Looking Ahead

I hope 2011 will bring more development for Shokiyu, and maybe the beginning of the story--only time will tell

Viginette #36: Grace

"But why would you, Glorian, allow me, a lowly apprentice, to enter your stall when I am not technically allowed to be in here?" Bradlin asked as he stared up at the majestic red dragon looming over him. He knew very well that a dragon could attack anyone it deemed an intruder, apprentices included, and he could see the large bulky muscles under its glinting deep red scales. Worse still were the sharp claws capable of tearing a man to shreds--despite the fact that the dragon was calm, it could very well decide to kill him and eat him in a matter of seconds.

"You have shown much kindness to me, little one." came the dragon's reply. "So why would I kill someone that has earned my trust?"

"You really trust me, Glorian?" Bradlin was surprised.

"Yes--I suppose humans call this feeling 'grace'." Glorian assured the human alongside her. "After all, you are one of the many apprentices responsible for my well being."

Viginette #35: Mercy

"Did you find the source of the crying?" Miresa asked as she dashed through the woods. For most of the day, an odd crying had been heard coming from the woods, and Miresa had volunteered for the elder to find out just who--or what--the crying belonged to.

She heard a "YIPE!" and a small growl as Arune darted away from the errant paw of a wolf cub. "It was only a baby wolf."

"No wonder it was crying--someone trapped it." Miresa smiled as she freed the tiny canine's paw from a jaw trap.

Viginette #34: Frustration

It started innocently enough
I came to claim the golden coin
That a friend of mine had given to me
When the explorer's club I did join

It was worth 100,000 pieces
Although spending it sounded appealing
I opted to save it, just in case
I needed something like an emergency healing

"Well, where was it last?" Arune said
When I told her it was gone
"I left it here on the table" I said
"It was still there at dawn,"

"And no one broke in and stole it from me
(or at least no one I know)
So now my question to you is
Just where did it go?"

"Have you looked in your room?" Arune pressed further.
"Yes, and it was not there.
And I'm not about to say
Someone took it on a dare."

"I am not saying it was taken." Arune said
"No one else even handled your gift
So accusing someone straight away
Would probably cause a rift."

"But I have no reason to accuse," I said
"since the only hands it touched were mine.
And I have better things to do
Than sit here and whine."

So we looked under every nook and cranny
Behind every piece of furniture, and even cast a spell
To show us hidden places
Or cracks into which it fell.

Just when it seemed all hope was lost
Arune saw a gleam
From an empty container on the table
That used to be holding cream

"See here your coin?" she smiled to me
My treasure found at last
"Now I remember, I put it in there
Like I have done in the past."

Viginette #33: Sympathy

When I come home at the day's end
And things have not gone my way
I can at least count on some comforts from a friend

So I tell Arune about my day
And all the trials that happened
And she listens to my tearful telling

Of mishaps and tribulations
And maybe a heckle from Halliwen or two
She does not judge, and does not scold

Just assures me all will be well
Then she conjures a feast of my favorite foods
To make me feel better

Viginette #32: Rivalry

So here I am in my chamber again
Punished for something I didn't mean to do
But since it will calm me down a little
I will explain what happened to you

You see, there's a fellow apprentice named Halliwen
Whose hair is obsidian black
She sees herself as a rival to me
And as such, gives me a lot of flack

And tells me she's the best at everything
(Which couldn't be farther from being true)
But I digress, here's what she did today
To make me feel so blue

She challenged me to make the high mage's stones
Dance a merry little jig
But in the process, I named the wrong spell
Turning one stone into a fig

I did my best to hide my deed
Before the high mage arrived
Halliwen claimed that I had cast the spell on my own choice
But her story was quite contrived

Although I had returned the fig to its true form
The High Mage believed Halliwen's lie
And confined me here without any food
Seemingly till the day I die

Merry Christmas!

All the beings on Shokiyu wish you Merry Christmas

Christmas Break

I will not be posting today or tomorrow for Christmas. Have a safe and happy holiday!

Viginette #31: Loyalty

This is where Miresa and Arune meet:

"Fine time to be chased by a bat..." Arune grumbled as she frantically tried to wriggle free from the vines that had snagged her wings. She had been trapped there for thirty minutes now, while being pursued by a bat that has mistook her for a mosquito. While trying to elude her pursuer, she thought to pass through a small hole created by some branches, not knowing some vines were there.

Just when she was about to worry about whether or not her fellow Wingblades would have to send a search party to find her and free her, she felt herself being picked up, making her yelp in surprise.

"Oh, did I scare you, miss fairy? I'm sorry." came a reassuring female voice. "I'm not going to hurt you, okay?"

Arune looked before her to see a young girl studying where her wings were snagged. "I must thank you for your kindness, miss." she smiled, ever aware of the small pocketknife that loomed inches from her wings.

"Okay, I'm going to have to cut the vines to get you out." the girl assured Arune. Arune shuddered, but then heard a SNAP! as one vine that had held her went falling to the ground, followed by another SNAP! seconds later, sending her falling into her rescuer's hands.

"Arune?" Arune heard the flit of more fairy wings approaching as her unit approached, with Farfalla leading the way. "I see you found an Other..."

"Yes, this girl rescued me when I got caught up in these vines here..." Arune explained as she gestured to the vines. "With your permission, I'd like to remain with her and protect her in return for her kindness to me.

Farfalla thought for a moment. "If that is what you wish, Arune, permission granted. You two are now Others, sworn to protect each other to the end of time."

Arune turned to look at the girl. "Well, if you are my Other, then I at least want to know your name."

"My name is Miresa." the girl replied as she tucked Arune into her hands. "A pleasure to meet you."

Viginette #30: Cloudgazing

"Miresa?"

"Yeah?"

"What do you think that cloud looks like?"

"A butterfly."

"Really? Hmm...that one looks like a dragon."

"Almost every cloud you see looks like a dragon!"

"Not that one."

"Oh?"

"That one looks like a fairy. Could it possibly be Arune?"

"Maybe...that one looks like a ring!"

"And that one a shining stone!'

"That one looks like a girl wielding magia."

"What kind?"

"Wind, of course."

Viginette #29: My Favorite Things

"What a nice day to go on a walk!" Arune smiled as she felt the spring breeze ripple her hair.

"I know." Miresa agreed as she felt the grass crunch beneath her feet. "Since I don't have any chores to do today, I thought I'd come out here and play a few tunes." With that, she settled down at the peak of the hill, retrieved a newly made silver flute from her bag, and began a spritely melody.

"Insteresting song..." A familiar male voice startled Miresa from her song.

"It's only Bradlin." Arune assured her Other, pointing out Bradlin making his way up the hill.

"I came to ask if you want to look for magia crystals in the river." Bradlin asked as he sat down beside his friend.

"Or, remember Lady Galia will be telling tales on the town square today..." Arune interjected.

"What a dillema...." Miresa mused. "I like mining magia crystals, but Lady Galia tells the best stories."

Viginette #28: Mail

Another pre overhaul viginette:

"You got a letter today, Miresa." Arune started as she flitted into the room clutching an envelope postmarked with the dragoons' crest. "From Bradlin."

"He got my first letter yesterday..." Miresa smiled as she took the envelope. "Good."

"But why would you two write letters to each other when you see each other each day?" Arune wondered.

"It is true that we see each other every day--but neither of us has a clue what goes on in the other lodge." Miresa explained. "So I send him letters detailing what it's like as a blademage, and he tells me what it's like as a dragoon."

"Well, what has he told you today?" Arune was interested now.

"It says..." and Miresa began reading the open letter. "Dear Miresa: Thanks for telling me what a typical day is like as a blademage, so now I'll tell you what a dragoon's day is like. We wake up early in the morning and assemble outside to raise our banner. Once taht is done, we eat breakfast and are assigned our chores for the day--cleaning the dining hall, tending to the dragons, and things like that..."

Viginette #27: Routines

The birds outside jolted Miresa from her sleep. It was barely a few minutes before the temple belltower would strike the Hour of Day's Ruby, and she wasn't quite ready to wake. She closed the curtains with a yawn, effectively shutting out the birds heralding the sunrise outside.

She had barely started back to her bed when she heard the tinkling chimes from the bell tower. Okay, okay, I'm up, for Meikon's sake! she silently grumbled as she made her way to the dresser.

"Good morning, Miresa...." Arune smiled as she made her own bed. "I trust you slept well?"

"I guess...." Miresa groggily yawned as she stepped behind a screen to dress.

Arune waited for the thumping and ruffles behind the screen to quiet, and then guided her now dressed Other to the bathing room to wash up for breakfast. After combing out her messy hair and brushing her teeth, Miresa trooped downstairs to the dining hall, where the other apprentices were beginning to convene for breakfast.

Viginette #26: Anniversary

"You know what today is?" Bradlin asked Miresa as she came into the town library. "Today marks the thirtieth year since the Fifth Gemsinger appeared and began his quest."

"Really?" Miresa was impressed. "Has it really been that long?"

"Didn't you always beg the Seer to tell the story of his clever way of finding the Water Sigil?" Arune asked.

"Yes! I did!" Miresa smiled.

"I remember that story--he was confronted by a moon shaped indentation in the wall of one room, and an inscription that said 'May the moon shine down upon the water and grant thee the water's Sigil.'" Bradlin added. "However, memory escapes me as to how he figured out the puzzle."

"He saw a hole that caused the light from the torch in another room to hit the indentation. So he set a moon shaped jewel he found earlier into the indentation, making the room appear to fill with water." Miresa replied. "Of course, the 'water' was really a blue dragon slime."

"Oh my!" Arune gasped. "How did he defeat it?"

"He sang a Lightning spell--what this spell is depends on who's telling the story--and zapped it, easily earning him the Sigil." Bradlin replied.

"I've heard that the Shrines of the Sigils are enchanted, so no two people will go inside and see it arranged in the exact same way." Miresa noted. "I'd love it if Meikon called me as the Gemsinger and allowed me access."

"You, the Gemsinger? Like THAT'S a Stone of Power!" Bradlin guffawed.

"Haven't you paid attention to what Lady Galia always says?" Miresa retorted. "The High Goddess can call anyone to be the Gemsinger--and anyone means either me or you, despite the fact neither of us can wield magia."

Shokiyan Cultures and Customs, Day 4

◦What personal weapons are available to anyone who can afford them? Are some considered “for nobles only” either by custom or by law? Are there laws forbidding certain classes from being armed at all?

Swords (or daggers), bows, and axes can be used by anyone with the proper training, although a dagger or shortsword is the biggest sword a commoner usually gets (the bigger ones are for certain classes)

Viginette #25: Changing Seasons

"Goodness, it's cold..." Miresa shivered as she tromped through the snowy forest. Deep down, she wished she were not the apprentice that had to get the firewood.

"If you're wishing for warm weather, I see one sign spring is on its way." Arune assured Miresa as she pointed out a small crocus bud peeking through the snow.

Miresa examined the tiny blue-purple flower and smiled--soon, the snow would be gone for another year, and the trees would get new leaves.

Shokiyan Culture and Customs, Day 3

◦What is considered a normal family unit? How extended is an extended family? How important are family connections and responsibilities?

A Shokiyan family at minimum consista of a male figure, a female figure, and usually a child. Extended family usually consists of grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins (although not usually under the same roof).

Shokiyans value their family deeply, and do their best to keep in touch and maintain good relations (or make amends if something goes bad.)

Viginette #24: A Gift

"Miresa?" Lyri asked, snapping the young auburn haired girl from the book she was reading.

"What is it, Mother?" Miresa asked as she set the book back on the shelf.

"I have a gift for you--consider it a reward for your high grades in school." Lyri replied as she offered Miresa an ornate light green box decorated in gold swirls.

Miresa studied the box for a moment--the instrument maker in town always packaged his instruments in boxes like these. But what instrument she got was her most urgent question. "May I open it?"

"Of course." Lyri watched as Miresa carefully opened the box and lifted a tiny gold flute from the magia infused wrapping. After noticing there was a book of songs in the box as well, Miresa took that, thumbed to the tune "The Jolly Dragoon", gently touched the mouthpiece to her lips--and blew a loud squawk rather than the high, singing tone whistles were known for.

Viginette #23: Music

"You're here, Miresa...good." a black haired woman smiled as her auburn haired charge settled before the wooden music stand. "Let's review from yesterday: How should you hold the whistle?"

"Right hand resting on the top three fingerholes, the left hand on the bottom three." Miresa softly replied--deep down, she was still unsure of how well she had practiced the piece that was assigned the day before.

"And if your left hand is your dominant hand?" Her teacher's voice snapped her back to the present.

"Then you should have the left hand over the right." she replied, toying with the tiny gold end-blown flute in her hands.

"How much of the mouthpiece should you put into your mouth?" came the next question.

"No more than an inch." Miresa answered.

"What should the ideal breath for a whistle feel like?"

"A warm summer breeze."

Satisfied with Miresa's answer to her last question, the woman smiled. "Very good...now, play for me what I assigned you to practice yesterday."

Miresa sighed, and said the name of the piece, as was required before any music student performed. "Phantom Hymn." She gasped when she saw her instrument start to glow a pale pink, but she just waved this off as normal. No sooner had she started the first few notes of the tune, did she notice a few ghostly creatures dancing in the air before she abruptly stopped playing, making them disappear.

"What's the matter?" her teacher asked, concerned.

"Was it normal for my instrument to be glowing pink when I said the name of the piece?"

"Oh no--you may have somehow named a spell!" the teacher gasped. "It was a good then you stopped playing when you did, because I do not know if you would have been able to control the phantoms you summoned."

Viginette #22: Gossip

The sun was just beginning to set when Arune arrived in the small grove overlooking the town square. It had only been a day since her Other had awakened as the Sixth Gemsinger, and already the rumors and gossip were flying:

"She calls herself the Gemsinger? Like that's a Stone of Power!"

"Isn't she the blademage apprentice that always causes accidents?"

"Of course! Who won't forget what happened with the magia powered stove?"

"Isn't she Lyri's daughter?"

"Has she even done any of the three things the Sixth Gemsinger was foretold to do within hours of awakening?"

I can't believe they would speak of Miresa like this! Arune thought as she flitted away. I hope Miresa finds the courage to prove all of them wrong.

Shokiyan Culture and Customs, Day 2

◦Does the weather or climate contribute any habits or customs, such as the mid-afternoon siesta in hot countries?

Shokiyans in hot areas take the concept of the siesta one step further to mean just resting overall during the heat of the day

Shokiyan Culture and Customs, Day 1

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

Shokiyans believe very much in old tales, since one of them (The Gemsinger Legend) saves their world in its darkest hour

Next topic?

What shall we talk about next in Shokiyu?

Traveling in Shokiyu, Day 10

◦How are books produced? Are they common (has the printing press been invented) or are they rare, valuable, expensive, hand-written objects? If the latter, who has the time and skill to produce them?

Books are plentiful in Shokiyu, but they are not mass produced by a printing press--they are printed via magic by mages at the major publishing houses

Traveling in Shokiyu, Day 9

◦How do people find out what is happening in the world — rumor, town crier, newspapers, TV and radio? How slanted is the news they get this way, and in what direction? Is there freedom of the press? If not, who controls/censors it and by what means?

Shokiyans usually get their news via a town messsage board, where notices and events are posted, rumors and by wandering minstrels, which my be slanted depending on how they feel about the person or issue they are singing about. (so if they loved Leria, they wouls sing her praises, or if they didn't like something she did, they would poke fun at her)

The press is reasonably free, but potentially objectional material (eg. inciting violence or rebellion, for example) is reviewed by a team of mages. If nothing is found, it is published, but if objectional material is found, the work may have the offending material magically erased or rewritten to not being published at all

Traveling in Shokiyu, Day 8

◦Are some classes of people (slaves, peasants) not expected to travel at all? Are some (heralds, messengers) expected to travel constantly?

Every Shokiyan, be they slave or free, usually travels at some point in life (slaves just go with their masters.) That said, some merchants and minstrels are always on the go. (In The Video Game), there is a minstrel that keeps track of what you have recently done and what you need to be doing, so you don't forget.)

Traveling in Shokiyu, Day 7

◦Where would a traveler stay at night? Are there enough travelers to support inns, or do people have to stay at some equivalent of medieval monasteries?

Inns are very common--room rates are fairly cheap in well traveled areas, and at most inns you get a free meal as part of your stay

Traveling in Shokiyu, Day 6

◦What is the fastest means of traveling long distances over land? Over water? Which methods are safest?

On land, by deerback, and on water, by ship. Safetywise, teleportation is the best (provided you're tapping a teleportation crystal)

Traveling in Shokiyu, Day 5

◦How common is travel (for any reason)?

Travel is very common, be it for business or pleasure. Bandits don't usually roam in well traveled areas--they tend to hole up nearby the mountains, where it is less traveled, so people usually travel in groups (at least two or three people) if going into the mountains or the highlands

The Latest on The Video Game

Check it out here

Traveling in Shokiyu, Day 4

◦How available is water transportation? How reliable? How dangerous? How expensive?

Ships are common around costal areas and port towns, although people by a river often build boats of their own as well. Ships are relatively reliable and safe (pirate encounters are somewhat rare; it's the weather that's the main worry) at a high cost (riverboats are much cheaper because of their high traffic rates)

Traveling in Shokiyu, Day 3

◦How are messages sent when necessary? Is there a public/private postal system, or does everyone of importance have to send messengers? How fast can news get from A to B?

In addition to human messengers, many Shokiyans also send trained animals with messages. Seers and those trained by them can use telepathy, but this is reserved for sensitive messages.

There is a postal system that is relatively fast--mail can get to point A to point B in two to five days if conditions are good

The State of the Chronicles: November 2010

We concluded talking about magic, discussed economics, and began talking about travel in Shokiyu this month.

I'll try to keep the daily updates coming through the holidays

Traveling in Shokiyu, Day 2

◦For traveling short distances within a city, what are the alternatives? Can people hire a cab, a litter, a rickshaw, or do they have to walk or rely on their own servants or horses?

Most Shokiyans prefer to walk, but large cities have a network of interconnected teleportation Crystals that can take you to popular points of interest (So Crystal A at the city entrance takes you to Crystal B at the town square--touching Crystal B again will take you to Crystal C nearby the marketplace, and so on.)

Unlike teleportation spells cast by someone (which have a higher risk of failing the more people you try to teleport), these crystals have immense magic power stored inside them potent enough to activate on a touch. While most beings use them just fine, some have slight nausea or fatigue as a side effect of exposure to the power.

Traveling in Shokiyu, Day 1

◦What are the common domesticated animals used for transportation at various levels of society — e.g., oxen, horses, donkeys, camels, etc.?

Horses, mules, and oxen are mainly used in most areas, with camels used in the desert and deer are often used in the mountains

Next topic

What topic should we discuss next, since most of the remaining economics questions ventures into areas I don't want to spoil?

Shokiyan Economics, Day 13

◦Who is responsible for coinage: the ruler, local barons, someone else (merchant guilds)? Are there generally acceptable standards? How easy/common is counterfeiting?

There are mints that create the official monetary pearl and its standard. Each lot of pearls has a invisible magical glyph on them (that can only be seen by a certain spell) to deter counterfeiting

Shokiyan Economics, Day 12

Is this a money-based economy, or mostly barter?

Money is common on Shokiyu, but you can also bargain or trade if you have no pearls on you

Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm taking a break from worldbuilding today--don't stuff yourselves on turkey!

Shokiyan Economics, Day 11

◦Is there a merchant class? Where do they fit in society?

Merchants are the go betweens between craftsman and consumer--they buy low and sell high (or high but still reasonable)

Shokiyan Economics, Day 10

◦How are records kept — tally sticks, parchment, clay tablets, beads?


Records are written on enchanted scrolls--items sold, who bought them and at what price are recorded

Shokiyan Economics, Day 9

◦What regulations, if any, has the government/ruler placed on business practices?

To name a few:

--Merchants are entitled to set whatever price they deem appropriate, provided it does not exceed 50% of the highest price listed for that item in the Index of Commerce (so if the highest price for bread is 500 pearls, they can't go any higher then 750 pearls)

--Shokiyans are entitled to shop wherever they see fit (and any merchant's guild that says otherwise would be guilty of anti trust laws)

--The more expensive the item, the higher the tax, but no more than 20% of the sale price may be taken for tax

Shokiyan Economics, Day 8

◦Do different regions/cities specialize in specific crafts, processes, or products (examples: Damascus steel, Bordeaux wines, Chinese silk, Wisconsin cheese)? Do different races specialize?


Without giving too much away, elves and fairies are known for weapons and magical items such as jewelry and instruments. (The elves have a friendly rivalry with the dwarves concerning weapons)

Shokiyan Economics, Day 7

◦What is the process a young person goes through to enter a craft or trade? Are the craft requirements for various skill ranks (such as apprentice, journeyman, master, or med student, intern, doctor, specialist) standardized, or does rank depend more on the good favor of a master craftsman than it does on skill?

When someone wishes to learn a trade, they study in an apprenticeship, unless they choose a specialized career (such as a blademage), in which case they will study in an academy.

Ranks are standardized across trades, but they have different names depending on the trade

Shokiyan Economics, Day 6

◦Are industrial processes (e.g., swordmaking, weaving, etc.) considered “trade secrets,” or are they common knowledge?

Some specialized trades have trade secrets and guilds have their own trade secrets, but trades such as weaponmaking and weaving are common knowledge

Shokiyan Economics, Day 5

What are typical denominations? What types of currency is a traveler or merchant likely to carry on a trip? What are different coins called, and what are they worth?

The cuurency of Shokiyu is the pearl, but unlike pearls used for jewelry, the pearl used for currency is actually a transparent marble, allowing a design unique to each race to be magically imprinted on them to deter counterfeiting. (Shards are considered cents)

So 100 pearls=$1, but there are different colors to mark different denominations:

White=100
Pink-500
Red=1000
Orange-2000

and so on all the way to black pearls, worth a million

Shokiyan Economics, Day 4

◦Is currency and coinage standardized, or is there a system of exchange?

The currency of Shokiyu is standardized, with every race having a slightly different design to tell them apart

Shokiyan Economics, Day 3

◦What types of trades would be represented in a small town? A middle-sized town? A large city?

In a small town, you'd have farmers for food, carpenters to build houses, a blacksmith for tools and weaponry, and maybe an herbalist to sell medicine from the Seer (if the Seer doesn't do healings after a certain time.) In a middle-sized town and a city, you have those, plus the city guard, the occassional minstrel performing in the square, and sellers of all kinds of goods

Shokiyan Economics, Day 2

◦Are people able to cross-craft, I.e., learn or perform different trades? Does cross-crafting require guild permission, a write from an overlord, or is it automatically guaranteed by law? How strict are craft restrictions — are carpenters the only people allowed to build houses?

People are welcome to learn as many trades as they wish--they just need to ask a guildmaster. Most Shokiyans, however, are content with one trade with another to fall back on just in case--so anyone with a decent amount of carpentry skills can build houses

Shokiyan Economics, Day 1

◦How is business organized? Are there trade unions? Guild structures? Multi-state corporations? International cartels?

Each trade has its own guild, which sets rules concerning both guild members and individuals in that trade

The Magic of Shokiyu, Day 40

◦Can spells and/or magical items be used to increase the efficiency of manufacturing or mass production? Do businesses keep a wizard on retainer, as modern businesses might keep a lawyer or efficiency expert? What, exactly, are they paying for?

The general speed up spell can also be used to speed up a laborious process (eg. building a ship). A mage is on hand to do this in such a business to cast the spell if necessary (as per guidelines to its use) and to oversee the magically affected process to assure quality is not lost

The Magic of Shokiyu, Day 39

◦Can spells and/or magical items be mass-produced? Are there magic carpet factories and boutiques selling magic rings?

Only the basic spells and magic items are mass produced and sold--anything stronger you have to ask a mage directly or go questing for it

The Magic of Shokiyu, Day 38

To what degree does the presence of magic, magical objects, and wizards replace technology?

Many machine jobs and entertainment are done by magical means on Shokiyu--without giving too much away, magic cold chests and cold rooms replace refrigerators and freezers, telepathy replaces the phone and mystical scrolls replace movies (those that can be commanded replace video games)

The Magic of Shokiyu, Day 37

Can an ordinary, non-weapon-type object be enchanted to make it extremely lethal (the Frying Pan of Death) or will this work properly only on things that are already weapons? Can ordinary objects be enchanted to make them (or their user) supremely good at something (the Frying Pan of Ultimate Gourmet Cooking, the Comb of No Bad Hair Days Ever)? How common and useful are such enchantments?

Frying Pans of Doom won't work, but Frying Pans of Ultimate Gourmet Cooking would work for a specified number of meals before needing to be recharged (unless it was a powerful fairy item that never runs out)

The Magic of Shokiyu, Day 36

◦How has the presence of magic affected weapons technology? Can magic make weapons more effective? Do you have to do anything special to walls, armor, or weapons to make them better able to resist enemy spells?

As mentioned before, magic can usually add an elemental's power to an attack, or add defense against certain elements (or all of them)

The Magic of Shokiyu, Day 35

◦Are magical weapons available? Can magic be used in warfare? In what ways? Are spells fast enough to be useful in hand-to-hand combat, or is magic more of a siege weapon, used only for long, slow things?

Magical weapons are plentiful on Shokiyu--they are usually used to give attacks elemental affinities (or to protect yourself from them). Some spells can be cast from a weapon, so spells can be used in battle

The Magic of Shokiyu, Day 34

◦Are there magical means of rapid communication? How commonly are they used? For what purposes?

Seers can use telepathy between each other to relay urgent messages to other Seers

The Magic of Shokiyu, Day 33

◦Are there magical means of transportation (teleport spells, magic carpets, dragon-riding)? How do they compare in speed, safety and expense to non-magical means? Are there any drawbacks to magical travel (for example, teleport sickness)? How commonly are they used, and for what purposes (industrial shipping vs. travel for fun)?

Teleportation and dragon riding are availiable, but teleportation is generally used for objects (as the risk of the teleportation failing rises with the more people you try to teleport)

Dragon riding is generally used to transport people, but it can get pricey, as each dragon rider charges his or her own rate.

Up Next

After we finish going over magic, we will next talk about the physical features and history of Shokiyu, followed by its people and customs.

Of course, if there's any topic you want to go over besides those, let me know.

The Magic of Shokiyu, Day 32

◦Are certain spells (as opposed to magic generally) illegal? Why — because of the effect of the spell, or because of the ingredients or procedures needed to cast it, or what? If so, how would a criminal magician be detected? Apprehended? Punished? Is catching and punishing illegal magicians the responsibility of the magician’s guild, or do the ordinary courts have to handle it?

Spells that cause curses, disease, or manipulate time or the weather (unless for very specific reasons) are usually illegal--and usually the effects would be felt. Usually, the Seer punishes rogue mages, but if the spell was involved in a crime (i.e. using a lightning spell to break into a house), the courts punish the mage

The Magic of Shokiyu, Day 31

◦Are there fashions/fads in magic — are herbal spells “in” this year and ritual spells “out,” or vice versa?

No--magic is not subject to fads.

The Magic of Shokiyu, Day 30

◦Is the relative power of a country or ruler usually measured by the size of the army, the number and ability of his wizards, or the amount of money at his disposal?

The amount of trade passing through the area measures a Shokiyan ruler's power--a good ruler provides for the people instead of amassing brute force.

The Magic of Shokiyu, Day 29

◦Are wizards above or below the law — I.e., do they have full rights as citizens, no rights, or can they do as they like without regard to anyone else’s rights?

Mages have the same rights as others--mages doing what they please with no regard for other's rights gets them punished.

The State of the Chronicles, October 2010

Happy Halloween! We spent this month talking about the most important part of Shokiyu, the magic.

Thanks to all that read and support the blog

The Magic of Shokiyu, Day 28

◦Do wizards have a special language that is used for magic? If so, where do they learn it? Is it safe to chat in this language, or is everything said in it automatically a spell? If so, how can it safely be taught to new students?

There is no special language per se, but some spell names were traditionally in Ruhar before it was found that translating and naming the spell in the Alweld worked fine.

The Magic of Shokiyu, Day 27

◦Is magic considered a science, or are scientists and wizards enemies or rivals? Are magic and science compatible? To what degree does the presence of magic, magical objects, and wizards replace technology (for example, a chest that is enchanted to keep its contents cold could replace the refrigerator)? Duplicate technology? Supplement technology?

Magic is completely different from science, because science as we know it does not exist in Shokiyu. Because of this, magic replaces many technological items (the cold chest for the refrigerator is one example of this)

The Magic of Shokiyu, day 26

◦Do wizards have a special language that is used for magic? If so, where do they learn it? Is it safe to chat in this language, or is everything said in it automatically a spell? If so, how can it safely be taught to new students?

There's no special language per se, but you can unknowingly name a spell and cast it if the spell name is the same is something else.

The Magic of Shokiyu, day 25

◦If magic requires study, where do you go to learn about it? How do people fund their training? Is there an apprenticeship system, or are there wizard schools, or is it one-on-one tutoring/mentoring? Is an untrained wizard dangerous, or just an ordinary person?

Magic on Shokiyu does require study, and there are plenty of academies for almost any budget. If you can pay monetarily, some academies will also accept food or other items as payment. However, you can train under the Seer if all else fails.

It is possible for some people to teach themselves, but an untrained mage can be dangerous depending on what kind of magic awakened in the mage first (as they don't understand or know how to control their power, which can be deadly if their first elemental is something like fire)

The Magic of Shokiyu, day 24

◦Are wizards barred from certain kinds of government jobs or offices? Do some government jobs require that their holder be a wizard?

No mage is flat out barred from a position--in fact, mages are encouraged in law enforcement (to help solve cases)

New Topic?

Are you guys ready to move on to another topic, or do you still have questions about Shokiyu's magic?

The Magic of Shokiyu, day 23

◦How do local people view wizards?

The populace usually view mages as average joes and janes, but there are some mages with more noteriety (either as heroes or villians)

The Magic of Shokiyu, day 22

◦Does it require a license to be a wizard? If so, is it more like a driver’s license (something nearly everyone in our culture gets upon coming of age) or like a doctor’s license (something only a small percentage of the population will ever get)? Who certifies wizards: government, wizard’s guild/AMA, local priests?


Mages are not licensed per se, but those that are planning to teach add their name to the Royal Registry of Mages.

The Magic of Shokiyu, day 21

◦Are magicians a force in politics, or are they above it? Are there national politics that revolve around magic/wizards (i.e., trying to outlaw, protect, or promote certain kinds of magic, trying to draft wizards into a ruler’s army, licensing of magicians, etc.)? Do wizards have a lobby? Do they need one?

Mages are ordinary people, so they do keep an eye on politics. There isn't currently a national issue concerning mages at the moment, but when that need arises, a delegation of mages travels to the capital city to make their case.

The Magic of Shokiyu, day 20

◦Can you make a living practicing magic, or do you have to have independent means?

Most mages can earn a living with their power, usually by studying it, defending something with it, or teaching others how to use it

The Magic of Shokiyu, day 19

◦Are different races/intelligent species good at different types of magic? If so, what types are associated with what races/species? Are there species that use magic more or less unconsciously — for instance, dragons using magic to fly without being consciously aware of it, or werewolves using magic to change?

Elves and fairies have stronger magic power because their culture relies on magic more. That said, dragons do have magic in the form of elemental breaths

The Magic of Shokiyu, day 18

◦Are wizards organized? How? What hierarchy, if any, do they recognize? What happens if the person/people at the top get killed? Who takes over? How soon?

Shokiyan mages are not organized per se, but there are guilds of mages that serve particular areas of the world, each served by a ruling council made up of eight mages. If the guildmaster were to die, the deputy guildmaster would serve as guildmaster, if that one were to die, the third in command would serve as guildmaster, and so on.

Guildmasters are chosen fairly quickly (about three weeks to a month) by the leaders of the area and the guild's members--the process begins after funeral rites have ended.

The Magic of Shokiyu, day 17

Can anyone become a wizard, or does one need to be born with some special talent or gift?

Everyone has the potential to become a mage, but many of them are born with the power, even though it does not manifest until they are about five or six years old (or younger if their power is strong)

The Magic of Shokiyu, day 16

◦Is magic a profession, an art, or just a job? What is the status accorded to magicians in this society? Are they the equivalent of shyster lawyers, politicians, and used car salesmen, or are they considered average working stiffs, or are they looked up to and admired?

Magic is both an art and a profession--mages are usually considered average joes and janes, but the ones with talent and heroes get rock star status

The Magic of Shokiyu, Day 15

◦How long does it take to learn magic?

Depending on the person, it usually takes anywhere from six months to several years to learn magic. That said, people learning at faster or slower rates are not unheard of, but they are the exception, not the rule.

The Magic of Shokiyu, day 14

◦How do various religions,if any, view magic? Do any forbid it? Why or why not? Do any require priests/priestesses to be magicians? Do any forbid magicians from holding some or all religious offices?

Most of the time, magic is seen as a way of Meikon working within the world. Some sects, however, frown on the use of magic because of a belief that magic is a divine power, and only a select few that Meikon calls can wield it.

Seers are not required nor discouraged from using magic, but knowing it does help.

The Magic of Shokiyu, day 13

◦Can the ability to work magic be taken away? If so, how and by whom?

If it is found that someone has abused magic power, their power can be locked via a spell that judges and Seers know called Magical Bane. Casting this seals the flow of magic to someone's heart, rendering them unable to cast spells or even sense magic power

The Magic of Shokiyu, day 12

◦Does a magician’s magical ability or power change over time — e.g., growing stronger or weaker during puberty, or with increasing age?

A mage's power and ability grows stronger as they age, but this is because the mage trains as long as s/he has power within themselves

The Magic of Shokiyu, day 11

◦Are certain kinds of magic practiced solely or chiefly by one sex or the other? By one race or another? Is this because of inborn ability, natural preferences, or legislation?

Making potions was chiefly a woman's job and alchemy was mainly a man's jon until about 500 years before our story begins, when male herbalists and female alchemists were legally recognized

The Magic of Shokiyu, day 10

◦What general varieties of magic are practiced (e.g., herbal potions, ritual magic, alchemical magic, demonology, necromancy, etc.)? Do any work better than others, or does only one variety actually work?

In addition to standard issue "call your power and play" magic, potions and alchemy are also used--potions are mainly used for healing, while alchemy is mainly used to create items. All three work equally well

The Magic of Shokiyu, day 9

◦How much is known about the laws of nature, physics, and magic? How much of what is commonly known is wrong?

Shokiyans know quite a lot about their world, but new discoveries are made every day

The Magic of Shokiyu, day 8

◦Does practicing magic have any detrimental effect on the magician (such as becoming addictive, fomenting insanity, or shortening life-span)? If so, is there any way to prevent these effects? Are the effects inevitable to all magicians, or do they affect only those with some sort of predisposition? Do they progress at the same rate in everyone? Are they universal in all species, or are some races (dwarves, elves, whoever) immune to these detrimental effects?

Magical fatigue eventually sets in after a while, but how long it takes varies on the strength of the mage--a new apprentice may burn out after 15-20 minutes while an archmage that has cast magic for years may not feel the effects for several hours. Magical fatigue is different from physical fatigue, and goes away with rest. (the time it takes for magical fatigue to set in is calculated under the assumption that the subject is casting constantly.) While you can't die from it, it is possible to exhaust yourself to the point where you could die

There are magical items that slow or stop the onset of the fatigue--the ones that stop it completely are few and far between

The Magic of Shokiyu, day 7

◦Can two or more wizards combine their power to cast a stronger spell, or is magic done only by individuals? What makes one wizard more powerful than another — knowledge of more spells, ability to handle greater levels of power, having a more powerful god as patron, etc.?

It is possible for two or more mages to combine powers to make a new spell--each mage casts the spells that form the new spell, then the first mage names the combined spell.

Mage's strength is determined by how many spells they know, how large of a power level they can handle, and how long they can cast before magical fatigue sets in

The Magic of Shokiyu, day 6

How long does it take to cast a spell? Can spells be stored for later, instant use? Does working spells take lots of long ritual, or is magic a “point and shoot” affair?

Magic is mainly a "point and shoot" affair, since all you have to do is name the spell when using a weapon. With instruments, it takes just a few seconds longer since naming the spell charges your instrument with the appropriate element to cast the spell

The Magic of Shokiyu, day 5

◦Where does magic power come from: the gods, the “mana” of the world, the personal willpower of the magician? Is magic an exhaustible resource? If a magician must feed his spells with his own willpower, life-force, or sanity, what long-term effects will this have on the health and/or stability of the magician? Do different races/species have different sources for their magic, or does everybody use the same one?

Magic on Shokiyu comes from the Twelve Stones, and they are constantly generating it, so it never runs out.

The Magic of Shokiyu, Day 4

◦What do you need to do to cast a spell — design an elaborate ritual, recite poetry, mix the right ingredients in a pot? Are there things like a staff, a wand, a familiar, a crystal ball, that are necessary to have before casting spells? If so, where and how do new wizards get these things? Do they make them, buy them from craftsmen, inherit them from their teachers, or order them from Wizardry Supplies, Inc.?

To cast a spell, you name it, and then play something on the closest instrument. An even faster way to cast spells is just to point a weapon at the target and name the spell. Since instruments and weapons are easily availiable, most people just buy one from a shop or make them themselves

The Magic of Shokiyu, day 3

◦What things can magic not do? What are the limits to magical power? How do magicians try to get around these limits?

Magic cannot alter history, manipulate the weather, and usually cannot revive someone or something (There is a revival spell, but the odds of it working are low), to name some things

Most beings can safely wield around three (if a non-magical creature live a human, avri, or dwarf) to six (if a magical creature like an elf or a fairy) elements. That said, some professions have a marking they give to apprentices when they pass their training that gives them an extra element they can safely wield

The Magic of Shokiyu, day 2

What is the price magicians must pay in order to be magicians — years of study, permanent celibacy, using up bits of their life or memory with each spell, etc.? Does anyone ever try to get around the price of magic?

Mages on Shokiyu usually train for a long time to hone their power, plus use up some of their strength with every spell (although the resulting fatigue can be slowed or stopped with the right charm)

Video Game Information Post

LegendaryMoon (my partner that's helping with The Video Game) has compiled an information post explaining how different aspects of the game work.

Check it out here

The Magic of Shokiyu, day 1

◦How does a magician tap his/her magic power? Does becoming a magician require some rite of passage (investing one’s power in an object, being chosen by the gods, constructing or being given a permanent link to the source of power) or does it just happen naturally, as a gradual result of much study or as a part of growing up?

Every being on Shokiyu has the potential to be a mage, but the power first manifests at a young age. (around 4 or 5 years) Some find out by accident that they have magical power by unknowingly naming a spell before playing music, others choose to have their hearts opened via Gem's Knowing--if their heart glows dull red, then they have no power or what power there is is dormant or in too small of an amount to be detected. If their heart glows in any other color, whatever color(s) their heart is is what kind of magic they can safely cast.

The State of the Chronicles, September 2010

--We continued responding to the fantasy rants and answered some questions on the basics of the world. In addition, work has resumed on The Video Game.

Thank you to all that read and support the blog

How Gemsinger Holds #97: Grasslands

1. The party won't be able to see far on the plains.

2. They will put up with wind, rain and snow.

3. They know herd animals are dangerous

4. It will be dry, and not have many trees at all

5. The avris are hardly Native American stereotypes (they are more influenced by Asian cultures)

Part of a Better Outline of the Story

...Or at least Book 1, anyway. This is still very tentative, and may change:


--Prologue: Young Miresa hears the Gemsinger story for the first time.
--In the present, Bradlin and Miresa are on their way home and discuss whether the story is really true.
--Meanwhile, Galia keeps seeing alarming visions of the Twelve Stones fleeing a dark wave--a sign that a Gemsinger will awaken soon.
--The stove incident I have written about before

Mini Games and Side Quests

What kind of mini games and side quests would you want to see in The Video Game?

Video Game Update

The latest on The Video Game: Possible boss scene

Break time

I'm taking a break today to plan some viginettes to illustrate what I've been debunking in the rants.

How Gemsinger Holds #96: History

1. Shokiyan history is preserved in items other than books

2. Not every book will be 100% accurate--as a general rule of thumb, the more recently written, the more accurate the book will be.

3. Historians will be caught making stuff up

4. The party will have good reasons to get skeptical

5. Libraries and storytellers will be mentioned early and often

How Gemsinger Holds #95: Limits

1. You will see the limits of magic, not just hear about them.

2. I will keep the psychology realistic and consistent

3. I will keep physical limits in mind as well

4. I will also keep age and time in mind

5. The story is not an idiot plot at all

6. I will be careful with loose ends

How Gemsinger Holds #94: Inconsistency

1. I will remember who is wounded or sick, and be realistic about healing times.

2. I will be careful with ecology

3. I will be careful to show, not tell

4. The prologue is important.

5. I will pick a description and stay with it

How Gemsinger Holds #93: "Dumb" plots

1. The threat Miresa faces will be an actual threat

2. The person with the royal items has as much respect as the items themselves

3. False Gemsingers have been known to appear, and struggle erupts when they do

4. Miresa and co. don't coast to an easy victory--they may not die, but they come close a few times.

5. Shokiyu will be more than a setting

How Gemsinger Holds #92: Stories

1. The stories of Shokiyu are not Earthen ideas trnsplanted there--the stories told reflect a Shokiyan view

2. I will be careful to explain where the stories came from

3. Shokiyan tales take both oral and written forms, and the tellers add their own spins on the basic storyline, so no two regions will hear the exact same tale the exact same way--the changes may just be a simple as a different name, but sometimes the entire story gets rewritten

4. Shokiyu has its own cultural tics.

Where to begin

I've been mulling several options on how to begin the story:

--Have a prologue explaining the Gemsinger legend before the story proper. (probably going to go this route)

--introduce Miresa from another character's POV

--Forgo a prologue entirely and just tell from Miresa's POV, filling in details as needed.

Which one would work best?

Hitting the Ground Writing

1. I have been writing (and thinking about) the scenes that strike me the most, and building the story around those.

I often work backwards as well, writing the ending first and then planning the story around how the cast got to that ending,

2. I know how the story will end, but that does not mean 90% of the story is a fantastic travelogue

3. However, the ending, (or any part of the story) is not set in stone.

4. I let the story show me what needs to be done

How Gemsinger Holds #91: Resistance Groups (part 2)

1. I will be careful when choosing the rebellion's defining moment.

2. If the resistance is outnumbered, I will show just how they become more than a match for the rulers

3. Even resistance groups have politics

4. Likewise, there are some on the other side that are sympathetic to the resistance

5. Actions have consequences, and the resistance knows that

How Gemsinger Holds #90: Resistance Groups (part 1)

I'm toying with the idea of Miresa and co. helping a resistance force somewhere in the story, so on that note:

1. The resistance leader will change in some way

2. I will make it clear what the group is rebelling against.

3. The group's tactics will match their modus operandi

4. I will be careful of spies, contacts, informants and neighbors

How Gemsinger Holds #89: Religion (part 2)

1. The Seer's job is to give guidance to the laity, heal and teach in more rural areas, and handle the day to day runnings of the temple

2. Holy days on the Shokiyan calendar revolve around commemorating events that Meikon and the spirits either did or had a hand in doing--in rememberance of the original event

3. The church and the state are two seperate entities, but they can and do work together when needed

4. The afterlife consists of the heavens, or the Holy Realm, and the Dark Realm, where demons dwell

How Gemsinger Holds #88: Religion (part 1)

1. The faith I'm making for Shokiyu is a blend of Christianity and Wiccan beliefs plus some of my own ideas. It isn't based completely on one or the other, but rather combines parts of both.

2. Each of the Twelve Spirits has their own personality.

3. Meikon and the Twelve Spirits are actively at work within Shokiyu, but they do not actually show themselves that often

4. The religion went through (and still does go through some bumps in the road. (eg. it was once thought that nonhumans were inferior to humans until 1000 years before our story begins)

How Gemsinger Holds #87: Redemption (part 2)

1. There will be other ways to be redeemed besides love, purity, and innocence

2. Katva has seen it all before, but he is too far gone to be redeemed.

3. Katva does have a motive--he wants a world of his own to rule (but it would require destroying Shokiyu)

How Gemsinger Holds #86: Redemption (part 1)

1. I will account for all redemption worthy incidents before I write

2. I will not stretch to find things to redeem characters from

3. Eyes will not be the only windows into someone's soul

4. Fighting will not be the only way to redeem someone

5. Sometimes ephipanies will be found on their own

6. Actions really will speak louder than words

How Gemsinger Holds #85: Healers

1. Healers will be more than the healer stereotype

2. Every healer has their own distinct personality

3. Wounds take time to heal

4. Healers are NOT a cure all

5. I will do the research on herbs

How Gemsinger Holds #84: Suspense

1. Reassurances will not dissapate any suspense.

2. I will not tell you a character's fate right away

3. I will be careful with foreshadowing

4. Silence=/=suspense

5. I will not hit someone on the head or put them to sleep as a cop out.

6. Confrontations will be worth the buildup

How Gemsinger Holds #83: Abilities

1. Miresa is not designed around abilities

2. The reason why Miresa will eventually wield all twelve elements when most beings can only wield up to half of that is because she is the latest in a line of heroes Meikon has called when Shokiyu is in danger.

3. Miresa will respond and react to her power at a realistic pace

4. Miresa will have a rival (it is NOT Halliwen)

5. I will try not to follow ability stereotypes

6. Her power DOES have a cost--fatigue.

7. I will show Miresa power, not just tell you about it.

8. I will be careful not to write myself into a deus ex machina

Physical and Historical Features, Day 1

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

Originally, the story was to have taken place on four continents, but I've since sclaed it back to just the eastern continent, which you will see in its entirety

500 Posts!

I can't believe we've made it to 500 posts already! The world has come so far since it was still named Sekiya.

To everyone that reads and supports the blog, thank you!

Where does the magic come from?

While Shokiyan magic comes from the Twelve Stones, they are not technically gods. Many magic items have been crafted, so there are plenty of quests to be had.

Entertainment overview

On Shokiyu, the entertainment is as varied as there are people.

--Games of chance are popular among all races, gambling included.
--Books are readily availiable, thanks to magic and mystic scrolls
--Shokiyans are huge fans of the stage, with concerts, lectures, plays and storytelling happening most every day
--Duels are limited to the non-lethal type (eg. the competitors or creatures tamed by the competitors will fight, but not kill each other)

How Gemsinger Holds #82: Backstory

1. You will not learn anyone's backstory all at once

2. The backstory will not have detail unless it is important to the story.

3. Flashbacks will have triggers

4. The flashback will be interesting, and tell the audience why smething is important

5. I will stay FAR away from purple prose.

6. Some parts of the backstory will be left unsaid

More Viginettes Coming Soon

Look for more viginettes in addition to the rant responses, as well as some actual worldbuilding.

How Gemsinger Holds #81: Servants

1. Some servants will be neutral or have no idea what is going on

2. If I say someone's sensitive to their servants, I will show the sensitivity too

3. Servants have lives outside of serving their masters

4. I will occassionally look at the masters in the servant's shoes

5. Of course the imbalance of power is meaningful!

6. Stereotypes =/= reality

How Gemsinger Holds #80: Description

1. I will be careful not to use adjectives willy nilly

2. The description will match the viewpoint

3. I will describe only what is important at that moment, and worry about different kingdoms' histories as they become relavent

4. Description will not overtake the story

5. Verbs and nouns will be there as well as adjectives

The State of the Chronicles, August 2010

We continued to respond to fantasy rants, and I'm hoping for an update on The Video Game soon.

Thanks to all that read and support the blog

How Gemsinger Holds #79: Balancing the Story

1. Nothing will go on for pages and pages without a very good reason

2. Characters are more than flies on the wall

3. I will pick a viewpoint that suits the story

4. Every character will have their own voice

5. There will be pauses to calm down after exciting parts

6. Outlines are not set in stone, they can be added to, deleted from, or rearranged at any time

How Gemsinger Holds #78: Non Heroic Kids

1. Shokiyan kids are not, in limyaael's words, Cute Monsters, nor are they Mini Grad Students

2. Kids will not handle a journey THAT well

3. Kids will be treated with respect and dignity

4. They are not a Love Cure, either

5. They will be more than ciphers and reflections on innocence

How Gemsinger Holds #77: Islands

1. Any island will have some source of fresh water, whether or not it's already there, or Miresa and co. have to get it themselves.

2. There will be food on the island.

3. Not every island is tropical (but the ones that are not are too cold to sustain human life)

4. Shokiyan islands have a connection to the outside world.

5. I will research how people get off the island

How Gemsinger Holds #76: Spunky vs. Annoying

1. I will show Miresa's spunk, not tell it.

2. Miresa will not be part of the Sexist Scene (tm) (eg. being told she can't do X because she's a girl)

3. I will concentrate on the good side of being spunky

4. Her good qualities have got her in trouble before

5. She will be countered by someone

How Gemsinger Holds #75: Fleshing Out Supporting Roles

1. Secondary characters will act consistently with their own motivations

2. Just because I have a stock party does not mean the party members will be playing stock party roles.

3. They will react and play off one another.

4. The party is more than a passive mirror

5. We won't know everything about the party

How Gemsinger Holds #74: Money and greed

1. Mercenaries will act as such.

2. Soldier's pay will be put in play.

3. Smuggling will be handled realistically (Miresa and co. won't be doing it, but they will see others doing it

4. The party will find hidden economic motivations.

5. Merchants do have a right to care about their cash.

How Gemsinger holds #73: How to Discretely Put Myself In the Story

1. While I will be drawing on my experiences for plot points, Miresa will not experience them like I did.

2. I will adhere to "Write what you know, and research what you don't"

3. Flaws will have their place in the story

4. Only those experiences of mine that might fit in the plot will be used.

5. Miresa does not hinge on one aspect of me.

6. I will use aspects of myself as starting points to build a character

How Gemsinger Holds #72: Stubbron vs. annoying

1. I will explain why Miresa is stubbron.

2. Different people will have different reactions to her stubbronness.

3. Sometimes her stubbroness is a flaw

4. Miresa will not conveniently give in because the plot said so

How Gemsinger holds #71: Getting the plot going

1. I am planning how personalities meld and clash

2. I am planning the incendiary (which is Halliwen in Miresa's case)

3. There will be others keeping an eye on Miresa's journey besides the demon lord.

4. The ripple effect doesn't have to stop

5. Shokiyu does not revolve around Miresa at all

How Gemsinger Holds #70: Neutral Characters

1. Miresa does not run into or need the Helpful Stranger

2. What strangers she dos meet will care about her

3. Aquaintence=/=friend

4. Neutrality does lead to some friendships

5. On the other side of the coin, not every relationship will deepen

How Gemsinger Holds #69: Making Protagonists Heroes

1. Special talents do not a hero make.

2. Miresa is not meant to play just one role in the story.

3. Miresa will survive her suffering

4. I will put my own spin on fantasy tropes, if not do away with some altogether.

Bradlin's new class

Since some of you have said Bradlin's class is too stereotypical of an RPG, would it make more sense if he was a warrior? Or something completely different altogether?

How Gemsinger Holds #68: Astronomy

1. I will be mindful of moon phases (although the Shokiyan moon is similar to our moon)

2. The moon does not rise at the same time every night--time of year, weather, phase, and location will be taken into account

3. Solstices and equinoxes are not just for parties (although the only ones that get a party are the solstices, but they are not the reason for said party)

4. Shokiyu will have its own constellations and stories behind them.

5. I will keep the heavens in mind when designing a calendar

How Gemsinger Holds #67: Villains

1. I'll admit I'm guilty to the "inner beauty" concept, but Katva does have a beautiful human form, and can assume a number of other forms to tempt people.

2. Katva is smarter than you think.

3. Katva deserves and will get sympathy--he may be a demon lord, and he may have tried to destroy the world a few billion times, but that doesn't mean he shouldn't get sympathy.

4. Katva and his minions have just as powerful spells as the party does.

5. Katva will not be done in by mere chance--he takes precautions when he senses a Gemsinger awakening

6. Katva and the other demons think getting their own world is great, and they don't see their plan as evil.

7. The moral standards will be the same for hero and villian alike

How Gemsinger Holds #66: Weather

1. Weather will behave realistically except when under the influence of magic.

2. Once I start a storm, it won't magically clear up three lines later--unless there's a very good reason.

3. I will keep the consequences of weather realistic too.

4. Weather does affect armies

5. The party will be prepared for all kinds of weather.

6. The weather helps the party on occasion

7. I will keep weather in mind when designing non-human housing

8. Geography will affect weather

How Gemsinger Holds #65: Keeping Distance

1. Miresa may be the most important character to me, but not to the rest of the world of Shokiyu.

2. I will not play deus ex machina in any form

3. I will stay true to the world I've created

4. If I can't go for sympathy, I'll at least try for empathy

5. I will be careful with the omniscient view

6. I will be careful with how much I DON'T show

How Gemsinger Holds #64: Occupations

1. I'm not sure what Miresa's family will be yet, but it isn't a servant or a spy (it could be a merchant, but I'm not 100% sure yet)

2. I will not infodump in monologues about anything.

3. Miresa will have to earn the squeeing.

4. The job will be part of the plot.

5. I will keep in mind the job's limits.

6. Miresa actually works better in a group, and usually has at least one other person with her.

How Gemsinger Holds #63: Dreams

1. Meaningful dreams will actually have consequences.

2. Dreams will be used for a very good reason.

3. I will use more than italics when writing dream sequences

4. Dreams will not be the only means of getting info

5. I will be careful with nightmares too

How Gemsinger Holds #62: Spying

Since a critical plot point of book 1 is exposing a false Gemsinger, Miresa and co. will do a little spying to uncover the plot. Having said that...

1. Just because Miresa has talent doesn't mean she will have the skill of a veteran spy (or veteran anything) overnight.

2. She will not be the only one that knows a thing or two about spying

3. We will see the gang sift through information (and likely find some red herrings)

4. Miresa will have reasonable tools to help

5. I will keep danger as well as cool in mind

6. I will include precautions that are actually precautions.

How Gemsinger Holds #61: Explanations and metaphors

1. I will make sure my descriptions sound as good as they look.

2. I will KISS--Keep It Simple, Silly!

3. I will say what I mean and mean what I say.

4. I will not confuse my audience with a metaphor

5. I will be mindful and be careful with cliches

6. I will be sure my millions of details don't contradict each other

How Gemsinger Holds #60: The Hunt

1. I will keep in mind what can and cannot be eaten.

2. I will be mindful of what crossbreeds I can't have.

3. You will see the work that goes into prepping the meat.

4. For the most part, the animal's senses are better.

5. I will do the research on medieval style hunting.

6. The party isn't picky

How Gemsinger Holds #59: Ceremony

1. I will be mindful of titles

2. I acknowledge that dresses are awkward--hence why Miresa never wears one.

3. Miresa's clothing will suit the occassion

4. I will also be mindful of smoke

5. The luxuries availiable will depend on the realm's wealth.

6. The hiearchy of manners will be considered too.

How Gemsinger Holds #58: Ordinary Heroes

1. I will show, not tell

2. I will let Miresa tell the story

3. Her faults will be displayed and acknowledged

4. Beauty alone will not a good character make.

5. Characterization will not take a back seat to her magic.

How Gemsinger Holds #57: Long Novels

1. There will be plenty of subplot interaction.

2. Not every character gets equal screentime.

3. I will take any opportunity to hint at a vater pattern.

4. I will choose what plot aspects to emphasize

5. I will not make the story a Byzantium novel.

How Gemsinger Holds #56: Conversations

1. I will avoid "As you know, Bob" speeches if I can.

2. I will be careful to avoid repeating myself too many times.

3. Miresa will get her chance to say something important--sometimes even blurting it out.

4. I will not confuse bickering and banter.

5. I will keep outside circumstances in mind when writing a conversation.

6. I will summarize what already been said if I have to repeat it more than twice

How Gemsinger Holds #55: How NOT to Write a Heroine

1. Miresa's treatment will be consistent with other girls and women in the world.

2. Miresa is valorized more for how she grows up mentally and spiritually, not physically.

3. Miresa's adventure is not my soapbox.

4. I will try to avoid cliched dialogue about Miresa can't do X because she's a girl.

How Gemsinger Holds #54: Lord of the Rings Cliches

1. Not every kingdom is medieval style on Shokiyu (The avri lands, for example, are based on ancient China and Japan)

2. My evil lord has reasons and justifications for destroying the world.

3. Miresa is actually saving the spirits that guard her world, not just any old set of magic gems.

4. Everyone has their reasons for joining Miresa.

5. While I do have elves, dwarves, and orcs in our adventure, I try to put my own spin on them.

6. Miresa is in no way a perfect heroine (as I've said before)

How Gemsinger Holds #53: Pacing

1. Ordinary events will be described like ordinary events.

2. If the journey is short and nothing happens on the way, we'll skip it.

3. Flashback will be just as interesting as the main plot.

4. I will avoid infodumps when I can and scatter my description throughout.

5. Things will be happening in the middle.

6. The climax will not be cheap.

How Gemsinger Holds #52: The Epic

1. I will not be describing pieces of grass in excruciating detail unless said pieces of grass are important.

2. There will be plenty happening on the way.

3. The only backstory you hear about directly is the main party, and even then, we don't discuss it for 300 pages.

4. I will not introduce new characters and plots out of nowhere.

How Gemsinger Holds #51: Dynamic Characters

1. Miresa's actions and reactions will change.

2. Other character's reactions to her will change.

3. The whole point of the quest is to show her learning and mastering her powers.

4. She will not be chained by my worldbuilding

The State of the Chronicles, June/July 2010

Forgot to post this last month, so why not combine two months?

After discovering Limyaael's wonderful fantasy rants, I have been examining how well Gemsinger holds up, and responding to them. So far, I only have a few cliches, and have stayed FAR away from the most common ones.

The Video Game is also taking shape--I'm hoping it will be fun for everyone.

Thanks to all that read and support the blog.

How Gemsinger Holds #50: Fighter Heroes

1. Like Miresa, Bradlin has worked hard in his training as a dragoon.

2. Bradlin was taught at an early age not to fight dirty, plus a dragoon resorting to dishonorable tactics would get into heaps of trouble. He has, however, been told that feigning injury and setting traps have a place in the dragoon's code (but under certain circumstances) and that harming an unarmed person, woman, or child is only acceptable if they try to harm you first.

3. Bradlin won't be defeating (much less challenging) those that have trained for years.

4. Bradlin has his limits too.

5. Bradlin is by no means the best in the world--he is still an apprentice, and has a lot more to learn.

6. If his sword doesn't work, he has several other weapons he can use.

How Gemsinger Holds #49: Mage Heroes

1. The only thing Miresa is clumsy at is spellcasting--she's actually quite agile and fast physically.

2. I will show what happens to weapons and instruments that are not properly cared for.

3. I will be consistent with my magic system.

4. Miresa is not a mercenary at all--but she does play the reluctant hero at first.

5. Miresa is far from being a lady Gandalf.

6. The Gemsinger may have a lot of power, but they are not invincible.

How Gemsinger Holds #48: Council Scenes

In the first book, one plot point is Galia introducing Miresa to High King Fion and the Elven Council--that said:

1. Every member of the Council will have a name.

2. We will know each side's motivations.

3. There will be plenty of banter and interruptions between both sides.

4. The recap will be summarized.

5. Things will be happening besides the council gathering.

6. Some victories will not be won so easily.

7. I will be careful with tension

How Gemsinger Holds #47: The Plot (part 2)

1. Expressions will advance the plot.

2. Conversations will be more than infodumps.

3. Sometimes ordinary things get the plot going.

4. I acknowledge I'm taking the "chosen one" route with Gemsinger, but I'm not destroying her village (Miresa actually saves it), and she doesn't angst too much (she figures no one got anywhere by angsting, so she just accepts it)

How Gemsinger Holds #46: The Plot, Part 1

1. The first chapter will not be mainly exposition--the exposition will be scattered through the plot, and even then, it will be the exposition we need for that moment.

2. I will be careful with long coversations.

3. Secondary characters will be alive, too.

4. Plot elements will rely on each other.

5. Angst does not a good book make.

6. Miresa is the center of the plot.

How Gemsinger Holds #45: D&D Stereotypes

1. Miresa will not get that many advantages just because she is human--she will have to rely on her non-human friends for help sometimes.

2. The bad guys, while hordes, are not generic.

3. Power is not the goal itself--it is the way a goal is achieved.

4. Shokiyu's magic is WAY different from D&D.

5. The party doesn't run into THAT many wandering adventurers.

How Gemsinger Holds #44: Explanation

1. I will be careful with context.

2. I will explain things as they become relevant to the story.

3. Aliies and saving graces will be introduced early on.

4. I will make sure my audience can remember and follow conversations.

5. I will be careful not to present whole scenes of explanation.

6. Not every motivation will be explained.

7. If I have to infodump at all, Miresa will do it.

How Gemsinger Holds #43: Travel

1. Animals will be resting like the humans will.

2. I will plan how long it takes to get from Point A to Point B.

3. Sometimes the landscape will be a bad guy for the party.

4. I will be mindful of the seasons.

5. I will add detail to the journey.

6. I will be mindful of the disadvantages of some travelers.

7. There will be times when the party has to take another route.

How Gemsinger Holds #42: Comic relief

1. Characters will not be just for comic relief

2. Everyone has a chance to shine.

3. I will only use humor when needed.

4. You will see the costs as well as the benefits of humor

5. Puns will not depend on the English language.

6. Irony will not be forced.

How Gemsinger Holds #41: Magic objects

1. Magical objects in the possession of a family or a group will have their reasons to keep them.

2. Talking objects will get real personalities.

3. The object's name will be nice sounding, appropriate, easy to say, and devoid of the capital and puncuation shakers.

4. The Twelve Stones help run the world, actually.

5. Katva hasn't destroyed them yet because they are one step ahead of him.

How Gemsinger Holds #40: Rulers

1. I will show the goodness of my rulers more than I tell it.

2. My rulers party responsibly.

3. They are aware of their power.

4. They prefer to act rather than react.

5. They are creative in areas besides the arts

6. They can and will screw up

How Gemsinger Holds #39: Introductions

1. I will try not to introduce someone all at once

2. Miresa will not be oblivious to odd features like purple eyes.

3. We will have a recap of plot points that hint at any big surprises before I reveal the big surprise.

4. A character will not be introduced with squees--they have to earn them.

5. New items, characters and plots will be connected to old ones in some form.

How Gemsinger Holds #38: Empathy

1. Everyone will serve more than plot purposes.

2. We will see what the party is insterested in, and how they grow and change

3. Everyone will have diverse relationships

4. I will balance how I show emotion.

5. We will see the mundane as well as the magical.

How Gemsinger Holds #37: Transitions

1. Cliffhangers will be resolved in a reasonable amount of time.

2. None of these cliffhangers will be coy.

3. Miresa will not fall asleep or pass out at the best parts of the story.

4. If we all know what happens next, we'll skip over it.

5. I will skip over uneventful travel scenes unless something happens.

6. There will be quiet parts in betwen exciting points to allow the audience and the party to calm down.

How Gemsinger Holds #36: The Difference Between Drama and Melodrama

1. I will watch my language--bigger is not always better.

2. It will get quiet before a "noisy" scene, not the other way around

3. No long angsty monologues here.

4. Drama will take its time to unfold

5. My dramatic scenes will not be that simple to understand.

6. I will be careful to make my drama reasonable and realistic

How Gemsinger Holds #35: Clothes

1. Clothes will be appropriate to the climate.

2. The party will have only a few essential outfits, and pick up others as needed.

3. I will take materials and class into account.

4. The detail of clothing will depand on whose POV I'm telling from.

5. Modifications to clothes will be practical

Video Game Update

Take a look...

How Gemsinger Holds #34: Sense of Place

1. The amount of detail I describe something will be proportionate to how important that item is to the story.

2. The place's features will be described too

3. Setting will contibute to atmosphere.

4. Setting will also be linked to themes.

5. I will include some of the party's everyday routines.

6. I will be careful to do the reasearch.

How Gemsinger Holds #33: Interesting Bad Guys

1. Katva wants to destory Shokiyu so he can have a world of his own, yet Meikon won't allow this.

2. Katva actually loves and cares about his lackeys--their goal of a world of their own they see as desireable (but it would require destroying Shokiyu)

3. Katva doesn't spend eons planning his plots--his impulsiveness lies in his desire to get what he wants--and in his failure to plan ahead, he falls.

4. I will be consistent with Katva's skills and abilities.

5. Katva will behave realistically when he tries to tempt the party.

6. Both heroes and villians respect each other.

How Gemsinger Holds #32: Interesting Heroines

1. Miresa may appear to have one goal (becoming a blademage), but in achieving that one goal, she also achieves some others (seeing the world, becoming a renowned adventurer and performer, etc.)

2. Miresa is not (in Limyaael's words) a delicate swooning virgin angel at all--she feels the whole spectrum of human emotion.

3. Miresa will still have to heal from traumatic experiences, just like Bradlin will.

4. She knows more angry reactions than tears and slapping.

5. Miresa has plenty of people that know her.

6. Miresa does talk with other girls and women.

How Gemsinger Holds #31: The End

1. The ending will not race to the finish.

2. We will discuss only the fates of the party and their allies, nothing more

3. I will stay consistent in tone and not be "cute" at the end.

4. The surprises will stop at a certain point

5. I will try to avoid the obvious

6. The ending will have at least one obvious meaning

7. I will gradually work to the ending.

How Gemsinger Holds #30: Surprises

1. Any surprises will match the story's tone.

2. Clues will hopefully be discreet.

3. The reveal will rely on more than language.

4. The party will act realistically to the surprise.

5. Most surprises will be towards the middle.

6. Just because it's a surprise doesn't mean it gets to break the rules without a very good reason.

How Gemsinger Holds #29: Education (part 4)

1. Miresa has also learned from her family.

2. There will be more than lectures and stories. (but there will be a few stories involved)

3. We will see Miresa gradually getting better at tasks.

4. Miresa does daydream in class on occassion.

5. Our heroes will be connected to their backgrounds

How Gemsinger Holds #28: Education (part 3)

1. The mage's academy does have some precautions against magical accidents.

2. Miresa will be learning (and has learned) about the limits of magic.

3. the details will be original and fluff-free.

4. We will watch Miresa grow and change as a result of learning magic.

5. She is in the academy because she has choen a specialized career--one that isn't taught in the traditional classroom

How Gemsinger holds #27: Education (part 2)

1. Miresa's sword training is more than "whack-the-dummy-now-you-try", it includes a visual diagram of the move, a little bit about how it developed, what it can do, any known variants, an at speed and slowed down demo, a group attempt, and THEN you get to whack the dummies.

2. Miresa, Bradlin, and Arune have trained under mentors of all shapes, ages, and sizes.

3. The party will NOT learn overnight.

4. Miresa will get all around training for her journey, although it will focus on magic.

5. This is mainly why I made Miresa an aspiring blademage--so I could combine physical fighting and magic to create a different fighting style.

6. I will be careful not to cheat in training scenes.

How Gemsinger holds #26: Education (part 1)

1. Shokiyan teachers are supported by public donations (be they food or gold) and grants from the Scholar's Guild.

2. I will try to keep a balance between the perfect professor and the teacher of doom.

3. Students will not learn anything overnight.

4. Shokiyans value intelligence, so education is important--however, I will try to not make it mirror schools in our world too much.

5. There will be a heaping helping of common sense in the Shokiyan schools

6. Miresa is by no means a "special" student--she is good at some subjects and bad at others.

How Gemsinger holds #25: Magical Limits

1. I will be careful to be consistent with limits.

2. The reason why the Gemsinger is an exception to my limit of powers is because they are channeling the spirits themselves, not power that the spirits generate (but that doesn't make the Gemsinger invincible)

3. I will acknowledge and know when I've crossed the line of the ridiculous (and revise the scene(s) in question right away)

4. There are physical limits to my magic--magic induced fatigue

How Gemsinger Holds #24: More ideas

1. I hope to show a little of every character's personality, not just tell the audience about it.

2. I hope the entire story will have serious optimism--acknowledging that problems are there and need to be solved, but still going ahead and trying anyway.

3. There's going to be fighting, yes, but you will see the aftermath of fights.

4. I don't plan on creating a whole new genre--"Gemsinger" was meant to be a pure and simple heroic romp of a quest story from the beginning

How Gemsinger Holds #22: The Reluctant Hero

1. Miresa worries about her friends, her family and her hometown--she fears that if she leaves on the Gemsinger's Quest, she will lose them.

2. Miresa has a lot of questions at first--first if she is adequate for the job, then what she has to do.

3. Part of Miresa's initial reluctance is her pride.

4. The Gemsinger is not a leader, but more of a guardian/protector--and Miresa is initially afraid to accept her fate because of her magical mishaps in the past.

5. Miresa's constant questions and worrying do grate on everyone else--until Arune knocks some sense into her.

How Gemsinger Holds #21: General irritations

1. Every character does not exist just for Miresa to be bettered.

2. There will be plenty of mistakes made--some large, some small.

3. The villians will not go over their plans in great detail when they capture our heroes--the party will learn what the villians are doing on their own.

4. I will be careful of loopholes.

5. I will not set things up and then never refer to them again.

6. Miresa has to work to become the Gemsinger--she doesn't gain those powers overnight because destiny said so. While she is chosen, she has to earn the right (and the strength) to wield the immense power the Gemsinger wields.

7. Romantic love doesn't play that large of a role in the story--I mainly want to focus on love between friends.

8. The story will be more than style and symbols--I do have a plot in mind.

The Video Game lives again!

Take a look...

How Gemsinger Holds #20: Nature

1. Shokiyu is more low-tech than Earth, and I plan to explain how they do things that usually require machines on Earth

2. Creatures will be cared for accordingly

3. I plan to have the demon lord wreak some havoc, and you will see the havoc

4. The party will be going through more than temperate climates

5. There will be a balance between nature and culture

6. I will be describing the wildlife.

7. Just as I'm not cheating with magic, I won't cheat with nature either

How Gemsinger holds #19: Music

1. I will use more comparisons than musical ones; the musical ones will be saved for those occassions when it warrants it.

2. I do have limits on my music based magic system--magic based fatigue, forgetting (or not knowing) the spell name (just playing/singing something won't do anything), losing/breaking the instrument, and injury.

3. You'll be hearing plenty more than the heroic songs.

4. Earth songs will not be seen, nor will their influence be seen

5. If a song is the climax of a scene, it will be good and loud.

6. Care and feeding of instruments will be portrayed realistically

How Gemsinger Holds #18: Daily Life (part 2)

1. I will be mindful of gestures--not every Shokiyan gesture has a magical implication.

2. The clothes will fit the purpose, in addition to being described.

3. Shelters and the less obious outsiders will be described and explained.

4. The legend of the Gemsinger is more than a story--it impacts every Shokiyan in some way

How Gemsinger Holds #17: Daily life (part 1)

1. Miresa's our heroine, so we'll be telling what she sees.

2. Names have certain patterns, which I have discussed before.

3. We will be seeing what is eaten

4. Not important to Miresa or critical info=not important to the audience.

5. I will try to avoid cliches.

How Gemsinger holds #16: Introduction and Interaction

1. I will try to avoid introducing too many characters at once.

2. What description you get of my cast depends on where they are and what they are doing.

3. New characters will not be easy to figure out from the get go

4. Body language will be referred to as well

5. Group interactions will change based on who joins the coversation.

6. The cast will listen and speak actively.

How Gemsinger holds #15: Getting Info Out

1. No two ways Miresa gets info will be the same.

2. On the other side of the coin, I'll be careful to not withold info.

3. Shokiyu doesn't get info as fast as our world.

4. Suspense will sometimes come from not knowing everything

5. I will keep motivations in mind when dispensing info.

6. Miresa will not jump to conclusions (or Arune will keep her from doing so)

How Gemsinger holds #14: Speaking styles

1. Everyone knows how to use contractions when needed.

2. The monologues will be before and after events, not right in the middle of them.

3. I will not make Miresa sound more educated than she is, but I will not hammer her class into the ground.

4. I will be careful with dialects

How Gemsinger holds #13: Gods

1. While I do have a pantheon of elemental spirits that are treated like gods, they are not actually gods--Meikon is the only actual god.

2. Meikon is not completely omnipotent--that's why the spirits of the gems keep her informed of the goings on in the world of Shokiyu.

3. Meikon is a gentle motherly like goddess, and the gem spirits have equally varied personalities.

4. Meikon and the spirits have great repartee among each other--the secondary elements report to the primaries, who then answer to Meikon.

5. Meikon and the spirits have made mistakes before, but Meikon doesn't really wish to talk about them.

6. Meikon will actually be stepping in to guide our heroes rather than watching the action from the heavens

How Gemsinger holds #12: Training

1. Miresa has not learned (and will not learn) anything overnight--it took her a lot of blood sweat, and tears to learn how to wield a sword, and she is still learning (albeit somewhat slowly) how to wield magic.

2. Shokiyan kids that wield swords usually start with wielding daggers before moving to swords--Miresa did this too--making the switch to a sword at age ten (she is thirteen when the story begins.)

3. Miresa is definitely not a know it all at every subject--music, history, writing and swordfighting are her best ones, while magic and math are her worst.

4. The High Mage is not a Gandalf-type--he wants all his students to succeed, even if that means giving them tough love.

5. Miresa does have a rival in Halliwen, but not every student is a bully or groupie.

6. I will try to come up with a reasonable about of time for skills to be learned.

How Gemsinger holds #11: Quests (part 2)

1. The party has no interest in gaining the throne--as that isn't the point of the Gemsinger's Quest.

2. If anyone even tried selling the Twelve Stones for a pretty gold piece, they'd get the wrath of Meikon for it.

3. Yes, the quest is a journey, but I've scaled it down a little to just the Eastern Continent

4. Any mysteries will take work to solve.

5. The party will be going through ups and downs that aren't luck based.

6. You'll see the work of going through wilderness

How Gemsinger Holds #10: The Quest (part 1)

1. Even Galia doesn't know everything about the Gemsinger's Quest, so sometimes she'll know no more than the others do.

2. Miresa makes the decision to go on the journey by her own choice, after she does the three things that the Sixth Gemsinger was foretold to do within hours of awakening. (actually singing a spell and saving her hometown--forget what the third thing was)

3. The demon lord's attacks will fail for reasons besides incompetence. (but there will be a few that fail that way)

4. The reason why the Twelve Stones are hiding in dungeons and catacombs for the Gemsinger to find will be explained.

5. I am using magic jewels, but not all of them are used for offensive reasons

How Gemsinger holds #9: Elves

1. Shokiyan elves may appear frail, but they are actually quite strong--something that has caught many an attacker offguard.

2. Yes, my elves and fairies have pointy ears--this is because their hearing is much stronger than a human's, plus they can hear the voices of nature. So you wouldn't be able to sneak up on an elf--they'd hear you coming from a long way off.

3. Galia and the other elves are actually fair-skinned--pale skin is a bit of a rarity, the Forest of Dawn is sunny all year round, and most elves are out in it all day.

4. Yes, they do live in a forest, but they have enchanted the soil of the glens where their towns are, allowing crops to grow.

Yes, they have a strong connection to nature, but they also do not fear technology, and are renowned for crafting weapons and magic items. Some have also settled among other races.

5. Elves on Shokiyu have longer lifespans than humans, and their intelligence will reflect that.

6. The elven civilization is alive and well. They are ruled by a monarch and a ruling council. The monarch (the High Elf King or Queen) receives guests and presides over the ruling council, but does not step in until s/he is asked.

The current ruler, Fion, is friendly to all, and has an infectous joy in all he does that makes him loved and well liked among his people and among other races. This doesn't mean he is happy-go-lucky--he knows how to take charge and is quite the cunning opponent when the situation requires it.

7. Shokiyan elves are not as delicate as you think they are--their houses are no different from human houses, except that plant parts, flowers, and other natural items factor heavily in the decor. They do do chores, but they have magic to help them, including taking out trash to be recycled and hanging laundry.

8. On the other side of the coin, they are not flawless saviors--even Galia doesn't know everything about the world

How Gemsinger holds #8: Dragons

1. Glorian (and Bradlin's future dragon that is as of yet unnamed) doesn't horde treasure at all--she is a dragoon's dragon, and places keeping order above material things.

2. The relationship with humans and dragons will be discussed and we watch Bradlin's relationship with dragons grow throughout the story.

3. Dragons =/= humans--only the necessary analogues will be there.

4. Dragons do a LOT more than eat, sleep, and laze about.

5. It will take effort to bring a dragon down.

6. Glorian is an expert carver and gem maker when she is not out on patrol.

How Gemsinger holds #7: Animals

1. Cats are seen mainly as mousers on Shokiyu

2. Likewise, what dogs there are are for working and hunting--no little yappy lap dogs here.

3. Horses will behave realistically

4. Shokiyans rely on messengers, not pigeons, and even then, not every message gets there.

5. Our heroes will be learning about creatures as they go along on their journey.

6. Wolves, cougars, and bears are more afraid of our heroes than our heroes are of them.

7. Taming an animal will take time and effort.

8. Hunting will take effort

How Gemsinger holds #6: Magic (part 2)

1. Everything I mention will be used somewhere in the 12 book series.

2. While Miresa and Bradlin are in academies (as they have chosen specialized career paths), most places in Shokiyu learn from the Seer, their family, or someone else that has the knowledge of what they want to learn.

3. Magic is used for common purposes, but only in those cultures that rely on it more (eg. the elves and the fairies) Humans, dwarves, and avris have the possibility to wield magic, but those that do are not as common, and usually learn to control their power from a mage (as Miresa does)

4. Both men and women can use the same spells--but what power you start with depends on your birth month.

5. Magic is alive and well on Shokiyu, but it is constantly under threat from demons and other monsters--one reason the Gemsinger exists is to protect and rescue the magic if it is in danger

6. There are no magical empires on Shokiyu

7. Magic exists because Meikon saw fit to bless the world She created with it.

How Gemsinger holds #5: Magic (part 1)

1. Magic use is tied to physical strength, but magic induced fatigue is different from physical fatigue. Having said that, when you are tired from magic induced fatigue, spells tend to get weaker, misfire, and/or just plain not work

2. The rules will not be broken without a very good reason. (and no, Miresa is the hero is not an acceptable reason)

3. The demons have just as powerful spells at their disposal as the heroes.

4. I will try to conceal any loopholes.

5. No innocence cliche here--Miresa gets her power not from her "pure heart", but her determination and desire to save the world.

6. Any magic use by either side will be properly detailed.

7. My magic does have weaknesses--the magic induced fatigue, taking the instrument or weapon away, or not knowing (or forgetting) the spell's name, to name some.

How Gemsinger Holds #4--Prophecies

1. Not to worry, my prophecy of destiny will be obscure enough to not point to Miresa as the hero, as there have been chosen ones before her.

2. Miresa is not fawned over because destiny says so--she is well liked even before she awakens as the Sixth Gemsinger

3. While my prophecy is very different from the one Limyaael refers to, it doesn't have to be fulfilled exactly--there will be room for wiggle room

4. Everyone is allowed to doubt, and even Miresa has a sea of questions at first.

5. Miresa is NOT hidden royalty--her family has been commoners for generations, with no royal connections. Even she knows that peasents that turn out to be royalty are just stories

6. Good and bad will happen to Miresa on the way.

How Gemsinger holds #3: Language

1. The punctuation shaker and random capital letters will not be needed

2. Names will be pronounceable and not random strings of letters.

3. Language doesn't structure thought, it is the people that structure the language

4. The Alweld (my "common tongue", or the Shokiyan name for English) was born because of the First Gemsinger visiting the different races and absorbing words and phrases from the many languages he heard. Not long after his Quest ended, the decision was made to create a common language based on what he had found, so the five races could easily understand each other, creating the All-Wielder's Tongue, or the Alweld for short.

5. In addition to the Alweld, there is Ruhar, the elven tongue, the dwarven tongue, the avri tongue, the holy tongue (used by priests and Seers to communicate with Meikon and the spirits) and the demon tongue (spoken by mainly evil creatures)

6. Miresa will be learning a little survival Ruhar and a little of the holy tongue, but not overnight.

7. Miresa and Bradlin can read because they are in academies, Galia can read because she collects books, and Arune can read because Miresa taught her

8. There will not be puns that depend on the English language.

9. Human names on Shokiyu differ depending on the region, elven names sound like a mixture of Spanish, Japanese, and Gaelic, and avri names are Chinese based, to name some of my conventions

Adventures in Gaming: Luck of the Pokemon

Inspired by this: Cute Story

Besides writing fantasy, one of my other passions is video games. I will bore you for hours with my adventures with Mario, Link, et al. if you let me.

So beginning this week, I'll share with you one of my tales from my rambles across the gaming world.

One of my most memorable boss fights was finally defeating Liza and Tate on Pokemon Emerald.

For the uninitiated, Liza and Tate add a Xatu and a Clayol to their Lunatone and Solrock for Emerald, and said Claydol’s attacks can really hurt your Pokemon. For a long time, I struggled against them, even going so far as to walk away from the game for a while.

Then, looking at the type chart a few weeks later gave me an idea: What if I went at them with two Pokemon that were part Flying, which would essentially nullify their Ground moves?

So I started a fresh file and made my way through the game until I arrived in Mossdeep City with a lv. 40ish team. My plan was to use a Beautifly (named Rainbow) and a Gyarados (named Umi), with my Gardevoir (named Zelda) stalling if either of them fell.

The bout commenced, and despite some inital struggle, I slowly but surely wore down their HP, until both the Xatu and the Claydol went down. Now only Lunatone and Solrock were left…and my heart was pounding as I wrestled with them–if I kept up my strategy, they too would fall.

Let’s just say the whole block heard my triumphant “YAHOO!!!” when they finally fell.

I went on to finally finish the game and unlock the Battle Frontier.

How Gemsinger holds #2: The Beginning

1. The actual story begins with Miresa heading home from classes at the academy and meeting up with Bradlin--I don't plan on infodumps at any point.

2. No "Aw" scenes--I'll just show Miresa going through her daily routine and show the audience how she interacts with others through that.

3. I'll refer to Miresa's recent history as needed

4. Kinda guilty on this one--the prologue shows young Miresa learning about the legend of the Gemsinger

5. Miresa is the star of the show, so I'll be writing from her POV

How "Gemsinger" holds #1: Female Characters

Ever since discovering Limyaael's fantasy rants last night, I've been curious as to how "Gemsinger" would hold up in various topics, so we'll kick off the series with analyzing the female characters:

1. I don't plan on overdescribing their looks in the least--just a sentence or two on hair and eyes, and we're done.

2. Likewise, the description won't come all at once--when we first meet Miresa, for example, she's in her training outfit, so we'll describe that first, then mention hair and eyes here and there as she walks home with Bradlin.

3. No looking in pools of water, but a puddle will cause Bradlin to daydream about what he wishes she looks like (primarily because he's been reading poetry all day and is seeing in his mind's eye what Miresa would look like as the main character of the epic he is reading for class)

4. Miresa has flaws, all right--she is clumsy and can't wield magic very well when we first meet her--to the point where she is legendary for the accidents she causes.

5. This ties in to some other flaws--she has a tendency to doubt herself and is often hesitant to try magic related things.

6. No dark and mysterious past for Miresa--her past was mostly filled with laughter, hugs, and "I love you"s

7. People will not usually have instant love or hate for Miresa--they will get to know her or have an established relationship (good or bad) by the time the story begins

8. Miresa can be witty, but she knows there is a time and place for zingers.

9. There will be plenty of uncertainty to go around.

10. Likewise, she will be losing some things--as no character truly grows without some bumps in the road on the way.

11. I hope to have great repartee between Miresa and those she meets.

12. While I do enjoy Miresa, I do take criticism as an opportunity to make her, her friends, and her world better.

13. Miresa will not be getting into a romantic relationship--the kind of love I want to focus on is the love between friends.