anothermiddlechild

[anothermiddlechild]

WIP Backgrounding

The more I write, the more I know my characters. The more I know my characters, the better I am at understanding their motivations. And that makes me happy.

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Snippet. Unedited and a WIP but, yeah...I am happy with how things are proceeding.

There was silence. 

The longest pause of her life. 

A second turned to eternity, and the whole of her life seemed to suddenly flash before the mind’s eye. 

And when the wailing began, her own joyful sobs, too, reverberated around the stone room. 

The midwife quietly announced the birth of a baby girl. The mother laughed and cried, her body shaking with each breath. The baby, too, screeched into the somber dawn, as if demanding the warmth of her mother. The nurse wrapped the baby in a clean towel before placing her gently in the arms of a nearby Sister, who began to turn toward the locked door. “Wait!”, the mother jerked forward suddenly, “You can’t just take her! At least let me look at her! Please!” She sobbed, her arms reaching toward the Sister. But not another word was spoken and the nurse departed with the infant, the door locking behind her. 

The cries of the baby quieted to another heart-stopping silence as the nurse retreated elsewhere in the circle tower. 

Shaking breaths gave way to heavy sobs and soon the room was filled to bursting with a loud keening, a guttural scream of torment, anguish, and raw rage.

[anothermiddlechild]

I keep looking at and liking Solas posts and I'm like "well maybe I can move ahead with my fic..." No! No no no! Bad! Hiss! xD

I want a bit more world-building and character development before I move forward. Because I might introduce my Inquisitor in this first series to give her a bit more backgrounding.

Also, I need to build to writing Solas. And Cole. There are some complex voices in Inquisition...I don't want to mess them up. Especially if I plan on moving forward with a third fic to wrap up the series.

I also feel like Cullen becomes too good a leader too quickly, if that makes sense. He is responsible for extremely fucked up behavior. I want to see him build more from broken and really earn the title of Commander of the Inquisition.

Also? I really hope I can make all my writing plans happen. I've been struggling with focus the last two years and I feel so...wayward. I keep trying to write or get through my favorite games but just can't seem to make it happen. I think my depression has been worse than I am willing to admit.

I feel like if I can just...commit to something. If I can find a project and actually follow through, my brain will feel so much better. But sometimes I struggle with motivation. And, like I said, focus has been difficult to maintain. I want to try, however. I do.

This is the type of fic I've wanted to write for years.

Maybe I can join more communities this go around...find some writing friends and such. Folks I can check in with and who will tell me about their fics, too. I just feel like I could use a little extra support to help reinforce accountability.

Fingers crossed, right?

[anothermiddlechild]

I feel like Hasmal has dust storms because of where it is located on the edge of the Silent Plains.

...Which means I need to re-watch Ken Burns' The Dust Bowl miniseries again. For research purposes. My nerdy self is a little too excited about this. (seriously, this is my favorite Ken Burns project and it has been ages since I watched it).

I have this image in my head that I can't seem to shake and it'll be fun to sketch scenes/plot to an inspiration source. =]

[anothermiddlechild]

The flooding in our area is...intense. I have coworkers with serious damage to their homes; half the office already called off for tomorrow. I keep doom scrolling damage pictures and updates on the kids stranded in schools right now (its 9:30 at night and there are preK kids stranded at school with very exhausted teachers and that is just a lot to keep thinking about).

And it is STILL raining.

Working on my fanfic has been helpful and a pretty decent distraction. The problem is, I decided to write a one-off piece for one of my OC's and now I want to reach through the screen and hug young her.

I was working on detailed outlines and had started writing chapters one and two, just bouncing between the two. I find this method helpful in the beginning when I am still establishing all the details and allowing the characters to let me in.

Then I had the brilliant idea to write a piece for Violet...a bit about her past and coming up. I wanted to get more in her head, and in the head of a different character, before setting out to really write. This has been rewarding! But also difficult. I appreciate getting to know her better, though, which is the overall goal of this exercise.

I think I'll do this for all the main characters, including Cullen. I don't know if, or how, I'll share each entry. Or if that information would matter to anyone other than myself. But...yeah. I like the connection I'm building with Violet. I knew her past on the surface but understanding the details is so meaningful.

[anothermiddlechild]

Between district court deciding not to update the weekly docket and the law office I coordinate with not answering their phone, I have very little to do at work today.

Naturally, this means I am spending the rest of my day in the office listening to Dragon Age soundtracks and working on this currently unnamed fic.

Also? Time feels like is is dragging today and I am hoping pouring energy into something I enjoy will make the day pass more quickly.

[anothermiddlechild]

Dragon Age Fanfiction WIP

After he begins to question Knight-Commander Meredith’s harsh treatment of the mages in Kirkwall, Knight-Captain Cullen Rutherford is transferred to Hasmal, a city-state in the Free Marches on the edge of the Silent Plains. Cullen learns he will be the leader of the Templar forces in the city and will have very little reason to enter Hasmal’s unique and mysterious circle tower. Angry and confused, Cullen is forced to put duty and honor before himself and serve the Chantry as required. In the back of his mind, however, Cullen is motivated by the hope that his new assignment will be short-lived.

While stationed in Hasmal, Cullen is introduced to members of the local chantry, city, alienage, and refugee camp. As time goes by, Cullen is alerted to an unknown illness spreading through Hasmal. The symptoms seem to change and vary but there are few constants in pathology, including odd rashes and hardened veins. Cullen, with the help of his new friends and allies, must determine the cause of the mystery illness and save Hasmal from what appears to be an isolated threat. But what they learn is only a small piece of a very large puzzle, one that’s image will take years to complete.

This is a story of identity; of faith, service, struggle, family, friendship, and love. 

A few notes on the world state I have constructed:

Hasmal’s circle has a large population of aging mages; pregnant mages are also transferred to Hasmal until childbirth. After, the mother is sent away to a circle different from the father and the child is raised within Hasmal’s circle until it is determined they are not, or are likely to not, be mages. The children who are not mages are absorbed into the Chantry by other means or are otherwise abandoned in orphanages. 

Located South of the Tevinter and east of Nevarra, Hasmal is home to Free-Marchers and refugees, many of whom were once slaves to the Imperium. 

After 9:34 but before 9:37.

Other characters (major and minor) include…

Sister Felicity. Fereldan. Born to a noble family in Denerim. Witnessed the Fifth Blight first-hand. Other family members are Templars but Felicity’s family is angry she is a sister, as there were plans for her to marry. Using her name, and part of a fortune left by her mother, Felicity circumvented the marriage and joined the Chantry. Felicity is determined to work her way through the hierarchy of the Chantry and can be described as being by-the-book. She often appears over-zealous and worries having “bought” her way in makes her sacrifice to the Maker less meaningful. Felicity is a trained nurse and midwife who works in the human district of Hasmal. 

Sister Evelyn/Evie. Nevarran father, Free-Marcher mother. Primarily raised in the Free-Marches (Hasmal) but often travels to Nevarra to visit her father, a mortalitasi. Evie is trained in end-of-life care and funerary rights. She primarily works in the alienage and refugee camp as a hospice nurse. Evie performs funerary rights on all departed (where everyone is truly equal). Her desire to fulfill funerary rights according to customs and culture of the deceased often puts Evie at odds with her fellow Chantry sisters.

Lay-Sister “Mary” Violet/Vi/Bo. Elven. Born to mage parents in a circle. Separated from family at birth and raised within a circle until the chantry was comfortable Violet was not a mage. She fought hard to be a lay-sister and is a trained nurse and midwife. She works in the alienage and refugee camp. Violet struggles with how the Chantry acknowledges her as a lay-sister; either with contempt, confusion, or far too much enthusiasm. The Chantry allowed Violet the status of lay-sister because her work places her in the community of elves and proximity allows for conversion. She is uncomfortable with how her faith is often used by the Chantry. Violet uses humor as a coping mechanism and is painfully realistic at times, despite her sunny disposition. When necessary, Violet uses less-than-legitimate connections to achieve her goals.

Lucille/Lou Abadie. Orlesian. Lou was originally slated for the Knight-Captain position and is blind-sided by Cullen’s presence. She remains the Knight-Lieutenant, despite her reluctance to work beneath the Kirkwall Transfer (as she affectionately refers to Cullen).

Unnamed Pregnant Mage who arrives at Hasmal's circle the same day as Cullen. The mage’s story parallels the main storyline as a subplot, reflecting on the conditions and policies of the Chantry in regards to intimacy, childbirth, and family within circles. Her story is how villains are born; not with physical violence but significant, unresolved trauma.

Currently Unnamed Family. Wife continues to have miscarriages and is unable to “give her husband the son/family he deserves/is required of her”. How infertility impacts a family for whom money can often solve any problem.

Currently Unnamed Family. Eldest daughter is in charge of the entire brood. The complications of a large family in poverty and parents with substance use issues.

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Notes from the Echo Chamber: A fanfic to setup a fanfic for Inquisition. Fun, right? Good times! I can't finish Dragon Age II and feel like this is my way of coping with that fact.

Also, I am aware this has few canon characters in the mix and nearly all are original roles. That is simply how this story is being told. When I move to the fanfic that takes places during Inquisition, the reverse will be true. Few OC's will be main characters there. This gives me a chance to build the world I want, explore a few themes that interest me, develop my brilliant little Violet, and gain confidence in writing different canon voices. Cullen just happens to be a character I have confidence writing and someone who's growth I enjoy.