CBB Soft High Fantasy World

[foxcatdogwolf]

Wikipedia splits fantasy into two types Low fantasy with magic elements existing within a real world and High Fantasy with magic elements in a fictional world (think Harry Potter vs Lord of the Rings). Also seen are the distinctions between Soft and Hard Fantasy with Soft (like Studio Ghibli) working on on an emotional or irrational level while in Hard Fantasy worlds (like Avatar:TLA or Mistborn) magic is systematised. Basically this exists a proposal a high fantasy world with some focus on diachronic culture and language development but with some degree of magical elements usually intersecting with religious ritual and symbolic culture as well as fate and prophecy all ultimately coming from a nature based spirit world. Probably we have humans but also some sort of sea based species and magically altered humans like say beastfolk/elves who have mixed/been blessed by animal spirits.

Some info about contribution
-You are welcome to contribute any ideas. If it clashes with previous ideas the older one wins out unless the previous suggesters of the idea or a lot of contributors decide the new idea is more interesting.
-Magic in this world generally intersects with religious practice because i think that is the mark of good fantasy worldbuilding. Religious practices can be rural or urban, organised or unorganised and following other gradients. Generally religious practices of people nearby in space or time will be similar with some layers of the cultural origin of said people as well. Local spirits have a character but new spirits would probably follow people when they move
-The focus of this world is diachronic cultural, religious and language development with some history (although history isn't my strong point it is others), I have already laid out a couple of language families for the world and you are free to contribute others.
-The current races of this world include humans, sea dwelling jellyfish people who may or may not be more advanced then humans, and a variety of human derived races like beastfolk, Sylvans and Fair Folk. Any other suggestions for races are welcome but i will leave it up to the council whether they fit the tone of the world.

[Visions1]

I've thought of doing some magic systems before. So far, they're highly sympathetic. I'm a low fantasy guy.
I for one don't read much high fantasy in the sense of elves and stuff.
I like your challenge though!

Why not jellyfish people? Take the second dumbest animal on earth and make it sentient.
There are no busses - people randomly teleport where they like.
Are you a villager trying to feed his family? Well too bad, you're going to rabbit town!
People can make magical drinks that have madly long aftertastes, impacting cuisine.

I dunno, I'm not good at this.

[foxcatdogwolf]

To clarify stuff like teleportation would be extremely rare and a magic potion would just be an incredibly potent healing herb brew. I imagine the seafolk would have to resemble humans somewhat in shape to qualify as magic humans but maybe they are a different species. I was thinking they are more advanced then humans for most of history kinda like the Iliu. Still if other people like the jellyfish people idea we will go with it.

[foxcatdogwolf]

Notes
Wizards would not exist.Sorcerers maybe but their powers limited. Long term magic would instead be made by consulting and bargaining with spirits done by various intermediaries with varied association by culture. Magic could also be incorporated into individual craft and even up to the modern age magic-workers could make anything even digital technology for specific uses.
Spirits are also camera shy.

[Salmoneus]

I'm not sure what this thread is for. Is is a question of some sort? A collaborative conworld? A sketchpad for your own conworld? Maybe you could clarify?

[foxcatdogwolf]

The second option.

[foxcatdogwolf]

After 3 lines of conversation i have come to the conclusion that spirits could not affect shuffling cards so card games would be nonexistent without the addition of dice in this world. Such spiritual enhancements can still apply to say physical tasks because these are done with intent so you can enhance say speed or aim but enhanced shuffling would conflict with free will since you don't know what cards you are shuffling.

[TBPO]

In most high fantasy worlds inly humans and human-like species can use magic. But why do not make animals spellcasters? Imagine cat Sorcerer or frog Warlock... I think it's crazy idea, but it wil make you world and in general high fantasy worlds more coherent.

[foxcatdogwolf]

If you consider magic to be interacting with symbols it would be very difficult for a non-sapient race to use magic. But maybe they use magic as an extension of their being but its very limited.

[TBPO]

If you consider magic to be interacting with symbols it would be very difficult for a non-sapient race to use magic. But maybe they use magic as an extension of their being but its very limited.

I consider magic as supernatural ability of using external power (from a world or from a patron), internal power, life energy or physical items in order to perform actions that are impossible without such ability. Not all types of magic are interacting with symbols - for example, sorcery is a definitely type of magic, but it relies on inner power, not magical/sacred symbols. Warlocks (in D&D) depend on supernatural patron, not symbols, but they are definitely a magic users.

[foxcatdogwolf]

If you consider magic to be interacting with symbols it would be very difficult for a non-sapient race to use magic. But maybe they use magic as an extension of their being but its very limited.

I consider magic as supernatural ability of using external power (from a world or from a patron), internal power, life energy or physical items in order to perform actions that are impossible without such ability. Not all types of magic are interacting with symbols - for example, sorcery is a definitely type of magic, but it relies on inner power, not magical/sacred symbols. Warlocks (in D&D) depend on supernatural patron, not symbols, but they are definitely a magic users.

I believe classical magic (at least indian classical magic) is interacting with symbols (but ones to opaque for my taste) i prefer storybeats as the main vein of supernatural interaction sort of like that featured in myth or legend. Magic as supernatural ability is broader and fits in line with how its portrayed in other media.

[foxcatdogwolf]

In most high fantasy worlds inly humans and human-like species can use magic. But why do not make animals spellcasters? Imagine cat Sorcerer or frog Warlock... I think it's crazy idea, but it wil make you world and in general high fantasy worlds more coherent.

Also to extend on this idea a cat sorcerer would probably be a sapient spirit or perhaps a beastfolk which prefers animal form.

[TBPO]

In most high fantasy worlds inly humans and human-like species can use magic. But why do not make animals spellcasters? Imagine cat Sorcerer or frog Warlock... I think it's crazy idea, but it wil make you world and in general high fantasy worlds more coherent.

Also to extend on this idea a cat sorcerer would probably be a sapient spirit or perhaps a beastfolk which prefers animal form.

Yes, but youre ideas are only two of many possibilities. Note that it's possible to non-sapient species (including animals) use magic.

Edit: Is technology a type of magic?

[foxcatdogwolf]

I've realised i've run out of possible high fantasy ideas to add to my Sylvan conworld so i will be adding them to this world. With a few modifications. Elves are now the Fairfolk so humans with more nature flavoured nature. Sylvans are now wolf beastfolk whose origin is only a myth of their people although their multiple kingdoms still exist. THey will now gradually be blending with regular humans shortening their lifespans and their future is up for discussion. Possibly they have interactions with the jellyfish people.

[TBPO]

I've realised i've run out of possible high fantasy ideas to add to my Sylvan conworld so i will be adding them to this world. With a few modifications. Elves are now the Fairfolk so humans with more nature flavoured nature. Sylvans are now wolf beastfolk whose origin is only a myth of their people although their multiple kingdoms still exist. THey will now gradually be blending with regular humans shortening their lifespans and their future is up for discussion. Possibly they have interactions with the jellyfish people.

You also have jellyfish people!?

[foxcatdogwolf]

It was suggested by someone else. Anyways due to my recent falling out with the akana project i now have loads of unused material perfect for this world just jazz it up so the religious practices get results part of the time. Also a quickly done and rough map of the main continent as its the only continent i care about how it looks although someone will have to do the realistic plate tectonics for me and modify it.

Its kind of squashed and i ideally would like it to have more of a north south spread but i couldn't do that with the free version of Inkarnate.
To the southern parts east is an island filled sea leading to another continent (which probably contains our Sylvan people) which has another island filled sea which leads to the continent to the west of this one which is in the middle of the southern hemisphere. In the more northern hemisphere (note the top half of this continent is in the tropics with parts of it even possibly being temperate or desert) we have two small subcontinents to the north while to the east of the northern part we have a small tropical continent. To the west of the northern part and north of the southwestern continent we have another continent which has both tropical and temperate bits which leads to a continent in the far north which occupies most of the polar regions although it does have some temperate bits although colder than here with a smaller island filled sea between them. I have no idea what languages go here but the eventual revisions of Myeka and Southern (renamed to Northern) will go in the northern bits of this continent. Probably the revised version of Nookesho will go in the Middle/Northwestern continent probably its east while their will possibly be families inhabiting the islands between the continents. I've had idea for an island spanning language family spoken by catfolk so that might goin the west of the Northern/Central west continent as well as the island sea.

[TBPO]

Is this thread about different types of magic? Or is it about your conworld?

[foxcatdogwolf]

I was hoping for both with this world being collaborative but we could branch of the discussion of different types of fantasy in another thread. And i've already used another persons Jellyfish people idea.

[TBPO]

I was hoping for both with this world being collaborative but we could branch of the discussion of different types of fantasy in another thread. And i've already used another persons Jellyfish people idea.

I used Visions1' idea in Alterverse. As for magic systems, I already created thread about them.

[foxcatdogwolf]

Dinsotsian Languages
*dinsotsian is derived from *din “tongue” and *soqci “language”
*sachi is derives from *soqci “language”
Tenuis Stops *b *d *g *gʷ
Aspirated Stops *p *t *k *kʷ
Tenuis Affricates *j *jʷ
Aspirated Affricates *c *cʷ
Voiced Fricatives *z *ɣ
Voiceless Fricatives *s *x
Liquids *r *l
Glides *w *y
Nasasl *m *n *ŋ
Glottals *h *q (only spelled as such when in coda)

*i *u
*e *o
*a

CVC syllable structure maximally
The main restriction on consonant clusters is two consonants of the same type may not appear together. If they are they are broken up by an intervening *u* unless one of the consonants is labial (including *r) in which case they are broken up by *i*. For this purpose stops/affricates and fricatives of different voicing count as the same consonant type.

Dinsotsian languages are noted for their tightly bound object-verb complexes with many clitics attaching to the final part of the verb. Anaphorisation of the object can often be achieved by usage of demonstratives and demonstratives also replace the object in cases where it is aforementioned.

Dinsotsian languages divide into four primary branches, Northwest, Southwest, Central and Eastern with Eastern when first attested consisting of a single language. It's though its homeland lies in the range of the Eastern branch although internal diversity was displaced their by the expansion of the Eastern, East Central and other language families.
Changes to Northwest Dinsotsian
Bilabials palatise before front vowels
Labiovelars depalatise
*q merges with *h
*ŋ > *m before labialised vowels
*ŋ > *n otherwise

Changes to Southwest Dinsotsian
Labiovelars become Bilabials
*ŋ > *ʟ
*l > *ɬ initially/finally and in contact with voiceless consonants
*r > *l
*s > *ʃ before front vowels
*z > *s
*st > *θ
*d > *l intervocalically before non-high vowels
*o > *a after a labial
*g and *q merge in between vowels as a creaky voiced glottal approximant

Changes to Central Dinsotsian
Plain Velars palatise before and after front vowels and before *y
Labialised consonants delabialise
*q geminates consonants its in contact with and otherwise becomes *ŋ
*h > *X