I'll bump this with a few images.

I wake up and there's a new thread. Almost missed it too! Back to the wiki with me!

>>17213726

Somekind of ancient star observatory of every star there ever were and ever will be? By studying old texts a cult of madmen have sprung up around it claiming the world will end 2102. This is often debunked as they can never actually tell the time until it happens, only that the world ends 2102.

Ah, also here is the cosmology of the world.

Here are the cultures:

There were three great empires in the Western Continent. The technological Benalor, magical Vashial and militaristic Weylos. All these lands fell into anarchy and ruin. The new cultures in the remnants of these lands are the Shialar (remnants of the Vashial) and the Stormlord Faithful that took over Weylos.

Carrying the beacon of civilization in the West is the Empire of For'Channar, with the glorious capital of Tabula Gloria and many knightly orders, ruled by the benign Emperors. In the Western Continent there are many barbarians - the Drakonids of the highlands, the Wodamen of the southern peninsula and the Raptorlords of the Northern Sea. There are a few other elusive peoples - the Cloudwhalers of the Iotold, the tibesmen of Elytain, Alkhani and Yatoka.

In the South Sea you have the Alchemists of Kardosair who have mastered flight whilst in the Eastern Continet there is the Nation of Animar, a Eastern-themed confederacy of kingdoms that recently made contact with the Empire. To the south of Animar lies the Chaktari Peninsula, home to a people forced to migrate by the Animar. Finally in the island of Espartum is the maritime city-state of Bythene.

Starting to work on the Phrennoack and Uralaya Forests on the wiki. May take a while

>>17214136

Aight, i'll help out with the Bythenian Mage's guild and the Chaktari.

Bump.

>>17214037
The Eastern Seas aren't entirely wild. There are threats that exist there that are civilised, cultured. This stretch of ocean is quickly becoming the most valuable and oft-traversed trade route in the World Itself and this has drawn the attention of the criminal elements of both contients. Although the waters are already treacherous and filled with strange, supernatural things, piracy is rampant here, full of desperate 'privateers' eager to make a bit of wealth on the side by looting a cargo vessel. One of the most infamous vessels is the Cape Dawn, once a mighty galleon of Espartum's navy before the charismatic captain turned his crew to crime.

Mogue Scorpatum is the captain's name, although he seems to prefer going by the nickname 'Browncap.' That's the colour he's usually found wearing, at least. Brown cape, brown tricorn, brown teeth, brown everything, still adorned with all the finery of a Bythenian captain despite his defection and armed with a well-maintained Benalor pistol. The reasons for his treason are unknown but he savagely loots trade ships of any origin, killing their men and leaving their hats scattered on the ocean as an obscene calling card.

Rumours surround the shocking success of the Cape Dawn, how she always soars on high winds, how the beasts of the sea never touch her, how entire armadas dedicated to crushing piracy never find her. Some say that Browncap's a skilled Shipmage, while others insist that he's got deals made with the commadores of every major fleet that wanders those waters. The most quietly whispered tales even utter that Browncap's made some sort of deal with a foul god of the ocean, the Lord of the Tempest or perhaps even a distant cousin of his, who reigns over the Eastern Ocean. The truth of the matter shall forever be unknown, until the brownclad pirate sheds some light himself.

>>17213740
Source on this badboy?

>>17214591
Sadly, none that I know of. Got it from one of the image dump threads here.

>>17213767
The desert surrounding the Ataryft is full of strange things. At the heart of the rolling, burning dunes to the West of the life-filled gorge is a strange circular pit of stone, covered with a circle of the same rock. This odd monument is simply called the Nuun and the purpose it serves is a strange one.

The lid of the Nuun is immovable and the pit is sealed, except when certain requirements are met. First, the sun must be at its highest point in the sky, at the height of day. There is room for error here, allowing the event to occur between an hour before and an hour after the sun's highest point. Second, the sun must be shrouded by a thick blanket of clouds, an unlikely occurance in the desert. Still, the Animari have seen it happe and when these two requirements are met, the Nuun slides open.

The entity that emerges is simply known as the Walking Nuun and only remains in the World Itself at that period when the sun is at its highest point and only as long as it is also covered by the clouds. The Walking Nuun is a gigantic elemental humanoid, constructed out of nothing but compact ash and glowing fire, wearing an odd, exotic crown that seems to contain the power of the sun itself. Once the Walking Nuun has escaped its prison, it proceeds to try and wordlessly exterminate all life it encounters. Unlike other titanic beasts like the Sky Devourer and the Lord of the Tempest, the Walking Nuun cannot be reasoned with and so far, it has not been beaten back.

Some say the Walking Nuun was once an arrogant philosopher who tried to use his affinity with fire to embrace the world with eternal day. Some say that the Walking Nuun is a guardian, summoned to protect the Ataryft from intruders. To tell the truth, however, there is no record of the Walking Nuun's creation. This strange, entombed god of the desert has always been there and always shall be.

>>17214851

Weren't very creative with sea names.....

I thought about cracking up some random encounter tables, is there still a dropbox?

Maybe we should also classify types of magic?

>>17214863

>>17214879
So far, the magic types seem pretty vague. Although, there's a few examples on the wiki.

Alright, Phrennoack and Uralaya complete.

>>17214872
Yeah I know. I have a feeling they will be placeholders until more creative names are made.

>>17214879
>>17215044
I believe we started discussing that, including differences between Western and Eastern magics. Western magics seem to be based more on function rather than form, giving birth to professions such as the Battlemage (offense/defense), Shapermage (creation/destruction), the Mendermage (life/death), and the Fleshmage (body modification). Meanwhile in the east, in places like Animar, the tradition is more elemental, perhaps utilizing the Chinese elements. In essence, Western mages can utilize a number of elements and weave them towards one purpose, while Eastern mages can only utilize one element, but weave it towards many different purposes.

But there is a common bond between the two traditions - Summoning. Though the cosmology has been formally theorized only by the ancient Temratu people of current-day Vashial (it's in the wiki, by the way), it is said that there are actually two worlds - ours (the World Itself) and the world of god-like beings (the Other World). In between them is something known as the Empty Space, a channel in which creatures from both worlds can communicate and travel through the act of Summoning. I would like to think that both traditions can do that.

That's as far as I understand it thus far.

Guy who made the Kardosair here. Looking at the cosmology and the gravitational stones I think it could be safe to say that they act as a kind of magnet, attracting real-space around it to the The Other World by going through the Heavens Above and The Pure Ethereal. Most living beings would be ripped apart but a dedicated man of iron will could enter the Other World through this way and perhaps 'punish' the Gods. Nifty arc for a BBEG or a PC.

As regards the magic there seem to be two main 'schools' - Western and Eastern. Perhaps when a PC mage is being created they choose which school of magic they follow. With summoning being available to both schools, though restricted to the element a mage has learned to possess.

Not a lot of attention yet here for some reason.

>>17215871
I would definitely like to see more on that if you would like to continue on it. As for me, moving on to Garvenus Steppe and the Stormlords now.

>>17216082

I've come up with two theories. The first is that the stones are the remains of a God that walked the Southern Seas and then moved on to the Other World. In this case the stones are merely his remains trying to get back to him.

The other one is that a God of the Southern Seas wants to reach the Earth Itself to harvest a recourse unavailble in the Other World. This goal will take millenia to complete but it is done through a small rift in the Southern Seas where the God sends his 'essence' that is put into stones, which when the time comes will serve to combine into the God.

It sounds very convoluted, perhaps someone could improve this? Sorry for the late update but I got loads of work.

>>17216960
I like the first theory actually, an errant god from the Other World who ended up in the World Itself. When it tried to get back, it had to do so in parts to make beacons and more easily get itself back to the Other World. Unfortunately, the Alchemists have got their hands on its remnants, using them to power their flying machines.

Also, Garvenus Steppe done. Taking a break for dinner. Enjoy!

Back from dinner and onwards to the Iotold Homelands on the wiki.

>>17217714
And onwards to the Drakonid Highlands. Bumping to keep the thread alive.

Aaaaaand another bump.

Yet another bump. Aeva and the Raptorlords are now on the wiki. I have a feeling everyone is asleep, an oddity for /tg/...

>>17221328
I'm awake, I'm just going through the previous threads. Really cool stuff you guys have.

>>17221349
Thanks. It's much appreciated!

>>17219354
Captcha: Cnyoun Should

Cnyoun's Decision-City In the Eastern Continent Bordering the Crater Gulf
Famed for the unique land that arose in a place that was constantly battered by wave and wind, the inhabitants of Cnyoun's Decision live an interesting life on these crumbling rocks and archipelagos. Initially founded by an old fisherman named Cnyoun who decided that the location was the best place for fishing, it slowly developed into the unique community it is today. The uniqueness of the place lent itself to create a different idea of owning land. In this city, land is limited. As such, each person may be allowed exactly one structure as big as 500 foot paces across where he can raise his family. It cannot be used to pay debts, for any man is entitled to have a solid place to rest his feet. Any beach at ground-level is free for all, and the ocean can NEVER belong to anyone.These laws have directly influenced the formation of this city and its culture. While it is called a city, Cnyoun's Decision is in fact, nothing like it. The majority of the inhabitants are spread amongst the many formations, and the most populated areas are only near the trade routes, where some of the citizens make a living finding trading Cnyoun's famed shells.

>>17222099

The rest of them are spread out, often living on a barter system, fishing and foraging for their daily work. Their customs are few, mainly superstitions against angering the sea and earth, but the ones that do stand out are the scale scarves and tool rods of these people, as well as their yearly celebration.. The first is a scarf given to each child upon reaching adulthood-they are made from scales of a rare fish, and are often passed down through he family. A crime to give to any non-citizen of Cnyoun's Decision, they seem to have odd abilities-including the ability to keep the wearer afloat in order to save their life and being unbreakable, and as light as silk.Their rods are a combination climbing tool and fishing rod, and they have a fighting style based off of this that combines agility and reflexes to outmaneuver, disarm, and throw off opponents.The yearly celebration is called the Rejoicing of Founding, where people flock from near and far to celebrate the discovery of their home at a place called Cnyoun's Heart- where Cnyoun was first said to have settled. On this day, even the sea calms down to celebrate his arrival, and the water is as smooth and as still as glass. While thought to be a miracle by the Cnyounites, a mage was once recorded to say that each Cyounite seems to have a minor talent for manipulating the sea, which gives their scarves their powers. Whatever it is, The Cnyounites don't seem to matter. For them, life is simple-and should stay that way.

>>17222099
>>17222106
I really do like the feel of this place. In a world full of people seeking greater power and greater aspirations, a place like Cenyoun's Decision (sorry, I really had to throw in an extra vowel there) seems to be a great place to promote the opportunity to live out a simple existence. And it would seem to be quite the decision to quit the race for power to join this community.

Aaaand bedtime bump. Sleep well /tg/!

>>17218284

I was of the impression that the Drakonids were lizard-people from the beginning, not another tribe that made a pact with a god/demon/thing out of desperation. The setting is already full of those as it is, and I thought the few nonhuman races we have are good for diversity.

I was looking for this thread again.

I'm looking for techniques on making interesting looking continents for a made up world and thought that this map was looking just whiz.

>>17221328
Captcha: Estates Ouldeo

Ouldeo Village-Eastern Continent, that spike of land above Crater Gulf
High above the treetops, far above the ground, lies the village of Ouldeo. With its picturesque houses set in trees and lopsided, unusual buildings, Ouldeo seems like something out of a fairy tale-were it not for all the mages discussing and experimenting with maigc, followed by creatures of unusual shapes and sizes. Ouldeo is the Town of Summoning. For reasons yet unknown, though theorized and guessed by many mages, the energy here is particularly suited for summoning. It is in this location where many a summoner discovers their talent and trqains it. It is a rare sight to see someone who cannot even create the most basic of summons here. The nature of this place has created a very work-free society-summoned beasts do the many menial tasks, leaving mages to devote their time to work. It seems perfect. But everything has a price. The reason why Ouldeo is so high ff the ground is because every night, the ground becomes infested with mysterious beasts, more deadly and dangerous then any summoner could hope to normally control. While they cannot touch those up above, the ground is death for all but the best-or lucky warriors or mages. Nevertheless, for many, the drawbacks of Ouldeo are nothing compared to the benefits. But someday soon, this tranquility may hear more that a haunting sound in the night.

>>17222161
Great. I'm sucked into this project now. Guess I have my own little area I'm working on.
Captcha: Nadsen Journey

Nadsen's Spike-Landmark on Eastern Continent, In general area as other works.
What formed the giant hole in the ground is unknown, as is how a large log got stuck point up in such a vast crag. What is known, however is the properties of the land there. As venturing down the log, which is made easier by Nadsen himself, who takes kindly to visitors, is uneventful, except for all the plant growth up and down the log. at the bottom, a small-sized lake sits in front of the steps. A sign hammered into the ground nearby says "Open Wounds Cannot enter Mire" With a picture of a cut hand growing leaves. The lake at the bottom is not actually water, but a very fine mud with the property to cause growth wherever it is spread. On plain dirt, a vibrant garden will sprout up, and where plants are already growing, they will bloom, fresher then ever. However, as the sign warns, while it normally only taste root in dirt, blood will cause it to grow faster then ever, eventually infesting a body unless a limb is cut off. Additionally, if not used, it coagulates into plain mud if more then a day has passed. A wondrous substance, it was discovered by Nadsen not too long ago, who has remained to study it since. A man of old age, he wants to develop it to help end famine. Whether he succeeds or not, his action just might change the way farming works.

As regards the wiki, is there a possbility of having one 'main' page with several subpages for the regions/cultures? It's getting quite crowded over in the wiki.

>>17222099
>>17222378
>>17222529

If these are used, here are the locations I thought they would be in, as following the general exploration route of the map.

>>17222613
Well, good night everyone. Lets do this again.

RESURRECTION

I think it is now time to refine the magical aspects of the World Itself, that is start classifying different spells. And what better way to do that than by posting an image to be fluffed?

So maybe let's go with the assumption that there are 5 basic elements - fire, wood, earth, metal and water. The Western mages can use many elements for one purpose, Eastern mages use one element for many purposes. For example, the Eastern Bythenian mages can use water to do many tasks. Both Western and Eastern mages can do summoning.

What about transformation? I see the Chaktari as being big into transformation magic or animal summoning e.g. the Giant Chaktari Boa. Would this fall under summoning or the respective creatures will be put into elements?

>>17225250
According Wikipedia on the topic of Wu Xing, which is the source of the five elements you listed, here is what falls under each school:

Wood (New Yang): Wind, Moisture, Air, Minerals, Mana, Ink, Mind, Rubber, Paper, Plants, Poison, Wax, Dissolve, Carbon, Clouds
Fire (Full Yang): Heat, Light, Lava, Radiation, Sparks, Plasma, Explosions, Burn, Blaze, Oil, Ash, Smoke, Glass, Napalm, Sun
Earth (Yin/Yang Balance): Clay, Rock, Dust, Sand, Mud, Crystal, Powder, Shadow, Space, Darkness, Gravity, Bone, Quake, Silicon
Metal (New Yin): Lightning, Magnetism, Electric, Rust, Gold, Silver, Steel, Iron, Platinum, Titanium, Copper, Bronze, Brass, Blood, Forge, Stars, Diamond
Water (Full Yin): Sea, Ice, Storms, Rain, Steam, Fluid, Sound, Mist, Acid, Slime, Salt, Time, Pressure, Moon

I'm going to be fairly loose with these definitions, I'll admit. So, for the Animari, biological transformation likely falls under Earth, which contains "bone" and also "clay," which could count for shaping bodies, although "blood" and "forge" from Metal could be equally useful, simply in a different capacity. Perhaps Earth and Metal are required in equal capacity to create a truly functional creature?

As for Animari summoning, I would say that it depends entirely on what school the creature would belong to. For example, the Lord of the Tempests is obviously spawned of Water, and the Walking Nuun is conjured by Fire. If something is blurred between the boundaries, perhaps it requires Animari philosophers of multiple disciplines.

As I remember the Vashial were supposed to be extremely magically adept, which probably lives on a bit in the Shialar, but so far the only form of magic we have really associated with Vashial is flesh magic. Would it be fair to assume that most For'Channar magic originated as Vashian, or would they have some other system going?

>>17225345

If i remember correctly magical powers in the World Itself come from mana, which in turn comes from the Pure Ethereal. The Vashial were just extremely adept at magic, thus setting the grounds for new civilizations.

>>17225369
It's safe to say the Vashial used all magic equally, able to master it to a level that neither the Imperial or Animari schools of teaching are capable of, branching across both multiple elements and multiple schools.

Flesh-shaping is just something that they're most infamous for.

>>17225323
As for the Imperial schools of magic, I'll try to aim for five seperate ones and I would say...

The Department of Battle: This obviously includes the more destructive magic. Bursts of fire, blasts of lightning, waves of freezing cold, disintegrating enemy armour, etcetera.
The Department of Shaping: This is much slower and more constructive. Whether it's controlling water, creating or dispersing clouds, shifting earth or shaping metal, it's Shaping magic.
The Department of Mending: Afraid of old Vashial heresies, the Department of Mending limits itself to healing, restricting any form of flesh-shaping and necromancy, even though it's capable of it.

Those are the developed ones, I'll try to think of a few more.

Derpartment of Summoning: Capable of summoning and enchanting, they call forth magical creatures and create magical creatures, as well as enchant objects with mystical forces.

That was obvious, but from here, my ideas are shaky. A fifth school could be...

Department of Divination: Nothing is hidden from these scholars. Whether it's finding precious metals, predicting weather on the sea, peering into the future, detecting truth or seeing through walls, they are masters of it.

Thoughts?

>>17225391

That's an interesting thing going on there.

Looking at the cosmology, the Pure Ethereal is the realm of mana, where it trickles down into the World Itself. This is the origin of all mana in the world, the culutre of the world can learn to manipulate mana (we will probably have to make out how exactly they do that or just go the 'it's magic and i ain't gotta explain shit' way).

The Imperials and Animari have different traditions that caused their differences of magical use. Over time some scholars could start trying to do both ways of magic use, which would probably be looked down on by the cultures. However it would be extremely difficult to master more than one element. Nice thought for a ultimate mage BBEG. Perhaps the last surviving Vashial? Surviving as in still alive from the time, not just descendants.

>>17225418

Looking at the wiki we have the following departments:

The Department of Exploration

The Department of History

The College of Magical Arts

The Department of Battle Magic

The Department of Shaper Magic

The Department of Mender Magic

The College of Truthseekers (the Emperor's own department, meant for researching and containing extra-extraordinary magical threats.)

The Department of Curiosities

The Department of Inquaestors

As Imperials they use many elements for ONE purpose.

>>17225418
To try and make the distinction between the Imperial and Animari factions of magic clearer...

An Animari lord cannot find a suitable wife, so he wants one to be made for him by magic. From here, he has a choice.
He can hire several Animari philosophers, each of different elements, and have them create a complete, whole person, through a combined ritual.
Or, he could hire a rogue scholar from the Department of Mending and have him create this woman all on his own, without the aid of others. Perhaps shaping minds also falls under mending.

On the other hand, you could have an Imperial general who wants someone who can fight, who can heal, who can construct fortresses and spy on the enemy.
He could hire a Battlemage, a Mender, a Shaper and a Diviner seperately and all have them work for him in different ways.
Or, he could hire a philosopher of Earth, who can drown enemies in quicksand, mend bones, build fortresses from stone and stare at enemies from the shadows of their own camp.

Imperials are specialists, Animari are generalists when it comes to magic, from how I phrase it.

>>17225463
The College of Truthseekers contains the Department of Inquaestors and the Department of Curiosities, it isn't a part of the College of Magical arts.

The formatting makes it a bit difficult to see, but the Imperial University is seperated into Colleges and each College contains Departments.

Not much to contribute here this time (I'm more of a culture and history creating dude), but have a picture.

Good morning folks!

>>17222313
That can always be changed, though I suppose I wanted to see a parallel between them and the old Nation of the Thunderhead tribes, rather than them all just being absorbed into what would become For'Channar.

This, however, is an easy fix and it will be done.

>>17222378
Given how Summoners exist in both continents, it makes sense to have a village full of them.

>>17222529
You're a man of good ideas, you know that?

>>17222552
I'm quite sure that it can be reorganized into multiple pages. I wasn't expecting it to get this crowded. I'd like to wait til we're more or less done with getting information up there before we make the move around though.

>>17222613
I thought you said Cenyoun's Decision was on the Crater Gulf.

>>17225250
>>17225323
That sounds about right. Most Western mages are about purpose and most Eastern mages are about element. Transformation could perhaps be a special magic by all mages who go beyond that cultural rubric, for it deals with both multiple elements and multiple purposes.

>>17225345
Well, remnants of Vashial did settle in the Central Lands, along with many of the tribal people, who had their own magics, so that would make sense.

>>17225369
Yes, though there are likely those who can use mana better than others.

>>17225391
The backstory of the Vashial was that they could all use magic to hopefully create a more harmonious society which didn't rely on the old magic-using wisemen to be their leaders.

>>17225418
I do like the Department of Summoning, especially with how it can enchant objects. Would tie itself with the Alchemists to the south who use the gravstones - possibly parts of a god-like being who tried to go back to the Other World.

Suffice it to say, I have a lot to work on in the wiki. I'll keep y'all updated with my progress.

>>17225391
>>17225369
Makes sense!
>>17225437
Didn't one of the bestiary threads hint at Vashial not being quite as dead as suspected? One of the Shialar clans is composed of mutants serving a sorcerer-king, and another entry featured the Progenitor, as well as a Vashial Mage-Knight still around.

I think the Vashial Wastes could be a cool place for adventures by itself, what with the magical radiation, mutants, ruins and Shialar scavengers everywhere. Kind of a fantasy STALKER.

>>17225437
Could be the case, in one of the previous threads someone did have a Shialar guide once spot someone who looked a lot like a Vashial officer, complete with magical armour.

Not to mention there's the last Queen of Vashial, who destroyed her nation by conducting a ritual and consuming the magic of her people, killing most of them and destroying much of the civilisation. Some say she died from being overloaded with magical power, others say she is still alive, surging with power and bound by her ritual, using minions to try and extend and rebuild her power base.

>>17225510
Oh, speaking of Wiki work. How much should we put in one sections? I want to start pulling stuff from the Fluff This Terrain and Fluff This Creature threads but I can see the wiki page getting dense really quickly.

>>17225494

Damn. Perhaps we need to create more pages for Tabula Gloria? Or would it be bad netiquette? In any case, the Truthseeker college would be the one most similar to the Department of Divinations IMO.

>>1722501

Don't worry brah there's still the Alchemists of the Southern Isles and the meso-american style Chaktari to fuluff. Dump to yer hearts content!

>>17225545

God my spellings terrible today. My most sincere apologies.

>>17225540
I suppose we should focus on getting the areas done first, then we can reorganize it into pages. There can also be a separate bestiary page, since I really don't want to stuff biological entries into legends and lore about places and people.

Alright, Drakonids fixed. Always draconic, but made the pact with the great dragon for greater power, at the cost of their remaining humanity and civility.

>>17225557

In that aspect perhaps we can have a main page with the introduction to the world and the cosmology, with small parts about each region that would link to the separate page of the region. This would contain the bestiary of the region and the NPC's that can be found there, with a separate page for more common beasts.

Question.

I've written up the Department of Summoning, who is full of summoners and so on, but I am reading stuff 'bout Animari summoners.

Are Animari summoners restricted by the elements in a similar fashion to other magicians of their origin, or are they also entirely focused on the art of summoning, making the Animari schools of focus Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Summoning?

If so, what other Departments could we add to the Imperial College of Magical Arts?

>>17225588
That should work fine once we're done slapping the stuff on there. I don't want us making pages we would have to switch around and eat up space on 1d4chan. May as well get all the stuff onto one page, then split it up. Otherwise, I like the way you think anon!

>>17225588
That would perhaps be too many pages.

I think:
a: Introduction Page
b: Region/Culture Page
c: Bestiary Page

should be all that we will need.

>>17225592
I would believe that Summoners would be common across cultures. Their interpretation may be different, but the basic components of summoning - contact with a supernatural creature across the Empty Space and using themselves as a spiritual beacon until it arrives in the World Itself - should be the same. They may take different approaches to making contact and becoming the spiritual beacon, but the idea be the same.

>>17225592

Animari are restricted to their elements and the beings that can be summoned from that element. At least that's what I believe.

For reference look at this post
>>17225323
for what kind of stuff could be summoned.

In any case, perhaps the University could have a Magical Exchange Center were both schools of magic are looked at. The divide will still stand due to difficulty of mastering multiple elements. In my opinion the divide of thought is a bit like the difference between, for example, the Latin and Far Eastern style of writing. Maybe created under the patronage of a certain Emperor?

>>17225625
Right. I want to try and balance the number of schools of magic each nation has, which seems to be 5 + Summoning.

So, I'm trying to think up a fifth department of magic for the Imperials that isn't Summoning. Also, what did you think of the Divination department, or was that too close to what the Truthseekers do?

>>17225645
I would believe that Diviners are too close to the College of Truthseekers, since they specialize in the transmundane. I'm trying to think of things that aren't already covered - offense, defense, construction, destruction, life, death. I don't know right now, really.

>>17225670
Thought that was the case. Perhaps the College of Truthseekers simply hires a lot of Diviners from the Department of Divination? One thing that I did notice was that there isn't a magical art classified for truthseeking, so I'm just trying to think of something that fits in there.

Besides, besides the "detecting lies" part of what I said, how does it fit into the area of Truthseeking?

Also, is there a need for a Magician's Guild in the capital of Tabula Gloria if we already have the universities?

Wouldn't mind fluffing out the other guilds.

Also, did we have anything yet on time manipulation magic? Looking at the Wu Xing this falls under the element of Water.

>>17225690
Well, maybe you can make a Department of Augmenters?

>>17225693
Though there is the University, others seek independent study outside the jurisdiction and supervision of the Empire. That, and early study in the Magician's Guild would be a cost-effective way to get a step up against other applicants to the College of Magical Arts, gaining precursory knowledge beforehand.

And perhaps a Department of Countermages would work in this setting, though their numbers would be limited and their requirements to join them be steep?

Let's talk about something more mundane. Language. Are there separate languages or dialects in the Empire? To what extent can magic help in translation? Would the Department of Exploration be responsible for translation, along with the Library? The difference in language would be a great barrier during contact with the Animari nations.

Don't mind me, just bumping the thread with pictures.

>>17225731
As a horrible linguistics nerd I am REALLY interested in language.

I imagine the three primeval empires to have very distinct tongues-- probably something incredibly precise, regular, possibly like Latin for Benalor, something elaborate smooth and complex like traditional Chinese for Vashial, and .. something pretty much like German for Weylos. With the language of the Empire being a hodgepodge of the three, culled from the survivors of each empire that settled amongst the indigenous peoples of the area that is now the Empire.

Animari I see as almost Arabic, almost completely foreign to Imperials.

>>17225725

Perhaps the Department of Countermages would be an elite Department within the Department of Inquisitors. Equipped with Benalor tech and answering only to the Emperor, this group of 100 inquisitors would specialize in blocking mana. Maybe by seeking out and destroying artifacts containing mana and using their own mana to seal a rift - this would mean that the Inquisitor would also lose his mana where the mana was blocked, yet the Inquisitors own battle capabilities would more than make up for it. Of course, they only target those who the Emperor wants dead.

>>17225755
Could work for a Vashial Wastelands mutant or a flesh mage apostate. Clearly not a nice person either way.

I pretty much associate anything horribly warped looking with those two since these threads have been developing.

>>17225780
Or he could have tumors.

>>17213740
Located deep inside the sewers and canals of Bythene is The Society of Chimerwrights and Lifeweavers, For'Channari mages that had migrated here and have an interest in biomancy among other things and who want to keep a low profile after Otto Lupitter's shenanigans.

Looking at this whole Bythenian lore, I see Vashial influence here.

And done. Keep up the awesome job, mates.

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/17088571/

Links to /tg/ related galleries.

For the rest of you fa/tg/uy gentlemen. I'll see what hasn't popped up before and post it (if suitable).

>>17225816

An example of a typical Kardosair Alchemist coven - a few gravstones (or rocks really) floating in the air around the ocean.The ropes are for easy jumping on to the grav-ships.

>>17225760

I imagine the Imperials to have a more Latin cartography whilst the Animari Nations have their Eastern Cartography, a separate one for each nation. The Bythenians would have a Cretan-style script and the others would use various runes.

>>17225731
I'd say there's like a specific dialect for Tabula Gloria and a slight variation of it for Nechbaer (I imagine them being loud and rude, thanks to the name), while the folk of Fort Deeanday and Twunae are probably influenced by the tongue of the nearby Elytain Tribes. They might even be bilingual. This also applies to Fort Thagasia, due to their Stormlord neighbours. Rausclef, Kelebrae and Fort Minnamack probably settle with the Imperial language, perhaps with a few Drakonid speakers who act as translators. I wouldn't be surprised if they have their own seperate dialect though, due to sheer distance from other parts of the Empire.

The Animari, I can easily see having a seperate language for each fiefdom, although by this stage in their cultural experiment most of them have likely learned the tongue of Paserna.

Other languages include one for each of the Old Empires, Elytain, shared between the Elytain and Yatoka, Alkhani, the Drakonids', the Stormlords', the Raptorlords', the Shialar and the Wodamen, as well as other minor nations.

>>17225991
I figure the Shialar probably speak some debased hybrid of Vashial and Eltyain, since they're descended from the Vashial soldiers who occupied the central lands prior to the Collapse and probably had to make their way through Phrennoack to get back to the edge of the Waste.

Imperial magic department ideas:

Department of Divination: Nothing is hidden from these scholars. Whether it's finding precious metals, predicting weather on the sea, peering into the future, detecting truth or seeing through walls, they are masters of it. The College of Truthseekers can hire many of these.
Department of Alteration: A changer can alter the world around him. He can turn water into wine and stone into gold. He can slow a projectile or speed it up. He can turn ice into water and water into steam and so much more.
Department of Illusions: Is that a rat or is that a terrifying demon? Is that a door or is that a wall? Is that a volley of arrows or a passing cloud? A skilled illusionist can make anything look like anything else and the best can either make something out of nothing, or nothing out of something.

These are the only ones I can think of that really fit at all. I still think Divination fits, because only a small piece of it matches the Truthseekers. Besides, do the Truthseekers have their own school of magic, or technology, or whatever? How do they function and what makes them anything more than highly skilled and glorified investigators?

And Vosagar/Wodamen are on the wiki.

>>17226007
That makes sense. When I think Elytain, I'm stuck between Gaelige and French, which would give the Shialar a truly funky accent.

For the Stormlords, somethiiing... slavic. I'd say Greek but I want them to sound closer to German than Latin, as they're supposed to be neighbours of Weylos, not Benalor.

Heading out to lunch and errands. I'll try to be back later this evening. Keep up the good work anons!

>>17226141
I'd love to hear that accent, actually. I'm imagining something out of French Indochina, only they're beast-taming nomads and salvagers.

As for the Stormlords.. They're in an area of plains, right? Perhaps something like Hungarian or Polish. Which might also have some subtle influences on Imperial.

>>17226095

Forgive me, but I thought that the historical Departments took care of finding things. However, I'm all up for the idea of time manipulation.

The Department of Alteration sounds good to me, makes sense in the Western school of magic use.

As for the Department of Illusions I really see it as more of a Guild specialty.

The Guild teaches the basics of magic and whilst membership is not necessary when one wishes to join the University it acts like a top-ranking private school (good rep=preferential treatment). The University sometimes looks down on the Guild as mere tinkerers and showmen, for the Guild is renowned for its illusory techniques and tricks. Whilst a strong mana opponent can easily dispel them this wreaks utter havoc on conventional troops.

The Guildmaster (anons help me here for a good name) can make whole illusory cities for those not weary. I hate to bring up manga shit but I've got the rasengan in my mind here. Basically a mindfucker of huge proportions. He is not a member of the University for he disagrees with its formation and the offhand way the Emperors command the mages.

Also, should we come up with names for the Seas?

>>17226141

Do you want something guttural for the Stormlords? For the Slavic languages (Russian especially) are quite lyrical and could be used for some of the woodsmen.

Is a tribal click language too ridiculous?

>>17226183
Hungarian works, that came third after Greek and generic stereotypical slavic.

As for the Shialar... Lao French or maybe just standard Laotian could fit them.

>>17226183
>>17226221
Not as gutteral as German, but something. Hungarian might fit best, I guess.

You might be right about Russian being fitting for the forestfolk, but I was hoping to find something suitably whimsical and lyrical for the Raptorlords, rather than typical NOOOOORSE.

As for clicking, maybe. I've been muttering the various Wodamen words I made up to myself (Woda, Mot, Mota, Elk, Elkel, Gar, Vos, Vosei, Vosam, Vosagar) because I have nothing better to do at the moment, trying to find the right sort of gutteral tone for it. Every word in their language seems to be very short and gutteral. I almost find myself croaking out vowels it's so harsh, so clicking might be suitable there.

I love the development, guys! Keep up the good work. In the meantime, a few pictures for the thread.

When I saw this pic on /tg/booru, I immediately thought "Raptorlord".

Anyone have a copy of OP's map without the text on it?

>>17226726

>>17226749

>>17226757

This concludes tonight's minibump. Stay creative, my friends.

>>17226757
I know it's from the newest Prince of Persia (the one with Elika or w/e) but that image screams Vashial. Especially one of the more irradiated areas. I like.

>>17226610

For more image fodder.

Apologies for the short post - I'm at verk.

>>17226726
Unlike distant cultures, the Raptorlords exist in truce with the winged race of harpies. Although the flying women usually prefer warmer climates such as the Garvenus Steppes as the Wastes of Weylos, there is a particular variant that was once known to haunt the Northern Sea, soaring from the Iotold Homelands to the Northern isle of Aeva. They are the Hagravens, powerful, ash-skinned women who stand above most men, covered in sinuous muscle and jet black feathers.

Known amongst For'Channar as the Tempest Lord's whores, in the old days, one could often be seen circling above a boat, singing in its own warbling, whimsical tongue. In truth, it was conjuring up a storm to sink the vessel, so it could pluck its shipwrecked victims out of the freezing water and carry them away to serve as lovers and food. After the first defeat of the Lord of the Tempest, Emperor Margurim IV ordered that each ship was to carry a skilled archer, to shoot the Hagravens from the sky whenever they were seen. This was surprisingly effective, decimating their population to such a point where the Department of History at the Imperial University has declared them extinct.

Unwittingly, this is false. They fled, to find a more suitable home and they found Aeva, where they were treated to a much-needed truce. They make themselves at home atop the chilly crags, soaring around the archipelago, feasting themselves on Imperial captives and breeding with fine Raptorlord stock. Most shockingly, the Hagravens actually gave something in return for all that the native Aevans offered them. Once infamous for slaying their rare male offspring, they now offer them to their fathers to raise as mighty warriors, tall and raven-skinned like their mothers. Only amongst the Raptorlords is it such a great privilege to be Hagspawn.

>>17226832

Continuing from
>>17226206

This is what I imagine Tabula Gloria's Magician's Guild Master to look like. A seren, humbly dressed man with quick, sharp eyes.

I hope you guys don't frown on me from harvesting from
>>17226610
but there's craploads of stuff we could use in that thread.

Pic related is his power of illusion, in this case conjuring a fuckhuge dragon to scare away an entire fleet.

>>17227535
If you want to base something on something from that thread, for archival purposes, please copy and paste the picture into MS Paint, make a change to a single pixel by like, painting it black and save it. Then upload it here for your description of it.

It's easier than readers tearing their hair out in sup/tg/ because they have no idea what a description is based on.

Aaaaaand I'm back for a couple hours before I have to go make dinner. I also noticed a slight edit on the wiki, but whatevs. I can't be expected to get ALL this shit right on the first go folks.


Anyhoo, I see the departments of the College of Magical Arts having a bit of a colloquial, occupational name to them, as with Battlemages being about offense and defense, Shapermages being about the construction and destruction of things, and Mendermages about the repair of one's body. I like the idea, but how about some possible name changes?

Diviners => Sightermages
Alterers => Altermages (simple fix, I know)
Summoners => Callermages

As for illusionists, to me it would be a mixture of Sighter and Alter Magic - altering reality to form false images, or reversing such effects. I'd like to think that expert mages can mix disciplines to create special effects unheard of in any one school. And with this setup, there's that 5 Schools + Summoner setup one of the anons was working with.

>>17227651

That's what I did with the dragon picture there - painted a single pixel black in paint. What I meant was are you guys okay with me just recycling recent images for our purpose?

>>17226736
Also, map without text.

>>17227771

thanks

>>17227683
Thanks. Just wanted to satisfy my OCD about that sort of shit.

Also, as the guy who did some editting, I'm just adding some stuff so you don't have and so it makes more sense in places - for example, I wrote up Vosagar with Corva approaching it from the East from Port Endeavor, along the Coast of Weylos and down the Eastern side of Narsum, while you wrote up Vosagar with Corva approaching from the West, down from Triloas. I don't have a problem with it, it works awesomely. It's just that you left Port Endeavor in as the starting point, something that didn't make sense for the route.

It's not a personal attack, I'm just fixing some stuff up for you, and also adding a few bits in so you don't have to, like the recent Hagraven/Hagspawn fluff.

>>17227727
I'm fine with it, but I've only stuck with this project from thread 2. JSC's the real voice of reason.

>>17227875
I had written it as Corva leaving from Port Endeavor, as per the fluff. Someone else changed the disembarking point to be Triolas. AFAIK, Corva heard the stories from the incoming Triolites, so who knows.

As for the other fluff, go ahead and write it. I won't put it quite into the wiki just yet - I'm more concerned about getting the basic stuff we got before this thread and then organize it from there. Afterwards, it should be easier to add new stuff to it.

>>17227904
A voice of reason? I'm flattered! Have some old character sketches for your trouble!

>>17227954

I wonder where that drawfag went. I'd love for him to draw some OC for Tabula Gloria.

>>17227801

Why can I not help finding trashy looking chicks hot? I'm not trash, I otherwise have good tastes.

Maybe this is what a Chaktari chieftain could look like, his fist covered in the blood of an Animari foe. Or Animari prisoners.

I see the Chaktari as being big into the Earth element. What with them having a huge wall.

Any thoughts on the Chaktari? I don't want them to be 100% meso-american (just using the theme) - perhaps a proud and spiteful tribal people?

>>17227970
I happen to be said drawfag, actually...

>>17228000
That's pretty much exactly how I envisioned Trisbal, hah.

Might doodle something of my own, some idea of the 'typical' ancient Vashian, Weylosian and Benaloran, what they might have looked like, noting down various details and such on the side.

>>17228025
Thanks. A talented, but jealous man. Also, have some Efrem Bequet, the rival painter.

>>17227954
That someone was me, smart enough to be logged out at the time so my IP is plastered over a 4chan wiki. Lovely.

Nice work, brain.

Well, I've removed my mistake, now that I'm logged back in, and thanks for correcting any grammatical horseshit that I've written out. It's my weakness.

>>17228073
I did a lot of proofreading in my previous job for my manager. Though a good manager was she, she was horseshit with putting together letters and emails.

Is this what Raptorlord ships could look like?

>>17228154
Definitely one of their bigger warships. I originally see them more as skiffs, exposing very little except for enough sail to catch the sharp Northern Sea winds.

Pic somewhat related - what those little skiffs did to a poor Imperial Warship when Margurim IX sent it off to war with Aeva.

>>17228154
Well, the original art where a Raptorlord was first described is here (>>17213739) but I admit, your image is much more evocative and exotic, rather than just NOOOOOOOORSE.

So, I approve.

Sorry if I ain't contributing much right now, by the way. Sill kinda out of it after the errands I had to run. Brain ain't feeling up to mega-creative-mode right now. I hope y'all can forgive me, being /tg/ anons notwithstanding.

This is what I imagine Bythene to look like. Though it could be a For'Channari port as well.

>>17228230

No problems brah, you've done loads for this project already.

>>17227994
Someone brought up the idea of animal summoning, which makes me think of totem animals and spirit guides. Why not include something based on that, make them a real hodgepodge of Native American cultures?

>>17228250
Thanks. And it does look a lot like what I see Bythene as also. A somewhat spartan place, its splendor being in how it works rather than how it looks.

>>17228271
Although, the Citadel at the heart of Bythene is supposedly built from marble, which probably makes for a grand sight.

>>17228271

And here is the most suitable image I could find for the Citadel.

>>17228309
Well, I'll swallow the words I said moments before, that's perfect.

>>17227439

A hagspwan, perhaps?

Goodnight guys, keep making Tabula Gloria awesome.

If you had to sum up this setting in just a handful of words, a few short sentences at best, how'd you do it?

>>17228596
A lot of bad shit happened, but civilization rose up again.

>>17228596
From a world of ruined empires, a new society rises from the ashes. Will it conquer the world, or fall prey to the forces which ruined the empires of old?

>>17228607
>>17228620
It's good enough. I wonder what sort of theme we'd go with if we did this again, although by this point, with such an expansive wiki, it'd be almost a shame to stop this project at this point.

Before the wiki, it was simply just some random brainstorming for fun. Now, it feels more like a brainchild, a responsibility. We gotta see this through to the end.

>>17228753
I tend to drag things out that far, yes. And folks wonder why my projects take so goddamned long!

Also for those wanting to sketch out costume ideas and characters, I made you body templates to play with. A bit stylized with the long arms, but hey, it's something!

>>17228782
And a little gift before I go to make dinner. See y'all later tonight I hope!

>>17229181
So.. classy! I like!

>>17229252
I know... I kinda want that coat myself.

>>17230125
Looks like some hybrid of ceremonial military uniform and labcoat, from black and white.

>>17230385
That was actually exactly what I was going for!

>>17230402
In that case, well done that man.

And another one of the current (and young) emperor.

Man, I was really interested in this until I read high fantasy. That genre is such bullshit. Just for people who can't stick to a single realm of themes and need to be able to fit in any kind of nonsense.

Jesus. World of cliches or what.

>>17230518
I can definitely understand why you're turned off to the term high fantasy. It seems that we're really starting to rein in the fantastical a bit given the cosmology we're building along the way. And despite differing magical philosophies in the different areas, the mechanics of which are starting to seem standardized for the most part.

Hopefully we can indeed tone down some of the more ridiculous elements of the setting, pare out fluff which really isn't needed, and work from there. I do appreciate the criticism and I'm sure there's folks who have been contributing who appreciate it too.

>>17230541
I was hoping to avoid some of that, but I suppose they're still there. Again, more editing will have to be done to at least tone some of that down.

To the both of you, this is definitely a work in progress, so please don't think that this is anywhere even remotely close to the final product.

>>17230541
>>17230518
It's what happens when several people on /tg/ construct a world together. There's very little quality control, or genre control.

Also, JSC, it is going to be high fantasy, no matter at this stage. The amount of magic used in this setting is almost enough to put Eberron to shame.

>>17230740
True enough. Next time we'll have to agree on a theme or setting before just patching a hodgepodge of otherwise independent fluff together. Granted, the point of the original thread was to just inspire fluff, but I digress.

In any case, I believe I will call it a night. Dinner has really got me really sleepy for no good reason at all. Be well /tg/.

>>17230541
World of tropes, world of genre-mishmashing, yes.

I can't see what exactly is stereotypical though.

Morning bump because I cannot sleep.

Well, now we have our first detractors too. Guess we're a real /tg/ project now that we have people telling us we suck!

JSC, loving the art. I was wondering if you could draw some example Animari, I don't want them to be just stereotypical Asians but I can't find any art that would fit the "Middle East meats Far East" style I have in mind for them.

>>17234483
Thanks. Right now though, I'm trying to get some of Benalor's locations fluffed out, so the sketch may take a while. If there's a drawfag watching the thread, assistance would be greatly appreciated!

>>17234497
The Ebony Tower now fluffed on the wiki. Gonna take a quick break for breakfast.

Hi guys
This is my firs time posting here. I love reading about nonexistent worlds and you guys/girls started to make a really interesting world here.
I would like to ask about the Benalor technology. Is it like steampunk? Or is it like something postapocalyptic style? Is it like Asimov's Foundation technology, when only the home planet can understand it, others maybe know how to make it do something, but the knowledge is covered in some kind of "magic", religion?
Sorry for my english.

>>17234971

I love what you've done with the Ebony Tower. I'm the one who originally wrote that fluff so it's great to see it expanded and elaborated.

One small thing, though, I had originally thought the Collegial Civil Wars being larger and involving more Colleges than just the University and the Ebony Tower. The Emperor's decree that proclaimed that all Colleges should be part of the University was massively unpopular at the time and nearly tore the fledgling Empire apart, but it prevailed and came out much stronger in the process. That's the feeling I was trying to convey. It's not just an isolated skirmish.

>>17234987

As far as I understand, Benaloran technology is more "magitek" in style. Whereas other nations channeled mana through individual mages, Benalor went for using mana as a power source for machinery. I see their tech aesthetics as a cross between Warmachine's Retribution of Scyrah and the standard JRPG "ancient civilization with crystal robots" trope. They also make a lot of plate-armor, riveted-metal stuff, so I guess a bit of Khador in there too for good measure?

Contributing a pic for inspiration.

>>17235040
To be fair, that's what was indeed in the fluff. However, the Tower itself had been destroyed in the catastrophe which took out Benalor. As for the War of the Colleges, there are some problems with that fluff. One, the University was formed by Margurim II, whereas Minnamack and the Goldenstars were made by Margurim III. I'm sure that during the formation of the University, Margurim II would rather get the issue of magic sorted out, since it seemed to be a big problem in the Three-Way War. Also, I'll stick with the decree that all Schools, including those of scholarship, were included in the lumping of things in the University, though the issue stuck most heavily with the practicality of mages. While intellectuals can debate all the way, mages will more likely strike back, hence the actual 'war' portion of the conflict being against the mages.

I also made it short enough to allow for differing views depending on who you ask. A member of the University may tell you of a short skirmish between a force of rogue amateurs and their equivalent of hippies and the glorious Battlemages of the Empire. A not-so-savory mage may instead tell the tale of a last-ditch battle against the increasingly oppressive Empire by a righteous, justified disenfranchised minority.

Leaving room for grey morality to play there, really.

>>17235067

If you mean that the Knightly Orders wouldn't participate in the Civil War, that's an easy retcon to make. But I still want to make it a war where the dividing lines were between a newly-established central government and proud, autonomous city-states, not between "good, wholesome" and "bad, dark" schools of magic.

It may seem like nitpicking, but I wrote the little speech by Alberecht Vesht about the war:

>"Many Chancellors, such as Achmun Daltares of the College of Battlemagic, chose to die in the field of battle or burned within their towers and keeps rather than submit to the University's authority. Some, like Zelaya Varqest of the College of Forging elected to surrender, in order that the wealth of knowledge and research within their keeping would be passed on to the Empire rather than be lost in fire. Some others, like Guyle Bezier of the College of Shapers, were taken to Tabula Gloria in chains and forced to toil for the Empire ingloriously as prisoners within the University cellar laboratories."

Doesn't fit with your depiction, really. And I'd prefer it to be the way I wrote, for reasons of personal pride obviously but also because I want to emphasize the morally grey aspects of the Empire. They crushed internal dissent, sacrificed knowledge and discovery for strength and unity.

>>17234987
The main issue with Benalor is the bizarre, muddled source material. It's one of the disadvantages of using one of these "bestiary" galleries to make a serious setting. Some people have included images of modern technology, and near-future and far-future sci-fi tech, while some have included crude steampunk technology and additionally magitech and other types of fantastical, strange pictures of a pseudo-scientific nature. Lots of these were stitched together to make a Frankenstein's monster of themes and technology for the Benalor.

From what I have seen, from the existance of things like the Heavenrider Program and the presence of Benalor firearms, there's lots of cases where the Benalor use magic as a method of making plausible technology work, rather than simply science. Then there are things like the Gate, the World Engine and the Ansals, which frankly spit in the face of physics, only plausible through magic. So, the Benalor seem like more of a fusion of technology and magic than a purely technological nation.

However, they are still seperate from the Vashialians. To the people of Benalor, I think magic was simply a means of creating weapons and tools, which they used in combat rather than the magic itself. From the eyes of a soldier of Benalor, fighting with magic would probably be similar to trying to fight with a blacksmith's hammer. They had honed it entirely for the purpose of shaping, altering and enchanting their creations, making it crude and practically useless to fight with.

I guess I'm confused on the subject myself. I was wondering for a while, exactly what makes Benalor the Old Empire of Technology, when it relies almost entirely on magic? This is how I explained it to myself.

>>17235192
Currently working on the World Engine right now, but I'll look back at the Ebony Tower when I am done with it. Or perhaps if you would rather, you can go ahead and edit that entry while I'm working on the World Engine to make matters easier.

>>17235193
Yeah, such is the problem with random fluff threads and then trying to patch them together - you run into a lot of inconsistencies. I tried to address the fusion of magic and machine, to emphasize the Benaloran thought that mana is simply a fuel source, no more and no less, which required a science all its own to make it work. I described spells as etched into the parts of the machines in which the mana was required to work.

>From the eyes of a soldier of Benalor, fighting with magic would probably be similar to trying to fight with a blacksmith's hammer. They had honed it entirely for the purpose of shaping, altering and enchanting their creations, making it crude and practically useless to fight with.

I think you nailed it on the head!

>>17235210

Well, the Ebony Tower was just one of several battlegrounds. I guess I could make a separate article on the Collegial Civil Wars later.

Adding pics for the world. I think this guy could work as a Bythenian soldier.

>>17235223
You know, that would work rather well. While the battle at the Tower's ruins could have been swift, there may be more difficult battles to be fought in the War.

>>17235225
Right.

So to answer the anon's question, I would guess that there is no religion or philosophy surrounding Benalor's relics in the Empire. Well, if you're not a superstitious nutjob. It's like viewed and used in a post-apocalyptic context; its uses need to be rediscovered, it needs to be dismantled and put back together several times before anyone has a correct understanding of it. Some Callermages might even be able to replicate the enchantments, but likely not in the efficient manner that the folks of Benalor did.

After sufficient study, any Benalor machine can be operated by an Imperial scholar. Well, almost any. I'm sure there are several super-advanced pieces of tech out there that only the creators had true control and mastery over.

>>17235316
So, they can operate it but if something go wrong and the machine fails they cant repair it, am I right?

>>17235386
Likely depends what it is.

Crude Benalor machinery, like a firearm, yes. They likely can fix and perhaps even replicate them, although not at the same quality or quantity. So far, they likely only exist as sturdy handguns or carbines for military officers, duelling pistol for the spoiled nobility and cannons for galleons and the Imperial's finest ships. I don't want to imagine firearms being too widespread in this setting at all. It's exotic weaponry, for only the richest and finest soldiers.

Then you've got more advanced technology, like the Ansal, which are essentially mecha. I'd imagine a few movement-based runes and enchantments could be replaced, repairing the basic motors and so on. However, I'd imagine that the fuel systems of the Ansals, the MaRs, would be beyond repair except by Callermages of exceptionally rare power, likely only seen once every few generations.

Then you have machinery that is just beyond Imperial understanding, that only the Benalor mastered. For example, Limmians, the tiny little robotic servitors of the ruins. How do their minds and their programming work? Unknown. Their enchantments are likely beyond the Callermages, possibly reaching borderline sentience and no golem or automaton the Empire could construct could match their finesse or their intellect.

>>17235537
I like the way you described that. The firearms were made to function on mana, though I'm sure with a little reverse engineering that gunpowder variants can be made if/when the compound is discovered.

Also, the World Engine is completed on the wiki.

>>17236050
How common is mana in this world? I hear things about places being mana-thin, like Triolas, I take it some places are mana-rich? Is there a case that a place could temporarily become starved of mana after too much consumption, or perhaps even become barren of magic for the long-term after particular spells and enchantments that drain just too much mana? Or would these mana-powered firearms effectively have infinite charges, so long as you have something to shoot out of them?

>>17236252
I'd like to think that, for the most part, it's fairly common, though in different ways. In wilderness, mana seems to coalesce around areas in which the woodland spirits frequent. Explains why Eltyain folk settle around where the presence of Eltya is felt most, the Alkhani have to contend with a whole forest out for blood, not to mention phenomena such as the Lord of the Tempest and his ilk.

Civilized ares seem to be the ones rife with more independent mana trickling from the Pure Aetherial without the accompaniment of magical creatures (likely called from/traveled from the Empty Space). These include the Empire, Animar, Espartum, and likely former Vashial and even Benalor. Weylos was an exception to the rule, it seems.

Then there are special cases, such as present-day Vashial in which there is residual magic/magical radiation from the old empire there. Perhaps since it's already been used, it's every bit as powerful in fueling magic, but there is a taint on it which mutates as well, not being a very reliable source of energy.

Then as you noted, there are mana-thin areas, including Triolas, which may be explained by the tainted mana of Vashial being heavier, unable to go around the Shiallan Mountains to the western coast in which Triolas lies. Perhaps there are other such areas too, including maybe the Narsum Cas'shren (imagine sending a retinue of Battlemages in there and having their powers die on them). I'd also imagine the areas around Port Endeavor and maybe the Chaktari Peninsula being similarly thin areas.

I would also like to think that overconsumption can temporarily leave a play mana-dry. Such would be the case with Jentha, the Queen of Vashial who sucked in everyone's magic and life force, but somehow couldn't keep it in. If she did, Vashial would very much be mana-dry.

Finally, as long as there is ambient mana in the proximity, the machines should work. Only the MaR's have been able to pull mana from longer distances.

>>17236354

So civilized areas have direct access to mana and no spirits or mana-aligned creatures... Could it be that hunting and killing these creatures makes the mana that they live off available for consumption?

>>17237597
That could very well be the case, if we so choose.

Let's go back to the theme of object magic.

Perhaps, in mana-thin areas, it is a way of conserving magic - instead of using up mana (we will have to delve into how exactly this is done) the mana is in one object, ready for use.

Perhaps classifying areas as mana rich or poor will give hints to players as to whether rifts can be found to the Pure Ethereal or Pure Physical.

We're still using the Wu Xing elements?

>>17237769
Well, there's always crystals and such. Or they could travel to a more mana-rich area to gather mana to replenish their stores. OR they can try to emulate the Vashialian recycling of mana (though that doesn't end quite well, with the mutation and whatnot).

There could very well be areas which offer more of a pathway into the Pure Existences, for these are the sorts of places in which the most direct pathways into the Heavens and the Depths lie. Bear in mind that a person will likely cease to exist as they know it from travel to either realm, without sufficient protection. Said protection would likely be described by the very scant godlike beings which made their way through the Pure Existences rather than the Empty Space.

FInally, I have no clue if we're still using the Wu Xing elements. It was proposed, that's all I know.

>>17237769
Wu Xing for the Animari, yes, plus the additional school of summoning. Although, just as JSC said that the finest mages of the Imperial University can blend departments of discipline, I wouldn't be surprised if the truly greatest Animari philosophers could blend two closed related elements together.

>>17237827
Pretty much what he said. Western mages tend to focus on function and purpose while Eastern mages tend to go toward form and element.

Magic word here is "tend". There's sure to be some cross-training, especially with Animar's history observing the Old Empires and now getting in direct contact with For'Channar, and vice versa.

>>17237866
Quick quibble. Didn't someone think about tossing in some middle eastern influences in there too? May be in their version of the shared summoning tradition?

>>17237875
How could you add an Eastern bend to summoning? I've been thinking about it, but it's hard to come up with a decent way of making Animari summoning different from Imperial summoning.
>>17237859
An example of people diverting from this tendancy is Bythene, actually. They're a fusion of both Imperial and Animari magic, from the sound of it.

The Shepards are focused entirely on a specialised branch of magic that seems to be a specialised fusion of shaper magic and alter mage, dedicated to tailoring the weather of Espartum to perfection and raising and lowering the climate they desire.
The Shipmage includes a fusion of this, but they are also capable of controlling the waves much more directly and summoning forth elementals of the sea. They seem like dedicated Animari water mages, more than anything else.
Then there's the Chimerwrights, who are super-specialised mender mages who focus entirely on warping life and changing it.

It's pretty fucking weird, considering how we've laid out magic for all the other regions. Bythene's taken the best of both worlds and used it to create a guild of magicians that fits their nation down to the ground.

>>17237968
That's what I've noticed. And IIRC, the Chimerwrights are originally mages from the Empire who left during/after the War of the Colleges, in which the body modification and necromantic traditions of Mender Magic were likely ruled illegal?

Aight, the way I see it the Guilds in the Imperial capital of Tabula Gloria are something of a workers union for the following jobs:

The Traveler's Guild

The Magician's Guild - some fluff on that already.

The Merchant and Trader's Guild

The Lawman's Guild.

I was thinking about the Chaktari - do they have anything to do with bone magic? Or do they just use bones as a recourse?

>>17238097
I know they use it as a recourse. I'd also like to think that they may have some magics - perhaps summoning rituals - which use the bones as a component?

>>17238117

Looking at the Wu Xing, bone is part of the Earth element. Which is a nice coincidence. Perhaps the Animari look on the Chaktari as savages for using bones in their magic.

Bone manipulation? Seems pretty cool.

>>17238146
I'm sure the Chimerwrights would be interested in learning some of the Chaktari's bone magics...

So how do the militaries of the world look like?

Is there a feudal system for the Animari and the Empire?

>>17238281
I'd think that the Empire has a standard departmentalized military. Since Animar is a federation of Kingdoms, there's probably separate militaries - one to stay in each Kingdom entirely up to each Kingdom in terms of structure and administration There would also be a Nationwide military which is standardized and deals with matters that affect the nation as a whole.

Not sure about economies, but I perhaps see a fusion of feudal and mercantile systems for both the Empire and Animar.

>>17238307

The Animari actually have a unified military. The separate kingdoms contribute troops to it, but they don't control any military forces directly - since that would threaten the Kingdom as a whole. That's why the Order exists, remember? The assassins and such, so that the Houses of Animar can police themselves and each other. We had a name for them that I don't recall at the moment.

>>17238307

Also, the Empire's military is divided chiefly into Garrisons (tasked to guard specific provinces/borders) and Knightly Orders (tasked with fighting specific threats).

you guys seen the pixiv_fantasia tagged stuff on danbooru and pixiv?
http://hijiribe.donmai.us/post?tags=pixiv_fantasia&commit=Search

>>17238337
Ah yeah. Derp.

>>17238354
I do know that, but I'd figure that beneath the specialized Knights would be a standard military - you need grunts as well as heroes, you know.

>>17238360

Yeah, that's what the Garrisons are for. I figure the Empire's military is actually more feudally organized than Animar's, with nobles organizing their own militias and such. There's also the College of Battlemages - do they have a separate organization from the rest of the military or are they folded into it?

>>17238378
I'd think that the Battlemages would be usually called upon, though they would also be involved in the research aims of the University. Those who would want to purely serve in a military capacity may seek commission by the Knightly Orders.

Also, you may want to put this into the wiki.

>>17237987

When I wrote up the Bythenian mages I was thinking of a pet peeve of mine, which is how magic is always organized by "element" or "theme" rather than by utility. I wanted to create schools of magic that focused on specific tasks, not on certain parts of "magical theory". What would be useful for a mage who works on a ship to know? Well, a bit of wind control, farsight, a few long-range offensive spells, water elemental summoning, convert saltwater to fresh water, that sort of thing. So let's teach all those spells to that mage and call the class "Shipmage". To me that makes more sense than Fire/Water/Earth/Whatever mages, or Transmutation/Conjuration/Illusion/Whatever. Such mages are like scientists, specializing in one discipline. But I see mages as engineers and doctors: they need a multitude of tools to tackle specific practical problems.

Do we have a section on the Dieties and Demigods of Tabula Gloria? If so, I'd like to add information to the list, regarding the Cornerstone of Creation.

"The Cornerstone of Creation is a god who serves as one of several maintainers of the universe. He doesn't think highly of mortals and is actually very disdainful of them, but he knows that they serve a purpose just as important as any other being, omnipotent, immortal, or otherwise. He claims that several omnipotent beings have gone missing, and he has been searching for mortals to convert to godhood to fill their places."

>>17238360

Got any more art on Panthreig Corvinoth? Also, why do I keep seeing his name written as P. Reig Corvinoth?

>>17228782
>>17238360

Wait... I can pretty much do this myself. Never mind.

After the regions are finished do we do the bestiary or NPC's?

>>17238281
I'd imagine that the Empire has a highly centralised army that serves the Emperor in Tabula Gloria, although individual military orders are scattered throughout the Empire.
Garrisons are probably highly territorial militias, focused entirely on preserving the peace and policing the villages, towns and forts they're allocated to and essentially operating as the swords and shields of dukes and barons, their own private army.
I'd imagine Knightly Orders being a political force of their own, having their own agenda and only fighting when something benefits them, when an ally gives them a good reason to fight or when the Emperor himself calls for their aid. Unlike garrison, they're likely not territorial though. They may have a chapter that acts a base of operations but otherwise, I see lots of questing knights going on pilgrimages around the Empire in times of peace, offering their assistance wherever it's needed.

In response to the idea of a unified, completely central Aminari military controlled by the Grand House, I feel that it's likely a sort of pipe dream, one part of the Empire that isn't especially going to stick. There isn't a kingdom that would ever feel secure enough that it would be willing to sacrifice its entire military, not even in the most liberal universe. In addition to their own garrisons, they probably pull several different exploits to have their own small armies, while the more brash kingdoms would outright ignore that specific law. After all, the Nation of Animar was designed to bring peace to the continent, and the Animari would damn their own experiment to failure if they retaliated and tried to force a kingdom into submission. That doesn't mean that the secret society of Animar, the... Orumnae, I think their name was, wouldn't try to subtly manipulate a kingdom into obeying the laws of Animar.

>>17238681
Sorry, no more art on Corvinoth. As for me, I just don't like the name Panthreig. That and P. Reig Corvinoth has a very professional air about it. Personal thing, really. It can be changed back.

>>17238909
I'm sure you can start a new section on the wiki for the besitary and NPCs if you want to. Make sure to keep it on the main page for now until we get the areas done so we can organize them accordingly.

>>17239031
I was thinking much the same about the Animari armies.

>>17238909
I figure that a bestiary is a bit more interesting and easy to do than NPCs.

>>17239031

How about this: Every House has its own army. However, in order to prevent the House from using its army to rebel against the Kingdom, the armies are shuffled among the houses so that one house's army is assigned to guard another house. Now of course, political machinations will ensure that the lottery is rigged and that powerful houses will have their armies in nearby or allied houses, but in theory it would ensure loyalty and fairness in the Kingdom.

Pictured: Animari cavalry and gunwheels leading the charge against the Chaktari incursion into the minor Animari kingdom of Callaeon. Supported by an Earthmaster, the force made swift work of the invaders.

>>17239150

Yeah... you're right. Panthreig sounds too... barbaric. How about Percival? Percival Reig Corvinoth?

>>17239150
Well, P. Reig Corvinoth might sound cool, but what about "Panth Corvinoth?" You must admit, that's hardly as badass.

Also, I noticed the lack of comment on the knights and the garrisons. I take it you don't approve of the Imperial concepts. I came up with the first group of knights, the Morningtides, mostly because I like it when they're differently from standard fantasy tripe, functioning as more than completely obedient servants of their liege. Although by now, I guess that the highly feudal, almost barbaric political nature of knights probably doesn't fit your vision of the Empire.

>>17239268

I very much like the Knightly Orders and approve of them heartily. There's an interesting angle with Channarian knights: they're all outside the ususal feudal order, since every order was created with a specific purpose in mind and with a mandate from the Emperor to do whatever is necessary to get their work done. I see them as a bit like the Night's Watch in GRRMs books: brotherhoods that have their own laws, and where people go to have a chance at rising above their station (I wouldn't make them the same kind of "dumping ground for undesireables" that GRRM describes the Night's Watch as, though).

>>17239256

But then, there's the issue of the middle name. It just doesn't belong, as it was merely a fragment of the first name. It needs something else to fill the gap, something beginning with an 'R'.

Percival Reginald Corvinoth. Boom. Done.

>>17239237
It's an interesting idea, but ultimately, once again I'm responsible for creating the idea that completely screws up this idea. In this case, it's the Kingdom of Odamei, which is thoroughly isolationist, xenophobic and was the last kingdom to join the Nation of Animar. Their philosophy also focuses on iron discipline, that peace is a lie and martial perfection. They're proud, haughty, condescending and I doubt they'd let another kingdom touch a single one of their soldiers, especially when anyone who follows the philosophy of their house could probably be considered a warrior. I also couldn't see them letting 'foreign' soldiers anywhere near their treasured fortress.

Although, I suppose that by technicality and by law, they are not warriors, despite their great prowess in combat, they are simply followers of their kingdom's philosophy, instead raising a far more tradition military from the villages, strict and well-trained but nowhere near as valuable as the warriors who live in the fortress itself. It's slightly harder to imagine a reason to deny the soldiers of other kingdoms access to the fortress, although they could just say "no."

I made some edits to the stories on my DeviantART page. I'll pull one of them out for you guys. Please tell me what you think. This is "Tabula Gloria: Percival and the Scab Pillar".

A few weeks after I got back to the University from exploring the Shiallan Mountains and meeting the Cornerstone of Creation, I did some research at the Glass Pillar Library in west For'Channar. Apparently, the pendulum I received was an artifact that was capable of opening a door to another dimension. It had bizarre capabilities on its own, but if enough of them are gathered together, it could change reality altogether.

Before I could finish my research, my colleagues barged into my study and told me that a large tower of flesh had sprouted from one of the mountains in the Drakonid Highlands. The pillar sprang out near a mining village and unleashed a blood-curdling roar, startling natives and wildlife alike. It was said to be heard all the way to Fort Minnamack, a military station about seventy-five miles from the Imperial University.

Naturally, my team and I were sent to investigate.

Just as I was gathering my belongings for the voyage, the porcelain pendulum I had received from the Cornerstone began to vibrate. I held it up to my ear, and it began to whisper.

"You are ill prepared to travel to the Scab Pillar without a psychic among your team." it whispered, "Seek the assistance of a Monch-S'rrtep, or you and your team will perish." The pendulum spoke the word 'Monch-Srrtep' in the same backwards-breathing way that the people of the same name did.

Monch-S'rrtep are a species of sapient, amphibian humanoid with a large, melon-like head, three eyes, and a backwards-breathing language. Their heirarchy is simple, whoever has red coloration is made leader, regardless of that S'rrtep's actual capability.

>>17239306
Never read GRRM's works myself but they could still work as a specific way of disposing of unwanted nobility. If a noble doesn't approve of their child, they could just send them off to be trained by a Knightly Order, in the hope that they die in combat or become too obsessed with their Order's goal to care for the prospect of ruling, allowing another son or daughter more deserving to become the noble's heir.

Of course, that isn't guaranteed to work, as there's nothing stopping a knight from also acting as a ruler. Look at Fort Thagasia, currently lorded over by the same man who leads the Knights of the Steelheart.

Also, do the Knightly Orders in the setting only take nobles (plus rare exceptions, of course) or do they draw their ranks from all paths of life?

>>17239466

My guess is mainly nobility (who would have better grooming for such a position) but also sons of the knights and some lucky peasants.

>>17239463

>Cont'd

Recruiting one would seem easy, as I could just fetch a jar of red finger-paint and draw a vein pattern on my forehead, but this was only wishful thinking. In order for me to properly be accepted as a leader to these strange folk, I would have to smell and speak like them too. Luckily, I happened to know a person who could communicate with these strange people. One of my old friends, Casiax Pelgenis, had studied Monch-S'rrtep culture for years. He could even pronounce every word in their language with the same backwards-breathing emphasis, complete with accents for different tribes.

Whenever he went into their villages, he would be greeted by everyone, much to the dismay of the leader S'rrteps. I brought him and three others to an encroachment of S'rrteps that he had been studying. He introduced himself as a leader, and asked for the help of one of the S'rrtep Psychics. We were rather surprised to see a Leader S'rrtep volunteer for the cause. Casiax inquired of his abilities, something rather taboo among S'rrteps, questioning a leader, but everyone automatically replied that he was by far the best psychic that was ever a leader. This was a very good sign.

After that, we set off to the Drakonid Highlands. They were just awe-inspiring. Grey hills with specks of green, umber skies with pink, velvety clouds. Hills, grass, stones, cliffs, and trees as far as the eye could see. Navigation was very frustrating, though, and sleeping was practically impossible, because the crystals underground vibrate at a frequency similar to a mosquito's buzz. I hate mosquitos. I hate them. Of all of the horrible, nightmare-inducing things in the entire Tabula Gloria, none of them can come close to bothering me as the absolute irritation that mosquitos bring me. If I were given a wish, I wouldn't wish for fame, fortune, or godhood, I'd just get rid of all of the mosquitos.

When we got to the Pillar, a group of townsfolk gathered around the mass of flesh, aiming at the pillar with a group of cannons. I had to intervene.

"Wait!", I said, "Don't harm it!"

"Why not?", replied the townsfolk. The ringleader was twitching nervously with a maddened look in his eye.

"You don't even know what it is!" I replied. "For all you know, it could be some sort of plant! We have to study it first!"

"Study it, my ass!" the Ringleader interjected. "That ungodly abomination killed my livestock! It even took my wife!"

"You don't have a wife!" said a voice in the crowd. The person in question was promptly hit over the head with a frying pan. It suddenly became apparent thet these folk were just trying to relieve stress. The village was a mining village, and the vibrating crystals in these parts of the hills tend to have an agitative effect on them in high concentrations. I don't blame them at all.

"My team back in the Imperial University has been watching that thing since it rose out of the mountains. It hasn't so much as moved a tentacle!"

"Kill it anyway!" he yelled. All of the townsfolk lit the fuses on their cannons. The cannonballs hit the Pillar and instantly disintegrated, leaving behind nothing more than a ring of reddish dust. The Pillar let out a echoing slimy, gibbery laugh.

>>17239509

"Now then, since that clearly didn't work, and you clearly have no idea how to kill it, may I examine it?"

The townsfolk let out a collective sigh as they trudged their cannons back home. The Ringleader threw his hat on the ground and stamped it furiously.

Casiax stepped toward the writhing column of flesh and motioned for his S'rrtep consort to join him. He asked the S'rrtep to talk to the Pillar and see what it knew, and from what Casiax told me, the pillar said it was once a large, worm-like behemoth that ate its fill of trees, shrubberies, and assorted woodland creatures. Upon eating its fill, it burrowed underground and slept for a thousand years. The Pillar then said it was about to "change into something better", and that it would go away after the pillar body dried away. The creature then told Casiax that it saw that people were trying to hurt it, and that I intervened. The creature wanted to reward me, and it told of a "shiny thing that made me feel good" buried underground. It drudged a tentacle under the soil and excavated a small crystalline pendulum. Unlike the one I already had, it didn't vibrate, and it didn't have anything written on it. However, when I hit it against the other one, my entire body became invisible and tingly, so long as I held the two pendulums together.

A strange trip with an even stranger outcome.

>>17239350

It could be that the Odamei bought a limited exemption from the lottery, being able to keep a garrison of "traditional bodyguards" by supplying a far greater number of warriors to the Animar army than most other houses of their size. I imagine their relationship with Animar overseers would be similar to 40k Cadians and their Commissars.

Pictured: The Grand House in Paserna, a splendid palace complex home to an enormous court of representatives from all over Animar. The halo that crowns the central House Assembly building is made from Kardosairan gravstone and was more expensive than the rest of the buildings in the complex combined.

>>17239579

What a coincidence - I was writing up the Kardosair entry for the wiki! I've got most of the society stuff nailed down, just want to clear up the magic.

Their use of magic would probably be closer to the Bythenians than anything else, though rather than Water they pursue Earth and Wind elements, both for their sky-ships and the rocks that power them.

Does the Imperial University, or the empire in general, have an emblem?

>>17239848

Not that I know of as yet, feel free to contribute if you wish! Always cool to have some drawfags aboard!

>>17239647
You want to go with a similar route for magic, just like the Bythenians do.

The Imperial University boasts control of all forms of magic, seperated into schools and the philosophers of Animar can say exactly the same, only they seperate them into elements. Then look at the Bythenians, who only have mastery over ocean weather and the warping of biology, but their magic-users also aren't restricted in the same way as the Imperial and Animari are.

So, feel free to have the craziness you want. I'm thinking of some sort of gravity mage, a master of crude, violent telekinesis, tugging things is several directions, not to mention some sort of mention the alchemists, capable of creating mixing chemicals and imbuing them with magic to produce incredible elixers of countless effects. Oh, and finally, a weather mage, much like the Stream Shepards of Bythene.

Checking in between errands, chores, and making dinner. Once I'm done with all that, I'll try to come back and more properly comment on things.

Keep up the good work elegan/tg/entlemen!

>>17239893

As a yurofag it's time to doze off but I've described the basics of the three magical groups of the Kardosair and laid it out for editing.

>>17239522

Personally, I like it! It's got the spirit of the For'Channari explorers, with a bit of the magical there! The only criticism I really have is towards the dialogue - perpas something a bit more baroque than 'study it, my ass!'. Overall, it's like a Terry Pratchett book. Keep up the writefagottry!

>>17240100

Thanks, man.

By the way, I finished Percival Corvinoth's design.

A quick evening bump. I'm feeling like shit tonight, so I'm just gonna leave y'all tonight after archiving the thread.

Aaaaand, done.

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/17213660/

Claiming the area highlighted in red to work on.

Name: Bior Lake
More info coming shortly in the wiki.

Forgot the damn pic.

Morning bump.

>>17214863

The undead sorcerer-priests of the Tetatuan Temple are a blasphemy to life, a terrible mockery of that which they have not possessed for an age. The histories carved on the outer walls of their sanctums tell that they were born not from the Ash, but came from the lands beyond the mountains and sea. They came as men, in search of powers unknown and unspeakable, and they found it, to their eternal damnation.

They are little more than husks now, souls bound to their skeletons, still dressed in the battle robes they arrived in. But the trade was made, and for all they lost, even now they wield terrible power, calling forth spirits from beyond our world and binding diabolic entities to their will. Whether they are cursed to never leave the Ashen Lands, or stay of their own accord, waiting for whatever prophetic secrets they learned of to come to pass, they have woven their magics to carve out a fortress from the eastern mountains themselves. Runes of warding burn day and night, a constant guard against outside incursion by the demon-gods that rule and Ashlander alike.

>>17244288

(appended)
-Translated from The Black Tome, by the wanderer magus Auseil Zann

>>17244304
>>17244288
As much as I like reading these particular entries, I have absolutely no clue where exactly the Ashen Lands would be in this world, if it would be at all. Maybe stories of a wanderer mage who managed to visit the Other World?... Hmm.

>>17213726

Not sure personally. The general description points to a devastated wasteland, a good deal of shifting dunes, all ringed at least partially by mountains with a single pass leading in. Possibly somewhere in Earth's Cry or at the far east of the Animar continent?

The idea of it actually being somewhere in the Other World is an interesting idea, especially if combined with the Bleak Walk. Perhaps the Bleak Walk begins in the World Itself, but actually leads into the Other World. That actually has some interesting implications with other details I've written (the Ashlanders being able to shelter in the watchtowers of the Walk, the demon-gods being locked away not behind mountains, but by the barrier between worlds until that boundary was broken by the nation that cracked the mountains.

Hmm... interesting ideas.

>>17244368
I like where you're going with it...

>>17244321

There are only two continents on this world, but I think there may be more. The south and north poles could be home to an island or something, at least.

>>17244449
Perhaps, but for now, let's just focus on these two continents. Poor project's trying to spiral out of control as it is.

who has so much time to write all this...come on mate..

>>17244634
Unfortunately, that (not-so-) honor goes to me. In between job hunting and other things, I try to knock as much of this up as I can. Though to be honest, I think the brain is putzing out from all that overload, so I'll likely back off of the wiki for a while.

I thought about the mana-ritch and mana-poor areas, and I came up with a theory, I hope you like it.

So, the basic cosmology is here >>17213781

According to it The Pure Ethereal and The Pure Physical is somehow connected to The World Itself. I imagine these lands as other dimensions, where the rules of physic is totally different. These dimensions is connected by some material, like the luminiferous aether. Lets call it simply aether. This is not medium for the light, its a medium for energy. It transfers mana form The Pure Ethereal and some kind of willpower from The Pure Physical. This willpower allows to break the barrier of your physical abilities, but only if you can focus enough to use it, like a mage need to focus to cast a spell.

This aether is not static. I imagine its movement as a slowly moving dust in the water. There are some areas where its concentration is far higher than the average and there are some areas where the concentration is almost zero. There are vortexes and instability everywhere in the flow and it changes in every moment as in the movement of water, but its very slow, like the moving of the galaxies. Of course, the mana move in a fast speed to transport mana and willpower, but the changes of the movement is very slow.

cont.

>>17245563 cont.

The mana-poor areas are where the concentration of the aether is low. In this areas you simply cant manage to use magic with big mana need, but the low mana need spells, what you can manage to cast has the same effect as in a mana-rich areas.
Mana-rich areas are where the concentration of aether is high. You still need to concentrate to reach this this mana as you need in the mana-poor areas, but when you focused enough you can use more mana.

And there are need to be willpower-rich and willpower-poor areas as well.
An area can be mana-rich and willpower-rich at the same time but there can be willpower-rich and mana-poor areas as well as willpower-poor and mana-poor areas. So the mana is independent from the willpower an vice versa.

The other source for mana or willpower are artifacts or magical items. This things make a channel between the dimensions where the mana or willpower can flow thought. The channel width depends on that how powerful is the artifact. This cannel is independent from the aether, so its have the same effect in mana/willpower-rich or mana/willpower-poor areas.
If its the novice enchanters first enchanted ring, the additional usable mana or willpower is low and the area where you can use its energy is very short, basically you have to wear it or touch it to fell the minor effect.
But if its a really powerful ancient artifact you can feel its effect from miles. The closer you are to the artifact the more you feel the additional mana/willpower. The additional mana or willpower can be very huge.

Thoughts?
Sorry for my english.

Sorry for crapping out there. I needed some more sleep. Damn me for getting older.

>>17245563
>>17245581
I kinda like where you're going, though as I read through it, I saw a bit of a problem with my original theory itself - how does willpower work? We keep talking about mana-rich, mana-poor, and ambient mana, but what about willpower. I see you tried to reconcile that with the idea of aether, which acts as a medium to transfer both mana and willpower from the Pure Ethereal and Pure Physical into the World Itself (and possibly the Other World as well). I do believe I have another idea which may help tie all this together.

It will be detailed in the next post.

This is seriously detailed, but I think you might stand to change the very clear referential names at this point. It clearly is not that kind of setting anymore.

>>17246235
Memo from Worley Barlan, Master Researcher at the Imperial Library

I was pondering the meaning of the Temratu's findings on our world - the "World Itself" - and its place in a larger system of realms and worlds. According to them, we are somehow connected to two realms of Pure Existence, that of the Ethereal and of the Physical. Beyond there, the Pure Existences connect to another world - the "Other Worlds - in which godlike beings reside. The theory explains that mana trickles in from the Pure Ethereal and willpower comes from the Pure Physical. But while the mages of this world are able to quantify mana, even detail areas which are rich and poor in it, there is really no way to quantify this willpower the Temratu speak of. Sure, there have been figures throughout history who have shown great courage and fortitude despite lacking the gift of magic, but such qualities only arise in certain individuals, instead of spread over a large area to be tapped into.

I am being led to believe that the World Itself can draw forth mana from the Pure Ethereal, but it is the domain of living creatures in which will is derived from the Pure Physical. But even then, that is not true - throughout the whole of history there have been similarly significant figures and creatures which harbor incredible magical ability, despite how mana-thin or mana-rich the area in which they were located. So perhaps the truth behind both mana and will are actually connected. This further leads me to believe that in most living creatures lies a catalyst, or perhaps a magnet of sorts, which harvests both mana and willpower from their respective Existences.

For simplicity's sake, I will call this catalyst "spirit."

>Cont'd in next post

>>17246328
Though the Temratu theory by itself can certainly explain the heroes of history, about how they stand above the rest, but what about the common man, the innocuous beast? Certainly, some of them have magical ability of varying degrees. Surely, they have the ability to persist in the face of varying difficulties. The entirety of Vashial may have been taught the gift of magic, but surely there were those who were unable to make the cut. Not all of the men of Weylos could be considered as heroic figures of martial excellence. And certainly, the Shapers and machinists of Benalor seemed to have found a balance between the magical and the physical.

So, how does the spirit work? That much I do not know yet. I have been trying to acquire funding and a blessing from the Emperor as to how to handle this. I would like to enlist populations from both the Empire and from Animar (perhaps some from the Eltyain if they are willing). They would then be evaluated in their current magical and physical skills by the College of Magical Arts and the Knightly Orders, respectively. From there, they would be sorted by their worst attributes, as their advantages would be highlighted and, were we to go by this theory, the affinity of their spirit would be discovered - mana or willpower. From there, I would send them to the College if they are lacking in magical skill, and to the Orders if they are lacking in martial skill. If they indeed harbor spirit, then they should be able to change the affinity of it, for the more notable creatures and people were able to adapt and overcome their challenges, building their spirit through growth and experience, according to the various folk lore throughout the ages.

If they are able to do this, it would prove the commonality and mutability of the spirit, though I would have to devise another means of actually quantifying it. But at least the existence of it would be a bit clearer.

>>17246256
Give a few examples, not exactly too sure what you're referring to.

>>17246412
Sounds great. So, every thinking creature has a mana/willpower "magnet" or something. With it, the creature can collect and use the mana/willpower what the aether pass thought the World Itself.
Using the mana to cast spells is a conscious activity, but I think using the willpower (its a stupid name, because its like mana) is a subconscious activity. When a king is fighting with the evil guy for his people, he subconsciously grain more physical power from the willpower for the finishing strike than he can do in everyday life.

Sorry for ma english, and also I'm more like a reader than a writer, so no memo or something here.

>>17247116
That much is yet to be seen. As for me, I'm gonna cool off of my creative spree. Many other matters have been demanding my attention, especially the damn job search. I swear, I put all my points in the wrong damn skills in terms of what's marketable. No one wants creative types anymore. Maybe I need to retrain, heh heh.

>>17247116
Also, the stronger the mage/warrior is the more powerful the magnet is. A novice mage can perform only small spells because he can collect only a small amount of mana with his weak magnet. A powerful mage can collect much more mana and from much bigger area to perform magic.

>>17247206
Not cool it off, please. You've done excellent work here. You only need to do it less hours per day, I know that the job searching is far more important than this little world. At least lokk back sometimes, please.

>>17247242
Oh I do, and I try to help where I can. I've just been majorly adding stuff to the wiki over the last number of days. Cooling off from there.

>>17247268
Great. So, the magic system is done? Or do we have something to clear?

>>17247423
More or less, though I would like to integrate that cosmology with a possible martial skill system, derived from willpower. There's the issue, as >>17247116 noted, that magic is seen as a conscious activity and feats of willpower are subconscious. I'd like to think that both would be subconscious at first, and then more easily recalled and done purposely after enough practice. Kinda like how a novice warrior would be able to sometimes strike an enemy in the right way, under auspicious circumstances, but later down the line, he would figure out how to do it himself, to work the circumstances into his favor. Kinda like a sort of TTGL approach - wait for the right moment or make it yourself.

>>17247458
Willpower is a kinda foolish name. Chi is the nearest to it as I know, but chi is in you, and this is comes from the world around you. Lets call it "ki".
I think that this kind of power only allow you to make your strength, agility, dexterity and physical skills to increase for a moment. Maybe a monk, who is highly skilled in martial arts, can use the ki power for every punch or kick, but he became tired after a while and cant concentrate enough to react the ki.

>>17247613
Hmmm, culturally speaking, I don't think 'ki' would be a good term for it. I see knights and other western-themed martial types using this resource as well. Chi/qi/ki feels more decidedly eastern really, and would change the feel of the setting by itself. Maybe the Animari can call it that culturally, but we need a catch-all for players to understand.

>>17247613
Other possible names could just include Will, Force, Drive, Resolve, Might or Aura. I don't feel like we should use words of Oriental origin for this, leave that to entirely Animari disciplines.

>>17247706
Out of them, I'd have to say my favourite is Aura. Mana is born of the Pure Ethereal, while Aura is born of the Pure Physical. Mana and Aura. The two words fit together, in my opinion.

>>17247706
I'll stick with Will. It's simple, four letters like Mana, so that satisfies a bit of my OCD-ish tendencies, and feels more universal in concept, though it can always be interpreted differently among different cultures.

>>17247706
I think Force is the best.

>>17247730
>>17247731
>>17248103
Let's just stick with Will. I'm thinking about it at the moment. A relaxed man living a simple, quiet life probably lacks any significant power over Will, while this same man, whether he's running for his life or avenging a lost lover, instinctively activates his innate control over Will. A person who consistently lives a rough, dangerous life can probably harness more Will than the tame individual mentioned above, and a man who dedicates himself to a life-long cause sincerely probably can do even more with the strange resource.

Will is just as common as Mana in the World Itself if not more. The most saturated areas are probably near caves and other passages leading to the Depths Below. Meanwhile, Will is probably rare in civilisation. Think about it, with so many people eating up Will every day, is there really enough for people to use it when they need it? There's a reason why city life is so lifeless, so dull, so methodical.

Uses of it can probably be commonly seen throughout the highest echelons of society. Any truly great warrior and leader unconciously enhanced their abilities with Will. Every single Knightly Order has honed it to a skill. The faith healing of the Knights of the Morningtide only functions due to their sheer faith in it and their manipulation of Will. Similarly, the Knights of the Goldenstar and Steelheart and Southwind all have such unnatural mastery over their specialised skills thanks to their use of Will. Its applications can even been spotted in other civilisations. The "strength-through-conflict" philosophy of the Odamei lends itself to mastery of Will, and the strange affinity that the Raptorlords have for the birds and the waves can be blamed on an innate control of Will they have earned through their harsh religion of natural selection.

>>17248946
That puts it all together rather splendidly, if you ask me.

>>17248946
Other examples probably include a lack of Will, too. For example, the Benalor. Maybe they didn't have the necessary Will in their nation to truly use magic, instead developing their arcane technology as a way of bypassing that requirement? Perhaps the military prowess of Weylos is primarily due to it being a very Will rich location, too. Then you've got nations like Vosagar. Seeing as magic wasn't mentioned there, maybe it's quite Mana-thin? Perhaps the Wodamen are equally adept at using Will, to master their native land and endure the blistering heat of the deserts every day? Hell, perhaps rather than being magical creatures, their God-Kings, the Vos are men whose connection to the Will was so strong that they have effectively mastered the physical universe, becoming immortal and able to divert magma and shout like thunder simply because they will it? It's a theory.

>>17249012
Hmm, in that context, some would say that mana and will would be indistinguishable save for which Existence each comes from? At least among masters of each.

>>17249075
Well, the Vos thing was just a theory. Complete horseshit I've made on the spot. But, I do know a couple of obvious reasons.

Mana comes from the Pure Ethereal.
Will comes from the Pure Physical.
Mana is utilised and controlled by concious demands and thought.
Will is harnessed by unconcious beliefs and instinct.

Look at the Depths Below, which likely contains far less Mana and far more Will than the World Itself. Still, creatures there seem even more magical and bizarre than ones on the surface. Obviously, Will isn't an entirely mundane thing so it makes sense that a few truly exceptional folks who have mastery of it beyond even the Knightly Orders might be capable of odd, possibly supernatural abilities, or at least transmundane as I called them.

Of course, this level of mastery is probably equal to the level of mastery mages require to be able to handle two seperate schools of magic. Only true masters should be able to do it, if anyone at all. Once a generation.

>>17249295
Okay, that makes a bit more sense. Mind if I do put a writeup of this on the wiki?

>>17249322
No need to ask permission. By this point, I'd say it's your setting.

>>17249371
Figured I'd still be courteous. In any case, getting right to work.

Aaaaand, interrupted by something at home. I'll try to be back ASAP.

This project seems to be cracking along at a steady rate, do at times I do wonder if there's anyone watching this.

I'll put forward my vision of the Guilds - unions where job practices are laid out in laws with severe penalties for members that encroach such laws. People that do not have membership in a Guild must do without the financial support, schooling and job offers that a Guild may provide, along with the chance to rise up in the bureaucracy of a Guild.

>>17249671
The first thread was fun for everyone.
The second third was also fun, it even had a story to go with it!
The third thread was a litte too developed, probably scaring newcomers away, with it becoming a project only regulars work on.
The fourth thread, even more unfriendly to newcomers, with people suggesting we leave it to rest for a while.
The fifth thread, so over-developed that it's even got its first compaints and critics, saying it's way too big, confusing, stereotypical, etcetera.

I have a feeling that if this keeps on going, people might come to treat this like a new Unified Setting.

>>17249739

Well, there's only one thing to do: get an IRC channel! It's where all half-finished /tg/ projects go to die! If we're lucky, we'll end up like Adeptus Evangelion and Dungeons: The Dragoning, if not, we'll end up like Uberstadt and Necrololi.

>>17250211
Holy shit, you remember Uberstadt? I also did some work on that.

>>17250290

Though now that Uberstadt is mentioned, the Player Aids they had was a decent idea.

>>17250365
True. Perhaps when everything else is in a solid state, we could design some typical missions. I've already been thinking up a few theoretical adventuring parties in my head.

>>17250410

There's more than enough fluff to start writing typical mission scenarios and party examples, especially for playing on the Western Continent. The Scab Pillar story is one example that can be used for that, and if I weren't going to bed now, I'd write the idea I've had for a while of a Beagle-style expedition report.

Detailed cosmology put on the wiki, under the title "The Pure Existences".

>>17249739
Dear dog, I hope that does not become the case.

>>17250211
Quite a gamble, really.

>>17250756
Can't wait to see it when you wake up man.

The Gate now up on the wiki. Bumping to keep the thread alive if it isn't already auto-saging.

>>17252748

I don't understand why they didn't just let the people out of the Gate after the explosion from the Heavens Above died down.

>>17255711
It was one-way only, from the sound of it - it wasn't supposed to open again after it was closed, since instead people were meant to evacuate through a teleportation device to another part of the World Itself. Of course, that device never got deployed and in all the chaos and carnage, I guess people didn't realise they were walking into a tomb.

>>17255909

But it says the Gate was located near sources of water and game. Why would that even be relevant if the whole complex was supposed to be sealed?

>>17256004
Well, at the end of the Benalor introduction:

"The only survivors of the catastrophe were those who had evacuated to the Gate, a shelter and escape ship they had built during the development of the Heavenrider Program for the slight possibility that something like this would happen. However, the refugees had only locked themselves inside the massive machine, unable to go back out after the dust settled. They too would die, but with a whimper. Dehydration, starvation, and madness gripped those unfortunate enough to have escaped the blast, leaving them inside their massive coffin. And such was the end of the First Empire. First to exist. First to fade away."

So, I suppose they locked themselves away accidentally, in a move of extreme idiocy?

>>17256016

Benalor does seem to have a case of the retards. Like the World Engine that was created because a Shaper was butthurt due to a stupid misunderstanding and ran off to the mountains. Firstly, how did he not give the professor the benefit of the doubt, and how did the professor go for an entire ceremony without correcting himself and crediting that douche? Secondly, why did the police (or whatever analog Benalor has) never check the mountains to locate him, allowing him to work in secret? No human ever came to the mines? No foremen, no overseers to check the golems? Derp all around.

>>17256016

And yet, an Imperial exploring party found a way into and out of the complex. Foreigners found a way that the people who build the complex itself couldn't?

I suggest a rewrite to make it all make more sense.

>>17256050
After centuries of decay, from the sound of it. But yes, I admit, it does seem a bit crude.

>>17256076

This is not to say that I don't like the fluff on the wiki, I do, I just think it needs a bit of editing for consistency and filling in some plot holes.

Also, how would you guys feel about a Tabula Gloria Quest?

>>17256177

The wiki in general needs more organising into separate pages and bestiary and NPC added (which is a big task). However, I'm all up for a quest.

>>17256177
I disagree with a Tabula Gloria quest. Quests function best with very simple, very basic settings that get grown on and expanded on as time goes on. Trying to shove players into a complex world like this will only confuse you.

Besides, we have enough threads as it is.

>>17256195

Alchemist Quest and Omnipotence Quest threw the players into a complex world with lots of factions and shit and that worked well enough.

>>17256203
Honestly, it's your choice. But I'd advise against it.

>>17256246

I'm taking your opinion into consideration. And I do agree we're risking oversaturation of threads if we continue, which is why I'm setting up the #tabulagloria channel on Rizon IRC. Join me there for more discussion of Tabula Gloria.

I'll wait for more opinions for and against the quest before I decide whether or not to run one.

Howdy folks and good... afternoon... geez. In any case, I was looking back at the Gate and the general Benalor writing, and there is indeed a case of rewriting to be had for consistency. That's what I get for writing shit late at night.

Also, the last thing we need is a quest right now. There's so much info on the wiki that there would likely be a fuckton of metagaming with users bouncing between the thread and the wiki.

But before I get to rewriting, a note about the World Engine. Siev managed to work primarily in the abandoned mine shafts, and soon after Morad made his presentation about the Work Engines, it was likely that they would be the ones in the mines, not actual human workers. Given the work Siev did on the Work Engines, what's not to say that he could thwart some of them from alerting the foreman outside of the active shafts?

Another note, if there are edits that need to be done, you can always go to the wiki and make them yourself. It's open to everyone, not just me. The whole point of the project is to get people involved in building a living breathing world. I have no intention of making it purely mine.

I'll do what I can, edit what I can find, but only one person will likely look over plot holes and errors. I need more than just myself to get the shit done.

And some basic edits are done. Took out "escape ship" in the main Benalor text. I explained that putting the Gate on lockdown would give them more time to activate the device, still presuming a Vashialian invasion. Also, explained that Siev managed to elude the authorities due to his innate knowledge of the shafts and the natural caverns within the mountain.

>>17257770

Hey JSC, why don't you join the IRC? Let's coordinate in the channel.

>>17258210
There now. Also, I'm gonna stop working on the setting for a while. I'll still discuss it here and on the IRC channel, but I won't work on the wiki. I think I made my fair share on there thus far, enough so to where I'm making significant errors doing much of the work by myself. That, and I really want to see other contributors be properly represented on there. After all, it is supposed to be a group project, and I definitely want it to be as such.

And dammit, it's wearing me out.