So I have a very important question to ask. I have been working on this for days, writing sample chapters, trying to work up the nerve to post them, and then posting them and pulling them right back down. I think the best idea is to make a video and explain what is going on in my mind, and what the choices are for the future. So here is a link to youtube, and an audio log I made about it.
https://youtu.be/5cHQPyTx0Do...
2020-05-27 21:33:43 +0000 UTC View Post
“Somebody tell me what's going on!” Heather demanded her panic from the narrow escape fresh in her mind.
“You look… different,” Frank said as he looked her up and down.
“What do you mean I look different? I’m just wearing a crown.”
“No, you're not,” Breanne said as she leaned in closer.
Heather felt around her head to pull the thing off and throw it at them to discover it was nowhere to be fou...
2020-05-26 21:59:45 +0000 UTC View PostSo after the last chapter and some feedback I am now functioning under the impression that readers would like to see the characters sex life explored more.
I wanted the book to be full of "emotional" moments but not necessarily sex. However, I have written many short scenes and stories dealing with the characters having intimate encounters with each other and "others" I write these to explore ideas and the characters for my own benefit.
I posted one earlier an th...
2020-05-23 17:59:16 +0000 UTC View Post
Lengwin drummed his fingers on the table as Gersius explained the situation in the city. He also explained that a raven commander was dead, but showed absolutely no emotion while doing so. Everything about what happened and the situation that followed grated on his nerves. More annoying was how long he had to wait to get some semblance of an answer. Gersius decided to be unavailable for nearly two hours, flying overhead like he didn't care. Lengwin wanted to challenge him f...
2020-05-22 18:07:26 +0000 UTC View Post
Heather peaked from behind a large rock watching as the man in red stared into the temple. The dragon crouched on the temple roof, watching from above as if waiting for something to happen.
“So, what do we do?” Quinny asked.
“We run,” Breanne suggested.
The goblins began to squawk and point to the temple forcing Quinny to shush them as Heather tried to think.
“Why would the dragon be helping him?” she asked...
2020-05-19 22:22:22 +0000 UTC View PostToday's dragon knight chapter had some unexpected side effects. I know that in many ways the pains my characters suffer mimics much of the pain I suffered in my real life. Like Gerisus I carry some of that pain deep inside, refusing to deal with it for fear of what might happen.
As I wrote the final scene of this chapter I began to feel some of it. I hope it didn't cloud my writing, but I wonder if Thayle's advice might just be the answer.
2020-05-15 17:07:42 +0000 UTC View Post
Moral among the women of Ulustrah soared when the relic of the goddess was presented before them. It did much to dissipate the anger brewing in the camp and encourage them to go forward. Gersius was impressed at how Thayle used the weapon, saying it was proof Ulustrah wanted them to take up the sword and march on Calathen. She was also careful to weave the Doan into the message. Calathen was only the first step. The war wasn't over until the Doan were defeated.
Min...
2020-05-15 17:03:07 +0000 UTC View Post
Heather set the strange green stone next to the raven statue on her desk. It wasn't particularly interesting to look at, roughly the size of an egg, and smooth as glass. It was the vibrant emerald green color that was of most interest to her. She wondered if maybe it was emerald, and if she could have it cut to adorn a crown, she could wear.
Frank said it would be magical but couldn’t elaborate beyond that. She asked him what good knowing something was magi...
2020-05-12 19:09:11 +0000 UTC View Post
Sarah stood by silently as Gersius directed the morning meeting. He laid out plans and expectations for the day, establishing that they would be on the move the next morning. He also addressed a curious matter pertaining to the sword Lady Thayle carried. Other members of the order of Ulustrah were very keen to see the weapon and have it shown before the others. Lady Thayle was at the meeting, of course, and promised to bring the weapon later in the day.
She n...
2020-05-08 17:58:56 +0000 UTC View Post
The sky was sunny and clear, warming the stones of the balcony. Heather sat crosslegged on the couch as she studied the mysterious book. The translation key sat beside her as she checked symbols over and over to be sure they were right.
A gentle breeze blew, giving her some relief from the day's stagnant heat. The tower proved to be very effective at becoming stiflingly warm on a sunny day, the stone walls soaking up the sunlight readily. She tried to mitigate this...
2020-05-05 19:40:47 +0000 UTC View Post
The mood in the camp was mixed as Gersius spoke with a group of men. Many were celebrating the victory over the raven guard, but equally as many were mourning a fallen comrade. There was trouble among the men of Astikar who were disturbed by the violence the women of Ulustrah showed. Even when men surrendered, they were cut down by rampaging women eager to release their rage. Sarah added to the discomfort by insisting the wounded be allowed to die. This didn't settle with ...
2020-05-01 18:38:11 +0000 UTC View Post
“Let’s kill her again,” Quinny whispered in an angry tone.
“There are three orc fighters of some kind right outside the door,” Breanne reminded.
“And there may be more people hidden inside here, Frank suggested. “We need to steal the stuff back and slip away.”
They went silent as the footsteps returned, and Moon paced out from behind the crates. They huddled into the shadows as Moon kept her back to them, taking no notice.
“Di...
2020-04-28 19:49:50 +0000 UTC View Post
“We didn't learn anything,” Thayle said as they walked into their private area to dress. Outside, the tent was coming down, and the camp rapidly being packed on wagons. Soon the march would begin and with it war with the raven guard.
“We learned that weapon was made by the divines, just like the Dragon Knight sword,” Gersius replied. “He also suggested it was put there intentionally, and somebody else tried to claim it.”
“He knows ...
2020-04-24 20:39:43 +0000 UTC View Post
Heather stepped through the portal like she was stepping through a door. She was expecting to feel some great sensation like she did when Breanne took her through a wall, yet she felt nothing at all. She simply stepped through the opening and was there. The air was a little warmer and carried new scents, but otherwise, nothing at all felt different.
She arrived in a large plaza flanked by white marble pillars that had basins on top alive with flowers and vines. The...
2020-04-21 18:06:57 +0000 UTC View Post
The march was much faster than anticipated, and they covered the ground with ease. With the wagons weighing significantly less, they suffered almost no loss of speed when navigating hills. Furthermore, the heavy cavalry was made lighter, and the men were able to ride significantly longer on their stout chargers. There were some complications, of course, most notably the weavers themselves who demanded to be carried in wagons.
Most weavers were nobility ...
2020-04-18 01:23:30 +0000 UTC View Post
Heather tapped at the page of the necromancer's book, pondering how to manage the spell. She spent most of the day pouring over the familiar spell and making a list of where she would get the ingredients. The magic circle had to be drawn with special dust made with ground bones and powdered silver. By fortunate luck, the wizard who died in her tower had both in a curious pouch. It was full of little pockets that held an assortment of things. It rested beside the book now, where...
2020-04-14 17:25:21 +0000 UTC View Post
Gersius held Thayle in his arms as Lilly flew through the sky. Sarah, Numidel, and Shadros flew nearby, looking ahead in the darkness for their prey. The maps said it was a city named Kingscrest and was the largest of such in this small kingdom. After looking at the nearby towns, they agreed this was likely where the weavers went to hide. With any luck, they were right, and the weavers would be trapped.
Thayle was silent for most of the trip, her thoughts deep and ...
2020-04-10 23:23:01 +0000 UTC View Post
Heather took the bone knight and made her way to the graveyard. She found Frank skulking amount the tombstones as he inspected the yard. He didn't react to her until she was nearly on him, and then he turned to stare at her.
“Are you done spending your points?”
“I think so,” she replied and continued. “I wanted to ask you something.”
“What?”
“Do you think there is a camp in the hills?”
He sat on his heels and s...
2020-04-07 18:39:31 +0000 UTC View Post
Gersius was grateful when the dragons returned and Lilly walked up in her dragon form. He quickly handed Thayle off to her and gave her a silent gesture to take Thayle aside. Lilly gently cradled Thayle in a powerful arm and carried her a few dozen paces before setting her down. She then curled around Thayle, forming a tight ball that protected her with a wall of scales.
Sarah landed safely outside the farm with a hand clutched around something. He knew what she h...
2020-04-03 23:08:11 +0000 UTC View Post
“Heather?”
The voice jarred her awake, causing her to remember all that had happened in an instant. She bolted upright from where she sat on the floor, leaning into the side of her bed. A squeak escaped her lips when she caught the eyes of her bone knight, staring down at her.
Instantly her heart was pumping as she relived the last moments before she passed out.
“Why did you run away?” she stammered, but the bone knight didn...
2020-04-01 00:29:14 +0000 UTC View Post
The weather was warm and damp, making the heavy armor he wore nearly suffocating. Thankfully they were on an upper terrace of the King's Palace, where a slight breeze stirred.
The Father Abbot sat on a large plush chair to the side of the terrace, a goblet of dark wine on the table beside him. He studied Dellain with probing eyes as he gave his account of what the dragon showed him.
“They can change shape into humans?” the Father Abbot asked...
2020-03-27 18:33:02 +0000 UTC View Post
Heather dashed into her tower, tears filling her eyes. With shaking hands, she slammed the door and threw down the crossbar that braced it from the inside. Somewhere outside was a group of players led by the rangers from Moon's town. They were undoubtedly finishing off the last of her skeletons by now. Soon they would come for her inside the tower. She leaned against the door to try and catch her breath as she suddenly thought of the back door.
“You, ...
2020-03-24 23:05:12 +0000 UTC View Post
Gersius was alone with his thoughts in the meeting tent. He leaned over the table in the middle, studying an assortment of maps as he planned his next moves. Time was running short, and more objectives were being added on a nearly daily basis. The most pressing of which was the liberation of a camp holding the women of Ulustrah. He focused on the logistics of that task, but his mind kept wandering to the previous day.
“What has you brooding?” Thayle asked...
2020-03-21 00:57:28 +0000 UTC View Post
Heather let out a contented sigh before taking a sip from a tall glass. She savored the sweet taste and set the glass down on a nearby tray. She reclined on a narrow couch that was brought out to the new balcony on the south of her tower. It was covered in pillows she stole from Moon and made a comfy bed to lay in the sun. She stretched, throwing her arms high as the morning rays warmed her skin
At the end of the couch stood two skeletons holding the book of ...
2020-03-17 21:20:15 +0000 UTC View Post
Gersius closed his eyes and turned away as the three men were brought out to answer for their crimes. He was ashamed to see these men who so willingly turned their backs on Astikar's teachings. When the raven priest arrived at their temple, they were afraid to challenge his commands, even though they flew in the face of years of faith and training. Unfortunately, one of their numbers stood his ground and would not bend to false preaching. These three were afraid to face the supe...
2020-03-13 22:11:05 +0000 UTC View Post
“I don’t recall seeing that when we came back,” Breanne said.
“That’s because it wasn’t there when we came back,” Frank said as he stood on his toes to get a better look.
Quinny's forest went over the road and down it for a good hundred feet. Just beyond the gloom of her trees was a building made of white plaster walls and dark wooden beams. It had narrow windows with yellowed glass, and a sharply peaked roof of wood shingles, that were warped and spl...
2020-03-10 17:25:23 +0000 UTC View Post
Thayle awoke to a sensation of warmth and safety. She was in bed, laying on her back with Lilly to her left curled over her. Gersius was on her right, a wall of muscle towering over her. His arm was laid across her body, holding her securely.
She turned her head to look at him and smiled to see he was awake his eyes watching her.
“This was your idea, wasn't it?” she asked him quietly.
He nodded gently. “I wanted you to feel safe....
2020-03-06 18:09:20 +0000 UTC View Post
A faint hum filled like the airy sound of a distant organ holding a single note filled her ears. Around her was a void of blackness broken only by a brilliant blue light from above. She wasn't sure where she was or even who she was as she drifted in the nothingness. Occasionally a voice would call out or speak with a deep echo. She struggled to hear the voices as they came and went but could only catch small snippets.
“Don't look back,” a man's voice said. &nbs...
2020-03-03 18:49:42 +0000 UTC View Post
Gersius felt burning anger from Thayle as they flew lower to see the temple of Ulustrah was already burned and gutted. The smoke they saw was what was left of the surrounding gardens as they smoldered, the trees little more than charred husks. Not a soul moved in the vicinity of the temple as Lilly touched down nearby.
“Were too late,” Lilly said as she looked at the nearby buildings. “This battle is a day old.”
Gersius nodded in agreeme...
2020-02-28 21:19:17 +0000 UTC View Post
Rays of sunlight came through a massive hole in the ceiling and wall that danced in the drifting dust. Heather shielded her eyes and looked out through the opening at the clouds drifting above. The stone looked shattered, as if some great force blasted the roof away, scattering the debris around the room.
The rest of the room was full of twisted metal objects and ruined books. There were shelves on one wall that long ago collapsed with age, dumping the moldy ...
2020-02-26 04:56:09 +0000 UTC View Post