I thought I'd start a separate thread, here, to start talking about some world-background questions some of we readers have, in order to help get our author thinking about some helpful details to flesh out. (:
So, everybody... start posting what you want to know about the world of Royal Heritage!
Cities?
I recall from the intro that there are only a few, scattered cities. Which ones have you decided exist as cities, at that point? I mean, the story starts in New York, I gather (from a comment Luther made), but about how many/what other cities are there, in this era? Is there a Chicago? A Memphis? A San Francisco? Or nothing that close? How about London? Tokyo? Nairobi? Melbourne? Does anybody know?
Difficult to Say
There are countless scattered cities in this day, but as the eve of instant communication has passed, there really isn't an exact count. I intended that many of the larger cities still exist in some form, but I haven't really set any of them in stone.
Some cities I've played with the idea of writing into:
Detroit (or an area of Dearborn Heights, with which I am most familiar)
Elkhart, IN (also a familiarity choice)
Chicago (I may have to take the two hour drive to actually explore the city)
Tokyo (not likely, considering I know nothing about the city in general, just thought it would be interesting to have something in Japan)
I think the most likely suspects are Detroit and Chicago, though I'm seeing quite a different feel. Whereas New York has become subject to military rule and has an organized community, I need to create what I might call a city of ruins. There are many people, but rather than a large community, they form smaller clans and fend for themselves, even if it puts them in direct confrontation with someone else in the city. Sort of like the Ghosts in Terry Brooks's Genesis of Shannara trilogy, if you've ever heard of it. I'm having trouble coming up with an analogy to a more well-known work. But in fact, the world, at this point, is heavily inspired by that version of Brooks's world.
Anyways, once I've really gotten the story going in New York, I should be jumping over to this other set of people we've not yet met in this city of ruins. And one of them (through several generations of descendants) will prove to be much more integral to the story than Luther is, even though Luther is our focus at this point.
So, that was the long answer. The short answer, is yes, there are other cities, no I haven't decided which cities to use just yet.
Though I am lately more
Though I am lately more inclined to continue the story I started in The Last Stand of the Third Age. It might be a little easier to pick up the story in the context of events that I've already defined in my head, rather than try to write in the history leading up to those events, when I have only a vague idea of what I want to happen there.
And the world has changed
And the world has changed SIGNIFICANTLY by that time. The old cities are completely gone, and even the general geography of the land has been altered.
World map
How so? Do tell how the map looks, at this time! (:
In RH, the world is very much
In RH, the world is very much like our own Earth.
But the world, as seen in TLS, has changed (I was thinking by some incredibly powerful magic). Even the shape and arrangements of the continents have been altered.
Details! :D
I'd love to see a map of the altered arrangements, even if just roughly sketched. I might even be willing to take a crack at drawing one for you, if you want, if you can give me enough details to picture it.
Well, you may recall that I
Well, you may recall that I brought a hand-drawn map on sixteen sheets of 8 1/2 by 11 one day at VOX. It requires some small alterations (mostly in location names, many of which have changed). I'd like to get the whole thing scanned and uploaded, but I'd first need to find a scanner. And I'm not sure I want to split it into small enough pieces for a standard scanner...
If it is already on 8.5x11's....
... it shouldn't be hard to scan each sheet individually, then put the pieces together in some sort of drawing program, to recreate fastening the pieces together...
I must confess that I don't recall seeing the map, but if it was one time, years ago, then I'm not too surprised that it didn't stick in my memory.
The issue is that the pages
The issue is that the pages are all taped together.
That shouldn't be insurmountable
This is one of those times when it is really too bad you're not still more local - I'd find a way to get tricksy with it, and get it scanned for you.
Perhaps I'll have to bring it
Perhaps I'll have to bring it on my next visit.
Sounds like a plan!
Sounds like a good idea to me! (:
Sounds like we need another sub-forum!
I will try to find some time to make a forum for this story, too! (:
Thanks!
Thanks!
May I suggest...
... that the city that survived in Japan be Kyoto. It was the original capital of Japan (in ancient times), and I think it would be really cool if this ancient capital re-emerged to be the "capital" once again. (: I think I have a map of Kyoto around here, somewhere. If I can find it, I'll send you a scan of it. (:
I'll keep that in mind,
I'll keep that in mind, though I'm leaning further and further away from Japan in general.