Make Your Own World

Make Your Own World By Breaking Concepts Down

The process to make your own world can seem daunting and overwhelming. Thinking of the different aspects of a world is an immense task, and it can be difficult to know where to start. The good news is that you don't have to start with the whole world. Instead, you can tackle worldbuilding by focusing on one concept at a time.

As an example, let's take a look at the concept of Life Rights in the city of Qualx. It is just a small aspect of Blueprints of Destruction, but it is both foundational and revolutionary to the way the world operates. PhranqenLu has already covered what Life Rights are as a concept and what the different classes are, so now we will take a look at how Life Rights are obtained.

Life Rights determine whether someone can work, live safely, raise a family, or even remain inside Qualx. Acquiring Life Rights can happen through five main pathways: lineage, union, political grant, Guild service, or conflict.

For this page, we will take a closer look at Life Rights through lineage and union.

Obtaining Life Rights Through Birth

Life Rights gained through birth ensure population stability. While birth rights are a very common way of holding Life Rights, it is not as simple as it would seem on the surface. Because many species on Qualx lay batches of eggs rather than have only one or two offspring through gestation, many offspring in Qualx do not know exactly who their parents are. This could create some challenges for determining who has inherited the Life Rights of their parents.

While a child is under the care of their parents, their Life Rights are an extension of their parents. Once they are close to becoming legally autonomous, they must prove both their parentage and their claim to possess Life Rights. This is most easily done through RDM official reports. Once they show proof of both genealogy and inheritable Life Rights, they can apply for Rights of their own. So, while Life Rights are inherited from the parents, proactive action still needs to be taken.

For species who do carry their children on their body or in their womb, it is much easier to prove lineage because blood or DNA tests can be performed, along with the standard RDM documentation.

If offspring cannot prove parentage, they default to unwrit status unless they are given Life Rights by an Archon. Though a grant of Life Rights directly from an Archon is rare and not something that most citizens would think to view as a viable option to fall back on.

Falsified RDM reports are a prevalent issue among individuals seeking citizenship status through back alleys. Corruption and fraud are a challenge with regard to the gain of Life Rights. While there is a relatively low risk that they will be audited and exposed by the Guild. If a citizen is audited and found guilty of falsifying their Life Rights, the sentence is almost certainly death.

Inheritance is not the only way to Life Rights. In Qualx, marriage can also create legally binding ties.

Life Rights Through Marriage

Marriage is a core way to obtain Life Rights as a citizen of Qualx. If a being with Life Rights marries someone without them, their Life Rights extend to their spouse. Life Rights through legal union not only strengthens economic stability between families, but also produces a healthier society as a whole.

If the spouse that possesses Life Rights were to pass away, all Life Rights and other assets automatically go to the remaining spouse. This is because, while the two are separate beings, they are recognized in the system as a single account, so even if only one remains, the account is still active.

If divorce or annulment does occur, though it is extremely rare, the penalties for doing so are very high. If the marriage is ended successfully, both spouses could be reverted back to pre-marriage status. This includes any Life Rights gained, assets acquired, or monetary savings. In the case where a marriage is ended due to abuse, the Conglomerate can be appealed, and if adequate proof is shown, the victim is awarded the assets.

Since many species are able to cross-populate (with the species of the child being either one of the parents, not a blend of the two), the Guild treats marriages of different species no differently than a union of the same species.

One thing is certain, however, once Life Rights are in place, it is no small feat to have them removed, whether voluntarily or imposed.

Life Rights gained through birth and marriage are the most common ways a being becomes part of Qualx. These paths rely on family, records, and legal ties that already exist, and help keep the city stable and organized.

But Qualx is not kind.

For those without lineage, without a mate, or without protection, Life Rights must be taken from harsher sources. Some must earn their place through work, loyalty, and often through desperate, dangerous choices.

While Life Rights are a complex and intricate system, it becomes so much more simple when broken down into separate components. You can apply the same principles when you begin to make your own world! The most important thing is to take your time and enjoy the process as you let your inner author explore the world you are creating for your readers.

On the next page, we will explore how Life Rights are granted, earned, and sometimes even seized.

Life Rights Table of Contents:

Page 1: How to Write Better Stories with Complex Systems
Page 2: Build Your Own World by Expanding Complex Systems
Page 3: How to World Build Through Lore 
Page 4: Exploring What is World Building With Tiers and Rights
Page 5: Make Your Own World by Breaking Concepts Down
Page 6: Using Worldbuilding Ideas to Create Intricate Systems
Page 7: Creating an Imperfect System with Tips for Worldbuilding