The Golden Key Q & A ▬▬▬▬▬

A knight. A mage. A possessed tribesman. A fire daemon. And a young Rhey'Vannese man - all lumped together in close quarters with only a single goal to keep them going: to save their home! Originally on formspring, this is the ask / rp blog for the cast and crew of the wwyff*, The Golden Key, an interactive fiction story set in the fantasy world of Eyrie. Text-based because I can't art to save my life. Everything will be automatically answered in script-style, unless prompted otherwise. Also, feel free to ask questions of any side/background characters you may come across! The ask box is open for them as well! - Run by [this weird little kid]. [image source] [sidebar source] *What's a wwyff, you ask? Also seen as WWFFY, it stands for Who Would You Fall For/ Who Would Fall For You. They work like a cross between a Choose Your Own Adventure story and a otome/visual novel game, where each of your actions further your relationship with certain characters in the story.

[the-golden-key]

hey! So I guess it's been a hot minute since I last used this blog (having a whole separate account instead of a sideblog doesn't help when you forget your password...) 

In the spirit of character blogs, I've recently started up a sideblog for some d&d characters of mine - mostly it's just me reblogging some relevant things about them, but if anyone wants to drop by and leave an ask or something to give me an excuse to prattle on some thoughts about 'em, that'd be cool of you. Don't know if I'll do some RP-style answers, though if prompted specifically maybe?? Who knows. 

Anyway, the account in question is @hearthkeep so I'll probably see you over there? 

[the-golden-key]

Quick post to say that I may not get around to answering all questions until after 6th June, which is when my final exam is. I've got about 8 sitting in my inbox for now. If I get my butt organised I may find time to do a couple between now and then but I thought I might post something just in case I'm not. ^^; Feel free to still send in asks, as I'll still get around to them -- just not until my exam's done. I really do appreciate seeing what I get sent in (from the wacky to the thought-provoking) and answering these are an immense help to my writing. And it's all thanks to you guys out there, so thank you!

[the-golden-key]

Hey guys, thought Id say whats up as I finish your portraits. So hey! Soren, I hope I captured your wonderfully sculpted face decently. As for the rest of you, what have you guys been doing?? I can exempt Soren ((as he doesn't do much to contribute anyway~)) but the rest of you seem to have taken a major break from your adventures! ((BTW thank you rush~! Love your story since forever! I'm pretty sure I've said that but Ill say it again! You're seriously amazing! ))

SOREN: My face is of such beauty that it cannot be captured and put to a mere image!CORVIS: [rolls eyes]SOREN: But if anyone was going to be able to get the closest, I’d say that is going to be the best anyone is ever going to get.MAL: “Break”? “Break”! Just because we haven’t thwarted any major monster sieges, doesn’t mean we’ve been sitting on our rear ends doing nothing!SCHAEL: Please take a deep breath. I’m certain that is not what was meant.MAL: Oh, I’m sure that’s exactly what you’d want! You just want me not to defend myself and make myself look completely incompetent.SCHAEL: [sighs]MAL: I have been prepping things and running recon for getting us up and running on Earth, so it’s not like I’ve been doing nothing. [looks sideways towards Schael] Which is not what I can say for you, who is spending time locked away all the time.CORVIS: But so do I? I use a lot of time to do private study for myself and the Vested.MAL: Yeah, but I know you’re just practising magic.CORVIS: …SCHAEL: …RAOLF: I’m really sorry that Mal is getting angry over this! He just takes a whole lot of pride in what he does. But it’s not like we haven’t been taking time out to just rest and enjoy ourselves every now and again!MAL: [huffs]RAOLF: Anyway, Schael, you’ve been helping Corvis lately, haven’t you?SCHAEL: Oh, uh, yes. Yes, I have. The Vested are, of course, a very well-respected institution and I, naturally, have been interested in assisting Corvis. I lack his arcane talent, but if I can help, I try.MAL: [quirks an eyebrow]

[the-golden-key]

*Valdís changes her hold on Corvis, so that he's cradled in a proverbial princess hold, his feet towards Soren* There you go slap 'em on. *Looks down at Corvis and offers an amused suggestion* You're a nervous and it makes it harder to think before you speak? *Her attention is drawn towards Mal and Schael* If you lovers aren't too busy we do need to make for the nearest port. The princeling needs to be put ashore, and we need to track down a cargo ship called the Starlen.

CORVIS: [makes a disgruntled squeaking noise as he is handled, prompting a laugh from Soren]SOREN: Consider them slapped! [attaches the handcuffs and locks them with a snap, and grasps Corvis by the cheeks, squishing his jowls] Now be a good mage and behave, okay?CORVIS: [attempts to smack his hand away, but Soren's hand doesn't even budge in the attempt] Dere wuz nofing abut yuu humiliading me! [voice is muffled by Soren's hand, which Soren removes at Valdís' suggestion] Wh-wh--Y-yes! I guess? [scowls and shades a further tint of red] S-something like that! Why are you even giving me a reason anyway? I thought you were out to use me!SOREN: "Use". It has many different reasons~CORVIS: Oh, shut up.MAL: L-lovers?! [balks] Why on Eyrie would you even -- even if for some Condor-depraved reason I wished to bathe in eternal hellfire and was [falters] h-hom--ga--liked me--that way inclined, Schael would be the last person in existence!SCHAEL: [grimaces] The nearest port will do. It would be preferred, at this rate. If you excuse me to gather some necessities, then, I'll be out of your designs to allow you to plot your course.MAL: [narrows his eyes at Schael, but is quickly distracted] Oh, well. If we have time to take a detour to Aegis, I may be acquainted with a person who is very good at keeping track on where airships are?

[the-golden-key]

*coughs* Well you guys haven’t seen me in a while! Haha but remember like… A BILLION years ago how I may have asked if pictures were all right…? *Slams the copy down on the table* Well I better get at the rest!

[the-golden-key]

What's everyone like when they're drunk?

SOREN: I’m more fun.CORVIS: You’re louder and more obnoxious, you mean.MAL: When Soren’s drunk, it’s like all his personality traits are dialled up to twenty. He has even less of a filter, if that’s even possible.SCHAEL: I will lecture people and become more and more argumentative. Not in a violent manner, but I do become more contemptible and ungracious. I’ll admit it, the few times I’ve been churlishly intoxicated, I’ve become insufferable and pretentious.MAL: And you’re not now?!CORVIS: I’m not old enough to drink, so I wouldn’t have a clue! I’d imagine I’m probably the one who falls asleep, though.MAL: Neither have I, really. I’ve had a little bit that dad’s offered me on special occasions, but I’ve never really had enough to feel anything.RAOLF: I think I did get a little tipsy once? By accident? I didn’t know it was alcoholic!MAL: I remember that. You went around hugging everyone telling them you loved them.RAOLF: I apologised the next morning, though! I didn’t mean to make them all so awkward!

[the-golden-key]

How similar is Eyrien birth control to the kind found on Earth?

CORVIS: Ah, w-well, ah, uh… [scratches the bridge of his nose] M-most places…SCHAEL: The biggest difference in birth control is that Earth has a variety of surgical interventions. Implants are no such thing, for starters. Surgery in Eyrie lacks the finesse found on Earth, at any rate, so it is not quite a viable option for the masses yet. Oral contraceptives are not particularly widespread, as well. Rhey'Van is one of the places you could easily acquire them – the other being Estharia.  The most common forms of birth control are condoms or simple abstinance. SOREN: “Abstinance”, pfft.CORVIS: I was going to g-get there, I swear! You didn’t have to butt in!SOREN: Judging by how red you’re going, not without you popping a blood vessel. [ruffles Corvis’ hair, which earns him a pointed look]SCHAEL: Ah, I’m certain it was creating a deal of disturbance for you. I don’t think we really have the liberty of waiting for you to stutter the whole answer, at any rate.CORVIS: …O-oh.

[the-golden-key]

*gasps* I have that problem too! I never know what to name a character, so I try to stick to about two or three names that I use on rotation. They seem to work well. For now.

I think because I've been trying to refind what threads I was replying to months ago, I have no idea what this is referring to specifically. D: I apologise for my scatterbrain!

For a moment I was really nervous, though, because although I didn't say it, I'd been sitting on the question about the popular Guardia knights for a while -- not because I didn't know (I had the idea for them sketched up early on), but because I had no idea what to name them. I seriously considered asking you if you're psychic for a moment. d:

[the-golden-key]

Maybe Vartaan is just that good Mal. That or he's the ultimate decoration.

MAL: I don't disagree that he's not really quick on his feet, but surely you slip up somewhere? Nobody starts off perfect.SOREN: Have you met me?MAL: [rolls his eyes] Maybe he is decoration.

[the-golden-key]

Yes, that was my point little prince. *Valdís gives a slightly wicked laugh at the sight of the handcuffs* Oh those will be perfect! Put them around his ankles, they'll be excellent hobbles, and if he misbehaves you can heat them until he feels more cooperative. *Looks directly into Corvis's eyes, her own bright with mirth* Not that he'll need to will he Snowflake? Not when we've become such, *She savors the next word* close, friends.

SCHAEL: [pinches his eyebrows together slightly at the term] I was simply ensuring Mal did not get the wrong idea, that is all.MAL: Oh great, so now you're calling me stupid. That's smart of you.CORVIS: H-heh?! [flushes red, recoiling his head slightly as she stares]SOREN: I like your thinking! Turn 'im around and let me snap these on!CORVIS: H-hey! Wait! I mean, come on! I can cool them down just as easy as you can heat the-- and why am I saying this out loud?SOREN: [laughs] Well, I can always go pull out the fluffy pair --CORVIS: Oh, by the Condor, I don't want that anywhere near me. I don't even want to know what's been -- ugh, I'll behave, okay?

[the-golden-key]

Is there a Knight of Guardia that's particularly popular in the castle? Like their train sessions always seem to draw people to watch or there's always gossip or a fuss about love letters or something of the such for them when they're in the castle?

MAL: There’d probably be two contenders for that prize. First one is Ondrea – she was born and raised in Aegis and both her parents were knights as well. She’s kinda like the homegrown darling of the Order. Everyone knows her and likes her. She’s just got that big sister vibe to her that people just gravitate towards. If that wasn’t enough, she also single-handedly disbanded a plot to assassinate the King in her first year of being a fully ordained knight! The other one is [pulls a slight face] Vartaan, and the only reason the girls go crazy over him is because he’s from the other side of Cheloy and everyone just thinks he’s so “exotic”.

SOREN: [scoffs] I think someone’s jealous~

MAL: Hey, I’ll say it. Off the record, I’d probably say he’s the only person I’d like to punch just so his face isn’t so pretty and see how the girls swoon, then! All the screaming gets really distracting when you’re trying to do drills, you know? I just want to know how you can be a professional knight and still have a straight nose or not have scars somewhere on you.

[the-golden-key]

*Waves from around a corner* Hey you guys! Whose excited for summer!? Have any plans to go to the beach or anything? :D I can't wait! Warm weather, hiking trips, ice cream, concerts and fairs? How can it get better?

RAOLF: I can’t wait! It’s always nice to be outside in the sunshine! And even in spring when all the baby animals come out~

SOREN: Yeah, I’ll admit the warmer weather is nice. And for more reasons than just one: swimwear and shorts, aw yiss.

CORVIS: [rolls eyes]

SCHAEL: I do prefer the cooler months, but it’s hard not to find pleasure in longer days and when those around you feel more uplifted in spirit.

CORVIS: Yeah, I agree with Schael. No thanks, I’ll just stay inside until it gets back into decent non-melting temperatures. I don’t cope well with heat. It’s not like I’m a big fan of the outdoors, anyway!

MAL: We don’t really have any plans, but maybe if we get the chance it’d be nice to do something in the warmer weather. Although most sports are played in winter months, right?

SOREN: I vote for a trip to the beach!

MAL: Yeah, and we all know why you want that.

RAOLF: Ooh! I want to play in the waves again, please!

SOREN: See? Raolf’s in, too!

[the-golden-key]

*Valdís lets her amusment color her voice* I believe we already covered that Snowflake. *Her amusement dims as she regards Malkyor* Their path would end in death, as will yours and everyone under your command. *She brightens again* Though not for some time I should think.

CORVIS: R-right. I guess maybe not from, uh, this close, then?

MAL: E-eh... [is taken aback and struggles to find a comeback]

SCHAEL: I think that’s something everyone has in common, knight or not, and under Mal’s command or not.

MAL: You both are cheery, aren’t you?

SOREN: I have returned! [reappears, brandishing a set of handcuffs] These should do, no?

MAL: Wha-- where the hell did you get a set of handcuffs from? Those aren’t from Eyrie!

CORVIS: I’m just happy they’re not fluffy. [pulls a face]

[the-golden-key]

(( How did Soren's human parents even manage!? )) 7 hours later, and the guys have finally returned to normal after Orange has had to stop the ship's destruction at least 4 times, been bitten who knows how many times by Soren to stop him from killing/injuring himself and everyone else (if her fully bruised forearm is any indication, a lot) and of course stopping all the shenanigans. The boys do remember their kid adventure and the damage they've done. Also Orange no longer wants kids. Reactions?

CORVIS: That... was terrible and I wasn’t even the one who was playing up. Remind me to never go near a baby fire daemon.

SOREN: I want to know what the hell happened to Mal?

MAL: [rubs his temples] I am so sorry. I was a, uh, bit of a handful growing up.

SOREN: You used to be fun! And now you’re just -- even Schael was in on it!

SCHAEL: [grimaces] There was no way to know how I would react. Orange, you proved yourself invaluable with how you handled the situation.

RAOLF: [takes Orange’s bruised arm with a muffled wail] Please let me fix this as an apology! Or just bandage it up, or -- Corvis, do you have anything that will stop all the swelling?

CORVIS: It’s a nasty bruise, but... it’s just a bruise. Maybe I should get something to clean the bite marks, though. You don’t want to catch stupid from Soren.

RAOLF: I-I’m sure not every child’s going to be as bad as that was! You can’t give up on children from that!

SOREN: Aaan surprisingly, you’re still a crybaby, Raolf.

RAOLF: Aha... [fidgets sheepishly] B-but -- oh Mal! You and Schael -- you two got on, didn’t you?

SCHAEL: Ah...

MAL: ...

SOREN: Nice try, but I don’t think it’s going to happen.

MAL: Seriously, Orange, you name me something and I’ll get it for you after dealing with that!

[the-golden-key]

Birthday list (converted to Gregorian calendar)

This is mostly for my own reference so I can access this on the go, but it’s possibly useful for others?

Raolf: 28th Feb/1st March

Mal: 21st May

Soren: 20th June

Schael: 1st November

Corvis: 30th December

[the-golden-key]

I meant both, Corvis. Books from Earth and from Eyrie. Oh, and I definitely understand your dilemma. But seeing you have a small meltdown from the question was a bit cute, if I have to be honest.

CORVIS: Well, that doesn’t help narrow down the field. It makes it worse! [pulls on his hair] How am I supposed to chose now?!

SOREN: It’s not that hard to make him have a meltdown, you know~

CORVIS: Wait. [straightens up, gawking] Did you just say “cute”?

MAL: It’s cute now, but you just wait until it’s because he can’t decide over what to name his character in a video game.

CORVIS: It’s a very important thing! It sets the tone for the whole game!

[the-golden-key]

*Valdís easily lifts Corvis off of Soren's shoulder transferring him to her own * Go then, I will watch him until you return. *Turns back to Malkyor * And why couldn't you be? Your skill determines how successful you will be at saving people, not your world view.

CORVIS: Hheeyy-- oh! [squeaks and is taken aback by how easily she picks him up and tenses up as she places him on her shoulder] U-uh... [just rather stares at her face awkwardly] Hi?

MAL: Sure, but I bet someone who hates the people they work so tirelessly to save would end up burning out very quickly. You might be a good knight for a little while, but I don’t see it ending very well!