A sneak peek at the next thrilling Lore of the Underlings episode,
which I’m writing as we speak (Episode 4 ~ Preview 9)

The doorkeepers held abreast and ready a brace of heart-crossed battle pikes. Now each rapped his own two together twelve times in a duel of hard knocks to announce their guests. By this were the guests held in rapt attention with no choice but to listen. Nor had they a hope to avoid the vision of hosts of apparitions sprung from the chamber’s phantom lamplight just for the chance to dance for them.

Ghosts of a hidden history… were we never let to tell our story… but for the shadows upon these walls… where we evermore dwell…

Done, the rappers sang a song, a torch song of hellish welcome:

Had you a good wife?
A strong, young son?
Beautiful daughters
Chased yet virgin?

Questioned guest
Pale ghost, pale ghost
Cornered beast
Pale ghost

We see soft hands, signs
Of rich lands owned,
Fine fabrics your skin,
Fat flesh on bone

Hapless guest
Pale ghost, pale ghost
Captured beast
Pale ghost

And in some safe haven
Of holywood,
For what is your treasure
Of gold now good?

Helpless guest
Pale ghost, pale ghost
Hogtied beast
Pale ghost

“This pelt be of value”
“For marrow, his bones”
“Hang him till tomorrow”
“All blood let and run”

No marrow tomorrow
Your hide be gone
The last of your ‘morrows
Bled on this ground

Sorrow tomorrow
Six feet down
Death bed made
No sound

Screamless guest
Pale ghost, pale ghost
Dreamless guest
Pale ghost, pale ghost
Hopeless guest
Pale ghost, pale ghost
Lifeless beast
Pale ghost

So into darkness the three were thrown, over the crown of ghastly glow.

… to be continued. Stay tuned!

~~~

Previous previews of Episode 4:
1 ~ The watchman
2 ~ Dreams
3 ~ Halo
4 ~ Netherworld
5 ~ Semperor
6 ~ Halcyon days
7 ~ Punch
8 ~ Enshadowed

~~~

The illuminated lore project is an ongoing collaboration of
photographer Michael Leacher
and Lore of the Underlings author John Klobucher