A young capybara awakens in a strange land with only a tattered blue blanket and the fading memory of a boy named Reed.
An illustrated fantasy series
Coming 2027
Latest News: The manuscript is complete and is now with the editor, Jennifer Rees.
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The Cast
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The Cast
Preview Chapter 1
© 2026 Lore and Tales, LLC
Characters
Capyhero features a diverse cast of animal characters. Here, you can learn a bit about the main cast of Book 1: The Blue Blanket.
Capy
A young capybara with a kind heart and unwavering will. He awakens in a mysterious land called Stratum with nothing but a tattered blue blanket and a single fading memory: his best friend, a boy named Reed.He quickly discovers he can speak. And he meets many other speaking animals, but curiously, none of them even recognize the word "boy..."He must brave the wilds of Stratum to learn what he carries within, and what he is destined for.
Lupine, the Hooded Guardian
Lupine travels under a marked cloak, carrying a well-chewed applewood staff. Village leaders know her name, but she reveals little else. No one seems to recognize what species she is.She is known as the Hooded Guardian. Some say she is a savior. Others, a terrible sorceress.She carries a great burden, a secret so old that Stratum itself has forgotten what it means.
Kariguu, Master Weaver
An ancient and extraordinarily large arachnid, Kariguu has served the village of Pawville as a seamstress to its residents and armorer to its guard for as long as anyone can remember.Her residency as a predator among a community of mostly herbivores and scavengers is a testament, presumably, to both her talents and her conduct.She has taken a particular interest in Capy and the blue blanket he carries.
Penda
Where's Penda? Why's that kit always missin'?~ Penda's Mother
Dusty, First Elder
Elder Dusty is a chinchilla and has been the established leader of Pawville for many seasons. She speaks softly, but her voice and wisdom carry. Her community trusts her completely.There is a rumor, passed quietly among the Pawfolk, that she intends to step back from her duties to attend to "personal matters." If true, her presence will surely be missed.
Grigor, Second Elder
Grigor is a black and white tegu serving as Pawville's second-in-command. Scars marking his speckled scales tell of a long history battling the Strays.He leads with a matter-of-fact, militaristic directness. Elder Dusty named him as Second Elder specifically for this experience.Those who know him describe a quiet, unhurried, but intense presence. When he does speak, his community listens.
Pram, Captain of the Charred Guard
Captain Pram is a teddy hamster and the commanding officer of Pawville's Charred Guard. Her armor is made of carved oaken bands, connected by corded rivets. It does not resemble the arachnid's woven craftwork worn by the Guard under her command.When she was a young warrior, Pram saved many of Pawville's residents during the destruction wrought by the Ao known as Elkenfire. Through that event, she inspired the youth and formed the Charred Guard.
Join the Aurorabon Society newsletter for early art, secret lore, and updates from the creators. Members get the first four chapters as a sneak peek!
Preview Chapter 1
© 2026 Lore and Tales, LLC
About
A young capybara awakens in a strange land with only a tattered blue blanket and a single fading memory of a boy named Reed...Capyhero is an illustrated fantasy series that follows Capy on his journey across an unfamiliar world known as Stratum. This is an ancient realm settled entirely by animals who have built villages and cities over hundreds of generations.When Capy awakens in a quiet woodland, he quickly discovers that he can speak. And he meets many other speaking animals, but curiously, none of them recognize the word "boy."In the wilder parts of Stratum, a brave soul exploring the dark forests and deep caves may encounter remnants from a long-lost civilization. These ruins resemble something oddly familiar to Capy, yet, none of the other animals recognize them...Monstrous beings known as Ao roam the land. The origin of the Ao has been forgotten, buried by the passage of time. But there is one mysterious hooded figure, glimpsed here and there, who may hold the key...Capyhero Book 1: The Blue Blanket is a harrowing and heartfelt tale of perseverance, courage in the face of grim challenges, and the forces felt beyond uncrossable distances.
Who is it for?
Capyhero is written to be accessible for readers aged 8 to 13, but the story and its underlying themes are meant to appeal to readers of all ages. My hope is that Capy's journey and what it means will stay with readers long after they finish the last page.It is for anyone who keeps their collection of Redwall and Rats of Nimh books. For those who loved Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke and other Studio Ghibli films. For parents looking to introduce the magic they felt from The Neverending Story to their own little ones.And it is for anyone who has ever loved a pet or animal.
Why traditional illustration?
With AI and digital media being so widespread now, handmade things have become rarer and rarer. Capyhero is intentionally developed as a physical book featuring over 100 hand-drawn artworks across about 320 pages, with a word count of about 60,000.Every illustration is produced traditionally in fountain ink by Nick Loizos. The original artwork is then scanned and integrated into the prose with the goal of enhancing the storytelling. Each page spread is designed as a composition.Traditional illustration ensures that no part of this book is produced by AI.
The artistic treatment of the cast of animal characters respects anatomical accuracy. While the story is an anthropomorphic fantasy featuring speaking animals, magic, and different cultures, the careful rendering is meant to go hand-in-hand with the underlying real-world themes of the story.The world building in Capyhero is ambitious: Stratum has a long and layered history with multiple settlements and architectural styles befitting the kinds of animals living there. The landscape is a mix of both natural patterns and fantastical grandeur. The visual development is pivotal to the successful creation of this world.
Who is the editor?
The manuscript for Capyhero Book 1: The Blue Blanket is finished and has been handed off to Jennifer Rees for editing! Her experience on some of the most well-known and successful stories out there will be invaluable to making Capyhero the best it can be.
When will it be available?
Capyhero is planned to launch in 2027, initially via Kickstarter. The campaign will allow readers and parents to get signed, exclusive first edition copies and support the creators directly before it reaches store shelves.Please visit the Kickstarter Pre-Launch page below and follow the project for updates!
Can I learn more about Capyhero now?
Yes! We have a great Newsletter for those who join the email list below. Early art and secret lore will be delivered by The Aurorabon Society, an in-world knowledge-seeking group made up of all manner of curious woodland creatures discovering the many mysteries of Stratum.In addition to updates directly from the creators, members can get the first four chapters and other exclusive content!
The Cast
Preview Chapter 1
© 2026 Lore and Tales, LLC
About the Author
Tyler (T. L. Chow) works as a civil engineer, but the creative itch was always present. He spent years painting fantasy scenes and characters as a freelance artist. The most well-known included concept artworks for Netflix's The Dragon Prince.Alongside, there was always some personal project: a board game, a computer game, or some fantasy world taking shape in the margins.
In 2016, Tyler visited Japan and met capybaras for the first time. On a day with light rain, he sat with them around an outdoor furnace for quite a while. Their calming presence was the inspiration for Capyhero. Tyler wrote a 15-page synopsis back then with plans to make an action-adventure RPG, but technical challenges and a full-time job kept it on the sidelines.Tyler would revisit the synopsis from time to time, but Capyhero sat nearly untouched for a decade. When he came back to the story, now as a dad of two young kids, he found it meant something more. He decided to turn it into a fantasy series with one particular hope: that by the time his kids are old enough, a few books in the series will already be on the shelf waiting for them.
Many of the characters in Capyhero are inspired by beloved pets of Tyler's family and friends. Kariguu, the ancient spider, is inspired by the tarantula that still lives in his home office after nearly twenty years. And Capy remains his son's favorite stuffed animal, since before he could walk.Tyler has lived in NY, GA, VA and is now settled in Fresno, CA. There, he lives with his wife and children, a tarantula, their guinea pig, and the inhabitants of two small aquariums. They enjoy regular trips to Yosemite and Sequoia National Park, where there's no shortage of space to think up new stories and heroes.
About the Illustrator
By day, Nick Loizos works in the field of environmental remediation. But his passion is and has always been art. Starting at a young age, he spent hours copying drawings from his favorite comics and books about dinosaurs.Through a combination of private art classes and self-teaching, Nick continues to hone his artistic talents. He learned to use colored pencils early on, which remained his medium of choice until 2020 when he was gifted a fountain pen by a close friend.
That small gift, a Lamy Safari and a bottle of Parker ink, sparked an interest that grew to near-obsession. Nick now works primarily in pen and ink, exploring other mediums when inspiration strikes.When not creating art, Nick enjoys reading sci-fi and fantasy, spending time outdoors, wood working, and writing for his long-running Dungeons & Dragons campaign.
Nick lives with his wife, two sons, and their two cats in Plainsboro, NJ, a quiet suburb near Princeton, nestled between large swaths of farmland.
Join the Aurorabon Society newsletter for early art, secret lore, and updates directly from the creators. Members get the first four chapters as a sneak peek!
The Cast
Preview Chapter 1
© 2026 Lore and Tales, LLC
Preview of Chapter 1
Click through the images below to read through chapter 1. Feel free to reach out if you want to provide feedback!
The Cast
Join the Aurorabon Society newsletter for early art, secret lore, and updates directly from the creators. Members get the first four chapters as a sneak peek!
© 2026 Lore and Tales, LLC