TRAVELOGUE

LET THE DOUBLECROSSING BEGIN!

19 July 2014

Welcome again, most honored reader, to another transmission of the Saga of the Terrific Trio.

Well, it seems that things are going our heroes’ way, right? Half-ton, man-eating Ogre giant slain through heart? Check. Rock-hard Stone-Men warri-ors smashed or knocked over into lava? Check. Mind-bogglingly powerful, ancient, mystic artifact obtained? Check. Scheming, ruthless, backstab-bing, treacherous, overly-ambitious mind-control-ling sorceress subdued? Uh…no, not quite.

In fact, now’s the time for the Countess to start playing her trump cards in the form of activating her powerful Encharrnent Spell. This nasty little spell has the even nastier habit of interfering with neurons, memories, sense perception, hormones, and other chemicals to cause the unfortunate recipient of the spell to have a brainless crush and attachment to its caster: in this case, Seth (the recipient), and the Countess, the caster (as seen sneakily casting HERE ).

Does Seth really have a chance of breaking out? Well, yes, but it won’t be easy. Imagine your kid brother’s (or your own, for that matter) wildest teen-age crush. Remember how he (or you, if you can objectively recall this time) would do anything for the girl of his dreams—even if that dream girl wasn’t necessarily the best match for him? Cash out life savings accounts, sleep under the bed in service, fight any enemy, travel half-way around the planet? And no matter how much you told him that he was acting like an idiot, he continued on, totally oblivious to your caring advice. Well, I remember doing some pretty stupid things in my ancient youth in another life too, and I tell you, honored reader, such a crush is nothing compared to getting whacked in the brain with the Encharrnent Spell. And the Countess knows it too!

And soon, the “Dwarf,” Bryan, may also realize this too as 500 lbs of Svvamp-Man fury, enough fury to take down a half-ton Ogre, turns itself upon him. Yup, folks, that’s right: it’s going to be Swamp-Man Jungle Fury vs. Desert Power, next week, right here–may the better man (or monster) win!

Until then,
With Cognescentii blessings,

— The Traveller