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Of Bees and Dragons
🕑 Added 2021-06-30 22:14:07 +0000 UTCAfter a couple of days of struggling with getting an older tablet to work on the old desktop that I've set up in the basement (which is about 20 degrees cooler than the rest of the house) I think I've managed to set up something that is at least workable.
I was hoping to use my old Yiynova tablet, as its a larger and at least more modern one than my old Wacom was, but I forgot the absolutely arcane rituals you needed to perform just to get it running. Including command line hard-scrubbing old Wacom drivers out of your system (literally going into hidden folders to delete any and all traces), and subsequently trying to get ancient builds of its Windows 10 drivers to work. Ultimately they just won't run on this machine I'm afraid, and alternate driver sites are impressively sketchy enough that it threw up red flags on searches.
It did finally make me consider putting some savings towards another tablet. I'm not looking forward to that kind of expense, but with weather like this hitting, it's shown that I need a setup in a colder part of the house to keep being able to produce art. I can't go weeks without getting any work done, and since this ancient house I'm in was built to insulate and trap heat in colder winters, even working at night means the studio hits about 30C.
But my kvetching about tablet troubles and temperatures wasn't the main reason for posting. I'd like to start posting some tidbits about the weird world going on inside of my windy little skull.
I always feel tentative about posting about my world or characters. I feel like its an imposition. Like I'm that annoying guy at the comic store that insists on telling you about the Dungeons and Dragon characters he's made with all 18's, or that dude who won't shut up about his favourite anime when he wasn't asked.
But I guess one of the bonuses of posting online in 'blog' format is that people can easily ignore it, and scroll on past to the art stuff (which I'm hoping to have more to share in the next week now that I'm not actively just sitting there on fire). So indeed, if this prattling about people in my head isn't your thing, no hard feelings, there will be more wild adventures of sketched people in the coming month.
Cinders
Of any of the little ghosts squeaking around in my cranial attic, Cinders is the most prominent. The constant companion who seems able to peek over my proverbial shoulder and see into time and space of whatever I may be up to.
She first came into existence probably about a decade ago. At the time, a bat-winged cartoon mare with (I believe) a unicorn horn. But she took shape as herself the more my mind's eye was able to focus and make out detail, like someone emerging from silhouette to fully realized person.
Her life's journey would be a long and complicated tale, something I'm saving more for a comic or visual way of telling the tale. But I can at least talk about who she is now, and a little about here life.
Rawr neigh rawr.
Cinders is a rarity. Not in the sense that she's a tired 'chosen' trope, but that her bloodline is partially descended from a now extinct people known as the 'Indorai'. Indorillian bloodlines stemmed from those with a connection to the draconic 'mother' of the world. Myth holds that Indorilithia, the 'Heaven's Flame', mother of all dragon-kind sacrificed her heart soul and body to keep the world she held most cherished from being destroyed by a lover driven mad with power.
In doing this, the world was infused with her essence. Great tides of arcane energies surged like lava through underground and ethereal pathways, infused itself into stones, crystals, and nature itself. This essence, over time, could find it's way into mortals of the realm, born with characteristics of draconic aspect. While old tales would state that this was by specific will of Indorilithia herself, others theorized that it was purely by chance.
Cinders is one such person who was glanced by this 'draconic arcana'. Though for Lorrnathi people to have any tie to Indorillian bloodlines was, until her birth, unheard of. Thus she was thought of more as a demon than dragon for a part of her life.
While the manifestations of Indorillian bloodlines are different for most individuals, commonly it means they tend to have at least an affinity for the arcane. In Cinders' case, she was immune to the effects of cold weather, as well as resistant to the sub-elemental planar arcana of both water and frost. She had an affinity for nature and the spiritual, and later learned abilities pertaining to witchcraft. Something she used, largely, to make nature more healthy, and have conversations with bees.
These days, she describes herself as both 'neigh' (lorrnathi) and 'rawr' (draconic) but a rawr of kindness.
The Herd
Despite quite a solitary existence early on in her life, she's now blessed with a 'herd' family of her own. Lorrnathi folk have a knit type of Polyamory brought about from early days when their people often wouldn't survive long. The familial culture has survived to this day, and in her case means she has a husband, Berrand (Aegencaldi Lorrnath), a wife, Sherdaylyn (Orthiennese Lorrnathi), another husband, Aodhan (Aegencaldi Lorrnath), another wife, Hollythistle (Lathreidi Lorrnath) and four children. Anders and Ahani, sired by Berrand, Annabelle (a Haunish girl) adopted after finding her by a roadside, and Terenos (Reixa Lorrnath) who's parents had passed away at sea, and was adopted into the family.
Her family life is, as can be expected, quite full. But she considers the many creatures that inhabit her planar realm as her 'children' as well, from lost spirit, to sparrow, to a raccoon who's learned to open the cupboards.
The Haustrforn
A massive tree who's roots dig deep into the earth, and branches wend and knot their way nearly towards the clouds. Known as 'Eternal Autumn' in Old Lorrnathi, the Haustrforn serves as the ancient Indorillian tower of primal sorcery for Cinders, and is the heart of her immortal realm.
The great tree is set on an equally tree-filled island in the middle of a lake in the heart of Lathreadon, the Lorrnathi lands of Valhaadrune. The tree is visible to mortal folk from Glaedhurst and even as far away as Allr Olker, though any who travel to the isle can never seem to reach the tree itself, instead emerging from the forest to the other side of the waters, no matter the direction taken.
The Haustrforn itself can only be visited by those that Cinders sees fit, or finds interesting, or even just seems kind enough to be friends with. Her realm is a demi-plane, formed from her will, and is ultimately a place of peace. No weapon can be drawn, and those intent on assaulting the great tree never seem to emerge from it's shores again, rumored to have been consumed by 'roving pumpkins', trampled by an ill-tempered, rune-covered moose, or perhaps swallowed by the tree's branches whole.
The tree taps into a deep line of arcana. Meaning magic seeps through it's whole structure. Rooms that wind their ways within it's great trunk and branches are heated or cooled as much as the occupant might wish. Lights will glow, or go dark on command, and small mice will go shopping amidst teeny-tiny 'stores' set up by Cinders herself. While a great deal of arcane power could be summoned forth through the invisible sigils and runes lined within it's bark, such power is never needed, for even the tree bends its will to the small 'neigh-rawr' that gives it's roots a home.
Those who are counted among friends and get to visit the isle have always noted a feeling of contentment. The sound of birdsong, leaves rustling, and at certain times the musical hum of nature and the world itself accompany them. It is a bastion of rest, and quiets the worries of one's heart.
And that does it for this small sample of the world, and one of it's denizens. Cinders, her family, and the Haustrforn have much more story yet to be revealed, but as I've stated, I'd like to save a little for an illustrated story.
And now to head into the lands of driver-downloads and drawing on tiny screens. Stay safe and cool folks, I hope the sun isn't angry at your part of the world like it is with mine. I'm guessing my home province owes the solar entity money or something.
-T.J.
Comments
Justin Carpenter
I don't fundamentally disagree with you, Kubulai...but I'd argue that the same problems exist in relationships of two, and that every polyamorous relationship web I've seen, be it Cinders' or my own, is a collection of relationships between two people, and the interrelationship of these relationships. Think of the connection between two people as a girder, and the polyamorous relationship a sort of structure in three-dimensional space, build from two-dimensional girders interconnecting a collection of common points. It's true, certainly, that structures with fewer strong girders linking the points will be weaker, more prone to structural failure...but it's also true that, broken down, it's really just a collection of girders, of bonds between two points, but that the bonds serve to co-strengthen and reinforce one another, too, when the structure is of sound architecture. I've had a hand, over the years, in writing Cinders' life with Tim, and I need to very resolutely bite my tongue, as this is his story to tell, and not mine...it will be told in his words, in his time. But I hope our host will indulge me saying simply that, as I've seen it and as I understand it, Cinders' family is a collection of relationships between one person and one person...in which love, respect, and support of each person's relationships in important to each. The specific geometries and vectors of connection...well, I would *absolutely love* to discuss them, but they're for Tim to tell...not I.
Kubulai
Polyamory has always been sort of a headscratcher to me because of the basic condition that should be met: Everyone involved needs to be in love with or get along well with each other. It's difficult enough for two humans to form healthy, long-lasting relationships. And Cinders is part of a herd of five?? But they're Lorrnathi, perhaps it just comes naturally to their kind.
Tim J.
My new workstation is new, and shiny, and sits in the studio looking sad since I haven't been able to even turn on the power in a week. Luckily I still have my old workhorse in the cellar that does the job, but it's a mess of wires and tablets and cabling going everywhere right now ;) And thank you so much. Very kind of you. I try not to ramble on too hard on characters and worlds as I have a tendency to chatter non-stop about them. There will be a few more posts about folks there though :)
Tim J.
Her islands have interesting guardians. Pumpkins, rune-covered moose, elemental haunts and even the odd scarecrow. Often they aren't met unless someone travels to the isle to destroy the mortal forests there. So far it's been a great deterrent ;) I appreciate the offer! I'm on my old 12UX now, which is tiny, and has a crack on the screen, but does the job. Unfortunately shipping electronics to Canada is prohibitively expensive (We get hit with a pretty massive tax for anything we bring in unless a company has a deal with doing trade here). And it should hopefully only be for another few days until I can get back into my studio again. Thank you though!
Tim J.
I only wish I had the written vocabulary to write out her entire story. I had to paraphrase a lot of her life simply due to the length and complexity of her past. I'm hoping to convey it better with a comic, but it was delayed as I have to collab with a friend to get all the details straight (literally years and years worth). COVID threw a bit of a wrench in that. And I think Cinders would happily invite you. Its an amazing place to visit in the fall. The whole sky turns to a flurry of red and yellow leaves. And there is mint cocoa.
Tim J.
She's practically a beacon of love. From injured birds, to bees that need water, to a wounded, terrified gnoll (as long as they aren't one of the demon-touched). She tries to show compassion for everyone that she can. And indeed, there are some that she knows aren't redeemable. Those she leaves to Brambles, her familiar. Its an unknown fate, but often those left to him aren't seen again in mortal's lifetimes.
Tim J.
I hope to be able to share more of her life once I can get the story-beats down for the comic. She's got this long history to her that would take a novel or two to actually unfold. I do better with art than I do with writing, so hopefully I'll be able to convey all the stuff she (and her family) have done. :)
MountainGoat
Thank you for sharing :) I've seen Cinders in your art for many years but never knew much about her.
MishaFox
Cinders always strikes me as a warm and caring friend but heaven help someone who is stupid enough to try and attacker or her family.
Perfesser Bear
I love this kind of material. It adds depth and breadth to the story of Cinders and her family. It's a world I'd love to visit (but I'd show respect to The Haustrforn).
David J.
This one's mind began to wander at the thought of bands of roving pumpkins. Truly a land we'd love to explore. PS-I've an older basic Wacom USB here if you find you need one. I've had it set up in Windows 7 and my MAC.
Thank you for sharing this. I sympathize with your challenges in finding a setup that works without tearing apart your primary setup. The difficulties are real, and I am glad you were able to figure something out. Also, I truly enjoyed reading about your characters and world. Thank you for the insights. <3 Keep up the great work.
