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#the autumnlands
paullovescomics · 9 months
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Books read in the first half of 2023, part 9 of 15
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graphicpolicy · 1 year
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Underrated: Autumnlands: Woodland Creatures
This is a column that focuses on something or some things from the comic book sphere of influence that may not get the credit and recognition it deserves. Whether that’s a list of comic book movies, ongoing comics, or a set of stories featuring a certain character. The columns may take the form of a bullet pointed list, or a slightly longer thinkpiece – there’s really no formula for this other…
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taikatoriartist · 2 years
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hiraganasakura · 4 months
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[ID: A map of Vericitias, a fantasy land. The land is split into three continents: One in the northwest with an archipelago connected to it, one in the northeast, and one in the south.
The northwest continent's mainland is colored in brown, and is a long strip of land with a delta at the southernmost tip. At the top is a label reading "The Deadlands". From top to bottom, the three towns are Dimhearth, Bogreed, and Deltaspring. A harbor is marked with an anchor symbol at the bottom of the delta. There is a small mountain range at the northernmost tip, from which two rivers flow and eventually join when they reach the delta. A yellow star marks crossroads between Deltaspring, the other towns of the Deadlands, and the road to the archipelago.
East of the Deadlands is an archipelago, labeled at the top as "The Wavelands" and colored in sandy brown and light green. From top to bottom, the three towns are Anchorfall (note: It should say "Anchorfell" instead), Tropicharbor, and Saltshore. The bottommost island is small and has an anchor symbol denoting a harbor. There are also two more harbors, one beside each of the other cities. A dark blue star marks the path between Saltshore and the nearest harbor.
The northeastern continent is split into three regions, each labeled accordingly with a label above them. From top to bottom, they are the Peaklands (colored in white and full of mountains), the Mistlands (colored in gray and covered in fog, continuing the mountain range in the northern areas), and the Autumnlands (colored in orange and full of trees, concluding the mountain range in the north). From top to bottom, left to right, the towns are Winterchapel, Ridgegate, Snowcap Abbey (all in the Peaklands); Fogshade, Cloudport, Cogsmount (all in the Mistlands); Hollowvale, Fenrise, and Spirereach (all in the Autumnlands). One river cuts through the Peaklands; three that become two, and then one, through the Mistlands; and two that become one through the Autumnlands, one of which flows through a lake beside Hollowvale. There is a port at the bottom tip of the Mistlands, a port beside Fenrise, and a port beside Spirereach. A light blue star marks the path from Snowcap Abbey into the Peaklands; a black star sits atop Cloudport's icon; and a purple star is on top of the western river in the Autumnlands.
Finally, there is the southern continent. From left to right, the three regions are the Badlands (colored in sandy yellow, full of dunes and cacti and almost completely surrounded by cliffs), the Brushlands (colored in light green, occasionally dotted with trees and hills), and the Blossomlands (colored in dark green, full of trees). From left to right, the towns are Oasishaven, Clifthall, Canyonsong (all in the Badlands); Riverglen, Shrubsteppe, Breezegrave (all in the Brushlands), Bloomcrown, Petalcreek, and Lushhart (all in the Blossomlands). There is an oasis in front of Oasishaven. Two rivers become one cutting through the Brushlands, while three rivers join to become two through the Blossomlands. There is a port at the uppermost tip of the Brushlands, a port beside Bloomcrown, and a port beside Lushhart. A red star sits on Canyonsong's icon, an orange star marks the path leading into Shrubsteppe, and a green star is on top of Bloomcrown's icon.
Roads on land are denoted with dotted black lines. On the sea, dotted dark blue lines make paths between Deltaspring's harbor, the harbor closest to Saltshore, the harbor closest to Shrubsteppe, Bloomcrown, and the harbor closest to Cloudport. Medium blue lines make paths between Tropicharbor and the harbor closest to Saltshore, Bloomcrown, and Cloudport; as well as Fenrise with Bloomcrown and Cloudport. Finally, light blue lines make paths between Anchorfell and the port closest to Deltaspring, the port closest to Saltshore, and Tropicharbor; as well as Lushhart with Bloomcrown, Fenrise, and Spirereach. The sea is dotted with several ships and hazards. There is a compass rose in the bottom right corner. End ID.]
I don't make IDs often and I just made an absolutely massive one, pls lmk if I need to change it or the alt text in any way to be more accessible!
Anyhow, you're probably wondering what the heck this is! Vericitias is the location for my hypothetical Octopath Traveler III. I realized how important the worldbuilding was to the story, so I decided to make this post to both show off the map (which I made in Inkarnate) and explain a lot of the worldbuilding in a way where all of the important information wouldn't be so scattered and split up.
Due to length, the rest of this post will be beneath the cut. Also switching up my writing style to be my more formal and professional one after the cut lol
Before I get into the different regions and towns, I actually want to explain the star marks first. They show where you'd meet the travelers to add them to your party if they weren't chosen as your protagonist. Yellow is the apothecary, dark blue the thief, light blue the cleric, black the scholar, purple the merchant, green the warrior, orange the hunter, and finally, red is the dancer.
And with that concluded, time to actually talk about the land's locations!
THE DEADLANDS
Once known as the Marshlands, a horrible sickness known as the Blight struck the region during the Eight Years’ War. The Blight stole life from the once vibrant swamp, destroying crops and killing citizens, until it became the desolate and decaying wasteland most know it as now. Nobody knows for certain where the Blight came from; it could have just been any other sickness, or an enchantment by some sinister scholar, or something else entirely. But one thing is for certain: The Deadlands earned their name thanks to it.
Deltaspring
A small farming town at the mouth of a delta. Ever since the Blight hit the region, agriculture has greatly slowed; while before, Deltaspring produced enough crops to feed the whole region, it can now feed itself with a slight surplus. That being said, this is one of the few areas of the Deadlands where farming is at least possible. The region has had to mostly sustain off trade from other regions, but it’s primarily Deltaspring that prevents the region from being entirely reliant on others. Here, an apothecary named Tao makes her home, desperately trying to stop the Blight from affecting the people of her town.
Bogreed
A village on stilts, nestled into the swamp. Bogreed was hit rather hard by the Blight, with most of the agriculture industry being wiped out, even worse than in Deltaspring. The desperation of the townspeople has led to an underground crime ring taking root here, gaining and spending money through illicit means — including a gladiator ring — to stay alive.
Dimhearth
Dimhearth was once considered one of the major political powers of the world, and a historically important aggressor in the Eight Years’ War (on the side of Blizzardchapel, Spirereach, and Bloomcrown), but now, none of that power remains. Once an additional headquarters for the Church of the Sacred Flame, Dimhearth has since been abandoned after the Blight, leaving the people with tattered faith. In the time since, a gang of pirates known as the Crimson Cutthroats have made their base here, demanding the people pay tribute to them — or else.
THE WAVELANDS
An archipelago in the Shattered Sea, the Wavelands are considered the mercantile center of Vericitias. From the smallest of businesses to the grandest of corporations, all can be found here. However, the area is also a brooding ground for pirates. In particular, two factions of pirates combat one another for dominance in the seas beside the Wavelands: the bloodthirsty thugs called the Crimson Cutthroats, and the noble yet misunderstood Hawk Raiders. The Crimsons target ships near indiscriminately, as long as they look like they have something worth plundering; meanwhile, the Hawks only target ships connected to merchant companies with evidence of immoral activity — nonetheless, travelers are wary of both.
Saltshore
A humble fishing village on the edge of the Wavelands, Saltshore has a tight-knit community of close neighbors. Due to its location, it often finds itself the refuge of shipwrecks and stowaways — including a certain noble pirate named Crowley, who winds up marooned here after a harsh storm.
Tropicharbor
Tropicharbor thrives off trade and tourism, which it gets in spades thanks to its strategic position near the center of the land of Vericitias. It’s also noted for having a sizable beastling population, further spreading the town’s influence thanks to its multicultural reach.
Anchorfell
Anchorfell is perhaps the most successful trading hub in the whole land. At its beating heart is the Oracle Corporation, a massive trading company that’s all but monopolized shipping across Vericitias — though rumors persist of its past, and possibly present, corruption. Anchorfell remained a neutral party during the Eight Years’ War, keeping its role as a supplier for both sides.
THE PEAKLANDS
The home of this land’s Church of the Sacred Flame, the Peaklands is a harsh, frigid, and rugged land. The snowcapped mountains completely surround the region, save for a more open area close to the border with the Mistlands. In this unforgiving environment, many have found solace and support in the church — however, twenty years ago, the church began showing signs of corruption, leaving many disillusioned and lost.
Snowcap Abbey
An abbey town not far from the border with the Mistlands. Many people who have grown unsatisfied with the Church of the Sacred Flame gather here to live and worship instead of the church’s capital, Winterchapel; while the monastery follows the same religion as the church, it is of a different, more tolerant sect than that the increasingly corrupt church propels. Among the monks and nuns here is a cleric named Phaedra, among the people most vocal about the church’s mistakes.
Ridgegate
A militaristic town situated perfectly in the valley between Snowcap Abbey and Winterchapel. This is the home base of the Paladins of the Flame, the church’s elite soldiers. Nobody is permitted to pass through the gate to or from Winterchapel — not without the church’s permission.
Winterchapel
The capital of the Church of the Sacred Flame, and a victor of the Eight Years’ War alongside Spirereach and Bloomcrown. It’s a massive city, built into the basin between mountains. At the very peak of the city is a huge cathedral, the largest belonging to the church. Generally, lower-class citizens live near the bottom of the basin, while high-class citizens live near the peaks. Interestingly, you’ll notice that people’s classes are usually positively correlated with their positions in the church (people with little to no power in the church being of the lower class, while people with high power in the church have a higher standing in the city’s society), to the point where people may struggle to afford their needs if they don't have some sort of position of power. That’s totally not a sign of something wrong, right [sarcastic]?
THE MISTLANDS
The Mistlands get their name from the near-constant rain and fog in the area. It’s a somewhat mountainous region, but not nearly as much as the Peaklands (or any mountainous Octopath region, like the Highlands or Crestlands, for that matter). The region is an industrial center, filled with dense cities and productive factories. Unfortunately, it also finds itself the den of unsavory folk, including an infamous black market and a criminal organization that lives in the shadows.
Cloudport
A bustling city near the coastline, Cloudport is a big trading hub, a place where goods are both made and sold. On the other hand, Cloudport has a rather high crime rate, with everything from burglary to murder being a regular occurrence. It’s a good thing that the scholarly detective, Trixie, is on the case, aiming to help stop this injustice — on the path to solving a mystery she’s been trying to crack for years.
Fogshade
While another big city, Fogshade has a quiet, sinister air to it that even the dangerous city Cloudport lacks. After all, it’s where you’ll find the notorious Black Market, where all sorts of unsavory goods are on sale for hefty prices. Forbidden magic, the services of assassins, weapons and poisons fit to kill — nothing is considered too dangerous or illegal to sell on the market.
Cogsmount
The center of industry in all of Vericitias, countless inventors and merchants make their homes here. From the outside looking in, it seems like a technological paradise, with steam power fueling many aspects of life — and the list continuing to grow — making it a convenient place to live. But the citizens know differently. In the shadows, something rotten lurks, though few can say quite what — and the few who can are often wise enough to keep their mouths shut, else the Desire of Fortune force their silence. The organization has gripped power since very shortly before the Eight Years’ War, but strangely enough, not even Cogsmount’s loss made Desire lose power. In fact, some wonder if Cogsmount’s loss was *purposeful*, if they intentionally sabotaged Riverglen and Oasishaven.
THE AUTUMNLANDS
The Autumnlands is a temperate forest region, with an exceptionally long autumn making up most of the year, alongside short winters and even shorter summers, hence the name of the region. The region is known for being a relaxing countryside with small towns, and is recommended to anyone who tires of the bustling cities of areas like the Mistlands or the Blossomlands. In addition to the Deadlands prior to the Blight, the Autumnlands have consistently been an area of major agricultural output, though with different exports due to the different climate. Ever since the Blight struck the Deadlands, however, agricultural practices have increased drastically throughout the Autumnlands, more and more people relying on these goods now that the Deadlands can hardly produce much of anything.
Hollowvale
A small, quiet town in a hollow at the base of the mountain range leading into the Mistlands and the Peaklands. A waterfall that falls from a mountain spring trickles down into a pond, and then a river, which continues through the Autumnlands all the way to the sea. The town has settled around this pond, using irrigation techniques from it to water their crops and slake the thirst of their people. It’s a calm, quiet place, and a favored vacation spot for people from the nearby Mistlands as a result. The lord in charge of the town is rather strict on collecting tax and debt from the local farmers and workers, however, and it is rumored that he has ties with some shadowy organization in the Mistlands. This doesn’t sit well at all with a seasoned, charismatic merchant named Hanzo, who runs a small antique shop on the outskirts of town — and doesn’t exactly hold that organization, or the lord of Hollowvale, in high regard.
Fenrise
An agricultural town much like its neighbors in the region, this one is unique due to the predictable floods that occur in the area, with it so close to the river and the coast. The town itself is high on a hill to avoid the floods, and the docks on the river and the coast were built to float and take advantage of the tides. Additionally, the flooding creates fertile soil, and the predictable pattern allows for easy farming. Humans and beastlings both live and work here, and have a tight-knit community with one another.
Spirereach
Named for the massive towers that stretch up into the sky, Spirereach is a seat of nobility. The noble bloodline is directly related to the royal bloodline of Bloomcrown, with the current prince being a cousin of Bloomcrown’s current king. A lot of the agricultural production in Spirereach is offered to the noble family as a sort of tax. Interestingly, despite the nobility’s close blood and political relationship with Bloomcrown, they aren’t nearly as beloved by their citizens as their cousins in the Blossomlands, causing tensions to rise between the two branches of the family.
THE BLOSSOMLANDS
A lush, dense rainforest on the southern continent, filled to the brim with life. It’s also a heavily developed region, with some of the biggest cities in the land, aside from the Mistlands. While, for the most part, cities in other regions tend to govern themselves with little political involvement from other city-states, the Blossomlands are slightly different. While the towns are technically considered independent of one another, the largest city, Bloomcrown, has some level of government over the other two cities of the Blossomlands, more as overseers than actual law enforcers or political figureheads.
Bloomcrown
Nicknamed “the crown jewel of the Blossomlands”, Bloomcrown is arguably one of the most powerful city-states in the entire land of Vericitias, if not the most powerful. It was among the victors of the Eight Years’ War alongside Blizzardchapel and Spirereach. It is ruled by a monarchy, and the current king is, comparatively, the most laidback in a long line of strict and stern monarchs, even more so after the war. Though, his daughter is even more progressive, even to the point of drawing ire from her other family members; on the other hand, the citizens of the city absolutely adore her, and her staunch stance on equality between humans and beastlings has led to a larger beastling population in Bloomcrown than ever before. Ever at the princess’s side is the warrior Akiva, a member of the Royal Guard more loyal to the princess than the crown in general — and fiercely loyal, at that.
Petalcreek
A small, idyllic town settled on the large river that cuts through the Blossomlands. It was once a bustling city like its neighbors, Bloomcrown and Lushhart, but was completely razed in the Eight Years’ War by the combined forces of Riverglen and Oasishaven. Even now, eight years later, it’s still in the process of being rebuilt by its survivors. As a result of their past, they can be somewhat judgmental to outsiders, but on the other hand, they have a very tight-knit community.
Lushhart
A primarily beastling settlement, Lushhart is mostly a mining town. The earth beneath the Blossomlands is rich with countless valuable minerals, and Lushhart takes advantage of that for their work and their trade. Of great interest is a cave that was found in one of the mines, filled with colorful, glowing mushrooms. Fungi of the sort have never been seen before, and Lushhart is currently in correspondence with scholars from Clifthall trying to figure out what the mushrooms are.
THE BRUSHLANDS
The Brushlands are a savannah region between the rainforest of the Blossomlands and the desert of the Badlands, on the southern continent. This region and the Badlands both have the largest overall beastling population of all the regions. The towns in this region are generally highly independent, not really engaging with other towns outside, or even within, the region beyond what is necessary. Like the Autumnlands, it is also a rather rural area heavily focused on hunting and farming.
Shrubsteppe
This settlement is almost exclusively populated by beastlings, and is rather isolated from the rest of the world. It rests in a basin between hills with an entrance hidden behind a waterfall; the town is built on winding wooden pathways on the side of the hills, with homes that look similar to hobbit holes built into the earth. This isolation ended up being a good thing for them during the Eight Years’ War, when they were hardly bothered by their warring neighbors, so they continued that lifestyle. In Shrubsteppe, by far the most respected job you can take is that of a hunter, a job that takes years of training and a trial to be considered proficient in. In the Hunter’s Trial, you must first kill a beast to prove your potential, and then explore the world for as long as you’d like to learn what it means to you to be a hunter. Ready and eager to take this trial is Oriel, who has a secondary goal while on his quest: To find his missing sister, who embarked on her own trial three years prior and has yet to return. Alongside him is Hoku, a firebird and the child of the current wardenbeast, who was assigned to go on the quest with him; Oriel's more relaxed nature is a welcome contrast to Hoku's brash and bold personality.
Riverglen
A town between two rivers that eventually join to reach the sea. Riverglen is a city with a mixed human and beastling population, and is unique because they don’t follow quite the same pantheon of gods as the other areas in Vericitias. They believe in a unique religion, forgotten by most and practiced by fewer, in which they worship only four gods who have dominion over different aspects of the world. (As an aside, it is by fighting these four gods that you can unlock the secret jobs, which I’ve yet to figure out at this time.) Unfortunately, the corrupted Church of the Sacred Flame does not take kindly to the worship of “false gods”, which leads to tension between the church and the people of Riverglen, in addition to pre-existing tensions from even before the Eight Years’ War — which Riverglen lost alongside Oasishaven and Cogsmount.
Breezegrave
The newest city-state in all of Vericitias, Breezegrave was created after the Eight Years’ War to honor the fallen, rulers and soldiers and civilians alike. Essentially, the town is a massive memorial; very few people actually live here, only those whose job it is to oversee and expand the place. It is seen as a highly sacred place that you should only visit if you intend to mourn or honor the dead of the war.
THE BADLANDS
The Badlands is a desert region, and alongside the Brushlands, has the largest beastling population of all eight regions in Vericitias. In general, the people of the Badlands highly value art and academia, and firmly believe in a sense of community between people in the blistering, rocky environment.
Canyonsong
Canyonsong is a small town in the Badlands, just west of the Brushlands. This town, like many others nearby, has a mixed population of humans and beastlings. It is primarily notable due to its major cultural and religious influence. Most mythology of Vericitias shys away from even mentioning the Fallen God, Galdera, fearing the name itself is somehow cursed to say, that the story is somehow destined to repeat if retold. Canyonsong, however, is one of the few city-states that openly acknowledges the Fallen's existence. They have murals and stories dedicated to Galdera's fall from grace and eventual defeat at the hands of two different groups of travelers from distant lands and ages past, and an annual festival celebrating his fall. This festival, called the Festival of Spirits, also serves as a way to honor and commemorate the dead. At the center of this festival is the Book of Spirits, a book which contains immense magic power, should it be used, though it is considered a remnant of the past now. A dancer and musician named Octavian has been assigned to handle the Book, along with his two siblings, this year.
Clifthall
Clifthall is home to the most prestigious magic academy in all the land, Clifthall Academy. It was created over a century ago; for a long time, magic academies worldwide only allowed human students to enroll, falsely believing beastling students to be “incapable”. But a group of beastlings from Oasishaven established Clifhall Academy themselves. The work from their students and professors drew eyes from across all three continents. Eventually, beastlings from all over the world came to the school; even humans took interest in the academy thanks to its great standing, and came to study there. Over the decades, Clifthall Academy slowly grew to be respected and well-regarded, leading to less discrimination in magic academies overall, and Clifthall Academy becoming the greatest magic academy known in Vericitias and possibly beyond. The entire city is built around this academy, having lodgings for students and professors, and an absolutely massive library.
Oasishaven
Of all of the settlements with a primarily beastling population, Oasishaven is the largest and most respected. Even though they were on the losing side of the Eight Years' War, alongside Riverglen and Cogsmount, and have had to deal with the aftermath of that, they still manage to hold themselves up high. They have a matriarchal monarchy, and the previous queen, after the loss of the war, retired early to pass on the throne to her rather young daughter at the time. Compared to her mother, the new queen is much less strict, instead ruling with a more gentle, more patient hand. However, some fear that she is almost *too* kind, liable to be taken advantage of; still others believe that such a fear is an outdated remnant of the war.
THE EIGHT YEARS’ WAR
For the final section of this, I wanted to talk about this Eight Years’ War that I keep mentioning throughout my description of the world; as you can see, it’s kind of important to the worldbuilding of Vericitias. I originally wanted to limit what I said about it and only sprinkle in information through other characters’ stories, but I realized that it would get confusing fast if all of the important information was spread so far apart. So I’m going to give a brief description of the war here, but know that this is far from everything and other information will come in time.
To begin, the seeds for the war were actually planted about twenty years prior to the story, when the Church of the Sacred Flame began showing signs of its corruption. Back then, its secondary capital in Dimhearth was still at full power, as the Blight hadn’t hit the Deadlands yet. So, you can thank Blizzardchapel and Dimhearth for being the primary instigators of the Eight Years’ War, as they tried to strongarm their way into more power.
Additionally, there were a lot of other factors leading to the allegiances falling the way they did:
Centuries ago, it was the Church of the Sacred Flame that installed the monarchy in Bloomcrown, and by extension, later, Spirereach. As a result, the Church and the monarchy has always had a good relationship.
Oasishaven and Bloomcrown had a bit of a historical rivalry, due to Bloomcrown’s old discrimination against beastlings, and a past war many decades ago (they haven’t let go of the resulting grudges since).
The Church had great distaste for the alternative gods that Riverglen worshipped, leading to high tensions between the two groups.
Oasishaven and Riverglen are long-standing allies. Oasishaven, much more powerful and influential, would often help Riverglen stand up to the Church; Riverglen, on the other hand, would help Oasishaven by providing varieties of food and supplies that the desert city wouldn't have been able to obtain otherwise.
Desire of Fortune had secured their power over Cogsmount and wanted to spread their influence even further; they viewed the growing Church as a dangerous threat to that power. (Why is it suspected that they sabotaged their allies, then, you may ask? All I can say is that Desire will do anything for power and is willing to change their plans to get it; anything else is too spoilery to say.)
Cogsmount had usually been pretty distant from Oasishaven and Riverglen, but saw a potential for valuable allies with the two of them, and was the one who suggested the alliance.
Tensions rose and rose, until the queen of Bloomcrown was assassinated. While the perpetrator was never caught, it was widely believed that they were connected to Cogsmount’s rulers. The king, in his grief and rage — and desire to protect his rather young daughter, and only heir — sent forces to attack Cogsmount as a result. Immediately, all hell broke loose. War was inevitably declared, sixteen years prior to the story. On one side was Blizzardchapel, Dimhearth, Bloomcrown, and Spirereach; on the other was Oasishaven, Riverglen, and Cogsmount.
As the name of the war implies, it lasted for eight whole years. In that time, the mysterious Blight devastated Dimhearth and the rest of the Deadlands, evening the ground between the two sides. However, eventually, Blizzardchapel, Bloomcrown, and Spirereach simply outlasted the other side, emerging as the victors. As a result, the worldwide power of Cogsmount, Riverglen, and Oasishaven has been stifled. The war finally ended eight years prior to the story.
And the last thing I have to say that I'm not sure where to put is that beastlings are going to be entirely overhauled to be significantly less offensive in their execution (at least, that's the hope, but please tell me if I need to do something more to improve it)! Here's a short list of the things that change off the top of my head, though I may be missing some things as most of this story has simply been stored in my brain:
Remember how weird it was that most beastlings could only ever speak two works at a time except for Ochette? Yeah, well, not the case anymore. Human and Beastling are now considered two separate languages containing both speaking and writing. Like how many humans may not be able to speak or read Beastling, some beastlings you may meet may not be able to speak Human, and some Beastling scripts you find may not already be translated into Human; in these situations, you will need either Oriel (a beastling) or Octavian (a human who grew up among beastlings), both fluent in Beastling, in your party to understand what's being said. (I'm considering adding Trixie to that list as well, because she is a scholar and also spent a lot of time around beastlings, but I'm not entirely sure yet!)
There's more than literally two settlements mostly populated with beastlings! These settlements are also a bit more varied in culture and government. Even among towns that have a primarily human population, you'll likely find a couple of beastlings, as well.
Speaking of variety, I try to treat the beastlings like they're varied and individual people, and that's probably the thing I try to emphasize the most about the overhauled beastlings. I feel like Octopath 2 used the same sort of template for most of their beastling characters, even the NPCs (unquestioningly hospitable, food loving, clueless about the world, sometimes wanting to emulate humans, etc) and I wanted to try straying away from that. There should hopefully be more important, named, and varied beastling characters as a result.
Humans are actually aware of the beastlings' existence instead of being grossly uneducated like the humans in Octopath 2.
The whole thing where beastlings are incapable of experiencing greed thanks to how D'arquest made them is retconned into just a creation myth that's not necessarily true. Makes them more three-dimensional that way, I think.
And that's it for now! I'm not sure when I'll get around to posting more of this, as I'm juggling lots of projects currently, but I thought this would be the best place to start. I hope you enjoyed and feedback is appreciated!
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benjamindewey · 1 year
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Unreleased Autumnlands cover. Not sure when or if these will come out.
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funnels-art-storm · 1 year
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Every now and then on the edge of the autumn woods a mysterious figure dressed in a worn cloak and boots can be seen perched on an old stump playing a tune that time forgot. The forest appears to respond to her song as the mere strumming of her instrument seems to conjure up a fresh breeze. Her presence emits a warm and inviting aura, but something about her instills an instinct in observers preventing them from getting too close. It's unknown who she is, just that she lives somewhere deep in the autumn woods and only makes herself visible when traveling to the nearest markets to purchase food and textiles, after running these semi-routine errands she plays her song before disappearing into the woods once more. Some say she's a witch, others say she's just a crazy lonely woman, few have more strange and out there theories, but regardless the Lady of The Forest has become a familiar sight to the people of the autumnlands, whoever or whatever she may be. -- Wow, I am really proud of this one! Took me a good part of a week to do! :3 Done using a traditional sketch + Clip Studio Paint + Wacom tablet on Windows 11 PC. Character belongs to @forgotten-midgard
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misspetsyourcats · 10 months
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psa:
if i ever see your blog here i WILL unfollow you because you are no longer the person i followed and that’s okay. people change. accounts get hacked. we will find each other again in the hidden autumnlands. but i will unfollow u.
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elsewhereuniversity · 3 years
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All Hallow’s Eve, the town of Forever-Fall, where autumn reigns eternal.
It’s not too far from the university, really, but you could almost be stepping into another world. An amber world, where the sun hangs heavy at the horizon, dusk warm with the promise of night.
But the night will never come, not here. This place is frozen in its own light, a single shining moment that will never truly end. 
For as long as there is autumn, as long as humankind celebrates the harvest, the end of the light, the night’s drawing in, as long as there are bonfires and hot cocoa and roast chestnuts and belief - then there will always be a place such as this.
So welcome, guest - pull your coat around you, fight the chill of the breeze with good food and better conversation. You are among friends here, at the never-ending Feast of September. For autumn is the time of the harvest, and there is always plenty to go around.
Dance to the beat of the thump of the drum, dance to the clash of the tambourine, dance until your feet grow sore. You have accomplished so much already, and isn’t that something to celebrate?
Or, perhaps, you will venture further into the forest, far from the summer’s border, to the centre of this strange land. 
Leaves pile up in drifts, here, brighter and more beautiful than anything you have ever seen. Peer through the trees, is that a deer you see? The light is softer, here, golden afternoon turned orange dusk, filtered through branches as the sun drops lower in the sky.
There is a bonfire, in the centre of the woods. A beacon of humanity, against the fading warmth of nature.
So welcome, stranger - warm your hands at the flames, drown out the cold with the spice of mulled wine and the sweetness of caramel. See the turning of the seasons, at the Fire of October. The world ends, every autumn, and there will be many months before it returns to life.
Drink to the jump of the dance of the flames, drink to the fall of the red-gold leaves, drink to the end of the sun and the coming of the night. For the winter is drawing in, and what better way to celebrate than alcohol?
You wish to continue, to push deeper into the tangled thorns, away from the last vestiges of humanity even as the sun sinks at last into the horizon? So be it.
Here, at the border of winter, the land is cold. Fog swirls at your feet, glass-sharp wind tearing through the meagre protection of your coat. There are no leaves, not here - just black branches, reaching ever higher to the steel-grey clouds of the sky. You see lights, in the distance - not lanterns, but eyes, 
You are unwelcome here, human - here, at the moors, where the Fair Folk roam with their hunting dogs. These are times when the world is thin, when anyone with a sharp enough mind and enough iron can cross the border, and the Edge of November is no place for the unprepared. And so, you run.
Run from the snap and snarl of the wolves, run from their eyes of fire, run from their teeth of broken glass and the ice-fog that follows them. For you do not know what will happen if they catch up, and isn’t that cruel laughter you hear just in your head?
After all - autumn reigns eternal, here.
And one season can be so many different things.
(A/n - this is technically a snippet from a book i’m writing, but it works so well with this blog i couldn’t not submit it)
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smashpages · 3 years
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The Autumnlands will return in late 2022
The Autumnlands by Kurt Busiek and Benjamin Dewey, which originally kicked off in 2015, will return in late 2022.
“Kurt is one of my favorite creators. He can invent captivating stories that have a grand, high-concept cosmological scale or get a reader deeply invested in the details of a simple fireside conversation between two regular people,” Dewey said. “He understands characters and why we love or despise them. His work is proof that comics can be magical. Working with him on Autumnlands pushed me to be my best and it’s a world that has many exciting frontiers ready to be explored. When it returns I think it’ll be just as big a challenge for me as it was when we started off because the scale of the world demands it. I treasure every project I’ve gotten to work on with Kurt; as his collaborator there’s always opportunities to learn more about the craft of storytelling in comics. He never fails to inspire me with his boundless  imagination, enthusiasm and wit. I’m a fan and I’m looking forward to seeing what new worlds he’s going to show us. I’m lucky because I get to see them first!”
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thecomicon · 3 years
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New To You Comics: Saving Magic In "The Autumnlands V1: Tooth & Claw"
New To You Comics: Saving Magic In “The Autumnlands V1: Tooth & Claw”
With the comics industry continuing to battle the effects of the pandemic, Brendan Allen and I are continuing to talk about comics that the other might not have read. I’m more of a capes, laser guns, and swords guy, while Brendan loves dark magic, criminals, and things that go bump in the night. This week we look at another modern fantasy classic. When magic is dying, a group of powerful wizards…
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comicbookcovers · 5 years
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The Autumnlands Tooth and Claw #3, January 2015,  Pencils/Inks: Benjamin Dewey, Colors: Jordie Bellaire                          
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Perhaps she could even convince me that I could live with myself after I buried my heart in the autumnlands and left it behind forever.
- Margaret Rogerson, An Enchantment of Ravens
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graphicpolicy · 1 year
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Underrated: Autumn Lands: Tooth And Claw
This is a column that focuses on something or some things from the comic book sphere of influence that may not get the credit and recognition it deserves. Whether that’s a list of comic book movies, ongoing comics, or a set of stories featuring a certain character. The columns may take the form of a bullet pointed list, or a slightly longer thinkpiece – there’s really no formula for this other…
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bnteen · 6 years
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“One raven for uncertain peril. Six for danger sure to arrive. A dozen for death, if not avoided. The enchantment is sealed.” ― Margaret Rogerson, An Enchantment of Ravens
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redsnerdden · 4 years
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Autumnlands Volume One: Tooth and Claw- A Unexpectant Champion steps forward
The Autumnlands Volume One: Tooth and Claw- A Unexpectant Champion steps forward #Image #ComicBooks #Fantasy #Magic #Sorcery #Swords #GraphicNovels #Anthropomorphic
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Today’s review finds us in a different world, a world inhabited with Beast Wizards, Sorcery, brutality, and hope. Written by Kurt Busiek, a writer known for such works as Marvels, Astro City, and The Avengers; and Illustrated by Benjamin Dewey, known for works I was the Cat! And Tragedy. The Autumnlands is a series by Image Comics, ran for Fourteen Issues and collected in two Volumes, this…
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geekcavepodcast · 3 years
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Kurt Busiek Returns to Image Comics
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Kurt Busiek is creating new entries in Astro City, Arrowsmith, and other fan-favorite series as well as creating new series at Image Comics.
In January 2022, Busiek and artist Carlos Pacheco will launch Arrowsmith: Behind Enemy Lines, a six-issue miniseries. Fletcher Arrowsmith plunges back into World War I, a war fought by bullets, wizards, and dragons. Fletcher “finds himself behind enemy lines, facing a threat that could doom the Allied Powers. Old friends and new favorites will appear, and the world of Arrowsmith will be deepened, as previously-secret history and machinations are revealed.” (Image Comics) 
In addition to the new series, a re-mastered hardcover edition of the original _Arrowsmith series will release in February 2022. In Arrowsmith: So Smart in Their Fine Uniforms, readers will meet a young Fletcher Arrowsmith during the war. The edition will also present the art as Pacheco intended and features ancillary material about Arrowsmith’s _creation and history.
Busiek, Brent Anderson, Alex Ross, and Alex Sinclair will also release a new Astro City comic. The one-shot, releasing in March 2022, will introduce new characters, like a teen-hero team called The Jayhawks, and set the stage for new adventures. Astro City’s backlist will also receive collected editions. The team is also working on a new urban fantasy graphic novel titled The Gods on a Sunday Morning.
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Writers Busiek and Fabian Nicieza and artist Stephen Mooney are working on a new series titled Free Agents which will launch in late 2022.
Busiek, Benjamin Dewey, and Jordie Bellaire are bringing back _Autumnlands _in late 2022.
Busiek, Stuart Immonen, Wade von Grawbadger, and Jeremy Cox’s _Shockrockets and Superstar: As Seen on TV _and Busiek and David Wenzel’s The Wizard’s Tale are also getting re-releases. 
(Image via Image Comics)
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