[InEx] In Extremis
Feb 18, 2017 9:25:26 GMT -6
Post by Mr. Skeli'n on Feb 18, 2017 9:25:26 GMT -6
Welcome to In Extremis, my universe of many years (est. 2012). In this universe I have created music, art, and literature. I currently have a self-published book floating out there, but I'll be pulling it soon after I rework it to shop to agents. It's a series of adventures and other stories set in a High-Fantasy universe of my own design. Eventually I want to get to the point where I have multiple plot-arcs that span in-universe centuries, but right now I'm working on redoing the debut novel of the first plot-arc.
Lore:
Sentient Species:
Ontautt
The Ontautt are also known as the Eight, or the Deities. They take many shapes and sizes, and are the founders of The Known Universe. The Ontautt usually appear in their most pure form, the incarnate, from which the Sentient Species‘ appearance was derived. However, there are many other forms that a Deity can appear in, including forms that look exactly like their Sentient Species, as well as a shared form between all Eight.
Xiruen
The Xiruen are most easily recognized by their large stature and four arms. In stature and physical prowess, no sentient beings are their equal. It is of note that their upper arms are smaller than the lower ones, for the most part preventing Xiruen from lifting things above their heads. This is because their upper pair of arms have no upper arm, instead the shoulder connects directly to the forearm. They have two ‘toes’ on each foot for lack of a better term, a smaller squarish toe and the rest of the toe area connected. They are known to use their hands to carve out their rocky dwellings, so their bones must be very strong, at least in their hands.
Avotoc
In stark contrast to the tall and lumbering Xiruen, the Avotoc are a small race that somewhat resemble human skeletons. Because of their time and experience underwater, they are masters of making things waterproof; a very useful trait when it comes to ship building, a main source of income. According to their creation myth in the Ontiba, the Avotoc were created by Davoto and Aster to aid the former in the keeping of the universe’s graveyard, the GreatSea on Davo. They are extremely sensitive to feelings. With Avotoc, feelings are either on or off, similar to bipolar disorder. Most Avotoc are content to go to school, work or stay at home and take care of the family, what ever it is they are ‘tasked’ to do. Avotoc by nature are extremely loyal. This is perhaps the biggest personality trait of the Avotoc as a race. The economy of Avotoc mostly revolves around seafaring. Whether it’s shipping goods off-planet or building the ships that take them there, the Avotoc are the masters of the seas.
Kettlah
Kettlah are fairly sociable creatures, though usually tend to live in small groups or in isolation as hermits. As a species, they live as nomads, so it is rare to find a Kettlah who values material possessions. All Kettlah have a faint glow, as well as having eight tendril like appendages- four on each arm. Kettlah’s hands can also morph into many shapes, fists, keys, etc. Most times, their hands take on a mitten-like shape. Kettlah are fairly tall and most easily identifiable by the tendril appendages that can sometimes form wing-esque shapes from the backs of their arms. They also faintly glow, which is easiest to see in a dimly lit or dark area. They can also commune with departed souls, though the skill does take time and training to control.
Poria
The Poria are a culture that prizes knowledge above all else. Because of this, most of Omneutta’s technological innovations have come at the hands of Poria. They see, feel, hear, smell, and taste through their molten skin, but change their heads into faces to be more aesthetically pleasing. Their outer skin can be manipulated at will, as it is just hardened molten material. Distinctly red-orange skin, the moving currents of their own blood throughout their skin form and move the cooled sections around as hardened plates. These gray plates are relatively thick and tough, shielding not only the Poria from any experiments gone awry, but also keeping the outside world relatively safe from the Poria. Those who aren’t careful with their hands can easily set flammable objects ablaze. Few sections of plates are immobile, such as their collar area, their hands and feet. Their ‘mask’ on their face does not move, but the areas over the eyes and mouth may move to simulate expression. The holes over the eyes are actually unnecessary as their skin has several sense capabilities anywhere it is not covered, enabling Poria to see all of their surroundings if they so choose. The eye holes are said to be for display in order not to be off putting to the other Sentient Species.
Quarryn
Quarryn are the most visually distinctive Sentient Species in Omneutta. They not only have three legs, but also have no eyes. They depend on vibrations through the ground to guide them as a sense of ‘sight’, so it is rare to find them not in a natural environment. Quarryn also grow wooden appendages on the exterior of their bodies as a way to absorb and transport nutrients from their environment, in addition to consumption of food. Because of their love of nature, they are often natural scientists of some sort. While not as refined as the Poria, the Quarryn do have an air of mystery about their culture. Most aspects of their culture are very aesthetically different from the other Sentient Species and can look weird and foreign. Quarryn are very in-touch with the natural elements of the world, so much so that they build their houses in the large trees that cover their planet-stars.
Sha'an
The Sha’an exist in largely on an individual basis. They do possess some control of magical abilities innately, but without any cultural focus, it is easy for the magic to become corrupt or faulty. Those who can control their magic largely dominate whatever region or section of Sha’an they reside in. Sha’an culture in and of itself almost does not exist. Every few decades, there is some semblance of culture and community when one Sha’an or a group of Sha’an attempt to unite the species. However, all attempts thus far of unification have failed, and Sha’an all across The Blade live in dystopia , if they live in a community at all. Their technological advancement varies as a result. Some cities can have many tall, elegant skyscrapers while others can live in shanty-towns, though due to lack of continuous infrastructure all buildings eventually fall into disrepair.
Turath
Despite being born with all black or bluish-black fur, the Turath as they age can become the most colourful Sentient Species in the Known Universe. Like their ‘parent’ deity Taruthe, the Turath are able to learn some of the specialized skills of the other Sentient Species. Turath culture is very vibrant and robust, perhaps the most overall advanced culture in the Known Universe. Their buildings are made with both form and function in mind, and the most advanced cities have tall skyscrapers that have a sophisticated, futuristic appearance, rather than the blocky tall skyscrapers the Poria build. They are very welcoming to other Sentient Species, and welcoming of the other Turath communities. Because of their ability to learn other Sentient Species’ traits, they stress education on their young. Every Turath goes through a mandatory education that is balanced between the teachings of the other Sentient Species, and can continue on voluntarily with any teachings they choose.
The World:
The Known Universe
“Omneuttian” is the term used to describe anyone that lives within the land of Omneutta. The term “Omneuttians” is a reference to what the eight Deities called themselves in their own language: Ontautt. The phrase “The Known Universe” is used with the implication that the Omneuttians acknowledge there may be parts of the universe on the fringe that they have not yet discovered and/or mapped. There are eight main regions across Omneutta, controlled or comprising mainly of each Sentient Species. Beyond the furthest reaches of inhabited star-planets and planet-stars is the Unknown-Universe. There are also several large Dust Clouds scattered around Omneutta.
Divine Forge
Divine Forge is the space around Astran, where rare and valuable materials can be mined. Due to the proximity to the giant Star-Planet of Astran, even most of the Planet-Stars in this area are inhospitable. Travel through Astran-Space is not recommended and can damage most ships and passengers. It is very easy to identify Astran-Space due to Astran’s size and center position on all maps. Little of Divine Forge has been mapped on a surface level, though most if not all celestial bodies are accounted for.
The Outcropping
The Outcropping can be identified not only by its shape, but also by the brown-orange colour that it is displayed with on most maps. Most continents on star-planets and planet-stars have a dry climate due to mostly consisting of open space and rock formations. Most of the liquid in a Xiruen-Space climate would be in the form of humidity inside structures, whether they are cave systems or the pillar like homes.
Pale Shores
Avotoc-Space is close to Astran space for the most part and on some maps due to the colouring of both Astran- and Avotoc-Space can be hard to distinguish which is which. Avotoc-Space is characterized by four large star-planets in the middle. The climate of Pale Shores, like its inhabitants, is one of extremes; both white-sand beaches and glaciers can be found on the same continent. Large seas are abundant across Pale Shores as the culture is largely sea and space faring.
Vale Reef
Kettlah-Space is a narrow band of Asterisms in between Xiruen- and Quarryn-Space. It is usually displayed as a golden colour on maps. Vale Reef is home to Kettlah, who live on top of rocks that are separated from their bases by large clouds of mist like vapor. Large flora dominate the bases of these mountains due to the heavy presence of liquid in the air. Like its inhabitants and their style, the terra of Vale Reef distinguishable and sleek which intimidates many on their first sighting.
Parallelium
Parallelium is a large and expansive stretch of Star-Planets and Planet-Stars in between Astran- and Quarryn-Space as well as between Sha’an- and Kettlah-Space. Two behemoth Star-Planets cap each end of Parallelium and many other large star-planets fill the space in between. Home to the Poria, Parallelium often has metal, non-natural continents orbiting its star-planets and planet-stars. These metal continents are more sterile than their natural counterparts and as such are more favorable to hosting experiments.
Matriarch Grove
Quarryn-Space is the furthest inhabited zones from Astran and is also the most dense. It is said that when rebuilding the universe from scratch, Quarrnyl started with the Matriarchal Grove and began building Star-Planets and Planet-Stars towards the other end of the universe, explaining why half of Omneutta is more heavily populated with celestial bodies than the other. Matriarchal Grove, as it’s name implies is heavily forested. Water is abundant and there is ample amount of both flora and fauna.
The Blade
Sha’an-Space is loosely populated, as power struggle continuously envelopes The Sword year in and year out. The climate is temperate and similar to Turath-Space but its inhabitants do not prosper as the Turath do. Instead cities are built and left in shambles as power constantly changes hands.
The Hilt
The Hilt, as Turath-Space is only rarely referred to as has quite a variable climate. Being so far from Astran, there are few deserts and the climate on most star-planets and planet-stars is temperate with slight variations. Turath value both form and function in their buildings and their city-centres can be some of the most impressive in Omneutta.
Time/Calendars
| Value | Earth Time | In Extremis Time |
| Minute | 60 Seconds | 100 Seconds |
| Hour | 60 Minutes | 100 Minutes |
| Hour (sec) | 3,600 Seconds | 10,000 Seconds |
| Day | 24 Hours | 8 Hours |
| Day (sec) | 86,400 Seconds | 80,000 Seconds |
| Year | 365.25 Days | 393.2 Days |
| Year (sec) | 345,575,000 Seconds | 314,560,000 Seconds |
| Month | Abbreviation | Days |
| Pwuvas | Pwu. | 42 |
| Ouovas | Ouo. | 51 |
| Toscuvas | Tos. | 45 |
| Apuvas | Apu. | 27 |
| Evtuvas | Evt. | 43 |
| Esiuvas | Esi. | 43 |
| Tauvas | Tau. | 48 |
| Ontauvas | Ont. | 17 |
| Veauvas | Vea. | 33 |
| Bosuvas | Bos. | 44/45 |
Timekeeping Reset
Also known as the Deity Withdrawal, the Timekeeping Reset is the end of the Ontiba, the Holy Text of Omneuttians. After the Deities created the other seven Sentient Species and the Poria and Avotoc interacted–thus marking the first instance of inter-species civilization–they concluded that this would begin a new era in Omneutta. This era would be marked by the dominance of the other seven Sentient Species over the Known Universe, rather than the Ontautt, who would remain on Astran.
Before the Timekeeping Restart, time had not been kept well by the deities, only a loose track of time had been kept through records of Porrair’s experiments as well as anecdotal accounts by the other Deities, mainly Aster. Some time after the Deity Withdrawl the Omni-Lata Ad-Hocracy became the official mortal government of Omneutta and declared a new system of time. In this system, all events and years after the Timekeeping Restart are designated as A.T. or “After Time” and B.T., or “Before Time” for events concerning the rule of the Ontautt.
Before the Timekeeping Restart, time had not been kept well by the deities, only a loose track of time had been kept through records of Porrair’s experiments as well as anecdotal accounts by the other Deities, mainly Aster. Some time after the Deity Withdrawl the Omni-Lata Ad-Hocracy became the official mortal government of Omneutta and declared a new system of time. In this system, all events and years after the Timekeeping Restart are designated as A.T. or “After Time” and B.T., or “Before Time” for events concerning the rule of the Ontautt.
