Swift Six Character Interview – Fergushar the Tenth

Fergushar the Tenth (Fergus for short)

Which book/world do you live in?

I, alas, currently abide in Incolf, a cultureless country currently ruled by Her Dimwittedness Queen Siobhan the Third, though I proudly hail from the significantly more interesting land of Jocrom. My family ruled there for generations, and though my ancestors hailed from Incolf themselves, I consider myself to be a full-blooded Jocromite.

Tell us about yourself: (Name, race/species, etc.)

I am Fergushar the Tenth, Democratic Emperor and Death Lord of Jocrom, Soltan of the Pale Star. I was once a beloved ruler, noted intellect and a necromancer of great power. Then I had the misfortune to meet three out of Siobhan’s five pet sorceresses. We had, shall we say, some disagreements about how I was running my country, which—in my personal opinion—was none of their business.

Said disagreements led to their unlawful and unwarranted assault of my country, which led to its complete devastation and my transformation into an ostrich. Which, granted, has some perks. I do like being larger and longer in some areas, if you follow my meaning.

After all, who doesn’t like being able to poke their head above high walls?

I’m an adventurer – why should I recruit you to accompany me?

I can regale you with my many political triumphs over the course of my reign as Death Lord, as well as my myriad accomplishments in the course of my learning at the University of Zhai Ezan.

I also have a butt-shaped talisman that explodes when you tell it secrets. It’s great for whenever conversation dies down at parties.

Tell us about your companions?  How do they see you?

Quin? What’s there to tell? She’s a half-wit half-rate writer with all the charm of a crushed snail. If she had any sense, she would see me as the genius I am, and as an underserving victim of her magical malfeasance. If she had an ounce of respect for me, she would change me back at once. But she does not. I have a feeling she doesn’t have much in the way of respect for me.

What’s your most heroic exploit to date?

I heroically defended Jocrom against Quin and her fellow witches. Though my efforts were in vain, I was able to hold them back for about…I would say two hours. Nobody can claim that! Even the great city of Galvinhame could only keep out a single Witch of Incolf for a measly minute before it was forced to open its doors to her.

What’s your greatest failure?

Well, since I am now effectively retired from politics—no thanks to Quin, I want to emphasize—I work as a freelancer magician in Basdolon. That’s Incolf’s capital, by the by.

And, well, there was an incident with a worm. Can’t even begin to tell you what went wrong there, I’m confident I unscrambled that cube the correct way, but it was supposed to summon an army of worms that would add nutrients to Dayzona Arcanics’ farmlands. Instead, it produced a single massive worm that consumed most of their livestock. Though if you ask me, I did those cows a favor. They were only going to be used for unholy Incolfian magical experiments, I’m sure.

Where do you think you’ll be in a decade?

Sitting back in my new palace in Jocrom, celebrating the tenth anniversary of my restoration to human form and having subsequently brought the Witches of Incolf to heel and conquered Incolf. I’ll let Quin live so she can write an article about it. Now that would be quite delicious.

Do you have a great love? (This could be a person/trait/item)

Well, I recently came into possession of a magic talisman: a body part from the famed philosopher and mathematician Urg. Yes, the Urg. Urg the Erudite. I have absolutely no idea what it does yet, but I feel privileged to have this piece of Urg with me, and I very much look forward to discovering what it’s capable of.

Links to book etc https://amzn.to/3tOyu0o