Wip Enchanted Illusions - Tumblr Posts

Happy WBW!

💀 - How do people in your world think about the dead after their passing? Do they celebrate them, mourn, or honour them in some way, or are they gone and not mentioned?

🏛️ - Does your world have old buildings? Ruins?

Happy WBW!!! Thank you so much for the ask, @pluttskutt! I'll answer this one for my WIPs Enchanted Illusions and Realms of Loss!

💀 - How do people in your world think about the dead after their passing? Do they celebrate them, mourn, or honour them in some way, or are they gone and not mentioned?

IN ENCHANTED ILLUSIONS:

The treatment of the dead depends/varies on which of the many cultures present in Ansburke we're talking about (though the city's cultural landscape is divided/shared mostly between humans and Myths - magical beings - there are many cultures within those groups, and many different kinds of Myths, from faeries to vampires and even banshees).

The most predominant ways people think about/treat the dead in the city of Ansburke are very similar to the way people viewed/treated the dead in the 1800s, and in some aspects, even in the modern day. There are funerals and mourning rites (which, again, vary according to which fictional human or Myth culture the person hails from), as well as some celebrations - during which the deceased's loved ones may or may not invoke a deity/god to protect the spirit of the who died while on their way to the afterlife.

Most people are buried in graveyards or crypts - much like the ones we know today - though some prefer to be cremated and put into urns. In Ansburke, most common funeral choices and rites are similar to those commonly associated with the actual IRL Victorian period, especially regarding the "grieving etiquette" and rules, but there are some very unique alternatives too.

For example, in this world, Selkies and Kelpies return their dead loved ones to the sea - since they themselves are born in the sea, respecting the cycle of life is crucial for their spirits to properly pass on and it is sacred to their kind. Selkies and Kelpies believe that when the deceased person's soul reaches the open sea again that spirit may be reborn in the next 100 or so years.

Vampires - or at least those who are born vampires, not turned - consider death an unfathomable tragedy (since they are supposed to live forever, being killed certainly seems unnatural to them), and often mourn their dead loved ones for centuries or even eternity. They guard their loved one's final resting ground viciously and do not take kindly to uninvited guests trespassing on their crypts, even if by accident. To vampires, the death of one of their kind is a crime that must never be forgiven.

Faeries/Fey Folk hold huge parties/celebrations in memory of the deceased, during the days and even weeks after the funeral. In their ceremonies, they typically light an enchanted kind of lantern that can burn bright for weeks, lighting the sky of the vicinities like multicolored stars.

As in IRL, most people in Ansburke continue honoring their dead and keeping that person's memory alive in special ways that mean something to them.

In the main cast, for example, Cailean Telkerly, a half-selkie, collects and fixes broken pocket watches as a sort of remembrance for his dead older brother, who really loved his job as a clockmaker's apprentice. Another example is Marcus Kallihan, who lights a special candle every year on his deceased parents' wedding anniversary.

IN REALMS OF LOSS -

Now this is where things get tricky to explain, but here we go. In the world of Realms of Loss, most of the continent has been ravaged by a curse that even the Far Reach's wall can't keep at bay. So, a common - and very much warranted - fear amongst the population is that the dead won't quite stay dead or may become easy vessels for the corruption to consume/dominate. Thus, the most common funeral rite is creating the deceased on a funeral pyre (sometimes just a pyre, other times a boat, much like a Viking's funeral), to prevent the curse from adhering to the now-dead body. Details regarding the mourning period, size of the pyre or even duration of the ceremony depends on the person's social class - peasants may have a simple funeral pyre with materials they can acquire from the woods or afford to buy, while royalty has entire ceremonies and celebrations tied to their funeral and usually have tremendously large pyres. After the death of the King or Queen, it is tradition for the entire kingdom to go into a mourning period for around two weeks, and there are laws to ensure this time is honored.

When it comes to it, however, on the kingdoms of Avillore or Sarythea, no matter the person's status, accomplishments, or power, they all become ash in the end - as no one wants to become a soulless husk wandering the Lost Lands for eternity.

Another important aspect - since the Celestial Courts have such a prominent role in the kingdom's daily existence and are worshipped far and wide, someone might request a blessing from a specific Celestial their deceased loved one worshipped in life. And on some special rare occasions, the Celestial might actually give their blessing to the person.

🏛️ - Does your world have old buildings? Ruins?

Both the worlds of Realms of Loss and Enchanted Illusions have plenty of ruins (especially in Realms of Loss, where much of the continent's former glory has been worn down by time and war), or at least buildings that fell into disuse/abandonment. Many of those ruins play some kind of role in the story or at least are explored by the Main Characters in some way - for example, in Enchanted Illusions, Thaddeus found an abandoned fortress in the catacombs of Ansburke and refurbished it to be the headquarters of his operation.

Happy Worldbuilding Wednesday!

How prevalent is 'foreign' culture, in any of its forms from cuisine to media, in one society in your Setting? How well do its members take foreign people living amongst them?

Happy WBW! Thank you so much for the ask, @thetruearchmagos! I'll answer this one for Enchanted Illusions!

How prevalent is 'foreign' culture, in any of its forms from cuisine to media, in one society in your Setting? How well do its members take foreign people living amongst them?

This is one of the core themes of my WIP Enchanted Illusions actually! A lot of the worldbuilding and story elements hinge on the fact that, before the main story, humans and Myths (magical creatures, such as faeries, elves, vampires, werewolves, etc) had been trapped in a bloody war that spanned generations, until they came to a truce and peace treaty a couple of centuries ago. Thus, the capital city of Ansburke became a symbol of this newfound peace between both humans and Myths, a melting pot for all of their cultures to converge, ushering in a new era of progress and peace into their world - or so it should have been.

The problem is, that resentment and prejudice were still present amidst some very influential parts of the population - especially some humans who still saw Myths as monsters that should be kicked out of the city. And while the city did become a place where both humans and myths could coexist in peace and find new ways to make a better future, some of those prejudiced people still remained, and little by little they fed the disorder and prejudice amongst common people, looking to profit off of the chaos of another civil war. This is the origin of the villains, the dreadful Hemlock Society who seeks to eradicate myths and ""save humanity"" (which is basically their euphemism for becoming tyrannical dictators). Those villains have spent a lot of time undermining the foundations of peace in their city, and the heroes/protagonists of the story will have to race against time to prevent the Hemlock's Society corrupted plans from coming to fruition.

In a general sense, however, when we're not talking about the structural prejudice of the city of Ansburke and the villains seeking to create chaos from it, the relationships between humans and the mythical beings (since the city of Ansburke is said to have been founded by humans, myths are considered a foreign culture - many of the myths hail from other kingdoms or villages such as the Faery Courts or the Firstgrove cities, where the banshees, werewolves and elves come from. Some vampiric clans, however, have existed in Ansburke under human radar since long before the peace treaty, only now they do get to live openly as vampires and not hide) are pretty chill for the most of it. Magic is a part of daily life as common as can be in the day-to-day lives of the citizens of Ansburke, with magical creations sometimes replacing human inventions (In Ansburke most of the tech comes from a mix of science and magic, there's nearly no exceptions to that rule. e.g Instead of electricity as a light source - for the most part - they have an infinite magical light source, which is basically enchanted sunlight stored in tubes connected to the lamps and candelabras of most richer establishments)

Because magic and science became so entwined, the city of Ansburke is actually more technologically advanced and steampunk than the actual 1800s period it is inspired in.

Humans and Myths co-exist in the same city, as much as the villains try to make it otherwise, peacefully since the truce was settled. There are sirens singing in cabaret bars, a faerie who owns a baking shop, basilisks/gorgons as hairdressers, vampire physicians who have collected a vast amount of knowledge through their eternal lifetime, Shapeshifters who use their talents for acting, and even a Banshee trying to become a painter (this Banshee character is actually a part of the main cast! his name is Oisian and he is a close friend of the MCs, especially Agatha and Harriet). They're very much an integral part of the city, and at this point are the source most of Ansburke's true culture and magic.

That underlying tension in the mind of the few humans who haven't been able to let go of the war or get over it and accept each other's differences to live with other people in peace, is the perfect target for the Hemlock Society's villains to exploit, so - by the end of the book - tensions get so high that the risk of a civil war is actually true.

Six Sentence Sunday

I was tagged by @pluttskutt, (here)! Thank you so much for the tag!

Here's a snippet from Enchanted Illusions!

"I told ya the Mayor don't mess around" Sam chuckled, peering out of the boat's cabin as the duo raced down the pier faster than he ever thought he'd see them run. Behind them, he could hear the shots fired from the manor grounds they'd just broken out of. Before he could say anything else, Augustus cut him short with a shriek, basically leaping from the pier to the deck as Harriet followed suit, stumbling. "Start the boat! Stop talking and start the damn boat!!!" "Okay, okay, calm down fancypants. Let's go."

Tagging (gently): @starlit-hopes-and-dreams, @lassiesandiego, @tabswrites, @illarian-rambling, @little-peril-stories, @clairelsonao3, @sam-glade, @cowboybrunch, @lola-theshowgrl and @oh-no-another-idea

My Words Into Potions Intro!

The Event (@moon-and-seraph)

I'll be working on two WIPs this March - my goal will be to attempt to finish Enchanted Illusion's first draft and give Of Starlight and Beasts a good headstart!

Title: OF STARLIGHT AND BEASTS

Genre - High Fantasy (medieval) Adventure/Dark Fairy Tale (with a tad of romance, that's a subplot)

Summary - In an ancient enchanted kingdom, Corah, the daughter of their land's most renowned adventurer, seeks to become the best knight that has ever lived. However, after meeting a young man with strange magic and no memories lost in the woods, Corah finds herself thrust into an unexpected quest when the once-thought-dead Queen returns to enact her revenge on their peaceful kingdom - and now it falls to Corah and her mysterious new friend to prevent destruction from reaching their land, if she wants to achieve her dream to be knighted. But are things quite what they seem?

POV - Dual POV (for now?), with some occasional POVs from important side characters.

Lenght - Novel/Book

Tags/Hashtag - #wip: of starlight and beasts, #wip of starlight and beasts

WIP Soundtrack - Of Starlight and Beasts Playlist

Snippet/Excerpt -

[...] Corah climbed the sandy stone wall, expertly weaving her way up towards the broken ramparts despite the weight of her armor straining her arms. Her hands reached the ledge, and she was able to fling her leg onto the walkway, pulling the rest of her body upwards.

Taking a moment to catch her breath, she wiped the dust off of her hands onto her trousers, waiting for her friends to reach her. Arammys' sunny locks were the first to peek through the ramparts, though, in his struggle to get a grip on the stone, his hands nearly slipped - she lunged, grabbing hold of his wrist just in time, and helping him heave himself the rest of the way up.

Behind him, Eidan followed suit, pulling himself over the wall nearly effortlessly. Arammys stared at him, impressed and annoyed at the same time.

Turning around as the duo started to bicker, Corah rolled her eyes, looking down to the city below, the sprawling sea just barely visible through the white stone buildings was filled with trading ships from near and far, the sky seemingly filled with colorful flags and banners. But she knew better than to trust the city's apparent normalcy - the Crimson Queen's soldiers were already here, just waiting to catch them on the streets down below.

"We'll need to figure out another plan, it seems" She winced, sighting a suspiciously familiar hooded figure just out of the rampart's gate ahead. Her hand instinctively went to the hilt of her sword.

Just as she was about to back away, Arammys popped up beside her, not noticing the enemy just below. Corah pulled Arammys behind a pillar just in time before the person looked up, nearly spotting him. She whispered through gritted teeth, exasperated. "Do you seriously have a death wish?"

"I didn't notice that the guy was there!" Arammys replied, an indignant remark spoken through a whisper as he pulled the hood of his cloak meticulously over his head, obscuring his hair and face. He peered over the pillar, this time more carefully, onto the street below, noticing more and more of the Queen's men. "Gods, the city is really crawling with them. How are we supposed to reach the docks? They'll kill us!"

"No, they won't." Eidan broke his silence, motioning with his metallic arm for the duo to follow him, "I know a way in. But you're really not gonna like it." [...]

Title: ENCHANTED ILLUSIONS

Genre - Victorian-inspired Dark Fantasy/Mystery

Summary - The brutal war between humans and mythical creatures came to an end 100 years ago, with a peace treaty being achieved and the rival nations finally coexisting peacefully in the capital city of Ansburke. Now, however, a crooked secret organization - dubbed the Hemlock Society - seeks to plunge the city into civil war, preying on the prejudices left over from the previous centuries of warfare to feed the uneasiness between humans and Myths once more. Now, as tensions reach a boiling point, a group of misfits and outcasts must work together to thwart the Hemlock Society's dreadful plans before civil war erupts, in a race against time to save both the people of Ansburke and their own lives, as they dive deep into the world of intrigues and secrets that lay just beneath the city's perfect surface.

POV - 5 Main POVS, with occasional POVs from important side characters.

Lenght - Novel/Book Series

Tags/Hashtag - #wip: enchanted illusions, #wip enchanted illusions

WIP Soundtrack - Enchanted Illusions Playlist

Snippet/Excerpt -

Augustus and Harriet walked down the cramped alleyway, following their unexpected guide. Whilst the necromancer maintained his usual unphased composure - hands behind his back, chin held up high, relaxed smile - Harriet could not help but look over her shoulder once every few seconds. Every shadow seemed to be someone ready to jump at them, to drag them to the deepest bowels of this town and never return.

She pushed the intrusive thoughts down, scoffing at the outlandish notion. Still, the sky was unnaturally covered by smog - smoke continuously billowing from the foundries' skyscraping chimneys, mixing with the cloudy mist - and the lamplit streets were a cramped maze of shops, tents and intricate buildings, metal being the most prevalent sight. Nothing like Ansburke, she thought.

The quicker they find what they're looking for, the sooner they'll return home. And hopefully, stop this madness from unfolding. There was an unwelcome, fiery chill in the air and people bustled through the street around them. She inched closer to Augustus, their shoulders brushing - and tried to convince herself it was simply so she wouldn't get lost in this industrial maze, not to sate the pit of uneasiness that had taken hold of her chest since they reached the gates of the city. Ahead, the eccentric young man leading them whirled around.

"Alright, if ya guys wanna blend in and find out more about that scumbag of a Mayor, you'll need to get some local clothes - not that there's nothing wrong with," He gestured to their dapper attires, now slightly torn and dusty after their ordeal at the train ride, which stood out like a sore thumb when compared to the crowds around them "that, but you two scream 'Ansburke' just by existing." [...]

Six Sentence 'Monday'!

This was supposed to be a Six Sentence Sunday post, but since I missed the tag yesterday, here goes "Six Sentence Monday" instead! Thank you for tagging me, @pluttskutt!

This snippet is also what I like to call: Augustus snaps and shows their pursuers precisely why he was once called the Soulsnatcher (It's slightly more than 6 sentences, I think, but it wouldn't make sense without context!)

[...] Augustus laughed, frustrated, nearly manic with rage, as the thugs surrounded them yet again. This mercenary had just hurt the only person Augustus truly cared about, and now still had the gall to try and mock them - this was the final straw over an already hellish week, and it was really, quite absurd.

He whirled backward, so fast that Harriet was surprised she didn't hear anything snap in his neck. He glanced at her injured arm for a moment, worry written in his features, before steeling himself and walking slowly towards the approaching mercenaries, despite them scrambling to reload their pistols.

When Augustus spoke again, his voice was much deeper, and garbled, and the sarcastic smile on his lips looked more than slightly off "Well, I'm going to enjoy this - it seems it's been a while since someone taught you the proper meaning of bloodshed!" The summoning mark shone around his wrist and the mercenaries fired, only for the bullets to stop mid-air. The necromancer glared at them, expression turning deathly serious. "You should've left us alone when she gave you the chance" [...]

Tagging (gently): @little-peril-stories, @oh-no-another-idea, @rickie-the-storyteller, @illarian-rambling, @i-can-even-burn-salad, @clairelsonao3, @doublegoblin, @talesofsorrowandofruin, @starlit-hopes-and-dreams, @kaylinalexanderbooks and OPEN TAG

Hello! :D

Topaz: What is the main conflict of your wip?

Thank you so much for the ask, @i-can-even-burn-salad! I'll answer this one for all my WIPs!

The Tag Game!

Enchanted Illusions: A corrupt secret society seeks to cause another civil war between humans and mythical creatures, whilst murdering those who find out about this true intention. The main characters must stop them and expose their machinations before the chaos in Ansburke gets out of control.

+ BONUS - Augustus, the book's resident necromancer, must face the dire consequences of his deal with the Deamon Deathbringer, as he is torn between his past choices and his newfound love. He needs to make a decision and find a way to break his deal, but any wrong step may put his and his loved one's souls in danger

Of Starlight and Beasts: A scorned Queen seeks revenge on the realm she blames for the death of her lover, but this goal of hers has long since become tainted by her wish for conquest as she became just as murderous as those she battled in the past, generations ago. The main characters must stop her dark magic from conquering and destroying their land for good.

Realms of Loss: A continent divided into two kingdoms, after the fall of the Old Gods, has been trapped in a centuries-old war against one another for centuries - battling for power and survival as the Celestials' power wanes. When this war awakens an insane dead god and puts into motion a crooked prophecy, the "Chosen" prince must fight his fate and prevent both kingdoms from destroying each other.

Tales of Wilted Flowers: A group of outcasts, shunned, forgotten and betrayed by society throughout their lives, find themselves as the only ones willing to take a stand against a sadistic dark sorcerer and the corrupt royal family of the kingdom Wenhorn. In order not to die or meet a terrible fate, these unlikely heroes must stop their kingdom's "beloved" King from bringing back the magic of a long-since banished spellcaster.

The Last Wrath: As the Secret Court, a bloodthirsty cult that feeds off of the souls and magic of common people, returns after a long time being considered only legend, some specific individuals find their personal goals tied to not only surviving both the war between the power-hungry Morosyn Empire and the Free Realms, but also preventing this ancient court from "rewriting history in blood."

Mutant Inquiries: In a cyberpunk, near-future dystopia, mutant super-powered teens face a conspiracy involving an authoritarian government, illegal human experimentation by the PHANTOM Industries, and the truth about their own mutant existence. They become vigilantes in order to expose the truth, but find that there is much more at stake than just sticking it to authority and that their own lives are on the line.

Supernova Initiative: The most wanted intergalactic thief must steal a top-secret experiment, that was lost to so-called zealots in a faraway system, to evade being imprisoned after breaking into the Junction's most secure vault. Meanwhile, diplomatic relationships between factions and galaxies grow strained.

Lies Untold: Two brothers must race against time to evade their kingdom's royal "inquisition" after the King makes their little sister a target to be captured. In their attempt to stay alive, being hunted down while their land faces the punishing wrath of a curse that was very much the King's fault, the siblings also must face their family's past and make the right choice.

Pyrite for the writer's meme! (Could your protag and antag ever be friends?)

Thank you so much for this ask, @littleladymab!

The Tag Game

Pyrite: Could the antagonist and protagonist ever be friends?

(I'll answer this one for some of the POV characters of my WIPs Enchanted Illusions and Of Starlight and Beasts)

I've got some pretty evil/screwed up villains in my WIPs, so the answer for most of my POV cast would mostly be a resounding no, for various reasons, but let's see why!

Enchanted Illusions

Augustus Grimmure: No, they would not be friends, not in a million years. Augustus may be a dangerous necromancer who has no qualms about killing his enemies, but he has a strict moral compass - everything he does is to protect himself, his friends, and the innocent people of the city of Ansburke. His methods may be unorthodox, but in the end, he has good reasons to do morally grey things. The villains of this story, on the other hand, are prejudiced, power-hungry people who prey on the innocent - they're exactly everything Augustus despises and swore to destroy. They would never be friends.

Agatha Greenwoods: If the situation was dire enough, she could pretend to be friends with/on the same side of the antagonists, if it meant she could discover more about their plans and find a better way to destroy their secret society for good. But she wouldn't be true friends with the antagonists, she would only pretend in order to achieve her goals and in the name of the greater good.

Evangeline Daemitya: Given that the woman who is responsible for most of her childhood trauma is affiliated with the antagonists' secret society (the Hemlock Society), I would say that never in a million years would Evie befriend those villains. Plus she is such a pure, kind-hearted girl, that I literally can't see any situation where she would even consider such an alliance!

Harriet Sharppe: Never. I think that Harriet's moral sense of justice, along with her extremely good heart, would never let her ally herself to the Duke or any of the members of the Hemlock Society, unless - and even then with extreme reservations - the lives and safety of her loved ones were at stake. Harriet would burn the world to keep her family, friends and her love interest (Augustus) safe from harm, and would even (if the situation was really, really screwed up and extreme) genuinely consider and accept a temporary alliance with some of the less screwed up antagonists in order to save her loved ones. But only in such a situation. When everything went back to normal and her loved ones were safe again she would immediately betray that "alliance" with the antagonists.

Thaddeus Lockhill: His whole life and purpose have centered around leading a secret revolutionary effort against that same Hemlock society. His cause has become the most important thing in the world to him - its what gives him his purpose in life. So allying himself with the villains would be a resounding no in any situation. He'd rather die a martyr than make such a "friendship". He might consider working with less than-moral people as informants or in order to achieve a certain mission, but he would never ally himself to the actual antagonists of the story.

Of Starlight and Beasts:

Corah Stormryder - As a knight, saving the realm and following her personal oaths is everything for her, it is her mission to defeat the Crimson Queen and keep her from killing innocent people. Corah can understand the circumstances that led Meira (the Crimson Queen) to become so vengeful, cold and cruel, but she knows that nothing can excuse what that woman has become, after so many innocent lives lost. Nothing in this world could make Corah even pretend to be friends with that woman.

Maryon Haell - As the daughter of the most influential man in their corner of the realm (a man known as the Serpent of the Frosts, due to his network of spies that leads to him knowing everything that happens within his domain), Maryon was raised to seize opportunities when they arise - I can see her definitely using whatever she can to her advantage to stop the Crimson Queen, even pretending to be her ally or something similar (much like Agatha from Enchanted Illusions), only to betray her later to save her people. She is opportunistic, but she also has a strict moral code, so I don't see her actually becoming friends with any antagonists unless: 1. she is faking it to achieve her goals (as mentioned before), 2. the antagonist in question truly has a redemption arc

Arammys Lochlain - The most forgiving and kind-hearted character in the book, Arammys believes that anyone deserves a second chance. Due to his memories of his past having been magically stolen, and his own tempestuous magic, the Crimson Queen could use a promise of "helping him get his past back" to try and lure him into a false friendship - but Arammys is very clever, and I can hardly imagine that he would fall for her scheme. While he believes anyone deserves second chances, that person needs to prove they truly want to redeem themselves, something Meira is not about to do, so they really wouldn't be friends.

21 for the writer’s ask game?

Thank you so much for the Ask, @mk-writes-stuff!!!

21. Who is/are your favorite character(s) to write?

This is such a great question! Since I have quite a lot of WIPs, I have a lot of favorite characters I love to write about as well - so, for the sake of making this answer easier for me, I'll choose some characters from Enchanted Illusions and Of Starlight and Beasts to narrow down the list (and because these two WIPs are my "Words Into Potions" project this March!)

While I like almost all of my main characters and POV characters some of them just take the cake when it comes to being the ones I have the most fun writing and creating!

I'll give a quick summary to each of the characters I mention here (:

Of Starlight and Beasts

Leora Tallin - a young warrior from the former kingdom of Idrevan, which was conquered and annexed by the Crimson Queen's army generations ago. Leora was once a terrified orphan child whose magic caught the attention of Meira's army, who intended to have her trained as a soldier for their wars - a fate she narrowly escaped thanks to her older sister rescuing her. Now, Leora is the leader of a growing faction in Idrevan's underworld, seeking to offer the oppressed a chance of freedom away from the Crimson Queen's hold on their land. She's very much a brash, "strike first, ask questions later" type of character, and is also highly intelligent - while she yearns for her revenge on the General who ruined her childhood - a General who also nearly killed her adoptive brother - Leora also knows that openly standing up to Queen Meira without a plan would be a disaster waiting to happen, and so she waits and grows her power for the perfect opportunity to take a stand.

Arammys Lochlain (also this book's certified cinnamon roll!): Arammys is a young man whose memories of his past were stolen from him, for a reason he does not know. He is also the Starlit Guardian - (someone who has the most ancient and powerful magic their world can possess, a power said to be remnants of the power that created the realms, a magic which his family line have been the carriers of for millennia now). I love writing Arammys because, he's just the sweetest, kindest, most pure-of-heart character in this whole series - and despite his normally pacifist manner, he is also someone people really, really shouldn't mess with. I guess I just really love the "cinnamon roll that could kill you" type of characters lmao! He is the love interest of Corah, one of the main characters, and their story is one of my all-time favorite subplots this book has to offer!

Eidan Delythen - A formerly bright-eyed inventor, ward of a noble family, Eidan's world was destroyed and torn upside down by his treasonous uncle. Blaming himself for the fate of those he once called family, who died at the hands of his uncle, Eidan resigned himself to a life of solitude, whilst he sought a way to put an end to the evils and beasts that the corrupted magic of the Crimson Queen's magic brought to the land, as a way to redeem himself. He's very much a morally grey, scheming character when he is first introduced to the story, which I think is part of the reason why I love writing him so much - at first, he finds himself joining the MCs in their quest because he believes it will advance his goals, but as the story progresses and their bond starts to grow he genuinely starts caring about his newfound friends and participating on the quest for the right reasons while remaining quite the schemer when it comes to plotting the villains' downfalls. I guess it is just so cool to write the character whom he becomes later on in the book - still a morally grey, scheming character who manipulates situations for his gain, but who now does it with a noble goal in mind, to help his friends.

Tomasa Flammyr - She lives in the kingdom's coastal city, and is hopelessly in love with her girlfriend, Nadya. Tomasa also has high hopes of one day joining the royal Navy - her whole reason for helping the main cast, other than stopping the Crimson Queen will save thousands of innocents, is that she believes this is her chance to become the hero she dreamed of, just like the ones in the tales she was told growing up, and that it'll also be her chance to impress her future in-laws. She also happens to be a very (literally, physically and mentally, she's unbelievably strong) strong female character - she could carry most of the main characters with one arm and be unfazed - which, for me, is one of the reasons I love writing her so much. Other than that, she is just a really sweet person who also is a brave and honorable fighter, who loves puppies and all things cute in the world, but who also could defeat a giant in a five-minute brawl. Her secret shapeshifting ability is also a part of one of the greatest plot twists of the book! (:

Enchanted Illusions

Augustus Grimmure - One of the book's protagonists, Augustus is an all-powerful necromancer who made a deal with the deamon Deathbringer (an ancient entity of their world) for more power after being betrayed by his peers. He dreams of creating a world where innocent people are safe from harm, and where progress can really flourish - and being an "anti-hero" type of character, he believes that this can only achieved by purging all those who are pointlessly cruel and abusive from the city, eliminating the worst criminals, the kind of people who would create more injustices like the ones he faced. I just love how, while he is a morally grey character who often does questionable things for a noble/good goal (and is not above killing his enemies), he is also a kind and caring young scholar who wants to keep his friends and loved ones safe and happy. The dichotomy of someone who can go "I'll devour your soul" to criminals/his sworn enemies, and then do a 180° and go back home to his friends and family like nothing happened, straight up "Do you want hot chocolate, my dear?", is very fun and compelling for me to write!

Marcus Kallihan - The most dangerous assassin Ansburke has ever seen, Marcus Kallihan rose from street urchin to king of one of the most powerful mobs in the city. He runs the city's criminal underworld with an iron fist, ensuring that while his business is booming, innocent and honest folk can have a better and brighter future than the one he had. He runs The Fair - a giant underworld city-like landscape underneath the city of Ansburke, where he welcomes the outcasts and misfits from all around the region, and where he conducts most of his underworld business as well. He is a mobster with a strict moral compass, much different than his fellow mob bosses in other gangs, and due to him being a very much "Robin Hood" like figure, is adored by the people. He is also known as the Phoenix. I just love how his character is a badass with a heart of gold who took "the cards he was dealt with" and used them as a chance to give people like him a different fate than his, so that no other street kid had to resort to crimes to get by, like he had to.

(Most characters in Enchanted Illusions are antiheroes, which is really due to the world they live in, and that's very interesting dynamic as a whole for me)

Evangeline Daemitya - Daughter of the richest and most powerful man in the city (Damien Daemitya, heir of the most influential family in Ansburke, and also a member of the city's High Council of Sorcerers), Evie is a very sweet, studious, and opinionated lady, despite her sheltered existence. She has the means to make this city a better place, and when she discovers a conspiracy involving the nobility of the city, Evie takes it upon herself to change the way things are about to go. She's determined, madcap, and stubborn, a daredevil at heart who is not afraid of taking risks and leaps of faith if it means getting things done, while also being one of the most polite and pure characters in the book. She's very feminine and very strong at the same time! She wants to be a good person - unlike her callous, abusive ex-step-mother, who made a great part of her past a living hell - and use her extensive monetary means, as well as her knowledge, to give the city a chance at progress.

OC In Three!

I was tagged by @thepeculiarbird for this one, here! Thanks for the tag!

I'll go with my OC Sam Delaways, from Enchanted Illusions, for this one!

Also, have 3 songs that fit his vibe!

1. Brother - Needtobreathe

2. My Petersburg - Anastasia

3. Ditmas - Mumford and Sons

Tagging (gently, no pressure): @lassiesandiego, @clairelsonao3, @little-peril-stories, @rickie-the-storyteller, @crowandmoonwriting, @sam-gladee, @writernopall, @oh-no-another-ideaa, @hrmkingizzy, @jasperygrace, @tabswrites, @littleladymab, @kaylinalexanderbooks , @tabswrites @i-can-even-burn-salad, @starlit-hopes-and-dreams and @blind-the-winds

OC In Fifteen Tag!

Thanks for the Tag, @kaylinalexanderbooks!

I'll go with some lines from Kyran Mavven (Of Starlight and Beasts), Raiden (Jade Ruins), and Sam Delaways (Enchanted Illusions)!

Kyran Mavven

"Ugh, you've got to be kidding me." *death glares at Masen from across the tavern with the wrath of a thousand suns.* [Masen sees him, and strides up to him for the whole tavern to see, speaking with an angry smirk "Hello, brother."]

"If I get to blow something up then... yes. The answer is yes. And it will always be yes."

[To Bastien] "... You're not as wretched as I'd expected, for an Eclipsed soldier, that is. You're... pretty okay." [Cue awkward pat on the shoulder before walking off]

"I haven't worked on a team for a while now. I wasn't expecting my next experience with this to be with this little bunch of dimwits, but I'll take what I can get."

"They're trying to kill us, aren't they." [Corah chuckles awkwardly drily, clearly lying "No, not at all! What made you come up with that?"] "First, most people we meet since you came around are actively trying to kill us. Secondly, and most evident - they've literally just stabbed you!

+ Bonus: "If you touch my glasses or my goggles again I will bite you."

Raiden

6. "Because I know how to put up a show - why do you think my fights in the arena have such a crowded audience? - while you almost stumbled yourself to death twice since we first met. By yourself. That's why I'm in charge of the distraction, and you're in charge of all the rest."

7. "Hold on just a minute! I'm far too glorious to trudge through that muck, oh, no way in the Hells! We're figuring out another way around this or I swear to the Spirits that will leave you behind -" [Gets thrown in the bog regardless, mid-tantrum]

8. "So we're working with the Daggerfangs now? Literal assassins and thugs?" Raiden looks between Solei and Nevan with a bitter laugh "Oh, okay! Here go my hopes at living past 25 then. But carry on, enlighten me with your plans."

9. "Just because I like to annoy you doesn't mean you're not my friend, Solei. Now, can you not be such a killjoy and just let me help you, or is that too difficult for your 'high royalness'?"

10. "Oh, it's not me you've gotta worried about. I'm all tied up!" He smiles, holding up his tied wrists with a near-hysteric laugh and a dangerous tone "You pissed off Jinn - you're more fucked than I could ever make you be. And I suggest you run off now, 'cause she's coming up behind you at a really remarkable speed."

Sam Delaways

11. "That's a good idea alright. If you two intend on being dead in a week that is!"

12. "...Yeah, this city ain't for the faint of heart - you gotta fight through it, or else it will consume you, and that never has a good ending."

13. "You don't say? Here I was thinking the whole 'drenched in blood and viscera, glowing pitch black eyes' was just a style choice of his - of course, I knew he was a necromancer! I just didn't know he was that necromancer, that bit is new."

14. "The constabulary here are more corrupt than the crooks. If you walk up to them with that bunch of evidence against the Mayor, I guarantee ya that you two will be the ones walking out of that station with cuffs and a noose waiting for you in the docks. We need 'ta make an actual plan to go about this."

15. "I want chocolate cake." [Harriet and Augustus turn to him, baffled, given that this is the wreckage of one of their most recent escapades gone wrong. Augustus speaks up "You do know that we almost died just now -"] "That's precisely why I want that cake. Now, shut up, and lemme just enjoy this ride for a while, fancypants, I got a headache."

Tagging (gently, no pressure): @lassiesandiego, @clairelsonao3, @little-peril-stories, @rickie-the-storyteller, @crowandmoonwriting, @sam-gladee, @writernopall, @oh-no-another-ideaa, @hrmkingizzy, @jasperygrace, @tabswrites, @littleladymab, @starlit-hopes-and-dreamss, @tabswrites @i-can-even-burn-salad, @starlit-hopes-and-dreams and @blind-the-winds

Vaguely Summarized WIPs!

I was tagged by @gummybugg (here), and @tabswrites (here)! I already did this one recently for my current main WIP "Of Starlight and Beasts", so I'll do one for "Enchanted Illusions"!

An assortment of different lives go terribly off the rails and there's only one jerk to blame

Dark magic is certainly an unusual way of proving a point. It's also a good topic to discuss over tea.

"Hello, we're new in town and it gets so much worse -"

Stealing blackmail info from the authorities with the homies.

Local girl tries to get her necromancer bf to chill tf out. Its a work in progress (:

Crashing at a teenage vampire's castle. He's surprisingly happy about it.

"Will someone please explain to me what is going on?" (part 1) - tearfully brought to you by an older brother yet again on the verge of a mental breakdown

Lots of stabbing, shooting, and running. Also, let's jump off a train

Screwed up family secrets and hella uncomfortable dinner parties

Assassination attempt gone wrong and top ten ways to kickstart Harriet's revenge arc

Vampire fails successfully at "How To Human". Thinks he's nailed it.

Confessing your undying love to your gf at a crypt. Special edition.

Gaston wannabe makes things dangerously uncomfortable and gets yeeted an express ticket to the afterlife

Turns out that making a deal with the eldritch, soul-consuming, clearly immoral demon lurking in the decrepit catacombs of the city while throwing a pity party half a decade ago has ✨consequences✨and you should've seen them coming

"We made things a lot worse and now it's everybody's problem, but at least we've got a plan. I think. Look, okay, it's 10% of a plan -"

Tagging: @mk-writes-stuff, @eccaiia, @the-ellia-west, @memento-morri-writes, @little-peril-stories, @littleladymab, @kaylinalexanderbooks, @talesofsorrowandofruin, @starlit-hopes-and-dreams, @doublegoblin, @oh-no-another-idea, @cowboybrunch, @ybotter, @thepeculiarbird, @crowandmoonwriting, @your-absent-father, @rickie-the-storyteller, @jasperygrace, @jay-avian, @willtheweaver, @saltysupercomputer, @winterandwords, @autumnalwalker and OPEN TAG

OC Questionnaire

Thank you so much for the tag, @willtheweaver!!! (here)

MY QUESTIONS WERE:

Is there anything that would make you lose trust in others?

Do you think anyone could love you?

If you could relive one day, which one would it be?

YOUR QUESTIONS ARE:

Where is your favorite place in the world?

What food do you hate the most?

Do you like watching sunsets or sunrises?

The characters answering will be Corah and Scarlet from Of Starlight and Beasts, Renn from my still-unnamed fairytale fantasy WIP, and Sam Delaways from Enchanted Illusions!

1. Is there anything that would make you lose trust in others?

Corah - Betrayal, abandonment and dishonesty are pretty far up on the list, along with unwarranted cruelty, people who like to make others feel uncomfortable, or those with a just generally jerkass attitude.

Scarlet - Finding out that person works for the King, or is too buddy-buddy with the constabulary in the city usually sets off all of my alarms all at once. I also cannot stand cowards, liars and people who cannot be trusted to hide a secret.

Renn - Hmm. I guess that being lied to or used by someone tends to be what breaks the deal, but I also lose trust in people who are too indecisive, or whom I know would choose the set laws and rules over the wellbeing of individuals.

Sam - Trust is important, alright, but it ain't more important than staying safe. I tend to give people a lot of chances before fully losing all trust in 'em. I think what would make me lose trust really fast is finding out someone is sadistic or cruel to innocent people, or discovering someone I trusted had intentionally hid something important from me.

2. Do you think anyone could love you?

Corah - ... I sure hope so? Haha. Asking the hard hitting questions, are we now? But on a serious note, I think that almost anyone who is good - or willing to become good through effort - deserves love. I strive to be a good person and help others whenever I can - I just hope this is enough...

Scarlet - Yes, absolutely! I am a delight to be around. I think. I have lots of friends, and my sister and I have a really close bond. The love for one's family is one of the most special ties in the world, and I wouldn't ask for anything more.

Renn - I think so, if they ever get to know me beyond what the rumors and scare stories of the villagers will have you believe. Most don't. I don't really care - but some days I just wish more people gave me a chance.

Sam - Yep. I have two little brothers who say that I'm their hero! While in my opinion that is very flattering on its own, I'm very thankful to have them both in my life, despite most things not going as planned. Don't know what I would do without 'em.

3. If you could relive one day, which one would it be?

Corah - The day I met Arammys. I know its two days before my whole life was thrown upside down, but that day was perfect. Not only was it the day I met my closest friend, and current boyfriend, but everything was so perfectly normal - almost like everything was going to go exactly as I expected. Turns out they didn't, but that's not the point.

Scarlet - The day I taught Nimwen how to shoot the bow and arrow, and I stole a cherry cake from a shop in town that lasted us two whole days. That was a pretty great day given our standards. I'd love to relive it.

Renn - Hmm. The days before my Dad went on the voyage that got him killed. Before I had to figure out how to survive alone away from our land and villagers with torches and pitchforks became the biggest threat to my way of life. We were happy, and I was just a little kid having the time of my life with a parent cared about me. That was great! Or used to be.

Sam - I dunno. Days are all pretty similar in Strystead - an endless grind of work, survival and learning to stay out of trouble. My happiest moments are the ones where I get to just spend free time with my little brothers without having to work myself to the bone in the factories. Those days are rare though, and will likely keep getting rarer - because the Mayor sure ain't about to pay working folk a proper salary, but that's a whole other issue.

Tagging: @illarian-rambling, @kaylinalexanderbooks, @littleladymab, @little-peril-stories, @oh-no-another-idea, @rickie-the-storyteller, @lassiesandiego, @thepeculiarbird, @eccaiia, @late-to-the-fandom, @diabolical-blue, @writernopal, @mk-writes-stuff, @tabswrites, @winterandwords, @frostedlemonwriter, @clairelsonao3, @autumnalwalker and OPEN TAG

OC Interview Tag!

Thanks for the tag, @agirlandherquill (here)!!!

I'll go with Sam Delaways from Enchanted Illusions for this one, because I want to talk more about him and because I think you guys will really like this character! (:

Are you named after anyone?

"Nah. At least not that I know of, that is. I like my name just fine either way, though I don't think my parents put that much thought into it."

When was the last time you cried?

"Pretty recently, but why do you wanna know? (chuckles mischievously) You little rascal. I'm not telling ya that."

Do you have kids?

"No, but I take care of my little brothers - I'm all they've got since neither of our parents are around anymore. They're little kids, so one could say I'm raising 'em. Or at least that I'm trying my best to."

Do you use sarcasm a lot?

"Only when I'm trying to be funny - or when I really wanna annoy Augustus (laughs). That uptight necromancer needs to get a sense of humor and quick, haha. I never use sarcasm to be rude, though, there ain't no need for that - unless someone really deserves it. In that case, I can make an exception."

What is the first thing you notice about people?

"If they're dangerous in some way or another - and if they are, I try to find out ways to avoid gettin' in their way. I also try to notice if they're confident or shy, if they're arrogant or humble if they're temperamental or calm - these things can tell me a lot about whom I'm interacting with."

What's your eye color?

"Dark grey, I think."

Scary movies or happy endings?

"I tend to prefer stories with happy endings, though I like my fair share of scary stories, on occasion. Depends on my mood, mostly. I don't have much time to spend reading anymore, though I like to, and I ain't ever gone to the local theaters to see any of the plays and operas, but I hear they're awesome."

Any special talents?

"I'm not sure, haha. I think I'm quite good at climbing things, and I can hold my own in a fistfight if I need to - but I hate having to. I'm good at navigating the city and using my surroundings to get around faster, and I can build things pretty quickly. Otherwise, I know how to do a lot of stuff, but I dunno if they'd be considered 'special talents' - shoe-shining, fixin' boats, selling newspapers and matchsticks, that sort of stuff. It's what has kept us alive so far - cause the factory sure ain't paying me enough for that."

Where were you born?

"I was born in the outskirts of Ansburke. Y'know, the capital city of our land, and all that. But we moved to Strystead after our parents died - more factories willing to hire a nonmagical teenage street rat, you see. I dunno if it was a good plan in the long run, but it's too late to be thinking about that though."

Do you have any pets?

"Nah, can't really afford to right now. But if I could I would love to have lots of dogs, because they're adorable! Maybe one day I will."

What sports do you play?

"I'm not really the sporty kind. Seems like a waste of perfectly good time and energy for me. I've seen some rich folks playing a game called cricket, I think - and it looks very fun, I'd like to try it one day! I also know how to ride a horse, and I know people consider horseback riding as a sport, but it isn't something I do that regularly so I don't think it counts."

How tall are you?

"I think I'm average height, compared to my friends."

What was your favourite subject in school?

"Never went to school, but I think I would have liked history or magic classes, those seemed fun!"

What is your dream job?

"Ain't got time for dreams in Strystead - dreams don't pay your debts, neither can dreams put food on your plate at the end of the day. Learned that the hard way a long time ago. Currently my 'dream' - if you could call it that - is to pay my debts and get the heck back to Ansburke before these factories finish breaking my spirit too, but unfortunately, I don't think I'm gonna be able to do that any time soon. Eh, that's life though."

Tagging (gently, no pressure):@steh-lar-uh-nuhs @late-to-the-fandom, @eccaiia @willtheweaver @littleladymab @cabbojage @lassiesandiego @little-peril-stories @oh-no-another-idea @thepeculiarbird @rickie-the-storyteller @crowandmoonwriting @steh-lar-uh-nuhs @gummybugg @forthesanityofstorytellers @doublegoblin @aalinaaaaaa @starlit-hopes-and-dreams @elshells @clairelsonao3 @anyablackwood @tabswrites @illarian-rambling @kaylinalexanderbooks and OPEN TAG

🌙 - If given the chance, what is one thing about their life your OC would change permanently? 

Thank you so much for the ask, @kaylinalexanderbooks!

I'll go with a few of my OCs from some of my WIPs for variety (:

(The Tag Game)

🌙 - If given the chance, what is one thing about their life your OC would change permanently? 

(Of Starlight and Beasts)

Corah - She would like to have a better mother, one who wouldn't purposefully ruin their family name, and most importantly one who wouldn't simply walk out on her and her father at the first opportunity.

Eidan - He would like to prevent the siege of Monbern from happening. The Siege of Monbern was marked by terrible bloodshed and the deaths of many innocents, but it was also the day Eidan himself lost a lot of his old life (his cousin, his reputation, etc).

Arammys - He would probably make it so his memories weren't stolen. A lot of his current hurts and insecurities come from the fact that he knows nothing of his past, of who he was before losing his memories, all except his name.

Masen - Secretly, he'd probably go back in time and try to prevent him and his twin from falling apart. Part of why he currently hates Kyran so much is that Masen also blames himself but doesn't want to admit it. Plus, he'd probably try to prevent the execution that made their brother an undead.

Kyran - Kyran believes he has betrayed his family because the choices he made - and the sides he took as a teen - ultimately did lead to him and his brothers falling apart and Elias getting executed, even if indirectly. He'd try to go to the past and fix things.

(Song of Thorns)

Roselyn - A part of Roselyn would like to go back in time and make it so that she, Jasen, and Portia never moved to the capital. However, then her life would've stayed the same as it was before, which she doesn't want either. So the only thing I think she'd change is that they would still go to the capital but she would find a way to keep Jasen from going missing.

Alaric - Even though Alaric is a prince, he did not have many friends, so I think if he could change one thing about his life he would love to have a childhood friend he could truly trust and rely on, a bond he never had.

Portia - She wouldn't change anything about her life, instead I think that if Portia could change anything about the world she would make it so every stray dog and cat had a good and loving home and that all wild animals were safe.

Renn - Renn would probably change his life so that people didn't think he was a monster and should be killed just because they didn't understand his magic or his vampiric traits. He'd also probably try to save his dad from being betrayed by the nobles.

Jasen - He'd try to escape the nobles faster or to try and find a way to not get caught, though that'd be pretty difficult. I think would also have liked to have been able to afford more things his sisters wanted when they were kids.

Oriana - I don't think Oriana would change anything about her life honestly! She loves her immortal adoptive mother, has amazing forest friends, and has her magic, Oriana is pretty satisfied with her life as is I think!

(Enchanted Illusions)

Augustus - I think he'd like his Wizard Trials to not have gone so wrong - if that hadn't happened he wouldn't have been humiliated by his peers, he wouldn't have lost his studies and reputation and most importantly, he wouldn't have made the deal he has made with the Deathbringer, which he regrets.

Harriet - She'd probably want people to respect her cousin more - despite their wealth, some of the other nobles consider them "outsiders" and often make snide comments. She'd also like to make the nobleman Liam stop pursuing her romantically when she said she wasn't interested, instead of trying to court her at all costs.

Sam - Sam would like to make sure all his debts are paid so that he can finally leave the industrial hell that is Strystead and try to find a better life back at Ansburke. He'd also like to be able to afford any food he and his siblings wanted.

Evangeline - She'd want to go back in time and prevent her father from marrying Lady Ophelia. Her stepmother was a scourge in their lives throughout her childhood and a very abusive woman. Evie would like to never have met her.

Cailean - He would go back to when he was ten and stop himself from being frozen in fear when the Hemlock Society drowned his older brother - he would've liked to be able to have saved him instead of having just watched in fear from afar.

OC Questionnaire Tag (2)!

Thanks for the tag @willtheweaver (here)!

Your questions are:

What are your biggest pet peeves?

Who is the person you look up to the most?

Do you have any major fears?

I'll go with twins Cyriel and Dimya Staryn from Song of Thorns, and Augustus Grimmure and Sam Delaways from Enchanted Illusions for this one!

1. What is your favorite way of relaxing after a hard day’s work?

(Song of Thorns)

Cyriel - "Probably a good cup of warm wine and a delicious roast in a tavern after a long journey down the Reaper's Way - and yeah you heard that route. It's the only road that still connects human territory and fey lands, and cuts through a very much cursed forest. My job is not fun."

Dimya - "I dunno. Eating a pastry or some kind a dessert while chilling by the fireplace before taking a nap sounds about right. I don't really have a specific routine that I follow, but man I'd like to get some more sleep if I could."

(Enchanted Illusions)

Augustus - "Oh, that's an interesting question, my good fellow! Personally, reading a necromancy tome on a train ride is my ideal go-to, but a hot bath with a lot of bubbles also does the trick! Practicing my magic or doing something fun is also a good idea."

Sam - "Relaxing, haha. That's a good joke right there. You were serious? When I'm not working in the factories I'm taking care of my kid brothers and trying to not get robbed in an alley! I'm lucky if I get more than three solid hours of sleep a night on a regular week. Strystead ain't a place that just lets ya 'relax', y'know?"

2. Did you do anything that you regret now?

(Song of Thorns)

Cyriel - "Eh, not really. I'm a mercenary and a land pirate, my job isn't exactly for people who care about that kind of stuff. One thing that I do regret, however, is trusting people who don't deserve my loyalty. That much I will admit - my blind trust screwed us up big time."

Dimya - "Yes. I've screwed up more times than I can count, but I'd say that one thing I did that I really regret is not doing anything when I found out my boss was capturing and selling living vampires to 'high value' clients - I was just too scared of what that guy would do to me and my sister if he found out I knew the truth. But my silence doomed those innocent vampires to a fate probably worse than death. I hope we can still stop our former boss's schemes and free these people. I still haven't told my sister though, I probably should."

(Enchanted Illusions)

Augustus - "Making a deal with an immortal fey demon of death sounded like a great idea five years ago and... it was not. I admit that now. I'm racing against time because I don't really fancy having my soul trapped somewhere for all eternity. No thanks! That idea was quite honestly the worst possible idea I could've had."

Sam - "Oh, I definitely regret moving to Strystead. We shoulda stayed in Ansburke and figured things out from there, but at the time I desperately needed a job, and going to Strystead seemed like a good option because of the factories and all. Instead, I've gotten us stuck in this hellish city and with a growing pile of debt."

3. If someone put you in a position of power, would you be able to trust yourself to make good decisions?

(Song of Thorns)

Cyriel - "Yep. I think. I do pretty well when it comes to making decisions quickly and I also have a tendency to gravitate towards leadership roles, so as long as I don't screw up really bad I'd probably do well."

Dimya - "Hells nah (chuckles). I don't even trust myself most times, imagine me leading a team or something. It would be too chaotic, haha. Leave leadership roles to my sister - she's the idealist, not me, I'm fine as I am."

(Enchanted Illusions)

Augustus - "Yes, that's basically what I do, my friend. Making plans in high-tension situations and managing a team is easy compared to learning the art of necromancy."

Sam - "I dunno. I'm pretty confident in my abilities and am good at improvising when I need to, but I don't know how I'd be able to handle it long-term. I prefer to be unseen, behind the scenes, y'know. Easier to not get in trouble when you go unnoticed."

Tagging: @smol-feralgremlin, @kaylinalexanderbooks@littleladymab@cabbojage@lassiesandiego@little-peril-stories@oh-no-another-idea@thepeculiarbird@rickie-the-storyteller@crowandmoonwriting@steh-lar-uh-nuhs@gummybugg@forthesanityofstorytellers@doublegoblin@aalinaaaaaa@starlit-hopes-and-dreams@elshells@illarian-rambling@clairelsonao3@conkers-thecosy@anyablackwood @diabolical-blue @cowboybrunch, @eccaiia and OPEN TAG

OC Bag Game!

Thanks for the tag, @kaylinalexanderbooks (here)!

Rules: Name five things your OC would have in a backpack or any bag at school.

I'll go with some of the cast from Supernova Initiative and Enchanted Illusions.

(Since my characters live in a either fantasy or sci-fi world and are not school-aged, Imma just go with the contents of their regular bags to make this easier)

(Supernova Initiative)

Jack Tithus

Mint bubblegum

Ammo and chargers for his guns

A miniature first aid pack/painkillers

A holo-picture of him and Cassie

Sweet and crunchy energy bars

A to-go bottle of chocolate milk

Cassie Tithus

Extra parts for her projects and robots

Scrunchies for her hair + hair dye packets

A pocket knife/box cutter

An old, skrunkly plushie

An extra tablet

Inflatable neck pillow

Aleks Keldora

The "face-changer" (his high tech mask that can turn him into anyone's lookalike)

Dozens of stolen IDs, documents and government papers

A handmade drawing of his mothers

Tiny explosives and big explosives

A bottle of nail polish

Vesper Foxx

Self-repair kit for her cyborg implants

A bunch of extra parts in case she needs to replace something

The bracelet her little sister gave her for her birthday

Knives. So many knives. And guns. Don't forget the guns, and poison gas grenades.

A list of the names of each member of the mercenary crew she is hunting down

Artemis Zreeth

Leather gloves and old goggles

Cheesy snacks

His father's old scarf

Star-dust cigarettes

Eyeliner

A foldable speeder bike that becomes a tiny disk when deactivated

Pax Stellaryn

Void Program study material

Crumpled notes, messy journals and glitter pens

His diary

A picture of his cat riding a floating skateboard (don't ask lol)

Sour candy, and lollipops

Ethean Mirannir

Extra uniform

Pilot gear and an emergency kit for his spaceship

A holo-picture of his whole family and him during his graduation day seven year ago

Neon markers and a drawing sketchbook

Fidget toy for anxiety relief

(Enchanted Illusions)

Augustus Grimmure

Bloodstained handkerchief

A small dagger

Necromancy tome of spells and his journal

Recipe for instant magical coffee

An engagement ring he has yet to give Harriet

A bag of cookies from his grandma

Harriet Sharppe

Dainty silk gloves

Extra painkillers in case her cousin forgets

Pocket knife

The latest book she is reading

Lip balm

Chocolate bar

Agatha Greenwoods

Her overflowing journal, containing clues of the case she's trying to solve

A crumpled but well loved picture of her father

Sleep medicine

Switchblade

An extra change of clothes

Cailean Telkerly

His late brother's broken pocketwatch

Worn out brass knuckles and a pocket pistol

Multiple kinds of currency, all stolen

A bottle of cologne

Crumpled candy papers

Falsified documents for any given occasion

Sam Delaways

Snacks and extra food

A dusty old jacket

Very little spare change/copper coins, on good days

A bunch of useless knickknacks he proudly collects

His brothers' plushies when they don't want to carry them

Evangeline Daemitya

Her drawing sketchbook and a travel case for her pens and pencils

A locket with a picture of her and her father

Her intricate coinpurse

An enchanted rapier that becomes a tiny ring when not being used

Poison bottles and a botany guide

Tagging: @kaylinalexanderbooks, @smol-feralgremlin, @oh-no-another-idea, @littleladymab, @little-peril-stories

@the-ellia-west, @winterandwords, @cowboybrunch, @eccaiia, @sarahlizziewrites

@leave-her-a-tome, @writernopal, @anyablackwood, @unstablewifiaccess, @forthesanityofstorytellers

@lassiesandiego, @thepeculiarbird, @clairelsonao3, @memento-morri-writes, @starlit-hopes-and-dreams and OPEN TAG

Character Inverse Tag

Thanks for the tag, @willtheweaver (here)!

Rules: Write who you think your character’s opposite would be!

I've chosen a few characters from my WIPs Song of Thorns, Enchanted Illusions, Of Starlight and Beasts, and Supernova Initiative for this one because why not lmao. I tried to really lean into the "polar opposite of the regular character" aspect of this tag game!

(Song of Thorns)

Roselyn Lethia - Would be a selfish loner with no desire for adventure and a love for the status quo

Renn Atrius - His polar opposite self would be a human knight from the royal guard with an adoration of the nobility and a disdain for vampiric fey

Cyriel Staryn - Would be a bounty hunter who specializes in hunting thieves and who strives to upkeep the law

Orianna Whisperleaf - Would be a worldly girl from the capital who is terrified of nature and doesn't care about animals

Prince Alaric - I imagine his "mirror universe" self would be a stereotypical prince who loves masquerades, hunting trips, and mostly basks on his family's sway and power, instead of trying to stop them

Tarrant - His opposite self would be a powerful, sly, silver-tongued mob boss with an obsession with being perceived as sexy or attractive, and who has a tendency to be manipulative

(Enchanted Illusions)

Augustus Grimmure - His mirror self would be a mild-mannered pacifist who is terrified of death and all things morbid, and probably a sorcerer in the Order of Light.

Harriet Sharppe - Would be a brash extrovert with a tendency to get into fights extremely easily and a notable lack of patience

Evangeline Daemitya - Would be a stereotypical "rich girl" obsessed with being the latest trendsetter and always being perceived as popular by her peers.

Sam Delaways - Would be a rich businessman with a risk-taking streak who doesn't care about saving money and only cares about being the best

Cailean Telkerly - Would be someone who never runs from his problems and likes to face conflict head-on, while being aloof and not really charming

Clarence Van Sterling - His alternate self would be an all-powerful vampiric lord, of a very posh and arrogant sort, who considers humans as lowly peasants.

(Of Starlight and Beasts)

Corah Stormryder - Would be someone with no ambition, with a tendency to settle for "the way things are" and a strong sense of self-worth

Arammys Lochllain - Would be a clairvoyant mage with a strong grasp of the past and the future, who remembers his entire life and that of others and does not fear his magic.

Eidan Delythen - A popular folk hero with a pristine reputation who isn't afraid of his past and is proud of his family name

Masen Mavven - Would be a trustworthy young man who despises breaking rules and is a thoroughly law-abiding citizen

Kyran Mavven - Would be a sorcerer who despises sciences and alchemy, considering them inferior to magic, and who does not care about his reputation

Scarlet - His opposite self would be a dutiful knight who trusts people too much and who devotes himself to serving the kingdom, even through dangerous situations.

(Supernova Initiative)

Jack Tithus - His opposite self would be a Junction military officer who thoroughly believes in the system and is a hopeless optimist who always sees the best in everyone around him

Cassiopeia Tithus - Her opposite self would be a lazy student with little passion for experimentation and who is terrified of robots of any kind.

Aleks Keldora - A self-confident bounty hunter who is unapologetically himself at all times and is also a truly amazing fighter pilot

Ethean Mirannir - His complete opposite would be a reckless intergalactic thief with little regard for the needs of others and who doesn't really care about the upkeep of his family name

Vesper Foxx - A kind-hearted pacifist who truly believes in a "forgive and forget" philosophy and considers revenge a useless endeavor

Artemis Zreeth - A bubbly and preppy kid with a penchant for colorful clothes who adores going to parties and makes friends extremely easy

Pax Stellaryn - An arrogant fighter pilot who is overconfident in his abilities and oftentimes overestimates his own chances of winning a battle

Tagging: @cakeinthevoid, @i-can-even-burn-salad, @steh-lar-uh-nuhs, @pluttskutt, @anoelleart

@kaylinalexanderbooks, @smol-feralgremlin, @oh-no-another-idea, @littleladymab, @little-peril-stories

@the-ellia-west, @winterandwords, @cowboybrunch, @eccaiia, @sarahlizziewrites

@leave-her-a-tome, @writernopal, @anyablackwood, @unstablewifiaccess, @forthesanityofstorytellers

@lassiesandiego, @thepeculiarbird, @clairelsonao3, @memento-morri-writes, @starlit-hopes-and-dreams, @illarian-rambling and OPEN TAG

Five Lines Tag!

Thanks for the tag, @anoelleart (here)!

Rules: find five lines based on the prompts you're given, then change ONE of the prompts at the end!

I'm gonna go with Song of Thorns, Supernova Initiative, and Enchanted Illusions for this one!!!

a line about a building (Song of Thorns)

[...] Flickering orange lamplight, a stark contrast to the grey of the street, pooled from the imposing building up ahead. Owned by one Dame Abraxas, the foundry was a rather conceited establishment where Roselyn had recently acquired a rather poorly paid job as a maid and delivery girl. [...]

2. a sad line (Supernova Initiative)

[...] "Stay away from her." His words shook, and blood dripped from his wounded lip. Jack tried to ignore how his body trembled and his strength threatened to leave him. "Your deal... Your deal is with me, you asshole. So I don't fucking care if you and the twisted psychopaths you call scientists break me or do whatever the fuck you want. But this deal only stands if you freaks stay the hell away from my sister." Jack didn't intend to sob that last line, but he couldn't stop it - and deep down, he feared that was what the Director wanted. [...]

3. a line about a drink (Enchanted Illusions)

Augustus took a long sip from the cup of hot chocolate, leaning his head on the train's window and watching the snow-draped abyss that rolled down below the tracks. Laid across the long wagon's velvety seat, Harriet had long since dozed off to sleep, using his lap as a pillow. The necromancer found himself smiling fondly at his love, before a pang of fear for what tomorrow might hold disturbed this perfect moment in time.

4. a line that is shouted (Song of Thorns)

"What were you thinking?!" Tarrant all but yelled, before noticing the suspicious glances that earned them. He took a deep breath, dragging Cyriel over to somewhere more quiet. "...Do you have any idea how dangerous that stupid plan was? Gideon's men are still looking for you, and I can't keep you safe around here anymore, he's getting... dangerous. More violent. He won't listen to me."

5. a funny line (Supernova Initiative)

"So, don't get mad but -" Pax starts, stumbling over his words with a nervous chuckle, trying to come up with a good enough excuse. In front of him, his brother seems unimpressed.

"Pax, I don't know if you know this - but the words 'don't be mad' instantly make my blood boil preventively. What did you do this time?"

"... We kinda exploded a Junction building because people were hunting us and I got nervous and let a grenade fall."

Ethean sighs. "Of course."

Tagging: @kaylinalexanderbooks, @smol-feralgremlin, @oh-no-another-idea, @littleladymab, @little-peril-stories

@the-ellia-west, @winterandwords, @cowboybrunch, @eccaiia, @sarahlizziewrites

@leave-her-a-tome, @writernopal, @anyablackwood, @unstablewifiaccess, @forthesanityofstorytellers

@i-can-even-burn-salad, @willtheweaver

@lassiesandiego, @thepeculiarbird, @clairelsonao3, @memento-morri-writes, @starlit-hopes-and-dreams and OPEN TAG

Protagonist and antagonist

Are there moments of respect or admiration between them?

Thank you so much for the ask, @kaylinalexanderbooks!!!

I'll answer for Supernova Initiative, Of Starlight and Beasts, Song of Thorns, and Enchanted Illusions!

Supernova Initiative

One of the main antagonists of this story - especially in Jack Tithus' arc in the book - is a man known as The Director, whose real name is, as of yet in the story, unknown. He is responsible for the Junction's entire subdivision of sciences (which is a great deal) - to the public, he is considered an upstanding and philanthropic scientist who is incredibly respected by his peers. In reality, behind closed doors, he is a sadistic, immoral, and incredibly brutal man who is willing to commit atrocities - including numerous illegal experiments on human patients - in the name of what he calls "progress". Jack Tithus, the main protagonist of the story and an intergalactic thief, becomes trapped in the Director's schemes after he and his crew get arrested by the Junction in a heist gone wrong and ends up accepting to become one of the Director's test subjects in order to protect his younger sister from a facing a similar fate.

As an answer to the question: I don't think there are any moments of respect or admiration between them, at least none that are mutual. Jack very much resents, despises, and fears the Director and for a lot of good reasons. Meanwhile, I don't really think The Director is capable of feeling respect or compassion for another human being - he views people, especially his test subjects, as specimens to be studied, like animals in a zoo, and considers himself somehow superior to his fellow human beings. He is capable of feeling a certain sense of "curious admiration/fascination" but more in a sense like a bully holding a magnifying glass over a burning ant. He has a very twisted scientific mindset.

Of Starlight and Beasts

The main antagonist of this series is the Crimson Queen, a dark sorcerer and ruthless ruler who intends to conquer all the kingdoms in the continent and "snuff out the Light" in her neverending quest for revenge against the magic of the people responsible for the deaths of her husband and child centuries ago. The main protagonist of this story is Corah Stormryder, a brave knight-in-training from the capital city of Tirawen, who embarks on a quest to prevent the advance of the Crimson Queen's army and save the kingdom and everyone she loves.

Surprisingly, yes, there are moments of respect and admiration between them, especially after they get to know and understand each other a bit more. Meira, the Crimson Queen, is primarily a woman who has had her hopes and dreams destroyed by the people she trusted in one of the most brutal ways possible - the terrible deaths suffered by her husband and innocent child as a result of this. Corah also knows what it is like to be betrayed and abandoned, having been forced to face those feelings at a very young age when her mother walked out on Corah and her father. Both of them also know that there is something fundamentally wrong with the magic system of their world and that know that the truth has been terribly twisted to the benefit of the corrupt nobility. I think that, in a sense, they understand each other - Meira does see a bit of her younger, more naive self, in Corah's pursuit of valor, while Corah occasionally understands Meira's blind rage and grief, in some cases. But where they fundamentally diverge is that Meira has allowed herself to become so blinded by revenge and her wish to take down a corrupt system, that she is doing to countless others what was done to her centuries ago, meanwhile, Corah would never hurt someone innocent for the mistakes of another and is actively looking for a way to halt the system of lies their kingdom is built upon without losing herself or hurting others in the process.

Song of Thorns

This book has two main protagonists, Roselyn Lethia, a young village girl who discovers a corrupt scheme involving the nobility after her older brother goes missing, and Renn Atrius, a young dhampir who became a thief and is seeking a way to avenge the brutal murder of his father. The main antagonists of this story are most members of the Royal Family of Hyghsummit, who are almost cultish in their ways - especially when it comes to the practice of the elusive Sanguinex, or blood magic, which was a type of magical art that humans... weren't exactly supposed to be able to cast. Out of all these villains, the most important one, story-wise, is King Larkin of Hyghsummit, who is the head of the Royal family and a master of the Sanguinex arts. He is also quite possibly the villain who is most invested in hunting down the protagonists, and who really does not want to lose his current status quo.

No, I don't think this book has any moments like that. While King Larkin often gets "amused by the thrill of the hunt" when it comes to his pursuit of the main protagonists, he definitely does not respect them. He views them more as a petty nuisance that must be eliminated, two pebbles in his path to continue his family's legacy, and he will not have his wish denied. Meanwhile, Roselyn mostly fears the royals in the same amount she despises them - mostly, in her eyes, they are an evil that needs to be exposed and an obstacle in her path to saving her older brother, especially since the Royal family is behind his kidnapping. As for Renn, he holds a strong hatred towards human royalty - when he was five years old, Renn watched his father (an innocent young man who only wanted to find a way for vampires like them to live in peace) be brutally murdered by a vampire hunter who was friends with the human nobility. It's no surprise Renn hates human royals as much as he does. So, the King views them as a nuisance, and both of the protagonists have very personal reasons to hate the nobles - not a very good mix to create "respect and admiration" lmao.

Enchanted Illusions

The villains of this series are the members of the elusive Hemlock Society, who seek to banish Myths and cause a civil war between humans and magical creatures. The main protagonists of each POV in this story are Augustus & Harriet, Cailean & Agatha, Evangeline + Thaddeus & Ambrose.

Strangely, it depends. Some of the protagonists and antagonists in this book have very strong, personal grudges against each other and despise one another tremendously, but some of the more "morally grey" protagonists (such as Augustus and Thaddeus) enjoy the "cat and mouse" game they play with the villains throughout the story, and due to their sometimes more extreme way of handling things, sometimes even the villains feel a sense of admiration of these heroes' wit and occasional ruthlessness. The leader of the Hemlock Society, Abernathy Calsen, is very much a "Moriarty" type of evil mastermind, and often feels amusement out of toying with the main cast - he at the same time admires and despises them, but in a very distant, chess-player sort of way. He admires how they think outside of the box, and how they do everything in their power to thwart the plans he's set in motion, even when that's a foolish effort in his eyes. An interesting dynamic, to say the least.

💙 - Describe their bedroom! Is it personalized, unchanged? Messy, neat?

Thank you so much for the Ask, @zackprincebooks!!! I'll answer for some of my OCs from a few of my WIPs for this one!

(Supernova Initiative)

Jack and Cassiopeia Tithus - Jack shares a room with his sister, Cassiopeia, in their spaceship (there isn't much space for multiple bedrooms on a non-cargo class spaceship, so they simply share one). The room itself is personalized to their tastes, with decorations such as posters from their favorite movies and bands, string lights, and a few old plushies from their childhood which they still kept. There is a bunk bed in one of the corners of the room - Jack's bed is the top bunk and Cassie's bed is the bottom bunk. He prefers the colors bright purple and orange for pillows and bedsheets, while most of Cassie's pillows are some shade of pastel, especially blue and yellow. The room is a bit messy, mostly because neither of them has the patience to constantly make it neat. The room has a bulletproof stargazing roof. There is a built-in wardrobe in the opposite corner of the room, which spins and doubles as a writing table, and there are also a few small storage boxes around the room.

Deimos Soll - Deimos' room is cold and plain. He doesn't bother much with decorations and feels overwhelmed when in a cluttered space. His room is small and built for functionality - there is a bed with perfectly aligned bedsheets (in the colors white, light grey, and a very very faint lilac), built into the wall of the room (the bed can also fully close into a small pod and has a holographic tablet built into its metallic "roof" which Deimos uses to make his to-do lists for the day, do research and watch movies). There is a small closet in one of the corners of the room, where he stores his clothes, armor, and weapons (mainly his knives, guns, and his favorite sniper rifle). He keeps his video game console in a box under his bed. The room also has an automatic perfume dispenser (his preferred scent for the room is lavender). This room had been converted into a storage space a few years prior when he left the crew, but now that he has returned to the group his room is back to the way it was.

Gabi Ophirya - Her room - in the dwarf planet she lives in for most of the story - has a strong futuristic aesthetic, with most of its decorations in shades of dark pink and purple and metallic colors. There are neon lights built into the room, which give the place a dark lighting that Gabi prefers. The room is very messy, with clothes and gadgets thrown around randomly, and the bedsheets tangled chaotically. She keeps most of her stuff in storage boxes or small containers around the room, which have wheels and can be stacked on top of each other. As a brawler, she has an extra first aid kit always at hand in the room, and always keeps her gauntlets in top shape - she has a desk for repairs beside the bed. On that same desk, there is a picture of her and her sister, Morgan. She also has a bed for her wolf somewhere between the desk and her own bed.

(Enchanted Illusions)

Augustus Grimmure - As a necromancer, his room is also his magical laboratory and study room. His room is located in the basement of an old wooden building in the center of the city of Ansburke. The room has an old wardrobe, where he keeps his clothes and a satchel ready for travel in case he needs to make a quick escape. On one side of the room is his bed, which has white linen bedsheets, a thick dark red blanket, and two pillows. On the other side of the room is an ornate wooden desk, which has multiple pieces of scribbled parchment (and a study on human anatomy) scattered on top of it, an inkwell, and a few quills as well as fountain pens and a few sketchbooks. There are wooden shelves on the wall on the desk's side of the room - on the shelves there are multiple books/scrolls, a heavy necromancy tome, jars with leeches, and bone samples from animals, mainly skulls. On the corner of one of the shelves, there is a flower pot with forget-me-nots and wolfsbane and another flower pot with a carnivorous plant. He also has a few jars with dried-out herbs and botany samples. On the other side of the room, a door leads to the other living quarters of his house, mainly a kitchen, a small bathroom, and a reading room. There is a portrait of his grandmother on his desk, close to a portable lamp.

Sam Delaways - Sam rents a room in a lodging house in the slums of Strystead, where he lives with his two younger brothers, Charlie and Tim. The room is small and rather cramped, with only two - very old - beds, there is a compact, dusty wardrobe where they keep what belongings they have and a rickety desk on the wall opposite the door. They have managed to make the room feel homey and comfortable to the best of their budget, and it looks happily lived in. There is an old music box on the desk, colorful drawings on scattered parchment around the floor of the room, and old blankets piled on top of the beds, Charlie and Tim's side of the room also has their plushies and toys, which are second hand but very loved. There is an old chair next to the desk that Sam usually places in front of the door at night for a bit more safety because he doesn't trust his neighbors or the landlords quite a lot.

Evangeline Daemitya - Evie has a large room in her family manor, with an ornate canopy bed in the middle of the room, in shades of pastel blue, gold, and pastel pink. There is a vast (stark white and gold) walk-in wardrobe on one side of the room, where her gowns, dresses, and all items of clothing are kept. Across the other side of the room, there is a balcony, which can be accessed or closed by two stained glass doors. There is a small vanity desk beside her bed, with a medium-sized mirror and a ballerina music box. Across the room, there is a door that leads to her reading and study space, a small room where she keeps her books, tomes, and scrolls, which has a spiral staircase that leads to her drawing and painting room, and a small window that overlooks the orchard. Finally, there is a painting of Evie and her father on the wall close to the bed.

(Song of Thorns)

Kane Mylestrom - Kane's room is practical but also beautiful. Located in the towers of the Order of Storm's Keep, the room is built on cobblestone in the shade of dark grey. There is a medium canopy bed in the middle of the room, with sheets and pillows in the colors of dark red and faded gold, with olive green embroidery. The wood of the bed is oak. There is a sword rack on the other side of the room. Close to it there is a stern wooden wardrobe where Kane keeps his armor and shield, alongside a few amulets. On another wardrobe in the other side of the room, he keeps his clothes and books. On one wall there is a simple balcony with ornate wooden doors that overlooks the grounds below and on the wall opposite to it there is a fireplace. There are a few tapestries on the walls, which have intricate symbols and designs, mostly in the shapes of dragons and storms.

Cyriel and Dimya Staryn - The twins have a simple room in the mercenary-owned building where they spend most of their time. The room is simple, built for practicality, but also homey and messy. There are two beds each on one side of the room, and a small fireplace between them. Each bed has a small wardrobe on the wall in front of it, with each wardrobe belonging to one of the twins. The colors of the room are simple and folkish, with a few differences between each twin's side of the room. Cyriel prefers copper and green tones and keeps her bow and arrow underneath her bed, while Dimya prefers dark blue and white tones for his side of the room and keeps a lute under his bed. The room has stone walls and Dimya's side of the room has a window with a few wilted flower pots.