Happy Holidays!

Once Upon a Time in Ar, Part Four

The looming beast looked like a cross between a shaggy rug and an oversized goblin fitted with large lynx-like ears. Dardaniel could not repress a faint squeal when the creature hunched down to gaze at him. Its ears homing in on the slight sound made their tawny tufts flop forward. With its large bulging eyes, the beast exuded a somewhat-endearing appearance were it not for its terrible fangs. That impression ended at once when it roared.

“Now, now, let’s not get carried away with the random-forest-critter-meets-unsuspecting-hero routine, shall we?” said Dardaniel as calmly as he could. “Surely we can find a way to get along. Let me guess: you are a sasquatch, aren’t you?”

The beast raised a bristly eyebrow, frowned, and roared louder. As it raised its clawed hand, the wizard reacted with greater speed, pointed a finger at the hairy face, and cast a few sharp words. Strands of sticky webbing shot forth and wrapped themselves around the beast’s head like a mad smothering turban, muffling the victim’s bellows and interfering with its sight.

As the brute clawed at the webs, the wizard took a few steps back. “I do beg your pardon,” he said. “I should have known better—the puppy eyes, the large ears, the big fangs, and all. You are a bugbear, yes indeed. Didn’t mean to offend.”

The monster tripped and fell on the jumble of tree roots while struggling to rip off the blinding strands. Judging a retreat more prudent, Dardaniel spun round and buried his face in what seemed like a wall of fur.

“Oh bugger,” he uttered, looking up at another beast that had sneaked up from behind. It grabbed him by the back of his robe and yanked him off his feet. As he prepared to speak another spell, the bugbear slapped him across the face, causing Dardaniel to swing wildly, his feet kicking helplessly. Another spell attempt resulted in a backslap with similar effects.

#Calidar: FUNDED!

Dear Supporters of ‪#‎Calidar‬

I have the pleasure of announcing that "Beyond the Skies" has met its initial funding goal. So, yes, a great book there will be! Thank you so much to all of you for making this possible, and in time before Christmas too. Now comes the next step of hitting the stretch goals. These are crucial because they increase the amount of internal art. The dream goal is one illustration for each of the 89 gods depicted in the book, plus artwork for the other chapters, which do represent a substantial part of "Beyond the Skies." Your generosity has made this ultimate goal possible. Kudos to you all!

For those of you reading this message and who've not had the opportunity yet to jump in, now is a great time to do so, first off because the project will definitely happen.  At this point, it can only get better.  Kickstarter does not actually complete a transaction until the project ends on January 7th 2016. 

If you do not own the first book in the series, "Stranger Skies," you can obtain it through this Kickstarter campaign at a discount.  The complete PDF files for "Stranger Skies" is listed there at an all-time low of $6. 

You can also own two 60-page booklets in printed format which are only available to Kickstarter backers.  They cannot be purchased after the crowdfunding campaign ends. Simply backing the project with a First Mate pledge level already earns you these two booklets in PDF format for free.  Poster maps from "Stranger Skies" are also available at a discount.  There is a limited supply of these poster maps.  Once out of stock, they are unlikely to be reprinted.  You can find all this under the project's "Add-Ons" header.

If you want one more more add-ons over and above the normal pledge for "Beyond the Skies," simply add the value of these add-ons manually to your pledge amount, along with any shipping fees listed in their descriptions.  I'll contact you later via Kickstarter to confirm everything.

Thanks again for your interest and your support.  Merry Christmas.    

-- Bruce Heard

Second in the Calidar series, this 220+ pg compendium tells all about gods, their spirit servants, and their foes, for use with any RPG.  Aside from listing gods, this book's contents further develop the Calidar fantasy setting and provide substantial material designed to enhance game play, such as divine powers for mortal followers based on their piety, secret brotherhoods, temple floor plans, etc.

Once Upon a Time in Ar, Part Three

A soft rap at the door pulled Dardaniel from fitful slumber. Malvolian stuck his head in and gazed at the wizard. “We’ve arrived, Master,” he said in a muted voice. His angular, bluish face seemed as if it had been carved with a hatchet, with prominent cheekbones and an upturned, claw-like chin. He bore the large pointed ears of djinni-kind and iridescent eyes that gave them a strange, inscrutable expression.

Dardaniel stirred under a pale ray of light filtering through his bedchamber’s window. He grunted, got up, and shuffled groggily toward the light. A sea of dark green treetops lay below the Silver Cloud, as far as the eye could see, partially masked by dawn’s lingering mist.

Elbowing his way in, Feyward approached, holding a steaming bowl. “You might need this, Master,” he said with a grin revealing large gray teeth. “Just got it from the galley.” As fat and jovial as Malvolian was wiry and gloomy, Feyward owned small, porcine eyes almost invisible behind drooping eyelids, and a large, hooked nose. A long, black goatee snaked from his chin, reaching almost to his bulging belly.

Once Upon a Time in Ar, Part Two

Dardaniel marched down to the cavernous chamber housing the Haakens’ skyships, and lingered at the entrance. Immense white marble columns and stained glass windows stretched to lofty heights where pointed arches formed an elegant vault. Under the glimmer of pale golden globes levitating in the vast dimness, the main horizontal boom, to which the Prince of Ar was tethered, extended above the azure-hued, mirror-like floor. The heavy galleon, Widdemar’s black and red flagship, floated in its moorings thirty feet from the floor, slowly swaying from an unseen and unfelt breeze. Well above its main mast, smaller booms held two smaller vessels. One was Feldorian’s tiny racing yacht, the Archonian Shadow, famous from the time Dardaniel’s father competed in flying regattas. The other was the Silver Cloud, a mid-size skyship the remainder of the family used for errands simple magic could not satisfy.

Dardaniel observed his valets, Malvolian and Feyward, glide effortlessly up a staircase spiraling between two slender pillars. Queasiness gripped him as they raced to the top and proceeded across the Silver Cloud’s narrow boarding plank. His legs felt like cotton, and merely gazing at the vault high above the skyships made Dardaniel’s discomfort grow even worse. Unlike his forebears, the wizard suffered from fear of heights, a calamity he’d never revealed to anyone. The nephew of an Air Admiral? The son of an illustrious daredevil? Alas, even his mother’s djinni blood failed him miserably. Dardaniel was convinced it was Ethrenielle’s doing, for he believed she’d secretly inflicted upon him a curse which could not be dispelled and grew worse with time. He loathed flying.

Once Upon a Time In Ar

Ethereal eddies spun slowly in the crucible, casting purple glimmers while golden bubbles emerged, bulged, and popped softly into miniature ghosts. Dardaniel, a young man in appearance despite his advanced age, straightened his aching spine before leaning against the back of the tall chair surmounted with the household’s crescent arms. He drew in a long breath and resumed his work. Small circular motions of his index finger kept a silver spoon stirring the crucible as he muttered an interminable ritual. The imp-like face engraved on its handle twitched and wrinkled its nose at tiny specters coiling around it.

Reduced to stumps draped with molten red wax, candles in a tall candelabra threatened to extinguish their feeble, trembling flames. Their sallow gleams revealed books and ghoulish artefacts crammed on shelves behind the wizard. This had once been his grandfather’s study, now mostly overlooked by the rest of family. It was why Dardaniel chose this small chamber to conduct his arcane labor. Somewhat claustrophobic, it still smelled of old varnish, leather, dust, and other less mundane things. He hadn’t seen Lord Widdemar for years. The head of the House of Haaken lived on the manor’s top floor, a recluse who no longer spoke with his son, Felldorian. Everyone knew he was still among the living as his aerial servants continued to come and go, picking up meals and occasional mail, or delivering signed edicts to rule his domain and his aging progeny as he’d done for nearly a century. The servants were bound to silence. When questioned about their master, they responded with quizzical wind-like sighs before flying up through the service shafts.

Nothing surprised Dardaniel these days. It didn’t help that a monstrous war raged between his beloved Alphatia and faraway Thyatis, no doubt orchestrated by the immortals. He’d received news that Empress Eriadna had been killed when a magical storm laid waste to Sundsvall and the imperial palace. Or had she? As a loyalist and a fervent supporter of the empress, he found this hard to believe. He didn’t want to believe it. Something made him think that she’d survived somehow, for she was a mighty sorceress, perhaps the mightiest of them all. Her son, Zandor, the rightful heir, promptly seized the throne in the wake of the tragedy. It was no one’s surprise that he’d proclaimed her death with neither hesitation nor a shadow of proof, for Eriadna’s remains were never found. Thoughts, fleeting hopes, and somber concerns jostled through Dardaniel’s mind, challenging his concentration. He repeated a crucial verse of his spell and grimly stirred the crucible’s purple eddies, staring into them as if they would yield a hidden clue.

"Beyond the Skies" is live!

I have the pleasure to announce that the kickstarter page for Calidar's CC1 "Beyond the Skies" IS NOW LIVE! We're open for business. Thanks for your patience and your support.

The link is here: https://www.kickstarter.com/.../calidar-beyond-the-skies

Rulers of Calidar

As I move along with various and assorted developments of Calidar's world, I find myself hunting for existing information here and there, and wanting for more that hasn't actually been set.  Taking the bull by the horns, I decided to fill in some blanks for future usage.  Much of this is tentative, of course, but some of you may find this useful and somewhat revealing of where I'm going.  I'll add more as I start pushing into these various settings.  Your feedback will also have an impact, especially regarding names inspired from real world cultures.  Material written in blue is tentative (the remainder being already set or published). Have a look. Feel free to kibitz. Give your opinion.  Thanks!

Capital Cities & Present Rulers			Tentative Material
State & Province	Capital City	Ruler	Title
Alfdaín	Mythuín	Dwëara Darkwood	High Matriarch
Andolien	Mythuín	Dwëara Darkwood	High Matriarch
Fëoros	Aërin	Ëodain Stormcloud	Lord Protector
Lathraël	Lathias	Malfalas VI "Tenebrys"	Everking
Araldûr	Hamarfold	Rothbrîm II	Mountain King
Belledor	Seahollow	Golliwin Strikeforth	Grand Fyrst
Easthome	Hobbleton	Valadeer Trembleston	Grandee
Heartlands	Watermeet	Sackworth Brandyboot
Northern Marches	Fairway	Faradine Forklorn
Seafolk	Seahollow	Celeen Sallywell
Wildlands	n/a	Kelbrix Umberpot	Lord Ranger
Caldwen	Arcanial	Vardalas Dardael  "The Green"	High Wizard Chancellor
Anzael	Anzael	Arieph Johirim	Lord/Lady Wizard
Abyzael	Abyzael	Ziav the Negevah
Balthezul	Balthezul	Vanash An'melek
Lamerith	Lamerith	Abachaia of Bamirith
Garamial	Garamial	Tallas Yavdon, the Young
Nygardae	Nygardae	Latira Enizer the Issarim
Meggidon	Meggidon	Gilganim Eyes-of-Dezvi
Incubael	Incubael	Neshuzu, Son of Zavriel
Arcanial	Arcanial	Tenoboam Beb'zorah	High Seer
Ellyrion	Teosopolis	Deimos IV "Teospathes"	Stratokratos (Warlord)
Antiatis	Temenopolis	Mormion Pelonidas	Teosokratos (High Prior)
Drakotiris	Helioklios	Kyrion Hieronikhos	Sophokratos (Philosopher King)
Ellyrikos	Teosopolis	Deimos Telemakhos	Stratokratos
Meryath	Glorathon	Shardwen I	Hero Queen
Faamahana	Faamahana	Eeva Nightblade	Count/Countess
Glorathon	Glorathon	Owann Merryquest
Kahuhiti	Kahuhiti	Tychon Antimedes
Kalalulu	Kalalulu	Toanui Blackmace
Manarao	Manarao	Olaf The Wanderer
Manukea	Manukea	Matahi The Ancient
Meryathon	Meryathon	Vartan Blueblade
Te-Puirea	Te-Puirea	Ahokao Sharksoul
Tulani	Tulani	Kark Burrowdeep
Narwan	Tel Al-Maksur	Sahir III	Sultan
Fuscat	Ta'izz	Akeem Ibn Tahwi Al-Akbar	Caliph
Ad-Dhimah	Tel Al-Maksur	Sahir Al-Jahani	Emir
Al-Barami	Khosab	Kazam Al-Masood
Jhufar	Manzibar	Jaboor Bin Sadeh
Taiffah	Al-Mukaidah	Najwa Al-Tahrana
Nordheim	Grimsvik	Ulvheid I	High Queen
Steinhold	Grimsvik	Ulvheid Stålbrandsdatter	Great Jarl
Bergmark	Bjørnstad	Brynjar Bjørnson
Frostholm	Nordhavn	Einar Havardson
Osriel	Lorical	Lord Arkadeen	Doge of the Writ
Costa Brava	Puerto Valiente	Maltín de Mataez	Prince/Princess of the Warrant
Costa Verde	Santa Salvação	Brasão de Ganganel
Czarziemia	Lubnica	Smetawa Kalinska
Lorical	Lorical	see Doge of the Writ
Monfalconia	Villavecchia	Nero Barbacani
Rijkland	Oosterdam	Jandrijka van Trouwer
Tourneuve	Hauteville	Varnois de Lisle
Wichtelland	Lichtenhausen	Roth von Eisenmarck
Windmere	Sterlingham	Amber Scarlett
Phrydias	Phaeroth	Sethrian "The Allseeing"	Grand Lector
Moons of Calidar
State & Province	Capital City	Ruler	Title
Alorea	Tarkeen	Lord Tyrran	Overseer of the Tòrr-Gàrraidh
To be determined
Kragdûr	Kark-Torkas	Fohrbrand III	Mountain King
To be determined
Munaan	Nicarea	Teosophon V "The Outspoken"	Holy Potentate
Nicarea	Nicarea	Teosophon V "The Outspoken"	Holy Potentate
Taneth	Tenkara	Neb-Arun "Prior-King"	Pharaoh
Bongor	Shangba	Abembe II "Ogre-Born"	Ọba
Inti-Suyu	Tiwanku	Capac IX "The Radiant"	Sapa Inti (prefix)
Talikai	Te Awanui	Matahina IV "Iron Nose"	Kahuna
Gandaria	Karsa	Amnon VII "Tongues"	Supreme Magus
Wichipaw	Nupa-Wakpa	Otaktay I "Red-Hand"	Tanka Itancanka
The Forlorns	n/a	Herion Anaxetos	Lord Governor
Other Worlds
State & Province	Capital City	Ruler	Title
Draconia	Yashrem	Sayble, "the Black Queen"	Dragon Queen
Lao-Kwei	Shangwei (湯位)	Long Zhi (龙智)	Emperor of the Sun
Kumoshima	Kirisato (霧里)	Hatamoto (旗元)	Shogun
		Kagemasa (影正)	Emperor of the Moon
Canis Major
Felis Minor
Varangian Marches