What do you want?
A new fantasy epic where magic is plentiful and dragons are real? #TalesOfDistantLands
A noblebright retelling of the escape of humanity from Earth? #AWholeNewWorld
What about a noir detective story in a world where superpowers won World War 2? #ThisBitterEarth
cimota.com
I have three main characters in #TalesOfDistantLands - a debut #fantasy novel.
Makaira, an ageing court wizard out of his depth.
Joy, a recently-appointed wizard finding her feet.
Shei, an enbie Chanter (magical bard) who’s seeing where their feet lead them.
#writer
Today I finished a sixth short story set in the world of #TalesOfDistantLands - a world inspired by A Wizard of Earthsea and guided by the development of a TTRPG. The short stories will be released early in 2025, the novel and TTRPG will take a bit longer.
#writer
In the quiet peace of the morning, I may get a short story kneaded out of my wrinkly grey matter.
A tale of the rise of Dewa of Prive from nobody to Queen of Prive and the Compact.
She’s beautiful, devious but she’s not the villain of the story. That’s a trope I want to avoid.
#TalesOfDistantLands
Rustic image of a Christmas tree attended by two young wizardly woman and a white dragon.
#TalesOfDistantLands got a present
Obviously Xmas doesn’t exist in the world the novel and TTRPG is set in but it was nice to receive.
Free short story about the Librarian in Tales of Distant Lands, Book 1
www.patreon.com/posts/118595...
#worldbuilding #TalesOfDistantLands
Today we resumed the #TalesOfDistantLands #TTRPG and the wizards deliberated hard about staying in the idyllic city of Moro while outside the city the low-caste Dalas were forced to toil on pain of death. Even the enticement of an ancient song did not tempt them and they fled the city.
Absolutely shedloads of content on my Patreon - including heaps for public and free members. Including almost all of the text for the #TalesOfDistantLands TTRPG so you can tell your own tales in this world.
www.patreon.com/Lategaming?u...
I take their point - but the characters in the fantasy setting ain’t speaking English either.
In #TalesOfDistantLands once of the major characters is non-binary, I’ve not had to spell it out because the languaging around them tells you straight away.
Overfed grey haired white dude. Steering a boat in calm blue waters.
Harking back to 2022 when I completed the journey from Ireland to Barcelona via boat.
To say this journey wasn’t part of a character building epic would be an understatement. My characters in #TalesOfDistantLands spend months at sea, braving storms and witnessing wonders.
Just like I did. #writer
The shadows in the corner of the room began to shift, coalescing into a grotesque form that seemed to drag itself into existence. Slowly, as though fighting against the very air, a thing of bone and flesh emerged. Its skin hung in papery tatters, stretched over an emaciated frame that looked too fragile to move. The creature’s eyes were hollow and milky, devoid of sight, but still managed to feel as though they bore into the trio with an unsettling awareness. Its lips curled back over broken, jagged teeth, and a noise like a low gurgle emanated from deep within its throat. It stepped forward, unhurried but deliberate, its movements jerky and unnatural, as though its joints protested every step. The creature was naked, its withered flesh clinging tightly to its bones, resembling dried offal left too long in the sun. Its scalp bore a few sparse strands of dark hair, thin and brittle, while deep scrapes and scratches marked its skull as though it had clawed at itself in some moment of torment. The jagged lines seemed to tell a story of madness and suffering.
#TalesOfDistantLands
Essentially the described character is a writer who has just emerged from their first draft.
See Alt-Text. #writerlife
17 chapters into #TalesOfDistantLands and I have to throw off a fugue I have about hurrying the story.
I’m world building and there feels like so much exposition. But they’ve barely made it halfway to where the dragons roost in the sunlight.
Take a step. Take a breath. Let them find their way.
You can read the first 7 chapters of #TalesOfDistantLands on my Patreon for only a couple of dollars. And there is a release of new content for my books and games every weekday.
www.patreon.com/posts/116666...
Joy is a newly-fledged wizard, young and eager, yet carrying the weight of uncertainty as she steps into her role.
www.patreon.com/posts/joy-ne...
#TalesOfDistantLands
Makaira is a man of contradictions, a wizard whose formidable knowledge and power are tempered by his eccentricities and personal flaws.
www.patreon.com/posts/makair...
#TalesOfDistantLands
So, my wife declared that my brief characterisation of the “guy who drives the boat” was compelling enough that I should develop him more.
What she actually said was “oh, he’s super hot”.
To be fair, she does like a sailor. 😏
#TalesOfDistantLands
