Synopsis "The Dawnstone Tale (Translations From Jorthus)"
Content in her book-lined tower where her spellsongs provided her every need, Lylith Antinon makes a decision that could possibly be the worst mistake of her life - she steps outside. The journey she takes in pursuit of a mysterious "call" tugging at her soul tosses her into the path of a thief down on his luck and an attractive lord who just happens to lend himself out as her guide. The three odd travelers follow rumors and "spirit pathways", using spells and sword skills, in their attempt gain a most treasured gem from the Island of Daie ... The Dawnstone. If they happen to conquer a tower renown for its traps, allude a madman, evade a ghastly curse, and win their prize - how will they escape each other? Dark whimsy mixes familiar fantasy tropes with character driven adventures, new worlds, and a handful of lusty fae. THE DAWNSTONE TALE is the first book in the series Translations from Jorthus which introduces the system of three Sister-worlds: Jorthus, Gerrellus, and Quorrelles. Planets that give life and energy to their "children" through the Song of the Universe, a language of the soul, spoken among the stars. Their spirits infuse and guide The Majiks that bind all matter. The "children" who inhabit the worlds can call out to and utilize the Majiks, if they know how and if they are strong enough not to be ripped apart by the power of an entire planet. Those who understand the Song and learn the Soulspeak were called sengheirs. With education, an adept sengheir could become a Magda, one of the masters of the Majiks on a shrinking number of special councils who create spellsongs and pass them to a select, jealous collective. On Jorthus, each magda was allotted a region that they were supposed to care for with their spellsongs, but (as always happens in such cases) some chose to use their skills for gain. The common people did not use or remember the majiks and viewed the powers of their magda as something to be feared. The highest-level magda could harness great power, and fancied themselves as rulers. They formed the Grand Council of Magda to decide what was best for their world. The populace raised up civil Judges and kings to intervene with the magda and mete out laws. Reluctant to share their power, the magda argued the unworthiness of others to rule, and after many decades of friction, an agreement was reached. The Councilmen were formed. Those that had negotiated the peace had done so with a less than charitable eye, in order to cement their own power. The most corrupt of the Magdas and Judges leaked through to soil the fabric of noble intentions began by The Councilmen. They did not exist on any document -- nevertheless, all felt their influence and lived in fear of their touch. They were known as The Journeymen. All that the Journeymen knew was power and luxury. And, they knew they wished to keep it that way. Any time a new tremor of energy was sensed through the flow of majiks, they found a way to harness it -- or destroy it.
