Posted by Glenn Kempf on 10:08 5/23/02
In reply to: VV makeover (and a number of other questions) posted by Jay Shorten on 21:25 5/21/02
Actually, I would think you could definitely find people to help with the history. If I had far more time and a greater command of the language(s) and religions, I'd be tempted to try it (I'm particularly interested in Benécia and Dracnáe), but I'd be scared stiff of getting something "wrong"! :-) At any rate, if you're interested in "outsourcing" in the future, you can let us know.
With regard to the question of "minor" states: not every kingdom actually has to be a "glorious empire"; they just need some heroes and grand myths of their own, and the storytellers can do the rest. Even defeats and underdog status can be turned into a triumph. (Benecia is again an example; you spoke in the Historical Atlas of their "grand conquests" that nobody else on the Plain knows anything about...)
Ad onleláan,
Glenn
Heh... it's true that there's more leeway in myths. Eventually I hope to describe some of the Axunashin myths, so you can compare Cuzeian, Cadhinorian, and Axunashin accounts of the ktuvok-iliu wars.
One myth cycle I'm interested in on Earth is the Roland/Orlando stories, which started with Charlemagne's defeat at Roncesvalles and grew into a huge epic story. Charlemagne is depicted as the ruler of virtually all of Europe.
Hmm, Glenn, wouldn't you like to work on Deshtai or Obenzaya, which descend from nomadic realms? :)
Errors can always be corrected; what's harder is to get the feeling of slight alienness I'm after. It's not easy to get away from the standard European fantasy stereotypes-- which themselves are generalizations from a very narrow range of time and space. That's another reason why I think the best reading for an aspiring world creator is not fantasy but history. (I'm reading a history of the Punic Wars right now, which is shedding light on the rise of the Cadhinorains...)