Poppy, Rose, And Jam For The World Building Ask Game?

Poppy, Rose, and Jam for the world building ask game? 👀

Thank you so much for the Ask, @dreaminggoblin!!! I'll answer this one for my WIP Enchanted Illusions (my Victorian-inspired dark fantasy).

(The Ask Game)

POPPY - What historical event does every student learn about?

I guess that in Ansburke (the main fictional capital city where most of the conflict in Enchanted Illusions takes place) the most important historical event that still haunts the inhabitants of the city (and which caused scars that still affect their society, whether they like it or not) is the centuries-old war between humans and Myths (non-human people, such as vampires, gorgons, faeries, etc), which came to a stop only a 100 years or so before the main book, with a peace treaty that gave start to the "peaceful" coexistence between humans and Myths in the main cities, an event often referred to as The Dawn - even though the truth is much darker, and some humans haven't accepted peace and want the war to start again from the inside out of the city, this being the main conflict of the book the protagonists need to prevent.

ROSE - What is the most known myth?

There are many legends and stories from both sides - both humans and myths - many of which tell the tale of the time before there was peace between humans and creatures. One of the most well-known myths is the tale of a forbidden romance between a human prince and a Myth commoner at the height of the war, centuries ago, and the tragic fate that their love ended in - though slightly hopeful, with their half-human, half-myth child being often seen as the proof humans and creatures could create a brighter future together. To some, that is a cautionary tale of what their society can do to innocent people, to others, a story about finding hope even in the darkest times.

There are also many different versions of how the current peace treaty came to be - some believe one version, others another. Most people have a hopeful or neutral interpretation of that story. However, some of the most belligerent humans say that the peace treaty is a farse, justification for their prejudice.

JAM - Share your favorite piece of worldbuilding information!

Hum... That's a tough one! I like a lot of things about the little world I created for Enchanted Illusions, from the aesthetics, the masquerades, and the different nooks and crannies of a city so full of secrets, lies, and intrigue. From the workings of the cruel Hemlock Society to the grim cobblestone streets of the lower alleys and the social web of the city's inhabitants, there's a lot to discover in this WIPs world. I also like giving my own spin to common mythological creatures, which are the basis for the Myth people in this book!

However, I guess one of my favorite details of this world is the Sorcerer Council, which is the "magical elite" of Ansburke. It's my favorite for a couple of reasons: I love writing political intrigue, especially if it involves the hypocrisies and secrets often associated with high society. The Sorcerer High Council, often known simply as High Council or just the Council, mixes all of that political intrigue and secrecy with the workings of magical hierarchy and spell-casting orders of the city, giving it a whole other layer. It has very strict rules, and its members are expected to be exemplary individuals worthy of representing the magical order they hail from. While, in theory, the Council exists to ensure the safety and common good of the people of Ansburke, some of its members - those with friends in even higher places and a lot of dangerous influence in the city's underworld - have grown complacent and often care more about money than the lives they're supposed to use their talents to protect. A once fair system - when it came to choosing the most talented apprentice from each magical domain/academy - has given way to a cutthroat competition where candidates are often chosen out of nepotism or convenience, rather than raw talent. It parallels some of the core issues with the very city of Ansburke and heavily represents some of the themes this story discusses/criticizes.

Not all of the members of the Council are bad, there are some really good people there who genuinely want to help the city thrive - but they are vastly outnumbered by the others who are more powerful and who are there only to deal with politics/gain money. Those who try to stand in the way of that corrupted side of the Council usually become either expelled from it, "eliminated" (let's just say some Council members made others conveniently disappear), or silenced in some other way. That's why Damien Daemitya chose a silent approach to his dealing with the other Council members - he wants to make a change but realized that if he doesn't pretend to play along with their game, he'll just become another casualty, and that would do no good to the city he wants to protect (that and the fact he wants to shelter his daughter from all of this mess).

I guess I just love writing complicated, often "not what it seems" organizations with dark secrets hidden beneath a gilded facade. It is also the origin of some of the subplots and other main conflicts in the story, so I have a lot of fun developing this aspect of Ansburke! (:

drop this sunflower 🌻 into the inboxes of the blogs that make you happy! lets spread a little sunshine ☀️

Aw, omg thank you so much, @pluttskutt! This made my day! And here, right back at ya, 🌻!

OC Favorites Tag Game!

I wasn't tagged by anyone, but this tag game sounded really cool, and I saw an open tag for it somewhere here, so there we go! (:

Rules: share photos of your OCs' favorite color, season, shoe choice, weapon, and pastime, then change up any one of the five favorite things categories for the next round.

I'll go with the cast of Enchanted Illusions for this one.

Augustus Grimmure - carmine red, autumn, derby shoes or loafers, dagger or any kind of knife (even a kitchen knife will do, but he doesn't like guns at all, finds them impractically loud), learning new dark magic spells or reading by the fireplace.

Harriet Sharppe - pastel yellow or pink, winter, balmoral boots, pocketknife, studying weird insects and collecting plant specimens - especially poisonous ones.

Evangeline Daemitya - sky blue, spring, fancy low-heel pump shoes, fencing saber or just plain magic, making intricate drawings on her sketchbook/journal or listening to music

Cailean Telkerly - very dark green, doesn't have a favorite season, simple leather boots, pocket pistol or brass knuckles, figuring out new inventive ways to make his heists work - also likes stargazing and dancing

Agatha Greenwoods - teal or grey, summer, laced shoes - likes walking without shoes, just socks, when at home though, switchblade, drinking tea while studying her case - also collects random interesting trinkets she finds

Marcus Kallihan - doesn't have a favorite color, winter, shoes that allow him to be as silent as possible, is an expert at almost any kind of gun imaginable + plus is a sniper, practicing knife throwing, though he prefers to spend time playing with his dog

Ambrose Prosper - purple (absolutely any shade of it) and gold, spring, explorer's boots, dual-wielding guns, is surprisingly good at crocheting, goes to the opera frequently, and also likes people watching (judging them silently)

Thaddeus Lockhill - dark red, winter, leather combat boots, any kind of weapon available at a given moment - is good at improvising and using the environment to his advantage, would say he has no time for hobbies due to his ✨cause/revolution✨ but secretly likes singing

Vincent Sharppe - charcoal black, gentleman shoes freshly shined, autumn, sword cane (which can be impractical in some situations because he actually needs his cane to walk), secretly plays the piano, paints, and does scrapbooking

Clarence Van Sterlling - sunshine yellow (ironic, since he is a vampire), winter, knee-length boots with or without heels, rapier sword or just his fangs if need be, collects tin soldiers and other kinds of small dolls/figurines

Valentine Concordium - dried-leaf orange, summer and autumn, fancy shoes with intricate designs, literally a broadsword or just a regular gun, journaling and collecting a bunch of stuff

Tagging (gently, with no pressure) - @oh-no-another-idea, @little-peril-stories, @clairelsonao3, @writernopal, @memento-morri-writes and @tabswrites

The next 5 words will be color, season, shoe choice, weapon, and food.

blorbo blursday! 🐕 - you got a blorbo that's loyal to a fault? that will stand up for their friend/cause no matter what anyone else thinks? share!

Yay! Thank you so much for the Blorbo Blursday Ask, @pluttskutt! Sorry for the late reply, things were crazy busy over here yesterday, so here we go! (:

You got a blorbo that's loyal to a fault? That will stand up for their friend/cause no matter what anyone else thinks?

YES. In fact, I think every single one of my WIPs has a character who is like that in some way or another. It's one of my absolutely favorite character tropes/archetypes!

Let's take a look at a few of those from my WIPs Enchanted Illusions, Tales of Wilted Flowers, and Mutant Inquiries! I'm really excited to answer this ask!

Enchanted Illusions.

Augustus Grimmure - the crew's resident necromancer (and Harriet's boyfriend that no one is supposed to know about)! Surprisingly, behind his dark magic shenanigans and utter disregard for his enemies' lives, Augustus is a highly loyal person to those who prove themselves worthy of it. He considers his friends as family and holds them in very high esteem. But I'm talking dangerously loyal - he wouldn't hesitate to immediately obliterate and slaughter anyone who even remotely poses a threat to his friends, with very little regard for his own safety - because hey, even if he dies, there's a 50/50 chance his magic will just bring him back stronger.

Damien Daemitya - a.k.a Evangeline's Dad. That man is committed to his family, 100% (arguably) the best divorcee dad in Ansburke. He's a very powerful man in the city as well and would do anything to make sure his family is safe and sound, even if it means disobeying his duties to the sorcerer's council, threatening his rivals/"making problems disappear", or taking the fall for his daughter's public mistakes/screw ups during her investigation (especially publicity-wise).

Agatha Greenwoods - She believes that honesty and loyalty are the basis of any worthwhile relationship, having been raised with a strict sense of justice - which is unsurprising, given she's the daughter of two of the most renowned detectives in the city. Agatha would absolutely stand up for her friends - or any underdog for that matter - regardless of the consequences or what other people may think of them, especially if they're being treated unjustly. Despite her initial distrust, Agatha can form strong attachments very quickly, even without other people realizing it. She just wants her friends to be happy and okay! She is also absolutely relentless in her steadfast commitment to her ideals and "cause" - which includes her mission to bring down the Hemlock Society.

Tales of Wilted Flowers.

Neoma'ka Ornasi - Loyalty is her code of honor, her rare currency with which she shows her affection. Only a precious select few can earn it. She may be a bit of a brute who loves a good bloody brawl more than most things, but if she gives you a slap on the shoulder and tells you "she's proud to fight beside you", she means it (at this point, it's basically her way of saying "I love you"). That girl would go to the ends of the earth and back at a moment's notice with those she considers her siblings-in-arms, no questions asked. She would also tear apart anyone who thinks otherwise.

Micah Rook - Micah may be a thief, but he has a softer heart than most and trusts incredibly easily - so much so it is surprising he's lived this long, especially in his line of work. He has loyalty to spare, and takes the saying "honor among thieves" very seriously. Sure, he may swindle you out of all your coins during a card game, and annoy his friends relentlessly, but when the moment comes and they're in most need of help, he's right there beside them, no matter the stakes.

Lorelai Wildwood - She knows what it is to be an outcast and have no one to turn to, and doesn't want her friends to ever few that way. Lorelai has an endless stream of second chances to give and will stick by and trust those she loves, even when that's an objectively dangerous and stupid thing - but correct, she's no fool- to do at first (ahem, Xarian and his past-). She's not naive (though she might have some attachment issues she's working through) but rather is willing to face the risks if it means her friends are safe.

Mutant Inquiries.

Cory "Diamond" Blythe - They get can attached real quick given the right circumstances and position of the moon, okay? It just depends on the person and their mood at the moment. It's both a character flaw and their greatest strength. When they found Becca (at the start of the story) in trouble, they didn't hesitate to help her and become quite possibly her most loyal friend in the story - even when she gets involved in a dangerous conspiracy and their lack of mutant powers makes him be in even more danger. No one messes with their crew. And anyone who does will have a 20-something-year-old menace running after them, likely on heels, with a switchblade.

Alexey Morikov - He is the definition of "taking secrets to the grave". He's not one to devote his ideals and self to a cause - he's done it before, and look where it got him- but that doesn't mean he can't extend his affection and loyalty to people he cares about, much to his chagrin and against his best efforts. He's like a stray cat who will hiss if you get too close and get sad when it doesn't get cuddles. Despite his "I don't give a damn, do whatever you want with your life, see if I care" attitude towards his friends, he cares immensely. The team, unfortunately, only finds out just how loyal he is and how much he does care when he gets kidnapped by the Agency - and promptly makes the agents' life hell by not telling them a thing about his friends until he's rescued.

Samantha Holborn - A team leader at heart, she built their little mismatched friend group of vigilantes on a foundation of loyalty and trust, of always being there for one another. She is highly idealistic - no price on this earth could sway her from her goals or change her mind from her beliefs, being steadfast and stubborn to an unimaginable degree.

joy list tag

I was tagged by the lovely, amazing @mysticstarlightduck! Thank you so much!! <3333

Rules: Make a list of all of the things that have made you happy recently! Then, tag as many people as you want that you think may need it to keep the positivity going ✨

D&D!!! This game is my special interest, so it's no surprise that it's my favorite part of my week. We had really long roleplay sessions for my Friday campaign last night, and the party finally got to learn a few things about Cyra, plus she got some... interesting news about her old gang... And tomorrow for my (usually) Saturday campaign I get to traumatize my poor boy Rook some more! (Poor man really is my punching bag... he's already been through so much...)

Playing video games! I bought Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous on January 1st, and I've played 98.3 hours since then, and am enjoying it immensely. I just hit level 20 yesterday! Cannot recommend this game enough, especially to people who liked BG3.

Seeing pictures of my parents' cats! My mom just got a new kitten a little over a week ago, and I'm so obsessed with her, I can't wait to meet her! And my dad's cats are still being their adorable, weird selves, and I want to see them again soon.

Watching Critical Role! I'm inching ever closer to the end of Campaign 1, and I'm not ready for it to be over. I can't decide if this ending will devastate me more than the ending of Campaign 2. On one hand, I preferred C2 overall, but on the the other, my favorite character dies at the end of C1. But either way, I love this silly little show, and it brings me so much joy. Watching Campaign 2 was literally a life-changing experience for me.

Daydreaming about my OCs! Even if I haven't been able to write lately, at least playing around with scenarios for them in my head at night while I'm trying to sleep brings me joy. These silly little guys (gender neutral) are truly the lights of my life. (This does include my D&D characters, btw.)

Buying books! While I was home over winter break I bought 7 books, and just yesterday I ordered 9 more, including a few from some writeblr people! I'm excited to read them whenever I get the chance.

Finding new music! In the past week I got really obsessed with Arrows In Action's latest album (Built To Last), and then WE MADE PLANS AND GOD LAUGHED by Beauty School Dropout came around and put me in a chokehold. It's fun finding new music that I like, and I'm excited to share it with my mom when I get a chance.

Getting tagged in posts / getting asks here on tumblr! This website is my only form of social media, and I truly adore all of the friends I've made on here. Even if I haven't done the thing you tagged me in, or I haven't answered your ask, the fact that you even thought to tag me or send me one makes me so happy.

I'm going to make this an open tag!! If you want to do this and/or need a reason to remember the good things in life, please feel free to say I tagged you!!!