Nyghres

"They're naught but ash. They can seep in through the smallest crack, ride the wind to any corner of the world and are borne of the cinders of burning villages. They lurk in the deepest of shadows, and even if I cannot cleanse our island of them, I shall not let their evil consume our homes."
-- Eivier, The First Watchman

Black as night and appearing in nearly any size when least expected, Nyghres are the bane of all life on Arae-Rul. Mindless, ruthless and violent, Nyghres appear anywhere, only to cause all sorts of damage, seemingly without cause or reason.

Early on, it was believed that Nyghres were a particular breed of Wild Monster, but early researchers soon decided otherwise. Nyghres exhibit no need for food; they cluster in 'nests', typically in long forgotten places, but they don't seem to breed. They destroy indescriminately, but they don't collect resources of any kind; they merely leave a wake of bodies and destruction behind them. The only thing they won't attack (intentionally) is another Nyghre, though they show no fondness for each other.

Early on, there was no stopping them. They struck in numbers without warning, razing whole cities. Legend has it that they are the only thing in existance that can harm the Lady.

Nyghres can appear in almost any shape or size, and in any number. It's generally believed that larger ones are grown from smaller ones, though that isn't definitively known. They're easily identified by their charcoal-like flesh and obsidian eyes. They sometimes seem to possess supernatural abilities, but few reports of such are confirmed.

It isn't known where they come from, which spawns a great deal of legend. Some say they are angry souls rising from their graves to seek satisfaction. Others believe they are borne of the deepest shadows, come to life to cover the world in darkness. Others still believe they are the ash of fires that are set of malice or that cause suffering. Regardless of where they come from, they are a universal threat to everyone in Arae-Rul, and when they appear, the bravest raise to arms to stop them. There are two formal organizations for combatting Nyghres; the Watchmen (a primarily human organization, most strongly based in Delta Etebre who work to be defensively) and the Lanterns (a mostly Monster group that actively seeks out Nyghres wherever they dwell to destroy them).

While a terrible menace, the Nyghres aren't even a monthly threat. Some people become complacent, thinking they'll never see the creatures, or that they won't return, but they always seem to be there when they can cause the most damage...

Player Builds

Hey Everyone;

Knowing that people are looking forwards to this campaign, I am working hard to get things going. While you're still waiting for the Game Mechanics article (Tomorrow, hopefully!) and the Character Creation Guide (This weekend!), I decided to make this thread to make character confirmations on basic design, persona and background.

So Far, the roster consists of;

Vinay - Human, Scholar/Strategist
Scott - Half-Ascendant, Playboy/Discord
Scott - Ascendant, Insight/Manipulation
Danny - Human, Fabricator/Woodsman
Ben - Monster, Marguay/Cloak
Mike - Half-Monster, Boar/Hunter

That's what I have recorded. I still need to go through each of you and make clarifications on your history and the like. I'll be posting articles on each of the provinces in the future, but it'll be a little while before I can get to those, even if they offer pertinant information for characters. The world is still a bit flexible, so if there's a particular kind of local you'd like in your history, you might not have to compromise much or at all.

If there's any errors to what I have listed here, correct them! I have a sneaking supicious I've forgotten someone... Please feel free to use this thread to discuss your characters! (I know it's been done in two previous threads already, but this just helps to keep them in one place)

Creation Ready Characters: Joachim (Vinay), Jack (Scott)
Pending Aproval: Zaeph (Ben), ? (Danny), ? (Scott), ? (Mike)

Stats

Before you get in to Character Creation, it's important to understand the Stats that we look at for Tempus Tempera.

There are 12 statistics that define a character in the Tempus Tempera Era of Arae Rul. Strength, Dexterity, Speed, Intelligence, Wits, Charisma, Defense, Soak, Hit Points, Magic Points, Willpower, and sometimes Divine Power. All of these Stats are explained in depth below.

Strength (STR)
Strength is a character’s physical might. Strong characters can do more damage in combat, push and pull more weight, and perform feats of might that weaker characters cannot.

Dexterity (DEX)
Dexterity is a measure of a character’s accuracy of movement and agility. A more dexterous character is more accurate at range and can perform more delicate, accurate movements than clumsier characters.

Speed (SPD)
Speed is a measure of how physically quick a character is. The faster a character is the more physical actions they may take per turn.

Intelligence (INT)
Intelligence is all about how smart a character is. More intelligent characters are better with magic and more proficient with thinking skills.

Wits (WIT)
Wits shows how quickly a character thinks. Like speed, the wittier a character is the more mental actions they make take per turn.

Charisma (CHA)
Charisma is a general measurement of how likeable a character is and how much force of personality they posses. Charismatic characters are better diplomatically and socially.

Defense (DEF)
Defense is how tough it is to hit a character. You also gain a bonus to this stat equal to (DEX + WITS) / 2.

Soak (SK)
Soak is a character’s resistance to damage. When you take damage, it gets reduced by your Soak before you subtract it from your Hit Points.

Hit Points (HP)
Hit points are how tough a character is. When a character reaches zero hit points, they pass out. Some attacks may temporarily reduce your maximum hit points – if a character’s Max HP reaches zero, they die.

Magic Points (MP)
Magic points represent how much magic influence that character has. Spells consume MP, which recovers slowly.

Willpower (WP)
Willpower shows how willful a person is. Willpower is rolled to resist being forcible persuaded and can be spent to make rerolls, gain bonuses, perform additional actions and resist damage above their normal tolerance. Willpower is regained when a character is in a situation that reaffirms their persona.

Divine Power (DP)
Divine Power is a mysterious force, far more powerful than magic in the world of Arae Rul. It is used to unleash the incredible force of the Divine Powers. How you acquire it and how it is replenished is unknown.


Addendum: Particulars
Most of the stats in this system are straight forwards. Strength, Dexterity, Speed, Intelligence, Wits and Charisma all function without complication. The rest all have some peculiarities that should be clarified.

Defense and Soak: These stats are naturally zero. You may put points in to them like any other stat however. Defense is always at least 1, as DEX and WIT must be at least one, getting you a net +1 bonus to Defense by default.

Hit Points: This is perhaps the most complicated, as it's three stats rolled up -- HPS, HPC and HPM. HPS is the Hit Point Stat, which is measured like STR, DEX or any normal stat, and has a minimum of 1. Any Versus HP rolls are looking for HPS. HPM is the Hit Point Max, which determines how much pain your character can take before passing out and dying. Some attacks and abilities lower your HPM; if your HPM hits zero, you're dead. HPM is normally your HP times 5, plus 1 per level. HPC is your current HP. It can never be higher than your HPM. Most attacks will damage HPC, and if it reaches zero, you lose consciousness.

Willpower: Willpower is a very potent stat and can allow you to perform feats above and beyond your normal capabilities. There are some roleplaying qualifiers to the use to WP -- spending WP represents fierce determination or need. It provides that extra boost of adrenaline, that extra bit of planning or that vital change of fortune, and it can't be expended willy-nilly. Similarly, a character with high WP is willful, self assured and confident, but using your WP is draining. If you use it all up, you will become unsure, compliant and doubtful. The more WP you have unspent, the more self assured you will be. Any abilities or checks that look at WP only look at unspent WP.


And that should be all the necessary foot-notes. Next; Game play mechanics!
[End]

Half-Breeds

Human, and yet not; neither Monster nor Ascendant, and yet they are -- in part. Blurring the harsh divisions between races and cultures, Half-Breeds occupy a special place in the landscape of Arae Rul.

Half-Monsters

A curious blend between civil Humans and unrestrained Monsters, Half-Monsters are perhaps the more comfortable of the two half breeds. They tend to be passionate, intense people (though this isn't always the case, dependent on their Monster half) who are seen as wild or undisciplined to most Humans. Their interactions with Humans and Monsters are for the most part unimpeded; Monsters see them as one of their own (although they are sometimes playfully teased for being calm, inhibited and meticulous, compared to other Monsters), Humans typically see them for what they are and treat them fairly as equals, but interlopers. They are seen by Ascendants as no different from Monsters, if perhaps a tad more agreeable. They appear significantly more humanoid than full blood Monsters.

Half-Monsters might not have as much of the potency of Monsters or all the skill and cleverness of a Human, but they combine the pieces of each they have in to a remarkable level of effectiveness. They possess both Aspects and Jobs, though are less effective with each than each respective half of their bloodline.

Half-Ascendants
Seeming somewhat cold and distant to Humans, and appearing vibrant and outspoken to Ascendants, Half-Ascendants are the slightly troubled bunch. While they tend to be highly intelligent, and they're significantly more grounded than the average Ascendant, they're also not as welcome by their own progenitors as readily as Half-Monsters are.

Half-Ascendants don't exhibit the telekinetic prowess that their full-blood counterparts do; some can exhibit the ability, often only with great concentration and the exertion of will. Those who train for long enough may eventually be able to make use of it, and a few rare cases exist where they are born with the skill. They do, like Half-Monsters, have access to Jobs and unlike their counterparts they have Disciplines as well. Half-Ascendants tend to act like bags-of-tricks -- they rely on their Human skills for basic operation, then use their Disciplines at their absolute optimum.

Half-Ascendants are well received by Humans who are already engaged with Ascendants or those who are highly learned. Those with little exposure to them may be a little offset by their slightly distant and cool demeanor. Monsters will often assume that Half-Ascendants are either Human or Ascendant, depending on how visible their Discipline marks are. (Of course, most Monsters will assume a Human is an Ascendant if they got tattoos emulating the marks) Ascendants have no difficulty placing Half-Ascendants as interlopers, though. Some Ascendants like their half-brethren for being warm and passionate about more than their research, for being frank and open and for helping to shake things up. More Ascendants hate them for the same reasons. As such, depending on where they grow up, Half-Ascendants may be quite the outcasts.

Ascendants do have a word for their half-blood relatives, Aszem, which means 'Chosen Scholar' -- this is a term complimentary to the human half of the parentage, and is generally polite. 'Baehzu' is the less polite term, meaning 'Blood of the Tainted' and is used more or less exclusively as an insult.

Breeding
Humans may interbreed with both Monsters and Ascendants, while Ascendants and Monsters cannot breed with each other at all. Half-Breeds are fertile, and can continue to have children. Two half-breeds of one kind will typically produce the same kind of half-breed, but they may also produce a pureblood of one kind or another. Two opposing half-breeds may mate, but they will have a lower chance of conception. In a successful case of opposing breed mating, the most likely case is a Human child, but a half-breed of one type of the other is also possible.

Ascendants

Keepers of secret knowledge and pursuers of truth, Ascendants are the natural researchers of Arae Rul. To outsiders, they are secretive and mysterious, but to their own they are ruthlessly competitive and honorable in their own ways. They for the most part appear Human, though they have a wider variety of hair colours (typically light colours, greyish tones or black), highly diverse eyes (which may include them appearing as a solid colour, being reflective or metallic, having no pupil, no iris or exaggerated irises as well as additional potential differences; note, they are never heterochromatic) and patterns along their skin, which may be concealable.

Ascendants usually go by the name 'Ascendants', as it is what they call themselves in the common tongue. Monsters typically see them as merely 'different' Humans and have nicknames like the 'Marked', 'Lifted' and 'Spirited' to differentiate them from Humans. Humans often call them 'Librarians' and 'Sages' to reflect the unusual drive of Ascendants to seek and guard knowledge.

Abilities
Where Monsters are highly diverse, Ascendants tend to be fairly uniform at first observation. Most predominantly, virtually all Ascendants exhibit some amount of Telekinesis which comes to them naturally. This is in normally exhibited in two ways; first (and most easily noticed) is how Ascendants tend to Float wherever they travel. They can lift themselves a few inches from the ground and move at speeds equivalent to those on foot with similar exertion. Secondly, they normally manipulate objects at a short distance without actually touching them. The benefits of this ability is fairly mild as it merely extends their reach a few inches at best and doesn't allow them to carry anything more than by hand, but particularly experienced and powerful Ascendants are capable of manipulating liquids and gasses this way.

What Ascendants are best known for, however is their Disciplines. Also known as Paths, these are powerful methods of understanding that, with some training and practice, come naturally to Ascendants. These Disciplines grant access to potent magics and powerful abilities unlike anything else. Based around non-physical concepts and ideas, (such as Light, Control, Coincidence and Equality) Disciplines typically offer a large assortment of very specific and very potent abilities.

It's understood that Ascendants typically develop their Disciplines based on their interests, and the Paths make a good indication for what kind of research any particular Ascendant is persuing. As the Disciplines are practiced and perfected, they begin to form tattoo patterns of various colours on the skin of the Ascendant. These are called 'Sopherim' and are typically monochromatic, intricate and abstract, but they can be used to identify the particular Disciplines that an individual practices -- similar Disciplines usually have similar patterns. In some cases, these patterns could be bio-luminescent, reflective or metallic looking, which are generally indication of notably potent Disciplines. Larger patterns that span more of their bodies may also be indicative of more powerful Disciplines; the patterns may appear to grow or spread as the Ascendant becomes more potent.

Law
Ascendants are known for having the harshest, most impersonal law, which is littered with long, arcane rules which have been decided over the ages. They follow the letter of their law as strictly as they can, and thing are decided upon by democratic vote. The laws are all recorded in the Evess Vericium, the definitive law book of the Ascendants. (In truth, the book is dozens of volumes long as no laws are ever removed from the record, but rather newer laws are enacted that overturn older ones. This makes being proficient in Ascendant law both an exercise in memory and patience.)

All major decisions are decided upon by free vote in which every citizen is allowed to participate. In key political situations, as much as 95% of the resident Ascendants can be expected to make their vote. The system also allows individuals to register another to vote in their stead, which is how the day-to-day operations of the various Ascendant cities are excecuted. Councils are often developed through those who spend their day to day lives running the beaurocracy and politics of the city, the most renowned of which is the Ceilum Ivessae, or 'Ivory Council', who preside over the capital city in Decephri Libri Province.

The punishments for crimes under this law are harsh, though the execution is a rare occurrence. Many of those who are found guilty under the Evess Vericium and made to be indentured servants, either to the victim or to the city itself. The measure of harshness of the law is the length of the sentence.

Attitudes
There are many subtleties to the Ascendant culture and train of through which originates from, primarily, their uniformity or so it is believed. Since, unlike Humans and Monsters, Ascendants have a single common skin tone (a pale tan), all share an exceptionally similar, mostly androgenous build and all fit within a very narrow heigh spectrum (Adults at 5' 8" - 6'4"; women sometimes as short as 5' 6", men sometimes as tall as 6'5"), they've come to focus on the subtle differences to set them apart. This means that the common aesthetics amongst Ascendants is all about subtly and detail, not about bright colours, contrast or more wild differences. Some Humans and most Monsters find their clothings and art styling to be very plain and reserved, while Ascendants often find outside culture to very garish and unrefined. This interest in details is something that is found all throughout their culture; nuances and subtly is its cornerstone.

Perhaps one of the most quickly observed aspects of Ascendant culture is their fierce independent nature. Ascendants do not ask for help; it's commonly believed that each Ascendant should be capable enough to approach any task and solve it. If they cannot because the task is too difficult, they are foolish for taking on such a difficult task. ('Vourrel' is the word for this kind of fool) If they are merely unprepared, they are a fool for not thinking ahead. ('Prellel' is the word for this kind of fool) Requesting aid from another is nearly always done for the sake of efficiency, sometimes for a 'specialists touch', (an honorable request, not unlike asking to hear a master Pianist play) occasionally for when the request relates to the field of interest of another, and on a rare occasion as an insult. (asking someone of lower station to do the work that doesn't interest you)

Even early on in youth, Ascendant children are left alone for most of their day to day tasks as soon as they are capable of doing so. The only exception to this fierce independence is the Student/Teacher relationship, which is honored as a highly sacred bond. As soon as children demonstrate the level of understanding necessary, they are sent to study under the tutelage of the most capable teacher who will accept them (This is often a matter of politics) to learn their first Disciplines. If they show particular interest or insight in to a certain field, specific teachers may be sought out.

Adult Ascendants may on occasion seek another out as a teacher; unlike in their youth, this is not a light undertaking. To request someone teach you is a very humbling request, but it is also one that bestows great respect on the one you ask. Teachers may refuse potential students and doing so is a harsh insult. For a child it implies a lack of importance or perceived potential; for an adult it is a harsh blow of the same kind, but the ramifications are much worse as it is typically based on observation and not prediction. In either case, being a student is a subservient position to a teacher. Typically they teach by exposing you to their research and demanding comprehension. The style of teaching varies by individual though. It is worth mentioning here that Ascendants are not taught their Disciplines specifically, but they are taught how to understand them and how to develop them; it's more of teaching how to learn than teaching specific material.

Most Ascendants do not question their drive to understand. Those who have spent philosophical thought on the subject mostly conclude it to be a natural drive, and thusly a desire of the Lady. The culture and industry of Ascendants revolves around research. There are dozens of words for research, including things like Vitaeverum, meaning 'Blood of Insight' and Hebreos, or 'Text of Meaning'. Verschundre, a related word meaning 'One without direction', which specifically refers to an Ascendant with no motivation to pursue research, is perhaps the most offensive word in their tongue. Regardless of what they do, there's no clear 'why' -- while everyone benefits from the spectacular libraries in Decephri Libri, there is no coordination or innate direction to all of this discovery. Some of it is useful, some of it inane. But it's all recorded and placed in those marble halls for others.

Knowledge is one of those things that Ascendants have an unquestioned respect for. Nothing is taboo, nothing is forbidden. It's as though they wish for all knowledge in existence to fill the library halls. All but the most rash of the Ascendants will take pause when potential knowledge is at stake. It's for this reason that Humans and Ascendants can often get along in a mutual pursuit of knowledge.

Ascendants also have a (mostly) unspoken code of ethics, which relates almost strictly to courtesy. While there's no strict rules, it essentially broils down to 'Don't unnecessarily inconvenience others'. For example, there's usually only just enough stores to meet demand in Ascendant cities, because shop keeps won't needlessly compete with each other. Additionally, it's seen as very offensive to challenge someone of greater station than yourself, even in trivial circumstances. This of course is done fairly frequently as a method of gaining station in the Ascendant political arena.

Politics in Ascendant cities are often seen as dry to casual observers but it is anything but. At least weekly, sessions are convened to discuss the going politics and these session are open to all citizens. Most however offer their say to whoever represents their opinions best. Since many of these Representatives make their lives of politics, they spend their time earning the favor of the masses and learning about those who oppose their agendas. The arena seems dry, only because all the action is nuanced and subtle. A grave insult may come in a slight mispronunciation. The killing blow could be avoiding eye contact. A proposal could be a peace offering. But do not for a minute come to believe that Ascendant politics is anything less than ruthless and cutthroat. There's merely a smile on top.

Finally, there's one additional major component to Ascendant culture. Although not universal, the vast majority of Ascendants have something of a superiority complex. They seem themselves, as a race, as better than Humans and particularly Monsters. While this normally doesn't go beyond casual prejudice, there are more than a few Ascendants that excel quite comfortably in to full blown discrimination. This view is typically one way, and it can create an unfortunate amount of friction between groups.

Language
Ascendants are the only race of Arae Rul to have their own language, 'Librium'. It's deeply nuanced and doesn't comfortably allow for slang, or anything less than perfect form. It hasn't been observed to change through out recorded history, unlike the common tongue, which many speculate is because the language itself is divine. The origins of the language are a tad unclear.

Due to this lingual influence, Ascendants are typically quite proper when they speak. They usually stick well to the rules as though they are written in stone, and they dislike the use of slang. All Ascendants are bilingual and often use Librium to discuss things secretly. Very few Humans speak the language and some believe Monsters are entirely unable to understand it.

Similarly, Librium has a mirror in written language, which is the language used for all the books in the great marble libraries. It's a difficult type to read, but it is also beautiful to behold and easy to identify.

Home
Ascendants primarily occupy Dephri Libri Province -- this is their home and it's where they erected their cities many centuries ago. The Province, which consists of two small islands sitting in Path Lake, Libri Umelus and Libri Commune. Umelus is the 'Common City', which allows more travel and outsiders. It contains many research institutions and libraries, and is generally a high traffic place -- many arrive here looking for goods only Ascendants can produce.

Libri Commune is the city most Ascendants call home. It's a very well protected private place. Very few outsiders are allowed in this place and nearly none may wander without escort. This is where they keep the Great Libraries; records of the most important and most comprehensive research of their people. It is also where they keep the Evess Vericium, which has its own small hall. The city is quiet and full of whispers, where the residents are either lost in their research or carefully stalking political prey.

Outside of Decephri Libri, Ascendants can be found most everywhere in small numbers. They study every corner of Arae Rul they can, which usually means there's a few of them every here and there. In particular, there are higher concentrations of Ascendants in Land's End Province, Oversight Province and Distance Province. There are very few in Lowland Province, Land's Finger Province, and Dark Wood Province.

[End]

Addendum: Discipline Example
To help explain Disciplines, as they seem less clear than Jobs and Aspects, here is a demo.

Heart Discipline
First Rank:
Cure 2 (Spell) [Restores HP damage]
Heal 2 (Spell) [Restores Status Effects]
Strong Heart (Supernatural Ability) (1/10) [Reduces risk of Overexertion]
Empathic Sight (Supernatural Ability) [Detect Emotions]
Bleeding Heart (Supernatural Ability) [Inspire Empathy]

Second Rank:
Heal 5 (Spell)
Strong Heart (SnA) (3/10)
Cardiac Arrest (SnA) (3/10) [Attack; damage + status effects]
Heart Link (SnA) [Share HP]

Third Rank:
Cure 4 (Spell)
Heart Breaker (SnA) (1/10) [Cause Depression]
Strong Heart (SnA) (5/10)
Cardiac Arrest (SnA) (6/10)
One Heart (SnA) [Improved Heart Link]
Glowing Heart (Aura) [Charisma Bonus]

Aaand so on for 10 ranks.
Where Jobs like Doctor and Medic will get spells like Cure and Heal, and get skills like First Aid, Surgery and Emergency Care, and many Aspects get abilities like Regenerate and Lick Wounds, Ascendants are the only ones who get Supernatural abilities like Cardiac Arrest and Heart Link. They have many of the qualities of spells, but they aren't spells. They're powerful, but more specific -- First Aid can be used on any living creature; Heart Link only works on people you already know. Adorable gives you a flat charisma bonus that always applies -- Glowing Heart gives a better bonus, but it only works on those who already like you to some degree.

I hope this helps to clarify! And no, you can't take the Heart Discipline. :P

[Up next; Half Breeds!]
[Still have questions about Ascendants? Let me know in this post and I'll address them!]

Monsters

Untamed and free, Monsters are the strange and unpredictable communal creatures that make up one extreme of Arae Rul's population.

Like Humans, Monsters don't have a name for themselves, though they are happy to use the name 'Monster' than Humans gave them. Don't let it fool you; while many Monster are large, hulking beasts, only a small selection are genuinely vicious terrors. Monster's sometimes refer to themselves as being 'Colourful Spirits', or as 'The Heart of the Lady'. Ascendants also use the term Monster, typically, though they do sometimes use their native word for them, 'Craveous' (Sing. 'Craveum') or an insulting synonym, 'Vasaitee', meaning 'Savage'. More common nicknames for Monsters include 'Wild-touched', 'Land-Borne' and 'Chainless'.

Abilities
Monsters have enormous natural potential, often exhibiting through amazing physical feats. They are not well inclined to train or refine themselves, and so their skills mostly come from their sheer natural ability. Like Humans, Monsters aren't privy to the enormous mystical potential that grants Ascendants their power, but that isn't to say that they are in any way helpless. Monsters are often natural spell casters and even without training of any sort may intrinsically understand things better than a seasoned expert. Often Monsters come across as less competent to those unfamiliar with them due to a lacking in proper lingo to explain their understanding.

Monsters earn their power from Aspects, with which they are only fundamentally aware. Aspects form and develop on instinct and need, often reactively. Monsters are born with Aspect traits which develop and grow over time. The nature of Aspects actually make Monsters more transparent than the other races, as Aspects reflect and influence the personality of the individual and normally alter their appearance as well, allowing an outsider a cursory understanding of a monster with a glance. Despite this, most know that you can't judge a Monster on looks alone.

As stated, Aspects influence the appearance of a Monster. Newly born Monsters look fairly similar to Humans, in fact, showing only basic traits of their strongest Aspects which develop as they age. As Aspects grow stronger, so does their effect on the appearance of the Monster, though some older, more powerful Monsters have exhibited abilities that they do not appear to have had an impact on their appearance, leading many to believe that powers developed later in life may not necessarily have the same impact on a Monster's body. Aspects are somewhat mysterious, as their limits and definitions are still somewhat unclear. The majority of Aspects are clearly based on the forms of beasts, including some predominant varieties (Like Wolf, Bear, Shrew and Iguana) and some less common ones (Crawfish, Antlion, Arcrat); a smaller number exist based on objects (Marionette, Cloak, Bomb) and plants and other non-animal life (Mushroom, Lichen, Tree); on rare occasions some are based on classical elements and similar varients (Fire, Stone, Ice). There could be more, but they have not been clearly observed thus far.

Law
Monster Law is simple and intuitive, it is the law of the community, the law of intent. Crime is not clearly defined, but it is clearly enforced -- anything done of malice is a crime, more or less. Anything done with intent to harm another is punished as decided by the community. In practice, this typically means several elder Monsters agree that a crime was commited and that a punishement be enacted, and they will similarly declare the punishment. This is often a completed process in hours or at most days of the crime's observation.

Monsters punish crimes weighted on the consequences and intent over the actual crime. Someone who commits murder unintentionally or while under deception of some kind may be completely waived of punishment. Another who disrupts a group by giving them something of value, knowing they'll fight over it could be given something as extreme as exhile. This isn't to say that someone doing something terrible with innocent intent will be let off without punishment, rather it means they'll be unlikely to be punished severely for it.

Their law exists only to serve the community who supports it, and in all monster communities, the crime rate is typically exceedingly low. However, this also leaves Monsters prone to confusion when exposed to restrictive Human law or the vastly more severe and impersonal Ascendant Law. Monster Law is typically used only to keep the community going strong, so the idea of rules and predefined punishment that adress the action, not the intent, is often not understood.

Attitudes
Monsters often fit under one of two main schools of thought. First is 'Live and Let Live' -- don't bother anyone who doesn't bother you, et al. The other, more prevailant one would be 'We're all one under nature' -- welcome all that lives as bretherin, as close to you as blood. Because of this, Humans and Monsters have healthy ties. Humans are curious and like to see what they can learn from Monsters. Monsters are open and honest and welcome those unlike them.

The rational for this is physical in nature and easy to observe in Monster communities. Foremost, Monsters themselves are not like each other. Even from mother to child, there may be no similarity in physical traits, so Monsters are used to dealing with totally foriegn creatures from birth. Secondly, while they have a humanoid figure at their core, many Monsters lack traits that Humans take for granted, even if the trade off is enormous power and potential. Many Monsters have Claws or similar manipulators, but they may be lacking thumbs. Some are small and nimble, others large and strong; they may be mobile or powerful but little else. This has created a commonly symbiotic relationship in Monster communities, where Monsters with particular abilities help those who cannot do things themselves.

Monsters in persona tend to be reflected in their Aspects and appearance. Predictably, (as most Monsters bare a beast Aspect of some sort) most Monsters are a bit wild. They are often excitable, passionate and a little unpredictable. They may be reliable for tasks, but have a short attention span when they have nothing pressing to do. It varies widely what kind of personality traits they have, but comonalities do occur.

Lastly, Monsters have a communal approach. Since they live primarily in communities where the group acts more or less together, they are fiercly protective of their territory and neighbors from threats. Occurances of traitorism is very rare amongst Monsters, and they essentially never commit a planned crime -- crimes of passion occur, but not commonly.

Language
Monsters do not possess their own language and speak the common tounge of Arae-Rul. But they have one particular element that makes their speech their own -- they view words as very fluid. As such, they'll say things in whatever way is most comfortable to them. They'll change words all the time for the aural aesthetics or out of easy. 'Blacksmith' might be repeated as 'Darksmith'; 'Light' could be 'Fire', 'Spark', 'Floating', or any number of alternatives.

Similarly, most monsters like to be clear and to the point, often speaking in short phrases and rarely adding much flowering to their conversation.

Monsters also aren't terribly fond of writing. They're mostly literate, but they will often produce pictograms and illustrations on paper before they create text.

Home
Undoubtably, the Monster capitol is Circle, in the Dark Wood Province. It's a chaotic mess of a communal shelter, surrounding a single large clearing in the woods. While the city is rather rag-tag and has a shambly look to its construction, the community is, without question, one of the most welcoming places in all of Arae Rul. Everyone in Circle, Monster, Human or Ascendant is considered family. It's difficult to determine how large Circle is, as it has no planning and sprawls out, deep in to the woods.

Monsters live predominatly in the Dark Wood Province, though there is little place where they are not found in healthy pockets. There are very few of them amongst the walls of Dechpri Libri Province's cities, but even in the Ascendant homeland they can be found.

[End]
[Any questions on Monsters? Post them here and I'll adress them! Next: Ascendants!]

Humans

Humans -- as it would seem, there's no place where you can go to get away from the quintessential norm of living, sentient creatures. Arae Rul is no different, sporting humans as those walking the balance between the other two key races on the island.

However on Arae Rul, humans are not called humans. There are titles they addressed by, but they don't have a name for themselves. 'People' always seems adequate from day to day for most of them. Monsters sometimes call them 'Grounded', 'Unmarked', and 'Plain Spirits', differentiating them from themselves and the Ascendants. Ascendants, in their tongue, call them 'Inimagi' which means 'In the form of the Lady'. In common conversations, the Ascendants will sometimes use monikers like 'Ladykin' or 'Unrisen'; when they want to be disparaging they may call them 'Semivi' (meaning 'Near civilized'), which is used condescendingly.

Abilities
Humans are not privy to the enormous physical power that makes the Monsters such powerhouses, nor are they capable of mastering the strange mystical powers of the Ascendants. However, they have an exceptional talent for tools and determination, making them exceptionally versatile. Quick studies, humans are able to rival Monster by being exceptionally skilled and can match Ascendants by being clever and unpredictable. They associate comfortably with both races, simply due to they expertise in adaptation.

Humans earn their skills through Jobs; these are mostly occupations and interests (Blacksmith, Dancer, etc), but they also include lifestyles (Slacker, Playboy, Trickster, etc). They give the humans access to a reasonably broad, related selection of skills which as they progress becomes more skilled at their trades as well as more well rounded. They rarely receive Bonuses or Supernatural abilities, but they do receive all other types of skills, including magic. Jobs can be learned by relation (jobs similar to ones already known) or exposure (by observing and or training with someone who already possesses a job).

Law
Human Law is the most turmoiled law institution, compared to the other two; it tries to capture the absolute of Ascendant law, but the flexibility of Monster law. It's predominantly practiced in the Delta province, where humans are most prevalent. Councils are elected to represent the populous; they pass and overturn laws by popular vote within the council. The council also selects a series of judges (again, by popular vote) to oversee the implementation of the law. Judges are funded and are asked to enact the laws how they see fit.

In larger cities, this means that Judges hire watches or other security forces, although in some smaller places, the Judge will do all the footwork himself. Once someone has been apprehended for a crime, the Judge must allow the defendant to make a case for themselves and the Judge must bring in a third party (often the victim or another judge) to act impartially against the defendant.

If found guilty, the Judge will recommend a sentence, which must be approved by the council. There is then a thirty day period between the approval of the sentence and the enacting of the sentence, to allow for appeals. If the defendant feels they have been wrongly accused, they may appeal to another judge in the case of unfairness, to the council to review the sentence, and sometimes they may appeal to a jury, selected by lot. The sentencing is flexible in any case, which sets aside the rule-book law from the harsh laws of the Ascendants, but the whole thing is far more intricate than Monster law.

Attitudes
Humans, to put it in a word, like to mingle. While there are some tensions between Monsters and Ascendants, Humans like to mix it up with everyone. They can fit both extremes, even if they normally only fall slightly one way or another, making them welcome guests amongst both ends; in fact, it becomes difficult to place humans as a whole because of their tenancies to occupy almost the whole spectrum.

In a general sense, Humans tend to be welcoming and inclusive, and they're inclined to find compromise rather than favor a side. They're a tad more prone to infighting than the other races, although only slightly. They can be seen equally as peacemakers and troublemakers for many of the same reasons. The have a tendency to try and expand as much as possible and are clearly the most rapidly growing population between the three races, just surpassing Monsters.

Unlike Monsters, who generally live for the community, and Ascendants, who generally live for research, Humans have no clear goals as a race. Their communal functions are more a matter of practicality than necessity; they work together because it is beneficial, not because it is in itself their goal. While this is by no means a major flaw, it does make Humans seem a little less predictable, or perhaps reliable, than the other races.

Home
Humans are found in virtually every place in Arae Rul, but it's generally understood that they originate from Delta Principa Province, and the largest 'human' city (and largest city in Arae Rul) is the Delta's Capitol, Keitus. Keitus, and it's sister city Brovus, occupy the largest inland island on the Delta, Etebre, the second largest island in the delta. (The island is often referred to as Delta Etebre, and the cities are often called Etebre Keitus and Etebre Brovus; this is a common convention in the Delta.)

Keitus, although an undisputed 'Human' city and capitol of the 'Human' province, is the largest and most diverse city in all of Arae Rul. Despite this, Humans still make up 45-55% of the population, which swells and recedes regularly due to travel and temporary stays.

Outside of Delta Principa, Humans are found in the largest concentrations in Lowland Province, Land's Finger Province, and Distance Province. They are found least in Land's End Province, Lady Lost Province, and Long Trail Province.

[End]
[More to come? Do you have questions about Humans in Arae Rul? Post them here and they'll be addressed! Next: Monsters]

Welcome to the World of Arae Rul

In some distant sea filled with turbulent storms is Arae-Rul, a small island where magic roams free, communities of animal-like monsters thrive, mysterious meta-human beings perform research in grand marble halls and humans build themselves a place between the others.

This blog is here to act as a repository of information detailing the world of Arae-Rul, its inhabitants, history, legends and mysteries as well as the mechanics and design of the upcoming strategy/roleplaying campaign based in the Era, Tempus Tempera.

This place offers a space for all the details relevant to the campaign and perhaps future ones as well. Players are encouraged to participate and discuss, inquire and develop the materials as they are posted, as well as posting their own materials, such as back story, history, vignettes, world and character ideas, and discussion topics.

Introductory details of the world of Arae-Rul will follow tomorrow.

Future posts: details on Monsters, Humans and Ascendants; The World Overview; Delta Principa Overview; Dark Wood Overview; Discephri Libri Overview; The Verdus Ascendi; Nyghres; The Lanterns; The Night Watch; The Watchmakers.

More to come as things develop.

Discussion thoughts; as the game maps are being developed, I'm curious as to what appeals more to the players -- to people prefer stylized maps, or ones that feel more realistic? Is there a preference to drawn, artistic maps or something tile-based?