Discipline Blog Redux #2

Discipline Blog Redux #2

Pokewalker Steps Taken: 11455 (Woo-Hoo! Most in one day since I've started using the thing!)

Running Dungeons and Dragons

Today I’m running a session of Dungeons and Dragons (3.5, homebrew world), so in honor of that occasion, I’ve decided to write a quick piece about the world that the game is taking place in. I may also diverge from the key topic to share some particularly noteworthy gaming moments if I feel so moved.

The World of Bhakaras –

Like many fantasy worlds, Bhakaras is full of medieval weaponry, magical spells, and odd looking races of humanoids and monsters. Unlike many other fantasy worlds, except perhaps some of the worlds found in Final Fantasy style computer games, Bhakaras also has technology (of various kinds and at various levels) available to it. Even that doesn’t make it stand out completely however. Time travel, high technology, steampunk technology and medieval societies all have a place in this world and basically anything is possible.

Current Age of Bhakaras – The Age of Galiria (5735 a.r.c. – Annotated Renaissance Calendar)

Central to the campaign I’m currently running is the nation-state of Galiria. Originally founded as a small feudal city-state in the year 1077 a.r.c. Galiria grew in the aftermath of the fall of Prosempst (Pronounced Pross-M-Pissed). Several small outlying noble settlements and villages all united under the banner of Lord Valys Galerian III and a standing militia was founded in the wake of the influx of Prosemptan refugees. Within a decade, Galiria had officially established its borders (the forest line of Hylar to the north, the Viridian rift to the west, the Kalinost seas to the east and the Blightline to the south).

Galiria’s population consists of Humans (approx 70%), Elves (10% - mostly High Elves), Dwarves (5% - Mostly Hill Dwarves), T’lorians (5% mostly found in the capitol), and about 10% of Monster Races (Goblinoids, Draconic/Kobold, etc. – mostly found in small settlements away from villages, towns and cities).

Although the technology and wealth found in Galiria does vary greatly between the various sized settlements throughout, overall Galiria has a semi-industrial level of technology with a Steampunk Neo-Victorian feel to the architecture, clothing and technological devices. Although natural talent for Magical and Psychic ability is rare among the populace of Galiria, both areas of study are well-known and integrated into the daily lives of many of Galiria’s citizens. Many of the Steampunk devices are fueled using Magical or Psionic power sources, and the Galirian Academy of Scientific Study has departments devoted to the use and construction of Magical and Psionic devices.

The Galirian Academy of Scientific Study also serves as the central hub for all interactions with the T’lorian population in Galiria. The T’lorians (an advanced race from the Kovertan peninsula) came to Galiria shortly after the fall of Prosempst and offered to share some of their knowledge and experience by forming the Academy. In its current incarnation, the Academy has several satellite locations throughout the region and is the central hub for all academic study on the mainland. In addition, it serves as the training ground for nobility, scientists, engineers, sorcerers, psions, and more.

Over more than 4000 years, the Galirian political structures have changed drastically. Originally a feudal city-state ruled by a noble family. When the nation grew, it became a full-fledged monarchy. After nearly 500 years of rule by the Galerian royal house, a military coup occurred and the Royal family was forced into hiding. Until the early 2000’s, Galiria was a police state and all of the citizens of Galiria were forced to serve in the Militia. Finally, the Galirian royal family put together a legitimate resistance movement and for more than one-hundred years the nation fractured into smaller city-states, it was believed that the age of Galiria had passed during this time. However, the Galirian civil-war finally came to an end when the Viridian rift erupted in 2136 spewing out an army of golem-like warriors who began to lay waste to all in their path.

The Darkestarr Family Line –

Dekall Darkestarr, a T’lorian renegade, began traveling throughout Galiria shortly after the eruption. Little is known about the man except that in the years following the eruption he would often arrive in towns being attacked and save them from destruction before disappearing. For more than a decade “The Darkestarr” was considered a legend and little more, a sort of guardian angel. However, in 2145 the elusive and enigmatic T’lorian wed the Galirian princess Serra Galerian. The ceremony was very public (held in the destroyed central square of Old Galiria) and served as a uniting event for the nation. Within less than a year, the Galirian royal family had regained much of its lost power and the Galirian militia was rebuilt. Over the next fifteen years, the T’lorian and the Princess worked to reunite Galiria and re-establish its borders while working to eject the still massing golem armies. In addition, the first known children of a T’lorian/Human pairing began to be born as the Darkestarrs started having children. Despite being the co-ruler of Galiria very little is known about Dekall Darkestarr. However, his family line continues to this day. During Dekall and Serra’s reign Galiria had returned to a sort of Monarchy, however, both agreed that if Galiria was to survive a new system of government had to be formed. As a result, Gailria eventually adopted a system of government that was essentially a representational monarchy and a republic fused into one.

Well, that’s all I have in me for now… there will probably be more World of Bhakaras themed posts done every Thursday (my gaming day) if not more frequently… I’m currently working on the writing out of the actual system of government in Galiria which I may post as well. Anyway, thanks for listening to my ramblings. See you tomorrow!

Discipline Blog – Days 2,3 and 4

Discipline Blog – Days 2,3 and 4

Get off my ass time: Day 2, 30 minutes… one short walk to absorb some sun… plus additional time up and down stairs for laundry; Day 3, 1hour … wandering around the school and mingling at a local benefit dinner; Day 4, 45 min (so far)… mingling and chatting with people at “Island Getaway Day” (I’m anticipating about another hour + grocery shopping after class).

The reason for the delay in my posts this week has mostly been due to the unforeseen, and unfortunate, demise of my laptop. The poor thing was barely a year old, and spent almost every waking hour with me. It survived four semesters of classes, often being very vocal in providing information to my classmates and professors when needed. It shall be missed. Let us observe a moment of silence for its passing.










Anyway, Today I’d like to discuss the future of the human race. Kinda pretentious, no?

Mankind is ultimately doomed, right? I mean, everything in existence points to us being a fleeting passing moment in the grand scheme of universal history. Everything that lives dies. So, obviously, humanity won’t last forever. As a result of the awareness of our impending doom, human imagination has been working overtime to produce (and reproduce) millions upon millions of various scenarios about the end of the human race. Nuclear wars, biblical Armageddon, eradication by meteors or robots or aliens or us, are just a few of the examples. We are obsessed with the mortality of our civilization.

Fundamentally, this affects us much in the same way that it affects an individual who spends his whole life worrying about how, when, where, and why he or she is going to die. They forget about the fact that they are still alive. More importantly, they often forget that humanity is less about death and more about the people who continue to live on.

I’m currently writing my senior thesis on an idea that addresses the very issue at hand, by examining a specific doomsday scenario and how to avoid it. However, as I’m trying to illustrate, the point of it isn’t about the fact that we are doomed; it’s about what do we do if our doom isn’t as close at hand as anyone imagines. As The Doctor says, “You spend all your time thinking about dying you can’t imagine the impossible…that you survive” (almost assuredly a misquote from the 2005 series episode “The End of the World” because I don’t have the materials handy to cross-reference well at the moment). So, whenever you get the chance and as much as possible, think about the possibility that we survive INDEFINITELY. I think when you start working it out you’ll see that it’s a far more complex, interesting and terrifying thing than thinking about how we are going to end.

There is another ulterior motive for my talking about this… that is to say: (Regardless of any other issues out there and whether or not you approve or disapprove of the methods or policies of those in power) PLEASE support anything that increases the growth and development of our space program, because personally, I am incapable of imagining a lasting future for humanity if we don’t get out there and expand into the greater cosmos.

Good night to you all, may the winds of change not smell of Durian (think wet garbage under a hot sun…).