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[Erils]

So the Ashworld thread has gotten a bit grimdark, and a newer thread has been made to create a lighter world. What about seeing just how dark of a world we can make?

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

((Also I didn't find out about the other two until  a lot had already been made on them.))

Same rules as on the others (with a small change):

The idea is to create a complete setting. (As in, for a story)
One post at a time.
No leapfrogging.
Nothing which contradicts someone else, or is completely asinine. ((How about using polls to remove ideas that are too weak or asinine?))
Keep it going grimdark, but sprinkle a few bits of hope here and there. Not too many and not too big or powerful, but a bit of contrast is needed.


The world is sorrounded by an impenetrable cloud of dust that rests in the atmosphere, blocking out the sun and stars (feel free to add a rare event where they can be seen).

[LeoLeonardoIII]

The world is placed at a natural conflux of space-currents, meaning lost travelers frequently make their way here. The thick dust clouds make for a soft landing. Then they get to die of old age in a powerless, broken spaceship. Only the occasional radio contact with nearby broken-down spaceships breaks the isolation. When the dust clouds shift, and you lose contact, will that person be alive to speak again when there's a better connection?

[GiglameshDespair]

The world itself is lifeless on the surface - only the huge magnetic duststorms rage on the surface. Their magnetic nature means that radio contact is unreliable, and the harsh sands can easily breach a weakened suit for cold and lack of oxygen to do their deadly work.

Underneath, unknown, however is a series of caves, where primitive life exists in abundance.

[LeoLeonardoIII]

The dust is actually the remnants of the biomass of the people who lived there, whose civilization peaked and became despondent in decline. Two lovers who grew apart now swirl together, one mote of her dust dancing with one mote of his, before spinning away.

[Ross Vernal]

These lovers are attributed as gods in the cave paintings of the primitive folk; every year, to honor their gods, the people of the underworld sacrifice a male and female child.

[darkpaladin109]

The dust has heavy halucinogennic properties, causing unprepared travelers to see images of their past life, the one they will never be able to return to again.

[sjm9876]

However, it also bestows an extraordinarily long life.

[scrdest]

However, it also bestows an extraordinarily long life.

((I'm having a creeping suspicion that the rebellious spirit of Bay12 will manage to make this setting actually lighter than Ashworld. BTW, why didn't anyone make a 'Let's create a setting 2: No Themes Attached' thread yet?))

[Urist Mc Dwarf]

In the deepest depths of the caves, three races rule. The strongest, cruelest, and most numerous are the highly xenophobic and sadistic Nogi'a Suk'a. the letter q is a great insult to them.

[aattss]

People fear the Chainers, who are wandering spirits who appear out of nowhere to chain the souls of those they take interest in, after which the Chained are forced to follow every whim of their new masters for etenity, and they hope that the Chainer decides not to dispose of them. The Chainers appear to be more interested in young females, although no one is gauranteed safety.

[LeoLeonardoIII]

On the clearest days you can spot some of the dozens of escape capsules orbiting the planet. These shining lights trail along the sky, their occupants desiccated husks who tried one desperate shot at leaving and getting home but failed to escape the planet's gravity. They streak around the world day and night until one or another loses enough altitude to enter the dusty atmosphere and disintegrate, scattering fiery debris in a beautiful meteor. Most evaporate before hitting the ground.

[Erils]

In the deepest depths of the caves, three races rule. The strongest, cruelest, and most numerous are the highly xenophobic and sadistic Nogi'a Suk'a. the letter q is a great insult to them.

The second race is a race of vicious carnivores that eat whatever creature they find. While not as numerous as the Nogi'a Suk'a, they are still very dangerous. Due to their thick exoskeletons, they are able to brave most of the duststorms and sometimes prey on lost travelers who land too close to the caves or try to shelter inside of them. They are also able to cut through all but the strongest armor plating on ships and will do so in order to devour the pilot inside. However, if one stays in the duststorms too long, they will be swept away and eventually disintegrated, becoming no more than dust themselves.

[LeoLeonardoIII]

The armored carnivores glue the bones of their victims to their exoskeletons as ablative armor.

They were once a peaceful race but after crashing here they became terrible monsters in order to survive. Their peaceful nature is revealed in how their young create beautiful cave paintings until they're indoctrinated into real life and given their first carapace.

[sjm9876]

However, it also bestows an extraordinarily long life.

((I'm having a creeping suspicion that the rebellious spirit of Bay12 will manage to make this setting actually lighter than Ashworld. BTW, why didn't anyone make a 'Let's create a setting 2: No Themes Attached' thread yet?))

((Well my precise thought was desperate men wandering the dust storms for eternity forever haunted by what they had lost, but sure, whatever ))

[Urist Mc Dwarf]

The third race is a race of tall , thin, weak race of creatures who would be long dead if not for their advanced tech, mysterious powers, and relationships with the many creatures of the depths, including Chainers and Qwogs, which are insectoid horse-like creatures with seven tentacles with sharp spines and two heads which hunt in packs.