Last week, I spoke about the numerous spin-off series I have for The Divided Region.
One in particular that won’t leave me alone, and I have Elder Scrolls to blame for it.
For those wondering what in Mordor Elder Scrolls is, I’m referring to the hugely popular fantasy video game franchise. Arguably, the best one I’ve ever had the pleasure of losing a chunk of my teenagehood to.
Anyway, early on in my misadventures playing Oblivion (one of its titles), it didn’t take me long to kill an innocent character in the game.
Shocker, I know.
The old boy in his wooded cabin didn’t see me coming!
Once the old timer had entered the fields of Elysium, I took the liberty to sleep in his bed — which, no, wasn’t a sign of my psychopathic tendencies — as it allows players to fast-forward hours in the game.
When I awoke from this slumber, I was greeted by a lady draped in black and donning a cowl that barely concealed her face.
I may or may not have shat the bed when this encounter took place.
The point of her visit wasn’t to reprimand me for my misdeeds, but rather to recruit me into the game’s seedy assassin’s guild: the Dark Brotherhood.
Did I accept?
OF COURSE I DID!
But this email isn’t about my bloodlust nor the wonderful times I had terrorising the inhabitants of Tamriel — it’s about my own world of Estos and, namely, the shadowy assassin organisation that featured in Forbidden Forest:
The Unseen.
I’ve got an entire profile dedicated to this guild and its lore in my series bible, and out of all the ideas I have for a spin-off series, this one I cannot shake.
I’ve tried ale, neat spirits, and even Skittle-infused vodka, but come the next morning, best believe standing at the edge of my hazy mind is a band of hooded assassins glaring at me.
“Then write both The Divided Region AND this spin-off series,” I hear you cry.
I love your optimism, Chuckles. I truly do.
Sadly, my brain isn’t wired to work that way despite them sharing the same world.
Call me a product of my gender or a meek no-gooder, but what I will say is that this will almost certainly be my next project once TDR concludes, should the assassins not murder any new ideas before they take root.
I suppose it also depends on the responses I get from Legionnaires.
If following the most notorious assassin’s guild in Estos is something you’d be interested in, let me know.
In the meantime, The Divided Region is five books and well over a quarter of a million words deep (with more to come), which follows a reluctant hero and a grave prophecy that could still yet bring doom to the world.
Read or listen to it here:
https://djjwatsonstore.com/products/TDR-Bundle
DJJW