ThatGuy_777

If you introduce a sufficient alternative, sure I guess. If this could help prevent meta in in-combat situations, all the better. But for out of combat purposes, I would very much like the ease of arranging things. Back in the day, when I sent birds I would usually RP that part, wait thirty minutes, maybe an hour (usually relevant to where they were if I knew as much OOCly), and would THEN send the letter. I'm not sure on the logistics of delaying replies that fall under notes/birds, but if something like that could be introduced, there's one issue solved. I have to agree that EVERYONE possessing super reliable carrier birds isn't ideal, but also, it is a game. And the enjoyment of the player supersedes immersion in most cases. If a solid solution is available, and unlikely to cause too many issues, then go for it.

A druid ruminates on the past atop a lonely stone outcrop, situated in the middle of a pristine pool. "...I wonder what the bronze one is up to these days? Still up to his old antics, no doubt." With a sigh, the elf stares at his own reflection "Blood, carnage. His commitment is admirable. Few have the stomach for it." He traces some old scars, faded and nearly reduced to memory. "Perhaps one day we shall settle old scores, but until then, stand fast and remain vigilant, Brother Leatherback."

Pardon my lateness, but- eyyyy Toffee! It's great to see you again. I hope everything's well on your end.

Cheers!

Still reading, gonna pick up in the morning, but so far it looks good. Regardless, I'm definitely on board with the premise at the very least.

Rising from the dead to let you know you're the coolest cat around. Also- how's LoTC life been treating ya?

Amen. Just like convergent evolution, or in-game instances of the dead being raised with methods that are entirely unrelated to each other, different instances of lycanthropy are allowed to exist. And trying to shoehorn a concept with another based on only skin-deep similarities is a surefire way to start a dumpster fire. (I’m completely content with Ferals being the occasional curveball in events that specifically pertain to Morea) This take on lycanthropy really appeals to me, since the gap between big bad Strigae and big (kinda-sorta-maybe if you defile those woods over yonder) bad Ferals had irked me even before they were approved. Call me petty, call me basic, but I’m a shameless fan of stereotypical fantasy monsters when they’re executed right. And this lore manages to check all of those boxes. My only question is if the Lyre ritual has a capped limit on how many times it can be performed? If only to ensure that players don’t just ignore the ramifications of eventual insanity like sticks in the mud. All in all, big ol’ +1 from me.

Glad to see more entities that are less ALL-MIGHTY is scope. It offers some exquisite potential for future events (if any of the ST decide to pull from it) without the caveat of getting too big too fast. I’m also glad to see the four Aenguls mentioned since I doubt a lot of people recall their identities before becoming weapons. That said, would you say all of Perpertiael’s followers were slaughtered then and there, or do you think there’s room to elaborate on those that got away/weren’t present? Maybe a patron plots to return their master’s mantle by finding Urguan’s Hammer and shattering it? Effectively freeing the Aengul and yada yada yada- that kind of thing. All in all, I definitely give this lore a +1

While I’m usually all for exposition myself- this take on Dresdrasil doesn’t sit well for me either. Although it clashes with established hostilities between the Dresdrasil and Nemiisae in my earlier Mani submission, that’s relatively easy to fix. No, my main qualms lie more in the disparity between this version of Dresdrasil and her original lore. One should think that similar to the destroyer of Athera, Feldamfir, she should be a mortal force of monumental proportions, but without her original Aenguldaemonic traits. By taking on a physical form, Dresdrasil became something else, lending to the mystery surrounding her capabilities and devices. Her place in the lore scratches a Lovecraftian itch that Voidal abominations just don’t quite cater too frankly. The version of Dresdrasil presented here falls kind of flat. Not only is it a bad case of deja vu (the underlying theme of dreams is reminiscent of Lyes), but as Dingo mentioned, it really humanizes the former Daemon of Abundance in a way that better suits a patron. Why can’t one of her offspring be the head honcho of this realm and following instead? Given Metzli’s interest in having a race of mortals of her own, I could certainly see the Daemon establishing something with Dresdrasil prior to her transformation, and it does sound like interesting idea to pursue. However, in regard to the Aspects, I don’t think she should be responsible for filling the seas with life as a whole. Might as well go throw all the sea-based Mani in the trash then. Why not just have her give birth to all the wild and freaky things that don’t inhabit our real-world oceans? There could be just as many LoTC specific sea creatures as irl ones, if not more, so why risk stepping on existing lore for the Aspects at all? Pardon my bluntness, but as it stands, I’m simply not a fan. -1

Far far away, laying on the milky branch of a boisterous tree, a sunburnt Mali’ame plays a primitive lyre. Strumming along with the songs on the breeze, birds chirping and crying with vibrant glee. Alas, a sharp CAW silences the canopy. Infectious vigor coerced to be still as the corvid nests atop the elf’s head, his wild hair acting as an impromptu nest. “Karin’ayla, metta’ii.” He remarks, allowing his feathered friend a well-deserved rest. Time passes. As doves impatiently tap their feet and budgies start to tweet, the ‘ame relinquishes a decade-old sigh. “A dead horse never dies it seems. Alliman...welp. Here’s to hoping this time’s the charm!”

Ciao, I guess. Take care and safe travels.

If only for the frog puns that will come out of this- +1 Surely it will be a ribbiting experience. That aside, really well done post.

Amen times ten. I completely condone physically beating them with the report.

I do done diddly declare ‘dat ‘dis does get my +1 seal of approval. Let there be- at least a moderate amount- of effort required once more!

The luckiest bean in all the west.

If I were to be struck down now, I’d die in peace.

Lordy o lordy, you ain’t kiddin’. Grinds my gears something fierce.

Greater Mani Gûlgarmadh, Prince of Scorpions and Arachnids (Created by fooyee). “Mi peep latz bruddaz retern frum thaer votar. Dubty...nub, futhty! The waghoff haz thaer luzk rayzed in viktoree, letting owt a waghcri akrozz the zand zea. Latz bruddaz drag h’azh flat zkaddernackz whif menee howlurz agh jabbernackz. Azh iz a bub’hozh muhther, the zize of the Muun...o how they zelibrayt...But the muunlite zpellz thaer duum. The grownd iz burzt open, the zand arownd them fallz. ZLAM- all futhty agh thaer beazteez behind barz of bone. Ztaering down buurz zkorpien. Nub, zkaddernack... mabee... Gûlob garmadh. The dahm beazt toar latz bruddaz limb frum limb!” -Visions of a nameless Dom Clan Lutamen Llan’sae, Princess of Sea Turtles (Credit to GaleforceRin). “Oh Goddess of the Tides and Eldest of Shells, Whose sanctuary harbors many and knows more than she can tell, We give to you our devotion. We show to you our respect for your kind. Oh grandest Llan’sae grant us passage, show us the old order.” -Prayer of Passage, translated from days of yore Sha’maidan, Princess of Elephantidae (Art by AnatoFinnstark). “...How can one so small carry something so great? Unjust- that is what your kind would call it. Often would they plead for my aid, listing misfortunes without a single solution to offer: a pity. Let it be a lesson to keep close to heart, young one. The prospect of every peak will only amount to the stones that comprise its base. Now it is your turn to tell me, how does your generation intend to shoulder this burden?” -Scribed from the Monument of the Mason, once whispered to be ten-thousand paces offshore of Aegis Lesser Mani Vesper, Prince of Bats (Sourced from Reddit, credit to Saeed Ramez). “Expect nay a shred of my sympathy for your wretched curse. All descendants are born ignorant of the realm they inhabit, yet trying to cheat death is a fool’s errand. A deaf endeavor that will never know solace. Look to your former kin, how they fear and despise you. Routing your ilk out of the dark places with fangs of earth and flame, while making my kind rrrrrestless! Each of you is an atrocity- an existence gladly gone. Yet tonight has shown a glint of promise. So long as there are mortals, there will also be monsters. Your deaths will solve nothing. Instead, I offer a choice: pledge yourselves to defend the blood of my blood, or let the curse consume what semblance of self remains.” -Bargain of the Bat; the night of the Culling of Kabergard, 1498 Tāmatu, Prince of Crabs (Artwork by miriamrez). “Ack, I already told ya, ya daft pill...er, I mean Sir! ‘Et was a giant crab! A giant crab done took the ship, none of ‘dis foul-play bollocks. Ya haf to believe me! How long haf I served the fleet? Ten!? Fifteen years of ‘dis awful place and notta once did I waver. Notta once did I pinch food, wine, or women! I’m as clean as the Capten’s Quarters. The varmint held me up in ‘ets pinchers and looked me in the eye. Hollered so loudly ‘dat I coughed up supper. Must have spoiled ‘ets appetite too cause ‘et done flung me starboard- righ’ before cleavin’ the Augur in haff! Honest to GOD, Sir!” -Interrogation of Aarlan Ansley, helmsman of the royal galleon Ark Augur, 1615 Amametta, Prince of Peafowl and Paradisaeidae (Piece by Nojjesz). “...Fledglings must learn that love cannot be founded frivolously. Fathering young requires time and dedication, yes, but love must persist without a doubt. The former plants a seed to set-up for success, the latter only gardens as long as you draw bated breath. Both are beautiful, yet they require aspects of the heart that are otherwise apart.” -Writings of Taliar Amehier, an alleged apostle of Amametta Drongo, Prince of Chameleons (Artwork created by RuslanKadiev). “All I remember is eating some berries, the same I pick every afternoon. But this time was different, the world around me started to spin. Spun so much that I wanted to die. Wanted to die so much that I started to sing a song about dying, and all the voices of the forest joined in. Flowers with the faces of people I used to yearn for started to flirt with me. I saw a rainbow of trees dance underneath a sky made out of eyes... I um... I-I think I was shot out of a donkey’s...actually, I’ll just spare you the details. When I came to I was hanging upside-down from a tree, fifty feet high. A taste of bugs in my mouth, vomit on my robes, and a headache almost as bad as my attunement to top it off.” -Anonymous druid's account after publically denouncing Drongo Sabio, Prince of Albatross and Seabirds (Painted by Magali MB Gauthier). “There I was- the last of my crew who hadn’ died of thirst ‘er hunger. Some lasted longer...but in the end couldn’t live wit’ what they had done...what we all did to survive. I pray fer their forgiveness, good Father, an’ hope I can make amends in the eyes of GOD. The Sun scorched everything, my skin, the air, an’ my regret. I was desperate. An albatross landed on the crow’s nest an’ fer the longest time my eyes stared. Thinkin’ about snapping its neck and eatin’ something besides...but then I remembered me granddad. Somethin’ he told me as a boy. So I carved an albatross into the mast an’ pleaded fer the Saint of the West. Begged fer deliverance on my hands an’ knees ‘til I collapsed. Initially, I thought meself a fool. But then I felt the blessed breeze, passing out as a great pair of wings obscured the Sun.” -Confession of an anonymous sailor, circa. 1631 Fih’uell, Princess of Locusts (Sourced from ProtectedArt on Pinterest). ”Lil’ Jon found a grasshopper, Asked ‘im for a bite to eat, Stole from his Papa’s field and said not a peep! Ran ‘round together, Playing hide n’ seek, Friends forever to sing together ‘til Jon falls back to sleep. Took more heads of cabbage, Papa came a-lookin', Papa said she’d eat ‘is hand if ‘e didn’t quit it. But ‘e didn’t listen, Fed ‘er right through the drought, Came the rain and sure as rain she flew into a fit! Locust swarms, Lady ‘hores, Leavin’ not a leaf, People die, Say goodbye, Leavin’ Jon behind. He asks ‘er why, She only cries... And counts ‘is final sheep.” -Lil’ Jon and The Locust, a children’s sing-along Purpose of Lore Citation Credits Delmodan- for the current state of Mani lore, giving feedback, and lending inspiration to the overall lore Nivndil- for feedback and being my most reliable name critic Keefy & Dwyn- for their insightful suggestions ...And all the other folk who gave me suggestions/inspiration along the way. Cheers!

Still coughing like a muscle car from the 60s, but better. Thanky.

Why did you choose Archipelago as your username? Favorite seafood? Halfling map when? How art thou faring?

I can totally respect the amount of effort that has been put into this piece. Great writing and format of everything help that really show. Kudos! But it does seem rather...more headache inducing than usual for the players to follow within its guidelines 24/7, and that isn’t even including the hidden stuff. Hells bells Batman.