nightfurynova1217

[nightfurynova1217]

Fantasy Guide to Political Structures

A Horse! A Horse! My X for a Horse!

Let's be honest, fantasy authors love their kingdoms and empires. You can throw a rock in a bookshop or a library in the fantasy section and you will 99.99999% hit a fantasy book that will be set in or mention either of those structures. But what are they really? What's the difference between them all? Are there any more examples of structures that would suit your WIP better? Are you using the right terms? Let's have a closer look.

Duchy

A Duchy is a small territory ruled by a Duke/Duchess. While Duchies can be found in kingdoms, some duchies were sovereign states in their own right. Duchies are usually small by land mass but some duchies such as Burgundy were extremely powerful and influential. Independent Duchies were usually apart of a kingdom but grew so powerful that they eventually broke away to become a sovereign state in their own right. An example would be modern day Luxembourg, historic Milan and Burgundy.

Principality

A principality is territory ruled by a Prince/Princess. A principality is typically smaller than a kingdom and in some instances, can be apart of a larger kingdom or be a sovereign state. Principalities have a history of having broken away from a larger kingdom or eventually becoming apart of a kingdom. A principality within a kingdom is ruled by a Prince/Princess, usually an heir of the monarch and can be used to train them up to assume the throne in the future. Examples include Monaco, Liechtenstein and Andorra.

Kingdom

A sovereign state/country that is ruled by ruling King or a Queen. A kingdom is much larger and more powerful than a principality. Kingdoms can be feudal, meaning they are ruled in a strict hierarchy or an autocracy where the monarch rules alone with minimal input from the government or constitutional where the monarch is more of a figurehead and the government has a good chunk of control. Examples include England, Thailand and modern day Spain.

Commonwealth

A Commonwealth isn't a popular choice in fantasy but it is an interesting structure. A Commonwealth in its most basic form is a collection of states that are linked by either a shared culture or history. A Commonwealth can be a politically power or an economic power, with every state allowed to participate as much as they like. Not one state leads the others, it is all one group of equals. A Commonwealth can be a good idea for a group of nations that are more powerful together with them keeping their own independence.

Federation

A Federation is a political structure that is made up of united states or countries that are under a single government but each state is still independent and rules itself. Each state can have different laws, different cultures and economies but they all answer to the single government. Examples include the United States of America.

Republic

A Republic is a territory that is ruled by leaders and heads of state that have been elected on merit and by choice of the people. Republics are not just countries but can also be much smaller areas such as cities. Republics are democratic in nature, with the people having a say in who leads them in accordance to a constitution. There are many kinds of Republic: presidential, parliamentary, federal, theocratic, unitary. Examples of Republics include the Republic of Ireland and the city of Florence.

Protectorate

A Protectorate is a country/region/territory that is independent but relies on a larger, more powerful state for protection either in a military or diplomatic sense. A Protectorate was often used by Empires in order to maintain control over an area without annexing it. There are many reasons a larger state and the protectorate would agree to this, mainly the protectorate is much smaller meaning it is far more vulnerable to attack or it has very little power when compared to other states. A Protectorate allows the territory some power to rule itself but the larger state may feel the need or desire to interfere in the dealings of the territory. Examples of protectorates include the client kingdoms of the Roman Empire like Egypt before its annexation and Puerto Rico.

Empire

An Empire is a collection of nations that are united under one sovereign head of state or government. An Empire is formed by one nation steadily taking control of other nations, either through straight invasion and colonization or acquiring them through marriage and other less violent ways. An Empire is powerful mainly because it can drum up more resources, more influence and more military power. An Empire might impose the traditions, beliefs and culture of its principal nation - the nation that started it all - onto its colonies for better control and feeling of uniformity. Empires never last, that is something to always remember. Empires will eventually fragment due to the vast size and sometimes revolt among the conquered states. Examples of empires include the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, the Ottoman Empire.

[nightfurynova1217]

Intimacy goes beyond kisses, cuddles, and sex. It's when you're feeling low, and your partner gently comforts you, listens to you, and helps you unpack your insecurities through deep conversations. It's about calling to check in, making sure they've eaten or taken their medicine.

it's more than sex.

[nightfurynova1217]

Isolation is not safety, it is death. If no one knows you're alive, you aren't.

Neil Hilborn

[nightfurynova1217]

accidentally wrote a banger line and now i have to build an entire novel around it. classic.

[nightfurynova1217]

THE THREE HEROES APPEAR AT WORLD’S EDGE

[nightfurynova1217]

evil jax be like you look nice today

[nightfurynova1217]

i can’t stand “it’s not that deep” attitudes like even if it really really isn’t that deep just PLAY WITH ME. just fucking PLAY. have a meaningless but deep analytical conversation with me. just like think about shit for fun. does anyone else like to think about stuff for fun. it’s so lonely

[nightfurynova1217]

Sudden COTL AU idea that I need to jot down quickly:

COTL game goes normally in the beginning, the Lamb gets sacrificed, head chopped off, yada yada, the whole deal-

-but instead of appearing in the Afterlife in to meet The One Who Waits and accept the deal of the prophecy, they wake up, sit straight up and find a three eyed black cat, alive with them, at the site of their sacrifice, very confused.

Nearby, a Red Crown with a closed eye sleeps, and nothing the black cat does awakens it. Not powerless, just asleep.

Instead of the Lamb killing the bishops to break the chains, the Lamb's death breaks the chains, but at a cost. Narinder is brought to the overworld, except his powers are buried. The prophecy comes to be, but not in the way they expected. FAR too early. And this black cat-'The God of Death', he calls himself (whatever, the Lamb thinks) is insistent the Lamb follows him on this journey to kill the Bishops to get his power back. Since it's on the way for their revenge, they agree.

So now Lambert is now guiding this raggedy, asshole on navigating a 'mortal' life, still using all the skills theyve picked up on the way to build a following and kill the bishops as nothing more powerful than the mortals the gods try to rule.

No powers of the crown for them! They have to EARN it! Good luck figuring out who each other are by the end of this.

Will expand on this later perhaps

[nightfurynova1217]

The Lamb's lovelife be like:

[nightfurynova1217]

6 Quick Writing Exercises to Wake Up Your Imagination

We all hit those blah writing days. Your fingers are ready, your doc is open... and your brain goes static. That’s where writing exercises come in — small creative boosts to shake off the dust and get back into your story flow. Here are six to try when your words feel stuck in traffic.

1. The 5-Minute Word Sprint

Pick a random word (use a generator or close your eyes and point at a book), set a 5-minute timer, and write anything involving that word. No stopping, no deleting.

2. Dialogue Without Context

Write a short convo between two people. No descriptions. No setting. Just back-and-forth lines.

3. Rewrite a Scene in Another Genre

Take a scene from your current story and flip the genre. Drama becomes comedy. Fantasy becomes sci-fi. Romance becomes horror.

4. Describe a Place Using the Five Senses — No Sight Allowed

Can’t mention what anything looks like. Only sound, touch, smell, taste, and intuition.

5. Character Swap POVs

Write a paragraph from the POV of a side character reacting to your main character. Bonus if the POV is brutally honest or completely wrong.

6. One Line Story Hooks

Write 3 one-sentence story starters that make you want to keep writing. (Example: “I woke up married to my enemy, and worse — he knew it before I did.”)

You don’t need to write a masterpiece every day. But showing up — even for a silly exercise — keeps the creative part of your brain warmed up. Try one of these before your next writing session, and see where it takes you. 🍒

[nightfurynova1217]

* Won't you play again, Kris?

[nightfurynova1217]

You're a superhero who cares more about efficiency than presentation. While this leads you to be less popular, when civilians see a pair of shorts and a baggy t-shirt fluttering in the wind, they know they're safe.

[nightfurynova1217]

I assure you: somebody, somewhere, is on the exact same wavelength as you are.

[nightfurynova1217]

NEVER GIVE UP

[nightfurynova1217]

how are you gonna be 31 and posting fandom content bro leave it to the teenagers

People 10 and 20 years older than me are writing your favorite fanfics, and drawing your favorite characters. You'd have no fandom without the people you think are 'too old' to have hobbies.

[nightfurynova1217]

oh, what will I do now that you’re gone?

[nightfurynova1217]

Do you guys think Dess took her stash into the depths