Broken Lands

Author’s Commentary on Broken Lands: Building Blocks

Wow, we’re at the end of Book One (or Arc One if you prefer) already!

This was a bit of a rough arc for Sophia, since she didn’t actually get her keystone abilities until the end. Unlike her father, she’s very distinctly more of a mage than a hybrid by preference and temperament. (If you don’t know who I’m talking about, Sophia’s father Serenity is the main character in After the End. You don’t have to read that for this story to make sense, though she does regularly think back on her family, which is quite a bit wider than the people genetically related to her.)

Dav’s issues are different. He doesn’t talk about them that much, though, so Sophia has her worries and they may or may not line up with Dav’s real issues. That’s something they’ll have to figure out as they get to know each other more. They really haven’t known each other all that long.

It’s an interesting balance to keep as an author - the main character is a bit more informed than her co-star and very powerful in her own right, but shackled by circumstances that make it hard for her to show her power and ability. Early on, Sophia thinks she’s protecting Dav and it takes her a bit to realize that they’re equals here. She never really does admit that he’s stronger than she is without access to her magic and he never feels the need to point it out, since he never feels like she’s being unreasonable. She should shine a bit more in the next arc; this may not be the magic she’s used to, but it’s close enough.

The other thing I feel like I should talk about is AI art. I’ve used it throughout Building Blocks. It grew out of the desire to have a static image character sheet, which meant I needed a background; as you can tell, it turned into a lot more than that.

In some ways I like it, since it lets me give a visual representation of what you see; in other ways, I kind of hate it. I can say that if it didn’t exist, the story would simply not have art. In this case, at least, it’s not replacing anyone. I’m aware of the issue with displacing the work of artists; at the same time, a hard stance there wouldn’t result in more work for artists; it would actually mean no art for the story and less work touching up AI art for me. Not using the AI art for this story wouldn’t actually achieve anything.

As for how it directly affects the story, I like the fact that I can get art that works with the story I’m trying to tell. If I want to show a giant snake in a jungle ruin, I can. It’s not always easy, but it’s possible. I do a lot of touch-up work on some of it (would you believe that the best art I could get of Peaches originally had a third leg?). In many ways, that’s also why I hate it: unlike working with an artist, an AI doesn’t actually know what you’re saying.

For example, if I told an artist that a character was … for a completely random (okay, very not-random) example, a superhero with wings made of lightning, I’d get someone with blazing wings that look like lightning in some way; I can come up with a couple possibilities.

An AI is more likely to give me this:

Well, it’s a superhero, there are wings, and there’s lightning. It’s not wrong, exactly, but it’s definitely not what I wanted. And that’s before we talk about the appearance of his legs or the black lightning. This one actually has fewer small details that are just wrong than most.

In short, I don’t have a solidified opinion on AI art. It’s been an interesting experiment, one I’ll probably continue into the next book. I suppose that’s enough for now.

On the topic of the next book, I’m looking forward to it. We get to see more of the world …. Well, the Broken Lands, at least the ones near Casterville’s shard. I was originally going to make the book titles follow a theme of building, but that seems too artificial. The working title for the next arc is Warped.

See you there!

~Lillene

Latest Status / Latest Wisp cost sheet

Sophia

Spells:

Unaffiliated Abilities:

Warped Human

(Rush, 1, 1)

Innate Communication (Bonus, Free)

(Feather Image)

(Empty, 1, 1)

Body: 5

Martial Abilities:

Core: 7

(Stunning Roar, 1, 1)

Species Abilities:

(Aura Armor, 1, 1)

Shield: 10/10

Species Spells:

(Spell Reservoir, 1, 1)

(Force Bolt, 1, 1)

(MageSight, 1, 1)

Wisps: 26

(Force Blast, 1, 1)

(Feather Image)

Spellblade Abilities:

Spheres

Attunements:

(Imbue Blade, 1, 1)

Spellblade (Hallow)

Contraceptive Amulet, 3

(Animate Blade, 1, 1)

Level:1

(Animate Spell Blade, 1, 1)

Collector (Linked)

Level: 1

Dav

Summons:

Unaffiliated Abilities:

Chaos-Warped Human

(Bastion of Health, 1, 1)

Innate Communication (Bonus, Free)

(Eye Image)

(Thorn Emitter, 1, 1)

(Mana Core Specialization: Eldritch, 1, 1)

Body: 8

(Eyes that See, 1, 1)

(Empty, 1, 1)

Core: 2

(Eye Image)

Attunements:

Species Abilities:

Shield: 10

Contraceptive Amulet, 3

(Bonded Armor, 1, 1)

(Empty, 1, 1)

Wisps: 6

Eldritch Armor, 7 (Growth)

Level: 1

Eldritch Summoner Abilities:

Spheres

Perfect Fit: Dav

(Eldritch Reinforcement, 1, 1)

Eldritch Summoner (Hallow)

Rapid Assembly

(Eldritch Weapon Alteration, 1, 1)

Level: 1

Body: 5

Wisp Dedication - Sophia

Ability Slots:

50 Wisps

Available Wisps: 26

Spellblade Spell: 15 Wisps

(Feather Image)

Spellblade Martial Ability: 15 Wisps

Core: 7

Unslot Ability:

Unaffiliated: 25 Wisps

50 Wisps

Spellblade Spell: 1 * Slot Level * Spell Level

Species: 25 Wisps

Spellblade Martial Ability: 1 * Slot Level * Spell Level

Spellblade: 40 Wisps

Spheres

Species Spell: 5 * Slot Level * Spell Level

(Feather Image)

Spellblade (Hallow)

Unaffiliated: 5 * Slot Level * Spell Level

Unaffiliated Abilities:

Level:1

Species Ability:201 * Slot Level * Spell Level

(Empty, 1, 1)

10 Wisps

Spellblade Ability: 10 * Slot Level * Spell Level

Variable

Collector (Linked)

Species Abilities:

Level: 1

Dedication Requires Available Slot

No Dedication Possible

Spellblade Abilities:

Dedication Requires Available Slot

Ability Descriptions

Innate Communication

Innate Communication is the most comprehensive of the set of Communication Abilities for sapients. It includes understanding of all forms of the language and the necessary knowledge to easily communicate in those languages so long as the capability exists. Languages that require methods not possessed by the possessor of Innate Communication cannot be used without that method.

Sophia

Spellblade

Use Spells and Martial Techniques in your partner’s Collection to enhance your magical and physical combat ability.

Rush

Surge forward at an increased pace.

Stunning Roar

Daze the world with the force of your anger! Imbue your shout with mana and anger to temporarily disorient opponents.

Force Bolt

Discharge a bolt of magical force to damage your target.

Force Blast

Create a rapidly expanding shell of magical force at a distance to damage targets in the area.

Aura Armor

Use your aura to slightly deflect attacks before they reach your shield.

Spell Reservoir

Learn to cast the spells of your species. Does not include any Spell Slots or Spells. If selected, all Species spells will be reserved for the Reservoir.

MageSight

See magic in all its forms.

Imbue Blade

Enhance the spiritual body of your blade with mana to create a projectable imitation.

Animate Blade

Command an Imbued blade to move and attack.

Animate Spell Blade

Animated Blades may also be commanded to cast spells. These spells consume mana as if they were cast by the controller.

Dav

Eldritch Summoner

Call on the eldritch power of Chaos Itself.

Bastion of Health

Summon a beacon to heal yourself and those you consider your allies.

Thorn Emitter

Summon a beacon to assault your enemies.

Eyes that See

Summon the Sight of the Eyes that See.

Mana Core Specialization: Eldritch

Align your mana core with the Eldritch power that runs through you.

Bonded Armor

Forcibly bonding with your armor has permanently connected it to you. Armor abilities draw on your mana. Continued use and empowerment may awaken or create additional abilities.

Eldritch Reinforcement

Reinforce your body with eldritch power.

Eldritch Weapon Alteration

Channel your eldritch might through a weapon and claim it as your own.

Cliff’s Collections

Spells

Rush

Flaming Spark

Spit Fire

Buffet

Slice

Hydrokinesis (higher level than 1 - actual level requirement unknown)

Martial Techniques

Stunning Roar

Consuming Rage

Monsters

Devouring Moss

Ruins Constrictor (giant snake, constrictor)

Giant Sloth (incomplete, Abilities unknown)

Enraged Beavers

Flickering Rage Beavers