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Firebrand Risk

Firebrand Risk is a lowkey place for the fiction enthusiast. Whether you write, draw, or are that special combo of all the above, you can feel at ease getting rabidly excited over your projects here. We all do it. Get amped and drag others into your worlds!

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Jill D@thewildfire

February 01, 2025

Dream Log: Intergalactic Gambler

I remembered a dream I had early this morning after I got up to give Amber her medicine. It was very bizarre but kinda neat? Lol

So I was from the point of view of Ace this time, and I was in Las Vegas gambling. I ended up winning a trip to this new space station resort in earth's atmosphere (I can totally see Vegas doing this), and since Amber was now in bed with me in the physical world, Amber came with me in dream world. I had her in my arms and a backpack of my stuff on my back as I stepped out into this lavishly decorated series of large rooms with big heavy airlock doors between each one.

It gets fuzzy as to whether or not I won getting a job in this station since the most i can remember from this part was me repairing a robot. There was a haunted house type section people could pay to go thru where robotic creatures would jump out at you, one of which being the alien from Alien with its two-segmented mouth reaching out at people as they passed. I was working on the robot next to that one and I remember looking over at it as a man was very clearly scared out of his mind while the alien mouth was slinking past him. I was about to say dude you know that's not real...? But I opted to continue my work. Which apparently me standing there didn't detract from the haunted house.

It was around this time I was beginning to realize something was off (or more off, lol). Two of the areas I was going to work in were now closed via airlocks, and I couldn't get a straight answer out of anyone as to why they were closed. Also, a lot of people were starting to get into the shuttle ships and leaving, but were doing so very casually.

So I'm like ok, I'm going to do that too. I go back to the area of the ship where I left Amber, the old lady in the room asking me if I was already off for the day. She also noticed I was carrying my backpack of things and I was collecting Amber's blanket and leash in my arms with Amber along with them, and she asked what I was doing. I don't remember if I ever answered her or if I just hurried and got out of there.

I felt an immense sense of urgency by this point, and I'm not sure if others were realizing the impending doom, but I was running with all this stuff and a dog in my arms trying to find the escape pods. I ran past them and realized this when I saw the sign overhead pointing backward, so I yelled and ran back. I jumped into one of them seconds before the door closed and it was launched from the station. I remember laying on the floor of the "car" trying to catch my breath as we began to move.

There were four or five other people in the chairs, and one took up Amber's blanket and leash for me so I could move and get in my own seat. As we passed by the resort, I could see the outside of each bay, each themed a certain way, and all of the twinkly lights were off and it just looked very foreboding.

The trip back to earth was surprisingly short, and as we slowed to land, we passed all the Vegas hotels and could see three of the big shuttles from the resort hovering over one of the hotels. Something was very ominous about that sight. We landed and I gathered Amber's leash and blanket from the guy who had taken them. A guy was outside checking us back in, and I avoided that by setting Amber down and "chasing her" as she started scouting through the grass to look for a place to pee. I caught up with her and put her leash on and led her farther away before we found a path to the next casino. I still had that very ominous feeling, like someone was going to be looking for me, and I was very certain I needed to get out of there fast.

...and that's it. I woke up and ran thru the whole thing so I wouldn't forget. It had a lot of feelings more than dialog that I could remember, but I'm glad we could get out when we could!

Now I kinda want to give Ace a dog, lol.

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Jill D@thewildfire

June 03, 2026

Some Story Talk: Mioko's Name and Other Tales

I've been thinking more about Mioko as I continue the rewrite, and heres a bit of the process of discovering if I need to (gasp) change his name!

In the video I forgot: Mioko's sister is now named Haru 😁

I also forgot to mention that some of the coolest bits in keeping his name the same is that one of the possible meanings of his name is "waterway" or "channel" which goes really well with his connection to the sea/the fae and his channeling of their power. So yeah!

00:12:51

Jill D@thewildfire

May 21, 2026

What's Rou doing?

On today's episode of Whats Rou Doing?... She had already been rubbing her face in/around/on my cowboy boots for like 2 minutes prior to me finally pulling out the camera (I assumed when I pulledit out she'd stop). It was silly. Then extreme closeup. Aww.

00:00:30

Jill D@thewildfire

February 09, 2026

Roulette vs Edamame

I gave Rou an edamame bean. She proceeded to add it to the undisclosed amount of crumbs and food under the oven......

00:01:07

Jill D@thewildfire

January 23, 2025

Some Story Talk: Mioko

HEY LOOK I finally recorded something again. It's audio only since I was driving... ha

But basically, I'd been tossing around new thoughts for Mioko's backstory (how he becomes bound to the crystal) and in the time it took for me to get to record this, I made up my mind on which route I wanted to take. It's kinda rambly, and there are car noises, but it's not bad! I may have to do more like this.

S. Cz.@S_Cz

September 23, 2021

Some Story Talk ep. 16

I talk around this in ep. 15 and mention it in the second intermission story spitballs. Time for research; here comes the marriage pool episode.

S. Cz.@S_Cz

August 11, 2021

Some Story Talk ep. 11

Time for a research episode talking about one of may favorite theories (that I have unwittingly been applying everywhere, and you just might be too): Bak's Sand Pile!

Jill D@thewildfire

July 02, 2026

HF: Ember

They added clydesdales to Hero Forge, so I upgraded Ember! And of course, you can't have Ember without Gemini 💙

Jill D@thewildfire

June 28, 2026

Aslan

“Courage friends,” came Prince Rillian’s voice, “whether we live or die, Aslan will be our good lord.”

C.S. Lewis, The Silver Chair

I an continuing through The Chronicles of Narnia, and they are such interesting books. C.S. Lewis is such a clever writer, creating books that can be understood as children and continue to grow in meaning for adults. And if you're a Christian, the symbolism and parallels with Christianity are very powerful.

So, of course I wanted to draw Aslan, and I wanted to make sure I got his splendor in all the waves of his mane. Wisps of magic and power flow, and the light itself is created in his step.

The amount of layers and layer blend modes I used in this one is insane... but it came out exactly like I had hoped :)

"Are-are you there too, Sir?" said Edmund.

"I am," said Aslan. "But there I have another name. You must learn to know me by that name. This was the very reason why you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here for a ...

Jill D@thewildfire

June 22, 2026

Candle on the Water

Helen Reddy, Candle on the Water

I'll be your candle on the water
My love for you will always burn
I know you're lost and drifting
But the clouds are lifting
Don't give up, you have somewhere to turn...

Despite remembering almost nothing else from Disney's "Pete's Dragon" (the dragon disappearing until only his floating torso was left is one moment), I do remember being captivated by this song. I had vivid memories of the lighthouse's light flickering as she sang, and I would listen to it on my compilation CD set frequently growing up.

I recently rediscovered the song, and almost instantly Sapphyre perched upon a rock as a storm churned behind her, and that beam of light from the lighthouse on the shore caught her in its glow... It was so much fun bringing this one out of the darkness 😉

(Of course we can only assume who is on the shore... 😘)

Jill D@thewildfire

3 hours ago

Sapphyre: A Tale - Part 4

Unfinished Comic Concept

Page 25

Song: "Threat"

Shael searches for Sapphyre... and finds her necklace at the edge of the kelp forest.

Kalli: Lady Aria! I've spoken to everyone! No one has seen Phyre!

Aria: Then it has been DAYS since she has been seen!

Kalli: She was alone a lot, but never for this long!

–
Brief time skip! I actually swapped 2 of the songs in the order on the album... hope no one notices :D

Page 26

Kalli: ...And I have to wonder... if it was my fault... I was rude to her... I shouldn't have said what I did. It's hard for her because... because of her... heritage.

Aria: (consolingly) Kallista, dear...

Shael: Lady Aria!!

Aria: Shael! What is it?

Shael: I... I found this...

Kalli: The necklace for Phyre!

Shael: ...Near the kelp forest.

Aria: ...No!

Kalli: You... you don't think...

Shael: I fear the SHARKS have taken her...

Kalli: Lady Aria-what should we do?

Page 27

Aria: ...We cannot risk war... we are not certain she was taken.

Kalli: Even if she doesn't think she is, she is still one of us.

Aria: ...And we will fight for her.

The scene transitions to the other side of the kelp forest.

Shark King: Otieno! Iolana!

Otieno: Sir.

Shark King: ...Where have you two been?

Otieno: We were scouting, sir. Like you said to. Patrolling the kelp forest and the outskirts of the Merkind's realm.

Iolana: And we found a MERMAID in the kelp forest.

–
Dorian as the scarred and bitter Shark King fits surprisingly well, hah. But do I remember his name? I do not.

Page 28

King: A mermaid?

Iolana: Yes... we have reason to believe she is a scout sent to spy on us.

Keiki: She's right!!

King: Keiki...

Keiki: But Father–

King: One mermaid alone is not a threat.

Iolana: She had a HUMAN with her.

King: ...Go on.

Iolana: This one is always alone... until now. It could be the merkind are using humans to better plan an attack!

Keiki: Father, we must do something! We must retaliate!

King: We cannot be so quick to fight, my son... To engage the Merkind in battle will mean casualties on both sides, and we are still recovering our numbers.

–
Keiki looks like he may be based on Henri from the Elemental Guardians fanfic who later grew up to become Phoenix in ToAG. Also still no one seems to be baffled by why a human is underwater but ok!

Page 29

King: However... if what you say is true, it would be best to prepare than to be caught off guard.

Keiki: So we will fight them?

Iolana: Should we prepare for war?

King: Yes. Prepare for war. But if there is no threat... (gazes at Iolana and Otieno) ...it will be on YOUR heads.

Iolana's form mirrors Sapphyre as they gaze blankly onward.

Chris: Phyre! (cozies up to her) Still as elusive as ever.

Phyre: I was waiting for you.

Chris: I suppose I did say I wanted to come up for air again.

The two swim up to the surface, past the edge of the kelp forest.

–
….AND that's all that's drawn. I'll try to fill in the rest of the story as best as I can remember using the music in one last part!

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Jill D@thewildfire

July 25, 2026

Sapphyre: A Tale - Part 3

Unfinished Comic Concept

Page 17

Song: "Pursuit"

Iolana: Otieno, would you look at that!

Otieno: Iolana, I see it... though it's awfully hard to believe...

Iolana: The mermaid has returned... and she's brought a two-legged friend with her... And now's the time we finally pay her a visit.

The sharks emerge from hiding.

Otieno: Well! Look here!

Iolana: The lone mermaid again separated from her companions!

Phyre: Sharks!

Otieno: That's right, but if you're nice we may let you go...

Phyre: You can't do anything to me–we're at peace!

Otieno: You're alone... who's gonna know?

–
Iolana and Otieno are Dawn and Ed if you couldn't tell, lol. I think I looked up all kinds of water-related names for the characters; they’re all very unique. Also I love how no one questions how a human is underwater like this.

Page 18

Chris: I don't believe she is alone!

Iolana: (jealously) Yes, Otieno, I don't believe she IS...

She swims closer to Christopher.

Iolana: You, however, HUMAN, would make a fine trophy... A proper tribute to the Shark King... So, while we're at it, we might as well bring him a mermaid SPY!

Phyre: You'd call me a spy, would you? The only way you'd do that... is if you could have caught me!

–
Oh… the “plot”... LOL

Page 19

Otieno: I knew they'd bolt!

Iolana: Shut up!!

Chris: Up ahead–we can hide in there!

Phyre: The kelp forest? But that's the division between our land and the sharks!

Chris: It doesn't look like the sharks are following boundary lines at the moment.

Phyre: Good point.

Otieno: They're going in the kelp forest!

Iolana: That'll slow them down!

They swim away as the sharks follow after, leaving Sapphyre's necklace behind.

Page 20

As Sapphyre and Christopher–and Iolana and Otieno–make their way through the kelp forest, they get caught in the vines.

Phyre: They're going to catch us–

Llyr: No they won't–come this way!

He hides them away in the kelp.

Iolana: Wh–where are they?? We couldn't have lost them!

Otieno: I don't see them up ahead... Maybe they've gone back the other way!

–
Vance makes his leafy-sea-dragon debut!

Page 21

Llyr: Good, they turn away.

Sapphyre notices Christopher has a hand on her shoulder and they nervously part.

Llyr: You are safe for now, though they may return.

Chris: Thank you, sir, we truly appreciate it... May I ask who–who you are?

Llyr: Oh! I apologize... I am Llyr, and you are in the realm of the Kelp-Dwellers!

Page 22

Song: "Forest"

Kambu: Ah! Welcome! Llyr, thank you for guiding these two. I am Kambu, leader of the Kelp-Dwellers.

Phyre: (shyly) I'm Phyre. And this is Christopher.

Kambu: A pleasure. It has been some time since we have seen a mermaid--or a greater expanse since we've seen a human. How is it you breathe underwater?

Chris: Well–

Phyre: I've never heard of Kelp-Dwellers before.

Kambu: Ah, because we live in secret. We are found when we need to be found.

Chris: Actually, Llyr found us.

Kambu: We do find those who need us if necessary!

–
Leafy Mioko and Raeya!

Page 23

Kambu: Llyr is young, but he knows what he is doing.

Kelp Queen: You are free to stay as long as you wish.

Kambu: All are welcome! No one is turned away!

Chris: I believe we should stay awhile, don't you think?

Phyre: But what about you? Don't you need to return to the surface?

Chris: I'll let you know when I'm ready to return. Let's enjoy this peaceful place for now... together.

–
I don't remember the Kelp Queen/Raeya's name…

Page 24

Sapphyre and Christopher find themselves getting closer...

But Iolana and Otieno are unable to find them.

Otieno: Come on, Iolana, we're not going to find them.

Iolana: ...Fine.

They swim away, reluctantly.

–
That was a quick falling in love sequence, lol. It’s like the whole story was put on 2x speed (or more lol).

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Jill D@thewildfire

July 24, 2026

Sapphyre: A Tale - Part 2

Unfinished Comic Concept

Page 8

Song: "Storm"

The man is taking on water and his sails are torn as he battles to stay afloat in the storm.

Christopher: This–this may be it... This is where my journey will... end!

The boat capsizes.

–
Christopher was an attempt at a new character but he was heavily influenced by the Eleventh Doctor. With the rest of the characters being borrowed I’m surprised I was concerned about making him a separate character, honestly.

Page 9

Song: "Deep"

The man struggles to return to the surface, but the water, waves, storm, and the breaking boat prevent him. He soon falls motionless, sinking to the ocean floor... beside a mermaid.

Page 10

She swims up to him, cautiously.

Phyre: A human... what do I do? He'll die... if he hasn't already. But I'm not supposed to do anything... he's a HUMAN... But...

Page 11

Gently leaning over him, Sapphyre brings her lips to his and kisses him.

At once, the man gasps, eyes wide open. Horrified, Sapphyre darts away as he struggles to catch his 'breath.'

Christopher: What... How... I'm... I'm underwater! I'm breathing...

Their eyes meet.

–
I'm not sure what gives Sapphyre the gill-giving ability in this story… it’s possible it’s a mermaid thing (since she mentions how she’s not ‘supposed’ to do something to help him–insinuating that she could?) or maybe Lady Aria gave her the ability like Neva does in the final. If it was ever explained, it was in the bits I didn’t get to and don’t remember.

Page 12

Chris: Wait! You're–you're a–Gahh! Th-this water! This is just... so odd...

He feels his neck.

Chris: AGHH!! My neck! What on earth?! GILLS?? (defeatedly) My word... I have got to be dreaming. I've died and I'm dreaming. I have to be... Seeing things... Breathing underwater...

He notices Sapphyre.

Page 13

Song: "Shadowplay"

Chris: But... but it's not a dream, is it. I'm really here, and you're really a mermaid. And you... you saved me...

Phyre: (backs away before he can touch her) ...Yes.

Chris: ...Why?

Phyre: You needed saving...

Chris: And the... GILLS... How long will these be here?

Phyre: I'm not sure... long enough for you to return to the surface.

Chris: What makes you think I want to return?

Phyre: Because-because you're human... you belong there.

Chris: I suppose so... (reaches for her hand) ...What's your name?

Page 14

Sapphyre again retreats.

Chris: ...Sorry.

Phyre: What's yours?

Chris: Christopher. And you?

Phyre: Phyre.

Chris: Phyre?

Phyre: As in Sapphyre.

Chris: ...Beautiful name. It fits you. (watches her swim by) ...You don't say much, do you?

Phyre: I don't often speak to humans.

Chris: What about other mermaids?

Page 15

Sapphyre turns away, flustered.

Chris: What's wrong?

Phyre: (rushes at him) What about you?

Chris: (surprised) What about me?

Phyre: Why would you say you would not return to the surface?

Chris: I am merely a traveler... I've no ties to anyone on the surface... I move where I must, stay where I must... I was sailing where I must when the storm did me in...

Phyre: Do you feel you... belong on the surface?

Chris: I suppose... Don't quite belong anywhere. Why? You seemed rather defensive a moment ago...

Phyre: It was nothing.

Chris: Is it really? Something tells me there is as much about you that is hidden... As there is about ME.

–
Oh, the dialog… lol

Page 16

Phyre: It's just... nothing. I have a few friends. Sometimes I just need to be alone. More than the other mermaids... a lot more...

They get closer.

Phyre: (turns away) ...Why am I telling you this...

Chris: I'm not sure. But something tells me you needed to.

Phyre: (closes her eyes and begins to give in) I suppose.

But two figures are watching in the distance…

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