Fantasy has been a growing culture from the days of the great J.R.R. Tolkien and beyond. It has thrived in earth's community for centuries, and has flourished in all shapes and sizes. From novels, to picture books, to posters, to websites, to films, to music, and beyond.

This is the "beyond."

The Age of the Swords is an audio trilogy based in the Fantasy genre, and it is one of the first of its kind. I can't claim that it is the first of its kind because I'm sure there are dozens of audio dramas out there on the internet based in the fantasy genre. I can't even claim that it will be a great story--though continuous comments from the cast and crew have given me some reassurance--What I can claim is that it is my story. It is a story that has been in the making all the way back there in the shadows behind my brain for about seven years now. Sure it is no where near the same story it was originally intended to be... and thank God it isn't. You'd be surprised... or would you... at some of the crazy storylines an elven-year-old can cook up.

Over these seven years the story has shaped and formed and matured. It has been written in the traditions of J.R.R. Tolkien, and greatly inspired by The Lord of the Rings. I'm sure the actors will agree that there are some moments in the story that borderline with The Lord of the Rings.... but I, right now, openly admit that The Lord of the Rings played a tremendous part in the making of this story... and some of its influences did, indeed, rub off into my story. So I suppose I can only claim that 90% of the story is mine... But, anyway...

In early June of 2005, shortly after mixing and producing my first of five audio dramas in the series Star Wars: Conquest of the Empire, I decided to take an idea/story that I had originally intended to be a novel and turn it into an audioplay. In the beginning... so to speak... this story was simply known as "Etherealm" and/or "The Etherealm Chronicles." The setting was the world of Etherealm, one of seven moons that were all magically connected by portals. The story was about a man, separated by war from his family, who sought out to destroy the evil Spider Queen that threatened to overturn Etherealm. Production actually began on the audio project. Casting was done, lines were handed out via the internet, JPEG posters went up, etc., etc... Then... something happened.

In December of 2005, after viewing Peter Jackson's film adaptations of The Lord of the Rings for the twelve-billionth time, I began to seriously think about where this "Etherealm" story was going. The more I thought about it the more I realized it seemed empty and as if it wasn't going to go anywhere. That it was just going to be an on-going series that ended when I ran out of ideas. And that was when it happened.... "Etherealm", its script, its posters, its cast, and its story were "thrown out the window." I needed a better story. Something bigger. Something more adventurous. Something that would be enjoyed by Tolkien-fans. So I began to think. Suddenly, the light turned on.

While producing "Etherealm", I had already begun to devise a new story that would come after this one. The story involved a Black Sword that was Etherealm's equivalent to Middle-Earth's "One Ring". A terrible weapon made only for the purpose of destruction.

That was it.

I took the idea, fleshed it out, and the adventure began. Things changed drastically. Etherealm, which had originally been one of seven moons, was now just one of one moons. The six other moons were thrown out, as were their magical portals. Next I needed new characters. And I had originally devised Seven main characters. But then, once again, my thinking was swayed.

After playing the EA Games video game, The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age, I became inspired by the characters. A strong citadel captain, an Elven sorceress, a lone ranger, and a mighty dwarf. And so, once more, the original characters were "thrown out the window". And so, too, was born a new set of characters equivalent to the ones in the video game. Plus a few extras, of course. I am capable of coming up with my own ideas, you know...

So this is The Age of the Swords... well... it will be once mixing has been completed. Until then ye shall have to live with downloadable wallpaper, gossip, and site updates.

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The world of Etherealm has been oveturned by war, as the Dark Lord Maugroth grows power-hungry. In his lust for power, the Lord of Shadows had many great weapons forged for him to use against the forces of Etherealm. Among these weapons the greatest and most terrible was the Black Sword, forged by a demon in the Ash Lands of Amnessar. But the fell blade became lost for many millenia. In this time Maûgroth dispatched scouts to seek out the sword's whereabouts, but to no avail... until now. Almost three thousand years later, Maugroth's servants have discovered where the blade lies and have set out to retrieve it. But little does the Dark Lord know that there stands an obstacle in the way of his power.

A band of heroes has also set out to intercept these dark scouts before they reach the blade. But they also wish to take the Black Sword and destroy it, so that Maûgroth may never use it. For if he did, it would surely spell certain doom for Etherealm.

*The story will take place over the course of three parts, each devided into chapters. The chapters will be separate audio files but will be released altogether in a single zip file. The reason for the separation of chapters is to allow ease for any who want to listen to the audio drama on CD or on an MP3 Player.