Ouroboros, or: The Rise, Fall, and Rise of Nations.

[Cheomesh]

[note]I hope Steerpike doesn't mind me nicking his layout...[/note]
Ouroboros - Beginner's Guide and FAQ


Following Steerpike's setting primer tactic for The Cadaverous Earth, here's a relatively brief introduction for the setting I have created: it's somewhat developed, but no where near what I hope for.  While I'm striving for a very detailed setting, it does make for the dread wall o' text, and while the introduction does serve as a decent opening to the setting it isn't intended as a synopsis per se.

I'll likely update this thread every now and then, especially if I write anything I think someone here would like to see. Please feel free to post questions and comments here.

World Synopsis


This is a world for Men:  Every sentient creature is in some form a branch off of H. Sapiens, and we are the dominate species above all others.  There are no super-men here; even the mightiest of hero may find himself killed in bed with a slit throat.  As such, even though mystical and sometimes inexplicable creatures exist, most foes will be humanoids who bring tome or sword to battle.

Magic comes from many Places:  There are many conflicting forms of magic.  Some is forged from the thin ribbon of immaterium present on our planet, while others are ripped from the unformed and pure planes of the Extraverse.

The God's are there, for We will it so:  So potent was the human desire for guidance from above that we have made gods incarnate.  They are a collection of distinct noospheric entities devoid of personality or sentience, forming a massive and powerful bank of energy to be tapped by those so attuned to its presence.

The Church is under Seige:  As the Republic fragments now under its own weight, so too the Church that once made it mighty falls to infighting.  Sects of differing belief shatter the once unified face of the Faith, as old pagan beliefs surge forward to reclaim their once glorious homelands.

United, we are Strong:  Power is forged by alliance and common cause.  Groups of like minded individuals wield their connections as deftly as any blade.  Organizations concentrate wealth, giving opportunities for otherwise out of luck people to rise to new stations in life.

Combat is deadly; pray to your Gods that you may yet Survive:  Altered combat systems and a focus on the melee have bred a deadly and brutal system that even a high level character is not guaranteed to survive.  Pick your fights well, or you will find your guts in a dish.

General Themes

War, it's what we're good for:  Violence never sleeps.  Even in the most peaceful regions, raids, incursions and blood feuds are an every day event that you must learn to accept.  Not even the Saints are safe at night.

We are men:  The E6 system, with various tweaks, establishes the player as a living being.  Everyone has ambitions, but few live to see them fulfilled.

The Rise and Decay of Everything:  Nothing lasts forever.  The once mighty empires are collapsing even now, and the faith that almost united the world is beginning to crumble under the assault of philosophies.  There is no where to run -- madness knows every corner of the continent.  Your only hope is forward into the fray, or backwards out onto the sea...

 [ic=Influences]Influences include Conan, Joe Wood, and early Dungeons and Dragons, where death did stalk the world...[/ic]

M.

[LD]

Good work, this gives me an idea of the setting.

When you mention Joe Wood as an influence, are you referring to THE Joe Wood, the famous Commoner?

Ah, the E6 system. :)

This seems a little too similar to classic Greyhawk or Blackmoor for my liking but I will give it a chance and see how it develops- I especially like how the main race is human. I have a bit of a bias against standard elves and dwarves running around... that seems overdone.

The synopsis it is well written and I'm inclined to check out how your locations write-up goes and to see some of your different takes on magic.

Seeing your influences... did you also read Lawrence Watt Evans' Lords of Dus series?

Best! ~LD

[Cheomesh]

When you mention Joe Wood as an influence, are you referring to THE Joe Wood, the famous Commoner?

Ah, the E6 system. [/quote]This seems a little too similar to classic Greyhawk or Blackmoor for my liking but I will give it a chance and see how it develops- I especially like how the main race is human. I have a bit of a bias against standard elves and dwarves running around... that seems overdone.[/quote]The synopsis it is well written and I'm inclined to check out how your locations write-up goes and to see some of your different takes on magic.[/quote]Seeing your influences... did you also read Lawrence Watt Evans' Lords of Dus series?[/quote]

Never even heard of it, honestly.

M.

[Steerpike]

I actually didn't make up the layout - Luminous Crayon did, for the Jade Stage.

Good setting primer so far.  I get the feeling of a very deadly, very fractured world of strife and contention, kind of a Dark Ages feel.

[LD]

Not quite sure; I've not read into Grayhawk or Blackmoor -- how is it similar and how can I improve? There are no elves, nor dwarves, if that's what you mean.

Well, the general themes seem similar.

But these seem pretty unique-->
Magic comes from many Places:
The God's are there, for We will it so:
The Church is under Seige:
United, we are Strong:

I'm not sure how to improve. If I see more, then maybe I can make some suggestions. It's probably fine as it is right now- I just wanted to mention that it seemed on first read to be similar to Greyhawk. The elimination of other races though is a good step toward uniqueness.

And oh, Watt-Evans is one of the most unique fantasy authors I have found.

[Cheomesh]

Alright, so I've got this much:
http://www.thecbg.org/wiki/index.php?title=Ouroboros

The "About It", and what makes it special (With a few things pointed out by LD there).  

A little bit of Lore (Which will probably need to be cleaned up; I posted from an older document that ended up going into a larger one.

Transcribed changed mechanics.  More to come there.

Transcribed a few classes, many more to come.

Now what?

M.

[Kaptn'Lath]

I think Æslítend, goddess of madness and trickery. Offspring of Laga and Swefn and Pæþþan, god of travel and trade. Offspring of Gamenung and Géosceaft. should switch parents.

Still reading, i like what i have read so far.

[Kaptn'Lath]

Random thoughts as they came up while i read the Gods section:

What does an eclipse mean to worshipers of Geanul?

Camp's temples could also double as military acadmies or priests as tutors to nobility teaching "the art of war" tactics and maintain an army ect. Leave training of the individual warrior/soldier to Gárníþ..

Gammenung could also run Sports as a more legal enterprise? dunno its all about a "contest" but luck is involved...

Pæþþan could be the patron of Guilds to?

Laga in addition to building Forts and walls, add mines, wells, bridges take some of the military edge off of her portfolio.

The Church of Cennestre also run orphanages and "old ages homes" for the poor elderly?

The Church Geweorc works with other churches for holy festivals, and runs community gatherings (pot-lucks, sing-alongs, sport events, things that bring the community together (outside of family)

Sailors/ Explorers have no love in your Pantheon :p How about Wotan adops them, anybody who risks their life as a way of life. People with Dangerous proffesions. Wotan teaches to overcome fear.

Galdre = Alchemists, "Da Vinci's" magical and non. Against necromancy?

All blunt point form but they are all just musing suggestions as i read through the Æwfæstnes (Ouroboros) page on the wiki

[Kaptn'Lath]

Yea Pictures! Excellent choices I think i understand how much time it went into sorting the good from the bad pictures and then finding the right use for individual pictures, its time consuming but made a huge difference to that page on the wiki (i think)

*Bump*

[Cheomesh]

Thanks for the feedback.  I'm overhauling the deities section at the moment to give it greater depth.  I noticed a few things you pointed about about shortfallings, and I plan to fix it.

M.

[Kaptn'Lath]

In the CBG there is no such thing as "Shortfalling" just "creative differences". I get more a Hyborian (Conan) / Dark Ages feel than the "high" fantasy of Greyhawk or Blackmoor.

Adding information on mundane "peasant life" aspects will help pull it down from any "high fantasy" comparisons. Guilds, Nobility, and trade goods instead of magic Cabals, wonderious monsters, and "fantasticly" designed settlements.

Once again i love the symmetry and balance for the layout of the Gods. And the "Family tree" layout makes it feel more "realistic" instead of gods born from nothing. (I like how the Greek gods were all one f--ked up family)

*Bump*

[SDragon]

This is a great primer for the overall tone, but I'm not sure there's much here that really makes this stand out as it's own setting. You mention, for example, the Republic, but the Republic of where? Is it a global thing, or is it limited to one nation?

I like what I see here, and while I don't see anything that I haven't heard of before in some manner or another, there's a lot here that I haven't seen specifically used in a setting.

Greyhawk, if I'm not mistaken, is classic D&D, or at least the implied setting it exists in. I think the similarities between this and Greyhawk/Blackmoor are simply you being inspired by old school gaming like that. Personally, I see the Conan stuff being a bigger influence over this.

[Cheomesh]

Ah, this setting's generally defunct now; I'm running one game to completion and then I think it'll sit somewhere a while.

My suggestion to check it out as a setting that wasn't TL;DNR was a bit of a joke :p

M.