Hidden 2 yrs ago 2 yrs ago Post by ClocktowerEchos
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Underynth
The Light Below




So this is a setting I originally made for D&D (and an attempt at a book before that) and its something I'd like to share and try to use here. You know all of those issekai anime/stories that's all the rage these days ever since SAO came out? Imagine a world like that, except everything is issekai'd in from all kinds of worlds, timelines and alt histories. There is nothing truly "native" to the Underynth, only things that have bene here longer. Being transported to the Underynth isn't the start of your journey to becoming the super MC whose the only one who can solve a world ending problem and gets a harem of waifus of varying quality. It just means you're new to the Underynth.

Story and plot can be discussed once there's interest. It can either be something pressing like a major event with a strong storyline or a more freeform story with goals and motives on a smaller scale than "end of the world" or something. I'm aiming for this to be Casual although I don't have strict "you must post at least 3 paragraphs" or something; just write enough for others to follow up on and not one line "Jim walks forward". I do however expect people to be mature and not be dicks. Tone can be discussed as well but expect it to be some shade of Noble-Dark / Earn Your Happy Ending.

Although things from all time periods come to the Underynth, the RP will definitely be leaning more towards fantasy and D&D-esque. Swords and shields and spells are going to be a lot more common than lasers and automatic weapons (although flintlocks and more primative firearms are still common).

FAQ

Q: So what is the Underynth beyond issekai world?
A: The Underynth is an endless system of caves, tunnels, caverns and underground terrain that seems to go on infinitely. Some speculate its sort of like its own plane of existence as there's a lot of ambient magic that floats around causing all sorts of weird environments that normally wouldn't be possible like frozen pine forests and even oceans.

Q: That seems really convient, are you really just going to say "its magic" and use that as a pass?
A: Its magic, I don't got to explain shit.

Q: Is there anything else besides caves and magic weather?
A: Yes, there is civilization in the Underynth that go from small homesteads to fortified villages all the way up to bustling cities and multi-region states kingdoms and nations. By the time your characters appear, the Underynth already has a few thousand years of history and development behind it. Its not all the same and you can have two widely different tech levels next to each other, sort of like Rimworld.

Q: How does all of this work? Wouldn't it be hard to live let alone make a city in the Underynth?
A: Yes, but lucky for you, you don't have to figure that stuff out since generations of new arrivals before you already have. In addition, there are Mana Wells all over the places that have a habit of spewing stuff up depending on their size. Smaller ones might throw out materials or foodstuffs or other items while some can throw out new people, books and other things. The larger ones can even throw out vehicles. There are even many cases of entire buildings or facilities being transported to the Underynth through unknown means.

Q: What if I don't want to stay in the Underynth? Can I leave?
A: Out of character, yes. In character, no. There have been hundreds of thousands of attempts to get out of the Underynth including digging straight down, digging straight up, wandering and looking for a "surface exit", trying to use teleportation magic or jumping into a Mana Well. The mostly likely outcome for them are: returning tired, returning exhausted, maybe returning if you don't get lost, phasing into solid stone and instantly dying (if you are lucky).

Q: How does language work? Wouldn't everyone be speaking a different language?
A: As part of the magic of the Underynth, everyone can understand everyone else both speaking and written. Think of it as the magic automatically translating it to your known tongue. If you look at something in a different language you'll be able to understand it but you also know there's the feeling of the magic at work like a slight pressure or hum in your head.

Q: I have a question about the lore or how something works.
A: Then ask away and I'll answer as best as I can. While I probably have an answer for everything, I do ask that you suspend your disbelief at least a little bit. You are in an endless magical hell cave after all

Q: What kind of characters would we be playing?
A: Everyone would be playing a new arrival/"Arrivaler". You can play anyone you want but I would say it should lean towards more mundane and less Coldsteel the Shadow Hedgehog or Mr. Totally-not-Doom-Guy. You'll get your chance to get stronger and make an impact, its about the journey and not as much about the destination. Things like an orc office worker, a student at a magical academy, a spaceship engineer, a noble bastard turned knight, a wasteland survivor, a steampunk merchant trader, etc.

Alternatively, if you really want to start out as someone powerful then you can but you will be severely limited in your abilities if you even still have them. Your going from a level 100 Mafia Boss to a level 1 crook and starting from there again. There could be some interesting stories to tell with a character who no longer has their powers and everything that entails.

Q: Wow this seems really cool and you seem to have put a lot of work into this setting, I really want to be a part of this! Where's the CS?
A: If you're interested at all make it known below! A CS guide/requirements will be made once there's enough interest.


Inspirations: Metero, Dark Souls, Rising of the Shield Hero, Log Horizon, Rimworld, Ebberon, Warhammer, Dwarf Fortress, Fallout, the song "Its a long way to Tipperary"





OOC thread here.
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Hidden 2 yrs ago Post by SilverPaw
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Would love to join, hope I'll have the time to.
Hidden 2 yrs ago Post by Brother
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Call me undernyth'd.

How does one get chosen to become an arrivaler? Via random Isekai mechanics or something more like death via Truck-kun?
Hidden 2 yrs ago Post by ClocktowerEchos
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@SilverPaw Welcome aboard!

@Brother Everyone is going to wake up around a Mana Well but no one knows how you ended up there. You have memories of your past life to varying degrees but the one thing everyone shares is that they have no idea the events leading up to their arrival. Some say its random selection, others blame cosmic happenstance or interaction with something not originally from your world and of course there are people who say the Underynth is basically a sort of limbo/hell.
Hidden 2 yrs ago Post by rush99999
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Count me in.
Hidden 2 yrs ago Post by TheMushroomLord
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Definitely got my interest. You said to aim for more mundane characters, but seem to be talking more in terms of power level there. How weird could we go with character concept?
Hidden 2 yrs ago Post by Brother
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I'm assuming that an overlap with what I'm going for might be low, but just wanna throw it out there. Gonna be going with an orc gardener.
Hidden 2 yrs ago Post by RickyG85
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You should look up a table top game called Rifts; I think you'd like it, might even give you some more ideas.
Hidden 2 yrs ago Post by ClocktowerEchos
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@TheMushroomLord Its something I'm going to judge on a case by case basis but ideally it should be somewhat grounded. For your character backstories, you are pretty much making up the world you came from so it should have some logical flow behind it that explains your character's outlook.

@BenG85 Just took a look at it and its really interesting and definitely fits the feel and theme of Underynth if it was buried several hundred miles under the earth.

Also, CS stuff to come soon now that there's some interest!
Hidden 2 yrs ago 2 yrs ago Post by ClocktowerEchos
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CS time! Here is what should be on your character sheet, feel free to use whatever format you want. Some additional things to keep in mind:
- You character is coming in as closed to unarmed as they can be. They can have something like their wallet and keys, school bag or tool belt but they aren't going to come in with a gun or 2 handed sword.
- They can basically be whoever you want in their past life but if they were a powerful mage or legendary warrior, their are going to be scaled down/nerfed heavily. Going from level 100 to level 5 at best.
- Its possible that your character might have lost some memories going through and not know or misremember certain things (this is to give some flexibility if you want to alter your backstory later on).



Example Character:



ALSO! IMPORTANT!
What kind of plot do you guys want to have? Something mostly freeform and exploratory, a story more akin to a D&D plot with larger consequences or a story with a narrative but less consequential?

OOC Thread to come soon-ish, probably around the weekend!
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Hidden 2 yrs ago 2 yrs ago Post by deadpixel101
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I know you've garnered enough interest to move to the next stage, but I'm putting mine here for posterity anyways.

Very fun concept; got a good a feel to it.

(Will also state I'd probably enjoy a more D&D-esque plot personally. Though the free-form vignette style would also be interesting.)
Hidden 2 yrs ago Post by ClocktowerEchos
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@deadpixel101 Welcome aboard and hey, until I actually have an OOC up we ain't quite at the next stage yet
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Hidden 2 yrs ago Post by DracoLunaris
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also interested in this and in a more D&D-esque thing
Hidden 2 yrs ago Post by TheMushroomLord
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I’d also lean towards a more D&D-esque style of plot.

Still trying to think of a decent character concept, my initial idea was an amorphous blob of flesh that’d gain complete sapience after being separated from its hive mind. So not exactly the most grounded of ideas.
Hidden 2 yrs ago Post by rush99999
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Personally, I'd rather have something freeform and exploratory. If we aren't here to be world-saving harem-building super MCs, then I see no point in pretending otherwise.

As for what I plan on playing, I have two words: Skeleton Cowboy.
Hidden 2 yrs ago Post by DracoLunaris
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As for what I plan on playing, I have two words: Skeleton Cowboy.


And here I am thinking of making a centaur bandito. Mover over medieval fantasy, we a western movie now
Hidden 2 yrs ago Post by ClocktowerEchos
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As for what I plan on playing, I have two words: Skeleton Cowboy.


<Snipped quote by rush99999>

And here I am thinking of making a centaur bandito. Mover over medieval fantasy, we a western movie now


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Hidden 2 yrs ago Post by ClocktowerEchos
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Hidden 2 yrs ago Post by SilverPaw
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I'll likely lose intersted if it's too sandboxy, so my vote also goes for some sort of plotline. Also, making a harpy, occupation unknown yet.
Hidden 2 yrs ago Post by ClocktowerEchos
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Guess its going to be more D&D-like with a story and narrative with larger scale stakes and consequences.

Out of curiosity, is anyone here familiar with a HOI4 mod called "The New Order: Last Days of Europe"? Just checking.
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