Happy STS, Mystic! My STS Asks Have Been Severely Lagging Recently, But Hooray For The Holidays And Free

Happy STS, Mystic! My STS asks have been severely lagging recently, but hooray for the holidays and free time!

What’s the biggest burst of inspiration you’ve ever had writing-wise, and what was the result?

Happy STS, @clairelsonao3, thank you so much for the ask! (And Happy Holidays to you, whichever you celebrate, and a Happy New Year! 🎆)

What’s the biggest burst of inspiration you’ve ever had writing-wise, and what was the result?

I'm not sure which of my moments of inspiration was the greatest or biggest one, lol - my writing mostly starts or consists of multiple little bursts of inspiration and their ramifications. So, I'll go with the most recent ones!

I was working on some backstory for Tales of Wilted Flowers, and one of my biggest and most important moments of inspiration was figuring out the key moments for Caladin's backstory, which was much different than I had initially thought it would be - including the reason why he despises his powers and lives running from his bloodline. I think it was a very neat moment of realization for me as if all the pieces were coming together to create his story and pave the path for his current goals. Another important moment was deciding the final arc for Korbyn, the villainous dark magic apprentice of Lord Eldryc, who is more than it seems in many ways.

As a final one, I think that figuring out the main motivation/backstory for King Tieran Kallasen in a way that really fits his character - him being the heir of the "ancient heroes", but who never quite measured up to his family's expectations and name really fit the theme of the story, and was a nice subversion of the "Chosen One" trope (the descendant of a chosen one become a villain out of greed and despair) in my eyes. Living in the shadow of a legacy that had long since become hollow made him obsessive with maintaining his status and becoming the most powerful as a way to prove that he was going to be greater than those who came before him - even if it took slaughtering his enemies to prove a point and awakening an ancient sorceress to gain more power over those who denied him.

(For The Last Wrath, one of my greatest moments of inspiration came while developing Luciya and Fabian's backstory, as well as Quinn's own story)

(Bg3) Raphael after being bamboozled and fooled by my party yet again:

My goals/plans for writing this year are:

Make a finished first draft for Realms of Loss!!!!

Finish and edit Tales of Wilted Flowers (first draft)

Make a second draft for The Last Wrath

(this is more of an art goal, but it involves some scriptwriting, so here it goes!) to finally design, start and finish my Supernova Initiative webcomic!

Welcome 2024!

We’re in the final countdown until the New Year, and I’m so excited! What are y’all’s plans and resolutions for the next year? They can be related to writing or not!

Share in the replies or the reblogs, and everyone go support and follow each other!

Nine People I'd like to get to know better

Tagged by the wonderful @jay-avian! Thank you so much for the tag!

Last Song: Bottom of The Deep Blue Sea - MISSIO

Favorite Color: Purple/Lilac and Turquoise

Last movie/TV show:

Last Movie: Robin Hood (2010)

Last TV Show: Maya and The Three (2021) and Blue Eye Samurai (2023)

Sweet/Spicy/Savory: Savory and Sweet! I really love savory dishes and all kinds of salty snacks, as well as sweet desserts, though I can't eat too much sugar due to some blood-sugar issues.

Relationship status: Single

Last thing I Googled: "is Rebel Moon worth watching?"

Current obsession: 1. Astarion Ancunín and his whole backstory + fanfiction (Baldur's Gate 3), 2. The plot and characters of Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)

Tagging: @crowandmoonwriting, @writernopal, @elshells, @meerawrites, @rickie-the-storyteller, @jasperygrace, @doublegoblin, @gummybugg and @lassiesandiego

Happy Worldbuilding Wednesday!

How are arts and crafts treated in your setting? Is it a common hobby? A communal activity? Do people do it for fun? Or is it reserved for only a certain group which does it for a significant reason?

Happy WBW, Sam! Thank you so much for the Ask, @sam-glade!

I'll answer this ask for my WIPs Realms of Loss and Tales of Wilted Flowers, because these two books have been haunting my brain for the past few days!

How are arts and crafts treated in your setting? Is it a common hobby? A communal activity? Do people do it for fun? Or is it reserved for only a certain group which does it for a significant reason?

Realms of Loss

Well, the answer for that depends on where you are in the setting because Avillore and Sarythea - the main kingdoms in this world - differ majorly from one another. And since life in that continent is very much dedicated to survival, arts take a whole different meaning.

In Sarythea, arts and crafts are both a hobby for people of higher standing who have time to dedicate themselves to it, as it is an act of faith. Sarythea still holds on to their rites from the time the Old Gods were alive, and those beliefs - and the symbolism that comes with them - bleed into their craft. Art is a part of their daily lives as a way to connect to the hope that one day the gods will return and also a way to keep their culture alive despite the war outside their walls.

Craftwork is also economically important for both of the kingdoms, as it is a big part of the trade between allied provinces and helps the economy of the realms keep flowing within their territories. Trained artisans are very valued in both kingdoms for this reason, and often become powerful merchants.

Art is also one of the many things that distinguish the kingdoms from one another, as each kingdom has specific colors and symbols/designs that identify them.

Avillore, however, is slightly different. Known as the Fortress Kingdom, Avillore is deeply invested in its military developments, and as such, warfare is a huge part of its culture*. As such, much of their art is centered on themes of war, might, and power, as a way to exalt their values. People in Avillore don't view art or crafts as a simple hobby, as another way to perfect themselves and showcase their might.

(*The difference is that, though both kingdoms have been trapped in bloody combat for centuries now, and are equally matched when it comes to military prowess, the "art of war" is revered in Avillore, while to Sarythea war is a necessary evil to survive. This is one of the many differences in points of view).

Notes - The Outer Cities and the Izuhyn People

OUTER CITIES -

Context -The outer cities are the remains of kingdoms and provinces that were ravaged in the ongoing wars, which surround both of the kingdoms in outposts and villages. It's also the home to most of the population of both of the kingdoms and is situated beyond the protective walls that keep the actual capitals safe. Neglected, those outposts are a ruthless place and those who are unlucky enough to be stuck there must do what it takes to survive both the constant war and the encroaching curse that destroyed the lands beyond it*.

*The area beyond the outer cities and around the Far Reach (the wall that divides the territories of the continent in two) is a desolate freezing wasteland known as the Lost Lands, where the First Battle took place and the ancient capital of the realm (which was once unified, not divided into two) once stood - in the Lost Lands, the betrayal curse runs rampant and is the home to the first figments of what is known as forgotten magic.

Answer - As such, arts and crafts are not seen as something very valuable in these places, as survival comes first. But it does serve a few purposes, whether it is by identifying different gangs of the Guild - a network of spies and thieves that runs the outer cities from the underworld - or allowing for trade whenever a merchant dares pass through these outposts.

IZUHYN PEOPLE -

Context - The Izuhyn People are the inhabitants of an empire beyond the curse that has isolated Sarythea and Avillore. They're descendants of the Archguardians - young gods born of the ashes left behind by the Old Gods - and have very unique culture, magic, and beliefs (for reference, they're the closest thing this setting has to elves or demigods, but not quite) They've never taken part in the wars that ravaged their neighboring kingdoms (until, of course, the beginning of the book when the war literally came to them) as they consider war as a vile and unnecessary spilling of blood.

Answer - They're very connected to nature - and the magic within it - and art is one of the main ways they express that connection as well as being a great part of their culture. Art is also specifically tied to their magic and the way they cast spells, as magic is viewed as a form of art, like a tapestry or a mosaic, and as such, they're known for their intricate amulets.

Tales of Wilted Flowers -

Ravaryn - the continent where the story takes place - has many different kingdoms and species that inhabit it. The main kingdoms relevant to the story are Wenhorn (the most powerful and famous kingdom as their royal family is a descendant of one of the Called, a hero that helped save the realm a few centuries ago), Thysfire (a smaller kingdom - that's actually a duchy - on the western mountains that are known specifically for its trade of magical goods and its artistic tendencies), and Allanar (the kingdom of the Seelie Courts, which has, obviously, a population that's majorly elven or faery).

Okay, onto the answers!

Wenhorn -

As the main hub of quite frankly most of the activity in Ravaryn (be it economical, military, religious, or artistic), Wenhorn serves as a melting pot for different cultures, species, and beliefs, which come together in the city. This means that many different types of arts and crafts can also be found here - be intricate elven jewelry, to beautiful human paintings and handcrafted dwarven metal goods, just to name a few.

For the people of Wenhorn art can be equally a form of expression of their personal culture as it can be a religious activity done within a community and a form of economy. Some people do arts for fun as a part-time hobby, while others become masters in their chosen craft - Wenhorn is known for some of the best painters, architects, and jewel smiths. Being the heart of trade in the realms, artisanal goods are always in high demand in Wenhorn's bustling marketplaces, and many people come to the city just to buy - or learn - those arts.

In Wenhorn, also, inventions are considered a form of art that can be mastered. Many people travel to the kingdom to become apprentices in the royal academies and hone their skills as Inventors, joining magic with science in the mechanical gears of their creations.

Thysfire -

A duchy nestled in the edge of the western mountains of Ravaryn, with a vastly human and dwarven (magically talented or not) population, Thysfire is known for its magical exports - artisanal goods that are often crafted with or imbued with magic they source from the heart of the mountain. Art and crafts, therefore for them is viewed as their main trade and the heart of their economy.

During the famous Summertide Festival, arts are also a communal activity, when the people from the city create new decorations and art just for the event, which is deeply important for them and their culture. Many people - including royalty and nobility from other kingdoms - come to Thysfire for the festival every year, so it is a great opportunity for Thysfirans to sell their crafts and showcase their traditional art.

Allanar -

To the elves and faeries of Allanar, art serves a purpose - more than its beauty, art is a form of remembrance, a way to connect with their ancestors and keep the past alive. Some specific forms of art can be deeply important for some families and the community as a whole - intricate necklaces and jewelry often hold important symbolic meaning to individuals. There are plenty of religious rites in Allanar that strongly revolve around arts as a way to connect with their gods, such as Ildaras Day, a holiday for the elves that honors one of their gods - where one of the many celebrations, other than symbolic sports, also involves intricate and artistic dancing, and singing. The inhabitants of Allanar highly value the beauty and balance that art can create, and their city - one of, if not the most beautiful in all Ravaryn - is a reflection of that. Allanar is also known for having some of the best musicians and sculptors in the entirety of Ravaryn. Arts are also a way for their people to praise and honor the almost immortal Seelie royal family that rules their kingdom - something that often brings their people together.