The Witch of Stolen Tomorrows had begun to notice an odd trend amongst her petitioners.
The latest was a farmer. He had braved the journey through the Testing Woods and arrived with his convictions mostly intact. He now sat on a tree stump by the Witchâs thornbush cottage, drinking a cup of bitter tea, and asking for a fairly standard boon.
"Oh yes," said the Witch, "I can make you a spell for a bountiful harvest, but what will you give me in return?"
The farmer gulped. "My firstborn child?"
"By the dick-shattered sky.â The Witch exclaimed. âWhat?"
"Oh. You don't take firstborn children?"
"I am a witch of ancient promises, timeless dreams, and fresh blood.â The Witch announced. âOf course I take firstborn children. It's just a bit weird that it was your first offer."
"I'm sorry, mistress. I don't know how this works. Was I supposed to start smaller and work my way up to the firstborn? Iâve always been hopeless at haggling." The man seemed on the verge of tears. "My wife passed a few years ago. She used to do all the business at market."
"If your wife passed a few years ago, how exactly do you plan to offer me your firstborn?" The witch swirled her tea and the steam made foul omens in the air. "I mean, sure, you don't have to be married to have kids, but it does usually help if you're not obviously still in mourning."
"Oh, my little Jackie is already born. They're five. My firstborn and, well, my only-born."
"Okay. If the kid has already been born, you don't have to say firstborn. You can just say 'my child, whose name is...' What's the kid's name again?"
âJackie.â
âWell, youâve gone and put Jackie in a bit of a precarious spot. You see, now that youâve offered the child, the fatespring will hate it if I accept a lesser deal. So either I have to talk you into a bargain thatâs technically worse for you, or little Jackie comes to live with me. Now, I could-â
âThatâs fine mistress. I accept the bargain.â The man sniffled and wiped his tears. He looked weirdly relieved. âSo, do I bring Jackie here to you, or will you come to the farm to collect? Or is it one of those âleave them in a clearing at the full moonâ kind of-â
âMy guy. What is up? What is your deal, exactly? Iâve had, like, five different firstborn deals this week. Thatâs weird, right? You get that? Thatâs normally the worst case scenario for yâall. But at least they hadnât had the kids yet, so they could still fool themselves that they could wriggle out of the compact somehow. And they didnât lead with âoh yeah, take my first child, thatâs a strong opening bargaining position!â The canopy around them began to darken and the trees began to grow thorns. âAnd if thereâs one thing that really gets on my flat-ass witch tits, itâs when thereâs something going on I donât understand. So what in the ever-boiling piss is up?â
The trembling farmer forced out the words, âItâs, uh, itâs the levy, mistress.â
âThe levy? What levy?â
âThe king, mistress. Heâs put a levy out. He needs troops.â
âWhy would he want a child to be pressed into military service?â
âItâs the prophecy, mistress. A great foretelling came down from the Speaker of the Fates, or so the criers say. In 18 years, a great darkness will come. It will bring war and ruin to the kingdom. It will shatter the crown. So the king is demanding we send every child whoâll be over 16 when the omens come due. Theyâll get raised as warriors and heroes, so they say.â The farmer looked up at the Witch, a hint of hope shining through the desperation that had cracked him. âOnly, none of us want to pay the kingâs fateprice with our kids. And Mrs Goodwhistle, she said that youâd probably give them a good life.Â
âOr, at least⌠youâd give them some kind of life.â
The Witch said nothing for a long while.
Then she stood up.
âI guess Iâd better get a shift on then.â The briar-bound cottage behind them pricked up its leaves like they were ears.Â
âYouâre⌠youâre leaving?â
âOh, donât fret. Iâll take little Jackie with me. Iâll take all of them.â The witchâs home unravelled, all its branches and brambles writhing down to follow its roots into the ground. âIf my hearth is going to become a daycare for all the poor little prophecy-pocked bairns of this land, Iâm going to need more space. And Iâll need to take them somewhere harder to findâŚâ
âOh, thank you, mistress!â
The Witch flicked something to the farmer, who caught it instinctively. In his sweaty palm was a seed - though it was older, darker and heavier than normal.
âThereâs your harvest spell. Appropriate payment, as the scalekeepers demand. Each morning, when you go to bring in the harvest - look to the sky. When the sun is just tickling the horizon, reap a single ear of corn and put it aside. Whisper into it as if youâre talking to your child. Jackie will hear you. In the deepest part of winter, roast and eat that corn - then youâll get your reply.â
âI⌠I have no wordsâŚâ The farmerâs eyes and throat burned.
âNo need for them. The deal must be made and the price must be paid.â The Witch held out a hand and a nearby tree bent its limbs down to meet her, offering a branch. âNow, I have much to prepare, so I will take my leave. The woods will see you home.â
And the witch took the living branch from the tree and sat upon it like a broom, then rose into the sky like a sunrise.
---
18 years later, the Witch of Stolen Tomorrows returned to the kingdom. The earth trembled as her thorned fortress - a living wilderness - bore her onwards on a thousand root-wrought feet.
Standing atop the briar parapets was the Witchâs cadre of apprentices. They were all teens and twenty-somethings, clad in the colours of autumn skies and wielding the instruments of fate.
The king, far away in his keep, felt a strange shiver through the gold of his crown. An echo of its coming shattering.
The Witch hung from a giant thorn like a sailor from a bowsprit. In her free hand, she cradled a cup of tea.
âHere is a lesson about prophecies.â She said it softly, but the rushing winds carried the words to her students. âIf you fight them, theyâll put you on like a jacket and wear you as a costume as they dance ruin through your life. But if you grab them by the scruff, then you can be the one wearing destiny as your cloak.
âAnd then you get to be the one writing the story.âÂ
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Let's be honest, fantasy authors love their kingdoms and empires. You can throw a rock in a bookshop or a library in the fantasy section and you will 99.99999% hit a fantasy book that will be set in or mention either of those structures. But what are they really? What's the difference between them all? Are there any more examples of structures that would suit your WIP better? Are you using the right terms? Let's have a closer look.
Duchy
A Duchy is a small territory ruled by a Duke/Duchess. While Duchies can be found in kingdoms, some duchies were sovereign states in their own right. Duchies are usually small by land mass but some duchies such as Burgundy were extremely powerful and influential. Independent Duchies were usually apart of a kingdom but grew so powerful that they eventually broke away to become a sovereign state in their own right. An example would be modern day Luxembourg, historic Milan and Burgundy.
Principality
A principality is territory ruled by a Prince/Princess. A principality is typically smaller than a kingdom and in some instances, can be apart of a larger kingdom or be a sovereign state. Principalities have a history of having broken away from a larger kingdom or eventually becoming apart of a kingdom. A principality within a kingdom is ruled by a Prince/Princess, usually an heir of the monarch and can be used to train them up to assume the throne in the future. Examples include Monaco, Liechtenstein and Andorra.
Kingdom
A sovereign state/country that is ruled by ruling King or a Queen. A kingdom is much larger and more powerful than a principality. Kingdoms can be feudal, meaning they are ruled in a strict hierarchy or an autocracy where the monarch rules alone with minimal input from the government or constitutional where the monarch is more of a figurehead and the government has a good chunk of control. Examples include England, Thailand and modern day Spain.
Commonwealth
A Commonwealth isn't a popular choice in fantasy but it is an interesting structure. A Commonwealth in its most basic form is a collection of states that are linked by either a shared culture or history. A Commonwealth can be a politically power or an economic power, with every state allowed to participate as much as they like. Not one state leads the others, it is all one group of equals. A Commonwealth can be a good idea for a group of nations that are more powerful together with them keeping their own independence.
Federation
A Federation is a political structure that is made up of united states or countries that are under a single government but each state is still independent and rules itself. Each state can have different laws, different cultures and economies but they all answer to the single government. Examples include the United States of America.
Republic
A Republic is a territory that is ruled by leaders and heads of state that have been elected on merit and by choice of the people. Republics are not just countries but can also be much smaller areas such as cities. Republics are democratic in nature, with the people having a say in who leads them in accordance to a constitution. There are many kinds of Republic: presidential, parliamentary, federal, theocratic, unitary. Examples of Republics include the Republic of Ireland and the city of Florence.
Protectorate
A Protectorate is a country/region/territory that is independent but relies on a larger, more powerful state for protection either in a military or diplomatic sense. A Protectorate was often used by Empires in order to maintain control over an area without annexing it. There are many reasons a larger state and the protectorate would agree to this, mainly the protectorate is much smaller meaning it is far more vulnerable to attack or it has very little power when compared to other states. A Protectorate allows the territory some power to rule itself but the larger state may feel the need or desire to interfere in the dealings of the territory. Examples of protectorates include the client kingdoms of the Roman Empire like Egypt before its annexation and Puerto Rico.
Empire
An Empire is a collection of nations that are united under one sovereign head of state or government. An Empire is formed by one nation steadily taking control of other nations, either through straight invasion and colonization or acquiring them through marriage and other less violent ways. An Empire is powerful mainly because it can drum up more resources, more influence and more military power. An Empire might impose the traditions, beliefs and culture of its principal nation - the nation that started it all - onto its colonies for better control and feeling of uniformity. Empires never last, that is something to always remember. Empires will eventually fragment due to the vast size and sometimes revolt among the conquered states. Examples of empires include the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, the Ottoman Empire.
The Bonewitch is a horror fantasy inspired by the German Baroque period. This is a standalone IF and is currently in progress.
Content warnings: Please note the game is rated 18+ for scenes including body horror, trauma, blood, drug/alcohol use, dubious consent, sexual content, and mentions of cannibalism.
PLAY THE DEMO / RO INTROS
You are a Bonewitch, born into a bloodline steeped in ancient magic. When you came of age, you were whisked away to the imperial palace to fight and bleed for country.
Soon the wrong kind of blood stained your hands and their words plotted against you. Spared from the executioner's sword, you were exiled to an island, left in isolation.
Alone and scared, perhaps angry, you left to wonder what went wrong. They promised you a pardon, but that was a lie. When a herald summons you to return home years later, you want to feel relief.
Now serving as a confidant of a disgraced noble, you are to realize your role holds more weight than you imagine. You can try to return to normalcy: reuniting with old friends and your past, or perhaps someone new. Despite the freedom, you dread becoming a pawn once more. These years living on the island made you different, your emotions raw.
Will you piece together your mind or let your sanity crumble?
Play as female, male or nonbinary character.
Customize your name, gender, sex, family lineage, and appearance.
Select one out of the three origins to shape how you perceive the world, and how others perceive you. Some scenes will vary with branching options.
Romance one of the four love interests and flings: all of them, or no one.
Choose your patron god and strengthen your devotion. Or stray from their path.
Navigate court politics, befriend, or perhaps make enemies.
Understand (or not) why you are summoned to return. Something in you has changed, and so has the world.
MILENA DORN , the noble (f) - The youngest sibling of House Voryev. You have known her for years, you know every laugh lines, her dislikes and fears. Since your separation, your kinship with her is a distant memory. Nowadays, she only speaks in riddles. (PLAYLIST)
IHRIN CZERNIAK, the knight (m/f) - One of the friendly faces you meet. Newly appointed knight with a heart of gold, and a former soldier of the Nasherein army. But beneath their adoring eyes, there is only pain, both body and mind. (PLAYLIST)
FLORIAN (m/nb) / FLORCIA (f) , the godling - As a child of a god and a mortal woman, they are already been blessed and cursed since birth. Yet, they are nothing more than another replica of the Pale God. Silver hair with porcelain skin, a perfect body in every way. (PLAYLIST )
VINZENT / VANESSZA MASING, the tailor (m/f) - They work for the imperial family as the royal tailor, a respectable position. Vicious, perhaps commanding, they hold some power influencing the court fashion and to a lesser extent, imperial treasury. (PLAYLIST)
a highly customizable, simplistic but detailed notion template for writing and creating characters' relationships & dynamics based on curated writer advice. perfect for exploring a character's growth through others while keeping their information aesthetically-pleasing to look at. use this both as a template and a guide to develop your characters' dynamics while working on your wips! made to guarantee higher muse and motivation to finish works-in-progress.  to download / copy, click âduplicateâ top-right to copy it to your notion.Â
features:
overview of all characters for a wip (including their personality and physical traits)
dynamically synced relations tracker
duplicatable section for start, middle, and end of a character dynamic
tag systems and pre-filled options
please like / reblog if youâre using or interested in using it!
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
â Live Streamingâ Interactive Chatâ Private Showsâ HD Qualityâ Free Actions
Free to watch ⢠No registration required ⢠HD streaming
Crazy that having payphones everywhere and actually having to use coins to pay for every single call somehow feels more appealing than whatever the fuck we have now.
My story "It Holds Her in the Palm of One Hand" (aka bird story) is in this month's issue of Lightspeed Magazine!
I'm so excited to finally be able to share bird story. Whenever I write sci-fi, I spend way too long on the speculative biology, and this is no exception. The gastor birds are one of my favorite creations, where I challenged myself to design an animal capable of traveling between planets. I hope you enjoy reading their story as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Parts one and two will be available for free to read online on the 6th and 13th, but if you want to read it now, consider purchasing the issue or subscribing to the magazine :)
