#Kroashent Lore

[kroashent]

Kroashent - World of Alvez - Lethan Windguard

A while ago, I ran a little side project designing some costumes and uniforms for various factions in Alvez to get a better idea of the aesthetic of the world. The last of these (at the time) are the uniforms of the Lethan Windgaurd.

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The skies above Alvez are navigated by windships, traveling the colourful magical winds as a ship would travel the ocean currents, for travel, trade and warfare. Windships cross the boundaries of reality and skirt the chaotic maelstroms of Wyldstorms to gather liquid lightning and other rare materials.

The Windguard are the aeronautical forces of the sovereigns of the realm. Once the domain of civilian crews, the growth of strong kingdoms, duchies and counties have led to the creation of regimented, professional aeronauts who fly and fight aboard these skybound vehicles. These are the uniforms of the Windguard of the Duchy of Letha, a remote, but powerful region on a windswept peninsula.

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Val's Design Notes:

So this is all basically Enora's Fault. Prior to her, Kroashent sort of existed in an odd stylistic nebula of different aesthetics in a sort of vague fantasy motif. Enora's streamlined design confirmed something I had been looking into for a while, and began the shift towards some later fashion inspirations. The Windguard are very much intended to be the sort of look that could stand next to Enora without having a lot of stylistic jarring, heavily inspired by early 19th century military uniforms.

Like the other factions, I wanted to show off a female and male uniform of the Lethan windguard, but, unlike the others, this one also shows off two ranks. The colours of Letha are black and white, which is reflected in the uniforms here. Windgaurd wearing these uniforms are under the command of the Dugez of Letha, Jeanne la Flamme, and represent the Ermine faction in the civil war.

The uniform on the left is an officer, her uniform emblazoned with the black and white ermine symbol of the Duchy of Letha on her epaulets and sash. Her wide brimmed hat is a common fashion motif in 19th century Brittany and I wanted to make sure I included it.

The outfit on the left is for your standard matelot, the most common rank on the ship. This one is directly inspired by 19th-20th century Breton sailors, right down to the distinctive black and white striped shirt.

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Other Factions:

Gallian Silverblades, the Elite Enforcers of the Crown's Will: https://www.deviantart.com/kathalia/art/Kroashent-World-of-Alvez-The-Silverblades-893227934

Lugoni Caravners: Paid protectors of goods transported by the Lugoni Trade Guild: https://www.deviantart.com/kathalia/art/Kroashent-World-of-Alvez-Lugoni-Caravaners-987702256

[kroashent]

Kroashent Commission - Quinn Mercier

Quinn Mercier always wanted to help people.  Born to a wealthy merchant family, she found her calling as a kuzuliad, a legal counselor in the Ducal Courts of Naoned, representing those who came before the magistrates with civic disputes.  She approached her calling with dedication and passion, taking on the powerful and the wealthy in pursuit of justice, even as others were willing to look the other way.  She rose in the service of the courts, gaining a reputation as an advocate, earning her both praise and enmity.  But it was this same drive that brought her mundane life into the magical world of the Fair Folk.

Quinn thought the old farmer had a simple contract dispute, an argument over payment for services rendered, perhaps with a local tradesman or minor lordling.  Instead, she discovered that the agreement was with a Paolig, the mysterious feline power brokers who arranged impossible agreements between Bediz and Fae.  By taking on the case and arguing for the old man, Quinn had unwittingly agreed to share in his fate.  Brought to a stone circle on a windswept coast, she quite literally made the case of her life, pouring everything into her arguments as nine wrinkled Korrigan sat in silent judgement.  Despite the fear, Quinn had never felt as in her element as she was in the Circle of Justice.  She won, arguing that the feline trickster had withheld a key detail of the contract.

Quinn had found her true calling, bridging the gap between human and Fae as the Kuzuliad for mortals who found their lives entangled with the whims of arkane and magical peoples, representing them before Sidhe Courts, Korrigan Troupes and the clans of the Fomorii.  But with the new opportunities come new dangers...

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Val's Notes:

Every once in a while, I get a uniquely exciting type of commission, adapting a commissioner's original character to show how they might appear in Alvez, the world of Kroashent.  I really enjoy these kind of commissions because they let me work with characters who are full of unrealized potential and a ton of passion, while also being able to build and share little glimpses of Alvez.  I really enjoy when people take an interest in my silly little stories and the characters within.

Quinn, in her "vanilla" form, is a werewolf lawyer, typically operating in an almost Noir urban fantasy world of crooked politicians, shady businessmen and dark secrets.  I'm a sucker for a good urban fantasy noir in the vein of Dresden Files, so Quinn's concept clicked right away. 

Designwise, I tried to keep as much of Quinn's base design as possible, but also place her very distinctively within Kroashent.  Her name was already very close to some of the Franco-Celtic motifs I try to gravitate towards for the setting.  Quinn Mercier is from Naoned, a canal-filled mercantile port city that coincidentally is also the primary setting of the main story.  Her colours (Red, Gold and Green) are the colours of the city, reflecting her role as a member of the Ducal courts of law.  Her hat is a biretta, a hat traditionally worn by law advocates in the Channel Islands in our world.

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Check out some alternate versions of Quinn on Patreon to see some WIPs and other colour designs for her:  https://www.patreon.com/Kroashent

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Quinn Mercer is owned by https://www.furaffinity.net/user/albionwalker/.  Show Quinn some support there!

Alvez and the World of Kroashent is owned by me.

[kroashent]

Redraw Challenge: Kroashent - The Rescue

April's Redraw Challenge, selected by my wonderful patrons, is one that I have a special connection to, a redraw a drawing from May 2019, my 1000th drawing posted to this website! Its especially fitting that this one is ready just in time for Lesbian Visibility Week, celebrating women loving women in Alvez and our own world.

[b]Original Text: [i]An early encounter between Kathalia and Gwae from Kroashent.

When Gwae falls into a trap and is captured by an evil nobleman, Kathalia rushes in to save her with crossbow, sword and unnecessary action stunts, happy to play the swashbuckling hero. As Kathalia holds Gwae close for a daring escape, the silver-haired mage has a startling realization that she may have feelings for her rescuer. But the moment is quickly overshadowed when the pair suddenly swings off the balcony, Gwae screaming and hanging on for dear life as they sail over an army of very angry guards.

Val's Notes: I really love how this one came out, and the original is one I have a lot of love for. I wanted to keep the concept and general vibe of this piece, but upgrade it both artistically and in terms of Kroashent's ongoing lore as the story gets written (Check out Kroashent: Bal des Loups for the first ongoing published Kroashent story!

This scene is envisioned to take place in the Kroashent story that precedes Bal Des Loups. I changed Kathalia's outfit to that of her highwaywoman persona, La Louve de Frehel, and changed the scene to be more mid-swing, rather than before it, as the pair make a daring escape via a passing windship.

If you want to support Kathalia, Gwae and Kroashent, helping bring more scenes like this to life, consider supporting me on Patreon for exclusives, voting privileges and drawing rewards! Every bit of support helps: www.patreon.com/Kroashent Alvez and the World of Kroashent is owned by me.

Interested in getting your own idea drawn by me? Commissions are open: https://www.deviantart.com/kathalia/art/Commission-Sheet-2024-1014668898

[kroashent]

Cael Mac Lochlainn, son of Jarl Steinar Mac Lochlainn, hailed from a tribe of Viking Raiders from the snowswept Lost Peninusla, an inhospitable land of eternal winter. Steinar's numerous adventures and misadventures deep among the Fae had left the warrior with a lifetime of boons and banes from countless friends and enemies. Many of these ere-hud passed along his bloodline, burdening his son with the same, but without the self-chosen path and experience that had bought them.

The pair set out on their longship to raid and trade with peoples beyond the black mirror of the Mor Marv, but they found themselves becalmed in the cursed Feth Fiada, losing themselves in the space between worlds. The father and son were forced to abandon their ship and its crew to the cursed existence of wandering shades, making a desperate attempt and feat of will to break back into reality.

The pair washed up on a remote island in the Sea of Wine, far to the South, where they encountered the Gwiader, the spider-like weavers of Faerie magik. The journey and the weight of the ere-hud brought Cael to his deathbed, and, in desperation, Steinar made a deal with the spiderfolk to save his son, setting out on a desperate quest to complete a risky healing procedure.

Cael was saved, his fate rewritten by the powerful magic of the Gwiader, but forever changed. The sickly young man was transformed into a gwiader herself. With a new lease on life, but a past severed, she travels the lands in search of a new home to come to terms with her new reality.

I was very impressed by the level of detail and commitment of the commissioner in not only crafting Cael's and Steinar's stories, but also how immersed the stories were in Alvez, the world of Kroashent. I've had a concept of Spiderfolk in Kroashent for some time, but spiders are hard to come by in Celtic mythology. To date, I have found a single arachnid-centric folktale from Brittany, and a collection of smaller folk beliefs that helped inform their direction. Special thanks to the commissioner for their assistance in filling out the robust bestiary entry for the Gwiader, the Spiderfolk weavers of magical threads in Alvez. Be sure to check it out here: https://www.worldanvil.com/w/alvez-kroashent/a/gwiader---the-weavers-species.

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Support Valentine's art and the Kroashent project on my Patreon, with great rewards and exclusive content, including an alternate version of this piece for as low as $2!: https://www.patreon.com/Kroashent Learn more about Alvez on the official Kroashent Wiki!: https://www.worldanvil.com/w/alvez-kroashent Read the ongoing full-length story in Kroashent - Bal Des Loups: https://archiveofourown.org/works/42059403?view_full_work=true

[kroashent]

Are there any examples of people abusing hospitality to destroy nobles they didn't like?

Gwae tells the tale of King Bres, the beautiful, but cruel half-Fomorian king of the Tuatha de Danaan.

[kroashent]

We know a lot about the unique traits of Winter Fae, but what are the unique traits of Summer Fae?

The Sidhe, the Fae of the Northern Islands, divide themselves into the Summer and Winter Courts, drawing various traits and abilities from their associated Court. Most of these traits are fairly general and common, but not universal among individuals. The Courts each hold dominion for half the year, known respectively as Winterule and Summerule.

The Unseelie, the Court of Air and Darkness, are dominant during the months of Kerzu (The Dark Month), Kler (The Ice Month), Skeotrenn (The Rainy Windy Month), and Gwenngaouenn (The Thaw Month). Unseelie Fae draw their Druidecht from aspects of Winter, night, death, ice, and cold. In Bediz (human) belief, they are seen as aloof, cold, and somber due to this association, and are viewed as the more dangerous and hostile, in general. However, Unseelie Druidecht also draws from aspects of hearthfire and rebirth. Unseelie tend to act more measured and calculating than their Summer brethren. The Unseelie Court have a reputation for restraint and subtlety, favouring refined dancing and somber music over wild, energetic displays, aspects of which often carry over to personal interactions, which rely on measured speech and calm logic over impassioned rhetoric. This gives them an air of cold aloofness that puts many at unease.

Unseelie tend to have eyes and hair of cool colours, but also tend to be darker or lighter than their summer counterparts in skin pigmentation. They are naturally immune to the cold, and their skin is often cold to the touch. During Summerule, Unseelie feel overwhelmed, lethargic and angry. Their hud is considerably weaker during the warm months.

The Seelie, the Court of Flame and Light, are dominant during the months of Bleuñvadegou (The Bloom Month), Eost (The Month of Harvest), Gwengolo (The Month of White Wheat), and Du (The Darkening Month). Seelie Fae draw their Druidecht from aspects of Summer daylight, light, growth, flora, storms and warmth, which gives them a positive reputation. They also draw from the destructive aspects of fire and disease. They are seen as mischievous, passionate and energetic, but often cruel. Seelie are more prone to flights of fancy and unfinished passion projects than their Winter kin.

The Seelie Court have a reputation for unrestrained passion, favouring cacophony and energy over measured display. They tend to be outgoing and gregarious, but flighty, unreliable and prone to changes of mood and interest. Seelie Fae tend to talk faster and louder than Unseelie.

Seelie Fae have brighter and warmer colours in their hair and eyes, but tend to be more middle of the road in the lightness or darkness of skin tone. They do well in the heat, and their skin is warm to the touch. During Winterrule, they feel stifled, agitated and bored, with their Hud being weaker during this time.

[kroashent]

Is Antoinette actually a decent fighter?

From the personal journal of Enora de Chinon:

- 12 Skeotrenn, 1235 SI -

... My new lady-in-waiting, the Beaumoulin girl, has begun her life here at Amboise. Despite her clear dedication to the task, she remains quiet and reserved, barely saying a word. While she is occasionally clumsy and error-prone, I still cannot fathom why she was having such trouble with her prior employment. Before our meeting at Lady Durtal’s Dinner, she had been removed from no less than 5 positions. She seems a sweet, but shy, girl who causes no trouble intentionally and is overly quick to take the blame. Perhaps time will let her lower her guard after her prior experiences...

- 39 Skeotrenn, 1235 SI -

... I gave the chateau staff the day off while I inspected the Garrison at Chinon. As I prepared to mount my Wyvern, my Lady-in-Waiting, Antoinette Beaumoulin, appeared on the ramparts, insisting she accompany me. When I explained my military role was outside of her courtly duties, she remained steadfast in her decision, the first flash of a real backbone I’ve seen in her yet. She followed me around on every drill and maneuver until nightfall...

- 14 Gwenngaouenn, 1235 SI -

... Antoinette was again waiting on the ramparts despite my early rising, carrying a bundle of armor, lances and other arms. I hear she will not allow the squires to clean my armor, insisting it falls under “the lady’s wardrobe” and therefore her purview. A curious development. She accompanied me at her own insistence on patrol once again. She has been increasingly energetic and talkative, taking an active role on the field. She is attentive during maneuvers and attempts to follow me even at full gallop, despite not having full control over her pony. She clung to the poor beast’s neck the whole way and arrived panting and disheveled. Later, I even thought I saw her shove one of the boys out of the way to collect my discarded lance, but I cannot envision the quiet girl from Lady Durtal’s dinner table doing such a thing...

- 5 Bleuñvadegou, 1235 SI -

... Annaig has taken to calling herself my squire to the new staff, and anticipates my patrols with incredible prescience. Her skills as a spotter leave much to be desired, having identified a procession of monks as an invading army, and the windmills along the Liger as a group of giants. The timid mute from the party has vanished entirely, as has the concept of silence in my chambers. Annaig talks constantly to anyone who will listen with the enthusiasm of a Hastilude Crier. At dinner, I heard Albert refer to her as my squire, the git. He finds it dreadfully amusing, but I fear this will only encourage my lady-in-waiting’s eccentricities…

- 45 Bleuñvadegou, 1235 SI, The Festival of False Sunset -

... Some of the crueler pages decided to ambush my self-proclaimed squire with rocks and sticks before the Festival. When I heard Annaig had been in a fight, I was shocked and worried, but my surprise grew when I found she had beaten all 3 ruffians with a wooden training sword and sent them running. Despite her small frame, she has apparently been learning more than I thought from watching the sparring at the garrison. She remains in excellent spirits since I accidentally called her my squire to his Lordship La Flèche. I fear I have, as Fadlan would say, uncorked the djinn from her prison and there is no going back…

Val's Notes: For a point of clarification, Antoinette Beaumoulin's given name in "Annaig Millinmad". Her father, a rising bourgeois cloth merchant, has taken on a name closer to those used in Gallia to ingratiate himself with the nobility and instructed his family to do the same, in hopes of mitigating prejudicial assumptions of Letha as a remote backwater while raising their social status. This practice is common in the West of Letha. Antoinette was sent to learn etiquette and build social connections among the noble houses of Gallia and Anjev, a regular practice for well to do families.

[kroashent]

To Gwae

What’s one of the strangest creatures you’ve seen since coming to Bedouai?

Gwae: This is a laer-avaloù, or as ye may better know it, an applethief! They are a creature of Summer, and sleep during Winterrule, so I never saw one until I came to Letha! It’s mad pointy and rolls up into a wee ball when it’s scared. They eat all sorts of bugs. Isn’t it class?!

Val's notes: In the Breton language, Hedgehogs really are called avalaouaer/laer-avaloù, or literally "apples thieves". Apparently, hedgehogs carrying fruit on their quills is a recurring motif in medieval bestiaries, not just in Brittany, but as far away as Poland and Czechia! Amusingly enough, they are often used as allegories for "the fruits of labour being stolen from the unwary by the forces of evil." In Middle Ages Europe, apparently the minions of the Devil are adorable little criminals!

Gwae is very impressed by non-magical creatures, and takes a liking to the little creatures.

[kroashent]

@askmitchelltf asked: To [Gwae], what is the weirdest hobby of your companions?

Gwae: Humans can have very strange habits. Kathalia, for instance, keeps hiding a Telenn Harp in places around the Apartments… but I always find it and put it in the library rotunda! It is a strange game, but Kathalia keeps playing, so so will I! Kathalia: Wait, is someone there? I thought it was just me today… better wrap this up. If anyone knew I was trying to learn how to play this thing, I’d never hear the end of it. I’d better hide it again, just to be safe… The magic Gwae has on this place like moving it to the library. I barely was able to get to it before Gwae got back.

[kroashent]

Question for Enora: What fencing school do you follow? And do you have any unique takes or spins on their techniques?

Enora: I follow the Serenissima Style, developed by the Doge’s bodyguards in the Floating City. My favoured sword, La Coupeuse de vent is a schiavona, a basket-hilted double-edged blade for both cutting and thrusting. It is a soldier’s weapon, heavier and thicker than those favoured by most civilians. Of course, I keep up with the Gallian styles of sword and dagger, but the Serenissima School is efficient and deadly, and few opponents in the North know how to counter it. La Coupeuse de vent is a sword enchanted with Huderezh, Infused with the powers of the golden wind, I can change its direction and momentum at inhuman speeds, giving the impression that the blade is in multiple places at once. With it, I can match even the speed of master swordsmen of the Eladan or the brute strength of the Fomorii.

[kroashent]

What are the rules for reversing a TF in canon? As opposed to non-canon things.

Well, it really depends on the transformation and the circumstances behind them. Some are very easy to reverse, others almost impossible.

Cast Magic in Kroashent, or Huderezh is established along 4 "aspects", each of which inform the effect and longevity of a given casting. These are: Druidecht, Fis, Fáistine and Amainsecht.

+ Druidecht (Druidry) is the raw power behind a casting. Its basically the "battery" that magic draws upon. The Druidecht of the Oceansong, the spell that creates the mermaid Marie-Morgane, draws from the energy of one of the most cataclysmically powerful Wyldstorms to ever hit Alvez, meaning it has functionally infinite power to draw from, while a small charm from a lesser source may only last a few minutes or even seconds.

+ Fis (Knowledge) is the targeting of the power upon a subject. The stronger the Fis, the more potent and powerful the casting is. A spell targeting "someone who enters this room" is going to be less focused than if a person's true name and specific details are used. The Oceansong, again as an example, weaves the spell together with a person's truename. Basically, the Oceansong becomes a part of their identity, rather than just a temporary effect placed on a person with a less focused casting, so is much harder to dispel.

+ Fáistine (Prophecy) gets into possibilities and probabilities. Huderezh, in essence, is reality manipulation. It is much easier to make a spell that "blows a paper off a table" than "a human is turned into a wolf". The more "likely" an event is to occur naturally, the more stable the spell is to be. Transformation effects usually require a lot of power in the other aspects for initial casting and longevity, because, in most circumstances, their Fáistine is comparatively unstable compared to other types of castings.

+ Amainsecht (Eloquence) is the final aspect of casting, and basically determines how well the other aspects are woven together. Amainsecht can be used to counteract the inherent instability of a casting as base reality tries to re-establish itself by providing "outlets" to establish the timeframe and circumstances of an effect. If there is a way to dispel a casting, beyond the spell just falling apart on its own, it is almost certainly established by the Amainsecht. To use a non-Kroashent example, in Disney's Gargoyles, the terms of the original spell that freezes the clan is predicated on "the castle rising above the clouds". At the time of casting, an eloquent way of providing an outlet for the spell, but in a way that essentially makes it exist in perpetuity... until the castle is transported, brick by brick, onto a Manhattan skyscraper.

Most castings, transformational or otherwise, are short-term affairs to accomplish a specific goal. Longer term curses, such as the Oceansong or the Blood of Conomor (the Curse of the Garwaf) tend to be more elaborate and are harder to dispel.

Val

[kroashent]

Kroashent Q & A: What Lead Antoinette to [want to become] a Knight?

A: Who wouldn't want to be a Knight?! Riding around in shining armour, rescuing people, and fighting monsters! The Horses! The Tournaments! Ever since I was a kid, I read about Sieur Roland, Britomart Redcrosse, and Muldumarec the Hawk! The Alliance of Brekilien was so cool! Talus, the Knight of Metal? Belphoebe the Huntress?! Who is your favourite?! Mine is Roland! None of those old knights are as cool as Dame Enora though! She's a real knight, you know! She has armour and a wyvern and a lance and a windship and wins the joust and . . .

Val's Notes:

Going to let Antoinette gush over Enora on her own, or else we'll be here all day. Antoinette is enraptured by tales of chivalry, both written and sung, and has adopted a Quixotic view of the world as a result. Her favourite stories are of the Alliance of the Brekilien, when a disparate collection of knights, mercenaries, and adventurers united against a tyrannical warlord . This era is quite popular for such tales.

Going to try and answer some more Q+A's so keep them coming!

[kroashent]

Q: [Is] Antoinette aware of the Marie-Morgane, and if so, how does [she] feel about them?

A: Oh! I have heard stories of the Marie-Morgane! They're monsters from the darkest depths of the Sea, who can summon storms, sink ships and they eat people! But I am sure that they are no match for a brave knight!

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Val's Notes: Antoinette's viewpoint, while a little quixotic than most, is generally similar to those held by many land-dwellers. As Antoinette grew up in the (inland) town of Gwitreg, then lived with Enora in the river town of Chinon, it wasn't until moving to Naoned that Antoinette had ever seen the sea (Which is actually somewhat unusual in Letha, as many on the peninsula are sailors, fishermen or sailcloth makers)!

For much of their history, the Daughters of Ys have collectively stayed away from heavily populated areas, protecting their small numbers from reprisals and hostility. They are often associated with their storm-tossed raids on shipping and coastal communities, where they steal food, supplies and sometimes people, to take back to their sunken city, never to be seen by the surface again. While they are usually not drowning these individuals, as the stories say, that is the assumption to explain their disappearances, a belief fostered by centuries of hostile Church propaganda, mis-attribution and external circumstances.

The Marie-Morgane are often blamed for maritime disasters entirely unrelated to them, as their numbers and powers are greatly overestimated by superstitious sailors. Sunken ships, powerful storms and hostile sea creatures are often blamed on the Daughters of Ys, while they only are responsible for a small number of such occurrences. The similarities between the Marie-Morgane and the cannibalistic Finfolk of the Northern Mor Marv add to the confusion, earning the more well-known Marie-Morgane an undeserved reputation as brutal monsters.

As new generations of Marie-Morgane and surface dwellers begin to have more contact with each other, the perception is gradually changing in some areas, even as in others some with ill-intent stoke the fires of fear and hatred.

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Antoinette herself has never met a Marie-Morgane, but that doesn't stop her from creating fanciful stories of knights, princesses and monsters surrounding them. Thankfully, Azelma is on hand to make sure that the energetic little squire doesn't get into too much trouble.

Going to try and answer some more Q+A's so keep them coming!

[kroashent]

While I work on the book, I am also reworking some of Kroashent's lore. The Gaoithe Sidhe, the 12 magical winds that blow through Alvez, are an ever-present part of the world, foundational from everything from spellcasting to navigation, and even directions. Alvezed directions are based on colours, rather than the NEWS system. When a character says something is "Blackways" or "Lightward" in relation to something, this is what they are referring to.

This system is inspired by the 10th Century Irish cantos Saltair na Rann, which includes a segment describing 12 coloured winds. Magical aurora seemed like a very cool concept that needed to be shared, and I hope to show more of it in my art or writing. When the night sky is present in one of my pictures, you can tell which way the wind is blowing if you look closely!

[kroashent]

Has Gwae ever seen a stage magician, and what did she think?

Gwae: Stage Magicians? Aye, they can be grand craic. We 'ave them in the Isles and 'ere in Letha, so I've seen quite a few. Compared to real Huderezh though, it's biscuits to a bear. Plus a lot of them are Sleveens and cute hoors who will sell ya the eye of of yer head.

Morgiana: MORGIANA IS RIGHT HERE, YOU KNOW!!!

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Val's Notes: Its so rare I get to show Gwae being snarky.

For the Eladan, including Gwae, there are individuals and troupes that perform magical feats as entertainment. These are often highly skilled Similherez (Spellcasters), focusing on the aspect of Amainsecht (Eloquence). Displays of Huderezh (cast magic) are closer to acting or dramatic readings, with the participants providing their own special effects and visual aids through the manipulation of glamour. Other displays are highly technical and impressive castings, pushing the magical ability of the Eldan to their limits. Gwae, like many of her Tuath, consider Huderezh as an art form, bordering on sacred.

Morgiana, meanwhile performs acts of spectacle as a stage magician. While Morgiana is a Boermerzh (A human who can interact with glamour and potentially perform Huderezh), most of her craft is aided by outside gimmicks, like pyrotechnics and trap doors, as well as a healthy amount of slight of hand. Morgiana's "stage magic" is considered lowbrow by the Eladan, a pale imitation of the "real thing". Gwae is mostly being a snob here.

Slight of hand has a poor reputation among the Eladan, who consider it cheating. Many Sidhe stories revolve around wicked Bediz trying to trick an honest Fae out of a contract using such insincere methods, only for the hero to win in the end through their cleverness "within the rules."

[kroashent]

@askmitchelltf asked: To [Morgiana], what is the weirdest hobby of your companions?

Morgiana: Strange habits… ask Marie about the secret lai she is writing.

Marie: What?! No! L’Ajoncs et le Perce-neige (The Gorse and the Snowdrop)is a work of fiction. Lots of stories have Lady knight x unseelie romance. Any similarities to any people you know is purely coincidental! It’s not finished! It’s… wait, who even told you about that…