Summer Camp '24 Prep

1.4: Meta Review

While there haven’t been major changes that impact Gokrenxia’s meta since writing it in 2023, there are certainly been some things that could be improved and refined. For instance, in the goal section, I had previously written my first goal was to have fun. Having poured a fair amount of effort into WA for the last year, I realize this passion is work, and sometimes work just isn’t fun. So I’ve refined my goal by dropping the “fun” target, and instead going straight to having a creative outlet.   One of the more significant RETCONs needed under the drama section was the mention of a “King” for the Dwarves. After the extensive amount of writing building out the Twelve Great Houses of the Dwarves, they’re social heirarchy has never included a King. That needed to be adjusted.   The Initial Active Setting needed some significant revision. The “Five Kingdoms of Men” never manifested. I’ve put only the slightest amount of focus on Al’Jmoor, the greatest kingdom of Elves (though I hope for this to get more focus in 2024). But largest of all, the “Dark Empire” I had initially imagined turned out to be the “Elven Empire” (which was quite the shock).   The “Current Species & Cultures” verbiage was removed, instead inserting links to the Articles for Myndikin and Kynekin.    

Week 2: Refuge

   

Week 3: Belief

 

3.1: On Belief

  As a knightcore fantasy setting where groups of individuals can band together in order to bring about dramatic change to the world, belief as a concept is so fundamental to Gokrenxia I struggle to envision a way to untangle it. Even on a personal level, I feel belief drives practically everything people do. Nations have beliefs about their identity, their past, and their future. Broadly, the kynekin believe they have earned a right to their freedom. The elves believe they have been wronged and harbor much resentment toward the other races.   Cultures and organizations have beliefs around right and wrong, good and evil, worship, wealth, success, life, death, and the afterlife that bind people together under shared ideals. This is not an area I've explored deeply in Gokrenxia and would love to put some effort here.   Individual beliefs are where story and conflict happens. When two peoples' beliefs differ and come into contact, what happens next? Leaders have individual beliefs as to where their nations should be headed. People have beliefs (both for and against) their leaders, about places, behaviors, and traditions, even down to belief about ones family and friends.   I am particularly excited about the prompts surrounding belief as a theme.  

3.2 Find Inspiration

  One of my favorite things to do when I'm looking for inspiration is to unplug and go running. As a personal challenge for this prep, I went out and ran 11.5 miles (18.5km). It's the first time I've run that far in well over a decade and I have to say that it was an awesome where I really chewed on this week's theme.   I thought about how belief manifests in symbols: A dove represents "peace." A cross, or star of David represents faith. I pondered how beliefs manifest in song and traditions. Like how some cultures bury (or burn) objects with their deceased so they have access to them in the afterlife. I considered how beliefs shape art – its colors and themes and subjects – and warfare – its weapons and formations and tactics.   A few songs from my run that most inspired me and speak to the heart of Gokrenxia:  

3.3: Inspiring Art & Pictures

A few images I put together to reflect some of the different aspects of belief I've mentioned here:  

3.4 Meta Inspiration Review

I've never captured specific inspirations for Gokrenxia, but it doesn't feel like something that's lacking at the moment. For now, I'll leave things as they are.  

Week 4: Decay

 

4.1: On Decay

With decay, my thoughts first go to the remnants of the First Age, before the fall of the Elven Empire. Cities left in ruins and the decay associated with battle. I think about an inquisition-styled organization dedicated to rooting out and eliminating moral decay within society. Such a heavy-handed group would fell well within my (largely undocumented and undefined) mental image of the Empire. There’s also the Shaf Yadursmaj - Jenta Hua’zur’s spy organization - whose symbol is the decaying black and gold leaf which represents their goals to see the continued undermining of the Elves.   I think about how the laws of decay affect magical energy over time. When a spell is cast, how long does it last? How fast do its effects decay?   I suspect decay will be an interesting and potentially challenging theme around which to write.