Publisher's Synopsis
It was a place not far away and a time not long ago. It was green, lush, wet, and covered with thriving vegetation, abundant wildlife and many rapidly growing populations of "humanes," short for humane beings, which they were not: they were aggressive, hard- working, and most of all common. These humane occupants of Riparianne built great cities and within these cities they built Castles, Schools, Libraries, Churches, Hospitals, and Military Training Centers, Fancy brothels, Banks filled with scheming money lenders, and Gladiatorial Arenas where you could lose your money gambling while watching other people die. Since the death of the Last High Lord with the end of the Righteous Rebellion, the beautiful and raven-haired Adamanda, Queen of all that is Riparianne, had worn the Crowns of Fardragon City and the Realm of Riparianne. A celebratory feast commenced in Fardragon Castle, in honor of Queen Adamanda's allies - the so-called Brotherhood of the Black Prism. The five members of this Brotherhood were called the Pentalords, and three of them had given the Queen a child. The partnership between the Queen and this group of dark and powerful allies had functioned well in the past, with only occasional problems breaking out due to jealousy or competition. Queen Adamanda entered the Castle Ballroom and quickly surveyed the room, easily spotting her daughter, Princess Charilyn and her youngest offspring, Prince Slagan. Her middle child, Prince Stigan, was nowhere to be seen and continued to be absent until long after the feast had ended. "Just where in all of the Nine Hells have you been tonight?" Queen Adamanda shouted at Stigan when he finally showed up. Prince Stagan replied: "I just don't like this place. Dark things have happened here in Fardragon Castle, and may still be happening ... the deeper one goes into the corners of this place, the darker one's heart becomes." "Why do you think that, my son? All who could harm you are dead. I have seen to that. So stop being frightened of a mere stone structure." Stigan looked down at his list of duties for the week. Oddly, it was not written in his mother's handwriting so unlike most days he decided to actually study it. Stigan read the list sequentially until he came to the last one, which stated: There is a short poem carved into the outer door to the Queen's Chambers. It has been there since you were two years old. Explain what it means and why you wrote it: I Live Here Now - It's Home Sweet Home Tall Black Towers - Golden Domes A Place to Laugh - A Place to Hide A Place to Die - Just Step Inside. Stigan took one look at this poem and became almost instantly sick to his stomach.
