Windmills of the Wizenzea (A to Z Challenge)

While magic can be used to power devices, relying on natural forces to power various mills and other devices is usually less expensive (and sometimes safer) for many practical uses.  One such practical use of windmills while developed by others, it is the Gemkine who have perfected the engineering to translate the motion of wind (and water) into motive power.

On the banks of the Wizenzea windmills are used for a variety of purposes from pumping out seawater to free up new land, to driving mechanical devices for the processing of various materials and, of course, as actual grain mills.  When their location is no longer suitable, they are dismantled and moved to a new location.  Sometimes the shell of the building is left and repurposed, sometimes just the foundation remains.

Visse and Halflings (A to Z Challenge)

Behind the Curtain: The Sea of Stars began (and continues) as a Dungeons & Dragons campaign world, it was designed partly in reaction to the last two campaigns I had which featured very narrow choices of kin and restrictions on classes, the Sea of Stars was to be wide open yet based on D&D 3 rules, so the kindred allowed in that book needed to be included in some way, but I wanted them to have their own unique backgrounds and ties to the campaign world.

First, they needed a new name, Visse is what came to me, though I have no idea why.  It has been retrofitted into Draconic, vis is to serve, the suffix -se is “one who”, so a visse is a servant in general but a Visse is one member of the people created by the dragons to serve them.

Uffrani Pools (A to Z Challenge)

The Uffrani Pools seem like just any tidal pools, and the people of the town of Uffrani will tell you the same, but their houses seem very well-tended and stocked.  The town market has too many foreign traders for such a small place.  Additionally, there is a representative of the Draconic House, House Miravesh (“Our Storm”), who lives in the town.  All indications that Uffrani is not just any place.

Tuesday Magic Item – Tricorner Hat (A to Z Challenge)

Gollaon and Voddick ran around the corner in pursuit of the would-be assassin who had fled into an alleyway.  The assassin slid to a halt as their way was blocked by a wall, they glanced back, tipped their tricorn hat, and stepped into a corner where they seemed to fold up and vanish.

“Bastard!” said Voddick turning back.

“We will keep searching, I am sure that magic could not take them far,” said Gollaon.  “You go left and I right.”

“Agreed,” said Voddick, readying a throwing axe.  “Next time I see them, they are getting an axe.”

Tricorner Hat

These hats are non-descript tricorner hats, it is only on close inspection that the quality of the materials and the precision and sharpness of the folds is obvious.

Sen’tek and Gnomes (A to Z Challenge)

Behind the Curtain: From the beginning, the Sea of Stars was designed to be my fantasy campaign world for Dungeons & Dragons-type fantasy adventures.  So, I wanted there to be a place for all of the kindreds in the core rules (which as D&D 3 when I started) so that everyone would have an idea of what could be played.  But the basic versions of the various kindreds are rather generic so I wanted to shape them a bit more to my world and give them a unique place in the Sea of Stars.

First, make them distinct by renaming them, this lets people know they are like the standard Kindred but different.  Sen’tek sounded harsh, I decided that it means “vile” in the draconic language of the Sea of Stars, so, naturally it is an insult.  They call themselves “the New”.

River of Kōura (A to Z Challenge)

While the Sundering wreaked untold havoc across the Sea of Stars some places gained from the strange magics unleashed.  Among such places are the communities of the Touvi people among the River of Kōura, which had another name before but now is known only by that name for it is so very rich in the kōura which are harvested along its length.  Kōura are a type of freshwater crawfish and among the effects of the Sundering along the river was to devastate their predators, apart from people, and to accelerate their growth and reproductive cycles.

Kōura can grow up to six inches (15.25cm) in length but are more usually found in the three-inch (7.6cm) range.  Their carapaces are dried and crushed or burnt for use as fertilizer.

Querying the Stars (A to Z Challenge)

Many of the people of the Sea of Stars rely upon the stars and constellations to provide guidance both for day-to-day activities and major decisions, such as marriages and significant business decisions.  Many people turn to professional astrologers for such advice and every family has at least one amateur astrologer among its numbers.

It is a common subject of discussion among people over meals, drinks, and just in general (“Did you hear that Bevali had to cancel their wedding because of that comet in the Lion’s Jaws?“).  People are expected to know their astrological signs if not their horoscopes and the higher up you are in society, a peasant might know the general part of day they were born in, while a noble is likely to know to within minutes the time of their birth.  With increased precision of such information of time of birth comes, presumably, increased accuracy of astrological prediction.

Pantagruelian Pigeon (A to Z Challenge)

Pigeons are a constant in most cities, equally so in the Sea of Stars, so they are a problem and a potential source of food.  Unsurprisingly, some of the pigeons were caught in the after-effects of the Sundering leading to pigeons with odd plumage, strange habits, or other minor changes.  But the most worrying are the Pantagruelian Pigeons.

Pantagruelian Pigeons appear as large but normal pigeons with slightly larger beaks.  Their coloration is typical for the pigeons in their region.  When they first move in, they infiltrate and interbreed with the local pigeons, they are aggressive and if not quickly stopped will come to dominate the pigeon population.  Once that happens things become problematic.

Onyx Harbor, a Gemkine Port (A to Z Challenge)

The lifeblood of the Gemkine nations is trade, they export fished goods and import raw materials, luxuries, and, most of all, food.  They have become adept at building roads, canals, and ports, and even more exotic improvements to allow for efficient transportation of goods.

One such nexus of trade is Onyx Harbor, built (not unexpectedly) by the Gemkine of Clan Onyx.  Taking advantage of a navigatable river and a fairly good natural harbor, Clan Onyx has worked tirelessly to improve the site and it has expanded from a small fishing village to a major trading city.

The city is walled and the city government actually keeps people from building too close to the outer walls keeping good twenty-five meters clear with a dry ditch in front of the wall, which can be flooded.  The clear area is used for the grazing of animals during normal times.  The towers mount weapons designed to be used against flying attackers, though how effective they would be is a matter of conjecture.

Tuesday Magic Item – Nonsuch Gown (A to Z Challenge)

Gollaon looked to Voddick.  “Was that?” they asked in a whisper.

Voddick leaned in and said equally quietly, “Yes, the princess.  She likes to move among her people and see what is happening.”

Gollaon narrowed their eyes.  “How do you know this?”

“Her bodyguard asked me to keep an eye out for her while we were out and about, just as an added precaution.”

“And neither of you informed me?” said Gollaon,  Voddick just looked at his friend.  “Alright, point taken,” grumbled Gollaon.

Nonsuch Gown

These gowns are deceptive, appearing as simple grey gowns they are made of the finest cloth by master craftspeople, and decorated with grey-on-grey embroidery that is invisible unless one is right next to it.  Each is made for a particular person but their magic allows them to be worn by others nearly as comfortably.  The gown is made so that a person of high station can vanish among the more common people and learn what they really think and then, if needed, reveal themself in a blaze of glory.