Magic for Mass Energy and Space-Time: inspiration & spark

This post is Part 6 of a series to augment the Author's Manifesto available for free download. Start with Part 1 here.

This and other inspirations of mine are gathered in the Spark Directory for you to explore.

Find more mystic content in my Magic Directory.

In Part 1 of this series, I began inventing a versatile in-world taxonomy for the magic system of the Known World. I wanted something flexible, adaptable, and ubiquitous -- a magic system that allowed for diversity and could incorporate any type of magic power, but was also cohesive and well-structured.

I also wanted my magic system to reflect my understanding of real-world magic, embodying principles that show up in many spiritual traditions. One way I did this was to establish magic as the mass energy of my world. Just like how E = mc^2 can calculate the amount of energy in a real-world object, the same equation can calculate the amount of magic energy contained within an object in my world.

To differentiate this magic energy from the actual magic abilities people can wield at will, I called it life energy, and this magical energy became the foundation of how magical effects can be manifested in the physical world. Another spiritual aspect in the magic system is the life force, which is considered an elite form of life energy, but concentrated enough to actually create a unique perspective in consciousness.

Check out this Author's Manifesto for more of my inspirations!

Instead of anchoring physical matter into existence, the life force anchors a facet of consciousness into existence. This allowed for things like soul magic, and the exploration of the afterlife. In fact, I have a book planned for much later in my Tales of the Known World saga, exploring the phases of the afterlife before a character is reincarnated!

The ether magics, which deal with space and time, are also rather spiritual in nature. In the real world, mass energy relates heavily to space-time concepts, and many of my magic analogues are still in formulation. Right now, the Known World's ether magics are confined to:

• sensing the texture of the ether, since the use of magic creates impressions in space-time;
• piercing the ether at two disparate points, to create a portal/wormhole between them; and
• manipulating the density of the ether, which impacts travel times through that region of space.

Some form of Gravity magic may evolve from the density of space spells, but scholars haven't made much progress on it (ie, I haven't ironed out how it works quite yet). I haven't mentioned Gravity magic anywhere in the Magic Codex either. It's just something I'm allowing to percolate in the background, until it eventually comes to me.

Similarly, time magic is purely theoretical in the current edition of the Codex, because I'm actively working on time magic concepts right now. Later on, there will be some in-world breakthroughs in the field of time magic, and scholars will release a revised edition of the Codex to reflect their understanding.


That's it for this post! Up Next: Time magic and its standard issues...

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Magic Through Study: inspiration & spark

This post is Part 5 of a series to augment the Author's Manifesto available for free download. Start with Part 1 here.

This and other inspirations of mine are gathered in the Spark Directory for you to explore.

Find more mystic content in my Magic Directory.

In Part 1 of this series, I started on an in-world taxonomy of magic to organize the powers in the saga. After creating magics that were infinite, both in accessibility and scope, I then turned to magics that were more partial to some people than others.

This brought me to the foreign magics that are only available through academic study. These do have inherent limits, and a person cannot progress beyond that limit point no matter how much study they undertake.

What's more, an individual has no idea what his limit points are until he reaches them. A man could devote years to studying ice magic, only to discover that he cannot progress beyond a fairly basic level.

Check out this Author's Manifesto for more of my inspirations!

I liked this sort of arbitrary randomness, especially since the unlimited access to magic was already established. It provided a feature that would let characters curse their fate or find disillusion, despite their otherwise infinite potential.

It also created a lot of variety and diversity in my world. With natural magics, most individuals know what they've got and have others to help them learn, since the natural magics are fairly standardized within a given race. But, when you study a foreign magic, you're much more on your own. You typically need to find a school of magic or a private mentor to help you along.

Moreover, as Magic Codex states, any magic you study may turn out to have a really shallow limit point. Most people don't make the effort, not to mention dedicate the leisure time and resources, to study something outside their natural array of talents. Typically, the only ones who do are already quite gifted and looking to supplement their abilities, or are rather ungifted and looking to find any magic forte at all.

In my Tales of the Known World saga, there's a mage named Kigal who has pretty paltry natural magics. He actually has a strong aptitude for Dark magic, but this is normally a latent magic, so it's not something other humans use much. Plus there's stigma.

So Kigal studied foreign magics and is quite a strong mage in his own right. But secretly, he has fire and lightning powers that have nothing to do with studying! My third novel Conceived is the first time that Dark magic is showcased in this non-evil way.


That's it for this post! Up Next: Turning relativity into magic...

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Limitations on Infinite Magic: inspiration & spark

This post is Part 4 of a series to augment the Author's Manifesto available for free download. Start with Part 1 here.

This and other inspirations of mine are gathered in the Spark Directory for you to explore.

Find more mystic content in my Magic Directory.

In Part 1 of this series, I started working on a flexible in-world taxonomy for the magic system of the Known World. I liked the idea of magic equality, so every person has equal access to raw magic ability, and I also liked the idea of unlimited magic potential for each person.

But every single person having unlimited magic was definitely world-breaking, so there had to be some stipulations. Paradoxically, I had to limit the unlimited-ness of magic, or every single person would be way too overpowered and the stories would make no sense.

So I established deep magic, which is truly unlimited. All people can access it, but only certain people actually do access it. I invented a few catalysts that would trigger the access, keeping the power in the few.

Check out this Author's Manifesto for more of my inspirations!

The most well-known catalyst is hearing the secret language of Ryunic aloud; this triggers the access for individuals with an inborn predilection for deep magic. Then I came up with other, lesser-known methods to catalyze access for other types of individuals.

This maintained the equality of limitlessness but also served to keep the power from being actively wielded by every person. I also factored in a person's ethical alignment, so deep magic could be used for good and for evil in equal measure, which in turn gave my Tales of the Known World saga a wide range of contrasts to explore.

Next I addressed the natural magics that all people are born with. Each race had a different combination of magics, six in total. While each of these six was technically unlimited, I gave these magics a natural limit that represented the point at which a person's instinct and intuition would carry them no farther.

As expressed in my Magic Codex, to progress beyond this limit point, a person would have to study their magic academically. This continued the trend of infinite potential in every person, but shifted the impetus of mastery to dedication and determination. Every person can advance infinitely, but it requires the resolve for self-actualization, as well as the wealth and leisure time to devote to academic pursuits.


That's it for this post! Up Next: Adding magics that aren't so infinite...

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Filling the Taxonomy of Magic: inspiration & spark

This post is Part 3 of a series to augment the Author's Manifesto available for free download. Start with Part 1 here.

This and other inspirations of mine are gathered in the Spark Directory for you to explore.

Find more mystic content in my Magic Directory.

In Part 1 of this series, I started what would become an in-world taxonomy of magic for the Known World, as codified by scholars through the ages. This academic taxonomy forms the organizational structure for my magic system, mirroring how the taxonomy of species serves to organize all the organisms known to science.

I love this notion of content vs structure. It's all over in my work. I find it really helpful to differentiate between the two, the structure that provides internal logic and consistency, and the content that provides all the specific details and cool features that make my work stand out.

For the magic system, I used the taxonomy structure as a guide, and I filled it in with all sorts of magics. Some magics fit in easily, and I could mirror spells and magic types throughout one particular branch of magic. For instance, all the elemental magics have symmetry, regardless of what element is leveraged.

Check out this Author's Manifesto for more of my inspirations!

Other magics required some creativity to iron out. Much like with the real taxonomy of species, whenever a magic didn't fit the current taxonomy, I could restructure the taxonomy itself to allow for a whole new branch of content.

Then inside this branch, I could mirror spells and magic types so there was still symmetry, even though it was distinct from the symmetry of other branches. I love this approach! It's flexible, redact-able, and it allows me to move forward in my saga without fretting over every detail being correct from the start.

For example, the Ether magic branch was originally a type of Life magic, some weird offshoot that allowed for teleportation but didn't quite fit. After I got more clarity on the magic itself, I split it into its own branch of magic, and in the Magic Codex I wrote that scholars once believed it to be a form of Life magic, but it was reclassified over two centuries ago.

I find that this in-world approach not only adds flexibility for me as I invent new stories and places and cultures for my Tales of the Known World saga, but also adds depth and realism to the world as a whole. Science is a very human endeavor, and like any other human construct, it mutates and changes to suit the perspective of the times.

My magic taxonomy reflects the latest understanding of magic scholars, but it also reflects and informs the opinions of the culture of its day. The stigma against the use of Dark magic is a great example of this -- it's simply an elemental magic with purview over fire and lightning, but the name itself reflects the stigma, and also perpetuates the perception of Dark magic as evil.


That's it for this post! Up Next: Creating limits for limitless magic...

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Evolution of the Magic Codex: inspiration & spark

This post is Part 2 of a series to augment the Author's Manifesto available for free download. Start with Part 1 here.

This and other inspirations of mine are gathered in the Spark Directory for you to explore.

Find more mystic content in my Magic Directory.

In Part 1 of this series, I began developing the magic system for my saga. When I set out to organize all the magics that played a role in my stories, I realized I would have to expand my magic system to account for all the powers showcased in the saga.

Since the magic system was growing organically, expanding to include and account for magics in the stories, I decided that I should present it as an in-world scientific taxonomy, like the taxonomy of species. As new species/magics are discovered, the taxonomy expands and occasionally is reorganized to reflect modern understanding.

Check out this Author's Manifesto for more of my inspirations!

This liberated me to leave holes to fill in as I felt inspired, rather than needing the complete system worked out to the finest detail. I could write and publish and still be undecided on things like the nuances of time magic or the magic of the turned.

This fleshed out schematic stayed in place through my debut publication Awakening in 2014 and up through the publication prep for my sequel Broken in late 2019. Then I started on a glossary for the books, at the suggestion of numerous readers and peer editors.

The glossary began with short definitions and quickly grew too long to be a glossary. So I decided to make a separate document explaining the magic concepts, so the glossary itself could have brief taglines and link out to the separate codex for more info.

I basically spent all of 2020 making the Magic Codex. It origianally was just going to be a PDF download like others on my site, but it kept growing and growing, as I explained things based on my current notes, clarified things I'd been thinking about but never noted, and ran into an ever-expanding list of related ideas that needed explanation.

I realized I should format it as a book for publication, as an official part of my Tales of the Known World saga. I wanted a real copy, not just a PDF, if only for my own reference. By the time I finished, the Magic Codex was over 400 pages, longer than both my finished novels combined! I now keep a copy on my desk and use it to look up notes whenever I need them.


That's it for this post! Up Next: Filling the taxonomy with new magics...

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The Seeds of Magic: inspiration & spark

This post is Part 1 of a series to augment the Author's Manifesto available for free download.

This and other inspirations of mine are gathered in the Spark Directory for you to explore.

Find more mystic content in my Magic Directory.

I started my Magic Codex in 2001 with the question, What if an entire race of people could prophesy? I wondered how the sheer volume of constant new portents would affect their culture, and how their culture would use prophesy to affect the world.

I also envisioned magic equality, a system where any person could study any magic, even if you weren't born with it. And I wanted diversity, a system where any power could be represented.

Check out this Author's Manifesto for more of my inspirations!

From there I outlined which races had which magics. At first, there was just one magic per race -- mers could see the future, humans could speak to animals, faeries had air magic, nymphs had plant magic, elves had sound magic (sharp hearing, stealth, and music powers).

But these five magics were hardly comprehensive. There were a lot of other magics in the story too, powers that played a role in my Tales of the Known World saga, but that I hadn't built into the magic system yet.

So in 2011 or 2012, as I was knuckling down to re-draft my first book, I took a detour to codify the magic system. I added the different branches and fleshed out how each race has both a prime and latent power.

I wanted to defy the trope that humans are lame and non-magical, and explore the trope about humans being the most prone to evil. So I came up with Dark magic.

Without it, humans are the weakest race but with it, they are the strongest. And I world-built stigma around it so even though humans don't have to be evil to wield it, people assume anyone wielding it is evil.


That's it for this post! Up Next: The evolving taxonomy of magic...

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Magic of the Known World: a mystic directory

This post is part of a series to augment the Magic of the Known World available for free download.

This and other mystic resources are gathered in my Magic Directory for you to explore.

Find more worldbuilding content in my Codex Directory.

Hello, there! Thanks for your interest in the magic of my world. My name is D.N.Frost, and I'm a fantasy author, world-builder, and creative mentor. I began by organizing the magic powers of characters in my Tales of the Known World saga, and after nearly a decade of additions and redactions, I set out to create a flexible magic system that can allow for virtually any type of power.

How do the countless magics in the saga really work? I combined the beloved powers of fantasy heroes and villains with real-world spiritual precepts about the nature of energy and miracles. To navigate the vibrant and adaptable magic system that evolved, please enjoy this collection of short overviews and in-depth resources from TotKW Books.

Download your mystic guide Magic of the Known World here.

These are resources about the magic of my fantasy world. Explore the inner workings of the powers showcased in the saga, and discover the numerous magics not yet mentioned in the books. If you are a world-builder creating your own magic system, this download will connect you with details to inspire your creative project.

This resource directory also links to a number of magic overviews and longer blog posts, so you can delve deep into your favorite powers. I'm proud to offer you this compilation of magic system information, and I hope you use this resource to enhance your enjoyment of my saga.


That's it for this post! Check out the latest mystic resources for more.

Download the Magic of the Known World here, or start your adventure below.

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Introduction to Magic: a mystic resource

This post is Part 1 of a series to augment the Magic of the Known World available for free download.

This and other mystic resources are gathered in my Magic Directory for you to explore.

Find more worldbuilding content in my Codex Directory.

As explained in this note on the widespread use of magic, magic is prevalent in the Known World, and generations of magic scholars have compiled their observations to create the Magic Codex, a functioning taxonomy of magic.

This post series corresponds with Magic Codex Chapter 0 - Magic Basics.

Within the codex, the term magic is located at (0.0) and is defined as:

magic (N) The energies used to create effects in the world without a direct physical interaction. Also the ability to manipulate said energies to create effects. Also: conjure, summon

In my Tales of the Known World saga, the word magic can refer to two different things.

First are the actual energies that a person can harness to create various effects (as in, He used magic to light a fire, or, There is magic in this grotto).

Second is the ability that a person has to harness those energies (as in, His magic can change his appearance, or, Magic runs in his family).

Check out the Magic of the Known World for more resources!

Depending on the speaker, the word magic may be used in the plural (as in, The magics in this grotto are strong, or, His magics can create any disguise). People may also use magic as an adjective, to describe something as having magical properties (as in, This is a magic stone).

In lower-class vernacular, magic can also be a verb (as in, He will magic this stone, or, He magicked this stone, or, This stone was magicked).

Magic energy is often accompanied by a scent like rain or ozone. When certain magics are cast, the energy ionizes the air to produce this scent. Not all magics create a rainy smell, and magic users can often suppress the scent of magic if necessary.

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Download the complete Magic Codex:

The Known World is rife with magic. Over time, scholars have compiled all these magics and magical effects into a comprehensive taxonomy. For more about the role and inner workings of magic, check out the complete Magic Codex above.

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When a person uses magic to create an effect, he is often said to conjure or summon the effect (as in, He conjured a stiff breeze through the tunnel, or, She summoned a glowing orb to light their way).

These terms are only applicable when the effect appears where it did not exist before, as opposed to simply affecting a pre-existing object in its established location.

For instance, magic used to turn a doorknob or close a door would not be described using these terms. However, a person could be said to conjure a fire in the hearth or summon a goblet from the kitchen, even if the hearth was set with logs or the goblet floated out through a doorway.


That's it for this post! Up Next: The four fields of studying magic...

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Magic of Mother's Gate: a mystic directory

This post is part of a series to augment the Magic of the Known World available for free download.

The best and latest mystic resources are gathered here at www.DNFrost.com/magic.

Find more worldbuilding content in my Codex Directory.

Also check out the books of the TotKW Saga at
www.DNFrost.com/books.

Magus Rares: NEW POST!

Each magus manifests as one of five types, depending on his dominant purview of special magic. The five types of magi are the enchanter, the oracle, the shifter, the sculptor, and the forester.

Read more of this post here...

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What is Magic? On this website, the magic tag refers to ideas about mystic energies, from real-world beliefs to invented systems.

The magic resource series focuses on magics for my Known World, and the magic workshop series focuses on your own magic systems.

Read more about this tag here... Soon.

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Magic of the Known World: a free download

Navigate a vibrant magic system with this collection of overviews and resources.

You'll explore the powers in the saga and discover magics not yet shown in the books.

Read more about this download here...

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Download your mystic guide Magic of the Known World here.

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Magic Codex of the Known World
The complete taxonomy of magic.

For millennia, scholars have observed the nature of magic, documenting and classifying its diverse effects.

Their findings are explored within, from the basic properties of magic to the arcane unknown and the evils beyond.

Read more about this book of magic here...

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Magic Codex of the Known World

This free ebook provides the complete Magic Codex as available in paperback above.

The codex is referenced by the glossary for each novel, and is therefore free in full.

Read more about this exclusive here...

Download the Magic Codex of the Known World:

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Notes on magic

This 2-part post series relays how magic is normal, and how the Magic Codex is indexed.

It starts with A Note on the Widespread Use of Magic and ends with A Note on the Codex Number and Cross-Reference.

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Download your mystic guide Magic of the Known World here.

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Magic Appendix
The role and inner workings of magic.

This guide provides brief defining taglines of each magic concept, overviewing the complete magic system.

It also lists each version of each magic spell as its own entry, including some of the regional terms for various magic spells and effects.

Read more about this exclusive here...

Download your Magic Appendix:

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Magic Spell List

This spreadsheet sorts the magic spells by magical effect or by the type of thing affected.

The spell list is also referenced by the exclusive Magic Codex of the Known World.

Read more about this exclusive here...

Download the Magic Spell List:

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An overview of magic

This 3-part post series provides an overview of the saga's magic taxonomy as a whole.

It starts with Introduction to Magic and expands into ideas about the various academic disciplines of magic, as well as the different types of magic users.

Explore posts 2-3 here:

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The taxonomy of magic

This 5-part post series outlines the basic way magic is organized within the taxonomy.

It starts with Properties of Magic and expands into ideas about the different ways magic skills develop, as well as the defined classes of magic powers.

Explore posts 2-5 here:

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Users of rare magic

This 4-part post series details the various rare magic abilities and the people who have them.

It starts with Rare Magics and expands into the elementals, sensates, and magi who all display assorted types of heightened powers from different branches of magic.

Explore posts 2-4 here:

That's it for this post! Check out the latest mystic resources for more.

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Properties of Magic: a mystic resource

This post is Part 1 of a series to augment the Magic of the Known World available for free download.

This and other mystic resources are gathered in my Magic Directory for you to explore.

Find more worldbuilding content in my Codex Directory.

As explained in this note on the widespread use of magic, magic is prevalent in the Known World, and generations of magic scholars have compiled their observations to create the Magic Codex, a functioning taxonomy of magic.

This post corresponds with Magic Codex Chapter 1 - Properties of Magic.

In my Tales of the Known World saga, every magic has a few established properties. Much like the properties of minerals, such as hardness or color, the variances in these qualities allow scholars to differentiate magics from each other, and to structure the taxonomy that classifies all magics into groups.

Check out the Magic of the Known World for more resources!

Within the codex, the term property is located at (1.0) and is defined as:

property (N) Any of three unique qualities that define a specific magic and differentiate it from other magics.

The word property applies to any one of the three intrinsic qualities that differ from magic to magic (as in, This property deals with a magic's limits, or, An important property is how a magic is improved).

The three properties of magic used in taxonomy are inception, study, and limit.

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Download the complete Magic Codex:

The Known World is rife with magic. Over time, scholars have compiled all these magics and magical effects into a comprehensive taxonomy. For more about the role and inner workings of magic, check out the complete Magic Codex above.

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Within the codex, the term inception is located at (1.1) and is defined as:

inception (N) The property of magic involving how a magic arises and is accessed. Also: inception point

The word inception refers to the quality of a magic that has to do with its beginning. There are two aspects to inception. First is how a new magic arises in users (as in, This magic's inception is instinctive, or, Inception requires studying this magic). Second is how a new magic is accessed by users (as in, The inception of this magic requires no other skills, or, He must become a blacksmith before the inception of metal magic).

Magic is often conceptualized as a type of well, and inception describes how the well came to exist and be drawn from.

Many magics arise instinctively in young children, wielded unconsciously as a natural reaction to circumstances. These are like wells formed by natural springs that required no effort. Other magics arise intentionally in students of magic, who must deliberately cast their spells. These are like wells that are constructed over time through conscious effort.

Some magics can be accessed independently of any other abilities, and there are no prerequisites to discovery. These are like wells that are obvious and easy to locate. Other magics can only be accessed through practice of a related magic or skill, akin to wells that are hidden and require exploration into a specific area before discovery.

Check out the Magic of the Known World for more resources!

Within the codex, the term study is located at (1.2) and is defined as:

study (N) The property of magic involving how a magic develops and is mastered.

The word study refers to the quality of a magic that has to do with its progress. There are two aspects to a magic's study. First is how the user of a magic improves that magic over time (as in, This magic's study is by intuition, or, The study of this magic requires refined techniques). Second is how a magic's improvement relies on other skills (as in, This magic has an independent study, or, He must improve his blacksmith skills to allow the study of metal magic).

If magic is a well, study describes how the well is refined, deepened, and reinforced.

Many magics are developed by feel or intuition, mastered through simple practice and repetition. These are like wells that remain full no matter how much water is drawn from them. Other magics are developed by thought or analysis, mastered through the employment of refined techniques. These are like wells that must be dug deeper to increase the water supply.

Some magics can be improved independently of other magics or skills, akin to wells that have their own unique sources and can be refined independently. Other magics rely on related magics or skills for further development, akin to interconnected wells with the same source, where improving a secondary well requires first improving the primary well.

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Download the complete Magic Codex:

The Known World is rife with magic. Over time, scholars have compiled all these magics and magical effects into a comprehensive taxonomy. For more about the role and inner workings of magic, check out the complete Magic Codex above.

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Within the codex, the term limit is located at (1.3) and is defined as:

limit (N) The property of magic involving a magic's potential for development and mastery. Also: limit point

The word limit refers to the quality of a magic that has to do with its finality. There are two aspects to a magic's limit. First is how a magic's study is impeded (as in, This magic has no known limit, or, The limit of this magic varies by individual). Second is how a magic's inception is impeded (as in, Inception stops after this limit is reached, or, This limit changes the magic's inception).

If magic is a well, limit describes how deep the well can grow.

Few magics are considered to have truly infinite potential, but a number of magics have such extensive potential that they may as well be infinite. Such magics can be developed throughout a person's lifetime, because the person will die of old age before any recognizable limit is reached. These are like wells that seem to have no bottom.

Most magics, however, do have limits on how far an individual can improve. When a mage stops being able to improve a magic in the same manner as before, the magic's inception and study may stop entirely, and the individual will make no further progress. This is akin to a well that has reached the deepest point of its only water source.

In contrast, the inception and study of some other magics merely change when the limit point is reached. For instance, an instinctive magic developed by feel may shift into a learned magic developed by thought. This is like a well that hits bedrock and may be expanded in a new direction, to tap into an adjacent water source.


That's it for this post! Up Next: The four types of magic autonomy...

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Portent III of Conceived: a riddle in rhyme

In the novel Conceived, there are many portents fortelling the events of the unfolding saga.

Start with Portent I here.

These and other riddles in rhyme are gathered in the Portents Directory for you to explore.

Enjoy!

Untitled prince of nightly wakes
Imbibes horizon's veil
In silence chaos undertakes
And bears the harsh excluded keen
Of timeless silent sight forsakes
So joins the silent sight unseen
Who timeless time assail

With summoned gateway voice departs
But journey must rescind
To foray through uprooted darts
As gateway grieves and deed repents
But wakes the green of greener hearts
Conceived by blood of mystic vents
Aloft on windless wind

As fires rage to lifeless dust
To master news reveals
The keeper of the gateway's trust
A tale of war's rekindled hope
And shaking off defeated rust
The master braves the cursed slope
And nation's doom repeals.


Can you decode the future Tales of the Known World?

Share your interpretation!
Comment below with your take on this portent.

This portent opens Part 1 of Conceived, predicting the events to unfold at the start of Book 3. Its three stanzas mirror the three character arcs introduced in this section. I love the structure and rhymes of this one!

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Download the Prophesy Appendix:

The merfolk culture is built on the prophetic Gift. Nearly all men produce a portent every twenty days, and they devote their lives to interpretation. For more about the role and inner workings of prophesy, check out the Prophesy Appendix above.

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Alongside every prophesy is an attribution block. This block contains a byline giving the name of the person who said the prophesy, and a dateline giving the day the prophesy was first said. Here is the attribution for this portent:

Lohvin Njaras Dynde I
2:1:3:3/9, 8:2:2 IX
V 3:3:1:4/5, III:IX

The portent attributed here has been interpreted, and it references multiple events that culminate on an exact date. An additional verified dateline has been added to the attribution, noting the final date when the portent comes to pass.


That's it for this series! Check out my latest portents for more.

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Portent II of Conceived: a riddle in rhyme

In the novel Conceived, there are many portents fortelling the events of the unfolding saga.

Start with Portent I here.

These and other riddles in rhyme are gathered in the Portents Directory for you to explore.

Enjoy!

The living legend fails
His pageantry undone
With absent light of moons unmade
Rekindles plot that dawn forbade
And dark has fell begun

As prince of timeless jails
Seeks clarity of old
Approaching gate and greening voice
In sanctuary's hold rejoice
Of secrets left untold

Once master's skill prevails
Adjourn to fate review
The empress and her master kin
But find the son bereft with sin
Conceived of light anew

Though allied sand curtails
Their aid to prince abide
Of hinted kinship severed long
They leave the son to sing the song
Of viciousness implied

The earthbound son impales
Repentant hands adjured
While noble thieves invested seek
The legacy of legend weak
To send exultant word.


Can you decode the future Tales of the Known World?

Share your interpretation!
Comment below with your take on this portent.

This portent opens Part 2 of Conceived, and it predicts the events of that section. I love the five-line stanzas and interesting rhyme scheme! Can you guess who the living legend is, and how his pageantry is undone?

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Download the Prophesy Appendix:

The merfolk culture is built on the prophetic Gift. Nearly all men produce a portent every twenty days, and they devote their lives to interpretation. For more about the role and inner workings of prophesy, check out the Prophesy Appendix above.

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Alongside every prophesy is an attribution block. This block contains a byline giving the name of the person who said the prophesy, and a dateline giving the day the prophesy was first said. Here is the attribution for this portent:

Kondyik Winnahs Dynde XX
4:1:4:7/12, 8:1:2 IX
V 3:3:2:5/5, III:IX

The portent attributed here has been interpreted, and it references multiple events that culminate on an exact date. An additional verified dateline has been added to the attribution, noting the final date when the portent comes to pass.


That's it for this post! Up Next: By blood of mystic vents aloft...

For the Prophesy Appendix, enter your email above.

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Life is an adventure.
Are You Ready?

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Portent I of Conceived: a riddle in rhyme

In the novel Conceived, there are many portents fortelling the events of the unfolding saga.

These and other riddles in rhyme are gathered in the Portents Directory for you to explore.

Enjoy!

Adjourned the prince from tongueless blight
On timeless route comes undistraught
While gateway's journey fosters sight
As splintered kin through voice unite

The prince and voice and gateway all
From shoals of exile time forgot
Converge upon the timeless hall
To bare the truth of bloody pall

Retrieved the legend greets the king
Escorting all through badlands fraught
Conceived on foot the dream to bring
Their kinfolk home to freedom's ring

Aloft on wings of battle's wake
By wayward son astutely wrought
The blue with cousins undertake
To cross the range and feud forsake

With master's mantle shared anew
Return to keeper's land unsought
The entourage of queen askew
To warriors of green accrue.


Can you decode the future Tales of the Known World?

Share your interpretation!
Comment below with your take on this portent.

Woo! This portent is pretty long. It predicts the events of Part 3 of Conceived, and its five stanzas mirror the five different character arcs that progress in this section of the book. Who do you think are the blue with cousins that cross the range?

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Download the Prophesy Appendix:

The merfolk culture is built on the prophetic Gift. Nearly all men produce a portent every twenty days, and they devote their lives to interpretation. For more about the role and inner workings of prophesy, check out the Prophesy Appendix above.

---

Alongside every prophesy is an attribution block. This block contains a byline giving the name of the person who said the prophesy, and a dateline giving the day the prophesy was first said. Here is the attribution for this portent:

Nohvih Njyude Dohari III
4:1:2:4/8, 8:1:2 IX
V 4:1:1:5/5, III:IX

The portent attributed here has been interpreted, and it references multiple events that culminate on an exact date. An additional verified dateline has been added to the attribution, noting the final date when the portent comes to pass.


That's it for this post! Up Next: But find the son bereft with sin...

For the Prophesy Appendix, enter your email above.

---

Life is an adventure.
Are You Ready?

Liked this? Share, please!