//------------------------------//
// Volume One 
// Story: Hecate's Orphanage 
// by BlackRoseRaven 
//------------------------------//

Volume I: The Sphere Of External Influences
~BlackRoseRaven

Except from A Parable of Death, author unknown

        ...and so did the King summon Death to his domain, asking of him: “And what can I offer you, to convince you to leave my people alone? For I do not wish for them to suffer the loss of life, be it there own or those they love.”
        Death replied: “If you would do your people a service, Ser King, then do not try and tempt me; for not only do I have no interest in treasures or baubles of the mortal realm, and my being serves your people more than they can begin to know.”
        The King was not pleased with this answer, and he asked, as his many knights and soldiers postured threateningly: “If treasure will not convince you, then what of force?”
        But Death was unperturbed, replying: “Nay, neither will force, for I do not fear my own power. And should it so please me, whosoever dares to trifle with me will feel the sting of my thorns.”
        The soldiers hesitated, but the King had yet one final card to play, as he said: “Death, it pains me to think that I have called you here, but you leave with nothing in return. Perhaps you will stay the night: I have a library, with countless books with countless stories from time immemorial. Surely there is something there that even you do not know, and would take pleasure in learning of.”
        “My duties are vast and many, but I have heard great things of your libraries; I will not deny your generosity, but I request a message be sent to one of my apprentices, so my work does not go undone.” Death answered.
        The King immediately called for a messenger, and Death gave him a message to take, down to a secret place. But on the way out of the castle, the messenger was halted, and instead paid handsomely to go home and leave the message behind.
        Death spent the night in the great library of the King: each night, he found something new to read and entertain him, and each day, he would ask to send a message to his disciple, to ensure that his duties continued.
        The King thought his plan glorious, and after a week, he went down to the village. Only there was no longer any village, he was shocked to see: nor were there any dead, but instead nothing but madness and despair, and upon seeing him, the villagers ran shrieking for help to the King.
        “What is this?” cried the King, aghast.
        And the first in line replied with terror: “My liege, we are cursed! None of us may die!”
        “But how can this be a curse?” asked the King in confusion.
        “My father is old, and he took a great fall, but instead of dying he lays at the bottom of the cliffs, crying as the animals eat him and vex him! My mother grew sick with pain upon seeing him in such a state, and in such great pain she tried to kill herself, but now lays trapped in bed, unable to die in spite of the great agony that she has inflicted upon herself, and has been inflicted upon her! And nor do the insects nor the plants nor the animals die, and so the trees continue to grow even when we try to burn them, and the rabbit continues to try and run away even after the wolf gobbles him down!”
        “Ah, so I see you did not heed my advice.” said Death, appearing behind the King.
        “Death! You must fix this! The whole world has gone mad!” the King cried.
        “No, for I am only named Death, and carry Death, but I am not death. For none of us are so important to be what is only natural.” Death said, and the King looked at him with great surprise.
        “Then why can they not die?”
        “Because.” Death said sadly. “I feared this would come to pass, as the great and small choose to fear me instead of know me. So to test you, I asked my disciple to deny all that you ruled death, for as long as he did not hear my message. And should seven days pass, then this curse shall remain affixed forever, to you and all who serve you.
        “For no King is a greater tyrant than he who would deny his followers death.”