Primeval

[Magnus Pym]

Hey,

I've looked quickly at some other campaign worlds on the forums and thought I should start my own thread for my own campaign. It's in its early development phase, but I thought it'd be good to post anyways. I have alot of stuff written for the campaign already and more to lay down on paper, so I'll try to keep the information flowing.

Primer

Primeval is a campaign world set in-between the stone age and the bronze age. It's meant to be realistic, but does include fantasy elements. It is not necessarily meant as a setting for RPGs, but can be used as such and will be created as such.
The world evolves around a certain peninsula, a place that's been the birth of mankind. Time passed and the human race grew and evolved, eventually spreading across the map. Today, a powerful state looks afar with dreams of conquest and adventure. But little do they know that outside their city walls lies danger, both natural and magical. Witness the change of the world as the ambitious city-state of Bagian sends its men into foreign lands.

[Xeviat]

You know, I've always wanted to run an adventure in a time like this. The idea would be to have the first adventure be procuring enough food for the player's tribe to make it through the winter, with a final fight against something enormous like a mammoth or a woolly rhino. Bronze weapons would be akin to magical weapons.

It never got further than that idea, though.

PS: Welcome to the CBG!

[Magnus Pym]

Thank you,

Yeah it's an underused time-setting. It's been a project of mine since this summer, which I restarted about five times. Now I think I've got what I've been wanting.

Bagian, the "flower of civilization" is advancing quickly into the next age, but there will definitely be tribes like in the northern mountains (I'm thinking Afghanistan-ish-Pakistan-ish) and the jungles to the east which remain much more primitive than the rest of the world. More information to come... eventually.

I don't see the fight pictured above as an end-fight or even epic fight. Mammoths will also not exist in the Bagian region. I am including them, as well as variants, into the setting at some point though, so sit tight!

I'll probably be posting some more information later today.

[Magnus Pym]

Here are my inspirations for the regions I have in my mind. Only the Bagian region is on paper as of now and the northern, mountainous region will come shortly after, as both are politically tied (War).

The map, as of now, remains small and MOST of the world is uncharted. In fact, actual cartography is also only in its infancy and the means of direction is either by remembering, or cosmological signs (such as sun, moon, stars... like the good ol' times babe!).

Real World Inspirations (Geographics)

The Bagian region is inspired from greek and roman geographics. (Mediterranean)
The northern mountains pass region is inspired from Afghan/Himalayan mountains.
The northern tundra is inspired by Canadian/Siberian tundra.
The northern icebergs/archipelagos is inspired by Canadian arctic archipelagos.
The eastern jungle is inspired from both Amazonian and African jungles.
The eastern bay and archipelagos is inspired by Japanese/South-East Asian islands.
The eastern desert is inspired by the Sahara desert.
The eastern mountains and rolling plains are inspired from China and Mongol lands.

[Mason]

Good start. Welcome to the CBG.


  Just a few questions to get your brain working:

 Is man the only sentient race?
 Why is he master of the civilized lands?
 Why is Bagian region more advanced than others-possibly  agriculture/trade/genuine ingenuity?
 What are these magical dangers (first post) that lie outside city walls? Would love to hear more about them.
 Why are the northern mountain pass peoples at war with Bagians? Are they both humans?
 I suppose this would be a polytheistic setting? If so are the gods seen as cruel? Petty? Terrible? Merciful? Are one gods       worshipers tolerant of another god?
Are tribes still nomadic? or have they all figured out agriculture? Some combination of the two?



Thats all I can think to ask at the moment. Good luck with this!

[Magnus Pym]

Here's some information about the Bagian region.

Technology

Stone Age, nearing Bronze Age. Simple ship technology exists (rafts and small fishing ships). Flint weapons such as spears, daggers and swords are used, but also hammers and mauls made of stone or solid bones. Of course, bows are also made. Buildings are made of stone and wood'¦ sometimes marble and other, more exotic minerals as well.

Politics

The political scene of the city-state is rather a new one. Pluton the First installed himself on the throne, even created it, and subjugated the surrounding populace to his iron fist rule. He died only recently and his only son, Stephanos (renamed Pluton II), took his place on the throne. It is said that Pluton the First died of a disease, but many rumors tell otherwise. The first Regnum assembled an army (using a method of conscription) and some of them were sent away to expand the state. They clashed with the Mindhu tribe of the northern mountains and even to this day they remain unable to conquer the land. Also, to the east, emissaries have found barbaric tribes living in the jungle and the wonderful archipelagos. Locally, a secret war is fought between Magnas, senators and the Dux to overthrow the Regnum and take control of the city-state.

Religion & Beliefs

Religion is only seeing the light of day, but there is no actual proof as to if there is a god, many gods or any divine 'thinking' entity in the cosmos. Many opportunists are making up stories and using the unexplainable to gather wealth and followers, thus gaining status and creating organizations based on false beliefs (or not so false).

Magic

Spells can be cast by weaving magical particles that are part of the atmosphere. Those particles are called mana particles, or just mana. Upon excitement or certain guidance, they will manifest and create an effect. Often called miracles or simply magic. There are very few spellcasters and they are generally feared, even shunned. Their practice is still a mystery to the common man.

Understanding the Past, Ancient Civilization

The peninsula on which the city-state has grown has always been home to mankind. Over time, some have ventured into foreign territory and never returned. After decades, no'¦ centuries, these adventurers totally forgot their origin and so did the people of the peninsula. Those who lived near the peninsula's coast survived by hunting and gathering, but eventually became more and more sedentary and started farming and breeding. Small-scale war occasionally happened, but never anything grand-scale.
Before present time, there was a time of constant war, where warlords sent their clanmates to war for territory. It will be known later as the time of Warring States.

[Magnus Pym]

Something of importance, the hierarchical system of the city-state. It wasn't always like that, but today it's how it looks.

City-State (Bagian) Hierarchy

Regnum Pluton II & Royal Family
Dux Herades (Regnum's representant and closest advisor)
Senata/Council (And it's appointed (by the Regnum) Senators)
Magnas
Orators

* The Royal family has no actual say in politics and they cannot make decisions like a state official or the Regnum himself. But being who they are, they can greatly influence the Regnum's decisions.
** The Dux is more of a personal advisor and spokesperson of the Regnum. His voice is that of the Regnum.
*** The Senata was formed by the former Regnum Pluton I to ease communications with the citizens of the city-state and make it appear as if the Regnum had less authority, which is false... But the common man doesn't know that. It's creation was a political play and it worked as intended. Of course now Pluton II has to deal with them as they become more aware of their "pressuring powers".
**** Magnas are men tasked with the administration of a district/region.
***** Orators are emissaries sent to explore and colonize foreign lands. They are often high ranked military officials.

[Magnus Pym]

Is man the only sentient race?

Why is he master of the civilized lands?[/quote]Why is Bagian region more advanced than others-possibly  agriculture/trade/genuine ingenuity?[/quote]Well actually we don't know that, but since the campaign evolves from the peninsula's region, it is safe to say that they are, for the time being, the most advanced culture.[/spoiler]

What are these magical dangers (first post) that lie outside city walls? Would love to hear more about them.

Why are the northern mountain pass peoples at war with Bagians? Are they both humans?[/quote]I suppose this would be a polytheistic setting? If so are the gods seen as cruel? Petty? Terrible? Merciful? Are one gods worshipers tolerant of another god?[/quote]Are tribes still nomadic? or have they all figured out agriculture? Some combination of the two?[/quote]
Depends. I'd say a combination. It depends on the region.

I'd like people to know that my setting aims to be as vast as the human mind can be, but always trying to keep in close-touch with the reality.

[Weave]

I'm quite interested to see how this turns out. I like what I'm seeing so far, though.

Quick question: What is magic capable of accomplishing?

Also, welcome to the CBG!

[Magnus Pym]

I'm quite interested to see how this turns out. I like what I'm seeing so far, though.

Quick question: What is magic capable of accomplishing?[/quote]
Pretty much anything, you'll be able to see glimpses of the possibilities with my character histories, general history and artifact sections which are coming soon I guess.
From causing natural catastrophies such as tornadoes, earthquakes and tsunamis to summoning titanic magma elementals. Not forgetting about sucking in matter in black holes!

In my head, the magic in my setting plays the "epic" part. As you can read above, spellcasers are usually shunned and even feared. Some are contracted by the state officials for politic or economic purposes. It doesn't make them less dangerous though, as they hold vast, unknown powers.

[LD]

Ｈｍã',ã''Ｗｈａï½"ã''ｉï½"ã''ï½"ｈï½...ã''ｃｏï½"ï½"ã''ｏｆã''ｍａｇｉｃ？ What limits the amount of "work" that a given magic user can do? What limits the ability of the common man to work magic?

Good luck with this setting.

[Magnus Pym]

Those questions are pretty good.

What limits the amount of "work" that a given magic user can do?

What limits the ability of the common man to work magic?[/quote]
I guess this question can be answered by the above. Naturally talented magicians exist and thus these would not need ressources (think about the sorceror in D&D), but the majority needs to learn and the learning materials (manuals and teachers) are usually supplied by the State. So these are the limits.

[Magnus Pym]

These might not be all fantasy possibilities, but they could be!

The Fantasy possibilities in Primeval

Discovering new intelligent races
Discovering mysterious magics
Discovering spiritual paths/beliefs (think of Tibet, Islamist radicals, martial arts masters and the such)
Discovering new technologies (metallurgy, Submarine and Battleships, means of flying, communication and much more)
Discovering the cosmos and its component (Be it the star on which the story takes place or other planes of existence)
Probably much more... the mind's the only barrier to your fantasy.

Some of these possibilities might become linked as well. Cultures different from the Bagianeses ( I guess that's how I'm going to call the people of the Bagian region) and they, as well, evolve in many ways and are not limited to discovering only certain things. Unless noted otherwise of course.

[Nomadic]

Those questions are pretty good.

What limits the amount of "work" that a given magic user can do?

What limits the ability of the common man to work magic?

So say I'm a powerful sorcerer. What is stopping me from summoning a ton of titanic creatures and just taking over the world?

[Magnus Pym]

So say I'm a powerful sorcerer. What is stopping me from summoning a ton of titanic creatures and just taking over the world?

I think this question was answered. The State controls the use of magic and they are well aware of who's a user and who's not. Of course, rogue-practitioners (such as a powerful sorceror who passed incognito for years) are dealt with without mercy immediately. Not necessarily public execution, simply execution on the spot where they are found out. Sometimes they'll be turned into State Officials or teachers. Or if they are born with magical talents, they could be taken in and taught.

Of course, each new practitioner becomes a matter of discussion of the high circle of hierarchy as to if they are a threat or not to the state. Decisions are made swiftly and without mercy.

BUT, to truly answer your question; Nothing. Just your own capabilities at weaving magic.