TOTEH Characters: Princess Marilith of Xandarr
April 16, 2011
"Princess Marilith of Xandarr" by Carol Phillips
Princess Marilith was born the third daughter to the House of Xandarr in 002994ax to Hezru, King of Xandarr and his Queen Xanthippe. Being the third daughter relegated her to a rather meaningless place in the Household, however her ambition and ruthlessness did not allow her to remain there for long. Her older sister and brother turned up dead, possibly murdered by Marilith herself.
As the eldest daughter of a powerful Xaphan Household, Marilith was selected to marry into a notable League House in the hopes of ending the long-standing League/Xaphan conflict. Marilith and her entourage toured the League as she searched for a suitable pairing and became verify popular in League Society. She eventually selected Lord Davage of Blanchefort, and, unexpectedly, Marilith and Davage fell in love. Their wedding was the event of the millennia, however, it never came to pas, as Lord Blanchefort’s sister, Lady Pardock of Blanchefort, believing Marlith to be an unprincipled heretic and monster, threw down the ceremonial wedding baton, thus separating Davage and Marilith forever.
Princess Marilith vending machine in Waam, by Carol Phillips
"Marilith" by Daniel Morris
Marilith was known for coming at the League in a variety of warships. Her favorite was the large, basttleship-like Ghome 52. Her vessels usually lasted one or two engagements before they were shot out from under her.
copyright 2011, Ren Garcia and Carol Phillips.
TOTEH: The Temple
April 2, 2011
"The Horned God" by Fantasio
The Monama peoples of the south of Kana know of the temple, have hinted at in their ancient writings and whispered of it in their most private moments. They claim it is a place of bluestone deep in the ground where the Horned God lives. They say all of the demons and haunt their nightmares come from the temple. They say it is a nexus of many places given life by the Horned God who is repaid with fire and blood. The Monamas claim his angels have been engaged in bloody worship and sacrifice in the cavernous belly of the temple continuously, without pause or breath, for thousands of years.
The Temple is a deadly place for both the victims dragged there in chains to be sacrificed, and for the worshippers as well, for death can strike anyone at any given moment.
Of all Elder folk on Kana, the men of Calvert know most of the temple, having heard of it from the Monamas, whom they often hire as seers and prostitutes. Whenever space and sea-faring mariners from Calvert come to harm the old salts by the docks shake their head and proclaim: “Another one for the Horned God.”
The great professor from the Calvert University of Dee, Grand Dame Hannah-Ben Shurlamp, EvoR, conducted a seminar on the Temple of the Exploding Head before a gathering of her peers in St. Edmonds, however, she treated the temple as a purely allegorical reference using it to highlight the evils and dangers of sin and unbridled lust. At no time, did the EvoR proclaim the temple as an actual place.
The great Remnath hero, Atrajak of Want, sought out the temple at the behest of his dying wife, Tiverlan of Nebulon, who was a Monama princess. She said all the woe Kana had ever known came from the bloody environs of the temple and she begged him to locate and destroy it. Atrajak searched the whole of Remnath, finding nothing but ghosts and rumors. Eventually, Atrajak came to grips with the Sisterhood of Light at their stronghold of Twilight 4, where he was killed in a terrible battle. His search was the last real effort to locate the temple and discover what is done there.
The Temple of the Exploding Head and the Horned God remain objects of whisper and speculation.
copyright 2011, Ren Garcia and Fantasio
TOTEH: News, Notes and Billygoats
March 31, 2011
GENERAL NEWS:
BOOK III–THE DEAD HELD HANDS The first in the Temple of the Exploding Head trilogy will be available for sale April 8 via Amazon, B&N and the Loconeal website where it can be purchased autographed. Standard retail price is $14.95.
BOOKS I and II ARE NOW AVAILABLE VIA THE LOCONEAL IMPRINT. Book I, Sygillis of Metatron, features more maps and interior artwork. Book II, The Hazards of the Old Ones is fairly identical to its appearance in its first edition. Both books are also available at a much lower price of $18.95 at Amazon, B&N and the Loconeal website.
NOTES:
BOOK IV: THE MACHINE. I’m competing the final proofing of the manuscript for Book IV. If all goes according to plan, there should be twenty-seven maps and interior pics from Carol Phillips, Fantasio and Justine Marie Hedman. Book IV is, without a doubt, my favorite book in the trilogy–I just love it, and I love the cover–it’s my favorite Carol Phillips creation yet. I also love the city of Waam, which is visited in the book. Waam is my version of Lankhmar–a ruddy place full of twisting streets and waiting adventure. I can’t wait to share it with you. The tentative release date for Book IV is June, 2011.
BOOK V–THE TEMPLE OF THE EXPLODING HEAD: I’m currently putting the finishing touches to the Book V manuscript. Book V is the exciting conclusion to the Temple of the Exploding Head trilogy. We haven’t started the cover yet for this, but I know what it’s going to be–It’ll be awesome, trust me. Tentative release date for Book V–November 2011.
PRIMER OF THE LEAGUE OF ELDER: As soon as the trilogy is in the books (as it were), we’ll be cranking out a full color LoE glossary packed with maps, charts, graphs and artwork. It should be ready somewhere after the first of the year.
BILLYGOATS:
THE LOE GRAPHIC NOVEL: I’ve actually seen art and scripting for the upcoming LoE Graphic novel, so I know it exists. Daniel Morris and Jon Harvey are working hard, and I just know they’ll have it ready before the year’s out. If not, I’ve got a nice secluded spot picked out where I’ll be dumping their dead bodies.
THE MUCHACHO: The summer show season is nearly here and I can’t wait. Lemme’ at `em! I’ve got my updated table rig ready to go. I’ve learned a lot about book marketing from last year to this one and that accumulation of smarts should pay off.
Bowl Naked
RG
The Celestial Arborium
March 26, 2011
"The Great Tree and the Windage of Kind" by Justine Marie Hedman
MEMBERSHIP:
Members of the Arborium are made up of powerful, outworldly beings. Any being that can successfully pass the poorly understood Criteria of Deuum may join. Usual members are made up of Elemental Spirits, Djinn, Wind-Walkers and Nargals. The Great Elemental Spirit Bathloxi is a preeminent member and giver of laws, as well as Mincoil, Anabrax, and Carahil. Notable Djinn in the order are Maiax and Bar-Igura and Ibilex. The cat-god Mabsornath is a powerful Windwalker. Regardless of their origination, the gods of the Arborium always appear as various types of common animals.
"Maiax, Bar-Igura and Ibilex" by Carol Phillips
The members of the Arborium have the ability to see the future and may or may not take steps to avert a future they do not like. Involving themselves in such things is dangerous, as upsetting the Universal Balance is a sure way to bring about tragedy, as with the infamous Death of the Bodice tragedy caused by the Djinn Maiax, which led to the painful extinction of the Bodice and the fall of Maiax as a demon. Therefore, members of the Arborium are careful not to use their vast power too much.
DEMONS
Demons are considered to be Arborium Members who have abused their power or swung the balance in one direction or another. Demonic power is invariably destructive and can lead to no good end. Maiax became a demon after he caused the death of the Bodice.
THE WINDAGE OF KIND
The Windage of Kind is the “hell of the gods”. It has been described as a gloomy set of industrial buildings at the bottom of the Universal Tree. Members of the celestial Arborium who break the by-laws of the group are sent there, often times for millennia. Those imprisoned within are often seen gazing red-eyed through the many dark windows of the place. Occasionally those held there are pardoned or forgiven and receive a second chance and are released.
"Mabsornath" by Carol Phillips
All of the members of the Celestial Arborium have a Secret-Talker, a person whom they share all of their secrets. The Secret-Talker is a method the gods use to consolidate their power with the universe, and to police each other, as, in theory, if a member commits an offense then it will be made known through the Secret-Talker, however, in practice, the gods go to great lengths to hide and mystically protect their Secret-Talkers. The gods are not allowed to directly accost or engage another’s Secret-Talker, a member of the younger folk must do it, often at the direction and peril of the gods themselves. Carahil’s Secret-Talker is Mabsornath–a Wind-Walker who is also a member of the Arborium.
copyright 2011, Ren Garcia
Millennicon
March 21, 2011
James Barnes with Loconeal Publishing setting up our table
I met the incredible Stephen Zimmer, author and filmmaker, and plan to hit a few shows with him this summer. There was also the amazing duo of T.R. Chowdhury and T.M. Crim of The Shadow Over Shandahar series (who are joining me in the Loconeal fold–Welcome guys!) Can’t wait to hit the circuit!
Of all the wacky events I attend, the craft shows and bake shows, yard sales and pretty much any place I can set up a table, conventions are by far the hardest to attract buyers. People there are often on a mission for a certain kind of book, either by genre or author, and aren’t really interested in looking for anything else. Also, there’s lots of competition from other authors who are sharing space with you on the floor. Still, perseverance will win out in the end and if you’re tough and do plenty of smiling, you’ll come home with fewer books than you brought with you.
Note the monitor. It's displaying Carol's remote desktop with the illustration she's painting
That she is.
"Lt. Kilos and the Cat God Pub," by Carol Phillips
She knocked in the cobbles and added texture to the village in the background, rolled in some fog and added the “Octagon” to Elyria (the moon). She really wanted to have it finished before the Con ended, but that’s how life goes. People had various questions for her–mostly regarding layers, as Carol has over a hundred created for this painting and only very few of them are labelled. Next time, we’ll have to mic her up so she can talk as well as paint.
Next–I’m going to Piqua.
Bowl Naked
RG
Millennicon–Live Paint with Carol Phillips
March 15, 2011
"The Cat God Pub" by Carol Phillips
One of the things we’ll be doing is a Live Paint. Artist Carol Phillips will be working on this unfinished pic of Lt. Kilos standing in front of the elusive Cat God Pub, via Wi-Fi and a 17 inch monitor. She’ll even take questions via text while she’s working. It should be lots of fun.
Come and see us at Millennicon.
Cincinnati, Ohio
You know you want to …
RG
LoE Books I & II to be Re-Published by Loconeal
March 7, 2011
Books I & II in the LOE series are being re-published by Loconeal Publishing.
Book I: Sygillis of Metatron: Go back to where it all began with the original LoE book: Sygillis of Metatron. Meet Captain Davage, Lt. Kilos, Ennez the Hospitaler and the deadly Black Hat Sygillis of Metatron. The Loconeal edition of the book features more maps and interior art by Carol Phillips, Eve Ventrue and Bea Matarredona-Garcia.
When Captain Davage does the unthinkable and refuses to allow the Sisterhood of Light to execute a captured Black Hat, he places his soul in grave danger. The Black Hat, Sygillis of Metatron, notorious in the League for killing an entire squadron of Marines by herself, sits in her cell and dreams of killing the captain.
Trade paperback $18.95
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Book II: The Hazards of the Old Ones: The second installment in the LoE series, The Hazards of the Old Ones is back in all its glory. Packed with maps, and over twenty interior illustrations by Carol Phillips and Justine Marie Hedman
When the Elemental Spirit Carahil foresees the death of an entire world, he places his soul, and those of the people he loves most, at risk to save it. As Carahil is about to learn, the greatest hazard of being one of the Older Folk is to care too much. Hell awaits should he fail.
Trade paperback $18.95
Both books available April 2011
copyright 2011, Ren Garcia
Book IV Cover Almost Complete
February 26, 2011
"The Machine" by Carol Phillips
This cover is quite different from the previous three covers for a number of reasons. The previous covers all have a distinct fantasy flavor to them, from the gothic city-scape of Metatron to the wooded Hazards of the Old Ones, Carol’s roots as a fantasy artist shine through, however, The League of Elder, is a space-opera after all, so I wanted book IV to highlight that. This cover also displays all four of the main characters, which hasn’t happened before (notice Sarah is not “turned on” in this still), as well as two Black Hat temples. Weird Bondarunga vessels and buildings are scattered all over the place.
The setting is in the Xaphan city of Waam. Our heroes in the foreground are being hunted by two separate groups: the Spectres are after our hero Kay, and the lovely Thomasina the 19th and her ladies are after Phillip. If Carol’s lined it up correctly, Thomasina should land right down the center of the spine.
Some old characters have made their way onto the cover. The gigantic vending machine the good guys are crouching behind is our old friend Princess Marilith of Xandarr, who is a popular folk hero in Waam. Also, as he’s appeared on all the previous covers, the elemental spirit Carahil is here as well–can you find him??
copyright 2011, Ren Garcia and Carol Phillips
Sarah’s Hair
February 23, 2011
I’VE GOT A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM!! I need to pick a hair-style for Lady Sarah of Blanchefort, and I can’t decide. Cover artist Carol Phillips has given me lots of options and I’m at a loss. Here’s your chance to throw your two-cents in and have a say in how the cover for Book IV, The Machine will look.
Sarah is a rather brusque tom-boy, a hot-head and a bit of a loud-mouth. She loves the thrill of adventure and is an eager companion of her cousin, Lord Kabyl of Blanchefort. She’s basically a big kid. I describe her in the story as having a long head of straight blue hair, like her grandmother had. She doesn’t spend a lot of time fussing with it. She pulls it back into a bouncy ponytail and a rolled-up set of bangs, quick and easy and that’s it.
Here are the choices:
Choices A and D are most like how I describe Sarah in the story. However, given her rather girl-like nature, pigtails aren’t out of the question.
Go ahead, take a look and give me your thoughts.
Copyright 2011, Ren Garcia and Carol Phillips
TOTEH Characters: Carahil
February 19, 2011
"Carahil" by Carol Phillips
His sister, Lady Poe of Blanchefort, listened to the dinner-time stories and was captivated. She was a newly trained Shadow tech female and was fast discovering her considerable talent for creating Silver tech familiars. She decided to put her new-found skills to the test and create an exact replica of Carahil, using vast amounts of Silver tech and the detailed recollections of Lord Davage in the process. She located a dry fountain basin in the Telmus Grove and began the long process of creating Carahil, running herself dry several times. As she worked she became very fond of the unfinished creation and began adding more to the mixture than she first intended. She added libraries worth of knowledge and arcane lore, cook books, joke books and other such things she thought would make him well-rounded. When he was nearly ready, she added the essence of a kindly dog from the kitchens. That evening, Carahil opened his eyes for the first time.
Carahil Figurines, by Carol Phillips
Carahil has a fondness of lost and little creatures and will go to great lengths to assist those he feels need help. He loves giving gifts when he can. Considering himself to be “incredibly good-looking”, Carahil’s gifts are usually tiny images of his own likeness. He is also a relentless prankster–those he favors are often victims of his pranks.
Image of Carahil in Waam, by Carol Phillips
Carahil’s Secret-Talker is Mabsornath, the former Cat God of Zall-88. Mabs appears occasionally in a place called the Cat God Pub. There, the answers to many questions may be had and the voices of those far away may be heard. The Cat God Pub appears in different guises to different people and it never is encountered in the same place twice. Carahil and Mabs are thought to be romantically involved.
Copyright 2011, Ren Garcia
The Temple of the Exploding Head 