Book 1

Chronicles at Arms

by Matthew Vandermeulen

Published 21 November 2023

When Daniel Hawthorne is chosen by destiny to dawn the mantle of the fabled warrior known as the Sergeant at Arms, he must discover his own strength to unify the lands of his nation against dark forces that seek to enslave them.

In the farming community of Gilgafief, Daniel Hawthorne is the mayor and a skilled artificer. The town serves as a crucial guard post for the Maine Alliance, a coalition of smaller states united against the Empire of Till Balar. As the threat of invasion looms, Daniel walks the town's perimeter, inspecting the fortifications he designed.

As the night progresses, Daniel's peaceful slumber is abruptly interrupted by the appearance of a cloaked figure named Sera. She reveals herself to be a bishop of the Pilgrims of Virtue and delivers a startling message to Daniel: he has been chosen to wield the divine mace of the Sergeant at Arms to fight against the forces of Till Balar. Sera explains that the mace, not currently in their possession, will reveal itself to Daniel at the right moment. Before leaving through a portal, Sera entrusts Daniel with a black handgun as a sign of trust and friendship.

Now armed with this newfound knowledge and weapon, Daniel faces an uncertain future. The fate of the Maine Alliance rests on his shoulders, and he must prepare himself for the life-or-death battle that lies ahead.