Children of the Rune

286 Pages·2005·0.84 MB·English

THE LANDS OF THE DIAMOND THRONE COME ALIVE!
They are seldom seen, but their deeds are often marveled at. They
live in legend to serve the land. They are the mysterious
runechildren, favored by some greater power to receive
a distinctive runic tattoo—and magical gifts
to work great wonders. Runechildren
blaze a brilliant path in a world
where good and evil are
never clear, guiding it to a
destiny not even they
always understand.
This anthology showcases
the oaths and magic, the
songs and ceremonies of
Lands of the Diamond
Throne in more than a
dozen thrilling and imagi-
native short stories by
such authors as Monte
Cook, Ed Greenwood,
Jeff Grubb, and others.
®
Unearthed Arcanais a trademark of Wizards of the Coast, Inc., PDF Version 1.0
in the USA and other countries. Arcana Unearthedis used
with permission from Wizards and all rights are reserved. June 10, 2004
Malhavoc is a registered trademark owned by Monte J. Cook. ®
All rights reserved.
TALES FROM THE LAND
OF THE DIAMOND THRONE
BY
MONTE COOK
ED GREENWOOD
JEFF GRUBB
AND OTHERS
EDITED BY SUE WEINLEIN COOK
®
MONTE COOK’S ARCANA UNEARTHED:
CHILDREN OF THE RUNE
This book is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Any reproduction
or unauthorized use of the material or artwork contained herein is prohibited without the express
written permission of Malhavoc Press. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any
form or by any means, electronic or mechanical—including photocopy, recording, Internet posting,
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Malhavoc Press is committed to reducing waste in publishing. For this reason, we do not permit our
covers to be “stripped” for returns, but instead require that the whole book be returned,
allowing us to resell it.
All persons, places, and organizations in this book—except those clearly in the public domain—are
fictitious, and any resemblance that may seem to exist to actual persons, places, or organizations
living, dead, or defunct is purely coincidental. The mention of or reference to any companies or
products in these pages is not a challenge to the trademarks or copyrights concerned.
Unearthed Arcana is a trademark of Wizards of the Coast, a subsidiary of Hasbro, in the USA and
other countries. Arcana Unearthed is used with permission from Wizards, and all rights are reserved.
Children of the Runeis published by Malhavoc Press LLC. This anthology is ©2004 Monte J. Cook
The contents of each individual story in this anthology is copyright as listed below, excepting those
elements that are components of the Monte Cook’s Arcana Unearthedand The Diamond Throne
intellectual properties. Such elements are TM and © Monte J. Cook. All rights reserved.
Introduction ©2004 Sue Weinlein Cook • “Stone Ghosts” ©2004 Lucien Soulban
“How it Works” and “Not Without Cost” ©2004 Monte J. Cook • “Skin Deep” ©2004 Steven Brown
“The Silent Man” ©2004 Richard Lee Byers • “The Fallen Star” ©2004 Ed Greenwood
“Hollows of the Heart” ©2004 Bruce R. Cordell and Keith Francis Strohm
“Child of the Street” ©2004 William B. McDermott • “Clash of Duty” ©2004 Miranda Horner
“The Pebble Before the Avalanche” ©2004 Mike Mearls • “Name Day” ©2004 Wolfgang Baur
“Singer for the Dead” ©2004 John J. Grubb • “Precious Things” ©2004 Thomas M. Reid
Cover art by Mark Zug
Cover and interior design by Peter Whitley
Cartography by Ed Bourelle
ISBN: 1-58846-864-X
Stock #WW16145
First Printing: August 2004
Printed in Canada
Distributed for Malhavoc Press by
White Wolf Publishing
1554 Litton Drive
Stone Mountain, GA 30083
www.montecook.com
MONTE COOK’S ARCANA UNEARTHED:
CHILDREN OF THE RUNE
VI
INTRODUCTION
SUE WEINLEIN COOK
1
STONE GHOSTS
LUCIEN SOULBAN
23
HOW IT WORKS
MONTE COOK
36
THE SILENT MAN
RICHARD LEE BYERS
60
HOLLOWS OF THE HEART
BRUCE R. CORDELL & KEITH FRANCIS STROHM
80
THE FALLEN STAR
ED GREENWOOD
99
CHILD OF THE STREET
WILL MCDERMOTT
120
CLASH OF DUTY
MIRANDA HORNER
144
THE PEBBLE BEFORE THE AVALANCHE
MIKE MEARLS
165
NAME DAY
WOLFGANG BAUR
184
SINGER FOR THE DEAD
JEFF GRUBB
205
PRECIOUS THINGS
THOMAS M. REID
224
SKIN DEEP
STAN!
248
NOT WITHOUT COST
MONTE COOK

SUE WEINLEIN COOK
I N T R O D U C T I O N
Welcome to the land of the Diamond Throne, home of
the runechildren. Since the release of Monte Cook’s
Arcana Unearthed roleplaying game, readers have
become entranced with the setting’s exotic peoples, arcane vistas,
epic history, and—most of all—its ancient magics.
The mysterious runechildren are inheritors of this magic.
These chosen heroes are granted mystical powers and the mark
of a supernatural tattoo. The runechildren don’t know why
they’re chosen, or even by whom. Is it the gods? The land itself?
In any case, their purpose is clear: to shepherd the land and its
people through whatever dangers may come.
Some runechildren are unsure of their calling, at least in the
beginning. Just making the acquaintance of a runechild can
change one’s life forever. Often they are asked to take great risks
and make great sacrifices for the good of the world. And born
of these sacrifices is the freedom the folk of the land enjoy.
vi
INTRODUCTION
Runechildren can spring from any race:the tall and noble
giants, known for their battle prowess, ancient traditions, and
wise leadership; the reptilian mojh, canny spellcasters who once
were human; the three diminutive faen races—tiny winged
sprytes, agile and frivolous quicklings, and the magic-loving
loresongs; the honor-bound, leonine litorians of the plains; the
jackal-headed sibeccai, whom the giants raised to sentience
from their once feral status; the strange verrik, with their wine-
colored skin and psychic natures; and even the humans, the
most populous of all the races.
These select heroes come from backgrounds as diverse as
their race. Some are spellcasters like magisters, runethanes,
greenbonds, witches, or mage blades. Some are bold warriors—
champions, warmains, totem warriors, or the unfettered. And
some call upon unique powers, such as the akashics, masters of
the racial memory, and the oathsworn, made mighty by virtue
of their sworn bond.
In getting to know the runechildren, you will come to dis-
cover the exciting land of the Diamond Throne. Three centuries
ago, the draconic dramojh held the land and its people captive,
subject to their monstrous tyranny and hideous experiments.
Then the giants came to these shores, unstoppable in the war-
dance they called Chi-Julud. The giants freed the people, van-
quished the dramojh, and together built a new realm.
This is a realm where one’s honor is more important than per-
sonal desire, where individual choice can rule over destiny, and
where the land is a thing to be protected, not exploited. It is a
land steeped in ceremony, upheld by the innate strength of one’s
sworn oath, and bound together by the burning power of hope.
Some people think the runechildren are only a myth. Others
know they’re real. But everyone has a different opinion of exactly
what it means to bea runechild. The thirteen original tales in
this book showcase these varied points of view. I hope you enjoy
meeting these new heroes, who wield the power of deed and rune.
vii
LUCIEN SOULBAN
S T O N E G H O S T S
Morgain Nai-Barinon strode through the cobblestone
streets of Ka-Rone with no interest in the surround-
ing festivities. Despite her evenly bronzed skin and
lustrous black rope of braided hair, Morgain’s empty scabbard
drew the most stares. Why a warrior such as she carried no
weapon added to her mystique. The gazes then drifted back to
her unwavering emerald eyes that challenged anyone to make
comment. None did. The worn leather attire and the sword scars
and arrow nicks on her arms bespoke a veteran.
In all the mystery and beauty of Morgain, never once did
onlookers see the rune adorning the back of her hand. They
never suspected Morgain as a runechild.
The port city’s normally pungent air of brine and slaugh-
tered fish lay masked beneath a sea of new odors: vendors sell-
ing roasted chestnuts and spiced chai, taverns serving freshly
baked breads and meats. If food didn’t delight the senses, then
1
L U C I E N S O U L B A N
the eyes and ears indulged in other banquets. To the joy of chil-
dren, performers juggled spheres of colored glass lit from
within, while musicians set tempo for the savage movement of
litorian war-dancers. Torches of yellow flame lit the streets into
the late hours, while dyed cloth and festive banners fluttered
from the eaves of buildings.
Morgain, however, stopped for none of these distractions.
While the Narasanight Festival was a joyous time, it was once
strictly a Hu-Charad celebration. The giants were somber crea-
tures, and their festival was one of words and memories. But, if
the giants had learned one thing in these lands they’d con-
quered, it was that the greatest of human qualities was appro-
priation. The festival belonged to all now, and had grown far
too garish for the understated Hu-Charad. Only in Ka-Rone’s
giant districts did the noise drop away and the festivities adopt
a quiet, more sober tone. Morgain walked past poetry and story
circles, where giants sat and recounted their works. Their tales
were precise, their passions exact in the measured cadence of
rhyming schemes and wordplay. A few distracted giants
watched Morgain walk by, curious at the human who seemed
comfortable in their hushed streets.
Morgain found her destination, a courtyard park surrounded
by colonnaded buildings with pediment-style roofs. The
garden’s hanging vines and verdant crown of shrubs were spec-
tacular against the alabaster-white structures and toga-clad
sculptures. At the garden’s center sat a circle of eight giants,
while outside that, numerous children played quietly. Even
seated, the giants were heads taller than Morgain, but she ap-
peared at ease. The circle listened to one speaker, his voice rev-
erential on this, the Hu-Charad’s holy night. A few onlookers
roasted corn or boiled chai on a heated brazier at the center of
the circle. Morgain, her stride unwavering, marched straight for
the giants before stopping. Everyone stared, surprised at this
diminutive stranger who now waited for their attention.
2