Orion's Order Insider's Guide

Orion’s Order Insider’s Guide

M.C. Solaris

Orion’s Order Insider’s Guide by M.C. Solaris

Formatted by M.C. Solaris

Cover Art by M.C. Solaris

Character Art by Salome Totladze

Copyright 2021 © M.C. Solaris LLC

All rights reserved.

This book is protected under Copyright Laws. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, please contact the author.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this story are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual events, business establishments, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

First edition 2021

M.C. Solaris

[email protected]

www.mcsolaris.com/newsletter

Dedication

To my supernatural imaginary friends of Orion’s Order.

Contents

Acknowledgments

Author’s Note

Species World Notes

Subspecies Notes

The Orion’s Order Crew Dossiers

Character Art

Calypso’s Heart: Craft Comments

Rhyker’s Key: Craft Comments

Deacon’s Star: Craft Comments

Aleia’s Choice: Craft Comments

A Note About Music Inspiration

Once You Go Alpha (Short Story)

The Lap Dance (Short Story)

Midnight Meanderings (Bonus Scene)

Aleia’s Choice Sneak Peek

Author Q&A

Interviews & Extras

Also by M.C. Solaris

About the Author

Acknowledgments

Infinite gratitude to every single beautiful soul out there who has supported, encouraged, and loved all things Orion’s Order!

Author’s Note

This insider’s guide was written in the year 2021 and at the time when Deacon’s Star (Orion’s Order Book 3) was in editing and Aleia’s Choice (Orion’s Order Book 4) first draft was a work in progress.

In the spirit of not giving away any spoilers, all the information provided in this guide will have already been shared by the end of Deacon’s Star. There are things that I intentionally left blank, vague, open-ended, etc. as we would not know this by the end of Deacon’s Star. (NOTE: There are a few spoilery tidbits about Aleia’s Choice in the Aleia’s Choice: Craft Comments and Aleia’s Choice Sneak Peek sections of the guide. If you don’t want to know the tidbits, then you can just skip those sections).

It’s possible I may decide to release an updated insider’s guide later on down the road but, for now, I truly hope you enjoy this (hopefully fun) guide all about our favorite characters of Orion’s Order and the supernatural world they live in! :)

Species World Notes

Author’s note: Below is just a brief list and high-level overview of things either about the species world or in the species world that I believe have been mentioned by Deacon’s Star (book 3) in the Orion’s Order series. Please know this is not an exhaustive list by far as there is so much more to the vast world of species!

Magic of Life: The term that is generally referred to in the species world to encompass the unexplainable, the mysterious, the magical, the unnamable, etc. It is believed that seer and steorrian abilities are often rooted in the magic of life in some form. The life mate bond is said to originate from the magic of life itself.

Immortal lifespan: Specians are immortal—meaning, they do not have a lifespan but can still be killed. Generally speaking (not always), specians stop physically aging sometime around 25 to 30 years old depending on when the body comes to full maturity.

The Barrier: The human world is on the other side of The Barrier, a magical barrier that separates the human world from the world of species. According to legend, it was created as a final solution to bring peace to the world, ending the ancient territorial world war, where humans turned on the other species out of fear.

Modern Times: It is the norm for specians (some more than others) to make conscious strides to keep up with modern vernacular. Some even pay closer attention to human current events, pop culture, and fashions. It’s all so they can more easily blend in when they venture across The Barrier.

Indigo: A plant with blue flowers that is said to have evolved from the tobacco plant species after The Barrier was put in place. It now only grows on the magical side of The Barrier. Species are more relaxed about smoking than humans because they are not susceptible to the negative side effects of smoking, like cancer. And the plant’s blue-gray smoke doesn’t typically bother anyone because of its lightly floral, somewhat incense-like, aroma.

Fertility/Pregnancy: In general, most specians are only fertile every couple of years or so (can vary by subspecies). Specian pregnancies typically have a high miscarriage rate in the first quarter. Most species pregnancies last thirteen months and are broken up into four quarters, where each quarter consists of just over three months.

The statistical rate of pregnancy related complications is higher when it comes to inter-subspecies young. Inter-subspecies mated pairs can still conceive. But sometimes the offspring don't come into their abilities until later, sometimes even after their change. And the abilities of a mixed-blooded young only take after one of the parents. Meaning, if a shifter and a healer conceived, their young would either be a shifter or a healer. But there are always exceptions and outliers, Caly being one of them.

A note about humans and species: The rule of thumb is that species beget species young. Except for the extremely rare case of a successful, full-term pregnancy between a human and specian. The genetics between the two just aren’t all that compatible. Human halflings often have diluted and weakened abilities.

Life mate: Life mates are one of the most sacred and powerful bonds that exist in the species world. It is said to be so powerful that it extends beyond the physical reality into the very fabric of the magic of life itself. During the bonding of the souls, the beings can often feel something deep, something inexplicable, something profound and other things can happen, most commonly being that the eyes temporarily glow a unique shade which originates from the essence of the very soul itself.

There is no usual when it comes to something as sacred and magical as life mates. Sometimes it’s instant and sometimes it takes a while for the brain to catch up with the soul. Everyone’s journey is unique and some is shorter while some never meet their life mate.—KEENA, RHYKER’S KEY

Rhyker’s eyes were glowing a lighter shade of electric blue—so light it was almost iridescent white. It was a shade she had not yet ever seen before.

It was common for shifters’ eyes to hold a subtle glow when highly aroused or during physical intimacy. The most accepted theory was that it had to do with the animal spirit on some level merging to be a part of the experience. But the bond of life mates was an entirely different glow, originating from the essence of the very soul itself.

And she felt it. Something deep inside of her spirit shifted into place, into harmonious balance. She could feel the very essence of her spirit glowing and pulsing with an impossibly bright light. It was as if she held the warmth and light of the entire sun within her soul. The light not only sealed the cracks of the heartbreaking distance that had been between them but also flooded every fiber of her being as if weaving an unbreakable bond that forever tied them together in inexplicable and magical ways. A bond that far surpassed any conscious thought or language. A bond that held an impossible strength. A bond forged of pure unconditional love, extending across distance and time. A sacred bond that only existed between life mates.

She only dreamed that she would ever experience it. And it was even more glorious than everything she had heard about. As a spirit healer, she recognized and felt the bond on a deeper level than most other subspecies. It was as if their souls had somehow evolved into a stronger force powered by love.

Instantly, Keena was crying, laughing, and kissing Rhyker hysterically. She felt his warm, heavy arms wrap around hers as he deepened their physical connection. When they broke the kiss to breathe oxygen into their veins, Rhyker spoke the three most powerful words in the Universe.

I love you. His words were gruff and full of emotions. I love you, Rhyker.—EXCERPT, RHYKER’S KEY

Subspecies Notes

Author's note: Below is just a brief list and high-level overview of the subspecies that I believe have been mentioned by book 3 in the Orion’s Order series. Please know this is not an exhaustive list by far as there are many, many more subspecies and creatures that exist!

Shifters: Ability to shift into the animal spirit that they share their body with. They are highly instinctive and take after their animal’s characteristics—most often including superhuman strength, superior vision and smell, and fast healing. It is common for shifters’ eyes to hold a subtle glow when highly aroused or during physical intimacy. The most accepted theory is that it has to do with the animal spirit on some level merging to be a part of the experience. NOTE: There are many different kinds of shifters.

Seers: Foresight abilities. There are varying degrees of strengths and specialized abilities (some that can evolve over time) like backsight or being a dream traveler with the evolved ability to travel to the realm of The Ancient Ones.

Steorrians (Keeper of the Stars): Read and translate the long lost, ancient language of the stars. They can have varying degrees of strengths and specialized abilities, some of which have the rare ability to speak and translate all languages—ancient and modern.

Castellans: True caretakers, live in a pack family, often bond with a prominent family to happily maintain the homefront while being provided for. They have more strength and speed than a human, but not as much as vampires or shifters.

Elementals: Abilities with specific elements (i.e. earth elemental, air elemental, water elemental, fire elemental). They can have varying degrees of strengths and specialized abilities (some that can evolve over time), like molecular elementals who are often the genius inventors/physicists and a rare subset of which can teleport. NOTE: Plant elementals have been mentioned/alluded to in light passing in the Orion’s Order series thus far.

Vampires: Highly instinctive nocturnal predators. They can be in sunlight and have sharp fangs, superhuman strength, night vision, fast healing, and keen sense of smell. It’s theorized they have cooler body temperature because of their affinity for the dark of night. They can have varying degrees of strengths and specialized abilities, some of which can evolve over time like the ability to fade and mesmerize.

Mind healers: Healers of the mind. Experts of emotions. Often therapists, psychologists, psychotherapists, etc. They can have varying degrees of strengths and specialized abilities, some of which can evolve over time like mind-melding and mind-reading. A mentalist is a rare subset of a mind healer.

Spirit healers: Healers of the spirit. Experts in spirit medicine. They can have varying degrees of strengths