hey i'm creating a race of fairies and since they generally have small builds and metal such as iron cold steel are deadly to them what are some good materials to use for the fairies to craft their weapons, i considered gems but doing some research i realized substance like diamonds and crystal are utterly impractical even for the fairies.
Well, fairies are magic. If a fairy wanted to wield a diamond sword, they could and no audience would question it. Magic is the solution to a lot of problems. The weakness of a weapon forged with magic is, of course, a steel blade but that only matters if they’re encountering humans wielding steel on the regular. Fairies can do whatever they want and dance merrily on the graves of scientists the world over, so don’t let that stop you.
Blades of pure light.
Blades of diamond.
Blades from plants.
Fairies wielding magma blades or swords forged from stardust.
A sword of glass containing the beating heart and heat of the sun.
Futuristic fairies who behave like aliens in Iron Man style power armor formed from plastics/polymers wielding lightsabers and firing bolts of plasma.
They’re fairies. Sky’s the limit here. Except, it’s not because then we catapult ourselves out into space. Go however far your imagination takes you.
Look to myth for your solutions, especially the Celtic Sidhe. Unless you’re dealing with a modern setting (and even if you are) mythology has already developed solutions. It’s a great place to start your search.
However, here are some things I’ll point out:
Cold Iron/Cold Steel are a reference to a specific forging technique rather than a type of metal, though in folklore it can just mean steel swords. Still, this will open up your options some.
Cold Iron for fairies dates back to when iron forging was still mostly new, or less common. There’s certainly lore out there with mythological fairies fighting warriors wielding iron blades, but were unbeatable until new forging techniques were developed.
Ask yourself: is it the forging technique which makes these swords dangerous to your fairies or is it the metal itself? In which case, then you can cut out “cold” as it’s just steel.
Here’s the Wikipedia article about iron in folklore. It may help you some in your search.
If you want to write Urban Fantasy with fairies then I’d go with the forging process rather steel itself. The reason is that they couldn’t go anywhere. At least, not places like the US or Europe or anywhere there’s a high steel content in the buildings, cars, and sewer systems. Even with a shift to polymers too much of the major metropolitan centers in the developed world are built on steel bones. Science fiction fairies re-emerging in the future where all metals are polymers has more potential.
Honestly, any army from a period using steel or iron weapons could curb stomp fairies if they’re allergic to the metal. Using the forging process moves all to some and then down to almost none, making way for the future fairyocalypse of 2018.
-Michi
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Gryffindor
listens to anime osts while studying
highlights everything, gOD
acts like a roman orator during class reports
“pisses off” the teacher with their jokes but is secretly probably the teacher’s fave student
mnemonics
either studies ahead of time or DOESN’T SLEEP FOR 48 HOURS BECAUSE THEY PROCRASTINATED (there is no in between)
flashcards galore
gets elected as class president because their friends thought it would be funny (but is actually pretty good at the job??)
determination to succeed even when they’re already too done with everything
Ravenclaw
has 100 highlighters and a system for how to use them
“do you think i’ll still have to take the exam if i die from caffeine overdose?”
really creative bullet journals (or minimalist layouts)
“how do you have such perfect handwriting?” “oh, it’s always been that way.” *actually spent 1000 hours perfecting it*
scrolls through the studyblr tag and calls it studying
posts something on studyblr and calls it studying
procrastinates a lot tbh.
classical music
gets anxious about not studying. still not studying because they’re too anxious to start. (relatable?)
always getting irrational thoughts about their “failing” grades
Hufflepuff
lots of colorful pens
a e s t h e t i c study spaces
extra af when it comes to projects (they’ll probably wear a mammoth costume during their report about the ice age. y’know, for authenticity)
working really hard for a subject they are not good at. feeling very satisfied when they get a high grade on that subject.
probably expects the worst so they don’t get disappointed
helping others study
sharing their notes
comforts other students who are having nervous breakdowns but they probably need comforting as well
all-nighters.
Slytherin
motivational quotes
studying extra hard for a subject someone told them they’re not good at, purely for the satisfaction of proving them wrong
they’re e x t r a af, in general
getting really high grades, but only seeing that one grade that was lower than they expected
either really organized or really messy (but, like, in an organized way)
mind maps and flowcharts
look calm as fuck when it comes to tests but it’s probably because they’re disassociating lmao
working hard not just because they like it, but because they simply don’t like the thought of failing
really supportive of their friends but at the same time bitter when they get higher marks at something (but only because they see it as a sign of personal failure)
has high standards for them themselves. at the same time, they feel like everyone expects too much of them.
Alright y'all, with school season comin back, here are some prime hoe tips to get y'all ready to slay.
1. Develop a skincare regimen at least once daily: wash, exfoliate*, mask*, toner, essential oils, moisturize.
*once weekly, to avoid overshocking your skin.
2. Tea tree oil is bomb for acne and acne scars. Apply that shit.
3. Coconut oil and castor oil for brow/lash growth every night.
4. Go through your closet, and toss clothes you don’t wear. Invest in more neutral colors and fits to configure a wider variety of cute ass outfits.
5. Don’t be afraid to thrift shop; places like TJ Maxx and The Goodwill have bomb ass brands for cheap.
6. Get your books/supplies ready a week before. Prepare yourself.
7. Have all of your test dates/assignment due dates in your phone before classes start. Make sure to request off days of work the nights before major assignments and exams if you can help it.
8. Things to keep in a bag in your locker: pads/tampons, an extra pair of panties, a spare change of clothes & shoes(in case of a wardrobe malfunction), hairbrush and hairtie, nail file & clippers, makeup remover wipes, concealer, masacara, gum, water bottle, extra pens, some spare cash, phone charger, and earbuds.
9. Keep a water bottle in ya bag at all times. A hoes gotta be hydrated.
10. Keep up with ya studies (see my School and Studying Tips post for more details on how to boost that GPA)
11. A week before school starts, develop getting sleep schedule for school by going to bed half an hour earlier every night. This’ll make waking up earlier less of a hell, trust me.
12. Have a go-to makeup look for school that takes 30 mins or less as a default, if you beat your face in the morning.
13. Replace coffee with tea for a more healthy caffeine fix before class.
14. Prepare yourself a decent breakfast before you go to bed, so you can easily grab and go in the morning. Breakfast kickstarts your metabolism and decreases cravings throughout the day, and generally boosts your mood and brain power.
15. If you wear a uniform, make sure that shit is comfortable and actually fits you. Make sure nothing hangs off of you, cuts off circulation, itches, irritates, etc.
16. Need a break from studying? Work out. Burn some calories, clear your mind, and stimulate your brain with some exercise. Swear to god this keeps my grades up and my body lookin fly.
17. Invest in a hair mask (any pharmacy or makeup outlet will have them), or make one yourself. They make your hair super soft and shiny for flipping it when you walk past that group of girls who hate you lol
Thats all I can think of for now hoes, get good grades, I believe in all of y'all✨
School and tumblr
That’s so me omg i have a book -new- that I haven’t read it even once for two years
im a simple girl.. i see book, i buy book, i let book sit on my shelf for months unread
Go to sleep earlier (Listen to ambient music to fall asleep faster(or things like the Calm app)
Wake up earlier (Put your alarm far away from the bed so you have to get up and turn it off)
Don’t go on your phone first thing in the morning
Tell yourself that it’s going to be a good day
Stretch for 5 minutes
Make your bed
Drink a glass of water (Personally, I like to keep a litre of water in my room so i can have it as soon as I wake up)
Lay clothes out on the bed(Or, go one step further and set the clothes out at night)
Go shower or brush your teeth and wash your face if you shower at night
Put lotion on, put clothes on and apply makeup/do your hair as per normal
Watch a 5-10 minute motivational video (Youtube has Inspirational channels, Ted Talks etc)
Eat breakfast(Smaller bites, appreciate the taste), and drink more water and plan your day
Make your lunch
Now, if you have extra time you can look at your phone and scroll through social media a bi before you leave the house
Look for beauty around you, in the smiles of people, their fashion, flowers, architecture, interior decorating. Try to take in as much as you can.
Look up from your phone(Delete the apps you don’t need. Be honest about what apps waste your time)
Make it a goal to make someone’s day better, whether it’s by buying a homeless person a meal, or by smiling genuinely at someone. Brighten someone’s day.
If you have extra time, write a journal entry for the day. Write about what you noticed in the world, your goals, your feelings, what excites you etc. Write about your thoughts, let them flow through you.
Carry a book around with you and read it when you find yourself doing nothing.
Notice how much time you spend on your phone or laptop. Try to replace some time that you spend on silly things with educational things. (Read the news rather than scrolling through memes for an hour, read a motivational book rather than toxic tweets)
Learn.Learn.Learn. If you haven’t heard of something, ask what it is. Ask people to teach you how they do whatever it is they do. Don’t settle for no answer. Dig deeper. Learn.
When you learn something, try to see if you can explain it to someone else. If you can’t, try to learn a little more.
Be nicer to people. Ask them how they are, listen to their stories, learn who they are. You’d be surprised at all the interesting, educational stories that people all around you have.
Go outside every day. Enjoy nature.
Appreciate who you are and where your life is at. Appreciate that not everything happens perfectly or as planned.
Appreciate that you can learn anything if you put your mind to it,
Spread positive feelings.
Cut off anyone who threatens your positive vibes.
World building is important in any setting. There are places, such as fantasy literature where it can become the difference between a believable world and an unbelievable one. Suspension of disbelief is often a critical part to stories.
Many fantasy books take place during times of war, or revolution or even a fall of a corrupt empire. I love reading these sorts of stories, as many people do. Power structures can be complex. They can be used to create tension and drama between characters - take for instance the hero versus the corrupt government troupe in fiction such as The Hunger Games, Harry Potter or even more traditional fantasies such as Tigana ( by Guy Gavriel Kay) or The Wheel of Time series (by Robert Jordan). As a reader it can be compelling to follow these stories. For writers though, it can seem daunting to go into the details of shaping a believable power structure. Here are some basic tips for creating one.
There are four crucial factors to any power structure. These are as follows:
1. Military - this includes the size of the army, the types of technology used (guns or swords? navy or land army?), the basic structure of the army (is it highly regimented like the Romans? What are the different groups within the army? How are they divided - by technology, skills or social status?). Another important question here is why has the military developed in this way? The Roman military, for example, grew out of competition with other Italian states. The opposition is equally important here - who were/are they within your story? Apply the above questions just as much to them, because empires and other structures are influenced by the world around them. The military can be the reason an empire begins in the first place. The military should also play a role in sustaining the power structure/empire. It doesn’t have to be the strongest factor by any means. It may even become the downfall of the structure in the end.
2. Economy - How is your power structure or empire funded? Does this change over time? Does your empire take part in internal or external trade? Is trade important to the running of the empire? Resources such as crops, fertile land or people are also a part of this and influences the larger actions (such as conquest) your structure takes towards other countries. Trade can be a form of control and influence as well, even outside of the structure’s territory. In terms of story, a lot of decisions that are made involve trade or economic reasons - no one wants to get on the wrong side of someone who controls valuable resources or trade with other entities. The British Empire was based mainly on trade and this insured a global influence even as it declined in actual power.
3. Administration: The system of government and the way it manages itself is important to know. Is it a traditional monarchy or a democracy? How is leadership decided? How is power delegated throughout the larger administration? Hierarchy? One person can’t do or know everything. In terms of empire and conquest this is equally important. Does the empire recruit the local elites from conquered areas to administer to the general public, like the Romans? If your story is set in the outskirts of your empire, this could effect the outcome of the story - local elites might enjoy the power they have gained through an alliance with the larger empire and thus be unwilling to revolt against it. What other ways does your power structure control its territory? Does it use culture, or a set language to spread out into new territory? What kind of empire is your empire? Is it land based (only conquering territories linked by land) or maritime (navy focused with overseas territory)?
4. Culture: How does your power structure interact with its subjects? Even in a small area, different ethnic groups exist, so what unites all of them together? Are they all united, or is there groups of people the power structure leaves out? Have they always been left out deliberately or have these groups formed over time?How does the the government and the people from inside the empire view outsiders and their culture? Does this influence your story or characters? Do negative stereotypes or different language create a barrier between your character and others? In newly conquered areas is the empire’s language, laws and social ideals endorsed to locals or is it forced upon them? Is religion important to how the empire works or interacts? For example, before war do the gods need to show approval for the empire’s commanders? What about clashes of religion with other areas? Where do cultures intersect? Is your empire influenced by an older power or a hard past? What is seen as integral to your structure’s culture - art, literature, music etc? Are allies connected with your structure through culture, a shared distant history?
Most power structures rely on all of these factors - but none are ever equal in importance. Your government will identify one or two of these areas as important and focus on them. This can impact how the structure comes together and eventually falls apart - the greatest strength becomes a weakness, or something is overlooked until it is too late.
This is a long post - so I’m going to leave it here for now. If you guys have any questions, feel free to use the Ask feature to contact me.
– The monthly challenges are back by popular demand! I hope you all enjoy this one. This is the second installment of my three part series, dedicated to writing longer stories. Next month’s challenge will be dedicated to plot development. I look forward to seeing all of your guys’ responses here using the hashtag #wordsnstuffworldbuilding and over on Instagram, where you can tag me @ writingandsuch.
This challenge begins on August 1st, but I thought I would give you guys some time to plan stuff out, because you may need to switch some days around to accommodate your schedule. You’re free to do one day’s challenge on another day if your schedule doesn’t allow enough time to complete that day’s challenge. Best of luck to you!
Days 1-10: History & Geography
How does climate and weather change in the part(s) of the world your story occurs in?
Describe the landscape/layout of the major location(s) in your story. (Major buildings, natural formations, prominent mountains, where characters’ homes are situated, etc.
How have the species/groups/races in your story formed the relationships they have throughout history?
What major wars/conflicts/disasters have taken place in the timeline of history in your story? How do they affect your world and the beings in present times?
What recent history affects your story the most? What were the events’ initial effects and how do they compare and contrast to the long lasting damages/benefits?
Create two timelines; One that covers major events that have occurred since the beginning of your world as your character knows it, then one that covers recent events and time periods (about 500 years should do it).
To what extent does religion exist in your world and how has it evolved over time?
What does nature look like in your world? What plant species exist in your world? Which ones are rare and valuable and which ones are weeds? How do the beings in your world interact with nature?
What animals are present in your world? What areas of the world do specific species inhabit? Does poaching occur? If so, to what extent is it a major issue? What species are commonly domesticated, if any?
How have different species/beings/races been oppressed throughout the history of your world? How does this affect current relationships amongst different groups? Which conflicts have been solved/forgiven and which ones haven’t?
Days 11-20: Society & Culture
What races/species/groups coexist in your world? Describe them and their individual characteristics.
How many languages exist in your world? How do the resemble languages in the real world, if at all?
What major powers play large roles in your world? (i.e. churches, governments, monarchs, caste systems, corporations, etc.)
What does religion look like in your world? Do individuals of faith occupy the majority or the minority?
What are the major and minor opinions held by individuals in your world, concerning politics, morality, society, other groups, etc.
How do the names of beings/groups/individuals translate? How did they originate and how do names differ throughout the world? Are they more sacred and valued in some places than others?
What role does education play in your world? To what extent is it valued or required in society? How are uneducated individuals viewed/discriminated against, if at all?
What is fashion like in your world, if it exists? What do beings wear in your world, if anything? Is clothing an indicator of wealth or class?
To what extent is hygiene a priority to beings of your world? How do beings in different areas keep themselves clean and healthy?
What is the average life span of different species in your world? What aspects of science/evolution/design affect this? How are beings on opposite age extremes treated in society? How are the young and the old treated and how does their treatment differ from those who are not of those ages?
Days 21-30: Systems & Politics
How does your world function economically in your story? What is the currency system and what items/services are of most value in your world?
What political aspects of your story/world mirror real life and how might you convey these similarities through symbolism and abstract depictions of real life events?
How much of a role does politics play in your story/conflict and how does the political climate of your world affect your main character(s), specifically?
What major resources are plentiful and scarce in your world and how does this affect your character(s) as they try to solve the conflict?
What are the specific limits in various areas of science and magic within your world? If you don’t have a magic system, describe the realm of possibility when it comes to scientific capabilities, i.e, maybe in your world, time travel is possible but teleportation has not yet been invented.
What is ethical and non-ethical in your world and how much of a role does ethics play in law-enforcement/society in general?
Are the beings in your world concerned with issues like freedom of speech, equality, opportunity, fairness, and minorities? Do those issues even exist in your setting?
Who are the major world leaders and how do they govern the areas they have control over?
What technology/magic dominates your world? Is it exclusively used by a certain group/species/class? What are its limitations?
If magic does exist in your world, where did it originate? How was it originally meant to function/be used and how is it used in the present? How is magic viewed by different groups/species/classes?
Bonus Day 31 Challenge: The Things You May Forget
What food is common in your world?
How developed is medicine in your world? Is it anything like what we have on Earth?
How easy is it to get from one place to another?
**If anyone has any other aspects not mentioned in the list above that they feel is important to world-building, please leave those in the comments below for other writers to peruse!
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I NEED TO FIND YOOOU.
it’s the year 2077 & you’re at a nightclub in tokyo with your best friend, you’re both on the run from a group of rebels but you feel safe in this little neon corner of nowhere so when a robot waiter offers you a strawberry daiquiri you accept it you’re a tourist on mars & you’re trying to contact home but the signal is really crappy so you just end up buying yourself an icecream sundae & waiting in this strange alien queue to buy an interstellar sim card you’re in a small virginian town that was wiped off the map several years ago housesitting for a mysterious neighbor when you find a secret passageway in their library, you have no idea where it leads but you’re curious to take a look you’re in victorian england & you’re walking down a path adorned with the warm aureate glow of gaslights & it’s snowing softly & you have your hands buried deep in your coat pockets while somewhere in the distance, someone announces that the queen is dead you meet god at a gas station at 3.03 am & he asks you if you want to go for a motorcycle ride with him & when you say yes he warns you that he’s about to introduce you to things you can never unknow
you’re in love with a ghost who shows up in all your household mirrors & keeps turning off the kitchen light but one night you realize that you’re the one that’s been doing all the haunting it’s a rehab centre for celestial beings, where angels with dying halos flitter past & talk to you of stars, you love working this job, learning about the woes of a dozen flighty beings, & they endow you with their strength & light in return you’re stuck in a time loop inside of a 80′s horror flick and your entire world feels like it’s glitching around you nothing is real except for your strange lover with eyes like moonlight calling you to come back to bed you’re at an island at midnight all by yourself, the night sky is so clear the sea reflects the star-matted sky, a salty breeze lifts your hair, you breathe in deep & dream of someone beautiful coming to your rescue
xtras: hotmess / midyouth crisis / mud puppy / lucid dreaming