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ok ,entonces tengo un OBVIAMENTE SHIP por Theo y Oliver , así que bombardeare con preguntas románticas !
Who would be more romantic? Who is the one who cares more about the other? Who would take care of who in a cold (why is that super romantic? I don't know), who would blush more at the other's comments? Who has more protective attitude? .....and I'll stop for now
Jag kan inte spanska! xD Ser du hur skumt det här är? Hahahaha!
And thank you for this ask! :'D <3
Both of them care for the other just as much. :) They just support one another where the other needs it. They don't have the same needs!
Oliver is the most blushy though. He's a rather shy person (sober, anyway. Drunk Oliver is very confident).
They are both protective. Theodore is just..... Well, he's a witch:
ibwr world building lore stuff:
Witches are, in the world of IBWR, a little unhinged. People fear them, they're seen as a "necessary evil" by the church and society in general. People seek them out for various reasons and aid. Often taboo things. In public opinion, witches must be a little... evil.. To be able to do certain things.
It leaves witches socially ostracised at the same time socially desired and renowned. It's fickle to navigate. They're basically the dark fairy god mother left uninvited to the party, but if they show up anyway nobody's gonna throw them out. Their association is a flex to pull, but also at the same time an association you want at arms length.
So real and genuine friendships are hard to come by for them.
This resulted in witches, generally, sticking to themselves and their families. The public opinion is that witches don't have have friends, and if they do those people will soon live to regret it. People think witches' friends are only for business or pleasure. If you're not business then you're pleasure, and if you served your purposes you're ditched without remorse. <- At least that's what people think. It's not baseless, but also not totally true.
Witches has built up, because of this, this mask of confidence that they lean into - that they're untrustworthy and mischievous, lustful and morally dubious.
It's just a terrible circle, really. "IF YOU HATE ME, FINE, THEN I WILL BE ALL OF THAT WITH PRIDE!!! FEAR ME!!" like, okay, you just want friends don't you.
Because people seldom like them, at least genuinely, they become very loyal friends to those that do. Maybe a little scarily loyal. You like me? Like for real? Okay then I will help you get away with murder. Oh, that's too much? I mean, what do you mean you don't want anything?? I can give you everything. Name it and it's yours.
Witch culture revolves a lot around deals and contracts, so when they meet people (like Oliver) who asks for nothing in return they try to make up for it, it makes them a little nervous to receive something without having to return a favour. Which makes them a little too inclined to jump to their loved ones defence - out of both love and duty.
And, lucky for Theodore, Oliver is good at declining that behaviour. Which teaches Theodore he's actually loved. And that not everything is transactional. That also works great for Oliver, who has always felt like he owed the world something, so he ensures nobody feels they owe him. It leaves them both with an established genuinely: They love because it's simply that. Love. No keeping scores, no malicious or selfish intent.. Just... As close to unconditional as you can get.
Theodore still needs to work on jumping into HAHA LET ME END YOUR ENEMIES though. It's how witches show love. it's a bit toxic but that's part of his arc, he's learning who he is outside of his family and the way he was raised.
He's just as much an Ashdown witch as any of his family is. Generational trauma and family trait is not something you escape just because you can see it for what it is. Sometimes it takes a different voice in you. But it's there. You may think your family's sense of loyalty is toxic but yours isn't. We are all a little blind and needs help seeing ourselves sometimes.
Oliver isn't without his toxic traits too. He's really blind to his worth and chooses to be okay with bad things happening to him because he thinks he deserves it - He was raised to believe that he has to be quiet and put aside, that his needs are secondary and that if he wants to be loved he must allow others to use him.
His logic doesn't work, and Theodore - who's blunt and has an honest relationship with Oliver, can be frank and poke him about it "if that's true for you, then it must be true for me. If bad things happen to me, that must mean I deserve it too. Rules cannot apply to one person alone. It doesn't work like that. You can't say I deserve to be heard and loved unconditionally, and then not apply it to yourself. practice what you preach."
And Oliver needs to be reminded of that sometimes. Theodore is a good reality check for Oliver.
Theodore lifts Oliver off the ground when his depression makes him lay face down in dirt. And Oliver holds Theodore back from acting on his impulsive negative emotions.
But they also encourage the other on their positive traits.
Oliver cheers Theodore on with his goals and dreams, gives him room to be authentic to the parts of himself he's repressed. He encourages him in areas where Theodore is sensitive or insecure. He validates him.
And Theodore gives Oliver the space to feel safe and unjudged. He can be wholly himself and not feel like he's a burden for needing something. Oliver can speak freely and Theodore enjoys his thoughts on things, he requests his opinion and values his insights (which is good for Oliver's self-esteem).
They're both patient with one another, and put effort and time into trying to understand what the other is going through and needs.
They're friends as much as lovers.
The double taptap shoulder thing I used in my fanfic is.. it's actually.. from them. <XDDDD Oliver do that. I am regretting it a smidge that I used it for huntlow now XDDDD
OH WELL.
ANYWAY.
THAT WAS ME BLABBING ON ABOUT MY BOYS FOR TOO LONG.,
THANKS FOR READING IF YOU DID ASDFGHJKL
I wish I was further in my story so I can like.... SHOW ALL OF THIS ALREADY *SOBS* NOT JUST TALK ABOUT IT. *CRIES*
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The fates are weaving their yarn, destiny is already decided. And there's nothing Theodore can do about it.
But when he meets the vampire Oliver, everything takes a step to the left into uncertainty. Together they discover the forgotten past and the unwritten future! And, of course, love.
💌 (۶•̀ᴗ•́)۶ ❤*+:•* ♬∴“:♡.• 💌
Send an ASK about IBWR to my personal blog [HERE]
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If you knew the world ended tomorrow, would you plant your apple tree today?
#Mera#liveblogging#in blood we rise#ibwr#comic#webcomic#lgtbqa+#lgtq+ comic#comics#webcomics#lgbt comics#lgbtqa+ comic
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I read In Blood We Rise and thoroughly enjoyed it! Your art is beautiful, the characters are interesting, and the lore of your story is fascinating! So of course I have questions. I'm not trying to ask for any spoilers, and if it doesn't interfere with your narrative plans, I'd love to learn more about the world and the people in it :)
For the Ashdown family curse, does it impact all first daughters of children had by any family member? (i.e. if Jessica and Logan have a daughter, she'd be at risk. Theodore's daughter Isabelle is at risk.) Or does the curse have other restrictions on who is impacted? Such as: only the first daughter of the family heir, only the first daughter born after currently cursed family member passes away, etc.
Do vampire peculiars have any specific powers, abilities, or weaknesses? I'm curious what, if anything, you're using from the common vampire mythos (besides the fangs), since Oliver seems to be a-okay with sunlight, doesn't (have to?) bite, and has to work out and/or do physical labor (I assume?) to be ready for a fight.
Thanks so much for writing and drawing. (I'm a fan of your huntlow stuff too.) I hope you have a lovely day <3
I can't go into too much of that! :) Most of these things will unravel themselves as the story goes onwards!
But! peculiars! I can do that! :D <333
This particular topic wont be covered yet until a few chapters ahead - And it's not plot spoilery, just world-building fun, and I think it'll benefit me a little to give a weeee bit info about peculiars now too, for those interested!
Also the stuff I'll explain here is just basis anyway. :)
that's loose basics for vampires! :D [Read in blood we rise here]
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What are the fairy types??? I love IBWR and I would eat your world building if I could <3
There is three categories of peculiars: Erebus, Beast and Fae.
Fairies belong with FAE types.
Fae has, in the UK, these peculiars: Fairies, Spriggan, Nymph (Theodore would call them a Huldra or skogsrå), and Giants.
FAE: Fairy like by looks but often the most "human/regular" looking out of all peculiars. Usually it's the ears or size that gives them away. Their powers are often just seen as either what peak-human-power would be (like strength, skill, etc)
Peculiars can be from all walks of life. They can have any religion, gender, background and race. It doesn't matter.
QUICK FACTS:
Faries are, in a largely Christian society anyway, associated with the seven sins.
They are also easily spotted by their stark colour coded looks.
The shades vary a bit on the scale, there's no set colour of "Pink" for example, but if you look at them and think "ah that's pink" it's probably pink.
A fairy can get a child of any colour of the parents' eye colour. So if it's a pink fairy father, but a green-eyed regular mother, the baby could be either a pink or green fairy - or a regular!
But it's usually the eye-colour that determines it.
Or, wild card - night fairies just kind of come out of nowhere and it's a 1 out of 500 chance of that happening. They're rare.
FAIRY FLAWS:
Fairies have something called a fairy flaw, this is where the seven sins thing come in.
In folklore, fairies are said to be so small that they can only hold one feeling at the time! (like Tinkerbelle from Peter Pan). This is obviously not true! Not only are they human sized, but they feel just as any other mortal person.
The reason fairy tales say that about fairies is based on their fairy-flaw.
So what is the flaw about?
Well, every fairy has an Achilles heel feeling they just can't seem to temper or control. It's the emotion that consumes them and it is very difficult for them to get out of that feeling.
You could say that about a regular-person too, some regulars just feel a certain thing very intensely. But it makes the general public feel better to point at fairies and say they're not perfect - just look how petty they are!
Also, it is true that all fairies just.. naturally struggle with this one emotion they have. For some fairies, it can take a lifetime to find a way to work with it. But most fairies just try to avoid feeling it at all, which.. as you can imagine.. causes an endless cycle of rinse and repeat - you cannot stop yourself from feeling something. That's not how emotions work. And if you try to repress something, it will come back ten folds.
Which, then, just further feeds into the prejudice being true.
FAIRY PERKS (gift):
Fairies are naturally gifted. It can be anything; writing books, making shoes, mathematics, music, you name it.
You know how, sometimes, you meet someone and they just got IT, with seemingly no effort at all? That's fairies.
They pick something up and off they go. You spend your life honing your craft and in waltz this newbie and does in an hour what you worked your whole life for.
Everyone admires them, except the people in the shared field who feels like they've been cheated.
Fairies are almost always excluded from talent shows, being chosen as representatives, etc, because the unionised opinion is that: Albeit they are brilliant at what they do, and probably the best in the room, it's a gift and it's unfair and nobody really wants to include them.
This also means that if you hire a fairy, the standards go up. Fairies can face work environment bullying or praise, it depends on the individual space. But it's always a gamble, really, if their gift is welcomed or not.
It does give some fairies a sense of "I'm better than all of you anyway!" kind of attitude, sometimes, anyway. But it's easy to see why.
No fairy is the same, of course. Fairies often have discourse about whatever or not their perks and flaws are something to be proud of or not. Which, gets really difficult, for the purple and green fairies sometimes.
The issue here is, also, that Fairies fade if they don't get to do what they love, get to exercise their gifts. And sometimes, most of the time, they
FADING:
Fading is just a fancy word for depression. Because regulars make the rules and they don't think it counts as "real" depression, since it almost always involves their perk/gift.
Fading looks like any depression. Sometimes involving substance abuse.
The things that DOES make it a bit different though is that their colours fade. They bleak and their hair and eyes colour turns white, or at least their colour bleak so much that it turns pastel-almost-white.
A faded fairy is cause for concern as they are most likely going to commit suicide. The only cure is rehabilitation where they get encouraged to pursue their heart's desire and exercise their gift.
Sometimes, the reason they fade isn't because others has made it difficult. Sometimes it's because there's just... No space for their gift. It might be a gift that is just simply inaccessible to them. Whatever because they're in the wrong class of society, because they don't have the money to get a degree that allows them to pursue it, etc.
NIGHT FAIRIES:
These are not categorised as a fae-type, but they are fairies. They are categorised as an Erebus due to their dangerous nature.
They are almost always mellow and flat in their expression. They like being in solitude, they are - on surface anyway - to the victorian public... Seemingly evil.
They work just like any other fairy. Except, that, well.... they do not have a flaw.
And that's the only danger they pose. That's literally it. People just don't know what's up with them. And it makes people uncomfortable that they have a gift (that often exceeds even other fairies talents) without carrying the restraints of a flaw.
They just don't emote like everybody else, they're basically just autistic coded people - the autistic creature if you will.
Night fairies are deemed dangerous because, to the victorian scope of knowledge and cultural/religious reference, you don't look like that, is a fairy ontop of it with no flaw to boot, and there's not at least SOMETHING spooky going on.
Fae-type fairies, unfortunately, does not like them much. As their lack of a flaw makes them, well, there's just grounds for being resentful apparently.
The Erebus sub-culture enjoy them quite a lot though. They're the baby brother of the Erebus types.
Most Erebus, when meeting a night fairy, is going to feel for them the way they would feel for any other Erebus. Which is a look of comradery that other peculiars just don't have. And because Erebus types are pretty tightly knitted in comradery, they're aware of one another's struggles. Meaning that they are aware Night Fairies are technically the least threatening peculiar there is, but no other peculiar is going to side with them. So most Erebus types just rope in these defenceless outcasts because it's just not fair.
And Erebus knows all about it not being fair.
So yeah! Night fairies are the least dangerous or powerful peculiar, slotted in with the most powerful and dangerous of them.
it's like the bullied kid is placed amongst the jocks and the jocks are good guys actually.
The night fairies do struggle socially though. Despite their seeming disinterest, they are not heartless or unfeeling. They just struggle to emote and have a hard time with being overstimulated. Which is why they turn to their gifts to cope, leading them to often far surpass any other fairy.
Erebus types are, like, kind of aware of this and often just include them on sight. It's a thing. Most erebus are brought up with the notion that you don't mess with night fairies.
Some erebus, though, have cruel intentions and take advantage of their lack of social skill, often hiring them for their gift and misusing it.
Night fairies also, unfortunately, if they are gifted in something that involves social things - like music, and they are expected to perform in front of crowds, it can be means to cause them to fade.
Sometimes, having a gift isn't about making a buck on it. Sometimes it's simply because it's nice for your heart. And that's the essence of night fairies - they just love what they do. It's everyone else who's got a problem.
AND THAT ABOUT COVERS IT, I THINK???
I'm sure I missed something. There's some peculiar culture stuff that's a little too much to get into. And doesn't really serve much purpose other than be-riching the world I've created and alows me, the authour, to imply cultural codes and social systems in the world without having to always spell it out.
Oliver, for one, is going to be aware of these things. While Theodore is not.
#ibwr#in blood we rise#ibwr lore#ibwr world building#*chuckles* and then there's just night fairies#night fairies really just be sitting here all “????” while everything happens around them
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Mera, Captain, Laddie, Chap, Chum, You Majestical Swede
I am living for your IBWR lore on vampires. I love tidbits on biology and quirks of fictional species, especially when it's given more unusual and creative twists. My investment in your comic has begun to peak, I am precariously standing at the edge of a new hyperfixation and you are daring to push me in with your art and lore.
l'II be looking forward to seeing Ollie's lil quirks and other bits of the charming world that lives in your head. Also feasting on your TOH bits, as a lore enthusiast your rambles are so very enjoyable and your connection board is so relatable. A bit curious what hexsquad would be like in the world of IBWR or what peculiars/witches/regulars they'd be.
So very glad I clambered onto this ship of yours and get to see some of the bits and bobs going on in your brain- I adore the way you think. Sorry if this was a bit long, I hope you're doing well and will feel better, whatever it may be from <3
*squeaky scream* thank you anon!
˚‧º·(˚ ˃̣̣̥᷄⌓˂̣̣̥᷅ )‧º·˚ <333333
I am having a lot of fun making my story! BWR is only in the baby phases! There's so much fun about this world and it's people, culture and history, that I'm so excited to share with everyone who reads!! :'D <3
IBWR has everything I personally enjoy in a story! This means a lot to me, it's my passion project (and hyperfixation of my own creation) for a reason.
Here's a doodle of Oliver and his buddy Sebastian :)
As for who the hexsquad would be in IBWR! HMMM! :D
HEXSQUAD IBWR AU:
Luz would be someone with a weak fylgja who wants to be a witch anyway! And she'd join a coven to try pursue it. For her, I think her story would be about learning that magic isn't as beautiful as she had hoped, and joins another coven that doesn't do the traditional ways of things. Or perhaps she starts her own.. ;)
Hunter would be a werewolf! :D A beast-type peculiar.
Gus and Willow would be Fae-types. Gus a spriggan, Willow a fairy.
Green fairies "flaws" are envy, I think I could make that work for her! Otherwise I'd put her as a red fairy, the flaw would then be rage. Willow's "fairy gift" would be plants and working with gardening.
Amity would be a regular, I think. Perhaps a wealthy girl who finds herself quietly rebelling against her parents by going with her older siblings to women's rights activism stuff! Possibly that's where she meets Luz! :O
Gus being a Spriggan would mean he's a natural showman, as they're known for their mischievous nature and charisma. I think he'd work in a music hall! :D
Vee would be a fae-type too! But she would be a Huldra/Nymph (skogsrå in swedish). Meaning she can shapeshift into people still! So that fits best.
For IBWR, I take a lot of folklore and put a spin on them with my own interpretations! :)
I like playing with the idea that the folklore and fairy tales are based in half-truths. It's a lot of fun and I've put a lot of thought into it so that they make sense into the world I've built. :D
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Sorry if this has been answered before, but what is Oliver’s relationship with blood?
he gets by with tactless morbid humour.
He needs to drink a flask of blood every third day. He's one of the unfortunate vampires who drank too much the first time, so now he's stuck with that.
He works in a funeral home for a reason.
Human blood is best, but second-best is pig blood from the butcher.
(pst! in the world of IBWR, butchers are also known as erebus-amours, as a lot of erebus type peculiars do meet in the butcher shops.)
Other animals work too, but they're less potent and it is more difficult for a vampire to get the measurements right.
You can't also, like, just bite people. You know? That's like shanking someone. So vampires get their blood from secondary sources.
(pst! there's no such thing as a bloodbank in 1885!)
Vampires need to drink blood, or they get into a semi-concious pursuit for it. They can't help it, it's like being blackout drunk and this blood-goblin takes the wheel. They have some sense of what's going on, but they're like... pure natural instinct.
Werewolves and Vampires are not too unlike each other in that regard. Only that it is the moon cycles that control the werewolf while the vampire's personal cycle controls them.
To werewolves, vampires are "lucky" that they get some sense of control by getting blood.
While vampires would reply that there is comfort in at least relying on that the moon will happen and you can prepare for it.
IT SUCKS TO BE AN EREBUS, BUT WHAT YA GONNA DO, Y'KNOW???
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Can I have like, a synopsis of ibwr? Like what's it about?
The fates are weaving their yarn, destiny is already decided. And there's nothing Theodore can do about it.
But when he meets the vampire Oliver, everything takes a step to the left into uncertainty. Together they discover the forgotten past and the unwritten future! And, of course, love.
It's about the witch Theodore and the vampire Oliver.
This is a world where witches are like the fairy tales, cruel and sinister, who gladly trick the desperate into unfavourable deals.
A world where peculiars (vampires, giants, werewolves) are living in regular society just trying to exist.
Witches, also, need the bones, blood and flesh of peculiars to make powerful witchcraft. A vengeful hex doesn't quite hit as potently as with the fingerbones of a red fairy.
Theodore, however, who has had his views on peculiars flipped on its head.. Set out to try repurpose witchcraft where gore isn't needed anymore. Perhaps witchcraft should be for everyone..?
Perhaps... There is always another way?
Oliver is a vampire, a peculiar, who despite his best efforts cannot seem to catch a break. Spirits love him, the fates tries to keep him from dying, and he might not be the best at communicating his feelings - but dangit, he is trying!
In the meantime, the Fates weave their yarn...
IN BLOOD WE RISE
or, badly explained:
CHAOTIC BISEXUAL WITCH FALLS FOR SUICIDAL GAY VAMPIRE AND THE FATES SHIP IT BIG TIME.
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TALKING ABOUT EXTRA CONTENT THAT COMIC INDUSTRY PROS FOLLOW YOU FOR-
I have a tiny tiny idea/request 🤏
*whisper* Sally and Sebastian in pirate outifts? What do you think? 👀🏴☠️
NO BC YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW I LOVE these two and they don't even appeared in your comic yet 😭❤ I think I'll go crazy when I "officially" see them
OF COURSE I CAN ANGIE!!!
THANK YOU!!! TTOTT/ <333
Gods I cannot wait for these two to show up and meet. LOOK AT THEM COSPLAYING THEIR FAVES FROM THE PIRATE JOURNALS.
For anyone new to IBWR and have no clue who these are-- ALLOW ME TO PRESENT TO YOU:
Sebastian Russwal and Lady Sally Allaway.
Sebastian is a selkie, his father is from Spain, his mother is from Ireland. Sally is from High-society lady from Highland Scotland, and was (arranged) engaged with Theodore (before he, y'know, did what he did.)
They both are super-mega fans of a book series in the world of IBWR called The Pirate Journals.
And if you like nerdy friends-to-lovers you'll enjoy 'em. :)
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Hello! I've just gotten caught up with both your TOH fics and IBWR and let me just say, your writing is fantastic! I have a million things I want to ask you, but if you haven't already answered this one, it's what I'm most curious about;
How do you do your research on things like puritan culture? Like what sort of questions do you search for to get the information you need about historical costumes and culture? Thanks a million and I can't wait for the next updates to all three!! (metaphorically speaking ofc take all the time you need)
Hello! Thank you for reading! :D/ I welcome questions like these!
Oh! Let me break this up:
COSTUMES:
Find passionate people who hyperfocus on the era you want to dive into. There are a ton of reenactors and seam-enthusiasts on instagram & youtube who do historical sewing, and all of them usually have one era/decade that they spend most time in. They are extremely enthusiastic about both showing their progress of making the costumes, what makes them accurate to history, as well as displaying the garments by happily twirling around in them.
So costumes? Find the nerds. They'll tell you all about how men's shoes went from silk ribbons to buckles.
These people are the best researchers. Not all of them have degrees or have a history background. But they read, live and breathe these things more than any degree could give them. Some of them even learn languages just to read a book about wigs, buttons, and gloves.
Following the nerds will get you to the points much faster than reading the books yourself. They'll pluck out the important details and, very enthusiastically, teach you about the important bits. It'll also stick much better if someone is excited to teach you something.
CULTURE:
Same thing here, really. Find the nerds. But instead of just looking at fashion, look at things like: Food, music, lower social classes, local entertainment, pub songs, drinks, jokes and humour, pets, baby names, folklore, superstitions, agriculture, architecture, interior decor, furniture, sleeping routines, etc.
Ask seemingly mundane but important questions, such as: Where do they shit? What did a dentist do? What's a quack? And are there famous quacks? How did they deal with crime? What was punishments? Did kids go to school? When was it acceptable to get married? What was socially taboo?
Things like that.
I like to start with asking myself: What is relevant for me to know, in regards to my story?
Because you are telling a story, not an essay on the era you're having as your backdrop. You don't have to include every single accurate thing. It's okay to be off on some details in favour of telling your story (in my opinion). You're not a historian.
With that being said, if something like crime and punishment is important to your story, you should look that up. If you feel that the way people dressed, and the social morals and taboos, might be something that adds both world-building, and would let a reader fall into the era more.. You should look into that too!
Culture adds flavour to the setting. It allows both you and the reader to see the invisible stakes. For example: The puritans were very gendered. So it impacts how men and women interact with one another. It can invite both humour, conflict and pearl-clutching. Because if you understand that it would be, say, unacceptable for a man to press his lips upon the skin of a woman's hand, and you can both tell and show this to the reader; when such a thing occurs, the reader will LE-GASP.
Youtube is also a good space to go to.
Write down names of important figures of the time. Musicians, politicians, criminals, philosophers, inventors, women, plays, etcetera.
Something that influenced the culture was also what people were currently discussing and discovering. What was invented at the time? What were the philosophies and poetry written? Who were the prominent speakers of the time?
Like how we, today, are talking about how "social media is bad and ruining the children!" What did people talk about back then? People have always yelled "But what about the children?!" What were the social fears and terrors? These things influences the culture.
MY OWN NOTES:
I would say that no source is a bad source, one thing will lead to another. Don't just look for videos/documents/books about the puritans! Look at the era as a whole, even the time just before the one you are looking in at.
Context is everything. What happened in 1635 is a result of the previous culture's just 10-50years before. Don't dismiss the little things.
You never know when; a curator explaining why a led-cup was an important to medicinal practices at the time; might be of use to you! (note: Drinking over-night wine from a lethal cup in small doses made you shit a river and vomit. This was believed to be all the bad in your body leaving you, and even out the levels of various liquids in the body. Like pee, sweat, blood, and mucus. That's why blood-letting was a practice, too, to even your levels.)
TAKE NOTES.
Like, listen to a documentary and have a piece of paper nearby that you can scribble down something important you heard.
Documentaries can be a bit of a drag to sit through just to find ONE piece of good information. But hey, as long as you get something useful right?
That's the short summary of it. Hope that helps!
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So, over the last month I read the entirety of In Blood We Rise. Love it so, so much! Just caught up with it just now! Wonderful comic, and as I said in the comments, you are a spectacular artist and yarn-weaver! I just love the art, the characters and the world you've set up! Genuinely intrigued to see where you go with it!
Oh!! Thank you for reading IBWR! :D <33
I'm really happy you're enjoying my work!! ‧º·(˚ ˃̣̣̥⌓˂̣̣̥ )‧º·˚ <333
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Hey Mera I wanted to ask a question about IBWR. Don't know if you've answered this before but what helped inspired the designs for theo and oliver? Like the clothes they wear and their actual physical looks
*gasp!* Thank you for asking!
So a lot of thought actually went into these two goobers hahaha!
But mostly, it has been about duality/opposites.
BODY TYPES:
Theodore:
He's wealthy and doesn't have to walk far distances. He also enjoys the typical upper-class foods that were popular at the time. Which were rich in carb and protein. So he's chubby! :)
Not only does this softness reflect his wealth and comfortable lifestyle, it also reflects that he, as a person, is soft.
He may dress smartly and use fashion to present himself as both sleeker and fitter than he is. His personality is a pretence hyper masculinity (like his suits) to cover up how gentile and somewhat flamboyant he actually is.
Side note: I am actually rather bad at drawing chub without it looking like stiff muscle mass. I'm still working on that.
Theodore likes how he looks, he is confident and carries himself like a born gentleman with something to prove. Chest out and chin high.
His curly blonde hair and green eyes and Cheshire grin are all family traits of the Ashdown family. It makes them look more like witches, with curly flirtish hair, deep mystic eyes and smiles that lie the way you'll like it.
Witches are hard to resist, but nobody likes them. They bask in sin, and who doesn't want to be tempted now and then?
Oliver:
He's poor, he doesn't eat very well, he's active and practically runs everywhere. He's skinny to a fault, he exerts more energy than he consumes. This is not healthy. He works out, he climbs buildings and gets into trouble and he knows how to fight (cus he had to). He is fit. Now, he may look chiseled like an adonis statue, but this is not strength. He is just low on body fat. He is tired a lot for a reason.
He is muscular looking, but his strengths are in being able to outlast and run. He can fight, sure, but he prefers to just run.
His blue eyes... It's almost like he can see things that aren't there.. Blue like the past, blue like the veil. There are many cultures all over the world who associate blue eyes with the supernatural or something evil. If you want to know more about it I would direct you to look up the blue evil eye and superstitions about blue eyes. :)
His dark pointy hair is in stark contrast with Theodore's curly blonde.
Unlike Theodore, who unbashfully enjoys himself, Oliver cares very little about himself and can't really see what others see. It even makes him a bit nervous to talk about his looks due to a previous toxic relationship as well as some.. awful things. He has to be drunk to be physical.
FASHION:
and that's just pinterest---
listen okay I could be here all day.
But the gist of it is this:
Theodore:
Rich bitch strut your stuff you bisexual idiot. He likes details and fashion and embroidery. He likes to sew and he likes to tailor his own things. Sewing is considered feminine if it's not your profession, especially if you're upper class. But Theodore, despite himself, sews and edits and wears what he's made. So any compliment he gets on his fit, or insult, he takes very personally.
The guy has an ego that is just as much a mask as it is a genuine source of confidence.
What he wears is an extension of himself, he wants to be free and fashion helps him express himself, both openly and in secret ways. He dress in codes.
But every coat and jacket he has, has an inline pocket for his wand to carry around.
Perfumes, rings, brooches, a cane, silken hats and beaver hats, gloves of every sort and-- look he got style and he's in with it.
Oliver:
Good god baby please wear something else. He wears things he's bought second hand, his jacket is from 1872s (it's 1885 in the story), he rotates between five shirts and like.. three vests. One vest being sundays best. Basically, everything he owns is old or doesn't fit him. He rarely spends money on himself and he's oblivious (and too depressed) to know or care about his looks.
The guy has no confidence and his opinion of himself is reflected on what he wears.
Oliver's idea of dressing up a bit is to tie a nicer scarf around himself into a tie rather than the flimsy blue knot he does.
Oliver always carry a small book and something to draw with. When he's out about in London he likes to perch upon things, or squat where he wont be bothered, and draw.
He also stuff his inner pocket with dry lavender from work to mask the smell of dead from work. Unwittingly to him, it also helps keeping spirits from noticing him.
Now, wouldn't it be lovely if Theodore got to dress Oliver up. :) Y'know, just to give Oliver a glimpse of how he sees him.
it would prooooobably go something like this:
"Oh, no, no." Said Theodore and let his hand flutter about. "That's not what style is. That's just fashion. Now, STYLE, my dear..."
He grinned and circled Oliver in the way that made Oliver anticipate a tickle. And there it was, the poke.
"Style is something you carry in you. You got style, but you have no sense of fashion. I will bring you the fashion, and I promise you will see what I mean."
"I doubt it." Oliver smiled faintly. "But if it will humour you."
"Oh, you have no idea."
So Oliver let him. It wasn't what he thought it would be; Theodore didn't throw things at him. He asked him to touch the materials of each garment in his wardrobe. Asked what colours he liked. He held up some ties next to his face to compare the shade with his tone, his eyes and hair. Some were discarded right away and others made Theodore delightfully ooh and aah.
Oliver would be lying if he wasn't having a little bit fun.
Theodore pinned in the waist of the trousers, no suspenders or buckles. "it will just wrinkle it." Theodore muttered. "There shan't be any wrinkles or creases on my watch. And, oh, your hair. Let me just- just a little."
"Alright." Oliver chuckled and sat down to let Theodore do what he liked.
Oliver, finally, stood dressed and looked down at himself. Everything fit him and the shoes were shiny, but he still couldn't see what Theodore meant.
"I don't see it."
"Well, you're not looking yet." Theodore brought to the mirror.
And Oliver saw himself.
He had to blink a few times, he didn't recognise himself. And as if his very soul slapped him in the back, Oliver stretched himself up proper, tilted his head and brushed a hand over his chest.
"Do I.. Really look like that? You didn't put a hex or something on the mirror or..?"
"No hex, just you. And yes, you really do look like that.. All the time in my eyes."
And Oliver's lips twisted into a shy smile. "You jest."
"Not about style." Theodore nudged. "Style is serious business." And grinned his iconic mischief smile.
#ibwr#in blood we rise#*SIGHS AT MY BOYS*#GOOOODDSS YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH I THINK ABOUT THEM ALL THE TIME#Wrote a lil.. blurb at the bottom because...#listen okay my head is filled with scenes like these and I have nowhere to PUT THEM#*cries and punches a wall* I love my lads so much.
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Can I ask if there are any Rå in IBWR and if so, can we have some info on them in that world? (E.g. tomtar, trolls, huldra, etc) Would there be regional differences too throughout the Nordics?
[IBWR comic]
That's a peculiar! Fae-type! :D
(skogs)Rå is the Swedish name for what the English would be a Nymph!
NYMPH (Skogsrå) - PECULIAR TYPE FAE
Their appearance key factors are thus:
Their rainbow eyes are constantly shifting. But more often than not, they will unconsciously take the eye colour of whomever they're speaking to.
POWERS
Their "power" is shapeshifting!
Now, to protect themselves from hunters; it is common practice to cut the tail off on them when they're babies. But doing so means they will have phantom feelings all their life.
Some cut it off when they're older to protect themselves or sell it to a witch-store for money. It's not an easy decision, but poverty is ripe within the peculiar community.
See, this is the "lucky peculiar" because they can easily hide amongst the regulars. A well-trained nymph can go a whole day, if not several days, in a different form.
Transforming into objects, animals, or camouflage with the environment is a skill that must be practised. They can also not become bigger or smaller than they are. Their mass must go somewhere.
They need to have seen a person to be able to copy them.
They can change pigment and hair type/colour, however! Furthermore, they can't produce more hair than they got. So if you see them grow their hair out all of a sudden, you can be sure their tail is currently bald.
Nymphs do not like showing their bald tails, or stumped tails.
Despite being "lucky," they often find themselves in predicaments of others adoration and desire.
UNFORTUNATE
They are popular in Molly houses if they do find themselves in the trade of selling sexual favours. For obvious reasons.
Their mental health is typically in the body dysmorphia areas of mental illness, as they are frequently asked to look a certain way, or feel pressured to morph themselves around. Insecurity is sometimes a fatality and not uncommon.
If it's very bad for them, they can get stuck in a constant morphism and disfigure themselves out of stress. After all, if you think you're ugly, or think you have to be pretty/look like someone else, you can get pretty messed up.
"You are what you think you are." is a common phrase in the nymph community.
SWEDEN
In Sweden, they are called a "rå."
it means "forest rå," Rå is short for "rådde" an old Swedish term for "watching/guardian", so; forest guardian.
There are various types in Sweden of the Rå: Bergsrå (mountain), Sjörå (lake), Gruvrå (mine).
The differentiation of them are not physical. They all look the same and are the same. The categorisation is defined by tribe that they belong to. You can recognise it on their clothes or their jewellery.
Skogsrå will wear leather, green colours and greyish white.
Bergsrå will wear gold, red and dark grey, their jewellery is mainly copper.
Sjörå will wear beautiful cotton garbs with lots of swirly patterns, often in hues of blue, and silver.
Gruvrå wears black, silver, iron, and grey. Their skin is also mostly paler than the others.
................................................
Now you also asked about tomtar and trolls! Those are spirits!
But I will tell you some fun fact about the word "troll" that I have incorporated for Theodore's Swedish heritage as a witch.
The word for "magic" are two in Swedish: Magi and Trolldom.
Magi is pretty directly translated as magic, but the act of doing magic is "to trolla".
Trolldom is directly translated as witchcraft.
But a witch is not "troll" it is "häxa". Because a häxa "hexes" someone with their magic. It is inherently an evil act, while trolldom/witchcraft in and of itself is not evil.
Now in the world of IBWR, witches are seen as good - or rather a necessary evil.
The things you and I would attribute to have been caused by witches (you know, during the various witch trials and what witches were accused of doing). Is historically in IBWR what is applied onto peculiars - attributed to their powers and looks.
Peculiars are seen as half-human, especially in Scandinavia. It is an old pagan belief that the mother of monsters birthed them. Whatever that's true or not, who knows. It's kinda the same sort of shrug-history as humans being descendants of Adam and Eve.
They are thought of naturally causing mayhem, that they lack souls, and that (even if they are christians) are inherently pagan.
(there is a huge double standard, as witches are christi-pagan themselves and are not thought of as heretics or evil)
But because of this, peculiars (in Scandinavia) are called Fanskap.
Fanskap is made up by two words: Fan (a nickname for the devil) and Skap (short for "skapad", meaning: something that has been made). So Fanskap means "Made by the devil".
Fanskap is a curse word in Swedish, or it used to be anyway. It's a bit of an old-man thing to say (I still use it, but my Swedish is quite old fashioned).
Peculiars (or in this case, fanskap) seek each other out in Scandinavia, preferably to whatever tribe of rå that will have them. The rå tribes are wealthier with status (often they make little villages in the woods/mountains/etc) and, historically, they and the witches have an understanding.
After all, witches and hunters are sometimes interchangeable. If a peculiar/fanskap fucks up; does a crime or is accused of having done something evil-magi, it can be solved between the witches and the rå-tribe.
----------------
I can't say more than that because I am still developing the Swedish stuff of IBWR, so that last bit might shift a little depending on how things develop when I get to that point. It is very late-game stuff of the story. But this is what I'm willing to share about it. :'D
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Just wanna share a slightly weird story about my first experiense with IBWR... You see, when I was debating if I wanna read it or not, I curiously opened the comic on a random page just to have a peek (I often do this to introduce myself to the atmosphere of a story)
And the page that I clicked on was about Oliver having the peacefullest nap of his life (tm) after reading the bible outloud. This had led me to 2 main thoughts:
Ow wow, I definitely want to read this properly from the start!
...is this guy struggling to read the bible because he's a vampire while a prayer in culture is known to drive away various devilry?? and vampires are commonly considered as devilry too?? now that's a conflict... AND THEN LATER I'LL FIND OUT THE PECULIARS LORE AND ALSO THAT HE'S DYSLEXIC I'm so so sorry :'''D
but. but also in that page I loved Oliver's little house spirits, guarding him at his sleep with spoons. We don't know what's the deal with them yet (and what's the deal with Oliver and spirits in general, I guess), but they have very fun designs at the very least. I would cheer if we get to see them again some time in the future!
While reading the comic from the start I got really hooked by Theodore's story too. This story overall feels very loved by its author, with some deeply personal thoughts threaded into dialogues and symbolics.
I am glad that I found IBWR and decided to check it out. Thanks for sharing it to the world!
post scriptum: two words. Crow Fates. Crow Fates are Great.
I've been trying to figure out how to reply to this forever. It has made me happy every time I read it in my inbox. Thank you so much for reading my comic and for your lovely words.
[IBWR]
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Are there any limits to how spirits can look like in IBWR? And, if this isn't too spoilery, what's the connection that similar looking spirits have with each other?
Spirits can look like anything, really. Very human-like or very much NOT human-like.
I take inspirations from old doodles in manuscripts as well as academic esoteric descriptions of what demons, spirits and other supernatural beings look like! I like art history and most of my spirits are either inspired by or taken directly as a reference from paintings, scripture, and architectures.
BUT! All spirits have black eyes. That's it. You know they're a spirit if their eyes are black. :) That's why, when in demonic possession, your eyes are described as "going darker." It also helps with distinguishing, visually, when something is not of this world. It gives me opportunity to play with the visual narrative. :D
Now, GHOSTS, however... I will not go into just yet! That would be lil' bit spoilery. ;)
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Hi Mera! Just simple and... nice question! Or two! About IBWR 😂💙
When did Theo and Oliver first appear in your head? How different they are now? Oliver had wand and blue hair at some point, right haha?
Did any side characters not make it into the final product aka your comic?
GOSH YEAH. So many characters merged and changed or were removed completely.
For example, the first version of the story was a mystery where a wealthy lady (Sally) was investigating a series of murders that seemingly was done by witchcraft, she did this by going undercover and joining forces with this vampire guy she got lodging with - why? I don't know! lol. I was inspired by Jack London's biography of the east end.
IT WAS SUPER EDGY AND OLIVER HAD BLUE HAIR. Or- well, I gave him blue hair to indicate to the reader when he was having a delusion.
I scrapped it because.. I didn't like the story and I cringe a little at it, but I liked the characters and their friendship. So that's the only thing I really brought with from that version. I illustrated bits of it in 2015-2016:
Sally and Oliver's friendship are still going to remain in IBWR though. I also really liked Sally as an investigator, someone observant, adventurous and nosey.
Sally also had a husband in this version named Tom!
It was late 2015, early 2016 when IBWR actually came to me in it's early stages. At that time, I was trying to force the old story to work with the new but quickly abandoned it. I still kept Sally as an important figure though and developed her family tree.
The only survivors of that version, though, are William, Logan and Bothan.
I merged Logan and Mitch into one character, t gave him more depth and nuance. Their kids got scrapped, too many characters and they served no purpose for the developing story. Alexina's and her sister merged and and their roles got transferred into Oliver's niece Louise instead. So she's Filipino now! Since Oliver's brother's wife is! :)
I'm going with that I have to serve the story I'm trying to tell, the characters are tools to tell that story. Which unfortunately means removing or changing them around.
And.. *gestures* Theodora (Jessica with Jane's personality basically) was Theodore's oldest sister. At that time, Theodore had way more sisters and, honestly there were too many characters. Too many twins too! Jenny and her twin sister merged into one for one.
The first version of ibwr was that Sally found out that her brother in-law was a witch that had gotten into trouble that just kept escalating and- well, that was Theodore. lol. He was the (not so) secret villain. 😂
But that sucked and I was still trying to make a murder mystery for some reason, so, all of that is scrapped now lol! 😂😂😂😂😂
But I couldn't work out what Sally was supposed to do? So I put her aside to develop Oliver - who had like... NOTHING.
I make it sound like it was originally all just about Sally, but it was about Oliver and her both. And I couldn't find a story with her without sacrificing what made the core of her character. If I changed her, it wouldn't be her anymore.
I had this idea for a story, and nothing worked. :/ I had to re-invent the story and the character's purposes completely.
so,
When I turned my focus on Oliver more, the world of IBWR came into fruition. Peculiars, witches, spirits, the gods, everything just rolled out from there.
Finally I found the story I was trying to pin down on paper.
That's also where I realised his love interest was Theodore.
it was my friend Spooky who named Theodore, it was supposed to be a placeholder name. BUT IT STUCK. SO.... NOW HE'S THEODORE.
The new version developed Oliver more. His backstory has pretty much remained as is. Some, or half, of it circling around the tension in his family around him being a part of the family dynamic now. being his father's mistress' son who they all have to get used to existing with them. Here's an early mini comic where I was trying to figure out the vibe/mood of their relationship:
But once again I hit a road block in the narrative.
Oliver held so much plot and story, but I couldn't tell it entirely through him. The story couldn't start with him, the world couldn't be introduced through him without spoiling too much or losing momentum for all the other elements in the story.
So!
It had to start with Theodore. He was the witch, it was through him I could show the core messages and conflicts of the story early on without it feeling force-fed and annoying.
Through Theodore I also realised what the overarching plot and conflicts were, discovered more themes and what I was actually trying to say more cohesively.
But that meant I had to go further into Theodore's family! And who they were, what place they had in society. And bam! I saw what the end game looked like.
Now I had villains that scratched the itch I had been trying to locate.
I hopped between Oliver and Theodore's narratives, weaving (hah!) their storylines together and could make a sensible yarn out of it (heheh).
Through them, Sally finally got her importance back. She is a bit in the background, but without her a lot of things just wouldn't work out. And with her, Sebastian became her partner in crime (well, not literal crime). And William! :D
AND NOW THEY'RE THIS: BLORBOS!!
There are also bi-characters like these peculiar hunters:
Casper is still in the story, you see him in the prologue! But Casper-Jesper-and-Jonathan is just a reference to a swedish childrens rhyme.
Jesper remains but is re-imagined, but Jonathan is scrapped.
Casper and Jesper will both show up again as henchmen. But you can also see Casper here in this chapter poster:
This is a small note but:
in 2019, right before I started IBWR, I hadn't yet made the decision that spirits all have black eyes. So in this poster, where Oliver is dressed as the ghost of Christmas Past, the spirits have regular eyes.
The way I draw eyes are very specific now. Gods have a certain type of eyes, so does spirits, just to further visually distinguish them from one another in the realm of spirits/gods.
uuhhh....
But yeah!
I think they are solidified properly in 2019-2020 when I started the story officially. That's when I felt like I understood enough to actually start rolling the ball.
there are still some stuff I'm working out, but they will become clearer once I actually have made enough progress on the story. I need to know how this beginning looks before I can see where to go forward with certain things.
:)
uh.... yeah! :V
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HOLY SHIT PAIS DINOGAD?? LISTENED TO AND REFERENCED BY MERA????
I love that song so much, oh my gosh! 🥹
Anyway thank you so much for making art and sharing it :D I just binged the entirety of In Blood We Rise and it left me in a soft, fluffy haze. Not to get too sappy here, but it made me feel refreshed and ready to see the good in people and treat them with patience and kindness, you know? Deep down, I think that’s what everybody wants and needs. Thanks again for putting all this effort into your creations, they’re beautiful and inspiring and heart-achingly kind :’)
IBWR is still in its baby chapters, but I'm very inspired by folk beliefs, mythologies and the mashup of cultures. So hopefully I can trickle more of it in!
The story takes place in London after all! Londinium is one of the oldest places of mashed up cultures in the world. :)
So it'll be fun! :D
AND THANK YOU!!!! ( ´•̥̥̥ω•̥̥̥` )
I'm glad that's the vibe! One of the core themes of IBWR is hope.
When all else is gone, there is hope left. And, if you look closely at it - at the core of hope, there's a flicker of love that wants nothing but good things for you. You don't owe it anything. It's just patient and loving. I hope the message can reach those who need it the most.
Sappy is fine in my book, I'm sappy too! :) just look at ibwr lol!
Some old music I like to listen to as I draw for IBWR:
(Angie I know you're reading, yes. Here you go. lol)
youtube
youtube
youtube
youtube
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