Assassins, danger, intrigue… The Dharakmeni Empire does not welcome the faint at heart. (Or anyone else, for that matter.) But fear not, dear reader! The Shining Kingdom’s foremost adventurer, Yarden the Wanderer, knows all the ins (inns?) and outs of the continent’s most reclusive (and reviled) region. Let Yarden guide you—as only he can—on a journey through the empire’s customs, caste system, and cuisine. Explore esoteric temples dedicated to the endless expressions of the goddess. Meander your way through a myriad of marketplaces. Impress the locals with your nebulous, newfound knowledge! ...Learn just enough to become an adventurer in your own right with this glorious guide, funded by the Temple of the Keeper of Wonder, and recorded by the scribe of the World of Lasniniar series, Jacquelyn Smith. Please note: Yarden the Wanderer and the Temple of the Keeper of Wonder in no way claim responsibility for any harm or mishap that befalls visitors of the Dharakmeni Empire before or after reading this guide—including, but not limited to death or enslavement.

The jewel of the continent... The Shining Kingdom draws visitors from all over the known world—mystical mages, wandering warriors, and everything in between. But every foreign land has its perils and peculiarities. Let the kingdom’s foremost adventurer, Yarden the Wanderer, guide you on a journey through the culture and quirks of his humble homeland. From the Opal Mountains to the Malachite Forest, city streets to local lore—Yarden’s wise words will enable you to become an expert adventurer of the kingdom in your own right in this special scroll, funded by the Temple of the Keeper of Wonder, and recorded by the scribe of the World of Lasniniar series, Jacquelyn Smith. Please note: Yarden the Wanderer and the Temple of the Keeper of Wonder in no way claim responsibility for any harm or mishap that befalls visitors of the Shining Kingdom before or after reading this guide—including, but not limited to falling prey to a leshy, or drowning by a rusalka.

Can a mere mortal outwit a goddess? Even now, as I wonder how many heartbeats I have left in my body, I do not know. How much power does a prophecy carry in an empire where deadly politics and intrigue reign supreme, and gods are denied as superstition? The fate of those I love most hinges on such questions. For good or ill, I have tried my best to make the path set out before me my own... The choices of Raziel’s mother Moriah continue to weave her son’s destiny in this short story prequel from the vividly rendered Fatal Empire fantasy series by the author of the World of Lasniniar series, Jacquelyn Smith. (This adventure takes place before Keeper of Secrets, the first book in the Fatal Empire series, and is a follow-up to “Keeper of Prophecy.”)