The prisoner was led into the temporary courtroom, down the aisle between the rows of benches, upon which sat the von Vorkel family, their servants, the residents of Vorkelvale, and the handful of officers from the garrison that had been allowed to attend. Everyone watched as the baron walked as proudly as circumstances allowed to … Continue reading An Applewood Gallows; Chapter 23
An Applewood Gallows; Chapter 22
The morning reveille sounded, and for the bulk of the people in Vorkelburg, it was business as usual. The only thing that was different was that they had to stand in line outside the delivery doors of the main kitchen for their breakfast. The snow had stopped falling for the time being, but the men … Continue reading An Applewood Gallows; Chapter 22
Enter the Wood Witch
While it is true that a female Archer Lord is rare, even in shadow elven societies, that does not mean that the ladies don't play a vital role in the archery that forms the basis of most shadow elf communities. As it happens men are frightfully horrible at procuring the resources needed to make the … Continue reading Enter the Wood Witch
Death from Afar
The earliest known Archer Lords were shadow elves and could be found only by the most persistent searchers. Today however, while most remain shadow elves or half-elves with shadow elven ancestry, humans and other elves can also train to be counted among these most elite of archers. While they can be of any alignment, most … Continue reading Death from Afar
SV Kapriolen; A Quicker and More Efficient Way to get into Trouble
At the conclusion of the short yet remarkably destructive Romillian-Slothjemian War there were a number of military secrets that were taken from the otherwise reclusive dwarven craftsmen and handed over to the goblinoid realm. The most spectacular of these were the designs to the Romillian aircruisers that had enabled the dwarves to get a jump … Continue reading SV Kapriolen; A Quicker and More Efficient Way to get into Trouble
An Applewood Gallows; Chapter 21
Grundoon took a deep breath and sat down on his cot. Wrapping his quilts around him, he began to talk. “After the Battle of Garvin’s Gap, we found the almost-dead remains of the fellow that started the war. He was miraculously alive, thanks to magical ring he had. His armor had melted, and he was … Continue reading An Applewood Gallows; Chapter 21
Happy Regrettable Choices Day!
It has been a solid 32 years today since I made my first full-blown regrettable choice. I like to keep track of these things, but I'm not terribly good at tracking my progress in the wake of a self-imposed train wreck. But 32 years on down the road I'd say I am making some progress … Continue reading Happy Regrettable Choices Day!
An Applewood Gallows; Chapter 20
While the Queen and her handmaidens settled into the room vacated for them by the Herzgraf, the dashing elder paladin had taken up temporary residence with a half-dozen captains of the 60th Cavalry Regiment in the room they shared along the eastern wall of the citadel above the stables. Nobody thought this especially curious, although … Continue reading An Applewood Gallows; Chapter 20
The Bone Shrines
One of the curious things found in roadside shrines, small chapels, and even some of the great cathedrals in Partum are the bone shrines. They are constructed of different materials, usually wood but sometimes stone (and rarely actual bones), but they always have the same general appearance. It is a skull wearing a bishop's mitre … Continue reading The Bone Shrines
The Elf with No Name
Even in a place as dangerous as the Wenigzustand there are legends that stand out more than others. Adventurers and villains whose names alone can tell a hundred tales of intrigue, martial prowess, and danger. Even more so when the person in question hasn't got a name at all. Whispers have abounded across Partum, but … Continue reading The Elf with No Name
