Scarlet Sea [campaign storyline]
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Re: Crimson Sea [campaign storyline]
Swiss_Army_Cheese wrote: Tip for making your story 'less "hammy"': Make sure every thing is kosher
Well, I may be influenced by BoL, but I think a mage university/hideout/community might be more likely to be in a mountainous valley, for seclusion from invaders and awesomeness and all that, as well as sort of invoking the image of a large monastery or stronghold were mages are likely to build their initial dwellings. As for a city? I dunno, I guess a plain is just as good as anywhere else. just my 2, nah, 1 cent.Swiss_Army_Cheese wrote:- Any ideas for description of a grand city ruled by magi? My preliminary thought is a huge city over looking a vast plain, with some mountains to the east where protagonists overlook the city upon arrival. The city walls are pale and the buildings inside are made of stones and vibrant colored roofs. Tall towers at the center of the city stand erect over the rest of the city structures, with the tallest central ones piercing through the clouds. Outside the city walls are the slums of refugees, decaying in every way possible, melting into giant puddle of mush surrounding the city. Refugees swarm the city gates, and they would rob any new comers of their belongings.
Guys I never thought I'd come back to this forum after 8 years this is wild
- battlestar
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Re: Crimson Sea [campaign storyline]
older post
This is one idea that I have for what it would look like,
Any thoughts?
LUA: Llama Under Apprenticeship
Hell faction: completed
Hell faction: completed
Re: Crimson Sea [campaign storyline]
someone born in the heavens might draw on divine powers to grow beautiful stalagmite and stalactite structures such as at
http://www.china-tour.cn/China-Pictures ... e_Cave.htm (cannot copy here due to ARR)
or at
http://freeaussiestock.com/free/New_Sou ... ations.htm
interesting how the tower of pisa resembles some of those
http://www.china-tour.cn/China-Pictures ... e_Cave.htm (cannot copy here due to ARR)
or at
http://freeaussiestock.com/free/New_Sou ... ations.htm
interesting how the tower of pisa resembles some of those
Re: Crimson Sea [campaign storyline]
If I was born in heaven, I would feel depressed at seeing a big roof over my head intsead of open sky and clouds, so maybe he would have tall towers with a false sky overhead, that hid the stalactites over the city? I can't find a pic, but something that would make the town have the appearence of a very airy, open, windy place, quite the opposite of an undergroung cavern.
Guys I never thought I'd come back to this forum after 8 years this is wild
- battlestar
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Re: Crimson Sea [campaign storyline]
Those are good ideas.
I would make the composition of the picture like the photo I found and make the tower look like a tall stalagmite then add in elements of stalagmites amongst buildings along with a statue of cherubin.
I plan to have the city placed on an open terrain.
This background is looking away from the city. There's a giant stalagmite sticking out and some ceiling stalagmites hidden in the "sky".
Update: Here's a far away view of the city.
I would make the composition of the picture like the photo I found and make the tower look like a tall stalagmite then add in elements of stalagmites amongst buildings along with a statue of cherubin.
I plan to have the city placed on an open terrain.
This background is looking away from the city. There's a giant stalagmite sticking out and some ceiling stalagmites hidden in the "sky".
Update: Here's a far away view of the city.
LUA: Llama Under Apprenticeship
Hell faction: completed
Hell faction: completed
- battlestar
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Re: Crimson Sea [campaign storyline]
Subject to changes and suggestions.
A mountainous gryphon rider tribe, the Grycians
Co-existing in the mountains is another culture, the Skloans
Last edited by battlestar on February 18th, 2012, 5:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.
LUA: Llama Under Apprenticeship
Hell faction: completed
Hell faction: completed
- battlestar
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Re: Crimson Sea [campaign storyline]
Part 2:
The young boy’s name was Gaunam. His mother disappeared while he was very young, and his father was murdered by the bandits. He informed Valia and Skarbod that a grand city of wizards stood in the vicinity, where food and shelter could be found. The rural lands have already been obliterated by the impending but unseen evil. Refugees were streaming from every direction towards the city of wizards. Its walls rumored to be fortified with strong magic, guarded by warrior mages of the highest caliber. It was the lone beacon of hope in a land of despair.
Valia’s group camped with some refugees. Bright eyes filled the cloudless night sky, peered down curiously at the sufferings of mortals, emotionless. Under these blinking eyes, Valia drifted into a calm slumber.
Valia jolted awake from her nightmare. Her soul trembled with terror and pleasure. Sweat washed down her face, revealing her pale skin and sparkling yellow iris. She noticed Skarbod awake, watching her.
Link for where they go in the story: http://forums.wesnoth.org/viewtopic.php ... 9&start=17
The young boy’s name was Gaunam. His mother disappeared while he was very young, and his father was murdered by the bandits. He informed Valia and Skarbod that a grand city of wizards stood in the vicinity, where food and shelter could be found. The rural lands have already been obliterated by the impending but unseen evil. Refugees were streaming from every direction towards the city of wizards. Its walls rumored to be fortified with strong magic, guarded by warrior mages of the highest caliber. It was the lone beacon of hope in a land of despair.
Valia’s group camped with some refugees. Bright eyes filled the cloudless night sky, peered down curiously at the sufferings of mortals, emotionless. Under these blinking eyes, Valia drifted into a calm slumber.
Spoiler:
Valia jolted awake from her nightmare. Her soul trembled with terror and pleasure. Sweat washed down her face, revealing her pale skin and sparkling yellow iris. She noticed Skarbod awake, watching her.
Link for where they go in the story: http://forums.wesnoth.org/viewtopic.php ... 9&start=17
LUA: Llama Under Apprenticeship
Hell faction: completed
Hell faction: completed
Re: Crimson Sea [campaign storyline]
i like that you are painting a comprehensive world picture for this.
i think there is a contradiction between, on one wing, the origin and religion and politics of the Grycians and, on the other wing, the ritual of becoming a gryphon rider.
i think there is a contradiction between, on one wing, the origin and religion and politics of the Grycians and, on the other wing, the ritual of becoming a gryphon rider.
Spoiler:
Last edited by tr0ll on February 18th, 2012, 5:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- battlestar
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- Joined: January 1st, 2007, 7:12 am
Re: Crimson Sea [campaign storyline]
That's a much better idea, thanks!
On a similar subject, I've been stuck for a long time on two things and would love ideas and another perspective:
Spoiler:
On a similar subject, I've been stuck for a long time on two things and would love ideas and another perspective:
The Trip to Hell
No ending yet
LUA: Llama Under Apprenticeship
Hell faction: completed
Hell faction: completed
Re: Crimson Sea [campaign storyline]
Maybe you could also have Valia find her father again? That's a big point to me, as her father was the starter of it all, and is the first victim of his wrongdoing, I somehow sympathize with him a lot more than Valia.
Guys I never thought I'd come back to this forum after 8 years this is wild
- battlestar
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Re: Crimson Sea [campaign storyline]
Older reply to Boldek
The city of wizards stood in the distance, its pale walls shone in the sunlight. Against its outer walls lay a vast stretch of decaying tents, a stark contrast to the vibrant stone buildings inside the city. The city gates are swarmed by massive amounts of refugees, seeking entrance.
A mob of refugees near the city walls noticed the new arrivals, and swooped down on them. The two groups of refugees intertwined and struggled. Any meager amount of food would mean survival, even if only for a brief moment longer.
Valia and Skarbod confronted the assailants and defended themselves. As they arrived at the city gate, a small side door opened to allow them passage inside. Nearby refugees dashed towards the entrance, but soon fell to a flurry of lightning bolts. Wounded and writhing on the ground, they found themselves in clutches of fellow refugees, mad with hunger, drooling. Unable to defend themselves, they resigned to a fate grimmer than death.
Link for where they go in the story: http://forums.wesnoth.org/viewtopic.php ... 9&start=17
LUA: Llama Under Apprenticeship
Hell faction: completed
Hell faction: completed
Re: Crimson Sea [campaign storyline]
just to be clear:battlestar wrote:Valia and Skarbod confronted the assailants and defended themselves. As they arrived at the city gate, a small side door opened to allow them passage inside. Nearby refugees dashed towards the entrance, but soon fell to a flurry of lightning bolts. Wounded and writhing on the ground, they found themselves in clutches of fellow refugees, mad with hunger, drooling. Unable to defend themselves, they resigned to a fate grimmer than death.
the (bolded) they above is the refugees that didnt make it in the door? the way it is worded now there could be more refugees inside the gate attacking our heroes. the earlier (unbolded) they is clearly Valia and Skarbod. maybe add a phrase about Valia and/or Skarbod glancing back through the door grate
- battlestar
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Re: Crimson Sea [campaign storyline]
older post to tr0ll
Valia, Skarbod, and Gaunam confronted the assailants and defended themselves. As the trio arrived at the city gate, a small side door opened to allow them passage inside. Nearby refugees dashed towards the entrance, but were engulfed by a flurry of lightning bolts. As Valia glanced back through the gate, she saw the charred figures writing on the ground, wounded. The fallen soon fell into the clutches of fellow refugees, mad with hunger, drooling. Unable to defend themselves, they resigned to a fate grimmer than death.
LUA: Llama Under Apprenticeship
Hell faction: completed
Hell faction: completed
Re: Crimson Sea [campaign storyline]
it just hit me that you are writing cannibalism into the story! unless they are undead or under some spell or it is part of local culture, this would be implausible (despite the rare cases you hear in the news). if it is happening over a long period however, the refugees might form into groups for protection. this would make sneaking through much harder. not sure how to fix it, but also not sure why it is necessary to have the people outside the gates turn to cannibalism. the mages could be tossing out edible scraps and waste once in a while, and taking advantage of the situation to have them perform services.
- battlestar
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Re: Crimson Sea [campaign storyline]
Reply to Tr0ll
In the elven castle, Valia and her companions discovered a building with several mages inside. Several caged griffons were locked outside. A mage greets Valia and tells her that they were working on perfecting transformation spells, griffin form and lycanthropy. They are willing to teach you (Eleanor and Hogan can learn if they specialize in nature spells) for a very cheap price. After Eleanor/Hogan learns it from some books, he was asked to demonstrate it in the courtyard for the other mages to see. Before the demonstration began, the griffins in the cages made a ruckus. As Eleanor/Hogan successfully turns back into human form, the mages remarked on Eleanor/Hogan's talent for magic as few were able to achieve the two-way transformation successfully. They thank him for providing valuable data for their research.
LUA: Llama Under Apprenticeship
Hell faction: completed
Hell faction: completed