World Of Marin
Frequently Asked Questions
About Marin
Does Gunpowder exist?
Gunpowder doesn't exist because our universes technology is kind of all over the place. If we allow gunpower, people will create arquebuses, cannons for ships, etc. It's just an invention we want to stray away from. We're absolutely inspired by a medieval setting, but our setting isn't shot for shot comparable.
Does Marin operate in a different biological state, or are diseases and theories from our world applicable?
If so, what year would we equate advancements and studies in Marin to our world?
Marin has a biological state similar to our own, although it should be said that they really don't have "influenza" or "seizures". Our names and titles for diseases and our theories for why we get sick are probably wildly different, as the culture of that world is wildly different. People in Marin think that the positioning of the stars, the purity of your soul, or the cleanliness of your blood (per the blood caste) is what gets you ill, among other things. Of course, there is the concept of "don't pet a rat and lick your fingers, what are you doing", but scholars in Marin don't even know what their solar system looks like so Yeah, their understanding of plagues and exactly why they spread is limited. Probably somewhere in the middle ages?
What are the languages of Marin?
All languages in this universe are colloquially called "Tongues". Commontongue is the lingua franca of Marin. It's also called Feytongue, as the language as we know it emerged around Lake Fey in southern Marin. People in Taemar, Azarya, and Araedia speak certain branches of it. Old Soltongue is usually reserved for religious rites, and its modern version, New Soltongue, is spoken in Terresol. Northtongue (also sometimes called Oldtongue or Coldtongue) is spoken alongside Commontongue everywhere north of Sol, minus the aforementioned kingdoms of Taemar and Azarya. Witherlanders speak Oldtongue as their first language, and some places that are WILDLY remote (e.g. the Horn Hills) speak Deep Oldtongue, which is the proto language of Oldtongue. Deep Oldtongue is also used during religious rites for the Frozen Gods. People in the Southern Isles speak a dialect of Commontongue known as Silvertongue, but it is not only spoken by Islanders. Criminals (usually smugglers or pirates) know key phrases and can read messages in it. Most sailors know shorthand Silvertongue as well. There are countless other languages that exist in Marin, but those are chiefly the most "important". They're really for flavor and world-building. For writing purposes, every character is fluent in Commontongue, as its popularity came with the economic dominance of the former Kingdom of Feyshore.
What are Elves like? Are they like Lord of The Rings elves or elder scrolls elves?
Elves come from a continent lost to the west of Marin, called Vedin. They're typically kept as slaves in Azarya, and very rarely sometimes in northern Taemar, the Witherlands, and Northwind. They've got a golden, wheaty complexion, almond shaped eyes, and pointed ears. Save for these characteristics, and the fact that if they have sex with a human they will produce a half human-half elf hybrid that is infertile, they are no different. But like, no one cares. They might as well be Elder Scrolls elves for all we know. They perform rituals and worship dark Gods, they're plotters and schemers and the Gods put them on this earth to be the servants of men. They're supposedly better at performing magic, but these are isolated cases and aren't representative of the entire elfin population. But maybe not. The Academy does experiments on them, I assume. Maybe they'd have the answers.
Do Vikings exist?
In the sense that you could have a community of coastal raiders in cold places, sure. Can you call them “Vikings”? No. As for Scandinavian Warriors, Scandinavia is not on our map so that is a no.
What time period and genre is Marin based on?
The setting is a medieval fantasy universe known as Marin, which exists independently from Earth. As a result, it defies a straightforward categorization. Marin's Medieval Era exhibits characteristics that parallel various historical periods from our world but is distinctly unique. Instead of a classic feudal system typical of early medieval times, Marin features a less traditional structure. The era reflects advanced metallurgy and scientific knowledge akin to the Late and Post Medieval periods, while its religious hierarchy draws more from the Dark Ages. It's important to note that the development of Marin's society is shaped by its own distinct history, resources, and cultural evolution.