Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Outlines for seven books

I've created outlines for about seven books in the Author series.

Book 1:
Teran is a boy that is seeking to become one of the prophets under Medwyn the seer. Shadians, also known as prophets in training, learn many skills such as making of medicines, doctrines of the Author, rites of blessings, and other things. Teran is tasked by Medwyn to deliver some medicines to a town needed to halt a plague that is killing the people. While traveling, he is attacked by brigands and robbed of everything save the clothes on his body. He journeys to recover the stolen medicine and along the way befriends the minotaur-like Axile, Elaina the princess enchantress, and Gwydon the imperial champion of Elendor. But the leader of these brigands is no ordinary ruffian, but a servant of the Dark Lord. Will a young boy be able to accomplish his mission against such odds even with such allies?

Book 2:
Teran and Elaina find themselves caught in a plot by an evil wizard to steal the Sword of Truth from the Labyrinth of Wisdom. Teran retrieves the sword only to have the evil wizard take it from him and flee. Teran, Elaina, and a servant of the Author, the Griffin, journey to find the wizard. Along the way they meet a wandering bard, who mistakes Teran and Elaina for lost children. Together they find the enchanted castle where the evil wizard Mordak is. But the wizard himself is a prisoner! The castle itself holds a dark secret that endangers Elaina's life and all of the companions. Even more mysterious is a young girl that is also imprisoned, but her cold demeanor and threatening eyes belie someone with great power but also great sorrow and sadness. Will Teran and his companions be able to find the Sword of Truth in this magical castle, or will Elaina become a slave to its powers?

Book 3:
Teran, Elaina, Eledin, and Aurora Nova go to a town to start a chapel there. This will be training for Teran under a senior Shadian on the teaching duties of a prophet. When they get there they find that the town is very wealthy and well kept, all except for the small church which is falling apart. The group begins the long task of repairing the church and witnessing to the townspeople. To the group's surprise, seven girls approach Teran and call him their brother. The girls invite Teran, Eledin, Elaina, and Aurora to stay with them while the church is being repaired. However, when they return to work on the church, they find that it has been vandalized and severely damaged. Dark secrets are roaming the streets, and in the midst of this Teran is left trying to figure out if any of these girls really is his sister. To make things even more difficult, a rivalry over Teran begins between Aurora and Elaina and one of the sisters. Still more trouble comes when a mysterious man tells Aurora and Elaina about a magic ring that will give great beauty to the one that wears it. What else is there to drive a wedge between the small group that was supposed to bring hope and salvation to a wealthy, but perishing town?

Book 4:
Teran and Elaina are enjoying a pleasant summer afternoon when Elaina's dragon Sabatha suddenly grabs her and flies away. Teran and the others pursue, managing to overtake Sabatha and subdue them. The Curse of the Great Dragon, a summons to all dragon kind, pulled at Sabatha. Elaina in an attempt to counter the curse, used her enchantments but resulted in her being cursed with blindness and horrible nightmares that eat away at her soul anytime she fell asleep. To undo the curse they must go to the temple of the Author, but already the enemy is on the move to block them. Will the companions be able to make it to the Author to save Elaina and Sabatha, or will Elaina forever be lost in a dream of horror?

Book 5:
Elaina is to be sent to a kingdom of enchanters to learn how to properly use her powers. Teran and Sabatha go with her and find there a haughty prince that desires to have Elaina as his wife. Teran is torn between his affection for Elaina, the anger at the haughtiness of this prince, and his duty as a Shadian. However, things go awry when Elaina is kidnapped by none other than the evil wizard Mordak. She is taken to a nearby castle, but things look too easy. For Mordak to take on a kingdom of enchanters seems rather foolhardy, even if he is a powerful wizard. But Mordak is no fool. Will Teran and his friends be able to rescue Elaina once more, and who is the other wizard that stands next to Mordak atop the castle tower?

Book 6:
Teran is dismayed at his failing his third attempt at the final examination to become a prophet. Despite all of the preparation, he keeps forgetting the answers when standing before the examiners. Eledin recommends that Teran consider the possibility that being a prophet is not what the Author has planned for him and this is the reason for his failing to pass. As an alternative, he recommends that Teran travel around to find out if there is something else the Author desires him to do and for him to experience the world outside of training grounds of Mendora. Teran agrees and sets out on his journey alone. However, he soon meets the prince enchanter who is on a journey of his own: to learn how to live without magic. The prince has made a vow to not use magic for the next two years and to study as much as he could about many different crafts and ways of life. The two of them agree to join each other as traveling companions and to share their experiences and knowledge. While on their journey, they make some discoveries regarding wicked plots by the Dark Lord, aid townspeople, and find themselves captured by a zealous but misguided tribe of elves that worship the Author. Also along their journey, Teran encounters his sisters and Aurora Nova once more as they travel seeking to help the sick and dying. The prince falls at once for Aurora Nova, but is informed by Teran that she despises enchanters since her family was killed by one. Will Teran be able to help the prince reconcile the hurt that rests in Aurora's heart and will Teran find the path that leads him to the will of the Author?

Book 7:
Teran returns to Mendora to find many people gathered there. The Dark Lord has finally made his move, and the return of the Great Dragon is coming. Teran is tasked with raising up the people of the independent countries to join in battle against the forces of the Dark Lord. Teran and Elaina depart together and are soon joined by Teran's sisters and Aurora. Many of the townspeople Teran helped quickly join him too and soon Teran's army grows. But when they meet together at the White Castle where the Emperor sits, they find it already besieged by the enemy. Gwydon and several other armies are hard pressed in defending the castle. Teran and the men rush in to aid Gwydon, but the enemy host is too great. When the castle is lost, Teran, Gwydon, and the companions must now rally their troops for the most daring venture yet: an all out assault on the stronghold of the Dark Lord himself before the seal on the Great Dragon's prison can be removed. Will they be able to overcome such evil after suffering such heavy losses?