Song of the Swallowtails

This is an experiment blog for the story I'm working on. Here I will compile character inspiration, worldbuilding elements, jokes, and updates if there are any to share.

[songoftheswallowtails]

Dragon head caterpillar

How did I only just find out this animal existed?//?

Definitely needs to go in the book somewhere

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this would appear to be the adult

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Dragon head caterpillar

How did I only just find out this animal existed?//?

Definitely needs to go in the book somewhere

[songoftheswallowtails]

Imrie: I made this friendship bracelet for you. Fright: You know, I’m not really a jewelry person. Imrie: You don’t have to wear… Fright: No, I’m gonna wear it forever. Back off.

[songoftheswallowtails]

Fright in action!

I have the hardest time finding dual-wielding references so it was pretty fun to try this and actually have it work out

idk what most of his clothes look like tbh i just know he’s got a hooded cloak and two obsidian swords

[songoftheswallowtails]

The Great Swallowtail

Papilio Zalmoxis - the giant African blue swallowtail. According to Wikipedia, it is native to western Africa and has a wingspan range of just under five inches to just over six. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papilio_zalmoxis)

This is the primary butterfly species I am basing the Swallowtail clan off of (although there are a vast number of swallowtail species in the papilio genus)

In my version, they are a little larger—closer to the wingspan of the papilio antimachus (9 inches) and their hindwings have the little tails characteristic to other familiar swallowtail types.

In lore, they are called the butterflies of sunset, given their colors range from the bright yellow thorax, the ruddy copper under the wings, to azure and indigo to black.

[songoftheswallowtails]

Slightly belated writing update, but I’ve started book three! I took almost the entirety of January off to rest, then plan and outline. But I picked it up again last week and am two chapters in.

[songoftheswallowtails]

Is this pose thing a trend yet?

Well, have some dancing Swallowtail siblings!

[paperbackpeony]

Pink mushrooms

[songoftheswallowtails]

Writing update!

Just finished writing the last chapter of book number 2, what I am tentatively calling the Swallowtail Dream!

It clocks in at 57,883 words and 23 chapters. I can’t believe it’s over after only four short months.

On to the planning and outlining of book three...

[triptihosmrti]

Salt marsh in Slano Kopovo, Krupaj spring, Prskalo waterfall

[songoftheswallowtails]

Imrie: this was a bad plan

Imrie: but it worked so I learned nothing

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Tallador: Well, well, well, if it isn’t the consequences of my own actions...

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Nimuë: I dare you- Juniper: Imrie is not allowed to accept dares anymore. Nimuë: Why not? Imrie: "I have no regard for my own or others personal safety", as some would say.

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Imrie: Hey, no, you stay out of this, this is between me and Juniper! Nimuë: So Juniper knows about this? Imrie, walking away: No, this is between me and me!

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Nimuë: Are you mad? Juniper: No. Nimuë: So sharpening your knives at 3 in the morning is just a hobby?

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Nimuë: Seriously, Fright, how many people would you have killed if we’d asked you to? Fright: That’s not important Nimuë: I DISAGREE.

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Andothir: Oh, hey, I didn’t see you come in! You should have come by and said hello! Juniper: Oh! Yeah, I uh... Juniper: Didn’t want to bother you. Juniper: Or talk to or listen to or be around you.