Today I would like to look at the second of four main categories of technology which Wolfgang Baur talks about in his article Worlds and Technology as published in Kobold Press’s “The Kobold Guide to Worldbuilding” which he describes as “Technology of Knowledge: Literacy and Printing”. Let us begin by discussing how writing differs between different locations.

City Writing

Literacy rates in my setting are highly dependent on where you live. If you live in one of the few cities, you are much more likely to know how to read because the greater concentration of people, as well as the remnant ancient technology that allows a large group of people to survive in close proximity, gives people more time to learn additional skills. It is also the case that the few cities that survived the fall of the empire have a much higher number of examples of the written word available via public and private libraries. All this means that cities have maintained both a higher rate of literacy as well as the technology to support it. Printing presses, pens, and paper are still manufactured in quantity in cities, although the paper is rarely based on wood pulp and rather made of more unusual substances. The more industrial communities are even able to maintain personal writing machines like typewriters.

Town Writing

If, on the other hand, you grew up in one of the countless small communities that sprung up from the ruins of the empire you likely know someone who can read, but are less likely to be able to yourself. These small communities have much fewer resources and must prioritize basic survival over further education. Most people in such towns can identify a few important words in the imperial script and can communicate basic instructions and warnings via a simple system of glyphs, but they leave actual reading to a small set of elders or craftspeople who need to learn reading to further their craft or to assist in examining unique pieces of salvage from the ruins that speckle the world.

Bubbles of Sound

A much more interesting, and more universally applicable, technology is the creation of sound spheres or message bubbles. These devices are spheres of a particular magical allow that repels sound. One utilizes the device by speaking a small amount into a hole at one end and then inserting a small stopper made of the same material. The sound is then trapped within the sphere until the stopper is removed again, releasing the message. The length of the message is dependent on the exact shape and size of the sphere, with larger bubbles able to contain larger messages.

This is all accomplished with just the passive ability of the material alone. By combining this magical device with the proper application of magical energy, one can create a more advanced device that only allows a portion of the sound to escape with each listening, allowing a message to be heard many times over.

Spheres of every shape and description

Less common communication devices can be made in the same way with different allows of the same base magical material. This allows for a sphere that instead of retaining a sound, may retain a smell or a image. One of the most difficult spheres to create and fill is one that holds thoughts in pure form. such spheres are extremely rare and sought after as they are the most universally understood of all these magical communications devices.

---

That is all for today. See you later with another article.