Worldbuilding Awards 2024
Welcome to another year of the Worldbuilding Awards! It's Malkora's second awards run!
My heart has been aflutter since the moment I hit that shiny "submit" button, and somehow that feeling isn't going away any time soon...
by Strixxline
Last year's awards blew me right out the water — what do you mean I won two awards? I still don't feel like that's real. With that said, however, that's a lot of hype to live up to! It's got my nerves in a bit of a fritz, but I made some great articles this past year that I'm really proud of, so I wasn't going to let some silly stinky weasels in my brain tell me that it's not worth stepping up again.
So... I present these entries to you!
Hearts & Minds
An article touching on intellectual, sociological, spiritual or cultural accomplishments and traditions of a people in your world.Vosra is Hope Incarnate, a divine born from the scattered hopes of a fractured humanity in Malkora's ancient history. Her tales are of rebirth, enlightenment, and second chances in the face of even the most hopeless fates. Vosra's article was one long overdue for years since Malkora was created, and it's almost a blessing that it took this long for this article to come to be. With all of the lovely god lore that came from WorldEmber, Vosra grew into something greater than my early worldbuilder brain started with.
Rise of Nations
An article relevant to the history of civilisations and peoples of your world, and their legacies.This pantheon which arose at the turn of the era was integral to modern humanity's survival and the restoration of growing populations; even if they didn't fix every problem under the sun, at least now there was one to bask in. I enjoyed working on the icons for these gods during WorldEmber and do plan to revisit them in time for some touch-ups and redesigns as needed! I'm also so hype to dive deeper into the shard system that Malkora's gods now operate under!
Wondrous Nature
Your natural world in all its glory — an article describing anything from species to locations, to natural and supernatural events, and bizarre naturally-occurring materials.Malkora's landscapes are turned and changed by the raw magic of its leylines, which flow uncontrolled through the world. Wherever they emerge, they affect the lands around them, as well as the living things within them. This is another article where I made some lovely art during WorldEmber, and I really loved working with this watercolory style to represent the physical domains of the leylines! The lands of Malkora will be so fun to explore in the future, with these leylines at play!
Strength & Honor
An article relevant to the interactions of the people of your world across a grand scale — diplomacy, war, trade and collaboration, and the people who drive and engineer them.One of the Incarnates of the New Age, alongside Vosra, this divine was born of humanity's wavering strength, reborn and granted new life. Shards of this god influence how strength is perceived in different human societies. This article is where I really started to dive into the shard system of my gods, and once again I say that I can't wait to explore the theme further! What shards will appear in the future? What new values and strengths will we encounter?
Pillars of Progress
An article describing a technological or scientific accomplishment, or celebrating creations developed by the people of your world.Arsavela relies on its population of trained avian messengers to deliver missives with haste, but they have encountered, along the way, that certain choices in selective breeding have less than ideal results. This is one of my smaller articles, but with such a cute illustration, I can't help but feel pleased with it as an entry! Small but mighty, I just hope you like my dumb glittery pigeons! They need more love in the future.
Myths & Legends
An article describing an aspect of your worldbuilding that's mythical or fictional within the construct of your world, even if it's based on true events.Tales are told of mortals who ascend to godhood, and while this pantheon is a well-known example, the people of Malkora are often left to wonder if mortals can still ascend — or if only the most dire of times allow it. This article does pose some interesting questions for divinity in my world and how attainable it is — and the concepts here could be super interesting to explore, perhaps, with players in future campaigns? Hehehehe...
Best Worldbuilding Article
Naturally, I saved the best for last! This article is my pride and joy!As your first step into Malkora, you're introduced to the world around your sheltered home by an elder cartographer eager to impart his knowledge on a young adventurer. He stuffs your pack with books, and gives you the grand tour of his illustrious map — what's left of it, anyway. This article is my pride and joy of 2023. Malkora's very first primer, presented in a prose-focused in-world perspective, featuring some brand new sketches and showcasing my award-winning map from last year! So many wonderful things came together to bring this article to life.
by Strixxline
In last year's article, I said that "with any luck, I can take next year's Awards by storm!" I didn't realize that the storm would arrive that same year, and I like to think that it's carried over into this year with the quality of my work, and how it's improved since last year.
If you take the time to stop by and read my submissions, just know that I am so immensely grateful! And if I can convince you to spare a vote or two for your favorites from my works, it would mean so much to me! I'm off to do my own reading and to pick my favorites. We all have our work cut out for us, so I wish you all the best of luck, whether competing, reading, or just carrying on doing what you do on World Anvil!
Want Secrets?
Certain articles may have additional secrets for GMs — pick the role that suits you!Seeker — Player Knowledge
Dawnbringer — GM Secrets
Incredible work as always! :D you're an inspiration and I hope you receive many nominations again this year! <3
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You stop that I will weep ;w; I'm sending all of that love right back to you, punk >:|
Ferality spreads in the Owlworks!
Seek a new dawn, in Malkora!
Craft a bright new world, in Ayun Sovos!
<3
Follow me on Bluesky for more pixel art :D