S. J. Vellenga
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Use the arrows to meet the people of Dryas... |
Alatya Pela
Witch
Head of Ordo Extraho, the vampire coven |
Born into a life of witchcraft and magic, Alatya Pela was destined to find a powerful place in the ranks of Kryall. This was not her first destination, however, as she had spent several years studying the arts under the ancient witches of Gorahn, honing her skills for her eventual position in the council of Ordo Extraho. It was brought to her attention that the tombs of the ancients were being sought, and she made it her own mission to ensure that they would remain safe. For many years, she spent most of her time either traveling through the vast lands of Kri and beyond, keenly searching for a clue as to the location of a tomb, or charging others with the same task. Upon the discovery of the first, she returned to Kryall and appointed one of her own to watch over the door and study its markings. It was hoped that this was to be the closest anyone would get to one of the ancients. |
Aran Rheyatis
Witch
Head researcher of ancient tombs |
Abandoned on the steps of an orphanage outside Arnath, it is assumed that he was born nearby. His childhood was a solitary existence, excepting his close friendship with Mika. Before his sixteenth birthday, he relinquished his place in the orphanage and decided to travel through the countryside, honing his natural magical abilities and undertaking freelance work to sustain himself. Upon his return to Arnath, he convinced Mika to travel with him, taking her as far north as Tarlos before returning to Kryall. They both joined Alatya's ranks, Aran choosing to undertake further historical studies at her request. |
Arkeus Baratis
Vampire
Capitol guard appointed to the protection of Alatya |
Very little is known of Arkeus past. He arrived in Kryall twenty years before the great war erupted, badly wounded and keeping to himself. After being treated by the city's medical staff, he decided to remain within its walls until his debt was repaid. In the years that passed, he kept his story to himself, only once admitting that he had spent some time in the forest of Kilana. Having spent a number of years working in the gatehouse to the capitol building, he was promoted to capitol guard and stationed within its walls. Using his new position to his advantage, he requested to be present during all meetings of the council. He was granted this wish and noticed by Alatya, who decided to take him on as a personal guard whenever she was to leave the city. |
Krahn Motahr
Werewolf
Personal guard of Rakah L'Sterah |
Left by his parents in Gorahn, he was adopted by a military family and raised with such values. His youth was unlike that of many other children, with many hours spent within the walls of the barracks, watching the soldiers train and occasionally assisting them with whatever they may have needed. He took a special interest in the werewolves among the ranks, carefully studying their features as they changed into a more wolf-like form and noting their enhanced abilities. It is assumed that his time spent in the barracks is what convinced him to request to be turned, and as he reached his thirties, his request was granted. With his newfound strength and detailed knowledge of combat, he was appointed to the special guard of the city, and later appointed to Rakah's personal guard. |
Marus Ceran
Werewolf
Werewolf leader of Gorahn defences |
Born far north over the ranges and into the lands of Tarlos, Marus' first appearance in Kri was as a young adult. He was but a merchant at the time, and did not spend long, travelling through Selos and over the Barros ranges to the south. He returned to Kri years later however, and headed straight for Gorahn, meeting a witch by the name of Elatos, commonly known as The Fire Queen. She taught him the ways of Kri and gave him a basic understanding of magic before he decided to take the path of a werewolf. She assisted him in this choice, only to have him abandon her and continue his travels south. His final return to Gorahn saw him appointed as the leader of the werewolf soldiers. With his new position, he was taken in by Rakah and made to be not only a personal guard, but a strong friend. |
Mika Rheyatis
Witch
Second in command to Alatya Pela |
Left as an orphan at birth, she spent much of her childhood at an orphanage outside Arnath, using her free time as she aged to work on the city's docks. Her early years were spent as a normal citizen, saving to buy her own land and working at a local café well into her twenties. Things changed, however, when an old friend from the orphanage, Aran, returned to her after years of absense, now changed drastically and speaking of magic. Convinced by his tales, she abandoned her old life and pursued a future of witchcraft, later marrying him. Their time together eventually led them to join Alatya and assist her personally in her ventures. |
Rakah L'Sterah
Witch
Leader of Contempus Orcanus, the werewolf clan |
One of the most powerful witches of Kri, Rakah L'Sterah rules over the mountain city of Gorahn and all that fall within its lands. His face is pockmarked with scars, and his body shriveled and old. In his youth, he appeared quite handsome, but the many, many years that he has lived and fought have taken their toll. Rakah's focus is bent on the tombs of the ancients and the fabled keys that are told to unlock their doors. Few know of his reasons or intentions, and fewer wish to find out. Many have died as a result of his single minded desire, and it is feared that many more shall meet the same fate. May those that step between him and his goal have the gods' mercy. |
Shepherd Pela
Vampire
Leader of the vampire elite guard |
The result of a failed relationship, Shepherd was left in Cenora by his mother shortly after his birth. He was found by a travelling blacksmith who took him as his own. Together, they travelled the lands of Kri, Shepherd learning his father's craft, until they were ambushed in Me'Thora by a group of vampires. They killed his father and kept him as their own personal slave, using his skills as a young blacksmith to craft them whatever they required. At his eighteenth birthday, they decided that they would train him in their arts, and turned him at the age of twenty. With his newfound strength overwhelming him, he disappeared not long after, only reappearing years later in Kryall. He was taken in by the council and appointed to their secret training facilities in the far west. |
Skarlette Feros
Vampire
Commander of vampire defences in Kryall |
A relatively young vampire, Skarlette was born to loving parents in Daera, a city heavily populated by vampires north of Me'Thora. Due to the city's inhabitants, she found a particular fascination with the creatures, and decided quite young that she wanted to become one herself. Denied at the age of thirteen and told she would have to wait, she finally achieved her goal five years later after taking matters into her own hands. Upon her return to Daera, she was confronted with a werewolf battered city. Her mother had been slain and her father sent insane by infection, killing himself not long after. She ensured all her family's business concerns were taken care of before once again leaving, heading straight for Kryall. She was welcomed with open arms and quickly appointed to the city guard, rising in the ranks to eventually become commander. |
Tarina Syr
Vampire
Oldest vampire on record |
The first records of Tarina are from a document penned in the year two thousand one hundred and seventy three after creation, so it is assumed that she was born within the fifty years prior. Little is known of her, however, so her true age may be much, much older. She appears in several other documents, as well as reported sightings of vampires, in various towns and cities throughout Kri and beyond, her name and description becoming somewhat of a legend. It was not until the year two thousand three hundred and eighty five after creation that she is noted to have built a structure somewhere between Cenora and Meera Creek that she would use as a sort of safe house. Her knowledge of the ancients is unknown, as is her intentions regarding their release. It is assumed, however, that she will assist Kryall as she has done in the past in their efforts to keep the tombs sealed. |
Willow L'Sterah
Werewolf
Adopted daughter of Rakah L'Sterah |
Turned at a very young age, Willow was found by Rakah at the age of ten, alone and fighting desperately with her uncontrollable transformation. She spoke little of her past, choosing only to reveal fragments of her tale to those that she trusted most, finally opening up to Rakah after he spent years teaching her to control her rage. It is known that her parents were killed in a werewolf attack, but little more has been divulged to the general populace. Rakah took her in as her own, but speaks little of their relationship himself, choosing to keep it private. Once she felt comfortable with her level of control over her transitions, she chose to join the special guard in Gorahn, training almost exclusively under Marus, before joining her adoptive father's search for the ancient tombs. |
So lately, I've been working with a budding young artist on some new cover art for Kri. The decision has boiled down to 3 images to work with. You can check them out and have your say over on my facebook page at the link below.
When the decision has finally been made and the final work completed, the digital edition of the novel will be available for free for a limited time to celebrate. More details closer to the date.
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