Marduk’s Mark [Start Here]
Outline:
The Only One of Her Kind
As a young half-breed, she is an outcast that was bred to be immune to a mind-altering curse that plagues her people. Now she comes face to face with this affliction as it infects her mother, forcing her to face her destiny or abandon her loved ones.
A Fantastic World full of Unknowns
Within the fantasy world of Eldrath, the human-like Deelamn live as second-class citizens suffering from ridicule and prejudice. Cursed by the possibility of developing Marduk’s Mark, an affliction that turns them into mindless, blood-thirsty killers, they are kept in check within the port city of Incantirl by strict inspections and alliances that humans have with two powerful races, the alluring Junex and the reclusive Threed.
A Family Under Duress
The Neeves, a Deelamn family that has already lost one of their own to the Mark is attempting to find a way to rid their race of this cursed illness with a daring plan: one of their own that can be immune to the Mark, the first known human-Deelamn hybrid! Reysha, a young girl with features from both the human and Deelamn race is the unusual half-breed that holds the key for finding the cure. When Xandra, her mother and a resourceful Deelamn matriarch suddenly falls ill to the Mark, Reysha’s mission becomes much more urgent and personal as the wild personalities among her family threaten her success. Can she succeed as the much better prepared Junex attempt to turn her mother in 04to the Threed for imprisonment within one of their Asylums?
The Beginning of a Saga
Marduk’s Mark is the first story of the Wayward Souls saga. It is presented as a short novel that introduces the readers to the colorful cast of characters that inhabit the city of Incantirl. From the maligned Neeves family to the easygoing band of mercenaries lead by Gregor Reeds and the imposing Judicator, a figure that represents the strong arm of the Judicar, god of Human Justice. Incantirl is full of ancient secrets and unique characters that promise to draw the reader in and not let them go until the very last page.
Author’s Notes:
Marduk’s Mark is the first story in the Wayward Souls saga that I’ve been writing. This first leg of the saga is actually a novella and is currently available to purchase from Amazon. However, I plan to debut the sequel on Medium instead of heading directly to Amazon, so I’ve decided to reformat the original novella and publish it as a series of Medium “stories.” I’ve also taken the liberty to make a few improvements to the text itself, so there’s a slight difference between the Amazon and the Medium versions.
I will be adding links to each section, in order, as I publish them (bi-weekly) to the table of contents below. The first few chapters will be free as I test the waters and gauge interest.
Table of Contents
[1] Judicator
[2] Neeves
[3] Of Men and Waitresses
[4] Marked
[5] Morning
[6] Neeves and Arguments
[7] A Guardhouse
[8] Teach Me the Shadow Pact
[9] Of Daemons and Scars
[10] Dana and Thomas
[11] Prelude to Inspection
[12] Midnight
[13] Uncertain
[14] Divided
[15] Praetor Protector
[16] Star-Crossed?
[17] A Calling
[18] Disappointed
[19] Encounter
