[OOC] The Frozen Flame: Dark Fantasy/Steampunk RP

[Lovejoy]

Alright guys, I've created a new worldmap with most of the principle locations on it. There will be information entries tied to each of the locations with some very vague details about them. At the moment I've written some entries for two of them and will create the rest tomorrow. Zephyr, I've kind of been waiting for some Muraad information from you for a while and haven't gotten anything yet, so I decided to try my hand at creating some light background for them. I tried to fashion it as a place that Van might come from. Tell me if you think I should change anything.

Oh and Scout, go ahead and PM me your ideas for Lanostre when you get a chance. If it fits, I'll try to incorporate it into the information entry for Lanostre that I'll be posting tomorrow.

Anyway, here's the world map.



World Map:

After a series of brutal invasion campaigns, the Varyan Empire has conquered the western continent as well as its powerful southerly neighbor, the queendom of Lanostre. Even with the defeat and devouring of his rival gods: Muraad, Omestris, T'saerae and Lanostre-- the god emperor, Lord Varya, still hungers, and has aimed his people to the east, where lies the mysterious continent of El and the wild golds that rule it.

No western-born human has ever ventured into the dark blizzards that enshroud the world and returned to tell the tale, as the preternatural storms that rage across the frozen oceans can kill human beings within minutes. Only in recent years has the Varyan empire developed a method for its soldiers and inquisitors to cross the treacherous oceans. Through the use of powerful steam arks-- great vessels borne of a union between technology and ethereal magic-- Varya has sent a great armada of the empire's finest soldiers and inquisitors to the eastern frontiers in an attempt to conquer the unknown continent of El and to bring the wild gods which rule there back to the motherland.

1. Native Varya/Magnagrad:

...

The western-most region of the continent where Lord Varya fell as a remnant of the Ice Titan, it was once a dry, flat land with little usable water and natural resources. Owing to the conditions of their homeland, the first resurrected Varyans who lived here were a nomadic people who subsisted off the herds of beasts who wandered the dry plains and by raiding the early settlements of the neighboring Muraadans to the northeast. It is believed by T'saeren geologists that long before the Celestial War between the two titans, Native Varya was once an arrid desert, as grains of what can only be assumed to be crystalised sand have been found in the deepest fathoms of Magnagrad's foundations.

In modern times, Native Varya is nigh unrecognizable to the frozen desert it once was. These days, the monstrous city of Magnagrad rises over the natural ice-covered land, its mechanical sprawl now spreading to the farthest reaches of the continent. It is a monolithic expanse of ethereal steam and dark machinery, built over an unchecked period of hundreds of years of unprecedented expansion which has seen the city grow both horizontally and vertically. In the current age, Magnagrad rises hundreds of feet into the sky, an ever-growing arcological citadel where the fates of its people either lead them to climb to the city's prosperous heights or fall to its darkest depths. It is a titanic construct which now dominates the continent, covering the former lands of the conquered like a mechanical shadow.

In Native Varyan to the northwest, where the first foundations of Magnagrad were built, lies a district known as 'The Godsreach'. The Godsreach, located at the highest peak of the massive city, is where the most important structures of the city are located and its most powerful citizens live. Both the Great Basilika, where the Varyan Faith is headquartered, and the War Fane, home to the empire's military, are located within the Godsreach. In fact, it is said that Lord Varya himself resides somewhere within the Reach, though it is also whispered that the god does not reside in one single place within Magnagrad, but instead exists "everywhere" within his great city. Nevertheless, the Red Shrine, a massive temple taller than any structure in Magnagrad, was constructed as a ceremonial 'throne' to Lord Varya. No human being, save for the most powerful members of the Varyan church, are ever allowed within.

The rest of Varya is a giant sprawl of hundreds of different provinces and sectors spread throughout the continent-wide city. The vast majority of the empire's population live 'below-ground', within the old sectors that are now used as foundations for the new construction projects of the city (where the wealthier and more powerful people live). The lower-level sectors run the gamut from rough working-class neighborhoods to deadly sub-city ghettos, with the lowest depths of the city providing havens for outlaws and escaped Omestri slaves. Life for typical Varyan citizens is a never-ending struggle for ascendance, as most people dream of living on the surface districts where the air is cleaner and life is generally easier.

Not all of the Varyan continent has been consumed by Magnagrad however. The northernmost regions of Muraad, where the cold is deadlier than anywhere else on the continent, is still home to rural Muraadan communities, while the eastern mountains of Omestris are still barren of the city's touch, despite the natural beauty of the area. The Lanostran subcontinent to the south still proudly retains its architecture and culture, as the fact that Lanostre is still plagued by demon attacks deters most native Varyans from immigrating.

2: Muraad

...

A desolate and yet-untamed land to the north, this region was the site of the god Muraad's fall to earth after the war between the Ice and Fire titans. The wilds of Muraad, where the climate is colder than anywhere else on the continent, are legendary for their variety of rare and dangerous fauna, chief among them the ice dragons, which the Muraadans have hunted to the point of extinction.

The Muraadans, known for being a solitary and hardy people, are not soldiers by trade, but are nigh-unmatched hunters and crafters who spend most of their lives on the ice itself, either defending their lands from the powerful creatures native to the wilderness or working in the great mines that dot the Muraadan expanse. Muraadans, who's god was born of the Ice Titan's own heart, are ever-enduring and durable and can withstand the punishing cold more than any other race on the Varyan continent. This inborn survivability gave the Muraadans an indepent mentality which led to their penchant for surviving on their own rather than joining together in groups. For this reason, Muraad has lacked a strong centralized governing body, and instead of forming powerful kingdoms like the other races during the early formative period of humanity's resurrection, the Muraadans instead separated into individual clans, which throughout history, have bloodied the snows while fighting countless wars against one another. It is said that the Muraadan's splintered society is what led to their eventual defeat against the Varyan empire.

After being conquered, the Muraadan's innate gifts were put to use by the Varyans in the construction of Magnagrad, and it is said that most of Godsreach was built by Muraadan hands. For this, the northern race, though conquered, has earned the respect and comradery of many native Varyans in the centuries after their god's defeat. Not that the Muraadans care for the Varyan's respect either way, as even now, Muraadans are a solitary and migrant people. Those who do leave their homeland to venture out into the Varyan heartland never stay in one place too long, and the not-large Muraadan population of Magnagrad choose to live in small enclosed hamlets within the city.

3: Omestris

4: T'sarae

5: Lanostre

6: The Wounded Sea (a small stretch of ocean which saw the bloodiest fighting between Varya and Lanostre during the empire's invasion of the southern continent)

7: Lanostran Protective Aegis

8: Varyan Protective Aegis

9: The Dark Blizzards

10: Proposed location of the continent of El

[Hansa]

Nice info post!

[Desert Zephyr]

I will try and have the full history to you soon LJ, but you know my tendency to take a while and then deliver like twenty pages of information. I have been side tracked with a special project and a take home exam due next wednesday for class, and an upcoming conference for a presenting a paper that's like a third done. I will make a short history, a description of the people and some of the more interesting tidbits I have already wrote, then deliver the full set in about two weeks when I have some time to sit down and really grind it all out.

[Avery Calhoun]

LJ. do you need anything for Omestris or are you just going to pick and pull from what we already wrote up?

[Lovejoy]

I'm going to be putting up your Omestris write-up, Avery. Just need to put it in its own post since there seems to be a text-limit now.

[Avery Calhoun]

Text limit!? Bah what none sense is that?

[Lovejoy]

Yeah, I wasn't able to post both your Red Seminary and Omestris info in one reply. So I'm going to place the info in individual replies and put links to them in the opening post.

[Desert Zephyr]

I have already hit the text limit trying to repost my initial monster from before. I might need two or three posts for that baby. I am planning on splitting the Muraad section into two or three parts. I have the brief history done (if three pages counts as brief), and will probably only need another section for general appearance, average capabilities, and ether gifts, as well as the important traditions. Do you want me to PM you the history for approval, or just post it here LJ?

[Lovejoy]

Sure, PM me what you have, Also, you never did tell me what you thought of my Muraad idea. Would you rather we get rid of it or...?

[Nightbringer]

Hey guys, sorry I've not been around for a while, moving countries takes time :P

Anyway, here's Max's seal and the same seal incorporated into a banner.

[Scout]

Moving countries? Which countries did you move? lololol I'm clever.

Where'd you move to and from where? O.o Not like... I mean, don't feel obligated to answer XD I don't wanna break the rules, but just country-wise.

[Nightbringer]

I live in Britain most of the time, but I'm at college in France for the year, so every few months I pop back to see the family and this was my return trip :).

[Hansa]

As a Brittish person, aren't you obligated to hate the French and all their things, except french fries?

[Nightbringer]

You're technically right, but as a British person I'm also partially obligated to hate every world nation and all of their things. We're a very negative country...

Also french fries are called "chips" in Britain, therefore not falling under the category of "french things" and so we are free to enjoy them as much as we like. And boy, do we! :P

[Scout]

"French Fries," I believe, are... Swiss? Or... Belgian... Or *SOMETHING* that is not at all French, I know that. In Spanish they're "papas fritas" and in French they're "frites."

Also, I don't know where you're going to school in France, Night, but as long as you're not Southern English or you're not going to school in Northern France, you've no obligation to be racist. XD I love France... Well, every bit of it that's outside the limits of Paris. Ew. However, I'm fairly bilingual guys, so let me see if I can communicate with Night effectively...

'Allo, there, guvna. Got yerself in a roight bit of a tiff, wot with bein' in that bastard of a country called France, ye? 'ow's about we mosey on ovuh to Ireland, fancy a noice wallop with the ginger ladies and their fantastic beverages? Or perhaps you'd rather that we go to the Scottish, they're awn foine terms wiff ye, ain't they? Brewin' the finest alcohol in all o' da UK, they do!!

Sorry if my accent is atrocious, Night, it's been a few years since I had to speak English (England). XD Fufufufufu. Really, though, I do speak a bit of French... Sadly, I'm wayyyy out of practice :c

[Nightbringer]

Unfortunately Scout, I am Southern English and I am going to school in Northern France, so therein lies the obligation :P I have to agree with you about Paris. If you've got a day or two to kill with no time constraints it can be pretty magical, but if you're just trying to get across it, it's such a pain.

If you're going for Dick Van Dike-esque cockney you've got it pretty spot on to be honest :P I was raised in Oxfordshire, so think more Ben Kingsley or Hugh Laurie. There are a huge number of completely different accents in England alone, which is a little frightening considering how it's about the same size as California.

A bit of French? Try me.

[Scout]

Ohhhh, yeah, there's a lot of headbutting there then. Fufufu~ I know, you're right; England is full of them. XD Some of the English accents really irritate me, and some of them are really nice. I'm glad my horribly racist(?) portrayal of a rustic English accent was accurate. XD

Uh... un petit peu de français... Ehh... Je ne sais pas dire. ^^" Je prends cinq anées de la classe, mais il y a un an que je l'ai pris. ;n; Je veux parler japonaise ou russe.

[Nightbringer]

Tu parle bien! Je sais que c'est difficile de parler une langue etrangere quand on n'a pas pratiqué longtemps. Pour moi, les langues viennent assez simplement. Par exemple, je peux parler allemand à un niveau conversationnel aussi! Mon italien n'est pas non plus si mauvais.

Yes, I am totally showing off, by the way :P

[Scout]

Oh, merci bcp, M. Night. :p Je m'ai supris! J'ai compris tout ça. :o Les langues sont très facils pour moi aussi. Il y a bcp de langues que je veux entendre (is entendre "to learn?" >_< I get mixed up...).

Huff, so much thought required for French now. ;n; I used to be almost fluent, now I'm beginner or conversational at best.

[Nightbringer]

Haha, until one is really fluent it still requires quite a lot of thought. The simple conversational sentences come really simply for me but the slightly more complicated stuff still sometimes takes a minute.

"Apprendre" is learn, "entendre" is listen. But yeah they're pretty similar words so yeah. :)