All The King's Blades - Blog Posts

Feathers, Crow, Fire, Stars - crown the sky above. Stand here and reach, between the realms of men. Crown the land below - Jewel, Sword, Fruit, Blossom.

The "Ten Prayers" spans the border between Karasuno and Aoba Johsai. Little is known about the way that it was built by the first settlers of Miyagi, only that travelers used to hold a ritual following each of the pillars on their way across. But their exact words have long joined the myths.

(Concept, Fic "All the King's Blades" & Art © me) -> AU Masterpost

The Torch Carrier—Child of the Pyre, Child of Death

(yes, more Royalty/Fantasy AU Suga art—so sue me 😤 and apologies for the abysmal gif quality)

-> ATKB Masterpost

(and once again this is gonna be some massive spoiler for anyone actually reading this AU, but like... pls, I can't stop myself)

The Crossed Torches are an old symbol for a gateway to the realm of the dead. Karasuno in particular has a deep connection to death and its manifestation—The Angel of Death, Azrael.

Once every blue moon, the angel, who has no permanent physical form in the realm of the living, chooses to take hold in a human who then becomes their vessel. The vessel provides their body and their soul as new habitat for the angel and offers themselfe as tool for the angel should they decide to take action in the corporeal world—whenever they act, angels usually choose to modify the body of their vessel to reminiscent their ethereal form. In return for hosting the angel, the vessel can use its power and call favors from the entity.

Suga was offered as a vessel by his father, in the hopes of Areal being able to cure his sickness. Not knowing the details and conditions of vesselship, Suga accepted in the hopes of now being able to die. However, it did neither what he nor his father wanted, as vessel ship is a soul-bond under the protection of mother fate and made his live her property (so that fate alone could influence it—he can neither take his live nor can Azrael prolong it). Since then their relationship has been rocky. At first, Suga was angry at Azrael for deceiving him but eventually came to the realization that he now had to make the best of the situation—from there on he quickly learned how to call upon the angel's powers, for example by reassembling the spirits of authors of rare books and make them help him reconstruct their works, translate them from their original languages or teach him in their field of expertise. Over time, Suga has gradually grown into his role as vessel and managed to find a harmonious co-existence with the universe-shaping entity making snarky comments inside his soul. The only things they repeatedly clash over is Azrael's increasing interest in Natsu (and Daichi's adamant dislike of the entity, although Suga is more annoyed with Azrael for teasing his husband than angry).

Leave my crown on the branch to the east, where the last ray of light shines at high noon; rest my sword behind the two rocks, where the moss grows green and soft. And I will always be there to guide you, among the souls of our forefathers, in this Sanctum of Kings, Temple of Death.

-> ATKB Masterpost

(Small spoilers ahead in case anyone is actually reading this AU and cares)

Crows burn the bodies of their dead to free the souls from attachments as far as possible and allow them to pass beyond the veil more easily.

Kings and Queens however are oath-bound to the land upon coronation and once they die, their crowns and blades are brought to a sacred cavern beneath the highest hill, in order to bind their souls there so that they may be called upon and provide wisdom and advise to their successors.

Nobody who is not a crowned royal is allowed to enter to sanctum and nobody who has entered is allowed to ever speak about it with anyone who hasn't.

In the night after a coronation the older/ruling kings/queens show their chosen successor to the sanctum and decide where they want them to hang their crown/place their blade once the day comes. In order to complete their anointment, a newly crowned ruler must submerge in the waters—this will bind their soul to the land for eternity. This is why becoming a king/queen of Karasuno is binding for life and can not be reversed.

The cavern also has a much older purpose: It serves as temple and resting place to the Angel of Death, whenever they aren't inhabiting a vessel (which they current are -hint hint-). The Angel, who embodies the concept of death, is worshipped by many although barely anyone knows what the being really is and that is is far less omnipotent than commonly believed.

Then his fellow kings and him enter the room Hajime has dreaded for months. He doesn’t really know what he expected. Maybe a torture chamber with a thousand eyes painted onto the walls and the constant, hellish echo of people laughing at him, but the council chamber is just another, circular room, decorated with noble curtains and golden trinkets. ~ All the King‘s Blades, Chapter 2 - Challenge

-> AU Masterpost

Art and design made by me!!! Do not trace, copy, steal or heavily infringe!

Okay so I had this version almost finished, before trying to find the text passage in my draft for Chapter 2 where I described the room and noticed the fu*king “noble curtains” and because I am weak spirited, I just made 2 versions (please punch me). Anyways I swear I am working on actually writing the damn thing but AKJSDBCNALVNCF have I mentioned that I am WEAK!?

Masterpost for my IwaOi centric Haikyu Royalty/Fantasy-AU fanfiction “All the King’s Blades”

-> Read on AO3 HERE

Up Next: Chapter 2 || Status: *I really, really swear I am working on it, okay >.<’’*

The man allowed his eyes to travel across the land unknown to him. The revival of a gifted dynasty, the awakening of an angel, the birth of a healthy demonic halfling and the rising whispers between the trees and the wind. So many centuries after his own kind had been hunted and banished from these lands - Magic was returning to Miyagi. And no one could foresee what would follow it

After their daring coup d'etat and ascending the throne of Aoba Johsai, Iwaizumi believes him and Oikawa deserve a little break. But the universe doesn't seem to be willing to grant them one. From Prince Tobio hitting puberty, a rapidly rising Karasuno and tensions in all of Miyagi, to owls and cats messing with them - and in between trying to stay alive and together, the past is catching up to them.

This fanfiction was inspired by @findingschmomo‘s amazing work “And All the Prince’s Men” and can be considered a continuation of their story, although by now I have fallen so in love with it, I created a whole ton of my own lore around the scenario they created. I highly advise reading their work first, so you know the character dynamic and also because it is freaking amazing, but I guess with a little bit of headwork you don’t necessarily have to.

Additional contents:

Map of Miyagi (+ Continental Lore)

High Council Chambers (Scenery Art) Ten Prayers (Landscape/Scenery Art)

Sanctum of Kings—Temple of Death (Suga + Karasuno lore) The Torch Carrier (more Suga)

Coats of Arms (+ Lore on individual Nations) - Karasuno & Aoba Johsai - Dateko & Shiratorizawa - Nekoma & Fukurodani

Character Designs (+ Lore on Characters and Mythology) - Oikawa & Iwaizumi - Suga & Daichi - Kageyama & Hinata 

*sleep deprived & drops more design stuff* *proceeds to bang head against wall* Yeah so as you can see I had a hard throwback to sweet, sweet childhood days when I loved to design maps for fantasy worlds (or create my own Pokemon regions, like seriously, I have an entire binder full of them)

-> AU Masterpost

More Info below the cut:

Miyagi: - The Miyagi continent is rather small and connected by land to the larger continents of Oita and Tokyo - It is dominated by three countries: Shiratorizawa, Aoba Johsai and Dateko - Lately, Karasuno and Wakunan have been widening their influence while Johzenji is withdrawing from continental politics under their new leadership - Miyagi has been a stable continent for centuries, due to Shiratorizawa's dominance and has therefore accumulated considerable wealth - Magic and the arcane have long left this continent, and except for myths and legends, have been mainly forgotten - The continent consists of kingdoms and smaller, independent dukedoms and principalities that do not have kings but are also not under the direct influence of one (typically lead by nobles of other status or councils of merchants as in Senseki and Kakugawa) 

More specific headcanons here (1 // 2 // 3 // 4) Tokyo: - The Tokyo continent is not very large on a global scale but has an enormous density of kingdoms - That and many wars over territory as well as constant clashes with its supernatural inhabitants have lead to the forming of a hand full of Alliances and Political Unions, the most influential being the Fukurodani Alliance and the Kingdom of Itachiyama with its subsidiaries - Ever since the establishments of these Unions, the continent has settled and the dispute has shifted from physical wars to diplomatic clashes - While handled differently from kingdom to kingdom, there are overall two coexisting governments - the human and the fae - living in cooperation More specific headcanons here

Better Quality and download -> Black/White, Color

Yes, I know, I know, I hate myself too EVEN MORE designs for my Haikyuu Royalty AU based of of @findingschmomo's fanfiction And All the Prince's Men on Ao3

-> Design Page 1: DaiSuga & Crow Steel -> Design Page 3: KageHina -> Check better quality version

More info and head canons below the cut:

Bit of background Info on Seijoh: - For centuries Aoba Johsai has been the cultural centre of Miyagi, attracting many travelers, scholars and artists - Hence they do not have a state religion and are considered a rather scientific country - this however does not mean that the population, especially in rural areas, are not supersticious, they just don't worship any deities or something of the similar - The Seijoh typically burry their dead and mark graves with more or less elaboratly carved stones - it is believed that the dead are happier burried under the open sky, hence constructions such as mausoleums, temples or crypts are very uncommon - Traitors, criminals or otherwise convicted people are typically executed and entombed in massgraves not worthy of individual markers - The complexity of the stone monuments errected depends heavily on the status of the deceased - commoners usually have a plaine slate, sometimes with little hand-crafted engravings, traders or wealthier people usually comission more elaborate gravestones and royals and nobles are typically remembered with larger sculptures, sometimes depicting the person themselves, sometimes in the form of stone trees or large flowers - Every child born into the royal family is automatically considered a royal with a claim for the throne - Princes and Princesses wear smaller jewlery such as tiaras or diadems to express their status - Kings and queens wear heavier crowns, usually rich in gemstones - Unless a King or Queen specifically requests to be entombed with their crown, it is usually up to their heir to decide whether they want to carry it on or have their own made - hence AobaJohsai too, has no official crown, but it can happen that one crown is worn over several generations - The "official" gems are the blue diamond and the grandiderite (exclusivly worn by royalty) often acompanied by saphires and white diamonds (symbol of status and nobility) and other blue stones (representing varying social statuses) - Crowns have more of a ceremonial purpose, typically worn at special events - Wealth and status are more commonly expressed through fashion - especially through accessories and gemstones as some kinds are only alowed to be worn by a certain rank of people Details on Iwaizumi's Stuff: - his crown is made from iron and white gold, the iron representing his service as a night and is adorned by a grandiderite - his blade is made from crow steel (more info here) - it was a gift from Karasuno, the engraving in the blade reads Seijoh ("Blue Castle") - with the lenghts of 110cm (aprox. 43.3 inch) it is only little shorter than average, but regarding the proportions, the blade is very broad and flat - the hilt is forged like an oak tree with the crown at the base of the blade and the roots forming the handle, capturing a grandiderite at the knob - the sheath is made from hardened leather and has another gemstone worked into it at the front Details on Oikawa's Stuff: - his crown is made from silver and white gold and is made, heavily resembling his mothers - it is very rich in gems, the two center pieces being a grandiderite and a blue diamond, surrounded by littler gems and additional saphires referring to his noble heritage - it is not a full crown, but open at the back of the head so that it can be slipped around his horns and doesn't get stuck on them - while also known to be an excelent swordsman, he is famous for his archery skills and therefore is mostly envisioned with a bow - his favourite bow is made from willow wood, wich is very flexible and able to withstand his demon strenght - with 120 cm (aprox. 47.2 inch) it is a longbow, complimenting his tall stature and allowing wide shots - it has metal ornaments on it, most prodominantly the oak leaves adorning the ends of the bow - the quiver is made from leather, altough he owns another, more elaborate and show worthy made from steel

Okay so I have been put into absolute design hell - I just can't stop designing stuff u.u''

Sooooooooo here are MORE designs for my Haikyuu Royalty AU 

Currently there is a large bus strike in my area and I am frozen out of university about every other day so I have a LOT of spare time and yeah - expect more stuff, I think my brain is broken - I just can’t stop. Help -

-> Page 2: IwaOi design & Info on Seijoh -> Page 3: KageHina designs

More Info on the Designs and some overall head canons below the cut:

Bit of background & Info: - Karasuno's religion is centered around the figure of death or more specifically the Angel of Death: Azrael - Their dead are burned to allow their spirits to be free and return to the flow of energy within the earth - Traitors or criminals are typically executed and/or drowned, then thrown into a river in opposition to being burned, so that they will be trapped in this realm and never find elevation - this way it is believed the flow within the earth will be cleansed by keeping the bad elements from returning - Thus they do not have graves, all tough little memorials can be build for the deceased - typically by using their weapon as a marker (if they were a warrior or died in battle) - Kings are always remembered through "Blade and Crown" - both are taken to the temple, the most sacred place in the country  - the temple is a deeply spiritual place and only crowned members of the royal family are allowed into the central sanctum, where the crowns and blades of former kings rest - it is also considered the place where the Angel of Death resides  - this also means that there is no universal crown, every prince or princess receives a unique one upon coronation/confirmation - Princes/Princesses must be confirmed (usually around the age of 10/12, latest at their grand debut) and are crowned in a special ceremony, most times followed by public celebrations - before they are crowned, they are considered royalty but are not subject to royal privileges and do not hold royal authority

Crow Steel: - one of the rarest metals on the Miyagi continent - traces and low amounts have been found in both Dateko and Wakunan but most reserves lie within Karasuno borders - hence the name  - forging it is a rare skill, almost exclusive to the finest smiths of Karasuno - while otherwise an open country, the crows are very protective over this particular knowledge - Crow Steel needs to be sharpened less often than normal steel and is rumored to be unbreakable (in fact it can be damaged but only under immense force, that humans are usually not capable off) - when forged correctly and cooled, it usually takes a dark blue, blackish color and is famous for its copper reflections - since it is extremely rare in comparison to ordinary steel, it is reserved mostly for the royal family and important figures - while there are trinkets and accessories made from this material, it is mostly used to forge blades - once in a century and only on very special occasions, crow steel products are given to foreigners as a sign of trust - rumors have it, that it combines the arcane qualities of pure iron and silver, hence being able to inflict mortal injuries on beings without corporal form and every other creature that would normally not be harmed by an ordinary blade

Details on Suga's stuff: - his blade, like most royal blades, is forged from crow steel - the sheath is made out of hardened leather and adorned by a metal crow - the sword is engraved with the kanji for crow - with 105 cm (roughly 41.3 inches) it is of medium length - the handle however is longer than average, allowing it to be flexibly handled - this makes him a fast and flexible fighter, but also vulnerable since he can't carry a shield effectively - it also suitable for being thrown like a knife - the form of the blade is rather unusual for Miyagi and leans more into the style that is common in Tokyo and on the island nation of Johzenji - his crown is made from silver and complimented with amber trinkets, hanging from the right side - the second ring is made to resemble a halo, in reference to his nickname "The Indomitable" and "Angel of Death" (he earned this name through his deep connection with the sanctum and for being its official warden)

Details on Daichi's stuff: - his blade too, is made from crow steel and decorated with a crow - he wields a spear with a cross blade, allowing both attack and a solid defense - with its three blades the spear can be used to both cut and stab, so it can be used both as primary weapon and in combination with a shield - in total it measures 185cm (apron. 73.8 inches) and is rather large, especially considering the blade to shaft ratio - it requires strength to wield, due to its unusual focal point, but is still perfectly balanced and considering the size - very light - the wooden shaft has a steel core so it doesn't break - the top is usually protected by a simple, plain leather cover - the crown is made from bronze and simple in its design - it was chosen to visualize his solidity, stability and still respect his common heritage 

It’s Tokyo time <.< 

-> AU Masterpost

-> Batch 1: Aoba Johsai & Karasuno -> Batch 2: Shiratorizawa & Dateko

More info below the cut:

Nekoma: - "We are the Blood - Connect, Flow & Flourish" - Two cats, third eye and jewel on red, white and black ground - Main Export: Fish, Agricultural Products, Jewelry - Struggling country on the Tokyo continent, although since joining the Fukurodani Alliance they have been steadily expanding and gaining in influence - not much is known about the country and its traditions - Nekoma has, as most nations in Tokyo a deep rooting connection to the arcane, but no specific religion - the most commonly recognized deity is the three eyes Goddess, who allegedly founded the royal family during the First Age, her creed is focussing on honesty and reliability

Fukurodani: - “Focus of the Mind and Heart” - Owl, crown and crossed swords on gold, black and white ground - Main Export: Crops, Wood, low-grade Ore (mostly zink, bronze and copper) - Central power of the Fukurodani Alliance and competitor for the most influential country own the Tokyo continent - Great military strength - Fukurodani too is very closely connected to the inhuman and supernatural, although they take a more political and less religious approach to interacting with the arcane - there are many pockets actively worshipping specific temples, the largest being the Church of Three Suns but even it is not influential or important enough to be considered having a large impact

Have a better quality version and the option to download it here: Nekoma & Fukurodani

Okay so, so far those are all - I have more ideas (specifically for Wakunan and Johzenji) but none of them will play a significant role in my continuation and are more minor mentions so idk if I’ll draw them too. (Let me know tough if you want to see them or any other teams/kingdoms - if you do I will probably do them)

Second Batch of my coat of arms designs 

-> AU Masterpost

-> Batch 1: Aoba Johsai & Karasuno -> Batch 3: Nekoma & Fukurodani

More Info below the cut:

Shiratorizawa: - “Intense Force, Rich Harvest” - Eagle holding corn crops and Swan holding arrows on purple ground - Main Export: Tea, Beef, a very wide variety of agricultural products - Country with both the most surface area and the greatest political influence - Shiratorizawa has many small pockets with unique religion and folklore but they all unite under the temple of the harvest goddess -  it is not an official state religion even tough most of the population follows it and the festivities are state supported

Dateko: - “Iron Wall & Iron Will” - Fortress and Bramble branches on green and grey ground - Main Export: Stone, various ores and metals - Considered the oldest still existing kingdom in Miyagi (in a close tie with Karasuno), famous for masonry - Dateko is probably the most secretive country on the continent and little to nothing is knows about their religion, only that they worship the earth and the stone - the people seem to be very invested and deeply religious although details rarely leave the country and they are not eager to discuss their believes with outsiders

These came way faster than I anticipated, since I didn’t know that there was a bus strike in my area today and I couldn’t go to university (not that I am very bummed about missing my super boring english course).

Check better quality and a downloadable version here: Shiratorizawa & Dateko

A while back I read the truly amazing Haikyuu fan fiction And All the Prince’s Men by @findingschmomo.

And ever since, I had the inane desire to continue and expand the universe they created. So recently I asked and they gave me permission to do so and while I am currently trying to focus on my own works I really really want to put my ideas into writing some time. 

But to let off some creative steam in the mean time (and because my obligatory English classes are really freaking boring) I decided to sketch out my ideas for the kingdom banners/coats of arms and outline some head canons.

-> Batch 2: Dateko & Shiratorizawa -> Batch 3: Nekoma & Fukurodani

-> AU Masterpost

More Info below the cut:

Aoba Johsai:  - “Rule a Court of Thorns” - Willow Tree, Sword and Gemstones on turquoise and white ground - Main export: Jewelry, Flowers, Agricultural Products - Strong country with a lot of influence in Miyagi - Famous for their military strength - Aoba Johsai is the cultural center of the Miyagi continent and has been for centuries - due to the strong influence from travelers and scholars they are a rather scientific country without a common or state religion and rather many little scattered churches and temples

Karasuno: - “Rise, Fly High & Fight” - Three crows, crossed torches on black and orange ground - Main export: Quills, Meat Buns, Crow Steel (one of the rarest metals in Miyagi, said to have arcane qualities) - One of the smallest kingdoms on the Miyagi continent, lately rising rapidly in strength - Has a long and deep reaching relation to the arcane and religion, wich mainly focuses around the figure of death (thus the crossed torches, a common symbol for a gateway to the realm of the dead)

So I already apologize for the crappy lineart and my horrible handwriting but as I said I made those during courses and well yeah ^-^'’ Hope you like them, maybe I will make some more for the other “Important” players (being Shiratorizawa, Dateko, Fukurodani and Nekoma) - tell me if you’re interested.

You can look at better quality and download here:  Aoba Johsai and Karasuno