More about Of Orbs and Lords

About Of Orbs and Lords
Author: P. Gordon Kennedy
Editor: P. Gordon Kennedy
Number of Chapters: 19
Number of Pages: 135
Number of Words in the Book: 43,321 (counting the cover)
Years Written: 2006 - 2007
Publication Date: September 6, 2007
Publisher: E-Book Time, LLC
Genera: High Fantasy, Adventure Fantasy
Bookreview.com’s Rating: Good
Characters:
Xeoromir: One of the main characters, Xeoromir is an explorer/treasure hunter who discovers the power orb around which the story is centered while exploring the abandoned ancient city of Jarronal. He owns a small ship named Laegomarine and by the end of the story, he becomes quite wealthy. Xeoromir’s appearance is described as follows in the first chapter of the book:
“Xeoromir was a proud young man. He was tall and strong. He wore a shirt of chain mail that shown brightly over which he wore a black shroud. A long red rope with tassels was wound round and round his middle. He carried an extremely valuable titanium sword and a small lightweight round shield. His hair was brown and extended down to his shoulders.”
Immahyr: The other main character in the story, Immahyr is the son of an elderly antiquities dealer named Arcadivo. He is a friend of Xeoromir and helps him in the quest to return the power orb to the deep halls below the earth from which it originally came. Later, Immahyr becomes king of Eptannia when Lord Exxcelcis names him his heir. Immahyr is also noted for his determination and generally positive attitude and for his opposition to greed. His appearance is described in the second chapter of the book as follows:
“He was equal in height to Xeoromir and was wearing a brown cloak under which the glint of armor could be detected. His sword was at his side and he wore an elaborately decorated belt. His hair was black and was cut evenly around his head just below his ears.”
Arcadivo: Is a supporting character. He is the father of Immahyr and sells antiquities in the local market near his home. He is an elderly man and is knowledgeable in Eptannian history. He alerts Xeoromir to the power orb’s history and of its evil master. He aids Xeoromir and Immahyr in their quest by giving them provisions and lending them horses.
Lord Exxcelcis: Is a supporting character who is king of Eptannia at the time of Xeoromir and Immahyr’s quest. He is old and wise and aids Xeoromir and Immahyr by giving them an ever-burning torch that will never go out for their journey into the world below. Later, he names Immahyr his heir and Xeoromir the commander of Eptannia’s army.
Ghost Lord: The ghost lord is a supporting character whom Xeoromir and Immahyr meet in the deep halls below the earth when they reunite the orb with its scepter. He helps in the final defeat of Lord Aniitron by ordering his ghostly army to challenge the forces of the evil lord. He aids Xeoromir and Immahyr by giving them energy and invisibility potions and he gives each of them an award of treasure equal to 10 years’ wages after Lord Aniitron’s defeat.
Laegophlor: Is an earth-fairy (non-magical three inch high wingless fairy) who befriends Xeoromir many years after Lord Aniitron’s defeat. He tells Xeoromir much about the world of the earth-fairies. Like all earth-fairies, Laegophlor is highly joyous and sings often. He is nearly killed when a nasty gnome tries to poison him, but Xeoromir is able to save the earth-fairy’s life and takes the gnome prisoner. Laegophlor is a major supporting character. His appearance is described as follows in chapter fourteen of the book:
“The tiny man stood about three inches tall and was dressed in a simple dark brown cloak. Upon his tiny head was curly blond hair.”
Lord Aniitron: Is the main antagonist in the story. He is an evil lord who wishes to regain the power orb so he can have power over all Eptannia. He is driven by a selfish quest for power. He possesses an immortality charm, which the ghost lord must destroy before the evil lord could be defeated. He owned a massive fortress in the northwestern wildlands.
The Gnome: Is a minor antagonist who tries to poison Laegophlor. He passionately hates earth-fairies and claims that their singing annoys him and that the tiny fairies steal from his garden. He lived in a hole in the ground and stood about a foot tall. Xeoromir captures him and takes him prisoner and as punishment for the attempted poisoning Lord Immahyr sentences the gnome to banishment from the kingdom of Eptannia.
Lord Paeletani: Is a minor character who is the author of one of the books Xeoromir finds at Jarronal. He was king of Eptannia during the time of a great ancient war against Lord Aniitron. He is also notable in Eptannian history for being the kingdom’s youngest ever king. Fourteen years old at appointment and fifteen at coronation. He lived about 1000 years before the time of Xeoromir and Immahyr.
The Unfortunate Fairy: Is an earth-fairy Xeoromir finds on one of the twelfth floor bridges between the towers. Xeoromir tries to capture the little earth-fairy, but the fairy runs and in doing so slips off the edge of the bridge. The tiny creature falls (earth-fairies are wingless) 120 feet and dies instantly on impact with the water below. Xeoromir races down the tower’s stairs and uses a net from his ship to retrieve the unfortunate earth-fairy. He tries to revive the tiny fairy, but it is too late. The unfortunate creature resembles Laegophlor and is wearing a brand new green fairy cloak. Xeoromir takes its body to an alchemist and has it preserved in a special clear amber-like resin. Xeoromir is careful not to let Laegophlor see the dead fairy, as he does not want to sadden the little Earth-fairy. He later learns that the unfortunate earth-fairy was only five years old (earth-fairies reach adulthood after one year).
Places:
Jarronal: Is a sea-bound city that is located two days’ sail out to sea. It is built upon a plateau with its foundations about 20 feet underwater. The city consists of six conically shaped twelve-story towers connected at the first and twelfth floors by bridges. The towers are painted in metallic shades of red, blue, and purple. The city was abandoned about 1000 years before the time of Xeoromir. Xeoromir finds both the power orb and the earth-fairy Laegophlor as well as a wealth of knowledge in ancient books in Jarronal. Xeoromir is the first man to explore the city in centuries.
The Lords’ Hall: Is the residence of Eptannia’s king to which Xeoromir and Immahyr must secretly take the orb. It is a stone building with four towers. It is connected to the labyrinth of tunnels and deep halls in the world below.
The World Below: Is a vast network of tunnels and rooms beneath the ground connected to the Lords’ Hall. There are many obstacles in the world below which Xeoromir and Immahyr must negotiate, including hidden trapdoors and tunnels, a flooded stairwell, a deep abyss, and a fire-breathing dragon. Deep within the world below are the deep halls, the third of which contains a vast amount of treasure (worth hundreds of billions of dollars). Xeoromir and Immahyr must tunnel through a brick wall and then a stone one to get into this hall, because Lord Aniitron welded the doors shut when he stole the orb. From the fourth deep hall, a secret shaft leads to the surface a quarter mile above.
Lord Aniitron’s Fortress: Is a large stone fortress built behind a massive rock in the northwestern wildlands. It has two towers and stands about 100 feet high.
Old Road: Is a road that is overgrown and rarely used. It is used by Xeoromir and Immahyr to secretly transport the orb to the Lords’ Hall.
New Road: Is the main road across the kingdom of Eptannia. It is fairly well used and is much easier to travel on than then the old road. Xeoromir and Immahyr use it on their return journey.
Earth-Fairy Field: Is a meadow where many earth-fairies live. It is where Xeoromir ultimately takes Laegophlor and releases him. A few years later, he returns to see Laegophlor once again.
Watchtower: The watchtower is an abandoned 200 foot tall tower Xeoromir and Immahyr explore on their return journey via the new road. Xeoromir hopes to find more treasure, but there is nothing of value left in the tower.
Arcadivo’s House: Is a one story house with three rooms. The main room takes up half the house and the other half is divided into two thirds kitchen and one third storage room. Xeoromir meets with Arcadivo at the house to discuss the history of the orb and he and Immahyr set out on their quest from it.