Resources for Fiction Writers #9

Hello, and welcome to my open source project. A frequent blog where I share ideas and resources for fiction writers of all genres. Each issue is imagined independently and is intended to invoke inspiration.

Rocks, Stones, and Minerals

Cumberlandite — A rare rock found only in Cumberland, Rhode Island. Also known as, The Stone of Venus, this heavy, dark, and porous rock has a rare quality; strong magnetism. If in a high enough concentration, it can throw off compasses, or be used to magnetize a needle to make a compass.

This rock was highly revered by the Knights Templar and many ancient cultures, being used in nearly every archaeoastronomical structure built by the Templars.

Weatherstone — A fictional igneous rock found mostly near volcanic sites. It looks like limestone, but is very porous. It is full of tiny pockets of trapped gasses from volcanic activity as it cooled. When the barometric pressure drops, like when a storm is due, these rocks can be found popping and jumping, and sometimes breaking apart as the change in pressure causes the gasses in the pockets to expand.

In certain cultures, it is worn with jewelry so that the wearer can have an early warning sign of oncoming storms. Areas with active volcanoes tend to be prone to severe weather. It might be that they only wear it during hurricane/tornado season.

Exotic Materials

Cummulite — Also known as, cloudstone, it is a fictional mineral that exists as a nano-particle and is lighter than air, even in high concentrations. It’s only until it accumulates enough particles that are heavier than air that they can be seen to float in midair, sometimes sinking slowly. This quality, mixed with its transparency, is why it’s named so. If the heavy particles are metallic — as most are — they can sparkle as well.

Like with the weatherstone mentioned before, cummulite could also be affected by atmospheric pressures, rising and falling as a result. It’s possible that, with the right particles, they could be used similarly to a Galilean thermometer, or to better understand what kind of weather to expect. Could even be as “accurate” as modern day forecasts.

And, yes, I’m thinking that it would look similar to Aerogel, but could really be of any color. This material could also be used to make a dirigible, or an airship of some kind if combined with light gasses such as helium or hydrogen.

Goldenthresh — A fictional powder that is theorized to be the desiccated remains of angel feathers, particularly the down feathers. No one knows its true origin, but it is known to use the winds to find holy sites and settle upon the structures therein where it becomes inert. As it accumulates, it takes on a golden sheen.

It is often used by traveling monks and missionaries as a sort of compass to guide them toward their nearest holy site, or even of an unknown site, perhaps where several leylines meet.

It is difficult to gather, but those lucky enough to get their hands on it typically line their threshold with it to ward away evil spirits as it is thought to do.

Diseases, Syndromes, and Maladies

Slave Pox — A fictional disease that produces symptoms similar to that of voodoo zombies. Unlike popular culture, zombies produced by voodoo practices somehow reignites the base functions of the victim’s brain stem and cerebellum. They can understand commands and can do most basic things, but they cannot speak or do complex tasks, even as simple as tying one’s shoe. They are not known to be cannibalistic nor do they suffer from uncontrollable rage/hunger.

This disease is notable with reddened pustules forming on the victim’s forehead and along the nape of the neck. Very soon, they succumb to a grand mal seizure, or what’s formally known as a tonic-clonic seizure; the most severe kind which can be fatal. If they survive the seizure, they are then reduced to base functions, and in a lot of cases, like with the voodoo zombies, they are used as slave labor or even cannon fodder.

Heliophage — A rare, fictional disorder that is genetic and causes the skin to be extremely sensitive to the radiation from a sun. For settings with more than one sun, it could be a sensitivity to one of them in particular. In some cases, they can be so sensitive as to react to the small percentage of sunrays that are reflected by one or more moons. The fuller the phase and brighter the color both will result in higher percentages. For reference, our full moon reflects upwards of 5%.

The symptoms from overexposure is the same as radiation sickness, though, typically not fatal. The case might be different for multiple suns. The night time is the right time. The night time is the right time.

Names

First Names

Graddus

Haelia

Ivren

Jouen

Kheldra

Last Names

Lycanbane

Maedven

Neyenfeld

Ogremire

Pellendrel

Place Names

Quillwood

Rur’Tuk

Severed Sea

Thekkodolos

Urum Vyr

Company and Brand Names

Ketatek

QRIM (Quantum Response Imaging and Mapping)

The Grist and Wheel — A tavern with a mill that is used to slightly crush hops and barley before being prepared into beers and ales.

Brideveil

The Pauper’s Dream — A shop that sells knockoffs.

Thank you so much for reading. Please consider leaving some feedback. Have a wonderful day….[[|:-)