I mentioned that I’d be spending October putting together a story with some new characters by writing 500(ish) words a day.
I also mentioned that I’d be ramping up to that by writing some character sketches of the four characters who are going to be the main characters – I’m leaning into the very traditional, Dungeons & Dragons–style Heroic Fantasy, so these four are the adventuring party we’re going to be following.
The first of the four I’m introducing is Ithirian Blackbird, and this is a pretty meaningful moment for me as a writer, because Ithirian is basically the first concept for a protagonist I ever had when I seriously decided I wanted to be a writer.
I’m older and wiser now – though, ironically, this version of Ithirian is actually younger than most previous iterations of him – so the details have changed, but this is still one of very first characters finally coming to life.
Ithirian Blackbird – Raven from the West
All his life, Ithirian has stood on the shore and gazed westward beyond the border of the world, listening for the songs of Otherworld. He often thinks, just maybe, he can catch the strains just on the edge of hearing, faint above the rolling of the endless waves.
The music of the Dáls never gave him much joy and the call of Otherworld burns strong in his blood. His mother is the Raven-Woman’s Daughter, child of a mighty house of the Court of the Ever-Young. Like hers, his hair is dark as raven’s wings, and it has won him the name Blackbird. Through her, Ithirian is an heir to the Signs and Songs of Otherworld and he has known them since he was in the cradle.
His father is Kailan Strongbow, who told him the tales that turned his gaze to the east. Now, Ithirian walks the same road of that his father once did, following the flight of ravens. He had truly become his father’s son.
He has left the Dáls behind, travelling light. The same doom that the Raven-Woman’s Daughter once laid upon his father now lies on him: to be restless and errant, to wander and seek glory in distant lands, and glimpse the lights of Otherworld, and return only after long years away.
Or not at all.
He travels light, but he has everything he needs. His father taught him how to shoot a bow, and now Ithirian carries the same bow that slew the tyrant usurper of Sasana. His mother taught him how to write the spells of Otherworld on his arrows and laid her own runes and wards on him. The Lord of Miracles has blessed him with victory has he walks a road with no particular destination at its end.
But all roads, no matter how long and winding, lead to the Twice-Crowned Empire of Karolai, the greatest nation on the continent. Kailan Strongbow passed this way once, and Ithirian smiles to hear that they still speak of his father’s deeds.
For now, he has found a place in the Adventurers’ Guild of Mariburg, an outpost of the Empire surrounded by wild lands, long-abandoned ruins where the music of Otherworld may still be heard and mortal Men can still catch glimpses of the Ever-Young dancing there. There are dark things creeping in night, too, and Ithirian has learned that this is a good land to test his bow.
He is used to travelling alone, but the Adventurers’ Guild of Mariburg has provided him with companions he has come to trust with his life. Kailan Strongbow once crossed the sea with the fiann, and won glory in Sasana and beyond. Now, Ithirian Blackbird has found a fiann of his own.
He does not know how long he will stay here, but it suits him well enough to stay a little while, at least. Lord of Miracles willing, the ravens have guided him to all he he needs to win a name that will surpass even his father’s.
’ll be sharing at least a few days of my October writing days with these characters for free here, on Patreon, and on my Substack — but the bulk of them will be exclusive to my paid Patreon subscribers, at least initially.
I am planning on making all of my Patreon-exclusive stuff available to the general public eventually, so stay tuned for news on that.
And please consider subscribing here, on my Substack, and on Patreon.
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© Joel Balkovec — Published by Emona Literary Services™.
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