The Deck of Champions. Book 1: The Fool and The Madman

Dezem bak dan Devallah. The Deck of Champions.

A millenia ago the world fell to an enemy that sought the destruction of man. They almost succeeded. Countries and nations, empires and kingdoms, were all wiped off the map by the Dark Ones. They were stopped by the Devallah.

The Champions.

Agroup of warriors chosen from all the nations of man. They alone were able to halt the invaders at the red chasm; the crack in the earth that lead to Verma, mankind’s last refuge. Little more than a peninsula, with the red chasm separating it from the rest of the continent, Verma is now home to every last living human. The world beyond is a charred and burned wasteland, inhabited only by nightmarish creatures.

Those who now live in Verma have long since forgotten the enemy and have established a make-shift society based on a barter system that heavily favours salt. But, as evil dwells once more upon the horizon and mankind faces extinction for a second time, it must find new Champions.

Mankind's champions are chosen from a deck of cards, and the first two have just been drawn.

One is a fool and a drunkard who only wanted to rescue a donkey. The other is a madman who argues with the voice in his head and is determined to take over the criminal underworld in what can only be described as the world’s first Ponzi scheme. Together they might just be enough to save a city. Though it is doubtful.

As each Champion finds themselves pulled towards Vermasse, the last city, they quickly learn that things are not right within the capital. Despite their best efforts, fate will force them down this path of heroism or death. Probably both. For the Deck has chosen and, struggle as they might, the destiny of a Devallah is set. They will save the city: or mankind’s fall will come about before the remaining champions can be found and the real enemy can be faced.