Chapter 1: Creative Writing 101
What does it need to actually write a good story? Let’s start from square one, the first and most important thing you need is an idea, a theme, a muse, something that inspires you. Muses can be a lot of things, a place, a song, a memory and the most famous one, a person. Oh, me? For me it wasn’t just a person, it was all the people I met on my travels, it was everyone that made me be the person I am today, good or bad doesn't matter. Those were my muses, and of course my love to write that I was born with, no one else understands me better than my own stories.
Once you know why you want to write or for whom you need to set the scene, a world where your idea takes place, a world like ours, where everything is possible. Let me tell you more about the beauty of the world we live in. The world we will be working with isn’t that big, we don’t need big elaborate worlds to create a meaningful story.
One unified planet split into seven nations, different as they can be. Each getting more beautiful the longer you spend there. Where the Archon gods rule under the guidance of our Celestial creators.
Each nation rules over one of the seven elements that share their people’s core beliefs:
Anemo: Freedom and creativity
Geo: Prosperity and Trade
Electro: Eternity and individuality
Dendro: Knowledge and innovation
Hydro: Justice and fairness
Pyro: Passion and tradition
Cyro: love and bravery
Their origin as old as the planet itself. If a person is a very prominent figure in the nations core believes the Gods might decide to bestow upon them part of their powers in the form of visons. A pendulum of either gold or silver with a blessed stone inside that displayed the elements symbol. Of all the millions of people on this planet only about 100 are holding a vision, it’s a rare and powerful gift of the Gods.
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Now that the core component of our world has been written out let me tell you more about the nations at individuals.
Starting off simply with a small nation in the northeast of the main continent, Mondstadt, a simple yet majestic nation with a long history. Once filled with mountains and valleys, now a vast Greenland going on for miles on end with plenty of trees and fields. Hills still remain although most of them had been cut down long ago by the god of wind. He found the mountains to be too restricting for the freedom of his people so with one swoop of his divine powers he cut down every mountaintop creating the rich farmland we know as today.
The city with the equivalent name we know as Mondstadt however was not the first city of the nation. It started in a small village between two mountains, a safe space for people to build their houses, enough water to farm crops. Things could have been so well for the people of Old Decarabian, if it wasn’t for the Lawrance family. A Family of royals that ruled with an iron fist over the small civilization that formed there. The food taxes that had to be paid by the people nearly left them with nothing while they lived in gluttony inside their tower.
People didn’t have the spirit to rebel, they were hungry, cold and unorganized. Until one day a lone bard, with the help of divine intervention, called out to overthrow the tyrants and free the people of their suffering. In one hell of a fight the people burned the tower to the ground, killing some but not all of the Lawrance family.
Those who survived ran away in shame, but not all people from that fraction were evil. Some even redeemed themselves and left their heritage behind. The people of Old Mondstadt could have killed them then and there in the midst of the street. But they weren’t as cruel, those who wanted to redeem themselves were greeted with open arms and an open heart.
And the bard? The one who had the courage to speak up? He fell during the battle, a brave sole fighting for something greater than himself. His songs now lives on within the bard’s that followed generations of musical talents living in the Mondstadt we know today, making it the city of song and wine as we know it today.
The city is also known for its wine culture. The leading producer of wine was and is the Dawn Winery, owned by many but now under the lead of the Ragnvindr family. The only son of Crepus Regnvindr, Diluc, is known as “the” wine tycoon. He makes millions in revenue a year from his wine alone. The network of people under him allows him to have connections all over the world, he might no longer be one of the knights but is known as the undercover King of Mondstadt.
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Let’s move on from song and wind to a nation adhere to rules and regulations more. The neighboring land of Liyue is known for its ores culture and their priceless business contracts. Within its bountiful mountains lives magic and fascination. From the illuminated Adepti, a group of warriors contacted to protect the nation from harm, to the ancient yakshas, demigods that lived in the mountain range far before any civilizations had settled.
Around 6000 years ago a mighty god had descended from the heavens to guide the people who were barely getting by into a new rich life. He, the one who led them over the mountains, he who they owed their life to was named Rex Lapis. The God of many names, God of Contracts, God of the Furnace, God of Mora. He was the one to unite the nations with one common currency. He showed his people the art of trade, underlining the importance of fairness and strict rules of trade. He showed his divine power and locked away the Evil of the lands within a creator he had created himself, today known as the Chasm. For a long time, it was Liyue’s most use deep mine, but it had to be shut down for a while after a few occurrences that were unexplainable. Recently surface mining has been allowed again and with time the entire mine will reopen. Liyue might have had a few rough months lately, but things are looking up.
With the harbor set onto the big sea people all over the world travel to offer their goods on the doorsteps of Liyue’s Megacity. With a wide mountain range Liyue’s biggest exports are ores, most famously “Core Lapis” a yellow golden stone glowing bright blue when held under fire. Another product that Liyue monopoles is silk, and herbs. Eighty percent of all silk trades in the world are made from Liyue Harbor. Their herbal medicine sold as natural remedies everywhere. Their herbs aren’t only used for medical purposes, however, the best teas come from the small Chenyu Vale Region. Their pure waters and perfect soil conditions make them the Monopole for green, black, and yellow tea and any sort of baked goods involving tea leaves. Even the Duke of Meropide once wished to taste a cup of their tea.
Liyue Harbor is the burning point of culture, cuisine and lights. I have never seen anything more beautiful than the city bathed in moonlight as the lanterns illuminate the streets in a warm flamelight.Every year the nation holds one of the biggest events, a must visit for all of you, the Lantern Rite. Its equivalent to a new year's party, with fireworks, amazing food and even Dragon dance shows.The Dragon is the symbol of power and elegance for the people of Liyue. Its scales standing for the hard shell of their military power, the claws being their tools which they used to become this big of a nation and its fiery breath the words of their tales and contracts.
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Moving on to the next of our Nations and it is surprisingly not the Nation right next to Liyue’s Chasm mine. Across the ocean far away from any mains lands lays a group of islands by the name Inazuma.
It once was a prosperous nation of fishing, traditional culture and a beautiful landscape with both grassy fields and mountains. On top of one of their highest peaks is the Narukami Shrine, a symbol of healing and sanctuary. Up there in their main quarters grew the Sakura Shrine tree. A magnificent tree thousands of years old with great healing and protecting powers. It is their pride and joy to a point where ordinary folk are not allowed to step foot up there.
Raiden Makoto was their leader, and she went to war to protect humanity and stop the war from reaching her Islands. As she returned, she had changed, she became very quiet, very defensive, angry even. She had won her status as a God and therefore she would now want to be called the Raiden Shogun.After that announcement she locked herself in her castle and disappeared for several decades. Nobody really knew what happened during the war or to her, but she must have seen pure horror. Under her command rule the Tri-Commissions, the groups of Clans handled the people, for the culture and for the military. Their goal is to keep Inazuma stable, to preserve it for Eternity as it was after the War.
Then one day things took a drastic turn. The Shogun announced that she would seize her people’s visions in what she called a “Vision Hunt Decree”. She would cleanse her nation from Celestia’s influence with the cost of her people’s suffering. The decree held for many years, causing a civil war and outrage but the ruler seemed disinterested and uninvolved in her nation’s struggles.Until an outside influence managed to invade into the Shoguns palace and speak to her in person. With her eyes open about the suffering this decree caused she immediately halted all further action. The visions were restored, and Inazumas borders were finally opened after decades of the islands being off limits.
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If we move back to the main land and behind the great wall of the chasm we land in the luscious jungles of Sumeru, the nation of knowledge. Their Academia is one of a kind, thousands of years old storing all the books in the world and making public over a device they called Akasha. It’s a portable system that allows every traveler or citizen access to everything they might need in life. An infinite digital library.
Their jungles grow rare fruits and spices and with their active port in the south they trade well with other nations. But not everything is peaceful in the greenery. Patches of grass began to welt, animals became more hostile and entire areas seemed to wither away. The local Forest Rangers are trying their best to contain this, but this has been an ongoing struggle for a long time and most likely won’t stop soon either.But the jungle alone doesn’t not fully represent the entire nation. Behind a wall of stone and rocks lays a vast dessert who exists beyond the Archons reach. It was the land of outlaws and nomads. While not under earthly rule they believe in their own God, a person names King Deshret, the desserts eternal ruler.
A man so powerful he ruled for hundreds of years, said to be immortal. At first, he was a king and just ruler, taking care of this folk and keeping order. Over time, however he got mixed up with the wrong kinds of people, he became power hungry and narcissistic. He went mad with knowledge becoming a dictator.The other Archons could no longer watch this and so they cursed him, and his entire civilization. One after another they turned into stone and broke down into the very sand they once walked on.
It is said that at the day of King Deshret’s judgement he stood before his own grave, staring at what he had creating and laughing as his body turned into sand.From all the evidence we can see on this day King Deshret’s nation was advanced, further advanced than what we can imagine, they had technology that far surpasses the current standard and most of it is still unknown. While the Academia is trying to decipher that lost knowledge the dessert folk still believe the late King will once return again and resume his throne over his people. Many strange places can be found in the desert, from glowing walls to magical ice that doesn’t melt under the heat. All said to be remnants of the curse to forever seal what really happened in ancient times.
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Moving on from that rather sad topic and let’s look at the nation right over the big sea. Just to make you aware of it, Celestia, as we can see in the sky now resides right over the big sea between Sumeru and Fontaine. It is still unknown to why exactly this spot has been chosen or if Celestia can even move on its own.
But back to Fontaine, the nation of Justice and modern technology. The most prominent feature of their lands are the vast and lively seas surrounding the islands. You might also call it the city of love as Fontaine is by far the most liberal nation we have. They were the first to make same sex marriage legal and openly acknowledges a third nonbinary gender.
What isn’t covered by water is mostly mountains and green valleys with the most beautiful flowers and trees this world has to offer. Their architecture is rather clean and bright, lots of white marble and glass.Their technology far surpasses the other nations as they have automated ships, and personalized robotic workers. They are heavily reliant on their energy source a highly unstable but incredibly charged stones called Arkhium It’s found deep underground and can have severe negative effects if humans were to be exposed to it in high doses.
However, many researchers believe the risk to be worth it as has shown in their latest experiment where they wanted to let their research center of kinetic energy fly like Celestia. As expected with the first ever experiment like this is went off the rails and now, we can look at the flying cubes of water and Debree in the air, it had become a tourist attraction over the last years, and they also market it as such, but it was indeed just a mishap.
As beautiful as this nation might be it is tainted by a dark past. Before the nation of Fontaine was established as it is now it all started off as nothing but water, all its liveliness and livable beings were inside their waters. Their archon, who wanted to give their people the best life, they could have blessed them with the ability to become human at will. It reminded me of the Adepti of Liyue, however over the centuries the people have unlearned how to transform. By heart they were still creatures of the water but in human form.
Their God was heavily punished for messing with the creatures DNA as it was against one of several laws Celestia made during the worlds creation. As punishment they set up a prophecy that should take place several years from that day, the water levels would rise more and more over the years. Until one day a sudden flood shall overtake the city once more and turn all its inhabitants back into the creatures of the sea as they were designed to be.
Devastated by the news, the Archon had pulled away from its people riddled with guilt that she had doomed her life and her nation. The Archon was not as involved in the nations upbringing, which led to some unauthorized discoveries.The humans, who knew nothing of their fate, founded an Organization, the Narzissenkreuz, dedicated to research of the threat that lies over the horizon. Although they did meddle with things they weren't supposed to, they did not suffer the same consequences as their Archon was absent and could not report them to Celestia. Their fate had been sealed; they became humans, and so one day they will end.The ruins of their research center are still buried underneath the now Court of Fontaine, which is almost unreachable for ordinary people, as it resided deep beneath the constantly growing ocean.
Said prophecy had unraveled before our own eyes not long ago, and you could still see its outcome. Days of rain, and unstoppable force, indeed the city got flooded but its people stayed safe. The primordial water that already took the live of two men had turned into ordinary rainwater as it fell.There are no accounts of what happened that night. The Archon, a newly chosen one after the first God had vanished, spoke to her people and announced that the prophecy had been prevented and that the people no longer needed to fear.
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Next on the list is the nation of Pyro, Natlan. A colorful and pure nation. Still connected by the roots of their ancestors. Six tribes had formed and settled into the land, each appointed leader sitting at a table with the Archon at the top. All on eye level, ruling together with the people’s interest at heart.
The painted scenery is home to many vibrant ancient creatures that can be found nowhere else in this world. Descender of Dinosaurs that evolved to live in the harsh climate and rocky mountains. In tune with the elements and resistance to many of nature’s forces like volcanic eruptions that occur quite often.
The people have adapted to living next to such heat, using its lava to create energy and power, their homes might look primitive and simple but their technologies allow them to have an almost modern lifestyle.
Recently the nation had suffered und the attack of otherworldly creatures wreaking havoc and disorganizing the nation’s armies. A fierce man from one of the world’s most dangerous organizations personally arrived in the lands to demand an audience with the Archon, a battle ensued that could only be resolved after the mysterious man had been defeated, and injuring the Archon severely.
The war had settled, and peace had returned at last, the pyro Archon had taken leave to tend to her injuries and set in place a temporary Archon with all her powers until she would soon return and continue her ruling.
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The mysterious man that had caused all of this was from Snezhnaya the nation of ice. Little is known of that nation so far as it had closed it’s borders completely, frozen over the entire area. There was no word of the Archon for 500 years and we still await her explanation of why she would cause such catastrophe in her own nation.
What we do know is that under the absence of the Archon another force had stepped into power, They call themselves “Fatui” and it’s a world spread organization with its headquarters in Snezhnaya. They control everything, even if some might not be as obvious.
They control the world’s biggest bank and weapon manufacturer. They have envois in every nation, had sent their harbingers to commit horrible deeds around the world. All for their goal to rid every Archon from their power source, their connection to our Celestial creator.
Their members are highly feared, some possess powers that cannot be explained with the simplism of elemental wielding. Powers of immortality, strength beyond all possibilities. Rumors have it they even have the power to interact with space and time. They are not a force to be messed with, but the average person will most likely never have any issues with them as their goals are focused on a bigger picture only, they see.
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That does conclude the story of our world. A crucial part when writing a masterpiece. Now we can move to the actual story, how I traveled around the lands and managed to write my magnum opus, and it all started in the City of Mondstadt.