Forums » Writing Workshop » Read Thread

This week's theme: creating a culture.  Your creation can be fantasy or science fiction. (Seth has a definite bias against "ordinary" and "realism.")

Monday:  Origin Story

No length requirement.  Write the explanation that your culture gives for where they came from.  For example, humans could use the biblical description of how God created Adam and Eve, or the scientific explanation that people evolved from primates, or the mythological story of how Izanagi and Izanami created the first people.

Bonus:  Your culture's explanation of rainbows. 

Before humans existed, life was already present on Earth. The seas and the land, the great skies above, all teemed with life. Earth's ecosystem was in harmony. Of course, this does not mean that life was peaceful, the lions ate the lambs, the sharks the fish, and so one, but it wasn't disruptive. Prey greatly outnumbered the predators, and were only killed to sustain, or beget, the lives of the predators. No matter the actions of any living being, the cycle of life would continue as strongly as ever. 

Then the gods became bored. Watching, as the wheel of life, the never-ending cycle, went on and on for aeons, became boring. Their perfect creation, became mundane. And so the gods created another being, made it sentient, taught it the concepts of race, religion, class, but most of all, an innate sense of superiority over the rest of creation. They called it human, and set it loose upon the Earth. Ever since, the gods have been watching. Not interfering with the world, but watching it slowly burn as their creation, their playthings slowly break the cycle of life. As they poison the Earth, consume those who roam it, and burn themselves in the fires of war. The gods aren't good, the gods aren't evil. They are fickle, creating the perfect world, only to see it set ablaze. And we're here for their entertainment. 

Bonus: 

Long before living memory, long before history was even written down, there lived a girl whose story has been passed down over the centuries. Her name was Iris, and she lived amongst a people that identified themselves as the Phronean, the people from Phroneo. From a young age, this little girl showed extraordinary wisdom, beyond her years. So much so that, at the age of seven, she was asked to sit with the council of elders, to help govern her village. 

Iris was especially valued, as she spoke of the nature of life, and the role of mankind in it. She saw, how the different tribes of humanity, the different states and peoples, were either destroying themselves, or destroying everything around it. She preached peace, peace between humans, and peace with the rest of the world. Though the villagers of Phroneo valued her wisdom, their sentiment wasn't shared by the wider world. You see, the world Iris lived in, was one consumed by war. Villages fought each other, tribe versus tribe, state against state. And though the Phronean, inspired by this wise young girl, stayed out the fighting, they were attacked. 

A nearby tribe, less keen on knowledge and wisdom, known as the Machean, from the village of Machos, attacked Phroneo. Looting and pillaging through the village, slaying everyone in their path, they found Iris at the well in the central square. She did not fight, she did not run, and neither did the villagers around her. She saw how violence destroyed her world, and that fighting, no matter how just the cause, would eventually tear it apart. And so she stayed behind, even when she encouraged, even when she begged others to run, she stayed behind, and awaited her fate. 

The gods, seated on their thrones in high skies, saw the sacrifice of this brave little girl. Saw how the world they intended to burn, was still trying to fix itself. Saw a glimmer of the perfect creation they destroyed, a glimmer of wisdom, in a world thrown into chaos, and wept. Wept at the sight of one so small, so fragile, yet rivalling the gods in her wisdom. And as Iris lay lifeless in the village square, the clouds tore open. The tears of the gods rained down upon the Earth. And from the well in the village square, were a wise little girl breathed her last breath, a rainbow appeared. A circle of colours so very different from each other, yet together forming a thing of the utmost beauty. A permanent reminder to everyone, gods and men, that while we are all so very different from each other, when we work together, we can make the most beautiful things happen. 

Hahah, prosaic but good.

Black Hole

Type: Science Fiction

Many people say that it is impossible for anything to live in a black hole. But oh no, they are wrong. Though Earthling humans cannot enter black holes (or even see them), another type of humans, BH's, can.

Long ago, BH's were Earthlings - but were made more 'different' than us when Alfred  - a psychopathic person, created the BH-Bomb which turned many of the victims into physically altered humans. These physically altered humans were advanced people who Alferd hated for no apparent reason.

They began flying airplanes for revenge, but though they were smart, they lacked the common sense to figure out gravity would diminish in SPACE.

Like I said, they were ADVANCED so they had light speed airplanes. They eventually reached a black hole. Thanks to their alterations, they survived being inside it. They now have an advanced society, but still lack some common sense. As revenge they are creating a mega atomic bomb to bomb all Earthlings.      

Bonus: The rainbows on Earth, they think are Alfred's bombs so they hate them. Did I tell you they want to bomb them too.  But the black holes rainbow-y colours they think are their weapon against Earths rainbows. 

(Bonus included)

When the sky was dark and there was no world, the wolf-god prowled the emptiness. 

Sorrel, king of all, creator of all, had fur and teeth so bright that they needed no sun to create light. As he prowled, he never thought to look back until, one day, he did. Behind him was a trail of stars that had fallen from his bright fur. The stars reached for their father, longed for someone to notice them for they were very lonely. Sorrel walked among them, but in their longing for his affection they tore at him. They tore the green from his eyes, the silver from his veins, the claws from his feet and fur from his skin. Howling in pain he shrunk down to escape the desperate embrace of his children and took refuge on the pieces of his own flesh which had fallen together to form the world. 

The wolf god shaped his world and its inhabitants. He was a life-giver and as he continued to give life to new creations, the humans– who feared the new and large creature that had the power to destroy them– imprisoned the wolf god in a cage of fire and cast it into the sky. From this we gained the sun. Even now though the wolf god, Sorrel, works to defend his children. When his wife, in great wrath at the wrongs the humans had done, attempted to flood the world; Sorrel from on high raked his claws through the sky in a flash of color. Immediately the clouds dissipated.

The Derogatory Culture.

Originally, these species came from the human race. They evolved surprisingly from humans after the internet was created. No-one knows if they are intelligent on the inside. Nobody knows. Slightly more intelligent people saw this as an opportunity. They decided - if the plan worked - that they may be able to convert these people into making massive amounts of controversy due to their quick tempered nature.

Quickly, the many remaining humans did not join this culture. They knew that in time if the derogatory banded together, they would argue and then fall apart. Or so they thought. Instead something went terribly wrong. Younger children started joining this culture.

(Bonus)

When trying to test this culture, they spewed a lot of insults and statements that didn't really make much sense. It has all been translated, so hopefully you won't have trouble reading this. They said very strange things like: "Where do rainbows come form mate? Rainbows come from when we hit 360 no-scopes on your mum. Then we tea-bag her body! Now get wrecked mate!"

The conversation came from an 8 year old boy. We only have to suspect that he has joined this culture.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Note: The conversation about the 360 no scope on mum's and stuff. That actually happened to me :/

Also this isn't about the whole internet. This isn't aimed at us or other websites. Just going to clear that up :) )

In the beginning there was only the One Being. He was content in this state, singing his songs of eternity. But a small part of him grew bored, and the songs took a more sorrowful turn. He began to sing songs of loneliness, and the void within which he lived in seemed to grow darker. The One Being disliked this part of himself, and decided to remove it from his Being. He removed all of his sorrow and loneliness, and soon felt nothing but joy and happiness once more.

But these feelings of malcontent grew in the darkness of the void, and soon formed into another being. This Dark One skulked in the edges of the void, angry at the One Being for creating him like this. He added his own songs to the void, once more adding the sorrowful tone. The One Being grew confused at this change, and searched at the cause of this sorrow. Upon discovering the Dark One, he was horrified to discover he had created a being of such malcontent. Praying upon this horror, the Dark One struck against the One Being, hoping to take his powers for himself.

But the One Being realised this plan, and exploded his Being, forming the universe. From his spirit formed the Nine; holy guardians of the universe, protecting the One Beings creation from the forces of the Dark One.

Humanity is one of many species within this new universe, who worship the Nine as guardians against the Dark One.

Bonus:

The more academic parts of society understand rainbows for what they are; the fracturing of light creating colours. 

The lower classes however believe it to have a more mystical meaning. If you are able to see a rainbow then you have been blessed by one of the Nine, and you shall have good fortune with whatever you try and accomplish that day.

Tuesday:  

Can be the same culture or a new one.  What is family?  Two parents and their children? One parent, their siblings, and all their children? Grandparents and grandchildren, while the parents go off to work/fight in other lands? Describe your culture's typical family unit.

Bonus: when is a child considered an adult?

In a desert land, far away from the villages of Phroneo and Machos, lie the dry plains of Alambara. Here, nomadic settlers dwell from oasis to oasis, transporting goods and persons across the great desert. The caravans can stretch the horizon, a line of camels without end. The concept of family extends far beyond the nuclear family, including aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, grandparents and adopted relatives. A network of social relations brought together by the crossing of the arid land, collectively taking charge of one of the giant caravans.

An interesting detail of blood-relations on the Alambara plains is the concept of milk-relation. Often, when multiple families meet, or travel together, one, or a few, wetnurse(s) from these families take care of the infants, while the rest tend to the affairs of the caravan. Children that drink from the same nurse, or from the same milk, are from that moment on considered siblings. Though not bound by blood, these milk-siblings regard each other as 'real' siblings, and the same social norms apply to them, as were they blood-related. This for example includes marriage, which is considered incestuous, if the bride and groom are milk-related. 

Bonus: 

Though the land is inhospitable to say the least, children are quite abundant in the caravan-families. As the family moves for months at an end, they have no other choice but to take their children with them. Infants, the day after they're born, are carried by their mothers on camel-back, held against their mothers by a sling. Children are expected to help in the household from quite an early age, helping the women cook the food, or the men tend to the camels, but they are only considered adults when they turn twelve. Once every year, when the great treks across the deserts come to an end, an elder of the family takes all of the children, boys and girls, who turned twelve into the desert. Without food or water, without camels to support them, the children must prove that they are able to survive, to find oases, or edible plants without the help of anyone else. The elder is only their to guide and support them at the right moments. If the children succeed, they prove that they are able to survive on their own, should they get separated from the caravan, or wish to start one of their own in the future. 

However, even though adulthood officially begins at the age of twelve, independence doesn't. From that moment on, the new adults can sit in with trade negotiations, sit at the fire with the adults, and accompany an elder on visits to administrative centres, amongst other things. However, the next four years are seen as apprentice years, where these new adults learn how to manage a caravan. Only when they turn sixteen, are children considered 'full' adults. From that age on, they are allowed to marry, to lead the caravan, or, if they so choose, start their own caravan, or settle in one of the desert cities. 

In the kingdom of Susraeni, and indeed most of Raenland, they have a nuclear family much like that of medieval Europe, consisting of two parents and a number of children. The father is typically head of the household, with the mother subservient beneath him. This does of course vary from family to family, depending upon the relationship between mother and father, as well as their level within society.

For the noble classes, the mother usually does most of the parenting during early childhood, for both male and female children, although this is often a task given to nannies and tutors if they can be afforded. However, once a son reaches ten years of age the father begins training him in his future profession. For an eldest son, this would mean being trained to assume his role as his father’s heir to whatever titles he holds. Second sons are trained as soldiers, and as replacement heir should the elder son die. Third sons join the clergy, and any further sons are given duties at the father’s discretion.

For members of the lower classes all sons are usually trained to continue their father’s profession.

Adulthood is reached at the age of sixteen. At this age sons will then assume the profession determined by their position in the birthing order, and daughters are married off.

There is no such thing as 'family' unless you count living with robots for 10 years as a 'family'. Each robot usually takes care of two children. The children are usually not related.

Bonus: When one is 10 years, he/she is considered an adult.

Family is whatever the patient says it is. The bonus question is an excellent question, and I do not know the answer.

Seth is really busy at work.

Wednesday:  let's talk about a cultures work! XD what sort of jobs do they have? Agriculture, mercantile, industrial, tech sector?  Which jobs are high prestige, and which are the equivalent of working at McDonald's?

Bonus: discuss your cultures employment path.  Are there jobs that are passed down through generations? Jobs that require extensive testing?  Jobs for which one is selected by the gods? Or do you just go to college & get an internship?

All of them work in the technology industry. However, there are different ranks of a worker. The most prestigious are the BH bomb builders. The McDonald's equivalent is working on computers. The average ones work mainly in teleporting people.

Bonus: If your robot is high quality,  you'll get a great job. If you're robot is low quality, you'll end up with a poor job.  Average and average. Simple as that.

In the lower classes, most people work as farmers. They grow up on a farm, live on a farm, die on a farm. Most never see the world any further out than a few miles from their farm. These farms typically belong to the local lord, although he has very little to do with them, delegating control of the farms to a commoner only slightly more prestigious than those who work the farms. Those who are lucky might manage to get a job working in a nobles keep; as a servant, hunter or guardsman. In times of war these people are often raised in a levy for the local lord, and this will often be the only time in their life that they leave their homes.

Other career options are to join the clergy, becoming preachers of the words of the Nine, or even advisors for nobles, giving them divine guidance. 

The more wealthy families are merchants, buying and selling goods, as merchants often do.

And of course there are the jobs of the criminal underworld; prostitution, assassination, thieves for hire.

The noble classes simply rule over their territory, passing law and judging criminal offenses. They are often advised by members of the church or nobles of lesser prestige than their own.

Bonus:

Jobs are almost always passed down from father to son. Very rarely will someone manage to escape from the career path chosen for them at birth, although it can happen.

Thursday:  the arts

Talk about your culture's art.  Literature, music, visual arts, etc.  You can discuss the concrete facts, such as "a popular form of music is a singer accompanied by drums" or the themes "there are many songs about unrequited love."

Bonus: describe a famous artist.  could be a historical figure like Michelangelo, or a contemporary icon like Stephen King.  what are they like? what sort of art are they known for?  

BH's have technology in all their arts. There is no such thing as a painting, since that type of art is made digatally. They make their music digitally too! No one there has EVER played an instrument, since they just use sound there for that. Literature is typed in an extremely boring way.

Their literature is mainly about hatred to Earthlings, music is basically the sound of bombs, and visual arts are simply gory pictures of killing earthlings. As you can probably guess, they eat, sleep, and live that way.

Bonus: Legend has it that there was once a masked person making art OTHER than digitally. It, as it was referred, was hunted by many BH'S, their excuse that It was wrecking their culture. After that, it was never found again. Many say that It was an Earthling. But no one really knows.

The most famous writer is Jane. This is an example of her work:

Hate those Earthlings! 

Yes, that's it. It seems that those BH'S only like stuff like that.

A famous musician is John. His music is mainly the sound of bombs.

Last but still least, the most famous artist is Qwerty. Qwerty is a robot. It's work is mainly digital pictures of bombs.

The Laboohoowa:

The Laboohoowa are an old race.  They are a mix of lemurs and frogs, but due to some strange chemical alterations from other planets dumping their waste, the Laboohoowa's faces have turned into glass. 

Anyway, their origin story in the words of the Laboohoowa:

Many many many years ago, there lived the great Shamuui, a lonely spirit who travelled the vast emptyness of space.  One day, it thought about the day it would meet others like it, and a great light eminated from it's body.  The Great Light floated away and became a circular shape.  It stayed there for a long time (the concept of days and nights wasn't a thing yet), and The Great Shammui happy.  Then when it found The Great Light could not speak, it felt sorrow for many cries, then one day, the tears formed together and became The Great Rock.  The Great Rock was offended by the Great Light, and even though they could not speak, The Great Shammui could see them colliding occasionally.  

This made the Great Shammui sad, but he knew there was no other way to solve this.  He took his anger, and turned it into The Great Dirt, and put it in between the two.  The Great Light and The Great Rock, then began to run on The Great Dirt, and it spun many times.  They had much fun.  Eventually, The Great Shammui got an idea, and so he pissed on The Great Dirt, and many oceans were formed.  Then he thought, "Many things should live here, if I made this, why not small things?"

The Great Shammui then made the swimmies, and he told them to make lots of loves, and they filled the ocean with their songs.  (The water species on this planet hum tunes that make vibrations, which are beautiful melodies that can be heard by the oceans).  After there were many, The Great Shammui realized that The Great Dirt has no companions.  

Now, The Great Shammui had some trouble with this.  So he flew away from The Great Dirt for many days, and many nights.  The Great Shammui felt lonely again, and returned.  The Great Shammui harnessed his loneliness, and created all of the living things that walk the lands of The Great Dirt.  All of the plants and animals.

There was still a lack of companionship, so The Great Shammui created beings with wide eyes, brown and white streaked fur, and tails to balance themselves.  He named them the Laboo.  They were happy creatures, and they walked the lands and climbed the trees.  Many years later, they had become arrogant, and scorned the other beings.  So The Great Shammui created the Hoowa, they were short reptiles, with long tonuges, they hopped around, and came in many colors.  The Hoowa lived half of their lives in the water, then they would move to land.  After many times, the Laboo were quite jealous.

Many Laboo attempted to live in the water, and they died.  The Laboo and Hoowa got into many conflicts, and waged many battles.  They ravaged many lands, and left many families broken, many lives were lost.  This saddened The Great Shammui, so he prepared many tears to be cast down upon The Great Dirt, to wipe out the inhabitants.  The waters began to fall, and what would have been known as The Great Drowning began.

But the Laboo and Hoowa realized their mistakes.  They cast down their weapons and prayed to The Great Shammui, and he was touched when he saw them getting along.  The Great Shammui allowed them to live, and every so often his tears fall, to remind the people not to fight each other.  But to love each other always.  Then one day, the Laboo and Hoowa knew how to end any arguments once and for all.  So they asked The Great Shammui to merge them together.

That is how the Laboohoowa was made.

BONUS:

The Great Shammui, the Laboohoowa, and the sea creatures were so happy, that they sang a great song.  This lasted for many days, and many nights.  The happiness felt in those times manifested, and there were great streaks of color in the sky.  These continue to remind the people of peace, harmony, and love.  

This is quite long but there it is.

Oh shoot I forgot it was still Friday! XD 

Write a song, poem, or story from your culture.  Bonus: explain a holiday, festival, etc where your story is traditionally told/performed/etc.

In the dark night of the desert, 
Bare and dry, and bitter cold,
There's a light that shines within you,
A shining flame which you still hold. 

For as long as you brave onwards, 
Past the cactus, past the date, 
You will find that even darkness,
Even loneliness will fade. 

When you cross your last oasis, 
Braving on, your last sweat spent,
Across the high, and looming sand dunes, 
Will even the largest desert end. 

The above is a traditional nursery rhyme for some families of the Alambara plains. It's typically sung to an infant, or a young child, as he or she is carried by their mother. On the long and hard treks across the desert, not yet accustomed to the hardships, the young children are often frightened, or exhausted because of the burning sun. Yet, when they ride along on their mothers' camels and this song is sung, the rhythm soft and calm, even the most restless child will often calm down. 

Below is a poem written by the legendary it:

Have peace all!

Shall that be,

That everyone be safe,

Safe from fear, justice, genocides.

Never will that happen,

Because of hatred towards Earthlings,

Never, never, never

Bonus: On Justice Day, BH'S celebrate hatred towards Earthlings. They also burn pictures of the legendary it. But digitally. 

They call it justice because they feel it is justice for them to do so. They are sometimes so interested in that, that sometimes it goes viral about that. 

Many spies also say that 'it' is watching them. However,  no one really bothers to do anything about that.