#captive winter

Hello Writeblr!

I'm going to be joining with Moon + Seraph to try and add as many words as possible in my manuscript. Check out the Words into Potions Intro post for more information and to join!

Now, about my project! I'll be continuing work on my epic fantasy, Captive Winter, and here's a little refresher for those of you who are new!

— Title: Captive Winter

— Genre: Fantasy

Fantasy history lore dump time!

Who’s a famous historical figure in your world? What’s their story, how are they remembered (and is it accurate?).

@italiangothicwriteblr

GAH, I AM SO SORRY JOY! A week late, my bad 😬

A famous character in history is King Devin. He was born the bastard nephew of the southern king, and when a fearsome beast attacked the royal ship on its annual journey downriver to what would become the present-day capital, Devin was spared because his uncle had denied him passage. As his father had legitimized him (against his brother's wishes), Devin became king. His first act was to slay the beast that had murdered his family, and he took its teeth as his prize. He ruled for almost fifteen years before mysteriously vanishing, although people insisted he would return "during our people's darkest hour" (this is ofc a shout out to the prediction about King Arthur). His wife--also lowborn--tried to present their infant daughter as heir, but she and her child were banished from the palace and left to fend for themselves.

He was a fairly well-liked king, mostly because the people saw him as One of Them. The nobility never quite warmed up to him, though once he vanished, he quickly became revered as one of the Great Kings of the past. The stories tend to treat him as something of a "diamond in the rough" sort, where he grew up poor/ostracized yet still had the grace and bearing of a natural born noble. It's not quite accurate, since he struggled with doing things "the nobles' way" and often reacted without thinking, even if his cunning was legendary.

Princess Iseray: The only daughter of the late king and queen, Iseray found herself stepping into the role of homemaker a lot earlier than she would have preferred. While her older brother Declan struggles with visions of a future he can't escape, Iseray does her best to maintain appearances for their allies and enemies alike. When her twin brother, Tristan, is sent north as part of an arrange marriage, Iseray wrestles with guilt over the incident that caused the marriage alliance to be formed, and might have to confront the implications the truth could have for herself and all she holds dear. King Declan: King for less than a year, Declan has found himself forced to withdraw from his siblings, keeping up a cold, kingly front, all the while plagued by visions of his future that he refuses to share with anyone, not even his lover, Fliora. As events begin to bring his vision nearer to passing, Declan must do whatever he has to in one final attempt to protect his siblings, even if it involves damning himself in the process. Prince Tristan: The second son, Tristan grew up knowing that there was little expected of him. Dismissed as a handsome trophy, Tristan found solace in learning about other countries and kingdoms. When his brother betrothed him to Princess Jocelyn, Tristan determined to make it a good match, even if it meant turning his back on his former lover, Will. When Tristan, Jocelyn, and Will are shipwrecked on their way north, Tristan will have to prove himself more than just a trophy--both to those around him, and more importantly, to himself.

WIP Title: Captive Winter (title is in itself a work in progress) Plot: Two families trying to save their people attempt to unite their houses through a royal marriage, but their plans are thrown into disarray when the priest tries to murder the northern princess. Considered accomplices to his crimes, his two acolytes are sent north to serve out their sentences. While Digory finds a mentor in the king's uncle--a cartographer--Nettie finds herself sent to a northern outpost that may reveal an ancient threat with world-ending capabilities.

Tagging @writeblrfantasy for being such an encouragement and a lovely friend.

Thanks for the ask!

Katia: The powerful matriarch of the Northern Kingdom, Katia was loath to betroth Jocelyn to Tristan, due to her own experiences in the south, including the mysterious event that brought her and her brother, Chasen, to the North when they were younger. Now trapped back in the region that haunts her nightmares, Katia has to prove that she is a force to be reckoned with--both to those around her and, more importantly, to herself. Mycroft: Mycroft is the warm and welcoming steward of the Golden Wood, where he is happy to remain with his young wife, Gwendolyn, with whom he is a friend, not a lover. Reluctant to leave his home, Mycroft finds himself pulled back to Court when the king appoints him as the ambassador for the Northern princess. Nonetheless determined to do his duty, Mycroft does his best to accommodate the new princess, even as he struggles to uncover his apparent connection with Queen Katia. Gwendolyn: Gwendolyn, the kindhearted Lady of the Golden Wood, insists on accompanying Mycroft South, despite her own tumultuous history with the nobles there. Gwen chafes under the eyes of the Court, who know her as a traitor's child whose forced marriage to Mycroft is a cold and distant one. Staying close to her husband, Gwen struggles to put the whispers of the past behind her and move forward, even as the events at the royal wedding threaten to overturn everything she holds dear.

Happy OTP Tuesday!