Brianna R. Shaffery's Blog

Religion in Fire & Flight

Long ago, Tenebris was originally part of Corvus, though Tenebris split from its former country to form its own, bringing with it the traditions and belief of the religious and cultural minorities of Corvus. Bonded by their desire for independence, the new country of Tenebris largely adopted Oldegion (pronounced /o h l - dEE - j u h n /) and became a blend of cultures and traditions that have since evolved into one, cultural identity. After a couple of decades as an independent country, two religions evolved from Oldegion, and are still practiced in Tenebris today: Godberdian and Astretarian.

Godberdian (pronounced /god-burd-dee-uhn/; plural Godberdians):

Almost an exact reformation of Oldegion, Godberdians adhere to the original god and goddess, but now explore the idea of Fate as It imposes Its will on humanity. The idea of “Fate” as an omnipresent, neutral force, stems from the hope of explaining the actions or reason behind certain events that otherwise can’t be explained. Is it Fate that caused the drought that resulted in the discovery of precious minerals? Or the whims of the weather? Perhaps it was Fate, perhaps it wasn’t, but the idea of reason is what helps people believe in a concept like Fate, or else why would anything inexplicable happen otherwise?

Godberdians look toward two deities: Helpet (pronounced /hEl-pEt/) and Corruptio (pronounced /kor-rUHpt-chee-oh/). Together, the pair of deities are the balance of the world, though neither are explicitly “good” or “evil” — though people are partial to Helpet for Her agreeable disposition. Corruptio is often regarded skeptically due to His seemingly prickly nature. Both omnipresent, Corruptio and Helpet seldom agree on how to approach interacting with humanity, often causing strife between the two.

Astretarian (pronounced /AHs-tree-tAIR-ree-uhn/; plural Astretarians):

Like Godberdians, Astretarians also look toward two deities, Corruptio and Balmae (pronounced /bal-mey/), as two equal, though two opposite poles of the universe. Working cohesively together, Corruptio and Balmae interfere with humanity dependent upon the specific needs of those They’re interacting with. Sometimes a nudge from Corruptio is all it takes whereas a guiding hand from Balmae can encourage the pair’s preferable outcome. A give and take between the “dark” and the “light”, Corruptio and Balmae are the harmony that lull the world into calm when there is chaos and the drums of war when there is injustice. Often acting in sync with each other, Corruptio and Balmae are neither “good” nor “evil”, but purveyors of judgement for all things between the dark and the light sides of morality.

To Astretarians, the concept of Fate is less apparent. Corruptio and Balmae take on the role of Fate in this religion as active, hands-on forces of the universe that set obstacles and challenges in order to test, guide, and nurture the humans they preside over.
Much of Godberdian and Astretarian faith has to do with morality and personhood than it does with actively adhering to a religious law or order. While parishes of all religions can be found in Tenebris, the Godberdian and Astretarian faiths focus on the relationship between the individual and their faith’s deities. How would their deities interact with them if They saw fit? Would they meet Their challenge, be given Their blessing if they were to seek it out, or would they fall short of Their judgement?

Only Corruptio and Helpet or Corruptio and Balmae can answer that, as it’s all left up to Fate for Godberdians and the decisions one makes as they navigate life and the world around them with a little nudge from their Gods for the Astretarians. Learn more about the deities from Fire & Flight at brswrites.com when you sign up for my newsletter, and be sure to keep your eyes open for Helpet’s introduction!

Happy Serenmae!

Can you believe it’s winter already? Neither can I! It seems like only yesterday I was introducing Harvum from my YA fantasy-adventure novel, Fire & Flight, as autumn and now I get to talk about my favorite season of all: Serenmae (or winter)!

Serenmae (pronounced ser-ren-may) is when the world grows cooler and eventually bitter cold. Throughout most of Tenebris, there’s the possibility of snow, although it rarely ever snows in the Amber Dunelands of the southern Tenebris. On occasion, it even snows in the southern reaches of the Barrier Plains, but the Shadow Forest and the Godberd Woods are almost always blanketed with snow at one time or another during the Serenmae season.

With the growing and harvesting season at a close, many folks in the country turn to other occupations for a means of income. Some who are fortunate enough to have a Magicitric (pronounced ma-jist-tric*) greenhouse can continue growing throughout the year. But most importantly, Serenmae is a time of tranquility throughout Tenebris. Even the busiest cities like Huntington and even the capital of Mageffery experience a bit of peace.

Even with the Pagmas holiday, Serenmae is a time of reflection and hope for the future. While the world slumbers, a new day is on the horizon for those who wish to seize it and begin anew. Pagmas’ light, hope, and gratitude is often a more intimate celebration than those held in Harvum. While neighbors often share goodwill amongst friends, Pagmas is traditionally spent with close family. Quiet, reminiscent, and hopeful, Pagmas is a Tenebrese tradition that has lived on for centuries.

Despite being the coldest season of the year, Serenmae has become synonymous with warmth and happiness to Fire & Flight’s main characters, Nyla and Xander. Whether it was spent by the heady scent of a pine tree or sipping cocoa by the family hearth, Serenmae is a special time of year for both teens, one of family and peace.

Experience the world of Tenebris and some of my characters’ fondest memories in Fire & Flight, the first novel in my YA fantasy-adventure trilogy!


(*magically fueled power, enchanted energy that provides light, heat, etc., to homes in most areas; some places are too remote or widespread to fuel with Magicity at this time and people are against magicity because they don’t trust in its dependability.)

Introducing the World of Fire & Flight: Myths of the Shadow Forest

Long ago, say six to eight centuries ago, a great fire ravaged the Shadow Forest. Some say that the most remote parts of the Shadow Forest still burn to this very day. Now while it’s difficult to say for certain when the fire happened, or how it started, or even what caused the tendrils of smoke travelers still report, everyone agrees on one thing: the Shadow Forest is haunted.

They say that there was once a great and terrible war, during which an evil sorceress stole magic from the land in an effort to turn the tides of the war. Blinded by her hatred and greed, she even drained the life force and magic from those around her, and those who opposed her.

But the stolen magic was too much for her to handle, and it scorched the land of Tenebris like a thousand bolts of lightning. Forever changed, the land is all that remains as a testament to the actions of those long dead.

It is because of these actions that the Shadow Forest is believed to be haunted. Whether people believe that the Forest is haunted by tendrils of smoke from that long ago fire or the souls of those the sorceress murdered for power, all of Tenebris knows the dangers of the Shadow Forest and its legacy. And whatever it is that lurks in the Shadow Forest — smoke or ghosts — it leads unsuspecting travelers astray, never to be seen again.

Deep in the forest of sapphire leaves, amber dirt, and crackled, ashen trees, lies the most powerful source of magic in all of Tenebris, and possibly the world. Protected by the Shadow Forest or the source of its dark hauntings, Fortune Falls is said to have the power to grant your heart’s innermost desire. People go to great lengths to take a sip from its waters. Some say it’s a fool’s errand while others swear by the power they may never seek out for themselves.

But one thing is certain: the Shadow Forest is haunted, and it’s waiting for you to explore its secrets.

Happy Harvum!

Fire & Flight


In Fire & Flight, what we call “fall” is actually “Harvum” (pronounced /hahr-vuhm/). It’s a time when the leaves of the Shadow Forest change from sapphire to teal or mossy green — except the ashen and coal-dark trees never actually lose their leaves. And all across the kingdom of Tenebris (pronounced /tEn-AH-brIs/), from the Barrier Plains to the Godberd Woods and beyond, farmers are bringing in the last of their bountiful harvests before the snowy season. Merchants are returning to port from overseas before they’re stranded in the merciless oceans or grasping at every Libac (pronounced lie-back; form of paper currency) they can earn before the snow prevents travel to and from the marketplaces. For main characters, Nyla and Xander, the dwindling days of Hugony (pronounced: hugh-gon-ee) before Harvum are spent traveling deeper into the Shadow Forest on a journey that is sure to change them both…

Now that may not sound like pumpkin spice and everything nice, I can assure you that Harvum is typically a fun time, chock full of moonlit feasts with neighbors after the last of the harvest has been yielded. Traditionally, these feasts are accompanied by dancing and music and maybe even a bonfire or two, though in the cities, celebrations are a little different. Rather than long tables and picnic blankets, Harvum has turned into a formal event in which people begin to look toward the coming year and coordinate the final season of the year, all while navigating the dance floor and dinner etiquette (seriously: which fork should I use for this course?).

Which would you rather: a feast between neighbors or a masquerade ball amongst business partners and close friends? For me, it’s the feast and merrymaking, but I have always wanted a masquerade ball…