World of Sorol

[HandsomeRob]

Hello all,
I am a new member here and I'd like to share my world with you. This looks more like the kind of worldbuilding site I've been looking for, although I am not a role-player. The only other world-creation forum I've seen (www.conworlds.info) seems to put a lot of emphasis on originality. I think originality is fine, but it's not my goal to be original with my world creation. What I like to do is collect ideas that I like and place them appropriately into Sorol.

The main focus of my worldbuilding so far has been on geography. Hence I have lots and lots of maps. But there is more to Sorol than the maps - in fact I am adding articles to the wiki much faster than I am creating new maps these days.

So anyway, long story short, I'm glad to be here and please have a look at Sorol: http://sorol.wikispaces.com

Thanks!
-Rob

[Llum]

A good place to check out is The Cartographers Guild, its a sister site of ours (the CBGs) that focuses on.... yes you guessed it :P Mapping!

Its pretty good, I know some people will be able to help you out with any geographical questions you have over there :D

I briefly checked out the wiki and your maps are pretty sick (sick good that is) and your racial info is pretty interesting. A lot of races and sub-types to keep track of though, at least it seems to me.

[Elemental_Elf]

From one cartographer to another, your maps are awesome! :)

After perusing your wiki for a little while, I have to ask what's the technology/development-era of your setting? Fom the sounds of it, it seems sort of 18/19th century-ish, though I could be wrong.

At any rate, a good stepping stone (for all of us) is for you to give us a  country/region/what-have-you where we can begin the process of helping you flesh your world out! :)

P.S. I love the idea of Gorilla Men!

[Superfluous Crow]

If you don't mind me asking, if it's not for roleplaying then what is it for? Fiction? Or just for the heck of it?

[HandsomeRob]

Llum-
I am a member over at the Cartographer's Guild. That's how I heard of this site actually.

Elemental_Elf-
I would say 18th century is a good analogue for the tech level here. Although there is a place for magic, in general there is a very scientific worldview; less based on mythology and more on obserables (Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle, which takes place in the 18th century, is a strong influence on my work). Certain areas of the continent of Asmiria (which I have not detailed on the wiki yet) even have further advanced tech: steam trains, monorails, automobile-like contraptions, etc. Also there are alien species with very advanced technology as well as relics from lost civilizations. That being said, a large proportion of the world is wilderness, with little technology at all.

Cataclysmic Crow-
It's just a hobby. I very much enjoy the process, even though there may be no applications for it.

-Rob

[LD]

Those are certainly some beautiful maps. They remind me of the relief-map guides to Europe I would find in an atlas.

Constructive Comment: I am surprised that there are so many defined roads in your world. Should I assume a relatively high level of technology? Or are many of these merely dirt paths?

[HandsomeRob]

Light Dragon: The level of technology is discussed above, but in general I feel that if two settlements are located near enough to one another, there will be an established route between them. Keep in mind that only the thick, solid lines (which are rare) are paved roads. The thinner solid lines are well-used gravel or dirt roadways, while the dashed lines are cart tracks and other pathways.

-Rob

[Elemental_Elf]

Hmm, do yo have any area you'd like us to take a peak at?

[HandsomeRob]

Not really, I just wanted to introduce myself and my world, and to hang around looking for interesting ideas to pick up.

Thanks!
-Rob

[HandsomeRob]

I had an idea today that I wanted to get down. I'm fairly happy with how it turned out, so I thought I'd share. This is regarding the Qzalt Praxis, a doomsday device that was used on Sorol over 15,000 years ago. It's intended to be a somewhat silly space-opera. Your feedback is welcome.

-Rob

--

The Qzalt Praxis was a weapon created by the Hadrans using a combination of technology, eldritch manipulation, and ritual. It was used in the year -10200 to eradicate the Ungro and led to total victory for the Hadrans in the war against the Ungro.

Background
The Hadrans and the Ungro, extraterrestrial species not native to the Sorol system, both independently discovered the planet near the end of the Age of the Alvar. The Ungro, investigating the curious N-wave interference centered around the Sorol system, arrived in the year -10812. The Hadrans, who noticed the same interference patterns, arrived somewhat later, in the year -10675. Both races discovered the eldritch energy fields causing the interference, and the planet's resultant strategic value. A furious war between the two species for control of the planet ensued, with battles taking place both on the planet's surface and in the region of space surrounding it. This war raged for centuries, with each side experiencing periodic gains and losses but with neither side being able to wrest complete control.

Creation of the Praxis
The Hadran scientist Al'gaaran Qzalt's experiments in the field of ritual eldritch manipulation uncovered a potential method of eradicating the Ungro presence on Sorol. The ritual involved a number of specific eldritch castings and a simultaneous release of stored eldritch energy. If done properly, the ritual would result in the dissolution of a specific being named at the time of the casting. Qzalt theorized that if enough energy were stored up and released, the right power magnifier was employed, and the "named being" rule was carefully circumvented, the ritual would dissolve all Ungro in the universe.
The Hadrans began construction of the power magnifier in the year -10265. It was completed 35 years later. The power magnifier, known as the Zalhaad Cyclomizer, was a crystal platform measuring 17 miles in diameter with a series of spires built of Aragone at the center. Meanwhile, the Hadrans had rounded up Alvar by the thousands into concentration camps, employing them to cast eldritch energy into Thuront Capacitors continually. The Thuront Capacitors stored up this eldritch energy for use with the praxis.
Developing the proper code words to circumvent the rule of the "named being" proved more difficult. Hadran researchers worked on this problem for many years with little success, although they found that their theory was sound. These experiments, however, resulted in a slight weakening of the eldritch energy fields for reasons unknown to the researchers. Finally, in -10200, the proper code words were discovered and the Qzalt Praxis was deployed.

Deployment
The Thuront Capacitors were emptied into the Zalhaad Cyclomizer as the proper castings were completed, and the code words were pronounced. Over the course of about 5 days, an orb of energy intensified on the Aragone spires, finally releasing in a massive pulse. This pulse spread over the planet quickly, dissolving all Ungro on Sorol at the time. The pulse continued to spread throughout the solar system and nearby space over the next 50 years, travelling to a distance of 7.8 parsecs before weakening. All Ungro within that range were dissolved into their constituent energies. The Hadrans achieved total victory.

Aftereffects
The Hadran research team theorized that the Qzalt Praxis would dissolve all Ungro in the universe; however, this did not occur. The weakening of the eldritch energy field around Sorol prior to the deployment of the praxis limited the effect drastically for reasons unknown. The Ungro, whose home planet was well outside of the 7.8 parsec range, eventually surmised what had occured but wisely avoided Sorol in the future, as any further assault on the planet could be countered by a redeployment of the praxis.
The initial deployment of the praxis corrupted the eldritch energy field to a high degree. The Alvar lost the ability to freely manipulate the field; this ability could be relearned, but it was much more difficult. The corruption of the eldritch energy field led to a massive population decline among Sorol's native inhabitants. Many species on Sorol were also dissolved by the pulse - it is theorized that this is due to slight errors in the pronunciation of the code words.