Friday, December 28, 2012
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
The Great Powers
I think it's worth doing a headcount of the movers and shakers across the power sources...
THE DIVINE POWERS
Greater Gods: Combining two divine sparks from the Old Gods, Greater Gods can manifest as powerful avatars and speak directly to their devotees. Their power can affect whole planets and change the course of Fate, though even Greater Gods have limits. Greater Gods are far less omniscient than Lesser Gods for being gathered into a single mind, but their attention produces far more potent results. They do not require worship in order to sustain themselves and the shadow of the Devourer does not sicken Greater Gods like lesser powers.
Lesser Gods: Sleeping gods too weak to manifest, Lesser Gods rely on their followers, especially their prophets, to see their wills done. Unable to speak directly, they suggest their ethos through portents, dreams, and visions. It is the worship of the faithful which sustains them, and without it they slip invariably into an incorporeal state. The shadow of the Devourer casts a deathly pall over these deities, weakening them with every Ythian victory.
Incorporeal Gods: Incorporeal Gods are but a thought and a whisper, shadows of the great deities they once were. In truth, Incorporeal Gods are but one step from death, but also one step from true resurrection.
THE PRIMAL POWERS
THE PSIONIC POWERS
THE ELEMENTAL POWERS
THE SHADOW POWERS
THE DIVINE POWERS
Greater Gods: Combining two divine sparks from the Old Gods, Greater Gods can manifest as powerful avatars and speak directly to their devotees. Their power can affect whole planets and change the course of Fate, though even Greater Gods have limits. Greater Gods are far less omniscient than Lesser Gods for being gathered into a single mind, but their attention produces far more potent results. They do not require worship in order to sustain themselves and the shadow of the Devourer does not sicken Greater Gods like lesser powers.
- Kalia: Mother of Life, Mystery, and Passion
- Kaylan Gloriandel (Chosen Prophet)
- Giers Oranar (High Priest of Loranna)
- Gertruda (Mother Superior of Cadavera)
* Major Opposition: The Emperor, Finduilas Oranar, Ythlords
- Asmodeus: King of Heaven and Hell
- Archdukes of Hell (Exarchs)
- Epitomes of Heaven (Exarchs)
* Major Opposition: The Empyrean (and their Choir), Ythlords
Lesser Gods: Sleeping gods too weak to manifest, Lesser Gods rely on their followers, especially their prophets, to see their wills done. Unable to speak directly, they suggest their ethos through portents, dreams, and visions. It is the worship of the faithful which sustains them, and without it they slip invariably into an incorporeal state. The shadow of the Devourer casts a deathly pall over these deities, weakening them with every Ythian victory.
- Freyjar: Prince of Deception, Riddles, and Cunning
- ??? (Chosen Prophet)
* Major Opposition: The Emperor, Isabella, Asmodeus, Kalia, Ythlords
- Sigafrid: Lord of Strength, Glory, and War
- Skald of the Ages (Chosen Prophet)
* Major Opposition: The Emperor, Isabella, Asmodeus, Kalia, Ythlords
Incorporeal Gods: Incorporeal Gods are but a thought and a whisper, shadows of the great deities they once were. In truth, Incorporeal Gods are but one step from death, but also one step from true resurrection.
- Eilessa (foreign power): Queen of Protection, Cats, and the Crossroads (emerging also as the goddess of the Tabari)
- Shard, The Goddess Unfinished (Demigod)
- Tavishan, Lord of All Cats (Exarch)
- The Bast (Exarchs)
* Major Opposition: Queen of the Universe, Ythlords
- Hecate: Queen of Magic, Night, Witches, and Vampires
- Isabella Il'spana, Shade of Hecate (Demigod)
- Minka, The Divine Familiar (Exarch)
- The Queens of Darkness (Exarchs)
* Major Opposition: The Emperor, Freyjar, Sigafrid, Ythlords
THE PRIMAL POWERS
- The Primal Spirits: Countless Spirits of Nature and Balance, some mighty, others miniscule, all made stronger for the dissolving of the Mother and the infusion of her powers back into the natural worlds.
- Archdruids (Chosen)
- Norns (High Priestesses of the Wyld)
* Major Opposition: Chernobog, Primordials, Ythlords
- The Green God, Chernobog: The fallen Archdruid Sev Torban, lost in a monster of his own making and turned The Lord of Nature's Wrath, made stronger for the dissolving of the Mother and the boons of the Natural Raiment.
- Gwyllion (High Priestesses of the Wyld)
* Major Opposition: Primal Spirits, Primordials, Ythlords
THE PSIONIC POWERS
- The Eternals: Archetypical beings of the conscious and unconscious mind, Eternals are every thought ever thought, every emotion ever felt, not very different from the har'venoth in that their vast sums of knowledge produced awareness. Their existence is tied inexorably to the survival of sentient life, though they don't all seem terribly concerned with their impending doom. They are according to their nature.
* Major Opposition: Ythlords
THE ELEMENTAL POWERS
- Primordials: The rippling wake of the War of Ages spawned monolithic titans bent on dominion of all, wholly Elemental in their expressions of fire, air, earth, and water, but with singular minds and identities. Long imprisoned by the Primal Spirits, their followers now break their ancient bonds and deliver them to freedom.
- Archwardens (Chosen)
* Major Opposition: Primal Spirits, Ythlords, Chernobog
THE SHADOW POWERS
- The Dark Powers: Enigmatic at best, the Dark Powers rule the world Cadavera and potentially elsewhere unseen and unheard. They have never made themselves known, except to the first of the Vistani, with whom they formed an everlasting covenant. Commanding the Mists, the Dark Powers ensnare, glorify, torment, and deprive without obvious reason.
* Major Opposition: ???
THE MATERIAL POWERS
The Martial power source is a universal constant, basically physical change, which I've coupled with the idea of Technology, artifice and science, which sentient beings use to augment their ability to physically or chemically change matter. Martial + Technology I am calling the Material power source.
Pure Material power is basically any substantial entity that possesses a martial force employing technology, and numbers many armies throughout the worlds, largest among them The Holy Nors Empire (massive numbers of soldiers + advanced technology compared to the whole of Othyr [augmented by alien-derived technology from high command]). Usually, even the foremost Pure Material power pales next to the great powers of the other sources, but that isn't always the case. Highly experimental, theoretical, and dangerous technology can threaten any Great Power. Usually this requires blending Material with another power source, as listed below:
Material + Psionic would be first and foremost the Anubians, combining ultra-advanced technology activated and operated by powerful psionics. Similarly, the Queen of the Universe would be considered a force in this subcategory for her extensive psionic-based technology and considerable armada. Zerthimon would also be considered a power based solely on his engineering capabilities, again applied through psionics, and his building of the ship which became the ships, his helms, and his work with Gloriandel making the har'venoth. Endymion is certainly a Material+Psionic power, originally altered by Anubian technology, granted vast psionics as the Overmind, which he then used to form an empire and secret police keyed to psionics, but granted through technology, and has been working on all manner of experiments combining the two sources. Narra, too, is a burgeoning Material+Psionic power for her command of several ships and status of Oversoul.
Material + Primal: Seldarine seamlessly blended nature with their technology on the planet Eldarra, a technology they infused in their World Tree Elbereth and which comprises the entirety of the Corellon Larethian fathership.
THE ABYSSAL POWERS
THE ELDRITCH POWERS
*The Arcane power source in most games is divided here into Elemental, Shadow, Primal, Abyssal, and the Divine sphere of magic represented by Hecate. If your class is part of the Arcane power source, I'd appreciate if you chose a more specific source.
THE MATERIAL POWERS
The Martial power source is a universal constant, basically physical change, which I've coupled with the idea of Technology, artifice and science, which sentient beings use to augment their ability to physically or chemically change matter. Martial + Technology I am calling the Material power source.
Pure Material power is basically any substantial entity that possesses a martial force employing technology, and numbers many armies throughout the worlds, largest among them The Holy Nors Empire (massive numbers of soldiers + advanced technology compared to the whole of Othyr [augmented by alien-derived technology from high command]). Usually, even the foremost Pure Material power pales next to the great powers of the other sources, but that isn't always the case. Highly experimental, theoretical, and dangerous technology can threaten any Great Power. Usually this requires blending Material with another power source, as listed below:
Material + Psionic would be first and foremost the Anubians, combining ultra-advanced technology activated and operated by powerful psionics. Similarly, the Queen of the Universe would be considered a force in this subcategory for her extensive psionic-based technology and considerable armada. Zerthimon would also be considered a power based solely on his engineering capabilities, again applied through psionics, and his building of the ship which became the ships, his helms, and his work with Gloriandel making the har'venoth. Endymion is certainly a Material+Psionic power, originally altered by Anubian technology, granted vast psionics as the Overmind, which he then used to form an empire and secret police keyed to psionics, but granted through technology, and has been working on all manner of experiments combining the two sources. Narra, too, is a burgeoning Material+Psionic power for her command of several ships and status of Oversoul.
Material + Primal: Seldarine seamlessly blended nature with their technology on the planet Eldarra, a technology they infused in their World Tree Elbereth and which comprises the entirety of the Corellon Larethian fathership.
THE ABYSSAL POWERS
- Demon Lords
THE ELDRITCH POWERS
- Gabriel
- Ythlords
*The Arcane power source in most games is divided here into Elemental, Shadow, Primal, Abyssal, and the Divine sphere of magic represented by Hecate. If your class is part of the Arcane power source, I'd appreciate if you chose a more specific source.
Monday, December 24, 2012
The Interim
Afternoon, Talsil 13th - Evening, Talsil 15th
The hours immediately following Oublivae's defeat, the party was given full access to the Saspish stores and her finest craftsmen. Coupled with the elite skills of both the Queen of the Vampires and the newly risen Lord of the Pit, all items were replenished within a twenty-four hour period (even upgraded to a limit of Level 24).
[Narra]
In a heartwrenching final hour, Astraea chose to relinquish the pains and pleasures of sentient life in favor of completing her destiny and joining with the core of the Hendecahedron. Together they formed "The Astraea", Anubian vessel of the Astral Sea, the universe's preeminent starship designed for unparalleled travel over space and time. With Zerthimon's helm upon her finger, Narra found she could pilot this ship within the confines of her human understanding, and yet sensed so much more beyond even her considerable scope. A god-like machine has entered into the party's hands, capable of immense good and unfathomable evil.
Further still, Narra began to realize the true designs of the other ships, including the Tesseract. Combined with recent Zerthimonian Revelations, it appears hope does exist, even under the shadow of the Devourer.
[Shard]
Kostchtchie's mangled corpse under heel, Shard claimed his Brutal Gorge, containing Tavishan's essence and the souls of 665 of the mightiest warriors in the last dozen centuries. If Purgatory Siege could be lifted and the final crystal fragment recovered, Eilessa could surely restore her favored son and call the remainder of her children to their new home. What a force they would make...
Not long after, Shard was approached by the silken manifestation of the Pureheart, seeking refuge and a new keeper [side pending].
[Thamior]
In the dark, quiet hours after reforging party weapons, as the demonic mantle yet settled upon him, an emissary from Ugoreth approached his new lord and master, known as The Mouth of Oblivion [side pending]
[Mercy]
In the wake of such incredible display, the besting of three demon lords and the beginning of the end of Anansiel, the Angels of Death are pleased. They offer Mercy the chance to lead them in the great battle against Gabriel if she can secure the support of The Accursed [side pending].
[Isabella]
Realizing in the silence of her chambers that fighting so many fronts would only lead to her defeat and Creation's ruin, the queen opted for more subtle maneuvers. She signed away Hell to Asmodeus and gained a modicum of peace and the last remnants of Hecate, in the process revealing Laan for what she always suspected, hardly a Ythlord at all, just an elaborate facade of the King of Hell's making. His gambit had at last gained him Perdition, but the vampire queen had learned well the game, hatching her own plot in the signing of a binding contract...
Thus Laan was no more, the shadows and subterfuge falling away. Asmodeus ascended at the stroke of midnight on Talsil the 14th as King of Sin, Deception, and Tyranny. He contents himself now with Hell (and apparently Heaven if his intimations were at all accurate). The status of the Choir and its Empyrean is a mystery, but not even a council of archangels can resist a god with intimate knowledge of their inner workings.
Hecate, now goddess of Magic, Night, Witches, and Vampires, is again felt throughout the cosmos. Or, rather, her Shade, for Hecate is still terribly weak and distant, and Isabella's existence alone keeps her from vanishing entirely. It is a start.
Without Laan to vex him, The Green God again gains majority control of the Wyld and turns his attention immediately to assimilating the remainder of the courts under his banners. Not even Summer and Spring can long last against the combined might of Druatha, Autumn, and Winter... at least, not without fresh allies.
[Tyvis]
Ripped across the Void, nearly driven mad in the experience, both Tyvis and Widofa managed to survive through only the smallest of chances. Collected by the Pyramid, certain secrets were made apparent, secrets of the Void, secrets of the Yth. By risking annihilation, Tyvis may have in fact found the means to prevent it.
It wasn't long after the Archdruid made contact with a race he could never have hoped existed, star-elves, Seldarine, good-natured beings with a command of magitech unlike anything he'd ever seen. Invited aboard the Seldarine fathership, "The Corellion Larethian", he meets with the elven Star Child in hopes for not only peaceful coexistence, but new allies in the fight against the empire and the Yth [side pending].
[Terrestrial Developments]
Meanwhile, with Anansiel's drow and demon forces dispersed, Drelzna and the armies of Tsojcanth counter-attacked, breaking the last remnants of the siege on the Mountain of Power. Izolda is liberated! The Vampire Queen awaits news from the ones who saved her queendom, in possession of none other than the Worldheart as reward (if asked).
Driven to desperation, and ever her reach exceeding her grasp, Anansiel pressed for control of Cadavera's Anubian vessel to equal the playing field and continue her meteoric rise throughout the ranks of demonkind, even into godhood. She was ultimately slain by a curious collection of Cadavera's best... and worst, summoned by the legendary Count, and aided by the embodiment of Kalia herself.
With Anansiel's destruction, Othyr, then Barovia, was spared the horrid fate of becoming a new Abyssal Gate, a point which all the infinite hordes could have been spilled, smothering Creation and defeating the Ythlords well before the Devourer could arrive, twisting the last bastion of Life into its most wretched form imaginable.
Such victory wasn't without its price, the shattering of the Wolf Moon, freeing all lycanthropes throughout Cadavera from the horrors of uncontrolled shifting. Could it be the were's find themselves able, at last, to join civilization, perhaps form their own? The breaking of Lykoios also heralded the unleashing of one of the most ruinous Primordials, Miska the Wolf-Spider, a titan called Death's Hunger, whose waking promises blind rampage across the cosmos. Directed, Miska could prove a powerful weapon or the doom of whole planets...
Capable and well-meaning hands managed to secure both Quakeheart and Strangehear, however Blackheart, having abandoned the foolish Queen of Spiders, instead took up allegiance with Toben the Many, a sentient plague seeking for all to join as one within him. The potent pairing will almost certainly cause misery in the near future.
And though the North may yet be saved, given the events set in motion by the Champions, and the heroics of the Cadaverans, nothing save Celinduil could have prevented Yathnoc the Desolator from descending on the first of the Alliance strongholds. The Jewel of the North, New Veluvia, has been blasted from the face of the earth, hundreds of thousands dead, leaving the empire's opposition scrambling to mount some kind of defense. Imperial Dragoons and Nors regiments sweep in after the dragon's wake, killing or imprisoning survivors, confiscating magic and technology, and establishing claims.
They say Yathnoc moves now to the giant's fortress-capital of Niflheim, where his very presence might melt the battlements and his breath write the extinction of the Jotun race. Yathnoc has been unleashed.
The hours immediately following Oublivae's defeat, the party was given full access to the Saspish stores and her finest craftsmen. Coupled with the elite skills of both the Queen of the Vampires and the newly risen Lord of the Pit, all items were replenished within a twenty-four hour period (even upgraded to a limit of Level 24).
[Narra]
In a heartwrenching final hour, Astraea chose to relinquish the pains and pleasures of sentient life in favor of completing her destiny and joining with the core of the Hendecahedron. Together they formed "The Astraea", Anubian vessel of the Astral Sea, the universe's preeminent starship designed for unparalleled travel over space and time. With Zerthimon's helm upon her finger, Narra found she could pilot this ship within the confines of her human understanding, and yet sensed so much more beyond even her considerable scope. A god-like machine has entered into the party's hands, capable of immense good and unfathomable evil.
Further still, Narra began to realize the true designs of the other ships, including the Tesseract. Combined with recent Zerthimonian Revelations, it appears hope does exist, even under the shadow of the Devourer.
[Shard]
Kostchtchie's mangled corpse under heel, Shard claimed his Brutal Gorge, containing Tavishan's essence and the souls of 665 of the mightiest warriors in the last dozen centuries. If Purgatory Siege could be lifted and the final crystal fragment recovered, Eilessa could surely restore her favored son and call the remainder of her children to their new home. What a force they would make...
Not long after, Shard was approached by the silken manifestation of the Pureheart, seeking refuge and a new keeper [side pending].
[Thamior]
In the dark, quiet hours after reforging party weapons, as the demonic mantle yet settled upon him, an emissary from Ugoreth approached his new lord and master, known as The Mouth of Oblivion [side pending]
[Mercy]
In the wake of such incredible display, the besting of three demon lords and the beginning of the end of Anansiel, the Angels of Death are pleased. They offer Mercy the chance to lead them in the great battle against Gabriel if she can secure the support of The Accursed [side pending].
[Isabella]
Realizing in the silence of her chambers that fighting so many fronts would only lead to her defeat and Creation's ruin, the queen opted for more subtle maneuvers. She signed away Hell to Asmodeus and gained a modicum of peace and the last remnants of Hecate, in the process revealing Laan for what she always suspected, hardly a Ythlord at all, just an elaborate facade of the King of Hell's making. His gambit had at last gained him Perdition, but the vampire queen had learned well the game, hatching her own plot in the signing of a binding contract...
Thus Laan was no more, the shadows and subterfuge falling away. Asmodeus ascended at the stroke of midnight on Talsil the 14th as King of Sin, Deception, and Tyranny. He contents himself now with Hell (and apparently Heaven if his intimations were at all accurate). The status of the Choir and its Empyrean is a mystery, but not even a council of archangels can resist a god with intimate knowledge of their inner workings.
Hecate, now goddess of Magic, Night, Witches, and Vampires, is again felt throughout the cosmos. Or, rather, her Shade, for Hecate is still terribly weak and distant, and Isabella's existence alone keeps her from vanishing entirely. It is a start.
Without Laan to vex him, The Green God again gains majority control of the Wyld and turns his attention immediately to assimilating the remainder of the courts under his banners. Not even Summer and Spring can long last against the combined might of Druatha, Autumn, and Winter... at least, not without fresh allies.
[Tyvis]
Ripped across the Void, nearly driven mad in the experience, both Tyvis and Widofa managed to survive through only the smallest of chances. Collected by the Pyramid, certain secrets were made apparent, secrets of the Void, secrets of the Yth. By risking annihilation, Tyvis may have in fact found the means to prevent it.
It wasn't long after the Archdruid made contact with a race he could never have hoped existed, star-elves, Seldarine, good-natured beings with a command of magitech unlike anything he'd ever seen. Invited aboard the Seldarine fathership, "The Corellion Larethian", he meets with the elven Star Child in hopes for not only peaceful coexistence, but new allies in the fight against the empire and the Yth [side pending].
[Terrestrial Developments]
Meanwhile, with Anansiel's drow and demon forces dispersed, Drelzna and the armies of Tsojcanth counter-attacked, breaking the last remnants of the siege on the Mountain of Power. Izolda is liberated! The Vampire Queen awaits news from the ones who saved her queendom, in possession of none other than the Worldheart as reward (if asked).
Driven to desperation, and ever her reach exceeding her grasp, Anansiel pressed for control of Cadavera's Anubian vessel to equal the playing field and continue her meteoric rise throughout the ranks of demonkind, even into godhood. She was ultimately slain by a curious collection of Cadavera's best... and worst, summoned by the legendary Count, and aided by the embodiment of Kalia herself.
With Anansiel's destruction, Othyr, then Barovia, was spared the horrid fate of becoming a new Abyssal Gate, a point which all the infinite hordes could have been spilled, smothering Creation and defeating the Ythlords well before the Devourer could arrive, twisting the last bastion of Life into its most wretched form imaginable.
Such victory wasn't without its price, the shattering of the Wolf Moon, freeing all lycanthropes throughout Cadavera from the horrors of uncontrolled shifting. Could it be the were's find themselves able, at last, to join civilization, perhaps form their own? The breaking of Lykoios also heralded the unleashing of one of the most ruinous Primordials, Miska the Wolf-Spider, a titan called Death's Hunger, whose waking promises blind rampage across the cosmos. Directed, Miska could prove a powerful weapon or the doom of whole planets...
Capable and well-meaning hands managed to secure both Quakeheart and Strangehear, however Blackheart, having abandoned the foolish Queen of Spiders, instead took up allegiance with Toben the Many, a sentient plague seeking for all to join as one within him. The potent pairing will almost certainly cause misery in the near future.
And though the North may yet be saved, given the events set in motion by the Champions, and the heroics of the Cadaverans, nothing save Celinduil could have prevented Yathnoc the Desolator from descending on the first of the Alliance strongholds. The Jewel of the North, New Veluvia, has been blasted from the face of the earth, hundreds of thousands dead, leaving the empire's opposition scrambling to mount some kind of defense. Imperial Dragoons and Nors regiments sweep in after the dragon's wake, killing or imprisoning survivors, confiscating magic and technology, and establishing claims.
They say Yathnoc moves now to the giant's fortress-capital of Niflheim, where his very presence might melt the battlements and his breath write the extinction of the Jotun race. Yathnoc has been unleashed.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
148: Anansiel No More
New Enemy: Toben the Many (w/ Blackheart)
Har'venoth retrieved: Strangeheart (Gertruda), Quakeheart (Ashlyn)
Har'venoth retrieved: Strangeheart (Gertruda), Quakeheart (Ashlyn)
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