The Astral Wanderer
@astralwanderer.bsky.social
Tales old as time, but told only a short while ago. Also specious advice. Heed me at your own risk. #writer
Pinned
THE WORLD IS BREAKING.
Mist fills the gaps where reality has ruptured, and mortals are afflicted by untold horrors.
But this world does not wish to be saved.
The Seer and the Starlit Key is a dark fantasy tale set in a realm brimming with vile monsters and ancient secrets.
Mist fills the gaps where reality has ruptured, and mortals are afflicted by untold horrors.
But this world does not wish to be saved.
The Seer and the Starlit Key is a dark fantasy tale set in a realm brimming with vile monsters and ancient secrets.
Writing Snippet:
Tiressa stumbled toward him, accidentally shouldering aside a ragged combatant who charged her. Bones crunched. They weren’t hers.
“Blood to pay for their gold and silver!” called the robed man. “Blood—”
“Blood of heretics and murderers!” growled Tiressa.
Tiressa stumbled toward him, accidentally shouldering aside a ragged combatant who charged her. Bones crunched. They weren’t hers.
“Blood to pay for their gold and silver!” called the robed man. “Blood—”
“Blood of heretics and murderers!” growled Tiressa.
December 20, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Writing Snippet:
Tiressa stumbled toward him, accidentally shouldering aside a ragged combatant who charged her. Bones crunched. They weren’t hers.
“Blood to pay for their gold and silver!” called the robed man. “Blood—”
“Blood of heretics and murderers!” growled Tiressa.
Tiressa stumbled toward him, accidentally shouldering aside a ragged combatant who charged her. Bones crunched. They weren’t hers.
“Blood to pay for their gold and silver!” called the robed man. “Blood—”
“Blood of heretics and murderers!” growled Tiressa.
Writing Snippet:
Amid the chaos, Tiressa saw a ballista bolt roll across the deck toward her. Looking whence it came, she saw the hydra's head she’d skewered rise up once more. The wound in its eye bled a final stream of blue before sealing shut.
It turned to stare at her.
Amid the chaos, Tiressa saw a ballista bolt roll across the deck toward her. Looking whence it came, she saw the hydra's head she’d skewered rise up once more. The wound in its eye bled a final stream of blue before sealing shut.
It turned to stare at her.
December 19, 2025 at 12:57 AM
Writing Snippet:
Amid the chaos, Tiressa saw a ballista bolt roll across the deck toward her. Looking whence it came, she saw the hydra's head she’d skewered rise up once more. The wound in its eye bled a final stream of blue before sealing shut.
It turned to stare at her.
Amid the chaos, Tiressa saw a ballista bolt roll across the deck toward her. Looking whence it came, she saw the hydra's head she’d skewered rise up once more. The wound in its eye bled a final stream of blue before sealing shut.
It turned to stare at her.
Writing Snippet:
She looked at Reldain. “You shall bleed and die this day, rent by monsters from the sky,” she said. “I have dreamt it.”
Reldain sighed. Not this again. He growled and turned back to try to face down the sea once more.
She looked at Reldain. “You shall bleed and die this day, rent by monsters from the sky,” she said. “I have dreamt it.”
Reldain sighed. Not this again. He growled and turned back to try to face down the sea once more.
December 18, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Writing Snippet:
She looked at Reldain. “You shall bleed and die this day, rent by monsters from the sky,” she said. “I have dreamt it.”
Reldain sighed. Not this again. He growled and turned back to try to face down the sea once more.
She looked at Reldain. “You shall bleed and die this day, rent by monsters from the sky,” she said. “I have dreamt it.”
Reldain sighed. Not this again. He growled and turned back to try to face down the sea once more.
Writing Snippet:
Ajul raised the crossbow stock to his shoulder and aimed. He squeezed the trigger.
The bolt plunked into the ocean.
Shark shook his head, then aimed with his, raising the bow high. The quarrel flew in a swift arc and struck one of the opposing crew square in the head.
Ajul raised the crossbow stock to his shoulder and aimed. He squeezed the trigger.
The bolt plunked into the ocean.
Shark shook his head, then aimed with his, raising the bow high. The quarrel flew in a swift arc and struck one of the opposing crew square in the head.
December 16, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Writing Snippet:
Ajul raised the crossbow stock to his shoulder and aimed. He squeezed the trigger.
The bolt plunked into the ocean.
Shark shook his head, then aimed with his, raising the bow high. The quarrel flew in a swift arc and struck one of the opposing crew square in the head.
Ajul raised the crossbow stock to his shoulder and aimed. He squeezed the trigger.
The bolt plunked into the ocean.
Shark shook his head, then aimed with his, raising the bow high. The quarrel flew in a swift arc and struck one of the opposing crew square in the head.
Writing Snippet:
“Sir?”
“Yes?”
Tiressa paused, looking for words. “I am sure it sounds a long shot to you.”
“Of course,” said Sathaar. He smiled. “But you do seem to excel at those.”
Tiressa snorted a short laugh.
“Sir?”
“Yes?”
Tiressa paused, looking for words. “I am sure it sounds a long shot to you.”
“Of course,” said Sathaar. He smiled. “But you do seem to excel at those.”
Tiressa snorted a short laugh.
December 15, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Writing Snippet:
“Sir?”
“Yes?”
Tiressa paused, looking for words. “I am sure it sounds a long shot to you.”
“Of course,” said Sathaar. He smiled. “But you do seem to excel at those.”
Tiressa snorted a short laugh.
“Sir?”
“Yes?”
Tiressa paused, looking for words. “I am sure it sounds a long shot to you.”
“Of course,” said Sathaar. He smiled. “But you do seem to excel at those.”
Tiressa snorted a short laugh.
Writing Snippet:
Sange didn’t much mind the rain. She’d traveled upon it often enough that the chill did not bite her.
Sange didn’t much mind the rain. She’d traveled upon it often enough that the chill did not bite her.
December 13, 2025 at 2:34 AM
Writing Snippet:
Sange didn’t much mind the rain. She’d traveled upon it often enough that the chill did not bite her.
Sange didn’t much mind the rain. She’d traveled upon it often enough that the chill did not bite her.
Writing Snippet:
She saw the whole of creation, and she beheld that it very nearly fit into that of heaven. Only a few adjustments here and there, and it would all fit as neatly a key in a lock.
And as the key undoes the lock, this pattern would undo heaven itself.
She saw the whole of creation, and she beheld that it very nearly fit into that of heaven. Only a few adjustments here and there, and it would all fit as neatly a key in a lock.
And as the key undoes the lock, this pattern would undo heaven itself.
December 11, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Writing Snippet:
She saw the whole of creation, and she beheld that it very nearly fit into that of heaven. Only a few adjustments here and there, and it would all fit as neatly a key in a lock.
And as the key undoes the lock, this pattern would undo heaven itself.
She saw the whole of creation, and she beheld that it very nearly fit into that of heaven. Only a few adjustments here and there, and it would all fit as neatly a key in a lock.
And as the key undoes the lock, this pattern would undo heaven itself.
Writing Snippet:
Ajul stared at the amulet, tracing the crisscrossing runes etched into its smooth copper surface. He mumbled to himself.
“I see,” he said at length.
“You can read it?” said Farami.
“More or less,” said Ajul. “Though I am no cartographer.”
Ajul stared at the amulet, tracing the crisscrossing runes etched into its smooth copper surface. He mumbled to himself.
“I see,” he said at length.
“You can read it?” said Farami.
“More or less,” said Ajul. “Though I am no cartographer.”
December 11, 2025 at 1:38 AM
Writing Snippet:
Ajul stared at the amulet, tracing the crisscrossing runes etched into its smooth copper surface. He mumbled to himself.
“I see,” he said at length.
“You can read it?” said Farami.
“More or less,” said Ajul. “Though I am no cartographer.”
Ajul stared at the amulet, tracing the crisscrossing runes etched into its smooth copper surface. He mumbled to himself.
“I see,” he said at length.
“You can read it?” said Farami.
“More or less,” said Ajul. “Though I am no cartographer.”
Writing Snippet:
He split a chestnut with an axe.
“Feel better, hon?”
“No.”
He split another one.
“You’re getting good with that axe.”
“Yup.”
Crack. Another chestnut.
“Only thing we need now is an open fire.”
“Don’t.”
Crack.
He split a chestnut with an axe.
“Feel better, hon?”
“No.”
He split another one.
“You’re getting good with that axe.”
“Yup.”
Crack. Another chestnut.
“Only thing we need now is an open fire.”
“Don’t.”
Crack.
December 10, 2025 at 3:35 AM
Writing Snippet:
He split a chestnut with an axe.
“Feel better, hon?”
“No.”
He split another one.
“You’re getting good with that axe.”
“Yup.”
Crack. Another chestnut.
“Only thing we need now is an open fire.”
“Don’t.”
Crack.
He split a chestnut with an axe.
“Feel better, hon?”
“No.”
He split another one.
“You’re getting good with that axe.”
“Yup.”
Crack. Another chestnut.
“Only thing we need now is an open fire.”
“Don’t.”
Crack.
Writing Snippet:
In an upstairs room of the Swindled Pig, Farami sat across from her crewmate Peblin, doing her best to keep his hand still as she jabbed it with a large needle.
"That smarts!" yelled Peblin.
"It will be done in a moment, Peblin," said Farami gently.
In an upstairs room of the Swindled Pig, Farami sat across from her crewmate Peblin, doing her best to keep his hand still as she jabbed it with a large needle.
"That smarts!" yelled Peblin.
"It will be done in a moment, Peblin," said Farami gently.
December 8, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Writing Snippet:
In an upstairs room of the Swindled Pig, Farami sat across from her crewmate Peblin, doing her best to keep his hand still as she jabbed it with a large needle.
"That smarts!" yelled Peblin.
"It will be done in a moment, Peblin," said Farami gently.
In an upstairs room of the Swindled Pig, Farami sat across from her crewmate Peblin, doing her best to keep his hand still as she jabbed it with a large needle.
"That smarts!" yelled Peblin.
"It will be done in a moment, Peblin," said Farami gently.
Writing Snippet:
'Slippery' was the word Ajul had heard before. But it didn’t quite fit the snow, he thought. Slippery implied a slick surface. The only thing that could slide was one’s own shoes.
The snow, however, seemed to slide against itself, taking his shoes with it.
'Slidey' it was, then.
'Slippery' was the word Ajul had heard before. But it didn’t quite fit the snow, he thought. Slippery implied a slick surface. The only thing that could slide was one’s own shoes.
The snow, however, seemed to slide against itself, taking his shoes with it.
'Slidey' it was, then.
December 5, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Writing Snippet:
'Slippery' was the word Ajul had heard before. But it didn’t quite fit the snow, he thought. Slippery implied a slick surface. The only thing that could slide was one’s own shoes.
The snow, however, seemed to slide against itself, taking his shoes with it.
'Slidey' it was, then.
'Slippery' was the word Ajul had heard before. But it didn’t quite fit the snow, he thought. Slippery implied a slick surface. The only thing that could slide was one’s own shoes.
The snow, however, seemed to slide against itself, taking his shoes with it.
'Slidey' it was, then.
Writing Snippet:
Ajul stood on the deck feeling somewhat amazed at the horror before him.
It wasn’t the bodies. It wasn’t the blood that stained the deck.
All of this was mere scenery. It could be ignored if it hadn’t been paired with the screams.
By Calyss, the screams!
Ajul stood on the deck feeling somewhat amazed at the horror before him.
It wasn’t the bodies. It wasn’t the blood that stained the deck.
All of this was mere scenery. It could be ignored if it hadn’t been paired with the screams.
By Calyss, the screams!
December 4, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Writing Snippet:
Ajul stood on the deck feeling somewhat amazed at the horror before him.
It wasn’t the bodies. It wasn’t the blood that stained the deck.
All of this was mere scenery. It could be ignored if it hadn’t been paired with the screams.
By Calyss, the screams!
Ajul stood on the deck feeling somewhat amazed at the horror before him.
It wasn’t the bodies. It wasn’t the blood that stained the deck.
All of this was mere scenery. It could be ignored if it hadn’t been paired with the screams.
By Calyss, the screams!
Writing Snippet:
At the same moment, Tiressa drew her spearhead and swiped down on the blade. Through steel and leather both did it cleave, and Gilfram found himself withdrawing his knife sans its blade.
At the same moment, Tiressa drew her spearhead and swiped down on the blade. Through steel and leather both did it cleave, and Gilfram found himself withdrawing his knife sans its blade.
December 4, 2025 at 1:58 AM
Writing Snippet:
At the same moment, Tiressa drew her spearhead and swiped down on the blade. Through steel and leather both did it cleave, and Gilfram found himself withdrawing his knife sans its blade.
At the same moment, Tiressa drew her spearhead and swiped down on the blade. Through steel and leather both did it cleave, and Gilfram found himself withdrawing his knife sans its blade.
Writing Snippet:
“The Hands of Fate approach,” said the woman. “They clench fingers tight to choke the breath of thieves.”
The trio looked at her, Tiressa giving the best glare she had.
“Don’t mind old Vale,” said Gilfram. “She gets this way when she’s drunk.”
“The Hands of Fate approach,” said the woman. “They clench fingers tight to choke the breath of thieves.”
The trio looked at her, Tiressa giving the best glare she had.
“Don’t mind old Vale,” said Gilfram. “She gets this way when she’s drunk.”
December 3, 2025 at 1:09 AM
Writing Snippet:
“The Hands of Fate approach,” said the woman. “They clench fingers tight to choke the breath of thieves.”
The trio looked at her, Tiressa giving the best glare she had.
“Don’t mind old Vale,” said Gilfram. “She gets this way when she’s drunk.”
“The Hands of Fate approach,” said the woman. “They clench fingers tight to choke the breath of thieves.”
The trio looked at her, Tiressa giving the best glare she had.
“Don’t mind old Vale,” said Gilfram. “She gets this way when she’s drunk.”
Writing Snippet:
[1/2] Behold this carving of the squared spirals. Behold how ordered they are at the top. All neatly squared. All fit in a perfect frame.
Now behold how they grow disorderly near the bottom. The squares are no longer square, but form odd angles.
[1/2] Behold this carving of the squared spirals. Behold how ordered they are at the top. All neatly squared. All fit in a perfect frame.
Now behold how they grow disorderly near the bottom. The squares are no longer square, but form odd angles.
December 1, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Writing Snippet:
[1/2] Behold this carving of the squared spirals. Behold how ordered they are at the top. All neatly squared. All fit in a perfect frame.
Now behold how they grow disorderly near the bottom. The squares are no longer square, but form odd angles.
[1/2] Behold this carving of the squared spirals. Behold how ordered they are at the top. All neatly squared. All fit in a perfect frame.
Now behold how they grow disorderly near the bottom. The squares are no longer square, but form odd angles.
Writing Snippet:
If the window could not forbid them, then it could not bid for them either.
If the window could not forbid them, then it could not bid for them either.
November 29, 2025 at 5:05 AM
Writing Snippet:
If the window could not forbid them, then it could not bid for them either.
If the window could not forbid them, then it could not bid for them either.
Writing Snippet:
“What was that?” asked Kendra in the tone someone would use with a kindergartener they secretly despised. “Speak up, Herbert! We can’t hear you when you mumble!”
Fire. Fire burned in Herbert’s heart.
He fought it down.
“What was that?” asked Kendra in the tone someone would use with a kindergartener they secretly despised. “Speak up, Herbert! We can’t hear you when you mumble!”
Fire. Fire burned in Herbert’s heart.
He fought it down.
November 26, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Writing Snippet:
“What was that?” asked Kendra in the tone someone would use with a kindergartener they secretly despised. “Speak up, Herbert! We can’t hear you when you mumble!”
Fire. Fire burned in Herbert’s heart.
He fought it down.
“What was that?” asked Kendra in the tone someone would use with a kindergartener they secretly despised. “Speak up, Herbert! We can’t hear you when you mumble!”
Fire. Fire burned in Herbert’s heart.
He fought it down.
Writing Snippet:
One stepped forward onto the dock. Though his footfalls were silent, Tiressa thought she felt them echoed in the beating of her heart.
Step. Step. Step.
Doom. Doom. Doom.
One stepped forward onto the dock. Though his footfalls were silent, Tiressa thought she felt them echoed in the beating of her heart.
Step. Step. Step.
Doom. Doom. Doom.
November 26, 2025 at 12:37 AM
Writing Snippet:
One stepped forward onto the dock. Though his footfalls were silent, Tiressa thought she felt them echoed in the beating of her heart.
Step. Step. Step.
Doom. Doom. Doom.
One stepped forward onto the dock. Though his footfalls were silent, Tiressa thought she felt them echoed in the beating of her heart.
Step. Step. Step.
Doom. Doom. Doom.
Writing Snippet:
There were seven stairs leading up to the altar. Seven trials for Rorick to endure. He looked up at the altar in the gloom. Buried for centuries, the only witness to this deed would be the skeletal remnants of an ancient priest thereon.
There were seven stairs leading up to the altar. Seven trials for Rorick to endure. He looked up at the altar in the gloom. Buried for centuries, the only witness to this deed would be the skeletal remnants of an ancient priest thereon.
November 24, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Writing Snippet:
There were seven stairs leading up to the altar. Seven trials for Rorick to endure. He looked up at the altar in the gloom. Buried for centuries, the only witness to this deed would be the skeletal remnants of an ancient priest thereon.
There were seven stairs leading up to the altar. Seven trials for Rorick to endure. He looked up at the altar in the gloom. Buried for centuries, the only witness to this deed would be the skeletal remnants of an ancient priest thereon.
Writing Snippet:
“He is the Non-Pattern,” said the soothsayer, “and he is therefore an opposition to all patterns. He is Antithesis, the Dark. He hates not the Pattern, the Creation, the Eternal—he is merely opposite to it.”
“One and minus one,” murmured Massatta.
“He is the Non-Pattern,” said the soothsayer, “and he is therefore an opposition to all patterns. He is Antithesis, the Dark. He hates not the Pattern, the Creation, the Eternal—he is merely opposite to it.”
“One and minus one,” murmured Massatta.
November 22, 2025 at 2:03 AM
Writing Snippet:
“He is the Non-Pattern,” said the soothsayer, “and he is therefore an opposition to all patterns. He is Antithesis, the Dark. He hates not the Pattern, the Creation, the Eternal—he is merely opposite to it.”
“One and minus one,” murmured Massatta.
“He is the Non-Pattern,” said the soothsayer, “and he is therefore an opposition to all patterns. He is Antithesis, the Dark. He hates not the Pattern, the Creation, the Eternal—he is merely opposite to it.”
“One and minus one,” murmured Massatta.
Writing Snippet:
She looked into the woman’s face and reached out with her heart. She sensed starlight.
Brilliant starlight, so mighty as to feel solid.
The knife fell from her fingers.
“What are you?” whispered Sheill.
She looked into the woman’s face and reached out with her heart. She sensed starlight.
Brilliant starlight, so mighty as to feel solid.
The knife fell from her fingers.
“What are you?” whispered Sheill.
November 20, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Writing Snippet:
She looked into the woman’s face and reached out with her heart. She sensed starlight.
Brilliant starlight, so mighty as to feel solid.
The knife fell from her fingers.
“What are you?” whispered Sheill.
She looked into the woman’s face and reached out with her heart. She sensed starlight.
Brilliant starlight, so mighty as to feel solid.
The knife fell from her fingers.
“What are you?” whispered Sheill.
Writing Snippet:
“Miss Tiressa? Wake up! Wake up miss!”
Tiressa stirred and muttered, “What?”
“They’re coming for you!” said the small voice. Small hands tugged on her sleeve. “Take the ship or they’ll find you!”
She sat up. “Who?”
“The things in black!”
“Miss Tiressa? Wake up! Wake up miss!”
Tiressa stirred and muttered, “What?”
“They’re coming for you!” said the small voice. Small hands tugged on her sleeve. “Take the ship or they’ll find you!”
She sat up. “Who?”
“The things in black!”
November 20, 2025 at 3:08 AM
Writing Snippet:
“Miss Tiressa? Wake up! Wake up miss!”
Tiressa stirred and muttered, “What?”
“They’re coming for you!” said the small voice. Small hands tugged on her sleeve. “Take the ship or they’ll find you!”
She sat up. “Who?”
“The things in black!”
“Miss Tiressa? Wake up! Wake up miss!”
Tiressa stirred and muttered, “What?”
“They’re coming for you!” said the small voice. Small hands tugged on her sleeve. “Take the ship or they’ll find you!”
She sat up. “Who?”
“The things in black!”
Bonus Snippet:
The man opened his mouth to speak, but no words issued forth. Only the same wave of sensations and thoughts pummeled Tiressa’s mind and heart. She found herself answering under the weight of this being’s unheard voice.
The man opened his mouth to speak, but no words issued forth. Only the same wave of sensations and thoughts pummeled Tiressa’s mind and heart. She found herself answering under the weight of this being’s unheard voice.
November 19, 2025 at 12:12 AM
Bonus Snippet:
The man opened his mouth to speak, but no words issued forth. Only the same wave of sensations and thoughts pummeled Tiressa’s mind and heart. She found herself answering under the weight of this being’s unheard voice.
The man opened his mouth to speak, but no words issued forth. Only the same wave of sensations and thoughts pummeled Tiressa’s mind and heart. She found herself answering under the weight of this being’s unheard voice.
Writing Snippet:
Millia hated when she dreamed.
She felt herself floating in a black abyss. Her hair drifted about, and she imagined it must have appeared like seaweed to whatever might happen by.
But in the abyss, there was no appearance of anything, for there was no sight at all.
Millia hated when she dreamed.
She felt herself floating in a black abyss. Her hair drifted about, and she imagined it must have appeared like seaweed to whatever might happen by.
But in the abyss, there was no appearance of anything, for there was no sight at all.
November 18, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Writing Snippet:
Millia hated when she dreamed.
She felt herself floating in a black abyss. Her hair drifted about, and she imagined it must have appeared like seaweed to whatever might happen by.
But in the abyss, there was no appearance of anything, for there was no sight at all.
Millia hated when she dreamed.
She felt herself floating in a black abyss. Her hair drifted about, and she imagined it must have appeared like seaweed to whatever might happen by.
But in the abyss, there was no appearance of anything, for there was no sight at all.
Writing Snippet:
When last Tiressa had walked this path, the way had been lined with marigolds in the late spring. Now a chill breeze cut through the land, sifting all leaves of golden color into the path. The flowers had wilted, but a testament of pure sunlight yet marked the way.
When last Tiressa had walked this path, the way had been lined with marigolds in the late spring. Now a chill breeze cut through the land, sifting all leaves of golden color into the path. The flowers had wilted, but a testament of pure sunlight yet marked the way.
November 18, 2025 at 1:34 AM
Writing Snippet:
When last Tiressa had walked this path, the way had been lined with marigolds in the late spring. Now a chill breeze cut through the land, sifting all leaves of golden color into the path. The flowers had wilted, but a testament of pure sunlight yet marked the way.
When last Tiressa had walked this path, the way had been lined with marigolds in the late spring. Now a chill breeze cut through the land, sifting all leaves of golden color into the path. The flowers had wilted, but a testament of pure sunlight yet marked the way.