Hello everyone, after a very long time I have taken to the pen again.
I decided to recycle an old idea of mine and write it as a cyoa WIP.
To play the demo, go here: Chronicles of Volantes (dashingdon.com)
Currently, I have only a ca. 10k snippet of the prologue/Act 1 done and wanted to upload what I have so far to see if there is any interest in the world so far.
Also I have never used tmblr before so I have no idea what I am doing and you are welcome to join me on this wild ride.
The following will be rewritten once I am a little more in the story. It will be more concrete then
Welcome to the world of Ariagon, where flying dragons roam the skies and danger lurks around every corner. Join a diverse cast of characters on a journey of adventure and self-discovery as they explore the breathtaking flying mountains of Volantes. Bond with your very own dragon as you navigate through a world of politics, betrayal, and magic as the impending war on the continent binds you and rips open old wounds. Will you rise to the occasion, use your powers for your own gain or will you even become the villain? The choice is yours as you discover new friendships and perhaps even find romance in this dangerous world. Hold on tight and get ready for a wild ride in the world of Ariagon.
RO’s
Alexander/Alexandra Lapides [M/F] Alex is protective, confident, and ambitious in nature. They are two years your senior and have just always been around. They are heir to one of the most prestigious houses of your kingdom, they are basically your childhood best friend and very close to both you and your twin. A prodigy in all things weaponry and military they and Isaac are in a continuous inofficial contest for the top spot in military matters. Their father holds the position of Knight Commander of the Draco Alas a position that is not hereditary but has been filled by their family for 5 generations. They are expected to live up to their families’ expectations and take their fathers’ place.
Bonddragon: Tiamat
Selene von Flüge [F] Selene is the second in command of the Draco Alas. Her considerable talent in leadership and strategy makes her a formidable officer. She is the youngest in recent history to hold such a high-ranking position with the elite guards. Her amicable character has made her beloved by her subordinates and she is one of the few that can keep up with Alex and Isaac’s talent. Her weapon of choice is the Dragonbow and she has made it her hobby to instruct everyone who shows up once a week. Her lessons have a high return rate for her character more than her teaching methods.
Bonddragon: Cierca
Ciel von Thurn vie Scipio [M/] Ciel is calm, charming, intelligent, and calculating in nature. He spends half of his time with his father in the empire surrounded by the far more dangerous court affairs of Kushar and sometimes jokes that time in Volantes is like a vacation from trying not to be murdered. He has inherited the diplomatic talent from his mother and is very liked in the golden halls. He loves magic and has considerable talent for it, although messing with your soulbond may have not been his brightest idea. Even though he can play the role that is expected of him he is actually an introvert who finds most people quiet energy draining. There is a competition going around the golden halls where nobles try to seduce him [he hates it but strings them along to further his own goals]. For those that hold his affection, there is almost nothing he is not willing to do.
Bonddragon: Saris
Emperor Akin [M] Kushars emperor is either slandered as a warmonger or heralded as a reformer. The empire has tripled in size since he took the throne and is in almost constant conflict with its neighbors. He has 7 concubines, all heirs of conquered territories, but rumour has it he never visits any one of them. One can often find them walking freely around the golden halls, breaking tradition of isolation and for some even chastidy. His rise to the throne was unexpected and sudden and he compensated for the lacking support with force and suppression. The empire is thriving culturally and he is slowly implementing changes that would have been unthinkable under his father. He never talks about his childhood and every portrait and remembrance of his older siblings and the emperor was burned the moment he took his place in the golden halls. You will never see him show up in any of the typical revealing outfits of his court, there are many speculations about what he is hiding under the layers of silky fabric. He has few people close to him and tends to show very clearly who holds his favour and who does not.
Nuru Farouk [M/F] Nuru has been living in Volantes since your 15th birthday when they were sent to take on the role of Kushars diplomat. They are quite young and rumor has it that they were coerced into their role by their stepmother to make space for her own children to take over as the family’s heir. They are amicable and have integrated very well into Volantes Court affairs. Their manipulative nature makes it easy for them to gain allies in the normally quiet court. They seem quite content with their life in Volantes. They have always shown interest in you and you have developed a friendship over the years [you think]. They don’t really get along with Isaac as he can’t handle their manipulative nature. Nuru is a good ally to have and a bad enemy.
Lekani the Beauty [F] Lekani is charming, cunning, and intelligent some would also call her stubborn as she is determined when she set her mind to something she will do everything in her might to reach her goals. Lekani is known around the continent for being the epitome of beauty. Some describe her as almost godess-like. She benefits from her blood relation to the emperor and seems to enjoy more freedom than the average woman of Kushar. She is Akin’s younger sister and their relationship seems to be a close one. She is enamored with the idea of dragons and shows a very keen interest in everything to do with Volantes. Can you trust her or is she only after her own interests?
Sefu the sword saint [N] Sefu is the bodyguard of Akin and the closest person the emperor has to a real friend. They know about his history and were there to pick the royal back up after one event or another. Their abilities with the sword are legendary. They hone it with a dedication that some may call obsession. They are very sceptical of you and never let you out of their sight for long.
Your family Queen Helena of Volantes Your mother is a cunning woman. Some say she seduced your father only for the title of queen. That is not true as the woman hides her warm heart behind a composed front. She is a traditionalist and prefers for your kingdom to keep its neutral status. Is she on to something? She is known for her magic potency and passed her abilities onto you and your sister. She can be an affectionate mother but she also has high expectations. Her expectations have pushed Isaac away and so her focus rests mostly on you.
King Darius of Volantes Darius became king way too soon as his parents perished when he was 12. Darius had to grow up fast after that and people still gossip about how he kept his optimistic nature. He is calm, composed, and kind when reigning over your populace. His charisma makes him very liked by nobles and commoners alike.
Bonddragon: Balruch
Isaac of Volantes: Your beloved twin. You are blessed [or cursed] with your gods’ blessing of the soulbond. You and your twin are bound by magic so old no one knows exactly how it works anymore only that the bond is sacred as it is said to be the reason human and dragonkind found together. What you do know is that you and your dragons share more than just the normal bond. If he dies you die too and history is full of stories of soulbound twins and their dragon counterparts that ended in tragedy. Will you be able to keep each other safe? Isaac is the heir to the flying mountains of Volantes. He may seem like he doesn’t take his responsibilities seriously but those who know him know that he is dedicated and dutiful. His keen intellect hides behind his carefree and optimistic nature and even though he still struggles with sitting still he can if he makes up his mind. He is very athletic because of his preference for physical activities, he is known for being a prodigy with his weaponry and all things military. The relationship with your mother is a bit strained. He feels under pressure and never adequate as his nature contradicts what she expects from him as the heir.
Bonddragon: Vritra
Hannah Volantes Your younger sister is extremely introverted and shy. She only talks to you and Isaac really and prefers the company of books. Sometimes one can find her with the dragons just watching but not really interacting with them. Her intellect is well beyond her years. When she spends time with you and Isaac she is warm and affectionate and loves to cuddle. She loves falling asleep in your company. She has considerable musical talent and loves to play her harp for the dragons whenever they are willing to listen.
Dragons
Saris Saris is Ciels bond-dragon. He is mischievous, intelligent, playful, and curious. Due to his distance from Ciel, he is always looking for a connection. He shares a deep friendship with Falei. He is a pixy/salco dragon which means that he is part of the smallest family of dragons and he takes full advantage of his size to explore and cuddle whenever he can. Saris scales shimmer a rich golden color.
Tiamat Tiamat is proud and protective perfectly falling into his role as Alex’s partner. The Sky Dragon thrives on combat and is the fastest of his generation. He is however unbelievably shy and rarely talks to anyone apart from Alex. His scales are light blue and he is perfectly camouflaged against the sky.
Vritra Vritra is one of the dragon twins. She is bound to her brother like you are to yours. She is adventurous, friendly, and playful. Like Isaaac she prefers physical activities and she loves their rigorous training and combat exercises. As a celestial dragon, she proudly shows her iridescent pearly scales that are reminiscent of moonstone gems.
Balruch TBA
Falei Falei is your bonded dragon. He is the antithesis to his twin sister. Were she likes to stay active he likes to spend his time in calm dranquility, were she is extroverted and friendly he is introverted and prefers the presence of book over people and dragons. His protectiveness makes him a worrier and he likes to be prepared for everything. He shares your talent for magic and is a capable fighter if he has to. Faleis has dark iridescent scales that seem almost abyssmal dark reeling you in towards the nothing but in the sunlight your can watch the star-like patterns dance over his scales, painting pictures of fareaway galaxies.
Hanwa TBA Bahamut TBA Cierca TBA
Codex in the works
Summary
To do
Finish this post
Add a save system.
figure out how to implement nb mc’s
Finish the Prologue/Act 1
figure out how to create Codex that makes sense
Add other important people
Summary
Am I in over my head … Yes, yes I am
My alphabet be like...
mmm since we’ve been researching this the past few days: (putting them in simplest terms)
mania - a period of being unstably elated to the point you may need to be hospitalized (a manic episode is usually a week or more). this may include not sleeping, engaging in dangerous behaviors, having extreme trouble focusing, and everything listed in hypomania
hypomania - a period of being elated to the point others notice. this may include speaking faster, being restless, difficulty sleeping, difficulty concentrating, engaging in reckless behaviors, higher sex drive.
bipolar disorder - a disorder where you have at least one manic episode and depressive episode with in your life. usually a (hypo)manic episode is followed by a depressive episode. (bipolar 1 is full mania and bipolar 2 is hypomania)
depression - a condition characterized by feeling sad, losing interest and motivation, changes in appetite, changes in sleep, and brain fog for at least two weeks
depressive episode - feeling sad, losing interest and motivation, changes in appetite, changes in sleep, and brain fog for at least a week, usually closer to two months
borderline personality disorder - a disorder when you have repetitive extreme mood swings, difficulty maintaining relationships, and feeling worthless.
borderline episode - when you have a negative mood swing and feel a lot of emotions. this often leads to suicidal thoughts and sh. usually lasts less than 24 hours.
hyperfixation - when you neurodivergent ppl get a crumb of serotonin from something/hj /lh. when a nd person becomes so interested in something they have difficulty doing anything aside from that and it consumes their thoughts, may cause a loss of sleep or healthy behaviors. (usually 3 hours to 3 days, although variation) (adhd)
special interest - a long term fascination for with something that brings an incomparable amount of serotonin. often the focal point of someones thoughts. (usually a week to lifelong) (autism)
sensory overload - when your mind cannot process a lot of sensory input and it becomes difficulty to focus and interact with others. (nd)
depersonalization - feeling disconnected from yourself, watching yourself in third person
derealization - feeling disconnected from reality, may be related to an existential crisis
anxiety attack - a longer feeling of overwhelming anxiety, usually with a certain cause
panic attack - a short feeling of unbelievable fear and pain, often compared to a heart attack. often with no determinable cause or because of a trigger.
compulsion - a behavior you have to do or you feel fear or panic (usually with ocd as a result of an obsession)
tic - a behavior you cannot control, often jerky body movements or saying something
stim - a stimulating behavior that feels good, you can stop and just feel kind of disappointed or upset
not a mental health professional just a lot of time and anxiety
I MISSED IT BUT WE PASSED 4K! HOLY SHIT!
That means it’s giveaway time! Unfortunately I don’t have time to do any custom works BUT I can do a Patreon giveaway again.
So, if you’d like to win a month’s worth of Patreon content (starting in December), reblog this post and I’ll choose four winners!
It’s absolutely crazy that this IF has grown so fast and I’m so grateful for each and every one of you. Thank you all for the art you make, for the conversation, and for just reading my stories 🖤
The North has been all that you’ve known your whole life— residing within its icy landscape as part of House Eirlys; Wardens of the North. You’ve never thought you’d one day leave to head south to Vela’thian— the kingdom of the elvhen— much less that you’d head there due to your betrothal with the king himself.
What will await you once you arrive? Is everything as it seems? Or is there something more brewing beneath the surface of the seemingly pristine nation?
Will you find your way back home? Or will you find something, or someone, worth staying for?
Let’s see how your story unfolds…
❄️ Play as the youngest heir to House Eirlys that’s been arranged to be married to the Elven King. Explore the wondrous world of Arlatha and the great elven nation of Vela’thian and its capital Ilyransari! You’ll meet a variety of characters, uncover plots (varying levels of angst), and potentially find love along the way! This game is rated 18+ for depictions of explicit language, alcohol consumption, potential sexual content, violence/blood, and death.
❄️ Customizable MC: name, gender, appearance, sexuality, hobbies, and some skills. (You can choose to not be attracted to men and tell Daeron, the king, this, don’t worry.)
❄️ Bond with your Lycana— a winged wolf that’ll stay with you until death. Customizable: name, gender, and fur color.
❄️ Explore Ilyransari and learn more about the fantastical world of Arlatha!
❄️ Meet a variety of characters— from reclusive dwarves to hotheaded goblins— that’ll bring unique experiences throughout your story.
❄️ Learn more about your own shrouded past and how you came to be where you are now. Will the truth finally set you free?
❄️ Keep in contact with your older brother— Kaladin. He’ll want to know how you’re doing.
❄️ Romance one of characters from your potential betrothed himself— the Elven King— to an orc commander that takes everything a bit too literally or a creature from the depths of the Vesperion Sea. Or maybe someone else will catch your eye.
❄️ Remember, above all else, to have fun!
Daeron [M] — The King — High Elf
The Elven King himself, a man known far and wide for his prowess in battle and resilience in the face of almost insurmountable odds. You’re not sure why he chose you to be his betrothed— after all he must have received hundreds of requests over the years— but you were instructed to not look a gift horse in the mouth; not when an ally like him would help your family and people immeasurably. With a hardened exterior, from years of battle and sacrifice, Daeron isn’t someone that’s easily accessible in the emotional sense, but you can’t help but notice how his eyes begin to soften every time you enter the room. Will something real begin to grow between you?
Daeron stands at around 6’3” (190.5 cm) with a warm beige complexion. Raven black hair falls across his forehead in gentle curls, a delicately crafted crown always situated atop them. His golden eyes, that seem to rival the sun in brilliance, are filled with a cunning intelligence; he has a toned physique, still holding a lithe quality that all elvhen seem to possess.
Larak [M] — The Commander — Orc
Seeing an Orc within Vela’thian is like seeing a starless night; it happens, but it doesn’t make it any less of an odd occurrence. Not after centuries of war between the Elven Nation and the Infernal Plains. Larak, however, seems to have taken his position in stride, ignoring all the looks he receives without a backward glance. After all, what is an orc to do without his clan? Especially one that was well on his way to becoming a chieftain of his own? Will you give him a reason to stay?
Larak stands at around 7’2” (218.44 cm) with a green complexion. Dark auburn locks are shaved on either side of his head, while the rest is kept in a long ponytail that falls down his back. He’s a hulking mass of muscle and brute strength— his most prominent feature, barring his sharp canines, being the twin scars running down his chest that pairs well with the one through his left eyebrow.
Calypso [F] — The Wanderer — Siren
The Vesperion Sea is an anomaly to most within Arlatha; for a creature from its watery depths to appear means one of two things. 1.) Something bad is about to happen. or 2.) It’s a pilgrimage of sorts that a few depth-striders take up every other decade. Meeting Calypso it’s easy to tell which one she is; her general amazement at the world around her being something that’d warm even the most hardened of hearts. With a desire to learn, and an aptitude to do so, she tries to take everything in stride, observing Vela’thian, and it’s inhabitants, with an ardent fervor that would be quite off putting in any other circumstance. Will you uncover things together?
Calypso stands at around 5’1” (154.94 cm) with a dark brown complexion— iridescent blue scales intercepting the expanse of it across her forearms, collarbone, and sparsely across her legs. The sea green of her gaze complements the deep royal blue of her hair beautifully— the voluminous curls falling down to just beneath her shoulders. She has an hourglass figure.
Shanaera [F] — The Spymaster — Dark Fae
The Royal Spymaster within Vela’thian, Shanaera is the longtime friend, and closest advisor, to Daeron. There isn’t much information about the early life of Shanaera— something she’s gone to great lengths to keep that way— and she’s rarely seen enough by the general populace to get a concrete opinion on. Keeping to the shadows, only appearing in court once in a blue moon, and with walls of ice surrounding her, it’s unsurprising why she has the reputation she does. A woman that’s just as deadly with her words as she is with any blade or poison— getting on her bad side isn’t a smart idea… But is it even possible to get on her good one?
Shanaera stands at around 5’11” (180.34 cm) with a sun-kissed complexion. Locks reminiscent of woven sunlight falls down to her hips in a cascade of gentle waves and soft curls— the strands bringing out the luminescent quality of her amethyst colored gaze. Grand wings of iridescent black are situated on her back, giving her elegantly slender body a broader appearance.
Fáelán [M/F] — The Best Friend — Wildling
You met Fáelán when you were ten years old during a winter ride with your family— something you had done dozens of times before— coming across their slight form underneath a snow drift, after your horse almost trampled them, wasn’t something you had been anticipating, but they haven’t left your side ever since. Not even when they had been offered an escort back to the village deep within The Thaeg; an ancient forest that covers over half of The North. You were best friends from that day onward— one never seen without the other. After all of that, should you truly be all that surprised when your self-appointed guard decides to come along to Vela’thian?
Fáelán stands at around 5’8” (172.72 cm) with a light gray complexion. Strands of hair, the color of which reminds you of freshly fallen snow, fall down to just beneath their shoulders in messy waves— usually kept in a intricate braid— pairs well with the deep crimson of their gaze. Their toned body is a far-cry from the scrawny individual they had been when you first met them— an intricate tattoo making a home on their right arm.
Valerian [M/F] — The Exiled Heir — Draconian
Tales of the land across the Vesperion Sea tell of the grand opulence of Edras— home of the draconian; dragon-kin. Valerian isn’t exactly who you’re expecting when imagining the royal family of Edras, but at the same time they seem to fit right in. With a smile that never reaches their eyes fully, a voice that never has to raise to be heard, and a presence that could command a legion, they bring a slew of questions and very little answers. Why were they cast out? Why are they in Vela’thian? And why do they seem to always find themself in your company? Will you be able to uncover any of these answers?
Valerian stands at around 6’6” (198.12 cm) with a fair complexion. Crystalline blue eyes seemingly burn with a fiery intensity— despite their icy coldness— which brings out the argent quality of their silver locks; M!Valerian keeping them down to his shoulders and F!Valerian keeping hers to her mid-back.
there’s something so bittersweet and lovely about fanfic, at it’s core. it’s so impermeable, because it’s so individual. fics don’t get finished. fics get lost because they were typed out and sent to friends, in the 70s, and somewhere along the way someone packed it up in a cardboard box and their kids shuffled it to the attic. websites go down. archives get built, but then people lose faith in the story or the canon or the creator and delete them. you read it at like, 3am, and can’t remember the title months later when you look for it again.
the tiktok these comments are from was lamenting about the loss of a favourite fic—it (the tiktok) had 85k+ likes, and over 700 comments, mostly similar to these. people talking about downloading fics to read on a tablet only for them to disappear the next day. using the wayback machine and combing through results, just to find something they loved. i think it’s sweet because it’s so human—how easily we love something, and how easily we lose it. i used to print out my favourite fics, as a kid—i still have a binder of them, buried under yearbooks and the old journals i kept during those topsy turvy preteen years. i could tell you the overarching plot to a Cardcaptor Sakura fantasy AU i read (and loved; it became my personality for months afterwards) but i can’t remember how it ended, or if it even did. i finally broke down and signed up for an account on AO3 specifically to bookmark an old, old fic that i had read somewhere else, years and years and years ago and found again on AO3 only because i accidentally stumbled on the author here on tumblr (i had only found the fic in the first place all those years ago because of a playlist). i used the same shade of lipstick for years purely because a fic i really liked had the main character apply it (it was a limited edition one at the time; i bought my first one from a ebay seller in the UK at double the retail price, lmao) while the love interest watched them, but i can’t remember the name of it, only how it made me feel (and how, for years afterwards, i would wear that shade whenever i felt like the day had something promising to it).
one of the first anon’s i ever got, in the early days of this tumblr, was someone who asked me if it was okay if they downloaded surrender—and of course it was. of course it is. there was a point, during the final stretch when i was trying to write the last chapter, that i almost lost the entirety of what i had written for that fic—and i mean, it was on AO3 by that stage so it would’ve only set me back a chapter or so, but it goes to show how fragile things can be. how sometimes fics only last in tiny ways—because of the unfinished PDF file someone downloads. The patchy memory of someone’s who’s jumbling it and three other fics together. Because someone wore the same shade of lipstick you mentioned, off-hand, for years afterwards.
(this is a love letter to the silent readers; the silent savers. the lurkers. fandom and the internet at large is made of lurkers (eighty-five thousand likes. seven hundred comments). people who saved fics and waybacked them and will reread them, even uncompleted. telling each other we did a good job, that we liked this or we liked that is wonderful, and fun, and a great (and important) way to build a community and has also given me my current friends—but sometimes something you make will matter and live on in a way you will never, ever know. and it’s just how it is. it’s part of the fun and it’s part of the charm. it’s just how we work as people.)
the truth about snail.
This was an old idea. I wanted to do a better animation with it.