Mokley

YOWL: a worldbuild collaboration

@Tojin Hey hi yay! :D

If we're gonna do the conversion thing, the first step is to figure out the start point and end point of our timeline, and have a sentence that describes that span of time.

So far the start point seems to be an age of gods and upheval (dark), and the end point is probably the rise of techno-magic (light ... maybe).

Maybe the timeline we're writing now is the fall of the Ruse? People used to live in fear and submission to the gods of their own creation, but as understanding grows the Ruse are gradually made to submit to humanity?

YOWL: a worldbuild collaboration

@snake153 Hey awesome! :)

We could probably put what we've already got into the system and go from there -- OR create a new thread and start fresh with the new system and maybe a different theme. Leaving this one open, of course.

What do you guys think?

YOWL: a worldbuild collaboration

@Polybius Yep you got it! Essentially we'd need some kind of timeline visual aid that shows the beginning and end of certain eras/timespans, and fit new events/wars/etc between or alongside existing points.

Timeline: The Game, essentially. xD

The first step, though, is to come up with one descriptive sentence about the world and specifically the time period we're focusing on, and build off of that.

YOWL: a worldbuild collaboration

@Wardian Hey cool something set down about the Null Empire! I'd like to open the floor to any feedback on that one -- I have a feeling this is a cornerstone of the worldbuild. I may have to go back and read all the previous mentions of it and get back to you. ;)

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Is this dead

I hope not :(

@BingTheWing

I can't imagine this could possibly ever be dead! I'll basically always be here, so whenever anyone has an idea for an article -- even if it's been months since the last one -- just fling it up there. xD

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Everyone: A friend recently pointed me at a worldbuilding RPG Microscope -- it looks pretty cool and seems pretty much like a better organized version of what we've been doing already. Would you guys be interested in maybe trying to convert this to a Microscope game? PM me if you're interested in taking a look at the game book pdf. :)

@SepticGentleman@Arawak@ChickenTeriyaki@Zealous Blade@Crawkid@snake153@Polybius

YOWL: a worldbuild collaboration

@Wardian That's some complicated politics if ever I saw it. @.@ Potential for hilarity and mayhem!

Dragon's Mask

@bloonewb Hahaha you got me! A lot of Little Nightmares with a dash of Spirited Away. xD

Dragon's Mask

Quivering lips, he slowly turned towards the terrifying monster that was the cat. Then the walls. His eyes scanned the walls for any signs of a door. He refused to interact with the speaking animal. If he pretended it did not exist then maybe it would just leave.

The cat blinked its huge eyes. It tilted its head. It backed out of the boy's way and sat down again, curious.

What Arthur would see on the wall were quite a lot of straight lines and neat angles, like the wires on a motherboard, that covered the entirety of the coppery walls as well as the floor. The ceiling, of course, was water -- like an upside-down pool with no bottom in sight.

But also on the wall was a row of circles that might be buttons, lined up just low enough that Arthur could potentially reach them with small effort:

"You wanna get out of this little room, huh?" the cat went on with a fangy grin. "Why not push one of those buttons? I bet they'll take you someplace neat."

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"I . . . I don't understand," she says, trying to hide her confusion. "I'm not late for anything. You don't know me, you don't even know my name . . . right?"

"Your name's not important," the hostess said testily. She suddenly tossed an apron at Riley's head. "What's important is you get to work. Grab some dirty plates and take them back to the kitchen, and don't talk to the clients no matter what. Skedaddle!"

The monsters, meanwhile, paid no attention to Riley -- they were far too invested in devouring all the food in sight, as quickly and as messily as possible. The room was filled with slurping and chewing and grunting noises.

Suddenly there was a crashing commotion. A few of the monsters lunged over their table, grabbing for something that was running away between the plates. A little white fuzzy animal sprinted along the table, leaping away from their grabbing claws and tentacles -- it tumbled to the floor and skittered away again just out of reach of a hungry monster. The little poofy animal skidded and hid inside an oversized cup on the floor, shivering, unsure what to do.

"Pick up the pace!" the hostess hollered again, and threw a wad of paper at a passing waitress.

YOWL: a worldbuild collaboration

An outline of Magician's Guilds! I thought after all the spooky/mysterious/serious posts it would do to have something a bit lighthearted and cliche anime, haha.

YOWL: a worldbuild collaboration

_{art by Ullbors}

The Magician's Guilds

Magic, unlike science and medicine, cannot be learned in a university setting -- not that this fact hasn't prevented said universities from offering courses and degrees in enchantment and divination. A structured magical curriculum, in the words of renowned magician Ezora Oovakey, "is just fine for the casual layperson or researcher, but no one may call themselves a magician if school is their only experience." True magicians, in professional opinion, hail from the Magician's Guilds.

Basic Structure of Magician's Guilds

In almost any Magician's Guild you'll find a simple hierarchy of members, which reflects that of guilds of any other trade:

APPRENTICE
A new recruit -- usually a youth -- will join a guild as an apprentice. Apprentices are each assigned a mentor (or are adopted directly by a ranked guild member) and are given trivial tasks and mundane responsibilities to perform as compensation for the privilege of accompanying the magician.

JOURNEYMAN
When an apprentice is deemed ready, the mentor will recommend the apprentice for full membership into the guild. A ceremony is held in which the recruit is officially bestowed the status of magician. As a journeyman, the new magician is qualified to conduct business in their own name, respond to public commissions, and train apprentices of their own. A journeyman's ultimate goal is to contribute an original masterpiece -- a new application of magic or an exceptional and defining feat -- to the field of magic.

MASTER
The council of masters operates and oversees the guild. A journeyman with a high reputation who has completed their masterpiece may be considered by the council to join the rank of Master. The masters of Mages' Guilds are highly sought after for their experience and intellect, and their names are famous (and sometimes infamous) among the general public.

GRANDMASTER
Each guild may only have one grandmaster at any time. The grandmaster is considered to possess the highest knowledge and experience, and acts as the final authority on guild decisions. The council of masters, by popular vote, has the authority to appoint one of their own as grandmaster, and to demote a sitting grandmaster.

CHAPTER
The guild is divided into multiple Chapters, each of which has its own guild hall presided by a single Master. One guild may have numerous chapters that extend to the farthest reaches of the world.

FULCRUM
The meeting place of the guild masters -- and the place of authority of the Grandmaster -- is the Fulcrum. If the guild keeps artifacts or knowledge of importance, they are usually located within the fulcrum.

A List of Guilds in Operation

The following list is by no means comprehensive -- guilds are founded and disbanded every day -- but it may serve as an example of the most popular and widespread guilds.

• ENCHANTER'S GUILD - artifacts and the infusion of magical properties into objects.
• SORCERER'S GUILD - magic as offensive and defensive strategy in war and peacekeeping.
• DIVINER'S GUILD - specializing in clairvoyant insight and foretelling the future.
• PHYSICIAN'S GUILD - uniquely teaches scientific and magical methods of healing.
• NECROMANCER'S GUILD - communicate with the dead and manipulate the state of living things.
• MECHANIKER'S GUILD - magic as a power source for machines.
• ARCHITECT'S GUILD - creation and control of Ruse, golems, and magically manufactured life.

Alternative Magical Organizations

Outside the guilds, there are a great many independent organizations which practice magic in all its forms. Their members, however, rarely call themselves "magicians."

• WITCH COVENS - the use of magic to affect fate, luck and nature in a variety of concentrations.
• RELIGIOUS SECTS - worship one or more deities which answer prayers with magical effects.
• SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES - research into the way magic works.

Lantern

@c3p-0h So far, only that it has to do with Anise -- and the Witch doesn't like Anise very much. :3