Hubris [Discuss]

[Numinous]

Update: Hubris is gonna be undergoing a lot of changes soon.  I'm not sure I want it to be used for D&D anymore, or even as a world for any RPG.  However, world-building is what I do, and I hope nobody minds my idle postings of more stuff anyway.

Also, here is my tiny little teaser of what the new setting shall be like.  I do believe it conveys the tone quite well.
[ic=Excerpt from an account of the Sickening]
The Sky bled, the Women cried, and sheep died in their pens.
A reckoning had come for us, and darkness, friends Repent![/ic]

[Raelifin]

I've had an idea for a while that there are a few natural steps for world building.

The prospective worldbuilder becomes entertained and inspired by a game or art peice.
* The worldbuilder uses the game or artwork and changes little.
* As the worldbuilder gains experience, they begin to change the coppied work.
* Fed up with the original peice's contraints, the worlbuilder creates a new work in the same medium.
* The freedom of creation drives the worldbuilder to trancend the medium in question, freeing themselves from the medium's constraints.
* Having ultimate power of creation, the worldbuilder moves once more into the medium, expressing themselves with the power of free creation.

Clearly, it's not genius. It's kinda fun to think about though. :)

[Matt Larkin (author)]

Hubris Review:
(better late than never, right?)

Opening:
Your opening feels almost like a Biblical record.  The first part is the very bare bones we see in myth, very to the point.  The later half clearly feels of impending tragedy.

Then, tragedy overtook us all. The masters of the city of Flame became arrogant, and declared themselves mightier than the Great One. In their pride, they pricked the Hand, broke the Gem, smothered the Flames, and spit in the Eye of the Great One. Tragedy overtook us all.

History, Creation Stories[/b]
Always my favorite part.  But....It's blank :(

The World

The Land beyond the Wall: An island looms out of the mist across the strait, a jagged silhouette in the fog. There is rumored to be a land of great cities behind this wall, a throwback to times long past. On occasion, traders emerge from this land, bearing complex devices, burning powders, and shining garments that appear woven from the very light of the stars. These traders rarely speak of their homeland, conducting their business quickly and coldly, often trading for books and raw materials, such as unrefined ores.

The People[/b]
Why are they called the People of the Hand?  Clearly the People of the Gem is a reference to the Gem created by the Great One, but perhaps you should make it more explicit.

Each of the people is a good start but could use more details.  Are all these races human?  If not, what are they like physically?  Emotionally?

The Shadows - interesting that a normal negative term becomes positive in your setting.  Not that its bad to shake up preconceptions.  Shadows are, after all, cast by light.  Of course, a good conspiracy involving these folks would appeal to my sense of dark fantasy and plot twists.  Perhaps they work behind the scenes to overthrow the world?

The Plagueborn: I like it.  The fantasy version of lepers?  They beg for underground conspiracy and possibly exposure to lycanthropy (maybe as a way of exchange their disease for another one?).  I assume they are diseased?

Overall:
You have a good start.  There's a lot more stuff that needs fleshing out, but based on the space you set aside, I think you know most of what needs to be done.

Questions:
1) How does magic fit in to your society?  It is a grand force loved be the people?  Do they fear it?
2) How about religion?
3) Can you stress that the world is decay and dying more?  I don't really get the sense of it just from this, unless there is something more I haven't seen.
4) What are the nations and how do they relate?  Do they war or are things too desolate for that level of organization?

Good luck and keep up the good work.

[Numinous]

Hey folks!  A little update for you all.  The first post has been edited, yet gain, but hopefully it won't have to happen again anytime soon.

I'll be adopting a slightly more erratic posting style, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I will.

Some notes: I'm going to use Luminous Crayon's Triad System and Sacred Geometries for this setting, as I think they're just plain awesome.  Also, the setting isn't as geared towards gaming as much as artistic expression.  Anyway, enjoy it!