Tale of the Week 270: Three Kingdoms - WINNER'S CIRCLE!

**Caillagh de Bodemloze** · February 05, 2018, 10:27 AM

Creative Workshop Competitions - Check out our sister competitions here on TWC! << Picture of the Week Competitions | Tale of the Week Competition | Monthly Writers' Study Competitions >>

Three Kingdoms

Unsurprisingly, this competition inspired writing about conflict. The aftermath of conflict; the hoped-for beautiful result when the conflict is long over; and the beginning of the battle. Our winner was chesser2538, with a tale of hope and bravery amidst darkness. If you have not already done so, read the winning entry below:

TotW 270: Three Kingdoms - WINNING SUBMISSION Out of the Darkness

Out of the darkness they came, fell swarms of twisted creatures of the most evil intent; corrupted souls that had clawed their way out of the deepest recesses of hell to emerge upon the earth to bring pain and torment to the living. Their march had ravaged the land, cutting a swath of death wherever they went. Towns burned leaving only ashes behind, men fought in defense of their homeland, only to die upon the sword.

On this day it seemed fated that more men would die, their lives spent in the fight for survival, in the hopes that one day this great evil would be defeated and peace and harmony would return to their lives. They fought not just for themselves, but for the future of humanity. There would be no surrender; it would be either total victory or total defeat.

These men had lost many things, but hope was not one of them; as the enemy prepared to assault their defenses they stood ready. With weapons drawn they braced themselves for the fight that was soon to come. Staring out across the battlefield they watched as dark lines of armored figures approached, the sound of clanking metal audible, while an acrid stench filled the air. On the men’s side near silence, no words were spoken; every man here knew what was coming.

Ever nearer they drew, the pounding sound of their footsteps rising up in the air like a mad chorus of drums. The fetid stench they carried was almost nauseating now as they drew close. As if on cue they let off with an ear piercing cry, a banshee like wail that sent a chill up the spine of each man. In response the defenders begin banging their spears in a rhythmic beat before letting off with their own battle cry.

With a final cry the enemy charged, moving forth to strike against the men’s defenses; a raving mass of flesh and metal intent on destruction. Standing against them the resolve of men; each side fighting for their own goal, each dying to achieve it.

Thank you, as always, to those who entered and those who voted.

TotW 270: Submission thread | Voting thread

The submission thread for Tale of the Week 271: Henry VIII can be found here.

**Commissar Caligula_** · February 05, 2018, 05:53 PM

Congratulations chesser2538

**Tigellinus** · February 05, 2018, 08:46 PM

Fantastic work Chaser2538! An excellent piece of writing!

**Alwyn** · February 06, 2018, 12:05 PM

Well done, chesser2538! I hope to see more of your writing in the Study.

I enjoyed reading all of the entries, thank you to everyone who submitted stories, all who voted and to Caillagh for hosting this round of the competition.