iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 4h

#LitHodgepodge 2 Let's just say one of the detective Conan films for the pure insanity of it. The results will be hilarious because my cast will be absolutely convinced that there is some magic going on because of the physics and everything else really.

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 4h

#Conlangity 2 It's definitely vowel heavy with a very limited number of sounds. there are six vowels (in the standard form), and they distinguish between long and short vowels. There are almost no consonant clusters. The glottal stop is used, but it's technically not a sound of 1/3

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 11h

#LitHodgepodge 1 I'm working on two projects right now, my episodic(?) WIP and my brand new WIP. I'm yet to name one of these properly (help)

Literary this or that. Selected options: paperback, series, laughs, tea, hero and villain, villain circled again, character driven, computer, salty, soundtrack, bookmark (dog-ear has arrow pointing to it asking why), plotter and pantser, pantser circled again, lush, vomit draft, and midnight.

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 11h

#OctoberWorldbuilders 1 There are no hot deserts in the two northern continents (spirit shenanigans), but there is a cold desert like the Gobi Desert in the north of Lastak's home country. There's very little accessible water and a lot of permafrost, and few trees. 1/2

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 12h

#Conlangity 1 I may also be partly cheating because I've been working on this for years. The language I'll be talking about is called Inawlo by its speakers, and is the lingua franca of the country that most of my characters live in. There are a lot of characters who speak just this language.

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 13h

#AwesomeCharacters Lastak rarely laughs. It's a combination of not having a lot to laugh about and her training to not show emotion. Which means it's actually pretty lovely when she laughs

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

#AwesomeCharacters Lastak is likely to write herself having a nice relaxing time without a worry in the world, probably solving a problem that turns out to be a fun puzzle which she solves with friends and no one is harmed.

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I understand why plants have pollen I just don't understand why they end up in our noses and eyes

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

#AwesomeCharacters Lastak is patient, in theory. That is, she will tell herself she can wait for something and she will, but she will be thinking of worse possible outcomes with every delay. She can turn it off to an extent though.

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

The MC of my new project is collecting sources of headaches like collecting frogs in a basket and it is very entertaining (for me, not for him)

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

#SeptemberWorldbuilders 28 Light and shadow are two fundamental elements of magic (as seen by the culture the characters live in). Shadow may or may not be darkness. There are many ways to use these, from sensing to powerful attacks to transportation and the possibilities are technically infinite.

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Something to the effect of 'get your writing checked by a native speaker or don't bother submitting'. Thanks, it's the one language I'm fluent in but it doesn't count if you're born in the wrong part of the world. I'll be self publishing when the time comes.

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

#Septopolis 28 There are three big cities in the country (this one, the capital, and a big city to the south) and they have rivalries going on. The capital is despised mostly in an unserious way. The city in the south is a more pure rivalry because both are port cities. 1/2

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

#AwesomeCharacters Lastak has a fairly accurate picture of her physical abilities and her magic. Mentally, it's a lot more complicated. She's not good at evaluating her feelings and her limits, but she's good at estimating, say, her skills in maths.

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

#SeptemberWorldbuilders 27 Please do not ask anyone if the creation myth is about light and darkness because you will be there for hours and come out more confused. There are also elemental gods or light and dark (shadow? Again don't ask if you don't want a debate). 1/2

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

#Septopolis 27 They have a regular police force and courts, but there are differences in details. Additionally there are strong social support systems and protections (it's nearly impossible to go homeless or without sufficient food, for example) which reduces crime significantly. 1/2

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

#SeptemberWorldbuilders 26 There are multiple cave systems, and these tend to have their own ecosystems. Nothing strange social far, but these creatures come to have a shadow nature. And there's animals like shadow beasts living in these. In short, don't go exploring caves here.

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

#Septopolis 24 Day to day affairs are run by an elected government, but with the oversight of the queen and the nobility. The local government's main job is keeping the systems running and management of money, as well as deciding on any new things that need to be done. 1/2

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

#AwesomeCharacters Lastak doesn't really understand the concept, but long walks, a good book, or mindless training would probably be it.

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Her old life and the people in it. With time, Lastak is almost glad she lost most of it because if that didn't happen, she might have become what she hates now. There are people she wishes she hadn't lost though.

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

#AwesomeCharacters It's hard to say because there are a few durable ones. The cook is surprisingly durable for (technically) a noncombatant. But I think the first place goes to the biggest guy in the group who can also grow scales or armour or whatever.

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

#Septopolis 25 There's no city citizenship, and everyone is free to move around the country as they wish so if you're a citizen of the country you just find some accommodation (or not) and move in. The country assumes that everyone born within its borders are citizens, but they can't 1/3

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

#SeptemberWorldbuilders 25 The most common is light magic. It's super convenient and cheap in the long term. You can also have candles for ambience or light a fire, or use electricity (which is incredibly dangerous with their tech, long story) if you like danger.

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

#AwesomeCharacters Lastak would enjoy a nice long walk when it's dark at a reasonable time. She'll just enjoy the longer nights in general, and possibly staying indoors and reading a book while it's raining outside.

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

#Septopolis 24 There are cafes all over the city, and the cafe culture in the city is you get your drink, sit around and chat with everyone else, possibly do your knitting or whatever at the same time, and/or play board games. People can stay there for hours after work. There are also bars, 1/3

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

#SeptemberWorldbuilders 24 Darkness is usually associated with chaos and the primordial state of things. It's not evil, just chaos, and not viewed negatively, it's just a component of existence. Though if you go into the specifics (darkness vs shadow vs chaos) you will get endless religious debates.

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

#AwesomeCharacters I think a lot of my characters are bi, but the one I immediately think of is, well, he's a lot. He only develops a conscience after a traumatic incident, but after that, he tries genuinely.

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

#SeptemberWorldbuilders 23 Light is associated strongly with order due to religious reasons, and it's also one of the reasons that the world exists. There are multiple gods associated with light ranging from a primordial to powerful spirits who are effectively gods.

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

#Septopolis 23 There's an open area in almost every population centre that's used for festivals that is open air. Size varies with the availability of space, but almost every neighborhood has one, sometimes it's on the beach. There are theatres that double as music venues, and there's at least 1/2

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

#AwesomeCharacters If Lastak smiles at me, I'm going to assume that she's either going to try some self sacrificing nonsense or the other party is going to end up quite badly injured or worse. Either way, I'd be fine. Physically.

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

#SeptemberWorldbuilders 22 Lastak doesn't tend to get lost physically, with her excellent night vision and excellent navigation skills. However, she is lost about something most of the time. Her identity, what her role is, sheer helplessness, the results of her upbringing, etc. 1/2

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

#Septopolis 22 There are a few of those. A very popular one is boardgames, somewhat like chess or checkers. There are a few of those and they're insanely popular, and played in everything from cafes to massive tournaments. There are professional players. There are a few sports that are popular, 1/3

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

#AwesomeCharacters Lastak is the only pov character in book 1. Book 2 has a few side chapters from different povs, as will book 3, and book 4 will have to be multi-pov given the cast splits up and each has an important storyline.

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

#Septopolis 21 It's all very decentralised. There are multiple mage agencies that earn a lot collectively, but while there is one company that is the biggest, it doesn't have anything close to the majority of the market. Food producers in general earn a lot but it's spread 1/2

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

#SeptemberWorldbuilders 21 There are a few sailing traditions, so the exact gear differs from place to place. Generally though, most larger ships will have one or more mages to manipulate the winds/water if necessary, and they're powered so they don't necessarily have to use sails. 1/3

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

#AwesomeCharacters The odd skin colour is likely to stick in someone's memory, but otherwise Lastak is very quiet and forgettable. She can also come off as intimidating if she's looking at you, despite being vertically challenged.

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

#Septopolis 20 The city mainly produces 'industrial' products, processed goods (finished food products, garments, etc.), things harvested from the sea, and agricultural produce from the surrounding countryside, and there are a couple of important mines. Trade is also important to the economy. 1/3

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

#SeptemberWorldbuilders 20 Lastak has spent a lot of time on ships, due to spending the last two or so years of her life island hopping. Even now, she lives in a coastal harbour city, though somewhat inland.

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

#AwesomeCharacters For Lastak, it's definitely to come. She has had a lot of terrible things happening to her, but this will probably feel worse because of how close it would come to being a happy solution.

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

#Septopolis 19 Education is very well organised throughout the country, and the city follows the same format: primary schools scattered throughout, secondary schools a bit more centralised, and one big university in the city. As for medicine, there is a well equipped hospital in every major 1/3

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

#SeptemberWorldbuilders 19 It is very well mapped and usually navigable the ordinary way, at least the areas where ocean spirits don't have a no human policy. Tides work fairly similarly in principle, but there are 3 moons so it can get complicated. 1/2

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

#AwesomeCharacters It's hard to beat <mildly spoiler character> because she is a) raised on a farm, b) partially descended from forest people, and c) can turn into an animal. She also has her own horse who is a pretty interesting character.

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

#SeptemberWorldbuilders 18 There are many myths, mostly because there are many ocean-related spirits and reports of their activities get passed down through word of mouth or are told as stories. The south sea islands in particular have a lot due to a turbulent romance between the sea and a volcano.

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

#Septopolis 18 Water mostly comes from the giant (>4km across), surprisingly clean river running through the middle of the city. there is some prior treatment (to get the usual river stuff out of it) and it's pumped through the river, so there's tap water in most parts of the city. 1/3

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

#AwesomeCharacters Lastak's greatest strength is tenacity. She's a bit like a honey badger, she'll go into an anxious spiral but she won't actually give up. Her greatest weakness is probably the holdovers from her childhood training: trust issues, seeing a lot of normal things as weakness, etc.

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

#SeptemberWorldbuilders 17 There's a lot of the animals you might expect to find in the ocean, and there are a few weird ones too. I haven't gotten around to most of these other than the various marine mammals (there are basically two groups that took the whale route). Listing them all 1/2

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

#Septopolis 17 The main mode of transportation is the public transport network, primarily trains (trunk lines and shorter distance more suburban lines) and buses (for routes that aren't served by train). Trams are being discussed for a few routes but hasn't materialised in this city yet. 1/3

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

#AwesomeCharacters All three I mentioned yesterday could do with hugs. Lastak is dealing with a lot of things, and she can't tell anyone most of it because she could put other people in danger, so she's not getting and help for it. The stuff the other two are dealing with are mild spoilers.

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

#Septopolis 16 It grew organically from settlements near the river mouth. However the river mouth has not been in the same place for its entire history which has affected the city a lot. There are some places that are deliberately designed, but it's not the majority. The city itself is made 1/3

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A L N A perera @alnaperera.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

#SeptemberWorldbuilders 16 There are many sea-related gods that vary by religion, and the way they're viewed is not really consistent. However there are ocean spirits, who are that part of the ocean itself but also personified. For example the harbour has a spirit who is the harbour.

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