Meridian
The place they left behind—and the source of the symbols and notes Jake is working to decipher.
THE RICHTON LEGACY · EXPLORE THE WORLD
Some secrets
follow you
home.
A refuge in the Mississippi pines. A mother still missing. Symbols that could lead them back into danger.
Explore the cast, the threats, and the next chapter.
THE PEOPLE AT THE HEART OF THE STORY
01 / THE CAST
Everyone carries
something.
Meet the people searching for answers.
Select a portrait to learn more.
02 / ENEMIES & THREATS
The Hollow
Black eyes. Long claws.
A face you won’t easily forget.
Step closer to the darker side of The Richton Legacy.
Examine the creature
The portrait shows a pale, skeletal figure crouched outside a stone tunnel. Its eyes are black, its mouth open, and its long fingers end in sharp claws.
03 / THE WORLD
Follow the clues.
Bishop’s refuge
Two weeks of shelter among the Mississippi pines. A place to recover, prepare, and decide what comes next.
The unopened armory
A possibility buried in the notes. Jake believes it may never have been opened.
Reveal Book One discoveries · spoilers
Jake has narrowed the search to three strong possibilities and two locations he cannot yet rule out. Silas can heal instantly when he feeds; repeated disappearing acts drastically slow his recovery without feeding.
04 / LORE
Ancient peoples.
An enduring war.
Beyond Earth, vampire-like civilizations dominate much of the known universe. Their longevity, resilience, and ability to preserve or restore their bodies allow leaders and dynasties to accumulate experience over millennia. Longer lives give them more opportunities to spread, establish footholds, and conquer. But their supremacy has never gone unchallenged.
01
Kharveth
Guardians of the Starbridge
An ancient, dominant vampire-like race, the Kharveth guard the Starbridge and hold its ring stations through discipline and military strength. Their extraordinarily long lives give them centuries to hone their skills and consolidate their power.
Regal in bearing and predatory by nature, they command obedience. The Hollows bow before them as their masters.
02
Aethari
The First Race
The Aethari are the original ancient race from which all the other races descend. Human-like in appearance and vampire-like in nature, their history reaches back into ages the younger races have all but forgotten. They are thought to have died out long ago and no longer exist. Only rumors of their survival still linger.
An imagined portrait of an Aethari elder.
03
Velthari
An ancient people
The Velthari stand in opposition to the Kharveth’s pursuit of dominance. They seek to live in harmony with the universe rather than bend it to their will. Individually, a Velthari is more powerful than a Kharveth, but the Velthari are far fewer in number.
Mara’s connection · Book One spoilers
Meridian’s records reveal that human DNA was spliced with Velthari DNA to create Mara. What that inheritance means for her is still unfolding.
Portrait of a Velthari ancient.
04
Orathi
Wings. Concealment. Superior technology.
Natural flyers, the Orathi wear advanced clothing that bends light, allowing their outlines to shimmer and disappear against their surroundings. They strike from above and withdraw before stronger opponents can close the distance.
The ancient vampire races dismiss them as persistent nuisances, but their commanders know better. Superior technology and spacecraft have allowed the Orathi to resist them through a war lasting thousands of years.
Neither side has secured a final victory. The ancient bloodlines endure and wait for openings; the Orathi use mobility, concealment, and generations of accumulated knowledge to keep fighting.
Original AI-generated concept artwork for The Richton Legacy.
05 / THE BOOKS
Shadows
of Richton.
Book One of The Richton Legacy by Shane Walley.
A warning. A secret. A way through. Begin with Chapter One, “The Things Our Parents Keep.”
Kindle and paperback editions submitted to Amazon. Publication review is underway.
Download Chapter One ↓