Direbane – the Rangers of the North are hardy folks with tawny skin, wide set eyes, and flat, wide faces, as if burnished by the sun and shaped by the very wind itself. The rangers are the world’s best trackers, archers, woodsmen, and can match any other force with skill in sword, spear or stave, depending on the preference of the individual warrior.
Unfey Horror – These evil spiders are but shadows of the past and lack the cunning and cohesion that their ancestors possessed. This makes the Unfey spiders easy to manipulate and less of a threat to the races of Marianor. However, individually, they are potent enemies. The Unfey matriarchs control most of their territory. Though they are similar in form, the matriarchs are more akin to a trapdoor spider from hell.
Chishri Spiderkin – Though these spiders evolved to become great in stature and prowess, like the Unfey horrors, they are not descended from the same lineage. Many consider them abhorrent and kill them on sight. However, the Chishri clan are good-natured and have a keen sense of stories, music and art. They helped raise Tumsley after all.
Chapter Quote Origins
1. “Many consider food and good company a proper gift. Weapons, especially sharp ones, are my preference.” ~ Sara Dandre – if you don’t know already, the marshal’s got a thing with knives. Might have something to do with the time she found herself lost in the woods for a fortnight. Her pistol jammed, and she was forced to make a knife of chipped stone to hunt. Never trusted gunpowder again.
2. “Like water to a wick, adventure comes to those who have chosen to stand against evil.” ~ Sir Alysand Rowl Deschaney III – one lesson remains true in the world of Marianor as well as on Earth: always trust the wisdom of those who have lived longer than yourself.
3. “In the far reaches of the world, under a lost and lonely hill, lies The Tomb of Horrors.” ~ Señor Ernesto Christy Cline – if you haven’t read Ready Player One, you should. It was during that book that I first found a love for LitRPG, Gamelit, and all things related. How else can a book worm gamer nerd live their life to its fullest?
4. “Often, it is the same wounds that wake us at night that shape our hearts and bolster our spines.” ~ Sire Quinn Taelman III – is it sad that pain forms us? Or is it beautiful? I choose to believe both are fragments of the same truth.
5. “Much have I traveled in the realms of gold, and many goodly states and kingdoms seen.” ~ The Nightingale Prince – The first line of John Keat’s “On First Looking into Chapman’s Homer,” a beautiful poem from a brilliant man. Can you guess why I called him The Nightingale Prince? How cool is it that I chose this quote for my book taken from a poem inspired by the translation of a poem written long ago? Say that ten times fast…
6. “Gold is fine, no doubt. But trinkets of the heart are what we remember most.” Tumsley of the Chishri Spider Clan – Tumsley can stalk a panther in the woods and wrestle it to the ground with the strength of his own arms. Yet a shiny stone collected from a pond and given in love or affection will humble him to all extremes.
7. “Nothing will make you feel stronger than holding an axe… except maybe two axes, of course.” ~ Madrigal Serrano Mendoza – another killer line from a killer broad. Anyone love reading Madi’s scenes as much as I love writing them? I was so happy when I realized I could give the woman two battle axes… what greater gift to such a cherished character?
8. “There will be water if God wills it.” ~ Last Knight in the Line of Eld – this killer line came from the lips of Roland the gunslinger. Thank you, Steven King, for writing such an eerie and timeless story. It has haunted me for over a decade now.
9. “If you leave your home behind, there is no promise, and certainly no guarantee it’ll be the same when you return.” ~ Corell Amredor – Many claim that the hunter’s heart broke when so many of his fellow townsfolk died in the Siege of Taelman’s Pond. But it was his son walking away to take on the life of a bullet bard that pushed him into despair.
10. “You will be alone with the gods, and the nights will flame with fire.” ~ The Bottle King – Charles Bukowski is an awesome and depraved soul. Everyone who goes through a dark stage, where playing with fire or throwing daggers seems more appealing than sleep and friendship, should read his poetry. In darkness, strangely, one can find their way back to the light. You just have to be careful you don’t stay there too long.
11. “Madness, as you know, is like gravity, all it takes is a little push.” ~ Matilda, The Clown – When I heard that Heath Ledger left this world, and how, it frightened me. How much power does the mind have? How little does it take to push you over the edge? How close does that threshold lay at any given time? I hope all the man created remains in our minds and culture for many years to come.
12. “For my handling of the situation at Tombstone, I have no regrets.” ~ W.B. Stapp of Dodge City – a legit quote taken from Wyatt Earp, who apparently had more than a handful of names. Imagine laying waste to a band of scoundrels and saying something as hard-boiled as this! Little wonder he is still known as a bullet bard not to be taken lightly.
13. “I’m not proud, but I am happy; and
