u/eb78-

I’ve been building a fantasy world called Targin for about a decade and finally wrote my first novel last year. I recently started posting chapters on Substack and would love to find a few readers who enjoy epic, character-focused fantasy.

Synopsis​

Whispers pass through the town of Sgilt about strange disappearances. Some ​blame their own protector, the mysterious and scarred Scout known as Lural of Sgilt. Young Larman finds himself conflicted by the words of the town and what he encounters in Lural’s silent hall.

Meanwhile, Larman’s friend, the old and gentle Anlin, faces darkness, imprisonment, and malice in the heart of a swamp-eaten ruin. At his lowest, he is given a task that could change history, a letter from Vaer, the Creator.

Forces clash and an unexpected hero emerges. In the aftermath, the disturbed Zelgen decides to settle the mystery surrounding Lural once and for all. Instead, he barely escapes with his life and is sent to the capital as punishment. There, he is instructed by the aging Head Scout, Vagulent.

Tragedy strikes, and what has been lurking in the kingdom of Daugia steps into the light.

If that sounds interesting, here’s the first chapter:

The Scouts - Chapter One

Feedback is very welcome : )

This is an old song from my unfinished fantasy music album. I've gotten away from making music for a long time.

An old legend of the Daugin people in my fantasy world, Targin. It has been passed down through oral tradition for millennia. This is a synopsis of the epic poem written in a style that generally uses eight syllables of per line and four lines per stanza. The drawings are from scenes in the story.

Example excerpt

>"My brother?" Këlëgën questioned,

>"Oh my brother. Oh my brother!",

>"Your enemy lies before you",

>"Helpless and within your power",

>

>Valënën did not say a thing,

>His eyes were filled with long past hurt,

>As he took out his whale bone bow,

>Këlëgën waited for the kill,

>

>The arrow flew and went past,

>It struck the yoll of the Bølger,

>And that snake fled away in fear,

>For it had been wounded in youth,

>

>Valënën picked up his brother,

>Like he had a long time ago,

>He walked with him down the gravel shore,

>To a place nearby an old trail,

Summary

Along the dark sea cliffs lived an old reindeer herder named Arga along with his two sons, Valënën and Këlëgën. Valënën was the eldest and raised Këlëgën after their mother died. They grew up to heard the reindeer just like their father and Valënën protected his younger brother from beasts with his whale bone bow.

Yet as years passed, Këlëgën grew jealous of Valënën's place before Arga. He tried to gain his father's approval through works instead of genuine love. He began to complain, but Valënën did not take it seriously, for he himself became prideful of being the good son. Valënën still loved his brother, and this perhaps blinded him to the growing danger.

One day, Këlëgën led Valënën to the great roaring fall called Vesput. There Këlëgën cast his brother into the swirling surge, and he fell to his death. Këlëgën returned home, irritable and seemingly indifferent to his brother's absence. Yet Arga knew what had happened, and banished him to wander the barren wilderness.

After a time of aimless travel, Këlëgën came upon a land of mountains and lakes. Here he came to live among a clan of the Daugin people, who warmly welcomed him as a lost son of theirs. He hearded their animals for many years, but could never escape seeing the shadow of his brother or the wrinkled hands of his father. Eventually, guilt consumed him.

Without farewell, Këlëgën left the kind Daugin, and was quickly drawn in by the flutes of the Cult of the Bear. They promised freedom through magic and violence. Këlëgën became a mighty warrior among them, and was named Vëladorgan, a god of bloodshed.

Yet Këlëgën was noticed by a vengeful creature named Hëvn, who fought him with great claws and cast him from a tall cliff. The shell of Vëladorgan broke like peices of the mountains as Këlëgën hit the bottom. Still alive after such a great fall, he discovered a blue tinted sword among the bones of a warrior. Half crazed, he mused and decided to fight the Great Yoll of the Bølger.

He tumbled into the creature's haunt, a land where waves had turned to stone. He taunted the colossal sea-serpent to destroy him. Yet the yoll was more curious initially than Këlëgën wanted, and as it lowered is head to sniff he jammed the sword into its snout. This greatly angered the creature and it chased him to a high sea cliff. In a mad frenzy, Këlëgën hurled himself into the sea thinking he had seen his brother on the high cliffs.

Këlëgën was broken on the rocks and washed to a gravely shore half-dead. Yet, what he had seen was true. Valënën was alive and came to stand over his ruined body. Lamenting his past acts, Këlëgën gave himself up to his brother. He expected to be killed, but Valënën shot his arrow at the yoll instead, sending the serpent fleeing through the black waves.

Valënën carried Këlëgën back home, and convinced their vengeful father to forgive. The two brothers reconciled at Këlëgën's bedside. To Këlëgën's surprise, Valënën apologized for his quiet pride before him and also Vaer, the creator of the world.

Ever afterwards, Këlëgën gave up his violent ways, but was unable to walk, so he rode upon a white deer. Valënën became a wise leader among the coastal people, and Arga lived peacefully among his sons until his two hundreds.