the snowflake project

I’ve added the description of the final major race in Kos’s world to the Races page. Technically, the Griind were not created by The One God, and shouldn’t qualify, but they are certainly important enough to the story to be included in my notes on races. I’ve been developing the Griind as an evil race for about 6 years. Their peculiarities are influenced by a lot of other fictional evil races – the Zerg in the Starcraft universe, the Borg from Star Trek, vampires, werewolves, zombies, etc. I think there’s nothing more terrifying than an enemy that doesn’t just kill you, but recreates you in its own image.

Those of you who are more observant may notice that I left out the physical description of the Griind breeders. That’s because I haven’t completely decided what they’ll look like. I only know they will be beastly and monstrous.

Anyway – let me know what you think!

I’ve added a brief description of Dwarves to the Races page. There are fundamental differences to each race that go much deeper than the typical differences between fantasy races. There are hints of elemental origins, totally different biology (iron blood, copper blood, carbon blood), and extreme cultural differences that I hope will play out strongly, if not in this book, then in followup books where the non-humans factor in the plot more heavily.

One of the cultural quirks of the Dwarves is certain to be controversial – doubtful to endear them to anyone, and sure to make them abhorrant to many. But systemic misogyny is a real thing that real societies practice. I may only hint at that factor in Dwarvish society, or I may really run with it. Regardless of how heavy-handed I am on the topic, knowing that Dwarves abuse their women, and knowing that THEY are not the chief evil in the world, will certainly keep things interesting for me as an author.

I’m slowly plodding forward in the world building process. I may take a break from it and go into the next Snowflake Method step soon, just to make sure that doesn’t lose any momentum.

In the meantime, I’ve added a description of the Elves in Kos’s world to the Races page. They’re different from standard elves – in fact I’m considering doing away with the word ‘elf’ altogether. Let me know what you think!

Continuing on the world building path, I’ve just added what will most likely be the final paragraph of the cosmology section (unless I find it necessary to flesh out the metaphysics of the world). The lowest order of spiritual beings in the world is also the most important. The Fadd Tsora are the foundation of all magic in Kos’s world.

I’ve also created a new page in the World Building section for Races. So far I’ve only added humans to that page, but others are on their way. I decided on a whim to make humans a VERY young race – only centuries of awareness behind them. I’d love to have a discussion with all of you about the implications of that!

Let me know what you think, and stay tuned for more world building.

I decided early on that most cultures present in my novel would be monotheistic. Our own culture is largely monotheistic, and although reading about characters who worship sweeping pantheons of gods and goddesses is exciting and interesting, most of the readers would probably identify a little better with monotheist characters. Besides, why confuse matters with an enormous cast of deities when the story is not about the gods, but rather about the creatures of the world.

My cosmology is relatively sparse and simplistic: a force of good, a force of evil, and a different take on angels and demons. Read the beginnings of my thoughts on them on the new Religion page.