Description
Drystan, Temple Knight of Lyonesse, is sent to retrieve the betrothed of his uncle, the Duke of Tintagel. This simple journey will set into motion a parade of events that will upend the lives of three unsuspecting innocents and everyone they care about. Betrayal, intrigue, jealousy, murder . . . and love, will drive the human condition to its most extreme. Who will survive the emotional struggle and find true love in the end? Or will love be lost forever?
There are strange and dark forces working against the struggle in a very unsuspecting way. A healer with a remote background and a dark secret, a soldier with a penchant for debauchery and the moral high ground and two mysterious brothers from the mystical island of Hy Brasil all have a stake in the outcome. And the stakes are higher than any of them could imagine.
Location
Cast of Characters & Glossary
Arid Fellowship – A professional Guild of assassins based in Eriu.
Atiod-bherto – Cult of Druids defeated in the One Hundred Year Oak War by the combined forces of the Druids of Sunna and Eriu along with allied cities in both Eriu and Lyonesse. The Atiod were infamous for ritual sacrifice of animals and humans on stone alters and wickerwork structures. Their stone circles are identified by the center recumbent stone and flankers used for astronomical, ritual and sacrifice. The Atiod were chiefly located in the extreme north and south of Eriu
Aja – Once a benevolent healer, she is possessed by a Chaos Demon and begins a killing streak across the Western Kingdoms.
Page 1
Caomh the Enlightened - The Arch-Druid of Eriu.
Captain Purin – Captain of the Elite Guard in Tintagel.
Commander Teutjorīk – Commander of the Fianna, Elite Guardians of the HighKing of Eriu.
Drystan – Adopted son of Duke Maruk, Temple Knight of Sunna and Eselt’s Lover. Aka: Sir Lugaid of House Gille Fhaolain, Knight of Eriu.
Duke Maruk – Ruler of Tintagel, Adoptive father of Drystan, Eselt’s Husband.
Earl Fineas Eckert – Lord of Stoddenferry Castle in Lyonesse, Husband to Lady Rhoswen and Father of Sir Reginald and Perault.
Page 2
Eselt – Youngest Daughter of the HighKing of Eriu and Drystan’s Lover. Aka: Lady Esmeth of House Dubhshláine
Fianna (singular fiann) – HighKing of Eriu’s Elite Knights.
Filberzh the Risen – The Arch-Druid of Sunna.
Greallán – Druid of Sunna that helped heal Purin.
HighKing Cadeyrn – HighKing of Eriu, Father of Eselt.
Hydruntin Ass – An Ass common throughout the Western Kingdoms, Hella, and the Capsians.
Isaro – Stable boy at the inn outside of Teamhrach where Drystan and Eselt stayed.
Page 3
King Praeter Eldorath and Queen Penelope Eldorath - Rulers of Lyonesse.
Lady Fedelmid – Lady-in-waiting to Princess Eselt.
Lochlann – An arrogant young Druid that attempted to heal Moina, one of Aja’s victims.
Mairwen, Gwynn and Braith – Eselt’s older sisters.
Moina – The bread maker, infected by Aja’s poison.
Morgen – Community of Merpeople that live in the depths of the Bay of Morgens.
Myrllin – The Mad Bard, The Prophet, The Sage, The Steward of Hy Brasil. He has the ability to foresee the future with varying degrees of clarity. He is a Powerful wizard with an obscure past.
Page 4
Myrllin lives in a castle on the mystical island of Hy Brasil which is not always visible. When he is not needed, he has the ability to hibernate without aging for hundreds of years at a time. Son of the legendary Tuatha De hero, Dhroghan, his mother was a Nymph, and he has a twin brother, Wodanaz, whom he is older than by one minute.
Odhrán – Eriu Druid, specializing in cures for poisons, that saved Drystan’s life.
Perault – Squire and youngest son of Earl Fineas Eckert, Lord of Stoddenferry Castle and Lady Rhoswen.
Reskalin Arlth – Master Assassin, Second to the FatMan.
Page 5
Sione – Master Thief, Daughter of the FatMan.
Sir Blevin – Knight Commander of the Temple Knights in Tintagel.
Sir Clavemore of Bours – The Knight that Drystan had been apprenticed to.
Sir Wilhem – Duke Maruk’s closest advisor.
Spearmen of House Kunagno – From Dunon in Eriu, considered the finest spearmen in all of the Western Kingdoms.
The FatMan – Guild Master of the Seven Stars Brotherhood, Master of the Sewer Rats and Benefactor of the Sassy Ladies.
Page 6
Tuatha De – A mysterious, magical race of people that reside in a Kingdom of four cities far to the north.
Tuatha De ‘Blood’ – The pure race of Tuatha De that comprises the leadership, scholars and wizard class of their people.
Tudful – Guild facilitator in the Lower City of Tintagel.
Wodanaz – Wanderer, Famed Poet and Minstrel, Seeker of wisdom, Chronicler of the Fourth Age, Son of legendary Tuatha De Dhroghan, and his mother was a Nymph. Myrllin is his brother.
Page 7
Behind the Story
Lore 1 of 2
Eriu is a feudal confederation of kingdoms led by an elected High King to represent their collective interests. Eriu is also the name of the primary goddess of the land and her name is synonymous with ‘abundance’. Her sisters, Banba and Fodla are the goddesses Gersemi of Avalon and Sunna of Lyonesse, respectively, although only the priests and druids are aware of the goddesses’ relationship to each other.
The land of Eriu is known to be wild and exotic. Stories of leprechauns, giants, banshee, puca and the faerie folk come to life in the rural darkness and tangled wilderness where human populations are sparse. Magic, particularly the magic of the druids, is real and ever present in both good and evil incarnations.
Lore 2 of 2
The druids who serve Eriu are benevolent and love nature. Then there are the dark and sinister druids, a cult known as the Atiod-bherto, who serve nature by ritual sacrifice of humans and animals on recumbent stones and wickerwork structures. It was this cult that brought about the Oak War five-hundred years ago, siding against the druids of Sunna and Eriu, and plunged both kingdoms of Eriu and Lyonesse into bloody civil war. The Oak War lasted one-hundred years, tens of thousands died on both sides and ultimately the Cult of Atiod-bherto was defeated. But still, remnants of their believers hide in the shadows of the darkest forests and continue with their terrifying practice of sacrifice to nature.
Mythology 1 of 1
Eriu, or Iveriu, in ancient Celtic dialect translates as the ‘Land’, and also as the name of one of the triumvirate of goddesses, Everiu, that predates the geographic location that would become Ireland. Everiu was the daughter of the Tuatha De Mother Goddess Ernmas. Iveriu’s sisters, Banba and Fódla were also granted the sovereign names that pre-date Ireland; however, Eriu was the one that became popularized in poetry and lore.
Discovery 1 of 2
Both Lyonesse and Eriu are basically feudalistic states. Prosperity in both lands has made this system work well, especially with the additional laws that mandate the conduct of nobles and treatment of commoners. Additionally, most citizens own their own land and pay a monthly tax based on production to the Lord that rules over their region.
The country of Eriu is a loose confederation of small kingdoms ruled by individual kings with loyalty to a High King elected from among them. The city from which the High King is elected is then considered the unofficial capital of Eriu until the High King dies or is replaced by the ruling council of kings from the other cities. No matter from which city the High King comes, he must always travel to Teamhrach where LIafal, or ‘Ruling Stone’ is located to receive their coronation.
The High King has influence but little real power without the support of the other kings of Eriu.
They are held together by the common religion and the influence of the Druids.
Discovery 2 of 2
Rarely do they war amongst each other; however, it is often difficult to get them to work together except under the most extreme situations (which again, normally require the influence of the Druids).
Eriu’s primary exports include gold, copper and bronze, sandstone from quarries, wool, textiles and agricultural products. Major imports: wine, olive oil, grains, glass and salt. Local game consists of wild boar, Reindeer and Aurochs. Hazelnuts are abundant when in season and typical livestock includes goats, chickens, pigs, cows and an abundance of sheep. The economy is good but not as affluent ay its neighbor Lyonesse.
Currently, gold lunula are a very trendy fashion with the Eriu people. Gold earrings, sun disks, bracelets, clothes fasteners, large "gorgets" and bullae amulets are also quite common and produced in various qualities of metals and gems.
Explore 1 of 3
The land of Eriu is a magical, mystical place full of wonder and dangers to all those brave or foolhardy enough to explore the wilderness beyond the protection of the cities and villages where humans live securely behind walls and fortifications. Nature, so revered by those who live here can also be deadly, and then there are the unnatural terrors that stalk the obscure corners of the realm. The people of Eriu accept the risks of their environment, even embrace it, as part of their everyday life and have become a resilient folk because of it.
In the west, hundreds of leagues of unexplored forest stretch from Lough Greely all the way to the coast. There are few human villages and settlements in this dense and twisted wood. Many courageous souls will hunt the elusive long haired elk that stands twice the height of a man at the shoulder, or the wooly rhinoceros; however, tragic tales follow those who try to penetrate the forests too deeply. Most trade between Teamhrach and the coastal city of Dunon takes place via the river or the Primal Sea with no stops in between.
Explore 2 of 3
The coastal region of Eriu brings its own dangers, especially with the home of the treacherous Vikju so close by. These lethal raiders plunder settlements and merchant vessels along the coast from norther Eriu to the seaside villages of the Moullians, a thousand leagues south.
Then there is the Kenno-windo Mountain Range in the south of Eriu with hazards of its own and just beyond, the infamous Valley of the Leprechauns. It is said that this is the place where the leprechauns live and play, but no one knows for sure as no man that has ever entered has ever returned the sane, if they ever returned at all.
The eastern edge of Eriu borders Lyonesse. This is the most passive area of the country since Lyonesse is a friend and trade partner with many interlinked marriages between nobles that helps secure peace and prosperity. There are still hidden dangers in the mountains and rivers to the north as well as the elusive sea creature that calls Lough Greely its home. More than one ship at sail or oar has found this legend to be terrifyingly true.
Explore 3 of 3
In the north, the threat of strange beasts that have escaped over the Sea of Dragons from Fomoire is ever present. And these are not the usual creatures of fang and fur. These are true monsters created and then banished to Fomoire by the Tuatha De over three-thousand years ago. Nightmares of every proportion prowl the forests and mountainous elevations seeking a less threatening prey than what they could find in their homeland. Humans and domesticated animals on farms and small settlements meet that requirement quite nicely. This region of northern Eriu is known throughout the Western Kingdoms as more dangerous than any other, prompting Knights and adventures from near and far to test their mettle against the horrors that stalk the night, knowing that if they prevail, what a tale they would have to tell!
Verified Reviewer
Best fantasy novel I have read all year… – Goodreads
Verified Reviewer
If you enjoy fantasy, give this book a try. The thing that I enjoyed most about this particular book was the romance, as well as reading about the two magical brothers… I – Amazon
Verified Reviewer
This novel by new Author Ravek Hunter was surprisingly well developed and enjoyable page-turner…– Goodreads
Verified Reviewer
I loved this book! It has knights, wizards, dwarves, kingdoms, all sorts of magic, action, intrigue, suspense, twists and harrowing turns, and a ridiculously charming love story. – Amazon
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If you enjoy reading works from authors such as R. A. Salvatore or Robert Jordan, you will love this book…. – Amazon
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It’s hard to find a good historical fiction that incorporates elements of fantasy so well, but this one did it! – Amazon
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After reading and enjoying this author’s first book, I had to read his second one. Again another excellent read. Looking forward to a third book. –Amazon
Verified Reviewer
Just quite amazing read. Just obsessed with the series by Ravek Hunter. – Goodreads