Author: Rurik

They may be called the Palace Guard, the City Guard, or the Patrol. Whatever the name, their purpose in any work of heroic fantasy is identical: it is, round about Chapter Three (or ten minutes into the film) to rush into the room, attack the hero one at a time, and be slaughtered. No one…

An extract from Urgon Wenth’s unfinished memoirs, collected and edited by Elro Aldataur. Working title for future publication ‘An Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount’. … After evading these horrors for several days, it is always a relief to finally clear the treeline and see the Flotket Alps rising in the distance. However, a cautious traveller should…

“What do I know of cultured ways, the gilt, the craft and the lie?I, who was born in a naked land and bred in the open sky.The subtle tongue, the sophist guile, they fail when the broadswords sing;Rush in and die, dogs—I was a man before I was a king.”  Apprentice God-Butcher Ruhollah methodically removed…

“I really don’t think you appreciate how fucking pissed I am Ernie.”The booming voice shook the leaves on the blueberry bushes. Insects twitched and dropped dead at the infernal sound. Ernodal gave one of the remaining berries an experimental squeeze and sighed. Rising to his feet he carefully wiped the juice from his fingers before replying.…

Ernodal nodded softly to himself as he completed a final circuit of the room while counting the ring of spears. Satisfied that everything was ready he paused to lay his palm on the crude granite block at the head of the circle. “Don’t go getting a big head. This isn’t all about you. Oh I…

“You are permitted in time of great danger to walk with the devil until you have crossed the bridge.” ― Balkan proverb The lone traveller was making Gunther nervous. They were far from any town or village worthy of a proper name and the local hunters were the only group who spent any time in these hills.…

Tell all the truth but tell it slant —Success in Circuit liesToo bright for our infirm DelightThe Truth’s superb surpriseAs Lightning to the Children easedWith explanation kindThe Truth must dazzle graduallyOr every man be blind — Sparks lit the darkness as Valentia rammed her sword into the ancient stone walls to deface a symbol of…

There feeds he full on the flesh of the dead,And the home of the gods he reddens with gore;Dark grows the sun, and in summer soonCome mighty storms: would you know yet more? – The Völva, to Odin What the group have learned to date: 1,000+ years ago: The previous Harvest begins and threatens to…

“How could Celeste die better than facing fearful odds, for the turtles of the oceans, and the glory of her Gods?” – Thomas Babington Macaulay – that terrible Oblivion movie.   Ice blossomed from Ernodal’s hands as the Nihilith surged forwards. The sounds of battle were suddenly cut off as a frozen sphere closed around…

  “If you should hold the devil, hold him well, He hardly will be caught a second time”   Ernodal hummed tunelessly as he knelt in the soft earth in front of the blueberry bushes. His stained fingers lightly skimmed the remaining crop but they were several days away from being ripe. The small pile…