I. The Arts
Lots of Ember [https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/1098674530421047386/1101651780334518392/JaffaJessie_border_collie_wearing_a_harness_pulling_a_cart_at_g_3bceee86-1696-4960-b3bd-47ff08d4034d.png?width=686&height=686]
Bundle image 2 [https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/1098674530421047386/1101652085629517834/JaffaJessie_border_collie_wearing_a_harness_pulling_a_cart_at_g_8251c586-aae5-4d03-9c0a-0bcee46d70e8.png?width=686&height=686]
So, those are my first IA generated 'fanart' made by someone else. Truth being told, I don't planned to use any of those cause they looked too much like photography. But here are my favorites:
Ember 2 [https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/1098674530421047386/1101858557332312095/JaffaJessie_border_collie_wearing_a_harness_pulling_a_cart_at_g_ed9d9000-602c-42e8-b469-1f1bce680fcf.png?width=676&height=676]
Here is Ember pulling her cart along the river. We can see some sparse woods in the distance, reminding of Great Falls main industry. The cart looks very much low-tech, which I really like. But there is not much going on in this picture.
Ember 2 [https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/1098674530421047386/1101858528165105704/JaffaJessie_border_collie_wearing_a_harness_pulling_a_cart_at_g_c3143a32-5df6-4967-965a-bc37bb83d1a4.png?width=676&height=676]
This version of Ember look straight at you. Her harness is less visible and the cart look even older. But I love the scenery. It's just missing so sign of civilisation.
Ember 3 [https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/1098674530421047386/1101859117221556234/JaffaJessie_border_collie_wearing_a_harness_pulling_a_cart_at_g_fc2808ec-cc2b-483b-82e6-fb3c65da0591.png?width=676&height=676]
And that the bonus IA generated cartoon produced by Jaffa Jessie. Ember cart is odd and still missing sign of civilisations but its about as good as my current illustrations.
If this illustrations ever make a breakthrough with about a hundred followers, I would spend some money for an actual commissioned cover. But for now I'm content with what I have.
Go check out Jaffa Jessie own novel:
https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/58441/renewal-a-daughter-of-fate-villainesslitrpgcultivationotome
II. The surprises
So I deep dived into my universe and produced a lot of maps, flags and lore that might never come fruition, especially for the non-American lore that Ember would likely never get to visit so I'm going to share those, under spoilers. Feel free to skip those and aim straight for the last one surprise.
A. Flags and Geopolitics
Flag 1 [https://zupimages.net/up/23/18/pw74.png]
So I start with the already revealed Kingdom of Armorica, which is the post-apocalyptic equivalent to the kingdom of Brittany. The stripes are both symbols of the kingdom counties and a stylised representation of a lighthouse with the Crown guiding his subject in the storms. The hermine (animal) is the symbol of Vannes, while the hermine (heraldry) are a reminder of the former duchy of Britanny.
The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
Though the Royal Territory is limited, it's navy is dominating and many territory chose to enter a political, military and trade alliance with the Kingdom of Armorica, not including the free duchies that chose to swear fealty and the few puppet states that the kingdom made along the way, making the kingdom of Armorica the new European powerhouse.
Flag 2 [https://zupimages.net/up/23/18/44vb.png]
So, when I simulated the balkanisation of North America, I had a big hole in the great plains middle west. So of course, some power had to fill this gap and somehow build some legitimacy for themselves. So here it is: the flag of the United Great Plains. Do you think I nailed it? Is it inclusive enough? (18 months after collapse)
Flag 3 [https://zupimages.net/up/23/18/89yt.png]
There it is! The flag of the Cascadian Commonwealth, which as you can guess, absorbed a lot more than just the Cascadian Ecoregion, from all the elements presented in the flag. I had a big ego-trip including the howling wolf, but I justified it saying that "if Cascadia get to keep its weird tree, then the arcanines and the northern territories have to also get something cool". So yeah... Western Canada and Alaska too. (14 months after collapse)
Flag 4 [https://zupimages.net/up/23/18/ayjy.png]
Then, I'm sure you were curious about what happened to the East Coast and the USA as a whole. Long story short: the Army won, changing the US flag for the US coat of arms. And the New Africa chose to go to war against the UECA after beating the neo-confederate. But the Florida protectorate (which was previously conquered by New Africa) chose to backstab them and side with the reunited US. So that what the right part of the flag is representing. The United East Coast of America humbly setting aside to unite under a strong restored pseudo-democratic leadership. (16 months after collapse)
Also what remains of the Canada, except for Quebec, is in the process of willingly joining the UECA. So the North America map is pretty much unrecognisable at this point. (Around 20 months after collapse)
Flag 5 [https://zupimages.net/up/23/18/p32h.png]
And Finally, the true lasting Union of the South against the threat of the neo confederate and the Mormon State of Deseret. Which is technically a confederation though the word became taboo. So they called themselves the Federal Republics, which make no sense and is just a ad hoc name cause they were unable to agree on one.
It's a truly dysfunctional confederation with only the Atzlañ willing to further the union. The California want its independence but can't because it depends on other states water and ressources. And the Texas wants the exact same thing but is too afraid to be forcefully absorb by the UECA without the confederation help. So they are kind of stuck together by circumstances?
Atzlañ-California (8 months after collapse)
California-Atzlañ-Texas (13 months after collapse)
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So those were the big spoilers. I though of including the exact maps but I did a 1 per month map for the sake of my simulation and I would not know which one to include. But I think the flags are pretty transparent about who get what. Just let me know if you want the details.
B. Non-Spoiler surprise
Ember & Merida [https://zupimages.net/up/23/18/p13h.jpg]
Here is my own drawing of Ember and Merida, right before the Writathon while I was at work, surrounded by kids asking me about my story. This is also the first canon image of Merida at that time. So, what do you think? Would you trust that doll and dog with your continued survival?
~~~ Yeah, me neither ^^
I'm obviously not a great artist but that was the best I could do with my limited talent. Though I hope my blood and sweat making this drawing will convey my own commitment to this novel. I'm not going anywhere until book 1 is done, even if it might take me months to do so.
Ember Cover [https://www.royalroadcdn.com/public/covers-large/65668-rk9-rescue-dog-writathon-participant.jpg?time=1683493800]
And I could have spent more time cleaning up. But I wanted to "upgrade" the story cover so here it is. 100% made with free text-to-image AI. Only thing I lost is a lot of time. Not perfect cause you can tell its an edited background cause of the light coming from the wrong direction. But I'm still a lot happier with that one. Let me know if you like it.
I know that everyone who ever planned to subscribed already did. But this is helping this novel and letting you know when next chapter has been published. So that's kind of a win-win.