The Fall of the Decapolis
There is a new addition to the world of the Third Kingdom. My novella “The Fall of the Decapolis” is now available on Amazon in paperback, eBook and Audio versions. It is also available through Kindle Unlimited. This story was originally meant to be a simple companion to Blood on the Wand: Prelude to War, which will be released soon, but Fall of the Decapolis quickly evolved into its own very unique and compelling story.
In Prelude to War, I write about the Forest of Memories and the once-great Decapolis. These same legends appear in the Conqueror Series, most notably in The King’s Final Decree and The Final Demand. I soon realized that this novella, short as it is, serves as an expansion for the lore of both series, placing it squarely in the middle of Third Kingdom history. The story records events from more than two thousand years in the past, yet it is written to stand entirely on its own. Whether this is your first venture in my world or your tenth, you can jump right in without feeling lost.
This project was a great deal of fun to write, and I am pleased with how it turned out. It allowed me to touch on themes that are only hinted at in my other books, specifically the power of the human spirit. I wanted to show that the acts of a single person, for good or ill, can have a profound impact on the world. I’ve always believed that victory isn’t always about defeating a foe; sometimes, the greatest victory is simply that we kept going and didn’t give up.
I hope you enjoy the story of the Decapolis and the deeper look it offers into the grand history and lore of the Third Kingdom.
“The Fall of the Decapolis”
For generations, the Decapolis stood as the jewel of the Old World, a flawless, peaceful sanctuary perched high above the clouds on Mount Torkan. With its marble temples, lush gardens, and harmonious community, it was a monument to the Great Creator. But as history has taught, perfection is fragile, and the enemy that destroyed the holy city wasn’t a conquering army. It was destroyed from within.
When
a petty rivalry erupts over the affections of Kari, a beautiful temple
attendant, her childhood friend Dela commits a desperate act of vandalism
against her sacred sanctuary. Manipulated into silence by a jealous confidante,
Dela watches in horror as his foolish prank is mistaken for a coordinated
attack.
Paranoia quickly spreads through the once-peaceful streets. Desperate to restore unity, High
Priest Swit declares a grand festival to showcase the temples' devotion. Instead, the decree unleashes a torrent of long-buried greed. Neighbors turn against neighbors, hoarding food and drawing steel as the wealthy Western quarter attempts to buy their way to dominance with a mountain of solid silver. As Kari watches her mother and her people succumb to blinding vanity, the Decapolis teeters on the brink of a brutal civil war.
While
the humans fight over silver and pride, a far greater threat approaches.
Alisma, a hunted White Wizard fleeing demonic forces, arrives at the edge of
the plateau. Out of time and desperate to preserve the world's history, he
drives his uncorrupted magic deep into the bedrock, awakening the ancient
Forest of Memories below. The forest has watched the children of men forget how
to love. And now, it is taking its mountain back.
As
marble shatters and colossal roots tear the city apart, the survivors must
abandon their golden idols and make a harrowing descent into the freezing mud
of the lowlands. The Fall of the Decapolis is a standalone novella in
the Third Kingdom universe, a gritty, tragic, yet ultimately hopeful story
about the devastating cost of pride and the enduring power of the human spirit.
This work is a companion work to “Blood on the Wand” as well as “The Conqueror
Series”.
“Fall of the Decapolis”
