Resources for Writers #10

A frequent blog where I share ideas and resources for writers of all genres. Each issue is imagined independently and is intended to invoke inspiration.

Dec 04, 2024

Hello Writers,

Obviously, this blog is geared toward fantasy and science fiction, however, I do include free images for you to use, and I also cover real life subjects such as the cumberlandite I mentioned in the last issue.

Exotic Symptoms and Side Effects

Time Lag — A brief, but indefinite, amount of time where time seems like it’s either going slowly or more quickly as the body and mind readjust after time travel. It would most likely be very disorientating not unlike that feeling you get when you experience brief moments of zero gravity like on some carnival rides. It could possibly have a pushing and/or pulling effect like the ripples of water from an impact that slowly realign back to normal.

Another possibility could be that these brief moments could occur intermittently for the first few hours or even days. This could even be a sickness that lasts the entire time while out of your native time.

Empathic Reflux — A side effect of a severe traumatic incident as felt by a strong empath. Think of it as like post-traumatic stress disorder, only the feelings are real, literally re-enacting what happened emotionally. It can last for a brief moment or take as long as the incident itself. It’s rare, but sometimes other senses can be involved such as sight and smell. Most likely if they are strongly tied to the incident.

It is referred to as reflux due to the fact that it is of the well being of their psyche which struggles with “scar tissue”, which is caused by traumatic incidents. One’s psyche is really just a field of energy, and the damaged spots can let things back out sometimes. All that from a memory not unlike your subconscious mind; it never forgets.

Artifacts and Relics

Aiger’s Ioun — A rather large ioun made of cumberlandite (see issue #9). Crafted long ago for Prince Aiger, this indestructible stone magnetizes to a piece of armor or a shield, bestowing its indestructible power to it. It obviously must be made of a magnetic alloy, and it also becomes immune to aging and rusting.

The Dodecalogue Stone — A fictional twelve inch long stone made of— you guessed it —cumberlandite. Each end is tapered from the center with six facets on each end. Think of an elongated twelve-sided version of a ten-sided die, only not quite as thick in the middle. Each facet has runes that are thought to predate any known runic languages. What is known about this artifact is that, it acts as a compass directing the user to the nearest leyline junction that lines up with the vector equilibrium as theorized by Buckminster Fuller. This would make for twelve corners to a sphere, not just four. This fundamental shape of a sphere would be aligned to the magnetic poles and not the true north/south poles.

Magic-borne Materials

Magicles — Tiny white crystals that form after extremely powerful magical events, either on the focused object/spot and/or in the area of effect of the spell. It is often collected by magic-users and refined into a powder that can be sprinkled onto objects to determine if it’s magical or not as the powder will stick to those that are.

However, in some cultures, it is snorted as a drug which induces a rage-like high that offers a bit of spell resistance, and at the same time, enhancing the user’s ability to wield magical items by either reducing its failure chance, or by increasing its magical effect, such as making a +1 sword into a +2 sword. It might even allow a race to be able to use a magical item that normally couldn’t otherwise.

Wastedust — The remains of things that unfortunately come into contact with the fringes of portals that are either used for teleportation or even interdimensional travel. Bugs, plants, and other materials that come into contact with this tumultuous boundary of the bending of space and time are annihilated upon contact, turning into a very tiny amount of dust.

This dust is collected with magic, however, it is often used by those that wield anti-magic. A tincture can be made to coat objects and persons, protecting them from most spells and other magical effects. The dust is very fine and will easily fall into the microscopic pores of objects. It is often used by thieves that can afford it to help with magical traps.

Image Writing Prompts

In case you don’t know, I dabble in making AI art. I don’t take it seriously, but it’s here to stay and it’s quite fun. I also try to utilize them in different ways like, writing prompts, memes, and even puzzles.

I mainly use NightCafe Creator, and if you consider joining, please use my referral link.