la avria | soundtrack
|
Inspired by the Classical period in western Europe, La Avria takes place is a universe where music and sound act as vehicles of magic. Each Song is an emblem representing a family's power and these families are controlled by the structures of tradition. Our story begins with a prince on an adventure and ends with a king in exile!
|
“in life, the ratio of signal to noise is low. sometimes, i wonder if there even is a meaning to this overwrought, hopelessly complicated world.
but, when you tell me your story, there is a clarity that resonates. the sound rises to a sweet vibrato as the hero kisses his princess, then falls to a despairing hum as the rain patters at her grave exactly three acts later.
the music is beautiful, the piece comprehensible.
again. play it again.”
but, when you tell me your story, there is a clarity that resonates. the sound rises to a sweet vibrato as the hero kisses his princess, then falls to a despairing hum as the rain patters at her grave exactly three acts later.
the music is beautiful, the piece comprehensible.
again. play it again.”
concept summary
- As a young lad, someone once asked me if I didn't make ornate or detailed character designs because I couldn't. Avria is me, responding to that, with Spite.
- Music and sound are the main vehicle of magic! Avria is one of the many continents in this world, which also includes Hasaaran (insects), <africa parallel continent> (reptiles), <asian parallel continent> (fish) and <nordic parallel continent> (mammals). By and large, accessibility to music and sound is synonymous with accessibility to power and political dominance. History spans centuries with characters that embody the spirit of the times.
- The themes of this continent and time period are that of the law and government and its relationship with morality, justice and family.
- 'Avia' refers to the Latin categorization for 'bird' and 'aria' like the musical term.
aesthetics
- The <UNNAMED CAPITAL> is multi-tiered city with many gate-ways and gilded, bird-cage inspired architecture. Most of the buildings are dome-shaped with high-rise ceilings.
- The middle area is all parks and public space. Also, all the animals are birds! Instead of public gardens there are different, elegantly-coloured tamed birds that perch and preen in greenhouse-esque structures. Hansom cabbies are drawn by ostriches.
- Because of the ubiquity of birds and the many mythos surrounding birds (see, magic system section), society has formed around bird species. Each family has a bird species from which it
A. derives its family name
B. uses as its insignia
C. house colours. - The level of technology is roughly 1740s~early 1800s Austria/Hungary/Spain/France! Think Maria Theresa and Mozart!
- The most common building material is something resembling (gold-plated) copper, iron and tinted glass.
aesthetics
- Magic is activated through sound, particularly music. The way musical knowledge and training is distributed depends on the culture.
- In continent of Avria, it is said that Songs were taught to each family via birds— as such, each song stays within the family. The culture highly stresses destiny and order, as destiny and order were there from the very beginning. The mightiest bird blessed the mightiest line (the Amheristae), thus solidifiying their rights to the throne.
- The general view of a Song is that it is something to treasure as it connects one to their family.
- There exist certain small and common diddies to perform ordinary tasks (such as alleviating the pain of a small cut, finding lost objects, or etc.)
- However, a family song in itself is a long and very complicated piece with specific notes that must be hit at certain speeds and pitches. In some cases, a Song may require certain instruments or vocal ranges. Each component of a song builds upon itself—after certain refrains are completed, the subsequent magic might be more powerful or another attribute is added.
- An example Swallow's Song. Swallow families are notorious builders in this universe, often seen about the cities with other builder-class birds… playing piano in order to tend and mend here and there; the “pianists that build” so to speak.
- Another example is the Amherstiae line, or the royal family whose Song is of Life. When the first few stanzas is sung, the singer wields control over plant life.
The next set of stanzas increase the range of control over higher and higher levels of sentience— to small chicks to one person at its end. - It's a very musical world because something is always playing. In Avria, the singing is operatic and the instruments Western (violin, piano, cello etc!)
- An heir inherits a song from an early age; how an heir is picked depends on their family. Usually, this is based on personal merit and cleverness. Certain Song pitches/volumes can predispose certain family heirs to being male or female. Those differences are typically negligible!
- Families can only have one heir. To have more is a sign of indecision and thus Frowned Upon.
- With a lack of suitable heirs, noble families have been known to abandon their own children, scour orphanages and/or pay lesser families for their talented children.
society overview
- Within most of Avria's countries, society is highly hierarchal with the royal family at top with the most powerful song and the lowliest families having no songs at all!
- Due to the high emphasis on heirs and family heads, those who are heir to songs tend to have the most opportunities in their lives. For example, it is incredibly uncommon for an officer or captain of the army to be without a song. In their 800 years+ history there has never been a GENERAL who didn’t have one. (wars are basically massive orchestras of high officials playing in the background, as foot soldiers fight with diddies, swords and cannons).
- University acceptance has also been known to be a lot more lenient towards heirs! They are, after all, training the future leaders and creators of this country!
- With that said, there is insurmountably great pressure on heirs… If an heir screws up, the family is blamed for their poor decision in picking that person. A number of families have been disgraced to the point of immigrating elsewhere in shame.
- Rigidity varies from country to country, but is most stringent in <AMHERISTAE COUNTRY>. They have very set standards for conduct. Each age group has set expectations placed upon it; these expectations play out such that the line between childhood, adolescence and adulthood are very clearly laid out. Likewise, the mobility of social class is possible. However, once a person have been officially inducted into their class, they are immediately held to the standards of said class.