Welcome, Outlander!

Long before the tower was found or the prophecy began, one act of sacrifice changed everything.

The Gnome and the Madman is the story of that moment—a tale of loyalty, pride, and impossible choices that set destiny in motion. It’s where the legend begins.

This short story is exclusive to subscribers of Signs from the Shifts and available in both eBook and audiobook formats. Step into the refuge city of Khorvael, meet the gnome who would one day change the fate of worlds, and uncover the first spark of the friendship that started it all.

Meet the Cast

  • Elderly woman wearing a long green dress with gold embroidery, clasping her hands in front of her, against a plain background.

    Durnya

    Gharn’s Mother. A rising civic leader, shrewd negotiator, and political realist — forced to choose between the son she loves and the city she serves.

  • A man with a beard, short dark hair, wearing a sleeveless dark green shirt, stands against a dark background.

    Gharn

    Young, eager, and painfully clever. He’s the kind of boy who can build anything — but might bring it crashing down, too. This is his story… even if he doesn’t realize it yet.

  • An elderly man with a beard wearing a black robe with red geometric embroidery, a gold medallion on a chain, and a black hooded cloak over his shoulders. He is standing against a dark background, smiling slightly.

    Sorendir

    A mysterious outsider with too many secrets and not nearly enough tact. He claims to be a wizard. He might be something far stranger.

The book cover titled 'The Gnome and the Madman' with a subtitle 'Prequel to The Forbidden Spire' by Matthew E. Yetter, featuring a gold circuit-like orb inside a triangle with circular rings on a black background.

Begin Your Journey

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Delivery is powered by BookFunnel to ensure smooth access to both eBook and audiobook formats. Reading requires no account; listening just needs a free sign-in. BookFunnel also helps keep this prequel an insider exclusive for Signs from the Shifts subscribers.

What Comes Next?

Each month, you’ll receive a personal dispatch — featuring behind-the-scenes lore, character insights, and early access to new content before it reaches the site.

Some people break the world on purpose.

Some people break it by accident.

And some… are just trying to hold the pieces together.

—Saying among the gnomish engineers, pre-exile.