Summer Camp 2025: Material Shortlist
This year I sponsored the prompt "A substance known for its unique smell. I got a lot of fun articles about stinky stuff to read. Understandably, a lot of them were about food, a bunch were about gross stinky stuff, and the best evoked how smell can trigger memories. I got my list pruned down to 30(!) articles earlier today and could only eliminate another 5 before giving up in frustration. I ended up asking my wife to dispassionately cull my list down to 10.
In alphabetical order, here is my shortlist and the winner is amongst them!
Bottled Sleep
This article could have just as easily been named "borrowed sleep." It describes a soothing yet addictive substance that allows you to sleep, but makes you pay for the privelige.
Consultium
It's Qurillon, he's amazing. This article made me laugh while also feeling dread at the world we now live in that Q seems to have summoned with his words. What do we have to sacrifice to stop it? Q! Let us knoooowwww!!!
Dragon Cheese
RPG Dinosaur Bob is one of my favorites and this article is great, even if it made me gag a few times while reading it! Only read this if you're NOT eating!
Honeysap
I loved the prose that begins this article and the other in-world account further down. This is the kind of immersive world building that I love.
Juujikan Bruise and Arthritis Balm
Amy is a veteran of many summer camps past, and she lives up to her chops with this article. It starts with a quick quote, and gets into the liniment as soon as possible. Very cool article.
Mrs. Rightly's Cleaning Fluid
Here's a cool world that feels new to me, and I love the retro vibe and the colors the author uses.
Scented Oils
This article about perfumes really gets in my nose, Bonus, I'm a sucker for a beautiful layout and this article (and world) looks great!
Stonebrine Vinegar
I'm a sucker for recipes, and there's an interesting one here. The process reminds me of all the cool ways that people make flavorings in the real world.
Waste Oil
A clever extrapolation from having mechanical people in your world. This has immediately entered my head canon for my own world's soulforged.
The Poor Man's Sandwich
I was amazed (and a little grossed out) by the clever sandwiches laid out here for poor folks. I recognize some of them from IRL lore.
Thank you for including me on your short list. I am very honoured!
Visit my world of Middengeard. It's an eternal work in progress, but we always love a visitor!
You're welcome! It was a delightful find!
Learn about the World of Wizard's Peak. Visit my Worldember 2025 Hub as I work on 50,000 words in December!