Sekiyan History, Day 3

How long have there been people on this world? Did they evolve, were they created by the gods, or did they migrate from somewhere/when else? If there are non-humans, how long have they been around and where did they come from?

Beings have been on Sekiya for 20,000 years when our story begins--The High Goddess Meikon created the first fairies, who then created all the other non human races before Meikon created humans.

The State of the Chronicles, August 2009

We covered medicine, ethics, geography, and began covering history. In addition, this month also saw the birth of a fan video game based on the story.

Thanks to everyone that supports the blog

Sekiyan History, Day 2

•Do average people believe old tales, or do they dismiss some that have a basis in fact?

Sekiyans deeply believe in their ancient tales, as some of them recur and will recur across time--and when the world faces its darkest time, one even saves it (speaking, of course, of the legend of the Gemsinger)

Sekiyan History, Day 1

•How far back are there records or tales of historical events? How widely known are these stories?

Sekiyan legends and myths go very far back, but the first instance of some of these tales being written down dates to 5000 years before our story begins--and these ancient tales are some of the best known and well loved (the legend of the Gemsinger being one of them, but there are many more I don't want to give away yet)

Sekiyan Geography, Day 5

How much conflict has been or might be caused by these imbalances in resources? How much active, peaceful trade?

The only possibility conflict might break out over resources is if the Stone of Earth disappears (which is very unlikely), since it regenerates what was lost if the supply gets low enough. As a result, the mineral trade is a flourishing one

Sekiyan Geography, Day 4

Which resources (e.g., coal, oil, iron ore, gold, diamonds, limestone, etc.) are particularly abundant, and in which areas? Which are scarce and where? Are there places with major deposits that haven't been discovered yet, or where such deposits haven't been fully exploited?

Metals and coal are abundant in the mountains, but the highlands leading to the mountains have plenty of minerals, metals, and coal waiting to found.

Sekiyan Geography, Day 3

Which areas are the most fertile farmland? Where are mineral resources located?

Farmland is good all across the plains, but the best land is by the river. Minerals are usually found in small grottoes by rivers or in the mountains

Sekiyan Geography, Day 2

If there are non-human inhabitants, are there any areas they particularly claim as their own (e.g., dwarves in caves under mountains)?

Forests are traditionally elven realms, and the dwarves have traditionally lived in the mountains

Sekiyan Geography, Day 1

In which geographical areas will the story take place? How much ground will the story cover?

Sekiya has four continents, with the first 3 books happening on the Eastern Continent (the other three will be visited too)

Sekiyan Ethics, Day 14

What kinds of people are the rebels and outcasts of this society? How does society deal with them--prison, exile, decapitation, reformation, etc?

Those with radical ideas--they are usually reformed, but those that pose a danger are exiled.

Sekiyan Ethics, Day 13

•What kind of ideal life do people aspire to? Does everyone want to be an English country gentleperson, living out in the country, or is it the New York social whirl, or the jet-set lifestyle, that attracts most people?

The upper-class life is what most Sekiyans dream about, with all the perks and priviliges thereof

Sekiyan Ethics, Day 12

What are the standards of beauty for people? For paintings and sculpture? For clothes and furniture? How do they differ from the standards in your culture? How do they reflect the physical traits of the various people?

Sekiyan's admire strength and dexterity--which leads to even the women being muscular (There is no distinction between man's work and women's work like on Earth. Even if you are not physically strong, a Sekiyan will admire you if you are mentally or spiritually strong as well

Sekiyan Ethics, Day 11

What are the society's mores regarding courtship, marriage, and family? Is marriage primarily a civil or a religious institution?

Marriage is not something forced on either party or arranged for either party--when both the boy and the girl are in love enough to want to marry, the marriage process is set in motion. Likewise, there is no outside pressure to have kids-it is the couple's choice.

That said, marriage is seen as a religious institution (the boy and the girl's love for each other is seen as symbolic of the love Meikon has for Her people)

Sekiyan Ethics, Day 10

What are the biggest social faux pas--burping loudly at a formal banquet, drawing steel in the presence of a king/noble, asking a dwarf whether it's a male or a female? What subjects or actions cause embarrassment or discomfort?

--Asking an elf its age
--Bringing weapons into a noble's presence without a very specific reason

Sekiyan Ethics, Day 9

What are the social taboos--what things are "not done", like wearing a bathing suit to the office? What things are never talked about? What would happen if someone did? How do these taboos vary for different races?

--Naming an angel's or demon's true name
--Abusing magia or nature

If these things happened you'd have a period of bad luck at best and be put to death at worst

Sekiyan Ethics, Day 8

•What are the most controversial subjects in this culture? What things can you easily start a friendly argument about in any bar? What things will automatically start an unfriendly argument?

The rights of women and non-humans and the "correct" way to wield magia are the most pervasive hot button topics (there are others too) Wielding magia will lead to friendly banter, but bring up rights, and a brawl will likely ensue (that may or may not have injuries or casualties)

Sekiyan Ethics, Day 7

Are there certain classes of people (wizards, foreigners, children, peasants, women) who have fewer legal rights or less recourse than full citizens? Why? Are they considered mentally or morally deficient, a danger to the state, or is there some other rational?

Not currently--Sekiyans frown on prejudice of any form, but it wasn't always like this. Years before our story took place, non-humans were often discriminated against. About 300 years before our adventure happens, a different sort of king ascended to the human throne--one that was taught that non-humans deserved the same rights and respect as a human.

Sekiyan Ethics, Day 6

•Who is considered a citizen, with the rights and privileges thereof? What are those rights and privileges (voting, protection from thieves, the right to a hearing in Rome) and what responsibilities go along with them (jury duty, providing funds or knights for the lord's army)?

Anyone born within a kingdom's realm or has resided there for at least a year is considered a citizen of that kingdom. Citizens enjoy voting, health care, housing, and the right to trial by jury, among other things. In return, taxes must be paid and jury duty will be served when you are summoned, to name a few things

Sekiyan Ethics, Day 5

What are the attitudes toward ownership? What constitutes "theft" and what can be stolen--gems, gold, purses, small moveables, someone's good name? Are thieves organized in a guild, licensed by law, freelance, or what?

Ownership of an item begins when you have paid the price for the item--and once you've paid for it (or made the first payment on a large item), it is yours. If there is a dispute in who owns something, the magistrate will ask for proofs of purchase (eg. records of purchase, bills, etc.) to determine who owns the item.

Stealing is generally related to items--including one's identity (stealing of people is kidnapping and buying and selling people would be slavery, not theft)

Most thieves act alone or with a partner, but some loose bands of thieves operate throughout Sekiya

Episode 7 of The Video Game

Galia appears...

Sekiyan Ethics, Day 4

What are the acceptable limits to honor and/or honesty in this society? Is a binding oath unbreakable no matter what, or can you get out of it if the other party turns out to be evil scum or if you weren't fully informed? Are "white lies" acceptable socially, or is lying in any form unacceptable?

If it turns out that binding oath you swore turned out to be for evil scum, you can break the oath by casting the Light spell Aura Fantasy, which is one way of erasing a target's memory.

While "white lies" are not explicitly discouraged, they are still frowned on. Having said that, sometimes people will lie to protect themselves

Sekiyan Ethics, Day 3

•What things are considered shocking in this society that are not considered shocking in yours? (Examples: showing a woman's ankles, eating left-handed, reading in public.) What are the reactions of ordinary people when someone does one of these things?

--Throwing coins in fountains when it isn't a festival day (on a normal day, doing this is a sign that the thrower will fall on hard times in the future, but on festival days, it is a popular game of chance)
--Shaving a woman's legs (shaving the underarms is fine)
--Receiving medicine by injection

If you do these or other things I don't want to give away yet, you might be scolded at least, or run out of town at worst

Sekiyan Ethics, Day 2

What things are considered normal and acceptable in this society that would not be considered normal or acceptable in yours?

--Girls and women are not encouraged to be thin, many do so anyway by their own choice
--Non-lethal duels (either by the two parties or mystical creatures tamed by the two parties) are a perfectly legal way to settle disputes
--Girls and women are also not encouraged to shave--Sekiyans believe it is what's inside that counts

Episode 6 of The Video Game

And so the adventure begins...

Sekiyan Ethics, Day 1

•What are the most desired/most valuable things in this society--gold, jewels, drugs, money, furs, reindeer, oranges, etc? Why is it desired/valued? Do different races value different things? Is there a race/culture for whom non-material things (information, time) are the valuable things? How did they get that way?

Jewels and musical instruments mean a lot to Sekiyans, as they are their main connection to magia, and many Sekiyans will go to almost any lengths to find them

Sekiyan Medicine, Day 11

Last question on this topic:

How much do the physical differences between human and non-human races affect their medical treatment? Are there some diseases that only affect non-humans, or only humans? Are some treatments lethal to one species but effective in another? Do doctors have to specialize in non-human medicine in order to do a good job of it?

The differences between races and treatments are fairly small: elves respond better to natural cures, dwarves are more suspectible to heat-induced diseases (as they are not used to the sun), avris can also catch some avian diseases because of their anatomy being a blend of bird and human, and fairies need very small doses of medicine or Holy magia compared to humans.

Healers learn about how to care for non-humans as part of their training, but the decision to specialize is the choice of the healer

The Video Game, Episode 5

From the desert to the mandatory tounament

Sekiyan Medicine, Day 10

How is insanity treated? Are there asylums or treatment centers? How effective are treatments for insanity?

The insane are kept in asylums, with the more dangerous residents in the magia proof section of the asylum. Those still able to function reasonably well are given medicine to control their psycho episodes, which work quite well.

Sekiyan Medicine, Day 9

Is it possible to resurrect/resuscitate someone who has died? If so, how long is it before this becomes impossible? Before serious brain damage sets in?

It is possible to revive someone, but only in emergencies. However, it needs to be cast quickly in order to ensure the best possible chance for it to work--you have a ten minute window before damage is done, and it fails if you wait 30 minutes

The Video Game: Episode 4

We continue through the desert...

Sekiyan Medicine, Day 8

•What kinds of treatments are available--herbal brews, vaccinations, acupuncture, etc.? How effective are they?

Usually, treatment involves spellcasting--first to diagnose the disease if it isn't known, and then another spell to treat it. Having said that, there are those with adverse reactions to too much magia (akin to allergies), so potions and medical herbs are alternatives should you not be able to handle magia too well. No matter which option you pick, treatments are very safe and usually effective (adverse reactions and complications are very rare)

Sekiyan Medicine, Day 7

Who can become a healer? Are there various kinds of healers (herbalists, wisewomen, pharmacists/apothecaries, surgeons, doctors, etc.)? If so, why are distinctions made?

Anyone with Holy magia (either innately or as an influence) usually have enough power to become healers. That said, healers have some specializations among them (some heal by magia, some by potions, and others by hrbs) but they do not have distinct titles.

Sekiyan Medicine, Day 6

•Is there a reliable method of birth control? Who normally handles births--midwives, or doctors? What is the mortality rate for pregnant ladies, new mothers, and children?

Birth control in Sekiya is not a pill, but a spell: Ether Deflection, a Spirit spell. When cast on a woman, it forms a barrier around her reproductive system, preventing sperm from getting in. It works best when cast just before or immediately after sexual activity.

Midwives typically handle the birth process, but a healer is present as well in case something goes wrong. The mortality rate is about 5-9%, making it relatively rare in terms of fantasy worlds, but mothers dying in childbirth and/or babies dying is more likely in poorer areas.

Sekiyan Medicine, Day 5

How much training does a healer normally get? Where? From whom?

A healer spends three years in studies at their local branch of the healer's guild, then trains under a master healer or a Seer for another 3 years.

Seers have healing as part of their powers and training, so they do not have to study as much as someone training exclusively to be a healer

Sekiyan Medicine, Day 4

How much is known about anatomy, physiology, pathology, etc? Are treatments based on purely practical experience ("We know this works but we don't know why"), or do healers understand at least some of what they are doing?

Sekiyans have a good understanding of the body and how it works, and as such, courses in anatomy, physiology, pathology, and similar courses are a part of a healer's training

Sekiyan Medicine, Day 3

How expensive are healers? How available are such services to ordinary people?

Healers can run from free into the hundreds of gold pieces depending on where you are and which healer you talk to. Every town has at least one, and the Seer can heal in case of emergencies or you have nowhere else to go (healing from a Seer is one of the free options)

Episode 3 of The Video Game

We begin a desert adventure: Episode 3

The State of the Chronicles: July 2009

This month was marked by the birth of a fan video game based on the story. In addition, we are closing in on 250 posts of work, and we also finished topics on government, language, manners, and started on medicine.

Thanks for supporting the blog.