Summer Camp 2023 in Ædeos

Plans for the Summer Camp

This year was a blast with respect to surprises, so learning from my mistakes I'm aiming for the pleasing and shiny Copper Badge.

Below I've broken down the Summer Camp into weeks. Each section starts with a brainstorm to get me started on some initial concepts. When possible I included more details.

The prompts will be filled every week and when possible I will write a paragraph or two to get a feel for the end result. With that written down I wish you all a good Summer Camp!

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Week 1 — Power

Creation of a new concept by Amos (edited by Angantyr)

Some brainstormed general ideas

1. Who has the power over an individual? (leader, parent, grandparent, mentor, child, friend, spy)
2. What has the power over an individual? (addiction, creature, spell, tradition, weather, supernatural force, instinct, fear, pashion, quirk, illness, disability)
3. Who has the power over a group of people? (leader, charismatic individual, overlord)
4. Who disrupts/threatens the power of the leader? (progressive individual from the group, outsider, global change in politics)
5. What is the source of the power of an individual? (object, place, skill, all three?)
6. What is the source of the power of the group of people? (tradition, local professions)
7. When was the source of the power claimed? (event)
8. What was responsible for the power shift? (deity, cataclysm)
9. How/When did the power shift occur? (military conflict, ritual)
10. Where did the power shift occur? (geography)

Prompts

Describe a powerful organisation in your world

Since in Ædeos, concepts and ideas are the source of magic, which in turn is a potent source of power, the organisation that guards the only known safe passage will be the best choice for this prompt. There are a few ideas that come to mind. The city of Tæn is where the passage is opened annually during the Gathering around the Winter Solstice by the "High Council". Opening the passage is a joint effort of the Masters of the Thirteen Arts of Tanitris, and each and every "Master" is essential to the safety and successful entrance to the Ædean Realm. That said, each Master of the Art is a leader of the Root of that particular Art and some were known to dominate particular regions, e.g. The Weavers of Symmetry still hold dominance over the region of Gáláwá, where the Gathering ritual took place for over several centuries until the Flood in recent century.

Some ideas for the organisation would be:

1. the High Council of Tæn
2. the Root of the Shadows of Evermore Complex
3. the Root of the Shapers of Sound
4. the Root of the Whisperers of Light
5. the Root of the Sentinels of Inner Garden
6. the Root of the Sentinels of Void
7. the Root of the Sentinels of Intact
8. the Root of the Seekers of Eternal Motion
9. the Root of the Seekers of Uncharted Form
10. the Root of the Weavers of Form
11. the Root of the Weavers of Stone Firmament
12. the Root of the Weavers of Symmetry
13. the Root of the Tamers of Depth
14. the Root of the Tamers of Æter (already written)

Describe a seat of power (of any kind!)

The city of Tæn. Here be scientific progress. :]

Describe a resource that provides fuel or power

Now, there are several things to think about. Simply speaking there could be ores and minerals in Galawa, e.g.:

Moon Stone (mineral)

Owls Eye (mineral)

Copper ores

It could also be something from the green region of Cymru, e.g.:

Lotus silk — the most essential fiber and commodity in the region; strong and flexible.

Lark tilly (Tilia cordata) — a superbly fragrant tree that blooms in summer; a favourite place of the summer larks and the best known source of nectar

Or something more complex:

Skald's mead — an alcoholic beverage used and procured mainly by the Tamers of Æter to learn to control the chaotic flow of Æter and make navigation through Ædeos a much less dangerous adventure

Describe an animal associated with, or symbolizing, power

I'm tempted to go with all four Beasts of the Seasons but I'll stick to these two:

Catfish (mainly in Galawa and near the deep lakes and rivers in the Galawan mountains) — the power of the unknown, hidden, often dangerous

Marmot (mainly in and near the mountains near the Forest of Spring in Cymru) — the power of the growth, growing, the journey itself

Describe a culture that has suffered under the rule of a stronger nation

Tæn under Galawan rule when they still held the Gathering Ritual (before the Flooding).

Describe a conflict between two unequal powers in your world

The Sandstone Rebellion. After the Flooding, the Tæn rebel against the Galawans, and particularly the Weavers of Symmetry. They all gather in the south-easternmost mountainous region, which from now on will be called the Tæn, where they build a small town for the refugees. The name of the rebellion was given by an anonymous figure, who noted that the dispersed Tæn (with a tendency to venture around the land and learn new crafts) have condensed in a single place, much like the grains of sand form a sandstone.

Describe the title and responsibilities of an important person in your world

Beekeper. They tend to the bees and very often to the honey trees. Beekepers often have extensive knowledge about the plants they harvest the honey from and specializations are very popular. Summer keepers are the most popular and abundant in Cymru. They tend to the Summer trees, whose nectar is transformed into the honey and from that, into the skald's mead.

Describe a destructive natural or supernatural event

The Flooding. By the Tamers of Æter refered to as "The Forgetful Night" in memory of those whose ties to the world were torn by Ithrós of the Depth, to the point where memories of them became shadows at most. The Flooding cut away the only path to the Topaz Cavern, which until then played a central role in The Gathering. A hundred years later this place is better known as the Galawan Lake with an intricate maze of underwater caves (Gáláwá Lake Caves).

Describe a species known for its mischievous personality

For this I'll probably go with either of two:

summer larks

blackbirds

The first would refer to the high spirits, similar to euphoria, maybe even mania. Blackbirds would be more chill but definitely more teasing.

Describe a popular summer tradition that involves art and creativity

I'm rambling several options in my head... Depending on the subculture, people will make things that preserve the important values to that subculture. The idea is always to give the old thing a new vibe and creativity is encouraged. The events would occur somewhere around the Summer Solstice. The things that people will preserve:

Platonic solids (Weavers of Symmetry) — the solids connected to the cube are of most importance; Fractals are often seen in this case

Songs with particular tunes (Shapers of Sound) — some tunes are considered important and form the basis; the skill comes from incorporating that in a new way. People connected to the Shapers of Sound will often experiment with musical instruments and singing;

Week 2 — Frontier

Time to wake up by PxHere (edited by Angantyr)

Some brainstormed general ideas

1. What are the boundaries of science? (paradigms, fears, habits, lack of material, lack of educated staff)
2. What limits the advancement of the technology? (scarcity of the source material, health risks)
3. What are the limits of the tradition/culture? (taboos, habits)
4. Where/When was the last scientific/technological breakthrough?
5. What are the disproportions in knowledge between the regions?
6. What object made the last breakthrough possible?
7. What traditions changed in the last millenium?
8. How are the regions (higher kingdoms) broken down into subregions (lesser kingdoms/chiefdoms)?

Prompts

Describe an unclaimed, unregulated, or lawless region in your setting

Higher parts of the Gáláwan mountains where the snow stays throughout the entire year.

Describe a settlement at the limits of the "known" or "civilized" world

No idea at this point... I may need to figure out some places that were abandoned. Then again, I'm not sure if I wrote anything about Gáláwá.

Describe a job that takes its practitioners to remote or faraway places

Two ideas come to mind:

beekepers — then the profession from week 1 would need to be something different

Seekers of Uncharted Forms — they're essentially a group of people looking for novelty. To find the unknown they need first to get a good grasp of what is already known. Their main focus is on ideas novel to the people of the Sávenian origin, but they may venture to foreign countries (Aškari, Iberu) as well.

Describe an animal found in a non-populated area

Food for the blind catfish would be a good start. Some small crustaceans, fish, etc. endemic to the Gáláwan Lake.

Describe a useful plant found in a wild area of your world

99% sure this will be a herb of sorts. People have a long tradition of using local plants for food and medicine and I'll just have to figure out what it is in my world.

Describe a material or natural resource that comes from a dangerous location

A crystal from the Topaz Cavern or one of the flooded corridors of the Gáláwá Lake Caves.

Describe a character driven by wanderlust or the desire to explore

Maybe it's time to describe Scáthach's mother or Hithéan's grandfather (he would have a nice trait in common with Llawenaid — Hithéan's grandmother).

Describe a cuisine from a sparse, barren or remote region in your world

High in the mountains where almost nothing grows and it is difficult to get food so high. This would be a dish made of trout or a similar type of fish from the streams, char baked roots of some plant (maybe the herb mentioned earlier, but a different part of it?), and a berry-mushroom sauce. A variety of the dish could be made by addition of the tree sap into the char coals to give it a smoky fragrance and faint bitterness. Then, depending on the region different tree saps would be used.

Describe an iconic building or landmark representing a location

No idea now. I will probably aim at a stone formation or a river gorge.

Describe a letter sent in secret by a well-known person in your world

A letter that Scáthach left before going on a folly adventure to get the firefly light or a letter left by her mother.

Week 3 — Relic

Stone ring of Caraig of Gáláwá by Angantyr

Some brainstormed general ideas

1. Is the a material that made the breakthrough possible?
2. Is there a specific shape that was discovered? (pottery, shield, knife)
3. What tools have gone out of use?
4. What professions are now a relic of the past?
5. Who was responsible for a breakthrough that turned the abovementioned tools/professions into relics of the past?
6. What languages/dialects are no longer spoken?
7. What symbols are no longer used?
8. What plants/animals no longer grow in a particular region?
9. What places are not/cannot be visited anymore?
10. What materials/ores have run out and have become a relic?
11. What landmark is considered a relic from the past?
12. What famous object went missing and posess a threat to the equilibrium?
13. Is there a myth about a famous relic?
14. Is there a deity/supernatural being that was turned into a relic?

Prompts

Describe a tradition or behavior considered old fashioned

No firm idea yet but this will likely be attached to the Weavers of Symmetry — a school that lost its dominance over the Gathering ritual and in turn the power over the entire country.

Describe an item of great cultural or religious significance to a people in your world

Describe an ancient city that is still inhabited today

Gáláwá would be for the taking, again. XD But seriously, there should be many smaller settlements that held their position firmly for a very long time, even though not becoming a capital city. I will need to figure out what these cities are and what is their position in the region and the country.

Describe a historical figure still venerated today, and why

The first person to enter Ædeos? The person who connected everyone and planted the Tree of Tanitris? A person who invented the Mead of Skalds?

Describe a profession that has been rendered obsolete

A question connected to the technological advancement over the last decades/centuries. I'll need to figure out the details, but the easiest pick would be the invention of paper (rendering wood carving and special tools for it obsolete). A second thing that comes to mind is the use of guides in mountainous regions, which could be rendered obsolete by creating stone roads.

Describe a children's tale or song based on a real event

No ideas yet.

Describe a species now considered extinct

No firm ideas yet. Maybe fish-folk — people under the curse of Ithrós, who turn into catfish, then humans?

Describe a historical culture whose influence is still felt today

No ideas yet.

Describe a ceremony that represents a transition or transfer

No ideas yet.

Describe a rare natural phenomenon that most people look forward to

No ideas yet.

Week 4 — Communication

by George Sharvashidze

Some brainstormed general ideas

1. What is the main method of communicating on distance?

Prompts

Describe a method used to carry goods over long distances

I'm thinking of several ideas. One would be a method (e.g., a seal on a wooden barrel, cart, etc.) to imbue an object with a concept so for the person from a specific group it would translate as that idea. Something like a formula but shaped into a decoration not readily understandable for a person outside of the circle of interest. Another one would be connected to transporting physical stuff. Birds come to mind as well as other animals that migrate over the seasons. If the object was small this would be a good opportunity to attach it to the animal. If this became a way to transport stuff, it would need to be potentially dispensible.

Describe a system to send messages between distant places

The specialized set of rules for carving on wood? What if the small information was engraved on coins? What if people supplying the barrels were engraiving some additional information in their secret language? What if the language was not secret but to most people the information would make no sense/they could make no use of it?

Describe a form of silent communication

Food! A special type of cuisine in which the progression of flavor is a message. This would be the way people in the country communicate their status and readiness to accomodate the guest without explicitly saying it out loud. This would be paired with a custom of providing food and shelter for the guest/traveller.

Describe an organization for which recruiting or proselytizing is important

An organization whose members die easily when doing their tasks. Sentinels of the Void fit in nicely. Those who fail to spot the Void before it slashes through them, lose their memories, mind or existence. It helps that the Sentinels are essential for the main ritual of the Sáveni. Without them it cannot procede, so it adds a nice pressure.

Describe a species with an unusual form of communication

No idea, but a bird or a fish comes to mind which communicates differently to other birds/fish.

Describe a character who excels in manipulating others

Once again, Ithrós would be a nice fit. :] No idea for now.

Describe an important public announcement that one person addressed to many

A speech of the Gáláwá chieftain after it became apparent that the Flooding interrupted the ritual and it cannot be continued. It would contain information on the casualties and suspected victims. The Tæn tribe/clan would be made a scapegoat, since they travel a lot so their attachment to the village is relatively small.

Describe a building or landmark used for, or associated with, communication

The northern, moss-covered part of a particular rock formation was used for a subclan of Tæn to navigate through the mountains while looking for ores and minerals.

Describe a character who prefers to lurk in the shadows

Ithrós strikes a good one, again. :D I will really have to think of some minions for them.

Describe a "negative" conditions that has hidden advantages

Something similar to the sickle cell anemia, maybe. At least that is the inspiration. It increases the risk of dying in the daily life, but provides increased immunity for malaria.

Last days of July — an idea

With the end of summer holiday and about 5 possible days to work on my Copper Badge I've come up with an idea to fit several promps into several stories to make it easier to write, while bouncing of the ideas that appear in the meantime. An example would be prompts:

11 — an unclaimed, unregulated, or lawless region in your setting,

14 — an animal found in a non-populated area,

15 — a useful plant found in a wild area of your world,

18 — a cuisine from a sparse, barren or remote region in your world,

21 — a tradition or behavior considered old-fashioned,

25 — a profession that has been rendered obsolete,

27 — a species now considered extinct.

The upper part of the South-Eastern Mountain Range, known for its windy and harsh climate (11) is inhabited by a variety of endemic species. One of them is a coniferous bush with a fragrant resin (15), once often used in the local cuisine (18) of the villages Airnæ, Birnæ and Carnæ. Some time ago there lived a particular species of bugs (27) that fed on the needles of the bush, causing it to dry out and excreting the digested resin into bluish-black droplets that would stick to the branches. Such branches would be attacked in spring and dry out mid-summer. The droplets added sweetness, sourness, astringency and a bit of bitterness to the dish and were highly sought after. So much they were valued that there were folk who specialised in harvesting the dried branches to sell them for a high price (25). However, while the coniferous bush grew everywhere, the bugs were pretty rare and they would change feeding areas very rapidly and attack only small patches, making it difficult to locate the spot. Not only that, the climate was very unpredictable and dangerous, so a person had only a few days to search for the right spot. While most of the older generation of the "branch hunters" used their knowledge of the terrain, the weather, etc. the prospect of wealth attracted the lazy/clever ones as well.

Some "branch hunters" began domesticating a species of mountain birds (14), introducing them from similarly unhospitable placs, like Gáláwá Mountains. When the birds were trained to locate the bugs they would normally eat a good lot before the hunter got to them. Initially this was not an issue, but after several years the bug population decreased dramatically and nowadays they are considered extinct. With the bugs gone, the special droplets on the coniferous bush branches no longer added the distinct depth of flavor, but some of the older folk add them to their dishes as they did a long time ago, forming a tradition of sorts (21). As that does not change the flavour significantly, the tradition is not considered old-fashioned and younger generations either don't add the stick or herbs/spices from more distant locations.

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In a similar fashion I'll probably tackle other prompts if there is time.