The Diaemus Project

[Curious Anamaximder he/him]

Working on my civilizations now.

[Kobold King he/him]

Those dinosaurs are great. I can already think of some probable uses for them (will spell out the names when I'm back on my laptop, since my phone thinks "skitter" and "hairs" should never be one word ). The armored ones might also be useful to the seals, if they need heated water or use the spines as weapons. (If anyone else has any suggestions as to how this arrangement could be mutually beneficial, don't hesitate to let me know. There's no sense in a symbiotic relationship if the humans are benefited more than the seals.)

Ooh, looks like there's a bit of overlap on our respective territories. What are the chances your race has explored far enough into the tundra to reach the coast?

 

Awesome. I'm using mostly blue and red lumuoles, as your races are closely tied to them, but I'm also considering some herbivores that use green lumuoles to generate small whirlwinds ahead of them, blowing the snow off of the plants they eat. (Caribou just use their antlers to brush away snow, but magic dinosaurs have license to be more charismatic. )

 

For reference, the crimsobeests would look something like this...

 

 

...but with more crimson scales and luminous red underbellies. The spikes would be pretty heavy and probably not hydrodynamic, but maybe the seals could strap them to their bodies when wandering about on land, to protect themselves from predators?

 

 

The Ice Kin (essay coming soon) are an ethnicity of Dromeans that specialize in blue lumuoles, specifically for ice-related magic. They were founded by a blonde raptor queen who made them an ice castle in the middle of an impassioned musical number, er, I mean, they were founded by Dromeans who migrated south after some sort of turbulence in the north.

 

Their central government will be based out of an icy citadel high in the mountains, but there will be many herdsmen, sap collectors, and traders roaming the tundra all around. They will be more than capable of traveling to the coasts, and if the humans are friendly and possessing of some level of wealth, they might even send caravans to trade them tools of unmeltable ice in exchange for goods.

 

 

Personally, I have been calling the long range the World Spine.

 

I like that, but the mountain range in the Wheel of Time books is called the Spine of the World, so I was hoping for something similar but more unique to our setting.

[Curious Anamaximder he/him]

How about ( for the mountain range) the Icy Sword?

[Kobold King he/him]

How about ( for the mountain range) the Icy Sword?

 

[iNSERT DEITY NAME HERE]'s Armory? There could be a myth that every mountain is the sword of a god, planted into the world to be available for the war at the end of time.

[TwiLyghtSansSparkles she/her]

Awesome. I'm using mostly blue and red lumuoles, as your races are closely tied to them, but I'm also considering some herbivores that use green lumuoles to generate small whirlwinds ahead of them, blowing the snow off of the plants they eat. (Caribou just use their antlers to brush away snow, but magic dinosaurs have license to be more charismatic. )

For reference, the crimsobeests would look something like this...

...but with more crimson scales and luminous red underbellies. The spikes would be pretty heavy and probably not hydrodynamic, but maybe the seals could strap them to their bodies when wandering about on land, to protect themselves from predators?

The Ice Kin (essay coming soon) are an ethnicity of Dromeans that specialize in blue lumuoles, specifically for ice-related magic. They were founded by a blonde raptor queen who made them an ice castle in the middle of an impassioned musical number, er, I mean, they were founded by Dromeans who migrated south after some sort of turbulence in the north.

Their central government will be based out of an icy citadel high in the mountains, but there will be many herdsmen, sap collectors, and traders roaming the tundra all around. They will be more than capable of traveling to the coasts, and if the humans are friendly and possessing of some level of wealth, they might even send caravans to trade them tools of unmeltable ice in exchange for goods.

That could work. I haven't determined how much time they'll spend on land yet. Back to researching.

The internet has a visual for that queen, I know it. I know the humans would definitely be open to trade, provided the Ice Kin were friendly. The sort of wealth they had would depend on this world's economy; since it appears lumuole and material goods are in demand, they'd be capable of trading in those.

[Curious Anamaximder he/him]

[iNSERT DEITY NAME HERE]'s Armory? There could be a myth that every mountain is the sword of a god, planted into the world to be available for the war at the end of time.

Palide's Armory?

[Kobold King he/him]

That could work. I haven't determined how much time they'll spend on land yet. Back to researching.

The internet has a visual for that queen, I know it. I know the humans would definitely be open to trade, provided the Ice Kin were friendly. The sort of wealth they had would depend on this world's economy; since it appears lumuole and material goods are in demand, they'd be capable of trading in those.

 

Found it.

 

 

The Ice Kin have all the blue lumuoles they need at home, but if the humans have a source of another color that isn't common on the tundra, trading could be very lucrative indeed. Even just meat from green-lumuoled animals would be immensely valuable.

 

 

 

Palide's Armory?

 

I like that. Palide's Swords, for the best of two suggestions?

[Kobold King he/him]

So, some ideas for my steppes creatures. They're not sentient and I'm not sure what type of lumoles they would have. 

 

[insert cool sounding name here]

They have a scorpian-esc tail with a heart shaped barb at the end. They have lightly armored skin, with lots of joints, allowing them to move freely. Their head has a bump at the end and has a ridge.They have a pouch on the bottom of their cheak for storing food. They're colored similar to the really high grass. Their legs are short, but powerful. (sketch to come) (more info to ocome)

 

Ooh, I like those! Maybe they could have orange lumuoles, for burrowing nests into the earth?

[Curious Anamaximder he/him]

Found it.

 

 

The Ice Kin have all the blue lumuoles they need at home, but if the humans have a source of another color that isn't common on the tundra, trading could be very lucrative indeed. Even just meat from green-lumuoled animals would be immensely valuable.

 

 

 

 

I like that. Palide's Swords, for the best of two suggestions?

Sure. I love it.

[Kobold King he/him]

Sure. I love it.

 

Let's see what Edgedancer thinks. He's the one with the biggest stake in the mountains.

 

Who is Palide the deity over, anyway?

[TwiLyghtSansSparkles she/her]

Found it.

The Ice Kin have all the blue lumuoles they need at home, but if the humans have a source of another color that isn't common on the tundra, trading could be very lucrative indeed. Even just meat from green-lumuoled animals would be immensely valuable.

Sounds good. On another note...do the Ice Kin ever pull all-nighters for their scholarship? If so, the coast could be home to the in-world equivalent of coffee beans.

[Curious Anamaximder he/him]

Let's see what Edgedancer thinks. He's the one with the biggest stake in the mountains.

 

Who is Palide the deity over, anyway?

Don't know. I just made it up.

[Curiosity he/him]

Re: Lumuoles

 

My original perception of them was that there would be areas that they are more abundant because there is something on the other side(s?) making them. Think about them (just as a model) as bubbles, three-dimensional holes in reality. If there are bubbles, then there should be a bubble blower or a "reality awl" that is making them. It's just that some are more effective than others and produce different colors. 

 

The fact that these are alive makes it more interesting, because I sort of want to know what would happen if a lumuole gained sentience, though I think that might be too similar to KR spren.

 

McKeedee, what does a Great Lumuole look like? Is it still a microbe? Or does it have a greater volume so as to allow more Investiture-stuff through? What are we calling the mana/handwavium thing leaking through here? Are normal lumuoles bacteria-sized and Great Lumuoles paramecium- or algae-sized?

[Seonid he/him]

Alright, time for me to post my working ideas for cultures.

 

On the map issue, a northern continent on the other side of the world, such that you don't have to rotate the image of the current continent, would be fine with me. I think I'd like my space over there. If you'd like, I might even be able to design the northern continent and open it up to claims (after I get first pick).

 

Dromean cultures:

 

Empire of Soruukan -

 

Large empire, with a Dromean ruling class, but supported by slavery of both humans and Skitchii (description forthcoming). The Empire rules a large area near an inland sea, comprising a wide variety of ecological zones. Several rivers feed into the inland sea, one quite large, with a delta larger than the Nile on earth, and comprises the western border of the Empire (although hunting parties routinely cross the Great River and hunt in the vast marshes of the delta and the huge stretches of wetlands along the further shore). Upstream, the marshes dry out and become sparse forest, before giving way to the great plains that stretch across the center of the continent. The western shore of the river at this point is populated by human settlements, who have a rocky relationship with the empire. On the eastern side of the river, the plains are the homes of large human slave-cities, ruled by the Dromeans, whose inhabitants raise herdbeasts for their masters (as well as farming for themselves).

 

To the east, the plains rise into broken hills. From these hills flows a smaller river, and where it reaches the inland sea is Mar Oruuk, the capital of the Empire. The hills serve as a natural barrier for the great herdbeasts, and east and south of these hills is the beginning of the great forest that stretches across a vast portion of the continent. The hills rise into a mountain range that is home to the Haornithi, an avian sapient race. The foothills on the far side of the mountains are also home to independent Dromean tribes.

 

I have to get to class now, so I'll post more later, including species profiles for the Skitchii and Haornithi.

[Lindel he/him]

So, some ideas for my steppes creatures. They're not sentient and I'm not sure what type of lumoles they would have. 

 

[insert cool sounding name here]

They have a scorpian-esc tail with a heart shaped barb at the end. They have lightly armored skin, with lots of joints, allowing them to move freely. Their head has a bump at the end and has a ridge.They have a pouch on the bottom of their cheak for storing food. They're colored similar to the really high grass. Their legs are short, but powerful. (sketch to come) (more info to ocome)

Hey, you're one of my neighbors, right? What do you think about a desert subspecies that uses blue lumuoles to create convincing mirages, which they use to draw in prey?

[Kobold King he/him]

Alright, time for me to post my working ideas for cultures.

 

On the map issue, a northern continent on the other side of the world, such that you don't have to rotate the image of the current continent, would be fine with me. I think I'd like my space over there. If you'd like, I might even be able to design the northern continent and open it up to claims (after I get first pick).

 

Dromean cultures:

 

Empire of Soruukan -

 

Large empire, with a Dromean ruling class, but supported by slavery of both humans and Skitchii (description forthcoming). The Empire rules a large area near an inland sea, comprising a wide variety of ecological zones. Several rivers feed into the inland sea, one quite large, with a delta larger than the Nile on earth, and comprises the western border of the Empire (although hunting parties routinely cross the Great River and hunt in the vast marshes of the delta and the huge stretches of wetlands along the further shore). Upstream, the marshes dry out and become sparse forest, before giving way to the great plains that stretch across the center of the continent. The western shore of the river at this point is populated by human settlements, who have a rocky relationship with the empire. On the eastern side of the river, the plains are the homes of large human slave-cities, ruled by the Dromeans, whose inhabitants raise herdbeasts for their masters (as well as farming for themselves).

 

To the east, the plains rise into broken hills. From these hills flows a smaller river, and where it reaches the inland sea is Mar Oruuk, the capital of the Empire. The hills serve as a natural barrier for the great herdbeasts, and east and south of these hills is the beginning of the great forest that stretches across a vast portion of the continent. The hills rise into a mountain range that is home to the Haornithi, an avian sapient race. The foothills on the far side of the mountains are also home to independent Dromean tribes.

 

I have to get to class now, so I'll post more later, including species profiles for the Skitchii and Haornithi.

 

That sounds awesome. How warlike would Soruukan be? Will there be any travel between the north and south continents?

[Edgedancer he/him]

Spirits, ghosts, gods, whatever. Any being beyond the ordinary realm of perception. The demigodism is passed through their matriarchal bloodline.

If the whole idea for gods is that they are ascended mortals and demigods have their blood wouldn't they have needed to be/stay physical at least for some time?

 

Although I just realized that we've never explicitly stated how exactly organisms use magic.  I always imagined that there had to be a sort of intent behind it to shape what the lumuole does, but I'm not sure what everybody else got out of that discussion. Obviously, the demigods require intent. Whether or not demigods use up lumuoles in the process of doing magic is up for debate.

I have been thinking about magic as something that's just a part of the creatures much like breathing and moving normally, so not as something they have to put special effort into.

 

 

• Edgedancer/anyone else with an interest in the mountains: do we have a canon name for the long eastern mountain range? If not, I would like to humbly propose calling them "The Spires" as a solid cross-cultural name, though I'd be thrilled to hear other suggestions.

 

Well the creatures I'm working on are probably going to be rather isolated in the mountains, so there's a good chance their name for it will be different (one I haven't figured out yet because a) I'll that's one of the final details I'll settle on and I son't have a talent for naming things. ). However, details that I can tell you now which may factor in your name are that at least the tops of the mountains will probably be more vains of magical mineral crystals stuff than normal rock and that the inhabitants aren't exactly going to be known for their hospitality, not as bad as kill every intruder on sight though.

[Mckeedee123 he/him]

From a biological perspective, I think lumuoles would be everywhere. The ability to access the pores of reality for unlimited free energy, bypassing all the rules and restrictions that govern conventional life forms, is simply too valuable for any species to pass up. There would be a few species with meager needs that could do without, like my skitterhairs, but I think even they would allow the lumuoles into their bodies and might make some small use of them sometime in the year.

 

As for intent--DNA and genetic instinct is an intent, right? The spaksnouts may not be sapient, but every fiber of their being wants to generated their fiery displays. The blueroot pine doesn't have a brain, but the way I imagined it, pheromones in the sap and root structure would "tell" the lumuoles what was required of them. I agree that the lumuoles should require intent, if only to prevent them from wreaking havoc in their raw form, but I think expanding our definition of intent to allow for non-sapient or non-sentient magic users makes for lifeform possibilities that are too fascinating to pass up.

Mckeedee, what do lumuoles require to survive? Can they directly harness their own energy to power their cell activities, or do they require external sources of nutrition?

 

Yeah, definitely, but that's only if there are biological mechanisms for creating them. If that's how lumuole creation works in your region, then I guess that's how it works. In my region, it's that there are small hotspots with extremely dense populations floating around, and most creatures can get what they need, magically, from the ingestion of a handful of them every few weeks.

 

Well, yeah, lumuoles would have to be told what to do using chemical and neural impulses from the creature they inhabit. Crimsobeasts would have warm underbellies not because of the presence of lumuoles, but because they have chemical signals under there telling those lumuoles to produce heat. When I read that last night, I just wasn't what was being implied.

 

I assumed that lumuoles colonies would fail after a few weeks of being removed from a hotspot. In your region, however, the "other side" apparently allows creatures to give lumuoles the magic they need, so that wouldn't necessarily be a problem

 

My original perception of them was that there would be areas that they are more abundant because there is something on the other side(s?) making them. Think about them (just as a model) as bubbles, three-dimensional holes in reality. If there are bubbles, then there should be a bubble blower or a "reality awl" that is making them. It's just that some are more effective than others and produce different colors. 

 

The fact that these are alive makes it more interesting, because I sort of want to know what would happen if a lumuole gained sentience, though I think that might be too similar to KR spren.

 

McKeedee, what does a Great Lumuole look like? Is it still a microbe? Or does it have a greater volume so as to allow more Investiture-stuff through? What are we calling the mana/handwavium thing leaking through here? Are normal lumuoles bacteria-sized and Great Lumuoles paramecium- or algae-sized?

 

That is indeed what is happening, but again, we don't know what the heck is going on over there in the other side. In some regions, the magical leaks that summon lumuoles are called "hotspots" and are small, randomly distributed clusters. In others, they're apparently tiny leaks that can be summoned somehow by plants.

 

Interesting idea. A spirit could do that, presumably.

 

By your model, I would assume that it's simply a larger "rift" or "portal" or whatever the terminology was; one that allows more magic through than even a thousand ordinary lumuole colonies.  Imagine it as being about the size of a ping pong ball.

 

Mana? eh. I'd just call it magic.

 

Ordinary lumuoles (the microorganisms) are bacteria-sized, but they exist in colonies centered around lumuoles (the portals/rifts) that are more pinprick-sized.

 

If the whole idea for gods is that they are ascended mortals and demigods have their blood wouldn't they have needed to be/stay physical at least for some time?

 

They would. I forgot about that when Curiosity wrote his thing, but they do continue to live (in what state they exist before they die is highly variable.) And their next child is always female. After they die, their effect on the world is usually pretty vague. Creating glowing lights in the sky every few months or granting someone good luck for a few hours. I don't imagine them being like classical gods, but I suppose it's technically possible. For anyone who wants to do that, just make sure the god only has influence on their region.

Edited September 21, 2015 by Mckeedee123

[Curious Anamaximder he/him]

Alright, time for me to post my working ideas for cultures.

 

On the map issue, a northern continent on the other side of the world, such that you don't have to rotate the image of the current continent, would be fine with me. I think I'd like my space over there. If you'd like, I might even be able to design the northern continent and open it up to claims (after I get first pick).

 

Dromean cultures:

 

Empire of Soruukan -

 

Large empire, with a Dromean ruling class, but supported by slavery of both humans and Skitchii (description forthcoming). The Empire rules a large area near an inland sea, comprising a wide variety of ecological zones. Several rivers feed into the inland sea, one quite large, with a delta larger than the Nile on earth, and comprises the western border of the Empire (although hunting parties routinely cross the Great River and hunt in the vast marshes of the delta and the huge stretches of wetlands along the further shore). Upstream, the marshes dry out and become sparse forest, before giving way to the great plains that stretch across the center of the continent. The western shore of the river at this point is populated by human settlements, who have a rocky relationship with the empire. On the eastern side of the river, the plains are the homes of large human slave-cities, ruled by the Dromeans, whose inhabitants raise herdbeasts for their masters (as well as farming for themselves).

 

To the east, the plains rise into broken hills. From these hills flows a smaller river, and where it reaches the inland sea is Mar Oruuk, the capital of the Empire. The hills serve as a natural barrier for the great herdbeasts, and east and south of these hills is the beginning of the great forest that stretches across a vast portion of the continent. The hills rise into a mountain range that is home to the Haornithi, an avian sapient race. The foothills on the far side of the mountains are also home to independent Dromean tribes.

 

I have to get to class now, so I'll post more later, including species profiles for the Skitchii and Haornithi.

Great Empire! How advanced are they in technology?

[Edgedancer he/him]

They would. I forgot about that when Curiosity wrote his thing, but they do continue to live (in what state they exist before they die is highly variable.) And their next child is always female. After they die, their effect on the world is usually pretty vague. Creating glowing lights in the sky every few months or granting someone good luck for a few hours. I don't imagine them being like classical gods, but I suppose it's technically possible. For anyone who wants to do that, just make sure the god only has influence on their region.

Why? That's a pretty random and lore restricting detail to just add for no reason.

[Kobold King he/him]

Yeah, definitely, but that's only if there are biological mechanisms for creating them. If that's how lumuole creation works in your region, then I guess that's how it works. In my region, it's that there are small hotspots with extremely dense populations floating around, and most creatures can get what they need, magically, from the ingestion of a handful of them every few weeks.

 

Well, yeah, lumuoles would have to be told what to do using chemical and neural impulses from the creature they inhabit. Crimsobeasts would have warm underbellies not because of the presence of lumuoles, but because they have chemical signals under there telling those lumuoles to produce heat. When I read that last night, I just wasn't what was being implied.

 

I assumed that lumuoles colonies would fail after a few weeks of being removed from a hotspot. In your region, however, the "other side" apparently allows creatures to give lumuoles the magic they need, so that wouldn't necessarily be a problem

 

We should try to keep things consistent whenever possible. What if the tundra is littered with hotspots that are buried in the permafrost? The grazing animals that depend on magic to survive could regularly migrate between them, constantly keeping their lumuoles charged. Meanwhile, the capital city of the Ice Kin could be built over a mountain hotspot.

 

Crimsobeests, spaksnouts, and other magical creatures here definitely use chemical signals to control the lumuoles. The way I see it, lumuoles are impossible to destroy in the digestive process, and tend to work their way up the food chain to be assimilated into organs that are designed for them.

 

 

Is it possible to convert lumuoles of one type into another type?

[TwiLyghtSansSparkles she/her]

Is there any kind of consensus on what the oceans, especially the southern oceans, are like thus far? I wanted to add more than just my seals, but I didn't want to conflict with anyone else's worldbuilding.

[Mailliw73 he/him]

Mek, what did you think about all animals using the magic in small ways? I think for the otters, they'll be in two groups: green lumuoles and yellow.

 

Green-using otters emit an aura of happiness that varies in strength from otter to otter. The aura dulls senses of fear and alertness, with greater effects in smaller creatures, that make it easier for the otters to hunt. They also can gently manipulate winds to enhance the currents around them to aid them in swimming. Both of these powers are automatically achieved through chemical signals and the aura is a constant presence. 

 

Yellow-using otters have a small, crackling electric field around them that doesn't do much on land, aside from provide the occasional shock. In water, though, the electricity is conducted much better and kills small sea creatures that get too close. Humans that get near to the otters while in the water will feel a sensation similar to a gentle tasing(if such a thing can be called gentle). 

 

Mek, what did you imagine "life" doing for green lumuole users? And what about "sovereignty"?

 

Kobold, can this map also be linked in the OP: http://www.17thshard.com/forum/topic/43660-the-diaemus-project/?p=329696 ?

Edited September 21, 2015 by Mailliw73

[Mckeedee123 he/him]

Why? That's a pretty random and lore restricting detail to just add for no reason.

 

Well, alright. I suppose it doesn't have to be included, but I think it would increase the amount of demigodic bloodlines that succeed (as opposed to dying off after 2 or 3 generations.) Most bloodlines' magic is usable by both sexes, but all of them pass on the condition matriarchally, according to my reckoning.

 

We should try to keep things consistent whenever possible. What if the tundra is littered with hotspots that are buried in the permafrost? The grazing animals that depend on magic to survive could regularly migrate between them, constantly keeping their lumuoles charged. Meanwhile, the capital city of the Ice Kin could be built over a mountain hotspot.

 

Crimsobeests, spaksnouts, and other magical creatures here definitely use chemical signals to control the lumuoles. The way I see it, lumuoles are impossible to destroy in the digestive process, and tend to work their way up the food chain to be assimilated into organs that are designed for them.

 

 

Is it possible to convert lumuoles of one type into another type?

 

So the hotspots in this case would be the permafrost itself? Good idea.

 

My bad.

 

Probably.

 

Mek, what did you think about all animals using the magic in small ways? I think for the otters, they'll be in two groups: green lumuoles and yellow.

 

Green-using otters emit an aura of happiness that varies in strength from otter to otter. The aura dulls senses of fear and alertness, with greater effects in smaller creatures, that make it easier for the otters to hunt. They also can gently manipulate winds to enhance the currents around them to aid them in swimming. Both of these powers are automatically achieved through chemical signals and the aura is a constant presence. 

 

Yellow-using otters have a small, crackling electric field around them that doesn't do much on land, aside from provide the occasional shock. In water, though, the electricity is conducted much better and kills small sea creatures that get too close. Humans that get near to the otters while in the water will feel a sensation similar to a gentle tasing(if such a thing can be called gentle). 

 

Mek, what did you imagine "life" doing for green lumuole users? And what about "sovereignty"?

 

Kobold, can this map also be linked in the OP: http://www.17thshard.com/forum/topic/43660-the-diaemus-project/?p=329696 ?

 

Yeah, the "associations" here are very vague, like I said, so "life" doesn't mean anything in particular. Just... biology.

 

Sovereignty is a weird one, I know. It came from both the fact that gold is a yellow-ish metal and that in most aryan mythologies, the god of thunder ruled the rest of the gods. If you wanted to do anything that had to do with either money or dominance structures, or else meta-magic, those concepts would fall under this category

[Edgedancer he/him]

Well, alright. I suppose it doesn't have to be included, but I think it would increase the amount of demigodic bloodlines that succeed (as opposed to dying off after 2 or 3 generations.) Most bloodlines' magic is usable by both sexes, but all of them pass on the condition matriarchally, according to my reckoning.

Same question for the matriarchally passing on of these bloodlines, why? There's no reason for it and something like that would have a pretty major impact on all cultures, restricting what believably could be done. It's your thing if you want to have it that way with your people but why force it on everyone?

Edited September 21, 2015 by Edgedancer