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Tuesday, October 7, 2025

Tales of Vinoli Masterpost

Greetings!

Below you'll find everything pertaining to my on-going web-serial Tales of Vinoli (admittedly not the most creative title, but then, what's in a name?).
Before you click on any of the links, I thought it only fair to make you aware of the following:

Every character in this story is either an anthropomorphic animal, or a creature from mythology/folklore. Humans do not exist in this world.
Secondly, on occasion, these characters indulge in acts that are decidedly Not Safe For Work.

If neither of these things bother you, then its my sincere hope that you'll find what's written here worthy of your time and attention.

Thank you for reading.




New:  Chapter 91
 
 

 Chapters:























Kamen Rider Black

 Created by legendary manga-artist Shotaro Ishinomori, the Kamen Rider franchise has been a staple of Japanese popular culture since the early 70s. As for me, my introduction to Kamen Rider came with its 26th series, Kamen Rider Gaim. I remember liking Gaim, but despite my positive opinion of it, it remained my only Kamen Rider series for many years. 

 Until now, that is. A few months ago, I decided, on a whim, to delve deeper into the franchise. For my second Kamen Rider series, I chose one of considerably older vintage: 1987's Kamen Rider Black.

 Directed by Yoshiaki Kobayashi and written by Shozo Uheara (episodes 1-12) and Noboru Sugimura (ep. 13-51), Kamen Rider Black tells the story of Kotaro Minami and Nobuhiko Akazuki, foster-brothers who find themselves on opposite sides in the never-ending battle between good and evil. In this case, evil is represented by Gorgom, a sinister cult bent on world domination. Kotaro is the titular Kamen Rider Black (a.ka. Black Sun) and the only one who can put a stop to Gorgom's plans. Nobuhiko, meanwhile is Gorgom's champion: Shadow Moon.

 I knew going in to Kamen Rider Black that it's one of the most popular and revered entries in the franchise, having received not only a direct sequel series, Kamen Rider Black RX, but a re-imagining called Kamen Rider Black Sun, which came out as recently as 2022. That's not even going into the spinoff movies, or the manga drawn by Ishinomori. 

Ignoring all of that, what did I think of Kamen Rider Black? 

Kamen Rider Black definitely makes a great first impression. Unfortunately, after a stretch of genuinely compelling episodes, the show settles down for a series of monster-of-the-week episodes, most of which aren't terribly interesting, to be honest. In the process, the show also loses the foreboding atmosphere that marked the early episodes and which was one of its strengths. Thankfully, with the appearance of Shadow Moon, Kamen Rider Black begins to regain its initial promise and the series eventually comes to a satisfying (and appropriately somber) conclusion. 

Character-wise, Kotaro is a likable hero, who's easy to root for, while Shadow Moon makes for a really cool and suitably menacing villain. Both are engaging characters, which is fortunate since most of the supporting cast tend to be either bland or underutilized. A notable exception is whale mutant, one of Gorgom's monsters who ends up turning on his masters and becoming an ally of Kotaro's. Sword Saint Bilgenia, although over-shadowed by Shadow Moon still makes for a pretty solid villain in his own right.

At the end of the day, even though its weaknesses are prominent enough that I can't consider Kamen Rider Black a great show as a whole, it has its moments and those moments are enough to make my overall opinion of it, a positive one.

Henshin!

 

Saturday, August 16, 2025

Augustus

Are you familiar with John Williams 

No, not the composer. I'm talking about the author of the same name.
 

During his lifetime, Williams wrote four novels, three of which are today considered classics of 20th Century American literature. Augustus, which I recently re-read, being one of them. 

Originally published in 1972, Augustus was to be Williams' final novel. In it, the author takes us back in time to ancient Rome. The Augustus of the title is, of course, none other than Augustus Caesar, though when the novel begins, he's only a shy and scholarly youth named Octavian. It's not long, however, before the murder of his great-uncle, Julius Caesar, has put Octavian on the path which will make him the first Emperor of Rome. 
 

Augustus is an epistolary novel, meaning (for those of you who don't know) that its plot is told mainly via letters that the characters write to each other. It should be noted that although he's the central character, Octavian's perspective is kept from the reader until the last portion of the novel. For the majority of Augustus, the Emperor is seen through the eyes of those around him, whether family, friends or enemies.
 

While each of Williams' three major novels are well worth reading, I have to single out Augustus as my personal favorite. It's a masterpiece of historical fiction that deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as other novels focusing on Roman Emperors, such as Graves' I, Claudius and Yourcenar's Memories of Hadrian. 
 

Highly recommended.

Tuesday, June 3, 2025

Chapter 91

 Alys and Brahm lived in a small villa, a stone's throw from the Vinolian Embassy. Once their work-day was over, the young couple would return home and eat a light meal that the woman they employed as a cook had prepared for them. Afterwards, unless they had been invited to some social gathering, they'd stay at home. Every once in a while, however, they would have guests over for dinner. This evening happened to be one such occasion.
 
 "Welcome, Risha " said Alys, as she kissed the lynx on the cheeks. "We're so glad that you decided to accept our invitation."
 
"The Pleasure is all mine" Risha said, returning the kisses and greeting Brahm with words alone. "By the way" she continued, "I brought you this bottle of wine as a housewarming gift. No idea if its good or not."
 
"We shall have it with the dinner". Alys took the bottle Risha offered her and handed it to her husband. "Now, come, let me show you around before we eat."
 
A quick guided tour of the villa later, the three of them entered the dining room, where the food had been set out on the table. 
 
The Ferrets and the lynx sat down. Brahm opened the bottle and filled their glasses, first  Risha's, then Alys' and finally his own. His wife proceeded to remove the covers from the dishes.
 
"Help yourself" she said to their guest. "Incidentally, I hope you haven't forgotten the promise you made when we met at the palace?"
 
Risha had not forgotten, and as the dinner went on, and the wine-bottle's contents gradually dwindled, she regaled hosts with tales of her exploits. Embellishing very little, but leaving out certain parts, that she felt they did not need to know about. 
 
"My, you do lead an eventful life" Alys said, after a while. "Doesn't she, Brahm?"
"Indeed" her husband agreed. "One can't help but be a bit jealous."
 
He refilled his glass and was about to do the same to their guest, who politely refused.
 
"And now you're even working for our Queen's sister", his better half went on. "By the way, why you didn't tell me the identity of the employer when we first met?"
 
"Simple" Risha said, as she helped herself to a piece of cheese. "You did not ask."
 
"Can't argue with that, I suppose. So, what's the Princess like?"
 
Risha, having finished her piece of cheese, wiped the corners of her mouth with a napkin.
 
"She's alright, I suppose" she said, making a non-committal gesture. 
 
Alys was disappointed by the answer, which was much less revealing than she had hoped. 
 
"Any idea of why she decided to come to Ginarcia?"
 
"Can't a woman visit her relatives?"
 
Figuring that the question was rhetorical, Alys did not answer it. Risha's attention was soon taken up by Brahm, who turned to her and struck up a conversation.
 
I had thought that getting information out of Jeraddin's daughter would be child's play, Alys thought, as she re-arranged the food on her plate. Clearly, I was mistaken. Either I've underestimated her, or her employer really has kept her in the dark. Well, there's one way to find out for sure. 
 
Using the call of nature as an excuse, Alys left the table and went into hers and Brahm's bedchamber. There, she pulled out the top-drawer to her nightstand and took out a tiny black box, inside of which were three pills. Dissolve one such pill in any beverage and you had a truth-serum. Alys knew that they worked, for she had already tested one on an acquaintance. 
 
With a smirk, the Junior-Diplomat hid the box in her cleavage and made her way back to the dining-room.
 
"Of all the nerve! How dare you?!"
 
Risha's voice cut through the air like a blade, startling Alys. Upon returning to the dining-room, she saw Brahm and their guest standing up, glaring at each other with daggers in their eyes.
 
Bewildered, Alys was about to ask what was going on, when Risha turned to her:
 
"Alys" she said, and her voice was trembling with anger. "I'm afraid I can no longer remain in this house. I shall leave before I do something that we will all regret. Thank you for the dinner."
 
Before Alys could stop her, the lynx had stormed out of the dining room, retrieved her cloak from the hallway and was out of the house, slamming the front door behind her.
 
"Ha! Good riddanche!"
 
Alys could tell from the way he slurred his words that Brahm was drunk. This surprised her, ever since an embarrassing incident  a year earlier, he had been careful around alcohol. 
It did not take long, however, for the initial surprise to fade and give way to frustration. Of all the evenings he could have picked to relax his discipline, it had to have been this one!
 
"Alysh, I'm thirshty."
 
On the table stood a pitcher with water. Alys picked it up. 
 
"Then drink this!" She exclaimed, and turned the pitcher upside-down above Brahm's head.
 
Brahm sat there stunned, with his fur drenched and water dripping down his collar. Alys, meanwhile, went out into the kitchen and returned with a towel, which she tossed to her husband.
 
"Sorry, hon" Brahm apologized, while he dried himself off. "Risha's gift must have been stronger than it seemed." 
 
He smiled sheepishly at his spouse, who watched him with one eyebrow raised.
 
"Anyway", he continued. "Her reaction does not change that what I said is true: Princess Merees is a traitor to her country."
 
"That's what made Risha storm out like that?"
 
Brahm nodded. 
 
Strange, Alys thought. Risha's feelings towards the Princess seemed pretty lukewarm. I wonder...
 
An idea began to take form in Alys' brain. Suddenly, she turned to Brahm with eyes that glittered.
"Sweetie, get your coat. We're going out."
 "Out? Where?"
 
"To the Embassy. We're going to see His Excellency."


Thursday, March 6, 2025

Chapter 90

 Nasari was awakened two hours past midnight.  

Still half asleep, she got out of bed, walked over to the ornately decorated cradle and reached inside it.

I thought I was done with this, the black cat thought.

Of course, it would have been one thing if the baby she was now feeding from a bottle had been hers, but, he wasn't...

****

"Ah, Nasari. Good of you to come, have a seat." 

It was earlier that same day. Argath had summoned Nasari to her bed-chamber, where the former was recuperating from the ordeal of child-birth.
 

"Thank you, I'd rather stand" Nasari replied, glancing at the wicker-chair the Queen gestured at.  

"Suit yourself. You know, Nasari now that We have become a parent ourselves, We feel a certain kinship between all the mothers in Our Kingdom. Including you."
 

"That's nice" Nasari replied, halfheartedly. Get to the Point, she thought.
 

"Isn't it? Unfortunately, as you may know, being Queen is a full-time job. As such, We have no time for child-rearing. We need a wet-nurse for the Inheritor to Our throne."
 

Having said this, Argath turned to Argeron the younger who was sleeping soundly next to her and lightly brushed his cheek with her fingers.
 

"Let me guess" Nasari said, "you want me to do it."
 

Mentally, she calculated how long it would take a baby-dragon to grow up. The Answer she arrived at was not encouraging. 

"Why not? You have the experience and who knows? It may fill the void after...what were their names again? Oh, yes, Risha and Leorin."
Nasari's ears flattened against the back of her head, she forced them back in position.
 

"Your Majesty seems to think that my children are no longer in this World" she said, a slight tremor in her voice. "I know that is not so and if it was, nothing could fill the void left after them."
"In other words, you reject the honor We wish to bestow on you?"
 

"I do. Now, if you'd excuse me..."
 

"We'd reconsider if We were you."
 

Argath's response took Nasari by surprise. She had expected the  dragon to spit fire, both metaphorically and literally, but instead, Argath remained calm.
This did not make Nasari feel at ease. If asked, she would have preferred an outburst. What could the Queen have up her sleeve?
 

Let me think, we're both of us aware any threats to my person would be hollow. She needs me alive to be assured of Jer's co-operation. Is she going to offer me something? But the only thing I want from her is something that she won't give. What then? What else do you have on me, you cursed tyrant? You...
 

The Realization struck Nasari like a blow. Argath would not hurt her, but the one person in the palace she cared about?  That was a different story.

After all, she's not indispensable.

"Very well" she said, staring down at the carpet, so that she would not have to look at Argath's face. "I will do as you wish." 

As if on cue, the heir to the Vinolian throne woke up and, having looked around, decided to voice his displeasure in the only way children his age know how.





Wednesday, December 25, 2024

Chapter 89

 Upon returning to the Ginarcian palace Risha found the rooms that were currently at the disposal of Merees and herself (though mostly Merees), empty. 

This did not surprise the lynx. Shortly before she had left for her rendez-vous with Bik, a servant had showed up with an invitation from the Queen-Mother to her Vinolian kinswoman, to sit in on the Council meeting that was about to commence soon. 

Evidently, the meeting was still in session and so, Risha went over to a bookshelf to see if she could find something that would help her pass the time until Merees' return. 

Having found a book whose title seemed promising, she sat down with it in an armchair and began to read...


****

Risha's slumber was disturbed by the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps. She opened her eyes and sat up, just as Merees stepped inside. 

"Welcome back" she yawned.

"Thanks", the Princess replied. "Same to you."

Her eyes were drawn to the book which had slipped out of Risha's paws and was lying spread-eagle on the floor. She picked it up and looked at the cover.

"Any good?" She asked.

"It's great for curing insomnia. More importantly, how did the meeting go? Has the Council made its decision?"

Merees put the book down on a nearby table and shook her head.

"Not yet, the final vote will be cast on the next meeting. Truth be told, I'm afraid it does not look too good for our side".

"I don't get it. Surely,  the opposition must know what's happened to Frigonia and Guanaca?"

"They do, but they are convinced that both these nations are better off now than when they were governed by male rules. Besides, the Vinolian Ambassador have assured them that his Queen intends to respect Ginarcia's independence."

Risha frowned.

"And they believe that? Seems pretty naive if you ask me. So, what do we do?"

"There are three women  who holds sway over the rest of the opposition. We need to get them over to our side. Somehow."

"Leave that to me, just give me their names and me and the boys will take care of it."

Merees nodded.

"I will. Thank you, Risha."

"Think nothing of it. You know I'd do anything for you, Mer."

"I know and I'm grateful for it."

Situated near the window was a writing desk. Merees was just about to sit down behind it and start writing, when she paused.

"I'm sorry, hon" she said, turning to Risha. "I completely forgot to ask how things went on your end? I hope your luck was better than mine."

In response, Risha, opened her money-purse and took out the message, which she handed to Merees.

As the dragon read the message, the corners of her mouth moved upward and her eyes shone with excitement. 

"Oh, Risha" she exclaimed, "this is great! It's exactly what we need!"

And with those words, Merees threw her arms around her paramour's shoulders and kissed her passionately. 

****

In Eramus' cabin, the bat was only one surprised by Leorin's reaction

"Why?" She asked, with a confused look on her face.

Sara took a step forward.

"You want to know why?" She said in a fierce tone "I'll tell you why. It's because the lynx you said had killed your brother, is his sister."

The Bat's eyes grew in size.

"Sister?"

"That's right and Risha would never attack someone without reason, which means that you and your brother attacked them first!" 

"N-no" the bat protested. She turned towards the others, but could tell from a glance that there was no sympathy to be found there.

Eramus and Rufus exchanged looks.

"Rufus, I believe it would be best to have our stowaway confined to the brig until we reach the next port."

"Agreed."

The Bat offered no resistance as the fox escorted her out of the cabin. On deck, they saw Leorin staring out at the ocean. The Bat cried out his name.

He did not answer.

Monday, November 4, 2024

A Brief Post on Lord Dunsany

 Lord Dunsany is one of those authors I've known about for a long time, without having read any of their works. However, recently, I decided that it was high time I rectified this and so, I read two of his novels: The King of Elfland's Daughter and The Charwoman's Shadow, as well as the short-story collection The Sword of Welleran and Other Stories.

In case you've never heard of  him, Edward Plunkett, more commonly known as Lord Dunsany was a British writer, who was incredibly influential when it comes to defining what we now call the 'fantasy' genre. A list of his admirers reads like a who's who of authors of fantastic literature: Tolkien, Lovecraft, Borges, Gaiman and many others. As such, I went into some work with certain expectations. 

I will say that, as much as I enjoyed the two novels (especially The Charwoman's Shadow), its his short-stories that, in my opinion, shows Lord Dunsany at his best. This is, because as a writer, Lord Dunsany is clearly less concerned with things like plot and characterization, than he is with atmosphere and imagery, an approach which suits the short-story format best. 

The Stories found within The Sword of Welleran are of consistently high quality, without a single dud to be found. However, if I had to pick just one story, it would have to be The Fortress Unvanquishable Save For Sacnoth. What sounds on paper like the most basic fantasy story imaginable (young hero + magic sword + evil sorcerer) becomes something truly fantastic, thanks to Lord Dunsany's rich, evocative prose (seriously, this story and all the other beg to be read aloud).

If you have an interest in fantasy literature and have yet to read anything by Lord Dunsany, you definitely should. Not only is his influence on the genre undeniable, but perhaps more importantly, he was a wonderful storyteller. I'm looking forward to perusing more of his work in the future.