p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"After sailing for several weeks, Johann finally managed to make it to the Northern Markets. As he wandered through the markets, he found no one familiar. Instead, everyone selling their food and wares were a bunch of young Vikings that looked like they just took over their parents' businesses./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"He decided to ask one of them for information since it would seem he was more out of the loop than he thought. So he walked up to one that was selling fresh fruits and vegetables. "Hello there, young man. By chance, could you tell me where all the dragons have gone?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The young seller shrugged. "No clue, sir. They disappeared overnight about ten years ago. I was 12 at the time, fighting off a nasty case of Eel Pox. Thought it was a fevered dream, them leaving like that, but judging by my parents' reaction when I brought it up, they told me they weren't coming back."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""And where might you be from, young lad?" Johann asked, quite pleased that this kid was a talker./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Berserker Island," the seller replied. "After the dragons left, the island couldn't sustain the two tribes that had merged, so we all moved to a bigger island not far from here. Chief Dagur said his brother found it a few years prior and named it Dragon's Edge, which is still its name today. Would you like a map? You look like someone who could use a kind place to live."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Johann just smiled. "No thanks, lad. I know how to get there. However, I am in need of a crew. You see, I am the only survivor of my ship after a deadly storm took the lives of everyone aboard. I barely made it myself. So I've been sailing these open waters in a makeshift boat for weeks. Do you know where I might be able to find men looking for work?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The seller looked at Johann with pity. "You could try the tavern, but be warned, many of them in there used to work for some awful men that liked killing dragons."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I'll take that into consideration," Johann said before slithering away in the direction of the tavern./p
hr style="margin: 0.875em auto 1.2525em; border-style: solid; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; width: 359.234px; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15.12px; background-color: #ffffff;" /
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"br /Johann entered the tavern, loudly slamming the door as he came in, thus getting everyone's attention. He watched, bemused, as several stared at him like they'd seen a ghost. A few looked confused about who this man was, boldly entering their territory./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Judging by the looks on everyone, most of you know who I am," Johann said. "For those of you that don't, allow me to introduce myself. I am Johann, one the most feared dragon hunters in the Archipelago. Rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated. I am alive and out for revenge."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The tavern stayed silent to the count of five before everyone burst out laughing. Finally, one man stood up and walked over to him. "Johann, once upon a time, you might have been feared by a few islands, but not enough to make the history books. Besides, the world no longer needs dragon hunters, not after Berk's Chief made them disappear overnight. Dragons are nothing but stories of the olden days. We tell our little ones stories about them so they don't get out of bed at night."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Berk's Chief? You mean Stoick?" Johann asked, confusion covering his face. /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The man walked back to his table. "No, he died. The story goes he went toe to toe with the Night Fury and lost. His son, the one that's missing a leg, took over the tribe. About a year into his new role, he got on Grimmel's bad side, killed him, and sent the dragons away before moving the tribe to a new island. We spent a couple of years lookin' but ultimately decided to give up and go home to our families. We all have a new line of work. I, myself, became a breadmaker. Amos, over there, became a farmer. We've all moved on." The man took a swig of his mead. "Time you do as well."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Johann felt rage boiling inside him. He let out a guttural scream and began destroying anything he could get his hands on. How dare that brat get rid of the dragons. How dare he change the course of history. How dare he turn his men into bakers and farmers. He needed warriors, and warriors is what he will have./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""One of you is going to give me all the information I need," Johann demanded, breathing heavily. "If not..." He picked up a knife and threw it at the bartender, hitting him right between the eyes. "... you will all die. Now tell, where is Hiccup Haddock, and where did he send the dragons?"/p
hr style="margin: 0.875em auto 1.2525em; border-style: solid; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; width: 359.234px; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15.12px; background-color: #ffffff;" /
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Author's Note: For those that are reading, please tell me what you think and feel about the story so far. Is the pace too slow? Are the lines not very good? Are the characters too out of character? Where can I improve without having to take this down? Has fanfiction for the series just run its course?/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Sorry feeling a little self-conscious about all this. I want my story to do well, and the lack of response has me feeling like I should just bury this story./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"He decided to ask one of them for information since it would seem he was more out of the loop than he thought. So he walked up to one that was selling fresh fruits and vegetables. "Hello there, young man. By chance, could you tell me where all the dragons have gone?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The young seller shrugged. "No clue, sir. They disappeared overnight about ten years ago. I was 12 at the time, fighting off a nasty case of Eel Pox. Thought it was a fevered dream, them leaving like that, but judging by my parents' reaction when I brought it up, they told me they weren't coming back."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""And where might you be from, young lad?" Johann asked, quite pleased that this kid was a talker./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Berserker Island," the seller replied. "After the dragons left, the island couldn't sustain the two tribes that had merged, so we all moved to a bigger island not far from here. Chief Dagur said his brother found it a few years prior and named it Dragon's Edge, which is still its name today. Would you like a map? You look like someone who could use a kind place to live."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Johann just smiled. "No thanks, lad. I know how to get there. However, I am in need of a crew. You see, I am the only survivor of my ship after a deadly storm took the lives of everyone aboard. I barely made it myself. So I've been sailing these open waters in a makeshift boat for weeks. Do you know where I might be able to find men looking for work?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The seller looked at Johann with pity. "You could try the tavern, but be warned, many of them in there used to work for some awful men that liked killing dragons."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I'll take that into consideration," Johann said before slithering away in the direction of the tavern./p
hr style="margin: 0.875em auto 1.2525em; border-style: solid; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; width: 359.234px; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15.12px; background-color: #ffffff;" /
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"br /Johann entered the tavern, loudly slamming the door as he came in, thus getting everyone's attention. He watched, bemused, as several stared at him like they'd seen a ghost. A few looked confused about who this man was, boldly entering their territory./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Judging by the looks on everyone, most of you know who I am," Johann said. "For those of you that don't, allow me to introduce myself. I am Johann, one the most feared dragon hunters in the Archipelago. Rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated. I am alive and out for revenge."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The tavern stayed silent to the count of five before everyone burst out laughing. Finally, one man stood up and walked over to him. "Johann, once upon a time, you might have been feared by a few islands, but not enough to make the history books. Besides, the world no longer needs dragon hunters, not after Berk's Chief made them disappear overnight. Dragons are nothing but stories of the olden days. We tell our little ones stories about them so they don't get out of bed at night."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Berk's Chief? You mean Stoick?" Johann asked, confusion covering his face. /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The man walked back to his table. "No, he died. The story goes he went toe to toe with the Night Fury and lost. His son, the one that's missing a leg, took over the tribe. About a year into his new role, he got on Grimmel's bad side, killed him, and sent the dragons away before moving the tribe to a new island. We spent a couple of years lookin' but ultimately decided to give up and go home to our families. We all have a new line of work. I, myself, became a breadmaker. Amos, over there, became a farmer. We've all moved on." The man took a swig of his mead. "Time you do as well."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Johann felt rage boiling inside him. He let out a guttural scream and began destroying anything he could get his hands on. How dare that brat get rid of the dragons. How dare he change the course of history. How dare he turn his men into bakers and farmers. He needed warriors, and warriors is what he will have./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""One of you is going to give me all the information I need," Johann demanded, breathing heavily. "If not..." He picked up a knife and threw it at the bartender, hitting him right between the eyes. "... you will all die. Now tell, where is Hiccup Haddock, and where did he send the dragons?"/p
hr style="margin: 0.875em auto 1.2525em; border-style: solid; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; width: 359.234px; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15.12px; background-color: #ffffff;" /
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Author's Note: For those that are reading, please tell me what you think and feel about the story so far. Is the pace too slow? Are the lines not very good? Are the characters too out of character? Where can I improve without having to take this down? Has fanfiction for the series just run its course?/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Sorry feeling a little self-conscious about all this. I want my story to do well, and the lack of response has me feeling like I should just bury this story./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p