Happy WBW!

Happy WBW!

In general, how much social and/or economic mobility is there in the world of The Last Wrath? Do people pretty much stay in the class/profession/position they're born into (for instance, if your parents are farmers, you're also a farmer)? Or is there freedom to move around/move up/pursue different things if they want? Is it different if you're human vs. some other race?

Happy Worldbuilding Wednesday! Thank you for the ask, @clairelsonao3!

This is a very interesting set of questions! I'll try to answer them one by one since the answers vary quite a bit depending on the specific region of Agrannor being considered.

In general, how much social and/or economic mobility is there in the world of The Last Wrath? Do people pretty much stay in the class/profession/position they're born into (for instance, if your parents are farmers, you're also a farmer)? Or is there freedom to move around/move up/pursue different things if they want? Is it different if you're human vs. some other race?

The answer to this is: it varies, a lot, depending on which region someone was born in and many other factors. There are many kinds of social mobility to consider, also, such as mobility through chosen career paths, mobility through marriage, mobility through influence, etc.

WHEN IT COMES TO SOCIAL/ECONOMIC MOBILITY THROUGH CAREER PATHS :

If one was born in the Free Realms (which are independent kingdoms with different rulers and laws, which make this a whole different issue):

In kingdoms such as Liranthis, Etaruze, and Adrellios, one might be able to pursue any career path or position in society that they desire, as long as they're talented, intelligent, and ambitious enough (for example, while living in Liranthis, Zephyr managed to go from a street kid to a scholar on the Liranthian Academies after passing a competition. In Etaruze, Helios - a commoner who also happened to be a "bastard son" - managed to become a student under the royal alchemists with only his intelligence and talents), though Adrellios does have a strong case of nepotism and elitism when it comes to this.

In kingdoms such as Kestrall, Faravvia, and Ergyre, however, that is a slightly different story. While one technically can pursue any career path they choose, the societies of those kingdoms are highly hierarchical and specific- and therefore those kingdoms have a tendency for social stagnancy. Kestrall is the most hierarchical of all of those, having a strongly military society based on efficiency and strength - but this also means that, in Kestrall, one might ascend rather rapidly in society should they choose a military career path and have the talents for it. In Ergyre, there is a lot of career paths that only nobles or wealthy people can have access to without being looked down upon (a talented commoner in Ergyre would meet many obstacles - often unsurmountable, especially when it comes to taxes and fees - on their way to achieving any chosen career path, while even the most incompetent of nobles will achieve the same goal with ease due to their higher standing, which is preferred by most people involved in the process of hiring someone). Faravvia is pretty similar to Ergyre on this point, though to a lesser extent, with many exceptions.

In Nethilor, it is (currently) very difficult, almost impossible, for someone to leave their current social class without the help of a wealthy patron willing to fund them.

Midtaren, Meruvvon, and Vellamere offer ample opportunities for anyone seeking to pursue a career, and one of the easiest ways to ascend economically here is to become a merchant (or a sailor if one lives in Meruvvon or Vellamere, seaside towns. Midtaren is a forest kingdom, so being a sailor is pretty useless there). Academic career paths might offer more obstacles but aren't impossible if one is willing to put in more work than the others to achieve their goal.

The Storm Isles are known for being the place where "you can be anything", and that is quite true unless one lived there during the Blood Curse Plague. In the Isles, they don't care where you were born or what your status was. If you show talent in something, people will do anything in their power to ensure you are given the means to become the best in your craft.

If one were born in the Morosyn Empire: Due to its extremely hierarchical (and I mean extremely, like, it puts Kestrall to its knees in terms of stern/strict social norms and laws) society - which they see as a way to upkeep their old ways and honor the Emperor - if someone was born very poor there, in some specific regions of the empire (such as the Kingdom of Davvenhelm) they'd likely spend their lives following the profession of their families (or which they were trained for in some way) unless one catches the attention of someone important. Knowing this, some families choose to let their child/children be officially trained for a higher-paying job from a young age, which can take years until they achieve the skills but means that the family will have a shot at a better life once the child comes of age. HOWEVER: In most regions of the Empire it is possible for someone who was born with a slightly better social standing to slowly climb their way upwards in society if they start from the bottom of the career chain and work their way up from there (someone can start as a squire/page and work their way up until they become a smaller ranking knight). That is a very long road though, and due to the challenges it poses many don't follow through with it. The easiest way to do this is by going to the capital to be taught a specific craft.

Note for Non-Human Races in Agrannor:

If someone is of a non-human race in Agrannor, things might be even more difficult (a.k.a impossible and life-threatening) in some kingdoms while other kingdoms tend to be more accepting (For example, Merfolk are an official part of society in the Storm Isles, and aren't frowned upon socially). In the Morosyn Empire or the borderland kingdoms (Ergyre, Nethilor, Faravvia), one would have one HELL of a hard time even surviving without being enslaved (especially as elves or fae, since Merfolk are rare in those kingdoms), so it is virtually impossible for them to follow the careers they want to follow if they stay in those kingdoms. Meanwhile, in some of the other kingdoms of the Free Realms, non-human people are more accepted (as in, they're not outlawed or hunted down, but they still suffer through massive prejudice from humans), and can try to follow their desired careers, if they're lucky enough - though Midtaren is known as a haven for non-human people, especially elves, as it is the only in-land Free Realm kingdom that openly accepts and includes them as an official part of society without prejudice.

WHEN IT COMES TO MOBILITY THROUGH MARRIAGE:

This is another thing to consider when it comes to social mobility in Agrannor, as this can dictate pretty much the rest of an individual's life in some kingdoms, while in others it doesn't have as much of an impact.

In most of the Free Realms, you usually can marry anyone as long as you love one another. One can marry someone from a different social standing (e.g. the daughter of the noble scribe can marry the local farmer's son / the foreigner boy from the stables can marry the brother of a high-ranking knight from the Royal Guard) with no social backlash or suffering.

But here's the catch. In some kingdoms (namely Nethilor, Vellamere, and Ergyre), the blessing of the families involved (especially if they're noble or of higher standing), and sometimes, those families want to uphold their status/name/influence and will deny their blessing to the young couple should their marriage not satisfy their standards. Some people marry regardless of this, but run the risk of being disowned (and legally, the disowned couple cannot ask for an annuity or any kind of money to help them establish themselves after being cast out of the family) - which can land the couple in extreme poverty very quickly depending on their circumstances. Some kingdoms stop there when it comes to this, but others keep going. If you live in Ergyre and are seen to be enamored by someone of lower social standing than you, the royals or the local judges can order your lover to be arrested before they can "dishonor your name" - which has much worse consequences for someone dating a rebel (usually that situation ends in death, either only for the rebel or for the both of them)

In most of the Free Realms (except Ergyre, which is known for its terrible treatment of non-human individuals), relationships between humans and non-human races are looked down upon with prejudice but aren't legally forbidden in any way.

Meanwhile the Morosyn Empire: It is very rare for someone to marry above their social standing, and incredibly difficult (though there are exceptions). Commoners usually marry other commoners and people who are around their same status, though they can marry someone above them socially, but nobles and members of the royal inner circle CANNOT legally marry someone even slightly below them, and doing so is considered a disrespect to their class and the Emperor, and they might face serious consequences. And in the Morosyn Empire, marriage is something that has strict rules, even after it is officiated, something that makes it very difficult for both involved.

Also, there are some things that are big, specific restrictions when it comes to love and marriage in both the Free Realms and the Morosyn Empire, for example:

Royal courts, due to the often arranged nature of the marriages of nobles, often have courtesans to entertain unsatisfied nobles (both male and female. And it is worth noting that if a noble hires a courtesan, it is not considered cheating their spouse.) But marrying a courtesan is a big way to get a NOPE (a.k.a the noble ends up: losing a lot of money, being disowned, exiled, killed - though usually, only the courtesan ends up dying in this situation, as the rulers don't want to risk killing off a noble) from the rulers. The children of courtesans are also unfortunately rather mistreated by people in society - especially by the court, being rather bastardized by the world due to their circumstances.

In the Morosyn Empire, it is utterly illegal to marry someone that is from a non-human race, and doing so can and will end in death for both involved.

A Free Realmer could marry someone from the Morosyn Empire something that only happened a few times during the few years of the Truce, though this usually entailed a long and costly trial for both involved. HOWEVER After tensions at the borders became strong again, this became illegal in both the Free Realms and the Morosyn Empire. Since war is on the horizon for Agrannor, marrying someone from the rival side of the tensions is considered treason (as the rulers consider the couple as possible spies).

WHEN IT COMES TO MOBILITY THROUGH INFLUENCE: If someone is clever and ambitious enough, they can develop their influence and status in society, something that usually gets them invited onto the royal courts as nobles. Like Petyr Baelish did in a Game of Thrones. This is, of course, a very risky move and can go either incredibly wrong or incredibly right depending on how high in society the person wants to reach.

Happy WBW! Do plate tectonics exist in your world? What did the world look like three hundred million years ago?

Happy Worldbuilding Wednesday! Thank you for the ask, @stesierra

This is a very complicated question, as I haven't thought of the world of The Last Wrath so far into the past - but it is a very interesting question and I love it!

I guess that Agrannor would have looked quite different. The pieces of the continent would be rather more separate, larger strips of water (be it bigger lakes or actual stretches of sea) cutting through it. The Storm Archipelago would likely have larger islands since they hadn't split up into the minor islands and the shape they have in the book, and the Mountains of Kestrall would surely be at least a bit smaller due to the fact that they haven't formed fully yet.

Eve's weird question time: give that one character a gun. You know exactly which one. What would happen? (Refrence to those "the x book would be much shorter if they had just give y a gun)

Either Ellinor, Ansell, or Tanwin because let me tell you something, these three characters are efficient. If they had a gun the war in Agrannor would be over before it started, and they are precise enough to hit the right targets. Isolde would be the next best character to be given a gun, but she would be a bit too enthusiastic about it.

And here is why the rest of the cast SHOULD NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE be allowed near a firearm:

If any other character had a gun in TLW, it would create utter unstoppable chaos, and I am not even exaggerating. Bryn? Too murderous, would kill more people than he should, and then not know how to deal with the aftermath after he runs out of bullets, (the same applies to Orion). Emryc would "fuck around and find out" too much with the gun and end up shooting his own foot or end up losing the weapon, Arammis would do the same. Julyan would take one look at it and go "Oh Hell No. I'm already a loaded gun myself, don't give me something that can make my tendencies worse" and straight up not use it. Raelen/Vall/Azra would get too excited and end up breaking it on accident. Yuna/Sybil would get drunk and then wake up the other day with no gun and precisely no recollection of what she did with it the day before. Morwan would know how to use it, but complain that "her axes are better" and grow bored, and give the gun to Arammis who would be an utter menace with it. Jamie/Seira/Nadinne/Kaden would be too afraid to use it, being sweet cinnamon rolls, and find a way to hide it so no one can use it. Luciya would go on a spree and disappear, return two years later, and refuse to elaborate further. Innara/Myrah/Peregrine/Trystan would be intrigued by it but not use it because it doesn't fit their code of honor. Helios would become friends with the gun and would give it a name, just to spite everyone around him. Lukan would lose it in a bet/while gambling. Nyx would be utterly terrified of it and think it is some form of "Imperial contraption" and destroy it. Cassander/Brenwyn would find it incredibly unamusing and neither of them would be impressed. Nethen is far too vengeful for a gun too, but he wouldn't really use it since it would foil his plans (as in drawing attention to him).

And finally... Cirien would start straight up venting his woes to the gun in some obscure place of the realm, cry, fall asleep, and then proceed to go about his day like none of that happened. Much to the confusion and dread of everyone around him.

Calling Writeblr

Hey so I'm planning on finishing the rough draft for Mantis today and I should take a break before tackling developmental/content edits.

SO I want to focus more on writeblr's WIPs and send a bunch of asks and gush over your work!

Some limits:

Personally, I'm comfortable with lemons on the citrus scale but PREFER YA romance

Please no gore. Some of y'all are just...too good with descriptions and I have a weak stomach for realistic violence. Fantasy violence and psychological horror okay!

That's it! Please reblog or otherwise share if you think it will reach more writing blogs for me to obsess over!

I don't know about happily trading places with my OCs because BOI do they lead troubling lives and I quite like my own. But if it was temporary, then maybe Seira Nivaine from The Last Wrath, Valentine Concordium from Enchanted Illusions, Pax from Supernova Initiative, and either Olivia or Jacob from Open Secret Files?

Next Question: Which OC would you like to have as your lifelong best friend and why?

OKAY!

WRITEBLRS if you're seeing this, you're legally obligated to reblog with an answer, and then a new question for the next person!

Here's the start:

Which of your OCs is most likely to punch somebody in the face?

don't get stuck on what you need to improve at

just do The Thing, regardless of the outcome

you need to suck at The Thing before becoming better at The Thing