u/Twoth-the-Voluminous

(not in an alt hist way, original nations on an original landmass)

This is admittedly an annoying question to both ask and answer, but bear with me for a minute. I want to build a history of nations in my world (not for anyone to read im just having fun) but I am realizing that I have no idea how to start the cascade (by which i mean whatever circumstances made European history do all that) with anything other than a roman empire analogue randomly popping in and conquering half a subcontinent, which I'd simply prefer not to do. No objective reason, I just dislike the idea of having a roman empire!

I think this is all the context necessary for what I'm trying to do, assume I'm going for some original spin on the medieval fantasy nations template. Also assume I have no clue about how any other places worked even though that's not entirely true.

Hopefully a very straightforward prompt: What happens to people's bodies and souls when they die? Any special cases, transformations into other species (e.g. ghosts), reincarnation, purgatory, etc? How big is your world's "death tech tree" if that makes sense?

Probably doesn't fit a scifi world, but if yours handles the topic in any capacity you are welcome to talk about it

Feel free to yap but remember to check out other peoples comments (EDIT: I mean it! I physically cannot keep up with yall!)

UPD: After all your awesome suggestions, I think I​ will embrace the asymmetry and physicality and let Earth enhance ​power and toughness of the user! It will resist burning and being swept by winds, but be vulnerable to freezing damage as I originally conceived

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In my magic system, all elemental attacks are basically energy that happens to look like real things, and will only directly hurt your spirit (magic energy underlying your body), however they do interact between each other and have edges over each other:

Fire melts ice, while Wind both blows out fire and melts ice (and sweeps both away).

https://preview.redd.it/tfrp8pp7ioih1.png?width=364&format=png&auto=webp&s=40f03c63dfbac918cdf82aa23d1a3b8d6c80ce88

But these three are simple volatile things that have an obvious action associated with them (burning freezing and blowing. ^(imagine ice is more like snow or blue fire)) meanwhile Earth is this weird solid thing that sorta just lays around doing nothing. What could Earth magic look like, and what could its strength/weaknesses be?

I've considered dust, like in dust devils, but I'm kind of on the fence about it because... has dust ever hurt you other than getting in the eyes?..

I am a bit of a stat nerd so I am really curious about what some common/uncommon ones are among people! I also know some people really like sharing their magic system things, so you specifically are welcome!

For mutual benefit try to stick to this format if applicable:

1. What is an "element" anyway? (i.e. are they actual components of matter, types of magic, overarching motifs, pokemon-style types, all of the above, etc.) Nothing wrong if this gets a bit long!

2. List of element names separated by commas. "Fire, Earth, Water, [...]".

3. After the entire list, nuances of individual elements that cannot be easily inferred from the name, nor your definition of an element. Speaking of which, if you assign colours to elements, what colour is "Air" if you have that? I'm really curious.

If some elements have 'wiggle room' like electricity-related elements often do, write it as "Lightning (electricity, thunder)", if something unexpectedly encompasses something else write it as "Ice (Water), Fire (Lightning), Earth (Plants)". For non-english names put translations into the parentheses too: "Cryo (Ice, Water), Pyro (Fire, Lightning)".

Thank you in advance, and double thanks if you follow the format!