I took the challenge quite late, almost in mid-July. After the first two articles, which took me like a week to write, I decided to only do a dozen of them. Miraculously, I have now 22 prompts and could be able to do all 33. A mix of sudden inspiration and shorter articles did the trick. Though we are almost at the end, I decided to gather here some thoughts as well as links to all prompts!
This was my first Summer Camp, and the first writing challenge of my life, actually. So far it is a lot of fun.
24 July
Today I wrote something about every prompt, even those I am still missing. From tomorrow on, I will update the page on the bottom with the new links.
Prompt 1 - Myth
"Write about a myth or legend relating to a famous, long-lost item."
The Missing Key to the Lost Temple
This was fun (I will probably claim this a lot). At first, I was not sure what to do. This world has so much room for so many long-lost items from the first and second era. Then I thought of a long-lost item for a long-lost place. Only forest elves could do something like this (they are very naive).
Prompt 2 - Item
"Describe a valuable historical or ancient artefact in your world."
Huljake Noha, the Luminescent Orb
Prompt 3 - Person
"Describe an important religious leader in your world. How has their character changed the status quo?"
Err... I don't know? I have so many important religious leaders in the Moon Church, but changing the status quo? Thinking about the whole history of the church I came up with an idea yesterday, so this will probably be today's article.
Prompt 4 - Species
"Write about an apex predator in your world. How does it hunt and survive?"
Icche Doghe
I love imagining new animal species, but I found out I don't like writing about them. At all. Here at first, I thought of a wyvern, since I will need to write about them anyway, but in the end, I chose a sea dragon. Slightly less unoriginal, perhaps.
Prompt 5 - Condition
"Describe a condition in your world caused by a drug or medicine."
Magic Field Sensitiveness Trance
This was hard. I had literally no idea on this. I decided for a mental drug and slowly came up with the idea of something enhancing combat capabilities, in some sense. The trance was the result and I am happy with it. With many other prompts, it defines well what these Dark Lands are, even without an article about them.
Prompt 6 - Location
"Describe an important celestial body or constellation in your world."
Like, eh? Here I am still far from a decision. The Moon is for sure the most important celestial body of all, thanks to the Moon Church. But it is just... sooo common. I will probably end up writing about the moon in a hurry the last day.
Prompt 7 - Ethnicity
"Describe a counter-culture in your world, something outside the mainstream culture of the place."
Movement for Demons Rights Recognition
This was one of the "what?". I didn't even know what a counter-culture was (English is not my language). After a while, I thought of demons and came up with the most controversial movement of Nys.
Prompt 8 - Rank
"Write about a rank or title that represents order in your world."
Folbi Velti, Free Judges
This one was very easy to thought, hard to write. Maybe it was that I wrote three articles a day to keep up with the challenge in a short time, but sometimes I really struggled.
Prompt 9 - Building
"Write about a building that has been reused and repurposed from its original design."
The Lighthouse Library
Now now. For this, in the beginning, I thought of the Moon Church headquarters (see below), before the gold prompts were released, but I was not happy. Then, during dinner, I had a sudden inspiration: a lighthouse, which is a library. And an inn. Perfect.
Prompt 10 - Document
"Describe a commonly found document in your world - what's in it and what is it for?"
Adventurer License
Doujate is a bureaucratic kingdom. I plan on writing the actual document in Doujatar (all the languages of Nys exist somewhere on my computer, complete vocabulary and grammar), but it requires so much time. Maybe I will do it in August, once the Summer Camp will be over.
Prompt 11 - Item
"Describe a common item that is used as a secret symbol in your world."
Nirće
I was divided on this. It had potential, but I didn't really know what to do. Then I thought about the Dark Lands and its mages (it seems the Dark Lands always contain the answer). These are just dolls, aren't they?
Prompt 12 - Vehicle
"Describe a vehicle in your world that brings joy wherever it arrives."
Kokreba Mum, Puppeteer Cart
Ok, ok, on this one I was like "Ahah, no". This was one of those I decided to leave when I didn't want to do all of them. It seemed just so wrong with the world. Then I reluctantly began thinking about forest elves (a joy vehicle could only be theirs). But then, on another dinner, there it was, the inspiration: it doesn't have to be a good thing to bring joy, right?
Prompt 13 - Ritual
"Describe how birthdays are celebrated in a particular culture of your world."
Kiformeła Merz, Birthday Celebration
Once again, when celebrations are on the way, we think forest elves. They are so happy in their forests. But I am engulfed in the obscurity of the Dark Lands without hope for salvation. I like this article.
Prompt 14 - Language
"Write about a secret code or cypher in your world: who uses it, and for what purpose?"
Alńa Runes
As I said, there are a lot of languages on Nys. But they are not secret. Then the realization: it doesn't have to be a
spoken language as long as it enables some type of communication. And the solution is in the Dark Lands (again).
Prompt 15 - Formation
"Describe an elite or highly specialised military unit in your world."
Basooč Ošin, Golem Technicians
This was the second prompt I wrote. I think it is interesting. At the start, I wanted to write about wyvern riders in Doujate, since I need to anyway. But I wanted something more original and this was a good idea.
Prompt 16 - Material
"Write about a material that is considered sacred or culturally crucial in your world."
Ubeghe Thidra, Silvered Steel
This is not so original. Every world has a mithril equivalent and this is mine.
Prompt 17 - Myth
"Describe a common old wives' tale or conspiracy theory from a region of your world. Does it hold any truth?"
Wigra Kesje, Pregnancy Spirits
This was fun (after understanding what an "old wive's tale" is supposed to be). In Italian we have a word, "mordente", which means "resoluteness, determination, effectiveness" (I don't think there's an equivalent word in English). Anyway, I wanted something with mordente. I decided to do something obscure in my dear Dark Lands, but what? There are so many dark tales to tell to children and teenagers. The final result is slightly less dark and with less mordente than I wanted, but I think it describes really well the culture of Dark Lands people.
Prompt 18 - Law
"Write about the events of a devastating natural disaster in your world, either past or present."
The Great Flood
Well, natural disasters are only a few: earthquakes, eruptions, floods. Unless you are in a sci-fi world and can let stars go supernova.
Prompt 19 - Location
"Describe a location in your world that is brimming with diverse or bizarre flora and fauna."
For me, this is a difficult one, because I have too many of them and can't decide. I could describe the much-quoted Cajenian archipelago, in the end.
Prompt 20 - Organization
"Write about an organization in your world that has become so powerful it's above the law."
Sutii Šifjo, the Shadow Court
This was my first prompt. And it is pretty long too (at least, for a Summer Camp prompt). If the length remained this for each prompt, I would have written less than a dozen by now. But it tells about a very important organization and I like how it went. I will probably add something else about the Shadow Court in future.
Prompt 21 - Profession
"Describe a profession in your world that has always been, or recently became, illegal."
Doujate is a weird kingdom, stay tuned!
Prompt 22 - Building
"Write about the headquarters of an organization in your world."
High Temple of the Moon
Moon Church! For this prompt, I couldn't decide between the Moon Church or Shadow Court headquarters. Then I decided to write about the former since the latter already had a nice article.
Prompt 23 - Settlement
"Describe a settlement that is famous for a particular resource, product or item created there."
Calotia
At first, I thought this would have been a settlement related to the silvered iron mining and/or silvered steel weapons. But my Italian blood suggested differently, especially because of the food festival prompt.
Prompt 24 - Organization
"Describe a law enforcing organization within your world and how they operate."
Shadow Court again? I need to think about this.
Prompt 25 - Ritual
"Write about a food-focussed event in your world and describe how it's celebrated."
Laregni Festival
It's food festival time! Since it's a party thing, my first idea was, guess, forest elves. But I had the other settlement prompt and decided to put things together.
Prompt 26 - Technology
"Write about a technology from the history of your world - is it lost to the ages, or did it shape the world today?"
Circuitation of Energy
This seemed like an easy one. The biggest breakthrough ever, the staple food of the Old Empire of Arkadhe. It is done, but I think I could still improve it.
Prompt 27 - Condition
"Describe any condition or disease for which a cure has recently been developed."
Demonic Taint
This time the answer came from Doujate. Not so much to say here, pretty straight-forward and well-integrated with the Nysian magic system.
Prompt 28 - Settlement
"Write about the history of a settlement that was almost entirely wiped out and was then rebuilt."
Err, pass. I would like to say that the answer comes from the Dark Lands, but there is almost no settlement there, so I need to think.
Prompt 29 - Species
"Write about a species in your world that is bred or farmed for a high-value resource."
I have many choices here. This will be out soon!
Prompt 30 - Person
"Write about an unassuming character who secretly controls things from behind the scenes."
Did someone say Shadow Court? Let it be! Stay tuned.
25 July
Here we are again with two linked prompts, number 24 and number 19, and the religious leader, number 3.
The latter is a controversial figure in the Moon Church:
Sim Lifrhich Louncheu Leva uf Rhevech-Tarin ta Kumirnuf. Mad or enlightned?
The other two cast some light on the history and inhabitants of the Cajenian Archipelago. They just scratched the surface, however. They are the pirate hunters, the
Sea Keepers, and a general description of flora and fauna,
Cajenian Archipelago, which will eventually evolve in a full description of the region.
Now only the most I-do-not-know articles remain, plus the unassuming person.
28 July
It seems I forgot to update this two days, not just one as I thought. In these three days I wrote four articles. They are mostly unlinked with each other, but recall some older prompt.
Prompt 21, the illegal profession:
Tomato Farmers. As I promised, Doujate is a strange kingdom with lots of bureaucracy and wierd rules...
Prompt 28, the rebuild settlement:
Valkufri, the city rebuild not just one, but two times. Ok, maybe the first one does not count, but they take pride in saying they will never fall!
Prompt 29, the valuable species:
Larzy Pikoće, Red Lilies. Again, the Dark Lands prevail and win yet another article.
Prompt 30, the unassuming dangerous person:
Aleksija Lenkovič. I said this was for the Shadow Court and so it is, the second most important officer of the organization. Don't be fooled by her gentle smile, she's cruel.
I have now only one prompt remaining: the dreaded celestial body. What will come of it?
29 July
Today, it was rough. The constellation required a lot of time and I even changed subject after starting because I didn't like it. But it is finally done. Behold, the Dark Swan!
Nogry Węsz
With this, the first 30 prompts are done. I am very happy for undertaking the challenge, it was lot of fun. But it is not over yet. We still miss the last three diamond prompts. I'm looking forward to them. Depending on how difficult they will be and how badly they will fit into my world, I could do a short update tomorrow, before starting to write.
31 July
Yayyy DONE. At first I was puzzled. I did not know what to write. The material seemed just bad for a non-sci-fi setting, and the others were good enough to look at them and say "Yes, I know this, I can write that thing from the Dark Lands". So today I started from the first, without knowing essentially anything.
Prompt 31 - Material
"Describe a material in your world that is used as a source of fuel or power."
As soon as I heard it I was like "well, crystal and magical energy, we are in a fantasy, aren't we?". I thought a little to find something else, but it was so straightforward... And so, here we have it.
Cugisu Lode, Energised Crystals
Please note that "cugisu" is pronounced /tsugisu/ not /kugiso/. Thank you!
Though a bit unoriginal, I am happy with this for how well it fits in the Empire, and for the regulation part.
Prompt 32 - Document
"Write about a famous agreement, contract or treaty that shaped the history of your world."
At first I thought of something between Doujatar Kingdom and the Empire. Unfortunately, they never foughta single war and are relatively far away from each other, divided by the Free Lands. I thought of delving into the past history: maybe the treaties ending the two-hundred war in Doujate or something like that.
Then I thought of a broader declaration, to catch the occasion and introduce my dear Wayfarers and here it goes:
New World Treaty
Prompt 33 - Military Conflict
"Describe the events of a conflict that started due to unusual or unforseen circumstances."
Now this was fun. I decided quickly the parts and the real cause, linkig it to the previous document, but I needed the unusual circumstances. At first I wanted to include a cat (it didn't die, it talked (maybe)), because I love cats. But it was nowhere near as funny as this is.
Not even close.
Dead Sheep War
Final Considerations
Overall I really liked the challenge. It was fun, even when I didn't know what to write. I was new on Worldanvil and only had like, four articles maybe? Now I have more than 30 and thought so much about my world, which grow for sure during this month.
Joining the challenge late, I had no time reading other articles. I could only read so few, and it's a pity. For the next year, I want to dedicate more time to this and take a break to read everyone's entries (ok, maybe not everyone, but at least, like, some).
I thank you for reading this far! If you enjoyed consider supporting me on my new Ko-fi page:
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