Hidden Gem Spotlight: Story Corner Edition #2
Ten to twenty admirers are really not enough when it comes to writing of this quality. In this week’s edition of the Story Corner’s Hidden Gem Spotlight, we’re going to take a look at a long story, a short story and a poem which deserve much higher praise!
First, we’ll tackle the long story, a tale fraught thus far with brotherly love, mystery and politics. Oh yeah, and werebears. Yes, werebears. Men that are bears.
With an uncanny knack for storytelling which plucks the heartstrings, breaks you into a hearty chuckle and sets you on the edge of your seat (sometimes even all at once – she’s that good), SpottedFawn shows Skyrim from completely clueless eyes; the eyes of the Skaal.
Legends of the Skaal will chronicle the lives of two warrior brothers as fate guides them on harrowing journeys to test the limits of their bonds and the strength of their character. Dragons have returned to the lands of their ancestors, threatening fire and ruin to all; ancient powers stir in the shadows, growing stronger with each passing moment. To mark the turning wheels of fate in the Fourth Era of Man and Mer, a Frost Moon hangs high above Tamriel, shedding light on the unseen.
Though their priorities and dispositions differ drastically, the pair of brothers prove the strength of their mutual love through every trial. All the while, Fawn brings readers closer to them. She has a beautiful way of warming you to even the most pugnacious of characters, even encouraging you to support them through poorly-made decisions.
Fawn’s portrayal of the Skaal has to be my favourite thing about the story. She has seriously fleshed out their culture and lifestyle, but the best part is how hopelessly out of place the Skaal brothers are in Skyrim and Tamriel as a whole. The irony of a reader from planet Earth wondering “How can these guys not know what a high elf is?” is too good to be true.
Fawn also posts a new chapter of Legends of the Skaal every Friday. How she can pump out such wittiness and gripping adventure each week is utterly beyond me. If all of that isn’t enough to convince you to check this story out, I recommend you think long and hard about your priorities.
The second feature changes the mood of this edition entirely. This completed five-part short story is uncharacteristic of Idesto a’Shinbira, whose style is usually upbeat and amusing, so it may catch you off-guard with its poignancy.
Breezehome by Justin Schroeder
Following Imperial Dragonborn Idesto, Dragonborn Alone shows the restlessness of a hero after the dragons have been slain and fair maidens rescued. With a wife and kids, he almost manages to settle down – until the cruel nature of the world catches up with him and takes everything away.
(Author) Idesto’s peculiar – but not incorrect – use of punctuation may seem a bit confusing at first, but it’s easy to come to appreciate his skill at creating dramatic pauses. The protagonist struggles with his reality in a way that engages the reader, asking himself questions and answering them with passion. It aids the reader in truly appreciating the gravity of his situation and sympathising with his pain on a very personal level.
Dragonborn Alone is truly a tale of isolation and despair. Go on and read it. But be sure to bring tissues.
Don’t dry your eyes yet; the last but certainly not least feature will only eke the heartbreak. One of Phil’s most underrated masterpieces displayed in an unwavering AABB rhyme scheme, this poem is practically screaming for more recognition.
The Forgotten by Phil
You are introduced to The Forgotten with bright imagery and expressions of freedom, lulled into the false sense that this will be a vibrant poem about nature. However, the subject quickly takes a turn for the tragic as the narrator divulges lost dreams and deep loneliness.
When I first read this poem, I was struck by the way such a warm scene could be seen so differently through melancholy eyes. Natural beauty is transformed into morbid metaphors which suit the narrator’s broken frame of mind. Toward the end of the poem, the word choice and past tense references to death grow increasingly mysterious, until you start to wonder if the narrator is in fact a ghost…
It is a subtle art to turn something as lively and vivid as a sparkling river into a mirror of misery – an art which Phil has mastered.
Legendary River by jjpeabody
I hope you reached this point with two new stories on your to-read list and a poem open in the next tab! There are plenty more where that came from. Stay tuned for the next edition of the Story Corner’s Spotlight, which will be written by Teineeva in a couple of weeks’ time. Until then, happy reading!
Hidden Gem Spotlight: Story Corner Edition #2
Ten to twenty admirers are really not enough when it comes to writing of this quality. In this week’s edition of the Story Corner’s Hidden Gem Spotlight, we’re going to take a look at a long story, a short story and a poem which deserve much higher praise!
First, we’ll tackle the long story, a tale fraught thus far with brotherly love, mystery and politics. Oh yeah, and werebears. Yes, werebears. Men that are bears.
With an uncanny knack for storytelling which plucks the heartstrings, breaks you into a hearty chuckle and sets you on the edge of your seat (sometimes even all at once – she’s that good), SpottedFawn shows Skyrim from completely clueless eyes; the eyes of the Skaal.
Legends of the Skaal will chronicle the lives of two warrior brothers as fate guides them on harrowing journeys to test the limits of their bonds and the strength of their character. Dragons have returned to the lands of their ancestors, threatening fire and ruin to all; ancient powers stir in the shadows, growing stronger with each passing moment. To mark the turning wheels of fate in the Fourth Era of Man and Mer, a Frost Moon hangs high above Tamriel, shedding light on the unseen.
Though their priorities and dispositions differ drastically, the pair of brothers prove the strength of their mutual love through every trial. All the while, Fawn brings readers closer to them. She has a beautiful way of warming you to even the most pugnacious of characters, even encouraging you to support them through poorly-made decisions.
Fawn’s portrayal of the Skaal has to be my favourite thing about the story. She has seriously fleshed out their culture and lifestyle, but the best part is how hopelessly out of place the Skaal brothers are in Skyrim and Tamriel as a whole. The irony of a reader from planet Earth wondering “How can these guys not know what a high elf is?” is too good to be true.
Fawn also posts a new chapter of Legends of the Skaal every Friday. How she can pump out such wittiness and gripping adventure each week is utterly beyond me. If all of that isn’t enough to convince you to check this story out, I recommend you think long and hard about your priorities.
The second feature changes the mood of this edition entirely. This completed five-part short story is uncharacteristic of Idesto a’Shinbira, whose style is usually upbeat and amusing, so it may catch you off-guard with its poignancy.
Breezehome by Justin Schroeder
Following Imperial Dragonborn Idesto, Dragonborn Alone shows the restlessness of a hero after the dragons have been slain and fair maidens rescued. With a wife and kids, he almost manages to settle down – until the cruel nature of the world catches up with him and takes everything away.
(Author) Idesto’s peculiar – but not incorrect – use of punctuation may seem a bit confusing at first, but it’s easy to come to appreciate his skill at creating dramatic pauses. The protagonist struggles with his reality in a way that engages the reader, asking himself questions and answering them with passion. It aids the reader in truly appreciating the gravity of his situation and sympathising with his pain on a very personal level.
Dragonborn Alone is truly a tale of isolation and despair. Go on and read it. But be sure to bring tissues.
Don’t dry your eyes yet; the last but certainly not least feature will only eke the heartbreak. One of Phil’s most underrated masterpieces displayed in an unwavering AABB rhyme scheme, this poem is practically screaming for more recognition.
The Forgotten by Phil
You are introduced to The Forgotten with bright imagery and expressions of freedom, lulled into the false sense that this will be a vibrant poem about nature. However, the subject quickly takes a turn for the tragic as the narrator divulges lost dreams and deep loneliness.
When I first read this poem, I was struck by the way such a warm scene could be seen so differently through melancholy eyes. Natural beauty is transformed into morbid metaphors which suit the narrator’s broken frame of mind. Toward the end of the poem, the word choice and past tense references to death grow increasingly mysterious, until you start to wonder if the narrator is in fact a ghost…
It is a subtle art to turn something as lively and vivid as a sparkling river into a mirror of misery – an art which Phil has mastered.
Legendary River by jjpeabody
I hope you reached this point with two new stories on your to-read list and a poem open in the next tab! There are plenty more where that came from. Stay tuned for the next edition of the Story Corner’s Spotlight, which will be written by Teineeva in a couple of weeks’ time. Until then, happy reading!
I'm glad you want to get reading, because seriously, these texts are in the spotlight for a reason. 
