Fables ✧ Lore Prompts

[elderling]

Precious possessions
prompt: character - writing
fable: Elide
entry:

378 words

Elide claims her home in the northeastern isles, miles of boggy marsh and misty moors making up the station in which she tends to. Many of the kits and fawnlings from the forests surrounding the marsh frequent her home to play and gossip, sometimes bringing treasured gifts to leave at her muddy feet.

A preserved sprig of holly and fern, tied neatly on a branch with woven fur.

A wolf pup's frightened yips called her attention under the blanket of night, the fear and pain clearly heard in their howl. Rushing to the pup in distress, the young Elide finds him stuck in the thickest part of the bog, struggling to stay afloat on moonlit waters. Moving quickly but with care, she gently bites his scruff and extricates him from an early grave, carrying him to the sturdy banks. The poor pup can only stare in amazement, Elide truly glowing like the moon itself as she sets him to the soft grass, safe.

She lowers her head to the pup, and sets her forehead against his.

He returns as a strong wolf with an entourage, many moons later, laying this gift at her feet with a bow of the head and a gracious lick to her jaw. His pups nipping and jumping at his feet do not know Elide as their father does, but practice their bow to her all the same. Undoubtedly, she bows back with a playful smile, and the pups spend the day playing about in the shallows of the marsh under their watch.

The winding vines of a willow tree, coiled with spring flowers.

These vines, Elide received from a revered Old One. The Ent she had saved from a woodsman's axe, driving the ignorant one far from her marsh and far from the Old Ones. The Ent draped her mane with his leaves in thanks, a precious gift she treasures most deeply.

In the springtime blooming, several marshbirds bring her coiled and woven strands of wild flowers, tucking them alongside her green vines.

"The flowers looked awful pretty miss, and we thought they'd look even prettier on you!"
Unable to take a compliment, she blushes a deep pink and tucks her head. She loves the additional decoration, however, and lets the marshbirds weave them snugly into her mane. She allows them to take strands for their nests in thanks.

[Ucanthandleme]

prompt: world - art
entry:

1) Floating island creature aka bambam's: a root like creature that's native habitat is small formations off the side of Floating islands, they take root on theses and take on a relevant size to match, so they can be both large and small. Before landing on an island they float like bubbles. Their mouth is actually at the top of their head alongside a lure the glow attracting small insects to feast on.
2) Native plant: a native plant often grown for its final fruiting stage, tastes something inbetween yogurt and rockmelon. Very refreshing and sweet. The young leafy stage is also used in various recipes and is quite sour.
3) A yippin: a mix between a goose, cow and snake, each head often expresses a different emotion. They are not overly mobile on land but are actually pretty good flyers. You will often find these creatures with their necks twisted together of stuck in objects, they aren't the smartest but are very friendly creature.

prompt: character - art
fable: Oculos
entry:

He keep a spare pair of glasses in a small wooden box alongside an engraved handkerchief for cleaning. He also keeps his daily logbook with ink and brush to write down his activities and to do lists. He also keeps matches, a small bag of candy and a bracelet given to him by his mother with him at all times.

[Northstar.]

prompt: world - art / writing
entry:
Field guide:


Fairylights - also called solefae - these are small, fairy-like creatures that reside in the western jungles and swamps of Hessepeia. They are rarely seen and often heard. They make bell-like sounds, along with jingles and clangs if they're angry. They have wide set, large eyes, fuzzy silver, gold, or bronze bodies and tactile hands. Their wings usually resemble dragonfly wings, though they have between 2 and 4 sets of wings. Fairylights are mischievous and not much is known on the species. They glow constantly except when they sleep. There is no known location on record where they nest. Nothing is known of their lifespans or offspring.

Basilisks - also called tiamet - these giant serpents reside in the ancient, underground, unexplored cities below the jungles. They come in a variety of colors, though the most common colors are deep purple, a mottled green and brown, and a pale white. They can range from the size of a grown man to large enough to swallow someone whole. There are no recorded cases of basilisks attacking fables. Tiamet are rarely seen above ground, though they will venture to the entrances of tunnels in search of prey. They are a long lived serpent species, with the oldest on record being 114 years old. These serpents are incredibly intelligent and can only birth one egg every 13 years. They are a rare species, though not much is known on the size of the population.

Sea serpents - giant snake-like creatures cresting the waves of the angry sea. They are larger than basilisks, even larger than boats. There is not much information recorded on these titans at this time. There are old stories that they have caused mass shipwrecks but none proven. There is a rumor that one giant sea serpent even swallowed a ship and the locals named it Ragnarok.

Gold Falacar Flowers - these glimmering, gold flower bushes are found in Gold Meadow, and the southern fields of Hessepeia. They grow from spring to fall and are a main export of Gold Meadow. They leave a soft honey-scent in the breeze and are used in many medicines and poultices and even teas.

Mroonie Mushrooms - these spiral capped fungi are found in the Royal Forest along the east coast. They are a rare mushroom in Hessepeia and a staple in extravagant dishes. Some say that - depending on the color of the cap and height of the mushroom - they're magic. A cure-all, if you can find them. Many adventures carry a few precious mushrooms when descending into the old, dangerous cities below ground. (426)





prompt: character - art / writing
fable: Padmos
entry:

Padmos needs a few tools for his research in the northeastern jungles and forests of Hessepeia. It's hard being an an adventurer and Padmos uses his time to study the different species of the world. Much of Hessepeia is unexplored and unknown, and who better to find the unknown than he?

One object he uses the most is an old brass spyglass. It's etched with an old language and carved from dark wood. Gold filigree adorns the rim near the glass. It's ancient magic, somewhat known but rarely used, spelled to keep the glass from fogging. It will stay clear even in a heavy downpour. And it's hefty enough to bat away some errant jungle pests. Namely the solefae, which Padmos has had the great displeasure of meeting once. They are annoyances and enjoyed hanging from his spyglass with tinkling symphonic voices.

Another thing he can't go without is a spelled notebook the color of starlight. It gleams in the darkness and is spelled to never be lost and always be dry. Padmos uses it to record the species he finds and observes, and to sketch some of the lesser known creatures for Amal's records. There are bitemarks on the silvery cover from the solefae, who enjoyed gnawing on his life's work.

His final treasured item was a gift from his grandfather, one of the first botanists in Hessepeia. It is a small, midnight colored box with stars made of platinum, and inside is a compass that always points home. His grandfather had used it to journey along the east coast of Hessepeia, and make the discovery of the century - Mroonie Mushrooms. It was entirely accidental that his grandfather discovered their healing properties - he was just hungry and threw them in his stew and voila- his weakened ankle had been healed. (303)

[BlueEyedKite]

prompt: world - writing
entry:
Brùnaidh (bru – ni ) – These are small (teakettle sized) beings a part of the fae folk family. They are found in homes or farms. The majority are masculine in appearance with prominent facial hair. Their attire can vary based on the style of the area they are found in, but all Brùnaidh wear a ‘mantle’. It’s a cloak and hood made of curly, brown-toned fur. Their behavior is helpful, yet mischievous. Brùnaidh are not often seen as they are nocturnal and slip into homes and farms in the dead of night. They enjoy doing household or farming chores. If this sounds nice, be wary, if Brùnaidh feel they are doing the majority of upkeep they will instead pull pranks on the owner. To appease a Brùnaidh, leave out a saucer of milk or cream by the hearth.

Cù-sìth ( coo – she) – These canine bodied creatures are also a part of the fae folk family. They are found in the moorland region of the Great Wood. They are about the size of a shetland pony. Their coat is shaggy with green-toned fur. They possess magical abilities which allows them to appear and vanish at will. There is an omen that to see a Cù-sìth means death is imminent. In actuality, this species guides lost souls to the path of the afterlife. Their bark mimics a bell toll. Always the Cù-sìth barks in threes.

Direwolf – These canine bodied creatures are said to be the gods of wolves. They are found across the Great Woods but are often spotted alongside the migrating herd of fallow deer. Their size varies from horse to bear sized. Despite their similarities in appearance to grey wolves, the direwolf are solitary animals and don’t form packs. Some guess that they have magic all their own. Their coats are resistant to arrow tips and steel weapons. Their teeth and claws are supernaturally sharp. The direwolf can move unnaturally fast for their size. On rare occasions a direwolf may choose a Fable as its forever companion. Usually these Fables are skilled in battle for the direwolf are excellent fighters.
word count: 349

prompt: character - writing
fable: Cian
entry:
Let’s take a peek in Cian’s travel pack. The prince has experience traveling on foot through the Great Wood. Packing a travel bag is second nature.

First we have his leather satchel. The bag has a shoulder strap, yet the Fable usually slings the loop around his neck with one arm through the loop so his satchel falls across his body rather than hanging by his side. It is hand-crafted with the finest stitching and sturdiest genuine leather. The clasps and buckles are silver. This is a satchel only nobility would carry.
Inside the leather satchel is an assortment of preserved proteins. Mainly smoked meats and salted fish wrapped in linen cloth. A drawstring purse filled with coin. There is a small knife for dressing wild-caught game. String used as fishing line. Pewter cutlery. Spare clothes including tunic, linen shirt, trousers, and stockings.

Unlike most travelers, the prince also carries writing utensils. He has a journal with pressed pages, gilded embossed lettering of the herd name ‘Solasta’, and velvet fabric for the cover. There is an inkwell bottle, corked to prevent spills. His quill is made from the feather of a swan. It’s been dyed a crimson red.

Belted to the outside of the leather satchel is a woolen bed roll. A length of sturdy rope. A cast iron cooking pot. Lastly, a leather flask that holds drinking water.

Not kept in his bag or belted is a heavy traveling cloak. It’s made of wool and dyed red. It’s fastened by a luckenbooth broach given to him by his mother, the queen. It is made of silver. Its in the traditional style of two intertwined hearts, antlered Fable in its center, and a crown above. The eyes are almandine garnets. His weaponry is a royal Scottish claymore. The sword is exceptional quality with the finest tempered steel and decorated with intricate engravings. Cian also carried a quiver, arrows, and bow. The bow is a composite horn bow. The arrows are fletched with swan feathers, dyed red.
word count: 336

[quiche cat!]

prompt: world - writing

Field guide
Write a field guide for your world that includes descriptions of a few things that someone could expect to see out in nature (animals, plants, trees, minerals, etc).

entry: 283 words / 250 words

vaysi, as previously stated, is a very plentiful world supposedly created by a single fable that curled up into a huge ball and, well, became vaysi as it’s known today. the fable’s thoughts and prayers for a world where none would starve and everything was beautiful was infused into the planet, sealing in the wishes for all eternity and granting a lovely life for future mortal beings on the lush, grassy surface.
as for things in nature, there are still species yet to be explored. but what there are many of, are flowers. roses, daisies, daffodils, lilies—you name it, it’s there. although flowers grow almost everywhere, there are certain valleys with a plethora of certain varieties, i.e. the “daisy plains” are full of daisies, and the “sunflower valley” consists of, you guessed it, lots and lots of sunflowers!
minerals are also easy to come by, though hide deeper in the ground and are not nearly as sought after as flowers or other plants. diamond is the most common gem found on vaysi, as it has many uses, including bartering as well as adorning outfits and manes to show wealth or ranking in a herd.
there are animals that live there, too, but not many varieties. plenty of birds—especially colorful ones like finches and macaws—but not so many other equines—mainly fables roamed the grounds. predators are few and far between, as mainly, vaysi houses herbivores and some omnivores, and though they have similar names to animals on earth, lean towards a more leafy diet unless forced to look for meat. an animal would more often submit to a life of forging for edible rocks than to look at a fellow animal to feast on.

x
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prompt: character - writing

Precious possessions
What are a few items that are important to your fable?
These could be sentimental items, prized possessions, or just things they use frequently.

fable: cupid
entry: 272 words / 250 words

cupid… unfortunately doesn’t have any possessions. as a previously mortal deity, though, they definitely used to have quite a few of them!
among the many artifacts of their previous worldly life, cupid’s top three items were, in no particular order: a small, pale twig; a pink bow; and a bit of boar hair attached to a rock with some twine.
the twig was not just any ordinary stick! in its prime, it was a beautiful golden rose, adorned with thorns in all their sharp glory. but, alas, over time, the petals withered away, and the thorns got caught in this and that and tore away from the stem. it was indeed a sturdy little stem, and as cupid carried it to and fro, it wore down to a strong, smooth little twig-like thing. they don’t recall who originally gifted them the rose, but it meant a lot to them at the time.
the pink bow really meant nothing at all… it was used to tie back their beautifully short, feathered tail, because cupid adored how it looked in that style. they had found the ribbon while wandering around, and cleaned it up until it sparkled and shined. perfect!
last but not least, the “boar brush”. another simple thing, but it was not so simple to make. the fable had to find miscellaneous sticky things to get the boar fur to stick to the thin rock, then gave up and decided to twist some brambles around everything until… ta-dah! a brush that they used daily to fluff up their sheep-like coat of fur. of course they couldn’t go out every day looking unkempt!

[leopia]

prompt: character - writing
fable: royah
entry: one of royah's most precious and beloved possessions is her magical security blanket -- a quilt of sunrise-colored clouds made as a birthday gift by her grandmother when she was but a young fawn, not more than a few years old. royah was particularly close to her grandmother, daphne, throughout much of her youth; the two of them shared a deep love for the arts, especially music, and spent many a summer afternoon together, sipping sweet tea and watching the birds until the sun began to set.

while the old blanket is not the most beautiful thing to look at anymore (the edges are fraying here and there, some of the careful stitching around the clouds has come undone, and little patches that don't quite match the colors are seemingly sown on at random -- royah's attempts to mend the tattered thing) it still has magic yet to give. woven from deep maternal love, and time, and perhaps a bit of the sky itself, it can lull even the most restless heart into a deep and peaceful sleep. royah does not share its powers often, but for those who have rested beneath its gentle weight, they'll never have sweeter dreams.

when daphne passed from this realm to whatever waits for us in the hereafter, it was hard on royah, but she when she first wrapped herself up in the down-soft fabric, she could feel daphne's essence holding her tight. sometimes in the summer she'll bring it out to the meadows and have a picnic in daphne's memory. honestly, she can't remember a night she didn't sleep beneath the blanket, and she can't imagine being able to without it! [wc: 276]

edit; bonus sketch


quilt ref - different colors/fabrics, but cut and sown in the same pattern and style

[rabbit...]

prompt: world - writing
entry:

Please imagine your favourite natural documentary voice over artist (David Attenborough)

We have come to the verdant forests of Seralide to observe a unique set of organisms known to display colour mimicry to achieve different means. The Dayturna leviarious, with its long and thin stems waved in the wind. It has pinnate leaves that alternated on either side as to spiral up the stem. In the late spring, the flowers bloomed a range of light purple to dark red. They are shaped into radials and false leaf clusters to provide a larger landing pad to its bird pollinators. The dense clusters allow the birds to frequent all its flowers before flying off to maximize efficiency for both the bird and the flower.

However, not all is well in the natural world. Like most plants, it must use chemical cocktails to deter herbivores. Insects often target the petals that protect the nectaries. As such it has developed poisonous protections. Meralim, named after the healers of the Mera clan who use it as a poison and an antidote, causes colorful visual hallucinations when ingested. 

Few are resistant to the flower except the beetle colloquially known as the scepter beetle. It has a multicolored faceted shell which resembles that of a prized jewel. It is as if it has taken the coloured visions and rendered it for its shell. They swirl or spot or shimmer depending on the variety. For talented Fables, the beetles are used to dye fabric patterns. To its natural predators, the colors serve as vivid warnings signs. After birds attempt to eat the bug once, they know to spit it out and avoid another at all costs. 

The creature that combines this food web is the spotted curator, an innocuous rodent from the squirrel variety who cultivates dens filled with poisonous and artistic goods. The scepter beetle colony I was observing  The collect the dayturna flowers into boughs, scepter bugs staked on thorns, and countless other hard to collect organisms. Male curators flick their tails as flags for prospective mates to observe their collections. Much like how fables like to flaunt their collections, we see actions mimicked across the magical kingdom.

prompt: character - writing
fable: Elias
entry:

Elias keeps a lot of the typical things in his travel sack, the blueprints to the manor he’s trapped in with annotations of new secret passage ways, journals for his documentation process, a first aid kit for injuries, all the mundane things. He also Carrie’s around any key, all keys he runs across. One of them will let him find a way out, he’s sure. Musical instruments seem to charm the house, there are so many puzzles that can be solved with a musical cue. Finally, rock of a string. Always handy when you need to spring a trap without actually stepping anywhere near it.

I absolutely loved the bright colours from this piece and wanted to use a lot of bright colours too!

[saorsa]

prompt: world - art / writing
entry:

Field Guide to Kirklow Forest [338 words]

• The forest of Kirklow is abundant with wildlife, most of which are magically inclined as the rest of the creatures in the world of Elmsmore. One such species is the Fey Fox. Similar to silver foxes that we know of, but with much larger years and eyes that match their coat color which can come in any color. These are the little tricksters of the forest but their appearance differs from the foxes we know today. They have slightly protruding very sharp canines which they use to nab items off passerby’s, and despite their quite visible and colorful coats, they can disappear into thin air and pop up feet away with their magic abilities.

• Living amongst the tree canopy are some seriously adorable little animals. A favorite to almost all who meet them are the Gryphoons. Around the size of a small house cat, these winged miniature felines sport very long and strong lion-like tails. Their fluffy fur consists of muted shades of browns, yellows, and rarely dark green. Mostly nocturnal, Gryphoons hunt small prey such as mice which they catch with cat like paws and their short owl-like beaks. They have been known to wander into homes and domesticate themselves, proving to be a very loyal familiar.

• Alongside the many animals in the forest, there is one particular plant which stands out and is well known in the forest. This is called the Pixie Bloomberry. You can find it growing almost as a blanket over the forest floor, characterized by its brightly colored berries which glow in the moonlight. The leaves are a deep green and round in size with a soft, velvety texture.These are highly toxic if ingested but can be used in many different potions for healing.

• Fleurium - A softer yellow/gold colored metal which forms into multifaceted triangle shaped crystals under certain circumstances. Easily found and mined in the southern territories, its uses are mainly found in creating jewelry and other small objects such as silverware and low value coins.

prompt: character - art / writing
fable: Ismênê
entry:

Prized possessions: [286 words]
• Weathered Satchel - A medium sized weathered brown leather cross body satchel. She will not go anywhere without this. Inside are various items she uses in her daily life, such as small glass bottles and vials with cork tops to store herbs, magical potions for healing or ink along side her writing quill (magical imbued to write for her as she has no hands), spare parchment for collecting any information or keeping records while working in the library.

• Her favorite book, ‘Tome of the Ceremony of Healing’, which has been well loved over the years with illustrations and notations for quick reference. Sporting yellowed, worn pages and a deep emerald cover, this time has its place upon her desk in her chambers since the day she acquired it. Some nights she will study the passages she’s read already. Ismene is dedicated to keeping her healing skills up to the best of their abilities in case of any emergency.

• A simple looking but important talisman for her healing abilities. It is a small silver locket on a leather string, which she wears when preforming any type of healing. The contents inside depend of the work that needs doing. For example, if one is seeking emotional healing, she would add items such as Jasmine, which represents hope, peace, and emotional healing. She would also add some small parchment with certain runes, symbols, or spells written to also aid in her magic.

• Comfort sweater - a nice, thick wooly sweater that smells like fall all year round and is various shades of browns and greens in stripes of different widths. Ismene can be found wearing this in times of stress more so than if she’s caught a chill.

[kyeza]

prompt: world - writing
entry:



sprites are small, seemingly sentient wild animals that one can form a type of bond with. there are regional variants in phenotypic expression based on location in the world and the temperature and other such qualities of its environment. below are a few examples of recorded species of sprites:



woodhorses — horse-like creatures that come in various sizes, from drafts horses to the smallest of ponies. they are shaped of wood and creak when they move, with soft, carved out eyes that blink ever so slowly. the type of wood that they're made from varies, warmer regions tending to have darker colored woods and cooler regions having lighter colored ones. draft horses are often bonded with and taught to pull carts and carriages for fablekind to travel long distances with ease. many farmers associated with house lochend use woodhorses to haul their carts and ploughs.

crystalmice — small, mousey critters made of gemstones. they chitter and chime, tiny glimmers on the floor in the sunlight. they come in all sorts of colors, warmer and cooler shades of gems generally found in their respective regions. the areas around feyllune and lumengrove, for example, tend to have the most variance in color, due to the high levels of magic found there. in baywick and felsthyr, they often take on more earthy tones, blending in better with their surroundings. around dustmoor and winterrim, they're often found in lighter colored gem variants to better blend with the lighter terrain. crystalmice are commonly kept as pets due to their low maintenance levels.




[ 255 words ]


prompt: character - writing
fable: melui
entry:


melui never goes anywhere without her bookbag. deep purple and splattered with a scattering of stars and constellations, lined with a pastel pink trim, this bag holds everything important to her in her daily life. from her various notebooks and textbooks—magic theory & ethics, practical magic, the works—to her pens, her schedule, and her keys, this bag has it all. being known for her frantic note-making, she also tends to make an absurd amount of little notes to herself with reminders, lists, and other such things, and is known to shove them into her bag to "see later." not that she's ever able to find them again when she needs them.

she also treasures the many bouquets that adorn her home, flowers upon flowers lining every surface and filling every vase. she visits the flower stall in the marketplace far too often, she'll admit, making her way through the crowded streets of feyllune every day after her classes come to an end, but she can't help it. anything to see aella. she's not even all that into flowers, really, yet all of her spare change goes into buying a new bouquet every day without fail, trying everything and anything to talk to her other half. but she can never seem to get through to her, no matter what she tries. even still, these flowers are all a part of aella, in the end, and melui cherishes them as such, as that's the closest she'll ever be to her.

[ 250 words ]

[molotov]

prompt: character - writing, precious possessions
fable: grimshire
entry:
book of burden. a thick, worn tome of unknown origin, its cover is lined in a leathery reptilian hide that shimmers ominously, its etched with strange indecipherable runes and patterns that often glow a dim green when in use. it’s assumed the spells—though of significant power—only breed misfortune for the caster that outweigh the benefit. grimshire did not care to heed these warnings, in fact, he is determined to study every page despite the assumed risks, which have already costed him his privacy. if not for his unwanted compaion imogen’s frequent disruptions, he would likely find himself enveloped in the forbidden book from sunset to sunrise. perhaps it’s for the best he is not.

skull pot. a skull of unspecified species, grim fancies it’s use as a potted plant. where a small white flower has grown within a hole at the top of the broken skull. he has come to fixate on the unexpected burst of life after death, and tends after the small flower routinely as though it were his own young, determined to keep one thing alive.

grim’s journal. a field guide is only natural to possess the wilderness, even with the years of living in seclusion in this vast sea of isolated woodland, grimshire has only discovered a mere fraction of the life that inhabits it, and hides within. grim has made a hobby out of filling its pages in his spare time, taking great detail in studying the flora and fauna, charting its depths, and enjoying his privacy within the heart of the wilds, in all its beauty and terror.

[265 words]

prompt: world - art
entry:
grimshire is a being whose touch brings decomposition to living tissue, though in his best efforts to self isolate and research the affliction in private. his experimentations in forbidden magics have had an unintended consequence to the local flora and fauna in a variety of strange ways, here are but 3 documentation’s of his discoveries.