Review: How the Bridge Was Held by Ed Greenwood

 I know last time it was another Greenwood short story, but they're fun. This one, How the Bridge Was Held is another Edtime Story, similar to The Madness of the Executioner, which I reviewed previously. This is in video format, essentially a story told around a fire. There seems to be a text version as well on Patreon. It was released in December 2023.

The story focuses on Alustriel, who, with the aid of Mystra, comes to the aid of a single woman guarding a bridge leading to Arranth (a location I have never heard of), against a host led by Warlord Vranth of the Golden Spears. It is a simple story about one encounter, with Greenwood flair and one of his recurring characters. It was an exceptional time to hear it narrated by Ed!

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You can track my current progress here.

Review: The Lady of the Mists by Ed Greenwood

 The Lady of the Mists is the fifth Spin the Yarn short story from the 2005 event, published in August 2006. I have previously reviewed the first four.

As before, Ed Greenwood has taken random, absurd, and outrageous suggestions from a crowd and has written a short story set in the Forgotten Realms. You can read this one here.

The story begins with a misty night in Dockward in Waterdeep, quite the scene is set. It reminded me of "The Cloud of Hate" by Fritz Leiber. Marduck Jaesur resigns himself to a damp night indoors, until he meets a ghost. We get some out of pocket lines early, such as this from a broadsheet: "Wild Magic at Seven Sisters Surprise Party Leaves Wizard Elminster Pregnant With Twins on His Birthday/Khelben To Be Midwife/Halaster Blackcloak the Father!" These are the work of Marduck, a journalist writing for the papers.

This is a rollicking tale, perfect for Greenwood, as heretofore seen. We have a game of truths, we learn of a Harpell family member, a cursed ring of sorts. It's is light-hearted, and while a sense of the macabre is present, it mostly leans into the surprisingly nice that Greenwood is good at. It works as a heartfelt piece and is a bit erotic, unsurprisingly.

"Prestidigitation," she purred, "is a spell with many uses."

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You can track my current progress here.