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I don't yet have substantial details, but I'll begin by posting what I do have.
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Brief Overview
The world had progressed to a cyberpunk level of technology with a mix of magic in it. The magic up until now has been ritual-based and quite time consuming, and even then, those who could participate in such rituals were extremely rare. Then something bad happened that knocked everything back to the stoneage for a brief while. Since then, the world has quickly recovered to roughly a rennausants-era average level of technology with a lot of middle-ages places still scattered about. There are, however, many strange anachronisms left over from before the Cataclysm that still function. Additionally, and perhaps linked to the Cataclysm was the emergence of true sorcerers who actaully did not need to participate in rituals to use magic. Their appearance is still rare, but their abilities are astounding.
Magic
Magic is present and common in some ways, but not common at all in others. A true sorcerer is extremely rare indeed, but most major cities employ cabals of wizards to perform various rituals and ceremonies for the good fo the community. Attitudes toward sorcerers vary greatly, depending on the region and the local history concerning sorcery.
Technology
Technology has progressed to the point where streets are mostly made of cobblestone; buildings are of stone, wood, and some metal; weapons are still primarily low-tech, medieval weapons with some hightech weaposn still functioning. Additionally, some high-tech armors, sheilds, and magic weapons still exist, but these are rare and extremely powerful. Governments restrict or prohibit most powerful technologies but allow some of the easier to maintain things among civilian populations.
Themes
Death & Rebirth: The world is slowly rising from the ashes of a tremendous castrophe, and it is impossible not to notice a sense of hope and optism in the world. This theme will likely replay through individual adventures and be a central theme in a lot of modern artistic expression. The phoenix has become a powerful symbol in this world.
Community: The Cataclysm has forced people form tighter communities in order to survive the fallout. The result is a world whose ethics promote the good fo the whole above the individual. This is not to say that people are generally good or selfless, but rather that on average, people think the community is more important that the individual person. Self-sacrifice in various manners is prevalent, either through skipping meals os others may have food or through committing atrocities to protect the greater portion of society.
Spiritualism: Spiritualism has reblossomed as a large part of people's lives. Not weird, crackpot spiritualism involving wearing pyramid hats, but rather a closeness to nature and a general belief in nature spirits (in the shinto sense of animism). Temples to the spirits dot the land, and priests occupy an unusual class in society that is neither exalted above anyone but virtually untouchable because of superstitions.
Intrigue: Among the courts, governments, and burgeoning corporations, intrigue is commonplace. Because Lilium's ethics require that propriety and etiquette be maintained always in order to preserve everyone's social image, very few power struggles can be played out in a public manner. The result is a great deal of chicanery and the occasional assassination attempt. Plots are often layers upon plots, which themselves are interwoven with other schemes. The true nature of politics in Lilium is extremely complex and difficult for any one person to truly understand.
Superstition & Mystery: The Cataclysm has left the land scared. Parts of Lilium are covered in strange wastelands where nothing can grow that glow faintly at night. In other places, deep revines have been carved into the earth as if by the claws of some titanic beast. Elsewhere, the ruins of ancient cities hide secrets of past civilizations and remain largely unexplored. Superstitions concernins such areas run rampant, and have even crept into daily life. The idea of lucky directions, lucky days, lucky times of day, the avoidance of certain foods at certain times, and other odd behaviors are becoming the norm in many places. Generally, the more rural and less technologically advanced the area, the more prevalent such superstitions become. Not all are so tame as a lucky number, either.
Things in the Shadows: While the world is largely optimistic and everythign seems to be going well, there is a palpable feeling that something is lurking in the shadows. No one is certain just what it is or from where it will come. Perhaps the Deadlands, a continent completely devastated by the Cataclysm, that now hangs beneaath an enourmous, immobile cloud of blackness, is the source of this dread. Whatever the cause may be, people remain optimistic in the face of this subliminal fear.
Distinctly Non-DnD Elements
There are only humans in Lilium. They are suficiently versatile in thier build to accomadate the various roles the other races fill. Additionally, other races may be introduced at the setting progresses.
This will be a classless setting that utilizes a point-based system similar and largely modled off of GURPS, though still quite d20 in nature. I will be slowly posting the rules in the wiki as I work them out.
Lilium is distinctly a fantasy setting, despite its high-tech elements. This will be handled by making magic extremely powerful, but quite rare. Typically, magic is not useful in combat situations due to the lengthy rituals an ceremonies it requires, but there is the possiblity of true sorcerers turning up. Magic items are very, very, very rare. Do not even ask me about a +5 distance fery burst AK-47 .
Magic is neither arcane nor divine. The actual mechanics of magic is hitherto unknown, but gods do not grant spells. In fact, the concept of a god is somewhat nebulous in Lilium, as each nature spirit is considered divine, regardless of the extent of its power. Religions do exist, but they do not gain special powers simply because of their faith.
The world had progressed to a cyberpunk level of technology with a mix of magic in it. The magic up until now has been ritual-based and quite time consuming, and even then, those who could participate in such rituals were extremely rare. Then something bad happened that knocked everything back to the stoneage for a brief while. Since then, the world has quickly recovered to roughly a rennausants-era average level of technology with a lot of middle-ages places still scattered about. There are, however, many strange anachronisms left over from before the Cataclysm that still function. Additionally, and perhaps linked to the Cataclysm was the emergence of true sorcerers who actaully did not need to participate in rituals to use magic. Their appearance is still rare, but their abilities are astounding.
Magic
Magic is present and common in some ways, but not common at all in others. A true sorcerer is extremely rare indeed, but most major cities employ cabals of wizards to perform various rituals and ceremonies for the good fo the community. Attitudes toward sorcerers vary greatly, depending on the region and the local history concerning sorcery.
Technology
Technology has progressed to the point where streets are mostly made of cobblestone; buildings are of stone, wood, and some metal; weapons are still primarily low-tech, medieval weapons with some hightech weaposn still functioning. Additionally, some high-tech armors, sheilds, and magic weapons still exist, but these are rare and extremely powerful. Governments restrict or prohibit most powerful technologies but allow some of the easier to maintain things among civilian populations.
Themes
Death & Rebirth: The world is slowly rising from the ashes of a tremendous castrophe, and it is impossible not to notice a sense of hope and optism in the world. This theme will likely replay through individual adventures and be a central theme in a lot of modern artistic expression. The phoenix has become a powerful symbol in this world.
Community: The Cataclysm has forced people form tighter communities in order to survive the fallout. The result is a world whose ethics promote the good fo the whole above the individual. This is not to say that people are generally good or selfless, but rather that on average, people think the community is more important that the individual person. Self-sacrifice in various manners is prevalent, either through skipping meals os others may have food or through committing atrocities to protect the greater portion of society.
Spiritualism: Spiritualism has reblossomed as a large part of people's lives. Not weird, crackpot spiritualism involving wearing pyramid hats, but rather a closeness to nature and a general belief in nature spirits (in the shinto sense of animism). Temples to the spirits dot the land, and priests occupy an unusual class in society that is neither exalted above anyone but virtually untouchable because of superstitions.
Intrigue: Among the courts, governments, and burgeoning corporations, intrigue is commonplace. Because Lilium's ethics require that propriety and etiquette be maintained always in order to preserve everyone's social image, very few power struggles can be played out in a public manner. The result is a great deal of chicanery and the occasional assassination attempt. Plots are often layers upon plots, which themselves are interwoven with other schemes. The true nature of politics in Lilium is extremely complex and difficult for any one person to truly understand.
Superstition & Mystery: The Cataclysm has left the land scared. Parts of Lilium are covered in strange wastelands where nothing can grow that glow faintly at night. In other places, deep revines have been carved into the earth as if by the claws of some titanic beast. Elsewhere, the ruins of ancient cities hide secrets of past civilizations and remain largely unexplored. Superstitions concernins such areas run rampant, and have even crept into daily life. The idea of lucky directions, lucky days, lucky times of day, the avoidance of certain foods at certain times, and other odd behaviors are becoming the norm in many places. Generally, the more rural and less technologically advanced the area, the more prevalent such superstitions become. Not all are so tame as a lucky number, either.
Things in the Shadows: While the world is largely optimistic and everythign seems to be going well, there is a palpable feeling that something is lurking in the shadows. No one is certain just what it is or from where it will come. Perhaps the Deadlands, a continent completely devastated by the Cataclysm, that now hangs beneaath an enourmous, immobile cloud of blackness, is the source of this dread. Whatever the cause may be, people remain optimistic in the face of this subliminal fear.
Distinctly Non-DnD Elements
There are only humans in Lilium. They are suficiently versatile in thier build to accomadate the various roles the other races fill. Additionally, other races may be introduced at the setting progresses.
This will be a classless setting that utilizes a point-based system similar and largely modled off of GURPS, though still quite d20 in nature. I will be slowly posting the rules in the wiki as I work them out.
Lilium is distinctly a fantasy setting, despite its high-tech elements. This will be handled by making magic extremely powerful, but quite rare. Typically, magic is not useful in combat situations due to the lengthy rituals an ceremonies it requires, but there is the possiblity of true sorcerers turning up. Magic items are very, very, very rare. Do not even ask me about a +5 distance fery burst AK-47 .
Magic is neither arcane nor divine. The actual mechanics of magic is hitherto unknown, but gods do not grant spells. In fact, the concept of a god is somewhat nebulous in Lilium, as each nature spirit is considered divine, regardless of the extent of its power. Religions do exist, but they do not gain special powers simply because of their faith.
So with all of that said, here are my questions to you:
Does this sound worth pursuing?
Do you see any glaring holes, paradoxes, or contradictions?
What do you think the Cataclysm might have been?
What ramafications do you imagine these points would have in society?
Is there anything you'd like to see with this setting (not including house rules)?
Would you like to game in this setting (house rules not withstanding)?
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