Sooo, this quest is kinda inspired by The Years of Rice and Salt in that you'll be following a...
Times of Chaos and Crystals (CK2///???)
- Thread starter minerva-n-memes
- Start date
- Original
-
- Tags
- ck2 quest
- Created
- Status
- Ongoing
- Watchers
- 9
- Recent readers
- 0
- Location
- Diamond City
The storyteller had told this tale a million times for what seemed to be like a million years, even if the objective time was much smaller.
The latest generation of younglings and children at the long table, along with their family and kin, looked up the storyteller. Eagerly awaiting for the old figure of the village to start, ready for the storyteller to enchant them all; Well, they were also obviously hungry for the hours-long ritual meal to start, but that's just a minor detail, the storyteller jokingly thought to themselves.
"It was like a vast and infinite array of fog and clouds, constantly changing, constantly rearranging.
There was no such thing like that of Time, there was no beginning, there was no end, all around, only the primordial struggle of infinities clashing with multitudes of other infinities; Elaborate coral-like bushes and trees each branch and pathway containing one of many unfolding possibilities, every single one a home to traveling intensities moving into hives of symphonies and then splitting into innumerable bands of lone singers, repeating endless variations until their branch connects with other branches, or even breaks apart, shattering into a thousand fragments that will grow into a frenzy of new almost-life.
Everywhere, nowhere, all around, are spinning singularity-orbs of glowing crystals. Every one agitating the currents of chaos around it, miniature storm cells breathing in and out, gradually reshaping the environments around themselves. Occasionally, a number of these crystals would come closer to one another and would sync up in strange harmonies, dancing in bizarre ways, manipulating the gaseous void around it to move in wonderful ways, coming to a million conclusions before all coming together; A single new orb composed of many, insides churning and changing, hungrily absorbing the unformed fogs around it, this crystalline body grows in size before shattering and splitting into many crystalline points of energy and light.
This cycle would repeat itself, birthing more and more of these crystalline fragments, stretching the canvas of infinity out for cycles of eternity.
But it wasn't this vast whole, unknown wilderness that concerns us, but a mere sliver tucked away. This, this fragment of space and chaos and crystal would become our universe."
The storyteller paused for everyone to start eating their thick and spicy soup, almost wolfing it down all their throats.
Yes, they were obviously here for the story.
"Now, children, what happened next?"
They all looked at the storyteller with wide eyes and snotty noses, quickly swallowing whatever mouthfuls of soup they had, before breaking into almost shouting, one of the children louder then the others,
"Storyteller...
[] Eosim
[] Eykriyna
[] Adrokevius
[] Kladelis
[] Wait, none of those were the storyteller's name, it was actually ... (Please keep this within reason, anything that's outside the theme of this will likely be vetoed)
My Yani, Maroline, told me that ...
[] (I'll leave this open as you all are basically helping to craft the cosmology of the setting's universe. Every suggestion will likely influence the cosmology to one degree to another. The more eldritch and weird it is, the more likely it'll come into play. I'm trying to avoid another clone of Tolken Fantasy so please keep that in mind. The sort of horror of Warhammer will likely be an influence on the quest but I'm going to avoid any exagerrated grimdark tbh)
The latest generation of younglings and children at the long table, along with their family and kin, looked up the storyteller. Eagerly awaiting for the old figure of the village to start, ready for the storyteller to enchant them all; Well, they were also obviously hungry for the hours-long ritual meal to start, but that's just a minor detail, the storyteller jokingly thought to themselves.
"It was like a vast and infinite array of fog and clouds, constantly changing, constantly rearranging.
There was no such thing like that of Time, there was no beginning, there was no end, all around, only the primordial struggle of infinities clashing with multitudes of other infinities; Elaborate coral-like bushes and trees each branch and pathway containing one of many unfolding possibilities, every single one a home to traveling intensities moving into hives of symphonies and then splitting into innumerable bands of lone singers, repeating endless variations until their branch connects with other branches, or even breaks apart, shattering into a thousand fragments that will grow into a frenzy of new almost-life.
Everywhere, nowhere, all around, are spinning singularity-orbs of glowing crystals. Every one agitating the currents of chaos around it, miniature storm cells breathing in and out, gradually reshaping the environments around themselves. Occasionally, a number of these crystals would come closer to one another and would sync up in strange harmonies, dancing in bizarre ways, manipulating the gaseous void around it to move in wonderful ways, coming to a million conclusions before all coming together; A single new orb composed of many, insides churning and changing, hungrily absorbing the unformed fogs around it, this crystalline body grows in size before shattering and splitting into many crystalline points of energy and light.
This cycle would repeat itself, birthing more and more of these crystalline fragments, stretching the canvas of infinity out for cycles of eternity.
But it wasn't this vast whole, unknown wilderness that concerns us, but a mere sliver tucked away. This, this fragment of space and chaos and crystal would become our universe."
The storyteller paused for everyone to start eating their thick and spicy soup, almost wolfing it down all their throats.
Yes, they were obviously here for the story.
"Now, children, what happened next?"
They all looked at the storyteller with wide eyes and snotty noses, quickly swallowing whatever mouthfuls of soup they had, before breaking into almost shouting, one of the children louder then the others,
"Storyteller...
[] Eosim
[] Eykriyna
[] Adrokevius
[] Kladelis
[] Wait, none of those were the storyteller's name, it was actually ... (Please keep this within reason, anything that's outside the theme of this will likely be vetoed)
My Yani, Maroline, told me that ...
[] (I'll leave this open as you all are basically helping to craft the cosmology of the setting's universe. Every suggestion will likely influence the cosmology to one degree to another. The more eldritch and weird it is, the more likely it'll come into play. I'm trying to avoid another clone of Tolken Fantasy so please keep that in mind. The sort of horror of Warhammer will likely be an influence on the quest but I'm going to avoid any exagerrated grimdark tbh)
After we get through the prologue which includes the cosmology and evolutionary history of the setting, we'll move forward to the main part of game which will probably be a homebrew system based on CK2 amongst other things.
Anyhow, have fun, everyone and please keep discussions civil.
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- Location
- Diamond City
RESERVED
- Location
- Diamond City
RESERVED
- Location
- Diamond City
RESERVED
- Location
- Diamond City
You can now post.
I'll probably close up suggestions/votes late late tonight or tomorrow morning.
I'll probably close up suggestions/votes late late tonight or tomorrow morning.
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- Location
- The Great Beyond
- Pronouns
- He/She/They
[X] Kladelis
My Yani, Maroline, told me that ...
[X] That was when the Titans were born, the vast, primi..prima...primordial beings upon who's backs the continents rest to this day, and that their wandering is why we can't always buy the delicious ice cream from Snow City!
This looks like an interesting premise, was a bit confusing having the actual story and vote parts behind a nameless spoiler, though.
Hope it gets more interest soon.
My Yani, Maroline, told me that ...
[X] That was when the Titans were born, the vast, primi..prima...primordial beings upon who's backs the continents rest to this day, and that their wandering is why we can't always buy the delicious ice cream from Snow City!
This looks like an interesting premise, was a bit confusing having the actual story and vote parts behind a nameless spoiler, though.
Hope it gets more interest soon.
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- Location
- Diamond City
Ohhh, I like this! There are a lot of possibilities with this. I love the whole idea of wandering continents where you're basically dealing with a world that has extremely rapid continental drift.
Yeah, I added a name to it so hopefully it feels more clear.
And same, I'm mainly using this to get back into creative writing so I want to see where we go.
- Location
- scrabbling
[X] Eykriyna
I like the sound of this one.
My Yani, Maroline, told me that ...
[X] the jagged edges of crystal were sanded down by the South and West Winds, who used the leftover bits as seeds to grow all the plants and animals everywhere! But they lost some, and the nasty North and East Winds stole it to make sickness and mold and monsters.
I might be skipping some steps? Tell me if I am.
I like the sound of this one.
My Yani, Maroline, told me that ...
[X] the jagged edges of crystal were sanded down by the South and West Winds, who used the leftover bits as seeds to grow all the plants and animals everywhere! But they lost some, and the nasty North and East Winds stole it to make sickness and mold and monsters.
I might be skipping some steps? Tell me if I am.
Last edited:
- Location
- Diamond City
Life right out the gate? Hmmm, this sounds fun ~
No, no, you got it!
- Location
- The Great Beyond
- Pronouns
- He/She/They
You could advertise this in the Original Quest Exchange and Discusion thread, see if that gets more interest. Or maybe add some tags. Both might work.
- Location
- Diamond City
I'll keep the vote and suggestion open until tomorrow morning and then I'll put something together.
pantherasapiens
you were always my best friend
- Location
- somewhere over your shoulder
[X] Eykriyna
My Yani, Maroline, told me that ...
[X] "The moon used to be yellow and white, but only turned back to normal after the angels came and gave us all our hearts back!"
My Yani, Maroline, told me that ...
[X] "The moon used to be yellow and white, but only turned back to normal after the angels came and gave us all our hearts back!"
- Location
- Queensland, Australia
I'm going to borrow a few things from the previous votes... new direction though.
EDIT: Sheesh. didn't anticipate it getting this long @_@... This is one smart child that's talking here... Sorry if I made too much World-Buidling here. But well, it gives you a lot to chose from doesn't it?
Storyteller
[X] Adrokevius
My Yani, Maroline, told me that ...
[X] That this was when the crystal gave birth to the two Greater Titans, prime... primi... primordial beings of LIGHT and DARK. That those two beings spent an eternity yet only a moment meeting, talking, and clashing and this is why to this day, the dark chases the light and the light chases the dark. Yet during this eternal moment, the 4 Titans were born from the energies released. They of WATER, EARTH, FIRE, and AIR.
This sparked a new eternal moment as the two Greater Titans found that although individually they were greater than any two of the Great Titans, despite the clashes the Great Titans had between themselves, they could work with one another, whereas LIGHT and DARK could never truly come together. And new clashes were had between the Greaters, and the Greats with allies and enemies changing continuously. These clashes created the world we know, as well as the other worlds we know of, the stars in the sky and the worlds we are told they possess.
It continued for an eternity until one moment, EARTH and WATER discovered things within their domain possessing fractions of all 6 Titans. And they told the others until all 6 were looking, and finding the things in all their domains. It was in this moment that the 6 Titans for the first, and only time all allied with each other, for none would stand for any of themselves to be combined with all the others. LIGHT blasted the things, DARK blinded them, WATER tore, EARTH crushed, FIRE burned and AIR shredded. But despite all they could do, some of the things always survived, and as the Titans moved on to the next area, the things spread again, stronger, more capable, tougher.
Finally, after eons, it had reached the point were the things were able to survive anything the Titans threw at them that the Titans had almost admitted defeat and decided to just annihilate everything including themselves when a great ritual was cast by the Strongest Things, the Smartest Things, the Trickiest Things, the most Moral, the most Evil, all the greatest things. It was at this moment that she who became DEATH was brought within from the outside. And she showed why the Titans had been unable to destroy the Things, for they were part of she who was LIFE.
She who became DEATH talked to the 6 Titans and convinced them to not destroy everything, as she would cast an unstoppable curse on the things of LIFE, but in return, they would not directly attack the things of LIFE and those who had summoned her would be spared the cursed, but brought to her domain. And the 6 talked with each other, and agreed that as long as LIFE's things were crippled by the curse, they would spare them from their direct attacks, having had the though of copying the things of LIFE to create those which became known as Elementals to kill them off instead.
Such was it that a terrible curse was cast, and Time came into existence. In one moment LIFE's children lost their immortality and DEATH's domain began. Yet this was not a victory like the Titans had thought, for such had been LIFE's plan when she convinced her Greatest beings to cast the ritual. For She who is LIFE and Those who became the Gods had seen that Life was stagnating as they had nothing left to drive them to improve, having defeated the 6 Titans.
This is why we have fallen so far from our ancestors, for when Death became reality much was lost as all but the youngest died and Life became harsher. However, it is also why LIFE and DEATH are so close as to be called sisters, and why we follow the Gods and Goddesses, for they stopped us from becoming nothing. It is also why life fights so strongly amongst itself. For when the Elementals attack, all of life must defend themselves from the imitations the Titans have made, for the Titans have no need for creativity and thus are unable to create new things.
This is why we celebrate the Day of Time's Beginning with contests of innovation, skill, magic and entertainment. For it reminds us to always be ready for the next time the Titans attack, and eternally on the look out for the next trick the Titans pull as they work to destroy life and return the universe to a state of timelessness for although they do not feel the toll of time, they hate the control it has on them as long as life exists.
EDIT: Sheesh. didn't anticipate it getting this long @_@... This is one smart child that's talking here... Sorry if I made too much World-Buidling here. But well, it gives you a lot to chose from doesn't it?
Storyteller
[X] Adrokevius
My Yani, Maroline, told me that ...
[X] That this was when the crystal gave birth to the two Greater Titans, prime... primi... primordial beings of LIGHT and DARK. That those two beings spent an eternity yet only a moment meeting, talking, and clashing and this is why to this day, the dark chases the light and the light chases the dark. Yet during this eternal moment, the 4 Titans were born from the energies released. They of WATER, EARTH, FIRE, and AIR.
This sparked a new eternal moment as the two Greater Titans found that although individually they were greater than any two of the Great Titans, despite the clashes the Great Titans had between themselves, they could work with one another, whereas LIGHT and DARK could never truly come together. And new clashes were had between the Greaters, and the Greats with allies and enemies changing continuously. These clashes created the world we know, as well as the other worlds we know of, the stars in the sky and the worlds we are told they possess.
It continued for an eternity until one moment, EARTH and WATER discovered things within their domain possessing fractions of all 6 Titans. And they told the others until all 6 were looking, and finding the things in all their domains. It was in this moment that the 6 Titans for the first, and only time all allied with each other, for none would stand for any of themselves to be combined with all the others. LIGHT blasted the things, DARK blinded them, WATER tore, EARTH crushed, FIRE burned and AIR shredded. But despite all they could do, some of the things always survived, and as the Titans moved on to the next area, the things spread again, stronger, more capable, tougher.
Finally, after eons, it had reached the point were the things were able to survive anything the Titans threw at them that the Titans had almost admitted defeat and decided to just annihilate everything including themselves when a great ritual was cast by the Strongest Things, the Smartest Things, the Trickiest Things, the most Moral, the most Evil, all the greatest things. It was at this moment that she who became DEATH was brought within from the outside. And she showed why the Titans had been unable to destroy the Things, for they were part of she who was LIFE.
She who became DEATH talked to the 6 Titans and convinced them to not destroy everything, as she would cast an unstoppable curse on the things of LIFE, but in return, they would not directly attack the things of LIFE and those who had summoned her would be spared the cursed, but brought to her domain. And the 6 talked with each other, and agreed that as long as LIFE's things were crippled by the curse, they would spare them from their direct attacks, having had the though of copying the things of LIFE to create those which became known as Elementals to kill them off instead.
Such was it that a terrible curse was cast, and Time came into existence. In one moment LIFE's children lost their immortality and DEATH's domain began. Yet this was not a victory like the Titans had thought, for such had been LIFE's plan when she convinced her Greatest beings to cast the ritual. For She who is LIFE and Those who became the Gods had seen that Life was stagnating as they had nothing left to drive them to improve, having defeated the 6 Titans.
This is why we have fallen so far from our ancestors, for when Death became reality much was lost as all but the youngest died and Life became harsher. However, it is also why LIFE and DEATH are so close as to be called sisters, and why we follow the Gods and Goddesses, for they stopped us from becoming nothing. It is also why life fights so strongly amongst itself. For when the Elementals attack, all of life must defend themselves from the imitations the Titans have made, for the Titans have no need for creativity and thus are unable to create new things.
This is why we celebrate the Day of Time's Beginning with contests of innovation, skill, magic and entertainment. For it reminds us to always be ready for the next time the Titans attack, and eternally on the look out for the next trick the Titans pull as they work to destroy life and return the universe to a state of timelessness for although they do not feel the toll of time, they hate the control it has on them as long as life exists.
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- Location
- Diamond City
I'll close the vote/suggestions in two hours then hopefully get an update out today!