Lycandope

you can call me lu! i’m a self taught artist that has been drawing cartoons for as long as i can remember. i’m heavily inspired by my favorite childhood movies.. as you can probably guess.. a lot of those were disney.

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- #arutha

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cover image credit to: @spotted-mooncalf

The three adventurers stepped into the Inn, where a human woman glanced up from her work. She immediately gave her new customers a warm smile.

“Why, hello there! You’re just in luck, I believe we happen to have a suite that’ll suit you three nicely!” She announced in a chipper tone.

The three nodded in unison, all muttering acceptances of the generous offer.

“Marjie! Can you please escort our guests to their room?” She called out, giving the trio a wide grin as Mars placed a couple of coins on the front desk.

Suddenly, a younger version of the inn keeper appeared. She was a handsome woman, with stunning white hair and slightly pointed ears. She looked the trio up and down before letting out a dramatic sigh.

“But Maaaaaa! I don’t even work here anymore!”

The ‘Ma’ in question whipped her head around like an angered owl, glaring at her daughter. Majora just looked smugly at her mother before grabbing the room key.

“Right this way,” she told the three guests, dodging a targeted swat from her mother. She then started her way down the hall, silently expecting the three to follow suit. As they did so, Majora couldn’t help but look over them once more.

“Haven’t seen you around here before. Lemme guess, nowhere else would take ya in? Or is our humble little inn lucky enough to be your first choice?” She joked, now walking backwards to face them as she spoke.

Mars, still holding the tiefling’s arm, ran his free hand down the walls as he made his way down the corridor.

“Is it that obvious?” The elf laughed. “You guys are the first inn I’ve come across in days that actually has a spot open for mythical beings. I must say, I’m surprised the owner herself is human! You said she was your mother?” He asked softly, his hands still roaming to get ‘a lay of the land.’

“Yup.” Majora answered, popping the ‘p’ as she turned back around.

“Ma’s owned the inn for as long as I can remember. Says she got it from her grandfather.” She eyed the rooms as they passed by, fond childhood memories playing through her mind.

“It’s kinda hard for us to turn away mythical beings when half her children are half humans.” She added, subconsciously tucking a white dread behind her ear.

She then stopped in front of one of the many rooms, using the key to unlock its door and swing it wide open.

“I see. Well that certainly explains her kindness,” Mars chuckled as he walked into the room. The other two followed in pursuit, Zephyr helping the elf sit down on the bed. “Hard to come by under Maelrick’s reign,” Mars scoffed,” that damn brute is going to drive half his subjects away and the other half will be in poverty before they even realize something is wrong! This is the third town I’ve come across that’s growing more hostile to nonhuman beings.” The elf shook his head, then pawed at his pocket.

“Apologies,” he smiled sheepishly, tossing Majora a gold piece. “I don’t mean for you to hear my ramblings, your family’s hospitality is very helpful to those like us, is all.”

“I prefer to stay out of.. politics,” Majora sneered. “It just complicates things..but…you’re not wrong.” A pained expression passed over her features before being replaced by a forced smile. “But it’s not like any of us can do anything about it,” she finished, leaning in the doorway.

“I don’t think that’s true.” Mars replied simply, earning hesitant looks from the others.

“People think they can’t because no one’s ever tried,” He shrugged, leaning up against the wall,” Take this inn for example, it may have been good business for your mother, but have you ever wondered why so many people have been flocking here recently? You’re the only one who will take in those like us. Doesn’t that bother you?”

Majora gave a noncommittal shrug.

“As long as we can give our kind a place to rest their heads, and we can take care of ourselves, I can’t really say it does.” She replied coolly. “I mean, don’t get me wrong, I get it. But what’s the point in worrying about something so out of your control? If people hate us, they hate us. I just don’t think the opinion of other people is worth stressing over.”

There was a beat of silence.

“Our kind makes due.”

The orc standing in the corner of the room finally spoke up. “One day there won’t be any of our kind. Your inn will lose customers and the humans won’t want to stay here.” Ramius explained carefully. “The King is known for scorching homes to make room for his empire…” Then his voice trailed off, as if caught in a distant memory. He shook his head, pulling himself back to reality as he looked up at the group once more.

“It’s foolish to sit by and watch as the kingdom exterminates your kind. Just because nothing bad has happened yet doesn’t mean it won’t.” Raimus huffed, the bed creaking under his weight as he sat down.

Mars sensed the tension and attempted to steer the conversation in a different direction. “I like you Majora,”he smiled,”Why don’t you show us the tavern and we can all get something to eat together?”

· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·

“To new friends! To our journeys!" Mars raised his mug of mead in the air, toasting with the rest of the party.

The best part about this Inn? There was a pub attached to it.

“Raimus!” Mars patted the mighty orc’s shoulder,”Tell me about yourself, my friend. How long have you been travelling? Is this the first village you’ve settled in?” He was rapid firing questions at the poor orc.

Raimus smiled a bit, rubbing the back of his neck as he spoke,”Oh I’ve been traveling for about two, maybe three years now. I stay in villages until they want me out.” He gave a hearty laugh, no doubt feeling the effects of his generous cup of mead.

“I grew up by the sea. I was supposed to become a healer but the world had other plans for me.”Raimus shrugged, glancing down at his drink.

Clearing his throat, the orc looked back up at the elf. “What about you, Mars? What’s your story?”

Mars wrapped his hands around his mug, rubbing it lightly with his fingers. “I was from Berch actually,”he started with a dry chuckle,”My mother and I were servants. We were passed around until one day we served the King.”

His voice suddenly trailed off, his fingers gripping the mug tighter.

“I broke the law. I committed treason under his rule — that’s how this happened.” Mars pointed up at the bandages that covered where his eyes once were.

He suddenly heard Majora’s voice, his head turning in her direction. “That’s why I can’t just sit back and let this happen to others.”

Raimus placed a big hand on Mar’s shoulders. “Maybe you can start something…” He leaned in, speaking much softer to finish his thought,”A rebellion?”

“Oh yeah?” Marsipan chuckled softly,”And I’d wager you’d be first in the ranks, ay big guy?” He asked with a friendly nudge.

“Now we’re talking!” Zephyr piped up, his golden eyes shining.

“If you guys want a rebellion, I’m your guy. Us Moonridges, I’m sure you’ve heard of us, are a very powerful house. I got like, connections.”

Then his face fell.

“Well, heh, I did, anyways,”he corrected, nervously tapping his hands on his thighs. “My family and I are.. on a little ‘break.’ My old man thinks I need to ‘learn the real world’ and ‘stop being a little brat.’” Zephyr mocked his father with a comically gruff voice before switching back to his normal tone.

“Sooo, he cut me off. He wants me to prove myself and I think this is my shot. My dad would have no choice but to take me back if I led a rebellion." The tiefling finished his speech with a giddy laugh. He was practically bouncing in his seat, tail wagging excitedly.

“Keep your voice down!” Mars laughed, pulling Zephyr back in his seat. The elf then leaned in, tapping the table with his fingers.

“If we’re serious about this, and I’m starting to believe we are,”he smiled nervously,”We can’t just run up to the kingdom and say we’re rebelling. We need a plan, time, and reinforcements!”

Mars rummaged through his pack and pulled out a map of the entire land which was tailored with braille engravings. “We’re here, in Dormshire,”He stated, feeling his way around the map. “Does anyone know of a place near here like this? Where it’s growing more hostile by the day and magical beings would be more inclined to hear us out? We need to start as far from the kingdom as we can. Close in on it with forces from every corner.”

Ramius scratched his stubbled chin as he thought it through. “I’ve stopped in a couple of places.. run down places.. but..” His lips curled up in a small smirk. “There’s a few places underground that have quite a few others that would be eager to listen to us.”

“Would any of these underground routes get us to the Earlgrail?” Mars pointed to a corner of the map. “Earlgrail is the most south and if we can get there without any snafoos, we should pass right by the enchanted lake and the faun lands.”

He paused. “The enchanted lake will be easy, it’s the most magical place from here to the deadlands. The faun lands though, that may be tricky. Fauns are solitary, who’s to say they’ll listen if we can even find them!”

Majora had been flitting around the tavern, speaking with patrons and checking in with the regulars. She circled back to the table when the rebellion talk started though.

“I know a faun that would hear you out,”she mentioned casually, slinking back into her seat at the table. “It’ll be perfect.”

“Do you think you can get us to them?” Mars asked quickly, shooting his head towards Majora.

He then caught himself being too brash, holding his hands up. “Look you don’t have to join if you don’t want to, but we’ll need someone who knows the lay of the land from here to the forest of secrets. If you could help us get that far.. what’s say.. a hundred gold pieces for it?” He reached in his pocket, dropping a small bag of coins onto the table.

Zephyr’s goatlike ears flattened as he watched the bag cling onto the table. “You’re paying her?” He cocked an eyebrow. “Well, I see what you think about the rest of us.”

“The rest of you said yes before you found out I’d pay you!” Mars laughed, giving the tiefling a playful shove. Zephyr just looked offended.

Mars turned his attention back to Majora, pushing the bag of coins closer to her. “We can rest here a day or two, get our bearings and some supplies before we head off. Then you take us to the forest of secrets. Deal?”

The white haired woman bit her lip. She sighed, about to turn them down before a voice spoke for her.

“She’ll do it.”

Majora’s eyes widened as she whipped around to find her mother standing behind her.

“MA!”

“What? Things haven’t been easy with you off living your fairytale life in the forest.”

“But I don-“

“I’ll make those cloudberry rolls you love so much.”

“…Fine. Deal.” The druid huffed in defeat.

“Great!” Mars cheered. “Then tomorrow you’ll show us around the village! Where we can get supplies and all.”

He looked at his now friends sitting around the table. “Form this point on, we’ll be the four founders. Founders of something bigger than ourselves, for the good of the lands. Yeah?”

“For the good of the lands.” Zephyr agreed.

“For the good of the lands.” Majora muttered.

“For the good of the lands.” Raimus laughed.

Downing the rest of his mead, Raimus studied the map now laid out on the table. “I’ve met a few nymphs at the lake of enchantment. They may not want to speak to me for .. uhm.. reasons… but I’m sure they’ll love Zephyr!”

He shot the tiefling a smug look. “They love a cute face.”

Zephyr’s ears wiggled at the compliment, the young tiefling lifting his chin up proudly. “… I am pretty cute.”

“I’m sure whatever we run into shouldn’t give us that hard of a time.” Raimus began. “I mean, as long as we explain our situation it should be fine.. right?” He finished, giving the party a weary glance.

“Right.” Mars nodded. “The worst they can do is say no. Well, c'mon gents, big day ahead of us!”

Marsipan exhaled as he entered the town gates of Dormshire. A small, rustic village in the highland farmlands of Arutha. He had been on his own for three years now, a singular elf who was not only a nomadic refugee, but blind as a bat in daytime.

With what appeared to be a lowly walking stick tapping the ground in front of him, he navigated through the cobblestone streets using the handle as a cane. He couldn't see, but he could hear all the sounds of the village. Children playing, the clanging of gold pieces against the beggers cups, but one sound stood out.

"And stay out! Can't ya read the sign?! Humans only, freak!" An angry low voice, and then the sound of a mass hitting the pavement. "Excuse me," Mars asked frantically, guiding his way to the body on the ground. "Are you alright!?" He asked, doing his best to shuffle the figure back onto their feet.

A deep groan emerged as the towering figure slowly began to rise to his feet, his gaze slowly landing on the elf that stood before him. With adrenaline still coursing through his body from the bar interaction he was willing to strike anyone in reach, even if they had helped him up! But before he could act, he noticed the bandages wrapped around the stranger's eyes.

"Oh...Uh, yes, I'm alright...Just some friendly locals." He stated with an eye roll and a slight sarcastic chuckle in his voice. Rubbing the back of his neck, he cleared his throat and offered out his large hand. "The name's Ramius." He said in an awkward yet polite tone. "Are you okay? Are you looking - or uh...Trying to get somewhere?" Raimus asked, correcting himself mid sentence.

Mars simply chuckled. "Nice to meet you Ramius.

Judging by the size of your hands...l'd say you're an orc?" "I-i am! And judging by your ears, I'd say you're an elf!" The pair shared in a small laugh before-

"Ramius!" Another voice called from the crowd. A tall, slender figure pushed his way through the hoard of people, a hood and cloak draped over him, hiding his horns and tail, a tiefling. "I told you to wait for me out here big guy! What happened?!" He dusted off the large Orc and fussed over fixing his clothes. "'M fine Zeph! My own fault for trying to get a drink in Dormshire." Ramius groaned, swatting the cloaked man away. "And who is this?" He asked, looking Marsipan up and down.

"Marsipan." The elf said, extending a hand in the general direction of the voice. "Zephyr." The figure answered back, returning the shake.

"Are they always this...friendly..?" The elf asked as he shot a sneer toward the small tavern. "You must be new around here." Zephyr chuckled. "Is it that obvious?" Mars asked in an awkward laugh. "I guess you could say I'm new here...just passing through that is. I was hoping to find a quiet place for a meal. But it looks like it definitely won't be there." He held his growling belly.

Raimus huffed at Mar's question. "Oh yeah...They're not the most fond of non-humans here, it's hard to find a place in the center of town that is welcoming to magical folk." He shrugged, but his tone was aggravated.

"Lucky for us! That's where I was!" Zephyr chirped. "I scouted around and found a place just on the edge of town, they offer meals and a bed if you need it. Run by some of your kind Mars, Elves I hear!" He ushered them forward and tossed his hood back up. "We better move soon though, the villagers can get a bit more...Expressive once nightfalls."

The trio trekked onward all the way to the edge of Dormshire territory. Mars, when crossing unsturdy bits of land, put his staff safely around his back and slinked his arm around the tieflings. "Sorry," he said awkwardly. "Would you mind..? It's uh...alot easier in unfamiliar areas." His pointed ears drooped awkwardly as he rubbed the back of his neck. It was true though, having a guide made getting around a lot easier.

"Oh, uhm, yeah, of course,"the Tiefling replied, taken aback by the sudden forwardness. "Makes sense,"he grinned shyly, "I gotcha covered."

"So, how long have you two been traveling together?" Mars asked, breaking the silence as they walked. Zephyr seemed to perk up. "About two months now! I found the big lug with a tin cup in some city alleyways! Ain't that right buddy?" The Orc just mumbled an "mhm" in response before looking around. "Where is this place anyway?! Are we getting close?"

"Almost big guy! Just beyond the next ridge!" Zephyr pointed forward, his other arm still supporting Mars.

"Soooo..." he drew out. "What about you? Have you always been..?" He trailed off at the end, but Mars finished for him. "Blind? No, no this.. is a side effect from the war..!" He said simply with a small shrug.

"Oh..im. so sorry—!" The tiefling started to say sheepishly. "Nah, it's okay, everybody has a story I reckon. This war has taken from us all. That's why I'm glad I found you two atleast!"

Mars couldn't see it, but Zephyr gave him a warm smile, he was glad to have met them too. "Well then," he cheered. "We better keep up before we lose Ramius with his giant ogre steps!" "Im an orc and you know it!" Ramius snorted. The trio shared in a laugh before finally they reached it. A bustling little inn nestled within the side of the hills themselves, the smell of pastries and wine filling the air, hopeful chatter coming from inside. Safety, at least for the night.

-

Arutha.

A vast, mysterious land shaped not merely by history, but by magic itself. A peaceful land that gave refuge to mythical beings for centuries. That is...until 7 years ago.

Though beautiful, Arutha stands on a crisis. The human king of the Land's capital, King Maelrik, a ruler whose ambition outpaces wisdom, Began what started as a quiet but aggressive expansion. Under the guise of "unifying the lands," has turned into an all put war. He has sent settlers, and soldiers alike deep into Aruthan territory. He dreams of claiming the magical kingdom for humanity alone.

To reshape it.

To "tame" it.

To drain it for power, Making humans the ultimate race.

Arutha's magic resists him, but magic alone cannot stand forever without defenders. A rebellion. Set up by 4 refugees, misplaced and left behind by war, they alone have the power to defeat the kingdom, and reclaim the ancient land. Who will join their cause? What will they encounter? And Can 4 magical beings take down a whole army?

-

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heyooo everyone! i’m so excited to share with you our newest story, Arutha! what started out as a dnd campaign is now a full fledged story written by @spotted-mooncalf and me! i hope you like what we have in store for ya.

“Where Thunder Roams” - Ch 6

With her father’s approval, Thunderkit went to go find her friends. Luckily enough, they decided to wait on her.

“Hey Thunder!”Patchkit called out, smiling as she spotted the last member of their party.

Cloudkit gave her a small wave, while his brother, Lightningkit, kept quiet. He wasn’t much of a talker.

“Hey guys,”Thunderkit beamed,”what are we doing today?”

“We wanna go on a mouse hunt!”Cloudkit answered quickly, almost cutting her off. “And whoever can catch the biggest mouse wins!”

“Bring it,” Thunderkit replied.

-

-

Many nights had passed since the storm that brought Thunderkit to GroveClan. Seemed like Spottedvine just blinked and she already growing up.

Where does all the time go?

“Papa!”Thunderkit looked up at her father,”Can I pleaseeee go play with my friends?”

She blinked expectantly, eyes wide and waiting.

“Well, I suppose so,”Spottedvine sighed softly,”as long as you don’t wander too far-“

That’s all the answer Thunderkit needed. Before her father could even finish his sentence, she was off.

“Thankyouloveyoubyeeee,”the kit squeaked, just a brown blur bounding over the grass.

Spottedvine was stunned for a second. Then smiled to himself.