Summer Camp 2024 Prep - Summer in the Inner Spheres
Week 1:
Change in the Inner Spheres
The Inner Spheres is a D&D World that is quite unfinished, so it's difficult to say where potential for change lies hidden.
Typical to D&D Campaigns, there is certain to be outside threats to the realms by supernatural beings like demons and devils, mindflayers and old horrors that wait to befall the realms.
I know I'd like to include a natural disaster of sort, a continent appearing in front of the coast that shatters part of the coast-line and brings with it destruction, famine and social unrest. It'll cause political change as well, as alliances will form, some trying to alleviate the suffering and stabilize the regions, others to use the unrest to climb in power and gain an advantage over others.
Some Factions may use this unrest to change power-dynamics in smaller areas, a crime-boss or two who will vie for control over some blackmarkets and opportunities, mage academies and merchant guilds trying to benefit from increased need in supplies and infrastructure, etc.
As this is a D&D Campaign, a big source of change will be the decisions my players will make for their characters. Some sources of that change will likely to come from their backstories, however, as these have not yet been decided, I'll try to include possibilites for change in the articles I'll write.
Challenge Goal
I would love to write all 32 prompts, and I will try to write as much as I can. However, since I'm unsure how much time I can actually put into this as I'm also running a campaign at the moment, I'm going for half of the articles. I'm pretty certain I should be able to manage Silver.
Therefore, I pledge to achieve the Silver Award this Summer camp!
Categorization
I'm generally more of a categorize-as-you-go worldbuilder, so I'm not going to invest too much time into planning my categories. However, I'll make a few for articles I know I'll need at some point - Settlements, Factions, Regions in the World.
Week 2
Refuges in the Inner Spheres
Typical Refuges in the Inner Spheres are Temples to the God:dess of Healing, as no-one would dare harm someone in a place dediated to her worship, in fear of being retaliated against by their fierce followers.
For those away from major cities, the village healer is usually the person to seek for refuge and shelter.
And in those areas far from civilization, refuge can usually be found in sacred groves or near blessed springs and rivers.
In this great time of change, the people of the Realms often turn to those they deem wisest: village elders, scholars, figures of authority. Or they might seek refuge with a group of rebellious people who swear to mitigate the scary newness of the world and overthrow what once was.
Accountability
For this Summer camp, I have chosen to make myself accountable with the help of my D&D Group which I hope to play this world with for the first time. As they are eager to learn more about the world, I will try to write articles that will help them in Character Creation and give them a good idea of this world. Additionally, a close personal friend knows about my plans and will check in on my progress regularly.
Styling
I have already changed the Theme of the World and added a header image. Also, I have changed the layout of week 1 to make it more pleasant to view and used columns to display the pledge next to the text for Task 2 and 3.
Week 3
Belief in the Inner Spheres
God:desses are real. That much is certain in the Inner Spheres.
And it isn't wise to only pray to one God:dess. No, because then all the others will scorn you for ignoring them and bad things happen. Better pray to whoever you need in good spirits towards your goals, less they get involved in your schemes.
Oh, your schemes are not exactly... socially acceptable? How fortunate that every God:dess watches over many aspects... some more wholesome than others. Like two sides of a coin, you may be able to wave your hand and make heads of tails in a pinch.
Inspirations
God:dess-Names: Greek Translations of Words connected to their Domains
The different types and colors of Dragons in D&D
Images and Maps
I usually build my Maps in Wonderdraft. However, as I am a bit unsure about the layout of the Inner Spheres, I use Azgaar's map generator to create a base I like and then edit in Wonderdraft. Whenever I have finished this map, I will upload it to this article.
However, I didn't have the time yet, however, I hope to be finished by June 29th when the Challenge begins. If not, I will keep working on the map as my world takes shape in the articles, to free my mind up whenever I cannot find any words.
Week 4
Decay in the Inner Spheres
In these Realms, a big change is on the verge of breaking, and with it, old institutions will break apart and rot away. Infrastructure will crumble, social hierarchies will be challenged and maybe even overthrown, and those looking to exploit the situation will find ways to seize the opportunity and cut off a share of the whole before the festering can swallow everything up.
Natural environments will decay as well. Monsters and Abominations may threaten cities, villages or communes, and laylines may lay devastation to the lands as wild magic corrodes the natural order of things as it errupts. Not to forget the shattered coastline of where a continent appeared out of nowhere!
Environment
I have recently bought a big water bottle that holds 2l. With this, I will make sure I am hydrated enough over the day to maximize my fitness. I will also dedicate time to workout whenever I hit a creative slump. My office will be tidy by the time I start the challenge, and I am dedicated to take at least 2 hours out of each day to think and write as much as possible.
