#because it in turn feeds into the overarching theme of corruption within that story

[phoenix-before-the-flame]

I’m watching one piece, and now I’m wondering do you have any hcs on the world building in the fairy tail universe ? Do you think theirs some crazy kingdom’s , advanced technology in some lands ? Love to hear your thoughts 💗

hmmmmmmmmmmm kinda a bit of a deep question tbh.

Structurally FT has good bones for its world. And that's kinda it lol

There's a fleshed out map of all the countries within the continent that fiore is found on (Ishgar, which has 16 named countries apart from fiore itself) and expanding wider than that we know that there are about 3 named continents (Ishgar to the east being a peninsula connected to the mainland that we know nothing of, Alakitasia to the west where Alavarez is and Guiltina to the north) and a fourth unnamed continent further east that exists within earthland.

But while we have all this info, nothing in particular comes into play as the series had progressed, the majority of the series' arcs all more or less take place within the same country, which for a series that has it's characters constantly travelling for missions looks particularly bad, especially when even the known locations all visually seem indistinct from each other in terms of stuff like architecture. It's a reason why I appreciate edolas in particular because it at least offered something that visually stood out and an insight into how that culture functioned. (and in Phoenix Priestess for the small montage the squad in the city of Rose Garden and showing a bit of the country Veronica)

Like it is frustrating to me whenever I think on it because the solution would be just to change the locations of where they travel to just to expand the background of the places travelled, wouldn't even have to change arc structures or anything to give some life to the named countries like:

Joya despite its small size as a country is the main manufacturers of trains and exports the majority of the transportation other countries use as well as weapons. Wizards are less found here, with treasure hunting being a more popular job choice.

Sin, despite the ironic name, is a deeply religious and faith driven country. Magics that have connection to nature and celestial bodies are particularly revered here.

Desierto mostly deals with trade, having constantly active shipping ports. Enchanted items such as brooms and carpets are popular and easy transport choices within cities and are more widely used than vehicles.

Iceberg's largely uninhabited due to the weather with most of the population sticking closer to the country's borders.

Like this is all just purely flavour text examples to just try and bring some life to these otherwise lifeless locations but you get the general gist of it.

There was clearly this effort to establish these locations by giving then names (and drawing a full on map) so it always boggled me that they were never properly used as a backdrop for the arcs within the story. (Tower of Heaven? Move that arc to Sin, Lucy's arc with Loke? Takes place in Stella, That arc with the giant village? Put it in Minstrel).

Like shifting around major arc locations would easily open up avenues to naturally expand the world as the story moves. And not even just big arcs, but smaller less grand filler arcs (which jesus christ did ft rlly need because it defs need breathing room between all the big events. It's why the story moves at such a breakneck speed without things really feeling as though they've changed in any meaningful ways) would do wonders to make earthland feel like a genuine lived in world (like how it is within the world of one piece that you cited as an inspo for this ask.)

[setsuunii]

𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗣𝗧: "[𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗜]𝗙𝗜𝗘𝗥"

𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: 𝟭𝟲+

⁀ ✦ 𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗟 𝗜𝗡𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡:

— 𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨:

     This story has meant a great deal to me, not only because it is my very first original story, but rather as a collection of all of the hard work that many of my peers and collaborators have created. This work has been inspired by a variety of games directed by Yoko Taro, a composition that was written by Keiichi Okabe and Masaru Shiina, two Japanese composers who have been my guiding star in my journey. Alongside them, I have given my touch of experience within [Lati]fier, leaving a piece of myself within it. 

⁀ ✦ 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗜𝗧𝗖𝗛:

     In a place where people grow thorns underneath their skin based on their emotional and physical health, there is a story about a struggling teen named Lucien, trying to find self-worth in a vicious world that targets the weak by turning them into monsters. He is training to become a Harvester, the city’s most elite soldiers and intends on exposing an underground smuggling network that has plans to eradicate the capital.

⁀ ✦ 𝗧𝗜𝗧𝗟𝗘 𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗣𝗜𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗠𝗘𝗔𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚:

     “[Lati]fier” is broken down into two words in Latin: “Latifolia” a reference to the Brunfelsia pauciflora, a type of plant within the Solanaceae family, also known as “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” and “Laufier” which means triumphant. This is when the tagline, “Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow will be Triumphant,” was created as it reflects the main character’s journey of overcoming his weaknesses and fears in creating a new identity for himself. However, it also implies that regardless of one’s past and future, one will always find succession in themselves. The overall story has a floral theme and conveys ideas of power, corruption, redemption, and self-loathe/love as it aims to educate people on the importance of self-awareness and love while portraying social/political issues as an overarching conflict that blankets over them.

⁀ ✦ 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗘𝗧𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚:

     The “Solanaceae” consists of a great, medieval-like Capital that is surrounded by lush flora, their pride resting at the heart of its military as many of its residents come from long lineages of wealthy families who’ve settled in the land centuries before. The population consists of various influential figures, children of the capital are raised to continue their family legacy of medical or military power, some even going even further to becoming leaders of their communities. However, on the edges of the city, lies the Outskirts, a thin section of land that is condensed with those stricken by poverty. “The Devil’s Trumpet,” is a mysterious illness that develops ebony thorns underneath a person’s outer layer of skin. They continue to grow when the host is experiencing a decline in their mental health or troubled by their struggles in life. It continues to fester within the darkest parts of the Outskirts, feeding upon the weak and fragile to develop what is known as “Daturas,” a creature created by the unspoken desires of those suffering. These creatures have been known to attack nearby citizens and are constantly hostile, making them difficult to be reverted to their original human selves. This leads to the capital deciding to massacre them as a way to keep their population small and manageable, though there are hints that they are letting a few runs throughout the Outskirts as a way to dwindle their numbers or silence those who have spoken against them and covering it up as an attack from a Datura.

     There is a story about the “Chronicles of the Solare” which are twelve ancient books scattered throughout the underground system of the Capital with vivid detail of the country’s extensive history. It is said that some of the country’s most exclusive tunnel systems are mapped into each of the books, making them a sought-after treasure by the wealthy. There is a special rumor within the book that has spread throughout the country like wildfire, a spoken set of words that depicts the glory of the Solanaceae. “Those pure of heart and soul will reign over the wilted gardens,” is part of a vague story that flourishes throughout the nation. Many influential and political leaders have been photographed with flowers, their sleeves and hearts intertwined with their fragile, clean stems, a clear symbol of their angelic nature and attempt to create a brighter future for the motherland. On the other hand, those who are plagued by thorns are ridiculed and outcasted from society out of fear that they would turn into the fearful Daturas that roam the streets. This idea is what sparked propaganda against them as it is believed that those infected are unable to grow flowers. They “are not pure of heart, and therefore a danger to society.”

     Lastly, the Harvesters consist of only a select number of children from poverty-ridden cities who could enter the Capital through the Harvester Recruit Program, a special opportunity for the youth to contribute to Solanaceae’s ever-growing world. Harvesters function as bodyguards, military soldiers, and teachers. They are responsible for the disposal of any recorded Daturas that the Capital has identified as a hazardous threat. Each of them is delivered a special weapon of their request and granted certain access to several tunnels underneath the city. Their Harvester rank determines which tunnels they could enter and operate in. It is mandatory by law for any Instructor in the Capital to have at least seven years of experience as a Harvester and signed documents to validate their teaching. Those working in the Outskirts have little to no protection, making them easy targets for young, troubled students under the influence of The Devil’s Trumpet.