Prophecy and Fate Stone

In the shadow of a fallen kingdom, a prophecy foretells a daughter of darkness who will wield a blade and rule death. Althea "Thea" Zoltaire, marked by a fate stone that promises her death at twenty-seven, grows up in the fortress of Thezmarr, a realm on the edge of darkness. Thea's life is defined by the knowledge of her limited years and the burning desire to become a legend before her time runs out. The fate stone, a rare and ominous artifact, is both a curse and a motivator, pushing Thea to defy the roles assigned to women after the prophecy led to their disarmament. Thea's world is one of secrets, forbidden weapons, and a relentless drive to seize her own destiny.

Warswords Return Home

Thea's clandestine observations bring her face-to-face with the legendary Warswords—Wilder Hawthorne, Torj the Bear Slayer, and Vernich the Bloodletter—who return to Thezmarr bearing grim news: the Veil that once protected the midrealms from monsters is failing, and shadow wraiths are breaching its boundaries. Wilder, the youngest and most enigmatic Warsword, is known as the Hand of Death. His return signals a turning point for Thezmarr, as the threat of darkness grows and the old ways are challenged. Thea's fascination with the Warswords is both personal and symbolic, representing her longing for power and agency in a world that denies her both.

Sisters in Defiance

Thea and her younger sister, Wren, are orphans raised in Thezmarr. While Wren excels as an alchemist, Thea is restless, chafing against the restrictions placed on women after the prophecy. Their relationship is a blend of fierce loyalty and constant bickering, with Wren often covering for Thea's rebellious escapades. The sisters' dynamic is central to Thea's journey, as Wren's intellect and inventions (like the Ladies' Luncheon Teapot, a device for secret poisoning) contrast with Thea's physical defiance and hunger for battle. Together, they embody two sides of resistance: cunning and force.

The Laws of Steel

The prophecy's aftermath saw women stripped of their weapons and forced into roles as healers, alchemists, and scribes. Thea, however, secretly trains with a forbidden dagger, dreaming of joining the ranks of the shieldbearers and, one day, the Warswords. The fortress is a place of rigid hierarchy and tradition, but Thea's defiance is fueled by memories of the night women surrendered their blades and by the stories of female warriors who once shaped Thezmarr's legacy. The laws are enforced by the Guild Master, Osiris, whose fear of prophecy and change makes him both a guardian and a jailer.

The Hand of Death

Wilder Hawthorne, the youngest Warsword and the last to pass the Great Rite, is a figure of awe and fear. His presence is magnetic, and his power—bestowed by the Furies—sets him apart from mortals. Thea's encounters with Wilder are charged with tension, curiosity, and a growing, forbidden attraction. Wilder's return to Thezmarr is not just a harbinger of war but also a catalyst for Thea's transformation. His own scars, both physical and emotional, mirror Thea's, and their fates become increasingly entwined as darkness encroaches.

Forbidden Training

Thea's training is a blend of stolen moments, observation, and adaptation. She learns from watching shieldbearers, practicing in the shadows, and playing "Dancing Alchemists" with her friends—a game that hones her reflexes and saves her life more than once. Her pride and joy is a dagger gifted by Malik, a retired Warsword, symbolizing both her rebellion and her connection to the old guard. Thea's skills are hard-won, and her determination to become a warrior is tested by both external threats and internal doubts.

The Prophecy's Shadow

Thea's world is one of constant danger, from arrows in the Bloodwoods to the ever-present threat of being discovered. The prophecy looms over every decision, shaping the laws and the fears of Thezmarr's leaders. Thea's fate stone is a daily reminder of mortality, but also a challenge to live fully. The shadow of prophecy is not just literal—monsters breaching the Veil—but also psychological, as Thea and those around her grapple with destiny, agency, and the cost of defiance.

The Council's Judgment

When Thea is caught with her forbidden dagger, she is brought before the council of Warswords and the Guild Master. The trial is tense, with calls for her banishment or worse. Audra, the stern librarian and former warrior, becomes Thea's unexpected champion, arguing for her right to train and invoking ancient laws that allow for exceptions in times of dire need. The council's decision is a compromise: Thea must petition the rulers of the midrealms for permission to train as a shieldbearer, setting her on a journey that will test her resolve and redefine her place in the world.

Petition to the Kings

Accompanied by Audra and, later, Wilder, Thea travels to Harenth to plead her case before the kings and queens of the midrealms. The journey is fraught with tension, both romantic and political, as Thea and Wilder's relationship deepens amidst shared danger and mutual respect. Thea's petition is initially denied, a reflection of the deep-seated fears and prejudices that still govern the realms. However, when Thea saves King Artos from an assassination attempt—using her alchemical knowledge to detect poison—her courage and skill force the rulers to reconsider, and she is granted the right to train as a shieldbearer.

The Assassin's Wine

Thea's quick thinking and mastery of poisons save the king's life, but not without cost. The incident exposes the fragility of peace and the ever-present threat of betrayal. Thea's actions earn her both admiration and enmity, as she becomes a symbol of change and a target for those who fear it. The aftermath cements her place in Thezmarr, but also sets her on a collision course with those who would see the old order preserved at any cost.

Shieldbearer's Trial

Back in Thezmarr, Thea joins the shieldbearers, facing hostility, hazing, and the constant threat of violence from Sebastos Barlowe and his cronies. Her only allies are Kipp and Cal, fellow misfits who become her found family. Thea's journey is one of endurance, as she battles not just monsters but the entrenched misogyny and brutality of her peers. Her skills grow, and so does her reputation, but every victory is hard-won, and every setback is a reminder of the cost of ambition.

Blood and Betrayal

Thea and her friends are subjected to brutal punishments and betrayals, culminating in a savage beating that leaves Thea and Kipp near death. Thea's refusal to break, even in the face of overwhelming pain, earns her the grudging respect of her peers and the attention of the Warswords. The cycle of violence is both a test and a crucible, forging Thea into a true warrior but also exposing the rot at the heart of Thezmarr's traditions.

The Warsword's Apprentice

As the threat from beyond the Veil grows, the Warswords are ordered to take on apprentices for the first time in years. Thea's ambition to become a Warsword herself is complicated by her deepening feelings for Wilder, who is both her greatest ally and her most dangerous temptation. Their relationship is a dance of longing and restraint, as both struggle with the boundaries of duty, desire, and destiny. When Thea is named Wilder's apprentice, the lines between mentor and lover blur, forcing both to confront what they are willing to sacrifice for power, love, and survival.

The Chained Islands Test

The shieldbearer initiation test is a brutal gauntlet across the Chained Islands, where only the strongest and most cunning will survive. Thea, Kipp, and Cal face treacherous obstacles, sabotage from rivals, and the ever-present threat of death. The test is not just physical but moral, as Thea must decide what kind of warrior—and what kind of person—she wants to be. Her victory is bittersweet, marked by loss, betrayal, and the knowledge that the real battle is only beginning.

The Reaper's Return

As Thezmarr reels from the aftermath of the trial, a rheguld reaper—a king among shadow wraiths—breaches the Veil and attacks Thea in the Bloodwoods. The battle is desperate, and Thea is pushed to the brink of death. Wilder arrives in time to fight at her side, but it is Thea's own power—unleashed in a moment of crisis—that turns the tide. The reaper's death is both a triumph and a harbinger of greater darkness, as the boundaries between worlds grow ever thinner.

Lightning Unleashed

In the heat of battle, Thea's latent magic—suppressed for years by her fate stone and her sister's alchemy—erupts in a storm of lightning. The revelation is both exhilarating and terrifying, as Thea realizes she is not just a warrior but a storm wielder, a being of immense and dangerous power. The truth of her heritage and the nature of her magic are mysteries that will shape the fate of the midrealms.

Secrets and Suppressions

Thea confronts Wren, who confesses to suppressing Thea's magic for years out of fear and love. The sisters' bond is tested as secrets come to light, and Thea must grapple with the implications of her power and her lineage. The fate stone, once a symbol of doom, is revealed as a tool of control, and Thea's act of casting it away is both a rejection of fate and an embrace of her true self.

The Storm Wielder Revealed

With her magic unleashed and her destiny uncertain, Thea stands atop the cliffs of Thezmarr, lightning at her fingertips and the storm at her command. Wilder, now her mentor and her equal, recognizes the truth: Thea is not just a warrior or an apprentice, but a storm wielder and a lost princess of Delmira. Their fates are bound together, and as darkness gathers on the horizon, Thea's legend is only beginning.

Characters

Althea "Thea" Zoltaire

Thea is a fiercely determined young woman marked by a fate stone that promises her death at twenty-seven. Orphaned and raised in Thezmarr, she is defined by her defiance of the laws that forbid women from bearing arms. Thea's psychological complexity is rooted in her struggle with mortality, her hunger for agency, and her longing to become a legend. Her relationships—with her sister Wren, her friends Kipp and Cal, and her mentor/lover Wilder—are fraught with loyalty, betrayal, and desire. Thea's journey is one of self-discovery, as she moves from outcast to warrior to apprentice, and finally to storm wielder, embracing the power and danger within her.

Wilder Hawthorne

Wilder is the youngest and most enigmatic of the Warswords, known as the Hand of Death. Scarred by loss and burdened by duty, he is both a figure of awe and a man deeply wounded by the past. His relationship with Thea is a study in tension—attraction, rivalry, and mutual respect. Wilder's psychological landscape is shaped by guilt, longing, and the fear of vulnerability. As Thea's mentor and lover, he is torn between his vows and his heart, ultimately choosing to push Thea to greatness even at the cost of his own happiness. His recognition of Thea's magic and heritage marks a turning point in both their lives.

Wren Zoltaire

Wren is Thea's younger sister, a prodigy in alchemy and invention. Her intelligence and pragmatism contrast with Thea's impulsive courage. Wren's love for Thea is both protective and controlling, as she suppresses Thea's magic out of fear for her safety. Wren's own magic, hidden and denied, is a mirror of Thea's journey. Their relationship is a crucible of love, betrayal, and reconciliation, embodying the complexities of sisterhood and the costs of secrecy.

Kipp Snowden

Kipp is a shieldbearer whose strengths lie in strategy and intellect rather than brute force. His humor and optimism are a balm to Thea's intensity, and his loyalty is unwavering. Kipp's journey is one of self-acceptance, as he learns to value his unique contributions to the group. His friendship with Thea and Cal is the emotional heart of the shieldbearer cohort, and his survival is a testament to the power of found family.

Callahan "Cal" Whitlock

Cal is a skilled archer and hunter, whose past outside Thezmarr gives him a broader perspective. His relationship with Thea is complicated by attraction, jealousy, and the trauma of betrayal. Cal's struggle with anger and forgiveness is a microcosm of the larger conflicts within Thezmarr, and his eventual reconciliation with Thea is a hard-won victory for loyalty over resentment.

Sebastos "Seb" Barlowe

Seb is the primary antagonist among the shieldbearers, representing the entrenched misogyny and brutality of Thezmarr's old guard. His violence, entitlement, and cruelty are both a personal and systemic threat to Thea and her friends. Seb's rise to Warsword apprentice is a bitter commentary on the persistence of corruption and the dangers of unchecked power.

Audra

Audra is a stern, enigmatic figure who bridges the gap between the old and new orders. As Thea's warden and advocate, she is both a mentor and a guardian, using her knowledge and cunning to challenge the council and protect Thea. Audra's past as a warrior and her deep understanding of Thezmarr's history make her a key player in the struggle for change.

Osiris

Osiris is the embodiment of Thezmarr's resistance to change, enforcing the laws that keep women from power and clinging to the prophecy as justification for his actions. His fear of prophecy and his need for control make him both a protector and a villain, and his decisions shape the fates of all within the fortress.

Torj Elderbrock

Torj is one of the three remaining Warswords, known for his strength and humor. As a mentor to the shieldbearers, he represents the possibility of change within the old order. His support for Thea and his willingness to challenge tradition make him a crucial ally in the fight for a new Thezmarr.

Vernich the Bloodletter

Vernich is the most brutal of the Warswords, embodying the violence and cruelty that have long defined Thezmarr's warrior culture. His mentorship of Seb is a warning of the dangers of power without conscience, and his clashes with Wilder and Thea highlight the stakes of the struggle for the soul of the guild.

Plot Devices

Prophecy and Fate Stone

The prophecy that shapes Thezmarr's laws is a classic device, driving both the plot and the characters' motivations. The fate stone, a physical manifestation of destiny, is both a literal and symbolic shackle for Thea, representing the tension between fate and free will. The prophecy's ambiguity allows for multiple interpretations, fueling fear, control, and rebellion.

Gendered Law and Forbidden Power

The ban on women bearing arms is both a plot device and a commentary on patriarchal systems. Thea's secret training, the suppression of her magic, and the eventual revelation of her power are all structured as acts of resistance against a world that fears female agency. The laws are enforced through ritual, violence, and psychological manipulation, creating a high-stakes environment for Thea's rebellion.

Mentor-Apprentice Dynamic

The relationship between Thea and Wilder is structured around the classic mentor-apprentice trope, complicated by forbidden desire and shifting power dynamics. The apprenticeship is both a path to greatness and a source of tension, as personal and professional boundaries blur. The device allows for deep character development, as both must confront their own limitations and the costs of ambition.

Trials and Initiation

The shieldbearer initiation test is a classic fantasy gauntlet, designed to weed out the unworthy and forge true warriors. The test is both literal (the Chained Islands, the reaper's attack) and metaphorical (loyalty, mercy, and the willingness to defy tradition). The structure of escalating challenges, betrayals, and moments of grace allows for both action and introspection.

Magic

Last updated: May 8, 2025