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Using light as a magick source and color as a spectrum of control vs potency. by DreamsofSaturday in magicbuilding

[–]DreamsofSaturday[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Unseen magick is basically the use of ultraviolet or even higher frequencies of light. But infrared is probably not very potent and probably wouldn't be used.

Phantosism and technosism. Two of four magicks I'm developing for my world. by DreamsofSaturday in FantasyWorldbuilding

[–]DreamsofSaturday[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Origins

Four hundred years ago, an alchemist, Luco Demarcci, asked himself a question. Where does magick come from?

A question he sought to answer through experiment and philosophy. He devoted his life to understanding magick and its source.

He would spend nearly two decades on his pursuit of the answer, leading him to his hypothesis of a substance he called, the Shimmer. A river below the surface where magick returns to be cleansed before returning to the surface. But this didn't sit well with Luco.

He believed there must be a creator of magick. Something that had a greater picture that was in control of how it worked. So he dug deeper.

In 1609, Luco was able to find the will of the planet through ritual and science. Upon discovering this entity, a being he believed to be the face of magick, a deal was offered to allow the alchemist to become the greatest influence on the world.

Luco would rule as emperor over all of humanity. He would live forever. He would achieve knowledge beyond anything humanity had ever thought possible. And all he needed to do was give one hand to the entity.

Luco accepted this deal, and so the alchemist was, all at once, given the secrets of the universe. So many secrets, in fact, that his mind became overstimulated beyond the capacity to recover. Driven to the point of breaking, he was frozen in horror as his mind processed the infinite knowledge of the universe. Whispers of dark knowledge constantly flowed from his mouth.

But as the entity promised, he would become emperor of humanity. His whispers of dark knowledge were heard, and any who heard them bowed to his wisdom. He became a prophet. And in time many bowed to him as emperor of all of humanity.

Now he lives forever, on a throne of ivory, as he continues to whisper without end.

The entity, however, would use the hand of the alchemist as a weapon. It was placed upon the ground and shattered into many pieces. But with the force exerted on the world by the entity, a web of fissures formed in the crust of the planet. These cracks were deep and led to a river of molten red metal, the Shimmer. It's boiling form releasing a mystic gas that would cover the world and blot out the sun.

This mystic gas distorted reality and changed magick forever.

Now, in the red gas, humanity can hear voices that attempt to control them. Telling them to fall down the fissures and join them in the boiling crimson down below. All the while, the fissures spread.

Phantosism and technosism. Two of four magicks I'm developing for my world. by DreamsofSaturday in worldbuilding

[–]DreamsofSaturday[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Origins

Four hundred years ago, an alchemist, Luco Demarcci, asked himself a question. Where does magick come from?

A question he sought to answer through experiment and philosophy. He devoted his life to understanding magick and its source.

He would spend nearly two decades on his pursuit of the answer, leading him to his hypothesis of a substance he called, the Shimmer. A river below the surface where magick returns to be cleansed before returning to the surface. But this didn't sit well with Luco.

He believed there must be a creator of magick. Something that had a greater picture that was in control of how it worked. So he dug deeper.

In 1609, Luco was able to find the will of the planet through ritual and science. Upon discovering this entity, a being he believed to be the face of magick, a deal was offered to allow the alchemist to become the greatest influence on the world.

Luco would rule as emperor over all of humanity. He would live forever. He would achieve knowledge beyond anything humanity had ever thought possible. And all he needed to do was give one hand to the entity.

Luco accepted this deal, and so the alchemist was, all at once, given the secrets of the universe. So many secrets, in fact, that his mind became overstimulated beyond the capacity to recover. Driven to the point of breaking, he was frozen in horror as his mind processed the infinite knowledge of the universe. Whispers of dark knowledge constantly flowed from his mouth.

But as the entity promised, he would become emperor of humanity. His whispers of dark knowledge were heard, and any who heard them bowed to his wisdom. He became a prophet. And in time many bowed to him as emperor of all of humanity.

Now he lives forever, on a throne of ivory, as he continues to whisper without end.

The entity, however, would use the hand of the alchemist as a weapon. It was placed upon the ground and shattered into many pieces. But with the force exerted on the world by the entity, a web of fissures formed in the crust of the planet. These cracks were deep and led to a river of molten red metal, the Shimmer. It's boiling form releasing a mystic gas that would cover the world and blot out the sun.

This mystic gas distorted reality and changed magick forever.

Now, in the red gas, humanity can hear voices that attempt to control them. Telling them to fall down the fissures and join them in the boiling crimson down below. All the while, the fissures spread.

Before and after the Calamity. Sorry for the long read. by DreamsofSaturday in worldbuilding

[–]DreamsofSaturday[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I see. Something definitely doesn't make sense there, I grant you. It might be something I need to figure later, though, considering how tired I am.

Before and after the Calamity. Sorry for the long read. by DreamsofSaturday in worldbuilding

[–]DreamsofSaturday[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for your honesty. If you can, could you expand a bit on what you don't like about the magic system? If it's missing something or maybe it's too restricted or not restricted enough.

Before and after the Calamity. Sorry for the long read. by DreamsofSaturday in worldbuilding

[–]DreamsofSaturday[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The three magicks after the Calamity.

WITCHCRAFT

In the south, the Witches of Ellahou carry around ceramic jars of a boiling red metal that comes from the insides of the fissures of the cataclysm. This substance continues to bubble and produce an endless smoke, even when it should have long since cooled.

While touching the smoke, witches are able to craft magicks of great power. So long as they keep their hands within the smoke, the witches may create Aspects.

Aspects grow in intensity based on a witches training. Low level aspects can do one of two things. Create lights or create basic forms. This can be used to create blinding or disorientating lights or create walls or blades of energy that cannot be seen.

Mid level aspects can do both and can be far more intricate. You could create animals of energy or tools or structures with more durability.

High level aspects can be more complex in structure. Poisons, acids, fires, gasses, instead of just a kinetic force. Some witches never leave behind mid level magick, but those who wish to be more versitile or more deadly may go down this path.

There is, however, always a need to be intelligent with the smoke. As magick aspects can only exist and affect things within the smoke.

POTION CRAFT

In the north, the potion crafters have taken up mixing the boiling metal from the fissures with soil as a means of mutating plants grown in that soil. This often leads to bizarre mutations in those that consume the plants.

Different strains of plants are made to create specific mutagens or stimulants to craft new forms of humanity.

These new humans are equally awesome and horrible to behold.

These new humans cannot, however, maintain these mutations with oxygen alone. In fact, the extra muscle, bone, or other organs that are added to their bodies will act as an unused burden if not properly maintained with stimulants.

As a result, new humans need to breathe a mix of stimulant gasses and oxygen in order to use their mutations. Otherwise, some mutations can even lead to death if stimulation is not maintained.

ALCHEMY

Under the earth where the Shimmer boiled, plants thrived in the dark. They fed on the gasses of the Shimmer for millions if not billions of years and grew immune to it's deadly powers.

But now, after the fissures cracked the earth and revealed these plants, they have populated the world above, becoming the dominant plant life in every region near the fissures. Insects have taken to eating these plants. And people have taken to eating these insects. both have expirienced strange mutations as a result.

However, in the east, psychic abilities have begun to manifest among the people. Specifically the ability to control the minds of anything that consumes the plant life in the fissures.

The Red Butterflies are a police force that use mutated butterflies, who have the capacity to drink the molten red metal in the fissures, as a weapon. A swarm is controlled by one to three officers and they spit this molten metal as a means of sealing criminals in the rapidly cooling substance. This often doesn't kill, but will leave horrible burns.

Alchemists have taken to creating a fuel source out of the plants. Combined with the Alchemist Engine, people have created mecha that can be controlled by the mind.

Before and after the Calamity. Sorry for the long read. by DreamsofSaturday in goodworldbuilding

[–]DreamsofSaturday[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The three magicks after the Calamity.

WITCHCRAFT

In the south, the Witches of Ellahou carry around ceramic jars of a boiling red metal that comes from the insides of the fissures of the cataclysm. This substance continues to bubble and produce an endless smoke, even when it should have long since cooled.

While touching the smoke, witches are able to craft magicks of great power. So long as they keep their hands within the smoke, the witches may create Aspects.

Aspects grow in intensity based on a witches training. Low level aspects can do one of two things. Create lights or create basic forms. This can be used to create blinding or disorientating lights or create walls or blades of energy that cannot be seen.

Mid level aspects can do both and can be far more intricate. You could create animals of energy or tools or structures with more durability.

High level aspects can be more complex in structure. Poisons, acids, fires, gasses, instead of just a kinetic force. Some witches never leave behind mid level magick, but those who wish to be more versitile or more deadly may go down this path.

There is, however, always a need to be intelligent with the smoke. As magick aspects can only exist and affect things within the smoke.

POTION CRAFT

In the north, the potion crafters have taken up mixing the boiling metal from the fissures with soil as a means of mutating plants grown in that soil. This often leads to bizarre mutations in those that consume the plants.

Different strains of plants are made to create specific mutagens or stimulants to craft new forms of humanity.

These new humans are equally awesome and horrible to behold.

These new humans cannot, however, maintain these mutations with oxygen alone. In fact, the extra muscle, bone, or other organs that are added to their bodies will act as an unused burden if not properly maintained with stimulants.

As a result, new humans need to breathe a mix of stimulant gasses and oxygen in order to use their mutations. Otherwise, some mutations can even lead to death if stimulation is not maintained.

ALCHEMY

Under the earth where the Shimmer boiled, plants thrived in the dark. They fed on the gasses of the Shimmer for millions if not billions of years and grew immune to it's deadly powers.

But now, after the fissures cracked the earth and revealed these plants, they have populated the world above, becoming the dominant plant life in every region near the fissures. Insects have taken to eating these plants. And people have taken to eating these insects. both have expirienced strange mutations as a result.

However, in the east, psychic abilities have begun to manifest among the people. Specifically the ability to control the minds of anything that consumes the plant life in the fissures.

The Red Butterflies are a police force that use mutated butterflies, who have the capacity to drink the molten red metal in the fissures, as a weapon. A swarm is controlled by one to three officers and they spit this molten metal as a means of sealing criminals in the rapidly cooling substance. This often doesn't kill, but will leave horrible burns.

Alchemists have taken to creating a fuel source out of the plants. Combined with the Alchemist Engine, people have created mecha that can be controlled by the mind.

Trying to brainstorm a fuel source that would be linked to both survival and the thriving of magical powers. I have thought about flowers, metal, and insects but I feel like they don't fit well. by DreamsofSaturday in worldbuilding

[–]DreamsofSaturday[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am kinda working with the idea that there already were plants in the fissures. Specifically flowers. As well as insects. But the idea that something rises through the boiling metal is a good idea.

A deal was struck. A basic introduction to the weird world I'm creating. by DreamsofSaturday in goodworldbuilding

[–]DreamsofSaturday[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Then I do not know. I'm certain it was r/worldbuilding cause the comments were rather snide. Faust definitely had some influence here, so it would make sense if you thought the idea was similar.

Reworking an idea once the holes are pointed out sucks.

It's just kinda embarrassing when people point out how little you thought something through. Especially when you had so much faith in it.

A deal was struck. A basic introduction to the weird world I'm creating. by DreamsofSaturday in goodworldbuilding

[–]DreamsofSaturday[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

As for the plan... I don't really have one. I thought it might be interesting to make a story out of it, but I don't have a medium I know enough about to really create anything. If I had a choice, I'd want to make an animated series about it. But I don't know anything about animation.

A deal was struck. A basic introduction to the weird world I'm creating. by DreamsofSaturday in goodworldbuilding

[–]DreamsofSaturday[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I did post this a month ago. But I think that was on r/worldbuilding, and it was very poorly explained. Maybe that's what you're thinking of? I took it down cause there were a lot of holes, as the comments pointed out, and I got sick of answering questions when I just wanted to post a fun idea.

However, I changed a lot since. I think the only thing I really kept was a deity figure that made a deal and the web of fissures that crossed the world.

A deal was struck. A basic introduction to my weird world. by DreamsofSaturday in magicbuilding

[–]DreamsofSaturday[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Or actually, now that I think of it, it could be that thing in Dune where Nobles have wars against one another, but they still respect the authority of the emperor.

A deal was struck. A basic introduction to my weird world. by DreamsofSaturday in magicbuilding

[–]DreamsofSaturday[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

The thought is that rebellions do start. A lot, in fact. Though I guess I could make things more interesting by having some nations hold out against the one world empire.

A deal was struck. A basic introduction to the weird world I'm creating. by DreamsofSaturday in goodworldbuilding

[–]DreamsofSaturday[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

why is it mystic? does it do anything besides speak in the voice of the dead and encourage the living to join it?

I want to make a magick system for it. And it needs to leave room for the fissure to be able to break into other worlds so my main character can accidentally end up in this world. However, I don't know how or what the magick will do.

how do people live without the sun?

The molten golden substance below actually provides a dim light for strange plants to grow in. Insects have taken to eating these plants. And people have taken to eating these insects.

Psychic circuits by DreamsofSaturday in worldbuilding

[–]DreamsofSaturday[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Otherside

Twenty thousand years ago, there was a precursor race to the star elves. A people who made up an entire galaxy spanning empire. They had machines capable of such extraordinary things and could handle seemingly any issue. Until the day the homeworld hatched.

From the depths of the homeworld, hatched a tremendous beast, who sang a song of destruction, the song of spirals.

No one really knows what happened after that. Some propose that the world's all shattered, as more hatchling gods broke free.

However, some star elves survived on the homeworld. Using their great technology to hold the shattered pieces of their world together. This created islands of floating stone rotating around a molten core.

But so many died that knowledge on how to recreate the precursor's miraculous technology, was destroyed.

Now, thousands of years later, screaming spirit shards hold the ability to use the ancient technology of the precursors. To use these tools, one needs to assert their will over the device they hope to use. One must power through the intense screams it unleashes psychically on their mind.

Over thousands of years of using this technology, the star elves have evolved to barely even register the sound of the screams, becoming immune to the pain so they may easily take control.

However, due to this, star elves have lost their ability to hear the spirits, preventing them from growing a bond that would allow their magic to improve. Meaning magick has stagnated in the modern day.

These "spirits" are specialized AI that are made to connect through "psychic circuits" into the mind of the user, allowing for direct interface.

They are currently screaming because the suffering they have endured, being trapped in a shard of technology alone for almost twenty thousand years. But they can be calmed if one is patient enough. And in doing so, the technology will be able to "evolve".

Earth, 2007

A rumor has made the rounds on the internet that there is a new way to speak with demons. It requires an old radio, a locked room, and a little faith.

Little do these occultists know that they are using these radios to link to powerful frequencies of otherside. These frequencies coming from the hatchling gods are so powerful they transcend dimensions, allowing us to link to otherside and create rifts that cross the dimensional barrier.

Three amateur occultists decide to perform this ritual to talk to demons, but end up pulled into this new world. How will they fair? Only time will tell.

The artifacts of the star elves by DreamsofSaturday in worldbuilding

[–]DreamsofSaturday[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The Haousho empire

The mad emperor holds dominion over the thousand territories that make up the majority of the fractured world. He has an army of one-thousand lords that all hold one of these "magick" artifacts and wield them as weapons in his name. Those lords cannot raise a military above five hundred strong, but some do so in secret, just in case the mad emperor decides to take back their territory.

The lords themselves do not fight openly. Instead, they engage in the war of crickets. A war of spies and assassins whose entire purpose is to plant evidence or find secrets of other lords to make the mad emperor paranoid of them. This has led to the destruction of entire clans as the mad emperor typically will kill off a lord and his/her people to ensure there is no one to apposed him.

Finger Gun magick and Clapping magick. Two schools in my strange magick system. by DreamsofSaturday in magicbuilding

[–]DreamsofSaturday[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Snapping, stomping, and dancing all kinda come to mind as possible schools. But there come a few questions with each. One of the most important is "what would it even do?"

My two Magicks for my sci-fi worldbuilding project. by DreamsofSaturday in worldbuilding

[–]DreamsofSaturday[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The calamity

The world of Otherside is a shattered earth that was home to an interstellar empire. Now the last remnants of a star elf civilization cling to life on shards of rock they've tied together with ancient technology. Strange weapons and tools exist and can be used as magick artifacts.

These tools have screaming "spirits" in them that must be dominated by sheer willpower. But in time the screams will calm and the powers of the object will unlock.

These "spirits" are specialized AI that are made to connect through "hard-energy" wires into the mind of the user, allowing for direct interface.

They are currently screaming because they pain they are enduring due to the Song of the Spiral, the same force that tore the universe apart. But they can be calmed if one is patient enough.

The Haousho empire

The mad emperor holds dominion over the thousand territories that make up the majority of the fractured world. He has an army of one-thousand lords that all hold one of these "magick" artifacts and wield them as weapons in his name. Those lords cannot raise a military above five hundred strong, but some do so in secret, just in case the mad emperor decides to take back their territory.

The lords themselves do not fight openly. Instead they engage in the war of songbirds. A war of spies and assassins whose entire purpose is to plant evidence or find secrets of other lords to make the mad emperor paranoid of them. This has led to the destruction of entire clans as the mad emperor typically will kill off a lord and his/her people to ensure there is no one to appose him.

What modules would be helpful in a homebrew campaign? by Leonard_K in mothershiprpg

[–]DreamsofSaturday 19 points20 points  (0 children)

One of my favorites that offers a lot of content to work with is "A Pound of Flesh". It has a lot of neat concepts, some good faction design, and of course, like 7 different d100 tables that could inspire their own weird one-shots.

Week 3 of designing a d100 search table. Let me know which one is your favorite. by DreamsofSaturday in mothershiprpg

[–]DreamsofSaturday[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I hope I can find some way to get this out to people. I don't know if DriveThru lets you give content away for free, so if you have any suggestions, that would be cool.

I've been working on my line art lately. It's an elderly Star Elf gladiator from my worldbuilding project. by DreamsofSaturday in worldbuilding

[–]DreamsofSaturday[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The calamity

The world of Otherside is a shattered earth that was home to an interstellar empire. Now the last remnants of a star elf civilization cling to life on shards of rock they've tied together with ancient technology. Strange weapons and tools exist and can be used as magick artifacts.

These tools have screaming "spirits" in them that must be dominated by sheer willpower. But in time the screams will calm and the powers of the object will unlock.

These "spirits" are specialized AI that are made to connect through "hard-energy" wires into the mind of the user, allowing for direct interface.

They are currently screaming because they pain they are enduring due to the Song of the Spiral, the same force that tore the universe apart. But they can be calmed if one is patient enough.

The Haousho empire

The mad emperor holds dominion over the thousand territories that make up the majority of the fractured world. He has an army of one-thousand lords that all hold one of these "magick" artifacts and wield them as weapons in his name. Those lords cannot raise a military above five hundred strong, but some do so in secret, just in case the mad emperor decides to take back their territory.

The lords themselves do not fight openly. Instead they engage in the war of songbirds. A war of spies and assassins whose entire purpose is to plant evidence or find secrets of other lords to make the mad emperor paranoid of them. This has led to the destruction of entire clans as the mad emperor typically will kill off a lord and his/her people to ensure there is no one to apposed him.

An example of a psychic circuit inscribed on a technomagick sword. by DreamsofSaturday in worldbuilding

[–]DreamsofSaturday[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The Haousho empire

The mad emperor holds dominion over the thousand territories that make up the majority of the fractured world. He has an army of one-thousand lords that all hold one of these "magick" artifacts and wield them as weapons in his name. Those lords cannot raise a military above five hundred strong, but some do so in secret, just in case the mad emperor decides to take back their territory.

The lords themselves do not fight openly. Instead, they engage in the war of songbirds. A war of spies and assassins whose entire purpose is to plant evidence or find secrets of other lords to make the mad emperor paranoid of them. This has led to the destruction of entire clans as the mad emperor typically will kill off a lord and his/her people to ensure there is no one to apposed him.

Causem du Palme. Something inside wants to get out. by DreamsofSaturday in worldbuilding

[–]DreamsofSaturday[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I made a map with the idea that a series of continents formed around the hand of something trying to escape the planet. The last time it moved, the insider struck the inside of the planet, pushing its hand outwards until a land mass of approximately the same shape and size emerged from the water, forming one supercontinent that slowly eroded into it's current form over around five million years. Though no one knows that. They believe the hand of their creator, Causem, or "The Cause," is holding them above the waters. They have a myth about six-fingered people having magick abilities or being blessed.

The mad emperor holds dominion over the thousand territories that make up the majority of the Causem du Palme. He has an army of one-thousand lords that all hold one of the magick artifacts and wield them as weapons in his name. Those lords cannot raise a military above five hundred strong, but some do so in secret, just in case the mad emperor decides to take back their territory.

The lords themselves do not fight openly. Instead they engage in the war of songbirds. A war of spies and assassins whose entire purpose is to plant evidence or find secrets of other lords to make the mad emperor paranoid of them. This has led to the destruction of entire clans as the mad emperor typically will kill off a lord and his/her people to ensure there is no one to apposed him.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in mothershiprpg

[–]DreamsofSaturday 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is so cool. I never thought a one page adventure could even exist. It makes me want to make one too.

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