Screech
The Cool Cat
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2004
- Posts
- 3,661
Ok, spurred on by Morgoth's RP, I want to see just how many people would be interested in doing an RP based around the world of Arcanum. Now, you may all ask just what it's all about, so I'll go into it's history a little here...
The known land of arcanum consists of a main continent split into three teratories, and three main islands - Cattan, Thanatos, and the Isle Of Despair. A large mountain range called the Stonewall mountains seperate the lands of the "civilised" industrial folk, and the lush lands of the evles. The mountains themselves are home to a number of Dwarf clans.
Of the industialised lands, the Unified Kingdom is the larget. Centred on the large industrial city of Tarant, it stretches from the port city of Ashbury in the east, to the recently acquired township of Black Root in the south, and all lands in batween. Their power lies in the technology of steam and gunpowder, and is supported by a recent invention for mass haulage - the train.
Second to the Unified Kingdom, is the Kingdom of Cumbria. Once a major power, it has been reduced to two small cities that constantly teater on the brink of poverty - the capital of Dernholm, and the city of Caladon. Once at war with the Unified Kingdom, the cream of their military was wiped out, along with thir king. Now they are ruled by a pupet king and a council of mages, who scheme to destroy technology.
These two kingdoms represent the forces of magick and technology, and how here, on Arcanum, they are diametrically opposed. The most powerful spells seem to bounce off the machined armours, yet handguns can missfire and explade when in the presence of powerful magick.
The third realm, Vendrigoth, is an unknown place. Once, it used to be a massive centre of technology, but a cataclysm in the distant past reduced the once great land to a blasted wasteland, potmarked by aincient constructions. Despite this, and the general hostility of the landscape (as well as it's critters), there is a thriving black market in aincient technology, prompting many would-be treasure hunters to travel there.
As mentioned before, the lands of the Dwarves are located within the Stonewall mountains. Not being a very populous race, there are a number of abandoned mine-cities, but those few clans that do remain guard their homes with technological tricks and traps, while they dig into the earth for more precious metals to fuel their machineries. There are a number of Dwarves who do not reside in the mountains with the rest of their kin. Known commonly at "City Dwarves", they are often looked down apon by humans, and considered not as technologically adept as their mountain kin - even if they are moreso.
The evles are split into three factions. The first are the Wood Elves who live beyond the Stonewall mountains, and hold nature in high regard. Their communities are built into and around the greatest of trees, and they guard them against any would-be loggers that happen by. Within the realm of the Wood Elves is the second faction who call themselves the Dark Elves. Identical in appearance to the Wood Elves, they are a very bitter people who believe that technology must be destroyed at all costs. The third and final faction are the city elves. Having turned their backs on the more "barbaric" kin, they have adapted to life in the cities of the humans and their technology.
Now that the regions are known, on to their inhabitants!
Humans: The most populous of the races in Arcanum. Once considered only a minor power in the world, since the invention of the steam engine and the gun, they have risen to being a powerful race who, in the span of two generations, have driven back the creatures of the wilderness to establish the largest cities in all of Arcanum.
Dwarves: By far the most technically adept race, most of them reside in their mountain homes, working for the good of the clans. Not predisposed toward magick, they tend to have a hard time casting spells, and magickally charged items can make them feel ill. Some Dwarves live in the great human cities, often taking up the professions of tinkerer, inventor, or miner. Curiously, no Dwarven women have yet been seen by any other race. Dwarves are increadably long lived yet, unfortunatly, are known to view time differently to humans. Many Dwarven journals have spans of tens of years between entries
Elves: Tall and slender, Elves are the embodiment of grace and beauty. Most are skilled with both common weapons and magick, yet are not a violent race. By far the greater majority of the powerful mages in Arcanum are of elven descent. A small faction of Elf kind have taken the philosophy of nature and it's inherant magic to an extreme, and these "Dark Elves" will do anything to destroy technology, and return the world to how they believe it sould be. Some Elves have migrated to the great human cities in order to take their place in high society. However, rumer has it that a number of the Dark Elves also reside in the cities, and it is nearly impossable to tell them apart. Like the Dwarves, elves are an incredably long-lived race.
Gnomes: A diminutive people, Gnomes do not have a land of their own. Instead, they reside within the Human cities, often making their way as shop owners and traders until they have enough money to enter into high society. Slightly more disposed toward the ways of technology, they don't have any problems using magickal items or casting spells. It is a rare Gnome that is not constantly on the lookout for more money.
Half-Orc: The offspring of wild orcs and humans, these poor unfortunates have been wecomed into the human cities as a labour class. They have next to no rights, no education, and are seen as little more than a manual labour force by the civilised folk of the world. Most Half-Orcs accept their lot in life, content enough just to be given a job and a place to sleep, but some do not accept this. It isn't an uncommon to see small bands of Half-Orcs acting as theives or bandits. Curiously, Half-Orcs are supprisingly adept in the ways of magick - when one shows enough smarts to learn it properly....
Half Elves: The children of Elf and Human pareants, they tend only to be welcome in the cities of the Humans. Few in number they may be, but they have no trouble fitting in. The majority of Half-Evles tend to get hired as servants for the well off, but those that are not can become quite skilled in almost any task they put their minds to. They are the most well recieved of the "half breeds", as they are only part Elf and part Human. Even Dwarves will admit "Well, at least they're not as bad as full-blooded elves..."
Half-Ogre: A perculiar sub-species. No-one really knows where they come from as tribes of Ogres are extremely rare. Large and physically powerful, they are adept at anything that requires the use of fists. Because of this, they often find employment as bodyguards. Interestingly, it is the Gnomes who have them the most. What is not widely known about the Half-Ogres is that they are, in fact, specifically bred by a small cabal of Gnomes...
Well, thems the races. Now, my mind is starting to fail me, so I'll finish off with a time setting for when this will be set.
It is a quiet time across Arcanum. It has been just over 100 years since the Human called Bates invented the steam engine, thrusting the lands into a revolution of industry. The Dwarves and Elves are keeping a wary eye on each other as it has been only 1000 years since the evil one known as Arronax came into the world to make his war on the Dwarves, and was subsequently banished to the Void by a cabal of Elf sorcerers. Technological wonders have been springing up all across the Human lands. Unfortunatly, tradgedy has recently struck. The first ever luxury airship, the IFS Zephyr, had crashed under suspicious circumstances outside of a small mining community called Shrouded Hills. In the cities, a thriving Theives Underground in in operation, and there are whispers of Half-Orcs and unionisers...
The known land of arcanum consists of a main continent split into three teratories, and three main islands - Cattan, Thanatos, and the Isle Of Despair. A large mountain range called the Stonewall mountains seperate the lands of the "civilised" industrial folk, and the lush lands of the evles. The mountains themselves are home to a number of Dwarf clans.
Of the industialised lands, the Unified Kingdom is the larget. Centred on the large industrial city of Tarant, it stretches from the port city of Ashbury in the east, to the recently acquired township of Black Root in the south, and all lands in batween. Their power lies in the technology of steam and gunpowder, and is supported by a recent invention for mass haulage - the train.
Second to the Unified Kingdom, is the Kingdom of Cumbria. Once a major power, it has been reduced to two small cities that constantly teater on the brink of poverty - the capital of Dernholm, and the city of Caladon. Once at war with the Unified Kingdom, the cream of their military was wiped out, along with thir king. Now they are ruled by a pupet king and a council of mages, who scheme to destroy technology.
These two kingdoms represent the forces of magick and technology, and how here, on Arcanum, they are diametrically opposed. The most powerful spells seem to bounce off the machined armours, yet handguns can missfire and explade when in the presence of powerful magick.
The third realm, Vendrigoth, is an unknown place. Once, it used to be a massive centre of technology, but a cataclysm in the distant past reduced the once great land to a blasted wasteland, potmarked by aincient constructions. Despite this, and the general hostility of the landscape (as well as it's critters), there is a thriving black market in aincient technology, prompting many would-be treasure hunters to travel there.
As mentioned before, the lands of the Dwarves are located within the Stonewall mountains. Not being a very populous race, there are a number of abandoned mine-cities, but those few clans that do remain guard their homes with technological tricks and traps, while they dig into the earth for more precious metals to fuel their machineries. There are a number of Dwarves who do not reside in the mountains with the rest of their kin. Known commonly at "City Dwarves", they are often looked down apon by humans, and considered not as technologically adept as their mountain kin - even if they are moreso.
The evles are split into three factions. The first are the Wood Elves who live beyond the Stonewall mountains, and hold nature in high regard. Their communities are built into and around the greatest of trees, and they guard them against any would-be loggers that happen by. Within the realm of the Wood Elves is the second faction who call themselves the Dark Elves. Identical in appearance to the Wood Elves, they are a very bitter people who believe that technology must be destroyed at all costs. The third and final faction are the city elves. Having turned their backs on the more "barbaric" kin, they have adapted to life in the cities of the humans and their technology.
Now that the regions are known, on to their inhabitants!
Humans: The most populous of the races in Arcanum. Once considered only a minor power in the world, since the invention of the steam engine and the gun, they have risen to being a powerful race who, in the span of two generations, have driven back the creatures of the wilderness to establish the largest cities in all of Arcanum.
Dwarves: By far the most technically adept race, most of them reside in their mountain homes, working for the good of the clans. Not predisposed toward magick, they tend to have a hard time casting spells, and magickally charged items can make them feel ill. Some Dwarves live in the great human cities, often taking up the professions of tinkerer, inventor, or miner. Curiously, no Dwarven women have yet been seen by any other race. Dwarves are increadably long lived yet, unfortunatly, are known to view time differently to humans. Many Dwarven journals have spans of tens of years between entries
Elves: Tall and slender, Elves are the embodiment of grace and beauty. Most are skilled with both common weapons and magick, yet are not a violent race. By far the greater majority of the powerful mages in Arcanum are of elven descent. A small faction of Elf kind have taken the philosophy of nature and it's inherant magic to an extreme, and these "Dark Elves" will do anything to destroy technology, and return the world to how they believe it sould be. Some Elves have migrated to the great human cities in order to take their place in high society. However, rumer has it that a number of the Dark Elves also reside in the cities, and it is nearly impossable to tell them apart. Like the Dwarves, elves are an incredably long-lived race.
Gnomes: A diminutive people, Gnomes do not have a land of their own. Instead, they reside within the Human cities, often making their way as shop owners and traders until they have enough money to enter into high society. Slightly more disposed toward the ways of technology, they don't have any problems using magickal items or casting spells. It is a rare Gnome that is not constantly on the lookout for more money.
Half-Orc: The offspring of wild orcs and humans, these poor unfortunates have been wecomed into the human cities as a labour class. They have next to no rights, no education, and are seen as little more than a manual labour force by the civilised folk of the world. Most Half-Orcs accept their lot in life, content enough just to be given a job and a place to sleep, but some do not accept this. It isn't an uncommon to see small bands of Half-Orcs acting as theives or bandits. Curiously, Half-Orcs are supprisingly adept in the ways of magick - when one shows enough smarts to learn it properly....
Half Elves: The children of Elf and Human pareants, they tend only to be welcome in the cities of the Humans. Few in number they may be, but they have no trouble fitting in. The majority of Half-Evles tend to get hired as servants for the well off, but those that are not can become quite skilled in almost any task they put their minds to. They are the most well recieved of the "half breeds", as they are only part Elf and part Human. Even Dwarves will admit "Well, at least they're not as bad as full-blooded elves..."
Half-Ogre: A perculiar sub-species. No-one really knows where they come from as tribes of Ogres are extremely rare. Large and physically powerful, they are adept at anything that requires the use of fists. Because of this, they often find employment as bodyguards. Interestingly, it is the Gnomes who have them the most. What is not widely known about the Half-Ogres is that they are, in fact, specifically bred by a small cabal of Gnomes...
Well, thems the races. Now, my mind is starting to fail me, so I'll finish off with a time setting for when this will be set.
It is a quiet time across Arcanum. It has been just over 100 years since the Human called Bates invented the steam engine, thrusting the lands into a revolution of industry. The Dwarves and Elves are keeping a wary eye on each other as it has been only 1000 years since the evil one known as Arronax came into the world to make his war on the Dwarves, and was subsequently banished to the Void by a cabal of Elf sorcerers. Technological wonders have been springing up all across the Human lands. Unfortunatly, tradgedy has recently struck. The first ever luxury airship, the IFS Zephyr, had crashed under suspicious circumstances outside of a small mining community called Shrouded Hills. In the cities, a thriving Theives Underground in in operation, and there are whispers of Half-Orcs and unionisers...
