Hello everyone. First time poster, long time lurker ;D
I suppose this is going to be at least somewhat different from the usual, but I hope you'll all be able to bear with me.
While I had originally developed what I'm tentatively calling Kreuzer for an 'adventuring' campaign setting (which it of course could still be used for, I'm just not planning on that at the moment), it has slowly worked its way into being more suited to a tabletop strategy game. I've toyed with the idea for awhile but didn't really seriously consider it until yesterday. I've been so enthused about what I've been working on so far that I felt I just had to post it. I do not have a rules system yet, but rest assured I will be working on one. I'll slowly be adding what I've got so far today, so if it seems a confusing mess (particularly with formatting), check back later.
For now, I will have a one sentence description of what Kreuzer *is* until I devote some time to being thorough with that aspect.
Kreuzer focuses on the military and political power projection of kreuzers and their various weapons systems and the consequences thereof.
Some elements will be missing for.. an amount of time. I don't want to give a firm date as to when I'll be working on them. Ex. space and air forces.
Kreuzer takes place on and around two habitable planets and their various orbitals. I'll be focusing on what I consider the 'first' planet (Elenden) .. well.. first, but I will get to the second one (Hrika).
A map is in progress but I don't have anything I'd like to post yet. In the mean time I have many flags and icons for you to enjoy. Keep in mind I am not a very talented nor skilled artist.
If you have any questions or comments I'd more than love to hear them.
Influences: Mechwarrior, Warhammer 40k, Supreme Commander, Hearts of Iron, Gundam, Code Geass, Legend of the Galactic Heroes, Eureka Seven, Xam'd: Lost Memories and of course history in general (specifically the two world wars).
Alliances
LAS (League of Allied States)
The Most Serene Republic of Tiriol and Amasque
(http://a.imagehost.org/0090/msrflag.png)
Like many modern states, the Most Serene Republic has it's origins in the dissolution of the Etmerine Empire. Formed from the breakaway backwater provinces of Tiriol and Amasque, the Republic has had a long and harrowing struggle to obtain its position of planetary supremacy over the past two hundred and fifty years. At times having been subject to vassalage to nations such as Asrevil and Harrogad the Republic now exerts considerable influence over much of the territory of its former oppressors.
The Republic declared its First Edict in 199 EE with the full approval of congress, denouncing the imperialist practices of Asrevil and repudiating its state of vassalage. The resulting King's War lasted for seven bloody years. An estimated 5 billion people lost their lives in this conflict and many hundreds of millions more were displaced. The war ended with the use of the HRD, or harmonic resonance device, on the heartland of the belligerent nation of Asrevil and her ally Karcheron. The decision to use the HRD is still a contentious issue in the Republic. While invariably sparing the lives of tens of millions of Republican military personnel the resulting collateral loss of life of billions of Karcherii and Asrevilnne civilians galvanizes the opposition to HRD technology.
The standard of living in the Most Serene Republic has never been higher, even with the recent enfranchisement of the economically disadvantaged provinces of Hanoma and Teig. Located in the province of Tiriol is a thriving manufacturing and research sector, particularly in the field of military technology and development. The driving entertainment industry in the province of Amasque generates trillions of units and employs tens of millions of Amasquans directly and hundreds of millions indirectly, Amasque also has a significant biomedical sector. Hanoma employs most of its inhabitants in the agricultural and tourism sectors, which have both been boosted exponentially with the province's full admission to the Republic. Teig's economy centers around mineral ore and violandum mining and processing.
Population: 5 237 688 000 (242 census)
GDP: 24 600 000 000 000 Elenden Standard Monetary Units
[spoiler=Military Strength]
Kreuzers
7 Light Landkreuzers: MSRS Archangel, MSRS Victory, MSRS Akanna, MSRS Erchamons, MSRS Hanoma, MSRS Watchman, MSRS Humility
3 Landkreuzers: MSRS Rhinemettall, MSRS Glorious Amasque, MSRS Bardan
2 Landkreuzer Mech Carriers: MSRS Steelbreaker, MSRS Nerrenden
Mechanized Armour
17 Light Mechanized Armour Brigades
3 Heavy Mechanized Armour Brigades
Other Land Forces
42 Luftpanzer Divisions
11 AA Luftpanzer Divisions
97 Mobile Infantry Divisions
[/spoiler]
The Zerchimondii Psionium
[spoiler](http://a.imagehost.org/0465/zerchimonde_flag.png)[/spoiler]
Population: 2 933 200 000
GDP: 6 000 000 000 000 Elenden Standard Monetary Units
[spoiler=Military Strength]
Kreuzers
1 Light Landkreuzer: KZ Buoyant Dream
2 Landkreuzers: KZ Asunsazor, KZ Mercriades
1 Landkreuzer Missile Carrier: KZ Fist of the Cabal
Mechanized Armour
5 Light Mechanized Armour Brigades
4 Heavy Mechanized Armour Brigades
Other Land Forces
19 Luftpanzer Divisions
13 Heavy Luftpanzer Divisions
4 AA Luftpanzer Divisions
68 Mobile Infantry Divisions
[/spoiler]
Yun
New Asrevil
[spoiler](http://a.imagehost.org/0949/leria_flag.png)[/spoiler]
Persade
[spoiler](http://i28.tinypic.com/152gl5k.jpg)[/spoiler]
Persade is a new nation, being only 36 years old. In the aftermath of the HRD event and the King's War Persade was one of the few well developed regions of Asrevil that remained stable, quickly making itself a clear candidate for statehood. It was created with Republican oversight in the year 207.
Persade is situated in the west of former Asrevil, bordering Elend-Arna. It consists almost entirely of the city of Persade and its immediate surroundings. It is host to Persade National University, one of the most prestigious schools on the planet. Persade's local economy is almost entirely service sector based. However, it generates substantial amounts of wealth being the only corridor through which the goods of CAIN member nations can pass through into the wider LAS.
Population: 89 100 000
GDP: 742 745 000 000 Elenden Standard Monetary Units
[spoiler=Military Strength]
Kreuzers
No Landkreuzers (1 Light Landkreuzer under construction)
Mechanized Armour
3 Light Mechanized Armour Brigades
Other Land Forces
5 Luftpanzer Divisions
1 AA Luftpanzer Division
11 Mobile Infantry Divisions
[/spoiler]
CAIN (Concord of Armed and Industrial Nations)
ALK (Associated Librimunipoles of Karcheron)
[spoiler](http://a.imagehost.org/0517/karcheron_flag.png)[/spoiler]
SCIS (Sovereign Constructed Intelligent Systems)
[spoiler](http://a.imagehost.org/0368/adru_flag.png)[/spoiler]
The Compact
[spoiler](http://a.imagehost.org/0060/alsbourg_flag.png)[/spoiler]
Elend-Arna
[spoiler](http://a.imagehost.org/0832/nimbrel_white_w_red.png)[/spoiler]
Vernasser et Cecaptos
[spoiler](http://a.imagehost.org/0854/reylme_flag.png)[/spoiler]
The Hrika Pact
The Hrikade Dominus
The Swaeival Combine
Andornol
The Het'esk Combine
The Ascendancy
Unaligned
Massarba
Angseem
The Banderii Democratic Republic
[spoiler](http://a.imagehost.org/0013/BDR.png)[/spoiler]
While briefly under the control of the short-lived National Unity Council after the fall of the Etmerii Empire, the Banderiim have managed to preserve their freedom since 4 EE. This freedom is largely due to continued Banderii neutrality and the vigilance of the Undersea Service, the largest branch of the Banderii Unified Forces. The Banderii Democratic Republic consists of the majority of the former Etmerii maritime possessions off the western coast of Elendacra, centred on the Anraihn archipelago.
The economic and political significance of the BDR has steadily increased over the past half century to the point that the Banderiim are now one of the wealthiest and most technologically advanced nations. The decision to stay out of the King's War undoubtedly contributed immensely to the recent success of the Banderiim. The threat of invasion resulted in many independent island nations seeking admission into the BDR. The construction of the Orbital Habitation has positioned the Banderiim as one of the major powers in Elenden orbit. The BDR is one of the few non-CAIN member nations to maintain good relations with the ALK.
The primary industries in the BDR are space and undersea craft manufacture, violandan microcircuitry fabrication and research and aquaculture. An increasingly prominent service sector has also developed over the past sixty years. The BDR is the only nation aside from the ALK and the MSRTA to possess a major spaceport, coupled with low tariffs this makes the BDR one of the premiere locations for international corporations with interests on Hrika or in the orbital cities to locate large operations.
Population: 354 000 000
GDP: 2 962 000 000 000 Elenden Standard Monetary Units
[spoiler=Military Strength]
Kreuzers
2 Light Landkreuzers: BDGS Enrah, BDGS Amcaladine
Mechanized Armour
12 Light Mechanized Armour Brigades
Other Land Forces
12 Luftpanzer Divisions
24 Mobile Infantry Divsions
[/spoiler]
Kreuzers
Light Landkreuzer
(http://a.imagehost.org/0260/landkreuzerlight.png)
Landkreuzer
[spoiler](http://a.imagehost.org/0916/landkreuzer.png)[/spoiler]
Landkreuzer Mech Carrier
[spoiler](http://a.imagehost.org/0849/landkreuzermechcarrier.png)[/spoiler]
Advanced Landkreuzer Mech Carrier
[spoiler](http://a.imagehost.org/0552/landkreuzermechcarrierlarge2.png)[/spoiler]
Landkreuzer Missile Carrier
[spoiler](http://a.imagehost.org/0661/landkreuzermissilecarrier.png)[/spoiler]
Mechs
Light Mech Brigade
[spoiler](http://a.imagehost.org/0714/lightmechv2.png)[/spoiler]
Assault Mech Brigade
[spoiler](http://a.imagehost.org/0473/assaultmech.png)[/spoiler]
Heavy Mech Brigade
[spoiler](http://a.imagehost.org/0334/mech_division.png)[/spoiler]
Airborne Needle Brigade
[spoiler](http://a.imagehost.org/0884/needleairborne.png)[/spoiler]
Other Ground Forces
Luftpanzer
[spoiler](http://a.imagehost.org/0186/hovertank.png)[/spoiler]
AA Luftpanzer
[spoiler](http://a.imagehost.org/0295/luftpanzerAA.png)[/spoiler]
Heavy Luftpanzer
[spoiler](http://a.imagehost.org/0263/heavyluftpanzer.png)[/spoiler]
Air Forces
VTOL Strikecraft
[spoiler](http://a.imagehost.org/0302/vtolstrikecraft.png)[/spoiler]
Uncategorized
Some Kind of MegaMech
[spoiler](http://a.imagehost.org/0198/crazybugbot.png)[/spoiler]
Some Other Kind of Mech
[spoiler](http://a.imagehost.org/0801/hrikadebionicassaultmech.png)[/spoiler]
Glad to see you post here :) Welcome
Okay, i gather that Kreuzers are some kind of crazy supertanks or such? Do they come in sea/air/space varieties?
What tech level are we talking. Future it seems, but what have they invented and what haven't they invented of the common staples of sci-fi?
I suppose you could call them crazy supertanks. Although I think of landkreuzers as more of a land battleship.
Yes, they do come in sea and space flavours. As of now, I have not considered air kreuzers, although I could possibly implement that as a research path. I picture the tech level as being about 100 - 200 years more advanced than our own time period. As for what's been developed, I haven't thought of everything down that road yet.. but for example:
anti-gravity technology. roughly 70 years old, practical applications started appearing roughly 50 years ago as seen in Luftpanzers. Also used in some Landkreuzers, like the KZ Buoyant Dream, as well as civillian vehicles. I picture it being able to lift a vehicle no more than about 20 meters into the air, but obviously the technology is constantly being refined.
cybernetic implants. standard stuff, bionic limbs, toggleable infra-red sensing eye implant, neural network integration with computers etc. Obviously not everyone has or wants these implants, in fact, some groups are violently opposed.
HRD device, emits a series of powerful sound frequencies in an attempt to resonate with its surroundings in order to destroy them. turns areas and most things in them into a fine gray powder. some objects or individuals curiously unscathed.
Psionic synergy technology, mostly developed and used in the Zerchimondii Psionium as psionics in most other nations are not in positions of power or able to live with any degree of freedom (not that psionics in the Psionium are particularly free, just more-so than in other places, low-level psionics the gov't and military aren't interested in could lead practically normal lives). I'll probably have research paths for Zerchimonde to develop some crazy psionic synergy weapons platforms/superweapons. Also being experimented with as a commercial power source.
As for what they don't have, well that's a tougher question. What immediately springs to mind is there is no faster than light travel. All of this takes place on and around the two planets of Elenden and Hrika and their orbitals. It takes a few days to a couple weeks to travel from one to the other depending on their orbital positions. It's hard to think of what else specifically doesn't exist, I'll have to get back to you on that.
The HRD devices sound very nice.
What kind of psionics are there available? Are we talking telepathy only, or telekinesis as well? Or are we talking full on pyrokinesis and stuff like that?
Sounds interesting otherwise :)
Not sure how much good I am in commenting on strategy games, but I'll try and be useful.
First off, welcome to the CBG.
Quote from: TheMeanestGuestYes, they do come in sea and space flavours. As of now, I have not considered air kreuzers, although I could possibly implement that as a research path. I picture the tech level as being about 100 - 200 years more advanced than our own time period. As for what's been developed, I haven't thought of everything down that road yet.. but for example:
cybernetic implants. standard stuff, bionic limbs, toggleable infra-red sensing eye implant, neural network integration with computers etc. Obviously not everyone has or wants these implants, in fact, some groups are violently opposed.
[/quote]
Psionic synergy technology, mostly developed and used in the Zerchimondii Psionium as psionics in most other nations are not in positions of power or able to live with any degree of freedom (not that psionics in the Psionium are particularly free, just more-so than in other places, low-level psionics the gov't and military aren't interested in could lead practically normal lives). I'll probably have research paths for Zerchimonde to develop some crazy psionic synergy weapons platforms/superweapons. Also being experiment with as a commercial power source.
[/quote]
As for what they don't have, well that's a tougher question. What immediately springs to mind is there is no faster than light travel. All of this takes place on and around the two planets of Elenden and Hrika and their orbitals. It takes a few days to a couple weeks to travel from one to the other depending on their orbital positions. It's hard to think of what else specifically doesn't exist, I'll have to get back to you on that.
[/quote]
Sounds good, although to make such fast space travel I'd recommend using Ion drives instead of rockets (wich seams quite feasable, since Ion drives have been built on Earth), could also lead to interesting Ion drive based weapons (super accelerated pile-driving weapon, planet smashers etc).
Now, are all these nations sharing the two planets? Or are some nations only on a single planet?
Quote from: p
They just have more applications than a tank as they are larger and can fit a more varied array of weapons systems/support personnel/equipment etc. in that sense they are land battleships.
[quote=Llum100-200 years ahead of the present isn't too advanced. Unless we hit the singularity in 2035 (just for you Troll), but that's a whole different kettle of fish.
that[/i] much more advanced. This is more or less to keep my brain from exploding with thinking about too many things that would be very very different.
Quote from: p
Disadvantages being, it's more expensive. Due to manufacturing and elements required for manufacturing. It takes more energy so in general a vehicle can't go as far without refueling (of whatever it uses for fuel, say if it was solar powered it might have to stop in the sun for awhile). They are also harder to repair and the technology is still being worked on, so for instance it's harder to float something as heavy as a landkreuzer in comparison to a civilian family car.
[quote=LlumSounds good, my only main problem (and this is far from just your setting) is that there are always "radicals" who opposed the use of implants and junk. But if these implants really make people into transhuman killing machines (wich is the goal I gather) the "resisters" are going to get curb stomped really fast.
So are psyonics the classic far-seeing, future sight, telekinesis stuff? Or something a little different?
[/quote]
Now, are all these nations sharing the two planets? Or are some nations only on a single planet?
[/quote]
Some of them have possessions on both planets, others on only one. I still have more nations to list and detail, so the above list isn't exhaustive in terms of the number of nations. Just as an example, as Karcheron proper was mostly destroyed the ALK is primarily based out of a series of cities orbiting Elenden, they still have groundside possessions though.
I wrote this little thing up while I was bored. I think I'm going to work more on the story before I work on the mechanics. I've been seriously working over some of my stuff to be quite a bit different stylistically. Content as well. I don't really have anything else I'm prepared to post yet. But I figured I should update. I'll have to redo the first post eventually.
Edit: I lied, I have an in-progress map I could show. http://h.imagehost.org/view/0801/elenden2
It's obviously not done, as I only have the landmass.
[ic] The smoke and dust of the battle is drifting away. He lies amidst the bodies of the fallen. Friends but a short while ago, now what? Food for worms and derrigs and providers of an uncomfortable elbow in his back. He reaches down to touch the edge of the ragged hole in his midsection. The blood is cold. The sun is getting ever lower in the sky and the pain is gone now. That probably isn't good. His mind lapses for a moment, he wonders if it was the absence of pain or the coming of darkness that was worrying at him. No matter. He'll be asleep soon, or so he assures himself.
Several hours pass. The last of the sun's light has fled and the night is moonless. He can hear the lowing of the derrigs in the distance. Regardless of how tired he gets he can't seem to fall asleep. He has been trying to recall the details of his life, but they seem to be slowly slipping away. He can't remember the faces of his wife or children anymore. Was he even married? Some of the derrigs are getting closer, he can see them snuffling through a trench about forty meters away. That's odd, he shouldn't be able to see that well in the dark, should he? Suddenly, the lead derrig's ears perk up and the pack lopes off. It seems he'll be unfortunately alive for at least a few hours yet.
He feels a slight vibration in the earth that gradually becomes more powerful. A light begins playing across the field to the south in arcing motions. Slowly, a landkreuzer trundles into view. It spouts forth a strange effluent in its path, drowning the field of battle. The restless luminescence is revealed to be a powerful searchlight mounted atop the superstructure. He judges the kreuzer to be an old Fehr model, blocky and slightly rusted. Decades past its retirement date. Well, that's the League for you. He fleetingly wonders why he can remember that of all things. The landkreuzer comes to what seems a jarringly abrupt stop as the light drifts over and illuminates his supine form. He blinks; it's bright. The light shuts off. Whatever ooze the kreuzer is trailing begins to pool behind it. Loud clangs and thumps resonate from within the ship. The sudden whirring of a small engine and a jeep is coming to a stop beside him. Two men get out, rifles slung over their shoulders and uniforms looking somewhat disheveled.
'Well eh, he is alive. Didn't think we'd ever find anyone what with what that Lord went an' did.' says the obviously dimmer bulb of the pair. The second man takes a long drag on his cigarette. Embers winking, he drops it to the ground and stamps it out with his boot.
'Course he is. Cap'n ain't never not been wrong before. That slinky ol' devil knows his.. ehh, whatsit that he knows again?' Correction.
'Well how should I know whatsit that devils know? Them rainy bastards knows a lot of things what people like us ain't ought to.' Crickets chirp. The first man pauses dumbly before speaking again. 'Eh Corben! This one's alive! Get your malingerin' needles over 'ere!' A woman previously not visible to the earthbound man sits upright at astounding speed in the open bed of the jeep.
'Who you callin' malingerin'?' asks the woman, the medical rose displayed prominently on her armband below two chevrons. She gets out of the jeep and saunters over.
'Eh, he tweren'ts calling you malingerin', miss corporal Corben ma'am. Was the needles' says the dimmest bulb, a vague look of apprehension on his face.
'Looks whats you gone an' done! You gettin' promoted 's terrified the boy! He can't even piss without pissin' himself! Why'd they send you instead o' the doc anyways?'
'Doc's busy. Move over' says Corben as she kneels down. She unlatches her medical kit with a rusty squeal. She lets out a low whistle as she flicks the end of a needle. 'I'm surprised he's alive at all what with that big ole' hole in him.' She makes eye contact with the wounded man. 'Captain wants you, we been lookin' for survivors, I ain't sure why. Weird though, we haven't seen anyone else who is. A survivor that is'
Corben sticks the needle into his arm and depresses the plunger. He sighs. Bulb one and bulb two hoist him unceremoniously up into the bed of the jeep. The last thing he's aware of as he finally, blessedly, slips into unconsciousness is the sound of the engine. It reminds him of... nothing. [/ic]
I like those green boxes, they're neat. I'm also still not entirely sure what a derrig is, I think it's kind of like a wolf/rabbit/cow that prefers to eat live meat. I'll probably be continuing this particular tangent, as well as going off on others.
Hello.
Map looks good! Can't wait to see all those nations plotted out on it. I've never been a fan of mech games before, (except armored core) but the landkreuzers (with the spelling invoking the terrible nazi blitz) is strangely alluring. I like the use of the HRD , similiar to the U.S. dropping the big one on Japan, it gives a sense of terrible power. What do these nations have on the agenda ? Expand? Consolidate? Explore and develop space travel to find new resources? Is this a world(s) in a constant state of war?
Hope I'm not bombarding you, this is kinda the way I tend to write. Asking as many questions as I can about the place and then sorting out the mess into somthing comprehensible.
The Compact and the SCIS sound very interesting, as well as the relationships between the nations, and the two planets in general.
I had trouble getting into the narrative. I would advise caution when using dialogue that is meant to convey an accent, sometimes makes the read a little less accesible.
Other than that, keep it up, and good luck.
Generally I'm wary of it as well. I could not help myself, however. I think part of my intention was to make it more difficult to understand, although I suppose that's for me and not for whoever else might be reading it, which is kind of paradoxical. I suppose I could clean it up a bit.
*shrug* it's not the most important element anyways, so it doesn't really matter.
Nations and Alliances have all sorts of conflicting goals on the agenda, although they may not quite be their own. I wouldn't say it's a state of constant war, as peace is often desirable to both nations and the Stammzunft (think extranational mega-corporation crossed with a noble house). I would say there is probably always at least one major conflict going on, though.
Kreuzer be a-changin', I'll probably make a new thread or heavily edit this one. Just leaving this here for now. I wanted some fantastic magical creatures but didn't feel like using dragons, so I decided on giant raptors.. although I guess not all of them are raptors. Giant birds.
Creeping Gobble:
[Think something like a cross between a velociraptor and a turkey]
The creeping gobble is a flightless raptor that stands roughly four to four and a half metres tall. Their feathers are mostly brown in colouration, though the males may sport some blue around the neck and under the wings. They live from two hundred to four hundred years. Gobbles are fast and stealthy, they possess minor concealment and earth magics. While not aggressive it is unwise to offend a gobble (which is easy to do), for they are quite dangerous when provoked.
Creeping gobbles can be found in the Almarn provinces of Mannerheim and Darony, throughout Harrogad and in the southern reaches of Byalsk-Kalmar. Gobbles are mostly sedentary and live in groups of 4-9 called heists. A heist of gobbles will usually dig an elaborate system of trenches around their roost, both for protection and in search of food.
Gobbles are very clever, and often speak a smattering of Almarn or Harog.
Gobbles primarily subsist on tubers and root vegetables, though they will eat fruit when the opportunity presents itself. Groups of gobbles are known as heists as a result of their tendency to waylay travelers and hunters and demand any meat the human may possess, if the meat is uncooked the heist will often exchange any truffles or precious stones they have found for the cooking. Gobbles do not hunt or scavenge for meat and as a result this is the only time at which they will obtain or consume it.
Skygerak:
[giant mountain woodpeckers]
Skygerak stand eight to ten metres tall. Apart from the underside of their wings they are covered in grey, back-swept, narrow chitinous feathers. They possess powerful beaks for drilling and digging, the beak of a skygerak is said to be harder than diamond. Skygerak can live upwards of 800 years. They will always possess some ability in earth magic and have the potential to be incredibly powerful.
Skygerak burrow their eyries into the sides of mountains or sheer coastal cliffs. They can be found throughout the mountain ranges of all Hadaxari as well as its southern coasts. They live in lifelong mated pairs. If one partner should die, the remaining skygerak will not pursue a new mate.
Skygerak primarily consume great mountain grubs, they also occasionally break into the hives of the Szerincani to eat their young. The hive-folk regard them as a menace and name them Abyssal Drillmaws. Some skygerak have been noted to cultivate podbulbs in their eyries, doubtless learned when invading Szerincani hives. Coastal skygerak mostly eat fish.
Skygerak will sometimes be able to speak and/or write Court Axri, or rarely another language. This is most likely learned through contact with high alpine aptons. Skygerak are very shy and will often hide when their eyries are entered uninvited. This does not mean skygerak are harmless, they are immensely strong and hard to kill and are not to be trifled with. They often find themselves in conflict over territory with deep crows.
Deep Crow:
High Alpine Apton (Ice Falcon):
A fully grown apton typically stands 20-24 metres tall. Their plumage is purest white apart from their crests, which vary in colour. Aptons possess extraordinary ability in storm and ice magics, often being capable of drastically altering the shape of the land itself. Aptons are, as far as can be told, virtually immortal. No aptons have been known to have died aside from through great violence. It is suspected that aptons, like axri, do not require food to sustain themselves, but obtain their energy from some obscure and arcane source.
Befitting their millenia-spanning lives, aptons can nearly always speak in many languages. An apton will often take it upon him or herself to educate other raptors in the speech of axri and men.
Prone to ostentatiousness, aptons often inhabit magnificent palaces of stone and ice on mountain peaks. They create veritable armies of ice servitors to tend to their whims. They routinely host hangers-on of all kinds and the establishment of a court is not uncommon. Some aptons have even held sworn coteries. Aptons often view themselves as the representatives of all raptors and will treat with nations and communities on issues involving them.
In the past, aptons were known to have intervened in conflicts that brought great destruction and suffering to the land. However, aptons do not universally hold noble intentions. Many of the greatest catastrophes in history have been caused by malevolent aptons and their sycophants.
Plains Rook:
Cloudback (Blue-bellied Hawk):
Turkey-velociraptor-hybrids sound terrifying.
Well, I'd imagine they'd look fairly terrifying.
Maybe just a bit frightening, like a brigand who wants your jewels but probably won't kill you unless you do something stupid.
Probably, anyways. ;D
So, here's a.. thingy.. for the first of my new nations.
Mitannon:
[ic] We are Krayce. We are the Mitan. We are the first of all men. For ages we served the Stone Kings. For ages this land was ours from the seas to the peaks. Long before the bronzed man came from the searing dunes and took our land from us. Long before the grey man crossed mountain and vale and took our land from us. Long before the tall man in his tall ships sailed from across the sea and took our land from us. Long before the blue-eyed man crossed the cracking floes of ice on the backs of strange beasts and took our land from us. Yea, even before our ancient foe, the man of the woods, awoke from his slumber under the eaves of the great forest and took our land from us. To the western mountains we looked for protection, waiting for the time when we would be strong once again. And that time may well have come.
War is brewing again in this land. As it always has. The bronzed man, the man of the Republic, says the land is his and fights the tall man, the merchant, the man of Karcheron. The grey man, the man of Vess, fights with himself and says the land is everyone's '" no! He says the land is the Stone King's. The blue-eyed man, the man of Harrogad, does not know why he fights, for he has been tread upon again and again and fights whenever he is told. The man of the woods, the great builder, the man of Almarny, fights because there is gold and glory to be found in the land, as it has always been. But.. he also fights.. for us? Yes! He has freed our brothers in the south from their bondage to the grey man and the land is theirs again. We must be cautious, for the man of the woods has been our enemy for many ages. But since he fights for us, our honour demands that we should fight for him. This must be weighed in the great council.
To speak of fighting is portentous. Our new king, Verrix BriCastan, has been elected by a consensus of the tribes. He unites our hosts. He gives us guns and great cannons to make war with. Our Armours have always been the strongest, for we were the first to make them. But it seems that our strength alone has never been enough. He teaches our warriors to fight together with our mighty Armours, who have been given great shields to defend against the powerful weapons of our foes. The tribes are ready and clamour for war, and it seems we will get it.
Hard times they may be, but also full of hope and potential. The world we know is becoming smaller and smaller, and we have found that there is nowhere else to go. Soon, the foreigners will not find satisfaction with their own enemies, and come to bind us and take the last of our land. Who do they think we are? We are not their slaves! It's us who decide when to fight. It is us who grow the wheat and eat it. And it's for us that our great Armours are forged. The time has come for our people to seize greatness again, and here we must stand, or fall. Will we establish our eternal and rightful place in history, or fade into legend?
No. We will not fade. We have survived. We will survive. Even through this new war. In spite of it. For we are strong. As we always have been. We are Krayce. We are the Mitan. We are the first of all men. [/ic]
The most ancient of men then are those of Almarny?
Nay, they are the second most. Or so the Krayce would say. Who knows who was really first. I didn't realize it was unclear, I'll have to make that more visible.