The Legend of Marhvan

By John Mark

Hear the tale of Marhvan Blackthorn, heir to the title of Count Blackthorn. Chased from the city that bears his name due to his horrifying batlike appearance, Marhvan flees to the swamplands. Alone but unafraid, the earl appoints himself protector of Blackthorn City and begins cleansing the swamplands of danger.

During one of his routine patrols, Marhvan rescues a comely wizard who has some dark secrets up her sleeve. She entreats the earl to join her rescue efforts and her treasure seeking as well. Little does Marhvan understand the danger that the wizard will place him in.

All characters in the story were drawn up randomly using dice and Dungeons and Dragons 5e rules (as close as possible). All skirmishes and battles were played out with dice rolls as well, including initiatives, hits and misses, damage, and critical hits and misses. The result is a fast paced and funny tale that sets traditional fantasy tropes upside down.

• Language: English
• Publisher: John Mark
• Release date: Dec 19, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005095758

John Mark

John Mark was born in a remote village in the Outlands, far from civilization. When he was a young man, his village was overrun and pillaged by gnolls. They destroyed everything. From that day on, John Mark crisscrossed the Outlands and beyond seeking revenge on the savage beasts. After years of travel, he found a village, Stumpton, populated by a remnant of his parents’ kin. Located on the border of the Outlands and the civilized world, the village faced dangers from every direction. John Mark vowed to protect Stumpton and joined the ranks of the city guard where he serves guard duty with his partner, Hefty the Halfling.In his spare time, John Mark chronicles the adventures and tales of his world and publishes them on interplanar publishing sites.

Book preview

The Legend of Marhvan

Published 2021 by John Mark

Copyright 2021 by John Mark

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

About John Mark

Other Books by John Mark

Connect with John Mark

Chapter One

My first encounter with the Earl of Blackthorn came after I was captured for the second time by the kobolds. Although their endless juvenile banter was insufferable, the reptilian beasts were apparently quite a bit more capable than I had imagined. Indeed, they had tracked me quickly, as well as silently, through the dark swamp night despite my best attempts to remain undiscovered.

This time escape would be more difficult, I feared, for the kobolds that had apprehended me this second time were guarding me much more carefully, and ruthlessly, than the creatures had before. Clearly, they recognized now that I was dangerous, having slain my previous guards, and they had bound me tightly after taking from me all that I possessed. Indeed, if the Earl had not endeavored to prevent my abduction, I would surely have been dragged back to their lair and, if their threats were to be believed, eaten for dinner. The archives at the library had been unclear as to whether kobolds ate humans but I certainly would not have put it past the vile reptilians for they are a loathsome and subnormal species.

The bestial little creatures, there were three of them this time, caught me while I stumbled through the swampland looking for a way back to the city. Alone in the dark, I had thought that I heard a noise from a way ahead and stopped for a moment to let my familiar scout the area; she has superior night vision. There I was, crouched on the wet spongy ground and concentrating as necessary to see through my familiar’s eyes, when the kobolds came at me from behind and threw a heavy net over me. It is surprising that they can move so quietly when they want to; every other moment I spent in the presence of the foul lizards was a cacophonic soundstorm of mindless gibberish, rudimentary boasting, and crude bodily noises.

This time they tied my hands tightly behind me. They searched me carefully as well, taking quite a bit of pleasure in ridiculing me for my height (for they hate creatures taller than themselves) as they helped themselves to my possessions. I had no way to free myself this time. They even removed my traveling boots so I would have difficulty running through the swamps on the chance that I did somehow manage to escape again.

When they were ready to go, the wicked brutes tied a rope around my neck and gloated that their chief would be happy to get back ol’ flat-face, as they called me. One of them began pulling me along with the rope, yanking on it when I wouldn’t comply, while another poked my back with the blunt end of his spear. Reluctantly I decided to play along and obediently, if dourly, went along with them. I was seething with anger not only at the kobolds for having captured me again, but with myself for having allowed myself