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Episode list and everything a new reader needs to get started

Sep 15, 2024

A portal opens in the world of Val Vatar, and four young men find themselves in a strange new world… Earth. Three of them are princes, and the fourth is an acolyte of The Nine Gods. How will this world change them? And how will what they learn in our world transform their world if they ever get back?

The Sojourners is the first book in the Chronicles of Val Vatar. We follow Shavva, Jovid, Calleon and Marrek as they find themselves stranded on Earth with no explanation. They don’t speak the language, know the history or customs of this world, and worst of all, they all find themselves in different parts of the world, completely unaware that this same thing has happened to the other three. As far as they each know, they are utterly alone in this strange place. But they are all clever boys…

Here is the Game of Thrones-style animated opening. This will give you a flavor of where this story is going. Most of the images are from the first book, with a variety from future books as well as overall lore from the world of Val Vatar.

The Sojourners is the first book in The Chronicles of Val Vatar. Episodes will be released weekly here on this page, for free. My hope is that you enjoy what you are reading and spread the word. Did I mention it’s free?

I will also periodically publish short fiction, articles about the world of Val Vatar, and behind the scenes of the making of this world of stories such as the variety of really cool apps and tools I use to create an entire world.

Episodes

I will release one episode per week. An episode is a scene or part of what will be full chapters in the final book. Each chapter will be made of two to four episodes. Additionally, each chapter will be told from the POV of one of the four main characters, and the episode title will denote which character and where that chapter falls in their story. We start with Shavva, and soon we’ll join Jovid, Marrek, and Calleon.

Book 1 - The Sojourners

Prologue

Episode 0 - Prologue - (I highly recommend starting here to set the scene before diving in.) We open in the midst of a funeral for a great man…

Chapter 1 - Shavva 1

Episode 01 - Shavva 1A: The Godhold - A young acolyte, Shavva, has a secret mission… but he has to get out of the Temple first…
Episode 02 - Shavva 1B: The Godhold - Shavva makes his way through the Godhold Temple…

Chapter 2 - Shavva 2

Episode 03 - Shavva 2A: The Bridge - Shavva must navigate across the great Bridge of Valshaxvath…
Episode 04 - Shavva 2B: The Bridge - Shavva stops at the Bridge Market.
Episode 05 - Shavva 2C: The Bridge - Shavva remembers an important encounter he had earlier that day.

Chapter 3 - Shavva 3

Episode 06 - Shavva 3A: The Slum Road - Shavva walks the Slum Road.

Chapter 4 - Shavva 4

Episode 07 - Shavva 4A: The Heretic’s Abyss - Shavva is accosted as he approaches the Heretic’s Abyss.
Episode 08 - Shavva 4B: The Heretic’s Abyss - Shavva runs into three other boys at the Heretic’s Abyss.

Chapter 5 - Jovid 1

Episode 09 - Jovid 1A: The Field - Jovid awakens in the middle of a farm field.
Episode 10 - Jovid 1B: The Road - Jovid walks an unfamiliar road.
Episode 11 - Jovid 1C: The Farm - Jovid arrives at the farmhouse.

Chapter 6 - Marrek 1

Episode 12 - Marrek 1A: The Alley - Marrek awakens in the middle of a dark alley.
Episode 13 - Marrek 1B: The City - Marrek travels to a safe location.

Chapter 7 - Calleon 1

Episode 14 - Calleon 1A: The Nursery - Calleon awakens in a baby’s small room.
Episode 15 - Calleon 1B: The Church - Calleon is questioned by people trying to figure out where he’s from.

Chapter 8 - Jovid 2

Episode 16 - Jovid 2A: The Barn - Jovid hides in a barn during a thunderstorm.
Episode 17 - Jovid 2B: The Barn - Jovid meets Lorna.
Episode 18 - Jovid 2C: The Graveyard - Jovid has a confrontation with Malcolm.

Chapter 9 - Marrek 2

Episode 19 - Marrek 2A: The Newspaper - Marrek leads a heist.
Episode 20 - Marrek 2B: The Plan - How the heist was born.
Episode 21 - Marrek 2C: A Night Off - The gang takes a well-deserved break.
Episode 22 - Marrek 2D: The Betrayal - A heist goes bad.

Chapter 10 - Calleon 2

Episode 23 - Calleon 2A: The Yekalu Home- Calleon acclimates himself to his new situation.
Episode 24 - Calleon 2B: Meeting Mr. Thornton - Calleon meets the overseer of Cavendish Manor
Episode 25 - Calleon 2C: Sunday Morning - Calleon prepares for a trip to a London church.
Episode 26 - Calleon 2D: The Dance- After church, Calleon attends a church social.

Chapter 11 - Jovid 3

Episode 27 - Jovid 3A: - The Aftermath- Jovid is attended to by a visiting doctor before the police arrive to question the family about Malcom’s death.
Episode 28 - Jovid 3B: - The Dinner- Jovid slowly settles into the MacKendrick home.
Episode 29 - Jovid 3C: - The Cows- Jovid works the farm to pay for his upkeep until something can be done with him.

Chapter 12 - Marrek 3

Episode 30 - Marrek 3A: The Police Station - Marrek, Jester and Patch await interrogation at the police station.
Episode 31 - Marrek 3B: The Interrogation - Marrek is questioned by Constable Grimshaw.