The Campaign Builder's Guild

A large island; primordial beasts, men fending off with them; catastrophes and miracles. It's a good summary.
I have something of a fascination with ancient history. And this is a way for me, in sorts, to quench the thirst. So new fluff comes from time to time. I just hope you like it. :)


Stone Age
[note]Anything in italic is in-setting and thus said in the interlocutor's currently used language of thought, write or speech.[/note]
This world –technology level- will be mostly inspired by the Chalcolithic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chalcolithic) period.
Though, copper is not widely used just yet by all peoples, and many use the material primarily to craft objects of arts and meaning.

Spiritualism
Many different people inhabit the island-continent and their beliefs in life and the afterlife may differ greatly. While generally a superstitious bunch, some are more than others, and their religious practices vary in intensity and frequency.

There is, however, one truth behind all the stories. Soul is something as much shared as belonging to something. Everything has a soul, and a soul is everything. When a man dies, his soul still lingers until its material shell is too weak from the decomposition process, at which time it disperses into the collective energy, which is also a soul in itself. The Collective Energy, a sort of source-of-all-souls that cannot normally be seen nor touched, and is in fact quite difficult to explain as a matter, can, and will, react dynamically with individual souls. It would be sufficient to say that everything is recycled, to some extent and in some form or another.

Therefore, there is no afterlife like the commonly known concepts of heaven and hell, but only continuation. The many people of Primeval would chastise me for saying that.

The Lands Beyond
Traveling "beyond" is an adventure most are afraid of. However, some now have their eyes set on the horizon, or above, and are preparing their long and ambitious journey into the unknown.

The main landmass of this world covers an area of about four million and a half (4 500 000) kilometers square. It's diverse in ecology and climate, ranging from arid and barren landscapes to lush rainforests.

This island-ish continent has a few features of note, the most prominent being the Lever Noir; a constantly active volcano of considerable size right in the middle of the island.
Just north of the crust left by the volcano, which has accumulated over centuries, is a river that stretches all the way to the north, ending in the northern sea. Its waters also flow northward. It's generally called the Great River by those who live in its vicinity.
To the west of this river lies one of the greatest architectural creations of man. A ziggurat so immense and magnificent that first time visitors are almost always stricken with awe. The Jamibians, who live in the area, call it the Stairway to Heaven.
East of the Lever Noir, in the Jungle Verde, stands a tree so tall it seems to touch the sky. The tree itself is inhabited, its man-carved holes serving as houses and its branches as bridges between habitations. Its residents have baptized the tree Gaya.
To the extreme west, there is a strange crater. It seems to be "walled" by mountains that were once there, but of which now only remains little. Tall trees grow in there, and the canopy hides whatever lies within. People that live nearby say it's a dangerous place. They call it the Baturapi.



It has been thousands of years since the first man set foot on this vast territory. In general, most people agree that their ancestors are likely to have landed on the islands that make up the archipelago on the northwestern part of the main landmass, and many a story recount that it is from these heavenly beaches that their first heroes battled the dangers of the sea to finally land on the continent, to face even greater danger. Such stories are often a source of pride and even though these ancient and mysterious days are long gone, many elders tell the tale with a nostalgic tear in their eye.

It should be obvious that the various clans that flourished during this early period were not always on peaceful terms with each other. But there seems to be a constancy in the tales of then; they were highly cooperative, and all-out war was rare, if even existent at all. However the constancy is lost when we arrive at the scorched desert.  And there many names are summoned, and many personalities are evoked, but it would seem that the importance of the fraternal relationship between the tribes had greatly diminished, and some set for the coast north of the desert, while others, in probably greater numbers, went south.

From then on, it would seem that the Bas (the people that went southward) and the Hot (the people that went eastward) gradually peopled the whole continent. The Bas reached the wet jungles of the deep south, only to meet the infinite sea that laid on the horizon. They also met strange peoples to the east, below the titanic volcano that served as a landmark. These peoples were surely Hots, although no one was sure, and, in any case, Hots weren't really known as Hots.

The Hots were, although seemingly lesser in number than their south-going cousins, quicker settlers, and went across the desert and the Manugayatru to finally reach the Jijibaeh, an imposing mountain range south of the Jungle Verde.

The tall mountains of the northeast were long peopled by the Hots, but advances unto the peninsula's southern tip were slow, and even slower was the peopling of the islands, one of them huge, south of it.

This is a general history of demographics, and in no way does it take into account the devastating loss of people after the fall of the Baturapi that left an important crater and decimated entire tribes beside the Lever Noir; the Banghambu wave that sunk the southern jungles; the constant eruptions of the Lever Noir; the Cataclysm of the southern island; and the droughts that occur repetitively along the edges of the Jamibian desert. Among other catastrophes.



Jamibia is a long stretch of sand and dunes, spotted with the occasional maquis and savannahs. The Great River separates its western part from the eastern one. This river has long been a nest for mankind; its banks and immediate surroundings being more favourable to survival than the harsh deserts that expand to the east and the west.
West of the Great River lies tall mountains, first giant dunes but then maquis where a limited flora allows for survival.

Here, civilization is quite advanced; with social traditions based on a hierarchical system; various dialects, but a common (or official/preferred) tongue; art and letters of their own; and a serious worship of the God-King, Jamibia. While subcultures are indeed many, understandably so since the land covered is so vast, the people are united under the rule of Jamibia.
Slavery is a common thing here, and more common even is that most of them come from the north, where the Great River plunges into the ocean. These slaves are tormented day and night and their numbers dwindle. While it is true that most are treated with much disrespect, they can take pride in that they built the most magnificent and imposing structure man has ever made; the Stairway to Heaven, a ziggurat of immense proportions that acts as tribute to the Sun God and the God-King.

Life here is rather good if you are not from an enslaved family. As a recognized citizen, you can eat well enough and always have shelter.
Some select families have been elevated to a sort of noble rank and serve the God-King directly, helping him in his administrative duties. It seldom happens, but the God-King sometime enjoys the company of others and so, at times, loyal subjects are invited to stand at his side as advisers and whatnot. Note, however, that they would never dare think of themselves as advisers, but rather friends that will speak when asked to, for elevating one self to the same level, or higher, than Jamibia is sure to anger his divine person and bring holy wrath upon one's self.


A vast verdant jungle, strewn with rivers and ecologically rich and diversified, the region known as the Jungle Verde spans miles and miles. It's surrounded by mountains. Some, like the Lever Noir, are monstrously gigantic and pose as obvious borders between the jungle and what lies beyond.

Mankind can prosper here, despite the wide spectrum of dangerosities that make their lair in the territory's lush greenery and opaque underbrush. Most seem to have concentrated around Gaya, a tree of stunning magnitude. Within lives countless families, forever waging wars to lift their families to the starry skies that they say holds the power to godhood. Although from a foreigner's perspective the people might seem peaceful and united, it is far from so.

Rain is abundant here, and because of this the flora and fauna is extremely rich. Surviving here is more about knowing what is dangerous; like poisonous ingredients; voracious and aggressive animals; and competing clans.


It is an unforgiving land of unbearable heat and blurry sights. Its ground is layers upon layers of solidified magma, aerial creature droppings and boiling geysers. Even today more layers come to install themselves upon previous ones, slowly, but surely adding to the height of this plateau that is already impressive in height.

Mankind does not live there, nor should it. Strange beasts, mostly aerial, make their nest in this hellish land. Adventuring there is foolish, especially since the ever-active Lever Noir imposes its towering self right in the middle, continually spitting its infernal fluids all over the place.


Many hundreds of years ago, it was usual to see red sparks from the Lever Noir light the skies from time to time, but one night an unusual crimson dot lit up in the sky, and it only seemed to get bigger...

Hours passed and some realized doom was nigh. They held hands, danced and chanted, prayed and even sacrificed while the strange celestial body raced towards them at amazing speed. The impact would have been brief for them, for the comet had dug deep and wide into the very crust of the earth. The hole that it had created spanned for miles and miles and described a near perfect circle.

Today, the alien structure that came crashing is called the Baturapi, and its hole -which holds the same name- is entirely hidden by canopy. It is said that weird beasts wander inside, but also that the glowing flora is a sight that takes the breath away.


This gigantic island, southeast of the main landmass, had a natural wealth equaling places like the Jungle Verde. However, it's now mostly barren. The forests and plains of high grass are gone, now replaced with dirt and rock. There are circulating tales that tell of a cataclysmic event.

Hidden by mountains and almost entirely covered with fog, this swampy region has been forgotten by men, or by most of them, at least. Its damp forests are soaked in water and traversed by the Allway Bayou, a long river with countless "branches" that vein the entire territory, which looks like a leaf when seen from high above.

Those who live on the other side of its northern borders claim that abominations live in this hidden land. Stories of gutless, eyeless, headless men and animals are abundant, and their wailing is ever present in these tales, hence the naming of the place the Wailing Marshes.

This eerie place is not easily accessible, and the atrocities it seems to house make people think twice about adventuring on its grounds. Most prefer to keep to the waterways, but even its waters are tainted by the foul stench of evil.


Overseeing the Bay of Serenity and the eastern Sea, as well as the Manugayatru that walls the Jungle Verde, the Shekayah Mountains lies in the mountainous peninsula on the northeastern part of the continent. It is a very wild environment, with bears, felines, parrots and other exotic animals making the most of the region inhabitants. Though, long ago men established small communities and have since thrived in this otherwise dangerous place. These men are those we call the Shekayahs. They keep to themselves and follow strange long-standing traditions.

Primeval is not all about humans, although I seem to make this point at times. Here I will put a few brief descriptions (and perhaps further detail them in the future) of these monsters that lurk in the dark places of this world.

[ic=The Moaner]This creature is humanoid in appearance, and would seem like a lazy man from afar, walking slowly and in a sloppy manner, though from up close one would call this thing an abomination. Its skin, or the parts that remain attached to its body, is pale. Some of the organs are missing, or in a decomposed state.

They don't seem to be intelligent, and are often seen walking right into obstacles and tripping on obvious logs. Sometimes they fall right into water bodies, face down and seemingly incapable of swimming. Their outstretched movements cause them many misfortunes.

Although they do possess a kind of weird language, they don't seem to communicate between themselves. The only sound they seem capable of emitting is a guttural moaning that comes from the throat. Those who don't possess a throat don't seem to be able to make any sound.[/ic]

[ic=Ashbark]Around the periphery of the Crust, especially to the south on the Jungle Verde border, exists a rare breed of tree. These trees actually weren't always as such. They became what they are, rather than being born as they are.

Burned, these trees are piles of ashes, glowing fiery red as they are caressed by the wind. They feel as though alive, animated by some strange, primal energy. Yes, animated, but not quick and witty. Just like their more ordinary peers they stand idle, but when living bodies that irradiate a lot of heat comes near them, they seem to want to fall on them, and eventually do, inflicting painful burns upon their victims as well as filling their mouth and nose with ashes, causing suffocation.

One can make them out easily. They are light gray, like the ashes of a burnt log, and have no canopy. It is said that men who succumb to this tree's deadly attack will be reborn as Ashbark themselves.[/ic]

[ic=Arachnokos]Of a translucent, very light white, these tiny spiders are incredibly vicious. Their quasi-transparency and negligible size makes them extremely difficult to spot, and their bite releases a deadly toxin that is enough to kill a horse.

The insect may possibly originate from Padassos, though it is unknown how for they seem to keep away from water. It's possible they might have been brought on the mainland by the recent influx of Padassians.

Their preferred habitat is dense forests, which adds to their being difficult to sight.[/ic]

[ic=Kratas]The sighting of one of these is a rare occurrence, to be sure. Hiding deep within the bright flats of the desert, they only come out to meet the sun, it is said, each thousand years. For long they have been the stuff of legends, their bipedal immensity (About 200 feet in height), rock-solid skin, sharp claws and fangs and empty yellow eyes striking fear into the hearts of men.

Legend also has it that if the Sun-God wills it, he may abstain from smiting down these invincible titans and let them run rampant to punish mankind for their misdeeds.[/ic]

Achieving Mantra is next to impossible. This state of being is achieved through unlocking chakras for which tapping into the collective energy is necessary, and that is already an amazing feat in itself. Someone that acquires the power of Mantra radiates the divine and inspires awe. He has some control over the collective energy and can therefore tap into this source to produce extraordinary effects.

Chakra
Chakras are vortexes of energy, or gateways, in and on the body that link the individual soul to the collective one. Unlocking different chakras grant different effects, but none are harmful. There is a great number of ways to unlock chakras.






Catastrophes are commonly believed to be envoys of some greater power. He who watches delivers his messages in dreadful ways, and they are received with utmost caution, for their power supposedly bears meaning.

Their form vary, sometimes taking the form of a huge tidal wave flooding lands entire; or moving earth that causes major quakes; or spitting mountains whose unstoppable flows of unbearable heat propagate in all directions, threatening all life that lays in its way. At times they look like humanoids of fire, ice or mud. And sometimes they take under more mundane forms, like the miniature tornadoes whose strength cannot lift more than a few dried leaves. But they have meaning, or so they say...

Understanding Catastrophes
They are, in fact, what many other campaign settings would describe as Elementals. They are dormant entities that, when provoked, will rise and unleash their chaotic and unfathomable powers upon the world, decimating entire races at times. These "energies" have a proper parent element.






Ghosts exist in this world. Some appear in the material world under gaseous form, while others look like their original self from the mortal world. Each ghost has a different purpose; some of them have vile intents while others merely wish to guide and advise.

[ic=The Frontier Wars]The Frontier Wars is the term that defines the current geopolitical situation of the God-King – who repels the demonic invasion from the south, fights a rebellion in his easternmost territories and tries to make advances in the west. The latter is pretty much an abandoned project, but with the other two fronts calming down, many usher rumours of a flame rekindled; the sparkle in the God-King's eyes as he dreams of basking in the waters of the Heaven Stream.[/ic]

[ic=Jamibia, the God-King]One of the people's favourite tale is that of the birth of the God-King and his heroic acts that led to the unification of the tribes along the Great River, and farther away even, to put a halt on the supremacy of the northern, oppressive people of the Logosu.

Born from parents on the run, the God-King's early life is one of many hardships. Apparently, the tribe from which he hails was sought out by the Logosu who thought that eating their flesh and drinking their blood bestowed upon them supernatural powers that made them stronger than others.

After many years on the run, he and his parents, as well as others, were captured by the Logosu and brought to the coastal village of Regesh. It was then that his mother and father were treated in vile manners and finally executed, in front of his very eyes. Weirdly enough they dared not free him from his cage like the others, so that they could use him for manual labour. Instead they would nag and torture him daily, hopefully shattering his will and sink him into despair. However, their tactic seemed not to work. Quite the opposite in fact, with every insult and injure he grew in ferocity. According to some elders, it was strange that he was kept alive for so long, being the troublesome prisoner that he was, and none really knows the reason for this.

Jamibia, the mortal name of the God-King, had the sympathy of his fellow slaves and tribesmen who had not died yet and had seen the torment he was inflicted. It took one simple turn of a hand to liberate the man. It was Ruobingo, a slave messenger of little importance that set the man free at night.

Upon his illicit release he freed all the other slaves and slaughtered those who had done them, and their close ones, wrong. The carnage was silent and very much one sided; the Logosu did not foresee such a sneaky, yet ferocious attack.

After his impulse he fled towards his place of birth, the mountains and maquis of the desert, with many of the freed slaves to start life anew. But the thirst for revenge was greater than he would admit openly, and no one was fool enough to think they were safe from the northern cannibals. It was decided that the Logosu people needed to be eradicated. However it was impossible, with their current numbers, to make this reality. So they set to forge alliances with the different tribes that live along the Great River, most of which also struggle with the Logosu.

After weeks of negotiations and meetings, the God-King finally persuaded the different local powerholders that his cause, as much as his person, was just and divine and that they needed to be rid of the slavers up north. He was able to gather the necessary resources and political power to launch an invasion of the north to try and subjugate his most heinous enemies.

Great battles were fought over many weeks, and his army advanced steadily until it reached the final battle, where it was concluded that only divine beings may battle other divine beings. Jamibia and Lugo, suzerain of the Logosu people, fought before their armies, showing their martial skills. For a few seconds the battle seemed to be a close one, but Jamibia quickly took the advantage, anger and madness undeniably defining his facial traits and ferocity.

Lugo was ultimately beaten, and his people made prisoners. There were hundreds of them, but those allied with Jamibia were even more numerous. The cannibal sovereign was given a terrible death sentence where his own men would punch him until the newly acclaimed God-King was satisfied. War, the demands of the people and his beliefs compelled him to slaughter the majority of the prisoners, and he did so in such a cold way that it would, in fact, change him forever and turn some of his more moderate allies against him.

The God-King returned to the place he found most comfortable, the Maquis of Heaven, to found Maga Jamibia, the new centre of civilization. He demanded tribute and loyalty from his allies, which he now considered vassals, of a sort. He made his mother-tongue the one true tongue; developed a written form for his language that used glyphs and numerics; set up a social hierarchy that allowed him limitless power; and forbid the worship of any but the Sun God, of whom he was a mortal representative.

While some actions he undertook did not please some of his allies, they generally held him in high regards and would often end up thinking it was for the best. That, they still do. His most loyal vassals commissioned a temple be built as tribute to him and his father, the Sun. This temple, a ziggurat of considerable size, was named the Stairway to Heaven, and is the God-King's prime tool to spread his influence.

(http://i41.tinypic.com/2a50nc3.jpg)[/ic]

[ic=The Padassian Disaster - First Part]The dais on which sat the man who had conquered the most powerful tribes of Padassos was richly decorated; with precious stones carved into the intricate patterns of the mahogany throne; with carpets made from the skins of tigers and panthers; and with luminous sorcery brightening the hollow eyes of animal trophies. A score of mostly naked men shouldered the platform, bringing the king wherever he desired.

The man who sat on the throne, no more than thirty years of age, claimed a most noble ancestry. From the ancients he had inherited frightening powers and a right to rule. He was bald and muscular; tall and tanned; and wore very little. A radiant white cloth made of silk hung from his waist to hide his manly parts and a pair of caligae protected his feet. Both his ears and his nose were pierced, and he sported finely crafted bone decorations.

It's in this manner that he emerged from the southern jungles into the vast plains leading to Harnaxes with an army of tattooed and masked exhibitionists to finally become the ruler of the lands. Through the green expanse until the Lympian heights, where a fierce tribe would fight to near extinction; through the lavender waters of the Purple River to the narrow coastal passage that is the Valor Pass and into the Asinas mountains, where their battle cries had been heard for the last time; Perses, the young and powerful leader from the south, had defeated his enemies and united the various tribes of Padassos under his rule.

However, even that was not enough for the ambitious king. He saw himself as a divine being, better than his peers in every way. Only a few weeks after he had subjugated the most powerful clans of the continent island he called for an assembly in Harnaxes, where all subjects were ordered to kowtow and hail him as the only true god. To assert his dominance over his people, he called forth five thousand shackled men and lined them up between he and those assembled. At the snap of his finger, his loyal army beheaded these prisoners of war. It was a carefully prepared spectacle meant to intimidate his subjects. The message could not be clearer: oppose me and you shall die.

But such a cruel act would soon have repercussions that even the self-made god, in his frenzy to be seen as divine, did not foresee. Rebellious thoughts clouded the mind of quite a few important men, whether they were from the conquered tribes or from the tyrant's own entourage.

(http://i39.tinypic.com/vg7r7l.jpg)     (http://i41.tinypic.com/epq641.jpg)[/ic]

[ic=The Padassian Disaster - Second Part]Months passed and a plot was brewing. Individuals with the desire, the means and influence gathered secretly to plan the removal of Perses. It was widely agreed that they would need the guidance of the ancients to rival the tyrant's great powers. The founders of their people would have to be called down on earth, that in itself being an amazing feat, and persuaded that a direct descendant had become corrupt.

They struck on the eve of Perses' scheduled second Declaration. Reunited with the self-acclaimed god in his royal chambers for preparations, they performed a complex ritual to summon the ancients and seal the king's powers away. However, Perses was not to be undone so easily. Even through his induced trance he could sense that something wrong was going on. He fought the ancients in a battle of wills and prevailed. As he awoke, his detractors had nearly tapped into his soul, the final step before completely removing his spiritual essence which gave him his amazing powers. In a rage he screamed and repelled their spiritual invasion, not seeing that he was releasing an insane amount of essence.

What followed is uncertain. What is certain, however, is that the second Declaration never happened. The whole island had been ravaged overnight; its forests and grasslands now barren wastes, its waters poisoned; and the air heavy. Even the sky had changed from the usual clear blue to a dark purple and the clouds from white to dark grey.

People had changed too. They were now only an image of their former self. Their translucent bodies glowing with spiritual essence like the spirits of their ancients. They could pass through matter and felt no need to sleep nor eat.

Perses was still of this world, as was his detractors. But neither of them knew how to get rid of the other. It is ironic that Perses would live as an equal among his peers, and that his peers would have to live in a world where the tyrant still existed.[/ic]

[ic=The Padassian War]The people of the continent-island had not been united for centuries, the founders having broken into a few distinctive clans as they spread throughout the land. Remembering only vaguely that they once were one, the leaders of those groups now sought to dominate the others and rule supreme, their ambitions well served by the legendary past.

One of the kings, Alibarsanes, inherited the kingdom of his father Orodontases and his claim on the most noble of all bloodlines; that of Padassos, the legendary warrior who had arrived from the distant north to settle on the fertile lands of the central plains. He could count on a battle-proven cavalry to protect his realm, and on his claim to nobility to remain in power. However, stories made their way into the confined chambers of the royal palace in Harnaxes that an upstart king from the southern jungles also claimed such noble ancestry. It had been a priority of his to deny the southern king, Perses by name, access to the grasslands of his home. But a propaganda war to incite a rebellion was not his only worry. To the north, past the Purple River and into the Lympian heights lived a fierce mountain tribe led by the courageous Tripaeus. The barbarians descended every spring into the rolling hills on the southern side of the river to raid. It was important for Alibarsanes to deploy resources to protect his subjects, for his power also derived from being able to project power everywhere in his kingdom. If the barbarians were not dealt with, the ripple effect would be catastrophic.

As if both nuisances were not enough, another key player had recently made his entry into the politics of the great Padassian leaders. Mattidus and his tribe resided on the Asinas mountains past the Valor Pass. They had long kept to themselves and communicated primarily with the barbarians of the Lympian heights. However, stories have it that a deal was struck between the two tribes where, after oaths were exchanged, they agreed to simultaneously raid the central plains, thus opening a new front in the west where Alibarsanes would be forced to deploy resources.

At first only the three leaders battled, but as the war dragged on and all parties involved saw their resources diminish, Perses appeared on the plains of Oyomos and forced Alibarsanes to assemble his mighty army to face his. The powerful leader was in a pinch. Perses had at last shown himself and thus had become the prime threat, but both Mattidus and Tripaeus still wrecked havoc on his lands. He would have to deal with the young king swiftly, so, in a move that would prove to be disastrous, he recalled all his men to fight on the Oyomos plains.

The legends of Padassos tell that their people once had extraordinary powers; lifting elephants with a few fingers, breathing green fire and persuading even the most stubborn of men, for example. All of that had been thought to be legend, but Perses himself shown Alibarsanes that such power still resided within the true descendant of the ancients.

The conqueror, an hereditary title of the king of the central plains, had most of his army wiped by the sorcery of the young king. What everyone thought to be the most powerful army the world would ever know was reduced to nothingness by just a few hundred sorcerers. He finally submitted, only to be executed. The conqueror was no more.

Upon hearing this, the barbarians -while courageous and proud, were above all highly practical- surrendered without a fight and pledged to serve the true descendant of Padassos. A few pockets of resistance still dotted the land, but Perses had won the war and he wasted no time in asserting his dominance over his new subjects with Declarations.[/ic]

[ooc=Comment]Primeval has been on hiatus for about a year now, but I've recently had some inspiration for it. It was one of my first projects, and I think it has potential. So I will be working on it again and hopefully make it into something cool and somewhat authentic.

And yeah, there should be more coming in the near future.[/ooc]

Looks awesome!  I have a ton of questions, but I'll wait until you post more, since you'll probably answer most of them.

[ooc=Comment]Added a map of the place on which I focus my attention and a small primer on a few prominent features.[/ooc]

Awesome map.  So you've got a shield volcano?  Is it a typical one or a pyroclastic one?  Also (not mentioned), it looks like you quite a large river system in th east; is that like an amazon/oronoco flow type thing?  Can we expect a rain forest there?  What do the natives say about the island to the southeast?

[ooc=Answer to Humabout's questions]Interesting questions, here are some answers.

On the volcano question, I would say it's a cross between typical and shield volcano. It's typical, though it erupts huge amounts of fluid lava, like shield volcanoes, that solidify and form pyroclastic rock. In fact, reaching the Lever Noir is nearly impossible, and getting there means climbing to the plateaus that its flows created over the centuries.

Yes, where there is a lake and a network of rivers going three ways is a jungle (the Jungle Verde). A tropical rainforest you could say. The rivers, I guess, could be compared in some ways to both of those you mentioned, but their configuration isn't the exact same obviously. Also, at first glance it's hard to tell, but you can see the Gaya tree on the western banks of the lake.

Information on the southern island is coming, and I think it's going to interest you very much. I won't spoil anything for the moment.

And yeah, the map is pretty cool, thanks to Kapt'n'Lath.[/ooc]

How old is the ziggurat? If it's really huge, it must have been built by a rather advanced (for the era) and wealthy civilization - one that'd been around a lengthy time before the construction even begun. Assuming there were no supernatural forces involved, of corse.

[ooc=Answer to Ghostman's question]
Good question Ghostman.

Construction of the main structure has been finished for about half a century now, and finished is a strong word. Everyday, skilled workers and slaves beautify the structure; by carving symbols and drawings into the sun-died mud-bricks, or applying colourful dyes on the glyphs, or by carefully placing altars and artifacts in the complex, and expanding it.

Construction on this -monument- was started about twelve decades ago, when Jamibi unified the Jamibians. In truth, a stunning majority of the workers were slaves. But few slaves are left on the main structure now. They are mostly busy expanding the structure by building temples around the site.

Edit: Also, there isn't nearly as many slaves as there were at the peak of the main structure's construction. Most have gone to other tasks throughout the past years or died. It's possible some rose to what could be considered "respectful citizens".[/ooc]

The subtitle is "Clash of Civilizations."  Which civilizations are clashing and how?  And where?  And why?

I really like this feel. I have always wanted to play in a setting where civilization was just beginning to get off the ground. I am also eager to see more posted.

[ooc=Reply]@Humabout: I meant to write something on this yesterday, but was in a hurry and left. Though I did give it some thoughts and I think I don't really have to mention much about it. It's sort of a... theme. See my Imperialism section to give yourself an idea. Besides, alot of the information I will be dropping here will end up answering your question.

Thanks Horse, I should be making available more stuff in the coming days.[/ooc]

Catastrophes are commonly believed to be envoys of some greater power. He who watches delivers his messages in dreadful ways, and they are received with utmost caution, for their power supposedly bears meaning.

Their form vary, sometimes taking the form of a huge tidal wave flooding lands entire; or moving earth that causes major quakes; or spitting mountains whose unstoppable flows of unbearable heat propagate in all directions, threatening all life that lays in its way. At times they look like humanoids of fire, ice or mud. And sometimes they take under more mundane forms, like the miniature tornadoes whose strength cannot lift more than a few dried leaves. But they have meaning, or so they say...

Understanding Catastrophes
They are, in fact, what many other campaign settings would describe as Elementals. They are dormant entities that, when provoked, will rise and unleash their chaotic and unfathomable powers upon the world, decimating entire races at times. These "energies" have a proper parent element.

Here's an example (Beware, this isn't necessarily –true lore-); Men on the southwestern coast of the main landmass have been fishing a rare specimen for years, no, decades. One day, a tsunami came unannounced and flooded the entire region, changing the land into a humid swamp forever. The tidal wave was thought to be god's will, though the survivors don't know exactly what his message was, and are still seeking answers.

[ooc=Jamibia]Added Jamibia, on the second post in this thread, under the map. It's short, and there are more details to come, eventually... but enjoy![/ooc]

[ooc=Jungle Verde]Added Jungle Verde, on the second post in this thread, under the map. Again, it's short, but is meant to be a description of sorts before I go deeper into details. I plan to do this with most places before really going into the details, but I'll be happy to answer any specific questions if my thoughts are set on an answer.

Enjoy the read![/ooc]

[ooc=The Crust]Added The Crust, on the second post in this thread, under the map. As I said before, it's a simple description of the area, and more shall come later.[/ooc]

[ooc=The Moaner]Added the Moaner, on the third post in this thread. Enjoy![/ooc]

Are the moaners just zombies with a different name, or are they something different? They sure fit the classical zombie bill by that description.

Looks good, so far.  I see lots of room for genocidal wars and zombie plagues.  Do the Voltaic Plateaus have anything to do with electricity or batteries?  Just wondering because of the name.

[ooc=Answers]@Ghostman - Exactly. They are classical zombies. Thought I'd give them a new name, and thought that this one was fitting.

@Humabout - Apparently, I've done a super-mistake here. Thought Voltaic meant something in the "volcano" vocabulary, aside from it being 'active' like a battery activates things. I will get to a name change soon. Damn me for not giving this a thorough research.

Thanks for reading! :P

EDIT: Changed Voltaic Plateaus to "The Crust"[/ooc]

[ooc=Wisparia]Added Wisparia, on the second post in this thread, under the map. It is intended as a super-land-of-super-adventures, so that's why there's so much... intrigue and thrill in this very short description.

Also, for those who wonder where it is situated, it's the southeastern island in the map, the one Humabout was asking about earlier in the thread.[/ooc]

I think this style of setting might benefit from Random Encounter Tables as a method of expos'e. Anyway I really was inspired by Catastropes, a most worthy take on Elementals that doesn't require a vast associated cosmos.

[ooc=To Tangent_Jaerc]

Quote from: Tangent_JaercI think this style of setting might benefit from Random Encounter Tables as a method of expos'e.

Could you explain what you mean here please? I'm not sure I understand a hundred percent.

Oh, and thank you for reading, and for the nice comment.[/ooc]

http://dndwithpornstars.blogspot.com/2009/12/hexcrawls-worldbuilding-vs-microlite-vs.html

[ooc=To Tangent_Jaerc]Interesting, I read most of it. Thanks for the link.

I think I'm already using much of what's been talked about in that link, and plan to keep going in the same direction. Of course I'm not using Hexagons, and will never do that, ever. I invite anyone who decides to play in my fantasy world to use it if they so wish, though.

For me, world building is an inward creation process, going from vague and wide to highly descriptive and focused. I think this method allows for a sort of, infinity. And let's you experience different stages of the creation process.

I also think that world building is more of a long term hobby, than a short one. So I'm not really concerned about how (the idea behind) I present it right now, as long as it's organized and comprehensive. Above all, i want to enjoy doing it and really enjoy it more if other people think it's cool. Right now Primeval is in its infancy, but in a year I think we will be able to look at it and say "Nice, there's been some work in this one, and it's looking pretty good!"[/ooc]

[ooc=The Wailing Marshes]Added The Wailing Marshes, on the second post in this thread, under the map. This one is also intended as a super-land-of-super-adventures. It is interesting also because there is actual human civilization in this region, although I didn't really make a big point for that. More detail to come, eventually.

Enjoy the read![/ooc]

Ghosts exist in this world. Some appear in the material world under gaseous form, while others look like their original self from the mortal world. Each ghost has a different purpose. Some of them have vile intents while others merely wish to guide and advise.
It is not every deceased man -or creature- that can come back into the mortal world to haunt or help, and it's still unclear what the conditions are for the deceased to be able to come back into the world as ghosts.

Lately there has been increased sightings of these spirits, and many among them talk -or, rather, whisper in their deep and echoing voices- about a great land far away called Padassos. These spirits are tough to discern from the usual ghosts, but one can identify one of these by asking it to touch sea water, for upon coming in contact with it they will experience tremendous pain.

oh, i do like supernatural stuff.  Where do ghosts come from?  What about spirits?  Do you know anything more about Whisperers?

[ooc=Answers for Humabout]It's a mix of superficial and reality. Spirits are more about the inner searching for clues, for strength, for hope. They are dreams, more than reality. But make no mistake, they can be as real as ghosts ! I'm not sure it's needed to post more on those two, but if I have something more, I'll throw it out there.

As for the Whisperers, of course. Yes, they come from somewhere. Where though? That shall be revealed later. I know much more about them, but all in good time. I first wanted to set the basics of these spirit things. You can probably already take a good guess, with what's been released previously.[/ooc]

Mantra is a mysterious thing. It's the inner strength all humans posses but don't know about. Far greater is the wisdom of these ascetics who learned how to tap into this source.

Masters of this art have been incredibly hesitant to reveal any secrets. And so the capabilities of this new –thing- remain unclear. Though, there is widespread belief that Mantra confers its user with god-like powers.

To be blessed with the power of Mantra, one has to unlock different Chakras. These Chakras are vortexes of energy in and on the human body. The location of these vortexes may differ from one another. Chakras themselves, when mastered, grant their user mystical powers, although not as long lasting and powerful as Mantras.

[ooc=Shekayah Mountains and Mantra]Added Shekayah Mountains, on the second post in this thread, under the map. Probably the shortest description, though the reasons for that are made obvious in the very description.

I foresee questions upon this new Mantra thing, so the post just above this one is dedicated to a short explanation.[/ooc]

Going for some Indian mysticism there, I see. Are you planning to post detailed information on those powers or is it intended to be something left in the dark? Do Shekayahs ever leave their mountains to visit other lands?

[ooc=Answer to Ghostman]There may be, at times, more detail of these powers, but you are right in assuming information about it is "kept in the dark", as my description seems to imply anyways.

"...These peaceful and ascetic men usually keep to themselves..."

"...Masters of this art have been incredibly hesitant to reveal any secrets..."

That being said, I did employ the words "usually" and "hesitant", so yeah more detail on that may come later. And, I have intended them to play a BIG PART in this "Clash of Civilizations" thing. That too, though, will remain in the dark until I am at that point where I release information on that.

Thanks for taking the time![/ooc]

So far, Primeval looks very promising. I haven't seen many 'Stone Age' settings, and this one seems quite engaging. I look forward to learning more about it.

I hope that at least one civilization, maybe the Jamibians, use obsidian - with a large, active volcano nearby, there could be plenty of it.

However, I have a few questions. 600,000 sq. miles is somewhat small to be the main landmass of the entire planet (though maybe if it were smaller than Earth, or is just covered mostly by water) - that's the same area as Mongolia. You mentioned that leaders have their sites set on distant lands - maybe there are more landmasses, just too far away to be of much concern to the main setting?

I also wonder how they know there are distant lands at all. From what I remember, Chalcolithic cultures were slow to spread or explore.

I will keep up with this setting as you develop it - it sounds like it would be fun to adventure in.

[ooc=Answer to Skyfall]Very good question.

Who uses obsidian is still to be determined, but of course I did have my ideas about that. And you're spot on that the Jamibians might be the one exploiting it the most, though that still has to, like I said, be determined.

The area is basically the size of Afghanistan, yes.

I don't remember stating that this landmass was the whole planet. And it is indeed not. If you look at it this way, they are very far apart considering that people in that day and age do not have cars, or planes. They have to walk these great distances through very dangerous environments.

Yes, there are distant lands. Maybe I will talk about them... when I think about them. But basically this is just a cushion for me to make possible interesting plots and whatnot, in the future.

If the people living in the Chalcolithic era in real life were slow to spread and explore, it doesn't mean they are in my setting. Since this is a fantasy setting, anything can happen! Haha

Thanks for the comment man, very appreciated. I'm very busy these times around, but I'll try to write a little more stuff if I can soon.[/ooc]

[ooc=A bit more added]I added stuff on The Frontier Wars (fourth post first page) and another creature; the Ashbark (second post first page). I hope to be able to post more about Primeval in the coming month. Surely playing Diablo III (when I get it) will give me alot of inspiration, as it is what fueled my imagination when I first created this setting, a bit more than a year ago.[/ooc]

Some people have been asking me about Primeval recently, and I did promise to bring them a little something. I decided to go with a biography of a very important personage. There might be many mistakes, and the structure may seem kind of messy at times, but overall I think it's good stuff that I can post right away and review later when I have some more time. Enjoy.

(Moved the biography to the first page)

How did the people come to regard Jamibia as divine? Did he perform some apparent miracle or something?

Also, the biography alternates between past tense and present tense, which is pretty confusing.

Intresting biography.  Like Ghostman said, a bit confusing in writing style, but content-wise, enjoyably messed up.  Frankly, now I find myself interested in Jamibia than other places.  Defnitely did a lot for the feel of the place.

[ooc=Answer]@ Ghostman: The divinity of Jamibia is more like that of Caesar. It is mostly self-proclaimed (or, proclaimed by the successor for his own interests), but people really believe it. He's saved them from the grasp of the Logosu after one year in a lonely cell that rendered him weak, he's become extremely intimidating, he seems to be without peers on the political stage (unification, power control & consolidation) as well as on the military stage (many victories, only one defeat: which, by the way, it's not written in my text, but made it sound like it wasn't a defeat, but that it was more pressing to put the eastern people to rest than reach the Heaven Stream, at the time).

These are vague (but let's underscore the people's traditions and mentality) points that would make him seem like a superior human, a divinity.

But let's not forget the work of the most loyal noble families, who help shape and spread his image.

@Humabout: Thanks man :)[/ooc]

Hey, I just read the Jamibian God-King section, in addition to the blurb about Jamibia in the beginning of the thread.  Super dark, but it totally colors that culture in.  Also, the slavery not resulting from perceived inequalities but as a cultural revenge is glorious.  Incidentally, I wanted to just say, thank you for the Stairway to Heaven.  I chuckled.

I wokred on a stone-age setting ages ago, but I never did figure out how to differentiate cultures effectively.  I also had problems trying to create a space for the motif of the adventuring party, that crosses great differences and generally is a motley crew of multicultural joy.  I see in Jamibia that you're certainly succeeeding in giving cultures a strong identity, but I'm curious how you would set this up as a playable game?

In any case, great work.  I enjoyed the read.

[ooc=Answer to Numinous]Well this is something I explained to some of the guys here at the CBG, but that I might not repeat often enough. I don't really... well, play or GM any games. I just write as a relief; a sort of releasing the insanities, as well as the magnificence I guess, that swirls in my brain, like non-stop. (Ok, that one is debatable...)

So I didn't try to put it into a gaming perspective, at all. But I can see how easy it is for somebody to just pick Primeval off and start playing in it. It's as easy as any other world to be honest. The key thing, I think, will be how interested you are and how good you are in, first immersing yourself, but then immersing your players the fictional world.

Just to name one gaming possibility; monsters. The whole island (continent maybe) is so vast and so diverse, and since this is a fantasy world, anything could emerge. You want to throw a mega-demon at your primitively-equipped party? Be my guest...
Or then maybe you'd like the Logosu to have their own revenge? Or the eastern people of the savannah? Or the Mantra-users spread their knowledge, and you make your players deal with the grand ramifications of this? Or perhaps they've gone mad because of Wisparias inhabitants (spoiler semi-intended here, to come some day)? I mean... you make it what you make it, really.

---

Well, Jamibians only have a strong identity because Jamibia is there to pull the strings, but remember that his people are a coalition of several tribes (Bagas, his own Yamiya tribe and others, many others, that I haven't named). It's truly not solid at all, but Jamibia commands respect, has alot of influence (especially now) and it's in the interest of the other tribes to just ''follow the leader''. Culture is suuuuccccchhhhhh a big part of this world, everyone of them is malleable.

---

Thanks for reading man, I appreciate it alot. And yeah, the Stairway to Heaven thing... so intentional :P[/ooc]

[ooc=Update (Addition)]Added a new Conflicts & Lore entry: The Cataclysm - The Story of Wisparia and the Whisperers
On the 1st page in the 4th or 5th post.[/ooc]

[ooc=Update (Addition)]Added a new Bestiary entry: Archnokos
On the 1st page in the 3rd post.[/ooc]

First of all, let me just say that I really do like this setting. Which makes it hard for me when I reached the section of Jamibia, read the line "raped continuously throughout their lives", and felt the all-to-familiar sensation of the bile rising in my throat. I get it, rape happens. Hell, the concept of rape being a major taboo didn't exist until very recently and certainly wasn't a part of any culture that had slaves. I could get into the whole argument that gets brought up all the time about George R. R. Martin's work, but I don't want you to feel that I'm skewering you too viciously.

But anyways, I feel like we all know that it's going to be a thing. So why do you need to not only state it out explicitly, but give them a special little title to go along with it? If there's slaves, it's implied that they're going to be making more slaves and any consent is probably going to be dubious at best, but isn't all that nastiness just implicit in the institution? I absolutely hate hate hate it when rape gets brought up a cheap plot point or a way of characterizing a villain, and while they may not be on here, I know plenty of other gamers who hate hate hate it as well. It instantly, invariably sours my opinion of any setting, and I don't want to hate this setting: apart from that, I really don't, but this is absolutely a make-or-break issue for me. I'm certain there are other settings that are just as guilty of this, but yours was just the unlucky one I happened to spot. For the last time, I'm not judging you the writer, I don't think you're some horrible misogynist or anything; I just want to point out that there was one detail I consider largely superficial to the entire setting nevertheless snuffed out my enjoyment of it instantaneously.

[ooc=Answer to Superbright]I really perceived your comment well, I think it's good constructive criticism. I won't change it now, but I'll definitely be working on that next.
(It's just a minor modification, really, but I thought the scene was good to be made explicit for the sole reason that it underscored one of the big points of why Jamibia was so angry about the Logosu. But you made me think about it, and I think it can easily be made to feel the same (the text), while also keeping that small part out.)

(And I know you're probably aware, but I did specify that this biography was intended for mature audiences. Anyways, thanks :P)[/ooc]

Quote from: SuperbrightIf there's slaves, it's implied that they're going to be making more slaves and any consent is probably going to be dubious at best, but isn't all that nastiness just implicit in the institution?

I don't think these implications are quite as clear as you think they are. For example, the Greeks housed their male and female slaves separately and weren't particularly fond of them breeding, and other slave-owning cultures allowed slaves to have families with (ostensibly) consensual pairings. The term "slave" has had a lot of differing connotations over the course of history, and being too locked into any particular one can lead to confusion and assumptions that turn out to be false.

That is true sparkletwist. The Romans, too, had interesting traditions as to the use of slaves. They even had a holiday in the times of the old Republic where the slave would take the place of the master. Most of them were treated quite fairly, for slaves (except those that worked the camps), and could even reproduce, but their children would be slaves too. Anyways, you're right.

Quote from: sparkletwist
I don't think these implications are quite as clear as you think they are. For example, the Greeks housed their male and female slaves separately and weren't particularly fond of them breeding, and other slave-owning cultures allowed slaves to have families with (ostensibly) consensual pairings. The term "slave" has had a lot of differing connotations over the course of history, and being too locked into any particular one can lead to confusion and assumptions that turn out to be false.

I was thinking more along the lines of Biblical slavery, actually. Greece and Rome had much more developed ideas of rights and liberties than I imagine even the most liberal of this setting's civilizations.

Glad to see you are still working on this!  I'm going to give it a proper retread tomorrow after work.  Until then, keep up the awesomeness, man!

It has been thousands of years since the first man set foot on this vast territory. In general, most people agree that their ancestors are likely to have landed on the islands that make up the archipelago on the northwestern part of the main landmass, and many a story recount that it is from these heavenly beaches that their first heroes battled the dangers of the sea to finally land on the continent, to face even greater danger. Such stories are often a source of pride and even though these ancient and mysterious days are long gone, many elders tell the tale with a nostalgic tear in their eye.

It should be obvious that the various clans that flourished during this early period were not always on peaceful terms with each other. But there seems to be a constancy in the tales of then; they were highly cooperative, and all-out war was rare, if even existent at all. However the constancy is lost when we arrive at the scorched desert.  And there many names are summoned, and many personalities are evoked, but it would seem that the importance of the fraternal relationship between the tribes had greatly diminished, and some set for the coast north of the desert, while others, in probably greater numbers, went south.

From then on, it would seem that the Bas (the people that went southward) and the Hot (the people that went eastward) gradually peopled the whole continent. The Bas reached the wet jungles of the deep south, only to meet the infinite sea that laid on the horizon. They also met strange peoples to the east, below the titanic volcano that served as a landmark. These peoples were surely Hots, although no one was sure, and, in any case, Hots weren't really known as Hots.

The Hots were, although seemingly lesser in number than their south-going cousins, quicker settlers, and went across the desert and the Manugayatru to finally reach the Jijibaeh, an imposing mountain range south of the Jungle Verde.

The tall mountains of the northeast were long peopled by the Hots, but advances unto the peninsula's southern tip were slow, and even slower was the peopling of the islands, one of them huge, south of it.

This is a general history of demographics, and in no way does it take into account the devastating loss of people after the fall of the Baturapi that left an important crater and decimated entire tribes beside the Lever Noir; the Banghambu wave that sunk the southern jungles; the constant eruptions of the Lever Noir; the Cataclysm of the southern island; and the droughts that occur repetitively along the edges of the Jamibian desert. Among other catastrophes.


*** I will also post this on the main page, under the map.

Many hundreds of years ago, it was usual to see red sparks from the Lever Noir light the skies from time to time, but one night an unusual crimson dot lit up in the sky, and it only seemed to get bigger...

Hours passed and some realized doom was nigh. They held hands, danced and chanted, prayed and even sacrificed while the strange celestial body raced towards them at amazing speed. The impact would have been brief for them, for the comet had dug deep and wide into the very crust of the earth. The hole that it had created spanned for miles and miles and described a near perfect circle.

Today, the alien structure that came crashing is called the Baturapi, and its hole -which holds the same name- is entirely hidden by canopy. It is said that weird beasts wander inside, but also that the glowing flora is a sight that takes the breath away.

*** I will post this on the main page, also.

[ooc=Addition/Modifications]Changed the name of the island of Wisparia to Padassos. Changed its description a little bit. Wrote a story, which this is the first part of, about the cataclysm that would see Padassos become a wasteland and the birth of the Whisperers. This will also be posted on the first page.[/ooc]

[ic=The Padassian War – Part One]The Padassians were never a united people, except for the Padassos -supposedly, they were the first to set foot on this soil-. They were an amalgam of tribes, with slightly differing views but mostly the same dialect. Families of renown ruled over neighbouring tribes and often assembled all men of fighting age to conquer those whom they held in low esteem, or those who had done them wrong.
Among these tribal lords were four who would go down in history as the most powerful that land had ever seen. They were Alibarsanes, Perses, Matidus and Tripaes.

Alibarsanes ruled the vast plains of central Padassos up until the Purple River, a river that ends into the Bay of Heats, and down until the thick jungles of southern Padassos. Alibarsanes, as well as his predecessors, claimed that their family were the direct descendants of the Padassos. His kingdom was great; he had powerful horses and fearless warriors used to decades of battling in the plains.

However great his army, though, it could never successfully eradicate the tribes of the Lympian mountains, led by the charismatic and ferocious Tripaes. These people would go south and make raids on Alibarnases' possessions, mainly pastures but also small tribes. Tripaes' tribe and his allies lived off their plunder from the rich grasslands where Alibarsanes ruled and from the abundance of game in the mountains. While guerrilla warfare has proven successful, Tripaes could never succeed in holding back the might of the plain's warriors alone for too long. Apparently, he had friendly links with Matidus, another mountain warlord that would ascend to greatness.

Matidus ruled over few tribes, but he made good of his low numbers by forging alliances with other tribal lords that always seemed to end up to his advantage. One such example would be his alliance with Tripaes, mentioned above, where he would use them as decoys to raid the western plains of Padassos, enriching himself, reducing the great numbers of Alibarsanes and even capturing the plains' warlord's men to ransom or use as slaves. Matidus had in his entourage quite a few wise men, and it is so that he was able to exploit the abundant mineral resources in the Asinas mountains where his tribe had established firm control long ago. He was a cruel leader, and above that was afflicted by the vilest form of greed.

South, in the jungles, a mysterious man -most thought he was a madman- conducted strange, yet magnificent rituals where carefully chosen humans, as well as animals, were sacrificed accompanied by dances, chants, prayers and meditations. Embassies to this man always came back with tales of grandeur and awe. The man was Perses, and he and his allies had mystical powers only heard of in the stories of the Padassos. It is safe to assume that Perses' faction was denied access to the plains' by Alibarsanes as a precaution. If his entourage actually saw that Perses held similar powers than the Padassos, there might be defects and the lord of the central plains would lose power. However, it is unlikely so. It seems that Perses might have been content with his jungle and had no ambitious plan for an empire that stretched beyond his jungle home, therefore staying there willingly.

Thus, the stage was set. There were four rulers, each of them with a vision, and there was no doubt that there would be clashes in the future. The conqueror Alibarsanes wanted the pests from the Lympian mountains removed, Matidus' punished and Perses silenced. He knew he had to take the bloody path. Tripaes wanted honour, and this could be achieved only by slaying the great ruler of the central plains. Matidus could have cared less for power, what he wanted was riches. However, he lacked the manpower required to see his goals to their ends. And Perses, none knew his motives, but as the battlefields would come to be painted red with the blood of the Padassians, he would rise to become very powerful.

(http://i39.tinypic.com/vg7r7l.jpg)     (http://i41.tinypic.com/epq641.jpg)[/ic]

[ooc=Update]Added a map with points of interest in the story of the God-King Jamibia, on the first page. I'll try to do that with my next stories as well.[/ooc]

[ic=The Padassian War – Part Two]It all started on the Purple River. Alibarsanes, titled the conqueror, had sent a considerable army to quell the increasing raids from Tripaes' band to the north. The latter had indeed increased the number, as well as the scale of his incursions down south in the plains and it seemed to coincide with an increase in attacks from some unimportant, yet renowned warlord of the west, a man named Matidus, on his western territories, just south of the Bay of Heats. Alibarsanes' hold on territories that had long been his was starting to loosen and he finally decided it was time to take care of this unpleasant business.

Many months before, it is true that Tripaes met with Matidus. They forged a secret alliance to overtake Alibarnases' rich empire. It was agreed that the plains would be separated in two, one part for each warlord to take over. Both of them knew that the only way to win over Alibarsanes was to ally with each other and force the man to wage war on two fronts, thus spreading his force.

At the beginning Alibarsanes was surprised, he didn't expect the proud Tripaes to ally himself with Matidus, whose cognomen the Cruel was well established and known even to Perses in the south. Tripaes was already a foe to be reckoned with, now he had to deal with invaders who might scare his subjects deeper into the east, giving away fertile lands freely, a prospect he did not relish.

Though, nothing was really lost. The northern warlords had made no consequent advance, thanks to his experienced soldiers. Alibarsanes decided he would defeat Tripaes in a  glorious battle, pushing him back into the mountains with the majority of his troops, while he halted Matidus' men in the west. His strategy worked well, Tripaes also wanted a glorious battle, but his strategies were no better than Alibarsanes, and the latter had the advantage in numbers. Thus, the proud warlord was pushed back beyond the Purple River and forced to retreat into the mountains to regroup with additional forces, tail between legs. In the meantime, Matidus was making headway into Alibarsanes' western territories. He was fighting wisely, with guerrilla tactics, avoiding the plains and instead forcing the fight into the forests and mostly attacking villages at night. However, a contingent from the conqueror's troops in the north came to assist the western front, and eventually Matidus was driven out of the central plains.[/ic]

[ic=The Padassian War – Part Three]Tripaes was on the defensive now. His army had marched into the plains to the south, but were defeated at the Battle of Parmae and driven back into their mountainous home in the Lympian heights. It was essential, he thought, that the fight remains on the plains of central Padassos. Therefore, he sent an embassy to Perses deep in the south to convince him to join the fight and create a third front. This would place Alibarsanes in an impossible situation and would give Tripaes the time he needed to assemble an army capable of vanquishing a reduced force on the northern front.

It would take quite some time for the messenger to reach Perses though, so in the meantime Tripaes fought a guerrilla war against Alibarsanes, whose men were not used to fighting in mountainous terrain. The Lympian tribes had a huge advantage, and they made good use of it. If Alibarsanes laughed at Tripaes' questionable strategy earlier in the war, he was now at a loss for word. The man was giving him hell. Everyday, the conqueror's troops were dwindling, while also making no advance.

While Alibarsanes was being kept busy north of the Purple River, Matidus' troops secretly passed south of it and started raiding his western territories again. It was a disastrous situation for Alibarsanes. He had let his guard down and now the ever opportunist Matidus had not let this one slip; burning fields, capturing thousands of men, women and children and plundering many villages.

But the most catastrophic for Alibarsanes was yet to come. As he sent a respectable force west to repel the invaders, a messenger from the south came with dire news; Perses was finally making a move, marching northward with his army towards the capital, Harnaxes. Perses' military abilities were unknown to Alibarsanes, but he deemed it necessary to recall his entire army from the corners of his empire and confront the mysterious warlord with all his might. Perhaps it was that he thought that a decisive victory against one that called himself a descendant of Padassos would strengthen his own claim and send a message to his northern enemies; that whatever territory they took, they could never conquer the heartland of his empire, but even that is questionable.

It took a while, but Alibarsanes' men gathered at Harnaxes. Both commanders had their men stand in formation. It was a magnificent sight. The battle that ensued would surely determine the fate of Alibarsanes' empire.[/ic]

[ooc=Update]I changed the Spirits, Ghosts and Whisperers entry into this.[/ooc]

Ghosts exist in this world. Some appear in the material world under gaseous form, while others look like their original self from the mortal world. Each ghost has a different purpose. Some of them have vile intents while others merely wish to guide and advise.
It is not every deceased man -or creature- that can come back into the mortal world to haunt or help, and it's still unclear what the conditions are for the deceased to be able to come back into the world as ghosts.

Lately there has been increased sightings of these spirits, and many among them talk -or, rather, whisper in their deep and echoing voices- about a great land far away called Padassos. These spirits are tough to discern from the usual ghosts, but one can identify one of these by asking it to touch sea water, for upon coming in contact with it they will experience tremendous pain.

[ic=Kratas]The sighting of one of these is a rare occurrence, to be sure. Hiding deep within the bright flats of the desert, they only come out to meet the sun, it is said, each thousand years. For long they have been the stuff of legends, their bipedal immensity (About 200 feet in height), rock-solid skin, sharp claws and fangs and empty yellow eyes striking fear into the hearts of men.

Legend also has it that if the Sun-God wills it, he may abstain from smiting down these invincible titans and let them run rampant to punish mankind for their misdeeds.[/ic]

[ooc=Additions/Modifications]Changed the landmass' size from 600 000 km2 to 4 500 000 km2.
Changed the Arachnokos description to be in line with the new changes to Wisparia, whose name has been changed to Padassos.
Added the Kratas to the Bestiary.[/ooc]

Do all the kratas emerge at the same time, or is it supposed that each group or even individual might follow it's own millennial cycle?

Do the kratas embody any particular natural force or disaster?

[ooc=Answers]Good questions guys.
Ghostman. They would all emerge at about the same time. In desertfolk legends, the sighting of one means dark times lie ahead, and better pray the Sun-God for mercy.
Humabout, no. Really, they are just monsters. However their size and the extended length between their awakening leaves much to the imagination of the superstitious people of Primeval.

Maybe it's important to note that there aren't many Kratas. I didn't exactly set the number yet, but right now, I'm thinking about 4-6. Not more, not less. And I'm not sure if I want this specific creature to have reproductive organs or even capabilities, I'm still unsure how they are meant to be made. I'll leave that for later.[/ooc]

Beings of that caliber don't really need to conform to any sensible rules of biology or ecology. They could well and just have existed as long as the universe itself, or be born from fallen stars, or literally be the severed fingers of an immense god-avatar that were cut off it's hand in a mythic event.

Cool ideas Ghostman :)

[ooc=Edit]I edited the text for The Padassian War to remove unnecessary fluff and instead lay the groundwork for the story of how the Padassians became ghosts. To this effect I also changed the title of the story from The Padassian War to The Padassian Disaster. This is only the first part, I shall complete the second part soon enough and finally be done with this important story and then move on to other stuff.

The text can be read on the first page, below the story of Jamibia the god-king.[/ooc]

[ooc=Work done]Finished The Padassian Disaster story in two parts. Enjoy![/ooc]

It's a good story, but I think you should have kept at least a short summary of the war itself.

Ok, I'm gonna think of something.

[ooc=The Padassian War]After Ghostman's "request", I included a short story of the war on padassos that brought the Disaster.

Enjoy![/ooc]