Myds6

Preview of Future Story, Part 8

Miri’s starstruck moment was shattered by the grating voice of Deskelon.  “I see you’ve brought your…retinue, just as we instructed. Good.” The half-elf bit her tongue lightly to keep from grimacing that he’d address her lady that way.

Before Lady Sivallien could respond, loud footsteps rang out throughout the chamber. Miryala looked to see a group of four women walking past her. She recognized their leader, a portly human woman in Red and Black robes. That was the Gran...

Preview of Future Story, Part 7

Moments later, they emerged from a similar tunnel of light on an outcropping of rock hanging over a deep chasm.   An elaborate structure with colonnaded balconies surrounded the outcropping. They were led by Justicars in shining armor to a large rotunda, the council chambers proper. Minna looked a little green from the teleport, but hadn’t panicked, vomited, or disgraced their delegation in any way. “First possible crisis averted,” thought Miri.

“Ah, Lady Sivallien, we...

Preview of Future story, Part 6

A few of the servants stepped aside as the three women dashed down the long corridor, stopping dead in front of the large doors and composing themselves for a moment, before Miryala swung them open.  “Ah, there you are! I was about to send for you.” Lady Sivallien said in her usual no-nonsense tone. “As I’m sure Miryala has informed, we’re to meet with the council today…approximately…right now.” Pilniss Sivallien presented a striking figure, a tall elven woman, dressed in...

Preview of Future Story, Part 5

She arrived at the dining hall, which was mostly empty since the early shift had risen much earlier, and the servants whose work starts later hadn’t yet arrived.There she found Minna, likewise dressed in recently-polished armor, in front of a plate piled high with fried eggs and turnips. Miri was always impressed at how much the dwarf managed to eat. Maddy sat down next to her, her plate also piled high with fried flatcakes, teeming in butter and honey. “I see you’re making Tenari work ...

Preview of Future Story--Part 4

Miri yawned and sat up, stretching her long legs. The sun would be rising soon. She brushed her hair, and got dressed for the day as quickly as she could manage.

Today, she would put on her armor, and she had spent hours last night polishing it. Whereas some knights and justicars had armor so complex that they needed help to get into it, as a retainer with a background in adventuring, she needed to be able to gear up on her own. To that end, the system of straps that held her chainmail ...

Preview of Future Story--Part 3

“Think really hard, lassie, about what words come out of your mouth next—they may be your last.” The human’s jaw dropped for a tense moment as her fear-filled eyes took the measure of the dwarf. “Just kidding! You’re alright, ya complete joke of a mage.” “Minna, you shouldn’t do that to people. I think I pissed myself a little.” “Was that me or the ale did that to you? Or are you a complete failure at blad—“

The sentence was interrupted as a tall, auburn-haired...

Preview of Future Story--Part 2

It had been over 50 years since the Arcane Council had called a general meeting, but this year, they were meeting again in Rhynchus, the largest city of the realm, where they had conjured the first of the Wardshells. No one outside the council could estimate with confidence the reason the meeting was called. But, as always, there were rumors. And rumors have a way of being discussed where ale flows.

“I heard from one of the merchants in town that the shell, out in Oniridge actually fl...

Patrice bit her lip nervously. “I can do that, Milady.”

“Good girl. Now, they are protected by a spell, so you will allow people to punish them any way they see fit. EXCEPT that there are some liberties that shan’t be taken. Even with lowly excuses for a sorceress like these two. You understand, Patrice, right?”

“Understood Milady.”

“Now, you can walk, ride, or whatever allows you enough control over your wards. They will crawl on their knees as they are now, as befits the dirty animals they are. I doubt that they’ll put ...

“You, guard! The skinny one. What’s your name?”

“Patrice Milady.” “Patrice…you work for the constable of this town?” “Yes Milady.” “I have a proposition for you.” Marianna passed over a coin pouch. “If you do what I ask, this pouch will refill itself exactly once, after it is emptied.” Patrice’s eyes widened with surprise, and a little greed. “What do you need, milady?”

“These two cows have a great deal of punishment ahead of them. But I have greater matters to attend to, East of here.” Marianna waved ...

“Now, I’ve put an end to it, because I have a war of my own to wage,” Marianna said. “People of the town, do you find these sorceresses enchanting? Can you resist their charms?”

The question was met by laughter, and the two former sorceresses found themselves being pelted with moldy vegetables and rotten eggs. “That’s what I thought. I suspect that the rest of your former subjects will react similarly when notified of their liberation.”

Fiona brought her torso upright, then thought about getting off her knees before thinking better of it. “We came from the misty isles with nothing--”

--” “Except the powerful amulets you stole from Tabitha, Mistress of Illusion, before you left. And your scant magical power. Now that I’ve absorbed it, I know its scale. I drank deeply of your former powers and learned that combined they could barely slake the thirst of a moth. But continue…as you were saying, you crossed to the continent with nothing.”

Selena continued, “We were cold and wet from the journey when our raft came ashore. A kind family of farmers took us in, g...

After a few minutes, the paddles mercilessly paused, before disappearing. The crowd quieted down and a smiling Marianna spoke.

“I hope I won’t have to explain the situation to you again, dears. You’ve made a mess of things here. Really, it reflects poorly on the sorceresses of the Misty Isles. So the sentence I pass on you today will only be the first half of your…penance. The rest of the sentence will be passed at the Tower of Arcana by some of those you have wronged. I very much suspect that part of your sentence will be to return to your work as the servants you were, before a modicum of magical power was ...

Just as before, the magic paddles chastised their targets, to the music of the Selena and Fiona groaning, and the crowd laughing. Even Marianna was chuckling so hard she covered her mouth.

The crowd laughed not only at the resounding sound of the magic feet making contact with the blubbery backsides, but with the graceless way the two would-be-conqueresses, who moments ago said they refused to kneel, had tumbled to their hands and knees. Neither had taken notice of the glowing paddles that had reappeared behind them.

The women who had instilled such fear in the village just yesterday had now become the laughing stock of the town square. Stripped of their powers, their clothes, and every drip of dignity, their reddened backsides and cream-dripping faces seemed so helpless. The tables had turned, indeed.

Of course, the crowd enjoyed their reversal of fortune, and savored the heaping serving of revenge they felt being dished out. But it was another cruel sorceress, Marianna, that had engineered their c...

Not to be discouraged, if such a thing could ever be said of disembodied sky feet, they made their way around to the now well-presented targets on the other side of the doubled-over duo.

At that point, she tossed the ball of energy at the sisters, which set off what the crowd could only imagine as a kind of magical circus act. First, two disembodied feet, blue as the sky, kicked each sister in her most private area. At least one audible “squishing” sound was heard in addition to the slapping sound of contact and the groans of the sisters. This caused the two women to double over in pain, although the spell prevented any serious injury.

“Do we really have to go over this again?” Marianna asked, exasperated, as she conjured a small ball of energy between her hands. “I am a powerful sorceress. You were piddling witches who thought you were sorceresses. But now, I’ve taken what little power you’ve left, and you have none. So kneel. I won’t ask again.”

Fiona glared at the sorceress. “You have no right to judge us! What makes you think that we’ll kneel before you!”

“And why would you do that?” Selene said, suspicious. “That’s easy darling, you’re going to need it for the sentence I’m about to pronounce on you. Mind you, it will protect you from bodily harm, but it won’t stop you from feeling whatever is happening to you. We couldn’t have that. Now kneel for your sentencing.”

After a few moments, the odd blue patterns that had been circling around each of them dissipated. “What was that?” Fiona asked. “Oh, just a spell to protect you from harm.” Marianna replied, smiling craftily.

Marianna began whispering a chant, and soon, a clear, blue field was scintillating around each of the ex-sorceresses bodies. “This tingles! What are you doing?” Selena asked, confused. “My head!” Fiona shouted.

Preview of Future Story--Part 1

It was just over four-hundred years ago that the Arcane Council met at Rynchus and conjured the first Wardshell. In a matter of months, they had replicated the feat at most other population centers. While the magical auras couldn’t prevent violence from breaking out, no violent act performed within had been fatal. No blade, club, or even magic had been the cause of death or serious injury. While the victims felt pain to be sure, the damage was restricted to bruises, welts, and light burns. ...

OK...

Going to wrap up the story soon, as in I expect it to be finished by April.  I'm starting the renders now.  It's been a rough time.  Part of me, I think, doesn't want this story to end at all, and other parts want to move on to pursue new ideas.  I'll post a few samples of the next places I'll be going, but these are "previews" of work that will eventually be free on my Deviantart.   After I finish the prequel story that has been going on here, I'm only going to ...

You won't be billed for March

Due to my lack of updates, I've paused billing for the month of March.  I'll try to get on this and finish this story up!

Sorry for the lack of updates; plans for this page

For years, I updated every day.  No patreon that I ever joined updated more than a couple times a month.  But right now, I am trying to find the energy to wrap up this last story.  After this tale is finished, I won't even pretend anymore that I'll post regularly.  I might drop a few previews of anything of the sort I'm working on (which may be common, or few and far between, according to my energy levels for this kind of stuff), or maybe posts some "too hot for deviantart...

Their tortured backsides were still glowing—Fiona’s red and letting off steam, while Selena’s would occasionally pulse with a bolt of blue lightning.

That was useless, though, since the crowd had seen everything on offer when Marianna’s magic had held them stretched out above the scaffold for the whole town to mock.

The two former sorceresses were gradually lowered to the ground, and used their new-found freedom of movement to wipe their faces and try to cover themselves.

(Working on getting back to posting.  That was...rough.  And after recovering, I've been depressed and had problems concentrating.  I'll try to get back on schedule and wrap this up in the next month or so.  After this story is finished though, gonna take a long break.)

Recovering

I hope to post again soon, but right now everything still is bad enough that it's hard to concentrate or enjoy anything.

Hopefully posting will start again soon.

I'm sick and overwhelmed with work at the moment.  I'll get on it as soon as I can.