Lore of the Wilds

1. Humans are trapped in a magical prison of fear

The fear—the panic—was false. A spell. Some disgusting magic, no doubt placed here centuries ago by the Alytherians to stop the humans from leaving.

A manufactured prison. For centuries, the human population of Duskmere has lived under the oppressive thumb of the Alytherian fae, confined to a small, impoverished town. They are kept in check not just by physical sentries, but by an insidious, invisible barrier of magical terror that induces overwhelming panic in any human who attempts to cross the tree line.

The illusion of safety. This psychological cage forces the humans to look to the stars for hope, believing their banishment is a divine punishment rather than a calculated act of subjugation. Lore Alemeyu, an apothecary assistant, harbors a secret belief that magic, not gods, is the true force keeping them trapped.

Key elements of captivity:

• The Cursed Crossing: The historical event that brought humans to this alien world.
• The Fear Spell: A sensory-overloading ward that prevents escape.
• The Sentries: Cruel fae guards who patrol the borders and scar those who try to flee.

2. A devastating crisis forces a dangerous bargain

If you can promise me that your people will help Duskmere recover, then I will risk my life for your theory.

An earth-shattering disaster. When a violent earthshake levels Duskmere, destroying the apothecary and the orphanage, the humans are left completely destitute and helpless. In the wake of this tragedy, elite fae guards arrive to drag the apothecary's owner—or her ward—to the royal Wyndlin Castle.

A desperate sacrifice. To protect her aging aunt and uncle, Lore lies about her identity and volunteers to go in their stead. At the castle, Chief Steward Vinelake and the mysterious winged Lord Syrelle offer her a deal: enter a cursed, ancient library to organize its contents in exchange for aid, resources, and healers to rebuild her ruined home.

Terms of the deal:

• The Risk: Entering a library protected by a thousand-year-old ward that keeps all Alytherians out.
• The Reward: Masons, healers, and supplies sent to save the dying town of Duskmere.
• The Condition: Lore must log every book and hand over any magical or spelled texts to the steward.

3. The cursed library holds forbidden power

She entered the stale air of a room that had been untouched by any living creature for more than a thousand years.

A sanctuary of secrets. The Alytherian Royal Library is a massive, chaotic vault of ancient knowledge, sealed off by a powerful enchantment that incinerates or bars any native fae. Because humans are not native to this world, Lore is able to push past the towering metal doors completely unharmed, stepping into a millennium of untouched dust.

Unlocking the past. As Lore begins the monumental task of cleaning and cataloging the library, she discovers a wealth of information that the fae have systematically withheld from her people. She realizes that access to these texts could provide the key to her people's history, their origins, and their potential salvation.

Discoveries within the stacks:

• Medical texts detailing advanced healing properties of local flora.
• Lineage ledgers explaining the rigid, animalistic clan hierarchy of the dark fae.
• Outdated maps of the continent of Raelysh that omit the human settlement entirely.

4. Magic is a living, selective force

This book called to me by name while I was working in the library.

A sentient grimoire. While organizing the library, Lore is drawn to a dark, hidden stack by whispering voices calling her name. There, she discovers a blank, cloth-bound book adorned with silver-stitched phases of the moon, which radiates a strange, comforting warmth and smells of wild sage and roses.

The lunar connection. Lore soon realizes that the book, known as the Deeping Lune, is not actually blank; its magical ink and complex diagrams only reveal themselves under the direct light of the moon. The book is a sentient grimoire that actively chooses to bond with her, offering her power in exchange for taking it out of the castle.

Characteristics of the grimoire:

• Sentience: The book communicates through whispers and reacts to Lore's voice.
• Moonlight activation: Its pages remain blank until illuminated by the moon.
• Selective bonding: The magic within the book flows only into Lore, ignoring even powerful fae.

5. Betrayal exposes the dark truth of fae survival

The same Alytherians who demanded a certain amount every quarter and then demanded more than they could pay, all while forbidding them to trade with anyone else.

A horrific revelation. Through a vision granted by the grimoire, Lore discovers that the fae completely lied about sending aid to Duskmere; instead, the town is in ruins, and the fae are actively kidnapping human women and children. She learns the dark truth: the dark fae are facing extinction due to low birth rates, and they plan to use humans as breeding stock and expendable soldiers.

The flight from Wyndlin. Realizing she has been used, Lore packs her things and the grimoire to escape. She is intercepted by Asher, her constant guard, who initially threatens her but ultimately chooses to defect and fight his own kind to protect her, forcing them both to flee into the wilderness as fugitives.

The cost of rebellion:

• Asher's defection: Giving up his position and safety to protect a human.
• The violent clash: Killing royal guards who tried to capture Lore.
• The awakening of power: Lore using the grimoire's silver moonlight magic to save Asher's life.

6. True allies emerge from the margins of society

I only wear this because I volunteered to be on your detail. A real sentry would have relished the opportunity to—

Unlikely protectors. As they flee south, Lore and Asher seek refuge in the city of Veyesh and eventually Tal Boro, finding shelter with Asher's childhood friends, the half-light, half-dark fae twins Isla and Finndryl. These siblings, marginalized by the pureblood-obsessed Alytherian society, readily harbor the fugitives.

A complex dynamic. While Isla is a bubbly, affectionate force of nature, her twin Finndryl is a brooding, highly skilled alchemist who initially treats Lore with cold disdain. However, as Finndryl helps Lore translate the ancient, extinct languages of the grimoire, a deep, unspoken tension and mutual respect begin to grow between them.

The rebel network:

• Gryph: The twins' father, a warm-hearted tavern owner who harbors the fugitives.
• Isla: A fierce archer and tracker who acts as a decoy to draw away the royal guards.
• Finndryl: A brilliant alchemist who teaches Lore how to read and harness the grimoire's spells.

7. Power demands a physical and moral toll

I think that every time I use a spell, more ink from the book stains my fingers.

The mark of magic. As Lore practices the spells contained within the Deeping Lune, she notices a physical transformation taking place. Her fingertips and palms become permanently stained with a deep, ink-like blackness that crawls up her hands like wispy smoke, a visual testament to the magic bonding with her soul.

A double-edged sword. Wielding magic provides Lore with the strength to protect herself and her loved ones, but it also forces her to confront the brutal realities of violence. She must grapple with the moral weight of using lethal poison and shadow magic to survive, realizing she can no longer be the innocent girl from the apothecary.

The physical and spiritual cost:

• Blackened hands: The permanent physical stain of the grimoire's magic.
• Fever and poison: Surviving a venomous blade through Finndryl's desperate intervention.
• Loss of innocence: Accepting that survival in a cruel world requires lethal force.

8. Rescuing loved ones requires ultimate sacrifice

Grey is a person, not a pet to add to a fucked-up collection!

A daring rescue. Using a scrying spell, Lore discovers that her best friend Grey has escaped Duskmere only to be captured by the Queen of Rywandall, who keeps him as a drugged, mindless pet in her court. Lore infiltrates the queen's glittering palace, using a bitter bark to counteract the effects of the queen's enchanted, addictive wine.

The escape from the palace. Lore successfully smuggles a disoriented Grey out of the palace under the cover of a powerful cloaking spell, reuniting him with Finndryl and the others. However, Grey brings devastating news: the rest of the Duskmere humans have been rounded up and are being held at Wyndlin Castle for the breeding program.

The rescue mission parameters:

• Infiltrating Wyndlin Castle: Using the secret tunnels beneath the castle gardens.
• Freeing the captives: Unlocking the heavily guarded tower where the women and children are kept.
• The ultimate confrontation: Lore using a lethal, flesh-eating alchemical poison to kill the sadistic Chief Steward Vinelake.

9. The ultimate ally is the ultimate deceiver

The book has bonded with you. A human. But, since you’ve bonded with Deeping Lune, that means you will hear the call of its sister book.

The devastating betrayal. Just as the rescue mission succeeds and the humans are led to safety, the ultimate betrayal is revealed. Asher, the guard who Lore trusted, loved, and intimately bonded with, reveals his true identity: he is actually Lord Syrelle, the winged royal who orchestrated her entry into the library from the very beginning.

A calculated manipulation. Syrelle, possessing the rare ability to glamour his appearance, created the persona of "Asher" to win Lore's trust and protect her just long enough for her to find and awaken the Deeping Lune. Because the book's magic was locked to his grandfather's bloodline and refused to answer him, he needed a magicless human to act as a key to unlock its power.

The trap closes:

• The True Identity: Asher is unmasked as the powerful, winged Lord Syrelle.
• The Ultimate Goal: Using Lore to find the sister book, Auroradel, the Book of Sunbeams.
• The Captivity: Syrelle freezes Lore and Finndryl with a powerful spell, preparing to sail south with his captive "key."

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