Hidden 2 yrs ago 2 yrs ago Post by Cath
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Welcome through the Eye of the Needle


OOC is here: Link

Kanth-Aremek had been in turmoil for centuries. On the surface, its lands and seas were a veritable cornucopia. But for the intelligent beings that inhabited this continent, danger grew teeth and talons in the dark, and lived in the recesses of the mind. Stories around the fire told of demons crawling up from hell to wreak havoc with the living.

The proto empires which sprung up after the discovery of Magic eschewed these stories. The Margraves and holy men chose instead to focus on polarising different faiths, races and values. Meanwhile, the safe passages between settlements grew harder to control with each passing year. The guilds and monastic orders, once early engines of progress, retreated behind their walls to study in private. Many thought that a sign from the gods would signal the coming of their saviour - or the end of days.

It was through a telescope that a Guild apprentice thought they spotted that sign one night. The sky rent open in a dull flash of mauve, and a shower of shiny sparks of varying sizes poured out. They fluttered in the wind, falling from a great height. Some hit the shoulder of the Grearedar mountain range far in the distance; others seemed to slow and set the forests ablaze.

Despite what the apprentice stuttered to their master, this was no sign from the gods. At least not the gods of this land.


[Stavanger Interplanetary Spaceport, Norway, Earth - 2296]

Most of the crew of the Jotunheim slept aboard their vessel the night before its maiden voyage. They were exhausted from the events of the last few months, but there was a charge of excitement running through them as well. Their ship was the first of its kind; able to jump vast distances in an instant using a state of the art Tamerlane warp engine.

Their exact capabilities were a closely guarded secret outside of the company. But pressure was now well and truly on from shareholders to prove that the Jotunheim could indeed reach beyond the Solar System. The crew had been forced to drastically expedite their test jump programme, and their launch date had already been moved forward, so it was a mad rush to get everything ready. The crew were experienced, but hadn’t been working together long, so there was confusion when they woke to ear-shattering sirens from the hangar.

After a few attempts, they learned that the spaceport and adjacent shipyard had come under attack. Hostile soldiers, potentially disguised as Norwegian military police, were fighting through the complex, looking for something.

Chaos erupted in the hangars where flight-worthy ships were kept. Spaceport staff and other passengers swarmed them to get away from the fighting, as gunfire chattered in the distance and alarms blared. Little did the Jotunheim’s crew know that this would be the least of their worries. Turns out their new warp engine was not quite as stable as previously thought…

Introduction

That’s where our tale begins! A state of the art exploration vessel from the future accidentally tears through into a completely different dimension. They must survive this fantasy world and try to return home. I’m looking for 6-8 experienced roleplayers to come on this adventure with me.

Playable Species






Technology & Magic




Geography of Kanth-Aremek

To be confirmed shortly. So far we know there are long, sweeping mountain ranges and ancient forests.

Things to bear in mind:

  • Your character can be a member of the ship’s crew, an accidental passenger who found their way aboard during the chaos, or a person from Kanth-Aremek (KA)’s various species and groups.
  • This story is a blend of science fiction and high fantasy, with a real emphasis on survival and resource management for the interloping crew to begin with. KA is a very dangerous place, particular in the wild spaces. They’ll need to work together to avoid a nasty fate.
  • Myself or my co-GM will control the environment and some NPCs.
    • In general, I'm happy to give you a higher level of control on how actions pan out for your character. However, I will be keeping an eye out for ‘clutch’ outcomes and evaluating whether they align with your character’s strengths and weaknesses.
    • I will have the final say on what items the crew can gather or find in their new world, at least to begin with. I may even set up an inventory, if some responsible persons will help with its upkeep.
  • While this RP interest check is in Casual, I’m classifying the skill level required for this roleplay as Low-Advanced. I’m not expecting an essay every time, but I also don’t want throwaway responses that don’t add real value. I'd say 250-300 words is a good benchmark.

Character sheets

Hidden 2 yrs ago Post by Dion
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Dion THE ONE WHO IS CHEAP HACK ® / THE SHIT, A FART.

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@Catharyn What type of posting speed are you aiming for? Once a day? Once a week?
Hidden 2 yrs ago Post by Cath
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@Catharyn What type of posting speed are you aiming for? Once a day? Once a week?


Hey Ideally i'd like people to post once a week at least. Does that work for you?
Hidden 2 yrs ago Post by Hyyde322
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I'm interested
Hidden 2 yrs ago Post by Shu
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I have been craving some science fantasy lately. Subscribed and color me interested. ☕️
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Hidden 2 yrs ago 2 yrs ago Post by Cath
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I'm interested


I have been craving some science fantasy lately. Subscribed and color me interested. ☕️


Hi both . Glad that you're interested. I've now added more information on the discovery of Magic in Kanth-Amerek to the OP. Thank you @EliteCommander for that!
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Hidden 2 yrs ago Post by EliteCommander
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We are currently working on defining some of the playable species. As Catharyn mentioned we are open to suggestions before it starts properly, if anyone has any ideas of their own. Just bear in mind that, to Kanth-Aremek, Humans are a new and alien species. The crew of the Jotunheim will very much be strangers in a strange land. To preserve that feeling, there is not anything too Human-like that is native to that world.
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Hidden 2 yrs ago Post by Dion
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<Snipped quote by Dion>

Hey Ideally i'd like people to post once a week at least. Does that work for you?


I tend to be a very slow poster and even a weekly post might be a bit too much for me (not because I can't, I'll be entirely up front about that -- I just don't want to sometimes) and I'd hate to force you guys to be a man down right off the bat so I'm going to wait with expressing full interest until I see the OOC thread. But, I am interested, yes. :-)

We are currently working on defining some of the playable species. As Catharyn mentioned we are open to suggestions before it starts properly, if anyone has any ideas of their own. Just bear in mind that, to Kanth-Aremek, Humans are a new and alien species. The crew of the Jotunheim will very much be strangers in a strange land. To preserve that feeling, there is not anything too Human-like that is native to that world.


Something like the wookies; small, furry, and murderous as hell.
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Hidden 2 yrs ago Post by Cath
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<Snipped quote by Catharyn>

I tend to be a very slow poster and even a weekly post might be a bit too much for me (not because I can't, I'll be entirely up front about that -- I just don't want to sometimes) and I'd hate to force you guys to be a man down right off the bat so I'm going to wait with expressing full interest until I see the OOC thread. But, I am interested, yes. :-)


Fully understand that - everyone has their own pace and that's cool! We can potentially craft supporting roles for people who want to post at a slower rate. This would depend on you being comfortable not having as much impact on the group's strategy (unless you upped your rate during crucial points). There is also the option of you having a solo mission essentially once we get into the swing of things, for example going out to find help in a nearby settlement. You can then post entirely at your own rate, but i must say your chances of survival won't be great How does that sound?
Hidden 2 yrs ago Post by Dion
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<Snipped quote by Dion>

Fully understand that - everyone has their own pace and that's cool! We can potentially craft supporting roles for people who want to post at a slower rate. This would depend on you being comfortable not having as much impact on the group's strategy (unless you upped your rate during crucial points). There is also the option of you having a solo mission essentially once we get into the swing of things, for example going out to find help in a nearby settlement. You can then post entirely at your own rate, but i must say your chances of survival won't be great How does that sound?


I think by the time the OOC is up I might have a better idea of whether or not this is something I want to write a laaaaaaaaaarge post for once every 2 weeks or so, or if I can kick myself in the ass weekly to write a literate-enough post for per your required schedule.

If the former, though, I'm pretty comfortable not having any impact or performing an auxiliary role to the strategy/advancement of it.

Also:

We are currently working on defining some of the playable species. As Catharyn mentioned we are open to suggestions before it starts properly, if anyone has any ideas of their own. Just bear in mind that, to Kanth-Aremek, Humans are a new and alien species. The crew of the Jotunheim will very much be strangers in a strange land. To preserve that feeling, there is not anything too Human-like that is native to that world.


Second suggestion: something big, strong and massively stupid. Maybe really, really slow too, so they're not even competent fighters, but they are competent shield bearers or workhorses or maybe they are really really dumb, but they understand physical sciences like nobody else and can tell you exactly how you can effortlessly lift something 20x the weight of the person carrying it using a special technique or (whatever science mumbojumbo you can come up with to sort of justify that), or they understand mechanical engineering really, really well (which is surprising cause they're dumb).

But mostly I still just want alternative wookies.
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Hidden 2 yrs ago Post by Steel Legion
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Ok im reading up on this but it seems right up my street!
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Hidden 2 yrs ago Post by Cath
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Ok im reading up on this but it seems right up my street!


Hi! Cool, let me know if you have any immediate questions . I am working on more details tonight.
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Something like the wookies; small, furry, and murderous as hell.


Second suggestion: something big, strong and massively stupid. Maybe really, really slow too, so they're not even competent fighters, but they are competent shield bearers or workhorses or maybe they are really really dumb, but they understand physical sciences like nobody else and can tell you exactly how you can effortlessly lift something 20x the weight of the person carrying it using a special technique or (whatever science mumbojumbo you can come up with to sort of justify that), or they understand mechanical engineering really, really well (which is surprising cause they're dumb).

But mostly I still just want alternative wookies.


We can create one of those, certainly.

Also, just to clarify, anyone can also be a part of the Jotunheim crew from Earth. In fact, we would quite like to have a good number of those crew members in the story. I am just making the playable species for those who want something different.
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@EliteCommander

Yes i want to play someone from earth. Im thinking of a prospector a bit like people from the American colonization period, but with a modern twist.
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@EliteCommander

Yes i want to play someone from earth. Im thinking of a prospector a bit like people from the American colonization period, but with a modern twist.


I would expect that would make sense for an exploration vessel. Catharyn is more the one making decisions regarding the crew, though.
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@EliteCommander

Yes i want to play someone from earth. Im thinking of a prospector a bit like people from the American colonization period, but with a modern twist.


I like that idea, we just need to think about how to position it.

The Jotunheim was preparing for its maiden voyage when it was forced to make an emergency takeoff. The most realistic avenue i can see for your character to wind up aboard is if they accidentally board it during the chaos of the attack on Stavanger Shipyard. Otherwise, for them to be a registered passenger they would need to be pretty influential. Almost to the same degree as space tourism today, as the Jotunheim is a state of the art vessel. Still absolutely plausible, just depends on what kind of prospector you had in mind

Does that make sense?
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@Steel LegionAre you intending for a character whose job was to find and mark valuable resources? I think that would make sense as a registered passenger, if they are working for them formally.
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@Steel LegionAre you intending for a character whose job was to find and mark valuable resources? I think that would make sense as a registered passenger, if they are working for them formally.


I agree!

I have added some top-level details on the makeup of some KA civilisations:

"Like on Earth, the civilisations of Kanth-Aremek are developing in different ways and at different speeds. To the eyes of our Human interlopers in this world, the societies closest to the crash site could be described as 'Pre-Renaissance'. Whether this is characterised by the bloody slaughter between England and Scotland or industrious Yuan dynasty China depends on where you look.

Two powerful counterweights across the land are the Monastic Orders and the Guildhalls. Both in possession of cloistered and usually fortified communities, the Monasteries commune with the pantheon of gods revered by Kanth-Amerek's population. The Guilds varied between trying to understand and harness the power of magic, and using it to slowly perfect technological advances to sell to the highest bidder."
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@Dion

I am currently working on some of the playable races, and I made one based on the prompt you gave. It felt like something that would be fitting for simple, peaceful giants. I haven't decided on the exact final size or appearance yet, but I wanted to know if you are satisfied with how I have portrayed them so far, or if there is anything you would do differently.

Here it is:

Lorok - The Lorok are mammals covered in thick fur, head to toe, and are by far the largest and most physically powerful of the intelligent species on Kanth-Aremek. Though, their intelligence is not known to be particularly exceptional. Both historically and in modern times, the Lorok often live simple lives as hunter-gatherers among their tribes in the wilds scattered across the continent. Unlike some other species, they never formed nations, and their tribal groups rarely exceed fifty or so individuals. At the same time, despite their imposing physical power, they have a reputation for being peaceful giants. As with any species, individuals may stray from the norm, but their tribes tend to be friendly neighbors to any who are accepting of their presence. They will absolutely defend themselves if needed, but they do not tend to seek conflict, and they are mostly content to keep to themselves. As a people, they have not shaped the geopolitics of Kanth-Aremek, though there are a few fables and fairy tales that include kind Lorok hermits giving relief to weary travelers.

While not terribly common, some Lorok have moved beyond their tribes and live in the cities and cultures of other species. An odd quirk of the Lorok is that they are builders by nature, and their villages are often rather impressively constructed by the standards of a tribal culture. While their intelligence may be lacking in many respects, it is as if they have an instinctual understanding of the physics required for certain types of engineering. With education, some Lorok living outside their tribes have become almost bizarrely skilled architects. Most notably, the master architect behind the construction of the Ascendency’s capital was a Lorok hand-picked by Archmagister Vyana herself.
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Perhaps a warm blooded species that hold a somewhat alien look by traditional science fiction standards but are not super advanced in technology thus holding with the general theme/world around them. (?)
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