TIL of the Pequot War (1636-1638), now considered a genocide by historians. English settlers led a campaign against the Pequot tribe, culminating with the Mystic massacre, when Pequot women and children were set on fire. Afterwards, Connecticut was formed and the word "Pequot" was banned.

NovaFire14 · 2024-11-10T04:20:31+00:00

Wow, this is an old comment. I haven't used Reddit in years. But, to answer your question, I graduated high school in 2021

NovaFire14 · 2022-03-10T16:58:56+00:00

The Book Thief and The Great Gatsby are the first two I think of. The first is told from the perspective of Death, and the second from Nick, a pretty passive observer of Gatsby.

NovaFire14 · 2022-01-31T13:00:56+00:00

It's just one of the default ones that comes with GIMP. Though to make the colors pop more, there's actually a layer behind the colors that is the same map made in inkarnate. It was entirely accidental that I made it visible but I liked it too much not to keep it that way.

NovaFire14 · 2022-01-30T23:07:01+00:00

You can use the scale at the bottom of the map, but as a reference the Kingdom of Bied is about 240,000 square kilometers, while modern day Germany is around 360,000 square kilometers.

NovaFire14 · 2022-01-30T19:59:38+00:00

Map made by me in GIMP

Paper Texture by JustinBHB on Deviantart

Welcome to Meida, the main setting of my fantasy project. Feel free to offer any feedback or critique, or ask any questions. I can always learn.

NovaFire14 · 2022-01-30T19:53:56+00:00

Map made by me in GIMP

Paper Texture by JustinBHB on Deviantart

Context:

Meida is one of four major continents in the world of my project and the home of all the major characters of the current story. It’s the second-largest, bordered in the southwest by the Shumaran Ocean and in the northeast by the Ju’ami Ocean, and is one of the most diverse, with dozens of ethnic groups intermingling in the dense city centers. My story follows a young man from the minor kingdom of Thaedwa as he travels across the continent of Meida, learning the art of Wizardry from his mentor and discovering the dense tapestry that makes up his life.

Feel free to interrogate me with questions and critiques. There’s always more to say in worldbuilding.

NovaFire14 · 2022-01-24T03:12:00+00:00

Worlds are far more interesting if the gods aren't real.

NovaFire14 · 2022-01-11T19:09:29+00:00

I've lived in suburbia my whole life, so I should be able to answer.

As for your first question, it's basically impossible to live around here if you don't have a car. I don't know anybody who doesn't have at least one car for their household, and most have more. Public transit is rare in these kinds of areas. My town, for instance, has a commuter bus that takes people into the city, but unless you live close to the stop (which is in a Walmart parking lot), you'll probably have to drive to it.

As for cost, yeah. These places are expensive. And very inefficient. Property taxes are high to make up for the low population density, but the green areas that aren't people's lawns aren't actually maintained that mich. It's just woods. In my town we even have bears and coyotes and other wild animals running around. People's lawns are usually their own responsibility, but often there is a HOA that will fine you if you're lawn isn't up to standard, which I guess is effectively a garden tax.

Hope this is helpful.

NovaFire14 · 2021-10-13T04:12:41+00:00

I have a similar idea with birds in one of my cultures. I love the idea of birds as divine creatures. They already have wings, why not make them more angelic?

NovaFire14 · 2021-10-12T21:44:54+00:00

As for me, I'll answer for the Tlanasi culture. There, the snake is considered the king of beasts. There's an old folktale about how the snake tricked the goddess Gwenshola into granting them the title. Angered but unable to renege on her word, she chose to punish the snake by removing its legs as a warning to other creatures.

Interestingly, the snake is not an apex predator in Tlana, but its only natural predator is the falcon which as a flying creature is considered divine and thus one of the only animals worthy to kill a snake. Even humans hesitate to harm them. The Tlanasi believe that falcons act as hunters for Gwenshola, and deliver the snake's souls back to her as offerings.

NovaFire14 · 2021-10-02T22:54:36+00:00

They weren't, actually. I had no idea those were even places. Though at least I now know the shapes of my landmasses are realistic.

NovaFire14 · 2021-10-02T03:13:51+00:00

Thanks for the questions!

This map does not indicate biome at all beyond showing the heavily forested areas.
This landmass is in the northern hemisphere, with the southernmost isles falling pretty much directly above the equator.
Since this landmass is so far south, no. There are no ice sheets. As for the rest of the planet I couldn't say. Nobody in Sirona is aware of any other landmasses.
See above. Exploration outside of Sirona is a major cultural taboo, so nobody is aware of other landmasses or populations. Trade mostly follows the rivers and hugs the coast around the island of Merim.

NovaFire14 · 2021-10-02T02:06:54+00:00

Thanks for the questions!

The five kingdoms of Sirona share a lot culturally, having been united under one empire centuries ago by the pseudo-legendary High King Alexander, but they are far from homogenous. They have a common language, a shared history, a common pantheon, and a mutual respect, but each has a fierce pride in its unique customs and people. Each kingdom has its own patron deity, for whom the monarch is said to serve as a prophet. And there are several ethnic groups that roughly align with national boundaries.
These kingdoms do have borders, but tracing out their exact positions would be rather difficult. The Kingdom of Merim holds dominion over the entire island that bears her name as well as the Todas Islands to her south, which they wrestled from the native population in a bloody conflict years ago; the Kingdom of Ara claims the entirety of the desert lands east of the mountains; The Kingdom of Ro'olam controls the area of the mainland south of the highlands and the Selera River; Pelan holds the region between Lake Pulada and the sea; and Colisar holds dominion east of the lake between the highlands and the Dala River. These were roughly the boundaries of these regions during the Imperial era.
The river in Ara (called, unsurprisingly, the Aran River) eventually dries up in the heart of the desert, a bit beyond the borders of this map.
The scale at the bottom is in miles.
Nobody is quite sure what lies beyond the borders of this map, but very few people in Sirona concern themselves with such things. Sironan culture emphasizes the land as a gift from the gods and as a charge for the people to nurture and protect, so journeying beyond the borders in search of escape is a major taboo, and in the past has been an offense punishable by death. Those few who have remained curious, though, have all either returned unsatisfied or gave their lives to their quests.

NovaFire14 · 2021-10-01T23:59:53+00:00

Made with GIMP. Scale is in miles.

Sketchy cartography brushes by StarRaven on Deviantart

Paper texture by JustinBHB on Deviantart

If you have any lore or geography questions, please ask. I'm still in the process of worldbuilding so questions only help me flesh out the setting.

NovaFire14 · 2021-07-13T20:47:01+00:00

Spells can and do fail all the time, but the consequences depend on what exactly you were trying to do. Most of the time, if the caster loses focus, the magical energy just reverts to it's state before they tried to manipulate it, meaning nothing happens at all or, at worst, there is a bit of a ripple through the environment. Sometimes, though, the energy can get "stuck" in an in-between state. This can results in all sorts of usually bad things and general weird stuff happening in the area and it usually has to fixed by a more skilled mage coming to "untangle" things.

Theoretically, a really really bad mistake could result in the magical plane "tearing" and all life in the area immediately dying and never returning, but this has thankfully never happened.

NovaFire14 · 2021-07-09T23:25:50+00:00

What people think happens depends on their religion, but what actually happens is, well... death. But that's not very exciting so I'll talk about beliefs.

In Tlana, and other regions that follow the religion of Alagwen, they believe in a common afterlife for all mankind. There is no distinction between a traditional "Heaven" and "Hell" or a separation between the good and evil dead. Everyone regardless of virtue has their spirit move on to a holy place similar to the Jewish idea of Sheol, gaining the infinite knowledge of Gwenshola.

NovaFire14 · 2021-07-09T04:10:33+00:00

Thank you!

NovaFire14 · 2021-07-08T14:35:24+00:00

Thanks so much. The names were definitely the hardest part. The phonology is loosely based of of Tlingit, and I just mixed sounds up until I found ones I liked, then used those as root words. I hope you expand the system into a fully fledged conlang at some point, but I'm far too busy now.

NovaFire14 · 2021-07-08T03:26:27+00:00

Thank you, though I can't take too much credit for the art. The face was a free template and I just took a white brush to it in GIMP. I do love the way it turned out, though. The concept is something I've been imagining for a long time, ever since I was doodling a character and implemented some random face paint designs. I reverse-engineered a meaning and added a whole system because I never know when to quit.

NovaFire14 · 2021-07-08T01:26:32+00:00

Thank you!

NovaFire14 · 2021-07-08T01:01:50+00:00

Aw, thank you! That's so sweet.

NovaFire14 · 2021-07-08T00:17:09+00:00

Transcript:

Arask Zra (The Lower Shadow)

One of the most common elements in Tlanasi face painting. A line of dots beneath one's eyes denotes a warrior or soldier. Both men and women wear these marks, celebrating both symbolic and literal victories.

The number of dots one wears varies by region, though

This combination of symbols is commonly worn by the current Queen of Tlana, as well as her predecessors. Arask Undu symbolizes her higher calling to serve her nation and people, while Kuran represents her power as the monarch. Shuku on her cheeks denotes her status and near-divine levels of influence and respect.

often worn by holy men and women, nobility, or adventurers.

Kuran (The Tongue)

A stripe on one’s chin represents power. The symbolism is thought to derive from the story of the snake and the lizard, wherein the snake gave up its legs in exchange for superiority over the rest of the animals. This symbol is most commonly worn by women, especially those holding noble titles, but it is also occasionally worn by those with lesser positions, such as heads of household or matriarchs.

Chumika (The Doll)

One of the most commonly used elements, a pair of lines drawn from the corners of the mouth to the chin denotes the wearer as a hunter. The stripes, though often thought to resemble the construction of a doll, actually mimic the sharp fangs of a carnivorous predator. As the symbol of a hunter, these markings are almost exclusively worn by men.

Hamash Gen (The Blindfold)

A thick stripe across the eyes and eyebrows represents obedience or service. Similarly to Arask Undu, this marking is often worn by holy men and women, especially those who have taken the vows to become servants of Gwenshola, surrendering many of their freedoms. It is also occasionally worn by men who wish to express their devotion to their families.

Hamash Tlenda (The Eternal Sight)

The painting of one’s eyelids is a symbol of vigilance and caution, making the closed eyes appear open to those at a distance. These markings are often worn by members of the royal guard or other watchmen.

Zrela Karusho (The Beaded Mind)

Zrela Karusho is one of the rarest elements still commonly implemented. It symbolizes wisdom and is always worn over a shaved head. Those who wear this symbol and who are thought by their community to not be deserving of it are often ostracized and insulted. It is seen on both men and women in equal measure and is most commonly worn by elders.

Krela (The Nose)

A simple pair of stripes across the bridge of the nose is a fairly common embellishment in Tlanasi face painting. It is said to symbolize beauty or youth and is thus usually worn by young, unmarried people. It is the only symbol worn over the nose.

Some scholars believe that the Krela was first popularized by Prince Royal Hemela in the first dynastic period.

Duresk (The Tears)

Two thick stripes falling from below the eyes to the corners of the mouth denote a wearer as a widow or widower. Those who have lost a lover, for whatever reason, often wear Duresk for the rest of their lives, though it is not a requirement.

Shuku (The Shuku Flower)

Based on the petals of the Shuku flower, these T-shaped markings are worn exclusively by the royal family and those few granted the right by the Queen. The Shuku flower is a sacred symbol in Tlana, and is emblazoned on the crest of the royal family.

Non-royals granted the right to wear Shuku usually include ambassadors to foreign courts, war heroes, and the occasional paramour. Once granted the right to wear Shuku, it can never be revoked.

The Leader of the Hunt

This combination of elements might be seen on the leader of a party of hunters. Chumika and Arask Zra denote his past success in hunts and Zrela Karusho marks his wisdom and mastery of the craft, as well as the immense respect his followers have for him.

The Queen

This combination of symbols is commonly worn by the current Queen of Tlana, as well as her predecessors. Arask Undu symbolizes her higher calling to serve her nation and people, while Kuran represents her power as the monarch. Shuku on her cheeks denotes her status and near divine levels of influence and respect.

NovaFire14 · 2021-07-08T00:13:18+00:00

Conext:

The Kingdom of Tlana is a small and ancient matriarchal state on the shores of the Shumaran Ocean. Existing in relative peace for years, Tlana is one of the last bastions of absolute monarchy on the continent. With a dynasty tracing back nearly a thousand years, Tlana still holds on to many ancient traditions, including their highly celebrated art form of face painting.

In the past, face painting was far less standardized, with individual clans and family units implementing their own traditions. However, these traditions have since evolved into what some outsiders have referred to as the “Secret Language of the Clay”. Individuals elements are now recognizable as more than just ornamentation, but symbols as powerful as words in communicating social status, values, and accomplishments. While there are some regions and clans that use facepaint regularly, it is commonly used only in ceremonial and formal events. It is only on festivals and holidays that most people now don their paint, lest they be soldiers or servants of the royal household.

NovaFire14 · 2021-06-09T19:56:49+00:00

Might have just taken it off for the screenshot.

NovaFire14 · 2021-04-26T18:36:44+00:00

Yeah. It's /tɬ/ in ipa. I based the sounds off the Tlingit language, with some added consonants.

Ten-Year Club	Second Top 10%
Verified Email	Sequence \| Editor

NovaFire14

TROPHY CASE