The Clerk's Collection - congealed and collaborated [archive]
Far below your feet, deep in the dank and mildewy subterranean bowels of the
Writer's Study... something is stirring. Old cogs and levers creak into action,
cracked and dusty parchments are unrolled. The scritch-scratching of quills echo
along the sewer pipes, mingling with the scurrying of passing rats. Printing presses
long misused to mangle damp laundry grind into action, manned by fresh-faced
scribes. Mad First Clerk Smitherly gibbers to himself in the darkness, loathing the
new intruders. After many long hours, a fist bursts forth from your U-bend. Proudly,
it holds aloft the fruits of its labour...
Welcome to the Clerk's Collection, an unofficial weekly newsletter brought to you by the denizens of the Writer's Study! We strive to ensure that every author here gets his or her moment in the limelight, with notifications of their fantastic updates being sent directly to the inboxes of all of our subscribers.
Each Sunday, we'll let you know who's battering the bots in the AARs, who's establishing an epic with their creative writing - and most importantly... which General Retreat is the most handsome clerk on staff (Maximinus disagrees with my professional assessment). Okay, that last bit wasn't true - it's actually Tigellinus that disagrees.
In any case, join us and your fellow subscribers in celebrating all that is good about the Writer's Study. All of you authors who give up your time to contribute creative works for everyone else to enjoy help make this forum great. If that's not something to be happy about, I don't know what is.
This thread can be used to view previous editions of the CC newsletter. Each edition will be posted a short while after our subscribers recieve their copy directly to their inboxes. Subscribers may also be on the receiving end of certain other prizes and perks later on in the future! Us Clerks also appreciate feedback, so if you've got anything you'd like to tell us, or suggestions on how to improve: we have a feedback and subscription thread here.
Swords of the Sea: 1066 has come and gone, the Danelaw torn down and a new kingdom built in the image of its Norman rulers. But with time, wounds heal and what is broken can be reforged. The Danes have returned with steel, and seek to reclaim what is theirs. The Great Expedition: Pax Anglia, one of Earth's great empires, sprawling across the stars. On their newly colonised planet of Nova Sydney, adventure awaits on the savage frontier - Henry Boyce steps forward to lead an expedition to pierce the Bushlands' wild heart. Winter War: Finland, 1939. The Soviet war machine has begun its indomitable advance from the east. Of all its neighbours, only Finland stands alone in defiance. Conscript Anton Bezrukov prepares for a quick victory, but the reality is far bloodier...
Re: The Clerk's Collection - congealed and collaborated [archive]
Historic editions:
Episode Zero
Part One
Episode: zero.
Good day to you all, ladies and gentlemen! I am Clerk Retreat, and these are my colleagues, Clerks Tigellinus and Maximinus. We've been sent down to these dank and mildewy caverns far below the Writer's Study to assist First Clerk Smitherly with the publication of his newsletter. Why us? That would best remain unspoken. It transpires that the First Clerk had replaced his previous (suspiciously missing) interns with feral rats, which worked about as well as you'd expect. In any case, now that the disruption to service has been... resolved... we shall be ensuring a regular, weekly publication becomes the norm. So then, let us proceed and enlighten you as to the comings and goings of the Writer's Study at large, with this very first experimental edition. Do please mind the occasional smudge in the margin - but as First Clerk Smitherly says, 'what's a little rat poo among friends?'
Part Two
Episode: zero
The Writer's Study runs a number of weekly and monthly competitions for members to participate in, with glory and writer's points being the spoils of the victor! See the links below for this week's updates on the Tale of the Week, After Action Report of the Month and Creative Writing Monthly Competitions:
Submissions for TotW 215: The Roman Senate have been extended to April 15th 2014. Key words are:
Bloody.
Conniving.
Squabble.
Priority.
Law.
Voting for MAARC XLVIII is now open! You have two votes, so please be sure to use both. Entrants include:
Submissions for MAARC XLVIX are now open! Any AAR that has had two or more updates in the month of April is eligible to enter, with writer's medal points there for the taking!
Here you can find a collection of useful links that will be of aid in navigating the Writer's Study. In addition to this, any news that may be of interest to this most creative sub-fora's denizens, whether that be announcements, information or previews, will also be listed here:
The Advertising Board: A good number of members have subscribed to this thread, so posting there when you make an update will let them all know (as well as being informed through this letter - double win!)
The Duel and Challenge Thread: A place where aspiring writers can lock horns over matters literary pride and prestige, challenging each other to battles of wit.
The Critic's Quill: A fantastic monthly publication that runs reviews on your creative works, and provides excellent articles on how to improve your writing style and technique. The Quill is currently looking for guest writers, so if you feel you have a great idea for an article and the drive to make it happen, please contact the editor - m_1512.
The Scriptorium Winter Writing Competition is now nearing its conclusion! The final voting poll is now open, so be sure to check out the three surviving candidates and vote for your favourite.
Local Writer's Study champion Scottish King recently obtained a new badge - Content Director! As Atlas bore the weight of the world on his back, poor old 'King is now going to be shouldering an awful lot of responsibility for the good of the site. Good job, that man!
How do you World Build?: A very helpful thread was recently opened on literary worldbuilding, with a range of useful advice from the Study's denizens. Definitely worth a read if you're interested in creating a fantasy or sci-fi setting.
Well, that's all for this week's newsletter! If you've got any comments or critiques, or you feel there's any refining or alterations that could be made to the form, style or content, do please let us know. It's no bother at all to make changes - we simply have to arm Clerk Maximinus with a crossbow and have him fight through the rats to the print room. Your opinions are of course appreciated, and great thanks go out to the authors who contacted us to provide summaries for their creative works. Should you wish to send us a message, drop it down a nearby well - they all lead to the Newsletter caverns eventually. As for the split into two parts... unfortunately the rats got to all of our long scrolls of parchment - we're appealing to Lord GED for new stocks, but that may take some time. Please join us again next week for what will officially be the 'first' edition - and be sure to tell your friends!
Initiations
Episode I
Episode: I - Sunday 20th, April 2014
Hello and welcome to the Clerk's Collection! I am Clerk Retreat, and these are my colleagues, Clerks Tigillenus and Maximinus. To those of you who practice the custom, happy Easter - and to the rest, a splendid Sunday! First Clerk Smitherly gave the entire team some 'chocolate' eggs which thus far we have refrained from sampling. Beyond the suspicious sweets, we've also had a most bountiful week within the Writer's Study as well, with a wonderful assortment of creative works being published throughout. In other news, our humble publication has also been featured on the billboard on the road into town. With any luck, this should draw a few of the road-weary travellers down into the sleepy Study suburbs. Unfortunately, our previous attempt at publicity failed rather appallingly; painting Clerk Maximinus green and sending him out with a sign and a loincloth is apparently considered 'uncouth'. That's society's loss, I suppose. In any case, without further ado...
The lifeblood of the Writer's Study is of course always going to be the great members who submit their creative works for everyone else to enjoy. See the links below for all of the stories and AARs which have been updated this week. Please read and rep generously:
"The Peculiar Adventures of Edmund Burke is a non-traditionalist spin on World War 1 about a British captain helping command a Pal Battalion. Starring historical confusion, a Yankee's impersonation of British 'humour', omniscient soldiers, and good ole' death and destruction, the newest AAR from Disappoint Ed will not leave you... crestfallen."
"What if the Eastern Roman Empire regained their lands? Watch closely the complicated story of war, schemes and the attempt of the ruling dynasty to restore the Empire."
"The blood of thousands already waters the fields of Northumbria and the carrion birds grow fat. As Normandy and Denmark battle for the fate of England, the question remains: what will be left for the victor?"
"Greetings, traveler. I am Halik II Watar, son of Yalik II Watar, the ruler of this realm. You stand in Sabaean lands, a land of many riches, and it is from here that greatness can begin!"
"Seventeen years ago the land of Esen was at peace, Alliances were made merchants pouches were filled with coin and wagons full of trade goods from all over the lands. As the years rolled along hardship hit the land alliances were broken by the threat of war and invasion. Less and less merchants traveled the roads, an ancient evil started to awaken as unfamiliar shadows and dark magic grew. A prophecy was told of four brothers that would awaken a hope that would help defeat the ancient evil that is awakening."
The Writer's Study runs a number of weekly and monthly competitions for members to participate in, with glory and writer's points being the spoils of the victor! See the links below for this week's updates on the Tale of the Week, After Action Report of the Month and Creative Writing Monthly Competitions:
Submissions for TotW 215: The Roman Senate have been extended for another week due to an insufficient number of entries. Key words are:
Bloody.
Conniving.
Squabble.
Priority.
Law.
The winner of TotW 214: Krak de Chevaliers has just been announced! It's Strengelicher the Crusader with his heroic tale from the Holy Lands. Congratulations!
Voting for MAARC XLVIII has just ended! The winning AAR has been declared In the Holy Lands by the ever-present Strengelicher the Crusader who seems to be on a winning streak. Congratulations again!
Still, the 3rd winner hasn't been decided yet, so please hurry up and and cast your vote here. The full list of winners will be announced next week.
MAARC XLVIX is still open for entries! The nominated AAR must have at least two chapters in April. Don't forget that there are three writer's medal points there for the taking!
Here you can find a collection of useful links that will be of aid in navigating the Writer's Study. In addition to this, any news that may be of interest to this most creative sub-fora's denizens, whether that be announcements, information or previews, will also be listed here:
The Advertising Board: A good number of members have subscribed to this thread, so posting there when you make an update will let them all know (as well as being informed through this letter - double win!)
The Duel and Challenge Thread: A place where aspiring writers can lock horns over matters literary pride and prestige, challenging each other to battles of wit.
The Critic's Quill: A fantastic monthly publication that runs reviews on your creative works, and provides excellent articles on how to improve your writing style and technique. The Quill is currently looking for guest writers, so if you feel you have a great idea for an article and the drive to make it happen, please contact the editor - m_1512.
Well, thank you for joining us in this week's catch up. Again, the team relishes feedback, whether that is suggestions on what you'd like to see, or comments on how we can improve what we have already. None of us bite , and we're all fairly hygienic (except from Smitherly, but I can assure you the rumours are a gross exaggeration) - you've got nothing to fear from popping down to have a chat. We've also had a word with the administration staff upstairs to see about ordering the long parchment. Unfortunately, for reasons that involve a broken supply cart, a flute and a bonobo chimpanzee, we're going to be unable to requisition new stocks. For the foreseeable future, we'll be dispatching your newsletters in two parts. Sincere apologies for the inconvenience.
Episode II
Episode: II - Sunday 27th, April 2014
Hello and welcome back to another edition of the Clerk's Collection! I am Clerk Retreat, and this is my colleague, Clerk Maximinus. Unfortunately Smitherly threw a feral rat at Clerk Tigillenus while he was popping out to use the loo - his hand is now bright green and covered in purple spots! Until he's recovered, he's been returned to the surface and signed off from work; poor chap won't be holding a quill for a short while. Intern McScottish has been sent down to provide manpower, so we'll see how things go. Other than this minor inconvenience, the press has rolled on - and so has the Writer's Study! Join me as we take yet another of our weekly commutes through the fantastical paths of the Study (and it's not at all because I'm looking for an excuse to get out of the sewer!).
The lifeblood of the Writer's Study is of course always going to be the great members who submit their creative works for everyone else to enjoy. See the links below for all of the stories and AARs which have been updated this week. Please read and rep generously:
"Of all the civilizations of the ancient world one of the most mysterious was that of the Suebii. From humble beginnings to a great power, how did this civilization climb the ladder that so many others had fallen? What allowed them to deal with the challenges and opportunities provided? Combining science and storytelling the great Suebian mystery slowly unravels to reveal a society, culture, and civilization unlike anything the world had ever seen. This book dissects everything we know about the mysterious Germanic peoples and presents it in a way that is easily digestible.
"The following two books, about ten chapters each, start about mid-way into a documented and completed Barcid Carthage campaign, and cover the political and geopolitical intrigue leading up to the Carthaginian civil war and the founding of a Barcid Empire. This leading into a winner-take-all total-war with the formidable Galatians."
Fire and blood, the inexplicable doom that was the thirty years war erupts centuries before it was meant to: begun by a series of despotic warrior emperors, the Reich that emerged out of Charlemagne's Frankish empire stands in 1220 as a broken nation. Countless noble houses have been consumed by the rage of war, villages have been crushed under the mailed feet of successive generations of German soldiers.
The Eastern Roman Empire had grown more powerful in the wake of Constantine's death. Thriving on rich resources and healthy trade, the forces of the East were unmatched anywhere. Emperor Valens Flavius and his two sons, Theodosius Flavius and Honorius Flavius set about bringing order back to the outreaches of the Empire.
I am an old man, older then my time should allow. The eldest brother, yet, I have seen all my siblings succumb before me. It is my children, my nieces, that keep me going, but I fear it will not be long before I leave this world behind for good. I am Doran Martell, Prince of Dorne
Titanium Core, by HunterKYA. "The adventures of Tyler Braedan and his band of mercenaries, as they travel the galaxy to make trouble for the Alliance. Through this journey, Braedan hopes to find vengeance against an Alliance officer, his former commander, who's responsible for orchestrating a massacre years before."
The Writer's Study runs a number of weekly and monthly competitions for members to participate in, with glory and writer's points being the spoils of the victor! See the links below for this week's updates on the Tale of the Week, After Action Report of the Month and Creative Writing Monthly Competitions:
Submissions for TotW 215: The Roman Senate have been extended for another week due to an insufficient number of entries. Key words are:
Bloody
Conniving
Squabble
Priority
Law
The 3rd place in MAARC XLVIII has just been decided! And the three worthy winners are... (*drum roll sound*)
MAARC XLVIX is still open for entries! The nominated AAR must have at least two chapters in April. Don't forget that there are three writer's medal points there for the taking! The current entries are:
The fifth edition of the Monthly Creative Writing Competition (MCWC) is open and ready to accept any eligible entries! According to the rules, the submitted story must be at least 1000 words long or be a serialised story or collection of short stories that have two updates of 500 words or more each in the months of February, March and April. So far there is only one entry:
A bellicose mood has suddenly engulfed the once quiet halls of the Writer's Study! Witty insults have been heard flying through the air as the authors have returned to test their quills in battle ! A new duel is taking place right now between Lyra and Axis Sunroar. You can vote for your favourite tale until May 2nd.
Stay tuned for the upcoming battle of moderators! Maximinus Thrax has just challenged Ybbon "The Bull", a renown master duellist.
Here you can find a collection of useful links that will be of aid in navigating the Writer's Study. In addition to this, any news that may be of interest to this most creative sub-fora's denizens, whether that be announcements, information or previews, will also be listed here:
The Advertising Board: A good number of members have subscribed to this thread, so posting there when you make an update will let them all know (as well as being informed through this letter - double win!)
The Duel and Challenge Thread: A place where aspiring writers can lock horns over matters literary pride and prestige, challenging each other to battles of wit.
The Critic's Quill: A fantastic monthly publication that runs reviews on your creative works, and provides excellent articles on how to improve your writing style and technique. The Quill is currently looking for guest writers, so if you feel you have a great idea for an article and the drive to make it happen, please contact the editor - m_1512.
And so, that - as they say - is that. If you'd like to pop down for a word, or maybe just throw wet sponges at Intern McScottish (clean water only please), we can be found in the same place as normal. Incidentally, we've also filed a formal complaint about Smitherly with the chaps upstairs, so there's even a rapidly diminishing risk of someone biting you. The 'Easter egg' incident was one thing, and stewing the tea quite another - but throwing a rat at poor old Tigellinus was not cricket! In any case, that's enough that unpleasant business. To all of our fine readers, best wishes from the Clerk team, and be sure to join us next week!
Swords of the Sea: 1066 has come and gone, the Danelaw torn down and a new kingdom built in the image of its Norman rulers. But with time, wounds heal and what is broken can be reforged. The Danes have returned with steel, and seek to reclaim what is theirs. The Great Expedition: Pax Anglia, one of Earth's great empires, sprawling across the stars. On their newly colonised planet of Nova Sydney, adventure awaits on the savage frontier - Henry Boyce steps forward to lead an expedition to pierce the Bushlands' wild heart. Winter War: Finland, 1939. The Soviet war machine has begun its indomitable advance from the east. Of all its neighbours, only Finland stands alone in defiance. Conscript Anton Bezrukov prepares for a quick victory, but the reality is far bloodier...
Re: The Clerk's Collection - congealed and collaborated [archive]
Episode: III - Sunday 15th June 2014
Hello and welcome back to an extremely belated edition of the Clerk's Collection! I am Clerk Retreat, and these are my colleagues, Clerks Maximinus, Tigellinus and McScottish. An ill-advised practical joke from the denizens of the Mudpit resulted in a rather malevolent (and insecure) Djinni being summoned in our kitchen. After Smitherly told him he had a big nose, it sealed inside the printing room. Desperate measures were required after a month or so, as we had eaten the last of our sandals and all of the remaining printing parchment. Eventually, Maximinus bravely surrendered his toga so we could fashion a make-shift dress for Clerk McScottish. At this point, Clerk Tigellinus staged a daring 'rescue' (wielding a rather fearsome reel cleaner from the press) of his fair 'maiden', demonstrating the power of 'true love'. Facing an onslaught of Narrative Impetus, the Djinni evaporated into a cloud of questionable plot points. Verily, the day was saved. As the team emerged blinking into the foetid light of the main sewer, we were elated to see how well the Study had been doing in our absence. See below for a renewed catalogue of this weeks comings and goings!
The lifeblood of the Writer's Study is of course always going to be the great members who submit their creative works for everyone else to enjoy. See the links below for all of the stories and AARs which have been updated this week. Please read and rep generously:
The Writer's Study runs a number of weekly and monthly competitions for members to participate in, with glory and writer's points being the spoils of the victor! See the links below for this week's updates on the Tale of the Week, After Action Report of the Month and Creative Writing Monthly Competitions:
Tiebreaker for ToTW 219: With the title 'After the War', a bloody stalemate has developed. Consequently, a tiebreaker vote has been called to determine who'll be writing the history books after this particular war is over. Polls are open until the 19th of June, so vote quickly!
ToTW 220 pending vote: With submissions for ToTW 220 - 'Gauls' now closed, you can expect a voting thread for our three contenders to be raised shortly. Please be sure to vote and lend your thoughts once it is.
The three winners for MAARC XLXVIX has now been decided. In a close competition, the following selection were picked:
MAARC L is still open for submissions, as only two of the requisite five submissions have been submitted. Please consider submitting some of your fantastic works before the end of the month - I know some of the AARs listed in today's edition have the potential to be competition winners! The current entrants are:
MCWC V is ailing in much the same manner as the MAARC - we currently have four out of five submissions needed to get the competition rolling. As the absolute tsunami of Creative Writing content we've got listed here demonstrates, there's a lot of absolutely fantastic work being published. Drop a link in that thread before the end of the month, and you can look forward to a bunch of free advertisement, and a shot at taking home a podium position! The current entrants are:
Here you can find a collection of useful links that will be of aid in navigating the Writer's Study. In addition to this, any news that may be of interest to this most creative sub-fora's denizens, whether that be announcements, information or previews, will also be listed here:
The Advertising Board: A good number of members have subscribed to this thread, so posting there when you make an update will let them all know (as well as being informed through this letter - double win!)
The Duel and Challenge Thread: A place where aspiring writers can lock horns over matters literary pride and prestige, challenging each other to battles of wit.
The Critic's Quill: A fantastic monthly publication that runs reviews on your creative works, and provides excellent articles on how to improve your writing style and technique. The Quill is currently looking for guest writers, so if you feel you have a great idea for an article and the drive to make it happen, please contact the editor - m_1512.
So, as is often the case, all is well that ends well. While Clerk McScottish is showing a rather worrying fondness for his improvised dress (which he's taken to calling it a 'kilt', or some such nonsense), the team is otherwise fine from its extended detainment. We would of course be happy to hear from you chaps, especially on subject as to how we will be striking back at the D&D fora. Clerk Tigellinus is a firm advocate of concealing mousetraps in the 'debaters Y-fronts, but I couldn't help but feel that wasn't quite cricket and more than a little mean spirited. In any case, you can now expect your regular parcels of mildly irreverent Writer's Study news to be resuming regular production. The Collection is back, ladies and gentlemen!
Swords of the Sea: 1066 has come and gone, the Danelaw torn down and a new kingdom built in the image of its Norman rulers. But with time, wounds heal and what is broken can be reforged. The Danes have returned with steel, and seek to reclaim what is theirs. The Great Expedition: Pax Anglia, one of Earth's great empires, sprawling across the stars. On their newly colonised planet of Nova Sydney, adventure awaits on the savage frontier - Henry Boyce steps forward to lead an expedition to pierce the Bushlands' wild heart. Winter War: Finland, 1939. The Soviet war machine has begun its indomitable advance from the east. Of all its neighbours, only Finland stands alone in defiance. Conscript Anton Bezrukov prepares for a quick victory, but the reality is far bloodier...