#he probably helps Titus with his overgrowth too

[mossymandibles]

Okay I know I drew them as teens in this post but then I kind of wanted to revise, especially since I’ve changed Kraw’s hair and such lol.

First pic is baby Titus at about 6-7, second pic is them at around 11 and 9, havin a lunch break.

Last pic Titus is 17 and Kraw is 15, about the time they’d meet Jago.

I’ve been wanting to draw more of Titus and his design needed some work T-T

[theovergrowth]

Let’s talk about the styles of Fae Courts and how they work in my head, and also Archfae Advisors (because I’ve been thinking. pretty obsessively about it recently)

Fae Courts and Style

I think that when Titus goes to the fae deserts, it’s very much in this theme of “old west cowboy” energy, with an environment that seems heaviky reminiscent of the deserts of the US Southwest. But I think when Macrides was a kid there, it was much more of a desert like the Sahara with a theme more fitting for a fantasy setting.

I think that the courts manifest themselves physically based on whoever rules over them at that point. Korgrove, Macrides’ father, definitely fit more into a dark fantasy setting so the Deserts took that inspiration. When Macrides became king and subsequently fled into the mortal realm, it took on a more “American Frontier” style as he started becoming influenced by the frontiersmen he would see/interact with in the beginnings. And then it just barely shifted over to the old west energy when Titus became king; not because he’s particularly attached to the old west or anything, but because it’s how he imagined wherever Macrides had come from.

Archfae Advisors

This is just sort of a silly idea I had that just really rooted itself in my brain. But I don’t think that far royalty would have actual advisors. There’s too much room for subterfuge, too much importance placed on the solitary power of each courts throne, so how do you get around that?

Well, people can’t be trusted. So they don’t use people.

I think that when an archfae is created, they do so with a demi-being that is created from The Wilds and based on the archfae in question, that Only They Can See. Like a narrator or a Jiminy Cricket that pops up from time to time. For example:

Korgrove’s advisor was a mouse, discreet and calculating, the fur around its mouth matted with the still-fresh blood of its children.

Macrides’ advisor as King of the High Desert was a coyote, sharp teeth and sharper awareness. It never exactly spoke to him, but would lead him places he needed to go (maybe it was even the reason Macrides noticed Titus leaving the commune before his death, maybe maybe)

As King of the Wildfire, Macrides advisor is still the coyote, now bone-thin and smoldering like a dying ember. It bares it’s teeth at every motion, but still leads him where he needs to go. He still follows (i was so so tempted to make it a burning tumbleweed like the vegie tales moses, yall remember that? Moe and the big exit, anyone? ok ill go)

I think that Titus has no clue because his just looks like a guy. And, as Titus changes and grows, the advisor changes with him! But I do think Titus believes he is being haunted for a while.

I think Titus doesn’t meet his advisor until he dies the first time as The Overgrowth. And also it probably caused that. When he sees it the first time, it’s in the treeline, a shadow, a vision of smoke that distracts him as the destruction flies against his head.

In his teen years, I don’t think he sees it at all since this is the time he’s most disconnected from The Wilds. Which gives him enough time to completely forget the strange experience until he runs away.

When Titus is on the road, he stops at camp sites and rest stops and gas stations, and every once in a while he sees this same weird crustpunk dude that he had seen a month ago across the country. At some point, he asks for a ride to another state. Titus refuses at first, but then decides to help out. They drive, the crustpunk in the passenger seat asking him questions and talking for hours about how people don’t understand the beauty that nothing stays forever, that they don’t appreciate the fleeting joys this world has to offer, that everything will always change and grow and die and grow. Titus, largely ignoring the rambling, pulls up to the destination, looks out his side mirror to make sure his parking is good, and looks up to find himself entirely alone. He’s pretty sure that’s ghosts.

But I think the crustpunk advisor keeps showing up the same way, up until Titus settles in Shotgun NV in his 30’s. I haven’t decided what the advisor looks like by then