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Hiya!

Your local friendly web designer/artist friend here with an update on the State of the Sails:

- We were on hiatus from approx. end of August to February, so we haven’t had much new content, BUT

- I’ve been working on some assets and overhauling pages, so GET READY for all-new ways to navigate (pun absolutely intended) the site!

- Chapters are still on hiatus while the blog gets overhauled, but we’re back to doing sessions for now, so we’re getting more content for you!

- Your friendly neighborhood novelist (Megan) and I will be tag-teaming session recordings-into-chapters from now on, so hopefully that’ll help get the ball rolling again!!!

- The ask box is still open in the meantime, so if you have any questions about the world, the characters, or us, drop us some mail!

That’s all for now, but stay tuned!

- Joanie

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“Does this mean you guys aren’t dead yet?” he asks sarcastically.

A Soaring Sails aesthetic for Scritt, ship’s lookout aboard the Sun’s Heart

sources: (x)(x)(x)(x)(x)(x)

#aesthetic #ch: Scritt #ch: crew

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Not sure if you're still taking questions about Act 1 but will there be more of Caenlat in Act 2? I really like her as an NPC!

Megan:

We are 100% ALWAYS taking questions, tbh! 

Part of me really wants to say RAFO, but as your neighborhood novelizationist who feels really guilty about the fact that she skipped writing for over a month and hasn’t posted any new chapters in forever, I will gladly divulge that YES! There is more Caenlat to come!

I’m going to throw this over to the GM, in case she wants to add anything about Caenlat?

Alyx: 

GM confirms, yes. Definitely more Caenlat! She’s become a favorite of mine too. She’s actually quite the plot motivator in Act 2!

edit by Megan: I meant, Alyx, if you wanted to say anything about the character, but you are meaner than I am if you are RAFOing everything about Caenlat!!!

#drtaraalewis #Megan replies #asked and answered #worldbuilding #ch: caenlat #worldbuilding wednesday

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where did Japhs come from? why is he so.... Japhs

Heh, if you’re asking where he hails from, Japhs is originally Pemallan, from Damerra. 

As for why he is the way he is, let’s just say Japhs is an individual that still has some growing to do. His family was worried about the way he acted and thought some good hard work on a sky ship might whip him into shape.

It... hasn’t quite yet, but hey, anything’s possible.

#worldbuilding wednesday #worldbuilding #asked and answered #ch: japhs #cw: japhs #Anonymous

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do the coalition not know how silly it is that the people living on /magical floating islands/ don't like magic?? *sigh*

Ah, Anon, as any proper Coalitioner will tell you, their islands are held aloft by technology, not that dirty magic that they use on the Surface! 

As the party finds out in Act 2 as they head to Rondell, it’s actually more difficult to use magic on a Coalition island than it is on the ground. The Source is harder to access. It’s slightly more difficult on a sky ship, but noticeably harder on an island.

(In Fate Core terms, accessing the Source is a Will roll that requires 0 to pass on the Surface, +1 on a ship, and +2 on the Coalition.)

This was actually the original intent in the founding the Coalition. The old High Empires were ripping each other apart with magic, and the cities that became the Coalition wanted to evacuate their people away from the dangers of magic, and that meant upward into the sky. It helped that the ground was all cracked and broken from magical warfare already.

#worldbuilding wednesday #wednesday #coalition #asked and answered #good question though #surprise the floaty islands aren't the magic ones! #Anonymous

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what I really wanna know since learning about Ivine, is what the heck's going on with their gender expression... like something to do with all the magicians identifying as male?

Okay so the initial worldbuilding for Sosa was taking a lot of concepts from things that I enjoy and just sort of mushing them all together into a big ball until it was somewhat original again. Like the Coalition has some Bioshock Infinite to it, the Source shares some similarities to the One Power and the Fracture was a lot like the Breaking of the World in Wheel of Time. I tried to take high-level concepts and then work the details until they felt like something new, but also, this is an RP, not a novel or anything, so I didn’t fret too badly.

Something that happened with the Ivine Empire too, in that I’ve always been fascinated by Alethi gender roles from Stormlight Archive but... kind of wanted to do it backwards. I wanted to find a way to take some of our world’s conceptions about gender expression but make them interpret those things as making different genders suited to very different things.

So, for instance Ivinians believe that women are better than men at working together, social skills, and communication. That’s somewhat similar to our world’s view of women, but the Ivinians have taken these assumptions and have decided that this means women make much better soldiers than men. “Men are hotheaded and impulsive,” they’ll tell you, “you want obedience, cooperation, and discipline from soldiers and those are feminine things, not someone who’s going to run off and do what they think is best, or let their tempers get in the way of the mission.” So most of the guards and soldiers in Ivine are women. War is seen as feminine.

Women are considered better at organization and understanding other people, which means that management and strategic positions are often female-dominated. Even in the “masculine” south, a good chunk of the Emperor’s governing staff would be ladies.

On the other hand, Ivinians also believe some of that “men naturally have more stamina and endurance than women” and while those things are good in a soldier, Ivinians believe it would be a waste not to use them on magic instead. The magic users in Mevined, known as Arcants, are almost all men, because magic is seen as something that strains the body greatly and that men are more suited to handling this. 

It should be noted, while the player characters don’t tend to find magic very stressful, most of them only have one or two foci. Most Arcants have upwards of seven attuned at all times. Scholarship and deep study are also seen as  masculine persuits because “men are better at compartmentalizing, which allows them to focus more singularly than a woman could.”

Now, they’re not as strict about gender stuff as the Alethi. There are male soldiers and female arcants, and while it isn’t scandalous, it is rarer and they tend to have a difficult time, as people give them grief for picking a “bad” profession for them.  

There are people who vary from Ivine’s prescribed gender binary, as is expected. This tends to get mixed reactions from people. There’s some who are okay with accepting transgender individuals... so long as they ascribe perfectly to the gender they profess to be. These individuals tend to be watched more closely than others, hoping to ensure that they really are “what they say they are.” 

Genderfluid identities are somewhat more common in Ivine than other places. Though genderfluidity can create somewhat of an “outcast” feeling, as one doesn’t wholly ascribe to either of the two Ivinian binaries, there are some professions which are seen as most suitable for a genderfluid individual, and for the most part if someone is using genderfluidity to provide a function “between” genders, it’s alright. “We’re okay with what you are as long as it’s useful,” sort of thing. Agender individuals usually also fall into this societal niche. 

Larhh Kastramov, the Sun’s Heart navigator, is a genderfluid individual from Ivine. 

All in all, Ivine is... really not the greatest of places in Sosari, all things said and done, and I think a lot of their rigidity is the cause of this. Whether in the north or south, Ivinian culture likes things that are “as they should be” and believes everyone works best when everyone remembers their place. For those who don’t fit what they “should” be, for any number of reasons, Ivine isn’t a terribly hospitable society.

Obligatory disclaimer that the GM is straight and cis. My intention in branching into gender culture in worldbuilding is an attempt to stretch myself regarding an aspect of societies that I don’t have as much experience in. Still learning, of course, and I highly doubt I’m perfect in this area. Please bear with me!

#worldbuilding #worldbuilding wednesday #asked and answered #ch: larhh #ivine empire #gender #we got some more questions last night #so I'm writing answers on my lunch break #also even though wednesday is over i take questions at all times! #fbstj

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Is there like...a Rondell of the Surface? Is there a city that's generally regarded as crappier than the others? Is there an opposite--one that's regarded as better/safer/etc?

Not quite so... centralized as Rondell. Mevined might be the closest comparison in terms of a city with secrets and lots of things going on, but Mevined’s dangers are a lot more classy?? Mevined’s a city of intrigue and politics while Rondell is crimelords and gangs. 

Quite a few of the larger cities have seedier underbelly parts, but Rondell is certainly unique in the extent of its crime and corruption. Being isolated up there and gaining a reputation for bad things has kind of made the whole island fester over. 

Rakvin would probably try to boast that they’re one of the safest cities, because they have a very heavy guard presence which keeps crime low, but they also tend to be a little bit on the authoritarian side, in a “you are safe from the State if you cooperate with the State” sort of way.

Damerra tends to be well regarded by people, but it’s also a very chaotic sort of sprawl that might not exactly be completely safe but is at least interesting.

#worldbuilding #worldbuilding wednesday #ladyknightradiant #damerra #rakvin #rondell #asked and answered #feather replies

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Game Mom, what is Ship Mom's favorite color, favorite food, and favorite animal?

Charille is fond of goldenrod, light peach, and indigo.

Her favorite food is actually a kind of pastry served in the place she grew up. They’re baked puff pastry pockets that are either filled with sweet dessert fillings or savory meat and veggies fillings and she would eat them for every meal if she could.

Favorite animal is an Albatross ;)

Edit: I made a fatal error that has now been corrected.

#worldbuilding #worldbuilding wednesday #charille #ladyknightradiant #feather replies

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what would hte crew get from starbucks

Ayyyyyy, listen you can say a lot of things about me, but when you come for Starbucks headcanons I WILL ALWAYS HAVE AN ANSWER.

Charille: Vanilla dirty chai, that good lightly sweet with a nice kick to it. Always Venti.

Bennest: Good Old Black Coffee Every Morning And He Leaves A Tip.

Corinne: It’s either a quad shot mocha undertow or a double chocolate chip frappuccino, and there is no in between.

Scritt: The most guilty and ashamed pumpkin spice lover to ever exist and no one can ever know.

Com: White mocha, no whip, with nutmeg powder.

Larhh: Toasted coconut cold brew, with coconut milk.

Japhs: Orders off the Secret Menu. Never has the recipe. Always demands a free drink when they don’t know how to make it. Has definitely drank almost as much spiteful barista spit as he has coffee.

SUPER BONUS ROUND

Caenlat: Hazelnut mocha latte, but has recently started drinking more tea B)

Leanne: Is offended that Caenlat brought her to Starbucks. Originally orders a London fog but begrudgingly admits that the green tea frappuccino is not bad.

Kitter: Red eye. With cream if he’s having a good day, but lol when’s the last time that happened.

Meijin: Espresso con panna.

Kodaki: Nonfat but with whip cinnamon dolce latte, usually at room temperature because he forgets about it.

Sidhale: Iced green tea lemonade with peppermint syrup. 

Ariah: Pink drink. Posts pics on Instagram. Baristas have figured this out and now put her drink stickers over the logo to ruin the shot.

Falrest: Attempts to order whiskey. Thinks he’s funny. Is not. Gets decaffed because he tried to flirt with the barista over the bar. Never tips.

Mirror: Uses a different name every time. Orders whatever the person two people in front of her ordered.

#worldbuilding #asked and answered #out of character shenanigans #NPCs #Starbucks #the former barista has Opinions™ #flirtymauveskirt #feather replies

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oh shoot wait but is it like mineral water carbonated or is it like... orange soda 👀

Both! Those Coalitioners are fond of bubbly beverages of all kinds.

#worldbuilding #asked and answered #coalition #thesugarcookieday #feather replies

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okay. does soda exist in soda world

Alright anonymous person who is definitely not @renegadeshroom, to answer your very serious question, the Coalition has carbonated beverages, yes.

#asked and answered #worldbuilding #coalition #renegadeshroom #Anonymous #feather replies

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Feather, on a scale of 1 to *eyebrow wiggle*, how sexy is Meijin?

#SHE ASKED THE WRONG BLOG #asked and answered #worldbuilding wednesday #teukkieducky #she's getting tagged because i know it was her #meijin

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how are foci treated in the deserts?

As one might expect, foci that aid in survival or create more comforts in an inhospitable environment are popular. Lisseth’s or Bennest’s foci would be very useful in a desert environment. Other simpler foci, like those that manipulate air or temperature, are abundant, as are some more complex foci that help people grow food. 

All in all, foci are probably somewhat more common in desert situations, where everyone probably has at least one or two, even if they’re small and don’t do much. Focus artisans have mastered the art of making many small, useful foci quickly, and these specific kinds are cheaper and easier to acquire than most foci in cities, where Source magic is seen as a bit more of a luxury good.

#worldbuilding #worldbuilding wednesday #asked and answered #thesugarcookieday #foci #the source #feather replies

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what are the major differences between the pava forest and the laelle wild?

At first glance, Laelle is quite a bit more overgrown and less tended, while Pava is more cultivated. 

The Laelle Wild in Pemall, is a forest that one could easily get lost in. Thick foliage at the center makes traversal difficult, though life abounds. Most roads go around the forest rather than trying to cut through it. The Laelle Wild is a popular hunting spot, due to the variety of large and dangerous animals that call the forest home, though all but the most dedicated hunters will stay towards the borders. Laelle also attracts archaeologists and historians, as it is one of the richest sites for High Empire ruins, and with the difficulty of access, many have lay undisturbed for centuries. 

The Pava Forest in the Ivine Empire is a bit more tame and civilizied. Homesteads are not uncommon throughout the forest, where a family will live and grow their own food. It has several roads cutting through it which are patrolled by Rakvine soldiers periodically. It is considered one of the most beautiful destinations in Ivine, and is popular for hikers and a favored detour for travelers on their way to or from Rakvin itself. It’s said that no one leaves Pava without gaining a new story.

#worldbuilding wednesday #pemall #ivine empire #pava forest #laelle wild #thesugarcookieday #feather replies

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tell us about the rent teaaaar?

The Rent Tears are a geological formation just north of the Kovrone Range, where the mountains taper off into oddly shaped foothills. The Tears were a focal point for a great amount of destructive magical energy during the Fracture, and as a result, the landscape of the area is broken and craggy. 

Cliffs jut from the ground at odd and unnatural angles and deep chasms open up unexpectedly, looking like the claw marks of a great beast. There are some wide plains containing fields and forests between these strange landmarks as well, which make for easier travelling.

Despite the unconventional terrain, the Tears are home to a few nomadic groups, whose expertise in traversing their strange paths. Rakvine soldiers often train in survival and wilderness skills deep in the Tears as well, though encounters with nomads out in the wild tend to turn violent.

Some strategists fear that Rakvin’s excursions may be an overture to conquest, and that the true reason for the patrols is a search for a way to send an army safely across the Rent Tears in order to invade Pemall.

#worldbuilding #asked and answered #thesugarcookieday #Rakvin #Jakosa #Pemall #Ivine Empire #Rent Tears #feather replies

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Worldbuilding Wednesday: SoSa Edition!

Hello everyone, this is your friendly neighborhood GM @featherwriter, here to open the floodgates on our askbox! 

All evening I’ll be answering any questions you might have about the various cultures of Southern Sosari, where our story takes place and the magics and people that inhabit them. Any question’s fair game, whether that be about NPCs, cultures and societies, history, Source magic and foci, modern politics, or whatever, I’m here to take them. 

(Also I assume if you want to ask the players about any player characters, I’m sure they’d love to answer things for you too!)

Here’s our About page if you need a reminder about Sosari. I’ll also put a quick primer about the three major political powers in this area, the Coalition of Sky States, the Kingdom of Pemall, and the Ivine Empire, below the cut.

But yeah, ask away!

The Kingdom of Pemall A proud kingdom, between the Kovrone Range and the Lorique ocean, Pemall is currently ruled by the Eltrand family. Most of the cities within Pemall’s domain see to their own affairs, without too much interference from the capital, Damerra. Pemall is rich with ruins from the age of the High Empires and has a strong foundation in the use of Source magic, though an era of peace has made the country focus on cultural gains recently rather than military improvements.

Notable cities are Damerra, Johd, Wress, and Vetrantis. Callie and Naiakiir are Pemallan. Runa... sort of not really.

The Ivine Empire

On the western side of the Kovrone Range lies the Ivine Empire. Originally two separate nations, the countries of Mevined and Rakvin decided to unite their countries under one name and founded the Ivine Empire. To this day, the Empire has two capitals with the Empress ruling in the “feminine” and military north and the Emperor ruling the “masculine” and magically-inclined south. Though the two sides of the Empire are very different, they each believe their strengths complement the other’s weaknesses and that together they can accomplish far more than they could apart.

Notable cities are Rakvin, Mevined, Utaji, and Fort Roeld. None of the player characters are Ivinian.

The Coalition of Sky States

More colloquially known as “The Coalition,” the eight islands which float in the skies above Pemall and Ivine form a loose federation, but are mostly independent. Originally seeking to flee the magical turmoil of the Fracture hundreds of years ago, the technologically inclined Coalitioners tend to eschew the Source and magic as something backwards and dangerous, preferring to trust innovation instead. Each of the islands has a distinct feel and culture, however, and are often as competitive with one another as they are with the Surfacer nations.

The eight Coalition islands are Haventeem, Gibralt, Felgreene, Ceress, Sielle, Rondell, Baud, and Olenn. Neema is from Felgreene and Lisseth is from Ceress.

#worldbuilding #yes the players are allowed to ask questions too #though there's a chance i will decline to answer things that are spoilery #i'm curious what kinds of questions we'll get! #worldbuilding wednesday

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GM Notes, Act One

The Boss Battle: Sidhale

A runaway who has bitten off quite a bit more than he can chew, Sidhale explored a cave near the village of Jirah, stumbling on deep buried ruins from before the Fracture. Within, he found a temple-like building, and at its center, a great altar like two pyramids drawing to meet each other at the points, one hanging from the ceiling, the other rising from the floor. A sculpted figure of frosted, lavender glass once lifted her arms upward in between them, but now the temple has been flipped, and the figure’s hands appear to be clutching downward.

Sidhale attuned with the statue, which he calls the Great Lady, and it is a focus of immense power. The Lady allows Sidhale to take control of other people, transforming them into animalistic servants bound to his will. There is a compulsion to the statue, which calls out subtly when unattuned, demanding that her wielder find vassals to serve her.

Sidhale has been snatching people from the nearby towns to serve the Great Lady’s demands. Some--the “lucky” ones--are transformed into reptilian animals, like lizards, naga, snakes, and small dragonets, which wait upon Sidhale’s every command as his guards and army. The unlucky ones end up as food for this feral army after being sacrificed to Ariah.

Aspects

High: Brainwashed Devotee

Protect the Shrine at all Costs

Need to Let Them Bleed

Skills

(As Sidhale)

Good (+3): Notice, Will Fair (+2): Provoke, Lore Average (+1): Athletics, Rapport

(As Shrine Guardian--dragon)

Great (+4): Fight Good (+3): Notice Fair (+2): Physique, Average (+1): Athletics, Will

Physical Stress: [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] Mental Stress: [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] Consequences, post-battle:

[ 2 - Wounded upper arm]

[ 4 - Torn shoulder]

[ 6 - Severed arm]

Stunts/Extras:

Focus, Shrine of Ariah: While in human form, Sidhale can attempt to take control of another character by rolling Will. This action is defended by Will. On a successful hit, the character takes shifts of mental damage. On a SWS (three shifts or greater), the character takes one less shift of mental damage, but is controlled by Sidhale for one turn.

Guardian Form: Sidhale can shift into the form of a dragon, which gives him a different set of skills. Once his Physical stress is expended, he drops back into human form with all of his stress boxes checked.

#stats #behind the scenes #the Goddess' Hands #ch: Sidhale