CJ24: Counterfeit Mage, Honest Illusions, Dodecahedron Duels

Basics

What is your world called?
Is it set on: (Earth/Alternate Earth/Not Earth)
Estimate its population:
In one sentence, describe your world:


Geography

The Natural World
How was the world created?
How long ago was it created?
How do the laws of physics work?
How does the solar system move?
What celestial beings exist (suns, stars, moons, etc.) and how do they relate to the world?
What does the night sky look like?
Have any major conflicts arisen from environmental issues?

Flora & Fauna
How does the flora and fauna differ from region to region?
Do any plants have special or magical properties?
Are any dangerous?
Are there any dangerous animals?
How do the plants and animals interact in your world?
Do they have symbiotic relationships, or are they a threat to each other?

Creatures
What kind of wildlife roams which parts of your world?
Where are they most commonly found?
How did the wildlife evolve?
Do mythical creatures such as dragons exist? How do they fit into the ecosystem?

Landscape
Where are the mountain ranges? Rivers? Forests? Deserts? Seas?
How does the terrain interact with its inhabitants?
Are there any "natural wonders” in your world? How were they formed?

Diseases
What natural diseases have evolved over time?
How are they transmitted?
How has this affected population growth?

Locations of Significance
What are the major cities in your world? Ports? Most populated metropolises?
Is your world split geographically? (e.g. rural and urban, north and south, etc.) If so, how?
Describe the population density of your world. Are people forced to live in close proximity, or are they spread far apart?
What does the architecture look like?

Capital City
What is the capital city of the world?
Why is it the capital?

Flags & Symbols
How does each city choose to represent itself (crest, flags, signature colors)?

Weather
What are the processes of your world that drive weather and ocean patterns?
Are certain regions more vulnerable to certain weather conditions?

Climate
How does the climate differ in each region?
What are the seasons like in your world? How many seasons are there? How long are they?


People

Races & Species
What intelligent species or races populate your world? Dwarves? Elves? Xenomorphs?
Other? How did they come to exist?
How does each race or species perceive each other? How do they co-exist?
What is their average life expectancy?

Physical Build
What do the inhabitants of your world look like? Do they have any distinguishing features?
What is the societal standard for beauty? How might this differ in each region of the world?

Mannerisms & Etiquette
What is the code of conduct between people of different ranks or classes? People of different cities or regions? Elders?
How do people in your world convey non-verbal boredom? Disbelief? Happiness? Respect?
What would be a gesture that is universally insulting in your world?
What etiquette exists in different parts of your world?

Customs & Rituals
Are there any rites of passages in your world? "Coming of age” celebrations? If so, what age marks the transition from child to adult?
What traditions surround death and burial? What about engagements and proposals of marriage?

Festivals
What are the important festivals of your world and why are they celebrated?

Languages
How many languages exist in your world? How did they originate?
Which language is spoken most? Is there a universal language?
How do naming conventions differ in each region?
Does one language have different dialects?
Are people encouraged to learn more than one language?

Sayings
What are common sayings? Idioms? Insults? "Untranslatable” words that only a certain group of people would understand?
Do your people use any slang or impolite phrases?

Accents
If different languages exist, how does this affect the accents in your world? What do the
accents say about the person (place of origin, social class, level of education, etc.)?

Greetings
How do people of the same race greet each other? How do people of different races greet
one another?
Is there an informal and formal way to greet others depending on the level of familiarity
(i.e. friends, acquaintances, elders, superiors, etc.)? What are the proper forms of address?

Social Frameworks
What social frameworks underlie the communities in your world?
What are the social taboos? What would one need to do in order to be kicked out of society?

Class or Caste Systems
Is there a class system? If so, how much emphasis does society place on it?
What are the tell-tale signs that a person belongs to a certain class?
How does class affect professions and trades in your world? Can anyone become a priest or
a wizard, for example — or is it a privilege restricted to certain members of the hierarchy?

Family Structure
What is the normal family unit?
What is the social system within a family unit in your world? Patriarchal? Matriarchal?
What constitutes a good father? A good mother? A good child?

Marriage & Family Life
How is marriage defined in your world? Is marriage a civil or religious institution?
Do people marry for love? If not, why do they marry?
What are your world's birth practices?
What are your world's funerary practices?


Civilization

History
How did civilization begin?
When was the earliest known record of history?
What were the significant wars that have taken place on your world's soil? How have they
shaped the present?
Can your world's history be divided into significant eras (e.g. Georgian, Victorian,
Edwardian, etc.)?

Myths
What myths exist in your world to explain the cosmos? How might this have in turn shaped
religion?
How were stories passed through generations?

Culture
Is national culture and history a source of pride or shame in your world? How is it
preserved?
What are some things that define each culture? What would a person from a certain city,
region, or country be proudest of?
What role does gender play in society?
What happens if a member of society falls ill?
How wide is the gap between the rich and the poor?
How do people mark the passage of time?
What is the calendar like?
Monochronic or polychronic?

Literature, Art, & Music
What is the role of the arts in your world's culture? How is it perceived by society and how has it evolved?
Who are some celebrated or noted artists in history? What are they known for?
How might the arts have changed as a result of outside influences (from other regions, cities, races, etc.)?
Are any of the arts taboo? If so, why?

Clothing
What is the customary dress? Is it gendered? If so, how?
What is considered fashionable and how does this differ from region to region?
How does the clothing one wears reflect status?
What is the dress code for each profession? How strictly followed must it be?

Cuisine
What are the regional dishes? How might this differ depending on the climate and environment?
Is there a difference between what the poor and the rich eat? What is considered a luxurious food? What is considered a staple food?
How are mealtimes approached? Is there a set hour to be at the table? Are there traditions that precede or follow a meal?

Religion
How do people worship in your world?
When and where do people worship?
Are there different belief systems that are in conflict?
What do places of worship look like?
What holidays are celebrated?
What is your world's attitude towards artistic expression?
What are people most afraid of?

Gods & Deities
Who are the major and minor gods that people worship?
What function do the gods serve in society?

Holy Texts
What (if any) holy texts exist?
How well-known are the scriptures? Would people of all ages be able to recite them on the spot if asked?

Significant Prophets
Who are the important religious figures in the world? For what reason are they significant?

Education
Does formal education exist? If so, who can access it? The rich? The clergy? Everyone in
the general population?
If magic exists in your world, how is it studied? Do schools exist to train it?
What are literacy rates among the general population? How does this affect communication and the distribution of information?

Leisure
How do people spend their leisure time in your world? What forms of entertainment are
most common?
Are there any organized sports in your world? How might its rules and regulations differ
from the ordinary?


Magic, Technology, & Weapons

Magic System(s)
For what purpose is magic used in your world? Who can use it?
What limits are there to its power? What are the consequences of using it?
What is the history of magic and magicians in your world?
How does society view magic? Positively? Negatively? As the Other?
Where does magic come from (ie. the divine, the human body, the landscape)?
Does your world have any magical creatures?

Rules of Magic
How does magic work in your world? Where does it come from?
How does a practitioner summon or channel their power? Is there a language that's needed in order to call forth magic? If so, what are its roots? Does a practitioner need external tools such as wands or amulets?
Is magic regulated in any way? What is the governing body?
What is the cost of using magic?

Practitioning Magicians
What are magicians' status in society? Are they trusted advisors of kings or charlatans on
the road?
How many magicians exist in your world? How do they perceive one another?

Technology
How advanced is the technology in your world? How does it work?
How does technology impact the different parts of society? Transportation?
Communication? Medicine?
How does magic and technology interact and co-exist? Is it a rivalry? A co-op?
Are there rules and regulations? Are there restrictions on who can access technology?
Does artificial intelligence exist in your world? If so, how does it interact with your society?
What types of technology are common in every household?
Have conflicts arisen because of technological advances?

Weaponry
What weapons are predominant in your world (ranged, combat, anti-gravity, etc.) and why?
Who makes the weapons? How do they work? Is it easy to obtain them?

Signature Weapons
Are there special weapons (e.g. Thor's Hammer, Captain America's shield, etc.)? How are they made? How many of them exist in the world?

Common Weapons
Are there professions that necessitate the bearing of weapons? What about religions?


Economy

Economics
On which economic system does your world operate? A market economy? Feudalism? Socialism?
Is there a central bank?
How does the government regulate businesses?
Are there protections in place for the poor?
How are people taxed?
What are your society's prominent industries?

Trade & Commerce
How is trade facilitated? Is it carried out by traveling merchants? By a guild? Are there
auctions?
What cities, countries, or regions are allies? Trade partners? How has this changed throughout history?
How is the soft power of a region, city, or country determined?
Do different societies have trade agreements in place?

Currency
Is there a universal currency? If not, what are the regional currencies? What is the valuation?
How is the currency circulated and what are the denominations?
Can the currency be broken down into units (dollars, cents, dimes, quarters)?

Major Imports & Exports
What are the major exports of the region or city? Imports? How might this have evolved
throughout history?
Does a particular region specialize in particular trade (i.e. livestock, weaponry, etc.)? Why?

Natural Resources
What resources are natural in each part of your world? How does this affect trade and trade
relationships?
What sort of natural resources are readily available, and what resources are hard to
find?

Transportation
How easy is it to travel within a city and outside of a city? What modes of transportation
exist (horse, anti-gravity car, etc.)?
How is information disseminated all over your world (ink and paper, owl, newspaper,
messenger)? How do people communicate over distances?
Do people need permission or documentation to travel?

Business
What crafts or trades are highly valued in your world?
Are some professions considered more elite or respectable than others? How so?
How do people advance in their fields? Are there apprenticeships? How easy is social
mobility?
What is the normal work schedule for the average person? What is the average income?
Does your world have any unusual careers?


Politics

Government
What is the form of government? Is it a monarchy? Republic? Empire? Theocracy?
What are the responsibilities of the government? How far does the government's sphere of
influence spread (magic, religion, etc.)?
How is the government perceived? Is it trusted by the people or is there tension?

Law
What is the rule of law in your world? How is law enforced? What are the most important laws?
What are the punishments for breaking the law?

Justice Systems
What is the legal process in your world? How are people tried?
How does magic fit into the legal system? Is it above the law?

War Systems
How is war declared? Is there a formal process that a country must go through in order to
engage in war?
What is the command structure of the army?
How big is the army? Is it composed of humans? Non-humans? Both?

Don't tell anyone but these are the coolest ideas I've seen yet

XD My lips are sealed >.> And asklafe that is a very high compliment, thank you c:

Basics

What is your world called? Asfad.
Is it set on: Not Earth
Estimate its population: 2 billion
In one sentence, describe your world: Every living thing has regular polyhedra representing their experiences and personalities and who they are, and these polyhedra can be used to attack others' polyhedra and cause an irreversible state of existence called "sevaz," which is equivalent to a persistent vegetative state, or to manipulate others in a variety of ways.


Geography
The Natural World
How was the world created? The universe was formed with a thought. That thought blossomed into an experience, which was the first polyhedron. The religion of Apeirohedronism believes that this polyhedron was an infinite skew polyhedron, or a skew apeirohedron, that is still evident in every atom of the universe.
How long ago was it created? It was created about 9 billion years ago.

What is your world called? Veloz, but the story takes place on the Marzel Isles
Is it set on: Not Earth
Estimate its population: 3 million

Magic, Technology, & Weapons
Magic System(s)
For what purpose is magic used in your world? Who can use it? Magic is used for anything and everything. People who have the ability to enchant things to fly are recruited to run the Aerials, or flying trains, that are the main transportation system between the floating isles. Depending on the strength of the mage’s ability, they can keep the Aerials running for a few months to a few years, before they need to be recharged by another mage. A long time ago, in the Enchanted Years, a uniquely powerful mage used her ability to infuse emeralds to lift the Marzel Isles into the sky and to keep them floating, so the world is literally held up by magic (or so people believe). Unlike in modern times, these gemstones appear to have infinite power and have not run out of magic.
What limits are there to its power? What are the consequences of using it? Limits vary widely between each person. Weak mages may have severe restrictions, like only being able to use their ability for five minutes a day. Strong mages can be nearly invincible. As of now, there don’t seem to be any consequences of using it.
What is the history of magic and magicians in your world? The Marzel Isles used to be an archipelago on Veloz. The earliest recorded texts indicate that magic was not common on Veloz in the far past. However, after an unknown incident (scholars suspect there was either a war or some sort of natural disaster that threatened much of civilization on Veloz), the great mage known in history textbooks as the Emerald Enchantress lifted the Marzel Isles into the sky, thus beginning the Enchanted Years. In these times, magic flourished and mages were born with varied and fantastic powers. There were no Worthless in those years.
Author’s Note: The “emeralds” are not, in fact, magical, and the Emerald Enchantress did not have magic. The Isles are actually a highly advanced form of flying machine that runs on solar power collected by the “emeralds.” The Emerald Enchantress did, however, find a way to contact an extraterrestrial species that can bond with marzellians (the beings of this world; humanoid) to create effects that are known as magic.
How does society view magic? Positively? Negatively? As the Other? Society views magic as essential. Not having magic is a state to be pitied at best, and something to be actively feared and hated at worst.
Where does magic come from (ie. the divine, the human body, the landscape)? Magic comes from a symbiotic relationship with a species called the <vibration 1 vibration 19 click 3>, represented in the common tongue as the tratut (singular: tratu). The residents of the Marzel Isles believe magic is an innate condition of marzellians, which is why they believe being magicless is due to some fault of the marzellian rather than the tratut population being unable to keep up with the population boom of the marzellians…
Does your world have any magical creatures? No, unless the tratut count.

What is your world called? Sylvyn
Is it set on: Not Earth
Estimate its population: 6 billion

I now have some notes on two of the main characters and some possible ways for magic to be faked! :]