Dunkane Renard, Male French Merchant (Shopkeeper) (Non-Player character) A recurring character from a Hawkmoon campaign, a variant of the RPG Stormbringer, set in the “Tragic Millennium Earth” of Michael Moorcock’s novels. H3-16 – To High A Price: Dunkane watched with tears welling up in his eyes as the Hounds marched twenty innocent people to the gallows they had built in the village square. In his mind’s eye he could see Nykira’s face, crying in shame and guilt as she had been when her companions dragged her away. Many in Misteldale cursed her for not surrendering herself, but he knew that even if she had, her companions wouldn’t have and the Hounds would still have taken their vengeance out on the villagers anyway. “This is the price for opposing the Dark Empire!” the Hound captain roared and one by one the innocent swung, while at his side in a fine white dress, Claire broke down and sobbed so hard she could barely stand. She had been forced to choose who would die from amongst her friends and neighbors, while he had taken her for his mistress, making her hated and despised by the rest of the village. “And now you will witness the fate of a traitor!” the captain announced to his unwilling audience, as two of his men seized Claire by her arms and pushed her forward. “What!?!” Claire cried out in surprise. “I’ve done everything you asked… I picked the twenty to die for you… I’ve served you every way you wanted!” “Traitors can never be trusted,” he growled from behind his Hound mask as he grabbed the front of her dress and tore it away from her nubile body. He smirked to himself while his eyes roamed over her delightful form as his men finished ripping her cloths away. “You should have chosen yourself as one of the twenty,” he taunted. “Your death then would have been less painful… and you could have become a beloved martyr… I might even have spared you, since you have served me very well and so willingly.” He motioned to his men and they dragged her to the edge of the platform while two others moved into position below with a massive pike. “No… Please no!” Claire screamed as the whole village recoiled in horror and the Hounds lifted her above the wicked point. She looked over her shoulder to the captain in desperation; “Please I’ll do anything you want!” “You already have,” he replied, the evil grin hidden behind his mask clear in his voice.