Review: The Madness of the Executioner by Ed Greenwood

 I try to keep up with Ed, the insanely imaginative and wonderful creator of the Forgotten Realms. If not contradicted by Wizards of the Coast, or whoever may own the rights to the Realms, Ed's word is lore. So it's nice that in the drought of fiction from WotC, Ed has been releasing some short stories on Patreon. These also have YouTube equivalents that are narrated by Ed himself. While I don't really care for the appearance of the producer in these videos, I do appreciate him getting Ed out there to a broader and easily accesible audience. And that is what we have today.

I previously reviewed Ed's Patreon "Golden Simril Gifts" he wrote with another. This time around is a story partially inspired by Fritz Leiber's "The Sadness of the Executioner," the aptly named "The Madness of the Executioner." The stories aren't really similar besides the title, though I myself have a story that was greatly inspired in form from Leiber's story. Ed Greenwood was apparently friends with Leiber (he told me in the comments for this video), so this seems a fitting Realms tribute.

The story itself is rather short and so therefore simple. It revolves really only around four characters and a business ran by alhoons in their meddling with illithid tadpoles (and mayhaps eating them). It has a cameo from a longtime Realms favorite too, Manshoon.

I can highly recommend it as a bit of a vignette. Ed is such a lovely person and his narrations are phenomenal. I wish I had such charisma and charm. Give it a listen, it's an Exceptional, chilling and weird story.

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You can track my current progress here.

Review: Only A Woman Can Take This Sort of Abuse by Ed Greenwood

 It has been a minute since reviewing a Spin a Yarn tale by Ed Greenwood. Like the previous two, this was a tale written by Ed Greenwood after attendees at Gen Con gave outlandish suggestions.

This one is divided into two parts and is quite long. They were released in December 2003 and January 2004, respectively. Read parts 1 and 2. 

the picture on the original article

This one starts really comical, as Manshoon, Lord of the Zhentarim, wakes up not remembering exactly what happened. He knows he was lured by the Seven Sisters and he awakes dressed as a “saucy tavern wench”. When leaving the bedroom he finds Volo dresses in a corset and proceeds to try to murder the traveling writer and wizard. 

The Seven Sisters mean to trap someone and disguise it as a revel. Volo is present because he is writing his guide to Catering. We learn this is at a cabin on the Dragon Coast. 

Aravil Kettlesworth is the cook in a less than efficient and clean kitchen. He is a dwarf and all the others are followers of Loviater, goddess of pain. Their leader seems to be a priestess named Roreldra who is literally whipping frosting onto a cake. Or welol, she is the spiritual leader; Kettlesworth Fine Feasts is of course led by the dwarf.

There is a short conversation on how to cook tarrasque so it is safe to eat. Around this comes an aged paladin of Tyr with a sapient sword capable of loving some on its own, one eager to protect supposed innocents.

The story introduces Elminster in part 2, and we get a proper explanation (or showing) of how Manshoon and Volo get where they are at the start. It’s very fun, maybe a tad long. I’d say it’s a Good one and of course free to enjoy.

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You can track my current progress here.