Angelic Protectorates -- setting for a book
Moderator: Moderators
Angelic Protectorates -- setting for a book
Basically, this isn't meant to be an RPG setting specificaly, though it may contain RPGable elements. Or get turned into an RPG setting later,though some elements will have to be cut. But basicaly I'll be posting random bits of setting information for y'all to tear apart.
RACE SPOTLIGHT: ANGELS
So, most of the main characters are angels. Here's their deal.
Biology: Angels are "air spritis" from outside the world. There exists a temple on in the City of Lights that has an elaborate system of mirrors and lenses designed to focus light onto an altar. The air spirits descend down that beam to inhabit bodies which have been prepared for them.
The Tree of Life in this world is an enormous bio-computer. The angels bury their dead, and the bodies of faithful humans, among its roots, and it extracts their DNA. It recombines this to manufacture what it considers aesthetically perfect bodies. These bodies are placed on the altar for the spirits to inhabit.
Once animated, Angels are statuesque dark-skinned humans, with men averaging 2 meters in height. Women are very rare; for some reason, only about 20% of the bodies the tree churns out are female. Luckily male angels are almost all gay, so it works out. Their plumage and wings styles vary widely, but tend to be white or brown in color, with possible markings and patterns in other colors. They can transform thier wings into cloacks with fabric in the same pattern, when they want to fit into small spaces or pass as human (although thier dark skin makes that difficult in some nations) Apart from their cloacks (which they *can* but are loathe to take off) they needn't look obviously nonhuman, but they may choose to wreathe themselves in holy light, often conjuring crowns of light for their brows.
They are physically adult when "born" but go through a training acedemy that teaches them swordsmanship, magic, history, and the performing arts. Each one carries a sword forged of shiroferrum, the crystalline sap of the Tree of Life, forged for them by Archangel Michael. Each one also has a single magical ability implanted in them by the archangel by post-hypnotic suggestion.
From thier floating castle, they police the protectorates, stabbing evildoers in the face and hunting out witches and demons. Each and every one thinks of himself as a knight errant, and is granted the same status is human courts. They are all extremely stern and ruthless. Some of them are joyless types who live only for war; they join the Grigori, the angelic special forces who fight evil magic users. The rest party hard when they're in the City, devoting their lives to song and dance for the glorification of god and the Archangels. Even they are all about joy in specific, approved expressions, and are just as manic in thier fashion.
Angels, while largely free of vice and veniality, have an *extremely* high rate of mental disease, especially obsession.
So, most of the main characters are angels. Here's their deal.
Biology: Angels are "air spritis" from outside the world. There exists a temple on in the City of Lights that has an elaborate system of mirrors and lenses designed to focus light onto an altar. The air spirits descend down that beam to inhabit bodies which have been prepared for them.
The Tree of Life in this world is an enormous bio-computer. The angels bury their dead, and the bodies of faithful humans, among its roots, and it extracts their DNA. It recombines this to manufacture what it considers aesthetically perfect bodies. These bodies are placed on the altar for the spirits to inhabit.
Once animated, Angels are statuesque dark-skinned humans, with men averaging 2 meters in height. Women are very rare; for some reason, only about 20% of the bodies the tree churns out are female. Luckily male angels are almost all gay, so it works out. Their plumage and wings styles vary widely, but tend to be white or brown in color, with possible markings and patterns in other colors. They can transform thier wings into cloacks with fabric in the same pattern, when they want to fit into small spaces or pass as human (although thier dark skin makes that difficult in some nations) Apart from their cloacks (which they *can* but are loathe to take off) they needn't look obviously nonhuman, but they may choose to wreathe themselves in holy light, often conjuring crowns of light for their brows.
They are physically adult when "born" but go through a training acedemy that teaches them swordsmanship, magic, history, and the performing arts. Each one carries a sword forged of shiroferrum, the crystalline sap of the Tree of Life, forged for them by Archangel Michael. Each one also has a single magical ability implanted in them by the archangel by post-hypnotic suggestion.
From thier floating castle, they police the protectorates, stabbing evildoers in the face and hunting out witches and demons. Each and every one thinks of himself as a knight errant, and is granted the same status is human courts. They are all extremely stern and ruthless. Some of them are joyless types who live only for war; they join the Grigori, the angelic special forces who fight evil magic users. The rest party hard when they're in the City, devoting their lives to song and dance for the glorification of god and the Archangels. Even they are all about joy in specific, approved expressions, and are just as manic in thier fashion.
Angels, while largely free of vice and veniality, have an *extremely* high rate of mental disease, especially obsession.
-
JonSetanta
- King
- Posts: 5525
- Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:54 pm
- Location: interbutts
Bluggggghhhhbbl.
50/50 male/female ratio, please.
50/50 male/female ratio, please.
The Adventurer's Almanac wrote: ↑Fri Oct 01, 2021 10:25 pmNobody gives a flying fuck about Tordek and Regdar.
I like taking two established concepts and putting them into juxtaposition to see how the contradiction resolves. This world's magic is based on a Gnostic/Cthuloid tension between salvation through knowledge and perdition through knowledge.
MAGIC SPOTLIGHT: WHITE MAGIC
White magic is actually the last type of magic to come into use, but it's conceptually the most basic. The principle is that the the universe is actually far more complex than it appears, and it has hidden laws which can only be discovered through long hours of contemplation. As one learns to extend their consciousness to observe the hidden laws that govern the universe, one can begin to manipulate it in ways consistent with those laxer laws.
White magic is used not only for practical purposes, but because the practice makes its users wiser, more balanced, perceptive, and intuitive. It is, however, extremely difficult to master and few have the patience for the *years* of study it requires to learn anything useful. It is mainly practiced by the northern wizards of the White Isles -- named for their magic, not their dark skin. (The setting in south-hemisphere)
The primary uses of white magic are telepathic communication, control of light, telekinesis, divination, and countermagic.
MAGIC SPOTLIGHT: WHITE MAGIC
White magic is actually the last type of magic to come into use, but it's conceptually the most basic. The principle is that the the universe is actually far more complex than it appears, and it has hidden laws which can only be discovered through long hours of contemplation. As one learns to extend their consciousness to observe the hidden laws that govern the universe, one can begin to manipulate it in ways consistent with those laxer laws.
White magic is used not only for practical purposes, but because the practice makes its users wiser, more balanced, perceptive, and intuitive. It is, however, extremely difficult to master and few have the patience for the *years* of study it requires to learn anything useful. It is mainly practiced by the northern wizards of the White Isles -- named for their magic, not their dark skin. (The setting in south-hemisphere)
The primary uses of white magic are telepathic communication, control of light, telekinesis, divination, and countermagic.
Culture spotlight: Sudenland Protectorate
Sudenland is a vaguely-germanic southern nation, and is one of the angelic protectorates. What this basically means is that a long time ago, the angels kicked over the local despots and established a dynasty more to their liking. The king basically agrees not to be a dick, and take occasional orders from the Archangels, in return for which he gets flying police and a "divine right." I don't really know much about Sudenland actually, despite setting a lot fo the action there. It has traditional fantasy forests, and at least one badass castle. They trade (under rigid regulations) with the Chaldaeans to the east and also with the more northern peoples.
Sudenland is a vaguely-germanic southern nation, and is one of the angelic protectorates. What this basically means is that a long time ago, the angels kicked over the local despots and established a dynasty more to their liking. The king basically agrees not to be a dick, and take occasional orders from the Archangels, in return for which he gets flying police and a "divine right." I don't really know much about Sudenland actually, despite setting a lot fo the action there. It has traditional fantasy forests, and at least one badass castle. They trade (under rigid regulations) with the Chaldaeans to the east and also with the more northern peoples.
Magic Spotlight: Black Magic
The first magic users were black mages.
Black magic, like white magic, begins with a broadening of perceptions to include an unseen world beyond physicality. But that broadening is traumatic, and not everyone adjusts well. Rather than facing the stress, most mages sublimate it, getting around their fear of the otherness by learning to think... differently. For them, the outside will always be a home to all manner of dark beings and forces, conjured by their fevered imaginations as manifestations of their repressed anxieties and fears.
Each and every act of magic drives the black mage closer to the edge; headaches, minor hallucinations, and temporary amnesia can all follow acts of magic use. Long-term users will eventually go more permanently insane. The chief advantage of black magic is that is easy to learn and easy to raise powerful forces, though dangerous and unpleasant to apply them. It is especially apt for mind control, and energy attack.
Eva, the first mother, is genereally considered to be the first black magician. The majority of black magicians on the Continent are members of the Daughters of Eve, a secretive organization whose claims an unbroken line of tutelage stretching back to Eve herself. The practice of black magic is illegal in all the protectorates, the the black mages have been driven underground, foten literally. Their bastions of strength are Chaldaea, in the east, and the western mountains.
The first magic users were black mages.
Black magic, like white magic, begins with a broadening of perceptions to include an unseen world beyond physicality. But that broadening is traumatic, and not everyone adjusts well. Rather than facing the stress, most mages sublimate it, getting around their fear of the otherness by learning to think... differently. For them, the outside will always be a home to all manner of dark beings and forces, conjured by their fevered imaginations as manifestations of their repressed anxieties and fears.
Each and every act of magic drives the black mage closer to the edge; headaches, minor hallucinations, and temporary amnesia can all follow acts of magic use. Long-term users will eventually go more permanently insane. The chief advantage of black magic is that is easy to learn and easy to raise powerful forces, though dangerous and unpleasant to apply them. It is especially apt for mind control, and energy attack.
Eva, the first mother, is genereally considered to be the first black magician. The majority of black magicians on the Continent are members of the Daughters of Eve, a secretive organization whose claims an unbroken line of tutelage stretching back to Eve herself. The practice of black magic is illegal in all the protectorates, the the black mages have been driven underground, foten literally. Their bastions of strength are Chaldaea, in the east, and the western mountains.
Last edited by Orion on Fri Apr 25, 2008 7:35 am, edited 1 time in total.
Culture SPotlight: Chaldaea
Chaldaea is a coalition of eastern city-states, united by the fact that they are all ruled by demons. Chaldaea is an extremely shitty place ot live. It has valuable native spices ad drugs which are traded westward, but the populace are mostly extremely poorly treated menial laborers, plus the demons screw them over constantly. What's worse, not all of them even realize their lords *are* demons, though the land's handful of priests know the score.
Chaldaea doesn't have much in the way of an actual army, but the swamps and jungles suck, so nobody wants them, and most human kings are afraid to mess with the demons. The Archangels, for their part, have signed a unilateral peace treaty with the Chaldaean demons. As long as they stay within thier own territory and don't deliberately torture thier subjects to death, the angels leave them alone. Individual demons who cross the line get terminated with extreme prejudice. This pisses the demons off, but there's not much they can do about it, so that's just how it goes.
Chaldaea is a coalition of eastern city-states, united by the fact that they are all ruled by demons. Chaldaea is an extremely shitty place ot live. It has valuable native spices ad drugs which are traded westward, but the populace are mostly extremely poorly treated menial laborers, plus the demons screw them over constantly. What's worse, not all of them even realize their lords *are* demons, though the land's handful of priests know the score.
Chaldaea doesn't have much in the way of an actual army, but the swamps and jungles suck, so nobody wants them, and most human kings are afraid to mess with the demons. The Archangels, for their part, have signed a unilateral peace treaty with the Chaldaean demons. As long as they stay within thier own territory and don't deliberately torture thier subjects to death, the angels leave them alone. Individual demons who cross the line get terminated with extreme prejudice. This pisses the demons off, but there's not much they can do about it, so that's just how it goes.