I Did Something · 8:36pm Jan 31st, 2014
So I've been "working on it" for about four months now, and I wouldn't be surprised if most of you just gave up on expecting me to actually write that story I promised in TOFB&G. Honestly, I admit that the actual writing hasn't gone so well, but I've been doing a lot of world-building.
I mean a LOT.
So, just to keep you appraised, here's what I have so far:
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Badlands:
Desert climate, south-southeast of Dodge Junction. Bordered on the Northwest and Northeast by the MacIntosh Hills, and the South by Saddle Arabia.
Federal policy on the Badlands has followed the precedent of Salutary Neglect; so long as the tax collectors arrive on time with all of their limbs intact, the Badlanders can do almost anything they want.
The Badlanders had developed a religious pantheon before annexation by the Equestrian Monarchy.
The Sun is seen as the bringer of death. She is related to failed crops, droughts, and heat stroke. Gold is interpreted as being borne of the sun, and so is very low-value in the Badlands. In turn, the Moon is seen as a benevolent god, as she brings respite from the "Tyranny of the Sun." The Badlanders' relationship with the Moon can be compared to a watchful mother, quietly protecting her dear children from the abusive father when s/he's not around. Her related metal is Silver, and is very revered in the Badlands. Only the rich and the clergy have access to silver-related items. Finally, the Soul is the guardian of the afterlife. His interpretation differs between each Badlander. Some see him as a calm and patient father figure, while others see him as a bloodthirsty warrior with whom none should trifle.
The Equestrian annexation of the Badlands in 3E 776 resulted in a splintering of the Badlands Church into two sub-factions. One faction is the Fundamentalists, who believe that Princesses Celestia and Luna are pretenders to their pantheon of Sun and Moon Gods, and must pay for their heresy with blood. There are rumors of a militant "Brotherhood" among the Fundamentalists, but their existence is secretive at best and mythical at worst. The second faction is the Interpreters, who believe that the pantheon is to be taken as guidance, not gospel. If Celestia and Luna claim to govern the Sun and Moon, that is their claim to make, and their lie to tell themselves.
The Badland Economy is very heavily influenced by the desert climate and local religion. Water is scarce, and expensive as a result. Water itself can be used as an insurance policy; it's not unheard of for bandit raids to stumble across a stockpile of water kegs that the owner was hoping to sell for retirement. Other commodities are priced based on either how much water was spent to bring it to market or its religious value. Wood is a high-priced item due to the gigantic water investment involved with growing a tree. Gold jewelry is nearly worthless due to gold's relation to the sun. A bottle of wine is worth less than a bottle of water.
In contrast to Equestria proper, the upper class of the Badlands lives on the fringe areas of the territory, while the lower class is more centralized. This is due to yearly snows on the MacIntosh Hills providing most of the region's water supply. That said, even the upper class of the Badlands is susceptible to the occasional economic downturns caused by drought, and the appropriate rise in the price of water.
The majority of the Badlands citizenry consists of subsistence farmers, while the upper-class is peppered with more diverse occupations, including merchants, skilled tradesmen, wood farmers, and water workers. As a result, population distribution is 80% Earth pony, 18% Pegasus, 2% Unicorn.
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TBC
So yeah, I've been working...
Nicely done. I approve.
1781691
Glad to hear it. Your approval tells me that I'm doing it right.