hessdalen-globe

[hessdalen-globe]

The Daskosan Election of 170 ACC

The National Advancement Coalition surged from the 12 seats they won in the previous election to holding a majority, unseating the Conservative-Popular Democratic government that had become deeply unpopular due to scandals and general stagnation in the country.

party logos

Blue: Daskosan Conservative Party (centre-right)

Red: National Advancement Coalition (centre-left)

Purple: Popular Democratic Coalition (right)

Brown: Rural Development Party (centre, centre-left)

Green: Green Party of Daskosa (left)

Yellow: Wyokonian Protection Party (centre, advocates for the ethnic Wyokonian minority)

[hessdalen-globe]

Summary: Aliens found Earth in the Dark Ages, and wanted to research humans in a new environment and influence them to be less aggressive. Moved a few thousand to Hessdalen, watched them for a couple hundred years, then their civilization collapsed and humans were then left unsupervised.

@thetruearchmagos you might like this

How Humans Got On Hessdalen

If you've followed me for any length of time, you'll know that Hessdalen is the name of the world that my main story, Cozar, takes place in. Hessdalen is a ringed, habitable planet located in a star system far from Earth and is home to a flourishing biosphere.

Humans are one of the many species to call Hessdalen home, and it is the only home that those living there have ever known. However, scientists have noticed a peculiarity when comparing humans to other Hessdalanian species. The earliest trace of humans dates back only 1,500 years. Unlike most other animals, there is no clear evolutionary history in the fossil record. It is as if they simply popped into existence one day. And this fact has fueled countless scientific and theological debates.

But as you may have guessed, humans did not come out of thin air. Nor are they even indigenous to Hessdalen. Their origins on this alien world is a long tale dating back over 1,000 years, and it begins back on Earth in 736 A.D.

Discovery of Earth

What is so important about the year 736? It may be an unremarkable year to most, but in actuality it was one of the most important years in Earth history. For it was in 736 that the planet was first visited by extraterrestrials.

These aliens were reptilian humanoids. They stood about 6 feet tall on average, and had heads that resembled that of a velociraptor. They were covered in scales that were either green, blue, or red, depending on the exact race. These aliens were known as the Nethearc. (Some of you may remember me discussing them in the past).

The Nethearc had a large interstellar civilisation and had explored countless star systems. They had come to know a lonely galaxy, one where life was rare, and intelligent life even rarer. Which made Earth an intriguing discovery. It was a flourishing world, filled with an astonishing range of ecosystems and extremities, all of which hosted various forms of life. The most prominent species however were the humans. They resembled the Nethearc in many ways, being bipedal and having opposable thumbs, plus high intelligence that had led to the creation of languages, tools, and complex cultures.

Recognizing that the humans were a young species and were far from ready for alien contact, the Nethearc quietly observed them, gaining a better understanding of their alien cultures. But they were also exposed to their violence. The reptilian visitors had not seen a species so capable of violence and cruelty towards their own. And though they were far off from achieving it, the Nethearc knew that one day humans would one day be capable of space travel. And they feared what would happen when they spread their destructive ways across the stars.

But they also recognized the immense potential the primates had. Potential that was as much good as it was bad, if they could be steered in the correct direction.

Several ideas were proposed on how to go about this. Landing in the middle of the busiest city and announcing themselves and then providing guidance was out of the question, so it would have to be done behind the scenes. Eventually, they decided on transporting a select few to a different world.

This idea was combined with an earlier proposal to put a few humans in a new controlled environment to observe how they adapted to change and whatnot. Only this time, the Nethearc would tweak the new environment to influence the behaviours of humans in a way that would make them less aggressive towards one another, and hopefully, in turn, less aggressive towards alien races. These new humans would then serve as a model to the Earth humans once they achieved space travel on how to act after reaching the stars.

The planet chosen to host the humans was a young, habitable and ringed world located within the interstellar neighbourhood of Earth. It was suitable for Earth life, having the same gravitational pull, the same distance from its star, and a similar atmospheric composition. And it was already home to a young biosphere of its own. The Nethearc recognised that they would be irreversibly changing the evolutionary trajectory of this world, but believed the possible benefit of doing so would outweigh the drawbacks.

This world was Hessdalen.

To prepare it for humans, the Nethearc utilised their skills in genetic engineering to perfect Hessdalen for Earth life. They added plants such as grass and other flowers, and imported some Earth species to serve as Earth food sources for Humans, as well as add a sense of normalcy to the new world. These animals included Khurvins (a chicken-like bird), Mammoths, and more. They also engineered animals that would prey on humans, such as the Wahrzov (a puma-like cat), and Kaulkine bears. It was believed that removing humans from the top of the food chain would make them more reliant on each other, and less aggressive towards one another. This is why other Earth-like animals can be found on Hessdalen, and fall into the same category as humans in that they are not present in the fossil record.

Roughly one hundred years after discovering Earth, the Nethearc had prepared Hessdalen for the arrival of humans. In the 800s AD, they abducted several villages from all corners of the Earth and placed them in stasis aboard the Nethearc ships. The inhabitants of the villages were to be placed in exact replicas of their communities on Hessdalen. This was done to add another sense of familiarity for the abductees, since the Nethearc could only alter memories of Earth to fit their new home, not outright replace them with false memories of Hessdalen. The immune systems of the humans were immunised to fight Hessdalanian diseases, and all final preparations were made on the journey across the stars.

This is how Humans came to be on Hessdalen, and how they have no memory of Earth. They were part of the plot of an alien civilization to help better deal with the Terran Humans once they achieved space flight. But, the operation was also a research opportunity. The Nethearc were very curious about humans, and they wanted to observe their development in a new environment. And that they did. For the first several hundred years of human life on Hessdalen, the Nethearc observed them almost entirely undetected. The rare occasions that they were spotted turned into the earliest legends about the Nethearc.

But for the Nethearc, things did not go according to plan.

Downfall of the Nethearc

As mentioned, they were very skilled in genetic engineering. These skills were even used on humans, though very rarely. A result of these experiments were the Eyosaes, a group of winged humans that live in the Cethok mountains and are thought to be mythical. But all across the Nethearc civilisation there were a wide variety of genetic experiments. Unfortunately for them, one went horribly wrong.

Around 1250 AD, a genetic experiment resulted in the creation of a horrible virus, known as the withering. It was extremely contagious and 99% fatal to the Nethearc. It swept across the civilisation, wiping out entire planets. The researchers and their families stationed on Hessdalen were fortunate to be on the outskirts of Nethearc territory and were able to escape the virus, but the collapse of the civilisation left them stranded on Hessdalen as supply systems collapsed. Their ships ran out of fuel and fell into disrepair, not that they'd want to leave the planet anyway as it would almost mean certain death. Their purpose on Hessdalen became survival instead of research.

They retreated into the caves, building underground cities far from the reach of their experiments. Hessdalen had fallen into the domain of the apes, and the reptilian Nethearc knew that they would not be welcome on the surface. Despite their hopes, human nature had barely changed. They were still violent and the sudden appearance of humanoid reptiles would invoke a fear response. As the generations passed, the Nethearc grew more fearful and paranoid of the humans above ground. They fiercely guarded their subterranean homes, killing any who dared to come close. Slowly, they became more and more like the species they had feared and tried to change.

And so we come to the present day, the 2300's AD. The year is 173 PCC to the humans on Hessdalen, and their tech level lags greatly behind their counterparts on Earth. They are entirely unaware that the little star in their sky, Sol, is their true home. Perhaps one day, they will meet their long-lost brothers.

[hessdalen-globe]

How Humans Got On Hessdalen

If you've followed me for any length of time, you'll know that Hessdalen is the name of the world that my main story, Cozar, takes place in. Hessdalen is a ringed, habitable planet located in a star system far from Earth and is home to a flourishing biosphere.

Humans are one of the many species to call Hessdalen home, and it is the only home that those living there have ever known. However, scientists have noticed a peculiarity when comparing humans to other Hessdalanian species. The earliest trace of humans dates back only 1,500 years. Unlike most other animals, there is no clear evolutionary history in the fossil record. It is as if they simply popped into existence one day. And this fact has fueled countless scientific and theological debates.

But as you may have guessed, humans did not come out of thin air. Nor are they even indigenous to Hessdalen. Their origins on this alien world is a long tale dating back over 1,000 years, and it begins back on Earth in 736 A.D.

Discovery of Earth

What is so important about the year 736? It may be an unremarkable year to most, but in actuality it was one of the most important years in Earth history. For it was in 736 that the planet was first visited by extraterrestrials.

These aliens were reptilian humanoids. They stood about 6 feet tall on average, and had heads that resembled that of a velociraptor. They were covered in scales that were either green, blue, or red, depending on the exact race. These aliens were known as the Nethearc. (Some of you may remember me discussing them in the past).

The Nethearc had a large interstellar civilisation and had explored countless star systems. They had come to know a lonely galaxy, one where life was rare, and intelligent life even rarer. Which made Earth an intriguing discovery. It was a flourishing world, filled with an astonishing range of ecosystems and extremities, all of which hosted various forms of life. The most prominent species however were the humans. They resembled the Nethearc in many ways, being bipedal and having opposable thumbs, plus high intelligence that had led to the creation of languages, tools, and complex cultures.

Recognizing that the humans were a young species and were far from ready for alien contact, the Nethearc quietly observed them, gaining a better understanding of their alien cultures. But they were also exposed to their violence. The reptilian visitors had not seen a species so capable of violence and cruelty towards their own. And though they were far off from achieving it, the Nethearc knew that one day humans would one day be capable of space travel. And they feared what would happen when they spread their destructive ways across the stars.

But they also recognized the immense potential the primates had. Potential that was as much good as it was bad, if they could be steered in the correct direction.

Several ideas were proposed on how to go about this. Landing in the middle of the busiest city and announcing themselves and then providing guidance was out of the question, so it would have to be done behind the scenes. Eventually, they decided on transporting a select few to a different world.

This idea was combined with an earlier proposal to put a few humans in a new controlled environment to observe how they adapted to change and whatnot. Only this time, the Nethearc would tweak the new environment to influence the behaviours of humans in a way that would make them less aggressive towards one another, and hopefully, in turn, less aggressive towards alien races. These new humans would then serve as a model to the Earth humans once they achieved space travel on how to act after reaching the stars.

The planet chosen to host the humans was a young, habitable and ringed world located within the interstellar neighbourhood of Earth. It was suitable for Earth life, having the same gravitational pull, the same distance from its star, and a similar atmospheric composition. And it was already home to a young biosphere of its own. The Nethearc recognised that they would be irreversibly changing the evolutionary trajectory of this world, but believed the possible benefit of doing so would outweigh the drawbacks.

This world was Hessdalen.

To prepare it for humans, the Nethearc utilised their skills in genetic engineering to perfect Hessdalen for Earth life. They added plants such as grass and other flowers, and imported some Earth species to serve as Earth food sources for Humans, as well as add a sense of normalcy to the new world. These animals included Khurvins (a chicken-like bird), Mammoths, and more. They also engineered animals that would prey on humans, such as the Wahrzov (a puma-like cat), and Kaulkine bears. It was believed that removing humans from the top of the food chain would make them more reliant on each other, and less aggressive towards one another. This is why other Earth-like animals can be found on Hessdalen, and fall into the same category as humans in that they are not present in the fossil record.

Roughly one hundred years after discovering Earth, the Nethearc had prepared Hessdalen for the arrival of humans. In the 800s AD, they abducted several villages from all corners of the Earth and placed them in stasis aboard the Nethearc ships. The inhabitants of the villages were to be placed in exact replicas of their communities on Hessdalen. This was done to add another sense of familiarity for the abductees, since the Nethearc could only alter memories of Earth to fit their new home, not outright replace them with false memories of Hessdalen. The immune systems of the humans were immunised to fight Hessdalanian diseases, and all final preparations were made on the journey across the stars.

This is how Humans came to be on Hessdalen, and how they have no memory of Earth. They were part of the plot of an alien civilization to help better deal with the Terran Humans once they achieved space flight. But, the operation was also a research opportunity. The Nethearc were very curious about humans, and they wanted to observe their development in a new environment. And that they did. For the first several hundred years of human life on Hessdalen, the Nethearc observed them almost entirely undetected. The rare occasions that they were spotted turned into the earliest legends about the Nethearc.

But for the Nethearc, things did not go according to plan.

Downfall of the Nethearc

As mentioned, they were very skilled in genetic engineering. These skills were even used on humans, though very rarely. A result of these experiments were the Eyosaes, a group of winged humans that live in the Cethok mountains and are thought to be mythical. But all across the Nethearc civilisation there were a wide variety of genetic experiments. Unfortunately for them, one went horribly wrong.

Around 1250 AD, a genetic experiment resulted in the creation of a horrible virus, known as the withering. It was extremely contagious and 99% fatal to the Nethearc. It swept across the civilisation, wiping out entire planets. The researchers and their families stationed on Hessdalen were fortunate to be on the outskirts of Nethearc territory and were able to escape the virus, but the collapse of the civilisation left them stranded on Hessdalen as supply systems collapsed. Their ships ran out of fuel and fell into disrepair, not that they'd want to leave the planet anyway as it would almost mean certain death. Their purpose on Hessdalen became survival instead of research.

They retreated into the caves, building underground cities far from the reach of their experiments. Hessdalen had fallen into the domain of the apes, and the reptilian Nethearc knew that they would not be welcome on the surface. Despite their hopes, human nature had barely changed. They were still violent and the sudden appearance of humanoid reptiles would invoke a fear response. As the generations passed, the Nethearc grew more fearful and paranoid of the humans above ground. They fiercely guarded their subterranean homes, killing any who dared to come close. Slowly, they became more and more like the species they had feared and tried to change.

And so we come to the present day, the 2300's AD. The year is 173 PCC to the humans on Hessdalen, and their tech level lags greatly behind their counterparts on Earth. They are entirely unaware that the little star in their sky, Sol, is their true home. Perhaps one day, they will meet their long-lost brothers.

[hessdalen-globe]

I wasn't going to make a post talking about the origins of humans in my world, since I didn't wanna "spoil" anything I might write in a book someday.

But even if I do get around to finishing my planned books, I don't think the origin story will play a major part in it, if it all.

So I think I'm gonna do a post up. I've got all the lore and stuff planned out and I've just been itching to share it for so long

Distribution of Mammoths in Southern Norphendra

Similar in size and shape to the Woolly Mammoths of Earth's past, Hessdalen has a living population of Mammoths that inhabit the south of the continent of Norphendra. The main difference between Hessdalanian Mammoths and Terran Mammoths is that those on Hessdalen have thick white coats of fur instead of brown fur.

They currently live in three countries, those being Ecosiar, Cazkania, and Ivranse. They travel in herds, and are known to have strong social bonds with their families. They are also quite intelligent, like elephants.

The Mammoths are known to follow traditional migration routes, with several herds traversing the valleys and passes in Ecosiar to reach their breeding grounds in a specific valley, nicknamed "Mammoth Valley". This is why the range map shows a loop in the eastern part of the Mammoth range, as they do not go up into the surrounding mountains in this area.

Like humans, the Mammoths have no clear presence or ancestors in the fossil record on Hessdalen. Most animals on Hessdalen do have a clear lineage in the fossil record, but there are a select few that do not. These lifeforms are distinctly different from those that have an evolutionary history, as if they just popped into existence. This abnormality has filed countless scientific and theological debates around the origins of humans and other such beings on the ringed planet.

[hessdalen-globe]

Distribution of Mammoths in Southern Norphendra

Similar in size and shape to the Woolly Mammoths of Earth's past, Hessdalen has a living population of Mammoths that inhabit the south of the continent of Norphendra. The main difference between Hessdalanian Mammoths and Terran Mammoths is that those on Hessdalen have thick white coats of fur instead of brown fur.

They currently live in three countries, those being Ecosiar, Cazkania, and Ivranse. They travel in herds, and are known to have strong social bonds with their families. They are also quite intelligent, like elephants.

The Mammoths are known to follow traditional migration routes, with several herds traversing the valleys and passes in Ecosiar to reach their breeding grounds in a specific valley, nicknamed "Mammoth Valley". This is why the range map shows a loop in the eastern part of the Mammoth range, as they do not go up into the surrounding mountains in this area.

Like humans, the Mammoths have no clear presence or ancestors in the fossil record on Hessdalen. Most animals on Hessdalen do have a clear lineage in the fossil record, but there are a select few that do not. These lifeforms are distinctly different from those that have an evolutionary history, as if they just popped into existence. This abnormality has filed countless scientific and theological debates around the origins of humans and other such beings on the ringed planet.

[hessdalen-globe]

Hessdalen at Night - Best Viewed in Full Screen!

I've been working on this off and on for a while now. And I'm happy to finally be posting it! I might've went a bit overboard in places. But I think it turned out pretty cool.

Like Earth, people tend to have settled on the coast. This is seen in the big cities like Rexon and Dristine, as well as the countless coastal communities that line the shores of the continents, islands, and major rivers like the Rhobor and Tonek.

Population clusters can be found along the Dvenshev Sea, peninsular Olerena, and fertile inland regions like the Solonis Valley.

Notable dark patches (aside from the ocean) are seen where the Inpent desert and Oartasash rainforest are located, as well as the northern parts of Lenvai and southern parts of Norphendra where permafrost is present.

You may also notice the red area in the upper right portion of the map. These are the lava lakes and rivers of Vontrior, a large and mostly inhospitable (to humans) island in the middle of the ocean.

Here are some closeups of interesting sections of the map.

[hessdalen-globe]

It's a tossup between jaguars, alligators, and woolly mammoths for me :)

in my experience nobody stops having a favorite animal when they grow up but people DO stop asking. well now i'm asking. what's everyone's favorite animal mine is the noble manatee

[hessdalen-globe]

It's no coincidence that my sudden interest in my long shelved WIP Aspen Island has come at the same time as my rewatch of Heartland. When I originally started writing Aspen, I really wanted to capture that same vibe I get from Heartland, especially the early seasons. Pinning down exactly what that vibe is has been tricky, though.

Heartland is a Canadian family drama that has been on the air since 2007, making it one of Canada's longest running tv series. Myself and my family have been watching it for most of that time. And yes, if I haven't given it away already by the nature of my posts and pictures, I am from Canada. The Show centers on Amy Flemming, a horse whisperer, and her family on the Heartland ranch.

Now, I mentioned that Heartland has a vibe, a feeling that I wanted to capture with Aspen Island. Some describe it as wholesome, and yeah, I can see that. It is after all a family oriented show with a primary focus on helping horses, there's no sex and very little cussing. But family-friendly doesn't equate to a kids' show. It deals with some heavy topics at times, like death, addiction, and animal abuse to name a few. Wholesome is a good way to describe Heartland, but I think that term paints it in a way that glosses over these heavier moments.

With an 18-year run, we've seen different characters come and go. They've changed and grown in that time, figuratively and literally. The dynamics between the characters are a real strength of the show. Seeing bonds strengthen and repair, how different characters help others develop and succeed, and witnessing funny banter always makes it a pleasure to rewatch the old episodes. The character drama has always been the main draw of the show for me. Because alongside the central plot with Amy and the "horse of the week", there's always a few other interesting side stories and developments either with Amy or the rest of the cast happening in each episode, and that makes it entertaining.

The setting, on a working cattle ranch in the prairie province of Alberta, also lends to the vibe I think. I’m a born and bred country boy so I can definitely relate to the small town the show takes place in. I’m drawn to the open fields, the Rocky Mountains in the distance, and the cozy log ranch house where so many scenes take place in. It’s homey.

To me, going back and watching Heartland feels like I’m visiting old friends. I want to spend more time with the characters I’ve known for so many years. And I want to recreate that feeling with a project of my own. I think most writers want to do the same thing, to create an interesting setting with compelling characters. And that can be done in any genre, and with any tone. And I think what creates the Heartland vibe is the strong and believable characters, the rural and small-town farm setting, and the, for lack of better words, wholesome tone.

I could be wrong though. These are just my thoughts. Really, I just wanted an excuse to talk about Heartland lol. I definitely recommend it! I think its still on Netflix, and its available for free on CBC Gem if you're in Canada!

[hessdalen-globe]

One dead, several injured as explosion sends shockwaves through Rockport

Deana H, September 23, 2008 (this is a made up article for worldbuilding purposes!)

The carrier vessel Armstrong pictured in 2007.

The remote town of Rockport, Nova Scotia, was shaken yesterday afternoon when the bulk carrier ship Armstrong exploded off shore. The ship was en route to the nearby town of Port Haute when its engines caught fire, sending a thick plume of smoke into the air as it stalled near Rockport.

The town's fishermen have been hailed as heroes for springing into action and rescuing all 25 crew members of the Armstrong. Many of those who were on board sustained burns and are recovering at the Aspen Island Regional Hospital.

The town is mourning the loss of 33 year-old Tyler Barron. The fisherman and father of one was a local of Rockport and a member of the Canadian Coast Guard Auxillary. Barron's vessel was nearest to the Armstrong when the explosion occurred, and it is presumed that he died within minutes. A memorial has been set up near the waterfront, and it continues to grow by the hour.

An investigation into the cause of the fire and the failure of the Armstrong's lifeboat disengagement system is expected to begin in the coming days. A team of divers will be sent to examine the submerged wreckage of the vessel. The owner of the Armstrong, the Sawtooth Gypsum Corporation, has not responded to questions regarding the investigation or the safety of their ships.

[hessdalen-globe]

Aspen Island Hockey Teams

Hockey is an important part of my Aspen Island story, so I decided to whip up some logos for the seven teams in canva. I think I like the Dawsonville one best.

I'm working on a season stats graph that I hope to post soon. The order of this post basically follows how good the teams actually are, with Rockport being the best and Port Haute the worst.

The Rockport Mammoths

The Alberttown Woodsmen

The Wolfes River Wolf Pack

The Dawsonville Wildcats

The East Bay Raiders

The Scotts Harbour Highlanders

The Port Haute Barracudas

[hessdalen-globe]

I re-drew the map for my Aspen Island story. I think it looks much better now, and I took some inspiration for it from the melting snow in my driveway!

I shared it in the Fantasy Map Making community, feel free to click the link and check out the map.

[hessdalen-globe]

Blender-Thing

After the built-in image rendering thing shat itself I decided I might as well just screenshot the thing. Here's a WIP for a 3d model of a United Commonwealth Army armoured infantry transport I've been working on for the past week

Tagging @theprissythumbelina @caxycreations @hessdalen-globe @bureaumantic @coffeexafterxmidnight

[hessdalen-globe]

This ending always brings a tear to my eye

Merry Christmas everyone

[hessdalen-globe]

I've made a community for fantasy map making! Here you'll be able to post your original maps for whatever setting you created them for.

[hessdalen-globe]

Cinderi, the frozen world

Cinderi is the fifth planet in the Hessdalen system, and is the only terrestrial planet positioned beyond the asteroid belt.

It was named by Liandean astronomer Berinjide Eiffeno in 468 PCC, and it has captured the attention of Hessdalenians for centuries.

Cinderi is the only terrestrial planet in the system besides Hessdalen to possess its own magnetic field. This protects the planet from solar radiation, and allows it to hold on to a stable atmosphere.

Cinderi is home to huge ammounts of water. Nearly the entire surface is covered in it. Except this water is locked in a frozen state, because Cinderi is located outside of the habitable zone. The constant frigid temperatures makes the possibility of there being life on Cinderi very low, despite being Earth sized, having a magnetic field, water, and a good atmosphere.

Due to Hessdalen's ring system, leaving their home planet has been a very difficult task for humans. No spacecraft, manned or unmanned, has ever left the planet. So Cinderi has only been observed from afar using telescopes. If humans ever leave Hessdalen, Cinderi will be the first planet they explore.

[hessdalen-globe]

Hessdalen and her moons

I made Hessdalen (the planet I created for my main writing & worldbuilding project) in the style of Kurzgesagt. I think it turned out well!

Hessdalen is an Earth sized planet supporting virbrant lifeforms and ecosystems, including humans. It has a blue colored ring system as well as two moons, Capsten (the red one) and Aurosen (the gray one).

I plan to make the rest of the planets in the Hessdalen system in this style, and eventually make a complete diagram of the solar system

[hessdalen-globe]

I think ai will bring more harm than good in the long run.

However…

You can’t deny that the 1950s version of KSI’s Thick Of It is fire