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Post by Thorn on Jan 11, 2021 3:05:01 GMT -5
Posted a thing a while back on my writing tumblog, figured I would link it here so I can find it later. |
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Post by Thorn on May 23, 2021 6:00:37 GMT -5
After Umberclutch today, I needed to sort out some of Astrophelle's thoughts, so I scribbled a sort of diary entry in her character notebook. This is typed word-for-word from that, so it's rambling and may not flow perfectly. Context:*In today's session, an otherworldly antagonist sent her minion- Astrophelle's friend (named Sky)- to murder a friend of her brother Amadeus (named Kroya.) In the aftermath, a strange map appeared across Amadeus' back, seemingly put there by his own otherworldly patron (the two entities have been at war since the dawn of time.) The map leads to where a strange magic orb is buried.
*The gods have agreed not to interfere with affairs in Umberclutch, but the populace were not made aware of this fact. Because of this, Sky's prayers went unanswered when she was dying, and instead were answered by aforementioned Otherworldly Antagonist. Now she is a weird fish creature working for that being, yay!
*Ev is Astrophelle's angelic mentor, who lives on a totally different plane of existance. Their mental connection has been disrupted, but we're hoping another celestial named Qi can fix it.
BETWEEN SESSION 31-32: THOUGHTSI am sick of these creatures treating us like toys. Like pawns. Sky is a pawn- she sees that. It has broken her. Amadeus is a pawn- he does not see that. This Mother seared a map into his skin. She has him carry out her will, through cryptic messages, imperfect excuses. This 'Kroya' was surely the same.
He was killed for this connection. Now Sky has the book. She cannot have this orb, but neither can Amadeus.
Why do these creatures want this blue orb? Why don't they leave us out of their stupid little war?
I don't know how to keep the orb from them both. I have to try.
Why have the gods abandoned us?
What was Ev trying to tell me, the night Sky visited?
Sky blames herself for a decision made in desperation. Her god abandoned her. They all abandoned us, the creatures taking their place. Then it was all hidden from us. It's not right. But I don't know what to do. I am done with their cruelty.
I need to follow my own advice.
First- focus on Qi. We can find him. He can help us.
I can't trust my brother, no matter how much I want to. I could never trust Slithers. So it's me and Katzye, and I think I can trust Qi.
And Ev would never abandon us.
I don't know what he wanted to say, but Qi can fix me, and then Ev can tell me himself. |
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Post by Thorn on Jul 6, 2021 5:51:18 GMT -5
Writing about Astrophelle again. Thinking a lot about 'Kaorti Astrophelle', and what she meant to Original Astrophelle. Sort of train-of-thought, maybe a bit muddly in places, but that's how this stuff is. I think she was still me, no matter what she said. She had my face, and she had my memories. She only attacked us to protect her friend. When we spoke, she was watching a scene from our childhood. A family outing, with mum and dad and Amadeus and Alena. All of us together. She spoke of wanting more memories like this. I wish I could have helped her there. It's cruel that people can love this world so much but be unable to stay.
As he healed me but attacked her, I wonder if she had memories of Ev being kind to her in the past. I wonder if she felt betrayed. I was so scared she would kill him, she hit so hard, but in the end he is an angel and she was...a kaorti, I suppose. Whatever that really means.
She was still me, but I would never hurt Ev like that. Honestly, I don't think I could do it even if he did betray me. But in that moment, he struck her and she fought back. She remembered our childhood, and so she must have remembered Evlavei. She fought him anyway. She was braver than I am. She said I'm better at being Astrophelle, and I'm sure that's true, but she was still braver than I. She could have become somebody else, given the time. More than just my echo.
I made a commitment to her, and thus to myself. Astrophelle took my hand- as Sky took it in the inn, as Ev did by the shore- and I made a vow. I will help Lorelei. Lorelei has her own soul, and her own identity, and thanks to Qi I now know that I can save her. But my duplicate was less lucky. Astrophelle said that she came from nothing, and will return to nothing. She seemed so sad. I wish I could have done more for her.
I hope she was wrong. It's nice to think that she still exists somewhere in the Far Realm, living her own life, no longer bound to mine. But I think it's more likely that I am all that remains of her. We shook on it, and then I woke. She was gone.
I won't let her down. She is me, and she wanted to help Lorelei. Lorelei frightens me more than anything else, but I know that no version of myself would ask herself to make such a vow if there wasn't hope. And Lorelei never meant to hurt me. I can't abandon her because of an accident. In the end, she's just a scared girl too.
I will help Lorelei. We will go to Aezrun, avoid the mists and find this blade. It will probably hurt her, extracting her soul. But it will help her, in the end. I want to echo Kaorti Astrophelle in my character in some way going forward- maybe with flavour on a spell, or something. I'll talk to my DM about it anyway. It would just be nice, to reflect Astro's conviction that this person Mattered, especially given the recent lore reveal about celestial beings relying on the power of stories (and Astro's thoughts on her duplicate are, of course, a story she is telling herself!) |
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Post by Thorn on Jul 8, 2021 7:49:00 GMT -5
Random EuroAtlantis thing I can't remember if I have shared or not. Cav and little-kid-RynnCav jabbed dramatically at the rocks below. “Today. I am teaching you to fish. Just as my father taught me, so now I shall teach you; in place of your own father, who couldn’t fish to save himself.”
“I’m bored,” Rynn complained.
“Boredom is an integral part of fishing,” Cav said, with a sagacious nod. “It is a time for reflection and contemplation, as you wait for the fish to pay attention. It can take a long time.”
“Can't we just get some fish at the market?”
“That is besides the point. This is character building. It will be good for us.”
“How many fish have you caught?”
“Oh, I’ve caught loads,” she lied. “So many. My dad was the best fisher so, you know, it probably runs in the family.”
“Does that mean I’ll be a really good fisher too?”
“No, my other dad. Not related to you at all. Sorry kid.”
Rynn hugged their knees. “What’s the point then? If I won’t be good at it.”
“Are you usually good at everything first time?”
“Yup.”
Cav wished she still had that confidence.
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Post by Thorn on Aug 24, 2021 7:09:14 GMT -5
EuroAtlantis again. About a year ago the party fought a drow called Auzynros, who unfortunately for him was more afraid of letting down his deity than he was of being killed by the party. There was an image with him I never got to use, and so I decided to incorporate it into a piece of writing instead. It is buried underneath a mountain of angst, but ah well! When you inadvertently serve a demon of fear and paranoia*, you end up being a pretty angsty sort. *(the party are now travelling with what seems to be the reincarnation or perhaps reduction of said demon, but uhhh that's another story!) Auzrynros knelt in the dark and waited.
The command was simple enough: when they arrive, you will kill them. The surface dwellers who had slaughtered so many of his companions could not be allowed to go free. Auzynros was not enough, but he was all she had left, and so she tasked him with waiting here alone in the dark.
The new magic coursed through his limbs, lightning sparking in every nerve. Auzynros flexed his fingers to reduce the discomfort, but it never helped for long. His body was no longer his own. This power was not meant for him, but she was out of options. He was all she had left. He was supposed to destroy them with her magic, but he was afraid it would destroy him first. He barely knew what to do with it.
He was such a fragile, fearful thing.
Auzynros could feel the Goddess Betrayed watching him- so close, so intense. He could not fail her this time. There was too much at stake. These people were contaminated (you are contaminated), and they brought that contamination here with them. They had done so once, and now did so again. He wished his hair had grown out so that he could shear it off once more, finding comfort in that simplest act of penance, in the thought that it made him clean. In his heart he knew he was beyond all that, but that never mattered in the moment.
A memory sprang to mind, and he let it unfold. Auzynros recalled showing his son how to prepare mushroom steaks, the other men of their household bustling around him. The room had been full of warm bodies and companionable chatter, and herbs that stuck in the little creases of their palms. He had felt useful and important back then. Loved, even. It all felt like it took place in another life. Nothing before that first disgraced excursion to the surface really mattered anymore. Except it did matter to him, and he couldn't just brush it aside. Those were the moments he missed more than anything, a fierce ache in his heart whenever the world seemed too bleak. He wished he could have them back.
(You are distracted.)
I am sorry, he bowed towards the Goddess Deceived's statue, hoping that would suffice for her twin.
Auzynros stood, drawing his sword in one smooth motion. Swung it experimentally. Settled. Repeated the motion with greater intensity, trying to reclaim his former speed and fluidity past the ache and the magic crackling in his limbs.
(Not long now.)
I will be ready.
He knew in his heart that he would never fully be ready for this. But he had to try. He was all she had left, and she had given him so many second chances. He couldn't fail her now. Everything up until this point would have been for nothing. |
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Post by Thorn on Sept 15, 2021 7:06:06 GMT -5
Dawn thing I wrote a few months back and forgot about. They are very distractable, which I tried to reflect here. Hey mum! Sorry it’s been so long. The university’s telescope is amazing! There are so many new stars I can see and that I want to show you. I have my own telescope now too, it’s not quite as powerful but it’s pretty good and maybe I can show you with that.
The people here are so cool. They made the roof look like a starry night sky! I met an actual cosmic titan too who used to live in a palace among the stars. A real palace among the stars! Mum I could die happy if I got to see a place like that. Can you imagine it? I bet it was beautiful. There’s also this guy with cool magical tattoos who can store items inside his own body using those tattoos. I got to test this when he got me to shove a jar into his back. Way less gruesome than it looks! I think you’d like him a lot.
Oh and there’s an air genasi transmutation archmage who might be the most fantastically fabulous looking being I’ve ever seen! He also helped make me my magic telescope which I bought with some reward money. Because exploring paid off just as you said it would! His name is Maestrom and he is super cool and has a cool electric lyre thingy. The enchantment archmage also helped with my telescope. She’s really pretty but really scary. Can’t wait to show you my telescope!
I forgot to tell you about Arcanthum! He’s really tense and uptight pretty much all the time but also super reliable. He arranged a big party for the wizards and he hates most of them. I also got a cool medal after this party. Seemed a bit weird because I’d only just met these people but who am I to turn down a cool medal? Also I’ve probably earned it by now after I almost got killed by this horrible cult dude.
I met a lady with snakes for hair who made a dude melt by looking at him! Literally melt. He was a cultist so it’s fine. The cult was trying to summon an evil deity. They also kidnapped the snake lady I think. Her name was Oosa. Usa? She seemed nice but really confused. We were all pretty confused and had just been attacking her so it all makes sense really.
Arcanthum never knew his father either. But Cosnian Prime killed his own father which seems way worse. He stole a fish or something and so he killed him. That was a weird story and he’s not as cool as some of the others so I don’t remember much else about him.
If you meet a dragonborn called Parthuurnax you should be really nice to him because he saved my life!
I am trying to find ways to harness more of the stars’ energy but it’s hard. Stuff keeps happening and I end up helping people fight fiends or cults or weird circus also cults. Those last ones could also shape-shift. It’s been a wild ride. I love going to all these new places and discovering new things and meeting new people though! It’s really broadened my horizons.
There are a few things you’ll want to know because you always ask. I’ll pretend you’re asking these questions and I’m rolling my eyes at you. I miss rolling my eyes at you mum! And I miss home and the village and the cheese! I love that cheese. I wish I’d brought more with me.
Anyway yeah the questions:
1. Yes I am eating well. I just miss that creamy soft cheese.
2. Yes I am making friends (see above!)
3. Yes I am still single and please stop asking. Around the same time, I wrote a small piece from the perspective of Dawn's mother, Nox. She is a human who was taken by the fey as a child, who later managed to find her way back to the world of mortals. Here is An Extract. My Dawn. The dark times have passed. It sometimes feels like I’m dreaming, that my life is unreal, that surely I’ll wake up one day and there will be nothing but danger and uncertainty, this moment naught but a fading dream.
But it never does fade, and here I am. Sharing tea and scones with too-sweet jam, in a little cottage with a garden and a gate, trees growing tall and strong and sweetly scented beyond. Tonight I will watch the moon rise, and name the stars for you one by one. One day we will name the stars together, and on that night they will never have seemed closer. Dawn's powers come from their mother, who acquired them in her time among the fey. I miss playing Dawn a lot!!! It's been months now. But one day, our DM assures us, we will go back to that party. |
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Post by Thorn on Oct 3, 2021 6:39:39 GMT -5
OCtober 2021
Will add the links tomorrow!
Day 1. Journey (Astrophelle)
Day 2. Glass (Dion)
Day 3. Duel (Grey)
Day 4. Medicine (Dawn)
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Post by Thorn on Apr 2, 2022 0:31:19 GMT -5
Grey and Hexaline, my Wednesday D&D characters, in an hypothetical meeting. “Can you fly?” asked Hexaline.
“Once upon a time,” said Grey wistfully. “Alas. Life had other plans.”
The young witch examined her claws, and then her picnic basket, and then tapped him on the shoulder in a way that was probably meant to be reassuring, but which made him think of spiders scuttling across his flesh. It was the opposite of pleasant.
“Uh, that’s okay. I can’t fly either, but I have some friends who can. So I understand why you would be sad about it.”
She shoved her basket towards him. “Do you want a snack?”
He recoiled at the sudden movement. “Um. What are you offering?”
“I have everything! I have scones (I need to get more ingredients though), apples, some little cupcakes...I’ve been told the cupcakes are good, but I can’t taste them myself...oh and I had some trail mix type stuff! And some cookies but I might be out...”
She rummaged around. “Yeah...no cookies...oh wait there’s one. But I think I spilled poison on it. Which I don’t think would be very good for you.”
She squinted at him over the top of the basket. “My mother’d say you’re too thin. That’s not good. I’ll let you choose three of these things!”
“What?”
“This is how you make friends, yes?”
“No? Maybe?”
“Yes. It is,” Hexaline insisted, fishing around in the basket. “Okay. I’ll give you a couple of scones and an apple. I’ll have a scone too. We can eat the scones together. This is what friends do!”
“We literally just met.”
“That’s okay! I was meeting all my friends for the first time once.” |
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Post by Thorn on Oct 25, 2022 4:29:01 GMT -5
Reached 10000 words on my current WIP, so time to talk about it here woooo!!!!
Do you like dragons? Queer wizards? Gaslighting gaslights? The unfailing power of friendship?
I've been working on a story based on a game that captured my imagination as a kiddo. Nightcaster: defeat the darkness was troperiffic, but my introduction to a great many of those tropes, given that I first encountered the game when I was six or seven. Recently a friend wrote some fanfic that inspired me to try it out too, and delve back into this world that has long held a special spot in my heart.
I've been having a lot of fun writing this so far. Hopefully I can see it through to the end!
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Post by Thorn on Oct 25, 2022 16:55:02 GMT -5
12,696 words and still going strong wooo.
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Post by Thorn on Oct 26, 2022 18:06:59 GMT -5
Just hit 18,000 words and I'm having the time of my life here.
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Post by Thorn on Oct 27, 2022 15:57:57 GMT -5
Checking in before work just to update my word count! Currently at 20,557 words- not bad for under a week of writing!
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Post by Thorn on Oct 28, 2022 16:41:39 GMT -5
21,786 words. Yesterday was a long day, and most of my progress is from when I woke this morning.
I should get my invite for AO3 tomorrow! I have been editing the first couple chapters and plan to put them up first, then another each week to give myself plenty of time to both write the second half and edit the rest. My housemate said she'll read this, which is exciting because I was a bit worried I was putting all this thought into this and then nobody would ever read it ever.
(have still been sketching as well, but more to keep in the habit of drawing motion and blocking out people-shapes and stuff. This story is definitely my main project right now and I don't want to get distracted working on some ambitious piece and give up on it!)
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Post by Thorn on Oct 30, 2022 2:19:20 GMT -5
22,930 words!
Theophilus being a #mood
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Post by Thorn on Nov 1, 2022 3:28:57 GMT -5
23,133 words. Working on chapter 16, didn't write anything yesterday but back at it today. But I also need to get chapter 3 polished for tomorrow (have decided Wednesday is gonna be the day I publish new chapters), so that will be my focus for tonight.
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