General setting post [Under Construction]
Dec. 2nd, 2012 09:19 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kuddelmuddel‘Erde’ is akin to Earth in many ways, but completely different in others. The climate is similar, the plant life is as well, and even dishes have similarities (though the equivalent of tomato sauce is purple). The level of technology is similar as such – there is even the internet. The major difference being that magic is incorporated into technology. Weapon technology is often based on magic as an energy source, for example, and military vessels often operate on magic, which allowed the creation of massive airships.
Politically, it is VERY different. There is only one country, spanning the entire world. It is centered on an island the size of Easter Island, in whose middle is the imperial palace, which in turn is constructed around a gargantuan tree.
It is still an authoritarian nation, less oppressive than Russia, but noticeably more than most western countries. Non-humans are known, and are respected as long as one fits the known types (goblins, fairies, dragons (up to the size of a pony), ratmen, frogmen and mermaids). All others are immediately suspected to be mutated chaosspawn, which is a death sentence: Normal citizens will flee, and soldiers will arrive soon, utilizing a “fire first, ask questions later” policy.
Indeed, the military presence is noticeable. Parades are frequent, as are soldiers on patrols. In some cities, one can find containment zones protected by soldiers. If one sneaks into, all one will find is a part of the city, looking like normal…except that the floor is covered with crystalline sand, and that people and animals that once lived there are frozen in place, shattering like glass even when only brushed against.
Overall: Still a pretty oppressive atmosphere, odd people get odd looks, and the smiling shopkeeper may report them to the authorities just moments after they leave.
The soldiers seem to prefer long, black coats and black uniforms, and military vessels are all black as well. It’s not the best place to spend a holiday, that’s for sure.
Magic is commonplace; it is not rare to see a mage help with the construction of a dam or accompany soldiers. Magical technology is common as well, usually seen in the massive airships (which exist in lieu of airplanes, a technology that was never invented on this world). Mages tend to use elemental magic, usually based on a single element.
Animal and plant life is similar overall, with some species existing here that do not exist on other worlds, such as various living beings that use magic (a fire salamander that spits fire to scare of enemies, or a flower that uses magic to spread their seeds really far)
Supernatural creatures exist mostly in the form of elemental spirits, usually at the size of a football. Elementals of fire, water, wind, air, ice and wood are common and are usually considered harmless. Less harmless are elementals of chaos and order, which tend to “infect” the area around them. The above mentioned containment zone is, for example, the result of an order elemental that was spotted too late. That is why citizen flee when they suspect one, and why the military reacts with overwhelming force to suspicions of one.
Greater elementals are simply bigger, more powerful and usually sentient versions of the above mentioned elementals. Most of them have shapes similar to sentient beings and can speak. Again, the elementals of Chaos and Order of this category are feared, especially because they tend to look like completely normal mortals, and can thereby infiltrate society.
Their overall power is similar to an archangel in Supernatural or a greater demon in most canons I’m aware of.
Finally, the most powerful supernatural entities known on the world are Order and Chaos. Nobody knows what they truly are, what is known is that they are the most deity-like entities around, and that they used the world as a plaything. It appears that they do not influence the world directly, though. They usually use servants, in form of their elemental spirits and mortals they corrupted. Every few centuries, they also create direct hosts for themselves, called Avatars. This is the only known way for them to influence the world directly. Indirectly, they can speak to mortals through their lesser elementals, and can infuse a willing human with their power, using a lesser elemental spirit as a catalyst.
As for the concepts of Order and Chaos – Chaos refers to chaotic changes, but also life itself. Gross mutations are as much a part of chaos as spring. Order, meanwhile, refers to a calm see as much as to complete and utter destruction, for the most ordered thing is a space devoid of anything. Ultimately, neither force is good for mortals. Neither is good or evil.
Politically, it is VERY different. There is only one country, spanning the entire world. It is centered on an island the size of Easter Island, in whose middle is the imperial palace, which in turn is constructed around a gargantuan tree.
It is still an authoritarian nation, less oppressive than Russia, but noticeably more than most western countries. Non-humans are known, and are respected as long as one fits the known types (goblins, fairies, dragons (up to the size of a pony), ratmen, frogmen and mermaids). All others are immediately suspected to be mutated chaosspawn, which is a death sentence: Normal citizens will flee, and soldiers will arrive soon, utilizing a “fire first, ask questions later” policy.
Indeed, the military presence is noticeable. Parades are frequent, as are soldiers on patrols. In some cities, one can find containment zones protected by soldiers. If one sneaks into, all one will find is a part of the city, looking like normal…except that the floor is covered with crystalline sand, and that people and animals that once lived there are frozen in place, shattering like glass even when only brushed against.
Overall: Still a pretty oppressive atmosphere, odd people get odd looks, and the smiling shopkeeper may report them to the authorities just moments after they leave.
The soldiers seem to prefer long, black coats and black uniforms, and military vessels are all black as well. It’s not the best place to spend a holiday, that’s for sure.
Magic is commonplace; it is not rare to see a mage help with the construction of a dam or accompany soldiers. Magical technology is common as well, usually seen in the massive airships (which exist in lieu of airplanes, a technology that was never invented on this world). Mages tend to use elemental magic, usually based on a single element.
Animal and plant life is similar overall, with some species existing here that do not exist on other worlds, such as various living beings that use magic (a fire salamander that spits fire to scare of enemies, or a flower that uses magic to spread their seeds really far)
Supernatural creatures exist mostly in the form of elemental spirits, usually at the size of a football. Elementals of fire, water, wind, air, ice and wood are common and are usually considered harmless. Less harmless are elementals of chaos and order, which tend to “infect” the area around them. The above mentioned containment zone is, for example, the result of an order elemental that was spotted too late. That is why citizen flee when they suspect one, and why the military reacts with overwhelming force to suspicions of one.
Greater elementals are simply bigger, more powerful and usually sentient versions of the above mentioned elementals. Most of them have shapes similar to sentient beings and can speak. Again, the elementals of Chaos and Order of this category are feared, especially because they tend to look like completely normal mortals, and can thereby infiltrate society.
Their overall power is similar to an archangel in Supernatural or a greater demon in most canons I’m aware of.
Finally, the most powerful supernatural entities known on the world are Order and Chaos. Nobody knows what they truly are, what is known is that they are the most deity-like entities around, and that they used the world as a plaything. It appears that they do not influence the world directly, though. They usually use servants, in form of their elemental spirits and mortals they corrupted. Every few centuries, they also create direct hosts for themselves, called Avatars. This is the only known way for them to influence the world directly. Indirectly, they can speak to mortals through their lesser elementals, and can infuse a willing human with their power, using a lesser elemental spirit as a catalyst.
As for the concepts of Order and Chaos – Chaos refers to chaotic changes, but also life itself. Gross mutations are as much a part of chaos as spring. Order, meanwhile, refers to a calm see as much as to complete and utter destruction, for the most ordered thing is a space devoid of anything. Ultimately, neither force is good for mortals. Neither is good or evil.
