Annals: Year 3
A story fragment and a codex entry from the Dustsong Cycle
From the Annals of the Vaporous Realms
In those early days of the Elder World, pale-hued folk roamed the valley below the Fangs and hunted four-legged creatures for sustenance. But the creatures were less leery of Ghrem than of other folk and kept him company in his daily labors. Ghrem whiled away his days gathering food from the mountainside and the forests. His wife, Lae, cared for the infant Len. The unseen folk kept to their own affairs.
Codex: The Elder World
The Elder World was the vast expanse of the earthly realm extending in every direction from the Fangs of Livyat. Harrowing seas separated the Elder World from the Fledging World. The first-folk inhabited the Elder World, and the Nordlings, the Children of the Rising Sun, and the Westerlings all originated from there.
Author Note
My first multi-day comic con is finally in the rearview mirror. I met some excellent folks offering encouragement, advice, and inspiration—including fellow fantasy authors, voracious readers, and tabletop enthusiasts. It was a fun surprise to see M.D. (Resonant Media Arts) and Bam Boncher (Bam Boncher’s Substack) there!
After a weekend in the company of tabletop gamers, I’ve decided to release Vaporous Realms at War tabletop character profiles here on Substack on Tuesdays (and sometimes Thursdays), beginning August 27.
And if you’re looking for a little paranormal suspense, Michael John Petty released a short story: “The Last Gleaming.” Happy reading!
It was great running into you too! And your patience as I talked your ear off :)