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Post by Beowuuf on Mar 31, 2008 17:11:20 GMT -5
Below is some information on the World of Magnamund in MS5105, as detailed in the West Watch story. You do not need to read this thread to start in the West Watch. It is simply a helpful resource for quick reference. Note that the history of the lands and the various classes may be at variance with the new LW novels. If in doubt, the Manual of the Kai details the 'canon' Lone Wolf world, and the Tome fo the New Order details the West Watch world. |
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Post by Beowuuf on Mar 31, 2008 17:12:45 GMT -5
State of the classes
Kai Lords: The Kai still hold the same position and authorities as in Lone Wolf's day. Key Kai Lords also gained warships, forming a Kai Fleet to augment Sommerlund's own navy. The Sommlending, Kai and ally fleets together form the Lastlands Navy.
The current Grandmaster of the Order is Black Cat. Previous Grand Masters were Winterhawk (now Keeper of the Code), and Lone Wolf (disappeared after leaving the monastery and Sommerswerd in the keeping of his pupils). The Sommerswerd is currently to be placed into the possession of Durenor to re-cement the alliance. The lorestone of Nyxator has been stolen by the Nad-Adez-Konkor Falling Phoenix.
The day to day running of the monastery is under Ghostbear who trains many Kai (he has the position of 'Kai Lieutenant').
Lone Wolf's tradition of forging and gifting Kai Weapons to give to his most gifted Grand Masters continues. Lone Wolf's forged weapons are in the Kai Armoury or distributed. Following Grand Masters of the Order have forged other powerful weapons for Kai of Grand Master rank to weild.
Brotherhood of the Crystal Star: The Brotherhood still possess their same authority and position in Sommerlund. Toran itself became the focus for a Darklands invasion, but the Darklands forces were seen off by the combined Sommlending forces, including the Brotherhood and the Kai.
The current Guildmaster is Nauhuris. Previous Guildmasers were Sekhemty (retired) and Banedon (ultimately died forging a powerful Kai Weapon with Winterhawk). The Brotherhood have instituted five orders of learning, to provide greater focus to the brotherhood and give separated purposes to those of suitable talents.
The close ties of Rimoah and Banedon when combatting evil have not seemed to have remained, and Dessi and Toran do not enjoy the same consultative process when danger threatens.
The Brotherhood, before the invasion of Toran, were infested by a new Advanced Helghast who were indetectably by the brotherhood magics. They were finally expelled but are always a danger.
The creation of and gifting to masters of Skyriders, that was done during the MS5000 era, has been renewed (possibly from Banedon's influence and knowledge sharing with Dessi).
Sages of Lyris:The Sages have always been a loosely-organized group of scholars and teachers associated with the Halls of Learning in Varetta. In the past, Sages have advised some of the greatest heroes (such as Kai Supreme Master Lone Wolf) and have stood along the Elder Magic and the senior Masters of the Brotherhood of the Crystal Star as some of the most learned men in Magnamund.
However, their home in the Stornlands has always been an unstable one, and the Sages have experienced many historical high points and low points in their long history. One such low point occured during the conquest of Lyris by the Darklords, when the Halls fell and the Sages were forced to hide until the Freeland armies could free Lyris. The defeat and destruction of the Darklords was followed by a high point among the Sages. Their numbers regrew to the point where they could restore their traditional connections with the people and the cities of Lyris, and the Halls were rebuilt anew to return to a prominant place in Stornlander society. First under the leadership of Gwynian (now deceased) and then Tyrenis Amarrya (who eventually ascended to the Plane of Light), it seemed that the Halls would remain as a symbol of stability and support of Good in the ever-turbulent Stornlands.
However, the sun has again set. During the leadership of Tyrenis' successors, first the cat-creature Zipp, then Jadrax, and finally Patrick of Karkaste, a hidden evil emerged in Varetta in the form of the charismatic and persuasive Baron Drakhelm. Drakhelm, playing upon the fears of the people of Varetta, managed to win the hearts and minds of the Varettian populace and achieve a position of control. The Halls of Learning were destroyed by spectacular, supernatural means, though the circumstances remain shrouded in mystery. The Sages, those that escaped assassination, formed a resistance against Drakhelm under the leadership of Patrick. However, that resistance movement subsequently disappeared without a trace. The Sages seem to have been replaced in the Kingdom of Lyris by gray-robed scholars sponsored by the King of Lyris, directed by Baron Drakhelm, and calling themselves the Order of Free Thought. Their control in the entire kingdom has grown to an overwhelming point at present, and they now begin to spread tendrils of control and influence into adjacent lands.
There are survivors. The Sages long advised many leaders and scholars in the Freelands, and those long away from their Stornlands home are beginning to realize that something is very wrong. Many who have attempted to return to the Stornlands are immediately captured by the watchful Order of Free Thought. Some are more cautious and those may eventually make it into the kingdom without being captured and lost, and may learn what has occured. There may still be elements of the resistance that started soon after the fall of the Halls of Learning, though the resistance as a whole had disappeared. What few survivors remain in the kingdom are scattered and leaderless. Finally, in the lands of Ilion in Southern Magnamund, a group of sages, calling themselves the Order of the Yellow Robes and under the leadership of a cat-creature named Zipp (though apparently not the same Zipp as previously lead the Sages) are emerging and re-establishing themselves as advisors against the powers of Evil, far from the dangers posed to them by Drakhelm.
Sommlending Knights of the Realm / Knights of the White Mountain: These knightly orders of Sommerlund and Durenor still enjoy the same authority and position as previously. In recent times the two orders, along with the Vakeros of Dessi, have formed a formal entente to share both knowledge and resources together - the Magnamund Knights' Council, that is becoming an offical staffed body in Holmgard.
The chairman of the Knights' Council is the SKotR Kehl Loeman, aka 'Nighthunter'. The logistics co-ordinator of the council is the Vakeros Commander Methos.
The Knights Council enjoys an alliance with the Dwarfs of Bor, with a strange wolf creature yet Vakeros called Beowuuf to be the council's representative - this Vakeros currently carrying word back from Prince Torfan, the Crown Price of Bor.
Dwarven Gunners: The Dwarven Gunners are still found in many places, providing both mercenery and official support to the allies of light - especially Lyrian and Sommlending forces.
King Ryvin is the ruler of Bor currently, with a son crown Prince Torfan. Successfully leaidng various bands of Dwarven Gunners has been BRunga Stoneneck, and more recently Bon-Al Ironforge. Bon-Al is the Sommerlending Ambassador now.
Dwarven technology has been gifted to the Brotherhood of the Crystal Star and Kai Fleet, and Dwarven gunners have been at the forefront of facing the invasion routes of the Darklands forces during the MS5101 invasion. A Dwarven force was also present to aid during a recent attack on the Kai Monastery. This has certainly led to a close relationship between the Dwarfs and various factions of the freelands.
Cener Druids: The Cener druids have still remained a force for evil in the land, though never striking directly as of yet.
Under Roark II (the illigitimate son of Roark of Amory who tried to assume his father's identity and infiltrate the order) help was given to the Darklands. Under Purple Turtle, aid was given to infect the Kai to aid in turning some to the path of the Nad Adez Konkor. However, this leader sought balance, with like minded Cener, and before his disappearance he released a virus called the 'laughing epidemic'. This was virulent but swift and harmless in its effects - causing brief laughter in normal people, all at once, yet also freezing the undead. The next leader, named the Slavemaster, undertook a personal mission to discover the real source of the Blood Plague, that the Cener had encountered once before and had no cure for themselves. He disappeared, and currently the movements of the Cener have not been heard of since. Although rumour has it that Roark II has once again been seen.
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Post by Beowuuf on Mar 31, 2008 17:13:02 GMT -5
State of the world
Sommerlund
Following the death of King Ulnar, his daughter Immelda ruled for a time, before marrying a prince of Durenor. The prince took the name Kian II, and is now the King of Sommerlund.
Dessi
In recent times a virulent plague called the Blood Plague swept Dessi. It has seince regressed, but it has severely cut the population. The effects of the Blood Plague were that a microbe infected the person, and turned them into a red liquid.
Lyris
Lyris has, through Helghast infiltration and the fears caused, been turned into a dictatorship.
Darklands
The Darklands have started to return to their former glory. Helgedad was built anew, and perhaps Vashna still lives within their walls,having freed himself from the Maakengorge. Helgedad was last known to be under civil war between those loyal to VAshna, and those loyal to the again dead Kraagenskul. Kaag was taken over by the Nad Adez Konkor, who act semi-independantly without the direct pressure of Vashna upon them.
Vassgonia
Vassgonia does not directly war upon the world, but there have been rumours of strange occurances - such as Giak-like creatures seen that could be a Vassgonian attempt to breed their own spawn army.
Vassgonia and Dessi still ahve tensions on their borders.
Ruel
The Cenerese Druids still exist to threaten Magnamund. The Blood Plague was mistakenly assumed to be their doing, and currently tensions between them and the Magiocracy of Dessi have never been higher.
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Post by Beowuuf on Mar 31, 2008 17:14:05 GMT -5
Stuck where to start off?
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Post by Samildanach on Apr 2, 2008 20:38:28 GMT -5
Gah, I should have kept a backup of the Story of Samildanach! Oh well.  |
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Post by eviltb on Apr 3, 2008 5:00:34 GMT -5
Yea wish Id kept my Story of as well. Oh well  |
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Post by Izziel Darkblade on Apr 3, 2008 5:07:47 GMT -5
I actually see this as a chance for a far better background for WF...
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Post by Agrarvyn on Apr 3, 2008 5:09:35 GMT -5
Revisionism! Retconning! George Lucas! (Sorry, didn't mean to insult you with that last one.)
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Post by Izziel Darkblade on Apr 3, 2008 5:14:59 GMT -5
Hey, RotS was good...so no harm done! But in my case it's for a good cause: "stop lame writing."  |
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Post by Agrarvyn on Apr 3, 2008 5:32:55 GMT -5
Heh. With great power comes great responsibility; remember that  |
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Post by Simey on Apr 3, 2008 17:23:05 GMT -5
Hey, RotS was good...so no harm done! That's it! I'm not writing with you anymore! But in my case it's for a good cause: "stop lame writing." What 'lame writing' is this? Would it be the bit where....no, that was really good. Was it the bit where....no, that was really good too. How about the bit....no, 'cause that was also cool.... Hey! I know! It's the bit that's totally in your imagination and nowhere else!I mean, we can all learn and improve, but to suggest that your writing is lame!? Get thee a grip, good sir! |
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Post by Beowuuf on Apr 3, 2008 17:39:05 GMT -5
Yeah everyone stop being so paranoid about their writing style and write! *bounce*
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Post by Maerin on Apr 3, 2008 17:54:56 GMT -5
Preferably not involving Eshnar...
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Post by Beowuuf on Apr 3, 2008 18:04:48 GMT -5
Dear god please no! Leave it to us professionals (has just read all the old Eshnar stuff again and is physically unwell from remembering having not one, not two, but three separate plotlines going on then. Not mentioning one teaser NPC arc to feed in later and the originas of Sorba).
So yes, Eshnar does funny things to your WW posts - go visit sunny Vassgonia or the wonderful lands aroudn the Tentarius!
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Post by eviltb on Apr 3, 2008 19:21:31 GMT -5
Unfortuantely for me, my geographical knowledge of Mangnamund is limited to the Northern continent, and even then its only the Lastlands and the surrounding area.
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