Introduction
Ancient Times, Reign of the Gods of Old
Thousands of years before present, immeasurable by current reckoning, it is said that the Old Gods walked the land of Arcanum. An enormous pantheon of these demon-beings is thought to have existed, although their worship is now neglected and forgotten. In the most rural of areas, often those located nearby an old temple or shrine, a select few still respect or revere this beings, calling them the "Old Powers of the Earth".
The most ancient of lore still remembered in Arcanum tells that the Old Powers of the Earth were birthed at the very same moment as Arcanum itself. For reasons of their own- for who can understand the thoughts of a god?, of the Earth itself?- these Old Gods gave rise to the hominid races. As such, certain among these Powers created a child in its own image, that it might procreate, in a sense. It is assumed, then, that some of the Old Powers in their corporeal form appeared similar to the peoples of Arcanum, if much grander and more awesome to behold.
In the Ancient Times, the peoples of Arcanum lived in a variety of lifeways and in a variety of places. There was commonality among them, though. The societies and peoples of the Ancient Times are generally accepted to have been much simpler, roughly more egalitarian, and less concerned with race.
Then, the Great Schism occurred.
The Great Schism
During the Ancient Times, the technology utilized by the peoples of Arcanum never came into conflict with the use of the lifeforce known as Magic. The two co-existed, even thrived together. Smiths imbued their tools and weapons with the Arcane Forces, druids were called upon to bless the land and all the plants and animals within and of it, broken pots were mended with a small charm or a Word of Binding.
It was widely accepted that wizards, sorcerers, shamans, witches, diviners, soothsayers, mages, and all manner of other magical specialists were conduits of the Natural Energies given them by the Old Powers of the Earth. It was widely known and accepted that magic in tandem with handicrafts and land-based technologies was enough to fulfill the needs of the people.
But for some, it was not enough.
For certain minds among a certain group of Elves, the quest for Knowledge and Wisdom had to be pursued at all costs, with no regard for the consequences. It was these Elves who developed what they called the "Scientific Method", leading to what is commonly called the Great Schism. These researchers, whose names are lost to history, soon found a foothold with their people. Similar minds among a certain group of humans sprung up almost simultaneously. An alliance was formed. Then came the Rational Inquisition, wherein the Old Powers of the Earth were at first denied, then shunned, then forbidden.
Then came the building of vast, sprawling cities. Then, the first Steam Engine was constructed. Not all was well with these "advancements". The Elves and Humans who made up this alliance soon discovered- quite by unfortunate accident, mind you- that their Steam Tech and the ancient force known as Magic were entirely incompatible. This was troublesome at first, but, as with the Old Powers of the Earth, the Human and Elvish scientists simply relegated Magic to the past, ruled it out as Obsolete and Irrational.
It wasn't long before they sought to eradicate Magic altogether. This was also the period of the Enslavement of the Dwarves. Those Elves who innovated Steam Tech- they called themselves "High Elves" or "Highborn"- had long looked down on the Dwarves of their region, not only for their diminutive stature, but also for their differences of custom and tradition. The Human allies of the Highborn had looked down on nearly all the other races simply because they weren't Human.
Therefore, using their newly found and lovingly embraced Scientific Method, the Highborn Elves and Humans rationalized a hierarchy of races, at the top of which, conveniently enough, were the Highborn Humans and Elves. The Highborn knew that their burgeoning industrial way of life wouldn't support itself, and they certainly didn't want to get their own hands dirty digging in mines or plowing fields all day. There was research to be done,
discoveries to be made, after all.
A labor caste was needed, and a labor caste was found. The one trait possessed by the Dwarves of the region that the Highborn admired was their stamina, their long-winded constitution, their strong backs. Using what little Steam Tech had been invented, it wasn't difficult for the Highborn to annex the surrounding Dwarven villages, and force them, culturally, economically, and with military might, to adopt the Way of Science and Steam. The poverty and disparity this created among the local Dwarves was enough to force them to become the Laborers that the Highborn desired.
Years Following the Schism up to the Present Day
Of course, the Highborn did not stop their expansion with the conquest of the local Dwarves. They knew they'd need more resourecs, more unskilled laborers, and especially more agriculturalists and pastoralists to feed the growing populations of their cities. Along with the Dwarves, the Highborn imposed a "rational" hierarchy onto the other races as well. Just beneath themselves came the Halflings, since they appeared to be genetically related to Elves and Humans, though they had obvious differences. After Highborn Elves and Humans and then Halflings, came all of the other Ethnic Groups of Elves and Humans in Arcanum. This included the feral elves, the tribal humans, those elves and humans who continued to use Magic, and who failed to see "reason". After those elves and humans came everyone else, the "bestial" races: goblins, orcs, gnolls, kobolds, and so on.
With this racism neatly disguised as Scientific Inquiry, the Highborn humans and elves were able to justify their further expansion, further conquest, and further abuses of all the people of Arcanum. Their cities grew, Steam Tech spread outward, huge economic disparities grew between castes in the cities, racism flourished. Many members of other races began to forget that Dwarves even existed, since the majority of Dwarves now spent their entire lives laboring underground in mines, in factories, in laboratories, or in clockworks. The contemporary situation is much the same. The Highborn mechanist bourgeoisie rule the cities. Poverty is rampant. Dwarves are nearly invisible. Steam Technology grows and changes by the day. The Old Powers of the Earth have been nearly forgotten. The Grand Scientific Inquiry attempts to impose "reason" and "rationale" on those peoples and communities who still use and revere Magic. And there is resistance: those who revere and use Magic have formed organizations, fellowships to combat the expansion of Technology.
What's more, with the imposition of control and law imposed by Science and cities, the universal forces of Chaos and Order daily come into extreme conflict. Where once there were sharing communities, now there are darkened alleyways haunted by footpads and cutpurses. Where once there was economic equality for all, now there are the Technocratic elites, the fat, wealthy merchants who profit off of their inventions, and the soot-covered orphans who cough blood in the streets. Where once healthy landbases proliferated, now smog darkens the sky, ash blankets the cobblestones, sewers overflow with refuse and other,fouler things...
The world of Arcanum at present is a place of intrigue, adventure, and turmoil.
The Story So Far... Write a Post » as written by 7 authors
Alek gently tried to pick up Ellie in a bridal-style hold. If not, he would try to coax her as best he could to start walking with his help. "Ellie, we must go.." He murmured gently. There had to be somewhere else they could go before the sun rose.
Either way, he would be leaving soon, only glancing to Talos to see if he the man was following.
"I'll not take your money," Olgra said, placing her massive hands on her even more massive, but curvy, hips. "But you will do what I say. You take that poor girl to Tink down at the Docks," Olgra said waggling a finger at all of them. The look she gave them all said that they had no other choice but to follow her command.
"Tink will fix that girl right up again. That young woman is a genius when it comes to fixin' things and people. Go on now," Olgra said, walking toward them all, shooing them out.
"Out you go!"
"You may follow if you like," he rumbles out to him. With that, he carries on out the door.
Otto followed Talos and everybody else out of the bar.
"Talos, I wouldn't follow Olgra's advice about going to see Tink. Lets just say that she is not that well respected in the medical community. I believe there is one hospital that does allow vampire through their doors.
View All »Arcs
Arcs are bundles of posts that you can organize on your own. They're useful for telling a story that might span long periods of time or space.
A Meeting with Talos
Ellisandre and Alek, an unusual pairing meet, for the first time, a contact named Talos to speak of the spreading "plague" of vampires in The City of Gears.
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The Blooded
"In the Night the streets of Axis will run red with its own Blood," a common phrase said by Amelia von Rosenberg, the vampiress who leads The Blooded, a secret organization of vampires and their brood.
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View All » Add Character » 15 Characters to follow in this universe
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Olgra Grash
The owner and proprietor of The Whistling Pipe tavern.
Calhoun Linfael Aldon
Who says you can't love your work?
Talos
"I come to show you the light; and I shall do so with vindictive literalness."
Ellie Coulter
A part mechanical lowborn elf who never seems to leave Alek Constantine's side.
Alek Constantine
'All of God's creatures have a place in this world.. You are not one of those creatures.'
Otto Bumgarner
The world is a fantastic place, and I'm going to see every corner.
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71 posts · 11 characters present · last post 2013-07-18 16:59:46 »
A bar tucked into the back of the Old Quarter where few of the middle-class citizens of Axis venture and even fewer Highborns.
24 posts · 0 characters present · last post 2013-06-25 19:02:42 »
Old Quarter Owner: Maree
Old Quarter is considered a middle-class neighborhood, and is noted for its densely-packed houses and chaotic street design. It is composed almost entirely of middling merchants and the city's many tradesfolk and craftspeople.
6 posts · 0 characters present · last post 2013-06-22 21:49:35 »
Arcanum is a land of high-fantasy, dingy cityscapes, idyllic countrysides, and eerie ruins of times forgot. It is a beautiful land, teeming with all manner of flora and fauna, and a diversity of "sentient" species.
28 posts · 1 characters present · last post 2013-06-19 16:16:10 »
An inn that was built directly above The Whistling Pipe Tavern. Its construction caused the entire building to lean and the whole establishment looks ready to topple over at any given time.
1 posts · 0 characters present · last post 2013-06-11 04:32:47 »
New Quarter Owner: Maree
As the name suggests, New Quarter is the most recent addition to the City. It is primarily a lower-middle class residential district with a handful of shops. It also serves as headquarters for three of the City's factions.
0 posts · 0 characters present · last post 1970-01-01 00:00:00 »
Blackwall is the poorest, dirtiest, most diseased district of Axis. It's known by its inhabitants as The Grim, or, among those who speak with thick Cockney Arcanian dialects, the Arsehole o'th' World.
0 posts · 0 characters present · last post 1970-01-01 00:00:00 »
This city is so named because it lies very near the center of the world Arcanum, both geographically and indisputably in the cultural and technological arenas. Axis is the largest, most "developed" (i.e.: industrialized), most powerful city in all Arcanum
0 posts · 0 characters present · last post 1970-01-01 00:00:00 »
The largest continent on the world of Arcanum. Its major cities include: Axis; City of Gears, Alderville, Grayhall, Ironcrag, Deerfield, Sunport, Fort Oakhold, and Southwall.
0 posts · 1 characters present · last post 1970-01-01 00:00:00 »
The City's Docks are a place of unparalleled filth and grime. They're also the backbone of Axis's wealth and prosperity.
0 posts · 1 characters present · last post 1970-01-01 00:00:00 »
Stone Market Owner: Maree
This district is named for the stone quarry that once stood here, from which the City's original streets and buildings were made. Nowadays, Stone Market is an upper-middle class neighborhood, boasting several fancier shop
0 posts · 0 characters present · last post 1970-01-01 00:00:00 »
This is the administrative and governmental hub of the City of Gears. Downtown also contains The Barracks, which garrison the city's standing military forces.
0 posts · 1 characters present · last post 1970-01-01 00:00:00 »
In stark contrast to all other districts of the city sits Audale, the high society neighborhood of extreme wealth. This neighborhood is almost exclusively Highborn, although a very select few Halflings (and even fewer others) reside here.
0 posts · 0 characters present · last post 1970-01-01 00:00:00 »
South Quarter Owner: Maree
South Quarter contains nothing of note except the ominous, forboding Cragscleft Prison.
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Arcanum; A Steampunk Universe
by Maree on Fri May 24, 2013 5:09 am
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Arcanum; A Steampunk Universe
Most recent OOC posts in Arcanum
Re: Arcanum; A Steampunk Universe
Re: Arcanum; A Steampunk Universe
Re: Arcanum; Of Steamworks and Magic Obscura
See you there.
Re: Arcanum; Of Steamworks and Magic Obscura
Re: Arcanum; Of Steamworks and Magic Obscura
And roleplay can begin whenever you like. There is no approval for characters. Invite your friends and have fun.
Re: Arcanum; Of Steamworks and Magic Obscura
Re: Arcanum; Of Steamworks and Magic Obscura
Re: Arcanum; Of Steamworks and Magic Obscura
Re: Arcanum; Of Steamworks and Magic Obscura
I may run a plot or two in Arcanum but as for now I am just going to make a character or two and play them in the available locations. Also, the more players that arrive, the more possibility for locations to be added (i.e.: rural areas or more specific places in Axis to meet roleplaying needs). I am also not opposed to giving sovereignty to players so that they can build on the world as well.
Those who become committed to the roleplay and add a great amount of depth and character to the roleplay will be considered highly for a co-GM position.
I have put up the basics of the world and it is the players' responsibility and privilege to expand on them (as I will be doing the same).
Arcanum is not an original work. I did not come up with this concept however a message was left by the original creator.
For those with respect for intellectual property laws: Contents are protected under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share-Alike 3.0 United States license. You are free to copy and make derivative works for non-commercial purposes.
For everyone who realizes copyright laws are idiotic: This work is Anti-Copyright. Do what you
will, provided it's not for profit, and please credit me when using this material. Plagiarize, steal,
reprint, republish, redistribute!
November 2011
Written & Published by Rowan WalkingWolf
Questions, Comments, Contributions:
walkingwolf@riseup.net
Re: Arcanum; Of Steamworks and Magic Obscura
Arcanum; A Steampunk Universe
For those that want more information on the Arcanum Universe please refer to this link: Arcanum: Steamworks and Magic Obscura It's far too much information to post in OOC threads. You do not have to use the information if you do not wish. By all means, create you own content, the original author even suggests to do so.