Robert Smothers

Help Me Decide: The Shino Realm Origins!
          ​Hey everyone!
          ​As I’ve been developing the world of Shino Realm, I’ve written a lot of new, deep-dive content that takes place before our current start at the Academy Gates. These chapters show Shuriken’s true origins—from the moment of the First Binding where he was placed in his life-support armor, to his early years training in silence with Master Shujin and his growing bond with Yumi.
          ​I want to know how you’d prefer to read this "Origin" arc. It’s about 6,000 words of new lore, action, and emotional backstory that explains the "Targeting" glitches and Shuriken’s Shadow God Aura.
          ​Please comment your choice below:
          ​1. Write them as a multi-part Prologue
          I would add these as "Prologue Part 1, 2, etc." before the current Episode 1. This keeps the current chapter numbers the same but gives you all the backstory first.
          ​2. Add them as new Chapters 1–6
          I would re-number the whole book so the story starts with Shuriken’s "birth" in the armor and flows naturally into the arrival at the Gates. (This would change all current chapter numbers).
          ​3. Don't add them to the main book
          Keep the story starting at the Gates as it is now. I could potentially post the origins as a separate "Side Stories" book later on.
          ​I want to make sure the "lost child of shadows" gets the best start possible—let me know what you think!

"I accidentally shared some rough drafts earlier this week and was blown away by the support. I ended up taking them down because they weren’t quite ready—but I really appreciate everyone who showed love."

Im going to be adding more chapters to the lost nation of Tartaria due to more recent events 

I meant Tartaria, sorry for the mistake! ')

Man, I love The Lost Nation Of Tataria, it's pretty interesting and awesome! I hope you're doing well, keep up the good work!

Dear Readers,
          
          The Lost Nation of Tartaria was originally meant to be a 12-chapter book.
          Chapter 11 was designed to mirror Trump’s second era and the rise of Project 2025.
          
          But real life keeps adding more to the story—more events, more chaos, more pages that feel like they belong in this world.
          
          So now, I leave the decision in your hands:
          
          
          ---
          
          1. End the book as originally planned, stopping at Chapter 12.
          2. Wait to see what else happens in real life before writing the final chapter.
          3. Extend the book into more chapters beyond Chapter 12.
          
          
          ---
          
          Let me know in the comments.
          Your voice will decide where this story goes next.
          

          Author’s Note: This Is More Than a Story
          
          (A message to anyone who hasn’t fallen asleep yet)
          
          > “They won’t hear the warning, Kaelen. Not in time.”
          “Then we leave it in the ashes, and pray someone reads.”
          
          
          
          Hey.
          Yeah—you, the one scrolling.
          
          You might’ve hearted this story, maybe even followed it. But have you actually read it?
          
          Because this isn’t just fiction.
          It’s a map.
          
          A journal buried under rubble.
          A torch in the smoke.
          A warning about where we’re headed, not where we’ve been.
          
          You think it’s just John and Sarah? Just some broken rebels fighting in the ruins of a forgotten world?
          
          No.
          It’s you.
          It’s us.
          It’s right now.
          
          This country—this place we keep calling “free”—is already halfway gone.
          You don’t see it because they trained you not to look.
          They trained you to scroll. To heart. To move on.
          
          But I’m not here to sell you comfort.
          I’m here to hand you a grenade wrapped in pages.
          Because the flood is coming. The silence is deepening. And most people you know are already underwater.
          
          So if this story haunts you—
          Good.
          If it makes you feel sick—
          Even better.
          Because that means you’re not numb yet.
          
          Read the pages. Share the words. Carry the fire.
          Because one day, someone will say “no one warned us.”
          
          And you’ll know the truth.
          You were warned.
          You just didn’t listen.
          
          —R
          (The last witness still shouting through the static)
          
          

I didn’t write The Lost Nation of Tartaria to entertain. I wrote it because I was afraid—and because silence felt like surrender.
          
          The world around me is changing. People are being divided, silenced, and manipulated. Truth is treated like an enemy. History is being erased before our eyes.
          
          I saw the patterns. I saw the warnings. And I couldn’t sit quietly anymore.
          
          So I turned to what I know—storytelling.
          I built a fictional world based on real fears, real events, and real consequences. A mirror. A message. A protest.
          
          Tartaria is not just a lost nation. It is a warning.
          This book is for anyone who still questions.
          For anyone who still listens.
          For anyone who still hopes.
          
          If this story makes you feel uncomfortable—that’s okay.
          If it makes you think deeper—that’s the point.
          If it makes you speak up—then it’s already done its job.
          

Dear readers,
          
          First, thank you—from the bottom of my heart—for walking with me through the shadows of the Shino Realm. Your support, your excitement, and your presence have meant more to me than I can express. This world was born from something deep in me, and your belief in it helped bring it to life.
          
          But today, I need to pause.
          
          Not because I’ve lost my love for the story—but because something in the real world has shaken me. I’ve been watching what’s happening around us—deep injustice, division, fear—and I can’t shake the feeling that I need to do more than just tell a fantasy story right now. I believe stories have power. And I want to use that power to speak to what’s happening in our time… even if it means stepping away from Shino Realm for a while.
          
          I’m working on a new project called “The Lost Nation of Tartaria.” It’s different. It’s raw. It’s fiction—but not just fantasy. It’s a reflection of what we’re living through now, told through another lens. And maybe, just maybe, it can help others see.
          
          I’m not deleting the Shino Realm. I’m not walking away forever. It’s a part of me, and it always will be. But for now… I’m answering another call. I hope you’ll understand. And when I return to the shadows, I hope you’ll still be there—waiting.
          
          With respect, fire, and gratitude,
          –Shadow Forger
          
          

Calling All Artists – Join the Shadows
          
          The Shino Realm is growing—and I’m looking for artists who feel the story in their bones.
          
          If you’ve read the episodes and feel that pulse—the cold silence of Shuriken, the fire in Ken’s rage, the ice in Fuyu’s precision—I’d love to work with you.
          
          This is a world of shadows, sacrifice, and legacy.
          If you want to bring it to life visually, reach out.
          
          Let’s build something legendary.