Creation

First Riiga

2001-2003

The first map of Riiga in the top left, dating back to 2001. The other top left right and bottom left maps were made a few years after. The bottom right map is a more map-like representation of the oldest one.

In 2001, my brother and I had an idea for a world. By this time we were both in our teens and had been making up countless other worlds, pretend video games, artworks, and other creations, but this one was different. After playing Achaea for the first time, we got a taste of a brand new way of creating fantastical lands -- one section of land at a time. So we used grid paper and plotted out a small land called Riiga. Each point where four grid lines intersect represented one area, which roughly translated to the size of a house. We also made up lists of all things that could be found in this land, ranging from butterflies and fish to catch, to monsters, wildlife, towns, and people. It was designed to be explored. We even made character sheets which were filled out by hand, and took turns with one person running the world and narrating events, and the other playing as a character.

One of the old character sheets, and some examples of things found in Riiga.

A few years later, we came back to Riiga and designed what you might call "expansions" to the world. I created Jindiara, which is a jungle region and the place where the Keid first appeared, and by brother made a frosty land inspired by the Solstheim expansion to Morrowind, which included Hiiden Riiga and the Nadrock Isles. We drew inspiration from everything we knew, and many of the names and ideas exist in the current form of Riiga in some way.

==2004

After completing high school, I decided to start a new world project. Inspired by the above lands, I name it Riiga, and recycle some older maps and draw new land, eventually coming up with a world map. I decided at this point that my stories, drawings, and music would all come from this one world called Riiga.

==2005

In 2005 I made up some other little fantasy realms inspired by things like Fire Emblem and Full Metal Alchemist, and what is now essentially the Kingdom of Vastin was first made. It even included most of the same concepts of marches such as Leotyne, Trelinia (now Goldrond), Phedailin (now Duracia), Laurondirin (now Simbea), Yele (now Yaele), and Jevithem (now Midlands). I wrote a few short stories about the political intrigue of the area, and even invented the Templars around this time. This land used to be the main human kingdom in the east.

==2006

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==2007-2009

Hireos, On Magic, wiki. Lots of lore inspired by some online friends. RP forums #1.

==2010

RP forums #2.

==2012

Started the book, got serious with worldbuilding.

==2014

Tried to go extremely deep with lore. Redesigned world because it was too hard to make sense of the world.

==2015

Stopped writing book due to many reasons. New wiki on this website. World got developed through DistantLands.

==2016

A bit of work for DistantLands. Lots of night shift work.

==2017

Used some time without internet to work on Riiga. Started a new story.

==2018

Nothing.

==2019

Late 2020, ended Minecraft and resumed work on Riiga.

==2020

Riiga-ing intensifies.

Discord?