Lore Post - What Never Will Be (Patreon)

Sorry that this took a bit longer than planned to post. I've known I needed to name the world of Noblesse Oblige for some time, but I had be

Sorry that this took a bit longer than planned to post. I've known I needed to name the world of Noblesse Oblige for some time, but I had been putting it off. Today I sat down to do so. I've settled on the name Vestheraia, deriving from the elven name Kel'vestheraia'saerithae, meaning "All that falls under the purview of Vesterion" or "All the land the gods have wrought." While most human cultures probably have a name for the world too, most of those names are probably something boringly similar to "Earth," so I think an elven name is most appropriate. Today, I've written about the differences between Vestheraia and our world. 

Lore Post: What Never Will Be

In general, for a world such as Vestheraia, we operate on the expectation that it is the same as our own unless specified. While this is mostly true, there are certain key differences that, though unlikely to ever arise in the game, indelibly shape the world’s future. The most pronounced difference is the existence of magic, but the others are, in the long term, almost as important.

Chemical Properties

The most important of the differences is that, in simple terms, the chemical reactions that create black powder, silver powder, and most high explosive substances simply do not happen in the world of Vestheraia. Consequently, firearms will never be invented, and projectile weapons are unlikely to overtake melee weapons as the primary means of combat. In theory, it would likely be possible for a flame sorcerer to create a firearm with careful use of fire magic, but calibrating the explosion to launch a projectile would be an extremely arduous task, and only possible for those who, by virtue of their sorcery, would not have need for such a weapon in the first place. Hence, if firearms ever came into being, it would likely be as no more than a curiosity. The difference in chemistry primarily applies to the creation of explosions; such substances would likely still be highly flammable, and could be used by alchemists to create firebombs, with the understanding that such firebombs are more similar to a Molotov cocktail than a bomb as we understand it. The explosions of the catapults at Riversmeet were mostly for dramatic effect.

Fossil Fuels

The effects that give rise to fossil fuels in our world function on much longer timescales in Vestheraia, and are less likely to occur in general. As a result of these two factors working together, the world does not contain any large fossil fuel deposits of the scale that would be feasible for mining. Small deposits exist, and can be used in smithing (in the case of coal), but sufficient quantities to power an industrial revolution are not present. As a result, steam power, internal combustion engines, and modern forging techniques are unlikely to ever exist in the Vestheraia. With the rarity of coal, high-end smithing is done through the use of artisan crucible steels or with the assistance of a flame sorcerer in most cases. In theory, a flame sorcerer could also power a steam engine, but as with firearms, such an application would be unlikely to be developed, especially given the more feasible and well-developed alternative of airship travel. Similarly, inefficient wood-fired steam engines might exist, but would be unlikely to spur widespread adoption. Nuclear power likely exists, but reaching the point of utilizing it without other technologies is unlikely. “Nuclear Sorcery,” the usage of nuclear effects in sorcery or as an element, is a more likely possibility, though not one likely to occur at any point in the near future.

Consequences

Where does this leave us? Most importantly, the world is unlikely to have a widespread industrial revolution or move from more agrarian societies to urban ones. The overall technology level on Velonia at the time of Noblesse Oblige is essentially similar to the renaissance, with key differences. The healing magics of the Order of Alivae and Order of Alcina mean that medical care is, in some ways, better than even that available in today’s world, though this is counterbalanced by the availability of healing in remote areas. In addition, because of the importance of sailing to trade on Velonia, shipbuilding techniques were highly advanced, and the advent of airships spurred even more innovation in that regard. As a result, ships and airships are likely to remain the principal method of long-distance transportation on Velonia for the foreseeable future, with individuals using horses or carriages for shorter-distance trips. This will further the likelihood of the world’s societies remaining largely feudal and agrarian.

Intercontinental Relations

The world has already experienced its Age of Exploration about 200-300 years before the events of the game (see the in-game Avalonian world history books). Aside from the elves, whose knowledge is hard to directly compare (being much greater in some ways and much worse in others), the technology levels of the other inhabited continents are somewhat behind Velonia’s by perhaps 10% or 20%, varying by region. Technological diffusion has affected most areas, but Velonian powers guard their shipbuilding knowledge carefully and, for the most part, Velonians currently retain a monopoly on airships capable of intercontinental travel. The distance between the continents was great enough that few serious colonization efforts were undertaken, especially given the relatively fractured state of Velonia during the Age of Exploration. Healing magics largely staunched heavy population declines from unfamiliar diseases on both sides. The Order of Alcina has attempted to spread to other continents much more than any kingdom, but with limited success without the force of the Avalonian Empire that allowed it to sweep across Velonia.

Overall

In general, Vestheraia will continue advancing, but there are limitations in the very fabric of the world that write a very different path for it than for human society on our own world. These limitations suggest that there is significantly less likelihood of society looking fundamentally different a thousand years into the future, relative to the drastically different world of today when compared to the world of 1,000 CE. Most of these things are beyond the scope of Noblesse Oblige or any other work I may set in Vestheraia going forward, but still, in my opinion, worth knowing.