#lm: step 16: develop your skillsets

[bardic-tales]

The Leviathan method: Step 16: Develop your Skill Set

I have briefly touched upon some of Bianca's skill sets for Fantasy Worlds Collide, but it was more of what she could do when she is at the height of her power.

In Blood and Stardust, Bianca is still learning how to control her powers and how to best utilize them. At the start of the novel, Bianca's latent blood had awakened six years prior to meeting Sephiroth. Her powers can and do often fail her, as will be shown towards the end of the book.

Author

Bianca is a skilled writer, having built a reputation as a successful romance novelist. She understands storytelling and reader engagement, using her knowledge to craft compelling narratives. Writing serves as an emotional outlet for her, allowing her to process trauma in a way that feels safe. While she excels in creativity, she struggles with criticism. She is highly sensitive to feedback, making her reluctant to share her more personal works. Her writing skills also aid her in persuasion, to the point of understanding how to use words to influence others.

Magic User

Bianca’s magical abilities are vast, but her control is severely limited due to her short training period. While she can manipulate time, space, and ice, she struggles with precision and endurance, often overexerting herself in battle. Her healing abilities are crude, and she is more adept at smaller scale healing than advanced magical restoration. Her nightmare magic is unpredictable, influenced by her emotional state, and can backfire if not carefully controlled. While she has an innate connection to magic, her lack of experience makes her powers volatile and dangerous to herself and others.

Swordswoman

Bianca has only six years of training with a blade, making her an intermediate fighter at best. She has experience using her celestial sword, Solstice, but she is entirely unfamiliar with her father’s sword, Noctemaris, having had it for only a week. Her swordplay relies on agility and precision rather than brute strength, as she lacks the years of experience needed to overpower opponents through sheer skill. She compensates for her lack of mastery with quick thinking and dirty fighting when necessary. However, against a seasoned swordsman, she is at a disadvantage.

Strategist

Though not a military tactician, Bianca possesses a sharp mind and a knack for manipulation. She reads people well and can exploit their weaknesses, making her a dangerous opponent in psychological warfare. However, her strategic skills are mostly instinctive, based on survival rather than formal training. She struggles with long-term planning and often acts impulsively, which can lead to unintended consequences. Her ability to adapt quickly gives her an edge in unpredictable situations, but she lacks the discipline of a true tactician, such as Sephiroth.

Survivalist

Years of running and hiding from enemies have made Bianca an adept survivalist. She knows how to navigate difficult terrain, forage for food, and tend to basic injuries without relying on her magic. Her ability to stay unnoticed allows her to evade pursuers when needed. However, her reliance on her abilities has made her somewhat dependent on them. Her endurance is high, but she is not physically built for prolonged hand-to-hand combat, making stealth and evasion her best options when fighting isn’t an option.

tagging some fellow mutuals: @themaradwrites @whatwedointhecraft @megandaisy9 @watermeezer

@prehistoric-creatures @creativechaosqueen @chickensarentcheap @seastarblue

@inkandimpressions