"The Orb of Winter" is a serialized novel that's still in the works. It's an epic fantasy that follows the novels: "The Nightshade's Apprentice" and "Assassin of the Silver Rose." It is told from a revolving third person point-of-view and has several narrators. I'm going to give a rundown of who these narrators are below:
Kahket -- This is the first narrator and she's an antagonist in the story. Kahket is actually not human but a lamia, which in the world of Wynwrayth is a demon that has the ability to mimic a human's appearance. She's a powerful sorceress and is able to feed off necromantic power to heal her flesh. In the "Nightshade's Apprentice" Zandine (the god of chaos, illusion, and lies) changed from pure spirit-form to that of flesh and blood purely through the actions of Kahket. This subtle change allows a god on Wynwrayth to affect mortals directly. As a spirit, gods cannot interfere with the world of men, so this change that overcame Zandine left him feeling profoundly grateful to Kahket. He took her as his bride, elevating her status among other demons. Now Zandine's only threat in the world comes from Thomas (who is god of war, wolves, and winter) and who previously was the only flesh and blood god on Wynwrayth. Zandine has tasked Kahket to destroy Thomas and the Valion kingdoms to the south and east of the country of Zanda. To accomplish this, she's planned to unleash Typhon upon the Valion kingdom and march on Citadel Raven itself (which is located within the Icewall Mountains and is considered the actual resting place of Thomas' flesh and blood body).
Alexi--Alexi is a boy that dresses as a girl because he has to or they'll kick him out of the Lianon Pard Girl's Academy of Necromancy. Boys typically do not have the talent to become necromancers, but Alexi showed "the gift" from an early age. To not bring shame on his family, Alexi has perpetrated a masquerade for nearly seven years. He has very effeminate features and has come to love dressing in women's clothes although he longs to be able to wear boy's clothes once in a while. Alexi's power as a necromancer is continuously growing, and he may (or may not) be the reincarnation of the infamous Lianon Pard himself (a necromancer so powerful he created the Bone Wall and was able to control a vast army of deadly creatures said to lie underneath the Holy City of Zanda known as "The Hunger.")
Ser Skellhaundar Romax is the opposite of Ephram Skye. He is a Darkglory of Taleta, which is the church that must destroy Thomas in the War to End All Wars. Noremarian by birth, Skellhaundar is of venerable age, has brown weathered skin, and is considered by many to be a military genius. To this end, he is Grand General to Taleta's armies in Noremost, and he is stationed in Zanda as an occupying military force (to keep an eye on Zandine and to provide military support against the forces of Thomas should they decide to come north for a fight). Skellhaundar wants nothing more than to see his goddess freed from the nine hells. Taleta is currently imprisoned in the lowest plane of hell in a place called the City at the Edge of Midnight. As the Queen of Demons and Bringer of Darkness, Taleta is the most powerful goddess in the Cosmos and is one of three who forged the universe. Zandine is correct to fear crossing her, for her vengeance is never-ending. All Timeron knights ride blue dragons into combat, and their homeland is Noremost.
Annie Boritsi--This is the last point-of-view character that will be introduced very late in the novel and then have a larger role in the sequel I have planned called, "The Dragon's Graveyard." Annie is the red-headed daughter of Ivan Boritsii, the headmaster of the Lianon Pard Academy for Necromancy. Annie is obsessed with all things Thomas. In fact, she believes that she's actually destined to marry the godling (only he doesn't know this yet). She will do anything to get Thomas' attention, and she plans to steal the Orb of Winter for herself. She has manipulated circumstances to get into Ephram's party and earn his trust and she's a powerful necromancer, although she hides her powers from the world and pretends to be helpless. She honestly believes that the only thing that will make her happy in life is bearing the child of Thomas, and she sees anything and anyone that gets in the way of that goal as expendable. Annie's point-of-view will be introduced once it becomes clear (in the story) who and what she is.
Kian Brittain Lightfoot--Kian is one of three Black Dragon Assassins and his code name is "Hunter." These are disciples to the god of thieves, and Kian in particular is working for Ser Ephram Skye--a Crimson Guard who is on a very important mission to rescue White Wolf Beryl Loftcrag. Beryl is a very important priest in the Valion church, and is just under Carlina (who heads the church as Disciple to Thomas). Beryl knows the secret location of the Keep of Silverhawk, which holds the Orb of Winter. If this knowledge falls into the hands of Kahket, she'll be able to march on the keep with the full strength of her army (hidden by the powers of the god of illusion so that people don't know its coming) and seize a very powerful magical item (the Orb of Winter) which is said to have legendary cold magic stored within it from Thomas himself. Not many people know this, but Kian is the last prince of Atlantea, which is a dead civilization. He was also genetically engineered and is essentially physically perfect at his present physical age of seventeen. I say "physical" age because Kian's actual age is twenty-one now. The distinction will continue to grow with the story because Kian is "frozen" in time for as long as he serves Tethyr, god of thieves. In other words, he has "eternal youth" as well as the power to short-range teleport (Kian calls it the "quantum sidestep) and an immunity to psionics. He's also exceptionally physically gifted and possesses the highest dexterity of anyone on the planet of Wynwrayth (although this is not specifically mentioned but rather shown). His speed (bar none) is superhuman.
Ser Ephram Skye--A Crimson Guard (there can only be ten), Ephram serves White Wolf Beryl Loftcrag and knows the password to get beyond the cibrian golem which guards the Orb of Winter in the Keep of Silverhawk. However, he doesn't know the location of the Keep of Silverhawk as that knowledge was kept separate from him (Beryl Loftcrag knows it). He was charged by his disciple Carlina Mercurian to rescue Beryl Loftcrag from Zanda before Kahket could get the secret location of the Keep of Silverhawk from him. Carlina told him to assemble a team, beginning with "Hunter" who is Black Dragon of the Silver Rose. The church of the god of war paid the church of thieves two-hundred thousand gold pieces for Hunter's expertise because Zanda is very dangerous. All valion knights typically ride silver dragons. Ephram left his behind in Zanda because they were trying to infiltrate the place in secret, and Ephram feared that his silver dragon might get killed in Zanda because there are so many other kinds of evil dragons that would sense its presence.
Arrgh.. I can see where this is going and itll probably end up different as usual but you have me hanging on as usual.. Cant wait for the next chapter michael.ps when am i going to see the third dragon assasin? ;)
You probably mean, "When do we get to see Badger Swift's black dragon assassin in action?" I'm not sure. I know that both Talen and Swift are busy doing things for the Church of Thieves out there in the big world of Wynwrayth. I will get around to telling their stories. I also might include them somewhat in this story but I figure each one has important assignments that they must take on behalf of the church.
Omg.. Its over already ... So many feels and so much betrayl and so many tid bits of info for the next books.. Loves it.. Still want alexi to get torn apart. By angelaria or talen.. Hehe
I've been working on it some. I don't have any internet right now because Xfinity and CenturyLink are having trouble running lines to my new house. That's why I haven't blogged or posted anything new on my blog. "Supposedly" I'm going to get internet service mid-March, and then after that I'll be posting new stuff on my blog. The plan is to put up chapters of book 4 sometime this year (maybe toward the end of summer). So glad you like the story enough to keep reading :). Thank you so much.
"The Orb of Winter" is a serialized novel that's still in the works. It's an epic fantasy that follows the novels: "The Nightshade's Apprentice" and "Assassin of the Silver Rose." It is told from a revolving third person point-of-view and has several narrators. I'm going to give a rundown of who these narrators are below:
ReplyDeleteKahket -- This is the first narrator and she's an antagonist in the story. Kahket is actually not human but a lamia, which in the world of Wynwrayth is a demon that has the ability to mimic a human's appearance. She's a powerful sorceress and is able to feed off necromantic power to heal her flesh. In the "Nightshade's Apprentice" Zandine (the god of chaos, illusion, and lies) changed from pure spirit-form to that of flesh and blood purely through the actions of Kahket. This subtle change allows a god on Wynwrayth to affect mortals directly. As a spirit, gods cannot interfere with the world of men, so this change that overcame Zandine left him feeling profoundly grateful to Kahket. He took her as his bride, elevating her status among other demons. Now Zandine's only threat in the world comes from Thomas (who is god of war, wolves, and winter) and who previously was the only flesh and blood god on Wynwrayth. Zandine has tasked Kahket to destroy Thomas and the Valion kingdoms to the south and east of the country of Zanda. To accomplish this, she's planned to unleash Typhon upon the Valion kingdom and march on Citadel Raven itself (which is located within the Icewall Mountains and is considered the actual resting place of Thomas' flesh and blood body).
DeleteAlexi--Alexi is a boy that dresses as a girl because he has to or they'll kick him out of the Lianon Pard Girl's Academy of Necromancy. Boys typically do not have the talent to become necromancers, but Alexi showed "the gift" from an early age. To not bring shame on his family, Alexi has perpetrated a masquerade for nearly seven years. He has very effeminate features and has come to love dressing in women's clothes although he longs to be able to wear boy's clothes once in a while. Alexi's power as a necromancer is continuously growing, and he may (or may not) be the reincarnation of the infamous Lianon Pard himself (a necromancer so powerful he created the Bone Wall and was able to control a vast army of deadly creatures said to lie underneath the Holy City of Zanda known as "The Hunger.")
Ser Skellhaundar Romax is the opposite of Ephram Skye. He is a Darkglory of Taleta, which is the church that must destroy Thomas in the War to End All Wars. Noremarian by birth, Skellhaundar is of venerable age, has brown weathered skin, and is considered by many to be a military genius. To this end, he is Grand General to Taleta's armies in Noremost, and he is stationed in Zanda as an occupying military force (to keep an eye on Zandine and to provide military support against the forces of Thomas should they decide to come north for a fight). Skellhaundar wants nothing more than to see his goddess freed from the nine hells. Taleta is currently imprisoned in the lowest plane of hell in a place called the City at the Edge of Midnight. As the Queen of Demons and Bringer of Darkness, Taleta is the most powerful goddess in the Cosmos and is one of three who forged the universe. Zandine is correct to fear crossing her, for her vengeance is never-ending. All Timeron knights ride blue dragons into combat, and their homeland is Noremost.
DeleteAnnie Boritsi--This is the last point-of-view character that will be introduced very late in the novel and then have a larger role in the sequel I have planned called, "The Dragon's Graveyard." Annie is the red-headed daughter of Ivan Boritsii, the headmaster of the Lianon Pard Academy for Necromancy. Annie is obsessed with all things Thomas. In fact, she believes that she's actually destined to marry the godling (only he doesn't know this yet). She will do anything to get Thomas' attention, and she plans to steal the Orb of Winter for herself. She has manipulated circumstances to get into Ephram's party and earn his trust and she's a powerful necromancer, although she hides her powers from the world and pretends to be helpless. She honestly believes that the only thing that will make her happy in life is bearing the child of Thomas, and she sees anything and anyone that gets in the way of that goal as expendable. Annie's point-of-view will be introduced once it becomes clear (in the story) who and what she is.
Kian Brittain Lightfoot--Kian is one of three Black Dragon Assassins and his code name is "Hunter." These are disciples to the god of thieves, and Kian in particular is working for Ser Ephram Skye--a Crimson Guard who is on a very important mission to rescue White Wolf Beryl Loftcrag. Beryl is a very important priest in the Valion church, and is just under Carlina (who heads the church as Disciple to Thomas). Beryl knows the secret location of the Keep of Silverhawk, which holds the Orb of Winter. If this knowledge falls into the hands of Kahket, she'll be able to march on the keep with the full strength of her army (hidden by the powers of the god of illusion so that people don't know its coming) and seize a very powerful magical item (the Orb of Winter) which is said to have legendary cold magic stored within it from Thomas himself. Not many people know this, but Kian is the last prince of Atlantea, which is a dead civilization. He was also genetically engineered and is essentially physically perfect at his present physical age of seventeen. I say "physical" age because Kian's actual age is twenty-one now. The distinction will continue to grow with the story because Kian is "frozen" in time for as long as he serves Tethyr, god of thieves. In other words, he has "eternal youth" as well as the power to short-range teleport (Kian calls it the "quantum sidestep) and an immunity to psionics. He's also exceptionally physically gifted and possesses the highest dexterity of anyone on the planet of Wynwrayth (although this is not specifically mentioned but rather shown). His speed (bar none) is superhuman.
DeleteSer Ephram Skye--A Crimson Guard (there can only be ten), Ephram serves White Wolf Beryl Loftcrag and knows the password to get beyond the cibrian golem which guards the Orb of Winter in the Keep of Silverhawk. However, he doesn't know the location of the Keep of Silverhawk as that knowledge was kept separate from him (Beryl Loftcrag knows it). He was charged by his disciple Carlina Mercurian to rescue Beryl Loftcrag from Zanda before Kahket could get the secret location of the Keep of Silverhawk from him. Carlina told him to assemble a team, beginning with "Hunter" who is Black Dragon of the Silver Rose. The church of the god of war paid the church of thieves two-hundred thousand gold pieces for Hunter's expertise because Zanda is very dangerous. All valion knights typically ride silver dragons. Ephram left his behind in Zanda because they were trying to infiltrate the place in secret, and Ephram feared that his silver dragon might get killed in Zanda because there are so many other kinds of evil dragons that would sense its presence.
Arrgh.. I can see where this is going and itll probably end up different as usual but you have me hanging on as usual.. Cant wait for the next chapter michael.ps when am i going to see the third dragon assasin? ;)
ReplyDeleteHi Matt,
DeleteYou probably mean, "When do we get to see Badger Swift's black dragon assassin in action?" I'm not sure. I know that both Talen and Swift are busy doing things for the Church of Thieves out there in the big world of Wynwrayth. I will get around to telling their stories. I also might include them somewhat in this story but I figure each one has important assignments that they must take on behalf of the church.
I can see where this is going and i an probably wrong, which i quite enjoy.. However i find myself torn between loving and hating u at the same time..
ReplyDeleteHahaha. Best comment ever. Thank you so much for the support, Matt. I really enjoy your comments. *hugs.
DeleteOmg.. Its over already ... So many feels and so much betrayl and so many tid bits of info for the next books.. Loves it.. Still want alexi to get torn apart. By angelaria or talen.. Hehe
ReplyDeleteSo when will book 4 be making its appearance??
ReplyDeleteI've been working on it some. I don't have any internet right now because Xfinity and CenturyLink are having trouble running lines to my new house. That's why I haven't blogged or posted anything new on my blog. "Supposedly" I'm going to get internet service mid-March, and then after that I'll be posting new stuff on my blog. The plan is to put up chapters of book 4 sometime this year (maybe toward the end of summer). So glad you like the story enough to keep reading :). Thank you so much.
Delete