Author : David Burrows
Publisher : Lulu.com
Page : 230 pages
File Size : 26,14 MB
Release : 2012-11-01
Category : Fiction
ISBN : 1291139605
Drachar, banished by his own people, forges an unholy alliance with the demons by offering them ten thousand souls, but the demons demand one hundred thousand and without quibbling Drachar accepts. War threatens. A war like no other.
Author : David Burrows
Publisher : Lulu.com
Page : 204 pages
File Size : 26,57 MB
Release : 2010-01-14
Category : Fiction
ISBN : 095567607X
Astalus has returned. He has found an Eldric spell book and, in particular, a spell to summon dragons. The allies march north to confront the Trosgarthâs growing might. Warrior priests can now communicate across the battlefield using their shaol, death knights have been resurrected, and in the air grakyn are supported by a new threat â a demon/dragon hybrid. To make matters worse, Astalus discovers that the power that Kaplyn recovered so long ago can open a permanent gateway to the demon world. Drachar is finally free and his minions will march from the very depths of hell. Astalus knows all of this through a demon that has possessed him. The army marches to its fate, unaware of the trap awaiting them. Prince Fiad leads them. Will he be the armyâs salvation or damnation? The men mutter, uncomfortable in the knowledge that, at the final battle, a king will not lead them against the tides of evil. Drachar is poised, his death knights ready to tear the army apart.
Author : David Burrows
Publisher : Lulu.com
Page : 188 pages
File Size : 37,63 MB
Release : 2010-01-14
Category : Fiction
ISBN : 0955676053
Vastra is a man possessed. Where other men require food to sustain them, his craving is for power. He seeks an Eldric talisman, ensnaring two men to aid him. Fate guides his hand and, unwittingly, he chooses Kaplyn, who is seeking to escape his own destiny and Lars, shipwrecked and friendless, an outcast on the Allund shore. An unlikely trio, they form a fragile alliance but, recklessly ambitious, Vastra will betray them in a heartbeat. Throughout their journey, there are clear signs that demons are active, stealing souls to slake their hunger. Their journey takes them to a mysterious tower, beset by traps, where Kaplyn triggers a chain of events unleashing the full power of a prophecy that could doom them all. Deep in the heart of a mountain lays a power that not even Vastra has the audacity to envision. But who really is guiding Vastraâs destiny? Kaplyn has the talisman and, for all of Vastraâs threats, he is unwilling to part with it.
Author : Geoffrey Barstow
Publisher : Columbia University Press
Page : 219 pages
File Size : 35,64 MB
Release : 2017-10-24
Category : Religion
ISBN : 0231542305
Tibetan Buddhism teaches compassion toward all beings, a category that explicitly includes animals. Slaughtering animals is morally problematic at best and, at worst, completely incompatible with a religious lifestyle. Yet historically most Tibetans—both monastic and lay—have made meat a regular part of their diet. In this study of the place of vegetarianism within Tibetan religiosity, Geoffrey Barstow explores the tension between Buddhist ethics and Tibetan cultural norms to offer a novel perspective on the spiritual and social dimensions of meat eating. Food of Sinful Demons shows the centrality of vegetarianism to the cultural history of Tibet through specific ways in which nonreligious norms and ideals shaped religious beliefs and practices. Barstow offers a detailed analysis of the debates over meat eating and vegetarianism, from the first references to such a diet in the tenth century through the Chinese invasion in the 1950s. He discusses elements of Tibetan Buddhist thought—including monastic vows, the Buddhist call to compassion, and tantric antinomianism—that see meat eating as morally problematic. He then looks beyond religious attitudes to examine the cultural, economic, and environmental factors that oppose the Buddhist critique of meat, including Tibetan concepts of medicine and health, food scarcity, the display of wealth, and idealized male gender roles. Barstow argues that the issue of meat eating was influenced by a complex interplay of factors, with religious perspectives largely supporting vegetarianism while practical concerns and secular ideals pulled in the other direction. He concludes by addressing the surge in vegetarianism in contemporary Tibet in light of evolving notions of Tibetan identity and resistance against the central Chinese state. The first book to discuss this complex issue, Food of Sinful Demons is essential reading for scholars interested in Tibetan religion, history, and culture as well as global food history.
Author : David Burrows
Publisher : Lulu.com
Page : 204 pages
File Size : 32,77 MB
Release : 2010-01-14
Category : Fiction
ISBN : 0955676061
Armies are gathering but Astalus, the Thracian court wizard, is in a quandary. Shocking news has arrived from an unlikely source. A spy, arrested brazenly entering the city, claims to be a prince from a royal household that was overthrown, the family members murdered over sixty years ago. Intriguingly, the spy's claim to be from Allund is more than a coincidence, for the army marching against them is also from Allund. Who indeed to trust? The stranger brings with him news of an army from Trosgarth, which can only mean one thing. Drachar's shade has been summoned and the Prophecy is coming to pass. Old alliances are broken and many monarchs slain. No sign yet exists of the king predicted by the Prophecy, who will save them all. Astalus, normally so certain and confident, is suddenly plummeted into his worst nightmare, for soon Thrace could be threatened by demons and, against them, there is no salvation. In a land fraught with betrayal, fear and death, the shadows are deepening.
Author : Donald S. Lopez, Jr.
Publisher : Princeton University Press
Page : 435 pages
File Size : 42,82 MB
Release : 2018-06-05
Category : Religion
ISBN : 0691188173
Originally published in 1997, Religions of Tibet in Practice is a landmark work--the first major anthology on the topic ever produced. This new edition--abridged to further facilitate course use--presents a stunning array of works that together offer an unparalleled view of the Tibetan religious landscape over the centuries. Organized thematically, the twenty-eight chapters are testimony to the vast scope of religious practice in the Tibetan world, past and present. Religions of Tibet in Practice remains a work of great value to scholars, students, and general readers.
Author : D. L. Burt
Publisher : Trafford Publishing
Page : 332 pages
File Size : 21,65 MB
Release : 2008-08-01
Category : Fiction
ISBN : 1490768076
An ancient race discovers a lost device able to create souls and comes in conflict with those sent to reclaim it. Suppose you had to fight a war in a place you could not go. So you sent warriors protected in specially made armor to do the fighting for you. For thousands of years you sent them. For thousands of years they fought and died in your name only to be resurrected and returned, again and again, ever engaged in eternal war, waged by immortal warriors. Now suppose the device to grant them infinite life has been stolen by your enemy who now has the power to existence-erase your warriors forever. A science fiction horror story set in the Sixth Millennium, the second book of the apocrypha trilogy is told in a tense Gothic style, immersed in Anglican and Norse myth and lore. Chronicling the quest for the lost Ark of Souls, Omens of the Millennium takes you into an alien civilization on the verge of redemption and resurrection a culture very similar to our own, and every bit as terrifying. You have plunged into a galaxy deep in war. Fought light years beyond the present in the dark future of the Sixth Millennium, the Empire of the Known Realm is heavily engaged in grim conflict against cunning enemies struggling for their own survival amidst the savage stars. Though there are many ruthless rivals to contend with, the main conflict centers around two great powers: the Imperial Trident Empire and the Dark Forces of the Triskelion. Both were once of human ancestry, but long ago, the Triskelion abandoned Mankind, forsaking their humanness to become their merciless adversaries. Lead by Ratava the Revengeful, Ruler of Ruin, and Khan Kaang, the God of Gore Commander of the Kraken Corps, they are fiercely determined to existence erase the Trident blood line down to the last human chromosome. Not only is each side waging war with the other in the Great Galactic Crusade, they are also defending their Empire against horrifying outside adversaries with their own agenda for the annihilation of the Universe. The adventure before you and the Great Galactic Crusade that you are about to undertake, chronicles the Legends and Legions of these two embattled Empires and that of their allies in their race for everlasting salvation or eternal extinction. Streaking across eternity, every infinite inch is measured in human lives. And for Mankind, time and souls are running out at the speed of light. Spanning timeless dimensions and fathomless space, it is a war of attrition waged between the Apostates of the Apocalypse and the ancient Apostles of Armageddon. It is an Age of dark science and deep secrets, a time when the Legions of the Lord battled the Dominions of the Dark Forces of the Triskelion raging throughout the astral heavens of Valhal and the Known Realm, where the stars long ago have descended into darkness. Yet to conquer the Cosmos completely means to triumph in the holy quest for the lost Codelax, the divine celestial instrument that is the creator of souls. For whomsoever possesses it, holds the fate of all else. For with its sacred powers, it is decided who is reborn into the physical world and whose soul is forever cast into the black void of the Necromancer, Natas, Triskelion BlackLord of the Dark Domain.
Author : Ramesh
Publisher : Ramesh Kumar Chauhan
Page : 65 pages
File Size : 23,58 MB
Release : 2024-09-21
Category : Fiction
ISBN :
In a world where myth and reality collide, the line between gods and mortals is shattered. Ancient beings—once relegated to legends—now walk openly among humanity, changing the balance of power and threatening the fragile order of modern life. Meilin Zhang never wanted to be a hero. A skilled lawyer with a quiet, determined resolve, she’s spent her life fighting for justice in the courtroom. But when she begins to dream of battles she’s never fought and powers she’s never known, Meilin discovers her forgotten past as a warrior bound to protect the balance between realms. Now, with ancient forces awakening and the veil between worlds unraveling, Meilin is thrust into a conflict that spans across gods, monsters, and mortals alike. Alongside Zarion, the trickster-hero with a devil-may-care grin and a hidden sense of responsibility, Meilin must navigate a world transformed—where dragons soar above city skylines, spirits haunt the streets, and ancient gods demand recognition once more. As the forces of chaos, led by the sorceress Alira Drakar, threaten to tear the world apart, Meilin faces a choice that will test her resolve and force her to confront her true identity: the lawyer who fights for justice or the warrior who stands between worlds. Blending the grandeur of epic fantasy with the modern world’s complexities, Shadows of the Immortal Dawn is a tale of myth brought to life, where battles aren’t only fought with swords but with ideas, diplomacy, and sacrifice. Readers will be captivated by the evolving relationship between Meilin and Zarion—two heroes as different as night and day, yet bound together by fate. Their journey explores themes of balance, coexistence, and what it means to sacrifice for the greater good. Perfect for fans of American Gods and The Witcher, Shadows of the Immortal Dawn brings readers into a world where the past and present clash, and the future depends on the strength of both. With sweeping worldbuilding, intense stakes, and deeply relatable characters, this novel sets the stage for a thrilling series where gods and mortals must find a way to coexist—or face the ultimate destruction of all they hold dear. Key Features: Mythology meets modernity: Ancient gods, spirits, and mythological creatures are woven seamlessly into today’s world, creating a rich, imaginative landscape that fans of urban fantasy will love. Character-driven epic: Meilin Zhang’s internal struggle between her identities as a lawyer and a warrior adds emotional depth, while Zarion’s trickster charm and growth into a protector provide both humor and heart. High-stakes adventure: As the fabric of reality itself begins to unravel, readers are taken on an action-packed journey that blends epic battles with deeply personal stakes. Themes of coexistence and sacrifice: At its core, Shadows of the Immortal Dawn explores what it takes to find balance in a fractured world, making it a timely and powerful read. With series potential, this novel opens the door to endless possibilities—a world forever altered, where gods, spirits, and humans must learn to live together in an uneasy peace. But as dark forces stir, the battle for the future has only just begun.
Author : Stu Horvath
Publisher : MIT Press
Page : 457 pages
File Size : 46,67 MB
Release : 2023-10-10
Category : Games & Activities
ISBN : 0262048221
A richly illustrated, encyclopedic deep dive into the history of roleplaying games. When Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson released Dungeons & Dragons in 1974, they created the first roleplaying game of all time. Little did they know that their humble box set of three small digest-sized booklets would spawn an entire industry practically overnight. In Monsters, Aliens, and Holes in the Ground, Stu Horvath explores how the hobby of roleplaying games, commonly known as RPGs, blossomed out of an unlikely pop culture phenomenon and became a dominant gaming form by the 2010s. Going far beyond D&D, this heavily illustrated tome covers more than three hundred different RPGs that have been published in the last five decades. Monsters, Aliens, and Holes in the Ground features (among other things) bunnies, ghostbusters, soap operas, criminal bears, space monsters, political intrigue, vampires, romance, and, of course, some dungeons and dragons. In a decade-by-decade breakdown, Horvath chronicles how RPGs have evolved in the time between their inception and the present day, offering a deep and gratifying glimpse into a hobby that has changed the way we think about games and play.
Author : Stu Horvath
Publisher : MIT Press
Page : 457 pages
File Size : 33,75 MB
Release : 2023-10-10
Category : Games & Activities
ISBN : 026204823X
A richly illustrated, encyclopedic deep dive into the history of roleplaying games. When Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson released Dungeons & Dragons in 1974, they created the first roleplaying game of all time. Little did they know that their humble box set of three small digest-sized booklets would spawn an entire industry practically overnight. In Monsters, Aliens, and Holes in the Ground, Stu Horvath explores how the hobby of roleplaying games, commonly known as RPGs, blossomed out of an unlikely pop culture phenomenon and became a dominant gaming form by the 2010s. Going far beyond D&D, this heavily illustrated tome covers more than three hundred different RPGs that have been published in the last five decades. Monsters, Aliens, and Holes in the Ground features (among other things) bunnies, ghostbusters, soap operas, criminal bears, space monsters, political intrigue, vampires, romance, and, of course, some dungeons and dragons. In a decade-by-decade breakdown, Horvath chronicles how RPGs have evolved in the time between their inception and the present day, offering a deep and gratifying glimpse into a hobby that has changed the way we think about games and play. The deluxe edition will include a foil-stamped cover and slipcase with a cloth binding, a ribbon, gilded edges, and an 8.5x11-inch card stock poster of the regular edition.
