Sooth: The Kitchen Sink (Finally responded to LC and Meepo)

[Xathan]

Weeeeeee. Glad you like. I'll have up in a bit a common Diabolii and maybe a Diabolii soldier (though maybe not, it's hard to produce steamtech with the program I'm using.)

As for the Empire, that is the Diabolii Empire, the predominant power on Sooth's 'sister' plane of Tarot, and one of the major rivals of both the Vaethim Confederation and the Latherian Empire. The Empire is highly industrialized, and the pollution on their home plane has radically altered the environment, to the point where the skys are dark even at noon, and their blood red sun only occasionally slides through the perpetual cloud cover.

[Túrin]

It's interesting how a few pictures can get your imagination going. Now I want more on the Diabolii. Stats, perhaps? How about history? Origins?

[Xathan]

I've always thought pictures had that effect. More information will be coming, probably tommorrow since I'm taking that as my "work on everything" day.

[Lmns Crn]

Okay, it certainly took me long enough, but here I am in Sooth.

I'll give a bit of a disclaimer: I've never been fond of the "Everything is in this setting!" approach. Whenever I warm up to a setting written in that style, I tend to like it in spite of its all-inclusiveness, rather than because of it.

That said, you have impressive technique. I like the logical justification for the status quo that you're working into the setting as you go. Expecially for an all-inclusive setting, making everything logically fit can be a headache, but the rewards are worth it. Your story of the elven drift not only makes some sense out of that race, but it manages to actually justify the existence of 8,738 elven subraces in the process, an impressive accomplishment which deserves applause. Heck, you even go into linguistics, to the point of defining "Larethian" and adopting it as the name of the nation. Very cool.

I do rather wish the same level of detail were available for the other cultures. Frankly, the bit on the elves has piqued my curiosity, and I'd like to see how you handle the rest of the cultures and localities of Sooth.

Speaking of that, what precisely is the nature of the relationship between Sooth and Tarot? If there are "seemingly infinite" material plane worlds, what makes these two so closely bonded? Mere proximity, or something more? (Speaking of proximity, do these worlds move or shift in the Aether, getting farther apart or closer together? If they move, do they move in predetermined orbits or paths, or do they just float along like corks in a river?)

[Epic Meepo]

Incidentally, I imagine that a Stargate-like approach would work really well in a setting with seemingly infinite Material Planes. You know: all the major cities have a gate or two that can open up to any of the other gates across the multiverse with the right key. That sort of thing.

[Xathan]

Large update on Sooth, all for the Diabolii. Now, to answer some questions/comments.

That said, you have impressive technique. I like the logical justification for the status quo that you're working into the setting as you go. Expecially for an all-inclusive setting, making everything logically fit can be a headache, but the rewards are worth it. Your story of the elven drift not only makes some sense out of that race, but it manages to actually justify the existence of 8,738 elven subraces in the process, an impressive accomplishment which deserves applause. Heck, you even go into linguistics, to the point of defining "Larethian" and adopting it as the name of the nation. Very cool.

I do rather wish the same level of detail were available for the other cultures. Frankly, the bit on the elves has piqued my curiosity, and I'd like to see how you handle the rest of the cultures and localities of Sooth.[/quote]Speaking of that, what precisely is the nature of the relationship between Sooth and Tarot? If there are "seemingly infinite" material plane worlds, what makes these two so closely bonded? Mere proximity, or something more? (Speaking of proximity, do these worlds move or shift in the Aether, getting farther apart or closer together? If they move, do they move in predetermined orbits or paths, or do they just float along like corks in a river?)[/quote]

First, it is proximity. Second, both Sooth and Tarot obtained Aether travel at roughly the same time, along with a few other worlds, which put them in instant and direct rivalry. There are other conflicts as well, but those two are the primary factors. Also, keep in mind while the number of material plane worlds are seemingly infinite, the number worth the efford of colonizing are not. Some planes are simply too dangerous to colonize, while others don't offer enough of a reward for colonization.

As for the cosmology - they are as fixed as the locations of various stars in the milky way galaxy. So they retain a similar relative distance to each other at all times, but they are moving around Nexus, the center of Sooth's Aether.

[Xathan]

Incidentally, I imagine that a Stargate-like approach would work really well in a setting with seemingly infinite Material Planes. You know: all the major cities have a gate or two that can open up to any of the other gates across the multiverse with the right key. That sort of thing.

Hmmm....interesting. I like it, but the problem is it would reduce the importance of Aether travel, and the Aetherships are one of my favorite elements of Sooth. Maybe there is some way to make them both work well...*ponders*

[Poseptune]

A blind (blind as I haven't read this setting yet) suggestion:

The "Gates" would be for single traveler or small pedestrian groups that would bring them to say an airport type place. While Aetherships could travel to the next plane and would end up in a ship yard/port custom area. These ships could jump planes from anywhere but would all appear from a larger ship size "gate" that they "dialed". This way different nations can run their own "gates" and a ship or "gate" could "dial" any one of these "gates" on the different planes. Corrupt organizations could construct their own "gate" to run smuggling operations and other illicit activities.

Again I haven't read this setting yet, so I don't know if this is even plausible or that it makes sense.

[Xathan]

hmmm.....interesting. *ponders more*

[Dr. Suess]He puzzled and puzzled till his puzzler was sore...[/Dr. Suess]

[Xathan]

For your convience (and also to hopefully encourage more reviews :halo:) here's the text of the Diabolii update.

[spoiler=Diabolii] Diabolii

[ic=High Prophet Iseranda Marenez deâ,¬,,¢Alejandro]What is forgotten is not forever lost, and what once was can be again.[/ic]

[note]pronounce all diabolii words as you would pronounce that word in Spanish.[/note]Origins: The diabolii believe themselves to be the spiritual descendants of the Dios, a race of creatures that conquered multiple aethers long before the Aether of Sooth formed.  While this claim is dubious at best, the diabolii have a few artifacts that are impossible to explain any other ways. Regardless, the diabolii mythology claims the Dios traversed the aethers by a construct known in diabolii mythology as the Path, and the diabolii intend on finding this Path and reclaiming the glory of the Dios.

History: the diabolii are natives to Tarot, or at least their physical forms are native to Tarot. Proven history begins for them roughly 15,000 years ago, when the first crude drawings on caves appear on Tarot, likely of diabolii production due to the skeletons found in the area. Pre-historic Diabolii was much larger than modern Diabolii, nearly nine feet tall, and all recorded skeletons had the wings, tails, horns, fangs, and other physical modifications that diabolii only selectively manifest today. Rumors exist of primitive diabolii existing deep beneath Tarotâ,¬,,¢s surface, and with the recent discovery of hidden Neanderthal tribes in the jungles of Sooth, there is a possibility there is truth to the rumors.

After those cave paintings, there is very little evidence of diabolii culture until roughly 7000 years ago, when modern diabolii appeared with a grand culture, almost from no-where. While this supports the diabolii origin theory, records from the empire itself are inconclusive and often contradictory. This Empire collapsed due to external pressure roughly 5000 years ago, around the time of the Feyâ,¬,,¢riâ,¬,,¢s arrival on Tarot.

[ooc]rest coming later, including expanded information on this Empire, the Darkborn Wars, where the Feyâ,¬,,¢ri warred with diabolii, Al Ezad de Escondida, the Diabolii equivalent of the Dark Ages, Al Garanz Resurgimiento, when Diabolii culture evolved and Tarot had first contact with Sooth, and more, all the way up to the Empireâ,¬,,¢s rebirth.[/ooc][/spoiler]  

[Xathan]

No love fo rthe Diabolii? :(

[Lmns Crn]

No love fo rthe Diabolii? :(

Ooh! Me! Me!

This is a nitpick more than a genuine issue I have with the Diabolii, but the language thing bugs me. One one hand, saying "pronounce all these words as if they were Spanish" lets me know exactly what you want them to sound like, which is good, but it's throwing me that some of them are actually Spanish while others seem to be merely... Spanishesque. My brain is giving me mixed signals regarding whether or not I can read it.

The gulf beween modern and primitive Diabolii confuses me a bit. I take it the modern Diabolii are smaller, and the demonic-style traits are all still present, but much less frequently occuring in the population? Additionally, that this change didn't happen gradually from one generation to the next, the way one might expect, but extremely abruptly? (Also, how closely--if at all-- does this process mirror what went on in neighboring Sooth? You mention primitive races possibly living below the surface on both planets; is this a theme that might extend to all the Aether worlds? Perhaps time flows differently inside the planets than it does on the surface?)

I'll be perfectly honest and say that on the surface-level, I find the Diabolii pretty thoroughly unappealing. I can't really put it into words; maybe something about the concept of "this is a fiendish-looking race, but not actually fiendish" is rubbing me the wrong way. But regardless of my visceral dislike, you've hooked me on the concept with the hints about their strange origins, their magnificent empire, their wars. I really want to hear more about them, so I'll be looking forward to that further update you mention.

I like the way things are unanswered, here. Your elves have their whole origin story worked out and explained, and that works for them. But I like that the diabolii are handled differently, with more unanswered questions. It lends them a mysterious air that (in my opinion) serves better to characterize them than horns, wings, or barbed tails ever could.

[Epic Meepo]

Hmmm....interesting. I like it, but the problem is it would reduce the importance of Aether travel, and the Aetherships are one of my favorite elements of Sooth. Maybe there is some way to make them both work well...*ponders*

I suppose I should clarify that I'm refering to a later-season, Stargate approach; the approach where every major city has a gate that can dial the gates of every other major city, but there are also ships that can generate their own wormholes. You know, for travelling to places that currently have no functioning gates; for travelling to places far away from major cities; for smuggling or otherwise sneaking past gate-centered defenses; and for generally outflanking your opponents with huge fleets of world-hopping whoop-ass.

[Xathan]

Well, itâ,¬,,¢s over two months late, but Iâ,¬,,¢m finally getting around to these posts.

Ooh! Me! Me!

This is a nitpick more than a genuine issue I have with the Diabolii, but the language thing bugs me. One one hand, saying "pronounce all these words as if they were Spanish" lets me know exactly what you want them to sound like, which is good, but it's throwing me that some of them are actually Spanish while others seem to be merely... Spanishesque. My brain is giving me mixed signals regarding whether or not I can read it.

The gulf beween modern and primitive Diabolii confuses me a bit. I take it the modern Diabolii are smaller, and the demonic-style traits are all still present, but much less frequently occuring in the population?[/quote]Additionally, that this change didn't happen gradually from one generation to the next, the way one might expect, but extremely abruptly?[/quote]may[/i] run on these boards, and I donâ,¬,,¢t want to ruin the fun.
 

(Also, how closely--if at all-- does this process mirror what went on in neighboring Sooth? You mention primitive races possibly living below the surface on both planets; is this a theme that might extend to all the Aether worlds? Perhaps time flows differently inside the planets than it does on the surface?)

I'll be perfectly honest and say that on the surface-level, I find the Diabolii pretty thoroughly unappealing. I can't really put it into words; maybe something about the concept of "this is a fiendish-looking race, but not actually fiendish" is rubbing me the wrong way. But regardless of my visceral dislike, you've hooked me on the concept with the hints about their strange origins, their magnificent empire, their wars. I really want to hear more about them, so I'll be looking forward to that further update you mention.[/quote]I like the way things are unanswered, here. Your elves have their whole origin story worked out and explained, and that works for them. But I like that the diabolii are handled differently, with more unanswered questions. It lends them a mysterious air that (in my opinion) serves better to characterize them than horns, wings, or barbed tails ever could.[/quote] I suppose I should clarify that I'm refering to a later-season, Stargate approach; the approach where every major city has a gate that can dial the gates of every other major city, but there are also ships that can generate their own wormholes. You know, for travelling to places that currently have no functioning gates; for travelling to places far away from major cities; for smuggling or otherwise sneaking past gate-centered defenses; and for generally outflanking your opponents with huge fleets of world-hopping whoop-ass.[/quote]

The more I think about it, the more I like it. I think I will incorporate a gate system between the major cities, although I will impose limits upon them so that ships are also needed for shipping goods among all the other purposes you listed. Plus, the various cultures and planes of Sooth would want to impose sever restrictions on how these gates can be used, to prevent an army from walking into their major cities. (So much warfare will breed that sentiment.)