Zaretha

In the midst of a brutal war, dark elf assassin Arden is tasked with retrieving vital plans from a light elf enemy. His mission uncovers a deadly weapon—a gun created by dwarves using black powder—that threatens to change the course of the conflict.

Teaming up with Berdine, a half-human, half-feline master healer, Arden navigates treacherous terrains and deadly confrontations to prevent the weapon from falling into enemy hands. They capture Prince Eryndor, who reveals an internal plot to overthrow King Faelor and seize the weapon.

With General Ninloth coordinating their efforts, Arden and Berdine split their forces. Arden leads an infiltration to stop the coup, while Ninloth and Berdine aim to secure or destroy the weapon plans. As they face magic, betrayal, and their own moral dilemmas, they must act swiftly to protect their kingdom.

"War Crimes" is a high-stakes fantasy of dark magic, shifting loyalties, and the relentless pursuit of survival in a world where the lines between right and wrong blur.

War Crimes: The Shadow of the Assassin

The first thing Arden Shadowborne registered when he woke was the cold.

The fire in the hearth had long since died, leaving only the faintest embers smoldering in the obsidian hearth. Heavy velvet drapes billowed slightly from a breeze seeping through the cracks in the stone, carrying the familiar scent of Tenebralis—smoke, rain, and something darker beneath.

His muscles ached, though not unpleasantly. The events of the night before settled over him like the lingering warmth of a blade fresh from the forge, though his mind was already sharpening, cutting away the distraction. Pleasure was fleeting. Survival was not.

And survival had always been his first instinct.

The Blackened Blade