Amaranthine

Following a cataclysmic civil war between the colonists of Mars and a corrupt Earth a new empire has emerged from the ashes of nuclear war. Lead by history’s only known immortal, a man named Avernus, the nation of the Triad forces its way across the black of space conquering worlds in the name of God. The holy crusade has lasted thousands of years and thousands of worlds have been won through diplomacy or war. Throughout all the years Avernus has remained a constant guide for his people. Through him the Lord’s will is carried out. But serving a distant master is exhausting and despite all his powers Avernus is still a man. Yet, something has changed. On the horizon lies the end of the quest where Avernus will face an enemy who knows his long tattered past and has abilities that surpass his own.

It started as far back as the Pacification of Islam. The West, ever fearful of the Middle East, made the drastic choice to firebomb the cradle of civilization setting in motion the eventual death of the Earth. After the Pacification the United States was divided while at the same time fantastic technologies were born. As half of the world succumbed to madness and fear the best and brightest of the age escaped to newly formed Martian colonies where they established a blossoming utopia. The citizens of the red planet watched on as the Earth degraded into a wasteland of religious zealots. As resources were worshipped like gods the mightiest king of the dying world proposed that his people should take what the Martians had worked to build. The threat loomed as a very real possibility to the Martians. On December 12th 4023 nuclear warheads detonated across mankind's homeworld, thus eliminating the tyrant regimes of a dreadful past. Still life found away to survive and for thousands of years it went unnoticed by the corporations of Mars. One man believed there were survivors on Earth and led a solo expedition to find the truth. In the midst of a hellish badland where seas shriveled to the size of lakes and the sky looked down on radiated soil with a jaundice glow he found what he was looking for. The survivors, Wasters, had formed hardy bands of nomadic tribes and met the traveler with superstition and caution. Talks of reuniting these poor souls were carried out until the united colonies of the Solar System agreed to embrace the lost Wasters of Earth. That was when the rumors began. The Wasters quickly spread throughout the system and quickly integrated with the rest of humanity. During an age of quickening growth and expansion hearsay spoke of the man who discovered the Wasters and events that occurred during his exploration of the Earth. Soon cults began to spread word that the mysterious traveller was a messiah and an immortal. The man, James Castellan, tried to silence the rumors but soon they were out of his hands. Mankind was now embarking on the largest migratory movement across space and billions of colonies were settled during the Great Colonization. James knew he could no longer hide the truth from those he united. With guile and backed by an assortment of supernatural powers, James came forward and founded the largest empire known to mankind- the Triad. Preaching the will of his creator, a mysterious being calling itself 'God' James sought out two other races chosen to help establish a new heaven, and divine kingdom, throughout the stars. And so for millennia this holy quest continued, led by an immortal man with a past known to few, and soon the second race was discovered. Feeling his mission coming to a close James sets his eyes upon the last of God's chosen people. Saint Evermore, a colony from the earliest years of the Great Colonization, had forgotten the old tales of the immortal man who united the dead Earth with the rest of humanity. The Triad and its armies inched closer and closer to the free world ruled by benevolent emperor, Paul Evermore, who was unprepared to face such a foe as James and his holy warriors. Yet, despite the Triad's bloody reputation and spartan culture, James had come to share word with Paul. Within the walls of a conquered world James will share his story of his immortal life with emperor Paul and present him a choice- kneel or die.

Ben Longoria is a native to San Antonio, Texas but has hopes to return to Los Angeles. A United States Army veteran he served for nearly eight years. During those years he formed a garage band named and based after the A Death Solar series. He's an admitted idolizer of the dark lord, Cthulhu, and enjoys indulging in fatty foods. You can find him chasing down his favorite bands or trolling facebook. His first book, Amaranthine, is his first novel in the A Death Solar series and with luck he hopes one day to have it published as a graphic novel. His son and daughter are pivotal characters in the story's mythology.