BOOKS

BEYOND THE CORE

Owen Greene holds a powerful gift from the gods in his veins. People like him, called Astrans, are banned from using their power by the governing Legion, who sends out its strongest forces—Core Wielders—to hunt those in hiding. Getting caught means falling prey to the Cleansing—a dangerous ritual used to extract power from those who hold it, only for it to be planted within mechanical spheres called Cores.

Elian Darrow is an elite Core Wielder, loyal to those he serves and diligent in getting what he wants. But when a Cleansing ritual turns dire, Elian begins to lose faith in himself, until he comes across someone who may be the key to the Legion’s darkest kept secret—Owen.

Forced to leave his home behind with a family friend and a rough newcomer, Owen must make his way to safety and before long, Elian is on his trail. But as Owen masters his power, he soon realizes the secrets and shadows that accompany it are just the beginning.

SHADOW OF THE LEGION

Fleeing from his home country was the hardest thing Owen Greene thought he had to do to evade the clutches of a persistent Core Wielder. But now he has to face even more hardships as he travels through new territory in search of a rebel group making themselves known throughout the regions.

Traversing the lands with his companions, his journey slowly unravels as a merciless group known as Hunters seek people with Astran power like him for their own personal gain. With new threats on his heels, Owen has to be doubly on his guard as he journeys within the Legion's shadow.

But watching out for Hunters and Legion guards are only the beginning of his problems, as a past enemy is still in pursuit of finding him once and for all to find out one question:

IS OWEN STARBORN?

CHARACTERS

Owen Greene

Owen is a 20-year-old man who indulges in faerie tales, folklore, and legends. Though it may take him a while to warm up to people, he makes friends easily. He's not a natural born leader, which is why he often finds himself being indecisive and uncertain, and his naivety usually leads to people taking advantage of him. And if you upset him, he's liable to stalk off alone to stew in his thoughts before talking to you about it. But despite his flaws, Owen is a gentle soul with a heart of gold. He's loyal and forgiving, sometimes humble, and often full of questions. He is a deep thinker who has a long journey ahead of him; one of friendship, betrayal, adventure, love, loss, and heartache.

Colt O'Malley

Colt is a 25-year-old man who loves spending his time in local pubs and gambling. Living as a hermit, he prefers time spent alone, but once he finds himself in good company, he tends to stay in it. He is often standoffish and sarcastic, and has a tendency to act tough and careless due to his rough and brutal past. But inside, Colt is soft to those close to him and a loyal companion. He's a fighter and determined to help you out of any situation. A believer in freewill, Colt will stand by your side no matter what.

Gilda Woode

A refugee from Arcmere at a young age, Gilda fell into a life of violence and brutality to hide her Astran abilities. In the story, she is 37, and acts as a motherly figure to Owen, Colt, and Brom. She is nurturing and kind, but she also has a sharp edge to her personality, and she will kill without hesitation or mercy to save those she loves. But while she is kind, she can also be cold to anyone she doesn't like or doesn't want to grow warm to, and some people find it hard to understand her deadpan and sometimes morbid humor. Though not always loyal to those she's lived with, she is confident in her abilities, and if she likes you, she will stick by your side.

Elian Darrow

Elian is an 38-year-old Core Wielder who believes in the Legion that he serves. His outward appearance is often cold, and he has a serious demeanor that could kill a lively party. Having served the Legion for nearly 20 years, he is devoted to his work, but has doubts about many things that begin to surface in the story. He is a leader, and often does good things to gain favor from others, which can be seen as a form of manipulation. Likewise, he is a smooth talker and would rather take the peaceful approach to resolve rather than violence. He is the person who tries to see both sides, but often fails. But despite his thinking that he is doing good in the name of the Legion, he has yet to see through his arrogance that he is heavily flawed.

Brom Flynn

Brom is a kind man who claims to be a thief, but could hardly kill a fly. However, if you are in a bind, he won't hesitate to kill to ensure you stay alive. He is often showy with weapons and sometimes flaunts his looks, but overall, he is a softie with a heart of gold. He will steal things he needs, only to give it to those he loves. At 34, he has been through a lot in his past, but he also has a lot of adventures to trek with Owen, Colt, and Gilda. Often seen as the light-hearted one of the bunch, Brom will always find something silly to lighten the mood or something comforting to make one feel better.

Rhielle Shae

Rhielle is a 28-year-old who serves the Legion and is in training to become a Core Wielder. She has a tomboyish nature about her, and loves to drink at local taverns and listen to rumors and gossip. She has a soft spot for Elian, and has a friendship with him that goes beyond the brotherhood of the Legion. She is reserved, but can mince words if provoked. She is an idealist who takes her job very seriously. She also holds an edge of mystery, one that Elian finds confusing and unnerving.

Amias Linswood

Amias is a 50-year old man who has been a guardian to Owen for 20 years. A tea lover and conversationalist, one could talk with him well into the night about deep subjects ranging from religion, politics, war, and geography. Once infatuated with Owen's mother, Emilia, he loved Owen as his own son, and did whatever he could to keep him safe from the Legion, even joining the creed itself as a scholar to get inside information. He was Astran himself until he was Cleansed at the age of 18. He has sworn to protect Owen at all costs, but he holds an air of mystery and often holds secrets that can make him seem standoffish.

Nelah (Nel) Redsmith

Nel is like her father, Bridge; resilient and full of passion to help others. She is fearless on the outside, but tends to go to her mother when she is going through hardships and goes to her father for advice. Craving a life outside of her little home in Vanhelm, she is ready for whatever life throws at her. Her hard exterior allows her to take no mercy on anyone who may threaten her family, but she will break if those she loves are hurt. Though she is skilled with a bow, she prefers close up combat, and often finds herself arm wrestling other men for money. When she's ready to relax and have fun, she loves drinking and dancing like an idiot at the local pub, and while she has an interest in both men and women, she is happy living a solitary lifestyle.

Enorran Lore

Supernatural Beings

While each country has their own share of folklore, from the nymphs of Milarc, the stone people in Avathon, the miniature dragons in Arcmere, and the mermaids of Rii, there are also real inhabitants that haunt and roam the world of Enorra. There is talk of blood-eaters and wolf-men among children, as well as faerie folk who live in highly dense forested areas; and also of living trees who kill people and tree and bridge trolls. Here is a short, main list of the real supernatural things that inhabit Enorra.

Ghouls - are the result of an ancient people who live in caves, sewers, and catacombs around the world. After living down there for so long, they become their own people. They live in areas where water is available, and mostly feed off fish, insects and other animals. Ghouls are the result of humans being imprisoned in some places and left to rot. They’re survivors of torture, as well as people who went mentally mad. The problem is some of them reproduced and formed their own colonies in the darkness, thus creating a strange mutant of a human. Most of them are blind. While there are often reports of attacks from cave travelers, these people are not thought of to cause any danger to the sunlit world above where they dwell.

Ghosts - are said to be wandering souls who never crossed into the Unseen Vale. They haunt certain areas of the world, refusing to leave, or simply wander, looking for their bodies, families, or something else they left unfinished. Most are harmless.

Spirits - often thought of as being "ancient watchers" spirits dwell in places like forests, mountains, rivers, caves, etc. They are said to be the result of Astran power that manifests in high energy places. Most of the time, spirits are attracted to those that hold high energies or power.

Entities - are shadows that linger in the living world. They have managed to seep through the “cracks” of the Unseen Vale (the realm between life and death where all souls go). Not to be confused with ghosts, Entities are attracted to supernatural things like themselves, and likewise may flock to Astrans who use their power. Most Entities are harmless, but they can mess with one’s mind enough to make them question their mentality and self-worth, especially if this entity is a past loved one come back to find someone they loved or hated in their living life.

Horggs - are giants that dominate what’s called the “graveyard” of Vanhelm, in Avathon. They kill anyone in their path, protecting the areas they stalk. They feed off their kills and usually keep certain body parts as souvenirs, such as bones, heads or limbs to dangle over their shoulders. Despite being a common spook for children, Horggs are very real in Enorra.

Water Hags - like Entities, Water Hags are said to be wrought out of negative energy escaping the Unseen Vale through cracks or "rifts" in the realm. They are usually thin, bony looking women who live in stagnant water, like ponds, swamps, and some lakes. Though they are said to live almost anywhere, most reside in Vanhelm, where negative energy is said to be the strongest. For this reason, most people don’t come into contact with them.

History In Enorra

Kingdom of Milarc

The Kingdom of Milarc is where our story begins. In the small village of Emberton, Owen Greene enjoys the rocky coastline and green fields of his home one last time before he embarks on a journey across Milarc to the southern country of Avathon, connected by Milarc's peninsula. There are five regions: Lower Milarc, Brookhaven, Wheaton, Brynrock, and Torke.

In Lower Milarc, farmlands dominate the area, giving the country an abundance of crops for its inhabitants, and exports for exotic plants, crop, and animals exclusive to the country. To the north, Brookhaven sees its share of fields and trees, as well as many inns and homes, where countryfolk love to live, but not too far from the nearest towns. It is home to Milarc's citadel, Alacor, where the Council overseas the country's authority, The Legion. In Wheaton, the Uriel Mountains stand tall, their white caps enduring the harshest snow the country sees. Local lore tells that those who wish to forget go to the Uriel Mountains. In Brynrock is where many traders live. Many fish, log, grow crops, breed animals, and visit the towns of Brookhaven in the spring and summer to sell their wares. It is also home to most of Birchwood, the largest forest in Milarc and home to its biggest river, Birchwood River. In Torke, the wealthy prosper. A beautiful region of green rolling hills and rocky low mountains, it is a sight to behold, as well as home to some of Milarc's famous wine exports.

Milarc is one of the oldest kingdoms in Enorra. Built by an ancient people who primarily worshipped the goddess, Yuna, its land mass became an experiment for science. Known for its array of coastal caves, early dwellers dug deep within the earth, creating a system of catacombs that, according to legend, span all the way to the center of Milarc. What could be there is a mystery. Each region has its own local legend about it; a deep hole that goes to the center of the earth, to a realm of faeries, to the goddess, Yuna, being locked away there. Whatever the legend, the catacombs can be explored by any who dare to enter, but they may experience cave-in's, as well as getting lost. The catacombs beneath Alacor's foundation is the most talked about, and for good reason: it's off limits.

The ancients worshipped Yuna until the Legion took over. As they turned to obeying the authority of the Legion, many began to seek the other gods for worship, one of them being the supreme being, Alenar. Before long, religious worship began to die out altogether in the country, as many looked to the science produced by Alacor instead; electricity, coal factories, indoor bathrooms. While few now worship Alenar, it is a public secret that the Legion swears in the name of Yuna.

Some thirty years before the story begins, Milarc began to experience more earthquakes and floods. A marsh on the southeast coastline grows more inland every year, leaving some inhabitants concerned. In the north, it is always dreary and rainy, while the south sees more warmth and sunlight.

In our present story, Beyond the Core, the Legion has mysteriously brought back the worship of Yuna to a people who have long since let go of her praise. While the southern regions of Milarc took to it without a fuss, the northern regions turned a leery eye towards the Legion, questioning their authority. When the story of Beyond the Core begins, it oversees Owen glancing up at a statue of Yuna with his fellow villagers.

What is the secret behind the Legion's sudden uprooting of an ancient divine being who was once free to roam every continent in Enorra?