Character Discussion
Character Discussion
This might seem like a lame title for a post but I’m not sure what else to use. The new direction of Nyrva.org is now a character/art dBase and site about my original characters – namely my fictional character Nyrva Dragonwood for whom the site is named, and her fellow related characters, plus any crossovers, etc. I also will use Oslaania.net for that as well but Oslaania.net covers other hobbies too – this site is solely about my characters.
I wanted to talk somewhat on here about my characters in contrast to other fantasy.
I use terms like Wood Elves, Forest Elves etc. I call my characters “elves” – but my elves are not magical at all. They are elves but they are just beings – a humanoid race in my fiction, with no magical abilities. My use of terms such as “Wood Elf” and “Forest Elf” etc. has nothing to do with magic either – but more tribal, clan type stuff. Much similar to the kind of names used in the “Shire” of the Hobbits in the “Lord of the Rings” books, or perhaps like tribes and clans of old in real life countries like Ireland and Scotland.
Example – Nyrva Dragonwood is of the “Dragonwood” elf tribe – one of seven Wood Elf tribes of the country of Oslaania. If her tribe is wiped out, if all the “Dragonwood” die, say by genocide – one tribe is eliminated- if the other six also die, there are no more “Wood” elves- they become extinct. They are not a race in the same sense they are in other fantasy fiction – it is a name/tribal identity issue.
That is actually the case in the story I’m writing – many “Wood Elves” such as Nyrva have been killed by the Dark Elves of an opposing country called Archania in a largely religious and political war against the country of Oslaania – inquisition. Nyrva’s tribe, the “Dragonwood” are near extinction, as are other “Wood Elf” tribes. Two of the seven Wood Elf tribes are already believed to be fully extinct – fully destroyed by the Dark Elves of Archania who have heavily targeted the Wood Elves especially – and especially the females believing the females are the key to the race and that if you destroy the females, the race will die.
The “Wood Elves” of my story actually descend from the “Forest Elves” and as such are a “daughter” race – it’s members are considered “cousins” of the “Forest Elves”.
Nyrva Dragonwood, 2009 – Dragonwood elf tribe, female Wood Elf. the protagonist of my fiction.
For Nyrva’s “crime” of being a “Wood Elf” and the child of “heretics”, The Dark Elves of Archania would love to destroy her at any cost along with any other Wood Elves they encounter. The Archanians will not stop until every single Wood Elf is dead.
Because the Forest Elves are still so strong in number and allies of the Wood Elves in addition to kindred folks of the Wood Elves – they have taken the remnants of the Wood Elves among their own ranks. Of course this would eventually have to lead to war if the Archanians want to kill the Wood Elves who have come under protection.
Nyrva however starts out living among Felinians – a race of cat-eared people – her quest is to find any surviving members of her family and other Dragonwood elves that may still live.
This is a more “impromptu” pencil drawing I did of Nyrva. I may explore this avenue more with other characters – was going for a more “realistic” style drawing rrather than “Anime” – wanted to try and imagine what she might look like in a more realistic style.
There is the scene in the novel of Nyrva Dragonwood naked and defeated, laying at the base of the steps leading to the ruins of her long lost elf tribe, the Dragonwood Elves – sat this point she has been attacked by thieves but not harmed. However she has been drugged and stripped bare naked and robbed of everything she has; money, clothes, food, provisions, etc. Not wanting to risk anything above charges for theft, they do not rape or harm Nyrva’s body apart from merely drugging her with a weaponized, but non-lethal form of “Elfsbane”. The thugs simply use the substance to put Nyrva to sleep for awhile to prevent her from resisting them. She wakes up laying naked in the forest 5 days from home, forced to walk home in this condition. She would have to scrounge for food and water along the way and figure out ways to find suitable shelter a night.
(Elfsbane - is a sedative made from the sap of an Elfberry tree used for insomnia – or in a more “weaponized” form in this case can work like chloroform and in a way that will temporarily render an elf unconscious. can be ingested, inhaled or injected as with a syringe or a dart – it is not poisonous except in very highly prolonged concentrated dosages – high overuse, generally it is only a sedative – it is called Elfsbane because it only works on Elves. Humans and Felinians only seem to become temporarily intoxicated or “high” as in a marijuana high, on the substance. Thus they seek it for more “recreational” purposes. This is a problem for Elves when Humans or Felinians choose to “smoke” tobacco products laced with it. Elfsbane is not known to be poisonous when used in reasonable amounts by members of any race, including Elves suffering from a sleepless night — the most common purpose for the medicine used by Elves..)
“Anime-style” cel design of my character Raiya Dragonwood – the young female wood elf sister of Nyrva Dragonwood. The age equivalent of a 9-10 year old human girl. Raiya is still a young child growing up in a dangerous world. The Archanians would still brutally butcher her if they got half the chance, sparing neither age or sex.
Raiya is the baby sister of Nyrva. The two sisters were separated during a raid by Archania. Each believes the other was killed but still hopes and prays to God that if there is a chance – to bring them back together again. Raiya is protected and raised by Forest Elves, kept safe in their village – and I don’t bring the sisters together for quite some time in the book – actually I’m not going to reveal here if I bring them together at all. I have considered however a separate book for Raiya showing what happens to her – especially if I do decide to reunite the two sisters.
Nyrva Dragonwood gazing heavenward towards God.
My story is not a religious story in and of itself but there are some questions of faith among the characters. Some of my writing has been an elaborate roleplay using real life questions placed into the lives of my characters. Questions of right and wrong, good and evil, faith in God, etc. I figure people ask these questions for real so I decided to have some of this in my story as well.
There are at least two books planned featuring Nyrva – one is a collection of short story adventures of her’s during her hidden years in exile featuring this situation. The second is a singular story adventure where she actively tries to find her people.
Nyrva Dragonwood – Skyward Gaze 2010
A redo of a drawing from 2005 of Nyrva Dragonwood looking to heaven praying to God in her mind. The name of the Messiah, Iysus – in the Elfin tongue. He came to Eethos nearly 1700 Yaar ago to redeem those who would believe on Him – He was the Son of God. On Earth He would be known as “Jesus”.
Nyrva lives in the world of Eethos – a world that in many ways parallels Earth, with its own Moses, “Christ” (Iysus). it’s own Nero, Caligula, Constantine, Galileo, and Napoleon type figures, and the list goes on. They may not go under those names, but the same kinds of people have come and gone and done the same kind of things as on Earth. And now Nyrva finds herself in the midst of her own “Reformation Era” of which her own people, the Wood Elves of Oslaania, have come to fully embrace, and against the wishes of the Church City State of Vatacanus ruled by the self-prclaimed “Holy Pontiff” and the Country of Archania, read the forbidden “Sacred Texts” (the book that reveals the truth about God and shakes the power of the aforementioned “Church State”) and must choose to believe in Iysus, and face death as a “heretic” by the Dark Elves of Archania who constantly invade her country of Oslaania to force their own religious and political views on their land, or else submit to them and sell out her soul, and betray her own blood and people.
Nyrva chooses not to betray her beliefs.
Either way the Dark Elves would not care. They would still want to spill Nyrva’s blood – and the blood of all of her people for reading the “Sacred Texts”, embracing “Iysus” and rejecting the power of Vatacanus. The Wood Elves believe Iysus will one day return to restore Glory and Life to the fallen who believe in Him, avenge their blood, and destroy evil forever.
Another up close shot on Nyrva Dragonwood’s cute face….
And we close for now. More drawings and character descriptions as well as character profile pages are on the way.
Nyrva.org is now the new character and art dBase for Nyrva Dragonwood and other related characters of mine. Art characters and art © by me. All rights strictly reserved.
Until next time…
God bless!
Jade Dragon
Jade Dragon Gallery
