Plot Overview

The story opens with Scythe, her mother, and sister arriving on the mainland for the mating ritual. The mating ritual is a very important milestone in a young woman’s life, and it is Scythe’s sister’s first mate. Scythe herself is, at 25, still too young. I have a fairly intricate background in mind for Scythe’s culture, and rituals. Scythe is not allowed to be present at the actual ceremony, and this is why she survives the massacre that takes place that night. She is lounging on the beach alone when she hears the screams from the near by village and the sounds of battle. Rushing to her tribe’s aid, she is too late. Kylar soldiers, led by Zendel himself, have already decimated the village and all within it. There numbers were vast and their weapons advanced and so even the fierce amazons had no chance, esp. being caught so unaware. Scythe’s mother and sister are killed, instantly making her the new leader of the tribe. Meanwhile, the soldiers have also burned the ship that carried Scythe to the mainland, leaving her no way to get home to her sisters. Foolishly, Scythe takes on the remaining soldiers, who have lingered behind to loot in the ruble instead of marching on with the main group. Although an excellent fighter, she is no match for their number and weapons, and would have been killed if not for…Ian. Ian has been posing as a soldier in order to move along towards the bay city of Delta, where his own ship waits. Drawn by her courage and skill, and understanding her need for vengeance all to well, he blows his cover to help her defeat the soldiers. Though Scythe is reluctant to trust a man, she agrees to travel with him to his ship, where he agrees to take her home. She really has no choice, being stranded, outnumbered and desperate to get back to her people so she can lead a war against the men who slaughtered her tribeswomen. The first arc of the story follows Ian and Scythe as they cross the content, heading for Delta. This gives me time to set up these characters a bit before introducing the others.  Then next phase involves Scythe and Ian troubles at sea, and also introduces another main character Naava. Scythes journey home is going to draw from Odysseus’ journey in mythology.  We meet Naava while she is still living a home on the ranch with her father. Naava’s mother died when she was very young, and as the only child, Naava and her father are very close. She is happy to stay with him, helping him run the ranch for the foreseeable future. All that is ruined when Dai Lynn’s forces come through, burning the ranch in their wake.  Naava is on a trip into town at the time, and encounters a small group of soldiers hassling and old man. She intervenes on his behalf, and he tells her of the massive army already heading right towards (or really through) the ranch. She rushed back, but is too late. She is unable to find her father anywhere and so clings to the hope that he is alive, and prisoner of the Fuyonkan army. Forced to flee her home, with Orion and her dog in tow, she ends up in a seaport, where she meets up with Scythe and Ian, who have stopped for supplies.  Sharing a common enemy with Ian, they set off again for open sea While out there, the next character is introduced, Vaughn. He is nearly dead, on a raft he used to escape from and island prison. Ian doesn’t trust him, but brings him aboard so he won’t die. I intend to drag out Vaughn’s development quite a bit.  Meanwhile, I will simultaneously be developing Zendel and Dai Lynn, as well and introducing more minor ‘guest villains’ now and then.  Next stop for supplies is the island/continent where Pallas Oriana is beginning to discover the truth.  After a somewhat lengthy stay and after Oriana ruins her parents little empire, she joins the quest, determined to use her powers for good. Scythe has her first taste of jealousy here, while Naava teaches Oriana how to be a bit less ‘ladylike’. After a brief time at sea, a terrible storm, leaves them adrift and they wash up in Becklar, where another interesting sub story ensues and they end up leaving with another new shipmate, Lane. More coming later!