Artslam Thoughts
(artslam for the uninformed)
Artslam is proving to be quite the mindfuck... in a good way, of course, but still woah dude. Especially working on these Fantasy Worldbuilding Questions.
There's just *so much* I hadn't even thought of developing for my world (which I really want to rename dammit). I don't know if it's just because I didn't think it was necessary - which is silly, because it is - or because I simply never sat down and tried to think of it as an actual world with countries and traditions and people. I mean, sure, I knew that Kaigan has gryphons and that the Confederations were fairly tribal, but that was about it.
In the past three days, I've been focusing mainly on Kaigan (the alternate version of E.S.D. for those who know what that is). I've drawn some concepts for what the women wear at various levels of society (peasant/farmer, merchant, noble), the Queen's crown, what the Chosen (gryphons' humans) wear... as well as established that it's a firmly matriarchal society. I've figured out that Adoia (protagonist) is next in line for the Gryphon Throne due to her father Nal (guarded by Fareit) being cousin to Chale (current Queen, guarded by Naluon). I've also toyed with Jedaixen's personality and doodled some pictures of him as a baby - which came out somewhat cute. I need to better establish his plumage, as well as the other gryphons' (Viweo, Fareit, Naluon, Maienx, Kihanei, Marelch, Solanu, Xedaich etc).
I also wrote up some concepts of Baox (religious zealots living on islands whoo) and the Confederations (cityfolk vs. tribesmen). However, I've really stumbled with religion so far. You're supposed to write what you know and well... I'm an atheist. :P That and I've been reading 500 pages of Wheel of Time every day, so I worry about letting that influence show too greatly. I do like the concept of "we have lived before and will live again if we don't fuck up this life too badly", but I'm unsure as to how to apply this.
Anyway, what I have so far applies for Baox, at least. There is Mother Earth and Father Sky. Then their children Fire, Water and the Moon. Fire is definitely male, often called Brother Fire by the priests. Water is usually given the gender of the speaker, Sister or Brother Water by the priestesses/priests. And the Moon is definitely female, a silent protector, but she is Daughter Moon and has only priestesses. In Baox, they each have an island society devoted entirely to that deity.
- Mother Earth is depicted as calm and loving, always adores her children (all creatures, not just humans) no matter their sins, though she will punish them if need be; called upon when facing a punishment and praying for justice or a lesser sentence
- Father Sky is depicted as the stern father figure, proud and commanding, quick to punish for sins and misdeeds; called upon when judging someone or for better weather
- Brother Fire is rash and impatient, the deity of war and violence; called upon to justify hasty or violent actions, or for victory in battle
- Brother/Sister Water is temperamental and a representation of the sea; called upon by sailors for calm seas or by farmers for rain, some fishing communities substitute Water for Earth in the hierarchy
- Daughter Moon is the silent protector who watches over everyone's dreams and keeps them safe; called upon when about to do something dangerous, especially by women, as well as during childbirth or for peace in marriage
Similarly, magic has four Major Elements: Earth, Sky/Air, Fire, Water. There is rumour of a Fifth Element accessible only by very powerful mages, though its description varies. Mages from South Nienel (where Nydo is from, yay Nydo! <3) call it "Life", and believe it comes from the caster itself to supplement the energy required for the spell. Other places call it "Spirit". It is the key to healing. It is also the key to dark magic, as it is possible to draw it from other sources than the caster, leading to blood rituals and sacrifices for the purpose of magic.
- Nydo is the strongest mage encountered in the stories. He manages to do many strange things he should not be able to, usually holding on only by the skin of his teeth. He has less qualms about using the Fifth Element than mages from the East (including Kaigan).
- Adoia is actually kind of a pitiful mage. She has enough strength to light fires (her strongest element) but can manage little beyond that. Nydo spends a lot of time trying to convince her to use the Fifth Element to supplement her casting as it will make her stronger.
- Jedaixen is stronger than Adoia, but gryphon magic is primarily defensive. He can protect her against hails of arrows with shields of Air, heal her wounds to very thin scars, and control the weather so as to bring her safely home every time. However, his kind has sworn a blood oath not to hurt anybody who does not directly threaten his life, or the life of his Chosen.
- Chale is much stronger than her Heir. She is the strongest human mage in Kaigan and has used this to keep her family line on the Gryphon Throne despite never having married herself (which has annoyed many nobles). While she does not condone the use of the Fifth Element, Nydo claims that she uses it much more than she thinks during her sessions with the nobles.
- Nal & Fai (Adoia's parents) are interesting cases. Nal has all the powerful magic of his family line, while Fai has not a drop of magical blood. It is not necessarily uncommon for gryphons to Choose non mages, especially if they are a member of the Guards, as Fai was. However, her marriage to Nal was quite a shock as she was also a commoner.
I think I'm going to keep the majority of the flora/fauna like that on Earth, just rename them according to region (which will involve charts).
I'm trying to figure out how to fit in a sort of "Dark" god, or lord. I'm not a fan of putting in some kind of Hell/Satan concept, as everyone's greatest fear should be eternal death... but then again I don't really want the plot to reflect epic battles in the heavens and such.
Either way, I think it's obvious that artslam has given me a LOT to think and doodle about. Who knows, maybe I'll end up with a decent plot and world by the end of this. :D
Artslam is proving to be quite the mindfuck... in a good way, of course, but still woah dude. Especially working on these Fantasy Worldbuilding Questions.
There's just *so much* I hadn't even thought of developing for my world (which I really want to rename dammit). I don't know if it's just because I didn't think it was necessary - which is silly, because it is - or because I simply never sat down and tried to think of it as an actual world with countries and traditions and people. I mean, sure, I knew that Kaigan has gryphons and that the Confederations were fairly tribal, but that was about it.
In the past three days, I've been focusing mainly on Kaigan (the alternate version of E.S.D. for those who know what that is). I've drawn some concepts for what the women wear at various levels of society (peasant/farmer, merchant, noble), the Queen's crown, what the Chosen (gryphons' humans) wear... as well as established that it's a firmly matriarchal society. I've figured out that Adoia (protagonist) is next in line for the Gryphon Throne due to her father Nal (guarded by Fareit) being cousin to Chale (current Queen, guarded by Naluon). I've also toyed with Jedaixen's personality and doodled some pictures of him as a baby - which came out somewhat cute. I need to better establish his plumage, as well as the other gryphons' (Viweo, Fareit, Naluon, Maienx, Kihanei, Marelch, Solanu, Xedaich etc).
I also wrote up some concepts of Baox (religious zealots living on islands whoo) and the Confederations (cityfolk vs. tribesmen). However, I've really stumbled with religion so far. You're supposed to write what you know and well... I'm an atheist. :P That and I've been reading 500 pages of Wheel of Time every day, so I worry about letting that influence show too greatly. I do like the concept of "we have lived before and will live again if we don't fuck up this life too badly", but I'm unsure as to how to apply this.
Anyway, what I have so far applies for Baox, at least. There is Mother Earth and Father Sky. Then their children Fire, Water and the Moon. Fire is definitely male, often called Brother Fire by the priests. Water is usually given the gender of the speaker, Sister or Brother Water by the priestesses/priests. And the Moon is definitely female, a silent protector, but she is Daughter Moon and has only priestesses. In Baox, they each have an island society devoted entirely to that deity.
- Mother Earth is depicted as calm and loving, always adores her children (all creatures, not just humans) no matter their sins, though she will punish them if need be; called upon when facing a punishment and praying for justice or a lesser sentence
- Father Sky is depicted as the stern father figure, proud and commanding, quick to punish for sins and misdeeds; called upon when judging someone or for better weather
- Brother Fire is rash and impatient, the deity of war and violence; called upon to justify hasty or violent actions, or for victory in battle
- Brother/Sister Water is temperamental and a representation of the sea; called upon by sailors for calm seas or by farmers for rain, some fishing communities substitute Water for Earth in the hierarchy
- Daughter Moon is the silent protector who watches over everyone's dreams and keeps them safe; called upon when about to do something dangerous, especially by women, as well as during childbirth or for peace in marriage
Similarly, magic has four Major Elements: Earth, Sky/Air, Fire, Water. There is rumour of a Fifth Element accessible only by very powerful mages, though its description varies. Mages from South Nienel (where Nydo is from, yay Nydo! <3) call it "Life", and believe it comes from the caster itself to supplement the energy required for the spell. Other places call it "Spirit". It is the key to healing. It is also the key to dark magic, as it is possible to draw it from other sources than the caster, leading to blood rituals and sacrifices for the purpose of magic.
- Nydo is the strongest mage encountered in the stories. He manages to do many strange things he should not be able to, usually holding on only by the skin of his teeth. He has less qualms about using the Fifth Element than mages from the East (including Kaigan).
- Adoia is actually kind of a pitiful mage. She has enough strength to light fires (her strongest element) but can manage little beyond that. Nydo spends a lot of time trying to convince her to use the Fifth Element to supplement her casting as it will make her stronger.
- Jedaixen is stronger than Adoia, but gryphon magic is primarily defensive. He can protect her against hails of arrows with shields of Air, heal her wounds to very thin scars, and control the weather so as to bring her safely home every time. However, his kind has sworn a blood oath not to hurt anybody who does not directly threaten his life, or the life of his Chosen.
- Chale is much stronger than her Heir. She is the strongest human mage in Kaigan and has used this to keep her family line on the Gryphon Throne despite never having married herself (which has annoyed many nobles). While she does not condone the use of the Fifth Element, Nydo claims that she uses it much more than she thinks during her sessions with the nobles.
- Nal & Fai (Adoia's parents) are interesting cases. Nal has all the powerful magic of his family line, while Fai has not a drop of magical blood. It is not necessarily uncommon for gryphons to Choose non mages, especially if they are a member of the Guards, as Fai was. However, her marriage to Nal was quite a shock as she was also a commoner.
I think I'm going to keep the majority of the flora/fauna like that on Earth, just rename them according to region (which will involve charts).
I'm trying to figure out how to fit in a sort of "Dark" god, or lord. I'm not a fan of putting in some kind of Hell/Satan concept, as everyone's greatest fear should be eternal death... but then again I don't really want the plot to reflect epic battles in the heavens and such.
Either way, I think it's obvious that artslam has given me a LOT to think and doodle about. Who knows, maybe I'll end up with a decent plot and world by the end of this. :D