Misc. Scribblings

It was unlike him not to visit.

Their custom was for him to visit upon the full moon. They would eat and talk all evening before he returned to his home.

She set out to search for her son and crossed the hills and fjords, but there was no sign.

Coming to the place men called Heorot she saw why.

Hanging above the door of the hall was an arm torn from its body.

She knew the arm.

At its end was the hand she had held when teaching him to walk. The hand that had clung to her after the sounds of men's revelry had pained him as a child.

The hand of her only son.

Displayed like some gory trophy.

"Grendel!" She roared in pain and fury.

And inside the hall the skald fell quiet, and all the men froze for a deep terror seized them at that awful bellow.

Glowing reviews.

Sold out tours.

Eager, nubile fans every night.

Night Throat were a global sensation.

Finn remembered the crossroads. But it had just been messing about after too much booze and weed.

Right?

But since the 25th anniversary show couldn't shake a sense of dread.

Wrote a little background piece for my new DnD character.

Depthos was a hero.

Some great lord who died fighting ogres. Or orcs. Or demons. I can't remember.

What I do remember is there was a statue of him on the temple back home. I was named after him and my best friend, Etris, was named after the statue next to him. The nuns at the orphanage clearly just did a lap of the temple using the names for us foundlings, orphans and leavings.

When they reached the end, they started again. I met another Depthos years later, older bloke but another of the nun's charges.

Not a hero.

Course, at the time I was there to kill his boss, so can't really judge. Tough as last week's steak, he knocked out two of my teeth before he went down.

The nuns told us all about the saints and heroes. Prayers in the mornings, work in the day, prayers in the evening.

I hated those nuns. Joked about burning down the dormitory.

Wasn't funny when it did.

I hadn't prayed in years, well besides when I was rolling dice, or running from the guards.

Temple burnt too.

Seems like old Amoth wasn't listening to the prayers of all the poor bastards inside it.

Demons.

Never bought into them before, not since I grew up. Figured we don't need demons to make us sin, all I needed was the promise of coin.

But they laid waste to the town. Torched the temple, killed anyone they caught in the streets. I made it out by fighting alongside the guards, quite a turn up. We held them back long enough for some fancy lads in shining plate to rock up and finish them off.

Wanted to join but they were stuck up toffs. Besides their god doesn't let them drink or gamble. What's the point of living without any fun?

But I needed something. If the demons are real then my soul is in serious trouble.

Left home, first time I went outside the town walls. Reached the city and found out there were dozens of gods, and most of them didn't want a thug like me.

Then a devil came to me. Well, a tiefling, but I ain't seen one before so was scared shitless. But she told me about Nusemnee.

She'd been a wrong 'un, then some priest saved her arse and she redeemed herself. I liked the sound of her, rough around the edges but trying to do good and make up for her past.

Trained with the priestess, Nithhala. Taught me how to fight and also made me think. I can say I never had a chance, nuns turfed us out when we hit 16 summers and they'd have to pay us for our work. But not all of the kids ended up like me, robbing, killing and fighting for a few coins at a time.

I coulda worked on the docks, unloading ships or joined the guards. But me and Etris joined a gang because it seemed easier and more fun. I had good times over the years, and I'd been lying if I said I didn't enjoy some of those fights. I don't feel much remorse for them I killed either, most of the time they were trying to kill me.

But robbing merchants? Beating up guys who owed money? Attacking strangers to steal their boots?

I ain't proud of it. Nitthala told me I could do more, that all of us can do more. That we can choose to help.

She showed me I wasn't just a thug. That I could be a warrior. A good guy.

She taught me something I never had before- hope.

I took the Horned Daughter's oath. To travel and find those who need help. I can still drink too.

I ain't gonna be a saint, I ain't gonna be perfect and I don't think anyone will confuse me and the old Depthos. But until I'm wormfood, I'm gonna do all I can to make up for the bad I've done.

I'm gonna do good.