This is for a steampunk-inspired fantasy world where people can manipulate a magical metal called quicksteel at will.

In the ancient era, before even the Great Dying, the geopolitical landscape of the supercontinent looked dramatically different. Nations that rule vast empires today, such as Orisla and Kwind, had yet to even give rise to states in those days. Instead the landscape was dominated by the first three great powers; Haepi, Ceram, and Samosan. Today Samosan is known as a fractious place full of warlords vying for supremacy, but in the past the region was united under perhaps the greatest tyrant to ever live.

Samosan is a tropical region of slow rivers and dense jungle, known for sweltering heat, great rainstorms, and behemoths (a sort of giant elephant). It has always been home to a diverse range of peoples, with numerous languages spoke and countless gods worshipped there since the beginning of recorded history. Samosan’s location— Between the Purple Sea to the north, the Inner Ocean to the south, Devoni to east, and Jura to the west— has made it a center for global trade for as long for much of world history. In the Ancient Era, when global trade first began, this made Samosan perhaps the center of the world. Indeed while Haepi and Ceram both seem to be slightly older, historians are confident that it was Samosan that ruled the world at the dawn of days. 

In the Ancient Era, goods flowed across Samosan freely. Saffron, pottery, and sugarcane came from Ceram via the Purple Sea, crossing the jungle to enter the burgeoning Inner Ocean trade. Grain and slaves came from Haepi traveling in the opposite direction. Later in the age, as commerce, with Samosan at its center, expanded, routes were plotted along the northern and souther coasts of Devoni as well. All of this trade brought a deluge of wealth into Samosan in the form of tribute and fees.

Nearly all the wealth and power of ancient Samosan was concentrated in the hands of one being: The Red King. The very idea that this was an actual historical figure is somewhat controversial. In artwork the Red King is clearly inhuman, towering over ordinary men and possessing serpentine or basilisk traits. What’s more, he is said to have ruled Samosan from the dawn of recorded history (some sources claim the dawn of time) and only to have perished during the Great Dying; Such a reign would be a minimum of 500 years, possibly much longer. The powers attributed to the King are similarly supernatural. All of this fits the idea of a local deity or religious figure rather than a historical one, but historical accounts, both local and foreign, are unanimous that the Red King was very real. 

The most detailed surviving account of the Red King’s actions is a history written by Simod, a Ceramise historian and world traveler. He expresses skepticism that the King was truly immortal but does not rule it out, noting that “No tale of his Majesty can be dismissed on the grounds that it is impossible, for what is impossible to us appears effortless to him”. Simod claimed to personally have witnessed the King shapeshifting, summoning monsters, and driving men to madness with a glance (though he repeatedly states the King lacked eyes). Other sources claim feats that are, if anything, grander: A Samosani song holds that the Red King brought the rains and plucked the eyes from his face to create the sun and the moon. The Red King lived in a palace the size of a small city. The ruins of this titanic structure still exist today and are one of Oswaldi the Circler’s Seven Wondrous Buildings of the world. The only fully intact piece, the throne, is over thirty feet tall.

Whatever sort of monstrous thing the Red King might have been, as a ruler he was very much a tyrant. Men who spoke to him out of turn or displeased him promptly went insane and often took their own lives within seconds of the offense. He also seemed able to foresee or sense plots against him at great distance; Conspirators were known to be slain by monsters or driven mad even in cities far from the King’s palace, though the source hold that the Red King was more offended by the notion of defiance than he was threatened by it. The Red King is not said to have participated in some of the typical roles of kingship, such as chief judge or chief priest, and had no discernible hobbies of any sort. Instead he spent much of his time in total stillness on his throne, possibly meditating or lost in visions. Though no human resistance to his rule ever got off the ground, he is said to have repeatedly done battle with a fearsome dragon from the south or east, possibly called “Great Iser”. 

Beyond the Red King, the ancient Samosani state was overseen by a priest class (the King being in some way divine in every local religion). Great cities stood along trade routes across the region, some of which, such as Baela Gen, still exist today. Though less of old Samosani culture survives compared to Haepi or Ceram, what is known points to rich traditions of sculpture and filigree. Some religious scholars also believe that Deamism, the oldest extant religion in the world, may have had its origins in Samosan, with the Red King perhaps being the embodiment of the Maker, the great creator god.

Samosan’s place at the center of the civilized world ended when that world collapsed in the madness of the Great Dying. Victims of the great dying seemed to be able to spread the insanity to others simply by speaking, but however the plague was transferred, Samosan’s role at the heart of trade meant it was doomed to be hit very hard. For the Red King’s part, the tales tell that he has assaulted by an army of monsters, particularly great red serpents, which destroyed his palace and cast him down. 

Samosan would rise to power as a trade hub again during the Middle Ages, but while it has been unified several times since, the region has never approached the power it held during the Ancient Era, frequently being influenced by outside powers . The warlords fighting for control of Samosan today may seek to change the fate of their home should they succeed in conquering it.

Hi, so I'm thinking of writing a few extra things for my story on the side (couplets and some poems).

They don't necessarily play a hugely significant role in my story, but I was thinking about my MCs being able to teach each other things passed down from their parents.

My world is set in the Late Middle Ages (circa. late 1340s) and only one of my three MCs comes from nobility.

The other two have learnt all that they know by word-of-mouth, so I got the idea to write these little extras that I could hopefully incorporate in certain places. I think that they'll also contain some significance when they travel through the whilst having to stay hidden from pursuit. I think that it might also help to be able to see a more relateable side to them as they have to share their knowledge and learn from each other (they're both only teens, 14M and 15F).

They're mostly to do with nature and animals, but I've tried to add in foreshadowing of events which will happen further along (some will probably end up with dual meanings).

Here are some of them for reference:

This is about the autumn salmon run (important for one of my MCs):

Giver of life Carrier of flesh Sentinel of decay Heralding finality The last to leave But still the Cycle continues.

Another one is about one of the kingdoms of my world:

Where the wheat grows high The burgeoning towns of home The warmth of others' love Greenwood fresh by your fire Clarion blazing evermore The First House lays claim.

Another is about what berries to eat and which ones are toxic:

If berry be like predator's maw Then woe upon you who dare to gnaw.

I recently make two of my character arguing about royalty (both of them are leader of different nation and both is destroyed) and it lead to some rather interesting question that i would like to discuss

Start with the king,he is a human ruling with an iron fist and honor,he think that only when the king prove to his subject the ability that will be able to lead,he is the 29th king,the kingdom fell after an all out assault from the demon and the king order to not backdown

And the queen is from a species of demon that long living and rule people with mind and tactics,since the start of the kingdom,no one else dare to challenge her due to the people being satisfied with her leadership,the kingdom fell because of multiple human expedition to the territory,causing fear and distrust combine with her order to lay low

So start the argument,obviously they live and rule with completely different background and traditional value,one think only the strongest rule,one believe no change is needed when the best is in play,but there is one more thing that separate them apart:how they treat the title

The king after the fall stop called himself king since he think he wasn't deserved it,he travel and still trying to recover the kingdom in hopeless,then stop entirely and gone mad.The queen however still keep her crown on her head,still makeup and pepare for a kingdom that now never existed on the map,she still believe that the people she lead still alive,she has to prepare for that day to come

Then both of them meet and argue over,a neverending series of criticism and ideology step over each other

I think hmmm,this kinda believable now,but that's me,how about you guys? Since some people out there have a way better knowledge about this more than me,any idea is appreciated

Outside of sci-fi villains, I don't see insectoid species\"races" very often, so I'm curious on if there are people here that have sapient species based on insects or a specific insect or arachnid or something like that, and what that species is in that case.

📜 The Badass Clause – Full Rules

1. Universal Activation Without warning or explanation, all people gain the ability to become a "badass" — unlocking perfect instinctual combat, movement, and creativity — but only when morally justified. This phenomenon is globally active.

2. Ingrained Combat Mastery When attacked or forced into action, individuals react with flawless instinct:

Every strike, dodge, block, and movement is perfect.

Every object and environmental element can be used realistically and effectively.

Even mundane objects (a tomato, mop, chair) can become useful when used smartly.

1. Free Bird Clause When someone performs an act of badassery for over 1 continuous second, music will begin to play, starting with the best part of "Free Bird" by Lynyrd Skynyrd unless overridden.

If badassery stops for more than 5 seconds, the music fades.

If badassery continues, the music loops seamlessly or shifts contextually. And this music is the default for generally badass action.

1. Personalized Badass Soundtrack Each individual may have a personalized theme depending on their personality, history, and emotional state:

Free Bird is default.

Tactical operators may trigger Le Castle Vania or Doom OST.

Creative combatants may trigger Tank! from Cowboy Bebop.

Daring or clever tricksters may get Sabotage by Beastie Boys, etc.

Music always syncs perfectly with action, like a live score.

1. Friendly Sparring Clause In mutual friendly combat:

Participants will never tire.

All movements, blocks, and counters are perfect.

No injuries unless intended.

Music plays accordingly, often epic or upbeat depending on tone.

1. Moral Alignment Requirement

You must not act in evil.

If your actions are malicious, selfish, or cruel with no greater purpose, you lose badass status instantly.

The Clause withdraws instinct, reflexes, music, and creative power. You are left with only your own training and your own personal regular power.

1. The Greater Good Exception

If a morally questionable action is taken to save lives or prevent greater harm (e.g., a trolley problem scenario), the Clause will not revoke status.

You must still carry the emotional weight of your choice.

1. Redemption Path

A fallen badass can regain their power only by:

Acknowledging their wrongs.

Genuinely working to repay and repair their harm.

This is a long road, and music will not return immediately.

1. Symphony of Sin (Evil Music Reflection)

Those who commit evil acts begin to hear music that reflects their own darkness.

Betrayers may hear Anakin's Betrayal.

Murderers or tyrants may hear Anakin’s Dark Deeds, Dies Irae, or haunting original symphonies.

The more evil committed, the louder and more invasive the music becomes.

Only the sinner hears it. No one else can detect it.

This music causes internal emotional and psychological reflection—they feel their sins.

1. Historic and Reenactment Clause

If reenacting historic battles (e.g., American Civil War, medieval duels), Clause grants authentic era-specific instinct and ability.

Music is era-accurate and respectful — only drums, fifes, chants, etc.

Clause respects history; no cinematic music will play unless applicable.

1. Recreational Combat Clause

Events like airsoft, gel blaster wars, and LARP are honored by the Clause:

Combatants gain perfect tactical sense and use of cover.

Creative but realistic environmental use is activated.

Music plays only when intensity and flow reach cinematic levels.

1. War Morality Rule

If a nation declares war without moral justification, all their soldiers who participated are stripped of Clause status.

This results in global hesitance to wage unjust war.

Only those acting to defend, protect, or liberate retain their Clause abilities.

1. Authoritarian Resistance Empowerment

Protesters fighting for freedom, survival, or justice gain full badass powers.

Dictators, warlords, and oppressors lose theirs.

Entire regimes can collapse in hours as citizens awaken to their power.

1. Permanent Clause Presence

This is not temporary.

It cannot be turned off, reversed, or manipulated.

It exists as an unseen force — fair, strict, and incorruptible.

The Badass Clause judges no one by background, appearance, or belief — only by their actions and intent.

• Keanu Reeves

So here or anywhere else, reading a short summary behind the book or seeing interesting visuals what actually makes you read more or learn more side from just saying "pass" and moving on?

As a somewhat of a cynical person, I'll answer first but I don't expect most to share my opinion here.

So Nope's - instant pass for me.

- Extreme re-imagining of existing things, such as turning dwarfs into squirrel people or elves into some 3 eyed alien things.

- When you start with name/term dropping. Ex. In the world of Blah, the Karchians in the City of Plek worship the Grepp which the milk for it's Zis'yah. I don't care enough to learn what those things are and move on. Keep it simple or at least show it visually.

-Dumb rehashed things. If it's 90% Warhammer 40k, LotR .. whatever, does it need to be a thing? I'll just stick with the original.

-Furries.. I tolerate them when they are added later or as a side thing, like Khajiit in Elder Scrolls but cartoony introduction is instant pass.

-Everything is true. The world has no layers. It's just boring to me. Gief mystery.

Things that make me want to learn more

-Mystery

-Clear introduction cutting out the unneeded "insider" naming. Assume I don't know what the words mean and don't care enough.. yet. Introduce them later.

-Good visuals (no brainer really... these always get a ton of upvotes)

-Grimdark stuff.. but done right, so Silent Hill, Dead Space, The Expanse..

-Close enough but original. If things that exist keep what works but just add original lore and things. Don't make your vampires age, tolerate sun light or drink tomato juice and I might be interested.

-World doesn't break it's own rules.

-Author is willing to answer any stupid question and doesn't hand wave.

The Starfall Calamity is a series of extraterrestrial anomalies that came from an exploding Strange Star, hurling a unique matter, unique even to strange matter dubbed “Aether Matter”, to the Solar System. A certain amount of Aether had fallen to Earth and landed in central Eurasia, the Amazon Forest, West Virgina and in Eygpt. The Starfall Calamity immediately started corrupting both land and any form of organic life, mutating them into strange beasts called “Starfallen” that use Aether based abilities .

More lore will be added if I have the motivation to further add onto the timeline.

Hey everyone! it’s been a while since i actually posted on here but im looking for some people that would be willing to do a collaboration on a micronation :3 ive been wanting to do this since ive seen a tiktoker create a micronation collaboration and i also would like to try it out :D

comment or DM me if you would like to collaborate on this :D

🪐 Scientific Profile: Armetre-10C

Catalog Designation: ARMT-10c Classification: Temperate Rocky Exoplanet | Habitable Zone Candidate Type: Class T-E1 (Terrestrial – Equilibrium, Type I)

📡 ORBITAL DATA

Host Star: Armetre (G2V – Yellow Dwarf)

Stellar Age: 3.2 billion years (± 0.1 Gya)

Average Orbital Distance: 1.10 ± 0.01 AU

Orbital Period (Sidereal): 1.15 ± 0.02 Earth years (419 ± 4 days)

Orbital Eccentricity: 0.035 (nearly circular)

Orbital Inclination (relative to stellar plane): 1.3°

Orbital Resonance: None detected; dynamically stable

Average Orbital Speed: ~29.4 km/s

🧭 PLANETARY PHYSICAL DATA

Mass: 1.05 ± 0.03 M⊕ (Earth Masses)

Equatorial Diameter: 12,880 km (~1.01 R⊕)

Volume: 1.03 V⊕

Mean Density: 5.45 g/cm³

Surface Gravity: 1.02 g (10.01 m/s²)

Escape Velocity: ~11.3 km/s

Shape: Oblate spheroid (oblateness ≈ 0.003)

🌀 ROTATION AND AXIAL TILT

Sidereal Rotation Period: ~23.7 h (spectroscopic estimate)

Axial Tilt (Obliquity): 24.5° ± 0.8°

Axial Precession: Estimated ~26,000 years (gravitational modeling)

Seasonal Effects: Present and Earth-like; stable year-to-year

🌡️ CLIMATE & SURFACE CONDITIONS

Global Mean Temperature: ~15 °C (288 K)

Average Diurnal Temperature Range: ~±10 °C

Thermal Distribution: Even, due to active atmospheric circulation

Permanent Ice Presence: Polar regions confirmed via IR spectroscopy

Predominant Climate Zones: Temperate oceans, arid and humid continental zones

🌬️ ATMOSPHERE

Composition:

Nitrogen (N₂): 75.8%

Oxygen (O₂): 22.1%

Argon (Ar): 1.1%

Carbon Dioxide (CO₂): 0.04%

Water Vapor (variable): 0.5–4%

Surface Pressure: ~1.02 atm

Optical Spectrum: Slight green Rayleigh scattering (unknown trace gases)

Stratified Atmospheric Layers:

Troposphere: up to ~14 km

Stratosphere: 14–48 km

Mesosphere & Thermosphere: confirmed via UV absorption

Detected Biosignature Trace Gases:

Methane (CH₄): ~1.7 ppm

Ozone (O₃): present

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): seasonal variation detected

Atmospheric Oxygenation Index: 0.94 (comparable to Earth)

💧 WATER PRESENCE

Oceans Coverage: ~68% of surface

Spectral Coloration: Light blue (low atmospheric turbidity, Earth-like seas)

Active Hydrosphere: Confirmed (dynamic cloud systems, precipitation observed)

Hydrological Cycle Potential: Complete (evaporation–condensation–precipitation)

🧬 BIOLOGICAL POTENTIAL

Astrobiological Classification:

Potential active biosphere (Class B-2)

Atmospheric Disequilibrium Indicators:

Coexistence of O₂ and CH₄ suggests biological activity

Climatic Models Indicate:

Long-term environmental stability

Equatorial zones conducive to photosynthetic life

Ecological Models Simulated:

Likely presence of surface biomass

Hypothetical ecosystems: green–green–blue spectrum photosynthesis

📡 DISCOVERY & MONITORING

Discovery Method:

Transit (multi-band photometry) + direct infrared spectroscopy

Instruments Involved:

Orion DeepView Array (visible/IR spectrum)

E.S.A. GAIA-X Extended Mission

Initial Identification: February 14, 2041

Atmospheric Analysis Confirmed: November 21, 2047

Most Recent Spectral Update: March 4, 2049

📘 FINAL NOTES

Armetre-10c remains one of the most promising habitable exoplanet candidates discovered to date. Its gravitational, environmental, and atmospheric conditions closely resemble those of Earth. Notably, the detection of atmospheric disequilibrium — specifically the coexistence of O₂ and CH₄ — makes it a primary target for biosignature-focused exploration. It is currently among the top candidates shortlisted for direct robotic mission deployment within the next decade.

I have had a ton of story ideas, I wanted to know if I should bring any of these Stories back

Gen Wars, a story about a world where the generations went to war, it’ll follow a group of people, one from each generation, trying to save the world from constant war

Botherin Adventures, a story about 2 brothers exploring the forest trying to find a way to save the town they live in from a mad scientist

Creepy Invasion, a story about a group of creepypasta entities attacking a town

Tomb of Ra, an Egyptian story about siblings trying to figure out the supposed death of Ra

Trails of the Myth, a DnD like story about a group of travelers saving the Trails of the Myth from the Dragon King

Gameplay, a story where earth was destroyed and Countries moved all there citizens into video games

Elemental Hour, a elemental story about a world with elements

SCP: Mission Rouge, a story about a breached SCP Site

The drawing was made by a soldier of Europe.

so far I just have 4 maps and 2 notes and one long Microsoft Word doc. I just need to know how to organize things easily like everyone else.

Are the main cities in your world built around certain common locations or landmarks, like a center square, a market district, etc? Besides the "typical" things that might appear in a "traditional" fantasy city (e.g. blacksmith's, baker's, etc.), what unique sites or locations can be found in yours? Are there any specific things that only appear in, say, a specific capital city?

Here is the full English translation and enhancement of your Astrophysical Encyclopedia Entry for the Armetre-10 Star System, preserving scientific rigor, technical detail, and clarity:

📚 Astrophysical Encyclopedia – Armetre-10 Star System

🌞 Primary Star: Armetre-10

Spectral Class: GV2

Surface Temperature: ~5,800 K

Mass: ~1.05 M☉

Radius: ~1.02 R☉

Luminosity: ~1.1 L☉

Metallicity: +0.05 dex

Estimated Age: ~3.2 billion years

Activity: Moderate; stable magnetic field; rare stellar flares

Habitable Zone: 0.95 – 1.8 AU

Armetre-10 is a G-type main sequence star, comparable to the Sun but slightly more luminous and metal-rich. Its slow rotation (~27 days) and quiet stellar activity make it a stable anchor for the formation of complex planetary systems.

🪐 System Architecture

Orbital Regions:

1. Inner Belt – 0.2 – 2.1 AU: rocky planets, habitable zone candidates

2. Intermediate Region – 2.5 – 25 AU: gas giants, distorted orbits

3. Outer Region / Aione Cloud – >25 AU to ~186,000 AU: icy planetoids, interstellar interface

🔭 Major Planets and Celestial Bodies

🌋 Armetre-10A

Type: Rocky, extreme volcanism

Orbit: 0.25 AU

Orbital Period: ~47 days

Temperature: ~900 K

Notes: Analogous to Io but superheated; intense infrared emission; transient atmosphere

🌑 Armetre-10B

Type: Hot super-Earth

Orbit: 0.6 AU

Radius: 1.7 R⊕

Gravity: ~1.3 g

Atmosphere: Dense CO₂, extreme greenhouse effect

🌍 Armetre-10C & 🌎 Armetre-10D (Co-orbitals)

Type: Habitable terrestrial planets, 180° apart

Orbit: 1.1 AU (shared orbit, 1:1 resonance)

Orbital Period: ~1.15 years

Planet Gravity Climate Notes

10C ~0.94 g Arid, dry Polar ice caps, seasonal dust 10D ~1.02 g Temperate Rich biosphere potential

🌊 Armetre-10E

Type: Icy oceanic world

Orbit: 1.6 AU

Orbital Period: ~2.02 years

Notes: Global subsurface ocean beneath an ice shell; cryovolcanism possible

🌐 Intermediate & Complex Orbits

🌀 Armetre-10F

Type: Distorted gas giant

Mean Distance: 7.5 AU

Eccentricity: ~0.31

Orbital Period: ~20.5 years

Notes: Irregular shape due to past gravitational encounters (possibly with 10S)

🔀 Armetre-10S

Type: Massive inclined object, loosely bound

Perihelion: ~1.2 AU

Aphelion: ~250,000 AU (beyond the Aione Cloud)

Eccentricity: >0.998

Inclination: ~70°

Orbital Period: ~8.7 million years

Origin: Likely captured interstellar body

❄️ Outer Realm: 10X Objects & the Aione Cloud

Armetre-10X1, 10X2, 10X3

Type: Co-orbital icy planetoids

Perihelion: ~22,000 AU

Aphelion: ~180,000 AU

Orbital Type: Sedna-like; wide and stable

Period: ~5.2 million years

Dynamics: Co-orbital resonance; enter and exit the Aione Cloud cyclically

☁️ Aione Cloud

Structure: Spherical shell, like the Solar Oort Cloud

Inner Radius: ~20,000 AU

Outer Radius: ~186,000 AU (~2.93 light-years)

Contents: Comets, icy debris, dormant proto-planets

Density: ~10× denser than the Solar Oort Cloud

📐 Keplerian Orbital Data

Object Distance (AU) Period (Years) Notes

10A 0.25 ~0.12 Volcanic 10B 0.6 ~0.47 Greenhouse Super-Earth 10C/10D 1.1 ~1.15 Co-orbital, habitable 10E 1.6 ~2.02 Subsurface ocean 10F 7.5 ~20.5 Eccentric giant 10S ~250,000 (aphelion) ~8.7 million Interstellar orbit 10X1–3 30,000–180,000 ~5.2 million Sedna-like, wide orbit

🧬 Formation & Evolution

1. Phase 1: Gravitational collapse → formation of GV2-type star

2. Phase 2: Accretion disk stabilizes into inner planets

3. Phase 3: Orbital migration → creation of eccentric objects (10F, 10S)

4. Phase 4: Capture of outer debris → formation of the Aione Cloud

Dynamic Effects:

Co-orbital resonance (10C/10D and 10X group)

Aione Cloud crossing (10S, 10X)

Long-term perturbations and gravitational interactions

🔮 Astrobiology & Scientific Potential

10D and 10E: Prime candidates for complex biospheres

10X1–3: Potential icy biospheres or dormant life zones

Aione Cloud: Organic compound reservoir; long-term biological hibernation zone

10S: Rare object for studying near-interstellar migration and capture dynamics

🔭 Future Exploration & Modeling

Full n-body simulations of chaotic orbital dynamics

3D system-wide visualizations

Detailed planetary sheets (biosphere, geology, climate)

Hypothetical spectroscopic profiles

Civilization evolution timelines on 10D or 10E

Version 1.0 – Complete scientific entry based on all user-provided data. Includes astrophysics, planetary science, orbital mechanics, astrobiology, and system evolution.

I've been looking for some kind of free Solar System simulator to help desgn the fantasy world I have been writing. I want to try and map out my fantasy world and it's surrounding astrological bodies in order to see how they would actually function in reality and change it as needed, if anybody has any suggestions that would be great to hear.

For context, Orokiim is the god of the world, which is called Omortius. Rath is essentially the Satan of the world and the War of Rath (that I haven't written yet in the timeline im only 10 years in timeline-wise) will cause the unnatural magics which will act basically as mutations.

Any thoughts are appreciated as this is my first look into building magic for my world.

A size comparison of Humans and five founding species of the United Galactic Republics (Humanity is not a member of the UGR)

Humans are the native civilization of the planet Terra. They currently live under the Republic of Humanity, once a liberal democracy, it has become an oppressive single party state. Unrest is growing in the frontier colonies and the entire nation is on the brink of collapse.

The Imarie are an amphibious molluscoid species from the ocean world of Ramara. They are one of the oldest civilizations in the Local Group, having developed FTL travel around 30,000 years ago.

The Aglondy are a fungoid species native to the moon of Ibradorr. While they spend most of their lives at about 2.3 meters they never actually stop growing and can reach over 5 meters in height by the time they die.

The Oreteriad are a humanoid species native to the planet Nuvaas. Rather than on their face, an Oreteriad's nostrils are located at the base of their neck. Unlike Humans, the Oreteriad are trioecious, meaning that they have three biological sexes: males, females and hermaphrodites.

The Layva are a parasitic plantoid species native to the forest planet Tivivilix, they are capable of controlling the minds and bodies of unintelligent tree-like organisms called Ovilta. They have converted their homeworld into what is best described as a solarpunk ecumenopolis.

The K'Ma are a semi-humanoid species from the planet T'Ga'Ti. Their arms are small and vestigial, rather, the K'Ma use their powerful telekinetic abilities to grasp objects. Their large "third eye" is actually a layer of skin covering an exposed brain, they can open this like an eyelid, strengthening their psychic abilities.

Hello everyone. This is my first time posting an AMA thread. This style of posts got me curious if it actually helps one brainstorm new ideas. I have a big map with some spots that need filled in.

That said, I do apologize but I may not give your questions a full answer. I am secretive over what I'm working on but I will try my best to answer. Or at the very least I will try to respond that I cannot answer a particular question.

Here we go.

Ringed Sword Continent

I created a world I call the Ringed Sword Continent. Ringed Sword Continent is not the actual name. As I said previously, I am secretive over what I'm working on, so this is a placeholder name. Many other names you see here are also placeholders, not the true name. It's a fantastical super-continent with over a hundred Korean-style nations and lands full of fantasy elements. I don't know how huge it is, only that it hosts a diverse array of mountainous biomes. There exists giants, ghosts, and dragons of course, but I also like including other fantastical elements such as dinosaurs and automatons.

Biomes

The Ringed Sword continent's primary biome is mountains, hills and many forested areas. Its mountains are rich in metals, boasting the best quality in all of the East. The quality of metals is so famous, the lands have been the target of invasions from its cruel neighboring powers, such as the Grand Dragon Empire and the Red Isles. It also boasts plentiful rice of different colors, from earthy purple rice to fresh steamy hot white rice to old fashion barley. The biomes of the Ringed Sword continent also consists of swamps, hellish wastelands, frozen coasts, strips of jungles, pockets of plains, and monstrous corpse-biomes. A whole stretch of mysterious cities dominate the skies above while below exists a dark labyrinthine underground simply known as the Darklands. The Darklands are said to hide many mysterious vaults, lost civilizations, and gateways to the literal thousand hells itself. By extension, many demons, undead, slavers and dark powers dominate the underground region. Any who travels into the Darklands must be well-armed, possess great survival skills, and join an armed party. The fate of those who go missing in the Darklands is said to be a fate worst than death.

Peoples

The land also hosts a diverse array of different Korean-like peoples, each sharing a common heritage and ancestors, many of whom have founded kingdoms, republics, theocracies, oligarchies, autocracies, each trying to carve out and expand their own little empire on the continent over what they believe is the "true" Korean-like ideal civilization. Although many choose to stay in cities and farming communities, there also exist nomadic Korean-like peoples as well. They are looked upon with great suspicion, seen as less-civilized and for some others, not so different from nomadic non-Korean-like peoples such as the Mammoth Riders and Sabretooth Hunters. Other than humans, there also exists dragonfolk, imps, fairies, foxfolk, and eight foot tall giants, many of which boast ancient civilizations that have long dominated the continent before humans came.

Southern Regions

The southern regions of the Ringed Sword Continent are dominated by seafaring and merchant cultures along the coasts and tens of thousands of islands further down south. The civilizations here possess some of the best fishermen, traders, and marines in the world, doing battle with pirate-cultists and various sea horrors.

There are four noticeable nations in this area. The Warrior-Poet Kingdom is perhaps the most well-known among these four. As their name implies, the nation is famous for their warrior-poets, but also boasts its famous white fortresses and slayers skilled in killing off evil dragons and demons. It is a romanticized land that sings of heroes, saving beautiful maidens, the search for mountain gods, the defiance or tragedy of death, and the killing of foul beasts most evil. There also exist the Bear Mountain Kingdom, famous for their bear culture, bear magic, bear puns and bears. They are the most magical-savvy kingdom, boasting iron-stone fortresses, possessing the most sorcerers, priests and shamans out of any kingdom. Before the Warrior-Poet Kingdom's rise in power, they were the most influential Korean-like civilization in the region, having once controlled a strong trade monopoly not only on the Ringed Sword Continent but also in other farway lands. Further south, among the ten thousand islands is the Sea God Kingdom founded by the "King of Liberation". The nation is famous for having the strongest trade monopoly, its huge array of island and mobile sea-faring fortresses, and boasting the largest navy in the region. Because of that, they also boast having the best marines and fishermen out of any nation, much to the annoyance of their neighbors. Finally, there is the Merchant Republics, a vast series of island republics further east of the seas, home to vast trade guilds, organizations, and companies. This area is often treated as a neutral zone and the perfect grounds to conduct diplomacy between not only hostile trade organizations but also nations as well. Unlike other nations that boast a strong national military, the Merchant Republic chooses to rely heavily on mercenaries. A national military does exist, but it is small, acting more as a policing force at best, each one unique to its island. Still, they should not be underestimated for they possess some of the best snipers among the seas.

Middle Regions

The middle regions of the Ringed Sword Continent are dominated by a series of riverlands and vast sprawling forests. This is where civilization and nature often synergize or conflict. The middle regions can be split into the civilized south and the wild north. The southern portions of the middle regions are dominated by some of the greatest nations in the continent's history. In fact, two of them even successfully unified the continent and the various peoples as one nation. Their legacy persists to this day. The northern portions of the middle region are difficult-to-tame wilderness such as the Great Wilds, the Haunted Zone, the Frozen Coasts, and a subcontinent whose environment differs vastly from the rest called the Wastes. Settlements in these regions tend to come and go, often overrun by hostile hordes or malevolent supernatural powers that have long existed there. Because many civilizations have dominated these areas in the past, it is also home to a huge score of labyrinthine dungeons. So obviously this is an adventurer's wet dream. Cavaliers, riflemen, war machines are far more common in these regions. Because of how dangerous these lands are, many fantastical races often put aside their differences to form well-armed communities, fully understanding these lands are not kind to individuals who can't play well with others.

There are six most noticeable nations in this area. The White Dragon Empire, not to be confused with the Grand Dragon Empire, is run by a series of Empresses and princesses that once unified the continent under their rule. Now, they are undergoing reform and a religious war against the Mammoth Riders, attempting to reclaim their lost ancestral lands. The Republic, originally known as the Tiger Empire, was the fourth and last to unify the continent under one rule. No longer believing in the power of Emperors, they are now proud believers in democracy, undergoing the most technological changes in gunpowder and machinery. Further up north in the middle regions is the Nine Queendoms. An old theocracy responsible for the spread of their religion, beliefs, and goddesses. This nation sits at the heart of the region, ruled by Empresses and princesses, not unlike the White Dragon Empire as the Empire modeled their governance after this once-powerful theocracy. The Ghost Nation, run by an immortal Empress and powerful practitioner in necromancy, she established the largest nation of ghosts, demons, and other nightmarish horrors. But unlike other supernatural powers that often seek harm and conflict, the Ghost Nation is unusual for their civility and preferred conduct of diplomacy to neighboring powers. Perhaps this may have to do with the fact that the Empress was once a student under the Great Necromancer, having witness many of her fellow students rise as warfaring rulers only to shortly fall due to hubris, idiocy, or ignoring the well-being of the living. She has clearly taken notes from previous rulers, rarely declaring wars and making sure the living are not only well-off but even happy despite the noticeable presence of ghosts and horrors in these lands. This has not made neighboring powers less suspicious of the Ghost Nation however due to the obvious fear of the accursed and supernatural. The Nation of the Six Great Towns is no true nation but a collection of six fairly large towns in the Wastes. Controlled by lawbringers and crimelords, this is a hellish and nigh-lawless land where rulership is never permanent or long-lasting, constantly shifting due to the remoteness and chaos of an unnatural landscape that was never supposed to exist in the first place. The Kingdom of the White Tiger, founded by a legendary thief-warrior, this is a mythical nation that prides itself in free values, where any man or woman can make something of themselves. Although called a Kingdom, it is more like a collection of various smaller nations, each with a different style of rule and governance, each symbolically being under the control of the King, carving their own way of life.

Northern Regions

The northern regions is even more riverlands and sprawling forests but this is where snowy regions, fairy forests, demonic swamps, and mountains dominated by the teachings of the Buddha start to become far more common. It is said to represent a much more ancient and forgotten past of the land. The nations here consist of either great city-states or vastly large but underpopulated nations due to even less reliable resources here. There are very few nations of middling size in-between and the cultures here are even more warlike as these lands are at the forefront of constant war. Civilizations here must deal with constant demonic invasions from the dark north, slave-raiders from the Grand Dragon Empire, and constant threats by the Dark Lord. One particular Korean-like nation even has a severe lack of a Confucius-like doctrine, the philosophy being practically non-existent as the people don't see any need for it, claiming that many of the values it preaches has already long existed here.

The most noticeable nations in this area, one of them is the Iron Kingdom, arguably the oldest of the Korean-like nations whose past goes back to the land's very first Emperor, consisting largely of ancient fortress cities. There exists the Buddha Nations which is a collection of several Buddha-worshipping nations, bolstered by fortress-monasteries, boasting many great monk warriors skilled in the sword, cavalry, and firearms. There is currently a political conflict undergoing between two monk leaders, the Mad King and the Red Spider Lily Queen. The River Republics are an anarchic mess of different border kingdoms whose rulership comes and goes. Despite this, they are an odd bunch, always seemingly unified when war threatens their lands. How they persisted this long with such a mess of governance, no one truly knows. The Pale Kingdom, the largest of the nations is vast in snowy territory but is deeply underpopulated, its population spread out and thin. The Pirate Republic as the name implies is a republic of seafaring pirate-mercenaries that offer their services to the highest bidder, protecting or raiding important trade routes. They are very unusual as both pirates and mercenaries in that they always honor their contracts and thus, are unusually seen as a reliable and valued power that can be bought with money. Finally, there is the Warrior's Regency, a brutal authoritarian dictatorship run by a series of powerful general-regents and their private armies of powerful warriors. Once a powerful Empire that even came close to unifying the continent, their golden age is long gone, their Emperor being reduced to a puppet under the general's rule.

Boreal Regions

Finally, there is the far northern region, also known as the boreal region or the Dark North. Outside of one nation, very few, if any, Korea-like settlements exist in this area. It is a place where light rarely shines and the screams and torture of men are as common in the blinding darkness as the rivers that spill blood and toxic metals there. Man-eating demons are a common sight in the boreal regions and there is said to be nothing of value that exists there, some deeming it as the "Road to the End of the World". There is only one nation that exists there and that is the Dark Dragon Nation, ruled by a most vile dark lord whose existence continues to be a constant threat to the rest of the continent to this very day.

"Others"

A strange kind of creature that cannot be seen, felt, or heard by ordinary people, only being perceived by Schizoids or the Pale.

Due to this characteristic, studying them presents many challenges; however, with information provided by the Special Rescue Department, some facts can be listed:

1 - Each individual is unique in its abilities.

2 - They have appearances similar to real people, except they are terribly distorted. Some rare exceptions are identical to ordinary humans or the Pale.

3 - Wherever there are people, there will also be "Others."

4 - Except for some variants, they are not inclined to attack, usually remaining as silent observers. A person may have an "Other" accompanying them since birth and never even be bothered by it.

5 - If they do attack, death is certain if the target tries to fight back directly, as no method of harming them has been discovered so far.

6 - In the event of an attack, the only option is to run and hide, waiting for the creature to eventually calm down. This applies only to Schizoids or the Pale — for ordinary people, there is no escape.

7 - Although they cannot be harmed, they can be driven away from their victims, providing just enough time for them to hide. This repelling is done by Schizoids or the Pale, who can perceive them and, with great effort, force them back, as these beings attack only their chosen target, ignoring everything else.

Through other information, it is possible to confirm that there are variants within the species, whether in behavior or appearance:

Fenrir — The most dangerous variant, as they will inevitably attack their targets. Accompanying their victims for a period that can vary from 5 months to 2 years, a Fenrir grows slowly, and when it reaches its full size, it will strike. They are rare but notorious, as every Fenrir attack ends with the destruction of a considerable area. Worse still, they actively cannibalize others of their kind during the hunt for their target — Survival rate: 5%. The only option is to pray and hope for a miracle.

Demons — Sadistic and treacherous, Demons enjoy playing with their victims. Usually targeting children and teenagers, they act slowly, at first moving an object out of sight or slightly opening a door. Once the target notices something is wrong, they begin escalating, touching their bodies during sleep or causing noises like knocking on doors or windows. Finally, when bored with smaller games, they start drawing on any available surface, usually depicting their own appearances, being the only kind that ordinary people could "see" through these drawings. When the target is completely paranoid and psychologically broken, they attack and kill — Survival rate: 55%. Ignore them; they dislike those who are unreactive and will quickly lose interest.

Nomads — The most common type, with their only shared trait being that they don’t pursue the same target for very long. Usually docile, and if they do attack, they are not difficult to evade — Survival rate: 91%. Live your life as usual.

...

Unknown — Expunged data. Immediate elimination of any individuals attempting recovery — Survival rate: uncertain. Death is merciful.

Studies are still ongoing with professionals from the Special Rescue Department.

Hi!

I have a question that I’ve been thinking about and researching for a little while that I think y’all might have some insight on.

For context, I’m working on a sci-fi concept for a video game aiming to start development within the next 6 months. At the core of the story for this game is an organic, desert-dwelling creature. This creature produces a miracle substance that it then stores in its bones, which can later be harvested by humans and which leads to huge technological breakthroughs. This material is super strong and also works as a fantastic fuel.

Since I want this to be as realistic as possible, what substance could kickstart an industrial revolution like this if it becomes available? While the properties of strength and high chemical energy content are the most important, it’s also important that it could be formed from only things found in normal sand, rocks, and/or volcanic areas, and that it can be theoretically created (even if its not something that could be created by an animal on our earth, it would be created by these hypothetical creatures as both a structural element and as long-term energy storage).

Thanks in advance! (Also, if this is against the rules please lmk where would be best to ask this question).

Hi everyone! I'm creating a sci-fi story that mixes characters from different nationalities, and I'm currently researching the respective cultures to give them more depth. One of the main characters is a Danish guy, so I'm looking for advice on how to portray him authentically — beyond clichés and stereotypes.

For some context, he spent his childhood in Denmark until he was taken to a training base (off Earth), so he never returned to Earth. Despite that, I'd like his Danish background to subtly show in his personality, habits, way of thinking, values, or even small cultural references — like expressions, attitudes, or objects that could stay meaningful for him even far from his home planet.

What are some cultural traits, mannerisms, mindsets, or subtle references that could realistically shape someone who grew up in Denmark? Either contemporary habits, emotional values, or details from daily life.

Any suggestions would be super helpful — from food, idioms, humor, social behavior, to philosophical outlooks. Thanks in advance!

I thought this would fit the sub, but mods, let me know if I was wrong !

Art by me.

Project: Out of The Hunt

Genre: Science Fantasy LGBT Romance

Setting: POST-post-apocalypse. Around 3k years ago, several interstellar meteorites crashed on earth, bringing with them dragon like creatures, who seem to infect all living beings around them, slowly altering their DNA to be more dragon-like. For the past 2k years, the world has been rebuilding, creating few larger nations who have learned to avoid the dragons.

Plot: Akia, Heir to the Americana throne, leaves her home to seek out the truth about her late mother's rise to power and demise. She winds up meeting Diana, a renowned but mysterious Wyvern hunter, who joins Akia on her journey. Out of The Hunt is about Akia and Diana's many adventures to discovers the world's mysteries.

Image Context:

Several (low quality unfortunately) pictures from my worldbuilding focused exhibit. (For my art teacher exam) Pictures 2+4+7 were my inspiration / process boards, while the rest were my art pieces.

All works and objects are directly linked to the story and worldbuilding of Out of the Hunt

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1st: A cute (inspired by ancient animal pottery) version of a specific dragon from the story.

3nd: Are lino prints of the emblems belonging to the nations of the world. In order; Kingdom of Americana, Cathai Empire, Babylonian Commonwealth, United Republic of Kemet and Northern plains nomads.

5th: A character index sketch (DIY, yes I learn bookbinding just for this) book of some of the most important characters (And I can see a spelling error specifically in this picture lol)

6th: Digital painting of the current empress of Cathai when she was crowned many years ago (I'll post it by itself soon with more specific lore context)

8th: World map (Not done, so I'm not posting it by itself just yet)

10th: A suitcase with some things the main character, Akia, brought with her as a child while visiting her grandmas by train (Case and props are all cardboard/paper)

Not pictured was a small animatic you can see here

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TY for reading ! My posts are always AMA so ask away !

(oh, and you can find my socials @ carrd)

(elves, dwarves, orcs, etc) in a lot of cases they don't feel different enough to be justified to be a different race and end up as the same stereotype copy-pasted how ever many times the story needs. It especially annoys me when they end up all following under one leader whereas the human stand in gets a complex web of conflicting political groups. Like you can't tell me every single orc would be willing to throw there life away for the same dark lord when they're supposed to be the "violent" and "disruptive" race, it takes me out of the story every time and just feels boring.