Weekly Updates and Worldbuilding Notes:

08.19.2025

Worldbuilding:

§  Hleriodh II: Second largest celestial body in the system. Once a thriving planet occupied by civilized, technologically advanced folk known from the various archives retrieved from the bottom of the sea. At least from the few retrieved from the towering structures lingering in the abyss, home to the barbarous, primeval merfolk who dwell amongst the titans of the all-enveloping ocean. The planet itself is rich in minerals, including the alloys used in reinforcing the hulls of the great Voidvessels of the Heleion Dominion. Currently under the jurisdiction of the Black Rose Coven, The Order of the Adamant Scale of the Grauburgians and the Lunar Host of the Hoshigawans.

§  Echidna-Class Voidvessels: The largest of the Dominion’s Void Armadas. Named after the mythological beast Echidna, who carried thousands of manifold beasts in her womb in the dawn of time. Similarly, the vessel itself produced by an Arghyrian manufacturer serves as a freighting, mass-troop transport vessel utilized in planetary blockades. One vessel can carry at least four cohorts in its two sections. A gargantuan outer section of a three kilometers long torus with seemingly hollow points at the cardinal directions. At each gap, four hangars stretch wide from one side to another, each connected by curving bridges at the four corners. And the inner section, a gargantuan sphere of windows set deep in the embrasures on each of its hundred levels. Likewise, four grander bridges connect the central structure to the broken torus. 

―   The Sphere-Structure itself houses the secondary bridge/navigation room, in its heart the Super-Golem Engine that powers the whole Voidvessel, including its high magnitude Aegis capable of even reflecting the Federation’s missile based attacks, the myriad turrets lining the top and bottom of both sections, the communications and life support system.

―   The Torus-Structure houses the freight, the troops carried across the Chartered Paths, capable of transporting more than a million troops, along the Vulture-Class smaller vessels, the Flottirions, and even some medium-sized vessels including the Chiroptera-Class transport vessels often used by covert branches, organizations alongside the main hosts.

§  Heiythryn: Third and Last months of the summer, consisting of 34 days [Equivalent of August IRL]. During the last week, celebrations often held across Heleion and its domains, showing gratitude for the Gods and Archfey for the pleasant summers.

§  Faegiriath-Coat: Elven coat produced by the Black Rose Coven since the 2500s of the Neo-Dawn Era, post Federation war. The issued coat of both the Vordriarhs and Drengriarhs by order of the Hersith’s Council. Both versions feature the double-breasted front, the diagonal zipper straightening at the ceasing line of the corsetesque waist, trails straight up to the collars and neckline giving space for the slit pockets concealed by slim, button-lined panels, their badges, nametags and other decorations and four, closely placed and buckled waist belts. Their sleeves too are matching, flared both and ending in cuffs folded back with five-sides, hem too for both asymmetrical, right side lengthened with a vent slit on. The difference comes at the shoulders, with Vordriarhs’ version sporting the structured, padded shoulders, and the elevated triangular neckline with a Bulwark-Type collar. The Drengriarhs’ version sports the flared pagoda-style shoulder of the Hoshigawans, whilst the primary collar arising from the same elevated neckline form a voluminous, open M-Shape with elongated points resting on the chest line. Whilst also possessing an inner layer, mimicking the Corset-Vest of olden days, including the funnel-shaped collar slid under their shirt’s crisp collars. 

§  Fjolkiriath Long Coat: The issued elven long-coat produced by the Black Rose Coven itself, issued for the Volvaeths, who share it with the Ryodhaeths and Sundfaraeths of the other two primary branches. A double-breasted coat, its diagonal zipper following the same trail and hem style as the Faegiriath, though only three waist belt as the waist section and their cuffs folded out into a six-sided circle. On the top, they too sport padded, simple but elegant shoulders, and elevated elliptical necklines that intrude a bit onto the chest line. The primary matches the broad elliptical shape, rises high and thanks to its arcane-woven nature, many of the Volvaeths prefer extending it to their cheek’s level. The secondary itself, sprouts from the basin of the neckline, a simple, notched shawl lapel framing the concealed zipper closure. 

§  Berseriath-Coats: Worn and issued for the Varangriaths of the Svartvia Host. For this reason, the hem, the double-breasted front matches the rest, whilst its sleeves end in folded back cuffs of octagonal circle. Though unlike the common ranks, a broad girdle cinches their waist, its edges lined with metallic, pointed rivets, and meld seamless in the front center. Their elevated neckline circular, from which the primary arises, fashioned acutely after Skjalkrage Shawls often worn by the olden berserkers of the North during their raids and campaigns to the south. A stiffened, broad cowl in this case, with a smooth, wrapped look, and narrow space for the cinnamon brown collars of their shirts. The secondary, mimics the aventails, spreading onto their shoulders and chest, whilst it crawls onto the primary, ceases below the silver accented ridges. 

§  Dragonidh Leather: A patented, arcane-woven fabric created and used by the Black Roses since the late 1800s of the Second Era of Mending, constantly improved upon. A supple, buttery smooth leather, which absorbs light, creates a subtle sheen, gloss that often seems matte. And no creases, folds formed upon movement, dentations. 

§  Ginnuerna Satin: Used since the last war with the Federation came to an end. Patented, though through discovery, the other covens too learned that one ingredient comes from the gargantuan serpents soaring the void at the far edges of the chartered systems. Though in what way they achieve distilling the mercurial blood, only the Black Roses know. The fabric itself is often described as the greatest silk or satin capturing the smoothness of liquidized mercury, whilst possessing a sheen, luxurious rich gloss situated between fine enameled alloys and liquidized alloys whilst still distinctively silk or satin. And like their previous satins, silks and their Dragonidh Leather, no creases, no folds form as the wearer moves around, or in a scuffle gets hit. Even pulling back the sleeves seems more like the fabric retracts itself without amassing volume.

§  Lartsim Mining Complex: A yet-to-be finished mining complex on Hleriodh-II, under the ownership of House Dreahal who employed the Black Rose Coven to guard it, protect the workers from the elements and the terrors lurking beneath the chaotic waves. Which they failed to do properly leading to a minor incident some theorize came to be was intended by one of the Hersiths.

Updates:

§  So got a bit late in doing an update, but took too long deciding what to include. In the end decided to include a few of the new uniform designs, though also wanted to include the “fashion style” of the northern elves. But it is something I’m still working on, so another time.

§  The second story will focus on the above-mentioned incident, a minor worker uprising. A story meant to show off the less positive side of the Black Rose Coven, like a few others did before. And it is a proto War Tales. Not necessarily the first, but this is the scheme I shall follow for the coming ones.

§  So, what are War Tales? Stories that explore the various conflicts in the settings, be they small or big like this worker’s uprising in the Lartsim Mining Complex. Stories that focus on smaller characters in battles, or sometimes between battles to include a bit of Red Shirt in Distress scenes. For example, this month’s War Tales will feature three Drengriarhs, one in the early stages of the conflict placed in a part of the complex where provisions are kept, another in the brigs, and a third in a post siege in a sweep where they make sure they round up leftover dissidents. Whilst the other two focus on an ambush, the other on the first stage of taking back the bastion of the complex, featuring two Varangriaths.

§  Going forward into the foreseeable future of Autumn, there will at max three stories, depending on how soon I finish the main story. For September, one will definitely be a Bound Diaries story, the other a War Tales. Though I am still deciding on what the conflict will be. Thinking of one that is a sort of Tie-In to the December story, or another focusing on the Sakhrath-Ib-Anath and the Ehruem Theocracy (a bit more on them in the next update).

§  On this same note, I will also plan to add further categories, including a tomb raiding, Indiana Jones like, dungeon delving category that the last august story is a proto-story of. An espionage focused one, with honey trapping leading to GIDs and DIDs, whilst the Bound Diaries will expand a bit more, to include kinky stuff beyond the covens. Also plan a noir, detective, investigative category focusing on the crime world. Though the War Tales will also involve Heleion’s war on the underworld. And probably a category focusing on monster hunting, with weirder trussed up scenarios, but also feature the Seekers and Adventurers of Heleion across the ages, and include Selindrae who has been on the benches more than she should have.

§  Lastly, for September. As mentioned already, the War Tales story is still in its figuring out phase, whilst the Bound Diaries story will focus on the Black Roses for this time before departing. It will be a story focusing on the patented recipes of Dragonidh Leather and Ginnuerna Satin, focusing on a red shirt in distress in the middle of coven (corporate) espionage.