C. A. A. Allen lives in San Diego with his wife and six children. He is a freelance writer, local hip-hop mogul, and fantasy e-book author. He writes for many online entities, and has been published in the San Diego Reader, and CityBeat magazines. He has provided back up vocals, and performed as a "Humpty Dancer" for the multi-platinum hip-hop group Digital Underground. When he isn't writing or spending time with the children, Mr. Allen enjoys horse racing, fine cognac, funk music, and Southern cooking. The Cave Maze, is his debut novel.
He was only eight when a bloodied sorcerer tutored him on the perils of questing in the Cave Maze...
...The craving to enter has tormented ever since.
The Wizard Talhoffer stocked the underground labyrinth with a murderous assortment of beasts, traps, gold, and personal magic items worth dying for. And treasure hunters
did die for them.
Not Raff Jenkins. He planned to survive.
After losing the questing university scholarship, sword whiz Raff takes drastic measures to earn tuition. With the help of his hustling cousin Dread and a party of rag-tag locals...he heads into the cave maze as a newbie. What he discovers inside is more than just treasure, bloodthirsty hags, or crotch-masticating hellhounds - he learns that a link to his past is tied to the fate of his kingdom.
Will he return in time to pay off the death-threats awaiting him at home? Will he return at all?
*DUNGEON MAZE ACTIVITY INCLUDED!*
This paperback edition of The Cave Maze includes the original, and a tear-out version of,
The Labyrinth of Fear, a unique maze activity by grand labyrinth designer Master of the Playing Cards.
"Soon to be a major motion picture?" -Robert Woodhead, creator of the Wizardry series of role-playing video games.
"One thing I was not expecting was the lovely illustrations! ...the ones in here are beautiful sketches." -Raffey Cassidy Review.
"You'll be amazed! A fantasy adventure book of sword and sorcery. Characters range from thief's, fighters, and magic users to succubi, brownies, and elves. Slay monsters and gain the treasure!" -John Palmer, creator of Fantastic Science Fantasy Adventures.
"The plot in itself stands out mainly because there are no princesses to save... it's get rich or die trying. If you liked The Dungeoneers you will like this." -For Boozes AU, Amazon Australia.
"With its diverse and distinct cast of characters and compelling setting, it is a tale that will appeal to everyone from fans of epic fantasy to role-playing gamers." -N. Bolton, ManyBooks
"A delectable story that takes the classic fantasy tropes you know and love, and breathes new life into them. -M. Deangelo, Tellest
Who will survive the Maze? Death over/under lines now posted... LAIS DIJON TAVERN: Odds on party's entering the Cave Maze:
- Team: Gabbiano - Death Over/Under: 6 (21-Entering)
No team lead by Gabbiano has lost more than 6.
Map Level: 10/10 (Said to contain shortcuts deep into the Maze.)
Key personnel: Castello Gabbiano (Fighter)
- Team: Rettingham - Death Over/Under: 6 (20-Entering)
This run's team features five magic users.
Map Level: 8/10 (Passed down through generations of Sandby)
Key personnel: Percy Sandby (Fighter)
- Team: Greensludge - Death Over/Under: 3 (7-Entering)
Captain Greensludge vows to take this team deep.
Map Level: 6/10 (This patchwork map could yield unexpected gain.)
Key personnel: Pleiades Greensludge (Fighter)
- Team: Beeston - Death Over/Under: 4 (6-Entering)
Five of this teams six members are amateurs.
Map Level: 0/10 (House Map)
Key personnel: Raff Orcslaughter (Fighter)
- Team: O'Grady - Death Over/Under: 6 (21-Entering)
Last run in lost 4/20, the previous 4/20.
Map Level: 9/10 (Said to contain routing to gold depositories.)
Key personnel: Finnegas O'Grady (Fighter)
- Team: Questiarum University - Death Over/Under: 8 (23-Entering)
Team is a mixed bag of veterans, and amateurs.
Map Level: 7/10 (Easy access to the gold rich southwest region.)
>Odds subject to change.
