“Stop it, stop it, stop it!” Bethany grabbed Arlyle and held her close. The goddess gasped, her light out in an instant. The flame was snuffed before it could do any damage to the young girl. Bethany was crying. Crying. Tears ran down her eyes as she looked at Arlyle. “You’re supposed to be my best friend, Arlyle. We’re supposed to have tea parties, and, and go fun places…and have adventures! We aren’t supposed to […]

“Arlyle, the Scourge of Darrenfell, and my best friend…stop it!” “What?” Arlyle looked at Bethany, questioning. “What’s wrong?” “You know very well what’s wrong, and you should stop it this instant!” “It” was currently chasing Bergsten and his cohorts across the Meadows. A pair of old bears, dark forest green and covered in strange runes, lolling across the ground on their great legs. Bergsten and his crew had laughed at the bears. Even tried to […]

The great underground lake was a gaping maw, inviting everyone further in. sink into the depths, wash all troubles away. Responsibilities, duties, families…life, all gone beneath the surface. Greta was not tempted. But then again, she was on the other side, away from the traps. She was running the nursery rhyme through her head, trying to discover some sort of clue as to the next trap. “Jump six times, turn around three. What could that […]

“Why are there traps?” Greta asked. The gnome danced forward, slipping past a burst of fire. “We are in a tomb that no one is supposed to know exist.” “And if no one can tell of its existence, then it remains a myth.” Rafe said. Greta spun on one heel, and ducked under a saw blade. “But the expense, Rafe! The spells, and the maintenance of such securities, that are supposed to last a century […]

There is a certain time when children cease to be cute, and instead become truly despicable wastes of resources, in Arlyle’s opinion. When they have lost the charm of innocence, and have instead become nothing more than pests, which shall not change with maturity, grace, or even the inevitable onslaught of death. While many would find this a harsh assessment, young teenage magic users can very much fit this description. These five children in particular, […]

The Witch snapped her fingers. Sparks flew towards her fireplace, starting a blaze. She set a tea kettle on the spit, getting it ready to boil. “As that waits,” she looked to the girls. “Can I interest either of you in a glass of water?” Bethany nodded, her mouth currently full with another cookie. The witch drew some water from her well at the pump in the corner, and gave it to the girl. “It […]