The World of Atherra
From the burning halls of Dravengarde to the storm-swept seas of Ormyrion, the Archive preserves the lore of kingdoms, noble houses, and battles long past
I’m E.J. Cordoue or Esteban, a writer, father, and creator of the Tales of Varestal. For me, storytelling isn’t just words on a page — it’s a way to breathe life into entire worlds, where rebellions rise, crowns fall, and legends linger in the shadows. I’ve been writing for years, but Varestal is my greatest passion — a realm I hope will grow alongside those who discover it.
Beyond the pages, I’m also a father to my daughter Elisia, who inspires me every day to keep building and dreaming. Between long shifts, late nights, and early mornings, this archive has become my sanctuary — a place to share not only my stories, but also the journey of an author still learning, still striving, and still believing in the magic of fiction.
Welcome to the Archive of Dravengarde. Here, you’ll find the worlds I’ve written, the thoughts I wrestle with, and the pieces of myself I’ve left behind in every tale
Community Friday (Discontinued)
I think one of the biggest signs that a story is starting to become real is when your characters stop feeling safe to you. Not evil. Not edgy. Not a kind of “look how dark this is.” I mean genuinely unpredictable, to the readers and even yourself. The kind of character that says something and…
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Most people remember the battles. They remember the kings screaming commands from horseback. The betrayals. The final stands. The sword through the chest. The line that changes everything. But the scenes that matter most to me have always happened after the fighting stops. The quiet conversations. The moments where characters sit in silence because they…
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There is one night in Varestal where nobles fear honesty more than any kind of assassination. One night where kings will hide their faces.Where enemies must dance together.Where betrayal can happen inches from a smile and no one remembers your name by the morning. The Feast of Masks. A celebration older than the modern kingdom…
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There are wars in Atherra that never get written down. Not because they weren’t important…but because no one really wanted them to be remembered. In the Kingdom of Varestal, history isn’t just recorded, it’s curated. Every banner you see in the halls of Dravengarde, every name etched into stone, every tale passed down through noble…
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There’s a point in writing where things stop feeling controlled. Not like messy in a bad kinda way.Definitely not lost. Just… a bit different. Like the story isn’t sitting in your hands anymore.Like it’s almost standing across from you. I’ve been feeling that a lot recently working on The Heretic’s Gospel. At first, it was…
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