Hugo Negron's Blog
August 9, 2025
A final character profile from the upcoming Glaive book!
...and here we have our final official contestant in the hunt for the dreaded, unseen, mysterious object - Darksiege, the last of Those That Stand in Shadow:
Glaive continued to run about, despite his lethargy, hoping to find hint, or perhaps a living soul, to explain what had happened. He called out Royal’s name once, twice, before a voice answered him.
“I am here.”
Glaive quickly stopped. The voice that replied was not the sea captain’s, but that of somebody else. It was a deeper, hollow utterance from one of greater power, and deeper evil. It was chilling and soothing at the same time, seductive in its melody, but harboring a hunger and savagery barely restrained beneath a semblance of calm and control.
Red eyes stared at Glaive, from a corpse-white face, bedecked with black hair and projecting antlers. Armor the color of jet-black clinked underneath a cowl of similar darkness, a cowl which held whispering and chattering things in its many folds. The being was imposing, and like some netherworld prince, stood tall and stately. An armored hand moved, and before Glaive could react, the ground rose, forming earthen tentacles that took hold of the thief. He struggled, but could not escape.
A hint of recognition tinted the being’s brow. “I remember you, half-orcne. The servant to my hated enemy. You were with him on that other world, in pursuit of the object I coveted. I remember your weapon, which struck me in your pitiful attempt to do me injury. I also wonder, does he pursue this new object as well?”
Whew - will Darksiege be the one to finally lay claim to the object? Hopefully not...!
Well, that wraps up the sneak peeks of the main players in this upcoming book! Who will win? What will happen...and what happens next?
The countdown begins...!
Glaive continued to run about, despite his lethargy, hoping to find hint, or perhaps a living soul, to explain what had happened. He called out Royal’s name once, twice, before a voice answered him.
“I am here.”
Glaive quickly stopped. The voice that replied was not the sea captain’s, but that of somebody else. It was a deeper, hollow utterance from one of greater power, and deeper evil. It was chilling and soothing at the same time, seductive in its melody, but harboring a hunger and savagery barely restrained beneath a semblance of calm and control.
Red eyes stared at Glaive, from a corpse-white face, bedecked with black hair and projecting antlers. Armor the color of jet-black clinked underneath a cowl of similar darkness, a cowl which held whispering and chattering things in its many folds. The being was imposing, and like some netherworld prince, stood tall and stately. An armored hand moved, and before Glaive could react, the ground rose, forming earthen tentacles that took hold of the thief. He struggled, but could not escape.
A hint of recognition tinted the being’s brow. “I remember you, half-orcne. The servant to my hated enemy. You were with him on that other world, in pursuit of the object I coveted. I remember your weapon, which struck me in your pitiful attempt to do me injury. I also wonder, does he pursue this new object as well?”
Whew - will Darksiege be the one to finally lay claim to the object? Hopefully not...!
Well, that wraps up the sneak peeks of the main players in this upcoming book! Who will win? What will happen...and what happens next?
The countdown begins...!
August 3, 2025
Another character profile from the upcoming Glaive novel - Sandret!
Who is this latest character? Our half-orcne thief wouldn't want you to know, lol! He is Glaive's former rival, comrade, friend, and fellow thieving Master Brother of the Dartful Hand. Both Sandret and Glaive grew up with the 'Hand, saved each other's lives more times than either can count, but while Glaive eventually left the thieving guild to find himself in the better companionship of Qualtan and his friends, Sandret continued to ply the trade, hired by a merchant lord to find the object, and becoming ever more notorious...and dangerous. A quick excerpt on their reunion:
The half-orcne noticed a hand with a drink upon a table. Then he observed a long leg in green, crossed over another. He would have to be quick and sure. Taking a deep breath, Glaive charged forward, exploding onto the balcony ready to shoot the trespasser. He was greeted by a man who sat calmly, hands up, brandishing a personable smile.
Glaive stood shocked. It was him, after all. A million words bubbled to the surface, but he could only say one.
“You.”
“You’ve got it, Glaivey.”
“Sandret! This…this is impossible!”
“My fellow Dart brother!”
“You can’t be here.”
“Well, I am.”
“How…why…?” Glaive began to withdraw his wristbow.
Sandret’s eyes went from one hand to the other. “Can I lower my arms now?”
Glaive recovered himself, and raised his weapon once more.
“Oh, come now, Glaivey. I am at a disadvantage. You ask me questions, I answer them. Do we really have to play this game? Eh?”
Sandret began to laugh. Pearls of brilliant white flashed from his open mouth. The gentle lines that spread from the corners of his brown eyes only seemed to accentuate his handsome features. He had a devil-may-care persona, Glaive admitted, which combined with his looks could bring instant attraction.
Glaive held back as long as he could. The corners of his frown lifted, and his fangs appeared. He chuckled, then chortled, and finally joined his old friend in a raucous howling. Glaive retracted his wristbow, and Sandret quickly rose, embracing him tightly. Behind Sandret’s back, Glaive’s face reverted to its usual suspiciously strained look, but he quickly removed it when Sandret pulled him back.
Sandret - will he be the one to find the object?
The half-orcne noticed a hand with a drink upon a table. Then he observed a long leg in green, crossed over another. He would have to be quick and sure. Taking a deep breath, Glaive charged forward, exploding onto the balcony ready to shoot the trespasser. He was greeted by a man who sat calmly, hands up, brandishing a personable smile.
Glaive stood shocked. It was him, after all. A million words bubbled to the surface, but he could only say one.
“You.”
“You’ve got it, Glaivey.”
“Sandret! This…this is impossible!”
“My fellow Dart brother!”
“You can’t be here.”
“Well, I am.”
“How…why…?” Glaive began to withdraw his wristbow.
Sandret’s eyes went from one hand to the other. “Can I lower my arms now?”
Glaive recovered himself, and raised his weapon once more.
“Oh, come now, Glaivey. I am at a disadvantage. You ask me questions, I answer them. Do we really have to play this game? Eh?”
Sandret began to laugh. Pearls of brilliant white flashed from his open mouth. The gentle lines that spread from the corners of his brown eyes only seemed to accentuate his handsome features. He had a devil-may-care persona, Glaive admitted, which combined with his looks could bring instant attraction.
Glaive held back as long as he could. The corners of his frown lifted, and his fangs appeared. He chuckled, then chortled, and finally joined his old friend in a raucous howling. Glaive retracted his wristbow, and Sandret quickly rose, embracing him tightly. Behind Sandret’s back, Glaive’s face reverted to its usual suspiciously strained look, but he quickly removed it when Sandret pulled him back.
Sandret - will he be the one to find the object?
August 2, 2025
The Ettin - The Evanston IL Tabletop initiative!
A rather cool gaming event I’ve come across. Still growing and not looking for vendors just yet, but another local noteworthy opportunity to, as their website says:
“…grab your dice, your character sheets, and your sense of adventure! Let’s embark on this epic journey together and make memories that’ll last longer than a wizard’s beard!”
And that’s even if you don’t have two heads (get it - an ettin has two heads…ahem)!
https://theettin.com
“…grab your dice, your character sheets, and your sense of adventure! Let’s embark on this epic journey together and make memories that’ll last longer than a wizard’s beard!”
And that’s even if you don’t have two heads (get it - an ettin has two heads…ahem)!
https://theettin.com
July 26, 2025
Another new character from the upcoming Glaive novel - Royal Kellaan!
Swashbuckler, mercenary, and pirate. Royal is all that and more. Hired on to send his ship to find the tomb where the object lies, Royal fears no man, save maybe a wizard or two:
A large man leaned against the wagon. He was tall, ebony, thick with muscled strength, and bald. His corded arms were crossed, with a sword to both sides of his belt. His pants were brown and baggy, his boots high and black. His white shirt could barely conceal his heroic figure.
"...I understand. My name is not Royal, either, but that is more deserving for one for my exploits. I did not come from royal blood, but deserve this title, better than most! Let me tell you this. I am a leader of men. I have led many men. I can see quickly if a man is worth living. I read your friend. He is a conniver. Like the sharks that roam the sea, he follows them, a smaller fish, for their protection, and to take what pieces of their prey are given him. If he finds a bigger shark, he will move on, always looking for a better protector. You are not. For a half-orcne, you are better than he is.”
Royal Kellaan - will he find the object?
A large man leaned against the wagon. He was tall, ebony, thick with muscled strength, and bald. His corded arms were crossed, with a sword to both sides of his belt. His pants were brown and baggy, his boots high and black. His white shirt could barely conceal his heroic figure.
"...I understand. My name is not Royal, either, but that is more deserving for one for my exploits. I did not come from royal blood, but deserve this title, better than most! Let me tell you this. I am a leader of men. I have led many men. I can see quickly if a man is worth living. I read your friend. He is a conniver. Like the sharks that roam the sea, he follows them, a smaller fish, for their protection, and to take what pieces of their prey are given him. If he finds a bigger shark, he will move on, always looking for a better protector. You are not. For a half-orcne, you are better than he is.”
Royal Kellaan - will he find the object?
July 12, 2025
Character Profile from upcoming Glaive novel - Greia Dren and Leona (Lass)!
As many of you who follow this page know, I was a great fan of Grenadier Models, a gaming miniatures company that lasted from the 70's to the 90's. Many of you will also have seen the scanned copies of their company bulletin I added here, which was sent out to their loyal customers with product updates, industry news, cartoons, contests, and more.
One of those cartoons involved the pun-filled misadventures of a knowledgeable old librarian named Reiga Nerd and his assistant, the young archer named Lad. "Reiga Nerd" was of course an anagram for Grenadier, and after all these years I still wonder who created them! Their adventures were brief, but definitely enjoyable, so much so, that in honor of these two, I created Greia Dren (An anagram for...yep, you guessed it! Grenadier!) and his daughter Leona, nicknamed Lass.
Greia is not a librarian, but a "collector" of magical goods, wise enough to use them but not an actual wizard himself. Similar to Lad the archer, Leona/Lass is her father's right-hand woman, but has learned to tinker with the enchanted items her father has, leading many of his acquisition excursions, and is a fair fighter with both a knife and a sword:
"Glaive took in his hosts. Greia hadn’t changed. Despite his wisdom, his intelligence, he was somewhat off, reminding Glaive of a town drunkard who had fallen too many times on his head. He was still unkempt, and somewhat dirty. His features were placed too closely to his nose for Glaive’s liking, with dollops of purple hanging below each eye.
The girl was similar, if definitely cleaner. She had dark circles beneath her eyes, as yet not so pronounced like her companion. Her face also seemed fitted in its center, giving the illusion of a much wider countenance. Still, she was pretty in human terms, Glaive thought, taller than Greia, with a strong jawline, long lashes, and a firm, unwavering appeal."
Both are old friends of Glaive's...well, perhaps not Leona, as she isn't exactly fond of his roguish ways, and both she and the half-orcne tend to do nothing more except bicker and one-up each other when put together. When Glaive approaches them with his problem regarding the object everyone is after, their interest is definitely piqued over his many objections!
Greia Dren and Leona...will they be the ones to find the object?
One of those cartoons involved the pun-filled misadventures of a knowledgeable old librarian named Reiga Nerd and his assistant, the young archer named Lad. "Reiga Nerd" was of course an anagram for Grenadier, and after all these years I still wonder who created them! Their adventures were brief, but definitely enjoyable, so much so, that in honor of these two, I created Greia Dren (An anagram for...yep, you guessed it! Grenadier!) and his daughter Leona, nicknamed Lass.
Greia is not a librarian, but a "collector" of magical goods, wise enough to use them but not an actual wizard himself. Similar to Lad the archer, Leona/Lass is her father's right-hand woman, but has learned to tinker with the enchanted items her father has, leading many of his acquisition excursions, and is a fair fighter with both a knife and a sword:
"Glaive took in his hosts. Greia hadn’t changed. Despite his wisdom, his intelligence, he was somewhat off, reminding Glaive of a town drunkard who had fallen too many times on his head. He was still unkempt, and somewhat dirty. His features were placed too closely to his nose for Glaive’s liking, with dollops of purple hanging below each eye.
The girl was similar, if definitely cleaner. She had dark circles beneath her eyes, as yet not so pronounced like her companion. Her face also seemed fitted in its center, giving the illusion of a much wider countenance. Still, she was pretty in human terms, Glaive thought, taller than Greia, with a strong jawline, long lashes, and a firm, unwavering appeal."
Both are old friends of Glaive's...well, perhaps not Leona, as she isn't exactly fond of his roguish ways, and both she and the half-orcne tend to do nothing more except bicker and one-up each other when put together. When Glaive approaches them with his problem regarding the object everyone is after, their interest is definitely piqued over his many objections!
Greia Dren and Leona...will they be the ones to find the object?
June 22, 2025
Character Profile from upcoming Glaive novel - Lord Radulf!
Well, so far so good on the Glaive novel! Roughly halfway there, and it's starting to pick up steam! Mysteries abound with this heist as the roster of characters vying for a certain object grows...
...which means it's time to start sharing some of them with you (and to start guessing which, if any, ends up "winning the gold"). So with that, it's time to introduce...Lord Radulf!
Yet another nefarious merchant lord from the vile and villainous seaport lands of the Woodworm Ports, this guy is rather lesser in his nefarious scope. Having put into place various plots in the past that failed, he is beholden to the greater merchant lord he reports to, a relationship that has gnawed at his belly for some time. With knowledge about this object, he hopes to win it to gain back his former glory and remove himself from his current subservient position and become a greater merchant lord himself! So here's a brief excerpt from the book...
"He carried the nickname of “Red Wolf” for his bloodthirsty temperament which was well-hidden unless aroused. He was burly and overweight, his jacket and tunic striped with squares of green on one side and diamonds of red on the other. Shoes of yellow curled neatly back to his ankles. His fingers were bare, his head bald, but what brought all attention to it was his beard.
His beard was thick and massive, a veritable tunic in of itself, covering the upper half of his chest. It was painted a bright pink, its edges oiled and greased into pointed spikes, with dozens of ornaments like some Yuletide tree adorning it. Small coin-like decorations were affixed, interspersed with miniature gold-colored daggers. With a moan of delight, he edged his way into his chair, and waited as two servants affixed a large napkin over his beloved beard while he ate..."
Lord Radulf - will he be the one to find the object?
...which means it's time to start sharing some of them with you (and to start guessing which, if any, ends up "winning the gold"). So with that, it's time to introduce...Lord Radulf!
Yet another nefarious merchant lord from the vile and villainous seaport lands of the Woodworm Ports, this guy is rather lesser in his nefarious scope. Having put into place various plots in the past that failed, he is beholden to the greater merchant lord he reports to, a relationship that has gnawed at his belly for some time. With knowledge about this object, he hopes to win it to gain back his former glory and remove himself from his current subservient position and become a greater merchant lord himself! So here's a brief excerpt from the book...
"He carried the nickname of “Red Wolf” for his bloodthirsty temperament which was well-hidden unless aroused. He was burly and overweight, his jacket and tunic striped with squares of green on one side and diamonds of red on the other. Shoes of yellow curled neatly back to his ankles. His fingers were bare, his head bald, but what brought all attention to it was his beard.
His beard was thick and massive, a veritable tunic in of itself, covering the upper half of his chest. It was painted a bright pink, its edges oiled and greased into pointed spikes, with dozens of ornaments like some Yuletide tree adorning it. Small coin-like decorations were affixed, interspersed with miniature gold-colored daggers. With a moan of delight, he edged his way into his chair, and waited as two servants affixed a large napkin over his beloved beard while he ate..."
Lord Radulf - will he be the one to find the object?
June 1, 2025
Goddess of Thyme Renaissance Faire
June 29th, 2025 | Noon - 7pm | Vasa Park, Elgin, IL
Forging of a Knight will be there - hope you will be too!
https://inannambs.com/pages/goddess-o...?
Step through the veil and be transported to the mystical Village of Genoré, where magic, myth, and merriment reign supreme!
Wander through an enchanted realm where noble knights clash in valiant duels, ethereal fae weave their spells, and merchants offer wares fit for gods and mortals alike.
Indulge in feasting, music, and revelry, encounter wandering performers, and immerse yourself in the tales of old.
Whether you're a seasoned traveler of the realms or a newcomer to the wonders of the Renaissance, Goddess of Thyme welcomes all to celebrate the magic of the past and the mysteries of the beyond.
Join us for a day of enchantment, adventure, and mayhem!
Forging of a Knight will be there - hope you will be too!
https://inannambs.com/pages/goddess-o...?
Step through the veil and be transported to the mystical Village of Genoré, where magic, myth, and merriment reign supreme!
Wander through an enchanted realm where noble knights clash in valiant duels, ethereal fae weave their spells, and merchants offer wares fit for gods and mortals alike.
Indulge in feasting, music, and revelry, encounter wandering performers, and immerse yourself in the tales of old.
Whether you're a seasoned traveler of the realms or a newcomer to the wonders of the Renaissance, Goddess of Thyme welcomes all to celebrate the magic of the past and the mysteries of the beyond.
Join us for a day of enchantment, adventure, and mayhem!
April 7, 2025
CodCon time!!
April 18-20th! College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn IL campus! Cosplay, gaming, dancing, and more, all within a salty sea pirate theme, me hearties! Forging of a Knight will be there, hope you’ll be there as well!
https://www.codcon.com/
https://www.codcon.com/
February 9, 2025
Convention time starts in March!!
Hello all! Well, a big thank you to all the new Knights who are pushing the current Amazon .99 cent kindle sale of the first book in the Forging of the Knight series to ever greater heights! February is usually the first month that hits the series with a bang, and so far this year is no exception!!
But if you are saying you prefer printed copies vs. electronic, along with a signature scrawl from me, I have two events coming up in March to get ready for!
Saturday March 8th - noon to 3pm! Schaumburg Library Author Event! 130 S. Roselle Road in Schaumburg, IL! Come see me and a host of other local writers!
https://www.schaumburglibrary.org/events
And if you are looking for further adventure, come to PeoriaCon March 29-30th at the Peoria Civic Center, 201 SW Jefferson Ave., Peoria, IL! I'll be there, talking, hawking, and signing books from my Forging of a Knight book series, along with other goodies!!
https://www.peoriacon.com/
But if you are saying you prefer printed copies vs. electronic, along with a signature scrawl from me, I have two events coming up in March to get ready for!
Saturday March 8th - noon to 3pm! Schaumburg Library Author Event! 130 S. Roselle Road in Schaumburg, IL! Come see me and a host of other local writers!
https://www.schaumburglibrary.org/events
And if you are looking for further adventure, come to PeoriaCon March 29-30th at the Peoria Civic Center, 201 SW Jefferson Ave., Peoria, IL! I'll be there, talking, hawking, and signing books from my Forging of a Knight book series, along with other goodies!!
https://www.peoriacon.com/
December 24, 2024
THE NIGHT BEFORE ST. ANDREW'S DAY
November 30th is St. Andrew’s Day, a religious and national holiday in Romania. St. Andrew was the first of Jesus Christ’s apostles, the brother of St. Peter, and was responsible for various miracles, such as healing the sick, raising the dead, calming fierce animals, and more. He was crucified on November 30th in the year 60 AD. He is also the patron saint of other lands, such as Russia, Ukraine, Sicily, Scotland, Greece, and Cyprus.
Conversely, in pre-Christian times in Romania, this was the Day of the Wolves, which celebrated Santandrei, the Master of Wolves (also the name of a Romanian city or commune). This was also supposedly the day when wolves began to form their packs to hunt and prepare for the long winter nights ahead. St. Andrew in this context is also considered to be a protector against wolves.
In either event, it’s the night before - November 29/30 – that brings this particular event to our Monstrous list. Pre-Christian traditions similar to Halloween state that the doors to the underworld were opened for this night, and spirits, undead, and vampires were released to haunt and plague the living. Wolves are magically able to speak during this time, and those bitten by them were cursed to become werewolves. Crossroads were to be avoided at night, for traditionally, any in-between place (or time) such as a crossroads, the hour of midnight, the seashore, etc., would be a focal point for magical beings from other realms to gain entry (because these locations/times were neither one thing or another, being equally both and none at the same time). In some cultures, murderers and other similar folk would be hung at crossroads, for fear their evil spirits would return to do harm/seek revenge, but would be confused by the merged roads and not know which way to go. Also on this night, the undead would rise at these spots and fight amongst themselves until sunrise.
To keep safe, garlic and basil (placed on windows, doors, and even in meals) were the items of choice to keep these harmful creatures away...or your family and friends, depending on how much garlic you ate... 8 )
Conversely, in pre-Christian times in Romania, this was the Day of the Wolves, which celebrated Santandrei, the Master of Wolves (also the name of a Romanian city or commune). This was also supposedly the day when wolves began to form their packs to hunt and prepare for the long winter nights ahead. St. Andrew in this context is also considered to be a protector against wolves.
In either event, it’s the night before - November 29/30 – that brings this particular event to our Monstrous list. Pre-Christian traditions similar to Halloween state that the doors to the underworld were opened for this night, and spirits, undead, and vampires were released to haunt and plague the living. Wolves are magically able to speak during this time, and those bitten by them were cursed to become werewolves. Crossroads were to be avoided at night, for traditionally, any in-between place (or time) such as a crossroads, the hour of midnight, the seashore, etc., would be a focal point for magical beings from other realms to gain entry (because these locations/times were neither one thing or another, being equally both and none at the same time). In some cultures, murderers and other similar folk would be hung at crossroads, for fear their evil spirits would return to do harm/seek revenge, but would be confused by the merged roads and not know which way to go. Also on this night, the undead would rise at these spots and fight amongst themselves until sunrise.
To keep safe, garlic and basil (placed on windows, doors, and even in meals) were the items of choice to keep these harmful creatures away...or your family and friends, depending on how much garlic you ate... 8 )
