shivertongue:

So. This is an intropost. What I am introducing is still a mystery. This “blog” exists because of a whim, and I don’t yet know what use it’s going to be, or what I plan to use it for.

Writing, perhaps. Or art. Probably both.

I am Shivertongue von Slamdance VI, otherwise known as Shiv, and occasionally referred to as Will. Those in the cosmere fandom might know me from 17th Shard, where I am one of the benevolent overlords - specifically, the Supreme Graphics Monkey. 

Yes. We are driving our spikes into tumblr. Or something.

Despite this association, this likely won’t have much to do with 17th Shard; we have our own tumblr for that. I don’t carry on much with them high-falutin’ theories, with their high-level math and physics and numbers, so exhale a sigh of relief there. 17th Shard-related design, perhaps? Probably see some of that, but the more I consider and type and ramble, the more I think this will mainly be an outlet for my personal work.

Or maybe not. We’ll see.

Bahahaha, we’re taking over! I mean, you guys should totally follow Shiv because he’s cool and we totally won’t spike you or anything….

ifyouhadwings:

teamniceboyfriends:

IF YOU DON’T SHIP MY OTP I SWEAR TO GOD i’ll be okay with that

YOU DON’T LIKE MY FAVORITE THING, I’M GONNA respect the fact that you have your own taste

OOH! I REALLY like this! It’s so interesting! #Awesome desert sexist fun is right!

I’m glad you enjoyed it! :D I’d actually like to write more in this setting; the guy who learned magic seems like he’d be really fun to write. Hmm…

Okay, I’m beat. I need to turn in for the night. Gavin, I love the idea you send me, and I’ll definitely be answering it - tomorrow. ;)

Even though it won’t be Worldbuilding Wednesday anymore, feel free to send me more suggestions if you think of any and I’ll answer them tomorrow. I’m really enjoying this! :D

kogiopsis:

okay I think.  I think I’m going to make it my goal to have enough worked out about at least one world to be able to do Worldbuilding Wednesday next week.  I think I can do that.

You could also just fly by the seat of your pants like I’ve been doing. It’s actually a lot of fun! :D

featherwriter replied to your post: Late Night Worldbuilding

Okay, let’s throw a few of MY favorite things at you. Desert society (but the sandy kind), high magic, reverse sexism so dominant females (because why the heck not)? GO!

Oo, deserts and high magic are some of my favorite things as well! :D Again, sorry for the lack of names.

The Empire has existed, unchanging, for millennia. Or so their historians will tell you. How true this is might never be fully understood by outsiders, as they are quite exclusive when it comes to sharing information, but considering how stable their way of life has been for basically as long as anyone can remember, most people are willing to accept it as fact.

Women dominate nearly every facet of life: government, trade, and even day to day society are run exclusively by female hands. Works of art, literature, and music are all created by women. Rumors exist of men secretly publishing under female pseudonyms, but no record of these men or their works actually existing has ever been found. Take that for what it’s worth.

Grace and elegance are the defining forces in their aesthetic values. Where women are lithe and graceful (regardless of size), men are seen as inherently clumsy and ungainly. No matter how graceful or practiced a man’s movements, he will never be seen as equal to a woman’s superior form and movements. Where women have the defining roles in government and culture, men are relegated to positions of labor, servitude, and military service. However, because women are considered to be the only suitable leaders, the otherwise all-male military will be dominated by a select few female officers. While still above the men, these women often rank very low in society because of their masculine role.

It is interesting to note that martial prowess has a particular duality about it to this culture. Bloodshed and violence are seen as unseemly, hence the assignment of military duty to the men, but as with every aspect of their culture, it is infused with the principles of beauty and grace, though one would be a fool to assume that they sacrifice skill for beauty. Should you ever cross swords with one of their Blademasters with such a thought in your head, you will meet the most beautiful death imaginable.

As a polyandric society, it is a sign of wealth and privilege for a woman to have multiple husbands. Indeed, rather than being his wife’s only husband, a man actually gains influence and prestige by being the favorite among his wife’s many husbands. Many scholars believe that this practice began because of the curious imbalance between the sexes, with many more boys being born than girls over the centuries. The cause of this is still unknown.

However, the Empire’s most defining achievement - despite its cultural achievements, despite its vast military might - is magic. They are responsible for many of the world’s most important magical advancements, and those are just the ones they decided to share with the rest of us. There are constantly rumors and whispers crossing the world as to what other wonders might be hidden behind their palace walls and veiled faces. As the highest calling possible to their people, its practitioners are treated with the utmost respect, bordering on outright reverence. Girls all over eagerly await their tenth birthday, on which they are tested for the ability in a mysterious ceremony that takes place behind closed doors. Of course, being a superior calling, only women perform magic. Men aren’t even tested because of the pervasive belief that they simply don’t have the ability by virtue of their sex.

However, all that might be changing. There are whispers - terrible whispers - of a man who, above all odds, taught himself to use magic. The Palace is tight-lipped on the subject, all but pointedly looking in the other direction, and these rumors are viciously suppressed, but all those soldiers and warcasters are certainly looking for someone…

(Wow this turned out longer than I expected. Also I suck at naming things, so they don’t have a name yet, but this was fun. Thanks for the challenge!)

They are largely androgynous, making it difficult for outsiders to determine which physical sex a particular individual is manifesting at any given time, but then, they are more likely to ask you why it matters than give a straightforward answer when asked. Physical sex is seen more as a matter of expression than an inherent part of their core identity. This can make interaction with outsiders potentially very awkward, though more than a few locals have taken to pranking ignorant guests by switching at opportune times (or inopportune, depending whose side you’re experiencing it from).

Gender identity is very fluid. While there are some who generally prefer to keep the form of one physical sex most of the time, there are equally as many individuals who are comfortable changing as needed, for such reasons as procreation or just because they wanted to. Or for the aforementioned messing with the ignorant.

The body is seen as the highest art form possible, though whether or not this is caused by their unique ability is hotly debated among researchers to this day. Citizens decorate their bodies with henna and colorful jewelry, and so-called “clothing” is used more as decoration than means to cover oneself. Fabric is often very colorful, though black and white aren’t heard of. 

Clothing typically consists of fabric wrapped and/or draped about the body and fastened with pins, clasps, or other ornaments; dressing in and of itself is an art form here. Common folk will use linens or hemp, while the more wealthy will often choose silk or a sheer chiffon. Velvet is considered too heavy and hot to be used, but sometimes the more avant-garde will attempt it anyways. Depending on the method of fastening, this doesn’t always end well - to the point that “draping velvet” has become a euphemism in some areas for attempting something foolish.

Because of the value they place on the body as an artistic medium, they take great pains not to obscure its form - or their ever-changing henna decorations - with fabric. Outsiders visiting their nation for the first time will undoubtedly be shocked by what they might perceive as rampant indecency, while the locals are left confused as to why they would want to cover up a work of art.

Traders and diplomats have, of course, learned to adapt, and will put on something closer to traditional clothing when traveling outside their own borders. They don’t always like it, though when traveling to colder climates than what they’re used to (which is almost anywhere), they at least appreciate the extra warmth.

Lately, however, there has been a trend among the young people in which they wear far more clothing than the norm, choosing to hint at the humanesque form rather than display it outright. The more traditional members of society aren’t quite sure what to make of this, but perhaps because of their people’s emphasis on self-expression, the movement hasn’t been met with any particular negative reactions. Just confusion.

A highly cultural people, many of the continent’s greatest achievements in art, music, and literature have come from their isolated little corner of the world. However, recent unrest to their north threatens to upset their way of life if it spreads. They are a largely peaceful nation, and while they are willing to defend their people if necessary, most of them simply don’t know how.

It’s not Wednesday anymore but I don’t care. This sounds too fun to ignore! I don’t have any original works in progress at the moment, so give me a few worldbuilding elements and I’ll try to bang out something original from what you give me. Who knows, maybe something will stick!

Examples can include various climates/environments, aesthetics, era (like if you want to see, for example, a setting inspired by Victorian fashion), technology (or lack thereof), culture, magic, whatever. Give me something to work with and I’ll expand on it.

kogiopsis:

every time Worldbuilding Wednesday comes around and I see other people from the Cosmere fandom answering questions about their original works with all these super long interestng answers I’m just like

SHIT I GOTTA WRITE A THING SO I CAN JOIN IN THE FUN SOMEHOW

This. So much this.