A Magitek fantasy from Zoe Landon
VAPORMAGE
The gods are indolent, the rulers are corrupt, and the world's most powerful mage just wants to watch detective shows.Joined by a trio of fellow misfits, vapormage Kell Rusalka will have to dig through not only the history of their warring world, but Kell's own lost past, if they're to bring a real peace to their people.
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Linnute is a land of mundane magic, of schoolhouse sorceries and summons on every street corner. And then there are the Vapormages, Cymona's beloved battle mages, masters of overwhelming spellcraft.For vapormage Kell Rusalka, their latest assignment should have been simple enough: cross the border to the north, do some secretive scouting, and make sure another war doesn't start. Easy.After running into a murderous magical bird, a sword to the throat, and a pack of zombie hounds... maybe it's not so easy. And the second day will only get worse.But Kell's not the first person to be cast aside by the powerful, whether that's the god-like Guardians or the mortal men who claim to serve them. If they're going to bring peace to their home, they'll need their fellow nobodies to help them dig through not only the history of their warring world, but Kell's own lost past.Everyone claims to want peace. But one man's peace is another man's trouble, and trouble does what it wants.
The Cast
The people, and other beings, that make the story of Vapormage what it is.
The World
The continent of Linnute offers everything from lush landscapes to magical monstrosities.
About the author
Zoe Landon, shown here locked out of her house, is a software engineer, writer, and musician from Portland, OR. Along with writing fiction, she's given talks at technology conferences such as OSCON, pushing for accessible and mindful technology communication. She also served homemade buffalo wings to an Academy Award winner that one time. She has been adopted by the stray cats of her neighborhood and is content with the arrangement, all things considered.You can subscribe to her periodic newsletter for periodic content, including media suggestions and Vapormage behind-the-scenes. It's like social media without the socializing.
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Best friends, best foes
The People of Vapormage
The fantasy world of Vapormage has a healthy variety of people. Despite their looks, there's hardly any difference from one kind of human to another, the four forms being:Hunns, with largely bare skin dotted by patches of fine hair; Vians, superficially bird-like humans bearing feathers and beaks; Gnolls, thick with fur and a vaguely canine tilt to their faces; Sahagins, sleek and scaly with an amphibian flatness.
The Cast
Kell Rusalka
they of Candhall, age 29Bold. Brave. Powerful. Such is the marketing when it comes to vapormages, but marketing is so often false.Kell may have a spotty past, but a decade after their conscription, they're just about the most meek mage out there. Quiet. Cautious. Yet more powerful than even they realize.
Sheila Takeda
she of Windglade, age 33The Winters' War scarred cities and people in both Cymona and Bessetrae. Sheila knows the fact all too well.Not only has she suffered the scars of combat, her hometown was razed and her family lost. All at the wands of the vapormages. And Sheila has never been the type to forgive and forget.
Alejandro Quintana
he of Gauvencia, age 30Her Majesty's Speakers are the astute and subtle diplomats representing the interests of Farolé, and Alejandro wouldn't still be alive if he wasn't good at the job. He's learned to take on each mission with calm coolness. But, there's still a heart somewhere beneath that well-trimmed suit of his.
Dr. Tobias Fulton
he of Port Mab, age 62Summons are everywhere in Linnute, and many of their modern innovations can be traced back to the University at Port Mab research team. Dr. Fulton wasn't the leader of that group, but as the last surviving member, its legacy--and its responsibilities--fall on his feathered shoulders.
Rocko Larson
he of Dayton Point, age 31The Cymonian Knights are proud defenders of their land. So proud, in fact, that the arrival of vapormages chafed at many of them. Rocko, though, has always been more relaxed and more willing to question conventional wisdom. Of any knight, of course he would befriend a weird kid like Kell.
Crystal Greene
she of Granberg, age 25All of Linnute knows the name! Even people who aren't big fans of pop music have heard some of Crystal's songs. Being the biggest pop star around means a lot of power and opportunity, and Crystal isn't afraid to take advantage to mold the world a little more in her image.
Mitchell Lyon, MP
he of Candhall, age 68An ambitious nation demands a steady hand, and Prime Minister Lyon is eager to provide. Cymona has grown strong under his leadership, confronting its enemies from both outside and within.
Jakob Banner
he of Caliba, age 56There's always business to take care of, and for generations the Banner family have been at the center of it all. Whatever you need, with a few taps of a mobile one of Banner's couriers will have it right over!
Nations and Natures
The World of Vapormage
The world of Vapormage is uncanny: at times modern and relatable, at times epic and historical. Swordfighters with smart phones, spellcasters in minivans.Its history is long, rich, and in so many ways, lost: buried beneath young ambitions and roiling waves.
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Somewhere to call home
The Nations of Linnute
Centuries ago, nearly the whole of Linnute was consumed by a single empire. Alvacii unified culture and language, while neutering the local flavors found among its lands. Many histories were lost to the empire, but now the empire itself is mere history. In the present, the massive island of Linnute and its surrounds are split into five major nations, each cousins in their similarities and their differences.
Bessetrae
Capital city: GranbergSituated in the northwest, Bessetrae is known for firm independence and the individual responsibility that comes with it. It's a tough place, its citizens will proudly proclaim, but it can be rewarding to those who can reign it in.Bessetrae is home to much of the international entertainment industry, with many dreams of fame going to drown in Lake Goldstone. For those who can cut it, though, all the world truly is their stage.
Farolé
Capital city: GauvenciaThe Four Kingdoms of Farolé--Vancius, Gauvencia, Tabras, and Sontmont--are predictably both diverse and divided. Unified by a complicated monarchy, Farolians are seen as jovial and, at times, something of show-offs.There is, of course, order enforced at the party. Officially, the Speakers are simply diplomats, but anyone who has rubbed the royals the wrong way knows them as they truly are: secretive, skillful assassins.
Zeimatia
Capital city: TirasenaSurrounding the jungles and plains of southwest Linnute, Zeimatia is a nation known for its highly religious culture and not much else. An age-old conflict led to a great wall being built on its border, and now Zeimatia seems almost absent from international culture and politics. Though, if you can find a way across the border, it's a good place for self-exile.
Cymona
Capital city: CandhallThe people of Cymona, in the southeast of the continent, are known to be humble if not downright meek. But history doesn't always bear that out. These days, Cymona seeks an ambitious image, with great building projects and inventive public works. The nation is primed for change, with their Vapormages at the forefront.
Rinculo
Capital city: CalibaA large northern island prone to a chill climate, Rinculo's main export these days is university degrees. The University at Port Mab is the largest and most prestigious school in Linnute, with nearly the whole rest of the country depending on it in one way or another. If it doesn't relate to the university, the Rinculish public hardly notices it.
enclaves
Though the five nations will claim all territory across the continent, that doesn't mean they control everything everywhere. Private, cut-off communities exist in clusters all over Linnute. Some are tolerated by their surrounding nation, while an unknown many have reasons to hide.
The miracle of magic
Vapor
Vapor is the fuel for magic. Every human in Linnute learns some basic vapor-driven spells over the course of their lives, while inscribed sigils power nearly every device under the sun. With enough training, one can even mend wounds with it.For the bigger jobs, there are summons: creatures born of vapor that can tackle just about anything. They'll guard your livestock, they'll deliver your mail, they'll pilot your ships. And they'll look cute doing it! Today's summons range from the pudgy, owl-like strixes to the skittering and speedy tanukis. Summons are great for all kinds of complex jobs. Just, not too complex. Summons don't exactly think on their own.As vapor is such a flexible tool, it is inevitably a flexible weapon. It can imbue flame to a blade, but few find it strong enough to rely entirely on. The strongest of the strongest, the best of the best, are Cymona's Vapormages: a regiment as beloved by their countrymen as they are dreaded by their foes.Vapor is handy, but its power isn't free. Balance is necessary. A person can injure themself by using too much of it, leading to scarring both physical and mental. In extreme cases, a creature that consumes too much vapor will find itself poisoned, its mind lost to fury. The mutations brought on by vapor poisoning are painful, horrifying, and fatal. Treat it with care.
Somethings from Somewhere
The Guardians
From national avatars to heralded divinity, the Guardians hold a unique power across Linnute. They can be comforting just as easily as they can be terrifying. Their origins, relationships, and intentions are known only to a select few, yet debated and pondered by many.Rumors persist of even more such beings. After all, Rinculo stands without a Guardian. But none have made themselves known, leaving tales of giant sea serpents and mischievous rabbits as naught but children's fables.
Owain, Guardian of Cymona
In Linnute, dragons are synonymous with regal grace, because dragons are synonymous with Owain. A deeply patient and quiet creature, Owain rarely interacts with the public, always capturing their attention and imagination whenever he does.
Gauven, Guardian of Farolé
The rights and succession surrounding Farolé's monarchy are complicated to the point of obtuse, but at the end of the day, only one thing matters. If Gauven, the pale steed, lets someone on his back, they may rule. He is the throne, and it is clear that he knows it.
Vakonivak, Guardian of Bessetrae
The Mother of Skies, the great bird Vakonivak draws admiration and admonition in equal measure. When she appears, she draws and shares love with the people, but with the wrong turn she can be oh so fickle and fearful.
Hakuta, Guardian of Zeimatia
Eyes be upon ye. To the pious people of Zeimatia, the eye-dotted lamb Hakuta is their god, her word their directive. Interpreted through a tradition of stoic priests, she has kept the country safe and isolated from the world beyond its borders.
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