trapped-inadystopianovel

[trapped-inadystopianovel]

I promise as soon as I finish this damn outline, I'll update you on Providence, I have some ideas for little info dumps and will tag you in all the things

I would like to thank everyone who pays The Lost Prince any attention or appreciation (those I suppose you're all sick of hearing about it by now 🙃) and to that end, I want to pay love forward to some special WIPs I've been allowed to appreciate over the year. I'll pick a few and if anybody wants to do this, feel free to reblog because nothing makes a writer's day than something to keep them going.

@veneritia I am in love with the WorldBuilding of When Comes the Dawn and the relationship between Fernice and her lil bro, is drama I always enjoy hearing about. Charles and Ambrose, ma'am!

@trapped-inadystopianovel for engaging characters (Sola my son) whom I always love to hear about and wonder what they're up to often.

@serpentarii it's the intriguing plots and complex characters for me, the never ending roll call of acceptional posts. And my star-crossed boys.

@surroundedbypearls Every WIP post is always so beautiful, it's like the art the sky makes just before it takes a nap.

@writingamongther0ses the sheer abundance of the writing you manage to produce never fails to impress me. Like girl, you're singlehandedly pushing me to get off of Tiktok and write. Your wip posts always make my day.

@lottieiswriting for my darling Macro and your beautiful wip, Kill the King

@ccorpsidious Adrian Skylar, the one and only, most precious boy who needs a good mom and a warm blanket.

@eluari the absolute beauty of the accompanying art!

@dameschnee123 for Priestess of Light, for the hardhittibg lines that just stock with you. You know the one I mean!

@writerjodie for a Protagonist like Nessa Herrik, whose complex motives are as compelling as the plot! I really can't wait to see more.

@residentofthedisc for all your works! Every one is utterly amazing, you have the range, darling!

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when comes the dawn monthly update {4.2.2024}

This was supposed to be posted yesterday but considering I posted like 2 wip things that day + the april fools boopfest, I thought it'd be better to hold off till today lol

THE STATISTICS

the draft → 39,251 words words written this month → 8,008 words total words written this year → 28,943 words hours spent writing this month → 12 hours

STORY NOTES

my struggles this month were centered around 2 major and somewhat lengthy scenes: the poisoning scene at the banquet and Sola's introduction

Reworked the poisoning scene. Changed the route of the poison, and instead of Fenice noticing and successfully avoiding the assassination attempt, she notices the poison a second too late

Aspects of Sola's introduction were also changed. Instead of Sola successfully escaping Fenice and Leda at the banquet and necessitating his search to have a second meeting, Leda prevents Sola from escaping allowing Fenice to make a deal with him then and there

Added an interlude between Dantalion and Andras!

Rethinking some stuff about my current magic system. No concrete changes just yet, but I know that I definitely want to change it

EXCERPTS

BLOG STUFF

I'll be participating in camp nano! You can find my powerpoint wip intro here

Camp nano updates will be weekly and tagged with #event.camp nano april 2024 It'll be posted along side my usual weekly progress updates

Aretos had his birthday on April 1st! You can find the post here

TAGLIST UNDER THE CUT

(ask to be +/-)

@bloomingwrites @writinglyra @zmwrites @trapped-inadystopianovel @inky-duchess @aalinaaaaaa @seasteading @kaatiba @lazulis-stuff @serpentarii @sourrcandy @charlesjosephwrites @marrowwife @forever-and-almost-always @halcionic @caninemotiff @socialmediasocrates @zorya-km

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04.01 — Happy Birthday Aretos vi Aetier!

Terrible child. Pitiful child. You who were born for a father's greed and a mother's vengeance— do you know who you are? Or do you only know what you must become

To my most pathetic boy <3 you would've been a great protagonist

Taglist + Bonus aretos face claim under the cut

[psd template by @castorbytes (not sure what their new user is now tho) | psd coloring by tuschen]

ty @seasteading for the top tier recolor job <3

Taglist: @bloomingwrites @writinglyra @zmwrites @trapped-inadystopianovel @inky-duchess @aalinaaaaaa @seasteading @kaatiba @lazulis-stuff @serpentarii @sourrcandy @charlesjosephwrites @marrowwife @forever-and-almost-always @halcionic @caninemotiff @socialmediasocrates @zorya-km

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Locations in The Lost Prince - Daedenksa

The city was old by the time the Vasily built their palace on the banks of the river, centuries of history buried under numerous decades.

---------------------------------------------------

It wasn't the largest city in Vastia, not even the oldest. It had stumbled into existence, sprawling between veins of muddy rivers. Nobody had expected it to survive let alone one day become the capital, just like nobody expected the Vasily to last.

---------------------------------------------------

We walk along the curve of the canals that feed into the river, along the stone railings with the sounds of the roused city echoing around us. The stone banks are smooth, studded with lichen in places. My father had rebuilt most of the city around the palace, replacing the dirt streets with paved stone and the crumbling banks of the canal with stronger stone. He wanted to rebuild it all, give Daedenksa a city of smooth stone and get rid of all the dirt and ruin.

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Daedenska. There is no place as bloodstained as that forsaken city. I had been born there. I had left in a storm of blood and fear, rushing headlong into the unknown. It was the last place my mother held me or I saw my father and heard my sister's voice. It was the last place I called myself safe. It was where the world broke.

I should have died there.

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TLP Taglist

@reignnyx @writinglyra @pressedpapyrus @serpentarii @thevintagelover @seas-dubh @dameschnee123 @donutwithinadonut-blog @giuliawritesanddoeskpop @sunaora @mayawritesbooks @veneritia @trapped-inadystopianovel @mothertaeraesa @rise-again-2001 @underwoodinc @seamaiden @writer-somewhat @lord-fallen @writingoflarka @ashen-crest @pen-and-inks @strawstories @nerdygoblin @ortolon @residentofthedisc @elysianluv @lividdreamz @ladywithoringes @imawriternotamathematician @writeblrfantasy @ginghampearlsnsweettea @spicysequoia @ethereal-puppet @carmensapientia @snapdragoncrown @thats-my-type-writer @intellectualintelligent @uhkayshuhmae   @rosemarys-for-remembrance @looking-for-the-stories @asingledropofwinter @queengiuliettafirstlady @gwensparlour @miladydreams @iespeciallyme @princess-summershine @six-1mpossiblethings @kaeiguess

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april 2024 camp nano wip intro - when comes the dawn

this is just something silly :)

taglist: @bloomingwrites @writinglyra @zmwrites @trapped-inadystopianovel @inky-duchess @aalinaaaaaa @seasteading @kaatiba @lazulis-stuff @serpentarii @sourrcandy @charlesjosephwrites @marrowwife @forever-and-almost-always @halcionic

Slide transcripts under the cut!

[TRANSCRIPT BEGINS]

Slide 1: Title slide

When Comes the Dawn, book 1 of 2

Slide 2: wdym my fantasy story has to have magic?

Set in a fantasy world loosely set in the late antiquities/early middle ages., where everyone alive has the capability to harness magic. But actually using it requires strict and intensive education (and maybe a phD or 5) so most people only know very basic spells.

In Trinitarian belief, it’s believed that the goddess Meidther gave her blood to bring humans to life, and because of that people are imbued with magic. No living person can be alive without magic because it’s literally impossible! Wait -- the emperor of Aetier has a what????

So there’s this weird phenomenon where on very rare occasions, babies will be born without magic. Called “deadbornes”, these babies are incompatible with life and usually end up passing away minutes to days later. With one notable exception (we’ll circle back to this later)

Slide 3: the set-up

The Empire of Aetier (or if you ask any local: “the gods’ specialist little empire”) has a very unique way of handling succession in the imperial family. That way is murder. Just murder. All heirs plot against one another in a formal-informal system called “The King’s Game.” It’s supposed to be a competition of skills, but it’s kind of warped itself into state-sanctioned fratricide (NOT to be confused with a battle royale. That’s just uncouth /j)

The last King’s Game ended 22 years ago, when Dantalion vi Aetier defeated and killed his half-sister in battle. As the victor, he crowned himself the new Vasilier of the empire and proceeded to bring in a new golden age of prosperity for his people. And nothing is wrong and everything is beautiful, and there is no way this can go wrong

... right?

It all starts on the day Fenice was born... where instead of being the healthy and uber powerful child Dantalion expected her to be, Fenice turns out to be a deadborne. Deadbornes are considered harbingers of ill omens, and siring one is a terrible way to start your new reign. And even stranger still is the fact that Fenice...doesn’t die? Someone call the priest and ask them what does it mean if your death omen refuses to go away

Slide 4: The plot

The end of the Hesperia-Aetier war brought new lands under the Empire’s rule, and with it, new ways to gain power and prestige in the Imperial Court. The biggest thorn in the empire atm is that Hesperia’s last king is still wandering the lands somewhere, waiting to strike.

Imperessa Fenice vi Aetier (who’s still alive and kicking) just lost her mom in the war, and now she’s desperate to prove herself to her estranged father that she’s more than a disappointment and wasted potential. And what better way to do that than to succeed him as the next Vasilier?

The problem? Only those that undergo an Ascension are considered legitimate contenders for the throne. The other problem? Dantalion won’t give her one.

Fenice: “Trade offer: I receive my own province to rule and an Ascension. You receive the head of the deposed king of Hesperia.” Dantalion: “Deal. But you have to marry his brother though” Fenice: “What”

[in big, bold, italicized font] disclaimer: this is not a romance

Slide 5: The plot pt. 2

Now wedded and gifted with a province of her own to rule , Fenice actually has to set-up her own power base and follow through with her end of the deal to find and kill the runaway king, as well as extinguish the rebellions he’s so keen on igniting.

But the more she looks for him, the more she realizes he’s being backed by someone much more powerful. But who?

And on totally unrelated note, there seems to be some weird rumors going around of some guy claiming to be Aretos vi Aetier, the son of the very same person Dantalion killed during the King’s Game 20+ years back. But that’s obviously fake news. Surely no one will fall for it!

Slide 6: The POV characters

[image description, the slide is split into two parts with fenice on the left and nikephoros on the right. end image description]

[heading ] fenice vi aetier

[image description: a face claim of the character is displayed on an arched frame, the model is female,has long red hair, pale skin, and an intense gaze]

20, she/her, imperessor of Aetier, Kaisarim of Isidore

the deadborne child that just won’t die

The most calculative and petty bitch you will ever meet

Has the constitution of a sick Victorian lady

Has an inferiority complex so bad it loops back around to a superiority complex

May have met god. not entirely sure

(Debuff) (unremovable) an off-putting aura that cancels out all magic in her immediate vicinity

Ginger

She’s soooo aroace

[heading ] nikephoros deominos

[image description: a face claim of the character is displayed on an arched frame, the model is male, has short light brown hair, is wearing a red sweater, and has his chin tucked into the crook of his arm, while leaning off the arm of a sofa. end image description.]

24, he/him, prince-consort, prince of Hesperia

has been having the worst day of his life for 5 years in a row and counting

his country? conquered. his brother? in hiding. his sister? captive. himself? trying not to die of liver failure

the opposite of a wife guy, the only person he hates more than his wife is his father-in-law loves his family, would be nice to see them though.

generally a nice guy but recent events has him very stressed and angry 24/7

has murderous urges almost all the time

At the bottom middle of the slide it says "married in body but divorced in spirit."

Slide 7: Major characters (spar's notes edition)

(no pictures bc face claimsare hard :(

[heading] dantalion vi aetier

47, he/him, vasilier of the empire

a living legend that all history nerds of the future would study

the dilfiest dilf to ever dilf

has many kids. is a father to maybe one of them

has many wives. is a husband to one, maybe two of them

canonically extremely pretty

surprisingly the only vi aetier to recieve the “kinslayer” epithet despite all previous generations also...slaying kin

Is a wife guy but for a specific wife only

conquered Hesperia as a pride thing

[heading] titania of taul

45, she/her, late vasilia of the empire

the most badass woman to ever walk the face of the earth

mother to fenice and first wife to the guy on the left

she dies before the book starts but she’s still present in the story because death has nothing on her

has many fun epithets such as “the strongest mage,” and “the scourge of men”

Titania is to Hesperians as Hannibal was to the Romans

A+ fighter, B+ mom

Not brought up or relevant in the story, but did you know no one knows who her mother is. One day, her dad just walked out into the wilderness to hunt and then a couple weeks or months later came back with Titania. no explanation was given

Slide 8: major characters cont.

[heading] andras vi drochona

44, he/him, imperessor of Aetier

Dantalion’s only full-blooded sibling, and also his only living sibling

the vasilier’s right hand man

lopped off his own sword arm to prove his loyalty

Designated a forever bachelor by the government

terrible at being comforting

likes to mess with his nieces and nephews

[heading] charles vi aetier

18, he/him, imperessor of Aetier

dantalion’s second child

everyone’s favorite person and can do no wrong

has to always be ok or he’ll detonate like a nuke

achilles coded bi-disaster, take that however you will

a disney prince trapped in game of thrones someone please help this boy out he just wants his family to get along

absolute mama’s boy

[heading] sola eidos

27, he/him

that is not his real name, he made it up

could be the star of his own book ngl

primarily deals in information nowadays but sometimes he misses the adrenaline rush that comes from a well-executed assassination. this is what lands him in fenice’s hands

his secrets have secrets, that’s why his hair is so big

slide 9: major characters cont.

[heading] isandros deominos

28, he him, king of Hesperia

Nike’s older half-brother

Had the worst start of a reign ever. He’s proclaimed king and then immediately has to flee into hiding

hates Aetier with a burning passion

is Stressed TM and in dire need for some hot cocoa

[heading] leda vi bryennia

48, she/her, honored fidari

long story short, she once witnessed Titania fight and covered in blood and had such a massive girl-crush she swore to be Titania’s knight the second she was asked

helped raise fenice and is now serves her as her guardian/protector. that is her child thank you very much

had a shounen-style rivals-to-friends-to-lovers arc with fellow fidari Thetis. It’d be great if it wasn’t for their explosive break-up

[heading] sartore vitae

28, he/him

he can mansplain, manipulate, and manwhore his way into and out of any situation

has a cool eye-patch

is maybe a little too invested with Fenice’s relationship with her father

he WISHES he was as cool as lelouch lamperouge

+ many more characters! (seriously this cast is huge)

slide 10: featuring

way too much extraneous worldbuilding

court intrigue

morally dark gray protagonist

family as your allies and family as your enemies

lots of near-death experiences

no romantic subplot!

too many code geass references

slide 11: camp nano goals

write everyday

2wrte 15,000 words total

reach 50,000 words on my draft

slide 12: fin

[image description: the final slide is full of discord screenshots of funny jokes and commentary about the wip. ]

[end transcript]

[trapped-inadystopianovel]

For the headcannons ask, I feel that Sumayl would be the most fun to have a drink with, that he would probably be quiet up until a point but once he's comfortable, he will be joking and up singing (love 💜 @inky-duchess)

I love this because you're not completely wrong 😂 because he's also drunk 95% of the time so he's just a little social butterfly after. There is a point in his drinking were he does become hostile. Then number of bar fights that are planned because of this man

#writeblr #providence #writblr #ask #Sumayl

[trapped-inadystopianovel]

I was going to make my own post for this, but I found one on DeviantArt 😅

I’m curious whether anyone has any headcanons about my characters. I have anonymous asks enabled right now, so feel free to share.

Also, feel free to reblog and see if anyone has any headcanons about your OCs.

[trapped-inadystopianovel]

I saw it and was in aw at of beautiful it looks. And how blue the background is!!!

I'm not crying over the restored Anne of Cleves portrait. No I'm being totally normal about it. Also me,

[trapped-inadystopianovel]

Outline update

It's taken me while but these last few weeks I feel as those I'm making headway. So much so that I've reached chapter 51 meaning I have 26 chapters left to outline.

Here's chapter breakdown by characters:

Cicely: 7

Galib: 7

Sumayl: 3

Zoya: 7

Dual POVs: 2

[trapped-inadystopianovel]

Outline update

It's taken me while but these last few weeks I feel as those I'm making headway. So much so that I've reached chapter 51 meaning I have 26 chapters left to outline.

Here's chapter breakdown by characters:

Cicely: 7

Galib: 7

Sumayl: 3

Zoya: 7

Dual POVs: 2

#providence #eminence series #fantasy #political fantasy #writing update #outlining #outline update #writing #writblr #writeblr

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the good thing about being told that writing about a certain cliché or concept should be avoided “because it’s overdone” is that you can simply. ignore that and write about it anyway if you so desire. like it is that easy

[trapped-inadystopianovel]

when comes the dawn monthly update {2.29.2024}

Happy leap day everybody!

THE STATISTICS

the draft → 31,243 words words written this month → 7,992 words total words written this year → 20,934 words hours spent writing this month → 12 hours

I'm still trying to complete my goal of writing 30 minutes a day but boy is it challenging. Sometimes I can only go 20 minutes because I do my writing at the end of the day, and I'm doing a lot more free writing that sitting down and timing myself for a 30 minute session. But! Even if I'm not totally consistent with my writing times, I'm still making the effort to write as close to daily as I can.

STORY NOTES

WE HAVE FINALLY MADE IT TO ISIDORE WOOO!

the God Feast scene is finished. It wasn't what I originally planned it to be, considering the original vision was a meeting with the whole Trinity, but having Fenice "meet" them one at a time is interesting too

The antagonist has made their entrance-- not that anyone is aware of it.

I'm kinda leaning more into Nike's one-sided beef with Fenice, both because I think it's funny as hell and also it makes it all the more interesting when he's forced to try and befriend her.

EXCERPTS

BLOG STUFF

I revamped my blog navigation and the wctd wip page!

I'll be slowly chipping away at updating and introducing characters. This month I posted the intros for the POV characters, Fenice and Nike, as well as six major characters that, to some degree, can be considered Fenice's allies.

In the future you can find all character intros under #wctd.dramatis persona

Also, a lovely anon asked for a map, which I've provided right here!

TAGLIST UNDER THE CUT (ask to be +/-)

@bloomingwrites @writinglyra @zmwrites @trapped-inadystopianovel @inky-duchess @aalinaaaaaa @seasteading @kaatiba @lazulis-stuff @serpentarii @sourrcandy @charlesjosephwrites @marrowwife @forever-and-almost-always @halcionic

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Providence update

I've officially reached the half way point the rewrite outline. 36 chapters done. 36 more to go. Sumayl’s chapters are really fun to outline and just know I'm going to love writing his chapters

#providence #eminence series #writing update #outline update

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when comes the dawn — major players ; the imperessa's circle

Leda Bryennia as THE GUARDIAN

Forty-eight. She/her. Honored Fidari of the Imperessa Fenice. Leda has served Fenice all her life under different roles, but now she is Fenice's oath-bound fidari, sworn to protect and serve until her dying breath.

Sola Eidos as THE HOUND

Twenty-seven. He/Him. A man of many talents. When a botched job lands Sola under the imperessa's thumb, he must decide whether to bow his head or face the executioner's axe.

Caius as THE HEALER

Twenty-four. They/Them. Caius mends fractured bones and broken skin to atone for a sin that is not theirs, and is burdened by knowledge that can devastate armies and change the course of war.

Necenia Pollonis as THE KEEPER

Twenty. She/her. Mystikoi of the Imperessa Fenice. Daughter of one of the Nine Great Houses of Isidore, her sharp wit and even sharper memory lands her a position in the Imperessa's household-- a nominal achievement, if only the Imperessa wasn't the enemy of her family.

Thetis as THE WATCHER

Forty-eight. She/her. Commander of The Vasilier's Sanctorian Guard. The last thing she wants to do is babysit the new Kaisarim of Isidore, but the Vasiler's word is law, and she will fulfill her duties even if she must confront the heart she buried long ago.

Marius Tracellis as THE TURNCOAT

Thirty-six. He/him. Vice Governor of Isidore. The arrival of the new Kaisarim has made his position vulnerable, and having incurred enmity from both sides, he must find whatever protection he can to maintain all that he's earned.

[psd coloring by tuschen]

taglist under the cut (ask to be +/-):

@bloomingwrites @writinglyra @zmwrites @trapped-inadystopianovel @inky-duchess @aalinaaaaaa @seasteading @kaatiba @lazulis-stuff @serpentarii @sourrcandy @charlesjosephwrites @marrowwife @forever-and-almost-always

[trapped-inadystopianovel]

[trapped-inadystopianovel]

write for yourself. put your fantasies on paper. no one knows what you are writing. no one knows what's in your head. no one is going to write it for you. if you don't write down your ideas they will disappear. if you are too scared to write your thoughts then don't write, try something different. if writing is the only way, get to writing. no one else's opinion matters. no one else's opinion will ever matter

[trapped-inadystopianovel]

how to describe despair in writing

Despair is a visceral and crushing emotion—one that echoes through the pages of a story, gripping readers with its raw intensity. It is more than just a feeling; it’s an abyss that characters fall into, a shadow that colours their every action and decision with hues of hopelessness and loss.

Behaviour

Neglecting personal care or obligations.

A lack of motivation or interest in activities they once enjoyed.

Withdrawing from social situations or avoiding company.

Engaging in self-destructive actions or habits.

Consistent signs of fatigue or lethargy.

Frequent emotional outbursts or mood swings.

An inability to concentrate or focus on tasks.

Indecisive, even on trivial matters.

Focusing on negative thoughts.

Displaying a loss of hope or a sense of defeat.

Interactions

Avoiding physical or eye contact with others.

Short-tempered and easily irritated.tempered

Speaking in monosyllables or giving terse responses.

A sense of indifference or apathy toward others’ concerns.

Struggling to express themselves or to articulate their feelings.

Misinterpreting others’ intentions or words negatively.

Isolating themselves despite offers of help or companionship.

Being unresponsive to attempts at humour or light-heartedness.

Blaming others or external circumstances for their despair.

Seeking out enablers or situations that validate their mindset.

Body language

Slumped shoulders or a consistently bowed head.

Averted gaze or blank stares into the distance.

Fidgeting, such as wringing hands or picking at skin.

Slow, dragging movements or a lack of coordination.

Heavy sighing or audible breaths.

Neglecting personal space or boundaries.

Minimal gestures or lifeless posture.

Clenched fists or jaw during moments of heightened emotion.

Visible trembling or shaking due to emotional strain.

A general lack of energy or life in physical presence.

Attitude

Pessimism towards the future.

Cynicism about intentions, whether their own or others’.

Resignation, believing that effort will not change their situation.

Indifference to opportunities or choices presented to them.

A sense of helplessness or powerlessness in all scenarios.

Self-deprecation and a tendency to dismiss their own value.

An overwhelming sense of guilt or responsibility for past events.

A fixation on the negative aspects of every situation.

An inability to accept comfort or positive feedback.

Believing they are a burden to others.

Positive Story Outcomes

An epiphany or realisation that sparks a desire for change.

A gesture of kindness from another character that provides a glimmer of hope.

The discovery of an inner strength or previously untapped resource.

A serendipitous event that offers a new perspective or opportunity.

The formation of a supportive relationship or friendship.

Minor victories or achievements that build self-confidence.

Learning a valuable lesson through hardship.

Developing empathy for others going through similar experiences.

Finding purpose in aiding others, easing their own despair.

An eventual embrace of vulnerability, leading to healing and growth.

Negative Story Outcomes

A surrender with long-lasting consequences.

The breakdown of important relationships.

A significant loss incurred because of inaction or apathy.

Descent into a more self-destructive or reckless lifestyle.

The solidification of a character’s role as an antagonist.

A missed opportunity for redemption or improvement.

A worsening of the character’s situation, potentially affecting others.

The development of a trait or flaw that hinders future happiness or success.

A downfall that provides a cautionary tale within the narrative.

A tragic ending that leaves a profound impact on the reader and other characters.

Helpful Vocabulary

Desolate

Forlorn

Wretched

Crestfallen

Anguished

Dolorous

Bereft

Hollow

Numb

Morose

Sullen

Bleak

Languish

Melancholy

Hopeless

Despondent

Dejected

Heartbroken

Miserable

Pained

Woeful

Eclipsed

Defeated

Overwhelmed

Grief-stricken

Tormented

Disconsolate

Listless

Oppressed

Despairing