The Saga of The Seven Swords Discussion Thread

[XXsiriusXX]

Please place all comments here.

[Llum]

Heavy[/b]. That 100oz of gold weights 7.5kg, or 15lbs. These aren't things people are going to be carrying around in any shape or form.

Can it still be called a monarchy if the king has been deposed and is now ruled by a despot?

It is well known that most of the Great Dukes, the highest level of Eursara aristocracy and the rulers of the kingdoms provinces, oppose Sirius politically but do not speak out against him for fear of their of losing their own territories or far worse their lives. The Dukes fear is well placed, after naming himself Regent, Sirius took control of the Kings royal guard and fashioned them into a ruthless and efficient secret police force known as the Praetor. The Praetor, whose loyalty to Sirius is unquestionable, put down any descent and ensures that Jonas's will is enforced.

Why does he bother to keep the Dukes around if they all oppose him? Why did the Praetors loyalty switch so easily? You would think that the royal guard would have some kind of undying loyalty to their king no?

I'm also somewhat surprised that you didn't list Kevin J Andersons Saga of Seven Suns as an influence. I get a very big influenced vibe from your setting. Also, the sames are pretty similar :D

[sparkletwist]

The only real problem I have with this is that gold is Heavy. That 100oz of gold weights 7.5kg, or 15lbs. These aren't things people are going to be carrying around in any shape or form.

The traditional price of gold in USD (under the Bretton Woods system) was $35/oz, which makes that $3500 in ~1945 dollars, or around $41000 today. The current free market value tends to vary more, but that's still a decent rough approximation. So it's only a big deal if people are routinely carring around ~$40k on them. ;)

That said, if the gold economy is inflated to the point that most D&D economies are, where absurd quantities of gold are required for most purchases, I also agree this would be a problem.

My suggestion on how to get around this stuff would be to not immediately abolish all forms of money other than gold, but rather to look into things other than copper and silver if you're really tired of them. Some sort of other commodity used in trade that has become a form of money, or even paper/fiat money if there is a strong central government. Copper coins with a face value much higher than the actual metal value might also be am intermediate possibility.

[XXsiriusXX]

Heavy[/b]. That 100oz of gold weights 7.5kg, or 15lbs. These aren't things people are going to be carrying around in any shape or form.

Weight is always a pain!

I see Bits, Slips, and Strips being the form of common currency, with bricks and bars being more of specialized and used rather infrequently.

But I think that I am going to take yours and sparkletwists suggestion and work on other forms of currency.  Maybe make the system above a form of international currency.

I'm also somewhat surprised that you didn't list Kevin J Andersons Saga of Seven Suns as an influence. I get a very big influenced vibe from your setting. Also, the sames are pretty similar :D

Thank you, I forgot to add that series. While the series is not a big influence on the setting as a whole, it is on the name of the setting. I will fix that.

[Nomadic]

Ok I am going to start off with a couple things at a time so you and I aren't overwhelmed...

Spell Sphere
A Spell Sphere is a specially crafted orb of crystal or glass that stores a single magical spell. To cast the spell the user simply needs to break the sphere releasing the magical energy within.

Magi-cores
The Magi-core is a fundamental component of all artifice. They are the means by which all artifice items gain the magical energy to power their magical abilities. Magi-cores are crafted from a deep blue crystal, known as Tetracite which, when properly attuned, draws energy directly from the arcane force and channels that energy into whatever device they are attached to. The amount of energy that a Magi-core can draw/channel is depended upon the size of the crystal and its quality. In most cases, Magi-cores are not unique to the item they are created for. They can be used interchangeably with any artifice item.
[/quote]
Gravity Rings
Gravity rings are an interregnal component in Sky ship construction. The rings provide the ships lift and propulsion systems. They do this by repulsing gravities pull on the ship. A single ring is sufficient to lift a small one person craft, while larger ships require multiple.
[/quote]
Chloren
A Chloren is an individual who has chosen to be bonded to a pod from the rare Talac tree (see Unique Flora and Fauna of Irridan). Bonding with a Talac pod is a dangerous process and most who attempt this feat die in the first few moments. If successful, the Talac symbiote begins to fundamentally change its host into a unique life form that is both plant and animal. The transformation endows the host with remarkable powers, but at a cost. The Talac symbiote will eventually consume its host body, transforming it into a new Talac tree.
[/quote]

I love it, very druidic/drydish. I think at some point I would like to hear more about the foundation behind the Chloren. For example, who uncovered the process that allows a person to become one, and are there any cults based around them?

[XXsiriusXX]

Ok I am going to start off with a couple things at a time so you and I aren't overwhelmed...

Chloren
A Chloren is an individual who has chosen to be bonded to a pod from the rare Talac tree (see Unique Flora and Fauna of Irridan). Bonding with a Talac pod is a dangerous process and most who attempt this feat die in the first few moments. If successful, the Talac symbiote begins to fundamentally change its host into a unique life form that is both plant and animal. The transformation endows the host with remarkable powers, but at a cost. The Talac symbiote will eventually consume its host body, transforming it into a new Talac tree.

I haven't worked out the entire history behind them yet, so I really don't have an answer for you. As for cults based around them there are none currently. I am currently working the Chloren template into the religion of Earth Mother, the major deity of the Issialmarian pantheon. The religion venerates nature in all of it forms and views the Talac tree as a gift from the earth mother, a gift that allows humans to truly become one with her. Her followers are offered the chance to bond with a pod when they achieve the rank of high priest.

[Llum]

The weapon discharges the Magi-core so completely that it takes a minute for it to gain a substantial enough charge that is suitable for firing.

Deific Artifacts are extremely powerful magical items and have a significant connection to the deity/religion to which they belong. While the existence of the gods may be in question by some, the power of their artifacts is not. Each of the major pantheons of Irridan maintains a varied number of these items. It should be noted that not all of the Artifacts are come in the form of items, some are more exotic, such as the God Stones of the Avereen Pantheon or Silver Oracle of Fateist faith.[/quote]In order for the focus to summon the fallen god it has been attuned to a permanent connection between the summoner and the gem must be made. A summoner must bond the gem to his flesh then and only then can the fallen god be summoned.[/quote]

This would make a summoner vary obvious, unless he hid the gem under cloths/armor. Do some summoners wear clothing that shows off their gem? What are popular places to bond the gem? Chest? Forhead? Hand? Navel?

[Nomadic]

Wow didn't even notice you responded... ok here we go again ;)

You are right there are be a number of places were a gravity ring would be useful. While they are still extremely expensive pieces of artifice some construction guild use gravity rings instead of cranes to lift heavy objects, as well as floating scaffolding. There are also elevators and carts. I am still working on other applications. If you have any suggestions feel free to throw them out.

I haven't worked out the entire history behind them yet, so I really don't have an answer for you. As for cults based around them there are none currently. I am currently working the Chloren template into the religion of Earth Mother, the major deity of the Issialmarian pantheon. The religion venerates nature in all of it forms and views the Talac tree as a gift from the earth mother, a gift that allows humans to truly become one with her. Her followers are offered the chance to bond with a pod when they achieve the rank of high priest.
[/quote]

So why is there such a big chance of being killed by the process?

[Nomadic]

bumping this so you'll see it

[XXsiriusXX]

Nomadic thanks for the bump!

This almost seems to me that the religions sprung up *around* the artifacts, that people just tracked on divine influence due to their power.

In a sense you are right, but it is more that the religions already existed in an infant state. Then when the artifacts were discovered they were incorporated into the religions to solidify their power.

With the newly increased ability to create magic items even quicker and better then before, are there new "Deiific Artifact" level items showing up created by men? Are their creators cannonized as gods? Do they gather religions?

This is a very interesting idea; I think I might incorporate it into my setting.  

Currently, I have nothing like this worked out yet. Humans can and have build items of Deific Artifact level, as have the Uru; but unlike Human and Uru artifacts and items (both magic and non magic) are made from known materials and techniques. The Deific Artifacts are crafted from completely unknown materials and techniques, at least unknown by human standards.  

I haven't worked out the entire history behind them yet, so I really don't have an answer for you. As for cults based around them there are none currently. I am currently working the Chloren template into the religion of Earth Mother, the major deity of the Issialmarian pantheon. The religion venerates nature in all of it forms and views the Talac tree as a gift from the earth mother, a gift that allows humans to truly become one with her. Her followers are offered the chance to bond with a pod when they achieve the rank of high priest.

Bonding with a Talec pod is a very traumatic experience. The pods tendrils bury themselves deep into a hosts body, penetrating organs, bones, nerves, and skin. They then begin to absorb blood, fluids, and nutrients from the circulatory system and then introduce their own chemicals. Most humans can't handle all of this trauma at one time.

[Nomadic]

Does the potential host have to be conscious during the process.

[XXsiriusXX]

Does the potential host have to be conscious during the process.

no, it can be done while the potential host is asleep.

[Nomadic]

Does the potential host have to be conscious during the process.

no, it can be done while the potential host is asleep.

I would think then that putting a person to sleep would increase the chance they survive (as it would remove the mental shock that is the most deadly part of a traumatic experience). Are you thinking of including such a bonus in your system for that?

[LordVreeg]

Somehow, the magictech is a little too much magic for me.
It would feel (at least for me) a little more believable if the magicores provided the energy to push a bullet, instead of shooting a 'lazer' type of magic.  Same with the ships, if they provided energy for a helicopter system of blades, without 'cutting off gravity'

Love the feel, and I am looking forward to the redo on religion.  It already has promise.

[XXsiriusXX]

I would think then that putting a person to sleep would increase the chance they survive (as it would remove the mental shock that is the most deadly part of a traumatic experience). Are you thinking of including such a bonus in your system for that?

It makes sense so I would have to. Now what that constitutes system wise is still up in the air. The system itself needs to be created, well not really created but put together. I have a lot of pieces and ideas that I want to use, it's just about seeing what works with what.

Somehow, the magictech is a little too much magic for me.
It would feel (at least for me) a little more believable if the magicores provided the energy to push a bullet, instead of shooting a 'lazer' type of magic.  Same with the ships, if they provided energy for a helicopter system of blades, without 'cutting off gravity'

Love the feel, and I am looking forward to the redo on religion.  It already has promise.

It is very interesting that you bring that up. I originally had been working along those lines. But I knew that I wanted to incorporate stronger sci-fi elements, so I decided to move the magitech more in that direction.  

Does anyone else reading this threat feel that the artifice is a little too magic?

As for the religion section, I am very close to have the mythology completed for the Avereen pantheon. I should have it posted in a few days.