The Lady Blade Series: 2 Novels and a 5th Edition RPG

 Francesca DiCesare is Lady Blade

And you can be too...

                           in our role-playing game that follows the novels

I've been writing Francesca's story for over 20 years. First as an award-winning screenplay (optioned twice, but never quite made into a movie), then as an award-winning manuscript, and then as a prequel, short stories, and now as a RPG game. Francesca and I have been together so long, you could say she is the daughter I never had. And now, it's finally time for you to meet her. 

You can read some of the short stories about her early life as writing samples under FAQs.

With your help, we can make not one, but two novels a reality, as well as a 5th Edition D&D game that you can play as Francesca and her pirate captain, Will Massey. 

We have pledge options for both historical fiction aficionados and for gamers.

Thank you again to all those who've supported our Kickstarters in the past. It's your enthusiasm that keeps me writing and has made Rescue of the Blackthorn Clan and Wight Wedding such huge successes. I hope these new books will be a fabulous addition to our line of adventure books at Urban Realms. (See more on that below)

The Novels

The Maestro's Daughter

 If Francesca's superpower is her skill with a sword, then this is her origin story. The first novel starts when Francesca is sixteen...

She was born to the sword, forbidden to wield it, and destined to defy them all.

In the heart of Tuscany, young Francesca DiCesare watches from the shadows as her father trains noble sons in the art of the blade. But in a world where swords belong to men, her dream of becoming a fencer is impossible—unless she dares to seize it for herself. 

When an English noble arrives at her father's famed fencing school, Francesca finds the perfect opportunity. In secret, she strikes a dangerous bargain; lessons by moonlight in exchange for a forbidden friendship. But as rivalries simmer and tempers flare, Francesca's defiance sets off a chain of events that will test her courage, her honor, and her heart.

Betrayal looms, love falters, and tragedy strikes when a duel turns deadly. Faced with the weight of her choices, Francesca must decide whether to bow to the world's rules or carve her own path—one forged in steel and sacrifice.

The Maestro's Daughter is the first book in the Lady Blade series, a tale of ambition, honor, and the girl who dared to stand among men.

The Options

• Digital - Pledge for just the digital book. Or, with all the physical books, we'll also include this eBook version you can download to Kindle.
• Paperback - 170 page B&W paperback, 9'x6'
• Hardcover -  170 page B&W, with high quality paper, 9'x6'

Lady Blade

The swashbuckler, Lady Blade picks up three years later when Francesca is nineteen.

Will she find redemption, freedom, and love, or will the tides of destiny drag her into darkness forever? 

Francesca DiCesare’s life changes forever on a misty Tuscan morning when her father falls in a duel, leaving her to carry his legacy—and his Code of Honor. Forced to flee her homeland, she takes to the seas, where fate thrusts her into a treacherous world of pirates, storms, and stolen gold.

Captured by the ruthless yet enigmatic Captain Will Massey, Francesca must fight to survive—and to protect the innocent. Torn between her vow to uphold justice and the unforgiving demands of pirate life, she grapples with haunting choices and a growing bond with the very man she swore to resist.

From the blood-soaked decks of the Caribbean to the perilous jungles of Panama, Francesca faces danger, betrayal, and the ultimate test of loyalty.

When her blade is no longer enough to right the wrongs she’s left in her wake, can Francesca forge a new path for herself?

In the second book of the Lady Blade series, Francesca finds the life she seems destined for, but it is something she can live with?

The Options

• Digital -Pledge for just the digital version. Or, with all the physical books, we'll also include this eBook version you can download to Kindle.
• Paperback - 354 page B&W paperback, 9'x6'
• Hardcover -  354 page B&W, with high quality paper, 9'x6'

What can I say, everything is better with pirates. 

And what about the game? So glad you asked.

The RPG Game

Can Will and Francesca save the village children from an ancient evil intent on power and domination? Or will they meet their match in Jaguar Jungle?

Francesca, Will, and 12-year-old Carter have left the pirate ship, Destiny, and her infamous crew. Now they’re crossing the Panama jungle on the Camino Real road to start a new life together. 

But when evil forces kidnap Carter along with the rest of the children in a native village, Francesca and Will are the only ones who can save them. They'll explore an ancient Aztec pyramid, discover wonders they never dreamed of, and fight horrors they couldn't imagine. 

As many of you know, Urban Realms (Tom and I, and our friends Daryen and Mike) love D&D, and have published two romance modules set up for 2 players. Well, we decided that we were having too much fun with Francesca and the pirate captain, Will Massey, to not give them their own module. 

Instead of making this a Date Night Dungeon, we've started a new line of modules. We're calling them Literary Labyrinths. Modules based on a book or book series. And Lady Blade's Jaguar Jungle is our first!

This 2-person adventure takes place just after the end of the book, Lady Blade, amid the jungles of Panama in the 1700s and continues the story of Francesca and Will. How great is that? Now you get to be these two unforgettable characters. 

Of course, we didn't ditch the romance completely. Our characters have already pledged their love at the beginning of the story, so instead of using Attraction Points to fall in love like in our Date Night Dungeons, this time we've added Partnership Synergies as Will and Francesca learn what it means for them to work as a couple, both in battle and in life. And, since Tom and I adore a good love story, Xochiquetzal, the Aztec Goddess of Love may just bestow a few gifts on our couple, dice willing. 

It’s not necessary to read the books ahead of time, but it will add depth to their story and their love affair. Does their romance  blossom, or die on the vine? Will they save Carter? The dice will decide.

While the books, The Maestro's Daughter and Lady Blade are firmly in the realm of historical fiction, we couldn't resist adding some limited magical elements to the game. What can I say, it was just too tempting.

We're offering the module in both the black and white and the the full color version which has all the maps in the back as well as many of the illustration in color. Of course, color printing is much more expensive, but we think the addition is worth it, especially since some of the clues have color involved that you'll just have to imagine in the black and white version.

We're not offering a hardcover version of the game because the maps, tokens, and combat trackers are meant to be taken out of the back of the book. Who wants to cut up their hardcover!

Everyone who gets the paperback version of the book will automatically get the printable PDF as well. That way, if you have a printer, you aren't forced to cut up your book to get the maps and tokens.

Unlike our other modules, this one currently is only available in 5th Edition rule set. We may release more ruleset options later if we see enough demand.

Available as:

• Printable PDF.
• Black and white 8x10, 145 page paperback, 5th edition gaming module complete with maps, tokens, combat trackers and adventure.
• Color, 8x10, 145 page paperback, 5th edition gaming module complete with maps, tokens, combat trackers and adventure.

Shipping Charges

After the end of the campaign you will be sent a link to download the PDFs for the digital books. 

We're hoping to have the books shipped out in time for Christmas, but we can't promise.

Thanks to the current situation in the US, we are presently not shipping physical books outside the country.  Shipping costs  for physical books are not included in the tier prices and will be added when the project ends. We will generally send book USPS Media Mail to save you money (It is generally about $5 to $10.) but you can have things shipped more quickly if you choose. We do give estimated prices and the estimated price range shown reflects the different speed options.

Replacements

We are committed to making sure you receive your rewards in excellent condition. We will replace items at no cost if there are:

• Lost Packages: Verified as lost through tracking information.
• Production Issues: Defects affecting the book’s readability, such as faulty binding or missing pages.
• Missing Items: Any item promised in the campaign that are missing.
• Significant Damage: Major print or shipping damage that impacts usability, like crumpled corners, deep scratches, or torn pages.

What We Cannot Replace (Unless at Backer’s Expense):

• Packages marked as successfully delivered according to tracking info.
• Undelivered packages due to unpaid fees or lack of delivery info.
• Items sent to incorrect addresses provided by the backer.
• Minor cosmetic imperfections, like light scratches and blemishes on page edges that don't affect usability.

My Backstory

I started writing about Francesca when I was training under my own fencing maestro, John DeCesare, who loaned his last name to my main character. (When I asked him if I could borrow his name, he said, "As long as you don't write it on any checks.") 

Foil was my weapon of choice. One thing I learned in Maestro's fencing classes—men have strong reactions to a woman who's good with a blade—and thus, after a ton of historical research, a myriad of rewrites, three writer's groups, and years of editing, (Not to mention trips to both Tuscany and Panama,) my two adventure novels about Francesca were born. And who knows, if the books do well, maybe we'll finally get that movie made.

And the game? Well, my husband Tom and I have both loved D&D for as long as we can remember. 

We've already written two D&D romance modules, Rescue of the Blackthorn Clan and Wight Wedding. Both Kickstarters were big successes, the reviews on our games have been great, and the books are selling like hot cakes. So it seemed only natural to tie our next module into my historical novels. 

I don't know if this has ever been done before, and we're very excited to see how it works out!

Francesca's Backstory

In the year 1701, Thurio DiCesare, the world-famous fencing maestro and his very pregnant wife, took ship, fleeing Barbary Corsairs raiding the Italian coast. If they were caught, they'd be sold into slavery, or worse. But the corsairs had speed and numbers on their side. Mary's cleverness and Thurio's sword arm saved their ship, but at a horrible cost. 

Francesca's mother didn't survive that day, but Francesca did. She grew up in the hills of Tuscany with her two older brothers in Papa's fencing school, Salle DiCesare, where Papa taught young nobles the art and science of the sword. But he'd forbidden his daughter to take up the blade, so at the age of seven she stole her first sword and began practicing in secret in her room.

Add-Ons

I've put together the writing samples, stories about Francesca's early life, into a small book of short stories called Before the Blade. These are stories of Francesca's birth during a pirate battle, stealing her first blade, running away from home... If we reach a goal of $5000, we'll send everyone the PDF version of the book as a free gift. We'll also make the print version of the book available as an Add-On.

Born amidst a pirate battle,
Raised in Italy’s most illustrious fencing school,
Francesca might have been destined for the blade,

But those first steps were painful.

From her birth aboard a ship bombarded by cannons, to stealing her first blade; from outsmarting her governess, to running away from home; Before the Blade is a collection of short stories of a little girl who knows what she wants and never backs down.

Join Francesca DiCesare and her family amid the Tuscan hills as they deal with her mischievous and adventurous nature as she grows up to be Lady Blade.

Before the Blade is a collection of touching and funny stories as a prologue to The Lady Blade Series.

It's available as:

• The PDF will be sent to everyone for free if we meet our stretch goal.
• 74 page paperback of short stories. (Add-on)

Since Jaguar Jungle is joining our series of modules, we thought the gamers among you might be interested in some of our past D&D romance modules, our Date Night Dungeons. These are being offered in black and white, 5th edition. If you'd prefer 3.5 or Pathfinder editions, or if you want to splurge for the color books, you can find those on our website. 

The heir to the Blackthorn power and fortune is being held for ransom. Now it’s up to the master of security at the manor to get the heir back, if possible. But when they learn that the kidnappers mean to kill the Thane, they must work together to find out who is behind the plot and why—and foil their evil plans if they can. And just maybe, they’ll fall in love along the way, dice willing. 

If you'd like to learn more, check out our past Kickstarter for Rescue of the Blackthorn clan.

• Black and white, 102 page paperback romance module in 5th edition.

Your best friends, Bjorn and Estrid plan to be married in secret before Bjorn takes ship to make his fortune as a Viking. But dark forces are arrayed against them. Only you can save the couple and see them united in sacred wedlock. And you might just find your own love along the way, dice willing.

If you'd like to learn more, check out our past Kickstarter for Wight Wedding.

• Black and white, 212 page paperback romance module in 5th edition.

Eros, the god of love, is furious with his mother, the goddess Aphrodite, and he's chosen the two of you to be the instrument of his revenge. But can two strangers really infiltrate the famed Aphrodite's Ball and successfully trick a goddess, or will your hearts lead you to further complicating this already treacherous task?

• Black and white, 170 page paperback romance module in 5th edition.

Stretch Goals

LOCKED: If we reach $5000 in pledges, I will send every backer the PDF version of Before the Blade as part of their rewards.

LOCKED: If we reach $7,000 Tom and I will do a live session for all our backers to chat, say Hi, and answer any questions.

LOCKED: If we reach $10,000 we'll create audio books for The Maestro's Daughter and Lady Blade and send backers the audio books they pledged for free of charge. Please allow us at least 6 months to get the audio books created and sent out.

What We're Asking

We're hoping your pledges will help us pay for:

• Editing and ISBN numbers for all three books. $1200
• Cover art for all three books. $1400

This project is promoted by Jellop, the ad tech power behind the best Kickstarters with 3,500+ successful Kickstarter projects with over $1B raised between them.