#azzyfree-writing

[patauctor-writesandstuff]

Across the Veil

An old writing project of mine, Across the Veil: Open Eyes (book 1) followed the story of Willow, a human tossed into a world of magic and danger, and Moira, a powerful fae who tries to protect Willow and her friends.

You can find it on Archive of Our Own and Wattpad! Warning: This story has a Mature rating for swearing and violence

I haven’t working on the story or characters since 2020, but Moira is probably gonna see a reboot in the future!

These are some of my oldest pieces featuring Moira (orange hair), and Osriel (coat) and Menticordon (red). While Moira is my OC, Osriel and Menticordon belong to my friend Azzyfree!

I did an art update for the cast back in 2020. from left to right: Willow, Blake, Bruno, Nina, Vilis, Savio, Rayne, Moira, Menticordon

Some old art of Moira, but I am still fond of them. I am especially happy with the gif.

A little added extra, I was starting to work on Book 2 years ago, but that got put on hiatus. It was going to include a new Fae and their family of rogues. Left to right: Yua, Nuviel, Rishi (child), Thalo, and Aeber

there was also going to be a new demon character, a fox-owl named Tawnilesh who acted as an ally for Moira

[azzyfree]

Do you guys know I have a writeblr?

Where I post things for In the Black. Mostly short stories and art. If your interested go here to station house six spend some time with Erin, Saif and the crew.

[stationhousesix]

Dragons of the World

Dragons aren’t that strange of a creature when compared to the other animals in the world of in the black that are capable of calling upon a god. They aren’t more intelligent than a dog either so there are many myths surrounding the birth of these animals. Some believe the gods made them as servants of their will. Others believe they were born from the fires of a great volcano that once stood where the country of Alta is today.  Anthropologist of the dominion believe they are descended from a common ancestor which was similar to chymmos of today. No one has the answers but these creatures still walk and live in the world alongside wolves, deer, lions and flies and are able to call upon certain aspects of the gods to breath fire, fly and control currents, regardless if they know they are doing that or not.

Dominion Drake and Dragon 

Closely related to Dominion Dragons, Drakes are slightly smaller and tend to only have odd numbers of horns on their head while true dragons will always have an even number of horns. Found all around the Dominion several subspecies share color patterns with Dominion Dragons. Which leads to many people attempting to own a Drake as a pet to be shocked to find they have an actual dragon the first time it breaths fire. 

Drakes tend to live in tree tops by making their own nests or in the crocks of buildings and on roofs. While Dominion Dragons tend to live in the roots of trees or in caves. It is common for both of these creatures to steal bits of shiny objects for their nests called hoards. Candy wrappers, foil, silk, metal bits, or even coins they will take it all in order to brighten up their hoard to attract a potential mate. While Dragons live more solitary lives Drakes prefer to live in small groups of 3-5 members. These groups are often called a Dance of Drakes for the way they play together. Weaving between the bodies of other members without getting caught in a knot. 

  Snehovian Firethorn Dragon

The largest land walking dragon alive. They are a the national animal of Snehovia even appearing on the Snehovia flag. Firethorns are particularly aggressive dragons who do breath fire and will do so just to display their strength at any creatures that dare to challenge them. They are typically found along the southern border of Snehovia and hunt anything they can get a claw on, but a subspecies called the Islinthorns (an all white species) can be found further north preying on polar bears and seals.  Firethorns create hoards in abandoned mines or caves. Some will dig burrows throughout their territories and move between them during different times of the year to be closer to prey. Firethorns like other dragons like to decorate their hoards in shiny objects. They have been known to venture into settlements to steal licenses plates off cars or sheets of metal they can carry while flying. They are particularly intelligent when placing these materials as they will melt them together to fortify their hoards. 

Firethorns typically live alone or with their mate, but often don’t interact with other firethorns unless challenging them for their territories. 

  Chymmos

Chymmos are some of the oldest lineage of dragons in the world. Sirens have featured them in their writing and stories since they invented writing. Chymmos are a hexapod with four stubby legs, and a pair of fins that make them fit for both land and sea.  This paired with the natural ability to manipulate the water currents around them allows them to leave the sea but take a bit of it with them. making sure that their bodies are moist at all times.

Chymmos don’t keep hoards like other dragons. Due to a very nomadic life style they only build a nest when they are going to mate. When they do lay a eggs it is often laid in the shallows to protect the nest from large sea creatures.  The parents will often take turns guarding the nest from birds and any creatures that will try to harm the eggs. Chymmos and Sirens were a good fit for each other as Sirens would build special structures around Chymmos nests in order to protect them from creatures and in return Chymmos were fiercely loyal to the Sirens.  For eons Sirens and Chymmos were one of a kind, hunting together, eating together protecting each other. Which lead to their domestication by the Sirens.

 Now there are thousands of Chymmos breeds, some more capable in hunting then others, while others are breed for style or intelligence. Chymmos are some of the only dragons that prefer to be in groups and will live in large pods with up to 40 other members. They will separate and come back together through out their lives as if nothing happened.

Solidios Wyrm

Not much is known about the Solidios Wyrm.  Once considered the top of the food chain in Los Solidios mountain range.  It’s been an eon since one has been spotted. There are thousands of myths surrounding these dragons and most of them fit somewhere in the Ceilo Mythology. It was said that when Ceilo reincarnated as a Ravian during the 4th Era that he rode a Wyrm he commanded back to life.  It’s said the Solidios- the tall stone spires that jut up from the ground in seemingly no rhythm or reason them self are the the spines of a giant Wyrm that was slain by the living god. 

Before they were hunted to extinction by Ravian Roc riders Wyrms were considered a powerful beasts that children were to praise and fear as it was said these angering these beasts could lead to poor harvests and bad luck on entire villages.  

It is unknown if these dragons could actually breath fire or manipulate the weather somehow. Even the Wyrm that the reincarnated Ceilo rode was special for it was the mount of a god (as Ravians consider) so it was likely unlike the actual living Wyrms. The only traces of these dragons can be found in fossils in museums around the world.

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Don’t think this counts as a mood-board for @homesteadhorner mood board Monday prompt for next week.  -shrug- I know everyone loves hearing about dragons though so hope you guys enjoy!

[coffee-loving-cryptid]

Here’s a height chart of my characters for a story I am currently working on called Across the Veil!

Thank you to @gracu for the height chart! Please check out her amazing art!

After reading several books in a Discord bookclub started by @azzyfree and I, I decided I wanted to try writing a complete book of my own (which I hope to publish at some point after the book is done and edited!) This story (currently titled Across the Veil) will basically be a continuation of a fanfiction work Azzy and I are working on called A Wing and a Prayer(https://archiveofourown.org/works/9256835/chapters/20983517)! Across the Veil is a fantasy story about a group of university students. A young human named Willow finds herself living with some of the best roommates she’s had in years. The only problem? They can’t let her know that they aren’t human. What would usually be a simple task for her roommates becomes a disaster as Willow gradually becomes aware of the magic living around her. This isn’t helped by the fact that a group of Hunters, humans who want to eliminate the magical races, come into the city and begin causing trouble. Willow’s eyes are opened to the world of magic, and now she has to adapt to her new perspective, a new job, a literal devil of a boss, magical friends, and a powerful Fae who has been sent to deal with any and all human-related problems within the city. Fun.

An additional ‘challenge’ I gave myself was incorporating LGBTQ+ characters as active members of the main cast of characters. LGBTQ+ representation is something important to myself, and I am always looking to better develop my understanding of various aspects of the LGBTQ+ community.

[maggiewritesthings-blog]

azzyfree replied to your post: I need to have more written material on here. But...

I like reading original fiction. But tumblr isn’t really great for writing. Its good for advertising things. But posting up anything longer than 500 worlds most people will scroll by. But I WOULD LIKE to read your stuff : D. Maybe posting it on something like AO3 and putting up a link here when you update it will be better?

Good damn idea, my friend.

[azzyfree]

Untitled Poem 01

Truth is there is a million things I would love to say to you,

But you will probably never hear me over the distance you put between us,

Every mile painting me as the bad guy for your own insecurities,

Never stoping once to ask me how I feel,

And here I thought I should apologize for things I never did,

Situations you painted in the storm in your head.

The stories you spun because you were too afraid to ask what was actually said,

Too busy denying that it was anything good,

Because anything I said you started gearing for a fight,

I silenced myself once I realized you never heard me,

You took it as a slight, And then you painted me as sin,

Then you convinced my friends I was satan wearing skins,

It's been a fun ride, but now I call it quits,

You made your greatest fear come true,

Lucky you.

[stationhousesix]

Writing Roleplay Characters: For Group games

I’ve noticed a lot of pitfalls at character creation when it comes to new games. It is really strange too because even seasoned players will fall into these mistakes. So I would like to take some time to highlight some tips and tricks in writing and roleplaying characters for group role playing games. Specifically tabletop games as that is my main focus. I will not be talking about character sheets, this will be about playing your character and writing their backstory.

Perhaps another time I’ll write one of these for writing roleplaying in one on one scenarios, or even another topic on writing group games for forum/discord roleplay groups but that will be for another day.

Keep it Simple!

So you just joined a tabletop roleplaying group, maybe it’s your first time playing D&D, maybe it’s been a few years. Maybe you have never quite felt satisfied with any character you have played in a tabletop game so I’m going to try to help you out.  The difference between play-by-post and tabletop roleplays is that you will often have more improve in a table top situation and unknowingly change aspects about your character as you play so much so that by the end of your first game many detailed aspects about your character get forgotten, lost or don’t matter.  Don’t fret! I always encourage this because the character you wrote on the paper isn’t likely the thing you really want to play, and that's okay! This is why it’s important to keep it simple!

Let's start off with 3 basic questions, that I like to refer to as the Heart of your character:

What is their long term goal and short term goal? What is the thing they are currently trying to achieve? Is it achievable, or is it a dream?

How do they try to achieve their goal?Are they violent? Kind? Soft spoken? Do they take what they want? Or do they broker deals to get something close to what the want.

What complication is keeping them from their goal? Is it an external force like a rival? Another character they need to care for? An internal force like self doubt? Is it an environmental force like a distance they need to travel? Or do they simply not know things?

I’m going to use my own character as an example for this, specifically my Kenku Monster Hunter Poe who is part of a Curse of Strahd game I play in:

What is their Long term goal and short term goal?  Long term goal: To reunite with his wife. Short term goal: to slay vampires.

How do they try to achieve their goal? Poe is a fighter who is ready to take on any challenge head first. That may also be his greatest flaw.

What complication is keeping them from their goal? Strahd has convinced Poe’s assassin wife to work for him and now Poe and Gaia are on opposing sides.

Considering this is a Curse of Strahd campaign this complication makes Poe’s goal fit right into the story he is going to be playing in. This is a bonus as then there doesn’t need to be some strange circumstance in order to have Poe be interested in the main story. He is interested because the main story is directly affecting him.

Backstory- Why Secrets shouldn’t be kept and anything you write should matter

So you have the basic idea of your character and now you are coming up with where they came from, and what have they done before the adventure begins.

What have they done?

If you are making level 1 characters, they shouldn’t have done much. It gets more and more difficult to justify them being famed thieves when they go to steal something and always fail their sleight of hand rolls. Table top games tend to use some form of stat system and so having a famous character at early levels not only makes your character look incompetent but also doesn’t allow them much growth as they level up.  If they are already a famous thief and just become better at thieving they are still a famous thief.

If we take Poe from my previous example this was his backstory at the beginning of Curse of Strahd:

Poe was a poet and monster hunter back in Fallonia. Gaia was sent to assassinate him after he wrote an insulting poem about the dog of a king(who was indeed a werewolf) who ruled there. However instead of killing Poe, Poe’s way with words ended up amusing Gaia and they have been together ever since. Poe and his wife Gaia were on a ship to Barovia, moving there after Gaia received a letter offering some assassin work. While on their ship Poe found a dusty tome that belonged to one of the passengers. Thinking to study it for some poetry inspiration he opened it. Little did he know the book contained secrets of some terrifying ancient god. The god struck down the ship, separating Poe and his wife and now haunts poe.

As you can see Poe hasn’t done much. He is a poet, and a monster hunter. But He isn’t the best poet or the greatest monster hunter. These then end up being traits that color his character. Poe’s interest in language (poetry) fits nicely with him being a kenku- who can never say what he wants as Kenku can only repeat phrases they have heard others say. This gives a sense that Poe uses poetry as a way to express the feelings he isn’t able to physically say.  Top this off with him being a monster hunter and you get a sweet looking tiny crow man with a pen in one hand and a steak flinging crossbow in the other.

Quick tip: Opposites are an easy way to make deep feeling characters.

Do they have secrets?

Every character will have some sort of secret, whether it is what their favorite food is, their greatest fear or that they are actually a double agent.  The only game in which you should be wanting to keep your secrets is if you are playing something like Paranoia, in which every character is against each other. Likewise the only thing that should stay a secret are their kinks (And even then that might be valid to share in some games.)  

You think I’m kidding but I’ve been the Game Master for too many fucking games where people jump head over heels with ways to keep their character’s vampire heritage a secret for the whole game.

There is only two out comes for this sort of play style:  At best your character ends up being the average character that got through the adventure maybe made a few friends, and they go off into the sunset making no deep connections with the rest of the party. At worst the party actively doesn’t care to learn their backstory, maybe at odds with them because they don’t want to open up with the rest of the party, or another player flat out kills them because they don’t trust them.

In tabletop games secrets should be shared or learned about, hiding them adds no value to your character and separates you as a player from the rest of your party.

Who do they know?

Consider making connections with other player characters. This always makes the Game Masters job easier. In some games it might not be needed but there is always a layer of depth added if Bob and Susie were childhood friends who lost their hometown and are now working together to slay the dragon that burned it to the ground. Particularly if their goal is the same but their methods are different.

As a GM I like to use this method with my players if they are having trouble making connections. I get each of them pick from the list below and write a short 1-2 sentence description on how it happened:

They owe a debt to...

They somehow hurt...

They somehow helped...

They once traveled together with...

They got into a brawl once with...

They taught something to...

The great thing about this is that your characters can know things about each other which makes getting into the game group together easier.

Poe however didn’t know any of the other players but because his goal was directly tied into helping to slay the Demon Strahd -spits on the ground- He didn’t need to have a connection He was able and willing to work with others to achieve this goal right off the back.

       Group game- Balance with your Party

Okay so you have the basic idea of your character and now you gotta see if it fits a group game scenario. Some of you might be rolling your eyes at this but this is actually a vital part of making a character for table top games. This is the difference between just another character and one who fits like a puzzle piece perfectly with the rest of the group.   Below is a list of questions to consider if this is the right character to play in the game you are joining.

Is your character right for the game?

Your game master has informed you the game is going to be combat heavy, but you have made a very social character. Perhaps you should come up with a new character? Your playing in a game world with only humans in a low magic setting, but you want to play a vampiric tiefling sorcerer.  Perhaps you should come up with a new character? Your game master has told you your playing a war game with lots of combat and your will be leading armies  but your decided to make a scholar who likes poetry and thinks an army is some kind of elven dessert. Is this game really the right game for this character? Consider how this might affect the rest of the party’s fun if it turns out your playing a character who is too comedic or too useless for the scenario.

Is your character’s goal too selfish? Are they not easily willing to work with strangers?

You are playing in a group game. Your character should be willing to work with strangers to achieve their goal. If their goal can’t be aided with the help of strangers maybe it’s not a good goal to have for a group game.  If your goal is to take over the kingdom that your characters are supposed to be aiding, perhaps that isn’t a good goal for the game?

It might work perfectly well in a one on one game but tabletop games are different due to the group dynamics and somethings won’t translate well. Also consider if their goal will cause them to become less of a character or a hindrance to the rest of the party, as that will affect the group dynamics as well.

Is your character active or reactive?

Somethings will happen, somethings will need your input. Figure out what your party leans towards.

 A good character is a bit of both they are invested in the current quest and willing to add some input and do things to help. This means having a character who is objectively bad at everything or running off at all signs of danger- although can be fun character flaws, should be balanced. If they are fearful at physical danger maybe they have a good mind, or powers to aid their party and make them stronger while they themselves go hide behind a bush. In the end the character should add something positive to the group not drag them all down.

In this scene should your character say or do anything?

So every table top player has probably been in this sort of situation. In fact everyone has probably been the bad player at one point and that's okay. Time to get better at this. A character is just about to achieve something that was important to them, perhaps their goal or something that became important to them during the course of play but- OMG There is some shiny thing over there and I really wanna know what it is!

STOP.  Give them their turn. Don’t take it away from them. These are the kinds of moments that keep party members invested in a campaign and every time you cut into these moments as a player you lose respect from your party members. So time to be better. Wait your turn, the Game Master will get back to you

Well that is all I have! I hope this was helpful in some way! I would love to hear others thoughts on the stuff. Agree, disagree? There is no one way to play, the only thing you can really hope for is to achieve the most group-friendly way to play.  

[stationhousesix]

Last Line Tag

I was tagged by @homesteadhorner, so I thought I would share some of my writing. Not really the last line I wrote but it is the last scene I edited.

“She is a beauty, isn't she? I built her with my own two hands.” He emphasized hands with his own as they walked. His stride leaning into Erin and his form hovered over her. “Her outsides may look like a Pegasus model, but her insides are all model-V so she's got the beauty and the Power of a beast.” Erin turned away from him to watch the streets, having lost interest in this conversation before it even started. The night was quiet and the usual busy streets were silent under the cover of darkness. A few creatures sitting on the steps to an apartment building were draped in the dark shadows of the looming structures. They watched Erin and Saif continue down the road. The only light from the ember of a cigarette shared between them. Even the apartments seemed mostly dead. A few windows still steeped in the glow of a flickering flame rune or candle. But most had their curtains pulled. Their lights reflecting off the puddles left on the sidewalk from the light shower earlier that day. Erin felt lost in the solitude of the place. So foreign to the normal hustle and bustle of the city. Especially since she knew everyone of those apartments was a home to someone. Most of the city lived in the Rambles-No, most of the city found themselves in the Rambles.

Rules: Post the last line, phrase, or passage that you wrote. Tag people as you please to continue the trend! Tagging: @tenebristpunk , @patauctor-writesandstuff, @gh0st-writes, @saeyre, and anyone else who would like to participate. Feel free to share or not! I realize I don’t know that many people in the tumblr writing community. Welp! Time to make more friends : D !

[stationhousesix]

“You can open it, can’t you?” Saif asked as he leaned back on the desk. He took a stone paperweight from the top, it was shaped like the bust of a famous opera singer.

“If it were stone maybe. Wood is alive.” Erin stated as she looked at the wooden paneling. She could feel something behind it, cold, cubed, not much bigger than her head, and it was hollow on the inside. There was a weight in it. A safe? She thought and placed her left hand on the wood.

“So?” Saif put the paperweight down and picked up a letter opener, turning it over in his hands.

“Saif Azul.” Erin didn’t speak loudly but the spark of energy that flowed with his name still bit him hard. He turned to her suddenly. His jaw hanging open with confusion and then going stiff as he realized what she had done.

“What! I’m right here!”

“Did you like that?” She asked, knowing full well his answer.  He stood up, slamming the letter opener on the table, his feathers going stiff and standing on end as his face began to turn a dark muddy blue.

“What? Of course not! Using your will on me! Bird that’s some fucking double standards!” He huffed at her.

“Wooden paneling may not be alive so much, anymore but the same rules apply; It had a mind and it’s corpse sure as blights doesn’t like being messed with, dumb ass.” Erin rolled her eyes at him, “So unless you want me to cut a hole in this wall, making a mess that surely Dreshen will see. I suggest we find how Dreshen normally opens this.”

[stationhousesix]

My usual warning. This is a first draft which has not been read over.

The ground rumbled underneath their feet and a wail filled the sky a warning for what was to come next. Erin didn’t even need to warn her squad. Cornilla, Augtin and Daniel instinctively dove for the closest cover which out in the field was little deeper than a fox hole. They tensed at the creak of wood as the great altan pine trees split in two and their quills rained down on them like a hail of arrows.  Rock burst and shards of pebbles followed by clouds of dirt and dust flew into the air. Filling Erin’s nostril with the scent of gunpowder and soil.

Another wail flew through the air, followed by another and another. Each one bitting through the trees, blasting craters in the rock around them. The ground rumbling with each impact.  Erin gritted her teeth as the sounds of artillery fire filled the countryside.

Then everything fell silent. The ground stopped rumbling. The creaking of trees sputtered out, and the dust settled. It was a strange quiet. There was no sounds of birds, no flutter of wings or tweeting on the summer air. Seems the birds had more sense then them.  It took Erin a moment to regain herself. Moving slowly at first in case it was only a brief pause before the assault would continue. She could taste dirt on her tongue.  Looking up she could see the trees that had been proving them cover were shredded, most fallen over their branches of pine needles littering the ground and looked more like bushed now instead of the tall trees that covered the karzian countryside. The rough rocky, earth was littered in craters now, she had been lucky to have been just out of reach of the blast radius of one of the shots.  Slowly rising to her knees, she gripped her rifle and held it into the air to make sure no one was out there.  After a few moments of silence she stood to her full height content to see that the mess of artillery fire had knocked so many trees over they had a brief moment of complete cover from anything.  Content with the situation she shouted, “Clear! Roll call, Augtin Fisher!”

The redhead’s helmet slowly rose above the rim of a crater a few meters away, “ H’ere!” His voice was shaky but she knew he would be okay. His uniform was covered in dirt and dust and a crown of needles rested on his metal helmet.  He seemed unharmed and she took a breath with that, counting silently to herself, ‘One.’ Before looking over the grounds and calling out, “ Cornilla Carpenter!”

There was a rustle in the pile of quills and out came Cornilla limping over using her rifle as a crouch. “ Here and doing alright.” She smiled hobbling forward and added “Just a little sore.” 

Erin looked her over, she didn’t seem to be bleeding, and was covered in fine green quills and dust with a few scratched on her face likely from the branches. Otherwise unharmed Erin let out another breath and continued her count, ‘two.’

But she didn’t get a chance to speak when they heard a hallowed moan from a crater several meters overs. 

‘Luxes Arse.’

She bolted over to the crater quickly understanding why Daniel had been moaning. A blast of rock, and wood wedged it’s way into his side,right leg and across his face. Tearing away at his skin and cutting deep into his flesh till blood turned his pale skin red.

“Ah-eh!” He gritted his teeth and squirmed, she could guess it likely felt like his flesh was burning. She stepped into the crater and slid off her back pack reaching for the medical kit nestled inside.  

“Augtin can you make it back to the stream?” It was less a question and more of an order as the words came out of her mouth.

Augtin nodded.

“Fill my helmet and rush back.” Erin threw the helmet at him, he caught it in his hands, “Cornilla get a fire going!”

Both of them nodded and ran off to collect their materials.

Daniel squirmed underneath her. She worked faster, tore the medical kit open and removed and orange pipe from the pack and set it to the side so she could get at the bandages.

“W-wait.” Daniel tried to stop her, “Y-You guys go. Leave me here.”

“Daniel we are alone, lost in the divide and your our only arcanist, we aren’t leaving you behind.”  She pulled a flask from her pocket and passed it to Daniel. Both of them knew it didn’t dull the pain.  Daniel knocked it away with his one good hand and began unfastening the strap to his right gauntlet. Wincing with every movement.

“Stop moving! what are you doing?” She put down the roll of bandages she just picked up.

“T-Take it. You deserve this just as much as I did.” He continued to play with the strap till something clicked and leather binding slipped out from its metal clip.

“Your going to need that, we aren’t going to leave you here! Those artillery shots had gunpowder the D’gaian’s will be here soon!”

“More reason for you to leave me and take this.” He coughed, forcing out some phlegm before his torn up lip smirked, “leave me with the left one, I can still use that hand and defend myself. But you, take the right one. You know how to use it.”

“I’m not going to leave you behind! What about Jahmes? We’ll find a way back to the line, You’re going to be okay!” She tried to assure him. But even as Cornilla and Augtin returned and went to boil the helmet filled with water over the fire she knew it was going to be futile. They had little idea on where they were going.

Daniel grabbed her hand, It was a weak grasp, and she could feel his will growing weaker.

“Leave me the signal sigil. The blasted thing will alert anyone of my presence.  If there are any Dominion troops nearby they’ll come running.”

“But what about the D’gaian’s?”

“Then no use in all of us dying. Ah-” He gritted his teeth, his cheeks going red with the strain as he reached to the holster on his right leg and pulled out the slim sliver form of a pistol.

Erin realized what he was going to do and gritted her teeth.

“Get a head start,” He continued, nudging the metal gauntlet over to Erin, “ I’ll light the sigil once your out of eye shot. That should distract the D’gaian’s.”

She took the gauntlet from him and strapped it to her shoulder. It was still stained in his blood and she had no time to clean it.

“Erin.” Daniel called, he said it with enough will that she was forced to turn to him. He squeezed her hand, “ If you see Jahmes before me. T-Tell him I love him.”

She turned her head down and nodded, picking up the orange tube of the signal sigil.  “Your going to live Daniel.”  She forced will into those words, as she collected her things. “We will see you again.” 

She rose to her feet clicking the remaining piece of the gauntlet into place. It had been a while since she had last trained with one, and the spark that trickled down her skin as the silver rings of the glove fell into place on her arm felt more familiar to her than she thought it would. It felt right.  Which was only enhanced when she made her hand into a fist and felt that first spark of will ripple down into her legs and spread down into the soil around her.  She could feel her weight on the soil as if she were standing on top herself. The field of energy wasn’t just what was underneath her, she could feel the roots of grass digging into the ground as if it were her own flesh. The sensation went on for several feet reminding her that while wearing the gauntlet everything within the reach of it could be shaped by her.  She lifted the ground underneath Daniel, using only an ounce of her will she raised him up on a throne of stone.

“Always had to show off.” He smiler between coughs, “You wear it like an old shoe. Should have been you weilding these.”

He was rambling now. She tucked the signal sigil into his bad hand and curled it to point it up. Feeling his muscles twitch as she did. Gods be damned she didn't want to leave him here.

“You had the discipline to wield the gauntlets, and the creativity to utilize the powers.” He added weakly.

“We can argue about this once we are safely standing on Dominion soil.” Erin wiped his dark hair to the side so he could see. It clung to his face with sweat.

Daniel nodded, “Go! Get as far away as you can. Only the gods know when when you’ll be safe again.”

Erin took her helmet from Augtin and emptied its contents on the fire.  Augtin turned to her, his jaw slack, “We can’t leave him!”

“We are going to keep moving. No use in all of us dying here.” She gritted her teeth as she said that.  Augtin looked at her and then turned to Daniel silently, before following Erin into the woods.

[stationhousesix]

Random Worldbuilding ideas

It would be really cool if I designed the Dominion military uniforms to be something crazy like early world war 1 armor like this stuff:

But then all I can think is that the Dominion is supposed to be a group of people who recently discovered the laws of magic and are just applying it like crazy to everything with no idea if any of the stuff actually works well against bullets. Considering that the D’gaians and Snehovians are the only ones with the rifle when the war started.

Get ready for some random world building blabber as I wrestle with ideas.

Lets talk about the dominion at the start of the war and how they walked into a war with the poorest equipment possible when going up against the superpowers of the world.  At the start of the war the only thing the dominion had going for them was the armor they dressed their soldiers in. Helmets and gorgets were provided for all their soldiers. But full suits of armor were only things the wealthy could afford.

 These were  pretty good at keeping people alive.  Which kept the Dominion in the game for the first year. But they didn’t do anything but failed, and failed a lot that first year.   See the Dominion was rocking a magic musket and swords for about 100 years previous. Not that great a weapon and could be survived by wearing a suit of armor. 

It wasn’t till about a year into the war that the Dominion started producing an actual gun. Still powered by arcanatom, expensive to produce due to the silver and gold required to make arcanatom weapons. It only had one advantage over the D’gaian rifle in that it didn’t have any moving parts so it was nearly impossible to jam.  The gun suffered in extreme cold and wet as the launching mechanism only functioned when there was enough heat, and dry enough weather to create the spark required to launch a bullet. Which on the boarder of Alta and Snehovian made it frustrating to use. 

Dominion soldiers would take any D’gaian weapons they came across, bullets, and what not because they were just better for much of the war.

So what does this have to armor? Because that means there was a lot of experimenting with armor through the war. Armor and magic that could have lead to nearly iron man style suits in some cases.  Still expensive to give to soldiers they would have had to have been specially trained in them. Which was probably is how Daniel and Erin got trained in arcanatom gauntlets. Daniel eventually becoming the arcanist of Erin’s platoon.  He may have had a full suit at some point. But once it became known that these suits were made in such a way that each piece was quinned to work by itself  arcanist probably divided up the suits with those they trusted because it meant the common soldier could do more than a regular person. In a war where dominion humans were considered the weakest players, it gave them an advantage. Suddenly anybody could warp aspects of reality to their will.  Where hotogami could only warp the earth, and Drakori could only warp heat.  A human with some arcanatom armor found themselves being able to warp earth and fire at once, or air and water, or even the trees to their will. The D’gaian’s and Snehovians never knew what or who they were dealing with. 

[stationhousesix]

History of Magic and Technology in the world

There was a connection with the names of gods. It was a sort of language that functioned both vocally and written in a visual style that indicated tenses and actions through the placement of the names of gods and spirits  in consecutive rings. A language that had been first explained to Ravians through the prophet Albayo Ceilodius.

During his reign, the world was filled with magical artifacts quinned by the ravian enchanters who had been taught this secret language. Many of their artifacts still exist, buried with age after the fall of the empire.

The language was thought to be forgotten till Archibald Magnus the IV rediscover the patterns of the language and translated the archaic glyphs known as Lumani sketch, on a simple teapot which never served cold tea. He figured out which parts of the sketch were names, nouns and which described the action  the pot was to serve. Finding that the pot called on a lesser spirit of warmth to keep its contents heated. A word the drakori used almost daily to warm water for tea and coffee. So Archibald understood the meaning and understood how to apply the sketch on other objects. Or how to write the name of a different spirit like one for cold, or air and and get the effect of the pot to act differently.

This simple summon allowed Dominities to challenge the other peoples of the world who always looked down on humans for the inferiority of their will, and the little control over the shape of  the world they had. Humans created burning bolts that broke apart on impact into smaller metal shards and eventually this gave way to the first bullets.

Archibalds discoveries were only the beginning. The Dominion was ripe with Lumani sketches particularly the city of Lae Lumas which up until that point had been a small port since it was conquered by humans in the beginning of the 4th Era.

With the rush of scholars heading into its tunnels to learn the secrets of Lumani sketch the city grew into a thriving metropolis.

A thousand Lumani sketchs hid underneath the city of Lae Lumas. The problem was that the Lumani never wrote whole phrases they just wrote down names; nouns.  Although they figured out how to read them and what they sounded like. Figuring out what they meant was another issue entirely when the context was often vague and unlike any normal language.

On the other side of the world the people of Jam D'gai were doing nearly the same but with technology. They created gunpowder by using an old medical recipe for something called black spark. Once said to prolong life It was rather common knowledge that this powder was explosive and it was usually packaged in small metal vials because of that.  It didn't take long till the invention of a sort of flint and steel device to launch them came about. Shortly to follow behind was a rifle design that used a hammer on the barrel to create the heat of friction to launch the bullet. But by the time of the Great War they had already created the more modern cartridge bullets and were the leading forefront of military technology.

The Dominion mastered magical technologies that helped aid in everyday life. But till the invention of the Arcanatom Gauntlet they were never considered a worldly power. The great war changed a lot of things.

[stationhousesix]

Been working on describing magic in the world. So I can make it more interesting that blast-fireball. I like some parts of this but I feel like I'm getting closer. Started this a while ago bases on a prompt from writing excuses.

She could feel everything. Not like in the way one held a rock and felt the cool rough surface against one's skin, but rather as if her whole body engulfed the room.  The floor felt like her tongue; The weight of the chairs, a table, her own feet and the countless books that littered the floor as if they were candies she sprinkled on it. The air felt thicker then it had, like a breath held inside her waiting for her to exhale. The lamps heat danced with the air in the room, till the heat ran cold.  The walls like arms wrapped around herself shielding her from forces just outside her will.

 Her movements  felt slower, yet she knew nothing had changed, she was simply just perceiving more aspects of the world thanks to the gauntlet. It let her will merge with that of the floor, the air, the tables, chairs and books. Feeling the desires of these objects as if they were a part of her. If she let her focus relax her perception would wanin and the heavy fog that marked the edge of her field of will would shrink back to a barely noticeable sensation against her skin. But if instead she said the name of anything she would have power over it.

She changed her hand gesture, her pinky and thumb coming together. On her gauntlet she could feel her will forced down the silver and gold paths falling into the sigil of air.  With it her perceptions altered, the sensation of sprinkles on her tongue that the floor gave her faded away, replaced with a heaviness in her lungs reminding her to breath. She forced air in, and then out, aware of every breath that passed her lips. She would have to get comfortable with the sensation of having to control her own breathing. One forgotten breath and she would break concentration with the air.

Opening her eyes she could see the air more clearly. But she knew she wasn't seeing it so much as being it. Feeling the warm light passing through it, passing through her filling her with a weightless awe. The feeling of swaying, a dance of air as the morecules of aerogen bounced around the room, colliding with the lamps, and walls. At any moment she could reach out and pick a spot the selection would cause a wave of electric blue energy to ripple out for the spot. Then she could move it. It was as if the spot of air was a point on a blanket and she could take the spot and pull and push at it, and like making waves on a pond the air in the rest of her field of will followed the action.

She needed to focus instead of playing with the reality of air, so she shifted her will to the area just in front of her. Blocking her senses to the rest of the air in the room. The cloud of gas in front of her became hazy with ripples as she focused on it. Feeling the dust dance with every atom of air. Every speck feeling like a foreign object within her own body. She suppressed the desire to cough and let her will collect in the space between the wooden paneling and the secret chamber.  Condensing into the cracks of the paneling. Building up. Till breaking with a satisfying pop. The panel flew off the wall, trailing a layer of white drywall dust behind it.

“A little crude. But I see Cielo gifted you with some power.” Saif approved, which was the most positive thing Erin had heard from him all day.

[stationhousesix]

random worldbuilding

Drakori know a thousand names for fire, heat and cold. That is how they conquered the north.

[stationhousesix]

A religion that has existed far longer than anyone can remember. The name has never really been set in stone and has changed throughout the centuries but the ideals and symbols have stayed relatively the same.

Saint Ingo the connector is generally agreed to be one of the originators of this religion. After going on a pilgrimage to the far corners of the world and composing a book on the names of the all the gods he was said to have spoken with many of them before they took their slumber. Although a form of this belief system existed before his pilgrimage it wasn’t till after that most of these scattered beliefs became one fleshed out religion.

“He was a simple man who found me lost and alone. He asked a simple question, “who are you?”, and I realized then I had no answer.

“Are you a mother?”

“No” “Then you know who you are not, and so you shall learn who you are.””

~ Saint Requence recounting the first time he met Saint Ingo.

“Who are you?”

This question is the foundation of belief for those who follow the Omnitence star. It is a question that is aimed at self reflection. There is no right answer and the answer is always changing. When asked that himself, Saint Ingo is known to have said many different things throughout his life: son, carpenter, husband, widower, jester,  wander, student, teacher, father, pilgrim.  Even his name is said to have changed at least three times, Ingo was the name he went by at the end of his life and so he is referred to by it in all the texts.

One of the easiest ways to explain Saint Ingo’s question is to take the word tree. When the word tree is spoken what is the first thing that comes to mind? Is it the color of the leaves? The scent of pine? The texture of bark on your finger tips? Or the shape if a tree that is commonly grown in your area?  Like the tree a person isn’t just their actions, their beliefs, their looks or their ancestry but a combination of all things. Unlike the gods-mortals do not know who they are, and must eventually come to understand that they are who they are.

The beginning

In the beginning there was one, one became two, two became four, four became eight and eight became the world.

The world was created in the image of the gods, most people can never agree on which god came first but after one was created more followed in its footsteps. Traditionally those of the Omnitence star believe the beginning went something like this:

First came Kalclok sten and unchanging, he thought and the formless thought became Nux but once that thought settled it became Lumas, the revelation. Drekorin was the idea heat, dedication in an unchanging universe. But to recognize the unchanging universe was to bring Wessera-change- into existence. One cannot un-change something and so in trying to return the universe to its previous state Ceilo was born- preservation, protection but what good could his shield hold against Wessera, the very force that universe was doomed to flow with now.  With change brought Engae-life- into the world. Engae must be thanked for the peoples  lives. Engae helped create the peoples to tend the ancient world. The peoples asked for aid from  Kalclok for fertile soil. Prayed to Wessera to water their crops, asked Nux and Lumas to guard the fields day and night, and Drekorin to keep the grounds warm. Ceilo brought them seeds from across the world. But when a human sat down to eat at the people's table it told a story about the end to the paradise the people had lived in for so long.

With creation there must also be an end and so The Stranger got its name, and humans were cursed with creating the first blight. The Original Sin.

The end- the afterlife

Those who follow the omnitence star believe that when they die they might be blessed by a god and become part of the gods domain in the afterlife.  Often times this ascension is referred to as the Seven heavens while the failure to ascend is referred to as being damned to the eight hells. There is a belief that if you have done no wrong but also have inspired no gods you might end up stuck in the world as a spector till one of the gods notices you.

Teachings of Saint Ingo

“Let not your forebearers sin’s be yours to burden as well.”

~ Volume 3 of the pilgrimage

Omnitence star is normally practiced by humans living in the Dominion due to the fact many of the humans of the dominion ended up there, banished from their homelands on the old continent during the great diaspora of the 4th era. Saint Ingo was one such human banished from his home in Jam d’gai after the death of his wife. He started to wander the world growing a family by helping other humans who had also lost their homes.  His teachings are about self reflection, acceptance and forgiveness preached at a time when humanity needed it the most.

In the Omnitence star each god isn’t just an element but also represents and aspect of humanity.

Kolcok being patience,  Nux being wisdom and Lumas being knowledge, Drekorin being passion, Wessera being change, Ceilo being preservation and Engae creativity. These are aspects followers of the star try to balance in their lives along with the compassion that Saint Ingo displayed in his pilgrimage. To uphold any of these ideals is to work your way into one of the seven heavens.

Practice

Nowadays those who worship under the omnitence star often attend temple where statues or symbols to the seven divines are often located. Some temples have places to worship lesser gods or those that are said to rule over smaller areas of the world.

Every day of the week is usually given to worship of a god. There is a special mass held in the temple for the community to come when they so desire. But often people will go to the nearest temple when they can and say a solitary prayer to the god of their choosing.  Most people only attend a mass once a week and so they can attend for whichever god they choose. Having symbols of the interlocking star is of grave importance to worshipers and often these stars can be seen hanging on walls in offices, homes, or on public buildings. The star is said to grant luck as it acknowledges all aspects of the world are connected.

[stationhousesix]

"Only those who give life have the right to take it."

Is a line I would totally use for a society of warrior women.