Project Exile marks the official launch of the entire project, and in this blog post I want to go into what exactly that means and what you can look forward to.

KINGDOMS ARTBOOKS

As described in the previous blog post, I start the worldbuilding with the individual kingdoms and the corresponding artbooks. For some, this may be an unusual way to start planning a fantasy novel, but anyone who knows me knows that I like it “extraordinary”. The artbooks support the progress of the novels I have planned in many ways. They lay the groundwork for the world in which my stories and characters live and adventure, and they introduce you directly to the world with their stories and artwork - including its customs, politics, and overall system, in a playful and visual way.

The artbooks also give me the opportunity to get even more out of the books by giving detailed impressions of the kingdoms through side stories, adding puzzles and Easter eggs. A webtoon, for example, could bridge the waiting time for the actual novels or even offer interactive stories through cosplay, IFS and the like.

Yes, I have a lot planned, believe me.

So the artbooks are not only for me to keep track of my world, but also for you to find your way around the lore and even become part of the books and the world yourself through some planned events. Maybe your character will become an active part of the story or get the chance to appear in it?

Well ... a lot is planned. But I'll digress a little again.

Project Exile is therefore the first of the planned art books.

World Building

As the saying goes, “All beginnings are difficult”

To be honest, at the beginning, I had no idea where to start. Although I still have the old books, I decided to start from scratch and rebuild the novels. In my first blog post, I showed you how it all began.

In the meantime, I've had my own language called Tehând developed, spent many hours brainstorming and chaotically started and abandoned several Google documents.

What do you actually need to build your own world? I wasn't interested in adapting existing worlds like Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter, but in creating my very own based on their example. But where is the best place to start?

I asked myself - as simple as it sounds. I asked myself and my community: What content would be important to know in order to create a foundation for a kingdom?

Is politics crucial?
Or trade?
Is there a king or queen?
Or perhaps a high council?
Which religions are worshipped?
What conflicts are there?
What festivals are celebrated?
What does the environment look like?
Under what living conditions and in what social classes do the inhabitants live?

There are so many questions, and yet they can be broken down further and further. All these considerations serve only one purpose: to create a lively and believable world. Even if it's “just” a kingdom, it can be a whole world in itself, depending on its inhabitants.

When the artbooks are finished, I will be able to share a complete encyclopedia about Ananthara, similar to the Dungeons and Dragons encyclopedia. This will offer deep insights into the lives of the entities and the nature of the living standards. For me, it takes more than just the name of a place and its environment to create a world. I need to understand how things work and why they are the way they are.

To be honest, I originally started with the story of Eldwyn and Joel. I had a rough idea, some old notes and drafts, and just started writing away. Along the way, ideas and images came to me that shaped the world, raised questions and ultimately gave the go-ahead to flesh out the kingdom in detail.

At some point, even my partner didn't know what else to ask, which gave me confirmation and a blueprint for the other kingdoms.

I used ChatGPT to translate certain places, names and their meanings into the Tehând language. Thanks to my friend, I had already talked to someone to learn the language bit by bit, but I don't want to wait another 20 years for the books. That's why I resorted to ChatGPT.

Last but not least, there were 43 pages of information
about the kingdom of Thal'draen.

Aussprache: "Thal-dray-en"

Beschreibung:

Thal'draen” is made up of ‘Thal’ (which means ‘frost’ or ‘eternity’ in Têhand) and ‘draen’ (which means ‘heart’ or ‘core’). The name reflects the frosty, eternal nature of the kingdom, which was built in the middle of a huge glacier and whose heart is formed by a mighty crystal that makes life in the city possible.
“Thal'draen” symbolizes a powerful and fascinating kingdom that acts as a center for magical research and technological innovation. The name emphasizes the city's central role in the world of Ananthara as the guardian of magic and the seat of power.
I started creating designs based on this information and involved the community by letting them vote on Instagram and WhatsApp, among other things, on what the first kingdom should be called.
Let me give you a few insights into the design now.

Designs

Watch the video for the Kingdom logo here.

Wyldheart Academy - Student Uniform Woman - Watch Video

**Moonkeeper coat of arms**

The spiral represents the cyclical nature of the phases of the moon and the connection to the magical energies used in the city. The rays represent control and structure and the gusts of wind represent the ascension of the spirit which the students expand through their training.

Eldwyn and Joel

I don't just want to write factually about the peculiarities of the kingdom, I want to immerse you directly in the action with a story. The perspectives of Eldwyn and Joel will give you two different insights: one into the academy from Eldwyn's point of view and one into the lives of the citizens through Joel's eyes. You will be introduced to the world of the kingdom through their stories. These stories not only serve to introduce you to the lore, but also lead you to places and characters that are important in the main book or even belong to the protagonists.

So it remains exciting! Now that I've finalized the information about the kingdom, the focus is on completing the story of Eldwyn and Joel. The next step will be to create the concept art for the artbook.

I'm really looking forward to this project and to letting you actively participate in the lore in an upcoming community campaign. All this and much more is planned. If you want to stay up to date, follow me at these links:

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