Victorian Fantasy - Tumblr Posts

Poppy, Rose, and Jam for the world building ask game? 👀

Thank you so much for the Ask, @dreaminggoblin!!! I'll answer this one for my WIP Enchanted Illusions (my Victorian-inspired dark fantasy).

(The Ask Game)

POPPY - What historical event does every student learn about?

I guess that in Ansburke (the main fictional capital city where most of the conflict in Enchanted Illusions takes place) the most important historical event that still haunts the inhabitants of the city (and which caused scars that still affect their society, whether they like it or not) is the centuries-old war between humans and Myths (non-human people, such as vampires, gorgons, faeries, etc), which came to a stop only a 100 years or so before the main book, with a peace treaty that gave start to the "peaceful" coexistence between humans and Myths in the main cities, an event often referred to as The Dawn - even though the truth is much darker, and some humans haven't accepted peace and want the war to start again from the inside out of the city, this being the main conflict of the book the protagonists need to prevent.

ROSE - What is the most known myth?

There are many legends and stories from both sides - both humans and myths - many of which tell the tale of the time before there was peace between humans and creatures. One of the most well-known myths is the tale of a forbidden romance between a human prince and a Myth commoner at the height of the war, centuries ago, and the tragic fate that their love ended in - though slightly hopeful, with their half-human, half-myth child being often seen as the proof humans and creatures could create a brighter future together. To some, that is a cautionary tale of what their society can do to innocent people, to others, a story about finding hope even in the darkest times.

There are also many different versions of how the current peace treaty came to be - some believe one version, others another. Most people have a hopeful or neutral interpretation of that story. However, some of the most belligerent humans say that the peace treaty is a farse, justification for their prejudice.

JAM - Share your favorite piece of worldbuilding information!

Hum... That's a tough one! I like a lot of things about the little world I created for Enchanted Illusions, from the aesthetics, the masquerades, and the different nooks and crannies of a city so full of secrets, lies, and intrigue. From the workings of the cruel Hemlock Society to the grim cobblestone streets of the lower alleys and the social web of the city's inhabitants, there's a lot to discover in this WIPs world. I also like giving my own spin to common mythological creatures, which are the basis for the Myth people in this book!

However, I guess one of my favorite details of this world is the Sorcerer Council, which is the "magical elite" of Ansburke. It's my favorite for a couple of reasons: I love writing political intrigue, especially if it involves the hypocrisies and secrets often associated with high society. The Sorcerer High Council, often known simply as High Council or just the Council, mixes all of that political intrigue and secrecy with the workings of magical hierarchy and spell-casting orders of the city, giving it a whole other layer. It has very strict rules, and its members are expected to be exemplary individuals worthy of representing the magical order they hail from. While, in theory, the Council exists to ensure the safety and common good of the people of Ansburke, some of its members - those with friends in even higher places and a lot of dangerous influence in the city's underworld - have grown complacent and often care more about money than the lives they're supposed to use their talents to protect. A once fair system - when it came to choosing the most talented apprentice from each magical domain/academy - has given way to a cutthroat competition where candidates are often chosen out of nepotism or convenience, rather than raw talent. It parallels some of the core issues with the very city of Ansburke and heavily represents some of the themes this story discusses/criticizes.

Not all of the members of the Council are bad, there are some really good people there who genuinely want to help the city thrive - but they are vastly outnumbered by the others who are more powerful and who are there only to deal with politics/gain money. Those who try to stand in the way of that corrupted side of the Council usually become either expelled from it, "eliminated" (let's just say some Council members made others conveniently disappear), or silenced in some other way. That's why Damien Daemitya chose a silent approach to his dealing with the other Council members - he wants to make a change but realized that if he doesn't pretend to play along with their game, he'll just become another casualty, and that would do no good to the city he wants to protect (that and the fact he wants to shelter his daughter from all of this mess).

I guess I just love writing complicated, often "not what it seems" organizations with dark secrets hidden beneath a gilded facade. It is also the origin of some of the subplots and other main conflicts in the story, so I have a lot of fun developing this aspect of Ansburke! (: