Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Anuvrix 12-12-07, 06:46 AM	This will contain data on the world for each period of time. The world is playable at any point in time, and during different points is a completely different world. ________________________________ Ikarun, the Planet The world of Ikuran is about Earth-sized, and has 9 moons. The terrain is just like any average DnD world, except for a small amount of disfiguration from the conflicting gravities of the moons. Two continents, one is highly populated, and similiar to Eurasia. The other is like South America, but with a polar region in the south. No nations reside on the southern land, but all have satellite colonies there. ________________________________ The Moons of Ikarun Each moon represents and holds power over a different school of magic. The 9th moon is in a perfect cricular orbit and sets the calendar for the world, it also is man made and holds no arcane power. The other 8 moons are on a linear orbit, slowly spiraling towards the planet's surface. Upon landing, each moon causes years of devastation. They each fall exactly 171.14 years apart, starting at 1375 B.E. At 0 B.E., the last one will fall. Each moon cracks the planet some more than the last, with the last one breaking the planet, causing the world to shatter. The ninth moon is named after it's creator Bacheus. Little known among the people, the moon was created in an attempt to conquer the world. (also unkown is the fact that this moon causes the falls) _____________________________ Nations of Ikarun Originally, there were four large nations that ruled the world. Akran Population: 3.5467 Million Alignment: Lawful Neutral History: Akran was the first nation to rise (in recorded history). It eventually broke into the four nations. It's original reign was short and uneventful, no riots, no real problems, and a smooth easy split. It is ruled by a monarch, who's actions are checked by a senate. After the break, Akran remained the most powerful for 300 years, in which it dominated the economy of the world. Unfortunately, it fell into disrepair when the magical forces that kept it's land green and free of desert suddenly vanished. It is not a desert nation, and al deserts are counted to be owned by them. Their main source of income is a special crystal that forms in high magic areas left behind from their tampering. the crystal is used to help plants flourish in an area, and are very valuable. Their culture is now similiar to the middle eastern people of Earth. Hijose Population: 2.3478 million Alignment: Lawful Good History: Hijose (HI-J-OZ) Was formed from the break-up of Akran. It retained much of the forested and jungle land, with very little open areas. Their population is largely made up of elves, with orcs being second highest in population. This nation remained uneventful, aside form the near-constant war between the Orcs (who think that they are superior to all races) and the elves (who believe that their land was ordained to them by their god). They have remained stable and get their income off of forestry and battle implements. Thor'Akran Population: 4.3685 million Alignment: Lawful Evil History: From the beginning, Kran'Athor has been rife with trouble; failed harvests, wars, rebellion, and just plain domestic unrest. It has changed rulers more than any any other nation, nearly every rule unding in an assassination. This nation's political outlook changes every few years, due to it's shifting leadership. every year there is some rebellion, some war or some disaster that keeps this land interesting. Almost all of it's people are human, with some dwarves, and many halflings. There is no bad disposition towards any singular race here, as every race has had multiple chances at the throne. The only thing keeping it together is the strong hand of some evil dictator or another. Soline Population: 10,005 total Alignment: Neutral Neutral History: This nation was from the start only second to Akran, which it soon conquered (along with the rest of the world). it ruled the world for just 25 short years, the king was a priest who claimed a direct connection with the gods. His goal was to eradicate all evil from the world Any crimes were punished by death, all detected to be evil were slain or imprisoned for "rehabilitation". At one point, the king announced that he will demand the gods to rid the world of the evil that was left. This is where the gods had had enough. They smote the capitol city and all within 500 miles to the bottom of the sea. The 3 nations reformed, and life continued. Just a few years before the first signs of the falling moons became apparent, the city was refounded by a group of heroes. they claimed rulership, and held the absolute loyalty of all of it's inhabitants (ghosts who are sworn and truly loyal to the kings of their land). Shortly therafter, all of the Heroes of the world dissappeared. A prohpesy was recorded by a scholar ghost, fortelling a dim future for the world, and the eventual return of the heroes. ________________________________ Races of Ikarun Elves The elves live in thier own lands, whih they defend loyally and will swear by. They detest orcs and often attack them seemingly unprovoked. Elves are actively searching out evil in an attempt to keep it under control. They are always good, and have conquered their non-good counterparts. The conquered elves are used as slaves and are treated nearly as equals and can be told apart by the tattooed marks on their faces. Elves adventure to accost evil things. +2 Dex, +2 Int, -2 Con, -2 Cha. Elves are fast, smart, frail and generally disliked. Half-Elves The offsrping of a hated kind, who think they are above all else, Half-Elves find it difficult to fit in anywhere. Shunned by all peoples, they have to work hard to get any respect in the world, and not much at that. On top of all of this, they are often booted out of communities at a young age, making them more self-reliant. Half-Elf adventurers are common, not nearly as common as Human Adventurers, but they're out there. (no racial ability adjustments, but a +2 skill bonus to Survival) Half-Orcs The enemy of my enemy is a friend of mine. That is a common greeting to Half-Orcs, who are generally liked. They are accepted in society, and dislike Elves more-so than others. They will not attack them on sight, as their evil kin tend to, but they will cast a hairy eye. They adventure for a myriad of reasons, ranging from greed, for fun, and to a good-hearted desire to help people. They have no cities of their own, outside of Elven lands. Anti-Elf groups tend to have a high number of Half-Orcs, which are versatile mercenaries, cheap, efficient and easily found. +2 Str, +2 Cha, -2 Int. Half-Orcs have the strength and intelligence of their kind, but are well-liked and respected. Dwarves Dwarves do not ocunt themselves part of any nation, they believe that each rules unto himself. They live in villages and sometimes cities of their own kind, often intermixed with halflings and humans. Elves are held in sort of a disgust, their constant assault on evil upsets the balance that they strive for. Slavery is hated in dwarven areas, any slaves that make it to a dwarven city and present their case to the magistrate are freed, and their slave-marks removed. Dwarves only adventure to secure a plot of land for themselves and to start their own clan. +2 Con, +2 Wis, -2 Cha. Dwarves are tough, wise and tend to be gruff with people. Halflings Halflings are clan-like, living in close harmony with dwarves. They are also all noted as notorious thieves. A halfling will often steal something without realizing it. After a close encounter with halflings, either voilent or not, one should always check ones pockets. They are generally good-natured, but are held in the common peoples respect as a bunch of thieves. Halflings are often kicked out of towns and cities for continually offending the peace. They adventure for the sheer thrill of it. +4 Dex, -2 Con, -2 Wis. Halfings are extremely nimble, but are frail and act before thinking. Gnomes The greatest inventors and intellectuals of Ikuran come from the gnomish race. Their mechanical engineers, even the worst, are paid well working for common folk. They operate as a guild and callthemselves The Guild of Intelligent Engineers and Such. Or just G.I.E.S., which many misspronounce and say Geese. Over the years, the name Geese has become permanent and the real name is only used by the highest officers on official buisness. They are held in respect by all and are expensive to hire. Finding a gnome in your party free of charge is a thing of dreams. +4 Int, -2 Str. Gnomes are very smart, but lack the strength of other races. Humans Humans are in all respects varied and are the most common race by far, often making up 40% of any city's population. They have infinite reasons for adventuring. ____________________________________ 1st Fall When the first signs of the coming doom showed themselves, the people came to the general consensus that the gods were punishing them for some reason (which varied greatly between different people). When the began to swell mightily, the large cities (and all of the smaller ones that could afford it) bought and created magical protection from flooding. Unfortunately, the protection did not help against the meteors that nearly constantly fell during the last years. During this time, teleportation became the most popular form of travel (kind of difficult to outrun a tsunami). The crystals from the desert coupled with gardens became the only food source. Famine struck out in all of the cities, and a plague ran rampant. The capitol city of Akran was nearly emptied of people and filled with bodies. A few years after the cataclysmic fall of the moon, the outside world had somewhat returned to normal. The city of Fel'Tahnis was split into two peices by a crack in the surface of the world that reached further down than any could venture. The moon fell on 1645 B.E., New Moon's Eve (the equivalent of New Year's Eve) at exactly midnight. The signs of the next fall were already showing themselves. Second Fall The world had just enough time to rebuild and get back into a relativ calm before the next disasterous events came to pass. The Countries stocked food and prepared the barriers against the rain of meteors that will soon fall. People began to realize that the falling of the moons is systematic, as the 3rd moon was now where the second once was. 3rd Fall The world is strained, the people are restless, and society is starting to crumble. The nation of Thor'Akran (during the 20 years of calm) wages war against the other nations. As a last stitch war-effort, Thor'Akran's mages destroy the barriers around the cities of Akran. The entire nation is destroyed in the disasters. From that point of, Thor'Akran is held as a nation of traitors to humanity. Nearly half of the population of the world dies during this fall. A new plague comes with the fall of this moon, the moon of necromancy. The archival name is Luntih, but the people simply call it The Blood Swell. It causes large black boils on the skin, along with hemophelia. Eventually the boils burst, opening massive holes in the flesh, and leaving any survivors covered with gashes and wounds that will never heal. When the boils burst, it releases a spore into the air that carries the disease. (It is in fact a fungal disease, but the only powerful enough spell to kill it kills the bearer also.) 4th Fall The people are in disarray, a plague is rampant, and more is to come. Cults spring up in open defiance of the gods, with several growing to a large size and even waging wars to "redeem" those who still stick to the gods. This is all stopped, however, when a god makes a appearance to a large populous. Ikarun, the planet, sends his avatar to the nation of Hijose. There he quells a rebellion, and assures the people that all within the power of the gods is being done to prevent these calamities. Although the reassurance of the gods did calm the people, many were beginning to lose faith, if the gods could not stop this by now who's to say they will ever ba able to? One thing Ikarun did do to help the people is to teach them the cure for the plague. 5th Fall Though the cure is present, the plague still claims many more lives before it runs it's course. During the calm, the people unite in mourning for the dead. The world recovers a little, and the calm goes by peacefully. Food is stockpiled, and people are secured in their cities. Unfortunately, this fall came with a greater vengeance than the others, as it is the moon of Evocation. Rains of fire, strange elemental outbursts, and living elementals spring up inexplicable in cities. Though nearly all of such excursions are stopped, some cities are destroyed. 6th Fall The land of Ikarun is covered with decrepit ruins, and adventurers abound. During this calm, it is discovered that the moons that fell are left behind as powerful nexuses of magical energy. An explosion of developments in arcane magic causes the development of new cities, and the preservation of entire areas. The world goes through a massive growth in population, by the end of the calm the people are great and certain that this calm will be recorded as a magnificent event in history. 7th Fall During the last fall, many elves decided that they had had enough of the destruction. They formed a technological wonder, The Mirus. It is a ship capable of carrying and supporting thousands of people. It took one hundred years of construction and planning, but they created the means of the exodus of half their people. During the calm, in the first few years, they launched. The ship has the power to travel between the ethereal plane and the material plane, and it used this power to ascend into space. It is rumored that the ship found another planet and settled there. It is also rumored that they crashed into one of the moons during a mishap. Aside from this, the calm before this storm was relatively boring. Many people think of the elves as pompus and arrogant due to the fact that they did not allow any others onto the ship, believing them to be "derived from the light" that only they could posses. The reputation of elves fell drastically over the 20 years, turning towards disgust near the end. Another discovery showed that some large landmasses had broken up near areas where the cracks met. These, extraordinarily, had lifted up into the air, and now float over the massive crevasses where they once were. This discovery was late during the calm, and the matter went unresolved. 8th Fall During this calm, the people are afraid for the safety of the planet. The cracks formed by the first fall have widened to over two miles where the cracks are largest. The scientists theorize that the last fall will obliterate the planet. The calm in this period is not calm at all. the people are in a constant pall of fear, several small wars break out, each ending in a peaceful treaty. The Nations are full of unrest, and suicide cults pop up every here and there. The flying landmasses are located and mapped, for reference later; the world, during the time it has, is not able to spend the man-power and resources neccesary to explore and evaluate this phenomenon. ________________________________________ __________________ This is where the PCs come in during my current campaign. They are started off by a theory of a local wizard, he believes that the ninth moon is the cause of the doom. They act upon this and begin searching for information about Bacheus. After many dead-ends, they encounter a vampire who personally knew the great wizard, and actually helped him in his plans. He will not tell the pcs of Bacheus with out a payment of blood from each of them. He speaks of the effect of the ninth moon, and how Bacheus planned to use it to conquer the world. Bacheus wanted to force the moons to fall, and proceed to create an enterprise protecting the nations. After the last moon fell, the world would break and he would use his magic to hold it together. With his control over the wholeness of the world, he would control everything, even the magic of the moons. After a great many more adventures, the pcs discover a smaller prototype of the Mirus. They use this to get to Bacheus's lab on the ninth moon, and find there that Bacheus is still alive and is just waiting for the last moon. After a long dungeon-crawl they will encounter him and (hopefully) kill him. (during this time, if done correctly, the PCs can come into ownership of some if not all of the floating masses. The world is thought to be doomed anyway, so why should they spend the gold to mess with them when there is aomeone to take it off of their hands?) The Aftermath If the PCs kill Bacheus, they can hold his phylactery hostage and force him to stop the last moon. If this is done, the people renew their faith in the gods, believing it to be their doing. The work of the PCs goes nearly unnoticed, save for the few who knew of what they were doing. The gods of Ikarun personally go to thank the PCs and reward them as they ask. Life on Ikarun returns to a relative norm, the scars of the disasters eventually being bridged by man's desire for expansion. The world repopulates with monsters and foes, and the adventurer life is taken up by many. If the PCs fail, they are frozen in time by Bacheus and awake to find themselves in a shattered wold, ruled by an evil lich. Now the world is controlled and dominated by evil, and the Nation of Soline is the only bastion against this power. The Pcs must find a way to defeat Bacheus and keep the world together. Unfortunately, the world is against them, and is loyal to Bacheus. For he came when the gods did not and saved the world. The Pcs still have command over the smaller ship and can use it to traverse the shards of the world. They must battle the armies of the Lich and risk the destruction of the world. In both worlds, magic use is highly increased, and all spells are cast at a +1 caster level, +2 caster lvl on specific schools when near the appropriate moon landing. The creation of various technologies to solve problems are developed, but i have not the time to post them here.
Artifact 12-12-07, 10:08 AM	The first thing that popped into my head when I read this: This is a really far-fetched idea for a campaign setting ;). At first, I dismissed it as just that, saying to myself "Its too crazy, it would never work", then, I came back and started reading your post in detail. You've got a hell of an idea here, very ambitious: A campaign based around 9 (count 'em) world-shaking calamities (never thought I'd have reason to put an 's' on that word ;)). Honestly, its taken some getting used to, but I like it :). I wish I had such a knack for thinking outside the box (as the saying goes). Not sure I have much to add but I do have some questions, if I may: According to the cycle, the setting is defiend by a period of 1,540.25 years during which each moon of magic falls (171.14 years apart). Is my math right on this? That seems like a good spread to develop a campaign timeline and backround. I have to wonder though, how the world and people of Ikarun can recover from each devastating moonfall so quickly (and in some cases) even thrive. I'm curious to hear more details on this. I notice the elves create a multi-dimensional ship, the Mirus. Do other people and races have a similar level of technology or is this exclusive to the elves? If only elves do, does this make non-elves bitter, maybe even hostile towards the elves? Which brings up a question about the setting: How intergrated is magic and technology in Ikarun? For instance, Bacheus created the 9th moon. Can we assume he used a mixture of magic and science? Who else knows of and understands, just things? Quick question: Do the playable races have the same game statistics as given in the Player's Handbook? I have an idea of my own for a bit of a twist at the end of the moonfall cycle: What if instead of destroying the world completely, the 9th and finale fall was intended to ultimately save the world? Think about it, the PCs would then be resposible for doing everything they could to make sure each and every moonfall occurs (as planned). Its all in an effort to save their world but its a sure bet others won't see it that way, and they might even try to stop the PCs. In essence, Bacheus wasn't as bad guy, just misunderstood. Nice work, Anuvrix! I'm looking forward to reading more.
Anuvrix 12-13-07, 08:59 AM	You've got a hell of an idea here, very ambitious: A campaign based around 9 (count 'em) world-shaking calamities (never thought I'd have reason to put an 's' on that word ;)). Honestly, its taken some getting used to, but I like it :). I wish I had such a knack for thinking outside the box (as the saying goes). Thanks:D , I spent a while trying to think of all of the circumstances, but you're right. It was worth the work. According to the cycle, the setting is defiend by a period of 1,540.25 years during which each moon of magic falls (171.14 years apart). Is my math right on this? That seems like a good spread to develop a campaign timeline and backround. I have to wonder though, how the world and people of Ikarun can recover from each devastating moonfall so quickly (and in some cases) even thrive. I'm curious to hear more details on this. The 8th moon falls at exactly 0 B.E. The rest fall with a total of 191.14 years apart. (Added 20 years for the calm) This sets the start date at about 1338 B.E. The world has a relatively high magic use, and much of the population relies on it heavily anyway, the use of a powerful tool can rebuild things quickly. I notice the elves create a multi-dimensional ship, the Mirus. Do other people and races have a similar level of technology or is this exclusive to the elves? If only elves do, does this make non-elves bitter, maybe even hostile towards the elves? The general thought on elves is that they are arrogant, self-righteous, and think all others below them. This is mostly true. They are tolerated only because they keep areas safe from evil creatures.The Mirus was a one of a kind ship, the elves who made it were very secretive about it, and no word of it's existence leaked out untill much of the construction had already begun. When they left, the took with them the design of ships of it's class. The required work would take another 200 years to make one again. Which brings up a question about the setting: How intergrated is magic and technology in Ikarun? For instance, Bacheus created the 9th moon. Can we assume he used a mixture of magic and science? Who else knows of and understands, just things? Magic and technology are HIGHLY integrated, during the long years of confinement in the cities, the people had nothing better to do but develop technology. They would use the most abundant energy source which, in this case, is Arcane Magic. Bacheus actually used all magic to create the moon, he (over many years) captured meteors and asteroids into a confined space. Using some epic spells, he fused them together and made the moon, shortly therafter he created his laboratory in it. Quick question: Do the playable races have the same game statistics as given in the Player's Handbook? Yes, the stats are the same, but the society and thought processes are different. What if instead of destroying the world completely, the 9th and finale fall was intended to ultimately save the world? Think about it, the PCs would then be resposible for doing everything they could to make sure each and every moonfall occurs (as planned). Its all in an effort to save their world but its a sure bet others won't see it that way, and they might even try to stop the PCs. In essence, Bacheus wasn't as bad guy, just misunderstood. This sounds like a good idea, but the only dilemma would be: how can the moons falling save the world? The only real good effect they had (that i can think of) was increasing the potency of magic on Ikarun. The sources are closer to the user. Nice work, Anuvrix! I'm looking forward to reading more. Thanks again!:D
Artifact 12-13-07, 10:04 AM	Thanks:D , I spent a while trying to think of all of the circumstances, but you're right. It was worth the work. It most certainly is, although destroying the world 9 times over might not be recommended for everyone :P. Thanks for answering my questions. Its nice to get a bit more detail on your setting. This sounds like a good idea, but the only dilemma would be: how can the moons falling save the world? The only real good effect they had (that i can think of) was increasing the potency of magic on Ikarun. The sources are closer to the user. The moons falling are just as devastating as you've described. That part of the story doesn't change. Rather, its the fall of the final moon that will ultimately set things right, and it can only fall once the cycle is complete. In essence, things have to get worse before they get better. The saving effect the final moon bestows doesn't have to be elaborate (although it might be). For instance, it could be a moon-sized "temporal reversion device", and once it has collided with Ikarun it "goes off", reverting the planet back to its former geographical and orbital stability. The 8 moons of magic return (magically) to their former positions in the sky and all is well, althogh the people remember the Moonfall. That's off the top of my head of course but I'm sure there are other ideas that would work just as well. My take on it is, its a fantasy story, not necessarily a science fiction one, so have some fun with it. I mean, after 8 moonfalls, its a foregone conclusion that the final moon will destroy the world entirely, its inevitable, inescapable. What if the impossible happens however? What if the world survives, despite all the scientific evidence to the contrary? Quite a wrap for a dramatic story I think, but it can only happen if the PCs (and their successors) succeed in making sure each and every moonfall happens on schedual. As always, I'm anxious to hear more. :)
wrexham3 12-13-07, 10:30 AM	I really think this is inspired! You don't get much more epic than nine moons falling from the sky! Plus a bad guy who plans to rule the world by breaking it (if you break it, you own it). I love the Blood Swell and the Mirus. There is a lot of detail here which you can elaborate upon. I would'nt mind a bit more detail about who or what Bacheus is - is he (or it) a lich, a god, a lich god? Your races seem a little generic - which may be what your aiming for and therefore no bad thing. However, I'd be tempted to make the races of the world 'my own' by putting my own spin upon them. That's a minor quibble. Otherwise I thought it was brilliant - please keep posting to flesh it out.
Anuvrix 12-13-07, 10:58 AM	There is a lot of detail here which you can elaborate upon. I would'nt mind a bit more detail about who or what Bacheus is - is he (or it) a lich, a god, a lich god? Bacheus is and was a human Arcane Martyr (homemadeclass that uses magic latent in the blood of themselves) of immense power. (Hard to write in one tense here) He is completely evil, and gained strength quickly by discovering a way to drain the magic out of items and people.(using a combination of spells and spellthief class features *complete adventurer*) Using this power, he created the moon and used it to pull the rest down. After it all was settled, he planned to use the ambient magic energy left behind in the moon's wreckage to raise his power to unlimited hieghts(he has the pure source of magic at his fingertips). Your races seem a little generic - which may be what your aiming for and therefore no bad thing. However, I'd be tempted to make the races of the world 'my own' by putting my own spin upon them. While working on the rest of the whole setting, i have not had much time to consider modifying the races much. But now that you mention it, it would seem more realistic that in such a drastically different world, there would be differences in stats. Otherwise I thought it was brilliant - please keep posting to flesh it out. Thanks XD, Ill at least get enough to make a meat golem :D .
Anuvrix 12-15-07, 08:59 AM	I've updated the Races section, I modified the scores as i saw fit. Any more questions, suggestions, comments?