The Mithraic Cycle

In 2021 I decided to shake off the rust after years away from fiction writing with a little NaNoWriMo exercise. One thing lead to another, and I'm still fucking writing about Azem. It's okay, it appears the writers of acclaimed MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV also are still fucking writing about Azem, so I'm in good company.

This series has been a lot of things: a learning experience, a meditation on the politics & pitfalls of queer community, and an excuse to write some completely out-there smut. It had ballooned into an entire continuity! So here is where you'll find a round-up of everything I've written about Iolanthe of Boeotia, Azem of the Final Days, and Yisu Khatayin, Warror of Light.

For related playlists, see here.


Primary quadrilogy, each ~100k:

  • The Butcher of Boeotia
    Being the story of Venat's awakening and Azem's appointment.
  • A Place of Honor
    Being the story of Azem's early years, some misfortune in Elpis, and Emet-Selch's entanglement.
  • An End of Days
    Being the story of Lahabrea's shame, Hydaelyn's acension, and Hythlodaeus' resolution.
  • Shepherd of Stars - (In-progress)
    Being the story of two gods, two deserters, and a spirit called Mithras.


Some things the main series features:

  • Post-traumatic effects of both personal and structural violence
  • A dystopic depiction of Amaurot as a hyper-pacifist, hyper-rationalist surveillance state
  • Ecohorror & folk horror
  • Navigation of closets and privilege
  • Political conspiracy
  • Queer & politically dissident Amaurotine undergrounds
  • Lahabrea hosting kink parties for the Greater Convocation Polycule
  • Crunchy conflict & doomed relationships
  • Boundaries that make you say "uh-oh"

Relationships featured:
Ancients: Azem/Emet-Selch/Hythlodaeus, Venat/Azem, Emet-Selch/Lahabrea/Elidibus, Venat/Elidibus
Present Day: Urianger/WoL, Allisaie&WoL, Y'shtola&WoL, Urianger/G'raha Tia, Emet/WoL, Venat/WoL

Major kinks represented:
abuse of healing magic, power dynamics, cuckolding, group sex, crossdressing, leather, mind-reading & psychic communication, soulbonding, transformation, genderfuckery & orientation play, mind control, CNC, snuff, exhibitionism & voyeurism, gender euphoria

Major content warnings for the entire series:
spousal death, suicide, self-harm, substance abuse, sexual violence, murder, animal cruelty, body horror, gore & injury, inappropriate workplace relationships, grooming, boundary erosion, gaslighting & manipulation, abortion & pregnancy, memory erasure, incest, political repression, incarceration & institutionalization, child abuse, misogynistic violence, fascism, eugenics, & genocide


Works concerning Yisu Khatayin, Warrior of Light, and the Scions of the Seventh Dawn:

  • A Shrike to Your Sharp And Glorious Thorn
    Wherein Yisu visits Elpis, learns nothing about a shoebill, and inspires some conflict in Venat. MSQ 86-87 rewrite. In-progress.
  • We're Just Two Men as Hydaelyn Had Made Us
    Wherein Emet-Selch reckons with what Azem has become. Eroguro, strangulation, enemies-to-lovers, threat of Ascian!Azem, mind-meld. In-progress.
  • Someone Else
    Wherein Urianger, for want of Yisu's company, entertains the Crystal Exarch in his hour of need. 6028 words.

Spinoffs & Sequels - Ancients:

  • Offering a Dream
    Wherein Iolanthe never makes it out of that cave. Non-canon, bad end, whump, ego death, mind-meld. 5500 words.
  • Mercy
    Wherein Emet-Selch and Hythlodaeus celebrate their recent appointments, and all benefits thereof. D/S, transformation, starvation play. 5380 words.
  • I Showed You How I'd Die When First We Met
    Wherein Hythlodaeus and Emet-Selch first meet in Akademia, and bond over their shared shortcomings. College prequel, also features Iolanthe and is due for an eventual sequel. AKA "the dildo injury meetcute," or "the one where I had to pull out Wolfram Alpha." 20,097 words.