STORM GARDEN
Welcome to Skygard, a world where wondrous airships sail between hovering islands of silver and green. Trouble is brewing amid this vibrant landscape, however. Beneath their luscious ‘gardens’ lie the ruins of a once-great land, decimated in a cataclysm long ago. Desperate to reclaim the achievements of their past, the island-nations are on the brink of war. This is where we find our heroes.
Xenjuro and Verola are marshals tasked with maintaining order throughout the sky. Botching a raid, they unleash a greater threat than they could have imagined. Enter the Gray Captain, a boisterous pirate who seeks to plunge their steam-driven society into chaos by unearthing ancient secrets. Through the ruins of a shattered civilization, our heroes clash with their indomitable foe. The marshals aren’t without their own problems, either. While Xenjuro suffers from PTSD, Verola grows disillusioned with their organization. They soon realize they’re not just hunting the Gray Captain, but are also in a race to unlock the mysteries of their existence.
Details
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly meets Seven Samurai in this thrilling steampunk tale. Airship battles, gunfights, and sword duels highlight the world of Storm Garden. The book is reminiscent of such swashbuckling adventures as Mortal Engines and Retribution Falls while evoking a sense of Elmore Leonard with its visceral dialog and characters.
Storm Garden Trailer
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Various Inspirations
Storm Garden was inspired by a series of dreams involving islands in the sky. During the development process, musical works such as the Gorillaz, Radiohead, and ODESZA, as well as the cinematic works of Akira Kurosawa and Sergio Leone acted as further inspiration. Splashed with both a steampunk and anime vibe, Storm Garden blends sci-fi genres to create a fresh and dynamic story.
For more information on Red’s writing influences including books and authors, please click here.
The World of Skygard
For more on the world of Storm Garden, please click here.
For the art of Storm Garden, please click here.
The Players
Xenjuro
“The wind is always blowing, no different from any other time. Trying to grasp it will only drive you mad.”
A longtime agent of the marshal guild called the Shinkara, Xenjuro Alverez’s amicable nature makes him well-liked among his peers. Inadvertently, he starts a war with Mansfield and the Gray Captain after failing to capture the pirate lords. His years of service have also caught up; he now struggles with crippling anxiety due to his mauling by Witzger.
Verola
“You offer nothing new, just more deceit. And whatever I choose … you won’t live to see it.”
Verola Remond’s brashness has never quite fit in with her Shinkaran colleagues. Something rebellious awakens within her after she’s defeated and disgrace by the Gray Captain. Left scarred with a crimson eye and stricken voice, she finds herself at a crossroads. Will she remain loyal to an organization she no longer trusts, or join the Gray Captain’s revolutionary cause?
Tirithi
“Fire is everywhere. You can’t stop fire.”
The girl in the orange raincoat. Beneath flesh-colored paint, Tirithi’s gray skin and purple markings identify her as one of the Altered, a race of super-strong but emotionally detached beings. Unable to connect with other Shinkaran agents, her only friend is Xenjuro. Life is monotonous until she happens upon Witzger, another anomaly in her eyes. The two titans clash as they struggle to understand one another.
Mansfield
“Your traps won’t get them all, but I will.”
Enhanced by a serum, Mansfield abandoned humanity long ago. What remains is a man consumed by violence and malice. Utilizing his razor-sharp reflexes, he cuts through his enemies with cruel efficiency. What he can’t slice, he burns, including Xenjuro and Verola’s home city. Infuriated by their attempts to quell him, he turns his eye on the two agents.
The Gray Captain
“You think you’ve reached the bottom, but I’m here to tell you, there’s a red ocean beneath you.”
The Gray Captain is as brutal as she is cunning. Both boisterous and intimidating, her voice dominates the air. This revolutionary seeks to overturn the status quo in Skygard by unearthing ancient secrets. The captain also takes an interest in Verola, who she sees as a potential ally.
Witzger
“Do your tests, little ones, and change my sandbox while you’re at it.”
A product of Mansfield’s experiments, Witzger evolved from a normal wolcat to the mutated trickster he is today. His black-bristled fur and fiery red streaks make him hard to discern in both shadow and light. With his enhanced intellect and physique, his favorite pastime is taunting the one called Xenjuro. Loyal to no one, Witzger longs to be free from the world of humans.
Red Husted 
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