A novel idea.

This is a story about how adventurers would probably conduct their lives, in a real Fantasy World.  The group is more than familiar with the traditional 'run in, kill the monsters, and flee with the treasure' pattern, but one of them goes to war and learns better. Another Day, Another Artifact     "Excitement, they said!" Tole grumbled, "Adventure, they said!"     With every word he either jammed the spade into the dirt, or threw dirt out of the ever-expanding hole in the dry ground.  The sun was merciless, the insects thirsty, and the heat oppressive.  There was no breeze and he was about ready to throw the shovel at that cool, competent, aggravating green female, whatever the hell she was.  Five days out, across land that gave a new definition to barren, and now he's digging a hole where there's not a sign of anything, not a tree, not a boulder, not even a dip or rise in the land. The Green woman just turned to the Elf and they decided...

This is almost a Fantasy Castle, except that it's real.  The world of Thoss contains a single desert, named Char, for obvious reasons.  Along the coast, South of Torvaald and North of Magic Isle, lies Seacliff Home of King Acernon  There are birds on Thoss large enough to ride, who stay aloft by a combination of wings and magic.  Called Terns, they come in several varieties. As you can see, Lorelei owns one.  Some of the creatures which resulted from Fifnir's tampering with the genetic codes of various creatures, and mixing some of them, are simply strange. Others fit the description of Monster.  In Old Home, far to the West, beside the ocean, lies the Library, a place where knowledge best left forgotten may be researched.  This is about as close to Seana's house as anyone ever gets, she's a bit reclusive, where her home is concerned.  Thralz make excellent mounts, even though weaker than Warhorses, and slower. Still they...

-Foreword-     For those of you who have not been following the tale of Mouse the Bard, it is sufficient to say that he is Baron Gladriel von Samovar, ruler of those lands above Bobuktu and below the Great Plateau.  This is an area larger than any Duchy, but is largely uninhabited, being rife with large predators and creatures often described as monsters.  The Elven lands of Byredale and Brightwood are seperate holdings in the same area, as is the Dwarven enclave of Whitsno.  The Archduke of Bobuktu, His grace Archibald of the South, being a relative of the Baron and having no heir, has named his lordship Gladriel as successor, so that when the Archduke passes, Baron Gladriel will hold almost all of the human lands on the western edge of the lands of the High King in Lackland.  The Baron has three wives, Lady Maude who will be Duchess, the Priestess Lorelei, who is defender of the faith and will be Baroness, and Lady of the Forest Strider, who rules the F...