Aviontix

1. Aviontix

   #1

   Aviontix is designed to be an "ancient kingdon" to be plopped into a game world as history. However, you can make it a current game world, if you want.
   
   Aviontix is templated off the Egyptians, with a different slant, so bare with me.
   
   The key ideas:
   The lands of Aviontix are mostly desert now, with several small rivers running through it. At the time of the Kingdom, it was naturally greener and lusher. This was enhanced by waterworks allowing canals, and irrigation. However, these massive waterworks have fallen to the weight of time since then.
   
   Long ago they build great cities, and monuments, and water works. The Aviontix never seemed to do anything on a small scale. That is why so much of their society (via ruins) has survivied to the modern era.
   
   Where once there was a thriving urban peoples, there are just nomadic herders, who are expert riders. The only link to the Aviontix, is that they are known far and wide as the best hunting bird tamers. Every male of age has one (if not more). Some people whisper of magic that allows them to be bound to their birds. They even call the land Aviansis, (wings of sand... referencing the wind).
   
   In the land of Aviontix there are ruins. A lot of ruins. There are many sand buried cities, king's tombs, and huge statuary. However, Aviontix was a kingdom so long ago, that everything has been looted. (Figure there has been a whole historical epoc or two since then) There might be a hidden tomb or something somewhere in the lands, but it is unlikely. This does not stop people from selling maps to them all the time.
   
   They were the first humans to develop magic without the assistance of an elder race (like elves). They laid down the basics of magic still used today by Human peoples. They also created the sciences of mathematics, architecture, agriculture, and the written word.
   
   Nothing comes directly from them. Their language has been lost of the sands of time, but many ancient texts reference their works as foundations.
   
   They were a very religious people, focused upon their leaving to the afterlife. If their sins were as light as a feather, they would go to heaven. Else they would be eaten and their soul stuff would eventually be recycled into a new spirit. If you went to heaven, but still had a mission upon the Earth, or your sins were equal to the feather, you would be reincarnated. Unfinished business is the only reason for ghosts, thus helping a ghost was a high honor.
   
   They associated magical spirits/ gods with birds. It is difficult to determine if this was metaphorical or actual. Their gods are shows as fully human, human with a bird head, or as large birds. In fact, the names for their Gods have become the "common name" for most birds.
   
   Given their beliefs, bird motiffs are everywhere among Aviontix artifacts and ruins. If you find a really old magic item, it will have a bird motiff on it... given that it came from Aviontix. While Aviontix was a very magical place, very few of their items have survivied the "sands of time". Many have been broken, but most are lost or unable to be recharged.
   
   In addition, it seems that Rocs (huge birds) and Pheonix's/ Firebirds were either created by or bred to their present form, by the Aviontix.
   
   Diety List Example
   Sunbird: The Sun and fire were the manifestation of the divine upon the material world.
   Eagle: Force of Nature- God of Sky and Weather
   Hawk: Warrior, keeper of Order
   Falcon: A noble diety, patron of that class. Seems to be male or female at whim.
   Dove: Goddess of Peace and Mercy
   Swan: Goddess of Beauty and Art
   Gull: Madcap god of the Sea and Water.
   Owls: Watchman of Death/ Chaos/ Darkness. A wise diety.
   Raven: God of Death. Ravens took souls and other things.
   
   Now I forsee some reincarnating historical figures....
   
   The Hawkstar: A hero that keeps coming back to undo Evil done by man in the world. He is a warrior that uses ancient weapons and can summon a pair of wings (if desired). Current manifestation has him fighting a corrupt theocracy....
   
   Dove and Hawk: These spirits guide pairs who must maintain the balance between the violence and peace to maintain order. Those so endowed gain great strength and durrability.
   
   The Raven: This one does not appear as a bird based villian/ hero. However, the god sends out avatars from time to time to create death and chaos for him to feed off of. Currently the Raven is a high Bishop in the Corrupted Theocracy, only a few steps from the HighOne.

2. Two more things

   #2

   The Cat: This creature would have a unique place in the pantheon of Aviontix. There would be a cat goddess, and she would be both alligned with but acting against the raven. Perhaps Cats are seen as a way to prevent excesses via magic or spirits.
   
   ================================
   Merideth: This is a city deep in the hills of old Aviontrix. The path to Merideth is magically obscured, so only those with the pathfinder's gift can find it. The city is still bustling with souls. They trade with each other, make deals, sell things, and even send messages. Unfortunately only a few of them have true bodies. Within the gates of Merideth, the dead are given material form. It is here they stay while awaiting their fate in the afterlife. The living can only enter the city from sun up to sun down. If they are caught in their after, their lives are forfet.
   
   The newly dead of many dieties can find themselves here, as a way station. However, only those who die who have Aviontrix blood, die within the confines of Aviontix's borders, or die in reference to one of the dieties (Thus where ever the Raven is reincarnated, the deaths there feed Merideth), find their way here regularly these days. The dead achieve mass within the walls. They can be disincorperated if they take enough damage, unable to be reincarnated, reserrected, or seanced for.
   
   There are those who take advantage of Merideth. They hire scribes and messangers to take information to loved ones or employers. Some people trade all that they own for talismans that will either protect them from the ravens that will eventually claim them OR allow them to travel beyond the walls of Merideth.
   
   Merideth is a place of legends, but it is a great place for players to have to race to get information from a recently killed target or friend.

3. Aviontix

   #3

   In the vein of great threads for describing and explaining dungeons
   
   Arascan Burial Customs
   http://www.rpgcitadel.com/guild/index.php?topic=1564.0
   
   Hiberian Funeral Customs
   http://www.rpgcitadel.com/guild/index.php?topic=458.0
   
   Dungeon Masters
   http://www.rpgcitadel.com/guild/index.php?topic=750.0
   
   Here are what Aviontix tombs will look like.
   
   The Aviontix believed in the eventual reincarnation of the body. It was mummified in a special way to make sure that after it was interned, the spirit bird of the individual - his soul, would fly from this realm. If the spirit bird returned, it might need of its body, so the dried remains had to be preserved. This is all interpretation, as the Aviontix fell to sickness and civil war long before any other intelligent beings walked their lands. So while they have lefts us books and murals with an elablorate writing, very little is know about what they do think.
   
   One Elven source has this prophecy attributed to the Aviontix: "In the days of the final dawn, all good people would come to roost in the lands, to live in a paradise reborn and defend it from the last night." It stands to reason it was the duty of all good people to leave bodies behind so they would eventually live in the paradise reborn. Of course, they would need things when they returned, so they would be buried with money, tools, clothing, and comfort items.
   
   So everyone has a large tomb. The business of death would of been a big one in this land.
   
   An Aviontix tomb will be a large affair. Lesser peoples will have family tombs, while nobles will have huge building sized tombs. It will be made of large stone blocks, crafted with such care that a piece of parchement does not fit between them. How these blocks were transported from quarries so far away is a mystery (magic?).
   
   The entries will be blocked off of course, to prevent roberies. Those with time and tools could eventually dig their way through the rocks. Thus traps were employed. Later cultures who have records of the various Aviontix tombs and ruins they explored (plundered), denoted hundreds of cunning traps that will be triggered entering into the tomb, but will not activate upon exit (usually with the pull of a lever or two in the main crypt). Crushing traps (that eventually reset), pit traps, flying spike traps, dart traps, flesh scarab traps, animated statues, tiny alchemically created defenders, elemental bird spirits that attack after a sconce is lit, and hundreds more.
   
   The difference between Aviontix traps and most other peoples traps is that they were defeatable by solving a puzzle. Some of these puzzles were word/ poetry puzzles (which are undecipherable now), number puzzles, image puzzles, shapes in a pattern, and even musical puzzles. Things scattered in the tomb had to be retrieved to deactivate the trap (which would be set off if you pass a certain area) were common. (taking the blue hexagonal tile and replacing the red one, and red to blue would deactivate a trap), or tiles had to be moved about (in sliding tracks or spun in place), or organs played. It was a battle of wits between the designer and the thief. The Aviontix must of admired cunning over strength or dexterity, because solving the puzzle gives you the prize. (Another competing theory is that people/ priests might have to enter tombs to do things for the dead, so the temple might of had the combinations to each tomb.)
   
   After a guantlet of traps, there will be either an apartment (where the risen might live for a while) or a storage area (with materials that might still be good after all this time). Then there will be another gauntlet of traps, and either an apartment or a crypt for pets or servants. Then another guantlet of traps, and the true crypt.
   
   LArger noble tombs will have a variety of branches to confuse intruders, all with traps and mock storage and lesser crypts. These false branches will lead to traps of ugly death (those Grimetooth would be proud of), as anyone who was supposed to be there, would not of taken the odd branch.
   
   All the best things will be entombed in a sarcophagous with the dead. Opening the final trap of the scarcophagous is normally a life and death proposition, so great care should be taken.
   
   (Many crypts have the main crypt hidden behind a false crypt. So people will loot the false crypt, and leave the real crypt alone).
   
   Nobles will often have undead servants with them, to take care of interlopers. In fact, many spirit birds return when crypts are disturbed, animating a very peeved off undead creature of greath wrathful power when the sarcophogous is opened.
   
   Now most Aviontix tombs have been long looted. Yet, there is always hope that somewhere one will be left undisturbed with its great wealth and powerful magic items intact.
   
   Remember those that die in these tombs will go to Merideth.
   
   If applicable, If the adventerous dead are to be resurrected, their soul must be rescued from Merideth first.

4. Aviontix

   #4

   Adding to this setting is some ideas that stem from it.
   
   Master Destini:
   Master Destini is one of the world mages, those who are responsible for sheparding the world. Destini is an Avatar of Divine Order. Destini became this avatar twelve centuries ago when he became the wielder of The Destiny Helm (Sort of a stylized Hawk's Beak, and flaring tops... more gryphon than bird). This artifact is the actual Avatar, granting the ability to perceive order and chaos, and shift wild chaos towards order and unyeilding order towards a gentle randomness.
   
   Fate's Tower: Almost not a material location. Only those who have have a heroic destiny (Will be heroes, are heroes, or are heroes that have lost their way) can actually find it with any regularity. (It is impossible to see from the sky) It is a forty by forty foot square tower about 90 feet tall, with castly like ramparts at the top. There is no door, and only one window about 75 feet up. You will find it impossible to climb or enter it without permission from Destini.
   
   Golvek: A master work golem that could ascend to Godhood if it wanted to. It was created to mimic any skill, power, or ability that came within 100 feet of it. It was designed to be the ultimate creation, then used in a bit of fury as an ultimate weapon. Golvek is now trying to determine its place in the universe.

5. WOW!!!

   #5

   I just saw that this three post thread has been viewed 2400 times. That is more than the Arth Main thread. I was stunned by it, until I realized how many threads and settings and characters I had linked to the Aviontix. Then it sort of made sense, or at least seemed possible.
   
   Having an "ancient" civilization to harken back to is handy. It allows you to create things that you would never want a "modern civilization" to be able to do (that keeps the players from just going out and buying such things or making them themselves). Having its basics fleshed out, but not detailed is great. Everyone can take their own spin on the subject AND since the history itself is vague there is a lot of story wiggle room.
   
   Ancient lands allows you to build up stories (and back stories) because you can start your piece up from Times Before Time. Would Scarobmontus be as cool if he came from somewhere else? Possibly. But he has ties to an ancient land and peoples. (He has also Merideth to draw upon).
   
   Think of your ancient land as a foundation. Sure you may never see it, but it is there supporting your work.
   
   What I am wondering is would anyone want to see more of it. Do you want details on anything, or should I just keep posting the general and vauge ideas associated with it. Or should I just leave it alone, It is done.
   
   
   Generating Content is fun. One should be a useful poster. Generating Content is fun. One should be a useful poster. Generating Content is fun. One should be a useful poster. Generating Content is fun. One should be a useful poster. Generating Content is fun. One should be a useful poster. Generating Content is fun. One should be a useful poster. Generating Content is fun. One should be a useful poster. Generating Content is fun. One should be a useful poster. Generating Content is fun. One should be a useful poster. Generating Content is fun. One should be a useful poster. Generating Content is fun. One should be a useful poster. Generating Content is fun. One should be a useful poster. Generating Content is fun. One should be a useful poster. Generating Content is fun. One should be a useful poster.

6. Aviontix

   #6

   :D I would like to see more of it.I like what you have written so far.

7. Aviontix

   #7

   Every ancient land needs an equally ancient enemy.
   
   The Sarethians.
   
   This is another early mostly human society. It was Stone, moving into the Bronze, age society. As with all early societies, it was harnessed under the yoke of religion, with temples being the central unifying focus. They built in adobe and clay, with only a minimum of stone. That is why few of their temples or cities survive.
   
   The Sarethian's deities were serpentine in nature, as the Aviontix were avian. It was not an Evil Society, as most people assume snake worshipers are. It was a mixed back of good, kind of good, and kind of selfish dieties. There are more records of Sarethian society, as their written language formed the earliest foundation of written modern Human languages. That is not to say there is a lot of records, just some. Very little survives of their culture except for a few scrolls of exceptional poetry and magical theories, and their entire legal system (which was draconic at best - mercy not being a big quality for the Sarethians).
   
   If one pays attention to those records, Sarethians were said to have immense healing powers and to have healthy long lives associated with it. They had skills in mind and illusion magics, but little else. Most of what they had was meditation based, with a few things stolen from the Aviontix.
   
   Related to another post http://www.strolen.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=29404#29404

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