Kevin L. O'Brien's Blog: Songs of the Seanchaí, page 45
July 29, 2013
Next eBook: Oak Do Hate
The next story in my schedule to be published through Smashwords will be:
Oak Do Hate
Sir Differel Van Helsing awakens in the middle of the night to find her house empty. All her staff, guards, and servants have disappeared, including Vlad Drakulya. She is all alone and help from outside is hours away. Can she find her people and rescue them before it's too late? Without succumbing to the force that took them?
This will be another sale ebook.
Oak Do Hate
Sir Differel Van Helsing awakens in the middle of the night to find her house empty. All her staff, guards, and servants have disappeared, including Vlad Drakulya. She is all alone and help from outside is hours away. Can she find her people and rescue them before it's too late? Without succumbing to the force that took them?
This will be another sale ebook.
July 28, 2013
New eBook: Immanuel
I have just published my latest ebook:The Adventure of Immanuel
Every Christmas Eve, Eile and Sunny of Team Girl spend the day at Pastor Sjauken's homeless shelter for single mothers and their children, preparing and serving meals, handing out presents, and generally helping everyone to make merry. In their own way, they like to remind his charges that miracles can happen.
But tonight they will be involved in another miracle, as a force greater than themselves manipulates them without their knowledge, only this time it could mean the difference between life and death.
This ebook is free. It can be downloaded from Smashwords.
July 27, 2013
43rd Cousin 17 times Removed...Say What?!?
Have you ever wondered, when people say something like they're 5th cousins twice removed, how they figured that out?
There's a simple calculation you can do to determine how distant you and a cousin happen to be. It's based on who your most recent common ancestor is.
First, you count the number of greats and grands that ancestor happens to be for both of you.
For example, say Eile's great-grandfather is Sunny's great-great grandfather.
Well, that means Eile has a 2 (great + grand) and Sunny has a 3 (great + great + grand).
The lowest number determines the degree of distance. For this example, that's a 2, so Eile and Sunny would be 2nd cousins.
Next, you subtract the two numbers to find out how many times removed you and your cousin are.
So, 3 - 2 = 1. That means that Eile and Sunny would be 2nd cousins once removed!
It's really simple, and it works for children as well as parents. If Differel found out that she had a half-brother and he had great-grandchildren, they would be 2nd cousins once removed to Henry's children:
Henry's Children (Differel's Father's Great-Grandchildren) -- 2 (great + grand)
Half-brother's Great-Grandchildren (Differel's Father's Great-Great-Grandchildren) -- 3 (great + great + grand)
2 lowest number
3 - 2 = 1
Neat, huh?
There's a simple calculation you can do to determine how distant you and a cousin happen to be. It's based on who your most recent common ancestor is.
First, you count the number of greats and grands that ancestor happens to be for both of you.
For example, say Eile's great-grandfather is Sunny's great-great grandfather.
Well, that means Eile has a 2 (great + grand) and Sunny has a 3 (great + great + grand).
The lowest number determines the degree of distance. For this example, that's a 2, so Eile and Sunny would be 2nd cousins.
Next, you subtract the two numbers to find out how many times removed you and your cousin are.
So, 3 - 2 = 1. That means that Eile and Sunny would be 2nd cousins once removed!
It's really simple, and it works for children as well as parents. If Differel found out that she had a half-brother and he had great-grandchildren, they would be 2nd cousins once removed to Henry's children:
Henry's Children (Differel's Father's Great-Grandchildren) -- 2 (great + grand)
Half-brother's Great-Grandchildren (Differel's Father's Great-Great-Grandchildren) -- 3 (great + great + grand)
2 lowest number
3 - 2 = 1
Neat, huh?
July 26, 2013
Dreamworld Directory -- Part 1
This is the first of a two-part blog that lists people and things found in the Dreamlands, most of which will show up in stories.
Agricola — See Georg Bauer
Alhacen — An Islamic scholar residing in city-state of Siwah in the Stoney Desert
al-Ja'far — The Grand Wazir of the city-state of Qahroe in the Liranian Desert
Anáildubh — A legendary dragon who harried the Six Kingdoms and the Oukranos River valley until a mighty wizard subdued and imprisoned him in a cavern on the slopes of Mt. Thorin in the Thorineach Hills
Anglid — A dwarf that serves as a general workman at the Inn of the Quixotic Muse in the town of Ulthar in the Six Kingdoms; friend to Gimpel and Graym
Aquiness, Marcus Arelius — The curator of the Mouseion of Karchedon and the second most important scholar in the island nation of Punica
Arollo the Ranger — A warrior-adventurer employed by Burgomaster Kranon of the town of Ulthar in the Six Kingdoms; lover to Laylina the serving girl of the Inn of the Quixotic Muse, friend to Fynris the Hunter, and brother to Rahniel the Bard
the Artists Guild — A trade union dedicated to all fine and graphic artists, whose main hall is located in the city-state of Creachabh in the Six Kingdoms
Atal — The high priest of the temple of the Great Ones, the Little Gods of Earth, in the town of Ulthar in the Six Kingdoms
Athena Hygieia — A priestess of Danu and chief physician for the city of Karchedon in the island nation of Punica
Bast — An Elder God, one of only two worshiped in the Dreamlands, and the Mother of All Cats Great and Small
Bauer, Georg — "Agricola"; chief mining engineer, metallurgist, and mineralogist for Seidhlóch the Moneylender in the town of Joachimstahl in the Six Kingdoms; author of De Re Metallica
Becket of Celephaïs — The President of the Royal Society of Celephaïs and royal scholar to the court of King Kuranes
the Beloved of (Great One) — A Title bestowed on any mortal, usually Human, usually female, who becomes the lover of any one of the Great Ones, the Little Gods of Earth; it grants honor and respect to the recipient, but also can inspire trepidation, even fear
Boarnefax — A former highwayman who now works as chief bouncer at the Tavern of the Amethyst Scorpion in the port of city of Hlanith at the mouth of the Oukranos River
Bofland — A former adventurer, who married Eberhard and became the proprietress of the Inn of the Quixotic Muse in the town of Ulthar in the Six Kingdoms
Borgaté, Colonel-General Sir Melchor Vorn — The commander of the cavalry in the armed forces of the land of Ooth-Nargai and commander of the garrison of Celephaïs
Bres — See Eochaid Bres Mac Elatha
the Bride of the Crawling Chaos — A Title bestowed on any female mortal who willingly binds herself to the Crawling Chaos avatar of Nyarlathotep, regardless of whether offspring are produced; a stigma rather than an honor, but no harm ever comes to a Bride out of fear of retaliation by the Crawling Chaos
Bruno the Cat — An elderly male gray Chartreux with copper eyes, from the port city of Hlanith at the mouth of the Oukranos River, who has retired from adventuring and now catches vermin in the Tavern of the Amethyst Scorpion
Carbhfind — A former adventurer, who became a farmer in the hamlet of Nir in the Six Kingdoms; one of Medb hErenn's lovers
Cavalcanti, Alber — Current head of the largest banking family in the Six Kingdoms, headquartered in the city of Creachabh, with branches as far away as the cities of Celephaïs in Ooth-Nargai, Karchedon in Punica, Delnia and Oonai in the South, Tumbutu in the Liranian Desert, Ophir on the mouth of the River Yarmouk, and Ogrothan on the mouth of the Naile'en River
The Chromatic Lord — A powerful male wizard from the city-state of Lelag-Leng in The Northern Waste, who specializes in color-based magic; a member of the Ruling Council of Sorcerers
Citizen of Celephaïs — An Honor that makes the recipient a full citizen of the city of Celephaïs in the land of Ooth-Nargai, granting him the privilege to live, work, and trade in the city; hereditary but subject to review
y Cortadillo, Don Rinconete — The current Grand Master of the Thieves' Guild in the city of Creachabh in the Six Kingdoms
Cúcath the Cat — A male blue and gray tabby American Shorthair with a missing eye and ragged ears, from the town of Ulthar in the Six Kingdoms, that serves as the leader of the cat High Queen's Council of Elders and supreme commander of the feline military forces
Defender of Hazuth-Kleg — An Honor that indicates the recipient has performed a great service for the city-state of Hazuth-Kleg in the land of Ooth-Nargai in danger of life and limb, and has been granted the privilege visit, live, work, and trade there, at his own risk; hereditary, but subject to review
Descartes the Cat — A male brown tabby Maine Coon from the city-state of Dunlin in the Six Kingdoms that made a fortune in commodities brokerage and now acts as a patron of the arts
Draconae, Lady Tamora — A disgraced Knight of Celephaïs from the land of Ooth-Nargai, who attempted to assassinate King Kuranes for personal revenge and as part of a coup d'état
the Duchy of Kaśdim — A fiefdom encompassing the richest, most prestigious and important province in the land of Sarrub, which includes the capital city of Urimheb; the duke is usually given the title of Lord High Steward of Sarrub, making him second in command after the Doxe, though most times the office is largely ceremonial
Eberhard — A former adventurer, who married Bofland and became the proprietor of the Inn of the Quixotic Muse in the town of Ulthar in the Six Kingdoms
Echthros (pl. Echthroi) — A semi-corporeal race that serves Nyarlathotep, they personify impersonalization, anonymity, conformity, and nihilism, and are used as guards, spies, saboteurs, and assassins by those who make pacts with the Crawling Chaos; they can be raised and bound to service by powerful sorcerers and wizards, but at extreme risk
the Eidolon Lathi — A mysterious entity of an unknown nature, who rules over the nightmare city-state of Thalarion, The City of a Thousand Wonders, in the Fantastic Realms; no one who has seen "her" has ever retained his or her sanity
Elatha mac Delbáeth — The Fomóraigh ruler of the city-state in Hazuth-Kleg in the land of Ooth-Nargai and nominal high king of all the Fomóraigh in the Dreamlands
d'Elbourne, Field Marshall Garvan — The supreme commander of the armed forces of the land Ooth-Nargai
the Elder Gods — Essentially, these are any beings who are not Great Ones, Outré Gods, or Great Old Ones; they are believed to represent "good", but for the most part they seem to be as indifferent towards Humans as their "evil" counterparts
Eleanor d'Aquitaine — A Wakiya that has bound itself to Lady Differel of Elissa
Queen Elishat — The ruler of the city of Karchedon and overlord of the island nation of Punica; ally to King Kuranes and Celephaïs
Eochaid Bres Mac Elatha — The Fomórach/Human son of Elatha mac Delbáeth, Lord High Steward of the city-state in Hazuth-Kleg in the land of Ooth-Nargai, and Lord High Chancellor over all the Fomóraigh in the Dreamlands
the Eyes — The secret police of the city of Dylath-Leen in the Six Kingdoms; are changed with keeping peace and order, and learning everything that goes on in the city; they also seize people on order of the Prince
l'Fae, Modron — A sorceress from the city of Lelga-Leng in The Northern Lands, who specializes in illusions and phantasms; she was an ally of Sysphius Tyrannia in her attempted coup d'état and is now rumored to be her eyes and ears in the Dreamlands
Feline Patronage — An Honor that indicates the Cats of Ulthar have taken the recipient under their protection and will provide for him, in exchange for doing them favors; non-hereditary
Finnabair/Sister Fortitude — A daughter of Medb hErenn by King Ailill mac Máta of Connaught in ancient Ireland, who became a Dreamer and after her death joined the Convent of the Holy Madonna in the land of Lomar in the north
Fomórach (pl. Fomóraigh) — A race of beings known from ancient Irish mythology, well-versed in magic, illusion, and technology, that seek world domination
Fomorian (pl. Fomorians) — See Fomórach
Fynris the Hunter — A master tracker and huntsman employed by Burgomaster Kranon of the town of Ulthar in the Six Kingdoms; friend to Arollo the Ranger and Rahniel the Bard
Fyerwal the Cat — A male bright ruddy Somalis from the city-state of Lelag-Leng in The Northern Lands that has made a special study of fire magic
the Gasradh — An invisible force that protects and enforces the will of Lady Tiotadhnia in the town of Ulthar in the Six Kingdoms
the George Cross — A Waking World Decoration worn by Lady Differel of Elissa because of its mystical powers when in her possession
Ghoul-Friend — An Honor that indicates the recipient has been made an ally of the Ghoul Race; hereditary, but subject to review
Ghouls — A Waking World Race of creatures derived from Humans, that feed on corpses; they are able to cross over into the Dreamlands
Gimpel — A dwarf that serves as a general workman at the Inn of the Quixotic Muse in the town of Ulthar in the Six Kingdoms; brother to Graym and friend to Anglid
Glaphyra Cappadocian — An hetaera who resides in the city-state of Dylath-Leen in the Six Kingdoms
Gloriana the Cat — A female mitted seal-point Ragdoll with a blaze on the forehead from the city-state of Creachabh in the Six Kingdoms that made a fortune smuggling illicit items and moon rubies, and now lives a life of decadent leisure
Graciella — A former pickpocket and petty thief, she now works as the head barmaid in the Tavern of the Amethyst Scorpion in the port city of Hlanith on the mouth of the Oukranos River
Graym — A dwarf that serves as a general workman at the Inn of the Quixotic Muse in the town of Ulthar in the Six Kingdoms; brother to Gimpel and friend to Anglid
the Great Ones — The Little Gods of Earth, who govern the affairs of Humans; their power is greatest in the Dreamlands, but they are not unknown in the Waking World
Gulle, Sir William Whitby — The Physician-in-Ordinary to King Kuranes in the city of Celephaïs in the land of Ooth-Nargai, Governor of Iaso Hospital in Celephaïs, Dean of the School of Medicine at Cambridge University in Celephaïs, Chief Surgeon of Ooth-Nargai, and Secretary of the Royal Society of Celephaïs; he seeks to create a Royal Medical Society to oppose the Physicians Guild in the city-state of Creachabh in the Six Kingdoms, but Kuranes has continually declined
Hakeem Scholarship — An international postgraduate Award for study at the Bait al-Hikma in the city-state of Ophir at the mouth of the River Yarmouk, established by Khalifah Abdullah el-Mâmoûn
Hectoi — The highest Honor of the island nation of Punica; granted not just for valor but for nobility as well; the recipient is honored above all others, regardless of military or social rank; includes state maintenance for room and board; non-hereditary
Heir Presumptive of Ooth-Nargai — The assumed, but not yet designated, heir to the throne of the city-state of Celephaïs, and thereby the Kingdom of Ooth-Nargai; though this office is largely ceremonial, its holder is understood to be the representative of the current monarch, and has the right to lead the armed forces in time of war or negotiate in the sovereign's name in time of peace
Helleneaen Artist — The highest Honor that can be bestowed upon a fine or graphic artist by the island nation of Punica
Heraklides of Celephaïs — the grandmaster of the Physicians Guild hall in the city of Celephaïs in the land of Ooth-Nargai
Hetaera — the highest rank a courtesan may achieve; usually patronized by a specific community or a very wealthy individual
the High Priest of Leng — A mysterious entity, robed and veiled in yellow, that resides in an ancient monastery on the Plateau of Leng in the Northern Lands
the High Queen of All Cats Great and Small — Selgach Mór, a female tan-point Oriental Shorthair from the hamlet of Shyre in the Six Kingdoms that is the sovereign of domestic cats in both the Waking World and the Dreamlands, the suzerain of all wild cats, and the earthly representative of Bast, the Great Mother
Hippogriff — A hybrid of a griffin and a horse, with the head, forelegs, chest, and wings of a griffin and the abdomen, rear legs, and tail of a horse
Hirsiz the Cat — A female sepia agouti Singapura from an undisclosed location in the South that practices the trade of thievery
Hōjō, Masako — An onna-bugeisha, disgraced samurai and kunoichi, who lives in the city-state of Yeddo in the Southern Lands
The Horned Lord — The entity that rules the Dark Wood in the Oukranos River valley
Hyndrom Majestrum — The chief apothecary for the Prince of Dylath-Leen; he used to be the grandmaster of the Pharmaceutical Guild in Creachabh, but was voted out by the members for dangerous practices
Hypatia Punicae — The chief librarian of the Library of Karchedon and royal scholar to the court of Queen Elishat
the Ilion Cross — The second highest Decoration in the island nation of Punica; awarded for extraordinary valor; includes state maintenance for room and board
Imhotep of Heliopolis — A physician, originally from the city of Thraa in the land of Mnar, who studied at a great center of learning in the city of Heliopolis in the land of Stygia south of the equator; he now resides in the city of Karchedon in the island nation of Punica
Part 2 next week.
Agricola — See Georg Bauer
Alhacen — An Islamic scholar residing in city-state of Siwah in the Stoney Desert
al-Ja'far — The Grand Wazir of the city-state of Qahroe in the Liranian Desert
Anáildubh — A legendary dragon who harried the Six Kingdoms and the Oukranos River valley until a mighty wizard subdued and imprisoned him in a cavern on the slopes of Mt. Thorin in the Thorineach Hills
Anglid — A dwarf that serves as a general workman at the Inn of the Quixotic Muse in the town of Ulthar in the Six Kingdoms; friend to Gimpel and Graym
Aquiness, Marcus Arelius — The curator of the Mouseion of Karchedon and the second most important scholar in the island nation of Punica
Arollo the Ranger — A warrior-adventurer employed by Burgomaster Kranon of the town of Ulthar in the Six Kingdoms; lover to Laylina the serving girl of the Inn of the Quixotic Muse, friend to Fynris the Hunter, and brother to Rahniel the Bard
the Artists Guild — A trade union dedicated to all fine and graphic artists, whose main hall is located in the city-state of Creachabh in the Six Kingdoms
Atal — The high priest of the temple of the Great Ones, the Little Gods of Earth, in the town of Ulthar in the Six Kingdoms
Athena Hygieia — A priestess of Danu and chief physician for the city of Karchedon in the island nation of Punica
Bast — An Elder God, one of only two worshiped in the Dreamlands, and the Mother of All Cats Great and Small
Bauer, Georg — "Agricola"; chief mining engineer, metallurgist, and mineralogist for Seidhlóch the Moneylender in the town of Joachimstahl in the Six Kingdoms; author of De Re Metallica
Becket of Celephaïs — The President of the Royal Society of Celephaïs and royal scholar to the court of King Kuranes
the Beloved of (Great One) — A Title bestowed on any mortal, usually Human, usually female, who becomes the lover of any one of the Great Ones, the Little Gods of Earth; it grants honor and respect to the recipient, but also can inspire trepidation, even fear
Boarnefax — A former highwayman who now works as chief bouncer at the Tavern of the Amethyst Scorpion in the port of city of Hlanith at the mouth of the Oukranos River
Bofland — A former adventurer, who married Eberhard and became the proprietress of the Inn of the Quixotic Muse in the town of Ulthar in the Six Kingdoms
Borgaté, Colonel-General Sir Melchor Vorn — The commander of the cavalry in the armed forces of the land of Ooth-Nargai and commander of the garrison of Celephaïs
Bres — See Eochaid Bres Mac Elatha
the Bride of the Crawling Chaos — A Title bestowed on any female mortal who willingly binds herself to the Crawling Chaos avatar of Nyarlathotep, regardless of whether offspring are produced; a stigma rather than an honor, but no harm ever comes to a Bride out of fear of retaliation by the Crawling Chaos
Bruno the Cat — An elderly male gray Chartreux with copper eyes, from the port city of Hlanith at the mouth of the Oukranos River, who has retired from adventuring and now catches vermin in the Tavern of the Amethyst Scorpion
Carbhfind — A former adventurer, who became a farmer in the hamlet of Nir in the Six Kingdoms; one of Medb hErenn's lovers
Cavalcanti, Alber — Current head of the largest banking family in the Six Kingdoms, headquartered in the city of Creachabh, with branches as far away as the cities of Celephaïs in Ooth-Nargai, Karchedon in Punica, Delnia and Oonai in the South, Tumbutu in the Liranian Desert, Ophir on the mouth of the River Yarmouk, and Ogrothan on the mouth of the Naile'en River
The Chromatic Lord — A powerful male wizard from the city-state of Lelag-Leng in The Northern Waste, who specializes in color-based magic; a member of the Ruling Council of Sorcerers
Citizen of Celephaïs — An Honor that makes the recipient a full citizen of the city of Celephaïs in the land of Ooth-Nargai, granting him the privilege to live, work, and trade in the city; hereditary but subject to review
y Cortadillo, Don Rinconete — The current Grand Master of the Thieves' Guild in the city of Creachabh in the Six Kingdoms
Cúcath the Cat — A male blue and gray tabby American Shorthair with a missing eye and ragged ears, from the town of Ulthar in the Six Kingdoms, that serves as the leader of the cat High Queen's Council of Elders and supreme commander of the feline military forces
Defender of Hazuth-Kleg — An Honor that indicates the recipient has performed a great service for the city-state of Hazuth-Kleg in the land of Ooth-Nargai in danger of life and limb, and has been granted the privilege visit, live, work, and trade there, at his own risk; hereditary, but subject to review
Descartes the Cat — A male brown tabby Maine Coon from the city-state of Dunlin in the Six Kingdoms that made a fortune in commodities brokerage and now acts as a patron of the arts
Draconae, Lady Tamora — A disgraced Knight of Celephaïs from the land of Ooth-Nargai, who attempted to assassinate King Kuranes for personal revenge and as part of a coup d'état
the Duchy of Kaśdim — A fiefdom encompassing the richest, most prestigious and important province in the land of Sarrub, which includes the capital city of Urimheb; the duke is usually given the title of Lord High Steward of Sarrub, making him second in command after the Doxe, though most times the office is largely ceremonial
Eberhard — A former adventurer, who married Bofland and became the proprietor of the Inn of the Quixotic Muse in the town of Ulthar in the Six Kingdoms
Echthros (pl. Echthroi) — A semi-corporeal race that serves Nyarlathotep, they personify impersonalization, anonymity, conformity, and nihilism, and are used as guards, spies, saboteurs, and assassins by those who make pacts with the Crawling Chaos; they can be raised and bound to service by powerful sorcerers and wizards, but at extreme risk
the Eidolon Lathi — A mysterious entity of an unknown nature, who rules over the nightmare city-state of Thalarion, The City of a Thousand Wonders, in the Fantastic Realms; no one who has seen "her" has ever retained his or her sanity
Elatha mac Delbáeth — The Fomóraigh ruler of the city-state in Hazuth-Kleg in the land of Ooth-Nargai and nominal high king of all the Fomóraigh in the Dreamlands
d'Elbourne, Field Marshall Garvan — The supreme commander of the armed forces of the land Ooth-Nargai
the Elder Gods — Essentially, these are any beings who are not Great Ones, Outré Gods, or Great Old Ones; they are believed to represent "good", but for the most part they seem to be as indifferent towards Humans as their "evil" counterparts
Eleanor d'Aquitaine — A Wakiya that has bound itself to Lady Differel of Elissa
Queen Elishat — The ruler of the city of Karchedon and overlord of the island nation of Punica; ally to King Kuranes and Celephaïs
Eochaid Bres Mac Elatha — The Fomórach/Human son of Elatha mac Delbáeth, Lord High Steward of the city-state in Hazuth-Kleg in the land of Ooth-Nargai, and Lord High Chancellor over all the Fomóraigh in the Dreamlands
the Eyes — The secret police of the city of Dylath-Leen in the Six Kingdoms; are changed with keeping peace and order, and learning everything that goes on in the city; they also seize people on order of the Prince
l'Fae, Modron — A sorceress from the city of Lelga-Leng in The Northern Lands, who specializes in illusions and phantasms; she was an ally of Sysphius Tyrannia in her attempted coup d'état and is now rumored to be her eyes and ears in the Dreamlands
Feline Patronage — An Honor that indicates the Cats of Ulthar have taken the recipient under their protection and will provide for him, in exchange for doing them favors; non-hereditary
Finnabair/Sister Fortitude — A daughter of Medb hErenn by King Ailill mac Máta of Connaught in ancient Ireland, who became a Dreamer and after her death joined the Convent of the Holy Madonna in the land of Lomar in the north
Fomórach (pl. Fomóraigh) — A race of beings known from ancient Irish mythology, well-versed in magic, illusion, and technology, that seek world domination
Fomorian (pl. Fomorians) — See Fomórach
Fynris the Hunter — A master tracker and huntsman employed by Burgomaster Kranon of the town of Ulthar in the Six Kingdoms; friend to Arollo the Ranger and Rahniel the Bard
Fyerwal the Cat — A male bright ruddy Somalis from the city-state of Lelag-Leng in The Northern Lands that has made a special study of fire magic
the Gasradh — An invisible force that protects and enforces the will of Lady Tiotadhnia in the town of Ulthar in the Six Kingdoms
the George Cross — A Waking World Decoration worn by Lady Differel of Elissa because of its mystical powers when in her possession
Ghoul-Friend — An Honor that indicates the recipient has been made an ally of the Ghoul Race; hereditary, but subject to review
Ghouls — A Waking World Race of creatures derived from Humans, that feed on corpses; they are able to cross over into the Dreamlands
Gimpel — A dwarf that serves as a general workman at the Inn of the Quixotic Muse in the town of Ulthar in the Six Kingdoms; brother to Graym and friend to Anglid
Glaphyra Cappadocian — An hetaera who resides in the city-state of Dylath-Leen in the Six Kingdoms
Gloriana the Cat — A female mitted seal-point Ragdoll with a blaze on the forehead from the city-state of Creachabh in the Six Kingdoms that made a fortune smuggling illicit items and moon rubies, and now lives a life of decadent leisure
Graciella — A former pickpocket and petty thief, she now works as the head barmaid in the Tavern of the Amethyst Scorpion in the port city of Hlanith on the mouth of the Oukranos River
Graym — A dwarf that serves as a general workman at the Inn of the Quixotic Muse in the town of Ulthar in the Six Kingdoms; brother to Gimpel and friend to Anglid
the Great Ones — The Little Gods of Earth, who govern the affairs of Humans; their power is greatest in the Dreamlands, but they are not unknown in the Waking World
Gulle, Sir William Whitby — The Physician-in-Ordinary to King Kuranes in the city of Celephaïs in the land of Ooth-Nargai, Governor of Iaso Hospital in Celephaïs, Dean of the School of Medicine at Cambridge University in Celephaïs, Chief Surgeon of Ooth-Nargai, and Secretary of the Royal Society of Celephaïs; he seeks to create a Royal Medical Society to oppose the Physicians Guild in the city-state of Creachabh in the Six Kingdoms, but Kuranes has continually declined
Hakeem Scholarship — An international postgraduate Award for study at the Bait al-Hikma in the city-state of Ophir at the mouth of the River Yarmouk, established by Khalifah Abdullah el-Mâmoûn
Hectoi — The highest Honor of the island nation of Punica; granted not just for valor but for nobility as well; the recipient is honored above all others, regardless of military or social rank; includes state maintenance for room and board; non-hereditary
Heir Presumptive of Ooth-Nargai — The assumed, but not yet designated, heir to the throne of the city-state of Celephaïs, and thereby the Kingdom of Ooth-Nargai; though this office is largely ceremonial, its holder is understood to be the representative of the current monarch, and has the right to lead the armed forces in time of war or negotiate in the sovereign's name in time of peace
Helleneaen Artist — The highest Honor that can be bestowed upon a fine or graphic artist by the island nation of Punica
Heraklides of Celephaïs — the grandmaster of the Physicians Guild hall in the city of Celephaïs in the land of Ooth-Nargai
Hetaera — the highest rank a courtesan may achieve; usually patronized by a specific community or a very wealthy individual
the High Priest of Leng — A mysterious entity, robed and veiled in yellow, that resides in an ancient monastery on the Plateau of Leng in the Northern Lands
the High Queen of All Cats Great and Small — Selgach Mór, a female tan-point Oriental Shorthair from the hamlet of Shyre in the Six Kingdoms that is the sovereign of domestic cats in both the Waking World and the Dreamlands, the suzerain of all wild cats, and the earthly representative of Bast, the Great Mother
Hippogriff — A hybrid of a griffin and a horse, with the head, forelegs, chest, and wings of a griffin and the abdomen, rear legs, and tail of a horse
Hirsiz the Cat — A female sepia agouti Singapura from an undisclosed location in the South that practices the trade of thievery
Hōjō, Masako — An onna-bugeisha, disgraced samurai and kunoichi, who lives in the city-state of Yeddo in the Southern Lands
The Horned Lord — The entity that rules the Dark Wood in the Oukranos River valley
Hyndrom Majestrum — The chief apothecary for the Prince of Dylath-Leen; he used to be the grandmaster of the Pharmaceutical Guild in Creachabh, but was voted out by the members for dangerous practices
Hypatia Punicae — The chief librarian of the Library of Karchedon and royal scholar to the court of Queen Elishat
the Ilion Cross — The second highest Decoration in the island nation of Punica; awarded for extraordinary valor; includes state maintenance for room and board
Imhotep of Heliopolis — A physician, originally from the city of Thraa in the land of Mnar, who studied at a great center of learning in the city of Heliopolis in the land of Stygia south of the equator; he now resides in the city of Karchedon in the island nation of Punica
Part 2 next week.
July 25, 2013
Dahut Morgen -- One of Sir Differel's Yachts
The Dahut Morgen is an Ocean Explorer Class Superyacht based on the the Bray 42 meter Ocean Explorer Superyacht design:The Ocean Explorer
Differel owns this ship outright, rather than leasing it from the government as she does one other ship. She bought it around the time she first met Team Girl, thinking of using it to conduct ocean-borne reconnaissance and investigation for the Caerleon Order, but discovered that there were few times when she could actually use it, so she could not justify keeping a crew on hand but idle. But without an available crew, she couldn't put it to active use, resulting in a catch-22. As such, she mothballed it until she could decide what to do with it.
After she met Eile and Sunny, however, and acquired the services of Dr. Mabuse, one of the first things the mad scientist did was install one of her artificial brains in the ship and convert it to full automation, with support from her robots. Now Differel can take it out whenever she wants. On top of that, Mabuse installed one of her direct-conversion nuclear generators, which converts radioactivity directly into electricity. The ship is entirely electrically driven and doesn't need to refuel for decades; it's only limit to how long it can stay out is how much food it can carry. Finally, Mabuse gave it an electromagnetic propulsion unit, though it also has an electrical motor as a backup.
She carries on board an AgustaWestland AW109 helicopter modified with pontoons for water landings, as well as a Zodiac boat and two jet skies.
Specifications:
Dimensions (approx.)
-----Length Overall 137′-10″
-----Length Waterline 124'-2″
-----Beam 32′-10″
-----Draft 9′-0″
-----Displacement (S.W.) 750,000 lbs.
Construction
-----Hull Construction Steel
-----Superstructure Construction Aluminium
-----Class ABS, MCA
Tankage
-----Fresh Water Capacity 5,000 US gal.
-----Grey & Waste Water Capacity 1,500 US gal.
-----New & Used lube oil storage 100 US gal.
-----Jet Fuel 6,320 US gal.
Machinery
-----Main Engines (electromagnetic) 2000 HP
-----Backup (electric) 2 x 700 HP Intermittent rating
-----Watermakers (reverse osmosis) 2 x 1,000 US gal. per day
Power
-----Direct-conversion Nuclear Generator 1000 MWe
-----Fuel Cells 200 MWe
Performance
-----13 knots cruising
-----15 knots full
-----17 knots maximum
Stability (half loaded, intact, estimated)
-----Positive righting arm past 160 degrees
-----Downflooding point past 60 degrees
-----GM = 4.5 ft.
July 24, 2013
Team Girl Character Catalog
The following is a list of characters that will appear in future Team Girl stories. These do not include Dreamlands characters.
Annie Tuhl
Assistant to Dr. Mabuse
Annis Nin
Underworld hit woman, former protege of Medb
Betty Stivic
Elvira impersonator and Dreamer
Ceithlenn
Fomorian Queen and Medb's bitterest enemy; sometimes an ally, though usually unwilling
Constance Oda Maeve Hiver
Eile's natural daughter
Sir Differel Van Helsing
Britain's chief monster hunter
Dolores Cadera-Hueso
Denver police detective and sergeant, Major Case Division
Elizabeth Rebecca Mabuse
Mad scientist and nemesis
Elizabeth Sabrina Chica
Sunny's adopted daughter
Fael Cayleen
Female alpha lycanthrope of a Colorado werewolf clan
Flann Chromáin
Irish police inspector
Giovanna Mencia Borgia
500 year old girl vampire (she looks 23) assigned by the Vampire Conclave to keep an eye on Team Girl
John Sjauken
Lutheran pastor, homeless shelter operator, and spiritual adviser
Joyce Luasaigh
Snowshoe Kitty's veterinarian
Kojoro
Fox princess with seven tails
Liadan Fionuir
Tuatha De Danaan princess
Maela Hiver
Sunny's father; a former thief and con woman
Mariam Alina-Fuad
Arab refugee, former protege of Medb
Marseilles Sheraton
Heiress to the Sheraton Hotel fortune, professional celebutante, and criminal mastermind
Medb hErenn
Mentor and surrogate mother
Morgan Leia Ross
Army lieutenant general, in charge of Unit 666 (a black ops research operation), and a former protege of Medb
Neo Ivor Zorndyke
Mad scientist, supervillain, and an archnemesis
Oda Gabrielle Hiver nee Jaeger
Sunny's mother; a former secret agent and assassin
Shasta Taffaday
Archaeologist, treasure hunter, and tomb raider
Snowshoe Kitty
Pet and secret defender
Torain Thegn
Army colonel, adjutant to Lt. Gen. Ross, second in command of Unit 666, and sociopathic rogue
Uallach Ruadhrion
Spokesperson for the Vampire Conclave, recognized Queen of the Vampires, and an enemy of Medb
Wendy Cleasa
Exotic dancer, nurse practioner, and single mother
Annie Tuhl
Assistant to Dr. Mabuse
Annis Nin
Underworld hit woman, former protege of Medb
Betty Stivic
Elvira impersonator and Dreamer
Ceithlenn
Fomorian Queen and Medb's bitterest enemy; sometimes an ally, though usually unwilling
Constance Oda Maeve Hiver
Eile's natural daughter
Sir Differel Van Helsing
Britain's chief monster hunter
Dolores Cadera-Hueso
Denver police detective and sergeant, Major Case Division
Elizabeth Rebecca Mabuse
Mad scientist and nemesis
Elizabeth Sabrina Chica
Sunny's adopted daughter
Fael Cayleen
Female alpha lycanthrope of a Colorado werewolf clan
Flann Chromáin
Irish police inspector
Giovanna Mencia Borgia
500 year old girl vampire (she looks 23) assigned by the Vampire Conclave to keep an eye on Team Girl
John Sjauken
Lutheran pastor, homeless shelter operator, and spiritual adviser
Joyce Luasaigh
Snowshoe Kitty's veterinarian
Kojoro
Fox princess with seven tails
Liadan Fionuir
Tuatha De Danaan princess
Maela Hiver
Sunny's father; a former thief and con woman
Mariam Alina-Fuad
Arab refugee, former protege of Medb
Marseilles Sheraton
Heiress to the Sheraton Hotel fortune, professional celebutante, and criminal mastermind
Medb hErenn
Mentor and surrogate mother
Morgan Leia Ross
Army lieutenant general, in charge of Unit 666 (a black ops research operation), and a former protege of Medb
Neo Ivor Zorndyke
Mad scientist, supervillain, and an archnemesis
Oda Gabrielle Hiver nee Jaeger
Sunny's mother; a former secret agent and assassin
Shasta Taffaday
Archaeologist, treasure hunter, and tomb raider
Snowshoe Kitty
Pet and secret defender
Torain Thegn
Army colonel, adjutant to Lt. Gen. Ross, second in command of Unit 666, and sociopathic rogue
Uallach Ruadhrion
Spokesperson for the Vampire Conclave, recognized Queen of the Vampires, and an enemy of Medb
Wendy Cleasa
Exotic dancer, nurse practioner, and single mother
July 23, 2013
Medb hErenn Stories as Myth
In the July 6, 2008, edition of The Denver Post, Jeffrey A. Lockwood, a professor of natural sciences and humanities at the University of Wyoming, wrote an editorial entitled, "The Cowboy Myth". [Note: This link may become inactive at some point. However, the editorial can still be found by going to the Archive section of the main site and doing a search for "the cowboy myth". A copy of the piece can then be purchased for three dollars.]In the editorial, he defined "myth": "'Myth' has two very different meanings. The literary term denotes a traditional story that reveals the world-view of a people; let us call this Myth. But there is also a pejorative meaning--an unfounded account of the world; let's call this a myth. The goal of Myth is to illuminate a moral ideal toward which a people aspire, binding together generations and communities, and helping us to understand how we are to live in the world and treat one another...."
It would be presumptuous of me to suggest my Medb hErenn stories are Myth rather than myth. Since all fiction is a lie, none of my stories are true even from a mythographic perspective. Still, the stories are written from my existential, transcendental point of view, which in turn serves as the basis for Medb's own worldview. So the stories do reflect the way Medb and to some extent I view reality.
This goes beyond world building in the sense that, while this worldview does help determine the nature and structure of the Medb hErenn universe, it also describes our world; not how it should be but one way that it might be interpreted. To some degree, all writers describe the world around them in their stories as they see it, whether the stories are meant to be metaphorical or not. This description may be subtle, trivial, or blatant, but often it is there, and often the writer himself may not even be aware of it. But it is this aspect that raises fiction, especially speculative fiction, from mere myth to actual Myth.
July 22, 2013
Next eBook: Immanuel
The next story in my schedule to be published through Smashwords will be:The Adventure of Immanuel
The night before Christmas is a time of miracles. Eile and Sunny do all they can to make this true for the homeless women and their children living in Pastor Sjauken's shelter. But there is another force at work this night, which makes use of the Girls for its own ends, even though they are unaware of it at the time....
This will be another free ebook.
July 21, 2013
New eBook: Sacrificial Offering
I have just published my latest ebook:
Sacrificial Offering
Medb hErenn has witnessed many bizarre incidents in her life, but the sight of a wedding with no groom, and the villagers weeping and wailing like it was a funeral, was definitely a unique experience. Then she learned that the village was cursed, and the girl was intended for the Black Ram, the male counterpart of Shub-Niggurath. Without thinking, she volunteered to take her place, both to save her and to free her people.
And so she started down the path through the forest, heading for an unknown destination and an unknowable fate. But she will soon learn that she cannot prevail by force of arms alone, and that the situation is not as it appears.
This story contains blood, sex, and tentacles. Reader discretion is advised.
This ebook is sold for $0.99. It can be downloaded from Smashwords.
Sacrificial Offering
Medb hErenn has witnessed many bizarre incidents in her life, but the sight of a wedding with no groom, and the villagers weeping and wailing like it was a funeral, was definitely a unique experience. Then she learned that the village was cursed, and the girl was intended for the Black Ram, the male counterpart of Shub-Niggurath. Without thinking, she volunteered to take her place, both to save her and to free her people.
And so she started down the path through the forest, heading for an unknown destination and an unknowable fate. But she will soon learn that she cannot prevail by force of arms alone, and that the situation is not as it appears.
This story contains blood, sex, and tentacles. Reader discretion is advised.
This ebook is sold for $0.99. It can be downloaded from Smashwords.
July 20, 2013
The Sherlock Holmes Syndrome
One of the things that has always puzzled me is why some creators put otherwise popular characters on more or less permanent hiatus.The stated reason is usually that the creator wants more time to work on other projects. I can understand that motive, and creators certainly have the right to work on whatever they want. I just find it ironic that they are willing to sacrifice the popular characters that made their names for no better reason than that they have become bored, or they think something else is "bigger better worthier".
This reminds me of a classical example of this phenomenon, which I call "The Sherlock Holmes Syndrome". It is the seemingly contradictory observation that creators often "kill off" their best loved characters when they think those characters have become a hindrance to their career in one fashion or another.
It is based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's hatred of Sherlock Holmes. He wanted to write serious historical romances (which at that time meant dramas or thrillers set in the historical past, not love stories) but he also needed to pay his bills, and the SH stories paid good money. So he wrote them as "boiler plate" while trying to make his name in romances, but SH took up so much of his time that he finally killed him off when he thought it was safe to do so. However, the public uproar was so great that he ended up bringing him back twice, once in The Hound of the Baskervilles and finally in "The Empty House", which started off a whole new series of adventures. He kept writing SH stories until he died, yet he still found time to write other works, including his beloved romances.
The irony is that the SH stories and novels account for only a small part of his total output, yet say his name and most people think of SH, rather than Micah Clarke, The Stark Munro Letters, or The Tragedy of the Korosko, among others. Aficionados of fantasy adventure will remember The Maracot Deep and the Professor Challenger novels, and horror fans will remember The Parasite, "Lot No. 249", and "The Horror of the Heights", but it is still SH for which he is most famous.
It makes me believe that creators may not be the best judges of what they should concentrate their time and effort on, myself included. Originally my passion was writing Medb hErenn stories. Then I discovered "Girly" and Team Girl was born. Next I discovered Hellsing and Differel was born. Each time I shifted my writing emphasis to my new favorite character(s), letting the others slip into the background. It could happen again; in fact, Lady Margaret is a good candidate for this.
The only saving graces are that, my stories have not yet gained any real popularity; and I have "recycled" Team Girl and Medb as secondary characters for the Differel stories (and so far Margaret has remained one too). Also, since I have started self-publishing, I have become inspired to finish my Medb and TG stories that I abandoned. But I had created many other characters before these, characters I was just as passionate about at the time I created them, but now I have little interest in writing about them anymore. (though I may recycle some of these older story ideas.)
Times and creativity change, but the same might happen to my current favorite characters some day. At least I can use them in other kinds of stories I want to write, rather than have to create new characters. So they may have greater longevity than previous characters.
But the point is, what if Differel becomes my "Sherlock Holmes"? Let's say I get commissioned to write the "Bible" for a new video game series, which starts me on a whole new career and I just abandon Differel as Doyle did Holmes.
In 10, 20, 30 years am I more likely to be remembered for Differel than "Bloody Chainsaw Zombie Massacre: The Franchise"?
In that case perhaps I should make a career out of writing Differel stories no matter how little they pay.
Of course, I can't predict the future any better than any other creator can, but should creators continue with their popular characters, maybe not to the exclusion of all else, but either as part of their new project or as a secondary project done in their spare time, instead of just abandoning them?
Songs of the Seanchaí
Musings on my stories, the background of my stories, writing, and the world in general.
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