THE IRON SERPENT, by H R Laurence   ‘You’ve fought bravely, fellow,’ said the corsair chief. A string of shrivelled human ears dangled from his neck and the shaft of his bloody hatchet was studded with polished white teeth. ‘But the day is ours; no cause for making it longer now. Cast down your sword.’ Heodric […]

DOORWAYS, by Jennifer Crow, art by Simon Walpole     Touch the wood, rough with age and peeling paint. Sun has poured its afternoon heat into the grain, the brass knocker hot enough to sear flesh. No eye peers at you through the cracked glass of the little window, and beyond you see only darkness, […]

HFQ senior editor Adrian Simmons has been filling in the edge of the wilderness hexmap and the encounter locations in the urban settings.  From such dangerous locales we have brough you the best  S&S fiction and poetry—well worth the wait!  We’ve got finale of Caleb Williams’ “Dragon Tears”, new south-seas adventures, and have unearthed a […]

DRAGON TEARS PART 2, by Caleb Williams, Artwork by Gary McClusky Larohd du Masiim was a scribe of Varushe trained from his youth in calligraphy and blood magic, now an exile after his affair with princess Yadira is discovered. With knowledge that few possess, he wields the power of Alma, Goddess of all creation, to […]

ISLE OF THE THOUSAND-EYED STRANGLER, by Dariel R. A. Quiogue   Set in a fantastical version of the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean, the Perfumed Isles are home to prince-turned-reiver, Pandara, who has set himself the task of vengeance against the might of the Wulongan Empire for ravaging his homeland of Zambail. But […]