Empowerment for the 'Little People'

The revenge of the nerds was a theme that Phillip Marsden had up-played, when his master-game had piggybacked onto an already successful market. It had its way of consuming its consumers.

Empowerment for the 'little people' (and by that he did not mean the Fey) was his condescending motto.

One could not really say that he was a bad man, or a visionary either - but what could be observed by the more sensitive, was that another now influenced his thinking.

Historically it is never the plain men who are the most dangerous to Humanity; it is either the possessed, or the chemists.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series 

Getting People to Speak the Truth

Nervina had a harvesting business with the Trolls and he was in charge of the biannual Spring Equinox festivities etherically worldwide.

This time his shopping list was entirely different - he had on order a special blue dust that was gathered from the wings of the Arubi Moth that fluoresced in the dark with properties famed for getting people to speak the truth.

It worked on both mortals and fey and once a little was ingested by breath, folk could speak only honest words for a day or so until it had dissolved. It was not a widely circulated substance as nobody really wanted it to get out, and few knew it was even available unless they were in the trade.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series

Spiders, Ants & Eels

Jars of spiders and cockroach snacks were being shipped out for the Troll packing plant. Sugared and spicy ants, dried fish and birds' beaks were some of the treats that were their best sellers.

Eels and eyes, fronds and bulbs, went out in jars labelled 'Healthy Choice', whist the stickier, sweeter eats, along with the fried, crumbed selections, were given a red ribbon and a use-by date and entitled 'delicacies'.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series

The Crest of a Flaming Tree

Mysterious golden envelopes started appearing in mailboxes everywhere - arriving on public holidays, slid under doors, popped into pockets - each one containing a flat packed pair of 'party glasses'.

These envelopes importantly bore the crest of a flaming tree; and people assumed that this was yet one more terrific extravaganza promotion coming from Phoenix WAR2.

Each player eagerly awaited their own pair to arrive to then try, assuming that instructions would follow on after online.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series

With not a Word More he had Disappeared

It was time to go back into the World. Dawn was eking its way above the horizon and glowed a pinkish gold in the early light. In sitting, his mentor was the same height to Puck, and with the familiarity he felt in that moment, he affectionately placed one hand upon the Lion's shoulder, whilst looking hard into his eyes and through to his being.

As he did this the form of the great golden Lion shivered and began to dissolve before him, and for one moment, in its place, stood a man - a strong man - still continuing to look back at him.

He was broad and muscular, and had strength about his presence - his chest was bare and he wore his long straight hair pulled back behind him falling down to his waist. Puck, for just a second, seemed to recognise the figure - and in the moment that he did, the form had returned back into the sagely Lion that he knew so well.

Puck took the glasses off and returned them into the bag. "Azlan, I must go back now, mustn't I?"

The Lion nodded his assent replying gently: "yes, my Son" and with not a word more he had disappeared.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series

Abstract Folly Erodes the Commonsense

“And so to the game ... what shall be done?”

“The prime discourtesy of the Physical World lies in is its discrepancy with the reality of the Spiritual realms. Abstract folly tries the reasoning, and erodes the commonsense. It is this we must address. I will give you a gift that will help them see life as it is."

A small black cloth sack appeared at Puck's feet. He opened it carefully and found inside there were cardboard glasses with cellophane inserts that looked a lot like they had come out of a cereal packet. He felt a little disappointed.

"These could make a difference, if they will try them. Your sack will never empty, for when you remove one, another will take its place" the Lion said in his deepest of tones importantly.

"Are they for 3D viewing?" Puck asked, wondering what they could really do for anyone.

The Lion said nothing.

"Are they rose-colored to cheer people up?"

"I have given you the gift of helping men to see the way things really are." repeated the Lion, softly but firmly.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series

I would be there for these Souls

The Lion continued:

"Even I do not have the power to hasten the impediments of Hell ... the dungeons are there only for good purpose, not punishment, as is mistakenly said so.

“Without this purging, the soul would truly become in peril - and the Cosmos unstable with diseases from the many problems of the World.

“I would be there for these souls but they cannot always see me - and so I wait, until they call. We cannot hurry such things you and I.”

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series.