In case you are wondering what the middle part of "the streghi" does...

 

03 27 2025 ♃

All of this is copyrighted material and that means you're going to ask me if you can reprint or use any of it. To date, no one has – and no one has my permission to use it, therefore.

WARNING: Please don't read if you're offended by:

• Naughty language, blasphemy, sacrilege, etc.

• Insensitive and uninhibited references to disabilities and/or differences

• Recreational drug use and alcohol abuse

• Paganism and unconventional beliefs/practices

• Homosexuality

• References to the supernatural

• People praying and saying "praise God" and so on

• References to slavery and slavery-related subjects

• Expressions of misogyny, "homophobia," and so forth

Also, do not read any of this stuff – any of "JTPYO" – to children or allow them to read it. It's not for kids. Come on, you know that! If you've let your children read this at any point in the past, you're already having problems. (Actually, no one should read it, but that's another topic for another day.)

Anyway, yeah: Back to teh children. Tell the other parents before it's too late. Form a support group; you could call it "nax-alt" or something like that, i.e., a wholesome alternative for kids (and retarded adults) who have become a nuisance because they're constantly trying to act out scenes from my stories. 

If you have made use of any of my writing – especially including past chapters, etc., from "JTPYO" that have been published in this blog – you should let me know ASAP by contacting me by email: rscribes@gmail.com. I'm not necessarily indemnifying you, but we should talk.

––––

JTPYO – King of the Land of the Dead [3] / a devil's work (excerpt from "the streghi") PARTIAL OUTLINE

Copyright © 2025 by Kristi A. Wilson

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Which is me.

(This is a partial outline of "the streghi" that I'm publishing here out of sheer perversity.)

At the story's outset, Naxosos is awakened in the middle of the night and called to help the sorcerer Joliel on a shady undertaking that only becomes shadier as they make their way toward the port of Jaraniesca, where a deadly creature called a "streghi" is expected to be put on a ship and transported to its new owner.

Joliel's desire is to liberate the creature and gain its trust and cooperation with the help of the Goddess-on-Earth's Second, Nirith, and describes great benefits that Naxosos will gain from helping their project. Naxosos agrees and they travel on foot toward Jaraniesca town – near the crossroads they meet the warrior Merelioides/Red, who rather insists that he be allowed to accompany them. (They take a detour around the town walls, as Naxosos has promised his wife, the Goddess-on-Earth, that he will stay out of the town.)

_____

Naxosos follows Red through a "fishing and trade district" that lies outside the walls and west of Jaraniesca and notes again that there is a lack of what would be expected to be normal nighttime activity; there are people up and lighted windows, and dogs run out and bark at them, but no one is about – Naxosos suspects that more than a little rain is what kept everyone at home.

They are finally drawing near to the isolated rows of warehouses and wharves where the streghi is supposed to take ship. 

Naxosos, still trailing a few dozen yards behind Red, has a surprise encounter with Nirith who has substantially changed her appearance and even her smell. She gives Naxosos a lot of last-minute instructions and cautions. Naxosos becomes more and more irritated with Joliel wanting to bring him along on what is becoming clear to be a dangerous expedition but he realizes he can't turn back even if he wants to, and (also) that he desires to go on, this due to his pity for the streghi and having heard its cries of despair. Nirith explains she is part of the company bringing the streghi to the dock and supposedly helping them to keep the creature under control.

Naxosos, following rather far back, begins to hear the approach of the cart and the detail bringing the streghi to the pier. He doesn't see anyone he knows anywhere and the area seems completely devoid of life, except that he can smell Joliel somewhere up ahead. He feels a lot better after having talked to Nirith. 

Everything is very quiet at first, and ghostly. 

Naxosos drifts closer and closer, aided by the giant boulders that litter the beach and increasing fog, and finally gets a decent view of the detail with five men dragging the cart and five men with crossbows to guard, and five robed figures, Celan magicians, to ensure the streghi stays under control. Nirith is also with them, he observes, and she is out ahead of the procession; he hears her muttering a nonsense spell under her breath. 

Up to a certain point, the whole thing goes like clockwork – they get to the pier and the crate is unloaded without incident. Nirith stays right next to the cage (all the rest of the party are plainly fearful of drawing too near to it and are happy to deposit the crate upon the dock and draw back a safe distance, crossbows at the ready). Nirith continues her chanting and the streghi remains completely quiet and still. There is very little sound otherwise; even the slave-ship approaches with as much stealth as possible. Once the crate is on the dock, one of the carters brings out a lantern to signal the slave-ship, that signals back and begins to draw up to the pier. 

The ship is quite close to the dock – again, a dire and ghostly sight because everything is so quiet and dark – when suddenly the streghi begins to make sounds.

Note: Naxosos remembers what Joliel is afraid of at the last possible second (angel's appearance at Sabelko’s death in kotlotd a bitter draught) (from editing notes) 

One of the Celan magicians expresses suspicion of Nirith and then senses that Naxosos is near and he also says something about that. However, when the streghi starts to act up – and he's advancing on Naxosos – he has to return to help his company. 

When the bowmen run off, Naxosos is able to see that they don't actually run off; they are seen by him – since he's so far back – to hide themselves behind boulders as he has done and so observes that something may have been unforeseen by Joliel or Nirith. Though he knows Red is somewhere near, he can't see or smell him. There is no way he can alert anyone without using mind-speech and giving himself and their operation away. 

(He thinks of the young boy Imladi, Fekhis Khistallehi's son, having singlehandedly killed a highwayman who was attacking their family, and wonders if he is that doughty, that he could sneak up on a man and try to kill him – then realizes that's probably won't solve anything at all: so here he is presented with quite a puzzle.) 

When Joliel confronts the Celan magicians, who he expected to leave the scene with the bowmen once the ship started to back away, he begins to call for Merelioides – who has remained in hiding – and saying that Nirith has betrayed them. Naxosos, who is also hiding, is very alarmed.  

So, actually, there are two magicians who Nirith compromised: One a raw apprentice, in charge of keeping the streghi under control while it is being drugged, and the other the head magician, who she has also made a friend of, this time in her own persona as the Goddess-on-Earth's Second, willing to expose a traitor among the devotees of Vranaps and more, as she has grown tired of traveling with the Children of God and wishes to "go north" on her own.

(end of outline) 

Referenced in the earlier post! (JTPYO - King of the Land of the Dead [3] / a devil's work (excerpt)

 

Published 03 10 2025 (Monday) ☽

All of this is copyrighted material and that means you're going to ask me if you can reprint or use any of it. To date, no one has – and no one has my permission to use it, therefore.

WARNING: Please don't read if you're offended by:

• Naughty language, blasphemy, sacrilege, etc.

• Insensitive and uninhibited references to disabilities and/or differences

• Recreational drug use and alcohol abuse

• Paganism and unconventional beliefs/practices

• Homosexuality

• References to the supernatural

• People praying and saying "praise God" and so on

• References to slavery and slavery-related subjects

• Expressions of misogyny, "homophobia," and so forth

Also, do not read any of this stuff – any of "JTPYO" – to children or allow them to read it. It's not for kids. Come on, you know that! If you've let your children read this at any point in the past, you're already having problems. (Actually, no one should read it, but that's another topic for another day.)

Anyway, yeah: Back to teh children. Tell the other parents before it's too late. Form a support group; you could call it "nax-alt" or something like that, i.e., a wholesome alternative for kids (and retarded adults) who have become a nuisance because they're constantly trying to act out scenes from my stories.

If you have made use of any of my writing – especially including past chapters, etc., from "JTPYO" that have been published in this blog – you should let me know ASAP by contacting me by email: rscribes@gmail.com. I'm not necessarily indemnifying you, but we should talk.

––––

JTPYO – King of the Land of the Dead [3] / a devil's work (excerpt from "the streghi")

Copyright © 2025 by Kristi A. Wilson

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Which is me.

The synopsis may be found here: https://scarlett156.blogspot.com/2025/03/something-from-jtpyo-king-of-land-of.html 

Note: There's also a reference in this segment to JTPYO – King of the Heights [2] / the slip (unpublished)

_________________

(Naxosos and Joliel are on their way into Jaraniesca town, where Naxosos has said he will help the sorcerer free a creature, a "streghi" that is illegally being held captive by a corrupt politician. Joliel has just finished telling Naxosos in plainer terms why he enlisted his help in spite of the fact that they are quarreling.)

At first Naxosos was stunned speechless and could do nothing but open his mouth, then close it again. Finally he said, angrily, "What about you? Isn't your blood any good?"

"Yes, I was planning on helping; Nirith has allowed it to drink. If one's blood is given without coercion or trickery, there is a lifelong, infrangible attachment. The streghi can be a most valuable ally – and you are very stupid, you see: You really need all the help you can get!"

Naxosos started to speak but again the sorcerer interrupted: "That is how I became Garisha-vidov's master! You've met him! Is he not wonderful?!"

After a moment, when Naxosos didn't say anything, Joliel giggled and said, "The expression on your face! 'Well, I'm not going to get a kiss from him tonight, am I?' – that is what it's saying! You are indeed a very stupid person, Naxo! And so blind!" Leaning in closely, the other poked him in the chest with a long, spidery, white finger. "You'll consider this better, and remember it longer, than any kiss, I'll wager! And you will say so before the sun comes up!"

Sourly: "I'm not in a betting mood right now." After a pause: "And the night isn't getting any younger. Let's go."

With a childlike gasp of delight: "Are you indeed serious?"

"Let's just go!" Naxosos turned and took a step, but the other grasped his arm.

"Truly, I didn't expect you would do this! Nirith told me that she was almost sure you would refuse!"

"Let go of me!"

"I will kiss you, if you like!"

Shaking Joliel's hand away, Naxosos growled "Some other time! Let's go!"

This he will do, and ask me to do, but he will not pray with me – or even pretend to simply to gain my greater affection!

And: What is he afraid of? What in the name of everything holy does HE fear?!

And: If he has broken oaths to the Goddess, he is not afraid even of her…

And so they left the prominence and threaded their way carefully back through trees and bushes until they were on the path again, and continued on toward Jaraniesca town.

As they ran, Naxosos spent some time in wondering whether Joliel would ever reveal this thing that he feared – for, he recalled, the other had not feared even to die merely so that Naxosos would have a chance to say goodbye to the maiden Raikha who he had loved and who had died untimely. Clearly, the archmage considered death a trifle: for Naxosos, the experience had temporarily robbed him of all courage, manliness, and reserve, and, for a short time, his senses.

But I did die.

That you did.

On the other side of the valley, torches on the Temple Vranaps – easy enough to see with its white stone dome and pillars, though low enough to the ground that, if not for its lighting, might have been the lid to a cistern or well – flickered dully in the increasing gloom, set against a steep hillside shaggy and black with many trees. Soon it would be almost completely dark, as the moon was about to set.

And who was there when you returned to life, to make sure you really had returned?

Nirith, the Second.

Now that Naxosos had heard the streghi's furious, hopeless cries, he could not stop hearing them.

Don't be afraid. I'm coming.

***

Before they had got to the first turning of their road, the streghi's lament seemed to stop. The sorcerer was now running at Naxosos's elbow, for the way had indeed grown slick with drizzly rain and the moon had set: a dull yellow glow was left, silhouetting the westernmost hills. The Temple of Vranaps was behind them and the town of Jaraniesca lay large, bright with lantern-light and smoky with torches, directly ahead.

Also they were required to run without magic Sight or Hearing, so the going was a bit slower, for Naxosos anyway.

They had passed a couple of small crofts lying close to the trail: one was seen to have lantern-light shining from its open door. "Keep going," the sorcerer had hissed. Naxosos had run on, skin crawling, trying not to hurry or make any sort of sound.

The spoor of the fighter Merelioides (but not his horse) was present all along their way, but he didn't see this one anywhere; he couldn't ask Joliel about it as they were keeping silence.

Naxosos was not sure what he would do if Red asked him to return to the camp: In mild desperation, he reviewed his last dozen or so interactions with the giant, which was anything but heartening, as thereby it became all too plain that he owed Thais's brother a good many favors.

But…I'm the King!

At that instant the sorcerer plucked at his arm and made a gesture for them to stop. The road was quite broad here, with some ruts, obviously heavily traveled, and currently muddy enough that a carriage might become stuck; they had been running on the margin for half a mile.

No lighting or watch was set – he had been informed of a tacit agreement between the landholders in the area, on both sides of the river in fact, and the Celan governorship, that if they felt the roads needed to be patrolled for safety, the landholders would supply the men. Probably why they chose this spot for us to camp for a while, he reflected.

For some weeks now the Six had been watching over the paths on this side of the river, and the landowners and shepherds had shown their gratitude, in fact, by bringing the camp food and other supplies, and had even brought students to study with the priests to the point that a large tent for classes with an attendant smaller enclosure for sleeping had been pitched. (And in their turn, the richer students brought silver and gold, and the poor ones more food, tenting, building supplies, and sumptuously woven-and-dyed cloth, for which the district was famous.)

During their time here, Naxosos had been as far as the town wall, less than a mile from where they now stood. Fisher dwellings were scattered throughout this part of the district, the low, long buildings lightless, dead silent, abandoned in appearance, the closest one about fifty yards back from the road. There was the odor of tenancy by fisher-folk (charcoal and smoke, shit-pits and dog-pens, fish guts and vegetable rot, and that smell of nets soaked in brine, slime, and blood, hanging to dry on a line) but no one was about, and no nets hanging out, likely because fishing was good in spite of the impending seasonal change: Everyone was at the shore.

In terms of what the sorcerer was planning, that was a fortunate sign.

But seeing all the structures downhill and ahead of them, a house-full settlement with a lighted gate, a wall, and guard-towers made his knees trembly in a way running six miles in the dark had not. It was still and quiet right now, but within an hour or so would begin to stir: Bells would be rung and horns sounded, people would yell, animals would bellow; shops and kitchens would stoke their fires.

Surely, they are our friends!

Not all of them. Be glad you stood by your promise that you wouldn't enter the town, and influenced the sorcerer to your will.

"Breathe!" the other hissed into his ear. "Catch your breath now!"

Naxosos took this advice and waited for Joliel to say something else, which he did after a few moments. The road and few trees around them were still, still and silent, though there was a constant noise of the rain that wasn't heavy enough to make its own sound except as it collected, dripping off the rocks and branches. The fisher-lodges lay in a haphazard jumble on mostly open, grassy hillside – though it was from here a good long walk to the shore, there was in suitable weather an excellent view of the harbor and Channel beyond, and the river below – Kazikah, it was called by the locals, though on most maps it went by its Celan name, Aghlam-an – teemed with fish at almost every time of the year.

Joliel said, "Merelioides is here, he is watching us to see which turning of the road we will take. Don't look around! Don't talk! Listen!"

Miserably, Naxosos nodded. How will I ever be able to run back to my bed after this? Damn this asshole, this "druid" or whatever it is called! "Better than a kiss" – watching your just punishment will be better than anything!

The sorcerer went on: "We need to hustle if we are to arrive at the pier before the streghi and its guard! They're on the road right now! We must run quickly and quietly – without any magic at all, without any sound! until we arrive, and we must conceal ourselves so that we have a good view of the proceedings! Nod to show me you understand!"

Naxosos nodded.

"I know the area so I can probably find us a good spot to hide when we get there, but if there's any sort of disturbance –"

Naxosos began to remonstrate, but the other squeezed his arm so tightly that all he could do was gasp.

"No! You will not pant, wheeze, cough, sneeze, groan, or say a fucking thing!"

A nod.

"If Merelioides appears, don't take any notice of him – I doubt he's going to talk to us, I think he intends to trail along behind; he is waiting for you, or me, or both of us, to do something wrong."

Naxosos sighed, and nodded.

"If Merelioides is with us, we don't need to worry that much, but of course you should be ready to defend yourself."

A nod.

"That is an excellent sign, but it also signals that we'll probably face a foe!"

A nod.

"That goes for Nirith – if you recognize her by any token, do not show it in any way, unless you have the all-clear or I tell you to!"

A nod.

Now the sorcerer leaned in close and his grip on Naxosos's arm tightened painfully. "Ploighan engages in illegal activity, and he will doubtless go down for it, one way or another! Nod to show you understand!"

A nod.

"However, it doesn't matter how much of a criminal he is, because any of the local constabulary will kill us on sight, regardless! The streghi is currently Ploighan's property, the ship is contracted to him, the men guarding the streghi are hired by him, and we are stealing from them! Also, we will damage their cage. The pier may also take damage. That's all the sheriff and his deputies are going to care about, and they will shoot at us!"

Now Naxosos did speak up. "You assured me we would be relatively safe."

"I did not! I said I would look out for you! And you came this far voluntarily, I would even say eagerly! As though we were just going to a tavern or something! You cannot front with me, Naxosos!And when you saw the town walls you were scared! You are afraid of the town, just like you always are! I took this into consideration at the last instant. That's why we are going around Jaraniesca instead of through it! But we have to make haste."

Naxosos began to speak, but the sorcerer pinched him and went on in a hurried manner. "If you were going but to drive a cart to market on a nice day with an armed escort, and everyone in the town was breathless to see you with the ships all blowing their horns in the harbor, I would still remind you that you could get killed! Because that's how stupid you are, Naxo!"

"I understand what you're saying, Joliel. Let's go on."

There was a sense of wafting, a breeze and a scent, and a shadow, and Joliel released his arm so rapidly it was a shock (with an immediate stinging, needle-like return of sensation), and the warrior Merelioides was there blocking out what light there was; he was cloaked and he didn't rattle, but from his contours the giant was hauling quite a bit of gear including a shield. Joliel began to speak, but Merelioides grabbed his arm – in much the same manner as the sorcerer had been been gripping Naxosos's arm only a second before – and motioned.

Suddenly tractable and without another glance or word, the sorcerer sighed and made a little jump, animal-like, onto the warrior's back and settled himself like a cape made of black rags upon his shoulders.

Merelioides then turned an inscrutable look upon Naxosos, who couldn't think of anything to say. Finally the other said, in a normal speaking tone: "There is no danger if he goes back to the encampment – these lodges are empty and the road is empty and will be so until daybreak; he has plenty of time and knows the way."

"I –" Naxosos began but the other then said brusquely, "Follow, or don't!" whereupon he turned and strode with great speed down toward the crossroad and the town.

After a few seconds, Naxosos followed at a quick jog.

The warriors could walk faster than many people could run, and silently, if they wanted to: in spite of his size and the heaviness of his equipage, the giant man was nearly lost to hearing after he had gone only a few yards, and then at twenty yards – just a few strides for him – he was almost lost to sight as well, for he blended remarkably with the landscape. A man sitting up at night might see him passing, but at second glance (What the devil WAS that?!) he would already be dozens of yards along.

The fighters, he knew, disliked going into a settlement as much or perhaps even more than he did, but they were always ready for anything and could accomplish almost anything, in spite of their limitations.

However: Joliel was probably breaking an oath, and if he lived, he would be punished. Red was helping; Nirith also, if the sorcerer was to be believed. Why were they risking so much? Why had they drugged or enchanted the Goddess-on-Earth and part of the camp, if she wouldn't particularly mind?

He remembered the streghi's cries. Soon they would begin again – if they didn't hurry, they wouldn't be able to help Nirith, who was there by herself.

He ran.

***

(End of excerpt) 

Something from JTPYO - King of the Land of the Dead [3] / a devil's work (excerpt)

I have been working on JTPYO - King of the Waste [3] the trap, and I got tired of that so I started working on the excerpt noted. This is the outline. 

-------------

All of this is copyrighted material and that means you're going to ask me if you can reprint or use any of it. To date, no one has – and no one has my permission to use it, therefore.

WARNING: Please don't read if you're offended by:

• Naughty language, blasphemy, sacrilege, etc.

• Insensitive and uninhibited references to disabilities and/or differences

• Recreational drug use and alcohol abuse

• Paganism and unconventional beliefs/practices

• Homosexuality

• References to the supernatural

• People praying and saying "praise God" and so on

• References to slavery and slavery-related subjects

• Expressions of misogyny, "homophobia," and so forth

Also, do not read any of this stuff – any of "JTPYO" – to children or allow them to read it. It's not for kids. Come on, you know that! If you've let your children read this at any point in the past, you're already having problems. (Actually, no one should read it, but that's another topic for another day.)

Anyway, yeah: Back to teh children. Tell the other parents before it's too late. Form a support group; you could call it "nax-alt" or something like that, i.e., a wholesome alternative for kids (and retarded adults) who have become a nuisance because they're constantly trying to act out scenes from my stories.

If you have made use of any of my writing – especially including past chapters, etc., from "JTPYO" that have been published in this blog – you should let me know ASAP by contacting me by email: rscribes@gmail.com. I'm not necessarily indemnifying you, but we should talk.

––––

Copyright © 20251 by Kristi A. Wilson

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Which is me.

2025 03 05 ☿

(synopsis of "kotlotd a devil's work" not included)

(beginning)

The action in this story takes place just after the part in JTPYO:King of the Land of the Dead [3] a devil's work excerpt called "providing for the Children of God in Jaraniesca province" that I started writing in September 2020, published (in this blog) February 2021.

Naxosos gets a lot done in "a devil's work." He runs away from the Children of God (requiring him to break an oath) and stays some months on an island named Waresh-Ghlia where he meets and becomes romantic with a cute slave girl, and confronts a rather distressing part of his destiny.

Naxosos and his girlfriend, Chaeneth (happily pregnant with his child, even though she is aware she will soon be sold into the service of Aritritas, the Steward of Arigne, who isn't a nice person at all) snoop in the correspondence of the island's tenant, Vlaitor Rostini, an actor, orator, spy, and assassin exiled on a pension. They find out all sorts of things, including that some nasty people are aware Naxosos is on the island and they are very eager to see if it's really him. (Note: The birth of Naxosos's son occurs in JTPYO:King of the Land of the Dead [4] the poison tree excerpt "Conetheg-i-i'el" and is coincident with ransack of the fishing village Conetheg-i-i'el which is the collective's destination, and an attempt against the encampment of the Children of God.)

Naxosos leaves Waresh-Ghlia in the company of Szera Zeracx, a mercenary assassin who pays frequent visits to the island. They stay a short time on Zeracx's family holding in Pavrain (this is noted in the part of "a devil's work" called "it isn't him") but he ends up leaving, alone and without goodbyes, from this place, too, for a variety of reasons.

He searches for a particular holding of the sorcerer Joliel's, glimpsed once on a map, and does find one of his properties, but it's the wrong one (he's looking for Jehnehannu but ends up on another, smaller basalt tower to the north and east, Farisheh Ya-havi, instead). Joliel isn't there, though he shows up before Naxosos has a chance to get into any real trouble, and Naxosos learns some very startling things about this companion of his, and others.

Szera Zeracx and Naxosos meet up again and the Szera ("the" because he is the head of his clan) helps Naxosos get to the sorcerer's main holding which is seaward, just outside the city limit of the Celan capitol, a great basalt tower named Jehnehannu, and accompanies him inside its keep; after this, Szera Zeracx becomes a fixture of the main body of the Children of God and quickly attains leadership – this is mentioned in "providing for the Children of God" and "the vineyard laborers" – although it is seen that eventually he separates from the assembly to lead a part of the tribe northwards.

When Szera Zeracx and Naxosos arrive on Jehnehannu, the Children of God are present in great numbers holding a major shindig there, and everyone is very excited to see him. The action in this excerpt of "a devil's work" is called "return."

Several things happen in this segment that have enraged a lot of people, I guess. Heh. Just doin' my job. (And, as stated in my disclaimer and elsewhere: No one made you read it. At least no one I know.)

A notable thing that happens in "return" is that Naxosos and Joliel have a major dust-up when in a moment of inspiration Naxosos asks the sorcerer to pray with him. This enrages Joliel who, a few hours later, makes a prediction regarding Naxosos's desire to return to his homeland, Kheoran-Arigne, to try to get as many of his people to join what the Children of God call "the New Kingdom," far in the north. In this same scene (the "prediction" is unpublished by the way) Joliel also orders Naxosos, Naemas, and Korsis to accompany him that day at the onset of twilight on a visit to the Celan Emperor, Panavastis (I know I should really change this name!).

So Naxosos and his two friends – cowed and afraid, sworn to absolute silence and obedience, and with ferocious hangovers – enter the heart of Cela in a carriage, arriving at the Emperor's palace at midnight where the sorcerer demonstrates to them his control over the ruler of the known world.

No one is hurt in this segment (unpublished, called surprisingly enough "a visit with the Emperor") except one unlucky courtier.

(The visit with the Emperor is also referenced in published part 4 of King of the Land of the Dead [4] the poison tree excerpt "the vineyard laborers" as having scared Naxosos, Naemas, and Korsis quite a bit to the point that Naxosos doesn't even want to discuss it with Thais.)

In terms of my published stuff, the story "return" is chronologically prior to "providing for the Children of God in Jaraniesca."

In "providing for the Children of God," Naxosos has rejoined the tribe and they have assembled in Jaraniesca province and town, where they are allowed to occupy a set of properties on grazing land high in an alpine territory. They receive a number of refugees there and this part of the story is told from the point of view of a Pavrani refugee, a former landholder fleeing from the Celan Emperor's ruinous war conscription and tax, Lord Fekhis Khistallehi.

Lord Khis (as his longtime house guard, an elderly warrior named Teshmit, calls him) has had a great many losses and finds himself, after a long and difficult trek, having to beg sufferance from the Children of God, reputed to be able to facilitate refugees' passage to land in the north. In this excerpt it is shown that Naxosos and Thais provide money and sustenance for the refugees: By sorcery, Naxosos changes a trifling amount of silver into a sulindar, a gold-and-platinum piece equaling one thousand cela-ankis, or "zees." (A zee is equal to what is paid for one hour of unskilled labor – so in USD a zee is $10 plus or minus, and one sulindar is equal to $10,000.)

Also by sorcery, Thais multiplies a small amount of dried fish and stale bread into food enough so that Lord Khistallehi and his two young sons, two elderly servants who have stayed with him over many miles of hard road, and baby daughter, have enough food for the next couple of days.

The following excerpt from JTPYO:King of the Land of the Dead [3] a devil's work (the streghi) concerns the couple of weeks following the above. The Children of God are still encamped upon the height of northern Jaraniesca province, but they are preparing to leave, some of the assembly to journey north – into the "New Kingdom" – and some south. Naxosos and his cohort will travel south into Kheoran-Arigne.

(synopsis of excerpt "the streghi")

Peacefully-sleeping Naxosos is awakened before midnight and called to an adventure by his disciple Bashdi Andiamo, who tells him the sorcerer Joliel wishes to meet with him outside the main encampment to "show" him "something." Naxosos quickly realizes that everyone in that quadrant of the main camp has been either enchanted or drugged, including the Goddess-on-Earth and everyone whose duty it is to watch over the camp at night.

Naxosos meets with the sorcerer outside the encampment – he finds the road into Jaraniesca is similarly empty of activity. The sorcerer proposes that they embark upon an exploit but says he can't tell Naxosos what is going on. Naxosos – rather bored and exhausted by having to be a "king" for all the Pavrani refugees, who he is still not crazy about except for a notable one or two – decides he will go with Joliel, although he is aware the sorcerer is breaking oaths by enchanting the occupants of the camp, and committing an even worse infraction if he has drugged anyone. He observes that the warriors are awake and alert, though they seem not to be paying attention. (And he hopes that being asked to accompany the other on this undertaking is a sign that perhaps they will be close friends again.)

He finds out, finally, that a creature related to the "elthir-evo" (the Redoubt) encountered in a devil's work "it isn't him," is being held captive in the so-called "Temple of Vranaps," a joint little frequented by anyone in the area – in fact, a lot of the local residents only know it as a forbidding ruin tenanted by creepy weirdos. Which it pretty much is, but it does have a secure dungeon. The creature, in local parlance called a streghi, is of unimposing size and aspect but in fact possessed of enormous strength and destructive capabilities, and has since its capture been kept under constant watch by armed men and magicians or magicians' apprentices, and drugged into an almost insensible state.

The corrupt Celan governor (his name is Ploighan Groettna) of Jaraniesca province has contracted to keep the streghi under control until it can be shipped south into Kheoran, but the presence of the Children of God in the area, and their popularity with the locals, has been an inhibiting factor, and so the creature has been held captive for longer than intended.

There is also the issue of the weather, which is growing increasingly uncertain as the time of storms nears: If Governor Ploighan doesn't get the streghi on board a ship headed south soon, he's going to have to keep it confined until nice weather returns.

The idea is that Joliel is very keen on assisting the streghi, thereby gaining its participation in his scheme to take over the world. He enlists Naxosos because he knows he will more than likely agree to help the streghi once he sees how cruelly and unfairly it's being treated, thereby ensuring its escape from captivity. Thais the Goddess-on-Earth and her brother Merelioides (Red) are found to be complicit in this and actually cooperate because A) it's part of a tradition among their people and B) if Naxosos agrees to help the streghi out – which he must do of his own free will without any coercion or trickery whatsoever involved – the creature will become his lifelong, steadfast ally. (Spoiler: This doesn't quite work out the way anyone expects.)

Note and also somewhat of a spoiler: Thais's Second, Nirith, has during the tribe's weeks in Jaraniesca province taken advantage of one of the apprentices, a flawed youth assigned to keep a watch on the streghi and, being able to speak and interact with the creature, named Yrinyi, she has formed a connection with it.

(5 March 2025 ☿)

TRUMP VICTORY

I got what I wanted. Have a nice day, y'all! #America  

My disclaimer

DISCLAIMER

All of this is copyrighted material and that means you're going to ask me if you can reprint or use any of it. To date, no one has – and no one has my permission to use it, therefore.

WARNING: Please don't read if you're offended by:

• Naughty language, blasphemy, sacrilege, etc.

• Insensitive and uninhibited references to disabilities and/or differences

• Recreational drug use and alcohol abuse

• Paganism and unconventional beliefs/practices

• Homosexuality

• References to the supernatural

• People praying and saying "praise God" and so on

• References to slavery and slavery-related subjects

• Expressions of misogyny, "homophobia," and so forth

Also, do not read any of this stuff – any of "JTPYO" – to children or allow them to read it. It's not for kids. Come on, you know that! If you've let your children read this at any point in the past, you're already having problems. (Actually, no one should read it, but that's another topic for another day.)

Anyway, yeah: Back to teh children. Tell the other parents before it's too late. Form a support group; you could call it "nax-alt" or something like that, i.e., a wholesome alternative for kids (and retarded adults) who have become a nuisance because they're constantly trying to act out scenes from my stories.

If you have made use of any of my writing – especially including past chapters, etc., from "JTPYO" that have been published in this blog – you should let me know ASAP by contacting me by email: rscribes@gmail.com. I'm not necessarily indemnifying you, but we should talk.

I deleted all my posts because most of them are really old

None of the posts from earlier in this blog have survived. This is the only one left.