TavernLich

Concept Background: Homunculi, save doppelgangers, are generally short-lived creatures. With this lore, we hope to alleviate some of the problems occurring to players whom have gone into a hiatus and are unable to play their homunculi because they died during their absence. This lore will not prolong a Homunculus’s lifespan but rather stop the deterioration process during hiatus via In-Character methods of approach. Because of this, we are using the following materials in hopes of facilitating the process of inducing homunculi into a comatose state: clay (in tandem with earth-bound homunculi), ice (water), gas (air) and mercury (fire). It is also important to note that we are utilizing alchemy’s ambiguous and vastly unexplored tangents to hopefully make this lore possible. Procedure: During hiatus, a person may choose to have his or her character, the homunculus, bound by the following materials: clay, ice, gas and mercury. After being bound, with the help of another individual(s),within one of the given materials, a Homunculus will enter a comatose state wherein all bodily functions cease to operate. Once bound, the materials will be drawn slowly into the Homunculi’s body at a gradual pace, keeping them alive through unknown means. At this point, because their faux “shells” are have been partially absorbed into the homunculus’ body, it serves as an extension of their own body. Whatever damage done to the layer of materials will inevitably affect the homunculus within. Once the entirety of the outer layer has fully been absorbed into the homunculus, they may then break free. However, the time it takes for the material to be absorbed is up to the discretion of the player roleplaying the homunculus. Once awoken, homunculi will feel sapped and fatigued, taking at least anywhere between a few elven days to an entire week, depending on how long the player’s hiatus was, to recover the majority of their strength; this is due to the fact that they recently used their bodies were unmoving for a large amount of time, similar to how machinery ceases to operate after a long period of disuse. Considerable space is required for this process to work and, while in their sleep, homunculi are incredibly vulnerable to attack. Homunculi Preservation: Roleplay Examples Preservation Process Example: [[It is assumed the player has gone into hiatus and desires his or her character to be preserved]] [!] Baldur, an earth-bound homunculus, remains still as a sudden fatigue washes over his body. The homunculus falls to his knees as his companions envelop his body in clay. Once entombed in layers of clay, it quickly hardens and constructs a smooth, protective shell around the slumbering Baldur. To those nearby, they’d feel the hum and vibrations of life emanating from within the clay. Awakening Process Example: [!] As the last slabs of clay are reabsorbed back into the recesses of Baldur’s body, the homunculus finally begins to stir after years of stillness. His joints creak and moan not unlike the rusting cogs of a long forgotten machine. He slowly awakes in a daze, his lips cracked and his mouth dry. Baldur struggles to rise to his feet as he stumbles around in his many attempts, looking much like a drunken man. Finally, after several failed attempts, the earth-bound homunculi sluggishly pushes himself up off the ground and onto his feet. His limbs felt weak and as though they belonged to another. And his eyes, for the most part, failed him. He’s fatigued and incredibly weak. Being Attacked Whilst Slumbering: Clunk. Clunk. Clunk. An unknown dwed ignorantly hammers away at Baldur’s shell. Each strike of his pick is painfully stronger than the last. The ringing hum of Baldur’s life slowly deteriorates into a weak thump. As the final layers of clay are chipped away, Baldur’s body is quickly destroyed resulting in the permanent death of that character. Out-of-Character Requirements After this lore is implemented, all hiatuses from homunculi players will require for them to place an actual minecraft sign where their character has been entombed and must then inform either an LM or moderator and give them full knowledge of the risks of this process. Credits -= Writer: TavernLich/ Redxophos =- -= Creator & Editor: Matheu3 =- -= Additional Assistance: Jistuma =-

I've actually seen a bunch of these little guys. And, for the most part, they provide an enjoyable RP experience, so liaison with what I've seen so far. . . +1!

Yeah sounds nice +1

Harbingers are nearly extinct and wraiths are gone, btw. Anyway, are these event or playable creatures? Also, I don't think they are OP, relative to other horrors.

This is hilarious! +1

No, they aren't forced back. However, if they are somehow struck (i.e. if someone threw a rock at them or hurled a bucket of water at them) their disguises will falter and, in some cases, fall apart entirely.

No requirements with how they would speak; though, I'd imagine they would speak in a manner that compliments their manipulative nature or the disguise they are using (i.e Echilun taking the appearance of an Uruk would probably speak Blah)

I'm thinking they should either have 'Unset' or 'Necrolyte' race; either way they shouldn't do too much fighting, both in RP and PVP. IMPORTANT: Added why they refrain from attacking/ killing directly. OOC and RP reason.

“For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander.” - Mathew 15:19 Echilun, Emissaries of Pandemonium A wizened man rocked himself by the fireplace, he tended to the flames with one hand while a child’s head occupied the other, cradled in his embraced. “Tell me a story. . .” the child murmured, his eyes already half closed. “Where shall I begin. . .” the man stared into the fire and shuddered before reaching for a nearby book, “Tucked away in the verdant thickets of Vailor, life drew to a standstill. The forest hummed with life yet, in a way, lacked it so. Creatures went through the motions: eat, sleep, repeat. Eat, sleep, repeat. Spring, and birds took to the trees, their nests safely ensconced between knots and nooks and crevices. Summer, and the sun beats down on those unfortunate or lucky enough to endure it. Autumn, and the leaves browned and made themselves scarce. Winter, and the last rays of sunlight dimmed, a poignant reminder of what lied ahead. Repeat.” The child looked up with a hint of interest, his milky eyes locked with old man’s as he continued, “Shadows stirred in the background, eyes that were once sullied with distant disinterest now shone anew, lit with a malevolent fervor. Those nearby, around them, found themselves preyed upon. Not by men bearing swords, not by those beasts of yore, but rather by chaos. The forces of Nature gathered and Her children amassed under her call, She demanded change. Punishment. Pandemonium. And thus, the Echilun were birthed from the realm’s womb. In their wake, disorder was never too far beyond; with their whispers the hearts of men turned black and with their breath kingdoms fell to ruin.” Now it was the child’s turn to shudder, he trembled in the man’s arms, “Worry not, it’s but a story. The good guy wins in the end and banishes them,” the man shuts the book with a wink and the child responds with a meek smile and soon enters a sudden slumber. The old man turned to his right and stared out at the permafrost that plagued his yard, a brief blast of wind raked his hair and he felt the cold sting the tip of his ears. A darkness manifested beside the man, then another and another until seven, shadowy heads danced and flickered in the fiery light. In lieu of flesh, they bore a shawl stitched from the shadows that wrapped down their damned figure. They lurched forward and descended upon their prey with a fierce vehemence. Synopsis The Echilun are embodiments of Man’s primal nature, what they seek to bury deep within themselves while all the while lusting to unleash them upon their brethren, they are as follow: avarice, envy, strife, sloth, gluttony, lust and ego. Fueled by their desires to cause such, the Echilun make it their prime directive to inflict these upon the descendants with reckless abandon. Armed with a silver tongue and a mind riddled with schemes and manipulation, they are forces to be reckoned with, given they first gain momentum. Wherever Man resides, the Echilun dwell within their shadows and whenever Man acts in accordance to the beast within, the Echilun will be their to feed and sow the seeds of pandemonium. Abilities, Behaviors and Appearances The Echilun will always work toward the betterment of their assigned nature, be it strife or avarice, etc. Echilun, as embodiments of Man’s nature, can never truly be killed. However, they can very much be expelled or repelled, with the server’s usual death-rules applying. As usual with malignant entities, they harbor an aversion toward aurum, even ferrum, and holy magic of any sort (Xan, clericism, so on and so forth). All of these will render their forms useless and would be extremely painful to the touch. Echilun bear the uncanny ability to change their appearance at will, ranging from a deteriorating halfling to an uruk in his prime. However, to change in between appearance will take the course of an entire Elven (IRL) day and will not give them the strengths and weaknesses of their chosen appearance, meaning an Echilun taking the form of an Uruk will lack their strength. They are also able to become invisible, only seen through the gifted eyes of moongazers, farseers, etc. In addition, they are granted powers of illusion. If they are not in the form of a descendant, they will take the default look which will look much like a shadow wrapped in dark clothing (shawls, robes, etc). Echilun are unable to attack, harm or kill anyone or anything directly. In order to achieve these, they must rely on the manipulation of others. They can still, however, feel and touch objects much like any normal descendant. Echilun must always work toward their nature (strife, avarice, etc) and are unable to act on anything else unless it has an evident or direct connection with their nature. Why do they not harm, attack or kill? Echilun view the races as a source of fuel and energy. They rely on them to sustain themselves, and as such will refrain from attacking them and will only allow this when done by another's hands (i.e. the manipulations of Strife, an Echilun, causes a man to attack another). This is also geared to assist the player RPing the Echilun to better create RP, not disrupt or defect from it, and allow those they interact with to develop. Art Red Lines/ Cons: Echilun are able to feel pain much like any other descendant but lack the need to eat, breath, etc. They cannot directly attack, harm or kill an individual, this includes traps, etc. They must rely on the manipulation of others. They are fueled by their nature (avarice, etc) and refusing to spread it for a prolonged period of time will result in their demise. They do not gain the strengths and weaknesses of the descendant race. The rules for illusion still apply, if illusions are illogical they are likely to break. Damage or extensive pain will disrupt and eventually render their false appearances null. They cannot learn magic of any kind (void, deity, etc) Reasoning Behind their Creation As an avid RPer, for a few years now, I’ve found it hard to find creatures that induce change in a character. They may be fun but most events or interactions with non-descendant creatures seem to have a superficial ending, most being either combat related; this made it difficult for others and I, as I’ve seen, to have our characters change and evolve without doing it ourselves or coming up with a sub-par excuse to have them change. These creatures, the Echilun, were created with the intention to provide normal players a greater chance of achieving that dynamic RP that drives character development, in fact their survivability and entire RP revolves around their interactions with other characters and whether or not they succeed in changing them. Want to Play an Echilun? Great! Should this lore be accepted, I’ll be making a post to recruit players into playing at least seven Echilun. Those who post first and show quality and effort in their “application” will have the most likely chance of being able to play one, which means the entire process will be based on merit and luck (they sort of contrast, I know) to make sure there is little to no bias. If a player falls into a inactivity (at least three weeks of hiatus) then their Echilun will be PKed and will allow others the chance to play. Q and A/ Thoughts? Comments? [Empty for Now]

Let me get you to see through my eyes: first of all, dying antagonists that should have died a long time ago are regaining their God-tier powers. What's the catch? Basically they harbor emotional woes because of their emo Drakaar overlord and then they are "enslaved." So what? A slave can do anything they want so long as it doesn't contradict a command given by their master. I'm not -1ing this just for the sake of -1ing, it's because this doesn't have any legitimate weaknesses. You gave little information, most of it being vague and confusing. Not much to interpret. Give me something cogent, so that I may work with it. Other wise cut that passive aggressive crap.

What? That's not a weakness. That's a filler to make the "cons" look good. Role play is role play but don't give a bunch of have-beens power without proper weakness. Until I see real cons, - 1.

By "no free will" do you mean to say they are like golems now? Unable to do much without the specific instructions of their impera, in this case being the drake?

What Toodles said.

Dude, you are basically saying that you can force villainy RP into another person’s face and they don’t matter so long as you make an “impact.” What’s the point of having RP if no one is having fun except you? And when you say hundreds of potential victims I hope you really do not believe that, what you are doing is belittling the average player in order to accomplish a scheme or some sort of “huge impact” plan. Which, by the way, has rarely worked out well in this server’s history because you are forgetting that your victim is another person behind another computer screen and if they don’t enjoy it you may as well not RP villainy. I’ve seen it happen way too many times, people just give up on RPing with villains because they don’t realize that the peasant they are trying to mess with wants enjoyable RP as much as the villain does.

I’ll have to strongly disagree with this, PD. The moment a villain starts RPing for himself and directs RP majorly about himself and the impact he makes, which is what you are saying, they lose the fundamental ability to actually create or add to a story, which is what villainy and the entirety of LotC SHOULD be about. No one forces you to be a villain and when you become one then you admit to being a catalyst or agent for RP, driving it and allowing it to change and ultimately become dynamic. In this aspect, when you say that “it’s hardly about their enjoyment,” their being the victims or the general population, and say “nobody enjoys losing,” then you’ve essentially made villainy RP more about individual gain and winning and losing, which it is NOT. While a villain’s “decisions count and matter” it should not undermine the importance of the victim. Keep in mind that your ideals may be worthwhile in a world where people are expendable but in LotC, where the mass population is comprised of a couple or few hundred players, that way of thinking will always cease to work and will inevitably collapse in on itself, which frankly as a GM and an (ex?) ET you should know a lot about. DISCLAIMER: This was not meant to offend in any way.

You literally have 8 magics.

This doesn't look like lore. This looks more like a "hey, this magic is cool it should be revived. I have made some minor edits and I'll use it responsibly with my authority over it." Tbh, I don't want contract magic re-added. It was a mess and it had the potential to make people PK which is... sketchy, at the very least.

Okay. If we are going to be passive aggressive, then I may as well give context as to why Blood Mages are evil; if you are one of the few who don’t see why this magic is evil right off the bat, this will help enlighten you. From what I’ve seen/ heard I’ve never seen blood mages use their own blood. Instead, they’ve cut open other plebs and suck the life out of them to empower their magic. They learned blood magic by worshiping a drake, which if you didn’t know is an evil, poisonous dragon. Then this psuedo everything magic can then summon forth voidal horrors. Damn, that’s not evil. What I’m trying to say is that blood magic is inherently evil. I just don’t see how you can get past that and then offer this as a means to increase a relatively peaceful/ benevolent deity magic.

I’m going to be honest. I like the writing, very much. But I’m not comfortable in allowing BLOOD magic to be able to assist/ empower deity magic. It seems counter intuitive to have BLOOD magic be able to do so when the magic itself is very much clearly an ‘evil/ dark’ magic. You can make an argument otherwise but you just can’t win, especially when this magic is called BLOOD magic. I also agree with PD, the anti-hero path has become rather repetitive and kind of annoying to be honest. It’s become like the new ‘cliche’ of RP. -1

Great lore, really emphasizes the shift of culture in the kharajyr, from forest orcs to a peaceful race enshrouded by mystery! +1

As an asian, I sense an affinity towards this.

Yes. +1. And yes, I actually did +1 your post. I know how you hate it when people say +1 without actually +1’ing the post. Or was it you? Perhaps it was Magicpastry, can never tell the two of you apart. . . Maybe because you are one and the same!??!?!?!?!? +1

I was actually hoping to have this lore utilized in a setting where the desired target is not necessarily miles away, but rather just hard to get to, if that makes any sense. For example, in a tavern setting. It’d be extremely awkward for a character to just sit in between two people conversing in comparison to someone taking advantage of their magic and sort of ‘eavesdrop’ on them that way, all the while maintaining the spell and all it’s requirements (line of sight, etc). Also, perhaps I was not clear, the ‘visions’ would be rather blurry, just barely able to get the generic meaning of the conversation at hand. I wouldn’t have another person ‘play’ the conjuration, I’d just leave it to the other player’s discretion and let them PM me what they think is realistic, which is sort of naive, I know! That said, I’m well aware of the multiple holes in this lore and I’m working on revising them. LMS, IF YOU COULD BE SO KIND, PLEASE DENY THIS LORE. THANKS IN ADVANCE, FRIENDS!

Erm. Well for starters, the magic is still relatively new, so I’d really rather wait for a while before adding something like this. Other than that, I’m not opposed to having beasts like these added just not so. . . overpowered? For the most part, I agree with Treshure, really.