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[Navian]

(Please, please, please don't feel encouraged (much less obligated) to post lists of definitions for populations of various levels. It gets in the way. You're going to find your settlements changing level without changing population, and vice-versa.)

(It's possible to have an 'outpost' with a larger population than a 'city', so long as it has support, and it's easy for an 'outpost', 'hamlet', or 'village' to be interchangable within the same range of population values, depending on living conditions, wealth, and production. The main reason I worry about this is because it's likely to lead people to assume that city level changes will thematically result in or correspond to population changes. This is incorrect.)

(If I see people responding this way, I will be annoyed, as will, I'm sure, all the other players who are sick of the 'battle of the lists' playstyle.)

(That is all on the GM complaining front! The RP is going well. Keep it up!)

[Frelock]

I've decided to throw my hat into the ring.  I present to you, the Solarans.

Race: Solarans
God: Avisol
Avisol is a god of air, and his domain focuses solely on the skies.  He has a soft spot in his heart for his chosen people, but is not one to interfere often.

Backstory:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The Solarans were inhabitants of the upper layer of a gas giant in a far off binary star system.  One of the parent stars had recently collapsed into a white dwarf, and its gravity began to pull matter from its twin.  Due to this, it was only a matter of time before the star went into a Type I Supernova.  Luckily for the Solarans, a tear had occurred up in the local fabric of space-time.  Those who know about such things knew that Avisol was the one who had granted his people this chance at survival.  Numerous rifts began opening up, and the people of the Solarans fled to whatever one was closest.  They were sped away to different points in space and time.  Twenty have arrived through this portal, though rifts are fickle beasts, and more could arrive later (probably won’t in any significant numbers, but I’ll eventually want  a hero, and I don’t have any good ideas right now).

Physiology:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Solarans could be said to look like huge flying jellyfish, with a large, bulbous top and tentacles hanging down.  However, they have incredible control over their growth, making appearances differ from individual to individual.  Most of these differences, however, are merely additional bulbs or extra tentacles of differing length.  Solarans can grow new body parts in a matter of days or even hours, depending on the size of the part and the available resources.  Their size is normally about 2-5 meters in length, with tentacles of about the same length.  Some individuals have florescent parts of their body, though these must be maintained and as such are not very common.

The tentacles are of varying lengths and thicknesses.  Some of them are hollow, and can store liquids or gases.  Their strength is poor, but their dexterity is quite astounding.  They can also be used like sturdy ropes (though tying of knots and such), and are generally immune to stretching or tearing.  Cutting with a sharp knife is another matter.  Some tentacles are also used as sensory receptors.  Sight, hearing, and smell all come from specific tentacles with associated organs.

The bulbs are filled with hydrogen gas, which allows them to float.  The hydrogen is obtained through the splitting of water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen.  The oxygen is then secreted, while the hydrogen is retained.  Given enough time, on the order of weeks, the bulbs will begin to deflate similar to your ordinary helium balloons.  Therefore, Solarans need a reliable source of water in order to continue floating.

As to consumption, Solarans are a hybrid between plant and animal.  All Solarans use photosynthesis for basic energy needs.  They also have a psudo-stomach which allows for digestion of almost any type of carbon-based life.  Their home world was populated mainly of creatures similar to themselves, and thus tentacles were used to harvest crops which concentrated trace elements in the atmosphere.  These sources of food were used to obtain minerals and nutrients which photosynthesis does not provide.  They’ll find themselves able to eat both plant and animal life in this new world, though a few “seeds” for domesticated crops have been brought along.  Since eating is required only to obtain trace nutrients, Solarans can go for weeks, even months without consumption.  Even then, effects could be compared to scurvy, rickets, and other diseases which result from a lack of nutrients, rather than starvation.

Water, on the other hand, is essential to a Solaran’s well being.  Being required for both photosynthesis and hydrogen formation, water is an important aspect in Solaran daily life and culture.  They extract it from the air, though captured clouds and liquid water can be carried in a bulb and left to evaporate.  This is often the preferred method, for though it adds weight, it allows for over 90% of the water to be used.  Also, due to the higher concentration of water vapor, it speeds the photosynthetic and hydro-synthetic processes.

Due to their nature, Solarans prefer humid areas with high amounts of carbon dioxide for photosynthesis.  They can live comfortably at most altitudes, though near-space has the effect of making their bulbs pop.

Magic:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

As they spend their entire lives in the air, Solarans have a natural affinity towards air magic.  Rather than simply drifting on the winds, every Solaran uses air magic for motion.  The fastest and most skilled magic users can approach 350 km per hour if the wind is right.  Most however, clip along at a decent 100 km per hour while cruising, and under 60 km per hour for normal everyday activities.

Solarans can also manipulate the air around them towards other purposes.  While unable to simply create air out of nothing, they have extremely good control over existing air.  They are able to push and pull the air in different directions, creating strong wind currents, and areas of both high and low pressure.  They can even create a pseudo-vacuum by moving the air out of a particular location and crushing force by creating areas of extremely high pressure.  These are the main techniques used in combat.  As for the range of their magic, it depends on both the skill of the user, and the amount of time given to preparation and concentration.  A skilled user with plenty of time on his hands can have a significant effect on the air up to two kilometers away.  Normal everyday use and battle use by normal Solarans, however, is restricted to more along the lines of 100 meters.

The most devastating form of magic among Solarans is the creation of lightning through the buildup of static electricity in the air.  Most can create lightning, but have an exceptionally hard time of not killing themselves in the process.  Exceptionally devastating to their own kind, due to the flammability of the Hydrogen gas, only skilled magic users can work safely with lightning.  They have to sense where the electric discharge is going to occur, and then create a bowl-shaped region of vacuum around it in order to direct the lightning away from themselves and towards the enemy.  This method, however, was developed due to the nature of a gas giant, where there is no ground for the electricity to discharge into…

Society, culture, and technology:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Solarans are a reclusive people in general, though family groups are very close-knit.  Children mature in around twenty years, and live with their parents until marriage.  There are no distinctions between male and female, as there are no males or females, though it requires two to produce an offspring (a process which I will say no more of).  Marriage is for life, and as the defining base in the family structure, the bonds between partners must be extremely strong.  The normal engagement period is about two years.  Often childhood friends will marry, and it is not unheard of for parents of two families to attempt to arrange a marriage by placing two children in nearly constant contact from infancy on (though social norms prohibit them from literally forcing the children).

Solaran structures are completely organic; they aren’t built, they’re grown.  Solarans will grow a bulb of the required size, and then sever the connection between their body and the bulb.  These bulbs will fuse with one another, until the structure is complete.  Towns and cities are built by fusing structures with one another.  These structures still carry out photosynthesis and hydro-synthesis, and therefore still require water, though considerably less than the conscious Solaran beings.  Structures are normally able to simply filter the required water vapor from the air, even in less humid climates.  Solarans can “dock” with these structures, by fusing their bodies with the structure.  This way, they share nutrients with the structure, keeping it alive with little expense to themselves.  This is also how Solarans sleep.  

 Structures, by their nature of not being bound to the ground, can slowly float about if needed.  However they are often infused with a slight amount of magic so that wind passes around them, allowing the structure to remain in a single place.  Changes in altitude are avoided by the structure being able to sense minute differences in pressure, and adjusting Hydrogen production to retain buoyancy.  A “docked” Solaran can force the structure to change altitude if necessary, moving it higher or lower in the sky to avoid electrical storms.

Poetry, storytelling, and music dominate the arts in Solaran culture.  They have no formal writing system, however, so works of art are often lost as soon as their creator dies.  The truly great ones must be passed down from generation to generation.  Some works have been preserved this way for hundreds of years, and remain close to their original forms.

The pursuit of knowledge is considered to be the highest and most respected profession among Solarans.  They are highly advanced in the field of chemistry, but only using gases.  Solids, metals especially, are almost completely unknown to them, and mining is out of the question.  Their curiosity as to these new forms of matter will probably prove to be a driving force in this world.  This planet is completely different for the Solarans, and likely they will show great gratitude for those who would be willing to help them learn more about the surface worlds.

Warfare:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Most Solarans fight by attempting, through quick changes in pressure, to either cause their enemies to explode in a vacuum, or to crush them completely through intense pressure.  This is usually countered by the other fighter, making battles between Solarans more of a test of concentration and preparation than anything else.  Lightning is used by skilled magic users, and is considered to be the most devastating weapon possible.   They know nothing about physical combat, and would easily fall even against much smaller enemies in melee. 

As to their weaknesses to conventional weapons, there are mainly venerable to piercing, followed by slashing.  Bludgoning attacks simply dent the structure, which then rebounds (imagine hitting a hot-air balloon with a hammer).  Slashing weapons are far more effective, as they can cause the bulbs to quickly deflate.  However, since Solarans normally have multiple bulbs, a single slash can be recovered from with ease.  In general, so long as the Solaran’s internal organs are not touched, they will eventually heal, though they may be crippled until their bulbs can re-inflate.  Piercing weapons are most effective, as they both deflate the bulbs, and can strike at the internal organs held deep within the Solaran's body.

Also, Solarans are exceptionally vulnerable to fire.  The hydrogen gas which allows them to fly is extremely flammable, and will easily ignite upon contact with an open flame.  Solarans are not even all that familiar with fire, as there are few fires in the atmosphere of a gas giant.  Heat for them is created simply by accelerating the particles of a gas, thereby increasing the temperature directly.

Oh, and their civ symbol is a U and u, and they pop into this world at about 300m above where they are on the map.

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  .~~~~⌂≈≈≈≈⌂⌂⌂⌂▲▲▲⌂⌂.T♠♠♠♠..│.....│.≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈▐
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[Naze]

Who's bright idea was it to make the channel Authorized only?

[deadlycairn]

Is it just me or is your symbol on the map a V, Zako?
Fast editing

[Emperor_Jonathan]

Who's bright idea was it to make the channel Authorized only?

I don't know, but it was god damn retarded.

[Armok]

About the village:

Spoiler: Map (click to show/hide)

I the scale is intentionally undecided, but the size of the boat, width of the bridges, and distance between the orchard trees should give a hint.
The brown dots are fruit trees, other trees are not marked as that would serve no function and just clutter the map, it's a jungle after all. The grey things are cliffs. Most other stuff you should be able to figure out yourself after reading the description.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The village is old, very old, nobody knows exactly how old but it is known it was already ancient 50 000 years ago.
More practical is to measure time since the great fire, that was 4900 years ago, the entire village burned to the ground, the didn't bother cleaning up the ashes before rebuilding and they can still be seen.
The buildings are built on top of each other, not as in multiple story buildings, not like in just close together, but the literal meaning that's a mix of those, at some places there are 5-6 layers of buildings, chaotically piled upon each other whit no planing what so ever yet managing to work just fine both practically and aesthetically. Zazackachahaha doesn't often reuse buildings once the original inhabitant is gone, but build new instead, leading to the village being many times larger than needed and large parts of it even completely blocked of, I don't need to tell you this kind of thing is wonderful for adventurous children.
And the village is hollow, just like an ancient tree, and thought exactly the same process: New building are built on the outside while the old ones are left to decay into soil. The empty space inside is now cobblestoned and works like a plaza, surrounded by collapsed half-decayed buildings managing in some way to not be foreboding, probably because of the flowers and moss growing on the rotting wood.
The village is built mostly out of wood, mostly simple rough hewn piled logs, there are also several from materials like bamboo or grasses or woven branches, as well as a few stone buildings spliced into the mix. Most architecture is of rather high quality despite the obvious lack of planing, bridges are common but there are no stair because that'd be rather useless to someone without legs.
There are also the caves, not very extensive but very very ancient, some of them are natural and others carved out during the course of millennia, while not comparable to the works of dwarves or similar some of the caverns are mildly impressive and together they could house maybe 40 Zazackachahaha or twice the number of human-sized creatures.
Surrounding the village is four orchards, giving the staple food of the inhabitants together whit hunting and fruit from wild trees.

These are the most important elements, I could go on for ages about the "dock" the towers, the road, the surroundings, and numerous other things that are not really relevant, for this little village contains as many points of interest as many a large city.
But now onto history:

Long ago the village existed in a land whit many Zazackachahaha villages, they never had much contact but at least there were there, and sometimes a stranger would come or one from the village would leave to seek luck somewhere else. Then, one day they woke up and all of the land beyond a few miles away was completely unrecognisable, the entire village had been moved, everything else was still roughly the same however and life soon continued again, a few decades later the same thing happened again, and again and again one or twice a century. This has been going on for roughly 700 years, and they have visited many strange places such as by now few things surprise them, it has become just like the seasons of the year. How or why this happens is unknown, but it is known a god called Armok is involved somehow.

[Navian]

(Seeing as everyone has already posted their turns, I supposed it'd be fair to announce the next one, now... That means it's time to see where the previous year has brought everyone! Don't read into these results too deeply--it's only the first turn, after all.)

The Astroligans have established themselves a proper fortified position with a sustainable agricultural base. They're not quite prospering, but survival is becoming easier. They now have a Hamlet.

The Zazacks continue to live much as they have for the past several millenia. The climatological problems they've endured were but a blip on the radar, though they have no grand ambitions. Their settlement is also a Hamlet.

The Angels of Elrath are having some difficulties tending to their oversalinated floodplain, but thanks to Haniel's efforts, they did well during the first half of the year. Sadly, though their cathedral is beautiful, it does not feed the thrones. For now, it is still an Outpost.

The Aviators have picked a truly divine location for their settlement, and already they eagerly expand. Though this brings them some hardship as they rush to leave their imprint on the land, they now have both a Hamlet and an Outpost.

The Khallem are not doing so well. Although they have built formidable defenses, impenetrable to the beasts of the wild or nearby tribes that pass for 'civilization, no amount of defenses can protect them from hunger. Still, perhaps it is better to lay low and live on the edge than to risk destruction at the hand of cruel fate... They still have an Outpost.

The Imperial Colony has been doing exceptionally well, due to the cooperation of their soldiers, races, and mages, setting aside their differences to establish this settlement. They already have a Village, despite the pain and losses they have suffered.

The Xra Kreg, feeling somewhat lost in this new and harsh land, endure for now as they await further instructions from their god. The mountains are so barren and harsh that no creatures dwell in them... But they know how to handle hard soil and a tough life. Their Outpost advances little, but as it is, it forges their spirits.

The Suin are managing for now and have come out of the dark, their short-term survival is no longer an issue. What's the next step? They now have a Village, but the direction they're headed is something of a question mark.

The Szaryum establish their Outpost, though they have a number of issues to work out before it will become sustainable. Still, everybody wants to know who's top rat, and why. There will be ample opportunity to find out in the coming year...

Year 2

Beasts are slains, the world turns, and the climate model is debugged. Are things calming down... or just heating up? In this second year of the 'Battle', the civilizations now inhabiting this little pocket of Gydres may soon turn their attentions outward for the first time...

[TheNewerMartianEmperor]

Turn 2:
Colonization:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Benny looked out upon the forward installation that was his current home, he still couldn't believe that he had been elected Priest-president, since this had happened Asmovos had spoken to him. Asmovos had seen the lands around them and had informed them of the forests to the east and the mountain pass to the south. An expedition had been sent to survey the pass and set up a research installation there if it proved hospitable enough. Incidentally, this place needs a name, this wasn't so bad at first, but communication involving the settlement was becoming a bit harder. Getting his thoughts in order he began to think of a name, he saw the frozen metal spire and gears started turning in his head, leading him on a long and meandering train of though which would eventually lead him to deciding on the name "Icedown Rock (it was a rather odd line of thought).After he proclaimed this to the masses he began to examine his newly named settlement's situation.

Icedown Rock consists of a very large hollow metal spike-like structure, inside this the majority of the installations buildings were situated. The palace where I now reside is built into a massive pillar in the center of the structure that went from the top of the structure to far below it. Outside of the spike are the trenches and walls with the industrial structures located at the base of the spike. Underneath all that is where the the chambers that hold the sacred conduit of Asmovos (Asmovos's core) and the already-extensive mines, dug and worked in by the red-eyed ones. (a catch-all term meaning civilian droids, who have red eyepieces) The industry was undergoing some problems- there was no flux, this was slowing down the development of the city considerably, I really hope that Asmovos was right about the pass containing some. 

The Expedition:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

 Raangor was cold, tired, hungry and filled with a sense of basic unfamiliarity with the world he's on. He felt that volunteering for this journey was a terrible, terrible idea. They had made it to the pass, only to find the terrain almost totally impassible, with sheer chasms on the sides of the path they had chosen, huge snowbanks that made walking anywhere incredibly dangerous and a large beast that had been shadowing them for the last few miles. Things were about to get worse, the way ahead was impassable, as for the way back.... that isn't worth thinking about. He went over to the Earthshaker, (a large tracked vehicle designed for minor terraforming operations) and prepared to consult Asmovos using the sacred conduit located in the side of the great behemoth. After undergoing the sacred ritual of activation he aproached the panel and said "Asmovos, the way ahead is impassable, and the way back not worth thinking about, what should we do? Upon saying the word SCANNING appeared on the surface of the conduit. After this a small cirular object floated out of the top of the Earthshaker and swirled around, covering the enviroment with a green mesh for a half second, after that it floated back into the vehicle. The surface now had the words SCANNING COMPLETE on it, followed by what looked to be a list of ores and rocks. This diappeared, being replaced with PRESS THE SWITCH ON THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, YOU MUST BUILD YOUR CAMP HERE. Even though he didn't agree with Asmovos about that, he obeyed. After he flipped the switch the vehicle deployed large drill on a harness on it's back and released several red-eyed ones who began to dig. While they were doing that footsteps could be heard approaching from the path they had taken, heavy footsteps, they grew louder and louder until they suddenly stopped. After a while they decided to check, about 200 meters back, behind another one of those massive snowdrifts there was the body of a Massive creature, 4 times the size of an elephant. The massive burns on the body showed that it had died by electrocution, this was also evidenced by a note pinned to it that was written in the handwriting of none other then general Arck! The note said: Stay in the cavern that the red-eyed ones are digging. Asmovos has sent me to protect you. There is enough in the Earthshaker to get you started. The red-eyed ones shall dig a tunnel leading to Icedown Rock. since there seemed to be nothing else they could do they went back to the Earthshaker.
 

Long term survival and Environmental issues:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Asmovos saw everything that went on in the settlement known as Icedown Rock, he saw the comings and goings of its population, the operations of the droids, digging beneath the earth and maintaining the structure. All things considered it was going rather well, the settlements short-term survival was assured, but he needed more materials to ensure its long-term viability, to be specific he needed Plastics, flux stone, fuel, access to a wide variety of minerals and glass. The Flux and the minerals he could get from the mountain outpost, but the plastics and fuel would need a settlement near the forest. After some deliberation he decided to send a team immediately. The settlement itself was growing fast, at the current moment it was undergoing a minor boom due to the abundance of food and lack of threats from the environment, which reminded Asmovos of something: from the mountains to the forest there were no animals whatsoever, save for the occasional gigantic behemoth that didn't dare venture near the spike. Asmovos had tried to think of a reason why this should be and could only find one that fit the current facts: This place was created by a god, and that god had screwed up the environment royally. That would explain the lack of seasonal variation here and other more minor factors, with this problem dealt with, he turned back to the day to day running of a small empire.

The Great spike:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The settlement of Icedown Rock is a far safer, clean and overall nicer place to live in then the over civs settlements on the planet. This is due in part to the fact that they have a working sewer that is maintained by droids, meaning that the maintenance tunnels are too small to be infiltrated by pests and vermin (not that there are many around here), another factor that is responsible for the settlements current state is Asmovos's fanatical devotion to the safety of the Astroligans, as such no civilian casualties have taken place. The people enjoy very few luxuries, save that of excessive free time, due to the lack of resources they have nothing to do with this and tend to be quite bored, this shall change once they have more resources allowing the production of more luxuries (such as TV's, fashion, ect). The spike itself is not entirely complete, the actual shell part of it is done, but the sophisticated parts of it that require complex electronics, such as the climate control, mass transit and hydroponic facilities are yet to be started.

Trading:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Benny was still feeling rather strange from that dream, but it didn't matter, he had to get the word out about these people coming to trade. To do this he called a meeting, which was long and boring and nothing of much note came out of it. It appears that they will have to wait for them to arrive to actually get something done.

The map

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

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  ~~~~~~~~....♠┌─○⌂⌂▲⌂▲▲⌂⌂⌂▲⌂≈≈≈≈⌂⌂.....┌┘...“““
  ~~~~M.....♠♠≈┘.⌂⌂▲▲▲▲⌂⌂⌂▲▲⌂⌂≈≈⌂⌂.....♠│♠♠♠...“
  ..........m≈≈⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂▲▲⌂⌂▲▲▲⌂⌂⌂│⌂⌂......♠└┐♠♠♠♠..
  ....⌂⌂...♠┌┘♠⌂⌂⌂⌂▲▲▲▲▲▲▲○───┴─┐.V...♠♠♠│♠♠♠♠♠♠
05◘m⌂⌂⌂○─┐.≈≈⌂⌂⌂⌂X▲▲▲▲▲▲⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂└─┐.v♠♠.♠S┐≈≈≈♠◘
  ...~⌂⌂⌂≈≈≈≈♣⌂⌂⌂⌂▲▲▲▲⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂.○.⌂⌂⌂└┬─┐...≈≈≈≈≈≈▐
  .~~~~⌂≈≈≈≈⌂⌂⌂⌂▲▲▲⌂⌂.T♠♠♠♠..│.....│.≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈▐
  ~~~~~⌂≈≈≈≈⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂♠♠♣♠♠♠♠♠≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈......▀
  ..~~⌂⌂⌂≈≈⌂⌂⌂⌂♠♠♠≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈.....~
10◘.....⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂○♣♣≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂K≈≈≈≈▲▲≈≈≈≈...~~◘
  ...♣♣♣♣...≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈⌂⌂⌂...⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂≈≈≈.......~
  ..♣≈≈≈≈▌▐≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈..≈≈≈≈≈○⌂⌂⌂⌂......~~
  .≈≈≈≈♣....♣♣““┌┘Z“≈≈≈⌂≈≈⌂≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈.........~~~
  ≈≈♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣.┌──┘““..⌂⌂⌂≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈.~~~.....~~
15◘≈≈♣♣♣♣.┌──┘.......~~⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂≈≈≈≈≈≈..~~~○....≈≈◘
  ≈≈≈...A─┘..♣♣♣♣♣♣...⌂⌂⌂..“┌E......~~~~~...≈≈≈≈
  ≈≈≈≈──┘..♣♣♣♣≈≈♣♣♣⌂⌂⌂...♣♣│♣♣......~~~...≈≈≈≈≈
  ≈≈≈..⌂..♣♣♣♣♣≈≈♣♣⌂⌂H..⌂⌂⌂⌂│♣♣♣..........♠≈≈≈≈≈
  ♣○≈≈⌂⌂⌂...♣♣♣♣♣♣⌂♣♣♣⌂♣“⌂○─┘⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂....♠♠♠≈≈≈≈
20◙≈≈≈≈◘⌂⌂⌂.◘.♣♣.◘♣⌂⌂⌂◘⌂“♣♣◘⌂⌂⌂⌂◘.⌂⌂⌂◘⌂⌂⌂.◘♠♠♠♠◙

[Poltifar]

(For some reason i can't access the worldirc servers, it gives me an error about a proxy detected and disconnects me. All other servers work for me, just worldirc doesnt... damn it, can we perhaps change servers? Worldirc is getting seriously annoying.)

[Navian]

We've moved to #botg on irc.newnet.net!

[Nhiphanter]

The Shash-Hash

The object of worship
Khordad Shash.
Spheres: Beasts and monsters of all kinds, Destruction, Dark magic.
Looks: let pictures speak for themselves.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Description: Khordad Shash, the great beast, the world eater. Khordad Shash is not a creator god, he mostly isnt a god at all. Rather, he is an immensevily powerful otherworldly being that has assumed the position of a god amongst some species, just because of his sheer power. He is mostly worshipped around the universes as the god of animals, beasts and monsters.

The Shash-Hash physiology

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The Shash-Hash are creatures of the deep forests, jungles and swamps. They are quite humanoid in shape, standing to about 2 meters of height.. Their skin color varies from pitch black to deep brown, adapted for enviroments where undergrowth is thick and light is scarce. They have glowy, green eyes, the effect being there because of their thermographic sight. Normally The Shash stand upright, but due to their special spinal structure, they are perfectly capable of running at fours. This usually leads to them being slightly hunched.
The Shash-Hash usually grow short beards, adorned by long hanging moustache and a greasy, wiry hair. The hair is almost always black.
Also, due to them being entirely carnivore they have some rather menacing looking traits. Their teeth are two rows of razorsharp fangs, and their fingers and toes are about twice as long as those of a human, every one of them ending in a rending claw.
Skin isnt very thick, and as such The Shash-hash seem wiry and muscular, even the smallest of muscles visible. Although the skin isnt thick, it is as hard as bark.

Culture and some other things

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The Shash-Hash have a rather peculiar cycle of population. Atfirst, the population grows quickly. Homever, when the critical mass is reached, and the surroundings are usually hunted to the limit, they turn on each other. Cannibalism is perfectly everyday, and theres nothing wrong with it. He couldnt defend himself from his hungry mates, he dies. Looting those eaten or killed is perfectly acceptable.
This practice has led to a culture of sacrifices and ritual battles. The center of the town is usually a stone pyramid, with a sacrificial altar on top of it, in front of a small house on the top. This house is the home of the regions Witchdoctor. Ritual battles are usually arranged in the plateau in front of the temple, to honor Khordad Shash. These battles can be arranged for almost any reason, because of a feud, bad word, right to see the Witchdoctor etc. They are not necessarily to the death, though in most cases where there has been somesort of offense, they are. Mortally wounded are given to the crowd.
If someone happens to somehow manage to get himself as a prisoner amongst the Shash-hash, they have a very generous chance of survival and freedom. They just need to run to the other end of a valley. Which might prove difficult, since the Shash-Hash like to test their shooting skills.
As for architechture and building, it is quite minimal. Buildings are often chaotic hovels built into the branches of large trees, mossy and overgrown. Buildings are usually connected with hanging bridges. A single house can house a great number of the Shash-Hash, and even so, most of them dont live in houses but rather live completely in the nature, sleeping under tree roots and such.
The most important buildings are stone pyramids, usually only a single big one, housing everything of importance.

Magic

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The Shash-hash usually prefer to live in very moist, preferably swampy areas. This is attainable through a very special ritual, involving a blood sacrifice to the earth. This ritual results in very fast growth of all plantlife and a fast terraforming of the area into a misty junglemarsh, where overgrowth is so thick that light scarcely comes through into the gloomy, permanently dark swamps, run over by unnaturally thick undergrowth. Wildlife also seems to thrive anywhere the Shash-hash go, and animal attacks to those trespassing their forests and jungles are a seriously taken threat.

Some Shash-hash have special attunement to the flows of magic, and twist them into the voodoo magic they use. These inviduals are called Witchdoctors, and they usually wield these powers to a great extend. The Voodoo magics can be used for a variety of things among the Shash-hash, like the traditional voodoo dolls and raising the dead and somesuch. The voodoo also gives the witchdoctors great power over mind and body, allowing them to inflict diseases upon their enemies or just shatter their will, effectively making them just feeble zombies of others will.

Ways of war and technology

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The Shash-hash know how to work some simple metals like copper and iron to some extend, that is, they can make tools and weapons from them. Homever mostly they use obsidian and wood. Now dont laugh at puny stone weapons. Obsidian is one of the sharpest materials in the world, and theres nothing puny about an obsidian sword cutting a horses head off.

Anyway, the Shash-hash usually prefer open battles, although they excel very well at guerilla warfare, and as such have developed a very finesse tactic. Scream and charge. Mostly battles are fought on ingenuity and cheap tricks.

Map

00   05   10   15   20   25   30   35   40   45
  |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |
00◙~~~~◘~~~.◘...♠◘⌂▲▲⌂◘▲⌂“⌂◘⌂≈≈≈◘⌂⌂⌂⌂◘..“│◘.“““◙
  ~~~~~~~~....♠┌─○⌂⌂▲⌂▲▲⌂⌂⌂▲⌂≈≈≈≈⌂⌂.....┌┘...“““
  ~~~~M.....♠♠≈┘.⌂⌂▲▲▲▲⌂⌂⌂▲▲⌂⌂≈≈⌂⌂.....♠│♠♠♠...“
  ...........≈≈⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂▲▲⌂⌂▲▲▲⌂⌂⌂│⌂⌂......♠└┐♠♠♠♠..
  ....⌂⌂...♠┌┘♠⌂⌂⌂⌂▲▲▲▲▲▲▲○───┴─┐.V...♠♠♠│♠♠♠♠♠♠
05◘m⌂⌂⌂○─┐.≈≈⌂⌂⌂⌂X▲▲▲▲▲▲⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂└─┐.v♠♠.♠S┐≈≈≈♠◘
  ...~⌂⌂⌂≈≈≈≈♣⌂⌂⌂⌂▲▲▲▲⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂.○.⌂⌂⌂└┬─┐...≈≈≈≈≈≈▐
  .~~~~⌂≈≈≈≈⌂⌂⌂⌂▲▲▲⌂⌂.T♠♠♠♠..│.....│.≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈▐
  ~~~~~⌂≈≈≈≈⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂♠♠♣♠♠♠♠♠≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈......▀
  ..~~⌂⌂⌂≈≈⌂⌂⌂⌂♠♠G≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈.....~
10◘.....⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂○♣♣≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂K≈≈≈≈▲▲≈≈≈≈...~~◘
  ...♣♣♣♣...≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈⌂⌂⌂...⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂≈≈≈.......~
  ..♣≈≈≈≈▌▐≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈..≈≈≈≈≈○⌂⌂⌂⌂......~~
  .≈≈≈≈♣....♣♣““┌┘Z“≈≈≈⌂≈≈⌂≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈.........~~~
  ≈≈♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣.┌──┘““..⌂⌂⌂≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈.~~~.....~~
15◘≈≈♣♣♣♣.┌──┘.......~~⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂≈≈≈≈≈≈..~~~○....≈≈◘
  ≈≈≈...A─┘..♣♣♣♣♣♣...⌂⌂⌂..“┌E......~~~~~...≈≈≈≈
  ≈≈≈≈──┘..♣♣♣♣≈≈♣♣♣⌂⌂⌂...♣♣│♣♣......~~~...≈≈≈≈≈
  ≈≈≈..⌂..♣♣♣♣♣≈≈♣♣⌂⌂H..⌂⌂⌂⌂│♣♣♣..........♠≈≈≈≈≈
  ♣○≈≈⌂⌂⌂...♣♣♣♣♣♣⌂♣♣♣⌂♣“⌂○─┘⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂....♠♠♠≈≈≈≈
20◙≈≈≈≈◘⌂⌂⌂.◘.♣♣.◘♣⌂⌂⌂◘⌂“♣♣◘⌂⌂⌂⌂◘.⌂⌂⌂◘⌂⌂⌂.◘♠♠♠♠◙

I take up position in that rainforest!

[Akroma]

reserved

I have 40° fever and am currently on heavy drugs to be able to type this. I might miss this turn, or only be able to post a summary

[Istrian]

Spring

Moving Forward

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Travis finished checking his horse's bags. There was enough food to keep moving for a while, even though the taste of soldier's rations got very boring after a few days. He knew enough about hunting in forests to keep his meals from becoming too similar to each other. Game wasn't hard to come by too. Even his small party would find enough to fend boredom off.

After checking the rope one last time, he closed the saddlebags and mounted his horse. At a slow trot he joined his travel companions. They were only six, but they didn't need to be more. He had chosen the best to go with him. Seasoned soldiers who knew enough about forest survival.

“You all know where we are headed, right ? So if any of you get lost you just have to follow the river back home. Now, let's go and try to find the source of this river before the Council manages to cut my ears for slacking off.” he said to everyone.

With a few snickers the party began to move along the river, quickly at first, as long as they were in known lands, then slowing down to avoid falling prey to unseen danger.

Another day, another march

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Lt. Elwyn moved among the many rocky hills north-west of the colony, which had been aptly nicknamed Kerzon's Nexus as he had been the one to find whatever those mages called a “convergence”. As one of the Lost Elves, Elwyn knew a fair bit about magic, but she did not bother trying to understand it as deeply as her kinsmen. She much preferred the life of an Imperial soldier. Of course she had a bit of power too, at least what was transmitted at birth from her parents, but it could certainly not compare with real magics.

She, her small patrol of mounted Ordenaroi, and a few horse-pulled wagons reached the stone quarry where the few dwarves that were in the expedition were cutting stone for the building of  Nexus.

“Hail, master Ragnar” she said to one of the dwarves who had moved to greet her.
“Hello. Lieuteant. Was the trip pleasant ?” he answered.
“Uneventful at best, and I hope it remains so for the return, and the next time as well.”

While they chatted about recent events, or lack thereof, the soldiers moved to unload the wagons. They had brought food for the dwarves who were seldom seen near Nexus, being busy cutting stone. Once the food was unloaded, stones were moved to replace it in the wagons. While relatively small, a lot of effort was still required to load them. Eventually it was done.

“Looks like we are done here, we will return in a few days.” said Elwyn
“Alrighty, give our regards to Chief Belhammer.” answered Ragnar before returning to work.

Natives

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The river ran longer than expected. Travis and his expedition had to move even more slowly than expected since they left the forest and entered the mountains. Though the current was getting slower, which meant the source was not too far ahead. Once they had to return to Nexus for supplies, but at least the trip was not too long.

Finally they arrived to their destination. A tiny valley in the middle of the mountains, surrounded by snowy caps, with a lake in the middle. Little vegetation grew at this kind of altitude but there was at least a bit of game to be caught. Travis made a few marks on the map he had been filling since they left Nexus.

“Seen that ?” suddenly said Travis motionning for everyone to stop.
“What, sir ?”
“We are not alone.”
One of the horses neighed and suddenly the party could hear movement ahead. Hurried movement as if creatures were running away from where they were. Travis dismounted and took his longbow out. Soldiers did the same with their crossbows. Then they slowly began to move towards where the sounds came from, two soldiers remaining behind to guard the horses.

From boulder to boulder they moved slowly forward, scanning the area for potential ambushes. Shouting noises could be heard and Travis and his men went towards these. From behind an escarpment of rock they could see a group of humanoid creatures. They seemed to live in a cave near the source of one of the many springs that fed the river.

Each of them was rather tall, nearly twice the size of a human. Their arms and feet were long, very long. Actually long enough to reach the rare trees that grew here. Their green skin and rare hair reminded Travis of orcs. He had seen pictures of some and he had also seen a few half-orcs. The most usettling were their eyes, narrow pupils as if they had spent a lifetime in the desert, large emerald green irises covered nearly the whole eye save for a bit of white visible in the corners.

It was fairly obvious that they were well-adapted to this mountainous environment. Long arms could help them climb mountains quickly and efficiently. From their current behavior they were terrified, and terrified beats, at least in Travis' experience, did horrible things to people who walked into their dens.

“Alright, we don't really have the advantage here I think. They might be primitive but I wouldn't want to go against one of these in hand-to-hand combat.” said Travis while putting away his longview. Seeing the eye of one of these creatures had realley unsettled him, though he couldn't say why.

Instead they went back to their horses and mounted. They followed the many springs, carefully avoiding the creatures and marking where they lived on a map. Everyone knew what the dwarves were going to do as soon as they heard about “the nice mountains in the south”.

Behind schedule

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

“And... drop.” shouted Belhammer's mighty voice. A crowd of cheers rose from the soldiers. Finally their barracks were finished. Not the wooden houses they had to share for the past year but a real stone building, surrounded by a low wall.

With the stone shipments, construction of the real colony began again. The small shacks would be left around where the ship had docked, but the actual city would be built a small distance away. The next scheduled construction were the walls around the city, even though there was still nothing to protect inside, except the barracks which could well protect itself.

Meanwhile, not far from there but still inside the future walled area, mages were keeping busy by carving runes on stones and pacing back and forth, measuring things, placing the runed stones here and there, and generally getting busy building the portal. Kerzon complained a lot about the delays in the construction of the walls, which in turn delayed the construction of the portal. But now it was finally underway and would be finished before the season was over.

Summer
Snowcaps and the seven dwarves

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Travis had been right. As soon as Belhammer heard about the nice valley up in the mountains, she ordered every dwarf to move south, to build their own mines where the river source was. Most people were unhappy about this decision as it meant another delay with stone shipments. Yet no one  really wanted keep seven determined dwarves from their determined objective. Lieutenant Elwyn was also taken along, as an escort with a dozen mounted soldiers.

They were sensible enough to at least avoid the areas marked as dangerous on Travis' map. They could see the creatures from time to time, sitting on nearby rocks, looking at the dwarves with curious eyes. Dwarves remained cautious though, even after Elwyn's patrol had departed, and always barred their doors whenever there was no need to go outside.

So, in the beginning of summer, seven happy dwarves arrived to the river source and began delving into the mountain to secure lodgings, and begin sending stone with the supply caravans that came and went every month. A few veins of iron were found too, so ore was shipped down to Nexus too while the dwarves did not have a forge.

Autumn

A flare of magic

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The portal was finally finished and the great inauguration day came. Many people were assembled to watch the portal open to the rest of the Empire. Kerzon nodded to the mages who would open the portal, and they set to work. At first, nothing happened, then a thin line appeared in the middle of the clearing. Then it slowly spread, to show a view of the Imperial city which was used as the hub between most colony worlds.

The crowd cheered and Sed Llynoth began to move towards the portal, going to report to the Emperor on the colony's progress. Soon, people would come, even though at first there won't be many who would be willing to move to a hostile place like Ohane. But eventually the world would flourish.

A vantage point

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Walls were now halfway done and soon work on them would be completely finished. In the tiny village of wooden cottages that marked the sport where the Radiant was anchored a procession moved. A few fishermen who recently came through the portal to seek a new life watched in awe as a half-dozen mages slowly passed through the village, in direction of the walled city under construction.

The most awe-inspiring detail wasn't that they were led by a former advisor to the Emperor. Nor was it the fact that at least half of them were making gestures in the air. No, the really weird thing was that two of them were puching a horse-sized wooden chest floating in mid-air. And they seemed to have a hard time doing it.

A dozen soldiers in lamellar full plate escorted them, keeping the non-existant crowd at bay with their halberds. They moved slowly on the trail leading to the city. Along the way they were intercepted by Kaylorn, who took his always-present notebook out and started drawing the procession. One of the soldiers seemed to protest, but Kaylorn showed him a paper, and after carefully reading through it, the soldier returned to his post.

Eventually the weird group arrived to the north-eastern quarter of the future walled city and the mages put down the chest on the ground, in the middle of an empty space. Then they gathered in a circle around it and began some incantations. Soldiers moved away to stop anyone from entering the area. Kaylorn took it as an invitation to actually see what was inside the chest, now that it was slowly opening.

So he approached, unchecked by the soldiers who had talked about the paper the journalist had and had decided it would be a bad idea to try to stop him. The mages were too busy to notice him. What he saw inside the chest was a small tower, carved in stone. As he looked at it, it seemed to increase in size. He shaked his head and turned away, looking at the mages. Then suddenly he felt the ground leave under his feet, as he was slowly but firmly elevated above the ground, above the roof of the barracks and very close to low clouds.

He looked around him. Sky. He looked below him. Ground, far away ground, and the city. He quickly realized he was standing on the roof of a tall tower, similar to the miniature one he had seen on the chest. He slowly turned around to meet Kerzon's eyes.

“Tssk” was the only thing the Grandmaster said before showing him the way down.

Winter
Colonial Council

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The Council assembled yet again to discuss important issues. With the real colony getting its finishing touches, it would not be difficult to start serious exploration of this world. After all, much of it was still unknown. Akhernaton, the dwarven halls in the mountains to the south, were becoming a critical place for most of the colony's projects. The size of caravans had increased, and with it the number of assigned soldiers.

The portal had attracted few people this year, only a few farmers and herders. No one wanted to come to a barren world as long as there was nothing in it for them. On top of that the portal itself was difficult to keep open. Mages were investigating at the best of their ability but, as always with mages, they would not divulge anything on their findings.

The northern sea was also a bit problematic. Captain Thawes had reported seeing a few tentacles coming out of the water, which made sea exploration rather difficult, but it would be attempted soon, once the winter was past. The only thing that was planned to pass through the portal going the other way was Kaylorn, who had something to do back on Aurea but he would be back soon, at least by the end of winter.

When the meeting was nearly over, Governor Llynoth suddenly said.

“Which reminds me that there is still a last and very important item we have to discuss.”
Everyone looked at him, waiting for him to finish his sentence, although it was not unknown that whatever the governor deemed 'important' would probably be the most stupid topic of discussion ever.
“You have no doubt noticed how everyone started calling this place Kerzon's Nexus. I think it is time to give our fair city an official name. I propose Llynoth City.”
Black looks from everyone around the table told the governor that this was probably the worst idea he ever had.
“Why don't we go with official Imperial names instead ?” said Scott “It is traditional to call the capital of a world with a name like Imperia something.”
“Imperia Llynoth ?” suggested someone who really had better stop suggesting things.
“We call this world Ohane, so Imperia Ohanis will do.” spoke Trolshurga. “Since the dwarves gave the name Akhernaton, 'hall-on-river', to their place, we'll call the river Akher.”

A few people started to disagree, but glances from both Trolshurga who thought that this name sillyness had lasted too long and Kerzon who really had better things to do, brought the meeting to a close with at least an official name for the colony. Belhammer left with a snicker though. How silly was it to call a river River ?

Excelsior Herald Article

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Lost Colony Found !
by Kaylorn Volsang

“Finally.” was the word thought and uttered by the people of Imperia Ohanis when a week ago the portal leading back to the Empire was finished. After a year of complete isolation, the recently-founded colony was recently able to receive the latest news from the heart of the Empire as well as send theirs to their families that had to stay behind.

Most of you are probably wondering what I am talking about, not having heard of the expansion wave caused by the end of the Demon War, a year ago. Details are only known to the highest-ranking mages and officials of the Empire, but it seems we now know more about the universe than we used to. Or at least we know a bit more about planets were we could settle. In any case, what this means is : Trade, Resources, Tourism, A New Life. Ohane is now waiting for you !

The hardy pioneers who, as I write these lines, are building the infrastructure to support your arrival will be more than happy to tell you about their first year. Past the hardships of the lack of food caused by the absence of a second colony ship, past the heat of summer, past the cold of winter, past the tentacled monsters that inhabit the world's waters, they have lived to tell the tale of their exploits.

Questions remain unanswered however. Why did the second ship not arrive ? Why can the portal only transport marginal amounts of supplies ? What are the Emperor's plans for this world ? We, the people of Excelsior, might not care about what happens to our powerful neighbor, so happy we are to be left alone in our city-state, but we are still owed an explanation. Yours truly will investigate the situation, digging through the muck of Imperial authorities full of incompetent bureaucrats. And finally to quote one of them (who for the sake of privacy will remain anonymous) : “Why don't we call this city Imperia Llynoth ?”

Map

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

00   05   10   15   20   25   30   35   40   45
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00◙~~~~◘~~~.◘...♠◘⌂▲▲⌂◘▲⌂“⌂◘⌂≈≈≈◘⌂⌂⌂⌂◘..“│◘.“““◙
  ~~~~~~~~....♠┌─○⌂⌂▲⌂▲▲⌂⌂⌂▲⌂≈≈≈≈⌂⌂.....┌┘...“““
  ~~~~M.....♠♠≈┘.⌂⌂▲▲▲▲⌂⌂⌂▲▲⌂⌂≈≈⌂⌂.....♠│♠♠♠...“
  ...........≈≈⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂▲▲⌂⌂▲▲▲⌂⌂⌂│⌂⌂......♠└┐♠♠♠♠..
  ....⌂⌂...♠┌┘♠⌂⌂⌂⌂▲▲▲▲▲▲▲○───┴─┐.V...♠♠♠│♠♠♠♠♠♠
05◘.⌂⌂⌂○─┐.≈≈⌂⌂⌂⌂X▲▲▲▲▲▲⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂└─┐.v♠♠.♠S┐≈≈≈♠◘
  ...~⌂⌂⌂≈≈≈≈♣⌂⌂⌂⌂▲▲▲▲⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂.○.⌂⌂⌂└┬─┐...≈≈≈≈≈≈▐
  .~~~~⌂≈≈≈≈⌂⌂⌂⌂▲▲▲⌂⌂.T♠♠♠♠..│.....│.≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈▐
  ~~~~~⌂≈≈≈≈⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂♠♠♣♠♠♠♠♠≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈......▀
  ..~~⌂⌂⌂≈≈⌂⌂⌂⌂♠♠♠≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈.....~
10◘.....⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂○♣♣≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂K≈≈≈≈▲▲≈≈≈≈...~~◘
  ...♣♣♣♣...≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈⌂⌂⌂...⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂≈≈≈.......~
  ..♣≈≈≈≈▌▐≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈..≈≈≈≈≈○⌂⌂⌂⌂......~~
  .≈≈≈≈♣....♣♣““┌┘Z“≈≈≈⌂≈≈⌂≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈.........~~~
  ≈≈♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣.┌──┘““..⌂⌂⌂≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈.~~~.....~~
15◘≈≈♣♣♣♣.┌──┘.......~~⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂≈≈≈≈≈≈..~~~○....≈≈◘
  ≈≈≈...A─┘..♣♣♣♣♣♣...⌂⌂⌂..“┌E......~~~~~...≈≈≈≈
  ≈≈≈≈──┘..♣♣♣♣≈≈♣♣♣⌂⌂⌂...♣♣│♣♣......~~~...≈≈≈≈≈
  ≈≈≈..⌂..♣♣♣♣♣≈≈♣♣⌂⌂H..⌂⌂⌂⌂│♣♣♣..........♠≈≈≈≈≈
  ♣○≈≈⌂⌂⌂...♣♣♣♣♣♣⌂♣♣♣⌂♣“⌂E─┘⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂....♠♠♠≈≈≈≈
20◙≈≈≈≈◘⌂⌂⌂.◘.♣♣.◘♣⌂⌂⌂◘⌂“♣♣◘⌂⌂⌂⌂◘.⌂⌂⌂◘⌂⌂⌂.◘♠♠♠♠◙

[Emperor_Jonathan]

Spoiler: Names of settlements. (click to show/hide)

Original: Grok "The Great Leader." - After Grok, first leader of the new world.
Second City: Kor- Okur "Town of Ore"

Spoiler: Summary (click to show/hide)

The ending days of winter brought little heart ache, very few died. Although everything that they needed, food, shelter, were plentiful water was still scarce and ways to gather it were being brought up. When Grok stole Naroks great beast in the early days of winter, he bit his tongue. It was obvious to some there that Grok couldn't kill such a beast, but Narok could.

In Spring, with shelter and food cared for, there was an increasing demand for stone and metals, of which the village couldn't produce. Seven Suin went north to the mountains to get ore and stone, both were sent back on a road built between the Village and Outpost.

In Summer, the need for preserved food for both settlements in winter was recognised and food production was doubled, sending food to the Outpost for survival. By this time all buildings in the Village were replaced from wood to stone, a small stone palisade surrounds it. A forge and smelter were built for the needs of the village, several more houses were built, the storage area was expanded and more farms were created. A smelter and forge were also built in the new Outpost.

In winter, with the cold and exposure several deaths occurred, much less than before. Liquid water was still scarce, however the Suin survived on what little they had.

Spoiler: Map (click to show/hide)

00   05   10   15   20   25   30   35   40   45
  |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |
00◙~~~~◘~~~.◘...♠◘⌂▲▲⌂◘▲⌂“⌂◘⌂≈≈≈◘⌂⌂⌂⌂◘..“│◘.“““◙
  ~~~~~~~~....♠┌─○⌂⌂▲⌂▲▲⌂⌂⌂▲⌂≈≈≈≈⌂⌂.....┌┘...“““
  ~~~~M.....♠♠≈┘.⌂⌂▲▲▲▲⌂⌂⌂▲▲⌂⌂≈≈⌂⌂.....♠│♠♠♠...“
  ...........≈≈⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂▲▲⌂⌂▲▲▲⌂⌂⌂│⌂⌂......♠└┐♠♠♠♠..
  ....⌂⌂...♠┌┘♠⌂⌂⌂⌂▲▲▲▲▲▲▲○───┴─┐.V...♠♠♠│♠♠♠♠♠♠
05◘.⌂⌂⌂○─┐.≈≈⌂⌂⌂⌂X▲▲▲▲▲▲⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂└─┐.v♠♠.♠S┐≈≈≈♠◘
  ...~⌂⌂⌂≈≈≈≈♣⌂⌂⌂⌂▲▲▲▲T⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂.○.⌂⌂⌂└┬─┐...≈≈≈≈≈≈▐
  .~~~~⌂≈≈≈≈⌂⌂⌂⌂▲▲▲⌂⌂.T♠♠♠♠..│.....│.≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈▐
  ~~~~~⌂≈≈≈≈⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂♠♠♣♠♠♠♠♠≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈......▀
  ..~~⌂⌂⌂≈≈⌂⌂⌂⌂♠♠♠≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈.....~
10◘.....⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂○♣♣≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂K≈≈≈≈▲▲≈≈≈≈...~~◘
  ...♣♣♣♣...≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈⌂⌂⌂...⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂≈≈≈.......~
  ..♣≈≈≈≈▌▐≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈..≈≈≈≈≈○⌂⌂⌂⌂......~~
  .≈≈≈≈♣....♣♣““┌┘Z“≈≈≈⌂≈≈⌂≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈.........~~~
  ≈≈♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣.┌──┘““..⌂⌂⌂≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈.~~~.....~~
15◘≈≈♣♣♣♣.┌──┘.......~~⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂≈≈≈≈≈≈..~~~○....≈≈◘
  ≈≈≈...A─┘..♣♣♣♣♣♣...⌂⌂⌂..“┌E......~~~~~...≈≈≈≈
  ≈≈≈≈──┘..♣♣♣♣≈≈♣♣♣⌂⌂⌂...♣♣│♣♣......~~~...≈≈≈≈≈
  ≈≈≈..⌂..♣♣♣♣♣≈≈♣♣⌂⌂H..⌂⌂⌂⌂│♣♣♣..........♠≈≈≈≈≈
  ♣○≈≈⌂⌂⌂...♣♣♣♣♣♣⌂♣♣♣⌂♣“⌂○─┘⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂....♠♠♠≈≈≈≈
20◙≈≈≈≈◘⌂⌂⌂.◘.♣♣.◘♣⌂⌂⌂◘⌂“♣♣◘⌂⌂⌂⌂◘.⌂⌂⌂◘⌂⌂⌂.◘♠♠♠♠◙

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

With the increase of population, and the increase in farms, Naroks skills as a hunter were being used less and less, he used his time doing other things, scouting the area and tracking animals, although not killing them. He scouted all throughout the mountains, the forests, the plains and he saw the ocean for the first time. He learnt how to fish from the various fisher people of the small settlement. In mid-spring, Narok, coming back from scouting in the mountains over winter, there were six Suin, trying to find a guide to found an outpost to the north, in the mountains.

"Hey, what are you doing?"

"Hey, we need a guide to go north."

"I just came from there, if you want I'll go."

"Ha! That would be great, it would save heaps of time, are you ready to go now?"

"Yeah, just a sec so I can resupply."

In the following year Narok helped design buildings, walls, he learned how to mine, prospect for ore, smelt and forge. He quickly excelled in all tasks he set his mind to. One lady Suin caught his eye, and his mind. Le'Zelle, also was attracted to Narok. They spent time together, talking easily, becoming good friends.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Over the year Narok refined his magic, and increased his power. He could now throw fireballs, as well as heat things up.

[Pandarsenic]

Spoiler: Proposal (click to show/hide)

The Biomorphic Alliance

Deity
Name: Ashtine
Spheres: Transformation, Genetics/Biology
I shall craft my children into a race of power and vitality - a race of dominance.

Description
A biomorph is a human who is capable of one and only one form of magic - the ability to alter his/her/its body at will. This means that, in addition to being exactly as strong as they need to be, most biomorphs can create claws, fangs, horns, and other weapons, in addition to shields of chitin or external bone. Biomorphs, due to their changing appearances, identify each other via pheromones.

There are several classes of biomorphs:
Facelings: the weakest biomorphs, and the only reason biomorphs have any metalworking and weapons skills, facelings can alter their strength within a fairly small range but cannot make any substantial alterations to their actual bodies. Their name comes from that their most drastic transformation is to change their face's appearance. The third most numerous class.
Modulars: A modular is similar to a faceling, but can carry out minor alterations such as addition of bone plating or claws; however, they are generally unable to do assume any form they haven't seen before. The most numerous class.
Transformers: A transformer can assume any form for which he or she has the imagination and physical material. The second most numerous class, transformers are
Truemorphs: Truemorphs are rarities who can become literally any form they desire. Stories of truemorphs who transform their entire bodies into hurricanes of blades, as well as truemorphs who can incorporate metal into their bodies, are not unfounded. Truemorphs are unique in that they are more magic than mundane. The primary limitations on truemorphs are their rarity (thus, their value is a difficult thing to replace) and the overwhelming fatigue that follows them after large transformations.

Culture
The basic goals of the biomorphs are as follows:
1) Survive in spite of the widespread fear of them among the general populace
2) Become powerful enough to fight off any who would see them destroyed
As the Biomorphic Alliance is barely months old, they have little culture of their own - their culture is, instead, a mashup of the human, elven, etc., cultures from which they originated before fleeing to join the Alliance.

Military
The Biomorphs do not have any formal military established thus far. However, they have a loose system of organizing facelings into "armed units," Transformers & Modulars into "morph units," and mixed units of all three for "Truemorph support units."

Magic
Biomorphs have no magic ability save for the transformations. The exception is that facelings, though they are yet unaware of it, can learn other forms of magic, namely Elementalism.

Hero
Would I?