Tales of Origin and Infamy is a collection of interconnected supernatural and historical mystery stories, presented as the casebook of Captain Silas Thorne, a British officer and investigator in the late 19th century.The tales blend imperial history, folklore, and the occult, exploring the moral ambiguities and psychological scars of empire. Chain of Command, Thread of TruthDuring the Second Anglo-Afghan War, Captain Silas Thorne defends Sergeant George Harper, who defies a violent order from Lieutenant Smythe. As Harper faces court-martial, Thorne investigates to uncover the truth and challenge the injustice. The Shame You CarryPosted to Baroda, India, Thorne and Harper are drawn into palace intrigue, the theft of the fabled Star of the South diamond, and the chilling revival of the Thuggee cult. As rebellion brews and loyalties fracture, the story unravels colonial deceit, personal grief, and a final act of devastating betrayal The Number PromisedIn KwaZulu-Natal during the First Boer War, Captain Thorne confronts the collapse of British defences and the haunting emergence of the Tikoloshe, a creature from African legend. As reality fractures, the tale explores leadership, sacrifice, and the creeping psychological cost of war. The First MeetingThorne and Harper are swept into an occult investigation when a stolen compass with arcane powers surfaces. Their search leads to the elusive Duke Nicholas De Rochefort and the Crimson Meridian-a blood-bound cult determined to entwine the British Empire's destiny with dark magic. My Kindness is a Myth (by Sebastian Spiteful)A wickedly confessional memoir from Sebastian Spiteful-equal parts theatrical, scathing, and self-indulgent. He lays bare his scandalous escapades, tangled family feuds, and relentless pursuit of literary infamy with dark comic flair. The Pact She ChoseIn the haunted shadows of Durham, Thorne and Harper confront supernatural unrest tied to a centuries-old curse. When Lady Isolde Lambton defies tradition and refuses to marry, she shatters an ancestral pact-unleashing spectral reckoning, and a sacrifice that cannot be undone. The Unquiet DeadAt Dorset's Bettiscombe Manor, Thorne and Harper face the chilling legend of the Screaming Skull-a restless relic bound to the buried horrors of slavery and colonial rule. As the past refuses silence, the haunting becomes a reckoning. AppendicesThe anthology features detailed appendices offering historical context behind the stories-from the Second Anglo-Afghan War and the First Boer War to the legend of the Star of the South diamond, the occult legacy of John Dee, and other pivotal events that shaped the narrative landscape.