#djinnborn comic

[micahdraws]

I have written tentative short "bios" for the four main Djinnborn characters. Will probably edit these so they're clearer and easier to read. But once I finish, these will go on the cast page along with portraits.

Osoron

The Prince

The third of four royal children, Osoron is the first royal born a sorcerer in generations. The Caliph kept Osoron distant from the throne, but made sure Osoron received the finest education available from Aremshah, the Ropoldi University, and the Musian War College. When Osoron's education completed, the Caliph declared him Royal Cartographer and gave him command of an exploration skyship. This would keep Osoron distant from the Aremite court, and remove any claims to the throne.

Osoron never had designs on the throne, content with his life as Cartographer. But then the coup attempt struck, and Osoron is now the only living heir.

Naskos

The Warden

Born the illegitimate son of an Aremite noblewoman and a Krekonian vagrant, Naskos has always been bigger and stronger than the full blood Aremites. Most children his age hated him or feared him, and he had few friends. The affair tarnished his mother's reputation and she ended in an unhappy marriage to an angry nobleman. Naskos loves his mother, but when he became old enough she encouraged him to begin Warden training at the Ministry of Magic.

Since then, Naskos has become one of the Ministry's most talented Wardens. He has been assigned to Osoron, the sorcerer-prince, but has become one of Osoron's closest confidants. 

Kollan

The Engineer

Kollan unexpectedly rose to prominence and still has not adjusted to the change. When Aremshah announced Osoron would begin a world exploration mission, Ropoldi held a competition. The winner would be the Ropoldi representative on the prince's mission. Kollan, the son of two small-time carpenters, suddenly burst onto the scene and seized victory.

It's been years, but his new life still feels so surreal. Kollan constantly second guesses himself, and feels like he won the competition by luck instead of merit. He's still worried it might be taken away.

Mevar

The Playboy

Mevar is the half-Takhari son of a Takhari woman and Aremite lesser nobleman and professional athlete. Despite his family being petty nobility, Mevar always lived a life of luxury. He wanted for nothing and he grew up with little responsibility. Mevar's endless charm won him a place as Osoron's friend at a young age, and the two got along well. When Osoron received his charge as Royal Cartographer, he insisted Mevar accompany him.

Mevar likes his easy lifestyle. Part of him thinks Osoron's rise to the throne will make his life even easier. But deep down he's terrified it's going to make life more dangerous and difficult.

[micahdraws]

Osoron and Naskos drabble

Today is "find old Djinnborn stuff" day. 

I wrote this several months ago as an exercise to get into my characters' heads. It's a dialogue of Osoron and Naskos on the Song just as they're pulling into a Ropoldi skyport. I stumbled upon it while looking for something completely different.

Have a look, tell me what you think!

Naskos and Osoron sitting in the captain's office while the ship pulls into Ropoldi port.

"I hate Ropoldi," Naskos said.

"Why?" Osoron asked. "We come here several times a year. This is the first time I've heard you complain."

"Because it's hot," Naskos replied. "Hotter than open sky. Half the people here dress like they are afraid of being seen. The other half barely dresses at all."

Osoron smirked. "You're not one to talk about modesty. Do you even own a shirt?"

Naskos shot Osoron a withering glare. Most Aremites would cower under Naskos' looming size and angry gaze but Osoron knew Naskos well and shrugged the look off.

"At least the food is solid," Osoron said. "We get more out of Ropoldi meals than Aremite stores. Too bad it's all so heavy. Even eating their bread is like putting a stone in your stomach."

Naskos snorted. "This is one of the times I'm glad I'm only half-Aremite. I can appreciate Ropoldi food better."

"Yes," Osoron replied. "I have seen you eat."

Naskos wrinkled his nose. "Aremite food is so light. I have to eat three times as much as you. Even our big meals are smaller than they look. There's too much air in our diet."

"Well you are a much bigger man than we full-bloods."

"Yeah, but Aremites are probably so slight because of the food they eat. The Ropoldi eat heavy and are a sturdier people. Aremites eat like birds. It's a wonder you're bigger than Takhari."

Osoron laughed. "I have seen what happens to Aremites that eat like you do. They get fat. Remember my uncle Shoral? He ate at least as much as you and died from overeating. Your Krekonian blood is a blessing at the mess hall."

Naskos snorted. "That's about the only place it's a blessing."

Osoron sighed. "Really?" he asked. "This again? I thought you got over the 'Poor me, my father was a Krekonian so now I'm a scary monster' routine years ago."

"Aw, come on," Naskos retorted and glared. "I'm just poking a little fun at myself."

Osoron stared at Naskos for a moment and then shrugged. "So what are you going to do when we dock?" he asked.

"Same thing I do every time we come to Ropoldi." Judging by Naskos' tone, Osoron might as well have asked if Naskos was tall by Aremite standards. "Going to buy myself a big haunch of meat for dinner, then head to the baths to relax. I have this knot in my back like you wouldn't believe." "I can believe it," Osoron felt sore all over, too. A skyship captain led a physically and mentally challenging life. "Maybe I should hit the baths, too. Ropoldi hot stone massages are very relaxing. But I have to do all that port procedure first. Present and sign documents, talk to local officials, greet whatever dignitaries feel like they have to see the prince." Osoron sighed. "By the time I get to the baths, they'll be closing up."

"Too bad," Naskos grinned wickedly.

"Careful," Osoron replied, "Or I will make you wait with me while I deal with all of this nonsense."

Naskos snickered. "Guess I will make plans to order a private bath and massage in my room tonight."

"Better make it two," Osoron said. "I will need it after I am done tonight."

[micahdraws]

Since you totally said I could! Djinnborn for the meme. :P

Yes ma’am! I’ll attach pictures so you and other followers can put faces to these names.

1. The first character I first fell in love with

Osoron, but I think this goes without saying since he is the main character :D

2. The character I never expected to love as much as I do now

Minister Khefir, leader of the Ministry of Magic. There is SO MUCH I want to do with him but not nearly enough time to do it all. Still, I originally wrote him to be someone unlikable. I ended up making him someone that I was personally interested in. Maybe when I get to the second graphic novel I’ll expand on him more.

3. The character everyone else loves that I don’t

I don’t know if I can answer this question yet. I’ve been trying to think of who I expect people to like even though I don’t care for the character much. I am coming up blank. There are characters I love to hate, but I still love them all.4. The character I love that everyone else hates

General Asom and/or Chancellor Hasal. Asom is a loudmouthed, opinionated military guy and Hasal is the stern old man archetype. I enjoy them but I wonder if everyone else will.

Here’s Hasal:

5. The character I used to love but don’t any longer

I love all my characters! The ones that fell out of love aren’t in the story anymore.

There are a couple characters I love to hate, but I won’t say who. That might give away too much of the plot ;-)

6. The character I would totally smooch

Any of the four main guys, also probably Khefir, Asom, the Minister of the Exchequer (she is HOT). Almost any Musian woman because they are gorgeous, tall purple ladies and I wouldn’t have to lean down to kiss them.

Here are some pictures of Asom and some hot purple ladies. Asom’s appearance is likely to change by the time he appears in the comic.

7. The character I’d want to be like

Osoron. Or maybe the Chancellor. Or the Minister of the Exchequer who is a little inspired by Storm.8. The character I’d slap

Mevar :P Only because he is kind of a dink. I love him but he is such an idiot sometimes.

*IMPORTANT: The pairings listed herein are NOT CANON. They are just fanciful ‘what ifs’ on my part. As of right now, Djinnborn’s first graphic novel does not have any romantic interests or romantic subplots. This is subject to change but the story is mainly focused on other things and doesn’t have a lot of room for a romance to take root and grow. So I’m listing my best guesses at popular ships (if anyone ever ships my characters ;-)) and my own whimsy.

Is it bad that I ship my own characters and support others shipping them too?

So please take these listings with a grain of salt because these are based on the first graphic novel and may not ever become canon.

9. A pairing that I love*

Osoron/Naskos, Osoron/Cyricus, Khefir/Osoron, Kollan/Mevar, maaaaybe Osoron/Asom. 

10. A pairing that I despise

Oooh I don’t know if I should say on account of spoilers and possibly discouraging my future readers from shipping or talking about shipping ;-)

[micahdraws]

30 Day Character Challenge: Day 1

Describe your character’s relationship with their mother or their father, or both. Was it good? Bad? Were they spoiled rotten, ignored? Do they still get along now, or no?

Osoron always liked and admired his parents, but was never close to them. Because he was a younger child born a sorcerer, his parents kept him distant from themselves and the throne. But he was still a prince, and if nothing else, the image of the royal family was more important than being a sorcerer. Osoron understands why his parents did what they did. It causes him occasional melancholy, but he grew to accept it, and even embrace it. His distance allowed him opportunities that his brothers and sister never got, and in the end, Osoron feels like it all worked out.

Naskos loves his mother, but hates his father and his stepfather. He is a half-Aremite, half-Krekonian cross-breed, the product of an idle dalliance that his real father had with his mother, then a young Aremite noblewoman. The affair ruined his mother's reputation, and Naskos grew up watching her suffer for it. Naskos himself has dealt with difficulties, too. His Krekonian blood makes him bigger and stronger than the full-blood Aremites he grew up with. Other children, and even adults were always afraid of him, or treated him poorly because he didn't quite fit in. It is part of why he joined the Ministry of Magic -- because at least there he could put his superior strength to use for Aremshah.

He despises his stepfather, and the feeling is mutual. His stepfather sees Naskos as a blight, a constant reminder of his wife's infidelity. Naskos sees his stepfather as nothing more than an abusive, manipulative bastard. He knows that the marriage helps keep his mother and her family from being totally disgraced, but he also knows she's not happy. Naskos really wants his mother to find happiness.

Kollan grew up in a stable, lower-middle class Ropoldi family. He loves and gets along well with both parents. Like all Ropoldi mothers and fathers, Kollan's parents encourage him to do their best. And like all Ropoldi children, Kollan wants to live up to the expectations of his family and his culture.

A little bit of tension has arisen since Kollan won the competition to accompany Prince Osoron on his voyages. Kollan's parents have always been hard-working but never wealthy or popular. Kollan's sudden new status has brought a lot of attention on the family, and his parents are having difficulty adapting. Ropoldi culture demands perfection, and his parents fear what will happen if the Ropoldi find them too flawed.

Finally, Mevar gets along well with his parents. His father is a low-ranking Aremite nobleman and a retired professional athlete. His mother is a feisty Takhari woman. Since Mevar has an older sibling, he's not expected to carry a lot of weight. As long as he doesn't tarnish the family name too much, his parents let him have fun, and he's okay with that. They're wealthy enough to support a comfortable lifestyle, so Mevar finds his relationship with his parents very positive.

Of course, being away a lot and traveling with Prince Osoron helps since he can get away with a few more indiscretions when he's not at home.

I think my next art project is to make some dynamic headshots of these guys that I can use for the 30 Day Challenge and other sundry things.

Start the 30 Day Challenge!