“One must always keep the tools of statecraft sharp and ready. Power and fear – sharp and ready.”
– Frank Herbert, Dune
Struggling noble houses are a fantasy trope, so you want to create a few for your fantasy story, as one does. Who wouldn’t?
Tag: War of the Throne
The nobles, churches and guilds fight, openly or secretly, for mastery of the kingdom. A war of the throne is a fantasy trope that never really gets old as it is one of the most human of all stories, the fight for power.
The Way of the Sellsword
“Back to the company. Back to business. Back to the parade of years. Back to the annals. Back to fear.”
– Glen Cook, The Black Company (1984)
Mercenaries and mercenary stories are probably the most basic fantasy tales in a world with lots of rain and morally dubious characters. Sellswords are mercenaries – soldiers for hire. The way of the sellsword – a life of war on the road – is a hard one, but offer a high reward for those who survive. Continue reading “The Way of the Sellsword”