I need help with a Culture in my Campaign.

[Porklet]

I am at a loss on how to define a hidden society that was cursed by a demon Prince over 3,000 years ago after their ancient gods were slain.  They, the Veld, ceased to age, could not bear offspring, and became tainted with demonic magic; all as a part of the curse.  This Taint ensured that their souls would be harvested by demonkind upon their death instead of reincarnating as a part of a divine cycle, and their immortal lives were to be a torture as they waited to pass to the demon plane of Argul.  

With no divine recourse and no proliferation what form would this society take?  This culture is part of a larger campaign world, but I have never developed them.  At the time the curse was placed on them they were a loose network of tribes residing in expansive pine forests not unlike those of Europe and the eastern U.S. They had no sentient neighbors, and they were capable of early Bronze Age technology.

Other "modern" states are now pressing on their land, and I am at a loss as to what form this culture might take, if any.  Are they extinct?  Are they highly developed?  Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

[LordVreeg]

How big a group are they?  Were they a hidden society when they were cursed?  did that come after?  How easily can they be killed?  What ruleset?

[Seraph]

How likely is mass suicide?  If there is no possibility of death by natural causes, your life is torturous, and you'll live forever unless something actively kills you, how many of them would choose to voluntarily end their lives?

[Superfluous Crow]

Many might take the easy way out, leading to a slowly diminishing population. After 3000 years, there probably aren't many of them left, but those who remain have probably acquired many skills and much knowledge over the millenia. There is no need for food and since they can't procreate the lines between man and woman have probably been blurred until they see little distinction between the two genders. With all tasks meaningless, they probably focus on craftsmanship and academia and this speaks for them being a rather advanced culture. Magic would probably also be something they study intensely because of the nature of their affliction.
I'm thinking that mourning their lost brethren and their curse existence might take the place of religion, making them a very somber and melancholic people.
The goal of the survivors is to find a cure at whatever cost or at least deprive the demons of their prize (the souls) as long as possible. If their taint isn't too visible, they might venture into other lands to undertake this goal. Otherwise they probably rely on a network of men who have come to their monasteries seeking guidance and wisdom, using them to manipulate the outside world according to their design.

[O Senhor Leetz]

Highlander.

[Porklet]

How big a group are they?  Were they a hidden society when they were cursed?  did that come after?  How easily can they be killed?  What ruleset?

A small civilization with a population roughly 100,000.  They weren't hidden, but they had made no contact with any other intelligent culture.  They went into hiding to protect themselves; you can't kill what you can't see.  I prefer GURPS, but I have used the campaign world in AD&D and d20 also.

[Porklet]

How likely is mass suicide?  If there is no possibility of death by natural causes, your life is torturous, and you'll live forever unless something actively kills you, how many of them would choose to voluntarily end their lives?

I had considered the possibility of them disappearing thru mass suicide or migration or powerful magics leaving behind a mysterious ancient culture.  This culture would be highly advanced due to knowledge being retained without death (not modern level, but perhaps gunpowder, etc.).  

However, they were Tainted by demonic magic (even targets of demonic spells suffer Taint), and they would most likely have their souls harvested by the demon Prince.  This was, of course, his plan all along.  Thus, mass suicide seems like the last thing they would do.  They might hide though.

I am leaning towards having a few survive with a wealth of knowledge and experiences (given their long life).  These individuals would be highly sought after by people in power.  That would make an interesting NPC group.

[Nomadic]

I imagine if one was ever captured he could be kept in line via threat of death. In fact it seems like it would be easy to extort them by threatening to kill them if they did not do what you wanted.

[Porklet]

Many might take the easy way out, leading to a slowly diminishing population. After 3000 years, there probably aren't many of them left, but those who remain have probably acquired many skills and much knowledge over the millenia. There is no need for food and since they can't procreate the lines between man and woman have probably been blurred until they see little distinction between the two genders. With all tasks meaningless, they probably focus on craftsmanship and academia and this speaks for them being a rather advanced culture. Magic would probably also be something they study intensely because of the nature of their affliction.
I'm thinking that mourning their lost brethren and their curse existence might take the place of religion, making them a very somber and melancholic people.
The goal of the survivors is to find a cure at whatever cost or at least deprive the demons of their prize (the souls) as long as possible. If their taint isn't too visible, they might venture into other lands to undertake this goal. Otherwise they probably rely on a network of men who have come to their monasteries seeking guidance and wisdom, using them to manipulate the outside world according to their design.

A lot of what you say hits home.  They would not be many (and it might be interesting to find out why).  I do believe they would be highly advanced, but not in a well rounded way since they have had no contact with any other civilization.  They would probably have developed eccentric tastes to fill the centuries and possibly even a few mental defects; given their situation.

Their god is dead.  She was actually killed before their eyes thousands of years ago when the gods walked the earth.  Religion would not be a tool for them, but given their advanced technology and magical knowledge they might become demi-gods for their new found friends.  That's an unsettling thought.

I think I may have them split, and have one group travel out to an unreported location so that if I miss on developing this group at least I have the other.  Thanks.

[Porklet]

Highlander.

There must be more than One, and they are not allowed to wear white sneakers.

[Porklet]

I imagine if one was ever captured he could be kept in line via threat of death. In fact it seems like it would be easy to extort them by threatening to kill them if they did not do what you wanted.

Very true.  That is probably a good reason for them to remain hidden.  But, Argul hath no fury like a Veld scorned.

[Seraph]

How likely is mass suicide?  If there is no possibility of death by natural causes, your life is torturous, and you'll live forever unless something actively kills you, how many of them would choose to voluntarily end their lives?

I had considered the possibility of them disappearing thru mass suicide or migration or powerful magics leaving behind a mysterious ancient culture.  This culture would be highly advanced due to knowledge being retained without death (not modern level, but perhaps gunpowder, etc.).  

However, they were Tainted by demonic magic (even targets of demonic spells suffer Taint), and they would most likely have their souls harvested by the demon Prince.  This was, of course, his plan all along.  Thus, mass suicide seems like the last thing they would do.  They might hide though.

I am leaning towards having a few survive with a wealth of knowledge and experiences (given their long life).  These individuals would be highly sought after by people in power.  That would make an interesting NPC group.

LOGICALLY, you are correct.  Depending on how tortured their existence is, however, they might not care (or might not realize they were actually getting into something even worse).  How much would logic prevail over their unhappiness?

[Porklet]

LOGICALLY, you are correct.  Depending on how tortured their existence is, however, they might not care (or might not realize they were actually getting into something even worse).  How much would logic prevail over their unhappiness?

They very well might succumb to suicide, but I want to keep some of them around.  

The curse:

1. Was leveled by the Demon-Prince Slortok, Prince of Stagnation.  It causes them to remain unchanged.  Pregnant mothers never give birth, infants remain helpless, and children remain forever young.  This renders proliferation impossible.  Males can still breed with other human strains, but females cannot give birth.  This allows for spread of Syntactic Magic through non-Elbonen (EDIT:  new name of the original culture) blood lines.

2. News of the curse was delivered by Belosh, Demon Lord of Damnation and Herald of the Primarch of Oblivion: Natu.  So, the Elbonen know of the curse, and they know what potentially awaits them on the other side.


I have also decided to allow them religious inspiration.  This causes a schism and a mass migration.  Later, the migrants suffer another split, description pending, and this third very small group is made up entirely of children (albeit 3,000 year old children).

The parent group was known as the Elbonen.  When the goddess Velda died she whispered the Syntactic Magic Verb/Noun combination of Create Magic to Orum (the King), Garum (the Vizier and King's brother), and Meitra the Veldex (High Priestess of Velda).  Now, all Elbonen can use Syntactic Magic, but in the beginning it was only these three. This was Velda's gift. This created three Houses, each following one of the three original practitioners (semi-religious at best).

Schism:  Garumites (Garum) and the Veld (Meitra) migrate away and the Orummites (Orum) remain behind, and later the Veld escape the Garumites and come to live hidden in the deep woods.

I'll get into the religion later, but I think this is working.  Thanks for the questions.  They really caused me to think it thru, illogically (i.e. religion).  (EDIT:  There could be a suicide cult bent on staving off the demons, however misguided...)

The three strains of Syntactic Magic are going to diverge in power and capability (Verbs and Nouns), and I have to develop the religions in question.  I am thinking of having the infants and/or pregnant women become living religious symbols.  Maybe pregnant women are the most potent practitioners of Syntactic Magic having double the Mana?  And I need to develop the culture itself.  I should start with the root Elbonen, or maybe I should just develop the three strains and leave the original peoples a mystery.

Sorry if I rambled on, but I got on a roll.

[Porklet]

I have fleshed out the ideas in a narrative located at the Thread below.  Thanks again.

http://thecbg.org/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?206345.last