tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46469380558615751952024-03-13T23:37:50.662-05:00SKULLDUST CIRCLEA group of independent writers, spinning tales from the Fantasy and Sci-Fi genres, united in creating great stories for mass consumption. Our stories are available as physical books as well as ebooks for the Kindle, Nook and most other e-readers. William Kenneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10204333210111653382noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646938055861575195.post-11515117034695351912016-09-26T16:53:00.000-05:002016-09-26T16:53:12.518-05:00Demogorgon delightsNow DnD seems to have slipped into the mainstream consciousness and my kids are interested again in adventuring in the World of Greyhawk, it's re-kindled my own grognard love of the original game. I will admit that it gave me a buzz when the lads slapped down a miniature of the 'demogorgon' on the tabletop in the introduction and entered into the discussion of defence versus assault.<br />
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Now die-hard OD&D players such as my grey-haired self would never presume that the mighty Prince of Demons would be vaguely concerned about a Fireball. After all, demons take half-damage from fire, and the Prince has 95% magic resistance, so you'd need a 20th level magic-user to have a 50/50 hope of actually sizzling him, and then he'd need to fail a save to take even half of the 20d6 damage!<br />
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I've been fascinated by Demogorgon since I first bought the Monster Manual in 1983. The characters in my various campaigns over my teen years never got close to the power level needed to trouble him (my brother Dan's characters took down Lolth in Q1, but this is a different level). And when you look at him, he really is the toughest bugger in the original MM:<br />
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<i>200 hit points; AC -8, needing +2 weapons or better to hit (not that you'd be coming near him with anything less than a Holy Avenger); the aforementioned Demon saves and magic resistance. And whilst you're trying to chop him up as your mage sobs like a little girl in the corner, he gets some beast powers back...</i><br />
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He has two mandrill heads, which together use a hypnotic gaze which automatically mesmerise you if you're less than 15th level/ hit dice. The individual heads can beguile, or cause insanity. The Demogorgon's tentacles do a measly d6 damage with a rot that makes arms drop of in 6 minutes (with a quarter of the hit points), and the tail drains 1-4 levels. Ouch.<br />
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If so inclined DG can use a raft of powers, such as power word stun, telekinese, use psychic powers, levitate, polymorph, throw up a Wall of Ice. And if he doesn't fancy getting his tentacles grubby, he can Gate in his Crew: demons galore, up to type VI beasties.<br />
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Despite being a part of Greyhawk, DG and most of his demon lord friends never appeared in adventures during my time in First. Along with Orcus he was one of the original demon lords developed for the game in Eldritch Wizardry in the 70s. Their rivalry set a tone throughout the incarnations and DnD editions of the Demon Lords. Orcus, to me, was all about that artefact wand which I recall using in an early campaign.<br />
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I never played 2nd to 4th, but as I understand the Demogorgon character evolved in depth, especially when Planescape hit in the 90s (for second, I assume). The 3rd edition had a campaign focused on his machinations, specifically the opposing plots of his two heads! What a cool concept, the ultimate split-personality demon. From there he featured in some big adventures (in Dragon magazine) wherein the players could actually have a dust-off with DG in the Abyss! <br />
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My brother has recently bought 5th, and I'm considering investing myself once I've played the classic set of modules with my kids (in order, U1-3, T1-4, S2, S4, A1-4, G1-3, D1-3, Q1.... and maybe WG6 for a giggle, to take them then through the Greyhawk Wars and then maybe some of those 2nd edition Vecna/ Rary ones). I hear that there's a campaign in 5th, Out of the Abyss, where DG pops up through a rift into the Underdark below the Forgotten Realms. As it's 1st to 15th level, I assume DG is still a bad-ass, and you get to try and fight with eyes closed against him the end. So perhaps my childhood love affair with a two headed mandrill dude isn't quite finished yet....<br />
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<br />Ross M Kitsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15328214670002553096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646938055861575195.post-87241792946550703982016-09-04T07:30:00.001-05:002016-09-04T07:30:47.578-05:00Demogorgons and Debbie<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">It should come as no surprise to those that read my alternate monthly blog that Stranger Things was a massive hit with me. For those who haven’t seen the smash Netflix hit of the summer, it tells the tale of mid-80s rural America and four young friends, one of whom goes missing. The story unfolds as a homage to 80s sci-fi horror a la John Carpenter and Stephen King, with a dash of Spielberg BMX riding fun to glue it together. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Image from hellogiggles.com </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Now apart from the obvious nostalgia value for me (with regards the music, style and every 80s film I ever loved) you’d be wondering why a Brit growing up in Northern England (just south of the Wall) in the early 80s would relate to somewhere in the US mid-west with an alcoholic sheriff called Hopper? Well the clatter of polyhedral dice and the furious debate about whether to fireball or defend against the Demogorgon should solve that mystery as quick as Scooby Doo. Dungeons and Dragons, in all its first edition glory. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">(If you haven’t watched the series yet, be wary of some minor spoilers below!)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="248" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/zws-psrj27Hp6BKhF-N_crt4S79KKt8qL17VVe8qF3Uu3R4j4eHBp7--xWk0pMJ-Ocjj6UlkMm5iUZzfwhepW6bKTqHuFMY0ju3nLor9I_k-27wJlZiz2c84kz9sIvDRRVC3gSnOxZSR-0Gaqw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="399" /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Image from ew.com </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I blogged in June about my childhood love of the hobby, and the influence it had on my writing, and indeed the writing of many others. Undoubtedly it had similar influences on the Duffer brothers who wrote and directed the eight episode story. The first five minutes of episode 1 capture much of what invigorated so many with the hobby: the friendships, the excitement, the imagination. As a narrative device it works perfectly for the series. The three remaining friends use their interest in fantasy and science fiction to rationalise the increasingly bizarre events of psychic powers, parallel universes (explained brilliantly), and… monsters. The repeat reference to the monster as ‘Demogorgon’ is a real nod to the 1</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 8.8px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">st</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Edition DnD, before concern that all fantasy gamers were Satanists purged the following editions of demons and devils. In the version played in the show, Demogorgon is the Prince of all demons, in the lowest levels of the Abyss. His two mandrill heads and tentacles made for an awesome miniature, which was slammed onto the table in that epic first minute of the show, and that reappeared as a way of explaining ‘monsters’ to El in a later episode. To the players it is the ultimate monster to be conquered, and the banter between the friends is whether against such a creature it is better to defend or attack. It is this dilemma that drives the series through to its incredible finale.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="225" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/tQJijbQL8KXGWd5SGqOMS1ZAGSQkcwxwQJVEVh0L-3bp3P7eCSISBk4MliNRhp5HgvI1pJvMR6oef-qZ9tALv1yKVLUhXLFWQ-uYoaN1FjUyvrJHRzoosQ3pqhNYUUAK0j4u5ca1_htqVLdd7Q" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="240" /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Demogorgon figure: image from bustle.com </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">In my childhood experience of DnD I only experienced a mild amount of teasing and mockery. Our close knit group who played, both when I lived in Leeds and later Peterborough, weren’t especially ‘outcasts’ or ‘alternative.’ Perhaps at that time, the UK was more acceptant of stranger hobbies. We all collected comics, loved sci-fi, played DnD, some had computers (ZX Spectrums, Atari, VIC 20s), most of us liked music we taped off the radio. The bullying that the three friends experience in the show is only partly related to their love of DnD, in that it gives the bullies recourse to call them names and mock their close friendships. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">And of course the general perception of DnD at the time in both UK and the US wasn’t entirely rosy. Much in the way that the moral majority rallied against heavy metal music, alleging its influence on the youth of America’s moral upbringing, mental stability and suicide rates, DnD came into the righteous cross-hairs. The now infamous Jack Chick comic strip, Dark Dungeons, tells the tale of Debbie whose participation in DnD games led to her involvement in a coven mainly to get her father to buy DnD books and miniatures. The DnD provoked suicide of a friend then brought Debbie back to Christianity and redemption. The strip culminates in a good old book burning, perhaps with some Harry Potter books tossed on to help the pyre (of course I’m being facetious, as Harry Potter book burning was a product of more recent enlightened times).</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="240" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/LHRkTa2f_ykISyKIiF9yj6OzL3vMK10kXvBJI4akbYqfC6ZLQKvYPLcT7aFOniuev8KoCu5R1NL_I1g9bA2L0RLdYI-FVYvmQkjA7RZQ2u5jNwh6CJiqQdD8ccxJkqfWFa17WQZHwp-Nhb-ilA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="468" /></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The unfortunate Debbie in Dark Dungeons. Image from </span><a href="http://www.therobotspajamas.com/dd-kills-with-the-help-of-satan/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://www.therobotspajamas.com/dd-kills-with-the-help-of-satan/</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">As amusing as it seems now, there was serious anti-DnD propaganda back in the 80s, and even the famed Tom Hanks starred in the TVM Mazes and Monsters in 1982, wherein a latent psychotic illness is unlocked by the fantasy game, Mazes and Monsters, with tragic results. The film was based mainly on the sensationalism surrounding the disappearance of a student at MSU. The80s were replete with pressure groups against DnD, in some cases driven by religious sentiments and the perception of DnD as an occult phenomenon, and in some cases bereavements and tragedy. Authors jumped on the bandwagon, associating a horrific murder with the fact the perpetrator (Chris Pritchard)was a Dungeon Master (and playing down his drug and alcohol addiction, and desire to inherit $2 million).</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Yet most studies don’t indicate that players of role playing games have any higher rates of mental illness, suicide, or depression, but such studies are often ignored in the media. Did it appeal to the geekier cross-section of society? Certainly, as back then they would have been the ones with the imaginations, and the creativity to enjoy it fully. Nowadays these would be the same children and teenagers stereotyped as gamers, the same ones unfairly mocked about hunting Pokemons by a society determined to deride anyone else’s interests and fun!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Yet it is these traits, of imagination, creativity, and ultimately comradery and friendship which are the core of the heroes in Stranger Things. It’s these characteristics that lead them to accept El, and to search for their missing friend when everyone else has given up. And that’s the message in Stranger Things, and that’s one of the keys of its success—Demogorgon or no.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">(As an end-note, the series has got my kids fired up about playing old school DnD again, ironically dragging them away from the aforementioned Pokemon!!).</span></span></div>
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Ross M Kitsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15328214670002553096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646938055861575195.post-56761560315874133552015-08-18T19:38:00.000-05:002015-08-18T19:38:13.921-05:00Crickets....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Egads.....<br />
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It's quiet in here.<br />
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And full of cobwebs....<br />
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I'm sure someone over there ----> has a new book out. Start clicking!<br />
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William</div>
William Kenneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10204333210111653382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646938055861575195.post-43342602251331611612014-12-24T17:25:00.001-06:002014-12-24T17:25:22.062-06:00How about a free short story for the holidays?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Hello all.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I wrote this for a contest (in which I didn't place) and thought it should see the light. Please let me know what you think of the story. I appreciate all feedback. Happy Holidays to all of you and enjoy!</span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Trial in Bosphos</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">by</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">William
Kenney</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Vohnn and Chespa watched the rugged coastline approach,
the slippery deck tilting and heaving as the distant thunderstorm built behind
them, casting harsh shadows as each flash of lightning split the sky. The dark
of night was the worst time to attempt a landing in the port city of Bosphos,
with the massive, looming stones on its shoreline, but the best time for those
of their ilk.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Yer sure they wound up here?" Chespa asked,
pulling his hood closer against the pattering of rain that had now begun. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"The Bluebabbler's never wrong, my friend. You know
that," Vohnn responded, adjusting the lumpy travel bags that he reclined
against. "If that old codger says they're here, they're here."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"True enough..." Chespa agreed, growing silent
as he watched the pinpoint yellow lights of the city's circular windows,
piercing the darkness ahead like a thousand dragon eyes. "You ever been
here before?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"What, Bosphos? No. The place is far worse than home
from what I've heard. It's a city of filth, full of the worst of the worst.
Faelandra the Light does not smile on this place and Akkus the Devil doesn't
want it either."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"You said you didn't believe in all that Gods and
Devils balderdash."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"I don't. It's just a simple way to get a point
across."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"I suppose so... why'd they run here? There were so
many other ports that they could have chosen along our way," asked Chespa.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Seems odd to me as well," Vohnn answered,
chewing on a dirty thumbnail. "The kids are fourteen years old at best.
Why would they pick this pisshole of all places? They could've given us the
slip in Greyborn Heights, but decided to flee here instead."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Well, the job's nearly done now, my friend,"
Chespa said, a thin layer of suspicion gathering in his mind. Something simply
felt wrong about all of this. "We find them, get Lord Drahmelson's emerald
and get back home to collect our payment."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Drahmelson's an odd one, isn't he? No one remembers
the man moving into the city. He was just suddenly there one day, he and his money,"
said Vohnn.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"I've never seen him outside of that manor that he
lives in either..." Chespa replied.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Never seen that hunchback anywhere but behind that
huge desk of his... and that face! Ugh..." Vohnn said with a scowl.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Doesn't matter to me what he looks like as long as
he makes with the coin."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Not looking forward to splitting it with the others,
though," said Vohnn with a frown and glance over his shoulder. Behind them
four other silhouettes could be seen, hunters like them, hooded and well-armed
beneath their cloaks. "Six to catch two urchins?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Don't remind me... we don't need this lot
none," Chespa said under his breath. "I'd just as soon throw 'em all
overboard."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">They were Maerliss, Livia, Galter and Rimion, the others,
hardened mercenaries and assassins from Orbia, the city of lies. Nothing good
ever came from that city, these rogues included. Each had been handpicked for
the job, each bearing unique <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">gifts</i>
that might aid in the return of Drahmelson's gem. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Galter led the way onto the docks, hiding his face
instinctively from the lantern light that showed the way. Always the flamboyant
one, he wore his hat akilter and his black moustache turned up with wax. Every
finger bore a ring and every ring a colored stone. Galter loved his trinkets,
but trinkets cost money and he was dangerously low on the stuff. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Livia followed closely behind the man, her clothing and
hair the color of blood, boiled leather armor covering her chest, a long velvet
cloak trailing out behind her. There seemed no evidence of weapons upon her
person, but an air of danger hovered around her.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The other woman, Maerliss, was much shorter than Livia,
almost a dwarf in stature, carrying a hefty crossbow over her shoulder and a
quiver of bolts at her waist. She seemed all business, her dark eyes intense,
already searching the buildings ahead. She bore many scars, the evidence of the
countless battles she had undertaken.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Rimion hobbled off the gangplank, chubby and heavily
bearded, large iron mace strapped across his back. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">His</i> eyes, on the other hand, seemed to hold a certain dimwittedness
to them and his mouth hung open, the lower lip perpetually wet and glistening.
His mind had never advanced to more than that of a child.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Vohnn shook his head in disgust as he and Chespa came
ashore, contemplating how they had ended up in the company of such an
assortment of cretins. He and Vohnn had been a team for nearly three years now.
They needed no help in apprehending two children. What a waste of coin to split
it with four others.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"These dogs are just gonna get in our way,"
Chespa mumbled, spitting into the water as they passed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Relax, my friend. Perhaps they'll be unlucky in
their search. Fall on a sword, perhaps?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chespa met his eyes with a knowing grin. If the
opportunity presented itself, he would gladly rob another of their share.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The six hunters gathered in an empty alleyway, each
glancing about anxiously, ready for the action to begin. The rain would make
their hunt more difficult, but they were an experienced group and greed drove
them ever on. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"We split up here, three and three. Once you've
spotted them, you give the signal," Galter said, removing an ivory horn
from beneath his cloak and handing it to Vohnn. "The ladies and I will
strike out to the west, the rest of you to the east."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"No," said Livia, turning to stare menacingly at
Galter, who raised an eyebrow in surprise.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"No?" he asked, amused and stepped toward her in
a threatening manner. Livia did not give ground.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"You take the half-wit," she said, motioning
toward Rimion, then stepping in with Vohnn and Chespa. "Too many women on
one team will put us out of balance. After all, with all of your baubles and
haughty manner, you're practically a woman yourself."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">All eyes went to her, the others holding their breath.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Why, my lady... I've done nothing to warrant this
behavior..." Galter began, calm exterior, but obviously boiling on the
inside. His hands clenched into fists as he awaited her response.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Your mouth is a never-ending fountain of droppings,
sir. We've been trapped on a ship with your pompous, braggart ass for days.
We've listened to your tales of chivalry, of monsters bested and maidens
spoiled. I know a tall tale when I hear one, Galter. I've heard more than my
share in my travels. I - for one - will listen to it no longer. Take the
others, if they'll have you. You lot should plug your ears if you know what's
good for you."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Maerliss laughed out loud, hand on her belly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Well said, Livia! Well said. I also will not be
searching with this bouncing buffoon. I'll join you three, if you don't
mind."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">She stepped toward the others with a smile. There came a
high-pitched whistling sound, a flash of lightning and she stiffened, her eyes
wide with pain and shock. She fell forward, face-first in the dirt, the
quivering shaft of a white arrow protruding from her back. For a moment the
others stood motionless, in disbelief, then immediately took cover, weapons
coming free.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">High above them, crouched on a rooftop, was a slender girl
with long white hair, a short bow in her hand. She laughed out loud, her voice
echoing down the deserted streets and then dashed away.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"That's her, that's one of the twins!" Galter
shouted, running down the alley in her direction. "Rimion, you're with
me!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Rimion stared at Maerliss' dead body for a moment, then
shuffled off behind him, mace in hand.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Lightning struck once more and Chespa noticed a second
figure upon the roof of a nearby building, white-haired but masculine in
appearance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"There's the other one!" he shouted, pointing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Vohnn and Livia followed his gaze as the boy bounded away
in the opposite direction of his sister.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Come on," Vohnn said and headed down the
street, boots splashing in the growing puddles of rainwater. "Careful now.
These brats mean business. Remember, even if we recover the emerald, we have to
apprehend the other twin. Drahmelson wants 'em both."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"I'm sure he'd be satisfied with the gem... "
Livia remarked as they turned a corner.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"You don't know Drahmelson very well, do you?"
Chespa replied with a nod from Vohnn.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Damn," Livia said. "Who are these kids
anyway?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The sound of pounding footsteps led them down another
alley, golden and ghostlike shapes covering the ground, cast by the many
windows at either side. A huddled figure could be seen, sitting against a wall
just ahead, hood pulled down to conceal his face.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">They approached, hands on weapons as the figure raised his
eyes. He was an ancient man, long, thin white hair and beard, his cheeks a
network of deep wrinkles.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Looking for the boy, I suspect?" he said with a
voice rough and cracking.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Yes! You've seen him?" asked Livia.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Of course I have. He ran past just now... "
said the old man with a grin. "That's a large gem that boy's carrying.
Must be worth a fortune, eh?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"You saw it?" asked Vohnn.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"How could I miss it? It's the size of a brick! Who's
it belong to? I'm assuming the boy lifted it from someone."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Aye and we've been hired to retrieve it,"
Chespa said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"All of you?" asked the old man.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"And three others," answered Chespa with a nod.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Split six ways? A fool's hunt, that's what you're
on. Start by killing the woman there. Five-way split!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"...and what makes you think these two could kill me,
grandfather?" asked Livia, her eyes on the other two men. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Heh, heh. Fine. You kill them. Makes more sense
anyway. Split the reward four ways by splittin' their spleens," the old
man said, carving the air in front of him with a downward chop of his hand.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Vohnn and Chespa both scoffed at the idea as Livia gave
them each a scowl.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"What are you laughing at? You believe that because
you are men you could easily best me?" Livia asked, lowering her eyes in a
challenging stare.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Of course they could, lass!" the old man
offered. "They're twice as strong and most likely smarter."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Vohnn laughed out loud, head thrown back, the falling rain
running down is face.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Livia's hand flashed out and Vohnn grew silent, wrapping
his fingers around his throat as the rain began to wash crimson down his chest.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">She had slit his throat.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chespa stared at Vohnn for a moment, unable to comprehend
what had just occurred as his friend slipped to his knees, gurgling. Chespa
squatted next to him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Vohnn! Vohnn!" he called out as his friend
faded, tumbling to his side, dead. "What the hell did you do? What's wrong
with you, Livia? You killed him?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">It was as if a fog lifted itself from her mind suddenly,
her awareness becoming clear. Seeing Vohnn on the ground surprised her for a
moment. She had reacted too quickly, allowed the heat of anger to take control,
but she did not remember doing so. She glanced at her glove, the razor tips on the
ends of her fingers now dark with blood. She frowned.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"He laughed in my face, Chespa," she said,
trying to mask her confusion. She had not meant to kill the man, of that she
was sure. In fact, that moment seemed to be missing from her mind, but without
doubt Vohnn's blood was on her hands.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Bitch," Chespa barked, removing his broadsword
from its scabbard. "I'll have your damned head for that."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Chespa, stop," said Livia, backing away with
her arms out in front of her. "Something's not right here. We-"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">His blade came down hard, slicing through the raindrops
and striking her left forearm, where it was deflected with a metallic clang.
She obviously wore gauntlets of some sort beneath her leather overcoat, serving
to stop the blade's edge. The force of the blow, however, was enough to stun
her arm, numbing it and nearly driving her to the ground.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"You're full of surprises, Livia," Chespa
growled and raised the sword for another strike. She managed to ward off three
more attacks, but both arms were now rendered useless, held protectively
against her chest.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Chespa, please. I'm not your enemy. There's
something inside of you, just as there was in me, playing with your mind,"
Livia said, grimacing in pain.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Something changed behind his eyes, a sudden realization and
he lowered his sword. She could see that he was struggling, contemplating the
situation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The old man chuckled where he sat, taking a pull from a
flask he had produced from within the folds of his robes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"That is a huge emerald... it's reward must be huge
as well, no?" he said. "I wouldn't share it with someone that'd just
killed my friend..."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chespa transformed once more, his visage growing
bloodthirsty again. Livia ran, knowing it to be here only chance at survival.
As Chespa raced after her, the cackling of the old man faded into the distance.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">On the other side of the city, Galter and Rimion sprinted
down the dark streets in pursuit of the girl. They could hear the patter of her
footsteps above and followed it blindly, winding themselves deeper and deeper
into the maze of alleys.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">At one point, just ahead, they could see that she had
stopped and was standing on a rooftop holding the gleaming gemstone overhead in
one hand, daring them to take it from her.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Dammit. I'm gettin' that stone..." Galter
hissed as he scanned the nearby buildings, eyes settling on a downspout. He
wrapped his hands around it and carefully climbed to the roof, hands slipping
on the wet surface, with Rimion struggling behind him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">When Galter gained the rooftop he found that the girl had
not fled, instead she stood defiantly, a stone's-throw away, pointing at the
emerald that rested at her feet. Then she pointed away to her left and a figure
materialized from the mist, an elderly woman, white-haired and stooped. Galter
stopped where he stood, his mouth falling open.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Mother?" he asked, taking a tentative step
forward. "Mother, how..?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">She raised her arms as if to embrace him and he moved
toward her, but his eyes remained on the emerald that seemed to pulse with
life. Just then, the building beneath them began to shake, the structure
rocking back and forth, holes appearing all around his feet. His mother fell to
her knees and cracks formed all around the gemstone.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He bounded toward her, his mind racing, the stone in the
corner of his left eye as it began to sink with the roof. The coin he could
make from returning that thing would set him up for some time. At the last
moment, he decided that he could not let it go and dove for the emerald as his
mother fell to her death with an echoing scream. His fingers closed around the
hefty stone and he bolted away, jumping to another building just as the other
collapsed, where he fell to his knees and held the trophy close to his chest, a
broad smile on his face.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He was overcome with greed, such that he did not hear the
girl approaching from behind. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"I got you, you little devil," he said,
caressing the stone as one would a babe. "These others don't deserve the
reward. You and I will catch the first boat out of this place and collect the
entire share."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"A prime example of humanity," the girl said and
Galter spun, reaching for his sword. He would not have time to pull it as she
had already driven a blade through his chest. His eyes glazed over as he fell
to his side, the green of the emerald reflected in them as his soul departed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Chespa turned a corner, hot on Livia's trail, only to be
confronted by a dead end. A tall stone wall rose in front of him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"No way she scaled this that quickly..." he said
to himself. His shadow was suddenly cast upon its rough surface as green light
began to glow behind him. He turned on his heel, sword pulled free, eyes
squinted against the ghostly illumination. The white-haired boy stood there,
emerald held at his waist.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Here. This is what you've come for..." the boy
said, his voice sounding ethereal and faraway. Then Livia appeared behind him
with hell in her eyes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"No! That's mine! I've already drawn blood for the
thing. I've earned it," she said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"You could share in the reward... still quite a bag
of coin, I'm sure," the boy said, raising his eyebrows. "No need to
kill one another, is there?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Livia shouted and rushed past the boy, both hands swinging
out in front of her as she reached Chespa. Her metal claws carved the air in
front of him as he ducked and dodged, his sword ringing as it struck her
armored forearms. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"As I suspected," the boy remarked, walking away
down the alley.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"I'll have all of Drahmelson's coin, wench!"
Chespa screamed out, twisting and turning his blade, trying to find an opening
in her defenses. She was fast, amazingly so, and smart. She kept herself close
inside, never giving him a chance to get in a hefty swing. She had learned from
their previous battle, her arms still aching from his attacks.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">She pressed in, slashing into his forearms and once across
his cheek, sending him into a rage. She knew this would unbalance the man and
when he overreached his swing, she shoved her fingertips into his eyes,
piercing both and blinding him. He fell to the earth, writhing about, hands
over his face and screaming obscenities.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Ah! Damn you, Livia! Where are you? No, don't leave
me like this!" he called out, blood dripping from his chin. "At least
kill me. Give me that!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">She walked away, offering no mercy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Rimion regained consciousness half-buried in rubble. He
coughed and spat out dust as he threw timbers and small chunks of stone off of
his body, rolling to one side to get to his feet. He could barely see his hand
in front of his face, but he could hear the tiny chuckles of the girl as she
lingered somewhere nearby. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">His shoulder ached and there appeared to be dried blood at
his temple, his head pounding from the fall. He checked his belt. His sword was
still there.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Galter?" he called out, his usually dull senses
now even more dull. "You all right?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">There came no response from Galter, only more chuckling
from the white-haired girl. Her silhouette appeared just a few steps away, bow
raised above her head.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Come on, Rimion," she said, presenting the
emerald from within her clothing, lighting the area. "The others are gone.
The gem can belong to only you. If you can catch me, it's yours."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">She took off at a run with Rimion stumbling after her. As
he stepped out of the rubble, he saw Galter's dead body, a pool of blood
beneath it, fancy hat covering half of his face. Rimion paused, his slow mind
putting the pieces together. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Had she bested him?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He heard the girl whistle and shook his head, ignoring
Galter.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"All dead... Every last coin for Rimion!" he
said and ran off following the girl's laughter.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">At the intersection of three streets, he saw the shape of
a dog rush past and disappear into the night. In the distance it whimpered in
pain, causing Rimion to pull up short in concern. He could hear the girl's
whistle off to one side and the dog on the other.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He turned in the direction that the animal had gone,
wishing to help it in some way. By the sound, it appeared to be injured.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The way was so dark, no lantern light behind the windows
here to light his passage.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Pup? Where'd you go, pup? Let Rimion help you,"
he called out, shuffling blindly down the street. His shoulder brushed against
a wall to his right and he corrected his course.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The whimpering seemed to grow closer and he squinted his
eyes against the blackness before him to no avail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"The emerald is up here, Rimion," a voice called
out from above. "Climb up. I'll hand it to you."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Yeah. In a moment. This little one needs my
help," said Rimion, with hands out before him. The street before him was
suddenly illuminated by the green light of the gemstone, but Rimion noticed the
pit too late.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He toppled in, head over heels, ending upon a dozen
sharpened stakes as large as a man's leg, that pierced him through. As the last
breath wheezed out of him, the spectral shape of the dog appeared at the pit's
edge, staring down at his body. It immediately transformed, growing taller,
limbs elongating until it took on the shape of the boy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"This one was simply too stupid to live," he
said as his sister strode up, nodding.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"They're all dead now, all but one," she said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"She doesn't deserve the stone either. She's just as
terrible as the others," he replied, kicking dirt disgustedly into the
pit. "She killed a companion for laughing."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"She did what she had to in order to survive,"
the girl explained.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"This has never been about simple survival, you know
that. Insects survive. This is about human character, about the significant
flaws in this entire race that I continuously point out to you. They've had
their time, now it has passed. Do you not see that?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"I saw Rimion show compassion for a wounded
animal," said the girl who had begun to age as they spoke, as her brother
had. "That must signify something."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"A life or death situation and the fool was concerned
with a mongrel's well-being? A competitor in a game of survival and distracted
by a dog. This is a race of idiots."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"You are generalizing again, Akkus."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Aye, Faelandra. I suppose I am. The ages have not
been kind to humanity. Your light is but a pinprick within their hearts and
souls, but they overflow with my darkness." He took another slow sip from
his flask.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">She grew silent as the wrinkles appeared at the corners of
her eyes and her hair grew brittle and thin.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"We chose the wrong world to exercise our
influence," she said in a near-whisper.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Each world is the same, each that crawls with the
humans..." he replied.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Aye, you speak the truth, Akkus," Faelandra
said with sorrow. "So many worlds, so many souls that have proven me
wrong."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Then... you concede?" Akkus asked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"What of Livia?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"The same as it always has been. She becomes the
first of my generals in this new layer of Hell. Then we move on to the next
world, where you can - once again - fail to prove me wrong."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Very well, Akkus."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Drahmelson!" Akkus called out and a solitary
form descended from the night sky on leathery wings. He landed between them,
wings folding against his back.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"My Lord?" he said with a deep bow.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Drahmelson, my pet, find us another world to play
with," Akkus said and Drahmelson bowed again, then took to the air.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"At last," he said as he rose above them.
"Hiding these wings has been a monumental chore."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"You agree, then, Faelandra?" asked Akkus.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"I do. End it," Faelandra said, shedding a tear.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Akkus, now ancient and diabolical in appearance, waved his
arms and all began to fade from existence. Like a gossamer curtain, it fell
away to reveal a boiling, red landscape of flame and mountainous spires.
Screams filled the air around them and all that was good was gone forever.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"Once again," Akkus announced. "It is
ended."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The End</span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;"></span></div>
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William Kenneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10204333210111653382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646938055861575195.post-6262965314432732252014-12-04T21:01:00.000-06:002014-12-09T19:30:18.878-06:00Some zombie fiction for your holiday season<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Q88JBIU" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Q88JBIU" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzWSHRJWFDIWlQPPSoKC_x50lE48LNsuFLPS42_qU_9l2-e7g3ki_XicVbRsezZ_ZSRt9wFlZzTZdCMBymYvjJbRY85m2fTu3QEOpRxF91P0RTWlkxog7FhBfhmhvRRdxukWvu-8Yv2tzo/s1600/Die+Dead+Enough+cover+3.jpg" height="400" width="250" /></a></div>
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It seems this little blog has been neglected for some time. Here's a little novel that I just released for the Kindle. Grab it for $2.99 if you feel the need from some chaotic zombie entertainment. If you're a friend or family member, you may just find yourself somewhere in this story.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">It became
a quiet Earth. You didn't want them to hear you, the Undead. Something in the
reanimation process increased the sensitivity of the auditory nerves. They
could literally hear you from miles away. Even the animals grew hauntingly
silent, no birds called, no dogs barked. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Silence
became survival.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">We've all
seen the classic zombie movie; slow-moving reanimated corpses that could be
killed with a shot to the head. Destroy the brain and the zombie goes bye-bye.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">This
wasn't it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Because
these things could not be killed. Ever. Shots to the brain didn't work. Even if
you dismembered them, their parts would continue to move indefinitely. Burning
them beyond recognition seemed the only way to put them to a final end. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">So how
did it start, this rising of the dead?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Most
believe this condition stemmed from the use of chemical weapons. In 2017, the
US attacked North Korea after it was proven that nuclear missiles were being
developed and near to completion. Weeks of discussion between the two countries
amounted to nothing, with North Korea's leaders still blinded by their ancient
beliefs. They would be controlled by no one.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The
United States, assuming their role as the World Police and with the support of
many of their allies, laid the place to waste. Officially they only used
conventional bombs. Most believed this to be bullshit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Pyongyang,
its capital and largest city was hit first and within thirty minutes every
living thing for hundreds of miles lie dead. Nearly twenty-eight million
people.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">North
Korea's government practiced <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Songun</i>,
believing that their military was the supreme repository of power within their
country. The military's importance far outweighed all other facets of their
society. Thus there would be no surrender.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">According
to conspiracy theorists, other cities were bombed with the chemical agent, a
crimson powder converted to aerosol called DDR, now known as Drop-dead Red. Its
exact chemical structure was classified, but it appeared to be a more advanced
version of mustard gas. Previously untested.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Death
from above didn't last long. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Sixty-three
days later and the first reanimated corpse crossed the border into South Korea.
It was assumed that the thing had killed the guards that stood watch at every
entry point and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">turned</i> them as well.
When first sighted, the creature was several miles into South Korea and had a
following of dozens more undead. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Days
later and the same event happened on the boundary of China.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The
Western world knew nothing of these things until someone in Asia uploaded a
video to Youtube. At first believed to be an elaborate hoax, more and more
footage appeared, proving that this was real. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">International
flight was halted, but it was too late. </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Q88JBIU" target="_blank"><br /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Q88JBIU" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Click here to download Die Dead Enough from Amazon.com. </span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Thank you,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">William</span></div>
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William Kenneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10204333210111653382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646938055861575195.post-22990312760935566272014-08-28T18:39:00.003-05:002014-08-28T18:39:30.253-05:00Benedict Martin releases Finding Demons for the Kindle!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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In 2011, <b>Benedict Martin</b> released his novel <b>Escaping Entry</b>, which I read and loved. Ben has now completely rewritten it as there were aspects of it that he was unhappy with. The new title, as you can see below, is <b>Finding Demons</b>. The Kindle ebook is only 99cents right now. You should really hop over to Amazon and get this story on your Kindle. </div>
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Here is the description straight from the Amazon page:</div>
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<i>For seventeen-year-old William Stun, ghost town inhabitant and
blossoming artist, life is an exercise in boredom. That all changes when
an eccentric nobleman named Harold hires him to be his personal
photographer. But there is more to Harold than meets the eye, and when
William discovers his job requires taking photographs of his employer
killing monsters, it isn’t long before he begins pining for the eerie
quiet of home.</i></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Finding-Demons-Benedict-Martin-ebook/dp/B00MWI5918" target="_blank">Download Finding Demons for the Kindle at this link.</a></div>
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William Kenneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10204333210111653382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646938055861575195.post-88342659428187131462014-08-27T21:41:00.000-05:002014-08-27T21:42:49.364-05:00New Horror novel by William Kenney<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Many of you are familiar with my fantasy novels. Up to this point, the work that I have published has been written for general audiences - no harsh language, no sex, etc. My new novel, Ingheist, is not. This novel, were it a film, would be rated R. Please be aware of this when you consider purchasing Ingheist. This is an adult horror novel, with adult situations.<br />
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It is currently available for the Kindle. I hope you all enjoy it.<br />
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Thank you,<br />
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William<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ingheist-William-Kenney-ebook/dp/B00MW1BP7C/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1409015039&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Download it here.</a></div>
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William Kenneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10204333210111653382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646938055861575195.post-22776865528990103222014-04-20T20:31:00.001-05:002014-04-20T20:31:16.997-05:00The complete In the Shadow of the Black Sun<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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So
here it is, my friends. All 3 books of the trilogy have been collected
into 1 ebook and now include illustrations by yours truly. The fully
painted covers are included at the beginning of each individual book.
This has truly been a labor of love for me and it feels very satisfying
to have finished the story (so far). Readers have already asked if the
story would continue. It's always possible, however right now I'll be
taking a break from the fantasy genre. I am finishing a horror novel at
the moment. It's very close to complete, then we'll see what bubbles up
from my mind. I've always had more ideas than I knew what to do with.<br />
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To download the complete trilogy for the Kindle, click here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Black-Sun-Complete-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00JMTI5VG/ref=la_B005DC3QM4_1_4_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1397694284&sr=1-4" target="_blank">In the Shadow of the Black Sun: The Complete Trilogy at Amazon US. </a><br />
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Amazon UK readers click here: <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shadow-Black-Sun-Complete-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00JMTI5VG/ref=la_B005DC3QM4_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1397694872&sr=1-9" target="_blank">In the Shadow of the Black Sun: The Complete Trilogy at Amazon UK.</a><br />
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Also available through Smashwords in all other formats: <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/428269" target="_blank">In the Shadow of the Black Sun: The Complete Trilogy at Smashwords.</a><br />
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I want to thank you all very much for your support as always. For now I return to Elfwhere and scribble notes for future tales.<br />
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<b><i>Walk with the Wind,</i></b><br />
<br />
William</div>
William Kenneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10204333210111653382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646938055861575195.post-85773314853789371752014-03-21T02:13:00.001-05:002014-03-21T02:13:15.134-05:00Wake The Dead Free This Saturday!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.wattpad.com/story/12406992-wake-the-dead" target="_blank">Wake the Dead</a></b> is live on AMAZON and exclusively available through the KDP Select program. It will be going <b><a href="http://bookshow.me/B00J3F0YD6" target="_blank">FREE this Saturday, 3/22/14</a></b> all day! I hope you enjoy it and if you happen to download a free copy, PLEASE try to leave a review!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(Again, this book is intended only for mature audiences)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>When Alex's idyllic life becomes hell on earth in the face of a zombie apocalypse, his survival skills keep him one step ahead of danger. With the companionship of a lone wolf, Alex begins to accept this cruel existence, struggling at times to keep a moral compass, and setting out on a new quest of hope where he not only wants to </b></span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">survive, but also seeks to thrive in a world besieged by the living dead.</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Visit me on my <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gary-F.-Vanucci/e/B005E1EIWQ">AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE</a> & my <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/garyfvanucci">SMASHWORDS PAGE</a>!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">All Artwork and covers of my works by </span><a href="mailto:WilliamKenney_Author@yahoo.com" style="font-size: small;" target="_blank">William J. Kenney & Carlos Cara</a></span></div>
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Gary F. Vanuccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15208762635651539773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646938055861575195.post-44715336135042783692013-12-22T11:53:00.000-06:002013-12-22T11:53:11.312-06:00WOTHLONDIA RISING FREE<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 16.363636016845703px; text-align: center;">FREE on SMASHWORDS!</td></tr>
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I have taken the great plunge into <b>Smashwords </b>and all of my books can be found there now. Soon enough they will flow out to Sony, iTunes, B&N, Kobo, etc.<br />
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And the cool thing, is that <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/387881" target="_blank"><b>WOTHLONDIA RISING IS NOW FREE</b>!</a> Indefinitely!<br />
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Yes, the anthology of short stories that introduces you to my world, its history, my protagonists, having them face off against demons, undead monstrosities, giants, ogres, rogues and blood rot zombies, is available to you for <b>free</b>!<br />
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I feel that if you give these a read, you will have a rather intimate knowledge of both the world, the characters and their motivations. And when they come together in <b>Covenant of the Faceless Knights</b>, you will have met them already, establishing a rapport as they move along on their quests. It makes for a natural and organic transition into the first novel, I believe.<br />
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I have also placed samples at <b><a href="http://www.wattpad.com/user/GaryVanucci" target="_blank">WattPad</a> </b>, including the entire Wothlondia Rising book, if you prefer reading it there.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 16.363636016845703px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/388041" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/18IvgFS</a></td></tr>
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So, when you finish with <b>WOTHLONDIA RISING</b>, feel free to check out my books on Smashwords. or click the links on the right side of my page to check out the kindle versions. If you haven't indulged yourself in them yet, they would make a great gift for any lover of epic/high fantasy with character-driven action.<br />
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Enjoy and have a great holiday!Gary F. Vanuccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15208762635651539773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646938055861575195.post-59419708824948813682013-07-29T19:18:00.000-05:002013-07-29T19:18:00.566-05:00Shadewraiths...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1375142811687_2131">Hey everyone,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1375142811687_2100">Here's
a bit of news for you. I am currently finishing up the cover artwork
for my short story <i>Shadewraiths over Pandaria</i>. This story was originally
published in the Skulldust Circle anthology book called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gathering-Dust-Skulldust-Circle-ebook/dp/B009AKEDCC/ref=sr_1_6_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1375143006&sr=1-6" target="_blank">A Gathering of Dust</a>. Now it will be available on its own. The tale takes place roughly
40 years before Book 1 of <i>In the Shadow of the Black Sun</i>. Within this
story we discover the truth behind the character Trune. Were all of his
wild claims lies? Most think of him as the town drunk. Was that always
the case? You'll never know unless you read it.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1375142811687_2134">I
highly recommend that you read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dream-Storms-Shadow-Black-ebook/dp/B005D24SN0/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&qid=1315067506&sr=1-1" target="_blank">A Dream of Storms</a> before delving into
Shadewraiths. The settings and circumstances of the story are developed
within A Dream of Storms and many of the characters/places that are
referred to assume that you have encountered them before. Most of all, I
hope you enjoy this peek into the past and how I have fleshed out
Trune's history. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1375142811687_2136">In
regards to Book 3 of <i>In the Shadow of the Black Sun</i> (currently entitled
<i>Mournenhile</i>), I have written 176 pages of the novel and it's moving
along nicely. I can't really say how soon I will finish or how long the
actual book will be, but it very well may complete the series. We shall
see if I can get everything in there that I
want. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1375142811687_2136">If not......</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffd966;"><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1375142811687_2136">Walk with the Wind,</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffd966;"><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1375142811687_2136">William </span></span></div>
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William Kenneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10204333210111653382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646938055861575195.post-81265690582784755932013-07-11T17:51:00.001-05:002013-07-11T17:51:37.011-05:00Covenant of the Faceless Knights Re-Release! (kind of)<br />
As a writer, artist, musician, or whatever it is that you do for work, hobby, fun, torture, etc...there comes a time when you find your stride. It is something inexplicable and as mysterious as the cosmos. But, when it happens, suffice to say, you will know it. The reason I am bringing up the topic, is because I believe I have finally hit a stride with my writing. It is just coming much easier to me these days and with fewer drafts/revisions. As my writer friends might empathize, that stride occurs when your voice takes the jumbled mess in your head and spits it out on the page in a cohesive way that makes you say: 'yep, that's what I meant to say!'<br />
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And I could not be more excited.<br />
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I had been working my 4th manuscript in the series over the last year, entitled Tower of Torment. This was in between medical issues, starting a new career and other nonsense, but I have since finished it up. I have an editing procedure in which I read my written word out loud. (not gonna say how or go into details to bore you) Anyhow, I wrote it, listened to it one time, did my edits, and am happier than a pig in...well, you know what.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWzJhcueiUC-rRITggWbCPZhspPykiOf7Xve6pRvWMYQ6ASculKS9D6Ap9CiOyXSXP_txjIjeoxM3phQ36OsTbEECEDHJMmgo_xgb6zN2oZ05DZCWCpGpCjqoB0MjBr2eKbsL0Q37kDpSO/s1600/Covenant+new+cover+no+logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWzJhcueiUC-rRITggWbCPZhspPykiOf7Xve6pRvWMYQ6ASculKS9D6Ap9CiOyXSXP_txjIjeoxM3phQ36OsTbEECEDHJMmgo_xgb6zN2oZ05DZCWCpGpCjqoB0MjBr2eKbsL0Q37kDpSO/s400/Covenant+new+cover+no+logo.jpg" width="261" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 16.363636016845703px; text-align: center;">William Kenney's artwork, unimpaired by words!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
For those of you who do not partake in the often torturous and typically flighty mistress that is independent writing, finding your voice is something to be achieved and somewhat expected...hopefully. Spending less time editing is just a boon! Independent writers more so than any other author, can relate to this arduous task. I liken finding your voice to when a musician identifies a note clearly for the first few times, or an artist sees the image inside his or her head so vividly, that the image comes out with ease, clearer and more vibrantly than ever. All writers hit their stride at some point in their career and I feel that I have recently hit mine.<br />
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Let me clarify something. That is not to say my prior work was poor, it simply means that I can say what I meant to say a few years prior with a bit more clarity and ease.<br />
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So, I have spent the last few weeks painstakingly re-working <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Covenant-Faceless-Knights-Beginnings-ebook/dp/B0083ZDROA/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1373553635&sr=1-3&keywords=Gary+F.+Vanucci" target="_blank">Covenant of the Faceless Knights</a></b>, my first written work, and have made some changes, edits and other things. The content is much the same, but the minimal changes in sentence structure, dialogue and action, I would hope are worth another (or perhaps an initial) look! This is something that I had wanted to do for a long time, but could not find the time or patience. Now I have a publisher that may or may not be interested and decided that this was the right time. I was going to do it anyway, so this was as good a time as any after finishing the 4th manuscript in my <b>Realm of Ashenclaw series</b>.<br />
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Also, as a one time courtesy, if you have purchased the book before, and would like the updated version free of charge, please contact me with a DM on Facebook or twitter and I will gift you a copy! Or email me your contact info at the address below.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhoLejMl2nQMtAxpmllpKaHY0WBzv9NhpMrdFcnnJE2QpKe8n710Gv9ApCzjxsW2tKSWFg-fRcOFkSHqR_ib8vRKOnrv94Af2O-pVp-_9egS5kdsHEDqkd3M66nazbZ0gKbtGkaI6RJSKI/s1600/Covenant+new+cover+bluesky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhoLejMl2nQMtAxpmllpKaHY0WBzv9NhpMrdFcnnJE2QpKe8n710Gv9ApCzjxsW2tKSWFg-fRcOFkSHqR_ib8vRKOnrv94Af2O-pVp-_9egS5kdsHEDqkd3M66nazbZ0gKbtGkaI6RJSKI/s320/Covenant+new+cover+bluesky.jpg" width="208" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 16.363636016845703px; text-align: center;">The almost-chosen blue background!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And for those of you who haven't read it yet--and you know who you are!--I am giving away <b>up to ten free</b> <b>copies </b>in exchange for reviews. All you have to do is comment below using the tag, 'give me my free book!', and then send an email to <a href="mailto:info@ashenclaw.com"><b>info@ashenclaw.com</b></a> with the same subject line and body text. That's it! It’s that simple! The first ten to place comments below are the winners. First come, first served. PLEASE understand that I would like the review! I have given away work in the past and have yet to receive the promised reviews, (some) so please keep this in mind.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQs9Kj-BDEJFLlGubWSCZs7aNGiF4wFzxbZI1EhdGivPSoommNEd1H08gHXX-uYUh0r6Pvth0pgMZfTukyQCgUh2I6dKSXDY8n1nSPI5yo7oJQglpTL5AtYcxkldJlRCloxXoXHY50E5Ga/s1600/COMPILATION_WOTHLONDIA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQs9Kj-BDEJFLlGubWSCZs7aNGiF4wFzxbZI1EhdGivPSoommNEd1H08gHXX-uYUh0r6Pvth0pgMZfTukyQCgUh2I6dKSXDY8n1nSPI5yo7oJQglpTL5AtYcxkldJlRCloxXoXHY50E5Ga/s320/COMPILATION_WOTHLONDIA.jpg" width="208" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 16.363636016845703px; text-align: center;">Cover art to Wothlondia Rising</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And in celebration of this accomplishment, I am reducing the price of <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wothlondia-Rising-Anthology-Beginnings-ebook/dp/B008AEFN8M/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1373553820&sr=1-4" target="_blank">Wothlondia Rising: The Anthology</a></b> back down to 99 cents indefinitely! Get all of my previously released short stories that build up our favorite heroes together in 1 tome! Plus the never-independently-released tale of our favorite half-ogre barbarian, Orngoth, entitled <b>REFLECTIONS</b>.<br />
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Ever wonder what a sets a hero on his or her path? Wonder no more! Grab your copy today!<br />
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Thanks for listening to my rants and pitches as usual, and please feel free to comment on how you may have found your own writing voice or artistic stride, or musical ear, or whatever it might be that you do well!<br />
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Gary F. Vanuccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15208762635651539773noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646938055861575195.post-78138558197014580342013-06-12T19:29:00.001-05:002013-06-12T19:29:48.974-05:00The new Hobbit film<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So, how does everyone feel about the new Hobbit trailer? C'mon, you've
got to have an opinion. As for me, I love seeing the world again. Being a
huge fan of fantasy since boyhood, anything dealing with magic, Elves,
Dwarves and dragons gets me amped. On the other hand, the trailers seems
chock full of Legolas, who is a cool character, however..... Legolas is
not in the book. Tolkien did not write him into the story. Is it right
to throw him in just because he's popular?<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDfMPb5PUT-65unV73keA_fN_aaxpWZkyIV0NKbO1EOiofkQChGhhL38UlMvgHdOAkpOL66R3yNTVG_YKgoAWL2mNcf9u1vkt8jNbtYo3IBQf25B9U0t5hlUvBp5ggAZN_TUHYxjVsygaa/s1600/Tauriel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDfMPb5PUT-65unV73keA_fN_aaxpWZkyIV0NKbO1EOiofkQChGhhL38UlMvgHdOAkpOL66R3yNTVG_YKgoAWL2mNcf9u1vkt8jNbtYo3IBQf25B9U0t5hlUvBp5ggAZN_TUHYxjVsygaa/s320/Tauriel.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
It makes me wonder if my
family would be pissed if Hollywood changed my stories were they to be
made into movies. In addition, Peter Jackson has created characters that
never existed as far as I can tell. Tauriel I
believe is the name of the new Elf girl played by Evangeline Lilly.
Where did this character come from? An appendix?<br />
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And where did the White
Orc come from? Admittedly, I haven't read the book in some time, but I
really do not remember this bad guy. Thorin's ultimate nemesis? Huh?
Since when? Am I missing something? So, I suppose if I take the movie as
a separate entity, I will enjoy it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbcPJAhFEfaJUNlrQePe3JBYV3galsRomi5dmOKjWKfnGVdXbfxAb_QLq0J4vPWA8fTJi2dETESrTgpEuYagSKfRO2Ew7K0gSaTG_SryC5byN5hT3YPeTTg8U7cf0nPIMFH-OUXJQaGHBv/s1600/white+orc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbcPJAhFEfaJUNlrQePe3JBYV3galsRomi5dmOKjWKfnGVdXbfxAb_QLq0J4vPWA8fTJi2dETESrTgpEuYagSKfRO2Ew7K0gSaTG_SryC5byN5hT3YPeTTg8U7cf0nPIMFH-OUXJQaGHBv/s320/white+orc.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-x7SfG7zLUkROCDRtbynYx06RKgfHzUUPYe9aEB53frk4ahz2fov8RTm4jEpvrB00-CN16MZYGTT0KakDp5d-nk6j_Ii-_No_35nScgEbweQWvxariKskQZ2wA32-KvotBl8NWLjbs2-u/s1600/thehobbit-smaug-blog630-jpg_201437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-x7SfG7zLUkROCDRtbynYx06RKgfHzUUPYe9aEB53frk4ahz2fov8RTm4jEpvrB00-CN16MZYGTT0KakDp5d-nk6j_Ii-_No_35nScgEbweQWvxariKskQZ2wA32-KvotBl8NWLjbs2-u/s320/thehobbit-smaug-blog630-jpg_201437.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Any thoughts on the subject?</div>
William Kenneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10204333210111653382noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646938055861575195.post-4697575722187759212013-03-30T18:25:00.000-05:002013-03-30T18:25:44.306-05:00Disturbing the Dust....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
When I decided to put together our little writers group, I wanted to create a place where readers could find a treasure chest full of great stories, a place that readers could belong to. I put the idea in the ears of a few writers and we began to build our brand. What would be a good name? What would our logo look like? Who would be invited to join?<br />
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And we definitely created a presence on the internet, without a doubt. Readers have heard of us and they know that regardless of which author you decide to try, you will get a story of excellent quality. The bottom line is that each of us cares deeply about what we create. We go over our story lines, characters and settings intensely. We have frequent discussions about what you, the reader, will think of this or that. We do our best to market ourselves. We are all over the different social media outlets, promoting ourselves and really supporting other independent creators out there.<br />
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And it's a struggle. No doubt about it.<br />
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Each of us has a day job and most of us, children. To find time to create these epic tales with sweeping landscapes, tension, romance, intrigue while balancing real life... well, you can imagine. We still get it done. I write during my lunch break at work. I write by hand in a spiral notebook and after a few days, I type what I've handwritten into my computer. I draw ink sketches in the margins of the characters. My mind is constantly working on plot and character development, going through the possibilities. Which road do I take the story down?<br />
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I'm a musician as well, so all of that crap is swirling around in the ole noggin as well. Strong structures, melody ideas, lyrics, guitar parts, etc. Seems like it would be a chaotic soup of nonsense, no? No. Somehow I manage to pull it all together into a cohesive whole, something that is hopefully pleasing to someone out there.<br />
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On top of that, I am an artist as some of you know. I draw, paint, work in CGI. Another outlet that I am pulled toward. Needless to say, I constantly shift things on to the back burner and then back again. I make these things because I want them to be seen, heard, experienced. I do these things because I have to. It is part of who I am. It's intertwined in my DNA.<br />
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I search for an emotional response to the things I create. Each of us do.<br />
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It's amazingly difficult to get noticed and it sometimes feels like no one cares. We have our moments of doubt. We are human after all. If sales are down, it bothers us. Bad reviews bother us. But none of us are quitters, trust me. We are in this for the long haul. We each have a distinct voice and we have something to say.<br />
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If you read our tales, you will see that.<br />
<br />
William <br />
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William Kenneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10204333210111653382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646938055861575195.post-68043447698530131522013-03-03T16:25:00.000-06:002013-03-03T16:25:15.697-06:00There and back again and again and...First of all, an apology. It’s been over two months since my last confession, sorry, blog post. You know how it is—xmas, work (the one that pays the bills), some writing/editing/proof reading. And I’ve been a little unfaithful to this blog, seeing another blog or two on the side....<br />
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Anyhow, happy new year. And to kick off this year’s posts where better to start than The Hobbit. I saw it with the kids in the Xmas holidays at our brand new cinema in Halifax, in glorious 2D (as watching films in 3D when you already wear glasses is little better than watching a dodgy bit-torrent version with Arabic subtitles and little silhouettes walking across the bottom of the screen). Now I should declare that there was no way I was not going to like this film. Seriously it could have been just a 180 minute still of Bilbo with Sting and Gollum and a caption saying ‘Eggsies’ and I would have soiled my seat. I’d been awaiting this film since before LOTR, since I was 11 and read the book for the first time (not least because LOTR pre-Jackson had a great film version already in the shape of Ralph Bakshi’s cartoon).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLbWSNxOu0D_4gQF0Xydrre9LTHxN8KVWWLdstipV5fsZLA1fuf4L2RGBakxYKW0CStrAk2L1L-PwGEQwrfp20SFZhkjywmJvk7dgZVJVMKXWZjDe7WtqVeUgcBrsB0NfowFsiewdRNtIO/s1600/Gollum-in-the-film-of-The-008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLbWSNxOu0D_4gQF0Xydrre9LTHxN8KVWWLdstipV5fsZLA1fuf4L2RGBakxYKW0CStrAk2L1L-PwGEQwrfp20SFZhkjywmJvk7dgZVJVMKXWZjDe7WtqVeUgcBrsB0NfowFsiewdRNtIO/s320/Gollum-in-the-film-of-The-008.jpg" width="320" /></a>Yet just before I went to see it, the powers of the Necromancer (Sauron for kiddies) had already worked their wicked way on the public. Little mutters of desecration, alteration, new material, ‘untrue to the book’ expanded into ‘milking the fantasy cash cow’ (and what a gargantuan cow it could be in a fantasy world... a 15HD AC2 monstrosity with udders that imitated a Beholder’s twiddly eye stalks). So I was a tiny bit nervous when I watched it—I felt almost protective of the film, like they were insulting my mother in some strange Scorsese type-way (‘Waddya say about my mudder? Huh? Huh?’). After all, Peter Jackson is the Creator in my eyes—he who has brought forth majestic films for all to see (and I include ‘Bad Taste’, ‘Meet the Feebles’ , ‘Heavenly Creatures’ and ‘Brain Dead’ in that statement too).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0YGDo3VOkeHZ1031ApZEY1d0UzRrN3XnXwQsxZYwdUNSBnB65IN2l2cWYPbE3ZWbQwmwt1YHM9s0TRr_CXE1NFI4AZhiRG_Hxye0BqUK-MYKenvWqJ58_m2I9TOVXrn0A8HCAzRmuCD2/s1600/The+Hobbit-Talking+Trolls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0YGDo3VOkeHZ1031ApZEY1d0UzRrN3XnXwQsxZYwdUNSBnB65IN2l2cWYPbE3ZWbQwmwt1YHM9s0TRr_CXE1NFI4AZhiRG_Hxye0BqUK-MYKenvWqJ58_m2I9TOVXrn0A8HCAzRmuCD2/s320/The+Hobbit-Talking+Trolls.jpg" width="320" /></a>And I was content. Because he didn’t screw it up. And I know there’ll be dissenters who were probably the same ones who lamented the loss of Tom Bombadil, the barrow wights, and were irritated by that whole Osgiliath diversion in Two Towers, but I loved all the modifications. Well, I could have skipped Sylvester McCoy as Radagast with his Bunnies of Protection +2, but the rest was perfectly pitched. I thought back to the book, which is after all a kids’ book, and wondered how it could have been done differently. Part of the problem is that there are some great scenes in the book that would be a bit naff if directly translated to film—the Trolls, the scene with Golem, even the Spiders. They would be rather twee if left as they were, and I considered Jackson did a good job of making the first two feel far more dramatic and not so silly. The sub-plot with Thorin and Bilbo was perfect—the characters had to make a journey within a journey or the film has no drive: after all, what is a story if nothing evolves, nothing changes?<br />
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The extra material with the White Orc gave a great finale, which came just right after the escape from the Goblin caves. The alternate would have been bringing the goblins out onto the mountains, which wouldn’t have seemed as dramatic to me—less personal for Thorin, less opportunity for Bilbo’s bravery.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZPPrbRWPwE1nkWBKu3RNi5SEkaQzevdt3-WsDq34UmhTnz3vkKD6Ec_HlnfGzeX7QkWuBtTc3umQJspUsyrUYDkCSIyCe4pYTxo05R3T7NGBYWOhgAxF0kLqBPq_hXrVYhM0pWMck3Pu/s1600/the-hobbit-gandalf-radagast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZPPrbRWPwE1nkWBKu3RNi5SEkaQzevdt3-WsDq34UmhTnz3vkKD6Ec_HlnfGzeX7QkWuBtTc3umQJspUsyrUYDkCSIyCe4pYTxo05R3T7NGBYWOhgAxF0kLqBPq_hXrVYhM0pWMck3Pu/s320/the-hobbit-gandalf-radagast.jpg" width="320" /></a>Similarly the meeting in Rivendell was well done, if a tiny bit slow. The Hobbit is a prequel to LOTR whichever way you look at it. The dialogue was engaging enough, and I also liked the more sympathetic treatment of Saruman before he becomes swayed by Sauron and the Palantir. You do kind of want to slap them and shout, “Duh! How can you not know who’d hiding in Mirkwood?”<br />
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So like many I’m eager for the next film, not least to try and predict where they’ll cut it. Will it culminate in Smaug’s death, or will they put that in film 3? Will they focus on the battle of the Five Armies in film 3 or what? Or more linking material? <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-toO5AxmJ2x-QedDtMn8MpgwRlabwOIn41uVrlT03_Om3nlFyG4R68lPJuGzbPvFzIvDJVF42LmEMlHFTiygKdPrRbijtCh9n6rQuEJOur3huWQeBOZXgUZ4JQ9smpMVGBDba1ajIUVi/s1600/250px-League.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-toO5AxmJ2x-QedDtMn8MpgwRlabwOIn41uVrlT03_Om3nlFyG4R68lPJuGzbPvFzIvDJVF42LmEMlHFTiygKdPrRbijtCh9n6rQuEJOur3huWQeBOZXgUZ4JQ9smpMVGBDba1ajIUVi/s320/250px-League.jpg" width="213" /></a>And it’s that extra material that is really irking folk, as it did to a lesser extent with LOTR. But why? What is so sacred about Tolkien and his work beyond the devotion of fantasy fans? I adore the books, but I’m happy to see the alterations in the same way I was happy with the ‘modernisation’ of the CS Lewis books for film. They’re good films, after all. I see adaptations that are dire, especially of comics—the League of Extraordinary Gentleman is shocking, despite the brilliance of the comic; Wanted is an OK film, but bears a minuscule resemblance to the comic version. There’s a school of thought that considers all art to be adaptable, changeable. When we see the twentieth interpretation of Great Expectations, or Pride and Prejudice, we don’t kick back over the alterations, the omissions, when the key plot points and most memorable dialogue remain. And that’s all that has happened with The Hobbit at the moment—the plot is still the same, the idea of Bilbo Baggins making a journey both physically and meta-physically, with the great quotes and the great songs, a bunch of dwarves (undoubtedly cooler than any Elf softies) and a dude in a grey hat.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinB-MJh-NZwvcBW2LX1Nyx1bBajUVuFFMnpinbyxZ0iUhyphenhyphennA74a60wTOPutvX_AGZTzCtiXz7KMb4KSwblgNFEgDuLXYXUu2CU7KgvE8lFV-nxZjL76F33LwlQYVjldhhSWqZH_t_K82cB/s1600/LEGO-Lord-of-the-Rings-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinB-MJh-NZwvcBW2LX1Nyx1bBajUVuFFMnpinbyxZ0iUhyphenhyphennA74a60wTOPutvX_AGZTzCtiXz7KMb4KSwblgNFEgDuLXYXUu2CU7KgvE8lFV-nxZjL76F33LwlQYVjldhhSWqZH_t_K82cB/s320/LEGO-Lord-of-the-Rings-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
For me the thrill of seeing such works on film is second to none, and the same applies to the adaptation of comics such as Thor, Spiderman, Iron Man, X-men and Avengers. I adored the originals, but they could not be replicated panel by panel on the big screen. And the kids these days don’t know how lucky they are to be seeing such awesome stuff at the cinema!<br />
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So happy new year, and I promise it won’t be as long until I post again. And I’ll kill the time to Hobbit 2 by playing the fab Lego Lord of the Rings, which has Radagast and Tom Bombadil in it!!!Ross M Kitsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15328214670002553096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646938055861575195.post-49506294352015898422013-02-09T18:17:00.001-06:002013-02-09T18:17:43.298-06:00Questions<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hello everyone,<br />
<br />
William here. Just touching base with all of you. Mostly I've come to ask a few questions:<br />
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<br />
Have you read books by the writers of Skulldust Circle?<br />
Which ones have you tried and what are your thoughts?<br />
Did reading one author's work lead you to another writer from our group?<br />
Are you here because you are strictly a fantasy reader or are you interested in other genres as well?<br />
<br />
<br />
Now, do you have any questions for any of us? Leave a comment and the respective writer will get back to you. Wondering about the next release from someone? Ask below.<br />
<br />
<br />
Thanks for visiting,<br />
<br />
William <br />
<br /></div>
William Kenneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10204333210111653382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646938055861575195.post-82895371842433882282012-11-29T14:36:00.000-06:002012-11-30T20:51:13.158-06:00Brand new Interview with William Kenney<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhesGbNVyAADPF0Wn6N6fAgv3GMrplnGsQydRB9YIb6GVWSVuQTdMXmbkM0xMjpaA7LquaKUfx6Rc8hWLTiVy4DxLcVmlPKewseJApRvLu3gKyYYs6zNaKFJpAcG2c9gWQrpFDll7ouaDCM/s1600/WK2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhesGbNVyAADPF0Wn6N6fAgv3GMrplnGsQydRB9YIb6GVWSVuQTdMXmbkM0xMjpaA7LquaKUfx6Rc8hWLTiVy4DxLcVmlPKewseJApRvLu3gKyYYs6zNaKFJpAcG2c9gWQrpFDll7ouaDCM/s320/WK2.jpg" width="219" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Shortly after I took up Jeremy Laszlo's invite to join the Skulldust Circle I decided the read what my fellow authors were writing. Gary's Ashenclaw work and Jeremy's Blood and Brotherhood debut were featured on my book blog, <a href="http://mousesroar.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Roaring Mouse</a>, and so now it's William Kenney's turn.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span> <br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">William is one of those astonishingly talented types that you meet very so often that thrives in his creativity. As well as his great writing he also excels at artwork and muisc. In fact it was through admiring his covers that I first connected with him on Twitter, well before the Skulldust Circle formed. His covers grace the books of Gary Vanucci, as well as his own work and they evoke the superb fantasy art of the sixties and seventies which adorned the fantasy and sci-fi novels most of us grew up with,</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmCUtyXV_xB1f-W9NtuX0BiHo6vHDJt7rdcRU3Wvw2hqZUoOQWmB4qUxTsvKl9kCDmddAyL-9t4r-y-fb7SPOqQk-Oi5rwpYrpNB4TirOI-5rjLwpqHf1C126Nhm7ZiZURCsBN-5RIXPY_/s1600/WK1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmCUtyXV_xB1f-W9NtuX0BiHo6vHDJt7rdcRU3Wvw2hqZUoOQWmB4qUxTsvKl9kCDmddAyL-9t4r-y-fb7SPOqQk-Oi5rwpYrpNB4TirOI-5rjLwpqHf1C126Nhm7ZiZURCsBN-5RIXPY_/s200/WK1.jpg" width="125" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Dreams of Storms is the first book of the 'In the Shadow of the Black Sun' series. It's a high fantasy series with a distinctly dark edge to it, not perhaps to the degree of Martin or Abercrombie, but enough to tell you it ain't for the little ones. It tells the story of Hagan, a former hero, now trying to live a life of refuge away from the lands and city that made him famous. However crisis returns to the lands and an old comrade (the awesome stone troll, Gorin) is dispatched to convince him to return. The pair set off with Hagan's younger brother, D'Pharin, in tow. On the journey to the city of Harquinn, they meet Vasparian, an Elven veteran and Windenn, a Woodwarden (kind of like a ranger-druid). But things are not quite as they expect- the evil Malhain is at large and has dispatched his sinister Inquiti after the companions.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span> <br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">There are all the hallmarks of good heroic fantasy in here--the quest, the interplay between human and non-human races, excellent world-building. In many ways William draws on the traditions of Tolkien, Brooks and Eddings, with the multi-skilled group and their dialogue. But what made the book for me were the more original touches-- the hostile and decaying city of Overbrook; the mystery of the seer, the Wisp; the guilt and ruminations of the troubled hero, Hagan; and the Inquitis, probably the scariest opponents since the Nazgul got drowned by Elrond's daughter. The dark atmosphere is there but it never overpowers, rather it bolsters the authenticity of the work, and makes you nervier as you're never sure that all the comapnions are going to be all right or not.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span> <br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span> <br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I took the chance to throw a few questions at William the other day:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Noteworthy;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Me: I was (pleasantly) surprised by how much 'dark' fantasy mixed with your traditional high fantasy story. Are you a fan of the darker end of the genre? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Noteworthy;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">WK: Absolutely. I've always felt that the evil element in the story should be as dark and nasty as possible. The reader should fear them, loathe them and want them defeated. The reader is walking in the characters shoes and should feel the ultimate desperation of facing the bad guys. The good guys will only truly shine in the presence of absolute darkness, right?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Noteworthy;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Me: There's a definite feel of DnD in your work. I know our friend Gary is a big gamer, is it something you've done/do and does it influence you? </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVGO1ngfC-qbSY2rP7KPi_0znBMUiR2_wQyKTDw9l_ZCjGdS-8C9nUQbJ8Gp-gdtOsX-sRQTsV80UeTdprDK3LF88k_5SswEpuLUFwIbBHs4ucJUQ8KwD7D3KPeVI9p3qwjIG0nHVxciB/s1600/WK5.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVGO1ngfC-qbSY2rP7KPi_0znBMUiR2_wQyKTDw9l_ZCjGdS-8C9nUQbJ8Gp-gdtOsX-sRQTsV80UeTdprDK3LF88k_5SswEpuLUFwIbBHs4ucJUQ8KwD7D3KPeVI9p3qwjIG0nHVxciB/s1600/WK5.png" /></a><span style="font-family: Noteworthy;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">WK: I played quite a bit when I was a teenager. We had a group of guys that would play all-day marathons, sometimes getting so involved that we would forget to eat. I'm sure my mother remembers us taking over the dining table with maps and hardcover rulebooks. Eventually, a friend and I built a custom DnD table to play on. It was divided into four sections with a built-in box at the center with a lid. We kept dice and figurines in there. DnD and role-playing games in general really spark the imagination. I use to be the DM (GM now) back then and really had to think quickly while taking the others through the adventures. The DM is essentially a storyteller after all.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Noteworthy;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Me: Your covers are simply astounding. If you had to choose which one you enjoyed more- writing or painting/design- what would it be and why?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Noteworthy;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">WK: Thank you very much for the compliment, Ross. That would be a difficult decision. I've done both since I was a boy and both feel very much like a piece of the same thing. To me, they are both art. I'm also a musician and treat it in the same fashion. I start with a small idea and continue to add pieces until I have a cohesive finished product that hopefully creates some sort of emotional response in people. Of course, painting is more immediate than writing, but they are both rewarding to me.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Noteworthy;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Me: I'd just noticed you also write a YA series. Tell us a little about that.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEv7-ir3Rw7HJ8mvGagkpYiwEtQB7yT4vjBUKxJ9hsp3jpA3VoFOAt7rz-LPYbp82xXOJmBy_hu3GbopMgrr-OrCDnSrGc4qLOd3M01afZCFB7_jHZSCZS4jcr8wHDx43oE1euz2e-XlDT/s1600/WK3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEv7-ir3Rw7HJ8mvGagkpYiwEtQB7yT4vjBUKxJ9hsp3jpA3VoFOAt7rz-LPYbp82xXOJmBy_hu3GbopMgrr-OrCDnSrGc4qLOd3M01afZCFB7_jHZSCZS4jcr8wHDx43oE1euz2e-XlDT/s1600/WK3.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Noteworthy;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">WK: I created the Tales of Embremere series as a break from the In the Shadow of the Black Sun series.I was writing such a complex dark fantasy story, that I wanted to create something more relaxed for a change. I wanted shorter stories that could be read in one sitting and I plan to do more in the future. The characters in the story are teenagers living in the Under. Beneath the city of Embremere, which is constructed on an immense platform above the surface of a lake, the less fortunate have built their own city from the discarded refuse tossed away by the city-folk above. The main character, Grivvin is the last of the Wychan, the wizards of the world. During the opening of the first book, he is cast out and into the dark world of the Under.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Noteworthy;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Me: Fun question- who was your favourite author and why? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Noteworthy;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">WK: I would have to say Tolkien. Reading The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings when I was young changed my life without a doubt. From there, I devoured as much fantasy as I could find. My literary diet consisted of Terry Brooks, Michael Moorcock, Stephen R. Donaldson, Robert E. Howard, etc. Fantasy created such a magical atmosphere for me that I immediately wanted to tell my own stories. I still have pieces of novels that I started when I was roughly 15 years of age. No one will ever see them, of course. Very crude, but still some interesting ideas.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Noteworthy;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Me: What are your feelings about the increasing popularity of the fantasy genre with the success of Game of Thrones and Peter Jackson's Tolkien adaptations?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Noteworthy;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">WK: I love seeing so much fantasy on television and in the theaters. When I was young, it was so hard to find anything like that. Any new fantasy-related film or series was a godsend to my friends and I. I didn't care how cheesy or ridiculous it was, I would watch and re-watch it. The Sword and the Sorcerer, Krull, Hawk the Slayer, Dragonslayer, Conan the Barbarian. I loved them all. We can only hope that with the added exposure, people that have never been exposed to it, will give fantasy novels a try.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaxsv6-wODJDwuJ8hf6Xkr1lBUnyrqp6Kd59QxQc0PzfSuP9IkmD7JFze1ZY780fDedBlGdfqJw7GrPkxN6EV5sTxAidvxMsnFr_z7PTRIZE43IyixzzBQWlvLlYkVNC8fPVzJ8RfqRj7z/s1600/WK4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaxsv6-wODJDwuJ8hf6Xkr1lBUnyrqp6Kd59QxQc0PzfSuP9IkmD7JFze1ZY780fDedBlGdfqJw7GrPkxN6EV5sTxAidvxMsnFr_z7PTRIZE43IyixzzBQWlvLlYkVNC8fPVzJ8RfqRj7z/s200/WK4.jpg" width="136" /></a><span style="font-family: Noteworthy;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Me: How excited are you about the Hobbit? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Noteworthy;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">WK: Well, I can't wait to see it. What Peter Jackson did with the trilogy was truly mind-blowing. Those are some of my favorite movies without a doubt. So much detail, it's insane. I'm hoping the magical feeling of The Hobbit, which definitely has a different atmosphere than the Lord of the Rings books, translates to the screen. I keep waiting for someone to bring a decent Elric movie to the screen or the Shannara stories.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Noteworthy;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Me: And, finally, what's the current work in progress?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Noteworthy;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">WK: Currently I am writing the third book of my In the Shadow of the Black Sun series. I've just scratched the surface with it and am feeling a certain amount of pressure. I feel that the first two books in the series are great fantasy tales. I am my biggest critic and hold my stories up to a pretty high standard. I spend a lot of time thinking through different possibilities for the storyline. What if I took the story this way or that? So many ways for the tale to go. Which works best? I've got so many stories to tell, some fantasy and some not. There is simply not enough time to get them all written.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Noteworthy;">Check out William's amazing work and excerpts from stories at <a href="http://authorwilliamkenney.blogspot.co.uk/">http://authorwilliamkenney.blogspot.co.uk/</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Noteworthy;">If you wanted to check out A Dream of Storms then click <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dream-Storms-Shadow-Black-ebook/dp/B005D24SN0" target="_blank">here for Amazon UK</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dream-Storms-Shadow-Black-ebook/dp/B005D24SN0" target="_blank">here for Amazon US</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Noteworthy;">Next time on the Roaring Mouse we're going 'down under' for a date with True Blood devotee and Mistress of Mutants, Rachel Tsoumbakos. </span></div>
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Ross M Kitsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15328214670002553096noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646938055861575195.post-91511187094566183112012-11-19T15:33:00.001-06:002012-11-22T08:55:35.091-06:00The Infinity BridgeLest you think we at the SkullDust Circle have been asleep all summer, or worse resting on our laurels at the completion of our awesome anthology I shall quote the Mighty Thor...<br />
"I say thee nay."<br />
<br />
Which translated means 'No.' Whilst Emperor Vanucci, Sir William of Kenney and Lord Laszlo have all been scribing the next installments in their fantasy epics, for my own part I have completed my edit on DR3 and released a brand new book- The Infinity Bridge.<br />
<br />
I wrote the book in response to complaints from my two eldest kids that everything I wrote was too grown up (i.e replete with long words and graphic fight scenes) for them. So I set to work in creating a MG/YA story with all the Dr Who-esque elements I knew they liked, set in a place they've visited with kids they could identify with (like Green Day and computers). I threw in a dash of Steampunk (clockwork androids and air-ships), some alternate worlds and even good old Merlin, re-imagined for the modern age.<br />
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If that tickles your curiosity buds, or if you've got kids age 10+ who like sci-fi/fantasy then click below and download a sample. The blurb for the book kinda says it all....<br />
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Sam: likes loud music, wears black eye-liner... and sees monsters.<br />
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Nick: wears Che Guevera knit-wear, big specs, loves sci-fi... and designs computer viruses.<br />
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Annie: dresses like a Sunday evening period drama, lives with her granddad... and fights like a ninja.<br />
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When Sam helps out the mysterious Annie, he and his cousin, Nick, are drawn into a world of excitement and danger. Terrifying androids roam the streets of York seeking the awesome power of the Infinity Bridge, a device that could signal the end of our world as we know it. All who stand in their way are being eliminated.<br />
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The three teenagers are propelled into an action-packed race against time, involving alternate realities, airships, clockwork killers.... and Merlin.<br />
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Sometimes the monsters are real....<br />
<br />
<a href="http://bit.ly/infinityUK" target="_blank">To find on Amazon UK</a><br />
<a href="http://bit.ly/infinityUS" target="_blank">And on Amazon US</a><br />
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt5cq3EBtEJaHGwS6OArCq0NKKwkx1aX7JFrQiOUn5ujJzMhqFd0e-SyhTkd5FA30Q64dHxUX0UEg4Eqs-X2OREfGmGdzOIhGliieg6vec90LIgNgJTpF96l1zEm7x-Yl_Tx_IHIGHOSF-/s640/blogger-image-307171111.jpg" /></div>
Ross M Kitsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15328214670002553096noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646938055861575195.post-2742430396339627202012-11-06T15:03:00.000-06:002012-11-06T15:03:52.288-06:00On Carrot Noses and Holy Avengers
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjEmxovMh6xshX8Q8jb6zHknQp1iWvUAiFs_QqoWbjktb-8AjhWvRLKRrSr0mKtjadLROZ96WtTMG5LCYfLFpk_-TgbDsJoJlMZYjBcs9m2_e-he7yuaQfkMCz7EMjZeDIDqbLyusrQIbb/s1600/poul5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjEmxovMh6xshX8Q8jb6zHknQp1iWvUAiFs_QqoWbjktb-8AjhWvRLKRrSr0mKtjadLROZ96WtTMG5LCYfLFpk_-TgbDsJoJlMZYjBcs9m2_e-he7yuaQfkMCz7EMjZeDIDqbLyusrQIbb/s200/poul5.jpg" width="130" /></a>I came upon Poul Anderson quite late in the game compared my
reading of other authors that were big influences on the DnD game. <st1:city w:st="on">Anderson</st1:city>’s books Three Hearts and Three Lions and the
Broken Sword both pop up in the reading list in the 1<sup>st</sup> Ed DMG, but
it was one of those books that never seemed to populate <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">UK</st1:place></st1:country-region> book stores.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Being a classic of its type (modern man transported into
fantasy alternate world a la everything from Mark Twain to CS Lewis) it was
re-published as part of the awesome Fantasy Masterworks series, some of which
have now drifted onto Kindle.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The book tells the tale of Holger Carlson, a Danish agent in
WW2 who is flipped into a fantasy world by an explosion. He finds he has taken
the role of a holy knight, who is known in the world, and whose recollection
slowly returns. Along his journey he meets dwarves, faeries, cannibals, witches
and trolls. Ultimately he finds that he has been previously involved with
Morgan Le Fey, and she plays a key part in the latter part and the conclusion
to the book.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The book is a cracking read—although the plot is linear (and
given it was a serialised novella, that’s not too surprising) and some of the
dialogue grates (especially the pseudo-Glaswegian of Hugi the dwarf). It is a
surprisingly energetic and contemporary feeling fantasy, which given it was
released just prior to JRR Tolkein’s work, is surprising. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZ4e0PQw3sHk_5n3p7nQzXWMt6KiztWQzh850v8B96NN3Cz0BNnMiOYnVijZY-18N1-e__DfoKZu1nwljjYe5RRjgaqmlmdnPQkkWQKl7E0s4V4rsCnYzyTVEVm-v4ZdliINMiQW7u57l/s1600/poul4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZ4e0PQw3sHk_5n3p7nQzXWMt6KiztWQzh850v8B96NN3Cz0BNnMiOYnVijZY-18N1-e__DfoKZu1nwljjYe5RRjgaqmlmdnPQkkWQKl7E0s4V4rsCnYzyTVEVm-v4ZdliINMiQW7u57l/s320/poul4.jpg" width="267" /></a>The influences on the DnD game are numerous, perhaps almost
as many as Tolkien and Lieber’s work, considering it was only a single novel.
The most significant, and this was further extended by Moorcock in Elric, was
the alignment system: <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Anderson</st1:place></st1:city>
describes Law and Chaos in his book (which was later modified in AD&D to
include the –good and –evil suffixes). Gygax cited Anderson and Moorcock in his
creation of the system. By all accounts, and Gary Vanucci is the man to ask
here, the 4<sup>th</sup> Ed has merged them all together to create a sort of
spectrum from lawful good, to good, to neutral (couldn’t give a monkeys) to evil,
to chaotic evil (proper naughty).<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPbME7SsfoIVBvZlpnNk7VCGDJo9ybndbjdXOUidHh_LLO_ME-VmaUwRazLhjiFgVopY0__VhaNpffD00VhVA_Y0M1CM8PEOtEmqLXHoq_n-HpN4o2-HiN2vUUu8kl9Bd7o5gh40dZF4B0/s1600/poul1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPbME7SsfoIVBvZlpnNk7VCGDJo9ybndbjdXOUidHh_LLO_ME-VmaUwRazLhjiFgVopY0__VhaNpffD00VhVA_Y0M1CM8PEOtEmqLXHoq_n-HpN4o2-HiN2vUUu8kl9Bd7o5gh40dZF4B0/s200/poul1.jpg" width="200" /></a><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Anderson</st1:place></st1:city>’s
book gave us two more icons of the DnD world—the Paladin and the Troll. The
Paladin character class was majorly influenced by Holger and his knightly
values, which in turn was a representation of classic virtuous knights from the
Arthurian legends (Gawain, Lancelot, Galahad). For my own part I really liked
the Paladin characters for all the awkward situations you could toss them into.
And the fact they could walk amongst scrofula-ridden peasants with little fear
of infection. And laugh at mummies.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqp-L1ua10MYijxbeSSq1sxEvuH4ZSdFdGmQUF8q2x6ZfbfO0kcO5-9VmA7nHRkzT6r-oWMO9STVySSvWaYRQRFxkEvdDfIz1fqxrVG-C0ktdUp55B7T7GIkf5Gi95xwKBui3x-blhuxNc/s1600/poul2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqp-L1ua10MYijxbeSSq1sxEvuH4ZSdFdGmQUF8q2x6ZfbfO0kcO5-9VmA7nHRkzT6r-oWMO9STVySSvWaYRQRFxkEvdDfIz1fqxrVG-C0ktdUp55B7T7GIkf5Gi95xwKBui3x-blhuxNc/s200/poul2.jpg" width="135" /></a>And the troll. Oh, the troll. Not the bulky boulder headed
‘oh, they have a cave troll’ type-troll, but the authentic 100% genuine
carrot-nose rubber flesh variety. The inspiration of the seminal Tunnels and
Trolls (OK, I made that up) and the unbeatable basis of many a horror
film-style trap in DnD. We all did it—troll fingers frozen in a chest, thaw out
when opened, grow new troll. I think it was even in some of the modules! And
the punk new wave haircut... genius</div>
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A perfect note to end on (as if I get going about AD&D
artwork I’ll be here all night).<o:p></o:p></div>
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Next time, got to be Fritz Leiber, and the Grey Mouser.<o:p></o:p></div>
Ross M Kitsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15328214670002553096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646938055861575195.post-71578180997578878932012-09-16T08:59:00.002-05:002012-09-16T08:59:47.509-05:00A Gathering of Dust<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The writers of <strong>Skulldust Circle</strong> have assembled a
collection of short stories (some based on existing novels) for your
reading pleasure. It is now available for the Kindle and is selling
for $5.99 on the US site. </div>
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Some of the stories are companion pieces to the writer's existing novels and expand upon their worlds. Others are stand-alone tales. <br /><br />If you've read book 1 of my In the Shadow
of the Black Sun series, you are aware of the character Trune. He is thought
by most to be nothing more than the town drunk. Nothing could be further
from the truth. Find out the secrets of his past and the true reason
that he wound up in Lauden. All of this can be found in my short story
entitled <em>Shadewraiths over Pandaria</em> as part of <strong>A Gathering of Dust.</strong> </div>
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Click the link to have a look.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gathering-Dust-Skulldust-Circle-ebook/dp/B009AKEDCC/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1347711931&sr=1-1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Gathering of Dust</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gathering-Dust-Skulldust-Circle-ebook/dp/B009AKEDCC/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1347711931&sr=1-1" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRel_P0aEegqjQQnBEAFoyXUEYTTwoESuyRRtk4-L4p8bnNmL0ZSiZ-UZVv9-oEsMQ6ZQaMbOoH67a80ERNmdeBbuvvdSZYERgIFUgkIP6veqiDLkhcI6DaQeyieC9Mxec9eUvxBK3mZYr/s320/SkulldustAnthologyCoverlr.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
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<br /><br />As always, I appreciate your support and look forward to your questions or comments.<br /><br /><em>Walk with the Wind</em><br /><br /><strong>William</strong></div>
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William Kenneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10204333210111653382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646938055861575195.post-81977821209666384822012-09-02T15:24:00.000-05:002012-09-02T15:24:15.809-05:00The Roaring Mouse Interview with Gary Vanucci <strong><u>Gary was interviewed on </u></strong><a href="http://mousesroar.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank"><strong>The Roaring Mouse</strong></a><strong><u> book blog by Ross last week. Here is the interview for the followers of SkullDust Circle.</u></strong><br />
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In the endlessly running sitcom ‘Friends’ there was an episode where Joey was in Vegas and saw a croupier with the same hands as him. He dubbed him his 'hand twin.'<br />
In a similar fashion, via the medium of Tweet I have located my author twin-Gary Vanucci.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgtpXso1jL_xg8WbtdGkcwmDQrZt41lMJlrXZKcOHav7ohUa42bgnfLI5AUT83MLULdK5aEsEHh82B3L5e7Uv76ZYhxKnlWfw5WXe_xfHIMWtGjAjTliZIh98eAd2XfMNKWwZGv9KS2Q5q/s1600/Covenant+Cover+Front+with+BOOK2+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgtpXso1jL_xg8WbtdGkcwmDQrZt41lMJlrXZKcOHav7ohUa42bgnfLI5AUT83MLULdK5aEsEHh82B3L5e7Uv76ZYhxKnlWfw5WXe_xfHIMWtGjAjTliZIh98eAd2XfMNKWwZGv9KS2Q5q/s320/Covenant+Cover+Front+with+BOOK2+copy.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Gary</st1:place></st1:city> writes fantasy with an unashamedly DnD influence, focusing on detailed action and intricate world building. His Wothlandia books are set in the Realm of Ashenclaw, a land populated by adventurers, dwarves, elves, demons and dragons.<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Gary</st1:place></st1:city> has developed a wealth of material to support his books- a DnD sourcebook, a great web-site, and a fantastic partnership with author-artist William Kenney. The covers are fantastic, bringing to mind the classic sixties and seventies styles that adorned sword & sorcery classics by Moorcock et al.</div>
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But a book is far more than its cover, and <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Gary</st1:place></st1:city>'s work doesn't fail to impress. My first exposure was one of his prequels (now collected in a single volume) and from that I went on to read Covenant of the Faceless Knights.</div>
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Covenant tells the tale of Garius, a rather dour Inquisitor, who assembles a group of disparate heroes to accompany him on a mission to rescue some priests. The heroes struggle to integrate initially - as you'd expect from a barbarian, a thief and an elf alchemist. However their journey brings out their extraordinary talents and they knit together as the story progresses. In the backstory we have a demonic warlord making alliances with succubi queens, evil dwarves and a lich. Yep, a lich! Only one down from a beholder for sheer classic DnD! The main purpose there seems to be to set up books 2+, which is something that I (as well as authors like Martin and Erikson) like to do.</div>
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The characters are great: lots of fun, interesting, with abilities verging on super powered. In fact I could pick up a big comic-book influence in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Gary</st1:place></st1:city>'s style ( just like me :-D ... Truly we are author twins).</div>
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I felt genuinely curious about what happens next when the book finished, and look forward to reading the sequel. I interviewed <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Gary</st1:city></st1:place> about being a self-pub author, so without further ado, over to my US 'twin.'</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Me:</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Where did you draw the inspiration for the Wothlondia series from? <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"></st1:place></st1:city><br />
<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Gary</st1:place></st1:city>: I wanted to do a series of prequel short stories that actually added not only history to my world, but character development. I am attempting to set the characters up in the mind of the reader to allow them greater depth, motivation and a sense of what makes them tick. The whole series came to me from decades of writing my own D&D adventures, campaigns, etc. Most of the story, background, maps, etc. came from those years with quite a bit of tweaks and changes to give them the feel of the Realm of Ashenclaw setting. All of the characters are my own creations. They are not old characters.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSy_uRN2rM044k6uYa5gn1ZqOIL00J7tlGyxMXd1EUJ2-U6MKmdlHSb8pVGy4_n3pla0x5Q6piBomzky7nIEPjyRLtSTtokHKdqsxR_1Gt2kJt2cg_1MZN7vhbbk8vbCGbeK5QOWfASPzs/s1600/Wothlondia+Rising+FRONT+BeginninngsBook+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSy_uRN2rM044k6uYa5gn1ZqOIL00J7tlGyxMXd1EUJ2-U6MKmdlHSb8pVGy4_n3pla0x5Q6piBomzky7nIEPjyRLtSTtokHKdqsxR_1Gt2kJt2cg_1MZN7vhbbk8vbCGbeK5QOWfASPzs/s320/Wothlondia+Rising+FRONT+BeginninngsBook+2.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Me: You've assembled a great cast of characters. Who do you like writing the most out of them all?</b><br />
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I can’t choose that! It’s like asking “who is your favourite child?” I do enjoy writing them all. Orngoth to me is kind of like the Hulk. I picture this massive monster of a man and go from there. Garius is your typical leader-type with very little in the way of emotion or humor. He is slightly emotionally stunted I guess, though this is a kind of social impedance in that regard. He puts his work and his devotion above all else. Saeunn is a cold, heartless warrior with a chip on her shoulder. She has suffered great loss early on, especially if you have read Tears of Blood, and it continues in Covenant. She has become very callous and guarded emotionally, aside from her mother. Elec is a kind of young adult to me. He is very naïve and growing, kind of inexperienced and yet, extremely intelligent and full of potential. He is becoming more and more addicted to the adrenaline rush of combat as well as his elixirs. It should be a very relatable tale with him moving forward. And Rose is really developing on her own, moreso than any of the others. She started out with a rough childhood, got used to a certain lifestyle afforded her by Ganthorpe and the Thieves’ Guild and currently, she is realizing that she was missing out on the action. She has a hidden side that really enjoyed working hard and she misses the ‘thrill and excitement of her youth. And, above all else, I try to write my characters so that they seem real, with real emotion and motivations.<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Me: How much has playing (and presumably DMing) role-playing games influenced your writing? Do you worry that such influences may pigeon-hole your work amongst fantasy readers?</b><br />
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Gary: Playing and DMing has given me more to draw on and opened my mind, as has everything else I have ever done with regards to creativity and exposing myself to other imaginary worlds. All of my past hobbies have influenced me greatly. I feel that I can place a spin on the typical good vs. bad and make it unique, fun and even engaging enough to make people want to read it. I don’t think that pigeon-holing is what I would worry about. I am telling high fantasy and a reader comes along with certain expectations in that genre, which I am fully capable of providing. However, I feel that I can place an exceptional stamp on my characters, my writing and my world that will make the experience very unique.<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Me: What are your big literary influences?</b><br />
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<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Gary</st1:place></st1:city>: R.A. Salvatore. He is amazing. I have never read an author that can put so much detail in the world, speak so uniquely, introduced so many awesome characters and still give you a fight scene that is incredibly written. I also enjoy Michael Moorcock, George Martin, Terry Brooks, Robert E. Howard, Frank Miller, Peter David, and Alan Moore. There are really too many to name. Also, I must say that there are seriously tons of good fantasy writers on the indie side that need to be read as well. Mind you, there is also a lot of garbage, which is the con about self-publishing, but there are quite a few gems out there as well. Visit <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Skulldust Circle</st1:address></st1:street>and you very well may find some good ones there! *hint-hint* As a side note, I am currently reading your Darkness Rising novel and feel that I must say, your writing is brilliant and elegant, and more people really need to discover your prose as I believe they will greatly enjoy it. As a fan of epic fantasy, I would recommend it!<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Me: The covers are amazing- tell us something more about them.</b><br />
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<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Gary</st1:place></st1:city>: They developed from my mind and I give Mr. William Kenney (also another <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Skulldust Circle</st1:address></st1:street>author and my artist!) the descriptions and he churns out something amazing for me. It is truly amazing to work with someone who shares your vision on what the quality of the covers should look like, what the characters need to look like and the overall feel and ambiance of the world I am trying to create. If you need some amazing, character-focused artwork, please look him up!<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Me: Fun question: in the <st1:place w:st="on">Hollywood</st1:place> blockbuster who would play your main characters?</b><br />
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<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Gary</st1:place></st1:city>: I’ve been asked this before and still have no good answers. I’d really love Olivia Wilde to play Rose in my movie. I think she would be amazing as a smart-ass rogue-type. I think I’d like Karl Urban to play Garius. The dude is extremely intense and his scowl is unmatched. Imagine him shaved bald with a long beard…lol. The elf-like character that appeared in Hellboy 2 might make an awesome Elec. Aside from a few stars to carry the movie, I’d try to introduce some new actors in an attempt to give some fresh talent a chance to make it in the big town of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Hollywood</st1:city></st1:place>!<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Me: With the advent of e-publishing, people have been predicting the end of print. I recall the same predictions with the boom of multi-player Internet based gaming that the same would happen with RPG. What are your thoughts on this?</b><br />
<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Gary</st1:place></st1:city>: My opinion, albeit a strong one, is: It will never happen. Never. Mark it down. There will always be a want and therefore a need for publishing houses to continue on in print. It may never be lower than it is now, but it certainly will never disappear completely. I think it would be foolish, irresponsible and short-sighted. What if something happened to the internet? All we would have left would be print.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Me: So what are your current projects? </b><br />
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<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Gary</st1:place></st1:city>: I am currently writing Book 4 in my series, called Dance of Deceit, which continues the saga of my heroes and which I expect to be released by this Christmas…if all goes well. There will be quite a few reveals and (teaser) quite possibly a death of a character in there. (WHAT?!) </div>
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I also have a short story that will be out shortly with some of the guys from <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Skulldust Circle</st1:address></st1:street>! You may have heard of them. My story is the Legend of Ashenclaw (the giant red-dragon queen whose namesake is the branding of my world!) IT should be epic for any fans of my world and there are several other amazing short stories in there that need to be perused as well. I think this cross-promotion anthology will be an awesome endeavour that introduces many readers to our work that otherwise may not have taken the chance.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Thanks for having me and I look forward to an interview with you as well!<o:p></o:p><br />
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Thanks, <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Gary</st1:place></st1:city>, especially for the mention of my work!!! The Skulldust anthology will be out soon, and in the interim check out <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Gary</st1:place></st1:city>’s excellent style at the links below and on his website.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gary-F.-Vanucci/e/B005E1EIWQ" target="_blank">Gary's Amazon page</a><o:p></o:p><br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
<o:p><a href="http://www.ashenclaw.com/" target="_blank">Realm of Ashenclaw website</a></o:p><br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
<o:p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Covenant-Faceless-Knights-Beginnings-ebook/dp/B0083ZDROA/ref=pd_sim_sbs_kstore_4?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2" target="_blank">Covenant of the Faceless Knights </a></o:p><br />
<o:p></o:p><br />Ross M Kitsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15328214670002553096noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646938055861575195.post-56158796858394749272012-08-23T16:23:00.000-05:002012-08-23T16:23:24.230-05:00GENCON 2012...The Experience<br />
Here's what I was doing end of last week and beginning of this week...in case you were worried.<br />
<br />
<br />
The bad: Surprise, surprise! The hotel and accommodations again were less than spectacular and extremely overpriced. I got slammed with a valet parking bill that was added to my bill daily for $28.00 per day. Holy crap. Lesson learned the hard way again. Oh, well.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Ov1S92ScKWPRFU-lU3fRSElLklzTKt18gRFwGs19ikFM4R1jSJbdph5WYCLAS70Z6KPfsdtqnbxd6Xkp4jSGnqImPH6xNdd0dleUMQQ8ZR0NTAHDo_rPZEA44O4FJMnevsrbekTMGxp4/s1600/2012-08-17+11.09.29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Ov1S92ScKWPRFU-lU3fRSElLklzTKt18gRFwGs19ikFM4R1jSJbdph5WYCLAS70Z6KPfsdtqnbxd6Xkp4jSGnqImPH6xNdd0dleUMQQ8ZR0NTAHDo_rPZEA44O4FJMnevsrbekTMGxp4/s400/2012-08-17+11.09.29.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Hey, that's my book!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvIfVRUIp1Ag2LgAdUYCSVB0wsI-isVQvxRQkrUxh-a0MmeWbCpF4OAv0qYnDvgjg28SCZJ6dHxDErPZZfPuqNtSPI6Wb4WWrHNpULduVzua2N_DGZGKktgv9T_l2pyWTuk9AzTPOUEWVm/s1600/2012-08-17+11.09.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvIfVRUIp1Ag2LgAdUYCSVB0wsI-isVQvxRQkrUxh-a0MmeWbCpF4OAv0qYnDvgjg28SCZJ6dHxDErPZZfPuqNtSPI6Wb4WWrHNpULduVzua2N_DGZGKktgv9T_l2pyWTuk9AzTPOUEWVm/s400/2012-08-17+11.09.39.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">hey, that's my name!</td></tr>
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The good: Everything else!<br />
<br />
What can I say? Awesome. That’s what.<br />
<br />
I had an incredible time! Aside from my hotel bill…again…which I cannot seem to do anything about.<br />
<br />
I met some amazingly interesting people that I must say were very cool. I met Jason Klimchok, (@runnetib on twitter) a fellow author who found me in Author’s Avenue and introduced himself. Very cool of him to seek me out and say hello. Mr. Erik Scott de Bie, he of the Forgotten Realms fame (game designer and author) and Shadowbane fame, made his way over to my table to chat before he went off to sign books himself in the D&D booth. I also had breakfast on Sunday with Mr. De Bie, which I will detail a bit later.<br />
<br />
I met and introduced myself to Jeanette LeGault who runs the whole thing and who was responsible for getting me in this year. She was very kind and spared time even though she was constantly busy.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdXFQHEKr30edSWr6kYas144xQ0_EQysNhbDcjVOvFT0GIQAJ9vya1QcJi96at7JKXhAGU8gmC1NUKL3FVt2zqybvp6tUCRKwBJ9z-ihP5BbOZiomZk_eyxqlELeo1Ibpg3ECRVVVtL4Co/s1600/2012-08-16+12.26.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdXFQHEKr30edSWr6kYas144xQ0_EQysNhbDcjVOvFT0GIQAJ9vya1QcJi96at7JKXhAGU8gmC1NUKL3FVt2zqybvp6tUCRKwBJ9z-ihP5BbOZiomZk_eyxqlELeo1Ibpg3ECRVVVtL4Co/s400/2012-08-16+12.26.06.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">my table at GENCON 2012</td></tr>
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Special kudos to my son, who was with me all four days (way to go, Nick!) and who endured the 10+ hour drive both up and back with me. We had a great time bonding, which I will treasure always. Nick was awesome as my ‘booth monkey’ as he so eloquently put it.<br />
<br />
I met fellow author Chris Jackson (@ChrisAJackson1 on twitter) and his wife (Anne, I believe) and they were very nice to me as well. I sat across the way from Tammy Blackwell, a librarian and fellow author who is writing an incredibly popular coming of age series about Seers and Werewolves, which I would check out. She can be found here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tammy-Blackwell/e/B005A9B3XO">http://www.amazon.com/Tammy-Blackwell/e/B005A9B3XO</a>. Tammy was also kind enough to gift a copy of her book to my wife, who I believe will enjoy it. </div>
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I also gave some books away to librarians, interested book bloggers and a young woman who gave me this 'token of appreciation'.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTobzoXBY0_6P5JFF0k0TlBxVIgf6LGWIz8J_LWkE4esReCYeYHjabePo6a4ZmvoRk5Cn8ryuFGfGsnRkl8byr_BYGwRyiYhLZxvpEIRN1r4DLAhYUSmPbyo4ft3yPLxMd5XfZpnJturxj/s1600/2012-08-16+09.58.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTobzoXBY0_6P5JFF0k0TlBxVIgf6LGWIz8J_LWkE4esReCYeYHjabePo6a4ZmvoRk5Cn8ryuFGfGsnRkl8byr_BYGwRyiYhLZxvpEIRN1r4DLAhYUSmPbyo4ft3yPLxMd5XfZpnJturxj/s400/2012-08-16+09.58.14.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">my token of appreciation</td></tr>
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Some of the people that I met come to mind when I write this that made an impact. I met a British fella named Adam that I really enjoyed talking to. Another long-haired college kid I chatted with a few times made an impression, though I cannot remember his name. A woman named Jeanette who purchased the books was extremely nice and she came back to snap a pic of me the next day (very flattering...I think?). I met a couple who chatted with me about Pathfinder for about an hour named Blake? he and his wife are inspiring me to possibly make a Realm of Ashenclaw RPG supplement for Pathfinder... might be coming.</div>
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Here are the best two experiences. I met a man named Tony Rodriguez who wanted the books and purchased them from me on Saturday and had me sign them to his son, Alex. He happened to bring Alex in on Sunday and he was happy to meet me, told me he’d read up to chapter 6 that morning and was loving it. Wow! That made my day. And it got better. The second was a man named Scott, who had downloaded Wothlondia Rising: The Anthology (The short story prequels) to his kindle. He went out of his way to come back on Sunday morning to tell me that he was 94% through the book and thought it was amazing…and that he had downloaded the other two books that morning!<br />
<br />
I was again completely humbled by their expressions of how I had affected two different people in such a great way. I felt honored that they had chosen me and my writing in order to escape from reality. I was honored that they both entered into my Realm of Ashenclaw with open arms and with an open mind. I cannot express in words how that makes me feel as an author and a human being.<br />
<br />
So, on to my breakfast meeting with Erik Scott De Bie on Sunday. I must tell you that it was a tale of mishaps and odd misunderstandings as Erik and I exchanged texts as to where to meet, but after an hour, we finally caught up at a Starbucks there. Interestingly enough, Erik is a rather tall and imposing individual and carries himself very well in conversation. That being said, Erik and I talked about many things. The most memorable to me was his advice. He gave me some constructive criticisms, advice on becoming a better writer and talked to me as a peer. I cannot tell you what his respect means. He not only gave me the critique, but he also made a point to give me the good news, and I am paraphrasing, but, it included the following: My covers were eye-catching and consistent, my branding and logo (Realm of Ashenclaw) was extremely professional and most importantly, that my writing was compelling. He went out of his way to say that I was passionate about my work, that he thought I was on to something and that he was happy to see what I was able to do as an independent author.<br />
<br />
All of this was extremely humbling to hear from an author who works for Ed Greenwood and Dungeons & Dragons. After we parted ways, I went back to my booth for the last day and Erik stopped back one more time to gift me a copy of an anthology that he had contributed on for GenCon, which was above and beyond. I highly recommend any fans of fantasy to check him out and follow his writing, as I believe he is worthy of being included in the Forgotten Realms gaggle of writers.<br />
<br />
Go buy his stuff! Erik’s site is here if you are interested in seeing what he is up to. <a href="http://erikscottdebie.com/">http://erikscottdebie.com/</a><br />
<br />
Well, that about wraps up my details. Next post will include pics of all of the scenes and costumes that I was able to get! Stay tuned.<br />
<br />
Oh, and all of my books are currently resting at 99 cents on the kindle for a post-GENCON sale! Go download 'em before I come to my senses and raise the price...lol.<br />
<br />
Hugs and kicks,<br />
Gary</div>
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Gary F. Vanuccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15208762635651539773noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646938055861575195.post-44322769754218102322012-08-08T14:04:00.000-05:002012-08-08T14:04:45.724-05:00A Blackrazor by any other name...Continuing the theme of books that influenced DnD (and therefore my writing!) the next
one I thought I’d tackle was Michael Moorcock’s Elric saga. A lot of Moorcock’s
work in the sixties and seventies probably had a direct influence on Gygax and
the other creators of the game, not least the Corum sequence and the two
Hawkmoon series (The Runestaff quartet, and the Chronicles of Count Brass
trilogy), but undoubtedly Elric was a key one.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU9yyggx9KSplf61ro1mrWQ9EZW9Ou53kVBubtRnKmFYBWyIvOAX5UsL_danTTS5lIGXeKjF-vV-_mHYAc-6PQvrF5o24cO2Ifjn2PWHaTSDwfpQXqMxdFm71lwrM2a_KVManmn8Crsah2/s1600/elric.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU9yyggx9KSplf61ro1mrWQ9EZW9Ou53kVBubtRnKmFYBWyIvOAX5UsL_danTTS5lIGXeKjF-vV-_mHYAc-6PQvrF5o24cO2Ifjn2PWHaTSDwfpQXqMxdFm71lwrM2a_KVManmn8Crsah2/s200/elric.jpg" width="131" /></a>Everyone who played the game in the early Eighties with me
knew of Elric, although only a few of us had read it. The RPG Runequest had a
particular supplement relating to Elric as I recall, and since then I think
there has been a specific game around him. I got around to reading the Fantasy
Masterworks collection of Elric last year, and enjoyed it. I could see why it
had appealed to so many people, although I’ve never really got into Moorcock’s
style (I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">did</i> enjoyed Dancers at the
End of Time).<br />
<br />
Moorcock is often quoted as saying he wrote Elric as a
direct opposition to the traditional fantasy works of Tolkien and RE Howard (he
famously described Lord of the Rings as akin to a fantasy Winnie the Pooh). Elric,
in his original inception in the nine short stories that comprised Stormbringer
(re-published by Fantasy Masterworks as ‘Elric’) is a superb anti-hero. He
starts the stories leading an attack upon on his own kingdom, he then proceeds
to (admittedly inadvertently at times) chop up all his mates, and he becomes
addicted to his magical sword, Stormbringer. Perfect for the Sixties, when
people wanted their heroes rather more flawed than the idealistic Fifties!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgun8hsnnJFvaPUXOVlXrz990i1jr6kaGfi2eaRC0gfeSDub0mnlYU7jdg-X0tjKjJ1bviGaHpc6RHp02EGPYLLfjTfALT6J5XeYtbaBylq0rwlIs7UiczmInxuIlPPmqMSNOis6BepX2dE/s1600/elric2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgun8hsnnJFvaPUXOVlXrz990i1jr6kaGfi2eaRC0gfeSDub0mnlYU7jdg-X0tjKjJ1bviGaHpc6RHp02EGPYLLfjTfALT6J5XeYtbaBylq0rwlIs7UiczmInxuIlPPmqMSNOis6BepX2dE/s200/elric2.jpg" width="128" /></a>The influence on the game is overt in a number of areas. The
DnD alignment system owes a large debt to the concept of Law and Chaos that
Moorcock used, although this in itself was probably evolved from Poul
Anderson’s Three Hearts and Three Lions (which I’ll review next time). Moorcock
took it further, and this battle between the two forces was the key plotline in
the later part of the Elric saga (and continued in parts of the Eternal
Champion sequence). Law and Chaos are balanced by Neutrality (the Cosmic
Balance) and in his books the Eternal Champion served the Cosmic Balance.
Moorcock created deities aligned to both Law and Chaos that feature in his
books. It’s easy to see how the addition of good and evil created the 9
alignments in AD&D.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjchx1brr9IeifgR9j-aO-Yxqc2O5EQrHj5ERZrmDuZPBpSdIL0JGg0r8_aHzBYQJVxbinNa0y6Iwp1gy2g9y-3quFJjHk-nqmtcrDiHHFFlKnhL3HSgVA4RMMzU-P0htFmUCZBF0ozKV4a/s1600/white_plume.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjchx1brr9IeifgR9j-aO-Yxqc2O5EQrHj5ERZrmDuZPBpSdIL0JGg0r8_aHzBYQJVxbinNa0y6Iwp1gy2g9y-3quFJjHk-nqmtcrDiHHFFlKnhL3HSgVA4RMMzU-P0htFmUCZBF0ozKV4a/s200/white_plume.jpg" width="152" /></a>Stormbringer, a runeblade that is essentially a Chaos demon
in sword form, was a major aspect of Elric’s saga. It was a mighty sword that
could chop through anything and drank life energy to sustain Elric, in a
vampyric fashion. Its sibling blade was ‘Mournblade’ which had similar powers.
In the DnD game the idea of life-drinking magic swords was most obviously
emulated in White Plume Mountain (S2), which to my gang was the most frequently
played module next to B2: Keep on the Borderlands. I’ve still got the original
pale-orange covered one at home! The sword in question was Blackrazor, one of
the three personalised magic weapons in the adventure. The author of the
module, Lawrence Schick, later admitted he was embarrassed by his blatant
rip-off of Stormbringer (he’d thrown the module together from his favourite
bits of his own scenarios). Personally I thought it was awesome, and each time
we played it there was a full-on scrabble for the soul-drinking sword.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmtE4UDI3wn_rNLMjX5GbwDUsB-NvV_FZyi5OkUlATD-_CbyUH6NybsWQvX0EZwg1eqWn9H84wuDPR5i20EDO-3a4cCSI_WuPF0Ml9fG2yGVeI2e970sM_vXD1PyB2wZzDgT0-VwNgBaai/s1600/elric6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmtE4UDI3wn_rNLMjX5GbwDUsB-NvV_FZyi5OkUlATD-_CbyUH6NybsWQvX0EZwg1eqWn9H84wuDPR5i20EDO-3a4cCSI_WuPF0Ml9fG2yGVeI2e970sM_vXD1PyB2wZzDgT0-VwNgBaai/s320/elric6.jpg" width="221" /></a>The more subtle influence of Elric on the game was the
adventuring aspects of the books. Elric has a group of companions—Moonglum,
Dyvim, Rackhir—with whom he adventures, fulfilling ‘missions’ and ‘quests.’ We also
had a healthy collection of opposing sorcerers, and a few monsters chucked in
for good measure.<br />
<br />
There’s a criticism of Moorcock’s Elric books that the
characters can be a little flat, and the dialogue a little cheesy, but I think
if you read them as a fun fantasy read in instalments (as they can get a touch
‘samey’) then you’ll not go far wrong. And let’s face it we all wanted to have
a character as cool as Elric... soul-drinking sword, hot-line to demons to save
your arse in a fight, a goth-look that the lasses adored... perfect.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Next up... torn between Fritz Lieber and Poul
Anderson....Thieves vs. Paladins...<o:p></o:p></div>Ross M Kitsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15328214670002553096noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646938055861575195.post-83509904407157986902012-08-05T20:51:00.000-05:002012-08-05T20:51:37.105-05:00Amazon Gift Card Giveaway!Start by going to my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Realm-of-Ashenclaw/340890512589329" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">REALM OF ASHENCLAW FAN PAGE! </a><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>SHARE THE POST pinned at the top of the page on YOUR OWN FACEBOOK PAGE for 1 chance to WIN</b>. </span><br />
<br />
It reads:<br />
<div>
≫ Let your imagination loose! Leave this world and escape to mine: Book 1 in the Beginnings series contains 6 short story prequels that give a glimpse into the history of my main characters in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008AEFN8M">WOTHLONDIA RISING: THE ANTHOLOGY</a>! Or jump right into the full-length novels with Book 2 of the saga<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0083ZDROA">: COVENANT OF THE FACELESS KNIGHTS</a>. Continue the epic journey with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008EFALNO">SECRETS OF THE EBONITE MINES</a>! Don’t have a kindle? Don’t worry, here is the direct link for downloading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771"><b>kindle apps</b></a> to any of the following devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, Android, Blackberry, Windows 7 phone, Windows, Mac, iPAd, Android Tablet and they even have a cloud reader. ≪</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Don’t want the kindle versions? Check them out in PRINT on CreateSpace!<br />
<a href="https://www.createspace.com/3909366">☞ Wothlondia Rising: The Anthology</a><br />
<a href="https://www.createspace.com/3878960">☞ Covenant of the Faceless Knights</a><br />
<a href="https://www.createspace.com/3923121">☞ Secrets of the Ebonite Mines</a><br />
<div>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>☞</b></span><b><span style="font-size: large;">CONTEST GUIDELINES: </span></b>Like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Realm-of-Ashenclaw/340890512589329" target="_blank"><b>My Fan Page page</b></a> (if you haven’t already) and share the post pinned at the top of the page on your wall for a chance to be entered to win one of three prizes!</div>
<div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">1. $50.00 AMAZON GIFT CARD</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">2. $30.00 AMAZON GIFT CARD</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">3. $20.00 AMAZON GIFT CARD</span></b></div>
</blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b></b></span><br />
<div style="display: inline !important;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Click SHARE to get your name entered! </b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b></b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Contest ends on Halloween, October 31, 2012! I will announce the winners right here and on my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Realm-of-Ashenclaw/340890512589329" target="_blank">Realm of Ashenclaw Fan Page!</a></span></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">❖ If you would like <b>MORE CHANCES TO WIN</b>, here’s how ❖</span><br />
<br />
Purchase any one of my books, copy and paste the <b>Amazon Order Summary</b> section of your receipt into the '<b>How may we help you</b>’ box on my <a href="http://www.ashenclaw.com/index.php/contact-us.html"><b>CONTACT PAGE</b></a>. Fill in your name and email and I will enter your name again! If you<b> buy all three</b>, now you have 3 more chances to win!<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">❖ Want even one more chance to win? </span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><b>❖</b></span><br />
All you have to do is leave a review for any one of my books and send an email to <a href="mailto:info@ashenclaw.com"><b>info@ashenclaw.com</b></a> with the <b>link for the review</b>. It’s that simple!<br />
<br />
What the readers are saying...<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
❝Covenant of The Faceless Knights was an epic read that kept me turning the page❞<br />
❝Gary Vanucci is an author to read now and look out for in the future. He has a unique approach to fantasy with his intricate characterization and his eye for the unpredictable❞<br />
❝The writing style and everything was top-notch and I would rate it at ten stars if I could.❞<br />
❝Strong combat scenes will keep you on the edge of your seat.❞</blockquote>
Best of luck!<br />
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</div>Gary F. Vanuccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15208762635651539773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646938055861575195.post-66447916059390823542012-07-22T10:03:00.000-05:002012-07-22T10:07:38.929-05:00Skulldust Circle Anthology Coming Soon!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwuvzt7nDMxV30RD11Ew3Vzcc6N8IpaEPsai7WW9jkc2TjbXlgwvubwVYvB6n9UIXA1g0SmdLfnjZaNP9nyzLbd3yTwk7jhR6B560sg6s3R8V4zti1UxvuH-tHjQ6ZVSF9VygVN1xMlHFY/s1600/Skulldust_hourglass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwuvzt7nDMxV30RD11Ew3Vzcc6N8IpaEPsai7WW9jkc2TjbXlgwvubwVYvB6n9UIXA1g0SmdLfnjZaNP9nyzLbd3yTwk7jhR6B560sg6s3R8V4zti1UxvuH-tHjQ6ZVSF9VygVN1xMlHFY/s400/Skulldust_hourglass.jpg" width="162" /></a>I am excited to announce that Skulldust Circle is working on an anthology of short stories! The main goal here is to give our fans and readers who may not know us or that may only know one of us, a sampling of our writing styles. So far, we are putting together stories based on whatever worlds we’ve already created. That should be happening in the next 2 weeks or so, if all goes according to plan, so keep your eyes peeled! We are still in the latter stages of development, but once the book goes live, we will certainly let you know.<br />
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Possible titles: ‘Skulldust Circle’ (I know…weird, right?) or ‘A Gathering of Dust.’<br />
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The tome shall include works from William Kenney, Jeremy Laszlo, Ross Kitson, Ben Martin & Gary Vanucci (me) at the moment. I don’t pretend to know what the others are writing about, but I expect them to make comments possibly on what it is they are doing or even do their own posts with explanations to that end.<br />
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My story is about the scorching drake (more commonly referred to as a red dragon) that started it all: Ashenclaw! Ever want to know what happened those years ago when the land was burnt to ash by the scorching drakes? Ever wonder where my realm got its name? Wonder no more!<br />
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And the best part about the whole thing is that I involved some of my friends that I used to play certain MMO’s with and I was able to put a good deal of them into the story! It was a ton of fun to write and I hope that the readers really enjoy it, especially them! The story is simply entitled ‘THE LEGEND OF ASHENCLAW’ and it runs approximately 21K words. I look forward to feedback and would love to hear your comments about the whole Skulldust Circle project! </div>
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<br /></div>Gary F. Vanuccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15208762635651539773noreply@blogger.com1