Wip The Last Wrath - Tumblr Posts

Happy Worldbuilding Wednesday! Thank you for the tag, @writernopal!

For the sake of doing something new, I'll talk about both of my main WIPs - The Last Wrath and Tales of Wilted Flowers.

THE LAST WRATH -

In Agrannor, there are many beautiful places and wondrous locations that can be quite cozy!

For example:

a tavern down the Scarp of Kestrall in the late afternoon and early night, when the recently lit fires start roaring welcomingly, providing shelter from the merciless winter air outside, and a bard's song echoes joyfully from within. Eating a warm meal after a long day's travel, enjoying the warmth and merry music before settling down to rest.

a Vellamerian beach during the early hours of the day. The way the sun's rays beam just right on the crystal blue waters, making a myriad of colors dance in the rocky shoreline, where colorful fishes - of all shapes and sizes - start coming out to hunt. The perfect place for a picnic or an early morning stroll.

the royal gardens of the Spring Palaces in Nethilor, where just about the most beautiful plants and flowers in the world flourish under the sun, blessed by Fae magic centuries ago. Taking a romantic walk through these gardens would be heavenly.

the kingdom of Liranthis is known for its wide and wondrous libraries and archives, where they claim all the knowledge in the world can be found. The archives are kept in pristine condition, within towers nestled almost as high as the clouds above, striving for peace and quiet, be it for a quick visit in the morning for a scroll or a late-night study session with a cup of tea.

the festivals and fairs of Etaruze and Faravvia are quite enchanting, especially during the Summertide and Yule Festivals, which are the pride of both kingdoms and a core tradition for their people. Imagine beautiful white cobblestone streets filled with new stalls and flashing colors, paper street lamps gleaming above your head as you buy candied apples and strawberries from one of the vending stalls while cheering and dancing fill the night around you.

the hills around one of the Imperial kingdoms, beautiful meadows covered in green grass sliding off the rocky hillside and leading into the forest, untouched by the Emperor's army, where some faery enclaves can still thrive, hidden from the world.

TALES OF WILTED FLOWERS -

I'll make this a bit different - instead of talking about places in general that are beautiful and cozy, for this WIP I'll talk about the places the main cast personally finds cozy, therefore being more specific!

While traveling through the kingdom, one of the coziest spaces for Rylisan is his bedroom tent, which he sets up personally every time they make camp. He has many pillows, of different fabrics and colors, and an insanely fluffy bedroll. Also, his tent is almost always lit up in a warm light, because he does not like the dark. I think that what Rylisan likes the most about his tent - other than the fact that it is very comfy - is that: it is his space, his privacy, and it is safe. The fact that his room is something he can control and make comfortable is very important to Rylisan.

Xarian Argyris feels coziest when he is in a bustling tavern, especially if there is good music and wine, and there’s no unwarranted chaos to be found. He also feels particularly comfortable during general festivities, becoming especially fond of the Severmoon Festival in the time he and his friends spent in the kingdom of Grimpass Keep, even mentioned that this was the most fun he had in years. He also likes finding hidden nooks and crannies around the cities he is in, especially if he manages to find somewhere beautiful and unique, like when he and Lorelai went stargazing after a party in their time in the kingdom’s capital. Having been trapped and isolated (by the villain) for a long time before breaking free, Xarian despises complete solitude and is irked out by silence, so his favorite places in the world are the exact opposite - they’re bustling with life, with freedom and options.

Lorelai Wildwood's favorite place in the world, where she feels most comfy at, is to be reading something interesting - especially if it is an ancient tale - by firelight, with a cup of a warm beverage (like her favorite, lavender tea - with cookies, of course) and a comfy blanket. It doesn't matter if she is curled up in her bedroll while camping on their journeys, or if she is in a lavish armchair in the libraries of a castle, just the act of reading so comfortably makes her feel cozy. Another thing that makes her feel cozy is when she and Xarian go stargazing together, because she likes his company (and vice versa) and because her boyfriend gives the best hugs according to her.

The place Arista Bryar finds coziest are potion shops, especially cozy ones run by kinder witches and alchemists. It gives her warm memories of her past, since she grew up in her mentor’s potion shop before everything went wrong. She just loves the general flowery smells, the woodcarved funitures, getting to stare at the intricate vials on the shelves and try to guess which potion does what, and her favorite, actually being able to see someone make a new potion. Not only do these shops feel homey and comfortable overall - having a general tea shop vibe - but she just generally likes to be there, she feels like she is in her element when amongst all those vials, components and potions. Alternatively, in the absence of a potion shop, Arista likes anywhere that is not crowded - as a dhampir who was once hunted, humans give her a lot of mixed feelings and she generally prefers only the company of the few human friends she trusts - especially if it is somewhere she can get desserts, so bakeries are her next most cozy spot to visit.

Kaladin Morgrove considers rowdy taverns and pubs in general as his definition of cozy, especially if there is plenty of wine available. However, if he is being truly honest with himself, Kaladin feels quite comfortable in his group’s campsites, especially after a long day’s travel where they can just chill around the fire, eat something freshly cooked and just talk  - surprisingly, Kaladin likes to tell stories, mostly exaggerated and almost always about himself, and they are very funny.

Despite being a thief in the main land, Micah Rook quite enjoys going to the seaside, even if it’s just to chill out at the port, but especially if he gets to go to a beach in the kingdom’s rocky shore. Micah’s true parents used to be seafaring adventurers, so Micah feels incredibly at ease when travelling in a ship in the open ocean, and loves anything to do with the act of sailing. Sitting in the crow’s nest of a galley at night and just watching the sea flowing below the ship has to be his favorite spot in the world. He is also unusually comfortable while exploring forgotten ruins and the like, finding the general dusty emptiness of those once important places something surprisingly comforting.

Neoma'ka feels most comfortable when she can eat a good roast and large amounts of anything she can find, especially ale. As such, this goblin warrior feels incredibly comfortable at feasts, though she much prefers the informal ones - like the ones in taverns, festivals and her tribe - over the uptight ones, because part of the comfort of a feast is being able to relax.

alright, i'm running on fumes today but I still want to send out some kind of WBW ask so we'll do it this way instead!

Tell me about the coziest place in the world of your WIP that I could spend an afternoon. Is it a beautiful meadow with magical, singing creatures? Maybe a cute library or used book store built into the trunk of an ancient tree? Or maybe a cool little thrift store with cats in the parking lot! Tell me about it!

Tagging a few of the usual suspects but feel free to participate if this comes across your dash anyway! The more the merrier!

@sam-glade @writingmaidenwarrior @writeblr-of-my-own @mysticstarlightduck @pheita @crowandmoonwriting @acertainmoshke @callahanscorner @void-botanist @tabswrites

Happy Storyteller Saturday! Why did you choose the POV you did for your story?

Happy Storyteller Saturday! Thank you so much for the Ask, @gummybugg!

Why did you choose the POV you did for your story?

So let's consider my 2 Main WIPs!

The Last Wrath

Is a Multiple-POV story in 3rd person, and while all POV characters have vastly different experiences, their lives and the events in their stories are intrinsically connected. I choose a Multiple POV route for many reasons, chiefly because it allows me to explore different viewpoints and the effects of the story's arc through different lenses, while also moving the conflict forward in a compelling way. For example, we have:

Raelen Ashiren: a young Mageborn girl looking for a way not only to escape the war and discover the true secrets of her family's lost legacy, but also to find a way to save her older brother from a fate worse than death.

Zephyr Tellian: a talented sorcerer looking for an anti-dark magic spell that can counter the attacks of the villains (and prevent the War of Prophecy) while also looking for the cure of the curse that has been slowly but surely consuming him.

Princess Ellinor Dallantes: as the only survivor of the massacre of her family - the royal clan of Arkellya - Ellinor was raised by assassins and grew into a warrior who is currently leading the main rebel efforts against the Morosyn Empire's plans of conquest.

Darian Caelestis: a young potions-maker, son of infamous rebel warriors, Darian has lived in the shadow of a promise he could not keep, until he found the chance to make things right and save his long-lost best friend/boyfriend from the enemy.

So yeah, lol, it's a pretty varied set of viewpoints!

Tales of Wilted Flowers

Is a Single-POV story in 3rd person, with a few occasional bouts of Dual-POV here and there. The POV majorly follows the character of Lorelai Wildwood, a young outcast who wants to be more than what the world sees in her, as she goes on a winding adventure with some newfound allies, to stop an evil lurking beneath their kingdom's perfect surface. (Occasionally, as mentioned before, the POV of this book shifts to that of Xarian Argyris, a faerie outlaw who becomes Lorelai's love interest.)

I chose this specific POV because it lets me focus solely on the MCs experiences, while showcasing a bit of their thoughts and inner conflicts, which really comes in handy for writing a high fantasy adventure!

Thank you for the WBW Ask, @tabswrites!

What are some status symbols in your world? How do upper-class people typically show off their wealth?

(I'll go with the world of The Last Wrath for this one <3)

This is a very interesting question to which the answer is, yet again lol, it varies a lot.

In the Morosyn Empire:

They go all in when it comes to showing off wealth and status. To the people of the Morosyn Empire, power, wealth and influence are everything one should strive for, and this could very well define someone's life (or at least their future prospects of success).

It's all about posturing in the Morosyn Empire, always trying to look like more than one really is, in the hope of getting in the good graces of the Imperial court. As such, grandiose displays of status are more than encouraged, within calculated measure, that is: extravagant gold-plated (or at least gold-trimmed) clothing tailored to the latest fashion and usually holding the imperial colors; large intricate mansions made out of pure marble and stone that stand atop the mighty hills of the capital; attending the finest masquerades to make an impression and always striving for more connections in high standing places; etc.

Making one's House well seen and influent in Morosyn society is the goal of pretty much every single Lord and Lady there, as following the Imperial standards is not only paramount to impressing peers but sometimes vital if they want to avoid becoming pariahs.

Some nobles of the Imperial court become rather hedonistic and indulgent, though that increasingly common behavior - when extended out of moments of celebration or festivals - is considered lazy by the Emperor himself, who prefers cold practicality and strength above all else.

Unfortunately, the Morosyn's displays of power also extend to the subjugation of their enemies, be it by conquering kingdoms and vanquishing their opponents in battle, by endorsing the Radiant Hunts, or even through the practice of slave trades. In the Empire, sending a message of their "power and glory" is considered more important to them than mercy.

In the Free Realms:

Each kingdom has its different version when it comes to showing off power and wealth, but even then, they're definitely way more chill about it than the Empire.

Usually, in the Free Realms, showing off status usually comes in the form of stylish and intricate clothing, according to each kingdom's beauty standards, varied hairstyles (including the ample use of jewelry. Sometimes, the jewelry in someone's hairpiece can clearly let others know which kingdom they are from, as styles and materials are very specific to each region), etc. Fashion - much like in the Morosyn Empire, but to a much lesser extent - is important to making a good impression and showing off.

Here are some interesting, more specific, ways people show off status in each of the kingdoms within the Free Realms:

In Kestrall, a kingdom that is very much centered on the warrior's way of life and which values might in battle above many things, wearing Blue-Goat fur is one of the highest honors a person can have, and though middle-class commoners use attires made from said material in very special occasions (usually marriages, and the Yuletide Festival), for the upper class and nobles, coats and cloaks made from Blue-Goat fur are a daily attire (plus this clothing style is a favorite of the Ketrallian Queen as well). Another way to show off status, especially for people in the military, is to keep one's armor in perfect condition while showing signs of having been worn in battle (A delicate shining armor for the Kestrallian people is the sign of an untested rookie knight. A well kept, but battle worn, armor, is the sign of a practiced warrior, something to strive for). Intricate sigils, symbols, and carvings can be professionally engraved with colorful metal/melted dragon scales onto the armor as well, but this is an honor reserved for high-ranking knights/dragon riders only.

In Vellamere, one would show off status by wearing intricate jewelry carved from the shells of sea-monsters slain by their own navy. Wearing bright colors and delicate silk clothing embroidered with pure gold is also a sure sign of someone very wealthy who does not have to sail their own ship - usually a noble or a very rich merchant. Powerful sea captains often pride themselves in each scar collected in battle, and they often wear distinct colors that match that of the flags of their ships.

In Nethilor, a kingdom famous for its tie to nature, members of powerful Houses often wear jewelry inspired by the same, and their sigils usually match a specific natural figure. While this habit is not reserved for rich people/nobles only, some designs are a sure sign that someone belongs in the royal court of Nethilor. For example, the current House Regent of Nethilor - House Renfelli - is represented by their sigil of thorns and roses, which is proudly replicated onto their attires in delicate embroidered patterns, and into their jewelry as well (Prince Regent/King Maeryn Renfelli is known for wearing a pair of delicate silver bracelets that have the design of a rose patch engraved in gold upon them, and his crown follows a similar design), being pretty recognizable.

Ergyre is by far the most hedonistic and at the same time unprincipled of all of the Free Realms, especially due to the lawlessness of the heart of the Borderlands (where it is located), the constant inner conflicts, and its proximity to the Morosyn Empire. They are a living example of what happens when the expression "carpe diem" goes terribly, awfully wrong and extreme (this becomes way clearer once one reads Darian's POV as a rebel in Ergyre). The non-rebel people of the Ergyre - especially those supportive of the reigning Tryarchy and are against the rebels - are known to partake in indulgent festivals and gatherings, one more extravagant and over-the-top than the other, and more often than not, of extremely questionable morality. Wearing bright colors, statement pieces/jewels, and extravagant makeup is often the norm for people who want to showcase their wealth, and trust me, they are not subtle about it.

And so on!

For the Mageborn: Mageborn don't really consider showing off wealth as something important to them, but magical power is. The more powerful a mage is, the more distinct and apparent are their runic markings, and their eyes become more unnaturally colored (usually the same color of their markings or of their power, but it does vary). Mages from especially ancient and wealthy houses often strive to achieve this as a way to prove themselves to their ancestors.

For the Elves: In Agrannor, Elves are a proud race (and by this I mean, very proud). Honor and status before one's society are highly important to the elven individual, though typical wealth is not as important as one's personal valor. Elves usually show off their position in society by keeping their hair long and cared for, usually loose or slightly braided (they're the only race in Agrannor that considers hair as something this important). Long hair is not only the sign of an individual considered respectable by other elves, but it is also sacred to some elven creeds. Having one's hair cut short is usually something reserved for traitors and exiled pariahs, something that powerful elves try to avoid at all costs. (Elves do not grow facial hair, nor do they show signs of aging before their 500 birthday, only half-elves do. "Pure Elves" - as they often call themselves - actively look down on and resent half-elves as the spawn of the humans that they despise. To avoid being called out - and cast out - as a half-elf, half-elven individuals try to fit in by abiding by their peers' styles.)

For the Fae: Fae don't have the concept of wealth and power as humans, mages and elves have. They consider themselves to be one with nature, and according to the fairy creed "nature does not pick favorites, though it reaps the weak". If prove your worth during your coming-of-age trials, you will be respected and accepted among Fae peers. If not, you're on your own.

For the Merfolk: Merfolk also don't have the concept of wealth, as they don't have monetary items. But they do have the concept of power, and it is everything to them. They pick their leaders through duels, in which only the strongest - or most apt - survive until the next duel season comes, and the stronger/more powerful Merfolk have many privileges - especially when it comes to hunting grounds and prey - when compared to their smaller/weaker kin.

Note about Vampires and Dhampirs: Vampires, much like mages, live among human societies. To avoid being discovered as vampiric beings, vampires and dhampirs often try to pass as excentric humans, and are often very proud (bordering on vain), loving to show to the world and peers how wealthy they are, showing off in the same way humans in the Free Realms do, but exaggeratedly, though they rarely ever reveal the location of their homes.

WBW Ask

I’m a little out of it still so I’m just going to post this here and everyone can feel free to answer!

What are some status symbols in your world? How do upper class people typically show off their wealth?

Tagging: @athenswrites @gummybugg @elshells @writingmaidenwarrior @sam-glade @writernopal @pheita @mysticstarlightduck and anyone else feel free to share!

Happy Worldbuilding Wednesday! Thank you so much for the ask, @tabswrites!

In The Last Wrath - there are many kingdoms and therefore many capitals (especially when considering the Free Realms, which consist of independent, sovereign kingdoms that are not part of a greater empire). Here go a few curious/major ones:

The Capital of the Morosyn Empire is the city of Elsohra, the so-called "Empire's Pride". The mageborn refer to Elsohra as the Bloodtainted Jewel - for obvious reasons (the Radiant Hunts that the Empire endorse). Elsohra is a vast - and mighty city - sprawling upon the rocky hills on the heart of the Imperial Lands, a heavily fortified strategic point. The city is known for its beautiful - and enormous - Imperial Palaces, which are home to the Emperor himself and most of the royal court. It is also a rather commercially bustling city, incredibly respected within the Empire and the Borderlands, holding some of the most important resources of its lands within its grasp.

Meruvvon is a city-state principality in the far shoreline of the Free Realms, directly facing the Lost Sea (it's capital is therefore, Meruvvon itself). Due to it's maze-like structures and vantage points, it happened to be where the first fated battle between the Free Realms and the Morosyn Empire - which started the War of Prophecy - took place in the ending of The Last Wrath's Book 1. Aside from that, Meruvvon is a city built like a maze made of almost pure white marble, made to withstand the brutal sea storms and monster attacks that come from the bowels of the Lost Sea. Known for it's craftsmanship and talented artisans, Meruvvon is a city that, supposedly, "can build anything", also having some of the best strategists in the realms. The young Crown Prince of Meruvvon - Denarius Ahnora - was a close friend of the rebel Isolde Kierah and Princess Ellinor of Arkellya, even overulling the city council in order for him and his army to side with the Free Realms in the up coming War against the Morosyn Empire, instead of accepting to fall under Imperial Occupation (which was what the council wanted).

The capital of Vellamere is the city of Aesiira, located in the safe shores of the Free Realms, being lucky enough to be far away from the Lost Sea. Known for its sailing culture as well as mighty sea commerce, Aesiira is a pride to behold within the Free Realms, as well as one of the most important and powerful cities one could ever have the chance to visit, blissfully away from the Morosyn Empire to be far away from the first throes of war. It's the home of a wide range of cultures and Agrannorian species, as well as a proud - sometimes vain - elite of merchants and noble sailors. It's architecture ranges from sandy colored castles high upon the coastline, to carefully built wooden buildings next to the harbor where merchants set up their stalls.

Kestrall's capital is the mighty city of Kestrall itself, nestled high-above the snow covered peaks of the mountain range known as the Scarp - where the rest of the kingdom expands across through settlements, villages and cities all across the frozen mountains low and high. Home to the fabled Dragon Riders, protectors of the skies, which now share rule of the kingdom with the City Watch, due to their Queen's orders, leading to some political tensions. Kestrall - the kingdom and the capital - are known for making the best weaponry of all (runic weapons made by Forgebearer mages) as well as having the finest, most well trained fighters there ever was and being one of the most strategic - and most well fortified - points within the Free Realms - making it a priority for the Empire to capture, which happens in the early chapters of the Last Wrath, in the Siege of Kestrall.

The capital of Midtaren, known as Arrangrove, is hidden within the gigantic ancient forests of the kingdom, impossible to find from the outside. It was also the ancient home of both mage Houses Eiriant and Ashiren (later on), before both clans were massacred. Their rulers still uphold the Old Customs, swearing a vow to defend the ancient magic sources - even after the deaths of two of their Houses. Due to this, it has quickly become known as a safe haven for magically talented people (mageborn, elves, faefolk) wishing to escape the wars and fleeing the Radiant Hunts. Even after many attempts, the Morosyn Empire has brutally failed to breach the forest grounds (might I add that some trees are hundreds of feet tall, as tall as towers and equally wide) or even pass through the forest sprites and wardens. They're still safe, and will continue to be, as long as the forest that protects them lives.

And so on!

In Tales of Wilted Flowers - the most relevant capital in the lands of Ravaryn is the kingdom of Wenhorn, protected by the Fortress of Twinecrest and ruled over by King Tieran Kallasen - former friend of knight Arcturus Wildwood, whom Tieran comdemned long ago as a supposed traitor. The story actually starts in the rather faraway city of Thysfire, in the outskirts of the land, where Lorelai Wildwood meets Xarian Argyris. The capital of the elven and faefolk kingdom is the city-state of Allannar, next to the fabled "Lydean Sea" and the Whispering Forests.

WBW Ask

I’ve had the second worst week of my life so we’re doing asks like this for a bit until my brain stops hurting!

What is the capital city (or cities) of your world? Why is it the capital?

Tagging: @pandoras-comment-box @mysticstarlightduck @pheita @writingmaidenwarrior @sam-glade @writernopal but anyone feel free to answer!

Out of Context Line Tag!

I was tagged by @rickie-the-storyteller for this one! Thanks for the tag!

(Some of these are more paragraphs than lines, but still, I find them fitting for this game!)

This is a line from Tales of Wilted Flowers!

“... I really don’t want to know why, but I have a feeling you’re right about to tell me that regardless.”

This one is from The Last Wrath!

And in that moment Helios knew there would be no hope of explaining this mess now, that he had fallen too far in his own deception to simply back out. But still, as he turned around to face the person standing behind him, the only words he could muster were, “Wait, I can explain.”

And this is a line from Enchanted Illusions!

"Oh, you don't say? I wasn't made aware that I, for some godforsaken reason, now needed to factor in the fact that you and your little gang of chaos are official targets of the local mob as well as of the nobles of the Council of Houses."

Tagging: @exquisitecrow, @writernopal, @clairelsonao3, @sm-writes-chaos, @cabbojage, @tabswrites, @liv-is, and @lola-theshowgrl

*looks at my wips*

Well, if it isn't my boi Corbin from Tales of Wilted Flowers and Elyren Tyrvommira from The Last Wrath, for completely different reasons - just two snappy and deeply unstable bois with an emotional support knife collection.

I just... adore this trope so much.

characters that hide utter ruthlessness behind a veneer of amicable friendliness are actually the best. Especially if the later isn’t entirely an act.

why yes, they do genuinely think of you as a good friend. Unfortunately, no, that will Not stop them from embedding a knife in your back if they feel the situation calls for it.

it’s just delicious

I have an oc prompt/ask: It's family game night! What game(s) do(es) your ocs play and what hilarities ensue?

Thanks for the tag, @gummybugg!

Oooh this is such a cool question! Since most of my WIPs are set in medieval times, video games are out of the equation, but there are still plenty of cool (more "historic") games my characters play/used to play that fit the criteria for game night! I chose only some of my characters for this, and it was a great ask to answer!

In The Last Wrath:

The Ashiren siblings -

When Raelen and Azra were little kids they used to play pretend a lot, creating whole worlds and stories where they could be anyone (Raelen's favorite was the one where they pretended to be pirates). Sometimes, they'd get Julyan to play along with them - something both Raelen and Azra adored, because "his stories are always the best" according to them.

There was also a mageborn variation of hide and seek, which is actually very difficult compared to the one we know. It consisted of one of the siblings using magic to turn invisible, and the others trying to find them by sensing the presence of their magic, rather than seeing them, and catching them before the invisible one could sneak up on them. Azra lost often in this game and was a very sore loser lmao.

Raelen was also very good at street games, especially Deadly Bones (a dart game that was very popular in Agrannor, which involves throwing a card in the air and trying to hit it with a bone-carved dart before the card falls to the ground). Julyan has a terrible aim but insists that he will catch at least one card during their game session - he does not, lol.

House Renfelli -

Maeryn Renfelli often played chess with his daughter, Innara Renfelli, something that was not only a way for them, the Royal Family, to have fun and spend time together, but also to teach her strategy.

Innara's cousins and her often used to partake in common archery tournaments and festival games back in their home kingdom. Nefeli, Innara's oldest cousin, despite being the most lady-like of the family, loves chariot races. They're all very competitive, and Innara often figured out sneaky ways to outsmart them.

Fabian & Luciya Anynth, and their friends -

Fabian and Luciya (and by extension their friends, Willen, Sybil, and Kaden) were thieves and cons, and oftentimes, this meant they made their living by cheating on street games. Knucklebones, Betting Dice, Cups, drinking games, and knife throwing were their specialties. Fabian taught Luciya how to expertly cheat on all of those. For the thieving siblings, this was something they enjoyed a lot. One time, they got brave enough to cheat a knight of the royal guard, who was drinking in a tavern, out of 100 gold in a game of dice - the town talked about it for weeks (and never found out who did it), and Luciya still laughs about it to this day.

In Tales of Wilted Flowers:

Eiralis Coren and Kaellel Nevarth:

Eiralis was a human raised by dryads, who in Ravaryn also happen to be, for lack of a better description, avian-like faeries. This means most of Eiralis' childhood was centered around the trees of the Whispering Forests, and most of her games too.

Dryad youths often race each other in the depths of the Whispering Forests until they reach the Olden Peak (the highest area of the forest just out of the forbidden lands), but some prefer a more high-stakes version of this game, which involves collecting pouches of pollen from the thorny "laugh-roses" of the forest and trying to hit other players with them with a slingshot (like a game of paintball, but with a small fuzzy ball of pollen that'll make you laugh for three minutes). The one who reaches the peak without being hit wins. But this was a game Kaellel did not play for many years now.

Eiralis' and Kaellel's parents weren't big fans of game nights, though they did like a good match of charades and riddles.

The closest thing Eiralis and Kaellel had to "game nights", once he became Anwireh (a fae "commander" of sorts) - and became much more distant/estranged from her - was their sparring sessions, which he used to train her in sword fighting and archery.

Xarian Argyris and his mothers -

Xarian's mothers were busy merchants, but they always made sure they had time to have some game nights. Aware that Xarian had a knack for inventions, they bought many puzzles, which they would build together, and as he got older, they helped him build his own inventions as well.

The Fenrith Siblings -

Niven Fenrith was always too busy with his duties for the nobility of their kingdom - especially after becoming assistant to one of the main Councilors of the royal court. But Rylisan did have a knack for playing pranks on his other siblings, especially the younger ones, something that often escalated to chaotic prank wars, much to Niven's exasperation and their godfather's disgust. Rylisan also loved strategy games and was incredibly good at chess. The one "game" that Niven did play with them when they were younger and to this day, was on their birthdays - he would hide whatever gift it was that he got for them, and the one receiving the gift had to try and find it before midnight.

When Rylisan's parents were alive, his mother taught him how to play all kinds of card games and his father taught him runic magic through challenges and tricks.

OC Description Tag!

I was tagged by @tabswrites and @writernopal for this one! Thanks for the tag, friends!

Rules: Share an excerpt from your WIP that describes one of your OCs.

Here goes a snippet from The Last Wrath (context, this is the first time Luciya has seen her brother Fabian in almost five years, since he became an Imperial Hunter, when he arrives at the Capital. When this happens, Luciya still believes that her brother abandoned and betrayed her for glory and riches.)

[...] Luciya peered over the marble parapet, leaning upon the tips of her toes to see the scene below. Ceremonial horns rang in the air, echoing along with the scraping of metal, as the heavy gold-engraved gates painstakingly rolled upwards.

The Hunters had arrived.

In the past, Luciya would have cringed at the thought of being so close to those troops. But now, she was fixed on the spot, anticipating, fiery eyes searching - after all, she was no longer a foreigner kid watching from the alleyways, as yet another patrol barged into a backwater village. No, she was in the Imperial City, waiting for the return of someone direly specific. The one who was responsible for her golden cage.

The clanking of armor filled the air as the silver-clad soldiers rolled into the street below. It would be a majestic sight, had she not known the truth about the blood that stains their swords, and the price her people paid for it. One by one, she saw them, the familiar flags of the Radiant Temple held high as they returned victorious.

And that's when she spotted him. Her traitor, her jailer. The man she'd once called brother. For the first time in five years. Her nails dug into the stone, anger flooding her but managing to appear unfazed.

Fabian Anynth, proudly mounted upon a winged horse, silver armor shining on the early morning sun, rode into the city. In one hand, he had the Commander's blade at his side, while the other, covered by a glove, held the reins. The crowds on the street went wild, and he lifted his sword high, gold-plated runes glowing like the sun, taking in their applause with a shining smirk. As if they had ever cared about him when he was only a lowly thief, but no one talks about that, now do they? Luciya scoffed. He was their damn storybook hero now - a paragon of Imperial valor against the "threat of the Free Realms".

But she saw right through it. She knew the truth. Fabian was nothing more than Emperor Aerich's favorite little war hound. An obedient puppy.

Fabian didn't look up, even as he strode right past her - but she knew him well enough to know he had seen her. Fitting, Luciya thought. Still, she couldn't help but note how much he had changed since that on the steps of Lady Avaline's fortress.

His once wild brown curls were tamed and cut, tied into a tight ponytail, and what skin wasn't covered in armor was littered with scars, big and small. His cloak looked like the most expensive thing she'd seen in her life, and she wondered how one could even fight in it. She couldn't see his eyes, but it startled her how much he looked older, world-weary, definitely not quite the twenty-two-year-old he should be now. Luciya tried not to think how much the traitor looked like the soldiers whom they used to run from as kids. She definitely tried not to think how much he looked like Aerich himself, in this light.

"Who is he? You look like you want to snap that parapet into two, though I'd highly advise against it."

The familiar, matter-of-fact voice cut through her musings like a blade, a glint of gold earrings sparkled on the edge of her vision. Luciya peered over her shoulder, seeing her friend, Quinn, standing right beside her, his eyes studying the procession below, emotionlessly. Had her anger really been this noticeable?

Luciya mused on those words for a moment, trying to find what could possibly answer that question. She went with the truth.

"No one, anymore." [...]

Tagging: @lassiesandiego @gummybugg, @sm-writes-chaos, @unstablewifiaccess, @lassiesandiego, @cabbojage, @the-mindless, @clairelsonao3, @rickie-the-storyteller, @oh-no-another-idea and @elshells

Happy Storyteller Saturday! Which of your characters is the least like you and why do you like them despite your lack of similarities?

Thank you for the Ask, @lassiesandiego!

I'm one of those writers who likes to say that most of my good characters have a small "piece of myself", except for most villains of course, as it makes writing them much easier and allows me to understand their motives better!

That being said, I would say that, out of all my main WIPs, the characters that are the least like me are: Azra Moorsworth (The Last Wrath), Faellyn Ellara (Tales of Wilted Flowers), and Clarence Van Sterlling (Enchanted Illusions).

DISCLAIMER: What is listed under "differences" is merely a comparison between my characters and my own personalities. Neither traits are "right" nor "wrong", as I am simply stating the contrasts between me IRL and the characters I have created for my stories! (:

Now, as for why they're so different from me and why I like them despite the personality differences!

AZRA MOORSWORTH -

(Differences) - Azra is much meeker/insecure than my personality - he prefers to avoid conflict (by "conflict" I don't mean fights, but facing challenges and things that get him out of his comfort zone), and is much more extroverted than me - I could never dream of reaching his level of extrovertedness. If we were to use the Enneagram to define this difference in personality, Azra is a Type 4 (the Individualist), while I am a Type 8 (the Challenger), having fundamentally different outlooks as well!

(Why I Like Him) - Azra is an incredibly positive character, especially when it comes to cheering others up and making sure everyone around him is having a good time - traits that I aspire to try and improve in my personality as well. He is also selfless when need be, despite all his fears, personality and instincts telling him to run the other way he chooses to stand for what he and his siblings believe in if that is truly necessary, despite the dangers and cruelty of the world he lives in. He is, fundamentally, a cinnamon roll, and one of the purest characters in TLW when it comes to a moral compass - I can't help but adore him!

FAELLYN ELLARA -

(Differences) This is a curious one, as she does share similarities with me, but not nearly as much as the other members of the main cast. I would say that the main difference between her and me is that Faellyn is incredibly forgiving - even when she should not be, too forgiving for her own good - and has a patience level that I aspire to have one day. Believes in the best in other people, even when other people have proven her wrong. Her Enneagram is Type 7 (The Enthusiast)

(Why I Like Her) Honestly, what's not to like? She's sweet, funny, bubbly, and has a great sense of justice! Despite being impulsive and reckless at times, she has an ongoing drive to do what is right for others, especially for those she cares about. She has a big heart, and is almost always the smile in the room! She's diplomatic and intelligent, as well as tricky when it matters. I also find it incredibly endearing and satisfying to write and show how much she grows throughout the story, becoming more mature and wise without losing the merciful and sweet side that makes her who she is.

CLARENCE VAN STERLLING -

(Differences) While I am somewhat introverted, I would say that he is 1000% more introverted than me. Clarence is very quiet, preferring not to talk as much, and liking extended periods of being by himself - while, in comparison, I am very talkative to those I consider my friends, and don't quite feel comfortable in extended periods of solitude. Another key difference is that, due to his vampiric upbringing, Clarence is also very naive/sheltered as to the ways of the world, being almost (if not completely) clueless as to how the human world and its inhabitants work. Clarence is firmly an Enneagram 1.

(Why I Like Him) He is very endearing and polite, and despite not really understanding all the new human things surrounding him he tries his best not to be rude or scary towards anyone, despite having the ability to do so. Clarence is also intelligent, wickedly clever, and something of a prankster if given the chance! Honestly, writing about him navigating the human world with the help of his newfound friends and his sorcerer girlfriend, is one of the most adorable things I have written!

I hope this answers your questions! (:

For whichever character you fancy, what simple activity that most people do / can do scares them?

Thank you for the Ask, @trancetales!

For whichever character you fancy, what simple activity that most people do / can do scares them?

I chose one character from each of my Main WIPs to answer this one!

(From Tales of Wilted Flowers)

Neoma'ka Ornasi is a fearsome goblin warrior. She has vanquished beasts and defeated mercenaries! And yet, she is dreadfully terrified of the sea (having strong Thalassophobia, a trait that I too share), though she is also a weak swimmer and an even worse diver, so her fear does have a reason. She cannot fathom why people would ever want to leave the safety of the mainland to venture into uncharted waters with untold monsters within - even worse, why people would consider sailing for a living, like the many pirates and sailors she has encountered throughout the story!

(From The Last Wrath)

Bryn Seperi is deathly afraid of fire due to a certain traumatic event in his backstory. Due to this, activities as simple as cooking, sitting around a fire, or walking into a candle-lit store can turn into terrifying flashbacks if he is not extremely vigilant, so he avoids all of that completely.

(From Enchanted Illusions)

Evangeline Daemitya is afraid of needles, something that turns sewing, patching things up and even getting a blood draw, into bone-chilling situations to her. Getting injections is so terrifying to her that she sometimes passes out at the mere sight of it.

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)

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!

Hello! :D

Topaz: What is the main conflict of your wip?

Thank you so much for the ask, @i-can-even-burn-salad! I'll answer this one for all my WIPs!

The Tag Game!

Enchanted Illusions: A corrupt secret society seeks to cause another civil war between humans and mythical creatures, whilst murdering those who find out about this true intention. The main characters must stop them and expose their machinations before the chaos in Ansburke gets out of control.

+ BONUS - Augustus, the book's resident necromancer, must face the dire consequences of his deal with the Deamon Deathbringer, as he is torn between his past choices and his newfound love. He needs to make a decision and find a way to break his deal, but any wrong step may put his and his loved one's souls in danger

Of Starlight and Beasts: A scorned Queen seeks revenge on the realm she blames for the death of her lover, but this goal of hers has long since become tainted by her wish for conquest as she became just as murderous as those she battled in the past, generations ago. The main characters must stop her dark magic from conquering and destroying their land for good.

Realms of Loss: A continent divided into two kingdoms, after the fall of the Old Gods, has been trapped in a centuries-old war against one another for centuries - battling for power and survival as the Celestials' power wanes. When this war awakens an insane dead god and puts into motion a crooked prophecy, the "Chosen" prince must fight his fate and prevent both kingdoms from destroying each other.

Tales of Wilted Flowers: A group of outcasts, shunned, forgotten and betrayed by society throughout their lives, find themselves as the only ones willing to take a stand against a sadistic dark sorcerer and the corrupt royal family of the kingdom Wenhorn. In order not to die or meet a terrible fate, these unlikely heroes must stop their kingdom's "beloved" King from bringing back the magic of a long-since banished spellcaster.

The Last Wrath: As the Secret Court, a bloodthirsty cult that feeds off of the souls and magic of common people, returns after a long time being considered only legend, some specific individuals find their personal goals tied to not only surviving both the war between the power-hungry Morosyn Empire and the Free Realms, but also preventing this ancient court from "rewriting history in blood."

Mutant Inquiries: In a cyberpunk, near-future dystopia, mutant super-powered teens face a conspiracy involving an authoritarian government, illegal human experimentation by the PHANTOM Industries, and the truth about their own mutant existence. They become vigilantes in order to expose the truth, but find that there is much more at stake than just sticking it to authority and that their own lives are on the line.

Supernova Initiative: The most wanted intergalactic thief must steal a top-secret experiment, that was lost to so-called zealots in a faraway system, to evade being imprisoned after breaking into the Junction's most secure vault. Meanwhile, diplomatic relationships between factions and galaxies grow strained.

Lies Untold: Two brothers must race against time to evade their kingdom's royal "inquisition" after the King makes their little sister a target to be captured. In their attempt to stay alive, being hunted down while their land faces the punishing wrath of a curse that was very much the King's fault, the siblings also must face their family's past and make the right choice.

🧶 - Do they do any arts, crafts, or creative hobbies?

Thank you so much for the ask, @zackprincebooks! Sorry for answering late, I was a tad too busy yesterday!

I'll go with Masen Mavven (Of Starlight and Beasts), Quinn Aurellen (The Last Wrath), Cassiopeia Tithus (Supernova Initiative), Aiden Idrellios (Song of Thorns), Thaddeus Lockhill (Enchanted Illusions) and Alexey Morikov (Mutant Inquiries)

🧶 - Do they do any arts, crafts, or creative hobbies?

Masen Mavven - Masen is a bard! And a very good one at that. His songs are known far and wide, and his talent with the lute is undeniable. He also knows magic and can enchant people with his songs, which he uses in order to steal from the crowd without being noticed.

Quinn Aurellen - Being a high-profile courtesan to the noble court of the Morosyn Empire, Quinn often does not have time to pursue his artistic hobbies, but nevertheless he is a very talented painter and likes to spend his free time drawing nature and mystical creatures. He is also quite good at drawing and wanted to pursue a career as an artist before becoming a prisoner of war.

Cassiopeia Tithus - Cassie is good at making street art - which she used to do as a pre-teen as an act of rebellion against the Junction but also to make her home moon just a bit more beautiful. She is also a very creative inventor capable of creating almost any kind of robot imaginable along with other gadgets.

Alexey Morikov - Living in a cyberpunk dystopia, Alexey likes to find beauty in unexpected places - a habit that keeps him from feeling depressed. Due to this, Alexey has a passion for photography and always has a camera near him. He also like gardening (only flowers) and baking.

Thaddeus Lockhill - Thaddeus does journalling, which he uses to figure out his plans against the villains and also relax. He also knows how to dance the waltz and ballroom dances quite well, but he only does so if he needs to blend in on a masquerade or something.

for the ask game: 🧠 ?

Thank you so much for the ask, @ray-writes-n-shit!

🧠Telepathy: How much does your OC care about what other people think of them? How far would they go to make sure people had the right opinion of them?

Jack (Supernova Initiative) - Jack doesn't typically care about the opinions of strangers and people he doesn't know well. He is usually the "I do my own thing, why worry about pleasing strangers" kind of guy, and is generally really chill about it. HOWEVER, as a Team Leader and full-time older brother, Jack cares a lot about the opinion his team and his little sister have of him, mostly in an "I've gotta be strong, got to be reliable, have to set a good example and be confident. They need to think I'm okay. Everything's fine, they shouldn't have to worry about me" kind of way, as in he puts their needs so far above his own that he fears that even taking a break during stressful situations or being vulnerable would be "failing them" or something similar. The worst thing is that he is so good at hiding what he feels that his team genuinely thinks he is totally fine (when he is actually just really good at faking it), even though they would be super kind and understanding to him if he told them the truth, he doesn't allow himself to be what he considers "weak" because he thinks that would be "selfish" of him. So. Serious self-esteem and communication issues right there.

Quinn (The Last Wrath) - As a courtesan and entertainer to the high nobility of the Morosyn Empire, Quinn's life usually centers around his ability to keep up appearances and had a "social mask" if you will. Especially in a world where secrets are as deadly as weapons. So, Quinn is extremely good at upholding a certain "persona" in public, the masquerade he puts up for others so that no one ever knows what is truly underneath and so that no one can ever blackmail him. He doesn't care about what others think of him in an "I measure my self-worth according to their reactions to me" kinda way, but more in a "If I'm not careful enough and say the right thing I might end up dead" kind of way. Especially with the war and espionage going on during the story of TLW.

Kane (Song of Thorns) - Kane cares SO MUCH about what others think of him. He cares IMMENSELY. He suffers from a bad mix of perfectionism, trauma, and Impostor Syndrome, which he counters with an arrogant and cocky persona of what he considers to be the "perfect knight". He wants to be seen and respected, he wants to be admired. He wants to never, ever make a single mistake again after what a mistake cost him in the past. He is actually someone who is secretly insecure and thinks that nobody would ever like the "true him" so he creates an image of the "perfect Kane", the alter ego he thinks he needs to be. Throughout the story he grows and learns to practice more self-love and that he doesn't need to change who he is to be worthy of respect, but OH BOY does it take a while.

‼️Clickbait Description Tag Game 😱😱👇👇 ‼️

Thank you for the tag, @the-golden-comet! And honestly shoutout to @the-letterbox-archives for creating this lovely tag! I love a good tag game and this one is super cool!

Rules: explain the plot/premise of your wip/s as if it were a clickbait (or just a regular one if you don't want to do clickbait) y Youtube video.

Supernova Initiative

Hot 25-year-old and his group of friends trespass on a secret government property, you will never guess what happened next! 😱😱😱😱

Scrapyard Boys

UNBELIEVABLE billionaire conspiracy scheme uncovered by HOMELESS TEENAGER - have they lied to us this whole time?

Crooked Fable

HELP, my crazy rich aunt tried to kill my boyfriend and tried to gaslight me into thinking she was right! 😓💀

Song of Thorns

Have they cracked the code to ETERNAL BEAUTY AND IMMORTALITY - follow these 10 easy, that absolutely not murderously bloody rituals, steps to do the same! (authentic advice from Royal Alchemist)

The Crystal of Ash (New)

Don't fall for those absurd lies! Top 10 reasons why you should absolutely trust the Triarchy with your life without question. Don't be ridiculous. Trust us.

+ Bonus: Young crook attempts to ASSASSINATE the reputation of BELOVED local benefactor. Are kids these days truly lost?

The Last Wrath

They invaded her home and she lost everything! You'll never believe what this 16-year-old did next! 😱😱😱

Enchanted Illusions

TEN MORE PEOPLE KILLED by mysterious killer, GOVERNMENT TURNS A BLIND EYE - what is it that they are hiding? 🙄

Tagging (gently): @sleepy-night-child, @kaylinalexanderbooks, @smol-feralgremlin, @oh-no-another-idea, @littleladymab,

@winterandwords, @eccaiia, @sarahlizziewrites, @illarian-rambling

@agirlandherquill, @anoelleart, @ray-writes-n-shit

@writernopal, @anyablackwood, @unstablewifiaccess, @forthesanityofstorytellers, @finickyfelix

@i-can-even-burn-salad, @cakeinthevoid,

@lassiesandiego, @thepeculiarbird, @clairelsonao3, @memento-morri-writes, @starlit-hopes-and-dreams and OPEN TAG