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Join our adventuring party on Twitch – Fantasy gaming, roleplay, behind the scenes chats, and creating as a couple

Thread of Souls

We are branching out in 2023. Along with playing our weekly TTRPG campaign, turning it into a fantasy book series, and building a community, we started a Twitch. As the head of video, Dorian has been wanting to stream for many years and with the cards of life falling as they did, he finally got to this year. Let’s talk about what you’ll find on our Twitch, why we started it, and how it stands out from other creators.

Why start streaming and why now?

We starting streaming this year after being laid off. The past few years we’ve never found the time to stream while having full time jobs and working on Thread of Souls. There’s the saying of “everyone has the same 24 hours in a day”. While true, not everyone has the same schedule or time within that frame to do what they want. Tis a silly saying and we’re not fans. Now, that we’re free of the corporate monster, we are working for ourselves and can devote as much time to projects as we desire. This led to the discussion of streaming.

We’ve both been gamers our entire lives. From the moment we could pick up a controller and play, we were playing video games. Dorian had a YouTube channel growing up but adult priorities got in the way. Now that we’re older and wiser, we are taking control of our lives and doing what we want. We aren’t passionate about streaming, we’re passionate about telling and playing stories with each other and the community.

What you’ll find on our Twitch

For those who catch our streams, you’ll be entertained by us; a creative couple looking to make it on our own. We stream a few times a week, mainly Tuesday nights, and will pop up randomly throughout the week as we please. You’ll find entertaining stories about our lives as authors, TTRPG creators, artists, and how we make our TTRPG campaign into a book series. Stick around for the following:

  • Cats – Plenty of them. We have two fur babies Gamora and Danaerys who will show up time and again to say meow. Especially Gamora.
  • Games – Elder Scrolls Online, Solasta: Crown of the Magister, tabletop gaming, any fantasy game you can play together
  • Behind the Scenes – How we turn our TTRPG into a book series. It’s unique and we’re one of very few who does it.
  • Creative Couple – We’re a hubby and wifey creative team. We stream and play games together. It is just us two bringing you entertaining stories, dynamic characters, comedy, and spreading happiness.
  • TTRPG Roleplay – When we play video games, we will sometimes roleplay as the character we’re playing as. We’ll speak, act, and behave like they do in the books and in our tabletop game.

What makes us unique?

Streaming is something millions of people do. We’re just two fish in a massive ocean of creators. We aren’t setting out to be the next best thing, we’re here to make you laugh, tell moving stories, and build a community of those who love fantasy, gaming, roleplaying games, and TTRPGs. We do more than just play video games and tabletop games. You’ll get a look into our lives, meet out cats, see our creativity come alive as we draw, roleplay, write, and create Thread of Souls.

Join our Adventuring Party

We invite you to join our adventuring party! Not just on Twitch but everything we create for Thread of Souls. Subscribe to our website, follow us on Twitch and YouTube, as well as our socials. You can even join us on DeviantArt and have us draw art you suggest.

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Thread of Souls – Adventure Awaits for January 2023

Thread of Souls

Happy 2023 everyone! It’s the start of the new year and we here at Thread of Souls are thrilled to take you on new and exciting ventures. Talia and I have been discussing our expectations and goals for the year ahead and there is so much we’re working to bring you. Zip up your explorer’s pack, grab your adventure food, and let’s hit the open road together! Here’s what’s happening in January and how you can join our adventuring party.

Twitch

Our largest expedition is taking us on a journey into unknown territories. We started live streaming on Twitch! You’ll find us playing video games related to Thread of Souls in one form or another. Here’s what we are playing and why you should join along!

  • Elder Scrolls Online and Elden Ring for epic adventure and storytelling.
  • WWE sees our book characters come to life in the squared circle. Also excellent storytelling.
  • The Witcher is an open world full of dynamic characters, strange and horrific creatures, and grand tales.
  • Solasta: Crown of the Magister and Pillars of Eternity II for fully customized TTRPG party play.
An adventure to catch a cat

Patreon

We started a Patreon! It is just the two of us doing all of this. Your support means so much to us as indie creators. We create all the videos, art, books, blogs, merch, stories, and so much more for Thread of Souls. Supporting us through either Patreon or donations allows us to continue to create moving characters, dynamic stories, and entertaining content.

You should join our adventuring party, for many thrilling quests and travel await!

Dany-14-1

Donate to Support Two Indie Authors

It is just the two of us working hard to bring you fun, laughter, and moving stories! We appreciate your donation in support of independent creators! Danaerys says “Meow, thank you!”

$2.00

Merch

You can get your hands on some new merch later this month. We are creating a Thread of Souls Corventos map blanket! Snuggle up with this blanket and a copy of Thread of Souls.

Made with Inkarnate.com

Soundtrack

Thread of Souls is getting an official soundtrack! The first compilation includes 14 tracks made by composer Sean Gartner. You will find the soundtrack most anywhere you can listen to music online. For those who want to hear tracks ahead of its release, join us and adventure on Twitch!

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Self-Publish Fantasy Month

Thread of Souls

September is here and it’s a time to celebrate self-published fantasy books! The month is for authors who self-publish their own fantasy works. From tabletop creators, fantasy authors, and bloggers, if you write fantasy, let’s celebrate together!

We are the authors of the heroic fantasy series Thread of Souls. The story is based entirely on our homebrew tabletop campaign. We started playing together in 2015. No one knew a thing about ttrpgs but we all grew up on fantasy. We knew Lord of the Rings, Narnia, and Game of Thrones and all especially loved LotR.

After playing for a few years, Talia came up with the brilliant idea of turning our campaign into a fantasy book series. As an author her entire life, she grew up reading and penning fan fiction and creating comics of her and friends. Turning our storyline into a book was the next natural step.

We discovered self-published fantasy month last year and are excited for this year. Each day of September features a prompt or challenge. It includes prompts such as world-building, ecology, magic Mondays, scenic Saturdays, and self-promo Sundays.

The first exercise is thematic Thursday, tradition versus change. We thought of magic in Thread of Souls. Fantasy stories feature magic in some form or another and we wanted to keep to that tradition. One way we change magic is how it works. Magic was granted to mortals by the gods and works in numerous ways. Clerics and paladins rely on their devotion to their deity in order to cast divine magic. Whereas, wizards and mages learn by studying and use crystals to cast their spells.

Day two is a quote.

For you cannot find yourself, if you do not first lose your way.

Rob J. Hayes – Never Die

This reminds us of our characters from Thread of Souls. They each experience something that causes them to change who they are. For example, Taliesin was born into a cult and knows nothing outside of it. During his adventure, he learns more bout himself and the life he left behind, leading him to discover who he really is.

We would love to see your projects! Whether it’s a book, blog, or tabletop related, let us know what you’re working on in the comments!

Fantasy Topics, Uncategorized

Top Colorado Springs Attractions for Fantasy Fans

Thread of Souls

We look at must-see attractions for any fans of fantasy in Colorado Springs, CO!

When you think of Colorado Springs, CO, you probably think of the Rocky Mountains, lots of hiking trails, and a high altitude. All of those are accurate! But for fans of fantasy, there is also plenty to enjoy. You don’t have to be an athlete used to the mile-high life to enjoy these attractions. And two of them are completely free!

Garden of the Gods

If you are looking for an inspiring landscape, Garden of the Gods is one of our top spots. It is so beautiful that it simply evokes another world. If you are an avid hiker, there are large and rougher trails you can enjoy. But if you are less experienced in hiking, the central garden area has plenty of sidewalk paths . There are also multiple scenic spots to park and enjoy. Best of all: it’s free!

Traveler tip: It is best not to visit on weekends, evenings, or during summer / spring breaks. The Garden of the Gods is already an incredibly busy place, but those times will find you waiting in a line to park. A morning weekday was our go-to for quick parking and more space to enjoy.

1805 N 30th St, Colorado Springs, CO 80904

Bishop Castle

This one is a bit of a drive from Colorado Springs. You are looking at close to two hours into the mountains. But is it worth it? I definitely think so! Quirky, strange, and it has its own dragon. What is better for a fantasy fan? This “castle” was built by one man over a time, and its architecture, tight staircases, and towers all offer fun photo opportunities.

Traveler tip: This castle is . . . well, not the safest. Some ledges lack rails, and some pieces of the floor have broken away. Please be cautious. Climbing around is plenty of fun so long as you test your weight before going.

12705 CO-165, Rye, CO 81069

Colorado Mountain Brewery

Colorado Springs is definitely not short on interesting places to eat. But if you are visiting the state, you probably want something that combines a fantasy feel with a great mountain view. Colorado Mountain Brewery is the spot for you! With gorgeous sweeping views of the Rocky Mountains, this restaurant offers indoor and patio seating. It has a comfy lodge feel inside along with a display of their brewery. The food is delicious and fun. If you have never had bison before, now is your chance! There are also vegetarian options if that is more your style. It is not the cheapest place to eat, but well worth the cost!

1110 Interquest Pkwy, Colorado Springs, CO 80920

Gamer’s Haven

If you are like us, any new place you visit you want to do a bit of shopping for your fantasy horde. We visited plenty of shops during the year we lived in Colorado Springs, but our favorite was Gamer’s Haven. Tucked away but with plenty of merchandise, we went there time and again for our D&D game supplies.

5730 N Academy Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80918

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Fantasy Topics, Uncategorized

Top Tulsa Attractions for Fantasy Fans

Thread of Souls

We look at five must-see attractions for any fans of fantasy visiting Tulsa, OK!

When you think of Tulsa, Oklahoma, you probably think of tornados, a smaller city, and a “flyover” state. While all of these are true, there are a few gems in the Tulsa metro area to keep any fantasy fan entertained!

The Philbrook Museum of Art

This museum has an immediate fantasy vibe to it. It was once a mansion for its wealthy owners, with beautiful architecture and stunning gardens to match. While the multiple stories of paintings, artifacts, antiques, and statues are enough to keep you engaged, the entire place as a fairy tale feel to it that easily keeps your imagination going.

2727 S Rockford Rd, Tulsa, OK 74114

Elsing Rock Museum

This is not a place you will see driving by. It is located on the lower levels of Oral Roberts University, and it is open to the public. The museum has a handful of rooms displaying rocks, fossils, gemstones, and crystals. You can look on your own or ask for a tour. With the various meanings and symbolism behind such items, it is easy to get lost in a fantasy world through this vast and beautiful collection. One of our favorites was the ship carved entirely out of jade!

7777 S Lewis Ave, Tulsa, OK 74136

Tulsa Tunnel Tours

There is an entire world beneath the streets of downtown Tulsa that is only discoverable through a tunnel tour! The intrigue of wandering this subterranean space is great for fans of fantasy. You will get your traditional spooky dark concrete tunnels, but it is also so much more than that. You will venture through the bottommost floors of skyscrapers that have old roots and luxurious architecture unlike anything else in the city.

502 S Boston Ave, Tulsa, OK 74103

Wizard’s Asylum

This shop is the definition of “hidden gem”. Tucked off a busy street in a cramped shopping center, it is incredibly easy to miss. But what a find inside! There is an expansive shop featuring everything a fantasy fan could want. There are board games, collectibles, dice, cards, painting supplies, tabletop gaming maps and miniatures and books, a small café, and everything in between.

7165 S Mingo Rd, Tulsa, OK 74133

Gardner’s Used Books & Comics

If you have dreamed of getting lost in a library or bookstore, then this is the stop for you. This has an old-world bookstore feel to it, and you can easily spend hours going through the shelves. The store goes further and further back through increasingly branching halls and rooms, making remembering your way out interesting!

4421 S Mingo Rd, Tulsa, OK 74146

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Campervan Conversion: Bed & Sofa

Thread of Souls

Part V: How to choose your bed, sofa, or hybrid for your camper!

This is the final in a series about our own campervan conversion. We’ll talk about the reasons we made the choices we did, pros and cons of decisions, and hopefully provide some advice for your own adventure!

We faced a major decision in the design of our camper. Where would we sleep, where would we sit, and how could we make it as comfortable as possible without sacrificing space? We went back and forth on this decision, visited several online and in-person shops, and did much research about what other travelers do. Ultimately, we reached a decision we are happy with.

There are two main ways a campervan’s sofa/bed situation can be designed. You can either have a permanent bed and a separate seating area, or you can have a bed that converts to a sofa. We chose the hybrid. From Amazon we purchased this sleeper sofa.

sleeper sofa campervan conversion
Clicking on this picture will take you to Amazon’s product page.

There are several reasons we liked it.

  • It was very lightweight so there was no issue moving it around.
  • It has 3 different positions depending upon our needs.
  • We could use it as a sofa and thus have more walking room inside the camper during the day.
  • We could fold it out at night for a bed.
  • It came with 2 extra pillows. (Added comfort)

Overall, it is fairly comfortable. Not likely something you’d want in our house to replace a bed, but with our padded camper floor we didn’t have any issues sleeping. It is narrow, so we both snuggled plenty and our cats often slept on top of us. But when you are out traveling in your camper you often sacrifice comfort for a richer and more adventurous experience.

You also could build a platform to raise this if you wanted to. That is not the direction we ended up going, though.

Other Options Aside from the Sleeper Sofa

After reading this, you may have decided that doesn’t work for you. Many who travel in a camper prefer to have a permanent, raised bed with storage underneath. While that does take up more of your “living” area, you are in a camper, after all, and are out to explore! So do plenty of research and discussion before committing to decision. But so as long as you have the time and money, most anything done to your camper can be changed later. It’s hard to tell until you are actually on the road.

This is the final post in our Campervan Conversion series. Learn how to complete your camper with our other entries!

Part I: Choosing Your Camper

Part II: Walls, Floors, & Utilities

Part III: Storage & Shelving

Part IV: Decor

Lore, Uncategorized

Calendar of Corventos

Thread of Souls

Across Corventos there is a unified calendar each of the five territories uses to keep track of the year. There are some major holidays celebrated across the land, and others are more specific to regions. There are also seasonal weather patterns and natural disaster risks. The days of the week are named after certain Protector Gods. Can you guess which ones? See each month below and discover more about the cultures of Corventos!

Lore, Uncategorized

The Pantheon – Insurgent Gods

Thread of Souls

Blight Dragon / Stitched Wyrm / Iosis

Chaos. Elements. Destruction.

The Blight Dragon is equally known as the Stitched Wyrm or by her name, Iosis. Her symbol is a three-headed dragon. She is depicted as a stitched-together dragon with three heads, two tails, and six legs. Her followers embrace chaos and destruction on a massive scale with a particular affinity for elemental devastation.

Before the Divine Wars the Blight Dragon was once multiple dragons. And they thrived in the creation of the elemental-based planes. But a battle with the Holy Dragon left them so grievously wounded that their cultists had to stitch them together as one. Ever since then they have been known as a single entity, reformed to spread her influence in this new post-Sundering world.

Fable / Dishonest Father

Tales. Drink. Hedonism.

The Dishonest Father is more commonly referred to by his name, Fable. His symbol is an open book with a pink cover and gold coins falling from within. He is often depicted as a colorful Bard playing an instrument. His followers tend to be those that value a good time above all. Parties, gambling, drink, and anything other than work and discipline are enjoyed. They also like exchanging stories, and the more embellishment, the better.

Fable is more morally ambiguous rather than evil. In the prime age of the deities he wanted their creations to have fun and share stories. But he also influenced laziness and putting self-indulgence above everything else. Fable enjoyed sexual encounters with mortals and had no preference for gender or race. Because of this he spawned a few demi-gods that now reside in the Celestial Plane.

Hoofed King / Chained One / Ank’thulm

Control. Deals. Greed.

The Hoofed King is sometimes referred as the Chained One or more rarely by his name, Ank’thulm. His symbol is two chains crossed over a dark gray backdrop. He is often depicted as a large humanoid with curving horns, sharp teeth, and hoofed feet. He rules over the Hells and all within. His followers are those that value making deals that are easily twisted and corrupted to achieve their own ends.

The Hoofed King had very little interest in the Material Plane during the Prime Age of the Gods. He stayed within the Hells and sought to control and corrupt the other gods’ creations through that seat of power. He took little part in the Divine Wars, and remained in the Hells after the building of the Gate of the Gods. Now trapped so he cannot leave, his fiends often traverse the planes to spread his greed.

Life Drinker / Hooded Shadow / Driphiss

Poison. Disease. Corruption.

The Life Drinker is also referred to as the Hooded Shadow or more commonly by his name, Driphiss. His symbol is a green drop of poison and he is often depicted as a hooded figure holding a green blade. His followers use any means necessary to achieve power and take revenge on those that wronged them, especially through poison and other stealthy means.

In the Prime Age of the Gods, Driphiss enjoyed pitting their creations against each other by whispering in their ears and giving them the means of killing one another. He is considered the starting point for wars and violence, and because of that he is a direct enemy of the Life Giver. While he rarely worked with any other gods, Driphiss intensified the Divine Wars in his underhanded and indirect ways.

Masked One / Thief Lord / Ragseev

Aggression. Thievery. Deception.

The Masked One sometimes goes by the Thief Lord or more frequently by his name, Ragseev. His symbol is knotted gray rags. He is often depicted as a tall, slender humanoid wearing a mask. He often appeals to the outcasts of society, giving some an outlet for their anger and vengeance. He actively promotes lies, stealing, and violence.

Ragseev is the son of the Silk Weaver and the Magister. From early on he enjoyed influencing the worst in the gods’ creations. Though he occasionally associated with the Life Drinker, he preferred to be on his own to carry out his own plots. He was a part of many major battles during the Divine Wars.

Silk Weaver / Matriarch of Malice / Aranese

Slavery. Torture. Lust.

The Silk Weaver is often referred to by her name, Aranese, and less frequently as the Matriarch of Malice. Her symbol is a spiderweb on a black backdrop. She is often depicted in one of three forms. A Dark Elf female, a giant spider, or a half-woman half-spider creature. She has a dedicated cult following that upholds strict matriarchal laws. But any outside of the cult that are drawn to her wish to follow a god that is to be feared and who rewards those that please her with power.

In the Prime Age of the Gods Aranese scorned the other deities for their handling of their creations. Aranese thought the gods’ superiority should be enforced, and they should subjugate all others. This led to many clashes across the Divine Wars as Aranese was the first to demand blood sacrifices on her altar. A large divine battle led to her banishment from the Material Plane and to the deepest recesses of the Chasm.

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Campervan Conversion: Decor

Thread of Souls

Part IV: Tips for Your Campervan’s Decor!

This is the fourth in a series about our own campervan conversion. We’ll talk about the reasons we made the choices we did, pros and cons of decisions, and hopefully provide some advice for your own adventure!

When you get your campervan conversion all finished up with the practicalities in place, it can look rather functional. But now it’s a blank slate on which to paint your personality! We have some tips here for how to decorate your camper safely for the road, as well as examples for what we did.

One primary canvas for your decor is your cabinets, shelves, and drawers. If you have gone this route, they are blank slates of wood that can easily be painted upon. While some may like the plain, rustic look, we wanted to add more color.

campervan conversion

A good thing here is that you don’t have to have any artistic ability. Even though I (Ashley) am an artist, we opted for buying stencils at a local hobby and crafts shop. Using the paints I already had, I added the decoration. Our primary campervan colors were blues, oranges, and yellows. So I went with aqua and bronze paint.

To help “pretty up” the ends of the shelves, we had bought many “back splash” stickers from a craft store. We used these a few places in the camper to bring color and design, as well as on the ends of each shelf.

campervan conversion

We had a few adventurous posters we liked, so we took them out of their frames and taped them to the walls. These included a map of Middle-Earth, a map from our Thread of Souls book series, and art of the tower of Barad-dur. Yes.

We also didn’t like the wiring you could see all along the top of the van’s interior. So we wrapped them in plastic vines and leaves to give a wilderness feel to the whole thing. Overall we added a lot of decor here and there in order to add personality, color, and a travel vibe to the entire thing.

campervan conversion

Here is a simple overview of where we added decor:

  • We tied Celtic shawls on the back of our seats (my ancestry)
  • We hung up a dream catcher
  • We twisted plastic vines and leaves all around the wiring in the cargo section
  • We added stick-on back splash tiles to the ends of the shelves, the sink, and on some parts of the walls
  • We used stencils to add paint onto the cabinets and shelving
  • We taped up some posters
  • We used stick-on mirrors for the walls
  • We hung a single travel decor sign
  • We placed a few stick-on wood-style tiling to the walls for some variations

Part I: Choosing Your Camper

Part 2: Walls, Floors, & Utilities

Part 3: Storage & Shelving

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Campervan Conversion: Storage & Shelving

Thread of Souls

Part III: Where to store your stuff!

This is the third in a series about our own campervan conversion. We’ll talk about the reasons we made the choices we did, pros and cons of decisions, and hopefully provide some advice for your own adventure!

One of the biggest uses when converting your campervan is storage. You are starting with a blank slate, and aside from some general built-in spaces, there is not much for storage. We jumped through so many hurdles trying to decide what to do about our storage. But what we finally ended up with was simple, streamlined, and carried everything we needed for the journey!

Cabinets

We ultimately decided to install two cabinets. We really liked them because they had good space within for heavier or larger items. However, the cabinets themselves are weighty, so knew we couldn’t just stick them anywhere.

We bought two from Lowe’s and screwed them into the wooden studs already in place on the wall. This was after we’d installed our aesthetic colored poster board so it did require some feeling about and keen “eye-balling” to ensure we screwed them in the correct places! We also bought handles for the cabinet, as well as magnetic latches. But that is up to you if you feel you need those!

But we absolutely loved the cabinets for their interior capacity and ability to hold items on top, as well.

campervan conversion

Shelving

Shelving was, at first, a big puzzler for us. We didn’t want heavy shelves because we feared damage to our studs. We also needed some that had a lip on the front to ensure items did not slide off, which was surprisingly difficult to find! We shopped around at many stores and finally broke down and decided to build our own from scratch.

I (Ashley) was nervous about this idea because we’d never built a shelf from scratch before. But Scottie was excited and so we picked up what we needed from Lowe’s as well as a local craft store. Here are the parts you will need to recreate what we built for your own campervan conversion:

  • a simple board about the length and width for your storage needs
  • a smaller, thinner board the same length to serve as your front
  • 2 square pieces of wood the same width as the board to serve as your ends
  • two metal “L” shaped brackets to mount underneath the shelf
  • 8 screws (depending on the bracket you buy)
  • wood glue
  • items to decorate (if desired)
  • a drill
campervan conversion

Our process to put these together was fairly simple. And once we had a system down it only took 2 days to build from scratch and install 5 shelves. The longest process was the wood glue drying. But we chose wood glue over more screws to protect the integrity of the board.

Here was our process for putting together each shelf.

  • Mark on the largest board where the bracket holes are.
  • Screw in the brackets to the bottom of the board.
  • Mark on the wall where the board will sit using the additional bracket holes that will go into the wall.
  • Screw the bracket onto the wall, thus effectively hanging your shelf.
  • Using wood glue, set your smaller, thinner board along the front edge of your shelf to serve as its lip.
  • Follow wood glue directions to allow it to sit and get secured!
  • Do the exact same process for the two square pieces of wood to create ends for your shelf, thus securing your items.
  • Allow the glue to have 24 hours to set before testing its strength.
  • Go on a drive with the shelf full to verify you did a good job!

So overall we had two cabinets and five shelves, and they did well in holding what we needed them to. We had a few instances of a cup falling off one of the shelves if we hit a pot hole, but otherwise they were strong and protected our items!

You can read how we chose the camper we did here.
And all about campervan conversion walls, floors, and utilities here.

campervan conversion