Black Briar (13 page)

Ryojin/Ryujin
(Japanese): AKA Owatatsumi, is a dragon god and guardian over the sea in Japanese mythology.

River
Styx
(Greek): Is the murky marsh running with rivers of souls. It forms the boundary between Earth and the Greek Underworld. The rivers
Styx
, Phlegethon, Acheron and Coytus all converge in the center of the underworld. In ancient times, a coin was placed the mouth of the deceased to help pay the toll for the newly dead. In modern times, the practice still persists in certain places of the world. There is also a variation of placing two coins over the eyes (one on each eye) before burial.

Spindle Witch
: (New
Gotham
) Is a classification of witch, with natural inborn dreamspinner abilities. This ability allows her to navigate the plane and craft her own pockets of reality within the dimension. Depending on the level of mastery, instant immersion into the dream world is possible and easily achieved. Often, spindle witches are also very skilled in alchemy and illusion schools of magic, and double as poison herbalists. Spindle Witches are often categorized with beneath the “Coven” faction.

Sprite
: (
Europe
) Is a broad term referring to a large umbrella of legendary creatures that are not from this earth, usually those with fey attributes or similar elf-like traits. Term could also be used to signify a spiritual being like a ghost.

Storymaven
: (New
Gotham
) Is a classification of witch and is categorized in New Gotham under the “Coven” faction. However, storymaven are special sprites that are neither dead, nor living and are imbued with awesome magical ability and the fey ability to navigate between reality planes. They also retain whatever capabilities they may have had in life.
 
They are tasked by the Pagemaster, who is a nebulous being in charge of the production and preservation of all great tales ever told. The storymavens are instructed with recording tales to add to the library. In other words, a storymaven is not only a fairy godmother, she’s got a freaking deadline. Busy, busy, busy.

Tengu
: (Japanese) They are supernatural beings and generally assumed to take the forms of birds of prey. They’re depicted with both human traits (like arms, torsos, etc.) and avian characteristics (like wings and a bird head). They were considered demons and harbingers of war.

Turm
(Old Norse): Is the Old Norse term for “tower.”

Mount
Hindarfjall
: (Norse) In Norse mythology,
Mount
Hindarfjall
is the name of the mountain on which Brynhildr, condemned by Odin into mortality, resides imprisoned and entombed.

Nettlebane
: (New
Gotham
) Is a special type of magical wood only found in the Veil. Typically the wood is used for weaponry, given the diamond-hard granulated ebony wood. Often necessitates a special skill set to work with this construction material given its inflexibility and the risk of special sanding required.

Will o’ wisps
: (European) Is the commonly most widely known name for Ignis Fatuus. They are commonly thought to be trickster boggarts (known as Hobbledy’s Lanterns) or sometimes have a ghostly origin. For instance, a soul who simply could not rest, so it wanders. It usually appears as an atmospheric, ghostly ball of light or a flickering lamp, and is said to recede if approached. Often, it appears at night to travelers, especially over bogs, marshes, and woodlands. In New Gotham, will o’ wisps can be: boggarts, wandering souls and the colors and personalities vary. They are often categorized in New Gotham under the “Court” faction.

Other Useful New
Gotham
Terms and Definitions:

Other Useful New
Gotham
Terms and Definitions:

Dire-creature:
 
Are large, feral animals. They are faster, bigger, and more aggressive than their average counterparts. Dire-creature doesn’t automatically mean were-creature. There are mundane creatures that are considered “dire.”

True “Monster”:
 
A true monster is the traditional and purest depiction of a monster. For instance, a “true” vampire is a breed of vampire. However, in order to be considered a true vampire, the creature’s bloodline must be pure and it must have characteristics similar to the original historical/mythological depiction.

Therefore, a true vampire is almost like the purest breed of vampire, i.e. the purebloods. They are the vampires that everyone knows and recognizes as traditional “vampires.”

If Dracula is billed as the origin of all vampires and sired a daughter with another vampire, she is not the sole species ancestor, etc., but she's close enough to the real thing to be considered a 
true
 vampire. All modern vampires and many, many vampiric breeds will have descended from her bloodline at some point in evolutionary time.

The Court:
 
In New Gotham, the term fey is very broad. It is a species umbrella term, almost like a classification in the Animal Kingdom. There are many different breeds of fey and they generally do not meddle in the mundane realm, preferring to live in The Veil (also known as the Otherworld). The Veil is a melting pot of exotic and intricate ancient cultures. Many of their practices spill over into the mundane realm, but for the most part they prefer to keep things simple for the ignorant and uncouth. A fey of high-standing limits their terms of address to “court” or their given first names, granted the simpletons can pronounce it.

The Clan:
 
In New Gotham, the term vampire is a very broad term. There are many different breeds of vampires and they can be respectfully addressed by their faction title. For instance, it is appropriate to refer to a vampire as “clan” in casual conversation.
However
, vampires are considered nobility in New Gotham and the correct formal term of address is “sir vampire” or “lady vampire.” They are never to be addressed familiarly without explicit invitation. Likewise, they don’t take too kindly to the derogatory term “suckhead.”

The Coven:
 In New Gotham, the terms witch, wizard, warlock, alchemist, etc. are very broad terms. There are many different breeds and types of magic wielders but they can be respectfully addressed by their faction title. For instance, it is appropriate to refer to a magic wielder as “coven” in casual conversation. Covens often prefer to be addressed by their chosen monikers like “Gillian the Candy Witch” or “Arn the Undertaker.”

Registered covens and guilds are headed by a master magic user known as The First Witch, The First Enchanter, The First Alchemist, etc. Their given name cannot be used in a formal setting without explicit invitation. The First Enchanter or The First is appropriate. (But really? They’re a lot more laid back than everyone else. It’s more like, “Just call me something close and quit being a buzz kill. We’re making magic here!”)

The Pack:
 In New Gotham, the terms shifter and were-creatures are very broad terms. Like everything else in New Gotham, there are many breeds. However, the 
difference
 between a 
were-creature
 and a 
shifter
 is very distinct.

Shifters have complete cognizant control over their transformations from human to animal/animal to human at ALL times. Were-creatures 
may
 have control over their “changes” most of the time, but there is inevitably an underlying compulsion that must be satisfied according to whichever curse they happen to bear. For some, it’s the phases of the moon. For others, it’s as random as an unscheduled nervous breakdown twice a year.
 

All 
weres
 and shifters can be respectfully addressed by their faction title. For instance, it is appropriate to refer to a werewolf as “pack” in casual conversation. In fact, they don’t necessarily find it insulting when vampires refer to them as “the animals.” However, they do not appreciate the term “knuckle-dragger.”

Did the ravens miss anything? Feel free to send a carrier pigeon via the contact form on Sophie Avett’s website with any questions or ideas for entries. For a list of Sophie’s research resources, please check out her Goodreads. Thanks!

If you’ve made it this far, you’ve been eaten by the Sophie. Mwah-ha-ha! On some real stuff, thank you so much for reading this craptastic short story. I do hope you enjoyed your foray into Sybille’s nightmares. Welcome to New
Gotham
. If you’ve been here before, welcome back. If you haven’t, you should check out the brochure
here
. (It might save your life!) Otherwise, the Sophie will be trapped in this dungeon with a typewriter with spinning needles for keys.

What Freebies are coming from Sophie’s Crypt next?

Cry Wolf: The Hunt
is our second installment in this year’s collection. Peter, the naughty fox-shifter, and Luca the Wolf have been living together for over a year now. And it’s time for Peter to prove himself as a hunter…and lover. Or else.

This short freebie and its companion (Cry Wolf) will be shredding its way onto e-readers soon. For specific release dates, please check out my website!
 

What else is coming from Sophie’s Crypt next?

Grave Digger
is billed as our next foray into the concrete jungle of darkness. Meet Soraya, a shedu with prison time in her past, and Nick, New Gotham’s only coffin maker and one of the famous Brothers Grimm. Pay close attention to this one, witches. It’s very special as it features characters from
‘Twas the Darkest Night
. That’s right, we’re bringing back Fenris, the brownies…and a whole host of new monsters for your munching pleasure.

Blind Briar
is a special short story being offered as a part of the Romance Divas Charity Anthology. In this tale, we turn back the hand of time and step into
Enid
the Hag’s dreams. Bring your good cloak, the fey have a penchant for mayhem.

Bodice Ripper
is book one in the upcoming Sinister Stitches trilogy, and will tell the story of how Gillian Dweyer nabbed herself a mobboss, Art “the Butcher” Ragnar, in Sophie’s ala Grimm retelling of Beauty and a Beast. There are fantastic dresses, cantankerous fairy godmothers, and enough antacids to go around for everyone. Doesn’t that sound like a bloody good time?

For specific dates and more information, please feel free to stalk my website, check out my Facebook page, or sign up for my mailing list. That’s it. Those are about the only places to find the madness…

About ‘Twas the Darkest Night, A New
Gotham
Fairy Tale

‘Twas the Darkest Night
is an erotic dark fantasy romance. It is a standalone (for now), but features many cameos of my upcoming series, Sinister Stitches. (We get to see where all those sexy threads come from!) It tells the story of how Elsa Karr stakes herself a wicked sexy vampire prince. Let’s call a master remix of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and the Anti-Cinderella. Add a trio of wicked fairy godmothers, some sugar and spanks, lots of sarcasm, and eureka! (Serve lovingly with cake and a spot of tea.)

I’ve included the first three chapters of ‘Twas the Darkest Night for your enjoyment. It’s available wherever my books are sold. Enjoy!

Chapter One

Bits and Pieces was a shabby, narrow relic on the corner of Cratchit and Marley. Older than any of the other buildings on the block. It was a leaning little structure situated across the street from a bridge that had become obsolete since the reconstruction of New Gotham, both relics left over from Victorian times. The shop had a craggy face, loose shingles, and so much bloody inventory—antique magical artifacts, random arcane knick-knacks, and charms—a passerby could scarcely make out the cluttered interior through the large, ice-frosted window. Not that there was a need to see the building’s inner-workings. It was falling apart…from the inside out.