The Cindered Wolf
Welcome to The Cindered Wolf!
July 08, 2024
The Cindered Wolf Official Art by Sakuraba_Mu: https://x.com/Sakuraba_Mu
Welcome to the blog where I will in the future share all the story updates for The Cindered Wolf. This was originally just going to be a piece of lore for a new story idea taking me back to my love of dark fantasy, but what started as an idea for a character turned into a journey that needed more meat to it. The Shepherd's story couldn't just focus on him as a grown jaded man, it needed to have some explanation for why he became the way he is, and what he could become in the future. Thus, the story of The Cindered Wolf began building in my mind. With music from Alek Kaczan and art from Sakuraba_Mu the idea kept building and I finally decided to just go ahead and lean into my fantasies. Hence we're now going to tell a full length story and keep expanding the world of Noreen.
So far I've begun setting up the basics of a good story hosting blog. We have a page dedicated to The Story which is so far pretty bare-bones until I can go into a bit more detail once the 1st chapter is released, and a very rough Creation Myth which is really just there to set the tone and introduce the basic idea of the goddess of light, her religion, and the magic system. It really needs to be written in a more archaic and in character way, but like I said, it's rough for now. Building off of that we will be creating a very simple soft magic system which has mostly been lost to time by the point that The Cindered Wolf takes place, but essentially using the language of the goddess allows humans to use aether (might change this word) to cast magic. The strength of the magic is based on the complexity of the request/command in the goddess' language, the caster's own ability to channel aether, and the caster's understanding of the meanings of the spell. The goddess working out phonetic sounds in the creation myth is my way of making a very simple language for The Cindered Wolf which will use the 44 phonics used in the English Phonetic Alphabet with each one getting its own new fantasy letter in the future. (I already have contacted someone to begin working on this soon.)
There are also some examples of passive magic. For example since humans are visitors to the goddess' world and come from a plane of existence without aether, they're able to perform supernatural feats of strength, speed, and endurance based around their willpower, hence Lion wielding a massive greatsword with one hand when needed.
We also have a page dedicated just to The Characters with all their official artwork and some basic information provided about each one. For the main characters I already know exactly where I want them to start as people, their goals, desires, etc, and where I want them to get to through character development. If the character descriptions currently feel a little tropey and 2-dimensional, don't worry, they're supposed to be. I don't want any of you to be able to guess too much of their backstory from Sakuraba_Mu's wonderful designs, some of which have nods to their histories and all of which have their personalities built into them, or from the character descriptions, so while there are hints, it should be enough to tease some theory crafting without spoiling anything. Basically you've gotten character descriptions that you might gleam from second-hand information so far. Consider these how Steed might announce the Feral Fuckwits before he performed a song about them.
Finally I've made an Art & Fan Creations page, which is exactly what it sounds like. For now I've started it off with some of Sakuraba_Mu's sketches that they did while they designed the FF, some of which I shared on stream, some of which are being first seen here. In the future if you make any kind of fan creation based around the story, please tag it with #CinderedWolf so that I can see it, and if I see any that I particularly love I'll be sure to ask permission and see if we can build a beautiful fan creations page for all fans of the story to enjoy. You can also use that same hashtag for theory crafting about the story and characters or suggesting some early ideas for world building.
In the future we're going to have a worldbuilding stream where we use Ikarnate to create a world map for Noreen and then we'll continue from then with more worldbuilding streams where sometimes the topic will be building individual cities, giving them histories and names, characters in them, etc, building monster types like flora and fauna native to Noreen, developping cultures, including histories, religions, practices, holidays, etc, for some of the monster species and human cultures that have developped on Noreen, and many more. So if you'd like to start thinking about ideas like that using the hashtag #CinderedWolf, I'll also be monitoring those.
Finally, I just want to say thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read this far. It means the world to me that so many people support me doing cringe, sometimes crazy ideas like this and Legatus 505. I would have never had the confidence to actually pick writing back up as a hobby, let alone make it viewable online to the whole world if it weren't for all your support. Legatus 505 was something I wanted to create for all the fans of him and Noctyx, and we still have a while to go until that finishes but The Cindered Wolf is even more of a passion project in which I'm fully leaning into all of my own fantasies and putting all of my passion into it. I hope you'll continue to support me in the future, and I'll do my best to keep making us a comfy place for streaming and sharing all of our own passion projects with each other. If you leave a comment on this blog, I may collect some and respond to them on twitter, for example if people ask me questions that I can answer without spoiling anything, or just if someone comment's something I really want to share, but don't feel obligated to do that. I just want people to know that I do read the comments on the blog but I can't respond directly on the blog unfortunately.
Don't be led astray, my Comfydants, and catch you guys next time.
The Story
Prologue
When everything that once brought joy and meaning is burned away, what remains? Embers of the past smoldering on in a despondent world. As the ashes fall like snow, they pile ever higher upon the remains of all that once was, entombing those who still cling to some semblance of life.
Even those who call themselves men are more beast than not at this point. Choking on the ashes, they struggle to keep afloat, clambering over their fellow man for one more gasp of air. Soon, all will fade to pale silence, this world a cindered husk of what once was.
There was a time when the allies of men united to march against their encroaching demise. An alliance forged of those who strived against their fated end. They fought hard, sang songs, told tales, reveled in their victories, mired in their losses and above all else: they lived. Those halcyon days feel like another life. Perhaps they were...
With a single cause and no other options, the alliance of men placed their trust in a most unlikely band of heroes. I speak of course... of The Feral Fuckwits.
Charismatic Steed, a bard whose tales were legend across the land. Playful, yet good natured, he had an affinity for all the fine things in life, and around him, even the dull parts shined as the trinkets he adorned himself with.
Tender Lamb, a priestess of the goddess who saw the world with pure eyes. Gentle as a spring breeze, resolute as the winter winds, her goal was to bring joy to all who lived in the light, and she wasn't afraid to eradicate those who sought to snuff it out.
Vehement Bear, a scholar with a desire to understand all that lived. Many spoke of his fiery feats of sorcery which could scorch whole battalions with only a phrase, but few know of the compassion and love he had for even those who had no semblance of empathy of their own.
Agonizing Spider, the sharpest assassin who ever strode the land. Those that looked upon her may as well have been turned to stone. With a smile, she would paralyze her prey. If she caught you in a glare you weren't long for this world, but at least your passing would be swift.
Obstinate Lion, the leader of the group. Once, pride and joy of the holy kingdom of Fangrest. Man and beast alike lost spirit if not their bowels at the sound of his roar. Noble and just at heart, he armored himself with cruelty, knowing that the greatest shield he could offer those around him was to become a sword in all but form.
Finally... Savage Wolf, fairer than any other man, with hair and eyes of aurora. That radiance was a scorching desolation to any who got too close. Traitor to all mankind and sunderer of the land. When all came together to kindle light in their darkest moment, the Cindered Wolf burned bright as all other fires extinguished.
So it was, that this world came to an end. It wasn't a long long time ago, nor was it far far away, but soon none of it shall matter. The end is near and none remain with the strength or will to ignite hope once more. Go to bed, embrace the dark, and pray that it consumes you before you wake again to this nightmare.
– The Shepherd's First Tale.
Story outline
There are few across the land who do not know the tale of the Cindered Wolf. When all the allies of men united to try and save the world by vanquishing the Demon King and his armies, the Cindered Wolf secreted himself among their ranks, and betrayed them to their fall. As punishment for his crimes he was sealed away by the holy knights of Fangrest. That should have been the end of his story, yet this is no fairytale, and as such it doesn't have such a simple happily ever after. Nearly a generation since his sealing, the Cindered Wolf tore free from his bonds and left the holy capital scorched in his wake. Scholars will tell you this was the ushering in of the apocalypse, but that is not so. The Demise began long before that, when the Cindered Wolf first came into this world and began to walk among men. No, perhaps even further still, when the goddess of light saw within her mercy to welcome the children of men into her paradise...
But that is not the story I wish to tell. Why start at an end already known? None remain save me who can tell this tale of the beginning. That of the boy who became a beast, the beast who became a wolf, the wolf who wished to be a man, yet instead found himself cast as monster. I will tell you this tale at the end of the world, though it matters not as the fire burns low. I tell this to you, not to shed a new light on the Cindered Wolf, nor to cast villain as hero anew. I tell you this tale that one might remember those that once stood against the darkness. They who rose up against the night and tried to usher in a new dawn. The heroes that were once called fuckwits. As for me... once, I called them family, now, I fear to utter their names at all, so I shall use the names they gave one-another. A bond, born of mutual knowledge that none of us, hero or villain, are any better than beast. Steed, Spider, Bear, Lamb, and Lion. When men no longer draw breath, I would have you carry their tale into the next world. The epitome of our kind.
Will you listen to my tale, children of the twilight?
– The Shepherd's Second Tale.
The Creation Myth
(Work in progress)
Once upon a time in an age immemorial, all that existed was chaos. The building blocks of a universe were scattered about with no rhyme or reason, and there was nothing conscious for a very long time. That began to change when the goddess of light woke up. Seeing what had become of existence, she was filled with despair and terror. Crying into the void, her tears began to run down her cheeks, spilling out of her eyes and beginning to orbit her, unable to escape the gravity of the only conscious being in existence. The tears gradually froze and became a shroud of ice, surrounding the goddess. Eventually the goddess came to accept that she was the only being in this existence. If she was to be here alone, then she had to at least find some meaning to it all.
By this point, her tears had created an icy prison in which she was trapped. Unable to move, she tried to find other things to put her mind to. For eons she simply waited, thinking on her own existence and pondering on the concept of eternity. She'd already moved past fear and tried, but now found herself becoming frustrated and angry. Had she not cried so hard for herself she could at least move her body and tried to explore the vastness of the void. Still unable to move, she opened her mouth and began to scream. In an instant, the cage of ice which had held her prisoner for so long shattered, various elements being scattered into the vast universe. At first she was confused at just how easy it felt, how simply the ice bent to her will, but then she realized: the ice had once been her tears, the tears had once been her. Shattering the ice was as easy as commanding any other part of her body if she only trained the muscle.
So a new age began: the goddess' adolescence. During this period she struggled to bring back the frozen tears which she had scattered throughout existence. Simply willing them to return was possible, but progress was slow. Chasing after them was faster, but as time passed, the tears she hadn't already collected moved further away, making her feel like this trial would never end. Beginning to lose hope, she once more opened her mouth, but instead of screaming with no objective, this time she instead made a plea to the tears themselves to return to her. No sooner had she finished uttering the request than the tears had all returned. They surrounded her once more, this time not as a prison, but rather a wide array of shimmering lights, a beautiful sight like the stars in the night.
If her voice had so much power, she wondered, what else could she do with it? Thus a new age once more began: the goddess' prime. At first, she simply spoke the elemental sounds. 5 long vowels which became the states of existence: solid, liquid, gas, plasma, and spirit. 7 short vowels which formed the elements which could exist within those states: earth, water, air, lightning, light, dark, and void. For a time, those elements were enough for the Goddess, simply speaking them into existence. She toyed with combining elements to form sounds that mixed the elements and willed their state into being. She found 8 more combinations of the previous elements which remained stable and had now created 20 vowels which brought order to reality. Soon, that became too simple, so she searched for a new sound. In time she found them. 24 consonants, which when spoken could alter the ways in which the elements came to be and interacted with each other.
This was the apex of the goddess' prime where not only did she use her own language to form the universe, the stars, the world and it's creatures, but in altering her tones as she spoke the first tales into existence, she also began to compose the first songs and with them awaken life in her creations below. For an age, the goddess composed epic after epic, singing elements to life and shaping their consciousness along with their forms. Each song she composed was another spirit born of the goddess and happy to live within her paradise. The goddess sang and sang until her world teemed with life of her own design. In time she even found that the life she crested could go on to create life of its own and throughout this golden age all of the world harmonized and resonated in harmony with one another. The goddess herself stopped singing and began to walk among her creations, listening to their songs and appreciating all that she had composed and all that they would go on to spawn.
So it was that the world of Noreen and all it's spirits came to be, and their tales and songs began to be spoken and sung.
– The Ballad of the Goddess.
The Characters
The Shepherd & His Flock
Official Art by Sakuraba_Mu: https://x.com/Sakuraba_Mu
The Shepherd is a man who already considers his life spent. Judged by the world, and harboring both resentment and regret, he left the lands of men behind, seeking to end his own life in the place he lost everything almost a generation ago. Near the end of his journey, he came across the children of the twilight. At first he tried to ignore them, but old instincts kicked in and he found himself with 4 small shadows that trailed wherever he went, begging for stories and attention. In time he came to accept the forest he furnished for them as a temporary home, at least until they could fend for themselves.
Age: 37 when he creates the forest.
Height: 190 cm
Introductory Quote: "Will you listen to my tale, children of the twilight?"
Notes: His sword isn't particularly sharp, but the red core is made of a special material that stores electricity and releases it at his command.
More coming when the story begins.
The Feral Fuckwits
Official Art by Sakuraba_Mu: https://x.com/Sakuraba_Mu
The Feral Fuckwits or FF are a small group of mercenaries founded under the principle "mankind is just as ferocious as any beast." Those words, originally uttered by Lion were meant to attest to the horrors that men could inflict on one-another, yet as the tales of the group overcoming seemingly impossible odds against man, beast, and monster alike began to spread, the words took on another meaning. They inspired hope that no matter what it came up against the allies of men would pull through and fight to see another day break.
Official Art by Sakuraba_Mu: https://x.com/Sakuraba_Mu
Lion Character Concept Art by Sakuraba_Mu: https://x.com/Sakuraba_Mu
Lion is the leader of the Feral Fuckwits and their stalwalt tank. Once a noble knight of the holy kingdom of Fangrest, his chivalry turned to savagery long before our story begins. Cruel, calculating, ferocious, those are the qualities that men would use to describe him. As the leader of the FF he rules with an iron fist, supervising all members' training, deciding which missions they accept, and always reminding them of their place below him.
Age: 34 when meeting Wolf.
Height: 188 cm
Introductory Quote: "There isn't much that separates men from monsters, pup, but you'll follow the laws of the goddess. Not because society tells you to, but because I command it."
Notes: His swords name is "Shield."
Official Art by Sakuraba_Mu: https://x.com/Sakuraba_Mu
Lamb Character Concept Art by Sakuraba_Mu: https://x.com/Sakuraba_Mu
Lamb is the Feral Fuckwits' healer, specialist in defensive magic, and was the newest member of the FF until Wolf was recruited. Once a priestess for the Goddess, she joined the FF after having a prophetic dream in which she and a group of stuffed animals led lost lambs from darkness into light. Curious, quiet, and gentle, Lamb is the type to care more for others than herself, but she will also confront any who hurt the weak and needy with righteous fury. Despite her young age, she often acts as caregiver to those much older than her.
Age: 14 when meeting Wolf.
Height: 150 cm
Introductory Quote: "She speaks to me sometimes, the goddess. Whispers in my ear. Blesses me with dreams of prophecy. You're meant to be with us, Wolf. To what end, blessing or curse, I know not."
Notes: Small white object on her hairband was Wolf's attempt at making a sheep out of paper for her. She treasures it more than any gem and actively keeps a barrier on it at all times.
Official Art by Sakuraba_Mu: https://x.com/Sakuraba_Mu
Bear Character Concept Art by Sakuraba_Mu: https://x.com/Sakuraba_Mu
Bear is a mage who specializes in fire magic. In his younger years, he was a scholar who studied monsters and their cultures, falling in love with their inhuman beauty and writing several tomes in which he argued they were far more intelligent than believed. Despite his huge size and intimidating aura, he is usually a gentle giant, mediator, and philosopher, but all that can change in an instant as he loses himself to destructive rage when past memories are triggered.
Age: Mid 50s when meeting Wolf (doesn't remember.)
Height: 198 cm
Introductory Quote: "We can't control what the world thinks of us, lightning-brand. No more than the spirits we call monsters. At the worst of times, we can't even control ourselves... do what you will with what little you can control."
Notes: Keeps a diary that includes detailed sketches of monsters, the FF, architecture, furnishings, and recipes that he likes.
Official Art by Sakuraba_Mu: https://x.com/Sakuraba_Mu
Spider Character Concept Art by Sakuraba_Mu: https://x.com/Sakuraba_Mu
Spider is a rogue who specializes in subterfuge, poison and assassination. From childhood she was an expert marksman with bow and dagger alike, and went on to become one of the most skilled soldiers in the Holy Kingdom of Fangrest. She left the army to become a mercenary and monster slayer, and learned fast that the men of the world could be more dangerous than monsters to a woman traveling alone. Despite this, she earned a comfortable living, only joining the Feral Fuckwits because she recognized Lion and wished to follow him. She's abrasive, challenging, and pessimistic, but takes care of and shows respect to those who she feels earn it.
Age: Early 40s when meeting Wolf (no-one who knows would be allowed to live.)
Height: 184 cm
Introductory Quote: "Men always desire to take that which they find beautiful, child. If they can't own it themselves, they'd rather see it destroyed. If you are to be beautiful, you must be equal parts venomous."
Notes: Her fingertips and nails have turned purple due to decades of building up tolerance to and applying poisons.
Official Art by Sakuraba_Mu: https://x.com/Sakuraba_Mu
Steed Character Concept Art by Sakuraba_Mu: https://x.com/Sakuraba_Mu
Steed is the bard of the group who specializes in support through various magical means. Son to a wealthy merchant family but with no head for numbers, Steed struck out on his own adventures to make a name for himself and promote his family status. He initially bought his way into the Feral Fuckwits, seeking to use their obvious expertise as inspiration for his tales and songs, but found he actually had a knack for the job. Steed is playful, shameless, and hedonistic, but has lofty ideals and standards that he holds himself to as much as those around him. His songs and stories are a large part of what turned the FF from a lowly group of mercenaries to a respected band of heroes that all mankind could rally behind.
Age: 17 when meeting Wolf.
Height: 179 cm
Introductory Quote: "Monsters and magic both make great inspiration for songs, little Wolf, but so too do the machinations of man. You'd do well to remember that. Our every action is another page in the story."
Notes: The beauty mark below his lip is a tattoo he got to match someone dear to him.
Fan-art by Sakuraba_Mu (Not exactly his looks): https://x.com/Sakuraba_Mu
Wolf is the youngest member of the Feral Fuckwits and acts as their DPS and secret weapon. Born with strange limbs that some liken to dragon scales and with only a vague memory of a mother who used to sing beautifully before he was taken into slavery. Lion bought the boy from illegal fighting pits at the age of 8 where he had become famous for ripping out the throats of men many times his size. In battle he uses a combination of lightning magic, sword play and climbing gear to latch himself to colossal enemies that others may fear to approach. Guarded and aggressive, but protective, Wolf was essentially raised by the FF who sought to fulfill his goals of finding his lost twin sister despite their fears that he might not be entirely human.
Age: 8 when recruited by Lion.
Height: 121 cm at age 8.
Introductory Quote: "Woof!" (j/k.)
Notes: Always wears clothes that cover his limbs and neck to hide his strange body.
More to come as expand the world and begin telling the story
Art & Fan Creations
Here is where we will keep record of the impressive fan creations I wish to share with all fans of the story. Expect me to someday fill it with fanart, videos, music, cosplay, physical creations, pretty much anything creative that I come across, want to share/promote and if the original creator gives me permission to upload it here with links back to the original host site.
For a start we'll begin with the impressive artwork of the Feral Fuckwits character designer and all around incredible artist Sakuraba_Mu. This first round of art is fan-art that Saku completed just for fun while designing the FF and imagining how characters might have interacted/how some scenes might play out. Some of the scenes may come up in the story at some point, some are just outside of the reality of The Cindered Wolf and some may be very similar to upcoming scenes but aren't canon due to some designs not being fully fleshed out yet. All of that to say, don't worry, none of these are direct spoilers.
The Art of Sakuraba_Mu
FF celebrating a hard day's work with drinks by Sakuraba_Mu: https://x.com/Sakuraba_Mu
Wolf at a young age ripping the throat out of another pit fighter by Sakuraba_mu: https://x.com/Sakuraba_Mu
Spider, not sure how she ended up cast in a motherly role to Wolf and Lamb by Sakuraba_mu: https://x.com/Sakuraba_Mu
The "noble" Lion by Sakuraba_mu: https://x.com/Sakuraba_Mu
Lamb stopped growing at age 14, Wolf still had a ways to go by Sakuraba_mu: https://x.com/Sakuraba_Mu
Some fanservice pt.1 by Sakuraba_mu: https://x.com/Sakuraba_Mu
Some fanservice pt. 2 by Sakuraba_mu: https://x.com/Sakuraba_Mu
Some fanservice? pt.3 (Spider wanted to choke the Comfydant) by Sakuraba_mu: https://x.com/Sakuraba_Mu
If FF got Merchandise by Sakuraba_mu: https://x.com/Sakuraba_Mu
Mighty Lamb, Prideful Lion by Sakuraba_mu: https://x.com/Sakuraba_Mu
Lamb's First Drink by Sakuraba_mu: https://x.com/Sakuraba_Mu
Steed Pose Ideas Sketches by Sakuraba_mu: https://x.com/Sakuraba_Mu
Lion Pose Ideas Sketches by Sakuraba_mu: https://x.com/Sakuraba_Mu
Spider Pose Ideas Sketches by Sakuraba_mu: https://x.com/Sakuraba_Mu
Lamb Pose Ideas Sketches by Sakuraba_mu: https://x.com/Sakuraba_Mu
Bear Pose Ideas Sketches by Sakuraba_mu: https://x.com/Sakuraba_Mu
This page will be updated in the future. Please be sure to tag any fan creations you make based off of The Cindered Wolf with #CinderedWolf
The World
So far all we have is a poorly written 1st draft of a creation myth (You can find in the story) and that the world will be called Noreen (Anglicized version of the Irish Nóirín meaning “honour.") This is for us to build together, Comfydants. Make sure to join in on our World building streams in the future as we create the lands of The Cindered Wolf.