contributin

>>9682623
This seems really familiar, and I can't place where I've seen it before. :o

Writefaggery commencing;

File taken from the Gran Magus’ writing upon the entity known as “The Millennia Emperor”

“I know very little about the Lich whom rules over the kingdom of Arran’ak. What I do know suggests that he (her? It? What is the correct mode of addressing an ancient lich?) was once a mage of incredible power. It has been rumoured that he was once the princeling known as “Myrhan”, but this spouts from the commoners and peasants and is thus not useful for my research. He came to power in the year 214 (by the Kurn calendar), otherwise known as Year of the Rising Mountains. The kingdom at that time had gone into civil unrest, as a rival kingdom had annexed the small country and was subjugating the populace. A rival kingdom wanted the land, and war began for the tiny country.

What came next no one seems to agree on. Some say the Lich, this “Millennia Emperor” rose from the crypts of the ancient kings to defend his homeland, others maintain that the princeling of that country, Myrhan, became a Lich as a means of stabilising and winning back his home. Whatever the case, the Lich came to power within a month, using the dead as an army.

>>9682866

What happened next surprised everyone, not least the other mages. The Lich let his undead army sink back into true death, and commanded the living to bury them where they lay. This wide area, now carpeted with thick grass, became the site of the Spire. That came later, though.

The people of Arran’ak did not trust the Lich to begin with; however, they grew to accept him and quickly recovered their old life. The Millennia Emperor began teaching the practice of Necromancy to a select few, who became known as Sacrifices; this was not a punishment, the Sacrifice was afforded great honor and brought renown to his or her family. Quickly the practice of using the dead for labour and armed force became commonplace. Within three generations the Millennia Emperor was raised to the status of ruler. He took a ‘bride’, a spiritual wedding, and named her the Dawn Empress. The festivals and rejoicing lasted a full year.

This is where details become sketchy. I have been able to unearth a few tablets regaling tales of the ruling and general use of the dead, but the only information I can translate is that the dead are given willingly (indeed, it seems to be a tenet of their ‘religion’, such as it is) and those that are raised as Risen are honoured and welcomed, and those that are raised into beings known as Sentinels are heroes and champions.
#A note from the editor: the rest of the files are badly damaged in the fire that took the Grand Magus' life. Work is already underway to look for a means of recovering them, this study and these files could help us understand the Millennia Emperor better#

this... could be very fukking cool. proceed

>>9682931
Read the archived thread for more detail, this is really just a continuation of what we talked about there. Also any requests~?

He had snuck into his brother's room while he was off mooning over the vintner's daughter, taking one of his early primers. For weeks he had pored over the arcane text, methodically copying and recopying the eldrich sigils contained therein. Finally, he thought he was ready. He had used his meager savings to purchase a whole pig carcass from the butcher, claiming his father was too busy to come claim it himself. That said same carcass was now laid out in the ritual circle, properly inscribed and anointed. Marran began reading the required syllables from the book. He felt his hair standing on end as an otherworldly energy passed around and through him. He did not so much say the chant as it was pulled from him, raising in speed and volume until it reached a crescendo... silence. Marran fell to his knees, drained.

A moment passed, two, then the carcass stood up! Marran clapped his hands over his mouth, afraid he might break the dwoemer. He finally mustered the courage to point to the opposite corner of the room and command, "GO!" The remains of the pig began a herky-jerky walk, like a marionette with invisible strings, and headed for the indicated corner. Marren whooped with glee, clapped his hands, and was overtaken by laughter.

"Boy, what mischief are you getting into now..." His father pushed his way into the shed. He'd forgotten to bar the door! He looked over the tableau before him and froze, the color draining from his face. "Marran, by the gods, what have you done?!"

>>9683128

(Sorry, writing this as I go.)

Marren sat rooted to the floor, paralyzed by fear. His father roared, "DAMMIT BOY, ANSWER ME!"
The tears welled up, and the words began pouring out of him. He told his father everything, omitting no detail. When he finished, he looked up at his father plaintively. The man averted his gaze, refusing to look upon his own son.
"You fool. They'll blame your brother, for certain. He might be ruined for this."
Panic in his voice, Arren pleaded, "Father, no one has to know! We can destroy all this, pretend it never happened!"

His father crossed the room in two swift strides, striking him hard across the face. Arren tasted blood. "NO! Do you realize what you're saying? You'd doom us all! Our possessions, our very lives would be forefeit!" He grabed Arren by his upper arm and hauled him to his feet, leading him toward the shed door. "No, boy, the magistrate must be told of this. May the gods help you, it has to be done."

Doop doop why am I writing so much?

The bones upon the altar stirred, and the sound of rocks splitting issued from within the hollow ribcage. Lights, like miniature suns burst into life inside the eye sockets, golden and as ageless as the stars. The Millennia King stirred from the Chronus Altar, gathering the mystical energy that ran through the kingdom of Arran’ak and knotted at the Spire. It felt like a light breeze, tasted like summer and flickered like a spray of prismatic light. The semi-sense faded and he stood, stepping down from the low altar onto the steps. If he could sigh he would, the weight of his age settling about his shoulders as he donned the simple black robe. He turned towards the door as it opened, ignoring the Chronus Guards that drew back the heavy, carved stone doors as he approached.

Dawn light greeted him, as did a throng of cheering people. And before him, kneeling upon the very last step of the Spire, was a young girl. If he had a heart it would have twisted in anguish. So alike his Dawn Empress. So alike, and so different.

“Arise, maiden of the sun.” He intoned the opening words of the Rite of Dawn, voice hollow and as heavy as death itself.

>>9683426
“I greet thee, Millennia Emperor, in the name of the Dawn. I bring you the gifts of summer.” Her voice was so young. So very young, did she know what she was getting herself in to? His non-existent heart broke. If he could cry, he would have, as she set a sheaf of wheat, a pail of water and a fresh birds egg upon the second step.

“I greet thee, Summer Maiden. I bequeath to you the gifts of Death.” He descended the steps, kneeling on the wide stones before her. He reached down, and touched the wheat, which withered and blackened, collapsing into dust. “I give thee the ash of the fallen. All come to death.” A faint wind stirred and lifted away the ashes, flecking her veiled face in grey. He dipped a hand into the pail, and the water frothed and churned. “I give thee the water of ages. All death is honoured.” He took his hand from the pail and drew a sigil with one bony finger upon her veil, a dark stain of water upon the crisp white. He touched the egg, which went cold and cracked faintly. “I give you the chill of the grave. Death does not play favourites.” He drew her to her feet as he stood, clasping her warm, living hands in his bony, frozen ones.

Together, they spoke the last words of the Rite; “I give to thee these gifts freely and with intent to wed. As dawn turns to day, day turns to dusk, dusk into the night and night into the dawn. These words shall bind us, for our living and for our dead.”

With the last words, the crowed cheered and howled in approval. The Millenia Emperor took the veil from the Dawn Empress’ face. She was so young. Did she know the price of her devotion?

>>9683264

(And this is why I need to get more sleep and edit before I post: random name change in the middle of shit. FML.)

His father dragged him down the lane and to the village square, Marren weeping and pleading as they went. Some of the villagers turned to gawk, but quickly busied themselves with their own business upon seeing the fury in Angnar's eyes. He hustled across the green and into the magistrate's offices, depositing Marren on the bench along the far wall before turning to speak with the secretary. Two Sentinels stood motionless, flanking the entry door. The secretary greeted Angnar, and the two began a hushed conversation. The secretary's face displayed puzzlement, then shock, then disgust, his eyes occasionally darting to Marren. He turned to the Sentinels and pointed at Marren. "Guard that one," he acidly spat. "If he tries to leave, kill him." He gestured Angnar toward the inner office door, preceding him into the office of the magistrate, and shutting the door behind the both of them.

>>9683520
I like this. Poor Marran, he was just curious. Still, AGAINST THE LAW! :o

Bampu for justice

>>9683520

Marren fidgeted, straining to listen to the murmurs from behind the shut door. The conversation continued for quite some while, the only discernible noise being the exclamation of surprise from the magistrate. More talking, and then clearly, the voice of his father, shouting, "Gods, Brann, he's a boy of ten!" The magistrate, shouting back, "THE LAW IS THE LAW! Age is no exception!" A sharp thud of the magistrates heavy fist against his desk.

A few minutes later, his father strode out of the office, tears staining his cheeks. He kept his gaze forward and made for the exit door. Marren called weakly after him, but he did not turn or stop, and was gone. The magistrate stepped out from the inner office. "Marren, would you come here, please?"

Marren shuffled into the room, head hanging. The magistrate gestured toward an overstuffed armchair. "Please, sit down." The boy sat as indicated, staring hard at his feet. Brann pulled the chair from in front of his desk and sat facing him, a few feet away.
"Marren, you know that what you did was wrong, correct?" He numbly nodded yes. "And I know that you're sorry for what you did, correct?" Again he nodded. "You've been a good boy, and I've never had a single problem with you. I know you wouldn't do this sort of thing again." He nodded more vigorously at this. "But this is a very serious matter, and it cannot go unpunished."
Marren managed to stammer out, "W-what are you gonna do to me?"
Brann smiled grimly. "Frankly, son, this is above my authority. The Grandfather himself will have to rule in this case." Shock froze Marren's blood in his veins. The Millennia Emperor?!? "You'll stay with me for a day or two, then you'll be taken to the Spire." The magistrate spoke more, patting Marren on the shoulder, but he heard none of it. Eventually the man led him upstairs, one of the Sentinels trailing behind.

Oh wow, this is still going? Awesome.

I kind of wish I'd tripfagged last night when I was helping brainstorm this stuff, but everyone was awesome in that thread. This thread's continued writefagging is even more awesome.

>>9683856
Last night sparked some sort of writan fever, or something. Went to sleep dreaming of the Spire and the Millennia Emperor, fuckdamn.

Last nights thread was the bests.

>>9683898
It was fucking awesome, I have to say that, and I didn't think throwing the idea out of a lich that would rule for the betterment of people would inspire such. I am humbled by /tg/. (And yeah, I dug out my ancient tripcode from Iron Quest.)

I'm waiting for more from Another; I want to see what happens here. I have a feeling that if this is a ten year old kid he might be fast-tracked since he's already starting the necromancy and doing it right at this point.

...hell, they probably keep an eye for anyone who does this, and try to bring them under their wing to sanction them, that way they can nip it in the bud before it becomes a problem.

>>9683941
Yeah, seeing as the kid was just curious, I highly doubt the Millennia Emperor would be all "OFF WITH HIS HEAD FAGGOTS" and be more "Do you want to learn? We can teach you." And then Marran would undergo his training and take the Rites and one day become a Sacrificed.

<3

>>9683843

He was taken to a fairly well-appointed bedroom and deposited there, the magistrate encouraging him to rest up. He left Marren alone then, locking the door behind him, the click of the key in the door bearing all the finality of a sealing tomb.

For the next day and a half, the only person Marren saw was the secretary. Contempt openly showing on his face, he silently deposited his meals and left with the remains of the last. A few hours after the midday meal, a different man entered -- a captain of the Sentinels, from his dress. He started upon seeing the young boy, and threw the shackles he was carrying on the seat of a nearby chair. "Well, won't be needing those. Come along, then."

He led Marren outside and boosted him onto an oxcart, where two passed Sentinels were already seated. The captain mounted the seat and tugged at the reins, the cart lurching into forward motion. As they passed through the streets and out of the village, the villagers turned away, mothers shooing their children into the dooryard. His family was nowhere to be seen.

>>9684043
Not sure if you read the previous thread, but Sentinels are heroes and super-honoured dead who are raised into undeath and afforded better treatment and 'status'. I'm not sure if we decided that they retained some parts of thier memory and soul (I guess, etc) or not but this is still good :>

>>9684114
I don't think so. Sentinels are basically the Risen with certain extra perks. They're suitable for serving in the guard or being the elites in the army, they basically just get the Deathless template and extra time and effort is spent on them when they're animated. Their spirits still rest.

Now, Sacrificed are another thing altogether... if memory serves they're the ones who have bound themselves to their bodies to serve in undeath in capacities that more 'normal' undead such as Risen cannot, and being undead they can channel power for the Grandfather a lot better than the living, in order to help manage the Risen and animate them.

>>9684156
Yeah, s'what I though. I remember some sort of discussion about it, but couldn't remember exactly what was decided upon.

And yeah, the Sacrificed would be the thinking undead, necromancers who have progressed to the point of becoming undead, but binding themselves into thier own body to continue serving. For eternity. As is thier duty.

>>9683941
(Fuck yeah, Subprocessor π here.)

>>9684043

The warm midday sun, the gentle rhythmic motion of the oxcart, and the poor conversational skills of his traveling companions eventually lulled Marren to sleep. A bump as the road transitioned from dirt to cobblestone awoke him, and he rubbed his eyes before sitting up with a start. Apparently he'd slept away the entire journey, for the sun was much lower in the sky, and laid out around him were the beginnings of the capital.

The capital! Such a sight was unrivaled in all the region, and possibly the whole world. Merchants bustled about and hocked their myriad wares. Snatches of song and verse could be heard from the many parks and streetside cafes. The captain shouted and swore as a group of men strode straight in front of the cart, caught up in a heated debate; they did not even acknowledge the cart's existence as they plowed on, gesturing animatedly. And everywhere, Risen servants in the Millenia Emperor's livery, performing any number of simple tasks. Marren's gaze finally settled upon the Spire itself, framed by the setting sun, and a wave of vertigo swept over him as he surveyed its dizying heights. To think that this was supposedly wrought by the hands of men? Impossible!

>>9684220
This is shaping up to be pretty damn awesome.

The writing bug bit me too but I'm gonna hold off until after this is done because it's shaping up so awesome.

>>9684114

I got that. I assumed that some of the command structure of the military would have to be plain ol' living people, as it's hard to get a skeleton to think tactically. Naturally, they would also be addressed as Sentinels, stressing the defensive nature of the military and the unity between living and dead.

>>9684264
Write moar.

>>9684278
Yeah. Being a living Sentinel would probably be a hell of an honor, at that, but I'm sure the military is quite mixed between the living and dead; the dead are just closer to the front for the most part.

...I should rephrase. Being a living sentinel would be like being a major or colonel in a modern day army. It -is- an honor to have that kind of rank but it's also sort of expected to have enough people -in- those ranks to help direct things and so on.

>>9684302
Yeah, and the living Sentinels become Sentinels in death, no matter what. Unless they do something henious, of course, then they'd probably just be buried or become a Risen.

Or something.

I kind of feel like exploring what the Chronus Guard are and how they were created. Hm.

>>9684332
By all means.

It just crossed my mind a bit ago, though... you KNOW that some far-off kingdom is going to try and subvert it through their own necromancy. It's really, REALLY not going to end well for the guys who get sent to do that.

>>9684370
I just had a nasty thought. The Chronus Guard protect the Spire (at least in my head, they're the elite-of-the-elite led by special, soulbound Chronus Guard).

... who are also specifically made to not only protect the Spire, but to also combat necromancers. And opponent undead. Fffff.

>>9684392
Combat mages, spellswords and so on who volunteered to be bound to ensure the safety of the Grandfather and the Spire. Probably a small army themselves, and they slumber in the hopes that they will never need to awaken to defend it, but remain on an eternal vigil to ensure its safety.

>>9684220

Impressive as it was at a distance, the sheer magnitude of the Spire could not be taken in until one was right up on it. No matter how far back he tilted his head, Marren could not see the top of it; the structure appeared to lean towards and loom over him. The cart continued on past the gargantuan stair and oversized doors of the main entrance, coming to a stop in front of the stables around the side. The captain jumped down and handed the reins to one of the Risen, beckoning for Marren to do the same. They made for the bulk of the Spire, the two passed Sentinels trailing behind them, as a team of Risen moved up to unhitch the oxen.

Marren was led through a series of opulent halls as wide as boulevards and up several seemingly-interminable staircases. The walls were hung with exotic fabrics and lush tapestries, and the cloying scent of myrrh hung thick in the air. Though night had fallen, the cavernous expanses were well-lit by regularly spaced braziers. As Marren was beginning to tire, the captain led him into a palatial sitting room. As the Sentinels moved to flank the door, he said, "Wait here," turned on his heel, and strode out of the room.

(Dammit, I have GOT to finish this up before I have to get to work!)

>>9684477
Deargodyes you do.

>>9684477
You're doing pretty freaking well, I have to say. Keep it up!

>>9684477

Marren, unable to control his impulse, was magnetically drawn across the room to the bookshelf that lined an entire wall, floor to ceiling. Such a huge number of volumes dwarfed the entire catalog of the library back home! A very few he recognized, a copy of the primer he'd stolen from his brother among them. Some of the remainder had unpronounceable titles, or were in a foreign script altogether. He reached out his hand to run his fingers down their spines when someone quietly cleared their throat behind him. He spun around quickly, stuffing his hands in his pockets; a figure in the robes of an Acolyte had entered without him noticing. In a barely audible tone, the Acolyte said, "His Majesty will see you now.

WE SERVE.

We are the deathless. The wakeless and the sleepless. We are the brand of vengeance and the shield arm. In out slumber we see all and hear nothing. We rise when we are called, and death is out only gift. We are the final answer in the war, and the first question of peace. We are the Chronus guard, and we serve. Always. We are the Chronus Guard, and we are the final line of defence. The Millennia Emperor as our father and Lady of Death as our mother, we serve. We are the Chronus Guard, and we protect the dead and the living from any foe.

We are the Chronus Guard, and forever do we serve.

>>9684611

The Acolyte led Marren a short distance away, into an enormous vaulted chamber. The entirety of his village could be contained within, with room to spare. The pillars seemed to be holding up the very sky itself. They continued forward across this vast expanse, the Acolyte stopping before a raised dais topped with two ornate thrones, one of ebony and one of gold. From the darkness off to their left, a voice like the grating of bones spoke up: "Is this the one they spoke of?"

Even the Acolyte jumped at this, and Marren fell prostrate, weeping and mewling. "Yes, my lord," the Acolyte said, regaining his composure. The Millennia Emperor stepped forth from the deep shadows. "Very well. Thank you, Iaster. You may go." The Acolyte bowed and shuffled away.

The lich came over to the still-weeping boy and sighed like the wind passing through dead tree branches. He began chanting, and Marren's terror suddenly melted away. "There, that's better. Can't very well hold a cogent conversation when you're in hysterics, now, can we?" He rasped out a dry chuckle. "Now... Marren, was it? Stand up, and tell me your story."

>>9684737
Millennia Emperor is such a grandad. <3

We have made a terrible mistake, my liege.

It was supposed to be so easy. A kingdom of undead, the vizier told us! They would welcome us, use us to expand their power, he said! We could usurp them once we found out how it worked, and use them to bring our country greater glory! Whether the vizier is an imbecile or plotting our downfall, it doesn't matter anymore.

Three Necromancers. Two Blackguard for protection. An assassin to help with any impediments to the mission. Our country... distant from Arran'ak, we knew so little. Arran'ak is a tiny little country, with the kind of name you expect when it ends up with some lich necromancer in charge of it all. We crossed the border in the dead of night and when daylight came, we thought that they did a good job of keeping things looking normal in the borderlands. People going about their business. And we knew the undead were there in the fields, I could -feel- them, by the devils, as I feel all undead. But something felt... strange about them. We could not put our finger on it, but we chalked it up to whatever magic pulled the strings on these particular marionettes. We vowed to master it ourselves.

>>9684737

So, haltingly at first, Marren told his tale start to finish. The Millennia Emperor's eyebrow quirked as he animatedly described the details of the raising ritual, but he sat silent through the whole recitation. The telling of such a grand "adventure" cheered him until he reached the end of it, and the enormity of what had happened sank back in. He mumbled his conclusion: "I'm terrible sorry for what I did, your majesty, and I promise that I'll never do anything like that again in my whole life."

Silence descended once again, as the Millennia Emperor pondered all he'd just heard. After a moment, he spoke. "I find it hard to fault you for your curiosity, lad. If that were a crime, I'd be the most wanted man in the realm." Marren smiled at this. "What you did took incredible talent, but was also incredibly stupid." Marren winced. "You were playing with forces well beyond your ken, and it was only a matter of luck that nothing went wrong." A warmth entered into his voice and face. "You must understand, the law we have is in place for a reason. It is what keeps our society intact and safe. Without it, all you see around you would crumble and fall. I do not enforce it because I like it, but because I must."

>>9684942
>>9684958
Both a massive YES.

>>9684958

At this, the Millennial Emperor extended his hand, and Marren fell to the ground, dead.
Nawww, I'm just fuckin wit' y'all. Real story continues:

The Millennia Emperor once again assumed a regal bearing, and a hardness came over him like a veil of steel. "Marren Angnarson, I find you guilty of the unlawful use of necromantic magics. I hereby sentence you to a year and a day of service alongside the Risen, performing the most menial of tasks. Treat this as a period of mourning for your old life, for the boy that was is dead and gone; you belong to me now, body and soul. At the end of this time, you will take up training as an Acolyte. You WILL excel at this, for failure or refusal to do so will be punishable by death and permanent refusal of reanimation. So I have spoken, and so shall it be done." He softened and smiled. "And cheer up, boy. You'll be doing far more interesting things than animating pigs."

>>9684942
The closer we got to the Spire, the more uneasy we became. We came across a patrol of Sentinels on the march; living and dead, though mostly dead, but they all called themselves Sentinels. Curious. They pointed us toward the Spire when we asked, without hesitation. After all, they had no fear of a delegation of diplomats who had lost their way. It isn't as if we were standing in black armor covered in spikes, for if we were we would have been sorely out of place. They seemed dressed as any army unit might be, not quite as dark as we had expected, but they were certainly none of those positive-energy creatures and they were hardly garbed in white robes.

We continued our travelling, the Spire cresting the horizon in the distance, when we first began to have our doubts. None of us expected the Spire to look as it did. This was the home of a necromancer, of a powerful lich! And yet... wouldn't one expect a towering monolith of black stone or the like? Instead, white marble! As we entered the city itself we found that it was even gilded in gold! We passed more undead toiling in the fields. Had it not been for our concerns about the assassin's reaction, we might have cut and run right there. But he was sent along with us to make sure our mission was accomplished, by any means necessary.

>>9685019
The lich was unannounced. He walked in alone. While one of the other necromancers was about to speak, he raised his hand. After a few moments' ponderance, he spoke... I have never heard a voice like his and I hope never to hear it again. It sounded... no, it -felt- like bones scraping against each other.

"You have come among my people, and into my home. I knew of your darkness from the moment you stepped foot onto this land. You are not diplomats. What are your intentions?" The words were what we expected... but the tone was all wrong. The others didn't realize it, but I felt it in the pit of my stomach, I knew everything was going wrong and I needed to get out of there. But the only way out was through the window. The entrance lay behind him.

"My lord, we heard of your kingdom and of you, and we wish to serve alongside you, and to learn from you, if you would but permit it!" gushed one of the black clerics. Llast was one who wanted to eventually become a lich himself, so of course he would be the one to say that. At those words I felt an urgent need to run him through with a blade; it was not the line we had practiced, though it was technically correct.

The lich shook his head slowly. "Your words may be true but I know the intent behind them. You think I am fool enough to let you defile the one thing I have given this world? You are transparent to me. I will allow you a choice. You may leave this place, or you can attempt what you will doubtlessly attempt. I have instructed the Chronus Guard not to intervene. You might even stand a chance." His laugh sounded akin to a rasp.

>>9685041
Plan B it was; there would be no going back. We would need to take what we came for without the niceties we had planned. It was all choreographed; one of the Blackguards would charge forward to distract, the other would summon hellhounds to take on the lich, and they would alternate. We would try to drain his power, and the assassin would search for the phylactery which doubtlessly was in the Spire; with my aid, he would find it and break it.

Nothing went as planned, of course. One moment he was being charged by the Blackguard... the next he was behind the assassin holding him up by the throat and shocking the rest of us with lightning. We did not hear what he told the assassin as his body withered before our eyes, but he threw him against the wall as he shocked us again. The shock really did not take all that much out of us, but it kept us from casting against him. The Blackguards had tried to both summon hellhounds to bolster our ranks, but that didn't work very well; instead they charged him. And sure, they probably did damage when they struck him, but it was hard to tell. He threw the assassin's body against a wall and I stared at it in disbelief as the flesh came off of it as dust, leaving it nothing more than a skeleton.

Spectral missiles flew at us after that, as he repeated the treatment with the blackguards, one at a time. We were no match for him, and the whole of the Spire was warded against teleporting, so there was no easy escape for us that way. So obviously, I did the only logical thing I could. I jumped out the damn window, used the ring of feather fall I'd bought before leaving to glide to safety, and ran. There was no chance of survival against him. The six of us and he was well beyond our capabilities. We had no chance of victory from the start and he knew it.

>>9684968
Yes, very yes. He does not stop the law for a person., but he can soften the blow. I do expect Marran to become a Sacrifice, perhaps even an advisor. <3

>>9685019
>>9685041
Holyfuck this is awesome.

don't you mean
>verb article adjective noun
?

>>9685068

Or something, yeah. It was just a silly pictur I found and lol'd at.

>>9685041
>You might even stand a chance." His laugh sounded akin to a rasp.

>>9685051
Did they find me? Of course they found me, before I'd even made it out of the city. I tried to fight against them but the only casualty I caused was against one of the living Sentinels before I was beaten into unconsciousness. When I awoke again, it was in a marble chamber, and the Sentinel I'd killed was on a stone bench. A diamond was between his hands, clasped over his navel. Lining the chamber were a half dozen undead Sentinels on either side.

"You have taken the life of a citizen. You attempted to take my life and usurp me. For this, you would suffer immolation, and your ashes would be scattered to the wind. I could bind you to these ashes and trap you here forever, or send you into the afterlife. There are many there, no doubt, who would enjoy tormenting you. None of whom I will speak the name of, but they are no allies of mine." I felt his voice in my head -- telepathy. He was not present in the room. He did not need to be. If he'd wanted me dead he would have killed me already, I was sure of it. "Your crimes will be forgiven and you will be exiled from my kingdom, should you agree to this: raise the Sentinel whose life you took. And abandon your pursuit of power, if for nothing but the sake of your soul. The first condition I can see, but the second condition lies solely on your future action. There may yet be hope that you will go to a better place than you would if you died right now."

What could I do? I took the diamond, recited the incantations, and waited. I was quite surprised when I saw him enter the body -- normally raising the enemy almost never succeeds, but he seemed to appreciate it. He even thanked me, before the lich spoke again: "Now leave this place, and never return. And again, child, for the sake of your soul... take a long, hard look at your life and what would lie after it. I nearly walked the same path you walk before I realized that there were more important things in this world than myself."

>>9685088
The Millennia Emperor is the most badass Lich ever to lich the goddamn lich.

>>9685099
This is goddamn awesome. You are a truly magnificent writefag, sir.

>>9685099
He said more than this, of course, and I listened. There was wisdom in his words, and he had the time to gain that wisdom. In time, I left, unmolested, and no one would so much as look at me. So far as they were concerned, I was dead to them.

I am rue to say this, sire, but he had a point. I have had this gift all my life, but until now I have only used it to further my own goals. I saw something while I was in Arran'ak, though, that I did not expect to see. I saw the living and the undead working alongside each other. I saw a man who was genuinely loved by his people, not a lich who was ruling through fear and using hatred as a tool.

There is a balance that can be struck between life, death and undeath, and the Millennial Emperor opened my eyes to it. Forgive me, my liege, but I can no longer remain in your service. There is more to this world, and this is not where I belong. This message will find you by courier, and I paid well for its safe delivery, but I will not be returning to our empire. There is a wider world, and I must find my place in it on my own.

-- Tyr'anon Bakonn

>>9685127
What's great about writing is when what you have in mind changes while you write it. I figured this would be some poor schmuck who was being sent back home as an exploding zombie or something to give the king a piece of his mind, and instead the Grandfather showed him a better path to take and gave him a hard nudge toward neutral instead of evil.

I love it.

>>9685144
It was a good end. The Millennia Emperor could have wiped him out with a single thought, or sent him back home as a spolder zombie, yeah. But he didn't. That was truly awesome.

That was surprisingly satisfying to write. I would have gotten it done faster if everyone here at work weren't distracting the hell out of me, of course, but that's just the way it goes.

If I get any more wild hairs about writing things up I'll do that, but this felt a lot less like trying to come up with something to write and more just letting the story flow.

I usually start with an idea and then just let it write itself. That's how I got the 'wedding' between the Millennia Emperor and the Dawn Empress, anyway.

Hmm. I was trying to come up with more to write, but I'm drawing a blank all of a sudden. Weird.

Well, is there anything else about the setting that anyone would like me to try and help flesh out?

>>9685300
Lets see. We've said that becoming a Risen or a Sentinel is an honour/duty, but how would a family react, really? How would they use the year-and-a-day grace period?

>>9685308
Well, the body of the interred would be tended to by acolytes. It's useful for them, honestly -- it makes for a great way to test their abilities for minor magics to ensure the body remains preserved for the year-and-a-day, aside from the more utilitarian duties such as tending to the censers and any flowers that may have been brought in for the person. Flowers probably remain preserved for that period of time, by extension.

The acolytes are probably also there to help the family through it all. There will inevitably be people who cannot cope with it, and having priests (of a sort) to help you out won't hurt. They'll also make sure no rogue necromancers wander up and go 'bam! zombie! go shamble around and shit.'

There would be (at least) two main ceremonies that take place. The first is when the body is interred into the tomb, and the second when the body is removed. One occasion is somber, the other likely more akin to a celebration, though the tone would be serious. Everyone has had a year to adjust to them not being around any longer, and it's a good time for everyone who knew them to get together one last time and recollect, and celebrate the life that they had led.

>>9685308
Having just read both threads, I'd say they probably use it for mourning and contemplation. The pride comes after: "Our son is one of the sentinels, and a damn good one, I'm sure."

>>9685400
So far as how the family would react... I imagine it probably runs the gamut. Inevitably you've got some people who would refuse to adjust, and come down to talk to them on a daily basis. If this keeps up too long, the acolytes are going to notice, and they're going to try to counsel the person so that they can try to come to grips with the death of the person they knew. Others... well, I imagine a lot of people go down on a semi-daily basis and talk to them about how the day went, but that's part of the adjustment period. It's the same as a person going to someone's grave and talking to them that way in contemporary society.

>>9685418
But in the end, for most people... yeah. It would be exactly that. The way it works, with having the Risen still around and working (even if they're not wearing their old faces for purposes of not creeping everybody out), you've got all the bases covered. 'I loved him, but he has moved on to his eternal reward.' 'Our son is now among the Sentinels, and he will always watch over us.' And those who embrace both camps get it twice as good.

Thread archived, incidentally.

>>9685400
I imagine gifts such as clothing, jewelry (cuffs and necklaces, perhaps even the mask) would be given to the body for its Unlife to come, and gifts given to the Initiates and Adepts that watch over the bodies. Perhaps they get to keep them, perhaps they are returned after the year-and-a-day period.

Writefag from the previous thread here.

I'd imagined that, depending on how long the Millenial King had been in power, there might be this underground movement that doesn't want their dead walking around as blasphemies and so try to cremate their dead.

>>9685507
Well, I've been working from the assumption that the Millennia Emperor had been around since "forever", for so long that his people had forgotten the strife that brought him to power.

>>9685472
Depending on the purpose that the Risen will serve, they might even be adorned with some of it, so long as it doesn't interfere with their duties. Some of the jewelers might even make trinkets for that purpose.

Then again, seeing someone who is Risen tending the fields adorned with jewelry sends a pretty clear message: no matter your station in life, all are equal in death. You can't buy your way out of being a menial servant, you have to earn it.

>>9685507
Yeah, that's not terribly unlikely. But part of the point of this all is that if someone doesn't want to be Risen... granted, they've done everything to make it seem like an honor, but it isn't obligatory. If someone wants to remain, they can join the others in the Spire, where they can be assured that their body is safe from any unsanctioned necromancers who might wander around and raise bodies.

Which pretty much brings to mind a point I've wondered about D&D. Wouldn't just about every graveyard in the world be emptied about every forty or fifty years when some local wise guy decides he wants an undead army and picks that graveyard to do it? There are probably enough necromancers that it becomes a problem periodically.

>>9685522

It was something we were talking about in the previous thread. I don't think we reached an explicit decision, but there was discussion about the Grandfather only coming to power a couple of generations back.

>>9685528
Well, yeah. If it interferes with the duty, why would the Adepts and Initiates adorn the Risen in them? Perhaps trinkets such as sigils and the like are worn, as a show of continued love and respect.

>>9685560
That's pretty much what was decided for the purposes of writing. But even a fraction of a few generations' dead provides enough Risen to commit to any number of public works, aside from just doing unskilled labor.

In those few generations the Risen probably took what was a relatively quiet and sprawled collection of villages and turned them into a bustling city complete with aqueducts and indoor plumbing. Really, when you come down to it, a project like that only needs the manpower to do it and the capital to pay for those men; Risen don't need pay and there are enough of them. All you'd need are skilled people who supervise this work and make sure it's all done properly, and produce anything complex that the skeletons cannot. Modern city on the cheap.

>>9685560

For the purposes of pure writefaggotry, it doesn't really matter much. You can set it 1,000 years into his reign, because face it, he's gonna win out in the end. You could also set it in the first few generations after he rises to power.

Which just gave me another story nugget: the reason why cremation is so taboo. The Cremationist movement (I'm really not intending what's implied there) finds the new ways abominable, and goes as far as trying to assassinate the Millennia Emperor. Thusly the cremation taboo and the reason for the Chronus Guard.

>>9685574
Right. I'm thinking more like armbands, necklaces (which don't flop around) and other such things that are designed specifically for use by the Risen.

(Riding through the countryside on horseback, a mother and child pass one of the Risen, one laying brick on a new roadway. The mother spots a bronze armband on it and a smile crosses her face. "Look, honey, there's grandpa! Let's wave to him!")

>>9685603
I like it. Makes perfect sense. Plus it adds some pressure to society against them. "You do WHAT? Oh my GODS, that's horrible!"

>>9685603
The Chronus Guards were created to be the final line of defense, should anything go nuts. They also protect the Spire, which is literally the housing of all those who do not wish to be Risen, the housing for those about to be raised as Risen or Sentinels for the year-and-day period, and the spot of the most importan events in the kingdom, i.e. the wedding of the Emperor and Empress, stuff like that. It wouldn't be amiss that they came about after an attempt on the Millennia Emperor's life while he was still 'young', though, as a way to defend himself without resorting to his lich power.

And my take on the Crmeation taboo was that it was born from the mindet that even in death, you could still serve. It probably WOULD have come about because people didn't like the dead doing tasks for the living when the Millennia Emperor was just consolidating his country, as a way to "keep family/friend/etc out of that damn lich's hands", but eventually became something that only happened to unsanctioned Necromancers, enemies that did some henious things to the Millennia's Emperors people, etc.

>>9685632

Sure. In the beginning, the Millennia King viewed it as personal preference, if regrettable that they appeared to reject his grand social plan. The citizenry pragmatically saw it as simply wasteful. So it would be frowned upon, but full well your right. After the Cremationists struck at the Millennia King (and actually managed to kill, but not de-phylactery, him?), laws were passed forbidding the practice, and the citizens came to associate the treachery of the Cremationists with the practice itself. Time passes, and eventually social mores cause it to shift from "criminal act" to "worst punishment possible".

>>9685692
That would be a delicious twist, the Millennia Emperor is struck down, and takes a year-and-a-day to come back to full power/etc. This becomes the year-and-a-day grace period for all dead!

>>9685603
>>9685591

What I liked about it being set in a relatively new system of government is you can have this culture clash going on; the older generation are very traditionalist, but with jingoistic tendencies - because the Grandfather saved them from the Bad Times - but are still kind of getting blindsided every now and then by the new world they live in.
Then there's the new generation of hip young necromongers who were brought up in this environment and with these new values. They don't remember the Bad Times so they don't care as much about the Grandfather; he's the King and all but they're generally not throwing their panties at him in the street. They have funny ideas about death and life and what's acceptable behaviour and treatment of the dead.

On the topic of the Dawn Queen (I say we should go Queen/King not Emperor/Empress since the nation is meant to be small), how is a new one selected? I like the idea that the old noble houses from before the rise of the Grandfather compete amongst themselves because it's the biggest scrap of the old ways left to them

>>9685698

See? When /tg/ gets the hivemind juices flowing, brilliant things happen. We're creating a logical history for random-shit-pulled-from-asses, without even trying.

Dirty little secret that he isn't going to tell anyone: his phylactery is the Spire itself.

Sure, you could break it apart. Brick by brick. But how long will that take? How many men would you need? Which brick is the one that holds his consciousness?

>>9685698
YES. Also you have inspired more (probably short) writing from me, please stand by for Millennial Emperor backstory.

>>9685733
THe King's phylactery is the Spire AND the land which his very first army was buried under. Which the Spire stands on.

>>9685731

Hey, /tg/ gets shit done. This seems to have really been a productive week for us, since I keep somehow finding myself in threads that get suddenly amazing.

Pic related.

>>9685728

I don't really know (now that you mention it, yes King/Queen works better. I guess I was looking for a more ... intimidating? title for the Millennia King) how a Dawn Queen would be chosen. Your idea of the old families competeting would be -

Yeah, the families compete, but it's a 'reincarnation' thing. Whichever child is born that looks the most like the very, very first Dawn Queen becomes her successor. The orginal Dawn Queen was either a) the Millennia King's wife who died do to some reason, or his sister that died in the coup.

>>9685733

That's still a big horkin' obvious target. What about the signet ring of his father the king, buried with him beneath the foundations of the Spire? So you'd have to level the whole place, move the rubble, dig, find the corpse, find the ring, and THEN destroy it?

>>9685785

Yeah, a good rule of thumb is not to hide your phylactery somewhere siege weaponry can get at it.

>>9685767

They probably have some VERY rigorous and selective breeding programs, then, in order to try and produce some 'ideal' offspring.

>>9685785
Yeah, that would work, too. We don't want to make it too convoluted, but having his first army made of the dead of his countrymen and the very symbol of his devotion to his people as his Phylactery is a moving idea.

He loves them just that much.

>>9685796
It was just a bolt of inspiration. It could be a real reincarnation thing, with one child born every generation who is the spiritual successor of the Dawn Queen?

>>9685800

Either one's cool with me. To go back to my writefag roots, he finds out his family's been wiped out when a loyal retainer brings him his dead father's signet ring. He gains power, does the lich thing with ring as phylactery, comes back, obliterates the usurper, buries his phylactery with his dead family, and erects the Spire over it to guarantee that neither will ever be disturbed.

>>9685806

They certainly could claim that, in order to legitimise their power.

And if it's a real thing.. they probably don't say this, but perhaps it's not restricted to their bloodlines. There may well every so often be a True Queen born to a family of mill-workers out in the sticks. Which could potentially lead to a civil war.

Anon here, love this idea and would writefag a bit but have to run right now. I'll read up on the archived thread and I'll probably return later.

>>9685817
Adds some nice flavour to the deed. The Spire simultaneously serves as a monument to his family and countrymen, and as a symbol of his love for his people.

>>9685824
Until the Millennia King comes out and verifies that yes, that common girl really is the Dawn Queen. Que rejoicing populace, and some grudging acceptance.

>>9685841

True. Though the nobles, if they get word of Common Queen, might try their damndest to either adopt or assassinate her. To keep their power. Wouldn't want someone of common blood on the throne, because that would just be the final blow confirming that their ways are obsolete.

>>9685867
That would be a good plot hook. "Go save this girl, blah blah blah".

And yeah, the Old Families would be intensly jealous of any common Queen. I doubt that the Millennia King would take kindly to assassination, though, so they'd have to step very very softly...

>>9685867
If the nobles did that, not only would he bring her back (because I'm sure he can Wish it, though whether the gods would do that for a lich is anyone's guess), they'd suddenly have every Risen and Sentinel rising up and delivering them right to his doorstep.

I'm getting a good start on writing here, but I'm heading home in twenty minutes, so I'll save it and post it once I get there. Here, have the start of it.

---

Arran'ak? It's a hell of a place. I was there at the beginning after all -- but you probably could have guessed that. It's not every day you end up with a talking skeleton walking into a bar drinking whiskey. Especially without the stuff falling out of my ribs like nothing. Myrhan was a good man, and he was good to us, those of us who stood by him and wanted to keep fighting the good fight. Hell, I expected him to raise me up with a diamond when I died. He talked to me... he studied divine -and- arcane magic, and I was his bodyguard when he was away, but... no. Let me start from the beginning.

Arran'ak wasn't much more than a handful of villages to be painfully honest, and a family ruled it. Maybe it was a joke, maybe it wasn't, but the people called the family the rulers and it was their little empire. They were wealthy, but they were also traders and they were responsible for bringing trade in from places beside our hamlets. It went on like that for a few generations, but really, Arran'ak was tiny. I'm talking maybe thirty or forty thousand people. Anyway, the villages traded with each other, everybody's happy, and it's a running joke that it's a trade empire.

Well, the neighbors got greedy and decided that they'd rather cut this upstart little empire down themselves.

If there are any thoughts on it, or if anyone doesn't like the initial layout, let me know. Arran'ak, early on, is just sandwiched between two other countries who are going to go 'you know what, let's agree to disagree and carve them in half'.

>>9685867

Economic primacy would be their other trump card. As society transitioned from grunt labor to limitless Risen labor, the noble houses already had the resources to best exploit the shift. They were the primary lenders to all the new start-ups, and some of those loans came with non-compete clauses. They controlled the existing trade networks which swelled massively as they started churning out quality goods. Hell, they may have even floated loans to the Millennia Emperor himself; the Spire didn't build itself, y'know.

>>9685918
Yeah, it looks good. Can't wait to see the rest of it, ffffff

>>9685926
That is a good point. Perhaps say, three competing families with trade empires to back thier push for what power they can get?

>>9685918

Still quite fluid at the moment, but IIRC, Kingdom 1 wiped out royal family by treachery and annexed Arran'ak, Kingdom 2 coveted it and invaded to take it over, Myrhan said "OH HELL NAW" and raped 'em both silly.

>>9685926

>the Spire didn't build itself

A spellcaster as powerful as the King? It just might have.

It occurs to me that this nation probably has insanely good healthcare (leaving magic aside for a moment) compared to other places. Or at least a superior understanding of anatomy to keep the maintenance of the Risen up.

>>9685959
That sounds much truer to the discussion that happened in the first thread.

>>9685970
With, perhaps, non-spellcaster doctors and the like. Sure, with the abundance of sanctioned necromancers magic would be everywhere, but people wouldn't want to become dependant on it. Perhaps some people donate thier bodies to these doctors before being risen (or perhaps the study goes down after the raising) to further the kingdoms knowledge?

>>9685970

Oh absofuckinglutely. Necromancy is also the sphere of healing (NOTHING AFTER 2ND EDITION HAPPENED LALALALALA I HEAR NOTHING), so the ecclesiarchy(?) would also all be skilled doctors.

Egypt was apeshit about preservation of the dead, and they were the best doctors of their age.

>>9685989

It could be a way to opt out of being Risen, donating your body to science. Though you get dissected to fuck and probably aren't given the "year and a day" vigil thing.

Actually, maybe it's what happens to the bodies of criminals? The ones who don't become Conscripts, I mean.

>>9686033

Or it's what happens to criminals, and THEN they become Conscripts. A Skeleton Is Fine, Too.

>>9686033
That is a good idea. Criminals not worth raising, but did nothing horrible enough for Cremation. Then they're interred in a special part of the Spire, specifically for that.

I like it, I like it. Minor criminals who aren't worth being made Conscripts add to the medical knowledge.

...shit, Arran'ak could export some pretty damn good doctors who don't have to rely on magic. In fact that might be one of its appeals. Less magic, more technical, despite having Risen everywhere.

Alright, folks, I'm out of here. Soon as I get home I'll post what I've got written so far and keep writing.

>>9686067
Magic might become a sort of ceremonial gift. Maybe a mark of greatness, with those who become adept at 'combat magic' becoming Chronus Guards, and those who become especially adept at Necromancy become Sacrificed.

Here's a question for the ages: obviously, some of the folks helping run the place are priests. But priests of WHOM, exactly? What deity is backstopping this operation?

And also, what deities would be cool enough with this operation that their priests could exist within the society and not go all fire and brimstone?

>>9686092
I don't think they'd have a god? A faith, certainly, but maybe not a god. This would be worthy of discussion. The Millennia King would become the focus of that faith ... eventually turning him into a demi-god.

>>9686116

A living deity as ruler who grants priest spells? At that point, I think we're straying terribly close to Dark Sun's Dragon Kings.

>>9686136
Yeah. It's just something to think about. They would have odd views on the afterlife, considering the Risen and Sentinels.

Bump so we don't fall off.

>>9686310
I'm back. We're not falling off yet.

>>9686310

No worries, it's not going to make bottom on a Saturday morning. I'll contribute more once I'm done with work and make it home, but I may be writefagged out for the day.

>>9685912
The two countries that Arran'ak was squeezed between, Florin and Guilder, weren't the greatest places... but that's why our villages were together. And the town militias were the military, of a sort. Mutual defense pact, we were only a step away from actually being a country, so why not just say we were one? But we were sandwiched on the border of two countries. They were both rather small, but not as small as we were. Myrhan's family had money, and sent him off to school, good distance away. Not in one of the bordering countries, but on the coast on the other side of the continent.

They sent me along. I was their master-at-arms, but I needed a vacation. Training militiamen gets stressful as hell after a while. Myrhan enjoyed my company. He was a great kid. He was in his twenties by then, but I was twice his age then, so as far as I'm concerned he's still a kid to me. When he's not studying, we're out hitting the pubs, and the kid could out-drink me. You'd think he was half-dwarf, not half-elf. Still, he had a lot of potential and everyone knew he'd go far. Maybe further than just helping the trade along. And his sister would be going to school too, the next year. So I'd just be making sure they both stay out of any trouble they can't handle, that's my job from now on, they tell me. Smart girl, maybe not as smart as him, but still damn smart and the prettiest little thing. She was staying a little longer, but they were twins, those two.

>>9686344
Haha, I'm king of paranoid I guess? And yeah, my creative juices have slowed to a crawl, but there's some ideas kicking about in my head.

>>9686358
Then we got the message. Guilder and Florin conspired and invaded. The whole of the militia was slaughtered. Myrhan's family was being held hostage. We were to return, negotiate the surrender of the entire royal family so that everything was nice and official and they'd let them live a nice little life exiled somewhere. I smell a trap. So does he. But what else could we do? It was worth a shot. He promised me that if I fell defending him, he would bring me back. I told him it would be a snowy day in the seven hells before I'd ever stop protecting him.

we went back home and made record time. He brought everything with him that he possibly could, just in case, though the scholars didn't know any better. For all I know they still don't. All I brought with me were my shortswords, but the two blades had been passed down from my great-great grandfather to his sons. Just my luck that my uncle couldn't sire children and I inherited both. We showed up and nobody expected us, and we saw firsthand just what had happened. Everyone was hiding in their homes because no one was allowed to leave the village. The militia was slaughtered outside the manse that Myrhan's family lived in, and their bodies had been left out to make an example. I never expected to see Guilder infantry and Florin archers standing side by side, and it turned out they weren't. The news was a little wrong, but it was being played the right way by them. He was not any happier, but if anything it made him more determined, instead of scaring him off. Kid had big brass ones.

>>9686389
We snuck into the manse, but we weren't able to find his family. A few generals from either side were talking, so we made our presence known to them. And they laughed. They were talking about an armistice -- they'd been fighting and this was the only village that hadn't seen any civilian casualties because everyone surrendered outright, and they considered it neutral ground at the moment. Turned out that Florin snuck assassins in, killed all of Myrhan's family and was trying to rule in his name. The militia wasn't that stupid and rose up to fight them off, so Florin made an example of them, and posted guards throughout all the villages, declared martial law, all of that. Well, Guilder didn't want to let something this valuable slip through their fingers either, and the nobles of both sides knew this was turning out to be a pretty nice trade hub and didn't want it destroyed. Guilder invaded, and the fighting here was bitter, but they didn't break out into full blown war. Just a little one here, where we were. Nevermind the fact that they'd killed his parents, and they'd killed his sister, who he'd almost never been away from until he went off to study.

>>9686422
Seeing as the fact that we were still breathing was an obstacle to their continued negotiation, they were going to kill us now, they said. "I made a promise to your parents," I told him, though. "I'm not going to let anything get in my way of keeping you safe, not even death." That was pretty much the point where I found out that six generals aren't worth one good man in a stand-up fight. Too bad they came with guards, though. Those shortswords did a bang-up job, but they slipped a blade between my ribs, and that was pretty much the end for me. But I'd kept the kid safe, and while I was keeping him safe he warded the manse to keep the army outside where they belonged instead of letting them in. Problem with that was that the soldiers were riled up from hearing the fight inside. So they started fighting each other. And when that wasn't enough they started burning down everything that wasn't warded. Last thing I remember was looking out the window, seeing the village in flames and tears on the young master's face.

(damn field too long errors; I'm up to current, so updates will slow for me for the moment.)

>>9686358
>>9686389
>>9686422
>>9686428
Looking mighty damn fine. (Inb4 master-at-arms becomes the first Chronus Guard and then sent gratefully into true death)

>>9686358
>Florin and Guilder

The Dread Pirate Roberts sees what you did.

>>9686466

Hell no, that mofo is still probably alive today.

>>9686482
>but they slipped a blade between my ribs, and that was pretty much the end for me.

>>9686466

He's telling this story in a bar. As he drinks. As a skeleton. I'm not thinking he's headed anywhere any time soon.

>>9686523
Ohright, dhurr. Excuse me, nothing to see here. D:

>>9686428
The next thing I know, I'm waking up, and it's daylight. And I know we got in overnight. Not to mention the manse's ceiling wasn't overhead anymore. I look up at Myrhan and he looks pretty rough around the edges. I look to my right, and there's the burned-down village, but it looks like most everyone lived, they're going through the ruins but most of the houses burnt down to the ground. I look to my left, and I see the manse, or rather what's left of it. Nothing left there but a charred husk. He's not really looking at me, but he's trying to organize the people who are still alive. Telling them that a lot has happened, but they need to stay calm, he's going to fight off Florin AND Guilder, and both Florin and Guilder are going to help him whether they want to or not. I try to get his attention but I can barely move, I'm sore all over, and my voice sounds gods-awful.

He turns back to me and says something I can't understand. Some dead language. I start feeling better. He asks how I feel, I tell him I feel like I ought to be dead. He tells me I am and says we've got a war to win. I stare at him for a few seconds as he keeps chanting in that strange language, and once I feel like I can, I get to my feet and I ask him what army I'm supposed to fight with. "Theirs," he says, and points over behind me. Skeletons. More skeletons than anyone ought to be able to control, by all rights, and I'm puzzled because I didn't figure Myrhan for a black sorcerer. He'd found her body while the manse burned around him, you see, and that's when he snapped... it wasn't that she was killed, but what they did to her. He told me he spoke with her spirit and she promised him that she would come back to him as long as he still walked the land.

He tells me it's time to buckle down, because there's a war to fight, and I trained the militia. They're just a little deader now. "But," he says with this evil gleam in his eye, "They can't kill what's already dead."

>>9686559
Shit just got real. Florin and Guilder are fucked.

>>9686475
You know you love it.

>>9686559
It's a little hard to lead an undead army, but at least now I know why the people are freaked out. But I get them organized, because they'll follow my every command to the letter. That's part of the problem at first, they do everything to the letter, no further. Myrhan says their souls are gone, and without the spark of life they're pretty stupid. I don't ask how he got the skin off of them. It's not a thing I want to know right now. The first thing they do, very somber, is bury the dead of the village. Or what's left of them. That includes his parents and his sister. The generals? He burnt their bodies to ash and scattered them to the wind. Felt a little better. Every other soldier, including the ones from Guilder and Florin, he brought back as skeletons to fight for him.

Obviously the people are still freaked out but they're a little calmer now. I start getting this skeleton crew in order and go to my old habits, getting them lined up, seeing what they're capable of before we march. The people dig through the rubble and every last thing that can be used as a weapon, they grab. They want to volunteer. They have nothing left. Myrhan tries to argue with them but they won't have any of it, they've got nothing left here that didn't burn to the ground, so he relents. Their jobs are to follow the army, for now, but he doesn't want them getting killed. There've already been enough people killed in all of this, and he doesn't want anyone to get killed fighting these bastards from now on.

And so we march.

>>9686635
We hit village after village. Skeletons don't really care much about arrows because for the most part they don't have to worry about them. They just fly between their ribs and such, and skeletons really don't care if they get stuck, because they'll just keep fighting. They might be dumb, but they were loyal. And every time we'd go through a village, he'd raise any of the military to fight. But he would absolutely not raise any dead civilians to do it. Them, he'd make sure they were buried properly and with all the rites they deserved.

Sure, some skeletons were destroyed in the fighting. But his army got bigger and bigger. He got more and more distant as time went by. Cared less about anything but crushing Guilder and Florin, but at least he went through the motions and had the dead buried. And it was all well and good until we cleared out the last village and both countries were out of our hair, when I got an arrow in my eye. I pulled it out, because it didn't really hurt, but still being able to see without an eye there was kind of a red flag, you know?

"Oh," he says. "I've been meaning to tell you about that."

I tell him it's not so bad and the important thing is that I can still taste ale. Ever ask someone "who wants to live forever"? You'll be surprised how many people will say "I do".

>>9686635
>>9686705

Both are awesome, the second moreso. Shows Myrhan becoming detatched, forcused on keeping his people safe. The eye thing was particularily good.

>>9686705
Anyways. Florin's military is pretty good. But they drew back to their border because, well, let's face it. An army of undead is pretty damned scary. Guilder kept throwing people at one particular village on the border and didn't understand that it was just a meat grinder, because for a while they didn't even know it was an army of skeletons. When they found out they started sending clerics along with the others, but Myrhan outclassed them, wiped them out. He looked more ragged every day, but kept up the fight.

Eventually they threw enough at us that they gave us a big enough army to hit them back. And we hit them HARD. We marched straight on their capitol. It was close enough to the border, there was only one village between us and them and when they found out an undead army was heading their way, they all pretty much ran. Nothing really useful for us to take from there, and the people who were following the army had gone to the villages as a sort of emergency militia, so there was no point in doing anything but marching straight through. It was when we hit their capitol that we hit a snag. Just a little one. You see, he wanted to burn it to the ground and see to it that every last person in there died screaming. And yeah. That's not exactly the best way to do it... even if their soldiers killed your family.

>>9686768
Myrhan was pretty pissed when I called the army to a stop outside the city, especially when I told him there was absolutely no way I was going to do that. It went against everything I believed in. Killing innocent people wasn't going to bring them back, I told him. He hadn't been able to raise any of them, and doing this wouldn't fix that. And that's when he told me that he could force me to do it, whether I wanted to or not.

I was quiet for a long time, just looking at him. And I told him, okay. You want to do that? Fine, I said, then go ahead and do it. Because I've known you since you were knee-high, and I've always watched your back. And ever since you were old enough, we've always been friends, even if you're two decades younger than me. And if you want to throw it away now... all those years of friendship, keeping each other's secrets, even him helping set me up with that cute twenty-year-old girl at the pub before we'd gotten the news, then fine. Throw it away, if that's what it takes, and take your revenge on everyone who doesn't deserve it. But I would not willingly take any innocent lives.

He didn't have anything to say, for a long time. And then, for the first time since this all started, I watched him cry. I put an arm around his shoulders, and for a long time, he cried. And when he was finally able to stop, he looked up at me and we came up with a new plan.

>>9686844
>>9686768
The second one hurt me. ;3; Poor, poor Myrhan.

>>9686844
The army marched. But they didn't touch any civilians. They didn't even fight any of the town guard who didn't try to fight them first. Guilder was a country that was ruled by a collection of nobles, the closest thing they had to a leader was what they called the First Lord. First among equals. We marched on the castle. He was at the front of it, keeping the skeletons from harm from any sorcerers, but Guilder didn't really have many. We marched into the council chambers where the nobility was having an emergency meeting, because they thought they were safe. Once the doors were bashed open by a dozen skeletons at the front of the pack, they found out they weren't safe.

Myrhan walks up as the skeletons surround the hall at its edges, and puts it all in the open. Unconditional surrender. There and now. In return the nobility gets to live and gets to remain nobility. But Guilder is finished. There will be no more Guilder, he tells them; they will be absorbed into the empire of Arran'ak. And their jaws just drop, because up to this point... honestly, Arran'ak wasn't really even a country as far as most of the world cared. And here he is, turning it into one, right here and now.

He's got them by the throats. He tells them this outright; their options are to accept his offer or to be drafted into the service of Arran'ak as members of the interim militia, and he points to the skeletons. They weren't stupid. They all agreed to his terms, right then and there.

>>9686923
Haha, Myrhan. "Join me willingly, or join me anyway."

OP I don't give a shit about your writefaggotry
But jesus christ thankyou for that image, I've been fucking looking for that for ages.

>>9686923
He marched on Florin. He gave their soldiers a chance to surrender, and they were kind of shocked, because Guilder (or what used to be Guilder, anyway) sent an envoy ahead to any villages they could to warn them of what happened, and implored them to throw down their weapons. Anyone unarmed would not be harmed. Pretty successful strategy, really. Almost worked -- the army got across the border practically unscratched, and the idiots who chose to attack the overwhelming force that marched across the border joined it.

We had some hit-and-run attacks on the march to the capitol, but it wasn't too bad, and the skirmishes that we fought we inevitably won. No supply train to attack, and the skeletons would just keep swinging and swinging until the other side got tired. And the ones who surrendered were disarmed and sent packing, and told not to return. Most of them were smart enough to do so. Made life easier. Send survivors out, tell people there's an army of undead but they won't touch you if you don't fight them. No, Myrhan was after the only nobility that Florin had. The prince and the count. Word was that the count had arranged for a series of unfortunate accidents for any competing nobility... hence why there wasn't any left. Anyone who didn't have an accident skipped town.

The capitol city itself, however... well, that was a bit of a problem.

>>9686994
Er, glad I could help?

>>9686999
The capitol of Florin was, of course, a walled city. It was built to withstand a siege. Sure, the food situation might not be terribly great, but the king was senile and on his deathbed, and the crown prince (who had no surviving brothers or sisters) ruled in his name. What he didn't take into consideration was that in order to withstand a siege, you need to be able to use weapons that will affect your enemy and keep them from scratching away at your walls day after day after day. Arrows really are not good at that, and there is only so much that you can throw over your walls with a catapult that will have any effect at all. And if there's enough of the skeleton... it can be brought back again anyway. They're funny that way. If you've got two halves, you can stick them together and get them running, they don't really care.

As for me, I just enjoyed myself during the siege, watching the walls slowly get worn down. Okay, the skeletons didn't literally scratch the walls until they fell, they had picks and shovels and all of that. Myrhan watched it all with a sort of grim satisfaction. We'd shift operations around the wall, trying to whittle them all down pretty evenly. It got the effect we were going for -- about four fifths of the wall that surrounded the city fell at the same time when we really hit it hard. We lost a lot of skeletons, but we had enough for the job ahead of us. And when we marched on the castle and kept it surrounded, most of their soldiers either surrendered or joined us. Hell, a few of them even joined us willingly without having to die first.

>>9687080
>Hell, a few of them even joined us willingly without having to die first.
This man is a shining example of awesome.

>>9687080
We sent the army up and secured the castle, level by level, starting with the ground floor and working our way down. Myrhan found some gruesome torture devices in the basement, and... for a minute I was afraid he was going to keep them for use on the country's rulers, before he screamed in disgust and destroyed them with some sort of lightning bolt. Once that was all secured, the army started heading upstairs, filling the halls. In the end, most of the guards deserted, and we let them go home to their families. The king was in the throne room, and he had trouble understanding just what was going on. I kept an eye on him for a while; every few minutes he would ask me if I was his new captain of the guard. Just to make life easier, I told him yes, and I tasked the Florin defectors to make sure he would remain safe from that point forward, because Myrhan had no intention of letting any harm befall the poor sod.

Myrhan ended up going back downstairs, and used what he could find from the castle's apothecary to mix up some sort of brew. He brought it upstairs and gave it to the king, before he explained to him what was going on, and why he was doing it. The king came around, at least long enough to understand it. Myrhan told him that so long as the king lived, he'd be able to stay the king of Florin, and he'd take some means to keep him cognizant that the apothecary should have been doing in the first place, but once he passed away Florin would be absorbed into Arran'ak. He was saddened but agreed. He had no choice any more but he was assured that his people would not have to worry about any oppression from Myrhan.

And once that was settled... we had to find the crown prince and the count.

>>9687183
Good example of Myrhan's morals. Old king man had no clue what was going on? Fair enough, he gets spared any revenge, we keep him free-thinking and well enough in his old age till he dies. He gets to keep ruling under Myrhan's name.

>>9687183
>we had to find the crown prince and the count.

...and chop them up into many, many tiny pieces. While still alive. Then burn the pieces. Then desecrate the ashes. Then scatter them to the four winds.

>>9687228
then piss on the site of the fire, then salt the ground.

>>9687237

Then throw a Sphere of Annihilation at the salted earth.

>>9687279
Then throw whatever is left into one of the Void Planes. Or a Hell plane.

>>9687183
The prince chewed through a number of skeletons, but in the end, their sheer numbers overwhelmed him and they captured him. Well, after he had thrown every spell he knew at them, anyway, until he was too tired to do it any longer. Turned out that the count was working as the royal apothecary after they'd gotten rid of the old one who was keeping the king's senility away, and as such keeping the prince from having carte blanche and doing whatever he felt like doing at the time. He was another matter altogether; he was a skilled fighter in addition, and got the best advantage that he could get. He knew he could never win, but he made them earn it. The prince took out a tenth of the skeletons who had gone into the castle, by a generous estimate. The count wedged himself in a narrow corridor, and between that and a doorway, had actually killed so many of them that their bones blocked the way. Fully half of the skeletons were destroyed by him.

Not that it mattered because they would just kept digging through and attacking him.

Still, he kept fighting until Myrhan himself confronted him. He insisted on doing it himself, but I gave him one of my swords to use. It was a long, arduous duel, and before the count had been stopped and immobilized by the skeletons, he had been greviously wounded. The blade was cursed, and Myrhan knew it the instant it pierced his flesh. He would die from this wound. But after the king had retired to his chambers to reflect on the situation and ten years of fogginess that he should not had suffered, the count and the prince were brought to the throne room, and confronted by Myrhan.

>>9682931
>Less than half of the posts are made by anons

>>9687292
And this is when Myrhan begins the process to become a lich~

>>9687298
IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG, GOOD SIR?

>>9687298

And half the anon posts are actually Another Writefag Appears!. This whole thing's like a four-man circlejerk. An AWESOME four-man circlejerk of PURE WIN!

...Okay, that's the only time in my life I'll ever type that phrase.

>>9687343
I'm glad the faggotry appeases.

>>9687298
The creepy teleport cult's theme from bioshock started playing when I clicked that image. (string plucking song with what sounds like someone groaning into a fan) Made it creepy...guess I'll go see whats up on /x/

>>9687292
"You murdered my family. You raped my sister," Myrhan told them.

The count, a right bastard, added, "Personally. Twice. She was quite spirited." He knew he was doomed, so why hold back anything?

I had to hold him back at that point. He was grateful for it, after a moment, and said to them, "By all rights, your lives are mine. You incited a war for personal gain. You abused the man who sits in this throne and usurped his rule in your name. You do not even deserve to -exist-."

The prince sneered at him. "And I suppose killing us will make it all better. Well, let's get on with it. You'll be joining--"

The prince and the count both froze as Myrhan tilted his head slightly, regarding them. One moment they were normal and talking back as only a damned man does, and before you could say Momento Mori their bodies were comprised of ash, which began to blow away with the slight breeze coming through the windows of the throne room.

I looked at him. He seemed to age a decade in an instant. It was finally over. "How do you feel?" I asked.

"Better."

>>9687413
We need a drawfag for this scene specifically. Fuckshit.

>>9687343
>An AWESOME four-man circlejerk of PURE WIN!
You're probably him too.

>>9687483
You could be me. SHOCK. Also HORROR.

>>9687483
it is possible. But they get awesome shit done, and we don't care.

>>9687483

Who, Another Writefag Appears!? Yep, I am. That's how I'm qualified to say it's a four-man circlejerk.

>>9687413
"So what did you do to them?" I asked, as the army filed out of the city. I walked beside him; he was on a litter, being carried. He was no longer in a state to walk, thanks to the cursed blade.

He looked at me for a long moment with a somber expression, before he spoke. "I destroyed them. Completely and utterly. Their bodies. And once they no longer had bodies..." He paused, then added, "Perhaps destroyed is not an accurate term for it, but their souls were shattered and pieces of them are probably littered about the lower planes. They won't even get an afterlife."

I nodded at him, and looked at the wound. It was dressed as well as could be, but his magics had no effect on it as we found out early on. The wound was black, the flesh around it growing that color, and ugly tendrils of purple extended beneath his flesh. I shook my head ruefully. "So the empire of Arran'ak is a reality. What will it do without an emperor to rule it?"

Myrham smiled at me. A weak smile, but a smile nonetheless. "Before we left to come home... I took certain measures. You don't think I'll let a little thing like death get in my way, do you, old friend? But I will die, this is unavoidable now. Perhaps within the day." I started. I didn't expect it that soon. "My only request is to be bured alongside my family where my home once stood."

I agreed. It was the least I could do for him. And he was right. He lived only three hours longer before death embraced him.

>>9687548
Where's a good drawfag when you need one? We need a shot of this too.

>>9687564
hell, this entire background scenario needs its own comic series for that matter.
pity not many drawfags have the skill or patience to undertake such a big requiest

>>9687612
More's the pity, in the right hands it would be god in drawn form.

>>9687548
The funeral procession, the skeletal army that carried him to his final resting place, passed through every town that comprised what had been the small nation of Arran'ak before it absorbed Florin and Guilder. At every one of those towns, virtually everyone joined the procession to pay their respects to him. He did not want anyone to rebuild there, and they respected it; he had said that he himself would be the first to begin rebuilding, and no one wanted to infringe on that.

He was buried on that spot, by the citizens themselves. Every adult took a turn digging a shovel of dirt for his grave, and it was in no danger of being too shallow. His skeleton army stayed intact and cleared the last rubble from what had been burned, but much of the town had already been overgrown by the grasses that surrounded it on the plains. They only organized it and set it aside. And then everyone watched as they dug their own graves, each burying the one beside them, until there was only one left. It was only right that I bury that last one. As everyone paid their final respects, I told them that I would stand vigil over his grave. I was not fit to be among them, and everyone could see it. Sure, I looked human enough, but my flesh was beginning to show its age from my reanimation, though an eyepatch covered the empty socket. My other eye had begun to get milky, just from the fact that it didn't have any blood flow any longer.

Everyone returned to their homes. I stood there and watched the seasons pass. Honestly, I figured my vigil would end up being eternal, but when it comes down to it, what else am I going to do to pass the time? Hit up the pubs and go drinking?

>>9687628
What's this eh?Myrhan ISN'T the Millennia King? :o

I saw the summer pass. My flesh began to rot but I did not notice the smell.

I watched the grass grow long in autumn as it removed all signs that a human settlement had ever been there.

I did not mind it when the snow buried me, because it froze what was left of my flesh and helped it come loose from my skeleton.

When spring came, the insects loved me. Or what was left of me. The only thing that set me apart from any other skeleton was the eyepatch. A year had passed. It seemed surprisingly short.

The day after a year had passed, I heard a voice behind me. I didn't expect it, honestly, but I had held out hope. Hope was all I had left.

"You didn't think I'd let a little thing like death get in my way, did you, old friend?" he stated. I turned, and I saw him. I knew it was him, even if he looked no better off than I was, a skeleton. He motioned for me to come over to him and said, "I've got some building to do. Lend me a hand, will you?"

>>9687671
Durr why did I even. Of course Myrhan is the Millennia King. Fuck this goddamn cold and my addled brain.

>>9687654

Cough syrup is a helluva drug, friend.

>>9687671
Really, the rest is history. He built the Spire. Yes, he did it himself, but I'm not giving away his secrets. The original people who made up Arran'ak joined the golden city he had built around it, and he brought the nobles into line. They thought they'd gotten off easy, but he made it crystal clear that it was not the case. Sure, Arran'ak is small, but when it comes down to it, he's everyone's Grandfather, in a spiritual sense... well, some in a literal sense, the boy did have a bad habit of sowing his oats with a lot of the pretty girls.

He found his sister, too. The Millenial Emperor and his Empress don't rule as husband and wife so much as brother and sister. It's a deeper connection, but I assure you there hasn't been any Empresses who are into all of that. She's stayed true to her word, and though she can't accept the gift of undying life, she comes back to him. And... well, you know about the Risen, don't you? The people of Arran'ak saw their king, or emperor, or whatever you want to call it -- he's got a lot of names after all -- still serving them even after death. The first person to want to help even after death was the first Sentinel, and you see how serious they take all of that, he won't let anyone touch anyone's body with unsanctioned black arts. His is... well, let's say it's different.

As for me, hell, he needed someone to watch him. And I told him I always would. He taught me how to throw around some of those flashy spells he's got, and it's come in handy sometimes. And I organized the Chronus Guard, to make sure the kid's always got someone to watch his back. I just wish I'd remember to make myself look human more often when I hit the pubs, but at least I can still taste the ale.

Speaking of which, pass me another, will you?

Damnation. 30k of text, just flowing from my fingertips. I'm shocked.

I'm done for now though. That's... what, almost three hours of on-and-off writing? Yeah. I think I'm about set.

>>9687757
This series is possibly the best peice of writefaggery I've seen since forever. You sir, have my respect.

Also, this man needs a name.

>>9687774
That's an easy one, though.

This man is Chronus.

>>9687773

Well done, man.

>>9687841

OH SNAP. Shit just got SRS. I second.

>>9687841
Thirded. Chronus is the best.

>>9687857
This is truly impressive. You guys are inspirational.

Pic cool, but only gently related.

>>9687773
Well done, sir.

I sort of feel like writing. But that could be the Nyal Decongestant speaking. Durr.

Subprocessor, you "da man"

Thanks, everyone.

This was fucking FUN. I should write more often.

>>9687926
If it produces work like what you've just posted? I say "YES" and very loudly.

This thread must be archived !

>>9687983
Already is, yo, thanks to Subprocessor.

So, in summary.

The golden city of Arran'ak was built around the Spire by the Grandfather, and the grateful inhabitants who moved there began to volunteer themselves after death in his service. As things progressed he began to employ sanctioned necromancers to tend to the Risen, and dubbed them Acolytes to get them away from the nasty reputation that necromancers have. His magic is different, but only slightly, because of the way he does things, and he passes that along to the Acolytes. They are separated by rank to show their prowess and skill, and their duties vary as well. Those among them who wish to continue to serve after death become the Sacrificed, and their sacrifice is honored.

Of course he immediately outlawed any and all unsanctioned necromancy in Arran'ak, but anyone who wanted to continue to practice it would have to do it in service to the state. No other school of magic was given this restriction, however. The number of the Risen began to grow over the course of the following years, and it inspired many in the outlying cities and towns of Arran'ak to resist, as those who did saw it all as unnatural. The Grandfather adopted some of the practices of those who stood against him, however, and helped add a social stigma against them. It is unknown whether they are still carried out, but no one has attempted an attack on him in many, many years. Anyone who does not wish to be Risen after their death does not need to be, but there are certain benefits that the Risen provide that are only extended to those who agree to this, such as safe baseline housing and meals. As such, it's considered selfish to refuse to allow your body to serve the state after your death, as everyone knows that the spirit is not bound to the Risen; indeed, only a few special cases have that, and it is considered a grave act and a great honor.

>>9688131
Absolutely perfect.

The Sentinels are the paramilitary arm of the Risen, and are more intelligent than baseline. They have some initiative on their own, though living Sentinels also exist who have pledged not only their unlife but also their current life to become a Sentinel. They serve as the keepers of the peace, and during times of war they are the backbone of the military. Much of the military is made of Conscripts, who are similar to Risen, but only existing for military purposes; proper Risen are generally employed for civil tasks and work as unskilled labor for tasks suitable to them.

This has freed up the possibility of increased education for the general population, as well as increases in the number of skilled laborers. Rather than a single forge in a township having to produce everything from horseshoes to heavy armor, there are more specialized forges. This has also led to a proliferation of merchants, and though Arran'ak remains relatively small it has gained a reputation as having respectable power when it comes to trade.

The nobles, of course, are less than happy about this and there are rumors that they may have had a part in the Cremationist movement. They have not, however, openly moved against the Grandfather. To do so would be to be pronounced enemies of the state and it would very likely be suicide.

There are rumors that the golden mask that the Grandfather wears around non-citizens (and nobility) is his phylactery. He has done nothing to confirm or deny these rumors, of course, but if it is not his phylactery, it is certainly powerful; a few have confirmed that it has a very strong aura of magic and warding, and what else would a lich keep that has such wards around it? No one has managed to kill the Grandfather since his incarnation, a year and a day after his mortal body's death, and so it has not been confirmed whether this is a phylactery or if indeed he would be gone for a year should he perish again.

The Chronus Guard have pledged eternity in service to the Grandfather. Not only do they have rather powerful magic at their disposal but they are also deadly in direct combat; having plenty of time in undeath, and with sufficient number, many have a hobby of studying various forms of combat. Others lean more heavily toward using various magics to achieve varied ends. They all have their minds, of course; should one wish a release from their obligation, the Grandfather can very likely grant it to them, as he granted them eternal unlife. None have to date. The leader of the Chronus Guard, Chronus himself, makes something of a habit of sampling every drink from every bar he can find. All are able to make themselves physically appear as if they are alive, but it's a simple illusion kept only for the sake of outsiders who may be offended by undead. This is used fairly rarely except when Guard members are outside of Arran'ak to learn something new.

>>9688206
>Much of the military is made of Conscripts, who are similar to Risen, but only existing for military purposes; proper Risen are generally employed for civil tasks and work as unskilled labor for tasks suitable to them.

More specifically, Conscripts are the bodies of criminals and foreign troops, reanimated to be the fodder that precedes the Sentinels. However, Arran'ak is considerate of even those dead, giving them a proper burial when their remains are rendered unusable.

>>9688257
godamned /tg/ ! now i want to run a campaign where the PC are all member of the Chronus guard !

>>9688206
>>9688257
Very detailed summarisation (lolwat?) of everything that's been covered. Very nioce :D

>>9688293
This was kind of the point of this whole thing. It was a "What if" that grew a mind of its own~

This is archived already, correct?

>>9688352
SURE FUCKING IS MAH BOI

The ruling of Arran'ak is something of a curiosity. The Grandfather does takes only an indirect role in the affairs of the living, largely managing Acolytes who tend to the sick and wounded. Acolytes acting in this field tend to be quite good physicians, generally not needing magic to do their job, but being able to use it just the same. The Millennial Emperor, the Millennia King, the Twilight Emperor and other such titles are ascribed to him, and depending on the situation the titles of king and emperor are used interchangeably. His wife, the Dawn Empress or Dawn Queen, is believed to be the continuing reincarnation of his sister and their marriage is a strictly symbolic one representing the harmony between life and death, light and darkness. Curiously, whether due to wards or some outside effect, necromantic magic does not work against a person who can be a Dawn Empress. When a Dawn Empress dies, Arran'ak itself enters a period of mourning for a year and a day. When a Dawn Empress is found and chooses to become wife to the Twilight Emperor, Arran'ak celebrates for the same period of time. By the same measure of light and darkness, the summer solstice and winter solstice are considered holidays in and of themselves.

>>9688391
It's like you've eaten my brain and spat out only things that make sense.

I think I'm going to join with the writefagging next thread, I'm thinking about a asylum for sentient Abominations and how they "care" for them in the Empire.

>>9688480
Dear cocking christ, yes.

>>9688480
and perhaps not just an asylum, maybe the more adjusted ones could enter society and work as teachers (if they had a specialisation in life) leading Risen and the like.

>>9688293

DOOOO EEET. There are both living and dead members of the Chronus Guard, as the training will take more than a lifetime. And short-timer members (another common derogatory / fun jab title is "Eyeblinks") are the most likely to be sent on missions elsewhere, as they still have that whole living thing going for them. Embassy duty is also common for them, as non-Arran'akians aren't usually too fond of having the passed among them.

Best. Thread. Ever.

I just turned up, and it's taken me like an hour and a half to read the whole thing.

Jesus fucking christ I love you /tg/

PS. Somebody needs to combine all of this and write it into a full, complete history of the kingdom of Arran'ak.

It would be like, the best thing ever if /tg/ made some 400 page epic and got it published, though I'm probably getting ahead of myself here.

Still, these two are largely symbolic leaders. While they rule the Golden City itself, the leadership of the other cities remain as they were in the years before the Grandfather's ascension. The ruling of the country is a parliamentary system; while the Grandfather holds veto power, he very rarely exercises it, and when he does, he addresses both the Parliaments directly and allows debate on the reasons why he is vetoing.

The Great Houses of the nobles, of which there are currently three, hold sway over the House Parliament, with a presence granted to the Lesser Houses that largely comprise lesser nobility and certain trade cartels and guilds. As well as making law, it is also within their power to name Lesser Houses(by creating nobility), promote Lesser Houses to Great Houses, or demote Great Houses to Lesser Houses. Thus far no promotions nor demotions have occured, but there are voting blocs among the Lesser Houses that offset the inherent increased voting power of the Great Houses. Houses with seats on the Parliament may change whoever they wish to represent them at will.

The Land Parliament is comprised of citizens who are elected in every two years and may serve no more than three terms. They are permitted only to pass law in combination with the House Parliament, and may render no judgment on who is and is not nobility. That privilege is reserved for the existing nobility and the Grandfather (who has not yet exercised this). The number of Land Parliament members is directly proportionate to the number of people in Arran'ak and are elected by district so as to make sure elections easier. Sentinels watch over all elections to ensure there is no fraud.

>>9688541
Christ, sorting through everything would take a long time.

Though, an objective, "historians" view of the thing would be a good read.

>>9688519
well, it's just that i'm tired of DD3.5, DD 4e disgust me, I don't really see this setting fit to e used with Warhammer 2nd ed...
fantasycraft perhaps ? or hell, Spirit of the Century used in a med fan setting ?

>>9688511
Mmmmm, I dunno, personally I think it would be more like a monastery, maintained by Adepts and a number of Sentinels, preferably situated in the middle of a river island or something like that, since sentient Abominations might be predatory and/or infectious. Of course they'll have a huge library and a few centuries of constant study can make potent sages out of them. The Millennial Emperor probably visits every year or so to check up on things and offer advice to some of them, and a way out, becoming Martyrs, those who give themselves up for... experimentation, so that their condition could be better understood and treated (of course the name Martyr says a lot about the survival ratio, but it was their choice).

>>9688574
I was thinking a sort of book which has a ton of different story fragments, which when read together eventually piece together the full history, as well as some minor events which were particularly interesting, all viewed through the eyes of different people.

>>9688610
Not all abominations would be infectious, I think, but I do agree with everything here. Those who become Martyred/Martyrs are placed into the Spire along with the other super-honoured dead.

>>9688624
That would also be quite good. Both would be an interesting contrast.

You know what would cause a complete clusterfuck? If an Illumine Soul(mindblade prestige class) suddenly found himself right in the midst of said kingdom. Seeing as how they practically SWEAT positive energy, that would cause quite a rukus.

>>9688680
It's been stated that the necromancers and undead function of a "different" energy than normal. Not entirely, but maybe positive energy wouldn't be such a MASSIVE issue, and rather just a large one?

The Millennia King would probably help the Illumine Soul, offering wards and sigils to help keep that energy in check.

I haven't addressed the issue of race, have I? Let's do that now.

Sure, a great number of people in Arran'ak are human. The southern half tends to have a slightly more liberal view than the north, but most are largely accepting of species other than human. (Florin had, not entirely surprisingly, been on a human-centric kick while the crown prince was ruling in his father's name. Then again the militia was disbanded in favor of the brute squad.) The Golden City itself, however, has a preponderance of half-elves; the towns that existed before the creation of the Golden City were populated largely by elves and humans who were focused on living quiet lives away from more judgmental types to the north and south. This is no longer very much of an issue, and any and all species are welcome to settle in the Golden City so long as they agree to follow the law of the land.

There aren't very many halflings, though. This may be due in part to an urban legend about something called Kender being edited out of existence by the Grandfather after one of them decided to steal his golden mask and claimed he gave it to them. Apparently, Kender were similar to halflings, except having kleptomania and being convinced that they could never be wrong. They are the subject of the occasional child's story, wherein the child is taught a lesson of what not to do -- don't be Kender.

>>9688588

2nd ed, heaven or hell.

The setting isn't exactly system-specific, although I can tell that a lot of the inspiration comes from D&D. Any medieval fantasy system that doesn't have an ingrained system could be adapted.

>>9688680

There are ways around that. Someone with a protection spell accompanying the person that radiates positive energy. Inverse protection spells, IE Positive Energy Containment, 10' Radius.

I was actually thinking of some writefagging earlier that involved a Celestial shaking hands with the Millennia Emperor.

>>9688701
Well, I think what hes getting at is that it wouldnt be uncontrolled bursts of positive energy that would be the problem, more of the fact that the the Illumine Soul would FREAK THE FUCK OUT when he realized he was surrounded by undead. This would obviously prompt sudden, rash actions from the IS, seeing as how undead almost always mean negative energy.

>>9688701
The Millennia King would likely be very, very interested in them. If they've got a link to positive energy, it might mean he could integrate that into his magic somehow, and not be a giant beacon of what most would see as death. Positive energy Risen? HELL yes.

But it would go against everything to subject them to anything against their will. If they agreed to be studied or actively helped, I imagine he would be quite grateful and would not hesitate to aid them if they needed it. Then again, Arran'ak is known for aiding adventures (to a reasonable extent) if their goals lie in Arran'ak. (The opportunity for merchants and craftsmen to make a profit doesn't hurt anything either.)

>>9688765
That would be a large problem for the poor IS. The Millennia King would be along promptly to sort shit out.

>>9688770
Yeah. If the IS wanted the help/didn't mind explaining, the Millennia King would be all up that shit.

>>9688770
Well, that would depend on the level of magic/psionic trasperency of the setting. From what I know, there is no necrokenisis in DnD to date.

>>9688765
Well, no more than most people who walk in unaware and realize "HOLY SHIT ARE THESE ALL UNDEAD?!" Especially if the next line is "YOU HAVE HUGE EVIL, CLEAVE AND SMITE."

They only do what they're told, so long as what they're told doesn't involve harming a living creature unless it is in the protection of another living creature. Risen are ingrained against that, only Sentinels are permitted to harm a living creature otherwise.

But yeah, people wouldn't be very happy if someone freaked out. By the time Risen are widespread, just about everyone is used to them, and so they can explain to the IS or whomever that this is normal and they are safe, not the uncontrolled type of undead.

Speaking of uncontrolled undead, Sentinels keep a damned close watch for them. Risen are warded to keep control from being lost, but occasionally you still get zombies shambling about. Sentinels are responsible for dealing with it, or finding someone who can if they cannot.

>>9688826
Ha, necrokinesis. Maybe that's why the Risen are a little different... the Grandfather was able to tap into something interesting through his studies and use it to this end.

I'm going to go with my tabletop experience and say that if there are psionics, then magic and psi should basically be interchangeable as far as their effects go. Different signatures, but dispel magic works on psionic effects and vice versa.

Say, what about religion in Arran’ak? Obviously itd be a death diety, but I doubt any evil one, so.....Kelvmor? He seems like he might be a good deity for the setting.

I'm wondering...What would happen to a vampire that wandered to the Empire?

>>9688918
As long as it refraines from killing people when it feeds, I doubt much would happen.

>>9688909
Religion hasn't been touched on, but I'm not necessarily sure it'd be a Death God. If it was, It'd be paired with a Life Goddess, or something. The duality is present in the ruling body, so why not the gods?

>>9688909
I don't think there'd be a single state-religion, except maybe a some kind of ancestor worship. Since magic is so prevalent, god/goddess of magic, probably? I also imagine that gods related to crafting and scholarship would be commonly worshiped.

>>9688983
So Mystara/Mystra/Midnight/whatever the goddess of magic is called now (shes died so many times I lost track), Kelvmor, and who else?

I just wanted to say subprocessor, I love you, this thread is awesome and you should feel awesome.

Maybe I should dust off my writefaggotry skills in the next thread. It's been forever since I've written, but whenever I do, I've always gone off the deep end in a good way (20,000 word college assignment? try 75,000).

Still, you are awesome and should feel awesome subprocessor.

There wouldn't really be a state-sanctioned religion as such. But anything that emphasizes balance would probably be encouraged. Things like worshipping a god of magic itself isn't a problem, because magic does not have any inherent biases, that's all in how it's used. As for gods that really hate undead... well... those would have to be careful, because the Risen are controlled, constructive and without soul, as opposed to being what most gods would consider blasphemies.

>>9688918
Vampires would be... discouraged from staying. Probably not violently but they are too great a risk to let them run free. Either they can be taken to the Monastery for evaluation and possible treatment if they wish to stay permanently, or they can leave Arran'ak in peace.

>>9688918
ACTUALLY, the Asylum writefaggotry will begin with an outsider necromancer and his vampiric bodyguard's demise and the young victim of the vampire.

Also, could you guys help me find sentient undead beings that are not purely "HAET". Nothing comes to my mind currently but the starting vampire and a retardnice ghoul.

>>9689075
Thank you. :D Writing is welcomed and encouraged here -- I intend to collect all of this later and maybe put it on 1d4chan so that others can make sure of the setting because it's turned into something so wildly beyond my expectations that it's not even funny.

>>9689080
Given that Arran'ak is about freedom (despite what people might consider slavery after death) I doubt there'd be a state-wide religion, or state-enforced or whatever. People would be free to worship whom they chose, but there'd be popular ones.

And yeah, undead-hating-gods would be a touchy subject, and would require alot of explaining.

>>9688940

Pretty much that. Would the vampire be willing to feed on harvested blood / willing volunteers? Hunky-dory. Feeding on the populace at-large, not so much.

>>9688983

Really, any god that wasn't diametrically opposed to large quantities of unintelligent undead wandering about would get by just fine. Now, death gods that actually care about the disposition of a corpse are going to have a shit fit. Same with light/sun/life deities that think that ANY undead is an abomination. Stuff like traveler gods, trickster gods, gods of magic, gods of luck, they're not going to give a damn.

>>9689098
That's the problem with undead. They're often generic evil 'blargh have <undead_type> rot'. How about any incorporeal undead that are sticking around for some reason? Or perhaps a revanent?

Though in the case of a revanent, they would likely seek justice and help him return to the embrace of death.

I think I read it on the suptg thread that vampires are like a one-in-a-million thing, so I'm building on the premise that lore about them (aside from that they can shapeshift and are permanently cursed with the urge to drink blood) is scares.

Also, on the gods thing, a solution: HOMEBREW A PAIR.
Problem solved.

>>9689148
*scarce

Ai r tired ;_;

>>9689167
It's like 2am, I'm doped up on cold med, and I'm all "BLARGHFLAR MORE OF THIS"

>>9689080

I would think they would be magically bound to a contract requiring them to only feed from explicitly willing hosts, non-sapient hosts, and/or from harvested blood. Fits with the general lawfulness of the setting. I'm seeing Arran'ak as being majority LN.

>>9689140

Non-corporeal undead are typically souls forcibly bound to the prime. That's a no-no. Arran'akians would seek to free them from their bindings. If somehow willing, they would probably be restricted to the area around / inside the Spire, and would have to honor some sort of compact.

Same with any unwilling soulbound undead. Creating them would be beyond taboo, and freeing them would be paramount.

>>9689123
Yeah. That's the problem in a nutshell. Arran'ak could end up being a magnet for certain brands of paladin who are going to want to CLEAVE AND SMITE the Risen, unfortunately. And they won't even fight back, that's the saddest part of it.

On the other hand when Grandfather shows up and goes 'paladin, I am disappoint' (or Sentinels for that matter) it's going to be a bit of an issue to deal with.

The thing is, in the D&D setting, basically all undead is evil by default. Hence they're being used for evil, oh noes. Undead who do not have souls bound to them may as well be bone golems or something. (It just happens that the Grandfather's type of magic works on corpses instead of golems, otherwise no one would really give a rat's ass except the nobles.) That's part of the problem here. The way that the Risen are reanimated, through careful ritual, with respect, and with certain tasks in mind and other tasks forbidden... they're not the default evil undead. Risen would be TN, not NE.

>>9689197
Soulbound undead are considered abominations, and any souls found bound to the undead unwillingly are to be freed as quickly as possible. The Acolytes surely have measures in place for this, but if something defies their highest ranks it would likely come down to the Grandfather trying to free it, or at least make sure it has free will.

>>9689233
Should the soulbound undead wish to stay who they are, they'd go through a Vigil of a different sort: they'd be taught how to exist peacefully inside Arran'ak, and would eventually be welcomed into society. If they had a profession/were learned, they'd continue whatever it was they were doing.

I'm thinking something like a wraith or a banshee teaching Initiates, or something.

>>9689206
I so utterly hate the D&D alignment system. And the "THESE ARE ALWAYS X EVIL, ALWAYS" thing.

>>9689148
Well, homebrewing a pair of gods is entirely possible, but this setting works without homebrewing as well. Arran'ak does not need state religion or gods. Hell, their head of state is an avowed lich. He doesn't really care who the people want to praise as long as it isn't someone who will try to send paladins in to smash all the Risen, or someone who will try to pull some divine mandate bullshit to take control of the Risen and create an empire that consists of nothing but the undead.

Arran'ak is, by the way, a very bad place for most liches to visit. They are going to have Acolytes greeting them the second step they take inside the border. A whole lot of Acolytes. Ideally the border's warded, though the only purpose is to track any undead who wander in and out of Arran'ak. I assume that wouldn't really take a whole lot to do other than being time-consuming to make them permanent wards.

(Sorry, I meant to combine this with the previous post)

>>9689289
Yes. Arran'ak is itself a complete subversion of that trope.

>>9689285
It makes sense. It may take a lot of work, but the dead are respected, and anything soulbound is treated with reverence... at least, a reasonable degree. Arran'ak isn't a place where you're going to see people start swinging as a first resort.

On another note... if there are enough Risen and Sentinels about, Arran'ak might be a country free of certain problems like kobolds and whatnot. It's a fairly small country, after all, so it's not outside the realm of possibility.

>>9689290
I imagine, should it be a POWERFUL Lich, the Millennia King would teleport in to greet it. Should it prove agressive, shit would GO DOWN.

>>9689289

The problem is that negative energy and EEEEVIL are so intrinsically tied. So you can't channel that entire end of the fucking spectrum and stay even neutral. EVIL INFECTIOUS NO MATTER WHAT EVERY TIME ALWAYS. And yet somehow, positive energy doesn't force you good. Very narrow worldview.

>>9689290
>Arran'ak is, by the way, a very bad place for most liches to visit.

I see it as anyone who is too greatly positively or negatively aligned setting off alarms as soon as they hit the border. So a Celestial makes just as many bells ring (and just as many administrators and Sentinels nervous) as a demon, a lich as many as a paladin.

>>9689329
>Arran'ak might be a country free of certain problems like kobolds and whatnot.

I'm guessing there are regular campaigns against chaotic elements. When the options are "act lawful, fuck off, or die", "or die" is going to come up a lot with the monster races. This has the added benefit of swelling the ranks of the Conscripts.

>>9689332
Indeed. He wouldn't take any chances.

And while most liches become quite detached from the world and end up being demiliches, I really don't see it happening with this guy. He's constantly involved, to an extent, with Arran'ak and its governance, and he also has the Dawn Empress to make sure he doesn't fall into the usual paths of self-interest and neglect of everything outside their library.

Now... next question I have is the Dawn Empress. Is she actually the soul of his sister, refusing to leave the material plane, or just a front? If she is that soul, does she just take a freshly impregnated woman and ensure that it's her that's in there instead of another soul? Does she cause immaculate conception and nobody really notices? And most importantly, does she keep any sort of memories of her past lives at all, perhaps keeping them suppressed while she is a child in order to keep her experiences of the world reasonably fresh to offset any possible tiredness Myrhan has with the world? (If that is the case, there could be some fairly interesting reasons for her to 'awaken' early.)

>>9689436
You pretty much summed it all up pretty well right there. Thank you.

And thank you for bringing up the point. Outsiders who show up are going to worry a LOT of people, because strongly-aligned outsiders have a tendency to either be summoned by, or attracted to, strongly-aligned people who will probably have a penchant for causing damage against undead in one way or another, through their blind stupidity.

Perhaps there are certain restrictions that are placed for summoners. No bringing anyone over unless it's sanctioned and the summoned creation agrees to abide by certain rules.

>>9689448
>Is she actually the soul of his sister, refusing to leave the material plane, or just a front?
Probably the soul of his sister, keeping true to her promise to him, since he's still walking the earth. Up for discussion though

>does she just take a freshly impregnated woman and ensure that it's her that's in there instead of another soul? Does she cause immaculate conception and nobody really notices?
It's mostly, in my mind, a within-20-years (or so, whatever, number isn't important) a child is born that houses her soul. So she doesn't displace a soul ro cause immaculate conception, but a child with her soul ends up being born anyway

>And most importantly, does she keep any sort of memories of her past lives at all, perhaps keeping them suppressed while she is a child in order to keep her experiences of the world reasonably fresh to offset any possible tiredness Myrhan has with the world?
I was thinking maybe she doesn't keep ALL the memories; sure, all the important stuff is there, she rememberes everything about her brother and the events that surrounded the forming of Arran'ak, and the whole deal, but most of her memories fade with each rebirth. This keeps her world view and experiences fresh to invigorate her brother, keep him grounded in the now.

>>9689448
>Dawn Empress

Yeesh, there's a bag o' worms. I'd think that Myrhan would see some of the qualities of his sister in each of them, and so maintain his tether to humanity. She promised she would always be with him, and so she is, in a fashion. The "cult" that has sprung up around him would see her as the divine reincarnation of his sister, and immaculate conception myths might abound.

>>9689448
I vote for:

-Actually his sister
-Babyhijack
-Has fragments of memories but mostly echoes of emotions.

For the sake of simplicity and because its romantic.

More original could be if she has nothing to do with the past sister and is just a random civilian that SOMEHOW (good old fate conspiracy) always happens to find herself on a crash-course with the Millennial Emperor and gradually takes up the previous Queens job to keep him fresh from the usual degeneration that comes with immortality.

>>9689529
>>9689556

Both of these are good ideas, perhaps a ritual that infuses the "chosen" with memories and feelings? Idunno.

>>9689593
somehow, the sister spirit choose a suitable girl. the ritual our writefags describded earlier, whith the wheath and all, then give her the memories and emotions of all the former Dawn Empresses.
Thus, each one are somehow still living, with the current Dawn Empress...

>>9689639
That is nice, very nice.

>>9689556
I'm going with this. For all the reasons. And I do mean ALL the reasons. Sometimes he might pick the wrong girl, who will take the job because she genuinely feels affection for him or feels sorry for him and wants to ease the pain of longevity.

I think if that happened, the sister would just stay back, stay quiet and live out her life until the next time.

>>9689664
Fair enough, it sounded quite nice.

>>9689664
Derpderp. And the sister staying in the background if he DID chose wrong is so sweet. <3

>>9689639
...better. Using this instead. With the possibility of it actually being her, the ritual is designed to wake her memories and emotions if they aren't already, and give her some sense of continuity. Whether it is actually her, or someone who she helped put on that path, she probably has a hand in it either way. This way, she doesn't have the crushing weight of eternity either.

>>9689701

Alternatively, it could be that the ritual doesn't awaken the memories, it implants them and whoever they were going into the ritual, they're coming out of it as the Dawn Quee. Theoretically, anyone could become the Dawn Queen if they underwent the ritual.

>>9689713
>>9689701
I like the idea of his sister "finding" a girl and announcing her presence to the world through some means. It helps fufill her promise without that weight of immortality, I think.

>>9689748
>>9689713
Both of these. She'd keep her memories in this process or the newcomer can get them, but again, she doesn't have eternity pressing down on her. She can afford to forget most of it and live a normal life if she wants. And if she'd rather go back to him this time around... well, the means are in place for that.

He probably knows. But so long as a Dawn Queen finds her way to him, he knows she's still out there.

>>9689779
Wouldn't be surprised if he DID know, but he loves his sister too much to force her to relive a hundred lifetimes and feel the terrifying weight of age that he does.

>>9689815
She doesn't deserve that burden. He chose it for himself, but she asked for none of this, and it wouldn't be right to force that upon her. He loves her too much and knows how heavy the weight of time can be on one's soul, so to speak.

Better that he knows she is out there, still keeping her final promise to him, but also not having to remember more than the barest fragments if she chooses and enjoying a normal life.

>>9689639
>>9689701

This works for me, I guess. I just loathe the concept of predestination. The Dawn Queen's soul choosing her successor, fine and dandy. OMG YOO R CHOZUN WUN... yeahhhno.

>>9689840
Probably more of a comfort to know she is happy AND safe, living a normal life, something he will never have again.

>>9689840

If she chooses a normal life... who governs in her stead? We've built her up to be literally half the government and.. she can just fuck off and be a barmaid for up to seventy-eighty years at a time. Should she choose not to be the Dawn Queen, what does that mean for the running of the country?

Yeah, I agree with you guys completely there. This way, it's her choice as to what she wants to do. She just ends up with being able to remember some things if she chooses to. And if she wants to forget, then she can forget and live a normal life for herself. It's there on the edge of her subconscious for when she feels she needs to do something, but otherwise she's just reincarnating like anyone else would.

It's another incentive for him to keep Arran'ak running as smoothly as possible, too. Protect the people. Protect his sister.

I'd say that the binding ritual imparting some of her memories without overwrite / mindwipe, as well as the psychic impressions of his sister's emotions toward Myrhan would be A-OK. That way, there's still a tangible link throughout all the iterations of the Dawn Queen, and it gives a reason for this total stranger to give a damn about the Millennia Emperor as more than just her arranged marriage. There's still the ability to object and just not go through with the ritual, avoiding any predestination on her part.

>>9689897
If she chooses not to, then someone else will inevitably come around. The acolytes will find a Dawn Queen. It may not be his sister. He accepts this. But they'll find someone, she'll undergo the ritual, and become the Dawn Queen.

Beside, that's part of why I made it a partially ceremonial/religious position instead of the government ending up paralyzed until they find a new Dawn Queen. That would be pretty disastrous.

>>9689897

To say nothing of the symbolism of her absence. She's the fucking Sun to these people, the embodiment of life and summer offsetting her wintery brother. Balance is necessary, to say nothing of the fact that the people probably LIKE her more than him because she's a prettier face and has more public exposure. If she's absent.. that'd have quite an unpleasant effect on the populace, I feel.

>>9689897
read
>>9689923

The ritual imparts all necessary knowledge, infusing the "Dawn Queen" with the memories and feelings. He's faliable, he was a human once. So he'd realize he has the wrong person, probably AFTER the fact. Who knows.

>>9689923
EXACTLY. Thank you. Just because she gets the memories of the previous Dawn Queens and can feel how they felt for him, her mind and her heart remain their own.

Should she object, presumably before the formal ceremony, she can very likely undergo a reverse of the ritual to have that taken away and to be herself and only herself once again.

>>9689976

And 99 out of 100 girls are going to be properly pre-selected for suitability and demeanor, and/or go through with it to further their own goals. His sister's soul will know that someone will fit the role, she'll be strongly cautioned and tested beforehand to weed out the undesirable, and the innate power of the position will have some of them subverting their own desires for the good of the realm. Hell, "the girl that said no" could be its own story arc.

So what powers exactly would the Dawn Queen have? The Grandfather largely runs the Acolytes and has some power of veto over the Parliaments, probably a lot of wartime powers too. The Queen.. like I said earlier, if she's the Sun to his Moon, the Summer to his Winter, she's probably more involved in the actual day to day lives of the nation than He is. He deals with the dead and she deals with the living.

>>9689964
And none other needs to know. The people need the Dawn Empress as much as he does.

goddamnit /tg/ it's 3am and I need to go to bed yet f5f5f5f5f5f5f5f5f5

>>9690037

The thread is archived and we can start another one later. It's 6pm for me so if this keeps going, I'll probably still be here.

>>9689950
I imagine that Arran'ak considers it a 'winter' of sorts when there is not a Dawn Queen, and a 'summer' when they do have her. There is balance in all things, and while there is always a night, the sun is still just beyond the horizon.

>>9689964
Nah, he probably just asks her straight-up, I assume several lifetimes of memories have a way of making you know what he expects and what your answer should be, if for some reason you shouldn't tell the truth, but I'm pretty sure he's still happy because he knows somehow that she is still out there.

>>9690026
I still need to work this out, quite honestly.

>>9690012
The Girl That Said No would end up making for some pretty sweet writing, I'd wager, but I'm all written out right now. And while they're probably pre-selected... if they end up making it to the final round and they go through with it and suddenly HAVE A HUNDRED YEARS OF MEMORY, it's going to have a major effect on them if they're not in it for the right reasons unless he's been scammed from the very beginning, and I don't think that would end up being the case here. There has to be some good precedent set before she starts letting others take care of him.

>>9690026
Perhaps anything concerning the crops, the weddings ?if this country is small enough, perhaps she can bless the newborn, or be present when younglings become full fledged adult/citizens (the latter option being better if the kingdom is numerous : once or twice a year, you gather all the old enough adolescents, and shazam !)

>>9690056
Yeah this actually makes sense. Fuck the cold, man. Okay /tg/, I'm going to head off to dreamland. Later today I'll return and continue in this htread/make a new one to continue discussion and writefaggery.

Goodnight~

>>9690037
There will be another thread later, I suspect, and it's archived on http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html as well.

Regretfully, I am also going to go to bed here in a short bit. However, when I wake up I think I'm going to make an account on 1d4chan and start transitioning some of the archived material over to there. I'd rather go with the finished product than anything of my own creation without running it by you guys first, though, so anything that ends up there is going to have come from here first.

Shit, I want a campaign in Arran'ak now.

>>9690078

She's probably much like the Queen of England in that her role is more diplomatic and symbolic than pragmatic - she would make a much better ambassador than her husband-brother. Much more.. welcoming. At least, she's the one you send to welcome people that you LIKE. If relations with that nation are touchy, then wheel out Grandad.

>>9690026

Taxation. You begrudge a good looking maiden less when she takes your money. ~_^

Officiation over festivals, holidays, important events. Whatever constitutes the most direct interaction with the citizenry at-large. Diplomatic functions, especially with states that aren't too keen on dealing with the undying.

>>9690078
Whichever the case, she's got to be present at some sort of summer solstice celebration. It would be a good time to celebrate the youth becoming adults, and blessing crops and the like is probably a good thing for her too.

...It occurs to me that if the Grandfather has fine control over negative energy for the Risen, his betrothed may very well have some control over positive energy so that her blessings over crops, young children and the youth transitioning to adulthood could have a legitimate and demonstrable positive effect. Hence why they might consider it winter without her; among other things, crops don't grow quite as well, and people catch the cold easier or something, but nothing earth-shattering. Just something noticable.

>>9690135
I'm good with that. She puts a positive face on the kingdom, travels abroad to put a good face on things and help negotiate treaties, and so on. The lich is good at that too, of course, but... well, there's only so much you can do when the person sitting across the table from you knows you're a lich, you know?

>>9690135
>>9690148
>>9690181

Waiting for new cold meds to hit. These are good, and it fleshes out the Queen more. She's currently a sort of 2d person, all the development has happened to the Millennia King.

>>9690214
Don't worry. I think with the next thread the focus is going to shift away from him a bit and into her role as well as how the country works. And if the ritual imparts the knowledge into her of how to play with positive energy, her role becomes more significant.

Plus I totally stole the designations of Great House and Lesser House from Dune, but it's worth it. Frank Herbert writes good material.

>>9690214
glad to offer some details on this epic setting, anon.
By the way, what points we need to details further for this setting ?
For a campaign in Arran'ak, we'll need perhaps to details some antagonists/protagonists /plot hooks...

>>9690254
When I was writing that stuff yesterday I was like "NEED A BALAAAANCE" and just tossed her in because it fit at that point. Mostly my fault she's a flat person :o

>>9690181

Since we've made her supernatural with the whole reincarnation thing, rather than it just being a symbolic role, then I'm cool with her having some control over life/positive energy in reflection to Grandfather's power over death. She's like a fertility goddess, periodically blessing harvests and maidens to bring about new life, strong and vibrant. The very air around her seems to be more colourful, fresher somehow.

The Grandfather presides over funereal matters. Near him, the world is monochrome and strangely chill.

Okay. It's 11:30, I normally sleep five hours ago, but at least I don't work tonight. I'm out of here, folks; I'll read this in the archive and put anything else about it into 1d4chan when I begin to transition it over.

The more this can be fleshed out, the better, but it already looks like it has provided more than enough material to make for a pretty good setting in the world.

Question is...

How does the rest of the world see Arran'ak?

>>9690279
This is the thing I was trying to convey yesterday. The Millennia King radiates the cold of the grave, his voice is the final slam of a coffin lid. She gives off a warm feeling, and radiates summer day and the bounty of spring.

>>9690270

She fits well enough and it's our fault for focussing more on the Lich King than her fault for being flat or 2-D. I'll have some thought about her and then when the next thread comes up we can post what we get.

>>9690265
Okay, other plot points that I can think up. Who are the three houses of nobles who were left over from when Guilder was absorbed by Arran'ak, the people in charge or their motives? It's no secret that they are not terribly fond of the Grandfather but they haven't been plotting against him... at least, not openly.

We've got Chronus as the head and founder of the Guard, and it's possible that players could interact with him as a figurehead. 'So, a rogue, a paladin and a wizard walk into a bar and a skeleton's sitting there enjoying malt liquor...' But we also need to flesh out the Acolytes and their ranks (initiates, adepts, masters, sacrificed(who are undead and possibly mummy-alikes)) as well as any major faces in them. We've got the basic structure of the Sentinels down but no major faces in there yet either. And there are probably a number of soul-bound undead Sentinels who help manage the Sentinels who are not soul-bound, some of those might be important too.

At the moment those are all I can think up, but I'm half-asleep at this point, sorry.

>>9690354
Everything here will be looked at in thread three, I feel. Looks like everyone participating is about to fuck off for sleep.

>>9690254
>Plus I totally stole the designations of Great House and Lesser House from Dune, but it's worth it.

Meh. You're not the first, nor the last. Elder Scrolls houses, Wheel of Time houses, Eberron houses... FFS, Shadowrun AAA megacorps -vs- smaller megacorps. It all tends to boil down to this.

>>9690287
>How does the rest of the world see Arran'ak?

Yes.

No, I'm not being a jerk. It's a paradise. A prison. Hell on earth. A forbidden zone. The promised land. The domain of horrors. Land of wonders. Font of wealth. Harbinger of disaster. Others react to Arran'ak based upon their prejudices, beliefs, understanding, and hopes. Persecuted peoples would see it as a refuge. A theocracy of a positive energy god see it as the gate to the Abyss. Traders exploit it, necromancers avoid it. It's all in perspective.

>>9690370

I'm still here, but busy with studying so my participation will be cursory at best.

>>9690373

Okay, yes, but the immediate neighbouring countries specifically? I imagine they are scared shitless of these guys. Things are plodding along with their status quo and then HOLY SHIT DID THAT LICH JUST SOLO TWO COUNTRIES AT ONCE?

Now there'll be a lot of cow-towing to the Grandfathers' face, to keep in his favours, and indeed trade is probably brisk... but come on, these guys are undead! Everyone knows they're evil, right?

>>9690434
Haha, didn't mean to imply you weren't contributan.

BE GOOD AT IT /tg/, FOR I WILL BE BACK. AND THEN MORE WRITEFAGGING.

>>9690434
stupid idea perhaps but : as they can't face directly the liche, they are currently financing a church not far away, through indirect means. A church full of "CLEAVE AND SMITE" paladins on 'roids, trying to manipulate them to go on a righteous crusade. On Arran'ak.
Or trying to manipulate adventurers. Or both.

>>9690434
Well, to be honest, the two countries were small and he was able to strike their capitols pretty much right off the bat. If there'd been a military strong enough to do that in Arran'ak before it was overrun, they wouldn't have risked it. Arran'ak itself is still a small country. We're just not talking quite as small as, say, Luxembourg. Israel may be a good example, because that's still pretty damn small all considered but they have quality military. They just also have the bonus of no supply train, which makes things all the more difficult for the enemy.

That's probably right as far as the initial relations too, but that statement probably also sums up part of why they've had trouble on the borders after things cooled down initially. If anyone else could get this nation as a trade hub, they'd stand to make a killing, wouldn't they? And they can all write it off as invading, killing the evil lich and his army of undead... not to mention what would happen if there was a theocracy nearby whose thoughts were EXACTLY THAT as their justification.

>>9690434
>but the immediate neighbouring countries specifically?

Depends on the time period. Immediately after Myrhan is ascendant? They're all shitting brick walls made of kittens. You're next, your neighbor is next, you're ALL FUCKING NEXT, the undead horde is going to roll over you like a tide. Then the emissaries come and "universal" peace is declared. Surely someone has enough hubris to try striking at Arran'ak when it looks like they stood down. This party or coalition will probably get plowed under, with the non-hostile faction in their nation gaining power after their idiot leaders are liquidated. After a few hundred years, the border nations are fat and happy off the spoils from the ludicrously beneficial trade with Arran'ak. They're probably sniping at each other to try to gain primacy and become the most important / influential trade route.

>>9690497
Bingo. Weaken them with something plausible and deniable. Plenty of plot points can be gotten from that ALONE. From cleave and smite paladins going on a crusade against a (darker version of) Arran'ak to a group of paladins and clerics being sent in there, then realizing there's something more and rooting it out.

Not to mention just plain old adventures along for the ride, or dropping rumors of powerful artifacts scattered around the place, in just the right ears.

>>9690562
If something like that happened, then it could also explain why after a year of Myrhan missing/KIA, the leadership of both Florin and Guilder were willing to immediately honor the terms of their surrender. They could have just as easily built up, and then neighbors go 'oh hey, looks like someone's been weakened, conquered and their leader's gone! Let's go plundering.

Right. Going to bed. The next hourly archive sweep is in a minute so we've got the discussion up to present at the VERY least. If anyone else brainstorms cool shit... post it and we'll work it in of course!

>>9690497
Suddenly the paladin societies in neighboring countries are getting a lot more donations, volunteers for training and prestige. Some people inside them therefore actually wonder whether Arran'ak is ultimately a good thing. They're not being vocal about it, of course.

>>9690497

This is another route. Those jealous of Arran'ak attempt to subvert it by financing and dispatching narrow-minded paladins, necromancers, and adventuring groups who have been misled about the nature of Arran'ak. If we're going for Shadowrun levels of intrigue and mindfuckery, there could be a third party intended to strike at Arran'ak and fail, covertly funded by Country A but set up to point back to Country B, so Country A could let Arran'ak get them out of their hair. Or to diminish Country B's standing with Arran'ak, as they've started dominating trade X, so that Country A can catch up / muscle in / take over the hegemony.

>>9690635
Oh dear. I've gone cross-eyed.

>>9690660

And this is why this subprocessor handled inter-species relations, fellow subprocessor. You must be able to see plots within plots within plots, and create some of your own. Meme-conditioning and stimulus-reward beats glassing them, neh?

>>9690635
>>9690635
>>9690635
>>9690635
THIS ! this is this kind of sheenanigans i was thinking of, thank you anon to say it so clearly. (english is not my first language, got some trouble some times to post my ideas here).
Other point : other necromancers/liches try to copy this Kingdom. Same PR, etc... Even sending genuine nice people to ask the Millenia King some help on how to do it.
But they are truly nefarious " I want to conquer the world with my undead army- insert Evil Laugh" sort of necromancers...

>>9690806
>Other point : other necromancers/liches try to copy this Kingdom. Same PR, etc... Even sending genuine nice people to ask the Millenia King some help on how to do it.

A good anti-hero setup. "We get along just fine in this kingdom, and everyone lives in peace and harmony... because I will CRUSH THEM if they dissent! Is good, yah?"

>>9690896
or the classical power hungry " the Dead shall rule completly the living" liche.

>>9690896
Peace through tyranny.

Hi, Megatron.

Alright, I've sat back and watched this shit unfold, I figure it's about time I try to help.

The Dawn Queen. We've mostly decided, it looks like, that she has some limited (or not so limited) control over positive energy, but we don't know how to do that exactly. Well, it was posted a while back that the Millennia Emperor might eventually become a demigod because of the nigh-worship of the people. Well, why can't that work for the Dawn Queen? In a way, she's more revered than the Millennia Emperor, and her apparent reincarnation will give rise to a certain level of faith. This faith, while not worship, could give the Queen her power.

Also, would Risen all look the same? What I mean is, would criminals and normal Risen be given the same appearance? I was thinking maybe normal Risen could have the jewelry given by the family, and a silver/gold mask, while a criminal would have only a porcelain mask. But that might disrupt the "equal in death" vibe.

> I was thinking maybe normal Risen could have the jewelry given by the family, and a silver/gold mask, while a criminal would have only a porcelain mask. But that might disrupt the "equal in death" vibe.

Nice idea. true, that disrupt a little, but it is the same when you put some special uniform on inmates in jail to distinguish them from the law abdinging citizens.