Drink the cool waters of the well spring of Inspiration.

Welcome to the Continent of Valsgard, the primary location of my fictional world.

Written by CaseyJones

Here I have gathered the ingredients that have helped me piece together my world.
I have created a pinterest board for the world of Atiz, that I will have a more in depth inspiration board, please feel free to take a look and let me know what you think.
https://www.pinterest.com/caseyjonesfictionwriter/atiz/

Character/Races

Valsgardi

Valsgardi - Male - Berserker
The Valsgardi, are purely human, and have almost no ability to use the magic of the planet. Because of this their physiology caused them to grow taller and stronger than most of the other races of Valsgard. The most fearsome warriors the world has seen are the Berserkers, huge, muscular beasts of men, wearing the skins of great cave bears, are said to be the only reason the Valsgardi were able to conquer the lands that would become Valsgard. They are too slow, and too huge to move silently through the forests and make for easy prey for the beasts that dwell within, thus causing the Emperor to deem to forests too dangerous to enter
Artist - Dominik Derow

Valsgardi - Female - Woodswalker
The Woodswalkers are the elite forces of the Valsgardi. They alone travel into the forests, transporting goods, and acompanying wealthy/ important travelers overland, providing protection from the many dangerous terrains, plants, and animals of Valsgard. Truth be told, they live in a way much similar to the Old Blood, and the other races. Harmony with the forest.
Artist - Dominik Derow

Old Blood

Old Blood - Male
The Old Blood are considerably smaller than the Valsgardi, though they are much quicker, far more agile, and are incredibly stealthy. It is almost impossible to catch them unaware. They are still connected to the planet and are fully capable of tapping into its magic, with proper training, of course. The young male warriors of the Old Blood were known to color their hair with different mud dyes to suit their personal roles in society. Black signifies they are still untested in battle - brown signifies they are battle proven - and grey/white signifies they have performed a great feat or miracle on the field of battle, and have summoned the spirit of the their ancestors.
Artist - Andre Pires

Awazi - Old Blood - Female
Awazi is one of the main heroes of this world. She is the main character of the first novel set in Valsgard. Her people are the Old Blood, one of the original inhabitants of Valsgard, along with the Teva, and Foukka. They were here millennia before the invading Valsgardi came in their warships from Skandia. The Old Blood were almost destroyed by the colonization, but a small portion of their people have survived, although with a much degraded way of life. Her destiny is to restore her people to dignity and help them rediscover who they were, and hopefully in time, expel the invaders from their lands of Valsgard.
Artist - Liana Draws

Foukka

Foukka - Female
The Foukka are a peaceful people, one with the forest, and shy of interactions. Sometimes called the "Spirit in the Forest." They are deeply in tune with the planet and are able to harness the magic within. The females are fiercely protective of their kind, and the forests. If either of them are endangered they will stop at nothing to protect them from the threat. The female Foukka tend to be the Warriors when the need arises.
Artist - Nikita Lebedev

Foukka - Male
Foukka males are often found wandering from enclave to enclave to commune with the elders and discuss the state of life for their people. They act as the emissaries for the warrior class females who keep and protect the enclaves. The males defer to the females in most things, however they worship information, art and history.
Artist - Aby Varghese

Teva

Luteyar - Teva - Male - Drykker Rider
The teva are cave dwellers, from the mountainous regions of Valsgard, some of their kind are known to use magic, though it is not wide spread. The warriors of the Teva will have the protective marks etched into their skins, and the bravest among them will attempt to become Bat Riders. In the darkest parts of the caves, live the giant bats - Drykker- Once a warrior becomes a rider, they undergo the ritual to darken their skin to be reborn in the image of their chief god, Mulveir the Ageless.
Artist - Liana Draws

Lyserra - Teva - Female - Seer
Only one teva per generation are born with the sight, shown by one black eye. They are only born after the previous one has died. They are the spiritual center of the teva world. They are thought to have access to the ancient wisdom, and are feared and revered. The Teva will travel across the known world to seek the wisdom of the seer.
Artist - Rachel Cronk

Volvi/Volva(Valsgardi)

Volva - Female - Spiritual conduit
Rarely, the Valsgardi are born with the ability to access the magic of the planet, however at a much reduced level than the other races. These sensitive children grow up with the understanding they must undergo a rite of passage. The Volvi/Volva are individuals that have undergone the rites of the gods, and devoted themselves to their will. They are the shamans and educators of their societies. The temples are located in the most remote, unreachable places the early masters could find, and the pilgrimage to find the temple is the first trial of a would be Volvi/Volva
Artist - Dominik Derow

Volvi - Male
The role of the volvi/volva is to interpret the will of the gods, to counsel the Jarl's in their holdfasts, to educate the realm in the ways of the gods, and the histories of their people, and to act as the healers in times of need. It is a highly noble calling, however those that follow this path, are never truly accepted back into the society as they were. They are something else, changed, feared.
Artist - Dominik Derow

The Wandering Chaos
A dark being said to wander the forests of Valsgard, sewing chaos and pain where ever his cane is laid. He is horrible to look at and looking into his eyes causes madness to overcome. Many believe him to be the true cause of the corrupted souls that dwell in the forests. His dragging feet and many moaning faces are the only indication of his presence, and if any soul should happen to hear either, run away, as fast as possible. There are those who insist that he is a god walking among them, tired of the boredom of eternal life.
Artist - Rogier Van De Beek

Locations:

All landscape art by Avant Choi via www.Artstation.com

Ringvolstad -
City of the Gods, and capital of the Valsgardi Empire. The city is the largest, most diverse, and economically advanced city in all of Valsgard. It is home to the emperor's grand manse along with temples to many gods from all over the known world, catering to the large amount of travelers, scholars, merchants, fishers, tradesmen and traders who call Ringvolstad home. The jewel of the empire.

Milosfjord -
The Valsgardi Settlement among the ancient Ygdrasili Redwoods, along the southern coast of Valsgard. The massive castle and attached city are dwarfed by the godlike trees. The Ygdrasili Redwoods cover most of the southern region of Vallsgard from the Capital of Ringvolstad on the central western coast to the Forest of Een in the east. Milosfjord is the busiest port and economic center for traders from the distant lands of Kal'Atiz, and Wu Lin.

Nifel -
At the edge of the Badlands of Pel, along the stony shore on the east coast of Valsgard lies Nifel. It is a hard fought life out here in the extreme conditions of the desert. The twin suns bake the drought ridden lands, and as a result, the Valsgardi people out here are the as hard as the rocky soil. Being a place that few wander willingly, it has become home to outlaws and runaways. People keep to themselves out there, and questions bring only trouble.

Kunska -
The volvi/volva temple in Valsgard. Hidden away far to the north past the Frosty Spine and along the near the shores of the Leviathan Sea. This is the great Temple where the Volvi's and Volva's travel from all Valsgardi settlements to devote to their gods and the ancient wisdom. Segregating themselves from their societies they learn all that they can in order to serve their people and interpret the will of the gods.

Tro -
A Foukka enclave in the Dark Forest of the Mazemakers. Foukka lifestyle is that of peaceful harmony with the forests, thus most of the Foukka prefer stay outside, sleeping on the river banks, or in the bows of the trees. Their enclaves are a hub for the tribe, and the old, the sick, and the young with their mothers all live in the enclaves. The rest of the tribe visit as often as they like and sleep under its roof, delivering their harvests as well as messages from the other enclaves.

Dypkav -
Teva cave city, underground with many "Heaven Gate's"(collapsed portions of ceiling) providing light to touch portions of the settlement. The various elven races prefer solitude to different degrees, but the teva have always been more fond of isolation. Their caves are deep and difficult to find, and harder to enter. The elite teva warriors ride the Giant Bats that dwell in the darkness and riding them into the night time to hunt and survey the lands of Valsgard, bringing back treasures and news of the world.

Anthem

Quotations:

"Perhaps we are asking the wrong questions." The Matrix - The Wachowskis
"It is only after we've lost everything, that we're free to do anything." Fight Club - Chuck Palahniuk
"When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an outlaw." Nelson Mandela
"If you wear a mask for too long, you forget the person you were beneath it." V for Vendetta - Alan Moore
"We do not destroy our enemies; we change them." 1984 - George Orwell
"The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown." H.P. Lovecraft
"Fear is the mind-killer." Dune - Frank Hebert
"I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear." Nelson Mandela
"Belief can be manipulated. Only knowledge is dangerous." Dune - Frank Herbert

The Big Guns:

A Song of Ice And Fire
Vikings
The Witcher
Malazan Book of the Fallen