New Fantasy Setting Seeds.

[David Johnston2]

I once argued that mages using Gurp's spell-based magic weren't going to automatically gravitate to positions of rulership because learning and practicing magic was so time consuming that that the master magicians with the power take over would have more to gain by accepting the patronage of a ruler. They would reliably outgun any magician of comparable age who wasted time on actually administering a country.

Since then I have realized that I was overlooking a variable because it was my habit to assume that magic items were not that common and mostly oriented to arming and armoring warriors or providing wizards with power stones.

Hence

Encantada

Encantada is an elective constiutional monarchy with a legislature made up of representatives of each of the top two ranks of noble families. The commoners have no representation. The average noble has a magic aptitude of 0 or 1. In this setting magic aptitude is mostly heritable. So much so than when magic aptitude turns up among commoners it is usually overlooked since only known noble bastards will be tested. Any commoner who somehow gets an actual spell will be assumed to be a bastard and yes illegitimacy is a social stigma. Acknowledged bastards have -2 off of the social status of their mage parent, plus the social stigma. Unacknowledged bastards have a social status of 1 (the same as that as of acknowledged bastards of the lowest rank of nobility) and the stigma. Still better off than a -2 social status serf but they don't get a lot of respect in the cities which has commoners who range from -1 to +1. Anyone identified as magic resistant is treated as valuable property of one noble house or another and trained to be what is effectively a ninja. Among the nobility there is no difference in social status between men and women and women can inherit titles. However there is no set order of succession. The successor is the member of the family deemed most worthy to inherit by the previous house leader at the moment that leader died. Or the survivor.

Most nobles have minimal education in actually casting spells. It's a lot of effort for a IQ 10 noble with Magic Aptitude 1- to learn a significant amount of magic. Instead they take advantage of their wealth and their parents to acquire magic items that only be used by mages...even those who barely qualify as such. The favoured children of wealthy noble houses tend to be rather gaudy sights, festooned as they are with glittering baubles.

On the other hand those noble children who have higher level magic aptitudes, and/or a scholarly bent are encouraged to become Enchanters, a position in life that gives them the Respected advantage, and a life of luxury and being barred from heirdom means they are protected from what can be a cutthroat competition to win inheritance of the title. Bastard children often aim at Enchanter status because that wipes out the stigma of their bastardy.

At the same time however some members of the noble houses will lose the lottery and be born with no magic aptitude or resistance. Such nobles are relegated to the knightly orders where their family ties give them immediate military rank and usually superior enchanted gear crafted for non-mages Knights constitute a distinct social class, below nobles but above commoners, but occasionally a commoner is elevated to the status of knight. It provides an alternative for illegitimate children who find themselves unsuited to become Enchanters and unlikely to be in the running for heirdom. Most knights are, however, the children of other knights. Knights can marry nobles although usually only the lowest ranked nobles.

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by David Johnston2

I once argued that mages using Gurp's spell-based magic weren't going to automatically gravitate to positions of rulership because learning and practicing magic was so time consuming that that the master magicians with the power take over would have more to gain by accepting the patronage of a ruler. They would reliably outgun any magician of comparable age who wasted time on actually administering a country.

Since then I have realized that I was overlooking a variable because it was my habit to assume that magic items were not that common and mostly oriented to arming and armoring warriors or providing wizards with power stones.

Hence

Encantada

Encantada is an elective constiutional monarchy with a legislature made up of representatives of each of the top two ranks of noble families. The commoners have no representation. The average noble has a magic aptitude of 0 or 1. In this setting magic aptitude is mostly heritable. So much so than when magic aptitude turns up among commoners it is usually overlooked since only known noble bastards will be tested. Any commoner who somehow gets an actual spell will be assumed to be a bastard and yes illegitimacy is a social stigma. Acknowledged bastards have -2 off of the social status of their mage parent, plus the social stigma. Unacknowledged bastards have a social status of 1 (the same as that as of acknowledged bastards of the lowest rank of nobility) and the stigma. Still better off than a -2 social status serf but they don't get a lot of respect in the cities which has commoners who range from -1 to +1. Anyone identified as magic resistant is treated as valuable property of one noble house or another and trained to be what is effectively a ninja. Among the nobility there is no difference in social status between men and women and women can inherit titles. However there is no set order of succession. The successor is the member of the family deemed most worthy to inherit by the previous house leader at the moment that leader died. Or the survivor.

Most nobles have minimal education in actually casting spells. It's a lot of effort for a IQ 10 noble with Magic Aptitude 1- to learn a significant amount of magic. Instead they take advantage of their wealth and their parents to acquire magic items that only be used by mages...even those who barely qualify as such. The favoured children of wealthy noble houses tend to be rather gaudy sights festooned as they are with glittering baubles.

On the other hand those noble children who have higher level magic aptitudes, and/or a scholarly bent are encouraged to become Enchanters, a position in life that gives them the Respected advantage, and a life of luxury and being barred from heirdom means they are protected from what can be a cutthroat competition to win inheritance of the title. Bastard children often aim at Enchanter status because that wipes out the stigma of their bastardy.

At the same time however some members of the noble houses will lose the lottery and be born with no magic aptitude or resistance. Such nobles are relegated to the knightly orders where their family ties give them immediate military rank and usually superior enchanted gear crafted for non-mages Knights constitute a distinct social class, below nobles but above commoners, but occasionally a commoner is elevated to the status of knight. It provides an alternative for illegitimate children who find themselves unsuited to become Enchanters and unlikely to be in the running for heirdom. Most knights are, however, the children of other knights. Knights can marry nobles although usually only the lowest ranked nobles.

A mageocracy that has logic to it. It parallels many real world governments I've read of in history books but is fully distinctive.

Brilliant.

[Rolando]

Originally Posted by David Johnston2

I once argued that mages using Gurp's spell-based magic weren't going to automatically gravitate to positions of rulership because learning and practicing magic was so time consuming that that the master magicians with the power take over would have more to gain by accepting the patronage of a ruler. They would reliably outgun any magician of comparable age who wasted time on actually administering a country.

Since then I have realized that I was overlooking a variable because it was my habit to assume that magic items were not that common and mostly oriented to arming and armoring warriors or providing wizards with power stones.

Hence

Encantada

Encantada is an elective constiutional monarchy with a legislature made up of representatives of each of the top two ranks of noble families. The commoners have no representation. The average noble has a magic aptitude of 0 or 1. In this setting magic aptitude is mostly heritable. So much so than when magic aptitude turns up among commoners it is usually overlooked since only known noble bastards will be tested. Any commoner who somehow gets an actual spell will be assumed to be a bastard and yes illegitimacy is a social stigma. Acknowledged bastards have -2 off of the social status of their mage parent, plus the social stigma. Unacknowledged bastards have a social status of 1 (the same as that as of acknowledged bastards of the lowest rank of nobility) and the stigma. Still better off than a -2 social status serf but they don't get a lot of respect in the cities which has commoners who range from -1 to +1. Anyone identified as magic resistant is treated as valuable property of one noble house or another and trained to be what is effectively a ninja. Among the nobility there is no difference in social status between men and women and women can inherit titles. However there is no set order of succession. The successor is the member of the family deemed most worthy to inherit by the previous house leader at the moment that leader died. Or the survivor.

Most nobles have minimal education in actually casting spells. It's a lot of effort for a IQ 10 noble with Magic Aptitude 1- to learn a significant amount of magic. Instead they take advantage of their wealth and their parents to acquire magic items that only be used by mages...even those who barely qualify as such. The favoured children of wealthy noble houses tend to be rather gaudy sights, festooned as they are with glittering baubles.

On the other hand those noble children who have higher level magic aptitudes, and/or a scholarly bent are encouraged to become Enchanters, a position in life that gives them the Respected advantage, and a life of luxury and being barred from heirdom means they are protected from what can be a cutthroat competition to win inheritance of the title. Bastard children often aim at Enchanter status because that wipes out the stigma of their bastardy.

At the same time however some members of the noble houses will lose the lottery and be born with no magic aptitude or resistance. Such nobles are relegated to the knightly orders where their family ties give them immediate military rank and usually superior enchanted gear crafted for non-mages Knights constitute a distinct social class, below nobles but above commoners, but occasionally a commoner is elevated to the status of knight. It provides an alternative for illegitimate children who find themselves unsuited to become Enchanters and unlikely to be in the running for heirdom. Most knights are, however, the children of other knights. Knights can marry nobles although usually only the lowest ranked nobles.

This is really good!
I think I'll use it exactly as described, you should develop it a bit and send it to SJG for some pyramid article or maybe a self contained world.

[Astromancer]

I'd ask which few spells the average noble of Encantada learns. I assume that they aren't practical so much as proof that the noble in question is a mage. Also, I assume they few spells would be quality party tricks.

I could also see a few more practical spells, but only for those with more talent. Still, spells that allow easier detection of lies and fraud would be useful even in this situation. It would be worth the effort for even an IQ 10 Magery-0 noble.

I assume the most likely spells, other than Empathy and Communication would be minor Illusion spells and most Nobles would have Illusion Art at some level. Most Renaissance nobles were taught an instrument as a display of refinement. This would be similar.

[Rolando]

Also it may be interesting if some houses have some specialty in spell colleges or some secret spells.

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by Astromancer

I'd ask which few spells the average noble of Encantada learns. I assume that they aren't practical so much as proof that the noble in question is a mage. Also, I assume they few spells would be quality party tricks.

I could also see a few more practical spells, but only for those with more talent. Still, spells that allow easier detection of lies and fraud would be useful even in this situation. It would be worth the effort for even an IQ 10 Magery-0 noble.

I assume the most likely spells, other than Empathy and Communication would be minor Illusion spells and most Nobles would have Illusion Art at some level. Most Renaissance nobles were taught an instrument as a display of refinement. This would be similar.

Works for me, although currently what I'm waffling about is the issue of what kind of religion they have. I'm thinking since I already have faux ninjas I might go with a religion that has martial arts monks and teaches people to meditate to find inner peace. So chi rather than sanctity.

Originally Posted by Rolando

Also it may be interesting if some houses have some specialty in spell colleges or some secret spells.

I have been giving some consideration as well to delineating major house and giving them magical styles.

[David Johnston2]

Encantada Religion

Encantada's state religion involves venerating the spirits of the founders of the various great noble house who are credited with the defeat of a demonic invasion and are believed to still be taking an interest in protecting Encantada and to sometimes aid those who continue to honour them but more recently a philosophy cum religion known as Sferism has come to prominence. Followers of Sferism use meditation to find inner peace and eventual harmony with the universe itself. Most rural commoners, however tend to stick to an older faith of rudimentary polytheism, sacrificing to spirits in the hope of gaining fertility, safety, and prosperity. These three religious strands mix and match and combine with few people following only one of them.

Meanwhile there is a proscribed foreign religion belonging to Encantada's neighbouring country and recurrent enemy, a Crystal Dragon Jesus monotheism which expects every person with mage talents to join their priesthood and condemns those who use magic outside of the bounds of their faith as witches who serve the Demon Lord, wittingly or not. Since Encantada is ruled by "witches" this is an ongoing source of conflict.

[Astromancer]

Across the Border

Where am I?

Across the Border. We used to call this the Otherside of Ireland. But America is on the other side now.

The Otherside of Ireland, that makes no sense. I was in Ohio.

Ohio? It was Oregon for a time. These things drift back and forth. I don't think even Wizards know what the rules are.

Wizards? You have Wizards?

Oh we use "Wizards" as a catchall term for scientists, inventors, engineers, scholars,
mathematicians, psychics, and all sorts of spellcasters.

It is near but infinitely far away. The Otherside, the Outer Zone, the Perilous Realms, whatever. Sometimes people cross both ways, but that gets rarer. Wizards say that mana is key. If the mana is to low, it's hard to ever get back there.

The lands near the border are temperate forest lands. There are vast rivers and lakes. The Wizards say that they have measured the curve of the world and say that this world is three times as far around as the Earth we came from. This confuses them because the gravity is somewhat less. They think our world is hollow.

They say the Earth we came from is Very Low Mana. The mana level on the Otherside runs from low to high with Normal being the most dominant by far.

Lately the technology on Earth is so advanced we can't keep up. The population is low and the political structure is a mess. Humans, elves (you can't argue with elves, they're to stuck up), dwarves, the owl folk, the goblins (but I think they're Martians, actual little Green Men, haven't seen their women), and others, it's always a fight. The few big cities are like the 1920s and 30s. Towns are like the 1890s. The country side is like the 1700s, unless there's a mad scientist nearby.

More later....

[jason taylor]

The planet of Athena/Hecate is a Science fantasy world hooked into TTU by various handwaves one or two of which may require to much Suspension of Belief. It is based on stories me and my father told about "fogworld" (I gave the present name which sounds more refined but is an approximation of Fogworld by alegory, Athena being grey eyed and Hecate mysterious) which is a planet covered mostly in a mysterious substance known as "fog" (treat as high mana zones, low mana, no mana depending) which aside from having the normal effects similar to ground water-vapor has many unexplained by scientists. Among these is to prevent the use of high technology. Even gunpowder won't work without the horrendously expensive Jinnsbane which is a precious commodity. There is a space where modern spacecraft can land and modern technology thrive but it is only a fraction.

The chief rivals of humans for control of the planet, besides each other of course, are the Jinn. These were originally the "windwhirls" being sapient waterspouts. They were retrofitted because I read somewhere that bedouin credited dust devils as being Jinn so I said that they were the same beings as jinn on Earth who had not lived there for a long time. Their natural habitat was the surface of suns and they are made of radiation (hence the old "smokeless fire" of arabian nights). They are capable of psionic interstellar teleportation, and when they visit outer planets they are capable of affecting the weather (including the local "fog").

The planet outside the few areas open to offworld traffic is mostly an Ocean Punk science fantasy. For instance in their mythology (which is a Tolkien like henotheism not a polytheism) the lord and lady of the planet are Windfather and Seamother (instead of Skyfather and Earthmother). Most of the adventures and epics are about sailing quests and naval war. There are large continents where overland and freshwater traffic prevail, and of course plenty of islands but the dominance of the sea is expressed in mythology. On land when war takes place it is dominated by infantry and chariots as the most common local horse analogue is not crippled by seasickness but neither is he rideable. Actual cavalry was limited to some inland nomads until Terran horses became available.

The people there have a colorful mythology centered around the wedding of a lighthouse keepers son and Falmalire the sea-elven princess which created a dynasty of bards that sung at the courts of the rulers of the most powerful Realm.

Yes this is the same Athena/Hecate as is in IMTU: as it is science fantasy and contains internal mythopoia it was put in the fantasy section but can go in either..

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by Astromancer

Across the Border

Where am I?

Across the Border. We used to call this the Otherside of Ireland. But America is on the other side now.

The Otherside of Ireland, that makes no sense. I was in Ohio.

Ohio? It was Oregon for a time. These things drift back and forth. I don't think even Wizards know what the rules are.

Wizards? You have Wizards?

Oh we use "Wizards" as a catchall term for scientists, inventors, engineers, scholars,
mathematicians, psychics, and all sorts of spellcasters.

To the north of wherever the PCs land is the city of Bensalem. It's at the head of navigation of a vast river called the Shanon. Bensalem has the advantage of large amounts of hydropower as well as a navigable river. Nearby valleys provide rich crop land. The city of Bensalem also has several nearby areas of high mana and excellent mineral resources.

This city is mainly at TL6 but is pioneering technomagic. Much of the city's infrastructure operates at TL6+2 because of this. Bensalem's hospitals (which were TL7 and nearly TL8) are at TL7+2!

Bensalem, under the influence of both Marconi and Tesla (who both faked their deaths and crossed over the border), has built discoid flying ships. These technomagical wonders fly with amazing speed and manuverablity. The alchemical motors of these TL7+2^ craft cause strange lights on the other side of the Border. This is probably the source of the stories of UFOs. Newer models lack this side effect.

Basically, Bensalem is a base for the PCs with a chance at patronage and transport to far lands.