FAQs for Worldbuilding & Immersion

To help flesh out this world, over the past few years I have seen many resources/questions out there to help with worldbuilding and immersion either through forums, reddit, my community, friends, family etc...so I answered a bunch and compiled them here. This will be a continually growing list.

Do races intermingle or stay separate?

1. Major cities mingle; frontier regions remain racially isolated.

2. Elves and dwarves keep cultural enclaves even inside human cities.

3. Marbleborn mostly live among humans as living monuments.

Extinct cultures?

1. The Axiom Seraphs – winged scholars erased in pre-history.

2. The Glass Kingdoms – desert empire vitrified by a magical catastrophe.

3. The Deep Choir – subterranean singers swallowed by the Scar.

Ruins exist. Meaning is debated.

How is magic viewed by non-casters?

Unstable weapons, generally disliked. Magic is a bit taboo still depending on the region. Its even illegal in certain settlements.

Strongest non-god monster?

The Pale Colossus (wanders tundra in Frostreach)...allegedly.

Recreational Drugs?

1. Emberleaf smoke.

2. Dreamwine (fungal fermentation).

3. Powdered sun-lily.

Most notable magic items?

1. The Censer of Aurelyx.

2. The Blackreach Crown.

3. The Monolith Shards (illegal artifacts).

Druids — how often they meet?

1. Regional seasonal circles.

2. Continental convergence every 7 cycles.

3. World gathering only during omens.

Most common causes of conflict?

The Scar and the three settlements that control flow of trade and traffic across the Scar.

Most feared disease?

1. Greywake (turns skin to ash).

2. Echo Rot (causes memory loss).

3. Stonebound Fever (Marbleborn plague).

Planes — shared or separate?

Separate dimensions.

Best library?

1. Solgrim’s Hall of Recorded Purpose.

2. Veiled Archive (hidden).

3. Thornspan Ledger Vaults.

Most common religion/cult?

1. Aurelyx-centered solar faith.

2. Sevenfold Pantheon.

3. Haroken Orthodoxy (aggressively spreading).

Why are electrum pieces illegal?

1. Used in forbidden planar rituals.

2. Used to conduct Umbraxis related magic & rituals.

Legendary thieves?

1. The Veilhands.

2. The Coinless Choir.

3. Whisper Jack.

Civilizations in hostile regions?

1. Frostreach Holdfasts.

2. Ash Barrens Nomads.

3. Mangrove Swamp Cities.

Hidden or underdeveloped cultures?

1. Sky-herders of the Cloud Steppe.

2. Scar-side feral tribes.

3. Plane-cloaked cities.

Dragons?

Nobody truly knows.

Deepest point?

Highest point?

Frostreach Spire.

Most arrogant nation?

1. Solgrim Dominion.

2. High Vael.

3. Ivory Coast Principalities.

Most unexplored land?

1. Bonewild Expanse.

2. Sunless Reaches.

3. The West Beyond Storms.

Too-crazy historical event?

1. The Marbleborn Awakening.

2. Sky cities collapsing.

3. The Twelve-Day Eclipse War.

Why is there evil?

1. Divine conflict residue.

2. Umbraxis influence.

3. Mortal choice.

Rich people city?

1. Solgrim.

2. Ivory Haven.

3. Goldreach.

Biggest criminal orgs?

1. Black Coin Syndicate.

2. Thorn Veil.

3. Glass Serpents.

Alcohol types?

1. Grain spirits (plains).

2. Mushroom ales (forests).

3. Salt wine (coastal).

Common names?

Boys: Aric, Vale, Toren
Girls: Mira, Elen, Sae

Richest / Populous / Influential?

Richest: Solgrim Dominion
Most populous: Riverlands
Most influential race: Humans

Reviving the dead?

Allegedly possible via Rare relics.

Last natural disaster?

1. Frostquake (3 cycles ago).

Famous bard band?

The Seven Threnodies

Best seafarers?

The Tidebound Clans — living compasses.

Unique races?

Marbleborn, Scar-Touched, Cloudkin.

World granary?

Golden Vale.

Professional armies?

Yes — Scar tensions demand standing forces.

Famous novel?

The Crownless Sun

Atlantis / El Dorado?

The Sunken City of Lareth.

Polite but rude custom?

Staring silently before greeting.

Closest thing to Santa Claus?

The Ember Walker — winter spirit who leaves ash-charms for obedient children.