The Mithraic Cycle

In 2022 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 intrapersonal and structural violence
  • BDSM poly romance with healing magic shenanigans
  • Amaurot as BF Skinner's wet dream
  • Eco, folk, & existential horror
  • Navigation of closets and privilege, in terms of sexuality, gender and ability
  • Political conspiracy
  • Queer & dissident undergrounds
  • Lahabrea hosting kink parties for the Greater Convocation Polycule
  • Crunchy conflict & doomed relationships
  • Boundaries that make you say "uh-oh"

Relationships featured:
Azem/Emet-Selch/Hythlodaeus, Venat/Azem, Emet-Selch/Lahabrea/Elidibus, Venat/Elidibus

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


Spinoffs & Sequels featuring the Ancients:

  • Offering a Dream
    Iolanthe never makes it out of that cave. Non-canon, bad end rewrite of the events recounted in chapter 3 of Butcher. Whump, ego death, mind-meld. 5500 words.
  • Mercy
    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
    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.
  • Epsilon Lyrae
    For XIV Rarepair week 2025. Venat and Elidibus reconvene in Lahabrea's archive. Set after the events of A Place of Honor. Flirting. 3500 words.
  • I'm a Three Letter Word, Just Like You
    For XIV Rarepair week 2025. Elidibus entrusts Venat with his secrets. Set shortly before An End of Days. 2600 words.
  • Irrefutable
    For XIV Rarepair week 2025. Venat learns a posthumous lesson from Athena, and things fall into a holding pattern with Elidibus. Set during An End of Days, shortly after Venat's formal breakup with Azem. D/S, relationship development, no sex. 4200 words.
  • Molothrus
    For XIV Rarepair week 2025. Elidibus comes back wrong, and Venat is not ready. Set during The Shepherd of Stars. Hospital waiting room. 2100 words.

Works set after this series, concerning Yisu Khatayin, Warrior of Light, and the Scions of the Seventh Dawn:

  • A Shrike to Your Sharp And Glorious Thorn
    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
    Emet-Selch reckons with what Azem has become. Eroguro, strangulation, enemies-to-lovers, threat of Ascian!Azem, mind-meld. In-progress.
  • Someone Else
    Urianger, for want of Yisu's company, entertains the Crystal Exarch in his hour of need. Cheating, heat cycles. 6028 words.