Welcome to World Ember 2023 Prep. This is an article about my process for getting ready for World Ember and contains my responses to the prep assignments that have been released by World Anvil. This article is specific to the world of The Scattered Lands, not my whole set of worlds, part of my plan is to develop elements of all my worlds rather than focusing on one.
Week One - An Area of Focus
When looking towards World Ember this year, there are many things that I need to consider when choosing an area of focus. The best method for decision will likely be to discuss several areas that could possibly be focus and then furthering this into ideas.
A Note on The Scattered Lands
The Scattered Lands is supposed to be a realm that has been seperated by strange creatures that have been devised by a thing known as Malice. The Spirits of Malice split the world of Gaudra into at least 13 core domains that remain seperated by a powerful magic that still holds stronge after several decades. The world is inspired, at least in part, by the domains of Ravenloft. Not every one of the domains is dark like Ravenloft. So many of these ideas are going to focus on one domain or organisation rather than an idea like the Ancestries. Each Spirit of Malice has taken the form of an artifact or item that is important and refined in the domain in which it is located.
The Carnival & Maelock
The Carnival and Maelock are a domain that is influenced by a necklace which contains this domain's Spirit of Malice. The Carnival contains the Anger of the original carnival memebrs who were outcast from their home because they were different. The nechlace is owned by the current Carnival Master and inmbues them with the anger and corrupting rage of the first Carnival Leader, their corruption can change event the purest of creatures.
This idea of working on The Carnival & Maelock excites me because I have a lot of notes on this domain because I am currently running a campaign in this domain and by the time we get World Ember I will be able to utilise the end of this story to influence the newest variation of The Carnival & Maelock. Additionally, there are many characters with links to other domians.
Castle Blackveil and Kormin
Castle Blacveil and Kormin have strong connections to many other domains and this is meant ot be one of pure pride. Lady Malithan was a vampire who had several vampiric children. Eventually she was killed by the non-vampiric child who killed her in an attempt to save her domain, Kormin, from her reign of terror. Yet, this murder was planned and ended up raising her as a lich, she had also planned for the other child to murder the bloodless and soulless corpses of her other children, her heart is taineted by the pride of her own success,[. As a lich vampire, she is sadistic and farms the souls and blood of her subjects, whilst toying with those who enter her domain.
I like the idea of working on this domain because whilst it has a great variety of things to do, a villain whose life story is amazing and has softer moments at some points in her life. Additionally, this is meant to be a large enough domain that Kormin is one of at least two or three settlements, this gives me a variety of places to deal with as well as creatures and new things withinthe domain.
Additionally, I really like the idrea of using this domain during a TRRPG one shot at some point in the future, if not writing a novel about the non-vampiric child and his adventures before the world was split.
Karys City
Karys City is an idea for a domain that is a magic free area full of steampunk inventors. The magic itself is drained by the Spirit of Malice that stores all of it to power the core of the domain, a powerful engine in the city that changes the night and day of the false sun and moon. This idea focuses on the elements of magic-less creatures and how to develop a steampunk setting . Maybe even combining Da Vinci esque machines with the idea of steampunk. The combination of these ideas would give for a very different style of domain rather than the standard sword and sorcery.
I like this idea to work on because it works against the more traditional magical vibes of most other domains and as such grants a good idea for dealing with it as a TTRPG player. Additionally it adds the question of including the idea of consistent non-magical healing and other elements that can be added to a variety of elements.
The History of Gaudra
Before the world was split, it was called Gaudra the local word for "unity". The historical context is important but as of this moment, is missing from the different domains of this world. How can I consider making any kind of religion? How can I keep track of the old nations that were seperated and their borders completed lost? There's so much extra history and context that can better inform some of the other domains, particularly when looking at their existence before and after the split of Gaudra.
This idea is exciting because it informs everything of the world. It shapes the worlds history and its future. Furthermore, the development of a history opens the opportunity to delve into different factions and their ebbing and flowing power in different regions.
Characters and Spirits of Malice
There are at least 13 primary antagonistic forces in the Spirrits of Malice, artifacts that are spread across each of the domains that have different effects and a primarily emotional core concept. Thi alone gives a lot of content to work on, however then adding in the 13 characters who either possess, utilise or own the Spirits of Malice and are most affected by their emotional change. that gives 26 items of work. Then there are further characters who are indpendent from the domains and work in organisations, or for those who own/possess the Spirits of Malice.
This idea excites me because the world is filled with not only interesting people, but also normal people who are changed by the effects of these possessed artifacts. Taking my time to develop the style and genre of each of these characters first would allow me to have a greater understanding of the types of people that are not only "leading" the domains, but also those who reside within it.
Other Worlds
Tagged below are the articles on my other worlds that I am looking at during World Ember.
Nonvyrox
Emore
Koren'thal
The Scattered Lands
Inspirations for World Ember
Linked in this section are worlds that I am looking further into for inspiration not only for content, but also for styling, prose and organization. I will link the creator of each world's author page, because of their simply excquisite work.
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