Feel free to skip the story and go to the next heading (Your Quest: Prize, Rules, and Forms) if you want to get straight to the rules, quest, and eligible stories.
This story is most enjoyable if you have already completed the Fae Path with Tristan Stormrider or at least read the story.
There’s an odd sound up ahead. Like steel striking stone, except not quite. Then something similar to string being pulled out so fast it hums.
You adopt a more cautious course, knowing that this late at night, you are unlikely to encounter anything or anyone not dangerous. You press back some branches and slip closer, reaching a clearing.
There’s a handsomely dressed man crouched near a grassy mound, sword in hand. Dark silver mushrooms and strange shape stones adorn the mound. Moonlight frames the entirety of the clearing. No indication of what caused the sound though. He appears to be studying some point near the southern edge.
The leaves rustle from the wind, blowing against the back of your head. His attention snaps in your direction, sharp.
“Well now you’ve scared it off.” As he stands, he glares at you. He’s tall but slender, wearing surprisingly fine clothing for being this far in a dark forest. The burgundy and gold stand out almost as much as his long white hair. Unlike others you have seen, his hair holds no trace of silver. It seems almost as if it might be nearly translucent, though it is quite thick.
“Scared what off?” You don’t enter the clearing. As far as you can see, there’s nothing here.
“Do you have a reason for being out so late?” he asks. “Or do you just like to wander?”
“I do as I choose.” You shrug. He doesn’t look like he belongs out here at all, but he acts with such confidence that it seems that’s more true. His features are at once human and yet not. He could be many things. Especially as he has no discernible scent. Something not possible unless he’s intentionally masked it. And as it’s rude to inquire what race someone is without following certain formalities, you can’t be sure what he is yet. Dangerous, most likely. Probably best not to give too much information.
He scoffs, shaking his head. “You might as well ask. It’s what you’re thinking.”
“Fine. What are you?”
“I decline to answer,” he says a little too sweetly.
You frown, not sure what to make of this. Is he toying with you? “Why would you tell me to ask if you didn’t intend to answer?”
He smirks. “Because saying no is fun.” He spears the sword into the soft earth, sending up a strong scent of leaves and damp soil. “And one should take all the fun one can find.”
What kind of person stabs their sword in the ground like that? Someone who doesn’t rely on their sword or need to worry about its sharpness.
“What are you doing out here?” you ask.
“Having my isolation disturbed.” He chuckles at your expression. “All right. I’ll tell you. But only if you do something for me.”
“I’m not getting myself killed or injured or indebting myself to you,” you respond.
“No. Nothing like that. It’s obvious you’re a reader. So you fetch me five stories with the right subject matter, and I’ll tell you why I’m here.”
On the one hand, you want to say no. Why is this even a compelling bargain? But you can’t deny you’re curious. “What subject matter?”
“Monster romances.”
You press your lips in a tight line. It’s hard to tell from his voice or expression whether he is teasing you or serious. “Really?”
He chuckles. “Maybe I enjoy them. Or maybe I use them as inspiration for deception. You have no way of knowing, and I have no intention of answering.”
“Fine. Any particular type?”
“So long as one protagonist is monstrous and terrifying, I’m flexible.” He smiles without showing his teeth. “Now hurry along. I’m not staying out here that much longer, and if I get bored while you’re gone, I make no guarantees that I’ll remain.”
It might not be that big a deal if you just ignored him and kept on your way. Nothing says you have to fulfill every offer. And yet you can’t help but be massively curious. What is he doing out here?
Your Quest: Prize, Rules, and Forms
Prize
This prize pack is a selection of ebooks whose titles we aren’t going to announce just yet because they may be too closely related to the theme of this quest. But the combined value is over $25.
This is open to anyone who completes the form.
Rules
To complete the Quest, you can use stories from either of the official lists. And yes, you can take stories from both.
You can only use a story for one element on the list in this quest. It is all right if you repeat a story from any other quest though.
This quest can be completed looking only at the trope cards, covers, and titles, though you may need to look through both paths.
Be kind to your fellow readers and other authors.
The Forms
You are on your way to find five stories.
You will need to find five monster romances or stories featuring monstrous love interests. Monstrous includes any of the traditional monsters, non-human beings, orcs, demons, tengus, vampires, and the like. Grim reaper also counts in something like this. (It is all right if the love interest is secretly a sweetheart so long as they look scary.)
This one you will either fill out a Google Form or email us your discoveries.
Each answer is worth one token. So you can receive 10 tokens by completing this. Each token is an entry into the giveaway.
Bonus Tokens
In addition to the regular tokens, you can get bonus tokens by completing the following acts.
One extra token for every story you share in an individual social media post. (Yes, you can post on multiple platforms.)
Use #monstrousdelightsquestbonus (and if you want to absolutely bless me, save off the links and paste them in the forms or an email to make sure we definitely see them. Screenshots also work.).
(We have graphics of all the stories here so you don’t have to make something separate. Just look look under the author’s last name to find the stories.)
Submitting Your Form
Once you’ve gathered up your collection of stories, you’ll need to turn them in so we can verify.
You can turn in your stories in two ways.
- Complete this form and directly post your answers (if you do this, you don’t need to turn in anything else. The form will allow you to return to it and edit your answers).
- Email your five choices to faeornofae@farofeb.com. Make sure to include any of the bonus activities you have done as well. Use the title Monstrous Delights Quest or some similar identifier.
Make sure to submit your completed form or list by July 3 at 11:59 PM EST.
If you have any problems, please feel free to email faeornofae@farofeb.com.
The Conclusion to the Monstrous Delights Quest
You return with the books in tow. There are so many choices out there, all rich with tension and complex characters. You really can’t imagine any good explanation for what this strange white-haired person is doing out here. But the curiosity and the need to know burns all the deeper.
It’s almost enough to make you worry that you weren’t fast enough. Time is moving faster.
You reach the clearing and halt. He’s standing there near the embankment, arms folded across his chest. He turns toward you, eyebrow slightly raised. “You have the books?”
“I do.” The more you study that clearing and the mound, the more unsettled you feel. And just as strong is a desire to know what this man is doing out here and why.
He holds out his hand expectantly. “Well?”
Just a few feet in. That’s all it would take.
No.
“You can come get them.” You place the books on a rock near the clearing’s edge.
He chuckles and then spreads his arms. “What do you think happens if you step into the clearing?”
“I haven’t made it this far in life without learning to trust my instincts, and my instincts say that, while it’s probably quite interesting, stepping into that clearing is likely to be dangerous. So I’ll pass. You can pick up your books and tell me what’s going on here.”
“It doesn’t count as delivering the books if you don’t step into the clearing. If you want your answers, you’ll have to come inside,” he says in a teasing tone.
A lightning bolt strikes the ground near both of you, close enough it makes your hair feel like it’s standing on end.
“You need new tricks, Julian,” a familiar voice says from somewhere up in the trees.
Tristan?
“Hello, hello, striking one.” Tristan’s voice comes from up in the branches, closer now. The leaves are so thick that you cannot glimpse him. “This does not count as our second meeting.”
“Doesn’t it?” You peer up in the general direction of his voice. Has he been following you?
“No. I am just passing through,” Tristan responds. “So many more stories to gather. My longship will carry many.”
“So you decided to throw a bolt of lightning at random?” you ask, not sure if that’s annoying or funny or a little of both.
“He was aiming for me. His aim is just poor.” Julian brushes dust off his sleeves, though he sounds more amused than annoyed. And almost as if this has happened before.
“Yes, so poor.” Tristan clicks his tongue.
“I take it you know this incorrigible little kit,” Julian continues.
You raise an eyebrow at this. Are you the incorrigible little kit?
“A little bit,” Tristan chuckles. “Enough to know your usual traps won’t work.”
“I don’t set traps.”
“That’s right. You hunt.”
“Investigate.”
“You were investigating me?” You step back. “Why?”
He shrugs. “You haven’t stepped into the clearing. I’m not saying a word on it further.”
“So obvious,” Tristan chides from above.
“I take it you two know one another,” you say.
“Shipmates, you might say,” Julian says. “Some time ago.” He sets his arms akimbo. “I did not even realize you were in this place, Tristan.”
“Nor I you.” The branch above creaks, and some leaves drift down. Tristan sounds amused. “Be careful with the striking one. Great potential that one. So many more adventures to be had.”
“And yet your ship is still not ready. Nor are you ready to even start sharing your secrets.” Julian tuts. “And from the sounds of it, you lost your human form.”
“Only for a little bit. The last storm proved challenging. A little rest will set that right.”
“Of course it will,” Julian says. “But this is why you should stay away from the wind whippets.”
So he isn’t in his human form? Well, that’s interesting. You move on to the side, amused but ready to go on your way.
“Now, just a minute,” Julian says smoothly. “You weren’t thinking of leaving already?”
“Actually I am. It’s been a long few days, and I have some treasure rooms to visit soon. So I’ll be taking my leave. Odd meeting you.” You bow your head in his direction. Then you point up into the branches where Tristan is. “Good hearing but not seeing you.”
“The night is far from over,” Julian says. “You should stay.”
“No,” you say with a smile. Then you tilt your head. “You’re right. It is fun to say no.”
He crinkles his nose. “Not as much to hear it though.” He sighs as Tristan laughs. “Well, I won’t keep you. At least not now. Until we meet again, incorrigible little kit.” He bows at the waist and then vanishes, leaving his sword still in the ground near the strange mound.
Tristan laughs from up in the trees. “Good to see and hear you again, striking one. Take care as you go. You are certainly worthy.”
“You take care as well. I hope you find your human form soon. It’s a very handsome one.”
A loud peal of laughter follows. “So it is. Just as yours is lovely.”
You smile to yourself as you pick up your path once more. Home is close, as is your bed. Even though you’re tired, you are pleased. You really did find a lot of stories. And in your heart, you know you’ll likely encounter many of these people again. For better or worse, it’s certain to be interesting. And soon you’ll be carried off to sleep. Who knows of what you’ll dream
Have you explored all the Bonus Quests yet? They’re all up currently! The only thing next will be the treasure rooms, but those won’t go live until after July 5. Make sure you get your entries all done by July 3!