Re: Herospace

On Wed, 10 Oct 2007 08:06:07 -0700, Charles Taylor 
<nerik@?????????.?????.??.uk> wrote:
[snip]
>
>I've been having further thoughts on this, I don't think we should assume
>that all planets are spherical unless otherwise mentioned, especially in a
>highly magical sphere like this one, and I'd like to have the planets of
>Herospace representing the planes that they are assocated with in some
>matter. But I am open to other peoples suggestions on this matter - what
>does the list think?

The huge cogs of Mechanus come to mind, as do the cubes of Acheron. Seeing 
such obvious hints will tip the players off more surely that there is some 
connection to the planes than only through tough detective-work.

But then... if the PC have an easy time finding out what's the dark of the 
sphere (i.e. the Arcane having built a sphere-sized 'machine' to aspire 
divinity), then the rest of the known spheres would have found out long 
ago. So here's another twist on that idea:


Herospace is truly a kind of 'alignment-driven device/machine' it's 
builders used to aspire godhood. The builders, however, are NOT the 
Arcane! I have no deep knowledge about the history of the known spheres, 
but I guess if this sphere was built in the last, say, tenthousand years, 
someone would still know of who it was and what happened to the plan (1). 


(1) I don't buy that whoever created the sphere had a time horizon of more 
than one or two millenia (probably much less!).


My theory/twist 
===============

An truly ancient race created the sphere to aspire to godhood through 
somehow concentrating the alignments and using this 'energy'. That was so 
long ago that there are absolutely no clues as to who it was or how 
exactly they achieved this feat. 

Alternative 1
The creators failed, and were completely eradicated in their failure, 
leaving no clue but a crystal sphere with an odd arrangement of planets 
(that still concentrate alignments).

Alternative 2
The creators failed, but not completely. Two of them became gods, the rest 
vanished from the face of the known spheres. The two gods are of opposing 
alignments. (we would have to chose what kind of gods they are, or create 
a new couple)

Alternative 3
The creators were partially successful. They ascended and became immortal 
beings, but not gods. It is theoretically possible to find them, because 
some are still around as servants of the gods. (we would have to chose one 
planar race, perhaps one with a sparse official background)

Alternative 4
The creator's plan was a complete success. They ascended and became divine 
beings. They covered their tracks of their former existence, that's why 
almost nothing about them is known nowadays. 


Whatever alternative we decide (if we decide at all - maybe it's a good 
idea to leave that open, giving individual DMs more freedom for their own 
story), fact is that we don't know anything about the creator's identity 
because of the lack of clues. Whether this is because of the incredible 
age of the sphere (compared to the age of the spheres, even elven memory 
goes back only a short time), the aftereffects of the plan's failure or 
the creators themselves wiping out (almost) all traces of their former 
existence... is open to debate. 


Nontheless, two ideas as to the identity of the creators can be presented 
in-game (i.e. sages the PC ask come forth with their opinion). Some 
wisebeards whisper that they were the builders of the space leviathans 
whose vast hulks still drift in wildspace. Others claim that the race was 
the Juna. 



Additional twist and adventure hooks
====================================

However version of the creators' story, the Arcane re-discovered enough 
clues to feel they can reactivate the machine/device, repeating the 
success of the original builders. Should the creators still be around, 
they would be quite interested. Maybe they use the PC and other agents to 
work against the Arcane (or even support them! see Alternative of the two 
gods).

Other parties (on same power leven than the Arcane, perhaps the Reigar?) 
might have gotten wind of the whole thing and try to bring the sphere 
under their control.

Due to the ancient age of the device a lot of exotic components and 
materials (or artifacts) have to be found, scattered across the known 
spheres (and even planes). The PC work for the Arcane or another party. 
During their search-missions they reveal one layer of truth after the 
other, slowly realizing what Herospace is about.


tauster 
}:o)