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Post by Jongluer on Aug 1, 2006 17:52:04 GMT -5
This is just a preparation thread, I am not declaring any campaign chosen yet, but like I said if the majority wants to do a Desert Campaign it will take a lot of work on my part and the creation of a whole new world. This thread is for the purposes of analoguing my creation of said world, which at the moment does not have a name. Postings will begin shortly.
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Post by Jongluer on Aug 1, 2006 18:02:24 GMT -5
"And when the fires seemed to cover the sky the world was changed, for better or worse it is our home."-Gaijinn Saying
According to ancient lore, the world we live in was once a beautiful place of lush green forests, with jungles, and rivers, the world was bountiful. Yet, it seems that our ancestors in their hubris tried to be Gods. For this hubris they were smited, many debate whether it was their own undoing or the punishment from the long forgotten Lords but they fell and we were what was left. The face of the world changed dramatically. In the northwest, the cities sunk into the sea, the landmasses deteriorated into what we now know as the Elder Isles where supposedly many plunders wait to be rescued. In the west the land dissappeared, replaced by unending sands, dune upon dune, everything covered up by the unforgiving world, here the Gaijinn now make their home, in their deserts. Between the Desert and the Wastes laid a mixture of the two. Flatlands intermingled with the sand covered dunes, a place where many now make their home, and all try to live, somehow life can flourish here amongst countless kingdoms. Then in the northeast at the foot of the Barrier Peaks lay the wastes, hills of stone, plains of rock, but even in this barren landscape people found hope, in their faith they grew and prospered. Finally blocking us from the rest of the world are the Barrier Peaks themselves, as well as the angry seas to the north of the Elder Isles, we have been trapped...
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Post by Jongluer on Aug 1, 2006 19:01:50 GMT -5
Gaijinn Desert-To the west lays a massive expanse of sand that has become a sea of dunes. Here only the insane Gaijinn, who claim to be direct descendants of the Ancients who once ruled this land. They have a complex system that allows them to live within this wasteland. Of course there are several allures beyond plunging the secrets of Gaijinn culture. First the great Sand Worms, massive beasts that seem to travel only though the sand itself, their mouths are filled with crystals that make them very precious, their skin makes great armor, and the meat of an infantile Sand Worm can feed a whole city for a week, they are highly prized, highly dangerous, and highly revered by the Gaijinn (hunting them a sin punishible by death). Next, beneath the depths of the sand are many ruins waiting to be revealed let alone plundered. Finally, there are supposedly entrances to caverns where water flows free, waiting to be collected.
Civilized Lands-Inbetween the Giajinn Desert, the Coasts, and the Osirian Wastes lies the civilized kingdoms. Here is where the majority of the population lives, in large cities and several smaller villages surrounding the areas, people meek out existence by maintaining large herd animals, creating massive distillition kits for moisture farming, and the occassional farm of cacti or other dry climate plant life. The civilized lands are safer than the rest of the world, for the most part, their main problem exists as one leaves the towns and cities and begins to enter the open wilds where many dangers can lay and wait, from mad spell casters, to raving beasts. Also, the nations are always watching each other, always wanting to get their hands on what the other man has, or worrying over whether or not war is imminent. Border skirmishes are common, and people not travelling with proper clearance or reasons are often sought out by the border patrols.
Elder Isles-A large collection of islands and archipelagos to the north of much of the coastline (but to the west of the city-state of Jakun), they were supposedly the former capital of the Ancient's empire and are covered in countless ruins, as well as new settlements which mainly serve the adventurers that go to them. They are overrun with lush jungles and many different creatures of all shapes and sizes.
Osirian Wastes-This barren set of flatlands eventually rise into the stone hills which then become the Barrier Peaks. Overall the place is entirely empty of life except for a number of insects, scavengers, and the walled cities of the Holy Kingdom of Osiria. Few travellers enter the area for fear of being cleansed by the Holy Kingdom, or overrun by the crazed animals that make their home in this dangerous place. Still with proper trade flags flying, the Osirians make it worth ones while to travel here.
Barrier Peaks-In the Northeast rise the impenetrable mountains that rose up when the skies burned millenia ago, they were supposedly placed their by the Gods to keep the world continually isolated and for a long time this was true. But recently, there are tales of oddly dressed and weird looking travellers coming across it, searching out the world, and even starting battles with the forces of the Holy Kingdom of Osiria.
Coastlines-The coasts seem to be the one of the few places in the world where trees can still grow. These areas are dotted with a few villages where people fish and work trade as lumberjacks as well as ship wrights. Mainly the coastlines are merely launching points for people wishing to try their luck plundering the ruins along the Elder Isles as well as the sunken ruins that can be spotted from the beaches.
The Ocean-Laying towards the North and slightly to the west is the ocean, this is a place of wonder and hatred. The sea seems to be constantly angry with the people in this world, once out of the Elder Isles or far enough from the coasts, the Ocean becomes a land of peril, giant fish and serpents, massive waves, and constant storms make this place impenetrable. Some claim that within this ocean you can find ruins of the Ancients if you have a ship that can withstand it, and some old sea dogs even claim that past the storms lay whole other continents.
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Post by Jongluer on Aug 2, 2006 14:19:41 GMT -5
“And every living being has a soul, we are all children beneath the sun, straining to connect with out gods, with our ancestors, and our world.”-Quote from Barruk's Travels
The people of our world are very diverse, yet we all have one tie between us: We are all trying to live on in a world that perhaps we are not meant to survive in. We have over the years dropped many of our petty disputes in favor of survival, living is key in this world. Overall it is our countries and religions that seperate us, and our natural skills that push us onward.
Races-While much rascism has dropped, the races still exist and are seperated by what jobs they tend to gravitate towards.
Humans: The largest group amongst the races, humans have generally spread throughout all of the civilized lands, helping to found many of the governments that exist throughout them. They seem geared towards commerce throughout their kingdoms, coming to lord over many different areas and build their communities where they can. They seem capable of doing anything with their minds to it. There are several religions amongst the humans, from the fanaticals of Osiria, the followers of the Pantheon, those who pray to Genies, the believers in nature, and even the rarely encountered Gaijinn, all of these ideals are strong among humans and sometimes splinter them. Humans are often found to be highly loyal to their kingdoms, in addition to their religions and ideals.
Elves: The long-lived elves have served for years within communities as advisors, and are the very few who still practice the wizardry of the Ancients, mostly because they are the least removed from the Ancient civilization. They have helped to set down the many of the laws that exist throughout the civilizied kingdoms, and are quick to adhere to them. Still their young are beginning to move into the greater parts of civilization, many are finding their places amongst the faithful as preachers and guardians, or plying their hands at the commerce of Humans.
Dwarves: Stout, strong, and logical, Dwarves have become many of the greatest crafters within the civilized lands as well as their fiercest warriors. Their loyalty and senses of honor are seen throughout civilization, and it is said that they were among the first to produce the idea of Osiria. Their faith and honor are very important to them, and many Dwarves are considered to be theologians in addition to their other skills. Many Dwarves fall into clergy, craft guilds, lawbringers, or of course the larger armies of the kingdoms.
Halflings: The little fellows that seem to always be moving about in their life, have found homes amongst the civilizied lands working as traders, explorers, and sometimes in less savory positions. They were for a long time considered to be cursed by the Gods for some ancient wrong performed during the time of Ancients, but now only the most ignorant of people still believe in this, but still this long exclusion from civilized society leaves many Halflings as nomads and caravaners. In civilized society they tend to find their niches within darker parts of town, using their natural skills to become legendary thieves, as well as odd sorts of spies and bodyguards. Some stay in their old ways, preferring to pray to nature, and serve it, moving through the wastes like they were always there, or becoming business men of all sorts.
Gnomes: The other small race in the world, Gnomes have found their place within society easily, curious and quick to travel, many have become the news delivers of the world. Some also claim an ancient tie to Genies and use natural magical talent to become masters of the arcane arts through use of sorcery. They too are crafters, though often falling into crafts different from that of Dwarves, more artistic than practical. Gnomes tend to avoid politics when possible, and religion often takes a backseat amongst them as well in exchange for things they believe to be more important, such as their own enjoyment and slaking their curiosity, many have taken up more academic titles over the years, as well as exploring the old ruins left in the world.
Half-Orcs/Orcs: Originally thought of as brutes and barbarians, Orcs were eventually brought into the fold of the civilized world as more and more of them were recruited into the armies of different kingdoms as well as when many travellers came to them to speak with them over the ideas of the Gods. Before this time, and even now after it, many Orcs and now Half-Orcs as well as the rare Human would roam the wastes trying to commune with nature and the Gods, being one with the wastes much like Halflings, though far more war like. Orcs were greatly feared before their encounters with religion, which was used to help them join in civilized society, though most still hold to old beliefs, and very few enter the clergy except as guardians of the faith. They are often found as laborers and soldiers within civilized society, and out of it in their tribes praying to the world, working with nature.
Kobolds: Odd little creatures, Kobolds are often found along the outskirts of the Gaijinn Desert, though obviously not members of the Giajinn themselves, they do often possess knowledge of Gaijinn culture as well as their survival techniques. Kobolds will venture into communities for trading purposes, though have very little contact with the civilized world, they have enough knowledge to pass through it. Little is known of their culture, though they supposedly make their homes beneath the sands, and are able to build several impressive items, specializing in traps to help them avoid the large predators that roam through the Gaijinn Desert.
Goblinoids: The odd packs of Goblinoids have often been far too barbaric to live within civilized society, and even the attempts to bring them religion like the Orcs have failed terribly, they roam across the wastes, bringing destruction wherever they go. Sometimes they make their homes in natural caverns or ancient ruins where they often plot their wars and train their armies. Overall it is odd to see Goblinoids in civilized society as anything beyond slaves.
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Post by Beeb on Aug 2, 2006 15:50:37 GMT -5
Man, I was planning on racism to fuel my kobold's background. Guess I'll have to think of something else. I do have a slight idea, but not as good as before.
And I guess that desert kobold would be appropriate here, seeing as we are in a desert.
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