#plot hunters

An excerpt from the diary of Rictavio, aka Rudolph van Richten

Bones: acquired. Hags: dispatched, but not dead. My sanity: waning. Before all of this is over I’m going to have an all-out brawl with at least one of those disrespectful fools. They never have a kind word unless they want something from me. I’m a grown man and I deserve respect. I do not deserve to be playing babysitter to the children they rescued from those hags. If anyone, it should be Cruz. Even before we burned the Old Bonegrinder he was doting on them like some sort of overgrown nursemaid. He treats me like we’re peers or something. He had the nerve to call us friends!

“Give me some juice, Rikki.”

I feel like a teenager and not in any of the good ways.

Veryn is absolutely the ugliest of the bunch. Despite knowing that the meat pies baked by the coven of hags were almost definitely made from children, she did what? Ate a pie! Luckily for her, I was there to administer a quick and effective antidote to the hallucinogenic effects of the pastry. She then administered it right back. I suppose she gets points for being ballsy.

Alina, a barbarian in more ways than one, might be a close second to Veryn. She “saved” the frogs by tossing them straight out of the window. The children, Franklin, Myrtle, and the dirty child who wouldn’t speak, managed to catch a few, but there were still a handful that splattered against the ground. As if these children weren’t already traumatized.

I still hear phantom croaks even now as Maeve and I watch over the children. Maeve the wereraven is here because the burgomaster is an idiot. Vallaki is on high alert, so of course my compatriots are trying to sneak in. It won’t go well.

Distant rememberings of a mad lich

There were five. Five fingers to a hand, five toes to a foot, five points to a star, but not to the sun. Together they made up a whole. Could be whole without one, though. Plenty of hands missing a finger. They work just fine if you care to learn to use them.

The man cast a spell to learn of other spells. I felt it like a fingernail flicking the inside of my throat. I felt their little feeling hands on my phylactery. They asked whether I should live or die and decided I was not worth death. I am Exethanther and I am too far gone for death to touch me. This is death.

They found my library. They found the door that led them there and tried to read books with words they cannot see. Those words are not for them. Not for me. For someone else. Someone with no souls to save. No sisters, no sorrow, no chains, no bloody hands.

There were living things dead down there. Strength from blood, not magic. Cursed. The prodding ones came to find a curse. They came for knowledge like any others might.

Like with any others, knowledge is not the only prize to be won. There is treasure here. Great treasure. Treasure guarded by golems who seek no prize at all. They are lucky it cannot follow past the threshold. I hope it is worth it.

The machinations of a hag

Four little ducklings all lined up in a row. Dangerous ducklings who killed my favorite niece in cold blood. Wait until they fall asleep in a place they think is safe, then make sure they don’t wake up again.

To start, Alina. Little girl lost has strayed so far away from home. Not to worry. Plenty of men and dogs to guide her back. Who can truly be blamed if the dogs bite and she needs a chain or two?  She’s worth more alive than dead, but a little blood never really hurt a noble warrior.

Then, Cruz. One last glorious night with a man who will never be his again. It’s time to let go. He can’t and it will lead him into the arms of a people who exist to destroy. It’s never a challenge to shackle a weak-hearted man.

Next, Meihra. A beautiful ball held by a certain mistress with very exotic pets. Meihra does love to dress up and mingle in society. She will discover that anything goes for the rich. She will also see her sweet sister again, though not quite in the manner she’d prefer.

Finally, Veryn. Can you ever truly leave behind those who made you? She can’t. She never did. Pain is to be expected. Nothing can be gained without pain, blood. She will cause herself and Cruz a great deal of pain if she knows what’s good for her.

Things did not go to plan. Meihra and Alina conquered their shared dream, then Veryn and Cruz did the same. They fell into the maze and found the Soulmonger, killed my Bodak, wrecked my plans, and woke. I don’t know why I bother.