A soulbound knight, Iona was no ordinary woman. Iona and Duncan escorted Nihilan to the nearby city of Duralo. The Imperial Marshals there could put the criminal sorcerer on an airship for his trial in the capital for demon trafficking. Their destination was still days away. Already the man had tried to escape twice.
Iona and her faithful, soulbound canine companion Duncan, appear in “Sundown in Sorrows Hollow” by Monte Cook, published in The New Hero Volume 1.
Listen to Monte Cook reading a quote from “Sundown in Sorrows Hollow”.
In a wild frontier where justice can be hard to come by, the soulbound knight Iona steps in to see right done. At her side is her more-than-ordinary dog, Duncan, who shares what his keen senses detect through their psilent bond of communication. In “Sundown in Sorrow’s Hollow”, Iona escorts a prisoner, the demon-consorting necromancer Nihilan through lonesome pines, en route to the city of Duralo, and the airship that will take him away for trial. Yet in towns too small to mark on the map, big trouble awaits even the wariest traveler…
Monte Cook infuses the classic fantasy tale with western themes and flourishes, adding in a touch of monstrous horror for good measure. With an expert touch he introduces, builds and resolves the cascading obstacles on which a rousing adventure story depends. At the heart of the story’s appeal lies the delightful by-play between Iona and Duncan, with the telepathic canine sounding off as the duo’s voice of reason.
Monte Cook has worked as a professional writer and game designer since 1988. He has published two novels, numerous short stories, countless articles, and a comic book series for Marvel. Monte was also one of the three principal designers of 3rd Edition D&D and the d20 system. His d20 game design studio, Malhavoc Press, produced award-winning products like Monte Cook’s Arcana Evolved, Ptolus, and the Books of Eldritch Might. Monte has worked in the game industry since on games such as D&D, Champions, Rolemaster, and more. He also created HeroClix, D20 Call of Cthulhu, and Monte Cook’s World of Darkness. He is a graduate of the Clarion West Writer’s Workshop and his recent nonfiction book is A Skeptic’s Guide to Conspiracies. For more information on Monte Cook, visit his website.
All New Hero artwork by Gene Ha.
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