Post/Author/DateTime	Post
I Am Famine 10-10-05, 05:06 PM	This is a region of the WCP setting which I thought up whilst reading the various posts about the ley lines that criss-croos the surface of this world. I present to you Xochu'tek... This is a land of extremes and unnaturally powerful animals, a place where arcane energy has altered the development and evolution of its native flora and fauna. The tribal humanoids here speak of a god sorceror who came from outland swamps surrounding the jungles. They call him Xochu, infact Xochu'tek is the natives way of saying Xochu's Realm. Many sages wonder who Xochu is assuming he even existed. Many sages believe it might be their interpretation of Cobe from the merfolk city of Quto, which coincidently lies near Xochu'tek's borders. Other sages argue pointing out that a race of very alien and magical colossi called the Sun and Moon giants. Perhaps Xochu was (or is) an individual or group of these mysterious giants. Whatever theory is true it can't be denied that there are vast amounts of ley-lines that lead (some say by artificial means) into the dense jungles. The trees grow unbelievably vast and it isn't uncommon to find an entire tribe living on few massive branches. The canopy is a landscape in itself being a lightly-lit green world of giant flowers and insects. The forest floor unsurprisingly is a dark and dangerous place full of strange lumbering monsters and carnivorous plants. The trees grow close togethor allowing travel between adjacent trees and levels relatively easy for those who know how. One of the most dominant animal groups here are the Primasaurs, powerful savage apes and monkeys with anatomies reminiscent of Dinosaurs. Many are able to climb the huge trees with natural skill and well as traverse the undulating forest floor. They have savagely cunning intellects and an innate agression that make them dangerous game. Those who support the theory that Xochu is actually Cobe will find a feral subspecies of the Quto merfolk in the many deep and dark lakes found here. These Piraquto have sharp shark-like teeth, squat noses, large red eyes and smoothly-scaled yellow skin. One region of the land is petrified and bone dry, being under the reign of the Famino. The few wild creatures here are disturbing Famino animal hybrids such as the fearsome Blight Tiger. There aren't just monsters living here though. Many humanoid tribes make a home on its branchs and in its canopy, few reside in the shadowy depths of the forest floor. A noteworthy tribe include the multiracial Phrek'tor, roughly translated means 'Blood Moths'. They accept any race in their ranks who wishes to worship Xochu, though they primarily made up of humans and green elemental orcs and elves. They respect the magical and bizarre beasts of jungle, as they primally worship Xochu as an embodiment of chaotic change and natural anarchy. They say Xochu is a colossal half-man half-squid who descends from the sky at sunset and ascend at sunrise, which supports the theory of the Sun and Moon giants making their visits to the land. LINKS The city of Quto, (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=220189) Cobe and the Quto Merfolk. By ArcboundColossus. Famino 1 (http://boards1.wizards.com/showpost.php?p=7226040) and 2... (http://boards1.wizards.com/showpost.php?p=7464267) Canopy, Lake and Simian Giants (http://boards1.wizards.com/showpost.php?p=7472739) reside in most of Xochu'teks regions, but for most part stay away from the Famino-tainted areas. The River Giants (http://boards1.wizards.com/showpost.php?p=7171372) of this post have a Piranha-like subtype living in the Jungles lakes. The stats are unchanged with an exception of the additions of the keen scent ability and a bite attack dealing 2d6 +6 damage (+8 melee). Their appearance is generally more feral, their skin-tones are more sickly and pale and their eyes are red unblinking orbs. The Famino have made many vile hybrids of themselves and local animals, 2 examples are the Blight Tiger and Drought Gator. (http://boards1.wizards.com/showpost.php?p=7472758) 3 examples of a powerful group of animals called The Primasaurs. (http://boards1.wizards.com/showpost.php?p=7472776) Those who support the theory of Cobe's invasion of Xochu'tek point to these piranha-like relatives of the Quto Merfolk, called the Piraquto (http://boards1.wizards.com/showpost.php?p=7472783) Wondering what I meant by 'green elemental orcs and elves'?, well check out this thread (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=498460) on a discussion about what races should be in the setting and how the core races will be affected. Heres my idea on having 5 mystic and 5 mundane races. (http://boards1.wizards.com/showpost.php?p=7465321&postcount=14) Here is another place of this yet unnamed setting by Leaves, it is called Flash Rock Peak (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=53813). It is another example of a region affected by masses of ley line energy. What do you think of this place. I had already planned the primasaurs, sun/moon giants, etc as monsters and I will soon create them. Feel free to add to the land in the form of inhabitants, tribes, monsters, specific regions, etc... :D
Rny2 10-11-05, 09:58 PM	The origin of the 'Sons of Light' As we know, to the best of our earthly interpretations, the Giants of Sun and Moon have been a factor in the corruption of the creatures of the Xochu' tek. However, sometime in the past, there were no majority records among the Giants of Sun and Moon about the Xochu' tek, as divinining mages testified to. Yet, alas, a small minority was found to be completely informed of the corruption of the Xochu' tek. These Giants of Sun and Moon were discovered by these master mages in their scrying and their absurd forms drove the mages mad. A permanent change, however, arose among those specific Giants, and they became known as the 'Mad Heretics' among the scholarly societies. These heretics dissappeared off the side of the map some time after, and this was attributed to retribution by outside sources for their heresy. Unknown to the scholars, these heretics had actually been villainously powerful wizards, but as they crumbled the minds of the lesser mages, their own thoughts were pervaded by a sense of conscience and justice. Repentant for their dark deeds in the Xochu' tek, the heretics traveled to the Xochu' tek and tried to undo what they had done. At the pivotal moment, though, the former selves of the Xochu' tek flared again and the dispelling ritual was disturbed, though at great cost. The essences of the heretics was forcefully separated from their bodies and carpeted the area around the ritual grounds. Just as luck would have it, a tribe of Piraquto was residing in the area, and they were forever transformed by the heretics. These became the Blyndstars, their fish-like bodies forever twisted into obscene, gargantuan stars. Horrified at their transformation, the Blyndstars fled. Traveling far out of their usual range, the tribe of Blyndstars moved onto more civilized lands, consuming all the essences in their way. Finally, a great saint of the people approached the tribe, and he, too, was absorbed. However, his 'taint' was so deep upon the tribe, combined with that of the original repentant Giants of Sun and Moon, the these once harsh devourers began on a path to goodness and enlightenment. As the years passed, the tribe slowly moved on, subtlying controlling certain thoughts and habits with their mastery of essence. Finally, almost a millenia after the giants had repented, the tribe was discovered. The tribe, calling themselves the Sons of Light after their corruptors, began a path of benevolent war against the present religious factions in each city they encountered, presenting themselves as messengers from the Masters from Afar: the Collosi of Sun and Moon. By the time the second millenia had passed, all of their native continent had slowly passed under their dominance, but a tickling notion in a backwaters corner of their minds suggested expansion onwards, to bring the Sons of Light, the Sons of the Giants of Sun and Moon to new frontiers, to enlighten those Heretics that lay still.
I Am Famine 10-12-05, 03:38 AM	Bravo Ryn2, I like the idea of the Blyndstars being a race of twisted 'enlightened' warriors. They could be Lawful Good for all the wrong reasons making them a viable long-term enemy in a DnD gaming sense, or a whole faction of cards in MtG terms like the Homarids or Phyrexians. With their links to the Sun & Moon Giants this makes them a more than worthy addition to Xochu'tek, thanks Ryn2... :D BEST PLACE *ding* :clap: :clap: :clap:
the_one_true_shea 10-12-05, 09:19 PM	Ala yuanti and sahuagin. I think the Xochu'tek really fit the bill on something that was brought up a long time ago. M:tG and the "base blue" species. Used to be "merfolk" but apparently that went south for some reason - now the "base blue" (base red = goblin, green = elf, white = angel, black = zombie ... at least as it was presented to me ) is cephalid. "Cephalid pathmage" and what not. There was a general consensus that the cephalids were silly.. are silly I guess, and that WCP should have a "better blue" race - Xochu'tek. Cool. Blyndstar mutant abberations - that are gooder than the originals!! better. and Rny2 is really giving a timeline here. Pre-History - Cobe and the Quoto Empire (I think the those should be quoto ruins in the modern age ) - The Blyndstar are born and begin their long journey to redemption. History - Cobe and the Quoto Empire waste away to time, the advanced mystical merfolk of Quoto slowly degenerate into savages. - the Piraquto are spawned due to the failing capabilities of the mefolk necromancers. Recent- History - In attempts to Resurect or reconnect with Cobe - the Quoto Merfolk get into contact with the Entity Xochu. Some believe Xochu to be a much older and wiser Cobe, but no proof is expected to be found. Contempory - The Xochu have turned the course from degeneration and have begun to claim ancient Quoto ruins as rightfully theirs. Unfortunatly !!! - Humans and the elementals have inhabited some of the ancient Quoto cities! What will happen when the Xochu come to reclaim what is rightfully theirs!? --- I got this ironic idea.. so in ancient times evil god and evil race make lotsa lotsa evil cities using necromancy to get the work done at night ... ;) and play games all day. Centuries later the ruins are reclimated and converted into prosperous cities. - they were created with god power so impossible to actually create buildings as durable as Cobe made right? - anyway - these cities are inhabited by normals. Centuries after THAT, the old evil race starts making a comeback - now.. whose cities are they. Is this possesion nine/tenths? They have the right to the cities? A little bit'o the grey area.
Rny2 10-12-05, 10:58 PM	The Coming of the Toads The puny things we see as 'toads' today were not always like that. It was only through certain dark rituals within the 'walls' of certain ancient cities that the once gracious toads were compressed into their current forms. In a time roughly preceding Cobe's rise to power by a few years, a certain vial of blood know as the 'latent loss' was passed through the citizens of a certain city, carrying with it a wasting disease that ravaged many within that city, which modern archeologists term 'Erl-phad City.' It was this 'Arphad' City that was the current home of Cobe, who often roamed from town to town in his searches, though for what the discovered records have been unable to show. All we can assume conclusively is that Cobe happened to come into contact with this latent loss, and managed to steal out of town with it. No one knows what occured as Cobe hid away in the backwaters of the world with his new-found plaything. Obviously something did happen, as when Cobe returned to historical records it was as a major player in many circles. Nowadays, the latent loss is almost like an artifact in those parts, with as many people willing to sell some part of it to you as tell you its story. The blood held within, they say, was that of a dark entity of creeping willows and waving seaweed, a master over growth in the bounty of excess, and the glass of the vial was forged with the heat of the Sun, and the seal christened with the cold of the Moon, so they say. And upon the seal were squirming colors of all shades, held in a sigil that contorted as one shifted themselves around it. Certainly, some holy rite had captured the devious entity and bound him with powerful spirits. The true story of this bauble, though, would shock even the most outlandish of these storytellers. Forged by the original repentant Giants of Sun and Moon, the latent loss was one of their original acts of defiance against the majority. These master mages had, working together, created an artifact of immense power: a soul-mute. Used properly by its creator, a soul-mute can muffle out the essence of a being, especially those who are where they should not be. Upon discovery by the majority, the soul-mute's enchantments were quickly dispelled, but, predicting this, the repentant Giants had created a trigger spell that would trap whomever attempted to manipulate the original enchantments on the soul-mute. Horrified at the destruction of their colleagues, the posse quickly disbanded, but the 'lost' Giant was forever held within the blood- the blood of a toad. From where they belong, there is a 'pet' of the Giants of Sun and Moon. Though it is incorporeal and invisible, the possessing personality and the ability to influence ideas telepathically of this 'pet' made it a favourite among those powerful enough to summon such an entity. Termed a 'En-Turad' by certain scholars of these schools of knowledge, it was known that the repentant Giants all had similar toads to aid them in their reasonings, and such was the blood-essence of which was held within the latent loss. From there, the story ends, as childhood stories should tell, as the toads poured out of the nether swamps of Lagh-grad to infest the world.
I Am Famine 10-13-05, 03:32 AM	This place is starting to become very interesting. I will get round to statting the Sun/Moon Giants, Blyndstars and the Toads (incidently would they Magical Beasts, Outsiders, or something else?) but first I have to create the unique undead creations of the Lost Necrinfants, which will include you regenerating zombies shea ;) . I will also add more fluff to this place as soon as I have any ideas... :D Thanks guys.
the_one_true_shea 10-26-05, 09:28 PM	Whoah whatta? The toads are the evil manifestations of Cobe? His dark little shadows? What you have against toads?!
Rny2 10-26-05, 09:41 PM	What are you saying? Toads are amazing. So is Cobe, and evil, and corruption, etc. I'm implying that they're ethereal, alien creatures. They just get used by Cobe, and he turns them into puny creatures. Where do you get toad-hate from?
the_one_true_shea 10-28-05, 08:37 PM	hehe Nah just, "evil toads!" I like it. Every ..bad god has to have a good totemic animal. Toads would go perfect with a death/water related diety. Particulary the shadowy Cobe. ... Soo there are gonna be hoary bg toads too right? "Swamp Hounds of Cobe" or something?
Rny2 10-28-05, 10:52 PM	Cobe's a diety? of death and water? hmm, just thought Cobe was just a powerful entity, like yawgmoth. Or is Xochu the diety part of him?
the_one_true_shea 04-15-06, 03:15 PM	editing my summary and I thought of these guys! the fact that others have made a point of the merfolk is one thing... the fact that I really like the soggy shaggoths is another entierly! Dark Evil Blue Creatures! Not black, though they dabble in necromancy.. These are blue boys. Sahugin/Triton. My problem with the "merfolk" proper (from the d20) is that they are written mermaid style... with tails instead of legs. In my homeworlds I have usually called the merfolk with tails - "sea naga" as opposed to "mermen" - I think thats what I like the most about the Quto/Xochu: They always have legs. I mean we didn't say that outright here, but I get the distinct impression these guys can walk neh? @Rny2 Cobe. I like cobe as a "petty diety" that is I like the idea of cobe. I think I like the "he was just one of the sun/moon giants... really" idea better... but that doesnt stop us from having a rathert larger religion that worships him as the lord of seaweed and willows. A death god, a sea god, but also an agrarian god. The churches could be big into the whole sacrificing shtick. and ? Lagh-Grad? Region?
Rny2 05-12-06, 09:19 PM	Yes, the Piraquto are quite suited to being antagonists, but how interesting would it be if we had a blue protagonist around again, especially an 'unconventional' version of blue. It could be like Toshi's story, only "color-shifted." Xochu, after all, is pictured as a squid-man, not as a fish-squid, so I'd say it'd be reasonable for the Piraquto to be legged. Also, I believe most of the fish-human hybrids found in human mythology come from land-based cultures rather than sea-based ones, lending more support for the Piraquto to have legs. With Cobe being a petty diety, I'd thought he emerged in the region much later (though still 'in antiquity') than the worship of Xochu, squid-fiend of the stars. Cobe might have absorbed Xochu's cult, made Xochu his pawn, or melded spiritually with Xochu as his avatar, but either way Cobe would, in my opinion be a contemporary force in the area. EDIT: And as for 'Arphad' and the homelands of Cobe, that would probably have been wiped off the map by the passage of time, as it is only referenced in an archeological or mythological sence.
the_one_true_shea 05-15-06, 10:50 PM	There is a "Quto city" refrenced in my summary (not allot to it actually) but even there Cobe is refered to as a traveler... from Arphad? I like it. So the city of Quto is an ancient city that has passed through multiple hands - but really belongs to Cobe. Who built the city after his banishment, and built it to glorify him. From there he promoted myths about himself that increased his own power, and it is there that he has a "one ring" weakness.... that heros may just be able to take advantage of... Assuming they can get through the Xochu....
Rny2 05-16-06, 12:37 AM	Ok, how about this: Xochu is like a 'patron' for petty dieties like Cobe to come along and . . . He has a home city or region, or some theme that moves around and attracts beings like Cobe and wields power through these pawns Maybe Xochu is one of the elder gods laid low, and now must wield power solely through his avatar-proteges?
the_one_true_shea 05-16-06, 03:15 AM	Ya know - (this happens sometimes) but I think I am getting my terms mixed up. I have been thinking of the Xochu as the "merfolk" that worship cobe. Quoto/Xochu - the ones with the Blyndstars. Was that called something else? I think Xochu (old version of Quoto) should be the name of the city and therefore that "breed" of merfolk. I am envisioning a fairly similar scenario to way Elves are in D&D. Heading "Merfolk/Elf" .. subheadings "Xochu/Grey" etc. I don't think we should make the Xochu merfolk (black and blue) a different species so much as the larger race that is the merfolk (all being blue). Perhaps a deep sea merfolk (the hidden ones that no longer leave their ancient grottos) could be blue & green or just plain blue. There can also be the "travelers" - merfolk that live coasts (blue white). Perhaps even a "shining city" varient.. I have a thought for undernetter - I must also go look for the Quoto thread to review... I really need to collect some of this into my summary. Yeesh. ------------ edit Right now I have this vision of Cobe as a giant of some type that lived in Araphad. There he gained much power - but was banished or evacuated for some reason. From Araphad he came upon {the area} where The City Quto. This city was built with his growing divine powers and the sweat (do merfolk sweat? ) of the merfolk followers. They were granted power of course - and the sweat slowely worked into .. the necromancy! The first few generations will forever labor in the halls of Quto.. never to rest always to work.. and then power, wealth, gave merfolk a bad name, and generally became an evil (almost DS style) magic empire. Then something happens. Cobe is banished.. not the breaking. Before the breaking the dark god Cobe (of whom stories had been spread far and wide, bolstering his powers beyond mortal comprehension) Cobe who had come to the Quto valley as not much more than an elder wizard... Cobe who built the Xochu empire! Was defeated .. prolly by player characters ;) Not destroyed - however petty he was/is still powerful beyond comprehension. Banished at the very least. In the interim the Xochu are beat down like the feeble fanatics they had become. Without Cobe the dead would not do their bidding "grandpa" turned on his master. The Xochu empire fell. {stuff stuff stuff} The Xochu (or the "Quoto Merfolk" as they became known) survived in the corners of the city. Defeated, but defeated so bad that they are believed broken. They the lowest of the low, but they are allowed to remain. But, one day (shorty after the sundering) the dead responded to the bidding of one dire child. Galax prophet of Cobe. First true necromancer of the reborn faith of of the Dark lord. Galax - I like that name. Just thought it up! :D