World Creation Superdraft 6: May 2022

[Pattern Ghost]

8 hours ago, Hermit said:

Thrum wouldn't have been QUIET about it.

 

And on this day, a Universal Truth was uttered.

[death tribble]

8 hours ago, Hermit said:

 

Sorry for any misunderstandings,you wanted my and Pattern Ghost suggestions, but I think I'll pass on that.

fair enough

[death tribble]

Hermit,

 

Re the God that supposedly corrupted Xarn Tarsus's supposed son. Orlandria is supposed to have killed a God of Trickery. That might also be a possibility if it was not for the fact that what you describe is obviously heretical rubbish.

[death tribble]

Boxes ?

Laser Cats ?

Demons in bottles ?

 

right then

 

[Hermit]

The fact the selection of boxes maybe the only thing that saves us from Laser Cat swarms is a turn I did not expect

[death tribble]

And they are infesting the moons. When I said they could support life I did not expect that.

 

I am waiting for csyphrett to pick his sentient life to see what is left before I pick mine. I want to see what is left that we have got left. Possibly some form of aerial or sea life.

[Sociotard]

10 hours ago, Old Man said:

Do the laser cats chase their own lasers?

 

Of course. Their unusual migratory patterns among the moons and world has to be driven by *something*.

 

And if anyone really didn't the draft to be silly, I apologize. I was having a hard time thinking of a fun Interference, and then those two picks made it feel intuitive.

 

Old Man: Cats

Psybolt: Lasers

Sociotard: Laser Cats

[death tribble]

You expect me to accept the apology ?

 

You who gave us literally the Demon Drink.

 

For all participants if we did a Fantasy Hero draft in July or August would you be interested ?

Smaller scale obviously but I will post a thread looking for details.

[Hermit]

2 hours ago, Sociotard said:

 

Of course. Their unusual migratory patterns among the moons and world has to be driven by *something*.

 

And if anyone really didn't the draft to be silly, I apologize. I was having a hard time thinking of a fun Interference, and then those two picks made it feel intuitive.

 

Old Man: Cats

Psybolt: Lasers

Sociotard: Laser Cats

 

Well, in the sacred recordings of Xarn Tarsus' priests, which never lie, they'll probably be depicted more like this:

 

 

And the name given for them in the books will be the more dignified and evil sounding "Todeslichtkatzen!"

There, the dignity of hundreds of snake people fleeing for their lives during the next swarm is preserved

[death tribble]

I had a vision of someone offending Xarn Tarsus by organizing Brownie cavalry mounted on laser kittens attacking his forces. And suffering no casualties.

[L. Marcus]

Secondary Domain: Peace of Mind.

[death tribble]

Pariah,

 

For ease of reading, ideas that Dshomshak and I had.

 

On 5/11/2022 at 6:42 AM, DShomshak said:

Oh hey, a couple more thoughts for G'Brill, if Pariah likes:

 

Geography: Dubious Lands of Fable. The World is large; who but the Gods can know all that it contains? Travelers tell stories of wondrous lands far, far away. The wonders of these countries are certainly not found hereabouts, but far away... Who knows?

 

Secondary Domain: The Horseshoe Nail. How do causes become lost? Sometimes the opposing force is just too great. But sometimes small gaps and failings cascade. Sometimes they cascade for generations, leaving shocked survivors to wonder what might have been, if only someone had done things a little differently...

 

Other gods create giant monsters. The God of the Unknown works great feats of destruction through the tiniest causes, unnoticed until it is far too late.

 

(I first thought of and posted this as a Monster/Guardian, but I am reminded you already defined one.)

 

Dean Shomshak

 

On 5/11/2022 at 3:17 PM, death tribble said:

Pariah,

 

Had an idea for the bonus choice that you were awarded.

Lost Knowledge. This is knowledge that once was known but now is lost as all who knew it have gone.

It is different from The Unknown as that may never be known whereas this was known but now only the Gods are aware of it.

 

[Old Man]

Peace of mind with swarms of laser cats swooping down from the moons?

[L. Marcus]

That's when you really really need it. Panicking in a calm, controlled fashion. 

[Pariah]

37 minutes ago, death tribble said:

Pariah,

 

For ease of reading, ideas that Dshomshak and I had.

 

<snip>

 

I am not opposed to any of this. Good thoughts, actually.

[death tribble]

I'll update accordingly and that might be you finished with the exception of a Gift to civilisation. Or one other free choice or secondary domain.

[Hermit]

"Tired, aching? Your labors decrease?

Partake of the Piety Lily and your troubles will cease

Chew it raw, or as Piety Wine

which Xarn Tarsus' priests refine

It will gift you the stamina of ten

until you need take it again

What a blessing from our Lord of Lords!

Barely feel pain when hit by swords!

Are your hands shaking? Well you clearly need more

Honor the god who holds it in store

Listen to his clergy, listen to their truths

that's the only way more lilies come to you" - Children's song in the Empire

 

Flora: The Piety Lily

What a Miracle the Piety Lily is, why it brings you a jolt of new energy that lasts for hours and enhances both stamina and strength, easing pain as well! Of course, there are rumors that for a bit some who partake of the wine version (created by the priests of Xarn Tarsus, praise his glory) can be a bit suggestable for awhile after but the raw stuff works too, but even then, partakers soon realize how much they NEED the Piety Lily and it soon becomes part of their holy communion and communion can be addictive. Only the clergy of Xarn Tarsus are said to understand it's cultivation. Do be careful, it's lethal to mules and makes felines very sleepy.

 

(Or to phrase it in the vulgar? "The first hit's free, kid")

[death tribble]

Grab yourself a drink this is a long one.

 

The battle was over. It had been a decisive victory and Thrum s followers cheered as they celebrated. Amonia’s followers began the process of cleaning while those of The Lovers set fires and vented their grief whilst also celebrating life. Ghouls who had fought on the winning side took to cooking and clearing the field whilst stocking up on provisions for the journey home.

Xarn Tarsus took Olandria by the arm and escorted her from the field. He knew she loathed the ghouls and was prudent enough not to pry. The gods had been present as his army had been defeated. They paused some distance away and looked back.

 

‘There will be no revenge for this’ said the Moon Goddess.

Xarn looked at her in surprise but said nothing.

‘In answer to your unasked question’, she continued, ‘Your army had the element of surprise and a cloak of darkness. You asked for my help and I gave it. You did not demand, or tell me, you asked. The army had not only your support but mine as well. Thrum  did not appear until later and by then the matter had been decided. Your forces lost because they were outfought and out-thought.

’We would look diminished if we said that we should avenge this defeat.’

 

‘You could have used that’ Xarn stated indicating skyward at the purple moon.

Olandria looked up. Her purple moon hung beside Bala which was a neutral red hue. It indicated she was neither upset, nor angry.

‘I was in no danger. And neither were you’, she said, ‘I would have used it if that had been the case. ‘

Xarn had see her call upon the moon and use it as a giant ball of destruction rolling over mortals or bat them aside. She had even done it to him more than once, suddenly appearing at a battle where he and Thrum  were engaged and snatching victory from his hands by having the moon roll over his forces.

 

‘Besides it does not trust you’

‘It does not trust any god except you.’

‘Agreed’. ‘I believe the remnants of the army should return home with no input from us’

Xarn was of the opinion that someone should be persecuted for this failure but said nothing. As if following his train of thought, The Moon Goddess continued.

‘All those responsible have died. None of the commanders left the field alive’

‘True, they seem to be ghoul food now. Although I think one might have been alive when the ghouls tucked in’

Olandria turned and scowled at him in response. Xarn grinned but indicated that it had been a joke.

 

‘You’ll need veterans who survived this and they will want to avenge this defeat’

‘You would allow them a personal revenge but not me for this loss ?’

‘Yes, this is a minor setback. If I avenged each of your losses or took revenge on your forces for each of your victories you would have no-one left to follow you’

That was an exaggeration but she had a point. They did not intervene all the time. No god did. Or should.

 

She turned to him again slowly, ‘I had better not get the blame for this from your followers’

‘You won’t’ he assured her.

Twice his followers had blamed Olandria for losses. The first time her revenge had been fast and brutal. The second time she had blamed him for not policing his followers and her vengeance had been far more subtle and slow in execution. The sparkly moon, and no he would not call it by any other name, I mean who calls a moon Zazzles for worship sake ? , had plagued his lands and followers with joy and contentment. That was the least of it. He had to go to the other gods and get them to intercede on his behalf. She had made her point and then indicated which of his followers were most to blame and had him revenge himself on them through persecution. From then on he made it clear that if he said she was to blame for something, then they could as well. For example if she was on the other side of the battlefield with Thrum , then his followers could say what they wanted. However if she was fighting alongside him, or was at a battle as a neutral waiting for a mortal to call upon revenge, then only he could criticise her whatever the result.

‘I still don’t see how we lost’ she said.

 

That was what he had been waiting for. Not you, but we, us. There was no doubt now of her commitment. He had asked her along on this campaign, there had been no revenge to exact but along the way something might have occurred. Besides it stopped the other side getting her direct assistance. Her presence could be a decisive factor as could her absence. More than one campaign had ‘run into difficulties’ as she was not present but had then turned up to avenge something his forces had done.

‘I can see it now. When they are ready to fight again, they will turn their heads skyward and say Oh Sweet Olandria grant us our due revenge’ she said with a degree of sarcasm

‘Sweet Olandria ?’ smirked Xarn.

She glowered at him ‘You know very well what I meant’

Subsiding she said ‘Make a list of the organisers of this debacle and those that stayed at home that you intend to persecute and I’ll make a personal appearance to acknowledge the righteousness of revenge.’

Xarn nodded and with that the Gods departed.

 

 

[Old Man]

Their beaks are unbreakable awls

The better to drill into walls

To get to their goal

They'll chisel a hole

Wood brick and stone will all fall

 

 

Flora or Fauna:  Great Woodpecker

 

Endowed with a keen ability to detect hollow spaces, Great Woodpeckers have the curiosity and the means to explore them. Equipped with beaks as hard as steel, they have been known to cut through even castle walls in their quest for foodstores and shiny objects. They will often lair in spaces they break into, especially if that lair is full of treasure, in a manner similar to dragons. Their speed and proficiency with that lethal beak makes them formidable opponents.

 

Ranging in size from chicken to dragon over the course of their lifespans, Great Woodpeckers are usually considered pests for obvious reasons. But if trained from an early age they can be useful in construction work as well as in sieges.

 

In the wild, Great Woodpeckers have been observed in symbiotic relationships with Giant Mongooses, carrying them so that they can help fight off defenders and retrieve valuables from the openings they make with their powerful headbanging.

 

[Hermit]

54 minutes ago, Hermit said:

 

 

 

Flora: The Piety Lily

 Only the clergy of Xarn Tarsus are said to understand it's cultivation

 

 

Ah, flaw in my plan, I forgot Cadel was also a god of agriculture ... which means whatever is "said" it is possible the sun god's clergy knows the piety Lily's secret as well.  Depending on what Log thinks

[Hermit]

11 minutes ago, Old Man said:

Their beaks are unbreakable awls

The better to drill into walls

To get to their goal

They'll chisel a hole

Wood brick and stone will all fall

 

 

Flora or Fauna:  Great Woodpecker

 

Endowed with a keen ability to detect hollow spaces, Great Woodpeckers have the curiosity and the means to explore them. Equipped with beaks as hard as steel, they have been known to cut through even castle walls in their quest for foodstores and shiny objects. They will often lair in spaces they break into, especially if that lair is full of treasure, in a manner similar to dragons. Their speed and proficiency with that lethal beak makes them formidable opponents.

 

Ranging in size from chicken to dragon over the course of their lifespans, Great Woodpeckers are usually considered pests for obvious reasons. But if trained from an early age they can be useful in construction work as well as in sieges.

 

In the wild, Great Woodpeckers have been observed in symbiotic relationships with Giant Mongooses, carrying them so that they can help fight off defenders and retrieve valuables from the openings they make with their powerful headbanging.

 

 

 

This world is terrifying

 

 

[Old Man]

2 minutes ago, Hermit said:

 

 

This world is terrifying

 

 

 

Said the god of tyranny.

[Sociotard]

Who'd be intimidated by a giant pecker?

[Hermit]

Mongooses RIDING Pe... you know what I'm not gonna finish that sentence someone might report me

[Old Man]

These black quartzen guards ward the doors

Riddle and vow mediators

Wit and virtue they judge

Fail and they will not budge

And they'll probably eat you what's more

 

 

Sentient Life: Sphinxes

 

Important doorways require important guardians. Let there be Sphinxes, fierce monsters that are nevertheless given to logic and reason. As guardians, they will ensure that any who pass shall be worthy of passage, and shall be empowered to consume the unworthy.* In addition to their role as guardians, they shall also serve as teachers, lawyers, adjudicators, scientists, philosophers, and explorers, embodying all the domains of Aportuna. Their purpose shall be to connect and enlighten all the beings of the world.

 

The most accomplished Sphinxes shall wear jewelry of ebony minerals to signify their station. Oaths sworn before these Sphinxes shall be regarded as the most binding words one can utter, because sphinxes of black quartz judge my vows.

 

* Cats are allowed to pass freely, they're just going to come right back anyway.