Welcome to Hatra.
The Song of Hatra is an introduction to a world where the small city of Hatra faces existential crises from within and without. Fear, intimidation, murder, and suppression of ancient thaumatic energies have built up and threaten to destroy the ancient city—and perhaps the entire world of Gioveda.
As with any writing project of this scale, we generated many interesting bits and details of the world that just won't fit in the already complex plot, no matter how we tried to shoehorn them in. Yet, these scenes reveal the nuances of the world and enrich the plot with greater understanding for the reader.
This year, as our contribution to the Blogging #AtoZChallenge, we're presenting the world of Gioveda through a handful of secondary characters, with details of the world, and some of the mechanics of how everything works. We will even go into the fully-playable sport that we invented — one that the people of Hatra love so much and we really wanted to give to our readers but couldn’t make room for in the bigger plot.
Enjoy as we present these 26 vignettes and character sketches through the month of April 2024 to offer you a preview into the city of Hatra, and the danger, thaumaturgy, and brutality of its world.
~ André and John
A - Ander Lozou
A is for Ander Lozou. He is the son of a powerful Hatra councilman, and involved in dangerous illegal activities.
B - Balerie Estibalitz
B is for Balerie Estibalitz. She is the daughter of an important councilman and determined to enjoy everything her station allows.
C - Cawliss Corund
C is for Cawliss Corund. Meet the dedicated father of a young girl. This takes place years before the time of the main book, but illuminates an important character who otherwise wouldn't get the space he deserves.
D - Dust
D is for Dust. A perennial feature of Hatra, the dust is a character of its own that nobody gets to avoid, regardless of their station in life.
E - Ersona
E is for Ersona. The city nearest Hatra is marching to attack because they’ve been shorted on their orders of medication.
F - The Familiar
F is for Familiar. This attacking position on the field of the city's favorite violent game is known for athletic prowess, and often shocking brutality.
G - Graveis Primary
G is for Graveis Project. More than 800 years in the past, the events that brought about the near annihilation of Gioveda's environment are told by the man who was in charge at the time of the entire cataclysm.
H - Hatra
H is for Hatra. This ancient city of Hatra on the planet Gioveda is the setting for the story central to "Song of Hatra" and has a fascinating history and magical artifacts built in to the city itself. See it for the first time along with an Ambassador.
I - Indienen Lozou
I is for Indienen Lozou. The daughter of the second most powerful council member, she is actively fighting to bring a final end to the use of thaumatic energies, and lets Shandalle Kane in on her plans.
J - Jayk
J is for Jayk. As the proprietor of one of the most popular bars in the Outters, Jayk is a mainstay of Hatra, both in the legitimate sale of alcohol, and the illegitimate trafficking of goods, services, people, and Thaumaturgs in and out of Hatra.
K - Karyon Marlinson
K is for Karyon. This young ambassador-in-training has a role and a place, but can she fulfill her obligations?
L - Life
L is for Life. Less than two decades after the cataclysm, the bell ringer tolls at dawn.
O - Oath
O is for Oath. A promise is a promise, but an Oath is so much more.
P - Patriarchy
P is for Patriarchy. In Hatra this means many things, but here we see the ramifications of it, and the motivation that drives people to support it.
Q - Quayside
Q is for Quayside. Pronounced "KEY-syd," the neighborhood outside the walls, and sheltered by the ancient sea-wall is alive with activity. Not all of it legal, and nearly none of it monitored.
R - Rune
R is for Rune. These ancient symbols exist throughout Hatra, but few have any idea what they mean or why they are there.
S - Skyfe
S is for Skyfe. This debilitating disease affects almost everyone in Hatra to some degree. Only the wealthiest seem to be able to avoid getting it. Until it's withheld from them.
T - Temond Keroda
T is for Temond. We explore the origin story of the relationship between Temond and the Kane family.
U - Uci
U is for Uci. The very young migrant with special skills eventually makes her place in our story. Here we see some of her very humble beginnings.
V - Vonce
V is for Vonce. The tall grass grows quickly in the sewer outflows and is used heavily in nearly all facets of life in Hatra.
W - Wulff
W is for Wulff. This retired warrior has lived outside of Hatra for decades, and now lives in the oasis miles from the city.
X - Xerophyte
X is for Xerophyte. The rugged, hardy "Father Pea" that nearly all of Gioveda relies on as a food supply is killing them slowly.
Y - Yeoman Stone
Y is for Yeoman Stone. This monolith standing atop the end of the ancient sea wall the once protected the harbor from storms has a surprise or two left in it.
Z - Zinn
Z is for Stayven Zinn. He is an original ambassador from the time of the near-destruction of Gioveda over 800 years in the past.