One of the best fantasy stories I have read (in a long line of really great stories) is lying as a "jewel in the rough" at Vanguard Crafters. The author is an extremely talented man who has a number of aliases (perhaps to evade his ardent literary admirers?). He is known as Misser at Silky Venom and Vanguard Forums, Semantes at Vanguard Crafters, Jesper to the world, and Dad to his kids. Whatever name he goes by, he writes up a storm in "We Planted a Tree..." Even more amazing is that English is not his first language; he is a Dane (dare I say a Great Dane?). I did not suspect at all--someone on the VG forum blabbed.
The story takes us into human territory in Telon, and not that far from where the wood elves dwell. The wanderers known simply as the People have found a taciturn stranger, who calls himself Sem. The People know nothing about this strange man, huge in proportion and with a consuming sense of sadness about him. Sem particularly scares a young girl named Ivi, who is a member of this particular band of the People; she calls him Sir Scary.
The tale unfolds through the eyes of young Ivi, as Sem starts to tell his story at the Common evening campfire as the People congregate within the shelter of their circled wagons for the nighttime meal and socializing. Once you arrive at this spot in the story, you will be unable to stop reading. It is a masterpiece, especially for a first fiction attempt. Whatever name Misser goes by, it is obvious to me that he is a born storyteller.
To read the full story at Vanguard Crafters, go
here.
wiki
"We Planted a Tree..." (Story Review)
