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Welcome back to another stop on the Deadly Destinations event. I visited today’s location, Vermillion City, in last year’s GEIST. Giving us all an in depth look is Philippa Ballantine's Sorcha Faris, the protagonist in the Book of the Order series, which is a mashup of fantasy, paranormal and steampunk genres. SPECTYR, the second book in the series, is available now and thanks to the wonderful people at Ace Books, three of you who comment on this post will win a copy of the book! See details below
Sorcha Faris’s Guide to Vermillion City
by
Philippa Ballantine
Welcome to Vermillion City, the Imperial City, center of the Empire.
I'll be your tour guide, Deacon Sorcha Faris. Though I need to tell you that you’re taking away from my time catching geists, but for some reason the Arch Abbott decided I should do this instead.
My partner, Deacon Merrick Chambers was lucky enough to find some other task, helping a librarian or some such.
I am sure you know the history the capital. It’s older than our recorded history, and as been the seat of power to several lines of Emperors; most recently the Rossin family, before they were removed by the Council of Princes, and our current Emperor Kaleva was invited to take the throne.
We’re starting out tour here at the Edge of Vermilion. Most people fly in by airship or sail to the city, but those without money or connections
this is where they start coming from all corners of the Empire.
Vermillion city itself is built on a lagoon, since moving water
prevents the appearance of Geists (well, in most circumstances), and
the further you go into the city the more affluent and important the
citizens become.
So when I say the Edge is on the edge of the lagoon, and not protected
from undead activity I am sure you can work out who lives here; the poor, the orphaned and the unfortunate. This is also the area where the Imperial Airship Base was based, until the unfortunate explosion last year. In fact it is still based her on the Edge, its just been moved to a different part of it. Being blown up by flammable gases is merely another thing that makes living here at the Edge so exciting. Mind your step, and if you see any dancing lights out of the corner of your eye, please don't follow them. We've lost a few citizens into the swamps that run conveniently right up to the margins of the Edge.
Now, as we pass over the outer bridges and enter the city proper you might think you are safe from geists but that was last year; times
have changed in Vermillion. So keep an eye out and step lively if I tell you.
The Outer islands are home to the working folk of Vermillion, from tinker’s to airship designers. The Emperor has a particular passion for tinkers of all people! It also contains a large number of bureaucrats for the Empire—so if you don’t see any don’t meet their eyes. They say they can steal your soul. (Alright I am joking about that last bit…maybe).
Also in the Outer Islands is the Ossuary. Yes, this is the scene of a rather unfortunate event last winter involving the Emperor and his sister being nearly killed, and parts of the bone yard beneath the city collapsing. I am sure you all heard of it, and indeed I was there myself, but no I can’t tell you anymore about that, except…well…you should be grateful I was.
Now we pass over the Gilt Bridge, one of the most ostentatious of the two hundred bridges in the city. As you can see no merchants are allowed on the Imperial Island, but shops are built on all the bridges right up to the very edge.
And here we are at the Imperial Island. The top of the hill you can see is the palace of Vermillion, as old as the city, and with as many secrets. Last year there was a small gathering that was overcome with possessed folk, and there were a few deaths, but it was contained—so you are fairly likely to be safe standing at its gates. The Emperor on the whole doesn’t like visitors, but is at all times accompanied by a pair of Deacons to insure his personal safety from geists.
On the way up the slope to your left you will see the walls of the Mother Abbey, the home of all Deacons of the Order of the Eye and the Fist in Arkaym. Every priory and abbey looks to this one in Vermillion for all instructions, and it is where the head of our Order, the Arch Abbott and the Presbyterial Council reside. And no…you cannot see inside it. That’s final. Any attempt to bribe me will result in finding out about the runes carved on my Gauntlets and just what they can do.
I hope you enjoyed your tour of the city. Now I expect you can find your own way back as evening falls. Just remember what I said about keeping an eye out for geists. If you do find anything suspicious remember, the Order is here to help, just look for the cloaks and the Gauntlets.
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About Philippa Ballantine
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Philippa (Pip) Ballantine is a fantasy writer hailing from Wellington, New Zealand. She is the author of the Books of the Order series with Ace Books, the second novel of which Spectyr just came out. She is also the co-author with Tee Morris of Phoenix Rising: a Ministry of Peculiar Occurrence novel out now with Harper Voyager. Find out more at booksoftheorder.com ministryofpeculiaroccurrences.com and pjballantine.com Visit Philippa Ballantine online:
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Giveaway provided by Ace Books
3 copies of SPECTYR by Philippa Ballantine
Available now from Ace Books
Description:
Though one of the most powerful Deacons, Sorcha Faris has a tarnished reputation to overcome. She and her partner, Deacon Merrick Chambers, find themselves chasing down rumors of geists, but long for a return to real action. So they jump at the chance to escort a delegation sent to negotiate the terms of the Emperor’s engagement. Their destination: the exotic city of Orinthal.
But a string of murders has Orinthal on edge, and Sorcha and Merrick are asked to investigate. Meanwhile the Emperor’s sister has unwittingly released a cruel and vengeful goddess, one who it bent on destroying her enemies, including the geistlord who resides inside the shapeshifting rival to the throne—Sorcha’s lover….
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Title: Geist 
