Tag: #ScalesSeries

About the Author

Wishes of a Happy New Year and a belated Happy Holidays

KC J. Hutchins

A new year has begun as the world moves ever forward; to what is the question and the concern for most. Every year we hope for the best as we set for ourselves goals, or most call them New Year’s resolutions. Sure it is easy to say what we would like to change in the coming year, but the trick is to stick with it. Never backing down from the challenge of how it interrupts our normal habits. So I say to you, engrave it in your mind. Make yourself even better than who you are now, but do not let it discourage you if it is not achieved. Change is not easy for us as humans; after all we are creatures of habit. With that said, I wish you all a happy new year and a belated happy holidays.

As for myself, my new years resolution is to finish two different writing projects and get an agent. The first being the second book of my Scales series, Shimmer of Scales. The first leg of the journey in this one is proving to be the longest and most thought consuming part of the whole book. Although, the most complicated parts to write end up being the greatest parts in the story.  After that, I am assuming the rest of the book will flow easy. Then again, my characters do have a mind of their own and shape the tale to their own path. Second project to be completed would be a collection of short stories. Including such fairy tale classics of Sleeping Beauty and Little Red Riding Hood told in a hero’s epic journey. You may have seen a few snippets of such stories on my site under the samples category. The agent part of this resolution will be the difficult part. I am not very good at selling myself as a person; proving to be a thorn when writing cover letters and apply for jobs as well. Slowly, I am learning on how to show myself and skill within a one page letter and will get that agent this year.

Finally, I wanted to talk about my holiday with you all. Many Christmas parties came to be as I bent my work schedule to fit them all. It may just have made me a zombie during work, but it was well worth it. Christmas day I spent the morning with my family opening presents that we bought each other before going to town on playing games. So many were given this holiday as we spent time trying them all. These included but were not limited to Villainous, Crib Wars, You Are A Liar, Utter Nonsense, and so many more that we have not even gotten to. Utter Nonsense ended up hilarious as I heard for the first time and hopefully not the last, my Pepere rap. I laughed so hard at how creative he made it. Another funny one was You Are A Liar. For some reason my family seemed to think that I would always lie. Although they were correct half the time, it still proved to be a fun time. I think my favorite out of all the games given was Villainous. This was a gift I gave my fiancee since we are both Disney lovers. After two hours of figuring the game out and coming up with strategies, we were really enjoying it. Since then we both have played every character and now striving to win as every one of them. So far, it is tied at three wins each. We eagerly await the expansion packs that are said to come out after voting is complete.

Happy Holidays to all. May you find happiness and warmth around you from those you love and hold dear. Cherish them as the new year begins and continue to form new bonds to tie this broken world together.

A Closer Look

A Closer Look: The Muffet Clan

KC J. Hutchins

The Muffet family crest was based on the founding members’ animals. At the top of the symbol were an eagle’s wings spread on the outside while the middle has a bat’s. The lower half was in the jaws of a crocodile with its toothy smile. Located in the middle of the crest was a curved elephant’s trunk next to a bear’s paw.

During the Graecian Expansion, Cyclops from Graecia attempted to invade the land of Fabulum. The five founding members of the Muffet clan rose up to stop them led by Ellie Muffet thus where the name comes from. Battle after battle they fought, making the cyclops more and more fearful of their reputation. Eventually, they surrendered, begging to be spared their lives and from returning to Graecia. The founders graciously allowed them to stay, forming an alliance with their homeland in the process.

Since then, they have served as the protectors of Fabulum. Whether it be fighting trolls, wolves, or giants; they have been a reliable and formidable force. Notable members include Gruff Muffet whose duel tactics ended the Troll conflict. He is deviously clever man who chose a particularly large breed of goats to train. This is an ode to his mother Bo Peep who trained sheep. Gruff’s wife, Silvia was an owl trainer and discovered she was a shaman. Her skills soon outshone her husband’s and gave her much respect among anyone she met.

Both of the couple’s sons were gifted as well. One became the head of the clan while training ravens. His name was John and took the characteristics of his father. On the other hand, his brother with his wife was able to train the dreaded pack. Unfortunately, he was struck down by Mallupo’s handiwork. However, this gave rise to the greatness of their daughter, Red Muffet. With the gone, she now had the responsibility of leading the wolf pack, despite the land rejecting her for being a werewolf. Her renown cousins live in the Muffet Manor. Goldilocks is a celebrated warrior warrior riding atop of her three bears, while her sister Luda (though she prefers Miss Muffet) ensnares her opponents with her trained giant spiders.

The only famous member not directly related to the family is a man by the name of Serlep. He is a talented warrior who is enlisted under a special strike force for Gruff as an orphan. The first to train snakes, he showed amazing skills even before he trained his adoptive deceased brothers’ animals after their deaths at the hands of Red. Though there may just be more than skill involved with his feats.

Species Spotlight

Species Spotlight: Trolls

KC J. Hutchins

A head tall over the goblin and much lankier with colorful skin; it is a relative of the goblins, gargoyles, ogres, and gremlins. Long mullets of hair drape down their back and around their pointed ears. Instead of fangs they have tusks that curve around the outside of their mouth. Boils can be found on the surface of their skin especially on their hands. Once part of the realm of Conflictus, they were force out of their home by Delsey when they refused to follow her rule. They fought to be an equal people once they fled to Fabulum, but were defeated due to the somewhat cruel tactics of Gruff Muffet. From then on, they became servants to the royal family. Their skills as stone smiths were put to work as they built bridges on which they collected the tolls that went to the king. Often they dream of returning to their fishing village and be whole gain in the land of Conflictus.

Scales Series, Species Spotlight

Species Spotlight: Werewolf

KC J. Hutchins

At the beginning, when werewolves first came into existence, there was only one tribe led by the Matriarch. She was the mother of their kind and had a mixed coat of grey, brown, white, and black. Her abilities were limitless compared to her children. She led benevolently over the one tribe for many moons before passing on. With her last breath, she imparted her wisdom upon her brethren, gifting each one of four necklaces that held a portion of her power. From there, the four tribes were born, and each tribe has held one of the treasures as their most sacred object  First is the tribe of Moon Claw with their fur of grey. They are renowned healers who can heal even the most critically wounded. Since healers are usually on the front lines of battle, they are also decent fighters. Their home is in Floresta in the forests of Baum. Another pack is the Howling Winter. As one can guess from the name, they are found in the snow-covered land of Pruina. They are masters of the silent kill and stealth, capable of blending into their surroundings with ease. Their coats are usually white in color but they can change the pigment of every strand of fur on their body. The next tribe would be the Pounce Paw tribe found in the desert land of Kasi. They are the quickest werewolves of all the tribes and are known for killing prey by sucking the very blood from the creature. One can usually tell by the three holes in the victim’s neck that it was a member of the Pounce Paw tribe. Some think that they may be a cross between vampire and werewolf due to their increased speed, nocturnal nature, and the way they kill. Anyways they have coats spotted with brown, black, and white patterns with long tails that they use to turn around corners. Most also have spines with spikes that shoot out to defend against attack. Finally, there is the clan that most despise. These are the Lunalpha tribe once found in the land of Éire before the Fang War. They are known as the most vicious clan who showed absolute no mercy in battle. Thus, another name they are known by are Lunatics. It is not too far off from the feeling of being in that beastly form from the accounts of those born into this tribe. Anger fuels how much power one of them can unleash. They have a coat of all black that strikes fear into the heart of their enemies. The reason why this tribe in particular is so hated is due in part to one individual, Mallupo. Part of the family of the chief, he used his power to quench his love of violence and mayhem. The Fang War would have ended a lot sooner if he had not killed a peace treaty group that had come to Éire to see the current leader of the Lunalpha tribe. They would never know about this fact until many moons later once the war had ended and the entirety of the Lunalpha tribe had been wiped out, or so it was thought.

Confusing Concepts, Scales Series

Confusing Concepts: The Reverse World

KC J. Hutchins

It is not the most clever of names being called so by the Doppelgangers who inhabit it. For centuries, most of Magitotum had no idea of its existence. It was only shortly after the emergence of the Betrachs did it truly become discovered. This dimension is found on the other side of mirrors and can only be accessed with assistance by either a Betrach or Doppelganger. The world itself is exactly like Magitotum except everything is crystalized and it contains no life other than the Doppelgangers. Thousands upon thousands of twinkling mirrors connect this dimension to the other, allowing someone to move about undetected. The rules of movement are opposite of the world parallel to it. Every action is opposite of a person movement. For example, if one tries to jump they will find themselves ducking and visa versa. Those in experienced in this plane will often find themselves dead before finding an exit. Furthermore, any being able to bend light are able to move at blinding speeds. It is bad enough that the Doppelgangers can move at such high speed, now imagine a dragon of light like the Dracux could do? There would be no escape from their wrath.

Exploring New Lands, Scales Series

Exploring New Lands: Spiegel

KC J. Hutchins

The twinkling land of Spiegel was once a land inhabited by scientifically advanced humans. An unknown cataclysm caused their city to be in ruins and their land turned to sand. It was left untouched for many years, until the Betrachs needed a new home. With the help of the Matahari, they turned most of the land into smooth slopes of glass. Of course, this attracted the doppelgangers as they found a parallel home within the reverse world. Still the Betrachs rebuilt the city left by the humans, adding mirrors to the outside of the skyscrapers despite the risk of attack. Sand roads lead travelers through this reflective land where eyes are constantly watching their every move.

Scales Series, Species Spotlight

Species Spotlight: Doppelganger

KC J. Hutchins

With no past to remember, the doppelgangers take on a form of whoever they chose; desperately trying to find an identity. These faceless phantoms once had no bodies, until the Betrachs came into existence. A shock wave rippled through the reverse world where the doppelgangers live and attracted the beings to the battle of the Dracux and the newly formed Betrachs. When the battle subsided the doppelgangers possessed two things; metallic bodies with glass panels and a burning hatred for the Betrachs. They are masters of disguise, trapping those they are impersonating within mirrors that have their own void dimension. Always be on guard for the eyes that lie within the glass or they might just grab you from the mirror.