Tales from Aran'sha - Summercamp Edition
A word of welcome
Below you will find all the camps I will join this year, feel free to give them a visit (just click on them) and join if they are to your liking.
There has been one MAJOR development I am excited about to no end - this year I will team up once again with an accountability buddy, even if its not part of the homework! And it is no other than...*drumroll*And last, but certainly not least, lets say hello to Layla, instructor at Dahal Al'Ravan - The house of tradeour new guide to Aran'sha. Feel free to ask her some questions - she's eager to meet you all.
Imagica
I'm happy to have such an incredibly talented writer as Imagica to work with and get those articles on the road - if you don't have already, check out her worlds Crux Umbra and Kena’an - you will love them!
Copper's Fortune
Copper-Badge [img:6693459] by Blue Fairy 74 ft. Midjourney
Camp Feral
Feral Camper Badge by Strixxline
Camp Chill
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Thanks for having me, poke me to hear a story... or two.
I want to hear more tales!
Ah, Camp Feral - they are always hungry for more tales, never quite sated - but fun to hang out with.
Gold might glitter in a sultan's vault, but it's the copper you work that puts dates in your pouch, my friend.
Have you ever seen a Kaharan Bellydancer?
They are a sight to behold.
They are a sight to behold.
The steady camel wins the race - the people of Camp Chill know that by heart.
I heard there is a treasure hunt going on -its said to begin here: The hidden path - A Beginning
I heard there is some place where one can find all the animals in the world.
Could it be they are in this place?
Yes, of course I can talk - I'm a teacher after all. Where? Dahal Al'Ravan - The house of trade of course.
The wind changes, the dunes shift.
A wise craftsman, like a clever camel, knows when to change their ways.
A wise craftsman, like a clever camel, knows when to change their ways.
You want to know the stars? Ask those who know For in light lies truth;
in the Stars, the Way.
in the Stars, the Way.
Week 1 - Nourisment
Assignment 1 - Food for thought
Think about ways the theme of Nourishment affects your world. Do people generally have what they need? What happens when they don’t?
The needs of the people living in Aran'sha are deep and never sated - the hunger for knowledge build the the Library of Stars , the thirst for nourishment created a myriad of dishes (have you tried Ri'am?) and every soul wonders what exists behind the next dune. But I think this time we will try once more to focus on spiritual needs - for the gods have still not arrived in Aran'sha. I will probably start with a few minor ones.
Assignment 2 - The Pledge
Download the pledge document and fill it out with your goal for Summer Camp!
This year, we aim for copper again - I might do more, but its important not to rush things. And let's be honest, copper fits Aran'sha best.
Assignment 3 - The wonders of old
If you found any outdated articles in your world, update the most important ones now! Do the same with your worldbuilding meta
While I will avoid the meta again (its just not my thing), we certainly have some old articles that could use a bit of spit and polish - luckily, Tillerz gave me a headstart with the fantastic May-be this could be done better Challenge.
Week 2 - Roots
Assignment 1 - The past beckons
Look at the cultures and areas you’ll focus on for Summer Camp, and think about how their past shaped them.
The history of Aran'sha is not without its conflicts and events - be it skirmishes between the Bar'kashyr and the kaharan people or the worldshattering Eclipse - one thing is clear: the people here always strive to improve their lives, pulled by a spirit of adventure . And we will explore new kingdoms we have not yet seen before..
Assignment 2 - Aran'sha for starters
Go to your world’s homepage and imagine you’re a new reader discovering the setting for the first time. What should you change to make the experience more engaging?
We are overhauling our homepage - in fact, part 1 of the overhaul is live right now as you might see by visiting the Homepage. We are visiting the library of the stars together and there is more to come. Be prepared for a friendly guide assisting you, and more interactive elements ...well, I wouldn't want to spoil it too much.
Assignment 3 - The wonders of old
Find your earliest worldbuilding project. What mistakes did you make that you want to avoid? What good ideas from those early days can you integrate into your current project? Remember to take a moment to be proud of how far you've come!
The earliest one was kind of interesting, a fantasy world that all kind of things that didn't mesh well together (hey, I was 14). We had the usual assortment of good elves, evil orcs and so on. Unfortunately, nothing went together - aforementioned orcs? Lived next to the elves. Humans? Of course they had a king, what other government would exist? Needless to say, this wasn't fun in the long run. So, what did I learn from it? Keep things interesting, make things familiar and sometimes...twist them around.
Week 3 - Metapmorphosis
Assignment 1 - The endless dance of change
What transformations and adaptations have the people in your world gone through? What changes are going on right now… and who is trying to stop them?
The people of Aran'sha are everchanging. The mousefolk slowly give up their hermit lifestyle, driven by tales of returning adventurers, the elves in the mountains, already barely known as spectres are even more elusive now and the Bar'kashyr , children of the plains are slowly coming to peaceful terms with their neighbors. There's dozens of races, mostly visitors and wanderers but each with its own story - but as in all things, no change has ever been easy or unopposed.
Assignment 2 - New horizons
Choose a new genre, style, or author, and take a look at their art! Write what you learned from them and what inspired you.
I decided to dive into a stroll trough art station and deviant art for this one. And while there wasn't a "single" artist per se, it was a huge inspiration and gave me plenty of ideas. I can highly recommend to just..look around, hit a keyword or two.
Assignment 3 - Wonders of the world
Read a couple of articles from the community, give them a like (and why not a sticker!), and write about what inspired you.
So, down below you will find some (but by far not all) of my inspirations.
All of those are incredible worlds that will keep your imagination running for YEARS.
Week 4 - Tomorrow
Assignment 1 - A brighter tomorrow
Think about current events that will impact the future. Who is working to create a specific kind of future?
The kingdoms all aim to make a better world, even if dark things are on the horizon. The Celestial circle tries to find the way and brave heroes wander the lands. And in the darkness, old and ancient things stir to create their own future..oh, the stories we have to tell.
Assignment 2 - Chaos amongst the heavens
Make sure everything’s ready—from your writing space to your writing schedule—before Summer Camp begins!
I'll bring ´ plenty of snacks - otherwise we are ready and brimming with excitement! Also a shout out to all the awesome beans in the WA discord!
Assignment 3 - To tell the tales
Who or what will help you achieve your goal? What will your sharing strategy be during Summer Camp?
Well, first and foremost. My new accountability buddy IMAGICA!
Second the lovely people of the Storytellers Circle (find all of us in The Anvilgate. Well, not quite, Nulcheck, joined recently, so welcome on board!) and
Last, but definitely not least the lovely WA community, be it discord or anywhere else - you are awesome and don't let anyone tell you otherwise!
I'm in love with Layla's words of wisdom! Good Luck with Summer Camp - I'm looking forward to reading what you come up with!
Layla is happy to share her wisdom, but not her food as many of her pupils have noticed. Hope you're having an awesome summer camp too!
Thanks so much for including the Million Islands!