The Canic Chronicles

By FaindriArt / Roan S.

Brief Summary

The Canic Chronicles is an adult fantasy series that follows the Inaki-Valhari family, primarily told from Narok's PoV. It is a character focused work that explores religion, gender, class, environmentalism, and politics in a medieval setting inspired by northern Eurasia. The first book--which may end up being multiple, who knows--focuses on Narok and Kasandra's early life, romance, and what ultimately drove them apart.A sequel trilogy is also planned; it takes place roughly 15 years later and puts more focus on Narok and Kasandra's kids, though Narok is still the primary PoV character.

Pitch (Book 1)

A trans monster hunter running from his past. A princess plagued by dreams of gods and specters. They’re members of rival religious orders: one seeks to destroy the poisoned world tree, while the other wishes to save it.Their romance might cause the end of the world. No pressure.

History

The Canic Chronicles is an adult high fantasy novel series I first started writing in the mid-2000s when I was in middle school. At the time, the story was more YA because I was too young and naive to know how to properly write an adult novel. I spent seven years trying to "perfect" this story for traditional publishing, but I lacked experience to write it the way I envisioned.So in 2014, I set it aside.I wrote many more manuscripts with the intention of publishing. I was extremely close several times, but ultimately, no dice.Then, in 2019, burn out hit. I'd just graduated college and didn't know what I wanted to do with my life. Covid struck not long after I got a day job. I was diagnosed with several mental health conditions and disorders. I was able to leave my toxic cult-like religion. I started to really figure out who I was as a person, and that included puzzling out if I even enjoyed writing at all. So, I spent the next few years in fandom spaces where there was no pressure to sell, market, or be 'the best' at anything. I was just here to learn how to have fun writing and drawing again.Then, in summer 2024--ten years since I set TCC aside--I had a dream about the characters. Story beats and character arcs began to fall into place. I immediately wrote half-baked ideas into an old notebook. I hadn't experienced this kind of excitment for writing an original story in almost five years.Now, I'm working on developing everything (when I'm not working IRL). I don't know if I'll want to try to publish TCC, whether that be traditionally or the indie route, but for now, I'm just having fun playing with my old characters. I think I'm finally at a point in my life where I can tell the story properly.

World

Map is currently a work in progress.

TCC's world is inspired by multiple medieval cultures in northern Eurasia, specifically Scandinavia and Germany. There are also Greek and Roman influences.There are seven continents on the planet. Each has its own 'world tree'; this tree provides magic through ley lines. The world tree on Tuala--the continent where this story takes place--is sick and causes mutations in plants, animals, and sentient beings, turning them into monsters. It is the Mercies job to kill them in order to keep the poisoned forest's taint from spreading.(Side Note: Narok refers to it as "The F*cked Up Tree")Three types of humanoids inhabit this world: Therians (wolf/bear/bat shapeshifters), Elyndi (elves), and humans.

Content Warnings

These warnings are subject to change, but I'm sharing what content will most likely appear within the series. Some of these things will be implied rather than on the page.

  • transphobia, deadnaming, misgendering, dysphoria, outing

  • sexual violence/assault, sexual harassment

  • violence, war, blood/gore, injury detail, murder, death, death of a parent

  • misogyny, sexism

  • addiction, substance abuse, & alcoholism

  • religious trauma, purity culture

  • child abuse & neglect

  • classism

  • body horror

  • mental health issues

  • (wanted) pregnancy, discussions of abortion

  • slavery, child soldiers, trafficking

  • xenophobia

FAQ

Q: Is this story grimdark? It looks like it'll have such dark themes.
A: Grimdark tends to have a very cynical view of everything, and I don't consider myself that type of writer. I try to always write with a sense of hope in my stories, and TCC is no exception.Q: Where can I read this thing?
A: You can't yet, because I have to finish writing it LOL. I appreciate anyone who is interested! My goal in 2025 is to have a first draft completed of book 1.Q: If Narok is transgender, and Kasandra is cisgender, how can they have biological kids?
A: Narok's transition involved giving him a fully functional cis body. It was done by sketchy magical means that altered him completely. It also made him compatible to procreate with Elyndi (normally, Elyndi cannot reproduce with Therians). Neither he nor Kasandra knew this was possible until it happened.Q: How does transitioning work in this world?
A: There are different levels of transition, just like there are in our world. Medical transition/HRT doesn't work the same though. Magical transition--giving someone a completely different cis body like Narok had done--is rare and expensive. It's typically only done to those in the upper class, or if they join the military.This is all something that will be discussed more in depth in the actual story, as there are multiple binary and nonbinary trans characters, and they all experience gender differently. Narok might be the main character for most of the series, but he is not the One True Trans Experience.Q: How are trans identities perceived in this world?
A: It depends on the culture. As a whole, most people are neutral about it, though I wouldn't say it's "widely accepted". Tuala and its nations are in a transitional period where queer identities are more accepted than they were in the past, but this is not a utopian society by any means. There's still a lot of pressure on family lines and inheritance, especially with magic, and this helps reinforce heteronormativity.

You're always welcome to ask me Qs about my OCs and world, whether that be directly on social media or through my ask box on tumblr.

Click a portrait to learn more about a character.

More Characters coming soon.

Narok Inaki
(NAH-rock ee-NAH-kee)

  • Nicknames: N/A

  • Titles: Shrike, the Butcher

  • Age: 22-28 (pre-time skip) | 43 (time skip)

  • Pronouns: he/him (transgender)

  • Sexuality: biromantic / demisexual

  • Height: 6'8" / 203 cm

  • Species: Canite (wolf Therian)

  • Occupation: King’s Mercy (mercenary/monster hunter devoted to the sun god)

  • Personality: introverted, resourceful, stoic, paternal, thoughtful, stubborn, knowledgeable, bookish, takes no shit

  • Fun Facts: really does not like horses (“they’re trouble at both ends and crafty in the middle” iykyk); can sing really well; can whistle; likes reading/learning new facts

  • Lore: A trans monster hunter that left home as a teenager to escape an arranged marriage. He joins a sun god cult in order to receive free HRT (and is able to full-body transition via sketchy magical means).

  • While on a mission to find the person who murdered his friend, he meets Kasandra, and they slowly fall in love.

Playlist

Kasandra Valhari
(ka-SAUN-dra val-har-EE)

  • Nicknames: Kas, Kassie (childhood)

  • Titles: Second-Born Princess, Sorceress

  • Age: 23-30 (pre-time skip) | 44 (time skip)

  • Pronouns: she/her (cisgender)

  • Sexuality: bisexual

  • Height: 5'11" / 180 cm

  • Species: Elyndi (elf)

  • Occupation: academy student (final year)

  • Personality: outgoing, extroverted, witty, intelligent, brilliant, funny, kind, stubborn, impulsive, carefree

  • Fun Facts: her favorite color is red; her love language is physical touch; can't whistle (is very mad about this); extremely knowledgeable about how biology and magic intersects

  • Lore: Kasandra is the second born daughter of a Queendom called Azair. At the start of the story, she's in her final year at an academy for magical studies. She's been betrothed to her distant cousin, Dalaric, since she was a child. She doesn't like him.

  • She and Narok meet in their early 20s while trying to solve a murder mystery together (by accident lmao).

Playlist

Chyaria
(SHY-ar-ee-ah)

  • Nicknames: Chya (most common), Aria/Ari (childhood)

  • Titles: none

  • Age: 15 (time skip)

  • Pronouns: xe/they/her (agender/nonbinary)

  • Sexuality: aromantic/asexual

  • Height: 5'2" / 157 cm

  • Species: Elyndi / Canite

  • Occupation: Thief

  • Personality: observant, resourceful, stubborn, aloof, smartass, street smart, impulsive, full of rage, loyal to a select few

  • Fun Facts: swears a lot (espeically made up ones); will eat anything; likes cats and birds; can't read/write well; named after Narok's father's clan (the Chyari, which means Songbird People)

  • Lore: Chya is one of the primary protagonists in the time skip. Xe is the youngest child of Narok and Kasandra, but does not remember them as xe was separated from them when xe was a baby. Xe was adopted by the master of a thieves guild and raised to be a potential successor.

  • Chya also can see and talk to ghosts. This ability makes xer an excellent thief and valuable asset to xer adopted father, Arden.

Playlist

Baniel
(bah-NEE-el)

  • Nicknames: Bani (by Kai only)

  • Titles: The Bane, Little Wolf

  • Age: 20 (time skip)

  • Pronouns: he/him (cisgender)

  • Sexuality: gay

  • Height: 6'1" / 185 cm

  • Species: Elyndi / Canite

  • Occupation: pit fighter

  • Personality: loyal to a fault, stubborn, impulsive, protective, assertive, extroverted, flirtatious, short-tempered

  • Fun Facts: left eye is partially blind; also missing left ring and pinkie fingers; left handed but was trained to be ambidextrous; has a crush on one of the cooks in the pits; the white patch in his hair is a birthmark; named after Kasandra's father; can sing well

  • Lore: Baniel is Narok and Kasandra's oldest child, and he is Kai's twin. He and Kai were separated from both parents when they were young children, but they remember their parents very well.

  • While running from Dalaric's men, Baniel and Kai were captured and sold into a pit fighting circuit that performs for the Azairian upper class. Baniel whores himself out to make extra coin and to keep Kai out of the ring. The pits are extremely violent; most of Baniel's opponents are mutants and monsters.

Playlist

Kaira
(kai-RAH)

  • Nicknames: Kai (by everyone)

  • Titles: none

  • Age: 20 (time skip)

  • Pronouns: she/her (transgender)

  • Sexuality: asexual; biromantic (female preference)

  • Height: 6'3" / 190 cm

  • Species: Elyndi / Canite

  • Occupation: cook, healer

  • Personality: intelligent, kind, savvy, patient, observant, loyal, gives the impression she's a pushover (false)

  • Fun Facts: mute due to a poisoning incident as a child; communicates through sign language; likes music and reading; did not learn to shift until late teens

  • Lore: Kai is Narok and Kasandra's second child, and she is Baniel's twin. She and Baniel were separated from both parents when they were young children, but they remember their parents very well.

  • While running from Dalaric's men, they were captured and sold into a pit fighting circuit that performs for the Azairian upper class.

  • Kai has an affinity for magic, but this is kept hidden, and she's unpracticed. She works under the head cook in their fighting circuit, but has been training as a makeshift healer when she can.

  • Kai is not able to transition until later in the story. She often presents as a boy for her own protection.

Dalaric Valhari
(da-lar-ick)

  • Nicknames: Dal (close friends)

  • Titles: The Dragon King (after coup)

  • Age: 50s (time skip)

  • Pronouns: he/him (cisgender)

  • Sexuality: gay (in denial)

  • Height: 6'2" / 188 cm

  • Species: Elyndi

  • Occupation: King

  • Personality: proud, arrogant, self-centered, controlling, religious zealot, a little fruity, dramatic

  • Fun Facts: absolutely hates being dirty; knowledgeable about horses/breeding; he sounds like Astarion from BG3 lol

  • Lore: The primary antagonist throughout the series. Dalaric is Kasandra's distant cousin and has been betrothed to her since they were children. (He's about a decade older than her.)

  • He is extremely religious and believes it's time for a new dynasty to take control of Azair. He claims the Valhari line has been deteriorating for the past few generations since it's been ruled by "unnatural" women who don't know how to govern.

Playlist

The King's Mercies

The King's Mercies are teams of elite soldiers from Nychia tasked with killing the monsters spawned by the "f*cked up tree". They are a religious order and are blessed by the sun god with supernatural abilities, including a higher tolerance against the tree's corruption.Each team is divided into six individuals: a commander, a healer, and four berserkers.

Narok's squad is called 'The Iron Wolves'.

  • Sulien — commander; younger brother to the Nychian king

  • Bolad— Ursida (bear Therian), the team's "tank"

  • Lukka — healer; Canite (Wolf shifter)

  • Joan — swordsmaster, youngest daughter of a noble family; human

  • Rosina — sniper, left their religious family when their gender wasn't accepted; Elyndi

  • Narok — primary berserker; Canite