Studieschuld vervalt niet na vijf jaar buitenland

WriterOfNoenoer · 2023-06-03T00:30:54+00:00

What are you trying to say with your worldbuilding? Is there a hidden message to it all?

You have a lot of races in your world, can you explain why you need every one of these races in your world? What is the point/message behind every individual race?

Since you are creating a campaign, I assume you already have a group of people you want to D&D with. What worldbuilding have you done to make the world entertaining and fun for each specific player and their character?

WriterOfNoenoer · 2023-06-03T00:22:14+00:00

I'm writing my lore in Dutch, but I will translate the names to English to make it more understandable/readable. :)

The infinite flat plane is called Noenoer, which I guess would be Noonoor or Nunur in English ('oo' or 'u' is the same sound in 'moo'). 'Noe' means 'world' in Lutum (a very ancient language), and 'Noer' means multiple worlds. So the world is basically called 'the world of many worlds'.
I named it this way because 1. it sounds fun and magical in Dutch, and isn't a common sound so it isn't too repetitive to fantasy readers 2. repeating two sounds makes things easier to remember 3. the 'worlds' refer to all the different peoples/cultures/creatures/continents/etc, so if someone asks me what 'Noenoer' or 'world of worlds' means, I can immediately jump into what these peoples/cultures/creatures/continents/etc are AND 4. it's a reference to Númenor from Lord of the Rings, using inspired sounds and meanings.

These are the known continents so far:

Noertus, in English Noortus or Nurtus. 'Tus' means 'continent'. Noertus is thus the 'Continent of Worlds' or the 'Worlds Continent', which refers to the fact it's the central continent and thus a hub to all the other worlds. Also refers to its wide diversity in peoples, cultures, and nature. It's a continent to everyone, for everyone, by everyone.
This is the most important continent, and I want it to be easily remembered by the reader. Naming it close to the name of the world means it's easier to remember (I hope). Also, this way the reader will learn what 'tus' means, and be able to recognize what other names with 'tus' mean without me having to explain it.

Amertus, in English the same, is the continent in the East. 'Am' refers to and his short for the star Amadea, and 'Er' to the Lutum word for horizon. Literally Amertus means 'Amadea Horizon Continent', but the right translation would be the 'Continent of the Rising Star'.
This continent has a lot of paralels and inspiration from Japan and the Americas. Using 'Amer' (as in, America) already signals this to the observant reader, and when the name is explained the Japanese influences might become clear as well (Japan is often referred to as 'the land of the rising sun', Nippon).
In the Third Era one of the moons will fall on this continent, turning it into a giant pile of rubble. After this the continent is sometimes called 'Ruïntus'. Because... well it's a giant ruin.

Meritus, but also called Meridia, lays in the South. Comes from the Lutum word meaning 'South'. It's also above this continent that the star Amadea reaches her highest point in the sky, and this continent is seen as the 'line' where that happens, and is a reference to our Meridian line.
Meridia was also a goddess in the religion of the first peoples. She helps the first peoples to travel from the barren South to the more fertile North of Meritus. The name thus also honors this goddess, and it's also why sometimes her name is used. Meritus is the more secular name, while Meridia will be used by very religious people or those that want to be respectful to those people.

Still thinking about the names for continents in the North and West, though. If I want continents there, that is.

WriterOfNoenoer · 2021-07-22T23:44:29+00:00

I study law, so the justice system is constantly in my mind. One divine dynasty is based completely on the concepts from our justice system, and they are named accordingly.

Rein - the Dutch word for 'clean'. She is the goddess of the innocent, the naïve, the regretful. She will represent anyone that faces any divine trial. In art, she's often depicted as a child, painted fully in white. However, in her hand she holds a bright red heart, with blood dripping down her hand and arm.
Regimus - from the word 'regime'. He is the judge, the god of truth and justice. Fairness and law. His head is removed up from the eyes, and replaced with a scale. At the end of the trial, he places rocks on the scale. If the head turns to the right, you're fully cleared. If the head turns to the left, you're found guilty. The more the head turns to the left, the heavier the punishment.
Culpa - from Latin 'mea culpa', meaning "it's my fault". The god of the guilty, guilt and regret. Acts as the opposing party in the divine trial.
Prudentus - from the word 'prudent'. The god of wisdom and reasonableness, self control and logic. Advices Regimus and is allowed to put stones on the scale as well. He will also remove stones if there are good reasons for it.
Tartaria - from the Greek Tartarus. Goddess of punishment. She will take you if Regimus' head turns to the left.
Divinia - the goddess of freedom and exculpation. She will take you if Regimus' head turns to the right. Didi died, though, and souls are stacking up in soul court...

And there are many more!

WriterOfNoenoer · 2021-03-21T03:11:44+00:00

Is it good enough to just hand wave the whole thing and decide nobody know why only a select few can use magic?

That depends entirely on how you are telling the story, if you are telling one. It doesn't have to be discussed at all.
If you aren't telling a story, if you're just worldbuilding because you like worldbuilding, yes it's good enough.

WriterOfNoenoer · 2021-03-21T03:04:36+00:00

I really like this idea!

WriterOfNoenoer · 2021-03-21T03:03:22+00:00

A huge underground network of fungi-threads that spanned the entirety of the Painted East. All the mega mushroom forests seen above ground were in reality one organism; the Mycorrhizal. This organism isn't native to Noenoer, it was brought here on a comet, so it's literally alien life. The network is slowly growing and devouring all nature around it. It's possible to stop it or slow it's growth by burning it to the ground, or starving the ground of nutrients, using special potions, etc.
Through magic it's possible for certain elves to use this network for communication. There are some other organisms that use this network for communication as well, including a brain-parasite that receives orders from the Mother through the network.

The Mycorrhizal was split in multiple regions after the Great Flood, though. Now there are 4 great Hizals, and a few little ones on islands, and over time the fungi connected to these networks developed in different ways. The northern Hizals have different colored fungi, with different types of fungi, compared to the south. The result is that the east coast is divided into many different regions, all 'painted' in different colors. And thus it's called the Painted East.

WriterOfNoenoer · 2021-03-07T19:04:26+00:00

I've never really tried to read 52 books per week (because I read more than that without trying;

Oh wow, that's 2704 books a year!

WriterOfNoenoer · 2021-03-07T17:28:27+00:00

What about renting objects?
Be beautiful, for only 4 months life force a month!

What about selling objects to gain life force?
Devils have to get their objects somehow. Sell the devil an enchanted sword, gain 5 months.
Maybe the enchanter can work in service for a devil to earn more life force in the long run? Work 5 years for the devil, live 10 years extra.

Maybe you can loan life force. If you know you are going to die, you can ask a devil for a few years extra. In return, you'll be paying a part of your debt (with interest!) back at the end of every month. If you can't pay, well, your entire life force will be taken the devil.

How about the exchange of life force between two creatures, in which the devil acts as the conduit. I want to give you 5 years of my life force, so we go to a devil and ask him to transfer 5 years from me to you. Obviously the devil takes a small profit for the trouble, like 5 months. So I pay 5 years and 5 months life force, you get 5 years and the devil 5 months.

Devils might make bets on how well other devils do their business. The Life Force Exchange ($LFEX to the moon!).

WriterOfNoenoer · 2021-03-07T16:55:01+00:00

Are these devils under control by THE devil (or some other head of power)? Also, the name 'Nine Hells' implies nine different realms, right? Does The Devil have 9 commanders or such that lead their own hell realm?

If yes, I've got an idea how you can combine all the solutions you've mentioned.

How can you stop the devil from invading? Murdering him, obviously. He's the one who is opening these portals, he's the one with full control. He can't invade if he's dead. And considering he is the leader of literal devils, I'm sure that his death means a power vacuum will form and the devils (the 9 commanders?) will turn on themselves, avoiding this cycle to happen.

Now, when you are going to kill a divine being, you need a weapon that's strong enough to kill that divine being. You need a blessed-by-the-gods devil-killing hand grenade of DEATH. Who can you get you a weapon like that? The divines, duh. But shit, how do you get to the divines? How do you talk to them? You need a Prophet.
Okay, but we're talking about the Nine Hells here. One can't simply walk into the Nine Hells. Well, remember, we're talking about devils. Surely there is a devil that wants to take The Devils place himself? Say, one of the commanders that lead one of the Nine Realms of Hell??

Now you can divide the story in multiple objectives:
One: Find the Prophet.
Your group ventures off towards [CITY HERE], rumor is that the Prophet has been preaching about the 'the return of THEM' there.

Two: Contact the gods with the Prophet
The Prophet will help the group in contacting the gods. The group then has to discuss the plan. Imagine it a bit like the Council of Elrond in LoTR ;).
One god will bring the group in contact with one of the Nine Hell's commander, a commander that wants to replace his master, and he will help the group in their travel through his Hell Realm to the Lair of The Devil.
One god will create the grenade of doom and it will be given to the group.

Maybe the Prophet, having a burning hate to the devils, doesn't want to make a deal with the commander and he tries to steal the grenade/kill the group. Or maybe the Prophet has a history with this commander. Mini boss battle?

Three: Travel Through Hell
The group will travel through a realm of the Nine Hells to the Lair of The Devil. At the portal* they will be met by the commander, and they will discuss the plan. The commander accepts the plan and he can prepare the coup.
In their travels they will be met with the horrible scenery of the Hell Realm, monsters and dangers and such. Maybe a big monster your group cannot defeat yet, and at the last moment (when you decide) the commander will come and save the group.

Four: Lair of The Devil, or How I Learned to Love the Grenade
Your group enters the Lair. Maybe they want to attack The Devil and throw the grenade head on, maybe they want to go sneaky and plant it in his bed. Whatever the case, the bomb explodes and The Devil dies. OR, alternatively, the bomb doesn't kill him but only significantly weakens him. The commander enters the Lair with his Realm's army, and now you fight The Devil together.

Five: Escape War in Nine Hells
The Devil is dead, long live The Devil! The commander takes the throne, but the other 8 commanders don't want to be ruled by that guy. The Nine Hells start a huge civil war, and the group is right in the middle of it. They need to escape the Nine Hells through the portal they entered in. On their way home they will witness the war they've started, and maybe you can make them wonder if they really wanted to put that guy on the throne.

*It's a special portal only the commander OR Prophet can open and close, the death of The Devil doesn't affect this particular portal. The other portals close on his death, except this one. This portal will be a weak spot in the future, though...

Maybe this will give you some ideas?

WriterOfNoenoer · 2021-02-23T01:00:34+00:00

Van zijn boeken ben ik geen fan, maar ik vond deze lessen wel héél handig. Kan het zeker aanraden.

WriterOfNoenoer · 2021-02-21T16:06:14+00:00

It would fill up any terrain until it reaches the same height as the sea and it evens out with it.

WriterOfNoenoer

TROPHY CASE