I'm so sorry I had this in the drafts since November and forgot to finish it 😭 But thanks for the ask, it is very much appreciated!
Clyde: "Why would I be? He knows that if he tries to harm me, he'll never see the light of day again."
(Clyde would say no, never. Which is odd, because the very first thing Eldwin did was try to kill him lol, but Clyde is just that confident in the power he holds over Eldwin. And as time progressed, all this time Eldwin could have easily harmed him, but he never has.)
Nels: "Yes. One wrong move, he could kill me before I could react. I'd be foolish not to scared of him. I can never let my guard down."
Mordwen: "No."
Jowan: "Sometimes. I know that if it wasn't for Clyde, and the rest of them, he'd happily murder me, and he wouldn't make it quick. I've seen what he can do. But there's just something so fascinating about him, and his compliance... all bark and no bite. Still, I can't really take chances, so I keep a close eye on him when he's with me."
Desmeirth: "I was. I still am, sometimes, though I try not to show that. I don't think he'd hurt anyone, not anymore. But sometimes the things he says, the look in his eye... It can be unnerving. And when he's in a bad mood, it feels like treading on eggshells."
Ancassius: "Nah. Don't get me wrong, I know what he's capable of. But I know he has a good heart, and sure, he likes to be difficult, but if he really wanted us gone, I wouldn't even be able to talk to you."
WHUMPER REVIEW! Let's begin, in order of relevance
"I might make a post going into more detail on each of Eldwins whumpers. Bc idk how much you guys know but I just make a lot of shit up as I go along lmao, but now I'm doing the full story I want to really solidify the facts and settle on who they are."
CLYDE FAREWELL is Eldwin's owner, the one who bought Eldwin over eight years prior to Forsaken. Although strictly speaking Eldwin should be turned in and executed, it's technically not illegal to keep him as a pet or a slave, and with Clyde being the heir to an incredibly wealthy and influential noble family, who run the Black Syndicate to boot, he has more than enough power and political sway to pull the relevant strings and claim legal ownership. (In the same vein, slavery in general is supposed to be illegal in Aenora, but... it happens and everyone turns a blind eye, especially with so many other issues to worry about.)
From the moment he made the pact, Eldwin had no legal standing, no human rights, he gave up everything. He is an outlaw:
"An outlaw, in its original and legal meaning, is a person declared as outside the protection of the law. In pre-modern societies, all legal protection was withdrawn from the criminal, so anyone was legally empowered to persecute or kill them. Outlawry was thus one of the harshest penalties in the legal system. In early Germanic law, the death penalty is conspicuously absent, and outlawing is the most extreme punishment, presumably amounting to a death sentence in practice. "
"In the common law of England, a "writ of outlawry" made the pronouncement Caput lupinum ("[Let his be] a wolf's head"), equating that person with a wolf in the eyes of the law. Not only was the subject deprived of all legal rights, being outside the "law", but others could kill him on sight as if he were a wolf or other wild animal.[citation needed] Women were declared "waived" rather than outlawed, but it was effectively the same punishment.[1]"
In Forsaken, Clyde is Eldwin's owner, or "guardian" and thus holds all legal rights over him. Eldwin doesn't get a say in anything, and neither does anyone of importance bat an eye at Clyde's treatment of him. There is one caveat; if it's decided Clyde can't maintain adequate control over the dangerous warlock, or is being too nice to it, Eldwin may be removed from his hands. Normally, this would mean death. In Eldwin's particular case, this would mean being rendered full-time to a government lab as a secret weapon and aether source.
However, this doesn't mean Clyde is awful because he has to be. Indeed, he enjoys tormenting Eldwin and the feeling of having control over him, particularly as Eldwin should be powerful in his own right. It is a combination of stress-relief from feeling trapped in his life, and even jealousy. Clyde was born aetherless:
Some people are born without aether. While the effects are not as severe as they would be in someone who ran out, being born without aether will still affect your quality of life. Such people experience higher rates of depression, have weaker immune systems, and are more likely to develop a chronic illness. Aether is in itself a sort of lifeforce; you can survive without it, but you'll always feel as though something is missing.
Magic in Aenora, whilst not legally reserved for the wealthy, the required schooling is so expensive that in practice, nearly every mage comes from wealth. The fact that Eldwin, who comes from nothing, naturally has so much aether and Clyde, from a noble family, suffers a lesser quality of life because he was born without, subconsciously makes him furious. By right of birth, Clyde should have everything; but this, money cannot buy.
It's not that Clyde ever wanted to practice magic; it's that he always feels something is missing, and that he looks down on Eldwin, from a "low-born family" has a gift he couldn't even afford to legally use.
Having power over Eldwin gives Clyde a feeling of control he lacks elsewhere in his life. And with legal ownership, he has every right to treat him the way he does - it may even be encouraged.
Eldwin loathes Clyde, but also sees him as a protector from the world at large. Clyde likes to hurt him, and lets other people hurt him, but Eldwin believes that despite that, what he has going on with Clyde is better than what he would have elsewhere. For all his suffering, he is grateful to Clyde for saving him from what he deems a worse fate.
NELS BARBARY is Eldwin's Handler, the one who has charge of him when Clyde isn't around and the one in charge of his non-magical training. Is loyal to Clyde and will do what he asks, even if he doesn't always agree. He is a firm believer in the power of pain and fear as a teacher. His training is harsh and his punishments cruel, but he never punishes just for the sake of it. He doesn't enjoy his work, but isn't upset by it either - except maybe once or twice.
Nels does sometimes feel some sympathy for Eldwin, whether that's because of his own history as a child soldier or because he thinks of his own kids. Still, he never lets it interfere with his job, separating his work life from his personal life. Being raised for the military, he is disciplined, strict, stoic and expects the best from Eldwin at all times. Any failure, any sign of weakness, is not taken lightly.
He is Eldwin's favourite. Eldwin looks up to him! He respects him as a figure of fairness, and fears his disappointment far more than he fears any actual punishment.
JOWAN EDRIS is the doctor and scientist with full authority over Eldwin's health, and authority to perform unethical experiments to further their goals. He may not actually have a reason for everything he does other than the eternal question of "what if?" But, he is careful with Eldwin, knowing the limits of healing and resurrection. Jowan is the first to successfully harvest aether from a living being - while keeping them alive - and successfully recreated Azura.
Jowan always wears a mask of cheer and friendliness, sometimes overbearing in his attempt to compensate for the emptiness he truly feels. He does genuinely want to help people, but lacks morality in his pursuit of knowledge, and in indulging his curiosities. He believes sacrifices must be made for the good of the world.
He is hardly intimidating with his small stature and (attempted) pleasant façade, but despite that Eldwin would freely admit Jowan scares him, believing there are no lines he wouldn't cross in the name of "science" or self-indulgence. Still, he acknowledges Jowan's competence - and believes him to be easy to manipulate, to an extent.
VOR'GOL is the Infernal being Eldwin made a pact with. He likes to toy with Eldwin and torment him, although after so long it's gotten a little boring. A daemon lord has better things to do, you know...
His true abilities and intentions largely remain a mystery. Though terrified at first, over the years Eldwin has grown complacent, and thinks of Vor'gol more as an annoyance than a serious threat. Still, it would do him well keep up his guard.
MORDWEN is Eldwin's magic tutor. A powerful sorceress specialising in forbidden magic, she is a necromancer and a healer, of a sort; she "heals" by rewinding time in a small area. This process is about as painful as the actual injury, with the added discomfort of it being reversed.
She is generally apathetic, lazy and eternally bored. She is a strict teacher, and doesn't care for Eldwin in the slightest. It is very clear that she's just here for a job, nothing more, nothing less. Surprisingly, she seems to get along with Jowan.
Despite her having as little involvement as she can get away with, Eldwin fears her more than anyone, knowing he is no match for her. She doesn't care.
ALISTAIR FAREWELL is the leader of the Black Syndicate, and Clyde's father. The two do not particularly get along. In regards to Eldwin, Alistair usually only gets involved when neither Clyde nor Nels are around. He takes a different approach. He doesn't need to be overly violent, although he certainly isn't above it; rather, he views Eldwin as someone lonely, desperate for any sort of praise and affection - someone easy to manipulate. When everyone around him is so cruel, it's easy to gain his favour with just a few nice words.
Clyde is convinced Alistair is trying to steal Eldwin from him to spite him. In truth, Alistair just views Eldwin as a valuable asset, and likes to keep his options open, hold the cards. It's not like it requires any real effort on his part to get him on side.
Eldwin doesn't wholly trust Alistair - you don't get to his position by being nice. And it's unnerving how he just seems to know everything, like he sees right through you. Still, Eldwin can't deny he likes hearing his praise.
BONUS: AMELIA DOVEMORE
Amelia, known to Eldwin only as Lady Dovemore, is a noble woman who kidnapped and sold Eldwin when he was fourteen years old. He wasn't the only one; she runs a whole trafficking ring from which many powerful people buy from her - mostly children, but not all. This, in turn, means she has a lot of powerful people in her pocket who don't want the public to know what they get up to.
As far as the public are concerned, she is a kind and generous woman who does a lot for charity and helping those less fortunate.
Despite not having seen her since he was sold, Eldwin still hates her more than anyone, and vows to burn down - literally and metaphorically - her entire estate, her name, everything she's built.
🍝 SPAGHETTI — what is/are your oc's favorite food(s)?
🍰 SHORTCAKE — what is/are your oc's favorite sweet(s)/dessert(s)?
🍦 SOFT ICE CREAM — what is/are your oc's favorite ice cream flavor(s)?
🍔 HAMBURGER — is your oc good at cooking? are they good at baking? which one do they prefer?
To Eldwin and Nels, pretty please? :D
Thank you! Ask game here
🍝 SPAGHETTI — what is/are your oc's favorite food(s)?
Eldwin loves sweet foods, and otherwise milder flavours. So aside from sweets which we'll get into in a minute, more creamy sorts of pastas he likes, with various kinds of mushrooms and some sort of meat, usually chicken or pork. He's happy to eat meals without meat, but it is a valuable source of nutrition in Aenora, where affordable food variety is pretty scarce.
Honestly, much like Eldwin, Nels isn't big on food. Like Eldwin, he eats because he has to, he doesn't enjoy it. I bet he's someone who eats meat with not every meal, but certainly every day. For him it's a balance between getting everything his body needs nutritionally, and being cheap about it lmao. He has a lot of money, but generally prefers his working-class and military habits. This mf would eat hard tack as a snack
[ID: A gif of Max Miller from Tasting History hitting hardtack together. /End ID]
🍰 SHORTCAKE — what is/are your oc's favorite sweet(s)/dessert(s)?
Now this is what Eldwin loves. Boy is a cold hearted murderer who tortures people for fun while cooing over kittens and has a sweet tooth. He loves sweets
Chocolate is his number 1 (he'd even say that's his favourite food as a whole!) but he also likes fruit pastries, like apple or strawberry tarts, and cakes... anything lol
Nels isn't super into sweet stuff, but he'd probably go for like. a rum cake or something idk that just feels like something he might like. Or coffee! He does like coffee.
🍦 SOFT ICE CREAM — what is/are your oc's favorite ice cream flavor(s)?
Putting chocolate aside, Eldwin would like... maybe caramel? Or OH, idk if other countries have this but in the UK we have a clotted cream, and a clotted cream ice cream, and it's sooo good. I promise, it's nicer than it sounds lol
I don't think Nels would have one tbh
🍔 HAMBURGER — is your oc good at cooking? are they good at baking? which one do they prefer?
Eldwin's pretty good at both! No expert, nothing fancy, but he can follow a recipe or mock something up. He likes both too, but favours baking I think just bc he likes sweet baked treats more. Still, he won't do any of them just for himself
Nels can cook. Again, simpler stuff but gets the job done. Cooking is also a basic survival skill and he will judge any man who refuses to cook because "it's a woman's job" like oh okay fucking starve then. (The same applies to rich people who have staff do everything for them. Luckily he's good at keeping his mouth shut lmao)
This picrew is so good for making grown men who aren't twinks omg. I still prefer the other one for Nels especially, but it's nice to have some variety. In order: Nels, Clyde, Alistair
I'm thinking right. Nels joined the military when he was 14, minimum age in Aenora, and served four years.
He came from an orphanage that raises children until they are 14, and they all enter the military. (all able-minded and able-bodied ones at least. Haven't figured out what happens to the kids who can't yet... but probably nothing good. Domestic service at best.)
Who is the most important person to Whumper? What is their relationship like?
Thank you, these are fun!
Hm. Most of my whumpers don't have very many good relationships lol. Jowan would say his father, who was... not great. And is also now dead. He doesn't really have anyone else these days.
Nels is Clyde's only real friend -- Clyde has a lot of people but they all annoy him and he just has to put up with them for political reasons. They get along well, but there is that power dynamic of Clyde being Nels' boss, and Clyde being the son of Alistair who took Nels in in the first place. So they are friends, but there is that, so...
Nels, for his part, would of course say Ada, his wife. They get along great, she doesn't know the full extent of everything he does, and he's afraid for her to find out. But she knows he's with the Black Syndicate, knows what they do, and she's supportive of him. Mostly doesn't like them because he's tired and works too much. Tries to get him to quit, "I have plenty of money for all of us." But well, he won't, because other important people to him are the aforementioned Alistair, who gave Nels his job and got him pardoned for desertion, (and also had a word in Nels and Ada getting together) and Clyde, who is equally important in Nels' life going smoothly.
