World building isn't as easy as it looks...

[neotoma]

I've got at least three major cultures rolling around, and numerous subcultures. Add a viewpoint character with amensia and .things get really messy

Turnspit's home culture has two religion subdivisions, believers and non-believers. Believers are constrained by numerous religious laws, but being an active believer opens doors of opportunity that are closed to non-believers.

On the other hand, non-believers only have to follow the seven secular laws:
1. Murder is forbidden.
2. Theft is forbidden.
3. Sexual immorality is forbidden.
4. Eating flesh cut from a still-living animal is forbidden.
5. Belief in and worship or prayer to "idols" is forbidden. not sure how this is going to work, actually...
6. Blaspheming against God is forbidden.
7. Society must establish a fair system of legal justice to administer these laws honestly.

There also seven classes (estates?) of society:
1. Royal and semi-royal houses
2. Scribes (the bureaucracy)
3. Scholars
4. Merchants
5. Artisans
6. Laborers
7. Servants

There is some mobility -- men can educate themselves to scholars, or open business as artisans that expand to merchant level-- but I need to figure out the taboos for each level, and the privilieges and responsibilities.

Iros' culture is more fragmented, but there is less mobility between classes as they are deteremined almost entirely by birth.

Basically, I need to write a lot of notes to figure things out.

Comments

[the-little-owl.livejournal.com]

I've read some chapters and snippets of your story, but due to these many cultures (and no movie to get an idea how they look like), I better wait until you finished this novel and read it in one go then. But don't get deterred by my comment, please; I liked what I've seen so far, it was just puzzling.

[neotoma.livejournal.com]

It is a bit puzzling, but partly because I'm discovering this world as a write it, and partly because the characters only see parts of it themselves.

Also, it would be much better as a comic book, but since I'm not that good at drawing, that's not how it's going to be. Sad that...

[hlglne.livejournal.com]

Build away. It's fascinating.

[neotoma.livejournal.com]

It's a mess. But do ask questions if you have any. Answering them makes me thinks things out clearly in my own head.