Fantasy World Cultures Questions Thread

There is no scientific community, and the closest thing to magic in my world is the use of Qi. Even then, only about one percent of the population are capable of using it in such a fashion.

Next question. Are there gods in your world? If so, do they actually exist, and what do they do?

edited 15th Sep '13 5:13:01 PM by KW

Are there gods in your world? If so, do they actually exist, and what do they do?

On 2018 Earth, there aren't any gods, but their are Great Old Ones and beings of similar power levels.

Currently, they're serving as progenitors for half-humans.

What kind of weapon technology exists in your world?

edited 16th Sep '13 5:11:20 AM by DarkbloodCarnagefang

It's sword and bow. However, cannons were invented a few years ago which has began to change warfare.

Next question: How integrated with one another are the species/ethnicities of your world.

edited 15th Sep '13 8:43:08 PM by KW

Next question: How integrated with one another are the species/ethnicities of your world.

In the big grand Empire of Maundiya, people aren't too fussed about ethnicity - though the Akans, being the people who founded the Empire and gave it its language, culture and religion, will always dominate, and everyone basically accepts that. The Maundiyans have adopted a very similar ethnic policy to the ancient Romans, where as long as a man pays his taxes and follows the law he's welcome in the Empire. That being said, there are some tensions between newly-conquered people and their conquerors, such as in the far east, but mostly everyone gets integrated within a century or two.

Tragically, there are no other non-human sentient species in my world, so I can't answer that part of the question.

Next question, which I cannot be screwed to do the bold typesetting for: Do your people have a trickster figure in their mythology? I mean characters like Loki, Coyote, Anansi, Br'er Rabbit and, of course, the irrepressible monkey of Chinese folklore. And if they do, could you elaborate on some of their key characteristics and exploits? This could get fun.

If you are currently scratching your head and wondering what the hell I just wrote, do the sensible thing and use google. It might help you develop your own world more.

DO YOUR PEOPLE HAVE A TRICKSTER FIGURE IN THEIR MYTHOLOGY?

Actually, because the gods and goddesses are just the kings and queens of the demon houses, they are ALL tricksters. Demons are Always Chaotic Evil; they only respect superior individuals because Authority Equals Asskicking. The entity CALLED "the Trickster" is actually the neutral good god of humans, formerly the god of metal.

HOW DIFFERENT IS MAGIC FROM TECHNOLOGY? CAN THEY WORK TOGETHER WITHOUT MALFUNCTIONING?

HOW DIFFERENT IS MAGIC FROM TECHNOLOGY? CAN THEY WORK TOGETHER WITHOUT MALFUNCTIONING?

Technology actually uses the world's equivalent of magic as an energy source. So basically electricity=mana in this world. This basically makes technology a more egalitarian alternative to magic, which can only naturally be used by only a small group of "people" (the world is actually inhabited by several races, none of them human.) The conflict therefore is not technical but rather ideological. There is a whole religion with a magical elite which aims to control technology treating it basically as "black/dark magic". This is because technology is considered and in many cases is a threat to their authority.

In many fantasy world, technology seems to be static and seems to be on the same level as the story continues or if you go far back in to the setting's past. Is it the same in your world, or does the technology progress in some way?

In many fantasy world, technology seems to be static and seems to be on the same level as the story continues or if you go far back in to the setting's past. Is it the same in your world, or does the technology progress in some way?

At the beginning of the story, technology is roughly analogous to the industrial revolution, with a few areas lagging or excelling due to the application of magic. Geography in particular has limited the advancement of naval technology. Over the course of the story, a rather vast amount of technological progress is achieved. Aviation technologies play a very important role as well as medical advances, largely breaking magics monopoly on those areas and spurring an era of trade and exploration.

Next Question: Almost every nation in history has had some degree of social class system in place, be it feudalism, economic based or a caste system. What class divisions, if any exist in your cultures and what conflict, if any, do they cause?

edited 16th Sep '13 5:03:30 PM by IConfuseMe

Vestigia, the primary country of my current story, is a Fantasy Counterpart Culture of feudal Japan, so it has a rather strict Caste system. It goes Nobles > Samurai > Merchants > Farmers > Tradesmen > Entertainers > casteless. The first three are wealthy. The next three are poor, and the casteless are second class citizens. Scratch that. There aren't considered citizens at all. Naturally, this is looked at as a great injustice, and many of the casteless flocked to the rebellion when it rose.

Next question: What is the main export of the main nation or nations in your world?

edited 16th Sep '13 5:23:23 PM by KW

What is the main export of the main nation or nations in your world?

Just about the only thing the Old Kingdoms can afford to export any more are mercenaries. Some of their more lucrative trade agreements involve them promising to keep various underfunded military units from crossing their borders. They used to be known as a source of great art and specialty goods, however.

That mantle has recently been taken up by the Twelve Kingdoms, who are now known as some of the finest makers of glass, cloth, and tools in the world. Their most important export, however, remains the grain from the fields of Priam, the largest kingdom. This is especially important to the Old Kingdoms, considering their wars have destroyed so many of their farms they ‘d starve to death without the trade.

The Nations beneath the low deserts are famous mostly for their precious metals and spices and salts, but their most important export is scholarly texts. Though the language isn’t universal, their star charts and anatomical drawings are prized by learning centers across the world (though some in the Twelve Kingdoms are trying to usurp their position).

The Eastern Empire’s most important export would have to be its grain as well, though it is more famous for its silk, wine, and weaponry internationally.

The land of Pagubar is best known for it’s strangely colored ‘rainbow marble’ but its most profitable export is its expertly forged steel, the process of which is guarded to the death.

It’s impossible to pick just one for the traders of the Speckled Islands, their merchants sell everything from whale oil to mind bending roots. Their merchants can find a market for just about everything somewhere in the world.

What are the Seven Wonders of your world? (Not that there are necessarily seven of them of course)

The economies of the Four Powers are increasingly isolationist due to hostile lifeforms and the ongoing cold war. No point in investing in a long-term business plan when you might get nuked tomorrow. Even if you decide to follow through with sending goods outside your nation's borders then all bets are off concerning the fate of said goods. Your goods could get stolen by bandits/pirates/airship pirates, burnt to a crisp by Dragonbloods, dragged to the depths by sea monsters, confiscated by military blockades, or fall into a Hellgate. The worse that could happen is wandering into a nuclear testing ground. That usually goes two ways: One, you find out how much irradiated goods are worth, or two, you find out what being atomized is like. This doesn't prevent global trade entirely.

Altzanland has always been a leader in automobile and golem manufacturing. Export of nuclear powered autos are extremely limited, so engines are limited to coal, biodiesel, or arc power. Stormwind loves its arcane science, and it can't stop showing the world how good it is at magitech. Its primary export is arconics such as crystal balls, scryar equipment, prosthetic optics, and weapon sights. Vostrovia will export most of what can survive the trip, which is primarily vodka and guns. A few novelty items such as nesting dolls and whatever was smuggled in those nesting dolls will make the trip. The Rising Sun Coalition is a large exporter of raw materials. Due to a pitiful manufacturing sector and fledgling infrastructure, manufacturing has to be outsourced to surrounding nations. As for the rest of the world, most trade doesn't reach much farther than within a single region or continent.

The organic space elevator of South Altzanland, the Vertical City of Galmehaar, the ancient mile-tall dwarven docking spires, the sky islands, the Temple of the Five Elements, there is no end to the massive and wondrous structures of Alesia. Too bad most of them will get nuked in the near future.

What is the greatest single threat to the setting as a whole?

edited 16th Sep '13 8:52:45 PM by MaxwellDaring

There hasn't been a single greatest threat in the world for over one-thousand years. All threats are of a national scale. That's unless you consider The Vuraal imperium's conquest, however, that's only a threat to the free colonies, as they're unwilling to start a war with any of the other three superpowers of the world.

Next question: How old is the oldest legend of your world?

edited 16th Sep '13 10:07:11 PM by KW

Older Than Dirt. The story is documented in the setting's holy text (itself a three-part epic), and details the creation of the world by the first gods, Asiz and Anan.

When was the largest or most devastating war in your world's history? What factions were involved? How did the war end/what was its immediate impact?

edited 17th Sep '13 3:44:39 PM by Blueeyedrat

Over three and a half thousand years ago, two different worlds went to war with each other, which is a lot harder than it sounds, since the entire solar system is constructed in such a way to make interplanetary travel possible, but only at specific times. Eventually the entire system was involved, and things only got worse when the gods tried to stop it and got involved themselves. The war ended with the god who was supposed to keep this thing from happening in the first place deciding that enough was enough, and dropping asteroids on the capitals of every major faction. In addition to redefining the calendar to mark the end of the war as Year 1, interplanetary travel was made even more strict and difficult, with the gods more willing to enforce the laws violently.

Name five things every person in your culture would know.

1) They are living in the remains of a destroyed world.

2) Talking out of turn means death.

3) Demon's are horrifying creatures from which you should run fast.

4) Vestigia and Vas Varaal. and Victoria and Janlyn are bitter enemies

5) If you love your family, and your lord asks you to fight, then you had better damn well fight.

New Question: How is crime treated in your world?

1. Any minute now the planet could be bathed in nuclear fire without even giving me a chance to say "Well, shit."

2. Any minute now, my town, city, arcology, flotilla, or pocket dimension could be invaded by pirates, dragons, demons, foreign armies, the Molerat Conglomerate, or gods-know what else.

3. Any minute now, the ground below me could give way to a Hellgate.

4. Any minute now, my taxes will be due.

5. I need a freaking drink.

Depends entirely on the development level of the nation. Developed nations such as the Four Powers have long lists of crimes and lots of punishments for said crimes. The worst punishment would have to be having your soul ripped from your flesh and reprogrammed into a useful program by a Spirit Hackist. Second worse punishment is all the damn paperwork. Those that have a criminal record will often have great difficulty finding employment or applying to a university.

Developing nations usually divide their punishments between conscription, labor, or death while undeveloped nation stick you in a box until you die for the most part. They're too busy praying to the Sun Goddess to enforce parole policy.

If applicable, what variations of magic are the most stigmatized?

If applicable, what variations of magic are the most stigmatized?

The most feared type of magic is easily the ‘shadow craft’ inherit to the shiroean people. Their spells include the control of shapes and forms, the entering and influencing of dreams, passing through solid objects, and the ability to see and communicate with spirits. Legends tell of a time they had vaguely described but fearsome powers –the most famous is the ‘stealing’ of life from other tribes- for which their people were set apart and marked. For fear of these ‘lost powers’ returning, those lands that even tolerate shiroean within their borders have strict rules against practicing their arts, and entire tribes have been massacred simply to stop their teachings from taking root. But as their magic is inherited, rather than learned, many shiroean have pieced together their heritage through trial and error. Knowledge of the craft is held mostly by elders who keep it secret and teach it only to those who they trust to keep the knowledge safe.

Among the popular magical theories, those who follow the ‘Death School’ (or necromancy) are the most reviled. To discredit them, the adherents of the other schools claim that, rather than invoking spirits of the dead, the necromancers are really speaking to powerful spirits who are manipulating or even possessing them for their own ends. The few, but infamous, stories of necromancers who have experimented with creating horrors like zombies or wraiths does little to improve their public image. Of course, depending on what school the government subscribes to, the others might experience some harassment as well, but none are viewed as fearfully as the necromancers.

What does your culture commonly consider to be the greatest virtue? What is seen as the worst vice? Any reasons why?

The most stigmatized type of magic by the Temple is so called "dark" or "black" magic, is technology. The created their own "seventh order", where the priests make technological research. All tech-users outside of the order just like outside magic-users are considered heretics. This basically makes the Navduu, a civilization which bases itselves on the principles of reason and science, considered heretics as a whole. Their technologica advancemenst are able to utilise magical energy into advanced tech, and creates in turn a competition in the form of an egalitarian alternitive to the magic used by the elites.

Each of the six main cultures consideres different virtues as most important

Mahunn - honour, skills in battle

T'hnari republic - justice, respect for authority

Yonal, faith, worship of nature

Self-named - solitude and self-suffieciency

Free People - freedom, hard work and creativity

Navduu - rationality, curosity and endless search for knowledge

With vices it would be the opposite, for Mahunn: cowardiss, T'hnari: disobedience, Yonal: heresy, Self-named - dependence on others, Free People: laziness and for the Navduu: ignorance.

Who is the most famous religious figure (messiah, prophet, pope), cultural figure (celebrity, musician, bard) and political/public figure (king, president, CEO) in your setting. Describe them shortly.

edited 22nd Sep '13 11:45:25 AM by PacalII

Although every culture and nation has its own group of people they consider famous, the most widely recognized is the Stormwind royalty. However, their relevance in actual politics is negligible. They are more or less celebrities living off of the government.

What level of knowledge on astronomy is there in your setting?

The only quality all demons admire is "power"; whether it is hidden or visible, whether it is used for the self or for society, power is the difference between masters and slaves, between predators and prey. Therefore, "weakness" is the only quality all demons despise, especially if it is obvious.

human witches and warlocks gain their supernatural abilities from demons and have adopted many of their customs. However, their morality differs from that of demons in that their "power" is cunning and stupidity is their "weakness".

Humans have regular morality, so selfishness is their vice and compassion is their virtue.

Also, astronomy is extremely important to sorcery. The sun and moon can change the effects of potions. There are red stars, blue , and yellow stars; the white stars are all arranged into the sixteen constellations. This is all important information for sorcerers.

edited 16th Oct '13 1:32:34 AM by nekomoon14

Gotta post a question guys... I'll throw one out.

What is the typical scene on the battlefield during times of war? What kind of weapons and tactics are used, and how big are the armies?

Battles usually are between battalions of about one thousand. Usually these are small skirmishes as the armies probe for weaknesses and explore the terrain. Larger battles tend to be between ten to fifty thousand per side.

Tactics and armaments vary between countries.

Manastra favors a slow but crushing advance. Most of their forces are infantry, seasonal levies backed by elite knights and men at arms acting as officers. There's a preference for laminar and lamellar armor since it's tougher than chain but still fairly cheap and is flexible enough to suit more than one man. There is a strong preferences for thick shields and axes but spears and other polearms are present. Swords are oddly a minority. There are no laws preventing commoners to have them but they're still expensive and not many train with them. Manastran warmages wear fairly light armor, usually leather with steel reinforcements. They usually use short swords if they carry weapons at all. Manastran warmages usually mix in with other units.

Rigoli favors rapid and dynamic maneuvers to take full advantage of their famed mounted knights. Their armor is usually full plate armor garishly decorated with acid etched motifs and gilding. Still, the armor is tough and surprisingly mobile since each armor is custom made to maximize mobility for it's wearer. Most knights favor lances and swords with the occasional mace mixed in. Peasant levies usually get a spear and a helmet and only if they're in good standing. Rigoli warmages wear the same armor as the knights and usually favor swords. Rigoli warmages attache select members to command formations while the majority form independent units.

Kirkland usually just hires mercenaries. The mercenaries are a mixed ba. If Kirkland is every forced to fight without mercenaries the King/commander of the city guard conscripts anyone he can get his hands on (usually, he starts with the guilds in order of how much of it is their fault) and equips them with anything that he has on hand. The city guard then herds the army/discontent mob into position to charge the enemy. The city guard are equipped with a single sword, a cuirass, and a spangenhelm. Kirkland warmages are specialists at infiltration. They always engage the enemy independently with small company scale units.

Sasahas warriors go into battle with a buckler, a very good spear, and often nothing else. If you're lucky they may wear pants. This is deceptive, though, as Sasahas has one of the most coordinated military machines in the world. A code of drums, horns, and chants are worked into the culture allows the army to coordinate at range. Sasahas's generals utilize this and the superior orcish stamina to the utmost in the form of wolfpack tactics with entire battalions. Sasahas deploys their warmages in independent battalions with the intent to terrorize the enemy with massed spellwork.

Wytherwyn uses elvish warmages as officers. These warmages command teams of handpicked human knights and support them with magic. Both favor slashing swords and powerful longbows and may or may not be mounted (it's a fifty/fifty mix). The armor is a mix of lamellar and surprisingly light gothic plate with an emphasis on mobility. Sometimes the armies are padded with levies wielding a long spear and a short sword and wearing a cuirass and kettle helm. They usually form thick front lines from which the knights and warmages sortie from. Despite having a notoriusly small army, wytherwyn is none the less considered one of the most dangerous.

How powerful are mages in your world and how much influence do they have in battle?

edited 30th Oct '13 6:34:10 AM by Belisaurius

The power of a mancer is directly proportional to the (pseudo)scientific accuracy of their incantations. Mancers that keep up to date on scientific journals and continuously experiment with spells will find improved effectiveness and efficiency. Hedgers who partake in star-reading, palm-reading, dog shit on a weegee board-reading, and other hermetic stuff are about as useful as dog shit on a weegee board. Basically, the more a mancer's philosophy resembles New Age mysticism, the less effective they are. This makes the actual scientists and engineers the baddest motherfuckers in Alesia.

As for their use in combat, every modern military has a Corps of Mancers. However, it is not the mancers themselves that have made warfare what it is, but rather their creations. Tread Golems have revolutionized combat and completely shot trench warfare out of the water. Meanwhile, armies are being moved through Hel itself as a more efficient alternative to normal, saner methods of travel.

What kind of music is popular in your setting?

edited 30th Oct '13 8:06:25 PM by MaxwellDaring

Cultured people in the Middlands and Tersei listen to classical-music equivalents, with the commoners enjoying the sort of ballads and folk music they've listened to for centuries. Pop music isn't a thing yet.

What forces in your world are seen as traditional opponents? What's the layman's opinion of them, and whose side do people tend to take?

The immaculate order is the theological power in the world. Their monopoly on magical power and spiritual expression is quite secure and they control their Exarchs through comfort and indoctrination. While they have no temporal power beyond their island home, and have no military, they wield extraordinary soft power throughout Taryn, the western half of the continent. Every major city has an immaculate shrine, and some countries have advisors to assist rulers. Their followers are clean and obedient and fearful of any magic not wielded by a holy Exarch.

Their counter point is two fold. On the spiritual front, the Old Faith, or Faihr, lingers in countries like Olderune and Lyonesse. While not opposed, the Faihr gives much more lienency to women and magic, and allows women into their priesthood. Their faith is primarily community organized and to serve or appease the Fair Folk so they stay away. The Southlands have an ancestorial worship that is more tolerated by the Immaculate order, since it does not challenge their authority. Still, the Order frequently condemns southern immorality and decadence and frequently sends missionaries to 'convert' them to a more moral and clean way of life.

Magically, they are opposed by the Wytchfolk of the north. Almost exclusively female, the northern practitioners are some of the most powerful magic users in the world, and rivals to the Order's Exarchs. They operate in triads or covens of thirteen, and by and large are more interested in serving their clan interests than trying to take over the world. They are also concerned with the return of Dragons to the land, and some believe that when the Dragons return to scour the world, they will rule over the remains. Most wytchfolk believe that to be ridiculous. Due to the Order's propaganda that the Wytches bathe in blood and have bestial orgies with dragons... yeah... they're not well received out of the north.

The Order has a love/hate relationship with the nations of Taryn. By treaty and law, the Order can not hold noble title, own land or property, or field an army. Thus, they are left with peddling influence. In countries that have taken in the Order, they are virtual rulers by proxy. Abys-Thiel is virtually an extension of the immaculate isle, and everyone notes the cathedral is twice the size of the royal palace. In others, the order is barely tolerated, such as in the Sadalix Empire, which sees the Order as a powerful scold. A few, like Olderune, play a more dangerous game, inviting Order money and resources, but then playing off their demands. King Albrecht of Olderune prevented a civil war when he made it clear that his rivals would be far less accomidating than he.

Question: What role does trade play in your world? What are some exotic goods produced in your world? IS there a black market?

Most of the countries on the continent the story is set in are former colonies, which seceded from their respective mother countries over the course of the last century or two. Arc, located close to the center of the continent, is the largest trade hub between the colony states (and the largest black market hub as a result). Intercontinental trade (mostly by sea, sometimes by air) goes through the major coastal cities, though you do run into the occasional embargo.

The continent exports more raw material than luxuries or finished goods, though that trend is shifting as more craftsmen and artisans take root and set up shop. It's probably the best region in the world for making magical equipment, due to its aether-rich nature.

What is the latest (major) technological development in your world? Who discovered or invented it, and what impact has it had on the world?