I'd just like you to know, I used to be incredibly active in the Sanders Sides fandom, though I'm not anymore (and even have a new blog for writeblr, so no one would know it's me (I had a midsized blog)) and you are the only person in the Sanders Sides fandom that I still follow. I am a published author now (queer fantasy. twice!) and I still love LAOFT more than I love most published books I read. I'm rereading it rn, and it's so much fun. I want you to know the impact you hold!!!
Thank you, the air quality is hot garbage here today and this was a welcome reprieve from my groaning! i wish you even more luck in your endeavors!
PRINCESS - Who is in charge, and how do they determine who is next?
WAR - When was the last war? Who started it and who won?
Sowwy for the late reply! And thank you for this very lovely ask game.
I am answering Princess for all the major locations in present-day Orbis.
PRINCESS:
In Kaleidopolis, the position of head mage is voted for by a council of mage leaders chosen by local mages and their international affiliates. Kaleidopolis also has a separate mayor who is in charge of general public affairs and concerns. Unlike the head mage, the mayor is appointed by their god, the Heartwood Tree, from a list of candidates submitted by the populace. Both the mayor and the head mage are legally of more or less equal standing.
The Kingdom of Prisma is ruled by monarchs. The throne of the next ruler is given to a legal descendant, whether blood-related or adopted, of the ruler and their spouses. This also means that an old ruler can pass the throne to a grandchild or even a great-grandchild. A crown heir can be appointed early on, as they will be given sufficient preparations for their role later in life, but this practice is often looked down upon by nobility, as historically, crown heirs often choose to abandon their post later in life.
The Emerald Kingdom is fronted by monarchs who serve as symbolic figureheads, but is backed and dictated by the doctrines of its clergy and its alchemists. The real rulers are chosen via popularity contests veiled as democracy, then dictates what the monarchs should do next. The figureheads can get replaced like dolls, as the clergy has an arsenal of contacts and orphans to train puppets from. (The public is not supposed to know that last bit.)
The Platinum Fort is led by its General, its smartest, bravest, and mightiest warrior. Candidates to this role must willfully volunteer and be assessed through three tests of smarts, bravery, and might. The previous General's closest allies and confidantes serve as the judges for these tests.
The Iridescent Islands with its elders and the Damasqus Network with its clan dons operate similarly - seniority is authority. While only fellow elders can oust other elders, dons can be challenged by anyone with a perceived substantial amount supporters.
The Aurum Hills hold different laws, which are mostly shaped by how its inhabitants are affected by which side of the hill they are living in. Citizens hold personal rule books that they can add or remove from, depending on what the last huddle with fellow citizens had gone. Representatives from different sides of the hill speak for their fellows, but are not necessarily leaders. The real authorities in this nation is the gods and the lands.
Merchants run the Mirage Dunes, and whoever runs the most stable businesses gets to have a say on the affairs of their tribes. This does not always mean that the richest families are authority; their businesses must be active, paying workers well, and forecast as stable for at least the next decade, which are taken as clear signs of a supportive network and influence.
The ruler of Crystallistes is determined by who is obeyed by the strongest and most diverse lot of dragons. This is not as fun as you think it is. There’s animal cruelty involved. This is also very ingrained in their way of life and thus most citizens don’t blink an eye about it. However, right now they’re in some form of civil unrest, with its two major sky island-provinces, Fractalia and Lusteria, being at odds with each other.
WAR:
I have not thought of a war between that of Luishreya's rise to power way way before any of my other Arcanium stories occur and the Emerald Kingdom's beef with the Platinum Fort in the present time, but let me answer for both of these ones!
The Endless Wars is a series of wars that occurred one after another for decades. It was spurred on by the rising tension between different nations, including Luishreya's homeland. The one who actually started it was the kingdom of the War King, her eventual husband, who was simply thirsty for drama and the weapons trade. By cleverly manipulating different sides of the war and recruiting betrayed talents such as Luishreya's group, they triumphed over the other nations. As for what caused the tension in the first place, I've yet to figure it out.
The Emerald Kingdom started the whole beef with the Platinum Fort due to differences over their stances on alchemy and magic. It's a rather petty thing, but representatives on each side kept the snowball rolling. Currently, they are at a stalemate, with the Platinum Fort at a disadvantage.
RASPBERRY - How does the world support the story you're telling?
PEPPER - What inspired this world?
(I picked the world of twoth)
Thank you for the ask!
1. I am not really sure, tbh
2. If it was in any other world it wouldn't work. The characters are trying to end a centuries-long world war between a lot of species.
3. I needed some ideas to start working with so I just tried to start with some questions "what does it mean to be human?" -> "no, wait. what if nobody knew the answer and they were fighting because of it?" and work from there. It was basically it!
CHARCOAL - Has your writing ever made someone else cry?
Thank you for the ask! From this ask game.
RAVEN - How important are your characters to you?
Very important. They're what I write my stories for. Took me too long to realize the plot and worldbuilding are not what I am here for.
CHARCOAL - Has your writing ever made someone else cry?
I do not have proof, but checking the comments, yes, multiple people, and I hope it'll be more. I will collect all my readers' tears in a little vial of ace angst and hopelessness <3
PEACH - If you couldn't write books, what would you write instead (shows, movies, games, etc)?
games! that feels a bit like cheating since i've actually written small IF games before lol they were my big project before fantasy romance wip. here they are!
so yeah, i'd probably go into writing for games... but mostly indie games/doing my own stuff. the games industry is pretty small in my country and i'm not willing to relocate so, yeah. i'd probably spent my life posting small games on itch.io
SCARLET - What would you give up to be a rich and famous writer, if that's what you want to be?
being a software developer, probably. i love coding, i love working in programming, but not nearly as much as i'd love being to write for a living tbh.
i love drawing too (tho i don't have that much skill in it) but i don't think i'd be able to give up drawing to be a famous writer (or vice-versa).
LIPSTICK - Would you read fanfiction of your book, if it was published?
i think i would be tempted but i don't know i'd be able to go through with it. probably would try to get a peek real quick, but would feel too much like im intruding if that makes sense? so yeah, wouldn't read much in the end.
HEART - Do you consider yourself to be the parent, the master, or the god of your characters? Are you cruel to them?
parent. more like a pet owner than a parent to be honest lol. and no!! i'm a big softie, i do just enough damage to be able to tell the story. im usually very wary of being too cruel to characters bc that has turned me off stories in the past. at some point it just feels like sadness for the sake of sadness and im not really here for it.
I have no idea, because I have a shit memory. But I got my first PC when I was around 14, which is also when I started spending all my time in WordPad, Paint (and Age of Empires II :D)
9. 🔥 CANDLE: Describe the main conflict in your WIP.
10. 📚 BOOKCASE: Share a paragraph from your WIP.
Thank you for the ask! From this ask game.
I think with those, I'll have to go with Thorns, because I can't really describe the main conflict of Till Death without spoilers.
9. 🔥 CANDLE: Describe the main conflict in your WIP.
On the one hand, we have the good old fantasy plot of the Scourge trying to corrupt Caldyn's people, and Caldyn very much not liking that. On the other, he needs to overcome his fear to be able to face it.
10. 📚 BOOKCASE: Share a paragraph from your WIP.
When the voice in his head died down, Caldyn found himself sitting on the ground, shaking. Seyonna sat beside him, still holding his hand, waiting silently.
“The Tiyatsin,” he said, his words barely a whisper. “He’s calling me. Calling me back.”
There had been no words, only meaning. Knowledge. A sense of danger. Their parent tree was in danger. The thought sent a chill down his spine.
