The Calm Before.  Artesia – queen, warlord, and witch – has led her armies from their homes in the mountains down into the Middle Kingdoms to aid their erstwhile neighbors in a war against a common enemy: an ancient Empire returned to enforce its historic claim to the lowlands.  Following up on the last Artesia book, Artesia Afire, and the release of the Artesia: Adventures in the Known World role-playing game, this series finds Artesia and her armies trapped in an odd stalemate at the city of Abenton, guests of the city’s ruler, Elizabeta, a baroness with a dark secret.  The imminent arrival of barbarian enemies at their gates is only the least of her problems, as recalcitrant allies, mutinous captains, angry ghosts and spirits, lurking assassins, and jealous lovers begin to spring their traps and plots….

By clicking on the image at left, you can download a pdf of the brief essay from Artesia  Besieged #1.