Greetings!

It’s now that time of the year again. I consider July 23rd to be my second birthday because of this very character, Ireas Keras. When I first created them, I meant to make a social experiment on MMORPGs, because they were originally a male character and I wanted to see how differently I’d be treated if other players thought I was a boy instead of a girl.

Since 2011, this character also held (and still holds) my pen name. I wanted to call them “Iridium” back them, but the naming rules of the game didn’t allow me to use a chemical element as a nickname, so I used the periodic table’s abbreviation (Ir) as basis to create the name “Ireas“, and Deltora Quest’s isle of Keras (second Saga) provided me the last name. And thus “Ireas Keras” was effectively born both as a character and alias.

But then, I got more interested in building Ireas’ story; getting to know people through them, and even recording their reactions when finding out I was a girl behind the character, made the experience a whole lot better. Ireas Keras gave me freedom in ways I didn’t know it was possible. They made me comfortable on my own skin, and that was, and still is, the rarest feeling I ever had.

In return, I created their story; even better, I made them comfortable enough to share it with me. Sometimes, I don’t know how much of Ireas’ story is truly my invention, if not the truth carried to me by supernatural forces. I prefer to believe it’s a mix of both.

Either way, their story evolved and became Saoshyant; at first, it was a fanfic set on the very MMORPG where I created them, and then it evolved into something completely apart, which now belongs to the universe of Menmar, which allowed my storytelling to flourish without restrictions (or the fear of a cease and desist).

Their story became even more complex as I got mixed into ingame politics and groups. Ireas was often either a boy, girl, both or neither, with most of my friendships being formed by the initial allure or fascination to understand my motives behind my actions and roleplaying acts. The multiple identities and lives associated with the name Ireas Keras gave me the best moments of my life, even when my mood and motivation was at its lowest. He gave me strength, she gave me solace, and they gave me purpose. All in one.

We are one and the same. There’s no Ireas Keras without IridiumArt, and there’s no IridiumArt without Ireas Keras. She and I are one and the same, and that will never change, no matter how much her design and her story arc changes.

Happy 14 years, my love. May we have another 14 years together, and so many more. Thank you for existing beyond my wildest dreams and scariest nightmares. Thank you for being.

Kind Regards,
IridiumArt/ Ireas Keras.