Calen Bender Mornden
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mandokarla.bsky.social
Calen Bender Mornden
@mandokarla.bsky.social
Demi/Ace Dragon-obsessed Fantasy Writer and TTRPG enjoyer. He/him.
Medium Profile: https://medium.com/@mandokarla
Profile banner commissioned from: deviantart.com/ridiy
I've been rereading the series for the first time in years, and I cannot overstate how fucking good this specific book is. The character work bleeds on the page, I love it. #Temeraire #Dragons #Fantasy #Book
November 20, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Finally Finished Final Fantasy XVI. I'm emotional about it. I love this game. Despite its flaws, it's purpose-built to remind us that we can affect change in the world. Clive is the GOAT. #FinalFantasy #FF16 #FFXVI
November 5, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Odin dark is my BOY in this run of Conquest. I decided to pick the game back up after years away for fun, and everyone that sleeps on this guy is missing out. He doesn't take much investment to do his job, and he improved the entire run for being used. #FireEmblem #Fates #Conquest
October 28, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Whenever I finish a book series, I mourn. The worlds are real, in their way, and leaving them behind with a closed cover feels like saying a last goodbye to a dear friend, trite as the comparison is.

Some series are harder to end than others for me. This is one of them. Goddess bless Melanie Rawn
October 8, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Sometimes the only way to remember and reconnect with an old love and story is to feel the grief of it anew.

Tears, in joy or sorrow, are as much a sign of a story told true than any number of objective measures espoused by learned men and women.

I've missed these books dearly. Goddess blessing.
September 24, 2025 at 5:04 AM
I'm so glad my wife got me into this show. What a beautiful story, even as ridiculous as it can be
March 5, 2025 at 4:58 AM
Say what you will about the side quests in Final Fantasy XVI, they're worth it for moments like this.

Alt text included (especially when it lets me cheat out the character limit). #FinalFantasy #FFXVI #FF16
February 19, 2025 at 7:18 AM
Another snip from my #WIP video essay script talking about the dialogue between games and their players / the intention of a game in its playing and how it exerts that intention over the player. I hope this makes sense; we'll see how it feels once it's done and I can edit it. #SlayThePrincess
November 14, 2024 at 9:31 AM
Wrote 1.3k words on this video script, I'm liking how it's coming together thus far. Have a #WIP snippet of what I have so far, which is part of my completed section discussing the game Tyranny. Talking about some things I've noticed about games that play with the game/player relationship.
November 8, 2024 at 9:43 AM
I yearn for a new fantasy video game to look at Tyranny's magic system as a point of inspiration. Tyranny absolutely nailed it: multiple levels of progression through levels and discovery, integration with the game's lore, and satisfying effects with lots of variability and customization. Beautiful!
November 3, 2024 at 12:07 AM
Moments like these remind me why I love the fantasy genre so much--movies, books, video games, doesn't matter. Awe, potential, majesty, wonder, mystery, and magic. It's lovely. #FFXVI #FinalFantasy
October 24, 2024 at 8:51 AM
#1 Magician (Author's Preferred Edition) by Raymond E. Feist.
My name actually comes from this book, and it's a fantasy story that I have a lot of fond memories of. I re-read it earlier this year with my Fiancé, and it was lovely to revisit. Milamber in the colosseum is a peak scene.
October 24, 2024 at 12:36 AM
This sounds fun, why not?
October 23, 2024 at 11:59 PM
#WIP snippet from today's bit of writing work on the fantasy novel. Part of a conversation between master and apprentice in the first chapter of Act 2, approaching some things introduced at the end of Act 1.
October 9, 2024 at 8:36 AM
Bluesky now has over 10 million users, and I was #1,178,921!

I wasn't the earliest adopter, and I don't utilize the platform as much as I likely should, but hey, it's cool.
September 25, 2024 at 7:26 PM
Sharing a snippet from my #WIP fantasy novel. Its about 35-40% done at just over 50k words so far, and I'm feeling good about it.
September 16, 2024 at 7:31 AM
Unexpectedly hard turn in product strategy from Auntie Anne's in my inbox today. It's a lot to take in.
February 14, 2024 at 7:27 PM
I attempted to make Gali Nuva in HeroForge, and I think it turned out alright
October 31, 2023 at 9:04 PM