New Look Covenant of the Faceless Knights!

I am here to share something with my blog followers--Covenant of the Faceless Knights is getting a makeover and a price reduction! I am in the process of re-releasing the book in its second edition. This one is edited by the incomparable Stephanie Dagg, whom I highly recommend! And the book will be shown with a brand new cover produced by the amazingly talented William Kenney! I will also be working on getting a paperback through CreateSpace shortly after the Kindle version goes live. I am not sure what that price will be yet, but news will follow here, so keep your Eye on Ashenclaw.

I am hoping to have the book available for release again in the coming week (and possibly this weekend--*crosses fingers*) I will probably do a Kindle for the KDP select program for people who may want to borrow it. The price point will be $4.99 (probably) I believe from the start and I plan to release Garius' short story in the Wothlondia Rising series: Strength of Faith, by the end of May as well. That will be followed by Reflections, the Orngoth short story to be released in June, which will wrap up the Wothlondia Rising series.

CotFK 2nd Edition Artwork only, provided by William Kenney

If all goes well and edits and cover are finished for book 2 in the Beginnings series, Secrets of the Ebonite Mines will also be available by Summer's end! I don't know about you guys, but I am pretty excited.

Please tell me what you guys think of the artwork for the cover and I hope to see some sales when it finally gets released. Make me proud, friends!

All of my work can be found on AMAZON -- Kindle versions here!

 See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!

Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase my full length novel, Covenant of the Faceless Knights, the short stories: Wothlondia Rising, and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!

Cover art on Distant Familiarity provided by William Kenney!

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2012 unless otherwise noted.

Spotlight: ELEC STORMWHISPER

I received a piece of artwork from a friend and fellow author, William Kenney and was inspired. So, I decided to do a piece on the high elf from Acillia from Covenant of the Faceless Knights.

Elec Stormwhisper—Elec is a high elf in the Realm of Ashenclaw. He hails from the island home of Acillia where he and his people lead a secluded lifestyle. They participate with the other races in trading goods and services when need be and involve themselves only in times of great need.

Elec Stormwhisper by William Kenney

 All high elves have a natural aptitude for the arcane arts, unlike the forest elves, who prefer the use of bows and swords instead. Elec did not show signs of arcane mastery, much to the chagrin of his father, Keryth. Instead, he excelled in the areas of alchemy as well as disciplines that involved cunning and use of his dexterous digits, including designing, building and disarming mechanical traps.

Elec also trained for several years with his Uncle Faorath in the areas of training exotic pets—specifically giant eagles—in the ways of befriending them and using them as flying mounts. These talented few are called the Wind Riders of Acillia.

On many special celebrations and prior to leaving on his mission as an envoy, Elec was gifted with many ancient elven magical items by his uncle, who continues to support and encourage the young elf in any way he can.

Elec has dark hair and white pupils—both unusual features for the high elves, who usually tend toward eyes of blue, amber, violet or green and hair that ranges in color from silver to gold. Elec is a very insecure combatant, he often compensates for his lack of natural prowess with his constant use of combat-enhancing alchemical elixirs, which in his mind, he has perfected. He often experiments on himself, using different combinations that meet with varying results. He is understandably an expert in the surrounding fields of alchemy and botany.

Elec uses two very unique weapons, a longsword named Daegnar Giruth. He also has a second weapon, a dagger called Wyrm's Fang. Here is an excerpt describing each...

Daegnar Giruth was readily in his right hand. It was a magnificently crafted sword, fashioned of ancient magic with runes about the blade. Its hilt was long enough that Elec could wield it with two hands, yet light enough to use it with one. It also possessed an unearthly power that could drain a portion of physical strength from an enemy with every slash of its fine edge.... 

Shifting his hand to the center of his swords hilt to balance it in one hand, he reached under his cloak to his belt and he withdrew a second weapon. Wyrm’s Fang was its name. It was a dagger so sharp that he had once used it to cut into stone without so much as dulling the blade...

See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!

Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase Covenant of the Faceless Knights and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios, LLC 2011 unless otherwise noted. Artwork provided by William Kenney.

A Synopsis of Characters

I have been told on some forums and by some other folks that my teaser and blurbs do not give enough information about the characters, which is the story's focus. In response to that I have come up with a few minor descriptions that may demystify that position.

 

Elec is a high elf with very little self confidence when it comes to fighting, but has certain skills that continue to force him in that direction such as setting and disarming mechanical traps as a classic thief or rogue and he is a master alchemist. The alchemy provides him with artificial means of boosting his natural speed, strength, agility and healing among other things. Reluctantly, he accepts his ‘destiny’ and accompanies the heroes on their quest.

 

Saeunn is a human barbarian woman who is displaced from her home after it was overrun by orcs and goblins. She is struggling initially with a choice of keeping an eye on her mother and giving in to her natural instincts and love for battle!

 


Rose is a human female pick pocket and true rogue who had a rough childhood and is a member of the Thieves’ Guild. She realizes that she has missed the danger and excitement of her youth and now takes up a chance to rediscover that excitement on her own without informing her guild of this plan.

Garius is a former priest/warpriest to The Shimmering One (the sun god) and current Inquisitor with the Order of the Faceless Knights, a sect of religious zealots who have access to every divine power offered by each of the gods. These bountiful powers and spells are given in exchange for keeping all of their temples free of heresy and deceit. He is a natural leader and a quick study.

My overall storyline is an thickly layered web that has many overarching story-lines and would be extremely difficult to explain in short order. Suffice it to say that this particular novel focuses on an artifact that disappears from a temple right out from under the priests’ noses and is the key component that could represent a lich coming back into his former power.

Synpopsis: "When a dangerous artifact goes missing from a temple, the elderly high priest in charge requests the aid of a one-time apprentice. Garius Forge, who is now an Inquisitor among the Order of the Faceless Knights, assembles a small team of heroes and sets out on his quest. He is aided by the wise-cracking Rose, a rogue among rogues, by the stoic and battle-hungry Saeunn, and by a naïve elf named Elec, who reluctantly agrees to accompany them at the behest of the persuasive Inquisitor. The eclectic group sets out to recover the artifact before it falls into the hands of the lich who once held it. Not only do the heroes have to overcome numerous foes, but they must also conquer their own shortcomings in order to ensure the safety of the Realm of Ashenclaw!"

The main villain behind the entire series is Zabalas Dimonia, an especially dark warlord with a mysterious past and a penchant for enticing others to do his bidding in the Realm of Ashenclaw!

The characters in the world refer to the continent as Wothlondia and refer to the world or the plane of existence that we call earth as Krotto. We, as the readers, call the world the Realm of Ashenclaw.

The rest of the characters can be found on my home page and in greater detail HERE.

See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!

Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase Covenant of the Faceless Knights and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!
 

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios, LLC 2011 unless otherwise noted. All Sketches of characters done by Justine Babcock.