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5

Oct

Gunpowder and Sorcery in 1666

Posted by rdenning  Published in demons, richard denning, The Last Seal, Uncategorized

Here another fantastic sketch by Gill Pearce of Hellion’s Art brings to life a dramatic fight in The Last Seal.

The avatars had reached Ben, and as the leading three circled round to his right, the other three flew by on his left, threatening to surround him. Sweating with fear, his pulse racing, he wondered if he could manage to use the Words again, for he felt exhausted; he was also afraid of what the effect on him might be. If he used all his energy now, he would have nothing left with which to face the demon.

Another scream shrilled out from the within the force field encircling the Last Seal, and was cut off, gurgling to silence as Dantalion pounced again. How many was that, Ben wondered: five or six? Too many at any rate, it was time to act – he had to risk it, but how? The lightning bolts he had used had knocked the avatars down and partially disabled them, but it was only temporary; had not destroyed them. Perhaps the loathsome creatures had some protection or defence against it. So, should he conjure fire against them? But no; having seen the delight the pair of avatars had taken in the flames just before they had entered the Guild Hall, they were clearly impervious to that element. What, then? Ben thought hard. Ice? Yes … maybe ice would do it.

He brought his hands together so that his thumbs touched. Then he extended his arms towards the approaching creatures, summoned his strength and shouted: “Kώνος, jää, décharge!”

Read more in The Last Seal – historical Fantasy in 1666

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30

Aug

Birth of the demon’s servant

Posted by rdenning  Published in blog tour, demons, The Last Seal

As he saw the horror revealed, Ben stepped back and cried out in terror.

Scene from The Last Seal. Sketch is by Gill Pearce of Hellion’s Art


“Both of you will stop right there and turn around slowly,” ordered Gymer, “and you, Doctor, will drop that pistol to the ground and-”

He never completed the sentence. With a boom louder than thunder and a flash brighter than lightning, there was a sudden violent uprising of the street for fifty yards in all directions. Everyone in the immediate vicinity was knocked off his feet and stunned by the force of the detonation.

Ben could see nothing but blackness, nor hear a sound and for a moment he thought Gabriel had used his flash-bang attack again, though this time the smell was different: a pungent, acrid stench that caught in his throat and made him cough and retch at the same time. Finally, his vision began to clear and blinking he looked about him. To his side Tobias was pulling himself to his feet and clearing dust from his eyes. Gabriel was lying on his back and groaning. Gymer appeared to be knocked out and his three companions were staring blankly about them. Walton was the first to recover. He took a few steps towards the source of the explosion, his dark eyes wide and agitated. Still numb, Ben turned to follow his gaze.

The cracked and blackened cobbles of the street about ten yards from where Ben stood suddenly exploded upwards, sending chunks of stone high up into the air, from where they came spinning back to earth to smash into fragments on the street. One hit Walton on the shin and with a yelp of pain he collapsed again.

The eruption had thrown up a cloud of dust and released thick fumes from the cellars beneath the street. As a result, Ben could not see much for a few moments, but gradually the dust cloud settled and the smoke dispersed to join the black clouds given off by the fires around them. Through this smog, Ben perceived a dark shape standing in the lane. It was indistinct and hazy at first but, as visibility improved, its features came sharply into view. As he saw the horror revealed, Ben stepped back and cried out in terror.

Seven feet tall, the creature stood upright on two legs, but otherwise was utterly inhuman in appearance. Ben saw that its limbs, thorax and abdomen were covered in a hideous black-green external skeleton, much like an insect or spider. Behind it flapped bat-like wings, the skin stretched between thick ridges of bone that ended in long sharp spines. Its monstrous head bore needle-sharp teeth that were black, as was the tongue, which now flicked in and out. Its jaws were open and from them a brown liquid drooled and dripped on to the ground. Pale, pupil-less eyes gazed around the lane and fixed themselves upon Ben. From its mouth an ear-piercing screech emerged as it advanced upon him, claws snapping open as the beast prepared to attack.

Numb with shock and disbelief, Ben was rooted to the spot. As the creature took three steps towards him he knew he should run, but was incapable of movement. Then, from the alleyway behind Ben, Artemas barked out three words at the creature and it paused before giving another screech, which this time sounded like frustrated anger. Artemas spoke again and the creature tilted its head as if in acknowledgment. It threw Ben a hungry glare and then, with a single leap and beat of its wings, it passed over his head and landed at the entrance to the alleyway.

Gabriel was suddenly at Ben’s side and was rapidly reciting Words of Power and spinning his hands about each other until at last he had what seemed to be a ball of spitting, fizzing energy. With a grunt of effort, he threw it at the creature.

What happens next? Read The Last Seal to find out.

Check out the book’s Facebook page here:http://www.facebook.com/TheLastSeal

Read part of the book here: http://www.richarddenning.co.uk/thelastseal.html

 

 

 

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10

Jul

The Nature of Demons in The Last Seal

Posted by rdenning  Published in demons, richard denning, The Last Seal

The nature of demons

All races have stories of powerful and terrifying creatures which are said to be immortal and almost invincible. These ‘demons’ in some form or other pervade our folklore, enter our legends and also find their place in our religions. To the Christian church they are fallen angels; once servants of the almighty who fought a war against him but finally lost and were then banished to the underworld where they remain as supernatural, malevolent spirits plotting the downfall of man and the destruction of heaven.

Hindu myths also speak of ‘Asuras’ or demons who are evil spirits forever battling against the divinities. In Islamic legends we read of the Jinn, creatures made of fire just as we men are made of clay. Some Jinn are not evil and many are benevolent but like the fallen angels of Christianity others rejected Allah and like them were banished to dark places from which they can tempt, torment and mislead humanity.

The Babylonians, Persians, Chinese and many others have such fables about demons, deva, daimons or some other name for this type of creature. Is this coincidence or is there perhaps something behind it all? Is there some memory in our oldest traditions of terrifying encounters with creatures beyond our comprehension and certainly beyond our powers?

But if this is true, if these creatures did exist how were we able to overcome them? How could mere mortal men even hope to oppose them much less defeat them. Such things are forgotten now as the ages pass, and perhaps this is for the best: for there was indeed a time when these immortal demons walked the same earth our ancestors inhabited. They wielded immense powers and could have been seen to be gods. Indeed many men certainly treated them as gods and through their service gained power and dominion over others.

But they were not gods as others of our ancestors knew. They set themselves to the task of trying to fight against the demons futile though it might seem with merely flint and spear, fire and rock but try they did and the first great warriors of our race were born. Some though reasoned that only through power could power be defeated and became dedicated to learning all that could be learned of arcane knowledge and sorcery and so in time the first wizards and warlocks came to be.

The wars were ferocious and brutal but through the strength of our arms, the powers of our minds and the resilience of our spirits we defeated the Great Enemy, banishing them to the void beyond the world and were at last free to rule ourselves. The demons though were not content to live an immortal existence in that dark wilderness and through the endless millennia have endeavoured to find a way back. And through these endless millennia there have been those who have strived to help them and gain for themselves – just like their ancestor’s before them – their share of power and glory.

Excerpt from the Journal of Cornelius Silver
The fourth day of April in the IVth Year of King Richard II

Cornelius Silver imprisoned the Demon Dantalion at the start of The Last Seal. Read how here:

http://www.richarddenning.co.uk/thelastseal.html

Check out the book’s Facebook page here:http://www.facebook.com/TheLastSeal

 

 

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