New Years Resolutions 2024
Happy 2024, everyone!
Reach 200,000 words in the world of Babikiye
Refresh currently existing maps and create new ones..
Aster's Reading List
I am the community sponsor for the settlement category! As such, I am going to use most of this reading challenge to spotlight articles from my category. I have personally struggled with wrapping my mind around how to write settlements effectively. Everyone has their own tastes and styles, and I so look forward to exploring all the entries and learning a thing or two along the way. I also plan on reading in other categories, just... in much smaller, more leisurely quantities. Without further ado, here's my reading list (presented in no particular order):Community Sponsor Shortlist: Settlements
The Variance Space Station by Orthais
Orthais' Variance Space Station is a well thought out settlement in a place I would probably dream of visiting and exploring... But never have the nerves to actually go. I've always loved a setting where the land itself is debatably conscious. The actual layout of the Variance Space Station is a mystery, but it appears to spawn rooms which can transport you to entirely different planets. It is an overall detailed and fascinating article!From this article, I learned and/or admired...
- How to present a location that is both settlement and building
- Sense of atmosphere and culture of the area
- The addition of a summary of the article to the sidebar, which helped me keep up with the article proper
Mossbone by ToothGardener
The ToothGardener's Mossbone is a city built on, in, and around the skeleton of a gigantic ancient beast, reminiscent of a deep sea whale fall. It is the home of many different human and fey cultures. I especially love how the districts, and who resides in them, are determined by the different parts of the skeleton, such as the skull vs the ribs. I know that worldember doesn't lend itself well to making time for maps (I sure didn't make any for mine), but I'd love to see a map for this settlement!From this article, I learned and/or admired...
- Fun original art of the settlement inside of a skeleton as the cover
- Feeling of history - like this is a place that has been around for awhile
- Variety of cultures showcased, leading me to want to delve more into other articles in the world
Galendra by Those2Nerds
Those2Nerds' article Galendra is a well written, well formated piece with an absolutely hilarious map. This article is a concise central hub of information that gives you the introduction you need to branch out of the more detailed additional articles about Galendra and its diverse districts.From this article, I learned and/or admired...
- Seriously, check out the map. It's great fun.
- Connecting the article with other aspects of the world.
Valens, the City of Knowledge by Wulvenfire
I love a city dedicated to knowledge. The story of its fall hooked me further into Wulvenfire's world because I had to know more. I can't wait to learn more about it in the future! Although Wulvenfire's city Valens deserves a shout out in its own right, I have a confession to make: Valens is my middle name in real life. I didn't need to share a name with it for it to grab my attention, though! Valens is a wonderfully presented article with a pretty cool map to go with it.From this article, I learned and/or admired...
- Cool, 3d-looking map
- The bit about the portrait of Castor influencing his perception by the public
Veru'Kar, City of Enlightenment by auzins92
Veru'Kar is a fascinating article which ties in the settlement with the history and lore of the world. Not only is it now the largest crater on the planet, it was also taken over by the sea - all because of desperate, ill-planned magical experiments during the Tempest War.From this article, I learned and/or admired...
Interesting history behind the ruined city Literal higher and lower classes; high in the towers or on the ground. What can go wrong with magic, especially if magic can have explosive properties.
Orra by Mochimanoban
The settlement of Orra is located on a planet seems to be otherwise hostile to life. The city is one million years old, but it may not last another, if the Tempest Storm doesn't continue to grow. On a side note, I've noticed a theme of towering settlements this WorldEmber, and I'm loving it! Overall, Orra's article was an enjoyable, informative read. I highly recommend it, and Mochimanoban's world the Yonderverse, to anyone looking for inspiration!From this article, I learned and/or admired...
- Concise formatting and description
- Use of a table for the demographics.
- Inspired me to think about how, even in the harshest environments, people will almost always try to figure out how to adapt and live there.
Rookland, the Bastion City by basiliskeye
Rookland is a wonderful article written in with the perspective and tone of a travel brochure. It is an enticing read which pulls the reader further into basiliskeye's world, Ida, by using all those great tricks that brochures use in real life!From this article, I learned and/or admired...
- Creative spin on how to present a settlement
- Formatted in an aesthetically pleasing manner
An Assortment of Myths and Traditions
What Happens After the End by elspeth87
In the article "What Happens After the End," elspeth's skill as a writer shines! I enjoyed reading the myth, which explains what happens to each person after they die and return to the planet. It also meaningfully ties into the culture of the Vellich. Love the repetition, which makes the myth feel even more like a real life legend. Psst. While you're at it, check out another one of their myths as well, "Sky Full of Worlds."
She Who Lingered in the Void by Jarhed
Inspired by the Epic of Gilgamesh, this article by Jarhed is a retelling of the Epic of Asa. It includes key passages from the epic as well as nuanced explanations for the cultural background behind each passage. Lovely work and well worth a read!
Tomato Wars by mezzopatricia
A wonderfully silly tradition shared between Klïppington and Klöppington, who just cannot seem to get along with one another. I'm glad they, uh, have at least one day of the year dedicated to relieving some of the tension between each other... Not that I'm sure it has done any good, since meetings to decide a date have led to actual fighting.
Duck Sum Upping by ninne124
If you know me, you may know that I am in love with ducks and care for a flock of once-endangered domestic ducks where I work. As such, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to share ninne124's article dedicated to the tradition Duck Sum Upping. In the tradition, the community gathers to count the formerly-endangered Secki Ducks as part of a conservation effort. It's well written, adorable, and includes some precious art as well! I also love the thought put behind how locals interact with the event, such as duck merchandise and consequences for distruptive behavior.
Reflecting Back on 2023
2023 has been a weird year for a lot of reasons. It has been a major turning point in my life outside of writing. I started 2023 with a new job, a year-long apprenticeship at a historical farm. Living in the middle of the woods in the rural southern USA was a major change from Italy, where I'd previously bounced between three cities for a few years. At the same time, it was a mostly welcome one. Just... not exactly where I'd expected to wind up. In any case, I had already made an account on WorldAnvil at the tail of 2022. I hadn't been comfortable in any way shape or form with sharing my content, so it remained unused through the spring. I finally got up the nerve to say fuck it and start sharing during Summer Camp, which was a pretty wonderful experience! The rest is history, really - I've kept organizing my world for people to see and hope continue to keep writing into the future on this site!Looking Forward to 2024
My year-long apprenticeship turned into a permanent position right at the end of 2023. This is going to be another year of adjusting to a new environment. I'm mostly relieved that I don't have to say goodbye to the ducks, honestly. Also, the people. But mostly the flock. Who imprinted on who again? Anyway, I imagine I'm going to continue steadily writing for Babikiye and keeping up with the WorldAnvil community. I don't have a ton of plans that are set in stone at the moment, except to "keep on keeping on" the fight to organize my creative works.New Year's Resolutions
Reach 200,000 words in the world of Babikiye
- I hit 100,000 words for Babikiye in the span of a year. I'm mostly confident in my ability to reach 200,000 words, especially since I have a long way to go vis-a-vis fleshing everything out.
- Ivu is the language of the Yashelin. Almost all terminology used in Babikiye's articles that aren't in English come from the Ivu language, rather than most if any other languages in the universe. An overhaul of Ivu may mean renaming aspects of the world and, thus, a long article search for me, but at this point? I'm fine with that, if it means I have a tighter conlang, seeing as it is pretty damn important to my world.
Refresh currently existing maps and create new ones..
- I'm especially keen on getting settlement locations (and their maps) set into stone, which will make doing a side-by-side of the planets' changes over the years possible.
- The place I am employed is incredibly hands-on and low tech. Current projects include: crochet a plushie that looks like our resident rooster, improve my knitting, weave a few scarves and handtowels, handsew a few quilt tops (and hopefully quilt at least one of them).
Obidiah by AsterVela
AAAAAAAA I'm so glad you enjoyed my article! <3 I was really hoping to write about some dramatic history before WE finished but alas, I did not. I really look forward to seeing more of your work in 2024 and I hope you can reach all of your goals! Especially hitting 200k, that is an amazing goal :D
You wrote a fantastic article! <3 It's a good thing there's a whole new year for you to write all the dramatic history you feel like, huh? Thank you and best of luck with your goals this year as well!