Magical Item: A Mother's Compass

 

 

Magical item

Type of magic: White

Magic level: Moderate

Rarity: Highly Uncommon

Origin: Created by Sorceress Karteza

 

A Mother’s Compass performs only a single function, which is very basic, but requires a skilled sorcerer or sorceress to cast the enchantment. The Mother’s Compass can be any normal compass and will appear completely normal to all outward appearances.  The enchantment can be removed but is otherwise permanent.

A Mother’s Compass, rather than pointing north, will always point toward home. Its name is derived from its origins as a gift to a daughter who was traveling far from home. Her mother wanted to ensure the daughter could always find her way back home and asked the Sorceress Karteza to create the enchantment.

Because the compass will always point toward a specific location, it is unique to an individual and while it can be viewed by others, it will only guide the original recipient home.

The Artifacts of Condir

 New 3rd Kingdom Novel in the works. - I have completed the first draft of a new novel titled "The Artifacts of Condir".  The story takes place in one of the harshest and most remote areas of the kingdom. Once the passes are closed, the entire northern coast, and its inhabitants, are closed off from the rest of the world. To assist any stranded travelers, the king has established a small outpost to provide aide, shelter and protection. Given its remote location and the scarcity of visitors, the outpost has become a dumping ground for outcasts, misfits if you will. A knight, who while still proud and somewhat capable, has a clouded past and consumes a bit more Ale than he should. A cook who would rather avoid any encounters with the law, and a stable hand who was about to become an embarrassment to his father. The newest outcast is Flint, a brilliant young man who loves to share his knowledge, even when the people around him don't care to hear it, including his commanding officer. 

It seems to be just another routine winter until they happen upon a shipwreck. Against all odds there is a survivor, a young woman in possession of some very unusual parchments, enchanted parchments. The parchments tell of the location of three very powerful magical items. It is said that if these items are every brought together, it would be catastrophic. The Wand of Time, The Pendant of Erring, and a Dragon Tooth Necklace, the Artifacts of Condir. A very powerful warlock known as Clovis seeks the artifacts, and he will do anything to possess them. His plan, to destroy the king and install himself as the rightful ruler. 

Just what are the artifacts of Condir? and how did they become so powerful that they can threaten the entire kingdom? It is a story not many want to remember, and few want to know...

Excerpt from "Artifacts of Condir."

 “The story took place during the reign of King Fellox, approximately one hundred and seventy years ago…

At that time there was a wealthy Lord named Seatter. Lord Seatter made his fortune importing and trading spices, mostly frankincense. He purchased vast amounts of land, which is what allowed him to become a Lord. He built a huge manor he named Condir. Supposedly it took nearly thirty servants to maintain the manor, which did not include the gardeners or stable hands.

As rich and politically powerful as Lord Seatter was, he had a secret, a dark secret. Lord Seatter was a wizard, and a very powerful one at that. Rich, influential and powerful was not enough for Seatter. He was obsessed with being the greatest and most powerful wizard of all time. Over several years he developed a plan and stockpiled the resources he would need to create the largest spirit trap ever built. To conceal the fact he was a wizard, Seatter built the trap in secret, disguising it as a massive garden element. 

The trap consisted of massive stones evenly spaced out in a giant circle. Once the stones, standing more than ten feet in height, were in place they were capped with bridge stones to enclose the circle. In the center a stone altar was constructed which sat just in front of a large fire pit. Numerous logs were stacked in the form of a teepee and soaked with oil. The artifacts were placed on the altar in hopes they would absorb the energy released by the spirits when they entered the trap.

There were three artifacts placed on the altar. The Wand of Time, the Pendant of Erring, and a Dragon Tooth necklace. To entice the spirits to enter the trap, Seatter had twelve virgins placed around the fire pit and altar. When everything was in place, Seatter had the fires ignited and everyone left the trap with the exception of Seatter and the virgins. He spoke the incantation that sealed the trap and Seatter began summoning the spirits. 

The trap and enchantments worked perfectly. Spirits began arriving and circled the interior of the trap. They were drawn both by the enchantments and by the purity of the virgins. Dozens of spirits filled the trap, but it was just the beginning. Spirits continued to arrive by the dozens. Very quickly they began to quarrel and fight among themselves, and it was then they discovered they had entered a trap. They began searching for a way out, but by now there were hundreds of them and none could move without causing more of a disturbance. In the confusion one of the virgins tried to run, but a powerful spirit snatched her up and threw her across the field. She impacted with the stone altar and her head smashed into the hard stone, her blood covering much of the altar. The sight of her pure blood fueled the frenzy even more and the spirits began to swirl around the outer edges of the trap.

The spirits began to manifest themselves as a flaming cloud that formed into a spiraling vortex, rising up from the center of the trap, extending up to the clouds, then spreading out like a large mushroom. Seven more of the virgins were killed in the turmoil. Sometime during all this they say a figure appeared at the altar and raised its massive arms toward Seatter. The beast, or whatever it was, gripped Seatter's head in its powerful hands. Then, all at once, Seatter entire body vaporized into a red mist that was instantly sucked up into the vortex. With Seatter gone, the enchantments began to break down. The spirits pushed against the outer edges of the trap, causing the vortex to bulge outward. Moment's latter the trap collapsed, and the spirits flooded out. Their power flooded out across the field in the form of a twenty-foot wall of flame.

The wall of flame rushed across the fields, consuming everything in its path. Horses, cows and goats were instantly burned alive. The remnants of the enchantments left some of the smoldering carcasses standing like grotesque statues. The flames consumed everything. When the vortex originally formed many of the servants thought it was a fire and were rushing to the field to help. The poor souls were swallowed by the flames before they could begin their retreat. Two nearby villages were also overrun by the wall of flames. The stone walls were toppled, the people burned alive and the houses, the entire villages were left in flaming ruins.

Two of the virgins that survived were so disfigured they barely looked human. Two were somehow physically fine, but they were never to speak again. They just sat and stared off into the distance, their vacant eyes seeing nothing but the terror of that night. 

Sir Herald was one of the first to arrive at the sight just after dawn on the following morning. Herald was the greatest knight of his day. He had traveled the entire kingdom and seen many things that would cause most of us to cower down in terror. In his first report to the king, he wrote, “Hell is empty, for today all evil has been poured out upon this field.” 

 “There was a rumor, or popular myth if you will, that tells what happened to the artifacts after the fires were put out,” Flint said.

Magnus did not seem pleased with Flint’s offering, but seemed resolved to hearing it. “Go ahead, tell us the myth.”

Flint smiled. “Herald had the area searched for survivors and any evidence about what might have happened. It is said the three artifacts glowed for several hours after the event. Two of the artifacts were brought to Herald. When the two came together the ground began to tremble violently. A massive fissure opened up and stretched across the field, destroying what was left of the alter and ripping a massive hole in the ring of stones. It continued its path of destruction all the way to Condir manor. It tore the very ground from beneath the manner, ripping the foundation away. The entire manor collapsed, barely one stone left atop another. Some say it was the artifacts attempt to wipe away any remnant of Lord Seatter. Herald realized the danger and had the artifacts separated. When he had, the shaking halted. Fearing what would happen if all three artifacts were brought together, Herald ordered them destroyed. To his horror, each of the artifacts resisted flame, axe and sword. None could be destroyed, the magic within them was simply too powerful.  Since they could not be destroyed, Herald had the artifacts taken away.

He assigned three knights to take the artifacts to distant hiding places. He sent Sir Mathis to the north, Sir Anthony to the west and Sir Karmen to the south. He told none where the others were going, but he wrote the location of where he was sending them in a report to the king. When the three knights returned over a month later, Herald gave explicit orders the locations were never to be shared with anyone. Herald then decided the danger was so great that the locations needed to remain secret, even from the king. He planned to destroy the parchments, but a powerful sorceress named Karteza feared the powerful magic would be lost and enchanted the parchments. When Herald realized he could not destroy the parchments he gave them to a courier and paid her to take the papers away to an undisclosed location. The parchments were never seen again, and their existence became mixed with myth and local folklore. These days most dismiss the story as nothing more than fable meant to scare children. 

Amber reached out and picked up the parchments. “These are the enchanted parchments,” she said. “These prove the story is true.”

The Artifacts of Condir - coming soon...

A Spirit Trap

 How to construct a spirit Trap

A spirit trap is intended to temporarily contain or trap a spirit. During this brief time the spirit will become angry and release some of its power in an attempt to escape. The better the trap, the longer the spirit will be contained and the more power that may be collected. Depending on the size and construction of the trap it is possible to contain multiple spirits at the same time. In order for the trap to be successful the magical person must know the proper enchantment, otherwise the trap may attract a spirit, but it will not be able to hold them. The power released by the spirits is either collected by the magical person who set the trap, or is transferred to an item, such as a wand, crystal or piece of jewelry. The power contained in the item can then be directed and used by a magical person (Witch, warlock, sorcerer, wizard, etc.). The final element in a spirit trap is bait. While some random spirits may be drawn by incantations, the most successful traps include an enticing bait, most commonly a virgin.

The basic construction of a spirit trp. -  A basic spirit trap is very easy to construct. It consists of stones placed in a circle. The larger the stones and the larger the circle the more powerful the trap will be. Rounded stones can be used, but in most cases flat stones are preferred and provide better results. 

Oblong stones provide better containment and when set upright and embedded in the ground will provide a more stable and powerful trap.  The stones should be spaced an equal distance apart for maximum affect. The stones of whatever size or shape should make a nearly perfect circle. The more circular the trap the longer it will be able to contain the spirits. A more oblong shaped trap will still attract and detain certain spirits, but it will not have the effeteness or holding power to gather large amounts of magical energy. If possible, the oblong stones should be flat on top and stand as straight up and down as possible. This will allow for better containment.

For the optimum results, the oblong stones should have a bride stone, sometimes called a cap stone, placed atop it. These bridge stones should stretch from one oblong stone to the next, thus enclosing the circle. In order to construct this type of trap you will need either a large number of upright stones, or a number of long stones that can span the distance between them. Since stops of this size are quite heavy and hard to handle, many will use more upright stones. Due to these difficulties most spirit traps are small in size although some wizarding groups have constructed some very large and very effective traps. 

Once the outer circle of the trap is completed, the inner elements need to be prepared. Fortunately, these are far easier and require much less precision and effort. In the very center of the trap, you will need to either dig or build a fire pit. The fire pit needs to be large and capable of holding a large amount of wood. It is not advisable to add more wood to the fire once the incantations have been recited. - As near as possible to the fire pit you will build an altar. This can be made of either wood or stone and should face east. The surface of the alter should be as smooth and level as possible.

With the alter prepared you are ready to place magical items or receptacles on the alter. It is best not to place more than three items on the alter. The items can be a personal item, a piece of jewelry, a wand, or perhaps a staff. If the trap is successful, these items will collect a portion of the power released by the trapped spirits. The more spirits in the trap, and the angrier they become, the more magical energy that will be released and potentially collected by the items. 

The last item is the bait for your trap. As mentioned, it is possible to attract a limited number of spirits with only an incantation, but most traps will have some type of bait. The most common bait, and that which most believe provides the best results, is a virgin woman. A virgin is considered to be pure and that purity will attract the spirits. The good spirits, or benevolent spirits, will feel compelled to protect the virgin's purity. The more sinister spirits will attempt to corrupt her. The conflict between these two forces provides most of the desired energy. If possible, it is always desirable to have multiple virgins in the trap. The older the virgin the better. - It must be noted that the virgins will be in danger, and many have been physically harmed and some have tragically died when the magical person did not have the power, experience or knowledge to control the power within the trap. It should also be noted that at times spirits caught in a trap have become so angry they have manifested themselves in very harmful forms. These include wild beast, evil demons and flames. A spirit trap should not be attempted by a novice or inexperienced magical person.

The largest and most powerful spirit trap known to have been constructed was by Lord Seatter at his Condir Manner. The results of that spirit trap caused the deaths of dozens of innocent people and was a major contributing factor in the onset of the wizard's war. 

Dragon's Howl Prison

After a series of tragic events involving magic and wizardry, the Cloaken Monks declared all magic to be illegal. As one might expect, the wizarding world resisted, and fighting broke out. Eventually, the conflict involved most of the kingdom and became known as the First Wizards War. 

The Cloaken Monks, with far superior numbers, were victorious over the wizards, and the war ended with many wizards dead, most in hiding and the leaders in custody. The wizards considered the greatest threat were taken to a newly constructed prison known as Dragon's Howl. Here, they were locked in tiny cells, and any use or suspected use of magic was met with extreme measures. Many wizards died in Dragon's Howl Prison. Some froze to death during the brutal winter, others starved to death or succumbed to the elements after being locked in small cages with no protection from the weather and given little or no food.

In the center of the prison was the largest  known to exist. The Cloaken Monks believed the stone had the power to block magical spells and suppress magical powers. Many weapons had been formed from Obsidian during the war and used against the wizards.

The Wizards held in the prison were some of the most knowledgeable and powerful wizards in the world. Eventually, they were able to organize an uprising and, after killing many of the guards, escaped to freedom. They then went on to lead the remnant of the wizarding world in the Second Wizard's War. Tragically, nearly all of the wizards who were not able to escape the prison were executed or allowed to starve to death. 

Dragon's Howl Prison is now abandoned and in ruins. It is known as the most haunted place in the kingdom. The wizards who suffered and died there remain, using their powers to torment, and if reports are to be believed, kill anyone who trespasses into their eternal resting place.

Bracken - The Devil's Swamp

The stories tell of a group of people traveling through the area of devil's swamp before the kingdom was even settled. The devil caught them and tortured and killed them one by one. The last person alive was a young lady. She begged for her life and agreed to do anything if the devil would not kill her.

She agreed to become the devil’s concubine for a period of five years, after which she would be set free. During those five years she was with child six times and gave birth to half demon half human creatures that came to be known as Brackens.

Legend tells of how the woman was released after the five years but by that time she had gone insane and never found her way out of the swamp. The Brackens wander the swamp day and night searching for her, for their lost mother. They are as vile and evil as anything that walks this earth. 

The Great Queen - Airien

Queen Airien was the wife of King Felix II, whose father, Felix I had served for more than twenty years. Felix I led the kingdom in the first war with the Eastern Raiders. When he died, Felix II took the throne. Just four and a half years into his reign, Felix II died of very mysterious causes. There were many rumors that the king had been assassinated, either by Eastern spies or a traitor within his own court. Airien feared for the safety of her son Felix III who was but an infant. To protect her son, and the kingdom, Airien did what no woman had ever dared, she claimed the throne as her own.

The King's knights recognized her authority and pledged her their allegiance. Queen Airien led the kingdom through a period of great building and prosperity. During her reign, the Eastern raiders felt the kingdom, being led by a woman, had become weak and vulnerable. They mounted their forces and rode down from the mountains, attacking every village and city they encountered. 

Queen Airien mustered her army, and with her knights at her side, she led the army eastward. After a hard and brutal five day march, the army came upon the raiders. Queen Airien mounted her great white stallion, and with her long hair flowing in the wind, she led the charge against the enemy.  A great victory for the kingdom was won that day, and the raiders were pushed back. It would take another twelve months of warfare and fighting to completely push the raiders back across the eastern border, but Airien did not stop there. She continued into the mountains and even into the lands of the old kingdoms in pursuit of her enemies. Only when the queen was certain the raiders no longer posed any threat to the kingdom did she order a withdrawal. 

After serving as Queen for thirty years, Airien advocated the throne, and her son Felix III was crowned King. While no longer in authority, Airien remained a key advisor to the king and watched with pride as he continued her legacy of building and prosperity. Upon her death, Queen Airien was interred in the tomb of the kings, her rightful resting place.

Founders of the 3rd Kingdom

 More than a millennial ago, two great empires existed beyond the eastern mountains. For centuries the two kingdoms lived in harmony. Separated by the Lioness River, both regions thrived and grew into great kingdoms. As is the custom of man, the kingdoms began to grow jealous of one another. The North envied the great gold mines of the South. The people of the South desired to possess the rich and fertile farmland of the north. Envy grew into spite and spite into hatred. Eventually, they could not tolerate the other, and during the reign of King Gruber of the North and King Sebastien of the South, war broke out.

The armies of the two kingdoms marched out to battle. The river Lioness ran red with the blood of the fallen. The desires of the kings could not be satisfied with blood, but only with the total annihilation of their foe. Months of fighting turned to years, years to decades, and decades to centuries. The two once mighty kingdoms were left in ruins, barely a shadow of what they once were.

Those the war did not destroy were to face even more horrors. Famine, disease, and pestilence left too many dead to bury. The great farmlands had been burned, poisoned, and left to wither and die. The gold mines sealed and lost to memory. Nothing remained to rebuild, nothing left to salvage. Even then, the fighting continued. The great kingdoms were gone, but the villages and remnants continued to fight, loot, and burn what little remained. 

Out of the ruins emerged twelve adventures, who found a last sliver of hope. Twelve men packed up what little they owned, took their families and forged a trail through the mountains, and emerged in a new land.

Eventually, these brave souls formed a new kingdom unlike anything that had come before. This 3rd kingdom would be nothing like the previous kingdoms. The kingdom would grow larger and more powerful than anything the world had known. Much of this has been forgotten, but remnants remain, stories of the people, the events, the adventures that make the 3rd kingdom so special, so unique. From the ashes of envy, hatred, and war, came the 3rd kingdom.

Wizarding World

 The Wizard's world is made up of several levels from Grand Wizard to Potion Collector. Wizardry was deemed to be legal after the second Wizards War. The term wizard is a generic title that, in legal terms, applies to both men and women. When speaking specifically, female wizards are referred to as witches. In most cases, wizards and witches do not practice magic together. A wizard will generally work alone. A witch may work alone but will more often work within a Haven.

Grand Wizard - Only seven wizards can have the title of Grand Wizard. Only with the death or vanishing of a Grand Wizard will a new wizard be considered for the title.

Wizard - A man who has completed all requirements regarding incantations, potions, and spells. Must be at least thirty years of age.

Wizard Apprentice - Must be over twenty years of age and accepted by a Wizard for training. Will be in training until he has completed all requirements.

Apprentice - Someone under the age of twenty who is desiring to become a Wizard's Apprentice. These men will usually work for or around a Wizard to gain experience and acceptance until they reach the age of true apprenticeship.

Potion Grand Master - One who has attained the rank of Potion Master and has had one of their signature potions used by a Grand Wizard.

Potion Master - has mastered the art of potion making and has invented at least one signature potion, which is widely used in the Wizarding world.

Potion Maker - has some skills but little experience. Will normally work with a Potion Master for a number of years. During this time, the Potion Master has the right to take credit for any Potion the Potion Maker may invent.

Potion Collector - A man, normally of limited resources who is used to gather the various items needed to produce potions. Many of these items can be rare or dangerous to obtain. A Potion Collector, while not highly intelligent, is generally resourceful and a capable adventurer. Potion Collectors are generally looked down upon in the Wizarding World, even though they serve a very vital role withint the community of Wizards.

Library of Lady Catherine

The Library of Lady Catherine - Located at the northern edge of the Bonne Desert, the library was founded by Lady Catherine, sister of King Dunbar. Catherine was a visionary who sought to expand knowledge and to make it accessible to the public. The library, the largest and oldest in the world, is home to more than 8,000 manuscripts, books, scrolls and parchments.

The Complex is located in the hot arid desert region as the low humidity helps to protect and preserve the parchments and other documents. Made up of several buildings, dormitories and gardens, the library serves as a learning center and is open to all.

The main library building has multiple basement levels, one housing the restricted section of the library. The books and parchments contained there are either considered controversial in some manner, or are extremely rare. In either case, access to these documents is very limited. Many of the most valuable documents are stored in the Styder Tower.

In addition to the library and its study centers, the complex is also home to an extensive scriptorium. The intent is to preserve important documents as well as make multiple, accurate, copies so they can be more widely distributed and studied. Lady Catherine's vision of a place of learning was realized in the library complex as well as the distribution of documents to other centers around the kingdom.

Tree Nymphs

Tree Nymphs are one of the rarest magical creatures of The 3rd Kingdom. Very little is known about these delicate creatures. While they live among us, mostly high in the trees, they will only be visible to humans when the Nymphs allow it, which is extremely rare. For this reason, no one is certain just how many of them there are or how they live.

While a tree nymph is human sized, their weight is that of a feather. Because of this, they build their villages, which can be quite large, high in the trees on the tiniest of branches. Nymphs are very sensitive to their surroundings and their health can be adversely affected if evil is nearby.

Most Tree Nymph colonies have one village leader, or chief, who is appointed for life. Tree Nymphs have an exceptionally long lifespan, with it being told of some living as much as 300 years or more. They are very passive and will not take sides in any type of armed conflict. They are also very in tune with all other life forms, and it is all but impossible to hide from a Nymph.

Beautiful, fragile, kind, and reclusive, Tree Nymphs are said to embody all that is good about this world.

Mueller's Comprehensive Book of Potions

 - This book contains a wide variety of potions, both magical and mundane.

(Magical potion requires the use of a spell or incantation to either activate or strengthen the potion. - A Mundane potion works alone, with no magical powers required of the wizard. - Many consider mundane potions to be non-magical.)

- Contains entries from some of the finest potion masters and potion collectors throughout history.

- To have your potion added to this collection is considered very high praise indeed.

- Book is widely used by the Wizarding World and by many in the Witching Community. - Witches tend to vary the incantations slightly in order to achieve a specific result. This is considered gray magic and is frowned on by most wizards and witches.

- Mueller was neither a wizard or a sorcerer, but an academic. For years he gathered various potions as a hobby. After he had collected several hundred potions, he decided to record them in a single text. By the time he completed the Book of Potions he had gathered more than three thousand potions. Mueller also included an index of ingredients used in the potions. The master index of ingredients listed some forty thousand items. These range from a mouse toe to the root of a crucible tree. 

- Mueller, and his entire family, were harrassed by representatives and followrs of the Cloaken Monks. He was eventually forced to abandon his search for additional potions and secretly published this text. As a result, he was shunned and lost his entire fortune. He died a poor and broken man. Now, centuries later, his Book of Potions is regarded as a masterpiece. It is overseen by the Muller Society who is in charge of adding any new potions to the text. 

- An original copy of the Mueller Book of Potions is on display in the Lady Catherine Library.

Dragoness,,, many say myth, some know better,,,

 Several centuries ago, a legend developed, and while many believe them to be a total myth, the stories persist
to this day. 

Certain species of dragons can develop more intense spirits, generally only after living a very long life. It is said that when these spirit dragons die, they are often reincarnated into a human form. The form is always that of a woman, but she will never be fully human and will never be comfortable among people.

These Dragoness are fierce warriors, have highly acute senses, and like to live in the deepest forests as far from people as possible. They are rarely seen, but a few witnesses have reported the Dragoness' at times can be very violent. The dragoness will often have a special relationship with dragons and can approach them and even live among them. 

Dragoness' may carry a dagger or knife, but will generally be very scantily clad, and some prefer to remain nude, staying as close to their dragon form as possible and avoid clothing, seeing it as becoming too human. Because they avoid humans and can at times be aggressive, many believe the Dragoness' to be possessed by evil spirits left over from their lives as dragons. This concern is made more credible as a Dragoness is not susceptible to any known spell or potion. Because of this, the Dragoness is seen as a natural enemy of wizards and witches.

The Cloaken Book of Anti-Magic

The Cloaken Monks were the original guardians of peace and justice in the Kingdom. One of their core
beliefs was their hatred of magic. While the Monks admit magic is real, they insist all magic, and those who use it, are evil. The Monks compare magic to a flame. The flame must have a source of fuel, which in the case of magic is evil. As magic is used, the evil consumes the person (their soul), eventually leaving only worthless ash and suit. 

In their desire to eliminate magic, the Monks recorded every known method to counteract magic. The book, known simply as the Cloaken Book of Anti-Magic, contained counter potions, a list of weapons which could be used against a wizard and how to make them, and also gave details on how to deal with and avoid magical creatures. 

One chapter of the book contained detailed instructions on how to identify a witch. This was considered critical since most witches operated in secret or more often as members of a secret coven. Wizards were much more open with their magic and rarely hid their power or association with wizardry. 

It should be noted that Cloaken Monks would openly use potions either to heal or to ward off evil. They considered any potion that required an accompanying spell or incantation to be magic and therefore forbidden. If no spell or incantation were required, the Monks considered the potion to be scientific and was therefore allowed. This included many medicinal concoctions that had been in use for centuries.  

Small, pocket sized, versions of the anti-magic book were produced and carried by senior Monks. Given the expense and difficulty involved in duplicating these texts, possessing one was considered a high honor.

Seatter's Book of Magical Spells and Incantations

 

- Accepted as the primary text by the wizarding world as well as the witchcraft community.

- There is some controversy involved with this book given the wizard's name that appears on it, but it is nonetheless considered the most complete and accurate book of spells ever compiled.

- Contains more than 570 incantations and 850 spells. These range from the very simply to the highly complex incantations.

- The Cloaken Monks gathered up and destroyed all copies of the book they could find when magic was deemed illegal. Some copies were preserved in individual collections. It is believed there are only three ancient copies remaining which include all of the original content.

 - Original versions of the book were fully illustrated. The text also included warnings about certain spells and incantations as well as unusual side-effects of others. These are considered rare, but are at times very serious in nature.

- It is rumored, but has never been confirmed, that a copy of this text is kept in the restricted section of the Library of Lady Catherine.  (Thieves once broke into the restricted section but were caught in the act. All three were killed by Library guards. It was widely believed they were after the copy of Seatter's Book of Magic.)

House of Caliburn

The House of Caliburn - A family of master swordsmiths and forgers who have made every sword carried by the King's Knights in modern times. The forge is located in the northern mountains and has been in continuous use for centuries. Tradition claims that each sword adopts a portion of the soul of its user. 

A knight, when retired or when they are lost in combat, will have their sword passed on to another knight to be chosen by the king. No sword made by the House of Caliburn for a Knight of the King  has ever broken in battle. 

Only two swords carried by Knights are not accounted for. The sword of Sir Gaylord was lost when he went mad and rode into the forest of memories and never returned. The second missing sword belonged to Sir Torkien. The knight had gone deaf and was to retire. He chose to embark on one last quest. Since he had lost all hearing, he sailed to the island of the mermaids, believing he would not fall victim to their enchanting songs. It is unknown what became of Sir Tolkien, but he nor any of his party ever returned. 

The House of Caliburn forge mines its own ore from an on-sight mine. The ore is of a very high grade and helps make the swords strong, lite and durable. A sword made for a King's Knight will be approximately six inches longer than the average one-handed sword, measuring thirty-seven inches. The Knight's sword will weigh in at three pounds and is perfectly balanced. 

The forge makes a variety of other swords and weapons but will not produce a Knight's Sword for anyone but the king.  The House of Caliburn has won the forging title in the Crete Games for the past twenty-two consecutive years. No other forge even comes close to the number of titles and championships won by The House of Caliburn.

A Time Walker

A Time Walker is a person who will have a vision of the future when they make physical contact with another person. This is most often seen as a curse, and the Time Walker will live a life of solitude and avoid any human contact. The stress of their condition and solitude results in a wide number of physical ailments, and most are in poor health. 

Some Time Walkers will see a future that is set and unchangeable. Others will see a future in which their own actions can result in an alternate future being played out. Still, others will see a future that can be altered, but not by the Time Walker themself. It is considered improper for a Time Walker to share their visions, but many do so because they cannot shoulder the responsibility alone.

It is unknown how a person becomes a Time Walker. It is known that a person is not born with the power, and it is not passed down from parents to their children. No one who has ever acquired the power has ever lost it prior to death. Many refused to discuss any visions of the power itself, but their lifestyles left no doubt the power remained.

Some rulers have sought out Time Walkers in an attempt to gain an advantage over an advisory or military enemy. These occasions have generally ended very badly for the ruler as the power to see the future does not tell how to best alter or change it in favor of a single person or army.

Conqueror - Boxed Set

  The Conqueror Series is now available as a boxed set for Kindle. This includes all four of the Conqueror novels in one package. For the time being this is only available as a eBook. The price is only $9.99, which is a savings of $4.96 which is almost 34% off the price of the four eBooks sold separately.  Of course, the best deal remains Kindle Unlimited. If you are a member of KU you can read Conqueror and thousands more books for free. 

All the action, all the adventure, all the characters in one package. Join the quest today.

Conqueror - The Complete Series

Just $9.99

Save 34% off regular price.

Bookstagram Account

 In you are interested in learning more about The 3rd Kingdom, please consider visiting my Bookstagram page (Book Instagram) Here you can see short stories and explanations for many of the elements in the novels and from stories yet to be written. While this web-page will remain your best source of information on my writings and new releases, the Bookstagram venue offers a new and unique way to present information. Each short entry gives insight into the kingdom, its peoples, and how many of the stories developed. 

Some items are minor while others reveal major plot points to upcoming novels and potential series. This is an ongoing project, and I will add to and update the information as time permits. If you find it interesting, please let me know. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me and I will answer what I can.

In the early posts I reveal a few extra details from the Conqueror Series and also examine some elements from Beggar's Canyon. I hope all are interesting as they reveal tid-bits of information about the 3rd Kingdom and hints of stories yet to come...

Myca's Story - Cover Reveal

 "Beggar's Canyon - Myca's Story" will be released on March 1st, 2023. Below is the cover for this new fantasy adventure novel. 

Looking forward to the release and having readers enjoy this new and unique story. 

March 1st, 2023 - eBook and Paperback.

"A 3rd Kingdom Novel"

Myca's Story - Coming Soon

 "Beggar's Canyon - Myca's Story" will be released on March 1st, 2023. It will be available in both paperback and eBook formats at a special 'new release' price. 

Myca's story begins some twenty years before the events of the Conqueror Series. Myca's lifelong dream has been to join the King's Knights. The only thing standing in her way is centuries of tradition. No woman has ever been allowed to join the ranks of the Knights. Myca intends to change that, or die trying.

Join Myca as she goes where the law does not exist, Beggar's Canyon. After being humiliated and scorned in her own village, Myca sets out to prove her worth. Joining her is Florian, a lifetime friend and supporter. Together they learnt he very real dangers of Beggar's Canyon, then venture south to the island port of Cedar's Point. In the underground tunnels beneath the harbor district Myca must enter into combat with an opponent who is anything but human. Awaiting her is an evil double cross, a visit to Dragon's Howl prison, perhaps the most haunted place in the kingdom. 

Myca finds her dreams will come at a high price, certainly higher than she had anticipated, and perhaps higher than she is willing to pay. Join the adventure and discover Myca's strengths, her resilience, and her frailties as she returns to venture deep into the tombs of Beggar's Canyon.

The cover reveal for "Beggar's Canyon - Myca's Story" will be in just a few days. Check out my twitter account for a free give-away and perhaps win an autographed copy.