A Bit of a Break & a Talk about Consistency

 This week I've decided to talk a little about a tabletop roleplaying game that I've been reading up on recently. I suppose I might be a little late to the party involving it as it was originally released in 2019. I'm talking about Alien RPG, which can be found here.

One of my favorite movies is Alien vs. Predator and I'm also a fan of the original Alien. That said, I enjoyed the movie Prometheus. One of the problems that I have with these movies is the same problem I have with series that explicitly state one thing, then turn around and change it to fit the plot (or just plain ignore reality because that doesn't fit with the story the author wants to tell...) and that is consistency.

Something Myrrh and I enjoy doing is watching movies and pointing out plot holes, bloopers, or just inconsistencies. Sometimes, these are acceptable and easy to overlook. Other times, they lead to rants at three in the morning. One of these rants involved the scene where the Predalien chestburster did what the name suggests and burst...from the abdomen where Scar had been stabbed by the Alien Queen. Another problem with the impalement of Scar is that the Alien Queen's tail is so large, it should have stabbed the chestburster as well, thus preventing the ending scene (and the sequel) from happening. The lack of blood in the surrounding snow was also an issue as with such a severe wound, there would have been more blood. 

This isn't such a big deal, however. The main problem comes when you start looking at the history of both Alien and Predator (also known as the Yautja) species/races and their interactions with humanity as well as the origins of the aliens. 

In AvP, it's established that the Predators found Earth when Antarctica was still a warm-ish climate capable of human habitation and taught the humans there how to build pyramids and were seen as gods. Okay, cool. The pyramids they built exhibited features from the Aztec, Cambodian, and Egyptian pyramids. Okay, also cool. Pyramids are widespread. 

Now, my issue is the translating portion. I understand that for movie/plot reasons they needed to have someone there that could translate the hieroglyphs and convey the story so that the main character (and audience) understood Predators were the good guys in this case, but still. There's no reason for Egyptian and Aztec symbols to show up in a pyramid that predates both of these cultures (it was even stated to be the first pyramid) when it was taught to a race of humans in Antarctica by an alien race. Unless of course we're saying that Egyptian and Aztec are descended from this long-dead Antarctic language, though that didn't seem to be the case based on the dialogue. 

In Prometheus, we learn that the Engineers were the ones who created humans. Okay. Then, we learn that they developed the substance/bio-weapon that would later create the Aliens. Further, the aliens we see in this one aren't the standard xenomorphs or facehuggers, not even the same chestbursters. Alien: Covenant takes it further by showing the experimentation David 8 had to do to get them to the point where they were the more iconic xenomorphs. Okay. So this is all well and good. Except...

AvP established that Predators had been hunting Aliens (the classic standard xenomorphs) for thousands of years, they had an Alien Queen in the pyramid in Antarctica, possibly since it was first built, but at least since the whaling station population vanished. The point is Predators had been hunting Aliens. AvP is stated to take place in 2004. The events of Prometheus take place in 2093 and Alien: Covenant take place in 2104. 

It's established in Prometheus that the Engineers intended to use their bio-weapon goo to wipe out humanity. Okay, fine. Did they use this on any other planets/races? This is uncertain. If they had, it might explain how the Predators were familiar with Aliens, but at the same time maybe not, given that there are some forms that don't have the acidic blood. 

Consistency is important, especially in a series. While you don't have to have all the answers at first when you sit down to write, at least make sure that when you establish something (a rule, a date) that when it gets brought up again, it hasn't changed or you haven't contradicted yourself with it. If you have a rule about why something is a certain way, but a character is able to violate this rule of the universe, give a good explanation for it rather than handwaving it or ignoring it outright. 

I'm not saying you have to answer or explain everything. In fact, sometimes, it's best if you don't explain, especially if you're writing horror. But please use your best judgment and at least have notes for yourself about why you've written things a certain way so that if you are questioned about it later by readers, you can answer it. Also, if you have a romance series with multiple love interests, maybe make a note of what makes each one unique so if you're asked "Do so-and-so ever get married?" you don't go, "Which one was he again?" 

In short: Consistency is important. Make notes about important information, especially if you're writing a series or working on gaming campaign, so you won't get tripped up or forget things. 

Also, yes, I recognize that it is ironic that I talk about consistency in this post which is the only post of mine to go up on a day that isn't Thursday. What can I say? Life happens. 

2022 is the year of getting things in order and there's a lot of work to get done before planting season so my posts may be a bit inconsistent in the coming months while that's taken care of. Another thing that's happening is cleaning and organizing the pantries, fridge, and (soon) the freezer so we're able to meal prep to make things a bit easier on us throughout the week. The sunroom is the biggest task, though, and the most pressing.

The Agency

 I've taken a hiatus from The Agency over the holidays to work on other projects, but recently got back to work on it. What this means is that there aren't really going to be any excerpts shared for awhile since I'm currently writing them as this an ongoing project. 

Instead, I've decided I'm going to share some information about the world of The Agency with you. I know I've said in the past that I don't world-build all my projects and that's true. At first, not every project gets any world-building done. The Agency certainly didn't. It started out as just something that I wrote because I couldn't get it out of my head, just a creepy story about a wicker lighthouse. But then it continued and it grew. And as it grew, so did the world that it was set it. 

Yes, for the most part, it was our world. Many events happened the way they did, when they did in our timeline. Cellphones, movies, modern technology--all of these things are still present. References to horror movies exist. 

But some entries made it clear that this world was just slightly different than our own. Whether subtly through the introduction of technology before it should exist or just the overall concept of The Agency and the existence of a quasi-governmental agency that deals with things that humanity can't, the world is different. 

What isn't clear is whether humanity as a whole is aware of these differences or aware of the agency. The United States government is, clearly, and it can be assumed that so are other governments as the agency is working to quarantine some locations in other countries. It can also be assumed that the agency didn't start out affiliated with the United States as some of the earliest entries predate the existence of the United States, as was seen in the case involving the Pied Piper and the Hamelin Flute. 

The Agency is set in a world very much like our own with some subtle and important differences that are only clear when the entries are read. That said, it's best to take them with a grain of salt. Not everyone giving a statement is a reliable narrator and truth is sometimes stranger than fiction. 

A bit of information to know about the present-day agency is that it is in Alaska, a specific island of Alaska. The employees of the agency are brought there to live once they sign their contracts. The only time they leave is on assignment, the unlikely chance they are able to have a normal funerary service following their deaths, or they decide to quit. They are allowed to quit, though not many take that option, whether due to the high pay of the job, their own quest for knowledge, or just the loss of support and safety from the things they now know exist that quitting would mean. 

Country Spotlight: Vesmain

 This week, the spotlight is on Vesmain.

Vesmain's setting isn't as fleshed out or detailed as Preycia's, but I do have the main information down. Vesmain is also a peninsula, though one with more land mass and connection to the larger continent than Preycia. To the northwest, Vesmain is bordered by the Malarsard Waters and to the southeast they have the Tisrane Bay. The fact that they control Iutharia and Fleyye, countries that also border the bay, means that they have complete control over the Tisrane Bay. Vesmain also shares land borders with Iutharia, Sasnya, Bohl, and Zethea. 

Vesmain is a land of gently sloping hills, rolling fields, and forests. There are meadows and marshlands, outside of the cities. Overall, the appearance is very industrial. Factories and churches are common. The warm sand beaches are off-limits to tourists and civilians as Vesmain is using them for their navy and military training exercises. 

Country Spotlight: Preycia & A World-Building Ramble

 I decided that this week instead of giving you more information about a flag from a nation from my current project that's drawing all my attention, I'd do a spotlight of a country. I think that's going to be the format for things going forward so you'll get flag information and also information about the country so you have a better idea about the people. 

This week, we'll start off with Preycia.

I've given you information about Preycia's flag in a previous post, such as the fact that it is also the coat of arms of the Arnuanna family, the ruling family of Preycia. I've mentioned about Sarai and his father, the tensions and briefly the diplomatic relations between Preycia and Vesmain, and some of more important events from Preycian history, which you can find in the Year End Wrap Up posts. 

This post will cover a bit more about actual setting of Preycia. 

Preycia is a peninsula, bordered on the south by the Gulf of Bientou, the east by the country of Leskovin which was mentioned in the last post, the north by the frigid Alcier Sea, and the west by the Malarsard Waters. The eastern border is marked by mountains, most specifically the Adamantine Peaks, a mountain range that contains Preycia's tallest mountain, the 10,000 foot Irosevain Summit. 

The beaches and shores of Preycia are known for their white sand and very picturesque. They'd be perfect for tourism if not for the rather chilly temperatures. That said, the local Preycians still enjoy time at the beach and, given that Preycia is a peninsula, it is safe to assume that seafood is big part of their cuisine and fishing part of their culture. Of course, for those not into the beach scene, the northern shore has the Wintara Cliffs, fjords that boast stunning views.

Regarding climate, most of the western and northern coasts have a mild climate and are prone to sea storms while the southern coast and part of the western coast have an oceanic-to-subpolar oceanic climate which means they have mild summers and cool winters. The mountains have an alpine climate with a lack of warm summers and very few trees, if any, due to the elevation. Most of inland Preycia has a subarctic climate which leads to long, cold winters and short, cool summers. 

Preycia has a wide variety of plants and animals, despite the chilly environment. Most of their plants include pine, spruce, mosses, and lichens. Wildlife is the most varied, especially their aquatic life. Beaked whales, narwhals, razorback whales, ringed seals, cod, and other fish all call the waters home. The air is home to ospreys near the sea, snowy owls, gulls, pigeons, doves, great crested grebes, and even geese and swans. Ermines, polar foxes, reindeer, muskox, and wolves also call Preycia home, though they aren't often seen near people if they can avoid it. 

Preycia has a thriving navy, their ships mostly in the Gulf of Bientou. That said, their airships are primarily constructed in bases along the Wintara Cliffs. Their submarines that no other nation is aware they're working on are being constructed in the fjords as well due to how shielded they are from potential spies. 

Those familiar with Earth geography can likely guess that I've based Preycia on Norway even though there are a few more countries more northern than Preycia that might fight the geography and climate of Norway better. Well, as the blog says, "life: a rough draft." This is just a rough draft of a project idea. Though I have a map that I'm working from to have an idea where my countries are, I'm not sharing the map and even if I do share it eventually there's no reason to think that it would be the map that would be used as the final product.

I'm not a professional cartographer. I'm not an expert at mapping out climate zones and whatnot. But, I am a writer and a world-builder so I can do that. I research. I know the look I want for the world and the feel I want for certain countries so what my job is, is to capture that with words so that when the editing is all done and someone with more skill than me is told to make the map they know where to put which country. 

That's just a note to world-builders out there: You don't have to be the best at everything. You don't have to do everything for your idea. You don't have to create the map, make the language, draw the characters, or any of that. You can just write down the basics or you can just write your idea. It's awesome if you can do all of that, but you don't have to.

Yes, Tolkien created an entire language for Lord of the Rings. And that is really awesome, and believe me I have considered it and gone, "You know, I really want to do that, and it makes sense that there would be at least a few different languages in this project." But then I've thought about what actually goes into language, and linguistic studies, and realized that yes, that would be cool and something I would absolutely love if this project were ever to become something else, like a TV series where there would be people other than me working on it, but that at this point, it's not feasible for me.

Yes, I made a map and flags. These aren't the finished products. These are what I'm using currently to have an idea for where everything is because, as the Year End Wrap Up posts indicate this is a far-reaching story that involves crusades, curses, assassinations, gold rushes, revolutions, wars, and all of that. That's also why I have the flags. Having the flags and an idea for the meanings behind the flag colors and symbols give me ideas what the people of those countries value, what is important to them economically and spiritually, what they're like. All of these are import for figuring out setting which helps in the long run. Will the flags and map stay the same if/when this is finished and published? Likely no. Chances are, professionals will be involved in those aspects, but at least they'll have something to work from. 

So yeah, a note to all world-builders and writers out there: You don't have to do it all. You can just write. You can do as much or as little as you need to for your project as you want. There's nothing wrong with not world-building and making it up as you go, but there's also not wrong with having a lot of it figured out or at least having enough information seeded in that you're excited to explore the whole history of your world because it feels real.