Wordsmith's Anvil

Raymond stared out from the tower, double-taking at what he presumed to be movement for the third time that night. He shivered and pulled his cloak tighter around his shoulders. Autumn winds were getting brisk early this year. He drew a deep breath. “Phil-” “I swear to the gods, Ray, if you don’t let me sleep tonight I’m gonna’ tan your hide.” Phil didn’t even bother to glance from his position, huddled in the corner of the post with two blue cloaks draped lazily over his frame. “We’re not supposed to sleep on post as it is,” Raymond replied timidly, his voice barely audible. “Aye. Well, when you’ve served for more than three months you might change your tune.” Raymond had been in for nearly a year and Phil knew it, but it was hardly something he would announce now. He looked back out into Triton’s small woods. Nothing. Right? But maybe… No. Was he always this paranoid? “I think I saw something.” Phil sat in silence for a time. A long time. Asleep again, Raymond thought. He rolled his ...

  Image courtesy of Don't Nod Entertainment It's rare that a game will captivate me so thoroughly and profoundly. If you have already been here before, then you're probably well aware that I play quite a bit of games. From the ugly to the gorgeous, the trash to the glorious, they can cover the entire range of the gaming spectrum. Banishers is a game that is very clearly on one side.   Don't Nod's venture into the New World focuses on two characters who are as intertwined and in love as can be. Red Mac Raith and Antea Duarte are married in every sense of the word, as long as the word doesn't involve church bells and priestly ceremonies. They work together as banishers, a name given to those who expel ghosts and conquer hauntings in exchange for a bit of coin. They don't have Dandelion singing for everyone to toss a coin to their nearest banisher, but in this version of the 17th century they don't really need him. Everyone is well aware of what a banisher ...

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