The Homunculus Knight

Bringing rest to the unquiet dead is not an easy or simple task. It requires compassion, wisdom, patience, strength of arms, and suicidal courage. Paladin Cole, a warrior sworn to the god of death, has these qualities. Surviving in a land ruled by blood-thirsty monsters is also not without difficulties. To live beneath the shadow of undeath takes intelligence, caution, determination, and the occasional moment of extreme daring. Natalie Striga, a barmaid born and raised beneath the vampires’ boot, knows these truths. But saving a town and potentially the world from an ancient nightmare will take everything this unlikely pair has and more. The vampire-controlled mountain town of Glockmire has barely recovered from a series of recent calamities when the holy knight Cole arrives. Tasked with putting the many varieties of undead to rest, Cole has grimly resigned himself to a lonely existence…until he meets a clever young woman named Natalie. Events push the pair together as Cole investigates the lurking horrors within and without the town’s walls, while Natalie hopes to get revenge on the undead monster responsible for her mother’s death.  A gruesome discovery in a ghoul’s lair adds new context to Cole’s hunt and Natalie’s tragedy as hidden schemes and squabbles among the vampire nobility threaten to bubble over into a disaster. As the pair unravels a series of mysteries, Natalie slowly realizes there is much more to the world than Glockmire, and much more to Cole than meets the eye: despite being a divine champion tasked with fighting undead monsters, Cole might be even less human than the vampires he hunts. What to expect- High Fantasy with strong horror elements but never hopeless or pointlessly grim. Heroic male MC who firmly believes in his mission and purpose. Clever female MC who is trying to do her best in a bad situation. Lots of monsters, both classic and new. With worldbuilding taking a lot from real-world mythology and traditional fantasy.  What NOT to expect- Any Lit-RPG or Isekai elements.  Chapters- Every Friday, typically 4-6k words in length. Now with a discord server!