Crossfire
An overly extensive passion project that I one day hope to publish as a full-length novel.In development since August 2021.
Octavius Vaughn, Headmaster of Uiras Academy for Prospective Adventurers, has been retired from being the Adventurer's Guildmaster for a few years now. There were many reasons for his early retirement: an easier job, chronic pain, a war in which he kept getting wrapped up in without ever really wanting to. Still, he kept many friends and made some new ones, yet all of them seem to be getting more and more involved in the war.
As bloodshed hovers over Octavius's head, he has to plant his foot down and make a final decision about his own involvement.
Misc. Art
The World of Idenys
A map of Idenys made (using Inkarnate) for reference purposes, feel free to imagine it how you want though.
Kosyid
Kosyid is where the story starts off. Home to Uiras Academy for Prospective Adventurers, Octavius works and lives here. It is a desert city built within sprawling caves, stretching for miles below the sandy surface.
Despite the war that Kosyid has been helping to fund for nearly a decade, Kosyid has a bustling economy, leaders who are active in the community, and an incredibly happy populace. It seems to be thriving as a near paradise for all walks of life. Nothing could ever go wrong in Kosyid.Néve
The home of Empress Artemis and Commander Nagai. Néve is a cold and closed-off city built between the southern mountain ranges of Nivris and the coast.
Néve has been at war for as long as its people can remember. Between continental wars and power vacuums, it's been a long time since the country has known peace. Currently in the midst of war with Mata'Aghu and on the brink of its own civil war, Néve is restless and bound to implode soon.Mata'Aghu
Home to the headquarters of the Adventurer's guild, Mata'Aghu is a massive city that spans a large island off the eastern Kosyian coast.
Only at war with Néve because of its proximity, Mata'Aghu is build on the shoulders of artists and craftsmen. Music, literature, theater, and art all once thrived in Mata'Aghu, though the city has been struggling to stay afloat recently.Norilensk
Octavius's favorite vacation destination; a much less dense kingdom, spread over a much larger area of taiga, tundra, and mountains.
Norilensk is full of farms and snow, but happens to have a sizable population of Névean deserters and refugees, a large portion of whom use their newfound freedom to explore the cultures of the world.
The Characters
Octavius Vaughn - He/Him
Octavius is the protagonist of Crossfire. He's the retired founder of the adventurer's guild and the current headmaster of Uiras Academy. He's generally very steadfast in his beliefs and loyalties, and uses his emotional nature to connect with and defend his friends, students, or anyone else who needs defending.Icarus Nagai - He/Him
Icarus is the main antagonist. Recently promoted, he's the current commander of the Névean army. He's a cold and brutal man willing to do whatever it takes to achieve the desired results of his higher ups, no matter what the cost to the enemy, his colleagues, or even himself is. He would rather die than fail his mission.Turakina Davaa - She/Her
Turakina is one of the major characters; she's the adventurer's guild's second in command. Endearingly known as "guild mom", she always knows how to put a smile on someones face and more than always encourages straying from the path, even if she has to account for some extra time to fight the wolves.
.Ore Lalke - He/Him
Ore is a major supporting character who became the guildmaster after Octavius's initial retirement. He cares deeply about his friends, sometimes to his own dismay as he tends to get stuck in the past. He loves to pay for dinner whenever a mission interrupts their planned cooking time.
.Artemis Orlova - She/Her
Artemis is a major antagonist. Only becoming empress due to the death of her husband and the young age of her son, she's not very popular amongst the people of Néve. She's used to getting exactly what she wants and nothing less; which combines strangley with her unusual views on mortality and morality.Midas Aurum - He/Him
Midas is a major supporting character and the president of Kosyid. He's very stubborn, always doing what he thinks is best for his state and her people. Whether or not others agree with him on what's best, however, is a different story. His kindness and hospitality earns him a spot as a close friend of the guild.
.Varin Dyster - He/Him
Varin is a major supporting character. He's an ex-guild member who currently works as a bounty hunter in Kosyid. He still takes on many jobs that the guild puts out, and retains his relationships with many current and former members. He always tries to invite others out to town when he notices they've been bogging themselves down with work.
SUPPORTING/MINOR CHARACTERS
Meredith Sigyn - She/Her
The deserted former commander of the Névean military. She's very wise and now resides on a farm in Norilensk.R'shana Lolhu - She/Her
Fully retired co-founder of the adventurer's guild. A passionate woman who operates a farm in Norilensk.Alina Fiske - She/Her
The Névean's best assassin. She's incredibly fiery and even more loyal. She's been known to sniff out spies that others can't.Victoria Fahnestock - She/Her
The Névean royal scientist. She's incredibly loyal and has little enough morality to carry out the Empress's experiments.
A'rifi Kamave - He/Him
An adventurer recently graduated from Uiras Academy. He's a little shy, but incredibly smart, magnificient at healing, and very eager to learn.Anya Morozov - She/Her
The current senior valedictorian at Uiras Academy. She's very intelligent and responsible, making her friends with many of the adventurer's guild.Leroro Lalke - She/Her
Ore's little sister and a freshman at Uiras Academy. She's got a super short and explosive fuse, but tries to save it to defend her loved ones.