#OC: Athum

[writings-of-a-narwhal]

hi 🧍 i know this isn't about my new wip with the princess and everything but do you ever remember a character / dynamic from a wip you set down a while back and just want to yell because of how much you love it?

i absolutely adore the whole deal with tasiriti and athum. they never met, not really. tasiriti was an infant when her brother died protecting her from their mother, getting her away from the fate he knew would destroy her. he was found with his arms wrapped around her, hiding the little bundle that was his baby sister.

that moment was his defining moment.

and it's affected tasiriti her entire life up to this point. when broken thrones is taking place, she's around 13 or 14. she's being raised by her adoptive father with so many loving adoptive siblings. she's had such a good life. because of the sacrifice he made. she works as a healer for the rebellion against the tyrant ruler -- her very own biological mother -- and she goes out and heals the soldiers that fall, using her blood magic to stop the bleeding and mend the wounds.

and those settings can be dangerous. most of the time she has one of her adoptive older siblings with her, but...sometimes she gets put in danger. she's not a fighter. in these moments, her biological brother comes and saves her, his ghost protects her, blocking the blows, defending her, fighting off whoever is coming after her. he is her built in protector.

and idk. i just really really love it. no matter what happens, no matter where she goes, she always has a protector. she'll never have to fight.

[narwhal-writings]

What is your favorite OC you created so far? I want to know all the nitty gritties so I can visualize

I said Rosar before, but I’m not going to say her now because I’ve posted a lot about her compared to everyone else and I have another OC I want to spew about.

I’m going to go with Athum this time. He’s been rising in the ranks of Favorite OC for a while now. Keep in mind I’m probably gonna change things the more I write him lol

So, my boy Athum, he’s the king of Issera. He’s had to do a lot to get to where he is, even though he was part of the royal family. His parents were tyrant rulers and were very hard on him because he didn’t have the same type of attitude as they did about ruling. 

He had to deal with their physical and emotional abuse as well as his chronic illness which caused him lots of pain. However, he still did his best to learn how to use a sword, in fact he put himself through very harsh training. While he was training, one of his father’s retainers took an interest in him and supported him, becoming an almost-father figure to Athum. 

He found allies in the royal house and those outside of it and at eighteen he overthrew his parents’ rule, killing one of them in the process. He banished the other from Issera. He is haunted by what he endured growing up as well as what he had done. 

Athum has a very soft heart and tries to make himself open to his people, to be anything but imposing. Several of his father’s retainers stuck around to support Athum and his rule, including Jeris and Erihhn. 

Many of the more wealthy people in Issera are against Athum because they don’t benefit under his rule like they did his father’s. Many attempts have been made on Athum’s life, which forces him to be suspicious of people, which is something he does not enjoy doing at all.

He is tired of fighting and just wants to rest and enjoy his life, perhaps even start a family and raise children, but that’s something he knows is out of the picture.

He is depressed and doubts his abilities to ever bring peace to his country. He knows he can’t change the past, and he wouldn’t, but sometimes he wonders if it would be best for him to just leave Issera and let others bring peace to the country. Honestly, if it weren’t for Jeris, Culraes, and Erihhn, he wouldn’t be where he is now. He would’ve left Issera long ago. Athum does do his best to make sure very few people see the depressed side of him.

He’s my soft boy who has to force himself to be strong and I love him.

[abalonetea]

to join in on the 1k festivities, may i please have a ship for a less talked about oc, Bau? they're nonbinary and a dragonrider!! Athum's childhood friend who is passionate but takes no shit. they've got dark blue hair with silver streaks in it (early greying, my dude) and eyes that have the night sky crammed into them. they're very gentle when they need to and give great hugs, but if you're sassy they'll be sassy back! they have a giant dragon friend, Kimcy, who is great! and cryptic!

oooooh I love Bau!!!! and they sound like they would get along really well with Bolte, tbh! he needs someone that’s kind and fair and passionate, but also willing to snark and hold their own. not to mention that Bolte would have an almost instant soft spot for Kimcy.

Bolte is very fond of Bau’s hair, and would like to runs his fingers through it, brush his thumb over the corner of Bau’s eyes. this comes after a lot of time to get comfortable with each other, but still. it’s the end goal that matters!

(also, fig from the business dfbgsdfgdsgds)

[erinoddly-archived-blog]

Another OC is: Culraes. When he was a kid, rebels attacked his home village and his parents were murdered in front of him, and they then injured him, leaving him with one arm. From then on he began training with a sword until he for lots of recognition and was recruited to be a retainer of Athum. He goes into a blind rage when rebels are around, determined to kill them all. People always flock to him and he gets flustered by their flirting and advances. Its adorable ~@writings-of-a-narhwal

oh wow that is one hell of a backstory

[queerbookdragon]

If you're still doing the which oc thing, I'll send in my boy Athum. He's the king of Issera and overthrew his tyrant parents, killing one and banishing the other. He hates all the blood that has been shed because of what he started. There have been a lot of assassination attempts against him. He has chronic pain and frequent nightmares and doesn't sleep a whole lot. He is a soft boy and all he wants is to be able to stop fighting and find someone to love and have a family with

Hale would get along great with Athum! Hale has seen a lot of bloody, violent shit and he’s over it. He just wants to be done with it all.

And I can’t actually think of any characters that wouldn’t like him! Alistair would probably take some time warming up to him but that’s the worse he’d get.

[writings-of-a-narwhal]

Athum

↠ Prince of Light

↠ King of Issera

↠ War Bringer

He overthrew his parents, the tyrant rulers of Issera, killing his father and banishing his mother from the country. All he wanted was to help his people but instead he brought war upon them.

Desperate for an end to the fighting he looks for any and all allies he can to fight against his mother’s cruel forces. He’ll do whatever it takes to bring a sense of calm and back to the land, even give his own life and leave things in the hands of his retainers. 

taglist under the cut! let me know if you want to be added or taken off!

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[writings-of-a-narwhal]

Jeris kneels next to the young prince, the innocent boy shaking in fear. He reaches out, pulls Athum close and hugs him. Soothing murmurs come from his throat, rugged hands rub the boy's back until the tears stop.

Slowly, slowly Jeris pulls back and speaks. "Are you alright, my boy?"

The prince says nothing for a moment, but then his lip begins to tremble and the words spill out. "I'm so afraid of mummy and daddy and what they're going to do. I saw the townspeople-- they're dying! They haven't anything to eat or drink and I...I can't do anything."

Gently Jeris wipes more tears from the boy's face, the distraught emotions coming off of Athum in waves so strong it almost knocks him down, and he isn't even perceptive of emotional magic.

"Of course there's something you can do, boy, there's always something you can do," he pauses, wondering if this is the right choice before continuing. "Tell me, have you ever heard the legend of the Dragonheart and her companions?"

[writings-of-a-narwhal]

so...the relationship between Athum, Rosar, and Jayi is complicated.

Athum loves Rosar, he does, but...he’s also using her. he doesn’t exactly realize that he’s donig it but he is. why would he propose to Rosar in the midst of a war? to give his people something good to look forward to. why would he choose her over everyone else to fall for? because she’s the Dragonheart, he needs her on his side. yes he loves her, yes he cares for her, but there’s something more at play. Athum takes after his mother more than he knows or would like to admit.

and Rosar....she’s too busy being amazed at how kind he is to realize that she’s being used. the only other king she’s been around, her father, was a cruel and abusive man who found fault in every single aspect about Rosar and everything she did. she wasn’t used to men in high positions being so kind. and he was the first to show her any sort of romantic affection. and she fell for him, hard. she didn’t realize she was being used, no one really did...that is...until Jayi came along...

Jayi is a battle worn soldier, even at her young age, and she can see past the love that Athum supposedly has for the foreign princess. Jayi knows he’s taking advantage of Rosar and she can’t stand it. using people to fight a war that you started is not something you do, especially if the perso you are trying to use is from another country and doesn’t know what they’re getting into. Jayi warns Rosar of what’s happening and tries to get her out of that situation. still...Rosar has feelings of love for Athum and can’t be dissuaded so easily.

in the end, though, after everything is said and done...Rosar still loves Athum. she marries him. she bears his children. but...she grows to love Jayi more than her husband. she finally sees what Jayi was talking about and realizes how much Jayi has done for her...and she sees how much Jayi cares for her and how she put her position and her life on the line to protect Rosar. and she appreciates that so much.

Rosar might be the King of Issera’s wife, but she’s the lover of the One-Eyed Dragon

[writings-of-a-narwhal]

"You've picked a horrible time to fall in love, ala. We're in the midst of a war, emotions such as love are a weakness and we can't risk any weaknesses."

"Wasn't it love that started this war?" Athum muses, looking at his agitated retainer. "I started all of this because I love my people and wanted to see them thriving rather than suffering. Love is what fuels us, Culraes."

[writings-of-a-narwhal]

it’s interesting, how Athum and Jayi treat Rosar, the Dragonheart, differently. 

Athum, the kind-hearted king who is known as the one who brought his people out from under his mother’s tyrant rule, sees Rosar as the savior of his people, a chance to end the fighting and bring peace to Issera. he sees her as the only person who can save his people and his country, the only one who can defeat Jayah.

so he tries to persuade her to take on this responsibility. he tries to  persuade her that she is the only one who can do this. he tells Rosar how her presence brings his people hope, it gives them faith that they’ll be able to live in peace once more. he takes her hand and tells her that she’s special and strong, that she can do this, that he’ll stand by her side and help her fight until the very end.

he’s not exactly forcing her to do this, but he’s doing his best to convince Rosar that this is what she needs to do. 

Jayi, who is seen as morally grey and a stone-cold killer, sees Rosar as a soft-hearted girl who has been forced into the role of a warrior and savior, a girl who has been decieved into fighting someone else’s war, a war she should never have been a part of.

she hates how Athum is trying to manipulate Rosar, how he’s trying to use her to fight and finish his war. Jayi knows that he wants to end this war, that he’s tired of all the fighting, but using an emotional girl to do his bidding? how ethical is that? she may be warhungry, but never would she force anyone to fight if they didn’t want to. she sees how Athum is manipulating Rosar and it ignites a fire with her.

he may be her king, but she is not afraid to revolt. even if it means she gets exiled from Issera. that doesn’t matter, because he can’t prevent her from fighting. no one can. and no one can prevent her from protecting those who she has claimed as part of her hoard.

and then Rosar herself. the blind princess with shaking hands, a tremulous smile, and eyes that hold years of pain and tears that haven’t been shed. the girl who has blood that stains her hands and can’t stand it. the girl who has been thrown into a world of magic and legends. the girl who has been told she’s nothing since she was a baby.

she can’t help but grow attached to Athum when he shows her empathy, when he is so kind to her, when he tells her that she’s not the burden her father told her she was. and Jayi. Rosar thinks she’s odd and doesn’t always like the way she deals with thigns, but she can see how much she actually cares under her armor. 

Rosar is so conflicted. she wants to help this country, she wants to help her own country, she wants to save her sisters and mother and everyone else she’s ever cared about, but she hates the idea of getting more blood on her hands than she already has. 

[writings-of-a-narwhal]

Rosar can feel her body trembling, every fiber of her being shaking like a leaf in the wind. Athum takes her hands in his. His skin burns to the touch but she can't bear the thought of ripping herself away from him, not in these last few moments.

"I'm sorry, Rosie," he rasps, "I said I would love you forever, but our forever is being cut short."

"Don't apologize, please." Tears are already streaming down her face, falling onto their clasped hands.

Athum coughs, sending shudders through his body and Rosar's. "I'm going...to make a selfish request..."

"I'll do anything, Athum, absolutely anything you ask of me."

His hands squeeze hers weakly. "Keep living. For yourself and for those close to you."

Rosar's hands grow cold as he releases them, but then his fingers brush against her stomach, sending a wave of anguish through her. She covers his hands with her own, holding them against her.

"I'll continue living, I promise."

[writings-of-a-narwhal]

Athum: Jeris!

Jeris: Hey!

Athum: Hey! This is my girlfriend Rosar, and this is Rosar’s girlfriend Jayi.

Rosar: Hi.

Jeris: Hey! Oh. Wait, sorry. What’s the situation?

Athum: What do you mean?

Jeris: How does this work?

Athum: Rosar is gay but she’s straight for me and she’s gay for Jayi and Jayi is really gay for Rosar. And I hate Jayi.

Rosar: It’s not that complicated.

Jayi: No.

Jeris: Oh. Yeah. Sure.

Jeris, in confessional: The thing about youth culture is I don’t understand it.

[writings-of-a-narwhal]

Athum, sniffing the air: She's here.

Rosar: Who's here?

Athum: Jayah. I can smell the sulfur coming off her cloven hooves.

[writings-of-a-narwhal]

Reminiscent

thank you!! :D 

Athum watches her, dread filling his heart and weighing down his body. She’s in so much danger, walking out into the middle of a battlefield like that, alone and completely unarmed. But that’s what she wanted, and he won’t deny her request. Not now, even though every fiber in his body is screaming at him to go out and protect her, to take her out of danger and hold her close, to never let her go.

His eyes never leave her. Her walk is reminiscent to that of his mother’s, how she would walk into in the midst of a meeting with an air that no one dared challenge. That’s how Rosar is now. Her head is held high, each step she takes is firm and full of meaning. Never has she been this confident, not in the time Athum has known her.

It’s not just her out there, no, there’s something within her, urging her on. And Athum can only hope that’s enough.

[writings-of-a-narwhal]

Athum of Zaitra // Broken Thrones

The moon peeks through the pieces of fabric that make up the tent. Slowly, with every fiber of his being screaming at him, Athum stands and exits the tent. The desert winds circle around him. He lets the cool air fill his lungs, a stark contrast to the hot pain coursing through his veins. He closes his eyes, wishing desperately that he won’t have to fight yet another battle.

Athum is the king of Issera, but he did not become king in a desirable manner. He overthrew his parents’ tyrant rule, ending in death for one of them while the other got banished from Issera. Athum deeply regrets all the death that has occured because of his actions; he wants to stop all the fighting, not start more. He has vowed to never rule like his parents did and he is doing his best to make his people happy. Athum wants to make himself an open and welcoming king that his people can approach and talk to.

He honestly wouldn’t be king now if it weren’t for Jeris and his other retainers. Those who have stuck with him are his support system and he is eternally grateful for them. In fact, Jeris is number one supporter. He helped Athum train and overthrow the tyrannical rulers, and he also supplies him with herbal remedies for when his chronic pain gets bad.

Just when Athum thinks things are calming down and he begins considering that he may have a chance to fulfill his wish of settling down and starting a family, he gets wind of an uprising. Rumors of his mother returning to Isssera begin to float around, putting everyone on edge. How will he deal with these rumors? And what will he do when a foreigner gets involved?

[writings-of-a-narwhal]

21 for any OC

Thank you for the ask

21. What would it take for them to break up with someone? What would be the last straw?

Athum is the type of guy who would try the best to reason with his partner as much as he can before taking the step of breaking up with someone. However, if he saw or heard that his partner was being cruel to any person or animal, it would make him uneasy and if they didn’t respond to him trying to reason with them, he would break it off with them.

Send me a number and an OC!