#wip: of starlight and beasts

[mysticstarlightduck]

Music Tag (Part 2)

Thank you so much for the tag, @memento-morri-writes!!! I'll go with some more OCs from my WIP "Of Starlight and Beasts" for this one!

Kyran Mavven

(About the character - Kyran is one of the most talented alchemists to currently attend the realm's most prestigious magic sciences academy. He has built a legacy and reputation for himself, out of nothing but his own wit. However, behind his perfect persona lies a past - and terrible mistakes he made - which he wants to keep hidden at all costs, both out of fear of losing all that he's built and to avoid facing consequences for all he's left behind.)

Little White Lies - Voltaire

The Calling - The Amazing Devil

Words Fail - Dear Evan Hansen

Up, Down - Boy Epic

Nimwen Aerran

(About the character - Nimwen has experienced firsthand the effects of the corruption of the continent's nobility and has spent most of her life running from her past as a result. Now grown up, she wanted nothing more than to build a life for herself away from the scheming and lies that left her scarred for life, but fate seemed to have other ideas.)

The Moon Will Sing - The Crane Wives

Running For Your Life - Unsecret

The Wish of Every Princess - Karliene

Welcome Home - Radical Face

Rin

(About the character: Rin is a smooth-talking avian fey whose morals can shift in the flip of a coin. Considered a weak link and banished from his own tribe, Rin has learned to perfect the ways of always coming out on top through the art of deceit, despite his inner wishes for a deeper connection with others. With his external ambitions and his true feelings at odds with one another, Rin often proves to be one of the most unpredictable characters in the whole cast.)

Hangin' - Bastille

Ego - Sarah Kennedy

Twisted - MISSIO

Little Lion Man - Mumford and Sons

Blind Spot - Saint Chaos

Tagging: @autumnalwalker, @aalinaaaaaa, @apolline-lucy, @anyablackwood, @writernopal, @gummybugg, @steh-lar-uh-nuhs, @elshells, @clairelsonao3, @lassiesandiego, @doublegoblin, @littleladymab, @little-peril-stories, @oh-no-another-idea, @blind-the-winds, @jay-avian, @kaylinalexanderbooks, @rickie-the-storyteller, @mk-writes-stuff and OPEN TAG

[mysticstarlightduck]

"Not A Villain Song" Tag Game!

I saw an open tag by @bunnymermaidwrites (here) <3

Rules: Pick a song for the antagonist/ villain of your WIP, but the twist is that it can't be obvious that it is a song for the villain. As in: if someone listened to the song and didn't know it was about the villain, they couldn't guess!

I'll go with Crimson Queen Meira (from my WIP Of Starlight and Beasts) and Lord General Arzhel (from my WIP - and possible comic in the making but we'll see - Jade Ruins) for this one!

[Also, if you guys want to, you could try and guess the meaning of the songs for these specific characters in the replies/reblogs! (: ]

CRIMSON QUEEN MEIRA - Wish by Eurielle

In a world of hope and promises I had a dream of love and blissful happiness, I imagined myself with the perfect life Where all that matters to me could be mine… But somehow it passed me by And left me stranded here I’m running out of time Too late for me, I fear If wishing alone could turn out the light I’d have drifted away to the welcoming night If I could escape just by closing my eyes, I’d already be safe under different skies

LORD GENERAL ARZHEL - Flares by The Script

Did you lose what won't return? Did you love but never learn? The fire's out but still it burns And no one cares, there's no one there Did you find it hard to breathe? Did you cry so much that you could barely see? You're in the darkness all alone And no one cares, there's no one there But did you see the flares in the sky? Were you blinded by the light? [...] Did you break but never mend? Did it hurt so much, you thought it was the end? Lose your heart but don't know when

Tagging (gently)! @lassiesandiego, @littleladymab, @oh-no-another-idea, @little-peril-stories, @rickie-the-storyteller, @kaylinalexanderbooks, @thepeculiarbird,@clairelsonao3, @steh-lar-uh-nuhs, @tabswrites, @memento-morri-writes, @moonluringfrost, @writernopal, @saintedseraph, @sam-glade and OPEN TAG

[mysticstarlightduck]

Happy WBW! World map emoji - How many countries are there in your world? Feel free to dive into them as much/little as you want! 🍃 - How many seasons are there in your world?

Thank you so much for the ask, @pluttskutt! I'm sorry for the (very) late answer, these past few weeks have been a bit chaotic!

How many countries are there in your world? Feel free to dive into them as much/little as you want!

Since I'm working more on Of Starlight and Beasts I'll go with that WIP for this answer!

Well, the short version is... I'm not really that sure yet. What I mean by this is that I know the key locations where the story has taken place and will take place so far, but I also know that there's a whole continent of kingdoms, cities, and landscapes in the world the characters are in, and while those places exist in their world, they just haven't appeared in the actual story or been visited by the characters yet, but are mentioned.

Mostly, so far, the main countries/kingdoms that are extremely relevant to the story are the capital city of Tirawen, the former kingdom of Idraven (now conquered by the forces of the Crimson Queen), the provinces of Monbern, the vast landscape known as the Frosts, and the seaside city of Orloch - all which are part of the characters stories, journey and which hold the landscapes which are key parts of the trajectory of their quest. There will be more kingdoms and countries introduced later on, but these are the ones I've got so far!

Now, a little bit of quick lore about those cities:

Tirawen - This kingdom (whose capital city has the same name) rules over a large portion of the realm, its dynasty was known for upholding the current era of peace before the main conflicts of the book threw the world into chaos. Despite being a beautiful marble city known for being the melting pot of the realm, where different cultures could exist in harmony and where knowledge, arts, and magic could thrive, Tirawen also has a complicated/darker side. Beset by strange, ravenous beasts throughout the year, but most strongly during the dark winter months of the city, Tirawen's survival depends on the magic borders around the kingdom, which provide a defense system capable of keeping most of the beasts at bay. But the more distant from the capital, the less efficient the magic, since it is a limited resource - small backwater villages and faraway provinces are more at the mercy of the beasts, while the cities near the kingdom's heart/the capital rarely suffer great losses. But now, with the kingdom's protective magic waning - for reasons yet unknown, Tirawen faces the reality of a dire future that may put at risk its very survival.

Monbern - A duchy deep in the forests of the southern part of the kingdom. It was once one of the most powerful and rich places in the realm, nearly a sprawling merchant empire in a stone-built city, but when the ducal family was betrayed and the throne usurped, Monbern changed. It's sprawling merchant city gave way to one of the most infamous (and largest) black market trading outposts in the realm - with the crime lords being personal friends of the new Duke, having helped him come to power - and many loyalists to the former ducal family were either driven to exile or vanished (killed). The old city now lives under near militaristic oppression, with high taxes and threats, though those loyal to the "new duke" seem to suspiciously thrive. However, there's more to this province than meets the eye - underground, carved into the earth's stone, there are ancient fortresses and tunnels, where another city (reminiscent of the old Monbern) thrives right under the new Duke's watch, which is unaware of the existence of this secret part of the province.

Orloch - This city is home to the largest port in the realm, covering most of the kingdom's coast. It is ruled by a council of naval commanders who answer to the royal family of Tirawen, most notably to the King's sister-in-law, a former captain. It is responsible for trades between cities in the realm but also with cities beyond the sea. Many of the budding captains and commanders dream of reaching and exploring the mythical "Uncharted Lands" that lie beyond a sea of monstrous creatures and deathly enchanted fog that confuses the minds of sailors and drives them adrift forever.

The Frosts are an incredibly large expanse of land beyond the city of Tirawen, a frozen, landlocked desertic tundra in the heart of the continent. It is said that most non-humanoid dragons and giant serpents hail from these lands, and that magic is at its wildest here. The kingdoms within the Frosts are independent of Tirawen, though they hold diplomatic connections and trade relationships with that city, and its lands are divided between five matriarchal, ancient clans - which are said to be the only ones able to master the ginormous creatures of their land, and have existed long before Tirawen was even a village.

Idraven - It was once a "sibling kingdom" to Tirawen, before the two lands were divided into two, centuries ago. Idraven was a powerful kingdom with a warrior's culture and a strong connection to their kingdom's spiritual magic. It was separated from Tirawen by a vast mountain range and had cities nestled in the walls of the mountains and even within the rocks. After the kingdom politically "disappeared" two centuries ago it was said that Idraven fell to at the mysterious curse that was awakened and took hold of the mountains and forever locked Tirawen away from it. This is partially true, there was a curse, but Idraven was actually conquered and isolated by the forces of the Crimson Queen. Much of its population died in the brutal attack (either fighting against the Queen's forces or trying to run from it), and the ones remaining were enslaved by the Crimson Queen. It now looks more like the mix between a ghost town and a military outpost.

How many seasons are there in your world?

All my fantasy WIPs have the same Four Seasons as we do (mostly because that's a system that works and it would be too much additional work for me to great new seasons). At times, the length, characteristics, and strength of each season may vary in certain locations in each WIP, though!

[mysticstarlightduck]

Character Voice Tag

I was tagged by @kaylinalexanderbooks for this one! Thanks for the tag!

My line was: "Well, what was I supposed to do?"

Your line is: "I don't know whether to be severely worried or impressed. Congratulations."

Tomasa - ... So you blew up the building.

Kyran - Well what was I supposed to do?!

Tomasa - I don't know, anything else? Maybe something that didn't risk ending with us splattered across the courtyard?!

Kyran - It's not like I had all the time in the world! They were trying to kill us, so I just had to improvise - plus, we're alive, nothing went wrong.

Masen - This is a truly riveting conversation and all, but are we going to get the hell out of here or what? I'm personally really invested in this discussion, but I'm not sure if the guys with the crossbows would agree [laughs]

Tagging: @cowboybrunch, @littleladymab, @little-peril-stories´, @rickie-the-storyteller, @lassiesandiego, @illarian-rambling, @inky-duchess, @steh-lar-uh-nuhs, @tabswrites and OPEN TAG

[mysticstarlightduck]

Two Truths and One Lie Tag!

I was tagged by @kaylinalexanderbooks for this one, here!

Rules: Post a poll featuring two truths and one lie about your OC!

I'll go with my OC Corah Stormryder from Of Starlight and Beasts for this one!

Tagging: @lassiesandiego, @clairelsonao3, @little-peril-stories, @rickie-the-storyteller, @crowandmoonwriting, @sam-glade, @writernopal, @oh-no-another-idea, @hrmkingizzy, @jasperygrace, @tabswrites, @moonluringfrost, @thepeculiarbird, @littleladymab, @starlit-hopes-and-dreams, @i-can-even-burn-salad and @blind-the-winds

[mysticstarlightduck]

21 for the writer’s ask game?

Thank you so much for the Ask, @mk-writes-stuff!!!

21. Who is/are your favorite character(s) to write?

This is such a great question! Since I have quite a lot of WIPs, I have a lot of favorite characters I love to write about as well - so, for the sake of making this answer easier for me, I'll choose some characters from Enchanted Illusions and Of Starlight and Beasts to narrow down the list (and because these two WIPs are my "Words Into Potions" project this March!)

While I like almost all of my main characters and POV characters some of them just take the cake when it comes to being the ones I have the most fun writing and creating!

I'll give a quick summary to each of the characters I mention here (:

Of Starlight and Beasts

Leora Tallin - a young warrior from the former kingdom of Idrevan, which was conquered and annexed by the Crimson Queen's army generations ago. Leora was once a terrified orphan child whose magic caught the attention of Meira's army, who intended to have her trained as a soldier for their wars - a fate she narrowly escaped thanks to her older sister rescuing her. Now, Leora is the leader of a growing faction in Idrevan's underworld, seeking to offer the oppressed a chance of freedom away from the Crimson Queen's hold on their land. She's very much a brash, "strike first, ask questions later" type of character, and is also highly intelligent - while she yearns for her revenge on the General who ruined her childhood - a General who also nearly killed her adoptive brother - Leora also knows that openly standing up to Queen Meira without a plan would be a disaster waiting to happen, and so she waits and grows her power for the perfect opportunity to take a stand.

Arammys Lochlain (also this book's certified cinnamon roll!): Arammys is a young man whose memories of his past were stolen from him, for a reason he does not know. He is also the Starlit Guardian - (someone who has the most ancient and powerful magic their world can possess, a power said to be remnants of the power that created the realms, a magic which his family line have been the carriers of for millennia now). I love writing Arammys because, he's just the sweetest, kindest, most pure-of-heart character in this whole series - and despite his normally pacifist manner, he is also someone people really, really shouldn't mess with. I guess I just really love the "cinnamon roll that could kill you" type of characters lmao! He is the love interest of Corah, one of the main characters, and their story is one of my all-time favorite subplots this book has to offer!

Eidan Delythen - A formerly bright-eyed inventor, ward of a noble family, Eidan's world was destroyed and torn upside down by his treasonous uncle. Blaming himself for the fate of those he once called family, who died at the hands of his uncle, Eidan resigned himself to a life of solitude, whilst he sought a way to put an end to the evils and beasts that the corrupted magic of the Crimson Queen's magic brought to the land, as a way to redeem himself. He's very much a morally grey, scheming character when he is first introduced to the story, which I think is part of the reason why I love writing him so much - at first, he finds himself joining the MCs in their quest because he believes it will advance his goals, but as the story progresses and their bond starts to grow he genuinely starts caring about his newfound friends and participating on the quest for the right reasons while remaining quite the schemer when it comes to plotting the villains' downfalls. I guess it is just so cool to write the character whom he becomes later on in the book - still a morally grey, scheming character who manipulates situations for his gain, but who now does it with a noble goal in mind, to help his friends.

Tomasa Flammyr - She lives in the kingdom's coastal city, and is hopelessly in love with her girlfriend, Nadya. Tomasa also has high hopes of one day joining the royal Navy - her whole reason for helping the main cast, other than stopping the Crimson Queen will save thousands of innocents, is that she believes this is her chance to become the hero she dreamed of, just like the ones in the tales she was told growing up, and that it'll also be her chance to impress her future in-laws. She also happens to be a very (literally, physically and mentally, she's unbelievably strong) strong female character - she could carry most of the main characters with one arm and be unfazed - which, for me, is one of the reasons I love writing her so much. Other than that, she is just a really sweet person who also is a brave and honorable fighter, who loves puppies and all things cute in the world, but who also could defeat a giant in a five-minute brawl. Her secret shapeshifting ability is also a part of one of the greatest plot twists of the book! (:

Enchanted Illusions

Augustus Grimmure - One of the book's protagonists, Augustus is an all-powerful necromancer who made a deal with the deamon Deathbringer (an ancient entity of their world) for more power after being betrayed by his peers. He dreams of creating a world where innocent people are safe from harm, and where progress can really flourish - and being an "anti-hero" type of character, he believes that this can only achieved by purging all those who are pointlessly cruel and abusive from the city, eliminating the worst criminals, the kind of people who would create more injustices like the ones he faced. I just love how, while he is a morally grey character who often does questionable things for a noble/good goal (and is not above killing his enemies), he is also a kind and caring young scholar who wants to keep his friends and loved ones safe and happy. The dichotomy of someone who can go "I'll devour your soul" to criminals/his sworn enemies, and then do a 180° and go back home to his friends and family like nothing happened, straight up "Do you want hot chocolate, my dear?", is very fun and compelling for me to write!

Marcus Kallihan - The most dangerous assassin Ansburke has ever seen, Marcus Kallihan rose from street urchin to king of one of the most powerful mobs in the city. He runs the city's criminal underworld with an iron fist, ensuring that while his business is booming, innocent and honest folk can have a better and brighter future than the one he had. He runs The Fair - a giant underworld city-like landscape underneath the city of Ansburke, where he welcomes the outcasts and misfits from all around the region, and where he conducts most of his underworld business as well. He is a mobster with a strict moral compass, much different than his fellow mob bosses in other gangs, and due to him being a very much "Robin Hood" like figure, is adored by the people. He is also known as the Phoenix. I just love how his character is a badass with a heart of gold who took "the cards he was dealt with" and used them as a chance to give people like him a different fate than his, so that no other street kid had to resort to crimes to get by, like he had to.

(Most characters in Enchanted Illusions are antiheroes, which is really due to the world they live in, and that's very interesting dynamic as a whole for me)

Evangeline Daemitya - Daughter of the richest and most powerful man in the city (Damien Daemitya, heir of the most influential family in Ansburke, and also a member of the city's High Council of Sorcerers), Evie is a very sweet, studious, and opinionated lady, despite her sheltered existence. She has the means to make this city a better place, and when she discovers a conspiracy involving the nobility of the city, Evie takes it upon herself to change the way things are about to go. She's determined, madcap, and stubborn, a daredevil at heart who is not afraid of taking risks and leaps of faith if it means getting things done, while also being one of the most polite and pure characters in the book. She's very feminine and very strong at the same time! She wants to be a good person - unlike her callous, abusive ex-step-mother, who made a great part of her past a living hell - and use her extensive monetary means, as well as her knowledge, to give the city a chance at progress.

[mysticstarlightduck]

Pyrite for the writer's meme! (Could your protag and antag ever be friends?)

Thank you so much for this ask, @littleladymab!

The Tag Game

Pyrite: Could the antagonist and protagonist ever be friends?

(I'll answer this one for some of the POV characters of my WIPs Enchanted Illusions and Of Starlight and Beasts)

I've got some pretty evil/screwed up villains in my WIPs, so the answer for most of my POV cast would mostly be a resounding no, for various reasons, but let's see why!

Enchanted Illusions

Augustus Grimmure: No, they would not be friends, not in a million years. Augustus may be a dangerous necromancer who has no qualms about killing his enemies, but he has a strict moral compass - everything he does is to protect himself, his friends, and the innocent people of the city of Ansburke. His methods may be unorthodox, but in the end, he has good reasons to do morally grey things. The villains of this story, on the other hand, are prejudiced, power-hungry people who prey on the innocent - they're exactly everything Augustus despises and swore to destroy. They would never be friends.

Agatha Greenwoods: If the situation was dire enough, she could pretend to be friends with/on the same side of the antagonists, if it meant she could discover more about their plans and find a better way to destroy their secret society for good. But she wouldn't be true friends with the antagonists, she would only pretend in order to achieve her goals and in the name of the greater good.

Evangeline Daemitya: Given that the woman who is responsible for most of her childhood trauma is affiliated with the antagonists' secret society (the Hemlock Society), I would say that never in a million years would Evie befriend those villains. Plus she is such a pure, kind-hearted girl, that I literally can't see any situation where she would even consider such an alliance!

Harriet Sharppe: Never. I think that Harriet's moral sense of justice, along with her extremely good heart, would never let her ally herself to the Duke or any of the members of the Hemlock Society, unless - and even then with extreme reservations - the lives and safety of her loved ones were at stake. Harriet would burn the world to keep her family, friends and her love interest (Augustus) safe from harm, and would even (if the situation was really, really screwed up and extreme) genuinely consider and accept a temporary alliance with some of the less screwed up antagonists in order to save her loved ones. But only in such a situation. When everything went back to normal and her loved ones were safe again she would immediately betray that "alliance" with the antagonists.

Thaddeus Lockhill: His whole life and purpose have centered around leading a secret revolutionary effort against that same Hemlock society. His cause has become the most important thing in the world to him - its what gives him his purpose in life. So allying himself with the villains would be a resounding no in any situation. He'd rather die a martyr than make such a "friendship". He might consider working with less than-moral people as informants or in order to achieve a certain mission, but he would never ally himself to the actual antagonists of the story.

Of Starlight and Beasts:

Corah Stormryder - As a knight, saving the realm and following her personal oaths is everything for her, it is her mission to defeat the Crimson Queen and keep her from killing innocent people. Corah can understand the circumstances that led Meira (the Crimson Queen) to become so vengeful, cold and cruel, but she knows that nothing can excuse what that woman has become, after so many innocent lives lost. Nothing in this world could make Corah even pretend to be friends with that woman.

Maryon Haell - As the daughter of the most influential man in their corner of the realm (a man known as the Serpent of the Frosts, due to his network of spies that leads to him knowing everything that happens within his domain), Maryon was raised to seize opportunities when they arise - I can see her definitely using whatever she can to her advantage to stop the Crimson Queen, even pretending to be her ally or something similar (much like Agatha from Enchanted Illusions), only to betray her later to save her people. She is opportunistic, but she also has a strict moral code, so I don't see her actually becoming friends with any antagonists unless: 1. she is faking it to achieve her goals (as mentioned before), 2. the antagonist in question truly has a redemption arc

Arammys Lochlain - The most forgiving and kind-hearted character in the book, Arammys believes that anyone deserves a second chance. Due to his memories of his past having been magically stolen, and his own tempestuous magic, the Crimson Queen could use a promise of "helping him get his past back" to try and lure him into a false friendship - but Arammys is very clever, and I can hardly imagine that he would fall for her scheme. While he believes anyone deserves second chances, that person needs to prove they truly want to redeem themselves, something Meira is not about to do, so they really wouldn't be friends.

[mysticstarlightduck]

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.

[mysticstarlightduck]

OC Smash or Pass!

I was tagged by @kaylinalexanderbooks for this one a while back! Thank you so much for the tag!

Elias Mavven (from Of Starlight and Beasts)

Description: Elias is a tall young man with sun-tanned skin from his years at sea, and long, sand-blond hair (there is always a braid on his hair, no matter if the rest of it is untied or in a ponytail). His eyes are dark brown. Elias wears a white puff-sleeve shirt, with black trousers, and leather booths, with purple and gold fabric bands around his waist as a makeshift belt - he may or may not occasionally wear a long pastel blue overcoat with intricate embroidering (his attire is very pirate-coded, which, given that he is a pirate, is not surprising). He wears a lot of jewelry, including many rings, two necklaces and golden bracelets - most notably, Elias wears either a choker-style necklace or a fabric bandana at all times (for backstory/spoiler reasons). He is very handsome - caring a lot about his appearance and making sure he makes a powerful impression. He also has some tattoos that he is very proud of - usually in the color blue (especially turquoise), and usually either sea-themed or star/moon-themed. Is rather cocky and confident, though he has an overwhelmingly mysterious, secretive vibe.

Basic Facts:

Height - 6,3 ft

Age - 24

Gender - Male

Pronouns - He/Him

Occupation - Pirate Captain (a former aspiring sailor for their kingdom's Royal Navy)

Sexuality - Homosexual

OC Soundtrack - Elias Mavven OC Playlist

Pros -

Will absolutely make sure you take care of yourself - self-care is a very important thing for him - and will not let you spiral too far into negative/self-deprecating self-talk. Is the "mother friend" of the group, subtly, without being overwhelming - he knows how to give people space while also telling them the truths they need to hear, and absolutely loves using humor to cheer up his friends and crew.

The fun-loving life of the party - due to his confident personality (and partially due to his reputation, which impresses people and makes him beloved by most common folk), people usually gravitate to him in social settings. He knows how to have a good time in any situation - be it at a rowdy party in a tavern or while sailing the high seas - to him, any moment is an invitation to live life to the fullest and have fun.

Is very good at cooking, (though terrible at baking lmao), and knows how to perfectly make a variety of rare dishes and adores spicy food - though sometimes his taste when it comes to "how much spicy" can be a bit too much for most.

Elias is a very talented fighter and knows how to win most fights with ease - and in an increasingly dangerous and unpredictable world such as the setting of this novel, these talents often come in handy (and are often life-saving). Although he is one of the best fighters in the realm - in both land and sea - he prefers to solve things diplomatically/through deals and only resorts to fighting as a last resort.

Cares a lot. He makes emotional connections quickly, though he'd hate to admit it, and cares a lot about the well-being of his friends and crew. If he is in love with someone, that tendency creases tenfold, and he will try to make sure that person stays as happy and safe as can be. He is very romantic, in unusual ways, and is more loyal than he gives himself credit for. The well being of his friends and crew are always his priority.

Determined, brave, and witty. Elias has enough determination to last two lifetimes and is not someone to give up on things easily, while also being willing to take risks (both in battle and in normal daily life) without much hesitation. One of his greatest strengths also includes being a great team worker and leader. If you're adventuring together, you would definitely be quite the power couple - unbeatable together, while incredibly soft and in sync with each other.

Badass - knows how to make quite an impression, and is a master at "dramatic entrance", very little fazes him, and he usually remains calm, unstressed, and chill even in the middle of chaotic or potentially stressful situations. If an enemy is actually dreadful enough to manage to get this easygoing, smooth-talking, calm pirate to lose his temper/patience, then they will need one heck of a lot of good luck, because they've just unleashed a tidal wave that will crush them after this feat (as the saying goes, "fear the wrath of a good man").

Normally, he is very carefree, funny, and relaxed - to the point of being slightly reckless. He definitely is the definition of YOLO ("you only live once") in all the best possible ways. Despite this, he knows when to be serious and responsible, especially if it comes to dangerous situations.

Knows a lot of constellations and the stories/tales behind them, and loves to show off this knowledge to someone he cares about. He also has an extensive array of knowledge about sea monsters and the like, a knowledge mostly comprised of encounters that did not go so well.

Neutral Facts -

Elias is the oldest (adoptive) brother to two younger siblings, and it was just the "three of them against the world" for a really long time during his childhood and teen years. This has affected greatly his view of the world and has created some walls when it comes to trusting strangers (he's a bit distrusting/jaded).

His love languages are Quality Time and Receiving Giving Gifts. He likes to make every moment count and make things as memorable as he can in any given moment but also loves simple moments of daily intimacy and love.

Dramatic - likes to put on a show/make a scene. If he wants the last cookie in the cookie jar he will make you reconsider your life choices with how pouty and dramatic he can get to achieve said cookie. The same applies to most situations.

Uses unusual/rare swear words, in the very select occasions he actually swears.

Cons:

Bottles up and internalizes his emotions/feelings like nobody else in the world. He will definitely deflect any questions about how he is truly feeling, when he is upset, with the classic "[chuckle] I'm fine!". Given that he has some serious trauma in his past, this is just a ticking time bomb waiting to explode - and when (not if) those feelings do resurface, it definitely won't be a nice time for him (a panic attack is bound to happen, and most likely in the worst moment possible for it to happen).

Can get "carried away" during battles/fights, like he is in a fighting trance, especially if his enemy has done something to truly piss him off. While this means absolutely no danger for his friends and crew, it does mean he'll become dangerously more reckless (a.k.a. he'll likely get a serious wound and keep fighting like it's just another Tuesday, until he either passes out or someone stops him) and dig himself into a metaphorical hole by provoking more and more enemies.

Wants to handle things by himself all of the time, and has a hard time accepting that even he sometimes needs help.

Gets defensive/temperamental about his past when someone bluntly tries to find out more about it or unintentionally triggers him, which can get him in a really bad mood/sad (which he deals with by isolating himself in his quarters until he's back to his cheery self again).

Tagging (gently, no pressure): @lassiesandiego, @oh-no-another-idea, @writernopal, @tabswrites, @rickie-the-storyteller, @steh-lar-uh-nuhs, @little-peril-stories, @clairelsonao3, @jasperygrace, @jay-avian, @forthesanityofstorytellers, @aziz-reads, @doublegoblin, @gummybugg, @autumnalwalker, @olivescales3, @junypr-camus, @ashen-crest, @starlit-hopes-and-dreams, @bardicbeetle @talesofsorrowandofruin, @mitchell-nihil, @pluttskutt, @saltysupercomputer, and @dreaminggoblin

[mysticstarlightduck]

My Words Into Potions Intro!

The Event (@moon-and-seraph)

I'll be working on two WIPs this March - my goal will be to attempt to finish Enchanted Illusion's first draft and give Of Starlight and Beasts a good headstart!

Title: OF STARLIGHT AND BEASTS

Genre - High Fantasy (medieval) Adventure/Dark Fairy Tale (with a tad of romance, that's a subplot)

Summary - In an ancient enchanted kingdom, Corah, the daughter of their land's most renowned adventurer, seeks to become the best knight that has ever lived. However, after meeting a young man with strange magic and no memories lost in the woods, Corah finds herself thrust into an unexpected quest when the once-thought-dead Queen returns to enact her revenge on their peaceful kingdom - and now it falls to Corah and her mysterious new friend to prevent destruction from reaching their land, if she wants to achieve her dream to be knighted. But are things quite what they seem?

POV - Dual POV (for now?), with some occasional POVs from important side characters.

Lenght - Novel/Book

Tags/Hashtag - #wip: of starlight and beasts, #wip of starlight and beasts

WIP Soundtrack - Of Starlight and Beasts Playlist

Snippet/Excerpt -

[...] Corah climbed the sandy stone wall, expertly weaving her way up towards the broken ramparts despite the weight of her armor straining her arms. Her hands reached the ledge, and she was able to fling her leg onto the walkway, pulling the rest of her body upwards.

Taking a moment to catch her breath, she wiped the dust off of her hands onto her trousers, waiting for her friends to reach her. Arammys' sunny locks were the first to peek through the ramparts, though, in his struggle to get a grip on the stone, his hands nearly slipped - she lunged, grabbing hold of his wrist just in time, and helping him heave himself the rest of the way up.

Behind him, Eidan followed suit, pulling himself over the wall nearly effortlessly. Arammys stared at him, impressed and annoyed at the same time.

Turning around as the duo started to bicker, Corah rolled her eyes, looking down to the city below, the sprawling sea just barely visible through the white stone buildings was filled with trading ships from near and far, the sky seemingly filled with colorful flags and banners. But she knew better than to trust the city's apparent normalcy - the Crimson Queen's soldiers were already here, just waiting to catch them on the streets down below.

"We'll need to figure out another plan, it seems" She winced, sighting a suspiciously familiar hooded figure just out of the rampart's gate ahead. Her hand instinctively went to the hilt of her sword.

Just as she was about to back away, Arammys popped up beside her, not noticing the enemy just below. Corah pulled Arammys behind a pillar just in time before the person looked up, nearly spotting him. She whispered through gritted teeth, exasperated. "Do you seriously have a death wish?"

"I didn't notice that the guy was there!" Arammys replied, an indignant remark spoken through a whisper as he pulled the hood of his cloak meticulously over his head, obscuring his hair and face. He peered over the pillar, this time more carefully, onto the street below, noticing more and more of the Queen's men. "Gods, the city is really crawling with them. How are we supposed to reach the docks? They'll kill us!"

"No, they won't." Eidan broke his silence, motioning with his metallic arm for the duo to follow him, "I know a way in. But you're really not gonna like it." [...]

Title: ENCHANTED ILLUSIONS

Genre - Victorian-inspired Dark Fantasy/Mystery

Summary - The brutal war between humans and mythical creatures came to an end 100 years ago, with a peace treaty being achieved and the rival nations finally coexisting peacefully in the capital city of Ansburke. Now, however, a crooked secret organization - dubbed the Hemlock Society - seeks to plunge the city into civil war, preying on the prejudices left over from the previous centuries of warfare to feed the uneasiness between humans and Myths once more. Now, as tensions reach a boiling point, a group of misfits and outcasts must work together to thwart the Hemlock Society's dreadful plans before civil war erupts, in a race against time to save both the people of Ansburke and their own lives, as they dive deep into the world of intrigues and secrets that lay just beneath the city's perfect surface.

POV - 5 Main POVS, with occasional POVs from important side characters.

Lenght - Novel/Book Series

Tags/Hashtag - #wip: enchanted illusions, #wip enchanted illusions

WIP Soundtrack - Enchanted Illusions Playlist

Snippet/Excerpt -

Augustus and Harriet walked down the cramped alleyway, following their unexpected guide. Whilst the necromancer maintained his usual unphased composure - hands behind his back, chin held up high, relaxed smile - Harriet could not help but look over her shoulder once every few seconds. Every shadow seemed to be someone ready to jump at them, to drag them to the deepest bowels of this town and never return.

She pushed the intrusive thoughts down, scoffing at the outlandish notion. Still, the sky was unnaturally covered by smog - smoke continuously billowing from the foundries' skyscraping chimneys, mixing with the cloudy mist - and the lamplit streets were a cramped maze of shops, tents and intricate buildings, metal being the most prevalent sight. Nothing like Ansburke, she thought.

The quicker they find what they're looking for, the sooner they'll return home. And hopefully, stop this madness from unfolding. There was an unwelcome, fiery chill in the air and people bustled through the street around them. She inched closer to Augustus, their shoulders brushing - and tried to convince herself it was simply so she wouldn't get lost in this industrial maze, not to sate the pit of uneasiness that had taken hold of her chest since they reached the gates of the city. Ahead, the eccentric young man leading them whirled around.

"Alright, if ya guys wanna blend in and find out more about that scumbag of a Mayor, you'll need to get some local clothes - not that there's nothing wrong with," He gestured to their dapper attires, now slightly torn and dusty after their ordeal at the train ride, which stood out like a sore thumb when compared to the crowds around them "that, but you two scream 'Ansburke' just by existing." [...]

[mysticstarlightduck]

Heads Up Seven Up (2)

I was tagged by @indecentpause (here)! Thank you so much for the tag!

I chose to go with a line from a future scene I wrote for my newest WIP - a dark fairytale-style fantasy - Of Starlight and Beasts, (even though I haven't nearly reached that chapter yet, I just had to write down this scene)!

"Love won't save you now, child - well, it certainly won't save him." Meira emerged from the swirling shadows, looming over her - the condescending smile on her lips an uncanny sight. Corah glared, suddenly gasping once she realized what the Queen meant. She swung her sword at the woman, speaking with a furious growl, "You wouldn't dare!" "My dear, I already have," Meira blocked the blade with her bare hand, holding onto it with the ease of someone swatting a fly and throwing the girl across the hall. The Queen grew as tall as the pilasters around her, her shadows swirling fiercely as she became a part of them, voice echoing eerily around her, "You'll never reach the boy on time."

Tagging (gently): @i-can-even-burn-salad, @winterandwords, @talesofsorrowandofruin, @steh-lar-uh-nuhs, @starlit-hopes-and-dreams, @rickie-the-storyteller, @aziz-reads, @little-peril-stories and @jasperygrace