As always, let’s begin with next months stories. First amongst them titled the Elimination Game.

A 2-chapter story set a bit north-east of Ralikhai, located on the western Crescent of the southern continent. A small archipelago home to mansions belonging to Ralikhai’s royal court, used in a game inspired by reality television shows of the dating type. Though in this televised game, the contestants vie for heart of the Seventh Prince of Ralikhai, to become part of his harem.

Per the title, contestants progress through eliminating their rivals, with whatever means they wish to do so. Poisoning, checked. Stabbing them in the heart or slicing their throats whilst they sleep, recommended. Enlisting the aid of an outsider, an assassin or seeker of fortune and glory, highly recommended as the Prince prefers petite things. 

As promised at the start of the year, one such Seeker of fortune and glory is Selindrae, who returns aiding a friend of hers. Though they aren’t the only professionals, and some are more professional.

The second story, a single chapter long, on the other hand will take place in the far future, in space. Its setting, the Fetyraen, a voidvessel on a mission of exploring the outer rims of the known cosmos, moored in the vicinity of a planet rich in sand and spice. Its crew, contemplating whether to send down a reconnaissance unit or send out a signal for aid before making first contact with its dusky denizens living near the few bodies of water, whilst an Umbral Archon, a spy and saboteur of the Grand Guilds infiltrates the ship.

A sort of mini-prologue for the Second Great War storyline for next year.

They’ll be up by in early access by the time of this posting!

Now the second part. This time, much shorter. I slackened a little this month, occupied with the above stories and also trying to figure out what should be the second story for December. 

But for the most part, continued progressing with the Grand Guilds, their military called the Nine Legions and their private armies. Mostly just some initial points, foundations or reformations (when it comes to the Legions). And names.

For the Nine Legions, I went for something simplistic, but also fitting for the Grand Guilds and their purchased republics. The two, most prominent, equaling the Snow-Scaled and Black Roses in power, are the Gold and Silver Legion, both originating from the 10 Legions originally loyal to the Empire before the fall, before the First Great War. 

Gold, because it’s the valued most in Heleion with its relation to the Sun and Sun God, features heavily in their vogue, architectural styles, and even their bank notes are printed in this shade. Silver is up there in value, used for small change, but also as a subtle mockery towards the Nauheimians who value it above gold. Hence the Legion serves more as a reserve, and in defense in areas north and east in the homeworld. 

The third I may have mentioned in the past, sometime around when the short story The Blazing Eye came out, as I was thinking of having them be the main muscle of the “bad guys”. But this legion is the Ruby Legion of Avalon, a more naval focused one (both on seas and the Void-Between-Worlds). 

The fourth is the Sapphire Legion of Franchoi, a legion focused more on employing thaumaturgists, wizards, witches and the like in greater numbers compared to the other legions (except maybe for the Gold Legion). Whilst lesser magi circles and covens exist in Heleion, they are limited to assist architectural and forester subsidies, farms and other small businesses. The former circles and covens who were near becoming Eminent, instead got incorporated into this legion and the next one.

The last (so far), that is the Pearl Legion of Tyrnala. Though in their case, they mostly teach and seek out mages trained in the Hallowed Sorcery loathed by devils, demons and the things that are spawned by the Null and its dread lords. 

Regarding the Private Armies, I progressed less. Mostly came up with the Coin-Guard, the private police and military force of the Aeternus Association of Arghyria. One employed as the bank security, or in their penal colonies, mines and such. 

There is also the Gilded Blade (if I recall their names correctly), featured in the ancient times of the first iteration who I may bring back. And the guys featured in the Blazing Eye.

Beyond them, I also progressed with some uniforms for the Draunneath Covenant, and the Lunate Lotus.

And that is all for this month. Will probably keep these at this length. 

Uploads for the Spookinktober stories will begin on the 29th (Thursday, or well tomorrow), so keep an eye out! Until then, thank you for reading my ramblings and fare thee well!

Before going into any progression related news, updates, I must make the announcement of a slight delay. The next story, will be coming out of Early Access on the 1st of August, as I’ll be away on vacation the next week.

                                                                        Writing Progression:

Welcome dear readers of this post. Still not wholly sure on the format of these posts, but here we go, starting with my progression on writing.

This month was a bit slow. I always slack a little after breaks, after weeks spent on outlining. Though this time around, started doing some preliminary writing. But as of writing now, got mostly finished with the first tale of September.

A Bound Diaries story, as of now titled Practice Makes Perfect 2. It is not exactly an epilogue, but I personally view it as one for the August story. In terms of timeline, it will take place way after the events of the Invasion of the Forsaken, but will contain some callbacks, as it will focus on Lyanrei and Astrydril. The two will have a few too many drinks, and thanks to that, shenanigans will unfold. As with all Bound Diaries, it is more smut focused story, with Astrydril going a little goblin mode on Lyanrei.

It also a sort of prologue to the next main Cabal storyline, but more on that a bit later.

The second tale shall also be a Bound Diaries one. This one will take place where the previous main Academy story took place, but in this iteration. It is titled as of now The Exchange Student. The tale itself will follow a half-naurdian (Nordic), half-moonkynd student scaling the Honored-Guest Tower of the academy with noble intents of losing her virginity. 

It was a kind of random idea that came up whilst editing the revision story and doing some worldbuilding for next year’s stuff (more on that in the lore/worldbuilding section below). Also, a bit based on some Hentai where an all-female school/academy/university gets a male and all hell breaks loose, and a deluge of semen paints the blankets, walls and whatnot. And some lewd art involving bound men being dominated by females. And I also like captives escape and captors end up as captives’ scenarios.

As of writing this, I am a quarter down, as it has three characters. Loa, the above-mentioned half-blood; Oivindaer the effeminate male elf exchange student from the Snow-Scaled Circle’s Academy in the capital; and Naemi, a rival of Loa, a sraudornian witch. This one will have some awkward femdom stuff, a bit of NTR (kinda, but not really, just not sure what this kink is called if it has a name at all), and of course GID and DID.

Originally also planned two more stories, but one got moved to either November or December. The third will focus on a dark elven Seeker, on a mission to eliminate a bandit group nestled in the woodlands near the border of Wyruthrin and Schiaventiurm. This one will have some smut planned, but not as prominently as the first two. Outlining is mostly done for this, so once I am finished with the second, I’ll move onto this, but that will be in August’s first week.

The moved story will be a War Tales one, featuring the Snow-Scaled during the Uprising of the City-States of Central Eoran. But more on this later, just so I won’t repeat myself too much in the future.

Now for the Vicious Cycles. There have been some changes that I decided on these past few weeks. The August story took up more time than I expected, and though there are still plenty of time, I rather be slow and steady with these main stories. There are some points that I am unsure on, story beats, but I have a general idea on characters, the setting that changed with this decision, and the plot itself.

I think I mentioned it somewhat, but the first idea I had was a sort of hostage situation, on a research station beneath the sea. I did not wholly discard this idea, but this one will be a short story in either the War Tales or Shadow Archives group. With a heavy POV focus on the main antagonist, the Wrathful Ronin (I shall call him that for the time being). That short story I did outlining on, and probably be the last story for this year, whilst the Vicious Cycles will probably move to next year, with no concrete date set, but could be January. Will see how things progress.

Speaking of next year, let’s move on to the next section:

                                                            Worldbuilding Progress:

Beyond writing and outlining, I had also been doing some worldbuilding, on a broader scale than the looks of races, the uniforms of the Eminent Circles and Covens. Namely, been working on what shall be known as the Grand Draunneath Covenant of Thulyandiv.

The current Draunneath Circle is an alliance of Eminent Circles and Covens, kept together by their shared disdain of the Grand Guilds Union. But certain figures know that once the Union is gone, they may go back to fight amongst themselves, without the presence and guidance of the Great Divinities. So, they draft up plans that take a little while, partly because they thread with caution, partly because it takes time to convince and adjust plans for its structure.

So, this alliance evolves, and becomes a singular entity, a singular Grand Covenant (parts of the name are still up for change, adjustments on my part), that will also affect the world, will lead to the elimination of Nations, and the birth of Protectorates. Plus, some other changes. 

Structure-wise, my current focus for next year, fell on the Military and the Law branches. In terms of names, the military overall will be called the Thaumaturgical Hosts of the Covenant, whilst the Law branch is a bit broader, so went with Thaumaturgic Ministry of Worldly Order and Harmony. And for now, I won’t ramble much further. Will just add that these branch too, with both having a Prime-Branch, and the Prime-Branches have their own branches, divisions, and so on so forth.

And the Prime-Branches in the case of military are just: One is just Eminent Covens, but named XYZ Host/Legion/Armies. In the case of the Thaumaturgic Ministries, one is a more typical law enforcement wing, and the Umbral Court being the other wing of it, that includes Hidden Sects like the Raven Eyes, the Umbral Archons that turn from assassins to KGB type secret police, and one focused on surveillance and support of the other two called the Blacklight Court.

On one last note of this: I also thinking of giving them three lingua franca, with the primary being Nairenthian, secondary being possibly an ‘elvenized’ latin, the tertiary either an ‘elvenized’ Japanese or Arabic. Or maybe they’ll have four languages used. 

Will also start working on the Grand Guilds and their legions. Next year’s stories will all take place in the first year of the Second Great War.

Now for this month’s story. This I’ll keep short.

Three factions will feature to varying degrees in the story. The two primary and opposing forces, are the Coven of the Dusk Weaver’s, the Eminent Coven of Wyruthrin, a magocratic kingdom led by the Grand Princess of Night, the supreme sorceress of the coven. Similarly, they have their own elixir, or I should say elixirs. Unlike most other circles and covens, they have two. 

The Elixir of Lunar Grace and the Elixir of Night’s Grace. And even these have three different types. One that turns non-elves into half-elves, non-dracoriths into half-dracoriths, and non-dwarves into half-dwarves.

The second major faction is the ‘antagonistic’ one, the Erudychin (known also as the Orange Movement of Workers), a revolutionary movement aiming to overthrow the Grand-Princess’s family, establish a communist regime, and has been responsible for a minor revolution that led to the events of the story.

The third faction, are the Wondrous Coven of the Silvern Stag, who feature in only one chapter, and just included them after deciding to have one, three-chapter long story instead of two. They only have one Elixir, that I am still fine tuning in what visible effects it gives. It is ‘elvenizing’ like the Black Rose’s and the Dusk Weaver’s, but has some additional changes, like introducing a natural platinum silver highlight in hair at the ends of each tress, their pupils turn pale silvern and their irises dark blue of a perfect circle’s shape. But I am also entertaining the idea of introducing some draconic changes too, as the Elixir’s origins lie with the Silvern Stag herself, their draconic divinity.

They also got the honor of being the owners of the setting, a small resort island south of their shores, north-west of Wyruthrin. An island with a history of swapping hands, up until the First Great War, where they seized Holdirpi Island [though I may got the name wrong, as I changed around the name a few times]. But instead of turning it into a maritime checkpoint, turned it once more into a resort.

In the Second-Era of Mending, the island itself housed a resort commissioned by the Imperial Family, who ran it for centuries as a summer resort, where they often met with the Nauheimian Royalties and Nobility for business. After Eoran rose up and broke away, they did convert it into an island housing a small regiment of legionaries, but it fell quite quick during the Great War.

During the events of the story, the Twilight-Princess of Wyruthrin visits the island, a gift to herself after the brutal campaign she ran to stifle the revolution. Of course, she did not succeed in the complete eradication of the rebels, some survived and plots her assassination. For this purpose, they sent one of their best assassin, a changeling [Fae-Touched human] to infiltrate the island, and eliminate the Twilight-Princess of Wyruthrin, Arletevehr.

There is still some stuff, minor like the fabrics used, the vogue of the constable and common sorceress/witch castes of each coven, but those will get plenty of description within the chapters themselves. Though the Dusk Weaver’s probably got mentioned this year, being one of the few who buy and use dragonidh-leather. Or at least a variant of it.

Anyhow, time to close this monthly update. Thank you all for reading these ramblings, take care folks!

Cachuil-Uth-Muhafirah: The Imperial Guard of the Sakhrath-Ib-Anath.

Though the history of the Sakhrath-Ib-Anath goes back several millennia by this point, on a technical level, the Cachuil-Uth-Muhafirah were the first of the branches to form during their rebirth.

In the 645th year, they formed officially from the loyal guard of the Witch-Empress–then holding the title of Witch-Princess of the southern province. A guard encompassing bewitching dames coming from elven, drachenkynd and djinnui stock, equally skillful with sword and sorcery. All donned in the finest regalia produced within the Empire. Outerwear of honey golden, with many-hued decorative detailing, and shirts, headwear of ink black. Which in present day changed, matching up with the assigned shades of castes. 

During the civil war, they numbered only in a few hundred, continued in their role of protecting her majesty as she moved along with her armies towards Naprutaten, the then capital of the Empire in the northern province. Surviving members of the old order and foreign tutors trained them against the assassins of the former emperor, skills they carried over and passed down as their numbers expanded after their official establishment as a branch.

In the passing years, they maintained their role of being the shield of the Witch-Empress, but their jurisdiction expanded greatly. From just being the official guards of her majesty Hesra, assigned guardians of all her family’s belongings, imperial lodges, the Cachuil-Uth-Muhafirah serve as our custodians, hounds of the Imperial Law in our great cities, towns, villages, whilst the military trained castes guard the borders of the Empire, offer the protection of the Witch-Empress abroad to anyone seeking it. And even reached beyond the gold and azure heavens these past few centuries. 

The Svartfaeth Host: The Voidfarers of the Snow-Scaled Circle.

Our brave voidfarer’s origin are no different from all the others. Their officially documented origins though date back much further than even the Lunate Lotus’s, sometime before the end of the First Demonic Crusade. Back then, their numbers were small, consisted of foolhardy warriors of some sorcerous capabilities who ventured out into the wilds–drunk according to some annals–to seek out and tame wild dragons.

Not many of their names survived the passage of eons. Only that of Faufnilh the Fair, a brave dwarven dame from the Dragonmaw Peak of Eptirrion, whose challenge against the largest of the wild brood survived into the present day, and her name became the origin of the Faufnisriarh sub-caste. And Leiknir Dragonheart, who flew and fought abreast of Great Nadrediorn in the final battle of the First Demonic Crusade.

During the First Era of Mending, they formed the Ormidraeth Circle, enlisted only the bravest willing to undertake the same challenge as the first generation. Many did, and many perished as expected, so their Circle remained small, during the first few centuries. Nearing the Second Crusade, they merely numbered a 152 per surviving records, whilst the Snow-Scaled Circle grew and gobbled other lesser circles into their ranks, after the oracles of the Great Divinities forewarned of the waning liminal barriers.

By the epochs of the Second Crusade, the Ormidraeth Circle became a Vassal-Order to the Snow-Scaled (in present day terms, a Branch), and their requirements grew laxer, as the Snow-Scaled sought the aid of more intelligent dragons. Through the conflicts of the Second Crusade, up until the middle-centuries of the Second Era of Mending, the Ormidraeth Host maintained a force of dragon, gryphon, large bat and manticore riders, congregated into fifteen battalions.

During those middle-centuries, with the Magikraft Revolution in full speed, their ranks once more grew exponentially with the introductions of airboats. Though the importance of the winged mounts never lessened. During the Siege of Sraurpoint, they held back the rebel armies long enough to evacuate the imperial citizens and officials; eased the landing of Nauheimian forces in Tyrnala during the Great War; kept the Kesothisian sky hosts from terrorizing Hesra’s and so on. 

The last great change came with the advent of void exploration. Sometime during the 400s of the Neo-Dawn Era, on the proposal of Hersith Haemian of the Ormidraeth Host, the council voted almost unanimously to rename the branch to the Svartfaeth Host, once the first of the voidvessel made its first round around Thulyandiv, without a need to return for a recharge of its Viduthian Engine. 

With the expansion beyond the firmament, so did the Svartfaeth Host expanded. Once a lesser of the Hritvia Host in influence and personnel, it became its equal with each new challenge and conflict amongst the stars.

The Luxurious Strongholds of the Skies and Void:

The history of aerial strongholds and citadels are as ancient as any in Thulyandiv. There have been ancient tales of great palaces raised into the skies by the Fae and Great Divinities, where their most faithful were granted entrance. There is the renown Black Rose Isle of Nauheim, the rotund observatory of the Esparnian mage conclaves, and the Heavenly Oasis of the Witch-Empress of the Tear.

What may surprise some of our readers, are the fact that the first vessel to go beyond the firmament was no Dragon-Class dreadnought or cruiser, but a Voidstation assembled by the Snow-Scaled or the Black Roses – our sources are quite unsure – propelled beyond, somewhere in the early centuries of the Neo-Dawn Era. Though it met a sorrowful end after some miscalculations resulted in its Supercharged Mana-Core collapsing, plummeting it back to the central ocean. 

For centuries, no new citadel, stronghold had been constructed, as the focus fell on the development and improvement of Voidvessels. 

Then somewhere in the 600s of NDE, a gargantuan rhombus-shaped citadel reached beyond the sultry heavens, occupied the emptiness betwixt three of our system’s planets. From its edges, great black fins projected, expanding the number of personnel-on-board to several thousands, who ensured it wouldn’t meet the same fate as its predecessor. Decades flew by, without any major incident.

On occasion, there had been rumors of spies and saboteurs of some terrorist movement slipped past the security’s vigilant eye, but once it passed its first century, further forty-nine citadels got commissioned across the world. For the first time in centuries, the Grand Guilds and Eminent Covens and Circles came together, produced these Voidstations, improved on their thrusters, to expand their role as military command centers.

Up until the 1300s, these served well all the armies of Thulyandiv in the coming conquests and colonization of planets not so abundant in kyndred. Then as new designs got made, the first generation got retired, serving more as hotel resorts across the cosmos. Including planets like the cleansed Votum Prime, or the wild realm of Dyreford.

Beloved Daughter of Shadows:

Reward for Capture: 500.000.000 Dragonmarks!

The Updates:

And a month passes by. This one started out as another weekly, written like two or three weeks ago by now, but as I started brainstorming, outlining, editing, realized in this heat, I had little energy left to write the worldbuilding stuff and updates.

Though, for now, this format remains for June, July onwards, I think I’ll merge the two, but still will keep mentioning that things are up for change. And will do worldbuilding stuff separate, as a smaller future project, probably starting out with the Eminent Circles and Covens, compiling and detailing their history, structure, vogue and some other stuff. 

Similarly, will do character profiles for major returning ones like Astrydril, Rhommi, Lyanrei and Saemundur to mention some. 

Actual writing wise, as can be seen in my profile on Substar and DA, the July and August story both got finished in terms of writing, editing and both are up in early access. And for now, for a few weeks I’ll rest and continue working on outlining the stories that remain post august. 
Starting with working out the character roster of the Vicious Cycle story, the ones beyond the major characters like Astrydril, Lyanrei, Saemundur and the two antagonists, Elrirk the vengeful samurai, and his protégé, a mixed-blooded samurai from a ronin family. And slowly developing the setting too, though on occasion I wonder if I should do something else, but I really want a setting of a submersible station or submarine. And possibly, this will have both as the story progresses.

Also began just drawing up ideas for kinky situations to come up, and there will be a long, continuous one with Astrydril, who may or may not get captured intentionally. Though I must admit, the two’s storyline feels a bit daunting, especially as I wonder how much their ‘relation’ progressed since the last time.

Hence why I am thinking that either one of the September or November story’s, a bound diary will focus on the two, a bit smutty, but nothing too explicit. Yet. 
Likewise, I am thinking of doing a story set right after or somewhat after the August story, trying to redo a how the Escape Exams look in the Black Rose Academy. Though, this one will most likely will have Lyanrei end up in a bind, teased by Astrydril.

Beyond these, I’m also currently outlining a prelude to the Vicious Cycles, an introduction to Elrirk, the main antagonist. Partially because I set the chapter limit to five for this one. That felt easier to manage, compared to the eight or nine of the previous main story. Plus, I want the story to have a quicker pace. Less sitting around, less skulking around, neutralizing patrols, though the story will feature a lot more sneaky characters.

Lastly, still plan to do a Selindrae story, and some other DID story, involving lesser conflicts. Definitely want to do a caravan ambush story, with some ryona/zako, and war prisoner style bondage. Also been working on some future stuff.

Mostly relating to next year, that I want to do some pre-preliminary work for. That year, will focus on the next grand event in the history of Thulyandiv and the Void-Between-Worlds, and will be the year where the Grand Guilds and Draunneath Circle will clash one last time. Possibly. 

Anyhow, the last thing worth mentioning is be prepared. This Sunday, the uploads for this month’s story will begin. Three chapters, following Rhommiriel on an aerial resort above the lush northern continent of Dyreford.