L.L. Stephens

#WIPSnips The word for January 26 is COMMIT

Readers have known Robdan for six books now. They know him to be a gentle, scholarly man. But the events he encounters in THE RILL LORD do change him somewhat. He becomes a killer and a thief and isn't happy about that.
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#WritingInJanuary 26: A stranger punched my MC in the gut while filming it. Says "It's just a pran--"

The stranger never gets to finish "prank" or hit send. Legon kills him.

Dorilian confiscates the filming equipment/device. He doesn't know what it is yet but he'll figure it out.

#WIPSnips The word for January 26 is COMMIT

Readers have known Robdan for six books now. They know him to be a gentle, scholarly man. But the events he encounters in THE RILL LORD do change him somewhat. He becomes a killer and a thief and isn't happy about that.
#WritingCommunity #WriteSky

Ranks are rendered as translations. Words like "general," "Commander," or "captain." Staubaun/Kheld languages have their own words for these positions but -- as above for military terms -- I use equivalent words.

After all, most terms in the series, like "city," are translated!

Sordan's units are called wings (the Eagle motif) and fast mounted units are called vipers -- they strike quickly.

Esseran units of the same types are called arms and claws. Not much of this is in the series, though. I try to keep descriptions simple.

#JanuaryWorldbuilders 26: Military type/traits

Some of Sordan's army units are defensive, but those described in the series are designed to attack enemies in the field. Nobles field cavalry units, which accompany infantry.

Khelds, until recently, were purely infantry with few horsemen. 🧵

#FantasyIndiesJanuary 26: Memories my characters cherish

Dorilian embraces his time with Marc Frederick. Memories of the man stay with and guide him in powerful ways.

Hans cherishes memories of his adopted moms, Irmgard and Geraldine. The social values they taught him remain strong.

Left side is the book cover of SORDANEON, book 1 of the Triempery Revelations series by L.L. Stephens. Cover is golds and browns showing a young man facing a fantastic city with a glowing core of power at its center. Right side is a text excerpt from SORDANEON in which the main character Dorilian shares a first kiss with his wife of four years: It was his first kiss, and he should have felt something other than her coldness. No tenderness for him moved Daimonaeris, none at all. It was ever the Highborn curse to know where passion existed and where it did not, and the passion on her lips bespoke nothing of desire. It touched his lips as might a snake’s cold venom, imparting sight, allowing Dorilian to see her clearly by means he had not employed before then. Hers was a new attack upon him, no less deadly for being concealed.

#WritingInJanuary 25: First kiss or hug

Dorilian's first kiss occurs in SORDANEON. I put the snip below. He's twenty. She's his wife to whom he's been married for four years. And romance has nothing to do with it...
#WritingCommunity #WriteSky #Sordaneon

#WIPSnips The word for January 25 is NOTICE

Dorilian is safest when no one knows who he is, so being not "noticed" is a... good thing? This snip is from THE RILL LORD. Dorilian has just arrived in his ally's camp.
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#JanuaryWorldbuilders 25: Military training

The Triempery books don't focus on military; they're more about the politics of wars. No training academies or details about practice.

Most armies involved are professional or semi-professional. They are taught by masters how to use their weapons.

#FantasyIndiesJanuary 25: Animals in WIP

Horses have nearly character roles in some Triempery books. There's a special horse in THE RILL LORD.

Other animals appear sporadically in the books. For some reason, none of my characters have pets -- save Ionais with her yappy little dogs. 🤔

#WritingInJanuary 24: Where do I see my writing journey improving?

More readers. 😊 More illustrations. More sales would be nice.

I would like to write more humor. My birth family thinks I'm quite dull (not true... I'm QUIET), but I can be funny sometimes.

#WIPSnips The word for January 24 is BONE

"Bone" is used in this snip of Dorilian telling a battle committee they're mistaken about what Nammuor, the sorcerer/enemy, wants. And reminds them of Nammuor's powers.
#WritingCommunity #WriteSky #Triempery

#JanuaryWorldbuilders 24: Notable generals

These appear in the Triempery series:

Bersyas - Sordan. Younger, innovative, horndog
Pandaros - Sordan. Older, experienced, calm
Legon - Sordan/Eagle Guard. Reserved. Dorilian's good friend.
Fran - Kheld. Younger, hothead
Nalf - Respected, bluster, crafty

Text excerpt from THE RILL LORD, sixth and final book (April) of the Triempery Revelations series by L.L. Stephens. Snippet is of Dorilian pondering his powers versus those of Nammuor, his sorcerer enemy: Dorilian understood the mechanics. Shield energy possessed thresholds, in this case ambient Rill energy channeled through mortal flesh—his flesh—while the Diadem he faced was fueled by power from the sun itself. Power channeled not through a mortal body but an array of devices. Enough power to overwhelm Rill skin. Nammuor had chosen this place for battle because he had created a way to feed his unholy device. I could stop the battle, wait for night. But Nammuor, Dorilian knew, would not let him do that, would not let him escape. He thinks he has me.

#FantasyIndiesJanuary 24: Saturday Snippet

Arcane powers take center stage in THE RILL LORD. Here's a non-spoiler snippet. 😊

#WIPSnips The word for January 23 is TRANSFER

THE RILL LORD is about creation and destruction, endings and beginnings. But "transfer" plays a part in that. Here's a conversation between Hans and Tiflan, explaining... quite a lot.
#WritingCommunity #WriteSky #epicfantasy

Illustration by Margarita Bourkova. Human hand (young, male and fair-skinned) wearing an elaborate ring with a green gem and eagle talon setting.

#WritingInJanuary 23: Does your MC's attire/weapon have magical properties?

Heck yes. Dorilian wears the Rill Stone, literally a piece of a god, on his finger. His crown (which he doesn't wear all the time, only as needed) is the Sordan Coronal, a greater enhancer of magic. His sword is god-forged.

#JanuaryWorldbuilders 23: Military food and medical care

The armies of the Triempery are imperial with well-organized food distribution/medical care, i.e. mess tents, quartermasters/logistics specialists, and hospitals.

Khelds don't have these established systems. But they quickly adopt them.

Left side is book cover of THE KHELD KING, book 2 of the Triempery Revelations series by L.L. Stephens. Cover is blue and gray and shows a man looking up at a mysterious city atop somber foggy cliffs. Right side is a text excerpt from THE KHELD KING: Dorilian had just reached the door when he turned back to her and flashed another of his smiles. “A year from now, you are going to thank me for setting you free. It’ll be fun. You’ll see.”

#FantasyIndiesJanuary 23: New beginnings in WIP

THE RILL LORD is an ending (final book of series)... but it does have new beginnings. Except... spoilers.

I like the new beginning for Palimia in THE KHELD KING. When Stefan boots her from Essera, she finds an unexpected new start in Sordan.

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My short story, The Fairy Soldier's Last Request is in the Tales Untold anthology.

It's the story of a sellsword, excuse me freelancer, who gets pulled into a debt of honor with a Fairy soldier. He's also Bi. 😁

www.amazon.com/Tales-Untold...

Left side is the book cover of THE KHELD KING, book 2 of the Triempery Revelations series by L.L. Stephens. Cover is blue and grays, a somber view of a man looking put at a mighty city atop cliffs. Right side is a text excerpt from THE KHELD KING, wherein Dorilian discovers that he is growing a beard--a sign of low birth: There was the reason. Dorilian’s thrice-cursed grandfather. And his mother. Both had been born of Nemenor mothers—a race known to sprout beards. Only Staubaun men of pure blood, like their Aryati predecessors, were truly free of facial hair. Yet again, as with his eyes and coloration, Dorilian failed to meet the royal standard. Tutto lowered his gaze. “I see puberty has arrived upon your chest also. And probably under your arms.” “Yes, but I can hide that.” Dorilian sighed. “And I already know how to make sure it doesn’t happen again, not on my face. My problem is that I need to get rid of this particular outbreak. I tried to get my skin to reabsorb it, but that didn’t work.” “So I see.” “It’s ugly, a sure sign of low birth. I need it off my face.” “Easily done.” Tutto unsheathed the shorter of the two daggers he wore and displayed the edge.

#WritingInJanuary 22: A flaw my MC hides from everyone

Most of Dorilian's flaws are front and center. He doesn't hide much. But he does hide that his "impure" breeding has given him a body that has... facial hair.

The hiding starts in THE KHELD KING. It's a fun scene.

#FantasyIndiesJanuary 22: Inspiration

Many inspirations for writing are visual. I love art and weave it into stories.

Character inspirations come from people. I love to be in a corner so I can watch and listen. I spied Nammuor on a flight to Milwaukee once. That's when I knew what he looked like.

#JanuaryWorldbuilders 22: Current Wars?

Gosh, yes! THE RILL LORD has a helluva battle. The whole novel is the culmination of a string of wars (it is the final book of a series).

Dorilian is the catalyst of at least two wars. And he is a central figure in all of them. #epicfantasy

Soon. The final book is being published in April. 😊

#FantasyIndiesJanuary 21
Who does your MC look up to?

At the beginning of Exile, Andrew looks up to the king (who is also his step-father)

For Kye in Wraith and the Revolution, it's his older sister, Kelsey.

For Tavesin in The Relics of War, it's his mentors, and later, Ravin.

A comic of two foxes, one of whom is blue, the other is green. In this one, Green arrives at the scene as Blue is twisting himself into unusual positions, turning his head up, down, and upside-down. Green: What are you doing? Blue: I'm realigning my balance crystals. Green: Your what? Blue: One of them has drifted to the wrong part of the labyrinth, and I'm trying to wiggle it back in place. Green: ...What in where? Blue: A calcium crystal in the vestibular labyrinth of the inner ear. Green looks awestruck as he finally comprehends what is happening. Twisting himself onto a loop to turn his head towards Green, Blue looks at him with a confused frown. Green: Ooh, so it's a medical thing. Blue: Wait, what did you think I'm doing?

I'm so glad! He's a personal favorite. My sister's too! 😀

I wrote the last four books of the Triempery Revelations -- THE SECOND STONE, THE GOD SPEAR, THE WALLED CITY, and THE RILL LORD -- as a single book.

SORDANEON and THE KHELD KING were written to make the story complete before publication. They were published first.

All told: 1.3 million words.

Cover art by Ben Baldwin for The Green Man's Heir shows a carved wooden face made from oak leaves. A spark of emerald light gleams deep in the dark eye sockets. Book extract reads: Thick shadows slid across the ground, dense as oil. Any moment and the blackness would meet to bar my route. Breathy muttering beneath the trees hemmed me in on all sides. I barely got out of the clearing before the slithering shadows merged. A frantic glance over my shoulder, and I saw the darkness pursuing me. I ran as fast as I could. Not just to catch the girl; I had to get away from the evil presence in this wood. It wouldn’t be easy. Where the track had looked clear before, now it was choked with undergrowth. Hawthorns clawed at my arms while brambles tried to snare my ankles. A vehicle must have got down here sometime though. I stumbled on tyre ruts, risking a sprained ankle every time the ridged earth crumbled beneath my trainers. A spray of leaves and thorns raked my forehead. Blood blinded me. I raised an arm to wipe it away and tried not to think how close that had come to my eyes. Somewhere up ahead, the girl screamed. I tried to run faster but the track was even more overgrown. I could hear her ragged, breathless sobbing, but I couldn’t even find whatever path she’d trampled. She shrieked with fresh terror.

Book Quote Wednesday's word is 'earth' #BookQW #Booksky
Dan Mackmain's a straightforward, no-nonsense carpenter. No one he works with would ever imagine what he gets involved with outside the day job.
Modern fantasy rooted in British myths and folklore. The series starts with The Green Man's Heir.