u/SpiceGirl_

I’ve had an idea for a story for years now and decided to actually do something about it and actually work on it. It was based on a different culture entirely, but when I finished my research and designs i felt that it didn’t fit so I scrapped it.

I decided to get inspiration from my own personal life and I remembered the countless stories my mum would share with me about nahuales, mariposas obsidianas, lechuzas, chaneques, brujas etc. We would also listen to stories while we drove long distances in the countryside.

I did some research on where these stories originate from and while some are Aztec, most are shared throughout mesoamerica.

I want to base my story on mesoamerica before colonization since I want to to focus more on how these civilizations interacted with one another. This story is primarily a fantasy with horror/romance elements. The main premise of the story is that a shapeshifter and an exiled prince who were once friends, now enemies must come together to defeat the new “crown prince” and prove the exiled prince’ Innocence. (I know the story sounds like 10 cans of bounce that ahh please don’t bother telling me, I know 😭)

*I’m using the terms prince since i still need to do research on the status and hierarchy on the children of concubines in respect to the real wife of the emperor*

I want to focus on maya and Aztec culture primarily due to their geography which would help me since my characters abilities are based on the environment. But I’m also going to do research on other civilizations and their geography to see if there is a place more well suited for some characters. For example: one of my characters is from a snowy biome, while another one is from a active volcanic region

My story isn’t going to be 100% accurate to how these civilizations lived, but I also want to be respectful. I am going to do research on the clothes, jewelry, body paint, body modifications, hairstyles, the materials they were made of, who wore it, and why. As well as as their day to day life, if they had scholars, priests, artisans, peasants and their roles in society so that I can use these elements as well as give my own artistic flair.

Like I said, it isn’t going to be 100% accurate, if not more so inspired, but I don’t want to come off as a chud that is only using mesoamerica culture to be exotic, almost like orientalism. I’d rather do crack than write some bull like that. They aren’t bumbling warmongers or mystical soothsayers, but people with their own culture, beliefs, and ideals. So yeah, idk how I should go about that though :/

Literally made an appointment with a business advisor and the meeting was online in the morning, lit called them 7 times and sent 10 emails, as well as called the rest of the department to finally get her to send me an email back saying she sent me a link for the teams meeting and I never joined which is bs because I checked my school email, personal email and junk email and nothing. She wants to reschedule for later in the day which is fine but I’m just so damn irritated by this. I got into a car accident and was told to rest so I can heal and this bs isn’t helping. My head already hurts and this is giving me a bigger headache