Barenae
3156 D.R
Scope
The motivation behind building Barenae
I've been working with this world for around 5 years. Worldbuilding is something I enjoy for the creative opportunities and freedom of expression I've never been able to communicate through other, more artistic ways. I've always been a creative person, but I've struggled to convey what I was thinking, to know if my ideas were even worth something. Now that I'm a game design student, I'm even more nervous but resolved to bring my ideas to reality.
To sum it up, Barenae is a personal project, a way to demonstrate myself that I'm able to show what goes through my head to the rest of the world. To learn. To grow. To play with it and make friends along the way.
The goal of the project
Barenae is mainly for my personal enjoyment. That being said, being a game designer, I've thought of this world as a setting for games and for narratives. I've used Barenae for ttrpg purposes, and I think it fits well within the narratives of games like Dnd or any other system that likes fantasy and pushing bounds.
What I wanted to convey is a world that shows people with great resolve and motivation to face adversity, with a rich history and the potential for great pictures, fit for both the fans of fantasy that want something new and those who just appreciate singular and endearing characters.
Barenae's Unique Selling point
The most remarkable thing about Barenae is no doubt The Redeemer.
The Redeemer, a massive artifact, provider of light and energy, took the place of all suns of moons of Barenae in a cataclysmic event and sent what was left of the planet onto a spatial continuum, condemned to wander and shift through dimensions for eternity. The Redeemer also is responsible for splitting the original planet into fragments, the Splinters of Barenae, that constitute most of the habitable territory of the setting, not on their surface, but on their interior faces.
The result is that Barenae is a runaway planet, broken into shifting pieces that all collide with other dimensions, all around the Redeemer.
Theme
Genre
The main inspiration is Urban Fantasy with a heavy focus on communities and cultures, and some arcane science and divergent technology sprinkled throughout. Magic is a heavily expressive medium but is also widely interwoven with technology and science, which are averagely pretty advanced for a fantasy world (think zeppelins, basic automobiles, and telegraphs), even if the feel and aesthetic gap between the Inner Sections and the Outer Rim ranges from 1980's environments to more traditional, medieval villages.
Reader Experience
To the observer, Barenae should feel somewhat empty. Aside from the vibrant atmospheres of the cities, nature is full of places that are beautiful to behold, which offer a space to reflect during the travels. Said cities are home to thousands of peculiar citizens and impressive locations.
The world is filled with wonder and discovery, very influenced by its history. People should expect to be surprised by its people and their cultures, similar to a tourist experience.
Barenae is not without its dangers, however, many creatures of vile intentions and lurk in the shadows and history often leaves irreparable consequences behind. Nature and magic, as untamed as they are, bring the perfect opportunity to pump adrenalin into the thrill-seekers and adventurers of the universe.
Reader Tone
The environment of Barenae is mainly defined by a sense of wonder. Nature is meant to feel wild and untamed, with turbulent storms, massive creatures, peculiar uses of magic ... However, there's this constant bitter feeling that things should be better.
However, the people of Barenae take this bitterness and make it theirs. Death is painful but understood. Chaos is uncontrollable but just. Wherever you go in Barenae, there's a good chance it'll be easy to make a friend and meet new and interesting people, as long as you're open to new things and look forward.
On a Dark-Bright scale, this world would be Neutral, since there are many wonderful things about it, but there will always be room for improving them.
Recurring Themes
The three main themes present in this world are:
The search of truth in all its forms: Years of disconnection between the different Splinters of Barenae, alongside a feeling that the powerful aren't completely transparent, often inspire people to find truth for themselves, be it by creating truth, making great discoveries or trying to change things so that they are more clear for everyone. This creates a climate where disciplines like technology, science, and politics are always bustling with activity.
Freedom is finding those who you belong with: Since the world is far and wide, often people can feel misplaced where they were born. Traveling is a common occurrence and individuals tend to look for people that share their own ideas, wherever those may be, so everywhere you might go, chances are you might find other travelers, enjoying the beauty of the area, or integrated within the more welcoming groups of society.
The bridges between Past, Present, and Future: The people of Barenae have suffered a lot in history: extraplanar invasions, cataclysms, civil wars... There's a fixation for tradition and trying not to forget the past, that often collides with a more young, careless perspective that looks forward to innovation and progress. It's everyone's task to bring those two sides together now since the dangers of the past are everpresent, but everyone should access all the commodities that come up in the years to come.
Character Agency
A single person can go anywhere and make great changes, as long as they're ready to make them. Innovation and Discovery are great ways to find truth in progress, and a single commodity can go a long way in making everything a little bit better. Traditions and bureaucracy can often slow the pace at which the world works, but freedom of any type is one of the highest tenets for most of those who are ready to walk their own path.
On a Grim-Noble scale, this world would be practically Noble for those who aren't scared of finding the truth, with a high focus on freedom for the individual and the community. In contrast, a bigger part of the community is content with what they have, which ends up creating a more Neutral environment.