Volthawk
2010-05-03, 11:07 AM
Fluff:
The geography (what I already had)
It's a massive island, surrounded by lava (why not? Water's boring, anyways), with a huge pit in the centre, that nobody's ever got to the bottom of, as they often never come back out of the pit.
The North is where civilization is starting to establish itself, where most cities are independent, with many alliances, some of which are starting to create true countries. The North has a temperate climate, and many rivers and lakes, and is the main source of food and water to the rest of the island.
The East, however, is desert, but has many ancient ruins around it. There aren't many settlements there, but the kobolds have many expansive lairs there, as there are many minerals under the sands. Gnomes have also started to settle, generally around the ruins, as they investigate. These settlements attract many mercenaries, as the gnomes always need protection, and the settlements are often places of conflict, as the ruins have many secrets, and they seem to mostly be bad. For the gnomes, at least.
The Central Zone is mostly uninhabited by humanoids, as it is the realm of the aberrations. Huge Illithid cities have been reported by the few who return from there with their minds intact, and many phasms have been reported to have spread out of the Zone. It is reported to be very changeable, with an area being a forest one day, and a lake the next. The only settlements there are sparse research camps, with the largest by the Pit, which is theorized to be the cause of the strangeness of the Central Zone. However, many have not been heard from for weeks.
The West is a huge forest, mostly unexplored, even by the inhabitants, who stay near the edges of the forest. It is where most of the variety in natural life is found, with animals like the Forest Sloth and plants like Myconids, and even the Yellow Musk Creeper.
The South is separated from the rest of the world by a large, wide chasm, from one side of the island to the other, and all attempts at teleporting in have failed, as it seems to be secure against all methods of entry. Sometimes, being resistant to fire have tried to enter via the lava, although they never return. One place along the chasm, in the Central Zone, seems to be a major city of some creature or other, although nobody really knows. The chasm is also patrolled by unknown creatures, nicknamed Hellspawn, which fly around the chasm, killing any who try to fly across. The South has many rumours about it, from some saying it is where the gods live, to others which say that the Pit is the only way in.
Angels and Devils (basically summing up what we'd agreed so far)
You've got heaven as opposed to hell. Only two planes in existence. Heaven is ruled by a council of powerful angels, as is hell. With devils instead of angels, of course.
Neither plane is morally aligned with either good or evil, they're simply two very powerful races, unified for their own purposes. Thus, devils and angels battle each other, and it not wanting to destroy their own planes with war, they use the prime material one, I.E. the island, to wage battle against each other.
Both breeds are very much like the traditional idea, except, as noted, angels are not good inherently, and devils aren't simply evil for evils sake.
Angels are powerful, immensely beautiful, self-centered, rather vain and kind of racist, believing them to be the utmost superior race, with devils being violent, destructive creatures of many different proportions and forms, like standard hellish fantasy, but in no way are they more inherently evil than angels, they just fight them for superiority.
Both sides use the inhabitants of the material plane to fight, instead of directly doing it themselves, as they just choose not to get directly involved.
Recent News
In the North, the ANC (Alliance of Northern Cities) has been established, with about 10 cities and many small towns joined, and is looking to be a major power. In response, many of the the other Northern cities are either forming more alliances, or spreading elsewhere. For example, many Northern city-states now have started to fund expeditions to both the desert ruins and the Central Zone, hoping to find something to help tip the balance in their favour. Also, Western creatures are often brought in, as they all look for better creatures to use in war.
In the East, many of the beings from the ruins have started to spread outside the ruins. There have been reports of undead attacks, but the new funding and supplies from the North has meant most settlements still remain.
The West is slowly being explored, and new creatures are reported every day. Additionally, creatures are starting to be exported to other parts of the island, although they often break free, so Western creatures are starting to be found in other areas.
The Central Zone has started to expand, so all three other populated zomes are starting to get worried. Illithids have started to attack from their strongholds, taking people away.
The South is still unexplored, although you, have heard from other outsiders that the South is the land of the true gods, creators of both angels and devils, as well as the Prime. However, even attempts by outsiders to enter have failed.
You have just arrived at the gates of the city of Blank, the largest city in the North and not a member of the ANC. At the gate, you are stopped by a guard.
"Hello sir and welcome. Now, I just need to sort out some paperwork with you, so..."
He unclips the book that was hooked up to his waist, and opens it, pen in hand.
"Alright then. Name?"
The geography (what I already had)
It's a massive island, surrounded by lava (why not? Water's boring, anyways), with a huge pit in the centre, that nobody's ever got to the bottom of, as they often never come back out of the pit.
The North is where civilization is starting to establish itself, where most cities are independent, with many alliances, some of which are starting to create true countries. The North has a temperate climate, and many rivers and lakes, and is the main source of food and water to the rest of the island.
The East, however, is desert, but has many ancient ruins around it. There aren't many settlements there, but the kobolds have many expansive lairs there, as there are many minerals under the sands. Gnomes have also started to settle, generally around the ruins, as they investigate. These settlements attract many mercenaries, as the gnomes always need protection, and the settlements are often places of conflict, as the ruins have many secrets, and they seem to mostly be bad. For the gnomes, at least.
The Central Zone is mostly uninhabited by humanoids, as it is the realm of the aberrations. Huge Illithid cities have been reported by the few who return from there with their minds intact, and many phasms have been reported to have spread out of the Zone. It is reported to be very changeable, with an area being a forest one day, and a lake the next. The only settlements there are sparse research camps, with the largest by the Pit, which is theorized to be the cause of the strangeness of the Central Zone. However, many have not been heard from for weeks.
The West is a huge forest, mostly unexplored, even by the inhabitants, who stay near the edges of the forest. It is where most of the variety in natural life is found, with animals like the Forest Sloth and plants like Myconids, and even the Yellow Musk Creeper.
The South is separated from the rest of the world by a large, wide chasm, from one side of the island to the other, and all attempts at teleporting in have failed, as it seems to be secure against all methods of entry. Sometimes, being resistant to fire have tried to enter via the lava, although they never return. One place along the chasm, in the Central Zone, seems to be a major city of some creature or other, although nobody really knows. The chasm is also patrolled by unknown creatures, nicknamed Hellspawn, which fly around the chasm, killing any who try to fly across. The South has many rumours about it, from some saying it is where the gods live, to others which say that the Pit is the only way in.
Angels and Devils (basically summing up what we'd agreed so far)
You've got heaven as opposed to hell. Only two planes in existence. Heaven is ruled by a council of powerful angels, as is hell. With devils instead of angels, of course.
Neither plane is morally aligned with either good or evil, they're simply two very powerful races, unified for their own purposes. Thus, devils and angels battle each other, and it not wanting to destroy their own planes with war, they use the prime material one, I.E. the island, to wage battle against each other.
Both breeds are very much like the traditional idea, except, as noted, angels are not good inherently, and devils aren't simply evil for evils sake.
Angels are powerful, immensely beautiful, self-centered, rather vain and kind of racist, believing them to be the utmost superior race, with devils being violent, destructive creatures of many different proportions and forms, like standard hellish fantasy, but in no way are they more inherently evil than angels, they just fight them for superiority.
Both sides use the inhabitants of the material plane to fight, instead of directly doing it themselves, as they just choose not to get directly involved.
Recent News
In the North, the ANC (Alliance of Northern Cities) has been established, with about 10 cities and many small towns joined, and is looking to be a major power. In response, many of the the other Northern cities are either forming more alliances, or spreading elsewhere. For example, many Northern city-states now have started to fund expeditions to both the desert ruins and the Central Zone, hoping to find something to help tip the balance in their favour. Also, Western creatures are often brought in, as they all look for better creatures to use in war.
In the East, many of the beings from the ruins have started to spread outside the ruins. There have been reports of undead attacks, but the new funding and supplies from the North has meant most settlements still remain.
The West is slowly being explored, and new creatures are reported every day. Additionally, creatures are starting to be exported to other parts of the island, although they often break free, so Western creatures are starting to be found in other areas.
The Central Zone has started to expand, so all three other populated zomes are starting to get worried. Illithids have started to attack from their strongholds, taking people away.
The South is still unexplored, although you, have heard from other outsiders that the South is the land of the true gods, creators of both angels and devils, as well as the Prime. However, even attempts by outsiders to enter have failed.
You have just arrived at the gates of the city of Blank, the largest city in the North and not a member of the ANC. At the gate, you are stopped by a guard.
"Hello sir and welcome. Now, I just need to sort out some paperwork with you, so..."
He unclips the book that was hooked up to his waist, and opens it, pen in hand.
"Alright then. Name?"