Idea inspired by a dream

[alias_sqbr]

Matriarchal line of queens with magical powers who must prove their suitability for the crown at their coronation by making their own crown using telekinesis. Maybe if there's no suitable heir a sufficiently magical girl is adopted in, to keep the line powerful. And sometimes a less magical queen needs a little surreptitious help but everyone pretends not to notice.

I tend to find both monarchies and magitocracies off-putting as a non-dystopian form of government in fiction, but combine it with craft and I'm apparently into it haha.

In my dream there was a set crown design they had to follow exactly, but it could be fun if designing a unique crown was a way for queen to start their rule with a bang. Crowns from old queens would make for cool historical artifacts. "Ah yes, the one with all the little skulls...Queen Gothica was quite a character..."

Someone has probably done this already in something.

Comments

[isabel_lunnen]

I've never come across it, anyway! (Though, in fairness, I haven't read much of anything grad school-unrelated for a really long while.)

I had an idea of a matriarchal monarchy requiring the queen to be a certain kind of mage, but I'd never have thought of the crown angle, which is very cool. I especially like the little details—the surreptitious assistance and crowns reflecting their maker's #aesthetic.

[alias_sqbr]

Yes I'm quite proud of it! I'm unlikely to ever actually use it in anything so feel free to steal for your own matriarchies :)