#damir nedrov

[ashen-crest]

“There you are,” Damir grumbled as soon as Aspen approached. “I realize no one in this plaza values my contributions, but I do, in fact, have better things to do accomplish than cat-sitting.” Shrike hissed at that. Damir hissed back, then ran a hand over his face and pulled out his pipe. “See? Look at what this is doing to me. I’m unraveling.”

Damir is my itty bitty little punching bag in The Spirit's Curse and I love that for him

[ashen-crest]

I’ll be drawing later today, happy to answer asks as I go! If you need ask ideas, I actually need some help thinking about both TSS and RPS as a series. So a couple topics that I need to think about:

How people react to the revealed existence of spirits after TSS book 1 (bonus: how the spirits themselves react to being awake)

TSS’ character Damir Nedrov, grumpy right-hand man of the province’s most famous bard

TSS’ smallest and most isolationist province, Envis (incidentally, Damir’s homeland)

Forbidden magic in RPS

Apprenticeship in RPS

How quests and guilds work in RPS

No pressure, of course!

Storyteller Saturday

Once again, Saturday has struck! And once again, I want to attempt to revive this lovely event! (It was a whole lot of fun last week!)

Reblog this post if you want people to send you asks about your writing, wip, or characters today! For each ask you get, try and send one back in return!

This event was originally started by @lonely-pages-of-ink and @drist-n-dither, and was a huge, incredibly fun writeblr event when I first joined this community, but has since fallen in participation and awareness. You can read the original info post here!

And don’t feel shy about sending asks to writeblrs you know nothing about—this is a wonderful way to get to know new stories, and make new friends!

[ashen-crest]

nanowrimo day 5

💕 Damir!! My boy Damir is back and I love him!! 💕

(For context, Damir is Ella’s manager and- slight spoiler alert here- is also now Emry and Aspen’s. He is a Tired Man.)

Have a snippet from The Spirit Well Draft 0, Chapter 4:

The surly blond man yanked open the carriage door as soon as they carriage rolled to a halt. Like always, he was dressed in black from head to toe, with only the silver chain of his pocket watch adding any sparkle to his outfit. Asking for any such sparkle in his eye was far too much to hope for. In their sparse meetings, Emry could count the number of times Damir had smiled on one finger.

“Ella’s in the card room with the rest of the troupe,” he rattled off without so much as a good evening. “There’s Council members and other buffoons in there, of course. Think they’re rather special, being in Ella’s presence before the performance.” 

His subtle sneer indicated how special he truly thought them.

“Do you want us to wait, then?” Emry hopped out of the carriage, then turned to lend a hand to Aspen. The forest spirit didn’t need it—they hopped down as if floating, trailing flower petals out of their lute.

“No, no, you’ll need to head in there and suffer with her,” Damir said. Emry nodded, made one last attempt to settle his stomach, then took one step toward the door.

Damir’s arm shot out and blocked his way.

“Tree kid, music box,” he said, nodding to each of them in turn. “Ground rules. Don’t say anything to those folks in there. You’re new musicians, you’re thrilled to be here. Drink some, but not too much, and if anyone asks you if you’re building a troupe”—he rubbed his forehead here—“just say you have a lot of planning to do and get away from them as quickly as possible. Everyone in there has a cousin or other who plays the, I don’t know, hurdy-gurdy, and is the best thing since fried bread. Now go.”

“And have fun?” Aspen finished hopefully. Damir sighed.

“Sure, that too.”

[ashen-crest]

WIP: The Stray Spirit

Damir Nedrov

30, he/him

Damir is Ella Sorman’s loyal manager assistant. When not ensuring that every venue follows Ella’s instructions to the letter, he’s keeping a casual eye out for new talent for the Auric Guild. If you manage to break through his aloof, disinterested demeanor and catch his eye with your talent, that’s only step one- you’ll need to go through Ella next.

“Damir Nedrov. Happy Sada,” he grunted with a slanted Envis accent, wrinkling his nose as several careening fools stumbled into him on their way out. “Listen, I’d like to hear you play again.”

“Me? And the others-?”

“No, just you. I heard the others earlier, they’re not you.” He slipped Emry a piece of folded paper. “Give this to Henri at Lamb’s Ear in two days, there’ll be an opening for you and anyone in your own troupe before sunset.”

“Sure. But- I don’t actually have a troupe of my own, this was just a-“

“Play with Ella’s troupe, then.”

“I’m sorry, what?”

Damir shrugged.

“Ella likes to test out folks that way. Nowhere to hide. Cut the chaff from the, you know, whatever.” Damir pulled out a pipe. “Now, if you’ll excuse me…”

TSS Taglist: @crystallized-ink, @little-boats-on-a-lake, @semblanche, @theramwrites, @wordsbycreed, @pretend-im-normal, @mel-writes-with-her-dragons, @wildswrites, @ladywithalamp, @ettawritesnstudies, @mj-comics, @cecilsstorycorner, @write-your-own-stories, @chayscribbles, @storytracks

[ashen-crest]

me at myself: it’s ok, today will probably be a rusty drawing day. you’ve never drawn ella and damir before, it’s ok if it’s rough-

e-excuse me sir, ma’am-

where did you come from

[ashen-crest]

Had to scramble to get in some words for Nano Day 2, but I think it went okay! Partway through chapter 2 of The Spirit Well now. Here’s a snippet:

Upon [Emry’s] move from Senne to Vornik, the Guild—namely Damir Nedrov, his new manager—had taken the liberty of setting up lodgings for him. Emry had assumed it would be some sort of hotel or simple rental; basic accommodations until he could find his own way. But the townhome that stood before him was one of the finest the city had to offer. Nestled near the posh Academy campus, it was an elegant facade of white stone and green bushes, delicate iron fences and brass door knockers. It was certainly far too nice for a musician, even one now funded by the Auric Guild.

And the housekeeper that came with it, Mrs. Eloise Marin, seemed to agree. 

She had regarded Emry with utter suspicion ever since his first entry into the house, always muttering something about Guild musicians and their parties. Emry had tried to reassure her that he wasn’t like the Forsgren Quartet, always getting into bar fights, or Karlson, always throwing lavish soirees—but she took precisely none of his words to heart.

Aspen, however, she adored.

[ashen-crest]

last line tag

Thanks for tagging me, @zmlorenz! I once again only have Spirit Well draft 00 to pull from. (wip intro dropping tomorrow, though!)

feat. damir nedrov and the nicknames he insists aren’t signs of affection:

Damir: music box, I think you’ve lost a gear.

Emry, trying to get things ready for the band to come over: I don’t think I have, Mr. Nedrov.

Damir: gods, please, mr. nedrov is my father. are you absolutely sure about this?

Emry: of course I am. will Ella want to see them?

Damir: you have a week, there’s no time. you’ll just have to impress her at the concert.

ever had to put a band together in a week? yeah, me neither, rip emry karic

Tagging, with zero pressure: @writing-is-a-martial-art, @rowenkrahn, @decodamalion, and @gimbledim!

[ashen-crest]

WIP Re-Intro: The Stray Spirit

For all posts related to this WIP, please check out the tag #the stray spirit!

Genre: NA Fantasy

Status: 5th draft in progress

Logline: A young, struggling bard named Emry vies to capture the attention of Vidanya’s most prominent musicians’ guild- but just as the largest music festival of the year begins, a talkative spirit traps themself in his lute. Together with his academic ex-girlfriend, Emry delves into the forgotten lore of spirits to return the being home, only to find a much greater threat looming beneath the surface.

Themes/Tropes: prodigal son, found family, forgotten lore, exes to lovers, music, fulfilling lost goals/potential, nature, caves/underground rivers

Main Character Intros:

Emry Karic

Calliope (Cal) Breslin

Aspen

Side Character Intros (most have snippets, too!):

Marko Stell

Stef Solberg

Georgie Karic

Marley Karic

Ella Sorman

Damir Nedrov

Brinna Hall

Devrin Gray

Side Series:

(To read, follow the links in the title)

Aspen’s Guide to Growing Your Grove: In an effort to practice writing more, Aspen the forest spirit starts up a newspaper column called Aspen’s Guide to Growing Your Grove. What begins as a novelty entertained (and funded) by Cal quickly, ah, grows as Aspen gains a following. 

Tazlo Fluff: drabbles exploring Emry and Cal’s courting & dating life in Tazlo, back before the main events of the book.

Taglist (ask to be +/-): @crystallized-ink, @little-boats-on-a-lake, @semblanche, @theramwrites, @wordsbycreed, @pretend-im-normal, @mel-writes-with-her-dragons, @wildswrites, @ladywithalamp, @ettawritesnstudies, @mj-comics, @cecilsstorycorner, @write-your-own-stories, @chayscribbles, @storytracks, @lightningmastertrilogy, @magic-is-something-we-create, @authortango, @thegoldenseries, @lunewell, @vellichor-virgo, @writeblrfantasy, @blindthewind, @weaver-of-fantasies-and-fables, @bronwennjames, @akindofmagictoo, @pheita, @talesfromaurea

[ashen-crest]

Which OC Is The Most Likely to Start a Fight -Tag

Thanks for tagging me, @pheita!

The OC winners here are Georgie and Aspen. I can’t find the post right now, but I’ve actually got a side drabble about the Karics getting into a bar fight. Who started it? Georgie and Aspen. You insult their family, it’s on sight.

Almost everyone else is somewhere in the middle (Cal, for example, will verbally eviscerate you any day of the week, but won’t start a physical fight. Brinna will whack you with her broom, but she must be provoked.)

The folks in last are Marko Stell, Devrin Gray (he may unintentionally start fights via insults, but he generally does not intend to fight), and the mysterious duo, Damir Nedrov and Ella Sorman (though they will finish the fight in two seconds flat).

Tagging, with zero pressure: @theramwrites, @crystallized-ink, and @solipsism-lemonade!

[ashen-crest]

find the word tag

Thanks for tagging me, @authortango! My words were: rosy, cheerful, curious, and gift.

Rosy

Unfortunately, the owner’s face lit up as soon as he stepped across the threshold into the drowsy warmth of the inn.

 “Mr. Karic!” The woman, rosy and round, spread her arms wide, though she contained her voice for those sleeping above. “Hara bless me, a face I never thought I’d see again.”

 “Mrs. Portsmouth.” He gave her a nod and forced out a smile. “How are you?”

Cheerful

If there was no sight so heart-breaking as a sad dog, there certainly wasn’t one like a sad spirit dog.

 “I’ll come visit you,” Emry quickly offered. “We can still talk.”

 “Oh could you, please?” Aspen’s tail was back in action. “That would be lovely-“

 “Excuse me, sir,” a cheerful voice said behind Emry, “just a reminder that you’ll have to keep your dog in your lap at all times when you’re on the boat.”

Curious (didn’t have that, so I used Question instead)

I do miss my grove,” Aspen continued, watching her write. “I like it a lot. I worked hard on the flowers and the trees and the moss. I think you’d like it, Cal. Emry saw my home, but you didn’t.” They turned to Emry. “Do you ever miss home?”

 “Um.” The question took him completely off guard.

 “See, Cal said that you-“

 “Aspen!” Cal hissed.

 “Oh, right.” Aspen sat back.

Gift

Emry dared one glance up at the audience, just in time to see Ella Sorman and Damir Nedrov take their reserved seats near the front of the stage. Damir already looked bored again, and though Ella’s bright Avikan kaftan gave off the appearance of gaiety, her dark eyes roved like a hawk’s. He half-expected her to smell the fear coming off him.

But Sada had one last gift to give, for just as he finished tuning, the Lamb’s Ear began to douse their lanterns.

Tagging, with zero pressure, @thegoldenseries, @sparkles-and-hens, and anyone else who wants to do it! Your words are: animal, take, candle, and tree.

[ashen-crest]

Peanut butter filling and white chocolate?

Peanut Butter Filling: share a snippet that really shows a character’s personality. (or: talk about an upcoming scene where their personality will shine!)

Let’s do the first Damir scene, for funsies:

[Emry] found himself face to face with the Guild member.

“Emry Karic.” He stuck out his hand, hoping the other man wouldn’t notice the shaking. “Happy Sada.”

“Damir Nedrov. Happy Sada,” he grunted with a slanted Envis accent, wrinkling his nose as several careening fools stumbled into him on their way out. “Listen, I’d like to hear you play again.”

“Me? And the others-?”

“No, just you. I heard the others earlier, they’re not you.” He slipped Emry a piece of folded paper. “Give this to Henri at Lamb’s Ear in two days, there’ll be an opening for you and anyone in your own troupe before sunset.”

“Sure. But- I don’t actually have a troupe of my own, this was just a-“

“Play with Ella’s troupe, then.”

“I’m sorry, what?”

Damir shrugged.

“Ella likes to test out folks that way. Nowhere to hide. Cut the chaff from the, you know, whatever.” Damir pulled out a pipe. “Now, if you’ll excuse me…”

And before Emry could process what he said, Damir had melted back into the crowd.

White Chocolate: tell me a bit about the happiest moment in your wip.

The very last scene is definitely the happiest one, but I don’t want to give too much away other than Emry’s with his family, with Cal, and he gets some really good news.

The other happy scenes often involve Emry getting good news about his Guild journey, and Cal and Aspen celebrating alongside him. It’s where we see Cal at her bubbliest. :)

Thanks so much!!