Vast Asleep: an exclusive epilogue

This post is part of a series to augment the Chronicles of Mother's Gate available for free download. Start with Part 1 here.

This and other published stories are gathered in my Books Directory for you to explore.

Find more exclusive content in my Exclusive Directory.

Vast Asleep

Epilogue of Book 2

The story of Kingard the Binder
in the aftermath of Broken

Download the free epilogue Vast Asleep:

This short story is the epilogue of Broken, Book Two of the Chronicles of Mother's Gate series, and is best read after finishing the second book. It's a great follow-up to Book Two, a bonus story that adds extra layers but is set apart from the full-length narrative.

Vast Asleep follows the story of Kingard, who finds himself caught in a world called Mother's realm, bathed in glowing light but strangely stuck in place.

He encounters his greatson Varyan there, and learns that his experiences are likely dreams.

As he grows more accustomed to the loving realm around him, Kingard remembers fear and trepidation about the face of the world, and he loses contact with his companion.

This story answers the question, Is Kingard really dead? with a tentative no, and new mysteries brewing. It also raises the question, What's happening while he's awake? and includes an excerpt from the sister story Ride Awake, about Kingard's situation with the Colkh'rak.


Praise for Tales of the Known World Bookends:

Loved it. The difference between the two stories is great!

The difference between the epilogue and prologue is astounding. So much light and love in the first story. You feel safe reading it. Healing.

The second, so much darkness, pain and despair. The choice of vocabulary is awesome and makes an impact.

And this set of short stories ties the two books together so well.

-- Dana V. of Texas ★★★★★

Have you read this short story?
Please write your own review.

See all TotKW reviews at www.DNFrost.com/praise.

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Magic Appendix: a mystic exclusive

This post is part of a series to augment the Magic of the Known World available for free download.

This and other mystic resources are gathered in my Magic Directory for you to explore.

Find more worldbuilding content in my Codex Directory.

Hello, there! Thanks for your interest in my magic system. My name is D.N.Frost, and I'm a fantasy author, world-builder, and creative mentor. I began by organizing the magic powers of characters in my Tales of the Known World saga, and after nearly a decade of additions and redactions, I set out to create a flexible magic system that can allow for virtually any type of power.

What is this magic system all about? I've outlined the basics of magic overall, and divided all the magics by type into sections with easy index tags for quick reference. To browse a brief overview of this in-depth magic system, and to peruse a complete spell list for that system, please enjoy this appendix of magic concepts from the saga.

Download your Magic Appendix:

This is an exclusive appendix that overviews the complete magic system. The guide provides brief defining taglines of each magic concept, and it lists each version of each magic spell as its own entry, including some of the regional terms for various magic spells and effects. If you are a fan of the saga looking to understand the taxonomy of magic overall, this exclusive download will satisfy you with quick definitions in logical sections that outline the structure of magic in the Known World.

This exclusive resource also mirrors the Magic Codex where each entry is explained in greater detail, so you can delve deep into your favorite magical features. I'm proud to offer you this distilled appendix of the Known World's magics, and I hope you use this resource to immerse yourself in my fantasy world.


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Prophesy Appendix: a prophetic exclusive

This post is part of a series to augment the Codex of the Known World available for free download.

This and other worldbuilding resources are gathered in my Codex Directory for you to explore.

Find more prophetic poetry in my Portents Directory.

Hello, there! Thanks for your interest in the prophesy of the merfolk. My name is D.N.Frost, and I'm a fantasy author, world-builder, and creative mentor. What started as a single portent expanded into prophesy for every day of the week, allowing me open each scene in my Tales of the Known World novels with a dated quote.

How does prophesy impact the Known World? The merfolk culture is built on the prophetic Gift. Nearly all men produce a portent every twenty days, and they devote their lives to interpretation. To discover the extent of the cultural impact of prophesy, and to learn about the inner workings of the prophetic cycle, please enjoy this appendix excerpt from Portents of Mother's Gate, the story book of epic poetry from the saga.

Download the Prophesy Appendix:

This is an exclusive appendix for the prophesy and culture portrayed in the saga. The guide also provides a complete explanation of the twenty-day prophetic cycle, and it details the way the prophetic language of Meri is represented in English. If you are a fan of the saga looking for more about the role and inner workings of prophesy, this exclusive download will satisfy you with a thorough examination of how the prophetic Gift functions.

This exclusive resource is also referenced at the back of each novel, so you can delve deep into your favorite prophetic features. I'm proud to offer you this comprehensive appendix of the prophesy of the merfolk, and I hope you use this resource to enhance your enjoyment of the saga.


That's it for this post! Check out the latest prophesy resources for more.

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Merfolk Royalty: a cultural exclusive

This post is part of a series to augment the Codex of the Known World available for free download.

This and other worldbuilding resources are gathered in my Codex Directory for you to explore.

Find my published stories and guides in the Books Directory.

Hello, there! Thanks for your interest in the merfolk royalty of the Known World. My name is D.N.Frost, and I'm a fantasy author, fictional cartographer, and extensive worldbuilder. I've designed myriad cultures, constructed multiple languages, and produced numerous maps for my Tales of the Known World saga, as well as the royal family titles and succession available here.

How exactly does the merfolk royal family function? Instead of a single king and his queen, the Njyae family is comprised of many queens, who all participate in the Queen's Council of Dynde reef. The spouses of these queens become kings, and their children are princesses and princes.

Download the Merfolk Royalty:

This is an exclusive peek at my personal notes about the Known World. It details the current royal family and their titles, and it outlines the rules for how titles are assigned and how terms of address are determined. It also traces the line of succession, and it explores all the contingencies that may arise when heirs are not produced or die unexpectedly.

I use these notes myself to map out the history of the royal family, and also to make sure I'm consistent in all the scenes involving mer royalty. I'm proud to offer you this corollary to the Language Appendix available for free download, and I hope you use this resource to enhance your enjoyment of my saga.


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Language Appendix: a linguistic exclusive

This post is part of a series to augment the Codex of the Known World available for free download.

This and other linguistic resources are gathered in my Language Directory for you to explore.

Find more worldbuilding content in my Codex Directory.

Hello, there! Thanks for your interest in my constructed languages. My name is D.N.Frost, and I'm a fantasy author, world-builder, and creative mentor. I set out to create a glossary for the back of each book in my Tales of the Known World saga, and after over a year of compilation and formatting, I ended up with an in-depth appendix that every book could reference.

How does language enhance the Known World? I've leveraged the fact that all people have unique quirks in their speech, even fictional characters with written dialogue. To learn more about these unique quirks, or to simply explore the details of the Known World's languages, please enjoy this compilation of terms and phrases in both English and constructed languages.

Download your Language Appendix:

This is an exclusive appendix for the language and dialogue used in the saga. The guide provides a complete list of proper names and glossary terms from all the novels, and it includes fun extras like foreign language translations, titles and estates, and the sayings and slang used in the books. If you are a fan of the saga looking for more about the languages showcased in the novels, this exclusive download will satisfy you with quick pronunciations and longer translations.

This exclusive resource is also referenced by the Glossary at the back of each novel, so you can delve deep into your favorite language features. I'm proud to offer you this comprehensive appendix of the Known World's languages, and I hope you use this resource to immerse yourself in my fantasy world.


That's it for this post! Check out the latest linguistic resources for more.

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Ancient Merfolk Calendar: a cultural exclusive

This post is part of a series to augment the Codex of the Known World available for free download.

This and other worldbuilding resources are gathered in my Codex Directory for you to explore.

Find my published stories and guides in the Books Directory.

Hello, there! Thanks for your interest in the ancient solunar calendar of the merfolk in the Known World. My name is D.N.Frost, and I'm a fantasy author, fictional cartographer, and extensive worldbuilder. I've designed myriad cultures, constructed multiple languages, and produced numerous maps for my Tales of the Known World saga, as well as the detailed solar/lunar calendar cycle available here.

How exactly does this solunar calendar function? Inspired by the ancient Mayan calendar, I assembled a system of rotating blocks of time that organize each other, merging the 13-year (plus one leap-day) solar cycle with a 72-day lunar cycle into a master solunar cycle that resets every 936 years.

Download your Ancient Merfolk Calendar:

This is an exclusive peek at my personal notes about the Known World. It details the solar and lunar cycles, how they are calculated, and how to use the calendar date to determine the exact phases of both the Known World's moons on any given day and time.

I use these notes myself to figure out dates for the many prophesies quoted in the saga, and also to determine what the moons look like in every scene I'm writing. I'm proud to offer you this corollary to the Prophesy Appendix available for free download, and I hope you use this resource to enhance your enjoyment of my saga.


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Free Ebook from Broken: an exclusive sample

This post is part of a series to augment the Chronicles of Mother's Gate available for free download. Start with Part 1 here.

This and other published stories are gathered in my Books Directory for you to explore.

Find more exclusive content in my Exclusive Directory.

Hello, there! Thanks for your interest in my second novel, Broken. My name is D.N.Frost, and I'm a fantasy author, cartographer, and world-builder. I've been working on my Tales of the Known World saga for nearly two decades: writing, editing, illustrating, publishing, marketing, and managing my website all on my own.

So why offer up all this hard work for free? I believe that a great story is the best way to connect with fantasy fans and to bring my world to life for readers like you. To embark on your fantasy adventure in the Known World, please enjoy this exclusive sample of five chapters from my latest book.

Download your Free Ebook from Broken:

This is an exclusive invitation to start reading the second novel in my saga. The PDF download contains five of the novel's twenty chapters, with seven of the book's 25 maps placed in narrative order alongside the story. Read it on practically any device, and decide for yourself if this adventure is right for you.

This exclusive download also links to a number of supporting resources and longer blog posts, so you can delve deep into your favorite maps and prophesies. I'm proud to offer you this substantial ebook from Book 2 in my epic fantasy saga, and I hope you read this adventure and discover yourself within.

That's it for this post! Check out the latest from TotKW Books for more.

To download your Free Ebook from Broken, enter your email above.

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Magic Spell List: a mystic exclusive

This post is part of a series to augment the Magic of the Known World available for free download.

This and other mystic resources are gathered in my Magic Directory for you to explore.

Find more worldbuilding content in my Codex Directory.

Hello, there! Thanks for your interest in my magic system. My name is D.N.Frost, and I'm a fantasy author, world-builder, and creative mentor. I began organizing the magic powers of characters in my Tales of the Known World saga, and after nearly a decade of additions and redactions, I set out to create a flexible magic system that can allow for virtually any type of power.

What are the actual spells of this comprehensive magic system? I've created a helpful spreadsheet to organize these spells. To see all the specific spell names and their specific effects, please enjoy this sortable compilation of all the magic spells in the taxonomy.

Download the Magic Spell List:

This is an exclusive spreadsheet for the complete magic spell list. The spreadsheet lets you sort the spells in two ways, both into categories based on the type of effect, such as control spells or healing spells, and into categories based on the type of thing affected, such as the element of water or a person's sense of smell. If you are a fan of the saga looking to learn more about the specific spells mentioned in the novels, this exclusive download will let you explore the array of magic spells available to everyday people in the Known World.

This exclusive resource is also referenced by the Magic Codex of the Known World available for free download, so you can delve deep into your favorite magic spells. I'm proud to offer you this comprehensive list of the Known World's magic spells, and I hope you use this resource to immerse yourself in my fantasy world.


That's it for this post! Check out the latest mystic resources for more.

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Magic Codex of the Known World: a mystic exclusive

This post is part of a series to augment the Magic of the Known World available for free download.

This and other mystic resources are gathered in my Magic Directory for you to explore.

Find more worldbuilding content in my Codex Directory.

Hello, there! Thanks for your interest in my magic system. My name is D.N.Frost, and I'm a fantasy author, world-builder, and creative mentor. I began by organizing the magic powers of characters in my Tales of the Known World saga, and after nearly a decade of additions and redactions, I set out to create a flexible magic system that can allow for virtually any type of power.

How do the countless magics in the saga really work? I've outlined the basics of magic overall, and divided all the magics by type into chapters with easy index tags for quick reference. To find a specific magic you read about in one of the books, or to simply peruse an in-depth magic system for new ideas, please enjoy this compendium of magic, written from the perspective of modern scholars in the Known World.

Download the Magic Codex of the Known World:

This is an exclusive codex for the complete magic system. The guide provides a foundational overview of magic as a whole, and detailed entries on each type of magic. If you are a fan of the saga looking to learn more about the intriguing powers showcased in the novels, this exclusive download will satisfy you with quick definitions and longer explanations of the powers at play.

This exclusive resource is also referenced by the Glossary at the back of each novel, so you can delve deep into your favorite magical features. I'm proud to offer you this comprehensive codex of the Known World's magics, and I hope you use this resource to immerse yourself in my fantasy world.


That's it for this post! Check out the latest mystic resources for more.

For the Magic Codex of the Known World, enter your email above.

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Waking Up: an exclusive epilogue

This post is part of a series to augment the Chronicles of Mother's Gate available for free download. Start with Part 1 here.

This and other published stories are gathered in my Books Directory for you to explore.

Find more exclusive content in my Exclusive Directory.

Waking Up

Epilogue of Book 1

The story of Larin the Builder
in the aftermath of Awakening

Download the free epilogue Waking Up:

This short story is the epilogue of Awakening, Book One of the Chronicles of Mother's Gate series, and is best read after finishing the first book. It's a great follow-up to Book One, a bonus story that adds extra layers between books without being necessary to the main storyline.

Waking Up follows the story of Larin, who is alive but unconscious after her ordeal in the Nine Hells.

She awakens in A'lara City a few days later and recuperates under the steadfast care of her repentant friend Jorn.

As she reacclimates to her waking state, Larin struggles with her gruesome memories of the Hells and her decision to conceal them from Jorn.

This story answers the question, Is Larin all right? with a resounding yes, and some storms on the horizon. It also raises the question, What happened to her down there? and includes an excerpt from the sister story Falling Down, about Larin's ordeal in the Nine Hells.


Praise for Waking Up and Falling Down:

Loved it. The difference between the two stories is great!

The difference between Waking Up and Falling Down is astounding. So much light and love in the first story. You feel safe reading it. Healing.

The second, so much darkness, pain and despair. The choice of vocabulary is awesome and makes an impact.

And this set of short stories ties the two books together so well.

-- Dana V. of Texas ★★★★★

Have you read this short story?
Please write your own review.

See all TotKW reviews at www.DNFrost.com/praise.

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Scribe Ascribed: an exclusive prologue

This post is Part 1 of a series to augment the Chronicles of Mother's Gate available for free download.

This and other published stories are gathered in my Books Directory for you to explore.

Find more exclusive content in my Exclusive Directory.

Scribe Ascribed

Prologue of Set 1

The story of Farwen the Apprentice
in the prologue of the Chronicles of Mother's Gate

Download the free prologue Scribe Ascribed:

This short story is the prologue of the Chronicles of Mother's Gate series, the first set of books in the Tales of the Known World saga, and it can be read at any point in the series. It's a great little introduction to the saga, a bonus story set apart from the full-length narrative.

Scribe Ascribed follows the story of Farwen, who is one of many apprentices to a renowned map-maker.

When his master invites him to scribe the myriad tales of the Known World, young Farwen eagerly sets aside his studies in favor of their new project.

As the initial tale draws to a close, Farwen faces a life-changing decision: resign from the project to create the maps for the story, or abandon his apprenticeship to become a dedicated scribe.

This story answers the question, Who is writing the tales of the Known World? with a well-traveled map-maker and his young apprentice. It also raises the question, What started it all? and includes an excerpt from the sister story Tribe Untied, about the persecution of a little boy named Darek.


Praise for Scribe Ascribed and Tribe Untied:

Thank you very much for bringing this wonderful book to my attention!

The concept of making a book just for prologues is refreshing and definitely making me long for the full stories.

The thing that struck me the most is how authentic every character's voice is and how easy to differentiate them is. The writing is really polished and easy to read.

As an old fantasy fanatic, I'm definitely going to read the rest of D.N. Frost's books.

-- Dr. Julia of Bucharest ★★★★★

Have you read this short story?
Please write your own review.

See all TotKW reviews at www.DNFrost.com/praise.

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How to Make Fantasy Maps in Photoshop: a cartography exclusive

This post is part of a series to augment The Worldbuilder's Handbook available for free download.

This and other world workshops are gathered in my Worldbuilding Directory for you to explore.

Find more map-making content in my Cartography Directory.

Hello, there! Thanks for your interest in my mapping techniques. My name is D.N.Frost, and I'm a fictional cartographer, fantasy author, and world-builder. I began creating digital fantasy maps for my Tales of the Known World saga, and after making over twenty maps for my first book, I started offering map commissions to fellow storytellers.

How exactly do I map a fictional world? Through tutorials on YouTube, hours of experimentation, detailed notes, and a lot of trial and error, I taught myself how to use Photoshop to create professional fantasy maps. To help you make your own publish-ready maps, please enjoy this collection of short mapping insights and step-by-step instructions.

Download How to Make Fantasy Maps in Photoshop:

This is an exclusive guide to creating your own fantasy maps. The how-to provides detailed step-by-step instructions for making maps in Photoshop, and it provides some great information on how to build a realistic world. If you are a world-builder looking to create a map yourself, this exclusive download will guide you through both the concepts and the technical processes of map-making in Photoshop.

This exclusive resource also links to a number of fantasy workshops and longer blog posts, so you can delve deep into your favorite cartography tips. I'm proud to offer you these instructions on creating professional-looking maps you can be proud to share, and I hope you use this resource to enhance your fantasy world.


That's it for this post! Check out the latest worldbuilding workshops for more.

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Free Ebook from Awakening: an exclusive sample

This post is part of a series to augment the Chronicles of Mother's Gate available for free download. Start with Part 1 here.

This and other published stories are gathered in my Books Directory for you to explore.

Find more exclusive content in my Exclusive Directory.

Hello, there! Thanks for your interest in my first novel, Awakening. My name is D.N.Frost, and I'm a fantasy author, cartographer, and world-builder. I've been working on my Tales of the Known World saga for nearly two decades: writing, editing, illustrating, publishing, marketing, and managing my website all on my own.

So why offer up all this hard work for free? I believe that a great story is the best way to connect with fantasy fans and to bring my world to life for readers like you. To embark on your fantasy adventure in the Known World, please enjoy this exclusive sample of eight chapters, over half my first book.

Download your Free Ebook from Awakening:

This is an exclusive invitation to read deep into the debut novel of my saga. The PDF download contains eight of the novel's fourteen chapters, with eleven of the book's nineteen maps placed in narrative order alongside the story. Read it on practically any device, and decide for yourself if this adventure is right for you.

This exclusive download also links to a number of supporting resources and longer blog posts, so you can delve deep into your favorite maps and prophesies. I'm proud to offer you this substantial ebook from Book 1 in my epic fantasy saga, and I hope you read this adventure and discover yourself within.

That's it for this post! Check out the latest from TotKW Books for more.

To download your Free Ebook from Awakening, enter your email above.

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