Short Story

Burn

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For 2022, I’ve been wanting to write more ‘creature features’ and generally improve my short story writing. My partner got me a Dungeons and Dragons Monster Manual for my birthday so I came up with the idea of writing a story every week based on a different creature from that – All There in the (Monster) Manual. Hope you enjoy!

This Week’s Inspiration: Ancient Gold Dragon

Unearthed by a rogue missile strike and discovered by a crew of marines performing roadwork, a strange vessel comes with an ominous warning. When the vessel hatches, it unleashes an ancient war machine the likes of which the modern world has never seen.

Somehow, and I mean absolutely legitimately, I failed to realise just how long this story actually is! I did not think it was longer than the previously longest piece I’ve put out this year but it’s literally 2000 words longer. So as I try to do with some of my longer stories, if you would like to download a MOBI version to take away and read on your own device, please feel free to click this link!

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Red Menace

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For 2022, I’ve been wanting to write more ‘creature features’ and generally improve my short story writing. My partner got me a Dungeons and Dragons Monster Manual for my birthday so I came up with the idea of writing a story every week based on a different creature from that – All There in the (Monster) Manual. Hope you enjoy!

This Week’s Inspiration: Red Dragon

The Red Menace is the greatest threat to face the rule of Owain the Just. A lone knight rides out against the dragon that has raided the kingdom’s treasuries and kidnapped its princess but the battle is very different from what he expected.

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Slaying Dragons

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For 2022, I’ve been wanting to write more ‘creature features’ and generally improve my short story writing. My partner got me a Dungeons and Dragons Monster Manual for my birthday so I came up with the idea of writing a story every week based on a different creature from that – All There in the (Monster) Manual. Hope you enjoy!

This Week’s Inspiration: Dracolich

Despite being trapped in the mansion and rarely let outside, the kids had never paid much attention to the monstrous skull taking pride of place on their dining room table. But their honorary uncle is more than happy to explain its origins, even if his story sounds a little far-fetched.

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Hot Gossip

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For 2022, I’ve been wanting to write more ‘creature features’ and generally improve my short story writing. My partner got me a Dungeons and Dragons Monster Manual for my birthday so I came up with the idea of writing a story every week based on a different creature from that – All There in the (Monster) Manual. Hope you enjoy!

This Week’s Inspiration: Half-Dragon

Another day, another supervillain. Red Rok and Frost Maiden race to the scene of a new threat, but there are far more interesting things to talk about than a twenty-foot-tall, fire-breathing lizard man.

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Tattoo

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For 2022, I’ve been wanting to write more ‘creature features’ and generally improve my short story writing. My partner got me a Dungeons and Dragons Monster Manual for my birthday so I came up with the idea of writing a story every week based on a different creature from that – All There in the (Monster) Manual. Hope you enjoy!

This Week’s Inspiration: Pseudodragon

Trigger Warning: Female-on-Male Sexual Assault, Loss of Bodily Autonomy, Self-Harm, Some Gore

After blacking out during a hookup, Patrick wakes to find a mysterious dragon tattoo on his chest. Not only is the tattoo real, it’s alive, and unless he finds a way to stop it then it’s going to eat its way through his other tattoos before it starts to feed on him.

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Sacrifice

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For 2022, I’ve been wanting to write more ‘creature features’ and generally improve my short story writing. My partner got me a Dungeons and Dragons Monster Manual for my birthday so I came up with the idea of writing a story every week based on a different creature from that – All There in the (Monster) Manual. Hope you enjoy!

This Week’s Inspiration: Helmed Horror

Trigger Warning: Gore (But, Like, the Fun Kind?)

Powered by blood and magic, King Harald’s magnificent suits of living armour are unstoppable on the battlefield and a source of great terror to his enemies. However, they have not been enough to end all rebellion against his rule. To create a weapon that will do the job will require a far greater sacrifice.

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Bunker

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For 2022, I’ve been wanting to write more ‘creature features’ and generally improve my short story writing. My partner got me a Dungeons and Dragons Monster Manual for my birthday so I came up with the idea of writing a story every week based on a different creature from that – All There in the (Monster) Manual. Hope you enjoy!

This Week’s Inspiration: Hook Horror

Two young influencers explore rumours of an old nuclear shelter in the basement of a recently raided drug lord. The bunker turns out to be much, much bigger and much stranger than can be believed but when they attempt to leave they can no longer find the exit, and they soon realise something is down there with them.

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Beans

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For 2022, I’ve been wanting to write more ‘creature features’ and generally improve my short story writing. My partner got me a Dungeons and Dragons Monster Manual for my birthday so I came up with the idea of writing a story every week based on a different creature from that – All There in the (Monster) Manual. Hope you enjoy!

This Week’s Inspiration: Shambling Mound

Trigger Warning: Self-Harm

Jack and his mother live on a dusty ranch outside of town, just barely scraping by. When a mysterious stranger offers them five magic beans for their last cow, Jack sees potential for fame and fortune. But a little personal growth can be hard to handle.

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King of Crows

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For 2022, I’ve been wanting to write more ‘creature features’ and generally improve my short story writing. My partner got me a Dungeons and Dragons Monster Manual for my birthday so I came up with the idea of writing a story every week based on a different creature from that – All There in the (Monster) Manual. Hope you enjoy!

This Week’s Inspiration: Kenku

Trigger Warning: Gore, Drug Use

A lonely traveller takes refuge in an abandoned church only to find it home to a bizarrely intelligent murder of crows. While at first enjoying the crows’ company and generosity, he comes to find the birds have a desire for something much stranger than a few loaves of bread and some shiny trinkets.

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Invasion

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For 2022, I’ve been wanting to write more ‘creature features’ and generally improve my short story writing. My partner got me a Dungeons and Dragons Monster Manual for my birthday so I came up with the idea of writing a story every week based on a different creature from that – All There in the (Monster) Manual. Hope you enjoy!

This Week’s Inspiration: Cloaker

After a meteor shower, Phil Tullman wakes up in an interrogation room with handcuffs on his wrists and a head full of strange memories.

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