Spinning Up a New World

Last week, I was struck by an idea for a new storyworld. That’s nothing new; this sort of world-building is kind of what I do.

But then I was struck by another idea: It would be fun and interesting to develop the world here on the blog, where everyone can watch the sausage being made. I’m already doing this sort of thing with the Doomed Colony board game project. It would be cool to the same with a world-building project.

Anyway, here’s the premise:

This is a low fantasy setting in which desperate humans fight for survival against an occupying army of giant spiders.

It’s a simple premise, tight and focused, but I think there’s some depth to be plumbed here. For example, here some world features off the top of my head:

• Much of the territory has been turned into a wasteland, where small communities struggle to defend themselves against roving hordes of spiders that have the size of cunning of wolves. (Think “zombie-apocalypse” and you’ve got the right idea—but without the overplayed undead.)
• Some spiders are small (about the size of a house cat) and ride on their victims’ backs, from where they stab their fangs into their victims’ brains. These spider parasites let their hosts live in exchange for using their hands and words to carry out the spider lords’ bidding.
• Spider sorcerers spin magical webs to create spells of silky runes.
• The spiders collect living, cocooned humans in the once-great city they have claimed as their lair. What happens to these humans is… something I haven’t made up yet, but rest assured it’s most unpleasant.
• Some humans (mostly nobles) have joined forces with the invaders. They claim it’s to prevent bloodshed and ensure the safety of their people, but those who fight say the traitors are cowards — or worse, merely thralls the spiders on their backs.

Yeah, I think I can work with this. And I hope you’ll join me on this journey into eight-legged, horrific fun!