title: Valkaryn
status: outlining/first draft
length: standalone
pov: 3rd person limited
genres: high fantasy, adventure
themes: found family, recovery/healing, coming of age/growing up
warnings: slavery; ptsd; violence; mentions of dragons eating people; possibly more
the summary & character descriptions in the image have also been pasted below the cut :)
excuse any mistakes in the images, i could barely see what i was typing because the fonts were so small in the editor :(
SUMMARY
The kingdom of Eswya began in the plains. It began with a knight, leading a group of people from a war-torn land. Each of them was lured by the promise of somewhere they could start over. It is said that the knight was guided there by a dragon, and that ever after, the city regarded the great lizards as their patrons.
For a long time, the people knew peace. They expanded into the nearby desert, growing cities all the way to the Dragonfire plateau. And all the while, descendants of the knight held the throne. Such prosperity, however, could not last.
In the southern kingdoms, there was born a king who desired an empire to his name. He marched his armies north and laid siege to Eswya. The war was almost laughably short. The king took Eswya’s throne and slaughtered most of the royal family. Save for one.
Shortly after her thirteenth birthday, the young princess fled. In the mountains bordering her home, she met a dying dragon. The dragon gives the girl a new new name, and tells her of a rebellion on the desert outskirts. In return for these things, she asks the newly named Valkaryn to take the last remaining eggs of her draconic clan to the Dragonfire plateau.
However, when Val reaches the outskirts of the kingdom, she finds the rebellion early quashed… and the fires meant to hatch the eggs burnt out. All is not lost, however, for before Valkaryn can despair, one of the eggs hatches anyway.
With the newly born Zahana’s help, Valkaryn begins a quest to reignite the rebellion and free her people once and for all.
CHARACTERS
(this story is still in its developing stages! while i am happy with the story summary, the characters are still being developed & worked through!)
Valkaryn is the last remaining member of Eswya’s dynasty. The rest of her family perished when the slavers came, or shortly after. She escaped at thirteen and encountered a dragon in the mountains. The dragon gave her a new name, five eggs, and a destination. Now, Valkaryn leads a rebellion, her most trusted advisors and her dragon-daughter Zahana at her side.
Zahana is a young dragon, nearly full grown physically, but she has a while to go mentally. Her mother is the most important person in her life, and the only person with any hope of telling her what to do. Stubborn, prideful, arrogant, and easily angered, Zahana is a foe to be feared. Zahana enjoys collecting and decorated bones, collecting gemstones, and eating people who piss her off.
Sa’dia escaped slavery when the slavers first came. Things changed with the rise of the rebellion. The slavers grew harsher, and Sa’dia was captured. Her anger against the rebellion was used to persuade her to work against them. When the rebellion caught her, she would have been killed, if not for Valkaryn’s intervention. Sa’dia has sworn her loyalty to Valkaryn, in repayment for the life debt.
Ranya was trained as an assassin before the slavers came. She masqueraded as a belly dancer. On the night the rebellion moved against the city, Ranya used the confusion to finally make her move against the leader of the city. When Valkaryn arrived, she pledged her service to the rebellion, intent on ridding the country of the slavers.
Imrie is a young bard who’s parents joined on with the resistance during it’s earliest stages. Never good at fighting, Imrie decided that he would be the one to chronicle Eswya’s fall, and their path back to glory. He’s quite the flirt, often professing his love for Ranya and Valkaryn--though in truth, he thinks of them both as sisters.
taglist: @firesidefantasy; @aurikhai; @aslanwrites; @incandescent-creativity; (lemme know if you want to be added or removed!
thank you!! I’m going to do this one for Zahana, from my lesser talked about WIP XD
[send a ⭐️ + a character to get five random facts!]
she likes to collect bones & pretty jewels/gems. sa’dia introduces her to the idea of decorating her bones, which she does as a hobby.
has never actually eaten a person, but has bit them.
spends most of her childhood in dragon form, and most of her teens as an in-between form. this way, she can fit in the meeting hall and glower at people who are being mean to her mother. (they’re not actually, but Z is overprotective)
enjoys taking sand baths. which mostly means rolling around in the sand. & then passing out in the sun because warm.
used to lay around her mom’s neck like a scarf or shoulder drape. people thought she was fake… until she lifted her head and started breathing little puffs of flame at them, because they got too loud.
The kingdom of Eswya began in the plains. It began with a knight, leading a group of people from a war-torn land. Each of them was lured by the promise of somewhere they could start over. It is said that the knight was guided there by a dragon, and that ever after, the city regarded the great lizards as their patrons.
For a long time, the people knew peace. They expanded into the nearby desert, growing cities all the way to the Dragonfire plateau. And all the while, descendants of the knight held the throne. Such prosperity, however, could not last.
In the southern kingdoms, there was born a king who desired an empire to his name. He marched his armies north and laid siege to Eswya. The war was almost laughably short. The king took Eswya’s throne and slaughtered most of the royal family. Save for one.
Shortly after her thirteenth birthday, the young princess fled. In the mountains bordering her home, she met a dying dragon. The dragon gives the girl a new new name, and tells her of a rebellion on the desert outskirts. In return for these things, she asks the newly named Valkaryn to take the last remaining eggs of her draconic clan to the Dragonfire plateau.
However, when Val reaches the outskirts of the kingd, she finds the rebellion early quashed... and the fires meant to hatch the eggs burnt out. All is not lost, however, for before Valkaryn can despair, one of the eggs hatches anyway. With the newly born Zahana’s help, Valkaryn begins a quest to reignite the rebellion and free her people once and for all.
How organized are they? How does this organization/disorganization manifest in their everyday life?
Zahana is... not the most organized person outside of her horde. She just does what Val tells her to do--and tries to do it to the best of her ability--and then after that, does whatever.
Is this person afraid of dying? Why or why not?
Zahana doesn’t even consider dying as a possibility tbh. That’s something that happens to other people, not her.
“Yes. It’s important, I’ve found, for my loved ones to know how I’m feeling, as my face is often very placid. Out of necessity, yes, but it can make personal relationships difficult.
what is your greatest fear?
“Losing Zahana. Or my freedom.”
are you a dog or a cat person? why?
“I think I am more of a cat person. Most dogs have such energy and life to them, which is pleasant to be around, but not something I can handle long term, I think. Cats have bursts of energy, but are much more willing to laze around.”
what would their job be in the modern day?
Val would probably either do something with animals or be heavily involved in social work, I think!
which musical artists would they listen to?
Florence + the Machine; Phildel; & Shireen off the top of my head.
would they rather live in the countryside or in a city?
hmmmm. the city is what she’s used to! but i think she would also enjoy the countryside. so i’m not really sure on this one <3
rules: tell us which love languages your characters have! give an explanation if you want to, and then tag some people :)
tagged by: @firesidefantasy
maybe i should have waited & seen if i got tagged again but!! i really wanted to do this for both my major WIPs and i didn’t want to wait. so :D
valkaryn: she’s big on words of affirmation! she likes when people compliment her or tell her she’s doing well, especially since she spends so much of her life unsure & afraid. after that, she likes physical touch & quality time. touch, especially without ill-intent, is grounding & comforting, while quality time reminds her that she isn’t alone.
zahana: words of affirmation & gifts. these two are very equal for zahana, like maybe a one number difference. the words of affirmation she mainly wants from her mother & gifts from others, but she’ll take either. she likes being told (reminded of) how amazing she is and how pretty. & then she loves being given things that remind people of her, particularly if they’re things she can add to her little horde.
sa’dia: quality time is sa’dia’s main love language. she loves when her loved ones take interest in her hobbies & what she has to say. it’s one of the reasons she’s remained around valkaryn! she says it’s because of the life debt, but in truth, it’s because val has consistently offered her choices & a say in what goes on. her second love language is physical touch! she likes hugs, claps on the back, hand-holding, kisses, etc.
ranya: ranya’s main love language is physical touch, with quality time as her second. being an assassin, most people she knows are too afraid of her to really want to spend a lot of time with her, let alone get close to her. so having people that trust her enough to do that... well. it’s very nice! she likes it a lot.
imrie: his main love language is words of affirmation! he likes when people tell him that he’s a good singer, that his music is nice, etc. he also really likes physical touch! hugs & kisses & hand-holding & cuddles are things he very much enjoys. and then quality time would be his third!
not tagging anyone in this one, but if you see this and want to do it, go for it!! <3
