Post by Kaez on Jul 6, 2009 9:57:54 GMT -5
THIS HERE IS A THREAD FOR any sort of thing. I'm going to even take requests for the kinds of things that I should cover and anything that isn't already completely and utterly summed up in any other thread shall find its place here.
Please, please, PLEASE feel free to post anything you'd be interested in. I'm sure, "Are there dragons?" was going to be one of the first questions asked, for instance. Anything you think there should be, could be, or would be in this world, toss me the idea.
DOPPLEGANGERS
GOLEMS
ANCIENTS
HYDRAS AND CHIMERAS
BASILISK
WORMS
FIZZLES
TITANS
WILL-O'-WISPS
WYVERNS, GRIFFINS, HIPPOGRIFFS, and PEGASI
ELEMENTALS
MINOTAURS
CENTAURS
MERFOLK, KRAKENS, and SEA CREATURES
THE UNDEAD
SMUGGLERS Smugglers, like the barbarians whom they are so often confused with, are frowned upon my society -- but for much better reasons than the barbarians. Exclusively different from XOXO and barbarians, smugglers make up the third group of international men without a home. They, however, work in illegal trades. These vary anywhere from animals, plants, and technology to stolen gold, monies, or weapons. Traveling about in the moonlight, these thieves are often hired mercenaries, and unlike the barbarian hordes or XOXO, have no attachments to any organization, nation, or group whatsoever.
QIAHPS Qiahps are huge, reptilian monsters with thick, leathery hides. Gentle and slow moving, these elephant-sized creatures make long, slow strides that manage to keep up with most other creatures, sheerly out of their size. They are low and stout, with disproportionately large heads and flat backs, perfect for up to four people to ride. Their stores of fat and ability to go long distances without water makes them perfect for crossing the desert in Akha-Raa, where they are natively found.
BROWNBEARDS Brownbeards are large, stout stags. Native to the northern lands and named for the long mane of fur that dangles from their lower jaw, brownbeards are the premiere mount for covering the bitter tundra of the north, and are both a dangerous foe and prized hunt in the wild.
SPHINXES A little-known, feared creature of the Jiari, the sphinx is one of the few creatures who can survive the conditions of Akha-Raa's desert landscape. Some rumor the mysterious creatures to be made of the very sands of the desert itself and only a handful of witnesses have even returned whole to tell of the beast. Some have speculated that the Qir-Sik have tamed or are at least friendly toward these vicious creatures, though like nearly all accounts involving the sphinx, it's physique, and its nature, these rumors are completely unconfirmed.
OOZES Oozes have puzzles biologists for as long as biology was a legitimate study (primarily on Amus Isle). They dwell internationally underground, generally preferring dark, damp areas to make home. Anatomically, they have no elements whatsoever. They could, then, be thought of as a type of plant, fungus, or otherwise -- and it is true, nobody is entirely sure what to classify oozes as. They have the ability to be liquid, solid (though not incredibly dense solid), or even be partially frozen or vaporized. They consume prey, living or dead, by extremely toxic acids within them that turns a full-grown and armored man into nothing, consuming bones and all within a few hours.
BARBARIANS Barbarians, savages, mercenaries... there are many terms for those who make an allegiance to no nation. Traveling hordes of these men make their way across every empire in the Known World in search of food, comfort, and maybe some spare gold. Some groups are savage and wicked, more likely to ransack the local inn than to take hired work. Others are kind, decent people who walk cities withe bowls in hand, accepting any offering of food that might be given.
Still, the entirety of this loosely-connected subculture has been given a bad reputation by most societies (Uhl is a notable exception) and these traveling bands of men, women, and children are usually frowned upon though they have not been absent from significance -- with these mercenaries having been hired by numerous kings in the past to public dismay.
DRAGONS Said to be a species from an island to the southeast of the known world (and an ancient Dranadian map confirms such an island's existence), very little is known about dragons. This hasn't stopped Sukranit, Akha-Raa from being a hotspot for adventurers, as it is suspected to be the closest place in the Known World to the island, and claims of seeing a dragon flying in the distance from the shorts near Sukranit are not terribly uncommon. Still, the facts for the existence of dragons, and most specifically their residence on said island (if the island does exist) are unknown, and many attribute the creature to Dranadian folklore.
OGRES and TROLLS Ogres are massive, disgusting beasts native to: Gray Marshes, Rosia; King's Estuary, Rosia; Swamplands, Ichuk; Gan Oasis, Kharnathian Empire. They are composed primarily of roots, logs, and other tree parts -- drenched with mud, rocks, and grasses. If one were to come across an ogre asleep on its stomach, they might find walking across it to be no different than crossing any other part of a swampland. If disturbed, however, ogres are powerful, awful beasts who, though slow, have been known to drag many men into the mud to never be seen again.
Trolls, on the other hand, are smaller and considerably more intelligent. Native to the same regions, they do more than hunt and slumber. They often form small colonies and make prizes of scrap metal dropped in battlefields. Lanky and rather hideous, the creatures spend most of their time near swamps, gathering up insects and critters for themselves and their families.
GARGOYLES Gargoyles are a most mysterious species. Made of stone, these winged, vampiric beasts hunt at the depths of night in eastern Rosia, most of Gilaan, and the very north of Ichuk. Feeding primarily on livestock and wounded or sickly animals, the gargoyles crack from their rocky prisons and take flight, stalking their pray in what are often short, solo hunts (gargoyles are not fond of each other) and leaving the beast (or man, as in rare occasion) dry of blood. To the contrary of some Gilaani scholars, evidence of the existence of gargoyles is present in the form of a stone, perfectly missing the shape of a gargoyle who was off hunting when the boulder was stolen. It is present in the Gilaani Museum of Natural Wonders.
PHOENIXES Phoenixes are majestic Uhlian birds. A deep red with an orange and yellow tail, the phoenix is one of the most magically powerful of all animals. As it soars in the high, blue skies of Uhl, it is known to suddenly bolt at amazing speeds, leaving a streak of smokeless fire behind it. Its lifespan, though never extensively study, is said in Uhlian folktales to be upwards of 700 years, at which time it gathers a nest, sits down in it, and bursts aflame. Its ashes fall into the nest, and form themselves into a small, black egg, from whence a newborn phoenix will hatch within hours of the death of its parent.
It is said, in Uhilan folklore, that it was the consumption of one of the phoenix's eggs that brought about the intelligence of human beings, and for such an offering from the phoenixes to grant men their grand wisdom and knowledge, it must then be true that the phoenix should not only be revered, but is possibly the bearer of all wisdom.
DIRE ANIMALS 'Dire animals' is a very vague term. Some dire animals, like dire wolves, are not considerably larger than any other wolf -- usually coming to about six feet at the shoulder. While this may seem like a significant difference, when compared to dire bears, who often are upwards of sixteen feet at the shoulder, one realized the vast range that 'dire' encompasses. Dire eagles are nearly as large as Rocs, whereas dire owls are but a few feet taller than any other owl. While this trait of size usually grants the animal no significant abilities, it should be noted the dirism, as the trait is called, is completely random -- and all dire animals are the offspring of common animals, and their offspring may, as well, be common.
It is not known whether or not any animal may be a dire or if only certain breeds have said ability, but as of now, many dozens of animals have been recorded to have dire defects.
One famous dire animal, a dire elk named Abevh, is famous for having green skin, like that of moss, and the greenhooves of Dranada are said to be descendants of the wondrous beast.
BLUE WOLVES (WORGS) Worgs, Vanish Wolves, and Blue Wolves are all names for the same creature. Native to the northern regions of Rosia and most of the Kharnathian Empire, the worg is a mysterious creature. Physically, it is the size and shape of a wolf, with a bluish-gray fur. Though the exact actions of the blue wolf is unknown and speculations range anywhere from extraplanar travel to teleportation, what is known is that the blue wolf has the ability to disappear and reappear in another location, appear in multiple locations at once, or vanish completely.
These abilities, obviously, have troubled hunters in the north for many years and made the blue wolf an intensely feared creature. Though most humans are terrified of them completely, a few have been known to have been tamed, and they are apparently amazingly intelligent. Alor Caranth, the first native-born Kharnathian Emperor, keeps a blue wolf named Blink as a pet any loyal companion.
ROCS Rocs are massive, golden hawks whose wingspans are known to reach nearly fifty feet and cast shadows over entire towns as they fly overhead. Many near the sea are seen carrying massive fish and even young dolphins or wales in their monstrous talons. While not necessarily an aggressive creature, and it is true that one is more likely to fly away than attack if provoked, the Roc is both revered and feared by many cultures as either a child of the gods, or an evil man-eater (though they have not been known to, when well, eat men).
Please, please, PLEASE feel free to post anything you'd be interested in. I'm sure, "Are there dragons?" was going to be one of the first questions asked, for instance. Anything you think there should be, could be, or would be in this world, toss me the idea.
DOPPLEGANGERS
GOLEMS
ANCIENTS
HYDRAS AND CHIMERAS
BASILISK
WORMS
FIZZLES
TITANS
WILL-O'-WISPS
WYVERNS, GRIFFINS, HIPPOGRIFFS, and PEGASI
ELEMENTALS
MINOTAURS
CENTAURS
MERFOLK, KRAKENS, and SEA CREATURES
THE UNDEAD
SMUGGLERS Smugglers, like the barbarians whom they are so often confused with, are frowned upon my society -- but for much better reasons than the barbarians. Exclusively different from XOXO and barbarians, smugglers make up the third group of international men without a home. They, however, work in illegal trades. These vary anywhere from animals, plants, and technology to stolen gold, monies, or weapons. Traveling about in the moonlight, these thieves are often hired mercenaries, and unlike the barbarian hordes or XOXO, have no attachments to any organization, nation, or group whatsoever.
QIAHPS Qiahps are huge, reptilian monsters with thick, leathery hides. Gentle and slow moving, these elephant-sized creatures make long, slow strides that manage to keep up with most other creatures, sheerly out of their size. They are low and stout, with disproportionately large heads and flat backs, perfect for up to four people to ride. Their stores of fat and ability to go long distances without water makes them perfect for crossing the desert in Akha-Raa, where they are natively found.
BROWNBEARDS Brownbeards are large, stout stags. Native to the northern lands and named for the long mane of fur that dangles from their lower jaw, brownbeards are the premiere mount for covering the bitter tundra of the north, and are both a dangerous foe and prized hunt in the wild.
SPHINXES A little-known, feared creature of the Jiari, the sphinx is one of the few creatures who can survive the conditions of Akha-Raa's desert landscape. Some rumor the mysterious creatures to be made of the very sands of the desert itself and only a handful of witnesses have even returned whole to tell of the beast. Some have speculated that the Qir-Sik have tamed or are at least friendly toward these vicious creatures, though like nearly all accounts involving the sphinx, it's physique, and its nature, these rumors are completely unconfirmed.
OOZES Oozes have puzzles biologists for as long as biology was a legitimate study (primarily on Amus Isle). They dwell internationally underground, generally preferring dark, damp areas to make home. Anatomically, they have no elements whatsoever. They could, then, be thought of as a type of plant, fungus, or otherwise -- and it is true, nobody is entirely sure what to classify oozes as. They have the ability to be liquid, solid (though not incredibly dense solid), or even be partially frozen or vaporized. They consume prey, living or dead, by extremely toxic acids within them that turns a full-grown and armored man into nothing, consuming bones and all within a few hours.
BARBARIANS Barbarians, savages, mercenaries... there are many terms for those who make an allegiance to no nation. Traveling hordes of these men make their way across every empire in the Known World in search of food, comfort, and maybe some spare gold. Some groups are savage and wicked, more likely to ransack the local inn than to take hired work. Others are kind, decent people who walk cities withe bowls in hand, accepting any offering of food that might be given.
Still, the entirety of this loosely-connected subculture has been given a bad reputation by most societies (Uhl is a notable exception) and these traveling bands of men, women, and children are usually frowned upon though they have not been absent from significance -- with these mercenaries having been hired by numerous kings in the past to public dismay.
DRAGONS Said to be a species from an island to the southeast of the known world (and an ancient Dranadian map confirms such an island's existence), very little is known about dragons. This hasn't stopped Sukranit, Akha-Raa from being a hotspot for adventurers, as it is suspected to be the closest place in the Known World to the island, and claims of seeing a dragon flying in the distance from the shorts near Sukranit are not terribly uncommon. Still, the facts for the existence of dragons, and most specifically their residence on said island (if the island does exist) are unknown, and many attribute the creature to Dranadian folklore.
OGRES and TROLLS Ogres are massive, disgusting beasts native to: Gray Marshes, Rosia; King's Estuary, Rosia; Swamplands, Ichuk; Gan Oasis, Kharnathian Empire. They are composed primarily of roots, logs, and other tree parts -- drenched with mud, rocks, and grasses. If one were to come across an ogre asleep on its stomach, they might find walking across it to be no different than crossing any other part of a swampland. If disturbed, however, ogres are powerful, awful beasts who, though slow, have been known to drag many men into the mud to never be seen again.
Trolls, on the other hand, are smaller and considerably more intelligent. Native to the same regions, they do more than hunt and slumber. They often form small colonies and make prizes of scrap metal dropped in battlefields. Lanky and rather hideous, the creatures spend most of their time near swamps, gathering up insects and critters for themselves and their families.
GARGOYLES Gargoyles are a most mysterious species. Made of stone, these winged, vampiric beasts hunt at the depths of night in eastern Rosia, most of Gilaan, and the very north of Ichuk. Feeding primarily on livestock and wounded or sickly animals, the gargoyles crack from their rocky prisons and take flight, stalking their pray in what are often short, solo hunts (gargoyles are not fond of each other) and leaving the beast (or man, as in rare occasion) dry of blood. To the contrary of some Gilaani scholars, evidence of the existence of gargoyles is present in the form of a stone, perfectly missing the shape of a gargoyle who was off hunting when the boulder was stolen. It is present in the Gilaani Museum of Natural Wonders.
PHOENIXES Phoenixes are majestic Uhlian birds. A deep red with an orange and yellow tail, the phoenix is one of the most magically powerful of all animals. As it soars in the high, blue skies of Uhl, it is known to suddenly bolt at amazing speeds, leaving a streak of smokeless fire behind it. Its lifespan, though never extensively study, is said in Uhlian folktales to be upwards of 700 years, at which time it gathers a nest, sits down in it, and bursts aflame. Its ashes fall into the nest, and form themselves into a small, black egg, from whence a newborn phoenix will hatch within hours of the death of its parent.
It is said, in Uhilan folklore, that it was the consumption of one of the phoenix's eggs that brought about the intelligence of human beings, and for such an offering from the phoenixes to grant men their grand wisdom and knowledge, it must then be true that the phoenix should not only be revered, but is possibly the bearer of all wisdom.
DIRE ANIMALS 'Dire animals' is a very vague term. Some dire animals, like dire wolves, are not considerably larger than any other wolf -- usually coming to about six feet at the shoulder. While this may seem like a significant difference, when compared to dire bears, who often are upwards of sixteen feet at the shoulder, one realized the vast range that 'dire' encompasses. Dire eagles are nearly as large as Rocs, whereas dire owls are but a few feet taller than any other owl. While this trait of size usually grants the animal no significant abilities, it should be noted the dirism, as the trait is called, is completely random -- and all dire animals are the offspring of common animals, and their offspring may, as well, be common.
It is not known whether or not any animal may be a dire or if only certain breeds have said ability, but as of now, many dozens of animals have been recorded to have dire defects.
One famous dire animal, a dire elk named Abevh, is famous for having green skin, like that of moss, and the greenhooves of Dranada are said to be descendants of the wondrous beast.
BLUE WOLVES (WORGS) Worgs, Vanish Wolves, and Blue Wolves are all names for the same creature. Native to the northern regions of Rosia and most of the Kharnathian Empire, the worg is a mysterious creature. Physically, it is the size and shape of a wolf, with a bluish-gray fur. Though the exact actions of the blue wolf is unknown and speculations range anywhere from extraplanar travel to teleportation, what is known is that the blue wolf has the ability to disappear and reappear in another location, appear in multiple locations at once, or vanish completely.
These abilities, obviously, have troubled hunters in the north for many years and made the blue wolf an intensely feared creature. Though most humans are terrified of them completely, a few have been known to have been tamed, and they are apparently amazingly intelligent. Alor Caranth, the first native-born Kharnathian Emperor, keeps a blue wolf named Blink as a pet any loyal companion.
ROCS Rocs are massive, golden hawks whose wingspans are known to reach nearly fifty feet and cast shadows over entire towns as they fly overhead. Many near the sea are seen carrying massive fish and even young dolphins or wales in their monstrous talons. While not necessarily an aggressive creature, and it is true that one is more likely to fly away than attack if provoked, the Roc is both revered and feared by many cultures as either a child of the gods, or an evil man-eater (though they have not been known to, when well, eat men).
