That was quite the riot of a prologue wasn’t it?

Assistant Bean here.

When I’m not busy pecking away at my partner in a fit of editorial rage, I like to think I’m also creating other things that make the Realms and Realities surrounding the world of Eotera ever more captivating and charmingly complicated.

And that’s what this is! A Side of Beans is (as of now, and hopefully continuing for the foreseeable future) where you’ll find some of the additional of-to-the-side stuff that you might see and wonder about from each chapter of the comics and stories we produce.

[By the way, you haven’t actually ready the pilot chapter of our current main story, do so HERE]

There’s so much to explore, but sometimes so few comic panels to put everything we’d want to show you. That’s part of the fun though when it comes to stories like Maiden in Disguise. It’s the questions left unanswered, and the desire to know “what’s around the next corner” that keeps us coming back for more.

. . . You are coming back for more, right? Ok, good.

Because when it comes to the stories Bitsy and I make . . . just because someone might be the main character, and just because their actions may have world-altering consequences . . . that doesn’t necessarily mean that the entire world just also happens to revolve around them.

There’s so much more to a world! Or universe, even. And frankly, this bean finds it a bit annoying when just a single person seems to be the center of everything. Even if they are the “Chosen One.” 

So, A Side of Beans is here to fill in the gaps and create some new ones that hint at the other larger things happening concurrently in the real and digital realms. 

This is the first of many to come! Buckle in, fellow beans, and enjoy:

People Who Might be Important

High King of Karthion and son of the late King Boehrn Kaycis, Aldric has widely been regarded as a bit of a putz and ineffectual king. While not despised or otherwise thought ill of, this paltry royal wouldn’t exactly be any of his citizens first choice for a ruler. But, he performs his duties well-enough, if a bit stiffly and without fanfare. And he doesn’t seem to start any unnecessary wars, so his citizens haven’t felt any need to forcibly change the crown. Yet. Though, they will snicker behind his back. 

To make matters a bit worse, everyone knows his wife “wears the pants” in the relationship and makes most of the actual decisions of any true weight in the Kingdom. As such, there are some who’ll whisper that it’s actually the Queendom of Karthion. No, general respect for King Kaycis isn’t exactly an abundant resource, but there isn’t any citizen who will directly diss him to his face. Because, at the end of the day, things in Karthion surprisingly seem to go better than expected with him on the throne, despite everyone else’s doubts.

Beautiful, radiant, and a bit prone to wandering eyes. Everyone suspects the High Queen Lerulyn Lleanice is having an affair. With whom? It’s anyone’s guess, but most believe a certain Son of Aggronar may be the perpetrator. Either way, her marriage to Karthion’s crown was an arrangement made to strengthen the ties between the Humans and the Elvyn who reside nearby, but often unseen. This relationship has been favorable, fortunately enough, 

Despite rumors, however, there has yet to be any corroborated evidence beyond rumor as to the Queen’s fidelity. Is she a flirt? Yes. Does she seem to be often annoyed by her husband? Most definitely. Has she been caught in cahoots with someone to whom one could possibly even be cahoot-ing with? Remains to be seen. Perhaps she’s too good at what she does. Or, perhaps it’s something else entirely.

Huge and instigating, this young brawler hailing from the Splintered Tribes of Silderon, has come to Karthion having already made a bit of a name for himself. No one’s quite sure what that name is, except that everyone around these parts has at least heard his name before. It’s not much of a reputation, really, but it’s enough for this arm-for-hire as he seeks out employ and his next fight. 

Word is that he’s currently on a bit of personal quest seeking some unnamed legendary artifact that imbues the wielder with unfathomable strength. Hardly anyone believes it exists, even amongst his tribe members, yet it’s enough of a prize to him that he is currently one of the few Goliaths to be venturing off his home planet in search of it.

Places Worth Remembering 

The Kingdom of Karthion – Ashvoth, Mireth

Though not the largest, nor the most powerful kingdom, Karthion is central to the happenings on the continent of Ashvoth. Incredibly abundant in valuable resources, such as Myrrhlian spice and highly sought after cows, and with a favorable location that makes it a hub for trade, this Kingdom is almost always in the eye of other nearby powers as a country in need of conquering. 

However, despite Karthion being the only true city within its borders, with most of its surrounding plains being farmland and tiny villages, most invading armies are heavily dissuaded from attempting to take over simply due to one fact: The proximity of Aggronar Castle. For generations, the imposing dominance that is the Aggronar name is enough to strike fear in any interlopers heart. So, it goes without saying that the very shadow of their ancestral home’s ramparts arcing across the land acts as an intangible, but no less impregnable wall.

As such, the royals here have always done their best to maintain cordial relations with the Aggronars in the hopes that their mutual goals will always stay in line. However, as of late, there is talk that things are starting to become less-than-friendly between these two powers, and it’s only a matter of time before something happens.

Just as well, Karthion, like most other countries, has a host of its own domestic issues to worry about.

With its few untamed areas being scattered with forests, sudden gullies, and deep underground caverns, it has easily made a home for a violent race of beast-like humanoids called Gnolls, who frequently terrorize smaller nearby settlements, as well as travelers on the road.  They are a pest that seem nigh impossible to eradicate entirely, keeping the kingdom’s guards and intrepid adventurers constantly on their toes. And though the Humans and Elvyn occupying this territory have reached a comfortable alliance, there are hushed whispers of a shadowy group moving unseen, slowly plotting the demise of this tenuous existence.

However, there is one other reason why Karthion has remained unperturbed by outside forces seeking its fortunate position. Not too far from the castle itself, in the forests that seem to hold a preternatural darkness, a gigantic lumbering beast simply referred to as Red Eyes reigns supreme. Solitary, ravenous, and vicious, it answers only to the true king of Karthion, due to an ancient contract from time immemorial. But, agreements don’t always last forever, and there’s no telling if or when such a creature will once again foam freely.

Easter Eggs & Special Appearances

Thank you KittyClara00 for your support on Kickstarter!

Thank you Joselyn Murray for your support on Kickstarter!

—

How was your first experience with A Side of Beans? Not too bad? Excellent!

Take a deeper dive into the world of Eotera by becoming a direct supporter on Patreon. There’s plenty of goodies, rewards, and more in store for you by joining the Stranger Army! Just click the link below to get started:

BECOME A PATRON

See you next time!

The post A Side of Beans Entry #1 | Maiden in Disguise: New Game Prologue Extras appeared first on EOTERA.

We’re in the very last week of my Visitor Guide to Eotera Kickstarter Project:

It’s with much excitement that I inform you: We’re actually 190% FUNDED as of this moment! That means this was all a resounding success. 

But, with your help, we can meet some “Stretch Goals” that can only be met by securing funding past our initial goal. We’re only a few hundred short of $1200 total funding, which will allow me to deliver premium hard-print copies of the Visitor Guide to Eotera to all individuals who contribute at least $20.

I hope you decide to be one of them!

In the meantime, I’ve gotten so excited that this project is a go, that my assistant and I have gone ahead and created the very first few pages to the guide.

As you may already know, all of my stories are softly narrated at points by my two spunky AI, Armin and AI 1-0428, the lovable hosts of the Trans-Universal Web-Show. They will be your guides throughout your travels in Eotera.

Here they are:

See you at the finish line, Strangers

The post Visitor Guide to Eotera Sneak Peek: First 3 Pages! appeared first on EOTERA.

I seriously cannot believe this is happening!

Literally less than a week since launching, and we’re already well above and past the initial goal of $500 for this project. I really didn’t even begin to dare to hope that this was at all possible.

What this means now, is that the Kickstarter Stretch Goals for the Visitor Guide are not only realistically attainable, but a possibility I almost had not considered. As such, I felt a need to update these to such:

Plus, this also means that extra surplus funds can be used to further outsource many other tasks, meaning that the Visitor Guide is going to be EVEN BETTER than I originally hoped.

To think, this was at first going to be such a simple project.

If you want to see a video of me totally going insane, check out my Kickstarter and its updates here:

Just because, we’ve hit our main goal doesn’t mean we stop here!

I really, really, reeeeaaallly want to get hard copies into everyone’s hands, and to make other rewards from the kickstarter stretch goals a reality.

Let’s make it happen, strangers!

The post Visitor Guide to Eotera: Kickstarter 145% FUNDED! appeared first on EOTERA.

We’re finally here, guys!

Holy Moley!

This project has been a long and hard preparation process for me and Assistant Bean to take on, and we’re super excited to present to you:

The Visitor Guide to Eotera Kickstarter is Live!

Check it out via this link:

It would mean so much to me if you decide to fund this project. I currently have a very small goal of just $500, as this should be enough to support the endeavors of myself and a couple other team members to design, write, and edit the entire Guide.

But!

There are a few “Stretch Goals” that I would really like to hit, such as being able to make full-out, hard-printed versions of the Visitor Guide, printed post cards from the world of Eotera, and maybe even super cute plushies of Elrynd Aggronar for contributors.

All of this can be possible with your help, stranger.

Last night, I was able to take part in a First Friday event downtown where I live in Bend, OR as the featured event at my local Japanese story, Wabi Sabi. And, it went sooo well! I can’t believe it actually. A good few of my books on inventory were sold, and we’re already just about 50% funded towards my initial goal!

Hitting that first goal will literally skyrocket my ability to provide you with waaaay more content to help you immerse into the World of Eotera. As you may have seen from the Sneak Peeks I’ve already shared with you all, there’s quite a bit I want to show you! But, only if you want to see it all, too.

Check out some of the sneak peaks here:

• Uhldranya
• Mt. Hakone
• Linwood Theta
• Strawberry Fields of Nyuhanami
•  

I hope to see you over on the Kickstarter, my friend!

Until next time . . .

Stay strange!

The post Visitor Guide to Eotera: Kickstarter Launch Success! appeared first on EOTERA.

My goodness!

The Kickstarter Launch for my Visitor Guide to Eotera is literally next week! I’m really starting to get kind of nervous for it all, honestly . . .

But!

I still want to give you a couple more Sneak Peeks before the big day of Jan. 4th, 2019!

For today’s little snoop, I’m bringing you another image from the land of Tsukiame:

The Strawberry Fields of Nyuhanami.

Pictured above is just a tiny example of what amounts to almost 70% of Eotera’s strawberries! As you may safely assume, these delicious red fruits are one of Tsukiame’s main exports, and a rather large part of the economic health of this country.

Taking advantage of the naturally mild climate in the inner lands, the Fields of Nyuhanami can churn out literal tons of strawberries almost non-stop throughout each and every year! During the mid-spring, when the white flowers bloom and spread all across the country side, it sometimes looks just like snow has delicately fallen upon the villages and their farms. Which definitely adds a unique characteristic to this area, as the farmers tend to wear very traditional clothing when working.

While strawberries are found in other areas of Eotera, none are as red nor as big as the ones found here. It is not unusual to pick strawberries straight from the vine that are almost as large as apples!

—

There is so, so much more to see and learn about Eotera!

I hope you’ll be a part of it.

Check out the preview to my Kickstarter here:

https://kck.st/2DmbnO9

Then, see you during Launch next week!

Thanks, friend.

The post Visitor Guide to Eotera Sneak Peek: Strawberry Fields of Nyuhanami appeared first on EOTERA.

Dude. 

I’m just so seriously excited about my Visitor Guide to Eotera Kickstarter launching in a few weeks that I just can’t contain myself with these sneak peeks! 

For so long I’ve had this world of Eotera stuck in my head, and that’s where that idea had always stayed. But now, seeing this world come into life and start to take shape in real life is something I just have a hard time expressing with words. It’s truly inspiring to finally be at a point where these things seem to be coming together. 

So, with this sneak peek, I give you: Mt. Hakone! 

This mountain is the largest singular peak on the continent of Tsukiame, a land famed for its strawberry fields, gourmet foods, and the most breathtaking of luminescent butterflies. 

Topping out at just over 16,000′, Mt. Hakone stands alone in the middle of a vast flatland where innumerable amounts of wildflowers bloom. At very few key points in the year during these blooms, the clouds surrounding this mountain will reflect a shade of pink due to the sheer mass of flower petals and pollen. This makes this event a true once-in-a-lifetime experience to witness . . . as long as you have your allergy meds handy! 

In the Visitor Guide to come, you’ll learn much more about Tsukiame and the countless wonders there. 

The Kickstart project launches on Jan. 4th, 2019! 

Until the official take-off, you can check out the Preview and leave feedback HERE.

Stay strange, strangers! 

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Part #2: I Can’t Draw!

“That’s great, honey. But, you know you can’t draw, right?”

I remember that as the exact response my mom gave me when I told her I wanted to be a comic book artist.

Now, don’t give her any crap. Not only was she right, but she meant it in the right way. She wasn’t trying to put me down in any way. She was just making sure that I understood my dream was not going to come easily in the least. And, now that I’ve gotten a couple books published, I can say: She was right!

At that time, It was 2012 and I was just 17 years old and graduating high school. And, the best (worst?) part was that just about any grade-school kid could still draw better than I could:

What was a girl to do? Give up?

Believe me, I’d love to tell you how I, “Refused to give up,” or “Always knew my dreams would come true.” While there may have been a small voice inside me that always thought these things, if I’m being completely honest, there were plenty of times that I thought the exact opposite.

I didn’t really start drawing with any real earnestness well into my late teens, and it wasn’t until I was turning 20 that I developed the idea behind Maiden in Disguise.

Which is kind of a funny thing, because I never really expected Maiden in Disguise to take on a life of its own. It’s not super crazy popular yet (though it is gaining way more traction than I thought I’d ever have), but the story is becoming much more involved than I originally intended, which is both exciting and scary.

You see, when you grow up as a kid in similar circumstances as me (You can read about that HERE), it’s pretty easy to convince yourself that you’ll never be “good enough” at anything, especially something that you’re really not talented in to begin with.

The reason why Maiden in Disguise became a story was due to a conversation I had with my husband (who was my boyfriend, back then) during a drive back home from Detroit, MI. He was telling me that it doesn’t matter how “bad” I believe I am, I just needed to start putting something, anything really, out there for the world to see and experience, and his reasoning was something like this:

So, during our drive, I hashed out the initial story idea of Maiden in Disguise and vowed not only to draw the very first page, but to publish it online somewhere for all the world to see.

Which, let me tell you, when you sincerely believe that your art completely sucks, this was one of the most terrifying things I’ve ever done.

Originally being published on Tapas (called Tapastic back then), I also eventually started publishing MiD on Webtoon a couple years later when I found much more interaction and exposure on that platform.

During those early days, I “cheated” quite a bit. Meaning, that I used many of the 3D model tools available on my drawing software programs to aid me in designing my characters, helping to keep them consistent throughout the pages and panels. But, I knew this wasn’t the way I wanted to make my art in the long-term, because it wouldn’t fully be “my art.” So, I devoted quite a bit of time to studying anatomy books to learn how to draw my own style, with my own hands, in my own way.

Which was happening concurrently as I published my pages online. It’s something you can easily make notice of, as there are a couple of instances in my current story that the art style drastically improves. I hope it adds to the experience and really shows the journey:

If you are a consistent reader of Maiden in Disguise, you can see quite a few instances that just make you cringe a little on the inside (and maybe the outside, too). If you’re one of the individuals who never noticed or left positive feedback, well, thank you for being a kind hooman; you’re a good part of the reason why I never stopped.

And, I can honestly say now that I’ve finally gotten to the point where I am happy with my art 90% of the time. Here’s one of my personal favorite panels from recent pages of MiD:

There are still times where my consistency hiccups, and there are art challenges I still have yet to overcome. But, it makes me so glad to finally see that I have a style that is completely my own, yet still shows the progress of my early drawings.

Once again, I’m not sure why I’m writing all this. Maybe it’s a hope of mine that someone who believes they suck will read it and believe maybe they can suck a little less in the future. Maybe it’s just something I needed to get off my chest.

Either way, I hope you enjoyed learning a little more about The Story Behind my Stories.

Until next time . . .

Stay Strange, Strangers!

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