[This is a collection of my Pandoria headcanons and homebrew worlbuilding. There is a lot of text, so prepare yourself.]
PANDORIANS AND THEIR CULTURE PT. 1
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PHYSICAL APPEARANCE
The biggest perk of being pandorian is to change your appearance on a whim. New-born pandorians are but small clouds of blue mist, similar to the shadow seekers roaming the islands (see: WILDLIFE). Once they reach a certain “age”, and I’m saying that with big quotations, they start to think about their physical form. Many of them choose the aidenean form, derived from the local religion. Others refuse to bind themselves to one form and choose what fits best for their next family gathering. There is also a small group of pandorians who do not support changing your original form and prefer living as a cloud. Unfortunately, I cannot ask them more questions about their life choices as I am physically unable to understand what they are saying. Clouds do not have a voice range compatible with my ears, you see.
(For more information about the aidenean form, see the section RELIGION.)
Pandorians, naturally, have no gender. I say naturally, because once they choose a form, their body adapts to the properties of the species. They are created by Pandoria itself, thus they do not have a concept of blood-relation. That does not mean they don't form familial bonds, just that pandorians do not have parents. There is a concept of siblings, in a way, when several pandorians are born in close succession.
RELIGION
Pandorians and Jorvegians share a common deity. Both versions of the myth live in synergy with each other; one about the disappearance from Pandoria and one about the arrival on Jorvik. Makes you think what other events mirror each other as well…
The myth of Aideen is as such:
–
Before the realms were connected, pandorians saw reflections of a different land, green and full of light – with unknown beasts and colors that did not exist. Aideen, a being unsatisfied with Her own existence, observed them and weeped. The pandorians were never meant to transform, you see. They were born from mist, always still, never changing. But when Aideen saw the beasts, She longed to be something more. She started to change; into a dove, a butterfly, a horse, a human. She merged different beasts, experimented, formed intricate designs that amazed other pandorians.
But, after a while, the reflections started to dim. Aideen searched for the source of their disappearance and found visions of a dying land. No longer She saw the beautiful beasts, but stone and ocean depths. Distraught by losing what gave Her the gift of transformation, She stepped into the dimming light. Now stuck in one form, She sacrificed herself to revive the unknown land . The two realms have connected at last.
–
There are many interpretations of this myth. During my travels, I’ve seen several versions of it. In one of them, Aideen has been punished because of her undying thirst of knowledge. In another, there was no Aideen – a collective of pandorians has made the choice themselves. So on and so forth. There are, however, three major groups who dictate their culture.
Pandorians who choose to be formless believe that the gift of transformation is no gift at all, but a curse. When you change yourself, the connection between you and Pandoria gets weaker. With each transformation, you lose a part of yourself with it – one day you might find that there is no You anymore. Of course there are also those who just prefer their original, cloud-like appearance.
People who do not have a set form believe that Aideen paved a path for them. They should, just like her, have the freedom to choose what they are. I found that this worldview often correlates with the drifters (see: SPACE). I have seen many drifters who turn into a flock of birds for travelling purposes. Or fish, for that matter. Many pandorians do not see a difference between water and air, oddly enough. Most likely because of the flying manta rays.
And, lastly, we have the horse-people. They are a group of religious pandorians whose form is a manifestation of their faith. They believe that Aideen sacrificed Herself so Pandoria and Earth could live as one. They seek connection with Jorvik and aim for direct communication between the realms. Usually, they are the ones depicted on tablets or texts.
The aidenean form is a reflection of their relationship to Aideen. They want to show kinship with their predecessor and keep Her memory alive. Thus, I translated their name accordingly:
AIDEEN –> aodh + en
AIDENEAN –> aodh + nighean
(See that, Avalon? My druid training is paying off!)
In my experience, pandorians choose this form the most. They are the majority on the Islands, architecture and fashion is often made with them in mind. Of course, religion is a very fluid concept. I cannot write down all the different variations and traditions. Many pandorians aren’t religious at all, simply chose one form over another because of preference.
FASHION
I cannot, with a sane mind, pinpoint the exact time frame of my findings. When I lose my mind I will update the notes accordingly. For now, I shall try my best.
I must point out that the majority of clothing described here comes from the aideneans, as they are the biggest clothing fans of the group. Thus, the clothing I will be describing are fit for their horse-like stature. There are, of course, pandorians who change form and enjoy clothing, but that depends solely on what form they choose to be. Each Pandorian chooses their own body, so there is little need to keep stagnant in their choices. Pandoria is chaos, and chaos does not concern itself with rules. Formless pandorians don’t even bother with clothes, as they would be rather pointless for beings made out of magic and water.
Even aideneans didn't originally wear clothes. The humid environment didn't require them to keep warm nor did they have the shared societal pressure to even consider it. They did, however, wrap their calves in fabric to avoid injury. They didn’t wear much, but their decorations were on another level. Mane and tail were decorated with plants and minerals weaved into the braids. I’ve asked my dear friend Ceit, obsessed with traditional clothing, what materials were often used in braiding; purplegrass, crying Aideen leaves and common pandoric crystals (see: VEGETATION). Mushrooms were avoided due to the smell. I completely understand that sentiment, I couldn’t get the smell out for weeks after one dreadful expedition.
If you ever need clarification whether you’re looking at a shapeahifted pandorian or a wild animal, look out for the hair decoration!
Gradually, they were introduced to our style of clothing through humans, witches and other Jorvegian beings. They adapted it to fit their needs; they often chose loose fabrics allowing free movement, light enough to wear in the hot environment. They are very fond of detail, frighteningly so. I can’t draw it all even if I tried.
Nowadays, instead of cloth, they wear something akin to leg wraps. Fitting! I've been looking around the islands and they are very popular. I've seen some younger folks walking around with painted skulls on. The teenager experience is a common phenomenon no matter what dimension you are in. Cloth wraps are still used as traditional wear during religious events and celebrations.
Pants don't exist! I wanted to change my old tattered pair in a nearby town (I’d ask why they named it New Town, but that would be hypocritical of me as a human being), but I couldn't find anyone who would make them for me – only skirts and dresses and skirts and dresses. When I asked why, one of them simply said "Why would I want to restrict my legs, that's insane!" like I was the crazy one!
My version of Elizabeth Sunbeam when she first came to Jorvik
I drew her in a style that's slightly inspired by the og sso style because I'm a total suckeerrr for ittt (the inspiration is subtle but visible, imo, tihi)
In my headcanon she came to Jorvik somewhere in the 90s in her late teens; the in-game lore alludes to her escaping a tumultuous family life so this design is based on that
This is how the map looks right now.
I have added Marchenghast so if anyone lives there it can be visible on the map.
For the old post with the list of all the characters, it is [here]
If you want to add your character:
Reblog this post and ad your ocs Name, Location and a Picture of your character.
You may also add any details like who they live with, which house the live in or other small details like that.
A link to your blog will also be attached next to your character.
If your character is already on the map:
No need to send in the same infomation, I will not be removing anyone from the map so those who are already there will stay there.
If your character is already on the map but info is outdated:
You can also reblog this post with your characters name and where they are currently located so I can easily find them, and then explain what infomation need updated. This include if you want to change the picture.
If you want to me to remove your character:
You can either reblog or send me an message about which character is yours and that you want them removed.
I will not be removing anyone if not asked, but I will go through the list of the old characters to see if their blogs are still active. If the blog have been deleted, the characters picture frame will be black instead of red. But they wont be removed if not requested.
[This is a collection of my Pandoria headcanons and homebrew worlbuilding. There is a lot of text, so prepare yourself.]
TIME
Explaining time to a pandorian is like explaining carbonated water to a fish; illogical, unneeded and it hurts their head. And believe me, I’ve tried explaining many times. Pandorians exist outside of time, but what does that even mean? They move and talk just like humans do, but once you enter their dimension… you wish you hadn’t. Your vision starts to swirl and legs begin to move in a zig-zag patten even though you’ve never asked them to do that. As a person used to being drunk on two bottles of mead, I find that experience quite familiar. Once you get used to it, it’s bearable. My many years spent in this dimension have somewhat adapted me to the environment, although it comes at a cost (see: PANDORIC SICKESS).
Pandoria works on simple logic – if it can happen, it will. Which means, not simple at all. Although every being lives linearly, one might find themselves looking at a tree that has not been there before. Your friend is twice as tall as you, yet you are stuck as a teenager for another eternity. So on and so forth. My visits to Pandoria have been particularly confusing. As a being used to the frames of time, I’ve felt as though I spent two weeks walking around, yet when I came back my tea was still piping hot!
I’ve asked a fellow traveller, a witch searching for supplies in the pandoric wilderness, of what she thinks about this anecdote. She said “My only concern is to come back home before my ten year old kids leave for university”.
SPACE
Pandoria is ever changing, but it follows a general structure that the locals have named and written down. The maps are a crude representation of Pandoria; in reality it warps and bends and twists and pulls as each non-existing second passes. No living thing is able to capture that on paper.
The Islands –> space for all living beings. Much like planets in space, they drift in the infinite expanse of shining lights (I haven’t been able to deduce what the lights are. Are they stars? Other islands? The chaotic energy of Pandoria?)
The Infinite Down –> once you fall, there is no hope for you. You will fall for eternity or until your lungs give out. The difficult environment influenced several species to develop flight, such as flying manta rays, formless pandorians and shadow seekers.
The Space Between –> once you cross the portal to Pandoria, you need to pass through a foggy, deserted place. That is the Space Between. It acts as a gateway between time and space; a moment of complete stillness.
Navigating Pandoria is nigh impossible. Each island is moving around like a big, everlasting kaleidoscope. Every time you enter a portal, you end up in a different location. When you want to go back to the previous island, you might discover that there is an empty space left instead. No matter if you are human or pandorian, you are forever lost. That is why pandorians choose one of two ways in life; some stay in one place their whole life and others travel from island to island, never to return home. (I was relieved when I’ve learned that there is a free shelter system in Pandoria. I’m so happy I don’t have to abandon hot showers!) I call them the settlers and the drifters. Pandorians have their own names for them; the direct translation would be “the one who stays” and “the one who travels”.
It’s difficult to live in a place so chaotic, even for equally chaotic beings, but at least they get to choose their fate. Throughout my journey I’ve travelled to many cities and met many amazing people, but I am unable to return to them again. I feel kinship with the drifters, missing home even though you are doing what you love. When I finally came back to Valedale, I hugged my brother as hard as I could.
There is only one known way of going back to a specific location; the Keystones. They lead to one singular island. A rather unremarkable island on its own, but it has collected quite the collection of pandorian and human activity. No one knows why the Keystones were built. Fripp is being weirdly silent about it…
The “kaleidoscope” nature of this place has made communication nigh-impossible. Thus, the difference between the Islands’ scientific development is striking. You can travel from an Island straight out of a sci-fi book to a rural village. Drifters try to bring different inventions across the land, but there are infinitely more Islands than there are people. Traveling through Pandoria is like a game of roulette – you never know what you’re going to get!
PANDORIC SICKNESS
While exploring this realm is very fascinating, with each visit my health has been slowly declining. As of writing this, I am unable to return there ever again. Beings from Earth are not accustomed to an existence outside of time. Their bodies and minds deteriorate each time they think about the absurdity of breathing backwards. The pandoric sickness, as I have dubbed it, starts in the mind and travels through the nervous system until your entire body is completely covered in pink.
I've made a simple and effective list to make your trip suck a bit less:
First and foremost, it attacks your eyesight – eyes are windows to your soul and Pandoria wants to swallow it for breakfast. When you are overwhelmed, cover your eyes and pray for the best.
Direct contact with pandoric energy worsens the effects; just avoid touching anything you don’t know the exact properties of, otherwise your limbs will be next in line for amputation.
Avoid cuts and bruises, the sickness clings to open skin. Many people in contact with pandoric energy discover that their old scars have suddenly started to glow pink. You don’t want that to happen, trust me.
Remember to cover your nose when you venture into the wilderness. You can easily take care of a scratch on your hand, but you can’t sneeze out microscopic particles from your lungs.
Don’t eat unknown plants. Just don’t.
THE GARNOK CONUNDRUM
Garnok reigns terror on Jorvik and He reigns terror in Pandoria. Ever since the Dark Riders have started to raise Him from the dead, Pandoria got the short end of the stick. Islands upon islands have been sinking into the depths of the Infinite Down. What we know on Jorvik as pandoric cracks are massive tears in Pandoria’s surface. I’ve met many pandorians who fled to Jorvik in fear of being next. The soul crushing fact about that is; you can find your way out of Pandoria, but it’s impossible to return to your home island when you go back.
It’s been happening more and more in recent years. I hope the new generation of Soul Riders will succeed where we could not.
PANDORIA AND MAGIC
Have you ever wondered how magic works on Jorvik? Pandoria is the key. You see, many believe that magic appeared after Aideen’s arrival on the island. Whether that is truth or myth, there is no doubt that the magic we have today has roots in Pandoria.
When pandoric magic seeped into the earth, it started to adapt to the new environment. Nature and pandoric energy worked together to become something else. Nowadays, we can distinguish three separate sources of magic:
Jorvik’s native magic, used by the Witches, is Jorvik’s source of energy. It’s also the most capricious form of magic, as it requires you to study it for years before you can safely use it. It is, however, the most potent out of all of them. You can find sources of its energy in any plant or being on Jorvik. Therefore, it does not require a conduit, such as wands, like druid magic does. All knowledge about it is found in the Witches’ tomes, which are passed down from generation to generation. It’s nearly impossible to find one of those without repercussions. Thus, our understanding of this kind of magic is very limited.
Druid magic is sourced from pandoric energy found on Jorvik. In the early days, we’ve found that the leftover energy from pandoric activity is possibly harmful to the environment. Because of that, druids have developed a magic system that harvests it and stores it inside conduits, such as runestones, tablets, staffs and wands. It’s not pure pandoric energy, but a safer and more tame variant, thus it is relatively safe to use. It’s weaker than Jorvik’s native magic, but with a good rune combination you can achieve wonders. There are certain people who can use it without any tool, as their whole being is a natural conduit – those blessed with Aideen’s light. Horse whisperers and the Soul Riders are a prime example.
Pandoric magic is chaotic in nature. Not many people can wield it, only pandorians themselves and the most powerful of Witches, called the Vala, can harness its energy. You can counter it with a natural antithesis of chaos – a massive clock. I’ve learned that very recently.
I cannot end this section without mentioning the elephant in the room. We do not know what is Garnok’s power. We have tried to analyse it, yet it seems that He possesses a completely alien form of magic. This is not a good sign.
There are so many ways that the Nottsoren could reproduce and i don't know which one is the worst. Do they lay eggs? Do they give birth? To caterpillars or already moth-horses? Do they pupate? Maybe they're born as normal-looking foals and THEN pupate into moth hybrids?
Once a nottsoren dies, it's tradition to use their antennae in craftsmaking as a sign of respect. The process is performed by the rider themselves to keep their bond even after death. The antennae are often placed on hats or in jewelery. Keeping the antennae close to you at all times is an old tradition that gives people comfort after so many witches and nottsoren got infected by the Blight.
A complete map of Jorvik, with a semi-accurate scale to measure any distance on the island. I’m really proud of it! There is, however, one glaring problem with this map.
WHY IS JORVIK CITY SO SMALL????
I’m sorry but Jorviks capital should not be smaller than middle-of-nowhere ranger town Dundull. The generally accepted minimum population requirements for a city are 50 000 residents. Following the canon map, Jorvik city would need to fit at least 50 000 people in what looks like 2,25 square miles. That would mean Jorvik city houses 22 222 people per square mile, making it the 24th most densely populated city in the WORLD.
Possible? Sure. Likely? Considering the clear inspiration from the way less dense Stockholm, the lack of giant apartment complexes or slum neigbourhoods, which would imply that people live closely together, I’m gonna have to say no.
So how big should Jorvik city be, if the map size is inaccurate? Kind of hard to tell since we can’t see places like Governors Fall or Aideens Plaza on the map.
But there is one place we CAN see.
And if we can use this map, we can measure how long it takes to cross it.
I am very normal about the horse game.
From the barracks to the pier, it takes 38 seconds to cross the map. On a similarly flat surface on Jorvik, we can measure how long Pier 13 actually is, giving us this comparison.
Now, I’m going to show two theories on how big Jorvik City is based on these measurements.
The first one is the most canon-compliant, but also the most ridiculous. By comparing pier 13 to the area outside jorvik stables, we know that pier 13 is ~1 km long. Yes, this is an absolutely massive pier don’t worry about it. Looking at the jorvik city map, we can see that this smaller pier is meant to be to represent Pier 13, and we can do the math from there. Jorvik gets an area of 340 square km, and if we use Stockholms population density as a guide, Jorvik City has about 1,8 million citizens. Cool! One problem though.
You can’t fit it on the map. A city this big would take up almost one fourth of Jorvik, and you’d need to redraw the entire map to make it fit.
So my other option shifts the canon a bit to make the maps fit together. If we go against canon and assume that Pier 13 is actually the larger pier, that downsizes Jorvik City to ~47,5 square kilometres, with a population of around 250 000. This makes Jorvik more comparable to a more densely populated Reykjavik; smaller in area but with double the amount of people. And while it still messes with the coastline a bit, it at least fits into Central Bay.
Personally I think both theories work, but for consistency’s sake, I’m leaning more towards the second theory.
a botanical survey of marchenghast
+ the dens of nicchus & mahr, because i think it's super neat that they designed unique dens for them and then scattered them through the forest. super fun detail.
this one was tricky because there's so much in marchenghast... so this is by no means exhaustive. it's really no wonder my game is so laggy there. it was actually marchenghast that first got me thinking about this, because as i was riding around i was noticing different recognizable species (eg. oaks, something like a huge hart's tongue fern, brambles with blackberries growing on them, etc).
my star rider runs out tomorrow and i plan to take a break from the game for a month or two, so i have no idea when or if i will get to doing more of these!
been playing star stable lately and got to thinking about the different areas in game and how they are characterised by a variety of different plant species. this is a study of how many different plant models (give or take) this actually boils down to, with the view of maybe applying this kind of principle in my artwork! will do marchenghast next i think.
aw hell why not, have a sneak peak. i'm 900 words in and still going strong. i'll probably make it into an in-game mockup, like those Bonny notes in the journal. then i'm back to my regular schedule (not posting for a month)
I¨ve been feeling like I am trying to reinvent the wheel with what I've been Frankenstining Pandoria to. I never had a concrete idea per se, but I had something and now I don't know what I have because it changed like 6 times over the course of trying to put it into words.
Anyways, have some made up landscapes, presented to you by today's lovely assistants Evergray and Lawrence!
Most of them are at least loosely inspired by the in-game Pandoria and whatever that place with the shattered stone structures is, some I've just made up entirely (and may or may not be going to recycle for my other purposes)
Here they are a little more up close, (with an earlier concept of the Inkwell that's just a big ol' hole in the ground so I can divide them into twos but they're very small so - understand them for the feeling, not so much the quality ^^":
I've added some markers to each of them through which you can plausibly discern the proximity of these to one another, but Pandoria doesn't really follow the laws of space as we know it, or at least it shouldn't. The fact time doesn't exist there is something that's really hard to grapple with when imagining it. The phrase "everything is calm, always in motion" comes to mind, a realm that is stagnant, but remains unfamiliar. It never changes, yet to the human mind it never looks the same, is always novel and strange. The explorers mapping the realm can probably recognise it in some aspect, but it's impossible to ever pass the same tree or the same rock and know that they've seen it before - in fact passing the same place probably feels like déja vu rather than being able to comprehend it's somewhere you've already been... Are we following? ^^"
The truth lies in the eyes of the beholder. The double meaning is probably fitting for this place.
aw hell why not, have a sneak peak. i'm 900 words in and still going strong. i'll probably make it into an in-game mockup, like those Bonny notes in the journal. then i'm back to my regular schedule (not posting for a month)
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