Category: World Building

Error 50

Neon BrightLeave a comment

My first foray into a cyberpunk AU featuring Elias Dawn and their first encounter with a little assistant robot buddy.

The scrapyards at the bottom of the city, far below the walking levels and lower residences, formed a landscape of sharp hills and flickering lights. Without protective gear or a good map, one could get lost in the piles. Only so many work elevators came down this far, and even then only a scrapyard droid had the passcodes to operate them. On the occasion someone did wind up down there, flagging one of the scrapyard droids for rescue was one of the only hopes of getting back to the walking levels via the elevators.

If one wanted a rescue, anyway. A few lurkers could be seen slinking among the scraps most nights, for their own reasons. Some risked the yards for a chance at supplies. Some sought things to sell, things that should never have been thrown away. And some lurked because they knew it was a good place to hide until the drones stopped looking for them up above.

El found themself down in the piles most days for the latter reason. They didn’t mind taking the long way back up on the old service ladders, and the jump down, well … their uncanny abilities were the whole reason they needed to hide in the first place. Magic had not left the world in the wake of the machines, but anyone who had it had a knack for disappearing.

Continue reading “Error 50” →

NaNoWriMo Day 25

Neon BrightLeave a comment

Happy Thanksgiving to my friends who celebrate it! I don’t really observe it anymore, though I did get to hang out with family today all the same! And even then, I managed some writing while hanging out. Who knows how good this writing is? I don’t, but I had fun with it.

WordCount: 1036

Excerpt:

“The Timewilds are different from the wilds everywhere else, I’ve heard. But I haven’t seen anywhere else to know.”

Erio’s mouth twisted into a frown. “I hadn’t heard much about it myself, until I met Arie. The Timewilds have a way of tricking you into mistaking how far you’ve gone or how long you’ve been moving in a direction, if you don’t pay attention. It’s like time has more ripples here than anywhere else.”

NaNoWriMo Day 23

Neon BrightLeave a comment

I spent the later half of today traveling – so it’s a wonder I managed to get some words! But words were indeed gotten. I couldn’t help making a small reference to a certain demigod of mischief, though he is not the focus of this story by any means.

Word Count: 1699

Excerpt:

Autumnus had read accounts of known halfgods in other corners of Muunfel. They were not easy.

There was the child of the Oracle in Meraev. Even at only a few years old, a number of records had already reached beyond the Moondrop Sea of his penchant for mischief. The Oracle could handle such a child, of course, and he was far outside of any Synkan bloodline anyway.

There were the twin maidens born to an elf village not too far north of the Dragonrest mountains, decades ago. No one had heard of them in years, but during their formative years, lengthened by their elven blood, they vexed and confused an entire region.

Children of the elements had been recorded throughout history here and there. They often quietly disappeared from the records eventually, but in the meantime they were exemplary as the forces of nature they were.

NaNoWriMo Day 21

Neon BrightLeave a comment

Words words words! I actually started early today, which I rarely do. I almost don’t know what to do with all this free evening time I have now. Also whoops I keep not wanting to excerpt the more Exciting parts because I need to make sure they make sense to me so. Fantasy slice of life it is!

Word Count: 2226

Excerpt:

Marina couldn’t man her stall for the entire day nonstop like she used to do. During the midday hour or so break, she had to take her leave from the market, packing up her things safely and bringing Vantage out of the brightest part of the day.

She found herself in the scraggly shade of a tree in one of Arelvo’s only maintained green spaces. It was a small park near the southern end of town, beyond which were rolling hills of grass and the occasional boulder. Long, smoothed-over scars from the last time great ice mountains had carved their way across the timewilds, leaving behind remnants of the Dragonrest mountains and whatever else they’d dragged along.

Vantage never really cared to look out at the scenery with her, but then again Marina wasn’t quite sure if he could see that far yet. She hadn’t asked many questions of the midwife that helped her with his birth, when could she expect certain milestones, things like that. For all anyone knew, a halfgod child could have an entirely different timetable than a fully mortal baby.

At least he’d grown consistently. Marina didn’t know what she’d do if she had to deal with an infant that didn’t grow up at the rate he should. The thought of being this sleepless a year or more down the line, all of it owed to waking up to feed the little scamp every few hours, made her shudder.

NaNoWriMo Day 17

Neon BrightLeave a comment

Today was a decent writing day – I actually got off work at a reasonable time, so I was able to enjoy myself and relax a bit before diving right into writing! Today I had some fun writing more about Lyrson, who I don’t think I’ve revealed here yet is actually a member of a new species that I am still working out the details for. Today’s excerpt is at least a hint at them!

Word Count: 2140

Excerpt:

Fortune came and went out in the timewilds. Lyson knew this, and yet he still let himself be a little disappointed when thick grey clouds rolled over the sky in the early afternoon and opened up. Rain tamped down the grass and the dirt and darkened the distant views across the plains. The constant drumming of it formed a gentle roaring background noise to drown out any folk songs he might hum to himself to pass the time and the miles.

His antennae hung over the sides of his head, sticking to his cheeks, and Lyrson found himself shaking his head frequently to get the raindrops out of his eyes. His boots were soaked through, his bag heavy with the gloomy mood. He shivered once or twice and rued the fact that he was so far from peak; if he was a bit bigger and had a few protective scales grown in, he might be able to insulate himself better against the chill.

As it was, the copse of trees was hours behind him and it made little sense to turn back. So, with little shelter overhead and the constant tattoo of rain against his head, Lyrson trudged on, slipping occasionally against mud slicks hidden in the grass.

NaNoWriMo Day 9

Neon BrightLeave a comment

Today was really fun to write! I started late, and I wasn’t sure what I’d actually go with, but once I got started it really took off. I’m introducing yet another new character, the final member of my golden trio for the main story.

Word Count: 2189

Excerpt:

Someone was singing, near one of the campfires on the other side of the would-be village. A deep, throaty voice rose and fell with the breeze, clear notes of simple joy for life. The sun had set not an hour ago, but the moons already shone bright in the sky, their half-shadowed faces casting a gentle glow over the grasses beyond where the firelight reached.

There was Eldest moon – she always seemed to loom so close in the sky, vibrant gray that approached white in its brilliance. She had half her face covered, and she set the example for the others.

River moon – the sister who took her own path, she always hovered a bit farther away from the cluster formed by the others, and their arrangement never seemed to affect her. Like Eldest, her face was roughly half covered, with perhaps a bit more of it showing (she was always a bit ahead of the others – rushing like the river for which she was named).

Little Brother moon stayed close to Eldest, though he couldn’t shine as bright as she. His face, or what showed of it, was a darker grey in the sky. He glowed, but modestly.

Behind them all lurked Shadow moon. She was shy, so the stories said. She preferred to look upon the sleeping earth from behind the others. Her face was half shining like the others, but Little Brother hovered in front of her, hiding her partially from view in the sky.

Reader Message

Neon BrightLeave a comment

enby-phoenix asked: Have Bowman and Jacob introduced each other to very many foods? What are the weirdest things they’ve convinced each other to eat? (besides pine sap, we know that one.) What is each’s favorite food from the other’s culture?

( Pine Sap Incident )

Sure! They’ve traded all kinds of things. Jacob tries to bring a different (vegetarian) food to the forest every time he visits to see what Bowman and the other sprites think of it. Usually fruits or vegetables that they can’t find in Wellwood, but occasionally he brings candy or pastries.

I think Bowman would be most intrigued by cereal, out of all these things, especially the more colorful stuff. Can you imagine him with a fruit loop?

Jacob has tried whatever sprite foods they’ve offered him, and has had better luck since his pine sap mishap. They have some of their own baked delicacies, including sticky buns wrapped in mint leaves, fruit tarts, and a little thing that’s like a cannoli but with little roots and honey instead of cheese filling.

Jacob likes the mintcakes. They’re very striking and the easiest for him to actually get all the flavors.

Anonymous Message

Neon BrightLeave a comment

Anonymous Asked: How would things have gone if Lord Scar or Lord Cerul had been the first sprite to meet/encounter Jacob?

What an interesting thing to think about!

If it was Scar meeting Jacob first, he’d have several of his knights waiting out of sight in the trees. At the first signal from him, they’d be ready to swarm a mischievous giant with their little swords. He would learn very quickly not to grab at sprites! And he’d probably be scolded quite soundly into listening. Scar takes no nonsense.

Cerul might still get grabbed, if we’re honest. Jacob can be grabby at first. However, instead of snarking up a storm at him, Cerul would end up taking a much calmer, more diplomatic approach. He would be able to tell that Jacob means no harm with his actions, giant or not. He would explain a bit about why that’s not a good way to make a first impression, how dangerous it can be if he makes a move too hastily, and request that he not do that again. Jacob is respectful enough that he’d probably listen.

Contact me with your questions here!

Anonymous Message

Neon BrightLeave a comment

Anon asked: Are there still a few sprites in wellwood unwilling to trust Jacob or just generally kinda freaked out by him still?

There definitely are! He’s a giant, even among humans, and to the wood sprites that’s an intimidating prospect. Though most of them trust that he is a protector for the village, it can be hard to get past that size. To them, four inches tall is pretty big. Jacob is seventy seven inches tall.

He tries his best to be respectful and give the home trees some distance when he visits. The sprites that don’t come out of their homes to see what he’s up to are the ones he knows haven’t completely warmed up to him yet.

Muunfel Lore Bits #5

Neon BrightLeave a comment

Cira Dawn isn’t the first Oracle that has ever taken up residence in her temple, but she might be the most decorated. The power that grants her the position enables her to see not only the futures, but a lot of the past as well, with almost all of time accessible to her with some effort. It also gives her the ability to create and resolve paradoxes on a whim.

Cira also communes with beings not on the physical plane, especially the gods. Many of them find her amusing or endearing, and would protect her if the need arose. In return, sometimes they are allowed to ride along in her headspace to view the world from a slightly more mortal perspective.