The Savage Earth

[keithcurtis]

[note=Characters in the Savage Earth][/note]
[ic=What is the Savage Earth?]The Savage Earth is a setting of fabulous lost technology living alongside high magic and barbaric splendor.[/ic] [ic=Where is the Savage Earth?]The Savage Earth is our own planet in the distant future. Some great catastrophe has tipped the planet on its side, throwing the world into ecological chaos from which only now is civilization re-appearing.[/ic] [ic=When does the Savage Earth take place?]None know for sure, for all records were lost in the time of the Demon-Kings, when the world was ruled by beings of vast power and cruelty. The Demon-Kings are gone now, banished by the Prometheans, but their technology lives on.[/ic] [ic=Who lives in the Savage Earth?]Many different kinds of people. Humans, certainly, but the arts of the Demon-Kings gave speech and thought to animals, who are slowly becoming more human-like. Inanimate objects may also be imbued with motion and thought as well. Civilization is the province of the Adepts, people who have learned to control a smattering of demon King technology by studying the teachings of the Prometheans. The wilderness is a place of high danger, inhabited by hardy barbarian tribes.[/ic]
[ic=Links of Note]
Home Page
The World
Tallon, the Jewel of Merikia (Campaign City)
Interactive Map of Tallon
Culture
Adventure Log
Glossary
Designer's Notes
Forum
[/ic]
[ic=Meta]The Savage Earth is the creation of Keith Curtis (me). All images, maps and concepts were created by me.[/ic]

[Wensleydale]

Interesting. Although I normally dislike anthropomorphic animals, you've provided a nice reason for them. One thing I can comment on now... what are standing stones? I found no real description of their purpose, but they seem important enough to warrant an entry into each city's description.

[Matt Larkin (author)]

I like the premise (and the picture!). I'll look at in more detail when I have more time, but I'm already impressed.

[keithcurtis]

Interesting. Although I normally dislike anthropomorphic animals, you've provided a nice reason for them. One thing I can comment on now... what are standing stones? I found no real description of their purpose, but they seem important enough to warrant an entry into each city's description.

From the glossary:

Spirits[/url] Page:

Central to the enlightened cultures of the Savage Earth are the Standing Stones. No one knows how many of these lie scattered across the lands. They are the source of all knowledge of and power over spirits.
The Standing Stones were created by the Prometheans in the wake of their war of liberation against the Demon Kings. As the legend goes, the Prometheans were tired after the war and realized their mortality. They would not be around forever to teach the children of men how to use the spirits that make up creation. Rather than see all their knowledge and labor lost, they caused it to be contained in imperishable relics that could be read and understood by future generations. These relics were the Standing Stones. The Disciples of Prometheus wandered the globe, raising the Stones in many places. Shortly afterward, they all vanished. All that is left of them is their record.
The Stones contain much knowledge, but it is knowledge that can only be read and understood by adepts. It requires spirit sight to recognize a standing Stone for what it is. To an adept, a Stone is far more than a physical object. Its spirit dwarfs those around it with power and majesty. Touching a Stone is a deeply religious experience for an adept. Images and concepts inexpressible by words flood the mind. At first perception, the imagery is of little value. There is too much of it, and little context or organization. It is also extremely complex. Nevertheless, with years of meditation and communion, a working knowledge of Spirits will come to them. Implicit also in the Stones are history, cosmology, and a sense of social order. They contain the essence of an enlightened society. The most easily perceived concepts are those outlined as the central precepts in the Book of Standing Stones. Every Stone-based culture has a local interpretation of these basic concepts.

[beejazz]

Looks good... what system is this in?

[keithcurtis]

Sorry, I edited down the intro material I posted. The actual splash page for the website reveals it to be written for the Hero System, though most of it is written without regard to system, i.e. setting description.