Fantasy Swords, Savagery, Sorcery, Sedition...

[StormWolf]

An additional query for you, StormWolf - what is the nature of magic (or sorcery, I suppose) in this setting? I'd be interested in making a magic-oriented character, but I want to make sure I'm maintaining the proper flavor/following the rules of the setting.

There's still room enough. As for magic, sorcery, etc, with the exception of daemonic pact-magic, it involves drawing power from a particular source. Practitioners of "the High Science" are aware of a spectral network overlaying and intersecting with the world and the cosmos. Different cultures have different interpretations, but it ultimately boils down to a pattern of aeterial elements that weave together to form the prime-material plane. Those born with the Talent (or Spark, or Touch) can pull "threads" from this aetherial pattern and channel them into spells. Doing so causes the "weave" to unravel, which will mend in time, but those tears are a shining beacon to Outside entities. If not permitted to mend, or if a tear is so catastrophically made, it will metaphysically fester. The Sekhraksha Desert is an example of one of these "Blightlands", where habitation is all but impossible, and the 'arcane radiation' has physically coalesced to the point mutation and daemonic materialization.

Channeling threads from the Pattern requires a focus to prevent backlash or a tidal surge of the raw forces of creation. This is typically seen in wands, staves, and rings. Sorcery draws a heavy physical and mental toll, since the sorcerer in question is a proverbial lightning rod for primordial forces, but those with the Talent are generally long-lived and vigorous, as they are vitalized by the constant connection to such energy.


KRONOS That would fall under a sort of pact-magic, but a Death Goddess would likely have a particular task/mission plan in mind for them, since by turning them into a Revenant would technically be breaking her own laws. Valorous fighters sit at her scales thousands of times every time you blink. What makes this one worth returning to the mortal coil as her champion, and what are they championing against?

 

[KRONOS]

KRONOS That would fall under a sort of pact-magic, but a Death Goddess would likely have a particular task/mission plan in mind for them, since by turning them into a Revenant would technically be breaking her own laws. Valorous fighters sit at her scales thousands of times every time you blink. What makes this one worth returning to the mortal coil as her champion, and what are they championing against?

Ah thats simple my friend. True she Is the goddess of death, but regardless, judging souls Is a tireless never-ending task and aint nobody got time for that, especially the goddess of death who has more Important tasks to attend to. Therefore she has enforcers In the corporeal plane; there are others all over the world who guide lost souls Into the afterlife, those who condemn and punish beings who have committed crimes worthy of being sentenced to hell, those who hunt down souls that have escaped the underworld, and those who kill beings who threaten overthrow the balance of the realms (like lets say a Invading eldritch horror or someone trying to summon a eldritch horror. A crime like that Is punishable by death.)

Bottom line Pale riders are the exception to the law of death, because without them acting as overseers, things would get a little chaotic with demons and otherworldly beings continually trying to break through the veil between our world and theirs. They're like a mix of ghost rider and the punisher. They keep the general balance of the realms doing what they do; acting as judge, jury, and executioner.

But there are rules, like killing the Innocent Is prohibited. Being a Pale rider gives you a number of abilities, like judging a souls worth; telling whether or not they are worthy of being sentenced to hell just by looking deep Into their souls. They're also not allowed to shirk their duties, If they do the underworld will know and that means a lecture . When called they must answer and when given a directive they must follow It.

 

[Ennuis]

StormWolf
Looks like I missed some notifications, is this still open? Also did you ever find out what's up with Zorab?

 

[Aloha Loha]

Equusheart - Oh I know you haven't quite finished up yet but, you do know steel was not present in the Bronze Age yes? Steel manufacturing took place much later.

 

[StormWolf]

In certain locations, even in our history, high carbon steel was actually produced, even in small batches. It is presumed to the be the precedent for magical blades throughout partially-mythologized history. Artisans in India were known to make wootz steel while the rest of the world used iron, and some African tribes making comparable steel thousands of years preceding that.

 

[Aloha Loha]

Yes but this is the Bronze Age, not the later ages where we could forge steel. Forging techniques weren't that advanced, the best weapons you got were from naturally occurring obsidian.

Quick Edit: Even so, say we are talking about when we could do it in limited amounts, I doubt it would be present as studs in leather armors. Axes, maybe more likely given the region. And early iron was pretty poor compared to proper bronze manufacturing, which again happened a lot more and a lot earlier than any traces of iron manufacturing.

 

[Ennuis]

In certain locations, even in our history, high carbon steel was actually produced, even in small batches. It is presumed to the be the precedent for magical blades throughout partially-mythologized history. Artisans in India were known to make wootz steel while the rest of the world used iron, and some African tribes making comparable steel thousands of years preceding that.

Wootz steel was a few hundred years after the end of the bronze age so it really doesn't have anything to do with that. Also how about my questions?

 

[KRONOS]

This Is a fantasy rp. So hypothetically speaking some races In this world could have possible advanced faster than others In creating better weapons from steel or even from some sort of ore similar to steel and Iron. Cause In the end, this Is just fantasy rp and therefore has no real correlation with our world's bronze age period and so we can just make up things as we go along.

 

[Aloha Loha]

That'd kill the flavor and the aesthetic which is the Bronze Age, and would turn it into just another more bog-standard thing.

 

[Equusheart]

Equusheart - Oh I know you haven't quite finished up yet but, you do know steel was not present in the Bronze Age yes? Steel manufacturing took place much later.

well... shit... okay

 

[KRONOS]

That'd kill the flavor and the aesthetic which is the Bronze Age, and would turn it into just another more bog-standard thing.

Maybe. But lets put It this way; bronze weapons... are trash... just absolute trash. When It comes to ore for weapons, bronze Is one of the worst materials you could ever use; at best bronze Is better suited for dinner utensils than a weapon. How do you expect anyone here to kill lets say a eldritch horror with a weapon that probably wouldn't even pierce Its skin; doesn't even have to be a that It could be we face off against a demon or some manner of beast whose hide Is far too thick. Not to mention how tedious It would be to constantly replace your cruddy bronze weapon for another just so It can get damaged all over again. So In short we could all be attacking a bear; hacking at It with bronze weapons relentlessly; as It pours It self a cup of coffee, sits to read the daily news, and leaves for work. Mean while we're all still hacking and slashing as he attends his daughters play; crying as It comes to an end whilst applauding. Then 10 years later that bear has died.... of old age and we're all at his funeral suited up and crying Into a cloth In one hand next to his weeping wife, whilst hacking/slashing In another; reminiscing about how this all started. Bottomline bronze weapons just aren't going to cut It.... literally.

 

[Equusheart]

Well, weren't the Egyptians and Persians in the bronze age? Or the Spartans?

 

[KRONOS]

Well, weren't the Egyptians and Persians in the bronze age? Or the Spartans?

One thing I remember from history Is this.... bronze weapons were a bad Idea. Hundreds of people who used them ended up getting themselves killed because of how bad bronze was.

 

[Darth]

I mean, bronze wasn't phased out because it was terrible. Bronze got replaced by iron and other metals because bronze was less readily available and harder to find.

 

[KRONOS]

Well, weren't the Egyptians and Persians in the bronze age? Or the Spartans?

Iron age I believe.

 

[Equusheart]

Hmmmm...

 

[KRONOS]

That was during their war against Persia.

 

[Ennuis]

Maybe. But lets put It this way; bronze weapons... are trash... just absolute trash. When It comes to ore for weapons, bronze Is one of the worst materials you could ever use; at best bronze Is better suited for dinner utensils than a weapon. How do you expect anyone here to kill lets say a eldritch horror with a weapon that probably wouldn't even pierce Its skin; doesn't even have to be a that It could be we face off against a demon or some manner of beast whose hide Is far too thick. Not to mention how tedious It would be to constantly replace your cruddy bronze weapon for another just so It can get damaged all over again. So In short we could all be attacking a bear; hacking at It with bronze weapons relentlessly; as It pours It self a cup of coffee, sits to read the daily news, and leaves for work. Mean while we're all still hacking and slashing as he attends his daughters play; crying as It comes to an end whilst applauding. Then 10 years later that bear has died.... of old age and we're all at his funeral suited up and crying Into a cloth In one hand next to his weeping wife, whilst hacking/slashing In another; reminiscing about how this all started. Bottomline bronze weapons just aren't going to cut It.... literally.

But that's wrong.

 

[KRONOS]

But that's wrong.

Elaborate bud, I can't read your mind.

I mean, bronze wasn't phased out because it was terrible. Bronze got replaced by iron and other metals because bronze was less readily available and harder to find.

That Is true, bronze and Iron are similar. But here's the thing about bronze after repeated use like with a sword, It can end up chipping or bending during combat; though It can hold somewhat of a sharp edge. But overall Its just kinda Inferior to a well made steel sword.

Click

 

[KRONOS]

This might be bronze age themed but It Is also hyborian Age themed role-play; which fyi Is just a made up age In Conan the barbarian. So Instead of discussing whether or not we should stay true to our own bronze age, which used solely bronze forged weapons; we should decide whether or not this Is the bronze age or the hyborian age. Doesn't even have to be called that you guys can make up whatever name If you want.

 

[Equusheart]

Sorry I didn't mean to start a history debate

 

[KRONOS]

Sorry I didn't mean to start a history debate

Oh relax man, we're just discussing the essence of what the rp should be; and thats a good thing; It show you all care and I like that. I just think a hyborian age theme would be better suited than our bronze age; cause lets be honest, would you prefer using a bronze made sword that bends and ships after repeated use or would you rather have something like... CIMMERIAN STEEL!!!!

 

[Ennuis]

KRONOS
Bronze only became less commonly used due to tin being rare and typically not being found anywhere near copper and armies becoming bigger. Steel was a much later discovery and while it was superior to bronze, that doesn't mean bronze can't hurt animals.

The biggest issue with steel being common in a bronze aged setting is it would dramatically change how the world works. Using the Hyborian age as an example, sure Aquilonia was far more advanced than most of the setting, but they were one of the stand out nations and were surrounded by savage barbarians that could not produce steel (or sometimes metal at all) weapons, which mimics the real world since some regions stayed in their bronze age longer than others.

 

[Equusheart]

Oh relax man, we're just discussing the essence of what the rp should be; and thats a good thing; It show you all care and I like that. I just think a hyborian age theme would be better suited than our bronze age; cause lets be honest, would you prefer using a bronze made sword that bends and ships after repeated use or would you rather have something like... CIMMERIAN STEEL!!!!

That, but in axe form

 

[KRONOS]

KRONOS
Bronze only became less commonly used due to tin being rare and typically not being found anywhere near copper and armies becoming bigger. Steel was a much later discovery and while it was superior to bronze, that doesn't mean bronze can't hurt animals.
Wasn't being serious, It was a metaphorical joke fyi.

The biggest issue with steel being common in a bronze aged setting is it would dramatically change how the world works. Using the Hyborian age as an example, sure Aquilonia was far more advanced than most of the setting, but they were one of the stand out nations and were surrounded by savage barbarians that could not produce steel (or sometimes metal at all) weapons, which mimics the real world since some regions stayed in their bronze age longer than others.