Arboreal

Concept

Players create a unique anthropomorphic animal race (must be an arboreal animal, squirrel, bird, chameleon, monkey, etc.) and play as a member of that race in a world which is, effectively, a supermassive tree on the scale of a planetoid orbiting a star in space. The mainplot will involve the conflict between the green, sunlit realms of the upper branches (Phyllan or the Phyllosphere) and the dark, dank and fungal dominated landscapes of the root realms (Rhizora or the Rhizosphere).

Setting

The World Tree or Orun is far older than even Owlish records and holds a host of animal civilizations within its boughs and betwixt its roots. Although each species has its own culture, they can be classed largely into two categories, Dendroids or Branch dwellers, and Rhizoids or Root Dwellers. Invertebrates dominate the Rhizorum and tend to be cold and ruthless in their organization. They care little for the health of Orun and so tend to spread sickness, blight, in their wake. Vertebrates, on the other hand, dominate the boughs and trunk and tend to be more empathic toward both one another and the world tree itself. The dominant society in the Rhizosphere is the Cicadian Empire, a powerful society of insect root parasites who draw the fuel for their dark magics directly from the tree's lifesap. Cicadians periodically lead invasions into the phyllosphere when their society undergoes a radical metamorphisis which grants them wings and powered flight. Opposing them in the branches is a loose alliance of varied animal cultures united only in their stewerdship of the tree and respect for the druids, ancient practitioners of green magic who offer advice but eschew power.

Magic

Magic in the world always derives from the world tree. Black or Blight Magic taps the fluid essence of the world tree, called mana, for power and causes rot and sickness as a result. It is practiced openly only in the Rhizosphere. Green magic or druidry, on the other hand, restrains itself to using only sources that the tree itself provides, ambrosia from nectar or fruits. Black magic is unquestionably more powerful, but it can only destroy where as green magic may be weak but it alone can create life. Other forms of magic are rumored to exist, but are not widely known. All these magics require a certain kind of mind which is in tune with its source of power, the lifeforce of the tree or the spiral of decay. Such a mindset comes either from a natural gift or decades of training and/or intensive meditation.

Technology

By using the different fibers and woods provided by the tree, almost any material imaginable is available for technology. Although limited to preindustrial machines, the animal races of the boughs have mastered wind power and airship technology. The later are the main type of transport in the Dendrosphere where the spans of air between branches would otherwise make travel difficult. Although not as keen on airships (many rhizoids already possess wings), Rhizoid armies are feared for their use of graywood (iron) and other metals available to them due to their close interface with the soil that surrounds Orun's roots.

Races

In general all animal races will be about the same size regardless of the size of their realworld counterparts. Invertebrate races will be, in general, about half this standard scale. Players should feel free to be as creative as possible when designing their race so long as they stay true to the overall theme.

Game

The game will be party based and open world. Although there will be mainplot elements players WILL NOT be railroaded and rather will have the freedom to confront challenges in whichever way they deem fit. The only constrictions are that players try to remain as a party and not completely ignore important world events.

Hmm, I will be watching this for the time being.

Same, this has a lot of potential and I hope it gets some attention.

This looks interesting.

Also congrats on the interview, Rae.

Super interested

Interest bro. ^_^

It's good to see some interest. In light of this I'm going to drop a character sheet here so people can start brainstorming if they are so inclined. I'm trying something new with the CS design and I hope people like it. Please feel free to ask questions and offer suggestions as this is still in beta as it were.

Character Sheet

Character Name:

Species Name: (Any arboreal vertebrate animal, anthropomorphized (examples: chipmunk, spider monkey, sloth, owl, koala, chameleon, etc.). I will also accept one Rhizoid which would be a species, vertebrate or invertebrate, with a subterranean and/or parasitic life history (example: phylloxeran, aphid, bark beetle, ant, mole, shrew, rabbit)

Species Persona: (Everything superficial and obvious about your species. Their appearance, size, demeanor and typical stereotypes)

Species Nature: (Posted as a spoiler which only characters who are members of this species or familiar with it through study or experience should read. Everything nuanced about your species. Things only those of your kind and those with knowledge of your culture would know. These include beliefs, rituals, specific modes of governance, religion, attitudes toward magic, etc.)

Character Persona: (Superficial details of the character; what do you see when you look at him/her)

Character Nature: (Posted as a spoiler or a PM to me. This includes everything about your character not common knowledge Don't share with any other PCs who do not know your backstory in character. This prevents metagaming and makes the start of the game way more suspenseful)

Awesome! This will give me something to think about while I'm at work.

Here's an example using an NPC. You can look at the hiders in this case since the species and individual are well known and the sections contain no plot spoilers.

Character Name: Arch Druid Arrullex

Species Name: Sloth (three toed) also called the Sleeping Ones or Slowkin

Species Persona: Slow and plodding the sloths are over represented among the druids as their patient nature and long lives make them ideal for mastering green magic. Many live their entire monastic lives in the druid glades hanging, thinking and studying magic for centuries. The fur of sloths is always tinted green with algae and powerful druids can even use green magic to grow this into a living photosynthetic robe which covers them. Due to their slow nature sloths have a difficult time communicating and living aside quicklings. They communicate through a slow sign language rather than the common Dendran (branch-tongue) and rarely travel among any but their own who can match the sluggishness of their pace

Species Nature:

Character Persona: An old graying sloth he seems to just barely cling the branches as he climbs. His mossy coat is turning yellow looking more like a coat of autumn leaves than rich sphagnum. His claws are worn and brittle, his skin sagging, but his eyes, beady as they are, still gleam with the light of centuries of acquired understanding

Character Nature:

Would it be ok to make a grasshopper/Locust then?@Too Old 4 This

Would it be ok to make a grasshopper/Locust then?@Too Old 4 This

They fit the theme of decay but locusts are associated with grasslands not trees or forests. Cicada is one that is similar and is closely associated with trees. Katydids are very similar to grasshoppers but adapted for tree herbivory.

All right, I'll do some research and come right back.

I am torn. On one hand I have Deathwatch Beetles, and on the other I have wood roaches. This will take time.

Both of those would be interesting.

Can't decide if I want to do something with a snake or a turtle.

This looks fantastic. I am interested in it :]

Character Name: Heloss, Harbinger of Light

Species Name: Deathwatch Beetle, The Harbingers or "Hardheads" by the insolent and ignorant.

Species Persona: Harbingers aren't the smallest species of Rhizoid, but they aren't the biggest either. At the tallest they reach up to the chest of the average vertebrate while at the smallest they barely go up to the waist. The Harbingers are burdened by a heavy exoskeleton, the plates chitin plates forces them into a hunched over position and lends great force to their footfalls. The exoskeleton can be any color between muddy brown, to black as pitch. Harbinger bodies have always been seen wrapped in cloth with an additional cloak, the chosen attire obscures physical descriptions besides silhouettes however for the most part you can see two glowing dots where eyes should be under their hoods. Finally, wherever a Harbinger goes a sense of dread fallows. No one knows what motivates a Harbinger to do what they do, but nothing god ever when they move through.

Character Persona: Light Harbinger Heloss is on the taller side of the spectrum, standing just below the chests of most vertebrates. The rags that cover his body are pure white, unblemished by his surroundings or scuffles. The shroud that covers his head obscures his face but two shining pinpoints of light shine through the darkness. To help him walk, Nautilex uses a large staff. A straight and smooth thing, bleached white by centuries of sunlight exposure. The bottom of it is topped with greywood, giving it a spear like quality while at the head of the staff lies a carving of a Harbinger hand grasping a dull orange crystal that glows softly. His voice carries a noble wind with it, both wise and stern it can however turn onto a booming yell far deeper than it has any right to be.

@All Two changes here as we move toward alpha. I'm changing the name for the branched regions of the World Tree to Phyllan or Phyllosphere to mirror the actual botanical terms better. I am also swapping phylloxerans for cicadas as the later are more widely known and more closely associated with trees.

@Pathfinder That's acceptable but integrating your character into the group will be challenging as you basically have a sign over your head based on your description that says 'HERE TO START BLIGHT.' It's good, just want you to know it won't be an easy character to play given that much of the game will take place in the phyllosphere (especially at the start).

Can't decide if I want to do something with a snake or a turtle.

No tree turtles :-P Has to be based of an arboreal animal. Many snake species work.

This looks fantastic. I am interested in it :]

Awesome, look forward to seeing your character. Once I get a few more I will post a more detailed and finalized version of the setting as an OOC where I will attempt to integrate PC races so far submitted into the world.

Interested. I'll probably take the Panther Chameleons. They have a fairly lonely and small society, but are renowned as excellent hunters.