Civilization Roleplay: Rise of Races

[Meiyuuhi]

A noble world much like our own circles around a medium-sized yellow star, on the outer rim of a spinning spiral galaxy. Though the sentient inhabitants of this world come in many different forms and shapes, with many different cultures and ideas, they have but one name for it: Nova Mondial. This day, however, on this lush and vibrant world, is like no other before it. It is a day without precedent, the beginning of a grand and beautiful story, full of war and terror, peace and love, and rising and falling, emerging slowly throughout the world. On this day the very first of this world's civilizations are about to arise, with the strike of flint against a rock and the rise of the ensuing flame. It rests on you to decide if you will join this story without end: the Civilization Roleplay.



Hello everyone, and welcome. The central concept of this RP is that of a planet in which multiple sentient species have developed, and are on the verge of forming the first civilizations. It is an incredibly open-ended concept with a lot of opportunity, which is why its first edition lasted three years on the Spore Forums before dying from lack of players. As a veteran of that old RP, I have been inspired along with a few of my fellow old players to create a new story. One with a different set of races on the same world, bound for a different destination. There are no plans to connect the old RP's universe to this one, but it draws inspiration from it and I hope that it will inspire the same variety of races and cultures, the same struggles of diplomacy and war, and the same enthusiasm and creativity it inspired in me when I first joined. This roleplay is not just about international relations, war, or technology, though. Its focus is primarily on developing cultures, stories, characters, and other things along the way. Other things will develop broadly and more gradually with time. Without further ado, I will establish the rules.

Guidelines for the sign up sheet are as follows: Your species must have characteristics reasonably close to that of humans, in terms of strength, speed, intelligence, etc. Deviation from this is only allowed if you have a corresponding weakness, for example a race with arrow-proof scales that is not as intelligent or a race that can fly that is also extraordinarily weak.

Everyone must start at a basic tribal level with technology such as rudimentary wood tools, cloth weaving and fire making. You can list two technologies that your species has that are above that basic level, for example archery, agriculture or stone tools. Your species can start with either one large village or several nomadic groups, but if you choose nomadic, you don't start with agriculture. How your culture uses them is up to you.

~Sign Up Sheet~

Name of Race:
Pic/Description (either one, but both is preferred):
Racial Characteristics (things specific to the race):
Race Bio (personality, etc.):
Location on Map:
Techs (specifically those not already given):

~The Map~

Physical:


Political:


Mihndar- Cindorayi
Aweirdgamer- Platta
MangoJuice- Rokthan

~General Rules~

GMs: Mihndar, Aweirdgamer, MangoJuice

1. No spam, especially in the In-Character thread.
2. No god-modding, insta-killing, insta-building (including walls), destruction unless the attacked agrees, and no meta-gaming (using information your race wouldn't know IC).
3. Combat should be fair, of course, and before any battle, you should post the stats of your troops, any buildings, and any other details. Though this is not required, it can help settle arguments.
4. Keep it realistic. Earth science is preferred, but I don't expect you to be a scientist. Just keep it real.
5. Though this is based on Spore, you aren't limited to the things you can do in that game. There's a lot you can do; be creative.
6. Correct spelling and grammar. Try to avoid short posts except for dialogue. Two paragraphs would be nice at minimum.
7. You must get my clearance or another GM's to start.
8. If you want to drop out, say so before hand. Randomly disappearing doesn't really help anybody.
9. Consequence. If you are in a war, your people suffer. If many of your soldiers die, you lose the battle.
10. Take your time in development.
11. If you didn't post it, it never happened.
12. Telephoning (back and forth posting between two or three people) is only allowed if it is just dialogue.
13. Following the path of technological development humans did is NOT required, but a logical time to pass before discovery of something is.
14. No In-Character posts that are nothing but saying nothing much is happening or someone is waiting for an answer. If you are waiting for someone, PM them or say so in the OOC.
15. Any form of traveling occurs during In-Character posts, unless it's pre-agreed upon to just occur by real-time.
16. Absolutely NO insulting other people.

If there are any questions about this roleplay or the original, feel free to ask. If you already have an idea in mind, feel free to post a sign up sheet. I don't intend for this to be incredibly in-depth, at least at the start, to make it more accessible for roleplayers of every caliber. I would like to post this properly by the end of the week, if there's enough interest.

If you are interested, the old RP

I recommend it if you are either want to know more how this roleplay works, want ideas, or are bored and feel like reading.

Civ RP 1, Tribal to Medieval Era: http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/list/21023.page
Civ RP 2, Industrial to Modern Era: http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/list/34469.page
Civ RP 3, Interplanetary Era: http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/list/47849.page
Civ RP 4, Stellar Era: http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/list/55860.page
Civ RP 5, Interstellar Era: http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/list/72710.page

~All credit to Nuvalord222, and thanks to DoctorWalrus~

[Dinh AaronMk]

>Civilization
>That old Sporum RP
>The legacy is back

[Chapatrap]

I can dig it.

[Meiyuuhi]

Name of Race: Cindorayi
Pic/Description (either one, but both is preferred): The Cindorayi are a fairly tall (six feet on average) bipedal species that are primarily humanoid with catlike characteristics, including claws, body fur, arched backs, and agile legs good at leaping.
Race Bio (personality, etc.): The Cindorayi are predominantly characterized by their standoffish and aloof attitude to the world outside their civilization. They are unlikely to intervene in the affairs of others. They are also defined by their preference for logical thinking, and tend to regard emotional concepts as lesser ideas. In Cindorayi culture females are generally accepted as having greater authority than males. Females perform most of the "higher" or thinking professions of society, while males perform most of the menial labor. Traditionally, the Cindorayi worship the moon. They begin as a nomadic group.
Location on Map: On the western peninsula, just past the small inlet in the center. Within a large forest.
Techs (specifically those not already given): Small boats, rope.

This is my sheet, as a sample for anyone to take ideas from.

[MangoJuice]

It's good to be back. I'll whip me up a character species sheet in a bit.

[MangoJuice]

Name of Race: Rokthan

Pic/Description (either one, but both is preferred): A race of snakelike creatures covered in scales and fins of various sizes and colors.


Racial Characteristics (things specific to the race): The Rokthan have the ability to glow in the dark after absorbing energy from the sun. Their glow may change in color depending on their mood, but most have a warm orange-red hue. Having no arms or legs, the Rokthan have evolved to be incredibly handy with their mouths. An ancient proverb once said: "Only two things could solve the Rubix Kube of A Thousand Tears. Its inventor, and a Rokthan with a few hours to kill." Rokthan typically burrow in the ground and on the side of cliffs. Rokthan are very small, only about 1.5 feet high counting their frills, so any species attempting to enter their dwellings would find themselves cramped to say the least. They lack gills, but can hold their breath for about six minutes (on average) underwater and are highly maneuverable in such an environment. Along with the ability to swim in water, the Rokthan are capable of slithering through sand and loose soil. This acts as a quick getaway, but any equipment must be left behind. Not only that, but their makeup will be totally ruined! Rokthan are carnivores.

Race Bio (personality, etc.): The Rokthan are highly religious, and very social... ...with their own kind. Other races are held in very high suspicion and treated as a possible threat to their health. That being said, diplomatic relations are not impossible. So long as one acts honorable and accepts the culture of the Rokthan peoples, they would find themselves with a very capable, yet somewhat xenophobic ally.

Location on Map: The southwestern end of the desert on the east side of the mountain range.

Techs (specifically those not already given): Living in the mountains have given the Rokthan a decent array of mineral based tools. Such as simple knives.

[Aweirdgamer]

Hello. I'm joining in this as well.

To note in advance, I'm not sure how active I'll be for the first few weeks, not that I won't try, but I shouldn't have trouble after that to post more regularly. That said, here's what my submission looks like:

Name of Race: Platta (pronounced like Platter with an -ah ending)
Pic/Description (either one, but both is preferred):

(click to go to Sporepedia entry on it)
Racial Characteristics (things specific to the race): The Platta shown is a relatively plain one, but not all are. Some are born with more pronounced coloration than others, and the areas may vary, but it doesn't change their abilities or personality directly. It's cosmetic only. Otherwise, they look and work pretty similarly. They have more aquatic-like hands due to the fact most are able to swim as a natural ability, but they aren't very fast nor can do it very long, even with training.
Race Bio (personality, etc.): The Platta are generally creative creatures and favor the arts of different kinds. Due to the needs of labor of civilization, this has been known to cause conflict between Platta sometimes on how labor and art should be prioritized and delegated. Otherwise, they are generally social and interested in learning in other cultures, and of ways of doing things. One of the earliest traditions of Platta, dating well before now, is that each individual must determine what their unique coloration represents about them. This has made them consider color as very important symbolically.
Location on Map: Just south of the central sea on both sides of the river.
Techs (specifically those not already given): basic dye-making, weaving
Starting size: large village using river fishing from swimming as primary food source.

[Urcica]

Oh this looks like so much fun :D May I join?

Name of Race: Katyusha

Picture/Physical Description: The silky, feathered form of the Katyusha stands a mere one meter tall on large, taloned feet. Their large white wings spread to a span of twice their height but are often folded meekly on their back so as not to get in the way of sport and merrymaking. Katyusha hands are little more than clumsy mitts, but their mouth-tentacles and tail are far more adept at subtle manipulation.
A Katyusha’s head is topped by a feathered crest (the larger and more colorful, the better) as well as two wavy plumes, the both used for mating, territorial, and social displays, and their round, deep eyes of light blue sit atop two massive gill-fins (now vestigial) which hang from their cheeks on either side of their mouth-tentacles. Eyes, mouth, feathers, and fins all work together to express a wide range of emotions.

Images: Spore creature, Sketch (ignore that clothing for now)

Racial Characteristics: Flight, great running speed, agility (used for both climbing and dancing), excellent night vision (but poor day-vision), and – while not great swimmers – they do not usually sink. Due to their thick yet light feathers and their tendency to huddle together like penguins, Katyusha are well adapted to cold climates; warm weather and daylight turn them sleepy, queasy, or dead.

Race Bio: What they lack in intellect, the Katyusha make up for with hardiness of will, lightness of spirit, and unquenchable curiosity. Rare is it to find a creature happier than a Katyusha who has spent the whole night dancing with its comrades on a newfound rocky beach, belting a long, bittersweet, otherworldly song at the moon and the stars. Katyusha are small but do all things in large groups and rarely fight amongst themselves (or at all), not even for mates or territory.
When cornered, a wounded Katyusha may attempt to batter its foe with its strong legs, but otherwise a Katyusha’s response to threat is, rather than crawl under a rock, to take to the skies or lead their predators on long chases across the tundra plains. They flee when they can, hide only when they cannot flee, and fight only when they cannot do either. Thus a Katyusha in battle is a sad sight indeed, for it has already accepted that it will come out at the wrong end of the bracket.
The Katyusha live in clusters of small colonies based in cliffside caves above rocky beaches – small communities spread over large areas to ensure they do not overcome their niche in what precarious ecosystem there is in those chilled wastes. Seminomadic, the Katyusha live for as long as it suits them in whatever area they please, moving on when food is at a shortage or when they become lost in the spellbinding morning light on the way back to the den after a long night spent dancing on the moonlit shore. In short, Katyusha are happy, determined, social creatures, who seem to think little of hardship and are always curious about the natures of things in this strange world they call home.

Location on Map: Perched precariously upon the icy northwestern coast, where sweeping tundra meet the hulking glaciers.

Techs: Primitive instruments (crude hide drums, wooden ocarinas), hilariously unreliable canoes

[MangoJuice]

@Urcica How's this?

[Urcica]

That's great! :3

[Meiyuuhi]

You're accepted, Urcica, and of course Aweird and Mango.

If we get a couple more sign up sheets I will go ahead and post the OP so we can start.

[GreyFox137]

Hey guys. I plan to post a species sign up on this, I've just got to figure out the fine details! Plan to post tonight!

Just giving a heads up!

[Dinh AaronMk]

All these clearly Sporum people.

Next Shade's going to magically appear.

[Neruu]

I wanted to get a picture of race but will have to do it tomorrow. Hope everything is all right took a lot longer to fill out everything than I thought it would. Took part of my last sporum signature to use for avatar here. If anything I need to change can change it. Got a little carried away with whole bio and personality part.

Name of Race: Alvith
Pic/Description (either one, but both is preferred): A adult Alvith at stands in range height of 8-9ft with a weight range of 760-936lbs. Alvith are a humanoid species with two arms, two legs, and long tails averaging at 5ft. Entire body of a Alvith is covered in thick scales that are colored earthy greens and browns. Each hand has three clawed fingers and a clawed thumb while feet have three clawed toes.
Racial Characteristics (things specific to the race): The Alvith large tails help propel them through water for a quick boost of speed though Alvith are poor swimmers. Scales that cover Alvith are thick providing a natural armor. Meat is the main diet of the Alvith though they are capable of eating other than meat a Alvith will get sick if majority of diet isn't meat. The scales of a Alvith have difficulty healing if damaged, if a scale is cut through it will scar leaving exposed weak point and if section of scales are cut off they do not grow back. Temperature extremes can affect a Alvith with extreme cold below freezing causing sluggishness in movements and the extreme heat above 95 degrees being dangerous to Alvith. The inability to deal with temperature extremes from scales not being good at keeping in heat in the cold and cannot sweat through scales in extreme heat. Due to size and demand running puts on a Alvith they cannot run on land for long distance. A brief sprint at best the Alvith fair better walking which makes running from danger not a option. The Alvith also reproduce slowly with a female only able to produce a single child every other year. Reasoning is not greatest with the Alvith and is reflected in how strength means everything in society for the Alvith. Complex reasoning to solve a issue does not come to mind of a Alvith. If a boulder is in way a group of Alvith will just try to brute force it away instead of trying to think of less labor intense way to deal with moving boulder.
Race Bio (personality, etc.): Strength is everything to the Alvith and to be weak is to be at bottom of social ladder. The strongest rule with absolute authority but are open to any challenger. Trials of combat for leadership are done by unarmed combat with first to fall unconscious or die being loser. If both go unconscious then first to wake is victor. All that matters in a leader is they are the strongest and win every challenge to rule. When a ruler dies of age the Alvith will fight for as many days of trials of combat it takes to decide the new leader. To kill others within same group outside trials of combat is punished by stripping of name and symbol of betrayal carved upon body for all to see. Those marked of betrayal are lower than weakest among a group of Alvith. The Alvith worship the sun as left eye and moon as right eye of the great serpent.
In Alvith mythology the great serpent died so corpse would become the land and left eye was to breathe life into land while right eye to observe death. Stars are seen as gleaming scales of great serpent. The sun viewed as left eye of great serpent associated with living life to fullest while moon right eye of the great serpent is associated with honoring the dead. The dead are burned only in bright sun or light of moon to show great serpent that a Alvith has lived a full life. Ashes are scattered to winds to be with great serpent. Those with mark of betrayal are not given honor and instead are buried to never be allowed to meet great serpent in sky.
The Alvith live as a single group in a large village that is run by strongest of the Alvith known as a Chief.
Location on Map: Smaller plains west of the mountains across the river branch that goes south.
Techs (specifically those not already given): Domestication(A race of boar like creatures they eat), Bone/Hide Huts (They build huts from bones and hide of creature they eat)

[sexxytexxy]

I'm probably gonna be in on this too.

[Meiyuuhi]

My only concern, Neruu, is that your race seems to have many strengths and only one apparent weakness. Strong, very large and heavy, and well disciplined in combat. Your race could very easily overpower any of the others.

[MangoJuice]

Guidelines for the sign up sheet are as follows: Your species must have characteristics reasonably close to that of humans, in terms of strength, speed, intelligence, etc. Deviation from this is only allowed if you have a corresponding weakness, for example a race with arrow-proof scales that is not as intelligent or a race that can fly that is also extraordinarily weak.

So you COULD make them that strong, but you would like, have to have them be as dumb as literal rocks or something.

[Neruu]

Did not notice that when working on sheet. Here is a bunch of weakness I can add to characteristics to the race. Hope its all right. Also decided to dumb them down by hampering them in reasoning department. Which will hamper them more as time goes on.

The scales of a Alvith have difficulty healing if damaged, if a scale is cut through it will scar leaving exposed weak point and if section of scales are cut off they do not grow back. Temperature extremes can affect a Alvith with extreme cold below freezing causing sluggishness in movements and the extreme heat above 95 degrees being dangerous to Alvith. The inability to deal with temperature extremes from scales not being good at keeping in heat in the cold and cannot sweat through scales in extreme heat. Due to size and demand running puts on a Alvith they cannot run on land for long distance. A brief sprint at best the Alvith fair better walking which makes running from danger not a option. The Alvith also reproduce slowly with a female only able to produce a single child every other year. Reasoning is not greatest with the Alvith and is reflected in how strength means everything in society for the Alvith. Complex reasoning to solve a issue does not come to mind of a Alvith. If a boulder is in way a group of Alvith will just try to brute force it away instead of trying to think of less labor intense way to deal with moving boulder.

Will edit them onto previous post if its all good. Weakened the scales and gave some negative side affects to them. Also due to size made Alvith not able to really run all that well and made them have slow reproduction.

[Meiyuuhi]

I think that looks great, Neruu. You're accepted.

Since we have the five sheets I wanted, I will be posting the thread tonight. I would like to get more people if possible though.

[Neruu]

Alright added the extra weaknesses to characteristics so its all together. Will probably not be able to post tonight in thread. Definitely will do a post tomorrow if threads up though.