shadows seem to reach for you as they writhe in the whistling gale... and then there's a chance you'll run into a cabin inhabited by less than pleasant shadow beasts and their fell-matron... but anyway, many thanks as ever, glad you enjoyed and glad to see my vague beast-weaving worked... though it may have been diminished slightly after describing it like that, I fear.
A lovely tale for a dark morning!
Plenty of those left to us, I fear. Many thanks.
Great poem. It feels like a glimpse into a very intriguing character, and makes you wonder. Who is this prince, why was he banished and what events did he live through over the course of his long banishment? Since you told me a little about Y'thalren before I can fill in some of the blanks, but I have to say, this knowledge only makes him more interesting.
Many thanks, alas there's not much I can say here about Y'thalren, this short poem relies on the ambiguity surrounding him... also, as he wanders through realities, the story probably gets twisted anyway. Was it ten centuries or three? Was it hell he left or Tahmath Shalvykryne? etc.
*Promo SM*
4/5 this time. Merry Christmas, sir!
Not bad at all, and Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas 😊 this time around your riddles are extra cool. They all had a special something about them, and that isn't to say that your previous riddles weren't great, but just that these ones are even better.
Merry Christmas, and many thanks.
A superb reading. Really captures the quiet despair of the writer.
Many thanks indeed; it's good (and surprising) to know that my voice acting efforts paid off. The dark whispers in my brain would have me believe I sound like a hungover brick with every attempt.
Once again very atmospheric. As a listener one gets a sense of impending doom, and it keeps building up, making you uneasy, bracing yourself for what's to come. Even though I know what's coming, you still managed to create an air of mystery, this fear of the unknown. It's looming in the darkness and no one can escape. Also, I like how the imagery contributes to the sense of claustrophobia and being trapped. As always, you did an amazing job.
It's ever an encouraging thing to read your detailed reviews and be assured I didn't fumble the ball into the ditch of failure. (I'll devise a better analogy later... is that an analogy? I need more coffee.) In any case, many thanks.
This short makes me want to listen to the whole story again. You did an outstanding job with the editing, and of course the story itself is very well-written.
Many thanks indeed, I couldn't have done it without your help, of course.
I must have mentioned it before, but my mornings are always greatly improved when trying to figure out the answers to your riddles. This time around I even did okay, none of the answers had me going "how could I have missed that?" I either got close to the answer or got it correct, which might be a good omen for the day. Starting out with a feeling of success. Of course I also enjoy watching the riddles videos when I'm struggling to figure out the answers. I have to say, the fourth riddle took me buy surprise, the sudden change in your voice. It made me think about Reaping Night for a moment. You would have made for a great flesh-eating hag yourself.
You have indeed, and that's partly why I try to upload on Mondays. Good to hear they make for an uplifting watch. 'You would have made for a great flesh-eating hag yourself.' - That sounds like a sentence I should insert randomly into completely unrelated conversations at work... or perhaps not.
That dragon king sounds like a total badass.
Great poem, I wonder where the witches will be sailing to in their ships. The music and the background added to the overall mystical atmosphere. It made it feel like you were reading out of the witch chronicles of your ancestors.
Well first of all the Plague Worlds and abandoned Velnibeth holdings need setting in order in the name of the Vampire Queen Cynewyn and after that... uh, anyway, many thanks as ever, glad you enjoyed.
4/5. Im getting better at these.
Thank you Squire Richard, and may ye have a good year!!!!❤
Many thanks; you too.
However, in my defense, I don't care. 😂
Thank you so much for collaborating with me again😊 Recording this poem was a lot of fun, I enjoyed this character a lot. Got to love a selfish, but confident rogue living according to their own rules. It did make me wonder how she turned out that way, though. I came with a little backstory myself, but it would be interesting to see what you had in mind, and if the stories match up at all. Once again, I am impressed with your sound editing skills, you can really make a scene come alive. You did a fantastic job on both the city and the tavern. Whenever you feel like working together again, I'll certainly be looking forward to it.
Always a pleasure to do one of these collaborative projects. Glad to hear you had fun. As for the backstory, I don't imagine this rogue-type was ever the most pleasant of people, but whichever organization she belongs to, whose very symbol serves to put her above the law, has given her a complete disdain for said law; the fact that she so easily shoots someone on a whim and cheerfully takes a bribe to keep quiet about a (probable) murder implies a similar disdain for life itself. Kind of imagining she belongs to some manner of religious defacto-mafia; perhaps she's in the service of a deity the ordinary citizens really don't want to risk offending, or perhaps they stand as a bulwark against something far worse, to the extent that a blind eye is turned to a whimsy-killing or two. As for anything more specific, I confess I didn't really go into that much detail. In any case, thanks again; we'll have to do this again sometime.
Yesssss, I got it right🎉
It's always a good day when I get to start it by watching one of your riddles videos. Despite being terrible at answering the riddles, it's always enjoyable to guess. Wakes my brain up, too. So, keep them coming, I'm glad this series is still ongoing😊
Will do, it's nice to know I can redeem the occasional Monday with this riddle-work (and this Monday has seemed more Monday-esque than most and warrants nothing less, methinks.)
3/5 this time. Keep them coming!
Not bad at all; I dare say this batch might have had some of my trickiest ones to date. I shall return in due course with the lucky 13th episode.
Very original take!
Happy Halloween, sir!
Thanks, to you as well.
The vampire flower at the end of the video really took me by surprise. I normally don't like jump scares (at all), but that one was hilarious. There were quite a few stories in this video I hadn't come across yet. I especially enjoyed the Blood Bride story, she sure is an interesting character. Other stories I remembered, like the thief takers and the hotel room story. I liked how you compiled a great variety of different tales, they are all very original, and none is like the others. The most freaky one for me was definitely Down, being buried alive is one of my greatest, hopefully irrational fears. The thought of it makes my skin crawl, thanks for the claustrophobia. It is definitely a perfect Halloween video, I shall come back to it when I'm in the mood for something spooky again.
That vampire daffodil was something of a logo for all my creations during my teenage years. Nice to dust it off after all these years. Glad you enjoyed, and my apologies for any passing moments of claustrophobia. (I think the Blood Bride story might have originally been intended for Valentine's Day, come to think of it, but it works as a semi-pleasant interlude for Halloween purposes too.) Thanks again.
Happy spooky season, everybody!