Horn Dagger Author:Brian White An ancient darkness rises over the island of Erebos, threatening the destruction of the wonder and magic that lives there. Erebos is like no other place in the world, yet its creation, enlightenment, and destruction are intimately tied to the fate of Earth. A prodigal son, known as the Shadow Monk, returns to his homeland, called by the magical ... more »Lady of Erebos, a unicorn that is one of the original inhabitants of the island. She begs His return, for He is the first and only Shadow Monk of the Order of Kur, which places Him in possession of the power to stop the spread of the darkness and arrest the extinction. Until now, the Lady has used her magic to keep the energies in balance, but as the darkness grows stronger, her energy weakens. To heal Erebos, the Monk must face the Engineer, whose alchemical manipulation of ancient technology has thrown the energies of Erebos out of alignment. One strives for power, the other for balance, and the third for peace; however, the dark power of the Norja, the sacred mushroom, may have its own designs. A being known only as the fox of extinction has arrived on Erebos, telling the monk of the patterns of extinction, for he has seen the end of many worlds. There are always three players, he says, the unholy trinity, all of whom believe they are the savior. Among this trio is the Lone Deranger, who seeds the plant of destruction and cultivates it with absolute conviction. It is this belief in absolutes that brings about the end, before which time the Deranger must die. Who is the Deranger in this version of the extinction event? The unicorn, in struggle to maintain the illusion of peace; the Engineer, leading Erebos to a new age of commercial prosperity; or the Shadow Monk, with his desire to understand the mysteries of the universe, complete the Great Work, and heal the world? Only death will reveal the true identity of the Deranger and bring about the end. Horn and Dagger is a tale of endings and new beginnings, of magic, and the search for meaning. A cautionary anecdote, it also warns against the darkening influence of passive consumerism and philosophical and religious absolutism.« less