Reading Challenge 2022
Getting this in right under the wire, folks!
But there's no time like the present. Below, you will find articles that had not yet reached the light of day, gems that glimmer like precious stone with the amount of love and time poured into them. Below, you will find worlds and TTRPG systems, species, places, and everything between. I thank everyone for everything they have written here, for the joy you have brought me in these last few moments of the challenge!
You will fInd three descriptions below for each article!
Seek these three: 1) A summary of the article, 2) What was inspiring, 3) What I'll take with me.
High Judge - MoonBro
The art here is wonderful, the metallic shading especially. It reminds me of Amon from the Last Airbender, Korrah. -- The high judge itself is tied to Erathis, god of law for D&D, and asks the person chosen to give up everything they were prior become the high judge. There is mention that this makes it impossible to know if the person was willing to become a High judge, and I eat that drama up. The INTRIGUE~! Finally, in the sidebar text we learn that the High Judge is strictly abiding by written sentences and laws; thus the presence of a jury id there to weigh in on a case of or the sake of leniency.
What was Inspiring
What I'll Take with Me
What was Inspiring
I love when gods take an active role in the world, even through "mouthpieces. For example, the mouth of Sauron was the absolute SHIT. The more we have of this, the better.
I would be inspired to make a government ruled by the avatar of a god; I wonder what sort of problems this would create. In our own world there is a selection of religions to be a part of, all with differing beliefs, gods, etc. What happens when a god reveals itself and walks around among us? Would we be grateful? Would some rebel? What would this look like? -- Would it be heavily classist - those who serve to enforce the gods will and those who serve to build the empire? -- Are there chosen people?
Gyornstar - stick2000
I'll admit it, I was drawn here by the cover art. It's so dang pretty and expansive, playing to the ideas of adventure, grandeur, and what have you~. What I stayed for, however, was the linked articles and that this article is a jumping-off-point for another World Ember Article--The Divine Cannon! Take into account that the material is mined from metal and extremely heavy, and you have a sturdy material to create the cannon!
What was Inspiring
How cool is it that this material itself is associated with a minor divine intervention? I'm imagining that this metal is both really expensive but akin to D&D's adamantine in how powerful it is.
think I need to make my own material created as a kind of divine intervention. I think it would be interesting to see it not used for war, but instead as regalia or ornamental armor. Like, whosoever dawn this armor has the blessing of "God's-Name-Here" to rule, govern, etc. To cross them is to visit upon yourself doom! etc.
Eldrbard - Rey Writes
One of the largest nations of the land, the Eldrbard is a collection of cities that dot the land in various climates, making the people just as varied, but unified economically. The capital is a city of many faces - of water, of fire, of ice - as if to unify the strengths of its people. I had so much fun reading this article. It gave me everything I wanted to know. I only wish there were more internal links to more of the world so I could be enticed learn more. Even still, this article is a great study in agile worldbuilding~!
What was Inspiring
This is one of those articles that can describe something exact in very few sentences. The cities captivated me, the currency intrigued me. All of it detailed but never overstaying its welcome
I think I need to work on making my writing as succinctly beautiful as it is written in this article. Also the currency names are rad :D!
Arcane Winds -DeepBlueSea
Arcane winds are like a force of nature, picking up where high winds and magic saturates the air in the form of spell dust! Best prepare a ward, as the destructive capabilities of spells is increased during an arcane wind!
What was Inspiring
Pardon-Hello-Excuse-me, how impossibly COOL is it that the winds can turn people into beasts? Like, yeah, that might ruin my day, but that sweet little tidbit about how homes have to be closed up to not let the wind in. HOW COOL! How long was it before people discovered that? Are there people who willingly "give themselves to the wind"? Iwant to know all the history and all the idioms surrounding this arcane wind. There is just SO MUCH that can be drawn from it!
Well, now I need to make some part of the world inherently magic, or reactive to magic. What this reminds me of is TaleFoundry's coverage of Pneuma.
Moon Station - NathaliaBooks1993
The Moon Station acts like a school for young minds with zero adults present. They have a view of space thanks to the windows about the station, a machine that procures food for them based on their weight and overall health. I have so many QUESTIONS about this station - namely why no adult supervision because that's just gonna lead to shenanigans, but also, I am here for these shenanigans <3.
What was Inspiring
The art depicts a space cathetral which frames the moon, and I'd like to sign up for this immedietly. I am so in love with how everything is named. I couldn't tell you why, but for those who have seen Saint Seiya (the old one, and in spanish)--this reminds me of the kind of style this article had
I want cathedrals in my world that frame the constellations now. Nuff said
Welcome to "Gods in Space" - RivaliChaos
Oh boy, I was so excited when I stumbled upon this. This is such an excellent primer to a TTRPG. I am designing my own so seeing others doing just this makes me all kinds of giddy. Expectations are clearly layed out, the tone is friendly, I definitely want to "[kill] a dragon employed by a corporation in a miner planet" as is suggested. I cannot, will not, get over this system, and we should all dive into this world immedietely because it drips science-fantasy, and we should be cheering this person on.
What was Inspiring
The clear writing, honestly, as well as the work for the settling.
I need a primer this good for my own TTRPG, and I think I could be better about setting the expectations. The "what you'll need" and "what you won't need" sections are INSPIRED.
Mirror Forest - mag_e
The Mirror forest is an eerie area, still and calm, but dawning a multitude of colors. Held up in the mountains, this are is protected by an organization known as The Gardeners. Life here is kaleidoscopic--in more ways than one--with the life here providing vaguely magical and medicinal properties
What was Inspiring
This was a really peaceful and tranquil read. What inspired me was how it captured that sacred grove kind of feeling, like I was walking in a druid's protected woodlands
I think I need more sacred spaces in my world, and sacred doesn't have to mean monotone--the mirror forest is itself a bright and colorful place--like life itself.
The Still - deepfriedpencils
This is by far the coolest weird-magic geographic location. Basically, four gods had a fued, and one put a stop to it, but kinda ended up destorying the physics for the region in the process. Worse yet, the effect is over open water, and you cannot use means of air or water to attempt to escape. You either have to have a benevolent flying cretaure come to your aid, magically lessen the weight of the ship so it doesn't sink into a distorted-water-physics ocean, or call upon another god to get the heck out of dodge. WONDERFUL! GENIOUS! I love when the influence of gods is so palpible and sewn into the world.
What was Inspiring
Easily, the legend was inspiring almost like a Brother's Grimm fairy tale. It is a fantastic introduction to the world's perils
Legends about the dangers of the ocean are really key to fleshing out a world. So much of early history for us regular humans was centered around the water--it's why it was thought to be a primordial force.
Nightmare - Everwild
I love the subversion. Like Princess Luna from MLP, the Nightmare here protects from bad dreams in the Dreamscape~!
What was Inspiring
I was between this article and Everwild's unicorn article, but this one stuck purely for the subversion of Nightmares being protectors of dreamers rather than than the herald of unspoken fears.
I'm always looking for ways to respectfully subvert myths. I think the game Witcher does it well, and I think this article demonstrates this succinctly and wonderfully~.
Qossamoth - cedorsett
This race was really interestingly described. it reminds me of seahorses and marsupials in reproducton habits and the Khajit and Turians in anatomy. Truly alien, but comparable to things we know on earth (or through media it makes the race knowable and familiar without it being from earth (which is the real magic).
What was Inspiring
I am always fascinated when a writer can describe something entirely foreign to me and have me understand a basic concept. Sure, what I am thinking probably isn't the author's exact image, but we have this ability to transfer these concepts--science-fiction is magical like that.
I often rely on fantasy trope shorthand to explain away appearances, and I think I should probably take some inspiration from the lovely cedorsett and try a different approach :). Throw pasta at the wall and see what sticks.
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