Ulfram
- The Ulfram’s wolf howl is the first noise after the wind that you’ll hear when the Dead Moons rise. The alpha female’s song penetrates the darkness, sending a chill down your spine. When you meet her, you’ll not see the rest of the pack. Five feet tall at the tops of its tall pointed ears. Black lines like shadows lined beneath her eyes and down the sides of her nose. She has sharp yellow-green eyes that cut the shadows. The sheen of her dark silver fur will vibrate in any light you shine at her. The rest of the Ulfram pack has opposite colors from her. Black fur, silver lines down the sides of their noses.
Wyverdraki
- The Wyverdraki are smaller cousins of the Rhamocour. These dragon beasts vary in their colors from burnet to emerald, some featuring stripes or brindle on their scales. They travel in a pack, hunting down livestock and sharing with each other as a family. Their fire is orange, and they fly over the Forest of Darkness during every Dead Moons cycle singing their family song.
PRONUNCIATIONS
NAMES:
Aydra (Eye-dra)
Draven (Dray-vin)
Nyssari (Nis-ar-ee)
Dorian (Dor-e-an)
Rhaif (Ray-f)
Balandria (Bal-an-dre-ah)
Nadir (Na-deer)
Lesser Ones:
Arbina (Are-bee-na)
Duarb (Do-are-b)
Lovi Piathos (Lo-vee Pee-aye-thos)
Mons Magnus (Mons Mag-n-us)
Somniarb Crelib (Some-knee-arb Kree-lib)
Lesser Beings:
Venari (Vin-are-i)
Infinari (In-fin-are-i)
Places:
Haerland (Heir-land)
Magnice (Mag-nis)
Dahrkenhill (Dark-en-hill)
Scindo Creek (Sh-in-doe Creek)
Preymoor (Prey-more)
Bedrani (Bed-ron-ee)
Hills of Bitratus (Hills of Bit-ray-tus)
Creatures:
Noctuans (Not-too-ans)
Ulfram (Ool-fr-am)
Wyverdraki (Why-ver-dra-cki)
Rhamocour (Ram-o-coor)
Berdijay (Bear-di-jay)
Aenean Orel (A-knee-an O-rel)
Aviteth (Av-i-teth)
Noirdiem (Noir-dee-am)
Bygon (Bye-gone)
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
IT WAS TEN years ago that I started this journey into Haerland.
Ten years ago that I started writing and drawing out maps, writing letters to myself from my characters to imprint the backstory into my mind. This was not the initial story I wrote. This was supposed to be a background story, one I knew the outline of and its impacts on Haerland’s future, but never one that I ever intended on publishing. I wasn’t sure how their story would be taken in its true form as it was always a darker story than the initial story I wrote exploring this world.
But here we are.
Draven and Aydra have always been the backbone story of this world. Their story was always ‘where it all started’. To finally get the chance to delve into this space and get to know them has been a journey I never expected. I never expected… them. These two characters that would change my life. I never expected how much both of them, and especially Aydra, would influence me as a person. Jumping head first into this self-publishing world was not something I ever anticipated myself doing. And yet, here I am. Running with her into the fire. Burning kingdoms like we always said we would.
I have to thank (as crazy as this sounds) booktok for helping me realize we were now in a time when stories like this would be accepted and sought after. That stories with women like Aydra would be fully embraced. That dark fantasy and grey characters were a thing we wanted more of. I don’t know when exactly this changed, or when we finally as (especially female) writers decided we were going to take back adult fantasy and push it further than it’s ever been pushed. But I am grateful for whomever started it. Thank you.
From the beginning of this journey, I had the support of my family. Most especially from my sister, who was the only person who understood when I would say ‘my characters aren’t talking to me’ or ‘my characters are making me crazy’. I still feel crazy saying it sometimes, but she always understood, and I cannot express how grateful I am for that push to get these stories out of my head. To my sister, all of these books are for you. I hope you know how much I appreciate and love you.
For the rest of my family, I cannot thank them enough for their unwavering support through this entire process and really through my whole life. Even with every mistake and crazy decision I’ve ever made, they’ve always been there supporting me. I love you guys and I know I would not be where I am today without that constant support and backbone.
To Zach, thank you for being there and giving me the time and space to figure this all out. I know how much of a journey this last year has been for both of us, and I appreciate your support when I just decided I was going to do this and you didn't question it. I love you and I am excited to be taking this journey with you.
Something else I didn’t expect at the beginning of this process was the amount of support I would receive as an indie author from the fantasy community. I did not expect the amount of beta readers I would receive from a single booktok video. I did not expect the amount of people wanting to read this story from a single quote. I think I just didn’t expect any of this.
So to my beta readers, thank you for taking that plunge with me into a world you had no knowledge of before hand except for photos, quotes, and an inspo board. Thank you for all of your feedback and gracious comments. You all truly helped me see I had a story worth getting out there. I don’t know how I will ever repay all of you for helping me out, but
