SC22 Inspiration

Prepping for July Festivities

I very rarely struggle with inspiration for worldbuilding, but doing the Summer Camp prep really helps in terms of focusing on what I need to work on during the month. This inspiration prep also gets me started on creating/finding images, prepping image descriptions, and thinking through the small additional parts that make my articles what they are.
Isekai is a well-established world at this point so inspiration comes in a variety of places, including from already existing things in the world. The locations I plan on working on during Summer Camp this year have existed since the earliest days of our worldbuilding, so much of what makes those places unique has already been inspired and thought out, only in a preliminary form.
Because of this, I'm choosing to establish a mini-meta for the three locations that I hope to focus on the most. Each of these locations has its own inspiration and points of interest that hopefully, I can flesh out here.

Overall Inspiration

Each area of worldbuilding often has its own inspiration but I find that a good playlist in the background often helps the writing and ideas flow. This is my standard playlist that I listen to frequently, but the songs on it change over the months.

Geography

Landmarks

Materials

Flora

Fauna

Káto

Spine

Jungle

Great Tunnel

The @[Great Tunnel](location:baa754bf-9c16-4e1e-803d-34ecfde74b0e) connects the east and the west of @[Vóreios](location:26b2c1bf-5618-453e-9e0c-e79a9519f5a0) through the meandering tunnels of @[Káto](location:bf37d9cc-5211-4f5e-82c5-7107bfe6414b). Here, a variety of races are common, including those that very rarely ever leave the dark of @[Káto](location:bf37d9cc-5211-4f5e-82c5-7107bfe6414b).

Kallex's Tooth

@[Kallex's Tooth](location:00532476-8a6c-41b9-9aa6-3bcf4904cce5) is one of the @[Spikes of Kallex](location:ae0e053d-b839-46ed-a66e-3e5428fa1135) in the northern end of the @[Spine of Kallex](location:e0033a8e-f7dd-42ba-9281-4127f18fbeb5). The valleys around its base hide the homes of many peoples and the entrance to the home of the @[Metallic Dragons](species:2be6c926-c3bd-41b7-8da7-7e7656d3c5c9). Only those deemed worthy by the @[Metallic Dragons](species:2be6c926-c3bd-41b7-8da7-7e7656d3c5c9) may find the entrance to their sanctuary. Very few have ever entered through the entrance beneath @[Kallex's Tooth](location:00532476-8a6c-41b9-9aa6-3bcf4904cce5).

Káto

Metallic Council

Tucked within a split in the northern end of the @[Spine of Kallex](location:e0033a8e-f7dd-42ba-9281-4127f18fbeb5), the @["Metallic Council"](location:93187e97-ad65-4dd3-8c72-849716ee91a8) is a lush valley fed by the @[Eye of Kallex](location:0cdd12de-00ec-4d5e-98da-036e9f7cefc7) and the magic of the @[Metallic Dragons](species:2be6c926-c3bd-41b7-8da7-7e7656d3c5c9) that call this valley home.

Mithril Peak

Often in the winter months, the top of @[Mithril Peak](location:d7bf15f9-ba93-4b02-b900-370958d6832c) is shrouded in a thick fog. Above that layer of fog, one can view @[Mithril Major](location:dddb4f2d-ed1b-4b10-b7cb-8df159b38092), @[Mithril Minor](location:c3e147dd-3482-4797-a10a-0c312f5276dd), and their constellations while seeming to float in the sky.

Mystic Jungle

Once a lush and vibrant jungle that was home to the @[Minotaurs](species:b0bc86d0-d87d-4132-8cd8-6532af89426e), the @[Mystic Jungle](location:348ef421-bafc-47cd-bd5d-df3230c801e0) now stands as one of the @[Deadzones](location:98243196-9da5-469f-8990-8a2d1bf4e773), an area essentially erased by the events of the @[Eldritch War](militaryConflict:7bb5a23f-6153-4a53-8958-dab07282311f).

Spine of Kallex

A dangerous and ragged mountain range, the @[Spine of Kallex](location:e0033a8e-f7dd-42ba-9281-4127f18fbeb5) is home to many hearty flora and fauna that have become accustom to the harsh climates of the mountains. Here, one can find one end of the @[Great Tunnel](location:baa754bf-9c16-4e1e-803d-34ecfde74b0e) and a variety of people that travel throughout the mountains.

Eryndlyn Stairways

Due to the size of the cavern @[Eryndlyn](settlement:1f9bc812-9065-407f-afd2-820d537cca40) is found in, many of these wooden walkways can be found on the edges of the city, leading into the tunnels surrounding the area. Many of the @[Ruling Council of Eryndlyn](organization:fd530856-9e51-41a1-8642-2cd29feb01c4) have worked to keep these on the peripherals, out of the public eye.

Grik's Bend

Once an @[Orc](species:074035ad-d31d-49c4-a9fb-3da5cbea3bcd) war camp, Grik's Bend was soon taken over by nature when the @[Orcs](species:074035ad-d31d-49c4-a9fb-3da5cbea3bcd) vacated. Now, the site serves as an animal santaury kept by the @[Lulskar Clan](organization:16614fe5-f8d9-45ee-803a-188750a51155).

Mine Ticks

The usage of @[Mine Ticks](language:b51dbae2-b3ab-4f9a-83f6-fac4d339c5ad) becomes more difficult as the cave walls get thinner. In those cases, the markings use light to signal something instead of using indents.

Amber Lanterns

Obsidian

@[Obsidian](material:319811c3-1099-4ec0-b181-a0c0366f5d7a), a stone often associated with the god @[Varell](person:2dd61fae-e0c1-4909-a24c-cc0d4156ec86), is found in few places across Isekai, often in the depths of @[Káto](location:bf37d9cc-5211-4f5e-82c5-7107bfe6414b) and the oceans or amongst the mystery of the @[Fire Islands](location:82bdc3e5-89e6-4c29-ba5a-1823571de646).

Raw Sapphire

Dragon Pines

@[Dragon Pines](species:3501448c-c8bc-4ee5-bf7d-ab3a7c0bfbf7) grow in the inhospitable areas of the @[Spine of Kallex](location:e0033a8e-f7dd-42ba-9281-4127f18fbeb5), often making the mountains seem less dangerous as the stands of trees in the area and the thick fog hides the jagged cliffs and deep valleys.

Edenbloom

The @[Edenbloom](species:efd862a1-fe10-4839-9dcb-cb166a2849cd) is often white or pinkish in color and only blooms upon the ascension of a @[Mithril Dragon](species:2be6c926-c3bd-41b7-8da7-7e7656d3c5c9) to the @[Council of Metallic Dragons](organization:ce7a5e0d-7d02-4d1f-9b4f-20324339a18e).

Young Dragon Pine

Young @[Dragon Pines](species:3501448c-c8bc-4ee5-bf7d-ab3a7c0bfbf7) often have green needles, but as the tree ages, the needle gain a more metallic sheen. The bark is scaled from when the trees are young saplings but also become more @[Dragon-like](species:6f5b53c7-5460-4ebc-82e5-ff9145df7c6f) as they age.

Aelinor Elk

@[Aelinor Elk](species:05f3b35b-8f02-423c-9e45-3b12b7505ade) are known for their intricate horns that often grow and twist in various patterns over the course of the creature's life. Their horns set them apart from the other animals of the @[Elven Forest](location:b61640dd-0b7f-4410-8213-ad51291fbf70) and often grant them great reverence as an oddity of the forest.

Blackened Dire Wolf

Due to the coloring of the @[Blackened Dire Wolves](species:6ad87789-33a9-488f-bfce-e9d870597875), one rarely sees the entire animal as it moves through the shadows. Often, only the faint glow of the creature's eyes are visible, giving little warning of what stalks one from beyond the light.

Giant Alpaca Cria

The cria of @[Giant Alpaca](species:c8398237-e519-4d3b-8267-2c1500076ab3) are often the size of normal alpaca found in Isekai, often standing about three feet at the [var:isekai-def-withers]. These cria will grow to be much larger, but will still be smaller than the @[Giant Goats](species:6d12c371-760c-4467-8a84-0cffcf1bd68e) that offer protection to the alpaca herd.

Leopufele

@[Leopufele](species:4e48b061-264c-4aad-9119-85a06c4fa711) are most commonly found in @[Káto](location:bf37d9cc-5211-4f5e-82c5-7107bfe6414b), but few have made their way to the surface with traveling @[Silver Elves](species:d1655f55-7f68-4c13-8add-85a45cc57c89). These creatures' coloration allows them to hide amongst other rodents on the surface while their fur hides a poision barb.

Riding Lizard

@[Riding Lizards](species:a00a6e7a-8e06-4e29-89f0-757fd8a0b35c) are commonly used as mounts in @[Káto](location:bf37d9cc-5211-4f5e-82c5-7107bfe6414b) by the @[Silver Elves](species:d1655f55-7f68-4c13-8add-85a45cc57c89) due to their extreme abilities in climbing, the creature's eyes also grant them heightened vision in the dark tunnels.

Káto

Káto encompasses all of Isekai that is below the ground. While broken into provinces that correspond to various locations above ground, this large area reaches deep into the world and is home to a great number of peoples, flora, and fauna.

Focus

Religious Influence

Inter-City Politics

Extra-Planar Influence

Principal Geography & Features

Káto is full of varied terrain and features, most often tunnels, caves, and areas with vaulting ceilings. It is common to find ore deposits of various kinds as well as underground oceans, rivers, lakes, and volcanoes that may or may not be dormant. These features change greatly as one descends further into the depths, becoming darker and tighter quarters.

Initial Active Setting

This Summer Camp will focus on the areas of Káto that fall within the provinces that are below Vóreios. Many of these areas have acess to the Great Tunnel and a great deal of trade with the surface world.

Spine of Kallex

The Spine of Kallex, while not the largest mountain range in Vóreios, is the one safest to inhabit, although that does not mean that danger doesn't lurk around every crag and in every valley there.

Focus

Expansive Trade

Religious Influence

Fledgling Geography

Principal Geography & Features

The Spine of Kallex is known for its sharp terrain, cragged mountains, and deep valleys that are near impassable, even during the best of circumstances. The mountains reach high, higher than even some of the Metallic Dragons dare to fly, making the visage of the range one that reaches to the heavens.

Initial Active Setting

This Summer Camp will focus on the areas of the Spine of Kallex that have been established before but only briefly fleshed out, including the Spikes of Kallex and areas surrounding Qimbyr Pass and the Barbarian settlements.

Mystic Jungle

Once known as the Mystic Jungle, this area south of the Elven Forest has been turned into a Deadzone. A pinnacle location during the Eldritch War, this area had so much elegance and history before it was wiped away.

Focus

Forgotten Civilization

Deep Mystery

Eldritch War

Principal Geography & Features

The Mystic Jungle (now a Deadzone) once had extremely varied terrain of deep valleys bursting with tall trees and hidden cities that one could rarely find. Now the landscape is marred and barren, little more than a burning desert that supports no life, not even the smallest being.

Initial Active Setting

This Summer Camp will focus on the Mystic Jungle in two stages, before the Eldritch War and after the war. While this could count as two separate locations, the changes to the jungle into the Deadzone were defined by what was originally in the area.

Summer Camp Mini-Meta

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As mentioned in the discussion of my SC22 Themes & Ideas, I plan to focus in on three areas in Isekai during Summer Camp. These areas of Vóreios are considered great expanses and while they have existed for awhile, there is very little information about these places. Click through the tabs above to see some of my inspiration and the directions I might be taking with my writing.

Thanks to Stormbril for the inspiration for my mini-meta!