Diaphane - Revision history

63.103.224.1: /* Gnarides, helot client state */

2008-07-18T16:27:30Z

Gnarides, helot client state

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:27, 18 July 2008
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	The Gnarides are the helot culture in the lands near Diaphane. They were the original inhabitants of the area, driven away by the “Witch Sister.” Although once warlike, they have been conquered and subjugated, and now their clans are scattered through several petty kingdoms. They are pastoralists who raise mountain goats and make cheese, although they are known for being good spear hunters, and occasionally hired as mercenary spearmen.		The Gnarides are the helot culture in the lands near Diaphane. They were the original inhabitants of the area, driven away by the “Witch Sister.” Although once warlike, they have been conquered and subjugated, and now their clans are scattered through several petty kingdoms. They are pastoralists who raise mountain goats and make cheese, although they are known for being good spear hunters, and occasionally hired as mercenary spearmen.

	Gnaride culture revolves around their worship of the earth deity, which they view as both male and female. They build lingams – large standing stones representing the phallus of the god. They also have sacred caves – representing the goddess – ~~callen~~ yoni caves. They practice barbaric fertility magic with these, and claim that is why the men of Diaphane fear to build tall structures that cast shadows, and why they will not abide dark caves. Only men deal with lingams and their magic, and only women deal with yonis and their magic. Having the shadow of a lingam stone fall on you is lucky, but also arouses carnal lust and blood lust. Entering the dark yoni cave aids in conception and childbirth. If women fall under the lingam’s shadow, they may become pregnant or barren. If men enter the yoni cave, they may return as women or pregnant. For obvious reasons, both of these actions are taboo. Outsiders rarely benefit from either lingam stones or yoni caves. Their magic-men are called Horned Men because they wear crowns of horns, and while they are good at dealing with female spirits, they are very unlucky with male spirits.		Gnaride culture revolves around their worship of the earth deity, which they view as both male and female. They build lingams – large standing stones representing the phallus of the god. They also have sacred caves – representing the goddess – called yoni caves. They practice barbaric fertility magic with these, and claim that is why the men of Diaphane fear to build tall structures that cast shadows, and why they will not abide dark caves. Only men deal with lingams and their magic, and only women deal with yonis and their magic. Having the shadow of a lingam stone fall on you is lucky, but also arouses carnal lust and blood lust. Entering the dark yoni cave aids in conception and childbirth. If women fall under the lingam’s shadow, they may become pregnant or barren. If men enter the yoni cave, they may return as women or pregnant. For obvious reasons, both of these actions are taboo. Outsiders rarely benefit from either lingam stones or yoni caves. Their magic-men are called Horned Men because they wear crowns of horns, and while they are good at dealing with female spirits, they are very unlucky with male spirits.

	Occupations: Helot, Herder, Weaver, Hunter, Spearman, Horned Man		Occupations: Helot, Herder, Weaver, Hunter, Spearman, Horned Man

Kakita Kojiro: added Magicians

2008-05-07T08:44:20Z

added Magicians

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 The Worshipful Archons are aristocrats anonymously elected to office. Highest in rank are the chief archons – the ''hierarch'' (nominal chief), ''polemarch'' (oversees the city’s military), ''navarch'' (oversees the city’s navy), ''hagiarch'' (oversees religions), ''xenarch'' (oversees foreigners), ''cryptarch'' (oversees relations with the invisible world), and others that have varied over time. Lesser archons serve as judges, magistrates, and officials of the city – and one of the most influential of these officials are those who license magicians for the practice of magic-for-hire in Diaphane.
 -- by Kakita Kojiro
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 ====Magicians of Diaphane====
-'''Catoptromancers''', sorcerers-for-hire of Narcissus
+Only magicians skilled in pellucid magic are licensed in Diaphane – barbarous magics such as chromatic or shadow magic are not prohibited per se, but working them for-hire is against the law. Most licensed magicians hold degrees from one of the schools of the eikonic arts (though rarely at the level of magister or doctor of the eikonic arts). Professions such as lens-wrights or glass-wrights need not be licensed (they create for sale, but are not for-hire).
-Catoptromancers are mirror sorcerers skilled at reading the health of others by studying their reflection. By studying a patient’s reflection in different media and ambient light, they can divine past, present, and perhaps future health problems. This can include illnesses, injuries, and even emotional or mental trauma. Occasionally they can divine injuries or illnesses that have not yet occurred, and are able to proscribe circumstances that might lead to the occurrence. Usually they are only able to determine current illness or injury, and will prescribe various remedies based on the accumulated records of past cases documented by catoptromancers. There is no formal guild of catoptromancy; would-be catoptromancers must seek apprenticeship with another master catoptromancer.
-Advantages: Reflective Magic 1 (10 pts)
+Advantages: Shaman Magic 1 (10 pts), See Invisible (access while naked, 12 pts)
-Backgrounds: Average (wealth, 0 pts)
+Disadvantages: Delusions (severe, mitgator while clothed, -9 pts)
-Skills: Thaumatology (reflective magic), Diagnosis, First Aid, Esoteric Medicine
+Skills: Occult (spirit-world), Exorcism, Forbidden Lore (Invisibles), Observation
-Spells: Hide Reflection, See Reflections of Health (IQ/Very Hard, req. Reflective Magic 1+)
+Spells: See Clearly, Fade, Block Perception, others
 -- by Kakita Kojiro

Kakita Kojiro: added Magicians

2008-05-07T08:38:55Z

added Magicians

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 - ''enter Invisible World'' (IQ/Very Hard, req. Pellucid Magic 5+, invisibility, at least five other pellucid spells)
 note: using pellucid magic to enter the [[Spirit_world|spirit-world]] generally makes you permanently invisible and intangible. presumably there is another pellucid spell that would allow you to leave the spririt-world and return to the material world again.
 -- by Kakita Kojiro

Kakita Kojiro: added Ghost Quarter

2008-05-07T08:37:13Z

added Ghost Quarter

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:37, 7 May 2008
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	The ruined Stained Quarter was never rebuilt. But it is still inhabited by squatters and the poor, since the broken shards there did not fracture the spirits of the [[Spirit_world\|Invisible World]] as they did in the other places of Shattering. No spirit-storms of invisible shards occur there to strip flesh from bone as they do at the other Shattered places.		The ruined Stained Quarter was never rebuilt. But it is still inhabited by squatters and the poor, since the broken shards there did not fracture the spirits of the [[Spirit_world\|Invisible World]] as they did in the other places of Shattering. No spirit-storms of invisible shards occur there to strip flesh from bone as they do at the other Shattered places.

			-- by Kakita Kojiro

			====The Ghost Quarter====

			In, or around, Diaphane there is a literal "ghost town". It is a neighborhood where ghosts dwell. Some of the living neighbors may practice ancestor worship and veneration of ghostly transparency.

			-- by shanoxilt

			They are more focused on "veneration" than "worship" of the ghosts -- instead of seeking intercession from the ghosts (as one might from a god or worshipped spirit), they are seeking information about the past, and secrets from the past. The ghosts are venerated by flattery and by listening to their opinions and advice. In return the ghosts are persuaded to reveal what they recall, or to act as go-betweens to the much older ghosts who no longer have much connection to the physical world. Ultimately, there is hope of contacting the Founding Sister...

	-- by Kakita Kojiro		-- by Kakita Kojiro

Kakita Kojiro: added Navy information

2008-05-03T01:23:02Z

added Navy information

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:23, 3 May 2008
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	-- by Kakita Kojiro		-- by Kakita Kojiro

			====Navy====

			The fleet of Diaphane is mainly a blue-water fleet. Its huge warships have crystal tree masts, armored in prisms and glass coral, with gossamer sails and cruel rammed prows for boarding. The few river boats of the Diaphane hegemony are glass-bottomed, with sail propulsion.

			-- by Kakita Kojiro

			The flagship of Diaphane is a ship with [[Spirit_world\|Crystal Tree]] mast growing out of a ship armoured in Prisms and edged with clear coral like growths, and gossamer clear sails that are perpetually pushed by the Wind captured by the magicians and priest of the City-State, with long range optics and a ghostly almost otherworldy quality. And really, really big - dwarfing the naval craft of other nations. The ship has a dedicated crew armed for boarding, and a cruel shaped prow for ramming made up of a jagged and fearsome visage of the face of one of the Invisible creatures of the spirit world. The ship has no real long range ability, as the purpose of the craft is to capture and harness those who defy Diaphane. Those who fall into the maw are fused with the craft, becoming twisted clear faces perpetually screaming in silence, and if seen through the spirit world, it is a ship of pure grace and cruelty, used to intimidate those who vie to control the seas. Held out of the water, and a representation of the power and skill of projects, perhaps a relic of the Golden Age.

			Those staffing the vessel are of the highest station, and because of its majesty, it has not actually engaged in much fighting, but rather is used as a tool of statecraft to impress the surrounding States, and keep Iridos within the fold.

			-- by stephen_dean

	====Schools of the Eikonic Arts====		====Schools of the Eikonic Arts====

Kakita Kojiro: added Charsides information

2008-05-03T01:01:50Z

added Charsides information

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 Common Names: Dwight, Loeis, Amalie
 Rumor: “Gnaride spearmen boast that when they capture opponents in Flower Wars, the women want to never go back home, and the men to never face another Flower War again. Telling such tales makes Diaphanides very angry.”
 -- by Kakita Kojiro

Kakita Kojiro: reorganized - added colony cities, helot cultures

2008-05-03T00:41:33Z

reorganized - added colony cities, helot cultures

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:41, 3 May 2008
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	The first course is white foods -- generally simply, bland dishes of polished rice. There are fewer following courses; often reduced to red, green, and "blue" courses. But there is another, final course -- the course of translucence. Crushed ices, crystal sugars, gelatins, and delicacies such as rare jellyfishes and transparent cave fish are served with clear and pure water.		The first course is white foods -- generally simply, bland dishes of polished rice. There are fewer following courses; often reduced to red, green, and "blue" courses. But there is another, final course -- the course of translucence. Crushed ices, crystal sugars, gelatins, and delicacies such as rare jellyfishes and transparent cave fish are served with clear and pure water.

			-- by Kakita Kojiro

			==Colony Cities==

			===Symeros, sapling colony city===

			The colony city of Symeros was founded by Diaphoros the Synesthete, one of the first pupils of the Invisible College from Diaphane. He was blessed or cursed with synisthesia, which has been inherited in many forms by his descendants. As the royal family maintains a prerogative to the first night with any new bride, synisthesia has spread among the Symerides. Symeros is on the Maiandro river downstream from Diaphane, and is the major port of the Diaphane hegemony. Glass-bottom boats ply the river from Diaphane to Symeros and on to Iridos isle, carrying cargo and travelers. Despite its origins, Symeros has never devoted itself to one viewpoint of magic, and all are practiced here – although mainly pellucid and chromatic. Formal training in the magic sciences must be sought in Diaphane or Iridos, however.

			The city’s boatmen must navigate their way through the Thousand Flowing Waters and its many perils, and it has been discovered that the city’s synisthetes are somewhat protected from the odd powers of vampires and Hollow Men and other heretics of that ilk. They are in great demand as scavengers of the ruins there, and as crusaders for the Silent Brotherhood. Synisthetes do not often master any kind of magic, for their unique perception interacts oddly.

			Occupations: Philosopher, Scientist, Merchant, Boatman
			Suggested Skills: Area Knowledge (Symeros), Boating, Current Affairs, Smuggling, Occult (vampires), Thaumatology (pellucid or chromatic magic)
			Social Background: Cultural Familiarity (1 pt., Twin Cities), Glossa (native language), Literacy
			Suggested Quirks: Congenial, Imaginative, Addiction (tobacco)
			Sample Contact Groups: School, Cult or Religion
			Suggested Spells: Identify Exact Color (IQ/Average), See Clearly (IQ/Average)
			Rumor: “The Empty Masters secretly plan to subvert one of the synisthetes of Symeros. By mixing synesthetic perception with their blind enlightenment, they hope to find the reason that synesthetes are so effective against them. Should they succeed, the crusade of the Silent Brotherhood would be set back, and Symeros left open to infiltration by the bleak cult of the Empty Masters.”

			-- by Kakita Kojiro

			==Helot Cultures==

			===Gnarides, helot client state===

			The Gnarides are the helot culture in the lands near Diaphane. They were the original inhabitants of the area, driven away by the “Witch Sister.” Although once warlike, they have been conquered and subjugated, and now their clans are scattered through several petty kingdoms. They are pastoralists who raise mountain goats and make cheese, although they are known for being good spear hunters, and occasionally hired as mercenary spearmen.

			Gnaride culture revolves around their worship of the earth deity, which they view as both male and female. They build lingams – large standing stones representing the phallus of the god. They also have sacred caves – representing the goddess – callen yoni caves. They practice barbaric fertility magic with these, and claim that is why the men of Diaphane fear to build tall structures that cast shadows, and why they will not abide dark caves. Only men deal with lingams and their magic, and only women deal with yonis and their magic. Having the shadow of a lingam stone fall on you is lucky, but also arouses carnal lust and blood lust. Entering the dark yoni cave aids in conception and childbirth. If women fall under the lingam’s shadow, they may become pregnant or barren. If men enter the yoni cave, they may return as women or pregnant. For obvious reasons, both of these actions are taboo. Outsiders rarely benefit from either lingam stones or yoni caves. Their magic-men are called Horned Men because they wear crowns of horns, and while they are good at dealing with female spirits, they are very unlucky with male spirits.

			Occupations: Helot, Herder, Weaver, Hunter, Spearman, Horned Man
			Suggested Skills: Animal Handling, Farming, Sex Appeal, Spear, Occult (spirits)
			Social Background: Cultural Familiarity (1 pt., Diaphane), Gnaric (native language), Glossa (accented language)
			Suggested Quirks: Broad-Minded, Proud, Lusty*
			Sample Contact Groups: Clan, Former Lovers
			Suggested Spells (for men): Incite Bloodlust (IQ/Average), Incite Carnal Lust (IQ/Hard)
			Suggested Spells (for women): Increase Fertility (IQ/Hard), Ease Childbirth (IQ/Average)
			Common Names: Dwight, Loeis, Amalie
			Rumor: “Gnaride spearmen boast that when they capture opponents in Flower Wars, the women want to never go back home, and the men to never face another Flower War again. Telling such tales makes Diaphanides very angry.”

	-- by Kakita Kojiro		-- by Kakita Kojiro

Kakita Kojiro at 17:24, 28 April 2008

2008-04-28T17:24:32Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:24, 28 April 2008
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	Also called the Crystal City, or the Invisible City. Diaphane is built of quartz crystal and clear glass and of transparent substances strong as or stronger than steel.		Also called the Crystal City, or the Invisible City. Diaphane is built of quartz crystal and clear glass and of transparent substances strong as or stronger than steel.

	===History===		==History==

	Unknown ages ago, the Twin Cities were founded by twin sisters.		Unknown ages ago, the Twin Cities were founded by twin sisters.
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	-- by shanoxilt		-- by shanoxilt

	===Cityscape===		==Cityscape==

	There are degrees of transparency. The elite live in high towers of pure crystal. The middle class live in homes with large windows, some walls of translucent glass block, and maybe a floor of tile painted with a trompe l'oeil mural to make it look like it is floating on clouds. The peasants and tradesmen make do with large windows of paper in the summer months and open roofs in the dry season.		There are degrees of transparency. The elite live in high towers of pure crystal. The middle class live in homes with large windows, some walls of translucent glass block, and maybe a floor of tile painted with a trompe l'oeil mural to make it look like it is floating on clouds. The peasants and tradesmen make do with large windows of paper in the summer months and open roofs in the dry season.
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	-- by Kakita Kojiro		-- by Kakita Kojiro

	===Geography===		==Geography==

	Each of the Twin Sisters walked an equal distance away from the [[Other_kingdoms\|Thousand Flowing Waters]], their original homeland, to found their cities. Diaphane is at higher latitude, on the coast of the eastern ocean, a harbor city.		Each of the Twin Sisters walked an equal distance away from the [[Other_kingdoms\|Thousand Flowing Waters]], their original homeland, to found their cities. Diaphane is at higher latitude, on the coast of the eastern ocean, a harbor city.
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	-- by Kakita Kojiro		-- by Kakita Kojiro

	===Culture===		==Culture==

	The city is ruled by the Worshipful Archons, dictatorial lawmakers elected for life for the embetterment of all. The Archons see to it that sacrifices are made for the good of all – such as the sacred albinos being pampered so as to benefit the sacred trees. The Archons have abolished both police and military, in favor of the glass golems which enforce peace and trust. To keep secrets, to speak lies, to hide and obfuscate – these are crimes. The city also has a population of invisible citizens that only natives of Diaphane may see. These invisible citizens are part of the Invisible World, the spirit world that is always manifest in Diaphane, but never seen.		The city is ruled by the Worshipful Archons, dictatorial lawmakers elected for life for the embetterment of all. The Archons see to it that sacrifices are made for the good of all – such as the sacred albinos being pampered so as to benefit the sacred trees. The Archons have abolished both police and military, in favor of the glass golems which enforce peace and trust. To keep secrets, to speak lies, to hide and obfuscate – these are crimes. The city also has a population of invisible citizens that only natives of Diaphane may see. These invisible citizens are part of the Invisible World, the spirit world that is always manifest in Diaphane, but never seen.
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	-- by Kakita Kojiro		-- by Kakita Kojiro

	===Magic===		==Magic==

	Magic in the Twin Cities is learned informally (for petty magics), or most often as an apprentice in a guild. There are schools for advanced study of magic, which confer degrees of magister, or doctor of the eikonic arts.		Magic in the Twin Cities is learned informally (for petty magics), or most often as an apprentice in a guild. There are schools for advanced study of magic, which confer degrees of magister, or doctor of the eikonic arts.

Kakita Kojiro: added Stained Quarter

2008-04-27T23:36:18Z

added Stained Quarter

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:36, 27 April 2008
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	-- by stephen_dean		-- by stephen_dean

			====The Stained Quarter====

			During the time of the [[Cities_of_glass_history\|Second Shattering]] new advances had been made in tinting glass with vivid hues. New buildings and wonders were made, all of stained and colored glass, and the City of Glass took on translucent hues.

			This led to great debates in the Crystalline Agora, as citizens argued that the hues were a perversion of true Translucence. Eventually rabble-rousers whipped mobs of citizens into a frenzy, leading to the destruction of the colored glass in the [[Cities_of_glass_history\|Second Shattering]]. The surviving proponents accepted exile under the guise of founding the colony that became [[Iridos]]. The records, of course, were purged for the good of all.

			The ruined Stained Quarter was never rebuilt. But it is still inhabited by squatters and the poor, since the broken shards there did not fracture the spirits of the [[Spirit_world\|Invisible World]] as they did in the other places of Shattering. No spirit-storms of invisible shards occur there to strip flesh from bone as they do at the other Shattered places.

			-- by Kakita Kojiro

	===Geography===		===Geography===

Kakita Kojiro: added various additional contributions

2008-04-27T23:31:00Z

added various additional contributions

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:31, 27 April 2008
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	===Cityscape===		===Cityscape===

			There are degrees of transparency. The elite live in high towers of pure crystal. The middle class live in homes with large windows, some walls of translucent glass block, and maybe a floor of tile painted with a trompe l'oeil mural to make it look like it is floating on clouds. The peasants and tradesmen make do with large windows of paper in the summer months and open roofs in the dry season.

			"Transparency" is also an ideal that philosophers and artist strive for, knowing that it lies somewhere beyond our clouded world. Common folk are less concerned with such abstractions and often view glass walls as a means of one-upsmanship against their neighbors.

			-- by Glyptodont

	It is said that when Diaphane achieves true transparency, it will fade from the material world and join the invisible world. This goal is sought through the city’s architecture, not only in its buildings of quartz, windows, and glass, but in its streets that are also paths in the spirit-world. Straight roads in Diaphane are probably also invisible paths, used by the invisible Neighbors and other invisible spirits. Curved roads, roads that cross water, roads interrupted by gated walls, or crossroads – all hinder invisible spirits, especially ghosts (the many mirrors of Narcissus accomplish the same effect).		It is said that when Diaphane achieves true transparency, it will fade from the material world and join the invisible world. This goal is sought through the city’s architecture, not only in its buildings of quartz, windows, and glass, but in its streets that are also paths in the spirit-world. Straight roads in Diaphane are probably also invisible paths, used by the invisible Neighbors and other invisible spirits. Curved roads, roads that cross water, roads interrupted by gated walls, or crossroads – all hinder invisible spirits, especially ghosts (the many mirrors of Narcissus accomplish the same effect).
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	====Sky Day====		====Sky Day====

	The city of Diaphane celebrates Sky Day... by going sky-clad. No native of the city wears clothing on that day -- they hide nothing of themselves from the world. Although outsiders and children find the celebration strange and titillating, to citizens it is a solemn occasion for introspection.		The city of Diaphane celebrates Sky Day... by going sky-clad. No native of the city wears clothing on that day -- they hide nothing of themselves from the world. Although outsiders and children find the celebration strange and titillating, to citizens it is a solemn occasion for introspection.

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	====Pellucid Magic====		====Pellucid Magic====

			Transparent magicians use their magic, not to respond to assaults, but to allow danger to pass them by harmlessly. Extreme transparency is invisible to the unenlightened. Transparent magic allows one to pass through obstacles and walk without being seen. (Though some claim this concept is dangerously close to the "hidden power" of the Opaque.) Their are powerful, defensive, introverted and fragile.

			-- by Glyptodont

	Pellucid Magic is the magic of transparency, of invisible things. Transparent magic makes things clearer, reveals hidden things, allows seeing of things that otherwise could not be seen, and allows light into darkness.		Pellucid Magic is the magic of transparency, of invisible things. Transparent magic makes things clearer, reveals hidden things, allows seeing of things that otherwise could not be seen, and allows light into darkness.