...The light reflected off its pale green surface, glinting off what seemed to be veins coursing through the stone. A curious ring, just lying there as if asking to be found…

The grinding of gears in the dead of night is a precursor of an unforgiving danger. Survivors remember little, save the smell of metal and death.

A quick flash of steel was all that was seen in the moonlight…

With but a word, the small mantis made of fine copper wire came to life; growing at an alarming rate, ready to defend its owner…

A loud crack broke the silence of the night. A piercing howl of pure agony followed, but was cut short after a moment by a low gurgle and a thump. Cedir smiled coyly, just another victim of the Tongue of Demons

...The ring slid onto her finger as if it were lovingly crafted just for her. Its diamond seemed to take in the sunlight, amplify and reflect it in every direction. Then almost immediately, the light waned and the stone went dark. Her throat clutched in a constricting gurgle before she slumped to the ground, still and lifeless.

...The rubies seemed to withdraw into the ring and then into his flesh. The man howled in pain, two small holes were the only reminder the rubies existed, but he could feel them still.