#Haakha

[idkrpg-ideas]

An article I recently re-released on worldanvil. I’m posting it here specifically cause I want feedback for it as a setting for adventures and the like. I included some specific places, in addition to a section talking about what races can be found here (with links) and going over some of the larger threats and conflicts here.

Please let me know what you think as I love feedback

[nobodiesartcollection]

Smol bean

[merryshitstorm]

Story Practice

They stood before them, their eyes burning with anger and frustration at the situation that they’d been forced into. Their eyes shone with fear for what had been done to them and what might be done to them, for they were helpless, arms and legs tied behind them with thick ropes to prevent any resistance. They grunted and growled through the gag in their mouth that prevented them from making all but the most simple, animalistic sounds. They said that they were a monster, who’s words would poison the mind, who murdered and fought with a crude brutality, seriously harming several of the soldier who had gone to stop the intruder.

And yet, Atava knew that this wasn’t true, that their people where letting their fear of the outside world, of the world beyond their borders, of their fear of trusting someone else to do the things that they haven’t been able to yet. And that is what this person was here to do. To learn about the people who had hidden from the rest of the world, from the people who had spent the last ten-thousand years creating their own history separate from the rest of them.

Tav kneeled down in front the stranger, the person visibly pulling back as Atava reached out. 

“It ok. I friend. I help.” Atava fumbled with the unfamiliar words as they tried to assure this person that they weren’t a threat. Their eyes showed the spark of recognition at hearing Lojban words. They settled down, still visibly uncomfortable with the situation, but willing to let Tav help them. Before Atava could reach out again though. They began to gesture in an odd  fashion, rubbing their cheek and mouth against their shoulder.

“Want off, yes?” They began to shake their head vigorously, happiness shining in their face. Tav pulled the gag out of their mouth, allowing them to breath freely once more. They mumbled a series of Lojban words of obvious gratitude.

“Uh, Ok, now we-”

“Hold on. If you’re willing to, please untie me. I hate being unable to-”

“What?!” Atava jumped back, taken aback at understanding the words coming out of the stranger’s mouth, despite the words being unlike anything else that Atava had heard before, somehow understanding their meaning. These words stood out in Atava’s mind, seeming to devour all the available attention that Atava could spare. “H-how-?!”

“Shush up or the guards will hear us!” The stranger hissed. “I don’t speak Kellit, you’ll have to wait a couple of minutes before you can talk to me.”

Atava stared at the stranger. They didn’t understand what was happening. Could the rumors be true about this stranger? As they sat there, the stranger’s ears perked up briefly. 

“The guards are coming! Put the gag back on! You can come back for me later! Just.... don’t forget about me.” Tav looked at the eyes pleading with them to listen. Putting the gag back into their mouth, quickly leaving  before the guards showed to investigate the noises they had made.

--

Outside, looking up at the stars, Atava’s mind swirled in a confused mess, scrambling to make sense of what had happened. Of the words the stranger had spoken and how they where so easily understood, despite no prior exposure. How had he managed-

He? Atava had never known such a thing. They heard that the outside world had two or more genders, but the Culari hadn’t, so where had the word come from? As Atava thought about it more, they began to notice more and more words bubbling into their memories, swirling through their mind and making themselves known as if they had known their whole lives. These words took root, germinating and adding more of their kind to Atava’s mind. As Atava tried to make sense of the situation, understanding and comprehension began to make itself known. Atava began to understand that the language, the speech, instantly understandable to anyone with a spoken language, and it made itself known to those who had heard it. 

Atava stood, stunned, as it dawned on them that somehow, they had learned a new language by simply hearing a sentence. And now, curiosity burned within them to know more.

------

So yeah, this isn’t much of a story, it’s just me playing with some descriptive text based on an idea I had for Haakha. Let me know what you think, I’d love your opinion.

@boxonthenile

[deffinitelynobody]

Asking for Opinions

@player1thunderstruck @onthenilerivah @happyleech 

Sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, I am thinking about starting a series of fantasy stories set in my world of Haakha called “Explorers Folley”. As you can probably figure out from the title, it won’t be a happy-go-lucky series. 

The premise is that I’ll right about someone going into some ruins or unexplored region or uncovering some kind of plot or whatever, and it going horribly, horribly wrong. Those who have read the story practice I posted on here of the guy going into the crashed spaceship and getting a hole blasted through his chest know what it’s going to be like. The one I’m working on right now continues my Culari streak and deals with an old, abandoned temple in the jungle.

This might take some time, and I’m curious as to your guys opinions on the matter, so please, let me know what you think.

[wondrousworldbuilding]

The Technology of Haakha

The technology of haakha  is a curious form of sophisticated savagery. Over the countless eons (perhaps millions of years), civilizations and races would reach unimaginable scientific heights, only to fade to memory, with younger groups emerging from the wreckage. While much of the elder knowledge has been passed down over time, most of it has been lost, forcing the younger civilizations of the modern age to scavenge technologies from their remains.

The most successful of the younger cultures are the empires, due in no small part to the guidance to ancient entities. Before this, they were, technologically speaking, capable of incredible feats of engineering, albeit being primarily pre-industrial societies without internal combustion engines or any other kinds of artificial energy sources. But after the emergence of ancient entities of the past, the empires (and to a lesser extent everyone else) began to embrace and use the futuristic scraps however they could

Today, the technologically advanced weapons, vehicles, and devices can be found in the world, refurbished and modified by the finest mechanics and engineers. However, only a handful of beings on the planet understand the complex workings of the arcane machines in any kind of fundamental sense, therefore significantly limiting the amount of original manufacturing accomplished. Many remain superstitious and suspicious of technology, and most in fact still fight with swords and spears alongside guns and blasters. Similarly, primitive catapults are used side-by-side mechanized tanks and airborne imperial dreadnoughts.

Without knowledge of how to manufacture it on their own, modern cultures must rely on two ways to acquire technological goods. The first is to simply scavenge parts. Whether this is from technological ruins or old machines, scavenging is the most commonly practiced method to acquire advanced technology, in addition to various rare materials. It can be very dangerous however, as this frequently means battling mechanical traps and robots, and the parts may be damaged beyond use.

The second are the legendary foundries. The foundries are ancient, massive machines capable of crafting technologies that otherwise must be scavenged. There are a finite number in the world, making those who control them immensely powerful and wealthy (one of many reasons why the empires are as successful as they are). There might be more foundries that have yet to be found, and if this is the case, than whoever gains control of them first could shift the balance of power.

The foundries craft new devices and machines, though control of them is superbly difficult, forcing those who own the foundries to make do with what they get. That said, there’s still enough to augment their infrastructure and forces with machinery, especially with high-tech weaponry and warmachines. Despite this limitation on ancient technologies, the inhabitants of the world have figured out how to craft primitive technology of their own.

____________________________________________________________

A comment made by follower @whale-eggs which I agree with:  

 hey this is neat but concepts of “savagry” and “primitiveness” are pretty rooted in racist ideas about whos technology is advanced, what kinds of people are “rational” or “smart”, etc. to the submitter, i think you’d be best retooling your idea to not include that kind of framing, and to the blog, i think you should skip posting ideas that include it in the future (or comment on it)

Thanks for pointing this out! It had gone under my radar with a quick read-over and I apologize. I appreciated your respectful comment and am always happy to learn. 

[worldanvil]

Haakha is a world of magic and the mystical. Magic flows through and around everything. It rages across the land, warping and mutating everything. Sorcerers have used it since time immemorial to alter the course of history and society. Many a hero has won the day with an enchanted artifact at their disposal. And yet, magic is among the greatest mysteries of the world. Mages answer questions, only to raise more questions, or to be contradicted later by another mage’s own research.

(Follow my worldbuilding on tumblr here)

[aeniith]

If you're still doing the worldbuilding swap: Haakha has two suns (which takes it about 2,000 earth days to orbit) and three moons that are gas giants dues to how massive they are. Also the planet is twice the size of jupiter

Ooh, nice! Big planet! :) Aeniith is a bit smaller than earth, but not by much. There are actually two moons, but one orbits so far away and is really small, so that the inhabitants of Aeniith don’t really know it exists, or they see it as a dim star. 

[boxonthenile]

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeey, sorry to bug you so quickly, but do you mind listing your major OCs? You mention them semi-frequently and I get so fucking confused when you do.

I don’t think I’ve ever fully listed them? So don’t feel too upset. So!

ORIGINAL WORKS

-Kylee Broker and her datemate Jordan Saunders-Atava, who we are repurposing for your game. Haakha isn’t their “canon”, but it has begun to shape it.-Tanya Sawyer and her wife Natalie. Their canon also includes James and Sunday Wilkes.-Elaine, a PC for a D&D campaign.-Aayala, a PC for a D&D campaign-Avi, a PC for @rittapokie‘s upcoming campaign

FANDOM OCS

-Doctor Alanna Jacobi, the head medic for The New Republic(Red vs. Blue)-Inquisitor Revas Lavellan(Dragon Age)(I actually have a lot of DA OCs but he’s my favorite)-Lareni Taliesin, a Jedi Healer, and her padawan Mal Okajek(Star Wars)-Jezebel Fawkes, part time rebel leader and full time mom(Overwatch)

[theemberarchive]

“One instantly belongs to Thalarion. One belongs to it as much in five minutes as in five years.” ― Kidin Ysaha

Thalarion is the most famous of all cities, and takes pride in being one of the largest and wealthiest cities in the known world. It sits upon the largest harbor of the largest island within the center of the The Middle Ocean, making it a natural stop for many sailors and boats venturing across it. In addition, it holds many way gates and rifts within its walls, allowing merchants and travelers from distant lands to easily buy and sell many goods.

   Many religions are welcomed within Thalarion, the state actively protecting everyone’s right to practice their religion in peace. This has allowed many cults and churches to continue existing even when they are slain or driven out of their homeland. It also creates many religions and cults, the confluence of ideologies and beliefs giving rise to new faiths almost daily.

   Several large arcane sanctums call the city home, researching and unraveling the arcane secrets of magic, training young and prospective sorcerers how to use their powers, and crafting and repairing various magical items and enchantments for the populace. Several of these sanctums and many universities also act as bastions of learning and knowledge.

   With all this power and wealth, many have sought to conquer Thalarion, but have found that the city is not to trifled with. In addition to the powerful defensive structures left behind by the ancients, the people have trained long and hard to defend themselves from many different threats both large and small. Indeed, many assaults have come from the waygates, only to be repelled by the cities defenders and warriors. Not only this, but a large and powerful fleet is maintained to protect ships from the pirates that plague the sea and air ways.

   The confluence of mercantile, strategic, and religious influence in Thalarion earns its title as the City at the Center of the World.

Hey, did you know that this is available for patrons a week before anyone else can get it? You just gotta pledge $1 a month on my patreon to see the whole thing before anyone else! Or, you could see it in just 4 days on Blog spot!

OR, you could wait till next wednesday to see it on worldanvil

[theemberarchive]

The totally not stargates of haakha that allow people to travel the vast distances across the planet’s surface.

Want to see my posts a week before anyone else? Consider becoming a patron!

[theemberarchive]

Dwed

The abhuman species known as Dwed (or, more derogatively, as dwarves) are believed to have once been builder and servants to some incredibly powerful masters. Indeed, their desire for a strong social order and almost compulsive need to craft lends credence to this idea. The desire for order is so great in fact that most dwedian societies are caste-based.

Dwed typically stand 121 cm (4 ft.) and usually weigh 136 kg (300 lbs.). Hermaphrodites, all dwarves are able to conceive and care for young. Dwed are immensely hirsute, easily able to grow long beards. Colouration is often likened to that of the earth, with Dwed being coloured like the most prominent minerals and stone to where they live. They possess small, stony growths along their shoulders, upper arms, fore-arms, and along the spine. Their eyes are multifaceted and often compared to gemstones.

They can live to about 400, at which point, they molt their skin and turn into their adult form.

[theemberarchive]

"You are welcome to enter my domain. Do as you see fit. It will not matter. This is MY realm. I alone can decide its ultimate fate. It will not bend to your will. It is too proud. Too scared to even think of disobeying me. But it is ok. It has learned that to please me, to provide me with sacrifices and entertainment, will curry my favor. To bring greater prosperity. For here, I am law."

– Zuthoth, The ruler of Sharnoth, God of nihilism

[theemberarchive]

Denashi Confederation

A tribal nation on the eastern coast of Yholl-tai, the Denashi confederacy is a nation who has risen to a position of power and wealth. It's position along the southern parts of the middle ocean combined with its natural harbors has made it a natural jumping off point for expeditions into the shattered sea, southern oceans, and even for those who wish to make the long journey to or from the distant lands of Everice.

AREA

839,818,402.13926 sq. km. Of this, 40% (335,927,360.855704 sq. kilometers) is arable land, and 60% (503,891,041.283556 sq. Kilometers) is wilderness.

GEOGRAPHY

The landscape of Denashi is a series of valleys and fjords nestled among many mountains, plateaus, and peninsulas. These valleys are filled with thick rainforests, providing the inhabitants with a large bounty to live off. The mountains have made a region of phenomenally dry flat-lands.

SEASONAL SHIFT

During the long winter, much like the rest of Haakha, it is cold and dark. Snow and ice can be found in the warm, humid lowlands. The highlands become incredibly difficult to live in, meaning many smaller villages migrate to the lowlands to survive.

As winter fades and spring begins to warm the world, the lowlands reveal there true selves as hot, steamy jungles. The inhabitants of the smaller settlements once more return to the cooler highlands. They repair their settlements and ready them for the next season. They harvest food and other resources from the jungles below so as to be ready for when the seasons change again.

As Haakha enters its long summer, the jungles begin to grow hotter and hotter as the water itself begins to evaporate within the sunlight. The smaller villages begin to conserve water as it becomes harder to come across.

As summer fades, it turns to fall, a near perfect reflection of spring. And the cycle continues over and over again, as it always has.

This is part of my current WIP over on worldanvil. I’ve also posted this on my DA account and hope to post the whole thing by the end of the month/beginning of next month.

Plz let me know what you think, I’d love to hear any feedback on this bitch