What do we know for certain? There's a fight for the succession of the throne, Nick is playing the Queen, Lian is the Cook(?), the King's finger was broken ten years ago, and… are we all starting out in the same room? So we can interact with one another?
Actually, I'm not sure it's necessary to start with more or less contrived geographical closeness. There might be other forms of ties that might serve the same kind of unifying function (…maybe an irony of fate? Two seemingly unrelated events that later bear on each other?)
plus, not necessarily a cook. Maybe I'll go with NPC creation first and then try come up with a chara that would fit in well.
now…seriously…sleep. Eeep.
I thought we were going to create the background before just jumping in. Things such as NPCs, factions, religion, technology, maps, etc. We would need to set such things out for all to read and discuss before we even start a story.
Am I wrong?
OK, Nick said he didn't want to have a monotheistic religion identical to Christianity (but called Mhristianity or something similar). He said he wanted it to be more creative…
Well, I'm here.
Anyway…would be more than glad to generate some ideas about the local religion myself (not right now, I need sleep). I didn't mean to imply I expect it to be an overbearing element of the setting; more just a random detail that popped into my head. I'll say more tomorrow.
And now to bed. I'll be out over the weekendseeing my brother in Chicagobut I'll attempt to check email once or twice.
If Her Majesty the Queen and Master Ferrin would be willing to work together on the basics of religion, I think that would be lovely.
Ah, I will use this thread to unload all my unsorted input and questions which I think we all should think about… Here you go.
About 'states and structures'
We tend to make up worlds that are very similar to our own. That is - the world is structured in states that are situated right next to each other. There is one ruler per state. The borderlines are well defined. The people in the south are dark-skinned, the people in the east are mysterious… Etc, you know what I mean.
Now, somebody who, unlike me, actually knows something about history (glances at Ron-1) can certainly help us to create a "more mature" historically touched fantasy world.
Instead of states, I rather imagine smallish kingdoms that are allied in loose or strong confederations. Depending on history, these confederations could be peacefully entered or merged by force by the strongest family. And if we go by polytheism, I imagine we could even assume that every family (means every noble family, means every realm) might have their own protective deity.
In the matter of cultures -
Well I have all the 'please don't!' comments, right? But, it wasn't me who asked for maturity ;-)
For me maturity in fantasy writing means consistency. That starts, obviously, with building the world. Of course, it's much fun to write about the oh-so-exotic roaming horse people in the steppe of whatsitcalled, praying to the snake god and marrying their daughters to 3 husbands at once. Sounds plausible, after all there are weird horse-riding tribes with nature gods and strange marriage habits in many steppe-like places in the world, no? Doesn't sound plausible, when only a few hundred miles away the people pray to the great goddess of the water, mother of fertility, and don't get married at all.
So - consistency.
There may be more than one religion. There may be more than one marital habit. There may be more than one language. There may be more than one regime. Etc.
How are they linked?
What role does trade play in our world?
Is Threshold connected to other cities by important trade channels, like roads, river, sea?
I was imagining kingdoms also. I'm not sure how smallish, I would think the Kingdom we are in would be a reasonably large to medium Kingdom of the world we're in. Which leads me to….would someone please like to NAME the Kingdom? Threshold is the name of the capital city.
*I* would like the kingdom to have important trade channels…don't care how we do it. But, of course, I'm partial to sea travel.
Simply given the name, "Threshold" — is must be situated at some kind of decisive dividing line. That may be a coast or the transition of one major climatic zone into another or… Plus, given the name&nature, I think it would be resoable to assume it is a big trading hub, which would necessitate an easily accessible geographical location.
(I'll add more once I can get online again.)
ETA: oh em gee, can you tell I've been at uni all day long? The vocab uuuh. … anyways:
Kym — if you want a coastal city, let it be a coastal city. Then — what kind of sea is it situated at? Or rather, what's across the ocean to trade with? Or is it rather a loose alliance of kingdoms/principalities/cities, like a string of pearls along the coastline (and cities with easily accessible land harbours) like the Germanetc. Hanse? (Hanseatic League).
That would be pretty cool.
I was imagining kingdoms also. I'm not sure how smallish, I would think the Kingdom we are in would be a reasonably large to medium Kingdom of the world we're in.
Sorry for not being clear. What I was thinking, was - if a confederation of smallish kingdoms was forced by one of them (the most powerful one that won over the some of them in a couple of battles some generations ago and maybe just intimidated the others), then this kingdom would be in a position to ask tribute and soldiers from the others etc. So maybe it is smallish in territory, but it is rather big in power.
This is what I meant whith 'it's not like states'. It's not just a change of names and ruler. It's a different system altogether. It's very unstable. The 'high king' would have to keep his vassals as his friends but also appear powerful. Otherwise they might break from the confederation or they might lean against him.
This is probably what happened to our late king in Threshold, I assume.
I'd like to second that. The fantasy concept of 'kingdom' to me signals a certain stability (or stagnation, take your pick.) I would rather play in a set-up where political power has to be constantly defended and negotiated (as would be more realistic, IMO.) Both within and without — and not necessarily only with other 'kingdoms', but other power structures as well (half-allied free cities, neutral theocracy, what have you…).
Maybe Threshold is rather small area-wise but its naval power and trading prowess has secured its predominance …until now?
I like Verena/Lian's outlook here. Power and borders both could be slippery things to hold onto.