YOU Build The Setting...

[The Shadow]

Drat. I got preoccupied and forgot about this thread! :) Would've voted otherwise. I like the way you chose to handle it, though, Robotman.

And it seems to me particularly easy to combine the "domed cities" with the "Nordic low-fantasy". The Nordic types are in the wilderness *between* the cities!

[jaldaen]

Since no one else has jumped in I figured I would do a write-up mixing F&D:

Argus shivered as he kicked snow over the dying embers of his fire. The cold blue of dawn approached from the east, but the warmth it promised would not arrive before the gray clouds in the north over took Argus and his men. He marched through the camp rousing each man from their shelters. Some of his men woke as his boots cracked through the new fallen snow, others woke as his boot cracked into their stomachs, and a few did not wake at all. Argus did not have to see their faces to know the Stilling had come for them in the night, but there was something in their frost-covered eyes, pale blue lips, and ghostly white skin, which fed the fire within his veins.

Argus had known Gudrun since before the beginning of the “Winter of Winters.” He was a faithful companion and fearless warrior. He often boasted he could single-handedly slay the winter, if only he could find a sword strong enough to pierce its icy heart.

Jokull had been the only survivor of a frostling raid some years ago and had joined their band when they passed through the frozen ruins of his village. He never quite forgave himself for living and had been a capable, if reckless warrior, especially against frostlings and frost sworn men.

Stian had been the youngest and most nimble of their band, he was only a child when the Winter of Winters came upon them and hardly remembered how colorful the world had been before it was covered in an icy tomb of white.

Argus bent down next to the dead men and plunged his dagger deep into their hearts. Each time he withdrew the dagger he wiped it upon a bloody cloth. When he was finished he placed the cloth into a pouch around his neck. These men had fought with him for years in this desolate land hoping one day to see lightning arc through the sky, hear the hammer fall of thunder, smell the promise of rain upon the wind, taste its first drops, and feel them cascade down their wary faces. They would never see that day, but Argus swore to the Great Father he would live to see the spring return and when it did he would recall the names of every man whose fire had gone out while under his command and then bury the cloth that held their blood in the muddy earth.

[Robotman]

blink...blink... I likey. Wish there wasn't so much snow.

I just finished reading the Day of the Triffids like 30 minutes ago, so post apocalyptic mentality is upon me.

Looking to do this with established history of the fall of man, or have the characters face it fresh like they did in Day After Tomorrow?

[razorwise]

Since no one else has jumped in I figured I would do a write-up mixing F&D:

You do realize I already hit this yesterday? It's cool to see different takes on the same broad theme. Maybe you're just writing from the Staerk perspective?

I like F with D. You can use a Song of Ice & Fire as a source of inspiration, much as George R.R. Martin used the War of the Roses himself, and throw in a touch of Howard and Lovecraft. Everything can use a touch of Lovecraft, right?

Once the Kingdom was at war. It was a long and bloody war over land and love and is now little more than legend and loss. Long after the rival factions destroyed each other and society crumbled, the new masters, the Wizard-Priests stepped in, ruling the people with their dark powers and forgotten gods.

To the north, however, is rumored danger and salvation. Beyond the great stone wall, lies ice and snow and strange creatures among the barren reaches where the Staerk dwell, people of passion and fury, a people who it is said threw off the shackles of the Wizard-Priests themselves in ages past. More and more people are saying that the border walls were not built by the Staerk at all, as most believe, but by the Wizard-Priests themselves, to keep out the barbarians and their beasts and to protect themselves and not the people...

Regards,

Sean

[jaldaen]

You do realize I already hit this yesterday? It's cool to see different takes on the same broad theme. Maybe you're just writing from the Staerk perspective?

That was not my original intent (I just had this scene running in my head since Monday), but it does work with your presentation doesn't it

[Robotman]

Yggdrasill (EEG-DRAY-ZEEL) (tentative title?)

Man had waged with itself one last time and almost into extinction. Vast domed cities are all that remain of the once proud race that ruled the Earth.

Now the wastelands of Midgard separate the eight tribes of man.

Each city laid claim to by the reawakened creatures of old. The arched forest canopy domes of the elves, the enclosed mountainous cavern chains of the dwarf, the fire lakes, the rivers of stone, and the equally inhospitable wastelands of ice held by the giants.

All these creatures populate the land. Struggling with and aligning with man. Each searching for Asgard, seeking guidance from the Gods that they once believed were so far away, yet now appear so frightfully near.

Idea above repesents the combination of my thoughts and the quick response of my friend Jeff, that the domed cities represent parts of the world tree.



IMHO, I think this works. No matter the reasons that caused the fall of man, something happened and it caused the Norse Gods to take notice.

Random thoughts:

They could simply be superior men, aliens, or not even Gods.

For that matter the domes may not even be domes per say. For the dwarves, a self contained underground complex with bubbles dotting the mountainsides could be considered a "dome". Or like with the elves above, perhaps nature reclaimed their dome which has broken down and been replaced with a forest canopy.

The ice halls of the frost giants at either pole (the domes of the world).

Just some thoughts.

[aaronil]

Robotman, my vote is for your concept of Yggdrasil. Plenty of room there to interpret these "domes of influence" as differing utopias. Could be lots of fun!

I see it as encompassing all three of the original ideas, though the "futuristic" part of E has been dropped in favor of a Low Magic setting.

[jaldaen]

I also like the idea of drawing on Norse mythology... that's where I got the term Winter of Winters from... its the precursor to Ragnarok:

"In Norse mythology, Fimbulwinter is the immediate prelude to the end of the world, Ragnarök. Fimbulwinter is three successive winters where snow comes in from all directions, without any intervening summer. During this time, there will be innumerable wars and brothers will kill brothers."

I thought this would fit F&D pretty well... but the domes would also fit in as explained by Robotman and aaronil.

[Robotman]

I think using the Nordic/Norse vein of it is a great idea to.

The world tree concept, causes the cities to be linked, but also to be opposed, Hel-heim for example.

I've cast my vote, need everyone else to do as well.

Anyone know how to send a mass PM to everyone involved in this thread?

[Robotman]

Been wanting to use this quote (my tagline) to start a book or something. I just looked at it, and it seems to fit for this. perhaps meteors or something caused the domes to be built?

"In the vast reaches of the dry, cold night, thousands of stars were constantly appearing, and their sparkling icicles, loosened at once, began to slip gradually toward the horizon."

Albert Camus

I know that we haven't fully voted yet, but I just cant help thinking about this setting.

Going with the "dome" of influence, I can see Druid types as messengers that travel between the domes. They would be named the Ratatosk, after the squirrel that went up and down the world tree doing just that.

Just more thoughts

[Dragonspawn]

My vote goes for number 3. "Combine F&D"

[jaldaen]

My vote goes for number 3. "Combine F&D"

I second this nomination...

Now should we come up with a second choice and then vote? Or does this seem to be the hands-down consensus?

[Robotman]

Looks like it is F&D.

With all our combined ideas:

robotman: Yggdrasill (EEG-DRAY-ZEEL): Man had waged with itself one last time and almost into extinction. Ruined cities are all that remain of the once proud race that ruled the Earth.

Now the wastelands of Midgard separate the eight tribes of man.

aaronil: I see it as encompassing all three of the original ideas, though the "futuristic" part of E has been dropped in favor of a Low Magic setting.

the shadow: And it seems to me particularly easy to combine the "domed cities" with the "Nordic low-fantasy". The Nordic types are in the wilderness *between* the cities!

razorwise: I like F with D. --- and throw in a touch of Howard and Lovecraft. Everything can use a touch of Lovecraft, right?

We have the post apocalyptic (whatever that apocalypse may be) society, with certain areas of the wastelands of Midgard shrouded in long cold winters, the ancient ruins of a time long ago, reawakening of the Norse gods influencing society and bringing forth new races with the dark influence of other gods in a low magic world.

Original and cool.

Comments? Suggestions?

[Dragonspawn]

whatever that apocalypse may be

Well post-Ragnarok is the obvious choice. It would let us build on the foundation of Norse myth, but give us plenty of room for creativity regarding the cosmology (as it will no doubt have changed since Ragnarok, with many of the gods dying and all)

[Robotman]

Well post-Ragnarok is the obvious choice.

Only concern I have, is when during post Ragnarok?

Wikipedia offers theseinteresting tidbits:

A few gods will survive the ordeal: Odin's brother Vili, Odin's sons Vidar and Váli, Thor's sons Móði and Magni, who will inherit their father's magic hammer Mjollnir, and Hœnir, who will hold the staff and foretell what is to come. Baldr and his brother Höðr, who dies prior to Ragnarök, will come up from Hel and dwell in Odin's former hall, Valhalla, in the heavens. Meeting at Idavoll, these gods will sit down together, discuss their hidden lore, and talk over many things that had happened, including the events surrounding the final rise of Jörmungandr and Fenrir. In the waving grass, they will find the golden chessboards that the Æsir used to own, and gaze at them in wonder. (None of the goddesses were mentioned in various accounts of the aftermath of Ragnarök, but there are assumptions that Frigg, Freya and the other goddesses will survive.)

I am going to assume this:

Two humans will also escape the destruction of the world by hiding themselves deep within Yggdrasil; -some say Hodmimir's Wood-; where Surtr's sword cannot destroy. They will be called Lif and Lifthrasir. Emerging from their shelter, they will live on morning dew and will repopulate the human world. They will worship their new pantheon of gods, led by Baldr.

With the setting focusing on man attaining this stage:

After all, in this new world, misery no longer exists and gods and men will live together in peace and harmony. The descendants of Lif and Lifthrasir will inhabit Midgard.

Then again time moves differently for Men and Gods.