List of Summer Camp 2022 articles in Independent Short Stories | World Anvil
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List of Summer Camp 2022 articles

Independent Short Stories    Worldbuilding challenges      List of Summer Camp 2022 articles

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See my pledge here.   The worlds I wrote in are:
1) Divine Tyarrany - a world where gods are all powerful and live among mortals (22 articles).
2) Fiefs world - a city divided into a thousand of fiefs over which an all powerful lord or lady rules (4 articles).
3) Roman world - alternative history set in a 4th century Roman empire with magic (3 articles).
4) Victorian Evil Scientist - evil scientists set in an alternative 19th century France (3 articles).
5) Poisonous Mist - after an apocalypse, the surviving humans go to another world and try to settle there but are faced with wars with the previous inhabitants (2 articles).
6) Dark Lord seduction plans - a world that is torn by a conflict between Light and Dark political factions (1 article).  

Theme 1: Expanse

 
An ocean, desert, plain, pocket dimension, or other large expanse.
Roman world.
The Steppes
Geographic Location | Jan 21, 2024

A huge region almost covering Eurasia from East to West and filled with bloodthirsty and unhygienic Barbarians that are all too eager to attack civilised people like us.

Α religion or organisation connected to a natural phenomenon.
Divine Tyranny world.
Cult of the water god
Organization | Jan 21, 2024

From the time we were only a city-state, we have worshipped His Holiness our Lord Lydien, Ruler over all waters, may His reign last forever and more. Just as our Lord, His Church is the most beloved and the powerful.

A species that survives in an unlikely place.
Fiefs world.
Basement kraken
Species | Jan 21, 2024

Magic made manifest. And hungry. So very hungry for even more life and magic.

Bonus article, Roman world.
Pet snakes
Species | Jan 21, 2024

Pet snakes are very popular in Rome, as those animals are very useful to anchor healing spells of protective magic, as well as being linked to several gods.

Α vehicle or type of vehicle used for long journeys.
Divine Tyranny world.
Mortal Possession
Vehicle | Jan 21, 2024

When gods have a task that needs delicate handling, they take care of it themselves by resorting to the use of mortal vessels. More often than not, this does not end up well for the mortals in question...


Bonus article, Fiefs world.
Trading caravans
Vehicle | Jan 21, 2024

The vital link between the fiefs.

Α settlement beside or in a great expanse.
Fiefs world.
The City of the Hundred Fiefs
Settlement | Jan 21, 2024

A federal city-state divided into a hundred of areas ruled by their own all-powerful lords and ladies. With how limited space is, people have to built upwards and fight fiercely for resources.

Α material only harvestable from nature.
Victorian Evil Scientists world.
Sentient cells
Material | Jan 21, 2024

The latest state-of-the-art material used in labs to produce medical compounds, drugs and poisons. However, before you become too excited, be aware that cells are little divas that need to be carefully handled or they'll kill themselves out of spite!

Α culture who lives by, near or within an ocean, desert or other expanse.
Roman world.
The Roman border regions
Ethnicity | Jan 21, 2024

The borders are extremely important for the Romans' safety. In the best of cases, they are areas of thriving trade and cultural exchanges. In the worst, their inhabitants live in constant terror of Barbarians raids which will leave them dead or enslaved.

Α food that marks a rite of passage for a culture in your world.
Divine Tyranny world.
Eldritch Horror Feeding Ritual
Tradition / Ritual | Jan 21, 2024

Eldritch beings live underground and get agitated every few months at the least provocations. They immediately need to be appeased and put back to sleep, and what better way to do that than with a tasty human meal?

 

Theme 2: Leadership

 
A settlement that leads the world in something.
Divine Tyranny world.
The capital, a city blessed—and cursed—by the gods
Settlement | Jan 21, 2024

Thanks to the support of our patron gods, our city has always been a leader and model for the rest of the continent from the time we were a mere city-state to now as the capital of a magnificent empire. However, being so amazing comes at a price...

A military conflict resolved through excellent leadership.
Divine Tyranny world.
The Pollution War
Military Conflict | Jan 21, 2024

When the gods' council was unable to resolve an industrialisation vs environment conflict, our Lord the water god Lydien and the forging god led the country in a short but bloody civil war... while pretending to have nothing to do with it, of course.

A building associated with governance, leadership or change.
Divine Tyranny world.
The royal archives
Building / Landmark | Jan 21, 2024

The branch of the archives located in the capital. As the best in the country, we collect a lot of confidential information about the gods' dealings with the royal family and the government, and advise the king, nobles, high priests and lesser archivists.

An organisation associated with governance, leadership or change.
Divine Tyranny world.
Local Gods' Council
Organization | Jan 21, 2024

It's all speculation, but it's very likely our major patrons gods form a kind of unofficial council in order to avoid any big disagreement that would result in open warfare and the more than probable destruction of the continent.


Bonus article, Fiefs world.
The Council
Organization | Jan 21, 2024

A pragmatic organisation designed to allow for trade and fighting threats in a city full of independent fiefs and faced with anarchy and violence. No decision can be made nor enforced without the support of the most powerful lords and ladies.

A profession associated with leaders in your world.
Divine Tyranny world.
The Archivists
Profession | Mar 11, 2024

We, archivists, collect all information related to the divine and advise people on how to live without offending the gods. We are truly the only ones holding the country together. Saying this is only common sense, and anyone who has any of it will agree!

A title that commands respect for those in the know.
Divine Tyranny world.
Royal Heir
Rank/Title | Jan 21, 2024

The royal heir is more than the future king of the country: upon their coronation, they choose a new main patron god for the country. Therefore, a royal heir represents a potential promise of change for the kingdom and his selection is extremely fierce.


Bonus article, Victorian Evil Scientists world.
Light vs Dark politics and Dark Lords
Rank/Title | Mar 17, 2024

Light and Dark concepts divide our society. From simple magical definitions, they have become political and deeply moral concepts. The Dark Lord is the leader of the Dark society, and they are always a harbinger of change—especially the violent kind.

A tradition or ceremony which confers an honor on someone.
Victorian Evil Scientists world.
PhD—a tradition conferring honours
Tradition / Ritual | Jan 21, 2024

After years of arduous studies, the title of Doctor confers honours and distinctions upon scientists, making them all social equals who will be considered on their own merits in matters or career and funding. Or at least, that's the theory...

A great leader of their people.
Divine Tyranny world.
The Water God Lydien
Character | Jan 21, 2024

His Holiness our Lord Lydien, Ruler over all waters, may His reign last forever and more. Let us give thanks for his constant protection since our mighty empire was a mere city-state, and let us take care not to draw his anger upon us...

 

Theme 3: Discovery

 
A settlement that was lost or discovered.
Divine Tyranny world.
The war god's lost city
Settlement | Jan 21, 2024

At the foundation of the very first cities, each god was the patron to their own. During mortals' wars, the victors used to invite the patron of the defeated city to join them. The war god was the very first to accept such an invitation.

An astonishing natural wonder.
Divine Tyranny world.
The Eternal Fires
Geographic Location | Jan 21, 2024

Terrible unfathomable creatures lie caged by the gods under the earth. The only problem is that such beings are very difficult to keep in check. Sometimes, one of them manages to briefly escape. The Eternal Fires are what can happen as a result...

A recently discovered, or rediscovered, species.
Poisonous Mist.
New Neanderthals
Species | Jan 20, 2024

In the new world, we have found Neanderthals that appear to have travelled there tens of thousands years ago. While similar to us, their biology and culture favour individualism & creativity compared to our uniformisation & optimisation.

A lost or discovered artifact of significance or power.
Divine Tyranny world.
The Water God's Gifts
Item | Jan 21, 2024

Our Lord the water god Lydien, ruler over all waters, likes to be seen as a benevolent and generous god. As such he gifts his most loyal followers with magical artefact He creates Himself.

A technology lost, forgotten or shrouded in mystery.
Divine Tyranny world.
The forging god's alchemy
Technology / Science | Jan 21, 2024

The forging god is one of the main initiators of the industrial revolution. He has taught us the secrets of alchemy and how to use it to create many wonderful metal alloys, themselves essential to the making of incredible instruments.

A lost or discovered monument.
Divine Tyranny world.
Old Temple to an Eldritch Horror
Building / Landmark | Jan 21, 2024

When gods fight together, the clashes of their power might uncovered things that should better remained buried deep under the earth...

An Explorer, Researcher or other character motivated by discovery.
Divine Tyranny world.
Cécile
Character | Jan 21, 2024

I'm a royal archivist, which gives me access to all the secrets of court politics and of the gods' puppetting of us behind the scene. I have common sense and will never get involved with them, but I feel a lot of morbid curiosity about what's going on...

A travel log or other document associated with discovery.
Victorian Evil Scientists world.
Evil Scientist's Lab Book
Document | Jan 21, 2024

Sentient cells experiments are annoying to deal with: endless contamination, cells unhappy at not being next to their friend and killing themselves out of spite, lab assistant not working properly, damn Dark Lord not giving me enough test subjects...

 

Theme 4: Monster

 
A species considered monstrous by some.
Poisonous Mist.
The elvish Faverians
Species | Jan 20, 2024

In the new world, we have found an elf-like people. Their superior lifespan, strenght and memory make them scornful of us and want to subjugate us. Yet, we can use their slow ability to change and fascination with the new against them to win this war.

A myth or urban legend about a "monster".
Divine Tyranny world.
The Story of the Trees of the Water Temples
Myth | Jan 21, 2024

A legend explaining the strange trees that are found in the gardens of all water temples, as well as why it is a very bad idea to disrespect the gods and get in between their rivalries.

A tradition which keeps monsters or bad luck away.
Divine Tyranny world.
How to appease gods through prayers and sacrifices
Tradition / Ritual | Jan 21, 2024

Gods are incredibly powerful entities that roam in our realm in search of entertainment—which they often find in causing destruction and misery. To ensure our survival, we appease them through the regular gift of a small amount of magic via worship.

A condition considered monstrous or "unlucky" by some.
Divine Tyranny world.
Mark of A God's Disfavour or the Divine Curse
Condition | Jan 21, 2024

Occasionally, someone annoys a god sufficiently for them to not smite them outright but make the punishment drags on. Or the mortal is protected and out of reach from simple execution. In such cases, the mortal is considered to be "cursed".

An organisation considered cruel or monstrous by some.
Divine Tyranny world.
Cult of the Forging God
Organization | Jan 21, 2024

One of the most influential Churches in the country, especially as every new forging or creation process in the country requires a tithe to the forging god or his priests to succeed.

A person considered villainous or monstrous.
Divine Tyranny world.
The forging god
Character | Jan 21, 2024

The patron god of fire, metal processing, forging and engineering, with an extremely influential Church. He founded the kingdom with the water god but now they are quarrelling about whether to favour industrialisation or the environment.

An artifact that embodies a hideous or monstrous idea.
Divine Tyranny world.
High Priests' Lockets
Item | Jan 21, 2024

High priests have to wear a locket imbued with the power of their god. Those lockets serve as a sign that the priest deserves respect, as way to access and use their god's power, and as a beckon allowing for easy possession by their god.

 

Imaginaerium

  During Summer Camp, I also wrote an article for Qurilion's imaginaerium and I was interviewed by Secondhand on the WA twitch channel about it.
Using real world expertise to worldbuild technologies
Generic article | Jul 24, 2022

My background as a scientist influences the way I approach worldbuilding, in particular technologies and magic systems. Here, I explain my usual process, present examples from my worlds, and highlight a few other ways my expertise influences my writing.

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© 2015-2024 Amélie I. S. Debruyne (AmélieIS). All rights reserved. Images © Amélie I. S. Debruyne (AmélieIS) unless stated otherwise.
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