This illustration is an artist rendition, I do not use AI to create any of the images for my stories.
There are numerous articles that discuss the pros and cons of instant travel in sci-fi and fantasy novels. This narrative option can move the storyline quickly without dedicating extensive chapters to covering long journeys. However, it can also create abrupt scene changes that may feel rushed. Personally, as a new author who has read hundreds of fantasy and sci-fi novels, I prefer stories that limit instant travel through some mechanism because sometimes the best character development happens on the road.
In my War-Torn Realms series, instant travel is available but carefully regulated. One method involves a network of temples scattered throughout the world, connected by fixed gateways. These can accommodate large groups, but the gateways themselves are limited in size, making the process less than ideal.
For very small parties, there are Carasyl Stones, which are created by splitting stones taken from the temple walls. These stones allow travel between the split halves, but the art of creating them is lost, leaving only a few in existence. We see the first use of one such stone in the Prologue, which can be read in its entirety here on the website.
The most powerful method involves Rune Stones, depicted in the accompanying image with our protagonists, Lefel and Deseaa, holding one. Rune Stones tap into the temple network, enabling large groups to travel from any location to a temple. However, only one Rune Stone remains in known existence in the series.
In War-Torn Realms, traditional travel is much more common than instant travel, maintaining what I hope to be a balance that preserves the epic journey’s essence. But expect the Rune Stone to play a crucial role as the storyline progresses. I hope you enjoy the series and appreciate this balance between traditional and instant travel.
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