Stray Shadow

Stories as unconventional as Arachnomancer aren’t preconceived. Sometimes, you just have to embrace the chaos of What if.

I spent a goodly chunk of time designing a base building system, then the damn guy wandered off. I’m like, “Hello! We have a village to build.”

I’m just as disappointed as you are. I had some neat plans, you see? But here’s the thing, there are hundreds of Cobalins in need of a good village. It’s a big problem, one that can’t be ignored.

I think Dhane just needed more allies to help him out. Let’s see what happens next!

Nothing! I swear. They are cute and funny and messy little crotch goblins.

A more academic author would likely choose a theme and center their story around it. I, on the other hand, write solely to entertain.

Now, that doesn’t mean themes don’t creep in on their own. These are entirely subconscious. They are the truths I’ve come to recognize and, in one way or another, manifest in my writing.

If I were to attribute a theme to the Cobalins and children, I would say it’s a universal truth that children should be protected and loved and given the support they need to thrive. That, and child abuse is a silent crime most people aren’t aware of.

The cabin was an accident!

Muahaha, and you believed me? That’s a joke. It’s not a harem.

Harem is defined as a man with multiple wives, concubines, and female servants. In HaremLit, it’s used to develop multiple relationships that are not kept from the others.

In anime, however, simply having multiple female characters be interested and follow the protagonist is often considered a harem. Sword Art Online, for example.

The topic is heavily debated about what is and is not a harem. I play with multiple potential love interests for comedic effect but do not intend for it to become a harem.

Dhane may get stuck within a love triangle or, errr, a love pentagon . . . octagon? Decagon? There’s really no knowing. But he’s doing his darnedest to not woo more than one at the same time, on purpose.

First heaven problems.

I don’t know, but that’s a good question.

I hear you and totally agree! What a stupid thing for someone to say. It’s clunky and unnatural and totally shouldn’t be put on a tee shirt.

But Dhane doesn’t care. . . .

Shit bacon was only used sixteen times and shit brownies even less, about four times. That’s a radical reduction of shit-somethings of 26% in a book that’s 50% longer.

I call that a good compromise.

Hells, man, at least we can all agree that there ain’t no better swear word than shit tuna. (Get out of my office, Devron!)

Cursed bacon that grows on trees in Brittlely Bright's moving dungeon. It smells amazing, tastes even better, and is wildly addictive. Knock got hooked after a single bite, and Dhane had to physically restrain him.

Naturally, Dhane kept a stash. It came in handy at the Royals' masquerade.

Dhanelle is Dhane in a dress. To escape Glimmerpond, he needed a disguise, and Du Dolly the Dress Designer delivered: eyeliner, a halo braid, and one very nice gown.

Unfortunately, Dhanelle was a little too convincing. Challenger Terry asked her out on a date.