“The land was alive, with a semi-arid climate. There was grass growing and animals about, but Alitek thought there was something strange. Something wasn’t right.“

This is an extract from my eBook, my first published release, The Giant Dynasty. This is early on in the book where the giants move to the mysterious land of Vengore. The land of Vengore plays a pivotal role in the Giant Dynasty, as it does in The Traitor’s Eye and through all the books I have written based in Rumithia.

There’s only so much I can say about it without giving away major spoilers, but I will say what I can here.

Geography

Vengore is located in the most northern region of Rumithia. It’s a large open plain of land surrounded on all sides by large mountains. The mountain range that closes it off from the rest of Rumithia is called the Tarsand Mountain range. There is one opening that gives clear passage in and out of Vengore, but this passage is secured by a huge mental wall built into the rock, and the only way in is via the drawbridge, wooden but enforced by metal. It is a land shut off and isolated from the rest of the world. At the beginning of the giant dynasty, it is generally a semi-arid climate, with growth and animals being present throughout the land. However, in the course of The Giant Dynasty, things change and Vengore undergoes a transition into a barren landscape, and falls into decay. By the end of The Giant Dynasty, it’s well on its way to becoming a wasteland.

Bezalek

The most striking feature of Vengore, aside from the many mountains is the grand fortress of Bezalek. Here is the description from Traitor’s Eye (as it currently stands):

“A huge black rock tower, built from a huge round base black rock, forming a high, fortified wall, with jagged edges all around the top of the wall. There was battlement upon battlement with small watch towers strategically positioned within. At the peak of the fortress stretched out the black tower, with four spikes on the top, symmetrically distanced, like a crown at the pinnacle spire. It lacked the grace and elegance of Rithagow tower, but gave nothing away in size and stature. There were windows built into the battlements, but there was no light coming from within them.”

It seems out-of-place in the middle of a barren landscape. However, it also acts as a reminder of its past, a symbol of an ancient and hidden power.

At the beginning of the Giant Dynasty, the doors of Bezalek are sealed shut. However, they are later opened. You’ll have to read The Giant Dynasty to read exactly what happens, but something happens to wake an ancient power, and the consequences are immediate.

By the end of The Giant Dynasty, Vengore and Bezalek are abandoned, the doors of the fortress sealed up again. However, things aren’t just as they were. The events of the eBook awaken something that was not supposed to be woken, something that was not supposed to be forgotten. And yet forgetfulness, arrogance and complacency led to that something being inadvertently disturbed. The consequences of this action dominant The Giant Dynasty and lead into Traitor’s Eye.

History

While I can’t say more about what happens in either of my books I can give you a small insight into the ancient history of Vengore. It was the sight of the final battle of the Second War of the Dragons in the First Age of Rumithia. For context, The Giant Dynasty takes place in the Second Age, and Traitor’s Eye at the beginning of the Third Age.

In this battle, the mighty dragon Dagan the Terrible fought with Mother Gyi, the emissary of the Gods. After a united a force of humans, giants and the rooklins with the animals fought back the dragons from Rumithia, they fell back to Vengore, and Mother Gyi gave chase and hunted down Dagan, they fought in the Tarsand Mountains at the highest peak called Mount Nareen and Mother Gyi finally got the better of Dagan, and slew the great dragon. It was perhaps the defining moment of the First Age, and its consequences were felt far beyond the battle, and even beyond the age.

Next time, I will focus back on the Traitor’s Eye and explore one of the key characters of that book, Gongore.

In the meantime, don’t forget, if you want to read The Giant Dynasty, simply click here to subscribe to my newsletter.