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Character Master List
Jun. 12th, 2015 08:33 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
annarti.livejournal.com
I've been putting this off for far too long. It's taken HOURS AND HOURS but it'll be so useful now it's done. ( The character master list! )
annarti.livejournal.com
Another OC Meme
Apr. 8th, 2015 06:09 pmannarti.livejournal.com
I've never liked the term 'OC'. Like. Original as opposed to what? Those characters I have that aren't original? I know it came from fandom days when people'd create characters within universes that already existed, and that makes sense, but... my characters are all original. They're just my characters, not my OCs. ANYWAY.
( pick a number, I will answer! )
( pick a number, I will answer! )
(no subject)
Apr. 5th, 2015 09:47 pmannarti.livejournal.com
Idk how to word it yet because I only just thought it up, but I really want there to be a Kazinian proverb/metaphor that compares someone's strength to someone who rubs their eyes after cutting up chilli and doesn't even care. I will make this a Thing.
(no I didn't just do it, it just came to me as I was cutting up the chilli for my salmon. Cos that'd be some serious badassery right there.)
(no I didn't just do it, it just came to me as I was cutting up the chilli for my salmon. Cos that'd be some serious badassery right there.)
annarti.livejournal.com
TITLE Spudnik
AUTHOR Annarti
DISCLAIMER All mine
WARNINGS None
NOTES Chapter is not moving. Suspecting that not having been inside Kurae's head for ages is perhaps part of the problem, I decided to write something completely unrelated with him to see if that jogs anything. This came remarkably easy, though, so now my suspicion is more the story than the character. Something needs prodding. Anyway. This one's about potatoes. Because potatoes are awesome.
===
Potatoes were fantastic. The most versatile of foods, they could be mashed and made luxuriously smooth with cream, baked to make the skin crispy and beautiful, chopped up to add bulk to a stew. Kurae’s favourite method was to cut them into long, chunky fingers and bake them. He could never do it properly on missions, never had enough room for all the ingredients or the time required that would take them to the next level. All he could do then was salt them, stick them in the iron mini-oven to bury them under the coals of the fire and hope it was hot enough to crisp them up. Usually they worked out well enough, but they were nothing like what he could make at home.
( 1071 words )
AUTHOR Annarti
DISCLAIMER All mine
WARNINGS None
NOTES Chapter is not moving. Suspecting that not having been inside Kurae's head for ages is perhaps part of the problem, I decided to write something completely unrelated with him to see if that jogs anything. This came remarkably easy, though, so now my suspicion is more the story than the character. Something needs prodding. Anyway. This one's about potatoes. Because potatoes are awesome.
Potatoes were fantastic. The most versatile of foods, they could be mashed and made luxuriously smooth with cream, baked to make the skin crispy and beautiful, chopped up to add bulk to a stew. Kurae’s favourite method was to cut them into long, chunky fingers and bake them. He could never do it properly on missions, never had enough room for all the ingredients or the time required that would take them to the next level. All he could do then was salt them, stick them in the iron mini-oven to bury them under the coals of the fire and hope it was hot enough to crisp them up. Usually they worked out well enough, but they were nothing like what he could make at home.
( 1071 words )
Some Kazinian War Or Whatever
Feb. 8th, 2015 12:13 amannarti.livejournal.com
Part of developing the Commanding Circle in Kazin has been to give them all a battle they go to fight in. For all the profiles of them I just said they all kinda just go do battles and are awesome at them. But in order for me to WRITE any of that stuff I need them to have a war to go to. So in the interests of keeping that written down somewhere, here you go.
( map for handy reference )
See that little squibby bit between Sinazi and Nissaya? Point of contention. Sinazi wants that little bit because. Reasons. It's prime farming for, like, saffron or something stupid expensive. So Sinazi wants it! And they have a war over it. All pretty par for the course in Kazin, but things escalated when the general of Nissaya was killed, mostly because it wasn't actually during war-time. He was in his tent asleep and was murdered.
So Nissaya got pissed, saying that wasn't an honourable part of the traditions of war. Sinazi said suck it. Nissaya said well we're still friends with the empress and we're calling the Assiraz army down on your arse now.
And hence the Assiraz army and probably half their Commanding Circle go to war. All this happened about a year ago so this'd be the most recent big thing any of them have done. During this war is when Commander Sadiqi lost his eye, too. I don't think I have any other specifics.
SO YEAH. That's a thing now. Yay!
( map for handy reference )
See that little squibby bit between Sinazi and Nissaya? Point of contention. Sinazi wants that little bit because. Reasons. It's prime farming for, like, saffron or something stupid expensive. So Sinazi wants it! And they have a war over it. All pretty par for the course in Kazin, but things escalated when the general of Nissaya was killed, mostly because it wasn't actually during war-time. He was in his tent asleep and was murdered.
So Nissaya got pissed, saying that wasn't an honourable part of the traditions of war. Sinazi said suck it. Nissaya said well we're still friends with the empress and we're calling the Assiraz army down on your arse now.
And hence the Assiraz army and probably half their Commanding Circle go to war. All this happened about a year ago so this'd be the most recent big thing any of them have done. During this war is when Commander Sadiqi lost his eye, too. I don't think I have any other specifics.
SO YEAH. That's a thing now. Yay!
Animal Inspiration
Feb. 6th, 2015 10:36 pmannarti.livejournal.com
I've been thinking a lot about writing lately without actually doing any of it, so allow me a ramble to maybe get myself back into maybe writing some real story this weekend.
Way back when I started with Silent Harmony I remember doing those character surveys and always got stumped by the question of 'Which animal do you associate with him/her?' I always thought that was a silly thing. I've never associated real people with animals before, why would I do that with my characters? Just make them real people. And so I did. Later on, probably five or six years ago, I read some article about associating characters with animals and how it can bring more life to how you write them. Not by constantly likening them to the animal (She was like a cat, aloof and independent, only willing to let you give her attention when she decreed it, that kind of thing) but just by using verbs that you'd normally use to describe the animal. Why say 'she reminded him of a cat' when you can say she prowls, she hisses, she yowls, she purrs, she curls up?
It's something I'll certainly want to do in the rewrite, make the associations that I've slowly started realising with the top four and applying them more consciously. The more recent additions--Shizaaqa and Assili especially--have their animals set. Nimay, Yamin and Nol are a little trickier.
Shizaaqa is lithe and slender. Her eyes are piercing and her voice hypnotising. I use words with the letter 's' in them a lot when describing her, and not just because she's Kazinian. She's dangerous, poisonous. She rears up in anger and settles sinuously back in her throne. She doesn't walk; she glides, she snakes, she sways. Just these descriptors sprinkled here and there, not so obvious that I'm screaming SHE'S A SNAKE but enough to get the imagery going.
Assili, despite trying ever so hard to be her mother, is not a snake. Assili's gauze flutters, her hands flit, she tries to hide it but she hops in excitement. She darts and tilts her head to the side when she's listening. But most of Assili's character comes in her voice, I think. It's a tittering sing-song speckled with twitters and chirps and tweets. It's an ear-piercing screech or a squawk; never a cry or a yell. Lot of onomatopoeia in the language surrounding Assili, short, staccato words. She hops, she struts, she preens, she flies. She also loves birds and birdsong, and Shizaaqa's private nickname for her was Golden-capped Honeyeater, but those are pretty explicit and not really what I'm on about here. I'm talking about the language you use to talk about them.
Flannel Flower's fingers curl and dance like a spider's legs. She's silent, she creeps, she watches, she strikes. She's also completely batshit insane so I'm not sure how much of the arachnid feel comes across with her.
Yan? Yan's the wind. Yan is death. Yes, he has the giant bat wings, but a flitty little bat with a high-pitched squeak he is not. His voice is dry and sandy and dead. He's cold, he avoids human contact, he's just profoundly uncomfortable to be nearby but those who don't know him can't quite put their finger on why. He swishes, he glides, he picks and needles. May not be an animal, but all Yan's language comes from the wind and death. Cos. He dead.
Nimay is unsurprisingly evolving into a bird of prey. Quite unlike Assili's little songbird, she's predatory, she circles, she's always watching, waiting. She glides, she arches her neck, she strikes, she digs her claws in. She doesn't run, she flies, but I do have to be careful with that one given that she literally can fly and the imagery might go the wrong way there.
Yamin I'm not sure on. Something will come up. She's always been the hardest to pin down.
Nol I haven't actually written into things yet, but I'm thinking horse maybe? Still doesn't quite fit. Bolting, cantering, galloping; huffing and... whinnying and screaming not so much. Nol doesn't whinny. Also never thought of him as graceful nor applied the word 'majestic' to him, despite royalty. Maybe not horse, then. Eh, like 'Min, we'll see what evolves.
Lynnlita, once she makes her appearance, will most certainly be a cat.
And that's the lot, for the moment. Now let's see about doing some actual writing :D
Way back when I started with Silent Harmony I remember doing those character surveys and always got stumped by the question of 'Which animal do you associate with him/her?' I always thought that was a silly thing. I've never associated real people with animals before, why would I do that with my characters? Just make them real people. And so I did. Later on, probably five or six years ago, I read some article about associating characters with animals and how it can bring more life to how you write them. Not by constantly likening them to the animal (She was like a cat, aloof and independent, only willing to let you give her attention when she decreed it, that kind of thing) but just by using verbs that you'd normally use to describe the animal. Why say 'she reminded him of a cat' when you can say she prowls, she hisses, she yowls, she purrs, she curls up?
It's something I'll certainly want to do in the rewrite, make the associations that I've slowly started realising with the top four and applying them more consciously. The more recent additions--Shizaaqa and Assili especially--have their animals set. Nimay, Yamin and Nol are a little trickier.
Shizaaqa is lithe and slender. Her eyes are piercing and her voice hypnotising. I use words with the letter 's' in them a lot when describing her, and not just because she's Kazinian. She's dangerous, poisonous. She rears up in anger and settles sinuously back in her throne. She doesn't walk; she glides, she snakes, she sways. Just these descriptors sprinkled here and there, not so obvious that I'm screaming SHE'S A SNAKE but enough to get the imagery going.
Assili, despite trying ever so hard to be her mother, is not a snake. Assili's gauze flutters, her hands flit, she tries to hide it but she hops in excitement. She darts and tilts her head to the side when she's listening. But most of Assili's character comes in her voice, I think. It's a tittering sing-song speckled with twitters and chirps and tweets. It's an ear-piercing screech or a squawk; never a cry or a yell. Lot of onomatopoeia in the language surrounding Assili, short, staccato words. She hops, she struts, she preens, she flies. She also loves birds and birdsong, and Shizaaqa's private nickname for her was Golden-capped Honeyeater, but those are pretty explicit and not really what I'm on about here. I'm talking about the language you use to talk about them.
Flannel Flower's fingers curl and dance like a spider's legs. She's silent, she creeps, she watches, she strikes. She's also completely batshit insane so I'm not sure how much of the arachnid feel comes across with her.
Yan? Yan's the wind. Yan is death. Yes, he has the giant bat wings, but a flitty little bat with a high-pitched squeak he is not. His voice is dry and sandy and dead. He's cold, he avoids human contact, he's just profoundly uncomfortable to be nearby but those who don't know him can't quite put their finger on why. He swishes, he glides, he picks and needles. May not be an animal, but all Yan's language comes from the wind and death. Cos. He dead.
Nimay is unsurprisingly evolving into a bird of prey. Quite unlike Assili's little songbird, she's predatory, she circles, she's always watching, waiting. She glides, she arches her neck, she strikes, she digs her claws in. She doesn't run, she flies, but I do have to be careful with that one given that she literally can fly and the imagery might go the wrong way there.
Yamin I'm not sure on. Something will come up. She's always been the hardest to pin down.
Nol I haven't actually written into things yet, but I'm thinking horse maybe? Still doesn't quite fit. Bolting, cantering, galloping; huffing and... whinnying and screaming not so much. Nol doesn't whinny. Also never thought of him as graceful nor applied the word 'majestic' to him, despite royalty. Maybe not horse, then. Eh, like 'Min, we'll see what evolves.
Lynnlita, once she makes her appearance, will most certainly be a cat.
And that's the lot, for the moment. Now let's see about doing some actual writing :D
annarti.livejournal.comNicked from Sallie, pick a character and a number and I will answer the question! I love these things. Also some of these are tech-dependant so I'll either edit them to suit my lot better oooor just cross them out.
1:What's your OCs favourite color?
( Read more... )
1:What's your OCs favourite color?
( Read more... )
annarti.livejournal.com
TITLE Unspoken
AUTHOR Annarti
DISCLAIMER All mine
WARNINGS None
NOTES Getting back into the writing groove with this bit that's been stuck in my head for the last couple of months. I can't get it out right, though. What's in my head is much softer and more intimate than what I can do with words. Been out of the game too long, methinks.
Anyway. This takes place during chapter 22 of Tarnish, right after they've just busted Nol out of the Imperial Dungeons and legged it into the jungle, annnnnd I'm not sure if it's canon or not. I forget exactly what frame of mind they were both in before and after their argument to know if it fits. It's just been in my head and I needed to get it out. Maybe now I can get back to Gold :D?
===
Nimay folded her arms and stared at him with the patience of stone.
( 1484 words )
AUTHOR Annarti
DISCLAIMER All mine
WARNINGS None
NOTES Getting back into the writing groove with this bit that's been stuck in my head for the last couple of months. I can't get it out right, though. What's in my head is much softer and more intimate than what I can do with words. Been out of the game too long, methinks.
Anyway. This takes place during chapter 22 of Tarnish, right after they've just busted Nol out of the Imperial Dungeons and legged it into the jungle, annnnnd I'm not sure if it's canon or not. I forget exactly what frame of mind they were both in before and after their argument to know if it fits. It's just been in my head and I needed to get it out. Maybe now I can get back to Gold :D?
Nimay folded her arms and stared at him with the patience of stone.
( 1484 words )
Character 145: 145 Madame Yamin
Oct. 15th, 2014 08:00 pmannarti.livejournal.com
Yeah. Twins. They had to be posted on the same day, even if it meant holding off on Nimay until Yamin was ready. HOLY CRAP YOU GUYS I DID IT. I haven't had internet for the entirety of the final six characters (and still don't, if you're curious) but I DID IT.
( Character 145: Madame Yamin )
( Character 145: Madame Yamin )
Character 145: 144 General Nimay
Oct. 15th, 2014 07:56 pmannarti.livejournal.comMY GIRLS! ♥ I've had these references saved for YEARS. This stock image girl is perfect for them both and has expressions suited to both and alsdghjaslk This is what the last 143 portraits have been building up to. MY GIRLS ♥♥
( Character 144: General Nimay )
( Character 144: General Nimay )
Character 145: 143 King Yan
Oct. 12th, 2014 02:25 pmannarti.livejournal.com
Another of those I've been jointly reallyreally looking forward to and reallyreally dreading at the same time. And not just because his 'brief' bio spans a thousand years. Good god that thing's going to be a history of the world.
( Character 143: King Yan )
( Character 143: King Yan )
Character 145: 142 Crown Prince Nolryn
Oct. 9th, 2014 08:08 pmannarti.livejournal.com
He made a very, very strong case for being #143 but in the end Yan's just more a more important character. But he tried so hard he really did. POV character and royalty and everything. Sorry bb but Yan will always have your arse. Nol will always be my baby though ♥
( Character 142: Crown Prince Nolryn )
( Character 142: Crown Prince Nolryn )
Character 145: 141 Crown Princess Assili
Oct. 8th, 2014 09:06 pmannarti.livejournal.com
Halfway through the top eight! Don't get too excited by the fact that this has appeared. Internet is still broken. I've turned my phone into a wireless access point so Shwiggy can feed off of it, but it's slow. Couldn't load anything but Google yesterday. Still, assuming this posts, Assili! And tomorrow, another one! Because he's sitting waiting to be posted but I can't do two top eights on one day, that's just cruel to them. My babies ♥
( Character 141: Crown Princess Assili )
( Character 141: Crown Princess Assili )
Character 145: 140 Princess Lynnlita
Oct. 4th, 2014 12:21 amannarti.livejournal.com
LAST LLAYAN and my what a Llayan she is. It took half as long to do her hair as it's taken me to do entire people for most of the challenge. It probably takes her that long EVERY DAY.
( Character 140: Princess Lynnlita )
( Character 140: Princess Lynnlita )
Character 145: 139 King Mithé
Sep. 28th, 2014 09:15 pmannarti.livejournal.com
Man, Mithé has been through so many redesigns, mostly because I've never known how to draw old dudes before. But now I do yaaaay.
( Character 139: King Mithé )
( Character 139: King Mithé )
Character 145: 138 Empress Shizaaqa
Sep. 23rd, 2014 10:59 pmannarti.livejournal.comOmg you have no idea how hard it's been to keep a secret how close I've been to the top eight. Yep, I can officially name it the character 145 now! With all the others I've taken roughly 3 hours per drawing, give or take depending on how Llayan they are. The top eight I'll be spending a lot longer on. Shiz took a good six or seven.
( Character 138: Empress Shizaaqa )
( Character 138: Empress Shizaaqa )
Character 100-ish 136: Lady Narine
Sep. 21st, 2014 06:01 pmannarti.livejournal.comOne I've been simultaneously looking forward to and dreading because FRECKLES.
( Character 136: Lady Narine )
( Character 136: Lady Narine )
Character 100-ish 135: Nida
Sep. 21st, 2014 02:33 pmannarti.livejournal.comFINALLY THE LAST DESERT PERSON. REJOICE. Also the last child, but there's still Assili to come yet. OOH BURN.
( Character 135: Nida )
( Character 135: Nida )
