Greetings Readers!
Almost to the end of world building. Though character design
still remains that this still the end of world building. This post will be split in to two sections. Ways
of presenting lore and history and constructing fictional lore and history. Im doing
it in that order because that is how I approached it.
Now as my friend highlight in the previous post in his
sections outlining history, tradition and religion (go back to refresh ourselves
if u need to) and summed up in this quote:
“History is the backbone of our very society! And the kidneys! And the
liver too if I were to wager.” This quote from Bartholomew Oobleck in Rooster
Teeth’s series ‘RWBY’ perfectly sums up the importance of our history and
ancestry
As important as it is how one does express this history and lore?
For this Im going to take a page form one of media that does this well. GAMES. Tv
and fill does it too but I think the interactive nature of games just edges it
out ahead. Anyway tangent over. Games are able to show off lore and history of
a games world in various ways, mainly though NPC conversation (which many
people do not bother with), in game collectables (like books, or items that
have information attached or sound bites/ audio logs) and parts of the actually
story. Some franchises dispense the lore outside of the games though graphic
novels and books. (But more on that later). Franchises that do this well are
ones with multiple entries (main and spin off) are derived from books and are
not necessarily story driven. Games in my experience that do this well are of
course the Elder scrolls series*, the Jak and Dexter series, the pokemon
franchise, The Witcher series, The kingdom hearts series, the final fantasy
series and a few more. All these games
overtly or covertly display aspects of that universes history and mysteries
that may get to explore. On many occasions a single mystery or story can span
multiple entries in a series and may never be answered or explored. That’s part
of the fun and intrigue. Then some people compile the information on wikis for
others to read.
Me saying all this doesn’t really help unless any of us
decide to create a visual interactive medium such as a game. However in a written
story things become an art in its self. Though I haven’t gotten in the point in
my own work as of the time of writing this post, I have thought of the ways to
which lore can be shown. Much like the NPCs in a game, DIALOUGE is going to be
the most used thing. Readers will have to go by what you want to show and tell
them. In the case of my book, on many occasions my characters look to tombs,
their reading of information is imparted to readers that way. One favoured
technique for showing the past is rather basic and expected, FLASH BACKS. Telling
events of the past. Another ways of showing history and lore is having a separate
book for it. I know that sounds cheap and extra work. But I realized that books
that are just about the world is very easy to do considering that is what you
start writing while world building.
Now as for constructing history and lore…..this is where
things may get incoherent from my end. Perhaps talking about this in respects
to my own work would be helpful. With completely
fictional work, once can start with the very beginning of the world’s birth. Whether
from a big bang or sculpted by the hands of gods. Or not start from here. The best
place is to start working on the events that actually happen in the story you
are writing first then work backwards. Any wars/ conflicts, holidays, ceremonies,
traumatic social economical events (if civilization is advance to have those)
religious events etc etc. the list can go on. In terms of my book Elohim I did
just that. Starting with a creation myth.
“After the birth of the universe, pools of Aether came together and
gave birth to the first Urukai (don’t know it was just one or more) they had
control of the universe but there was not much in it. So they, using the Aether
prompted the creation if the three planes and the celestial bodies within them.
In the upper plane filled with light, Atmos. In the Lower plane, Grima. And in
the middle plane they found it has split in half. Both keeping balance and in
harmony with the other. So they prompted the birth of the twins Gaia and
Magnus. On each of their celestial children they left parts of them self/ves.
Even with their children there was still not much in the universe. Aether is
the blood of the universe and from it came life in the form of beast and plant.
Over time man rose from the binding of beast. In the Upper plane man came in
the form of winged angels. In the lower man came in the form of bestial Grim. And
on Gaia, in the form of Humans. The Urukai found that not all humans were in
tune with the Aether.”
Elohim Creation myth as recited by Eternal Eraqus to young angels.
Then delving in to the formation of each of the now 7 races that make up the body of characters
in my book. The angelic tribes have a civil war, then there is an event called
the ‘great elopement’ which signals the birth of the demon race, and the
subsequent war that starts between angels and demons. And I won’t say much more
than that. Then I turned my focus on events that have a direct effect on my
characters. As always when I make a note of characters I have to say ‘I will
discuss that later in the post about character design’. Sorry folks I’m not
going to slip that easily. Just now that a characters personal history can
inform events.
Quinnan failed to mention is that he has constructed a calendar
and a timeline of major events. If you would like a post on formulating a
fictional calendar I’m sure I could put in a request for that. Either way, the
CRITICAL ADVICE is to have a Timeline of some sort to keep track of things. Especially
if you’re going to reference them. I have
found that sometimes it is better to obscure with lore and history. Some events
must be grounded in specific time so other events can be placed in relation of
a major event, but at the same times you can afford to be lose with dates.
The history and lore of a fictional universe doesn’t have to
be detailed in its presentation but fully thought of in the event the events
must be explored. J Doing this will come fairly naturally as you
go through the motions. The larger you universe is the more you will have to
create. So bare that in mind.
Honestly I’m sure I could talk about this a little bit
longer, but alas I’m still learning about this as such so I cannot impart very
much. So please do some research and
perhaps share what you have learned with me in the comments. Thank you,
Please give the blog a +1, and share. My effort won’t get
realized. I want lots of people to enjoy writing just like I have. So any
amount or sharing will be good. Gods I sound like a youtuber still. Thank for continued support.
The next post will not be character designing, but what I like
to call: Snap shot writing
