When twins Elayna and Eliam Alterian land in Adaran after stumbling into a cave of crystal portals, a young halfling named Benji Orly helps them escape the troops that come to investigate the magical disturbance. As they move through the landscape, they stumble into a haunted swamp that leads into a dying glade of what … Continue reading The Dying Glade
This week, I read the cards and created a ‘scoundrel’ (a musically inclined rogue named Evyn Nightsong demanded my attention when I pulled that prompt) who wants to escape a broken hideout (destroyed by a rival gang while he was out delivering messages), but he must repair the damage he’s done. Although I drew a … Continue reading A Song of Resurgence
I recently received the Deck of Worlds (a Story Engine expansion) as a gift. So, I thought I’d combine a draw from my original cards (I received those a few years ago at a Free Comic Book Day) with a location from the new cards. Instead of having to figure out where my character has … Continue reading Finding Twilight
This week, I drew up a new fantasy story about a tyrant who wants a powerful quill, but to get it, they will owe something to someone they despise. This prompt brought two antagonists from my novel, Galimeel Redoak and Robin Tremain, into conflict—though not for the first time. ~~~Galimeel Redoak peered into the scrying … Continue reading Quill of Cleft Words
This week, I once again used the Story Engine deck to build a story prompt. I drew a set that had me wondering how and why my shapeshifter, Bix, chose Noxport as their base of operations. Until I began thinking about their origins, I didn’t know Bix’s true identity. Early in their life, they leave … Continue reading Harbor of New Beginnings
I've been using The Story Engine as a tool to write new fantasy stories. This week, I drew a set that had me thinking about a healer who wants to escape a shadowy church, but she will have to learn to trust again. As always, I set my fantasy stories in my world of Adaran, … Continue reading Ash Between the Bells
PROMPT: Once more, I used the Story Engine deck to write a new fantasy story about a killer who wants to betray someone with an illusory piece of evidence, but it means giving up her dream. Lysthelania Arlen spent her entire life chasing one impossible dream: to become the first provincial Mirrorwright in three generations. … Continue reading Reflections
The bells of Dunmere had once rung for weddings, harvests, and the crowning of kings. Now they rang whenever another wall gave way. Mara counted the chimes without looking up from the cracked bowl she was mending. One. Two. Three. By the fourth, the neighbors had already begun shouting. By the fifth, dust drifted from … Continue reading Measure of a Friend
Once upon a time, I wanted to get out of the usual writing rut and write about a protagonist who isn’t a young person being called to save the world. Instead, Lorielei Alterian presented herself. Lorielei is an elven Healer with centuries of knowledge, and she is called upon to help purge relics of the … Continue reading Lorielei: Preparations
Once upon a time, I wanted to get out of the usual writing rut and write about a protagonist who isn’t a young person being called to save the world. Instead, Lorielei Alterian presented herself. Lorielei is an elven Healer with centuries of knowledge, and she is called upon to help recover relics of the … Continue reading Lorielei: The Company Gathers
Dream ✨Imagine ✨ Believe
Books, games, music, and life — filtered through the mind of a writer, drummer, and philosopher who thinks too deeply about all of it. If it moves something in your chest, I'm interested.
Tavern Tales
Poetry BLOG By Edge of Humanity Magazine
J.J. Shaun 