The Frewyn Herald: Home of the Haanta Series

Lord Danaco Divelima is Prince Lamir's oldest friend and greatest supporter, but before he was Captain of the Lucentian Royal Guard, he was considered an enemy of the crown. During King Reneldin's time, Danaco was exiled from his kingdom for what were deemed treasonous acts, when really all he did was have an excellent night with the king's concubines. He was expelled for his actions, and outside Lucentia he remained for nearly thirty years. During that time, he became a pirate, a trader, a friend of the Bizmarin, a practitioner of Parteze, a prizefighter, an assassin, and an antiques collector-- and developed a shameless love of tea. Here he is during his time at sea, as depicted in his semi-biography Damson's Distress: A few moments spent in the haze and brume of half consciousness, and Damson opened his eyes to discover that, despite his best efforts to think himself teetering on the precipice of death, he was somehow alive. Moving his neck to look about him soo...

Here is the famous Frewyn hunting song "The Lads They Went A-Huntin'" as drawn by Twisk. Oh, Mharac, you are so cuddly. Double-click the image to see it at its fullest resolution. If you would like to purchase a lovely print of the piece, you can do so here .

Yargh! Hoist the sails and grab yur ales, to-day's the day we be talkin' like be roam the barmy seven seas! While pirates still exists, and are somewhat less lovable than literature and films would recommend, our idea of pirates with heavy Bristolia n accent came from Dorset actor Robert Newton, who played both Long John Silver (fictional) and Blackbeard (actual pirate). Historians say that Blackbeard was born and lived in Bristol, and Silver was a parody of Gloucester author William Henley, further perpetuating the idea that pirates had West Country accents, but pirates during the Golden Age of Piracy in the 1600-1700s could have come from anywhere. Gráinne was from Ireland, Lady Mary Killigrew was from Suffolk, Christina Anna Skytte was from Sweden, etc., but no matter whence your favourite pirates hail, on thess day we all be talkin' like we love the swalloky lasses and rue the landlovers! And now, a story about pirates from Damson's Distress: Rannig then arri...

E very character in the series has their signature prop. Alasdair has his ring, Mureadh has his prayer beads, Adian and Adaoire have their pipes, but there is no prop so distinct as Beryn's mandolin. Made by his father and given to him when he was five years old, Beryn has kept his mandolin with him throughout his travels across Frewyn. Longtime friend and gifted engineer Noah Tolhurst, owner of Studio Tolhurst and maker of the famous King Thrushbeard Cigar Box Guitars, recreated the mandolin with exquisite precision, and I am infinitely thankful to him for such an unexceptionable piece. If you would like to order your own mandolin, or if you would like to peruse the entire King Thrushbeard CBG collection, visit the Studio Tolhurst's page here .

D amson turned to see whether anyone else were within hearing. He could not believe what he being imparted and could not help but feel that the king was telling him in such a turnabout style as to either gain his approval for the scheme without directly asking for it or to have him disapprove it for the sake of having him out of the way. He was the guard who sat at the king’s door every evening, and if there were to be some misconduct on his wedding night, he might be trying to frightening him into leaving his post. Leave his post, however, and shirk his duties, Damson certainly would not.He would defend the kingdom, if not defend the crown, and now that he was in the secret of the king’s plan to murder his bride and blame her death on Balletrim,he must act to preserve Marridon’s peace and save its future mistress. “I must arrest you, Sire,” said he taking out his sword. “If you had only told me that you were planning on warring with Balletrim, I could overlook the declaration as ...

Ciran and Paudrig continue their reading of the Marridon classic: Damson's Distress He should gain little in the alliance beyond what affection from his subjects that their thinking him a romantic might convey, and as he wanted affection from neither subject nor wife, all the pride in the marriage should be on her side. She would gain everything, crown and kingdom, by the union, would receive all the proper education, of course, being indelicate and inferior, would have ladies to attend her and dresses made—he knew that women raved of such things—would have her hair combed with sandalwood and her skin garnished with paints, would even have her very own knight to champion for her in the arena. Upon further recollection, it seemed a shame to throw away so much exertion merely to begin a career of conquering Balletrim. He had thought that inciting conflict would have been easier with the Lord of Balletrim’s apoplectic fits, for he was sent in a positive rage every time he r...

The various countries of Two Continents have their own classic novels, which everyone is either taught in school or left to discover on their own. One of these great works is Damson's Distress, an adventure novel from Marridon, which details the rebellion at Marridon's centennial. While the work is categorized in the annals of literacy as historical, in the ranks of the clericy it is hailed as a farce, a pastiche and delightful retelling of Marridon's most trying time. Here is Brother Ciran reading it to Paudrig for the first time: P audrig scampered into Ciran’s lap, but when Ciran opened the book and passed the title page, Paudrig glanced over his shoulder, first at the fire, and then at his friend the mounted bear resting above the mantelpiece. “Before we read, can Ah light a fire, Bruther Ciran?” Paudrig chimed. “The bear’s cauld.” “Cannae have tha’, lad,” said Ciran stoutly. “Better start tha’ fire and bellow it a bit so he can feel it.”       ...