State of the Realm: Editing, Experiments, and the "Villain’s Journey"

 Welcome back to the blog! I recently did a segment on Ricky Rambles where I decided to multitask by live-dictating a status update on my primary creative project: The Realms of Manetera.

If you’ve been following along, you know this fantasy universe is a collaborative creation between Andrew and me. But what you might not know is that the whole thing actually started as a joke.

The Accidental Novelist

Years ago, Andrew told me he wanted to write a book together. At the time, I didn't really take him seriously. To poke a little fun at the idea, I sat down and wrote the most ridiculous premise I could imagine: a story about a half-orc (actually a half-ogre—even worse!) and an imp who become unlikely friends and head off on a grand quest.

It was essentially a "Villain’s Journey" disguised as a Hero’s Journey, centered on themes of redemption and absurdity. But a funny thing happened while writing that "ridiculous" story—I actually started to like it.

I finished that book, titled Maleki, and then I wrote another. And another. Fast forward to today, and I have four mostly completed novellas set in this universe.

The Brutal Reality of Editing

Writing the books is the fun part. Editing them? Not so much. I am a "pantser"—meaning I don't plot anything out; I just fly by the seat of my pants. While that makes for a fun first draft, it makes editing a monumental task. I’m currently deep in the trenches of the editing process, and let me tell you, it’s brutal.

I’ve decided to hold back on releasing Maleki (the one with the ridiculous premise) and instead focus on finishing Brotherhood of Light first. I want Brotherhood to be the "straightforward" entry point for readers into the series. I’ve already had a friend and Chief Editor at Leafbound Review take a pass at it, and now I’m working through those comments to get it ready for a final proofreader.

Lessons from the Amazon Jungle

Lately, I’ve been running some "crazy experiments" on Amazon to see how the market works. I tried two strategies:

1. Low-content books: I released some journals to see if they’d gain traction. (Spoiler: They didn't).

2. Public Domain: I reformatted and published the Egyptian Book of the Dead.

Neither of these experiments resulted in many sales, but I don't view them as a waste of time. Every hour spent formatting and navigating the backend of Amazon is a skill learned. I’m getting better at the technical side of publishing so that when the Manetera books are ready, I won't be stumbling in the dark.

The "No-Audience" Problem

The biggest takeaway from my experiments—and from my children’s book (which people in person find hysterical, despite a few being offended by the "pigs possess great wealth" line!)—is that infrastructure matters.

It’s easier than ever to release a book, but harder than ever to get noticed. In 2016, you could drop a book on Bitcoin and get organic sales just because the topic was new. Today, if you launch a book to zero audience, it will likely stay at zero.

That’s why I’m focusing on building the Leafbound Review newsletter. We’re working to build a community of people who love literature, so that when we finally open the gates to the Realms of Manetera, there will actually be someone there to walk through them.

What’s Next?

The drafts for the third and fourth books are currently in a "continuous draft" state. Thanks to modern tech, I don't have to re-type pages like the old typewriter days, but the mental work remains the same.

I’m still rambling, still writing, and still figuring out the best way to bring these stories to you. If you’re reading this, I truly appreciate you being here.

The Order of Might: The Fading Bulwark

 In the shadow of the current religious and military fervor of the Brotherhood of Light, few remember the ancient foundations upon which the human orders were built. While today's soldiers march under the banners of the Wing of Bravery or the Logisticians, there remains a whispered legacy of a far older, nearly forgotten power: The Order of Might.

A Legend of Dual Conflict

Centuries ago, the Order of Might was regarded as the "true bulwark of justice" for the human realms. Unlike the specialized military wings seen today, members of this order were defined by a singular, legendary strength. Folklore suggests that a true knight of Might was a force of nature—capable of engaging both Orcs and Drow simultaneously on the battlefield. They didn't just hold the line; they dictated it.

The Founder’s True Nature

At the heart of this legacy is Uryan, the founder often cited by the fraternal organizations in Bronzehelm. However, there is a sharp divide in how his teachings are interpreted. While the current Brotherhood emphasizes abstinence and rigid discipline, those seeking to restore the Order of Might look to a different source.

To these revivalists, Uryan’s true nature was not defined by religious restriction, but by power. They believe that the modern structures in Bronzehelm have become shadows of their former glory, trading the raw strength of the founders for political bureaucracy and "pleasures of the flesh" disguised as duty.

A Bulwark Near Extinction

Today, the Order of Might is effectively extinct. Its banners have been put away, and its halls are empty. The few who still claim its title are often viewed as outliers or eccentrics operating on the fringes of society. Yet, there are signs of a resurgence.

In the quiet corners of the realm, individuals like Roderick are actively seeking to reclaim Uryan’s original intent. These figures aren't interested in the current hierarchy of the Brotherhood; they are looking to build a "next great order" that strips away the modern rot and returns to the pure, overwhelming strength that once kept the darkness of the Drow and the Orcs at bay.

Whether this is a restoration of justice or a dangerous pursuit of unchecked power remains to be seen, but the name of the Order of Might is beginning to stir once more in the sands of Manetera.

Ithuriel, but not really

 I asked AI to write an article on Ithuriel. Unfortunately, it didn’t do that, instead it is talking about the Order of Light.

Some of the ideas shared here are things I considered sharing, but ended up not including in the final book.

It's true there were once 3 suborders to the order of light, but I actually never paired  the 3 leaders with these suborders. Atleast, I don’t remember doing that. It's true there are 3 leaders and those indeed are the attributes of each. It is also funny to read which aspect of the military is associated with each. That indeed is a pure AI fantasy.

Additionally, while the fourth wing idea was fun, I don’t think it is going to make the cut of the final book. We will see though.

While the Order of Light is known across Manetera for its golden armor and military dominance, its foundation rests on a much more ethereal force: the devotion to Ithuriel and the channeling of the Power of Light. For the knights based in Bronzehelm, this is not merely a religion but a practical and often overwhelming source of strength.

The Servant’s Oath

Every member of the Brotherhood, from the lowest initiate to the High Commanders, is defined as a "servant of Ithuriel." During their orientation, recruits like Brundin are taught that they are "bastions of virtue" who must give their perfect devotion—and if necessary, their lives—to the cause of protecting the realm. This devotion is believed to grant a form of divine protection, with the Light shielding those "chosen" by the god in times of peril.

The Divine Arts: Healing and Smite

The "Light" manifests in several tangible ways within the Order. While many soldiers focus on the "practical matters" of war and defense, the order originally relied heavily on the divine arts.

• Healing: A subset of the divine arts used to give restoration to the wounded.

• The Sparks of Power: True practitioners, like the elder Master Sagatori, can channel the "light within" to perform feats beyond physical combat. This process involves focusing on a specific internal energy and pushing it toward one's extremities, occasionally manifesting as faint, visible sparks of light from the fingers.

• Truth-Seeking: The Light is said to "reveal all truth" to those who seek it, even exposing secrets that have yet to be made.

The Shifting Focus of the Order

Historical texts within the Brotherhood suggest that the founders were deeply in tune with these mystical arts. However, modern leadership, such as Gunthar the Strong and Abas the Wise, has steered the Order toward more "practical" military wings:

1. Bravery (Gunthar): Focused on the spear and shield corps.

2. Wisdom (Abas): Focused on logistics and the "Wagon Corp."

3. Devotion (Dezin): Primarily focused on the "Tree Corp" and traditional healing.

There are lingering rumors of a fourth wing—one Master Sagatori reportedly belongs to—that was once dedicated to divination and the occult. As the Order prioritizes the upcoming war with the orc tribes, these ancient, more esoteric methods of channeling Ithuriel's power are increasingly viewed as "kooky" or irrelevant by the new generation of soldiers.

Destined for the Light

Despite the move toward steel and strategy, the mystical side of Ithuriel still reaches out to the individuals of the Order. Whether through intense visions of "bright light" being encountered in dreams or the "fiery stare" of commanders like Dezin the Devoted, the Light remains an inescapable, intense presence that demands everything from those it calls.

Ukanh: The God of the Nets

 AI wrote this article for me. I begged for it not to make stuff up. Unfortunately, it kind of did still. Granted, I thought some of the post was interesting never the less. 

Faith on the Fringes: The God of the Nets

In the high halls of human cities, religion is often a matter of state and structure. But as you move toward the coast, past the featureless stretches of the desert, the polished rituals of the urban centers give way to something grittier. Here, among the humble huts and red snapper scales, the fishermen turn to a figure rarely mentioned in polite society: Ukanh.

A Taboo of Trade

While Ukanh is the god of commerce and merchants, you won’t find many shrines to him in the larger human cities. In those places, his worship is largely frowned upon—perhaps seen as too transactional or tied to the greed of the marketplace. But for a crew on a small vessel facing a day of empty nets and "sour air," social taboos matter far less than survival.

The Desperation of the Haul

For these people, Ukanh isn't a figure of high theology; he is a source of immediate relief. When destitution looms, the fishermen don't look for a temple. They stand on their decks with arms outstretched to the sky. It is a raw, vocal plea for the god to provide for his humble followers.

When the nets finally come up heavy—sometimes so full of fish that the deck becomes nearly impossible to walk on—the cries of "Praise Ukanh" aren't just tradition; they are a genuine reaction to a perceived miracle of survival.

Outsider Perspectives

This public displays of faith can be jarring to outsiders. To a Drow, the idea that a god would intervene in something as mundane as a fishing haul feels like pure superstition. In their view, bread and fish are won through labor, not prayer. Yet, in the small, unnamed ports south of Sand Ridge, the physical reality of an overflowing hold of red snapper is the only argument the fishermen need to keep their forbidden faith alive.

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Citations

• On the social standing of the faith: "Understanding religion was an important part of blending into a society, but worship of Ukanh was not very common, at least publicly and in the large human cities." — Vera Manuscript.

• On the nature of the prayer: “Ukanh bless us,” a fisherman cried. “Save from destitution and provide your humble followers relief.” — Vera Manuscript.

• On the results: “The number of fish soon became overwhelming. Vera wondered how anyone could walk on the deck.” — Vera Manuscript.

March 2026 update

Somehow a month has passed and I don’t have any visible progress to report here. That isn’t to say I haven’t been working on Realms; I’ve spent a good chunk of time drafting and editing Brotherhood of Light (Book 2) and The Mercenary (the new title for Book 3). I think they have made a lot of progress. Still, I don’t have a finished book out to share with you just yet.

Here are my new goals:

• Publish Brotherhood within the next month or two. (Trying to be a little more realistic since this month is basically over!)

• Update the blog every other week with progress reports or fun facts about the world-building.

I’ll try to share more of the exact path we are taking shortly.

Odesha, Maleki's mom

 Andrew and I were discussing what Maleki's mom, Odesha, should look like here are some of the options

A Pretty Ogre

B Full Ogre

C Less of... that

D make her taller?

Which option do you like best? Or is there another direction you think this should go? Remember for a limited time you can read a little about Odesha on wattpad https://www.wattpad.com/story/317497514-maleki

We Press Onward

When I first started writing Maleki, I was surprised at how easy the process felt. I had a first draft after only a few months of working on it very part-time. I wondered how it was that people spent years working on a single book. Well, here I am, years later, and Maleki is still not out. I've learned that it is actually the editing of a book that is hard, not the initial writing (at least for me).

I initially dropped Maleki for a time after it went through its first round of edits. As my first book, the rough draft was really, well, rough at times. Having written first drafts for several more books and having studied the craft a bit more, I think my newer work is better. I believe something that also helped me was simply reading more in general.

If you didn’t know, the creators of The Realms of Manetera are actually involved in another project: Leafbound Review. The goal of LBR is to help authors get their first book review. You can find the site here: https://leafboundreview.blogspot.com/p/submit-your-book.html

Anyway, back to me. The first round of comments from my editor for Brotherhood of Light is in! It is now up to me to incorporate them into the next version of the book. I hope it won't be much longer until I'm ready to publish. I’ll try to keep everyone updated on that process here.