1 00:00:10,680 --> 00:00:14,640 Welcome Craftling's the most momentous episode ever released 2 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:17,360 on this podcast, Aside from the first, of course. 3 00:00:17,880 --> 00:00:21,040 This is the 1,000,000 Plays special. 4 00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:28,640 OK, this episode is quite long and before we get to the story 5 00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:32,119 by Zechariah, which is of course another banger Minecraft story, 6 00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:36,120 we do have an announcement. Firstly, this isn't the 7 00:00:36,120 --> 00:00:39,000 announcement and this isn't really news, but it was up in 8 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:40,680 the air whether it's going to happen or not. 9 00:00:41,320 --> 00:00:44,480 So the players not alone. A series of stories on this 10 00:00:44,480 --> 00:00:46,880 podcast. It will beginning a part 4. 11 00:00:47,480 --> 00:00:51,000 The story must go on. I'm currently in the middle of 12 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:54,760 writing it, so expecting not too long from now anyway. 13 00:00:54,760 --> 00:00:58,560 OK, so Microsoft Stories has a podcast for patrons over on 14 00:00:58,560 --> 00:01:01,000 Patreon, if you didn't know, called the Microsoft Stories 15 00:01:01,000 --> 00:01:03,560 Prologue Podcast. I've been promising content, 16 00:01:03,560 --> 00:01:05,920 besides only me, discussing the stories that are right for this 17 00:01:05,920 --> 00:01:09,040 podcast for a while now, and I'm excited to say it's finally 18 00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:11,960 arrived. The first story exclusive for 19 00:01:11,960 --> 00:01:14,200 the Prologue podcast is available right now. 20 00:01:14,960 --> 00:01:17,840 So what is this? So first prologue means 21 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:20,760 something that happens before a story and that's basically what 22 00:01:20,760 --> 00:01:23,200 these stories are. Minecraft Short Story's prologue 23 00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:25,680 podcast. It's content and stories and 24 00:01:25,680 --> 00:01:27,560 discussions that happened before the podcast. 25 00:01:28,680 --> 00:01:31,600 So this is a story focusing in on Carter. 26 00:01:31,720 --> 00:01:35,160 Carter starred inside episode 35 in the Ordeal of the Fortunate 27 00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:37,480 episode is just that name. That's also the name of the 28 00:01:37,480 --> 00:01:39,720 story. This prologue story picks up 29 00:01:39,720 --> 00:01:42,640 right after Carter gets the blade and we can see what 30 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:45,880 happens to Carter after that. It's available right now. 31 00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:47,880 It's available to patrons of any tier. 32 00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:51,120 If you want to find that, it's at patreon.com/minecraft Short 33 00:01:51,120 --> 00:01:54,280 Stories or I just have some links in of the description. 34 00:01:54,680 --> 00:01:59,120 Click any of those if you want. Finally, stick around after the 35 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:03,280 story because I'll be resenting a quiz testing your Minecraft 36 00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:06,040 knowledge. If you remember, we used to do 37 00:02:06,040 --> 00:02:09,000 one of these in every episode in the early days of the podcast. 38 00:02:09,479 --> 00:02:13,040 So in celebration of 1,000,000 plays, we're bringing it back. 39 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:15,880 Be warned, this is quite a hard question. 40 00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:19,280 I didn't even know this one until I formulated it. 41 00:02:20,160 --> 00:02:22,360 So if you want to test your Minecraft knowledge, stick 42 00:02:22,360 --> 00:02:25,880 around after the story. Also after the story is a quick 43 00:02:25,880 --> 00:02:29,560 listener Q&A where I answer your listener questions, though it is 44 00:02:29,560 --> 00:02:32,080 only two questions, so it's quite quick because I don't want 45 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:35,720 this episode to be 40 minutes long like the other ones because 46 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:38,440 that is bad for my retention. Yeah. 47 00:02:39,560 --> 00:02:43,520 Anyways, thank you to Zachariah for submitting this story and 48 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:49,080 let's get right into it. So this is when I read the story 49 00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:50,440 and I'll get right into the story. 50 00:02:50,440 --> 00:02:53,120 But I did just want to point out something funny I noticed about 51 00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:57,360 the 100K more plays special. So I realized on every single 52 00:02:57,360 --> 00:03:00,840 one of those I've been saying it felt like not so long ago, like 53 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:05,000 just yesterday, that I was reaching 1000 or 100 or 100,000 54 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:07,280 plays. And I've said that like five 55 00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:10,040 Times Now. So I have purposely not 56 00:03:10,040 --> 00:03:14,200 mentioned that at all in this episode because I decided to 57 00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:16,880 change it up from 1,000,000 plays because it doesn't really 58 00:03:16,880 --> 00:03:19,720 feel like yesterday that I reached 100,000 plays. 59 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:22,240 So I just want to point that out kind of funny. 60 00:03:22,880 --> 00:03:30,040 And yes, we will get into the story Now just to know before 61 00:03:30,040 --> 00:03:33,000 the story, I've artificially split this into two parts. 62 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:35,120 So Zechariah has not split this two parts. 63 00:03:35,120 --> 00:03:37,360 I had to cut in half just because it was so long. 64 00:03:38,080 --> 00:03:41,560 If it feels like a very abrupt into part one of the story, that 65 00:03:41,560 --> 00:03:43,160 was me cutting it, not Zechariah. 66 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:46,560 So you'll have to wait for Part 2, which will be got soon. 67 00:03:47,240 --> 00:03:48,800 But let's get right into the story. 68 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:53,560 The end of the hunt by Zechariah. 69 00:03:56,280 --> 00:04:00,440 Darkness, infinite shadow. That was all the I could see 70 00:04:00,440 --> 00:04:04,160 from the Spire of the city. The view paled in comparison to 71 00:04:04,160 --> 00:04:07,280 the blue sky of the overworld, or so I have heard. 72 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:11,200 I've never really seen it. The Builders had already moved 73 00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:13,160 deep underground by the time I was born. 74 00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:16,200 The struggles of our people run deep. 75 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:20,160 Everywhere we have gone, every new land we have entered, we've 76 00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:23,360 been forced to hide, to run, to completely move out due to 77 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:27,680 forces with unimaginable power. Many years ago, after an 78 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:31,080 exhausting transdimensional war, we accidentally created a 79 00:04:31,080 --> 00:04:33,400 hideous monster known as the Wither. 80 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:38,280 The Builders, My ancestors, were forced to Burrow underground to 81 00:04:38,280 --> 00:04:40,160 hide from the Withers deadly attacks. 82 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:44,320 It was there they built a great underground city, more vast and 83 00:04:44,320 --> 00:04:46,560 majestic than anything they had built on the surface. 84 00:04:46,560 --> 00:04:50,640 It was there they settled, they sang, they danced, they held 85 00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:53,080 feasts, told great stories and tales. 86 00:04:53,320 --> 00:04:56,760 They were happy. Happy, that is, until the Wither 87 00:04:56,760 --> 00:05:00,240 found them and may have taken many years, but the Wither broke 88 00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:03,040 through the barrier of stone that the overworld had provided 89 00:05:03,040 --> 00:05:05,280 for the Builders. They do not give up. 90 00:05:05,280 --> 00:05:07,880 However, the builders had a backup plan. 91 00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:09,720 Knowing they would not be safe forever. 92 00:05:10,440 --> 00:05:12,720 As soon as the Wither broke through the walls of the city's 93 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:15,880 cave, they activated a portal, something that could take them 94 00:05:15,880 --> 00:05:17,680 away from the hideous beast forever. 95 00:05:18,360 --> 00:05:22,200 Yet even this failed. Another beast with dead eyes but 96 00:05:22,200 --> 00:05:25,360 ten times the strength of the Wither, emerged from the portal 97 00:05:25,880 --> 00:05:28,720 and destroyed the Wither in a matter of seconds before moving 98 00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:32,120 on to the rest of the city. The citizens panicked and hid 99 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:35,720 from this new blind beast. Too tired to run, they tried to 100 00:05:35,720 --> 00:05:37,800 live in harmony with it by keeping quiet. 101 00:05:38,400 --> 00:05:41,280 Children were hushed, floors and streets were carpeted, and peace 102 00:05:41,280 --> 00:05:44,040 somewhat returned. This was the time period in 103 00:05:44,040 --> 00:05:46,920 which I was born. I remember as a young boy I 104 00:05:46,920 --> 00:05:49,400 would ignorantly play with the slimeball while the beast would 105 00:05:49,400 --> 00:05:53,000 roam the streets outside. We grew to call this beast the 106 00:05:53,000 --> 00:05:56,120 Warden because it imprisoned our voices and our music with its 107 00:05:56,120 --> 00:05:58,680 roars of anger. Life in this environment 108 00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:01,440 continued for years, but complete harmony with the 109 00:06:01,440 --> 00:06:04,080 Warden, though sought after, was impossible. 110 00:06:04,840 --> 00:06:07,440 One or two people died every month just because they made the 111 00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:09,880 slightest noise. It was no way to live. 112 00:06:11,000 --> 00:06:12,760 We eventually realized we had to leave. 113 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:16,400 I don't remember much, just the elders weeping as it took one 114 00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:18,600 last look at the beautiful city they had built. 115 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:22,600 We pilgrimed through the winding caves until we were sure the 116 00:06:22,600 --> 00:06:25,640 Warden would not find us, and we built a stronghold to ensure 117 00:06:25,640 --> 00:06:28,080 safety. While I was still young and had 118 00:06:28,080 --> 00:06:30,680 no voice in the matter, the elder builders agreed that we 119 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:32,880 should start over completely Start over. 120 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:35,640 They experimented with their items and their crafting 121 00:06:35,640 --> 00:06:38,000 abilities. After much trial and error, 122 00:06:38,200 --> 00:06:41,520 created in another portal, one that led to a completely new 123 00:06:41,520 --> 00:06:45,960 world, A dimension of desolation and darkness, home to next to no 124 00:06:45,960 --> 00:06:49,160 life, a land of endless Stony floating islands. 125 00:06:49,600 --> 00:06:51,320 It was here we unhappily settled. 126 00:06:52,520 --> 00:06:55,120 Many years have passed since the pilgrimage, and this new 127 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:57,200 beginning brings us to the start of our story. 128 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:02,640 I sat on the very top of our city. 129 00:07:02,960 --> 00:07:05,800 It was only one building, but it housed hundreds of builders. 130 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:08,920 It towered high into the air like the trunk of an overworld 131 00:07:08,920 --> 00:07:12,440 tree and branched down on all sides to more rooms to house us. 132 00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:15,080 The underground city may have been the pride of our 133 00:07:15,080 --> 00:07:17,640 grandfathers. These tree cities are the pride 134 00:07:17,640 --> 00:07:21,200 of our fathers. Even I lay down a slab or two at 135 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:23,840 a young age. For many years we have taken 136 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:26,280 shelter in our city, and I've prospered quite well. 137 00:07:27,120 --> 00:07:30,160 I stared off into the darkness, watching the black sky. 138 00:07:30,960 --> 00:07:32,960 Hey Mike, a voice said from behind me. 139 00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:35,720 Are you ready to go? I turned around. 140 00:07:35,720 --> 00:07:37,880 It was Ridge, my friend and Captain. 141 00:07:38,640 --> 00:07:42,520 Yeah, I guess so, I replied. We haven't seen anything for 142 00:07:42,520 --> 00:07:44,200 weeks though. Where do you think they went? 143 00:07:44,960 --> 00:07:46,800 Ridge grins and put his hand on my shoulder. 144 00:07:47,200 --> 00:07:48,680 They're probably just catching their breath. 145 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:50,960 Don't worry man, we'll get your name eventually. 146 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:54,960 Bridge was probably right, I was part of his crew of dragon 147 00:07:54,960 --> 00:07:57,120 hunters. Oh yeah, I guess I forgot to 148 00:07:57,120 --> 00:08:00,160 mention that this dimension is inhabited by thousands, if not 149 00:08:00,160 --> 00:08:02,440 millions of black purple eyed Dragons. 150 00:08:02,840 --> 00:08:06,160 Several crews, including ours, set off to kill the beasts and 151 00:08:06,160 --> 00:08:08,960 one of their wings which we craft into what we call Electra, 152 00:08:09,760 --> 00:08:12,400 a set of wings with which we can glide across the sky. 153 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:15,800 Flights was something we had never been capable of until 154 00:08:15,800 --> 00:08:18,520 arriving in this dimension to boost morale. 155 00:08:18,560 --> 00:08:21,680 Our creative game of sorts that we play when one of us does 156 00:08:21,680 --> 00:08:24,800 something of incredible talent, something truly jaw-dropping, 157 00:08:25,040 --> 00:08:28,560 we're in what we call a hunter name inspired by the incredible 158 00:08:28,560 --> 00:08:31,040 action. It's less of a game and more of 159 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:33,559 a rite of passage, a great initiation. 160 00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:36,000 I was the only one who had to earn his name. 161 00:08:36,559 --> 00:08:39,799 I had to go by Mike, the name given to me by my parents. 162 00:08:40,360 --> 00:08:42,679 Rich dressed her to a ship docked on the edge of the 163 00:08:42,720 --> 00:08:44,960 island. Come on, let's go kill some 164 00:08:44,960 --> 00:08:49,000 Dragons. When we arrived at the ship, the 165 00:08:49,000 --> 00:08:50,480 rest of the crew was already there. 166 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:54,360 It wasn't a large crew, but it was one with Heart Bridge was 167 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:57,240 our 18 year old captain. He LED us through the darkness 168 00:08:57,240 --> 00:09:00,520 of the great void with an inspiring tenacity and boldness, 169 00:09:00,920 --> 00:09:03,280 but also with brotherly compassion that was equally as 170 00:09:03,280 --> 00:09:05,920 inspiring. Snout was the youngest of the 171 00:09:05,920 --> 00:09:09,600 crew, but not the weakest. Snout had a knack for Redstone, 172 00:09:09,760 --> 00:09:12,160 the mysterious substance that provide us with power. 173 00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:15,320 Naturally, he was in charge of manning our TNT cannons. 174 00:09:15,320 --> 00:09:18,440 It was a dangerous job, especially for a 15 year old, 175 00:09:18,640 --> 00:09:20,360 but it was one perfectly suited for him. 176 00:09:21,240 --> 00:09:24,440 Then there was Pearl, 17 years of age, and our enchantress. 177 00:09:24,880 --> 00:09:28,000 While also good with a bow and arrow, Pearl's main specialty 178 00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:30,760 was the rare talent to read the ancient writing of the magical 179 00:09:30,760 --> 00:09:33,120 books of old. She could cast spells on our 180 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:35,560 weapons in the middle of a dragon fight, giving us the 181 00:09:35,560 --> 00:09:38,640 ability to light Dragons on fire or knock them back to keep them 182 00:09:38,640 --> 00:09:40,920 at Bay. Our countless enchantments give 183 00:09:40,920 --> 00:09:42,800 us great advantage against the sky beasts. 184 00:09:43,840 --> 00:09:47,880 Rounding off the crew was me, 16 year old Mike the Lookout boy. 185 00:09:48,720 --> 00:09:51,440 I was OK at wielding a sword, but my job was to sit in the 186 00:09:51,440 --> 00:09:54,560 parrot's nest, the topmost part of the ship, and alert the rest 187 00:09:54,560 --> 00:09:56,320 of the crew when a dragon was Insight. 188 00:09:57,000 --> 00:10:00,560 Spotting a black dragon in a black sky is tough work, but 189 00:10:00,560 --> 00:10:03,440 with trained eyes and a night vision potion, it was easy work. 190 00:10:04,400 --> 00:10:07,040 Rich insisted that we wouldn't make it 100 blocks without me, 191 00:10:07,320 --> 00:10:09,360 but it certainly didn't seem that way most of the time. 192 00:10:09,720 --> 00:10:12,000 We were definitely the youngest hunting crew in the entire 193 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:14,480 community. Most crews consisted of burly 194 00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:17,320 men and armor crafted from diamonds, swinging axes and 195 00:10:17,320 --> 00:10:20,000 maces while screaming at the top of their lungs while they chase 196 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:23,160 down a startled dragon. Four teenagers and chainmail 197 00:10:23,160 --> 00:10:26,360 certainly made an uncommon hunting crew at the site of our 198 00:10:26,360 --> 00:10:27,840 arrival. Snout piped up. 199 00:10:28,480 --> 00:10:30,360 Now, are we going? We've been waiting here for like 200 00:10:30,360 --> 00:10:32,600 10 minutes. Rich chuckled. 201 00:10:33,080 --> 00:10:35,400 What, did you think we were just going to leave Mike behind? 202 00:10:36,040 --> 00:10:38,600 Well, no, but we haven't seen a dragon for weeks. 203 00:10:38,840 --> 00:10:40,600 I want to get out of here before we lose them all. 204 00:10:41,480 --> 00:10:42,720 Earl looked up from stringing her bow. 205 00:10:42,720 --> 00:10:45,760 So now it's nobody has seen a dragon for weeks. 206 00:10:45,920 --> 00:10:47,480 We're not falling behind or anything. 207 00:10:47,880 --> 00:10:49,880 The Dragons might be getting smarter or something. 208 00:10:50,800 --> 00:10:52,520 That means we'll have to get smarter as well. 209 00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:56,080 Rich commented. You turn to me, Mike. 210 00:10:56,080 --> 00:10:57,520 We need you more than ever this time. 211 00:10:57,720 --> 00:11:00,280 If we can get a dragon on this run, we'll be heroes. 212 00:11:00,600 --> 00:11:03,640 Are you ready to hunt always? I exclaimed. 213 00:11:03,960 --> 00:11:05,800 Dragon hunting was basically my life. 214 00:11:06,040 --> 00:11:09,600 I'd never known any other trade. Of course I was ready to hunt. 215 00:11:10,200 --> 00:11:12,840 Besides, any hunting trip could be the one, the one where I 216 00:11:12,840 --> 00:11:16,080 earned my name. I got some extra night potions 217 00:11:16,080 --> 00:11:18,760 from the old Brewer. Rich handed ME3 potions of night 218 00:11:18,760 --> 00:11:22,160 vision, glistening a pale green. We might need to be out there a 219 00:11:22,160 --> 00:11:25,080 few days longer than usual. Snout, do you have the food? 220 00:11:25,680 --> 00:11:29,440 Yep, Snout gesture to the pack lying on the deck, chock full of 221 00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:31,760 coarse fruit. We groaned. 222 00:11:32,040 --> 00:11:34,840 Coarse fruit was a purple potato shaped fruit that was found all 223 00:11:34,840 --> 00:11:37,560 over the dimension. It may have been bountiful but 224 00:11:37,560 --> 00:11:40,160 it tasted awful and gets help for you to a random nearby 225 00:11:40,160 --> 00:11:43,520 location, which was not only annoying but also painful. 226 00:11:43,520 --> 00:11:46,920 It was also suspected to cause a skin disease that turns your 227 00:11:46,920 --> 00:11:49,360 skin black, but that was only speculation. 228 00:11:50,360 --> 00:11:52,840 Even Ridge Grim said the thought of the horrid course fruit. 229 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:58,960 All right, let's go for a hunt. After securing our supplies and 230 00:11:58,960 --> 00:12:02,480 hoisting our sail, we set out into the void began our usual 231 00:12:02,480 --> 00:12:05,080 tasks. Snout descended below the deck 232 00:12:05,080 --> 00:12:06,880 while Pearl crafted arrows for the hunt. 233 00:12:07,400 --> 00:12:09,880 I climbed up to the parrot's nest and squinted out into the 234 00:12:09,880 --> 00:12:13,320 abyss, searching for movement. Ridge was at the wheel, making 235 00:12:13,320 --> 00:12:15,040 sure we didn't stray from our hunting path. 236 00:12:15,640 --> 00:12:18,280 The path falls, an elaborate migration path of the Dragons 237 00:12:18,280 --> 00:12:21,360 that took months to find. There used to be hundreds of 238 00:12:21,360 --> 00:12:24,400 Dragons that would instinctively fly through here, but now 239 00:12:24,400 --> 00:12:28,520 there's not a dragon insight. It was strangely empty then the 240 00:12:28,520 --> 00:12:30,720 less I kept searching, eyes peeled. 241 00:12:31,640 --> 00:12:34,600 Time ticked on. Snout loaded all the cannons 242 00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:37,120 below deck. Ridge continued steering, and 243 00:12:37,120 --> 00:12:40,040 Pearl had crafted enough arrows to take down a dozen Dragons. 244 00:12:40,600 --> 00:12:43,400 Everyone but me was standing on the deck, not sure of what to 245 00:12:43,400 --> 00:12:45,760 do. By this point, we usually would 246 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:48,720 have found at least one dragon out of boredom. 247 00:12:48,840 --> 00:12:51,080 The rest of the crew would rather stare out into the void 248 00:12:51,120 --> 00:12:55,400 or watch me watch for Dragons. I can almost sense their doubt. 249 00:12:55,680 --> 00:12:57,400 They're worried that I might not see a dragon. 250 00:12:57,640 --> 00:13:00,160 There are any questions of if I would ever get my name. 251 00:13:00,720 --> 00:13:03,480 I boiled inside, wishing they would just find something to do 252 00:13:03,480 --> 00:13:06,200 and let me work. Then I thought more about it. 253 00:13:06,880 --> 00:13:09,360 My mother would probably just laugh at my frustrations, 254 00:13:09,440 --> 00:13:11,680 commenting on how when I was young my father would 255 00:13:11,680 --> 00:13:13,880 desperately try to get work done while I ran through his 256 00:13:13,880 --> 00:13:16,960 workshop, playing with various items and asking question after 257 00:13:16,960 --> 00:13:18,440 question about what he was making. 258 00:13:19,040 --> 00:13:21,440 I chuckled to myself and realized I didn't have it that 259 00:13:21,440 --> 00:13:24,760 bad. Many hours went by and there's 260 00:13:24,760 --> 00:13:27,720 still no dragon to be seen. The crew had grown bored and 261 00:13:27,720 --> 00:13:30,120 tired, so they did the best thing they could think to do, 262 00:13:30,400 --> 00:13:33,160 tell stories. Storytelling was an important 263 00:13:33,160 --> 00:13:36,200 pastime of our people. With our crew was often the 264 00:13:36,200 --> 00:13:38,280 stories of how they got their hunting names that are passed 265 00:13:38,280 --> 00:13:40,560 around. Everyone had heard the stories 266 00:13:40,560 --> 00:13:43,600 about 100 times, but they were treated like new adventures 267 00:13:43,600 --> 00:13:47,400 every time they were told. Pearl, previously known as Arya, 268 00:13:47,720 --> 00:13:50,680 left everyone speechless when she earned her name during a 269 00:13:50,680 --> 00:13:52,960 fight with one dragon. The thing batted our ship with 270 00:13:52,960 --> 00:13:55,600 its great tail. Arya, who was standing on the 271 00:13:55,600 --> 00:13:57,760 edge, fell off and tumbled into the void. 272 00:13:58,400 --> 00:14:01,040 We watched with terror in our eyes as she wrestled with her 273 00:14:01,040 --> 00:14:03,680 pack to pull out a single ender Pearl and sent it flying 274 00:14:03,680 --> 00:14:05,920 upwards. It sailed smoothly through the 275 00:14:05,920 --> 00:14:08,960 air, hovering for a brief moment, and then fell down 276 00:14:08,960 --> 00:14:11,880 towards the deck. It landed with a puff of purple 277 00:14:11,880 --> 00:14:15,640 ash and Arya took its place. We gaped at her. 278 00:14:16,000 --> 00:14:18,760 She picked up her pack and nonchalantly said, what are you 279 00:14:18,760 --> 00:14:21,040 guys looking at and resumed fighting. 280 00:14:21,480 --> 00:14:26,320 Thus, she was named Pearl. Snout's name was earned in a 281 00:14:26,320 --> 00:14:29,480 fight with a massive dragon. We had grounded the dragon and 282 00:14:29,480 --> 00:14:32,960 descended to the island below to finish it off, but even without 283 00:14:32,960 --> 00:14:35,120 its wings it was still incredibly powerful. 284 00:14:35,760 --> 00:14:38,800 We were knocked to and fro by its mighty tail and great claws 285 00:14:38,800 --> 00:14:41,800 for several minutes, the sides of our ship getting weaker and 286 00:14:41,800 --> 00:14:44,560 weaker with each assault. We were near the point of 287 00:14:44,560 --> 00:14:48,160 retreating back to the city when Lucas, as he was known then let 288 00:14:48,160 --> 00:14:50,920 out a cry and ran towards the dragon, his enchanted sword 289 00:14:50,920 --> 00:14:54,000 swinging in the air. The dragon glared and swung his 290 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:56,800 tail at Lucas. He ducked just in the nick of 291 00:14:56,800 --> 00:14:59,240 time. He reared back and beat the 292 00:14:59,240 --> 00:15:01,840 behemoth right in the snout with the butt of his sword as it 293 00:15:01,840 --> 00:15:04,640 swung back around. Nobody knew the little guy had 294 00:15:04,640 --> 00:15:07,800 such strength, but the blow hit the dragon so hard that it fell 295 00:15:07,800 --> 00:15:10,040 to the ground, completely unconscious. 296 00:15:10,640 --> 00:15:16,280 Lucas was thereby named Snout. Ridge's story was always the 297 00:15:16,280 --> 00:15:19,000 most impressive. During one hunt, we had been 298 00:15:19,000 --> 00:15:20,880 chasing down a dragon for nearly a day. 299 00:15:21,360 --> 00:15:24,080 No matter how far we travelled, the dragon travelled farther. 300 00:15:24,360 --> 00:15:27,160 No matter how fast we sailed, the dragon was faster. 301 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:30,400 Time after time, we fired a hail of arrows at the thing, but 302 00:15:30,400 --> 00:15:33,280 since it was so far from our ship, we rarely hit it. 303 00:15:33,760 --> 00:15:36,480 Jonathan, our captain, colleague, and friends, 304 00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:39,880 abandoned his post. We were all too focused on the 305 00:15:39,880 --> 00:15:43,200 dragon to pay much attention to his absence, but even seeing him 306 00:15:43,200 --> 00:15:45,880 inexplicably leave out of the corner of one's eyes was 307 00:15:45,880 --> 00:15:48,360 discouraging. We thought we were going to lose 308 00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:51,760 the dragon for good until something shot past us like a 309 00:15:51,760 --> 00:15:55,000 firework rocket. It was Jonathan, donned with 310 00:15:55,000 --> 00:15:57,520 Electra, gliding through the abyss and straight towards the 311 00:15:57,520 --> 00:16:00,080 dragon. We watched in confusion and 312 00:16:00,080 --> 00:16:03,200 shouted for him to turn back, but he didn't hear us, or at 313 00:16:03,200 --> 00:16:07,520 least then acknowledge us. He caught up to the monster, who 314 00:16:07,520 --> 00:16:10,320 had yet to notice him, and grabbed hold of its great spine 315 00:16:10,320 --> 00:16:13,280 and hit the dragon hard. The beast roared in pain and 316 00:16:13,280 --> 00:16:15,640 tried to shake him off, but it was to no avail. 317 00:16:16,240 --> 00:16:18,720 Jonathan struck it again, this time on its left. 318 00:16:19,360 --> 00:16:21,880 The dragon let out of pains growl and instinctively flew to 319 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:25,000 the right to avoid the pain. He struck again and again, 320 00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:28,120 steering the dragon towards the Ridge of a nearby island till it 321 00:16:28,120 --> 00:16:31,360 crashed straight into the land. A minute later we reached the 322 00:16:31,360 --> 00:16:33,960 crash site, anxious about what we would find there. 323 00:16:35,680 --> 00:16:38,680 When we got to the Ridge, Jonathan was walking towards us, 324 00:16:38,880 --> 00:16:40,600 dragging the head of the dragon behind him. 325 00:16:41,280 --> 00:16:43,800 He had a limp in his step and a grin on his face. 326 00:16:44,480 --> 00:16:47,320 That very head was mounted on the master of our ship as both 327 00:16:47,320 --> 00:16:50,440 the trophy and memorial to remember the day Jonathan was 328 00:16:50,440 --> 00:16:53,920 named Ridge. These stories were told as it 329 00:16:53,920 --> 00:16:56,360 sat in the parrot's nest, listening to their tales and 330 00:16:56,360 --> 00:16:59,840 watching the sky half heartedly. Eventually they remember that I 331 00:16:59,840 --> 00:17:02,360 was still in the nest and asked if I had any stories to share. 332 00:17:02,880 --> 00:17:04,960 I replied that I would rather keep Dragon watching. 333 00:17:05,560 --> 00:17:07,680 Though the privilege of telling a story was the one that I 334 00:17:07,680 --> 00:17:10,760 longed to have, I simply had no stories to tell. 335 00:17:11,480 --> 00:17:14,160 I laid on my back and stared into the ever black sky, 336 00:17:14,599 --> 00:17:17,280 wondering how I would earn my name, my respect amongst my 337 00:17:17,280 --> 00:17:19,720 crew. I closed my eyes as countless 338 00:17:19,720 --> 00:17:23,319 staring stunts and feats floated through my mind and drifted off. 339 00:17:25,079 --> 00:17:52,210 End of part one. Welcome to the quiz. 340 00:17:52,760 --> 00:17:55,680 So there isn't the normal music, my normal music. 341 00:17:55,680 --> 00:17:58,640 I meant music I used like two years ago because Spotify for 342 00:17:58,640 --> 00:18:01,720 podcasters remove the on site editing tools. 343 00:18:01,720 --> 00:18:04,400 So I no longer have access to that song. 344 00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:07,600 But I tried to pick the closest thing to hopefully, you know, 345 00:18:07,600 --> 00:18:11,720 get some nostalgia up. Anyways, this is the quiz. 346 00:18:12,240 --> 00:18:15,840 If you are on Spotify, there will be comments where you can 347 00:18:15,920 --> 00:18:19,880 put in your question ABC or D. There will be four options or 348 00:18:19,880 --> 00:18:22,080 you can also just participate inside the pole. 349 00:18:22,080 --> 00:18:24,960 Choose it on there. If you're on Apple Podcasts, 350 00:18:24,960 --> 00:18:28,000 just put your comments inside the comments for the Microsoft 351 00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:31,320 first podcast. If you get the answer right, you 352 00:18:31,320 --> 00:18:33,440 may get shouted out on the next episode. 353 00:18:34,880 --> 00:18:39,800 So the quiz question for this episode and the last quiz for I 354 00:18:39,800 --> 00:18:41,640 don't know maybe till in 2,000,000 play special. 355 00:18:42,200 --> 00:18:45,360 The question is which mobs transform when struck by 356 00:18:45,360 --> 00:18:50,200 lightning? The options are A witches, 357 00:18:50,360 --> 00:18:57,880 vexes, creepers and pigs, option B vexes, pigs, villagers, 358 00:18:57,960 --> 00:19:06,120 creepers and mushrooms, option C villager, pig, mushrooms and 359 00:19:06,120 --> 00:19:12,320 creepers, and then finally option D horses, pigs, creepers 360 00:19:12,360 --> 00:19:15,760 and villagers. So submit your answer to the 361 00:19:15,760 --> 00:19:18,920 relevant places and let's get right into you guys's listener 362 00:19:18,920 --> 00:19:22,320 questions. Hope you guys enjoyed that quiz. 363 00:19:22,320 --> 00:19:24,800 Maybe another quiz in the next like million place special. 364 00:19:25,240 --> 00:19:27,680 It's kind of hard to keep finding things for the quiz. 365 00:19:27,680 --> 00:19:30,320 So that's why I stopped it because it was just getting into 366 00:19:30,320 --> 00:19:33,840 like it's either weird technical information or it's way too easy 367 00:19:33,840 --> 00:19:35,760 for anyone who like actually plays Minecraft. 368 00:19:36,360 --> 00:19:40,120 So the quiz has ceased. This was a nice little refresher 369 00:19:40,120 --> 00:19:42,920 and it was actually a good question, if I do say so myself, 370 00:19:43,320 --> 00:19:44,720 though I won't tell you the answer. 371 00:19:45,560 --> 00:19:48,120 But now we've gone to listener questions. 372 00:19:48,640 --> 00:19:53,160 So like an entire year ago ask you guys for just questions to 373 00:19:53,160 --> 00:19:55,680 ask me. So I'll just be answering too, 374 00:19:55,680 --> 00:19:59,680 because I like these ones. The first question is from Tony 375 00:19:59,680 --> 00:20:01,360 Stark. Two Apparently there are two 376 00:20:01,400 --> 00:20:05,280 Tony Starks now and they ask. You have been making this 377 00:20:05,280 --> 00:20:07,960 podcast since you were small. What was your motivation to keep 378 00:20:07,960 --> 00:20:10,080 posting even when the podcast was still small? 379 00:20:11,200 --> 00:20:12,560 Thanks for submitting this question. 380 00:20:12,560 --> 00:20:17,400 It's a good question. And honestly, my answer to it is 381 00:20:17,840 --> 00:20:20,240 even if only a few people are listening, that's still a lot of 382 00:20:20,240 --> 00:20:22,680 motivation for me. Like, yeah, in the very 383 00:20:22,680 --> 00:20:28,040 beginning, there were 345 that slowly grew into like 30, 384 00:20:28,480 --> 00:20:31,440 etcetera, etcetera plays a day. Now it's enough for me to keep 385 00:20:31,440 --> 00:20:33,080 posting. And then also the constant 386 00:20:33,080 --> 00:20:36,240 feedback from like Apple podcast comments, seeing the views, 387 00:20:36,560 --> 00:20:39,720 seeing the ratings, that also just kept motivating me. 388 00:20:40,520 --> 00:20:43,640 So my motivation was people listening to it. 389 00:20:46,160 --> 00:20:47,920 And then yes, this is very short. 390 00:20:47,920 --> 00:20:51,280 The next question is from Rick Kitzner 8. 391 00:20:51,480 --> 00:20:55,000 I believe that is your name. And this is 2 parts. 392 00:20:55,000 --> 00:20:57,480 First one is do you enjoy making podcasts? 393 00:20:58,320 --> 00:21:02,480 And you may have just been asking about this podcast, 394 00:21:02,480 --> 00:21:05,480 Microsoft Stories, but I've actually had four podcasts. 395 00:21:06,240 --> 00:21:08,920 Yes, I'm up to four. I don't know how I reached that 396 00:21:08,920 --> 00:21:12,720 high of a number, but I've had the Poke Amazing podcast, which 397 00:21:12,720 --> 00:21:14,760 was the first podcast. Don't go looking for it. 398 00:21:14,760 --> 00:21:18,880 It's been like unlisted. It's completely dead for like 4 399 00:21:18,880 --> 00:21:21,400 years. I've had this podcast. 400 00:21:21,640 --> 00:21:24,880 I've had the Minecraft Spooky Stories podcast, which is now a 401 00:21:24,880 --> 00:21:27,560 series on this show. I have to say that whenever I 402 00:21:27,560 --> 00:21:31,000 say I have the Micro Spooky Stories podcast and then there 403 00:21:31,000 --> 00:21:32,960 is a Micro short stories prologue podcast. 404 00:21:33,160 --> 00:21:37,440 So I've had four. And I do enjoy making podcasts. 405 00:21:37,800 --> 00:21:41,040 It's it's just kind of a way for me to be productive, which is me 406 00:21:41,040 --> 00:21:43,160 writing the stories. And then this is of course my 407 00:21:43,160 --> 00:21:46,360 hobby because it's a Minecraft podcast. 408 00:21:46,360 --> 00:21:48,760 I'll never have it as a full time job, of course. 409 00:21:49,440 --> 00:21:52,000 It's just a fun hobby. I enjoy writing, I enjoy 410 00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:54,480 editing, I enjoy recording sometimes. 411 00:21:55,400 --> 00:21:59,720 So I do enjoy making podcasts. And then the final question from 412 00:21:59,720 --> 00:22:03,400 your Kitsner 8 and then the final question for this very 413 00:22:03,400 --> 00:22:06,360 short Q&A is where do I get my inspiration? 414 00:22:07,480 --> 00:22:10,560 And so this is, well, it's a Minecraft podcast. 415 00:22:10,560 --> 00:22:14,120 So mostly Minecraft, mostly me playing Minecraft, mostly things 416 00:22:14,120 --> 00:22:17,560 I've heard about in Minecraft, sometimes like Minecraft 417 00:22:17,560 --> 00:22:20,240 updates, micro snapshots, that kind of stuff. 418 00:22:20,600 --> 00:22:23,840 And also sometimes even like Minecraft Dungeons, the 419 00:22:23,840 --> 00:22:27,120 escalader and the outer ends had a little bit of we have yet to 420 00:22:27,120 --> 00:22:29,440 get to something that is directly inspired by it, but is 421 00:22:29,440 --> 00:22:33,560 a little inspired by Minecraft dungeons the like in DLC one. 422 00:22:34,640 --> 00:22:37,880 So I get inspired by Minecraft and then also by you guys's 423 00:22:37,880 --> 00:22:42,680 listener stories and then also by stories I read, books I read, 424 00:22:43,640 --> 00:22:45,200 like when Zechariah is submitted. 425 00:22:45,200 --> 00:22:47,640 Not this story, but the uncanny tale of Hollow. 426 00:22:48,280 --> 00:22:50,640 That story inspired me to make the players not alone. 427 00:22:51,280 --> 00:22:54,360 So I was thinking of things to do for a story and then just his 428 00:22:54,360 --> 00:22:58,240 way of doing that Minecraft spooky story. 429 00:22:58,360 --> 00:23:01,280 This really inspired me, so that's why I made Players Not 430 00:23:01,280 --> 00:23:05,520 alone. So that's the end of this Q&A. 431 00:23:06,160 --> 00:23:08,280 If you would like your questions, put down the comments 432 00:23:08,280 --> 00:23:10,200 along with, you know, your answer to the quiz. 433 00:23:11,240 --> 00:23:13,320 And thank you, Tony Stark two and our Kitchener 8 for 434 00:23:13,320 --> 00:23:19,320 submitting these questions. Thank you guys so much for 435 00:23:19,320 --> 00:23:22,320 listening to this podcast and to this episode. 436 00:23:23,160 --> 00:23:26,520 It's been like about 3 1/2 years since I started this podcast and 437 00:23:26,920 --> 00:23:30,040 getting to 1,000,000 plays was completely out of what I thought 438 00:23:30,040 --> 00:23:31,520 I would accomplish with this podcast. 439 00:23:32,000 --> 00:23:34,120 And it would have been possible without you guys listening to 440 00:23:34,120 --> 00:23:37,000 episodes, you guys supporting those episodes, telling your 441 00:23:37,000 --> 00:23:39,400 friends. So thank you for listening. 442 00:23:40,040 --> 00:23:43,240 Make sure to look out for The End of the Hunt Part 2 by 443 00:23:43,240 --> 00:23:46,680 Zechariah coming out soon. That will be inside an episode. 444 00:23:46,680 --> 00:23:50,040 And this Million Play special is actually two parts, so that'd be 445 00:23:50,040 --> 00:23:52,000 the second part. Maybe some stuff besides the 446 00:23:52,000 --> 00:23:55,240 story in that part as well. Also make sure to check out the 447 00:23:55,240 --> 00:23:58,800 prologue series. The series is called The Hidden 448 00:23:58,800 --> 00:24:00,720 Stories. That is the series's name. 449 00:24:01,320 --> 00:24:03,560 And that's just what I was talking about in the intro. 450 00:24:04,160 --> 00:24:07,360 And of course, look out for the Players Not Alone Part 4. 451 00:24:07,720 --> 00:24:10,160 A lot of exciting stuff happened to the podcast at this time. 452 00:24:11,200 --> 00:24:14,120 Anyways, I hope you guys enjoyed, I hope you'll stick 453 00:24:14,120 --> 00:24:17,200 around for another 1,000,000 plays, however long that may 454 00:24:17,200 --> 00:24:20,560 take, and I'll see you guys inside the next episode.