Inking Erudus - Ember the Phoenix
World Building Window
Inking Erudus is a new series that looks behind the tools, and techniques that I use and explore for my fantasy tales. Today’s series deals with sensory imagery.
Designing a Magical Companion:
Animal Name
Ember the phoenix
Where does the idea come from?
As Angelika, comes to Erudus alone, I felt that I needed to create someone who she could bond with. While I considered the idea of having the companion be a human, since she is emotionally traumatized, she would not be able to connect with another human so early in the story. I chose to make the companion an animal instead.
Purpose of the Companion
I did not want to introduce Jynx yet, as I needed to see a great deal of compassion and empathy from Angelika, before a magical creature as powerful as Jynx was to be introduced. Angelika also needed to increase her powers so she would be able to communicate with him.
At the same time, Angelika needed someone to bond with, talk to, and learn from. I also needed a reason why the individual would not be a permanent companion. That is why Ember was designed the way she is.
Form (Animal, Spirit, Other Supernatural Being)
Phoenix
Origin Where does it come from?
The idea of the phoenix originally came from the form of Bennu in ancient Egyptian mythology. He was associated with the sun and resurrection. The Greeks borrowed the animal and reinvented it as the phoenix we know today. (en.wikipedia.com)
While I maintain the basic description of the phoenix, I decided that I wanted to rewrite some of the creatures traits to push the plot of my story along.
Magic Type and Powers
As with the original tales, Ember dies in flame and rises from the ashes. She is a baby, having just risen from her ashes, and has been reborn in a cave.
To keep with the tone of my story, Ember communicates with trills, hums and music. Her music travels over large areas, far larger than expected.
Ember also can intensify Angelika’s emotions. This ability is used as a vehicle to push Angelika to reconsider her biases.
Personality?
Ember is young when she is introduced, however, being a creature that is reborn, some of the memory of her ancient lives is retained.
She is always cheerful - annoyingly so. Ember chatters non stop, and when Angelika is home, Ember is always watching over her shoulder.
Character’s Magical Limitations.
Because Ember is so young, she does not have many of her previous memories intact, but a large portion of them will come back. Ember cannot control when her old memories will return, and when they do, they are often incomplete and jumbled.
Ember is too young to fly and cannot talk to Angelika directly. She makes her opinions known in other ways.
During the first part of the story, Ember grows fast enough that she learns to fly and to communicate with Angelika. Because in my legend of the phoenix, Ember can only stay until several milestones are completed. Once these milestones are done, then she must move on and leave Angelika. These milestones are flight, twice the growth, ability to communicate with their mind, tears that heal, and an intense longing for flight.
Your Turn.
What type of magical creature would you create for your story? Post in the comments if you’d like.
Good-bye for now. Today, have a restful Sunday.
