Worldbuilding Awards 2022 | Malkora's First!

Can't fly if you never take the leap!

It really is quite the year for putting myself out there, even if I don't quite feel ready for the spotlight...

It feels strangely monumental to say that 2022 was my first year submitting any of my work to be considered "best of..."! Glancing over the work of so many other more experienced worldbuilders, I hardly feel my content is developed enough to compare, but hey... might as well try!

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Submissions Overview

The Heart & Minds Award 2022

^{An article touching on intellectual, sociological, spiritual or cultural accomplishments and traditions of a people in your world}

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To start off, we have the glasscrafter profession, particularly in the context of the Bolkhyn people residing in Bolkan! This region and the cultures within were one of the main foci of my SummerCamp 2022.
Glasscrafting is a incredibly important and, in many ways, defining to the culture of the Bolkhyn people. The Blackglass Consortium, now led by former Glasscrafters' guildmaster, is a proper governing body in Bolkan.

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Rise of Nations Award 2022

^{An article relevant to the history of civilisations and peoples of your world, and their legacies.}

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One of my favorite articles from my world to date, this was my entry for On the Shoulders of Giants! There really is no better article currently in my world which better describes the origins of the present civilizations of my world.
The legacy of the Antecedents has shaped the present world in more ways than the people could possibly know, from the remnants of their ancient empire, to the state of magic in the world — among other mysteries yet undiscovered.

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Wondrous Nature Award 2022

^{Your natural world in all its glory — an article describing anything from species to locations, to natural and supernatural events, and bizarre naturally-occurring materials}

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Given Malkora's magical nature, extreme environments are an odd mix of natural and supernatural — the extremes remain extremes, but it's not particularly unheard of for entire regions to be upheaved through magical means.
Bolkan is a region in which the emergence of a leyline has caused extremely volatile environmental shifts, including intense volcanic activity!

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Strength & Honour Award 2022

^{An article relevant to the interactions of the people of your world across a grand scale — diplomacy, war, trade and collaboration, and the people who drive and engineer them}

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I don't know that I've written any conflicts spanning any scale larger than domestic disputes, but I thought I'd throw something in, so here we are!
This conflict is one fought between the people of the newly-budding city that is now Kamigon, and territorial primals who called Bolkan home — and did not appreciate that their mortal neighbors were now planning permanent settlements.

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Pillars of Progress Award 2022

^{An article describing a technological or scientific (including metaphysical) accomplishment, or celebrating creations developed by the people of your world.}

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This technology may be lost to the people of the present day, but it's a very important one that still remains essential to life in the Earthen Kingdoms.
The Earthenwards keep the darkness of the Leyline of Oblivion at bay, as it creeps ever outward from Yulrorim, at Nefyran's southern tip. No one is quite sure what will happen if any of them start to break down. It's a "cross that bridge when we get to it" situation.

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Myths & Legends Award 2022

^{An article describing an aspect of your worldbuilding which are mythical or fictional WITHIN the construct of your world. Examples might include pantheons, urban legends, and stories of non-historical fictional characters.}

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If this category taught me anything, it's that I should write more myths. This is the only one I could scrounge up for the submission, though it is one that I enjoy having written!
I look forward to developing the very stone-oriented themes present in the Earthen Kingdoms, in time.

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Though I don't consider any of these articles to be "best of" quality, putting them all together has been very affirming in the sense that I can really see my body of work starting to come together in a more cohesive way.
I have a lot more interconnected information than I did a year ago, and that's very exciting!

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Time and Space Award 2022

^{This award is for the best Chronicle created on World Anvil in 2022.}

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Historian's Chronicle of Ancient Eras
This chronicle can use a hefty amount of work, and my timelines in general just aren't fully fleshed out in my own brain (let alone in the chronicle) — but I was very fond of how this came out!
This chronicle is a rather brief overview of the eras of the world — from the ancient Golden Age of Magic, to the Nameless Era, to the present day: The Age of the Seekers!
Partner to my Antecedents, it was the other half of my submission to On the Shoulders of Giants!

Restored Map of the Empire of Aether by Strixxline

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Toggle different marker groups to see subregions and settlements scattered throughout the primary regions of Nefyran!

Ink-Stained Map of Malkora

Open full size

This map may be a ruined cartography project, but you find that it is still quite useful in getting to know at least one corner of the world — the continent of Nefyran.
Luckily for you, the poor cartographer whose work has been ruined is not too distraught to tell you at least a little bit about some of the regions and some of the places within. Just don't be too pushy.

Cartography Award 2022

^{This award is for the best original Interactive Map created on World Anvil in 2022.}

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You could consider this map to be my pride and joy for the year 2022. From designing the world map itself, to slapping all kinds of fun labels and story snippets to it, I was just very eager to put it together!
The map itself was put together as part of my WorldEmber mission! Dimi really nailed it with this one, because I feel like I really learned a lot about my own world through the process of making this map.
And now I have all of these lovely locations to write about in the future!
Check out the map in full view and see what the continent Nefyran has to offer!

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I did not have a timeline eligible for submission, and I really could not be bothered to make one in time — I think that particular feature may not be my flavor.
However, I would love to further explore the Chronicle feature in the future and see what fun interactive views of the world I can create! I think once I settle on a timeline for my world, it could be fun to see the ways the landscape has changed over the last several millennia!
Things certainly were not always the way they are today.

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Best Worldbuilding Article 2022

^{Any article created within 2022 is eligible for this award.}

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I've been bouncing back and forth between being happy and having second thoughts about this pick for my "best," especially since most of the content in it is behind the GM role selector— which is likely not factored in while judging since it's not "fully public."
In any case, I welcome all of you to have a peek at what an article in my world with actual GM content can look like! Those buttons don't always have information to reveal, given that so much of my content is made during competitions.

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Most Beautiful World 2022

^{This award is for the most beautiful world — layout, formatting, images, maps, aesthetic and more — and how well it fits with the world's concept!}

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by Strixxline via Midjourney

Kingdom of Arsavela is one of my favorite articles that I've put together yet, in terms of visuals and layout. The images are largely AI but include a map I designed and put together using Inkarnate!
Likewise, my Antecedents article also features a map I made myself, with some edits made in Photoshop, as well as more AI generated illustrations to spruce up the space.
Iskani is among my older articles, but includes a concept sketch I made that I'm still quite fond of, and they are a fantastic representation for what my world can be, and the people who live in it.

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by Strixxline

Thanks for checking out my work! I'm so very proud of the steps I've taken in the past year to jump back into my creativity and fall headfirst back into a hobby that's brought me so much joy.
With any luck, I can take next year's Awards by storm!
Either way, I couldn't do it without you guys and all of the support! Thanks for all the encouragement and inspiration along the way.

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