Hi I'm a 26 year old artist and writer :-) I have a world building project that been going on for upwards of 9 years! blogs intended audience is 18+ but there's nothing nsfw posted here. Thats discord only. I also draw a lot of critters and beasts They/them If you just want to see my art and not other posts, go to @Urlocalart
When the character is unexpectedly confronted with something that suddenly makes them realize how much they've changed and how much happened since then.
Maybe it's as simple as a mirror, where they actually look at themselves for a moment. Where is the young, innocent person they once were?
Or maybe it's a room, a place they haven't visited in forever. Maybe last time they were here, there was a celebration for them. The decorations are still up, frozen in time. Nobody has been here in a long time. How dare this room be the exact same, when they have changed so much?
Maybe it's a person from their past. Someone who had a different path in life. Someone who grew up, but was able to stay the same. They haven't seen the things Character has.
Maybe it's a song that they used to play a lot, that brings back memories of a different time. A different them.
Read the whole thing here. CHECK THE TAGS FOR SENSITIVE CONTENT LIST
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The Glass Horse
Seane felt a cold prickle on the back of his neck. Acid welled up in his throat, leaving a foul taste in his mouth. The light from the slowly dying lantern was waning, yet it still made behind his eyes throb.
To mask the taste of anxiety he filled his shot glass and swung back the hard liquor before putting the bottle back under his desk.
There was a comfortable 6 years when Seane didn't feel that oppressive heaviness.
First there was his uncle Father Callaghan, then the trials of war, then there was the next priest in his life… Father Josef.
When Josef stayed in Ishida and the McCulloughs went to Anemoi, he was sure that he had gained the liberty to carve out a new life. Without his late wife, but with freedom.
He had not become someone new in that time, but life no longer had the same weight. He could focus on himself and his work and he had made some very important discoveries in that time as well.
Josef immediately became a distraction…
He had complicated feelings around Josef - He was a man of God. The Lord channeled his will through Josef and Josef promised heaven for following his will.
He liked Josef, he thought he had a certain charm. He couldn't quite describe what charm and he didn't know why he felt the way he did, but Seane felt a certain loyalty…
He had to be loyal.
He felt a metaphorical leash clip to his imaginary collar when Josef and company appeared in Aeraki.
Josef knew every single thing about him, from his sins, to his secrets, to his traumas.
He knew him through confessions, the bodies of their shared victims and through submitting his mind to Josef’s hand.
He didn't like to think about what he may have seen in his head. It hurt to think about it and he hated the fact that anyone besides Felix and Oliver knew the more sensitive and private parts of his life
He could ruin him for his crimes.
He could have him put down viciously.
Father Josef did not shy away from reminding him what power he held when he found out that Seane had not been a model Midonian man. Seane had not come to kneel at his feet the day Josef arrived… Josef came to him with a warm hostility and he told him he ought to start behaving. He at least whispered a praise for already slipping into the young prince’s mind and beginning to scratch away natural mental barriers.
Eventually Josef found out about Pierre… It was only a matter of time. Josef always found out about these sorts of things one way or another.
He didn’t need to search someone's mind, nor force the information out through threats, no, he had seen them.
He saw the kind of smile Pierre gave Seane and saw the kiss that Seane placed on the younger man's knuckles when he did not realize the priest was lurking at the door.
When it happened, Seane felt his stomach drop. No words were exchanged between them but he could feel Josef's gaze bore into him. He did not need to say anything. He knew that he had been betraying Josef's will- God's will by that look alone.
I don't think Tolkien is a good fantasy writer because he scored the highest at some objective Best Fantasy Book Test that every fantasy writer has to take, I think he's a good fantasy writer because he created a world based on things that he was interested in. I feel like a lot of fantasy writers think that they need to create a whole language for their world because Tolkien did and obviously his books are the best so they have to emulate him, but Tolkien did that because he was a linguistics nerd. I think the lesson to be learned from him is not that you have to include elves and deep history and new languages, but that you have to write endlessly about the things you are a huge nerd about and use those things to create your fantasy world
What if fish were wyverns? Funny spec evo wyverns in my story. Theyre about 4ft tall and have a similar niche to pelicans. When theyre landed, they stiffen their legs to balance on them and the middle of their very flexible wings.
They are 'Bekuar' fish, meaning they can breathe on land and in the water easily. When on land, a hard cover on their sets of gills seals shuts unless displaying.
The best piece of writing advice I can give is that you should strive to be sincere rather than original.
You can't force originality. Originality will arise as a natural consequence of sincerity. Make the story completely and apologetically yours, and originality will come by virtue of it being your story.
I've forgotten *my own birthday* before. There are several years of my life just straight up missing. In the past I've forgotten silly little frivolous things like NAMES OF LOVED ONES or WHERE MY HOUSE IS. But obviously none of that was important. Fucking awful, ableist thing to say.
unfortunately very true. Doing Better does not always mean never being upset or never being triggered or never having trouble. often Doing Better means experiencing those things and being able to keep going/cope healthily/move on. if you’re in a bubble with no sensation, if you’re numbing yourself out, that’s not what recovering really is. it won’t help you have a happier life it’ll just make your world smaller and smaller until you can’t fit anywhere anymore. gotta learn to make peace with the hard stuff too, that’s the only way to keep going
Happy WBW! What would be the Seven Wonders of the World for your world?
Holy shit I found this in my drafts 3/4ths written... welp.
Happy WBW!!
This passed my mind momentarily before but I've never really thought too much about it. Some of the biggest, most beautiful buildings in the world would be... in no specific order. I could only think of 4 though when it comes to man-made buildings.
The Gatol Cathedral. Massive, wildly beautiful cathedral. The head priest resides here and it is where the Monarchy worships
Luminary's Shrine. Massive white cathedreal that connects to the sea and the windows are blue/black/clear. Covered in stone statues of a serpent god called Rryme as well as many serpents and dragons. Inside, there is the largest star map in the world and largest observatory. Think the telescope Leviathan of Parsonstown. There are several areas of worship, including a pool for the Hene's, a large semi-aquaitic creature that hangs around like sea-capybaras/ seals. There is a main area of worship with an alter in front of the largest statue of Rryme on a small built island. Ocean water is on either side of the stone hall and worshippers pray by kneeling on mats instead of sitting on pews. Oracle and cleansing rituals also happen here, voting for the new High Luminary when needed, as well, ritualistic siring also is done here between the High Luminary and her chosen sire.
The Aeraki Gaveyard. Many short towers in a large flower field maintained by a dedicated acolyte of Pinna. These towers contain the remains of generations of Aeraki Crowns, their family and loved ones. Each new Crown has a new tower built and those Aeraki (and close family friends) who served under their rule are buried there. The storms never blow here; the God Pinna's magic keeping this area in a perpetual state of peace.
Vitomir's castle. The largest castle in Ascendancy. It is an absolute work of art. gothic, covered in metal filigree, and home to the king of Gix. Theres not much lore yet about it, but its been standing for longer than anyone can remember.
Eldur. Technically not a place, but a thing that moves. Its a massive homunculus that walks across the nation Drasil extremely slowly. Eldur created by Shen and it serves to watch his lands for incoming threats. Its neck towers above the tree-line and it occasionally bellows a haunting sound through its hollow, stone neck. The bark on its legs is extremely hard, blackened by fire and it is coveted for its magic properties. Some say that it can even ward a God's magic. Eldur is worshipped by many. Its unclear if it is sapient or a golem/ magic automaton
Almost done the head after fussing with it forever. New eyes since the domes I had were far too small and the furs been trimmed down significantly
I think I need to do some painting in certain places, put wire in the antenna bases, trim the black fur by the mouth and I also need to remake the tongue so it fits right. Fits super comfortably on my head now that ive lined the insides and adjusted the spacing wire inside to better accommodate my glasses!
Its sooo soft, I love petting it. Starting to grow attached to it cause of how long im spending on it 😭 but it remains for sale!
No, you see, I wish to be an author. Not in marketing. Or an influencer. I wish to tell my stories, be told I did a fantastic job, and then go back to my hovel to scribble some more. I am delicate of constitution and awkward in crowds.
From some time ago but I fixed a few errors and how things are said
Xavier makes an attempt at Innis' life, but learns quickly that he is far from an easy target.
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Guards were prey. Simple as that. They were easy to corner in a quiet hall and drag to the depths of the dungeons below.
Guards usually didn’t have anyone who would miss them. Most were young men who had few choices for social climbing. Guard work gave them power, good money, and community when they were poor in any of those facets of their lives. The guards cared for each other but they all understood well the risks associated with their position. It was a similar case for servants minus the power, but Xavier couldn’t help but find it distasteful going after such poor things. They couldn’t defend themselves if they tried- Besides, the men in the servant halls were a rare breed and Mavis got frustrated over his little pet’s deaths.
He was the reaper in these late hours when the tyrant ex monarch haunted the halls.
There was Innis… a Derre and nephew of the monster the Aeraki kept downstairs. He was an arrogant whore… he relished in his vices and wore them like a badge. He flaunted his lust and beauty and he was far too comfortable. Innis was a large, fat man with an aristocratic background. He was dopey and would make an easy target… He had family but if he disappeared it wouldn't mean much. Really it would be so easy to blame the creature downstairs if it amounted to any drama. He too was a calokinetic after all, he too a brutal killer with a pension for slaughtering guards.
Xaviers hands splayed as he approached from behind… He then reached upwards towards the back of the giant man's neck. With every inch came fluttering in his stomach. Excitement. Arousal. Caked burnt skin and screams would make his night. It would-
Xavier stopped in place like a cautious animal when Innis turned his head and stared down the advisor with those focused, pale icy eyes of his. The man was so commonly seen with a dopey smile and a respectful bow that it seemed almost unnatural to see him in the dim evening with a hard frown spread across his face.
The Dredhe broke the long deafening silence between them.
“Xavier?...”
Xavier kept frozen, debating aborting the approach. His blood was hot though, air rippled between his fingers. He could still-
Xavier lunged forward and without flinching Innis grabbed for the advisors elbows. He shoved them upwards and away from his neck and face. With his palms now wrapped around Xavier's biceps Innis took a few steps towards the wall with his aggressor in his grasp. He shoved him against it hard enough to push a harsh grunt out of Xavier. He pressed upwards to lift him and the older man struggled to stay on his tippy toes so he didn't dangle.
“Exactly what did you think you were going to do”-he tacked on in a hiss-“sir..?”
When Xavier didn't respond immediately Innis squinted and gripped harder. He could feel the joints in his arms stiffen and a wash of alien cold run through his bones. Xavier felt himself unable to pull heat into his palms at all. Past Innis’ hands were numb dead zones.
Innis bent his head down to put his face inches from the advisor’s. His exhale was terribly hot against his face while he talked and the beer on his breath smelled acidic,
“It's easy to subdue a calokinetic like you, sir” he sighed dryly, looking him up and down.
“Please, I've been dealing with men with hands like yours all my life.
“LET ME DOWN- NOW!” Xavier shouted, squirming and tugging against his powerful grip.
Innis looked back into his eyes and blinked slowly. He talked too calmly for Xavier's comfort.
“answer my question.”
“NOW!” Xavier continued to scream, raising his foot to stamp down on Innis’ steel toe boots with his own.
Innis adjusted his stance, a leg moving between the advisors. With a graceful slide of his foot he caught Xaviers ankle with his own, taking his leg out from under him. The man now dangled from Innis’ hold but he wouldn't leave him hanging for long. He lowered him to his knees and with a cocky chuckle he simply chirped,
“Better?”
No. It was not better.
Not at all.
Xaviers face went red as he stared up at Innis with eyes as wide as they could open. He shivered, the cold running deeper into his veins and fear mingling with the remnants of bloodlust. He hated himself for how he couldn't help but focus deep into the man's eyes as Innis knelt down onto one knee to be level with him. His hands adjusted but didn't lose their tight hold.
Innis’ face lingered close and Xavier felt hypnotized by merely the slight movement of the Dredhe man's lips parting.
He talked down to him like Xavier was his junior. Like a child. The respect and admiration in his tone before that night was gone now, replaced with a cold taunt,
“We won't do that again, will we…?”
Xavier gulped, nodding slowly. No, he couldn't. He was utterly humiliated and so quickly. He mentally cursed himself for forgetting just the kind of man he was dealing with- forgetting the Derre was no mere exiled prince. His head spun and the question of what Innis might do to him wouldn't leave his mind.
“We learned our lesson?...”
He nodded again, taking a deep shaky breath. He died inside at how butterflies fluttered in his stomach.
“Good. I'm glad we have an understanding, sir.”
Innis stood back up as he freed Xaviers arms. He took a couple steps back before drifting down the hall without a glance back at the murderer he left on the floor.
Xavier rested back against the wall, raising his trembling, cold hand as he opened his mouth and stuttered a noise out. He gave up and pulled his arm close to his chest while he sat and tried to process what just happened.
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