Gary F. Vanucci's Blog, page 24

Orngoth excerpt! Part of Chapter 14

I have been getting quite a few of the people clamoring for Orngoth excerpts...so, once more on twitter's #SampleSunday, I give you a portion of Chapter 14 of Covenant of the Faceless Knights! Enjoy you soon-to-be-favorite Half-ogre Barbarian!



There were four twisted caricatures of once-humanoid creatures with rotting and sickeningly discolored flesh hanging from their semi-exposed skeletons. It was the foulest sight they had ever witnessed—the unclean abominations feeding on the now lifeless husk of their fellow goblinoid. They were obviously drawn to the scent of fresh blood. "Ghouls!" Forgulnak uttered loudly as the deep red of their eyes reflected in the torchlight. He could see their twisted gray and sickening skin as well as their clawed hands now tearing goblin flesh from the bone and devouring it with their sharp teeth.They stood appalled by the scene, nauseated and frozen, trying to move. It was too late. The four undead creatures sensed and smelled this new flesh that had foolishly entered their lair and advanced with speed unparalleled on their newest prey.  The ghouls leapt at the goblinoids, rushing them and knocking them to the blood-stained and slick ground as they stood in shock, helpless and completely nauseated by the sight and smell of the debacle. They were too sickened to even move and their senses were overwhelmed. Forgulnak finally realized the true horror of their situation as he tried to make his legs move, but was unable. Whether it was fear or something else that paralyzed him, he could not tell as he felt the flesh being torn from his bones. The undead overran them and began to feast, completely consumed by their hunger…until one of them was suddenly crushed by the sickening weight of a gargantuan club.

Orngoth heard the shuffling and smelled a foul odor emitting from the alcove. He heard a goblin scream harshly as some terrible fate must have befallen it, but he could not see what happened as it was beyond his line of sight. He also knew that he had to get free of his manacles.He strained once more against the chains that bound his arms and hands together in front of him and again a few of the metal links weakened and began to buckle further.Another tug from his mighty arms expanded the links once more. His muscles continued expanding and contracting in succession against the metal, as his veins became more pronounced beneath the skin of his arms. The metal groaned and complained as they twisted and reshaped themselves to conform to the half-ogres' will, eventually giving in to this creature's remarkable strength with several loud pops. He was suddenly free of his bonds and he retrieved his massive club.It took Orngoth almost a full minute to squeeze his large frame through the alcove, but he managed, scraping flesh and leaving the top layers of his flesh behind on the stone. The ghouls had been so focused on their new feast that Orngoth's entrance had gone completely unnoticed.Orngoth fought back the disgusting odor and did not succumb to its accompanying nausea as he smashed the first undead creature into mush with a mighty downward swing of his club. The three remaining anathemas moved quickly toward him. Orngoth's fierce blue eyes seemed to have already run over with rage, obviously sickened and angered by the sight of this purest of evils. Orngoth felt frenzy well up inside him!His huge club came up over his head and he timed the next blow perfectly, almost knocking the ram-horned helm from atop his head as he mightily swung the club and connected. The blow was so powerful that he simply crushed the life out of the ghoul. As he started to pull his club from the remains of the second ghoul, he was struck simultaneously by the two remaining creatures. Biting and clawing at his already scarred and fairly tough hide, the ghouls pressed their assault and Orngoth howled in pain as the anger surged within him. He allowed it to wash over him.Small pieces of his yellowed skin were slashed open by the fiends, but Orngoth didn't even take notice now as his anger grew, driving him to acts of heroic proportions. He reached out and pulled the first of the two off by its neck and tossed it hard against the stone wall. It hit with a sickening thud, standing up again slowly and swaying slightly as it was obviously dazed.He grabbed the second one by its arm, nearly tearing it off in the process and threw it in the same direction as the first, with a similar result.Orngoth roared fiercely, completely consumed by his fury now, ignoring sense and sensibilities, wanting only now to destroy his foe! The two undead hurled themselves at him once more. He almost slipped on the slick surface as he readied himself, but regained his footing dropping into a lower and wider stance.  Orngoth grabbed the base of his weapon with both hands and swung hard! The timing of his spectacular swing connected with the first ghoul solidly, crushing its ribs and liquefying them straight away. Then there was a loud crash that immediately followed the first.  His swing continued its momentum, crushing the second creature's skull, hitting it with so much force that it almost removed the head from the body. Nothing else moved now. Orngoth stood over the unmoving creatures, blood-stained and angry. He roared in victory, breathing steadily for several moments as he allowed the anger to fade from him. Eventually exhaustion set in. He fell to one knee before staggering out of the room and slumping to his rear on the hard floor. Breathing more slowly now, he contemplated what to do next, until sleep claimed him.

Anyone wishing to purchase Covenant of the Faceless Knights can find it here in print and PDF , Kindle , Google eBook , iPad

 
See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!

Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase Covenant of the Faceless Knights and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!
 
All content, maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios, LLC. 2011

Realm of Ashenclaw History and The City of Oakhaven

Currently, Oakhaven is a booming city—some say even greater than it was prior to the attacks of Ashenclaw. Its population is estimated to be over 19,000 people from varying races and cultural backgrounds and can surpass the 20,000 mark when a festival or event is occurring.

Oakhaven has a most-respected military force known as The Watch that reinforces and protects the city and its laws; set forth by its officials. The city is guided along by a group of ten members called the High Council. Each of these men and women are pillars of the community and represent one of the many guilds or factions that make the town what it is today. They are a fair and just governing force that benefit the entire realm and include such important personnel as the Lord Mayor and Assistant Mayor, as well as the Inspector of Taxes, who keeps the financial responsibilities of the people and the city's officials in line. Their political structure is mirrored in several other communities and towns and has been widely regarded as a highly democratic system that favors the people and their many needs.


The High Council of Oakhaven~ 

Tiyarnon: High priest of the sun-god—The Shimmering One

Aldranon: Lord Mayor of Oakhaven

Nimaira Silvershade: Guild mistress of Wizardry

Rolin Hardbeard: Master of the Watch and the military

Ganthorpe Randolph: Asst. Mayor and liaison

Aeldur: Captain of the Watch and the military force in Oakhaven

Merobo Underbough: Merchant and Traders Guild leader

Alstin Reese: Guild master of Lawyers and Scribes

Bemli Gemfist: Guild master of Jewelers and gem cutters

Carrick Ellis: Inspector of Taxes



Guilds of Oakhaven~ 

Here is a list of most guilds one might find in Oakhaven. This is an idea of the prominent guilds that might come into play.

· Guild of Lawyers and Scribes

· Timekeepers' and Lamplighters' Guild

· Guild of Wizardry

· Jewelers' and Gem-Cutters' Guild

· Merchant and Traders' Guild

· Masonry and Architects' Guild

· Bakers' and Butcher's Guild

· Cartographers' and Surveyors' Guild

· Laborers' Guild (includes warehouseman and longshoreman)

· Tanners' and Leatherworkers' Guild

· Smithy and Metalworkers' Guild

· Moneychangers' and Money-lenders' Guild

· Brewer and Ale-makers' Guild

· Artisans' and Engravers' Guild

· Thespians' and Playwrights' Guild

· Teachers' and Scholars' Guild

· Street-sweepers' Guild

· Herbalists' and Apothecaries' Guild

· Thieves' Guild ~ Shadowhands *(Spoiler)

· Assassins' Guild ~ The Scarlet Web **(Spoiler)

*The Shadowhands is a huge underground organization of thieves and cutpurses in Oakhaven with hundreds under its employ. It is secretly run by the Assistant Mayor of Oakhaven—Ganthorpe Randolph. It stretches from several above ground homes in many districts including both the Nobles Districts and Commons Districts all the way through and under the city in its sewers. Business is conducted in many different places, with a main HQ located in the Warehousing District. Ganthorpe runs the guild with an iron fist and many who have crossed him usually wind up being washed into the River Divide and out into the North Gulf or worse.

**The Scarlet Web is a more mysterious and lightly populated guild with its main HQ unknown. The only thing known is its point of contact—Lady Saphirra—who enjoys conducting business in privacy. Many know of her, but none dare speak her name in public-lest they find themselves an unwitting victim of poisoned food or drink, among other things. Though she employs few assassins overall, the ones she does utilize are rumored to be the best in the realm.



Oakhaven's Districts~


The city has built up several districts within that satisfy certain criteria and add to the allure and structure of the city. This includes a Trade District, where many merchants from Oakhaven as well as many traveling merchants may trade using both permanent and temporary areas with which to do so. As with many of the other cities, Oakhaven's Trade District is teeming with merchants and buyers, often spilling out into the main courtyard of the city and sometimes even into the boundaries of other districts. There is an Entertainment District, where travelers and citizens may find gambling of all kinds, as well as a dozen or more taverns and inns selling ale, wine and mead and several different types of food.

The Remedial District is where infirmaries with physicians, temples with healing priests and apothecaries and herbalists can all be found employing their crafts to the unfortunate or ill people of Oakhaven. Curative methods can be procured in the way of elixirs, salves and divine healing gifted to the priests of the many temples within.

The Enlightenment District is where one can find all manners academia, including the well-known and well-respected University of Wizardry, run by Nimaira Silvershade herself. The scholars and historians employed by Oakhaven's city are the finest in the land, next to the high elves themselves, who have lived for countless centuries accumulating their vast knowledge. Oakhaven is also known for catering to all manner of income, providing accommodations for the laborer as well as the merchant in the Commons and Nobles District respectively, where the domiciles of Oakhaven's citizens can be found.

A Harvest District can be found separating the Commons and Nobles Districts. This area was built on rich soil and produces many trees, flowers, plants and edible fruits and vegetables that help feed the people of Oakhaven as well as providing some food for trade with other cities.

The Business and Craft District is located just beyond the Hall of the High Council and is quite large. This area houses all of the businesses and guild houses where daily business is done (other than trading). All offices and storefronts can be located within, such as the Jeweler, Butcher, Smithy and Baker to name a few. All of these businesses also provide an area in the trade district as well, but a larger selection of items can be found within the walls of their stores.

The Warehousing District is essentially along the docks, placed along the edge of the River Divide, where boats come in from areas that supply Oakhaven in bulk, especially Highport. Most rivers connect at some point to the River Divide, including the Prismatic River that runs from the North Peaks all the way through and empties into the swamps at the base of the Chaos Crests. Warehouses line the backdrop of the docks where bulk items are loaded and unloaded with merchandise coming through Oakhaven to be shipped or received.

More Later!

See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!

Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase Covenant of the Faceless Knights and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!

(Photos from Kozzi)
 
All content, maps, names and artwork copyright Ashenclaw Studios, LLC. 2011

What Price is the Right Price for a Book?

I am seeing a bit of disparity in the price of books, especially eBooks. I see prices that range from $30.00+ for a hardcover down to .99 cents for an eBook.

I am wondering what is the best price point for a novel and at what point will you not 'break the bank' for a book? I don't think that $10.00 is asking too much for a book that I want to read, regardless of whether or not it in print or an eBook, but what the heck do I know!?

With books so easy to obtain via downloads to the Nook, Kindle, iPad, iPhone, Android phones, etc., does that change your mind, too? I know Amazon and the eBook changed the publishing and writing game forever.

I looked recently on the top kindle book and every single one was $2.99 and under. Some of them were even free! I am not sure how they count 'free' as sales, but I am sure it is possible. I know many bloggers and authors have discussed this, but I wanted to see what my audience thinks. Reason being is that I have many more books in the works!

I feel that my publishing company may have mislead me indirectly or perhaps I wasn't clear enough with my expectations—maybe it was simply my own delusions of grandeur that pushed my own ego into thinking that I could make a good push with sales all by myself…meh. While I think that I am doing a fairly good job of marketing using the social media sites, I feel like sometimes I am beating a dead horse…especially on Facebook. I am having some success with twitter, my website and with the blog in driving visitors to each using the other. At some point or another, I feel that I am going to need either to spend some of my own money for a media blitz or try to find an agent to net me a publisher.

Who was happy? This guy!Circling back to the first published book, I went with the 'let's try to see how far I can push this while competing against known authors' route in my price point. While I don't say that it is wrong, I think that I may have put the cart before the horse.

I am currently working on a prequel: an anthology that includes the story of what happened to my retired heroes prior to the prologue in Covenant of the Faceless Knights. I am also working on short stories of Elec, Saeunn, Rose and Garius. I am also planning on doing another full length novel for the second in the 'Beginnings' series (sequel). I am still debating whether or not to include a story about Orngoth in the anthology (prequel)…I will see if anyone clamors for one here!

Also, I am planning on releasing the anthology sometime next year with the price point of .99 cents up to $2.99. Any advice from the pro's out there? I am not quite sure what to do yet for the full length novel and am debating whether or not to bother with the interior art again. I liked it, but am not sure if it is worth the added expense.

I know that some people only charge the $2.99 price, but are they mostly novellas, short stories or what? My novel was 304 pages and I spent a lot of hard work in editing, presenting and writing it. I am not saying that anyone else hasn't, merely presenting the facts from my side for anyone who hasn't written a book yet! Does that mean anything or not when compared to the rest of the field?

My questions to you are:

1. What do you charge or what would you pay for a full length novel?

2. What do you expect content-wise and editorial-wise for the .99 cent to $2.99 price point?

3. Do you want to see a sixth short story in the anthology that centers on the half-ogre barbarian Orngoth?


See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!

Please visit my home page to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase Covenant of the Faceless Knights and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!

(Photos from Kozzi and me!)

Infernal Titans Battlemaps

I know that fantasy novels and gaming go hand in hand, so I have decided to plug my friend's business who makes Battlemaps for any RPG. They are the 1" square maps that we all have seen if we play any type of table top RPG.
Since I had some traffic coming here from other gaming sites and blogs, I wanted to re-post something here for Nick about his Battlemaps, especially since I talked about them last week here. So. without further ado, here is the post and the link to Infernal Titans TWITTER, BLOG and RPGNOW spot!

 *****
[image error] I love maps. They're one of my favorite things about D&D I think. Whether maps of the world, maps of a kingdom, maps of a city, or maps of a dungeon makes no difference. I love looking at them, drawing them, and using them. A good map can be as inspiring as a good book.

A while ago I was talking to a friend of mine who worked in the printing business about having poster maps printed for my gaming group. We love using battle maps. The only problem was there weren't enough of them. Turns out it would be damn expensive to print out individual maps for personal use. The more you print though, the cheaper it becomes. So I figured why not try to sell them. I've seen plenty of threads where people are asking for poster sized battle maps.

The hardest part was finding someone to draw them. I had one artist flake out on me, and one just got too busy. I had limited options, and an even more limited budget. I was stumped, until I talked to my cousin Mark. We were talking about the maps, and he said "I guess it's something you can't do yourself?". To which I replied "I don't know, I never tried." So that evening I opened up Photoshop, and started drawing/painting/photoshopping or whatever. I even downloaded the free 30 day trial of Adobe Illustrator to mess with. 
I figured any artwork is better than no artwork, and at least I was moving forward. Even if it was at a snails pace. And even if it was for nothing, at least I was doing my best to see it through. So after several months of lumbering through Illustrator and Photoshop I had a final product. Was it perfect? Not in my opinion, but we are our own worst critics.

Then came the business end of things: forming the LLC, getting a tax I.D. number from the IRS, starting a business checking account. I was doing things wrong more often than I did them right. But in the end, I got it all worked out. Ultimately my goal is to give as much as I can back to the game that has given so much to me these past twenty four years. I don't even want to imagine what life would have been like if I did not have my fantasy world to escape to. So check out the site, let me know what you think. I look forward to input from my fellow gamers

I love maps. They're one of my favorite things about D&D I think. Whether maps of the world, maps of a kingdom, maps of a city, or maps of a dungeon makes no difference. I love looking at them, drawing them, and using them. A good map can be as inspiring as a good book.

A while ago I was talking to a friend of mine who worked in the printing business about having poster maps printed for my gaming group. We love using battle maps. The only problem was there weren't enough of them. Turns out it would be damn expensive to print out individual maps for personal use. The more you print though, the cheaper it becomes. So I figured why not try to sell them. I've seen plenty of threads where people are asking for poster sized battle maps.

The hardest part was finding someone to draw them. I had one artist flake out on me, and one just got too busy. I had limited options, and an even more limited budget. I was stumped, until I talked to my cousin Mark. We were talking about the maps, and he said "I guess it's something you can't do yourself?". To which I replied "I don't know, I never tried." So that evening I opened up Photoshop, and started drawing/painting/photoshopping or whatever. I even downloaded the free 30 day trial of Adobe Illustrator to mess with.

I figured any artwork is better than no artwork, and at least I was moving forward. Even if it was at a snails pace. And even if it was for nothing, at least I was doing my best to see it through. So after several months of lumbering through Illustrator and Photoshop I had a final product. Was it perfect? Not in my opinion, but we are our own worst critics. 
[image error] Then came the business end of things: forming the LLC, getting a tax I.D. number from the IRS, starting a business checking account. I was doing things wrong more often than I did them right. But in the end, I got it all worked out. Ultimately my goal is to give as much as I can back to the game that has given so much to me these past twenty four years. I don't even want to imagine what life would have been like if I did not have my fantasy world to escape to. So check out the site, let me know what you think. I look forward to input from my fellow gamers!*************
I've got poster maps for sale on my website. We're doing a pre-print sale to see what kind of interest there is in the community. Four full color 36"x24" battlemaps for $10. They'll be available at that price until we go to print. I know I want more battle maps, hopefully many of you do also.
Check out the pics in my photos for a preview, and check out the website HERE
*****
Thanks all for checking this out and I will see you in Wothlondia! Cheers!
Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase Covenant of the Faceless Knights and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!

Infernal TItans Battlemaps

I know that fantasy novels and gmaing go hand in hand, so I have decided to plug my friend's business who makes Battlemaps for any RPG. They are the 1" square maps that we all have seen if we play any type of table top RPG.
Since I had some traffic coming here from other gaming sites and blogs, I wanted to re-post something here for Nick about his Battlemaps, especially since I talked about them last week here. So. without further ado, here is the post and the link to Infernal Titans TWITTER, BLOG and RPGNOW spot!

 *****
[image error] I love maps. They're one of my favorite things about D&D I think. Whether maps of the world, maps of a kingdom, maps of a city, or maps of a dungeon makes no difference. I love looking at them, drawing them, and using them. A good map can be as inspiring as a good book.

A while ago I was talking to a friend of mine who worked in the printing business about having poster maps printed for my gaming group. We love using battle maps. The only problem was there weren't enough of them. Turns out it would be damn expensive to print out individual maps for personal use. The more you print though, the cheaper it becomes. So I figured why not try to sell them. I've seen plenty of threads where people are asking for poster sized battle maps.

The hardest part was finding someone to draw them. I had one artist flake out on me, and one just got too busy. I had limited options, and an even more limited budget. I was stumped, until I talked to my cousin Mark. We were talking about the maps, and he said "I guess it's something you can't do yourself?". To which I replied "I don't know, I never tried." So that evening I opened up Photoshop, and started drawing/painting/photoshopping or whatever. I even downloaded the free 30 day trial of Adobe Illustrator to mess with. 
I figured any artwork is better than no artwork, and at least I was moving forward. Even if it was at a snails pace. And even if it was for nothing, at least I was doing my best to see it through. So after several months of lumbering through Illustrator and Photoshop I had a final product. Was it perfect? Not in my opinion, but we are our own worst critics.

Then came the business end of things: forming the LLC, getting a tax I.D. number from the IRS, starting a business checking account. I was doing things wrong more often than I did them right. But in the end, I got it all worked out. Ultimately my goal is to give as much as I can back to the game that has given so much to me these past twenty four years. I don't even want to imagine what life would have been like if I did not have my fantasy world to escape to. So check out the site, let me know what you think. I look forward to input from my fellow gamers

I love maps. They're one of my favorite things about D&D I think. Whether maps of the world, maps of a kingdom, maps of a city, or maps of a dungeon makes no difference. I love looking at them, drawing them, and using them. A good map can be as inspiring as a good book.

A while ago I was talking to a friend of mine who worked in the printing business about having poster maps printed for my gaming group. We love using battle maps. The only problem was there weren't enough of them. Turns out it would be damn expensive to print out individual maps for personal use. The more you print though, the cheaper it becomes. So I figured why not try to sell them. I've seen plenty of threads where people are asking for poster sized battle maps.

The hardest part was finding someone to draw them. I had one artist flake out on me, and one just got too busy. I had limited options, and an even more limited budget. I was stumped, until I talked to my cousin Mark. We were talking about the maps, and he said "I guess it's something you can't do yourself?". To which I replied "I don't know, I never tried." So that evening I opened up Photoshop, and started drawing/painting/photoshopping or whatever. I even downloaded the free 30 day trial of Adobe Illustrator to mess with.

I figured any artwork is better than no artwork, and at least I was moving forward. Even if it was at a snails pace. And even if it was for nothing, at least I was doing my best to see it through. So after several months of lumbering through Illustrator and Photoshop I had a final product. Was it perfect? Not in my opinion, but we are our own worst critics. 
[image error] Then came the business end of things: forming the LLC, getting a tax I.D. number from the IRS, starting a business checking account. I was doing things wrong more often than I did them right. But in the end, I got it all worked out. Ultimately my goal is to give as much as I can back to the game that has given so much to me these past twenty four years. I don't even want to imagine what life would have been like if I did not have my fantasy world to escape to. So check out the site, let me know what you think. I look forward to input from my fellow gamers!*************
I've got poster maps for sale on my website. We're doing a pre-print sale to see what kind of interest there is in the community. Four full color 36"x24" battlemaps for $10. They'll be available at that price until we go to print. I know I want more battle maps, hopefully many of you do also.
Check out the pics in my photos for a preview, and check out the website HERE
*****
Thanks all for checking this out and I will see you in Wothlondia! Cheers!
Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase Covenant of the Faceless Knights and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!

Realm of Ashenclaw, A Brief History

I thought I would share a brief history here on my blog about the Realm and give the reader a bit of information on the history and flavor of the world. I was intending to post something here on the city of Oakhaven, but that may have been putting the cart before the horse. So, in an effort to give you information in a logical order, I give you this...first.
The Realm of Ashenclaw~

Before the attack of Ashenclaw and her kin, the continent of Wothlondia was a growing populace and the only land in which there were civilized, intelligent races on the world known as Krotto. 
These races intermingled and traded peacefully, communicating and living in coexistence. The trading methods used by the people were many, but the coinage remained the same throughout the land as bronze, silver and gold coins were the main currency. 
Many of the races contributed to keeping the whole of Wothlondia safe. The elves were plentiful in and around the forests, keeping them clean and secure, while the humans built villages outside the forest, while both races harvested food on the soil. Dwarves lived in peace in the uppermost portions of the subterrane as well as the edges of the surface world, mining and building their magnificent kingdoms. They all traded with one another and developed routes of travel. The gnomes, halflings, orcs, goblins and other races kept to themselves at first, trading sporadically when the need arose, until a century prior, all were happily exchanging goods and services, unique to their own kin or land. These races came to be known as the Races of Order collectively by the people of Wothlondia. There was a common language that emerged for trading that each race learned and taught their own in order to communicate. The language was referred to as trade-speak, or Wothlondian, and is still practiced and taught by each and every race to each subsequent generation as to never forget.
In the years preceding the scorching drake attacks, trade between the races began to slow.  Trade routes and caravans were frequently attacked by trolls, slagfell, ogres, succubi and other creatures emerging from the subterrane.  Many demons and other evil creatures also conspired to interfere with the racial harmony. Through varying means of manipulation, both verbal and supernatural, they influenced many into treacherous acts against the good folks of the realm—especially the succubi! 

The year is 66 PA (Post Ashenclaw) and the general order of the land is still in a flux, with several cities rebuilt to their former glory, some yet in the process and still many more lay in ruin. There are many scavengers and dangers roaming the land, trying to find food, shelter and the like. Travel is generally treacherous, but is still undertaken with armed escorts, as many cities have resumed trade and need to import/export goods in order to continue or to start rebuilding.  

Cosmology~
Ø  Central plane (Krotto)Ø  Plane of shadowØ  Arcadia (heavens) Ø  Pandemonium (hell)Ø  Elemental planes: fire, air, water and earth    Ø  Regenerative plane (holy/healing)Ø  Degenerative plane (necromantic/harmful) Ø  Arcana (supernatural power)Ø  Feyfields (magic of nature)

The Calendar~
Month Month Name Present Month 1 Winter's Bite January 2 Winter's Heart February 3 Winter's Fade March 4 the Deluge April 5 Nature's Call May 6 Sun's Burn June 7 Mid-Summer July 8 Summer's Fade August 9 The Calming September 10 Nature's Fall October 11 The Chilling November 12 Winter's Veil December


Days of the Week~
The days of the week were named after the moon and the sun first, then each of the remaining five days were named after a glorious and righteous king from several races, including the humans, elves, dwarves, orcs and half-elves. This was agreed upon centuries ago and has remained constant, regardless of any conflict or ill will there has been between any of them.
 
Day Name Present Name 1 Sun's day Sunday 2 Moon's day Monday 3 Tous' Day Tuesday 4 Weena's Day Wednesday 5 Thurin's Day Thursday 6 Frya's Day Friday 7 Sartur's day  Saturday


See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!
Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase Covenant of the Faceless Knights and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!All content, maps, names and artwork copyright Ashenclaw Studios, LLC. 2011 

Map of Wothlondia in the Realm of Ashenclaw

Inspired by maps that I have seen recently, especially from @infernaltitans and his battlemaps, as well as the map I saw on William Kenney's blog, I drew a map over the weekend from a model I had been using for the last few years in an attempt to improve it. Then I handed it over to Nicholas of Infernal Titans, who is my creative help and business partner and had him add the names, text, etc. This is the black and white version and it is inspiring to say the least! I was extremely excited to see it and we are now working on a color version. I am extremely satisfied with what we have come up with.

Below is the map I had done showing a closeup of the area detailed in Covenant of the Faceless Knights and below that is the most current version of a larger scale version of most of the continent of Wothlondia. I hope it is 'eye candy' for you as well!


Ashenclaw Map in Covenant of the Faceless Knights

Newest Version: Continent of Wothlondia

Next week, I am going to share some info about Oakhaven, the main city in Wothlondia (aka. The Realm of Ashenclaw) in order to shed some light on some things and to give the realm a solid foundation and setting upon which to build. It will also continue to give the reader (yes, you) an extended reading experience with some visuals. My next step will be to map out the city of Oakhaven, possibly within the next few weeks I will have that to share...only time (and my work schedule) will tell.

See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!
Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase Covenant of the Faceless Knights and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!All content, maps, names and artwork copyright Ashenclaw Studios, LLC. 2011 

Which version of D&D do you play?

I was going to do a post about different gaming attractions and such, but then I decided to break it down into different versions of Dungeons & Dragons specifically. Reason being is that I have several friends who play older versions of Dungeons and Dragons as well as the more current 3.0, 3.5 and 4th editions as well as the DDO MMORPG. (Eberron? Really?!)

I have been staying current, albeit reluctantly at first, as I generally fear change! Actually, not really, but, I saw no good reason to move forward as I thought that 3rd edition was pretty good and advanced D&D as far as it could go. I may have been right! Current 4th edition D&D is a far cry from your older versions and really mirrors the feel of an MMORPG, which I assume it feels as its competition.Again, these are my opinions, so feel free to disagree. I love a good debate.
I think each of the versions has 'good' and 'bad' characteristics and I wanted to touch on a few of the good and bad. Let me preface also by adding that I think all of them have their place and they are meant for you to have fun in whatever form that may take.
Older versions of D&D were fun, simplistic and a bit generic. Role-playing was the key as well as the imagination of the DM and players both. Managing your inventory is another factor as it added a 'realistic' quality to the game. I personally did not enjoy this as I felt it detracted from the overall game-play and felt more like homework than actual fun! In addition, I felt that there was nothing heroic about an average guy picking up a sword and shield to go adventuring—it's just silly. Add in the fact that all classes were basically the same. (ie. all characters have the same statistics, hit points, etc, like your fighter is made in a production line like a car or a piece of equipment), detracted from it further as more modern versions became available. But, it was an older representation and sometimes classic is the way to go. It was very dependent upon the story and the environment to move the game along. I personally enjoy the character that I play and want him to be a bit more…heroic? But, I digress--to each his own--que sera sera.
Third edition was pretty unique in that it diversified from the norm and really brought old school D&D into the modern age. It felt like an amazing leap in game mechanics while still keeping the familiar names, spells and abilities we all knew and loved. You could custom build your fighter, rogue, barbarian, etc. so that he or she was different from the others. Multi-classing, prestige classes and customizations were its strengths. Third edition was also ground-breaking in that they opened the game up to the community and made it essentially an open-source product (think Linux) which enhances the overall game experience as the consumer has a vested interest in the end product. However, as supplements became more and more available, power-gaming eventually put an end to this version and the market was saturated with over-the-top classes/variations/prestige classes. Sometimes, we experienced that a player accidentally created an overpowered character! Yikes! 
In 4th edition, I kind of miss the skill selection or separation as I think they may have lumped too many of the individual skills into one overall skill. That being said, simplification has its place, I suppose. DM'ing has seriously gotten easier, encounters can be extremely easy to prepare and balance and the monsters are quite easy to manage now. As opposed to third edition where a significant monster may have two pages of spells, abilities and powers of which would send your head spinning when it was the monsters turn to go! Balance I think is the key to 4th edition and it is very clear that they wanted combat to be very gripping and encapsulating to the point of making the battles a bit more epic. It certainly has become a tabletop game for the most part. I have also heard grumblings on the internet that 4th edition loses the RP feel, which I disagree with totally. This is completely up to your DM as it is his or her job to add that element. I have also heard that 4th edition isn't deadly enough. Wrong again…I have gotten my derriere handed to me several times and have been in one TPK (total Party Kill.) It was vicious! 
I am the DM! Whatever I say-goes!
All in all, I think you can take each framework of the game and add whatever style you like to it as they all have their own charm and ambiance. The bottom lines is that we are having fun, exploring dungeons and slaying dragons…After all, this is what it's all about!
My question to you is: What version do you like best and why?

See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!
Please visit my HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase Covenant of the Faceless Knights and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!

Races of Ashenclaw: Slagfell Dwarves

I have decided to share a few things that will probably be in a supplement of some kind sooner or later describing races that are unique to the Realm of Ashenclaw. So, without further ado, I give to you a sub-race of dwarves called...

Slagfell Dwarves~
This once common subrace of dwarves is referred to as slagfell dwarves by the populace of Wothlondia. They are pale-skinned dwarves that have descended far beneath the earth in search of treasures. They showed an exceptionally powerful greed, even for dwarves, and willingly plunged deeper into the subterrane a thousand years ago and remain there today, embracing it as their home.
They are completely obsessed with treasure and feel shunned by their brethren, the common dwarves, who actively scolded them, thinking them unwise to dangerously pursue their deepest of desires in the first place. The slagfell have spent many centuries beneath the earth's surface and have slightly mutated to adjust. They have adapted to the darkness and the lack of sunlight over the last hundred years, evolving their nightvision into something keener, while at the same time, are extremely sensitive to the rays of the sun.

Their bodies are similar to the dwarves, but their skin has turned pale and grey in color. They are also slightly less stocky than the common dwarves found on Wothlondia as their diet is more restrictive, which lends itself to a more natural maneuverability and agility instead.
Slagfell brand themselves, mostly on their heads and necks and chest, which represents a family hierarchy or rank within their own clan. The more markings they have, the higher rank they are. This is an accepted and well known feature amongst their own kind.
Shadowmere is the premier city of the Slagfell Clan and harbors the most of their kind, ruled by King Dolgrath Bloodstone. There are further offshoots of the clan that have broken off from Shadowmere, and speculation from King Dolgrath is that he knows of several of his kin breaking off from the main clan decades ago, but none have seen them since. As far as he knows, they may be deceased by now.
Shadowmere is a rather large civilization hidden deep within the subterrane of the Dragon Fangs Mountains, where there are many dark and deadly dangers that would end a surface folk's life. The city is vast and well-protected, surrounded by hundreds of areas, rich with ore for mining and all within several miles of the city. It is located deep within the subterrane on its lowest levels and is essentially dull and dreary, avoiding reflective surfaces.


See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!

Please visit my home page to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase Covenant of the Faceless Knights and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!

(Photos from Stock.XCHANG )

The Sound of Pages Turning

The Sound of Pages Turning
As a writer, I am trying to get you interested in my book enough to entertain the thought of purchasing it…crazy business plan, I know. That much is true, but more importantly, I am attempting to engage you enough so that you might feel a certain level of empathy for the characters. This is not necessarily caring about 'what' they do or what spells they can cast, or even how effectual they are in battle, but more of 'who' they are and what motivates them to do what they do in the Realm of Ashenclaw. 
She seems to be enjoying herself
What drives their decision making process? Can you relate to their issues and problems? Have you ever gone through something similar?
My characters are archetypical of the sword & sorcery genre for sure and I admit that I am not trying to reinvent the wheel in that regard. That being said, I would hope that their individuality and sense of purpose would shine through, making them 'real' enough in the reader's eye in order to relate to them or what they are going through. This sort of emotional attachment to my characters is exactly when I know that I am doing my job, otherwise you are reading about soulless automatons! This, too, is fine, mind you…but is not what I was shooting for.
If you can relate any character of mine, protagonist or antagonist, with an event that transpired in your life or the life of someone close to you, I have achieved my goal. If my character has emotional baggage that you understand or recognize or faces a problem with which you can relate, then my goal was achieved…. If this is done properly, then I will hear the sweet sound of pages turning.


I ask you this -- 

Is emotional relevance and character depth important to you as a reader, or do you just enjoy the mayhem and detailing of a combat scene instead? Feel free to respond under comments. Looking forward to hearing from you!

See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!

Please visit my home page to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase Covenant of the Faceless Knights and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!
(Photos from Kozzi )