3 AM Brain: So I know I said I wasn’t actually gonna do anything with that fantasy AU But…
An archer readied their bow, threatening him to stay where he was. But Garnet didn’t lower his blade, instead raking it across his own hand, darkening his palm with blood. He slapped it to his shoulder waking a glow in the pitch-black ink of his tattoos.
The arrow flew, Garnet turning to allow it to strike the glittering pattern. But it wasn’t the only thing with a glow. Garnet’s eyes were visible in the dark, silver like moonlight, blade consumed in black smoke. He drew the other from his belt, completely disappearing in shadow to appear in moonlight. He crossed the space to the archer, slicing through them before they could ever draw a sword.
Guys, CampNaNo Instructions weren’t clear. May have accidentally started an AU …
Ok@kaiusvnoir, I have no idea what I’m doing because I’ve never written any high fantasy and this is a baby idea I had to entertain myself while helping people move. Here’s what little I have so far:
Ryker is a Human Fighter blessed with Fire Magic from a Fae Court (that may or may not have a secret about the Elvish Matriarch)
Garnetis a Human Mercenary wanted in his native country for a crime he didn’t commit. Non-Magic. Somehow has some kind of tattoos possessed by some minor deity (& it’s like that the souls of the innocent bagel vine)
Lora is some kind of Human floral mage trying to mind her business but keeps getting dragged into things. Probably doesn’t help she’s crushing on the rogue who keeps bringing her flowers shegrew.
Valettais a Human rogue specializing in explosives/traps who may have helped smuggle Garnet across the border & they’ve started a bodyguard business together.
Ivesis an Elvish Figher/Guardian with Ice Magic, who protects the Veil (Are warrior dogs a thing? Well, they are here because Ives needs to keep his dog)
Beauis a Non-Magic Elvish Ranger who has a miniature dragon companion (for some reason, being an Elf & not having magic is frowned upon here –this is somehow important)
Mikkiis an Elvish Healer who’s also a skilled fighter. (possibly some kind of priestess?) Knows Beau & Ives are up to something & goes along with them because they have an idiot track record.
Xavier is a Elvish Druid, although I don’t really know much about what’s going on there…
Fantasy/HighFantasy writers/fans / DnD peeps don’t come for me I have no idea what I’m doing
there are tons of different types of governments - mostly, as a pattern in fantasy, the government is either in the form of a monarchy or extremely corrupted. so i’ll be sharing some cool methods to write this, again, its just the way I want, do your own research if you want more in-depth info. (also, not a historian, these are things ive studied in history class!)
#1. Totalitarian states
These governments are extremely right-wing (conservative) usually, and impose strict censorship laws and usually have a very active secret police and intelligence systems made up of informants, militants and spies. A lot of the time, they also tend to brainwash their people into believing them using propaganda and silencing dissenters. They often use terror tactics like making the entire population distrust each other, as no-one is sure who is working for the government. Its using systemic terror and the fear of not knowing who to trust that creates very efficient (and terrifying) government systems.
#1a. Revolutions & Freedom of Speech
The reason why a totalitarian states rules in the first place is often because of having a great amount of military power, which subdues the people and is an efficient way to take away rights without having a massive protest or revolution. The only effective way for a totalitarian government to be taken down is if the head of state or an important general is murdered, throwing the lower governmental ranks into chaos. That usually culminates in a breakdown of the economy and politics and the chance for a new government to take power.
#2. Monarchies
A monarchy is a form of government where there is Monarch at the head of it. There are a bunch of different ways it can be organized, but usually there is a council of ministers in charge of different things (i.e Defense, Health, Education, etc) that meets and consults with the monarch, who is in charge of all the ultimate decisions. They monarch also deals with important foreign relations - meeting with monarchs or heads of other governments would be their job with advisory from the Foreign minister. Monarchies are more old-school, and also have no democratic election system.
#2a. Puppet rulers
A lot of monarchs in history - and in fiction, have been puppets controlled by a much more powerful person behind them. Whether this be because they’re old and powerless, or are blackmailed into it, they have no actual autonomy and are overridden by the person controlling them. Puppet rulers are especially useful as plot twists in fantasies, because the person who was built up to be the “big bad enemy” was actually being controlled by AN EVEN WORSE ENEMY⁉️
#3. Some questions to ask yourself about your governmental system
Is it corrupted? To what extent?
What factions exist within it? (eg: conservatives, liberals, etc)
What do the people support/think?
If there was an emergency crisis at the same time as a war was being fought, would the government prioritise its people or its soldiers/territory?
Who was the previous government? How did the current government succeed it?
Not all of these require long answers, even a couple of lines to understand how the government did xyz would be enough context! hope this helped <3
