《The Nomad》Postscript for Book 1
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You may have noticed that each chapter title is also the title of a song. This is, of course, intentional. Given that this whole story was written for the Royal Road Writathon challenge (2020), and thus written inside of a single month, my usual writing workflow was upended. I could plan out plot points and outline chapters ahead of time, but I could not actually do any drafting until November 1, 2020. This left me in a bit of an odd place as the process of 'translating' from outline to draft to (semi) polished work tends to change the story as details and character traits emerge.
So when outlining a chapter I picked a 'theme song' to go with it. A song that I though fit the mood of the chapter as I envisioned it at the time. Then, when writing, I could refer back to that song as another touch point to set my mental scenery for the chapter. As a pair of examples; chapters 3 and 4 both have very different feels to them. Or at least, I intended them to.
Chapter 3 is a bit dark: Sinn has graduated (yay!) but only to be swallowed up by a bureaucratic meat-grinder (boo!) that his school has deliberately prepared and attempted to indoctrinate him for for fifteen years (yikes!). But I didn't want to go all in on that motif. Sinn is not a MacGuffin without will or power in the story. So I picked Welcome to the Masquerade both for it's acoustic feel (dark, gritty, just a bit aggressive) but also for it's lyrics. “... Take a look around at the sea of masks / and come one come all, welcome to the grand ball … “ from the opening verse and “... Out of the fire, rise from the ashes / Reject your doubt and release the passion … “ from the second. Sinn has entered into a dark and dreary place but is not doomed to it.
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Chapter 4 is Sinn's escape from the trap laid in chapter 3, intended to be hopeful and uplifting for Sinn, a vista of opportunity opening before him. And the sky Shall Unfold has no lyrics but captures this feeling quite well.
Both selections also have the added benefit of fitting titles to double as titles to my chapters, a theme I have tried to keep true for as many of the chapters as I can. I have created a bibliography, sorted by order of appearance (as unorthodox as that may be), for the songs used below in chase you should desire to listen to them.
– Necrontyr525
Brown, Robert. “Born at the Wrong Time”. Nomad, Abney Park, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrdD82ZFsAo, Abney Park, 2014.
McNevan, Trevor. “Untraveled Roads”. OXYGEN:INHALE, Thousand Foot Krutch, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSD5vSSGLOM, 2014.
McNevan, Trevor. “Welcome to the Masquerade”. Welcome to the Masquerade, Thousand Foot Krutch, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o42iwnSYRlg, Tooth and Nail, 2009.
Bornlöf, Johannes. “And the sky Shall Unfold”. Rise and Fall, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSSQ_WcBWwM, Epidemic Sound, 2015-12-04.
Bates, Dustin. “CARNIVORE”. Transmissions, Starset, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAMiX5EEbFU, Razor & Tie, 2014-10-29.
Simpson, Sturgill. “Sing Along (Official Video)”. Sound & Fury, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpSMoBp8awM, Elektra, 2019-08-20.
Brown, Robert. “Your Escape”. Under The Floor, Over The Wall, Abney Park, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AO0ulu71fts, Abney Park, 2016-10-19.
Maguire, Mattie. “Racing Hearts”. Night Candy, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0iaQsLphpI, Epidemic Sound, 2019-05-23.
“Howling”. Howling, Lupus Nocte, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4Lsah7bEJY, Epidemic Sound, 2020-04-19.
Büttner, Christian Friedrich Johannes. “Monody (feat. Laura Brehm)”. TheFatRat, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7xai5u_tnk, The Arcadium, 2015-11-07.
Kaufman, Jake. “Strike the Earth! (Plains of Passage)”. Shovel Knight Original Soundtrack, Jake Kaufman, https://virt.bandcamp.com/track/strike-the-earth-plains-of-passage, Yacht Club Games, 2014-06-26
Young, Johnathan. “The Land of Broken Dreams”. Johnathan Young, Caleb Hyles, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvvwqsUlyBA, 2020-11-09.'
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Cavaliere, John et. all. “Silent Company”. Silent Company, Black Majesty, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2x_lzJkhg2U, Limb Music, 2005-06-27
Sörbye, Chris Adam Hedman et. All. “Everything They S4y”. Arcadia, Smash Into Pieces, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4_CCc6odBw, Smash Into Pieces, 2020-08-28.
Bennington, Chester et. all. “Castle of Glass”. Linkin Park, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScNNfyq3d_w, Warner Bros, 2012-11-10.
Seals, Timothy. “Summoner (Track 2)”. A New Dawn (Cover Edition), Timothy Seals, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1MH3fB4jwY, A cover of “Arkham Bridge” from the Mechwarrior 2 Original Soundtrack Album (1995), 2015-01-03.
Graham, Rory Charles and Hatrman, Jamie. “Human”. Human, Rag'n'Bone Man, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3wKzyIN1yk, Sony, 2016-07-21
Selway, Philip. “Pretty Lies”. Pretty Lies, Written By Wolves, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNkF7EPvdNA, 2015-12-28.
Jerns, Dakota. “Fragile Minds”. Delusions, Silent Theory, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2Iip0YR1qE, Silent Generation, 2016-06-04.
David, Guillaume. “Overlord”. Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus (Original Soundtrack), David Guillaume, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZksH2sIQdJ8, Laced Records, 2018-10-15.
David, Guillaume. “Children of the Omnissiah”. Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus (Original Soundtrack), David Guillaume, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLsX9WUdYnU, Laced Records, 2018-10-15.
Avidan, Dan. “Magnum Bullets”. Thunderbird, Night Runner, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ipUBRS75pw, Night Runner, 2017-09-15.
“My Name Is...”. My Name Is..., Once Monsters, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTZ2JRrUK7Q, Audiam, 2019-11-23.
Dunne, Gavin. “KEEPERS”. Seven: The Days Long Gone Official Soundtrack, Miracle of Sound featuring Marcin Przybyłowicz, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnt08AgEklA, Gavin Dunne / IMGN.PRO / Fool's Theory, 2017-04-20.
Hellion Prime. “Kong at the Gates / Forbidden Zone”. Question Everything, Hellion Prime, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70pyrUmkid8, AFM Records, 2020-10-04.
Dynatron. “Pulse Power”. Escape Velocity, Dynatron, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ak1-qLbHHCM, Aphasia Records, 2012-11-22
Shaw, Tyler and Ulrich, Garrison. “Holy Ground (The Ascended)”. Dystopian Fiction, Aviators, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFON6Qmspfk, Aviators, 2017-08-18.
Kabanen, Anton. “Crazy, Mad, Insane”. Berserker, Beast in Black, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbFpDJsLYOU, Nuclear Blast, 2017-11-03.
Maguire, Mattie. “Never Easy”. Night Candy, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yVEqzYbQFI, Epidemic Sound, 2019-04-23.
Seals, Timothy. “Marauder (Track 8)”. A New Dawn (Cover Edition), Timothy Seals, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcRgEcEGLSA, A cover of “Iron Piston” from the Mechwarrior 2 Original Soundtrack Album (1995), 2014-09-21.
Shaw, Tyler. “Let There Be Fire (feat. Miracle of Sound)”. Let There Be Fire, Aviators, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sH0ewuSL4gs, featuring vocals by Gavin Dunne, Aviators, 2018-05-25.
Dunne, Gavin. “Beyond These Walls”. Beyond These Walls, Miracle Of Sound, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjVE2N6Ra04, Gavin Dunne, 2020-10-30.
Dunne, Gavin. “Evacuate”. Level 6, Miracle Of Sound, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdzFiJSd7E0, featuring vocals from Lorna Dollery, Gavin Dunne, 2015-10-14.
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Cinnamon Bun
The world called out for a hero to purge it of a great evil. It received Broccoli Bunch, explorer, expert cleaner, occasional ghost-buster, and full time Cinnamon Bun. Features include: Talking enemies into becoming friendsHugging menu boxesAwesome overpowered skills (such as Cleaning, and Gardening)And more adventure than you could shake a stick at! Follow Broccoli on her personal quest to make all the friends. All of them. Updates: Monday, Wednesday, Friday! Now Available in ebook and paperback formats here: Volume One - Amazon Volume Two - Amazon
8 300August Ace
Crash-landed. Stranded in the middle of a post-apocalyptic land teeming with the flesh-eating, bloodthirsty dolorium—a vicious race of insects as big as farm animals. August Ace is a rookie in over his head. It’s his first real mission and he finds himself in a squad comprised of some of the finest soldiers the dome has ever seen. The mission: Locate and destroy a massive enemy nest. With nothing but their feet to get them across the mysterious lands where humans once dwelt, the squad must stick together to defend against the dolorium and other dangers. Can they keep from turning against each other? Is there more to this mission than meets the eye? What else lurks outside the safety of the dome? The time has come for the rookie to see what he’s truly made of.
8 75Laus Deo
Abigail and Elias just had the worst day of their lives: burying their parent's after their unexpected deaths. All mourning is put on hold when an irate angel appears in their house and demands their help.Humanity is in trouble. The seal on the demon kingdom has weakened and if it's not taken care of soon, well...all Hell will break loose, literally. Earth will become the stage for Heaven and Hell's eternal war.The siblings join forces with the angel, while trying to keep up with the demands of normal life.Among all this, Abigail begins to suspect their parents' deaths might not have happened the way the police report says they did.
8 115Mark of the Mountain [formally : the masked queen (drottingr)]
Lyssia - the masked Drottine of Ilvana - has to discover the strength of her own voice and uncover the dark secrets that threaten to undermine the safety of her people while maintaining her own secret, a struggle that may force her to choose between her kingdom and her life. * * * * * * * * * * Participant in the Royal Road Writathon challenge! * * * * * * * * * * Armed with an uncontrollable talent for premonition and a dangerous secret that could cost her her life, Lyssia - the masked Drottine of Ilvana - has to learn to survive in a land designed to weed out the weak. Lyssia always thought her survival at court depended upon her identity as the greatest pretender of all. But when Magnor - the newly crowned King of Dunival - arrives unannounced and threatens the tenuous peace between their two kingdoms, Lyssia soon realizes that he carries secrets even more dangerous than her own. As Lyssia struggles to discover the true intentions behind Magnor's visit, she is faced with an impossible choice: Sacrifice her secret - her freedom - her life to save a dying land... or allow Ilvana to be overcome by what lies hidden in the shadows. Can Lyssia find the strength to stand and fight for her people, or will the lies she has hidden behind her entire life prove too strong to be overcome? * * * * * * * * * * A kongdomr of warriors, though rusted their swords A kongdomr of voices, raised in hopeful song A kongdomr of drakuns, forsaken, forgotten A kongdomr of masks, neither young nor old A kongdomr of faces, expectantly raised To this new chance, a new age A new Drottingr Ilvana of legend Rise, Warriors, Rise * * * * * * * * * * CAST, DEFENITIONS, PLAYLIST CAST Ilvanian (the three-pointed mountain) Lyssia (Lys) - Drottine of Ilvana, heir, present day 22YO Dizean - Kongr of Ilvana, Lyssia's father Azerian (Az) - Lyssia's maternal cousin, present day 22YO Carryn - Lyssia maternal aunt, Azerian's mother Roakev (Ro) - Lyssia's paternal cousin, present day 24YO Eindre - Lyssia's paternal uncle, Roakev's father and Drengr Nimeah - Eindre's wife, Roakev's mother Seaka - old Lach and Lyssia's former caretaker Bjarke - Master Skald, employed the Kongr of Ilvana Aturnel (the guardian) - highest mountain point on Ilvania-Listoria border Thivness (the wildness) – dangerous, impassable cliff between eastern forest and sea Vatn – Lesser mountain named after the lake found at its feet Arvid – Lyssia’s Dubkir horse, named after her great grandfather Sikurd – Roakev’s Dubkir horse, named after an old hero from a Lay Isi - girl Lyssia meets on road to Steiner Mart Diyana - Lyssia's songbird, also Rilken's wife Ofrid - Lyssia's maternal cousin, close to Roakev's age Reeza - Lyssia's older maternal cousin, has a oat named OdilHoney - good natured mare rode by Lyssia Hanne – village representative’s niece celebrating her wedding Ardbon - Karl involved in Steiner Mart fight Liefer - Karl involved in Steiner Mart fight, his son’s name is Nurik Rilken - the last Drakun Kongr of Ilvana Steiner Mart - Eda-Yute Mart held every year in Steiner Field, also called the crossroads Gavin Brinson – young western Jarl, not allied with Halvor, his family crest is a raven Sidne – Gavin’s wife, very pregnant and very helpful Halvor - outspoken jarl from western stead Sorev – Halvor’s son, family crest is a bear in mid-maul, one of eight Jarlsons present, but the only one hailing from the west Fulrik – sonless western Jarl allied with Halvor Calvin – one of the Jarlsons atttending the peacemeet, the oldest and tallest of the lot Angar – eastern Jarl in possession of the Dubkir herd, family crest is a shield painted with bright green and yellow stripes Dubkir heir – Angar’s son…when will Lyssia learn his name? Ingar – former Kongr of Ilvana and Lyssia’s grandfather Scyftan River – the unofficial divide between eastern and western Ilvana Listorian (the five-pointed flower) Andev - Kongr of Listoria Igone (of the green thumb) - Andev's wife, Drottingr of Listoria Thisska - Listorian Drakun, bonded to Igone Linea - Drottine of Listoria, Murel's twin, heir, present day 20YO Murel - Drottine of Listoria, Linea's twin, heir, present day 20YO Ansev - Kongre of Listoria, twin's younger brother Sundric - Kongre of Listoria, twin's younger brother Giall - Jarl that travels to Ilvana with royal party Dunival (the spinning dustdevil) Magnor - recently crowned Kongr of Dunival, present day 25YO Tirne - Kongre-Slad of Dunival, younger son of Rijek, present day 22YO V???? - Magnor’s self-proclaimed “second”…another name Lyssia can’t seem to learn! Deceased Erina - Lyssia's mother, deceased Rijek – former Kongr of Dunival, deceased Anitra – former Drottingr of Dunival, Magnor and Tirne’s mother, deceased The Five Kongdomren - Ilvana, Dunival, Listoria, Sinnet, Nukrevn Aonta...Definition and Cast to be discovered DEFINITIONS Kongr/Kongre - King/Prince Drottingr/Drottine - Queen/Princess Kongdomr (Kongdomren) - Kingdom (Kingdoms) Jarl/Karl - landowner/non-landowner, may be beholden one particular Jarl Lach – healer Fyr/Slad - heir/none Middig/Dreg - master/apprentice Skald - historian and musician Drengr – champion Drakuns - Dragons, the Ancient Ones Bjurn – bear Elke(Elken) – gigantic, majestic elk, native to Ilvana Ban-maudr – “executioner thorns”, found in the eastern forest, very painful and hard to remove Yute - Thanks yearly celebration between cold and growing seasons Urd/Eda/Aon(-Yute) - past/present/future, two weeks each Lay - Ilvanian historical songs Laikari - Listorian historical plays Ridineig - fast-paced dancing tune Drigneig – type of song, a dirge, “opposite” of ridineig Lur - long trumpet like instrument Bowed lyra – larger version of hand lyra, played with a bowed stick Jorki – similar to a pan flute, jokingly called “child’s flute” Drakuns - Dragons, the Ancient Ones Diyana - songbird Wulv – wolf, native to Dunival Wulvken – umm…we’re still not sure Volvstot/wulvstot – “witchbrew/wolfbrew”, dark beer that Magnor brings from Dunival Fovk - fox Vas Morginnen - Good Morning Vas Heill - Good Health Vas Daginnen – Good Day Adhuil - prosperous, prosperity Ami - genderless term of endearment Dunga - insulting way of saying someone is stupid Saedas - sweetness, another way of saying happinessSaedhirte- sweetheart Hviss - an (improper) oath Slegrl – sly Standa – stop An-rivic – be still! Brudpar – “bridal pair”, bride and groom Dubkir – famous Ilvanian horses, half-wild and bred for the hunt * * * * * * * * * * Playlists: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcaiTcdQkK6nXrjYq29srJ7GMsebdd-Sp https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcaiTcdQkK6msFQiYhbaYhZ0VqFJ0mROi Lyssia character portrait by @soretoothproductions!
8 355TARGUM: The Architects Of Pride
The being that created religion on Earth was a cloud of sentient spores that had drifted through space since the singularity. On its arrival, it produced the basis of all religions, written in many books by many hands. The quorum identified as a male. A male, able to inhabit human forms, he engineered his own progeny. Two half-human sons. Seth and Ezra saw their father instate himself as God. Worshipped by all. Disillusioned with the world of pain and suffering their father had bought about they decided they could do it better. In the universe of Targum, the rules are different. No religion, no greed and no death. Over a million human souls have been transfer-beamed from Earth to the new worlds. Within their domain, one of the nine newly formed planets is about to upset the utopia. So begins a story of dragons, magic, kings, heroes, immortals and madmen.
8 162You are someone who enjoys playing Genshin Impact, but one day you're teleported into the game... Who knows what'll happen with you there?Discontinued.#69 in Genshin November 5th 2022This fanfic will contain..Fluff.Angst.Yandere.This fanfic will not contain..Smut.I'll update at least every 10-72 hours, unless I'm busy or unmotivated.Started: August 25th 2022.Ended: November 12th 2022.
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