Knifey Keith X Ruu

Alrighties, here is where we can continue our discussion.

So what we've agreed upon so far is:

• Medieval/Iron Age level of tecnology
  
  
• Native American culture (Including not just folks indigenous to what is now the United States, but also the Inuit, Aleut, Aztecs, Incas, Mayans, Olmecs, etc.)
  
  
• The land is fragmented into millions of small and medium sized islands, travel is made by boat
  
  
• Wars are generally fought on water, big Navies and powerful wind/water magics are employed to win battles
  
  
• There are many different tribes, cultures and petty kingdoms, most following a common pantheon. However this pantheon is not real and the world was created and controlled by an unknown group of supernatural beings.
  
  
• One faction of these beings wishes to corrupt or destroy the world
  
  
• One of the main characters is a child/adolescent who is gifted with great potential power in order to save the world. This main character is under threat of exploitation by other humans and being killed by the evil forces.
  
  
• Another main character is charged with the protection of the chosen one.
  
  
• Monsters of various kinds exist, but are more like mindless beasts taking the form of supernatural beings with animalistic or plant-like characteristics.
  
  
• Knifey Keith is awesome, and he is entitled to vast amounts of wealth and many good looking wives

So now comes the matter of character sheets and what not. Plus ideas for three or so small nations, the specifics of the common religion and… Monsters.

We're creating a world from scratch, so ya'll mutha fuckas owes me money.

Ruu, your thoughts?

Wow...that looks great Knifey! You should be entitled to all that and more. XD I'm ashamed I didn't put that up. And yea, let's go over the main nations, the religion, and the monsters.

Main nations:

Khild (Based on the Olmecs): A tropical people in a warm climate in the Southern Hemisphere, the Khilds are known for their unique style of artwork and their writing system. They worship the 'god' known as the Feathered Serpent. The Feathered Serpent is said to love innovation and advancement and it is said he or she whispers into the ears of the Khild rulers, who are close to the gods. It is even said that at times the Feathered Serpent will take on a mortal appearance. They are a joyful people and it is difficult to find a sad Khild.

Euphar (Aztec culture): The Euphar are a proud people with an empire embroiled by a complex government. One of the largest islands is under their control, and they are located just above the equator. They have a strict caste system. They are lovers of song and poetry. The Euphar are known for their bountiful harvests and unique crops. Many of the various tribes practice human sacrifice, especially of prisoners, though the ruling tribe does not recognize it officially. They worship many 'gods' and have 'gods and goddesses' who represent song, nature, and law and order. Camaxtli is their main 'god', a god of conquest, sacrifice, and the hunt. He appeals to their instincts to dominate and defeat.

The Retthet (Native American culture): The Rethet do not stay in one place and tend to migrate from island to island. They are large believers in community and working together. They also hold to the sanctity of spirits and their departed ancestors. They are hunters and gatherers and take what the land has to offer them. Though they worship many spirits and deities, their main deity is the deity "Oma." Neither male or female, Oma is said to be the embodiment of all that is spiritual and good. Oma is said to be the deity of fate and (strangely) love.

Vephel (Inuit culture): The Vephel are a group of people who live the furthest to the north, on the ice-tipped islands. They are a hardy people, used to the cold and the fickleness of the weather. They use dogs for most of their transportation and have learned to use the elements to their advantage. They have produced some of the most powerful ice mages ever known. They rely on animal hides not only for comfort and clothing, but for artwork. They do not worship a deity and believe very little in supernatural occurrences.

Other Deities of note

Rahad: A deity who is said to be in direct opposition to Aelma. He is the embodiment of Chaos and Disorder. Known of by the Retthet and feared. Some in Euphar idolize Rahad and have formed cults surrounding him.

Callisto: A goddess of the waters, she is known by many names but is respected by all. She is prayed to by wind and water mages and any who attempt to travel on the seas.

Aelma: Also known as the Mother, Aelma is said to be the embodiment of motherly warmth, light, and healing. She is especially hated in Euphar but well loved by the Khild. She is said to often take human appearance and directly involve herself in the affairs of mortals.

Callisto is a god from Greek mythology, honestly I'm a bit iffy on the names of the four main nations as well.

That's alright, we can change them. What did you have in mind?

I'll come up with a few names for each, decide if any work.

~Okies. Sounds good! I'll start work on my character soon. I'm trying to decide what nation he should come from, or if he should come from a nation at all.

Alright, here's my character. I'll start the monsters later.

Name: Rune
Gender: Male
Age: 10
Appearance: Rune has rich, golden hair the color of honey, a rarity in this world, and eyes the color of emeralds. His body is thin and gaunt, making it look like he is starving, even when he is well fed. He is somewhat short for his age and looks like a child of younger years. He has an innocent child-like appearance, but there are wells of hidden knowledge if one would look deep into his eyes. Rune is often clothed in white, a color normally reserved for elders and keepers of knowledge.
Short biography: Rune never knew his parents, but was adopted by a man and in a woman from one of the Retthet tribes. They found him on an abandoned island during one of their travels. He was wrapped in soft white clothes and tucked snugly in a blanket. They named him Rune, a name meaning "Secret," for the Elders had an intuition that he was special, perhaps blessed by Oma. Rune grew up sheltered from the rough and tumble life of many of the tribe's boys. He was instructed by the Elder's at an early age. Though his body seemed to grow at a slow rate, his mind grew at an astonishing pace. He knew of things no child have known, secrets that had been kept hidden or locked away. He had strange powers over the mind and his voice was said by some to cure illnesses and wounds. As he grew, whispers of an approaching Armaggedon could be heard, and he was kept hidden even more, constantly moved around. The Elders said that perhaps he would be the one to save them from impending disaster. But such power could not be hidden for long...During a raid by the Euphar, his parents were killed and he was taken. The Euphar seek to use him for their own aims, but there are others who would stop at nothing to kill him...He is in need of a miracle himself...
Personality: Rune is a soft-spoken boy with a respect and a deep seated sense of compassion. Though he wields great power, he fears to use it often and has tried to maintain a low profile. He is terrified of what his place might be in the world and the responsibilities placed upon his young shoulders. He often speaks with a wisdom beyond his years, but in times of trouble and vulnerability it is revealed that his heart is still that of a child's.
Skills/Powers: Rune has an array of what some would call psychic powers. He can move things with the mind and touch the thoughts and emotions of others. He can heal and manipulate, but it is all through mental powers. He also has the ability to activate technology long lost and fallen into disrepair. Because all his powers are based on the mind, when he is confused, tired, or hurt, it is harder for him to use these powers.

~Here are some monster ideas I had. We don't have to use/keep them all.

Viashno: Lizard-like creatures who stand on two legs. They are not intelligent, but hunt with a ferocity and savagery unlike normal animals. They are found mostly in the forests and are known to waylay travelers.

Carnivorous plants: There are many types of carnivorous plants and these have no qualms about digesting humans as well. Some have vines to wrap around their victims while others kill victims with deadly toxins.

Sea Serpents: Sea serpents are fairly common, but most aren't the long and slender type of snake you would expect to see. Some are serpentine in appearance, while others look more like a mutated octopus.

Wolverines: Wolves that have evolved to become agile, quick, and tireless. They are much fiercer and more dangerous than the average wolf and even mages are hard-pressed to defend against a group of them.

Acidic Ooze: Blobs of ameboid like creatures, their mere touch can disintegrate skin and bone. Thankfully, they don't seem have much intelligence and are very slow.

Siphoners: One of the most intelligent of the "monsters," Siphoners are said to have devolved/evolved from humans, depending on one's point of view. They look like humans but often conceal their forms with black cloaks. Using mere touch, they can zap the strength of others in a painful manner. They are known to take certain humans for strange, terrible rituals...Some say they have the power to take on the gods themselves. Their goals remain a mystery.

Pain Mages: Not really monsters, but they are humans who have been banished from society because of their use of pain magic, a forbidden magic. This magic involves inflicting pain on others and oneself to augment their own powers. Some even delve into blood magic, and even more reviled type of wizardry.

I'll write up a few things about Wendigo and other shyte.

For now I'm throwing up a tribe of my making, this will be the tribe my character belongs to:

The Kanungayok:

A warrior tribe from the cold far North, the Kanungayok are well known to their neighbours for their ferocity and skill as warriors. A resilient and courageous people, their living is made through hunting and gathering; as well as raiding other tribes such as the Vephel for resources. Though the Kanungayok have access to an abundance of iron deposits, their metal work is fairly mediocre; making crude iron axes, machetes, knives and harpoons. They are also an artistic people whom decorate their bodies with black tattoos, both genders tattoo themselves- However the symbols and areas tattooed differ for each gender. The tattoos are a collection of many symbols and patterns, some of purely aesthetic purpose. Others having a significance and meaning that applies to the wearers history, family, skills and sometimes… Crimes.

The Kanungayok dress in thick fur coats with heavy animal skin boots and gloves. Many Kanungayok tools and personal belongings are made from bones and skins of a variety of animals; such as deer, whales, bears and seals. For the Kanungayok battles are often fought by stealthily drifting beside enemies in canoes and showering them with harpoons; eventually attempting to board enemy vessels or land on solid ground, then engaging them in brutal melee combat. Kanungayok warriors are skilled unarmed fighters, also practicing martial arts that specialise in the use of knives, machetes and clubs. Kanungayok warriors typically arms themselves with a machete and several harpoons, though smaller knives, clubs and axes are also commonly used weapons.

One notable trait of a Kanungayok warrior is their self taught threshold for extreme pain and discomfort, believing that endurance and the ability to withstand great deals of physical damage are far more valuable than brute strength. Kanungayok warriors are also known for their avid head hunting tradition, believing the severed head of an enemy is the finest of trophies.

Unlike some cultures, the Kanungayok recognise that the head is the container of the mind. The significance of their head hunting tradition is a symbolic display of supremacy. Separating the head from body suggesting that for the mind and ultimately the consciousness of their slain enemy has been disarmed by the absence of their body. Much believing that the condition or manner in which a warrior is slain, impact the existence of dead warriors in the afterlife.

Some monsters:

Aipalookvik: Evil, vicious creatures that are born of the darkest, deepest floors of the seas. They are a menace for sailors in the North, emerging from the depths to knock over small canoes and eat their inhabitants. The Aipalookvik are seldom seen, but those rare few who have survived an encounter with them describe the Aipalookvik as man shaped sharks. What would appear to many as a grey or white skinned man with gills, jet black eyes and rows upon rows of razor sharp teeth; their skin is tough and they are said to possess great strength and ferocity. The only refuge from such creatures is land, as like many creatures of the sea- They cannot breath outside of water and are unable to pursue their prey on land for long.

In water they are quick and attack with lightning fast speed; shredding their prey apart with their claws and teeth, ripping them limb from limb with their great strength. Aipalookvik due to their tough skin and what appears to be an inability to feel any pain other than that of hunger, the Aipalookvik are extremely hard to kill. The best defence against an attack from one is simply to flee and make for dry land.


Atlantow: Bizarre and truly horrific creatures that trick those who hunt at seas and coasts into mistaking them for a seal. Though on their own they are easily killed by skilled hunters, they seldom take to land alone. Taking the form of a seal they trick inexperienced or hot headed hunters into attacking them; a seasoned hunter can identify them for what they really are- As the Atlantow do not bark as a real seal would. This silence is a dead give away to any educated hunter; though few know this fact about them.

Though initially an Atlantow would resemble a seal exactly, the illusion is a deceptive, thick and blubbery hide that grows around the true creature inside that resembles a large slimy squid. Where a young or foolish hunter would sink a harpoon into the projective blubbery guise, the Atlantow plays dead until the hunter approaches and dangerously close. With frightening speed, the mollusk like creature violently erupts out of it's out skin; turning inside out and gripping it's tentacles around it's victim- Paralysing them and slowly draining away their life energy.

However when exposed, the Atlantow is extremely vulnerable. As it's inner body is soft and gooey, having no ability to protect it's self and felled even by something as simple as a sharp stick. However as mentioned, where there is one Atlantow; there are often more close by.

Name: Annakpok
Gender: Male
Age: 23
Appearance:
Short biography: Annakpok is Kanungayok, by blood, birth and up bringing. Belonging to a tribe of warriors, Annakpok was like all other Kanungayok boys- Trained to be a skilled and brave warrior. Life for Annakpok was hard, painful and filled with the violence that was granted in Kanungayok culture.

His childhood was typical of most boys in his tribe, his teenage years however differed. Marrying at the age of 16, he spent a blissful three years with his beloved wife Ikkuma. Ikkuma was chubby, but pretty- She was an energetic and eccentric girl who was a couple of years older than Annakpok, she loved to wrestle and was quite strong for a woman. She had a cheerful and adventurous way about her, having a strong and brave spirit, she enjoyed going for walks in the forest- Often hunting birds and rabbits with her bow; she brought out the best in Annakpok.

However one day, she took her bow and went for a walk in the woods. Never to return, half of the tribe going along with a distressed Annakpok to search for her- Though when it seemed that she may have intended to leave the tribe… Her bow, arrows and necklace were found scattered about deep in the forest. Signs that caused many, Annokpok included that she had been abducted.

After searching for Ikkuma every day for the next year and a half, finding no sign or clue to where she was or who/ what took her. Annokpok lost all hope, growing bitter and full of anger. Some few months after he gave up his search, the Kanungayok declared war upon the Vephel. The following couple of years for Annokpok were rife with violence and hatred, fighting for his tribe- He took out his pain on all Vephel warriors he encountered, cutting them down with his machetes or striking them down with a harpoon.

War turned the sadness in his soul to a fiery viciousness that was unleashed in combat.

Personality: Annakpok would be best described as a grumpy old man in the body of a young man. Impatient, intolerant and easily irritated, Annakpok has little to no tolerance for inconveniences big or small. His patience for people (Especially when it comes to incompetence.) is almost non existent, these characteristics often make him unpopular and disliked. He seldom enjoys the company of others and spends any time not spend training or hunting, enjoying quietly carving patterns and figurines out of wood.

Annakpok enjoys fighting, often exchanging fists with other men who give him reasonable excuse. He has a passion for weaponry and the martial arts, practicing his skills often help him to be calm and focused… For a time anyway. He is also a passionate carnivore and loves his meat; without a steady supply, he becomes moody, short tempered and aggressive.

Though not the most religiously devout person, his belief is still strong. His superstition even stronger, having a great caution and fear for matters involving curses, bad omens, spirits and the supernatural.

Skills/Powers: Annakpok is an experienced warrior, skilled in unarmed combat and highly skilled in the use of knives and machetes. He is also adequate in the use of harpoons, however he is far from a great shot, Annakpok also has a great deal of experience in hunting as it is one of the two primary occupations for people of his tribe. A competent canoeist, he is able to row his way quietly through calm waters- However often when whaling or in battle, he takes a back seat to a more seasoned sailor- The harder feats of sailing on rough waters or during combat are beyond his skill.

A strong, and considerably tough individual; his primary strengths are as a warrior. In one sense making him ideal for the role of a protector, though he is ill suited to distant travel and survival in foreign lands.



I STILL NEED TO FILL IN THE APPEARANCE SECTION, THIS WILL BE DONE SOON.

~Looks awesome Knifey Keith! So what do we need before we start? Did you still want me to change the names you didn't like for the goddess of the water and the tribes?

I guess Callisto is just… Well it dun fit.

Otherwise the rest will work. Where will we start?

How about Oona for the water goddess?

And I was thinking we'd start just after Rune was taken by the Vephel. Perhaps Annakpok is leading a raid or part of a raid on the Vephel party as they're returning with their captive?

Sounds good.

~Alrighties, I'll get up an opening post then.