You know how I said my next World Building post was going to expand on the other races?I lied.
Right then, the selkies. I think I'm going to have the selkies divided, currently. It fits with how water is constantly shifting and flowing. This also leaves room for intrigue, something water seems suited for. Flexibility is lovely for schemers.
The last emperor, let's call him Emperor Infertile, died with no heirs. Thus, it was left to his relatives and his close ring of cronies to divide the empire, each forming their own faction.
The first faction I can think of is what I call the Steam faction. So named because their leader is influenced not only by traditional water philosophy, but ideas of fire as well. I haven't gotten to them yet, but I'm thinking that the fire race, the smallfolk, were a bunch of disparate city states that were eventually conquered and absorbed into the Selkie Empire and will have a culture that is a hybrid of classical Greece and renaissance Italy, with a blazing passion for the arts and the sciences. The leader I see as a niece or nephew of the former emperor who studied there and wants to revolutionize the empire with these new ideas.
Opposed diametrically are Water hardliners, as oxymoronic as that seems. Let's call them the Ice Faction, since Ice is water's solid and thus least malleable form. They want a return to traditional Water values, authority, and culture. They are possibly lead from a holy city near a frozen mountaintop by a religious figure. Alternatively, a close relative of the Emperor, a sibling perhaps, who is probably the closest in the line of succession.
There, of course, need to be an expansionist militarist faction. Let's call them the Flood Faction, for the way that they wash over their enemies. Obviously lead by some sort of military leader who sees the others as too weak to properly lead the empire.
A moderate faction is also required, one that is mostly in it for power and not ideology. The River Faction, that flows around others and takes the path of least resistance. Another relative of the emperor, perhaps, or a weeding courtier.
A faction that is dedicated to tearing the institution of the empire down, capitalizing on the current chaos, perhaps? Some of them wish to establish a true republic in the empire's place while others are true anarchists. Let's call them... Blackwater?
And a mercantile faction. Like the River Faction, more into power than idealogy, their goal is to secure victory by economic means. Let's call them the Brine Faction and hand them a coastal city.
Of these factions, I see Steam, Ice, and Flood as the most major. Blackwater is a nuisance to them all and River/Brine find themselves as cronies to others more than outright powers themselves.
The average Selkie isn't really affiliated with any of the factions and just, if you pardon the pun, go with the flow.
All of the elements should have subcultures that are dedicated to different ways of looking at the element, but flexible Water is the most schizophrenic.
Next time, I'll get to another race. Promise. Until then, I'll leave you with some basic ideas on what the other elements are like:
- The Earth race, Dwarves are distant, uncaring, unmoving, and bureaucratic. They rule a distant empire that is inspired by ancient Chinese. Expect an animated terracotta army!
- Harsh, powerful, and deadly, the Metal empire is a young one lead by an aging cunning, charismatic warlord who holds power with an iron fist. A Mongol/Russian feel should be felt here.
- Fiery with emotion, passion, and creativity, the smallfolk of the Fire race live in city states that are currently under the control of the Water Empire. They are inventors, philosophers, and artists with an overwhelming lust for life. A hybrid of classical Greece and Renaissance Italy.
- The elves, like the Wood they represent, are sinister and mysterious. In ancient times, the forest was a dark place, full of strange monsters that lurked in the shadows. The tribal elves are those monsters here. They will be Celtic-ish
- Humanity, varied as they are, will be everything that I want in the setting that isn't covered by a previous race. I'm already thinking of an Egyptian-ish godking theocracy that has strong ties with the Water Empire, but there will be more. Of course, many humans live under the main empires of Earth, Metal, and Water
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