Nideon
Scope
The motivation behind building Nideon
I wanted a world that combined the prevalence of magic in classical high fantasy settings with the modern world (i.e. a modern setting where magic is kind of everywhere and it's just normal.)
The goal of the project
Nideon is the setting for my novel, Natural Magic, and a variety of other stories. It's a place where the magical becomes mundane, and (hopefully) the mundane becomes magical.
Nideon's Unique Selling point
Nideon's response to Earth: "yes, and magic."
Theme
Genre
Fantasy Slice of Life, one step left of magical realism
Reader Experience
Nideon feels a lot like Earth, but an Earth where magic is so prevalent that using it is as mundane as driving to work in the morning. Ideally, this means that driving to work in the morning also feels more magical than it does on Earth.
Reader Tone
The tone of Nideon is mostly bright, but with a lot of dark undercurrents. Terrible things happen, often to the main characters, but they are able to rise above these, especially with the help of family and friends. Protagonists may win battles, but the war is nearly never over. Nevertheless, they typically live to fight another day.
Recurring Themes
Everything is Magic--literally. Magic is the essence of existence
Family and Friendship--characters who build relationships typically end up better off than those who break them
Myth and Secrets--there are a lot of myths floating around Nideon, many of which are actually real, though most don't believe them
Character Agency
Character agency is also similar to life on Earth. Most characters are changing things on a local level, within their school, their temple, their city. But sometime characters are able to influence much larger changes, including on a worldwide scale, such as with the The Rift of 1920.
Focus
Drama
Anti-Pelan sentiment in Ethion--negative feelings toward Pelan immigrants in Ethion is leading to increased oppression of this ethnic group.
The occupation of Antarand by Florarova--Florarovans say Antarand belongs to them. Antarans say they don't.
The Alajan Civil War--for about a century, the provincial leaders have been squabbling over who has control over the Alajan king. While they often merely bite their thumbs at one another, it's not always clear when they will lash out more violently.
Human/Sprite relations in Zenxon--Zenxon has a long history of conflict between humans and sprites, which continues to this day.
Linakra vs. most of the rest of the world--Linakra is one of the few countries that still holds the belief that magical workings are unnatural, and not for people to use. But they're technologically powerful enough that no one wants to start an all out war with them, so the situation remains uncomfortable.
Anti-Pelan propaganda in other countries--affecting Matsias Beleed's relationships with Bontoreed Gorrigbolid and Antony Dao.