Community Request: Building Pedia Entries

[Switchblock]

Breeding Pit

"Just throw them in there, every last one! The men will not be able to control themselves!"
I heard the shout and tried to cover myself, but it was no use, the starved men they treated likes dogs needed some comfort in this hell hole.

 

[Genejack]

@ Genejack: Just one comment on the Temple of the Veil entry: Veil has Ritualists as Priests. Cultists are the Priests of the Octupus Overlords.

Thanks, fixed it.

 

[Kael]

Ok guys, i'm submitting this. i'm not a native english speaker, so you can imagine how difficult it was for me to write something like this. However i like ff2 so much and i simply could not resist and wrote something for it.

of course forgive me for every sintax or grammar error (it would be great if someone could correct these errors) and feel free to change or improve my entry.

edit: thanks a lot for your help!

Warrens

"When we finally conquered their city, we were not prepared to face what was hidden in these strange, ruined buldings. I was chosen to be part of an exploration team sent inside what we thought to be a shabby warehouse, but once inside the stench of rotting flesh almost stunned me. In the dim light of our lantern we saw thousand of little shiny eyes, belonging to countlesss baby orcs fighting one another or feasting on rats and other vermin. Here and there my eyes catched the shapes of pregnant orc females, their swelled wombs forcing them to sit helplessy in the dirt. We all knew war too well and knew what had to be done, but in my heart i felt like the monsters i sworn to fight, as killing children was horrible for me, regardless of their race. Our commander ordered to set fire to these warrens, and i think i will never forget their screams... that day i paid with my own humanity the price of joining the crusade ..."

- Jarn, Bannor soldier -

Very nice! I'm adding it.

 

[Kael]

I tried to think up a couple...

Mines of Galdur (shamelessly stolen from the band Great Big Sea)
Well there's overtime and bonus opportunities galore;
The young dwarves like their money and they all come back for more.
But soon you're knocking on, and you look older than you should;
For ev'ry bob laid on the job you pay with flesh and blood.
--Dwarven mining chant

Smokehouse
In the frozen tundra of the Age of Ice people rarely had to worry about preserving their meat for the future, for the incredibly low temperatures could keep most foodstuffs in stasis for an indefinite period. In the rare cases where hunters caught more meat than they could carry on their backs, they usually dug a hole a few feet deep and deposited it there, where the cold kept it fresh and several heavy boulders prevented scavengers. Once they lost this natural refrigeration in the Age of Rebirth though, they had to relearn how to properly treat meat against rot, generally by drying and smoking it as it hung from the rafters of a special smokehouse.

Gridlines
Most cities in Erebus lit their streets with alchemical or magical lamps placed at regular intervals, which not only prevented the stubbing of toes but also hindered criminal activity. Luchirp cities in particular were well known for the number and regularity of such lamps, though many visitors simply put this down to their penchant for magical devices. These lights actually served an even greater purpose than usual however, for hidden on the top of each lamp was a small ball of lead in the shape of an eye, with runes to Nantosuelta and Sirona scribed on the back. Invaders of Luchirp cities would unknowingly dicover the purpose of these little statues in short order, for each golem therein could 'see' through each of the eyes at once, letting them expertly counter each assault at the right place and time.

I dont much like the Mines one, it just doesnt seem that fitting. The smokehouse one is decent, its a nice tie in to AoI, but not all that interesting,. The Gridlines one is really inspired, its interesting, tells something about the world and the building and really captures the imagination. Im adding the gridlines and smokehouse one, but I may change the smokehouse one later on.

 

[Corlis]

OK, here's a second shot at the Mines of Galdur; hopefully it doesn't do anything horrible to the lore; I'll confess that I kind of got carried away with how much I liked the song I used for the first one. Also, here's something for the Pagan Temple, perhaps...

Mines of Galdur
"The Khazad called them 'The Mother's Bones', and not without reason; Great veins of iron ore they were, wide as elephants, long as streets, and two miles deep. After extensive divination the Stonewardens guessed that there were half a dozen of them spread under the mountain, with enough material to supply the dwarves for centuries.
However, the Earthmother wasn't interested in just supplying her children with an easy source of material goods; The dense ore took back-breaking labour to extract, and transporting it to the surface was just as hard, even if they avoided the shadowy beasts living in the darkness. A joint venture had to be made to extract it, involving every dwarven faction on Erebus, and several human groups of Kilmorph worshippers as well.
Even with such cooperation, the work never truly became easy or safe, and the workers could always be recognized by their stout legs, scarred arms, and eyes that seemed to take on the hard grey color of the iron they mined. Kilmorph's children likewise became stronger as a group, understanding that unless they could learn to strive together in the mines, they would lose the source of their armament and fall to outside forces. This, then, seems to be Her ultimate aim: not just the forging of metal, but also the forging of men and nations."
Jobin Seras, Scholar
On the Interactions of the Gods with Erebus

Pagan Temple
"How can I worship what I do not know? Better that I should ask that question of you! Have you seen this Lugus yourself, walked through his heaven, talked with his angels? Perhaps you see queer things as you sit in meditation, but if a child came to me after sitting in the desert during the noonday sun, I'd treat him for heat-madness, not take his word as gospel truth! No, you may see someone behind the sun, but all I see is the sun itself, and the light it gives is all the light I need."
Ewin, Herbalist of Shotaka Village

 

[thewyrm]

Take 2

Carnival

After three tries, Timothy still could not get all three balls to stay in the tilted basket he was tossing them to. It was beginning to vex him, seeing as he had boasted with confidence that he would win a doll for Amelia. Curse her for dragging him to this court of charlatans in the first place.

"Are you sure this game is legitimate?" He asked of the gaudily dressed Balseraph attendant. The attendant took the balls from Timothy, stood at the spot he was supposed to and lobbed all three with effortless ease.

"Right there's your proof guv, just a few more goes and I'm sure you'll be sportin' a trinket for your lass!"

Timothy sighed and paid the man a few more coins. Then concentrated real hard on the basket.

 

[Genejack]

Archery Range

Across the yard, the siblings stood, and did eachother ey'd,
The string stretched taunt, the curve curved crooked tight,
The arrow sought, did led go, did flew towards the sight,
His brother there, did see the spike and then beyond, his plight,
The wood did breach, his defence then, and saw his own friend dy’ied,
The other side the green stood stone, as friend’s strike took its flight,
It ran towards the sky and back, ne’er his though may-haps try'd,
If master fell, did with this fall, lost all his arrows might.

I've put in two hints about which factions archery range this is. If they are too obscure (I don't think so, but then again I wrote it), maybe a postsript like "A foreign envoy, upon visiting the XXX’s archeries" should be added.

 

[smjjames]

Ljosalfar, they are the only ones who have a separate archery range.

 

[Genejack]

I suppose that's true, although I envisioned all factions having their own type of archery training, producing different-skinned archers with the basic building type being the same. I sort of thought of another faction.

But I suppose Ljosalfar archers practising archery by shooting eachother would be quite possible in a dark fantasy world .

 

[smjjames]

It sounded more like some kind of battle to me though.

 

[Genejack]

Drat, I had hoped all the friend references would dispell that.
Maybe I should have put the words 'archery range' in somewhere.

Another one,

Citadel of Light

The Malakim Citadel of light is a remarkable example of the remnants of the Age of Magic. Basic structure is that of a lighthouse, with its high central tower and wakelight in the top of the spire. It is often mistaken as such by the more primitive among the populace of Erebus. Much to their chagrin if they approach with hostile intent, I might add. Firstly, while the perpetrators are still far away, the wakelight starts to brighten, alerting all the cityguard of the approach of a hostile army, giving them ample time to prepare. Secondly, the wakelight grows to a large enough potency, for the allowance of a mage to tap into its power and direct a ball of fire towards the unsuspecting foe. And thirdly, the Citadel will continuesly draw power to itself, allowing said mage to continue shelling a sieging army with fireballs. Commanders of such armies often have to deal with considerable losses due to death and desertion, and had better take the city fast. Unfortunately, the Malakim are quite capable of making this task rather difficult.

 

[smjjames]

uh, the Citadel of Light is a Malakim building, not Elohim.

Just replace Elohim with Malakim in there and it should work nicely. Although you'll have to change the last paragraph.

 

[jimi12]

citadel of light is for malakim, not elohim. you must be thinking of the chancel of guardians. that is the unique defensive building that the elohim have.

EDIT: smjjames beat me. i like the entry, just switch it to malakim. also, i think sun magic is supposed to power it not fire.

 

[smjjames]

The description doesn't fit the Chancel of Guardians, but it does fit the Citadel of Light.

edit: it certainly looks better now. As far as fire magic powereing it, in xienwolf's manual, it does fire damage. Personally, I think it acts more like a laser, focusing sunlight into a tight, powerful beam.

After all, sun magic and fire magic are actually pretty close.

 

[Genejack]

Thanks.
I must be getting old, made a similar mistake with the veil temple .

As for the laser, I didn't want to go too much C&C Obelisk of light with it .

 

[smjjames]

I'll give the Catacomb Libralus a try:

One of the greatest treasures of the Amurites is not aboveground, but deep below. Dug deep into the rock below the great city of Cevedes is a great catacomb. This is no ordinary catacomb, for the corridors and chambers not only hold the bodies of deceased archmages, mages, and a few adepts, but the thoughts and words of many.

There are a few famous names such as Balijor, the adept who sacrificed himself to give the entire population of Numterat time to evacuate from the attacking Sheaim army.

Falyerion, who was a young boy when Kylorin battled Mulcarn, pioneered metamagic techniques and his work fills entire textbooks which adepts study.

Lorikadih, an ancestor of Govannon (his great-great-great grandfather), is the founder of one of the greatest Arcane Universities in Erebus.

Among the famous figures and the millions of less well known to nearly anonymous bodies buried here are the vast archives. Some materials date back to the Age of Magic that were lost and rediscovered, but most are from the last days of the Age of Ice to the Age of Rebirth. The materials range from geometric crystals that act like holograms, to ancient books, to arcane scrolls.

This is kind of unfinished as I need to do some classwork (damn procrastinator).

Also, I know they don't have holograms per se, but it's the best way for me to describe it.

 

[jimi12]

I took this off of the wikipedia site for aqueduct and modified it to fit ffh.

Aqueduct-

Although famously associated with the Kuriotates, aqueducts were devised much earlier by the Dwarves prior to the construction of the Underhome. Kuriotate-style aqueducts were used early in the Age of Rebirth, when the Kuriotate cities began to swell to immense sizes they needed to supply fresh water to the central metropoleis. Erebus' largest aqueduct was made by the Calabim and is a limestone aqueduct 20 m high and to carry water across a valley to their capital city of Prespur, however Calabim engineers called it the largest livestock irrigation system. The full length of the aqueduct runs for 115 km.

 

[Smiling Jack]

Ok guys, this is something new just taken from my creative mind. as you might notice i'm not a native english speaker, so please forgive me for every sintax or grammar error and help me improve my entry and my skills correcting my errors.

Eyes and Ears Network

Morin took off the blood stained uniform and rushed out of the barracs holding the plans in it's hand. After days of waiting He had timed his action well, and the moonless night was the perfect cover for his final escape.
He looked at the deep wound in his left shoulder, and even if the cold night air felt like fire in his lungs and the pain was overwhelming, he pledged himself he would deliver these plans in the right hands before dying. He would sacrifice his life for the sake of many, he would trade his existence for the lives of hundred innocents.

Before he could start running again, he heard a voice coming from a dark corner.

"We observed you a lot Morin, and we know everything about you. we know how much time you spent trying to steal our commander's attack plans, we know you have been stuk with a poison arrow and we even know you know when a good deal is offered to you..."

"Stop Morin. The plans have been changed, what you hold in your hands is just useless parchment; stop now, let the poison finish his job and no one will ever hear of you again.
If you go on with your plan and leave this city, then we will have to deal with your brother Closius, your wife Nira all your loved ones: they will just "disappear" but not before being informed that you defected and swore alleance to our commander.... in other words we will strip you of your life and your honor, and we will make your loved ones suffer....

yes Morin, we know everything about you. we cook the meals you eat, we care for your horses and we watch you when you sleep. We are everywhere Morin, even in your home town. Now be wise, give a meaning to the last minutes of your life and spare your loved ones a grim and brief future. just sit down Morin, and we will do the rest..."


Moneychanger

"Being a moneychanger is not easy as it could seem, my friend. First you have to get a permission from our governor, and this involves tolerating your personal life being put under constant control; then you will have to spent most of your time avoiding being cheated, studying and calculating the exact amount of gold of each foreing currency...

But if you can go through all this, you will discover the real advantage of this profession, which is something beyond mere profit. Coins can tell you lot on the nation they belong to, if you know how to give a meaning to every particular.

Look at this coins with the shield effigy, they are used in Bannor lands and are almost all identical! it is said that the smallest flaw found during the final inspection is enough to discard them.
Here, these Balseraph coins are the exact opposite, as every city takes great pride in creating the most original and interesting effigy. These.. o my friend, you are looking at rare Khazad currency, made of the purest gold found at the very heart of their domain...

and... Oh, i'm sorry, i just forgot you came here for my services and not for my stories..."

 

[JustinianVII]

I'll give it a shot.

Spoiler :

Catacomb Libralus
The hallways of the Catacomb Libralus are vast, cavernous, and dark, quieter than a tomb. One’s only company is his reflection off the polished stone floors, betrayed by a lit candle. Footsteps do not even produce an echo, as if the silence is forbidden to be disturbed by some unspoken law. Along the halls lie chambers lined with bookcases that stretch towards a vaulted ceiling. Writings of any conceivable kind exist; few topics go untouched.

Historical books from the Age of Magic speak of prosperity broken. A night sky that rained fire upon all Erebus. Entire cities vanish forever beneath an unending blaze. The stench of burning wood and flesh stings the nostrils. Cries of the dying, the hopeless, and the enraged assault the ears. Tomes once lost and forgotten from the Age of Ice lament the despair of the world. A ceaseless blizzard howls and only intensifies with time. A chilly breeze bites deep and ignores discomfort. A general feeling of hopelessness exists, under Mulcarn's despotic reign over creation. Fierce battles of survival echo all around—people hunted like animals by Illian or Doviello soldiers. An image appears of an old but strong and valiant man, standing in the snow and breeze undaunted, holding a sword of unspeakable power and majesty.

Tomes exist of untainted purity and heroism, of courage and charity that makes a man feel small and unworthy, and moves even the most stoic to emotion. The light of angels fills him and gives him hope for the world. Or unspeakable tomes that reek of darkness, of evil...written in ugly script that bleeds all over the page, in a language so foul that it might've come from Agares himself. The air around becomes thick with an oppressing darkness, the demonic lore whispering of horror and corruption and unfettered malice.

Books are there of knowledge unheard of, of magic and arcane lore so secret and complex, of higher knowledge that no man could know. That no man may have a right to know. And yet, it’s all right there, waiting to be searched and plumbed, begging to unleash seemingly divine secrets to an open mind. In it could lie the key to salvation, or inner peace, or an elusive answer to the problems of the world...but only if this depthless literature is studied thoroughly.

One does not just read these pieces; he lives them. Hears them, feels them, smells them, sees them. The writing is so real, so entrancing, that the world around seems like a poorly written story in comparison. He could've sworn he was in a different place, having left behind his life for something new...yet he was in the library chamber the whole time. The writings inspire, intrigue…the knowledge is so rich and deep that it cannot remain hidden. When a person leaves the Libralus, he is so moved and inspired that he tries to teach those around of his experience and newfound knowledge. Maybe, one day, these people missing out can experience it, as well.

 

[smjjames]

nice expansion on my ideas here

I'm not saying you copied, but it IS a really nice entry. Also, I thought the Catacomb Libralus would actually hold the bodies of dead mages, usually famous ones or those held in high esteem or otherwise. After all, a catacomb is a grouping of underground tombs, or at least alcoves for the dead. I even included an ancestor of Govannon, although I'm not sure if I went too far back in generations.