Tell a story in ten words.

[Tezkat]

Last month, Penny Arcade ran a contest to tell a story set in World of Warcraft... in exactly ten words. Here were the winners:

Overlord Saurfang is only afraid of one thing... Mrs. Saurfang.

Naked they run, level 1 banks: Clark Kents of Azeroth.

The gunshot echoed like a ghost with nobody to haunt.

The child had vaguely Tauren features. He left, saying nothing.

"Stop making sound effects for spells," she said. "It's annoying."

And let's not forget this little gem:

Show me on this doll, where the murloc touched you.


I don't play WoW, but I thought it was a really neat idea and maybe a fun writing exercise to try over here. So... your task is to write a really short story set in the DMFA universe. Paint an evocative scene using exactly ten words--no more, no less. It doesn't need to be related to what the previous poster wrote. (It can be, but the point is for the ten words to stand on their own as a complete episode.)


I'll start:

Jyrras asked, "So... are you?" Abel grinned and leaned closer.


Easy, huh? Now you try.

[Darkdragon]

Dan loomed over Dark Pegasus, spork in hand - and struck.

"Bad Nightmare? Were Mab's Brownies in them?"
"Unfortunately, they were."

Into the room came hell spawn which were Jyrras' sisters.

"I swear! She yonder had fangs!" quoth he, obviously shaken.

[Tezkat]

I like those.

The door opened. He gasped. "Please wear a shirt, Wildy!"

[Darkdragon]

Before today, never have I seen a lake on fire.

[Tezkat]

The cat attacked me. Whatever for? I'm only human.

[Darkdragon]

Are we the only two that are posting these?!

Doctor Ink, here comes another 'Cubi for the placement exam.

[Tezkat]

Maybe there will be more interest tomorrow. The thread did start kinda late on a Sunday.

Ink pulled out his long, hard needle. The patient fainted.

[Darkdragon]

It is a national holiday in Canada on Monday... (Like that has anything to do with the previous statement )

Fainting happened to be better than the alternative - shōnen ai

[Tezkat]

Yup. Where are all the other creative Canadians?


Evil minions kidnapped me. Why are you wearing a dress?

[Raffe]

The rats in the basement pay rent to get cable.

[Tezkat]

Yay! New players!



Careful. Undead don't like having their heads cut off.

[Cogidubnus]

the Incubus licked his claws, and considered a wayward soul.

[Tezkat]

Dan heard Dragons growling. Just where had Fi taken him?

[Raffe]

Aaryanna told Dan he must learn control of his powers.
Although a pacifist, Aliyka can enter a berserker bloodlust state.
A child of Dan and Matilda would have many limbs.

[Darkdragon]

Holy, that's not the right way to use a spork!

[techmaster-glitch]

The new gryph-mech activated, and Jyrras grinned widely.

[Tezkat]

The new gryph-mech activated, and Jyrras grinned widely.

Um... that's only eight words. Nine if you want to consider "gryph-mech" as two words.


Gryph-Mech Experiment: Failed. But he got dinner and a movie.

[techmaster-glitch]

Oh... I though it just had to be less than ten words

[Raffe]

Oh... I though it just had to be less than ten words

add had activated, and it will work

Though hiding from Fa'Lina, Abel is more afraid of spiders.

[Darkdragon]

That just dethroned Alexi as Furre's scariest thing in existence!

[Tezkat]

Yup. Exactly ten words. I updated the rules to make it a bit more clear.


The great dragon fears only one thing: Fa'Lina wanting grandchildren.

[Raffe]

Pyroduck gloated that Alexsi had brought him tea wearing little.

[Darkdragon]

Pyroduck gloated that Alexsi had brought him tea wearing little.

I'd rather you use "scantly clad"

Deebs discover the numerous cumbersome consequences of being named "Deathbringer".

[Tezkat]

Well, you gotta work with whatever fits into your ten words. Stylistically, however, it does help to use the active voice with exciting action verbs. It makes the micro-stories punchier and more interesting. You have so little room to work that a lot must be left to the imagination. It really is a great writing exercise!

Try this take on it, for instance:

Dan's jaw dropped. "My sister brought you tea wearing what?!?"

[Darkdragon]

"I did forget to dress properly while bringing tea. So?"

[Tezkat]

Hmm...you can fit an entire story into only ten words:

He came. He saw. He conquered. Then? Beer and wenches.

[Eibborn]

Chaos and destruction everywhere! This inn is worse than adventuring!

[Darkdragon]

With a fury never before seen, the drunk was ejected.

[e_voyager]

With  her mighty eject hammer Alexsi rules Lost Lakes Inn.

"opps i said ban"

[Slowtini]

Ah, You'd make a PERFECT Adventurer slayer Dan, Good Job!