The Ocracies
Government is the compass that guides a culture's direction. It influences the kinds of characters that develop and the stories they tell. Most fantasy settings are monarchies. I thought it would be interesting to create a setting with lots of little polities each using a different form of government.
The first to emerge (during the July 5, 2011 Poetry Fishbowl) is the Plutocracy of Aurea. So far it has two poems, showing how the culture respects wealth and financial influence but also sensibly invests in small practical magics as a foundation of sophisticated development. The Hamarchy of Helgi appeared in the August 2, 2011 session, with a government assembled from committees, small parts working together because people know how to listen. The Hipparchy of Pelip, run by horse breeders, arrived in the September 6, 2011 fishbowl. Its people tend to take the long view, appreciating both good husbandry and good horseflesh. From the November 1, 2011 fishbowl came the Bonocracy of Ophele, managed for the good of all. It's located on a coastline between Aurea and Helgi, with Pelip on the inland border. March 6, 2012 brought the Hagiocracy of Gyronny, with an eye toward the sacred but not really personified into specific gods; it borders Aurea on the coast, with Pelip on the inland border. From August 7, 2012 came the Hoplarchy of Ledes, focused on military prowess, bordering Helgi. April 1, 2014 introduced the Duarchy of Twale (ruled by genderqueer people) in the soft folds of land between the Patriarchy of Darthalem (ruled by men) in the high cold mountains and the Matriarchy of Sherin (ruled by women) in the low sweltering desert. On December 2, 2014 came the Nomocracy of Narr, dictated by game rules, which lies at the seaward end of the land and borders Gyronny.
Details on sponsoring available poems appear atop the main Serial Poetry page.
"All That Glitters" 7-5-11
Prompted by LJ users janetmiles, laffingkat, haikujaguar, and eseme
Sponsored by LJ user janetmiles
"The Clockmaker's Country" 8-2-11
Prompted & sponsored by Shirley Barrette and Anthony Barrette
"Down the Drain" 7-5-11
Prompted by LJ users ellenmillion, aldersprig, and janetmiles
Sponsored by LJ user janetmiles
"In Good Cause" 11-1-11
Prompted by LJ user laffingkat
Sponsored by LJ user janetmiles
"The Peacehorse" 9-6-11
Prompted by Facebook user Sarah A. Hoyt
Sponsored by LJ user janetmiles
"Princess in the Shadows" 1-3-12
Prompted by LJ users kelkyag, siege, and wyld_dandelyon
Sponsored by general fund
"Painting Faces on the Wind" 3-6-12
Prompted by LJ user the_vulture
Sponsored by Anthony & Shirley Barrette
"What Makes a Hero" 8-7-12
Prompted by LJ user ankewehner
Sponsored by LJ user rix_scaedu
"The Best Games" 12-4-12
Prompted by LJ users aldersprig and laffingkat
Sponsored by LJ users janetmiles and laffingkat
"Temperate in Politics" 4-1-14
Prompted by LJ users janetmiles, my_partner_doug, and Cottoncandy Bingo Card 2-1-14
Sponsored by Anthony & Shirley Barrette
"Casting for Answers" 4-2-14
Prompted by DW user librarygeek, LJ user janetmiles, and Spring and Autumn Bingo public card
Sponsored by LJ user janetmiles
"It Takes Three" 4-1-14
Prompted by DW user librarygeek and Cottoncandy Bingo Card 3-30-14
Sponsored by DW user librarygeek
"The Fate of a Nation" 12-2-14
Prompted by LJ user my_partner_doug and Ladiesbingo Card 9-1-14
Free perk
"The Least of These" 10-20-15
Prompted by librarygeek
Free perk
"The Rainbow Sails" 7-20-16 (fishbowl spillover)
Sponsored by general fund
The first to emerge (during the July 5, 2011 Poetry Fishbowl) is the Plutocracy of Aurea. So far it has two poems, showing how the culture respects wealth and financial influence but also sensibly invests in small practical magics as a foundation of sophisticated development. The Hamarchy of Helgi appeared in the August 2, 2011 session, with a government assembled from committees, small parts working together because people know how to listen. The Hipparchy of Pelip, run by horse breeders, arrived in the September 6, 2011 fishbowl. Its people tend to take the long view, appreciating both good husbandry and good horseflesh. From the November 1, 2011 fishbowl came the Bonocracy of Ophele, managed for the good of all. It's located on a coastline between Aurea and Helgi, with Pelip on the inland border. March 6, 2012 brought the Hagiocracy of Gyronny, with an eye toward the sacred but not really personified into specific gods; it borders Aurea on the coast, with Pelip on the inland border. From August 7, 2012 came the Hoplarchy of Ledes, focused on military prowess, bordering Helgi. April 1, 2014 introduced the Duarchy of Twale (ruled by genderqueer people) in the soft folds of land between the Patriarchy of Darthalem (ruled by men) in the high cold mountains and the Matriarchy of Sherin (ruled by women) in the low sweltering desert. On December 2, 2014 came the Nomocracy of Narr, dictated by game rules, which lies at the seaward end of the land and borders Gyronny.
Details on sponsoring available poems appear atop the main Serial Poetry page.
"All That Glitters" 7-5-11
Prompted by LJ users janetmiles, laffingkat, haikujaguar, and eseme
Sponsored by LJ user janetmiles
"The Clockmaker's Country" 8-2-11
Prompted & sponsored by Shirley Barrette and Anthony Barrette
"Down the Drain" 7-5-11
Prompted by LJ users ellenmillion, aldersprig, and janetmiles
Sponsored by LJ user janetmiles
"In Good Cause" 11-1-11
Prompted by LJ user laffingkat
Sponsored by LJ user janetmiles
"The Peacehorse" 9-6-11
Prompted by Facebook user Sarah A. Hoyt
Sponsored by LJ user janetmiles
"Princess in the Shadows" 1-3-12
Prompted by LJ users kelkyag, siege, and wyld_dandelyon
Sponsored by general fund
"Painting Faces on the Wind" 3-6-12
Prompted by LJ user the_vulture
Sponsored by Anthony & Shirley Barrette
"What Makes a Hero" 8-7-12
Prompted by LJ user ankewehner
Sponsored by LJ user rix_scaedu
"The Best Games" 12-4-12
Prompted by LJ users aldersprig and laffingkat
Sponsored by LJ users janetmiles and laffingkat
"Temperate in Politics" 4-1-14
Prompted by LJ users janetmiles, my_partner_doug, and Cottoncandy Bingo Card 2-1-14
Sponsored by Anthony & Shirley Barrette
"Casting for Answers" 4-2-14
Prompted by DW user librarygeek, LJ user janetmiles, and Spring and Autumn Bingo public card
Sponsored by LJ user janetmiles
"It Takes Three" 4-1-14
Prompted by DW user librarygeek and Cottoncandy Bingo Card 3-30-14
Sponsored by DW user librarygeek
"The Fate of a Nation" 12-2-14
Prompted by LJ user my_partner_doug and Ladiesbingo Card 9-1-14
Free perk
"The Least of These" 10-20-15
Prompted by librarygeek
Free perk
"The Rainbow Sails" 7-20-16 (fishbowl spillover)
Sponsored by general fund
Extras
Visit the main Serial Poetry page to see more series.