ARLO the ARTISAN
Arlo was born from a writing commission in which I helped to conceptualize a character and world for a Kickstarter TTRPG. While the introductive narrative and character writing I provided left Arlo's world pretty open-ended for the TTRPG players, I definitely see myself exploring Arlo and his world through sketches and snippets of writing. Not sure if this will turn into a full-fledged story, but I'm thinking at least an anthology of sorts.
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Arlo is not a huge priority right now, so it might be some time before I share stuff for him. In the meantime, you can read the Character and World Intro I wrote for the project below and get more insight on the commission process on my Ko-Fi Blog!
THE ISLE OF ELYS
Elys consists of Rhyme, its capital, and four lower-class districts: Acros, Cadence, Lym, and Hokku. The Verses, cobblestoned trading routes, separate the districts, stretching in each cardinal direction from the ocean to the Refrain, the capital’s grand square. Members of high society live along the Verses to maintain order.
The wealthy of Elys thrive under ‘blessings’, commissioned work by high class artisans who secretly use a magic script to produce favorable outcomes. The resulting monopoly makes it difficult for lower-class artisans to survive.
The Barretts, led by Tieren and Eloise, rule Acros and the 3rd Verse with a traditional hand and talented heirs - Margot, the eldest, a proficient classical artist; Van, the second, classically trained but pursuing an avant-garde style; and Quincy, a violin virtuoso who frequents Acros in disguise. Acros’s all-but-forcibly retired artisan, Nyla, had both age and class against her.
Most of Acros’s tradesmen, except for apprentice Briar’s farm and carpentry shop, can be found along the Stanza, a line of two-story shops doubling as homes. Lucian, the tailor, is known for his intricate work and rumored to mend for high society. Nyla’s shop is more home than business now. And Orin, owner of the Triple Fugue, knows his community better than anyone. His pub connects the Stanza with the Acropolis, the market square, and is conveniently distanced from the two Barrett towers and chief of security, Halsey.
ARLO THE ARTISAN
Arlo is the son of Lucian and Raelynn, Duchess of Cadence. Separated by class, Arlo and Lucian converse with Raelynn through secret meetings and messages. Arlo has his mother’s artistic soul and his father’s practical skill, but his impatience makes for a poor tailor. He strives to be an artisan, inspired by Raelynn’s teaching, and often practices on the walls of dirt-pathed, labyrinthian alleyways.
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To hide his real training, Arlo persuades Nyla to be his mentor. Nyla, all too happy to let him take over, agrees and keeps silent about the classical techniques she can see within Arlo's style. It was her idea for Arlo to work at the pub and eavesdrop for commissions.
While his first few ‘jobs’ were gifts - painting a wooden horse for his childhood friend Briar, creating flyers for Lucian’s shop, designing his own high style clothing - Arlo has grown a small client base by word of mouth and Orin's inadvertent secretarial service.
When Arlo stumbles upon a ruin in Cadence, he recognizes a script used on high society clothing. He adopts the script into his work, and, when strange events occur within Acros’s alleyways - homeless finding a spot of warmth with no fire, an endlessly reappearing coin - Arlo realizes there's more to these ‘blessings’ than the wealthy are sharing.
Arlo now endeavors to close the economic gap with day commissions, night graffiti work, and the ‘blessings’ he's learning to bestow.