#harsha alfanak

[contes-de-rheio]

WIP Intro | Rising Queens

Genre: High Fantasy

Status: 2nd Draft

Notes: The Tales of Rheio are an ensemble of novel-length stories, all set in the same universe, but in different places and times. Rising Queens is the first book of a two part story.

Setting: the action takes place mostly in three cities: Aqualyre, capital of Aqualos, the city is stuck between a chain of mountains and a lake ; Alhamra, capital of Niensheria, situated in the middle of desert and currently under siege ; Le Val, an aqualian city, situated on the defensive Wall and housing one of the many citadels of the country.

THE STORY

The third war between Aqualos and Niensheria is touching to an end. For the very first time in history, the aqualian army has set siege to the capital of Niensheria, Alhamra. Trélyse, queen of Aqualos, expect a swift reddition, but, on the northern frontier of Aqualos, alarm fires lit up. Suddenly Trélyse is stuck in a foreign country, cut from her own. The choice is simple: she can stay and win the war against Niensheria at the risk of losing her own country, or she can leave, try to save it and lose her only chance at settling the peace with Aqualos’s best enemy. Little does she knows, the attack against Aqualos was just a diversion. While Morgon was attacked, the Memory Tower, library of sorcerers’ knowledge from the past millennium has been burned to the ground. Among its shelves, one book held a precious secret. With it, Ketal could rise again and rebuild his empire of terror.

THE CHARACTERS

Trélyse | 29 | Queen of Aqualos | able to feel magic but not use it

Trélyse has known her whole life she would someday inherit the crown. She just didn’t expect it so soon, and definitely not in the middle of a war. Though politics is not new to her, she feels the pressure of having so many people look up to her. She is no longer the princess who tried to temper the push from the absolutists, and associated herself with moderates and the bourgeoisie. She has become the queen, commander of her armies, and set siege in front of Alhamra. She has all the advantages for a swift victory: a powerful army, a secure line of supplies and communication, niensherian prisoners to exchange, including maybe a prince… Until the alarm fires are lit up. Trélyse is able, to some extent, to feel magic around her, but she cannot use it at all.

Feid Familier | 93 (33) | The Black Sorcerer | Traveler

Feid was born Crowned Princess of Aqualos, but she chose a different path. One which, through abdication, led her to serve the gods. Going around the world she accomplished a lot, some known to all, some known to none. When the last war started between Aqualos and Niensheria, she left Alhamra and her apprentice, Harsha, behind. She could not risk to betray her country, so she retired from the world. Until, last night, when Llanya, the goddess, woke her up and sent her to help the soldiers who man Morgon. Feid has the ability to travel through space and time. Also, because she put herself in the service of the gods, they granted her the gift of eternal youth. Though she is not immortal, she has kept the appearance of her early thirties.

Lenandel Familier | 23 | Cousin to the queen | Luminempath

Lenandel came to live at Court when he was fifteen. Before that he was raised with his twin brother, Ezarel, in the countryside. Lenandel remembers those years fondly. Then was when he was innocent, happy, and told his brother everything. The Court has distanced them, but Lenandel found new friends, such as Trélyse, then a princess, now the queen. When the war started, he swore to her a magical oath of loyalty and became her spokesman, becoming so involved in the politics that, since the death of the late king, he is the de facto regent. This position didn’t get him many friends, and the growing clash between absolutists, populists, democrats and sorcerers only weaken him. Lenandel is a Luminempath, a rare breed of sorcerer, able to create pure light and read emotions and thoughts. Because of his powers and the stress of his position he suffers of chronic headaches.

Harsha Alfanak | 15 | Prince of Niensheria | Healer

During all his childhood, Harsha had to deal with the constant harassment of his eldest brothers, which culminated when they chose to throw their hounds upon him. Harsha should have died or, at the very least, be severely injured, but the incident revealed his magical powers. Suddenly, his brothers lost interest in him, as the law is clear: no sorcerer can pretend to the throne. Upon his fifteen birthday, Harsha left Alhamra. He spent the past eight months in Acmida, where he ended up stuck when the aqualian army conquered the city. But when the alarm fires lit up, his choice is made. It’s time to leave, to have his own life. Whatever that means… because, truth be told he has no idea what he should do, maybe Feid can help him… or maybe it’s time he figures it out for himself. Harsha has the ability to heal people and himself through touch. He can also kill, though he tend to avoid that side of his magic, as the memory of being covered in the blood of his brothers’ hounds still haunts him.

Ketal | | The Great Sorcerer | Psychic During nearly a century,

Ketal reigned on the world. Though peace reigned, the sorcerers were hunted, as Ketal was unable to trust them. Most of the sorcerers caught ended up dead, but some were sent back to Ketal. The Great Sorcerer vampirised them, absorbing their magic to feed his own and keep a youthful appearance. Finally, unable to stand the destruction of their communities, sorcerers rallied, and with the support of Niensheria, they fought Ketal and his armies and put him to sleep behind thirteen barriers of magic, hoping, some day, some powerful sorcerers would come back to finish their work and put an end to Ketal’s life. But their hopes went to waste. A thousand years later, sorcerers are trying to wake up Ketal, but not to kill him. They want to free him. Ketal has the ability to heal himself by absorbing other sorcerer’s magic. He is also able to read thoughts and communicate telepathically.

LINKS

Moodboards | The Map | The Familier Family | The Temple of Marka | Lenandel’s Excerpt | Autumn festival in Aqualos | Trélyse’s Excerpt | Main Characters Moodboards | Secondary Characters Moddboards 1 2 3 | Prep Tag Game | Religions Maps | Excerpt of a Map | Character building: Lenandel | Teaching Magic | Girls Girsl Girls Tag: Feid, Trélyse | Trélyse and marriage | Feid and the gods | The Last War chronology | Niensheria’s Government | the Siege of Alhamra | The desert of Niensheria | Astralone, the land of sorcerers |

20 facts about:

Trélyse | Aqualos | Niensheria | Magic |

Most frequent tags:

Series/Book: Tales of Rheio, Rising Queens

Characters: Trélyse, Feid Familier, Harsha Alfanak, Lenandel Familier, Philès Alfanak, Joy Familier,

Location: Aqualos (Aqualyre, Le Val, ), Niensheria (Alhamra, Acmida)

TAG LIST (let me know if you’d like to be added or removed!)

@fukusigma @elaynab-writing @cjjameswriting @leo-november @kainablue @the-ichor-of-ruination @justafriendlymonster @cawolters @paperprince @kittensartswriting @kuebiko-writes @wisedom-for-an-eye @purpleshadows1989 @quilloftheclouds @homesteadchronicles @realitefictive @crowandmoonwriting

[contes-de-rheio]

7-7-7 tag

Thanks @chalilodimun for tagging me :)

For this game, go to the 7th page of your WIP, find the 7th line, and post the next 7 lines after that.

(Let's note I write on Scrivener so I had to extract to Word to have a page count, also I write in disorder, so page seven won’t be page seven when the book is done, but luckily enough, it’s still around the beginning of Harsha’s first chapter... a chapter which will be very different when I’m done with it, because it’s awful atm)

In French

A partir de maintenant, Harsha, prince de Niensheria disparaîtrait, pour laisser la place à Harsha, sorcier Guérisseur, Errant en pèlerinage vers Astralone.

Il avait deux tenues de rechange, une du noir royal, l’autre bleue nuit. Exceptionnellement Harsha portait une tunique orange et un pantalon jaune. Les couleurs du clan Alfanak, son clan. Jamais la famille royale ne portait les couleurs du clan, afin de signifier à tous qu’elle servait tous les clans niensherians sans exception. Ce n’était pas sans raison si Harsha s’était fait tatoué un fennec derrière l’oreille, là où personne ne pouvait le voir sous ses longs cheveux noirs.

En plus de ses vêtements, Harsha avait sélectionné trois livres parmi sa petite bibliothèque : Plantes d’Aqualos et d’au-delà, Anatomie humaine d’Evrard Cemillon — un Guérisseur aqualien — et un troisième qui couvrait de nombreuses opérations chirurgicales.

In English

From now on, Harsha, Prince of Niensheria would disappear, to make room for Harsha, Healer, Wanderer on a pilgrimage to Astralone. He had two outfits, one of royal black, the other night blue. Exceptionally, Harsha was wearing an orange tunic and yellow trousers. The colors of the clan Alfanak, his clan. The royal family never wore the colors of the clan, to signify to all, they served all the Niensherian clans without exception. There was a reason, Harsha had a fennec tattooed behind his ear where no one could see it under his long black hair. In addition to his clothes, Harsha had selected three books from his small library: Plants of Aqualos and Beyond, Human Anatomy by Evrard Cemillon - an Aqualian Healer - and a third which covered surgery.

So who do I tag... ok, let’s say @leo-november @cawolters @annaalexiswrites @kuebiko-writes @writingwordsanddrawingpictures @touchingmadness @kainablue (if by chance, I tag you often, please know it’s because I love you <3<3<3)

[contes-de-rheio]

OC Intro Tag

Thank you to @kittensartsbooks for tagging me :))

I’ll do it for the main four characters of Rising Queens (may I add finding themes songs was so freaking hard!)

Name: Trélyse Love language: soft touches on an arm, a shoulder, and, when she feels she can show intamacy, on the cheek. Wealth: lot of money, though technically it is the State‘s money as much as hers Occupation: Queen of Aqualos, Commander of Armies Obsession: her garden and strategic maps Fears: to fail (at being a good queen, at winning the war, at achieving her duties) Wants: to go home and to always behave in a way deserving of her men's admiration Theme song: Empire (Alpines) Sexuality: hetero Secret: she's a much more lay-back person than she appears to be in public

Name: Feid Familier Love language: hugs and hands holding Wealth: she owns a small house in the Hilly March and has a some money put aside. Occupation: in the service of the gods Obsession: her mother’s prophecies book Fears: to die too soon without completing her mission Wants: to rest Theme song: The Beginning (One Ok Rock) Sexuality: ??? I’m actually unsure. I know she’s attracted by men, but I still wouldn’t bet she’s hetero. Secret: She once traveled to the future and knows when she’s supposed to die

Name: Harsha Alfanak Love language: hugs, with all his strenght Wealth: technically royal, so he probably has some money thanks to that, but since he has left Court and the capital is under siege, I’m not sure he has access to it at the moment. Occupation: Prince of Niensheria, Healer Obsession: books, more books Fears: dogs Wants: to find his place in the world Theme song: Buon Viaggio (Cesare Cremonini) Sexuality: hetero Secret: his prince status (he’s in hiding)

Name: Lenandel Familier Love language: soft kisses on the forehead Wealth: he receives a small annuity as a member of the Royal Family and has his own apartments in the royal palace Occupation: regent of Aqualos (unofficially) Obsession: to do the right thing for others at the risk of forgetting himself Fears: misusing his magic (again) Wants: not having chronic headaches Theme song: Closer to the edge (30 Seconds to Mars) Sexuality: homosexual Secret: he has committed a magical crime, and, so far, all the people who know have chose to keep silence

[contes-de-rheio]

20 Facts about

“20 Facts about” is a series of posts which presents various aspects of Tales of Rheio, such as characters and worldbuilding elements.

Magic

Magic is like a huge ocean, crossed by multiple flux more commonly called avon: water, fire, air, earth, space, time, life, death, spirit, vision, kinésie, nature shadow, and light. In this metaphor, sorcerers are maelstrom, and places/objects deprived of magic (naturally or otherwise) are isles.

Each sorcerer has an affinity with one or two avons. Depending of these affinities, sorcerers belong to a specific class: Travelers (space and/or time), Healers (life and/or death), Dragons (kinésie and water/fire/air/earth), Elemental (water, fire, water or earth), Hunters (nature), Prophets (vision)...

Some people are able to feel magic without using it. They generally have sorcerers in their close family. We call them palavon.

Magic is related to genetic, but no thorough study has been made as sorcerers have always discouraged people who tried. Most of the times, the child of two sorcerers will be a sorcerer (but not always, they can also be a palavon). If only one of the parents is a sorcerer, the affinity with magic of the children is uncertain. And some sorcerers are born from parents who are not, though, generally, you can find sorcerers in the two or three previous generations of their family.

It is extremely rare for siblings (including twins) to have affinities with the same avons. You need at least three generations and/or a huge family to start to see some recurrence.

In regions south of Niensheria, sorcerers form covens of 13 people, no more, no less. To do so, they create a magic bond between them, it allows them to draw magic from each other, which comes pretty handy when you're not powerful enough for the task at hand.

Sorcerers who want to join a coven (or at least try to) go on pilgrimage to Astraloné for the new year (the one per Astralone's old calendar). They sign a register to indicate their wish, and can add some criteria of the kind of coven they are looking for (same sorcerer's class, country of origin...). The Office in charge will make sure they meet same minded sorcerers, but, as the pilgrimage last a couple weeks, they will also get the chance to meet sorcerers outside their criteria. If 13 sorcerers agree, they execute the ritual to become a coven. If they are unsure, they can decide to delay the creation of the coven for a few months. The ritual can be held in any Circle. 

Elsewhere, the traditions are quite different. In Niensheria, sorcerers form guilds, with the most infamous one being the sorcerers-engineers of Acmida. They aren't linked through magic, but mutualise their knowledge for the benefit of the whole community. In Jamaedo, all sorcerers have united into a secret clan to guarantee the safety of their kind (once upon a time, they were ruling the country).

It is possible to enclose magic into objects, small or big, sometimes into multiple objects at once. These objects are then called magic seals.

The solidity and the sustainability of the seal depend greatly from its creator(s). Some seals, because they are linked to specific avons, can only be created by certain classes of sorcerers. 

Magic seals can be used to change your own appearance, to track someone, to preserve (food and water, or against fire), to make sure only people carrying a special key can go through the door, to raise or lower a platform, to raise an alarm (Astralone use it in place of fire alarms), to reduce the size of an object for transport, to travel faster... The applications are very diverse and allow some sorcerers to use their gifts as the main source of their revenue.

An enen is a spirit made of magic come alive. Their existence is generally linked to magic seals. Sorcerers are unsure how exactly it works, but they have observed that when a magic seal is attached to a specific place (and is unmovable), it will nearly always give birth to an enen.

Since enens are linked to a specific location, they become guardian of the place and, if inhabited, get attached to the families who live there. For example, the palace of Aqualyre has an enen, who protect the palace as well as the royal family against any magical attack.

Sorcerer's houses are also known to develop their own enen outside of any magic seal. Sorcerers think that, if a same family of sorcerers live in the same place for a few generations, the concentration of magic gives birth to the enen. Unlike enens born from magic seals, they are less powerful and can be destroyed with little effort. But, on another hand, house enens are very helpful. They love to assist the family in their daily life and have been seen cleaning, cooking, watching over young children...

Though magic is a natural talent (ie you must be born with it), some learning is necessary to avoid accidents. As per tradition, the learning process is a one on one relationship between master and apprentice. Not every sorcerer teaches magic, but those who do generally have more than one apprentice in their lifetime.  

Contrary to popular belief, it is not necessary for master and apprentice to belong to the same sorcerer's class, though it is advised. For example, Feid Familier, who is a Traveler, teached Saphyr Céline, an Elemental, Harsha Alfanak, a Hearler, and Sihl, another Traveler.

Some specific metal, commonly known as magic metal (a misleading name) or cardan, has the particular propriety to be completely and naturally void of magic. For this reason, it has been weaponised with the intent to use it against sorcerers. In Jamaedo, it allowed non-sorcerers to take over control of the government, by using it in a variety of forms, such as swords, spears, arrow heads, and the shells of turtle ships.

It is possible to ban a sorcerer from magic. This consists in creating barriers (13 traditionally) around the sorcerer, which make them unable to use any magic. A sorcerer who has been banned might still be able to feel magic, which can be excruciatingly frustrating for them. A sorcerer is banned if it has been proven he committed an unforgivable crime using magic (like killing someone).

Astralone is also known as the Land of Sorcerers. Though it became a nation only after the fall of Ketal's Empire, it has existed as an autonomous region long before that. The capital is Astraloné and has always been a pilgrimage location for sorcerers and believers of the Pantheon.

The government of Astralone edicts rules about magic and its uses, which are pretty often included in the laws of other countries as a mean to ensure sorcerers cannot escape justice thanks to their powers. For example, in Aqualos, sorcerers can assemble themselves to decide in a trial if one of their own must be banned. This assembly can be called either by other sorcerers or by a Court. If called by Court, the banishment is pronounced in addition to other penalties.

Bonus: well, more like a comment, I hate the way the first point is written, but I will not change it (again). Also I probably need to rethink the avon 'nature'...

Tag List: @elaynab-writing @the-ichor-of-ruination @kainablue @cjjameswriting @leo-november @justafriendlymonster

@cawolters I'm taking the liberty of tagging you, because of the interest you've shown in the story. Let me know if this is ok (or not) with you, and don't hesitate to add me to your tag list :)

[contes-de-rheio]

The Familier Family

Lena Familier, posthumously called The Bloody, was a powerful witch able to command the winds. Her first accomplishment was, with the help of her coven, to defeat Ketal and put an end to his reign of terror. She later became a queen of Aqualos, after having rendered the new royal palace in Aqualyre impervious to magic. Historians disagree on her nickname’s origin. Some insist the nickname was the consequence of the way she eliminated her political opponents one after another. But the consensus is, this actually is slander spread by her political opponents. Her nickname is linked to her very last fight against Ketal. When the battle was over, she was found covered in the blood of her sister. Sheïna, as well as two other sorcerers from their coven, had agreed to sacrifice their lives to ensure their covenants had time to build a magical prison for Ketal.

Lena, Sheïna and their young brother Cornel are the ancestors of the three main branches of the Familier, even more ancient branches are now considered minor.

Feid Familier is probably the most infamous descendant of Lena Familier, over 900 years separate them. Born Crowned Princess of Aqualos, Feid was bound to inherit the throne, but, to everyone's surprise, she abdicated shortly after the birth of her half-brother prince Trevin. No one knows how she convinced her sister, Princess Joy, to do the same. Nonetheless, both sisters left Aqualyre together after the Carnival festivities. Little is known of their travels. Next time, Feid made her noted, she was coming back from Wido’s Isle. There she had put herself in the hands of the gods and obtained the gift of eternal youth. From there onwards, she was at their service and did their bidding. Her first task was to solve the political crisis in Astralone. Its quarrels, dividing sorcerers born in Astralone from new immigrants, were endangering the country and making it an easy prey for south-dahran armies. After the overhaul of institutions, Feid helped restoring the magical seals guarding the frontier.

As a sorcerer, she had the ability to travel through space and time. It is said she travelled once to a distant future and came back healthy of body and mind. Most sorcerers think this is an invention, as no one else ever managed such a miracle. She was called the Black Witch and taught magic to three known apprentices: Saphyr Celine, Harsha Alfanak, and Sihl.

Joy Familier, the Red Lady, was a princess of Aqualyre and came second in the line of inheritance after her sister Feid. The reasons of her abdication are still unknown. But, because she tried to stage a Coup against Queen Trélyse, we can assume her reasons were not strong enough to resist the test of time. She gave birth to a son Réanel whose death she was involved in. The identity of her son’s father has never been released to the public, leaving historians with mere conjectures. When she was allowed to come back to the Aqualian Court, she brought with her two grandsons, Lenandel and Ezarel. She would then start her scheming against her niece, the queen, which would culminate with the “resurrection” of Ketal.

She was able to manipulate fire, and was particularly gifted to create aesthetic seals, such as the youthful seals she constantly wore. At about ninety years old, she was still able to keep the appearance of her early forties.

Ezarel Familier was a very secretive person even during his life. He was raised with his twin brother, Lenandel, north of Roue-Champêtre, and came to live at the Aqualian Court when he was fifteen. Very early, he negotiated his freedom with king Trevin, agreeing in exchange to spy for Aqualos and bring useful information. The most surprising fact regarding his person is the fact he joined a coven and was able to keep it a secret until a few days before his demise. Other noticeable members of his coven are: Elen de Beauchêne, who became an advisor to queen Trélyse, and Verveine Levallet.

Like his grandmother, Ezarel was able to manipulate fire, he also had the abilities to move faster or slow down his opponent movements, as well as to displace light objects without touching them.

Lenandel Familier is, after Feid, the most infamous descendant of Lena. During the third war between Aqualos and Niensheria, he acted as queen Trélyse spokesman, and averted a revolt which could have lead to a revolution. This political accomplishment should have guaranteed him a place in the government, but he was accused of misusing his powers. Though judged innocent, he decided to step down, and agreed to a small embassy mission in South-Darah, where he became the master in sorcery of the heir to the throne who had similar gifts as himself. This experience must have awakened a calling since shortly after his return to Aqualos, he founded the first sorcerers school, breaking the tradition of apprenticeship. His marriage with Jon Ménard was, against all odds (different social background, different faith…) a happy one.

Lenandel was a Luminempath, a rare breed of sorcerer, able to create pure light and read emotions and thoughts. He is said to have been the most powerful Luminempath to walk the surface of Rhéio, though the price of chronic headaches impaired him his whole life.

[contes-de-rheio]

“You cannot save everyone. -- I can try”

Harsha Alfanak, Prince of Niensheria, sorcerer with the ability to heal and, to some extent, to kill through touch.

Last seen: in Acmida, checking his bag before leaving the city.

[contes-de-rheio]

Last line tag

I was tagged by @emptymanuscript

“J’étais déjà majeur en Niensheria quand j’ai quitté le palais. Philès n’avait pas le droit de prendre des engagements en ce qui me concerne.”

“ I was already of age in Niensheria when I left the palace. Philès had no right to undertake any such agreement as far as I’m concerned.”

I will tag @sashathewriter @smile-everything-is-alright @starcraftcd @cottonwoodstree @georgiacambrielwritblr