"Tales of Leinyere" Story Event: Official Support Thread

[Nouh_Bdee]

They are perfect right where they are. More tress in Grennskogur would be nice if its not too much trouble.

No trouble at all. Like that?

 

[LoquiSordidaAdMe]

No trouble at all. Like that?

Looks good. Thanks, Nouh.

Anocot - they come from the southern highlands. Their fur kept them warm. Following ideas by others, they normally don't wear clothes in their own state/region but wear the least possible when visiting other areas.

Question for Rustyoznail and Blind_Justice: Are the Ancot a seafaring people? If we're putting them down in that south-western peninsula, they are nearly surrounded by water, and they could be natural trading partners for the Dwarves across the southern sea. But cats have a noted dislike of water. Not sure how Ancot on sailing ships fit with your view of the race.

Right now, the party in my story consists of an Elf, a Dwarf, and an Ancot. Haven't settled on genders yet. Might swap out the Ancot for a Naga depending on how things shake out.

 

[Gamina]

Looks good. Thanks, Nouh.



Question for Rustyoznail and Blind_Justice: Are the Ancot a seafaring people? If we're putting them down in that south-western peninsula, they are nearly surrounded by water, and they could be natural trading partners for the Dwarves across the southern sea. But cats have a noted dislike of water. Not sure how Ancot on sailing ships fit with your view of the race.

Right now, the party in my story consists of an Elf, a Dwarf, and an Ancot. Haven't settled on genders yet. Might swap out the Ancot for a Naga depending on how things shake out.

I was planning to have both female naga and Ascot warriors on UM. To me while some cats dislike water, Tigers and other big cats have no issue hunting in the water or just cooling off in it.

So while some might have a fear of water, I do not see a reason to have it as a racial trait

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Right now, the party in my story consists of an Elf, a Dwarf, and an Ancot. Haven't settled on genders yet. Might swap out the Ancot for a Naga depending on how things shake out.

Hey, don't feel like you have to choose between the races that are on the Notes Doc. If you want something else, just speak it into existence. Right now, we're all dropping iron bars in Narnia...

 

[Voboy]

My Ancot has moved to the city. But I’m not going to use him/her much; just implying that some of them DO leave the nest.

And I might have missed this: are our elves more Tolkien, or more Santa Claus?

 

[LoquiSordidaAdMe]

Notes for Podl'adom:

• The dwarven homeland. Except for a few farms, fortifications, and trading centers the kingdom is built almost entirely beneath the icy, windswept mountains.
• An ancient pact with the Grennskogur gives the dwarves trade routes and protection from the north in exchange for refined metals. The dwarves resent the arrangement, but are too proud to break it first.
• Border disputes with the elves occasionally become violent.

Notes for Grennskogur:

• The elven homeland. Except for a few farms, fortifications, and trading centers the kingdom is almost entirely hidden high in the branches of the great trees.
• An ancient pact with Podl'adom gives the elves an abundance of refined metal in exchange for trade routes through their lands and mutual defense. The elves resent the arrangement, but are too proud to break it first.
• Border disputes with the dwarves occasionally become violent.

 

[LoquiSordidaAdMe]

And I might have missed this: are our elves more Tolkien, or more Santa Claus?

Excellent question! Tolkien-esque was my original thought, as those tend to be most prevalent in high fantasy these days. But I can work with the classical gnome-like elves if that's what people want.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Excellent question! Tolkien-esque was my original thought, as those tend to be most prevalent in high fantasy these days. But I can work with the classical gnome-like elves if that's what people want.

I vote that we have both species, but re-name one of them. Loqui, based on your Geek Day story, you might be the most qualified to make that call...

 

[LoquiSordidaAdMe]

I vote that we have both species, but re-name one of them. Loqui, based on your Geek Day story, you might be the most qualified to make that call...

LOL! "Qualified". Right. Ok then, if we want to draw a division, "Tolkien's Elves" are tall long-lived hunter/warriors, often with a superiority complex. "Santa's Elves" are short, clever craftsmen and jolly pranksters. This is backed up by the famous fairytale of the Elves and the Shoemaker.

Sticking with classic D&D races, I think "Gnomes" are a very good analogue and that would be my starting point.

If you want to get a little more esoteric, you could all them "Brownies". I think that's what Lucas called the little people in his "Willow" movie and novels, so there is some precedent there.

If you want to imply a Scandinavian culture to them, you could go with "Nisse", "Tomte", "Tomtenisse", or "Tonttu" which are all basically the words for "Elf" in their respective languages.

And finally if you wanted to stick with (long forgotten) English words you could call them "Trow".

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

LOL! "Qualified". Right. Ok then, if we want to draw a division, "Tolkien's Elves" are tall long-lived hunter/warriors, often with a superiority complex. "Santa's Elves" are short, clever craftsmen and jolly pranksters. This is backed up by the famous fairytale of the Elves and the Shoemaker.

Sticking with classic D&D races, I think "Gnomes" are a very good analogue and that would be my starting point.

If you want to get a little more esoteric, you could all them "Brownies". I think that's what Lucas called the little people in his "Willow" movie and novels, so there is some precedent there.

If you want to imply a Scandinavian culture to them, you could go with "Nisse", "Tomte", "Tomtenisse", or "Tonttu" which are all basically the words for "Elf" in their respective languages.

And finally if you wanted to stick with (long forgotten) English words you could call them "Trow".

Hmmm, I know Gnomes and Drow (which I assume is derived from or related to Trow) are already a thing in some fantasy universes, so I would lean toward Brownies or one of your Scandinavian suggestions...

 

[AlphaLyon]

Complete tangent, but....

I want to have an Ancot character who only trades in exchange of bakery goods, simply so I can say that "My Anocot-a don't want none unless you've got buns, hon."

[I'll see myself out.]

 

[Omenainen]

If you want to imply a Scandinavian culture to them, you could go with "Nisse", "Tomte", "Tomtenisse", or "Tonttu" which are all basically the words for "Elf" in their respective languages.

I got all excited about this, before I realized it’s going to be handled the wrong way. For example plural of “tonttu” is “tontut” and for “tomte” it’s “tomtar” (I think...), so reading stories with “the tonttus came into view” is just going to be jarring for me. So I’d recommend something more English.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

So far, I know three distinct points in time.

- 5-10,000 years ago: The destruction of the Ancients
- 500 years ago: The founding of Galtin's Port
- 5 years ago: The orc God-Queen perishes in a border skirmish without formally declaring her successor. Her six children fight for dominance, allowing the rest of Leinyere a moment of relative peace while the orcs settle their succession issue. (Dwarven) Traders make a killing selling arms, armor and supplies to all parties.

I updated the Timeline, and figured out how to use it a little bit, so any more world events that need to be added or fleshed out, let me know!
Oh, I also took the liberty of naming the late God-Queen Lu'Horagh, but that can be changed easily...


Also, just to get it straight, are the catfolk Ancot or Anocot?

 

[Voboy]

My vote is for elves being tall, beautiful assholes with good PR, and brownies or gnomes being spritely little mischievous types who are useful in many unexpected ways.

Obviously, “elves-as-assholes” is just a point of view. YMMV.

 

[Rustyoznail]

I updated the Timeline, and figured out how to use it a little bit, so any more world events that need to be added or fleshed out, let me know!
Oh, I also took the liberty of naming the late God-Queen Lu'Horagh, but that can be changed easily...


Also, just to get it straight, are the catfolk Ancot or Anocot?

Ano-cot. Google didn't raise any red flags. The autocorrect did.

I'm thinking the Anocot are relatively new to the continent, say 5000 years. They sailed up from the south, just being curious. Because they're cats...

The region was pretty empty and they settled in. They didn't realise nomadic trolls (?) also roamed the mountains.

 

[THROBBS]

Ano-cot. Google didn't raise any red flags. The autocorrect did.

I'm thinking the Anocot are relatively new to the continent, say 5000 years. They sailed up from the south, just being curious. Because they're cats...

The region was pretty empty and they settled in. They didn't realise nomadic trolls (?) also roamed the mountains.

Not down from the North?

The South looks quite cold.

 

[LoquiSordidaAdMe]

I'm thinking the Anocot are relatively new to the continent, say 5000 years. They sailed up from the south, just being curious. Because they're cats...

Ok, so the Anocot are definitely seafaring then. Good to know. Now, even more important for my story—do they ride horses? Because I can see horses being kinda freaked out having a big, fangly predator on their back. For that matter I can see mules, oxen, lamas or other pack animals being freaked out by cat-folk too. BUT it would useful in my story if they do ride.

I can work around it if they don't, but I don't want to write up how the Anocot terrify horses and pack animals in my story, and then have someone else write up a big Anocot cavalry charge in the very next story.

So Rusty, BJ, I think you two are the qualified ones on this question.

 

[Rustyoznail]

Not down from the North?

The South looks quite cold.

That’s why the Anocot have fur.

I’ll leave the horse issue to BJ. I’m thinking they normally would lope along through the mountains. Glladin, my Anocot, is driving a steam powered autocart.

Edit - my story will start in Giltan’s Port as it’s looking like a major trade port.

 

[Blind_Justice]

Anocot and horses? No. I'd say give them increased movement speed when going on all fours and especially when climbing/jumping. If they need to transport large volumes of stuff, they use oxen or other docile draft animals. Horses are food, no good in rough terrain and waaaaay too skittish to bother with.

@Rusty: Feel free to add more details. I'm guessing you're about to flesh out the Merchants' Guild?

 

[Rustyoznail]

Anocot and horses? No. I'd say give them increased movement speed when going on all fours and especially when climbing/jumping. If they need to transport large volumes of stuff, they use oxen or other docile draft animals. Horses are food, no good in rough terrain and waaaaay too skittish to bother with.

@Rusty: Feel free to add more details. I'm guessing you're about to flesh out the Merchants' Guild?

That was my thought, but I thought I’d better ask. Looks like we’re the Anocot experts.

My two are only minor members of the Guild. I’m thinking they want to carve out their own territory to trade with, but most of the good areas have been claimed.

- Would there be an overarching Guild, with chapters that trade in different widgets?

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

I feel like if there's an overarching guild, its regional offices should be loosely connected, if at all, right?


Unrelated: I invented a goddess for my story who created and then abandoned The Greywood when she basically completely changed her name and entire identity, as I wrote in the Notes:

Systava, AKA Zhyve AKA The Bride
Goddess of Joy and Celebration
Formerly Ouksenn, AKA Duzhde AKA Divine Sentinel
Goddess of Loneliness and Fortification
Created the Greywood as a place to be alone

But, The Bride needs a Spouse! Systava doesn't feature in my story at all, but I was planning to mention Ouksenn's abandonment at least in passing. Does anyone want to create Systava's Spouse?

 

[LoquiSordidaAdMe]

Anocot and horses? No.

Sure, make things hard for me. Now I'll either have to change my Anocot character to a different race , or I'll actually have to think of something clever instead.

Hey, Apollo Wilde, after 50k words, you must be the expert on Nagas. I don't suppose they ride horses, do they?

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Sure, make things hard for me. Now I'll either have to change my Anocot character to a different race , or I'll actually have to think of something clever instead.

Hey, Apollo Wilde, after 50k words, you must be the expert on Nagas. I don't suppose they ride horses, do they?

Loqui! Why do this the hard way? Just invent a new race! Then they would definitely ride horses
Or, what about a Centaur, running beside your horse riders?

 

[LoquiSordidaAdMe]

Loqui! Why do this the hard way? Just invent a new race! Then they would definitely ride horses
Or, what about a Centaur, running beside your horse riders?

If I wanted it to be easy, I'd just use a human for my third character. I want something more exotic, but not unique. I want to make sure it's a race others are using. Besides, I already forced elves and dwarves on everyone.

I need my elf and dwarf to notice the third character's approach from a long way off. Putting him on horseback would have been a good way to do that. Don't worry, I'll come up with something.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

If I wanted it to be easy, I'd just use a human for my third character. I want something more exotic, but not unique. I want to make sure it's a race others are using. Besides, I already forced elves and dwarves on everyone.

I need my elf and dwarf to notice the third character's approach from a long way off. Putting him on horseback would have been a good way to do that. Don't worry, I'll come up with something.

Fair enough, but I definitely don't think you forced elves and dwarves on anyone. They were definitely going to happen.