The clatter of the wooden wheels on the flattened terrain, rhythmic steps of Sumpter Beast hooves and human boots alike, an occasional rattle and tinkle of the stored goods in the back of the carts.
A caravan like many others, crossing the verdant Sumeru and walking the paths carved through the forest by centuries of travelers before them.
And when night falls, between shared meals and the warmth of the fire, all feel the need for a story; from the toughest of the guarding Eremites to the sharp Akademiya scholar, from the witty head merchant to their lively children, all have a legend, a folktale, a record to tell.All stories that the Forest will remember.
About
Aranara Tales is a collaborative Genshin Impact fanzine project, a collection of original stories inside the frame narrative of a group of caravan travelers crossing the forests of Sumeru; if you're not familiar with the term "frame narrative", the structure of this zine will be similar to books such as The Decameron, Canterbury Tales or One Thousand and One Nights!
It'll be a writing-centered zine with each caravan member telling a story as they journey through the region, all focused around the forest spirits known as Aranara. While the little vegetable friends may not be the protagonists of every story, they'll always play a big role, whether openly or hidden in dreams and foliage, as they have done throughout all of Sumeru's history.
F.A.Q.
Q: What is a fanzine?
A fanzine, or simply zine, is an original collaborative fan-made magazine, self-published, comprehensive of written works, artworks, merchandise and other content. It can be in physical or digital form, or both.Q: What's this project about?
Aranara Tales is a SFW Genshin Impact project, a stories collection themed around the little forest fellas called Aranara. While focused on writing, the zine will also have space for page, spot and merch artists, as well as providing an audiobook!Q: Is the zine for-profit or charity based?
Charity! We have selected a charity organization with our contributors and we'll be making an official announcement very soon c:Q: Will the zine be available physically or digitally?
Aranara Tales will be available in both formats plus a digital audiobook! All physical zine purchases will also include the digital PDF and audio files.Q: Will this zine have merchandise?
Yes! Both digital and physical merchandise pieces will be available.Q: Will the zine ship internationally?
Yes, we will ship internationally! If issues with shipping to any specific country arise, the mod team will notify it.Q: How many contributors are there?
Each story has one dedicated full page illustration, with a total of 11 writers and 10 page artists, plus 6 spot artists.
There's also 1 cover artist, 1 comic artist, 8 merch artists, and 11 voice actors.Q: Is there an age restriction for participating in the zine?
Yes, contributors will to be at least 16 years old by the time the applications close.Q: How will contributors be compensated?
Contributors will receive a digital PDF of the zine, along with the audiobook files and any digital merch. Our aim will be to reach even with sales so to be able to compensate all our contributors with a physical zine plus shipping, and a full physical bundle if sales go particularly well. Contributors will also have the option to forfeit their physical compensation and donate instead to charity.
Schedule
| EVENT | DATE |
|---|---|
| Interest Check | February 20 - March 22 |
| Mod Applications | March 28 - April 18 |
| Mod Results Sent | April 22 |
| Contributor Applications | April 29 - June 12 |
| Contributors Results Sent | June 26 |
| Last Day to Accept | June 30 |
| Writers Pitches Due | July 5 |
| Pitches Preference Selection Due | July 12 |
| Group Assignment | July 19 |
| Check-in #1 | August 16 |
| Check-in #2 | September 16 |
| Check-in #3 | October 16 |
| VA Contributor Applications | October 30 - November 30 |
| Final Submissions (VA excluded) | November 20 |
| VA Contributors Results Sent | December 8 |
| VA Group Assignment | by December 12 |
| VA Final Submissions | January 31 |
| Preorders | March 20 |
| Shipping | TBA |
Mod Team
Nara BUNGOD - HEAD & ART MOD
Hey everyone!
Name's Bun, exploration lover and Genshin lore enthusiast. I found the Aranara quests incredibly interesting and charming, even as long as they were, and the little fellas stole my heart with their culture and head-empty-no-thoughts smiles. So here's my tribute to the forest!Pronouns: any
Socials: Carrd
Experience:
- Assistant/General Mod @ McPaimon's
- Page Artist contributor @ Melittology, Assorted Starglitter, PokeGeist, Adventure Log, Unbirthday
- Merch Artist contributor @ Reporting For Duty, Regalia, PokeGeist
Nara RENEGAEDZ - GRAPHIC MOD
Hello! You can call me Renegaedz, or Rohan, doesn’t matter which. The Genshin story quests and lore are my favorite part of the game and the Aranaras became my beloved little guys so quickly, I love them and their goofy little designs so much so I’m happy to be able to show that here!Pronouns: He/They/Ey (No pref)
Socials: Carrd
Experience:
- Page Artist contributor @ I Am Iron Man, Fabled, Star Crossed, Rose Magazine Volume 4: Papillon, Colorful Beginnings
- Comic Artist contributor @ Entwined, I Am Iron Man
Nara INY - SOCIAL MEDIA MOD
That one aranara that looks like Dottore is really sus...Pronouns: She/Her
Socials: Carrd
Experience:
- Social Media Mod @ Distant Legacy
- Page Artist contributor @ Distant Legacy, Assorted Starglitter
Nara CHAR - SOUND MOD
"Head full send help"Pronouns: She/Her
Socials: Carrd
Experience:
- Sound Editor @ cranes4techno, various small theatre productions
- Formatting Mod @ Hands of Time, The Nockfell Notebook
- Graphic & Art Mod @ Hands of Time
Nara SHI - MERCH MOD
Hewwos!!! I think it would be a totally wise business decision for mhy to make aranara crossing, totally not biased~Pronouns: She/Her, They/Them
Socials: Carrd
Experience:
- Mod @ 20+ completed zines
- Merch Mod @ Adventure Log, Starlit Amber, Heir of Purpose, Ballads in Goblets
Nara JESS - WRITING MOD
Hi hi! I just think these lil guys are really neat and I personally relate to their head-empty smiles because that's literally me on a daily basis.Pronouns: She/Her
Socials: Carrd
Experience:
- Professional editing experience + online beta work
- Sensitivity Reader & Writer @ Wanderlust
- Writer & Poet contributor @ Sprout's Rebirth, Stellarum Viatorum, The Hero's Mythos
Nara FEI - FORMATTING MOD
Heyo! I'm Fei, mixed-media artist and lover of all things cute and plant-like. Aranara....Pronouns: They/Them, She/Her
Socials: Carrd
Experience:
- Formatting Mod @ Love, Manuela, Yes Chef!, Dracaena Somnolenta, McPaimons
- Layout Mod @ Adventure Log, Verglas Flame, Let's Rock, Grandeur
- Mod & Contributor @ several zines
Nara OWLITO - FINANCE MOD
Hi! I’m Owl and I like to collect pretty boys in gacha games.Pronouns: She/Her
Socials: Twitter
Experience:
- Group orders management for almost two years
- Handling money and paychecks for irl job
- Page Artist contributor @ Soriku Ever After, Love Language, Vault-Hunter Voyage
Nara SWAN - SHIPPING MOD
Hi everyone! I'm Swan and i support aranara world domination <3
The aranaras always fill me with joy whenever I see them, so I'm super excited to be on this project!Pronouns: She/Her
Socials: Carrd
Experience:
- Head Mod @ Scenes of Wonder, To Celestia: Esports
- Shipping Mod @ Rose Maze, Hymn of the Dragon
- Shipping & Finance Mod @ One Day: AkeShuAke, Unbirthday
Guidelines