Locklathlan

As long as the theories remain theories, looks pretty neat - trying to make the ideas written here canon would make magic unnecessarily hard to RP, seeing as now, alteration would require some rather serious knowledge. I think much of this is already possible with alteration, but perhaps this could simply serve as the documenting of that phenomenon?

A slender hand scribes swiftly upon a short stetch, a sliver of parchment that catches the shine of the sun and shimmers silver in the dawn. The note is left tucked just into the corner of the poster, folded over on itself with a thin scrawl atop it marking this out as 'Rathian Thylsealaes' contribution to the ever growing roster of mages. "Though I am but a wayward wanderer stumbling upon the knowledge of the arcane, I offer my perspective as one who has yet to touch the mages path. I know that perhaps a youngling is not wanted for such a discussion, but I shall leave this here if the insight of one educated but yet to reach the practical side of the arcane, is needed. Celein is my home, and it is likely the easiest place to seek me out."

And I only was away for what, a few hours? Nicely done, look forward to seeing this around.

Bravo, the aesthetic and feel of the art is quite unique and something I think would be enjoyable to interact with. The only thing I can think of to add would be emote examples to give people a more 'visceral/first hand' perspective on EXACTLY how it is the art plays out.

As one travels through the lands of Vailor, one would find several small and generally insubstantial papers carefully stowed in the many nooks and crannies of the docks. Many floral designs are carefully printed about the edges, forming a pleasingly aesthetic display of intertwined roots and petals, all in a single, monotone shade of obsidian. Reaching down from the topmost border of this display of patterning is a great oak, filling that same top half. Below, is scrawled in elegantly articulated hand writing, the following; Brothers and sisters of Oak, it is now that I call upon you to come together and form the first of our families to reside in these lands of Remnant Man for many a year. Now that our brethren have their Heralds sat upon their thrones, it is time that we of Oak come forth to aid our brother Ways. For Oak to remain silent and not provide the unyielding shade for Man to truly flourish is a failing of ours, and one I would not see continue. I hold hopes that land exists for us to flourish upon, and build our first home together as a family of Oaks would. All whom wish to meet with me, whether an old member of our Way or a young one looking to partake in our great duty, do seek me out upon the site of old Sutica. I bid thee well, and that you might walk forever in the shade of the great Oaks that sway above our heads. Remember, brothers and sisters, our adage; Fear the Old Dark. OOC; Greetings! Now that Xionism is beginning to pick up speed, I’m looking to gather people interested in learning about the ‘religion’ (well, anti-religion really) and begin an Oaken Way ‘family’.The Oaken Way is one of the four Xionistic systems of belief, and as such I shall link below two useful documents; The original document on all of the ideology; https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/139531-xionism-the-way-of-primeval-man/ And a document begun by myself that I would like to work on collaboratively with all those who have an interest in the joining; https://docs.google.com/document/d/1R3Y5CXno1mtzz0qOBmPa9kItZcGA6Jw0It2WzFnv2pc/comment Everything you should need to know can be found in one of the two documents above, although they can be a little poetic and confusing at times. All who have an interest in making a character, please do throw a message in my direction. If either of the above documents need some explaining, I’d be happy to oblige for anyone interested. Any questions at all, throw them my way. I am also able to claim that the Isles of Sutica have very kindly gifted land for the construction of a ‘base of operations’ (reading the second document will explain) for this new Oaken Way family. Hope to hear from people soon!

Wiki writing generally isn't about writing flamboyantly, moreso writing concisely and factually. Not something I've ever enjoyed really.

Not sure I have the knowledge of LOTC lore for that, but thanks for the suggestion nonetheless.

Rather a simple request really - I want to write something. I joined LOTC for this sole reason, that it would offer me more opportunities to write. Now, I have also found that I much prefer writing with some kind of collaborative air, for this has always opened up much in the way of expansion, or most importantly, deliberation. Discussion between members of the developing team leads to a story that does not simply fall from one consciousness, making the overall feel, theme, and direction not so polarized as a novel or perhaps a play, written by one writer or playwright. Whilst this of course, brings forth a direction and focus that allows for heightened complexity (most normally contextual; for example, the play 'An Inspector Calls', which whilst it may appear as a simple narrative, is in fact a political and social commentary if one reads between the lines), working with a multitude of people allows for a more living, breathing environment. And as I'm not currently in the mood to spark social upheaval and new schools of thinking, world building seems much more appealing. Really, I'm happy to discuss any form of creation; I've recently been fascinated with the concept of mecha (not your average Gundam mecha, will explain more if this is something that grabs your attention) as a method of exploration and development. Fantasy is of course the hall mark of LOTC, so I'm a fan of that as well (else I wouldn't have joined). One can most likely tell just how wide the spectrum of what I'm willing to write is from just these two concepts. Concluding (this got very formal, didn't it?), if anyone out there has a concept they'd like to bring out into the wilds of the internet, I'd be happy to hear it and expand upon it. Perhaps even, if it grabs my attention, that may end up being what we write. So; if anyone out there wishes to write something collaboratively, do let me know via PM here. Happy to discuss via Skype and the likes. Apologies on how vague this is, most of my ideas will work better if explained face to face. Have a wonderful, day, afternoon, or night, depending where in the world you are.

Hard, callused fingers take the forms carefully from their resting place, tucking them under one arm before wandering away to work upon the sheaf's of paper.

Two figures, lay beneath a twilit sky. Even now, the Sun only held sway in the farthest reaches of the night, its radiance lasting for naught but a few more minutes. Leaf and twig churned with a restless motion as the great northerly wind racked through the display of undergrowth, turning the mountain upon which the two remained into a vision of writhing brilliance. As snow drifted down from the north, the two spoke in a mixture of languages; though for the sake of understanding, we shall recount it in one. "You are certain?" "There is nothing more for me now. Nothing more that I can learn." "You believe me fit for the Crown then?" "You know the answer to that." "You really, have no more of a reason to go on now that you dwindle, high above, alone on the endless ocean?" "A ship at sea with no land to return to." "What a bleak image. How thoroughly awful for such a vessel to be left to float for eternity." "And that is why we rest here now. That is why this flame has come to an end. The darkness about the fire side is too much for one to weather alone." "Aye, but the darkness is our home, friend. The darkness is whence all came, and whence all shall return." "Do you believe we shall return, one day? Peaceful ignorance, all as one, under the endless shadow." "That I do. We were not made to last, and so I believe that somewhere in the infinite, there is an end worked in among things." Sitting upright, silver flowed out effortlessly above two emeralds - slight features, beautiful beyond any and all description. A voice hewn of marble, body of water, air, all things moving and light, heart of darkest obsidian, mind of shattered bronze, glittering and twirling in an endless fall. The glittering embers alighted on the Crown, a figment that passed briefly, an image that had little presence here, a concept that could not find a hold in a land of material things. A Light that transcended, a Light that burned the eye. "You are certain?" "A rotting hull on the great open shan't last long in a storm that knows no end." "Then we are in agreement." The sheer drop was quiet. The ground beneath was filled with utter peace. The shadow, thanks. The second figure remained, his form fluttering in the wind - a statue, a testament to the loss of something dear. His hands formed a vague shape in the air, and the air began to sing. Eyes turned to view the earth, and wailed at the sight of crimson upon white. The Statue turned his face skyward, arms open and accepting as silver trickled down from his eyes. "I accept the Crown, I wear the Mantle, I hold the Scepter high, I stand upon the open shadow, and I call upon the Old Dark for validity. In me is the blood of the forefathers, and about me is the Shadow of yore. I weep, and shall always weep, for the passing on of the finite, yet I see the future, and hold the torch high. The path, the path shall be forged." Dropping his arms, the form of the Statue was wracked with sobs, falling upon his knees. "You shall be missed, Gwendolyn." ---

An angular character signs the corner of the charter, placed with swift calligraphy as Arim leaves his name upon the document.

"And druid, as I stated, I understand your own philosophy, that you only preach to those whom enter into your domain. I did not dispute that, though I only pointed to the fact that asking this of others based upon false assumptions of our disordered nature, is unwise. I shall withdraw the word 'ordered' if you so wish, but presenting your 'likes' seems like a useless thing to do if you do not expect them followed. Speak plainly then, and do not voice idle fancies that you already know may be talked down with ease. We are not here to voice our 'preferred' course of action, we are here to voice with utter certainty what we 'want' of the other orders gathered here, for voicing anything less sure than this is but a pointless waste of breath upon the air." Raising his head back around to lock eyes with the druid, he raises his eyebrows and maintains his previous appearance. "Your 'point' as you put it, does not exist; you have made an idle ask of us that has no bearing, and I simply make it clear to you that you shan't find us people to follow requests that hold no substance behind them. Let us not speak more on the matter, for causing another argument to ensue here is not what would please our overseers." Sighing deeply, he raises a hand to wave with a certain brisk dismissal. "You have my apologies, for I know I appear childish." A certain phrase is muttered beneath his breath, the words distinctively full, warming perhaps, even wholesome. "My apologies druid; I shall return to silence now. My part here is done, for the debate shall now move onward to a different debate, I believe."

A look of disgust passes briefly over the features of the green swathed one, his fingers tensing together before his form relaxes as the subject changes. Once his shoulders slump and his back loosens once again, he leans forth to speak. "Your plea for control is heard; under Xion, such noble arts are controlled out of a matter of necessity, out of great understanding for what they signify. Just as a ruler might dub their subjects 'knight', so is the handling of the Mortal Arts held in such great respect; to have such a grand blade placed upon ones shoulders, to have such a power attributed to ones name. . . it is truly a great honour indeed. For us to hand it out to every passerby who utters the name of Xion, that, is the lack of control that we abhor, as do you. Fear not drui, for we understand the power of our art, and the need for control over such a thing. However; your point concerning our preaching is thusly unjustified by what I have just relayed to you. I for one, shall not cease any form of preaching, for it is righteous and true of us to attempt to turn people to our way of thinking, just as you spread your thoughts and ideas to those who enter your culture. Do not be concerned that this will create a sudden influx of individuals wielding the Mortal Arts, for only those whom are worthy shall be gifted such a great honour. Those who are gifted these magics shall use them responsibly. In fact, I would wager that they shall put less 'strain' on the balance of nature than your own art. . ." His eyebrows bob upwards with a slight 'humph', a look of quiet superiority blossoming across his sharp features before he turns away again. "If you dislike the act of preaching, there are further orders whom do so readily, orders whom have plagued this land for many years. Do not order us into silence due to your own philosophies, for they hold no sway outside of your culture."

His visage rotates to view Ashanaak, bobbing several times over the course of his short piece; once this is completed, his arms fold across and he pivots back in his chair with a satisfied look. A few moments more of silence pass as he contemplates, rocking a little on his chair, back and forth, back and forth with an oddly childish demeanor. Once again letting his head nod in agreement and satisfaction, he halts and leans forwards on both hands as they hold his head atop both fists. "Peace for the Innocents, and peace for yourselves; whilst we are limited as you are, I. . . will attempt to assure you that those here are noble souls, and agree that peace is something that can and will be reached. We may be of limited resource, but I believe those here would do their utmost to aid in that regard; though I shall not speak for them quite so plainly, as I know not their minds. I appreciate your decision to side with the Xan folk, for I can see that your companionship means much to you, and the bonds between Men are of great importance. It is good that you can see reason despite your overseers, and it pleases me that your humanity, and your reason, shines through the dazzling Light that surrounds you so."

His eyebrows raise and fall in an accepting gesture, before he speaks with a careful tone. "Though you have tried for some time to stamp out the Mortal Arts, you have failed; I say this not as a criticism, for you have heard the repetitious line over, and over again as to why this is. It is not possible to completely blanket the dark with light, for forever shall the shadow persist where your eye cannot quite reach. If you cannot stamp it out, why cull the one Order among the dark who seeks to bring about some kind of order in it? Surely allies of that nature are better than none, and any allies one can gain are not ones to be turned away. Give us time and space to prove ourselves, if we must before you, and you shall find us dependable allies - at least, I should hope so. Again, we fight the same side of this war, merely with different benefactors and tools before us. Let Xion rise to govern the dark as you do the Light, and perhaps some equilibrium might be reached. We may be of the dark, but we are not of the perverse individuals whom you call 'suspect'. If you do not allow us the chance to make a 'record', you shall have halted a possible solution of which you have no true knowledge. Truly, to halt us would be as if to halt ones allies simply for wielding a blade comparable to that of the enemy. When, have you seen two Men walking down the street, stop to duel over the fact one wields a lance, and the other a blade?" At this he laughs quite heartily to himself, grinning out from beneath his cowl before he brushes it back with one hand, waving with one hand. "Apologies, apologies, but really this does appear to be why you find us skeptical; we wield abilities that you have long fought against, and so you paint us as villains. We are attempting to turn those blades you have fought against to a side of progress, something those of Guardianship should support."

"I do truly believe that we seem to be debating the 'darkness' from quite opposing views; what you reference is the rabble of dark magicians that have plagued this land left ignorant of true understanding that comes with the weight and importance of their art. Those individuals who have taken these great arts and made them lesser as they have warped the way of things, bringing utter ruin to the land, to Man, and to the Cycle, the fundamental way of things. Those who sit here are not of this same lesser darkness, a shadow of something greater. Just as you folk of Xan wish Order upon us, so the Grand Dark is ordered. Just as you folk of Tahariae wish the world free of blemish and blight, so too do we wish for a world full of perfection. Just as you folk of the Aspects wish this world bound by natural laws, untampered with by tainting influences, so too do we. Folk of the Aengudaemonica, you speak of a threat that is not among us, for I have faith in those Heralds sat here among us. Those who wish to take our grand Mortal Arts and make them something perverse, they are as awful as the chaos of both the daemons, and the Void. Folk of the Aengudaemonica, we seek to bring these arts that have been so damaged, taken to become something so backwards and destructive, under a reign once again. The art of Necromancy as you name it, the art of Lifeforce manipulation and a higher understanding of our mortality, is only of the 'dark' you hate when it is left unchecked, and unguarded. The art of Lifeforce manipulation is a force for good; where Druidism may be used to bring new growth, so too may lifeforce manipulation re-balance the spread of life among the living, bringing about naught but the very balance you seek. If you drui condone the use of your own 'higher' powers for the mending of the land, you must take into account the 'lesser' ones that do so much less to alter the way of things. In just the same way, many of these other arts that you so hate, are ones that can be brought into check, into an ordered state that shall do naught but mend the way of Man, and bring about understanding and enlightenment among the many citizens of this world. Talk now in peace, for though you may stand among those who utilize arts long since marred, they are the cleansers who have come among you to undo this. These 'dark arts' as you name them; this stain upon them shall be cleaned. Folk of Xan, if you so wish those of innocence to be left unharmed, we, those of Xion, are the only way forward. We offer you stability, order, control, betterment, for the arts that have harmed the world. We seek safety for those of Man, just as you do; as you are guardians, so are we. With this, I can assure you that by my work, you shall see no Disorder; by those of Xion, no Disorder, no Taint, no Dischord, shall make a wound upon this world again." By this point, the swathe of black cloth had been removed from his mouth, the sharp line of his jaw evident beneath a thin layer of stubble. His eyes now meeting those of Garrion, he stands from his seat and bows with a profound sense of honesty and dignity. Raising again from his stance, he speaks one final time. "Though I may disagree that the influence of the aenguls is needed to bring greatness unto Man, I am profoundly accepting of the path you attempt to follow. All those here of the aengudaemonica, I respect what you attempt to do for our world, and for Man. I hope this is the same for all those of Xion, for the ideals you hold in your hearts are blemished only by the fact you place their solution in the hands of beings that shall tarnish the result. By Man, by His Arts, you shall find all those goals you seek. Place your faith in us, I implore you. Place understanding in these words, and cast all your misjudged hate aside. Those of Xion forge ahead along the same path as those of the Light." Returning to his seat, a hand is raised to gesture to those among them, allowing them time to speak once again.

The sound of boots briefly echoed throughout the meeting, halting abruptly as another noise emanated with a certain, undeniable subtlety; a slow, steady, uncannily precise breathing. Not loud, so much as distinctive, something one could easily pick out against the steady background of murmurings that now filled the creeping shadows of the halls of the library. A sense of magnitude, of extension purveyed the noise. The nature of the figure that honed into view as it rounded a bookcase, was perhaps unsatisfactory for such a noise. Hood up, black and green flowing effortlessly out behind them, that same regularity portrayed in the exactness of their movement. Ebony cloth lay swathed about the mouth and chin, though the pallid grey eyes that peered out from beneath scraggly locks of earthy brown, were striking to say the least. The word that would most aptly describe these eyes, was healthy; alive, vibrant, moving with an erratic tendency that emanated a feeling of incredible litheness, liveliness, youth. Legs long, torso short, his movements appeared so effortless and smooth among the figures here. Arriving at the small gathering, he waited for perhaps a few moments as his two shimmering orbs turned to survey each face; recognition sparked on none of them, although a judgement was made deep within the recesses of his mind. Taking up a chair, pivoting it on one leg, hefting it above his head, and making his way over into another corner of the room, he placed it before him, and sat quite neatly upon it. His fingers steepled across his knees, and he fell silent; even his breathing had seemed to fall into a certain state of lightness that no longer filled the air.

It appears that you and I (and quite possibly much of the server) have a very different apprehension of what exactly mana is; mana, (to me), is the force produced by the souls of living beings to accquisition interaction with forces beyond those that can be interacted with using standard organs and tissues, to promote and prolong life. Not once have I ever read, that mana is the energy the Creator used to create the world(that is, the clay so to speak, not the fuel in the kiln). In fact, I am fairly certain that it is said the Creator shaped all things from the /Void/, which would actually mean the universe was made of voidal energies brought under laws of a less chaotic nature. Additionally, not once did I note that it is solely the energy needed to perform magic - in truth, it is simply a force used to interact with life force, if we observe the intended use of it (the intended use being, why the Creator gave it unto his creatures, to allow them to interact with lifeforce). However, in the way you reword what it is you are proposing, I can see what you mean - the way you had phrased it originally did not (in my understanding) culminate in the creation solely of living things, but simply of change. Reading your rewording, I can actually support this as it does appear to make sense - I will stress however, that aside from in one piece of lore that I have read, truly, it has never been directly stated that all matter is made of a form of mana. Only in one particularly old document explaining the basics of voidal translocation has this been mentioned, and even then, whenever it was explained to me recently, there was no break down of mana, simply of the object into 'information' that could be reconstructed. If I have managed to miss the document this was highlighted in, you have my most sincere apologies - otherwise, up to this point, the world has been constructed of 'normal matter', that was brought into existence from the energies of the Void (which are most certainly not mana) by the Creator. My last point still stands - you even point out how unlike mana 'dormant mana' is, in that it cannot be tapped for power. If this is the case, what exactly connects these two energies to give them the same subtype? You have yet to point out at all how they are the same - making up matter, and sustaining life, are entirely different roles. If it isn't 'literal mana' as you put it, it isn't mana at all.

By the above, calling this substance 'mana' is a reuse of a term that would promote confusion; if this substance was related to mana, the effects of lifeforce upon it would cause some of it to produce aura. Which would mean that over time, all dormant mana is slowly evaporating into aura (which it isn't, or we're in for a fun end of the world) and that there would be a layer of aura existent in/around objects (which there isn't, or we'd have shades pulling aura out of walls). Summarizing this chunk, if this embodies absolute order, the one thing it isn't is mana. This is a roundabout way of saying; what's this sudden fascination with trying to use the word 'mana' to describe all forms of energy? Reusing the word is confusing for newer players (in my opinion), and it would serve our lore much better if we simply used the word 'energy' to describe these forms of substance in the world. Moreover as demonstrated by the above, there is little to no correlation between these two substances; one is produced by the soul of a living being to interact with lifeforce to sustain the body, the other uses lifeforce to. . . promote life by causing change? This is an elaboration that I personally don't see the need for, unless necromancers will gain the ability to halt all alchemical laws in a small area by sapping it dry of lifeforce. Really, just keep everything how it was before - matter is matter, it's made of atoms and stuff. There wasn't any reason it didn't have to be made of atoms, seeing as alchemical laws were vague anyway, but still worked. In all honesty, I feel like this simply bloats lore somewhat - not necessary. EDIT; there's nothing really wrong with the lore on a base level, everything makes sense-ish. Just, don't call it dormant mana, for the sake of my sanity if nothing else. I'm sure there's another word in that humongous vocabulary of yours that would fit the bill better.

Imagine if you had the power to turn your brain into a powerful calculator - that, is cognitism. In a very broad sense, it is the ability to enact illusions upon oneself, the auxiliary effects of which can be very cool. Imagine if you could make your own Iron-Man heads-up display for life.

I just meant to make sure that you do actually have dwarves and dark elves mixing in the clan lore. xP

Thinking about it you may want to talk to the Doomforged - I believe their clan actually has the origins of the race tied up in it, so another clan suddenly emerging might be a tad odd.

I wish you luck in getting enough people together to call it that.

Doomforged are a very well known Dwarven clan, and have a post on the forums. Awareness is out and about.

Dark Dwarves are just the race used by the Doomforged. Yes, they're accepted, and have been for years.