Tag: Fantasy
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The Art of Designing Nontraditional Monsters
When I began work on Dungeon Samurai, I challenged myself to employ only non-traditional monsters. They would not be orcs, goblins, or other such fantasy mooks seen in anime, manga and RPGs the world over; they would be monsters worthy of the name, dangerous and horrifying and bloodthirsty man-slayers that roam the dungeon seeking souls. Why…
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The Protector Part 4
That should have been the last I’d heard of Allondir. I was lining up more clients, putting out ads, doing whatever it took to get by. I could do without repeat business from a creature like him. Life isn’t that simple. The following week, at nine minutes after eight in the morning, as I emerged…
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The Protector Part 1
Business with bad people is a fact of life. Most people live their lives never having to deal with them. Many of those who have to like to think there’s no compromise with them. But if there’s one thing I know, it’s that you can’t get rid of them all. The best you can hope…
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Have Cash, Will Conjure Part 5
“You gave Federov to the Seebs?” Jansen asked. “Yes,” I said. “So that’s where he went.” Jansen jotted something down. “You were carrying other weapons with you. A pistol and two knives. Why didn’t you use them?” “Why didn’t my client kill Federov, you mean?” Greenwald asked. “Mr. Lee didn’t have to. And if he…
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Have Cash, Will Conjure Part 3
Greenwald leaned forward. “My client would like to exercise his Fifth Amendment rights.” “No, it’s okay,” I said. “Dom—” “Look, we never actually committed a crime.” Jansen sneered. “Really? Sounds to me like a conspiracy to obstruct justice.” “Things aren’t black and white.” I straightened to my full seated height. “I knew Johnson was trouble…
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Have Cash, Will Conjure Part 1
My lawyer has a reputation for melodrama, and today he was in fine form. “Detective Jansen! Why is my client in a prison jumpsuit?” Abraham Greenwald demanded. Jansen, huge even by troll standards, towered over the diminutive gnome. “Mr. Greenwald, his clothes were soaked with blood. They’re being held for evidence.” “Evidence.” Greenwald sniffed. “My…