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| {| class="wikitable floatright" | | {{Under Construction}} |
| !colspan="2"|[[Blade of the Avatar]]
| | {{Infobox |
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| | |image=SotA Blade of the Avatar Book Cover.jpg |
| |colspan="2"|[[File:SotA Blade of the Avatar Book Cover.jpg|300px|thumb|center|Blade of the Avatar]] | | }} |
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| | ''[[Blade of the Avatar]]'' is a series of novels by [[Tracy Hickman]] and [[Richard Garriott]] for {{SotA}}. Kickstarter Backers also received a PDF copy of the first book in this series, and was named {{PAGENAME}}. |
| |Authors:
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| |[[Tracy Hickman]]
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| [[Lord British|Richard Garriott]] | |
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| |Publisher:
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| |Genre:
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| |Fantasy
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| |Released:
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| |2013-2014
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| |}
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| | The first book in this series, The Sword of Midras features illustrations by [[Denis Loubet]], renowned Ultima artist, and a cover designed by Portalarium artist [[Stephen Daniele]] and Tracy Hickman. |
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| [[Blade of the Avatar]] ([[Blade of the Avatar|BotA]]) is a novel by [[Tracy Hickman]] and [[Lord British|Richard Garriott]] for [[Shroud of the Avatar]]. The serialized novel is being developed as a prequel to the Shroud of the Avatar storyline. <ref>[[Add-On Store]], https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/?page_id=9085</ref>
| | The novels are prequels to the {{SotA}} storyline, being set roughly 200 years prior to the launch of the game. |
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| == Overview == | | ==Books== |
| | *[[Blade of the Avatar (PDF)]] (Book 1) |
| | *[[Blade of the Avatar/The Sword of Midras|The Sword of Midras]] (Book 1) |
| | *[[Blade of the Avatar/The Eye of Scales|The Eye of Scales]] (Book 2) |
| | * Book 3 |
| | * Book 4 |
| | * Book 5 |
| | <!-- Unknown if this was an actual announced title or not need a citation |
| | *[[Blade of the Avatar/Shards of the Avatar|''Shards of the Avatar'']] (Unknown where this title name is from) |
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| If you are an Early [[Founder]], or you purchased [[Blade of the Avatar|BotA]] in the [[Add-On Store]], then you will find a download link for the current installment of the novel on your personal [[SotA]] account page (log into [https://shroudoftheavatar.com/ SotA website] and click on “Account” in the top-right corner). If you are a Kickstarter backer you’ll need to have your Kickstarter account linked to the SotA website (click here for instructions to link your Kickstarter account)<ref>Shroud Website Update, https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/?page_id=29385</ref>.
| | ==Trivia== |
| | *During the Cyber Monday 12 Hour Streamathon, Tracy and Richard announced that ''Blade of the Avatar'' will be available through traditional publishers. Additionally, they have ordered two additional books, making a trilogy of prequel novels for {{SotA}} written by Tracy Hickman and Richard Garriott!<ref>[https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/?p=46412 Cyber Monday 12 Hour Streamathon - 12/01/2014]</ref> It was later noted that the first book will be expanded to include four additional chapters. |
| | *NOTE: The Sword of Midras is not the version of the novel included in the SotA pledge rewards. The original Blade of the Avatar novel has already been delivered as an electronic PDF to all pledges prior to May 31, 2015 (when it expired). For those who qualify for this reward, you can find the link to the PDF on your SotA website account page Special Rewards tab for download. <strike>The physical and signed version of the novel that was a reward at the Citizen (and above) level up through May 31, 2015 will be a paperback print version of the original Blade of the Avatar novel that has been delivered as an electronic PDF. This physical reward will be delivered to backers at the same time that all physical rewards are delivered, which we currently expect will be toward the end of this year.</strike><ref>[[Update of the Avatar]] [https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/?p=59607 #180 - 2016.06.10: Pre-Order Now: The Sword of Midras SotA Novel for Hardcover, Kindle, Nook and Audiobook]</ref> |
| | *Portalarium failed to reach an agreement with the publisher on distribution of the physical and signed version of the Blade of the Avatar books for backers. Instead, Patron-level backers eligible for a physical copy of the book will instead receive a unique in-game [[Challenge Dungeon Remote Dungeon Entrance]], and Citizen-level backers eligible for a signed copy will instead receive a [[Sword of Midras Library Dungeon Room]] and a [[Sword of Midras Magical Printing Press]].<ref>DarkStarr, [https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/sword-of-midras-printed-copy-reward-replacement.159432/ Sword of Midras Printed Copy Reward Replacement] on [https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php {{SotA}} Forum]</ref> |
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| == Ownership == | | ==References== |
| [[Blade of the Avatar|BotA]] is available to purchase in the [[Add-On Store]]. If you are an early [[Founder]] be sure to check if you already own it as a reward for your support.
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| == Chapters ==
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| === Prologue ===
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| [[File:SotA BotA Prologue illustration small.png|left|Blade of the Avatar Prologue]]
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| '''The Destiny Pool'''
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| The End is the Beginning of us all.
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| Hear the soundless lamentation of the ages lost! The past is hidden from the eyes of the weary, blanketed beneath ash and tears. The old world is passed away, its mountains shaken, its rivers torn from its courses, its plains rent with fire and the shining towers of man tumbled to ruin. The orb of night is broken, its black shards falling from the dome of night to fall as judgment’s cruel, black rain. The music of daughters fails to resound, the proud boasts of men are as dust in their mouths and fear reigns in the dark silence that follows. The flesh is turned to dust and all that we once were is forgotten and lost in the shuttered past.
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| Where now are the virtues of the world now fallen? Were they taken from us or were we taken from them? Were they abandoned or were we orphaned by them? Was this not the blade of too fine an edge that cut between the light and night; between me and thee? Avatars of our dreams or nightmares, did you steal away from us in the night or…<ref>Update of the Avatar – 11/27/13, https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/?p=32059</ref>
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| === Chapter 1 ===
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| [[File:SotA BotA Ch1 illustration small.png|left|Blade of the Avatar Chapter 1]]
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| Part 1 – '''The Obsidians'''
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| Chapter 1: '''Midris'''
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| Aren Bennis, Captain of the Westreach Army of the Obsidian Empire looked out for the heads of his archer ranks toward the remains of the city of Midris.
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| “Why does bringing order demand such a mess,” he mused as he scanned the splintering stockade wall for the remaining defenders behind it. “Such a beautiful, glorious mess.”
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| The city — or what passed for a city in his times, Aren corrected himself ruefully — lay under the pall of a large column of smoke billowing from the still burning barracks on the far side of the city. The smoke rose to mar the otherwise clear sky overhead. Aren could see the forward lines of battle against the stockade wall that stood between him and the interior of the city beyond. This was the third breach in the defenses he had commanded that day. Parts of the city were already being looted because of his two previous successes. Now, once more at his orders, the Satyrs had regrouped into a concentrated force and were tearing down another section of the defensive wall. The fauns were grouped here as well in support of the Satyrs, their special song loosening the mortar between the timbers. They had been the key to the fall of Midris, penetrating the timbers that stood against them in a number of places. It allowed the main force of human warriors to sweep through the breach and collapse the city defenses. Now the city had fallen to them as the Captain knew it would.<ref>Update of the Avatar – 12/06/13, https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/?p=32347#more-32347</ref>
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| === Chapter 2 ===
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| [[File:SotA BotA Ch2 illustration small.png|left|Blade of the Avatar Chapter 2]]
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| Chapter 2: '''Ruin'''
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| “A beautiful day for a walk, isn’t it?” Aren said in casual, if hushed, tones. He crouched slightly as he moved.
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| Syenna spared only a short, humorless laugh at the Captain’s joke. “If death’s specter is to your liking, then yes, this could qualify as a beautiful day.”
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| The two of them moved with measured steps down the remains of the city’s main thoroughfare. Behind them, one side of the main gate was all that remained standing. Every other part of the city wall that once supported it was now thrown down. The smoke from the smoldering remains of a row of buildings on their right drifted across their path, making it difficult to see much further in front of them. The abandoned shells of buildings looked silently down on them from either side of the road. At their feet, shattered stone and splintered wood were mixed with broken limbs. Stilled bodies occasionally stared back at them through sightless eyes. The main assault force had broken through here, and the extent of their brutality had been unchecked. The warriors had surged into the city like a tide, sweeping away anything in their path. Now the western part of the city was an abandoned landscape, its buildings empty of the living and its rubble-strewn streets and alleys still.
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| Disquietingly still, Aren thought as he picked his way down the wide avenue. Keep talking and you won’t have to think<ref>Update of the Avatar – 12/13/13, https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/?p=32867</ref>.
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| === Chapter 3 ===
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| [[File:SotA BotA Ch3 illustration small1.png|left|Blade of the Avatar Chapter 3]]
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| Chapter 3: '''The Blade'''
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| “Aren rolled over with a groan as much born of anger as of pain. He lay on his back for a moment, the broken stones under him pressing uncomfortably into his back despite the armor. He felt the warm wetness of his own blood on the side of his head. Nevertheless, he held still. He felt disoriented from the unexpected plunge through the weakened floor. The drop felt like an eternity and he had no idea how far he had fallen.
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| His eyes were adjusting to the darkness. The filtered daylight of the ruins was bright compared to this subterranean night, yet the darkness was not complete. There was some light here and Aren was already beginning to distinguish shapes emerging from the shadows that surrounded him.
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| Strategy depends on knowledge, he thought. A wise man waits; only a fool rushes into what he doesn’t understand. He lay quietly for a moment, taking in his surroundings.
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| The faint glow from a series of globes gave scarce illumination to the ancient chamber around him. Each sphere had been mounted in ornamental frameworks on a series of columns which supported the dome of the ceiling. This vague light was further obscured under a layer of rust-colored dust. Still, it was enough; he could soon make out the extents of what had been an oval shaped chamber beneath the ancient ruins. Almost directly above him, part of the dome had buckled downward, breaking through an upper gallery that looked down into the chamber. Debris from the collapse had fallen into a slanting pile. Aren, in turn, had fallen down the face of this debris and come to a halt on its slopes a few feet above the floor.<ref>Update of the Avatar – 12/20/13, https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/?p=33222</ref>
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| == Sources ==
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| <references/> | | <references/> |
| | [[Category:Shroud of the Avatar]][[Category:Lore]][[Category:Blade of the Avatar]] |
Template:Under Construction
Template:Infobox
Blade of the Avatar is a series of novels by Tracy Hickman and Richard Garriott for Template:SotA. Kickstarter Backers also received a PDF copy of the first book in this series, and was named Blade of the Avatar.
The first book in this series, The Sword of Midras features illustrations by Denis Loubet, renowned Ultima artist, and a cover designed by Portalarium artist Stephen Daniele and Tracy Hickman.
The novels are prequels to the Template:SotA storyline, being set roughly 200 years prior to the launch of the game.
- During the Cyber Monday 12 Hour Streamathon, Tracy and Richard announced that Blade of the Avatar will be available through traditional publishers. Additionally, they have ordered two additional books, making a trilogy of prequel novels for Template:SotA written by Tracy Hickman and Richard Garriott![1] It was later noted that the first book will be expanded to include four additional chapters.
- NOTE: The Sword of Midras is not the version of the novel included in the SotA pledge rewards. The original Blade of the Avatar novel has already been delivered as an electronic PDF to all pledges prior to May 31, 2015 (when it expired). For those who qualify for this reward, you can find the link to the PDF on your SotA website account page Special Rewards tab for download.
The physical and signed version of the novel that was a reward at the Citizen (and above) level up through May 31, 2015 will be a paperback print version of the original Blade of the Avatar novel that has been delivered as an electronic PDF. This physical reward will be delivered to backers at the same time that all physical rewards are delivered, which we currently expect will be toward the end of this year.[2]
- Portalarium failed to reach an agreement with the publisher on distribution of the physical and signed version of the Blade of the Avatar books for backers. Instead, Patron-level backers eligible for a physical copy of the book will instead receive a unique in-game Challenge Dungeon Remote Dungeon Entrance, and Citizen-level backers eligible for a signed copy will instead receive a Sword of Midras Library Dungeon Room and a Sword of Midras Magical Printing Press.[3]
References[edit]