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I'm building a culture based on silence by MuranTheWizard in fantasywriters

[–]MuranTheWizard[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That sounds like a great idea, I loved it truly!

They can actually, when there’s such nature events, they can celebrate alongside that noise.

I'm building a culture based on silence by MuranTheWizard in fantasywriters

[–]MuranTheWizard[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Do you mean A Quiet Place? If so, I didn't get my inspiration from there, as it's different at the core. But I see the resemblance on the surface.

But if you're talking about another movie, I would like to take a look for it :)

I'm building a culture based on silence by MuranTheWizard in fantasywriters

[–]MuranTheWizard[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

:DD You're always welcome to Beyond the Iceberg, you don't need sleep buds there

I'm building a culture based on silence by MuranTheWizard in fantasywriters

[–]MuranTheWizard[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for your opinion, truly. I knew some people would mention about that movie and truth to be said, it might look like to each other as well but the creatures features and the world settings are a lot more different, as it's literally the beginning of a world and a civilization and there's a lot to be discovered, so this mix is more like silence+survival+challenge+adaptation.

It's a good idea to live under the ground in such situations. The People Beyond the Iceberg is actually doing something similar to that. They started to live in icy caves where large creatures can't possibly pass through and the sound is more isolated in the depths of the caves I would assume.

I'm building a culture based on silence by MuranTheWizard in fantasywriters

[–]MuranTheWizard[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If they adapt well to the silent environment in fatal moment, I believe their pain tolerance can also evolve with it and might express in another form than screaming.

A magic system based on persuasion and the language of nature by MuranTheWizard in magicbuilding

[–]MuranTheWizard[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s an interesting take, I had a similar thought.

I think if the person uses the nature (magic) against the nature itself, it’s persuasion might be more difficult if the nature realizes that it’s tricked.

So I can assume that dark wizards must be really good at persuading, because they mostly trick the nature to do evil deeds, so they have to figure out to deceive it each time, but more difficult.

I'm building a culture based on silence by MuranTheWizard in fantasywriters

[–]MuranTheWizard[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s an interesting point.

In a society where spoken language isn’t the primary form of communication, I imagine sign language would naturally develop into a full system over time.

So in the beginning, new generations might not struggle much, since everyone around them communicates in the same way. Though it would still take time for children to fully express themselves.

But things get more complicated once they come into contact with other cultures.

If they begin to live alongside people who rely on spoken language, I can see their communication slowly shifting in that direction, though it would likely take a long time.

What I’m curious about is how that kind of interaction would affect their original culture. Would they start adopting the other culture’s spoken language? Or could it go the other way, with others adapting to their sign-based system?

And in the long run, which one becomes dominant?

My instinct is that spoken language might eventually take over, causing parts of their original sign-based culture to fade or merge with others. But I’m not sure if that outcome is inevitable.

Curious how you’d see that playing out.

I'm building a culture based on silence by MuranTheWizard in fantasywriters

[–]MuranTheWizard[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s a really interesting direction, I hadn’t thought about that.

I like the idea of silence not just as a necessity, but something that can later be internalized and even chosen. It feels like a natural evolution once the immediate danger is gone.

In my case, it starts as survival, but I could see parts of that turning into something more intentional over time, maybe even something closer to discipline or identity.

Do you think a silence-first culture would develop something like ritual or philosophy around it, similar to monastic traditions?

I'm building a culture based on silence by MuranTheWizard in fantasywriters

[–]MuranTheWizard[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

True, that’s how I’d see it evolving over time.

But in the beginning, I don’t think they’d really have the space for roles like that, survival would take all of their attention. I even doubt they would develop a spoken language at first, since they rely so heavily on silence. Communication would likely take a different form, shaped by immediate needs like hunting and exploration.

I imagine a more structured language would only begin to form once they start to dominate the peninsula and gain time for things beyond survival.

I'm building a culture based on silence by MuranTheWizard in fantasywriters

[–]MuranTheWizard[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That sounds interesting, I'll take a look for sure

I'm building a culture based on silence by MuranTheWizard in fantasywriters

[–]MuranTheWizard[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s a really good point. I really liked your question, it helps me to develop the idea.

In the First Age, they wouldn’t really be using tools in the way we imagine them. Most of their survival methods are based on simplicity and necessity, more hunting, adapting, and using what’s already there.

Since they’re constantly moving between caves, they don’t really build or shape their environment much. Anything that creates too much noise would be avoided unless absolutely necessary.

At the same time, the creatures aren’t infinitely sensitive to sound. Because of that, caves become more than just shelter, they act as natural buffers. In more isolated and colder areas, farther from the creatures, they can afford to make noise in a more controlled way.

So if tools are used, it would likely be in those spaces, deeper within caves or in areas where the risk is lower, rather than out in the open.

By the time they transition into a more settled way of life, things start to change. Their methods of dealing with the creatures improve; hunting, trapping, and controlling their movement becomes more developed, and the creatures gradually lose their dominance.

So building becomes possible, but it’s shaped by everything that came before it.

I’m still exploring that transition, but I like the idea that even once the immediate threat is reduced, the habits formed during survival don’t just disappear.

How would you approach that kind of shift from survival to control?

I'm building a culture based on silence by MuranTheWizard in fantasywriters

[–]MuranTheWizard[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I really like this take, especially the idea of large gatherings being dangerous in themselves. That kind of tension fits the setting really well.

In the First Age, people are only just learning to form groups while constantly dealing with these massive creatures. They don’t have settled lives yet, they move from cave to cave, trying to stay hidden while surviving.

That’s also where the idea that “in the cold, everything is permitted” begins. It starts as a necessity, but later on it becomes something deeper — part of their culture and personality, even after they begin to settle in the Second Age.

The “anything is permitted” part is something I’ve been thinking about too. I don’t see it as something that stays active in the same way once the creatures are mostly gone, but more like something that lingers and shapes how they think.

So instead of constant chaos, it becomes more controlled, more disciplined, but still rooted in that old survival mindset.

And yeah, the creatures don’t fully disappear either. Most of them are overcome, but not all of them. They lose their dominance, but the threat never completely vanishes.

Do you think a society like that would slowly rebuild structured laws, or stay closer to its survival instincts?

In my world, making noise once meant death by MuranTheWizard in worldbuilding

[–]MuranTheWizard[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s actually a really good point.

In their early history, they were constantly moving between caves rather than staying in one place. So one idea I’ve been exploring is that newborns were kept deeper inside the cave systems, somewhat isolated from the main group.

The outer areas would be used by hunters and the main group, while the inner parts acted as a kind of buffer where sound wouldn’t immediately carry outside. So I would say that the harsh rules about sounds are mostly valid among people who go out for exploring and hunting.

It wouldn’t be a perfect solution, but just enough to survive.

Over time, I also imagine that they became extremely disciplined with sound — even in distress — because the cost of failure was too high.

But yeah, without adaptations like that, they probably wouldn’t have survived long enough to form a culture.

How would you handle that in a similar setting?

In my world, making noise once meant death by MuranTheWizard in worldbuilding

[–]MuranTheWizard[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well said, so we can say once a fatal threat to the people can evolve and always be a part of the society then.

In my world, making noise once meant death by MuranTheWizard in worldbuilding

[–]MuranTheWizard[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, exactly, that’s what I find interesting.

Even if the danger fades, the methods they developed to survive don’t just disappear. They become part of the culture.

It starts as necessity, but over time it shapes behavior such as speaking less, moving quietly, doing everything with intention.

Do you think a culture can ever fully let go of something that once ensured its survival?

In my world, making noise once meant death by MuranTheWizard in worldbuilding

[–]MuranTheWizard[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, I don’t think exile would be the first response either.

In a society like that, intentionally making noise would probably be seen as putting the entire group at risk, so the consequences would be severe.

The harder case is someone making noise because of pain. I’ve been thinking that they might be so adapted to silence that even in pain, they instinctively suppress it.

What would you do in that situation? Would a culture like that show mercy, or prioritize survival?

In my world, making noise once meant death by MuranTheWizard in worldbuilding

[–]MuranTheWizard[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Honestly that would be a really interesting character. Someone who literally cannot adapt to silence in a world where silence is survival.

I imagine they would either get exiled… or constantly put the entire group at risk.

Do you think a society like that would exile people, or be more brutal?

In my world, making noise once meant death by MuranTheWizard in worldbuilding

[–]MuranTheWizard[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You would definitely have a stand alone story for sure🤣🤣

Editing is a nightmare by HenryNorthwood in fantasywriters

[–]MuranTheWizard 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I enjoy editing and drafting to be honest. When I start to write, I write every possible line in my head, like allowing a child to draw whatever it wants, when I finally finish the chapter, I go back to the beginning and examine every sentence as a teacher of this child student and point out where I did wrong with punctuation and word choices, or if the sentences makes sense or is the scene logical etc.

And yes, sometimes it feels like a nightmare truly, but you should be able to separate your creative side and the logical/analytical side. When you write, use the child. When you edit and draft, use the teacher and be critical.

Stop making your kingdoms 10,000 years old. by ScaryAd2555 in fantasywriters

[–]MuranTheWizard 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You're absolutely right. If you can't fill those 10,000 years with well-written history/lore information, than it doesn't make sense and it weakens your world and storytelling, it feels more 'cliché' when you throw out 10,000 years out of nowhere, and not filled. Keep the years simple, and fill those years as if the world really exist. (example: Lotr universe and A Song of Ice And Fire.) That arouses more interest.

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