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Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Aquas Art: The Akula

Our first piece of art for Aquas has arrived! This piece comes from 7_ate_9 on the Wizards Community forums, and it totally changed the way I thought of the Akula. Hit the jump to see why!

Escape

Today I thought I'd share a rough draft of a script I had written. Unfortunately, I can't figure how to format this post to show it here, so I uploaded them to a free file hosting site - tried to do MediaFire, but it didn't work for some reason. I really hope these work!

Part 1
Part 2

Monday, May 30, 2011

Happy Memorial Day!

Memorial Day means no new posts! I'll be back tomorrow, and I got the first bit of artwork for Aquas! I have to ask him if I can post it first, so hopefully I'll have something new to show you tomorrow!

Friday, May 27, 2011

The Eirini Guild

Iroas is a mostly peaceful world, with the three major nations operating under an informal truce. This is mostly because the threat posed by the Maelstrom, Akyros and the Psaria force them to put aside their differences to survive. However, where there is free will, there is bound to be conflict, and this is where the Eirini come in.

Enchanted Items on Iroas

The abilities granted by the soul gems are varied, but there are certain themes. It is rare for the gems to directly effect anybody but the wielder, though there are certain intricate designs that can do so. What follows is a list of some of the more common enchanted items, and the thoughts behind their design.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Alitheia the Scholar

In ancient times, the only type of soul gem was jade, and none knew how to harness their power. They were objects of worship, only used in religious ceremonies that venerated The Walker, a mythical figure that was believed to have created life on Iroas. It took a sick young girl to unravel their secrets, and she became known as the first Paragon.

Akyros, the Voidtouched

Iroas is a world of extremes. Those who live there are capable of great acts of compassion and heroism, but there is a shadow for every light.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Enkavma

Not all who followed Aspida wanted order, and not all who followed Thirio desired freedom. Some wanted to burn the world to the ground.

Iroan Magic

Words do not have any special power on Iroas, and it is generally thought to be impossible to conjure fire with a thought. However, there is still magic.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Thirio, the Beast

Another bit on Iroas, this time about Thirio, the warlord who stopped Aspida. Nothing new on Aquas or Tyranix/Ordren/Auftrag today, I'm still trying to figure out what to call T/O/A and I've hit a wall on Aquas. Feedback on both would be appreciated.

Aspida, the Soldier

Another little bit of  info on Iroas! First, I'm considering renaming Tyranix as Ordren. It's another made up word that almost looks like a real world, but order doesn't have the same negative connotations as tyrant. In any case, hit the jump to hear about Aspida, the Soldier.

Monday, May 23, 2011

Worldbuilding - Aquas: Summary

Today I’m rounding up all the information from last week and organizing it! There are a few changes in some places - I’ll bold the new information to make it easier to find. Hit the jump!

The Maelstrom

This is intended to exist in the same world as the Nazarian alliance, and this week I may flesh out that world a little. For the moment, I'll refer to the world as Iroas, after the Greek word for hero. The Nazarian posts will be updated with the new tags. In the meantime, enjoy this bit that totally isn't ripping off Serenity in any way.

Friday, May 20, 2011

Worldbuilding - Aquas: Green

Green is the color of life and growth, and on Aquas it comes from coral reefs. Hit the jump to read more!

A Few Quick Notes on Tyranix

This isn't going to be a long entry, just a few notes. I'm working on something a bit meatier, and I hope to have it up on Monday. In the meantime, I could use some input. It has been pointed out to me that Tyranix isn't really a great name for the plane - it's halfway between a real word and a nonsense word. Therefore, I'm thinking of changing the name to a real word. So far, I think my options are: Impero (Latin: To Order), Jussio (Latin: Order), Ordinatio (Latin: Government, Order, Regulation) or Auftrag (German: Order). Input would be appreciated!

Besides that, it was also pointed out that I hadn't actually said anything about the humans that live on Tyranix (or whatever it ends up being called). Therefore, hit the jump for the inside info on humans in The Order!

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Dead Reckoning, Chapter 1

Ah, Sookie Stackhouse. The books that the tv series True Blood is based on, it can best be described as Twilight but good. Sookie is a strong character with interesting abilities, and her hometown, Bon Temps, Louisiana, is filled with interesting, fully fleshed out characters.

Dead Reckoning, the newest book in the series, was released on May 3. I will be spoiling things that happen in each chapter, so read at your own peril! Also, please don't spoil me if you've already read it – that would be incredibly rude, and I wouldn't like it. So, if you're still with me, hit the jump!



I find it interesting that this book starts out with cleaning out the attic. The previous book dealt was about coming to terms with the past, and learning how to move on. I hadn't realized this when I first read it, but on reflection every character who plays a major role has to deal with something from their past and come to terms with it; Bill has to forgive himself for inadvertently causing his “sister” Judith's transformation into a vampire, while Eric and Pam have to deal with Eric's sire Appius and “brother” Alexei. The primary antagonist, and the source of most of the mystery, was a fairy named Colman who blamed Sookie for Claudine's death – he was her husband, and she was Sookie's fairy godmother. Man, that feels ridiculous to type out. And, on top of all that, they all had to deal with Dermot, Sookie's Great-Uncle, who was driven made by a spell. In the end, Appius, Alexei and Colman end up dead, Bill has reconciled with Judith, who was never mad at him in the first place, and Claude and Sookie break the spell on Dermot.

Bringing it all back to the book I'm supposed to be talking about, the fact that Sookie is cleaning out her attic of all the useless old things that have been collected struck me as a continuation of those themes. She seems to understand that she doesn't need to cling to the past at this point, and is finally fully coming to terms with her grandmother's death. I also like the dialogue from Claude and Dermot, as it contrasts their personalities nicely. Claude is still the douche we all know and love, while Dermot is... well, he's kind of like a lost puppy.

For most of the time at the bar, nothing much happens, though we get some tidbits about what has been going on around town. Churches are still occasionally picketing Merlotte's, which is a shame, because Sam is one of my favorite characters. In the first book he was clearly set up to be Bill's romantic rival, but he didn't obsess over Sookie once it became obvious that they would never have a relationship. I'm always happy to see him in a scene, as he has a way of grounding everything, which is a strange thing for a shapeshifter to do.

All of this is just meant to lull the reader into a false sense of security. After all, nothing that big could happen in the first chapter, right? I had forgotten how quickly things tend to go wrong in these books, and I think that's a testament to Charlaine Harris's writing skills, because I was completely thrown off when a molotov cocktail was thrown through the front window and explodes on a table.

Harris does a really good job at making the reader feel the panic that sets in around fire, and the next few pages pass in a blur as Sam and Sookie put out the fire and the authorities arrive. Eric then shows up, and he is... well, he's kind of being overbearing, which isn't usually how he treats Sookie. Thankfully, and in another moment that reinforces why this series is so much better than Twilight, Sookie realizes that he's being a jerk and (subtly) tells him to stop, and he listens. After the police interrogate her, Eric brings her home, and has called Pam to meet them there with a hairdresser. I love the description that is given for the stylist. Sookie is very clearly a country girl, and she can't understand weird haircuts at all, and the stylist has an amazingly strange haircut.

Not a whole lot else happens, though Eric continues to act slightly oddly. I'm not complaining, by the way – a little bit of a breather is necessary after the hectic events of the chapter, but there isn't much to talk about. The most interesting thing is the last line, which is the earliest time we've ever had confirmation that the antagonist is supernatural. These books have been good about showing that the existence of the supernatural doesn't mean that mankind is any less dangerous. Several times the antagonist has been completely mundane, and it's refreshing to see a series that deals with vampires and shapeshifters allow the villains to be completely mundane.

Worldbuilding - Aquas: Red

Once again, nothing to change from previous entries and no art to add (Come on, people, I know some artsy people read this!) so hit the jump!

The History of Tyranix

What follows is a complete history of The Order. You will note that nothing before the First King arrived is detailed, as The Order has destroyed all records of that time. The years are counted from what is considered to be the beginning of the Age of Order (A.O.) Before that is considered the Age of Chaos (A.C.) which is counted backwards. Facts that are unknown in-universe will be in parentheses.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Worldbuilding - Aquas: Black

No additions for today, so we'll dive right into the black cultures, which use the mana found in brine pools.

The Geography of Tyranix

Once a lush and vibrant world, Tyranix is now a dead world, with the few surviving people living in the cities of The Order.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Worldbuilding - Aquas: Blue

We have our first modifications to the plane today! Shamsiel from the Wizards Community sent me a message with some good points and good ideas, which I'll be incorporating into Aquas now!

The Dead and Dying Races of Tyranix

There have been many victims of The Order's Great Crusade, and many of them have not survived to tell their tales. From the ambitious Vampires to the passionate Flamekin, The Order does not tolerate any dissidence and will go to any lengths to protect itself.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Worldbuilding - Aquas: White

White is the color of order, protection and light. It believes in the greater good, and is perhaps best exemplified by a Star Trek quote: “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one.” But what form does it take on an underwater world?

Thor

THOR! GOD OF THUNDER! One of the few Marvel characters who can battle the Hulk and have any chance of winning, he is one of the true powerhouses of the Marvel universe. Of course, he comes with a lot of baggage - namely, Asgard and its entire mythology. The inclusion of deities can be difficult to reconcile with other stories, and the relatively realistic feel of the Marvel Cinematic Universe isn't an easy fit with high fantasy. So, does Thor fit in with the greater MCU and, more importantly, is it a good movie? As always, expect full spoilers ahead.

 I wasn't a big Thor fan growing up, as I mostly read Spider-Man and Batman, with some other DC comics mixed in. It wasn't until 2007 that I started reading, with the J. Michael Straczynski reboot. I quickly became a fan, which probably isn't surprising considering that it combines my love of superheroes with my love of mythology. It also helped that it was one of the most consistently good comics that year.


Going into the movie, I was simultaneously excited because of how good the MCU has been so far, but worried because of how little the concept seems to fit with the rest of the MCU. They solved this by focusing on pseudo-science that makes it work... mostly. There are some odd moments that don't quite fit in, but overall it works.


There's a quick bit in the beginning that shows Earth and the scientists that we get to know later, and we get our first glimpse of the Bifrost. Then we get some backstory, along with our first look at the fantastic special effects at work here - Asgard looks gorgeous! Thor's crowning, which shows off his arrogance nicely, gets interrupted by the Jotun and we get to see the Destroyer, which looks BADASS, for the first time. Sidenote: I feel bad for anyone who didn't know how to spell Jotun before seeing this, because it's pronounced Yodin. I enjoy the dialogue in this and the following scene, with Loki coming off as the smarmy, manipulative jackass that he is. He clearly manipulates Thor into attacking Jotunheim, but I'm not sure how malicious he is at this point - I don't think he starts to change to full on villainy until the battle in Jotunheim, which is fantastic. I love how Loki fights like you would expect a trickster to. He uses trickery and deceit to kill opponents who are much more dangerous.


And then, finally, Thor gets banished! Some good dialogue and one of the best taser moments in film follow, along with some plot advancement, and... Honestly, I'm not in love with the scenes set on Earth, and I was always excited to get back to Asgard. The Warriors Three are great, though Sif doesn't feel like she does a whole lot and feels kind of extraneous. Loki really steals the show at this point in the movie, and Tom Hiddleston portrays him perfectly, as you can really feel his pain as he struggles to come to terms with his Jotun heritage.


The action scene where Thor tries to get to Mjolnir is good enough, but its nothing special. Clint Barton's cameo here seems completely pointless, and he could have been replaced with any random soldier without anything being lost. I chuckled a little when I realized who it was, but overall... meh. Chris Hemsworth does a good job in the next scene, showing how depressed Thor is successfully without being annoying. When Loki appears, it reminded me of the scene from Ultimates 2, and it is just as eerie here as it was there. Also, can I take a moment to say how great Clark Gregg is as Agent Coulson again? I'd rather have him representing S.H.I.E.L.D. rather than Samuel L. Jackson.


Idris Elba has some good moments as Heimdall, and then we get to see the Warriors Three + Sif go to Midgard (lolvikings) and the Warriors once again are the best. The fight takes a lot less time than I thought it would, and the Destroyer comes out looking kind of like a chump. The ad campaign made it seem like it would be the big fight, but they couldn't have shown any clips from the real final battle without spoiling it.


During this final sequence, starting when Thor stops the Destroyer, there are still some surprises in store. First and foremost, Loki isn't a traitor, but really is just desperate for his father's approval. One of the things I love is that Loki chose Odin as his true father, despite the fact that Laufey was his biological father. Most of the time when the villain is an orphan, he becomes evil by choosing his biological parent - it's nice to see a different take on it. The final battle is... honestly, it's a bit clumsy at first, but I like that Loki uses the illusions that he used earlier in the film again, and I loved it when he created a whole crowd, as that's one of my favorite super powers. Of course, Thor's response was great, just blasting all of them, and putting Mjolnir on Loki was clever.


Overall, I'd say this was a very good movie. There were a few weird moments, and I wish they had spent even more time in Asgard, Jotunheim or the six other realms we didn't get a chance to see - I can't wait for the next one, because it will hopefully show it off. There are a few plot hooks that stick out to me, obviously Hawkeye is meant as a preview of the Avengers. I liked the quick references to the Hulk and Iron Man, and I think that's more the way they should link the movies.


In case you hadn't noticed, I quite liked this one. Not as much as The Incredible Hulk, but I'm a Hulk fanboy, so that's to be expected. If you liked the other MCU movies, you'll like this, but I think it has a broader appeal than that, as all the actors do a fantastic job.


As a final note, the scene after the credits is the most significant stinger in any of the movies, setting up the central conflict of the Avengers. I mean, they have a COSMIC CUBE! I freaked out when Sam Jackson opened that case, and freaked out even more when Loki showed up. VERY excited for the Avengers.

Worldbuilding - Aquas

Welcome to our first cooperative worldbuilding! I'll be asking for feedback every step of the way, so please contribute. And I want any artists out there to draw some concept art for me – I'll post everything that I get at the beginning of each post. Ready to start? Then hit the jump!

Friday, May 13, 2011

Saints and Sinners of Tyranix

Strong in spirit and muscle, the Rhox are the hammer of The Order. Intelligent and practical, Vedalken have long been the driving force behind The Order's magic. However, all things change in time.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Shadowmoor - Goblins and Dwarves

Goblins were already varied on Lorwyn, with the boggarts having remarkably varied body types. This variety has only increased on Shadowmoor, with the boggarts being joined by hobgoblins, spriggans and redcaps.

Shadowmoor - Elves and Hags

On Lorwyn, the elves considered themselves the most beautiful and therefore the best beings on the plane. After the Great Aurora, they are now alone in an ugly plane, struggling to survive and defending any beauty that remains.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Shadowmoor - Cinders and Noggles

The Flamekin have lost their fire. Like the other races, they don't remember that Shadowmoor was once the peaceful world of Lorwyn, but they know that they once had fire, and they take out their bitterness on their loss on the world around them.

Shadowmoor - Faeries and Ouphes

For reasons unknown to most, the Great Aurora seems to have left the Faeries unchanged. Few would guess that it was Oona, the Queen of the Fae, that caused the Aurora and manipulates the world to stay in power.

Monday, May 9, 2011

Shadowmoor - Merrow and Selkie

Cunning and friendly, the merrow were traders and explorers on Lorwyn. In Shadowmoor, their cunning is twisted to darker causes, and they have become pirates and raiders. Hit the jump to read more!

Shadowmoor - Kithkin and Scarecrows

The Great Aurora has come, and Lorwyn is no more. In its place is Shadowmoor, an eternal night replacing Lorwyn's eternal day. All the races you came to know and love remain, but they have changed in ways both subtle and drastic.

On Lorwyn, the Kithkin were a peaceful people, protective of their community but kind to strangers. This would get someone killed on Shadowmoor. Here, the Kithkin are paranoid and xenophobic, shunning all who are not like them. Hit the jump for a peek past their fiercely guarded walls.

Friday, May 6, 2011

Footsoldiers of the Rebellion

The Order has trampled the rights of many beings on Tyranix, and the time has come for them to rise up and strike back at their oppressors.

Hit the jump to read about the beings that fight on the front lines for the rebellion.

The Schools of Magic - Elementals in Lorwyn

There is one other major source of magical power that does not fall neatly into any of the categories already discussed - the elementals. They are the dreams of an entire world given form. Read on to discover their strange power.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

The Schools of Magic - Treefolk in Lorwyn

Ancient and wise, the treefolk of Lorwyn are generally compassionate to the younger races. The only race that the elves do not view as eyeblights, their wisdom is sought out by all. Hit the jump to discover their knowledge.

The Schools of Magic - Giants in Lorwyn

The largest and strongest beings on Lorwyn, giants are mostly unconcerned with the smaller races. However, their fierce territoriality and single-minded nature mean that they will sometimes take offense from small things. If this happens to you, good luck, for an angry giant is a sight to behold, though you will not be around long enough to appreciate it. However, if you continue reading you might just learn enough to escape with your life.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

The Schools of Magic - Goblins in Lorwyn

Obsessed with experiencing everything possible, the goblins as Lorwyn, known as boggarts, are more a walking force for chaos than anything else. Their natural curiosity combined with their communal nature means they do not recognize personal property, and believe that any sensation they can share is a good thing, meaning they are a constant nuisance to the other races of Lorwyn. Read on to learn about this strange race.

The Schools of Magic - Elves in Lorwyn

Arrogant and xenophobic, the elves of Lorwyn take many of the common elven traits to the extreme. Confident in their own beauty, they believe everything that is not as beautiful, which is to say everything else, has no right to live, and therefore only survives through what they view as their benevolence. Of course, there are some things that are simply too hideous to be allowed to live. These beings, deemed eyeblights, are hunted down and killed. Naturally, all of this leads to some friction with the other races. Hit the jump to see how the elves interact with the rest of the world.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

The Schools of Magic - Flamekin in Lorwyn

Capable of incredible passion, the flamekin are instigators of change on Lorwyn. They have flexible stone bodies covered in flames that burn cool unless the flamekin wishes otherwise. They love freedom, and most wander the world instead of living in any established communities. Hit the jump to see the innate magic of the flamekin.

The Schools of Magic - The Fae in Lorwyn

A constant nuisance, few intelligent beings on Lorwyn pay much attention to the Faeries. Playing seemingly harmless pranks and taking the dreams of the other intelligent beings, none suspected their sinister purpose. Hit the jump to find out how this enigmatic race works.

Monday, May 2, 2011

The Schools of Magic - Merfolk in Lorwyn

The merfolk of Lorwyn, known as Merrow, are the masters of trade and travel on the plane. Combining their skill with water magic and their vast knowledge, they can be anywhere on the plane within hours. This mobility has made them a force to be reckoned with. Hit the jump to hear more about the merrow.

The Schools of Magic - Kithkin in Lorwyn

As we've seen, the schools of magic can vary depending on the plane in question. Nowhere is this more true than Lorwyn, where the schools are focused on the various races inhabiting the plane instead of the colors of Magic. This week I will be talking about the schools of Magic that the inhabitants of Lorwyn use. I will not be discussing each card for two reasons. First off, there is no particularly easy way to separate the cards based on race. Second, I really don't want to. While I'm glad that I did it, by the end of the week it had become a chore and incredibly aggravating. Also, I imagine it was as boring to read as it was to write something that became so repetitive.

The Kithkin of Lorwyn are a hard working race, able to work together flawlessly through the use of the Thoughtweft, an emotional bond that links all Kithkin together. It is through this bond that they have managed to hold their own against the bigger and stronger races that inhabit the plane. Hit the jump to learn more about the Kithkin!