I’m hosting a guest post for the book tour for fantasy novel “Crossing Forbidden Lines”.
Guest Post
I thought I would talk about the most intriguing race in my Guardian Series, the Nasharin Race. But first, let me explain a little bit about the Wizards. It’s actually vital in understanding the Nasharins. I also want to show that Wizards are not human beings knowing magic. Instead, Wizards in my world are their own creature.
Regarding the races upon Forbidden-Realm Earth, Wizards were the only ‘special’ creation. It is said that in the early development of the earth a great battle was fought between the Angels of Light and the Fallen Angelic that had abandoned Heaven and sought to take the earth as their own. After a climactic battle, one that had altered the development of the earth, the Fallen Angels were defeated. However, the Angels of Light had suffered a tremendous loss as well. Their mystic blood had been poured out across the barren wastelands. It is said the ground cried out for their blood and wept their loss, and for their sacrifice the earth would one day return the favor, breathing life back into them.
As time passed, the blood of the Angels soaked into the hardest elements, and over tens of thousands of years power streamed within them, forming beautiful red crystals, similar to gemstones, except these were known as Asharian, meaning ‘elements of angels’ (an interesting factor since the Nasharin Race—while in Transformation, look like glorious figures of light with their flashy auras and gem-like skin). Then a mist fell from the sky, a mist some say was the breath of Abidan (the highest deity of Light). It descended upon the rocks and split them open releasing their energies. Those energies converted into physical forms, the Wizards—the first natural creatures capable of immense powers and the only creatures ever created in such fashion. Wizards are the original Guardians of the earth. A gift, so to speak.
Wizards are creatures of evolving magic, having the ability to learn any class from Fire, to Water, to Air or Earth. A High Wizard is when a one has mastered all four classes of magic, including the multiple spells each class contains. When a Wizard is born he comes into this earth bearing one specific spell granted to him from above. No training is required to cast it; no teaching is needed to understand it. The spell is instinctual; a test to see what he shall do with the gift, being it can only be used once in a lifetime. And unless molested by darkness, a wizard never sees natural death; instead, they walk amongst the earth for a thousand years and are then taken up into one of the many realms of Heaven. During their time spent on earth they are typically seen as protectors and guardians. They are often welcomed into cities with open arms and are lavished with gifts. However, all of that changed upon the arrival of the Nasharins…
The word ‘Nasharin’ comes from the language of the wizards, meaning ‘wizardman.’ Nasharins are the offspring of the High Wizard Milandrith and his human bride, Princess Auristela. Typically, nothing truly special or unique would have come about with the couple’s first child, but in the development of its life, something was altered. Wisemen of that world (and our own), would call it a ‘mutation,’ but the Elders of the Light understood it as a curse. For it was unlawful for any Wizard to have relations with a human; the Human Race had been touched by darkness from its very beginning, and something as holy as the Wizards (guardians and protectors of the earth), were supposed to avoid the sacred act of lovemaking—for the sole reason that it creates new life.
Still, Milandrith could not turn away from his feelings; neither could Auristela. In secret they married, and soon enough, began to procreate. With this biological fusion, and apparent ‘curse,’ Nasharins sustain long life and holy magic passed on from the Wizards, and great strength, will and determination passed on from the Humans, molded together as one entity. They are a hybrid warrior race that love battle and crave energy much like a Vampire craves blood. A powerful adversary or opponent excites them, and by all means they feel they must dominate that power and stand triumphant over it, or die trying. Like moths to the flames, the frenzy is nearly unstoppable.
Nasharins appear human, and unless one is trained in the art of sensing energies, you cannot tell a Nasharin from a human being apart until the Nasharin’s Transformation—and that is the uniqueness of the creature.
Depending on the magic or element each Nasharin is born with, Transformation differs from individual to individual. Let us take the main protagonist of the story, Darshun Luthais (whose element is Fire). When Darshun transforms, a volcanic-like eruption takes place, red flames dance around his body as an aura or a cloak, his eyes and hair shine a fierce red, his skin hardens, becoming gem-like with a fire opal color, and he smells like an entity that had just crawled out of the heart of an active volcano. Strength, speed and stamina increase dramatically, senses are heightened, and they gain two magical abilities. Since Darshun is Fire, he has the ability to cast blistering red flames out of his palms, and he can create an attack known as the Fire Star, a sun-like sphere of explosive energy forged together by unseen energies within the earth.
The reasons behind a Nasharin having two magical abilities are up for debate. Some spiritualize the number two, believing it traces back to the original Father and Mother of the race, Milandrith and Auristela. The number two is a powerful number; it completes the missing half of another when looking for a bride or groom, it symbolizes unity, and it’s another sign that if you stand among the Light, you are never alone. Others mock this belief, claiming the only reason behind these two abilities is nothing more than a random act of the curse they are under.
Unlike Wizards, Nasharins evolve in their physical and magical strengths as they age, where the Wizards generally lose their physical abilities to fight, and have to rely on their evolving powers of magic. This is what makes Nasharins so dangerous—in all areas of their talents they are forever evolving into creatures of power, or as some have said, monsters of chaos!
Crossing Forbidden Lines
Title: Crossing Forbidden Lines
Author: J.W. Baccaro
Genre: Dark Wizard / Coming of Age Fantasy
The Elemental Crystals were originally created to protect the earth. However, Abaddon the Demon Lord plans to use them to transform the earth into a realm of haunting darkness and witchery, forever. In Guiding The Blue Flame, a young but powerful Nasharin Warrior, Darshun Luthais is drawn to one of these magical crystals of immense power. He learns he’s the fulfillment of the two thousand year old Prophecy of the Guardian. The Wizard Olchemy informs him that he is the protector and guardian the earth has been waiting for.
With Darshun’s ability to sense the Elemental Crystals, Olchemy devises a plan to obtain them. Accompanied by a small group of companions the hunt is on, in hopes to retrieve the long lost crystals before the Demon Lord claims them. During the journey, Darshun encounters Aurora, the sole survivor of a now extinct people. He falls in love for the first time, and now resents the so-called Guardian of the Prophecy role.
Due to Darshun’s naïve spirit he’s caught off guard by Nayland, a mysterious dark warrior who confronts him about his abandonment of the quest. He reveals that he too, is a Nasharin warrior, though far exceeding Darshun in skill and power. Darshun’s father, Mirabel saves him from death at the hands of Nayland.
Outmatched and in bewilderment from the attack, a fire awakens in Darshun. He plans on reaching his father’s level of power with a journey to Shajin Island, where Nasharin Warriors train. He’ll be gone for only one day in Earth realm time, but due to the magic of the rigorous island, it will be seven long years for him. Entering the mystical realm of Shajin, he eagerly awaits its life threatening challenges.
In Crossing Forbidden Lines, Darshun faces a solemn heartbreaking betrayal by the woman he loves and is left dying from a hideous torture inflicted by the Queen’s guards. He is healed by a female Elf, Kelarin who he calls his angel.
Feeling his power to be tripled, he battles Queen Talvenya’s son and slays him. Thus, earning the Queen’s undying vow of revenge. Afterward, he faces the Demon Lord in a fierce battle which nearly kills him once again. After a mysterious Elder nurses him back to health, he returns to his father, Mirabel to help defeat the massive army of the Demon Lord.
Giveaway
There is a tour-wide giveaway for a $50 amazon gift card, and .pdf copies of the books in the series.
Go here to participate in the giveaway.
Author Bio
J.W.Baccaro is the author of the Guardian Series. In his free time he enjoys literature—fiction and non-fiction, playing electric guitar in the heavy metal band Rigor Hill, Consciousness and NDE studies, and thinking how to intertwine his thoughts about the world’s myths, legends and distinct truths into his novels. He lives in upstate NY with his wife Melissa, his son Alexander, his two German Shepherds and his three cats.
Links
http://www.guardianseries-jwbaccaro.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/JWBaccaro/184531844916499?ref=hl
https://twitter.com/JWBaccaro
http://jwforbiddenrealm.blogspot.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df-L6u1zvpo
Buy a copy of the book on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Crossing-Forbidden-Fantasy-Sorcery-Guardian-ebook/dp/B00FP53P5W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1396442861&sr=8-1&keywords=crossing+forbidden+lines
Editor Charlene 