Foreword
"Devil's Plaything" was originally written in the autumn/winter of 2004-5, as a cathartic piece wherein I worked out some difficult and even traumatic events in my life, following a series of bad decisions. In the wake of this, I learned the value of forgiveness for oneself as well as the importance of becoming a prodigal if one cannot stick to the wisest path in the first place. It was named for a song by the band Danzig, whose music at the time struck a chord within me and offered a soundtrack for long hours of thinking and writing, editing and re-editing.
Secondarily, "Devil's Plaything" was an attempt to figure myself into Middle-earth, which accounts for all the lupine elements and wolfish references, given my own fascination with and admiration for the beasts. So, in a sense, it veers into "Mary Sue-ish" territory, but I hope the reader will forgive such an inevitable thing.
Lastly, but with no less importance, "Devil's Plaything" is a tribute to the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, the author of The Silmarillion, The Hobbit, and The Lord of the Rings books, amongst others. Tolkien's world, its mythos and its people, its legendarium and its history, have touched the hearts and minds of millions of readers since their publishing, myself not least amongst them. Tolkien's works have provided inestimable inspiration for me-entertainment in my happiest hours and hope in my darkest. It is in honor and homage to him that I offer up this small work of my own, edited with help from a fellow and exceedingly well-read Tolkien enthusiast, to pay at least some small tribute to the man whose imagination has stirred the hearts of millions and will continue to stir the hearts of millions more.
Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy "Devil's Plaything".
- Lycorth