Morgana the Forsaken Harbinger, and Welt the Gilded Hero

Morgana, a resilient necromancer, and Welt, a mortal mastermind, are the two characters who inspired everything. They sparked my imagination and started me on this incredible writing journey. Morgana and Welt are both multi-layered characters with so many complex threads within the plot. Both have a traumatic and mysterious past, grapple with a conflicting present, and face an uncertain future. Despite this, they embody key themes and symbolism that shape the heart of the novel as they go on intersecting journeys. Without spoiling the current draft, I’ll share insights into earlier versions and my thought process behind this chaotic duo.

Let us look at the main female lead, Morgana, the Forsaken Harbinger. Morgana is a paradox to many, and a name not easily forgotten by foes. With her strong devotion to the God of Death, a silent burden no mortal shall see, and an air of egotism that masks self-pity.

Welt perfectly describes this during a discussion with Morgana:

"Necromancers are rare, and you hold no allegiance to any kingdom we visit. You have a remarkable talent for angering any nobility who presume to command you, yet you carry yourself with the composure and grace of noble blood. Your unwavering devotion to the guild and the care you extend even to your skeletal forces speak volumes. To me, you are Morgana, and that is all that matters."

Morgana has always in every draft been a powerful magical being. She always had a cursed past, or a reason behind her devotion to the God of Death. In the earliest draft she made a deal with Death. She was going to seek revenge and reclaim what she had lost, yet the traumatic back story didn’t fit what I wish her character to represent. In her second version, Morgana swore allegiance to the God of Death instead of making a deal. This version retained her power but highlighted the burden of responsibility she carried for so long. The downside was that she became a victim of other plot lines, turning into a more passive character. She was more a damsel, than a fighter and this was not what her true self or story required.

The current draft is more balanced and the connection with Death befits her role better and ties into her journey better. She is haunted by her past, which shapes her desires and actions as she moves forward. It is a constant reminder that magic comes with a price. She is beloved by the dead yet despised by the living.

Morgana the Forsaken Harbinger is not a good or evil character. She is designed to make people think and question themselves on how they would react if they were in the same scenario. She is an active character that does not wait for others to save or ruin the day. Like in my last blog post, Morgana often represents the magical side of the world. She helps us see what living in a world with magic can be like, and the struggles of using magic.  

Welt contrasts sharply with Morgana. As a mortal without magic, he has honed his skills and intellect to not just survive but thrive in a world that could easily crush him. He is the lead advisor of the guild and often commands the raids along side the co-leaders. Welt is respected and seen as a heroic figure amongst the living. Tales of the mysterious nomadic advisor who helped to create the guild are known across the land. While Morgana’s past still haunts her, Welt is plagued by the future. His life began when he formed the guild and his focus all these years has been on the growth of it.

Morgana describes Welt as:

“Welt is a paradox. An unshakable strategist who thrives in chaos yet bears the weight of every decision as if the world rests on his shoulders. He has no magic, no divine favour, yet he out thinks and outmanoeuvres those who do, turning impossible odds into victories. Like most mortals, he has his troubles, overworking himself and has a nasty habit of drinking. But who could blame him? He is one of the strongest mortals I have ever known, yet he bottles up his needs and desires for the sake of the guild, convincing himself that everything will be fine if he just keeps pushing forward."

While Morgana has gone through many different back story changes, yet little changes to her future, Welt is the opposite. Welt’s back story has always been set in stone, yet the future timeline and story structure of Welt has changed drastically.

In the original version Welt was a passive character. He was one the main rivals of Morgana and would end up dying to protect the guild. Yet this felt abrupt and more of a token death than a necessity. In the second version, Welt became more active, taking on a stronger role as a lead guild member and gaining more scene time. Yet the dynamic with Morgana and a few other characters still did not feel right. What does Welt truly desire? What are his dreams? What are his fears? In the current draft of Welt his timeline befits the character development and plays a bigger role. His ideals and view of the guild is much more fleshed out, and we have more moments where we see both Morgana and Welt trying to do what they feel is best for the guild, even if they do not agree.

As a secondary point of view, he helps show us the brutal reality of the world. What it is like for someone with no magic, as well showing us what the guild is like when Morgana is not dampening people’s moods. Welt also has an intriguing role to play with certain characters that will be introduced throughout book one and two. He helps us see the world from a place of someone still trying to learn and survive. He is only mortal after all. Having a non-magic character also helps readers naturally learn about the world.

To end this post, here are some fun facts about both characters:

Morgana:

·       Loves coffee. Steve must bring her a cup every morning before she leaves her bed.

·       Her skeletons are like her children, and she is protective of every single one. Will murder anyone that tries to harm them, especially Steve.

·       She can speak multiple languages. Has been caught multiple times arguing in Elvish with the head of Potions.

·       When she is not sleeping, commanding skeletons, or arguing with guild members, she likes to walk in the forest or star gaze.

·       She likes birds.

·       Morgana dislikes the cold. She refuses to go on missions in snowy climates.

Welt:

·       Wakes up early to go on a walk or run. Followed by training or reading reports.

·       The guild is his family, even if certain members make him question his sanity at times.

·       He can memorise any text after reading it once.

·       When he is not working, he likes to go on patrol around camp or study constellations.

·       He dislikes birds.

·       Welt doesn’t prefer a specific type of weather, as long it doesn’t interfere with the guild. Although he does enjoy a nice spring day when flowers are abundant so they can harvest ingredients for spells and potions.