The Phantom Badgers Series by R.W. Krpoun

"A compelling new series...a band of unlikely heroes whose struggles within a fantastic and grim world are both dynamic and engrossing. These are not epic lords on world-saving quests, but rather are 'ordinary' folk trying to stay one step ahead of life's tribulations. A poor man's Game of Thrones." Dark Obligations is a comprehensive tale of deadly intrigue, graphic violence, and fragile courage set in a grim fantasy world that is both familiar and alien... more"A compelling new series...a band of unlikely heroes whose struggles within a fantastic and grim world are both dynamic and engrossing. These are not epic lords on world-saving quests, but rather are 'ordinary' folk trying to stay one step ahead of life's tribulations. A poor man's Game of Thrones." Dark Obligations is a comprehensive tale of deadly intrigue, graphic violence, and fragile courage set in a grim fantasy world that is both familiar and alien. The story takes the reader through the depths of an abandoned Dwarven city whose halls still ring with battle, and on into a sleepy countryside whose shadows are home to a more insidious danger. Set in a richly developed dark fantasy world, Dark Obligations is the tale of the Phantom Badgers, a pan-racial mercenary company determined to lift themselves from the mundane world of sell-swords into a better future. Caught between old enemies, allies of dubious intent, and unplanned complications the Badgers must face long odds, terrible foes, and cunning intrigue to establish a home for themselves.Facing obligations that range from recovering valuables in the depths below an abandoned Dwarven city haunted by minions of the Void to solving a murder that just won’t make sense, the Badgers take the reader through a dynamic slice of a world that comes alive with each page.With spells, steel, and simple courage the men and women, Dwarves and Threll of the Phantom Badgers face their obligations and enemies with equal amounts of audacity and bravado. From the diminutive Starr Brightgift, the spunky young Threll with little experience and a troubling secret, to Kroh Blackhand, the Dwarven Waybrother bound for wild death and glory, and on to Janna Maidenwalk, the scarred former Silver Eagle who simply cannot envision a life without war, the Phantom Badgers take the reader down a dark and bloody road to a destination that will only beckon them onward.Dark Obligations is the first volume in the Phantom Badgers series.The Phantom Badgers series:Book One: Dark Obligations Book Two: Dark Key Book Three: Dark Path Book Four: Dark Practices Book Five: Dark TideBook Six: Dark Journeys (TBA) less

The White Necromancer holds a grudge against the Phantom Badgers, and time is running out for the motley band of sell-swords. They are locked into the death-vise of an implacable foe, and the only key to escape is a desperate long shot at acquiring an enchanted Torc. Eighteen months have passed since Dark Obligations, and the Phantom Badgers are facing the fact that the long-delayed wrath of the necromancer is drawing near... moreThe White Necromancer holds a grudge against the Phantom Badgers, and time is running out for the motley band of sell-swords. They are locked into the death-vise of an implacable foe, and the only key to escape is a desperate long shot at acquiring an enchanted Torc. Eighteen months have passed since Dark Obligations, and the Phantom Badgers are facing the fact that the long-delayed wrath of the necromancer is drawing near. With death looming Durek leads a detachment on a desperate mission to locate the key to their survival, a mission made of secrets and deceptions which snowball into a twisted net of plots and subterfuge. Their quest takes Durek, Dimitri, Kroh, Starr, Rolf, and the others of the Company’s inner circle from the Red Shores, through the Border Realms, and on to the Blasted Plains. Enemies abound, from Direbreed in the mountains to Eyade horsemen on the Plains, and on to the deadly spy corps of the Dark Threll. Once again the Badgers must face long odds, moving fast, fighting hard, and trying to stay one step of everyone else.With spells, steel, and simple courage the men and women, Dwarves and Threll of the Phantom Badgers face their obligations and enemies with equal amounts of audacity and bravado. From Rolf Lightseeker, the hulking half-Orc devoted to his friends, to Elonia Starshine, the enigmatic half-breed Seer, and on to Arian Thyben, the retired cult-hunter, the Phantom Badgers take the reader down a dark and bloody road to a destination that will only beckon them onwards. less

The fateful day has arrived: the Phantom Badgers must face the White Necromancer and determine their fate. But not only the world’s oldest liche must be dealt with: Oramere is threatened from two directions, and the Bloody Road must be guarded for pay.Seven months have passed since Dark Key, and the Phantom Badgers are facing the culmination of their plans to escape the wrath of the necromancer... moreThe fateful day has arrived: the Phantom Badgers must face the White Necromancer and determine their fate. But not only the world’s oldest liche must be dealt with: Oramere is threatened from two directions, and the Bloody Road must be guarded for pay.Seven months have passed since Dark Key, and the Phantom Badgers are facing the culmination of their plans to escape the wrath of the necromancer. But while Bridget leads a squad to beard the undead horror in its den, Axel must defend Oramere, and Durek must hold the Bloody Road with the main body. Meanwhile, Kustar Pravas is far from idle…Facing old enemies, new dangers, and unknown threats the men and women, Dwarves and Threll of the Phantom Badgers face their obligations and enemies as they struggle to forge a new life for themselves. With old friends, new recruits, and allies of unlikely origins, the Phantom Badgers struggle onward in the hopes of reaching a place of, if not peace, than at least relative safety. From Axel Uldo, the crippled Lieutenant in command of Oramere, to Henri Toulon, the Company’s second Wizard and primary romancer, and on to the long-suffering Maxmillian von Sheer IV the Phantom Badgers will take the reader down a dark and winding path. less

“A series that is a single epic tapestry cut into manageable pieces…the threads of events and characters emerge as if they had actually lived, and few events occur without becoming a part of the sprawling whole. This is more than a story of swords and magic, it is the charting of lives. It isn’t Game of Thrones, but it makes a very credible effort... more“A series that is a single epic tapestry cut into manageable pieces…the threads of events and characters emerge as if they had actually lived, and few events occur without becoming a part of the sprawling whole. This is more than a story of swords and magic, it is the charting of lives. It isn’t Game of Thrones, but it makes a very credible effort.” The Fantasy Group It is the spring following the events in Dark Path, and the Phantom Badgers have a contract for the campaign season and a plan for the future, but all is not as rosy as it might seem. Larger events are unfurling across the great northern continent, and old events are echoing from the past. The Purple Spider are not satisfied with the Company’s encroachment on their territory, and in the big city the Badgers discover that they are not as cunning as they like to believe.Once again the Badgers must face enemy war-bands, cultists plotting in the darkness, and the myriad problems that always seem to accompany their expanding scope of operations. Cult-hunting, Goblin-fighting, contract negotiating, and endlessly scheming the Badgers make their way through the world of Allmar with all the subtlety of their namesake.From Tonya Oesau, the Company Standard-bearer, to Phillip Milden, the Company’s primary knife-fighter, and on to the eager new scout Duna ‘Eclipse’ Kadal, the Phantom Badgers will take the reader down a dark and winding road to yet another tale of steel, spells, and cunning. less

The Hand of Chaos is coming. In the spring following the events in Dark Practices the cult-nation is poised to launch its armies across Malker’s Wall and into the Realms, bringing a dark tide of destruction and death. Waiting for them are troops from every nation west of the wall, and every mercenary company in Alhenland, including the Phantom Badgers. Hired as bodyguards and special-use troops the Badgers have front-row seats to the largest war in a century... moreThe Hand of Chaos is coming. In the spring following the events in Dark Practices the cult-nation is poised to launch its armies across Malker’s Wall and into the Realms, bringing a dark tide of destruction and death. Waiting for them are troops from every nation west of the wall, and every mercenary company in Alhenland, including the Phantom Badgers. Hired as bodyguards and special-use troops the Badgers have front-row seats to the largest war in a century. Against a backdrop of war, death, and destruction the mercenaries do battle, raid, hunt spies, and as always plot and scheme to improve their lot while seeming to never fully steer clear of trouble. Once again the men and women, Humans, Threll, and Dwarves of the diverse Company must make their way through a hard and unforgiving world. They take the reader for yet another trip down the Felher-haunted Imperial Highway, into Sagenhoft (the Star of the East), and across the Realms as they endure battle, skirmish, victory, and defeat. less