Herlamin #AtoZChallenge 2025 fantasy

[Story scene post]

The Purple, Herlamin, and I clean the table. 

"I hoped that would go better," the Purple says to Herlamin.

"Reds and Golds never mix. Adding Silvers, well, you may have hoped too high." Herlamin hops back to the table and sits. "I hoped my foot would heal after being crushed by a falling boulder. It never has. The Reds, especially Luthais, urge me to consider that I am gifted at teaching. If my foot had healed as I had hoped, I would not be the teacher to the level twos of our village. Should I mourn the failure to heal, or be grateful for a position I love?"

"Is that why Gold's don't have dedicated teachers? Because no one hurt their foot?" Jaildarn asks as he digs the tip of his foot against the floor.

The Purple scoffs. "I'm sure there are plenty of foot injuries. Not that the Black Onyx have ever tended to a Gold."

Herlamin covers a laugh with a cough. 

Jaildarn tilts his head. "What's a Black Onyx?"

The Purple sighs. "Making my point for me, Jaildarn." The Purple taps the jewel at her suprasternal notch. "Though they are lit, like all living beings of our kind, the identifier is as dark as the deepest cave. Though not one of the originals, they came to be as our people lived longer and took on more difficulty. While Reds offer basic care and healing, guided by the Spiritual Realm, the Black Onyx heals using multiple means and methods. They are very disciplined and spend most of their lives studying their craft. Like we Purples, they roam from place to place. Unlike the Purples, they do not assign one Master to each established population area."

"A what?" I interrupt as I put away a chair. 

"Your village is an established population area. It means this place has people always living here."

"Oh," I nod.

"The Black Onyx have the ability to know when they are needed somewhere. It's a sort of feeling, I suppose. Trouble arises when they feel called to a Gold. The Purple are forced to intervene. The Gold do not accept the help, even the life-sustaining care of the Black Onyx."

"But Luthais said they also have no Red among them. What if they get hurt?" I look at Jaildarn. I saw so many scars when I helped him clean and change. 

The Purple frowns. "Help does not come. They must survive on their own. Or not at all."

Jaildarn gets up from the table. "Not many level four Golds. Unless I just haven't met them."

The Purple touches his shoulder. "No, not many of any level. You are rare. Interacting with us, with others, is uncommon among your people. It's a hard and lonely life."

"It was not always this way," Herlamin interjects. "Come, we shall go sit at the stone circle."

The Purple nods and waves as she leaves us with the teacher. We move to the circle, where stones carved into comfortable shapes provide excellent seating. Most days, Herlamin calls the level twos here to learn. Today was not one such day. We were meant to explore the new excavation site and study the smaller rocks. But I got distracted. 

"In the beginning, Golds were plentiful. The Opals even raised some themselves because it was difficult to track down enough level four Golds. The world was new, and there was much to explore and discover. Plenty of Browns existed, of course, because the Birth Place is surrounded by mountains. No one understood the Pinks and Oranges at first, until Golds returned with stories of jungles and deserts. They took the levels threes to the places where they were meant to thrive."

"That must have been so weird. To not know where to belong?" I feel like my head will erupt. I've heard of such people and places, but I've never seen them. 

Herlamin pulls out a map. "You recall what this is, Belp?"

"It's a map. It shows our world."

Jaildarn reaches out to touch it. "Not very old. I have seen many of these."

Herlamin rolls it up and puts it away. "Yes. The Golds make those. It shows that they have been everywhere. It lists where everything and everyone is. The problem for the Golds is that it is complete."

Jaildarn shakes his head. "Maps are meant to be complete. That's why we make them. If people avoid getting lost, they can better trade. That means a better life for everyone."

Herlamin nods. "Yes, but what will you do, Jaildarn, as a Master of travel and discovery, now that everywhere has been traveled to and discovered? Some Golds believe the Opals conspire, and that is why so few Golds come from the Birthing Place now. I, and many others, believe the number of Golds dwindle because there is little reason for your identifier. A fulfilled purpose."

I bite my lip as I look at Jaildarn. His eyes well up with tears.

"You're just a Brown. And you don't even Master the mountains anymore because of your foot. I have more purpose than you do!" Jaildarn shoves Herlamin as he gets up and runs away. 

---

Key dramatic question that will take whole story to answer:

Could Belp have prevented all this death, how, and if so-- why didn't he?

And what led Jaildarn to become the cause of such annihilation? 

---

QUESTION -- Do you ever feel like you don't know where you belong?

---

My A to Z 2025 theme is a fantasy story. (And some of the process of writing it as well.) 🕮

- J (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) ~ Speculative Fiction & Reference Author and Co-host of the April Blogging #AtoZchallenge

https://bsky.app/profile/jlennidorner.bsky.social  My current favorite social media site.
https://amzn.to/41QBB4P Author page on Amazon — please consider following and supporting this indie author!
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-lenni-dorner  BookBub author profile— I'd be grateful if you'd follow me.
  #AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com Kindly check out the blog hop's website.

Title Golds and Silvers #AtoZChallenge 2025 fantasy

[Story scene post]

The Purple held true to her word. After I got Jaildarn cleaned up and suitably dressed, we went to the building of the Colorless to get some stew. Seated at one of the hexagonal tables, usually reserved for special meetings, was the Purple, the level four Gold, Luthais, and Herlamin. They had a loaf of bread cut and divided between them and the two empty spots. The Purple waved us over.

"Herlamin, allow me to introduce you to Jaildarn, a level two Gold who is my new friend. Jaildarn, this is Herlamin, the primary instructor of the level twos in our village."

They nodded to each other. 

"Well done, the lesson in introductions has stuck." Herlamin claps the table before addressing the others, "We so rarely entertain outsiders that the lesson is almost impractical. Almost." 

Luthais raises his cup. "Here's to almost!" He takes a swig as I slide into my chair.

"Khryos, sorry for, uhh, this is Belp. You know that. I, umm," Jaildarn drops to the floor, covers his head with his hands, and whimpers. 

"Rise, calm yourself, and be seated," the Purple insists. "Your Master Gold will not punish you during this meal."

The stare she gives could freeze a volcano. The elder Gold smiles, though it looks fake.

"I am Khryos. My mission is to acquire certain rocks needed for a small structure, and to accompany this young one as he gains a bit of worldly experience. Lacking survival skills. And grace, it seems. Sit up properly, put the napkin on your lap, and eat!" He aims the last words at Jaildarn, who shakes as he reaches for the napkin. 

"I've not seen such shaking before. That would be dangerous on parts of the mountain. Could cause a collapse or a slide," Herlamin says before eating some warm bread. 

The Purple raises her cup. "We are here to foster learning about important questions. Let us not mention the nervous condition afflicting the child."

"Which questions?" Herlamin asks. 

The table falls silent as the Colorless approach. They serve us each a bowl of stew. We thank them for their work, except Khryos, who grumbles something under his breath, and Jaildarn, who stays silent. 

"The subject of the Silvers came up. Has anyone here ever met one?" The Purple asks before taking a spoonful of stew. 

"I didn't even know they exist. What do they do?" I ask. At this moment, I barely care. The bread is so warm it hurts a little to hold. The stew smells so wonderful. I see tiny carrots floating on top. Scooping one on my spoon, I ease it between my lips. The perfect level of softness, not so much as to be mushy, just enough not to make loud, crunching sounds. I roll it around my tongue and between my teeth, enjoying each flavorful moment. Maybe, when I'm a level four, I'll live in a house by a carrot patch. I know the Yellows do nearly all of the farming, so it isn't likely to happen. But just imagine if I could have carrots any time I wanted. 

Khryos slurps from his bowl, forgoing the use of a spoon. "Yeah, I know some. That's what the rocks are for, a structure they're making. Portal to Xeata-Lidoffad. Bunch of us Golds are going with them to map it."

The other level fours exchange glances. It's very quiet. I can hear Jaildarn gnawing at his bread.

"Dip it in the stew. It makes it more delicious," I whisper to him. 

After following my suggestion, he smiles wide at me. Juices from the stew drip from the corners of his mouth. It's still less messy than Khryos, who has a piece of carrot and half a potato caught in his beard, and more stew juices on his shirt than in his mouth. I look to Herlamin, who appears to be staring intently at his cup. 

"What's a portal? And Xeata-Lidoffad?" I ask, hoping to restart the conversation. I hate listening as people eat. I'm glad I'm not a Colorless. 

Herlamin taps the table. "A portal is a way to travel an impossible distance. Silvers exist to find and use them. Xeata-Lidoffad is the large planet you see in the sky, the one our world circles around. We haven't studied such concepts yet."

Luthais rubs his chin. "Haven't filled their heads with nonsense yet? And why would you? There's no reason to go Xeata-Lidoffad, even if there were a way, which there isn't."

"Reds aren't coming," Khryos states as he slams his empty bowl on the table.

"No Red would be willing to, not that it matters, since there are no portals. Silvers are liars." 

"I'm getting our rocks!" Khryos knocks his chair over as he stands. "Do what you want with this one. I have a mission. Unlike you lot, I'm not staying on this pointless little world. There's a huge planet to explore and I'm going!" 

He doesn't pick up his chair. Nor does he clear his spot at the table. Jaildarn grabs the uneaten bit of bread left behind and tucks it in his shirt. He checks that no one was watching, but I was. He presses his finger to his lips, silently begging me not to tell. 

I have no reason to tell anyone. He's preventing food waste. That's the law. I have no idea why he wants to be secretive about being obedient. But I have more pressing questions to ask. 

"Why would Silvers exist if there are no portals?"

Luthais slams his cup down. "I must go speak with the spirits."

---

Key dramatic question that will take whole story to answer:

Could Belp have prevented all this death, how, and if so-- why didn't he?

And what led Jaildarn to become the cause of such annihilation? 

---

QUESTION -- Do you have a favorite stew?

---

My A to Z 2025 theme is a fantasy story. (And some of the process of writing it as well.) 🕮

- J (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) ~ Speculative Fiction & Reference Author and Co-host of the April Blogging #AtoZchallenge

https://bsky.app/profile/jlennidorner.bsky.social  My current favorite social media site.
https://amzn.to/41QBB4P Author page on Amazon — please consider following and supporting this indie author!
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-lenni-dorner  BookBub author profile— I'd be grateful if you'd follow me.
  #AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com Kindly check out the blog hop's website.

Failed #AtoZChallenge 2025 fantasy

[Story scene post]

The Purple presses her palms to mine. I watch the shadows on the ground around me retreat. No one says anything. One of the earliest rules learned is not to interfere with a Purple, especially when they have someone in a questioning pose. 

"Why have you spoken in such a manner to an elder Gold, Belp?"

"I feared for the well-being of a fellow level two. I feel someone should get him food, proper attire, and a bath. Luthais pointed out that I am someone."

The Purple presses harder against my palms. "Belp, you are a Brown. In this mountain village, the level fours have provided for you. Let me explain it another way."

My hands are released. I have no idea how to respond. A Purple letting someone go? No punishment? Not even a stern lecture? I stay as still as possible, trying not to even breathe.

The Purple takes a knee. She lifts my chin so we are eye to eye. "Your intentions were good. Your knowledge of the world is lacking, which is not your fault. You are not in trouble, but I do need you to think, learn, and understand. Okay?"

"Yes, Master Purple." I'm sure the Purples have names. They probably don't go around calling each other Master. But I've never been told any of their names, nor have I heard someone use them. Every so often, the Purples rotate, switching which village they live in. I've been taught they do this to prevent them from growing too close or fond of anyone. Impartiality. I think that's what they said.

"When you become a level four, an elder, where will you live?"

I raise my eyebrow. "What? You mean, which house? I never thought about it. There is one near the forest. I guess I'd like it there. Birds make nice sounds when it's time to wake. Or maybe the house near where the Colorless prepare food. It would be good to always have nice smells."

The Purple smiles. "Those are good answers and worthy thoughts. My point, however, was that you plan to live in this village." 

I tilt my head. "Where else would I go?"

She rubs my shoulders. "Exactly. You came from the Birth Place and were brought here. You are a Brown, a Master of Mountains. This village is on a mountain. You will likely spend your whole life in this place and feel complete. The rest of Darterra, our world, will never be seen by your eyes. Is that fair to say?"

I shrug under the weight of her heavy hands. "I guess so."

"The level two Gold does not share that future, past, or present. He must learn to survive. He might get to live in a house one day, but probably not. Golds are very nomadic. They survive on what they can carry. They are Masters of Travel and Discovery."

She takes my hands. "You wanted to protect his hands, so you gave him gloves. But, in doing so, he was denied the opportunity to learn that his hands were worth protecting. He failed to secure protection himself. No one gives Golds anything because they believe they need to earn everything. They do not take care of each other because they believe it teaches weakness."

I frown. "I'm weak because I knew there was warm clothing in the level two dwelling?"

"No." She shakes her head. "The way of the Brown, of everyone other than the Golds and Silvers, is not weak. But no others go to the unknown."

Questions form in my mind faster than I can ask them. "What's a Silver? How do they get clothing? Can I still have a meal with Jaildarn?"

The Purple presses her finger to my lips. "I admire your thirst for knowledge. You will be a great one among your people if you foster such thoughts and quest for answers. Go on, take the young Gold for a bath. We will meet for stew afterward. I will try to educate you both as best as possible."

Grateful I wasn't in trouble and excited to get answers, I hugged the Purple before I rose and ran to Jaildarn. I took his hand and dragged him to the bathing place. 

I doubt anyone ever hugged a Purple before or since. Maybe if she had punished me, Darterra wouldn't be covered in dead bodies now. Maybe if I never gave Jaildarn clothing, a bath, and food that day, he would have died. 

How many would be alive right now if I had let him die? If I didn't aid in his survival. 

Maybe he was a frightened young one. Or maybe he saw a weakness in me and exploited it that day, and every day after. Am I the one responsible for this extinction of our kind? 

---

Key dramatic question that will take whole story to answer:

Could Belp have prevented all this death, how, and if so-- why didn't he?

And what led Jaildarn to become the cause of such annihilation? 

---

QUESTION-- Have you ever directly helped someone in need?

---

My A to Z 2025 theme is a fantasy story. (And some of the process of writing it as well.) 🕮

- J (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) ~ Speculative Fiction & Reference Author and Co-host of the April Blogging #AtoZchallenge

https://bsky.app/profile/jlennidorner.bsky.social  My current favorite social media site.
https://amzn.to/41QBB4P Author page on Amazon — please consider following and supporting this indie author!
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-lenni-dorner  BookBub author profile— I'd be grateful if you'd follow me.
  #AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com Kindly check out the blog hop's website.

Scene Examination #AtoZChallenge 2025 fantasy

J

[Writing Process post]

For especially troublesome scenes, I have an 8-page checklist. Here's a shorter version. 

Answers in blue.

Scene Examination

Scene One

Establish genre in first 50 words?

Death was first established, so it looks like a tragedy. The first paragraph is 52 words. The jewel is mentioned, which may be an indicator of Fantasy. ✅

Number of NEW names reader must keep up with (characters, places, objects, etc)?

1. Jaildarn
2. Luthais
3. Molingor
4. Belp

It's revealed that there's a Birth Place, a village of Golds, and a village of Browns.

What is the active and tangible goal of the scene? 

The story opens with Belp contemplating how mass death started. He flashes back to the day he met Jaildarn. His goal seems to be about connecting those dots.

Which primal urge/s is in that goal-- 

• survival  -- definitely 
• hunger --  maybe?
• sex -- no
• protection of a loved one -- maybe?
• fear of death -- probably

Goal clearly stated in one sentence at the beginning of the scene?

 How did we get to such death? It's clear that Belp is trying to figure out what happened.

Does this scene show the goal by any of these methods:

• Thought about by a character
• Talked about by a character
• Demonstrated by two or more attempts of a character

Thoughts.

Key dramatic question that will take whole story to answer:

Could Belp have prevented all this death, how, and if so-- why didn't he?

And what led Jaildarn to become the cause of such annihilation? 

How is that dramatic question used in this scene?

We learn about the protagonist and antagonist's first meeting. It's obvious that Belp is given love and is valued, while Jaildarn has been raised under opposite circumstances. 

What action in this scene would someone want to watch:

A "cringy" opening featuring a character surrounded by death could draw someone in with curiosity about what happened. 

Someone might enjoy seeing a young boy save another young boy while no one else does anything—a heroic-seeming moment. 

Is the opening of this scene interesting?

I think so.

Real danger pointed at MC or character MC wants to help:

Belp sees that Jaildarn is in real danger of freezing to death, and wants to help him. 

Internal obstacles include worry, fear, or a lack of knowledge, while examples of external obstacles include people or terrain.

Four or more obstacles in this scene (both internal and external) requiring ingenuity to solve:

1. lack of knowledge about the reason for so much death

2. cold weather

3. potential repercussions from the Purples if rules, laws, or customs are broken

4.  the spiritual leader doesn't have enough information

What is the emotional friction between characters who are together?

 

Belp believes an elder should step-up. His spiritual leader suggests that Belp should take the initiative. The gold leader is too indifferent to stop Belp. Jaildarn seems helpless.

Belp is frustrated.

What’s the emotional conflict within the POV character?

Belp's desire to help versus a desire to not get in trouble.

Inner conflict should be a choice the MC would never make if given half a chance.

Give each choice external stakes. That means a physical or shared consequence that affects other characters and the story.

Give each choice internal stakes. That means a personal, emotional consequence that only that character will experience.

For each choice, tie the internal and external together. The external might simply be a symbol for the internal, or the internal might simply be an outcome of the external.

Don’t reassure the character (or the reader) that MC will make the right choice.

Make it unclear what the right choice even IS.

Have the MC make mistakes sometimes.

Belp is a good boy. He wouldn't cause trouble, normally. If he doesn't help Jaildarn, the boy will likely die. If he does help, he might be breaking a rule he hasn't learned yet. Helping could have consequences Belp hasn't considered, which may be why no one else has acted. And now the Purple has shown up.

Did the character:

• Hit an emotional breaking point 
• Feel emotional pressure
• Have a loss of or near loss of self-control

Upon learning that Jaildarn isn't cared for, and is treated as a punishment, Belp decides no one will help. More responsible elders go by and do nothing. Belp losses self-control, gets proper clothing supplies, forces them on Jaildarn, and speaks disrespectfully to a Gold elder. 

What frustrated the MC?

Belp is frustrated by others' inaction.

How was that frustration responded to?

After discussing it with his spiritual leader, Belp finally acts. 

Was at least one of these in the scene

• Anger
• Hurt
• Resignation
• Bitterness
• Fear
• Self-blame
• Blame others
• Sadness/ crying
• Revenge seeking
• Tenderness
• Passion
• Despair
• Determination
• Venting
• Depression
• Prayer/ wishing

Belp is angry and hurt that no one else seems to care. He resigns himself to help. He fears for Jaildarn. He shows determination to save Jaildarn. There is fear when the Purple appears.

What has the character learned or realized because of this scene?

Belp has learned that the Golds have very different values from the Browns. 

Was any other conflict discovered during this scene?

We learn the Golds do not allow the Reds, the spiritual leaders, among them. 

We know that, eventually, there is an annihilation, but we do not know why. 

Was there a power struggle in the scene?

Belp stands up to the elder Gold.

The Purple addresses Belp.

Any small choices that foreshadow a larger choice a character will make later?

We see Belp is willing to act when others are not.

We know the Gold leader does not want Jaildarn to return.

The number of sensory details:

• Touch -- 2
• Taste -- 3
• Hear -- 2
• Smell -- 3
• Visual -- 5

(My counts may be off.)

This scene contributes to the book by: (one or more of the following)

•  enrich character
•  provide necessary info
•  move the plot forward

We're learning about the characters and their society. The plot is being established. 

Events here cause what subsequent events to happen:

We expect to learn what consequences Belp's actions have, and how helping Jaildarn relates to the deaths at the opening. 

Events here have what consequences that carry over into the following scene:

Readers might question how Belp, just a boy himself, expects to be responsible for Jaildarn's care. 

And what will the Purple say or do to Belp?

Events required for MC to achieve end goal:

Belp has to figure out how all the deaths happened, if he could have prevented it, and what he can do about it now. 

Does the scene end with someone or something being different from when it started?

• New information
• Conflict in moral values altered
• Another choice
• New character added
• Problem more complicated
• Course of action is more hopeless
• Other:

Jaildarn is different at the end because Belp has probably saved his life. 

As it is the opening scene, all information is new. 

The moral values conflict was following (known) rules versus acting when others failed to do so.

A complication to the problem is when a Purple appears. 

 

---

QUESTION -- Does it seem like I have successfully examined the scene, and the scene is well-written? What might you ask or change? 

---

My A to Z 2025 theme is a fantasy story. (And some of the process of writing it as well.) 🕮

- J (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) ~ Speculative Fiction & Reference Author and Co-host of the April Blogging #AtoZchallenge

https://bsky.app/profile/jlennidorner.bsky.social  My current favorite social media site.
https://amzn.to/41QBB4P Author page on Amazon — please consider following and supporting this indie author!
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-lenni-dorner  BookBub author profile— I'd be grateful if you'd follow me.
  #AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com Kindly check out the blog hop's website. Last day to sign up for this year!!!

Dead #AtoZChallenge 2025 fantasy

Dead


[Story scene post]

Dead bodies surround me. How did we get to such death? Am I the last of my people? I touch the glowing brown jewel at my suprasternal notch. Brown, marking me as a master of the mountains, and still lit, meaning I'm alive. I think back to how this may have started.

I was a young lad, no higher than a boulder, when Jaildarn came to my village. He was the first person I met around my age with a different jewel. A glow of bright gold lit under his jaw, illuminating his neck and brightening his shoulders. Mountain masters like myself wore shirts, vests, and coats when outside, so seeing someone shirtless was incredibly confusing. Rather than approach him, I turned to our village Red, our spiritual leader, Luthais. 

"Why is that Gold wearing so little?" I whispered my question. I wasn't sure why I didn't want to draw attention to the matter, or the fact that I noticed, but a flutter in my stomach warned me against inquiring loudly. 

Luthais knelt beside me. "Golds have different customs and ways. He likely has no more than the tattered cloth you see."

I scratched my head. "He is with a level four Gold, the one speaking with Molingor. Is that elder not charged with his care? Who is keeping him alive? Why isn't someone doing something?"

Jaildarn was shivering, his hands rubbing his scrawny arms as his fingers changed to a sickly color. My whispering had grown louder. He turned toward me, his dark blue eyes wide and pleading. 

"Aren't you someone?" Luthais tilts his head as he proposes the question.

I break eye contact with Jaildarn to stare at Luthais. "Is that allowed? Will a Purple question me about disrupting the peace by disrespecting the Gold customs? I'm not a level four."

Luthais nods and touches his Red jewel. "The Golds allow no Reds among them, so the spirits offer no knowledge or guidance on customs. Have you ever witnessed the Opals go to the birth place?"

I nod.

"Do you recall the joy in the village? How the Browns held a qualification contest and a lottery among the winners to determine who would have the honor and privilege to be a primary caregiver for a level one, should the Opals bring us one?"

I glance at Jaindarn again. He has dropped to his knees by the level four Gold. Dirt shakes from his sandy hair as his head bobs. Molingor, one of our level four Browns who excavated the latest area, waves his hand near his nose and cringes as he steps away from the boy. 

"Yeah, sure. It was a big deal. The five new babies meant my generation moved up to level two."

"The culture of the Golds is not like that. The Opals bring a level one to their village, and they fight over who will be stuck with it. Babies sometimes die waiting for one to accept the responsibility."

"What? That's horrible."

Luthais rubs his chin. "Worse, their leader is known to assign level twos or threes to a level four as a punishment. The elder is then sent on a mission and must take the younger individual along. Very likely, that is what we see here."

"But the level four is charged with the care of the younger one? So that man should be doing something!"

Several villagers glance my way. They're level four Browns on their way up the mountain, pickaxes slung over their shoulders. I bow my head to them before looking again at Luthais.

"The boy is his punishment, not his charge. You have grown up with love; you are valued and adored. This is not the way of the Golds. So few of their kind remain, yet they do little to support or care for each other."

I shake my head as I march toward our level two village boys dwelling. Inside, I tear open a wardrobe and grab a coat. Then I yank open a drawer to take a pair of gloves. I slam it all shut before storming outside. 

"Here!" I shove the items at the boy. The level four Gold looks at me and snarls. 

"I am Belp of the Browns. This is my village. I will not stand by while someone my age freezes to death." 

Several people pause to glance at the interaction. The Gold level four looks at them, crosses his arms, and resumes his conversation with Molingor.

The level two cuddles into the jacket, struggling with the sleeves. He stares at the gloves. 

I grab one and force his dirty hand into it. "These are gloves. It's how we keep our fingers from freezing off. Only Blues can be in this weather without protection. Do you have a name?"

"Jaildarn. I think it means something bad. My people don't like me very much. I was told to go on this mission with him and not to return." He curls into a ball.

"That's settled then. You'll stay here, in our village." The Gold level four turns and glares at me. "Jaildarn was told not to return. Go about your mission; I am taking him for a hot meal. The Colorless prepared a delicious stew."

Molingor looks at me. "What a good boy you are! Yes, feed our young guest. I thought I smelled potatoes and onions roasting earlier. And mouth-watering mushrooms as well." 

I grab Jaildarn by the elbow and haul him to his feet. His odor reminds me of sulfur deposits. "You weigh less than two pick axes. How about a bath before we eat?"

Not even the best rosemary and garlic bread could cover his stink. 

He shrugs. 

"Release the Gold, level two Belp." Like snow rolling down my back, the voice of the Purple freezes me. I release Jaildarn, bow my head, kneel, and raise my arms with my palms open toward the sky. 

---

Key dramatic question that will take whole story to answer:

Could Belp have prevented all this death, how, and if so-- why didn't he?

And what led Jaildarn to become the cause of such annihilation? 

---

QUESTION -- Does this opening intrigue you?

---

My A to Z 2025 theme is a fantasy story. (And some of the process of writing it as well.) 🕮

- J (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) ~ Speculative Fiction & Reference Author and Co-host of the April Blogging #AtoZchallenge

https://bsky.app/profile/jlennidorner.bsky.social  My current favorite social media site.
https://amzn.to/41QBB4P Author page on Amazon — please consider following and supporting this indie author!
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-lenni-dorner  BookBub author profile— I'd be grateful if you'd follow me.
  #AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com Kindly check out the blog hop's website.

Character #AtoZChallenge 2025 fantasy

[Writing Process post]

I generally make a character sheet for anyone who isn't a Tertiary character. Though sometimes more elaborate, it basically looks like this:

(Tomorrow, the actual story will begin.)

Character Name:

Nickname:

Character Role:  (https://www.masterclass.com/articles/guide-to-all-the-types-of-characters-in-literature examples and explanations)

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

Jewel color:  (Vital in this story only.)

Eye & Hair color/ style:

Build:

Style of dress:

Characteristics/ Mannerisms:

PERSONALITY TRAITS:

BACKGROUND:

INTERNAL CONFLICTS:

EXTERNAL CONFLICTS:

OCCUPATION/ EDUCATION:  (mostly irrelevant in this story) 

Personality Contradiction (cruel but funny, sexy celibate) :

MISC NOTES:

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Key dramatic question that will take whole story to answer:

Could Belp have prevented all this death, how, and if so-- why didn't he?

And what led Jaildarn to become the cause of such annihilation? 

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QUESTION -- Do you create character sheets when writing? Could you fill such a sheet out for yourself? 

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My A to Z 2025 theme is a fantasy story. (And some of the process of writing it as well.) 🕮

- J (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) ~ Speculative Fiction & Reference Author and Co-host of the April Blogging #AtoZchallenge

https://bsky.app/profile/jlennidorner.bsky.social  My current favorite social media site.
https://amzn.to/41QBB4P Author page on Amazon — please consider following and supporting this indie author!
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-lenni-dorner  BookBub author profile— I'd be grateful if you'd follow me.
  #AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com Kindly check out the blog hop's website.

Background #AtoZChallenge 2025 fantasy and #IWSG

[Writing Process post]

Some of the background information I had to create before I started writing.

Specialties of the Jewels:

Red- Masters of the spiritual  

Pink- Masters of the desert 

Orange- Masters of the jungles and wetlands

Yellow- Masters of the plains and farming

Green- Masters of the forests

Blue- Masters of water (rivers, ice, ocean, etc)

Purple- Masters of societal order 

Brown- Masters of mountains

Colorless- Masters of nutrition and food preparation 

Turquoise- Masters of necessities  

Opal- Masters of new life
Black Onyx- Master healers

Gold- Masters of travel and discovery

Silver- Masters of portals, allegedly 

Darterra is a moon world. Xeata-Lidoffad is the planet it orbits. Ospinevarn is the name of their sun, or nearest star. 

Life-cycle of Darterrans:

Babies are level 1. (They come from the Birth Place. The people are not mammals of live births, nor do they hatch from eggs.)

When there are new babies, the children advance to level 2.

Puberty advances young people to level 3.

Tests allow people to become elders, level 4.

Death moves most people to the spiritual realm, level 5.

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QUESTION: Do you compile background information before you write?

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InsecureWritersSupportGroup.com

Shout-out to Alex and the awesome co-hosts for today: Jennifer Lane, L Diane Wolfe, Jenni Enzor, and Natalie Aguirre!

April 2 question - What fantasy character would you like to fight, go on a quest with, or have a beer/glass of wine with?

I'll pick one fantasy book per suggestion from the question, plus a bonus. Click titles for links to books.

1. The Existence series (by J Lenni Dorner) - 🍻 I'd drink beer with Heath.
   
2. Fragile Remedy (by Maria Ingrande Mora) - 💫 I'd quest with Nate.
3. Magic at Midnight (by Ronel Janse van Vuuren) -  💗 I'd fly with Amy and her pegasi
4. The Kingkiller Chronicles (by Patrick Rothfuss) - 🍷 I'd drink wine while Kvothe played 🎻 the "lute."
5.  Red Queen series (by Victoria Aveyard) - 🥊 I'd try to fight Maven. I'd lose, of course, as there's no special power in my blood, but I'd try.

Looking forward to the answers others wrote!

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My A to Z 2025 theme is a fantasy story. (And some of the process of writing it as well.) 🕮

- J (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) ~ Speculative Fiction & Reference Author and Co-host of the April Blogging #AtoZchallenge

[No one caught my April Fools prank of labeling my posts as "2026"]

https://bsky.app/profile/jlennidorner.bsky.social  My current favorite social media site.
https://amzn.to/41QBB4P Author page on Amazon — please consider following and supporting this indie author!
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-lenni-dorner  BookBub author profile— I'd be grateful if you'd follow me.
  #AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com Kindly check out the blog hop's website.