On the Homefront

This week has seen me looking into getting a new 3D printer. My first one, now three years old, seems to have worn out, although I must admit I did get my money’s worth out of it.

Resin printers have come a long way in the intervening years, and the quality of prints has improved dramatically. I’m overwhelmed by how many choices there are, and to top it all off, many of them are on sale!

In the meantime, my research continues so that I can build a new army of figures for my next fantasy campaign! More about that later.

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Horses at War

We often hear of famous military commanders, but less well-advertised are the names of their horses. Marengo (born in 1793) was re-named after one of Napoleon’s victories in 1800. He served the French Emperor until 1815, including Waterloo. After the war, he lived out his life in England, dying in 1831.

In the same period, we find Copenhagen, also named after a battle, in this case, the second battle of Copenhagen in 1807. He was presented to Lord Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington, in 1813 and was also present at the Battle of Waterloo. Eventually, he was retired, living on the duke’s estate, and dying in 1836.

There are many more, of course, but it’s interesting to note these two horses literally faced off against each other across one of history’s most decisive battlefields.

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Goblins

If you’ve read any of my books, you’ve probably noticed my Orcs are not the typical evil creatures seen in other books and movies. In a similar vein, when I was writing Guardian of the Crown, I decided to delve into the world of Goblins.

In Lord of the Rings, they’re just smaller versions of Orcs, but in Eiddenwerthe, I elected to make them an entirely different race: a hunter/gatherer people who live in a variety of terrains. Their metalworking is crude, and they prefer to use spears to keep any potential enemy at a distance. In battle, they use staff slings to hurl stones, something they can do with surprising accuracy, though they do little damage against a well-armoured opponent.

In Guardian of the Crown, the main characters come across a hunting party led by a Goblin named Glisnak, who proves remarkably clever, a trait common amongst the little green folk,  for they have been forced to use their wits to survive.

For those who are curious, he will play a part in future tales, mainly because he was so much fun for me to write.

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Work In Progress Update

I’m almost done writing the climactic battle scene for Temple Commander. After that, there are a couple of chapters to wind up the book, and then it’ll be complete. This particular tale also sets up Charlaine’s final story, Temple General, although that wouldn’t be obvious at first read.

Of course, before I can write that, I must return to Ludwig in Warrior Prince, which will also lead, in its own way, into Temple General.

From a calendar point of view, the series is catching up to the events of both The Frozen Flame and Heir to the Crown. I’ve planned this from the start, so I look forward to finally bringing these three series together.

Until next time, happy reading!

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