He was thirsty, and had just found a tick on his stomach. Shoveling back revolt he had quickly extracted the squirming blood sucker and was now making his way through the forest to a stream he’d found before. Why was he out here? Self-improvement? Hah…all that was out here was a bunch of annoying insects, …
}{ In the wilderness northeast of Coersipide, where the new wave of road building had not yet reached, travelers still made their way by rutted tracks following the ancient roads and the forests still teamed with plentiful game and dangerous monsters. It was a place where fugitives founded colonies of brigands, where spies met …
}{ Mossbark sat in the correct posture on a large root overlooking a graceful waterfall and pool. Steep gray cliffs led down to the pale green water, pines stretched stately above. He meditated, as he had been taught. He was never sure if what happened was correct, or what was supposed to, but on mornings …
}{ Dretch slunk through the shadows of the ruined city. Occasionally he found a victim, but most times he ran from those who’d find him the prey. He was getting hungry…he wasn’t sure how much longer he could control himself, remain invisible. The city was gray and brown, rubble and garbage and piles of food …
Soon I have come to it. Some sort of staircase must have been here once, now crumbled and overgrown to the point where it is nearly indistinguishable from the surrounding rock and serves none of the normal purpose of stairs. I look for a way up, and find a hand-hold on some lush green-yellow vines. …
Puffing softly on a pleasantly aromatic tobacco pipe, Vuelo pondered over his current life. He was…poor. Very very poor. In his former life, as squire to the Prince, he actually was just as poor, but since he was constantly surrounded and embedded in courtly wealth he had always felt rich. Now, alone, exiled, he was …
