#popesb

Bright lights.

So bright.

It hurt to open his eyes. Shadows danced over him.

His head roared.

Searing.

He missed yellow.

He looked away. Mist pulsed from his blood crusted fingers, casting stories on the walls. One figure grabbed his hand to stop the tales.

Then his head exploded. A thousand years of stories fled through his mind.

War. So much war. And blood. Death. Suffering. Broken hearts.

So much death.

He screamed out.

The light faded.

And he sat in a room masked in fog. His wrist itched and his head pounded. Two shadows stood above him again.

When he turned, he noticed an intravenous line digging into his arm with leather straps wrapped around both his wrists.

“Relax.” A voice cooed.

He shook his head. “Let me go…let me go…”

That voice, the one that exited his mouth, this time it sounded human. Not like the monster that latched onto his throat, not like the thousands of stories that flooded the corners of his mind; no, like an individual. A single person pleading.

His voice.

“Relax. You’ll be able to think clearly in a moment.” The voice came from a figure in a long white coat and a pointed bird-like mask.

It’s a talking bird.

He blinked, the fog continuing to nestle in his head, shoving the stories back to the shadows. The figure’s image stabilized: a bulky doctor with short curly hair wearing a plague mask on their face. Beside them stood a small but broad-shouldered nurse with long red hair, sneering down at him.

“Good.” The doctor's voice rose with a smile, “Very good.”

“Where…where am…where am I?” His words tasted stale.

“You are in the Sanatorium of Mert, magical psychiatric ward. I am Dr. Kafele, and this is Nurse Edith. We’ve been taking care of you for the past week.”

 - A Pool of Peony, Chapter Nine, Draft 5

----

Meet Dr. Tehuti Thema Tarek Kamilah Kafele Kek

You can just call them Kek.

Artwork by @agent-darkbootie

A powerful immortal alchemist, Kek founded the Mertoni Sanatorium to help thus afflicted by illness, magical or nonmagical alike, as well as those who’s magic took a turn for the worst. While they keep a peculiar sense of professionalism around themselves, often wearing a beaked plague mask, they aren’t without the ability to smile. 

They’re a collector though, searching out powerful Magii across the world to add to their cohort of immortals. They yearn to build up those with potential. But sometimes that can lead to selfish endeavors. 

Can they be trusted? That is to be determined.

Extra Facts:

Pronouns: They/Them

Sexuality: Pansexual

Age: 2500+

Height: 5′5″

Weight: 148 lbs

Birthplace: Old Alqa (eventually called the Independent City of Mert)

Favorite foods: Cheeses, Lamb, Grapes, and Roasted Papaya

Favorite Drink: Coffee with Cream and Sugar

Hobbies: Alchemy, Mineral Collecting, Cooking

Close Acquaintances: Varden, Edith, Yusef, Tilda, Madame Owiti

Enemies: The Council of Mist Keepers (specifically Ningursu)

While Kek will make their debut in A Pool of Peony in 2021, you can catch up with The Mist Keeper’s Apprentice in the meantime. Available now!

A Pool of Peony - POV Characters

Artwork by @agent-darkbootie​

A Pool of Peony, sequel to The Mist Keeper’s Apprentice, has four POV characters. While the original two are still the primary POVs, the two new characters will add a different insight onto the events going on through the story.

Rho

Six months after the Storm of Nightmares, Rho is trying to navigate her new life. She's been on the run since that night, unable to return home, and pushing most of her traumas down, promising herself that she is "fine". But nightmares remain, she's constantly on edge, and she hasn't found the Story Collector yet.⁠ ⁠ 

But, when she is given an opportunity to delve deeper into her powers, will she take the chance? Or will her actions during the Storm of Nightmares continue to haunt her?⁠ ⁠

Brent Harley

For the past six months, Brent has been dealing with the repercussions of the Storm of Nightmares. Constantly on the run, he has yet to come to terms with what happened. His personal demons haunt him. Can he shake them away? Or will he fall deeper into the chaotic mess of his magic?

Todd Dray

Todd came to the City of Mert to escape the chaos of the Order. But with his wife enamored by the ridiculous magic filling the streets, a son who only speaks with his imaginary friend, and business not doing well, stressors are high. When a break in occurs in his little shop, it puts him in the middle of a chaotic spiral filled with magic and disgust. Can he get his family to safety before it’s too late? 

Jemma Reds

Aesthetic - A Pool of Peony

The mist has thickened with a vendetta. A bounty has been offered for answers.⁠ ⁠ And no one’s story is safe.⁠ ⁠ It’s been six months since the Storm of Nightmares and Bria has not gone home. With wanted signs plastered throughout Rosada, she has been stuck chasing the so-called Story Collector across the world until settling in the Independent City of Mert. But when a break-in occurs at the Little Shop on the Corner of Myrtle and Celosia, it wraps Bria into a chain of events that sends the city into disarray. ⁠ ⁠ Meanwhile, the Story Collector is still on the loose. With his mind tormented by demons, and flashes of his past catching up with him, he has been navigating Mert as a half version of himself. When a masked figure offers to help, he accepts, unknowingly stepping into a conflict that has riddled the world for centuries.⁠ ⁠ The City of Mert has become a target for both the Order of the Effluvium and the Council of Mist Keepers. With fear mounting, Bria, with the help of a mysterious red-eyed woman, a palaver of immortals, and a silver orb, must decide what part she plays in this oncoming storm. ⁠ ⁠ And can she find the Story Collector before it’s too late? ⁠ ⁠ Coming Summer 2021

Want to catch up? Read The Mist Keeper’s Apprentice! 

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…And many more!

The floorboards creaked upstairs as he swept, and moments later his wife emerged in the stairwell with their son on her hip. A flowing white dress trailed behind her, blending in seamlessly with her skin and hair, reminiscent of a moonbeam.

“Toddle, what in the Effluvium’s name happened?” She sang. Her red eyes trailed over him, exhaustion resting in bags beneath them.

“So we’re going with the Effluvium today? Weren’t you worshipping the Giants of Yilk yesterday?” He grumbled.

“Faith changes, Toddle!”

Todd grunted again and continued sweep.

“What happened?” She pressed again.

“Go back to bed Lex. It don’t matter. I called the coppers. They’ll be here soon.” Todd glanced at the light outside the shop. It still hung red. “It ain’t a problem. Really. Go sleep.”

“Toddle, don’t be coy.” Lex approached him, balancing the child in her arms.

“It’s a’ight, really.” Todd ruffled his son’s frizzy hair. The boy didn’t react, staring past Todd and out the door.

Lex pouted. “I saw the mist outside and…those ballroom dancers! It was the Story Collector, wasn’t it? Don’t they say the Story Collector brings stories in his wake? I bet it was! That’s why you’re being a grump!”

“That’s a rumor. It ain’t the Story Collector.”

“How do you know?”

- A Pool of Peony, Chapter One, Draft 5

---

Meet Elexis “Lex” Dray

Artwork by @agent-darkbootie​

Lex left Rosada with her husband Todd to escape the Order's oppression.  After settling in Mert, she gave birth to two twin boys, and she and her husband opened a little shop to sell goods and fortunes.

But after they're robbed, her husband begins to get antsy and hateful of the place they call home. Lex continues to see the beauty in the world, and even as magic begins to wreak havoc in their lives, she never falters from her faith. 

But is she putting her faith in the wrong people? 

Extra Facts:

Pronouns: She/Her

Sexuality: Bisexual⁠

Age: 33

Height: 5′4″⁠

Weight: 151 lbs⁠

Birthplace: Opal's Canyon, Rosada

Favorite foods: Mixed Nuts, Vanilla Cake, Sugar Cookies⁠

Favorite Drink: Cranberry Juice

Hobbies: Practicing "magic", Reading, Shopping

Close Acquaintances: Todd, Madame Owiti, Garrett

Enemies: The Order

⁠

While Lex will make her debut in A Pool of Peony in 2021, you can catch up with The Mist Keeper’s Apprentice in the meantime. Available now!

@yourocsbackstory​ Week 1 - Introductions

Edith is introduced in A Pool of Peony. She is one of Kek's confidantes, although Kek doesn't necessarily agree with most of her methods. Her selfish and desires often get in the way of the greater good, putting her in an antagonist role against some of the main characters.

Note: This piece may contain spoilers to The Mist Keeper's Apprentice.

Disclaimer & Warning: Edith is blood-thirsty. She is sadistic and selfish. In order to discuss Edith's, well, development, these areas have to be explored. So be warned, these pieces of writing might make mention of gore, violence, etc.  

@yourocsbackstory​ Week 4 - Protagonist

Edith is introduced in A Pool of Peony. She is one of Kek’s confidantes, although Kek doesn’t necessarily agree with most of her methods. Her selfish and desires often get in the way of the greater good, putting her in an antagonist role against some of the main characters.

Note: This piece may contain spoilers to The Mist Keeper’s Apprentice.

Disclaimer & Warning: Edith is blood-thirsty. She is sadistic and selfish. In order to discuss Edith’s, well, development, these areas have to be explored. So be warned, these pieces of writing might make mention of gore, violence, etc.  

A Pool of Peony

Book Two of The Life & Death Cycle

Novel by @esbarrison-writing

Status: Draft 5 - With Beta Readers

Genre: NA Dark Fantasy

A Pool of Peony is the direct sequel to The Mist Keeper’s Apprentice.

About (Rough Blurb)

The mist has thickened with a vendetta. A bounty has been offered for answers.

And no one’s story is safe.

It’s been six months since the Storm of Nightmares and Bria has not gone home. With wanted signs plastered throughout Rosada, she has been stuck chasing the so-called Story Collector across the world until settling in the Independent City of Mert. With no answers or solution, she has been stuck in the same pattern for weeks on end. But when a break-in occurs at the Little Shop on the Corner of Myrtle and Celosia, it wraps Bria into a chain of events that sends the city into disarray.

Meanwhile, the Story Collector is still on the loose. With his mind tormented by demons, and flashes of his past catching up with him, he has been navigating Mert as a half version of himself. When a masked figure offers to help, he accepts, unknowingly stepping into a conflict that has riddled the world for centuries.

The City of Mert has become a target for both the Order of the Effluvium and the Council of Mist Keepers. With fear mounting, Bria, with the help of a mysterious red-eyed woman, a palaver of immortals, and a silver orb, must decide what part she plays in this oncoming storm.

And can she find the Story Collector before it’s too late?

Content Warnings

While this book is classified as YA/NA, it does approach issues of sexism, prejudice, and mental illness in a fantasy world. Including these areas, I do have a few content warnings, listed below:

Mentions of Death

Violence (Assault, Torture, Etc.)

Language

Alcohol

Psychological Abuse & Trauma

Mental Illness (Depression, PTSD, Psychosis, etc) 

BETA READERS WANTED

Hey you!⁠ ⁠ Yes you!⁠

Did you enjoy The Mist Keeper's Apprentice?⁠

Do you want to find out what happens next BEFORE anyone else?⁠ 

I am looking for Beta Readers for the sequel, A Pool of Peony! ⁠

You can be a part of my small team of readers that will help get the sequel in tip-top shape!⁠ ⁠ This is NOT a commitment. I am simply gathering names of people who are interested so I can reach out to them in a couple weeks regarding the full beta process. ⁠ ⁠ If you're interested, check out the form here! ⁠ ⁠ (https://forms.gle/xVXtnBuaMpSDMtgy6)⁠