Virtual Tourist - Assassin's Creed Origins 9/27/20

 Morning!

I hope everyone is doing well. Still shopping around for an agent for Black Jade and got some work done on Breaking Dawn Cleaners. For my WIP projects, I've been setting up Pinterest Boards so you can follow part of the creative process as I find things to add to the story or research on bits.  Just click on the following links if you're interested - Black Jade Pinterest Board and Breaking Dawn Cleaners Pinterest Board.  

I've been trying some experiments to try to get Alien Redemption some traction out in the world - small nibbles, but nothing big. Since this one has been getting great reviews, I was hoping it would do more. Ugh. If you have the time and inclination, would you help me get the word out? I would so appreciate it!

Anyway, now it's time for...

Assassin's Creed Origins 9/27/20

This is a hippodrome! Chariot races for the masses! I did the learning run and did abysmally, so I did not try to compete. I may be back later though, on my own time, as hubby didn't find it interesting.  Crazy stuff!

Here's a view of the interior of the hippodrome. Impressive, no? 

The same town has a shipyard. Something I came to realize as I toured the country is that some tasks people did every day are emulated in the game. Like, people actually going through the motions of making pottery, dragging a rock for construction, etc. Such awesome detail!!!!! I think it is the coolest thing EVER!

As you venture to different places in the game, the interiors and exteriors change showing more Roman or Greek influence depending on the place. Love the tile work!

A view of the throne room at the Royal Palace. The melding of the different cultures is clear. :P

A bathhouse - different soaking pools, oils, and ways to get clean. (I forgot to lighten some of the pics for easier viewing. DOH!)

Far off view of the lighthouse at Alexandria - one of the seven wonders of the world!

Is that impressive or what? Definitely full of Roman influence.

 

We finally meet Cleopatra. Interestingly enough, though she loved all things Egyptian, she was Greek! She was the descendant of Ptolemy I Soter, a Greek general and companion of Alexander the Great.

Mummified head. The guys in the back are working behind the scenes to usurp power and destabilize Egypt even further for their own ends. 

Stay safe and have a great week!

Also, if you need books to read, consider checking out the fabulous works of Rachel Caine! She is one of my all-time favorite authors, and she has terminal cancer. I want to share her awesomeness with you and also help her out, as the medical bills are stacking up. She does thrillers, science fiction, vampires, supernatural, and so much more! I totally recommend her books! You won't regret it! (And she needs the help!)

Thank you!!!!

Virtual Tourist - Assassin's Creed Origins 8/2/20

Morning!

Life continues in its usual chaotic cycles. I used a few days of vacation this week, and instead of vegging I spent them working on writer stuff. :P I never learn.

I have been learning a lot about landing pages and opt-in pages and figuring out how to get more traction for my novels in general. Writing a good book is but one of the many things you have to do. The writer's life is not for the faint of heart. Heh heh.

Assassin's Creed Origins

Our first view of the city of Alexandria! A sprawling metropolis and cultural melting pot.

A temple in Alexandria. Depending on where you are will depend on whether they are Egyptian, Greek, or even Roman. Some are hybrids.

A Ptolemy statue. He was Cleopatra's younger brother and has usurped her rule. Destroying them is one of Bayek's little pleasures. :P

Side view of part of Alexandria. The game has a photo shooting utility and the photos will show on the main map. So you can like other peeps pics. A neat idea! They even do a picture of the day. Encouraging us all to be Virtual Tourists. :P

Here is some gorgeous tile work. Definitively showing Greek influence.

Inside one of the homes in Alexandria. I so love all the detail!

One of the major streets in Alexandria.

The Library of Alexandria. Imposing, is it not? Yet a perfect example of the mishmash of cultures in the magnificent city. (Ah, makes me think of Rachel Caine's awesome series The Great Library set in an alternate history where this bastion of learning was not destroyed.)

Pharos the Lighthouse in Alexandria - one of the seven wonders of the world.

Inside the Great Library. There are scholars everywhere you look.

A giant gyroscope inside the library.

It's awe-inspiring to see what people managed to build in ancient times.

View of the top area of the Pharos Lighthouse.

Statues in the waters of Alexandria. Just how did they get these out here?

The Tomb of Alexander the Great

If you are not currently subscribed to my newsletter/blog - now might be the time!

I am giving away a FREE short story entitled "Elixir of Life" to any who sign up — just go to www.gloriaoliver.com and fill in your email at the top bar. Easy peasy! (For those of you already on the mailing list, don't worry! I'll be sending info on how you can get it soon!)

Virtual Tourist - Assassin's Creed Origins 6/28/20

Good morning!

News!

Last year I finished my first ever cozy mystery - Black Jade. (Set in Dallas in 1930 with a funky cast of characters.) This week I finished the second round of edits. So now begins the shopping phase! Hopefully, I can find an agent and once more try to shop something to the large publishing houses.

They say it is never too early to start getting the word out. 

Might this be the one that makes it? Only time will tell. Already gathering info for a second book in the Daiyu Wu Mysteries. Bwahahahahaha!

You can see pics and bits of the research over in the Black Jade Pinterest board.

Assassin's Creed Origins

Out in the desert after leaving Siwa on the way to Alexandria. Behind Bayek, you can see pyramids! 

The unforgiving desert sun. You stay out here long enough, and Bayek will start seeing minor hallucinations. (The weirdest one so far was of a fish flopping in the sand, then diving out of sight.)

One of the small farming villages near a lake. I love the attention to detail. I would guess these are drying circles for making bundles of fodder to feed the farm animals.

The lush plants along the lake, and some dangerous elements. Crocodiles are rampant in different areas. They are not shy about attacking anyone. Some of these guys are HUGE!

A lost crypt by the water. 

Sweeping view of the lake, the pyramids, and some ancient ruins. (Forgot to lighten the pics - sorry!) You can even see one of the unique ships of the time.

The Temple of Sekhmet in Yami. Impressive, no? The view is from the roof of a house across the street. Note the carpets and resting places. 

 

Is this place grand or what? Hypostyle Hall. The years and manpower it must have taken to build it is mind-boggling. 

A lakeside villa - notice the Greek and Roman influences. At this period, the Ptolemy line had been rulers of Egypt for close to 300 years. The Ptolemys were not Egyptian but Greek (Egypt was given to General Ptolemy by Alexander the Great - he was not Egyptian.) 

View of Alexandria! A center of learning and trade. At that time, the largest city in the world or second only to Rome.

Have a great week! Stay safe out there!

 

Virtual Tourist - Assassin's Creed - Origins 6/14/20

Morning!

I hope you are all doing well. Life is getting more back to normal, yet it's too early to drop all precautions. The numbers are still climbing for COVID-19. Stay safe!

Assassin's Creed Origins

One of the rooms in the Mountain of the Dead near Siwa. Canopic jars and all sorts of treasures for the afterlife. 

Cat mummies! The Mountain of the Dead has a room just for cat mummies! Cats figure heavily into the game. They love Bayek. I think I've had five gather around and follow him. No pet command in this game, but if you get the angle right when you crouch, he will pet them. Still, a room of cat mummies! I was so surprised. Lol. 

Two essential things in this picture. First is the tablet. It will show up over and over in different tombs you explore. Each will give you an ability point. So it's well worth searching for them. (The exploration itself is fun, too. Though not always easy! They get tricky!) The second thing is the boy next to Bayek. He's got the old-style bare head with a ponytail! Heh heh.

There's a quest for Bayek that he is doing for his son. There are 12 constellations that have been recreated on the ground. It was his son's wish to visit all of them with his father. Here is the first. 

Once you find one, you will see the corresponding stars and then the image of what/who they represent. On the first one, you have a flashback of Bayek and his son talking about the constellations. It's a very touching sequence. 

While there are a lot of ruins and crumbling statuary, others are still in perfect condition. Say hello to Wanderer (aka Roach) Bayek's camel. Camels, horses, chariots, boats, there is a myriad of items you can use for transportation. Using them in town can be a little hazardous. You will destroy property like fences, jars, etc. (DOH!) Much to my surprise; you can get an achievement for it. (Double DOH!)

Outside view of the temple we started from at the beginning of the game. It lies some miles outside of Siwa. Since we had to follow Bayek's old friend out from there, I didn't get a look at the front! :P

Such lovely detail! I didn't recognize I'd been here until I got this far in. :P 

This is the object that has brought such misery to Siwa. It is what lies beyond this door that has brought the calamity upon Bayek's life. Yet, though it has been a year, his enemies still have not figured out the secret to getting it to open. I'm sure I will have to return here for that very thing later on.

Temple of Amun - upper temple area. Gorgeous! But also a place of tragedy and pain for Bayek. You can see the masked evil-doer right at the bottom. 

Modern Time - this is Bayek's mummy, and that is Layla, the one using his DNA to look into the past. She's built a portable Animus. Looking at all her files, they do some nice tie ins to the movie and some of the other Assassin's Creed games. She's fearless and a little crazy. Lol.

Senu and Bayek. Aren't they cute? :)

Stay calm, stay safe, stay optimistic!  Until next time!