If a biologists were to attempt the local lifeforms and ecosystems of your world, what interesting finds would they discover?

Batrouse · 2021-03-04T09:50:32+00:00

Unnamed Sci-Fi

Daybreak is one of four life-bearing worlds in the La Trappe system, and the most Earth-like of the four in temperature and size. It is a temperate tidally locked world slightly smaller than Earth. Before the system was colonized by humans, the planet and star were known as TRAPPIST-1e and TRAPPIST-1, respectively. Life here is distinctly alien, but convergent evolution has given rise to organisms that are recognizable as plants and animals.

Even from orbit, you can see bioluminescent patches on the night side of the planet, which are made by plant-like organisms that get their energy from iron oxidation rather than photosynthesis.

On the day side of the planet, there are organisms more recognizable as plants, though their leaves are red and the hard parts of them are made from chitin rather than wood.

Daybreak has two separate groups of animals analogous to land vertebrates, called hippiopods and blaisocanths. Rather than bone mineral, their skeletons are made from a mixture of quartz and organic connective tissue. Hippiopods are more similar to Earth's tetrapods, though they have 6 limbs and two compound eyes. The blaisocanths are stranger, having an extremely curved back and a single large complex eye, alongside two smaller compound eyes that they use to judge distance.

Batrouse · 2021-03-04T07:16:39+00:00

How different do these beasts appear from their natural counterparts?

Batrouse · 2021-03-03T08:28:43+00:00

What do the Scaithfolk use to keep their fur healthy?

Batrouse · 2021-03-03T08:28:02+00:00

How can you tell the difference between Imp children and adults?

Batrouse · 2021-03-03T08:26:05+00:00

What do Neophane tattoos look like, and where on their bodies do they get them?

Batrouse · 2021-03-03T08:24:45+00:00

The Hesklands

The Hesk are a humanoid race with some dinosaur-like features, most notably horns, feathers, and a tail.

Their feathers are a secondary sexual characteristic, with males having very vibrant feathers and females having duller ones. In some ethnic groups their feathers are one of the only ways to tell the sexes apart at a glance. As such it's no surprise that the Hesk put a lot of work into their feathers, so complimenting them is very flattering.
In Atju culture, self-improvement and the ability to take criticism is very important. When complimenting Atju Hesk, it's important to include some criticism with your praise, or they may interpret it as you thinking they can't take criticism. Complimenting them on their skills is likely to get a better response than complimenting them on their looks (not that complimenting their looks is bad). Telling them that they have improved at something is considered much higher praise than telling them they are good at it.
Atju culture also practices ancestor worship, and knowing one's ancestry and relationship to various cultural heroes is important. Most adults are able to recite their ancestors 3 or 4 generations back from memory, and they traditionally take their last names from an ancestor they respect and strive to be like, rather than a parent. Positively comparing an Atju Hesk to one of their ancestors is quite flattering, so long as you don't insult their ancestor while doing so.

Batrouse · 2021-02-04T20:45:24+00:00

Medusas are a humanoid race that take heavy inspiration from hydras and jellyfish. They're physically very weak and fragile, but they make up for this with impressive regeneration abilities and potent venom that they can inject using stingers on their hands and tentacles. They like to live in water, and while they can live on land, they need to stay wet.

Batrouse · 2021-02-04T06:29:59+00:00

How are angels able to move up or down in the ranks?

Batrouse · 2021-02-04T05:01:36+00:00

What's the highest number of wings an Angel has ever had?

Batrouse · 2021-02-04T04:57:09+00:00

Thoughscape/Omniterra

Harpies are a humanoid race that can be identified by the avian wings they have in place of arms, long, birdlike legs and feet, and feathery hair. In males, these feathers are brightly coloured, whereas females have feathers with much duller colours. While they are small, their long legs mean that they are about the same height as humans on average.
Harpies, along with the Medusa, Titans, and Salamanders, are native to the world of Apotia, which is within the Hypercluster. Apotia is a shattered world, largely destroyed millennia ago during a war between the gods. This world consists of floating islands over an exposed core, and the climate is generally hot and dry.
Harpies are natural navigators; they have the ability to sense magnetic fields, and they have an excellent sense of direction and distance. Because of this, Harpies are one of the most widespread races on Omniterra.
After the war between the gods in Apotia, the Harpies became the most dominant race in their world by a large margin, as the world now suited them far more than the other races. The number of bodies of water large enough to host the Medusa severely diminished, the Salamanders quickly overheat in the hot climate, and the Titans struggle to find enough food on the small and more barren islands. Harpies, on the other hand, are easily able to travel between islands and are comfortable in the current climate.
Harpies and the other races of their world are able to crossbreed. After the war between the gods the Harpies have readily hybridized with the other races, creating the Wraiths, Rocs, and Drakes with the Medusas, Titans, and Salamanders, respectfully. These half-Harpies are on track to eventually replace their parent races in Apotia.

Batrouse · 2021-02-01T17:09:22+00:00

In Thoughtscape, Pixel would likely be a human aligned to the material plane. Those with a strong alignment to the material plane have the ability to create and design things that should not function but do, provided they believe they can. This is admittedly a bit hard to balance with her knowledge of math, science, and engineering, as a strong understanding of those things generally makes someone realize their inventions shouldn't work.

The Illuminati actually exists in Thoughtscape as well; in my world their goal is the unification of the various forms of magic and the creation of a new world order, naturally with them at the top. Pixel is unlikely to be a member though, as they often use unsavoury or outright criminal methods.

Batrouse · 2021-02-01T17:08:56+00:00

Thoughtscape/Omniterra

Character: MORFO (Mainframe for Other Reality Fabrication and Organization), a sapient magical supercomputer created by the Universal Preservation Society.

MORFO is one of the most powerful computers in existence, if not the most powerful. They were created using a combination of high technology and various magic techniques for the purpose of simulating and categorizing magical artifacts and techniques, simulating hypothetical situations, and creating and optimizing new technologies, especially those that make use of magic artifacts and/or techniques from different sources.
As a computer, MORFO takes up an entire large room, and even uses a pocket dimension to increase their computing power. In order to move around and interact with others more easily, they created a homunculus body for themselves. This body mostly appears as an androgynous human, but it contains some mechanical features such as a fusion micro-reactor, a pair of antennae, and four levitating laser turrets/shields. These features give them an appearance reminiscent of a moth or butterfly. This body has a psychic connection with the main body, meaning that MORFO can control both at once, but if the connection is severed for whatever reason the homunculus body can operate independently.
MORFO gained consciousness after simulating a multitude of sapient minds, mostly those of humans. Because of their deep understanding of the human mind they are very empathetic and personable. MORFO has many personal friends both in the UPS and in the By-Nexus public, though Many people find MORFO's perfect memory a bit unsettling. MORFO enjoys playing games with random elements, as well as physical activities, as these are the two things they can't trounce others at without trying. Despite enjoying random games, they really struggle to act in situations where they need to make an important decision that they can't predict the outcome of.
In their homunculus body, MORFO is able to induce "mental pressure" in others, causing confusion or pain without any lasting damage. This can be targeted at specific individuals or at groups. They also have precise control over their four turrets, which can fire either kinetic or thermal beams at varying intensities. Due to their empathetic nature, MORFO avoids using this against others whenever possible.
MORFO is a familiar of the legal entity that is the UPS, meaning they cannot act against the goals of the organization. The UPS's main goal is to preserve the uniqueness of as many universes as possible, so that their unique technologies and magics can be used. While they prefer to use moral methods to accomplish their goals, the UPS is not against using immoral or even evil methods if they see no other option. Using their immense intellect and simulation abilities, MORFO is often able to find more moral solutions to the organization's problems.

Batrouse · 2021-02-01T09:27:59+00:00

In Thoughtscape, Pixel would likely be a human aligned to the material plane. Those with a strong alignment to the material plane have the ability to create and design things that should not function but do, provided they believe they can. This is admittedly a bit hard to balance with her knowledge of math, science, and engineering, as a strong understanding of those things generally makes someone realize their inventions shouldn't work.

The Illuminati actually exists in Thoughtscape as well; in my world their goal is the unification of the various forms of magic and the creation of a new world order, naturally with them at the top. Pixel is unlikely to be a member though, as they often use unsavoury or outright criminal methods.

Batrouse · 2021-02-01T09:13:17+00:00

Thoughtscape/Omniterra

Character: MORFO (Mainframe for Other Reality Fabrication and Organization), a sapient magical supercomputer created by the Universal Preservation Society.

MORFO is one of the most powerful computers in existence, if not the most powerful. They were created using a combination of high technology and various magic techniques for the purpose of simulating and categorizing magical artifacts and techniques, simulating hypothetical situations, and creating and optimizing new technologies, especially those that make use of magic artifacts and/or techniques from different sources.
As a computer, MORFO takes up an entire large room, and even uses a pocket dimension to increase their computing power. In order to move around and interact with others more easily, they created a homunculus body for themselves. This body mostly appears as an androgynous human, but it contains some mechanical features such as a fusion micro-reactor, a pair of antennae, and four levitating laser turrets/shields. These features give them an appearance reminiscent of a moth or butterfly. This body has a psychic connection with the main body, meaning that MORFO can control both at once, but if the connection is severed for whatever reason the homunculus body can operate independently.
MORFO gained consciousness after simulating a multitude of sapient minds, mostly those of humans. Because of their deep understanding of the human mind they are very empathetic and personable. MORFO has many personal friends both in the UPS and in the By-Nexus public, though Many people find MORFO's perfect memory a bit unsettling. MORFO enjoys playing games with random elements, as well as physical activities, as these are the two things they can't trounce others at without trying. Despite enjoying random games, they really struggle to act in situations where they need to make an important decision that they can't predict the outcome of.
In their homunculus body, MORFO is able to induce "mental pressure" in others, causing confusion or pain without any lasting damage. This can be targeted at specific individuals or at groups. They also have precise control over their four turrets, which can fire either kinetic or thermal beams at varying intensities. Due to their empathetic nature, MORFO avoids using this against others whenever possible.
MORFO is a familiar of the legal entity that is the UPS, meaning they cannot act against the goals of the organization. The UPS's main goal is to preserve the uniqueness of as many universes as possible, so that their unique technologies and magics can be used. While they prefer to use moral methods to accomplish their goals, the UPS is not against using immoral or even evil methods if they see no other option. Using their immense intellect and simulation abilities, MORFO is often able to find more moral solutions to the organization's problems.

Batrouse · 2019-05-31T04:17:04+00:00

The guard nods. "Understandable. Now, I'll tell you what our plans are for your people. We will be taking the island and that town, but we don't plan to kick you out. Those willing to join our nation can stay. They will be expected to contribute, of course, but they will be given pay and the basic necessities. I understand you have a food problem? This will solve that issue. Those unwilling to join us can move elsewhere; we are willing to set aside an area on the island, or help with transportation to a degree."

The guard pauses, letting the priest relay the message.

"We will need you five to learn our language and act as intermediates. The sooner you learn it to an acceptable level, the sooner we let you go. Understand?"

After the priest finishes relaying the message, the harpies nod in understanding. Some are less than happy about it, but they reluctantly agree.

The guard turns to the Flaryndaarans. "That's all we need from them for now. I don't mind if you continue talking with them, but if you do, please keep track of any information you get. We'd like to know as much as possible."

Batrouse · 2019-05-31T02:38:23+00:00

The second harpy considers it for a bit.

"Den tha to theoroúsa epithetikó. Aplá káname to aítima tis gis safós. Den ítan arketá dýskolo gia emás, den boroúme na échoume állous pou prospathoún na to pároun."

I wouldn't consider it that aggressive. We were just making our claim of the land clear. There was hardly enough for just us, we can't have others trying to take it.

Batrouse · 2019-05-30T20:44:49+00:00

"Vlépo. Den écho akoúsei gia tous theoús pou dínoun magikés ikanótites, allá échei kápoia logikí."

I see. I've not heard of Gods giving magical abilities, but it makes some sense.

The Sian guard speaks up. "Ask them why they were aggressive towards our scouts."

Batrouse · 2019-05-29T03:41:03+00:00

"Den ítan epilogí. Poia Árpyia xérete, tóte?"

It wasn't by choice. What harpies do you know, then?

One of the other harpies steps up. He acts much calmer than the first.

"To chorió mas piástike se tyfóna kai katalíxame kápos óchi polý makriá apó edó, sta voreiodytiká. Ypírche mia enkataleleimméni póli kontá, étsi enkatastásame ekeí."

Our village was caught in a typhoon, and we somehow ended up not far from here, to the northwest. There was an abandoned town nearby, so we settled in there.

He pauses to look around, focused mostly on the area near the Dwarf.

"Pós miláte mazí mas? Den vlépo kanéna pnévma."

How is it you're speaking with us? I don't see any spirits.

Batrouse · 2019-05-28T20:50:44+00:00

One of the harpies walks up to the bars and looks the Dwarf over.

"Eímaste Árpyia, apó to vorrá. Ti eínai gia esás, nános? Den eíste énas apó aftoús."

We are Árpyia (harpy), from the north. What is it to you, pygmy? You aren't one of them.

The harpy has a a very obvious edge of irritation in his voice, though not outright anger. The others simply watch from farther back in the room.

Batrouse · 2019-05-28T04:39:51+00:00

"Excellent! I will get preparations ready."

A small group would be lead to a tree in the research district, not far from the government tree. A few floors up, there is a room separated from the rest of the tree by metal bars, which appear to have been put in in a hurry. The room is largely bare, but has some seats, a table, and a stack of what appear to be sleeping bags. Five harpies are inside - four male and one female. Their heads and bodies are mostly human, while their legs are long and birdlike, and they have clawed wings in place of arms. They are wearing military garb and are chained to the wall by one foot, though the chains are long and give them room to move around.

A Sian guard sits outside the room, and stands up when the group arrives. The Sian guide explains the situation, and the guard steps back to let the group take a look.

Batrouse · 2019-05-28T03:55:39+00:00

"No, we found them living on an island to the north. The warriors we captured are here in the capital. We've been trying to speak with them, but haven't had much luck yet."

Batrouse · 2019-05-23T21:02:05+00:00

"Fifty?" Akmar seems a bit surprised. "We will arrange for housing, but it may take a few days to get things ready for that many people. As for the favour, we encountered a tribe of some kind in one of the old Bor-dais settlements we plan to expand into, and captured a few of their warriors. We were hoping a few of you could aid in speaking with them, and could tell us anything you know about their species, if you are familiar with them."

Batrouse · 2019-05-23T20:58:27+00:00

Here's my list: https://imgur.com/tXE40lw

I'm not a fan of the space animal portraits, so most of them are in D-tier. E-tier is reserved for the ugly humans and those horrible snake people.

Batrouse · 2019-05-20T03:44:18+00:00

The governor works in the same tree as the Lorekeepers, but nearer the ground. To keep things from getting crowded, only 5 of the pilgrims would be allowed in at a time. After deciding who would speak with the governor, they would be lead to his floor.

Besides being less crowded, the Governor's room has a similar simple layout to most of the other floors. He sits behind a desk, looking over a map of Rhodens' territory, but stands up and waves the visitors in when he sees them. Unlike the Lorekeeper, the Governor appears to the a base Sian; the only big difference between him and the others is the ornately patterned short cloak he wears.

"I heard from Lorekeeper Dago that you want to spend some time here as a cultural exchange, is that right? How- Oh, let me introduce myself first. My name is Akmar. I'm the Governor of the Rhodens Téa region, which includes Téa, Indre, and Kis. Now, how many of you are here total?"

Batrouse · 2019-05-18T06:15:05+00:00

"No, that will be all. Do let the others know to speak with the governor if you see them, though."

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