My current work in progress is EVERY HERO NEEDS A VILLAIN and it's the kind of rough draft that burns retinas and makes people cry. I didn't feel you needed that kind of pain today. Instead, I pulled out another old story. This is from DUNGEON CRAWL: THE FALL and one day I will find the time to polish and publish this.
Sari Fallen is the main character, the one time paladin for the Goddess of Innocents now works freelance for the Vondrin police department. She's looking for a murderer, and she's cornered a freelance assassin in her hunt.
Sari leaned in close. "Do you remember last year? When I tracked you down and you swore on your honor and life you were leaving Vondrin for good? Do you remember that?"
"So? I have no honor! Come on, Sari. You knew that."
"I also know you have a bounty on your head that's triple my yearly salary."
"Ah... you're a fallen paladin. A cop. Not a bounty hunter. I keep track of these things."
"I cross-classed."
Ruen seemed to shrink in on himself with a whimper.
"Tell you what, if you're very good I'll give you a six hour head start out of the city."
"I'm good!" Ruen yelped. "Real good. What kind of good do you want me to be?"
"I need to know who's dealing in demon blood. Who's buying? Who's selling? And where can I get the most for cheap."
I have a love for great dialogue...enjoyed this snippet!
ReplyDeleteThanks. :o)
DeleteNote to self: get this book!! Great snippet!!
ReplyDeleteNote to Self: Finish editing and publish this book.
Delete"I cross-classed." Love it. Great dialogue, great snip.
ReplyDeleteSari has a very dry sense of humor at this point in the book (about half-way through). It's an improvement.
DeleteNow this sounds just like my cup of tea - great stuff. Agree with TK: gotta get this book! :-)
ReplyDeleteI wonder why she wants demon blood. Sounds like a great read!
ReplyDeleteThere is never a good reason for using demon blood. Never. #bwhahaha
DeleteMe likey!! This sounds like a good one!
ReplyDeletehmm.. is demon blood literally demon blood, or the street name for the drug of the moment?
ReplyDeleteDemon blood is the blood of a demon, and some demons are law-abiding citizens within the city of Vondrin. If you own demon blood, it better be your own.
Delete"What kind of good do you want me to be?" Hmm...I'd be suspicious of somebody that flexible with their credo.
ReplyDeleteRuen is a minor character and not a Good Guy by any stretch of the imagination. :o)
Delete6 hours is quite generous, I usually only get TWO!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat dialogue! well done!
Sari has bigger fish to dry. As long as she doesn't see him again, it won't be an issue. If she does... she's not known for asking questions this politely.
DeleteI like the "what kind of good do you want me to be?" :-)
ReplyDeleteA very agreeable scoundrel, isn't he?
DeleteI have no idea what "cross-classed" means, but I still imagined her saying it with the perfect amount of menace and it made perfect sense. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat snippet!
Cross-classed is a D&D term. Some games only allow you to pick up skills in one class (ranger, sword fighter, magician, ect). Under the rules of the game a bounty hunter and a city defender wouldn't be under the same class. Throughout the book there are geek references to things like that which may not survive until the final draft.
DeleteAnd, if I've gotten the rules wrong, I've never played D&D. Everything I know about the game I've learned from reading ORDER OF THE STICK and watching THE GUILD. I'm only a vicarious gamer geek. :o)
Like the world building terms--cross-classed. I like that she is tough and how she's working out a deal.
ReplyDeleteOooo, I want more of this one!
ReplyDelete