The Gloamwood || WorldEmber 2025 Prep Pt 1

Welcome to the Gloamwood, a world dominated by a great eldritch forest where civilisation exists in pockets atop the peaks of mountains that peer out of the 'Wood. Magic is channelled by crystals that make up the cores of these mountains, and one of the most dangerous professions you can take up here is that of a lumberjack. The Gloamwood doesn't like it when people try to cut it down.

Autumn 2025 has been my first year even attempting to participate in any of WorldAnvil's events, Spooktober was a fun first attempt at taking part in this site's events and I had a good time coming up with short articles based on each prompt!

For my first WorldEmber I am pledging to write at least 10,000 words, and I'm going to push for 15,000 if I can. I'm keeping my goal small because of work obligations: I work full-time at a restaurant and December is consistently our busiest season. It's rough, but that's how the cookie crumbles. I often come home tired, but full of ideas because of daydreaming during downtime. I aim to be write down everything I think of after my shifts.

Primary Focus

My primary focus during this challenge will be Species & Location lore, helping to establish what kinds of creatures roam this world and where you may find them.

Secondary goals include:

• Demigod Lore & Mythology - Artificial demigods played a big part in the Gloamwood's history, and some are considered the patron gods or founders of certain kingdoms across the world.
• Explaining the Magic System - This is a high fantasy setting that takes a lot of aesthetic inspiration from steampunk and gothic horror. Magic is a core part of peoples' lives, as the source of most magic (crystals infused with elemental energy) is also what powers someone's fridge or stove.
• Food! - I'm a chef by trade and I love to cook! I'd love to talk about what people eat and how they get said food.

Bingo

Create a Moodboard for your world

Review or Set Up your World Homepage

Review your Category Tree

As time goes on I may add some sub-categories, but for now I'm keeping it as straightforward as possible so I don't agonise over nitty gritty details.

Define your Scope for WorldEmber

Since this WorldAnvil is intended to be an 'official lore wiki' for a book series I'm working on, my scope this WorldEmber is going to focus on the main character's home and the empire she lives in. It occupies a large chunk of the known world but has been slowly whittled away over the course of about 50 years of war. She does go beyond the reaches of the Empire throughout the series, but we all start somewhere.

Make a List of Articles to Write

I'll probably write a follow-up article after working on some more of the bingo, because I quite like most of the prompts. For now, here is my initial homework submission!