Mercatans of Death

Chapter 1: The Bleeding Muses On the sacred eve of Lunar Loshar, when the valleys of Nandagram prepare to celebrate rebirth beneath the full moon, an unsettling omen descends upon the land. Roudri Martand, a young delivery rider burdened by a mysterious infant, embarks on a journey through rain-soaked mountains and ancient folklore. As she travels between forgotten villages, haunted bridges, and cursed landmarks, strange signs begin to reveal themselves. The appearance of the Tonkinis—soul-reaping spirits who walk in groups of seven—signals that something far darker is stirring beneath the surface of Cambariravam. Ancient prophecies surrounding the sacred Swettarangini flower, the dreaded Budhoog bird, and a long-forgotten plague resurface from the depths of local folklore. While Roudri struggles to protect the sleeping child entrusted to her care, whispers of death, abandoned houses, and supernatural forces follow her every step. Unaware that she is being drawn into a hidden conflict between the living and the banished dead, she races toward home, hoping to reach safety before nightfall. But some destinies bloom like flowers under moonlight. And some begin with blood. The Bleeding Muses opens the world of Mercatans of Death, a dark folkloric fantasy where ancient spirits, forgotten gods, and human grief intertwine beneath the shadow of an approaching catastrophe.