#collection.myprojects

when comes the dawn monthly update {11.2025}

While I didn't do a lot of writing this month, I did do quite a bit of planning, expanding on ideas, and worldbuilding. I also opened my wip notebook again, and man I forgot how much I love my wip notebook for getting ideas down.

THE STATISTICS

the draft → 51,324 words words written this month → 2110 words average word count per session →  528 words

STORY NOTES

• I think I have a pretty good idea of the timeline/transition from act 1 to act 2, but it does require some rearranging and additional new chapters and characters that I'm hoping will help add more tension and raise the stakes a bit earlier.

• I've decided that Fenice doesn't get the Tempus Praetori rank until act 2 when [REDACTED] happens. Which means the only title she'll get after her marriage with Nike is the title of Kaisarim. It seemed to convenient to give her both at the get go

• Adding a new element of conflict on the geopolitical stage here by introducing the territory of Laran (or Lurs-Laran? Haven't completely decided yet) in south-western Hesperia. It's loosely inspired by neapolitan history where multiple kingdoms/powers try to excercise their 'claims' over the land.

• I've been doing some more work on the various positions in Aetierian government outside of the imperial family, like defining the positions and role of The Archontes, the hierarchy of the Synedrion/Curia, and essentially stripping down the nobility to two ranks: Dux and Kyri

EXCERPTS

Andras' face was unscruitable, the shadows stretched across the planes of his sharp cheekbones and the hard line of his mouth. All except his eyes, as silver as the rest of their family's, and shining like the oracles of myth. Too wise. Too knowing. Fenice wanted to sink her thumbs into them if only to stop his judgement upon her.

Instead he held her chin between his metal-wrought fingers and tugged it upwards, forcing her to meet his gaze. "The vi Aetier dynasty has not survived this long because its descendants were willing to settle for scraps." The disgust was clear in his voice. "Where is your pride? Your ambition? The blood of conquerors and kingmakers runs through your veins, Fenice. You have the potential to be so much more if you weren't so in love with your own self-pity."

Blood pounded in her ears. Whether it was from anger, shame, or something else she did now know. "Am I not a pitiful creature, uncle?"

Andras released his hold on her chin, moving to grasp her hand and untangle the gnarled mess of chain around her bone-white fingers. "The only thing pitiful about you is the cage you've built around yourself."

TAGLIST (ask to be -/+)

when comes the dawn monthly update {10.2025}

Not much of an update this time haha. I think I only wrote once in October.

THE STATISTICS

the draft → 49,213 words

words written this month → 771 words

average word count per session →  771 words

STORY NOTES

• Like I mentioned in the previous update, I decided to just jump back into writing act 2 to give my brain a break from all the act 1 set-up

• I pretty much just wrote half of a scene, and most of it ended up being exposition to explain some of Fenice's beaurocratic experiences

• More Titania lore! Love her so much, its a shame she's dead

EXCERPTS

Eliskander-konig cherished and doted on her, that is true, and if Titania wished it he would have proclaimed her his heir upon his death. Titania, as clever in mind as she was talented in warcraft, would be a fine leader as any, but the fact of the matter is she simply had no desire to rule.

She was a creature of ego, one skilled enough to feed her own whims and pleasures. When something interested her, she pursued it with wild abandon. When something did not, it might as well never have existed in her mind.

Statecraft and land management were among some of the things that Titania simply had no interest in, and thus much of the governing of the lands gifted to her from the Vasilier after their 'separation' fell to stewards, and eventually Fenice when she was deemed old enough to learn. It was only from that experience that Fenice did not find herself close to tearing her hair out in frustration as she read increasingly distressing documents and ledgers that outlined the pitiful state of the region she now governed over.

To put it kindly: Hesperia was crippled by the war. What money that wasn't drained into the war effort or pilfered in the chaos was pitiful at best; much of the major infrastructure was destroyed or in need of heavy repair; hundreds of people found themselves refugees and displaced in their own counry; and the less said about the dead, the better. Anti-Aetierian sentiments were at its peak, and thus would be ripe for a rebellion given the right trigger.

TAGLIST