#UnderTheSeaChallenge

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See the Winners of the Under the Sea Challenge!

Winners of the Under the Sea Challenge
Generic article | Oct 29, 2023

Announcing the winners of the Under the Sea Challenge, which ran from the 19th-29th of May.

Drawing of a bronze seashell with the text
Drawing of a silver seashell with the text
Drawing of a gold seashell with the text
#UnofficialChallenge #UnderTheSeaChallenge #Winners
12
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Entries for the Under the Sea Challenge have closed!

 
In honor of #MerMay2023, and for an alternative event during Play May, Solaris hosted a short "Under the Sea"-themed flash challenge. We've gotten 23 impressive entries, and we're now hunkering down to complete the judging as soon as we can!   Expect feedback to be rolled out soon, and a post announcing the winners.

A seashell badge representing the Unofficial Under the Sea Flash Challenge

  Lets share some love to our later entries as well! Check them out, leave a like, and lets show eachother how amazing the World Anvil community can be!  
The Joining
Tradition / Ritual | Sep 14, 2026

The cultural event surrounding zaratan mating on the ocean planet of Torm.

Taffylopod
Species | Jan 31, 2024
Current Driller
Species | Jun 14, 2023
The Descent of íde
Generic article | Jul 14, 2024
Black Sea Wolf
Species | Jun 15, 2023
Capricorn
Species | May 5, 2026

Capricorns are a species of aquatic mammals in Eden which were created by the goddess River as her answer to her sister’s fearsome fire-breathing dragons.

eccbooks

Sage

E. Christopher Clark · Member Since Dec 2018

The Merpeople
Tradition / Ritual | Oct 5, 2024

A young enchantress mermaid has the bad luck of coming to the attention of the leading politician of her city. Worse, her attention brings that of her renegade nephew, the Emperor of the Abyss, leader of the most dangerous cannibalistic mers.

Qra'kovra
Generic article | Sep 29, 2026

oaster2000

Sage

Owen (Vibrant Worlds) · Member Since Mar 2022

Nonvyrox A fantasy setting scarred by a divine war.
chok swarm
Vehicle | Apr 26, 2026

The chok travel the ocean not in vehicles, but AS vehicles, made up of a swarm of individuals organized to suit the purpose of the journey.

#UnofficialChallenge #UnderTheSeaChallenge #Showcase
9
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Three more days to submit your entry! An update on the Under the Sea Challenge.

 
In honor of #MerMay2023, and for an alternative event during Play May, Solaris is hosting a short "Under the Sea"-themed flash challenge. Are you writing something for the unofficial Under the Sea challenge?   You've got three more days until submissions close, check out the countdown to make sure you get it in in time.

A seashell badge representing the Unofficial Under the Sea Flash Challenge

  Lets share some love to the entries thus far! Check them out, leave a like, and lets show eachother how amazing the World Anvil community can be!   We've gotten three deities, or deity-like figures. The very first entry was Jacqueline Yang's Tarvaar, god of darkness, fear and doubt. jandis introduced us to the impish Iofi, who's mood shifts as fast as the weather, and we've heard Chris L whisper about a celestial glutton deep, deep under the waves.   I was expecting to see some awesome species, and you have not let me down thus far! JudasBrennan goes in-depth about the society and mysteries of the lovecraftian Tsuthar'Chor, and KajetanWrites introduces us to the sea-variant of his shadow monsters and an insight into how they tie into the history of the elves. moonflower-writing evokes scylla and other monstrous sea-serpents with the Monsters of Lake Nicodes, and last but not least Dutrius gives us the intelligent but (unfortunately for them) delicious Pentasepia.   What I didn't expect were condition articles, but they work so well. Maxwell Ferris got there first with Tarvana, an ominous condition contracted by repeated free diving, named after the mad ravings of the affected. Since then mirescosmo has followed with the Sea Hollowed a disturbing magical undeath, and Scalenex introduced the monstrous shark-like Karakhai Abberations.   We've also seen some incredibly underwater locations, the most popular kind of entry thus far. They're incredibly diverse. Rain slowly unveils what has become of the Crashed Sky Citadel in a fascinating mix of fantasy and science fiction, and Blue Fairy 74 shows us an inventive use of the map feature when she introduces the unique Qimiori biome, an aquatic forest, and the cornerstone of it known as the knot-tree. Tanai Cuinsear writes about a classic underwater merfolk settlement, Earvaryosto, and weaves a rich history. hughpierre gives us tables galore in Thalatta, an underwater school of merfolk that weave the waters around them into a orb.  
God #4 Tarvaar
Character | May 20, 2023

EBelt

Freeman

Jacqueline Yang · Member Since Oct 2022

Tsuthar'Chor
Generic article | May 20, 2023

Cyborg Starfish

Freeman

Rain · Member Since Jan 2021

'Hard times are coming... we'll need writers who can remember freedom-" - Ursula Le Guin
Iofi
Character | Apr 15, 2024

Enneance goddess of the oceans, winds, storms, sailors, merchants, luck, and whimsy

jandis

Freeman

Member Since Apr 2021

Shadow Sea Monster
Species | May 22, 2023

Sea-dwelling counterparts of monsters from the Shadow Forest

Cape Broccoli

Freeman

Maxwell Ferris · Member Since Oct 2022

Check out the world of the Six-Globe and it's associated campaign; Frontier!
Qimiori - Water Forests
Geographic Location | Nov 2, 2025

... a protected ecosystem of Britl knot trees long the flat shores of the “Mìbi̋i̋milùqìì” islands of Uluriqi.

Earvaryosto
Settlement | Jun 15, 2023

A merfolk settlement beneath the Irikant Sea.

Tanai

Grandmaster

Tanai Cuinsear · Member Since Jul 2019

Tambanokano
Character | Dec 2, 2023

Tambanokano is one of the Seven Celestial Gluttons. The star-eating crab sits at the bottom of the deepest trench in the ocean, eating anything that comes within reach of its greedy claws.

The Monsters of Lake Nicodes
Species | May 23, 2023

moonflower-writing

Councilor of the Inner Sanctum

moonflower-writing · Member Since Jan 2019

✦✦✦ Have a great NovelEmber and WorldEmber! ✦✦✦
Pentasepia
Species | May 23, 2023

The intelligent alien "cuttlefish"

Thalatta
Geographic Location | Apr 26, 2026
Sea Hollowed
Condition | Jun 11, 2023
Karakhai Aberrations
Condition | Jun 16, 2023

supernatural transformation of karakhai forcibly imprisoned

#UnofficialChallenge #UnderTheSeaChallenge #Showcase
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Something has arrived... The unofficial Under the Sea challenge is now live!

A seashell badge representing the Unofficial Under the Sea Flash Challenge

 
In honor of #MerMay2023, and for an alternative event during Play May, Solaris is hosting a short one week flash challenge. The theme is Under the Sea, and I want to hear about your oceans, lake monsters, merfolk and anything related to bodies of water.   Submissions are open until May 29th.
 

Prizes

  • 1st Place - An MS Paint illustration related to the article, and an MS paint illustration of your choice. Golden Badge*
  • 2nd Place - An MS Paint illustration related to the article. Silver Badge*
  • 3rd Place - An MS Paint illustration related to the article. Bronze Badge*
    • *These badges are graphics that will redirect to the winning article when clicked. Since this is an unofficial challenge the badge isn't added to your badges page on your author profile, but you can use the graphic yourself where you want to!   All entries can opt in for personalized feedback on their articles, learning how they scored and why.  
    Under the Sea Flash Challenge
    Generic article | Mar 6, 2024

    Unofficial Flash Challenge. I want to hear about your oceans, lake monsters, merfolk and anything related to bodies of water in this short one week flash challenge DUE: 29th of May, 2023

    #UnofficialChallenge #UnderTheSeaChallenge
    10
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    Something is coming... See the prizes, meet the judges!

    Solaris is proud to be hosting a unofficial flash challenge this May. The theme will be announced on May 19th and submissions are open until May 29th.

    Prizes

  • 1st Place - An MS Paint illustration related to the article, and an MS paint illustration of your choice. Golden Badge*
  • 2nd Place - An MS Paint illustration related to the article. Silver Badge*
  • 3rd Place - An MS Paint illustration related to the article. Bronze Badge*
    • *These badges are graphics that will redirect to the winning article when clicked. Since this is an unofficial challenge the badge isn't added to your badges page on your author profile, but you can use the graphic yourself where you want to!   All entries can opt in for personalized feedback on their articles, learning how they scored and why.

    Judges

    Qurilion

    Qurilion is a titan of World Anvil, he has won several Best Body Of Work during the WorldEmber events, and most recently the Strength and Honor Award during the Worldbuilding Awards. Not only is he the mastermind behind Araea, Shedim, Megacorpolis, and Necro-Industrial Complex, and many more amazing worlds, he is the person who inspired the Human of the Match award.
    I love using challenges to explore some aspect of the world I hadn't really thought about. It can really help you break out of the mold and focus something that might be way outside your wheelhouse. Embrace it - you'll find something there that you like.
    — Qurilion's Challenge Advice
    Challenges are a great way to get new people to check out your work. Remember that they don't know all the things you do: look for a way to show new readers with what your world is all about!
    — Annie's Challenge Advice

    Annie Stein

    Annie Stein, also known as nnie, ran the first Unofficial Challenge back in 2021. She's the writer and artist behind Solaris, the world you are currently on, which was voted the Most Beautiful New World of 2022 and nominated for Best New World. Solaris is also the Summercamp 2022 winner of the Military Conflict with Operation War Dove.  
    We're looking for a third judge. If you're interested, please get in touch with me over discord.
    #UnofficialChallenge #UnderTheSeaChallenge #Teaser
    18
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    Something is coming... I hope you're up for a challenge!

    solaris_sneaky.png

      Keep your eye on Solaris for updates!  
    #UnofficialChallenge #UnderTheSeaChallenge #Teaser
    15
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