You saw the information for Kristjan’s Rise Kickstarter and the behind-the-scenes beginning of the story, but now let’s take a look inside.

The Characters

Kristjan Jorvarsson

This may seem obvious since it’s his name and face on the cover, but who’s Kristjan?

At eighteen, Kristjan has had many different apprenticeships–most of which have been cut short by his father due to the danger involved. Adventuring in the cold wastes of Toppur isn’t safe for the future chief. What about mining? Definitely not! He might get caught in a cave-in. The only safe route is to apprentice for the position of chief.

But…

Kristjan doesn’t want that responsibility. He’s not ready for any responsibility yet–especially not being betrothed!

And betrothals are coming in. Father’s already written four rejection letters, but now an elder is trying to match his daughter with Kristjan.

Geirfinnur Jorvarsson

Geirfinnur has been chief and single-parent to Kristjan for the past eighteen rotations (years). He has a strong sense of community, responsibility, and ethics. He’s watched as his relationship with his son has grown distant and mourns that. After all, he promised his wife on her deathbed that he’d not allow that to happen.

But…

Geirfinnur knows what only the elders know. Soon there’ll be more to worry about than betrothals or family relationships. Soon, the holdt won’t be able to survive.

A merchant left the holdt vowing to never return and to spread the word to others that it’s not worth braving the wastelands to reach them. Without merchants, they’ll have to scrounge for food with hunting parties, live off lichen and maybe, stars forbid, ice rat! It may keep them alive, but what about clothes to keep them warm? Sure they could stay in the holdt and its caverns, but then there’d be food.

Tinna Arnorsdotter

All of Tinna’s seventeen rotations have been lived identified by her father–Friðfinn, respected elder–and her mother’s hysterics. She’d rather fall somewhere in the middle–and not be noticed.

But…

Kristjan’s cousin, Bastian, has watched her as long as she can remember. At first she was flattered. After all, what girl wouldn’t love having the attentions of an attractive young man, and nephew to the chief to boot!

But…

When Bastian’s attention turns more physical, she’s left with guilt and feeling dirty. Now, her only hope is if she can hide what happened and get Kristjan Jorvarsson to agree to the betrothal her father sent.

Bastian Helgisson

At eighteen, Bastian has stayed in the shadows of his cousin, but he’s watched as his cousin has pleased everyone–or tried to. The problem is that pleasing everyone leaves others unhappy, and Bastian sees that. He could be a better chief than Kristjan; he’s even followed Uncle Gierfinnur around learning what it takes to be chief of Storeheltur.

But…

There’s one thing Bastian can do, and that’s please himself. So, every decision is filtered through the grid of what he wants. Whether that’s get a ring for Tinna or help the holdt survive.

Setting

400 rotations ago, Jorvar, Iunn, Arnor, Bergmund, Helgis, and five other scientists were given warning to flee to their shelter. When the shaking stopped and they dared exit, they thought their clocks were off. It was night–the two moons… That’s what was wrong. There were only two moons–Handi and Tsiki. Where was Piku?

As time progressed, they realized there was no day, only moonsteps. The moons told the passage of time. If they were to survive the climatic changes, they’d have to expand their shelter and dig into the rocks and caverns around them. Thus they created the holdt, Storeheltur.

Now…

Outside, it’s a barren, frozen waste inhabited near the caverns by shkatað, large white bears, snow foxes, and other creatures that use the thermal vents to survive and live off each other.

Inside, it’s a warm cavern system lit by minerals called yoma. Lizards and rats skitter through the caverns, and lichen grows abundantly.

But…

Storeheltur is the farthest northern settlement in the frozen wastes. They survive by merchants willing to brave the snow and ice to bring them supplies.

Jump into the Story

Intrigued? Then…

Still not sure? Then…