Sylren and Sarith began as characters in a long-running D&D campaign that wrapped up early this year. Now, they are the central characters of my nearly finished but still untitled novel, which is loosely based on our campaign.
Sylren is a Serenalf* emissary from the inner world of Aura. After centuries spent in the lightless centre of the world, she is enamoured with the outer world and all its many luxuries (light, colour, texture, flavour, temperature, weather, just to name a few). But she's come to the outer world with a mission and a purpose: to spread word of a dangerous shift in the balance between order and chaos. Driven by a strong sense of duty, but hindered by an unbounded trust in the essential goodness of people, she struggles to navigate a world that is both wonderous and overwhelming.
Despite coming from the lowest caste of Felalfin* society, Sarith embodies the pride and nobility of his people. Recently disgraced for a murder he doesn't remember committing, he is facing uncertain punishment and a future full of guilt and grief. Unexpectedly brought along when the other prisoners escape, Sarith doesn't expect to survive. But there are debts to be paid, and his dwindling people are caught up in the midst of a burgeoning cosmic war, and no matter how much he would like to just give up, there always seems to be one more thing he has to do first.
*Soon, I will make a post about all the different types of elves in my world, and what their names mean, but I haven't gotten to it yet. For now, know that seren means 'forgotten' or 'silenced' and fel means 'ash'.