[note]I'm using this thread to revise my ideas about animas (spirits) in my setting, Kishar (http://www.thecbg.org/settings/137/index.php?page=home). Please feel free to comment in this thread.[/note]
[ic=Cosmic Beings and the Cosmogony]
Aeons
The universe itself possesses life and a vague consciousness, a phenomenon that some mortals call 'God.' From the moment of the inception of the universe in the Big Bang, it has been torn by the Abyss, a supermassive black hole devouring creation. The Abyss is the physical manifestation of the Cythrawl, the force of oblivion, also vaguely conscious and the antithesis of the akasha (the force of life, or blood of the universe). The Abyss is devouring the universe and slowly halting its expansion, and given enough time, will return everything to nothingness.
The first sentient beings in the universe were the aeons, created by the universal consciousness to confront the threat of the Abyss. These aeons were the first cosmic beings, and they work in male/female pairs called syzygies. In these pairs they seeded life on thousands of planets, giving rise to many races, including the titans.
The aesir and titans
The aeons, because of their nature, possessed a limited prescient sense, most prominent in the aeon Theletus, who foresaw the rise of a mortal race in which the universal nature might be incarnated to stop the Abyss and create a more perfect universe. While Theletus worked with the titans (under the alias Prometheus), his partner, Sophia, attempted to fulfill his vision and created the first incarnation of humanity, the aesir, unbeknownst to Theletus. Because they were created by her alone rather than in a syzygy, the creation was flawed, and Theletus feared it would lead to greater evil in the universe. This created a rift between these two aeons, but he would not act to destroy the aesir either, instead, helping them develop as was his duty.
In time, both the titans and the aesir became space-faring races that built interstellar empires. When they came into contact with one another, war erupted. This war eventually destroyed the aesir civilization, but not before driving some two hundred and fifty of them to evolve into entities of pure energy, ascending to a higher plane of being. These aesir became the first Primordials, traveling partway down the path Theletus had foretold (but hitting an evolutionary dead-end as they were flawed beings). Many of aeons, also capable of entering the same higher plane (Empyrean) went as well, and posed as Primordials themselves, thus deceiving the aesir.
Angels
The titans were no match for the Primordials, and their civilization was destroyed. Theletus convinced the Primordials not to destroy the titans, who were instead imprisoned on Tartarus. Using the souls of many of their own dead brethren, the Primordials created lesser cosmic beings to serve them, modeled after their early mythology of aeons; these beings were the first angels.
Demons
The Abyss reached out to one of the Primordials, Kroni, who had discovered it as a mortal. Kroni became avatar to the Abyss, the first demon, tainted by the Cythrawl. He began to corrupt other Primordials, and angels, creating more demons to serve him; the Cythrawl cannot create life, but it can corrupt what the akasha creates.
Other Factions
At this point the Primordials began to fracture into several groups based on differing ideologies, mainly into devas working independently, proteans following Proteus, and demons following Kroni, with some Primordials serving the whole as angels. Eventually, these factions broke into War in Heaven, which nearly destroyed both the heavens and the universe. Following this war, a Conclave of Primordials was established to rule the universe and prevent another such war. From the ranks of angels were drawn the archons, an order of angels designed to rule the universe on behalf of the Conclave and enforce order. Shortly thereafter, some Primordials and other cosmic beings became muses, convinced that enlightening mortals was a worthy purpose.
Kishar
In order to further his ultimate aim, Theletus convinced the deva Primordial Prithvi (Gaia) to merge her essence with the planet Kishar, creating a living world. On this world, she coalesced the akasha into the Star of Life, based on Theletus's designs. This device controlled evolution and the flow of souls, creating a microcosm of the greater universe in which humanity and the avatar of the universe could go through repeated evolutions towards perfection.
[spoiler=Types of Cosmic Beings]
Aeons - avatars of the will of the universe, proto-angels
Devas - embrace natural forces and mysteries
Demons - cosmic beings tainted by Cythrawl
Angels - messengers/servants of Primordials
Archons - angels that rule the universe
Erinyes - angels of vengeance and punishment
Grigori - angels originally sent to watch humanity, but who fell from grace
Muses - cosmic beings dedicated to enlightenment
Proteans - cosmic beings dedicated evolution and strife
[/spoiler][/ic]
[ic=The Fae]The first fae were the djinn, created by the aesir during their war with the titans. They granted sentience to powerful natural forces attempting to create living weapons, but their creations turned on them. When defeated, the djinn were cast from the normal universe into an alternate reality. Once the Primordials had risen, they punished the djinn for their rebellion by forcing them to only use their powers to grant the wishes of other beings.
When the devas began seeding life on worlds and interfering with those the aeons had already created, they also created spirits of nature which could inhabit the natural features of worlds. These nature spirits were the fae, who became most prominent in Kishar, as Prithvi was very fond of them. Over time, many fae became more human, giving rise to some fae races such as alfar and dvergar. Many of these human-like fae began to develop their own societies and other human-like affections which further distanced themselves from their brethren.[/ic]
[ic=The Giants]The first giants were the titans. Using their own genetic material as a base, they created a servitor race, the gigantes. When the titans were defeated, the gigantes built their own intergalactic civilization. They unsuccessfully challenged the Primordials for rule of the universe, and were cast down. One gigantes ship crashed on Kishar, and the souls and genetic material of these beings were absorbed by the Star of Life. Using this material, giants arose on Kishar.
[spoiler=Types of Giant]
Cyclops
Ettin (Jotun)
Firbolg (rephaim)
Fomorian
Gigantes
Hecatonchires
Jentil
Ogre (laestrygonians, zamzummim, patagones, si-te-cahs, Aigamuchas)
Yeti (kapres, fear liaths, sasquatches, and meh-teh, abominable snowman)
Titan
Troll[/spoiler]
[/ic]
[ic=The Dragons]The first dragons evolved on Asgard, homeworld of the aesir. When the Primordials arose, they seeded dragons on many worlds because of their reverence for such creatures. On Kishar, dragons are the progeny of Tiamat, the primeval dragon which survives each reiteration of the world and awakens anew to given rise to a new race of dragons. In each age, she is eventually defeated by mortals or her own children, and driven to hibernate beneath the sea. In time, dragons are also defeated, and driven to the wilds, while mankind rises to rule the world.[/ic]
[ic=The Asuras]Asuras are animas tainted by the Cythrawl who are not cosmic beings. They are a kind of lesser demon, that can become true-breeding species. The most common forms are rakshasas and oni (danavas). Most asuras live physically on Kishar or on the alternate reality of Abaddon.[/ic]
[ic=The Undead]Normally, the dead are returned to the Atman and reincarnated as new beings (this process is guided by the Star on Kishar, or happens naturally elsewhere). Sometimes, however, powerful emotion or magic can trap a soul on the Spectral Realm creating a ghost. The Cythrawl is also capable of trapping a soul in its body, creating corporeal undead (the Lost). Many undead (all Lost) are tainted by the Cythrawl.[/ic]
[ic=Monsters]Monster is a catch-all category for animas that do not fit into other categories. Many of the strangest monsters are created by proteans for the express purpose of creating strife among mortals.[/ic]
Cosmic beings
The top of the anima food chain (and Primordials at the top of the cosmic being hierarchy).
There are 301,655,722 cosmic beings in the universe. It is extremely rare for a new soul to be incarnated as a cosmic being, and equally rare for a cosmic being to actually be destroyed.
These animas more-or-less correspond to their real-world counterparts. I use the Hindu names where possible (for consistency because of the inspirations for the setting), but list a few common aliases for each Primordial.
Primordials
I've trimmed the number of Primordials in existence down from 2000 to about 250, but not all will get named, because some simply don't have influence or interest in Kishar.
[spoiler=Primordial List]Devas
1 Aditi - sky deva (Anahita, Nut, Frigg)
2 Agni - fire deva (Hephaestus, Huehueteotl, Homusubi, Mangkukulam, Kagutsuchi)
3 Ammavaru - mother deva (Isis, Yemaja)
4 Anumati - moon deva (Selene, Coyolxauhqui, Gleti, Mama Quilla, Ixchel, Mayari, Cislobog)
5 Chandra - moon deva (Mani, Pah, Mayahuel, Tecciztecatl, Mawu, Coniraya, Aningan, Sin, Tsukuyomi, Juthrbog)
6 Daksha - sun deva (Atum)
7 Danu - water deva (Naunet)
8 Dyaus - sky deva (Uranus, Dievs, Enki, Baiame, Tinia, Illapa, Torngasoak, Ranginui, Anshar)
9 Indra - thunder deva (Thor, Zeus, Taranis, Hahgwehdiyu, Tlaloc, Ambisagrus, Xevioso, Pikne, Ukko, Apocatquil, Raijin, Perkunos, Anu, Kalinga, Perun, Shango)
10 Prasuti - sun deva (Gnowee)
11 Prithvi - earth deva (Ananse Ya, Gaia, Jord, Damkina, Toei, Celu, Damkina, Kishar, Thanit, Ninhursag, Kunapipi)
12 Ratri - night deva (Nyx)
13 Sachi - sky deva (Hera, Sif)
14 Saranya - sun deva (Mahu, Sunna, Walo, Amaterasu, Citlalicue)
15 Savitar - sun deva (Ormazd, Balder, Nyame, Ometeotl, Nana Buluku, Hunah Ku, Bathala, Belobog)
16 Surya - sun deva (Ra, Lisa, Inti, Ahaw Kin, Sol Invictus, Utu, Dajbog, Cirlalatonac)
17 Tara - star deva (Saule, Tala)
18 Ushas - day deva (Aurora, Amanouzume, Wakahiru-Me)
19 Varuna - sea deva (Njord, Poseidon, Manannan, Pariacaca, O-Wata-Tsu-Mi, Patrimpas, Amanikable, Yam)
20 Varuni - water deva (Amphitrite, Matsu, Mamacocha)
21 Vayu - wind deva (Estanatelhi, Ehecatl, Shu, Kon, Shina-Tsu-Hiko, Stribog)
22 Janus - master of doors
23 Yama - lord of death (Hades, Arawn, Osiris, Tuoni, Hine-nui-te-po, Ahpuch, Sitan, Nija, Maymon)
24 Dhumorna - queen of death (Persephone, Tounetar, Hukluban, Libitina, Janas)
25 Kasyapa - father, mystery (Odin, Baiame, Amotken, Tabaldak, Banaitja, Abassi, Ptah)
26 Xiuhtecuhtli - lord of opposites (Waaq)
27 Zurvan (an aeon) (Chronos)
Demons
28 Abraxas (Caen)
29 Asurendra (Paimon)
30 Banasura - thousand arms (Balam)
31 Chanda - monstrous demon (Beleth)
32 Dhanistha - queen of lies (Druj)
33 Dhumravati - war demoness (Bellona, Bia, Sekhmet, Enyo)
34 Diti - earth demoness
35 Jalandhara (Lucifuge, Ilu Limnu, Gunab)
36 Jvartaharisvara - plague (Vine, Hmin Nat, Resheph)
37 Kaitabh (Clisthert)
38 Koka (Belial)
39 Kroni - lord of demons (Ahriman, Malsumis, Amatsu Mikaboshi, Crnobog)
40 Krtya (Hekate)
41 Madhu (Moloch)
42 Mahisa - mighty demon (Amaimon)
43 Mayasura - creates asuras (Zagan)
44 Mitra - fallen angel (Temeluchus)
45 Munda - monstrous demon (Xolotl, Purson)
46 Namuci (Sammael, Tchort)
47 Narakasura (Asmodeus)
48 Nirrta (Dispater, Nergal, Orcus, Mictlantecuhtli, Yaotzin, Vetis, Supay, Hun Came, Mot, Flins, Zeernebooch)
49 Nirrti (Hel, Ereshkigal, Erecura, Vanth)
50 Nishumbha (Baalzebul)
51 Raktavija - demon general (Ares, Belatucadros, Esus, Rudianos, Balac)
52 Shumbha (Meresin)
53 Sunda - tried to conquer world (Gaap)
54 Trisiras - three-headed (Bune, Dahaka)
55 Upasunda - tried to conquer world (Ziminar)
56 Vala (Astaroth)
57 Vikoka (Vassago)
58 Vritra - dragon (Apep, Kur)
Muses
59 Dhatri - health, magic muse
60 Dhumavati - enlightenment
61 Ganapati -lord of muses (Apollo, Thoth, Alaunus, Anextiomarus, Belenus, Ea)
62 Quetzalcoatl (Kukulcan, Zalmoxis, Kneph)
63 Sarasvati - wisdom (Vor)
64 Vac - muse of speech
65 Yamantaka - muse of immortality
Proteans
66 An-Zu - queen of chaos
67 Echidna - mother of monsters
68 Eidothea - daughter of Proteus
69 Eris - queen of strife (Agrona)
70 Proteus - lord of Proteans (Bamapana)
71 Tezcatlipoca - lord of chaos
72 Tumatauenga - bringer of war (Camulus)
73 Typhon - father of monsters (Set)
Angels
74 Ameretat - immortality
75 Armaiti - wisdom
76 Asha - righteousness
77 Baraqiel
78 Haurvatat - perfection
79 Ida - devotion
80 Jehoel (Metatron)
81 Kshathra - authority
82 Matarisvan (Theletus)
83 Michael
84 Narada (Hermes)
85 Seraphiel
86 Sraddha - faith
87 Sraosa
Archons
88 Dharma (Shamshiel, Hwanin, Gao Yao, Porewit)
89 Gabriel (Foreseti)
90 Goraknath (Heimdall)
91 Ma'at (Astraea)
92 Karttikeya- fire, war, justice (Nathanael, Tyr)
93 Raziel - mystery, wisdom, herald
94 Uriel - sun angel, punisher (Tartarus)[/spoiler]
[ic=The Conclave]The Primordials govern the universe itself, meeting together in a sacred gathering called the Conclave. When a Conclave is called, all Primordials are allowed to attend, regardless of current status and allegiances. There is no fighting within the halls of the Conclave, a rule that all Primordials have agreed to and never broken.
A Conclave is generally held in the Physical Plane, on some distant unclaimed world, as the ultimate in neutral territory. Such meetings typically overseen by the archon, Dharma. The decisions of the Conclave and the day-to-day orchestration of the laws of the universe are upheld by the archons.[/ic]
Demons
Demons are cosmic beings tainted by the Cythrawl, which manifests in the physical plane as the Abyss (a supermassive black hole at the center of the universe).
There are 44,435,556 common demons, divided in 6666 legions, with 6666 common demons in each legion.
250 of these legions are succubi/inccubi, led by Lilith (first) and Belphegor
Other than the succubus legions, most demons work through possession of mortals, rather than physically manifesting.
[note=demon power]How powerful is a common demon?
Slightly less powerful than the demon in The Exorcist, though, in fact, Pazuzu, being an archdemon, is more powerful in this setting than he is portrayed in the movie.
I want a CR!
I don't know that I'd run Kishar D&D again, and the abstract notion of levels makes assigning a CR difficult. Whatever level you assign a wizard as powerful as Merlin, assume the CR of a common demon is about 1 less (so if in your world a mighty archmage is 15th level, CR 14; if he's level 25, then CR 24).
How powerful is a devil?
Archdemons are very powerful. A Primordial is a few steps down from omnipotent, kept in check mainly by other Primordials. Non-Primordial archdemons could single-handedly destroy entire civilizations.
Again, a CR is a difficult question. Assume whatever CR you'd likely give Heracles and add a few for the bottom ranks, or a lot for the higher ranks. Assigning a CR to a Primordial would be like trying to measure the temperature of the sun with a household thermometer.[/note]
Demon legions are led by archdemons (also called devils). There are 130 devils, counting Kroni (Ahriman) the supreme emperor of Hell.
[spoiler=Archdemons and their Legions]Aamon 40
Abalam 36
Abraxas (Caen) 26
Agares 31
Aini 26
Alocer 36
Amduscius 29
Amon 40
Amy 36
Andras 30
Andrealphus 30
Andromalius 36
Asto Vidatu 16
Asurendra (Paimon) 200
Aym 26
Balor 16
Banasura (Balam) 40
Barbatos 30
Bathym 30
Bayemon 60
Belphegor 100
Berith 26
Bifrons 26
Botis 60
Buer 50
Caasimolar 36
Caim 30
Camazotz 60
Chanda (Beleth) 85
Chutriel 19
Cimeries 20
Crocell 48
Dagon (Chemosh) 40
Dantalion 36
Decarabia 30
Dhanistha (Druj) 40
Dhumravati (Bellona) 70
Distramutarkal 50
Diti 50
Eligor 60
Fleuretty 10
Focalor 30
Forcas 29
Forneus 29
Furcas 26
Furfur 26
Gomory 26
Gusoin 45
Haagenti 33
Halphas (Malthus) 26
Hauras (Flauros) 36
Ipos 36
Iuvart 19
Jalandhara (Lucifuge) 40
Junier 19
Jvartaharisvara (Vine) 36
Kabrakan 46
Kaitabh (Clisthert) 40
Koka (Belial) 80
Kroni (Ahriman) 1000
Krtya (Hekate) 66
Labal (Beball) 36
Lauviah 46
Lerai 30
Lilith 150
Madhu (Moloch) 60
Mahisa (Amaimon) 90
Malphas 40
Mammon 66
Marbas 36
Marchosias 30
Marou 46
Marowit 56
Mayasura (Zagan) 33
Mitra (Temeluchus) 0
Morax (Forfax) 36
Munda (Xolotl, Purson) 36
Murmur 30
Naberius 29
Namtar 36
Namuci (Sammael) 350
Nanghaithya 36
Narakasura (Asmodeus) 72
Negarsanel 66
Nirrta (Dispater, Nergal, Orcus) 85
Nirrti (Hel, Ereshkigal) 72
Nishumbha (Baalzebul) 70
Oriax 30
Orobas 20
Ose 30
Pazuzu 46
Phenex 20
Pruflas 26
Raktavija (Ares) 100
Raum 30
Ronove (Ronwe) 19
Saleos 30
Salmac (Sabnacke) 50
Samigin (Gamigin) 30
Satanachia 66
Seere 26
Shax 30
Shezmu 36
Shui Mu 26
Shumbha (Meresin) 36
Sitru (Bitru) 60
Sonneillon 36
Stolas 26
Sunda (Gaap) 66
Tawaret 40
Teeraal 8
Tiril 46
Trisiras (Bune, Dahaka) 30
Tunrida 50
Turel 66
Upasunda (Ziminar) 66
Vala (Astaroth) 40
Valafar 10
Vapula 36
Vepar (Separ) 29
Vikoka (Vassago) 26
Vinc 20
Volac 30
Vritra (Apep) 50
Vual (Uvall/Wall) 37
Whiro 36
Xaphon 46
Zapan 50
Zepar 26[/spoiler]
[ic=The Unholy Sephirot]While not exactly an archdemon, an unholy sefira can sometimes command missions especially for Kroni. Generally, if needed, they command some of his legions.
The unholy sefiroth are manifestations of the Abyss, and, as the avatar of the Abyss, of Kroni himself, rather than traditional demons. There are ten members of the unholy sephirot, but not all are generally manifested at once:
Agniel
Chaigldiel
Gamaliel
Golab
Harab Serap
Sathariel
Thaumiel
Togarini
Zaamael
Zekuniel[/ic]
Phoenix, I'm STEALING your concept of multiple identities for particular deities for my own world. Absolutely brilliant, stroke of genius, et al. You and LordVreeg have the clearest concept on how multiple pantheons and demon hordes etc work than anyone I've ever encountered. What simplicity! And here you have a nice list to make it absolutely clear. Well done.
Quote from: TybaltPhoenix, I'm STEALING your concept of multiple identities for particular deities for my own world. Absolutely brilliant, stroke of genius, et al. You and LordVreeg have the clearest concept on how multiple pantheons and demon hordes etc work than anyone I've ever encountered. What simplicity! And here you have a nice list to make it absolutely clear. Well done.
Thanks Tybalt. Since all the named cosmic beings in Kishar are real-world entities, I can't claim to have come up with any of them, merely related them as best I knew how. It did take some time, especially combing through lists of every demon, angel, and so forth to build my own large document full of mythological characters.
I operate under the assumption that the more powerful an entity, the more aliases it will have, since each culture is likely to give it its own name. For Primordials, whose reach includes the entire universe, they are likely to have a lot of aliases (though of course I'm only really interested in Kishar, which incorporates the mythologies of Earth). A step down, and archdemons or similarly powerful, but non-Primordial cosmics, are likely to have a half-dozen or more aliases, since they interact with many cultures.
The number of legions the more famous demons lead is drawn from Ars Goetia, while others, like Camazotz (important because he spawns the vampire race), I just made up numbers that seemed appropriate.
I added to the first two posts:
A note about the Conclave of Primordials (their government, more or less straight off the website)
A note about the unholy sephiroth (that is the diametric opposite of the holy sephiroth, or manifestations of the divine).
Muses
The muses are the guardians are wisdom, knowledge, and creativity. They are generally disdained by most other cosmic beings. In part, this disdain comes from their habit of expounding on the mysteries of the universe to mortal races, even helping such races towards a path to the Upper Planes. The archons forbade this practice, forbade the muses from aiding the mortals with anything other than an occasional creative insight. Yet, still, some muses aid in secret despite the warning. Those muses that disobey may often face the wrath of the erinyes.
Muses are also known by other names, such as Yidams and bodhisattvas.
There are 20,408,000 muses, serving under 7 Primordial muses. A non-exhaustive list of some of their servants that interfere with Kishar is provided.
Dhatri (male) is a muse interest in health and in magic
Servants:
Aglaea (beauty)
Urania (muse astrology)
Dhumavati (female) is muse interested in promoting enlightenment
Servants:
Avalokitesvara (Guanyin) (compassion)
Kwan Tin Ma (mercy)
Ganapati (Apollo, Thoth, Alaunus, Anextiomarus, Belenus, Ea, Nabu) (male) is the lord of muses, and a promoter of wisdom
Servants:
Clio (patroness of history)
Bagalamukhi (wisdom)
Euphrosyne (mirth)
Quetzalcoatl (Kukulcan, Zalmoxis, Kneph) (male) is a muse of order and life. He frequently opposes the proteans because he feels their path of strife is the wrong road towards evolution.
Servants:
Oshun (love, wealth, prosperity, diplomacy)
Sarasvati (Vor) (female) is a muse interested in promoting wisdom
Servants:
Lono (music)
Matangi (inner thought)
Vac (female) is a muse of speech and expression
Servants:
Adrai (colors)
Bragi (poetry)
Calliope (heroic epics, highest servant)
Erato (erotic poetry)
Euterpe (flutes, joy)
Melpomene (patroness of tragedy)
Polyhmnia (patroness sacred poetry)
Thalia (muse of comedy)
Terpsichore (muse of dance)
Yamantaka (male) is muse of immortality, driving mortals to challenge even death
Servants:
Iosheka (teaches to fight evil)
Where do Muses fit into the hierarchy of the conclave? In the mythologies you are evoking the Muses also had aligned themselves with particular deities, is this the case here?
Quote from: TybaltWhere do Muses fit into the hierarchy of the conclave? In the mythologies you are evoking the Muses also had aligned themselves with particular deities, is this the case here?
Good question, Tybalt.
The Conclave consists of all Primordials, including the 7 Primordial muses. Because it consists of Primordials with often very different ideals (angels, demons, proteans, muses, devas, archons, and gemini), the Conclave is a very loose organization (at best something like the UN). It arose after a cataclysmic war in heaven between factions which nearly destroyed the universe. The archon leader (Dharma) acts as the master of ceremonies, but otherwise, all Primordials have more-or-less equal voice, including the muses.
However, the Conclave only meets on the most major of issues. The archons are in charge of running the universe on day-to-day basis (which not all factions, especially proteans, are happy about). The archons are angels promoted to maintain absolute order, and as such are basically a totalitarian regime that tolerate no deviation from their laws. On this account, they may send the erinyes (angels of vengeance) after non-Primordial muses that go to far or are too overt in their actions. They can't do much against a Primordial muse, except bring them before a Conclave on charges.
So the common muses are associated with the Primordial muses (the ones in bold) they serve, but not really with any other Primordials.
Strictly speaking, all animas are deities, especially cosmic beings. I don't tend to use the term gods for them unless speaking from the perspective of mortals (not from the perspective of the omniscient writer).
Animas
In refining my Kishar bestiary, I've been thinking a lot about various types of creatures, and thus the purpose of this thread. I think that in order to classify creature types, we have to examine the essential nature (as in the essence) of a creature. This essence must be what distinguishes the creature from other creatures of different types. I welcome everyone's input, as much of this is brainstorming.
I will assume the fewer points needed to illustrate the essential nature of a being, the better the design.
As with specific cosmic beings, if I can relate kinds of beings from different cultures and say that these are just different names for the same thing, I will usually do so. For example, I generally equate the Norse alfar with the Celtic sidhe (or English elves).
First, the essential nature of animas (spirits) in general.
[note]Already I have a few problems, but there are exceptions to each.
Werewolves (etc.) are supernatural (obviously), but they come from mortal races and don't necessarily possess kundalini (or should they) and aren't immortal. As such I don't call them animas. The Touched (sorcerers) have kundalini because of their anima blood. Certain animas (monsters) are not immortal.
Maybe the answer to this is that all three elements are essential to being a spirit.[/note]
1) Animas are supernatural beings.
2) Animas possess kundalini energy (this is the energy that allows them to use their life force for magical ends).
3) Animas are immortal.
We contrast animas with mortal beings (humans, bears, dogs, minotaurs, centaurs, and so forth). Additionally, I contrast them with therianthropes (humans with cursed blood that causes them to shapeshift but does not necessarily let them use other magic). None of these creatures are the subject of this thread, unless someone believes I make a mistake by not calling something an anima.
Animas (all animas, really) are the "gods" of my setting. Many of the gods worshiped by mortals are elves, demons, dwarves, or nymphs.
Types of Animas[note=Anima Categories]Those familiar with my website will know I have here excluded Aeons (which I think I'll call cosmic beings from here on), Devatas (see my note on fae), and Phoenixes (I suppose I have to make the monsters, ugh; I just don't want a single type of being getting a whole category).[/note]
So now we find it helpful to categorize animas into several broad categories. Some of these categories will have subcategories which may be a topic for another post. What categories do I need?
I'll begin with nine categories and add more if absolutely necessary.
Cosmic Beings
As the name implies, cosmic beings are the top of the anima food chain. They possess cosmic power and a nature beyond the comprehension of most mortals.
Essential nature:
1) Cosmic beings are entities of pure energy existing on a higher plane.
2) Cosmic beings can take physical form, but the destruction of this physical form does not destroy the cosmic being.
Dragons[note=Dragons]Here we get into harder questions. What makes something a dragon seems to be an intuitive rather than analytical question. Let's analyze it anyway.[/note]
I doubt I have to tell anyone here what a dragon is in the abstract.
Essential nature:
1) Dragons are reptilian (and usually or always serpentine)
2) Dragons are descendants of Tiamat (I don't know that this is part of the essential nature, but it seems they need something besides being reptilian)
Fae[note=The Fae]The fae are a hard one, and one of the main reasons for this post. They are nature spirits, usually. The word probably comes from fata (obviously relating to the Fates), and such is dealing with destiny and enchantment.
One of my difficulties comes from the desire to break them into the traditional two camps: Seelie and Unseelie (Scottish/Celtic myth). This works great for world history and current politics. The difficulty arises when dealing with nature spirits that probably wouldn't be involved in such things. Previously, I distinguished them from devatas (Hinduism), which I used to cover the more pure nature spirits, bound to a certain location. The problem (one problem) with this is that it draws such a huge distinction between say an alf and a nymph, one which I don't think is necessarily good. But if I don't, then I guess I'm left with Seelie, Unseelie, and "those other guys" like the maruts. Also, Fairyland is a classic world for fae, but I run into some questions when dealing with things like nymphs which are supposed to be spirits of real places (one reason I made them devatas).[/note]
Essential nature:
1) Fae are spirits of nature.
2) Like nature, fae are capricious, and not bound by human morality.
3) The fae live in Otherworld (Fairyland).
Asuras
Asuras (Hinduism) are my classification for non-cosmic demons. It's not a perfect fit with its mythological roots (indeed I make many asuras cosmic demons), but it gives me a name for things like oni, rakshsasas (which are asuras), and the like.
Essential nature:
1) Asuras are non-cosmic animas corrupted by the Cythrawl.
Djinn[note=The Djinn]Yeah, this feels a little sloppy. Despite having cosmic powers, the fact that they can usually only use them for wishes, and their nature doesn't seem to make them quite cosmic beings. So I gave them their own category. But besides wishes (and even some djinn don't do that, such as ghuls, I don't know what to say about their nature. I guess because they're meant to serve (in the mythology they are drawn from) as so many things.
Ideas? Help? I know I won't have an elemental plane, per se, in my cosmology, so that creates even more question about them. Maybe they're even (really powerful) fae?[/note]
Djinn are genies.
1) Djinn can grant wishes.
2) Djinn are somehow tied to fire or water, except for the most powerful, shaitans.
Giants
Ah, an easy one. Giants are really big guys.
Essential nature:
1) Giants are roughly humanoid beings of giant-size.
2) Giants are descended from the gigantes, which are in turn descended from the titans.
Undead
I divide undead into corporeal (the Lost) and non-corporeal (ghosts). I'm pretty happy with this, though sometimes I wonder if the term undead would normally be applied to a ghost outside the gaming community (maybe it would, but it seems more like something you say about a zombie or vampire).
Essential nature:
1) Undead are creatures whose souls were unable to return to the Atman and thus become trapped in the material world -OR- whose bodies are animated by the power of the Cythrawl (the Animated only, that is zombies and the like)
Devaputra
The devaputra (Buddhism) are the children of mortals and cosmic beings. I created this category to deal with the three kinds of demi-god creatures I currently have:
Human + Angel = Nephilim
Human + Succubus demon = Cambion
Mortal + Protean = doppelganger
But I have some qualms about it. With any other anima that takes human form and mates with a human, you get one of the Touched (physically human, but with the anima genetic code that allows them to awaken and become sorcerers or other magic-users). I kind of justify this (besides needing to fit these supernatural beings like nephilim in) on the assumption that cosmic blood is so strong that first-generation hybrids are more than just Touched.
Essential Nature:
1) Devaputras are hybrids of mortals and cosmic beings
Monsters
Monster is the catch-all category for miscellaneous animas that don't fit anywhere else. They're sometimes problematic because everything I might say about them tends to have exceptions in some case. As such, I can't imagine subcategories, really.
Essential Nature:
1) Monsters are animas that are not immortal. But some are.
(Maybe all should be?)
2) Monsters are not sentient. But some are. Monsters are usually not very intelligent (operating like beasts on instinct); except those that are intelligent.
So.
Ideas? Help? Criticisms? I hope for some feedback in refining the basic categories, then I'll move on to sub-categories and classifying specific creatures, and eventually get back to individuals like I was doing for demons.
Well, I believe I have decided on one of the answers to my questions on my own. I think I'll remove the devaputra category and assume creatures that even part human are not animas, but mortals (or another in-between category).
I still have the other questions I'd like help on (besides general input).
1) What do you think makes something a dragon.
2) What makes something fae (fey)?
3) Is it okay to have Seelie and Unseelie fae, and then fae that have nothing to do with either group whatsoever? Or is it better to make a separate category for nature spirits not involved in faerie wars?
4) Should genies be fae? I'm leaning towards this right now, as closer than being cosmic beings, but I'd be interested in other opinions.
5) Thoughts on the miscellaneous "Monster" category?
Hi, sorry I didn't respond before, somehow I just couldn't think what to say.
Okay, here goes.
Dragons: dragons in my setting are actually powerful elemental beings as well as reptilian. They are associated with the main four alchemical elements, earth, air, water, fire. This is part of why they love treasure; they love the purity of perfected metals and gemstones and the like; it is almost like a symphony of elements to them that is hypnotic in its fascination.
Fae: Are you sure that you don't want to go with the idea that the Fae are a kind of race of animas, and that the intrinsic nature of them has defined how they look each according to type? Essentially they are not entirely in the world of the cosmic animas nor are they entirely part of the mortal world. That is sort of my idea of it anyway.
Djinns: I kind of liked the D&D idea that they actually were just intelligent elementals. However it doesn't really work for your setting...
What I'm thinking is that perhaps they are more like emissaries or servants of a particular kind to the Cosmic animas.
Monsters: I've always liked the idea that the weirder monsters were the offspring or creations of particular wars of the gods or perhaps of the more chaotic/primal deities such as Tiamat or Rhea or something like that.
Thanks Tybalt, some interesting ideas.
On dragons, I may actually start another thread on that; it sparked some thoughts.
The fae:
The fae are definitely in a stage between greater animas (cosmic) and mortals.
QuoteAre you sure that you don't want to go with the idea that the Fae are a kind of race of animas, and that the intrinsic nature of them has defined how they look each according to type?
Can you further elaborate on this?
As I define them currently (though I'm open to new ideas, I'm just not sure I understand your's), there are many fae "races" such as alfar (elves), dvergar (dwarves), elementals (gnomes, salamanders, undines, sylphs), sprites (pixies), mermaids, and so forth.
Are you suggesting something different? Like they're all the same species? I'm really curious about this idea.
The Djinn:
Hmmm, in D&D they are outsiders living on the elemental planes. I don't have outsiders, but most outsiders would be considered cosmic beings. I don't have an elemental plane, but I was going to have a separate alternate reality to be the djinn world.
According to Wikipedia, pre-Islam all lesser spirits were called djinn. In Islamic lore the djinn were thrown out of paradise by refusing to bow to Adam when God so commanded.
I had intended to preserve something similar by making them basically at odds with the cosmic beings, rather than servants (in my current cosmological write-up, they are created by pre-ascended aesir, and fight a war with them, but are banished to another universe). For the moment, I guess I've started to lean towards fae, but then they would have nothing to do with other fae other than being nature (elemental) based.
Monsters:
Yeah, that's something to think about. Typhon (Seth) is a Primordial Protean, so I expect he may have created some. Actually, so is Echidna. You, they make monsters just for the sake of giving people something to fear, and overcome.
I wonder if that means monsters should be defined by some other essential quality, like maybe "not born of nature" or something.
To elaborate on the Fae: what I mean is that in a way they were originally more like beings of energy that identified themselves with elements in the natural world and gradually took on shape reflecting this. Does that make sense at all? So for instance the beings that would become undines would identify with water and with young women simultaneously.
For Seelie and Unseelie I was thinking that you might steal a little from Changeling the Dreaming and have it be that their nature reflects how they choose to interact with and gain energy from life. So that for instance the Unseelie gain power by 'ravaging' or tormenting mortals.
As for the Djinn...I like your idea. I'd suggest perhaps that maybe the wishes granting thing is part of a form of punishment? Obviously animas have extraordinary powers and for instance cosmic ones could grant wishes, so perhaps the compulsion to on the part of Djinns reflects a form of actual servitude rather than unusual ability in and of itself. There are also other mythological beings that can grant wishes or other forms of supernatural power, right?
The Djinn:
I absolutely love that idea. The whole why they grant wishes question had always bothered me. The Primordials would certainly have the power to inflict that kind of punishment on them, so that they would have to serve any mortal powerful enough to summon them. And the djinn, of course, would take it as a horrible insult.
The only other beings I can think of granting wishes in folklore are gods (like in Greek myth) and demons/the Devil. In my setting, cosmic beings do not normally grant wishes, per se, but they would have the power to accomplish most tasks by manipulating the universe (so it amounts to the same thing, should they make a deal with a mortal).
The Fae:
Yeah, I think that makes since. So, say the alfar (elves), for example, have become more humanoid over time, while say the maruts (minor storm gods) have remained more primal? I think that could work pretty well for me.
An interesting thought on the Unseelie/Seelie divide. I see two consequences from it I'm leery about:
1) Then it becomes no longer matter of choice. I had intended it to be a great idealogical divide that originated when Fae ruled the world, a schism split their court in two. However, I'm still rewriting history, so I suppose I can work around this.
2) It means all fae, even beings such as maruts, would belong to one camp or another. Maybe this is not bad, but it would mean more fae that follow a camp in name only (since they certainly don't obey the elven queen Titania like most Seelie).
But it still something that could work. I must think on it a bit ;)
Well, the other way to think about Seelie and Unseelie is that they're extreme positions that are taken up by followers of either court, but there could be Fae who have other allegiances or even none at all.
Quote from: TybaltWell, the other way to think about Seelie and Unseelie is that they're extreme positions that are taken up by followers of either court, but there could be Fae who have other allegiances or even none at all.
Something else to think about then. I'll be out of town, so it gives me time to mull over the two ideas.
Either way, I feel like I need to avoid making either group clearly good or evil. The fae, all fae, are responsible for some serious problems and nastiness in distant history. This leads many religions to see all fae as the enemy, and even the Seelie Court isn't exactly concerned with humanity's best interest.
Not that even that is simple. Some of the fae's actions are driven because they were once oppressed by the encarans (a post-human variant of humanity that pre-dates humanity in the current iteration of Kishar; confusing?).
(moved to first post)
I think this is all very good--you might want to give more examples of monsters as you did flesh out for instance the explanations of Fae and Angels--for instance I would consider in Greek legend the horrors created by Rhea to fit the bill, whereas in Norse the awful children of Loki. (though at least one turns out to be...okay, though freakish) You've as I've said done a good job of creating a cosmology that is rather universal, and left room for mystery which is rare for this kind of setting.
Quote from: Brief History of KisharAt the beginning of the Current Era (the iteration of Kishar following the end of the ascent of the last Kali Yuga, after which the Omega re-iterates the world), Tiamat rose again and birthed the dragon races. In time, these dragons rose against her mad tyranny and she was forced to retreat beneath the sea.
The dragons ruled Kishar until the coming of the encarans. The encarans were a new draft of humanity, representing a post-human evolution of significantly greater power (this post-human design was eventually scrapped as an evolutionary dead-end and ordinary humans were again created by the Star, though with latent genes connecting them to encarans). The encarans defeated the dragons, including Tiamat when she rose again.
After this, they built an empire, and human-like fae races arose (especially the alfar, dvergar, etc.). Following the fae races, other mortal races arose, such as saurians and ordinary humans. The encarans oppressed the other races who were weaker, and ruled the world in a golden age for 6000 years. The fae, eventually, lead a rebellion which destroyed the encaran civilization, and then turned to an encaran genocide.
The Fae built their own empire, but fractured into two courts, Seelie and Unseelie, based on differing ideologies. In time, the dominant Seelie Court when too far in their magical experiments and destroyed their civilization while opening a rift to Abaddon (a hellish alternate reality).
This precipitated the Dark Age, a time when demons and asuras ruled the world. After thousands of years of torment, this age ended with the defeat of Ahriman (Kroni) when he was betrayed by his general.
This led to the Age of Chaos, when fae and mortals and dragons warred for control of the world. The Age of Chaos officially ends with the rise of Valador and the defeat of the goblin king, beginning the Age of Humanity.[/spoiler]
Interesting that it is the Seelie that cause the downfall of Fae civilization. While probably details need to be filled in it is very good as a general explanation, kudos. Are the Seelie then resigned to their fate while the Unseelie are not?
Edit: I moved the post about the origins of animas to the first post, and added a list of cosmic beings and giant types.
Quote from: The Fae CourtsDuring the Fae Rebellion which overthrew the Encaran Empire, the encaran homeland, Atlantis, was destroyed and sank beneath the waves, crippling the empire. The encaran race soon fell, and the fae, led by the aes sidhe (elves) turned to total genocide of the encarans. Though vindictive themselves, the dvergr felt this went too far, and secretly sheltered a small number of encarans, while beginning to distrust the elves.
The elves became the dominant beings on the planet, by leading the fae races (though some that were not human-like took no real interest in their activities). After believing they had eradicated the encaran race they built a great civilization centered on their own homeland, Lemuria. This was the Fae Age, from 8978 BCE - 6493 BCE (the modern calendar begins with the end of the Grimhild War 1 CE, 1700 years after Valador first rose; the year my main story begins is 686 CE, 7000 years after the fall of the fae civilization).
[ic=From the encaran histories]As the centuries had passed without our restrictions on magic, fae use of their art had advanced and expanded dramatically. With our fall, no other race could stand before the elves. Reveling in their power, blind in their arrogance, their returned to efforts to summon the powers of beings outside Kishar. In some cases, these attempts worked, granting them incredible power. In others, disaster swept across the world.
When the elves were certain our entire race was gone, Aibell turned her eye upon Kishar. The world had descended into total anarchy. She resolved to restore order to the world. We know from reports that she had taken in a mysterious advisor. Many believed it was some cosmic being, drawn to Kishar by the magic the elves used. Some later sources said that Aibell had called him Anazimur, but no one ever saw his face. Perhaps Anazimur was the one that convinced her to conquer the world. Perhaps she always desired it. Either way, the elves began to attempt to enforce order across Kishar. Some welcomed their help, but most resented the interference.
As more and more of Kishar fell under the sway of the elves, they decided the entire world would be better off under their rule. Those they could not coerce with diplomacy, they began to force through military might. The dwarves accused the elves the trying to become the very foe they thought to overthrow, and war broke out between them. Some of my people longed to help the dwarves that even now sheltered us; yet we knew to do so would led to the annihilation of our race, and so we left them to their fate.
To destroy their enemies, the elves tried to command the dragons. The dragons were embittered to see one empire replace another, and refused. The elves continued to encroach into dragon domains and try to command their power, until, finally, the dragons assaulted the elves.
As the wars with the dwarves and with the dragons intensified, the elves lessened their efforts to annex other lands. Had the dwarves and dragons been united, they might have had a chance. But the dragons would not trust any humanoids again. Their numbers were depleted from the war against the encarans, and they fell to elven magic. The dragons were led by the powerful wyrm, Kampe. He was brought down by a bolt of lightning, called by elven magic. With his death, the dragons dispersed.
With the fall of the dragons, the elves focused all their attention on the dwarves, who grew more desperate. Despite their fierce efforts, the dwarves were doomed from the start. Humans would fight on both sides, but they only delayed the inevitable. The dwarves taught their human allies of craftsmanship and war, while the elves treated humans as slaves, using them as fodder to soften the dwarven ranks.
Finally, the dwarven resistance broke. Their last stand was made upon the slopes of Bakhu, the eastern most mountain in Nidafjoll. There, Motsognir fell, and the dwarven people were scattered. The dwarves retreated deep into the world, sealing themselves away. The elves, content to rule the surface, let them go. With the fall of the dwarven resistance, the elves began claiming the lands of the other races at a rapid pace. Soon most of Midgard and its surrounding lands would be part of their new empire.
With Midgard, Lemuria, Agria, and much of Asaland under their control, the fae became embroiled in politics within their court. The elven capital on Lemuria, Mu, became the center of the world. There the many varied kinds of fae struggled for land, influence, and prestige. Noble houses rose and fell, and the mortal races were moved about like pawns.
We watched it all from the shadows, never willing to reveal ourselves. Like the dwarves, we had abandoned the surface. Though we did not share their love of the underground world, we felt we had no choice. The dwarves named Durin, son of Motsognir, their new king. Durin ordered that no dwarf should venture to the surface or risk contact with the fae.[/ic]
(This is from the old history, so I may need to revise a bit.)
The fae noble houses turned to in-fighting, but this was set aside when giants appeared and began to challenge the fae rule. While the elven queen, Aibell, united the fae to fight the giants, she failed to conquer them despite centuries of warfare. Some fae began to lose confidence in her abilities.
Also, at this time, the elves discovered what they called "The Machine" a device from a prior iteration of Kishar which could harness enormous magical energies.
The political tensions in fae courts eventually came to a head, and civil broke out. The factions chose sides between those that remained loyal to the elven queen, and those that sought to rule for themselves.
For hundreds of years, wars raged between the two courts of fae. Those that remained loyal became known as the Seelie, and the dissidents were called the Unseelie. In their schemes, plots, and bloodshed, it was often the mortals that felt the greatest losses. Both sides would rather sacrifice their mortal followers than risk death themselves.
Ultimately, the Unseelie agreed to a truce. They could not be reabsorbed into the empire; too much hatred had grown, too much blood had been shed. But queen Aibell agreed to allow them to spread to the far corners of the world, never to come within her sight. They were banished from Lemuria, but she did not have them hunted down.
Skyreign
With the Fae Wars concluded, Aibell turned her attention back to the courts of Mu. She wanted to prove the absolute glory of the elven people; in their rule of the world, they were blinded by their own magnificence. In their arrogance, they believed they should soar above the races of Kishar. Aibell had begun to understand the awesome power of The Machine. And thus the Skyreign project was born.
[ic=Encaran Histories]The Skyreign project was a plan to use The Machine's power, fed by magical energies, to lift Lemuria into the sky. It would become a flying continent, the ultimate testament to elven supremacy. For more than twenty years elven sorcerers researched the rituals they would need to create whilst artificers worked to create a means to harness The Machine.
Some few voices objected the Aibell's plan. Most notably, the noblewoman, Titania. For her dissent, Aibell had her banished. Aibell could not conceive that her great undertaking might result in disaster.
Then at last, Skyreign Day came upon the world. The project succeed, lifting Lemuria to the clouds. But the power required to lift the continent was extreme beyond anything our world had known. It sent out vibrations across the world. Everyone, everywhere, knew something momentous had happened. As it turns out, it was not just Kishar that felt these vibrations.
Elsewhere, in the cosmos, these energies were felt. Some believe that these cosmic beings harnessed the tremendous energy of The Machine. What is clear, is that Lemuria fell from the sky quite suddenly. It came crashing back into the sea, killing all upon and destroying the fae civilization. Lemuria fractured, spawning islands off its coast.
The fall of Lemuria created tsunamis beyond imagining. All but the greatest peaks of Asaland, Lagash, and the islands around were swept beneath the waves. All eastern civilization was wiped out in an instant. Even from the peaks of Nidafjoll, I saw the waves, though they did not touch us on the mountains.
But the cataclysm created by the fall was still not the worst of it. Whether the energy was indeed harnessed by demons, or whether it was merely a side effect, rifts to some other existence were torn open. We called this dark, terrible place, Abaddon. From these rifts, poured forth asuras which preyed upon all the beings of Kishar. Worse still, we now had the full attention of true demons, the masters of the asuras. As such beings manifested and walked upon Kishar, we knew doom had fallen upon us. The Dark Age had begun.[/ic][/spoiler]
The courts never reconciled, and continue to fight to this day. However, I left out some important information about the ancient Age of Man; the fae, hunted by mankind, created Otherworld (or linked to it, rather) and both Seelie and Unseelie retreated there (approximately 1800 years before my main story starts).
During the Age of Chaos, the Unseelie fae, under the goblin king, tried to conquer the world themselves, but were defeated by men. The Seelie mostly retreated under persecution.
At this point, most members of both courts are resigned to leaving Kishar in the hands of mortals, and fighting over Otherworld. However, both will manipulate mortals for their ends, and the Unseelie often actively torment mortals out of spite.
That's very good...I'm thinking I may yet again steal some material from you here. It explains the demon war well for one thing, and makes it sound like something you could read from mythology. I like the way you use 'goblin king' in a more fae kind of sense than Tolkienesque.
One element that I have found works in my own campaign is emphasis on the tragedy of the circumstances of the Dark Elves. I like that emphasis here as well and on the sense of exile of the dwarves.
It is often remarked in the biographies of playwrights that drama and comedy are tools that come early, but Tragedy is the bailwick of the maturing writer.
So it is, I think with settings. Pathos and tragedy engender a response from mature ganmers. I think you and Tybalt are both hitting on this. In this thread, both the earliest history and the tragic in-fighting of the fae, and their interaction with mortalkind show elements of this tragendy, which I like. I really enjoyed the sense of separate ages in the history, as well. I have a few millenial grudges still extent in my elven (Omwo~) civs as well, though current Omwo~ average a lifespan of only 350-400 years. \
(though I'd change the name of Durin from the Dwarves...)
Tybalt, your dark elves do share this, but so do your goblins.
Quote from: LVIt is often remarked in the biographies of playwrights that drama and comedy are tools that come early, but Tragedy is the bailwick of the maturing writer.
good[/i] comedy is hard). I do agree with you about the response engendered in mature gamers (which sadly may not be the norm).
What is "Omwo~" (I've glanced around your site, but I don't recall that).
Since fae in my setting are immortal, it does create some oddities, especially when gaming in the setting, where you could potentially have a character that saw these events from thousands of years ago.
Kishar's history proceeds in Iterations called Eras, each lasting for 24,000 years. Within the Current Era, which has nearly reached its climax, there have been several Ages: Prehistory (22,989 BCE - 14,971 BCE)
Encaran Age (14,970 BCE - 8978 BCE)
Fae Age (8978 BCE - 6493 BCE)
Dark Age (6493 BCE - 3672 BCE)
Age of Chaos (3672 BCE - 1688 BCE)
Age of Man - ancient (1688 BCE - 1 BCE)
Age of Man - modern (1 CE - present)
Quote(though I'd change the name of Durin from the Dwarves...)
You mean because Tolkien used it, too? I might, and for that reason. All the names for animas and most human characters are drawn from real-world myth (Norse, in the case of dwarves), but perhaps I can find another name for a dwarf king.