#Fantasy lore

[filurig]

ive had a vague idea about crakam (nattramn) religion for a bit and then finally i saw something which inspired me to actually design a littel of them. More details...

the reality of the glaris legend is probably all mythology but there could have been an event in crakam history which inspired it (honestly, probably involved a basilisk if it did)

crakam settlements will always have a "priesthood district" in which everything is specifically built to be accessed both by foot and wing. however, its pretty normal for the rest of the settlement to be more catered to winged crakam. the one exception is "craftsman districts" in which some craftsmen crakam clip their wings for non-religious reasons.

priests have an important role to play in crakam holidays, and also usually works as craftsmen outside of religious duties - there is a bit of a "holy" connotation to very finicky craftsmanship which sometimes warrant the clipping of wings (for better maneuverability with the hand claws) because of the glaris myth

glaris priests often spend periods every day meditating deeply - there is a belief that this is what ensures that the settlement-wide visual illusion "spell" stays in effect - and it does actually have an effect on the spell's strength!

glaris priesthood roles are often restricted to crakam, but there have been instances of basilisk priests as well - if a basilisk resembles the eurasian jay, it's seen as a good omen and if that basilisk wishes to join the priesthood they will be welcomed with open arms. a "jay basilisk" being born in a crakam settlement will often result in strong pressure from the crakam for them to join the priesthood.

crakam aren't monotheistic, but most crakam settlement are sworn to glaris. there are other gods that some settlements have sworn themselves to.

culturally, brown and blue are colours highly associated with holiness among crakam because of the glaris order

in the pareidoliaverse ive decided there is an additional pine species cultivated by crakam which is Even Bigger than normal pine called "ramnfura". this is the pine which the myth refers to.

[plotandelegy]

The Deep Wells of Magic: Drawing from Timeless and Novel Sources

Hello, and welcome to another one of my incredibly overdue writing guides. Where does the magic pulse from in your fictional world? What energy does your magic user draw forth to complete their spells? Here is a list of classical and somewhat unique magical sources you might use to craft your supernatural system. Remember, the key to originality is being a little twisty and the ability to mash concepts. Okay, maybe the first isn't a determining factor.

Sources:

Geographical landmarks

Celestial Events

Memories

Mythical creatures

Seasonal events

Ancestors

Secrets

Mirrors

Shadows

Dreams

Movements

Heartbeats

Ocean currents

Moonlight

Fragmented thoughts

Music

Echoes

Crystals

Wishes

Mana

Mystical ingredients

Special words

Color

Divine intervention

Relics

Chants

Symbols

Candles

Talismans

Meditation or trance

Sounds and silences

Emotions

Elemental forces

Sacred sites

Amulets

Magic dust

Energy residue

Wind

Weather

[kanobarlowe]

To fit the theme of the world I figured out that they use pearls for money! They weigh pearls, and pearls have to be made with a fleck of gold at the center to be seen as official currency. When made with gold, they are able to harden, which makes them easier to identify against many counterfeits. Pearl farms are heavily regulated for this reason. Other metals given to the mollusks can produce other pearls with different sheens, but to prevent illegal currency they are not ones of monetary value and are instead used for fashion. Some communities will trade in other pearls, but these are often poorer districts or villages who don't have access to gold pearls on a daily basis.

[th3-0bjectivist]

Xylania’s Garden, and the Star Drifting Sphere Steppers

The very earliest account of the Realm comes directly from records so primal that they needed to be carbon dated to prove authenticity. While the initial explanations of sentient beings on Atma’Zae can only be revealed through what little archival knowledge was handed down from the Ancient Gods, every being on the continent has viewed the three closest stars to the Realm with reverence and awe throughout the Ages for their ability to assist in sustaining life. Even before the Ancient Gods, and even before an age where Atma’Zae was ruled by nothing more than mindless blood-thirsty giant spiders, there existed the olde tales of the Sphere Steppers, written on a series of interconnectable cuneiform tablets. This prehistoric legend, though regarded largely as mere myth during the Enlightened Age, has been passed down throughout all the generations of all the conscious species of the Realm and still celebrated to this day as a source of intrigue and wonder. Even now, in the Days of Ash, desperate survivors still remember the story of how their pocket of the universe was supposedly founded. For in the days before the Forgotten Times, there was a race of astronauts that first came across our stars. These astronauts worshipped a God whose name has long been lost and obscured to localized references. These aliens viewed the entire expanse of the starry heavens as their God’s Garden and named each star system after themselves to help categorize, itemize and map their findings.

The Legend of Xylania’s Garden was reportedly uncovered on a deliberately fractured tablet by the Ancient Gods on a frozen island deep into the South. The tablet is recorded accountings, regional star charts, and the poetry of a singular being called Xylania. The ogre-giants, who merely called themselves Gods, clumsily and lazily translated Xylania’s prose from the dead language of an assumed dead race of star faring beings who were and are known only as the Sphere Steppers. Although very little is known about the Steppers, it is recognized that they travelled through the stars since time immemorial to provide a simple survey of all known celestial bodies in creation. It is through these accounts that this species identified our local system as a trinary one, that being a pocket of the cosmos which has three suns. While most systems in the starry heavens had one or two stars at most, this patch of three stars each had its own unique age and characteristics. The blue supergiant star is the youngest and is rumored to have a massive sapphire or diamond burning hot within its core. The yellow dwarf is the Garden’s second oldest and closest to the Realm, giving the continent its most proximal source of heat and light for hundreds of thousands of years. And the red giant, the one closest to death and furthest from Atma’Zae, has been burning for billions of years.

Our three stars; Xear, Qo and Nuc are widely regarded as The Fruits of Xylania’s Garden. The Steppers also observed a fourth object in the garden, a small watery rock, which they called Ædorna, which gracefully moved in between the suns like a light stone atop the ripples of a gravitational river in lazy figure-eight patterns. A perfect sphere to step on, this rock could contain life, perhaps not intelligent life yet, but the primordial beginnings of it. And on the rock that was called Ædorna, there was found its largest and most prominent landmass, now known as Atma’Zae, where the Steppers landed near to refuel their rocket-powered craft, which could be operated for centuries on nothing more than large amounts of salty sea water. Upon their landed arrival, the astro-poet Xylania planted a seed from her home world in the Realm, and proclaimed it was the most staggeringly beautiful, magically concentrated and resource rich rock she had ever laid her eyes upon. And while our star system had only one rock when Xylania visited, Ædorna would have a companion satellite thousands of years later. Our moon, Appaxxis, has only existed for just under three millennia, and is the calcified remains of a long-tailed, four-eyed ogre-giant that ascended into the starry heavens to demonstrate his luminous, tidal and reflective glory for all that would behold his magnificence in future ages. Although the astronaut and her crew were forced to leave to complete their astral survey, it is easy and somewhat comforting to presently view the stars and moon through the toxicity of fresh smoke and ashes. We are still part of the region of time and space widely viewed among humanity, the gryphons, and the merfolk to be Xylania’s Garden.

Lore Entry # 5 (click here for art)

[ajmonarch]

Some Stories Refuse to Stay Buried…

This is one of them. A forbidden tale from my dark fantasy world—one the scholars have tried to erase. But the past has a way of bleeding through.

------------------

There is a story the scholars refuse to write. A name struck from the records, a memory the kingdom has tried so hard to forget.

But forgetting does not mean forgiving. And old scars run deep.

They whisper of him only when the sun has set.

The Wanderer. The Butcher. The traitor to us all.

The one who led his people into the dark with nothing but a knife in his hand and a gleam in his eye that made even the strongest knights look away.

And yet… few will admit the man was not cruel. Not unkind. Not at first.

The rumours will tell you differently—claim it was madness of the blood, of the body, of the soul that led our Wanderer so far off the path.

Some say his madness was inherited. Others whisper it was made. But the truth? The truth is buried in the dark.

Come read the forbidden tale.

The long-lost legend of the Wanderer awaits… but be warned—some stories don’t like being unearthed.

🔗 Uncover the secret & read the rest of the teaser for free on Patreon → https://www.patreon.com/posts/name-erased-1-123641004

.

[hillfogstudio]

Then you’ll probably like my newsletter, Scrolls From Hillfog. 🧙‍♂️

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A scroll? 📜

Yes, a scroll. A beautiful, cross-stitch-inspired piece of art with a message.

Sometimes they’re inspirational, sometimes an affirmation, sometimes poetry, sometimes a micro story with lore from Hillfog and its surrounding lands, sometimes dark, and sometimes thought-provoking.

The first edition containing the first scroll, crafted and written by Hillfog’s only Scrollcrafter, is live now.

Edition 2 will launch at 10 subscribers 😌

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[khaezarul]

The conception of dragons as artificially created beings in my setting solves 99% of the problems I have with popular depictions of dragons (fire breath, absurdly long tail, too large to realistically fly, etc etc). I can just say "a wizard did it" and we're done.

And moreover, since the dragons were created for war, I can explain the horns and spiky bits as "the wizard was asked to make them as scary as possible". Whichever Zirkatan king began this thing thought that was a good idea, and the wizard had to do it because those were the orders.

And with the fire breath, the dragons are actually all mages. Human mages could spew fire like that too (they just typically shoot fire from their hands or a staff rather than that), and dragons could learn stuff like enchanting and curses too, they were just never taught how to.

[lalause]

This is the world I've been building:

An original dark fantasy setting filled with mana, reincarnation, an infinite broken tower, political seperation and it will be gender-coded. It's the story of a decaying land infected by ancient magic, and the mages who wander it in search of knowledge. Magic is common here yet normal humans without any power exists too.

Mana defines everything. It's split between two forces: Seren, born of the Moon, and Caelir, forged in the Sun. Mages are born aligned to one, most of the time their body is made to match their mana but sometimes Abyss makes mistakes.

At the center of the world lies the Abyss, a corrupted realm that pulls at the soul. Surrounding it: five infected Circles of land, craters made from a huge blast, each more twisted than the last. At the center: a black tower that remembers every life you've lived before. But no one ever survived that to tell it's tale.

Few important names to know:

Two clans: Silver Dusk (Seren Mages) and Crimson Dawn (Caelir Mages). They hate each other and constantly fight. Dissonants: Mages whose mana doesn’t match their body. Their body constantly reject their mana. Twilights: Rare beings who can wield both manas, capable of triggering Equinox. The Tower of Descension: It is believed that Twilights go there to witness the secrets of the Abyss.

This blog is where I’ll post lore and world building I made. It will be text based since I don't have any talent for art making or someone to do it and I don't want to use AI. So I will just share walls of texts.

[theangelicccherry]

-🗡️📚

[averyghe]

Gawookin or Kobolds as they are called by Humans are the civilisation of anthropomorphic dogs, descending from the artificially made race of genetically altered soldiers created many centuries ago by an unknown demiurge. They live in a strictly regulated caste based society, and worship Sun wolves – magical gods that according to the legend helped them to free themselves from their servitude.

Not all the gawookins accept the curent state of their slaver society. They become rebels and renegades, starting slave revolts and organising their own warlord states on the edges of the Kobold empire. Others, differentiated themselves from the major koboldine culture many centuries ago, now living outside of the major settlements as a nomadic tribes, or immersing themselves in a human and goblin societies.

[filurig]

decided to go fawk it and make it so that nattramn and basilisks are able to hybridise in pareidolia yay!!! more info under cut

as for how its possible, irl clearly these species would be too distant from eachother to hybridise but ok its fantasy and also. i think part of it might be that as basilisk ancestors evolved their odd trait of picking up aspects of other fauna around them during fetal development, it just resulted in their genes being really wack and spontaneous and for some reason that made it so that they can procreate with nattramn again. i think the ancestors shown in the last image for example could not concieve together bcs the basilisk ancestor species had not evolved the wacky genes thing yet.

societally i think it varies on how they're treated. generally hybrids are accepted as parts of their societies, but depending on several factors they can be somewhat alienated. in nattramn society, "basramn" hybrids are generally more well accepted due to a combination of societal and religious reasons. "nattlisks" usually mingle with basilisk communities much easier for similar reasons. the kind of folklore that sprung up surrounding them in these communities may depend on the fact that basramns have an easier time fitting into nattramn society (due to nattramn putting a lot of importance on flight) while nattlisks have an easier time shapeshifting and can usually fit in basilisk communities easier because of it (basilisks celebrate their shapeshifting ability culturally quite strongly), and the folklore sprung up as sort of a "post hoc" justification for potential alienation/embracing of hybrids. because of this this means that union between a basilisk and a nattramn and whether or not its accepted depends on the context bcs of what hybrid it produces. thinking this may be further reinforced with old legends about mythical (or real, potentially) historical figures in their cultures. (have to think more about this)

also i dont think ive mentioned it here but the reason why these hybrids arent TOO uncommon to see is that nattramn and basilisks are closely intertwined, and while its unusual to see a nattramn mingling with basilisk communities, its quite common for basilisk communities to exist within nattramn settlements and their attitudes towards one another are generally amicable/positive.

"nattlisk" and "basramn" are not canon terms for them, and in universe theyre generally referred to either as basilisk, nattramn or harpy depending on what the observer/local culture thinks they are lol. humans especially dont really know the difference - i think maybe nattlisks may be interpreted as some sort of other vätte like a rå or a troll due to their more humanoid look

generally have similar lifespans to nattramn/basilisks, overall they do rather well for being hybrids other than miscarriages (or, well, since theyre egg layers, failed/unhatched eggs) and nattlisks being more susceptible to illness early in life.

[deletarius-draws]

"Auruderma" The Sacred Armor of the Axi: A Bastion of Raw Strength 

I may posted this already, though this time I've finally came up with a name for the golden armor embedded with magic channeling emerald gems Axi are known to wear. It also includes the Feymail and its functions again, I go into detail on its relation to the Auruderma armor this time.

Hope you enjoy the read!

The armor is forged from glinting pure, strengthened Aurum, known for its unmatched durability and ability to conduct magical energies. The Aurum is enchanted during the forging process, heavily infusing it with arcane power.  

Each piece of armor is intricately carved with runes and wards. These runes amplify the wearer’s arcane powers, enhancing their ability to channel the Alkanine cells. The wards provide protection against malignant forces and demonic entities, making the wearer a bulwark on the battlefield. 

The armor is crafted by the finest blacksmiths and enchanters of the Rubellyn Feywild, who possess ancient knowledge of both physical and magical artisanship. 

Alkanine Amplification 

The Armor enhances the wearer’s arcane abilities, allowing them to channel their Alkanine essence more effectively. This amplification makes their elemental attacks more potent and defenses more robust.  

The wards and runes also provide defense against the harsh environments of other planes, specifically the hells and realms consumed by absolute darkness. This protection ensures that the Axi can continue fighting under most conditions. 

Axi Inscribed Armor “Auruderma” & Fyro-Mail (Fey-mail) 

Heavily enchanted and imbued armor, made from glinting pure strengthened gold, Aurum, carved and forged with runes and wards. Amplifying the Axi’s Arcane powers and helps channel their Alkanine cells. Making the wearer an absolute bulwark against malignant forces and demonic entities. The wards and runes also aid in the defense against certain hellish environments of other planes so that they can continue fighting wherever they may end up. However, not anyone can simply wear this armor without prior enhancements like an Axi, nor does this armor turn the tables of war if the one wearing the armor isn’t as efficient, precise and immensely skilled in combat themselves. But it does further the capabilities and versatility of an Axi warrior, amplifying their Alkanine gene and synchronizes to their “Fyro-mail”, mailing woven together that acts as external dermal carapace for an Axi. Fyro-mail or by denizens of the Feywild, “Fey-mail”, creates a seamless synchronized connection to the Axi armor. Dense Fyro-Mail or Fey-mail is a type of enchanted chainmail that Axi warriors wear beneath their Auruderma armor. This chainmail is woven with magical threads from the Feywild, allowing it to interface with the wearer’s body. Acting as an extra layer of skin, providing additional protection and creating a more intimate relationship between the warrior and their armor. Fey-mail also works in tandem with Axi warrior's Alkanine genes. 

The Axi Fey-mail and Golden Inscribed Armor are remarkable feats of Rubellyn craftsmanship, Symbolizing the perfect union of organic material and arcane technology. These armaments are as much a part of the Axi warriors as their very flesh and blood, enhancing their combat abilities while forging an intimate, almost symbiotic relationship between the warrior and their armor. 

The Fey-mail's effectiveness lies in its unique integration with the Axi warrior’s central nervous system. Upon donning the armor, ethereal tendrils link into the warrior’s neural pathways, establishing a direct and intimate connection. However, this process is far from gentle. An excruciating and torturous shockwave is sent throughout the body, akin to being stabbed and electrocuted simultaneously.  

This integration allows the armor to respond instantaneously to the warrior’s thoughts and reflexes, becoming an extension of their own body. The initial shockwave, like pins and needles, stabs and electrocutes the nerves, establishing a deep, almost painful connection that heightens the warrior’s awareness and reflexes. The Fey-mail constantly monitors the wearer’s physical condition and adjusts its properties to provide support where needed, reinforcing areas of high stress or injury. 

Auruderma – Rubellyn Aurumplating 

“The iconic golden inscribed armor worn by fully realized and rebirthed Axi warriors.” 

The Inscribed Auruderma of the Axi warriors is more than just protective gear; it is alive, moving with efficiency and adapting to the warrior’s needs. Forged from enchanted fey-bark – a toughened tree bark from the Feywild trees – the Golden Armor is both resilient and flexible, providing superior protection and agility. The Auruderma acts as reinforced dermal plating, enhancing the Fey-mail's protective capabilities. The fey-bark is enchanted to be incredibly tough yet flexible, allowing the armor to absorb and deflect various forms of damage. 

The armor is enchanted with runes that synchronize with the Fey-mail's neural tendrils embedded in the wearer, ensuring that every movement is perfectly coordinated. This magical synchronization allows the armor to adapt its form and function in response to the warrior’s needs. 

“Axi do not simply wear or wield their armaments, they are, by extension, their armament.” – Zenith General Arkadius Aximand, First Among Axi 

The union of the Fey-mail and Golden Armor, “Auruderma”, grants the Axi warrior’s remarkable adaptive capabilities. The armor can modify its structure and properties to suit different combat scenarios, providing optimal protection and efficiency. The armor can change its configuration in real-time, shifting plates and adjusting its shape to offer maximum protection and mobility. Similar in nature to that of the shifting planes of Rubellyn. For example, it can extend additional plating to shield vulnerable areas or retract sections to allow for greater freedom of movement. The Fey-mail can also adapt to the environment, altering its surface to blend in with surroundings or resist specific environmental hazards such as extreme heat, cold, or corrosive substance. 

The relationship between Fey-mail and the Axi warriors extends to their weaponry as well. The same neural and magical synchronization that controls the armor enhances the warriors’ use of their weapons. Axi weapons are designed with similar neural interfaces, allowing them to be wielded with extraordinary precision and force. This integration means that the weapons feel like extensions of the warrior's limbs, responding to their thoughts and intentions. 

The Fey-mail can channel magical energies into the weapons, amplifying their power. This allows Axi warriors to unleash devastating attacks that combine physical prowess with arcane might. The Axi Fyromail or Feymail, and Inscribed Auruderma represent the pinnacle of Axi craftsmanship and fey magic. Their integration with the warrior’s central nervous system and synchronization with enchanted fey-bark create a harmonious blend of technology and nature. This intimate connection allows the Axi to move, fight and react as one, embodying the perfect blend of elven grace and formidable martial prowess. The initial shockwave upon donning the armor serves as a stark reminder of the symbiotic relationship between the warrior and their equipment, forging a bond that is both powerful and painful. 

_Original Lore Written by Deletarius

(Going to cover "Auruvian" Armaments of the Axi whenever I get the lore and possible some concept art fleshed out on the golden weapons they wield.)

P.S My humblest thanks if you read this far. :) apologies for the length. Much love!

[kanobarlowe]

Labels and orientation in the Imperium Solis

The culture of the Sun-Touched Sands is orientation-neutral—they aren't familiar with labels on orientation or preference. That doesn't mean they don't exist, but they live in a cultural model that cares little about it, and allows for freedom of choice. Instead, they tend to label themselves by role of partnership.

Constans: a neutral term for the dominant lover in a relationship.

Delicatus / Delicata: the masculine and feminine terms for the submissive and subservient lover in a relationship.

Versatus / Versata: typically used only in a sexual context, and more in the bedroom than in public, these are the masculine and feminine terms used for those seeking partnership and are comfortable as both a Constans and a Delicatus/Delicata.

Coniunx: a neutral term to refer to someone you have married legally. Marriage in the Imperium is a contractual obligation between households and does not need love to exist.

Concubinus / Concubina: the masculine and feminine terms for a bed partner, someone who is slept with for the purpose of procreation and/or pleasure that is not a part of the married household. Two families will often come together and arrange for this kind of relationship so that there is a mutually desired offspring and heir of the family line.

Venerarius / Veneraria: holy folk who worship the goddess Venustas. The temples have bedchambers for those who need "relief" to attend to their needs. They will refer to themselves at appointments as Constans, Versatus/Versata, or Delicatus/Delicata to make it clear to citizens who they'd prefer to pair off with.

There are other more niche terms that would exist in this world, but these are the most common. It's easy for an individual to be open about their preferences in this world, and so it's easy for a man like Quill to say he's a Delicatus who prefers the company of men (though he's a Versatus with those he's close with lol)

Note: these are all working terms and subject to change in terms of literal word used, but the categories themselves are pretty set.

[skelenby]

Necromantic Basics [ 1 / ? ]

next >

[nonartmadebynotme]

Kings and Queens of Everstone (2935 - 3388) - 1. Queen Oda II "the Lioness" Oddurnit Everstone (reigned 2935-3108; lived 2892-3108), victor of the 2935 succession crisis, legitimised bastard daughter of King Oddur 2. King Daakon Odanit Everstone (r. 3108-3133, l. 2984-3133), no songs are sung of him but his tax reform was one of a kind, son of Queen Oda II 3. King Haakon "the Dreamer" Daakonit Everstone (r. 3133-3137, l. 3046-3137), neglected his Kingdom, incited war with the Dragonfolk and died in dragon fire, son of King Daakon 4. King Fyric "the Broken" Haakonit Everstone (r. 3137-3358, l. 3125-3358), won the Dragonwars, led his people to prosperity only to end up in a romantic situation with his Goddess, earning her scorn and causing the ultimate downfall of his Kingdom, leaving his people homeless, son of King Haakon 5. King Thrand II Fyriknit Everstone (r. for mere minutes in 3358, l. 3242-3358), died in the same battle as his father King Fyric 6. Queen Thyra II "Twilightblade" Thrandnit Everstone (r. since 3358, born 3315), reclaimed an ancient homeland of her people, daughter of King Thrand II - *AI art used*

[threerattsinatrenchcoat]

Wrote a little joke about Sal casting spells he found in magazines but then I looked up the etymology:

And then this blurb:

late 16th century: from French magasin, from Italian magazzino, from Arabic maḵzin, maḵzan ‘storehouse’, from ḵazana ‘store up’. The term originally meant ‘store’ and was often used from the mid 17th century in the title of books providing information useful to particular groups of people, whence magazine (sense 1) (mid 18th century). magazine (sense 3), a contemporary specialization of the original meaning, gave rise to magazine (sense 2) in the mid 18th century.

And y'all. Wizards should cast from magazines, this should a thing in all fantasy and I'm going to start doing this more