Welcome to the enchanting world of Mithralís, my newest fantasy world. This idea took me in a chokehold recently, and I couldn’t help but to let my imagination run wild and create some fantastic new things. Central to this process is a whole bunch of socio-economic worldbuilding and (one of my favorites) mapmaking. For me, these two crafts breathe life into the unseen corners of our imagination.
Worldbuilding and Mapmaking
The Foundations of Worldbuilding
Worldbuilding is the bedrock of fantasy. It’s about creating an entire universe from scratch – complete with its own geography, history, cultures, and laws of physics. Here, you are the creator, the architect of realms that can stretch from the mundane to the extraordinary.
For Mithralís, I’m starting with two nations: Eladria, home of the Eladrin, and Avaloria, home of the humans. Can you guess where the conflict will arise between these two nations?
Most wisdom says start with the “Big Picture”
Envisioning the broad strokes of your world is one way to begin. However, I started with a single character. Elara Thornwood spoke to me about her small village along the border where they mine for Faecrystals. From there, I had to consider many, many other details.
Here are a few examples:
- What kind of world is it? In this case, mine is a classic medieval-type setting. It’s definitely pre-industrialization, but there are ways that bring in some modern conveniences we humans might take for granted today.
- I knew there was a border in this world between two nations, but I had to consider if it would be a single continent shrouded in mystery, a sprawling empire, or a series of interconnected islands floating in the sky? Since I used floating Islands in The Serpentine Throne, I avoided that in this new adventure.
- I had to consider the level of technology, the presence (or absence) of magic, and the types of beings that inhabit your world. A key to my new series is that the magical aspects of the Eladrin/Fae realm is being used by humans to create technology.
Delving into the Details
After establishing the basics, I usually dive into the specifics. Cultures, languages, political structures, and religions. However, with this project, I’m working some of those out as I go. This series is more magical (I think) than The Serpentine Throne, so I feed my worldbuilding muse almost daily as I’m writing.
The devil, as they say, is in the details – and it’s these details that make your world believable and immersive.
Consistency is Key
The rules of my world should be self-consistent, even if they differ from reality. Something I keep running into is the power that could be from the elemental magic, so I keep having to build in limitations. If magic exists, it must limits, Right?
The Magic of Mapmaking
For my writing process, a map is more than a visual aid; it tells part of the story. It provides a geographical context to the narrative and helps readers or players navigate through your world.
Sketching the Geography
As mentioned above, I started small, with Elara’s town of Aelwyn’s Reach. From there, I extended the border, adding towns all up and down the way. Beyond the border towns, I needed a larger governmental/magical force, so I’ve started developing the Arcanum. There are still many details to work out with this entity, but it creates a great deal of intrigue in the world.
I probably spent a good 20-30 hours after those basics, sketching the geography–mountains, rivers, forests, and cities. Dark places and light. I’ve created a monetary system and some trade mechanisms so far, but there is so much more yet to explore.
Adding Layers of Story
This is where the magic in the map comes into play, in my opinion. There are histories and societies and relationships that have developed in these places I’ve created. I don’t know them all yet, but I, like my readers, will end up traveling this world and discovering so many new things.
Tools of the Trade
Today, worldbuilders have an array of tools at their disposal. Traditional hand-drawing techniques are as valued as ever, but digital tools offer new possibilities. Software like Wonderdraft, Inkarnate (the one I use), and Campaign Cartographer allow for intricate map designs with relative ease.
That’s it for the moment….
The art of worldbuilding and mapmaking is a journey of endless possibilities. As I embark on this creative expedition, I’m constantly fascinated over how every decision shapes the essence of Mithralís. These creations are more than just settings; they are living, breathing entities. It’s inspiring to my creative self, thought-provoking, and I’m excited to see what kinds of emotions stir as I explore it further.
Stories Coming Soon in Mithralís
Eladria’s Ashes (Novella prequel 1)
Coming January 25, 2024 in Blood Fae Academy (preorder or join my ARC team to read before you can buy)
A Gambit of Threes (Short Story prequel 2)
Coming April 14, 2024 in Third Name’s A Charm (preorder)
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