Tag Archives: wildebeest

Veldt Island

Bestiarum Vocabulum: Wee Wildebeest

The Bestiarum Vocabulum is the wizard’s encyclopedia of faerie beasties and mundane crossovers living in the lake and forest near Lita’s castle.

Wee Wildebeest

Wee Wildebeest

wee wildebeest [wē wildə bēst ] noun,  c.1835; < Afrikaans  wildebees < Dutch  wildebeest, means “wild”  wild + beest  “beast”; also gnu.

  1. Denizen of the Clockpunk Wizard world.
  2. A herbivore herd animal that eats grasses containing trace levels of ambient magic. Mature females stand six hands high (24 inches) at the withers; males reach nine hands high (36 inches). Males weigh 4-6 stone (55-75 pounds), and females are 3-5 stone (44-64 pounds). Because wee wildebeest are not sentient magical creatures, they cannot cast spells. Predators hunt them for the traces of residual magic in their flesh. Wild wee wildebeest thrive in the sere interior grasslands on large floating islands. Heat demons and wild wee wildebeest congregate for protection from predators. Grassland satyrs were the first to domesticate wild wee wildebeest.
  3. Personages: The wild herds on Veldt Island in Ephraim’s Curious Device, and the domesticated herds on the Raeburn Island ranchland in Old Bony Blue Eyes.
  4. See “Bestiarum Vocabulum: Grassland Satyr
Veldt Island Beach Rhinoceros

Enchanting Veldt Island

We have a few hours with this onshore excursion to rent horses and ride out to the edge of Veldt’s savanna. Follow your native guide, stay on the path, and drink your water–this place is an oven beyond the mountains.

Veldt Island Beach Rhinoceros

Veldt Island Beach Rhinoceros

Veldt is one of the largest floating islands in the Clockpunk Wizard world. There is just one large inland lake (called the Veldt Sea), but it has no outlet and is now a salty mineral bath.

Saltwater rhinos live on the Rim-ward side of the Veldt Sea. Some of the rhinoceros migrate to the edge of the Brandon Stretch, where the dragon has her treasure-filled lair. Are any of you wizards? No? Then be polite if you meet up with Lady Dragon Betrayal. She doesn’t like the taste of wizards, but you could be dinner if you’re rude.

The island’s unique ring of mountains along the edge catch rain clouds, turning the heights in to lush rainforests, but leaving the flat interior a sere world dotted with spring-fed oases. Wildebeest and Gibson Buffalo live on the savanna. If you get lost out here, watch out for the grasslands fauns or you’ll end up getting bewitched and dancing your life away–literally.

Time to head back to Wizard Kadmeion’s airship to freshen up and get something to eat. Perhaps we can talk a bit with Furgo, the wizard’s cyanthrope familiar, and coax fairy Izlyesende to show himself despite Bright’s words to the contrary.

Come to the Book Launch Party for Ephraim’s

Time for more talk about the Clockpunk Wizard world in Ephraim’s Curious Device. Wizard Kadmeion’s airship departs from here this Sunday, January 13th. Come as your are–it will be an informal affair.

Step on up to read more about Clockpunk Wizard

Step on up to read more about Clockpunk Wizard

Starting at 8 o’clock this coming Sunday morning, Lita will talk with the magicians about matters from the just-released eBook, Ephraim’s Curious Device. Be sure to drop by and catch posts about Dragon Betrayal’s hobbies, fey care, and wildebeest.

Kadmeion will discuss the differences between magical thingummys, dodads, and whatnots. Sir Bright will cover sibling rivalry between elf sons. Furgo sets us straight about what he hides under his bed. Fairy Izlyesende will give advice about romantic relationships. Lita will also share a few words about the next Clockpunk Wizard story, Old Bony Blue Eyes.

Before you come aboard, you might want to pick up a copy of Ephraim’s Curious Device at Amazon, Smashwords, or Barnes & Noble. Don’t miss the book trailer on YouTube.