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Legend of Gardyan

@legendofgardyan.net

700 followers 272 following 421 posts

#darkfantasy, #darkromance, #horror ✒ Online Chapters are now available. 📖 legendofgardyan.net Mixed (🇩🇪 🇬🇭 🇲🇱), introvert, female artist & author aspiring to realise #epicfantasy 🧝🏾‍♀️ with a pinch (maybe a scoop) of spice & gore in between. 🌶💀 © Brynn Danu

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Legend of Gardyan @legendofgardyan.net · 16/11/2025

In case you missed it: Sign of the Raven is finally out on paperback and Amazon Kindle! kdpbook.link/for/3000846778 #darkfantasy #horror #thriller

Legend of Gardyan @legendofgardyan.net · 02/09/2025

I've always loved #DraculaLegacy content, so I decided to sprinkle some of it into Sign of the Raven. Wouldn't be me if I didn't give it a slight twist though... 🦇 #DarkFantasy #DarkRomance #Thriller #Horror #VisualStorytelling #Vampires #VampireArt #CharacterDesign #AIArt #AIAnimation

Legend of Gardyan @legendofgardyan.net · 29/12/2024

#WIP excerpt from chapter 7 for the #WIPSnips #writingprompt "nonsense". A track reading. #Fantasy #DarkFantasy #Horror #WritingCommunity #WriteSky #AmWriting #Writers #Authors #AuthorSky #WritingPrompts

“Oh, nonsense,” he immediately rejected it, shook his head in disbelief and stalked on.

At some point, he was so caught up in the walking pattern of the ominous bird that it felt like the animal would run around him at will, sometimes next to him, sometimes in front of him, sometimes behind him and sometimes through him—just as if they were going for a walk together or... would be one with each other... And then, all of a sudden, the trail was gone in the deepest fog. The boy was determined to find it again. But his right shoe encountered an obstacle in within the fog. A stony obstacle.

Softly, a small wave broke out of the white mist in front of his shoe tip like from a surface of water that was agitated by the impact of a pebble. It revealed the base of a large hewn rock. Radu slowly raised his eyes, sweeping up the material. About at shoulder height, a sign he did not know was emblazoned in glaring lettering. Nonetheless, the sight of the symbol felt strangely familiar. The boy’s fingertips hesitated for a moment before reaching for the pulsating light that was engraved in front of him. But before he could complete his action, a whisper startled him.

Legend of Gardyan @legendofgardyan.net · 28/12/2024

#WIP excerpt from chapter 10 for the #WIPSnips #writingprompt "responsible". A Romanian legend. #Fantasy #DarkFantasy #Horror #WritingCommunity #WriteSky #AmWriting #Writers #Authors #AuthorSky #WritingPrompts

“It is not about her. It is about reminding the enemies of Wallachia, that voivodes do not only descend from Transylvania.”

This was going especially for the two rivalling boy-kings of Hungary. None of them was man enough to rule, yet they held power over warriors, who had fought for their place long before those whelps were born. Wallachia’s measures often appeared cruel to others. Their Scythian and Thracian heritage made them masters of gruesome warfare. And the young Wallachian voivode's graphic messages made it clear that this heritage should never be forgotten.

“Did you manage obtaining what I’ve asked you for in our last letter,” a voivodes wife asked the widow of another, who again nodded in affirmation.

“Ruxandra,” Cneanja ordered her handmaiden. “Show her.”

The young Dragovaste came forward. Bowing before her mistress, she let a little phial blink out under her cloak, then quickly hid it away again.

“Is she not going to hand it over,” Orzola frowned.

“She will deliver it directly,” the Moldavian noblewoman expounded. “It is better for you and your sisters to stay away from Buda these days. No trace should lead to House Corvinus, if we are to succeed.”

Legend of Gardyan @legendofgardyan.net · 28/12/2024

Motion Clip: Azwood & Spirit Falls Night Blade territory 🍃 #Fantasy #FantasyWorld #FantasyArt #WorldBuilding #MotionVideo #MotionAI #AIanimation #AIart #AIartwork #CinematicArt #DigitalArt #VisualStorytelling #GenerativeAI #AIartcommunity #LeonardoAI

Legend of Gardyan @legendofgardyan.net · 27/12/2024

#WIP excerpt from chapter 7 for the #WIPSnips #writingprompt "responsible". A dark inheritance. #Fantasy #DarkFantasy #Horror #WritingCommunity #WriteSky #AmWriting #Writers #Authors #AuthorSky #WritingPrompts

Together with Radu’s father, both had fled from several village communities. Time and time again, the residents blamed them for a number of incidents, including poor harvests, dead livestock, and pets mysteriously drained of blood. Although most wanted to see Ravina hanged on the gallows as a witch for these events, she was the least responsible for them. She had distanced herself from the dark practices associated with her bloodline at an early age and instead dedicated herself to medicine and spell magic. With the same powers, she also succeeded in keeping the dark forces in check, which tormented her husband. Just with her dear little boy did she struggle in vain.

The child had inherited something from his father that he had far less control over. Therefore, the parents had only one choice. They fled civilization and went into hiding. The most remote areas of the Fagaras Mountains were to become their new home. And for a while, peace seemed to be coming to a couple, whose bloodlines had shaped a dark past. Only that their happiness did not last forever.

Legend of Gardyan @legendofgardyan.net · 26/12/2024

Motion Clip: Red Forest & Ruby Falls More waterfalls but now in red because #BloodMaples 🍁 #Fantasy #FantasyWorld #FantasyArt #WorldBuilding #MotionVideo #MotionAI #AIanimation #AIart #AIartwork #CinematicArt #DigitalArt #VisualStorytelling #GenerativeAI #AIartcommunity #LeonardoAI

Legend of Gardyan @legendofgardyan.net · 25/12/2024

#WIP excerpt from chapter 4 for the #WIPSnips #writingprompt "map". A visit to Nathum. #Fantasy #DarkFantasy #Horror #WritingCommunity #WriteSky #AmWriting #Writers #Authors #AuthorSky #WritingPrompts

Aaron was amazed when they reached the valley breach of the Natharangan Rift at morningrise. Sure, the general has often had the district in front of him on maps. But he mostly considered the drawings to be exaggerated fantasies of artistic freedom from the hands of cartographers. Tightening the reins, he slowly restrained his dragon Aragosh from descent to landing before setting the majestic animal down on a hillock.

In all those years, he had never made it to Rayan’s Eastern border. Most of the time, he was quite busy on the Dragon Peaks and when he needed a break every now and then, he usually ended up in the capital or a little farther down South.

“You’re getting around quite a bit,” Aaron whispered to his Arajon as he also landed close to his position with Rasheku.

“So would you if you inspected the outskirts more often.”

Legend of Gardyan @legendofgardyan.net · 23/12/2024

#WIP excerpt from chapter 3 for the #WIPSnips #writingprompt "strap". A choice of weapons. #Fantasy #DarkFantasy #Horror #WritingCommunity #WriteSky #AmWriting #Writers #Authors #AuthorSky #WritingPrompts

His tunic was way too tight for him anyway. He had truly outgrown it over the years. Or rather, his shoulders had.

A young fool’s face turned to stone for a moment as he watched the Raji’Draq drop his armour on the table under the rank leaders’ pavilion. The strap held three of his best swords, two daggers, a sabre, and an espada. He had dragged the weapons up the mountain under his tunic and they did a great job of tensing his neck on the way. Stretching it briefly to both sides, he started rolling up the leather on the table in front of him. Fleetingly, he glanced at the battle runes he had tattooed on both his arms during his training, wondering if he would need them tonight. Probably not. Then he looked over at the cheeky idiot at the campfire.

“Well, what is it? Do you want to put down roots over there, or what?”

Reposted by Legend of Gardyan

Legend of Gardyan @legendofgardyan.net · 23/11/2024

Sign of the Raven Online Chapter: Mistresses of Nathum New online chapters every weekend until release. #darkfantasy #darkromance #horror #spicybooks #booksky #writingsky #writers #writing #amwriting #writingcommunity #reading #readers #onlinenovel

legendofgardyan.net

Mistresses of Nathum

The conversation with the matriarch was not particularly exhilarating. Aronya did not like it when her brother behaved improperly for the likes of his rank. And because she held Arajon personally resp...

Legend of Gardyan @legendofgardyan.net · 23/12/2024

Motion Clip Amberfall. Waterfall turned out amazing. #Fantasy #FantasyWorld #FantasyArt #WorldBuilding #MotionVideo #MotionAI #AIanimation #AIart #AIartwork #CinematicArt #DigitalArt #VisualStorytelling #GenerativeAI #AIartcommunity #LeonardoAI

Legend of Gardyan @legendofgardyan.net · 22/12/2024

#WIP excerpt from chapter 4 for the #WIPSnips #writingprompt "style". A trip to the borders. #fantasy #darkfantasy #horror #WritingCommunity #WriteSky #AmWriting #writers #authors #AuthorSky #WritingPrompts

Amberfall’s forest passage to the hunting estate seemed to Aaron and Arajon like a nostalgic ride through long-gone forest civilization. Orphaned country estates in the old Gardyan style, which were actually much too beautiful to leave to the ravages of time. Forest’s Chant was no exception. The foundation walls were still standing, which, judging by the damp interior walls, was due to a heavy rain shower. It must have started shortly after the pillage, washing away most of the traces. But Arajon’s strange feeling that a larger company had gathered here before Forest’s Chant caught fire remained. His gaze fell over the magnificent forest slopes as he stood in the midst of the rubble. He would not have had far to go from here to Soulwater if he wanted to kidnap his sweetheart under cover of night.

“Are you falling in love with a pile of charcoal right now?”

His cousin hadn’t even gotten out of the saddle and was waiting impatiently on the gravel road,

“Maybe it can be rebuilt.”

Legend of Gardyan @legendofgardyan.net · 20/12/2024

#WIP excerpt from chapter 10 for the #WIPSnips #writingprompt "snack". A ritual offering. #fantasy #darkfantasy #horror #WritingCommunity #WriteSky #AmWriting #writers #authors #AuthorSky #WritingPrompts

Cloanta really had enough of these amateurish food sacrifices, that were whipped up by the novices.

“Jusztina is a passionate cook,” her raven priestess affirmed and reached her the bowl. “Blackthorn and huckleberry, as you prefer it.”

A raven witch would smell on it, not all too sure if she should believe Orzola’s words. But a few spoons couldn’t do any harm, especially minding the way she still had to travel tonight. The pulp did indeed taste surprisingly adequate.

“Will he live, Baba? Please tell me.” Rarely did the eldest Szilágyi beg for something. “I need to know, so I can ease her pain at least.”

Her magistra cleaned her mouth with the back of her hand after the little midnight snack.

“I am not a fortune teller, Orz.”

Well, she could have been, if she wanted. But it was not meant for mortals to know their destiny before its time due.

Reposted by Legend of Gardyan

Legend of Gardyan @legendofgardyan.net · 09/12/2024

Visualising Rayan: Araqon #fantasy #darkfantasy #fantasyart #darkfantasyart #conceptart #worldbuilding #environmentdesign #digitalart #aiart #aiartist #aicommunity

Legend of Gardyan @legendofgardyan.net · 19/12/2024

#WIP excerpt from chapter 3 for the #WIPSnips #writingprompt "jump". A blade dance at blood moon. #fantasy #darkfantasy #horror #horrorsky #WritingCommunity #WriteSky #AmWriting #writers #authors #AuthorSky #WritingPrompts

The beast started to jump. With the sword still in his claws, the young blood fox heaved it down on his opponent from a great height. With a deafening scream, he smashed the blade into the bottom of the arena, splitting several cobblestones in two. His thundering stab was followed by a no less powerful side blow, hoping to mercilessly clear the Lord Commander out of the way with his sweeper. Unexpectedly, though, the Raji’Draq leapt backwards instead of sidewards, which gave him the opportunity to make the monstrous puppy’s shoulder acquainted with a well-aimed blow of Sanguinar’s blade. An agonizing howl resounded through the arena, accompanied by a cheering murmur from the crowd. But then it became quiet. That blow found substance. Wounds may have healed faster in the course of the shapeshift, but painful they were, nonetheless.

A leader of the Blood Drinkers knew no mercy. His lesson was hard for the half-strong to bear, as he tried again and again to inflict a notch on the battle-hardened Raji’Draq in a brutal way and was rewarded with another deep cut into his flesh each time.

Legend of Gardyan @legendofgardyan.net · 18/12/2024

#WIP excerpt from chapter 2 for the #WIPSnips #writingprompt "surface". A fairy-tale encounter. #fantasy #darkfantasy #darkromance #horror #WritingCommunity #WriteSky #AmWriting #writers #authors #AuthorSky #WritingPrompts

Passing by mysteriously shaped trees, their drooping branches and elliptically shaped turquoise leaves immediately reminded Radu of his homeland’s weeping willows. The path was lined with exquisitely carved streetlamps, resembling the shape of high grown wayward endive. They shone a soft light on the nocturnal trail the arrowhead in his back steered him along. Small glowing amethyst and blue quartz crystals completed this otherworldly light spectacle, reflecting some of the lamp lights in their spectral surface. At least that would have explained the dancing sparks in the crystal structures, flickering like blue and purple fireflies. No mortal child had ever seen such fairytale-like sight materialize before their eyes. And they surely had no such fairytale-like guide either. Like a prisoner she delegated him along the way to the forestal capital of Nemesava.

Little boys don’t like defeat. The first few weeks, he really wanted to take revenge for her cunning capture, when they were ordered to train together.

Legend of Gardyan @legendofgardyan.net · 17/12/2024

#WIP excerpt from chapter 7 for the #WIPSnips #writingprompt "approach". A trail in the Carpathian forest. #fantasy #darkfantasy #horror #WritingCommunity #WriteSky #AmWriting #writers #authors #AuthorSky #WritingPrompts

Radu couldn’t help but think of the legends about Baba Cloanta—an old witch said to live in the deep forests and often appeared to people in form of a raven. His father had been only too happy to tell him the story. “Be careful when hunting in Baba Cloanta’s forest,” he'd drum into him. “Never approach her with a cocked bow or she will eat you!” Old horror stories, Radu was almost sure about that. Nevertheless, he lowered his weapon after the trail became crazier and crazier. The bird seemed to either run away from him or guide him even deeper into the forest. Other boys would have fled long ago, but not Radu. He would confront Baba Cloanta for making such a fool of him.

The lad doggedly refused to turn back. Even the creeping fog, which crawled up the forest floor behind him like a veil did not stop him from getting to the bottom of things. His gaze was so fixed on the trail that he didn’t notice how he entered a part of the forest that he had never seen before, despite his years of wandering through it.

Legend of Gardyan @legendofgardyan.net · 16/12/2024

#WIP excerpt from chapter 2 for the #WIPSnips #writingprompt "train". A mixed heritage perspective. #fantasy #darkfantasy #horror #WritingCommunity #WriteSky #AmWriting #writers #authors #AuthorSky #WritingPrompts

It was hard for the young blade dancer to feel any kind of pride for his ancestry. As the illegitimate child of a human woman and a Rayan exile, who had left the family too early to earn any sympathy from his half-blood son, Radu felt like being related to his father’s people was more of a burden. He would have preferred never to set foot into Gardyan’s Northern realm and instead continue his training in the clan halls of the Twidan.

The ruling family of Nemesava had taken him under their wings after he found his way into the mysterious lands behind the Great Veil as a young boy. They took him in and raised him like one of their own, although his chalk-white face clearly stuck out like a sore thumb at the dinner table. During great clan gatherings, they would hide him from outsiders. Strangers talk and assess – a local saying Radu would internalize at a very young age

Legend of Gardyan @legendofgardyan.net · 16/12/2024

#WIP update: ✒ 74.669 words down ✒ 239 pages so far ✒ 16 chapters finished ✒ 8 chapters online ✒ more to come ✒ less ahead Note to self: Buy blueberry wine 🍷 #fantasy #darkfantasy #horror #WritingCommunity #WriteSky #AmWriting #writers

Legend of Gardyan @legendofgardyan.net · 15/12/2024

Priestesses of the Raven Witch #signoftheraven #fantasy #darkfantasy #fantasyart #conceptart #digitalart #aiart #aicommunity #gothicaesthetic #gothicart #darkai #ravenwitch #highpriestess #magic #sorcery #ritual #witchsky #witchythings #spooky

Raven witches preparing for a ritual

Legend of Gardyan @legendofgardyan.net · 15/12/2024

I like stories that make you laugh, cry and scared at the same time. #fantasy #darkfantasy #darkromance #spicyread #fantasyart #characterdesign #conceptart #aiart #aicommunity #magic

An elf couple reading a book in an ancient library.

Reposted by Legend of Gardyan

Legend of Gardyan @legendofgardyan.net · 14/12/2024

Forest Beyond / Ghostglade #3 #fantasy #darkfantasy #fantasyart #conceptart #worldbuilding #spooky #horror #forest #digitalart #aiart #darkai #aicommunity

Reposted by Legend of Gardyan

Legend of Gardyan @legendofgardyan.net · 14/12/2024

Forest Beyond / Ghostglade #2 #fantasy #darkfantasy #fantasyart #conceptart #worldbuilding #spooky #horror #forest #digitalart #aiart #darkai #aicommunity

Reposted by Legend of Gardyan

Legend of Gardyan @legendofgardyan.net · 14/12/2024

Clan of the Fox Blood: Adra Sion 🗡🦊 #fantasy #darkfantasy #fantasyart #conceptart #characterdesign #originalcharacter #digitalart #aiart #aiartist #aicommunity

Legend of Gardyan @legendofgardyan.net · 14/12/2024

Forest Beyond / Ghostglade #3 #fantasy #darkfantasy #fantasyart #conceptart #worldbuilding #spooky #horror #forest #digitalart #aiart #darkai #aicommunity

Legend of Gardyan @legendofgardyan.net · 14/12/2024

Forest Beyond / Ghostglade #2 #fantasy #darkfantasy #fantasyart #conceptart #worldbuilding #spooky #horror #forest #digitalart #aiart #darkai #aicommunity

Legend of Gardyan @legendofgardyan.net · 14/12/2024

Clan of the Fox Blood: Adra Sion 🗡🦊 #fantasy #darkfantasy #fantasyart #conceptart #characterdesign #originalcharacter #digitalart #aiart #aiartist #aicommunity

Legend of Gardyan @legendofgardyan.net · 13/12/2024

Redbranch #3 #fantasy #darkfantasy #fantasyart #darkfantasyart #conceptart #worldbuilding #environmentdesign #digitalart #aiart #aiartist #aicommunity

Legend of Gardyan @legendofgardyan.net · 13/12/2024

Redbranch #2 #fantasy #darkfantasy #fantasyart #darkfantasyart #conceptart #worldbuilding #environmentdesign #digitalart #aiart #aiartist #aicommunity

Reposted by Legend of Gardyan

Legend of Gardyan @legendofgardyan.net · 08/12/2024

Visualising Rayan: Redbranch #1 #fantasy #darkfantasy #fantasyart #darkfantasyart #conceptart #worldbuilding #environmentdesign #digitalart #aiart #aiartist #aicommunity

Legend of Gardyan @legendofgardyan.net · 13/12/2024

Forest's Chant #fantasy #darkfantasy #fantasyart #darkfantasyart #conceptart #worldbuilding #environmentdesign #digitalart #aiart #aiartist #aicommunity

Legend of Gardyan @legendofgardyan.net · 12/12/2024

Amberfall # 4 #fantasy #darkfantasy #fantasyart #darkfantasyart #conceptart #worldbuilding #environmentdesign #digitalart #aiart #aiartist #aicommunity

fantasy landscape, birches, birch forest, trees, nature

Legend of Gardyan @legendofgardyan.net · 12/12/2024

By the way: My #darkfantasy / #horror starter pack is slowly coming together nicely! Appreciating any good recommendations for new members to add. 🦇

Legend of Gardyan @legendofgardyan.net · 12/12/2024

'Tis #midnight and I #amwriting but oh wow, a 400 followers! 😯 You lovely BlueSky bunch 🖤 Have an #aiselfie as a thank you! 🧛🏾‍♀️ .o(Hm... could make it a #challenge 🤔 Well, let's just see if anyone will quote post their selfie back 🤷🏽‍♀️) #darkai #vampires #gothicaesthetic #aicommunity #aiart #aiartist

Legend of Gardyan @legendofgardyan.net · 11/12/2024

Creative Alchemy Starter Pack is almost done! So many great artists and writers. 🖤 If I forgot someone, please tell me in the comments, there are only a few slots left.

Legend of Gardyan @legendofgardyan.net · 11/12/2024

Visualising Gardyan: Rakatan Rift # 3 #fantasy #darkfantasy #fantasyart #darkfantasyart #conceptart #worldbuilding #environmentdesign #digitalart #aiart #aiartist #aicommunity

Fantasy Landscape, orange to blue

Reposted by Legend of Gardyan

Legend of Gardyan @legendofgardyan.net · 29/11/2024

Quick side note: I'm not following back accounts that don't interact with my profile, support or inspire me in any shape or form. Social media has become so impersonal, people don't even know how to human anymore. #blueskycommunity

Legend of Gardyan @legendofgardyan.net · 09/12/2024

Visualising Rayan: Araqon #fantasy #darkfantasy #fantasyart #darkfantasyart #conceptart #worldbuilding #environmentdesign #digitalart #aiart #aiartist #aicommunity

Legend of Gardyan @legendofgardyan.net · 08/12/2024

Visualising Rayan: Redbranch #1 #fantasy #darkfantasy #fantasyart #darkfantasyart #conceptart #worldbuilding #environmentdesign #digitalart #aiart #aiartist #aicommunity

Legend of Gardyan @legendofgardyan.net · 08/12/2024

Does anyone remember the movie "What Dreams May Come" with Robin Williams? Its concept of afterlife being shaped by your own dreams, memories, thoughts and mood? #worldbuilding #fantasy #fantasyart #conceptart #dreamworld #trees #nature #magic #imagination #digitalart #aiart #aiartist #aicommunity

Legend of Gardyan @legendofgardyan.net · 07/12/2024

House Nightstride: Radu Corvinus, The Raven Blade 🗡𓅨 #fantasy #darkfantasy #fantasyart #darkfantasyart #conceptart #characterdesign #originalcharacter #digitalart #aiart #aiartist #aicommunity #warriorart #bladewarrior #martialarts #vampires #gothicart #gothicaesthetic #horror #horrorart

Vampire knight

Legend of Gardyan @legendofgardyan.net · 07/12/2024

House Nightstride: Bozani "Rune Claw" Azrune 🗡🐱 #fantasy #darkfantasy #fantasyart #darkfantasyart #conceptart #characterdesign #originalcharacter #digitalart #aiart #aiartist #aicommunity #warriorart #femalewarrior #martialarts #blacksky #blackskycreatives #blackwomen

Female Dark Elf warrior