[quote=@Arawak]
Alright, introduced my baseline element officially.  Sorta a cosmology within a cosmology with the Barkolopus.

Aetherial energy hasn't been defined in any shape or form by the way.
[/quote]

I was about to ask about aetherial energy when I saw this comment, haha! I want to say, perhaps, that whatever it is that gives the Ruse form and magic spells their power is also the thing that the Barkolopus devours -- but if the Barkolopus is a ruse, itself, then ...? That's a pickle. Unless it's NOT a Ruse, but something else entirely, and it eats the Ruse and magic in general.

[hr][@ChickenTeriyaki] This is really interesting. So, the workaholic people with such a lack of creativity are unable to imagine anything but their fears, which gives power to the very spell that is keeping them this way. But then there's this plan and ulterior motive, and who's that traveler? So many questions! I could see this existing -- feel free to drop it into the Characters tab.

[quote=@ChickenTeriyaki]
Are character interactions allowed?
[/quote]

I'm not sure what you mean by that? Interactions with your own characters? Of course! Interactions with characters in other players' articles? Maybe PM that player about a collaboration. RPing in the world in general? Not sure yet -- I think it'd be too muddy to open the IC as a free-for-all RP, but I'll encourage and link any separate RPs that might use this concept.

To keep things tidy, at least for now, if you guys wanted to collaborate on a story I'd keep it within one post. I'm not at all sure that was your question, haha.

[hr][quote=@Crawkid]
I'll just submit the concept of a character I guess?

A woman who has had a powerful imagination since being a kid. Traveled around a lot as a kid. Has two Ruse? Both are mostly invisible. One projects feelings of stalking the woman, and incites fear. He's followed her from house to house, but she's so used to him now she just calls him an asshole and smokes the house with sage whenever he "acts up" (created from stress of moving and fear of new things as a kid?)

And a woman who also follows her as she moves around, but is much more passive through-out the day. The time she "acts up" by inciting fear, is when this character is around reflective surfaces, as she has a sort of phobia about mirrors. She appears as a copy of this character, but with red eyes. Sometimes she'll appear in the reflection behind the character, or she'll move in a more rushed manner as the character passes a mirror/reflective surface.

---------------
Also I like the idea of those towers as well...and my thoughts go that going there would possibly be a philosopher's journey. Its dangerous and incredibly difficult because of the high winds, sandstorms, Barkolopus, and constantly shifting sands. But it is said that there is a man who has found eternal life who sits patiently waiting at the top of one of the towers...to offer guidance and a nice cup of tea to whoever actually finds him.
[/quote]

Yeess this sort of haunting is one of the staples of the concept of the Ruse -- reminds me of Bloody Mary. Burning sage is a nice touch -- Witchcraft is definitely a huge influence, and is definitely real in this universe. I'd love to see this character developed more, or let us know where you'd want to go with it!

Your idea of the guy on the tower reminded me of this painting, by [url=http://www.cosimogalluzzi.com/]Cosimo Galluzzi[/url]:

[center][img]http://i.imgur.com/0Eza6KV.png[/img][/center]

[hr][@Zealous Blade] This is awesome! Definitely interested to see where this train goes -- my bet is something nefarious, but maybe it's connected to another location that seems completely unrelated. This concept of a train for people who've given up or are dissatisfied with life reminds me of something but I can't put my finger on it. Either way, this is great!