#sotsk oc tag

[treesandwords]

The Dalion siblings: Moodboards

Taglist: @kaatiba

[treesandwords]

OC name meanings for SOTSK

I saw @blind-the-winds do this and they had it as an open tag so I thought I'd contribute! I love name meanings so letsa go:

The Dalions

Jamos: Altered form of "James" which is Hebrew for "Supplanter"

Katrine: Altered form of "Katherine", meaning 'pure', and is Greek in origin

Laedir: Made up. Though I think it means 'leather' in Dutch with a different spelling so....

Quinnton: Latin, meaning 'the fifth'

Bronwyn: Welsh, meaning 'white breasted' (I've heard this was meant to imply 'pure hearted' ?), also 'white raven'

Gevin: A mix of "Kevin" and "Gavin" - Kevin is an anglicized Irish name meaning 'handsome', and Gavin is most commonly thought to be Celtic in origin, meaning 'white hawk' *

Ciaran: Irish, meaning 'little dark one' (referencing colouring/hair colour)

Jerod: Alternate spelling of "Jared", a Hebrew name meaning 'descent'

Cassian: Latin, 'empty' or 'hollow'

Nurei: Initially made up, I think I stole it from some online story about fairies I read in like 2009 and spelled it differently. HOWEVER upon researching, I found out that "Nura" and "Nureh" are real names of Arabic origin, meaning 'light'

Esme: Old French for 'esteemed'

The inlaws/ others

Jessylle: Reworking of "Giselle", a Norman French play on a Germanic word meaning 'pledge'

Jena: From "Jennifer", a Cornish version of the Welsh "Guinevere/Gwynhwyfar", meaning 'white' or 'white wave'

Brenna: Celtic, 'little raven'

Gwyn: See above ^^

Nysel: All I can find is that "Nysell" is a surname, but idk what it means

Neroli: Italian, referring to orange blossom scent (fun fact, I stole the idea of naming a character this from a girl at my high school who had the name Neroli *shrugs*) **

Taigen: Reworking of "Teagan", Irish meaning 'poet' or 'philosopher'

Mariel: Danish, 'star of the sea' (did not know this was a real name until I googled it, I thought I was just spelling "Muriel" with a different vowel)

*no, I didn't name both the twins after white birds on purpose, it just Turned Out That Way and honestly I'm a little insane about it

**I definitely did not go through my yearbooks to find kids I didn't even talk to who had cool names and make a list of them to Use

There are way way too many characters in my book but I'm gonna leave it there...

Tagging: @kaatiba @kingsinking @writerfae and also gonna leave it open to anybody!

[treesandwords]

Blhgeehhhhhhhahhnnng it's so so important to me that Jerod BECOMES something. because at the beginning of the book he really is nothing special. he's some rich kid. he's one of 9. he likes bugs. he's a bit of a weirdo. But what i want *so so badly* to implement is that he - quietly, on his own and without anybody knowing (which in his own way is taking some measure of power and agency back from a situation where he couldn't keep secrets of his own and had little privacy) - becomes something new. He is The Storyteller. He is, in some ways, a magic user and unashamed of it. He's the new Guardian. And all the guilt and resentment he holds for his former self for not doing anything in times when he could have done something is at least partially healed by his taking on these roles, even if only the barest few (or none at all) know about it

[treesandwords]

Having Emotions about Gevin again. There's an element I want to add in with my next round of edits, that some of the Dalions (mostly Jerod and Bronwyn) question whether or not he's really dead at all.

Because already there's a thing where Jerod, as a badly injured POW sees a guy he thinks *kind of * looks like his brother being led away by guards, and thinks about calling out to him but doesn't, and is never sure if he watched Gevin being taken to his death or not. And that haunts him on top of everything else.

But Then also we have the fact that he and Bronwyn are twins. Not identical, and they aren't even described as looking that alike, but there are definitely similarities. And I want Bronwyn to have actually seen his body, where Jerod (and Ciaran) did not. And note that he didn't look like her anymore, possibly because of his injuries but I'm being deliberately unclear as to exactly how Gevin was killed so we don't really know why she says this. Only that, to her, he didn't look like himself in death - or like her.

So there's a part of her that always wonders after that, if maybe they found the wrong body. If maybe the person they mourned and cremated wasn't their brother at all - if it was some other soldier who's family never saw them again, or someone with no family of his own, or an enemy. And if Gevin himself is still somewhere out there, on his own and free. Wandering the wilds.

(And for all the times Jerod sees maybe-his-ghost, it might as well be true)

And that maybe that's part of why Bronwyn leaves herself - to find him.

---

But of course they're wrong, he is dead. In the end, though, it doesn't matter because he's still gone either way. And they don't know that. Only I do.

[treesandwords]

Honestly, Jerod makes sense. He's insane but I get it.

His dead brother gave him literally ONE job. Takes him 10 years to kinda get it done because he realized early on it was a way more difficult task than he'd thought, so the mere idea of attempting it stressed him out too much (also happened to come at a time when he was Very Very Traumatized so that doesn't help) and once he actually gets on with it he's like "oh. huh. this is kind of impossible also I might need to move in order to do it" but then his dad makes him get married and he goes back to his work despite thinking it's pointless now just so he can avoid his wife because he doesn't know how to talk to girls

[treesandwords]

I've worried too much about making character designs that are "too Cool and Unusual" that I think some of them just. come out a little boring. Anyway I'm giving Jerod heterochromia.

[treesandwords]

The Dalion Family For Dummies Anyone But Me Who hasn't Memorized The Entire Inner Worlds of These Freaks (good please don't do that you'll regret it)

Jamos

Military Dad ™

Needs to chill

HATES magic like really an absurd amount. For a guy who scoffs at anyone showing emotion ever he needs to calm the fuck down.

Has 9 kids. Also has zero idea how to interact with children. Maybe this was a bad idea.

~trauma~

But he never talks about it because it "doesn't matter" except it Very Much Did Fuck Him Up

Technically probably a war criminal but got away with it

"Not everyone is EXACTLY like me with all my same views and values???? what is this?? Something's wrong with everyone but me I guess???"

Scarily good at convincing people to do what he needs them to do

"I wish we could go back to the Good Old Glorious Days of our former empire when *checks notes* my people definitely weren't constantly at war and in much worse conditions than they are now"

Everything even remotely personal is a secret. If it's not one it should be.

Collects weird shit and pretends not to

Katrine

Mom

Screaming internally

The backbone of this family istg

Does things for The Aesthetic

Obsesses over the latest fashion trends

Pretends to know what she's doing. Does not in fact know what she's doing.

Yup that's me. You're probably wondering how I got into this situation.

Re: overseeing the leader of a foreign party of rebels from the country you're currently at war with making a formal oath with your daughter & signing contracts in blood

WILL organize a party even if literally everything is in shambles because that's what you do

Laedir

Traumatized oldest son trying to pretend he's not traumatized

Loves his wife

Would honestly just rather let her do everything because she's better at it

Horses Make More Sense Than People

His horse is his best friend

(his horse might be his only friend)

(I am now realizing Laedir is a horse girl)

Zones out during important meetings

Sad Conflicted Boy

Needs a hug

Plagued by intrusive thoughts

Hates water (for good reason)

Quinnton

A himbo honestly

Doesn't have a clue what's going on most of the time but pretends to

The supportive brother

Tries to be cool

Long hair

Has a good heart, just doesn't think things through most of the time

Charms everybody

Ghost story teller extraordinaire

Absolutely adores his dad and older brother

The Cool Brother to Laedir's Nerd Brother

Jock

He & his mom are holding this family together

Gevin

Edgy

Depressed Thot ™

Secretly writes emo poetry but nobody knows that

Scares kids on purpose

Probably gay

Drawn to the ~forbidden lore~~

Convinced everyone hates him. Pretends to roll with it and embrace his role as "everybody's villain" but actually is dying inside

(And actually most people *don't* hate him, he's just kind of a dick and if he was less of a dick they would show that??? boy no offence but you're dumb [affectionate])

Girlbosses too close to the sun

Polyglot prodigy

Fights with his twin in other languages so no one knows how badly they're swearing at each other

Tall af

Carries around a fancy knife at all times for The Vibes. Yes that is an actual and ultimately very emotional plot point.

Bronwyn

The other twin

Honestly? An icon

Angry

Does what she's supposed to but really, really doesn't want to

Also a polyglot

Delays marriage as long as possible because she is definitely just freaked out by the idea of being forced into a maternal role and definitely doesn't also have zero interest in men

Though she does sleep with a guy she's not supposed to just for the sake of having a Dirty Little Secret

Tries to go to college but fails the application (basically)

...and ends up going off into the woods to hang out with a bunch of lady druids

Mad at everyone and also trying so hard to love them

Makes her own clothes

Ciaran

Does not give a single fuck

Probably only likes like 2 people

He's a nerd and then you dig a little deeper and turns out!! He's a bigger nerd than you'd even imagined

Knows exactly what he wants

And what he wants is to live in the woods and never speak to another human again, which he can't have, therefore, rage

Short

Annoyed about being short

Blunt

Does actually care about the people you'd least expect him to care about, but doesn't like showing it

Kind of mean to his siblings but they can't take him seriously bc he's basically a grumpy toad

Jerod

My boy!!

Loves everyone (at first)

They do not always reciprocate

Such a simp honestly

Isn't as honest as he'd like to be

He's so open and innocent that you'd think he'd be, but this boy spends like half the book Telling Lies

Sort of a kleptomaniac??

Like. Has drawers and boxes full of random stuff he finds and picks up that usually doesn't appear to belong to anyone. Usually.

Procrastinates

Has Visions ™

Runs from his problems

BLIND to flirtatious behaviour

"Am I the only one who feels [x way] and therefore obviously Insane, or does everyone else feel it too and they're just lying to me??"

I've said this before but !! Ace king!!!!

Scared of snakes

Germaphobe

Honestly so so unhealthy oh my god

Cassian

Love me love me love me

Seriously needs attention All The Time

Great with little kids

Very gay

Wishes everyone would Just Lighten Up Dammit

But also Feels intensely

The one who tries so hard to make everyone else happy, also the one who needs very badly for someone to try to make *him* happy and isn't getting that

Super supportive, gives long motivational talks at 1 am probably

Cannot take criticism

Wants to be useful

Does what he's supposed to but in a cool way

Able to speak his mind w/o being a dick

Always sees the good in people even if they've shown him otherwise

Nurei

Fashion Queen

The one everyone likes

Smol

A little self conscious

The party planner

Gets along with almost anybody & brings out the best in them

Honestly a great friend

Ok she's a kind of mean to her little sister though

(but they end up friends)

Horrible immune system

Never really stretches her comfort zone. Is ok letting herself be told what to do and not questioning things

Very compassionate but not very emotional

Esme

Cries

When she's angry, when she's sad, when she's happy etc. there will be tears

Also needs Attention

Bad at math

Does whatever the fuck she wants

Bugs her siblings so much but is also so loveable

Is secretly terrified of not being "enough"

Major anxiety

Would probably be an activist

Will call people out with zero shame

Fear of abandonment

Rips up barbies (or Fantasy Medieval World equivalent) & teaches her impressionable nieces how to also rip up barbies

Taglist: @kaatiba

[treesandwords]

I finally got around to drawing an oc...

And I'm gonna use this occasion to talk about something I've been wanting to for a while: wedding traditions in my world! And also costumes, because I'm Obsessed.

(Yes I know the picture quality is crap. Sorry.)

This is Bronwyn, the oldest sister of my main WIP's protagonist, and the first character to get married within the story (and she happens to be one of my favourites out of the side cast).

So the main characters in the story are of Dviric heritage, the Dviric people being the second cultural-ethnic group to inhabit the region they live in. This means most of their traditions are based on that culture even though there have been other migrations since then. Other cultural-ethnic groups have their own traditions.

It's important to note that Bronwyn gets married in winter, which is unusual. Normally there's a kind of handfasting ceremony held in autumn for a couple, and they then spend the winter as a courtship period. The official marriage ceremony then takes place in the spring.

In this drawing, Bronwyn wears a relatively plain dress, but with several pins and brooches adorning the outfit. The clasp on her outer dress is part of the wedding tradition; that, the bracelet on her left arm, and her ring, are all ornaments given from a husband to a wife during the ceremony. In her hands she's carrying a bundle of oak leaves and mistletoe, which the bride would traditionally give to a groom in turn. She's also wearing a crown of winter-associated foliage (holly, pine etc.) which normally would also include flowers.

The marks on her face are part of wedding tradition too; both parties are marked with smudges from four bowls; water, soil, soot, and dust. They are also marked with a streak of each other's blood across their forehead. I kind of really really want to include that thing where they each cut a palm and then bind the hands together, so I think that's where the blood comes from, lol.

Weddings are normally held outdoors, with one family standing on one side of the space and the other on the opposite. The two members of the marrying couple would stand with their respective families until the beginning of the ceremony, when they come together. In general, weddings of the upper classes are more solemn and traditional, with peasants having livelier and more casual ceremonies (generally the rich people just don't have as much fun). Green, yellow, grey, and white are all common colours for wedding clothes, though this character is wearing red for Reasons. (Or would be, if I'd coloured it in.)

That's all for today. Maybe more art will come another time, maybe not...we'll see.

taglist: @kaatiba

(let me know if you'd like to be added!)

[treesandwords]

CHARACTER INTRO: Jerod Dalion

His father and elder brothers, his sister too, were all Winter's children. But Jerod was a son of the Oak King, born on the cusp of summer and autumn, and meant to be forgiving.

WIP: Sons of the Summer King, main POV character

Age: Eleven at the start of the story, late 20s by the end

Birthday: September 28

Zodiac/Ennagram/archetype: Libra/ISFP/The Innocent

Sexuality: Ace spectrum

Other notes: Likes to draw, wants to be the Medieval fantasy equivalent of a naturalist, somewhere on the ADD-ADHD spectrum, terrified of snakes and fears poison and disease, has a dog named Juniper

Traits (positive//negative): Easygoing, enthusiastic, patient, gentle, protective, curious, booksmart//overly trusting, a worrier, naive, procrastinates, tendency to self isolate, oblivious, poor communicator

The sixth child in a family of nine, Jerod has it enforced in him from an early age that he must both live up to his older siblings and be someone his younger siblings will have to live up to themselves. As someone often overlooked he craves attention and acknowledgement from his family, yet shies away from trying to do anything drastic to get it. His family is his immediate circle, and despite their dysfunctionality, he strains to keep them together, often filling the role of a peacekeeper between various quarreling members as he gets older. But his will isn't as strong as theirs, and little by little said family begins to slowly break apart.

Throw in a curse he carries in secret, a war, a dead brother, and other bad situations, and honestly you've got a pretty messed up kid.

Taglist: @kaatiba

[treesandwords]

Dalion kids playing DnD

Disclaimer: I have never played DnD, just been researching it a bunch and really *want* to play. So anyway I'm obsessed and couldn't get this out of my brains.

Laedir: Doesn't really understand it, but goes along because he wants to make his siblings happy. Probably plays a monk or some kind of spellcaster. Does pretty poorly in combat, prefers to chat with NPCs

Quinnton: Is the DM. And honestly probably fantastic at his job. Definitely does voices. Super immersive in his worldbuilding style. If playing he'd probably be a paladin.

Bronwyn: Didn't want to play at first but gets super attached to her character once she makes them. Probably either a druid (she secretly really really wants to shapeshift) or a fighter (let her kill things pls). Argues about rules.

Gevin: Plays either a rogue or a bard, 100% somewhere on the chaotic scale. Knows the rules better than the DM does but pretends he doesn't care, then pulls out some technicality when he needs it. Actually gets super into it and is a very animated (and smart) player, but in a really unhinged way.

Ciaran: Ok so I can see them having two games going at once - Ciaran plays in the older kids' game and also DMs for the younger ones. As a player he'd probably be a monk or a cleric, is a little bitter about not getting to DM because that's what he feels he's good at, and therefore argues with Quinnton a lot. Pretty rules-heavy, and as a DM runs rules-heavy games. Lots of worldbuilding but sometimes gets complaints that it's too complicated.

Jerod: Gets VERY into it. Probably makes art of his character, writes a 10 page backstory, all of that. Not really interested in combat though, and instead just wants to wander around exploring the world (which frustrates Ciaran to no end because You're Supposed To Do Things Actually). Probably just skimmed the rule book and doesn't know how most things work, he's just kind of along for the ride when it comes to the actual story and will go with whatever. At least he's passionate. He'd be a druid and try to talk to plants whenever he could.

Cassian: Definitely throws a fit when his character gets killed which Ciaran almost certainly did on purpose. Contrary to Jerod, he just wants to kill things. Probably stabs NPCs for no reason and tries to initiate PVP just because. Plays a wizard.

Nurei: Takes FOREVER to describe her character (probably a Cleric). Is the opposite of Cassian and wants to fix any bad situation they come across, even if it delays the main story. This annoys basically all the younger kids but Jerod. She's probably the one Cassian tries to PVP kill most often. Wants an animal companion Really Really Badly.

Esme: Definitely a fighter or barbarian, she's got pent up rage and is here to use it. Her and Cassian's characters probably team up and do chaotic stuff together. Would rather play in the older kids' game because she thinks Quinnton is better at DMing and gets bored of Ciaran's game.

What are your OCs like playing RPGs/board games together?

Taglist: @kaatiba

[treesandwords]

OC zodiac signs

Soooo @writerfae did an open tag for this game, and by coincidence I'd already started this so now is my excuse to finish it off!

Jamos Dalion- Sagittarius (December 8) In general he gives off more Capricorn vibes but I REALLY was attached to the idea of him being born in early December for Reasons.

Katrine Dalion - Cancer (July 12)

Laedir Dalion- Cancer (June 24) Such a feely sad little man he is. Very involved in his family and gets nostalgic easily.

Quinnton Dalion - Aries (March 31)

Bronwyn & Gevin Dalion - Aquarius/Pisces cusp (February 20)

Ciaran Dalion - Capricorn (December 23) I said Jamos should have been a Capricorn but...Ciaran is even more of a Goat Boy lol

Jerod Dalion - Libra (September 28) The most Libra to ever Libra holy hell

Cassian Dalion- Leo (August 13)

Nurei Dalion- Leo (August 8) Yes she and the above DO fight constantly, how could you tell? A brother who *was* the baby of the family for 3 years only for Yet Another Baby to come along EARLIER in the same month than him?? unforgivable

Esme Dalion- Taurus (May 19) Why are most of my Taurus characters youngest siblings?? Hmmmm

Jessylle Halford Dalion- Aquarius (January 24) She just had a birthday! Yay!

Jena Noldeir Dalion- Scorpio (October 29)

Neroli - Capricorn (January 16)

Nysel Alderras- Scorpio (November 2)

Taigen Ulric - Aries (April 11)

Mariel Ulric - Libra (October 17)

Brenna Dalion - Taurus (May 2)

Gwyn Dalion - Aries (April 14) Or I might just give her my birthday. I'm so tempted.

[treesandwords]

I keep forgetting that Gevin *literally* pretended to be a ghost that one time to freak Jerod out back when they were both kids and just. Ah. He only finds out years after Gevin is dead and it's like. He really was the ghost all along. Of course he was the ghost. He still is one. He was always meant to be one from the beginning.

[treesandwords]

Bronwyn would sit in her room in the dark blasting Florence Welch

[treesandwords]

Jerod, on the night of his wedding: I have secrets. I've done things you might not understand. I'm different -- Nysel: So are you like...gay? Jerod: Nysel: Jerod: Nysel: Or is it like...a secret kink thing? Nysel: It's something to do with sex though right? Jerod: Nysel: ...Please tell me it's a sex thing

[treesandwords]

FUCK Mia Wasikowska in Jane Eyre gives off such high Bronwyn vibes it's literally insane. Like of all my fcs for that poor girl I think that's the one who really Embodies it the most.

[treesandwords]

Jerod: I looked up my symptoms and it turns out I have an ancestral curse placed on my bloodline Ciaran: Yeah ADHD we've all got it