When Friendship is a Weapon

Welcome to Worldbuilding Wednesday! Today I’m not talking about maps or magic systems, but about a crucial law that governs the world I've built in The Night Chronicles: the law of leverage. As I’ve hinted on social media, a key theme is how a character’s loved ones can be used against them.

I believe a truly powerful antagonist understands that brute force is often the least effective tool in their arsenal. True power lies in control, and the fastest way to control someone is to threaten what they love.

In Claimed by Night, Daemon’s decision to involve Maya is not a random act of cruelty; it’s a cold, calculated, strategic move. He observes Liz’s defiance and her fear, but it’s her fierce, protective instinct towards her friend that he identifies as the key vulnerability. In the world he comes from, this isn't seen as a noble trait; it is a weakness to be exploited.

This principle is a cornerstone of my worldbuilding. It tells you something fundamental about the society of Lunaria and the beings who come from it:

• They view emotional attachments as liabilities.

• They are master psychologists, adept at identifying and exploiting these connections.

• Their power is not just supernatural; it is political and manipulative.

By having my villain use leverage, I aimed to achieve several things. It makes the villain seem more intelligent and competent. It deepens the emotional core of the story by putting relationships at the center of the conflict. And it creates a more complex world where the rules of engagement are psychological, not just physical.

So, when building your own worlds, think about the laws of power. Is it a world where strength reigns supreme? Or is it a world like the one in The Night Chronicles, where the ultimate power is knowing who someone loves and using that love to turn them into a puppet on a string?.

Watch who you love,

June Skye