The world was quiet, for some reason. Auqron was wandering about, exploring the world some more. There wasn't much new stuff this 500 years. Just a grassland off beneath the icy hunter's land. Something about the wind in this place made him think of patterns, for some reason. A rhythm on the highest winds. It was pleasant, though. Simple, elegant, just grass filled with crisp wind from the northwest. Canin occasionally wandered about here, exploring out from the tree line of that old, old forest. None saw Auqron, though. With how many creatures now lived, he had taken to remaining invisible all the time. Much easier than having to turn it on or off when he was noticed.
After he left that area, he stopped by Puck's floating mountains. He liked this place, unique in the world. He often stopped by here when seeking inspiration. It's what helped him come up with the jungle so thick that it was as though it had multiple forest floors. Though, this week, he didn't find inspiration just yet, instead, he saw something he hadn't noticed yet. A box canyon, off in the distance. It had Puck's touch all over it. Though, he noticed something else. Movement.
Closing the distance in the blink of an eye, Auqron peered over the edge of the canyon, and was astonished. A small civilization, still mainly contained in this canyon, was bustling. Where other races were still in tribal society and were nomadic, this race - which seemed incredibly exotic, from towering, strong, and red to tiny, agile, and yellow - was constructing stone buildings: towers, gardens, and small quarries. It was as though they were imitating the work of them, the gods. This is truly fascinating.
Auqron spent a good three years wandering about in the two or three cities they had erected in this relatively small canyon, watching, taking notes, and teasing the occasional "lithe-folk" by appearing for a moment. Though, eventually, the remembered himself and departed to go and continue his own work, idea's bumping around in his mind.
Back in his jungle, Auqron found more of those tan Zunna things wandering about in skins, carrying pointy sticks, and building huts along the dozens of rivers. What were these things? Where had they come from? As Auqron began snooping about, he finally managed to figure out exactly where they had originated from: These were the last remnants of Eses. A race that the god of laws had given the name "Human"...
Intriguing.
Well, his plan was simple this time, and he spread the jungle even further north, grabbing winds as he went, dragging a hot wind along the side of the white flame's mountain. With the high temperature across almost all of the land he's already created, Auqron found that this wind was very humid, and poured rain across the land almost every day. Though, the thunderous sound of the rain did little to drown out the sounds of the beasts that had grown in these lands.
In his ocean, eels almost 120 feet long and 10 feet wide snaked about through the labyrinthine expanse of coral and stone. In the deepest depths, entire schools of fish lurker beneath the lowest layer of silt, waiting for a troop of lobsters to wander by so they could snatch them. However, in his jungle, enormous, territorial lizards roared as they marked out their territory, and wasps the size of house cats buzzed about hives in the highest levels of the jungle. In the river below, winding snakes, vicious alligators, and clutches of piranha's fought for dominance. Still, there were creatures who lacked the killing instinct in the rainforest. Sloths, frogs, and warthogs everywhere across the land, in the trees, and at the edge of pools.
Spending all my points to create 3" of Jungle and update all my Jungle to the 'hot' climate.
Update: We have an IRC channel! Go here, and type "#DoW" in the "Channels" box. To explain, a couple of players have expressed desire for more player interaction, hence, I set up a direct means to that.
Also, I am fine with staying in Age 1 for now, I'm having fun just growing my terrain, however, if you guys would like to go to age 2, say so with whichever post you would like the change to happen with.
Bah, too busy. I forgot to do this today. Going on vacation in the morning so I'll probably be another 24 hours or so before I have internet access again. Sorry guys.
Also, Nai shorted himself 1d6 points on his last turn ;).
Orthuul saw puny creatures moving around the world. Weaklings. They all ran from his presence. That these were the first races on this land disturbed him. He would correct this. First he wanted powerful guardians of his domain. Massive creatures that would protect and enhance his mountains. They would not be his chosen creatures, those would come later, but they would still be his.
They must be masters of the mountain, so Orthuul decided they would not just climb them but carve them. He gave them massive claws for tearing up dirt and rock. He gave them eyes of black coal for seeing in the dark tunnels they would create. And he gave them massive girth so they would command respect. Finally, he gave them wisdom and intellect, more than the other races. But he made them weak to the sun and slow to reproduce so they would never flow out of his mountains to cover the rest of the world.
And last, he named them terravoles and chose one among them to give his orders to. He told the terravole that he was their god and they were to protect the mountains in which they dwell.
Spending 22 points to create a race of giant burrowing creatures sort of like moles. They start aligned 1 good. They live entirely in my mountain range on the west continent.
Zuwn senses the need for more variety in this land. He begins to dance (to be more accurate he begins to dance more purposefully, as he always moves with a certain elegance and fluidity). A whimsical flourishing of limbs and braided hair and a trail of mushrooms begins to sprout behind the Dancing God. [Shape land 2" along the border area of the grassland and swamp for 4 points.] He gifts the mushroom forest to the various Zunna tribes living in the swamps and grasslands. As he manifests himself to them he calls upon his bond as their maker announcing himself as their loving creator, willing to help any who would care to devote themselves to him and his cause, even those from other races. [Calling in the order inherent to race-creation to make the Zuwnee order, the Raggapi]. The order create a village just on the edge of the Mushroom forest, and partake of it's more 'entertaining' fruits as their sacrament.
Meanwhile Adjun commands his order (the Djo)[4 points] to further encroach themselves into the government of the subterranean Zunna. In a virtually bloodless revolution all of the cavern-dwellers are consolidated under one rule, the Great and Powerful Djo Empire. Adjun convenes with Emperor Arshtol I, promising to grant his familial line god-like powers he, and his successors, be able to retain and expand the Empire.
With those plans set in motion, Adjun turns his attention to his brother. Seeing the newly-created Mushroom Forest he begins to ponder in what way he could turn it to his own purposes.
The pair of brothers end with 2 points remaining. -Holder for Jungle Zunna story, pending roleplay, etc via IRC--
Power Role for 7 + previous 10 makes for 17. Unless Rith says otherwise, I'm going to sacrifice that last 1d6 as an apology for taking so long.
Puck looks at these new underground folks that appear in the mountains near his crafted canyon. Good folks, looks like. Smart too. But they can't live in his canyon because they can't stand the light. That simply won't do! But he can't just change them like that. The power of a god is not that easy to alter. Hrm...
The jester god grins to himself and goes in. Spreading a germ of an idea. Creating an order of the Terravoles that believe that the sun is the true power of the world, and that only by exposing themselves to it can they truly prove themselves worthy. The pain of the exposure, of course, showing that they are as-yet unworthy of its love. That should make some fun for later on down the line.
Back to his own people! He still hasn't named them yet. Perhaps that'll come later. But he begins to create flowing grassland around the canyon. While the canyon and its immediate surroundings will remain as it is, red rock and the like, there'll be plenty of grassland round it. Golden grass that waves in a light breeze, a pleasant early-summer, for all time. For good measure, he sets in a few foothills around there as well. No mountains yet, but these hills are not simply rolling.
Creating Order in the Terravoles, "Sun Worshippers". Creating cool-grassland area around the Fey canyon for 8 points (two 'make land', two 'make climate'), leaving me at 1.
No one is really working with terrain anymore, just me and Gallus, so, since everybody is already effectively playing in Age 2, sans the cheaper prices, we'll be going ahead and advancing.
Age II
Many things have come to pass. Stone drifts along the wind, a monumental spine of rock splits most of the world. Swamps, caves, men, a jungle. Parallels and foes, opposite yet the same. The Great Canin, and their foil, the budding Terravoles, one made by a god of ice, the other by a god of fire. The Raggapi and the Djo, more literal opposites, the children of a god split in twain. Humans, the remnants of a dead god. Lithe-folk, who seemed to be watchers for now. Yet of all the wonder that had been created in this world, even the creators of all of it were not prepared for the shifting that was to come.
It came from across the vast void beyond this world. Subtle, yet audacious, a ripple in the shape of reality. Leylines that define speeds, interactions, and elements trembling, yet not changing. Somewhere, across the universe, a clock was chiming.
OOC: Roll of 3. Bah. Oh wait, I forgot I get +1 for having no points. Okay, I've got 4 points. That's better.
Halupus watches his mighty Canin grow, and is proud of his pups.
Then he feels the subtle ripple of the forces of the universe. Something changed. His power has shifted, somehow. Instead of shaping territory for his people, some unknown drive now pushes him to influence them, and create new pups. Different pups.
But first things first. Halupus uses his connection with his hulking avatar to guide it. It must create a line of alpha-Canin. Lords among their kind. The pack must have an Alpha line, descendant from Halupus' own avatar.
Over the next decades, his avatar sires pups. Canin of superior size, strength, and intelligence. Their superior stock makes them natural leaders.
Spending 1 power point to Command Avatar to reproduce, creating a dynasty of Canin leaders.
Everything scares me... kitties scare me... squirrels scare me... corpses....corpses bring forth a pletora of confusing feeling which i prefer not to dwell on...:p
Auqron bobbed around in the shallow pool of specially purified water that the Zunna had prepared in the ancient meeting place. It had come a long way since that first day when Auqron had teased a terrified Zunna into chasing him to the coast. Today a low, finely crafted, stone building had been erected on the spot, stone worn thin where hundreds of Zunna had sat while speaking with Auqron over the years. They had created a wide pool of water, distilled and purified, for Auqron to rest in, trying to please the god. Honestly, he enjoyed water, but it didn't make much difference if it was purified or not. Still, it's the thought that counts.
The god was presently conversing with the representative of the Zunna. It had been thousands of years since that first encounter, and since then, the person who was chosen to visit Auqron every ten years had become more and more respected in that particular tribe, and was even raised to the position of chieftain. It had actually become something of a ritual for them, with a few Zunna accompanying the chieftain, carrying food and offerings to the god. Auqron didn't much care for offerings, and he didn't eat, but still, he appreciated the thought.
They'd been talking for about two days, now, and Auqron was getting a little bit of a feeling that the Zunna was distracted by something, and so, decided to abruptly change the topic from the events in the tribe to: "What is troubling you Kalis? You've been thinking about something ever since you got here, I can tell."
The Chieftain seemed a little taken aback at this, but looked down a heartbeat later, "I suppose I should have known you would be able to tell, Lord Auqron. Though, surely you know of the Terravoles who have recently arisen from the hard mountains?"
"Yeah, they're interesting. Digging underground like I swim. Pretty strong. They remind me of Canin."
"Yes, yes. Well, some of them have visited our tribe, and are trying to denounce you as a god. They say that you have never outright told us to worship you, and that the acceptance of 'the sun' is all that we need. They say that because you have never tested us or asked anything of us, you cannot be a god."
"Whuh? That makes, like, no sense. I've made an entire jungle to the west of the mountains, what more do they want?"
"Yes, but they say that a true god asks for worship, honor, and other such ephemeral things, as ways to test a mortal's resolve. They say that you might be a powerful being, but are not a god. I would have told them that you have asked for worship, but that would be a lie. Unfortunately, many of our tribe have begun to listen to these poisonous words, and I am afraid, if things do not improve, we may have to try and drive these Terravoles away, so they no longer sully your name."
"...Huh. Well, don't try and fight them, they're really strong, but, are you asking me to ask you to worship me? Cause that's a weird request, and I think I'd have to think about it for a while. Do you think these Terravoles can be accommodated for another few decades without a fight?"
"Oh course, Lord Auqron, it's a long time, but I believe it can be. Now, where was I..."
Auqron drifted thoughtfully across the sky above the thousands of meters of plant matter that was his jungle. The world was changing, he could feel it. Something in his mind could see things in the time to come. This world they had been sculpting, it was beginning to take the patterns they had placed into it and grow new ones itself. He felt he would need something... else... to further the world. Something that others already had: a race.
But what would they be? Though, even as he pondered this, he realized: three of the four other gods and the dead god, Eses, had made a race in their own image. Why not simply follow that thought? He'd have to keep them close to the others in appearance, of course. Arms, legs, a head, but that would be completely feasible.
So, with a flash, he shot across the sky, dipped down through the trees, and plunged deep into the maze of coral and stone that he had crafted those years and years ago, seeking as he went. He found what he was looking for shortly: A school of Koi fish. With a flourish, he turn a current to take them up, out of the maze and into open water. Once there, he spiraled around the school, focusing his godly powers upon them. The water began to light up as bubbles slowly formed between the fish, who found they couldn't escape. Faster and faster the fish god swam, turning this tiny area of ocean into a tornado. Then, with a flash of red and white light, the tornado vanished, and where there had been a school of Koi fish, a cascade of tiny eggs were drifting down.
The eggs would hatch a few days later, watched over by the god Auqron, and tiny fish, some dark red, some hot pink, some white, began to swim about. They slowly grew, eating crustaceans and kelp as they went, slowly changing, like a tadpole into a frog. After about fifteen years, they had utterly changed. Each still possessed the skin tint they originally had, but they were almost three meters from head to tail, two meters of it being their lower body. Their upper body was that of a Human, though still with gills and covered in fins instead of hair. Their lower body was that of a great fish, propelling them at astounding speeds through the water. With Auqron's help, they had begun to converse among themselves, learning to talk. Though, the change wasn't yet complete. They were adults, and now would be the time they would have their children, laying their eggs, but, over the next twenty years, as their children grew to adulthood, more changes would take place. Gills growing far smaller, replaced mostly by lungs fed though breathing pores. The fish tail molted, split, and shrank, replaced by two far shorter legs, ending in webbed feet. They moved out of the ocean as they entered this second adulthood, into the jungle. There they explored things, gathered items, and crafted many things, bringing them back to their children and their children's children under the sea. Another thirty years in this second adulthood would pass, before the next change would take place, and their body would shrink, yet fins would grow vastly, giving them the impressive appearance of grand robes billowing out around and behind them. They grew weak in this form, and the large fins made it difficult to move about on land, so they retreated to the undersea cities they had spent their lives building, and lived the last fifteen years of their life as leaders and respected elders.
So, the merfolk had been created.
Auqron was silent for once, in the meeting place between him and Zunna chieftain. This was Kalis's grandson, Harnuun, a strong man, who had grown up with the uncertainty of Auqron's godhood. He lacked the extreme respect that his ancestors had for the god, but was still respectful as he spoke. This was the second time Auqron had met with this particular Zunna. It was about time he reached a decision on the matter. But he found it such an odd request. He had difficulty deciding if he wished it or not.
Harnuun was speaking about the crops of the tribe for the last ten years when Auqron cut across him, "Harnuun. Tell your people that I ask them to worship me."
...
Spent 6 points to create the merfolk race. Also 6 points to officially create the "Church of Auqron" order among the Zunna.
Orthuul was displeased. Barely after they had been created, Puck the Trickster, had perverted some of his terravoles into leaving his mountains he charged them with protecting, to live in the sun light. Puck should pay for that, but Orthuul wondered how damaging a battle of the gods would be for this world. Perhaps, if his strike against Puck was well thought out and unexpected, it would amuse the god rather than provoke him. Orthuul would have to think on it.
He swept over the landscape, examining his mountains, trying to remember- there! That's the one. Orthuul shrunk to the size of the dead Eses's humans and strode around his mountain top, the first mountain he ever created, and the tallest of the chain. He picked a spot, and erected a power on the spot. Some magic with a physical grounding, to be released on the first worthy mortal to reach the spot, so he could come to meet them. Then he would decide if the creature deserved his blessing or not. Lastly, he made sure it could not be triggered by his terravoles, as they could visit this spot as easily as other races could visit their neighbors.
Spending 7 points on an Event on a mountain in the first chain of mountains I created, on the western peninsula. EDIT: This Event is purely being created because Rith has said he wants to RP in this world when it's done. During *this* game, no benefit beyond roleplaying fluff will be given to characters who reach the top of the mountain.
Adjun surveys the state of the Djo Empire. He is pleased by what he sees so far, but he knows that they will need some from his divine intervention to reach their full potential. Through the sacred oracles he calls upon a series of trials to find which of the Djo Zunna shall be the ones to be his blessed advocates for the plane. The gauntlet put before the Zunna who chose to participate tested not only their physical and mental abilities, but also their inner essence- just how far they were willing to go to achieve victory, and what they would deign too extreme of a tactic to be used amongst civilized beings.
When the trials are over, and the scores tabulated, the Chosen of Adjun (roughly a thousand all told) gathered themselves in one of the cavernous temples dedicated to the chthonic deity. The entrance was sealed off, and through the might of Adjun their bodies were intensified, their minds sharpened to a razor edge. These new Zunna were unlike the others that ran rampant over the world, choosing any god they may like to worship; no, these were Adjun's own special breed: the Magha'aar [مغعار.] {Create subrace for 4 points}.
These beings were the epitome of Adjun 's desire for all of Zunna-kind, and would begin to interbreed with their brethren amongst the Djo Empire to create a stronger race as a whole, while still maintaining at least one pure blood line. They were all above average height for a Zunna, and instead of the dull gray skin of an average Zunna they were decorated with leopard-like spots of black and deep red-blue on their limbs, and the back of their torsos. Their hand were more like claws, but still capable of fine motor skills; their feet were longer, almost digitgrade but not quite. These were truly predator, resplendent in their glorious might. They would go out and declare the glory of the Djo Empire, and it's deity Adjun , gaining as many converts as they could (by the spear, if necessary).
While Adjun is gathering up his brooding forces, Zuwn sleeps listfully high above his Mushroom Forest. His dreams take on an odd form, coalescing in the seas as a new form of life, yet to be named, or even encountered by others. Great beasts, with large, bat-like wings upon their backs, in three pairs even. But they do not use these wings to fly; rather they use them to drag their massive body along the crests and waves of the oceans. Possessing only their wings for motion, and a prehensile tail for manipulation of their surroundings the unnamed creatures are otherwise manatee-shaped, with pudgy bodies and snout-like faces. [Create race for 6 points]
The god of mischief doesn't seem to be very active lately. HE's been checking things out, but the power just isn't coming to him. Until he notices the annoyance of Orthuul. Puck swoops in to his order of sun worshipers and begins to spread seeds of ideas. Just enough to work on them. Just enough to get them to move without Puck actively having to move for them.
So the ideas are spread. Slowly. Build a tower to get closer to the sun. Only by getting closer to the sun can they be stronger, to withstand its power better. Only then can they be worthy.
There's also a subtle push for the worshipers to spread the philosophy, to get more to worship the sun as they do. More to leave the mountain and get closer to the light. After all, there's no way to have fun if all of them are hiding in that mountain!
Spending 6 points for two directives: build sun tower, spread order.
OOC: Roll of 7, bringing me up to 10. Time to be a dick. Hope nobody forgot Halupus is the god of lycanthropy.
Halupus' line of alpha Canin grows prosperous and strong. Low birthrates are offset by pure hardiness and cunning. The Canin are beginning to split into different territories. This is good. They will constantly test each other. Their predator instincts drive them to always find weakness and tear. This will ensure the future of their race, through blood and war.
But they will need strongholds, places of strength and civilization. Halupus sends a pulse of pure divine will through the order of avatar-descendants, and they begin creating a great fortress-city.
In the years it takes the city to be built, Halupus finally turns his attention from his children and to the other races. The humans... Their future is bright. They multiply quickly and hunt well. But their shapes are soft, weak, slow. Halupus decides he wishes to give them a small taste of what life as a true predator is like.
He appears in the forest as the great white wolf once again. For days he tracks a pack of human hunters, watching them. Unfortunately for the hunters, they have no success finding prey. Halupus deems them unworthy. They all die in a flash of white fur and cold fangs.
But he picks up on the trail of another hunting pack. These are well-fed, strong, and best of all, they have already caught prey. Several large bucks. They are skilled hunters indeed. Worthy of the gift Halupus will grant them.
He strikes at night, when the moon is full and bright. The attack is swift, the attacker merciless and cold. Each hunter recieves a wound, painful but not fatal.
The next night, with the shining silver orb in the air, the humans become true predators. Like the Canin, but shorter and more heavily muscled. And Halupus is pleased.
Halupus repeats his ritual many times, until there is a sizable population of these lycanthropes among the humans. They will be spoken of in hushed and fearful tones as long as the humans exist. He makes sure the gift can be spread. Any human who escapes a lycanthrope, if he bears an injury from the beast, will be rewarded for his courage by becoming one. Halupus is satisfied. Perhaps he should turn his attention to the other races as well...
Spending 4 points to Command Race to build a large city called Garrison on the thin strip of land on the eastern forested peninsula.
Then spending another 4 points to Create Subrace to turn some humans into werewolves.
Everything scares me... kitties scare me... squirrels scare me... corpses....corpses bring forth a pletora of confusing feeling which i prefer not to dwell on...:p
Auqron was blithely following a merfolk, a tracker by the name of Kazzi, through the thick vegetation of this layer of the jungle. She was clearly practiced, rumored to be the best tracker the race had, so Auqron had decided to do some observing, invisible observing, naturally, he didn't want to disturb her. She was good, only stopping near clusters of red or white flowers, so her natural, splotchy body would camouflage her. She was three quarters of a kilometer above the true floor of the forest, but her footfalls did not falter, she knew how to traverse this area.
The merfolk had been setting up villages throughout this jungle for a few decades now, clusters of branches and vines organized and trimmed clean of inhibiting vegetation. Most villages were high in the air, away from the largest predators, with the highest being a full five and a half kilometers above the lowest level of underbrush. They were still a young civilization, but they were growing quickly. Of course, for all of their progress, it wasn't even a drop of water in the ocean compared to all the wilderness still to be explored.
The merfolk weren't born hunters, now they were agile and clever (very clever), Kazzi was an example of that, but they couldn't stand their own against everything. This related back to what Kazzi was tracking now, actually, as something had been attacking their settlements, hunting the merfolk, and she had finally caught up to them. Auqron peered over the edge of the branch, grinning and completely invisible, examining the group she was examining far below. A group of massive humans. Wait, no, there was something off about them...
Then, the fish god was down in the valley, peering at them. These were not simply humans, no, they had a stink on them. Halapus had touched these creatures, making them bloodthirsty, strong, chaotic. They had the intelligence of hunters and, when they changed, the ferocity and strength of any wild beast. Regardless, this was no animal infestation. This was another race hunting his merfolk. A race bred to become incredible hunters. It wasn't a fair fight...
He'd have to balance the scales again.
One night, the god summoned a single bolt of lightning, which snaked into a single house, and scorched the floor and walls with dozens and dozens of patterns. The owner of the house came blundering out of his bedroom, bewildered and confused as he looked about at his smoldering home. Though, Auqron had picked this merfolk for a reason, because as he glanced around, he immediately began to recognize the patterns, and instead of going to find a neighbor to fix his house, he slowly grabbed a scroll and a pen, and began to try and discern what the patterns ment.
Fifty years passed, and the merfolk, Ewto Ka, had fully mastered the craft hinted at in that pattern, becoming a legend. He had bottled tornadoes and lightning bolts, summoned hurricanes and floods, forever mapped the tides and wind patterns, and began a school of magic. No one would ever master the craft as fully and completely as he did, but no one needed to. Auqron had corrected the scales. The merfolk would not be having any more trouble from Lycans.
Spent 5 points to advance the merfolk race with the "Weather Control" magic/technology.
The humans of this world are weak and without a god, Orthuul knows. It is time to give them something to really strive for. He intervenes on the birth of a few, and over time, creates a slightly hardier human race that he plants the impression of daring sea-travel in.
Orthuul has been watching Auqron. He has judged the sea to be a worthy challenge for his followers. The terravoles were made far to adept for land to adapt to the water, but Orthuul grants his new branch of humans supreme knowledge of watercraft, and they leave behind their tamed brethren and take their life to the water. They will be pirates and privateers, and one of the most dangerous military powers in whatever area they choose to call home.
Spent 4 points to create a subrace of humans. Spent 5 points to advance them with knowledge of seafaring vessels. (More distinguishing physical features of the subrace will have developed by my next turn.)
1 point remaining.
Private Mod Note
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Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I'll bet you wish you had a non-unglued/unhinged card that shared your first name.
Adjun , greatly displeased with the direction his new creation, the Magha'aar. He decides that now it is time for lead his empire directly, as sovereign and deity of the Mighty, and Powerful Djo Empire. He descends deep into the heart of the Dji Caverns, taking his rightful place on the throne, a figure wrapped in darkness and secrecy. [Create Avatar- 7 Points] This material aspect of Adjun, known by the name Rightful Emperor Txalavar, begins to spread his influence into the governance of the Djo Empire. Meanwhile, Adjun's immaterial self goes to work to help the other races be more accepting of the great message set forth by the Empire, an invitation to their dark way of life. [Corrupt races; Merfolk and Canins: Corrupt races for 6 Points.]
Zuwn, now awakened from his slumber in the mushroom forest , turns his attention to the tides. He spies an almost comical race, drifting peacefully among the waves. He almost see a bit of himself in them, and decides to make direct contact with that. He draws upon his creator's connection with them, and starts an Order, different from those already existing- a branch of his earlier, landbound religion, but with a distinctively different flavor. This order includes all members of the seafaring race, the race-order that shall be known as the Jarawoe. [Create order from creation- 0 Points]
Puck watches the goings on. The other gods are becoming more focused on the races. Interesting. The god just watches. Staying pulled back so that he can observe. His own race is left to fend for themselves. They'll probably become quite insulated in their box canyon. But for now, he'll leave them be. It'll be more fun later on.
The Canin look to be growing in number. It takes several months for Puck to realize what's going on. That they're spreading through biting the humans. Then the merfolk gain the ability to control the weather and the humans go to the sea. But that doesn't solve the problem.
The god leaves the mountains and moves to the forests. Watching the wolves. Both the were- variety and the Canin themselves. For the most part, the Canin are fine. They seem okay, if overly focused on hunting. The werewolves, on the other hand, spread too easily. Too powerful. They are like a virus.
Puck moves to create the antivirus. Off to the Humans he goes. Near one of the major human cities, an earthquake strikes. No real damage to the town, but it's enough to cause a rift in the nearby ground. Revealing a strange, light-colored metal with a gentle shine. A metal that, should any werewolf touch it, would burn like fire.
Another influence from the god and one of the humans would try to weaponize it. Giving the humans at least some measure of protection.
Puck creates an Event (earthquake) to reveal Silver, a metal specifically created to harm Werewolves, to the Humans, and advances that city in the use of silver weapons to combat the werewolves. Canins will be unaffected by this metal.
Everything scares me... kitties scare me... squirrels scare me... corpses....corpses bring forth a pletora of confusing feeling which i prefer not to dwell on...:p
Out in the void of space, ripples of red gas and hot dust swirled in the great distance. The gods could feel something approaching, like a shifting in the balance of power. A void had been there, in this world, caused by calamities of things other than the material and the deaths of things not seen. This world was meant to be shaped by more hands, and facets had been lost, power had grown heavier on one side than the other. The fabric of reality was straining, torqued to one side. Though, that power, that twist, was unfurling itself, righting itself, and the cosmos was rearranging in answer. The sun suddenly flared and those who walked the world had to cover their eyes for an instant before it faded.
Heat and motion was welling up from within the gut of the world. Deep in it's heart, currents of fire and molten rock began to churn restlessly. Up to now these have simply been tools to the gods, never truly with a master. The void in the balance of power has called a new consciousness into existence, and it awakens for the first time. For now, it remains still, observing, learning, and planning. A new day is dawning, as the sun burns red for a single journey across the sky.
Thaurg, God of Change Portfolio: Change, fire, spring, rebellion, destruction, courage, exploration Appearance: Thaurg never keeps one shape for long. He will often mimic the shape of other beings, keeping only one distinguishing feature — a lack of eyes. When angered, he will always appear in the form of a beaked dragon. Symbol: A phoenix.
Quote from New Initiative »
Adjun/Zuwn
Thaurg
Orthuul
Puck
Auqron
Halapus
OOC
Okay, introducing Oculus into the game with his god Thaurg. This is to add some new interactions into the world and to replace some of what we've lost with the other players who dropped, as the map was made with more people in mind. Disregard the last roll you did and sent me in private. Each player will be getting a flat 15 points this round (it's a maxed 2d6+3. Maximum possible points), to signify an era of balance. Since we have added in a new player, the only fair way I could decide to determine his place in the initiative was to completely reroll initiative. In exchange for your roll affecting your place in turn order this time, you will all be getting the best roll possible. Also, considering the large white spots in the map, until further notice, each round, players will be getting 9 bonus points that can only be spent on Shape Terrain or Shape Climate used on previously unaltered land. Keep track of these bonus points separately from your main points.
After some time among the Zunna of the Djo Empire
Txalavar contacted his ethereal-self again, telling Adjun how the Magha'aar had become arrogant and prideful, lording their greater status over the normal citizens. This displeased Adjun , as he had meant for the Magha'aar to be paragons of the virtues of the Djo, not aristocrats using their prestige for self-gain and hedonistic indulgence. He set forth a decree to Txalavar, that all Magha'aar shall be expunged from the kingdom, set forth in exile to the Western jungle, to survive and make what life they can for themselves. [Command Avatar: 1 point; 14 remaining]
The Creation of the Mushroommen
Surveying the lands Adjun eyes alit on the Mushroom forest his once bodymate, now brother had most recently created. |This could be turned to my advantage| He thought, as he drifted over it. Then inspiration struck him as he saw a member of the Raggapi, clearly marked as such by his vibrant and eclectic clothing, picking fruits from one of the large, tree-like funguses that gave the forest its name. Drawing upon his dark powers he cast his shadow down upon the grove nearest the Raggapin, imparting the Mushtrees their with an aspect of his morbid personality; the Mushtrees began to sway and undulate as their roots broke free from the dirt, their limbs reaching out to grab the Zunna so offending them by taking their parts without permission. The Zunna, whose name was Slibeen, staggered away in fear and fascination; spreading a horrible tale of twisted Mushroommen roaming the forest looking to make a meal out of those who once made a meal from them. Thusly the Mushroommen were created. [Create race: 6 points; points left: 8]
On the Jarawoe Hivemind
Something had been stirring among the various pod-sects of Jarawoe that had begun to roam the currents among the waters of the plane. Most of these pod-sects functioned as both tribe, village, and religious denomination, each with slight differences in culture, language and the manner in which they worship their lord and creator Zuwn . Though seemingly coincidental, all at once all of the pod-sects synchronously started to become more solidly codified; not to a pedantic or overly lawful degree, but more to a 'functioning-as-one-organism' kind of way. Thusly all Jarawoe began to operate as eusocial, hive-minded creatures; each pod-sect, or Larin, being an unique individual, each member having a small degree of independence, but with constant psychic connection to his, her, or hir Larin. [Developing a latent, built-in feature of a race: Free]
[SPOILER]
Zuwn appears to, and dance with, the Lithefolk.
Now with a goal firmly set in his mind, to bring the freedom and joy of dance to all creatures, Zuwn spied a canyon seemingly disconnected from the rest of the landscape. Upon closer inspect he marveled at the sight of a graceful, lithe race of beings. |They would make most grand dancers!| he suppositioned. |But I do not want to force my gift upon them. Perhaps a demonstration is in order? I believe it is!| And thinking so, the dancing God floated down into their citied canyon. He hovered above the center of their homeland, and began to fluidly dance as he moved slowly though their streets and over their rooftops, allowing all of these shimmering people to see what talent he could bestow upon them. Upon viewing this sight, the people of the canyon declared "..."
Zygoss and Parthenia
Fearing the influence of the newly-born Mushroommen on his mostly disorganized order of Raggapis, Zuwn decides that they need a place to central their power. To that end he informs them that he would be most pleased if they were to build a capital city for themselves. "But where shall we place it?" they asked. "In the Swamplands is too far for the Grasslanders to reach it, and in the Grasslands is too far for the Swamplanders!" <Hmmm, I suppose one for each region would be the best solution, but do try to keep in contact with one another.> replied Zuwn . The Swamplanders built Zlygoss at the Southeastern point of their region; while the Grasslanders constructed Parthenia at the very final point that connected the Mushroom forest to their lands in the South. [Command Order twice: 6 points; points remaining: 2]
Geographical Changes
{Starting with 9 points}
In order to mask his Mushroommen, and thusly allow them to better hunt their annoyingly dancing prey, Adjun sets to making the Mushroom forest a foggy, humid, misty, moist, dark place. [Shape climate 1': 4 points; 5 remaining]
In order to further insulate the new city of Parthenia Zuwn takes it upon himself to extend their grassy country farther South [Shape land: 1'; 4 points/ 0 remaining.]
The new god withdrew his consciousness from the surface of the world. Worlds are resilient beings - they die not by destruction, but by stagnation. As his senses brushed over the young soil, memories of unknown origin revealed themselves to him. He glimpsed ancient, cold worlds where even the seas were coated in dust and ash, and great beasts stood in a motionless limbo, no life to sustain their bodies, no death to claim their souls. Other entities roamed this world too, changing, creating, but vast, barren landscapes still covered most of the the surface. In time, he would teach them to destroy, but for now the scales were tipped towards creation - and there was still a lot of it to be done.
Ethereal shapes coalesced around Thaurg's consciousness. Countless limbs and heads would emerge from the writhing chaos only to be absorbed moments later; eventually, he settled for the shape of a winged serpent. The god craned his head upwards, and with a mighty thrust, shot towards the surface. Vast subterranean currents formed in his wake, and moments later his head connected with solid rock. The impact was not enough to break through the crust, but he could feel the shock spreading quickly, cracking rock in some places, pulverizing it in others. Channeling his newfound strength, Thaurg forced a powerful jet of magma skyward. The loosened rock yielded, and more magma was sucked up by the initial surge. In moments, his first act of creation on this new world would break the surface.
---
Even for the land-dwelling races, the sound of an underwater rockslide is unmistakable. Cris had barely a moments notice before the clashing, grinding noises drowned out the sounds of the ocean around him. Violent pressure waves ripped through his body, forcing the young merfolk hunter to surface. All around him waves were spiking higher than he had ever seen them, and powerful, erratic currents thrashed his body around. To his side, he saw the great peninsula, where the rest of his hunting party was; where smooth, golden beaches ones lined the shore, massive chunks of charred rock were now scarring the land, plummeting from ominous black clouds in the sky. Cast into spontaneous night, surrounded by a cacophony of shattering rock and shrieking air and water, and trapped by frenzied currents, the bewildered and disoriented merfolk could do nothing but watch from afar as the earth spit itself into the sky. Embers shone like deep red stars far above him, and their reflections danced like fish on the sea's broken surface.
After what seemed like an eternity, the chaos came to a brief halt. Once again, Cris felt nothing but his own heartbeat and the wild sloshing of the sea. After a few moments' hesistation, he went to look for the others. As he ventured closer to the shoreline, a powerful, sulfurous stench filled the air. He dove further underwater to escape it, but even that quickly became unbearable - the acidic water was burning his gills with every breath he took and stung his eyes with vicious intensity. Bursting through the surface once more, Cris caught a glimpse of a white-hot flame piercing the horizon. It would periodically dim and blacken, only to have another volley leap even highe than before. A strange crackling sound echoed through the sky, and the last thing he remembered was a second sun slithering into the sky and spreading its wings...
---
Far above the billowing ash, Thaurg surveyed the newborn Daggerpeaks. After the initial debris cleared, thousands of molten lances shot skywards, freezing as fast as they appeared. Lava still churned and spat at the central crater, but the rest of the outburst was now calm. From the summit of the new volcano, the entire continent was visible, countless razor-sharp spires of granite, obsidian and quartz jutted out from its flanks. The ash clouds was slowly sinking towards the earth, coating it in a heavy, grey blanket.
Reaching down to the ground below, the god tapped into primeval instincts, distorting the flow of time and energy in arcane patterns. Saplings, flowers, and herbs pushed through the new soil, and within moments the whole area brimmed with life. Insects and birds darted through enourmous trees; lizards and small rodents made their home in the undergrowth, and ever larger beasts burst from the ground as if awakening from hibernation. It was not long, at least in the god's eyes, before the bleak terrain had transformed into a vibrant utopia.
Too easy. Mortals needed challenges, to humble them, to test them, to encourage them. Only through challenges would they be inspired to change. Besides, the surface world was much too cold for Thaurg's liking. The sun's light warped under his will, and a strong heat shimmer distorted the air. Plants withered and beasts collapsed as the soil cracked and vents and geysers burst through. New, tougher life rose up from the ground almost as quickly as the old species were dying off. Rough, brown shrubs grew around the sulfur vents; mosses and fungi grew explosively wherever a tree stump was rotting, and the new trees grew slow and rough, tiny, leathery leaves giving shelter to insects. Vipers made their home under the ash, and enormous, armored creatures plodded about grazing on the tough plant life.
Content, Thaurg turned his attention turned his attention towards an unremarkable rock. Cradled in one ethereal hand, its surface cracked and split, unfolding into a strange little creature. Repeating this several times, a small band of these new cyclopean beings now wandered the Daggerpeaks. Upon a few of them, he imprinted the knowledge of how to work the stone around them, then watched patiently as they carved out their place in this world.
Wandering Eyes
Wandering eyes are scaled, cyclopean humanoids native to the Daggerpeaks. Their morphology is adapted to carving through rock; large, curved hands can move large quantities of dirt and loose stone, and their complex mouths act as powerful mining tools. The outer jaws are heavily segmented and have four curved tusks, which pry chunks of rock from the walls and hold it in place for the second set of jaws, which use plate-like teeth to grind the stone up. At this stage, mineral-rich stones are swallowed whole, acting as gizzard stones until their eventual digestion. The rest of the material is spat out; particularly tough pieces are set aside for the artisans, and the rest discarded. The third and final set of jaws are lined with small, razor-sharp teeth, which support the wandering eyes' omnivorous diet.
While very powerful, wandering eyes are not built for speed. They mostly live off roots and berries they gather or mosses cultivated in communal gardens. If they do hunt, it's at night, seeking out sleeping animals and rapidly crushing their necks. As a result, they are not agressive or confrontational by nature. They are, however, very perceptive - at short distances, their huge eyes miss no detail, and older specimens often develop a fine enough sense of hearing that they effortlessly navigate by echolocation.
The mineral aspect of a wandering eye's diet is usually not out of necessity - however, their agressive digestive fluids are capable of drawing out even the slightest traces of ore, which are incorporated into their body and reinforce their bones, teeth and scales. This causes a lot of variety in the race — the larger tribes who remain in their rocky dwellings have dark, rough hide and teeth, ranging from rusty red to jet-black. In contrast, the smaller nomadic tribes have light brown, leathery skin and white teeth.
---
Wandering eyes are inherently curious. The mountain dwellers hold the light-skinned nomads in high regard, hosting huge celebrations in which they eagerly listen to their visitors' stories of unexplored lands. At the end of the festivities, the nomads leave stocked with valuable gems, metals and elaborate stone carvings, which are traded to other races for exotic goods to be shared the next time they return. Their race is still very young, with the original population only now beginning to die off, but already a rudimentary social order exists. Nomadic tribes are often led by a single leader, who decides where their journey takes them next. This will often be a convoluted route from one settlement to the next, aiming to see as much new land as possible before exchanging knowledge and goods at their destination. It is rare that two nomad tribes will meet on their journey, making these permanent settlements vital for communication between the tribes.
The mountain tribes, on the other hand, operate by mass rule. Important decisions are made by word of mouth or in formal gatherings, with particular weight being given to sunwalkers - an honorary title given to those who understand the outside world more than the others, either a retired nomad or one who occasionally leaves with them in a kind of informal apprenticeship. This mass rule often causes new tribes and settlements to form; when one village gets too large to run effectively, they split, one group setting out to find new land. This journey is often long, and after a few months many tribes drift off into the nomadic lifestyle.
---
Wandering eye villages usually follow a practical layout. In the center of the village a large, open pit leads to the labyrinthine mines beneath. A tight, spiraled groove makes access to the various levels of the underground portion of the village simple even for the heavily burdened. The highest level is invariably a disk-shaped hall, where everything from raw ores to masterwork tools and leather garments are stored for ease of access. Several furnaces will be carved into the walls at regular intervals, attended by smelters to extract metals from ores while providing some lighting for the rest of the hall. Further down, small caches are used to store food; well away from the blistering sun, the cool rock provides something akin to refrigeration. Depending on the surrounding rock, these rooms may be very humid - perfect for the cultivation of a deep green moss that has become a staple for many villages in more inhospitable regions. The deepest caves are where the excavators work, where the ancient, hard rock partially protects against cave-ins. Here, the strongest of the tribe painstakingly extract huge sections of flawless rock and haul it to the surface, where they are used as raw materials for construction.
Immediately near the village pit is an open, circular area, where gatherings and celebrations are held. An ornate furnace stands in its center; they are carved out from one single stone, and tell other tribes a lot about the settlement's inhabitants - the size and material tells them a lot about the quality of the terrain, as well as the skill of the artisans and excavators. This furnace, in many ways, symbolizes the heart of the village, and is maintained vigilantly. If, for some reason, the village has to be abandoned, the flames are doused in a somber ritual.
The rest of the village is not nearly as elaborate, at least from a wandering eye's perspective - the walls of the communal houses are a bizarre feat of architecture, built from hundreds of interlocking pieces of stone and virtually impossible to disassemble. Closest to the center of the village, having easy access to the village stores, the larger buildings house the artisans and their tools. Showing little interest for the outside world, these individuals are fascinated by almost everything else. Most of their work is done in stone, leather or bone - wood is an alien substance to them, and while many of them are captivated by the versatility and beauty of copper and iron, they lack the knowledge to make good use of their malleable nature.
The outskirts of the village is lined with small stone huts. This is where most of the population resides in groups of three or four; each of them will specialize in different aspects of village life, from healers and builders to foragers and storytellers. Unlike many races, families live in separate houses or even villages, and the young wander freely in the village. The adults will gladly set aside time to care for the village's offspring and teach them their trade; as they reach adolescence, the children will then gravitate towards those mentors whose profession they choose to pursue.
---
A fairly recent tradition that is rapidly becoming popular is an annual festival of games and contests held by the Daggerpeaks. Droves of wandering eyes travel to the jagged foothills to flaunt their prowess in their chosen profession; the contests are incredibly varied - identifying rare and exotic herbs, speed excavation, and javelin throwing are all commonplace events, but the real show most come to see is the mountain climbing. The treacherous, spindly peaks offer no footholds, and the slightest misstep will send the entire stone column along with the climber plummeting towards the jagged peaks below. A lot of the wandering eyes' rudimentary mythology is centered around the Daggerpeaks and the seething caldera on its summit; some believe it is the wake of a malevolent force that hatched deep in the earth, others that it was created as a test of courage for those who wish to prove themselves (although nobody seems to be clear on who they are proving themselves to). The only thing everyone seems to agree on is that its origin was no natural event.
Yeah, I couldn't be bothered reading all that again either. I'll try not to substitute legibility for verbosity in the future, but no promises
Using 5 points to Shape Land a 1x1 area and 8 to Shape Climate on a 1.5x1.5 area (or whatever that works out to be); on the coast of the bay of the southeastern peninsula, straight south of where the huge mountain chain ends, raising a volcano with steppe on its foothills. The climate on the volcano itself and the area immediately around it will be extremely hot, while retaining average humidity. 11 points remaining.
Spending 6 points to Create Race - the Wandering Eyes. If you have trouble picturing them, imagine an anthropomorphic armadillo wearing Galvanoth as a hat. Finally, spending 5 points to Advance Civilization, imbuing the wandering eyes with an instinctive mastery for stonework. 0 points remaining.
Well that was fun. Would've probably been just as fun to turn a city into a volcano or populate the world with creepers, but I guess there's still time for that
It comes to them out on the sea
A strong gust of the cunning wind
Those mighty sailors of Orthuul
Find the breeze a stern guide
Carried along with more purpose
Than does a zephyr e'er provide
Swept suddenly to a gale
So brutal as to rip the sail
The sea men, so hardy and hale
With their strength should not prevail
When all hope is lost to the sea
The ship battered against countless rocks
The men reach down deep for bravery
And limp the vessel through the storm
Against all hope, bucking all odds
The men find life across the bow
Well, hopefully that didn't suck too badly. Keep in mind this is 2 am and I haven't attempted poetry since I was 17 please ;).
Basically, my action is that I'm having my pirates found a city in the mountain chain I made. The only way to get to this city will be to sail through the dangerous waters I made, or to climb over the tops of the mountains.
I can't think of anything else I want to do right now, so I'll just bank the rest of my points for next time. I'll either edit a physical description of the city into this post later, or add it to my next post.
12 Points + 9 Terraforming Points left
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I'll bet you wish you had a non-unglued/unhinged card that shared your first name.
While Puck is busy making a nuisance of himself, his Lithefolk are being entranced by a dancing god above them. The entire enclosed society watches with interest as a new form of communication is thrust upon them, something they had never considered before. It's embedded itself into the Lithefolk zeitgeist, but hasn't quite become something they can do. So it's a strange thing when Puck shows up and sees his creatures trying out dance. But unable to actually figure out how to work it.
So Puck does what comes natural. He spends some power and alters his own beings. Vocal communication begins to die out. While it stays with the group, especially any that start to climb the walls of their box canyon and explore, his creatures spend more time communicating through dance and pantomime. This amuses Puck, as it will make communication with other races somewhat arduous, but also enriching.
The world still feels empty for him. There's not enough activity in some places. From his box canyon the god flies north, to the empty wastes west of his airborne rocks. This land is too flat. Far to flat. With a heave of his shoulder the god sets the land to rocking. Shoving the land skyward. And setting the land to life. No mere mountains these, they'll be a land of volcanoes. Only a few alive at any given time, but this land will live. Constantly recreating itself with lava flows. However, these living peaks will not be doing the violent eruptions. Gentle rivers of living rock will do the job just fine. Making the sky glow red. The god works the area to ensure that this place will constantly be flowing, be hot.
Some other work ensures that the lava itself is rich in nutrients and lends itself to life. The place will be green and living... Apart from where the molten rock kills all that it touches. Living here will be a challenge. Another juxtaposition sets itself as the god fixes the climate. Cool air from the nearby ocean will circulate over this volcanic land, bringing gentle rainstorms that will help solidify recent rivers of rock.
But something needs to live here. Something interesting. He has already set the land to live... Why not the rock itself? What makes flesh so important that it has the monopoly on life? Puck begins to grin as he shapes power in his hand. And then shoves it into the land.
It's not just the rock affected. The rock, the air, the falling water, and the dancing fire from the lava. All of it gets affected by this power. The Elementals are born.
The "Elementals" refers to one race, and is often mis-attributed by those that see them. When people see the living rock creatures, or the flowing lava creatures, they believe they are seeing two races. Or subraces to one distinct race. In actuality, things are quite different.
The actual 'race' itself is more an energy, a gas, a wisp. The Elementals are essentially ethereal, more out of this plane of existence than in it. They are weak in and of themselves and seek to ground themselves in a physical body. Being particularly drawn to each of the four classical elements, the Elementals will ground themselves in a physical manifestation in order to live. So they will embed their essence in the rock, or fire, and 'step out' of the natural element in what amounts to a living suit. Given that the 'suit' is of no true consequence, there will naturally be Earth Elementals, Fire Elementals, and so on. One real race, different looks.
The longer an Elemental lives in its 'suit' (known as a Medium among the race), the more attached it becomes. Should a medium be destroyed, there will be varying affects on the Elemental itself. Young elementals destroy their mediums on a frequent basis without any true consequence, flitting from medium to medium until they settle on one that fits them. Older elementals will die if their medium is destroyed, having attached themselves to that medium for so long that their essence is interspersed throughout the element. The flip side of this is that the older elementals have learned to control their medium, becoming masters in the way of manipulating their element.
While the Medium in question has no real bearing on the Elemental themselves, as the race ages generalizations begin to occur. Rock Elementals are known for being hard-headed but steadfast, artisans in the physical. Fire Elementals are known for being temperamental and true warriors, passionate but destructive. Air Elementals are known for being flighty, good with their words but fickle. Water Elementals are known to change on a whim and be rather nomadic, the traders of the race.
Elementals are naturally good (starting +1 alignment) and strive to work for the need of the world. They have interest in other races, but prefer the preservation of nature to the preservation of civilization. They seek to beautify the world by any means possible.
As the Elementals grow, they settle in the region that Puck had created. The god watches them with some amusement as they begin to create a city. But their city should be as unique as they. With lingering power, Puck instills some knowledge into that city of Crystal Cultivation. The city will glimmer and shine, and as they elementals dig into the earth to make room, they will slowly make a dome of crystal that stretches over their city. Making a permanent glimmering on the landscape that can be seen from leagues away.
Puck spends 5 + 4 Creation points to create a volcanic landscape (think Volcano National Park in Hawaii) to the west of his floating rock lake. Lots of green life around the desolate wastes, and plenty of gentle rains.
Puck advances the Lithefolk Civilization in the way of Communication: Dance for 5 points.
6 points used to create the Elementals, and 4 points to Advance the home city in Crystal Cultivation, making them masters of using Crystals for their own needs.
Power Roll of 15 for a Total of 17 with 9 Bonus Points.
"Holy Lord Auqron, Curiosity and the Ocean itself in the Flesh--" Yahhu, the son, of a son, of a son, of a son, of a son, of a son, of a son, of a son, of a man Auqron had told to worship him some ages ago, was starting out.
"Cut the formality, Yahhu, you know it is not to my tastes," Auqron cut across him before the Zunna could go through all the titles his order have bequeathed the god in their time. This had been the third time he met with Yahhu, and while the High Scholar was a strong and wise leader, he was stubborn, and had gotten it in his head that Auqron needed to hear every honor his religious order had given him through the centuries at the beginning of each meeting with him, "You seem troubled, simply tell me what is on your mind."
Yahhu sighed, less than happy that his monologue had been cut short, and sank down into the seat in their meeting place, "Well, my god, we've recently met some travelers from the sea, pirates, they called themselves. We traded and invited them to our evening meal for a few nights. They had many stories from across the world, and as we swapped our tales, your immaculate name came up, as it should. They seemed surprised, and told us of a race of beings who called themselves Merfolk, and who claim to be your children. Tempers flared in some of our more devote followers and it was all I could do to keep them from threatening our guests. To sate our people, we sent a person to the jungle the Pirates said these merfolk lived, and true to the Pirates word, there this race was, cruel by our standards, proclaiming themselves to be your children. We would go on a crusade, but we first sought your blessing."
Auqron was a little confused, as he floated out of the pool they had prepared in this place, into the air, looking at Yahu, "Uh, well, they are my children. I made them."
Yahhu's eyes went wide in disbelief, "What?"
"Did I never tell you guys? I made them about the same time I asked you to start worshiping me. What's this about them being cruel?"
Yahhu's mouth was hanging open, stunned disbelief written all over his features, "...all this time we have not been your true children?"
He seemed to be getting hung up on that bit, "Huh, I suppose I should have told you guys, but I didn't tell them to be cruel. What's this about them being cruel?"
"...uh? Oh, well, my god, they were killing things for the sake of killing them. For sport, they didn't even eat the carcasses. They sat there for days before a passing lizard beast devoured them. Our people say they were laughing and joking about any creature they didn't kill with the first hit."
Auqron was disquieted, this seemed odd. If what Yahhu said was true, something was very wrong. He'd have to investigate. How could he fix this? But, first, Yahhu seemed distraught, he'd have to quell his concerns, "Well, my son High Scholar of the church of Auqron, know this. Your race was the first to set foot on the soil of this world, and I have sat and talked with your fathers and their fathers before them a thousand thousand times longer than the Merfolk have even lived. The only thing they have had longer than you is the actual worship of me, and that is not a thing to be envious of. They have not had my voice or my wisdom or my guidance for all the years your clan has. But you are equals in more ways than you know. They should not be as dark as you tell me, however, and I will see to correct that. You are still my son High Scholar, and the leader of your people, and we have talks to commence..."
Yahhu stood back up, his brow furrowed, paused a moment, and said, "Of course, my god. Now, where was I? Curiosity and the Ocean itself in the Flesh..."
He knew he wasn't getting out of it this time...
Yahhu had spoken true.
There were his Merfolk, and they were killing the beasts of his jungle for sick games, and it became immediately clear why it had taken his followers journeying here and telling him of the fact before he had seen it. There was an immaterial mist, fingers of something in the ethereal, cloying about them. It was a spiritual thing, made of the same energies Auqron had used to make the Merfolk to begin with, and as it had been changed, it had felt natural to him. Strange, he had not ever seen such a thing. He didn't know how to peel it away, so he followed it back through the world instead. Perhaps if he learned of it, he could learn how to remove it.
What he found was this mist, this corruption, flowing like a river from a figure upon a throne. As Auqron floated there, gazing upon Adjun's avatar, invisible yet still seen by this dark figure, the god felt anger and frustration. Why was this creature griping their minds and twisting them so? These were his people, not Adjun's to tamper with. Auqron had failed to protect them... he would not fail them again.
A flash of his will, and Auqron was gone and the throne room was trembling, cracks flowing through the stone floor. Any attendants to the avatar would be confused, but the avatar himself would see that his grip on the Merfolk had been slapped aside. He'd have to assert himself again to try what he was doing once more.
Meanwhile, a Merfolk in the jungle was tossing aside his spear, suddenly disgusted with himself as his friend jumped down to slit the poor beast's throat out of mercy.
The poor, young man was dying. Auqron floated by his bedside, unseen and looking over the healer's shoulder. Terrik had been one of Auqron's hopes. He was one of the fastest swimmers the race had ever seen. Yet even all his speed hadn't taken him out of reach of the plumes of boiling water and acid in time. Trembling and filled with agony, he had barely made it back to the underwater village of the Merfolk where he'd been born.
He hadn't yet fertilized a single batch of eggs, he was so young. He never would, it would seem. Though, Auqron would not let his life end in vain. He had delivered a message, of some terrible breaching of the terrain. That was not a thing that happened normally, not that abruptly, not without warning, and Terrik's pod was smart, they wouldn't walk into a place readily dangerous and not know it.
So he left the bedside, and shot across the world, to where Terrik had met his death. What he saw stunned him into silence. Fire and stone, boiling and blasted, black and blistering. It was so vast, a scar in the world, streaking across the length of the entire peninsula. So terrible, and so very much against what made Auqron's nature. Brutality and fire. Heat and death. What god had done this?
It couldn't be Puck, nor the Icy Wolf, the White Flame Orthuul called for cold stone and stiff winds, not this. Adjun was too slow, and Zuwn too flighty... What was this? Yet, even as he thought the question... he felt the new presence... a Hot Stone in the ethereal.
The Magha'aar were wandering his jungle. Adjun had a crude directness to him. Auqron swatted his spiritual hand aside, and he in turn sought to reach out with his physical hands. The fish god was in no mood to play such a game. His children were being corrupted and a new, murderous god was splitting the land and spilling molten blood. He would keep an eye on these dark children. They would not harm his Merfolk, and his children would not be twisted. Auqron would drive each one of them out of the Jungle if the need called for it.
Paranoia was growing in the god's mind. Were all the god tilted against him, seeking their own ends? What of Puck? Halapus had chased him once through the sky. Orthuul sought to take the ocean with his Pirates, did he not? Zuwn was Adjun's brother, surely he had known of Adjun's plan.
Then a bolt of clarity struck his mind. He had failed to see the corruption of his own people as it happened. He hadn't seen Adjun's plan for his own sight was clouded...
The Zunna had seen it, and he had not...
He needed more eyes...
"Holy Lord Auqron, Curiosity and the Ocean itself in the Flesh," Hrell said with a bow. He had gotten the message the first time Auqron had told him he didn't like all those titles repeated once every ten years, unlike his father, and only kept it to the bare minimum, "I am sorry, but I don't know your name, madam," he continued, turning to the tiny woman sharing Auqron's pool, her massive fins spreading wide and taking up almost the entire area, but Auqron didn't mind all that much, he was a god.
Looking up ponderously, her head just poking up out of the water, the wizened woman croaked, "My name is Lakla, young Zunna, and I am Mediator between the Merfolk Tribunals," Auqron bobbed his head in confirmation. Each Merfolk village above and below the ocean had a Tribunal, a council of sorts, that governed it. They were ultimately in control of the matters of the village, but whenever two or more villages had conflicting interests or something had to be debated, the Mediator stepped in. She was the closest thing the race had to an absolute ruler, "I wish I could tell you my purpose here, but the god," she glanced at Auqron, "has kept me in the dark as well."
"Well, I told you I had an important role for you to play, Lakla. You see, this is Hrell, High Scholar of my church in his race, and a few years ago, about twenty, his father, Yahhu, informed me that his race had met the Merfolk, and that something was wrong with them. It has since been fixed, thanks to him telling me, but it had been shown to me that I had not seen everything. While I am a god, I don't have eyes everywhere."
Auqron turned to Hrell, then back to Lakla, then back to Hrell, "You see, I need more eyes. This is why I've called you together this day. You are to form a council, a seat filled by the Mediator of the Merfolk Tribunals and a seat filled by the High Scholar of the Church of Auqron. You are to be my will on this world, my avatar, in a sense, I will seek you out often, you will be the voices in each particular race, the ruler that sets eyes questing and remembers what is seen. I need to know more of the world, I am but one entity. You will be my many.
"A council with only two seats?" Hrell asked.
"You will be setting the eyes questing. How far can two eyes alone look. You will be the controllers of the network, you must spread the network through your own will. Add seats yourself, this council is of limitless size. As many races as there are, that is how many seats are offered. High rulers only, perhaps not the top, not the king, but dukes, tzars, and bishops, as high as you are willing to trust. For the presence of my avatar, this council, must not be known, lest the eyes be tricked, so you will convene in secret. First, I wish to have the old races added to this council. Canin first, then Terravoles. Humans and Lithefolk can come later, then the Magha'aar and the Pirates and the Werewolves."
"Surely not the Werewolves, my god," Lakla spoke up. The Merfolk had been in a quiet war with the Werewolves for a long time now.
"Yes, even the Werewolves. I must know all things. For there to be a blank spot in this council's vision, it will be a weakness. Werewolves have eyes. Werewolves have plans. Do not pick rashly, for being on the council, they are given sight through all the eyes of the council itself. Do not a single race far more knowledge why closing one of the council's eyes in the same motion. A risk that must be taken for the sake of knowledge, though I trust your ability to pick faithful and true figures who will seek knowledge before greed. Convene in this place, where I have convened with the Zunna for a thousand thousand generations, for it is fitting, for it is true. This building will grow, and it come to be known as my eye. Guards of every race upon the council will be housed in underground barracks, but only the best, only the most trusted, only the elite. This council, my avatar, is of supreme importance, I require it to be a far reaching as it can be, and I require it to be safe..."
A long silence followed, Lakla and Hrell were contemplating what lay before them. It was the ancient Lakla who broke the silence, "Well, where shall we begin?"
Merfolk and Zunna and Canin sat upon the council. He would visit them soon, to see what to make of this. It was beginning, but, still, this was not enough, he needed eyes everywhere, eyes that could see more than that of these mortals. So he would bequeath another gift unto his children, his Merfolk.
A smoke drifted through a village, and several Merfolk fell into a vision trance, where they saw visions of the past, the present, the future, gods, mortals, emotions, changes, and other, less substantial things, things without names. It was but a spark. He only needed to watch as it caught and the fire spread. They found the herbs burning just outside their village. It was just as the mastery of Weather Magics had flashed across the race. Soon they would be scrying the future, watching the motions of gods as though watching a whale pass above them. It would be inexact, difficult, clunky, and straining for the mind, but the knowledge, what would be gained, is far greater than the risk.
They would see far.
Ooookay, using my 9 bonus points for terrain to shift my Jungle edge north one inch at one point, writing it off as the natural spreading of the Jungle. Ending with 0 bonus points
Spending 3 points to purify the Merfolk back up to Neutral. Then, spending 7 points to create my avatar, the council of Auqron. Third, spending 1 point to Command my avatar to create an order, the Church of Auqron, within the Canin. Lastly, spending 5 points to advance the Merfolk with another magic: Mysticism. Ending with 1 point.
Canin (Church of Halapus, Church of Auqron, Garrison)
Elementals (Church of Puck, Crystal Cultivation tech)
Humans (No God, Silver Weaponry tech)
Pirates (Church of Orthuul, Shipbuilding tech, Pirate City)
Werewolves (Church of Halapus)
Lithefolk (Church of Puck, Dancing Communication tech)
Merfolk (Church of Auqron, Weather Control tech, Mysticism tech)
Jarawoe (Church of Zuwn)
Mushroom Men (Church of Adjun)
Terravoles (Church of Orthuul, Church of Puck)
Wandering Eyes (Church of Thaurg, Stoneworking tech)
Zunna (Church of Zuwn, Church of Auqron, Parthenia, Zlygoss)
Magha'aar (Church of Adjun)
(If anyone would like an organization to be known by a different name, lemme know and I'll change it.)
The wrath of the Cold God is terrible indeed. He sees the twin gods meddling with his Canin. They grow bloodthirsty, feral, brutal. That is not the way he envisioned them. They were supposed to be hunters, uncaring of the petty intricacies of good or evil. But the twin gods... They dare to corrupt the purpose of his perfect predators?
The fur of the White Wolf turns blood red as he rages. There will be a reckoning for this trespass. His Canin will be restored, and the children of the twin fools will feel what it is like for a god to meddle in their affairs.
The wolf focuses his rage sharply, restoring balance to his Canin. Before they begin, Halupus creates a great winding path through the forested mountains of the Canin homeland.
His dynasty of Alpha Canin feel his rage and his will, and begin their work quickly, knowing a Great Hunt is about to begin. A city must be constructed. A mighty fortress, protecting the heart of the Canin lands from enemies who would try to invade. Colossal black walls, made of the strongest stone, stretch from one side of the pass to the other. Fortified buildings, impenetrable from any direction, even above or below. Stone fortifications, carved from the rock of the walls of the pass. Bloodwall is an immovable object, a juggernaut of defensive destruction, a meat grinder for anything foolish enough to dare attack it. It lays at the highest point of the pass, surveying everything in its domain from its perch near the top of a great mountain. A perfect defensive position. Halupus is pleased at the swift construction of this colossal fortresss. The great strength of his Canin makes the sheer amount of physical labor needed for such a massive undertaking unimportant.
Halupus sends inspiration to his Canin. The power of blood has been left untapped by any race. That's about to change. Blood is a source of true power, greater than the petty sorceries of the other races. His Canin can suddenly feel the might seething through their veins. Their wounds in battle are suddenly a strength. The bodies of enemy and prey alike are no longer simply meat. They are power, to be controlled and directed and unleashed. The blood-fueled magic is diverse in its applications, the greatest Ritualists among the Canin soon discover. Not only can it boil the blood of their enemies or cause plague and disease and weakness, but it can heal. Bless bloodlines with fertility and strength. What other mysteries might the Blood Magic reveal in time? The Canin will soon find out.
Halupus sees the twisted Mushroom creatures created by the dark god. Their punishment will begin soon. Very soon.
In his rage, he barely notices that only one of the twins is a dark being. The other hasn't meddled with the Canin at all. The rage of Halupus blinds him to this fact, at least for now.
Ooookay, spending 3 points to Purify the Canin back to Neutral status.
Spending 5 points to Shape Land, creating a winding mountain pass from the edge of the Mushroom forest and through the mountains, toward Garrison.
Spending 1 point to Command Avatar to Create City, called Bloodwall. The city will be situated near the heart of the mountains, defending the center of pass that Halupus created.
Spending 5 points to Advance Civilization: Blood Magic.
Points remaining: 3 standard points
and
9 bonus shaping points.
Everything scares me... kitties scare me... squirrels scare me... corpses....corpses bring forth a pletora of confusing feeling which i prefer not to dwell on...:p
Adjun turns all of his attentions towards his latest creation. He likes the primal energy the Mushroommen give off. He knows that if his Empire is to overtake the entire world he must first weaken the Eastern continent, while simultaneously building up his forces in the West. To that end he decides that the Mushroommen shall be the conquerors of the East, and will bequeath their bounty to the Djo Empire after it has succeeded in controlling the East. He knows that the forest that is the Mushroommen's home is as much a part of them as their own bodies. He descends down to the lands, his massive form casting a shadow above the Mushroom Forest. He raises his arms, and as their shadows glide beyond the end of the forest, so too does the forest begin to spread, until it just touches Western Lake in the center of the continent. With his shadow still hanging above the Mushroom lands Adjun reascends, sending his avatar, Txalavar to finish this task for him. [Shape land 3' for 15 points; 1 to Command Avatar; 0 Remaining]. Txalavar sets about to serve his dark lord's desires, bending the Mushroommen further towards the darkness of the subterranean world, and rechristening them the 'Whukal'.
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The world was quiet, for some reason. Auqron was wandering about, exploring the world some more. There wasn't much new stuff this 500 years. Just a grassland off beneath the icy hunter's land. Something about the wind in this place made him think of patterns, for some reason. A rhythm on the highest winds. It was pleasant, though. Simple, elegant, just grass filled with crisp wind from the northwest. Canin occasionally wandered about here, exploring out from the tree line of that old, old forest. None saw Auqron, though. With how many creatures now lived, he had taken to remaining invisible all the time. Much easier than having to turn it on or off when he was noticed.
After he left that area, he stopped by Puck's floating mountains. He liked this place, unique in the world. He often stopped by here when seeking inspiration. It's what helped him come up with the jungle so thick that it was as though it had multiple forest floors. Though, this week, he didn't find inspiration just yet, instead, he saw something he hadn't noticed yet. A box canyon, off in the distance. It had Puck's touch all over it. Though, he noticed something else. Movement.
Closing the distance in the blink of an eye, Auqron peered over the edge of the canyon, and was astonished. A small civilization, still mainly contained in this canyon, was bustling. Where other races were still in tribal society and were nomadic, this race - which seemed incredibly exotic, from towering, strong, and red to tiny, agile, and yellow - was constructing stone buildings: towers, gardens, and small quarries. It was as though they were imitating the work of them, the gods. This is truly fascinating.
Auqron spent a good three years wandering about in the two or three cities they had erected in this relatively small canyon, watching, taking notes, and teasing the occasional "lithe-folk" by appearing for a moment. Though, eventually, the remembered himself and departed to go and continue his own work, idea's bumping around in his mind.
Back in his jungle, Auqron found more of those tan Zunna things wandering about in skins, carrying pointy sticks, and building huts along the dozens of rivers. What were these things? Where had they come from? As Auqron began snooping about, he finally managed to figure out exactly where they had originated from: These were the last remnants of Eses. A race that the god of laws had given the name "Human"...
Intriguing.
Well, his plan was simple this time, and he spread the jungle even further north, grabbing winds as he went, dragging a hot wind along the side of the white flame's mountain. With the high temperature across almost all of the land he's already created, Auqron found that this wind was very humid, and poured rain across the land almost every day. Though, the thunderous sound of the rain did little to drown out the sounds of the beasts that had grown in these lands.
In his ocean, eels almost 120 feet long and 10 feet wide snaked about through the labyrinthine expanse of coral and stone. In the deepest depths, entire schools of fish lurker beneath the lowest layer of silt, waiting for a troop of lobsters to wander by so they could snatch them. However, in his jungle, enormous, territorial lizards roared as they marked out their territory, and wasps the size of house cats buzzed about hives in the highest levels of the jungle. In the river below, winding snakes, vicious alligators, and clutches of piranha's fought for dominance. Still, there were creatures who lacked the killing instinct in the rainforest. Sloths, frogs, and warthogs everywhere across the land, in the trees, and at the edge of pools.
Ending with 1 points.
Also, I am fine with staying in Age 1 for now, I'm having fun just growing my terrain, however, if you guys would like to go to age 2, say so with whichever post you would like the change to happen with.
Anywho, go KK.
Also, Nai shorted himself 1d6 points on his last turn ;).
Orthuul saw puny creatures moving around the world. Weaklings. They all ran from his presence. That these were the first races on this land disturbed him. He would correct this. First he wanted powerful guardians of his domain. Massive creatures that would protect and enhance his mountains. They would not be his chosen creatures, those would come later, but they would still be his.
They must be masters of the mountain, so Orthuul decided they would not just climb them but carve them. He gave them massive claws for tearing up dirt and rock. He gave them eyes of black coal for seeing in the dark tunnels they would create. And he gave them massive girth so they would command respect. Finally, he gave them wisdom and intellect, more than the other races. But he made them weak to the sun and slow to reproduce so they would never flow out of his mountains to cover the rest of the world.
And last, he named them terravoles and chose one among them to give his orders to. He told the terravole that he was their god and they were to protect the mountains in which they dwell.
2 points remaining
Zuwn senses the need for more variety in this land. He begins to dance (to be more accurate he begins to dance more purposefully, as he always moves with a certain elegance and fluidity). A whimsical flourishing of limbs and braided hair and a trail of mushrooms begins to sprout behind the Dancing God. [Shape land 2" along the border area of the grassland and swamp for 4 points.] He gifts the mushroom forest to the various Zunna tribes living in the swamps and grasslands. As he manifests himself to them he calls upon his bond as their maker announcing himself as their loving creator, willing to help any who would care to devote themselves to him and his cause, even those from other races. [Calling in the order inherent to race-creation to make the Zuwnee order, the Raggapi]. The order create a village just on the edge of the Mushroom forest, and partake of it's more 'entertaining' fruits as their sacrament.
Meanwhile Adjun commands his order (the Djo)[4 points] to further encroach themselves into the government of the subterranean Zunna. In a virtually bloodless revolution all of the cavern-dwellers are consolidated under one rule, the Great and Powerful Djo Empire. Adjun convenes with Emperor Arshtol I, promising to grant his familial line god-like powers he, and his successors, be able to retain and expand the Empire.
With those plans set in motion, Adjun turns his attention to his brother. Seeing the newly-created Mushroom Forest he begins to ponder in what way he could turn it to his own purposes.
-Holder for Jungle Zunna story, pending roleplay, etc via IRC--
Puck looks at these new underground folks that appear in the mountains near his crafted canyon. Good folks, looks like. Smart too. But they can't live in his canyon because they can't stand the light. That simply won't do! But he can't just change them like that. The power of a god is not that easy to alter. Hrm...
The jester god grins to himself and goes in. Spreading a germ of an idea. Creating an order of the Terravoles that believe that the sun is the true power of the world, and that only by exposing themselves to it can they truly prove themselves worthy. The pain of the exposure, of course, showing that they are as-yet unworthy of its love. That should make some fun for later on down the line.
Back to his own people! He still hasn't named them yet. Perhaps that'll come later. But he begins to create flowing grassland around the canyon. While the canyon and its immediate surroundings will remain as it is, red rock and the like, there'll be plenty of grassland round it. Golden grass that waves in a light breeze, a pleasant early-summer, for all time. For good measure, he sets in a few foothills around there as well. No mountains yet, but these hills are not simply rolling.
My helpdesk should you need me.
It came from across the vast void beyond this world. Subtle, yet audacious, a ripple in the shape of reality. Leylines that define speeds, interactions, and elements trembling, yet not changing. Somewhere, across the universe, a clock was chiming.
A new age was beginning.
Halupus watches his mighty Canin grow, and is proud of his pups.
Then he feels the subtle ripple of the forces of the universe. Something changed. His power has shifted, somehow. Instead of shaping territory for his people, some unknown drive now pushes him to influence them, and create new pups. Different pups.
But first things first. Halupus uses his connection with his hulking avatar to guide it. It must create a line of alpha-Canin. Lords among their kind. The pack must have an Alpha line, descendant from Halupus' own avatar.
Over the next decades, his avatar sires pups. Canin of superior size, strength, and intelligence. Their superior stock makes them natural leaders.
Points left: 3
{Magic: The RPG}
Auqron bobbed around in the shallow pool of specially purified water that the Zunna had prepared in the ancient meeting place. It had come a long way since that first day when Auqron had teased a terrified Zunna into chasing him to the coast. Today a low, finely crafted, stone building had been erected on the spot, stone worn thin where hundreds of Zunna had sat while speaking with Auqron over the years. They had created a wide pool of water, distilled and purified, for Auqron to rest in, trying to please the god. Honestly, he enjoyed water, but it didn't make much difference if it was purified or not. Still, it's the thought that counts.
The god was presently conversing with the representative of the Zunna. It had been thousands of years since that first encounter, and since then, the person who was chosen to visit Auqron every ten years had become more and more respected in that particular tribe, and was even raised to the position of chieftain. It had actually become something of a ritual for them, with a few Zunna accompanying the chieftain, carrying food and offerings to the god. Auqron didn't much care for offerings, and he didn't eat, but still, he appreciated the thought.
They'd been talking for about two days, now, and Auqron was getting a little bit of a feeling that the Zunna was distracted by something, and so, decided to abruptly change the topic from the events in the tribe to: "What is troubling you Kalis? You've been thinking about something ever since you got here, I can tell."
The Chieftain seemed a little taken aback at this, but looked down a heartbeat later, "I suppose I should have known you would be able to tell, Lord Auqron. Though, surely you know of the Terravoles who have recently arisen from the hard mountains?"
"Yeah, they're interesting. Digging underground like I swim. Pretty strong. They remind me of Canin."
"Yes, yes. Well, some of them have visited our tribe, and are trying to denounce you as a god. They say that you have never outright told us to worship you, and that the acceptance of 'the sun' is all that we need. They say that because you have never tested us or asked anything of us, you cannot be a god."
"Whuh? That makes, like, no sense. I've made an entire jungle to the west of the mountains, what more do they want?"
"Yes, but they say that a true god asks for worship, honor, and other such ephemeral things, as ways to test a mortal's resolve. They say that you might be a powerful being, but are not a god. I would have told them that you have asked for worship, but that would be a lie. Unfortunately, many of our tribe have begun to listen to these poisonous words, and I am afraid, if things do not improve, we may have to try and drive these Terravoles away, so they no longer sully your name."
"...Huh. Well, don't try and fight them, they're really strong, but, are you asking me to ask you to worship me? Cause that's a weird request, and I think I'd have to think about it for a while. Do you think these Terravoles can be accommodated for another few decades without a fight?"
"Oh course, Lord Auqron, it's a long time, but I believe it can be. Now, where was I..."
Auqron drifted thoughtfully across the sky above the thousands of meters of plant matter that was his jungle. The world was changing, he could feel it. Something in his mind could see things in the time to come. This world they had been sculpting, it was beginning to take the patterns they had placed into it and grow new ones itself. He felt he would need something... else... to further the world. Something that others already had: a race.
But what would they be? Though, even as he pondered this, he realized: three of the four other gods and the dead god, Eses, had made a race in their own image. Why not simply follow that thought? He'd have to keep them close to the others in appearance, of course. Arms, legs, a head, but that would be completely feasible.
So, with a flash, he shot across the sky, dipped down through the trees, and plunged deep into the maze of coral and stone that he had crafted those years and years ago, seeking as he went. He found what he was looking for shortly: A school of Koi fish. With a flourish, he turn a current to take them up, out of the maze and into open water. Once there, he spiraled around the school, focusing his godly powers upon them. The water began to light up as bubbles slowly formed between the fish, who found they couldn't escape. Faster and faster the fish god swam, turning this tiny area of ocean into a tornado. Then, with a flash of red and white light, the tornado vanished, and where there had been a school of Koi fish, a cascade of tiny eggs were drifting down.
The eggs would hatch a few days later, watched over by the god Auqron, and tiny fish, some dark red, some hot pink, some white, began to swim about. They slowly grew, eating crustaceans and kelp as they went, slowly changing, like a tadpole into a frog. After about fifteen years, they had utterly changed. Each still possessed the skin tint they originally had, but they were almost three meters from head to tail, two meters of it being their lower body. Their upper body was that of a Human, though still with gills and covered in fins instead of hair. Their lower body was that of a great fish, propelling them at astounding speeds through the water. With Auqron's help, they had begun to converse among themselves, learning to talk. Though, the change wasn't yet complete. They were adults, and now would be the time they would have their children, laying their eggs, but, over the next twenty years, as their children grew to adulthood, more changes would take place. Gills growing far smaller, replaced mostly by lungs fed though breathing pores. The fish tail molted, split, and shrank, replaced by two far shorter legs, ending in webbed feet. They moved out of the ocean as they entered this second adulthood, into the jungle. There they explored things, gathered items, and crafted many things, bringing them back to their children and their children's children under the sea. Another thirty years in this second adulthood would pass, before the next change would take place, and their body would shrink, yet fins would grow vastly, giving them the impressive appearance of grand robes billowing out around and behind them. They grew weak in this form, and the large fins made it difficult to move about on land, so they retreated to the undersea cities they had spent their lives building, and lived the last fifteen years of their life as leaders and respected elders.
So, the merfolk had been created.
Auqron was silent for once, in the meeting place between him and Zunna chieftain. This was Kalis's grandson, Harnuun, a strong man, who had grown up with the uncertainty of Auqron's godhood. He lacked the extreme respect that his ancestors had for the god, but was still respectful as he spoke. This was the second time Auqron had met with this particular Zunna. It was about time he reached a decision on the matter. But he found it such an odd request. He had difficulty deciding if he wished it or not.
Harnuun was speaking about the crops of the tribe for the last ten years when Auqron cut across him, "Harnuun. Tell your people that I ask them to worship me."
...
Ending with 0 points.
Orthuul was displeased. Barely after they had been created, Puck the Trickster, had perverted some of his terravoles into leaving his mountains he charged them with protecting, to live in the sun light. Puck should pay for that, but Orthuul wondered how damaging a battle of the gods would be for this world. Perhaps, if his strike against Puck was well thought out and unexpected, it would amuse the god rather than provoke him. Orthuul would have to think on it.
He swept over the landscape, examining his mountains, trying to remember- there! That's the one. Orthuul shrunk to the size of the dead Eses's humans and strode around his mountain top, the first mountain he ever created, and the tallest of the chain. He picked a spot, and erected a power on the spot. Some magic with a physical grounding, to be released on the first worthy mortal to reach the spot, so he could come to meet them. Then he would decide if the creature deserved his blessing or not. Lastly, he made sure it could not be triggered by his terravoles, as they could visit this spot as easily as other races could visit their neighbors.
3 points left
Adjun surveys the state of the Djo Empire. He is pleased by what he sees so far, but he knows that they will need some from his divine intervention to reach their full potential. Through the sacred oracles he calls upon a series of trials to find which of the Djo Zunna shall be the ones to be his blessed advocates for the plane. The gauntlet put before the Zunna who chose to participate tested not only their physical and mental abilities, but also their inner essence- just how far they were willing to go to achieve victory, and what they would deign too extreme of a tactic to be used amongst civilized beings.
When the trials are over, and the scores tabulated, the Chosen of Adjun (roughly a thousand all told) gathered themselves in one of the cavernous temples dedicated to the chthonic deity. The entrance was sealed off, and through the might of Adjun their bodies were intensified, their minds sharpened to a razor edge. These new Zunna were unlike the others that ran rampant over the world, choosing any god they may like to worship; no, these were Adjun's own special breed: the Magha'aar [مغعار.] {Create subrace for 4 points}.
These beings were the epitome of Adjun 's desire for all of Zunna-kind, and would begin to interbreed with their brethren amongst the Djo Empire to create a stronger race as a whole, while still maintaining at least one pure blood line. They were all above average height for a Zunna, and instead of the dull gray skin of an average Zunna they were decorated with leopard-like spots of black and deep red-blue on their limbs, and the back of their torsos. Their hand were more like claws, but still capable of fine motor skills; their feet were longer, almost digitgrade but not quite. These were truly predator, resplendent in their glorious might. They would go out and declare the glory of the Djo Empire, and it's deity Adjun , gaining as many converts as they could (by the spear, if necessary).
While Adjun is gathering up his brooding forces, Zuwn sleeps listfully high above his Mushroom Forest. His dreams take on an odd form, coalescing in the seas as a new form of life, yet to be named, or even encountered by others. Great beasts, with large, bat-like wings upon their backs, in three pairs even. But they do not use these wings to fly; rather they use them to drag their massive body along the crests and waves of the oceans. Possessing only their wings for motion, and a prehensile tail for manipulation of their surroundings the unnamed creatures are otherwise manatee-shaped, with pudgy bodies and snout-like faces. [Create race for 6 points]
The god of mischief doesn't seem to be very active lately. HE's been checking things out, but the power just isn't coming to him. Until he notices the annoyance of Orthuul. Puck swoops in to his order of sun worshipers and begins to spread seeds of ideas. Just enough to work on them. Just enough to get them to move without Puck actively having to move for them.
So the ideas are spread. Slowly. Build a tower to get closer to the sun. Only by getting closer to the sun can they be stronger, to withstand its power better. Only then can they be worthy.
There's also a subtle push for the worshipers to spread the philosophy, to get more to worship the sun as they do. More to leave the mountain and get closer to the light. After all, there's no way to have fun if all of them are hiding in that mountain!
My helpdesk should you need me.
Halupus' line of alpha Canin grows prosperous and strong. Low birthrates are offset by pure hardiness and cunning. The Canin are beginning to split into different territories. This is good. They will constantly test each other. Their predator instincts drive them to always find weakness and tear. This will ensure the future of their race, through blood and war.
But they will need strongholds, places of strength and civilization. Halupus sends a pulse of pure divine will through the order of avatar-descendants, and they begin creating a great fortress-city.
In the years it takes the city to be built, Halupus finally turns his attention from his children and to the other races. The humans... Their future is bright. They multiply quickly and hunt well. But their shapes are soft, weak, slow. Halupus decides he wishes to give them a small taste of what life as a true predator is like.
He appears in the forest as the great white wolf once again. For days he tracks a pack of human hunters, watching them. Unfortunately for the hunters, they have no success finding prey. Halupus deems them unworthy. They all die in a flash of white fur and cold fangs.
But he picks up on the trail of another hunting pack. These are well-fed, strong, and best of all, they have already caught prey. Several large bucks. They are skilled hunters indeed. Worthy of the gift Halupus will grant them.
He strikes at night, when the moon is full and bright. The attack is swift, the attacker merciless and cold. Each hunter recieves a wound, painful but not fatal.
The next night, with the shining silver orb in the air, the humans become true predators. Like the Canin, but shorter and more heavily muscled. And Halupus is pleased.
Halupus repeats his ritual many times, until there is a sizable population of these lycanthropes among the humans. They will be spoken of in hushed and fearful tones as long as the humans exist. He makes sure the gift can be spread. Any human who escapes a lycanthrope, if he bears an injury from the beast, will be rewarded for his courage by becoming one. Halupus is satisfied. Perhaps he should turn his attention to the other races as well...
Then spending another 4 points to Create Subrace to turn some humans into werewolves.
2 points remaining.
{Magic: The RPG}
Auqron was blithely following a merfolk, a tracker by the name of Kazzi, through the thick vegetation of this layer of the jungle. She was clearly practiced, rumored to be the best tracker the race had, so Auqron had decided to do some observing, invisible observing, naturally, he didn't want to disturb her. She was good, only stopping near clusters of red or white flowers, so her natural, splotchy body would camouflage her. She was three quarters of a kilometer above the true floor of the forest, but her footfalls did not falter, she knew how to traverse this area.
The merfolk had been setting up villages throughout this jungle for a few decades now, clusters of branches and vines organized and trimmed clean of inhibiting vegetation. Most villages were high in the air, away from the largest predators, with the highest being a full five and a half kilometers above the lowest level of underbrush. They were still a young civilization, but they were growing quickly. Of course, for all of their progress, it wasn't even a drop of water in the ocean compared to all the wilderness still to be explored.
The merfolk weren't born hunters, now they were agile and clever (very clever), Kazzi was an example of that, but they couldn't stand their own against everything. This related back to what Kazzi was tracking now, actually, as something had been attacking their settlements, hunting the merfolk, and she had finally caught up to them. Auqron peered over the edge of the branch, grinning and completely invisible, examining the group she was examining far below. A group of massive humans. Wait, no, there was something off about them...
Then, the fish god was down in the valley, peering at them. These were not simply humans, no, they had a stink on them. Halapus had touched these creatures, making them bloodthirsty, strong, chaotic. They had the intelligence of hunters and, when they changed, the ferocity and strength of any wild beast. Regardless, this was no animal infestation. This was another race hunting his merfolk. A race bred to become incredible hunters. It wasn't a fair fight...
He'd have to balance the scales again.
One night, the god summoned a single bolt of lightning, which snaked into a single house, and scorched the floor and walls with dozens and dozens of patterns. The owner of the house came blundering out of his bedroom, bewildered and confused as he looked about at his smoldering home. Though, Auqron had picked this merfolk for a reason, because as he glanced around, he immediately began to recognize the patterns, and instead of going to find a neighbor to fix his house, he slowly grabbed a scroll and a pen, and began to try and discern what the patterns ment.
Fifty years passed, and the merfolk, Ewto Ka, had fully mastered the craft hinted at in that pattern, becoming a legend. He had bottled tornadoes and lightning bolts, summoned hurricanes and floods, forever mapped the tides and wind patterns, and began a school of magic. No one would ever master the craft as fully and completely as he did, but no one needed to. Auqron had corrected the scales. The merfolk would not be having any more trouble from Lycans.
Ending with 2 points.
The humans of this world are weak and without a god, Orthuul knows. It is time to give them something to really strive for. He intervenes on the birth of a few, and over time, creates a slightly hardier human race that he plants the impression of daring sea-travel in.
Orthuul has been watching Auqron. He has judged the sea to be a worthy challenge for his followers. The terravoles were made far to adept for land to adapt to the water, but Orthuul grants his new branch of humans supreme knowledge of watercraft, and they leave behind their tamed brethren and take their life to the water. They will be pirates and privateers, and one of the most dangerous military powers in whatever area they choose to call home.
1 point remaining.
Adjun , greatly displeased with the direction his new creation, the Magha'aar. He decides that now it is time for lead his empire directly, as sovereign and deity of the Mighty, and Powerful Djo Empire. He descends deep into the heart of the Dji Caverns, taking his rightful place on the throne, a figure wrapped in darkness and secrecy. [Create Avatar- 7 Points] This material aspect of Adjun, known by the name Rightful Emperor Txalavar, begins to spread his influence into the governance of the Djo Empire. Meanwhile, Adjun's immaterial self goes to work to help the other races be more accepting of the great message set forth by the Empire, an invitation to their dark way of life. [Corrupt races; Merfolk and Canins: Corrupt races for 6 Points.]
Zuwn, now awakened from his slumber in the mushroom forest , turns his attention to the tides. He spies an almost comical race, drifting peacefully among the waves. He almost see a bit of himself in them, and decides to make direct contact with that. He draws upon his creator's connection with them, and starts an Order, different from those already existing- a branch of his earlier, landbound religion, but with a distinctively different flavor. This order includes all members of the seafaring race, the race-order that shall be known as the Jarawoe. [Create order from creation- 0 Points]
Puck watches the goings on. The other gods are becoming more focused on the races. Interesting. The god just watches. Staying pulled back so that he can observe. His own race is left to fend for themselves. They'll probably become quite insulated in their box canyon. But for now, he'll leave them be. It'll be more fun later on.
The Canin look to be growing in number. It takes several months for Puck to realize what's going on. That they're spreading through biting the humans. Then the merfolk gain the ability to control the weather and the humans go to the sea. But that doesn't solve the problem.
The god leaves the mountains and moves to the forests. Watching the wolves. Both the were- variety and the Canin themselves. For the most part, the Canin are fine. They seem okay, if overly focused on hunting. The werewolves, on the other hand, spread too easily. Too powerful. They are like a virus.
Puck moves to create the antivirus. Off to the Humans he goes. Near one of the major human cities, an earthquake strikes. No real damage to the town, but it's enough to cause a rift in the nearby ground. Revealing a strange, light-colored metal with a gentle shine. A metal that, should any werewolf touch it, would burn like fire.
Another influence from the god and one of the humans would try to weaponize it. Giving the humans at least some measure of protection.
My helpdesk should you need me.
Think of it like humans and dwarves: same general shape, but vastly different species.
{Magic: The RPG}
Out in the void of space, ripples of red gas and hot dust swirled in the great distance. The gods could feel something approaching, like a shifting in the balance of power. A void had been there, in this world, caused by calamities of things other than the material and the deaths of things not seen. This world was meant to be shaped by more hands, and facets had been lost, power had grown heavier on one side than the other. The fabric of reality was straining, torqued to one side. Though, that power, that twist, was unfurling itself, righting itself, and the cosmos was rearranging in answer. The sun suddenly flared and those who walked the world had to cover their eyes for an instant before it faded.
Heat and motion was welling up from within the gut of the world. Deep in it's heart, currents of fire and molten rock began to churn restlessly. Up to now these have simply been tools to the gods, never truly with a master. The void in the balance of power has called a new consciousness into existence, and it awakens for the first time. For now, it remains still, observing, learning, and planning. A new day is dawning, as the sun burns red for a single journey across the sky.
Portfolio: Change, fire, spring, rebellion, destruction, courage, exploration
Appearance: Thaurg never keeps one shape for long. He will often mimic the shape of other beings, keeping only one distinguishing feature — a lack of eyes. When angered, he will always appear in the form of a beaked dragon.
Symbol: A phoenix.
Okay, introducing Oculus into the game with his god Thaurg. This is to add some new interactions into the world and to replace some of what we've lost with the other players who dropped, as the map was made with more people in mind. Disregard the last roll you did and sent me in private. Each player will be getting a flat 15 points this round (it's a maxed 2d6+3. Maximum possible points), to signify an era of balance. Since we have added in a new player, the only fair way I could decide to determine his place in the initiative was to completely reroll initiative. In exchange for your roll affecting your place in turn order this time, you will all be getting the best roll possible. Also, considering the large white spots in the map, until further notice, each round, players will be getting 9 bonus points that can only be spent on Shape Terrain or Shape Climate used on previously unaltered land. Keep track of these bonus points separately from your main points.
Txalavar contacted his ethereal-self again, telling Adjun how the Magha'aar had become arrogant and prideful, lording their greater status over the normal citizens. This displeased Adjun , as he had meant for the Magha'aar to be paragons of the virtues of the Djo, not aristocrats using their prestige for self-gain and hedonistic indulgence. He set forth a decree to Txalavar, that all Magha'aar shall be expunged from the kingdom, set forth in exile to the Western jungle, to survive and make what life they can for themselves. [Command Avatar: 1 point; 14 remaining]
Surveying the lands Adjun eyes alit on the Mushroom forest his once bodymate, now brother had most recently created. |This could be turned to my advantage| He thought, as he drifted over it. Then inspiration struck him as he saw a member of the Raggapi, clearly marked as such by his vibrant and eclectic clothing, picking fruits from one of the large, tree-like funguses that gave the forest its name. Drawing upon his dark powers he cast his shadow down upon the grove nearest the Raggapin, imparting the Mushtrees their with an aspect of his morbid personality; the Mushtrees began to sway and undulate as their roots broke free from the dirt, their limbs reaching out to grab the Zunna so offending them by taking their parts without permission. The Zunna, whose name was Slibeen, staggered away in fear and fascination; spreading a horrible tale of twisted Mushroommen roaming the forest looking to make a meal out of those who once made a meal from them. Thusly the Mushroommen were created. [Create race: 6 points; points left: 8]
Something had been stirring among the various pod-sects of Jarawoe that had begun to roam the currents among the waters of the plane. Most of these pod-sects functioned as both tribe, village, and religious denomination, each with slight differences in culture, language and the manner in which they worship their lord and creator Zuwn . Though seemingly coincidental, all at once all of the pod-sects synchronously started to become more solidly codified; not to a pedantic or overly lawful degree, but more to a 'functioning-as-one-organism' kind of way. Thusly all Jarawoe began to operate as eusocial, hive-minded creatures; each pod-sect, or Larin, being an unique individual, each member having a small degree of independence, but with constant psychic connection to his, her, or hir Larin. [Developing a latent, built-in feature of a race: Free]
[SPOILER]
Now with a goal firmly set in his mind, to bring the freedom and joy of dance to all creatures, Zuwn spied a canyon seemingly disconnected from the rest of the landscape. Upon closer inspect he marveled at the sight of a graceful, lithe race of beings. |They would make most grand dancers!| he suppositioned. |But I do not want to force my gift upon them. Perhaps a demonstration is in order? I believe it is!| And thinking so, the dancing God floated down into their citied canyon. He hovered above the center of their homeland, and began to fluidly dance as he moved slowly though their streets and over their rooftops, allowing all of these shimmering people to see what talent he could bestow upon them. Upon viewing this sight, the people of the canyon declared "..."
Fearing the influence of the newly-born Mushroommen on his mostly disorganized order of Raggapis, Zuwn decides that they need a place to central their power. To that end he informs them that he would be most pleased if they were to build a capital city for themselves. "But where shall we place it?" they asked. "In the Swamplands is too far for the Grasslanders to reach it, and in the Grasslands is too far for the Swamplanders!" <Hmmm, I suppose one for each region would be the best solution, but do try to keep in contact with one another.> replied Zuwn . The Swamplanders built Zlygoss at the Southeastern point of their region; while the Grasslanders constructed Parthenia at the very final point that connected the Mushroom forest to their lands in the South. [Command Order twice: 6 points; points remaining: 2]
In order to mask his Mushroommen, and thusly allow them to better hunt their annoyingly dancing prey, Adjun sets to making the Mushroom forest a foggy, humid, misty, moist, dark place. [Shape climate 1': 4 points; 5 remaining]
In order to further insulate the new city of Parthenia Zuwn takes it upon himself to extend their grassy country farther South [Shape land: 1'; 4 points/ 0 remaining.]
Ethereal shapes coalesced around Thaurg's consciousness. Countless limbs and heads would emerge from the writhing chaos only to be absorbed moments later; eventually, he settled for the shape of a winged serpent. The god craned his head upwards, and with a mighty thrust, shot towards the surface. Vast subterranean currents formed in his wake, and moments later his head connected with solid rock. The impact was not enough to break through the crust, but he could feel the shock spreading quickly, cracking rock in some places, pulverizing it in others. Channeling his newfound strength, Thaurg forced a powerful jet of magma skyward. The loosened rock yielded, and more magma was sucked up by the initial surge. In moments, his first act of creation on this new world would break the surface.
---
Even for the land-dwelling races, the sound of an underwater rockslide is unmistakable. Cris had barely a moments notice before the clashing, grinding noises drowned out the sounds of the ocean around him. Violent pressure waves ripped through his body, forcing the young merfolk hunter to surface. All around him waves were spiking higher than he had ever seen them, and powerful, erratic currents thrashed his body around. To his side, he saw the great peninsula, where the rest of his hunting party was; where smooth, golden beaches ones lined the shore, massive chunks of charred rock were now scarring the land, plummeting from ominous black clouds in the sky. Cast into spontaneous night, surrounded by a cacophony of shattering rock and shrieking air and water, and trapped by frenzied currents, the bewildered and disoriented merfolk could do nothing but watch from afar as the earth spit itself into the sky. Embers shone like deep red stars far above him, and their reflections danced like fish on the sea's broken surface.
After what seemed like an eternity, the chaos came to a brief halt. Once again, Cris felt nothing but his own heartbeat and the wild sloshing of the sea. After a few moments' hesistation, he went to look for the others. As he ventured closer to the shoreline, a powerful, sulfurous stench filled the air. He dove further underwater to escape it, but even that quickly became unbearable - the acidic water was burning his gills with every breath he took and stung his eyes with vicious intensity. Bursting through the surface once more, Cris caught a glimpse of a white-hot flame piercing the horizon. It would periodically dim and blacken, only to have another volley leap even highe than before. A strange crackling sound echoed through the sky, and the last thing he remembered was a second sun slithering into the sky and spreading its wings...
---
Far above the billowing ash, Thaurg surveyed the newborn Daggerpeaks. After the initial debris cleared, thousands of molten lances shot skywards, freezing as fast as they appeared. Lava still churned and spat at the central crater, but the rest of the outburst was now calm. From the summit of the new volcano, the entire continent was visible, countless razor-sharp spires of granite, obsidian and quartz jutted out from its flanks. The ash clouds was slowly sinking towards the earth, coating it in a heavy, grey blanket.
Reaching down to the ground below, the god tapped into primeval instincts, distorting the flow of time and energy in arcane patterns. Saplings, flowers, and herbs pushed through the new soil, and within moments the whole area brimmed with life. Insects and birds darted through enourmous trees; lizards and small rodents made their home in the undergrowth, and ever larger beasts burst from the ground as if awakening from hibernation. It was not long, at least in the god's eyes, before the bleak terrain had transformed into a vibrant utopia.
Too easy. Mortals needed challenges, to humble them, to test them, to encourage them. Only through challenges would they be inspired to change. Besides, the surface world was much too cold for Thaurg's liking. The sun's light warped under his will, and a strong heat shimmer distorted the air. Plants withered and beasts collapsed as the soil cracked and vents and geysers burst through. New, tougher life rose up from the ground almost as quickly as the old species were dying off. Rough, brown shrubs grew around the sulfur vents; mosses and fungi grew explosively wherever a tree stump was rotting, and the new trees grew slow and rough, tiny, leathery leaves giving shelter to insects. Vipers made their home under the ash, and enormous, armored creatures plodded about grazing on the tough plant life.
Content, Thaurg turned his attention turned his attention towards an unremarkable rock. Cradled in one ethereal hand, its surface cracked and split, unfolding into a strange little creature. Repeating this several times, a small band of these new cyclopean beings now wandered the Daggerpeaks. Upon a few of them, he imprinted the knowledge of how to work the stone around them, then watched patiently as they carved out their place in this world.
Wandering Eyes
Wandering eyes are scaled, cyclopean humanoids native to the Daggerpeaks. Their morphology is adapted to carving through rock; large, curved hands can move large quantities of dirt and loose stone, and their complex mouths act as powerful mining tools. The outer jaws are heavily segmented and have four curved tusks, which pry chunks of rock from the walls and hold it in place for the second set of jaws, which use plate-like teeth to grind the stone up. At this stage, mineral-rich stones are swallowed whole, acting as gizzard stones until their eventual digestion. The rest of the material is spat out; particularly tough pieces are set aside for the artisans, and the rest discarded. The third and final set of jaws are lined with small, razor-sharp teeth, which support the wandering eyes' omnivorous diet.
While very powerful, wandering eyes are not built for speed. They mostly live off roots and berries they gather or mosses cultivated in communal gardens. If they do hunt, it's at night, seeking out sleeping animals and rapidly crushing their necks. As a result, they are not agressive or confrontational by nature. They are, however, very perceptive - at short distances, their huge eyes miss no detail, and older specimens often develop a fine enough sense of hearing that they effortlessly navigate by echolocation.
The mineral aspect of a wandering eye's diet is usually not out of necessity - however, their agressive digestive fluids are capable of drawing out even the slightest traces of ore, which are incorporated into their body and reinforce their bones, teeth and scales. This causes a lot of variety in the race — the larger tribes who remain in their rocky dwellings have dark, rough hide and teeth, ranging from rusty red to jet-black. In contrast, the smaller nomadic tribes have light brown, leathery skin and white teeth.
---
Wandering eyes are inherently curious. The mountain dwellers hold the light-skinned nomads in high regard, hosting huge celebrations in which they eagerly listen to their visitors' stories of unexplored lands. At the end of the festivities, the nomads leave stocked with valuable gems, metals and elaborate stone carvings, which are traded to other races for exotic goods to be shared the next time they return. Their race is still very young, with the original population only now beginning to die off, but already a rudimentary social order exists. Nomadic tribes are often led by a single leader, who decides where their journey takes them next. This will often be a convoluted route from one settlement to the next, aiming to see as much new land as possible before exchanging knowledge and goods at their destination. It is rare that two nomad tribes will meet on their journey, making these permanent settlements vital for communication between the tribes.
The mountain tribes, on the other hand, operate by mass rule. Important decisions are made by word of mouth or in formal gatherings, with particular weight being given to sunwalkers - an honorary title given to those who understand the outside world more than the others, either a retired nomad or one who occasionally leaves with them in a kind of informal apprenticeship. This mass rule often causes new tribes and settlements to form; when one village gets too large to run effectively, they split, one group setting out to find new land. This journey is often long, and after a few months many tribes drift off into the nomadic lifestyle.
---
Wandering eye villages usually follow a practical layout. In the center of the village a large, open pit leads to the labyrinthine mines beneath. A tight, spiraled groove makes access to the various levels of the underground portion of the village simple even for the heavily burdened. The highest level is invariably a disk-shaped hall, where everything from raw ores to masterwork tools and leather garments are stored for ease of access. Several furnaces will be carved into the walls at regular intervals, attended by smelters to extract metals from ores while providing some lighting for the rest of the hall. Further down, small caches are used to store food; well away from the blistering sun, the cool rock provides something akin to refrigeration. Depending on the surrounding rock, these rooms may be very humid - perfect for the cultivation of a deep green moss that has become a staple for many villages in more inhospitable regions. The deepest caves are where the excavators work, where the ancient, hard rock partially protects against cave-ins. Here, the strongest of the tribe painstakingly extract huge sections of flawless rock and haul it to the surface, where they are used as raw materials for construction.
Immediately near the village pit is an open, circular area, where gatherings and celebrations are held. An ornate furnace stands in its center; they are carved out from one single stone, and tell other tribes a lot about the settlement's inhabitants - the size and material tells them a lot about the quality of the terrain, as well as the skill of the artisans and excavators. This furnace, in many ways, symbolizes the heart of the village, and is maintained vigilantly. If, for some reason, the village has to be abandoned, the flames are doused in a somber ritual.
The rest of the village is not nearly as elaborate, at least from a wandering eye's perspective - the walls of the communal houses are a bizarre feat of architecture, built from hundreds of interlocking pieces of stone and virtually impossible to disassemble. Closest to the center of the village, having easy access to the village stores, the larger buildings house the artisans and their tools. Showing little interest for the outside world, these individuals are fascinated by almost everything else. Most of their work is done in stone, leather or bone - wood is an alien substance to them, and while many of them are captivated by the versatility and beauty of copper and iron, they lack the knowledge to make good use of their malleable nature.
The outskirts of the village is lined with small stone huts. This is where most of the population resides in groups of three or four; each of them will specialize in different aspects of village life, from healers and builders to foragers and storytellers. Unlike many races, families live in separate houses or even villages, and the young wander freely in the village. The adults will gladly set aside time to care for the village's offspring and teach them their trade; as they reach adolescence, the children will then gravitate towards those mentors whose profession they choose to pursue.
---
A fairly recent tradition that is rapidly becoming popular is an annual festival of games and contests held by the Daggerpeaks. Droves of wandering eyes travel to the jagged foothills to flaunt their prowess in their chosen profession; the contests are incredibly varied - identifying rare and exotic herbs, speed excavation, and javelin throwing are all commonplace events, but the real show most come to see is the mountain climbing. The treacherous, spindly peaks offer no footholds, and the slightest misstep will send the entire stone column along with the climber plummeting towards the jagged peaks below. A lot of the wandering eyes' rudimentary mythology is centered around the Daggerpeaks and the seething caldera on its summit; some believe it is the wake of a malevolent force that hatched deep in the earth, others that it was created as a test of courage for those who wish to prove themselves (although nobody seems to be clear on who they are proving themselves to). The only thing everyone seems to agree on is that its origin was no natural event.
Yeah, I couldn't be bothered reading all that again either. I'll try not to substitute legibility for verbosity in the future, but no promises
Using 5 points to Shape Land a 1x1 area and 8 to Shape Climate on a 1.5x1.5 area (or whatever that works out to be); on the coast of the bay of the southeastern peninsula, straight south of where the huge mountain chain ends, raising a volcano with steppe on its foothills. The climate on the volcano itself and the area immediately around it will be extremely hot, while retaining average humidity. 11 points remaining.
Spending 6 points to Create Race - the Wandering Eyes. If you have trouble picturing them, imagine an anthropomorphic armadillo wearing Galvanoth as a hat. Finally, spending 5 points to Advance Civilization, imbuing the wandering eyes with an instinctive mastery for stonework. 0 points remaining.
Well that was fun. Would've probably been just as fun to turn a city into a volcano or populate the world with creepers, but I guess there's still time for that
[Clan Flamingo] Tier Archivist
[15:21] <@CC> Remember, if you argue, you are an idiot.
Untrophied Wins:
Perfect MCC Scores: 2
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A strong gust of the cunning wind
Those mighty sailors of Orthuul
Find the breeze a stern guide
Carried along with more purpose
Than does a zephyr e'er provide
Swept suddenly to a gale
So brutal as to rip the sail
The sea men, so hardy and hale
With their strength should not prevail
When all hope is lost to the sea
The ship battered against countless rocks
The men reach down deep for bravery
And limp the vessel through the storm
Against all hope, bucking all odds
The men find life across the bow
Basically, my action is that I'm having my pirates found a city in the mountain chain I made. The only way to get to this city will be to sail through the dangerous waters I made, or to climb over the tops of the mountains.
I can't think of anything else I want to do right now, so I'll just bank the rest of my points for next time. I'll either edit a physical description of the city into this post later, or add it to my next post.
12 Points + 9 Terraforming Points left
So Puck does what comes natural. He spends some power and alters his own beings. Vocal communication begins to die out. While it stays with the group, especially any that start to climb the walls of their box canyon and explore, his creatures spend more time communicating through dance and pantomime. This amuses Puck, as it will make communication with other races somewhat arduous, but also enriching.
The world still feels empty for him. There's not enough activity in some places. From his box canyon the god flies north, to the empty wastes west of his airborne rocks. This land is too flat. Far to flat. With a heave of his shoulder the god sets the land to rocking. Shoving the land skyward. And setting the land to life. No mere mountains these, they'll be a land of volcanoes. Only a few alive at any given time, but this land will live. Constantly recreating itself with lava flows. However, these living peaks will not be doing the violent eruptions. Gentle rivers of living rock will do the job just fine. Making the sky glow red. The god works the area to ensure that this place will constantly be flowing, be hot.
Some other work ensures that the lava itself is rich in nutrients and lends itself to life. The place will be green and living... Apart from where the molten rock kills all that it touches. Living here will be a challenge. Another juxtaposition sets itself as the god fixes the climate. Cool air from the nearby ocean will circulate over this volcanic land, bringing gentle rainstorms that will help solidify recent rivers of rock.
But something needs to live here. Something interesting. He has already set the land to live... Why not the rock itself? What makes flesh so important that it has the monopoly on life? Puck begins to grin as he shapes power in his hand. And then shoves it into the land.
It's not just the rock affected. The rock, the air, the falling water, and the dancing fire from the lava. All of it gets affected by this power. The Elementals are born.
The actual 'race' itself is more an energy, a gas, a wisp. The Elementals are essentially ethereal, more out of this plane of existence than in it. They are weak in and of themselves and seek to ground themselves in a physical body. Being particularly drawn to each of the four classical elements, the Elementals will ground themselves in a physical manifestation in order to live. So they will embed their essence in the rock, or fire, and 'step out' of the natural element in what amounts to a living suit. Given that the 'suit' is of no true consequence, there will naturally be Earth Elementals, Fire Elementals, and so on. One real race, different looks.
The longer an Elemental lives in its 'suit' (known as a Medium among the race), the more attached it becomes. Should a medium be destroyed, there will be varying affects on the Elemental itself. Young elementals destroy their mediums on a frequent basis without any true consequence, flitting from medium to medium until they settle on one that fits them. Older elementals will die if their medium is destroyed, having attached themselves to that medium for so long that their essence is interspersed throughout the element. The flip side of this is that the older elementals have learned to control their medium, becoming masters in the way of manipulating their element.
While the Medium in question has no real bearing on the Elemental themselves, as the race ages generalizations begin to occur. Rock Elementals are known for being hard-headed but steadfast, artisans in the physical. Fire Elementals are known for being temperamental and true warriors, passionate but destructive. Air Elementals are known for being flighty, good with their words but fickle. Water Elementals are known to change on a whim and be rather nomadic, the traders of the race.
Elementals are naturally good (starting +1 alignment) and strive to work for the need of the world. They have interest in other races, but prefer the preservation of nature to the preservation of civilization. They seek to beautify the world by any means possible.
As the Elementals grow, they settle in the region that Puck had created. The god watches them with some amusement as they begin to create a city. But their city should be as unique as they. With lingering power, Puck instills some knowledge into that city of Crystal Cultivation. The city will glimmer and shine, and as they elementals dig into the earth to make room, they will slowly make a dome of crystal that stretches over their city. Making a permanent glimmering on the landscape that can be seen from leagues away.
Puck advances the Lithefolk Civilization in the way of Communication: Dance for 5 points.
6 points used to create the Elementals, and 4 points to Advance the home city in Crystal Cultivation, making them masters of using Crystals for their own needs.
My helpdesk should you need me.
"Holy Lord Auqron, Curiosity and the Ocean itself in the Flesh--" Yahhu, the son, of a son, of a son, of a son, of a son, of a son, of a son, of a son, of a man Auqron had told to worship him some ages ago, was starting out.
"Cut the formality, Yahhu, you know it is not to my tastes," Auqron cut across him before the Zunna could go through all the titles his order have bequeathed the god in their time. This had been the third time he met with Yahhu, and while the High Scholar was a strong and wise leader, he was stubborn, and had gotten it in his head that Auqron needed to hear every honor his religious order had given him through the centuries at the beginning of each meeting with him, "You seem troubled, simply tell me what is on your mind."
Yahhu sighed, less than happy that his monologue had been cut short, and sank down into the seat in their meeting place, "Well, my god, we've recently met some travelers from the sea, pirates, they called themselves. We traded and invited them to our evening meal for a few nights. They had many stories from across the world, and as we swapped our tales, your immaculate name came up, as it should. They seemed surprised, and told us of a race of beings who called themselves Merfolk, and who claim to be your children. Tempers flared in some of our more devote followers and it was all I could do to keep them from threatening our guests. To sate our people, we sent a person to the jungle the Pirates said these merfolk lived, and true to the Pirates word, there this race was, cruel by our standards, proclaiming themselves to be your children. We would go on a crusade, but we first sought your blessing."
Auqron was a little confused, as he floated out of the pool they had prepared in this place, into the air, looking at Yahu, "Uh, well, they are my children. I made them."
Yahhu's eyes went wide in disbelief, "What?"
"Did I never tell you guys? I made them about the same time I asked you to start worshiping me. What's this about them being cruel?"
Yahhu's mouth was hanging open, stunned disbelief written all over his features, "...all this time we have not been your true children?"
He seemed to be getting hung up on that bit, "Huh, I suppose I should have told you guys, but I didn't tell them to be cruel. What's this about them being cruel?"
"...uh? Oh, well, my god, they were killing things for the sake of killing them. For sport, they didn't even eat the carcasses. They sat there for days before a passing lizard beast devoured them. Our people say they were laughing and joking about any creature they didn't kill with the first hit."
Auqron was disquieted, this seemed odd. If what Yahhu said was true, something was very wrong. He'd have to investigate. How could he fix this? But, first, Yahhu seemed distraught, he'd have to quell his concerns, "Well, my son High Scholar of the church of Auqron, know this. Your race was the first to set foot on the soil of this world, and I have sat and talked with your fathers and their fathers before them a thousand thousand times longer than the Merfolk have even lived. The only thing they have had longer than you is the actual worship of me, and that is not a thing to be envious of. They have not had my voice or my wisdom or my guidance for all the years your clan has. But you are equals in more ways than you know. They should not be as dark as you tell me, however, and I will see to correct that. You are still my son High Scholar, and the leader of your people, and we have talks to commence..."
Yahhu stood back up, his brow furrowed, paused a moment, and said, "Of course, my god. Now, where was I? Curiosity and the Ocean itself in the Flesh..."
He knew he wasn't getting out of it this time...
There were his Merfolk, and they were killing the beasts of his jungle for sick games, and it became immediately clear why it had taken his followers journeying here and telling him of the fact before he had seen it. There was an immaterial mist, fingers of something in the ethereal, cloying about them. It was a spiritual thing, made of the same energies Auqron had used to make the Merfolk to begin with, and as it had been changed, it had felt natural to him. Strange, he had not ever seen such a thing. He didn't know how to peel it away, so he followed it back through the world instead. Perhaps if he learned of it, he could learn how to remove it.
What he found was this mist, this corruption, flowing like a river from a figure upon a throne. As Auqron floated there, gazing upon Adjun's avatar, invisible yet still seen by this dark figure, the god felt anger and frustration. Why was this creature griping their minds and twisting them so? These were his people, not Adjun's to tamper with. Auqron had failed to protect them... he would not fail them again.
A flash of his will, and Auqron was gone and the throne room was trembling, cracks flowing through the stone floor. Any attendants to the avatar would be confused, but the avatar himself would see that his grip on the Merfolk had been slapped aside. He'd have to assert himself again to try what he was doing once more.
Meanwhile, a Merfolk in the jungle was tossing aside his spear, suddenly disgusted with himself as his friend jumped down to slit the poor beast's throat out of mercy.
He hadn't yet fertilized a single batch of eggs, he was so young. He never would, it would seem. Though, Auqron would not let his life end in vain. He had delivered a message, of some terrible breaching of the terrain. That was not a thing that happened normally, not that abruptly, not without warning, and Terrik's pod was smart, they wouldn't walk into a place readily dangerous and not know it.
So he left the bedside, and shot across the world, to where Terrik had met his death. What he saw stunned him into silence. Fire and stone, boiling and blasted, black and blistering. It was so vast, a scar in the world, streaking across the length of the entire peninsula. So terrible, and so very much against what made Auqron's nature. Brutality and fire. Heat and death. What god had done this?
It couldn't be Puck, nor the Icy Wolf, the White Flame Orthuul called for cold stone and stiff winds, not this. Adjun was too slow, and Zuwn too flighty... What was this? Yet, even as he thought the question... he felt the new presence... a Hot Stone in the ethereal.
Paranoia was growing in the god's mind. Were all the god tilted against him, seeking their own ends? What of Puck? Halapus had chased him once through the sky. Orthuul sought to take the ocean with his Pirates, did he not? Zuwn was Adjun's brother, surely he had known of Adjun's plan.
Then a bolt of clarity struck his mind. He had failed to see the corruption of his own people as it happened. He hadn't seen Adjun's plan for his own sight was clouded...
The Zunna had seen it, and he had not...
He needed more eyes...
"Holy Lord Auqron, Curiosity and the Ocean itself in the Flesh," Hrell said with a bow. He had gotten the message the first time Auqron had told him he didn't like all those titles repeated once every ten years, unlike his father, and only kept it to the bare minimum, "I am sorry, but I don't know your name, madam," he continued, turning to the tiny woman sharing Auqron's pool, her massive fins spreading wide and taking up almost the entire area, but Auqron didn't mind all that much, he was a god.
Looking up ponderously, her head just poking up out of the water, the wizened woman croaked, "My name is Lakla, young Zunna, and I am Mediator between the Merfolk Tribunals," Auqron bobbed his head in confirmation. Each Merfolk village above and below the ocean had a Tribunal, a council of sorts, that governed it. They were ultimately in control of the matters of the village, but whenever two or more villages had conflicting interests or something had to be debated, the Mediator stepped in. She was the closest thing the race had to an absolute ruler, "I wish I could tell you my purpose here, but the god," she glanced at Auqron, "has kept me in the dark as well."
"Well, I told you I had an important role for you to play, Lakla. You see, this is Hrell, High Scholar of my church in his race, and a few years ago, about twenty, his father, Yahhu, informed me that his race had met the Merfolk, and that something was wrong with them. It has since been fixed, thanks to him telling me, but it had been shown to me that I had not seen everything. While I am a god, I don't have eyes everywhere."
Auqron turned to Hrell, then back to Lakla, then back to Hrell, "You see, I need more eyes. This is why I've called you together this day. You are to form a council, a seat filled by the Mediator of the Merfolk Tribunals and a seat filled by the High Scholar of the Church of Auqron. You are to be my will on this world, my avatar, in a sense, I will seek you out often, you will be the voices in each particular race, the ruler that sets eyes questing and remembers what is seen. I need to know more of the world, I am but one entity. You will be my many.
"A council with only two seats?" Hrell asked.
"You will be setting the eyes questing. How far can two eyes alone look. You will be the controllers of the network, you must spread the network through your own will. Add seats yourself, this council is of limitless size. As many races as there are, that is how many seats are offered. High rulers only, perhaps not the top, not the king, but dukes, tzars, and bishops, as high as you are willing to trust. For the presence of my avatar, this council, must not be known, lest the eyes be tricked, so you will convene in secret. First, I wish to have the old races added to this council. Canin first, then Terravoles. Humans and Lithefolk can come later, then the Magha'aar and the Pirates and the Werewolves."
"Surely not the Werewolves, my god," Lakla spoke up. The Merfolk had been in a quiet war with the Werewolves for a long time now.
"Yes, even the Werewolves. I must know all things. For there to be a blank spot in this council's vision, it will be a weakness. Werewolves have eyes. Werewolves have plans. Do not pick rashly, for being on the council, they are given sight through all the eyes of the council itself. Do not a single race far more knowledge why closing one of the council's eyes in the same motion. A risk that must be taken for the sake of knowledge, though I trust your ability to pick faithful and true figures who will seek knowledge before greed. Convene in this place, where I have convened with the Zunna for a thousand thousand generations, for it is fitting, for it is true. This building will grow, and it come to be known as my eye. Guards of every race upon the council will be housed in underground barracks, but only the best, only the most trusted, only the elite. This council, my avatar, is of supreme importance, I require it to be a far reaching as it can be, and I require it to be safe..."
A long silence followed, Lakla and Hrell were contemplating what lay before them. It was the ancient Lakla who broke the silence, "Well, where shall we begin?"
Merfolk and Zunna and Canin sat upon the council. He would visit them soon, to see what to make of this. It was beginning, but, still, this was not enough, he needed eyes everywhere, eyes that could see more than that of these mortals. So he would bequeath another gift unto his children, his Merfolk.
A smoke drifted through a village, and several Merfolk fell into a vision trance, where they saw visions of the past, the present, the future, gods, mortals, emotions, changes, and other, less substantial things, things without names. It was but a spark. He only needed to watch as it caught and the fire spread. They found the herbs burning just outside their village. It was just as the mastery of Weather Magics had flashed across the race. Soon they would be scrying the future, watching the motions of gods as though watching a whale pass above them. It would be inexact, difficult, clunky, and straining for the mind, but the knowledge, what would be gained, is far greater than the risk.
They would see far.
Spending 3 points to purify the Merfolk back up to Neutral. Then, spending 7 points to create my avatar, the council of Auqron. Third, spending 1 point to Command my avatar to create an order, the Church of Auqron, within the Canin. Lastly, spending 5 points to advance the Merfolk with another magic: Mysticism. Ending with 1 point.
(If anyone would like an organization to be known by a different name, lemme know and I'll change it.)
The fur of the White Wolf turns blood red as he rages. There will be a reckoning for this trespass. His Canin will be restored, and the children of the twin fools will feel what it is like for a god to meddle in their affairs.
The wolf focuses his rage sharply, restoring balance to his Canin. Before they begin, Halupus creates a great winding path through the forested mountains of the Canin homeland.
His dynasty of Alpha Canin feel his rage and his will, and begin their work quickly, knowing a Great Hunt is about to begin. A city must be constructed. A mighty fortress, protecting the heart of the Canin lands from enemies who would try to invade. Colossal black walls, made of the strongest stone, stretch from one side of the pass to the other. Fortified buildings, impenetrable from any direction, even above or below. Stone fortifications, carved from the rock of the walls of the pass. Bloodwall is an immovable object, a juggernaut of defensive destruction, a meat grinder for anything foolish enough to dare attack it. It lays at the highest point of the pass, surveying everything in its domain from its perch near the top of a great mountain. A perfect defensive position. Halupus is pleased at the swift construction of this colossal fortresss. The great strength of his Canin makes the sheer amount of physical labor needed for such a massive undertaking unimportant.
Halupus sends inspiration to his Canin. The power of blood has been left untapped by any race. That's about to change. Blood is a source of true power, greater than the petty sorceries of the other races. His Canin can suddenly feel the might seething through their veins. Their wounds in battle are suddenly a strength. The bodies of enemy and prey alike are no longer simply meat. They are power, to be controlled and directed and unleashed. The blood-fueled magic is diverse in its applications, the greatest Ritualists among the Canin soon discover. Not only can it boil the blood of their enemies or cause plague and disease and weakness, but it can heal. Bless bloodlines with fertility and strength. What other mysteries might the Blood Magic reveal in time? The Canin will soon find out.
Halupus sees the twisted Mushroom creatures created by the dark god. Their punishment will begin soon. Very soon.
In his rage, he barely notices that only one of the twins is a dark being. The other hasn't meddled with the Canin at all. The rage of Halupus blinds him to this fact, at least for now.
Spending 5 points to Shape Land, creating a winding mountain pass from the edge of the Mushroom forest and through the mountains, toward Garrison.
Spending 1 point to Command Avatar to Create City, called Bloodwall. The city will be situated near the heart of the mountains, defending the center of pass that Halupus created.
Spending 5 points to Advance Civilization: Blood Magic.
Points remaining: 3 standard points
and
9 bonus shaping points.
{Magic: The RPG}
Adjun turns all of his attentions towards his latest creation. He likes the primal energy the Mushroommen give off. He knows that if his Empire is to overtake the entire world he must first weaken the Eastern continent, while simultaneously building up his forces in the West. To that end he decides that the Mushroommen shall be the conquerors of the East, and will bequeath their bounty to the Djo Empire after it has succeeded in controlling the East. He knows that the forest that is the Mushroommen's home is as much a part of them as their own bodies. He descends down to the lands, his massive form casting a shadow above the Mushroom Forest. He raises his arms, and as their shadows glide beyond the end of the forest, so too does the forest begin to spread, until it just touches Western Lake in the center of the continent. With his shadow still hanging above the Mushroom lands Adjun reascends, sending his avatar, Txalavar to finish this task for him. [Shape land 3' for 15 points; 1 to Command Avatar; 0 Remaining]. Txalavar sets about to serve his dark lord's desires, bending the Mushroommen further towards the darkness of the subterranean world, and rechristening them the 'Whukal'.