7 reasons why Cymraeg Tales is a nobledark fantasy

Nobledark fantasy shines in Cymraeg Tales, but why is it a good fit for the subgenre? There are actually a slew of reasons.

Cymraeg Tales can come across as grimdark fantasy, but nobledark fantasy is a better label. I’ve already written why it would be wrong to label my dark epic fantasy series grimdark, but I wanted to concoct an extension of that here, and what makes it more nobledark than anything else. 

As with my previous piece, I came up with seven reasons why that is, ranging from a likable cast of characters to the fact some villains may not be as evil as I depict them. Oh, and sticking with my libertarian theme, I also wanted to recognize one extraordinary country in this world. 

1 – Cast of characters is too…familiar

Yeah, Mali can get violent and back herself into survival mode at times, which gives off those grimdark characteristics. But she’s a smart, talented soul and she knows it. She’s the archetypical hero who’s a little rougher around the edges. 

Then, you have a voice of reason in Dianna, plus a benign Crown Prince with Caer. Arttu is the stereotypical sidekick. And that’s only in Spirit and Fire. As the series progresses, you’ll find more characters who fit these archetypes. 

2 – Mali fights for more than survival

Yeah, Mali can be a survivalist, but she’s also someone who isn’t hunting the ‘bad guys’ until she drops dead. She’s also not someone who runs from her enemies as if she’s prey. Instead, she has moments when she can relax and even have a little fun. 

While she’s always looking over her shoulder and anticipating an attack and has her mind on what’s been a dreary life, Mali appreciates the smaller things. She looks forward to enjoying heaps of food when it’s available, is good at making friends, and loves to fantasize what life will be like if Tamuria would just leave her alone. 

3 – The world isn’t a grim place

Tamuria itself isn’t as grim as it looks, but it’s sure good at making the rest of the world a dank place. When it decides to overrun another nation, its total war efforts leave its victims in ruins with a high body count. Still, there are nations strong enough to resist them. 

Atlantea, a vast island nation located in the Atlantean Sea between the old and new world, is a society rich in what would later shape Col Eriksson’s (Elementals of Nordica) worldview and the Nordicans centuries later. 

It’s a society fueled with capitalism, not mercantilism, which is often mistaken as capitalism. Atlantea thrives as a voluntary society which emphasizes the individual right to self-ownership and property rights. It’s a libertarian utopia that Tamuria refuses to pick a fight with.

4 – Killing isn’t the endgame

Sometimes, Mali and her crew find themselves in a ‘kill or be killed’ situation. But she’s only killing if either a) she’s left without a choice or b) she’s looking to get even with someone. None of the characters in the Cymraeg Tales series are killers, and they’re not ending lives if they can find alternatives. 

Mali’s also one who’d rather take people out of commission so they think twice about crossing her again. This means summoning spirits when she’s backed into a corner, or siphoning just enough of an opponent’s life force to send a brutal but not a fatal message.

5 – There’s a sense of adventure

There’s way too much to explore here for Mali to revert herself to a life of doom and gloom. Yeah, living in Jungleland sucks, and Mali will admit it. But she’s also a studious girl who snuck into King Magnu’s palace at will before she crossed Caer, reading books and educating herself. 

She doesn’t admit it, but Mali found hope when she made it a point to educate herself, catching wind of what else may be out there. Plus, she discovers that other worlds exist instead of just wild lands beyond the Atlantean Sea just waiting to be explored. 

6 – Characters see a real future

Stemming from the previous point, there’s way too much anticipation going on here should Mali win this fight. She thinks about that future often, of living a normal life and not on the run from a twisted empire twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. 

Sure, she’s looking over her shoulder, knowing the king’s army or outlaws looking to pick up a ransom from the king are tearing the country apart to find her. Still, she knows there’s more to her life than constant running, fighting, and occasionally rescuing an ally. 

7 – Some villains believe in ‘the greater good’

As far as King Magnu goes, he wants to strengthen his House’s legacy. But some villains like King Irvin of Cymraeg believe allying with Tamuria will bring about a better world. Sure, it will cost thousands of lives and raise taxes all over his nation, but if there’s “a better tomorrow,” he’s willing. 

While Irvin’s approach is wrong and he’s misguided like none other, he’s still genuine. That’s what contrasts him from Magnu. Irvin wants a legacy too, but it’s grounded in something other than greed. He comes across as tyrannical at times, yet he’s coming from a much different place than Magnu.