Assay? I am in. I didn't make it any more violent (it should have been!) because I have no idea of the age group this forum has. And btw non-native speaker of the language here.

"In an age long past, there was a man on a quest. As he walked down the dirt ridden paths of his old town, he began to wonder why he was back. He had nobody left in the pitiful small town; his wife was gone, killed by a marauding orc band nearly ten years past, everybody he knew was either dead from the plague or fighting in the endless wars of the wizards. This province was under the rule of a paladin, just a wizened old warrior, self-entitled Defender of Hope. What hope he defended was a question better left for the sages. All in all this place was… pitiful. It was a wonder people still lived here. Almost no reason to be here, almost…

The man was a ranger, one of those folk who wandered the forests talking to the animals, wearing green and all. Villagers wherever they may be always have a tendency to be weary of stranger’s especially wierd folk who lived in the wilds and took it up on themselves to protect it from decent folk like the villagers themselves. But that was not what drew the stares of everybody to the man. There was a snow white bear walking like a dog, no more like a… hellhound, next to him. If the stares the man threw around was not cause for concern than the growling giant of a bear certainly was.

The tavern, Quest’s End, was almost empty, maybe that was the reason the tavern keep turned major was waiting for the man in front of the door, or maybe somebody had run ahead and told him of the stranger’s coming. The major lifted his hand in greeting and was just about to say something, when his head fell down on the floor.

The stranger just turned around and started walking back the way he came. He began to wonder if all other towns in the province will look the same. He began to hum a wild tune, that seemed to be sung by the wind itself."

Handy that. It's a chance to change things up and declare two possible winners of Defender's Quest, if our good host hasn't already spent his money.

No problem here, I'm not an expert myself and I guess I must have done countless grammar/spelling mistakes so I will not base my judgment on those. There is, however, a serious flaw in your essay. You used the word "wonder" twice but as a verb whereas I distinctly stressed it should be a noun. You don't have to write a new story you can edit the old one and let me know when you are done with it ;)

I got my code during the Christmas sale (75% discount!). Actually... I got... several codes for Defender's Quest ;) Perhaps I will give more than one code during this contest, perhaps not ;) I have to consult my spacebar what she thinks about it ;)

But you can be sure that it's not my last contest with a Defender's Quest as a prize - eventually I will give away all the codes I got ;)

She likes it when you touch her.

Ack, I read that, but it slipped my mind. I'll edit my previous entry in just a bit.

Noun? :) That's an easy fix. It is a wonder I have not thought about it before ;)

Age of BUMP and Sleepy's Quest ;)

infor:
Age of Wonders
Defender's Quest

In an age not long ago there was an idiot. He was a defender against sound logic, and was steadfast in his quest. He was known worldwide as a wonder because he had a head like a f*<king orange.

thanks for a giveaway Ghorpm!
+1

BUMP

Double BUMP

Walking up up the counter of the Deep Space bar, I coughed the arid alien dust from my lungs. Why does every spaceport pub feel the same, no matter how many light years away from home you have travelled?

Settling down on a lizard-leather stool, I exchanged pleasantries with the grey-skinned Betelgeusian pouring drinks and ordered a triple of my favourite shots. As the White Lightning finished burning its path down my throat I turned to survey the room for prospective company. That was when I noticed the buzz amongst the patrons near the main entrance.

Craning my neck, I saw just a glimpse of an impossibly young face through the gap between the two heads of the chunky Alpha Centaurian bouncer as he lazily scanned the female standing in the doorway. I could not imagine that such a delicate girl could possibly be of a legal age to enter that place. Yet she possessed a strange, self-assured calm that belied her clear nervousness and physical vulnerability.

A few moments later she cleared the bouncer. As she retrieved her ID from the validation scanner I saw her lithe figure — and I am not ashamed to admit that it left me transfixed in awe and wonder. But I was not alone. Virually every patron who could be described as both male and humanoid had set his eyes, sensors, or scanners on her. I could sense the tension building. Her eyes darted about quickly, seeking a friendly face. Finally they settled on mine, appealing silently yet earnestly for reassurance.

Perhaps it was the dearth of female company during the six months of service that I had just completed in the Interstellar Marine Corp Infantry, or perhaps it was the contrast to the strange and alien forms arrayed about the pub, but by the time that I had reclaimed my composure I knew that I had my quest: on that disreputable backwater planet, I would be her protector and defender.

Nice idea for a giveaway .. so +1 to you sir , not in but good luck to all you literary genius's ! :-)

BUMP

We have a coming of age ritual.
The applicant must embark on a quest to prove that they have what it takes to become a defender of the tribe.
They have to venture into the forest and hunt the Giant Spiders that plague our lands.
To demonstrate their courage and prowess, they may not return without at least 8 spider feet in a sack.
While I understand the need to stand against these vile creatures, it’s a wonder we have a tribe left at all.....

Edit:
I already have Defender's Quest (Because you are awesome!) so I am only in for Age of Wonders.