Era of Myths; History

[Jester]

First of all, JW if it is to bold of me to start a thread about this then I appologies and wil delete it immidiatly.

Well, this thread is supposed to be about the history of the Era of Myths, where it is located, how the factions came to those lands, how the faction came to be, how the relations between the 7 factions are and what kind of culture the factions each have.

This is what we have so far:

During the years 250-276 settlers venture into the areas south of Wesnoth and adapt to their new environment and fight to stabilize their population in several communities.

In 276 a massive earthquake tears a rift in the ground effectively seperating the Shifters from the rest of their Wesnoth bretheren.

From 290-330 there is relative peace and minds are left the luxury to ponder the world around them.

From 330-365 organized schools are created to teach the younger generations.

From 365-422 the study of the discipline of magic becomes the focal point of all southern communities

In 422 a wise mage discovers the art of shapeshifting in his studies.

From 422-460 said wise mage shares his discovery with the surrounding communities and the practice spreads like wildfire becoming the focal point of all magical studies

Celestials who grow their wings are known as Winged Ones, and are treated with a higher level of respect for their fitness and majesty. With this respect comes a greater expectation however, and although most thrive on this, some do not....

Not all Celestials fit into this society so well. Some who lose their wings become so maddened that they reject their society and turn to it's opposite. Some warriors who have horrific experiences on the battlefield cannot return to their former beliefs and either join forces with those with a darker view, or simply wander off. Then there are the Winged-Ones who feel pressured to live up to the expectations of their society...these Celestials can and have reacted in terrible ways against this pressure. Some have gone mad, torn their eyes out to escape seeing the light and turn to the arts of darkness. Some turn their resentment of their fellow Celestials' expectations into rage and become berserkers attacking everything that reminds them of this pressure. These outcast Celestials often find allies in a race of blue-skinned creatures who practice the arts of darkness to create and summon horrific Aberrations to do their bidding. It is among these creatures they find a second home....

More on the blue-skinned creatures:

These creatures are born blind and so stick to living in swamps and underground. They have developed an ability, like bats, to create sonic waves to "see" their surroundings. They stand about 5-feet tall, but their hunched stance puts them at a solid 4-feet. Their 4 fingers end in solid, ground-tearing claws.

These creatures, lacking sight, hunger to gain power and "vision" in other areas. Experimenting and magic and alchemical endeavours, these creatures summon and creatures creates to do their bidding in their quest for even greater power. Some of these creatures actually have been born with sight and simply feign blindness in order to avoid the jealousy of their bretheren. Those who are caught are forced to rip their eyes out to level the playing field. It is rumored that these "Eyeless" ones become endowed with even greater powers than sight....

The Celestials are not human, but are some sort of humanoid creature that grow wings. Not every Celestial can fly, however, as most Celestials wings are vestigal and deteriorate and fall off in adolescence. The Celestials are a very spiritual race, believing that there is power in Light and Darkness; and they choose to side with the Light. They believe in this so heavily that they keep their settlements lit at night through bonfires and the aid of a rare species of pixie that radiates light from it's skin. They name these pixies Light Archons and worship them as demi-gods. Celestials also believe something to the effect of "the whole is greater than the sum of the parts." Working together they can achieve great accomplishments quickly.

Celestials who grow their wings are known as Winged Ones, and are treated with a higher level of respect for their fitness and majesty. With this respect comes a greater expectation however, and although most thrive on this, some do not.... Celestials who lose their wings are then seperated into 2 groups: warriors and non-warriors. The warriors of Celestial society not only protect the Celestials, but they also go forth on crusades to spread the Light to other regions as well. Non-warriors, though capable of fighting, spend their time worshipping, farming, and expanding their settlements.

Not all Celestials fit into this society so well. Some who lose their wings become so maddened that they reject their society and turn to it's opposite. Some warriors who have horrific experiences on the battlefield cannot return to their former beliefs and either join forces with those with a darker view, or simply wander off. Then there are the Winged-Ones who feel pressured to live up to the expectations of their society...these Celestials can and have reacted in terrible ways against this pressure. Some have gone mad, torn their eyes out to escape seeing the light and turn to the arts of darkness. Some turn their resentment of their fellow Celestials' expectations into rage and become berserkers attacking everything that reminds them of this pressure. These outcast Celestials often find allies in a race of blue-skinned creatures who practice the arts of darkness to create and summon horrific Aberrations to do their bidding. It is among these creatures they find a second home.....

The Shifters and Warg have run into each other very quickly after the earthquake that tore the earth behind the Shifters migration.

The Warg, being generally peaceful to other sentient beings, were curious about the new interlopers as they had never seen humans before (they had only been witness to Vampires for human-like beings). The Shifters were originally wary of the Warg, but they needed their help in adjusting to the harsher climates and fortifying settlements. In exchange for knowledge of the region the Shifters taught the Warg how to forge weapons of higher quality.

Over the years the two species remained in contact, but they grew apart as the Shifters became more and more intensely focused on their study of magiks. Once the art of Shifting was discovered, interest in the Warg was lost to the Shifters, who became single-minded in their pursuit of transendence.

Many Shifters who remained sympathetic to the Warg admired their want to be one with nature, not to transcend it. As such, they left the Shifter settlements to live with the Warg as Shapeshifters. They were welcomed.

Nothing so far...

nothing so far...

So basically what I am asking here is for some brainstorming, just to get the EOM to be more fleshed out etc.

[JW]

Naw, this is good. The Wolfs need a better name and their history with the Shifters needs to be changed, but this thread will definitely make creating a joint history better.

Again, I'll try to throw some more stuff up soon. (stupid busy life)

[turin]

The histories of the Celestials and Aberrations are interesting enough, I guess, but I fail to see why they would be in the same era as the Shifters and Wolf-people.

[JW]

The histories of the Celestials and Aberrations are interesting enough, I guess, but I fail to see why they would be in the same era as the Shifters and Wolf-people.

Because they will be put in the same region of the WOW. Also, I need the damage types.

[JW]

Okay, Jester, I was thinking that the Shifters and Wolves (we need a real name quick) could have run into each other very quickly after the earthquake that tore the earth behind the Shifters migration.

The Wolves, being generally peaceful to other sentient beings, were curious about the new interlopers as they had never seen humans before (they had only been witness to Vampires for human-like beings). The Shifters were originally wary of the Wolves, but they needed their help in adjusting to the harsher climates and fortifying settlements. In exchange for knowledge of the region the Shifters taught the Wolves how to forge weapons of higher quality and some minor magical curiosities.

Over the years the two species remained in contact, but they grew apart as the Shifters became more and more intensely focused on their study of magiks. Once the art of Shifting was discovered, interest in the Wolves was lost to the Shifters, who became single-minded in their pursuit of transendence.

Many Shifters who remained sympathetic to the Wolves admired their want to be one with nature, not to transcend it. As such, they left the Shifter settlements to live with the Wolves as Shapeshifters. They were welcomed.

--

I have an idea for how the Vampires could be written in here, but I'd rather discuss that in another thread to get your basic feel for them first.

[Jester]

I like what you have made of the Warg.
I think it's good to have them exchange knowledge. So the Warg teach the Shifters the locations of recources etc. and the Warg would get better forging techniques, as I think they only used wooden, or stone tipped spears until then.
But, don't teach the Warg magic.

I kind of thought that (like elves in a way) they 'know' about magic. They don't call it that, they don't really mind about it either, they just know it's there, as a part of nature.
They know some sort of rune writing which 'binds' the magic, giving the item on which the text is written on some magical enchantment.
Traditionally this technique was only used by the Pack's priest in the Moon-Rites (some form of rituals every month at full moon I think). Writing the runes on the body's of the Pack members to get them in a trance and also writing them on stones to make the stones light up.
Later (in some war) this technique was first used on swords (so probably after Shifter arrival), these swords were given to specially trained (semi-shamanic)warriors. The Moon Blade was born.

[Jester]

Erh... the Celestials, Warg, Aberrations and Elementals are native to these lands (need a name for the land) I would guess.

The Vampires were there before the Shifters but have a human origin I think (or Celestial originA) comnbined with some undead roots...

[Ryorin]

So... where have you guys been these last few days... Are we still working of EOM???

[irrevenant]

Can you pls rename this thread to include the full name of the faction (eg. "Era of Mths (EOM) History")? It makes things clearer for those new to the forum (like me! ).

[Cuyo Quiz]

Maybe Vampires could have been Undead's Sorcerors from a guild searching a formulae for giving them eternal youth or avoid aging, neglecting most forms of necromancy?. They found some serious stuff while experimenting with blood and the "living undead" (Ghoul/Necrophage), which could regenerate a serious amount of damage.

Basically, they got what they wanted, changing their blood into something so strong that let them be superhuman, but it also made them sensitive, so heat hurts their skin with ease and the feeling doesn't allow them to work properly. Obviously, the transformation made them require blood every once in a while so as to not "burn out of fuel". They also got a lot more obsessive about small things and various pleasures, being entitites fond of adrenaline, exotic foods, bloodshed, con, and whatever thing that could just get them to feel excited or powerful.

Since it wasn't what they were expecting for, the secret was kept, but there were still people willing to be like them, and those who showed usefulness were accepted to serve them. They were patiently waiting for a chance to get out of the Guilds, and take their own kingdoms with their new abilities and followers. One day they just burned the settlement where they lived and dissapeared into more desolated lands, no one knowing what happened there.

Right now they keep enslaved poblations (by using their ruthless servants as some sort of mercenary bands) in true reigns of terror, and every once in a while they drink from them. Their most trusful are gifted with some of their blood, which makes them stronger, and if someone has really proved himself, he will be initiated as a Vampire, which is now a secret kept only by the oldest of their kin, and the ultimate reward for someone.

Their origins is some sort of rumour in the main Guilds, but most know that if the secrets that makes them what they are can be discovered, the rewards would be plenty for any who finds them. Thus, right now the Guilds have a reason to hunt them down, and the Vampires must defend themselves, while only the oldest and most controlled ones search in secret for a cure for their need of blood.

I have made some assumptions about Undead that i may develop later as specific background.

[JW]

So... where have you guys been these last few days... Are we still working of EOM???

Yes, yes, yes. The explosion of creation last weekend was itself an Aberration. That kinda thing doesn't happen very often. Don't let the recent slew of 1.1.x releases fool you either. Things around here take time to do right. Real life also has an inconvenient way of intervening as well. That's where I'm at.

Know that I'm still 100% behind the EOM, as I suspect Jester and Cuyo are as well. I believe Eternal and EP are also still willing to lend helping hands, as well as everyone else willing to lend their opinions.

So, in short, yes we are still working on the EOM.

Can you pls rename this thread to include the full name of the faction (eg. "Era of Mths (EOM) History")? It makes things clearer for those new to the forum (like me! ).

Surely you know the difference between an era and a faction by now.

And Cuyo, I always enjoy reading the madness. Keep it coming!

[Cuyo Quiz]

And Cuyo, I always enjoy reading the madness. Keep it coming!

Awww, now i have to , ot i'll look like someone without tact and consideration. Anyway, my Undead sketch goes something like this:

In EoM, they are an actual society/culture, citizens, army, farmers and priests, the whole deal. No crap, an actual culture evolved out of shamanic/voodoo mojo stuff. Past is of no consequence, suffice to say that their world was declining, eaten out by conflicts and hardship. In those dark moments, the priest caste started going beyond mere spirit consulting and blessing seeking, taking cards on the matter.

The first breakthrough came with cold magic. With it, the magicians became feared standards in the battlefield and settlements, and the importance of the priests enhanced, being now both beings of war and mysticism.

The second breakthrough was the unliving servants. In a decadent culture, soldiers weren't ready for the taking, and many hands were needed for food. The use of the remains of their dead as soldiers was something very welcome by the populace, almost a blessing seeing their former loved fight to protect them once more, fearless, merciless, and painless. The priests were already Sorcerors, and they were almost a ruling aristocracy, with soldiers that would obey only their words.

The final breakthrough was organization. All the knowledge adquired was important, and the Sorcerors expanded it in their new lands as Guilds, where they could control and organize their new provinces using the intelligent manpower of their various followers. The Necromancers, masters of their arts, were born, and their ruling power was now undeniable.

Culture changed a lot in those times. The Guilds hold secret subterranean encampments, and also Ziggurat temples in their trustful provinces. The remains of the dead are now cleaned and preserved to give to the Guilds, so the army may grow strong. All those without work have no choice but to become the followers of the Necromancers, and some of the followers will become the Beasts of Rending, fanatical Ghouls for the Guilds.

Thriving in an enslaved, unliving population that only grows with time and conquests, the people have passed from weakened and brittle to proud and stubborn. The Guilds hold the power and organization, and everyone gives to them, the abundance product of having working unliving soldiers giving fruition to all the Necromancers' dreams, living in their great cities filled with inciense, festivals and amazing colors.

As any Empire, their goal is control, and with only having to produce for themselves and the Guilds, some settlements are even willing to pledge loyalty to them, and most of other will be assimilated as vassal populations, were they can give their local products as tribute.

[Jester]

So... where have you guys been these last few days... Are we still working of EOM???

Yes, yes, yes. The explosion of creation last weekend was itself an Aberration. That kinda thing doesn't happen very often. Don't let the recent slew of 1.1.x releases fool you either. Things around here take time to do right. Real life also has an inconvenient way of intervening as well. That's where I'm at.

Know that I'm still 100% behind the EOM, as I suspect Jester and Cuyo are as well. I believe Eternal and EP are also still willing to lend helping hands, as well as everyone else willing to lend their opinions.

Yeah, I'm still here... But this stupid computer broke town... power outtage, I will be back in a couple of days

[Ryorin]

Well... I lost my redoes of the crusaders... Just going to have to start over on them...

[Jester]

Hi, I'm on a friend's computerr, so I can finally post something.

Ok, for the Vampires I was actually planning something similair as to what Cuyo posted.

The Necromancer Guild is a good idea.
But instead of several Necromancers trying to discover the secret of non-decaying-immortallity I was thinking about just one. Need a good name for him.

Experimenting with the undead tissue he discovered a formula that binded the living blood with undead flesh. Through some more experimenting he found a way of making the living body immortal. Flesh turned into what seemed to be stone, almost like marmer, but just as flexible as a normal body. Hair was of a softer and stronger texture. The only thing that seemd 'normal' was the heart that kept pumping the warm bloodflow through the body.
Greedy for the immortal life as he was, he didn't think the sudden rise in agression amongs the rats he tested was something he should have to worry about. The rats that we're 'blooded', as he would call it, attacked their fellow rats, biting them and licking up the blood that was spilled.
The Necromancer thought it was just in 'the animal nature' and that he, a rational human being, would not have to worry about such effects.
He was wrong.

As soon as he injected himself with the warm, undead blood he felt it was changing him. He felt that his living body was dying and that the old tissue was changed to something new, somthing stronger.
His senses were sharpened, he saw things in a different light, smelled things in a whole different way and he could feel new textures in the most regular of things.
His new body also had new super human strength and speed.
But that wasn't the only thing that changed, he felt a form of hunger, a form of thirst that was devouring him from the inside, he could not think of anything else but to feed. But feed on what.

He walked the halls of the Guild house/town/whatever, the hunger maddened him. And then he walked into one of the servants...
He saw the young and strong body of the boy and before he knew what happened he took him. Took his life, took his blood, feeding the hunger.
But it was still there, the hunger was unbearable still...

He knew that the Guild would not approve of what he had done, he broke the traditions, murdered one of their own, became immortal in awhole new way. He knew that he would be hunted and decided to flee.

Before he left he visited his two best friends (or something similair) to say goodbye. When he entered the house they were sleeping still. He walked towards their bed and when he saw them lying there the hunger took over again. He took them as he did with the servant boy. Drained them of all of their blood. But as he was drinking from them he suddenly realised what he was doing, that he was murdering his best friends. He quickly stopped and looked around to see the almost lifeless body's. He broke down in tears, and his tears were of blood.
He cried, and his tears fell upon the body's of his friends. The tears fell on their arms, their chest, their face and also on their mouth. And with each blood tear that hit their tung a shock ran through their body.
The Necromancer ofcourse noticed this and hope rose in his heart, that he could still save his friends.
He ripped open his own wrist and poured the blood in the mouths of his friends. A few frightening moments long nothing happened, then he noticed the same change started to happen to his friends as he had seen with his lab rats, they were becoming immortal.

Together with his fledgelings then he fled, fled to the east where they thought that they might be safe.
But the Guild had send a hunting party after them.
The three saw no other solution but to stand and fight back.
They were outnumbered but they also had something that their enemy's had not, the ability's that the blood had granted them. And they defeated their pursuers.

After some time they arrived at a small city/village, they decided to stop there, make a new home there. And so they did.
The city was big enough for the three of them to feed on it's inhabitans unnoted and so they lived for several years (decades?)

But as the years went by the need for companionship grew. And over the years they created a new generation. Ten new Vampires were made in that generation.

Now there were thirteen of them and they had to be more carefull with feeding so that they would not be caught and hunted for. Rules were made by the Three of the First Generation to restrain the Ten new ones.
This went well for several years, but one of the Ten became more and more jealous of the Three Elders, they had more rights then the Young ones and that was not fair he thought.
He started revolting, and together with the rest of his Generations he overthrew the , they killed the one of the Two (best freind thingy) and the other two had to flee. Noone has ever seen them since.

The Ten lived in relative peace in the cityt, feeing as they pleased with no rules. This went wrong ofcourse.
The citizens noticed that there were many strange dead, one thing led to another and a witch hunt (vampire hunt) was started.
The Ten were drivin out. As they tried to survive out side of the city they got in a fight and split up.
Each of them went to a different, big city to live there. Over the years these ten 'blooded' new Vampires. This way the Ten Bloodlines (or Ten Houses) were formed.

The city's are controlled in the way Cuyo described. The leaders of the city are the Vampire Nobles etc. House leaders and such.
The city inhabitans are the slaves of. Some of them are made into personal slaves of the Houses, Bloodborns called.
The most trusted of these are made into vampires themselves and can also be blabla half blood etc, have to leace now.