Mike Carss

After the "chaotic evil" nature of the bandits in part one, I was aiming for more slightly more nuanced antagonists this time. Part three will expand on this more.

Despite the shirt’s loose weave across his eyes, Sam struggled to map his way while the four men led him. Street lamplight was sporadic, disclosing that their passage remained held to the alleyways. With his senses muffled, Sam contemplated—with bitter clarity—how he’d managed to foul up the operation. Rather than heed Graeme’s urgent call, he’d run blindly into the dark. The most logical decision would’ve been to follow together rather than split up. Sam assumed he’d tamed the gryphon ash’s inf

He's partially aware. To quote: He took the nearest path, aware that rational fear should have taken control of his actions, but the gryphon ash had renewed its hold on him. Perhaps he was rid of his anxieties and nightmares alike, and the excitement of such a prospect only urged him onward. He knows better, but at the same time he's deluding himself. The ash has partially metabolized in his system, so we're seeing its effect on him come and go.

Hmm... Perhaps make the best of a bad situation. Indeed. Hindsight 20/20 and all that. 😏 No doubt, as well as a bit miffed having Sam ran off like that.

A distant holler coaxed Sam to stir awake. He couldn’t comprehend the words, but the voice was friendly—an enthusiastic greeting followed by laughter. Wiping the sleep from his eyes, he scanned the room. While Graeme’s armour still lay on the floor, the man was gone, and the opposite side of the bed was cold. More chatter drifted on the wind, mingled with the stamping of hooves and the creak of waggons. A narrow stream of sunlight pierced the gap in the curtains. Judging by its angle, it was lat

I had no interest in writing such scenes myself. 😬

To allay any concerns how Sam's story might unfold from here, the ash isn't addictive as heroin (as an example). Consider it more like marijuana. It can be addictive, depending on how often it's used. In Sam's case, yes, the draw to keep using it could grow, but as you'll soon discover, he's also cognizant that he doesn't want to be become reliant. It's a slippery slope, to be sure.

Dust rose in a sudden plume as Sam flinched awake. A threadbare blanket threatened to trap him, and he struggled to free himself. Casting his gaze about the room, he blinked in confusion to find himself in his bed, back home in Reabury. Night was upon him, yet an unearthly white light emanated from between the wooden floor slats, allowing him to see. Shutters nailed from the outside barred the window, yet served as a paltry defence against the howling wind and icy sleet battering the house. Sam’

The sun had fallen hours ago. A sharp wind cut through the street, funnelled by dwellings on each side. Sam shivered in spite of the layers he wore—his tunic, the maille, and a thick woollen shirt pulled over to hide it. He stood in the shadow of an alleyway, unseen by the few roaming passersby. To his side, Graeme crouched. He wore his armour, obscured by a black cloak and hood, but the faint blue glow of the magickal steel seeped through the gaps of the material regardless. Dim street lan

I've also recently encountered random slowdowns on GA, where a page would take 10-20 seconds to load. The issue wasn't site-wide, though. IIRC it's when viewing a list of stories to read. I assumed the server was just getting overburdened with database queries. But don't take that as a complaint, merely an observation. This is a wonderful "free" service and a few slow page-loads aren't going to ruin it for me. (Free is in quotes because it's free to use, but certainly not free to operate.)

Duncan seems to know a lot, but there's a difference between "knowing" and "assuming" 😉 Also the town is fairly modest (akin to a very large village) and doesn't have any fortifications or walls. Any attempts to control what goes in and out of the town is essentially impossible. If the baron was a wise man, he'd ought to rectify that. Perhaps that's why the gryphon ash is such a problem there. It's easy to import and sell.

With a tired sigh, Sam shielded his eyes from the morning sun as he and Graeme approached Blakenhall Keep. Despite the shared bed, he’d slept terribly, although the knight’s warmth was not without its comfort. Upon riding through the open portcullis, they greeted a guard and stated their names. Expecting their arrival, the man gave a friendly nod, and with established efficiency had them swiftly escorted into the keep proper. This being Sam’s first time within a keep or castle, his fatigue soon

Yeah, more details about the gryphon ash, including where it comes from and how it's made, will be revealed in the next chapter.

Aside from how it affects the user, gryphon ash is that much different than alcohol. Both can dull preservational tendencies. The ash is just more potent in comparison.

@drpaladin, @drsawzall, your speculations give me a chuckle 😁 Fair warning: there's one more chapter to go before the "investigation" begins in earnest. They still need work out the contract details (bureaucracy amirite?) with Duncan. And in the process, they'll learn more about this substance.