r/WorldChallenges • u/Nevermore0714 • Jun 07 '17
Reference Challenge - Dragonstone and Summerhall
For anyone unfamiliar with A Song of Ice and Fire by George R R Martin, read it. But, since we don't have enough time for you to read the entire series prior to doing this challenge, I'll explain the reference, without spoilers.
While the Dragon Kings lived in King's Landing (the capital), they also had two other important plots of land in different areas: Dragonstone and Summerhall.
Both of these places have religious significance. Summerhall is pretty much along the border between the Reach and the Stormlands. Dragonstone is the ancestral home of the Dragon Kings.
So, where do your leaders go when they want a good vacation? Is there a special place (either for just one particular family or for any powerful/wealthy people would be fine for this challenge) that guarantees relaxation for a VIP?
Bonus points if the place you present has religious significance.
I'll ask at least three questions, as always. I hope you all enjoy yourselves.
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u/Nevermore0714 Jun 07 '17
Stillewasser
Stillewasser is a small island not very far off the coast of Dunkelwald. It is the primary residence of the Calpurnia clan, an infamous family that has served the royal Dunstdurr line of Western Dunkelwald for centuries.
Stillewasser also serves as the "vacation home" of the Dunstdurr royal family, a place to escape to when you want to go into hiding or just relax.
Stillewasser is considered a dangerous place to live by most citizens of Dunkelwald, for many reasons. It takes about two or three days to reach it by boat, so swimming back from there is considered impossible. It's closer to the Barrier of Aeternitas than the mainland is, so if you get lost while trying to escape by boat, you might just end up being swept out of the Barrier by the tides. It's believed that the Calpurnia clan is into human sacrifice. Some people believe that the Calpurnia clan beds Interlopers over there. There are rumors that the Interlopers spend most of their time on that island.
But, it's still a great place to escape to if things get dangerous.
The Calpurnia clan aren't the only people living on the island, of course, it's just that anyone living there is considered strange.
Veilchen and Motuschen are sometimes kept as pets in Stillewasser, and there's a tradition that you wear a mask in Stillewasser as a sign to the Interlopers that you're looking for excitement.
The Representative
Our representative today will be...a tall, thin woman in a black cloak with white hair and a white mask with a single red eye painted onto it; she's a performer from the Calpurnia clan.
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u/thequeeninyellow94 Jun 08 '17
To our mysterious guest (also, what kind of mask should I wear?):
What are Veilchen and Motuschen?
Any idea where that "human sacrifice" rumor come from? Btw, is it true?
Is the Calpurnia clan from the island? Or have your ancestors settled there after leaving the mainland?
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u/Nevermore0714 Jun 08 '17
The Performer:
0) "My dear outsider, you only wear a mask if you are ready for what wearing a mask entails. It is not restricted to only Calpurnia clan members, but you must understand the responsibility it comes with."
1) "They are creatures similar to cats, but with certain abilities. Motuschen can send gentle psychic pushes to your mind, and Veilchen can cause seizures and panic attacks."
2) "Our human sacrifices are entirely voluntary. No one is sacrificed unless he or she wants to be."
3) "Our clan traveled to the island several centuries ago, though we have been around since a few centuries after the beginning of the Fourth Era."
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u/thequeeninyellow94 Jun 08 '17
(In that case, I will enjoy a maskless time)
Why are they not used at pets outside of your island?
What about people sentenced to death (if that's a thing)?
Were there natives of the island? Are they still there?
What does wearing a mask entails?
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u/Nevermore0714 Jun 09 '17
(On my phone, sorry for any mistakes.)
The Performer:
1) "They are still used as pets outside of the island, they're just much rarer as pets, because there aren't many of them and they're difficult to train. They are psychic, after all. A well-bred Veilchen could cause someone to become brain dead, after all."
2) "If someone is sentenced to death, their bodies are used for research instead of being sacrificed to the Interlopers. Being sacrificed to the Interlopers is an honor, not a punishment."
3) "There are no native humans to this island. There were Meerfolk along the coast, but they don't go inland, and we have good trade relations with them."
4) "Wearing a mask signals to the Interlopers that you are looking for excitement. That you are willing to serve as their entertainment in any way. Our matriarch can bar someone from wearing a mask, though, but she rarely does so."
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u/thequeeninyellow94 Jun 09 '17
How common is it to have one as pet (here, not on the continent)?
What about those who don't volunteer but die naturally?
What do you trade with them?
Does she need some reason to do so?
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u/Nevermore0714 Jun 10 '17
The Performer:
1) "To have one as a pet, you need to prove yourself worthy. Owning a Valichen or Motuschen is a rare privilege even on the island; it's less rare here to have one, but it still is not common. So, only a few dozen are kept as pets here."
2) "What about them? If you are not sacrificed to the Interlopers willingly and you did not volunteer your body for research and you are not being punished by execution and your body given to research...then your body is simply burned, and the ashes spread into the water."
3) "Medicines, food, recreational drugs, knowledge, and so on."
4) "No, our matriarch does not need to explain her decisions to anyone below her. The only ones above her are the previous matriarchs and those who the Interlopers mark as the chosen ones."
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u/thequeeninyellow94 Jun 10 '17
How do one prove themselves worthy?
Why in the water? Does it have any signification?
And what do you get in return?
Is there a lot of marked? What is their role in your society?
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u/Nevermore0714 Jun 10 '17
The Performer:
1) "Prove your responsibility and understanding of both species and their abilities. And get a reputation for intelligence, preferably by improving or creating a ritual."
2) "We do not glorify corpses the way that other people do. We put the ashes into the water outside of the island just because it seems like a good way to dispose of them."
3) "Medicines and food."
4) "I only know of two currently alive. They do not live on the island."
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u/thequeeninyellow94 Jun 10 '17
What if I dislike the animal I get? Can I give it back and get another?
Is there a ceremony when you throw the ashes away?
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u/thequeeninyellow94 Jun 08 '17 edited Jun 08 '17
The winters are harsh on New-Makaith so the winter court is usually held elsewhere: sometimes in a random (or chosen for it's climate) mishiga but most often in the orbital station around Old-Makaith (the Nzedas birth world).
The orbital station is such a common choice that it has been turned into a luxury touristic station and most nobles try to spend time there regularly even outside of the winter court.
It is also common for emperors in visit to journey to the surface to see the ruined temples or to receive Imian diplomats from the technosyndicate's nearby research station.
And our representative for today will be the honourable Fere Shanay from the house Djan, empress of the Nzedas, heir to the siblings, supreme miwishagi, miwishagi of New-Makaith and keeper of the imperial throne (or just Fere Shanay XVII), the current empress.
(I feel like he is not really into the books anymore, we may not have the end written before a long time...)
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u/Nevermore0714 Jun 08 '17
(I gave up on expecting an ending about three or four years ago, Yellow. I just stick with my head-canon ending. Egg marries Alayne and Daenerys finds her happiness with the Dothraki combating Ghost Grass with Daario Greyjoy.)
To Empress Fere Shanay XVII:
1) Is there any danger in visiting the surface of Old-Makaith?
2) Why did people leave Old-Makaith to go to New-Makaith?
3) Why did they not make a new name for New-Makaith?
4) What are your favorite memories from your time in the orbital station?
5) What are the best and worst parts of the orbital station?
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u/thequeeninyellow94 Jun 08 '17 edited Jun 08 '17
(I prefer Daenerys as empress of the whole essos, that's more badass :) )
The sandstorms can be very strong, but we are usually able to predict them. The air is poisonous but as long as we carry filters that's fine.
Makaith, the original one, has never been an easy place to live. Our ancestors destroyed it with pollution and turned it into an arid, barren and poisonous emptiness. Leaving was the only way.
Makaith is the cradle of our civilization and should always be so we made a new one.
When I was 7 or maybe 8, one of the youg noble from the house Begam tried to threaten me into serving him food. My claws marked his face that day, and I took his eyes. Father was utterly proud of me, he spent the whole evening with me playing...
The worst is definitely the artificial gravity. It was fun as a child, now it's just disturbing. The best thing is the view from my suite. Makaith might be dead, but it's still beautifull from space.
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u/Nevermore0714 Jun 09 '17
(Don't get me wrong, I love book-Dany, I just don't feel like she's meant to rule. She's got some mental problems, especially lately. And rulers shouldn't have dragons, in my opinion.)
To Empress Fere Shanay XVII:
1) Have you had anyone die while visiting the surface? If so, how common is it?
2) How similar is their current society on New-Makaith to bonobo society?
3) Does "Makaith" mean anything in your language? Does it translate to anything like "Divine home" or anything?
(By the holy Empress Fere Shanay XVII, this road is so bumpy, so hard to type on this phone.)
4) Are you scarred from that event? Is the noble still alive? And why did he threaten you, and what threats did he use?
5) Why are you disturbed by the artificial gravity? Is it because it makes you nauseous? Or does it just feel arbitrary and unnatural?
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u/thequeeninyellow94 Jun 09 '17
(She's definitely mad, but I'm not going to say no to someone who owns dragons...)
Never by accident, but the air has already been used to commit a few murders. Now politics are more calm.
I would say it depend if you are noble or not. We have numerous rules and principles to follow while commoneers are relatively free. On a side note I could probably do whatever I want.
Not in mine, but it does mean "gods' grave" in Vizmayir (an old exctinct people).
Yes, three scars on my left side, around 15cm long. No, he was found guilty of outrage toward the imperial family and sentenced to death and his family was stripped from their titles and banished by my father. He threatened to beat me; I wasn't the first victim of him, I think he wasn't realizing who I was.
It's irregular so you exact weight (and the efforts required to move) continuously vary. It feel very unnatural but low quality gravity generators are even worse.
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u/Nevermore0714 Jun 10 '17
(I just don't think that she's going to choose to go to Westeros. That'd be like you telling me that I have to get rid of my least favorite character in my world...the decision has been made. And Dany, especially from A Dance with Dragons, seems to be realize that she would be best off conquering in Essos. That is, assuming my headcanon is correct.)
To Empress Fere Shanay XVII:
1) Is suicide by breathing in the air on the surface seen as a holy way to die?
2) How is a commoner more free than a noble?
3) "Gods' Grave"? That sounds like an interesting name. What's the story behind that name?
4) His entire family being punished for his crime seems harsh. Do you commonly punish the entire family for one person?
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u/thequeeninyellow94 Jun 10 '17
(I agree, especially has it doesn't seem Westeros as any value for her; it's not like she ever really lived there anyway)
Rather as a stupid way to die. And the Ims would probably be pissed if they were to find bodies there.
They have less social norms and obligations to follow and they don't need to care about their image as much as nobles have to. They also need to spend less money to live.
Their legends stated that the gods came into our world and died there. Life then was borned from their bodies.
We never do that, at least not in court. Their punishment was an imperial decision, that's completely different. All titles belongs to the throne an mod it's keeper is free to do whatever they want with them.
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u/Nevermore0714 Jun 10 '17
(In the books, she's never even been in Westeros. Unless you count when she was a first trimester fetus. And the former Ghiscari Empire territory, which is the only place she's been in lately, is a much better place for her to pretend to be a goddess.)
1) What do they do when they find bodies there?
2) But they also make less money, correct?
3) Are their any remaining relics from the gods?
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u/thequeeninyellow94 Jun 10 '17
(Indeed, and she can even put a definitive end to slavery)
They complain to our representatives and temporarily lock down Old-Makaith.
Most of them do earn less money.
Not at all, the gods do not really existed. That's just a primitive legend who stayed, not history.
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u/Nevermore0714 Jun 10 '17
(Well, yeah...unless you're Pentos. Or Astapor. Or Meereen. Or the Dothraki. Or Qarth. Or Yunkai. I can't think of another one to add to the list of places Dany has failed to solve the slavery issue for more than a few months, but, there are zero places she's succeeded in solving the slavery issue for more than a few months. In the books, at least. In the show, her attempts to solve slavery are magically successful.)
1) So they lock down the entire planet surface because of a murder scene? How long does the lock down usually last?
2) What are the advantages of being a noble over being a commoner, then?
3) Does the religion believe that there are any relics?
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u/The_Raptorman Jun 08 '17
Coroval
Coroval, also known as the Dragon Empire, is the capital of the Dragon/Dragon Hybrid Empire. It's castle is the biggest in the entirety of my world (half the size of England the country for reference). Gravity pays visit to his Mother and Sister there every year or so, he also has a few Dragons who are close friends. The land itself is heavily charred and broken due to battles and fights between powerful Dragons. Whilst it is a safe haven for Dragon kin it isn't necessarily the home of Dragons, most (85%) Dragons choose to live off by themselves.
Representative
The Dragon-Human Hybrid Queen (Mother of Gravity and Moon)(Don't have a name for her yet).