There Was Ash – Chronology

The Troublemakers of Malritaj

Shiloh is a powerful, studious mage with lots of friends who he likes to torment between training.

One of his classmates he held closer than anything else. They were rivals as much as they were companions. Partners. He and Connor were inseparable.

But one day something would separate them.

Shiloh in his new form would be subdued and the elder wizards would attempt to seal the creature that emerged from him away. The bindings were so plentiful and powerful, they would leave Shiloh blinded so long as they remained and drain the color from his hair. Despite how powerful and plentiful the seals were, they couldn’t fully contain the beast. Shiloh would be permanently deformed with large bat-like ears and fangs.

His mentor, Malachi Darkwater, would aid his escape from the college before they could decide to kill him and be free of the cursed beast in hopes to find a cure for Shiloh’s curse. Darkwater would also equip Shiloh with a pair of drumsticks to be his new wands, since his flute was lost in the beast’s rampage.

His life was cut short, and the creature inside of Shiloh was temporarily freed by the intense grief the boy experienced.

Rayer found a bloody mess on the side of the road and a still breathing boy among it. He took Shiloh’s sleeping body to a camp to help him recover from whatever had transpired.
The two would move on together to a fishing village and join a crew of pirates that agreed to transport them. Here Shiloh would meet someone new. Lapin (Lop) Erkhan Bash. Son of the pirate captain, Kiran Bash.

Lapin was usually kept below deck to ‘keep him safe’. He was a one in a million child. A blood mage. The most dangerous of magicks to exist. Unlike most magick, which required many components, spell circles, and math to make work, blood magick used the mage themself as the fuel. They were capable of anything and were incredibly dangerous. Because of this, if there were any signs of a child being a blood mage, they would be killed before the magick had a chance to mature.

Kiran had already lost his wife to this magick. He refused to lose his son too, so he fled to the seas and became a pirate while his son learned to use his abilities and keep them under control.

After meeting Shiloh, Lop realized he needed a mentor, and who better than someone he got along with so well. He would leave his father’s crew and travel with Shiloh, who would teach him how to hone his powers and become a powerful mage like himself.

The two would travel together and cause trouble all over the place.

Lop would fulfill Shiloh’s bloodlust when he needed to. A sort of trade for Shiloh’s guidance.

Shiloh always felt a strong affinity for nature and animals; so much so that he could speak with them. They liked him. Listened to him. Did as he asked. Defended him.

One day things would go too far. Get out of hand. The boys would encounter someone they were not equipped to handle. A monster named Furfur. A powerful demon. Lapin isn’t in control enough to fight someone so strong. Shiloh not yet used to his disabilities. Both bested.

He would follow them. He would form a contract.

Shiloh’s hair without the magical seals starts to grow back red… but the horns also kinda creep in too…

Eventually we will meet the monkey king of this place… or monkey… prince. This is Sun Yezhu. The reincarnation of the monkey king. He’s young and arrogant, but very proud and considerate. A true king of his jungles. His trusty Nimbus is a cloud that takes the shape of what others see; their imagination can be a blessing or a curse.

Yezhu has history with some of the group members that might… complicate things. His story is a bit further off though.

That’s just about everything for now. At least that’s been illustrated. Thanks for making it all the way down here! I hope you’re excited for more of these guys. They’ve been living in my head for a loooong time now and I hope I can get it all out one day.