02-21-2010, 02:17 PM
Thanks for all the comments so far guys!
There's alot to pick up on here, but I'm going to start in the middle.
Chimpman! Congrats on your first post here!
Whether or not this Blackmoor is going to end up as Mystara, I think it makes sense to use Mystara's past as a basis. Another way to look at it would be that we are using the BECMI cosmology.
Here is what I'm envisioning so far:
The Solar System is at first glance quite similar to that of Earth's. 9 planetary bodies ("Moving Stars") orbit the Sun:
1. There's no "Mercury" in this solar system. Prophesies believe that another star will rise close to the sun at some point in the future.
2. "Venus". This world is still in its Cthonic Age. Lizard races have just begun to appear on this mist covered, swamp world, but it is believed that they one day will be masters of that world.
3. The World of Blackmoor. Two moons orbit this world (Thanks Greg!). One of them is inhabited by a strange race of hairless four-fingered humanoids known as lunari.
4. "Mars": This world is believed to represent Blackmoor's future. It has recently suffered a series of world spanning natural disasters, like earth quakes and volcanoes, creating a red, desert-like wasteland. The world is home to many races, incluing the Sandfolk which are also found near the Valley of Ancients on Blackmoor. Prophets claim that great Pyramids will one day be built here.
5. Damocles. This is a world of primitive savages. Some day, great inventions may lead this world to become a center of civilization, but for now those are just dreams of frightened visionaries hiding in caves.
6. "Jupiter". This huge world is composed of air and other gases. Its core is a huge gate to the Plane of Air.
7. "Saturn." Another world of Air, known for its "ring". Thousands of small asteroids circle around this world. Many of them are inhabitable.
8. "Uranus": This planet has connections with the Plane of Earth.
9. "Neptune": This planet has connections to the Plane of Water
11. Charon: This is a world of death.
We know that several races from outside the solar system have been exploring this world:
The Galactic Federation: This is the race that produced the space ship that crashed south of Blackmoor. They are resemble green-skinned humans. These are likely the same as the "Human Empire" Greg mentioned from the Star Empires game. It is possible that the Empire of Viridistan, far to the west of Blackmoor is a lost colony of this civilization.
The Avian Empire: Another link to Star Empires. This race of birdmen, perhaps resembling Aracockra? have explored the solar system before the ban was placed on the solar system. The Hawk-folk of the Wilderlands may be lost descenants of this race, as may the Nguak.
The Ursoid Empire: This race of bearmen have also explored the solar system. Are they linked to the mysterious Ursai from the Grim Winter Campaign?
Astari: This race of five fingered humanoids are of unknown origin, but are found on many planets of the solar system.
The Markrab: This evil race was once present on many worlds, but has abandoned the solar system ages ago, leaving only demon-like servants behind.
While, space travel is rare in this age, it would not be unreasonable to assume that many of these races can be found on various worlds of the solar system.
-Havard
There's alot to pick up on here, but I'm going to start in the middle.
Chimpman Wrote:So I take it we are not talking about the Blackmoor of Mystara's past here, right? Same goes for the Blackmoor of Greyhawk's past. Otherwise we would know a lot more about the sphere.
So exactly which Blackmoor are we talking about?
Chimpman! Congrats on your first post here!
Whether or not this Blackmoor is going to end up as Mystara, I think it makes sense to use Mystara's past as a basis. Another way to look at it would be that we are using the BECMI cosmology.
Here is what I'm envisioning so far:
The Solar System is at first glance quite similar to that of Earth's. 9 planetary bodies ("Moving Stars") orbit the Sun:
1. There's no "Mercury" in this solar system. Prophesies believe that another star will rise close to the sun at some point in the future.
2. "Venus". This world is still in its Cthonic Age. Lizard races have just begun to appear on this mist covered, swamp world, but it is believed that they one day will be masters of that world.
3. The World of Blackmoor. Two moons orbit this world (Thanks Greg!). One of them is inhabited by a strange race of hairless four-fingered humanoids known as lunari.
4. "Mars": This world is believed to represent Blackmoor's future. It has recently suffered a series of world spanning natural disasters, like earth quakes and volcanoes, creating a red, desert-like wasteland. The world is home to many races, incluing the Sandfolk which are also found near the Valley of Ancients on Blackmoor. Prophets claim that great Pyramids will one day be built here.
5. Damocles. This is a world of primitive savages. Some day, great inventions may lead this world to become a center of civilization, but for now those are just dreams of frightened visionaries hiding in caves.
6. "Jupiter". This huge world is composed of air and other gases. Its core is a huge gate to the Plane of Air.
7. "Saturn." Another world of Air, known for its "ring". Thousands of small asteroids circle around this world. Many of them are inhabitable.
8. "Uranus": This planet has connections with the Plane of Earth.
9. "Neptune": This planet has connections to the Plane of Water
11. Charon: This is a world of death.
We know that several races from outside the solar system have been exploring this world:
The Galactic Federation: This is the race that produced the space ship that crashed south of Blackmoor. They are resemble green-skinned humans. These are likely the same as the "Human Empire" Greg mentioned from the Star Empires game. It is possible that the Empire of Viridistan, far to the west of Blackmoor is a lost colony of this civilization.
The Avian Empire: Another link to Star Empires. This race of birdmen, perhaps resembling Aracockra? have explored the solar system before the ban was placed on the solar system. The Hawk-folk of the Wilderlands may be lost descenants of this race, as may the Nguak.
The Ursoid Empire: This race of bearmen have also explored the solar system. Are they linked to the mysterious Ursai from the Grim Winter Campaign?
Astari: This race of five fingered humanoids are of unknown origin, but are found on many planets of the solar system.
The Markrab: This evil race was once present on many worlds, but has abandoned the solar system ages ago, leaving only demon-like servants behind.
While, space travel is rare in this age, it would not be unreasonable to assume that many of these races can be found on various worlds of the solar system.
-Havard
Currently Running: The Blackmoor Vales Saga
Currently Playing: Daniel S. Debelfry in the Throne of Star's Campaign
Currently Playing: Daniel S. Debelfry in the Throne of Star's Campaign