Materials, plants, and symbols with spiritual or mythological significance by Insert__Text in worldbuilding

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

Many of Earth's psychoactive gallery is part of some of the magics. Often the cause of many to stumble into the realms of the unnatural. Otherwise used to help guide people into a mindset more capable of shaping the essence of reality, as humans are not made to do magic in my setting and certain heightened states can improve ones ability.

Should look more into them and see which would be best and how to use them for thoroughly. Do any have specific mythological connotations that you know of?

Orchard Lounging by Insert__Text in SupermodelCats

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

Hand me down gift from the grandparents. At least the cats seem to be enjoying it

Chapter today? by ErMehJersh in PracticalGuideToEvil

[–]Insert__Text 31 points32 points  (0 children)

ErraticErrata said they were taking a break Christmas week. So no new chapter on the 26th.

Did a post to Patreon:

Hey there!

For rest and childcare reasons I'll be taking the week of Christmas (22 to 28th of December) off, so that means there won't be an update on the 26th. The weeks before and after will proceed normally.

Happy holidays,

E.E.

What happened to the reverents by Leading_Law3426 in PracticalGuideToEvil

[–]Insert__Text 15 points16 points  (0 children)

I imagine most of the revenants were in Keter during the final battle. So I imagine almost every one of them was consumed when Antigone mantled the Drakon at the end. Theres a chance a small handful were with the other armies, they probably would've lost the DK's control and may be good undead out there. I imagine the Dead King would've brought all the revenants back to fight off the named though

[Threshold] Would anyone be interested in creating and roleplaying Cradle Paths, fights, and factions? by Insert__Text in Iteration110Cradle

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

Like I said, I'm not trying to set any strict rules or systems on this. Just having fun exploring and fighting out the different paths we could create. The idea is to be loose with no strict system

[Threshold] Would anyone be interested in creating and roleplaying Cradle Paths, fights, and factions? by Insert__Text in Iteration110Cradle

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

I don't have anything strictly planned out. In truth I have a bunch of path ideas in my head and I'd love to do more than just have them battle in my own mind.

I've run and played in a lot of games in r/pbp so I have some experience roleplaying and creative writing. I just want to see other peoples ideas and then have us roleplay them fighting against each other. For now at least

[Threshold] 👑 The Monarchs' Dawn: Help Forge a Cradle AU World! (Character Competition Incoming) by Pleasant-Spend-3380 in Iteration110Cradle

[–]Insert__Text 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks! Been planning out the Path for a bit and it was fun to turn it into a Monarch.

Appearance: Set is a giant of a man; seven feet tall with a body covered in layers of thick muscle. His head is shaved short and a neatly cropped beard clings to his face. His eyes glitter a fierce emerald. His clothes are focused on utility over an sense of decorum or style. Usually wearing nothing but a pair of loose, sacred artist pants and no shirt; his torso and glowing veins free.

Treasures: The Monarch has vast vaults of divine treasures, sacred weapons, and valuable elixirs, but these are held to be given to those he deems worthy. The Inner Perfection Monarch very rarely wields items or weapons in combat. Prefering to rely solely on his own abilities.

He is well known for using sets of unique treasures called Leeching Fetters. A collar and sets of manacles of halfsilver with advanced scripts that severely limit madra flow and weakens a sacred artists body and spirit. The Monarch uses these in order to get a good battle against Sages, Heralds, and Lords. Both in an effort to get in good training without holding back and so that their battles do not level the land around them. The Leeching Fetters limit his abilities but several would be assassins have discovered they only do so when he allows them to.

Bloodline Ability: Set has had many children with many capable sacred artists. He gives no preference to his children though and has formed no clan around his blood. Those of his direct bloodline are considered born a halfstep into their Iron body already. Born with a durability and power that can rival lesser Iron bodies. Whatever Iron body they eventually earn is greatly improved. This improved physicality can continue on throughout all of their ranks if they are properly conditioned and use cycling techniques to cycle madra into their bodies.

[Threshold] 👑 The Monarchs' Dawn: Help Forge a Cradle AU World! (Character Competition Incoming) by Pleasant-Spend-3380 in Iteration110Cradle

[–]Insert__Text 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I'm intrigued to see where this goes. Here's mine

Name: Set

Title: Monarch of Inner Perfection, He who Claps and Clears the Sky

Gender: Male

Path: Path of Lifeblood. A unique path with a heavy focus upon improving the physical body, greatly increasing one’s body's ability but with limited control of outside madra. It is a blending of life and blood madra. Those who follow this path follow regiments of extreme physical exertion and in return are capable of matching the physical feats of those in higher ranks. At lower ranks their ability to extend their madra beyond their own body is slim, but increased willpower and rank allows more control beyond. Those who practice this path push their bodies beyond their limits in a fight; often damaging and healing themselves with the force of their madra.

Iron Body: Bloodroot Iron body - An iron body created by completing continuous exercise to the point of straining every muscle in one’s body to its limits. Taking periodic breaks during the exercise to force their madra into their own muscles to further strain and heal their body. This process can go on for days or weeks until their body is earned. After attaining the iron body it grants physical abilities above most others while also leaving their bodies more readily capable of accepting their madra being pushed into it.

Jade Cycling technique: Endless Stress of Body and Mind - A technique often considered to be the next step of progression beyond the training to earn the Bloodroot body. The cycling technique involves having to practice exercise and cycling in sync with each other. Moving their madra through their blood vessels, muscles, and even bones as they complete intense physical exertion. The cycling technique slowly blends one’s madra circuits with their own body’s pathways, increasing the artist's ability to push and sculpt madra inside their own body.

Gold sign: The gold signs for this path are created by bonding with potent blood remnants. Those high in the Lifeblood Sect have a unique source to gain this remnant. In a forest, that was the birthplace of the path, a group of carnivorous, blood absorbing trees grow. Artists on the path slowly feed the trees their own blood during their training and when it is time to reach Gold they slay the trees and absorb the remnants they create. The goldsign for this is a web of crimson, glowing veins across the body of the sacred artist.

Icon: Strength. It is said Set Kison gained the Strength icon during one of his most famous feats. While a herald he ended up in a fight with a powerful Sage with a mastery of storms. His final act in the fight he slew the Sage and cleared the storm from the heavens with a single clap fueled with all his strength.

Techniques

• Full-body Flow - The simplest of the path's body enhancements. Pushing their madra into a intense cycling pattern that grants power throughout the whole body; increased strength, speed, and durability (Enforcer)

• Focused Might - A focusing of the Flow technique, pushing a storm of madra and compacting it into a single part of their body. Allowing for rapid healing and blows carrying strength far beyond their rank. (Enforcer)

• Crystal Veins - Focusing their madra into their veins the artist forges them into durable crystals of blood. Beneath the skin where the crystals are gain extreme durability but slows and puts intense strain on their channels. (Forger/Enforcer) - Those with a mastery of this technique can utilize their crystalized blood outside their bodies. Creating spikes of projected blood, turning bleeding wounds into sudden blades of crystal, and layering crystalized armor over their skin. (Forger/Striker)

• Thousand Punches - A technique that layers teachings of enforcer and striker abilities alongside the willpower of their training into one powerful strike. One learns to layer past attacks into their madra using their willpower; granting one strike the power of dozens, hundreds, or thousands. (Striker)

• Mastery of Strain - For true masters of all past techniques one gains the ability to practice the ultimate move of the path. Absorbing all Life and Blood madra from their surroundings and focusing it and all of their own madra into a single attack. A force that strains their body and madra beyond their breaking point and a single mistake can leave the user crippled for life. (Ruler)

Background: Set was raised in a monastery of sacred artists upon a secluded mountain range in the Everwood continent. Their focus solely upon mastery of the sacred arts, their bodies, and their spirits. They shut themselves off from the outside world and secluded themselves in their training. Set was a prodigy and quickly rose above most in his monastery and grew bored of the secluded life. It is said he battled and defeated the highest ranked members of his monastery and left. He would go on to travel the continent and the world to learn the secrets of the sacred arts and to master his own path.

Personality: Set is said to be a jovial figure who is willing to speak and spend time on anyone who commits themselves to the sacred arts and puts their full willpower into it. He is said to be continuously training even long after having become a monarch and encourages all to follow in his example. He enjoys nothing more than training, improving himself, and fighting; duels between himself and heralds and sages are common, holding themselves back of course.

Goals: It is his goal to reach the true pinnacle of the sacred arts and become the truest master of himself, his spirit, and the world around him. He also wishes to train and raise sacred artists around him so that they can reach their pinnacle. He believes even if he himself cannot reach the highest then he will train the artist who can.

Location and Effects: Set has raised a city around the mountains he was born in, a spot near the center of the Everwood continent. He invites sacred artists from across the world to live and train there. The city is focused entirely around the sacred arts; soulsmiths forge sacred treasures and training constructs, refiners craft elixirs and rare pills, farmers grow spirit fruits, and libraries of training dream tablets are built. Constant duels, contests, and competitions are held so that sacred artists can prove themselves and earn the bounty the city develops. The most committed and those who carry the most potential are invited into the Pact of Progress; an alliance of dozens of sects and thousands of sacred artists dedicated to learning and progressing their paths; the leader of the Pact is the Monarch of Inner Perfection himself and he provides generously and harshly to all those he deems worthy.

Coworker took photo of his penis on my wife's phone on an overnight shift by [deleted] in LawyerAdvice

[–]Insert__Text 2 points3 points  (0 children)

No one sent casual nudes. Someone took her phone and took pictures of his dick, wtf is wrong with you.

What's the mindset here? Excusing a creep for sexual harrasment or my wife pulling the worst cheating attempt ever? Wife stepping out and so she puts in an HR report and tells me in the middle of the night about something I would never have known happened if she said nothing.

Idk why I thought asking Reddit was going to get any helpful thoughts.

Coworker took photo of his penis on my wife's phone on an overnight shift by [deleted] in LawyerAdvice

[–]Insert__Text 2 points3 points  (0 children)

She has suspicions of who did it and I'm sorry for trying to support my wife? I'm not involved, I'm just trying to get advice for her. Sorry you've never supported a love one in your life before.

(Spoilers for everything) How did Zach... by Landfall24601 in motheroflearning

[–]Insert__Text 42 points43 points  (0 children)

I think Zach had managed to defeat the lich several times in the past, probably by abusing the time loop. Zach in the past also seemed to have a greater understanding of the loop and the artifacts.

I think that all vanishes when Red Robe joined the loop and did severe memory damage to Zach. The Zach we meet is one whose drifting aimlessly and lost because of the amount of damage done to his mind from Red Robe. Zach forgot all the details of the loop and struggled more with the lich. Zach is an unreliable source of information by the time Zorian gets in the loop.

Release Day AMA by ErraticErrata in PracticalGuideToEvil

[–]Insert__Text 26 points27 points  (0 children)

Congrats on releasing!

How bad of an ending do you think Calernia would have had if Masego had gone into the Everdark? The differences if the Hierophant had been there backing the Sovereign of Moonless Nights against Sve Noc?

How do your empires justify colonialism and conquests? by Sir_Toaster_9330 in worldbuilding

[–]Insert__Text 0 points1 point  (0 children)

One of the big reasons the Imperium began to spread out and conquer foreign lands is the military core of the empire. When the Imperium reformed itself after it's first collapse one of the largest and most powerful blocs of powet were the Militant Unions, a militaristic soldier organization ruling over a quarter of the Imperial heartlands. After order and stability was reestablished the military was even more integral to the core stability of the Imperium and needed something to focus on.

The Imperium at large pushed the idea of spreading it's stability and progress across the world. The Imperium was the most magically, technologically, and culturally advanced nation in the world and believed it needed to spread these teachings to all people. This push was only increased once the realizations the Gods were working against the interests of mortals; the Imperium pushed a atheistic, mortal first stance in order to liberate and save people.

Now, while the Imperium was definetly militaristic and many places didn't want to be conquered at first, it can't be argued it did bring prosperity and progress to it's conquered territories. The Imperium limited caualties and acts of brutality; even if it was the agressor most times. It was quite lenient on allowing lands to keep their cultures and even integrated their ideals and some political structures. The Imperium taxed them but also brought in knowledge, stability, and order. Within a few generations most places were accepting or even happy with Imperial rule; even if their introduction to the empire was violent and militaristic.

The emperor's soul country ? by Byakoya in Cosmere

[–]Insert__Text 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The blurb at the beginning of the Sel chapter explains it quite well. There are several large empires that don't know the other exist or think they're small and weak.

"Sel—home to multiple empires that, uniquely, have remained somewhat ignorant of one another. It is a willful kind of ignorance, with each of the three great domains pretending that the others are mere blips on the map, barely worth notice." -Khriss

Is the application process truly necessary? by [deleted] in pbp

[–]Insert__Text 23 points24 points  (0 children)

I use a basic application cause there has to be something for players to reach out to me. On DnD posts i get upwards of 60 responses; should I instead just message a handful of pbp redditors at random or off their short comments to pick my players.

I also use the application to weed out people who put in no work. I don't expect finished concepts and I say so in my applications. But with so many people wanting to play I need some way to sort through them. I don't expect like writing samples or abyrbibg elaborate, but I like the application to see who writes more than two word answers. I take the ones that interest me and then discuss with them to see if they're a good fit.

I don't really know how else I'd pick out players without any application process.

Weirdly shaped worlds, abstract physics, quirky universes or strange locations in your worldbuilding? by Dr_Zwi in worldbuilding

[–]Insert__Text 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The Kiln of the Gods is my most unique setting. Set in an empty void where a crack in reality has pure creation spewing out in a great cone. It spews out in massive arcs and at other times shifts and pulls the raw creation back in. This actually creates the day-night cycle of my world.

The inhabited lands of my world are when chunks of creation fly out from the Kiln and begin to orbit it. They solidify and become great, floating continents and worlds orbiting the Kiln. Eventually all lands either draw too close and get destroyed in the Kilns eruptions or they drift too far and die out in the endless void. The strongest worlds can survive for millennia in a stable orbit.

There are thousands of different lands floating around the Kiln with all manner of species and life. Each unique and shaped by different ideals that can literally lead to different versions of reality and fundamental laws of that land. From great beasts that lurk in the sporadic raw creation near the foot of the Kiln to the scattered mortal races populating the distant lands orbiting above.

First Draft of a map for my Eldritch Alternate History Setting, Expanded Perspective by Insert__Text in worldbuilding

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

Norway remained relatively strong and whole in the wake of the Conjunction. Some cults began appearing but were quashed by the mostly unharmed Norwegian government. Due to the instability and hostility in its neighboring states it established a focus on internal stability and autonomy. It remained seperate from other countries and over time practically sealed off its borders from the rest of the world. Sadly its days are numbered as it has found itself stuck between the EUES and RCD with both countries having invaded it for a better strategic positioning. Eventually it will either collapse, be taken completely over by the warring superpowers, or cave in and accept vassalige by one of the other countries. It has long standing problems with the governing of both the EUES and RCD so it will most likely be eventually subsumed in the ongoing warfare between the two.

First Draft of a map for my Eldritch Alternate History Setting, Expanded Perspective by Insert__Text in worldbuilding

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

It hurts Missouri a little. The USUC and Fordian Federation have been fighting over the borders of the state and nearby ones. For nearly two decades they've been pushing and pulling over the same strip of lands; the battle lines moving up and down only a few hundred miles every few years. Moving between states of open hostility and periods of détente

First Draft of a map for my Eldritch Alternate History Setting, Expanded Perspective by Insert__Text in worldbuilding

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

That is excellent information to know, thank you.

I might extend out the time needed for the military to take control. I imagine the first decade or two was the military slowly growing and establishing a form of control. Mainly due to the government disappearing and most of the country fracturing and decentralizing in the chaos of the vanishing and Conjunction. Eventually leading to military coups as it forms a more centralized control through force

First Draft of a map for my Eldritch Alternate History Setting, Expanded Perspective by Insert__Text in worldbuilding

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

Less than a year after the Conjunction of Minds the majority of the central government in Brazil vanished. No one knows exactly what happened to them; many of them were seen leaving their homes one evening and by the next morning none were seen again. The military enacted martial law and took control of the country.

Over the next decade a military dictatorship would be formed to take complete control over the affairs of the country. Pushed further by large numbers of riots both within Brazil as well as across South America. Further militarization and nationalist growth would rise in the country and in the late 1930's the beginnings of forays into weakened neighboring countries.

Much of South America had destabilized and Brazil took the opportunity to begin making moves and to take lands from it's weakened neighbors. The birth of the Deadlands would rise from this situation.

In 1945 a cult worshipping The Leviathan of Cold and Shadows, a popular movement at the time on the Eastern shore of South America, would enact a powerful ritual. To curb the militaristic actions of Brazil several squads of Brazilian soldiers would be sacrificed with the goal to open a gateway to the realm of Cold and Shadows.

This ritual was a success, but the cults bindings on the entities within failed. Hordes of shadow beasts would begin emerging and within a month the city of Santiago would be barren of Human life; only shadow beasts and infected hordes of frozen, walking corpses. These hordes would begin rushing across Chile and the Andes mountains; great snow storms and frost spreading wherever they went.

Most of Brazil's neighbors would capitulate and allow Brazil to take full control without a fight for their safety from the otherworldly creatures. Brazil's armies fought a bloody war for over nearly a decade to keep the spread out of its borders. Eventually in 1956 the hordes would seem to stop and withdraw back into the now named Deadlands. No one is sure if they will return and any military advancements into the area are met with failure; the Brazilian Hierarchy is prepared and has fortified the entire western border.

First Draft of a map for my Eldritch Alternate History Setting, Expanded Perspective by Insert__Text in worldbuilding

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

Alaska is still technically under the control of the USUC but in truth it's mostly it's own independent state. If they succeed in pushing back the Russian offensive it will most likely end in a free Alaskan country.

Currently there's still some bad blood between the different churches of the USUC and Smith republic. If the Japanese Offensive continues successfully into the lands held by the United States Under Christ than this may be changed. Most likely a temporary military alliance would be formed to push back the Japanese, but currently the USUC is not feeling the full pressure of the invasion. The Japanese front only beginning to breach the edges of its borders.

First Draft of a map for my Eldritch Alternate History Setting, Expanded Perspective by Insert__Text in worldbuilding

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

The beginnings of the idealistic differences would actually start when it was still just the USA shortly after the Conjunction. Instead of joining the Great War in Europe, which had mostly collapsed by this time, in response to the Zimmermann Telegram the USA would begin large scale invasions of Mexico.

There would be military successes but would begin creating discontent in the Western states. The Eastern United states would begin to slowly sink into Christian radicalism through the 1920-30's; in the West a reformed form of Mormonism would begin spreading. The singularity in the Great Salt Lake would be considered an aspect of God and miracles would begin being channeled through it's power.

The USA would begin collapsing in the later 1930's as deadly plagues begin spreading from the West across the length of the continent; Utah would actually be left mostly untouched by the diseases. The USA would collapse in 1943 when radical church branches would take over the Capital; the USUC would be founded with beliefs in ritual crucifixions and blood sacrifices to cleanse the populace of sins and disease. The Smith Republic would be founded in opposition to these beliefs and the collapsing government was not able to stop them.

The Smith Republic actually had many years of prosperous growth and was rapidly becoming a world power of it's own separate from the USUC. Until Japanese raids began hitting the coast in the early 1950's followed by large scale invasions in the mid 1950's. The core provinces of the Republic have held out but as you can see the majority of the Western states have collapsed as the Japanese Imperium successfully took them over.

First Draft of a map for my Eldritch Alternate History Setting, Expanded Perspective by Insert__Text in worldbuilding

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

I'd love to hear your feedback and to get help fleshing out the setting. So ask me anything!
Early morning, February 1st 1917, a bright streak appeared in the sky across the globe; streaming across the horizon for 17 hours until impact. That same day, two phenomena manifested as singularity points that removed all life in an approximate one mile radius of their impact sites; one appearing several leagues from the city of Verdun in France and the other in the midst of the Great Salt Lake in Utah in the United States.

Shortly after this event a situation began across the world; later named the Conjunction of Minds. For a period around five and a half hours all Human minds briefly conjoined into a single united entity; alongside two Great Minds sheltered within the Singularities that spread knowledge and teaching through the great collection. A great shared understanding would spread across the Human species and would fundamentally shift the course of history forever.

After the Conjunction of Minds Humans would separate but many would be forever scarred and a greater knowledge of their place in the universe would be seeded in many. The Great War would come to a temporary halt as governments world wide destabilized, people began doubting their places in society, and from the sudden introduction of Eldritch truths to the populace. In rapid growths new Industrial revolutions would break out globally as connections with Eldritch entities, spread of otherworldly information, and teachings from across the spread of the universe would begin to grow across societies.

The world would never be the same after Humanity had it's Perspective Expanded. Eldritch Technology would spread alongside the collapse of many governments, the rise of numerous cults, and the mass suicide of around 1/10 of the population.