somethingclevermahogony

[somethingclevermahogony]

Djek sort of reminds me of Suru.

Though I sort of imagine that Djek would still beat Suru in a fight and would almost certainly be braver than him.

Happy STS! Which of your OCs is the bravest and why?

Oh, this is a tough one, I'm really not sure. They're all brave in different ways. My initial thought was Mashal, but I think it's easier to be brave when you're made of unfeeling steel and runes. It's less easy when you're a scrawny sorcerer who knows only one spell.

Djek is by far the 'weakest' member of the Outcasts quartet. Physically, magically, strategically; you name it, someone's better at it. I, personally, could probably beat him hand-to-hand. His main strength is his creativity. Djek wins fights because he finds a way to get around them. However, he can't always do that. Sometimes, he has to plant his feet and take the blow. And despite all his shortcomings, Djek never fails to do this, even if he's dead terrified.

This man has dragged his friends out of fires, faced down divine champions with nothing but a box cutter, and even gone blow for blow with the physical embodiment of the apocalypse. Did he lose a lot of these battles? Absolutely. But he fought anyways because he knew his friends would pull through to win the war. Djek is brave because he has complete faith in his forged family. He knows they'll always pull through for him, always fight for him, so he does the same for them, even when he's hopelessly outmatched. He knows they've got his back.

Also, Djek believes in luck. He might know his opponent is more skilled, but that doesn't mean he can't get in a lucky blow. Most of the time, he doesn't, but occasionally - or on a single very memorable occasion - his gamble works spectacularly.

So yeah, props to my man Djek for throwing hands with End itself. He might’ve got his ass beat, but goddamn if he didn't get up there and try.

Thanks for the ask!

[somethingclevermahogony]

Friday Kiss Tag (Not Friday, oops)

Sorry its not Friday, time flies. Thank you for the tag, @mk-writes-stuff !

Rules: Post a scene with a kiss.

Here is the introduction to 2/3 of my pirate polycule.

Narul nodded. But he was too distracted to actually enjoy the view, rather he couldn’t stop thinking about Otilia and Ninma, and whether he would ever actually see them again. He glanced over at Suru, who was leaned over the side, whether gawking at some sort of sea life or emptying his guts, Narul could not tell. Penetinos sat scribbling on his wax writing pad, about what Narul had no idea,  after all they had only just left. Narul was pulled out of his thoughts by Istek who gave his arm an appreciative squeeze. “You’re a big lad, aren’t you?” Narul didn’t know how to respond. “What?” “Oh don’t be shy, lad! You’re a great big bull of a man! Be proud of it. I was born a scrawny little shit and I’ll likely die a scrawny little shit! The beard helps to hide it though.” Istek bellowed as he stroked his admittedly impressive whiskers. All the while he continued to squeeze and inspect Narul’s gargantuan bicep. “Thank you? You said you’ve met another spiritblood before?” Narul asked curiously, not sure whether to scoot away a bit. “ Oh yeah! It was about oh twenty three years ago, big brawny fella, Pyritian, I would guess he was from somewhere around Namut abouts, bout your size, maybe a bit smaller. Didn’t talk much and when he did it was mostly nonsense. Not a big fan of his. He paid me to ferry him from Korithia to Shabala. Bastard got in a fight with my first mate, threw him overboard and broke my rudder. If he wasn’t one of you lot I would have had him thrown off the side but I value my head. I let him off on the beach. He didn't give so much as a thanks, just stormed off into the forest. Never saw him again. I hope that you’re not such an ass, eh?” Narul shook his head and lifted his hands innocently. “Never.” “Well good! Where we’re going is going to be a big enough pain as it is!” Istek chuckled. “So this demigod, what was his name?” Istek scratched his cheek thoughtfully. “Mab? No Maba, something like that I think. I’ve heard of other demigods around the Green Sea too, mostly nonsense I imagine, sept for maybe one. Warrior queen in the forests north of Makora, she’s a monster they say.” Narul nodded thoughtfully. Istek chuckled, and gave his arm another experimental squeeze. “Gods, these are massive! Your hands too and just imagine~”  From across the deck one of the sailors called out. “Oi, Istek, get your hands off of that man, you old deviant. I swear someone should beat some sense into you.” Istek shot to his feet, bristling. “Don’t talk to your captain like that!” “What if I do?” Narul watched as the two rough old sailors approached each other. Istek was at least a head shorter than the other man but broader at the shoulder. Narul tensed. The rest of the crew seemed oddly apathetic to all of this.  Istek and the sailor who had dared to speak against him, glared at each other for a moment and Narul was concerned that he may have to step in, but then as he rose apprehensively to his feet, Istek stood up on his toes and pressed his lips to the sailor’s. The two stood like that for a moment, the sailor cupping the shorter man’s bearded cheek. When at last the two separated, Istek turned and laughed at Narul’s confused but relieved expression. “Narul, I would like you to meet my first mate, Dati.”

Tagging @illarian-rambling , @dyrewrites , @elsie-writes , @kaylinalexanderbooks , and whoever!

#testamentsofthegreensea #fantasy writing #writeblr #queer fantasy #narul #writing

[somethingclevermahogony]

Happy STS! I know you've got lots of warriors and fighters among your characters, but do any of them have a specific fighting style? Where did they learn to fight?

Hello and thank you for the question! I won't go too in-depth for this question. Edit: (Damn it, I accidentally posted this before I put tags)

(Some of) The Arts of Combat in the Green Sea

In the first three books of the Testaments of the Green Sea (The Ninma Cycle) there are a number of named characters who have received actual training in the arts of dueling and combat. These people are differentiated from characters like Jani and Imn, who while trained to function as part of a formation, have not received training when it comes to one on one battle. This also does not include sages who have been trained to use magic in a martial context such as Kerim and Zenit. Narul will also not be addressed as he is both untrained and not particularly skilled, he is reliant on his strength and durability to get him through a fight.

I will not be addressing every fighter as that would take ages and would get repetitive.

Basics

Central to nearly all traditions of combat in the Green Sea is the use of the spear and of the shield. Axes, hammers, maces, slings, and bows are additionally well-represented. The sword is a relative rarity, typically reserved for nobility, particularly in the Kishite culture.

Several cultures have strong dueling cultures, and it is from these cultures that these specific fighting arts arise. These are in large part influenced by their environment, the fighting arts of Apunian nobles for example, are quite different from those of pirate groups in Ikopesh and Makora. 

Hutbari

Kishite Chariot Archery, Kishite Wrestling, Kishite Dueling

Kishetal

As a prince of Labisa and not the immediate heir to the throne, Hutbari spent much of his youth learning the arts of war. He was trained in the art of archery both on foot and from a chariot, as is befitting of Kishite nobility. In addition he received training in Kishite wrestling, used to sharpen the body and mind, and in the art of dueling. Hutbari’s weapon of choice was a particular variety of long hook-like sword, the ishkapa. Hutbari was a large and powerfully built man in his youth and excelled at these arts, he even won awards for his prowess in wrestling. Unfortunately his old age and increasingly sedentary lifestyle have tempered much of his skill.

Hutbari was trained by a number of tutors, including his father, King Mushadi.

Kishite wrestling is primarily concerned with grappling and pushing, while mostly used for sport, it can have marital uses as well, practitioners are often taught how to break or dislocate bones, and this knowledge can at times be used in combat.

Kishite Dueling is a strictly noble art, not practiced by commoners, and the event of a duel is a highly organized and rule bound affair. Locations, weapons, and time must be agreed between participants. Armor, spears, and shields are all typically banned in such confrontations. Duels are typically based around the use of bladed weapons, swords and axes. Thanks to its design, and resultant fragility, the ishkapa is not used for warfare, as against a shield or armor it is likely to break. However the ishkapa is used in duels. Its hooked shape does not allow for stabbing, so rather the weapon is meant to slash, the hook may also be used to grab or disarm. The long thin blade is particularly suited to slipping between joints and vertebrae. The sign of mastery with the ishkapa is the ability to decapitate an opponent without breaking the blade. Dueling with the ishkapa is a fast paced and vicious affair, for this reason, the art of combat with the ishkapa is sometimes called “viper fighting.”

Akard

Kasesh Dueling, Namut Longbow Archery, Apunian Boxing (Pykhema)

Apuna

Akard was raised in the Apunian Palace at Nashawey and was educated in the ways of warfare as an officer in the Fapacha’s army both in Namut and in Pyria.

Archery and bow-hunting is a regular past-time for Apunian nobility. The Apunian use two primary kinds of bow, the native shortbow, and the adopted Namutian longbow. The shortbow is favored for its speed and accuracy while the Namutian bow is favored for its power. It is said that a warrior with a strong enough bow can shoot an arrow clean through the hide of a crocodile. Akard was initially trained in the art of the long-bow by a Namutian servant by the name of Jwa, held in captivity at the palace of Nashawey. He would further hone his skill with the weapon well fighting Namutian raiders in the south. Learning more about the practice from and in the process befriending the Namutian prisoner, Qiruk.

The Kasesh is a sickle-sword, relatively long when compared to the shorter leaf-bladed short sword favored by most Apunians. It has roots in the lands of Jezaan, roots which it shares with the Kishite ishkapa. However the kasesh is not so drastically curved and is much more sturdy in its build, because of this, the sword may be used in battle, though it typically only used as a secondary weapon. Kasesh dueling typically involves an even number of participants (2-10) with even numbers on either side. Participants use a sword and shield and are otherwise unarmed. Kasesh dueling is a close quarters style of combat, often shield to shield. Many duels are ended when one combatant is shoved off of their feet, thus allowing for the application of a killing blow. Akard was trained by the Apunian lord, Khuti.

Apunian boxing or Pykhema is viewed as the purview of the common people, brutal and crude. It constitutes not only strikes with the fist, but also with the elbow and knee. Participants typically wrap their hands in linen before a fight in order to prevent damage to the knuckles. Pykhema is not a particularly subtle practice and often the strongest combatant (or at least the one that can deal the hardest and fastest strike) will be the winner. Akard learned boxing from his soldiers while fighting in Pyria. He is a relatively amateur boxer.

Zatar

Kishite Wrestling and Spear-Dancing

Kishetal

Zatar is a prodigy when it comes to combat. His supernatural heritage has afforded him a speed and strength unmatched by normal men. Even before receiving training under the rule of Akard, Zatar was a skilled wrestler and a deadly hunter. He learned his craft on the streets of Labisa and the surrounding forest. He made his first spear from wood and stone at the age of 13, and killed his first boar at 14. After joining Akard’s court he was trained in the art of the spear by the palace spear-master, Mosiru. He would quickly surpass his master in skill, as evidenced by the fact that he killed Mosiru in a fit of rage during a spar, using nothing but a wooden stick.

Zatar’s style of fighting is unique to him, he moves with a speed and grace which is comparable to dancing. He moves with an ease which does not seem befitting of a man of his size, which makes him all the more dangerous. He fights with a short spear, 6 feet in length, a shield, and a small curved sword. In battle he roars and howls like a beast. He is called the Wrath and the Blood-Dancer. Zatar is far and away the greatest and perhaps the most vicious warrior and duelist of his age.

Even without his weapons he is force to be reckoned with, with a punch he can kill a man, and he is not afraid to rip, gouge, or bite.

Galatides

Atamasian Dueling

Korithia (Atamis)

Galatides is the head mercenary of a band of Korithians under the employ of the Kishite merchant, Wadakir. In his youth Galatides was a traveling duelist, fighting in the Atamasian style. He won renown and fame, unbeaten in his discipline, before moving to Chibal to enjoy the privileged position as an employee of Wadikir. 

He learned his art from his father, the general Akamalenon. Atamasian dueling and Korithian dueling in general is far less organized and rule-based than its Apunian and Kishite equivalents. Duelists may wear armor, use a shield, and use any weapon they choose (with the exception of the bow or sling). Atamasian and southern Korithian styles are unique in their use of the waphios a long and thin sword, somewhat similar to the rapier. The waphios is designed to slip between armor to deliver a killing blow. The most famed expression of this is a downward strike behind the collarbone and down into the chest-cavity, typically done after an opponent has been driven to their knees.

Galatides fights with a typical Korithian spear, 7ft, with the waphios acting as a side arm.

Istek

Ikopeshi Knife Fighting and Knoshic Boxing (Pyokem)

Ikopesh, Makora, and Knosh

Istek received most of his training later in his life after escaping from the Cult of the Golden Poplar. He learned the art of Ikopeshi knife fighting as a pirate. Ikopeshi knife fighting, while it originates in Ikopesh, has been adopted by most sea-faring peoples. It involves the use of one or two small knives, and is reliant on speed and attacking vital areas such as the throat and under the arm. Istek fights with two stone knives, which he replaces with relative frequency. These knives are often favored at sea as the salinity of the air and water does not cause corrosion as with iron, copper, or bronze. This particular style of fighting was developed for use on the crowded decks of ships, where a spear may not be practical. This style is not particularly well-suited in combat with armored individuals.

Istek learned Knoshic Boxing (the ancestor of Apunian Boxing) from his first mate and partner, Dati. While he lacks Dati’s finesse and speed as a boxer, he makes up for it in force. Istek is a rough and rugged brawler.

He has combined Knife fighting and Knoshic boxing in his own way.

Dati

Ikopeshi Knife Fighting and Knoshic Boxing

Ikopesh and Knosh

Dati is the opposite of Istek in many ways. He learned Knoshic boxing from a young age. Compared to the Apunian style, Knoshic boxing is not quite as brutal, it's faster, more reliant on jabs and swift kicks rather than haymakers and other hard and high-intensity attacks. Dati was taught this style of boxing from a young age from his father and older brother. The particular style of boxing used by Dati and his tribe is unique, in that it makes use of the prehensile tail found in his people. The tail is used to grip and unsteady a person, causing their guard to drop.

Dati learned knife fighting from Istek, and like Istek combined it with his own experience with boxing. Dati is faster and more fluid fighter compared to his partner, and while he may be quieter overall, he is a better fighter. Dati uses stone knives, much like Istek, however Dati’s tail makes his style of combat unique, and on rare occasions he may even use it in order to fight with an additional small knife, used to attack the unsuspecting ankles of an opponent. Sihunu, his other opponent has affectionately referred to him as “The Scorpion”.

Ninma (Teenage and Adult)

Ikopeshi Knife Fighting and Kishite Boxing (Inspired)

Ikopesh and Kishetal

Ninma, against the wishes of Narul and Otilia, was taught the art of knife-fighting by Dati. Because of her relatively small size, she is largely reliant on speed rather than strength. Unlike Dati and Istek, she typically only fights with one knife, one which was gifted to her by Dati.

Her particular style of knife fighting has also been influenced by Kishite Wrestling. While she herself has never been taught in the art, she did watch her brothers practice and was subsequently able to pick up certain parts even from such a young age. She would later apply these skills when learning to fight later in life. She grapples, using her body to trip up and partially immobilize an opponent before striking with her knife. She is quite adept at using her opponents' greater size against them.

#testamentsofthegreensea #fantasy writing #writeblr #fantasy #writing #worldbuilding #fantasy world #world building #narul

[somethingclevermahogony]

Y'all guessed right (might have helped that I already posted an intro about him, oops) Zatar is the youngest of two children. But Zatar and Narul are distantly related on their mothers's side. Narul's Great Great Grandmother is the same as Zatar's Grandmother.

Two Truths and a Lie Tag

I was tagged by @roach-pizza , thank you for that!

For this one I will do Zatar/Zatur from the first three books of Testaments.

Tagging @illarian-rambling , @unrepentantcheeseaddict , @foragedbonesblog , @mk-writes-stuff , and @kaylinalexanderbooks

[somethingclevermahogony]

Character Voice Tag

Thank you for the tag @illarian-rambling ! My line: "That's certainly a fashion statement you're making." Your line: "I really don't want to be here right now."

(Keeping this one short) Narul: "I...I don't think I've ever seen clothes like that before. Not that they're bad or anything just...unique?" Ninma: The child claps her hands excitedly, "Oh oh oh! A clown!" It is not entirely clear whether or not she's joking.

Otilia: "Hmm, eye-catching...certainly..."

Istek: "What the fuck are you wearing? Its like you skinned a peacock..."

Akard: "I understand that my subjects have their own personal tastes when it comes to clothing, but you are disrupting the function of this court. Change."

Tagging @scribble-dee-vee , @abalonetea , @patternwelded-quill , and @roach-pizza

#writing #testamentsofthegreensea #tag game #character voice tag

[somethingclevermahogony]

Character Voice Tag

Thank you for the tag @phoenixradiant ! My line is: "Over my dead body!"

Your line is: " Did you hear that?"

These are characters from the first book of ToGS (Testaments of the Green Sea)

Narul: "Yeah? Why don't you try that, see how well it goes."

Ninma: "Nuh uh! No way! Fuck off!" She quickly glances around to make sure that none of the adults heard her curse.

Hutbari: "Ridiculous! Enough of this nonsense! If you truly think that is going to happen while I am seated on this throne I will have your brains dashed against the floor where you stand."

Bazus: "Never, I would never and will never allow that. Do you know who I am, the blood that runs in my veins? I will cut you down just for suggesting that."

Zenit: "What? No...No! How dare you? Of course you cannot!"

Akard: "Do you truly think that I would permit that?"

Zatar: "Do it. Now."

Otilia: "No! Keep suggesting idiotic things and I will treat you like the idiot that you are!"

Penetinos: "Excuse me? No, no of course not. I do not give you permission, now go, I have work to do."

Istek: "Give it a go, eh? Go on, I have faith in you. But just so you know, if you do that, someone is ending up dead." Dati: "And it won't be him."

Tagging @rhyaxxyn , @theprissythumbelina , @elsie-writes , and leaving it open!

#testamentsofthegreensea #writeblr #writing #tag game #character voice tag

[somethingclevermahogony]

OC in 3

Thank you for the tag, @kaylinalexanderbooks (here)!

Rules: include three pictures that represent an OC - cite your sources and include image IDs to make your post accessible :)

Penetinos (Testaments of the Green Sea)

Source 1 Source 2 Source 3

Penetinos' intro page, here!

Tagging @illarian-rambling , @elsie-writes , @elizaellwrites , @dyrewrites , and anyone else who is interested!

#testamentsofthegreensea #writeblr #writing #oc in three #tag game #oc

[somethingclevermahogony]

Last Line Tag

I was tagged by @illarian-rambling , thank you!

From Testaments Book 1, Akard meeting Zenit

The gifts of a seer though rare and precious came at a cost, to see what the spirits see and to receive their interpretations of the future the mind and body must be open to them. These spirits, often malicious, wreaked havoc on the bodies and minds of their hosts. It was enough to drive most mad. To prepare themselves for the intrusion, Seers often took powerful drugs and potions, to numb the senses and expand the mind. Even still Seers were withered and weak, their bodies broken by the toxins they ingested, reduced to living skeletons. This girl was not quite so pitiful, though she was thin and fragile. Yet she was still painfully thin, her rich brown hair streaked with silver, her eyes clouded, all of this despite only seeing twenty-five years. Zenit bowed her head politely, her voice though ragged was soft, almost melodic as was often the case for those who came from the land of Shabala. Her guide stood at her shoulder, a short and stocky woman with kind eyes.

Tagging @mk-writes-stuff , @mercurialsmile , @verba-writing , @elsie-writes , and whoever!

#testamentsofthegreensea #writeblr #writing #narul #tag game #last line #wip excerpt

[somethingclevermahogony]

Thanks for the tag @bloodmoonloveletter!

Last Line Tag

From MG book 3, Avymere's POV

It was easy for the Duchon to put one foot in front of the other by the time the caravan started moving, despite the omnipresent ache that came with every breath. Everything was easy if you had a purpose. *** By midday, the desert sun was seriously testing Avymere’s previous, icy resolve.

I just think this is funnier with the paragraph break

I'll tag @somethingclevermahogony @televisionjester @melodicwriter @revenantlore and anyone else who wants to play :)

#other writers!

[somethingclevermahogony]

Hello and Welcome!

it's a new year and a lot has happened since the last time i did an intro, including a new campaign starting and me making a new years resolution to indulge my creative side more, so i'd like to re-introduce myself and also say hello to the writblr community!

my main blog is @persnickety-peahen, so that's where all my follows will come from. you can call me any variation of either of my blog names, or just C; they/she pronouns. i'm in my mid-twenties, happily married, queer, and neurodivergent.

i've been enamored with the idea of writing from childhood, but since university a lot of that energy has gotten channeled into TTRPGs due to life circumstances, so now instead of writing i obsess over my PCs and make long, detailed documents full of exploitable backstory content, NPCs, and worldbuilding elements for my DM(s)! :D

yes i am and have always been the designated note-taker in all of my campaigns, why do you ask?

aside from writing and TTRPGs, i enjoy baking, taking wiki walks, and playing Stardew Valley, and lately i've also started teaching myself how to do pixel art. i love the blorbos from my campaigns so much and will impulsively share stories about them to anyone who will listen, hence me making this blog as a place to infodump about my beloveds! content here includes fun stories from the big four campaigns i've been part of, out of context session notes, and especially various kinds of mentally ill blorbo posting, as well as a bunch of reblogs of stuff from the writblr, whumpblr, and TTRPG communities (including pretty dice and dice trays!). someday i might also get around to posting an actual ongoing narrative recap of one of my campaigns, and some of the blorbo-related pixel art i've been making.

so! without further ado, here's a little bit about my big four campaigns:

Curse of Strahd Homebrew Status: on haitus but hopefully resuming soon! System: DnD 5e Story: this is a heavily homebrewed version of the 5e Curse of Strahd campaign book (like, we're talking a good 80% or more homebrew) DMed by my husband, @somethingclevermahogony. it's all of your dark queer gothic horror dreams come true! (and also body horror. lots of body horror. and whump, for good measure) it follows a group of naive young adventurers who find themselves lured to and trapped in Barovia, a country banished to its own little pocket dimension in the Shadowfell over 400 years ago as punishment for the atrocities committed by its dread king Strahd von Barovich. here, they encounter challenges and horrors beyond anything they've ever experienced before, including hordes of vengeful undead, capitalist hags who sell hallucinogenic pies made with 'shrooms and children's brain matter, an eldritch not-quite-god and his/their cursed corn farm, a delusional angel who repairs people's broken bodies without care for consent, and, of course, the dread king Strahd himself, as well as his many powerful and loyal followers. all of them seek to manipulate our would-be heroes to their own ends—and unfortunately for everyone, they've been rather successful so far. Main Blorbo: in this campaign, i play a 23-year-old human tempest cleric called Cerris, who is a solid 80% of the reason i made this sideblog. he's my comfort character. he's my bisexual disaster babygirl. he's my rotten soldier, my sweet cheese, my good bad time boy. he's like the dysfunctional lovechild of Clark Kent and Jonathan Harker: a sheltered farmboy of debatably noble birth granted a sliver of divine power by circumstances beyond his control, who just left home for the first time to answer the call of adventure and got stuck here in fantasy Transylvania instead, where he has since become Strahd's new favorite plaything. among other poor decisions, he has 1) gotten romantically entangled with Ireena Kolyana, a fiery though equally sheltered young noblewoman who is unfortunately the object of Strahd's obsessive plans to escape Barovia and conquer Faerun, 2) inadvertently adopted the sweet but chaotic Milo, a halfling boy turned into a horrible monster by Strahd's experiments 400 years ago (the Bagman. Cerris adopted the Bagman), and 3) gotten himself possessed by the angry ghost of Strahd's little brother, Sergei, whom Strahd killed and cannibalized in an unfortunately effective bid to gain godlike power. he has a lot to learn before he's ready to face Strahd, but i believe that one day, Cerris will help save Barovia. Bonus Blorbo: if Cerris is my babygirl, then Milo is my precious little meow meow—hence my tag for him being #meow meow Milo. yes he is the Bagman, and yes he did almost eat my other party member among many other horrible things, but he's also just a traumatized smol bean and i forgive him for everything. if anything happened to him, Cerris would kill everyone in Barovia and then himself.

Ruins of Runet Status: active System: DnD 5e Story: an entirely homebrew campaign also DMed by my wonderful husband! it's a horror campaign at heart, this time focusing more on eldritch and existential horror. once, the world of Runet was just like any other, vibrant and fantastical and full of magic, connected to the vast network of other worlds and planes across the universe. and then, suddenly, the gods all vanished. magic left Runet with them, and the planet's connections to other worlds were severed irreparably. the result was nothing less than apocalyptic: entire peoples and species died out instantly, cities and nations collapsed, famine and disease and war ran rampant. but the survivors adapted, building a new world from the ashes. now, 600 years after the collapse, magic has returned, throwing the world into chaos once again. and though magic has come back, the gods have not. various powerful factions have all launched investigations into this sudden reappearance, hoping to claim the secret of magic for themselves. at the center of it all sits the Church of Divine Repentance, and a millenia-old conflict between eldritch forces known only as the Mother and the Eternal Body, with the people of Runet caught in the crossfire. Main Blorbo: in this campaign, i play a 29-year-old human fighter/sorcerer named Don Ariel Feliciano Rosalio Sentera Alvedes, from the barely unified country of Restitos*. Ariel is an hidalgo, a member of the untitled nobility, and as the youngest of four sons, he had very little expectations of inheriting anything; even so, excellence was demanded of him since childhood. as a result, he's grown up ambitious and hungry, willing to make himself into whatever kind of person he needs to be in any given moment in order to accomplish his goals. he's charismatic and self-assured, and while he can be slimy and artificial (or else callous and abrasive if he feels you aren't worth his time), he is nonetheless noble in character, enduringly loyal, and committed to the values of noblesse oblige. he's also a bisexual, gender-fucky horse girl and (un?)ethical slutty secretary with a daily skincare routine and a cringefail romantic history! :D he's almost gotten engaged but then ruined everything—twice. his only serious long-term relationship was a secret affair with his employer, a married duke who's old enough to be his father (but don't worry, the duchess knew and was cool about it), which ended abruptly when the duke got assassinated and Ariel found his disfigured body the next morning. and then the duke's oldest son informally accused him of the murder and that conversation went so terribly that he fled the country immediately afterwards to avoid being arrested and executed. no, he's not actually guilty, just a convenient scapegoat, stop fucking asking him if he did it. in conclusion, Ariel is such a fucking mess and i love him. Bonus Blorbo: Malva Oriana is Ariel's 13-year-old warhorse, a beautiful perlino Catalencian Pure (essentially a fantasy Andalusian) he trained himself. she's a bold, intelligent, and well-tempered horse, albeit more than a bit spoiled, and she and Ariel are terribly co-dependent on each other in light of the recent trauma they've experienced. *Additional Note: Restitos is largely culturally inspired by post-Reconquista Spain, and since my character ended up being the only PC from that country, i got to help with a lot of the worldbuilding for it! a fact i took full advantage of! so more than likely, any worldbuilding stuff i post here will specifically be about Restitos

Cauldron & Kettle Questing Co. Status: completed System: DnD 5e Story: this was my second campaign with my university TTRPG group, where my husband was also a player. set in the world of Acquisitions, Incorporated, an actual play podcast by Penny Arcade based around the idea of classic adventuring parties but make it ~capitalism~, this campaign was primarily played out of the official Acquisitions, Inc. playbook, with some additional homebrew expansions and a nice little extra homebrew arc on the end that introduced us to the incredible chaos of the D10,000 wild magic table. the story ended up going real hard on the queer found family vibes, and there were several story beats that made us all real emotional together. we played as the Cauldron & Kettle Questing Company, a Phandalin-based subsidiary branch of the larger Acquisitions, Inc. corporation. we also owned a tea shop called the Cauldron & Kettle Cafe, and we had a steam-powered teapot-shaped vehicle dubbed the Tea Trolley which we put to excellent use in combat. the story followed the Cauldron & Kettle Questing Co. as we established our branch and completed increasingly dire quests for our parent corporation that we were not remotely qualified for. and uh, no, we did not really get any special rewards or pay raises or anything after saving the world—twice—but hey, that's business baby! Main Blorbo: for this campaign, i played a 30-year-old half-elf light cleric/bard named Jun Vyardes. having grown up the daughter of a traveling bard, she's great with change, but never learned how to put down roots. when she left Daddy Bard's side and devoted herself to Vestia, a human goddess of domestic fires and revelry, she thought she'd found her home. for some time, she really was content there—but the road still called to her, so with her goddess's blessing, she set out on a new adventure. she's fiercely devoted to her friends and committed to justice, plays a mean fiddle, and has some great recipes for edibles. after joining Acq, Inc. and meeting the rest of her party, it only took Jun a couple of months to realize that her new teammates—along with her one true love Eleni, a fellow devotee of Vestia—were exactly the home she had always been searching for. and she's going to protect that, whatever it takes. Bonus Blorbo: my husband played Tim Cobbletoss, a 34-year-old half-orc barbarian with the temperament of a british grandma on account of being raised by halfings . . . after his human bard father abandoned him at an orphanage because he couldn't take care of two half-human bastard children at the same time. yes, that's right, Tim and Jun are half-siblings! at first they both hated each other because Jun was jealous that Tim got to have a stable childhood with a loving parent who understood proper boundaries and didn't exploit their musical talent for money or use them as an unwilling wingman, and because Tim was jealous that Jun got to have an actual relationship with their father and learn things from him when all Tim got from Daddy Bard was the family signature ginger hair and abandonment issues. fortunately, though, they eventually got over the mutual jealousy and started bonding over parental trauma, terrible workplace conditions, and a shared love of fantasy weed. and now they're best friends and ruthlessly defend each other against Daddy Bard's nonsense whenever he tries to re-insert himself into their lives.

The Orphic Uprising and The Amazonomachy Status: Completed System: Cypher Story: these were two continuous arcs that together formed the first campaign with my university TTRPG group. it was a homebrew story set in the world of Percy Jackson, following a small group of simultaneously inept and hyper-competent demigods from Camp Half-Blood on their various (mis)adventures. out of character, we called ourselves the Confusion Crew due to the sheer absurdity of some of the shenanigans we got up to. it was delightful. in the first arc, The Orphic Uprising, Dionysus got kidnapped and four campers were singled out by prophecy to go rescue him from the Underworld and stop the children of Nyx from taking over Olympus. and in the second arc, The Amazonomachy, set a year later, the mad queen of the Amazons got it into her head (through children of Nyx-related manipulation, it seems) that, just like the titans had been overthrown by the gods, it was high time the gods were overthrown by their own children. so three of us from the last quest, plus two new unlucky campers who happened to be in the wrong right place at the wrong right time, set about saving the Olympians' asses again. Main Blorbo: in this campaign, i played Nina Grayson, a (at the end of the campaign) 19-year-old daughter of Nike, goddess of victory. Nina was an impulsive, reckless, extremely determined little fighter (emphasis on little, she's 5' tall and like 110lbs), as well as a talented gymnast, dancer, and rock climber, who put so much pressure on herself to succeed—because, ya know, literally the daughter of victory—that she was more than willing to fight dirty if that's what it took to win. she was an absolute monster in combat, nigh unkillable with high damage output and multiple debuff abilities. she was also a menace outside of combat because she put all of her points into physical abilities and left nothing for brains or charisma. yes, indeed, she was a badass buff socially inept himbo lesbian and she ruled. iconic himbo acts of hers include solving a puzzle by punching a horse statue in the face, getting set on fire then putting it out by drenching herself in monster blood, solving a locked door problem by punching the lock open, splitting the party to play double agent without telling her friends she was only fake-betraying them, and solving a bitchy goddess problem by punching said goddess in the face so hard it temporarily killed her. at some point she also acquired the nickname Larry and we made all the appropriate three stooges jokes about it, don't you worry. Bonus Blorbo: in the first arc we picked up a funny little grain alcohol demon who looked like if a cabbage patch doll was an actual baby-shaped root vegetable. we named him Hops and fed him illegally acquired beer. he was our mascot and team pet and beloved child, and sometimes my husband's character, a son of Dionsysus named Chuck Hickey, would throw him like a football at enemies and use him like an Entangle spell. other times he'd just carry him around in a baby björn. both activities were excellent enrichment for Hops.

and that's it! thank you for reading and please enjoy my blog!

i'd love to be more active here, so please feel free to send me asks about any of the characters or campaigns, or even just TTRPG things in general, as i'm always happy to talk about them. i'm also open to writblr tag games, even if they don't fully apply to a TTRPG context—if it gives me an excuse to blab about my blorbos, i will make it work!

#my wiiiiiiiife

[somethingclevermahogony]

OC Interview Tag

Thank you so much for the tag, @mk-writes-stuff!!!

Rules: answer the questions as an OC

I'll go with Maryon from my WIP Of Starlight and Beasts for this one!

Are you named after anyone?

"I'm not exactly sure, if I'm being honest. I vaguely remember reading something about someone named 'Maryan' being a popular character in a beloved folk tale in the kingdom where I was born, so I think that could be where I got my name from. It's not like I can ask my biological family that, though. They've been dead since forever - maybe if the roads weren't so godsdamned riddled with bandits that wouldn't be so. But noo, the King of Tirawen has 'more pressing' matters, or so I've been told. Well he can shove those 'pressing matters' up his royal arse, nothing will ever be an excuse to neglect his citizens' needs - ! But I digress, do move on."

When was the last time you cried?

"Oh, that's a rather interesting question! I don't quite remember, if I'm being honest. It's not like I'm bottling up my feelings or anything like that - far from it. I just that I haven't had a reason to cry in a while. Things have been going pretty great. Despite the, you know, looming war that's on the brink of changing the continent forever and all."

Do you have kids?

"Goodness, no, there's far too many things I want to pursue before even thinking about having children. It's an endearing thought, sure, but certaintly not enough to be one of my top priorities within the next ten years or so."

Do you use sarcasm a lot?

"Only when I'm severely annoyed. I think that, while irony and sarcasm can surely add an interesting layer to any communication, there are more effective ways of making your words sting. Like speaking them while pointing a poison dagger to one's throat, for example! Just kidding. Or am I? (winks) We'll never know. But in all seriousness, I prefer keeping those kinds of confrontations to a minimum - being polite and kind often solves more disputes than rage, and those are words I try to live by."

What’s the first thing you notice about people?

"I'm quite perceptive - being the adoptive daughter of the most powerful spymaster in all of the Frosts has definetly given me an edge when it comes to reading people and deciphering their true intentions without even needing much effort on my part. People usually do all the hard work themelves - their choice of words and body language reads like an open book to me after just a simple conversation. So there's quite a lot I can notice about someone after first meeting them - but their intentions, feelings and morality are definetly the main ones."

What’s your eye colour?

"Dark forest green. Or so I'm told - Eidan, my boyfriend, can be quite the romantic. Either way, I rather like that color and I find his description of it to be very sweet!"

Scary movies or happy endings?

"I adore reading any kind of book, the more intriguing the story is the merrier! I usually don't have a strong preference as long as the tale is gripping enough to keep my attention focused after the first ten pages of the book and especially if there are deeper meanings to be found beyond just pretty words. If I had to choose, I would say a balanced mix of scariness and happiness in a story is ideal, though I do lean more towards the scary!"

Any special talents?

"Oh, many! I've been trained in the arts of espionage, dyplomacy and politics from a young age, and I've also learned quite a lot of fighting techniques, poison recipes, and languages! I'm also an expert knife thrower, and know how to survive in the wild. I know how to manipulate an enemy to fall into a trap I've laid out for them, just as I know how to persuade a potential ally to help with our cause, with just my words as my tools. Currently, I'm still working on learning how to cook without causing a potential fire in the castles, but I'm getting better at baking!!!"

Where were you born?

"I was born in one of the many provinces along the outskirst of the capital kingdom of Tirawen. My birth parents - from what vague childhood memories I can still remember - were very successful merchants. However, one of their many trips out of the kingdom's main road would prove to be our last - bandits, you see, as I mentioned before. A very tricky sort. I don't remember much of what transpired, if I'm being quite honest. What I can remember is being lost in the woods of the Frost for a while before being saved by the man who would go on to become my adoptive father, a spymaster otherwise known as the 'Serpent of the Frosts'. He took me, then a lost child of around five years of age, under his wing as his own child, and gave me a chance at the life I have today."

Do you have any pets?

"I have a 10 year old cat whom I named Sir Thurston who seems to love randomly appearing and disappearing at random places around the castles at will. I've also got twin pet snakes named Knack and Snap, one purple and the other white. And though they're highly venomous (and capable of breathing out ice shards like a dragon does fire) they've only ever bitten my enemies. They're also real cuddle buddies and very sweet if you give them something tasty to eat!"

What sort of sports do you play?

"Well, if these count as sport where you come from: swordfighting, archery, knife throwing, martial arts, tavern brawling (on occasion, but don't tell Father, haha), climbing random stuff so I can get to high places. If you count chess as a sport of sorts - though it is more of a competive, strategic tabletop game - I'm rather good at it!"

How tall are you?

"Shorter than most of my friends, or so it seems. Eidan especially. But no matter. Being smaller has its advantages too - it makes sneaking around easier and makes spooking my friends by randomly appearing behind them that much fun!"

What was your favourite subject in school?

"I had private tutors, other than my own adoptive father himself, so not exactly a school in the traditional sense of the word, but my favorite 'subjects' were politics, foreign ancient languages and botany (especially when it comes to rare plants and their effects). I also really like poetry, especially the ones from the fallen kingdom of Idraven - its very interesting to see how that society saw the world, though their demise never fails to bring me a strong sense of sorrow whenever I think about it for too long."

What is your dream job?

"Becoming a spymaster, like my adoptive father. Not only have I been trained for this since I was a child, but I also really look forward to being able to serve the land which took me in when I had nothing else in the world. Being a spymaster is a high honor in the Frosts, and nothing could fill me with more pride than being deemed worthy of serving our Queens and protecting the realm from behind the scenes."

Tagging (gently, no pressure) @eccaia, @cowboybrunch, @tabswrites, @littleladymab, @little-peril-stories, @oh-no-another-idea, @rickie-the-storyteller, @thepeculiarbird, @cabbojage, @the-ellia-west, @clairelsonao3, @crowandmoonwriting, @steh-lar-uh-nuhs, @winterandwords, @willtheweaver, @forthesanityofstorytellers, @gummybugg, @doublegoblin, @autumnalwalker, @moonandris and OPEN TAG

[somethingclevermahogony]

List 5 things that make you happy, then put this in the askbox for the last 10 people who liked or reblogged something from you! Get to know your mutuals and followers ❤️

My partner

Birds

Good food

Warm rain

Writing

[somethingclevermahogony]

Two Truths and a Lie Tag

Here's another one! This one is from @mk-writes-stuff ! Thanks!

I'll use a character from the Testaments series but not from the first three books, Mikrab.

Tagging @oliolioxenfreewrites , @roach-pizza , @jakkon-and-rose-topic, and whoever!

#testamentsofthegreensea #fantasy writing #writeblr #writing #narul

[somethingclevermahogony]

Two Truths and a Lie Tag

I was tagged by @roach-pizza , thank you for that!

For this one I will do Zatar/Zatur from the first three books of Testaments.

Tagging @illarian-rambling , @unrepentantcheeseaddict , @foragedbonesblog , @mk-writes-stuff , and @kaylinalexanderbooks

#testamentsofthegreensea #fantasy writing #writeblr #writing #tag game #two truths and a lie

[somethingclevermahogony]

Thank you @illarian-rambling for the tag.

I liked coming up with the lie lol.

Tagging: @somethingclevermahogony and anyone else who wants to do this! Please feel free to tag me in your post.

[somethingclevermahogony]

Heads Up Seven Up

I was tagged by @sarandipitywrites , thank you!

I'm going to perfectly honest, I'm not actually sure what the rules for this are. So I'm just posting the last thing that I wrote.

He gazed down at the water of the lake, it sparkled in the afternoon sunlight, a thousand shards of light glimmering amongst the sapphire expanse. Beneath the surface he could see flashes of silver and gold, fish, hundreds of them, they swam and darted beneath the beneath the hull, occasional one would approach the surface, just long enough for Narul to make out the chromatic glimmer of its scales, the flash of a tail fin. Further down he could just make out the swaying fronds of lakeweed, verdant greens and rich reds, between these aquatic trees larger things weaved. He thought he saw the flash of teeth. He stepped back from the edge.

Tagging @illarian-rambling , @finickyfelix , @pluttskutt , @patternwelded-quill , @the-octic-scribe , and @apolline-lucy

#testamentsofthegreensea #writing #writeblr #fantasy writing #creative writing #story writing #heads up seven up #tag game

[somethingclevermahogony]

OC interview

I was tagged by @phoenixradiant , @mk-writes-stuff , and @kaylinalexanderbooks , thank y'all! For this one I'll keep it easy and do just Narul and Ninma (at the beginning of the story.)

1. Are you named after anyone?

Narul: "No, I don't think so. I'm actually not really sure what my name means. I've never met another person named Narul."

Ninma: "Oh I have a buncha ancestors named Ninma! Its a noble name! I also have ancestors named Unma, which is my name for boys! But its kind of funny because Unma is a boy name but it means Lady (equivalent to Lord). My paba says that the name used to be Shabalic and it doesn't mean lady there. My um...great great great great great great great great grandpa was named Unma, King Unma, King Lady."

2. When was the last time you cried?

Narul: "Um...what time is it?"

Ninma: "Probably yesterday...maybe this morning? I hate stale bread..."

3. Do you have kids?

Narul: "Does Ninma count?"

Ninma: "I'm five!"

4. Do you use sarcasm a lot?

Narul: "Not, not really, I'm not very good at it. It doesn't really work when people are scared of you."

Ninma: "Nope, never...neeeeeeeever."

5. What's the first thing you notice about people?

Narul: "Uh...the tops of their head?"

Ninma: "Their voice! Some people have bad voices. Narul has a good voice, deep like a cow! Mooooo! Ninmaaaaaa! Stop thaaaaat! Moooooo!"

6. What's your eye colour?

Narul: "Uh...I don't really look at my face that often. Brown I think."

Ninma: "Brown! My paba says that they are like cedar bark!"

7. Scary movies or happy endings?

Narul: "I'm not sure what a movie is. But I like happy things."

Ninma: "I like scary stories! With monsters and dragons and demons! What's a movie?"

8. Any special talents?

Narul: "Um...I don't know if being strong counts as a talent." Ninma: "He can eat pinecones! And acorns! And bones! And poison fruits!" Narul: "Ninma that's not a talent, I just have a strong jaw...and stomach." Ninma: "It is special though!"

Ninma: " I can climb really fast! And I can read and write!"

9. Where were you born?

Narul: "Bira says that I was born in a city-state called Syshlum. I left when I was a newborn, so I don't remember anything about it."

Ninma: "The palace of Labisa, duh."

10. Do you have any pets?

Narul: "...Does Ninma count?" Ninma: "Hey!"

Ninma: "I used to have a pet horned-rabbit, and a peacock, and a lamb, and lizards...but I had to leave those in Labisa."

11. What sort of sports do you play?

Narul: "I've never played a sport. All the slaves were allowed to play was racing and wrestling and uh...not many people wanted to wrestle with me."

Ninma: "Does climbing count?"

12. How tall are you?

Narul: "About nine feet tall when my hair is flat."

Ninma: "Um...about two feet and 10 inches. Yeah, I'm short, so what?"

13. What was your favorite subject in school?

Narul: "I've never been to a school. I've never even had a tutor."

Ninma: "I didn't go to school but I had tutors! I really like poetry and history."

14. What is your dream job?

Narul: "I...I don't know? Some sort of...flower farmer thing I guess?"

Ninma: "Queen of Labisa, duh!"

Tagging @illarian-rambling , @oliolioxenfreewrites , @elsie-writes , @abalonetea , @roach-pizza and @foragedbonesblog ! (And anyone else that wants to)

Blanks under the cut

1. Are you named after anyone?

2. When was the last time you cried?

3. Do you have kids?

4. Do you use sarcasm a lot?

5. What's the first thing you notice about people?

6. What's your eye colour?

7. Scary movies or happy endings?

8. Any special talents?

9. Where were you born?

10. Do you have any pets?

11. What sort of sports do you play?

12. How tall are you?

13. What was your favorite subject in school?

14. What is your dream job?

#testamentsofthegreensea #fantasy writing #writeblr #writing #fantasy #narul #oc interview #oc #tag game