#elyrian

[on-cerulean-tides-rpg]

Bonjour 💙 Voici venu le temps de vous dévoiler une première partie d’annexe du forum ! J’ai longuement hésité sur ce que je pourrais partager avec vous, car les annexes sont presque terminées. Après mûre réflexion, je me suis dit que commencer par vous présenter globalement l'univers géographique d'Elyrian avec sa carte pourrait être une belle manière de vous immerger dans l'aventure. Voilà, j'espère que cette petite introduction vous plaira !

Introduction

Elyrian est un royaume insulaire aussi vaste que mystérieux, s’étendant sur un labyrinthe de terres éparpillées au gré des flots. Officiellement, chaque archipel est structuré autour de trois grandes îles principales, véritables piliers de la civilisation elyrienne. Pourtant, au-delà de ces centres de pouvoir et de commerce, l’océan dissimule des centaines d’autres îles, de tailles et de natures variées. Certaines abritent des villages de pêcheurs ou des avant-postes oubliés ; d’autres, à peine cartographiées, sont des sanctuaires perdus, ensevelis sous les marées ou cernés de récifs infranchissables. Il existe des îles accueillantes, escales essentielles aux navigateurs, et d’autres, maudites, où plus personne n’ose s’aventurer. Entre cités fortifiées, havres discrets et terres abandonnées aux légendes, Elyrian demeure un royaume insaisissable, dont chaque île porte en elle une part de mystère.

Le Pont des Brisants

Le Pont des Brisants est l'épine dorsale d’Elyrian, un passage colossal qui traverse le royaume d’un bout à l’autre, reliant le sud au nord en un arc de pierre et de mystère. Il débute à Nepthis, à la sortie du Port de Varasel et du marché des Brisants, qui doit son nom aux vagues écumeuses qui s’écrasent contre les falaises de l’île. De là, il s’étire sur des centaines de kilomètres, serpentant d’île en île, porté par d'immenses piliers qui s’ancrent tantôt dans la roche, tantôt dans les profondeurs marines, avant d’achever sa course au port fortifié de Sasterra, sur l’île de Cresta. Construit pour défier le temps et les flots, le pont est un chef-d’œuvre d’ingénierie et de magie ancienne. Son architecture massive évoque une forteresse en suspension : ses murs de pierre sombre, polis par le vent et le sel, sont gravés de runes marines censées repousser l’usure des siècles et les colères de l’océan.

Un passage stratégique

Le Pont des Brisants est bien plus qu’un simple ouvrage d’art : c’est le cœur du commerce et de la survie d’Elyrian. Seul le royaume en connaît tous les secrets, notamment l’emplacement des portes cachées, dissimulées dans ses fondations et accessibles uniquement à ceux qui détiennent les clefs du savoir militaire. Ce contrôle absolu permet à Elyrian d’imposer ses propres taxes et règlements sur le commerce, forçant les royaumes voisins à se soumettre à ses conditions s’ils veulent accéder aux ressources et marchés d’outre-mer. Bien que quelques échanges maritimes soient possibles, ils restent limités lors des Marées Guerrières, période durant laquelle les flots demeurent calmes. En dehors de ces quelques mois, le pont est la seule connexion entre les deux continents, faisant d'Elyrian un carrefour incontournable du commerce international.

L’intérieur du Pont 

Aussi majestueux soit-il, le passage du Pont des Brisants n’a rien d’une traversée plaisante. Son intérieur est plongé dans une obscurité permanente : il ne dispose d’aucune fenêtre, contraignant voyageurs et marchands à avancer à la lueur des torches. Il faut trois jours entiers pour le traverser en calèche, un périple éprouvant où l’air devient plus lourd à chaque île franchie. Seuls les soldats d’Elyrian et les commerçants dûment autorisés peuvent l’emprunter, et chaque entrée est farouchement gardée. C’est l'endroit le plus surveillé du royaume, un passage où aucun intrus ne peut espérer avancer sans être repéré. 

Origines du Pont 

La légende raconte que le Pont des Brisants fut façonné par les déesses Sylmara et Iskara, en offrande aux Elyriens qu’elles chérissent comme leurs enfants. On dit que les fondations du pont plongent si profondément dans l’océan qu’elles touchent le royaume des abysses, et que ses arches sont indestructibles. Certains racontent même que les piliers de pierre battus par les flots sont en réalité les restes pétrifiés de titans marins endormis…

NB : Il ne s’agit-là que de la carte principale d’Elyrian avec la présentation du Pont des Brisants. Je vous dévoilerai prochainement des cartes et des lieux plus détaillés de chaque archipel afin que vous puissiez vous immerger au mieux dans l’univers.

[jozor-johai]

I noticed a little subplot happening in the background of ADWD, and I’m wondering if anyone has any theories on where this is going. I have my own theory, which I'll explain in full at the end, but is essentially this: I think that GRRM is placing these Dothraki khalasars strategically along the Rhoyne and telling us about them in ADWD so that if Dany commands the loyalty of the entire Dothraki in TWOW, she'll already have loyal armies in place right by the Free Cities, rather than having to wait transport troops anywhere—even though the Dothraki aren't a threat now, the Dothraki will be in place to attack the Free Cities while the Free Cities have sent all their armies to fight Dany's forces at Meereen.

I'll explain my reasoning, and where I think GRRM is putting the pieces into place here—under the cut, since it's a slightly long post with maps.

We first hear of Dothraki along the Rhoyne in ADWD Tyrion III:

“Griff means to strike downriver the instant we are back. News has been coming upriver, none of it good. Dothraki have been seen north of Dagger Lake, outriders from old Motho’s khalasar, and Khal Zekko is not far behind him, moving through the Forest of Qohor.” The fat man made a rude noise. “Zekko visits Qohor every three or four years. The Qohorik give him a sack of gold and he turns east again. As for Motho, his men are near as old as he is, and there are fewer every year. The threat is—” “—Khal Pono,” Haldon finished. “Motho and Zekko flee from him, if the tales are true. The last reports had Pono near the headwaters of the Selhoru with a khalasar of thirty thousand. Griff does not want to risk being caught up in the crossing if Pono should decide to risk the Rhoyne.”

As a reminder, Dagger Lake is where the Rhoyne in the east meets the Qhoyne in the west to make the full-force Rhoyne that we know and love.

Illyrio dismisses any reason to be concerned with these particular Dothraki, and perhaps he is right. But we do get our first preview into the concerns of Khal Pono, and the premise of Dothraki along the Rhoyne. Are they doing to be placated by gifts, like Illyrio says? Or is something different afoot?

Next we get an update in Tyrion VI, by Selhorys.

Haldon Halfmaester explained. “On the way down from the Sorrows to Selhorys, we thrice glimpsed riders moving south along the river’s eastern shore. Dothraki. Once they were so close we could hear the bells tinkling in their braids, and sometimes at night their fires could be seen beyond the eastern hills. We passed warships as well, Volantene river galleys crammed with slave soldiers. The triarchs fear an attack upon Selhorys, plainly.”

Another reminder for geography, Selhorys is significantly south from Dagger Lake. Like, further than King’s Landing is from the Trident. Once again, we have this concern: will Khal Pono cross the Rhoyne for Selhorys?

That concern is brought up again in Tyrion VI:

“Three,” Qavo allowed, “against thrice three thousand enemies. Grazdan mo Eraz was not the only envoy sent out from the Yellow City. When the Wise Masters move against Meereen, the legions of New Ghis will fight beside them. Tolosi. Elyrians. Even the Dothraki.” “You have Dothraki outside your own gates,” Haldon said. “Khal Pono.” Qavo waved a pale hand in dismissal. “The horselords come, we give them gifts, the horselords go.” He moved his catapult again, closed his hand around Tyrion’s alabaster dragon, removed it from the board.

As predicted by Haldon in Tyrion III, here is Khal Pono across from Selhorys. We hear that Qavo is unconcerned with Khal Pono, despite Haldon’s concerns.

This might be a bit of a meta opinion, but whenever someone is as flippant as Qavo is being here, expect them to be wrong. They definitely aren’t going to go away with gifts, Qavo is totally jinxing it—that’s my prediction.

Then we get another update later on, in The Lost Lord:

Haldon’s horses did not please him. “Were these the best that you could find?” he complained to the Halfmaester. “They were,” said Haldon, in an irritated tone, “and you had best not ask what they cost us. With Dothraki across the river, half the populace of Volon Therys has decided they would sooner be elsewhere, so horseflesh grows more expensive every day.”

By this point, they’re in Volon Therys, which is only barely outside of Volantis—think roughly the distance between King’s Landing and Duskendale, for comparison. And here, too, there are Dothraki on the other side of the river. Are these the same Dothraki, are they traveling south at the same pace as Tyrion/JonCon? Or is this yet another khalasar? We haven’t heard any update from Qohor, and this is the first time that we’ve unexpectedly encountered a khalasar—are they here to meet with the Volantenes about Meereen, like Dany’s advisors fear? Or are they here for another reason? Is it possible that Illyrio and Qavo are wrong?

The last update we get is in ADWD Victarion, when he captures a ship from Myr heading for New Ghis and Yunkai:

Sailing out of Myr, the Dove brought them no fresh news of Meereen or Daenerys, only stale reports of Dothraki horsemen along the Rhoyne, the Golden Company upon the march, and others things Victarion already knew.

Unfortunately, this is stale news for both Victarion and we the readers—this is like a snapshot back to Tyrion II/III, when the Golden Company broke its contract and started marching east, and when we first heard about the Dothraki on the Rhoyne in my first quote.

However, despite this being a snapshot back in time to old news, I wonder about GRRM’s choice to include this again so close to end of the book—is this a reminder for the readers about these Dothraki on the Rhoyne? We’ve learned why the Golden Company marching ended up being important, could this passage from Victarion be a reminder of these tidbits of news because they will continue to matter moving forward?

I am doubly interested because it’s in this same book, in the very midst of all this talk of Dothraki on the Rhoyne, that we hear the tale of a previous time the Dothraki came. This is back in ADWD Tyrion IV, between the reports of Motho and Zekko on Dagger Lake and before the talk with Qavo about Pono. I’ve bolded the relevant sections, because it’s long, but left the rest for context.

“The war left the Disputed Lands a waste, and freed Lys and Myr from the yoke. The tigers suffered other defeats as well. The fleet they sent to reclaim Valyria vanished in the Smoking Sea. Qohor and Norvos broke their power on the Rhoyne when the fire galleys fought on Dagger Lake. Out of the east came the Dothraki, driving smallfolk from their hovels and nobles from their estates, until only grass and ruins remained from the forest of Qohor to the headwaters of the Selhoru. After a century of war, Volantis found herself broken, bankrupt, and depopulated. It was then that the elephants rose up. They have held sway ever since. Some years the tigers elect a triarch, and some years they do not, but never more than one, so the elephants have ruled the city for three hundred years.”

Maybe this wasn’t just to set the stage for the Volantene elections, but to remind us that the Dothraki can come out of the east to wreak havoc…. when the Free Cities are weak. And boy, is Volantis looking undefended right now: the Golden Company is gone to Westeros, other sellsword companies have gone to Meereen, the Volantenes have sent their fleets to Meereen.

Before I continue, here’s a map of the locations of the Dothraki khalasars along the Rhoyne:

Why we should care

We can be almost certain that Dany has to return to Vaes Dothrak to visit the Dosh Khaleen. Though we don’t know for sure if Khal Jhaqo’s forces are going to outpower Dany and Drogon, Dany is already envisioning the future where she returns to Vaes Dothrak when she sees Jhaqo’s outrider at the end of ADWD:

One rider, and alone. A scout. He was one who rode before the khalasar to find the game and the good green grass, and sniff out foes wherever they might hide. If he found her there, he would kill her, rape her, or enslave her. At best, he would send her back to the crones of the dosh khaleen, where good khaleesi were supposed to go when their khals had died.

Of course, we ought to already have known this from Dany’s vision in the House of the Undying:

Beneath the Mother of Mountains, a line of naked crones crept from a great lake and knelt shivering before her, their grey heads bowed.

If Dany was truly seeing her future—and I believe she was—then we know we will inevitably be seeing her return to Vaes Dothrak to accept the homage of the Dosh Khaleen.

However, this creates a bigger problem: we need Dany to get to Westeros, and potentially have time to also reach both Volantis and Pentos (though whether or not Dany will actually go either of those places is purely speculation, however well-founded). Vaes Dothrak is in the entirely opposite direction from where she is now—that would be heading east, away from Westeros, not closer to her end goal.

For some readers, this isn’t a concern: we might trust Quaithe, who reminds Dany that:

To reach the west, you must go east. To go forward you must go back, and to touch the light you must pass beneath the shadow.

Some readers, though, wonder about the time and ability for TWOW to contain this storyline within its time. GRRM is realistic about how long travel time takes, which is great for the realism, but presents immense logistic problems.

Dany doesn’t need to worry about the time it takes to travel long distances as mucha as she used to—if she can begin to control Drogon, she can fly around at will. However, that’s only her; if Dany does gain the allegiance of the Dothraki at Vaes Dothrak, how can she actually leverage that in a meaningful way when they’re constrained to horseback? While the AGOT timeline is largely unclear, we can use Dany’s pregnancy to at least be sure it takes months to get from one side of the Dothraki Sea (in Dany III) to Vaes Dothrak (in Dany IV). Does Dany have months to mobilize Dothraki from one side of the Sea to the other?

With the Dothraki along the Rhoyne, though, she doesn’t need to wait for anyone to ride across the sea. Conveniently, they’re already there. If there’s some way to send a message that the Dosh Khaleen have decreed that the Dothraki will follow Dany, that she is the Stallion Who Mounts the World, then she has a ready-made army just waiting for her word to cross the Rhoyne after all, and take the Free Cities. Then Dany can fly over there on her own and just meet them.

I know we’re all looking forward to Dany taking Volantis, so I don’t want to propose something too contrary, but how about this: sicne we’ve been hearing all through ADWD that there are a ton of Dothraki already in place, conveniently for story purposes, ready to accept their regular gifts… or perhaps ready to act if, for example, word came that the Stallion Who Mounts The World has come after all. That might speed things up a bit. We know Volantis is only weakly defended, we know there are Dothraki outside of Selhorys, Qohor, and Volon Therys. Dany has spent five books searching for home and finding one among the people she’s freed. Maybe this is how she makes sure it’s the Volantene slavers who don’t have a home to go back to this time.

[dragon-susceptible]

Okay so im working on a special little drawing for this fic (NO DETAILS FROM ME) but! I do need to know if you have any specific physical traits you want Elryian (sorry if that isn't how it's spelt) to look like. AGAIN NO OTHER DETAILS FROM ME. But, he is your character, so I feel like i should ask you want you think he would look like. ALSO I just wanted to say as a little side note that this AU is now my new hyperfixation and I am completely ignoring the Canon in the show, this is how the story was from the start. Love the AU, keep it up! And of course take breaks when needed, you deserve it (especially since you released what 3 chapters in one day? Take a break love!)💖

oh my gods seriously? You're making art of Different Path Taken? I love you.

So I have it spelled Elyrin in the fic already but I kinda wish I'd seen Elyrian earlier because that looks really neat, should have gone with that. I just don't wanna go back and edit everything lol.

Elyrin's a little taller than Andromeda, a perfectly average 5'9" to her 5'7", still a little bit shorter than Callisto and Skor even with his horns. He has horns similar to Lain's, relatively slender for a man (amab moonshadow seem to trend towards bulkier horns than afab) with a gentle curve, but his are angled more backwards - oh perfect so the shape of his horns is like Lain's, but the angle is like Ibis. They're stained purple like Ethari's.

I have remembered HeroForge exists. Here's a best-I-can-do mockup on HeroForge.

The clothes are . . . not quite the Moonshadow vibe. The shirt should have some semblance of sleeves, that loop around the bicep that most do, but with the shoulder window. I'm undecided on whether the crop top should be that obvious - Ethari wears one, but he's the only Moonshadow we see who does, and even his isn't quite this obvious. The shirt should also have a higher collar and he might wear more of a half-cape than the scarf.

Other than the clothes not really fitting Moonshadow fashion, and the tattoos being a bit out of place for a Moonshadow elf (it should be smaller circles, not these big crescents) though, it's pretty close. He's a slender build, by human standards, perfectly average by elven ones. Not particularly well-muscled, but strong enough to pick up a small child and carry them around if need be. Also disregard the fork in his horns, that shouldn't be there, that's a Startouch thing, but it was the closest I could find of an appropriate size to what they should look like. They should also have the "wood grain" lines in them but that's just not a thing on HeroForge. He should also be wearing a purple feather tucked into his braids, pretty much at all times, because Andromeda likes purple and he likes feathers. It's probably a feather shed from her shadowpaw. I'm actually okay with the facial tattoos, those seem to work well enough as is.

His hair wouldn't be quite as long as Andromeda's if he let it down, but he's more likely to just braid the whole thing back into a bun than she is. It's relatively uncommon among Moonshadow elves, but he's had enough of his Mooncubs yank on it by accident that he's just like yeah no it's getting taken up now. Yeah, all the way. Plus it lets him braid ribbons into it sometimes (or rather, lets Andromeda braid ribbons into it, usually). His earrings are also likely further up his ear, like Callisto's or Ethari's, than this. His ears also won't always look like this, he's pricking them forwards because his attention is on his audience here.

Most of the fashion is a bit wrong but I am kind of attached to the half-skirt. It could be traded out for a sleeveless cloak (like Runaan) or a cape , possibly. I kinda like just the half-skirt with a thinner scarf that trails a bit, though, for his stage presence.

[jannaphia]

Ghostfire Gaming - Elyrian Cabinet AD: Matt DeMino

The second piece I did for Sebastian Crowe's Guide to Drakkenheim! 

[jonahintwstmchybridau]

Gods of the Domains

At the beginning of time, there was one world, the Overworld, where gods and mortals could live in peace. But the gods can be selfish and demand a domain of their own. Some get them, whether from blessing or by force, and some never do. Now, each domain is separated by the Nethersea (like your world's ocean, but it will burn you if you touch it).

These are some recorded gods that scholars know for now, along with their titles and where and who they are worshipped. It will be updated as the research continues.

.

Drestl

"Archcrown of Dream"

The god of gods; ruler of the overworlds. No other gods have ever seen xir face. A once kind god, but become cruel. Xe saw these other gods; seemingly significant to xir presence, yet xe felt threatened. A god's ego is always a fragile thing. Xe tried to keep xir domain united, but alas, the world that xir created for xem and xir beloved pantheon was split. Xe still rules the holy land and watches over the overworlds, holding that sliver of control.

After Thaone's "death", Drestl took the disc containing the map of Fhonbris' ultimate magic and gave it to Tedraura.

Drestl might have a further relationship with Thaone since xe holds xir godhood, but no record of that so far.

.

Pikdarr

"Angel of Death" "Parent of Wyldur, Tedraura, and Thaone" "Eternal Soulmate of Krodione"

Pikdarr was a mere mortal, but everyone can see he was loved by xir Eternal Soulmate. He traveled the domains, survived dangers, and built monuments as a declaration that xe once was there. When the time of xir end has come, xir own beloved came to take his soul, ascending xem to godhood. Xir duty is to carry weary adventurers and noble warriors to the Ending Yard where their souls can finally rest in peace.

Pikdarr, together with Krodione, is known to be worshipped by the Elyrian.

.

Krodione

"Goddess of Death" "Parent of Wyldur, Tedraura, and Thaone" "Eternal Soulmate of Pikdarr"

Amongst the gods, xe is the most mysterious. Not even xir followers dare to state xir name so blatantly. The ruler of Ending Yard and guardian of the souls. It is said that xe has a gentle soul, the kindest of them all. Xe welcomes weary adventurers and noble warriors with open arms. Xe cradles those who are afraid to meet their end, whispering sweet words of peace and release. To anger xem is a taboo; for with one flick of xir wrist, doomdays would be inevitable.

Krodione, together with Pikdarr, is known to be worshipped by the Elyrian. But alone, xe is one of the gods that is universally acknowledged by all.

.

Wyldur

"Scorned and Conquest" "Parent of Fhonbris" "Sibling of Tedraura and Thaone"

A god who is known for xir music and dream of freedom; of a heaven where gods can be free. Xe built that heaven with walls of gold and glory, to protect his mortals and pantheon. And yet xe was exiled from xir own land, stripped down xir crown by those who xir once called comrades. Xe was beyond saving. Xe cries for vengeance and retribution. Xe destroyed xir own world into smithereens. For xe cannot have xir domain, NO ONE can have the domain. Some believe that xe died in the carnage of xir own domain, but some believe that xe got rebirthed into a gentler god…

Wyldur is known to be worshipped by the Phantoms.

.

Tedraura

"The Blood God" "Sibling of Wyldur and Thaone"

Said to be the most violent god, the favorite of the Angel of Death. There's no war that he cannot win. The trump card when he's on your side. A vagabond who challenges others, mortal or immortal. Xe never backs out from a challenge. And yet xe's the most beloved god of them all. Xe protects xir followers and avenges those who had wronged them. Xe listened to them and their voices rang through the depths of xir psyche. When xe laughs, white flowers bloom amongst the graves. How could a god deemed to be so cruel have such a cheerful laugh?

Tedraura is known to be worshipped by the Piglins, Hounds, and (surprisingly) Bunnies with their famous chant "Blood for the Blood God".

The followers of Thulzotl and Tedraura have been at war for the longest time. It was said that when Wyldur destroyed xir own domain, xe was aided by Tedraura who nearly killed Thulzotl and Thaone.

After the "death" of xir siblings, Tedraura received a disc containing the map of Fhonbris' ultimate magic, giving Thulzotl more reason to hunt xem down.

.

Thaone

"///////////////" (title has been eradicated because xir loss of godhood) "Holder of the Disc" "Eternal Soulmate of Thulzotl" "Sibling of Wyldur and Tedraura"

The Trickster. Xe jumps between other gods' presence to steal and whine; free like the whistling wind. A child compared to the other gods, yet the most noble amongst them. The first of many to stand against Drestl. The first of many to build an independent domain with xir fellow, sacrificing xir own godhood to the Archcrown of Dream xirself. Xe was a god…until xe was not. Nobody knows where xe went. But perhaps xe how to hold xir godhood might know…

Thaone is known to be worshipped by the Avians.

It was said that Fhonbris might have shared the location of the ultimate magic with Thaone and together they made a map in the form of a disc. After xe lost xir godhood and, presumably, died, the disc is taken by Drestl, who later gave it to Tedraura, giving more reason for Thulzotl to hunt Tedraura even more.

Thaone might have a further relationship with Drestl who holds xir godhood, but no record of that so far.

.

Thulzotl

"Lamb of Apotheosis" "Eternal Soulmate of Thaone"

Nobody knows whether xe was a mere mortal or already a god in the beginning. All we know is that he ascended to a higher throne in godhood. Xe was insignificant at first, a follower. But when nobody deserves the crown, the world puts it on xir head. Nobody asked if xe wanted it or not, but xe would never deny it. Responsibility is placed on xir shoulders and whispers of the puppeteers fill xir ears. But xe has a dream; for a domain of peace and prosperity. Xe will fight for it, for the safety of xir followers who believe in xem.

It is believed that the domain Thulzotl currently ruling this the same domain Wyldur destroyed. Thulzotl is known to be worshipped by the Shulks and Bumblebees.

The followers of Thulzotl and Tedraura have been at war for the longest time. It was said that when Wyldur destroyed xir own domain, xe was aided by Tedraura who nearly killed Thulzotl and Thaone.

.

Fhonbris

"The One Who Bares No Name" "Child of Wyldur"

A god of a tragic story. Always in the shadow, waiting for the time to come out to the light. No one knows where xir loyalty lies for it was love that xe desired. Xe looks up to the gods mightier than xem and follows their footsteps. But which god wants to take xem under their wings? Xe was abandoned by xir brethren, by xir own parent. What is left for xem? Nothing. So, xe strives for nothing. Xe follows no one. Xe has power. Xe will create something that no gods ever created before: the ultimate magic that only can be used by mortals and no gods can. An eternal quest for those who really desire it, for them to strive for something.

Fhonbris is known to be worshipped by the Kitsunes.

It was said that Fhonbris might have shared the location of the ultimate magic with Thaone and together they made a map in the form of a disc. Not only that, xe made a backup/artificial ultimate magic and gave it to Niqraru.

.

Niqraru

"Lamenting Scale"

What would happen when a god lost xir hope? Niqraru was once with the biggest heart. Living amongst the mortals and kind to all creatures. But as the age turned and the world became colder, conflict rose, both from gods and mortals. It was as if they had forgotten their origin; they had forgotten about kindness. It shook xir foundation, but xe kept xir ground. Xe fought with words and miracles but even then only few who turn back to xir. One day, xe snapped. Xir hope for peace was lost. Xe restarted; creating xir own domain for xir most loyal follower where no one can enter, for it lies in the depth of the waves. A domain of purity; no evil heart can enter.

Niqraru is known to be worshipped by the Merlings.

It was said that Fhonbris gave Niqraru the backup/artificial of xir ultimate magic.

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[crionn]

⋆ : elyria concept + lore guide !! ( by jude. )

visual concept: a place where the night reigns, elyria is known for its silver rivers that flow all throughout the town. while its main way of transportation are little boats heavily inspired by gondolas, it is also known to be a very beautiful city to walk through. also known as the realm of the dead, it is common knowledge that dark magic and necromancy were born within the streets of elyria. most visitors describe the realm heavy with magic that they can sense and even taste at times, and that the silver water often shimmers under the moonlight.

portal : il ponte di rialto in venice, italy, is the most commonly known portal to elyria, and the easiest to get to. while any elyrian would be able to cross with no issue, it is the opposite for earth humans who would have to know and master an incredibly difficult set of dark magic incantations. however, if said incantations are successful, the visitors would be able to cross over to the realm by swimming right under the bridge.

rulers : elyria is currently ruled under a minister and its council. sigil : to be added !

motto: to know the bird by its song.

the realm of elyria : elyria's realm is known to be the on of the darkest: both literally and conceptually. it is the one where the night reigns: in this realm, the sun never rises. mythology implies that such a phenomenon is a punishment from the gods: the dark arts have been so rooted in elyrian magical practices, to the point where the gods felt a strong need to put an end to it. centuries ago, when one of the first rulers accidentally mishandled a dark spell and triggered an everlasting night to cast upon the realm, the gods decided not to reverse it. they had hopes, then, that the darkness would serve as a constant reminder of who truly is in control, and who reigns above the realms. the society of elyrian, however, learnt to embrace the night rather quickly and grew to love it.

in hopes of retaliation, the gods had attempted many tricks on elyria in order to put them back in place, such as their second most permanent one (after the night), floods. they began to happen a few years after the everlasting darkness laid on the realm: strange floods that would appear out of nowhere and drown the streets of elyria. its people, however, aloof and dreamy by nature, embraced that as well. thanked the gods, even, as they began to build boats in order to transport across the realm. the rivers that formed through the flood never took the appearance of normal water: they show to be silvery and glistening under the moonlight. when the town calms, when everyone goes to sleep at last, it is said that you can hear the water speak to you; most people hypothesize that the river is made out of the dead souls of elyria who are waiting to cross to the after life.

in the present time, it is now a place where people would mostly transport themselves on boats, though there is still walking space. it is a walkable city, especially when we stray away from the main city. the elyrian society puts a lot of focus on dark magic, and most people visit it when in need of dire assistance in the fields of mediumship, necromancy, dark arts, and so forth. however, elyria is renowned for its arts and culture. since the night has been reigning for centuries now, the population of the realm put a lot of emphasis on turning the curse into nights of endless fun: when visiting elyria, you will find opera houses and open string quartets in town centers. it has been proven, also, that a lot of common operas and classical literature on earth has been inspired on stories from elyria.

locations : il ponte delle stelle ( the bridge of stars ), which is essentially the mirror of elyria's portal. upon crossing over, you will be under this bridge, which is situated in the middle of the city center. the opera house, destined to show the history of elyria and its extravagance through plays, operas, and orchestras. the river of stars, the very one that has flooded the large streets of elyria years ago. its silvery, transluscent and shimmering water makes it seem like it is enchanted - or perhaps haunted by the spirits that drowned during the floods. the night market, a dark market by the outskirts of the city, where countless items are sold during the last week of every month. this renowned market brings in a lot of visitors from other realms: scholars, criminals and curious minds who are in need of various objects riddled in dark magic. remember - if something sold there seems to good to be true, it often is ! the forests of elyria, enchanted little woods where weird little creatures live. a few houses past the forests can be found, ones where hermits of elyrian society like to settle. it is said that the darkest of sorcerers live there : elyrians know to proceed with caution.

how to reach elyria : enchantments and dark arts incantations are what need to be told under the bridge of rialto in order to cross over. however, the presence of an elyrian is necessary in order to facilitate the crossing: a normal human would not be able to even get their hands on the incantations necessary.

population : elyrians make up the population of elyria, though it is also divided with specters.

jobs : dark arts practitioners, mediums and necromancers are the most oversaturated jobs in elyria. it is quite hard to be successful with these skills in the realm, considering the amount of people who attempt to practice it. be careful, though! a lot of them are not exactly what they sell themselves to be. actors, playwriters, musician and play techs are also rather popular.

elyria, a society :

elyrians : elyrians are known to be rather air headed and day dreamy. they are a very nice population and never quite act like they are better than anyone else. in fact, outsiders often describe elyrians to be a very happy group of people: they are often tipsy or under the influences of whatever is offered to them inside of operas and cabarets, sure, but there is. . . like a veil of magic over them, constantly keeping them in a cheery, easy going mood. they are also known to daydream a lot, to be caught in their own reveries. a lot of outsiders like to say that the sorcerers within the minister's council actively charm the realm in order to keep everyone happy, considering the endless darkness that could easily throw them into a pit of despair. truly, it seems like most of them are enchanted. necromancers and sorcerers who practice the dark arts, however, tend to be a little grumpier. somehow, being exposed to such a powerful magic offers them immunity to whatever. . . happiness flows through the streets of elyria.

spettri : spettri ( spettro in singular ) make for another part of the elyrian population: these entities are also known as ghosts, poltergeists, or tormented souls. this is a percentage of the population that is dead but unfinished. ( think of the ghosts in harry potter! ) spettri who are a part of the peculiar society are entities who are still not able to cross to the afterlife. whether it is because they still have something to fulfill before fully leaving, or because something within themselves is stopping them from doing so, they are stuck on earth up until they resolve it. naturally, this population is known to be solitary and often keeps to themselves.  on a physical standpoint, spettri look and seem like elyrians, though they are entirely transluscent. while they can still appear like other elyrians ( which is to say, not transparent ), a lot of them give up on that construct soon into their new lives as spettri since it takes up a lot of energy from them. spettri do not need to sleep as they aren’t alive, but a lot of them do so anyways considering how used to it they are. they do not need to eat either, but it isn’t uncommon for them to engage in meals with others. elyrians do not particularly engage with them - they tend to ignore them, pretend like they do not exist. the only people who truly interact with them are necromancers and dark arts sorcerers. the only job that spettri can accept are to ride the boats on the river of stars. they are naturally not paid for it, and are forced to wear various masks ( like the ones in the moodboard !! ) in order to hide their identity.

the fashion : see phantom of the opera during big events , interview with the vampire , a haunting in venice ( !!! ) , as well as large dark robes that most sorcerers and necromancers wear , crow and harlequin masks to cover people's faces - which is a rather common practice.

tba <333

[silvercompassmaps]

Happy Easter!

I have teamed up with several mapmakers to bring you free Easter-themed maps this year!

Feel free to browse the catalog below:

Angela Maps | Giant Nest | This battle map showcases a massive, mysterious creature’s nest, which has been the source of terror for the local community.

Bearworks | Swamp Altar | An ancient altar and a majestic flowering tree stand together as a sacred testament to the divine, towering above the swamp and exuding a power that seems to command respect from the spirits of the land.

BeatrixRae | The Easter Throne | With the first breath of spring in the air, the Easter Bunny has no time to waste. Hopping with haste, in this spring wonderland throne room, thousands of eggs are being colored, decorated, and hidden for children all across the realm.

Dransky | Fern Flower | A glimpse at the long-forgotten ancient world of folk legends and myths when they were still true. Here is a vision of a deep forest inspired by a Slavic fairy tale and a fern flower growing among an ancient stone circle.

Eledryll | Graveolent Glade | Puffs of morbid spores linger through the foetid air, propelled into the atmosphere at each step you take on the dampened ground: the druidic ritual went extremely wrong in those parts of the forest.

Elyrian Dreams | Of Days Gone | Many have walked these wayward paths throughout the ages. You are not the first. You will not be the last. What stories have these old stones witnessed? What secrets do they keep? Pay homage to the people of old, fair pilgrim, and perhaps they may reveal them to you.

RhasmusDnD | The 1000 Bunnies Army | 1000 armored bunnies

Sanctum of Maps | Hedge Maze Easter Festival | Begin your hunt to collect all 12 easter eggs scattered inside a vibrant Hedge Maze, return them to their nests in the center and perhaps the Shrine of the Rabbit will reward us?

Silver Compass Maps | Exit from the Underworld | A long and arduous path that starts from the depths of the underworld and finishes at the opening to this world

[xf4iryx]

❨  𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐃 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐄 ❩ ═.✵. 𝐁𝐋𝐔𝐑𝐁

╰ warnings ❨pure fluff ❩

╰ for @mercunty

The first time the two danced together was during the star festival. People were already dancing across the marketplace of the small village. He looked at her with an adoration even the villagers could see. She was dancing in the middle of them, skirt flowing with the movements. Griffin had watched earlier as she had learned the traditional Elyrian dance. Here, the two of them were just themselves, no fugitives or rebels. No one knew who they really were. It was a feeling of freedom he had never known before. He yelped as someone pushed him into the crowd and to her. Xiani grasped his hand, laughters falling from her lips as the music accelerated. Together, both danced, twirling and jumping the traditional dance. As the music accelerated even more amd drums sounded she pulled away from him, twirling in the middle of the crowd. The setting sun basked them in golden light as laughters carried across the marketplace.

tags: @mercunty , @moremysteriesthantragedies , @queerlilchinchin , @theimperiumchronicles , @pluttskutt, @365runesofthesystem (ask to be added or removed)

[buqbite]

anyways. i have two hi3 men left to meet and im incredibly excited about both of them. one is kosma who i saw like 3 times? in my elyrian realm runs? and i like his design a lot. and lyle who showed up in some of the apho 2 cutscenes i watched, who seems like an absolute delight of a character. both are green so maybe this is a sign

[starscaredwings]

Starting Information

Before anything else, the essentials would probably be a good thing to know, otherwise everything is gonna be really confusing.

This is essentially an AU(StarStained) that I've created for Minecraft, blending together mechanics, physics, and real world logic to create something new. Some of these things are spins on ideas I've read in fan-content made for Minecraft, others are my own ideas.

Races

Starting off, there are many, many races that make up this world. Hybrids, Humans, End and Nether born beings. These races are basically things that are included into the Origins Minecraft Mod. Some of them are a bit different however, as I've changed the origins and abilities of some races. Most notably, and as an example, the Elyrian Race is an End-Born race, and not seen a whole lot in the Overworld.

The End | Size of the AU

On the topic of the End, this is very important to note. StarStained takes place in a world where the land stretches next to indefinite. Much large than even a normal in-game world, and those are larger than Earth. To put this to scale, I need to use this as a reference. Within one in-game Minecraft world there is only a singular End Spawn Island. A single dragon, and a single egg. The lands of StarStained are large enough to sustain so many of these islands that they cover any and all SMP's that have access/potential access to the End. DreamSMP, Hermitcraft, Empires, Hypixel, Private Servers, etc... They all exist within StarStained, and are located SOMEWHERE within the infinite expanse that is the land.

Character Possibilities

Any characters that anyone would like to create can do so. Any feedback that anyone would like to give, please send my way. I'm still in the process of creating this world and it's ideas, and would love any and all questions and recommendations about this AU. I don't have much actually posted here yet, but I would love to continue updating it with new things and ideas. I want to keep building on this idea.

Because of the AU containing literally anything you could think of, there are infinite possibilities. Do with that what you will ;)

How People and Codes Function

How DnA and Science is to us, Binary and codes are to those within the AU. "Players" are regular people, but are sometimes referred to as players by Admins. Each player has their own "inventory" like in-game. They can open their inventory by swiping their hand in any direction with the intent to open the storage. This inventory works exactly as in game, but people can also choose to do these things by hand.

If the person is an Admin, opening their inventory gives them an option to access their Admin Panel. This works exactly as it does in the actual game. Creative Mode for themselves or others, commands, etc... This panel is able to view player data as well as other more specific info. This player-data includes their name, family, server history, birth date, age, etc... The only way for an Admin to view something more in-depth than the person's name however, that person has to accept the request to look deeper into their info from their inventory.

The ONLY thing majorly different here is that the Admin is not invincible, Creative Mode is not a thing. Most of the time, this is not an issue, as admins can usually spawn in things like armor and enchants.

Please Give Feedback if you Want to!

If you are confused about anything in here, ask questions. If I need to clarify something here with more info, please let me know!

[on-cerulean-tides-rpg]

Hello tout le monde 💛

Après presque deux ans de pause dans l’univers des rpg, je reviens avec un projet qui me tient particulièrement à cœur. L'idée a commencé à germer il y a plus d’un an (voire même deux), nourrie par de nombreuses lectures de romans fantasy, et depuis, j’ai pris le temps de coucher chaque inspiration sur papier. Aujourd’hui, mon obsession envers ce projet est telle, que je me sens enfin prête à lui donner vie, alors j’espère que cette aventure vous plaira également ! ✨

✧ OCT, qu'est-ce que c'est ?

Un forum RPG médiéval-fantasy inspiré en grande partie par The Bridge Kingdom de Danielle L. Jensen, mais qui prend place dans un univers totalement original : le royaume insulaire d’Elyrian. Vous verrez qu’il y a également quelques autres sources d’inspiration, comme The Dark Shore (toujours de la même auteure) ainsi que d’autres œuvres diverses (Tolkien, Demon Slayer) et quelques éléments de mes anciens forums qui m’ont marqué à jamais.

🔱 Le Royaume insulaire d’Elyrian

Elyrian, c’est un petit royaume insulaire aussi sublime qu’imprévisible, où la mer façonne tout – les terres, les croyances et même les destins. C’est un territoire jalousement fermé aux étrangers, sculpté par les vents et les marées, où les îles surgissent et disparaissent au gré des caprices du monde. 

Le royaume est composé de trois grands archipels, où la magie danse avec les éléments et où les îles elles-mêmes semblent obéir aux caprices de forces anciennes. Son destin est lié aux deux saisons :

Les Marées Guerrières : période où l'océan s'apaise, ouvrant la voie au commerce et aux invasions ennemies.

La Saison des Tempêtes : lorsque le ciel se déchaîne et que les vagues engloutissent tout sur leur passage, offrant néanmoins un moment de répit au royaume.

Elyrian prospère grâce au Pont des Brisants, unique lien terrestre entre Elyrian et le continent, qui confère au royaume une puissance stratégique. Mais une ombre plane : le Monarque des Marées, garant de l'équilibre, est plongé dans un sommeil mystérieux, et déjà, des tensions éclatent entre les archipels. Maintenant, reste à savoir qui tirera avantage de ce chaos...

⚔️ Quel personnage incarner ?

J’ai souhaité créer un univers qui laisse une grande liberté dans la création de personnages. Que vous aimiez jouer des nobles, des pirates ou des mystiques hantés par des visions étranges, il y a une place pour tout le monde à Elyrian !

Les possibilités de personnages : marins, marchands, érudits, prêtres, guerriers, explorateurs, espions, alchimistes, chasseurs de reliques, assassins, nobles etc... les possibilités ne manquent pas.

Guildes & Sociétés Secrètes : vous retrouverez des guildes qui auront leur importance dans le déroulement de l'histoire. Je vous les dévoilerai plus tard, mais je peux d'ores et déjà vous annoncer qu'il vous sera possible de jouer des pirates écumant les mers.. 👀

La Magie des Souffles : il vous sera possible d'intégrer un peu de magie dans vos RP, car chaque Elyrien naît avec des pouvoirs appelés "Souffles", étroitement liés à leurs îles natales...

Les Seigneuries : chaque archipel sera dirigé par une Seigneurie (sous l'autorité du Monarque des Marées). il vous sera également possible de jouer un.e seigneur.esse ou un.e héritier.e ! Je mettrai donc à disposition des places vacantes dans des familles prédéfinies ! La Religion & les croyances : elle sera omniprésente dans l'univers, les dieux et les croyances ayant une importance particulières dans la vie quotidienne.

🌊 Les possibilités de jeu

Intrigue principale : Le Monarque des Marées est tombé dans un sommeil fiévreux, les îles se transforment et la stabilité du royaume vacille. Les alliances se forment et se brisent, tandis que des murmures parlent d’un pouvoir ancien prêt à être réveillé.

Conflits & alliances : Entre batailles navales, jeux de pouvoir et intrigues politiques, chaque choix peut influencer le destin d’Elyrian. Les tensions entre les archipels s'intensifient, et l’ombre de la guerre plane à l’horizon.

Exploration & quêtes : Partez à la découverte d’îles inconnues, affrontez des créatures mythiques, déchiffrez d’anciennes runes ou traquez un artefact qui pourrait changer l’avenir du royaume.

 Une mer vivante : L’univers évolue avec les actions des joueurs. Les marées ne sont jamais les mêmes, les vents soufflent au gré des caprices des dieux et les légendes prennent vie sous vos yeux.

Des possibilités infinies : Que vous soyez un guerrier en quête de gloire, un érudit cherchant la vérité, ou un simple marin pris dans la tempête du destin, votre histoire est la vôtre à écrire.

⎈ Autres informations

Le but de ce forum ? Un espace chill, sans pression, où chacun peut s’amuser à son rythme. Que l’on soit là pour l’intrigue épique ou juste pour faire évoluer son personnage tranquillement, tout est possible !

J’ai aussi envie de proposer une vraie dimension jeu de rôle, avec un système de quêtes bien ficelé (c'est la fan d'animes/webtoons qui parle là), où nos choix auront un vrai impact sur l’histoire. La mythologie, les artefacts qui y sont liés ainsi que le bestiaire joueraient donc un rôle très important et serait possible de débloquer des trésors et monstres légendaires… Et bien sûr, une boutique pour y claquer fièrement la moula que nous aurons durement gagnés (ne me dites pas que je suis la seule à adorer cumuler des points/argents sur mon profil pour tout dépenser dans des artefacts magiques qui ne me serviront peut-être jamais en RP???).

En bref, il vous sera aussi possible de partir à l’aventure comme un héros de JDR que de simplement faire évoluer son personnage à travers des RP plus simples.

☕︎ Un projet solo, mais bien avancé !

Je travaille seule sur OCT, mais l’univers est quasi finalisé, notamment la rédaction : les annexes, les lieux, le plus gros du lore est plus ou moins terminé (même s’il est fort probable que que je modifie pour la centième fois certaines informations sur les quasi 100 pages word que je garde précieusement sur mon pc). 

Toutefois, le forum en lui-même n’en est qu’au début de sa création et comme j’ai envie de bien faire les choses afin de proposer une plateforme agréable et pratique (et surtout puisque je suis bien rouillée en codage/graphisme), l’ouverture n’est clairement pas prévue pour demain... 

J’essaie donc dans un premier temps de prendre un peu la température pour savoir si ce projet peut éventuellement vous plaire.

Un serveur Discord est également ouvert si vous souhaitez venir discuter du projet avec moi ! ☺️

RENDEZ-VOUS SUR DISCORD

Donc voilà, plus d’infos à venir… en espérant que ce petit projet vous plaise autant qu’il me passionne ! 💙

[winteristired]

WIP of an ABO Fic

Fuyumi looked to her brother, clearly unsure if she should follow through with the idea or not. It worried Touya to no end how she was genuinely considering keeping things like this to herself. If someone had said something bad about her, or talked down about her to her face it would be very likely their father would count it as treason. Not only that, but it was visibly eating away at her, he couldn’t follow through with his brotherly duties if she didn't say anything.

Fortunately she finally gained control of herself and opened her mouth, lips moving as she began to recount the events of the morning. Beginning to explain the story that led to where the two sat now.

Unfortunately, the cold rage that ran through Touya’s veins just minutes later was an unsated force of nature that wouldn’t be stopped by anything less than warm blood seeping between his fingers. In that moment he couldn’t feel himself, he was now just rage fueled by bloodlust contained by a stone cold exterior of an impenetrable mask that made him just seem calm. At that moment he wasn’t Touya anymore. He is the heir to the Elyrian throne. He is the crown prince, the future ruler of the Kingdom. He is the future.

It seemed that the future needed boundaries to be set.

[xasha777]

In the dappled light of a planet known as Elyria, a realm where the forests are alive with whispers of ancient magic and the air thrums with the power of lost civilizations, there stood a figure of ethereal grace. She was known as Arinéa, the last of the Starborn Guardians, a lineage of warriors whose blood carried the luminescence of distant stars.

The once-peaceful Elyria had begun to wilt under the shadow of an enigmatic force, an entity that devoured light and life, known only as the Gloom. It crept through galaxies, leaving worlds dark and cold in its wake. Elyria’s sister planets had already succumbed, their light extinguished like candles in a tempest.

Arinéa, adorned in armor forged from the heart of her dying star, her golden hair a silent testament to the radiant worlds she was sworn to protect, stood guard at the threshold of the Gloom. The intricate patterns of her armor were not merely decorative; they were ancient symbols of power, each twist and turn a word in the language of creation.

Her eyes, mirroring the calm of a nebula, surveyed the encroaching darkness. The Gloom had arrived, seeping into the edges of her reality, an unrelenting tide of desolation. But Arinéa was not one to falter. Within her pulsed not only the light of stars but the might of their cores, a force potent enough to hold back the dark—if only for a time.

In the heart of the forest, she found the source of the Gloom's ingress, a rift torn in the very fabric of spacetime. From this chasm, the Gloom poured forth like an inky river. Arinéa raised her hand, and from her palm emerged a light, pure and blazing. It was the Last Light, the culmination of her people’s knowledge, their final gift to her—a weapon and a burden.

She whispered an ancient invocation, and the light in her hand expanded, casting a golden glow that pushed against the shadows. The Gloom writhed and recoiled, but it was relentless, a darkness deeper than the void between stars.

For days uncounted, Arinéa battled the Gloom, her light a solitary beacon in the encroaching dark. Elyrians, hidden beneath the earth, whispered prayers for their guardian, their voices a quiet song of hope.

It was then that the unexpected occurred. From the depths of the Gloom, a figure emerged. Not of darkness, but of a light rivaling Arinéa's. Another Starborn Guardian? Legends had spoken of others, but Arinéa believed she was the last.

This new guardian approached, their armor a tapestry of cosmic tales, their eyes holding the depth of black holes, yet shining with an inner starlight. They spoke not a word, but their intent was clear—they would stand with Arinéa.

Together, they channeled the essence of their stars, their combined light a symphony of power that pierced the Gloom. The rift began to seal, the darkness screaming its retreat. Elyria trembled as the light restored life to its soil, rebirthed its forests, and cleansed its skies.

Arinéa, with the aid of her newfound ally, had turned the tide. The Gloom was pushed back, the rift sealed, but the victory was bittersweet. The Last Light was spent, her star dimmed forever. Yet, in this sacrifice, a new era dawned for Elyria, one of unity and a shared destiny among the stars.

The guardians stood together, their gaze cast upward to the healing cosmos, knowing that their tale was not an ending, but a new beginning in the eternal dance of light and darkness. And thus, the Starborn Guardians became a beacon of hope, not just for Elyria, but for all worlds threatened by the night

without end. Arinéa's story, a tale of resilience and sacrifice, would echo through the ages, a reminder that even when faced with the vast and consuming shadow, the light of a few can hold the darkness at bay.

As the Elyrians emerged from their sanctuaries, they looked upon their saviors with awe. The Starborn Guardians, once believed to be myths spun from starlight, were real. The Elyrians vowed to honor their protectors, to remember the cost of peace and the value of light.

Arinéa and her newfound companion, whose name was whispered among the leaves as Ithelian, decided to journey together. They would traverse the stars, seeking out the remnants of the Gloom, ensuring that no other world would suffer as Elyria had.

Their ship was crafted from the living wood of Elyria's ancient trees, bound by the same primordial energy that had fueled their victory. It sailed through the cosmos, not on solar winds, but on the currents of life that flowed between all things.

Each planet they visited spun stories of their valor, and soon, a cadre of guardians formed, a diverse fellowship of beings united under the Starborn banner. Their armada, a mosaic of cultures and powers, became the shield against the dark.

And though the Gloom was vast, the Guardians' light was vaster still. With each world saved, their legend grew, not as warriors, but as harbingers of hope, architects of bridges between isolated worlds, weavers of a tapestry that spanned the universe.

The story of Arinéa and Ithelian taught the cosmos that light does not simply exist—it must be kindled, cherished, and shared. And in the sharing, even the faintest spark can defy the darkness, for it is together that stars form constellations, guiding the wayward home.

[theplayingcat]

Echoes of the Past

inspo: a tiktok that i can't find :(

prompt: a romance about an immortal person who meets someone that makes time move fast and make life exciting. can’t possibly wait any longer to be with them despite having all the time in the world

everyone stuck at table in comatose due to being under spell that prevents them from moving. run by parents or high ups to fix the problem of their son/ prodigy who has lost their memories and sense of being. they sent out letters to important people of this persons childhood so that the boy can regain his memories and come to terms with his life. all throughout his life, he had to push people away because of his job as a saint/duke/idk. but this led to an unhappy life and one filled with isolation and insecurity.

one letter gets sent to a girl that he was friends with when he was younger. they spent a lot of time together before his duties became more important than their friendship thus spending less time with her. there was a blowup fight that she had with his guardians that resulted in their friendship ending.

she only responded to the letter out of curiosity but didn’t expect to have to go on a journey going through the past memories of her once so called friend. will their friendship be restored? or did they ever have one to begin with?

✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧

In a world where time and power intricately danced with human emotions, Aleron was a paradox. Immortal, yet bound by the ennui of forever. Days, months, and years blurred into a colorless void, until one fateful day when he received a letter sealed with the emblem of the House of Elyrian. The insignia of the realm’s saint and duke, the guardians of time and memories.

The letter, beautifully penned, detailed the situation: The young Lord Elyrian, a prodigy of power and grace, had lost his memories. The revered council of Elders had trapped guests in a timeless tableaux, a comatose dinner where time stood still. Those summoned were the key fragments of the Lord's scattered memories. Only by piecing together these living remnants of his past could he be restored.

Aleron wasn't surprised to find himself at that frozen table. After all, as an immortal, he’d crossed paths with many. But he was stunned when he recognized the woman seated across from him: Isolde, his childhood confidante, the one who'd made time race and his heart soar. Their shared laughter, dreams, and innocent rendezvous had been abruptly severed when the weight of Elyrian's responsibilities eclipsed their bond.

Isolde had aged, but her beauty was more profound, etched with the wisdom of years and the bitterness of abandonment. She had attended not for Elyrian, but out of curiosity, having received the same summons.

As the spell began its work, memories unfolded around the table like a vivid tapestry. Aleron and Isolde found themselves reliving their past—the tree they’d carved their initials into, the secret glade where they'd whispered dreams, and the heart-wrenching confrontation with the Elyrian guardians that had torn them apart.

The journey through Elyrian's memories was as much theirs as it was his. As they ventured deeper, they realized their bond had been the young duke’s envy. He had yearned for the freedom of their friendship, the genuine connection they shared. But duty had always stood as an insurmountable barrier.

When the final memory ebbed, the room stirred back to life. Lord Elyrian, his memories restored, locked eyes with Isolde. “Thank you,” he whispered. Yet, she turned her gaze towards Aleron, her look filled with unanswered questions.

The council of Elders, their task complete, released the guests from the mansion. As they exited, Aleron approached Isolde. "Time may have paused for me, Isolde, but with you, it always raced. I've missed you."

Isolde, touched yet hesitant, replied, "Our past was stolen, Aleron. But perhaps we can write our future."

And in a realm where time could stand still, two hearts chose to move forward together. The immortal and the memory-bearer, rekindling a love that defied the ages.

[tearuefulart]

A 2019 sketch that I decided to line and then I kept going...

[xf4iryx]

BALLAD OF EMPIRES [WRITING EXCERPT]

She wore an ivory dress whose tulle cascades from the waist down into a long train. The hair had been artfully pinned up, small flowers of agate braided into the hair. A soft glow was on her face, ash had been used to make up her eyelids. She wore the traditional make-up of her people, lips painted a soft shade of pink. In her eyes was the familiar orange glow as she knelt before the priest.

The tiara sparkled in the light of the sun streaming in through the high windows. The Elyrian priest placed the crown on her head, speaking words in the ancient language. He then took two steps back and the Calvarian high priestess of the supreme deity took his place. She whispered words in Calvaerian, an ancient blessing. As she too stepped back, Xiani rose, looking them in the eye. Bowing their heads, both spiritual heads of the two now eternally linked realms bent their knees before their new queen.

Xiani turned, her gaze roaming over the crowd. Each of them bowed their knees before the queen they respected and loved. Griffin stepped up to his queen, his own crown gleaming in the light of the sun. The couple exchanged a soft smile as their fingers interwove.

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