#wbj2015

Day 1: Introduction

Hello im late so very late sorry for run ons its late

Introduction

Geography

Races

History - not yet 8l

Fashion

Arms and Armor - not yet 8l

Technology - not yet 8l 

We’re jumping straight to magic because I need more time to think about arms and technology!!!! And literally all of my posts from now on will be about the dark elves because I don’t really care about the rest right now 8l

Being spirits of nature just happening to have physical bodies, it’s not so strange that they can manipulate the world around them. And they do this with what people would call magic. It is, however, not called magic by them. The name for their ‘magic’ - eallfea -  is much like pneuma, and means something along the lines of life force, spirit, living air. The magic isn’t just magic, but a life force they have access to manipulate because they are spirits and guardians of nature. But I will call it magic. 

All elves are born with this ability. Magic is something they can physically feel when they are around it, and even see. Some places are more easily manipulated than others. 

The very first ‘sort’ of magic is what humans call telekinesis, which is moving objects with your mind. All elves know this. This basic thing of magic is then manipulated with spells, like when you have a piece of clay and begin to sculpt it. The telekinesis is that piece of ugly clay, and the spells and intent are the tools to shape the clay how you want it, and so the elf is able to manipulate, change, remove, add, etc. anything. 

Some magic comes easier to the elf than other sorts. Whatever alignment their magic takes as they grow older, they are named after (Kraki’s elven name is Lauealliɧi which means Little leaf sprout, and he’s a gardener for a reason. Eylir’s elven name is Rrionaɧ and means He/She whispers, as he can communicate with all animals.) Naturally, just as individual elves are better at different magic, they can also be absolute trash at other sorts and never be able to master it no matter how much they study.

Working the magic does draw energy and if you’re not skilled enough for more advanced spells, it could do serious damage to yourself or to the object or whatever around you. The force can be fickle and live its own life, not always willing to bend for words and intent - especially when opening doors to other dimensions and worlds. You might not always end up where you want to go.

They can even create life and raise the dead. The first usually goes for plant life and not so often for animals, elves and other living beings, unless the elf has an alignment to fertility. The second is strictly forbidden since what is dead should stay dead and play its part in the circle of life - not to mention it would be more of a zombie and feed life off the elf/elves that have raised it.

So, the magic and spells need to be studied, although just pure intent can take you quite far as well. Some elves are naturally more powerful than others - some enough to be dangerous for themselves and others, and some very weak and never able to perform any magic much stronger than the ‘telekinesis’. 

The elves can, as said, see their magic. It’s possible to tune in on this life force and see the strings that connect all, at which the elves can tug and control. When working a spell on an object or what have you, the elf can see it work in their mind’s eye. If an elf described to a human what it looked like, humans would say that the elf actually see the DNA double helixes or molecules or the like. A lot like this scene in Tron, actually, where Kevin taps in on Quorra’s DNA and removes the damaged part:

It sort of works exactly like that. Except elves don’t just remove things, but change things, and add things, and barely the gods know what else they do. Either way, they can literally see their magic work as they begin to say the spell.

Last but not least, they can draw power from various things if they need to. Dark elves worship the moon mainly because they can draw power from it, very powerful too. Since they can give life to nature, they can also draw it right back from nature. If the elf is religious, it’s possible to gain power from their mysterious alien ancestors.

What do you mean I’m late and that I also skipped History for now. I will only write about the dark elves this time.

Materials are leather, fur, and whatever plants they make their fabrics with. Something like cotton, perhaps, but rougher. The colors are usually earthy greens, brown and orange, as well as blue and shades of grey. Other colors exist, but eh.

Not going to lie, elves are generally vain. They like looking pretty and beautiful. That usually translates to things that have taken a long time to make and used a lot of materials. But the good majority of them are very physically active and fights happen daily, so clothes have to be practical and also resist the weather.

If you’re going outside, it’s leather you wear. It’s windy, cold, and dry out there, the wind will carry dust and other things in your face. Mask, hood, cowl, gloves, longer jacket with slits on the sides for easy access to weapons and tools, trousers, knee high boots - and you’re good to go! Nothing flimsy, nothing that the wind can grab and ruin, everything close to the body.

They have no access to large hides, as there are no large critters living in Svartalfaheim. The result is fine leather work made up of smaller pieces in beautiful organic and symmetric patterns. 

Inside, less practical clothes are allowed and less leather, but it’s still close to the body. Cropped, asymmetrical jackets are popular, rarely plain looking but often either in the same style as the leather jackets or embroidered, or with leather details to create patterns. Long coats, that always, always leave access to weapons worn on the thighs, and still have a cropped jacket illusion on top. Asymmetrical tops. Waist clinchers. Skirts and dresses of varying lengths are worn by all sexes (there are four, we’ll get to that later). Trousers are usually a looser fit - naturally with either embroidered details or leather to create patterns. And, they’re made to hold daggers and knives.

Feathers are incorporated into clothes as well. Feathered hoods are very common. And other things you can find in nature such as stones, bones, and wood. And aren’t they in the clothing, they are made into accessories. Headdresses is a thing, too, but mostly for special occasions. Utility belts or carrying around a pouch or bag can be rather nice too - you never know when you need those potions and herbs.

Other fashion things that aren’t clothes are piercings. The  jewelry is usually made of wood and gemstones, not metals.  But an elf won’t say no to any sort of silver, bronze or gold if they get their hands on any.

Most of their clothes have a worn and torn look to them, and that’s because they are. They don’t mass-produce and don’t want to exploit nature just to dress nicely. They will patch up those clothes. 

Covering up all skin is not necessary. They have sheer versions of fabric too and clothes that leave little or nothing to your imagination, and it definitely isn’t necessary to cover the breasts or nipples, or the genitals.

As for makeup, it’s used by everyone too, but mostly common in rituals and greater feasts and parties. 

Bones of deceased elves are often worn as jewelry.

In short - organic symmetric patterns are cool. Pieces of clothing that are asymmetric are cool. Long coats and long skirts and long dresses are cool because more hours spent on the item. Being able to move in the clothes is cool. Show how much or little skin you want.

Perhaps the greatest mystery of the Pokemon planet is Pokemon "evolution", the subject of the most advanced research on the planet to date.  This great and sudden change in the physiology of an individual Pokemon is still poorly understood.  The energy needed to accomplish this is likely external, but the source is unknown.  Most Pokemon evolve through battling that triggers hormonal responses; their inherent combative nature is the inspiration for the PokeGear.  “Moves” used to attack are both learned behaviorally and inherent genetically, and are unique to every species.  They are labeled similarly by field researchers for convenience - ie, basic fire manipulation is called "Ember" even if there are slight variations.  This allows simplification of field data to an average cloud data used by the Gear.  Pokemon can only perform moves at a certain level of experience and skill, making this the easiest way to quantify a "level" of power.  It is also possible to some extent to measure the hormone levels of an individual to determine battling level, but this requires a blood sample from a recent Pokeball capture.

Though some Pokemon can evolve through artificial means, such as by unique stones, when evolution is triggered in this fashion their battling potential is usually stunted.  These Pokemon are often used for companionship and contests since they don't have to be battled to evolve.  Interestingly, some studies have shown that the stress and stimulation of contests can have some of the same physiological effects as battling in contest Pokemon.  It is unclear if performing in contests does allow them to gain levels; if so, it is clearly at a severely reduced rate.

Some worldbuilding I had left over from June that I hadn’t posted yet.

Some creatures illustrated are extant, others are extinct. Nef and Kel-goran are common food crops for the Bogiwazl themselves. Life on their planet developed very similarly to life on earth, including a few great extinction events in the prehistoric past.

There is much more variety in the life on the planet; the creatures illustrated here are only a small sample.

The best way to cover legality in Azimuth is to look at a few individual cases to get a feel for what you might want to do and not do, if you were ever able to journey its varied skies!

Prohibition

In Ganzabar over recent years, alcohol has come under harsh criticism. This came to a head with the federal prohibition on sale of alcohol in 9311, adopted by all states (but exempting Brazak East,Capridor and -at the time- Brazak West). In the decades since, this has led to mounting tensions and a steady buildup of organised crime in most cities. Its success is still hotly debated in the Ganzabi press.

Drugs and Narcotics

Elsewhere, most intoxicating substances are either mildly distrusted or altogether illegal. Kazak notably outlaws tobacco, while the USK and Gazabar ban cannabis. Brazak West is fairly progressive in its view of drugs, but has strict laws against harder substances. The Lystrata Commonwealth is the only nation outside of Azrune to have no significant laws regarding drug regulation.

Cloudgazers

There are a number of organisations and political structures across Azimuth. So I'd like to look at a few of these in detail, but also how they relate to each other.

The Gold Age / New Tech Divide

Perhaps the most pervasive and characteristic element of Azimuth’s geopolitics is the dicotomy between old and new (or, Azrune and Everyone Else). The Gold Age being what it was, the old in this case is actually the vastly more advanced of the two. While New Tech civilisations are struggling to rediscover much of what was once commonplace in human society, Azrune lives a carefully insulated life of luxury.

Azrune’s isolation means it’s often ignored in modern politics. Their Gold Age legacy is sometimes dismissed as irrelevant, though not for very long once it makes its appearance on a battlefield. The more shrewd see Azrune as a nation with a lot more clout than its small size would otherwise warrant, a kind of historically-inflated importance.

Conversely, Azrune sees the rest of the New Tech world as somewhat irrelevant. There is also an underlying concern that too much opening to the rest of the world will cause the clear denigration of standard of living that is apparent to those familiar with living in a Gold Age civilisation.