Spelunking the Universe
Posts tagged ADIOS
ADIOS: Turan – Aid to Votum
Aug 9th
Throughout the pre-production of “Birth of the Wyrd Mage” I have been slowly creating more and more “characters of value”, persons who require details, backstories, and most particularly looks. Turan is the newest addition to my “family” (if you’ll pardon the lame metaphor). So let us begin, I’ve already begun writing the characters actions but I have no specified looks so this’ll be a first for both you all and myself!
Turan has been-for longer than many can remember-the High Aid to the King of Spes, his services trailing over the last two Kings and perhaps even further. While he has reportedly lived for seemingly forever his body is not one of eternal vigor, his hair has gone gray and thinned on top (though evenly spread out). His beard has shortened to a goatee with two small spikes of growth to the right and left sides of his chin. His face has sagged and the pouches under his eyes tell the story of many decades of endless servitude.
The skin on his hands, and much of his body, has become gnarled with old age and a slightly off white. He never could acquire a tan and instead was left with some dark smatterings where particularly bad sunburns left their eternal mark, it gives him an illusionary appearance of being unwashed but this is anything but true.
Turan has worn the same white coat over the same brown button up tunic for far longer than it was considered fashionable. His pants a pair of equally old brown pants that are just long enough to cover his legs when he is standing, they fit to the point of not requiring any sort of belt or support.
While his appearance is not one of a kingliness his endless servitude to the throne has left all kings with unquestioning loyalty to him, his unique and out of place dress only seeming to help them distinguish him from the otherwise indistinguishable mass they lead. His eyes are an infinitely deep brown and they bring with them a level of concern and compassion that is only overshadowed on occasion by his often calm attitude.
Turan does not have his own secrets, though they are ones of pride and not malice, with his growing age Turan has become easier to tire and often retreats to benches out of sight or to his quarters to rest a moment and recollect his thoughts (as well as his breath). His service to the king so great that he wish not to even worry them with his own health.
There is within the kingdom of Spes likely nobody more devoted to the throne than Turan, and nobody devoted more to the people beyond the King than he, he is as wise as he is wizened and as perceptive as he is altruistic. These statements may be misconstrued so to do away with turns of phrase: He is very old, very wise, hauntingly perceptive, and utterly altruistic.
It was Turan that turned away the title of High Aid, simply referring to himself as an Aid, though his position is considered by all but he to be such (there has never been one appointed since his arrival).
Perhaps a trope (the nice wise old man) but he is more inspired by a wonderful photo I found online than from a series of ideals. He is the embodiment of what I envision a single real world individual to be, perhaps completely erroneously, but that is the joy of imagination.
Turan would want it no other way.
ADIOS: The King of Spes: Votum.
Apr 9th
Votum, the lord of all Spes, goes only by one name. This name was not always his, though his real name is no longer known. During the battle of the Great Divide Votum clashed with not only the common enemy of Vitis but also with traitors amongst his own people. He was not at this time the king, nor was he a high ranking soldier, however the experience brought him to the edge of death. It was at this moment that he came face to face with Adageo the Seraphim of Valor.
What was spoken is unknown, however he was bestowed with two gifts; the name that all worship and the transformation into the demigod that he is now known as today. Birthed from the bloodied and shattered frame that was his former self rose a titan amongst mere mortals. Standing as a tower of power at the epicenter of a sea of death Votum peered off towards the soldiers who felt their victory certain. He howled with such fury and vindication that it echoed for miles. Every eye, every blade, every tensed muscle was prepped because of, and upon, his presence. An army of ten thousand men rushed at Votum, and hundreds more from the traitorous rank and file that had killed all his friends and countrymen. The first hundred dropped with nothing but quaking fists, from them he armed himself with everything he could carry and began to reap his way through the battle field. Arrows were swatted from the air, shields were shattered, and blades cracked and dulled beneath his endless swings.
It would be many hours before the last remnants of the assault fled from the hulking mass that was Votum. He spent days burying every fallen soldier of Spes that lie on that battlefield. The tale of his conquest spread not only across Vitis but through whispers and dark alleyways of Spes itself. As he marched back, alone, to the center of his homeland he was greeted with wonder and cheers from the people who would soon crown him their king.
Votum is a passionate lord who sees all in his nation as his children. However the events of that battle have forever scarred him, his heart skips a beat with every shiver across his nation, the fear that any of those he holds so dear could betray him. Each crime that transpires is like a scorching iron poker to his eye. Votum, unknown to his people, spends many hours at the deepest recesses of Mt. Votum screaming as his mind is taunted with paranoia and despair. However amongst it all he still presents himself as powerful and immovable.
His powers are not only of sheer physical absurdity but Votum has also gathered an extra perception that aids in his quest to cleanse his lands of any taint. If Votum peers into the eyes of any living being he will begin to see all the things they have done recently, playing back in reverse from the moment he peers into their eyes. Though he rarely uses it as most traitors cease their onslaught upon meeting the great king in person.
At his heart, Votum is alone, a nation of brilliance and prosperity surrounds him, a collection of the greatest minds command every inch of his land beneath his watch, and yet amongst all this he is utterly alone. This perhaps, above all else, is his only weakness. A weak link just waiting to be tugged.
Special Mention: Thanks Dave for a great concept Image. He made this in the time it takes me to make a sandwich. Always a pleasure and an honor. Note to people curious, the golden visor is a temporary placement it isn’t actually intended 
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Coming this Week(end) on TheIOS:
IIWP (If I was President): Taxation
ADIOS: Hyo
Mar 13th
One of the major protagonists in the first IOS book (hopefully to be finished this year). He meets up with the main protagonist Deki at the major fork leading to Sanctus and Tianim. Little about his is known, and no amount of prodding by the inquisitive Orc seems to change that.
Hyo is a well educated wanderer whose major driving force is unknown to everyone (apparently even him). He knows things that given his sightlessness he should not and he fights with a skill that borders on the super human. Hyo loves to live vicariously through others, meeting and joining with whoever he happens to find, his eclectic nature tending to get all involved into varying levels of trouble.
Hyo is very protective of his robe and wears it at nearly all times, the hood of his robe when worn hangs far over his face masking his identity completely. However even when thrown back much of his face is covered by a thick leather band that completely conceals the upper half of his face. He is roughly the same height as Deki however quite a bit lighter. His robe hangs loose on him and doesn’t appear to have been made specifically for him.
What, if any, purpose he may have is an ever growing question that becomes all the more clouded as the events of Bellum unfold in “Isle of Bellum: Birth of the Wyrd Mage”. Did this last line come across as an advertisement? Drat! I knew I should have taken a few courses in sneaky marketing!
More short bios to come as my good friend and adopted brother David H. draws more concept art for the characters . He is the visual muse to my literary creations. If you be a lady, are single and in your early 20’s, you should totally date him. The more the merrier I say! 
- Rico
ADIOS: The Scionic Calendar
Oct 8th
Every Month in the Scionic Calendar has 28 days in it. This number is derived from the 27 known Lesser Seraphim, each day of the month has a special sub name derived from the names of these entities. The 28th day is a special day in each month that is considered a time of prosperity that even the most war torn nation observes and respects, mainly for fear of repercussions from the Seraphim themselves.
The Months themselves are named after the Seraphim Lords and Barons. Of which there are 13 in total. This conveniently enough results in a year that is 364 days long and thusly makes all understanding of events transpiring in the land of Scion relatively simple. It works out almost too well.
In Order from the beginning of the year to the end the months are, Aurin, Chas, Kalmine, Dimil, Gefil, Hidrone, Ghein, Thananus, Kalma, Atune, Tartun, Phobus, and Scius. The Calendar has been in action for so long that even after the seemingly eternal separation of each Isle they each still use the same Calendar (unbeknownst to them).
ADIOS: The Forbidden
Oct 7th
In an almost impossible manner, while all Isles are separated to the most extreme of degrees, the Forbidden still exist. More widely known as “The Cult of the Forbidden” these groups of beings, each a select few from the races of their staple Isle, are searching for rare artifacts known as the “Shards of Thanatos”.
No group has ever met another and yet they each work hardily and without halt towards this ultimate goal. Each connected by some dark event in their life, murder of a loved one, theft of innocence, or some other agent that drove them to the darkest of followings. None of them knows for sure what will come of their acquisition but many pray that it will bring closure to their tattered souls.
Assassinations, disappearances, and other acts of secret destruction can safely and accurately be tied back to these groups. Even on the most pious of nations these groups exist and they seem almost unstoppable, if only because so few believe they exist. A slick sliver of steel stabbing deeply into the spine without ever being seen are they.
Some forty shards are all that stand between the entire planet of Scion and what many assume to be the darkest of days. The ceasing of time and quite truly the ultimate end.
ADIOS: The Nations of Bellum
Aug 5th
I’m a bit embarrassed that it has been this long and I haven’t given official names to the warring nations of Bellum. So without any more shenanigans I’m going to do so now and give you some understanding of them.
ADIOS: Islean
Jul 25th
Islean (Pronouned Ill-lee-an) is another integral part of the story that I feel should be discussed, formerly and rather unprofessionally called “isle walkers” in previous versions of my rough draft this is the new and likely final name of an exceptional class of humanoids.
As usual this may involve spoilers so I’m going to put it behind a clip.
ADIOS: The Megaroth
Jun 2nd
Today’s discussion from the world of Scion is a particular sea beast whose name has changed on more than one occasion. As is with history eventually all things repeat themselves and this beast ahs gone from Megaroth to many different names and has inevitably returned to my first choice of name. It helps to verbally prepare the reader for the grotesque size of this creature.
So without further adieu.
ADIOS – Wyrd Mages
May 24th
ADIOS (Aka a Day in the Isles of Scion) is the occasional post about some random aspect of the Isles of Scion Universe, this time around we will be discussing the wonders of the Wyrd Mages. For those of you out of the loop the Isles of Scion is a universe I’m developing through a series of books that should sometime in the next 3 years see their first release. Until then these posts will be helpful for me and those interested in getting ideas out. I’ll try to keep spoilers to a minimum (that being said if you read further than this expect to learn something you might not want to know when reading the book.