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Casey Dikawa's parents' marriage was arranged carefully. Her father, Trey Dikawa, was the younger brother of Queen Darla Dikawa of Shaldani. Although he was not in line for the throne--Shaldani's monarchy was matrilineal--any daughters he had might be and, as it was, Darla Dikawa already had three daughters, Aislin, Jacqui, and Becca. Therefore, Trey wasn't married off until late in life, to a much-younger woman named Laura Deavere from a minor noble house. Hopes that he would have no daughters were squashed, since Casey managed to be born. Given that Trey was twice Laura's age and didn't have much o interest in her, it was whispered that he couldn't possibly be the father. All the same, Trey claimed Casey as his own.
Which wasn't to say he was father of the year. He was negligent at best.
Casey's childhood was a relatively isolated one, her parents spending the bulk of their time traveling as diplomats on behalf of her aunt, the queen. Nannies came and went. And Casey outgrew her tutors at an alarming rate. Ultimately, the only constant guiding force in her childhood was her bodyguard, a constable named Gerard. It was largely through Gerard's influence that Casey was exposed to children her own age at all, as Gerard would often bring her to the royal nursery to spend time with her cousins. It was also because of Gerard that Casey was able to find suitable replacements, each time the young genius outpaced one of her tutors.
For all of her loneliness, or perhaps because of it, Casey developed a sharp mind from an early age. She read voraciously, becoming fascinated with the disciplines of chemistry, alchemy, and biology. Although Shaldani was considered something of a "backwater kingdom," it was home to one of the finest scientific academies of the realm and it wasn't long before Casey's books came mostly from The Academy.
( At the age of thirteen... )
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Sticky: Permissions Meme
Apr. 30th, 2018 12:40 pmCasey is an original character of mine, with some supernatural powers. Please, take a look at her abilities below and post to let me know what is and isn't okay to do to your character. And remember, saying "Talk to me first" is a perfectly reasonable thing! I'm a super nice and squishy person. You can PM this journal any time.
Mind Reading: Casey has the ability to read thoughts coming off of other people. She's not very good at it, so it isn't always up to her whether she can or can't hear things. She can also send telepathic messages. Can she read your character's thoughts? Doesn't have to be a yes or no. Could be an "it depends" or "only stuff in italics." I'm super flexible.
Shadow Jumping: Casey possesses a kind of teleportation that allows her to travel from one shadow to another. This can be from across the room or a cross the universe. She's really, really unskilled at it, prone to messing up. Can she pop in on you?
Shadow Objects: Casey can create illusions that are so real and so lifelike that no one can tell they aren't real. As such, she can also look at an object and tell if it's not real. Can she trick you with illusions? See through your own illusions?
As a baseline, if you can fill out the following form, we can figure out the rest as we go:
Mind Reading: Casey has the ability to read thoughts coming off of other people. She's not very good at it, so it isn't always up to her whether she can or can't hear things. She can also send telepathic messages. Can she read your character's thoughts? Doesn't have to be a yes or no. Could be an "it depends" or "only stuff in italics." I'm super flexible.
Shadow Jumping: Casey possesses a kind of teleportation that allows her to travel from one shadow to another. This can be from across the room or a cross the universe. She's really, really unskilled at it, prone to messing up. Can she pop in on you?
Shadow Objects: Casey can create illusions that are so real and so lifelike that no one can tell they aren't real. As such, she can also look at an object and tell if it's not real. Can she trick you with illusions? See through your own illusions?
As a baseline, if you can fill out the following form, we can figure out the rest as we go:
Innsmouth Info
Dec. 2nd, 2023 10:34 pm
Basic Stats
Name: Casey Elsbeth Dikawa
Age: Twenty-two
Gender: Female
Sexuality: Heterosexual
Species: Niflheim (formerly Human)
Eyes: Red
Hair: Blond
Game Info
Occupation: Pharmacist
Home: The Deadfall Hotel
Game Acquisitions:
A Halloween Key The King in Yellow Outfit
Other
Permissions Meme: Fill out at your leisure
Innsmouth Application
Oct. 15th, 2023 09:05 pmPlayer Information
Name: Wizera
Contact: PM this journal or![[plurk.com profile]](https://plurk.com/favicon.ico)
wizera
Other Characters: N/A
Who Invited you?: Heather @vikael
Character Information
Character Name: Casey Dikawa
Series: OC
Canon Point: About a month after becoming a Niflheim.
Background: Casey Dikawa's parents' marriage was arranged carefully. Her father, Trey Dikawa, was the younger brother of Queen Darla Dikawa of Shaldani. Although he was not in line for the throne--Shaldani's monarchy was matrilineal--any daughters he had might be and, as it was, Darla Dikawa already had three daughters, Aislin, Jacqui, and Becca. Therefore, Trey wasn't married off until late in life, to a much-younger woman named Laura Deavere from a minor noble house. Hopes that he would have no daughters were squashed, since Casey managed to be born. Given that Trey was twice Laura's age and didn't have much o interest in her, it was whispered that he couldn't possibly be the father. All the same, Trey claimed Casey as his own.
Which wasn't to say he was father of the year. He was negligent at best.
Casey's childhood was a relatively isolated one, her parents spending the bulk of their time traveling as diplomats on behalf of her aunt, the queen. Nannies came and went. And Casey outgrew her tutors at an alarming rate. Ultimately, the only constant guiding force in her childhood was her bodyguard, a constable named Gerard. It was largely through Gerard's influence that Casey was exposed to children her own age at all, as Gerard would often bring her to the royal nursery to spend time with her cousins. It was also because of Gerard that Casey was able to find suitable replacements, each time the young genius outpaced one of her tutors.
For all of her loneliness, or perhaps because of it, Casey developed a sharp mind from an early age. She read voraciously, becoming fascinated with the disciplines of chemistry, alchemy, and biology. Although Shaldani was considered something of a "backwater kingdom," it was home to one of the finest scientific academies of the realm and it wasn't long before Casey's books came mostly from The Academy.
( At the age of thirteen... )
Name: Wizera
Contact: PM this journal or
Other Characters: N/A
Who Invited you?: Heather @
Character Information
Character Name: Casey Dikawa
Series: OC
Canon Point: About a month after becoming a Niflheim.
Background: Casey Dikawa's parents' marriage was arranged carefully. Her father, Trey Dikawa, was the younger brother of Queen Darla Dikawa of Shaldani. Although he was not in line for the throne--Shaldani's monarchy was matrilineal--any daughters he had might be and, as it was, Darla Dikawa already had three daughters, Aislin, Jacqui, and Becca. Therefore, Trey wasn't married off until late in life, to a much-younger woman named Laura Deavere from a minor noble house. Hopes that he would have no daughters were squashed, since Casey managed to be born. Given that Trey was twice Laura's age and didn't have much o interest in her, it was whispered that he couldn't possibly be the father. All the same, Trey claimed Casey as his own.
Which wasn't to say he was father of the year. He was negligent at best.
Casey's childhood was a relatively isolated one, her parents spending the bulk of their time traveling as diplomats on behalf of her aunt, the queen. Nannies came and went. And Casey outgrew her tutors at an alarming rate. Ultimately, the only constant guiding force in her childhood was her bodyguard, a constable named Gerard. It was largely through Gerard's influence that Casey was exposed to children her own age at all, as Gerard would often bring her to the royal nursery to spend time with her cousins. It was also because of Gerard that Casey was able to find suitable replacements, each time the young genius outpaced one of her tutors.
For all of her loneliness, or perhaps because of it, Casey developed a sharp mind from an early age. She read voraciously, becoming fascinated with the disciplines of chemistry, alchemy, and biology. Although Shaldani was considered something of a "backwater kingdom," it was home to one of the finest scientific academies of the realm and it wasn't long before Casey's books came mostly from The Academy.
( At the age of thirteen... )
Personality Analysis - WIP
Sep. 27th, 2023 11:37 amCasey has no chill. It's not her fault, though. She's tried having chill. It just didn't really work out. That's simply not the way her life has allowed her to be. She's well aware of the fact that she has no chill. And will occasionally feel bad when her lack of chill causes problems. Ultimately, though, she can't stop it from happening again and again.
Lack of Social Skills
Because of politics and circumstance, Casey had to grow up in isolation. She was rarely around people and even more rarely around children her own age, which meant that if she wanted any kind of stimulation, she had to turn to books. Books provide a lot of information, a lot of excitement, but no interaction. While a book never judges you, you can't ask a book a question and expect it to answer. Therefore, Casey grew up exceedingly intelligent, but also completely incapable of filtering most of her thoughts and actions.
When she meets someone new, she often first reacts to them like a new piece of information. She can ask intrusive questions. She doesn't have a lot of patience. And she can sometimes break social norms, simply from a lack of practice. It's not even a matter of judgment. In fact, she's slow to make judgements until she has all the data. So she rarely jumps to conclusions about whether or not she likes someone.
If she doesn't like someone, she rarely sees the importance of pretending that she does. Which means she can become a bit impolite or brisk. If she does like someone, however, then she usually likes them with everything in her being.
Too Much Passion
Because she had so few connections as a child, Casey fiercely and protectively treasures the relationships that she forms with other people. And if you're one of her people, she will go to the ends of the earth for you. Casey may be your weird friend, but she's definitely your most loyal friend. She's eager to please. If people like you, they won't just ditch you, right?
Right?
Well, Casey sees it that way.
She deeply treasures her friends. They're basically the family she never had.
Didn't Ask To Be A Goddess
Adding a special layer of complexity to Casey's already complex psyche is the fact that she's now a Niflheim. She didn't want it and if she could get rid of it, she would. But she can't. Which means she's stuck hearing people's thoughts and frequently questioning the nature of her reality. She has trouble distinguishing between what is spoken out loud and what's private, leading to a lot of random outbursts in the middle of conversation. Her new powers also have a tendency to slip, which leaves her constantly frustrated and embarrassed and, therefore, too shy to try to use them correctly.
Lack of Social Skills
Because of politics and circumstance, Casey had to grow up in isolation. She was rarely around people and even more rarely around children her own age, which meant that if she wanted any kind of stimulation, she had to turn to books. Books provide a lot of information, a lot of excitement, but no interaction. While a book never judges you, you can't ask a book a question and expect it to answer. Therefore, Casey grew up exceedingly intelligent, but also completely incapable of filtering most of her thoughts and actions.
When she meets someone new, she often first reacts to them like a new piece of information. She can ask intrusive questions. She doesn't have a lot of patience. And she can sometimes break social norms, simply from a lack of practice. It's not even a matter of judgment. In fact, she's slow to make judgements until she has all the data. So she rarely jumps to conclusions about whether or not she likes someone.
If she doesn't like someone, she rarely sees the importance of pretending that she does. Which means she can become a bit impolite or brisk. If she does like someone, however, then she usually likes them with everything in her being.
Too Much Passion
Because she had so few connections as a child, Casey fiercely and protectively treasures the relationships that she forms with other people. And if you're one of her people, she will go to the ends of the earth for you. Casey may be your weird friend, but she's definitely your most loyal friend. She's eager to please. If people like you, they won't just ditch you, right?
Right?
Well, Casey sees it that way.
She deeply treasures her friends. They're basically the family she never had.
Didn't Ask To Be A Goddess
Adding a special layer of complexity to Casey's already complex psyche is the fact that she's now a Niflheim. She didn't want it and if she could get rid of it, she would. But she can't. Which means she's stuck hearing people's thoughts and frequently questioning the nature of her reality. She has trouble distinguishing between what is spoken out loud and what's private, leading to a lot of random outbursts in the middle of conversation. Her new powers also have a tendency to slip, which leaves her constantly frustrated and embarrassed and, therefore, too shy to try to use them correctly.
Niflheim Political History
Sep. 13th, 2023 12:48 pm
Perhaps you'd like it in words?
The Backstory
The First Generation
The Nysgods have existed so long that no one in recorded history can remember a time when they didn’t exist. Historians and mages often classify the race as one of “the old ones.” For as long as the Nysgods have existed:
- Mithos has been their king
- Lord Thierry served as his chief advisor and best friend
- Uri served as the Head Carver.
These three were the leaders of what is known as “the first generation,” the oldest Nysgods who have existed for the entire duration of the race.
When the race first came into existence, there were both males and female Nysgods, born in the old-fashioned way. Many thousands of years ago, King Mithos was married to Queen Rhea, a female Nysgod. It soon became clear to the race, however, that there was something wrong. Often, men would venture out into the mortal world and become enamored of a mortal female, so much so that they utterly rejected their Nysgod mates. After a pattern of this, the Nysgod women had suffered enough. Led by Queen Rhea, the female Nysgods abandoned their world and eventually became an entirely new race known as Polarians, and learned to manifest themselves as stars in the nighttime sky.
The Modern Nysgods
The remaining male Nysgods of the first generation were at a loss after the departure of the women. As the Nysgods were unable to reproduce with other races, for a time, it seemed the race was destined to fade away. However, Uri encountered a humanoid man named Lucien, who was temporally displaced and knew about modern-day Nysgods. Lucien knew that the Nysgods could procreate by bringing the mortal females they imprinted upon to Dagaz, where Uri could change them into Nysgod females and create offspring for them (see race details section). From this information, the modern-day race of Nysgods was born.
Some years later, King Mithos fell in love with a human woman named Thea. Although Thea was married with children of her own, she had also fallen in love with Mithos and agreed to return to Dagaz with him after her mortal husband had died. However, Thea had a condition. In order to return to Dagaz with him, Thea requested that Mithos find someone who would claim her sister, Blaise, as a mate as well, so that the two of them could be together forever. Mithos’ friend, Thierry, had imprinted on a mortal woman who married another Nysgod. Mithos and Thierry made a deal:
- Thierry would marry Blaise and claim her as a mate, even though he did not love her.
- In exchange, Blaise and Thierry’s son would be second in line for the throne (after the child of Mithos and Thea).
The bargain arranged, Thea and Blaise both became Nysgod females.
Mithos and Thea, who were happily in love as they ruled the kingdom together, had a son named Tristan. Thierry and Blaise had a son named Quinn. Unfortunately, their marriage was less ideal. Although Thierry was a good husband to Blaise, he could not love her. As she had fallen in love with him, Blaise became a bitter individual.
The New Generation
Tristan was prepared to one day become king, serving his father as a royal ambassador to other worlds. Blaise and Thierry’s son, Quinn, was also trained in diplomacy. As cousins, Tristan and Quinn spent a lot of time together. However, though Quinn became popular with his peers, Tristan was a bit of a lone wolf, always forced to choose duty over pleasure. Quinn formed a group of friends:
- Robin
- Edwin
- Jaan
Soon, Edwin’s mate Blake joined their group. Occasionally, Tristan joined the group in their fun and games, but more often, he was stuck at home with only his annoyingly loyal valet, Skokan. The fun and games ended, however, when Quinn met Egime. Egime was a mortal priestess and Quinn’s first love. Although she returned his love, Egime refused to become a Nysgod. The pair lived together for the duration of her lifetime. On her deathbed, she made Quinn promise to find someone else to love. Though it seemed an impossible promise to keep, after Egime’s death, Quinn and Robin realized that the only possibility was to find the Carver who created Quinn and convince him to change Quinn’s symbol so that Quinn would be able to fall in love again.
The Carver, Hesiod, was willing to change Quinn’s symbol. Unfortunately, the treachery was soon discovered. As a ban against changing carvings was one of Dagaz’s strictest laws, Quinn and Hesiod were both banished from Dagaz. Robin’s involvement was not uncovered. When Hesiod was banished from Dagaz, he took his Carver’s Staff with him. For the next millennium or so, Quinn wandered the Known Worlds aimlessly, desperately hoping to fall in love again.
The Story is Set
Quite by accident, about two years ago, Quinn met a young Human girl named Casey and fell in love with her.
At this time, several other forces were at work. Jaan and Robin journeyed to a realm called Araba where they both fell in love. Though Jaan’s love was mutual, the woman Robin fell in love with was happily married with children. In despair, Robin visited Hesiod and asked to be carved out. Hesiod granted this wish and Robin disappeared.
Robin’s death enraged Jaan, and he became convinced that a revolution was necessary. He decided that if Dagaz’s stringent rules didn’t change, more of his friends would kill themselves. Meanwhile, Tristan was sent to a mortal realm to assist in a war effort. By strange coincidence, his destination happened to be the mortal realm where Quinn and Casey were living. There, he met and fell in love with a friend of Casey’s named Mia. Mia, however, was killed, leaving Tristan alone and depressed.
Nysgod Today
There has been a great deal of unrest recently in Dagaz. The main events that have led to this recent unrest have been:
- Tristan losing the potential next queen
- Rumor spreading of Quinn’s success in falling in love a second time
- Jaan’s mouth running on and on
The stability of Dagaz, a place that has not changed in thousands of years, is being threatened. In order to bring about some kind of stability, Tristan’s valet Skokan, who will stop at nothing to ensure the continuation of the status quo, has decided it’s time to find Tristan a proper mate. Therefore, Skokan has opened an inter-dimensional portal, called The Grasp, programmed to draw potential mates in from the Known Worlds, in the hopes that one will satisfy Tristan and bring stability back to Dagaz.
And so it begins...
Realm Religion
Oct. 31st, 2022 03:45 pmThere are a variety of religions practiced in Casey's home realm. Overall, there is a heavy emphasis on the feminine divine, although it is not exclusive. Some gods are represented in multiple religions. Other gods go by different names under different faiths. By and large, the realm acknowledges that the gods of other faiths exist. Rather than arguing that point, religious tension stems primarily from the argument about which gods are have contributed the most to the world and are, therefore, most worthy of worship.
Below is a summary of some of the major religions of the realm. While these are the biggest of faiths, they are not exclusive.
( Read more... )
Below is a summary of some of the major religions of the realm. While these are the biggest of faiths, they are not exclusive.
( Read more... )
OC World Glossary
Feb. 13th, 2020 03:39 pmA
Aefie: The goddess of love, often celebrated in late winter or early spring.
Alastrian: A demonoid race often hunted for their magical hair; Alastrians are known to be the best translators in the realm; Alastrians can be bound as familiars.
Alastrian Sea: The largest body of water in the realm; thought to be named after the semi-mythical island of Alastria—the homeland of the Alastrian race.
Alpha: The leader of a Desert Elf pride.
Ament: The angel of the Goddess of Strength, who serves as a messenger.
Angelika: The goddess of Ocean Life.
Arch-Nava: An outer realm race on the brink of extinction; little, if anything, is known about them, other than the fact that they may be demonoid, with wings.
Ariel: A vengeance demon.
Arles: A stone city at the heart of Durac.
Asereje jebe Kresgie: Saffron, the Durac devil; Durac for "Queen of Kresgie."
Avatars: Beings that speak for deities. These are generally mortals who ascend to the task. Sometimes, they maintain their own personal lives, sometimes, they do not.
( B... )
Aefie: The goddess of love, often celebrated in late winter or early spring.
Alastrian: A demonoid race often hunted for their magical hair; Alastrians are known to be the best translators in the realm; Alastrians can be bound as familiars.
Alastrian Sea: The largest body of water in the realm; thought to be named after the semi-mythical island of Alastria—the homeland of the Alastrian race.
Alpha: The leader of a Desert Elf pride.
Ament: The angel of the Goddess of Strength, who serves as a messenger.
Angelika: The goddess of Ocean Life.
Arch-Nava: An outer realm race on the brink of extinction; little, if anything, is known about them, other than the fact that they may be demonoid, with wings.
Ariel: A vengeance demon.
Arles: A stone city at the heart of Durac.
Asereje jebe Kresgie: Saffron, the Durac devil; Durac for "Queen of Kresgie."
Avatars: Beings that speak for deities. These are generally mortals who ascend to the task. Sometimes, they maintain their own personal lives, sometimes, they do not.
( B... )
See How the Fates Their Gifts Allot
Jan. 3rd, 2019 11:36 amSee how the Fates their gifts allot
For A is happy, B is not
Yet B is worthy, I dare say
Of more prosperity than A
Is B more worthy?
I should say
He's worth a great deal more than A
Yet A is happy!
Oh, so happy!
Laughing, Ha! ha!
Chaffing, Ha! ha!
Nectar quaffing, Ha! ha! ha!
Ever joyous, ever gay
Happy, undeserving A!
If I were Fortune which I'm not
B should enjoy A's happy lot
And A should die in miserie
That is, assuming I am B
But should A perish?
That should he
Of course, assuming I am B
B should be happy!
Oh, so happy!
Laughing, Ha! ha!
Chaffing, Ha! ha!
Nectar quaffing, Ha! ha! ha!
But condemned to die is he
Wretched meritorious B!
For A is happy, B is not
Yet B is worthy, I dare say
Of more prosperity than A
Is B more worthy?
I should say
He's worth a great deal more than A
Yet A is happy!
Oh, so happy!
Laughing, Ha! ha!
Chaffing, Ha! ha!
Nectar quaffing, Ha! ha! ha!
Ever joyous, ever gay
Happy, undeserving A!
If I were Fortune which I'm not
B should enjoy A's happy lot
And A should die in miserie
That is, assuming I am B
But should A perish?
That should he
Of course, assuming I am B
B should be happy!
Oh, so happy!
Laughing, Ha! ha!
Chaffing, Ha! ha!
Nectar quaffing, Ha! ha! ha!
But condemned to die is he
Wretched meritorious B!
OC World History
Apr. 26th, 2018 09:57 amCasey hails from a fantasy realm, consisting of fourteen kingdoms, along an open and seemingly endless sea. She was born in a smaller kingdom, called Shaldani, which produced the majority of the grain for the rest of the realm. Each of the fourteen kingdoms acts as an independent government (monarchy, democracy, oligarchy), existing in a relatively stable peace.
As long as history remembers, inhabitants of the realm always included three different classifications of lifeforms; humanoids, demonoids, and incorporeal creatures. Among the humanoid races were the industrious Humans, the mystical Elves, and the honorable Darucs. Long ago, each race claimed domain over certain arts and sciences: the Humans masters of mechanics and engineering; the Elves the rulers of magic; and the Darucs the great warriors and laborers. The humanoid races were not monoliths, of course. Within each, there are exceptions to the rule. But stereotypes emerged for a reason.
Tensions between the races, particularly the humanoid races, reached a peak about a thousand years before Casey was born. The Elves, at the time, often relied on slave labor in their own kingdoms, capturing Humans and Darucs and dragging them away. Eventually, each group of enslaved races led its own revolt, leading to a mass exodus from all Elf lands. The fourteen kingdoms slowly solidified their borders and each developed its own unique flavor and unique relationship with other races in the realm.
Shaldani, a largely agricultural kingdom, became something of a "backwater country." Although mostly peaceful and open to trading with any kingdom, regardless of the dominant race, it was considered by most to be a kingdom of little importance. Land-locked, sparsely populated, and mostly Human, the only thing that made Shaldani even remotely note-worthy was its science and alchemy academy, simply known as The Academy. Students would flock from around the realm to enroll but, perhaps not surprisingly, all graduates would inevitably leave Shaldani for more sophisticated and culturally-important lands.
At the patriotic heart of Shaldani was Harper Palace, home of the reigning matrilineal monarchy, the Dikawa family. The royal family could trace its roots all the way back to their first queen, Rhea. The family was unique in the realm for the emphasis placed on female heirs. Distant cousins and nieces were always put first in line for the throne, ahead of sons. The reasons for this, although unclear, may date back to early religious believes regarding fertility and the harvest. In ancient times, the primary god worshiped in Shaldani was Joxom, the god of the harvest, whose sacred rites often tied closely to birth and dead. But as the centuries went by, Shaldanites mostly shifted to a monotheistic religion, worshiping an unnamed divine power, under the belief that all the gods and goddesses of the realm were simply saints and angels of this greater divine.
As wars came and went among the other kingdoms of the realm, Shaldani remained a fairly neutral territory, in large part due to the reliance other kingdoms had on Shaldanite grain. Because of this, Shaldani never developed a strong military force, instead emphasizing internal policing with localized constabularies. Perhaps, for this reason, Shaldani became the first (and only) target of an insurgence of extra-dimensional creatures known as "Ebene." Without a warning, the Ebene appeared around Shaldani's borders one day, erecting a magical force field that trapped insiders inside and outsiders outside. The Ebene relied on the "lifeforce" of humanoid creatures to survive. By isolating Shaldani, they effectively created what they hoped would be a chattel that they planned to survive off of for the next hundred years. Unfortunately for them, certain humanoids proved immune to their feeding and quickly started to form a resistance force known as the Phoenix Fighters.
Today, Shaldani remains more or less isolated, although the Phoenix Fighters have found a few cracks in the force field, which they are using to smuggle people out of Shaldani and supplies back in. The royal family is in hiding and much of the kingdom's infrastructure is gone. Life continues on--farmers still need to farm and blacksmiths still need to smith--but the citizens exist as the victims of a continuing siege. Word of the kingdom's plight, spread by writers who have managed to smuggle the story out with refugees, has summoned and unified much of the rest of the realm, mobilizing relief efforts. But at this point, there's only so much outsiders have been able to do to help.
Glossary of Terms
Realm Map
Realm Religion
The invasion began around Casey's twenty-second birthday. And it has continued for a number of years. This is the context under which Casey leaves her homeworld, leaping into the multiverse.
As long as history remembers, inhabitants of the realm always included three different classifications of lifeforms; humanoids, demonoids, and incorporeal creatures. Among the humanoid races were the industrious Humans, the mystical Elves, and the honorable Darucs. Long ago, each race claimed domain over certain arts and sciences: the Humans masters of mechanics and engineering; the Elves the rulers of magic; and the Darucs the great warriors and laborers. The humanoid races were not monoliths, of course. Within each, there are exceptions to the rule. But stereotypes emerged for a reason.
Tensions between the races, particularly the humanoid races, reached a peak about a thousand years before Casey was born. The Elves, at the time, often relied on slave labor in their own kingdoms, capturing Humans and Darucs and dragging them away. Eventually, each group of enslaved races led its own revolt, leading to a mass exodus from all Elf lands. The fourteen kingdoms slowly solidified their borders and each developed its own unique flavor and unique relationship with other races in the realm.
Shaldani, a largely agricultural kingdom, became something of a "backwater country." Although mostly peaceful and open to trading with any kingdom, regardless of the dominant race, it was considered by most to be a kingdom of little importance. Land-locked, sparsely populated, and mostly Human, the only thing that made Shaldani even remotely note-worthy was its science and alchemy academy, simply known as The Academy. Students would flock from around the realm to enroll but, perhaps not surprisingly, all graduates would inevitably leave Shaldani for more sophisticated and culturally-important lands.
At the patriotic heart of Shaldani was Harper Palace, home of the reigning matrilineal monarchy, the Dikawa family. The royal family could trace its roots all the way back to their first queen, Rhea. The family was unique in the realm for the emphasis placed on female heirs. Distant cousins and nieces were always put first in line for the throne, ahead of sons. The reasons for this, although unclear, may date back to early religious believes regarding fertility and the harvest. In ancient times, the primary god worshiped in Shaldani was Joxom, the god of the harvest, whose sacred rites often tied closely to birth and dead. But as the centuries went by, Shaldanites mostly shifted to a monotheistic religion, worshiping an unnamed divine power, under the belief that all the gods and goddesses of the realm were simply saints and angels of this greater divine.
As wars came and went among the other kingdoms of the realm, Shaldani remained a fairly neutral territory, in large part due to the reliance other kingdoms had on Shaldanite grain. Because of this, Shaldani never developed a strong military force, instead emphasizing internal policing with localized constabularies. Perhaps, for this reason, Shaldani became the first (and only) target of an insurgence of extra-dimensional creatures known as "Ebene." Without a warning, the Ebene appeared around Shaldani's borders one day, erecting a magical force field that trapped insiders inside and outsiders outside. The Ebene relied on the "lifeforce" of humanoid creatures to survive. By isolating Shaldani, they effectively created what they hoped would be a chattel that they planned to survive off of for the next hundred years. Unfortunately for them, certain humanoids proved immune to their feeding and quickly started to form a resistance force known as the Phoenix Fighters.
Today, Shaldani remains more or less isolated, although the Phoenix Fighters have found a few cracks in the force field, which they are using to smuggle people out of Shaldani and supplies back in. The royal family is in hiding and much of the kingdom's infrastructure is gone. Life continues on--farmers still need to farm and blacksmiths still need to smith--but the citizens exist as the victims of a continuing siege. Word of the kingdom's plight, spread by writers who have managed to smuggle the story out with refugees, has summoned and unified much of the rest of the realm, mobilizing relief efforts. But at this point, there's only so much outsiders have been able to do to help.
The invasion began around Casey's twenty-second birthday. And it has continued for a number of years. This is the context under which Casey leaves her homeworld, leaping into the multiverse.
I'm calm,
I'm calm,
I'm perfectly calm,
I'm utterly under control.
I haven't a worry:
Where others would hurry I stroll.
I'm calm,
I'm cool,
A gibbering fool
Is something I never become.
When thunder is rumbling
And others are crumbling,
I hum.
Hm--hmmm--hmmmmm!!!!!
HMMMMM!!!!
H-M-M-M!!!!
I must think calm comforting things,
Butterfly wings,
Emerald rings,
Or a murmuring brook,
Murmuring, murmuring, murmuring...look,
I'm calm,
I'm calm,
I haven't a qualm,
I'm utterly under control.
Let nothing confuse me
Or faze me-- [yawn] --
Excuse me.
I'm calm.
Oh so calm.
Oh so--
I'm calm,
I'm calm,
I'm perfectly calm,
Indifferent to tensions and shocks.
Unruffled and ready,
My nerves are as steady
As rocks.
I'm calm, controlled,
So cool that I'm cold,
Aloofer than any giraffe.
When something's the matter,
Where others would shatter
I laugh.
I must breathe deep, ever so deep,
Think about sheep
Going to sleep,
Stop and count up to ten, 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9...when
You need aplomb
And want to be calm
'Cause life is a horrible dream,
Just count up to ten
Very slowly, and then--
I'm calm,
I'm perfectly calm,
I'm utterly under control.
I haven't a worry:
Where others would hurry I stroll.
I'm calm,
I'm cool,
A gibbering fool
Is something I never become.
When thunder is rumbling
And others are crumbling,
I hum.
Hm--hmmm--hmmmmm!!!!!
HMMMMM!!!!
H-M-M-M!!!!
I must think calm comforting things,
Butterfly wings,
Emerald rings,
Or a murmuring brook,
Murmuring, murmuring, murmuring...look,
I'm calm,
I'm calm,
I haven't a qualm,
I'm utterly under control.
Let nothing confuse me
Or faze me-- [yawn] --
Excuse me.
I'm calm.
Oh so calm.
Oh so--
I'm calm,
I'm calm,
I'm perfectly calm,
Indifferent to tensions and shocks.
Unruffled and ready,
My nerves are as steady
As rocks.
I'm calm, controlled,
So cool that I'm cold,
Aloofer than any giraffe.
When something's the matter,
Where others would shatter
I laugh.
I must breathe deep, ever so deep,
Think about sheep
Going to sleep,
Stop and count up to ten, 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9...when
You need aplomb
And want to be calm
'Cause life is a horrible dream,
Just count up to ten
Very slowly, and then--
The Stranger
Mar. 3rd, 2018 01:10 pmWell we all have a face
That we hide away forever
And we take them out and
Show ourselves
When everyone has gone
Some are satin, some are steel
Some are silk and some are leather
They're the faces of the stranger
But we love to try them on
Well we all fall in love
But we disregard the danger
Though we share so many secrets
There are some we never tell
Why were you so surprised
That you never saw the stranger
Did you ever let your lover see
The stranger in yourself?
Don't be afraid to try again
Everyone goes south
Every now and then
You've done it, why can't
Someone else?
You should know by now
You've been there yourself
Once I used to believe
I was such a great romancer
Then I came home to a person
That I could not recognize
When I pressed him for a reason
He refused to even answer
It was then I felt the stranger
Kick me right between the eyes
Well we all fall in love
But we disregard the danger
Though we share so many secrets
There are some we never tell
Why were you so surprised
That you never saw the stranger
Did you ever let your lover see
The stranger in yourself?
Don't be afraid to try again
Everyone goes south
Every now and then
You've done it why can't
Someone else?
You should know by now
You've been there yourself
You may never understand
How the stranger is inspired
But he isn't always evil
And he is not always wrong
Though you drown in good intentions
You will never quench the fire
You'll give in to your desire
When the stranger comes along.
That we hide away forever
And we take them out and
Show ourselves
When everyone has gone
Some are satin, some are steel
Some are silk and some are leather
They're the faces of the stranger
But we love to try them on
Well we all fall in love
But we disregard the danger
Though we share so many secrets
There are some we never tell
Why were you so surprised
That you never saw the stranger
Did you ever let your lover see
The stranger in yourself?
Don't be afraid to try again
Everyone goes south
Every now and then
You've done it, why can't
Someone else?
You should know by now
You've been there yourself
Once I used to believe
I was such a great romancer
Then I came home to a person
That I could not recognize
When I pressed him for a reason
He refused to even answer
It was then I felt the stranger
Kick me right between the eyes
Well we all fall in love
But we disregard the danger
Though we share so many secrets
There are some we never tell
Why were you so surprised
That you never saw the stranger
Did you ever let your lover see
The stranger in yourself?
Don't be afraid to try again
Everyone goes south
Every now and then
You've done it why can't
Someone else?
You should know by now
You've been there yourself
You may never understand
How the stranger is inspired
But he isn't always evil
And he is not always wrong
Though you drown in good intentions
You will never quench the fire
You'll give in to your desire
When the stranger comes along.
