#oepus

[writernopal]

Okay let's try this...

If I woke up in the world of your WIP tomorrow, what is one unmissable thing that I'd have to see/experience/try and what is another that I should avoid at all costs? These things can be food and drink, sights, culture, festivals, anything!! You can put it in the comments or reblogs of this post, anything goes! I'll start ♥️

If you were to wake up in Oepus, you would have to experience the subterranean amethyst hot springs on the mystical isle of Luna Sang. The springs are said to have healing properties and the amethyst that grows on the ceilings of the cave is said to be as old as Oepus itself! They glow a gentle purple light making the springs appear dreamlike.

There are many things to avoid in Oepus, however, if you get ANY sort of invitation from an elf (dinner party, wedding, anniversary celebration, ANYTHING), run. That's code for that elf wanting to lure you into their forests with murderous intent. Even if you manage to survive the living forest's onslaught, you won't survive the attacking elves that follow.

[writernopal]

Happy WBW! What are the coffee shops like in your world? Or what are the coffee shop equivalents? Are they bustling? Overpriced? Are they decrept or college-kid only territory? If you wanna get into it, feel free to add on your characters' interactions, feelings, or orders!

Happy belated WBW, Tori!

What are the coffee shops like in your world? Or what are the coffee shop equivalents?

There aren't coffee shops per se, more just cafes. And these cafes will serve coffee if it's native to the area otherwise they serve whatever beverages are accessible like tea or spiced wines.

Are they bustling? Overpriced? Are they decrept or college-kid only territory?

Most cafes can be found in city or town centers, so villages for example, wouldn't have something like that. They tend to be pretty popular with older crowds since they are kind of expensive. Younger people in Oepus tend to spend their time running around in large outdoor markets which might have small stall equivalents that often serve watered down versions of what you might get in a cafe for much cheaper.

If you wanna get into it, feel free to add on your characters' interactions, feelings, or orders!

None of them really drink coffee or other drinks you might find in a cafe, most prefer alcohol lol, such is the pirate way! Except for Mariel, she would probably go to a cafe but she's very frugal so she just dreams about going to one 🥺 If she went I think she would probably order a pot of black tea to enjoy with some cookies.

[writernopal]

Trick or Treat? 🦇

A treat 🍬 for you Nerissa!

The Land Over Heaven, Oepus's sister planet, has no oceans. It's not ever really a solid land mass either. It is more of a series of land masses with creeping plants growing on them that link them together. These plants are air types that need little to no water to grow and actually glow in the dark! This means that from a celestial perspective, the two planets take turns shining in the day and night cycles, Oepus in the day because of its oceans, and The Land Over Heaven at night because of its plants. On a more planetary level that means that each one could be seen from the surface of the other but they say The Land Over Heaven hasn't been visible from anywhere in millions of years...

[writernopal]

Happy WBW! What's the humor like in your world? Are most people dark in their humor or like the light and fluffy of it all? Does sarcasm rule or are set-up punchline formulas the way to go? How do your characters' individual humors factor in?

Happy belated WBW, Tori!

What's the humor like in your world? Are most people dark in their humor or like the light and fluffy of it all?

It varies but most tend to skew more toward dark humor. Oepus can be really violent and unstable so everyone is trying to make the best of it and if dark humor helps, then they are going to use it!

Does sarcasm rule or are set-up punchline formulas the way to go?

Sarcasm is usually the go to. Unless you're watching an entertainer/bard of some kind then they'll likely have a set for people to listen to that will keep them laughing. These jokes also tend to skew dark but not as much as what you might encounter in your day to day because they know people are going there to have a good time.

How do your characters' individual humors factor in?

Fay is the sarcasm queen. She also has really deadpan delivery so sometimes you can't really tell where the sarcasm ends and where the threat/seriousness begins lol.

Axtapor is usually the butt of the joke or sometimes oblivious there is a joke at all, but he does have his moments. His method of humor is more like teasing people or just making an ass out of himself. He likes a good pun every now and then though.

Mariel appears quite serious but she loves laughing. She is the sort that is unintentionally funny, like she just says or does things that catch people off guard or strike them as funny so they end up laughing because of that.

Wilkes also likes to tease people, but he enjoys wordplay, so that will get a laugh out of him. He's also definitely the type that laughs at his own jokes even if no one else will lol.

Lexlar and Hartim are just pranksters, Lexlar especially. They love playing practical jokes on each other and generally giving each other a hard time. They joke about serious things but know when to stop and not take it too far.

[writernopal]

Happy WBW!

Does your world have its own equivalent of “The Seven Wonders”? What are some of the most iconic places to visit?

~ @tabswrites

Happy WBW, Tess!

This is such a cool question! Unfortunately there is no equivalent in Oepus of the Seven Wonders but there are some really iconic places to visit!

The amethyst crystal caves of Luna Sang (i mean duh!)

The sweeping plains of Thantril's Steppe in The Ironsong Hold (go in the spring time when they experience flora superblooms! maybe bring allergy meds lol)

The bog-lands and tarpits of Ka'halecta (the tarpits are said to house sentient bone creatures called Knuckles just don't get too close!)

The lush Oasis Heartlands of The Holtep Empire (and try not to get eaten, the Lizardfolk here have a taste for human flesh!)

The cursed lake and subterranean river system of Star Lake (bring some Clear Mind scrolls and smelling salts to keep you on your toes!)

The beautiful emerald and black sand shores of Naren (the locals are very kind and will likely welcome you into their homes with open arms!)

The bustling city of Gateshead on the continent of Seyes (really good eats here!)

[writernopal]

Happy WBW! In honor of Idalia and her looming approach on the SouthEast US, what is the most dangerous natural threat to your world?

Happy WBW, Tori!

Oepus has the usual natural disasters we're familiar with here on Earth, but tends to skew more to experiencing hurricanes, typhoons, waterspouts, and maelstroms since most of the planet is water.

Earth is about 70% water IIRC, by comparison, Oepus is about 80% water and is about 50% larger than Earth, so even though there is less land mass, the land that exists is still bigger than what we have. Most of it spread out on many islands that dot the planet and a few larger continents, like Seyes, The Holtep Empire, The Savaniels, The Ironsong Hold, and Palya. So since most of the land are islands, those threats listed before are the big ones!

[writernopal]

Happy WBW! Pirates are still sailors, and sailors can be quite the superstitious bunch. What superstitions about the sea exist in your world and which of those do your characters believe?

Happy late WBW, Wynne!

OOOO I love this question! Here are a few, some about sailing, some about the sea, and for the most part are believed by all of the cast, though I'll make notes where there are exceptions! Must of them were inspired by real life sailing superstitions adapted where it made sense for the story.

A few sea specific superstitions here! They include the Dwarven water of the Ofler's Sea, the mysterious isle located in the frigid Lapis Sea, and the NEVER SPEAK ITS NAME OR DIE sea of the mysterious Crown of The World.

Throwing coins into the sea to restore luck. More on that one here!

Blowing kisses to dolphins also for good luck.

Crying on a ship means bad luck.

Bringing a woman aboard is bad luck. (Fay obviously doesn't believe this and neither does Axtapor but this particular superstition is usually held by all male crew like those of the Angel's Lyre.)

Sirens must be sung to or they will attack you. (This is true and was briefly mentioned here as one of Axtapor's most embarrassing moments haha)

Being kissed by a sea nymph will bind you to her for life. (Fay doesn't believe this.)

Whistling on a docked ship is okay but not on one that is out at sea. This is because high pitched tones like whistling are said to attract krakens therefore is dangerous.

Never rename a ship. NEVER. In AASOAF, its believed this washes away her experience as a vessel and makes her unlucky.

A shark swimming beside your ship is a sign of death to come.

Never paint your ship green or fly green sails. This is because green represents land and means you're fated to run aground. This also applies to bringing flowers or plants aboard.

Never look back when you depart from the harbor. Axtapor does this in AASOAF 2 and gets bit by it almost immediately.

[writernopal]

Happy WBW! What kinds of ghost stories exist in your world? What kind of tales are kids spinning around a campfire? Are they true?

Happy belated WBW, Tori!

So there is this place called the Isle of Wraiths that is said to be haunted by the happy ghosts of Mother Onaliel and Ethos The Castaway.

The story goes that Ethos arrived at those shores hundreds of years ago and wandered around blindfolded for ten years in an attempt to find and gain the trust of the shy Elven Allmother, Onaliel. She'd rejected every suitor up to that point so she ran away to that island to be free of them but when he finally found her they courted each other for just a few hours before she accepted his proposal. They were very happy together and had many children before they passed.

It's said that in the afterlife they play a spectral tag across the island, you can hear their joyful giggles at night once the fauna has quieted down. Residents of the island report that their ghosts even come tuck their children in at night as they did with their own while they were alive. Ghosts definitely exist in Oepus, so this little story is 100% true.