The Thoughts of Men are Powerful

"The thoughts of men are powerful", the Gryphon prophesied, "and yet there is little thought given to this most powerful of truths".

Puck bethought that the word "powerful" should not be used twice in a sentence. He did not like repetition.

The Gryphon spoke emphatically, shaking his head and repeated out loud very knowingly, "they are powerful".

Puck was undecided of this - so far the thoughts of men had not seemed to amount to much: a concordance of vanity, bloodlust and piff.

The presence of the Gryphon had rubbed off on him and he quickly corrected himself by committing his own harshness to an inner apology.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series

He did not approve of Puck

Puck was chewing on a caramel and a piece got stuck in his teeth. A Gryphon was sitting pensively beside him - his wings glistened at the edges and his spiky whiskers protruded from a wise, elongated chin that was gnawing on a caramel also. Puck had brought him a bag full. Both were enraptured by melancholy.

The Gryphon's counsel had always been sober and dependable, yet with that he cautioned and dismissed far more than he encouraged. He did not approve of Puck, and the ways he would take to get somewhere.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series

There were Sylphs Everywhere

The flickering of the light and shadow in the glade had made Nervina slightly dozy and this head massage was incredibly relaxing.

"Nervina!" This time he felt a jabbing sensation sharp beneath his foot - Brogan had just poked him with a wand he had found abandoned on the walk.

Nervina shook himself and looked up at his friend and then around for the Sylphs who had since evaporated from sight. He soon saw that he had been lying in a filthy ditch, and there were leeches crawling all over him. Brogan started to pick a clot from his hair; the black slugs were holding onto his skin, plump, dark and persistent.

This was nothing like the experience he had been immersed in moments earlier.

"Bro" he said, beginning to explain ... "there were Sylphs everywhere, and they were ... tantalising."

"Girls?" Brogan laughed - "You?" he laughed again.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series

His Head Rested on a Pillow of Downy Moss

Nervina was surrounded by a sweet, cool, beautiful green light.

His head rested on a pillow of downy moss and beneath him was a tangle of soft fern.

He had closed his eyes momentarily to ponder the conversation he had just overheard and opened them to find ten sylphs watching him as he lay there.

They were each very gentle beings and the sunlight played with their silvery hair and glanced off their satin white skin. Their ethereal robes exposed but small peeking breasts, illumined by the tender light without. Their young faces were genuine and caring. He could hear Brogan's voice calling him from afar but was so transfixed by his attendants that were smiling at him most favourably.

One was massaging his temple - her hands were smooth and fine, and cool to the touch - another had brought a silver tray of sweets. He no longer felt the desire to leave any time soon.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series

Two for One

"Two for one?" he said questioningly and then nodded with approval.

"Only for a limited time" the caped guy replied sardonically. 

"I understand,” replied the other, nodding his head.
"Why now?"

"Prison's running a bit short on workers - need to up the numbers fast ... they are just on the eighties, but we need then close to a hundred percent if we are gonna make the deadlines."

"Gotcha."
"You find 'em, I'll catch 'um."
They both laughed.
"Got the gear?"
"Waiting and ready for delivery."
"I'll message you as usual with their IDs."

And with that the two just vaporised out of the area. In this world, the minute someone exits the game they immediately disappear.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series

The Bloke in a Purple Cape holding a Wand

Nervina could hear low whispers - the kind that was all a growl and a mutter – voices that were contaminated with conspiracy.

It was coming from two men who he had almost tripped over when making his way to the rise. As usual, they could not see him.

He decided that they looked as though they were up to something - a little more than the bang and blasting that was going down everywhere else on the terrain. Nervina sat down in the covered ditch to join them and listen in.

"Two for one" said the bloke in a purple cape holding a wand. He was dressed as a 'Land Lord’, which showed some authority in Phoenix, although his voice seemed coarse by comparison to his decorated self.

The other fellow was more plainly attired in army greens, and in his 'aura' shone many rewards that he had gained. He seemed younger than the first man, but his voice was quite frail.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series

His Prime Method of Keeping Track of People

Not all hopes are harmful or cumbersome to take on - in fact most contribute to build up a soul - but some create itches, pin-pricks and aches - just depending on the weight and the message that they bear.

However, in the case of Puck it was his prime method of keeping track of people. He could usually sense their whereabouts and how they were travelling, from his own small note he had placed on them.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series