Excerpt, Rayas Colony Stone
Rayas Colony Stone, Rayas Time Travel Sci-Fi LitRPG Book 2.
Book Description:
Six months into his virtual life, traveling to colonize distant planet Rayas, Gabe Oliveri devises shapeshifter magic for a campaign in the Classic Maya world.
In the video-game time travel that is history class, beliefs are real, and fuel Gabe’s magical powers. But the AI’s Maya campaign amounts to gringo-grade tourism. Because it skips Mexico’s most challenging belief – shapeshifting shamans.
Specifically, were-jaguars.
In the lush rainforests of Mexico and Guatemala, the Stone Age flourished into one of Earth’s great civilizations. The Maya mastered mathematics and astronomy. They bequeathed corn and ball sports to the world. They built pyramids and beguiling art, all without horsepower.
Instead they relied on blood sacrifice.
Maya religion is mystifying. To gain a shapeshifter’s power, Gabe must embrace his unknown dark side, including his fears on the cusp of manhood. The Rayas expedition ruled out older students, because the virtual life broke their mental health. He fears the same fate.
Can Gabe warp his mind into the arcane Maya worldview, plumb his darkest depths, and master the jaguar?
Excerpt
Gabe bent down to pet one of the large breed dogs, more the loose-limbed retriever sort than the compact, well-knit chihuahua body model, though also hairless. The dog seemed amiable. Only as he reached eye level did he realize it was a she with engorged teats. The little meat bundles nearby were skinned puppies, possibly hers.
Gabe froze, wondering just how pissed off mama pooch was about this evolution in her affairs. But she nuzzled his hand and presented her lumpy tummy for a rub. Clearly she lived in the now, a sensory social being. She asked for attention.
And suddenly Gabe looked up at the fancy-looking man, lighter skinned than normal, with round open St. Bernard eyes and a kindly petting hand. The lord – Gabe! – smelled intriguing, marinated in fishy lake water and redolent of tobacco and his fresh fruit tortilla breakfast. He smelled all of this more powerfully than ever and wriggled appreciation, rolling his swollen itchy teats to the nice man.
Not he. She!
Gabe cried out and jumped back, to land on his hands and butt, gaping at the gray xoloitzcuintli – squintly for short. This large breed was already millennia old by Classic Maya times. The butcher and other onlookers laughed and pointed to him, a lord on his ass in the marketplace, in the reek of urine and hot dust and nearby dog feces.
Bris joined their amusement, while Steve hauled him to his feet and waved to the crowd. A few clapped to mock Gabe. He spared the audience a quick glare, then returned his attention to the dog he’d…
Switched places with?
This shapeshifting business wasn’t what he thought. Except it should have been exactly as he thought, because he specified this magic system. Teach…