Summer Camp Prep 2025
This is my first time participating and making an official pledge for summer camp! I've been primarily worldbuilding for my homebrew D&D game and so my world is organized to cater to that. Much of my worldbuilding is still on my old world for the previous campaign and needs to be hauled over. Unfortunately, that means much of my regional information for the main continent isn't currently uploaded to my current world (I'll get around to it eventually). Even though I'm a bit behind on getting everything up to date, I want to try and challenge myself to write things I wouldn't normally! It might enrich my world for my players in ways I wouldn't have originally planned!
World / Campaign: https://www.worldanvil.com/w/the-light-of-the-one-jdoodles
Week 1 - Nourishment
Assignment 1
Prompt: Think about ways the theme of Nourishment affects your world. Do people generally have what they need? What happens when they don't?- The Brittle Famines – On the Dremoran continent, the "breadbasket" is the region of Oshiv'Ran, domain of the god of the harvest and the hunt. In my notes, I'd defined an event called the "Brittle Famines" where crop yields either failed or were so brittle they couldn't be harvested. Although the region of Tel'Rhea, the mother goddess, could have covered some of the lost crops, it wouldn't have been enough to support the whole continent. The local shifters would have undertaken drastic measures to rectify the issue with intense pressure from elsewhere on the continent. Potential Topic: More detailed historical details and impacts about the Brittle Famines.
- Discovery of Biofuel – The technological revolution led to the development of novel locomotion (Arcane Skiffs, the Iron Arrow, etc.), all utilizing an Arcane Engine developed by High Lord Ironborn. The engine, however, cannot run if not fed with biofuel (and magical input from a pilot). Potential Topic: Discovery of biofuel, its refinement and processing, and its properties
- The Factory City of Ah'Shal – While portions of the continent are affluent, the people of Ah'Shal are generally not. Cut off from the City of Life, the majority of residents are poor and downtrodden workers subject to harsh conditions in pursuit of fast production and quick profit desired by factory overlords. The smog in the city means the people are deprived of sunlight and clean air. Potential Topics:
- Food Topic: Ah'Shazza (aka. pizza) is a food common in Ah'Shal. How was it invented? Who has access to it?
- Worker Uprisings: While the Overlords have held power in Ah'Shal since the first factory that doesn't necessarily mean it was peacefully held. The Overlords ended up keeping bounty hunters and guards in their employ for a reason.
Assignment 2
Assignment 3
I realized that I actually have none of the World Meta filled out... I've rectified that now. It's still a work in progress, but I've gotten it to above 50%!
Meta: https://www.worldanvil.com/w/the-light-of-the-one-jdoodles/meta
Week 2 - Roots
Assignment 1
Prompt: Look at the cultures and areas you'll focus on for Summer Camp, and think about how their past shaped them.- Parvathi'Lahn – 1,000+ years ago, this area on the Dremoran continent was the domain of Judas, god of fortune. When Judas was killed, the entire region was consumed by corruption (miasma). Parvathian's recent ascension 100 years ago has restored the region and efforts have begun to restore the City of Fortune. A diverse group of people have congregated to the area: dragonborn disenfranchised with the rule of the Dragon Clans, the Bhediya (a mostly nomadic people who once roamed both the Dune Sea and the lands of Judas), the new order of blood witches and associated cults, and the last survivors of a lost world. The region has roots in its past as the domain of Judas, but the people who now occupy the lands have roots in far-away places. Potential Topic: The people and culture of Parvathian's lands - the blending of multiple cultures.
- The New Order of Blood – Blood witches were once nearly eradicated from the continent of Dremora and from the world. Primus One persisted and, now that they are re-tethered to the world, can regrow their "pantheon of blood". Some blood witches from the "original order" remain. While some have moved past the scars of the past, others have not. Potential Topic: How the Purge and centuries of slow decline has changed the Order of Blood and the culture among Blood witches (and their Sworn).
- Misc. Lore – There's a whole continent I haven't explored much of. The foundation (the gods) are set, but my focus has been on the most pertinent areas (that my current players are tied to). These are lost civilizations, but many of them have shaped the lands my players have/will explore. Potential Topics:
- Hadúr and the Headless Hall
- The relationship between Kaos and Faust
- The creation and purpose of the Companions, a species created to support the traveling thinkers of Orestia.
Assignment 2
For the homepage, I added the intro blurb I originally sent to my players at the start of the campaign. That should help give at least a bit of context to anyone who stumbles across my world! I personally like having the recent articles (which are mostly session notes) in the center at the top. This is primarily used for my players to revisit lore and details. While most of them don't peruse the folders, they do review session notes so I need those front and center (at least until the campaign ends).
Assignment 3
This world is based on a story concept I first created in high school. This is the only world I've every really invested a significant amount of time into worldbuilding. That said, the overarching story and the shape of the world has changed dramatically. I would formally classify this iteration as the 3rd. Thinking back on the process over the years, it's a good reminder to focus on what I enjoy worldbuilding. If I'm not excited about it, I shouldn't try and hammer it out. Better to turn and take a detour than try and barrel through a wall. I changed out the whole suite of main characters between iteration 1 and 2 and then reconfigured that selection going into the 3rd edition (which is the D&D setting). If I hadn't pivoted, I wouldn't have had Dysis who is one of my absolute favorites.
And another small thing, I should be a BIT more conscious about naming (oh the Dragon Clans. I will change their specific names.).
Week 3 - Metamorphosis
Assignment 1
Prompt: 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?
- Technological Revolution – Although still primarily driven by magic, the technological revolution resulted in a vast uptick of machinery. The most notable impact is the revolution of travel. The implementation of the Iron Arrow and Arcane Skiffs has made travel without magical services (e.g. teleportation) easier. Certain regions have embraced the technological advancement – none more than the lands of Ordained Order, domain of the god of advancement, but other lands struggle to integrate these new advancements, particularly those with more nature based deities. Potential Topics: Expand upon the tensions between technology and nature, the tension between cultural importance and technological importance of resources (e.g. Villám), and the people resisting vast expansion of Ironborn's technology.
- Therarask – Both the god and the region are an excellent example of change and adaptation. Therarask's vision of themself and their behavior changes every few decades to every few centuries. And as they change, so too do their lands. Potential Topic: A more detailed exploration of how the people have dealt with the unpredictable weather and constantly changing Jungles of Therarask.
- Unionization of Ah'Shal – The death goddess has been so overworked that her realm has fallen to greed and smog. The last century, however, has seen people taking a stand against the cruel conditions imposed upon the populace by the Overlords. Potential Topic: The century of change in Ah'Shal, it's biggest supporters... and its biggest opposers (e.g. the Overlords)
- The Pantheon – In the last century, certain gods have deliberately changed their behavior and this has broad-sweeping ramifications on their respected areas. Potential Topic: Updates specifically for Caliban (and Greatwyrms), Lark (and Akeldama/Laurels), Carmenthia (and Ismera)
Assignment 2
I'm doing this right before the deadline so I unfortunately don't have time to read a whole book, but I have been watching a playthrough of Death Stranding 2 (by Hideo Kojima). It's definitely not a game I would enjoy playing (and that's how I felt about the first game), but the visuals are stunning. The concept of the BTs (Beached Things) and how they are visualized is really intersting. There's an aspect of my world that I hope to curate a similar sense of "otherworldly things lurking".
Assignment 3
One thing that I want to try and do that I've seen others do is make informative articles for items. I've developed a few "artifact-level" items with a good bit of lore behind them, but I've never seen that as important. However, I really love seeing these articles in other peoples worlds! Since I'm actively running a game, I feel I don't have time to develop detailed articles on items, animals (oh all the types of whales I have put where they do not belong), or other smaller miscellaneous things... but it does enrich the world! And it probably is worth doing! I don't know if I'll ever reach the super cool wiki-level articles I've seen, but I do now want to try and put a few smaller things together!
Also, everyone has such excellent layout choices for their WA. I've never really bothered figuring out how to do anything beyond the standard selection, but it does add polish to articles that maybe I should try and do.
Week 4 – Tomorrow
Assignment 1
Prompt: Think about current events that will impact the future. Who is working to create a specific kind of future?- The High Dremoran Council – I knew exactly what they were doing 100 years ago. I have no idea what they're doing now, but they run the continent so I HOPE they're doing something important. Potential Topic: Who's on the council now and what are they DOING.
- The City of Fortune – As it is being rebuilt and repopulated, the City has once again become a hot pot for a mixture of beliefs and cultures. It's also the nexus point for a representative of nearly all powerful entities at play in the world: Primus One (the Order of Blood), Ismera (Antagonists), Parvathian (gods/spirits), Lux Briar (High Dremoran Council), Archmage Serene Valdove (mortals, magic), and Hithvessa (leader of a lost world). Just as the players are perhaps unknowingly playing The One's game, this group is actively trying to move the game pieces in order to shape their future. Potential Topic: Explore details of this group, their goals, and the specific actions they are taking and will take.
This one was difficult as I have a lot of ideas... most of which are campaign spoilers. :/
Assignment 2
Writing Schedule: I'll be balancing this with Artfight throughout July. My plan is to dedicate 2 hours to writing everyday and possibly more on the weekends.
Assignment 3
I am competitive by nature and I want a badge!
Although I usually reserve the recent articles slot for session notes, I'll probably use that to ensure my Summer Camp articles are easy and quick to locate. Otherwise, I'm kind of content just doing this for me!
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