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Week 3: Whispers from Home & The Omnium

The heavy doors of the Omnium have finally swung open. Raven & Quill, Issue #3 is live!

This week, we step out of the ashes of the Prologue and into the quiet, breathing present. Chapter 1: Whispers from Home is officially unlocked, marking the true beginning of Krysaalis’s journey.

For the first time, we walk the halls of Vespria’s great archive—specifically the Wing of Tides—and meet Krysaalis not as a refugee, but as a scholar on the edge of a new life.

In this issue, I also discuss the shift from designing a magical library to inhabiting one. I dive into how the "Grand Composition" manifests in the architecture itself—from the amber glow of the Resonance Lamps to the heavy silence of the Sablewood shelves.

Come walk the stacks with me and listen to the echoes of history!

VS

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Diane Duane has recently posted three fascinating essays on the craft of being a writer. Neither of these is a "quick read"; settle down with plenty of time, and maybe some scratch paper.
 

  1. As a writer, it helps us increase our skill in many ways to widely read many genres and topics outside our own primary specialization -- and some works that overlap us. At the same time, we do not want to plagiarize others, not even by accident. Here's how DD manages that: reply to a question posed by Tumblrine "systembomb"
  2. DD's post from 9 November 2025 is a useful guide for writers of many sorts, and also for gamemasters in TTRPG creation and the players of TTRPG characters. She gives advice for writing a character undergoing change -- particularly, a character discovering in an engaging yet natural-feeling way that some of their core beliefs were wrong: reply to a question posed by Tumblrine "finwe77"
  3. My final pick for what feels to me to be a set of Important Study Texts: DD starts with a fellow Tumblrine's reblog of a Twitter conversation on creating memorable characters. (For people with whom I've been nattering in voice chat about this: I'm finally citing a link to the thing with the Three Questions.) Again, I feel that this post on the 11th of November, 2025 is the most universally applicable to all word-based creative efforts here on World Anvil. If I as a player do not know the answers to these three questions in regard to my Character, then I do better to only play them in one-shot adventures -- not in Campaigns.

  I do also think that the experiences of #2 and #3 can, and maybe should, change outcomes over time. If the target character experiences the same "need to change" and result over and over, why do they keep showing up?

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Spooktober #3

The Fallen Angels
Generic article | Sep 30, 2025

Another people/race that have been a part of my world, regardless of genre, for a long time in some form or another.

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Valiant: July Roundup

Hallo all, we're back again for another monthly roundup, and a couple of announcements. First things first - congratulations to all those that participated in Summer Camp! Based on the messages on the community board, it looked like it was a productive month for many of you.   Next - Valiant: Season 2 has concluded. Clocking in at 1.1 million words and 84 episodes, this has been one of the largest projects the red panda has ever embarked on, and he's glad to see it completed - but the story's far from over. Season 3 will commence after Gap Stories: Volume 2 has been written and published, but that will take time, so it's likely that there will be no regular episode drops for a few months. During that gap, he will be working on various other things to fill the void - updating covers for the manuscripts, organizing the Inkiverse homepage, and other QoL adjustments that will help make the Inkiverse content a bit more organized and presentable. We look forward to sharing those with you as those little side projects are completed!   And of course, the monthly update wouldn't be complete without a roundup of the episodes he dropped in the last month. We've included those below - we hope you enjoy them!   Tails #40: Foxtails
Winding down from the completion of their quest, the Drifters turn their attention to the future, and consider the problems of the present.   CURSEd #37: Silver Linings
As the clouds of war gather on the horizon, the Peacekeepers search for the silver linings in their shadow.   Dreaming Draught #24: The Gift of Tongues (Avvi's Version)
A draught with a more literal interpretation of an archaic phrase.   Dreaming Draught #25: Magnetizer
A common party draught that really shouldn't be served to large groups of people, but usually is anyway.   Valiant #48: Shattered
Having entered the Fountain of Souls, Songbird embarks on a task the Masklings have long considered impossible: tracking down the shards of a broken Mask, and returning alive from the land of the dead.     And if you'd like to start from the beginning, the link to Valiant: Season 2 is below!  

[I8] Valiant: Season 2

READ
  Stay frosty,
-Syntaritov
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Just completed article #32 in my first Summer Camp! Keen for August now. ✨ http://bit.ly/4kZd3hG
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Well, just finished article #32, which was my goal going into Summer Camp. Most of the articles I wrote this time are quite short, but enough to satisfy the 300-word requirement. I'm okay with that, as I've been busy with lots of other stuff, and I'm putting a positive spin on it by viewing these short articles as stubs that can be revisited later and inspiration/hooks/plot elements for future stories. I might spend some time in the next few days polishing some or writing one or two more prompts. Hope everyone else has enjoyed their Summer Camp writing!

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Summer Camp article #3

Something a little different to what I normally write.

The Martian Ranger Stetson
Item | Jul 12, 2025

Still struggling with the age old problem of Space Opera or Fantasy. But this was fun to write.

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Valiant: June Roundup

It's that time of month again, and we're back with the red panda roundup for the month of June. We're happy to report that last month was a good, productive month for him, and hopefully the rest of you will be blessed with that same productivity now that Summer Camp's in full swing! As for the red panda, he's currently entertaining relatives for the holiday, so his own productivity will likely be taking a hit. That being said, he'll still aim for wrapping up Season 2 of Valiant this month, if it's within his ability. On that note, here's the episodes he produced last month - we hope you enjoy them!
  CURSEd #36: Joint Operation
In the leadup to the Losinadae assignment, the Peacekeepers struggle with the concessions CURSE will have to make for the sake of the assignment's success.
  Valiant #47: Alliances of Necessity
The Valiant and CURSE launch the joint operation to stop Prophet's genocidal rampage, but soon find they aren't the only ones that have formed an alliance of necessity.
  Tails #39: A Family Matter
Touching down on Tirsigal, the Drifters prepare for the final confrontation with Jazel's sister-in-law.
  Covenant #42: The Story Goes On
With the quest completed, Raikaron begins the long task of wrapping up matters with the involved parties, while Jayta makes the most of the time she has left on the mortal plane.
 
  And if you'd like to start from the beginning, the link to Valiant: Season 2 is below!
 

[I8] Valiant: Season 2

READ

  Stay frosty,
-Syntaritov
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Are you writing for Prompt #3 this week? Here's advice from the judge in what I'm looking for...

From the Judge!
Profession | Jun 30, 2025

I'm spending my time reading your articles - let's make them great!

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There are four days left to back the Kickstarter for "The Blood of Seven Queens" #3-5. Catch-up bundles are available, as are digital-only options. If you're at all interested in comic books or fairy tale mashups or just supporting your fellow Anvilites, please take a look. We've made it halfway, but we need your help to get to the finish line!

Kickstart My Art

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Anyone up to kickstart my art?! The Kickstarter for The Blood of Seven Queens #3-5 is live now and I'd love your support! Check it out !

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Valiant: May Roundup

Hallo all! We've made it through May, with summer opening to us with the start of June. Good luck to all those that will be prepping for Summer Camp, and here's to hoping for a productive month!
  The red panda's been busy; he's closing in on the end of Season 2 of Valiant, and so more work and thought is being put into the final episodes as we chase this Season to its conclusion. This has slowed down his output somewhat, but assuming his current pace holds, Season 2 should be wrapping up in the next 2-3 months, after which he'll be taking a bit of a break as he works on the next Volume of Gap Stories. But that's all future stuff - here and now, we're bringing you the episodes he's produced this last month. We hope you enjoy them!
  Tails #38: Metamorphoxis
With eyes towards their third confrontation with Azra, Raikaron presents a risky gambit to Jazel - one that could raise their chances of victory, but comes with a heavy cost of its own.
  Dreaming Draught #21: Stardust
A draught for those that might want to wear the cosmos about their shoulders.
  Covenant #41: The Road Paved With Good Intentions
While the Drifters work through the aftermath of the ritual, Jayta comes to terms with the sacrifices that have been made to defeat Azra, and Raikaron watches as the pieces of his plan start to fall into place.
  Dreaming Draught #22: Starfreckle
A little something to honor the protagonists of the Valiant series.
  Dreaming Draught #23: The Gift of Tongues
A draught that's worth its weight in gold for those that find themselves on foreign planets with foreign languages.
 
  And if you'd like to start from the beginning, the link to Valiant: Season 2 is below!
 

[I8] Valiant: Season 2

READ

  Stay frosty,
-Syntaritov
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I finished the May-terial challenge!

This challenge was amazing for me!   The four prompts Stormbril came up with were so creative and inspiring, that I couldn’t resist writing something for all of them! The best part is, I got to explore and create in both of my worlds! <3 There are still two days left to dive in, and I highly recommend jumping on these prompts if you haven’t already! Trust me, it’s a blast! Below are my four entries:  

Prompt #1

 
Toxic Salvation
Material | Jul 26, 2025

In the wake of the Cataclysm, lead emerges as a rare shield against the chaos of magic. But with its power comes the unyielding weight of its curse.

 

Prompt #2

 
Gromhalun
Material | May 14, 2025
 

Prompt #3

 
Sanguis Aeternum
Material | Dec 16, 2025

A cursed essence bleeds into shattered lives, whispering through shards, weapons, and wounds that never close.

 

Prompt #4

 
Miraela's Dream
Material | May 27, 2025
  #mayterial #unofficialchallenge
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Happy #Sundog ! Issue # 3 is out! #Storytelling #Art #Comic #Manga #Wildzoo #Animals #Worldbuilding #Summercamp2025

Hello fellow Animals! I said I was going to stop the art part, but I absolutely CANNOT. Its is habitual. Im not mad.. I'm angry! lol
  [/https://www.worldanvil.com/w/wildzoo-velawolf/a/wildzoo3A-keke-s-tall-tails-233-article]Use this link for issue #3
  WILDZOO: Keke's Tall Tails # 3
 
by Vela

  I recommend starting with issue #1

 
 
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Valiant: April Roundup

Hallo all! We're done with the month of April, which has been a busy month for the red panda, since he's officially started his on-call rotation for his IT position (midnight lockout tickets, anyone?). As a result, his sleep schedule has suffered somewhat and along with it, some of the time and focus that are usually reserved for writing. But he's begun to adjust, and a little time and adaptation should be everything that's needed to get things back on track. We've rounded up the episodes he's produced this last month, and hope that we'll have more to bring you next month!
  Dreaming Draught #19: Cheritza
A simple draught, often used as an introductory drink for those that are new to Dreaming draughts.
  CURSEd #35: Media Meltdown
Still reeling from the Nova Incident, CURSE struggles to find their footing in the media firestom to follow.
  Dreaming Draught #20: Pumpkin Spice Raccoon
A draught that happens to be a particular favorite of the Syntaritov family.
  Valiant #46: Defined In Opposition
Despite their victory, tensions remain high among the Valiant in the wake of the Nova Incident.
 
  And if you'd like to start from the beginning, the link to Valiant: Season 2 is below!
 

[I8] Valiant: Season 2

READ

  Stay frosty,
-Syntaritov
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Valiant: March Roundup

Hallo all! The windy month of March has breezed on by, and but it was a spectacularly productive month for the red panda. He managed something he hasn't done in a long while - dropped an episode during each week of the month, for a whopping 5 episodes last month! (Some of them are pretty hefty chonkers, too.) We've rounded those up below for you - we hope you enjoy them!
  Valiant #44: Conciliations
In the aftermath of Songbird's second run of the Phobos Chamber, those that were present find themselves working through the revelations of Songbird's past.
  Tails #37: Tear The Veil
The Drifters confront Azra on Tareya when she comes to collect Andalus, the Blade of Injustice.
  CURSEd #34: The Invitation of Makalu
The Peacekeepers deploy to acquire the third Dragine artifact, but find that they aren't the only ones that plan on seizing it.
  Covenant #40: The Malice of Mortals
While recovering from their second encounter with Azra, Katya Jaskolka visits her children on the Drift, and Raikaron continues to juggle encounters with various representatives of the immortal plane.
  Valiant #45: Turncoat's Elegy
In the darkness of night on Kasvei, the Valiant's raid on CURSE's local storage site brings many secrets to light - but one secret will stand above them all.
 
  And if you'd like to start from the beginning, the link to Valiant: Season 2 is below!
 

[I8] Valiant: Season 2

READ

  Stay frosty,
-Syntaritov
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Valiant: February Roundup

Hallo all! As expected, February was a busy month for the red panda, but he's seen it through and we anticipate he'll have more time on his hands to write during March now that he's laid a few other matters to rest. We've not got much else to report, so with that being said, we've assembled the releases for the past month below - we hope you enjoy them!   CURSEd #32: The Debt Comes Due
Dare does some catching up with Kent, and Whisper comes to regret spying on the Administrator.   Dreaming Draught #17: Liquefaction
A draught that gives new meaning to the phrase 'living waters'.   Dreaming Draught #18: Bubble Hiccup
The Shirley Temple of Dreaming draughts.   Valiant #43: Phobos
The Valiant rookies visit the Phobos Chamber - what was once a rite of passage for the Challengers.     And if you'd like to start from the beginning, the link to Valiant: Season 2 is below!  

[I8] Valiant: Season 2

READ
  Stay frosty,
-Syntaritov
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Just watched the "Rule #34 & World Building" video. Poor Janet, having to swap in schmex and prawns. Great video though!
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Valiant: January Roundup

Hallo all! January's flown by, and has been somewhat unforgiving with all the changes that come with a new year. February is also promising to be difficult, and the red panda is doing his best to hang in there and make it through. As with the prior updates, you can expect his prosiac output to be diminished for the time being, with the hope that at some point this year it'll return to what it once was. With that all being said, we're happy to bring you the releases for the past month - we hope you enjoy them!
  Dreaming Draught #15: Furball
A draught for those that need to add a bit of fluff to their lives.
  CURSEd #32: Turkey Bacon Club
On their way back to the HQ, the Peacekeepers assess their defeat and recent events in the galaxy.
  Covenant #39: The Deals of the Demon Lord
Now traveling aboard the Dandelion Drift, Jayta takes the opportunity to reconnect with her brother, while Raikaron navigates the many agendas of the groups that have an interest in the Drifters.
  Dreaming Draught #16: Frostep
Should you wish to go walking on water, this might just hit the spot, if you can handle the chill.
 
  And if you'd like to start from the beginning, the link to Valiant: Season 2 is below!
 

[I8] Valiant: Season 2

READ

  Stay frosty,
-Syntaritov
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Issue #3 - Free Preview Available Now

Proud to announce that issue #3 of The Blood of Seven Queens is available to order now, with copies shipping in early February. Check out a free 8-page preview here:
 
The Blood of Seven Queens #3
Prose | Feb 21, 2025

The woman in the red riding hood is in a race against time to save her people from an evil which looms large in the west.

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Valiant: December Roundup

Oh goodness.   There's a lot to cover, isn't there? Where to begin... first off, congratulations to all of those that participated in WorldEmber, and well done to those that met their goals! A happy new year is in order as well, and here's to hoping that your resolutions, if they be made, shall be met in the year to come. As for the red panda, well... he caught a promotion to IT, so on top of the recent rehoming, he'll be starting a new job midway through January. All this in the space of less than two months - when life comes at you, it certainly doesn't hold anything back.   He will, of course, continue writing, because that is what he is, and that is what he does. But the slow spell will likely be extended another month or so as he transitions out of his current role and learns the ropes of his new role. You can still look forward to an episode or a draught recipe every weekend, though there may be more of the latter than the former for a little while. Speaking of which - we've rounded up his releases for the past month, and assembled them for you below. We hope you enjoy them!   CURSEd #31: Don't Judge A Book By Its Cover
CURSE's attempt to ambush the Valiant goes sideways when they pursue them into a Library that is far more than what it seems to be on the surface.   Dreaming Draught #14: Flamáne
A draught that'll gently set your hair on fire.   Valiant #42: The Book You Need
Back at Sunthorn, the Valiant take stock of recent developments in the galaxy, Songbird checks in on the Viralix, and Kiwi visits the Inkspell, where she gets an unexpected offer.   Tails #36: Meet The Parents
The Drifters arrive to Rantecevang to answer the summons of Kayenta and Azra's parents.     And if you'd like to start from the beginning, the link to Valiant: Season 2 is below!  

[I8] Valiant: Season 2

READ
  Stay frosty,
-Syntaritov
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River Rush - December Update #3

More WorldEmbering!
  The writing still continues! My 25,000 goal is in sight, but first, Christmas is coming. Shiftrex and I will be traveling for the next couple of weeks with limited internet access, but my iPad is ready to keep drafting while we're away. As soon as we're home and I can get my desktop going, there will be lots of new Isekai content.
  Since last week, I've completed 3 articles with ideas for many more. With a 17 hour drive ahead of me in the next few days, I hope to draft at least 5 or 6 more and surpass the 25k mark by a great deal.
  Continue letting the fires burn and seeing just how far you can go with your imagination! I will see you all in a couple weeks.
  Happy Holidays!
  #RiverRush #IsekaiNews
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Worldember entry #3

Emissaries
Military Formation | Dec 9, 2024

  Thought I'd get another done and dusted. On course to hit the 10k well before the end. Again, not overly happy with the entry but its something I can definitely build on. In all honesty, the world seems a bit of a mess so come January I'm likely to start afresh. At least these Worldember entries provide something I can use again. Only better, hopefully.
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Valiant: November Roundup

Hallo all! The red panda has officially been rehomed, and as expected, that has put a bit of a dent in his writing output over the past month, and we may see that continue another month as he adjusts to the responsibilities of home ownership. All this notwithstanding, he'll continue to write, and we'll continue to bring you the products of his labors. Speaking of which - we've rounded up his releases for the past month, and assembled those for you below - hope you enjoy them!
  Covenant #38: The Torching of Tirsigal
Azra's ruinous plan comes to fruition, and the Gathering calls an emergency assembly in response.
  Dreaming Draught #11: Whisperwalker
A useful draught for anyone that needs to do a spot of sneaking.
  Valiant #41: Location, Relocation
The Valiant visit the Inkspell Library, hoping to convince a former Challenger to relocate to Sunthorn.
  Dreaming Draught #12: Amageryon's Touch
While it is now a popular party drink, this draught was originally intended to serve as a reminder of the dangers of greed.
  Dreaming Draught #13: Wild Child
One of many such draughts that are intended to enable risk-taking behavior.
 
  And if you'd like to start from the beginning, the link to Valiant: Season 2 is below!
 

[I8] Valiant: Season 2

READ

  Stay frosty,
-Syntaritov
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Update #3 - Away for a while!

Update #3 - 1 Dec 2024
Generic article | Dec 1, 2024
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Valiant: September and October Roundup

Hallo all! The last two months have been busy for the red panda, who's in the middle of househunting, and will likely continue to be busy for the next two months or more. He'll continue to write, but his output may be diminished due to current life commitments. That being said, we've rounded up what he's produced during the last two months, and assembled those episodes and draughts for you below - hope you enjoy them!
  Tails #35: I Dream of A Demon Goddess
In the aftermath of Azra's return, the Drifters struggle with the consequences of their failure, and the uncertainty of their future.
  Dreaming Draught #8: Clarity
A must-have draught for anyone running an Iron Liver.
  CURSEd #30: Kenkai Gekku
Dare, Kwyn, and Whisper are deployed to arrest (and then recruit) a former Challenger that's made some interesting career choices since the program was shuttered.
  Dreaming Draught #9: Requarium
The foundational nectar required for brewing all Dreaming draughts.
  Dreaming Draught #10: Vequarium
A distillation of requarium used for amplifying the effects of other draughts.
  Covenant #37: The Ties of Family
In the wake of Azra's centennial, Raikaron and Jayta each explore the tangled ties of family, and the roles that those ties play in their lives and the machinations of higher powers.
  Valiant #40: Apostate
After an unexpected encounter with Prophet, Songbird starts to reckon with his religion and whether their vision of the galaxy is compatible with his.
 
  And if you'd like to start from the beginning, the link to Valiant: Season 2 is below!
 

[I8] Valiant: Season 2

READ

  Stay frosty,
-Syntaritov
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Spooktober entry #3; Big Bird

The Bringer of The Storms
Generic article | Oct 21, 2024

  Really hoping I can get the minimum done before the challenge ends
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Spooktober#3

My second favourite cryptid
 
BLAIDDS
Generic article | Oct 8, 2024
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River Rush - September Update #3

It has been a quiet couple weeks here, the creativity literally dragging its feet as I tried to finish anything at all. With a little bit of writing each day, I was finally able to finish one article this month, but I think it was worth it.
  Here's my entry for the Institutions of Learning challenge, barely finished in time to write this post today.
Academy of the Scroll
Organization | Sep 25, 2024

The Academy of the Scroll is one of many schools of magic on the Northern Continent recognized by the High Council of the Arcane, but it is by far the most free-thinking, its curriculum far more wide and diverse than any other.


  This month has been a hard one for creativity but I'm excited to try again in October hopefully with Spooktober. Shiftrex may be joining me for the event with some pixel art so keep an eye out for whatever shenanigans await us in Isekai.
  #RiverRush #IsekaiNews #InstitutionsofLearning
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Valiant: August Roundup

Hallo again! September has commenced and we're here once more with another Valiant roundup. During August, the red panda managed to recover from July's busy-ness, and as a result, we're back with a full slate of episodes and a draught to go with it - hope you enjoy them!   CURSEd #29: Temptation
With Dare gone to visit family for the new year, Whisper and Kwyn remain at the HQ while dealing with the fallout of the assignment on Avvikerene.   Tails #34: Azra Guile...
Having tracked the Daughters of Azra to Balmorrah with the help of Medukat, the Drifters prepare to rescue Kayenta from the compound of cultists, and the ritual therein.   Covenant #36: ...The Ninetailed Tyrant
Jayta and Raikaron attend Azra Guile's centennial celebration in the Eye of the Maelstrom.   Dreaming Draught #7: Smugmug
A booster for those that could use a bit of confidence, and a bad idea for those that already have plenty of it.   Valiant #39: Dizzy Little Circles
The Valiant return to Halomor, and discover a surprising ally in their struggle against CURSE.     And if you'd like to start from the beginning, the link to Valiant: Season 2 is below!  

[I8] Valiant: Season 2

READ
  Stay frosty,
-Syntaritov
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Ask the Bard #3: MOAR Red Herrings, Faction Fractions, and Archetypes, Maybe?

This week's third installment of Ask the Bard (my weekly World-building Wednesday column on Substack) delves into red herrings that are not in the movie Clue, as well as the complications of multiple factions and whether or not I plan to ever cover character archeyptes.

Read it all on Substack!

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Valiant: July Roundup

Hallo all! Hope Summer Camp's was as productive as they hoped and wished for! Over here at the Neko Cafe, we're back with the Valiant roundup for July. Life has demanded a lot from the red panda in the last month, but he's remained hard at work, making sure to get out a little bit of writing every day, even if it's only a few paragraphs. We've listed last month's releases below - hope you enjoy them!   Dreaming Draught #4: Nostalgia
A draught that can be enjoyed on its own, or used as an element in other draughts.   Dreaming Draught #5: Spitfire
A draught that'll put some pep in your step and fire in your saliva.   Dreaming Draught #6: Candor (Syntaritov Variant)
A favored choice for spies and interrogators the galaxy over.   Covenant #35: The Invitation
After returning from the Old City, Jayta and Raikaron settle back into life in Sjelefengsel.     And if you'd like to start from the beginning, the link to Valiant: Season 2 is below!  

[I8] Valiant: Season 2

READ
  Stay frosty,
-Syntaritov
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WOOT WOOT! I only Planned on completing 16 articles for Silver but I managed to hit 32 and the Diamond Mark!

Here is My page for all my articles:  
Summer Camp 2024 (Articles)
Generic article | Sep 5, 2024
  I was trying to finish Article #33 "A character that transformed" with my article "Maevris Black" but I did not finish this article in time before they pulled the Prompts Oh well 32 is still double what I expected.  
Maevras Black
Character | Aug 4, 2024
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Published article #32 for SC24, so I managed to meet my Diamond badge goal. Yay!

Just finished article #32, so I managed to meet my Diamond badge goal! Yay! Most of my SC24 articles have been pretty short this time, but I've been pretty busy working on my mapmaking app and taking care of real life stuff. I think these articles will provide some hooks for future stories and articles, though, so I'm fine with them not being fully worked out yet. I might work on a couple more prompts, but I don't have any good ideas for the prompts I didn't write, at least so far, so I may not. I think I will do a map for Sunrise Point, the town I wrote an SC24 article for, using my mapmaking app. The app is working pretty well, but performance on maps over about 2K resolution isn't good (on my desktop computer, which is pretty capable), so I need to work on that. I hope I can improve the performance, but given the way I designed the app, that might be challenging. I am hoping to match the performance of Wonderdraft, but as of now, my app is much slower for large maps. I think by the end of August or so, I will open up the Github repository so people can download the source, build it, and run it. Downloadable executables, installer, help files, etc. will come later, but I hope by the end of the year.
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River Rush - Summer Camp Update #3

This week has been a bit slower with prompts as real life gets more busy. Currently, I'm more than on track for Diamond but that feral 40 is calling my name.
  Hoping to knock out more prompts this week, even while driving to my first renaissance festival!
  I've been keeping track of all of my completed Summer Camp articles here:
Summer Camp 2024
Generic article | May 22, 2025

RiverFang's Summer Camp 2024 journey!


  Hope the writing is going well for everyone and goals are being met, no matter how small!
  #RiverRush #IsekaiNews #SummerCamp
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Summer Camp Entry #3

Got a surge of inspiration and managed to get this article done and submitted. This is a new version of a character who has been around a long time yet I have struggled to find a place for. This new world I am working on seems to be allowing me to fit in the characters I have always wanted to be a part of the story.
 
Mam Fran
Rank/Title | Jul 14, 2024
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Valiant: June Roundup

Hallo all! We're back again with the Valiant roundup for June, and we hope Summer Camp's been going well for everyone! The red panda's been a little busy with life over the past month, but that didn't keep him from gracing us with a few episodes and draught recipes. We've listed those for you below - hope you enjoy them!
  Covenant #34: The Ocean of Souls
Raikaron and Jayta embark on the final leg of their journey through the Old City.
  Dreaming Draught #2: Unicorn Vomit
Don't worry, it's not as bad as it sounds.
  Tails #33: To Kill A Raven
Milor and Jazel go on a boys' trip to Charisto to speak with one of the Four Ravens, and request assistance with tracking down the Daughters of Azra.
  Dreaming Draught #3: Sunbasker
The sensation of being a cat lying in a sunbeam - captured in a bottle.
  Valiant #38: Tic Toc (Timestop)
The Valiant host a funding conference at Drill's estate, but an unexpected guest crashes the proceedings.
 
  And if you'd like to start from the beginning, the link to Valiant: Season 2 is below!
 

[I8] Valiant: Season 2

READ

  Stay frosty,
-Syntaritov
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Beware the Creeping Rot!

This is prompt #3 for #SummerCamp. I've been enjoying the darker side of the prompts this time which allows me to explore the darker sides of Tiburon, which I've thoroughly enjoyed.
 
Creeping Rot
Condition | Jul 4, 2024

A grotesque fungal infection causing massive mental and physical changes

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Valiant: May Roundup

Hallo all! We return to you again with the Valiant roundup for May. The red panda's been on a hot streak as the summer cranks up, and so we've got a full slate of episodes to deliver in this update - we've listed them for you below. Hope you enjoy them!
  CURSEd #27: The Lies We Wear
While reposing at the house of a kind stranger, Dare, Kwyn, and Whisper discover and contemplate some uncomfortable truths about themselves.
  Tails #32: Life-Time Discount
The Drifters visit Laiquedux, a Rantecevangian colony, in search of the Tinkerbelles.
  CURSEd #28: Avvi, Avvi
After escaping from Sundew, the trio continue on their mission - but Sundew and her thralls remain close behind as Dare, Kwyn, and Whisper struggle to come to terms with the revelations of Avvikerene.
  Valiant #37: The Types of Loyalty
The Valiant visit Kasvei to pick up new recruits, one of which has a considerable public following.
  And if you'd like to start from the beginning, the link to Valiant: Season 2 is below!
 

[I8] Valiant: Season 2

READ

  Stay frosty,
-Syntaritov
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Valiant: April Roundup

Hallo all! We're back again with the roundup for April, and we've got an exciting update in this one. It looks like the red panda left us another three episodes this past month, and a new project: The Dreaming Draughtbook. There's a little more on that and what it is down below, but for now, here's the Valiant releases for this past month!   Tails #31: Statistically Unfair
In the aftermath of Kaya's kidnapping, the Drifters scramble to find leads, and prepare for her rescue.   CURSEd #26: Avvikerene
Dare, Kwyn, and Whisper arrive at Avvikerene, a curiously paradisiacal world restricted by the Colloquium.   Covenant #33: The Daughters of Maugrimm
On their way to reaching the Ocean of Souls, Jayta and Raikaron acquire a traveling companion, and discuss the nature of souls.   Draught #1: Dreamshare
A little something for those that want to hang out even when they're asleep.   The Dreaming Draughtbook is a little bit of worldbuilding that delves into draughts - magical drinks brewed in the Dreaming. They occasionally feature in the Valiant series, and the red panda's used them from time to time in tabletops and roleplays. After accumulating a number of different draughts over the years, our fluffy historian realized that it would be an excellent idea to collate them all in one place, format them properly, and give them some flavor and context to flesh them out. And on weeks where he isn't able to drop a Valiant episode, he can instead release one of these draughts to make up the gap. (Most Valiant episodes clock in with a wordcount somewhere between 8k and 12k, and what with work and other commitments, sometimes it's just not possible to drop an episode every week.)   This month we'll be leaving the link to The Dreaming Draughtbook below!  

The Dreaming Draughtbook

READ
  Stay frosty,
-Syntaritov
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Book Progress Update #3 (and some other updates)

Hello everyone,
  First off, I just want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who voted for me in the #WAWA2024. I'm genuinely touched to have been included on the shortlists. Honestly, writing is something I do in my spare time, and I entered the competition just for a bit of fun. To discover that people genuinely appreciate my work is both exhilarating and a bit surreal. I'm overjoyed and deeply grateful, especially to be recognized alongside such incredibly talented creators. Thank you all so much! :)
  Now, onto the book updates. The last few weeks have been particularly hectic at work, which has meant slower progress on the book front—I've reached about 125 pages. It's not as much as I hoped, but I've also taken some time to revisit earlier chapters. I've been tweaking the pacing, correcting errors, and refining parts of the narrative to ensure it flows better.
  Looking ahead, things should be a bit quieter at work this week, which means I can dedicate more time to the book and further develop the world of Nexarium Arcanis (that title is still a work in progress). I've brainstormed several new concepts that I'm excited to explore within our cosy little Grimdark Galaxy.
  Thank you once again for all the support and positivity you've sent my way. I hope you all have a wonderful week. Looking forward to sharing more soon!
  Warm wishes,
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Valiant: March Roundup

Hallo once more! March has been a little more forgiving than the first two months of the year, and the red panda was able to cough up another three episodes this past month. We've managed to pry them out of his fuzzy little mitts, and have arranged them for you here on this roundup. Hope you enjoy them!
  Tails #30: The Drifter Deposition
The Vaunted Enclave on Soiruxia takes witness depositions from four of the Drifters.
  Covenant #32: The Hounds of Winter
Raikaron and Jayta's journey continues, but it is not without complications and hardship.
  Valiant: #36: The Fountain of Souls
A raid on a Maskling planet prompts the Valiant to initiate the first DIRT deployment in over a decade.
  And if you'd like to start from the beginning, the link to Valiant: Season 2 is below!
 

[I8] Valiant: Season 2

READ

  Stay frosty,
-Syntaritov
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World-Building Thoughts #3 - Crafting Living Traditions

As #WAWA2024 unfolds, I've taken the plunge and submitted a selection of my lore articles. I don't expect to win much, but that's not really my goal—participation itself is a rewarding experience, not least for the visibility it brings to one's work sometimes. This occasion has prompted me to reflect on the themes and topics that attract me as a world-builder. Today, I want to delve into an aspect of world-building that particularly fascinates me: Traditions.   Traditions are not just background elements. Quite the opposite, crafting fictional traditions is an exercise that tests a world-builder's skill over a range of topics: history, cultural evolution, and the development of ethnicities, to name a few. To really get into what a tradition is, one has to ask themselves several questions. For example:  
  • - What are the origins of this tradition?
  • - Why did it begin, and how has it evolved over time?
  • - Has it spread to neighboring cultures, and if so, how has it been adapted?
  • - What meanings do contemporary societies attach to this tradition, and how have these interpretations shifted through the ages?
  These questions highlight the dynamic nature of traditions—they evolve, adapt, and sometimes merge with others, much like languages or species. A classic example from our own world is the Christmas tree, an element that blends pagan and Christian traditions. And why people celebrate the resurrection of a messiah by painting chicken eggs is, of course, another rabbit hole....   When breaking down traditions for inclusion in our worlds, it's useful to think about their components: the origin and associated folklore, how they were adapted into the broader cultural milieu, and the evolution of their meaning and symbolism to contemporary participants.   This exploration of traditions in world-building is not just an academic exercise. The goal is always creating "artificial authenticity", since we want to mimic an evolution that hasn't actually happened, reflecting the complex interplay of history, belief, and identity.   But that's just food for thought, I neither have all the answers, or even all the questions. I'm curious to hear from other creators: How do you approach the creation of traditions in your worlds? Do you follow a similar methodology, or have you developed another way of approaching it?   (Here, I would like the highlight an example of my own work, that follows this methodology and sparked my thoughts for this little blog post. It is just an example, showcasing how a tradition can grow and evolve, influencing and being influenced by the cultures that celebrate it.)  
Bow to the Harvest
Tradition / Ritual | Apr 11, 2024

The 'Bow to the Harvest' is a two-day festival in Morvathia on the 27th of Wyndvahl and the 1st of Arnōt, celebrating the bounty of the land and the cycles of life.

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Caturday Reads #3

A header depicting a blue tiger with pink details, holding a grey smartphone, with the text 'caturday reads'.
by Nimin N.

  Happy Caturday!
  How's your week been? Mine's been less than great but trying to scrape by as well as I can. Had to skip last saturday because I've just been way too sick. For the same reason, I kept this week's reading light. Let's get straight to it:
  I want to showcase another favorite from a fellow #Traveller, Elizabeth Trkova. One of their SC'23 entries about a condition that, while bad, may be a blessing in disguise protecting them from something worse.
Ina Sakhu
Condition | Jul 31, 2023

  Next up is from last World Ember, written by Catoblepon. I'm cheating a little here as I didn't exactly need to re-read it, but I really like their stuff for Daeliha.
Dryad
Species | Dec 19, 2023

A dryad is a magical representation of the forest they live in, whom life is tied to the tree used in their summoning.


  Last one is by Jason Milliken, a really nice read and I liked a lot how the different paths were presented so succintly.
Spiritualist
Profession | Mar 23, 2023

 
  #CaturdayReads #ShareTheLove #ReadingJournal #ReadingList
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The Brainfart Chronicles, Issue #3

I don't think I've mentioned it here, but few months ago I rebooted my old newsletter, The Brainfart Chronicles (using a new platform). Every couple of weeks I send out an issue about stuff I'm working on, new product releases, sales, crowdfunding campaigns, and all the usual "buy my stuff" information--including the occasional discount code or special deal. Then I try to make all the schilling worth wading through by giving brief reviews of things I'm watching or reading and any other potentially entertaining random thoughts I've had since last time.
  If you're interested in my brain droppings, you can read the archives (including from the previous version of the newsletter) and sign up at buttondown.
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Valiant: January and February Roundup

Hallo all! The beginning of the year's kept the red panda busy, so January and February are getting bundled into a single roundup. It looks like he was able to crank out four episodes over the past two months, and we've listed them below for you, along with a synopsis for each one. Hope you enjoy them!   Tails #29: S(Elf)less
The Drifters receive an unexpected request for help while collecting samples of an invasive species.   Covenant #31: The Old City
Jayta and Raikaron begin their long journey through the grey twilight of the Old City.   Valiant #35: Preparations
Now that the Valiant have full control of the Bastion and its systems, preparations begin for their next tour of the galaxy.   CURSEd #25: The Cruelty of Children
Dare and Kwyn work on harnessing his Spark, while Whisper is troubled by an upcoming assignment.   And if you'd like to start from the beginning, the link to Valiant: Season 2 is below!  

[I8] Valiant: Season 2

READ
  Stay frosty,
-Syntaritov
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Valiant: December Roundup

Happy new year, all! The red panda is starting 2024 strong - December was a productive month, in spite of the holidays and work. It looks like he left us three episodes under the tree for the merry month, and we've listed them below for you, along with a synopsis for each one. Hope you enjoy them!   CURSEd #24: Mixed Signals
Back at the CURSE HQ, Dare and Whisper deal with the consequences of concealing his Spark.   Covenant #30: The Gates of Hell
With the Witchling's memory secured, Raikaron and Jayta prepare to embark on their journey to the Old City.   Valiant #34: Be Careful What You Wish For
Kiwi and Songbird find out the hard way that Sunthorn's unusual resident is much more than what he appears to be on the surface.   And if you'd like to start from the beginning, the link to Valiant: Season 2 is below!  

[I8] Valiant: Season 2

READ
  Stay frosty,
-Syntaritov
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Valiant: October Roundup

Hallo all! We're a little late this month due to a post-Halloween sugar coma, but we're back with a roundup of the Valiant episodes the red panda stashed in his candy hoard last month - we've listed them below for you, along with a synopsis for each one. Hope you enjoy them!   Tails #27: Kaldt Fjell‌
‌The Drifters tour Redleaf, while Jazel and his mother visit Kaldt Fjell, the mountain of the witches.   Covenant #28: The Claim‌‌
The Congress winds down to its conclusion, but one final surprise is in store for the closing conference.   CURSEd #23: Laughing Matters
The Peacekeepers meet at Grayspur, the original site of the Songbird Incident, to escort the Dragine artifact back to the HQ.   Valiant #33: The Gift of Hate
Songbird teaches the new recruits about firearms safety, encounters Kori, and reflects on his upbringing.   And if you'd like to start from the beginning, the link to Valiant: Season 2 is below!  

[I8] Valiant: Season 2

READ
  Stay frosty,
-Syntaritov
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The Very Endmost Point of Haly's Summer Camp

Summer Camp Ultra Finish!

First and foremost, let me give a great big congratulations to GM Drake for writing such an outstanding article that it became the measure against which all others in its category (#37, Document, An Important Announcement from One to Many) were held, The First Global Broadcast of the CSS ft. Dusty Runeshine.

Freeman Krayvuk

GM Drake
     
"I like knowing the space between my ears is immeasurable" - Bryan Fuller   Check out what's between my ears -
Konran - Summer Camp Articles - Reading Challenge

 
The First Global Broadcast of the CCS ft.Dusty Runeshine
Document | Jul 30, 2023

"Music is a divine gift that deserves to be shared with all. Through the Crystal Communication System, we shall send our songs to every corner of the world, uniting hearts with melodies." | Dusty RuneShine

When I submitted my feedback to the judges, I wrote, "I mean...it is just so clear that THIS was THE article that this writer cared about, from the amount of work that went into just writing that many words, to the stellar artwork, the story, and for holy heckins there is a PLAYLIST of the broadcast! And as a bonus...steampunk otter!!! Hands down, my favorite part is the uniqueness of choosing a radio broadcast."

First and foremost, I love it when I'm offered a theme, and then someone twists it in a new and creative way. The first time I used the document template on World Anvil, I was STUNNED at how broadly the term "document" was interpreted.

And I have a special and specific love for radio and music as documentary devices. While I love parchment and ink, they don't travel into space. Radio does. And art -- including music -- is a much better measure of a people than history (IMO). Art has the power to change people in a way that history can rarely touch.

Beyond all of this...as an immersive writer, I can recognize when something you didn't realize was going to be a Universal Key...suddenly becomes just that and it Ties Everything Together and the flow state kicks in and the words come pouring out of your fingertips like they were simply born straight from the electrical pulses in your brain into the memory core of the World Anvil servers. These pieces are transformative. These pieces are transcendent. These pieces are deserving of all the recognition they can be fairly given.

Finally...heckin's amaze-balls steam-punk space otter DJ, mate.... It's like he read my wish list to Santa. But this was just the cherry on top of the beautiful Radio Rocket Steampunk Sundae that is this article.

Next, I want to give yet another shout-out to E. Christopher Clark. In fairness to everyone who was not expecting prompts 41 and 42, and who still chucked in and wrote them with only hours before the end of Summer Camp...I chose the winner of prompt #41 (Organization, Group Dedicated to Keeping A Secret) randomly. I scrolled up and down the page of submissions until my younger son, Noble, said stop. Then, Hippie rolled a d12, and that place on the page was the winner.

Sage eccbooks

E. Christopher Clark
           

 
Tenebris
Organization | Nov 25, 2025

Tenebris is a secret society in the Clarkwoods Literary Universe which is dedicated to keeping secret the nature of reality.

I always love it when esoteric words inspire An Entire Thing. It makes me happy deep down in the pit of my solar plexus. Especially because I knew already what tenebris meant from way back in the olden days when Mark and I were writing spycraft stories together. Sigh! Those were the days, and reading this was a surprisingly refreshing flashback. And while our tenebris was not protecting White Block Secrets as Chris's is, I can say we were role-playing it on AOL, so...one can see the immediate connection.

Are You A Completionist?

I am!

And because of it, I wrote for all 42 prompts during Summer Camp. And, because that didn't take up enough of my time, I also made this spiffy Platinum Towel badge for everyone who, like me, just couldn't let it go!

After all, how were we supposed to ignore the call of sweet knowledge? If 42 is the answer to life, the universe, and everything, then surely we owe it to ourselves and to the world to do our best to strive for that answer whenever the opportunity presents itself.

Even if we have to create a world in order to figure out those answers.

Summer Camp 2023 Platinum Towel 42/42
Summer Camp 2023 Platinum Towel 42/42
by Haly, the Moonlight Bard/Canva

Just When We Thought We Were Done...

Dot...dot...dot...

Along came Dimi and gave us two more prompts, right at the end of the month-long journey that is World Anvil Summer Camp. And because we are

completionists


we wrote them. All of them. All 42 of them.

We wrote until our brains were numb. We wrote until the words dribbled out of our bleeding fingertips. We wrote way too late at night, and way too early in the morning. We wrote in the interval of shows. We wrote in the park, and in the hotel, and in the car. Some of us even wrote on the plane, and in the loo, and in the bath.

But in the end, we got it done: a bare minimum of 12,600 new words in our world-building projects. And for that monumental achievement...we deserve this digital doodad.



Claim this badge if you answered all 42 prompts for Summer Camp 2023 using [imgblock:4791498] or [img:4791498].


 

My Own Summer Camp

I've said it so much already, but I'm going to say it again, here. This summer has been a huge bushel of growth and achievement and taking big risks. I've developed my world, I've developed my writing, I've developed a writing circle, I've developed friendships.

For Summer Camp, I wrote all 42 prompts, 40 of them as actual competition pieces. (I was judging 2 of the prompts.) I'm pleased to say that one was shortlisted, and one placed! So much love to Chris L and Lexi Con (WordiGirl). Not only are these two writers who I admire, and people who are quickly becoming friends, but they are incredible peers who shone a light on my work this Summer Camp!

In addition, I want to give an ENORMOUS shout-out to everyone who read my work for their Summer Reading Challenge! So many of you gave me such wonderful feedback, asked insightful questions, and sent me sooo muuuuch loooove that I'm overflowing with all of the feels. Legit, I occasionally just break into tears when I stop to think about how this community has embraced me and my weird little world of waterlogged wiseacres.


Shortlisted by Chris L
Satyan Windblown
Character | Mar 14, 2024

Placed for Lexi Con (WordiGirl)
Summer Camp Wrap and Reading Challenge
Generic article | Aug 19, 2023

My Summer Reading Challenge

Coming Soon to Patreon...

Based on his wonderful popularity, I think that Victor the Vermin will be the new featured artwork on my Patreon merch at the Full Moon level. Right now, I'm planning to have a new Victor piece with the same "Eat the Rich, Devour the Truth" slogan, exclusively for stickers, mugs, tees, and hoodies. (Currently, all of my Patreon and Ko-fi support is going toward upgrading my WA membership.)

Don't Forget...Twitch Streams M-F!

Co-work with me at Twitch.tv/MoonlightBard every weekday (Monday through Friday) from 4-6 pm Eastern. Together, we'll accomplish those big tasks in small bites! We normally work in 20-minute intervals, then we have a planned break to stretch-empty-refill, then play a game for a few minutes before going back to work. It's a play on the oft-used pomodoro technique. I find it to be a great way go get through (most of) my ADD struggles and actually get things done!

So, bring your world-building, your writing, your fiberwork, your homework, your term paper, your laundry, or those veggies you need to prep, and let's make some progress, 20 minutes at a time!

Oh, and My Newsletter!

Just like you, I'm more than my World Anvil. (Though, it is a big part of me!) So if you enjoy what I give you here, there's so very much more waiting for you in my "What's Good?" Newsletter!! If you enjoy things like board games, recipes, my great photos, interesting tidbits about words (such as a list of 20 amazing collective nouns for animals), and occasionally knowing where I'll be making convention and event appearences, then head to MoonlightBard.com and sign up now! (You should get a pop-up, but if not, then there is a simple form at the bottom of the home page!)

Until next time, friends...take care of yourself, and take care of each other!

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Plans for 2023

Welcome to 2023, everyone!
  The year has started and with it changes: some strengths, some caution from 2022 lessons, and some new ideas and plans for the Old Worlds.
  I prepared a handful of things I want to do this year:
 
Plan #1 is to post a monthly update to organize my work and life a little bit.
Plan #2 is to plan one month ahead: the goals will not be big and I will have a clear stand on whether I take part in a challenge/competition or not.
Plan #3 is to organize Ædeos to the point it's user-friendly and navigable.

  The January update will be coming late, maybe at the end of the week, but you can expect some info regarding the New Year Resolution challenge. Reading is always fun and learning new things is always a good way to start a new year.
  Stay safe and have fun worldbuilding!
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WE status report #3 - 15k reached

I took a break from writing the last days but finally finished the advent calendar article about the species living in a cold area. ^^ ... Also, a crap-ton of new spellbook articles, being now with the project at 9/36 articles for the non-heritage spellbook! :D
  Ice-Wyrms - The heat-seeking predators of all that are warmer than them.
Ice-Wyrms
Species | Dec 14, 2022

Ghostly draconic wyrms made of ice are roaming the sky.

Spellbook entry: Omnilingualists
Omnilingualism // Friend to all Things
Spell | Mar 30, 2023

An ally to the unliving, a friend to the elements.

Spellbook entry: Gravicers
Gravity // Flight
Spell | Aug 23, 2023

Gravity isn't broken, I am just me messing around with it.~

Spellbook entry: Accelors
Speed // Friction
Spell | Jan 15, 2024

The speedsters of Prius, what unlucky folks.


  The 25k are still possible, but I won't force myself to reach that milestone. It all depends on life and how things go. Stay tuned ^^
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More worldbuilding for Short Story #3

So, a bit confounded due to some slow going with plotting and writing Short Story #3 (I seem to be struggling to get into a narrative state of mind this evening!), I decided to help get some inspiration going by fleshing out another thing readers will see in that story - the Triumph Gate, the gate into and out of the Mesa City section of Var Kalriv.
  There's a bit of Ishtar Gate/ancient Babylon influence here, but I like how this panned out. It won't be in the story for a *huge* amount of time, but it was fun to write!
  As with every article related to planning short stories, very subject to change, and not considered a complete work, but one I liked enough to share anyway.
 
Triumph Gate
Building / Landmark | Oct 8, 2022
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I tried to write a short story, I built a religion instead...

Well that's not entirely true. The religion was always there, but it wasn't anywhere near as flashed out or released to the public as now.
  So for preparation for Short Story #3, I had decided to flesh out a few elements of the setting. After getting quite a bit of mileage out of fleshing out the location of the story, I ended up building a whole building article out of it which I released as an evolving document of sorts.
  Well, I did it again. The story is set in the Kalriv Empire and I wanted to flesh out some of the elements of the Solar Faith, the religion of the Kalriv (without spoiling much, it's pretty integral to the short story). And I basically wrote enough about the religion to have it practically qualify for a short story of its own. I'm pretty pleased with it so I decided I would make it public for folks to read! The caveat of course is that this is an evolving document, so it may have gaps and things may change, sometimes drastically.
  I hope you enjoy!
 
Solar Faith
Organization | Oct 1, 2022
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CASUAL COMMUNITY CHALLENGE #3

It's time once again for another casual community challenge! The casual community challenge is exactly what is sounds like— a low-stakes worldbuilding challenge where the goal is simply to get inspired, and have fun! To participate, all you need to do is write something inspired the prompt, and post a link to your article or story in the comments of this post!
  All entries will be shared in the post for the next challenge! If you want to discuss your article, and ask for feedback or advice, you can do so in my discord server!
 

Prompt for September-October

Everyone is afraid of something. Write about something that someone, somewhere, in your world is afraid of! This could be another person, a place, a concept, or their own past.
  Whatever you choose, just make sure to include what someone fears! It could be something feared by a single person, or even something feared by a culture or faith. We'll run through November 1st! But if you're late, there's no worries— you can still comment below and I can add your prompt to the list!
 

Entries from CCC #2

The last challenge unfortunately has fallen into the void because I went dummy mode and didn't save the link anywhere...I didn't know journal posts disappeared after a while! Apologies to those who submitted, this won't happen again!
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New location article / Short Story #3 underway

Alrighty so it's been a few weeks since I wrapped up Liberty's Rise - I've been spending a lot of the time since then kind of brainstorming ideas for a third short story and doing outlining for the novel storyline.   I've decided to jump into the third short story a lot faster than the gap between first and second, as I want to keep that momentum going. It will be another story in the Kalriv Empire, but this time from a very different setting to the plight of the slaves in Liberty's Rise. I'm envisioning it being somewhere between Desert Rescue and Liberty's Rise in terms of length. From there I'm aiming to segue into novella territory in time for NaNoWriMo - which I think may be a nautical adventure.   For now, here's a sneak peek of what I'm cooking up - the setting of Short Story #3, the Venderan Ziggurat, the governmental and spiritual centre of the Kalriv Empire. I plan to evolve this article organically as I write the story, so it's by no means finished and subject to adjustment (describing a ziggurat is going to be a challenge!)   Enjoy!  
Venderan Ziggurat
Building / Landmark | Nov 9, 2024
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vssCollab's zine -- In Threads Issue No. 3 + Read Aloud Event

I can't believe the vssCollab Twitter length prompt story challenge is in it's 8th month and we have another zine issue witing in the wings for you all! I love seen the stories emerge tweet by tweet.
 
In Threads Issue #3 releases Friday, August 26!
We can't wait for you to read these exceptional stories!


  Where to find it:
In Threads Zine Issues
Generic article | Sep 28, 2023

An epic collection of flash-fiction by select authors, indie creators, and TTRPG designers participating in our monthly vssCollab prompt challenge.


 

READ ALOUD EVENT
Friday, August 26, 6-9PM CDT at https://www.twitch.tv/shyredfox. We're reading best vssCollab stories from the May-Aug challenges and In Threads zine issue #3 to you!
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August Reading with Lavani #3

"Vor Ophor is an artificial intelligence that the travels across Instances. Seems familiar. Love his pocket instances that double as a library!" - Lavani
Vor Ophor
Character | Jul 26, 2022

Lavani is a collector of stories. She would love to read about your world. You can submit Summer Camp articles for her to read by leaving a comment on her Reading List here on World Anvil.

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My Bronze Prompts all Together!

Gathered all together for easy reading, I hope they inspire you to reach your Summer Camp goals!
 
PROMPT #1
Mount Olympus
Geographic Location | Jul 6, 2022
PROMPT #2
The Hesperides
Organization | Mar 23, 2023

 
PROMPT #3
Ourea Basilisk
Species | Jul 8, 2022
PROMPT #4
Peddler Wagon
Vehicle | Jul 7, 2022

 
PROMPT #5
Gritty Bazaar
Settlement | Jul 31, 2022
PROMPT #6
Lemon Juice
Material | Jul 14, 2022

 
PROMPT #7
The Peddlers
Ethnicity | Mar 16, 2023
PROMPT #8
Lemon Cream
Tradition / Ritual | Jun 23, 2023
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Vreathe Worldbuilding Update #3 - Summer Camp and stuff

I already wrote 6 articles (5 of them in Vreathe) and roughly 10,000 words for Summer Camp prompts, which is 6 more than last year! The ones that take place in Vreathe are starting to tell a story on the side, following two major characters in my world. I hope to complete this phase of their stories with summer camp prompts by the end of the month. The completed articles are:
 
  • The Olimian wastes
  • Aetheric Dragon
  • Therians
  • Dragon Fruit
  • Moissanite Crystals

    •   I also have three more Element articles: Magnesium, Aluminum, and Silicon. I got the idea for the Moissanite crystals when I was writing the Silicon article (Moissanite is a naturally occurring form of Silicon Carbide), so my decision to research the chemical elements is paying off.
      That aside, I only managed to write one article for my sci-fi world this month, and it isn't very sci-fi-y. The Argen-Vevari Line is a high speed mag lev train that runs between two major cities. Trains are used on the Planet Collena due to plants and animals living in the sky, and its magnetic mountains. I think I'm burned out of sci-fi still...maybe the next writing challenge will fix that?
      Also, here's my main Summer Camp tracker if anyone is interested. It has links to all the articles I linked here already, and a few extra stats::
    Summer Camp 2022
    Generic article | Oct 26, 2023

    My SC article with goals and a progress tracker

    10
    #

    Leno's worldbuilding week report #3

    This past week has been quite quiet. At least partially.
      I have begun work on my -- currently named -- League of Lamatshu who -- among other things -- abduct Anishans and conduct experiments on them. However, they still need some work.
      It was put on the layside as I began a roleplay session with fellow WA Worldbuilder TrashynDha. A crossover event between his work and mine. Where a group of soldiers finds themselves in Varldstan Niarem and comes into contact with an Anishan with a WW2 Theme. It is important to note that the article below is, for all intents and purposes, a rough draft, and not all roleplay texts have been written down yet, as it is still ongoing.
    Strangers in Niarem - Prose
    Generic article | May 4, 2022

      I did write and publish one article last week. A so-called Circumvental Worldbuilding Asset that allows me to introduce things into my Setting(s) without too much explanation. This one, in particular, allows me to achieve crossover events with other worldbuilders in WA. It basically is a simple "portal" that momentarily connects different settings.
    Outvoid Displacement Fracture
    Physical / Metaphysical Law | Jan 27, 2023

    A link between our Existence and another, allowing for a displacement of matter and sound to occur.


      If you like my work, please consider clicking that Follow Button so you do not miss out!
    Miand'Mésvéstell
    12
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    MONDAY UPDATE #37

    Woop!   My kickstarter got funded super quick and we've already reached the first stretch goal ("art prints" like the last time). I'm still working on the art but time for editing the text is a little bit tight. But we'll manage.   I won't have time to work on my submission for the new WA Challenge until the end of the month...but that's fine. Because I can't choose which character I should work on. I have so many ideas for bards in all of my worlds. XD;;   Any of you folks joining the challenge?
    17
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    Finally got some time

    I finally got some writing time in today... something like 2,500 words written. I'm done for now, but should get more written this evening. Still #3 in the organization category, so that is groovy... you are all welcome to go check it out, and the other articles I have up.
    11
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    MONDAY UPDATE #34

    Woop! Monday again...this week went by too fast.   I've published a couple of articles for WorldEmber.   https://www.worldanvil.com/community/challenge/worldember-2021/homepage/BasicDragon   Don't have anything else to say. XD ...I'm a bit behind on everything because of a lot of IRL stuff:
    * The plumbing in the house ...is....not in good condition. XD;
    * One of my favorite co-workers has retired and another changed job because early this year we got a new manager. She was a big bully...but we got the union involved and she's removed now. Too late though. ^^;;
    *A lot of minor things...   I should get back on track soon though...hopefully. XD;;   See you next week. <3
    13
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    Nadir #3 of 7 - Wrath

    3rd creation for WE '21 is one of the 7 Nadirs of Sin - Wrath. Lust and Gluttony where 1st and 2nd, only 4 more left!   Please check it out and let me know your thoughts or ask some questions!
    7
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    Monday Update #32

    Hello!
      How is WorldEmber going for everyone?!
      I'm a bit behind....like I am on everything internet. XD; ...some IRL stuff has taken my attention away for a bit but I hope to have time to work on online things later this month. I have a week off from work at the end of the month anyway. :D
      I published one article earlier this week:
    Solanian Masks
    Item | Mar 26, 2022

      Now I have to hurry off to bed. I need to get up early in the mornings this week. See you during the next Monday Update! :D
      <3
    12
    #

    Monday update #30

    Woop! Another Monday Update.
      This week has been good, I only have 7483 words left of NaNoWriMo so I should be done sometime this week. Though, that's not certain. I will be doing around 1000-1500 words per night so I have time to do some other work as well. I am a bit behind my schedule on the KS CYOA but I should be able to catch up this week.
      I have updated my WorldEmber sheet with a little bit more stuff for Breck's Haven and Skywell. I have also added total world counts for each world. I'm pretty sure I will be spending more time with Breck's Haven and Skywell this WE but we'll see. I should at least do 1000 words on each world.
    I have been poking around with a story in Skywell while pondering the NaNo novel, I find it helpful to think about other stories when I've run into a roadblock with the current project, and have come up with a species I have to write about in Skywell. It's "The "wolf" species" XD

      Well, that's it for this time. See you next week! <3
     
    11
    #

    Crystal Row's Undocumented Rebellion - Prompt #31

    My brain went wild on this uprising story. Then of course I had to add effects and pictures and songs. KYAA! So fun!
     
    Crystal Row's Undocumented Rebellion
    Military Conflict | Sep 12, 2024

    The only proof of the rebellion in Crystal Row lies in an encrypted set of comments of the app running everything in Sumichou


      Did you all do prompt #31? If so, please share in the comments. :D
    14
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    Gold Ahoy!

    I've finally finished my Summer Camp 2021 posts, or at least all of them but lucky 31! I wanna wish everyone whose been a part of Summer Camp 2021 the best of luck getting out the rest of your prompts that you wanna tackle, and as someone who started this challenge pretty late, I respect everyone who did even just a single prompt! I know everyone whose stuck on that one prompt can put their mind to it and get it done! Thanks too to everyone who looked at my content. I don't really promote, just having my first few likes on articles was super cool! We get #31 tomorrow and I'm already excited/nervous about it! :D
      What a time it's been. I've been on world anvil off and on for a few years now, but really only in these last 3-4 months have I really been cranking out content. Some of these prompts are amazing for my world setting and fit perfectly, others REALLY made me think of things to write. The issue for me as well was I have plenty of articles of places, people, things my players have seen and encountered before, mostly just standing as placeholders to be written about at a later date, but this meant that I couldn't use any of them for the 31 prompts of Summer Camp. So instead I had to write right from the heart and crank out a world of new things for my already existing DnD setting.
      At this point it feels like my huge setting is starting to finally have some connections. It's like sowing something and finally doing that last pull to really link and tighten up everything. I've still got a long way to go with some things, but I feel like with each new article, even if it's just a link and name and nothing more at the moment, makes my world feel that much more alive.
      I know my players may not pay as much attention to world building as I do, but to me having a DM whose got things fleshed out and isn't just pulling from a setting book feels that much more amazing.
    7
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    Copper and Silver are DONE

    Wow! Copper is DONE:  
    Summer Camp Progress Page - Copper Prompts
    Generic article | Jul 30, 2021
    Silver is DONE:  
    Summer Camp Progress Page - Silver Prompts
    Generic article | Jul 30, 2021
    All articles tie in to the Isle of Melas campaign world that is literally exploding with great new ideas and plotlines based on these prompts. Maybe I'll be able to play it with actual players some day!   Meanwhile, Gold is progressing, only 7 more prompts to go:  
    Summer Camp Progress Page - Gold Prompts
    Generic article | Jul 30, 2021
      And I have a bead on almost all of them - including one that will reference the first charater I ever played in D&D, from thirty years ago!   Let's keep going and finish them all ahead of #31 this weekend!   Barry
    10
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    Costume Challenge 2020 READS #3

    Some articles are good and well structured, some are barely seen. This time around I want to share the three that deserve more attention.
      1. Zehnler by Vertixico - clothes for special occassions for wealthy made in a fashion to mock the poor workers. The idea is described in a vibrant detail. Sadly, there are no graphics. Still... Very underrated, imo.
    Zehnler Coat
    Item | Jun 11, 2021

      2. Makwani dress by Evanarix - worn by the nabasti during gestation to ease the period of potentially painful shedding. Lovely flair - the tradition and the background are the same for highborn and lowborn. The material changes, though.
    Marwani Dress
    Item | Aug 27, 2022

      3. Battle Spear Uniform by Michael Chandra - special suit for special conditions. The uniform was designed to be worn by the bodyguards to handle potential hazards they face during [space] explorations.
    Battle Spear Uniform
    Item | Sep 26, 2024

    Facing alien wildlife, even superpowered bodyguards need an excellent uniform


      #WACostumeChallenge
    2
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    Monday Update #3

    So, it's that time of the week again. XD
      I didn't plot the next issues of the "Surviving Idyll" Zine with post-it notes this weekend. Instead, I wrote down everything that needed to happen as well as everything that wanted to happen on a couple of printer papers. XD ...they are still on the coffee table in my sister's apartment. I hope. XD;...I'll transfer them to the computer this week.
      I know now that the Zine will have two more issues. I also have tentative names for the quests but I forgot to ask my sibling what they thought of the names so I will ask that later this week as well.
      The Kickstarter for the second issue will tentatively start on the 9th of June. :)
      For the clothes challenge I have started on the outfit for the world of Idyll....but then I realized that this group exists in the future so publishing an article about it now kind of spoils stuff in the books...but not really. I mean the series is named "The House of Adventurers" I just have to be a bit vague with the history. XD;;
      For the Patreon I have made two art sketches this week. (woo, accountability works...at least on a week with a long weekend off from work. XD;; ) ...but I'll show you one of them. It's the outfits for "The House of Adventurers" and you might recognize the people from the homepage of Idyll :) It's August and Zamarca (yes...the heads are VERY sketchy. I drew the outfits on my sister's couch and didn't feel like getting references for their faces since I will be scanning this to computer color it anyway. XD;; )
    ...I'm also trying out BBCode in this update. We'll see if it works. XD;
    6
    #

    A BRIEF XPOSITION #3: A WEEK'S RESPITE (16 Feb 2021)

    Good day / afternoon / evening / night everyone!   So with the completion of the Advent Calendar Prompts {2020} (apparently being 1 of 15 people; see 00:51-00:54 WA's Stream on 13 Feb 2021; see min. 51-54), I needed a bit of a break. The past 10 days have been a combination of non-hobby work at home, rest, medical appointments, and resetting my mentality with respect to worldbuilding. Essentially, I've done everything I set out to (at least in part) for February and pondered next steps a bit (WIP - it's WorldAnvil, all things are WIP lol).   Update on February Plan of Attack
    • DONE - Build workstation in FREEZING basement
    • DONE - Semi-arbitrary writing goal of 25,000 words by the end of February
    • DONE - Finish the remaining 25+ advent calendar prompts before the World Ember awards ceremony on 6 Feb 2021
    The Uncertain Future
    1. My Creative Space
    My workstation will have to do for now. It's freezing down here (13-17 °C a.k.a 55-63 °F). I have taped a small square of cardboard to the vapour barrier to add a layer to the wall, placed some cardboard boxes along the permeter of my space, and laid another square of cardboard and a small rug over the concrete floor underneath my desk and chair. Instead of building a PC to replace my laptop, I prioritized spending on ergonomic items (dual monitors, wired mouse, sit/stand desk, & adjustable chair) due to my pain issues. All these items can be moved into the office upstairs once my wife can return to her employer's office space - hopefully Apr. 2021 if the government's COVID-restriction relaxation plan doesn't change here. Regardless, a rebuild of the space will be necessary in spring since I think I found a leak in the window well.   2. My Profile (xtremepsy) and Content
    Since I can't allocate money to a PC to stream or produce videos, I will continue with producing ad-hoc worldbuilding content and these blogs for now. I know all this work is primarily for my own consumption but I do like knowing that someone else may also benefit / want to read my blatherings.   For the past few weeks I've been mentally churning ideas on developing social media profiles, publishing blogs on my learnings/experience, and writing creative works (in addition to worldbuilding for my personal TTRPG content) too. It has gotten to the point that I've centralized my personal accounts as "xtremepsy" and made a few new profiles (namely Instagram & Twitter) as simple, proactive measures to demarcate my public and private online profiles.   3. "Collaborative Worldbuilding for Writers & Gamers" & My World (Olutanri)
    My copy of Dimi's and Janet's #1 recommended book for worldbuilding arrived on 8 Feb. and I may have finished it earlier today (16 Feb.) I also MAY have written 32 pages of notes. For reference, the book is 223 pages so a 86% compression ratio isn't that bad.. right? It's a good read and I found it informative (although I do have a few complaints regarding its internal consistency that I'll keep to myself).   As I started worldbuilding with no prior knowledge, experience, or process, Olutanri is a little all-over-the-place. Its state is also compounded by the sporadic nature of the advent calendar prompts - a thought that I echo with some other Anvilites. I was able to make it work because my world is large and quite undeveloped; however, several articles are 'out-of-scope'.

    Question
    So - am I crazy if I write a blog article with a condensed version of my notes that I expand with my thoughts/findings as I incorporate my learnings into Olutanri?   As always, thank you for reading - I'm going to go try warm up now,

    -Mark a.k.a. xtremepsy | Olutanri
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    WorldEmber Update #3 (01/01/21)

    A new year, and WorldEmber is over! With two articles left WIP from the Advent Calendar I think 60,810 words is a nice place to end things and take a rest. Sincerely hope everyone feels accomplished this month!
      Plan for January? Learn all this fancy new CSS stuff open to me and clean up the articles I've already written. Next articles I think will be finishing off the Advent Calendar in time for a shiny badge, and expand on my deities of the Great Dance.
      And so anyways, here's my remaining progress since Christmas day! Firstly, an adorable little Pygmy Snowy Owlbear;
    Pygmy Snowlbear
    Species | Feb 18, 2022

    Written for Prompt 25 (2020 Advent Calendar) - A Cute Wild Animal Easily Domesticated

    A travelling troupe of wanted entertainers;
    The Yelloweye Troupe
    Organization | Feb 19, 2022

    Written for Prompt 26 (2020 Advent Calendar) - A Famous Travelling Entertainment Troupe

    My magical spin on a Scottish sport;
    Curling
    Tradition / Ritual | Feb 19, 2022

    Written for Prompt 27 (2020 Advent Calendar) - A Popular Non-Contact Sport

    The beautiful and dangerous far north;
    Northern Limit
    Geographic Location | Feb 18, 2022

    Written for Prompt 28 (2020 Advent Calendar) - The Most Northern Reaches of the Mortal Realm, a Place of Unique Beauty and Untold Danger

    A pub with historic character;
    Dead Drop Inn
    Building / Landmark | Feb 18, 2022

    Written for Prompt 31 (2020 Advent Calendar) - A Temple to Sindla Turned Ornamental Pub

    2
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    World Ember: Goal reached

    This is my first year in World Anvil and my first time experimenting the "World Ember" challenge. At first I didn't pay too much attention to it since I was having my last exam week at college and I thought that users had to upload something specific for joining. After finishing my exams, I started to be more active on here and I noticed that every article done during December was automatically traced in the word count bar of the challenge. So I started to think... why not trying to actually participate on it? Everything needs a first trial! So, I started to write and develop more articles, several by day. As my world (Kingdom of Moskova) is the setting of a novel in which I'm working, I considered that this was a good opportunity to finally write down many things of its lore I have in my mind. I can't believe that I had completed the main goal of World Ember! I wasn't sure if I was going to reach it since 10k words seem a lot...but I could manage to make it easy! This journal is kinda like a collective report of the the 3 three weeks of WE in which we had to list what we've written during this time . I wasn't able of writing any of the reports at time because 1) Exams , 2) I didn't know that I was participating and 3)... about the pledge...I hadn't planned anything...I just left it flow! So.... here are the articles I wrote for reaching the 10K goal!   Week #1 (I wasn't aware that I was participating).
    The Solar Crown
    Item | May 6, 2021

    The Solar Crown (Солнечная Корона),Golden halo or simply Moskovar Crown is the crown worn by the Tsar of Moskova and it is the most valuable of the Monarchy's possessions.

    Week #2 (Getting prepared for a physics final exam).
    The Dark Army
    Organization | Oct 20, 2021

    The Dark Army (Темная Армия/Черная Армия) is a paramilitary organization from Moskova which is feared by most of the Kingdom's inhabitants and well known for its brutality and use of terror over people, implying the commitment of several kinds of crimes.

    Barkistán's Central Market
    Settlement | May 12, 2021

    Barkistan's Central Market is an outdoor market located on the main street of Barkistán  by the ruins of the Kremlin.

    Week #3 (Holidays and more time for writing!).
    The Lost Northern Stars
    Myth | Jul 29, 2021

    The Lost Northern Stars (потерянные северные звездыl) also known as The Star and the Firebird is (Звезда и жар-птица). Is a legend from Moskova's folklore which is also one of the plot drivers of the novel.

    Barkistán
    Settlement | May 12, 2023

    Barkistan (Баркиiстан) is a small-middle town located in the Timur Oblast. It is where Aliosha and Dylara live.

    Nodvragoda
    Settlement | Jun 8, 2023

    Nodvragoda (Нодврагода) is a city located in the center-north of Moskova. It is one of the oldest settlements of the country that's still inhabited.

    Moskova
    Organization | Nov 30, 2024

    The Kingdom of Moskova,also known as Empire of Moskova ,Tsardom of Moskova and so-called Golden Eagle's Domains is the country where the story of "Seeking for the Lost Northern Stars" takes place.

    Sentinel Mountains
    Geographic Location | Oct 13, 2021

    The Sentinel Mountains are the main mountain range of the Kingdom. It crosses the country from west to east and got several branches. This range is known as "imposing and inhospitable" due it almost untouched nature.

    Demons
    Species | Apr 18, 2022

    Demons (демоны) supernatural creatures that are present in Moskova's lore.

    This challenge helped me to set many things I was thinking about for my world, and made me meet a lot of cool people and discover wonderful worlds and articles! I hope this can help me to dive deeper in my novel during my break after the academic year!   TOTAL GOAL REACHED BY JANUARY 1st OF 2021: 126.16% (around 10,261.6 words)
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    World Ember Showcase #3

    The Slánaitheoir Royal Family
    Organization | Dec 21, 2020

    The Slánaitheoir family were the first and longest lasting Royal Family of the Kingdom of Éirigh.


     
    The Great Roman Purge | Великая Римская Чистка
    Military Conflict | Dec 23, 2020

     
    Pooka
    Ethnicity | Jun 30, 2021

     
    The Shattering
    Physical / Metaphysical Law | Dec 16, 2020

     
    Pax Romana Magika | Римский колдовской мир
    Organization | Dec 14, 2020

      Have an article you would like to have more visibility? I'm asking for only ones with 5 or less likes so more people have the chance of getting in the short list.
    6
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