I Have A "just Because" Question For You! One Of The Most Memorable The Last Wrath Characters I Remember

I have a "just because" question for you! One of the most memorable The Last Wrath characters I remember you talking about on your blog is Quinn, who has been forced to be a courtesan for the nobility due to being a prisoner of war, but tries to use his position to his advantage. How is Luciya's situation and approach similar? How is it different? Anything else you can tell us?

Thank you so much for the Ask, @clairelsonao3! I love talking about this character! I'm glad he (and Luciya) stood out to you in the story!

Also, for anyone else reading this, uh... mild TW for forced prostitution (that's basically a courtesan's job in Agrannor, but glorified and "fancy") and therefore mild, implied, SA. Nothing graphic, nothing that will be described here, but it is something Quinn deals with and has been implied to have happened in his past. (Mostly because he was forced into the position of a courtesan because the Morosyn Empire admired his beauty as a prisoner of war and that's the only reason they let him live).

I'm bad at warnings, but I think this covers it.

Let's get started with the answers, shall we?

Quinn Aurellen is one of the most complex characters in The Last Wrath as, despite hating his occupation and the nobility he is forced to entertain, he uses their greed and lust against them, turning their overblown pride into his own weapon of self-defense and war. He is jaded, cold, and bitter, but he is also extremely calculating and perceptive, with strong control over his emotions (wearing a mask/persona to the world that is entirely different from who he truly is). He is also older than Luciya (he recently turned 25) and a lot more experienced with what the world truly is. This gives him an advantage that she doesn't have (there is a reason why he is not only her best friend but a mentor figure as well), even though her approach to espionage (through lies and planting deceit) and her worldview are pretty similar to his, but not quite.

This already makes him - personally - a lot different than Luciya, who is a lot more reckless and emotionally driven, though equally clever. (She is extremely intelligent, but her anxiety and sense of justice sometimes get in the way of her scheming against her captors).

But let's compare their occupations to better answer your question.

How is Luciya's situation and approach similar?

Well, for starters, there is a difference that must be made clear: while they are both slaves and prisoners to the Morosyn Empire, their occupations could not be more different. It is dark.

Quinn is a courtesan. His job is to entertain the high-standing nobility of the Imperial Palaces, through dancing/singing but also by serving them in bed however they might like. He is there for their enjoyment, not his, (because as a prisoner of war, he is not considered an "Imperial Citizen" and doesn't have many rights under the Morosyn Law) and needs to always be "perfect". His beauty and his youth are his true shackles because the Morosyn nobles will never let him go free until the day when they finally grow bored/find a new darling, which is not likely to happen soon, sadly. So, whatever they ask, he must give them, and while he hates it, there is unfortunately not much he can do if he wants to stay alive.

Luciya is a lady's maid (which here means personal assistant supposed to do anything her Lady orders her to, there's not much friendship involved between her and her Lady) and a regular servant/household slave. She serves the iron-hearted High Lady Avaline, who has been her captor for the past four years, ever since Luciya's older brother (supposedly!!!) abandoned her due to debts to this noblewoman. Luciya's duties involve the general lady's maid duties (dressing her Lady, packing her bags, carrying things, etc.) and general work as a household servant around the Imperial Palaces. She has no similar "duties" to Quinn, luckily for her. She's just a regular cleaning slave.

Due to her Lady's explicit orders, no one can touch/harm her without the noblewoman's permission (as in Luciya is her "property", in the monetary sense, like a necklace or something shiny, because she is useful to her politically ) - Luciya is the only leverage the Emperor has to keep her brother, Fabian Anynth, in line as a Radiant Hunter and soldier, and they're not risking any unnecessary "harm/damage" to such a precious "tool." So she is "safe" in that sense, but her captor is as dangerous and cruel as a snake.

As for their distinct approaches to espionage:

QUINN: As mentioned before, Quinn uses his position as a courtesan to his advantage. Such an intimate occupation allows him to get quite close to some very politically important people, and their well-kept secrets. No one really watches what they talk about in front of a courtesan, because no one thinks he can truly be such a threat. That's where they're dead wrong. And that's precisely where he strikes. Due to having so many patrons, Quinn knows secrets from almost anyone and everyone involved in politics (because not only he has smooth-talked some of the more debauched nobles into trusting him, but he also has read all their journals, read their letters, and eavesdropped their secret conversations). There is nearly nothing he cannot discover, and that gives him power. He may not have his freedom, but the nobles are just as trapped in his web of deceit and stolen royal information. No one (except the Emperor) can blackmail him better than he can blackmail them. Because the Morosyn nobles were so haughty and high and mighty, indulging in their twisted fantasies because they simply could, they failed to notice they'd given the cleverest spy, Quinn, the tools he needed to bring them down.

LUCIYA: As a servant/part of the castle "staff" (of slaves), she can go almost anywhere in the Palaces without much suspicion being raised, with the guise of "cleaning something" or "following her orders", and no one will be much the wiser. She can sneak in and out through hallways, eavesdrop, and read through classified documents/letters. People don't really pay much attention to a servant, and that's what Luciya has to her advantage. Also, Luciya used to be a thief. And a good one at that. Fabian taught her many tricks to get in and out of places where she wasn't supposed to be, and she learned how to lie like a pro. No lock and key can quite stand in her way, not with her burglarizing/thieving knowledge. She is also fast and knows not to leave clues/traces of her espionage.

How is it different? Fundamentally, as explained before. Luciya's occupation is that of a regular household slave/servant. Quinn is a slave too but his occupation is as a courtesan. So yeah, there aren't many similarities in their "jobs", but they do have similar worldviews and similar techniques when it comes to espionage.

Anything else you can tell us? I told you here most of what there is to know about Quinn and Luciya's differences and similarities, so have some random facts about this duo instead now:

After they accidentally met when Luciya first arrived in the Imperial Palaces, the two slowly developed a strong friendship and became each other's most trusted confidants. Quinn really appreciated finding someone whom he could trust without the need to have any romance involved.

Luciya Anynth falls in love with Cassander Fynn, the rebel spy who works at the behest of the free-fighter Princess Ellinor Dallantes from Arkellya. She and Quinn were only best friends, more like siblings than anything else really.

Luciya spent the last four years believing her older brother - Fabian Anynth - had abandoned and left her for dead as a slave to High Lady Avaline to become a famous Hunter. At first, her act also revolves around her wanting some revenge on him for supposedly doing this. But in fact, his act of joining the Imperial army was the only reason Luciya was still alive - and she will soon discover this.

Quinn's only weak spot/vulnerability is his five-year-old nephew, whom he raised as his adoptive son after his older sister died in a tragic childbirth (and the child's true father, a mageborn, was killed in the Imperial gladiatorial fights). Quinn became the child's only family, since both his sister and brother-in-law had died in quick succession. He doesn't tell anyone about this though, so most of the nobility assumes Rowen (his nephew) is his son from some random patron from out of town. Luciya and Cassander (plus the Head Servant of the Palaces) are the only ones who know his nephew's backstory.

Enchanted Illusions: (Victorian Gothic Fantasy) Valentine Concordium's Journal Entries (part 1)

Valentine Concordium, Year 53 After the Great Dawn, October 20, nighttime.

The mansion is too quiet tonight, it … bothers me. Makes me restless, unruly thoughts stubbornly resurfacing again. So, I walked to the woods today, hoping that the night’s fresh air might give me some respite. There was a dead deer near the mansion, and the still-bloodied dire wolves that killed her were not far away. I hope I was able to scare them off for good. Being a fanged creature of the night has its perks, I will admit. But it so seems that only when it comes to being a source of fear. Strange.  

At least there were no holy Hunters this time. They haven’t come for me in a month now, maybe they’ve finally given up! I don’t want to fight them anymore, but I don’t want to die either. I wish Sebastian were still here. I miss him a lot. It’s lonely, living by myself in these wide halls - there’s so much history here but so much sorrow too. My sibling always had something to say, even if trivial, about anything and everything. It seemed foolish, at the time. Now I would give anything to hear all of that again.

I still have yet to get used to the silence. 

But alas… I wonder what has happened in the cities, it’s been a while since I last paid them a visit. It's strange, getting used to this new peace treaty, even though it was established over fifty years ago, even though that’s what my family always fought for. It feels, almost, unreal. But I rather like it. Bloodshed is pointless, and I’ve seen my fair share of it to want to banish such violence from my life forevermore. I was too young when the wars started, but in a way, I wish I had been more naive. I wish I could have been more naive, but that was never my choice to make, it seems.

I don’t know what has gotten me thinking about all of this again. Maybe it was the unbearable silence, or seeing the dead deer and its… bloody insides. I do not know. And I do not like it. 

In a more positive discovery: I hear there is a train station being built down at Griffin’s Port. I might as well pay it a visit, if that city ever becomes less… dangerous. I’m curious, honestly, about how such contraptions work. I’ve seen trains in books but I’ve never quite been near one, much less gotten to enjoy such mode of travel. It’ll be a new, perhaps enlightening experience - and I hope it might be fun, even. Few things are, nowadays, but I want to feel that joy again.

I’ve spent far too much of my recent time cooped up in the study, surrounded by old specimen books and my - admittedly morbid - childhood butterfly collection, and the cobwebs on the ceiling that have yet to be cleaned - which I still have yet to figure out how to do. Transfiguring into a bat while holding a mop proved, well, disastrous, to say the least. Maybe it's time that I … try to do something new. See the world outside this walls, and far from this forest.

But the Hunters are always there. Waiting. Just like they waited for Sebastian. I’m tired of hiding, but I’ll also not lie and say that I am not scared of what is to come. Things were never quite so uncertain before, and well, I was never quite so alone, before. 

I guess I’ll just have to wait and see what comes next, and hope that it is not quite as disastrous and bloody as everything seems to make it seem. Maybe there’s still something nice, about this world. Maybe. I don’t really know anymore. 

It is getting late. Or should I say early? Either way, maybe I should try and get some rest, clear my head of… all of this. Of whatever this is. “There’s always a new night to come”, Father always said. But that thought never seemed quite so burdensome before as it does now - what good is a new night, if it’ll be just as haunting and boredom filled as it’s predecessor?

I’ll wait, and sleep, maybe I’ll know the answer tomorrow. Likely not, though.

Author Ask Tag

Kindly tagged by @writernopal 💕

1. What is the main lesson of your story (e.g. kindness, diversity, anti-war), and why did you choose it?

The Last Wrath's main message, throughout many of the character arcs, is that one must not lose hope, even through the darkest times, and that to find that light in the dark, one has to take action, instead of waiting for a savior that may never come.

It also includes messages of acceptance and diversity (in the sense of the need for respect and tolerance for a harmonious society), learning from the past but not letting it define the future, and the need to take a stand for what you believe in. The value of freedom. Change, and its presence in all beings and things, is also an important theme.

TLW also shows how cruelty and injustice (of all kinds) can shape not only a world but the people within it.

On another note, The Last Wrath is also a story that criticizes how crooked people with enough power act like they are above others, and how prejudice can be one of the greatest evils a society can harbor. It criticizes oppression and corrupt systems, as well as criticizes against people who think they can take whatever they want because they can (be it in the more direct sense, like a conquest, or something more subtle but just as dangerous)

And it shows how there is still good even if it is hidden by the existence of great evil, and that the only way to find freedom, is to believe and accept yourself, and actively seek it - even if it may seem impossible at first, there is a brighter future ahead.

As for why I chose these themes, while most of them came naturally to the plot, it is also - in some ways - the story themes that I would've liked to read in the past and feel the message of a striving for a brighter future despite the odds, can be important to a lot of people out there too.

2. What did you use as inspiration for your worldbuilding (like real-life cultures, animals, famous media, websites, etc.)?

The Last Wrath takes a lot of inspiration from past civilizations that existed during the Ancient Times and Medieval Ages. I often find myself reading history books, researching historical articles, or even watching videos with random curiosities about the past, and all of those things eventually serve as a basis from which I built the fully fictional world that is the continent of Agrannor.

While my inspirations were varied the few ancient and medieval cultures that immediately come to mind when I think about some specific kingdoms/locations in Agrannor are: Ancient Romans, Ancient Greece, Vikings, the Mongols, Ancient Egypt, Celtic, Feudal Europe (especially England, France and Germany), Mediterranean, Ancient Middle East, Phoenicians, etc.

Mythology, lore, and folk/fairy tales are also great sources of inspiration for me, especially when it comes to the creation of magical beasts and creatures with a twist.

I also find myself inspired by watching different pieces of media, such as good movies or series, that take place in medieval fantasy settings. Something about it just gets me in the mood to write!

Listening to music, looking for aesthetics on Pinterest, daydreaming about my WIPs while listening to vibing songs - all of this helps get me inspired too!

3. What is your MC trying to achieve, and what are you, the writer, trying to achieve with them? Do you want to inspire others, teach forgiveness, and help readers grow as a person?

Well, aside from the overall goal of "prevent/stop the War of Prophecy from destroying the world" and "defeat the Secret Court and Emperor Aerich", I guess that all of my Main Characters are somehow looking for a missing piece of themselves (not in a literal sense lol, but in the metaphorical sense) and to finally find the place where they belong in the world, their "purpose" so to speak. Of course, each of the protagonists has unique goals and wants, but even those boil down to a variation of these.

As for what I am trying to achieve with them as a writer: I am trying to write a compelling story about unique individuals facing the odds, not because they want to, but because it is the right thing to do. I want to explore some aspects of the human condition through these characters, and how their harsh world shapes each individual in unique ways. How, at the end of the day, they're just people trying to do their best with what chance was given to them, even though they make mistakes and fail sometimes. I want to show how "courage is not the absence of fear, but taking action despite of it. " and that one doesn't have to be born a perfect hero to stand up for what is right or to protect those they love.

Do you want to inspire others, teach forgiveness, and help readers grow as a person? Yes, I do. At least I hope so, lol. But mostly, I want to inspire readers to question the world around them, and to consider looking at things through a different perspective rather than to become blindsided. I hope to show how you can choose your future and define your destiny, even if it is not an easy road for everyone. To embrace differences and let them help you - and the world around you - grow for the better. To consider that to try is the best thing anyone can do at any given moment, and that it is a thousand times better to try - even if there is a risk of failure - than to never try at all.

4. How many chapters is your story going to have?

While I have the story outlined and plotted, and know how it begins, develops, and ends, I don't know the exact amount of chapters it'll have. As many as it takes to write a well-rounded but concise story, I guess (:

5. Is it fanfiction or original content? Where do you plan to post it?

Original! I plan to publish The Last Wrath as an actual novel, one day, and I'm likely to indie publish when the time comes.

6. When and why did you start writing?

I started writing short stories when I was a little kid. I just loved creating stories, worlds, and characters, and creating wonderful things that only existed in my imagination! Sometime later I decided to try and write my first "book" on my dad's computer, which was already sort of medieval fantasy - which had always been my favorite genre, and still is. And this desire to write stayed with me ever since, and now, I actually write real novels and am able to bring the worlds in my imagination to my creations.

7. Do you have any words of engagement for fellow writers of Writeblr? What other writers on Tumblr do you follow?

Write the story you want to write, because it deserves to be out in the world, even if you currently doubt yourself, and only you - its author - can bring that story to fruition the way it was meant to be written, and know that you deserve to write whatever the heck you want. For yourself, to have fun doing it. Know that every word on a page, even if it is just a sucky first draft, is a step towards perfecting your craft, and that gentle practice and patience beats stubborn perfectionism (wanting things to come out perfect in the first try), any day.

Tagging (gently) @conkers-theficwriter, @digital-chance, @lyutenw, @exquisitecrow, @clairelsonao3, @cabbojage, @rickie-the-storyteller, @your-absent-father, @anoelleart, @jasperygrace

Some slightly different wordlbuilding activities

Ones I haven’t seen as often but apply myself. 

1.- Bedtimes stories you tell to children, or lullabies. They can be based in location or species. They can tell us about the world, history, beliefs or something specific about a creature. It can be fun to think of their origin, how they’ve changed over the years and both the meaning that was lost and the meaning that was added. 

2.- Fashion choices. I often let fashion be different for different creatures. I usually create a practical outfit that makes sense historically within the context of my world and then evolve it until I get to the present day of my story. Preferably splitting of into branches and allowing more options. It can tell us about a specific species, about their history and about how the climate has changed, or how they moved locations at some point and had to adapt their clothing to a new climate. 

A very simple example of this from my own book would be the mage’s cloak! Link to a longer post about it. Basically, mages would wear a simple one piece fabric that was easy to then set an illusion over, no wasting time mixing trousers and tops. Over time some mages stopped using illusions, seeing the outfit as acceptable. It became a staple, you saw the cloak, that wasn’t a human but a mage. And then younger generations began personalising the material, instead of boring black, white or brown they started using floral patterns, adding in cool sleeves or hoods! 

Initially, it was practicality, but it evolved. 

3.- Think about what each species does for fun! I often read YA fantasy where the stakes are so high there is no leisure, no downtown, no fun, no hobbies. But this is a great opportunity! What’s popular in your world? Books, plays, board games, long walks, playing sport? Seeing characters just chill can be a great change of pace and allow for some insight into their lives and the world they live in. 

4.- What is imported? And why? Sometimes imports are just practical, we don’t have wool here (unlikely, sheep are literally everywhere, but you get the point), wool is good for clothes, we import it. But other times it’s more complicated. 

Perhaps a species moved across the country at some point, but they were accustomed to a certain type of tea, fruit for certain festivities, so on, so on, and habit dies hard, so, importation becomes a thing. 

So those are my four world-building tips for today. I’ve said it before and will say it again, there is no master list, not check list, world-building is something you can figure out as you go in most genres (some epics may requiere more prep time). What’s important is to keep track of what you’ve said and stay consistent, but you don’t need to know everything before going in. 

As usual,  check out my book, stories I’ve written plus other social medias: here.

How’s your world coming along? 

🧢 share a snippet about clothes

Thank you for the Ask, @clairelsonao3!

I have some snippets that mention clothes, and though they're not necessarily the main focus clothes certainly play an important role in starting these interactions. I chose two:

(Misunderstandings at the Imperial Masquerade. A bittersweet snippet from Luciya's POV)

They walked into the Great Hall, where the festivities of the week were about to start. Tonight, the Glimmering Waltzes would be the talk of the Capital.

Luciya groaned. “I look like a baby pigeon that fell from a tree. I mean - look at this dress, it’s not even fitted. I’m sure Lady Avaline chose this as a cruel joke, because nothing explains this.” She pouted, looking down at her wonky and bland grey dress and pointing at her unimpressive mask.

Still, she looked just like any of the other maids in the castle, which had technically been her unwanted occupation for a couple of years now. It was supposed to be a good thing, no one could recognize or catch her in this costume, but she still envied those who actually got to enjoy the finest of the festivities she used to dream about. 

“On the bright side, you won’t have everyone looking at your every move like hungry vultures. I feel like a damn preened peacock”  Quinn chuckles, gesturing to all of him. It seemed like there wasn’t an inch of him that wasn’t covered in the burdensome myriad of shimmering jewelry that adorned his flowy and gold-trimmed silk clothes. A walking gemstone. 

“You do have a point, but at least you get to look I don't know, pretty.”

The words soured as soon as she spoke them, and Luciya wished she could take them back. She had meant them as a compliment - just hadn’t realized soon enough that she’d chosen the worst one. It’s that specific word, Luciya scolded herself, she should’ve chosen anything else. Quinn blinked a couple times, before he quickly shook his head. He tried to laugh it off, but he had gone paler than the statues around the now bustling great hall.

Pretty thing. She suddenly recalled what Quinn patrons had often called him.

Luciya grimaced, hating herself even more as she remembered that. How could she have forgotten? She had accidentally all but rubbed salt in that fresh wound. More than nothing, she wanted to take her careless previous comment back before she even said it.

“It would seem so,” Quinn answered her previous comment, barely audible through the masquerade’s rising music. The faint touch of bitterness in his voice faded away into a sigh as straightened his posture, placing the party’s golden mask, that had been chosen for him, over his expertly expressionless face. Before she could fix her mistake, her friend continued with his trademark carefully crafted smile.

“Anyways, the party is about to start,” Quinn said out loud, words perfectly smooth despite her recent slip-up. He continued, lowering his voice so that only she could hear what he was about to say. “If our friend’s plan is going to work, this is as perfect of a time as we’re ever going to get. When the masquerade reaches its peak, you’ll slip away to the gardens, unseen. You get to the gardens, give Cassander the information, get that scroll in return, and come back before the last song ends. The Emperor wants the masquerade to last until dawn, so I don’t believe timing will be much of a problem for us.”

Right, there was no time to wallow in feelings or how they looked, Luciya reminded herself. They had work to do, and there were lives on the line. She nodded. 

“I know a small hallway that leads down the palaces. It’s only ever used by the nobles - and the occasional servant - but now that they’re all here, the hallway should be empty. I’ll get in and get out before the songs even finish.”

Quinn nodded at her, a mix of satisfaction and worry where his eyes peeked through the mask. He turned to walk away with a playful flourish. “And I’ll make sure to put up a good show.”

He smirked, and turned away, smoothly walking to his assigned seat at the high tables. 

A curious realization (A snippet from Darian's POV)

Darian could almost feel Seira staring at him but said nothing until his curiosity got the better of him. "What are you doing?" Darian asked, amusedly.

Seira, patted her chin, pensively, before pointing at his cape as they walked.

"Darian, I'm pretty sure my uncle made that cloak." She paused, tugging at the fabric so that she could pull one of the edges closer to her eyes, and hummed. "Yeah, it even has his signature stitch pattern on the velvet trim. Interesting."

Darian huffed out a chuckle. "Wait, are you serious? Let me see." He leaned closer to the edge of the cloak she was holding up, finally recognizing the patterns. "I'll be damned... I never even realized that."

"Well, well, well, would you look at that," Seira smiled warmly, throwing an arm over her friend's shoulder "It seems our Rebel Boy got clothes made by the finest and most highbrow tailor in all of the Free Realms."

She laughed. "Oh, I would pay to see the look on his face if my uncle ever found out the rebel heir was his number one client. Oh, that would've been precious to witness."

Darian looked at her, a sly smirk on his face as he giggled.

"What can I say, I am a man of good tastes."

Seira shook her head playfully. "I'm glad to see you haven't changed a bit in the past three years."

In front of them, Lukan looked over his shoulder, almost stumbling into a moving cart. "Would you two focus? You're going to make me make a wrong turn and lose the address - and then we'll have a real problem on our hands. Be more careful and less loud."

Darian felt Seira snort out a laugh. "Since when did you get so bossy, Luk?" She asked playfully, though Darian noticed her moves becoming more cautious, like Lukan had suggested.

Lukan didn't turn around. "Ever since you dragged me into this city which I'd rather forget." The mercenary answered drily, before looking around, talking to himself. "... Now if we continue through here - No, wait, there. Yeah, that's it. How can one place change so much in so few years, my Gods...?"

Seira nudged Darian, who was staring concernedly at their unwitting guide's struggle to figure out where they should go from here. "Don't worry, he usually gets it right after a few tries - well most of the time."

It is now a skull with crossbones. Not nearly as triggering as that MF clown that was staring into my soul with a vengeance, so that's a plus.

Still distracting as hell (OCD go brrr), and it impairs the ability to like posts (as in, you have to scroll all the way down so that you don't click the skull's square perimeter - which it has for some cursed reason - instead of, you know, the like button). Thanks, I hate it ✨

2023: missives from desktop tumblr suggest that per the latest update my mutuals are being hunted by some kind of grotesque clown. staff assure us this is driven by user feedback.