The retired major from the Indian Army handed

The retired major from the Indian Army handed over an ornate box. "Take it from me, it's cursed!" he spluttered. I opened it and nestling in blue silk was a desiccated claw.

I closed the box. It really was the Claw of Dawon. I'd inherited a talison of immense potency. I had the major chained & drowned in the Ganges. I would attack Vipra on the new moon

colony being constructed by Xe, formerly Blackwater. The Claw of Dawon would protect me from the lunar vacuum and provide pseudo-gravity so I wouldn't inadvertently bound out into

the Silent Cluster. The outer ring contained satellite bivouacs. With the Claw of Dawon engaged, the lunar vacuum faded into space's fabric. The bug eyes in the ship's bulkhead tol

D a different story, understood three years after the brutal massacre of the Blue Meanies. The Claw of Dawon was still alive, and was immortal. That was the advantage of being

the Claw of Dawon you could be alive & immortal at the same time. The lichmage raised a cupped hand of Blue Meany blood to its lips while loudly speaking an indistinct incantation.

The Blue Meany from which said blood came sprayed more of it in mocking snickers. The Claw of Dawon crumbled into dust as the Maw of Chowdown formed around the prideful lichmage.

After the Maw of Chowdown had its fill, it lay down by the banks of the river Fu, burped thrice and fell into a stupor. Twas then that Gaho the Vengeance Fairy crept up and sliced

open the Maw of Chowdown's belly, revealing the contents within. Gaho the Vengeance Fairy cackled delightedly and set off down the river Fu after grabbing the