[size=30]Anwar[/size]
[ic=Zel Iwan, Seneschal] "Did the Ashwan destroy ancient Cathos? No, men with magics and steel did. The Ashwan rebuilt it mightier and stronger, and created the Anwar.The Ashwan is like the foundation of a great palace. No, he is the terrain upon which it is built, ever changing as the rivers and hills. Eager to disrupt the unworthy and unfit in pursuit of perfection."[/ic]
[size=30]Historical Overview[/size]
The Ashwan has ruled the Anwar in direct blood succession for over 4000 years. Beginning with the great ancestor Ashur Hamza Ashwan,who took the broken bones of the Cathartid Empire and gave it life anew as the Anwar.
The Cathartid Empire is worthy of more than a footnote as it was the first great societal accomplishment in recorded history. This was an empire of many races, cooperating and interacting peaceably for the greater good. Each race had a speaker for their people, and the speakers met at The Court of Niscus, a gathering of those speakers at various locations around the land. Here they discussed politics in a manner of utmost dignity.
It is often said the catalyst for the sudden and tragic downfall of the Cathartid Empire was the appearance of man. Although it is unclear who instigated the war between men and the Niscus Court,there still exists a racial tension across the Anwar, made even worse by the fact that the Ashwan is of human blood. (more to come)
During the Silver Age, Asan Zem Ashwan adopted a policy of expansionism that ripped the Anwar apart. Those non-human races living in the Anwar decried his actions, for he was invading many of their ancestral homelands. There was a lot of talk in those days of re-forming the Niscus Court to oppose the Ashwans actions. Talk soon became action and the Asan Zem Ashwan was suddenly in the midst of a rebellious Anwar. It is worthy to note that not all of the rebellions were base solely upon racial motivation. The Ashwan had exhausted many resources in campaigning, and as a result, taxes were raised, food became scarce, and most of the men were drafted. Once recalled, the Ashwan hand picked a few hundred men and ordered them to return order to the land. After the rebellions were put down or dispersed, the Ashwan retained these soldiers to protect the realm. He dubbed them the Silver Hand and gave them the second highest authority in the land(the Ashwans being the first). The Silver Hand has become the militant arm of the Ashwan ever since.
[spoiler=Summary] The Ashwan took control after the fall of the Cathartid Empire, and created the Anwar Kingdom. Many races hold grudges against man for the defeat of the Niscus Court, the ruling body of the Cathartid Empire, which man was not a part of. Racial tension becomes a major factor in future Ashwans reigns. As a result , expansion became impossible, and a militant order under direct order of the Ashwan,the Silver Hand, was formed.[/spoiler]
[ic=Cadereb Gant, Speaker for the Geb, Niscus Court]
Where does this race of man come from? It seems from all around our great lands. Every edge of our empire is beset upon by these nomads. They have no land of their own, and they seek to take ours. They have crossed the Center Sea, and the Far, great barriers to our peoples for centuries. Bodies of water which our gods have refused us passage across. Do not take this man-race incursion lightly fellow speakers, do not dismiss those that defy and survive the will of the gods.
This alone darkens my heart. If they are not subject to our dear pantheon, what deities favor them, that they traverse freely , and multiply so quickly? Where are our gods, who have until now given us peace, prosperity and longevity?
Now is the time that will be remembered dear speakers, for our actions will have repercussions that shake the foundation of our Empire." -From Niscus Scrolls IX[/ic]
[spoiler=Map] (http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p136/channinBsan/RegionMapcopy.jpg) [/spoiler][note]Anwar Cartography Progress: 28% [/note]
[spoiler=Regions]
-Anwar
-Raznath
-Desos
-Center Sea
-Far Sea
-Un-named North Region
-Un-named Far Eastern Region
[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Anwar]
-Hamen
-G.T.
-Foclian Highlands (or the west bank, conquered in the Silver Age)
-Miradrel
-Cathos
-Lower Oskarse
-Hallen
-Lake Niscus
-Tilden Mountains
-Golden Road
-Meni Isles
[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Cities of Anwar]
-(unamed lower Oskarse capital , ((Called))
-Ivesten (rename)
-Zanthem
-Bethed
-Palmace
-Pithe
-Vincale
[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Rivers]
-Lower Hallen
-Cane
-Corpreal(rename)
-Tier
[/spoiler]
[ooc] This is a holding place, as well as a bit of a kick in the arse for me to get writing this up.Actually its all written up , spread across 3 notebooks, a stack of napkins , the back of a Neil Gaiman book and .txt files. Now comes the hard part.More to come tonight, for now - work.[/ooc]
Ossirian Creation Myth
[ic=Zaser Ivas, travellor]...very lucky to see such a telling of the Ossirian Creation Story. It is a curious thing, and exciting and dangerous all at once. Everyone in the group knows the tale, but it seems never once do they become bored with it. It is a group telling, the whole tribe joining in for a line or two at a time, like a sing-along,only far more mystical. An older Ossian with dark black feathers, and golden eyes was the storyteller that night. Gathered about the fire in the fading daylight, (the traditional time for feast and story I'm told, it seems men and Ossians have that in common at least!)the old Ossian begins thus:
"Listen well, young winged ones, as I tell the tale of who you and I once were, of where we came from and why we find ourselves here,"
The tribe became silent then, it scared me a little to be honest, but the old one continued:
"There was Earth first, but also Sky, the older brother to Earth, much larger and stronger, weighing the Earth down so it does not float away. The Sky had only wind and dust, cloud and rain then."
Here the tribe echoed : Wind blows dust, cloud drops rain.
"And then Lightning came, and tore the clouds, and darkened the sky, for ninety years and ninety days,"
Again they refrain: Ninety years and ninety days.
"And when the storm was gone, and the sky was still, the Grandcestors emerged, with golden plumage and voice like rain."
I suppose this was the cue in the story for the entire tribe to sing at the top of their lungs, all different sounds and tones , it was like a thunderstorm. It was the herald for their ancestors entrance into the story.
"They lived for a time, strong and proud, they drank the mist of the clouds, and ate the rays of the sun."
The refrain: Mist of the clouds, rays of the sun.
Here the storyteller grew quiet, crouched down and began humming. The tribe grew agitated , and looked around nervously. The mother's took their little ones under there wing, and soon the humming became a rythmic thump, thump , thump, the storytellers voice becoming louder and louder, and then all at once the whole group voiced large wings taking flight:
"Whoooooooshhhh Ahhhhhhhh"
The storyteller:" The Bone-Winged Ones came from far below, from the spinning earth, which spat them out and harbored them at night, those born walking, took flight and battled our Grandcestors.
Refrain: "Claws, teeth, fire."
I believe the Bone-Winged ones to be dragons. The Ossians seem to have an inherent hatred for dragons. I myself cannot blame them , but I have heard of people who do befriend the creatures, as reclusive as they are.
-Zaser Ivas,Journal Excerpt , CE 1203
[/ic]
The Ossian race is one of the oldest species in the world. They have the head, neck and wings of birds; and the chest, torso, and legs of men. They are generally shorter than men, the tallest only reaching four to four and a half feet tall. Their feathers come in a wide variety of colors that appear naturally in the world, and their face shapes are equally varied, resembling many of the species of birds in the world.
They can achieve flight for a short amount of time. As they grow older they begin to lose the ability. In the last years of life their feathers begin to first darken, and eventually fall off, rendering them flightless. But this is not looked down upon in their society , as the older flightless ossians take on the role of storyteller.
Stories are immensely important to Ossians. <more>
Their diet consists of fish that dwell in the rivers and oceans around the Miradrel basin. <more>
They dwell in wooden cliffside buildings spread across several miles of the coast. It is generally believed these dwellings were constructed by the humans who also live nearby, and thrive off of fishing patterns that were taught to them by the Ossians. <more>[/size]
... how did you write on the back of a book? Or did you just mean those random empty pages they always put in the end? :p
I'm eager to see what becomes of this. May you find the time and energy to fill this page with content!
G.T.??
I guess I will find out.
So, not much of an update, but that will have to do for now.
Hello all and welcome to the slowest-to-be-written-ever campaign thread.
I like the progress report on the map. :)
Just wait till it keeps dropping and going back up , as I crumple up the damn thing and start over about 429 times.
Quote from: SarisaI crumple up the damn thing and start over about 429 times.
That kind of thing is all too familiar to me...
Posted a map. No names yet, still working on the mountains and getting the colors right. The body of water on the left is the Far Sea. The center body of h20 is the Center Sea. The northernmost river is the River Tier(the one flowing from the mountains).The lake below that is Lake Niscus, named for the Niscus Court.
I like the creation story - not so much because of what it tells about, but the style. What kind of beings are these Ossians? Obviously, they have feathered wings. But are they like intelligent birds? Bird-like humanoids? Hybrids? Something completely different?
Quote from: GhostmanI like the creation story - not so much because of what it tells about, but the style. What kind of beings are these Ossians? Obviously, they have feathered wings. But are they like intelligent birds? Bird-like humanoids? Hybrids? Something completely different?
I've always found creation stories in rpgs to be extremely dry and well, boring, hence telling the story being told from an outsiders perspective.
The Ossians are birdlike humanoids. Unfortunately that is about as far as I've gotten with them. I am not really sure what the exact physiology will be of these guys yet. More to come on the Ossians, and another Homebrew race, the Geb.
Wow. I had a long week at work. Sorry not much updated.
I am still running through my notes, trying to organize them and make something sensible out of it all.
Abandoned.
Quote from: SarisaAbandoned.
Too bad, it sounded like you had the mytho-historical vibe going.
I'm moving on to other things for now. Might get some inspiration for it later.