Dizzy Hearts: Concept pt.1

Dizzy Hearts: Concept pt.1

This is a first draft of what will be a series of gradual world concept blog posts. These are unrelated to the direct story of Dizzy Hearts, but to give grounding to a living world that may be expanded in the future.

As always this is a living document and I may change or adapt the concept as I go.

About

The world of Dizzy Hearts is small in size and seperated into 3 major biomes that I will explain later. This planet is in such close proximity to its sun it fills most of the sky. Captured within the star’s orbit, and tidally locked to it.

Day

This leaves the side facing the sun a desert, akin to the Sahara with high 120°f/49°c heat. Sparse oases, cacti, etc. Most of the people that inhabit this side of the planet are subterranean. And live in natural caves, canyons, and in mountains. Or in man made underground cities. Entire civilizations are carved into these mountains, or under the surface with massive ant-hill structures.

The terrain because of the wind and sand, has created a lot of craggy valleys, mountainous regions that are wind-eroded. And straight flat sand seas. Where there is a lot of hard rocky topology, it’s been carved into to create by several of the races that live here. But most commonly by the Assard (the dominant race that lives there) to create subterranean cities.

Towards the twilight region, there are more oasises where it is cooler. But there also underground seas, where under direct sunlight or exposure, they would evaporate away.

Night

On the moon-faced side. The moon constantly faces the night side of the planet. Like the planet itself, the moon is locked to the planet, orbiting the sun in unison. With sunlight through the upper atmosphere, as well as past the planet. Reflecting the sunlight off the moon. The area of strongest focus of moonlight is the most uninhabitable region of the night hemisphere, and while this is the brightest area, it is also the coldest region of the whole planet, forming a sort of arctic crust.

This hemisphere is inhabited mainly by the elves. Near the border of night and the day. It is here where this hemisphere gets it’s most warmth. But it is still far colder than the night realm. With an cold, winter-like climate. The elves typically live in close proximity to each other, valuing community, and personal warmth from one another. It is not uncommon for there to be very large households among the lower classes, as heating is at a premium, and very lavish for Elvish population. When indoors, it is common to shed the layers of winter clothes and seek other elves for warmth, and comfort. Community and personal comfort, hedonism, socializing are traits that are valued in elvish society.

Twilight

Between both hemispheres is a twilight equatorial zone, and exists in a state of permanent twilight or dusk. Where the temperature varies very little, and is only affected by the winds and climate. Many of the races of the night-realm exist in this zone as well, as independent nations. Including spider-beings, and night dwelling chiropterans. This is also the most heavily forested region of the entire planet. And shares much trade with night-realm nations.

Most of the rain fall happens here, and flows into small seas, ocean-like lakes, and hilly white rapids. Flowing into both areas of the world, to the day into natural valleys. And to the night in cold moon-touched lakes.

Design

The planet itself for whatever reason, magical or otherwise has existed in this state for ‘a long time’, allowing all sorts of civilizations to spring up in the different ecosystems. Notable races that live in this hemisphere are chiropteran like races, humans, and ‘brown’ elves.

Obviously, such a world design is not scientifically realistic. But to give atleast some kind of grounding in a purely fantasy universe. For this reason science is more of the scaffolding and tape to facilitate what is a fantasy universe. Regardless I have taken effort to describe this world in a plausible manner.

Climate

The weather system on this world is created by a large temperature differentials. The air is heated by the sun, and rises, colliding with the much colder air from the night-realm. Twisting together and making near permanent windstorms over the twilight region. The majority of the vegetation grows on the twilight band of the world, filling the air with oxygen. And is a heavily forested, hilly. Areas here are used to near constant Tornado force winds, and lightning storms. Giving the races that live here a constant source of wind power.

Most of the leafy foliage that grows in the night region, is black. This is to absorb as much of the light reflected of the moon, and photosynthesize as much as possible. Most of the day-hemisphere plant life is cactus, or brush suited to the inhospitable surface. Or it is subterranean fugus, commonly bioluminescent and cultured by the largest races of this hemisphere to light their cities, and feed their people.

Races

Assard

Assard is a human country on the sun-faced side of the world. The country’s cities are all mostly underground where it is not only livable, but where plants can grow. And where water collects in vast underground lakes. When a man or women reaches the age of adulthood it's often considered their duty to serve in the economy or politics of their cities, or to leave, and explore the world. That way, when they return, they bring history, stories and trade to the isolated country. And about what they've seen, and learned. Because these people are subterranean, know very little about o

There isn't that much vegetation, but there is stuff like oasises on the surface. It's around 120 degrees at the peak, very hot. But most of them live under the ground, growing fungus in artifical caves and siphoning water from underground lakes. Clothing wise, they would have clothes that are more relaxed and comfortable for inside, and underground. That could be converted with a denser layer for going outside with visors, and coverings to protect from sun and sand exposure. So the clothes are more practical than anything, and as a culture they are more simple, direct and utilitarian like that. Whereas elves are more flashy and extravagant.

Homes are built in intricate cave systems like ants. With rooms, tunnels, underground cities with ways for carts and animals. Lit by bioluminescent fungus, which grows along with other fungi in high quantity and is cultivated for food in massive ‘farms’. Harvested by the Assard, this represents a staple part of their diet, and the people here are at least mostly vegetarian, with low meat diets beyond the fish that swim in vast underground lake systems, and the small quantity of animals they raise.

Lungarde

On the moon-faced side, where the story principally takes place. The race of Elves are unique in that one in every one ten women is born Hermaphroditic. Because these are the only gender pairs, those who are known as Fiore are often given high value in society, and high responsibilities. Families rise to power as ruling clans based on a lineage of Fiore ancestors, and a likelihood for their heirs to be born the same way. The highest positions in society are often reserved for Fiore except under rare circumstances where non-Fiore have proven themselves and their worth. That is not to say that Fiore are rewarded for performing their duties wrongly. Because much of society pressures them to fulfill their status as Fiore, which has cultural, religious and physical significance to the people. Especially in terms of sex, where they are encouraged to bring as many heirs to their family as possible, and propagate the race.

Night dwelling, the Elves of moon-faced side are light, pale skin in color, with violet, red or pinkish color eyes. Often with white hair (though other colors are common), and give a very ‘albino’ impression. Though this is due to low melanin, and not the absence of it.

The priesthood is also very symbolically important to the Elven people. Guiding the people religiously, the priesthood is without exception, entirely female. The priesthood not only serves their people but also their Goddess. Who is strongly held to be the first Fiore, and the progenitor for their race. The Priesthood are essentially concubines of the Goddess both spiritually and culturally. It is because of this bond that it is forbidden for such priests to have any relation with any ‘other’ Fiore. Priests are not forbidden from relationships altogether. (As it is not uncommon for women in this society to have a wife of their own) And priestesses often have multiple wives.

Names and Etymology

Elves

Names for the elves follow an etymology that is parts Indo-European, Slavic, Nordic and Latin. There is no particular rule to how these names are constructed, but the end result is something regal, or elegant. Maybe elvish in feel. Smaller family names will be far more simplified, as the represent more modern descent. But families with royal lineage often have much longer, more complicated names, representing their long heritage.

Matronage occurs when a Fiore of some distinction. Whether it’s a business owner, or royal, (in any case where one would normally create an heir) is declared. In which case the last part of the sire’s name (Fiore) is replaced with (Run or ”rune”) and is given to the child. This is the child’s middle name, and then the family name remains the same. In this case this child is a heir to their sire. And culturally the two share a much higher bond then normal. Because as is typical in Elf society, a Fiore may sire many, many children in her life time, and depending on the circumstances, the child may not be directly raised by both parents. As is the case in many royal families, where the reward is a child born with royal blood. It is also a status usually only given to Fiore children.

To be continued in Concept pt.2