Collaborative Setting: An Age of Wyrms

[Land Outcast]

@ Graf: I think your remark was directed at brehobit's addition... just maybe

One of the counted places where dragons have no control is in some mountain kingdoms (some others have been made into Dragonies themselves, conquered), most ruled by dwarves, but rumors abound of underground ruins ruled by other races in emulation of the stout folk's success.

 

[Graf]

@ Graf: I think your remark was directed at brehobit's addition... just maybe

I hope that would be clear. Obviously I could be wrong, but if the goal is to make a "collaborative version of a world ruled by dragons" then having it state "but its really ruled by X" where X = demons, magic items, drow, etc. seems to violate the original agreement.
It's also endlessly iterative... the magic items were made by dwarves, who were being controlled by squirrils, who were manipulated by mind flayers from the future who want to insure they'll be created, etc. etc.

Since there have been three "responce posts" I'll drop something else out:
The green dragon Monistral rules a small centrally located Dragony, Verdun, which features verdant forest-covered valleys and mountains. She inherited her position from her father, Krazral the Savage, after he began an unusually lengthy slumber several centuries ago. Cunning and charismatic she exposes a philosophy of “self-interested good”; i.e. that she behaves in a good manner only because it will result in long term gains. Attempts to divine her alignment by magical means have so far produced contradictory results.
Originally her neighbors, pleased to be free of Kazral’s unpredictable and voilent behavior, were willing to overlook her assumption of her father’s position. In the proceeding years her deft use of Verdun’s location between three larger and more belligerent Dragonies has considerably strengthened Verdun’s economic and social position relative to the days when Krazral ruled and solidified her position as its unchallenged monarch. In hyper-competitive draconic society Verun’s growth as an economic power and Monistral’s relative youth have rankle those around her but the Dragony’s growth as a regional trade hub, and the stability provided by the buffer zone her Dragony represents, prevents her neighbors from acting overtly against her or Verdun. Her tolerant attitude toward her subjects, reports of secret trade routes with nearby dwarven kingdoms as well as of wizardry and other “deviant” behavior also have drawn notice. This tolerance and prosperity make her generally popular with her subjects, especially those who remember the story’s of her psychotic father’s rule however a subset of Kobolds are complain that the freedoms allowed the "scaleless*" are making them "uppity".

*=a pejorative term for intelligent creatures without the draconic type or subtype (i.e. PB races).
[edit=in keeping with thread rules the only edit changes were some, very bad, spelling corrections.]

 

[howandwhy99]

The fantasy multiverse is actually a voluntary, electronic, virtual reality built to pacify and extend the lives of the overly-aged members of our neo-Huxleyan world in the year 2100 AD.

 

[Infernal Teddy]

While normally all high-level positions in the Empire are held by dragons and half-dragons, the occasional non-dragon has come to power. The momentary lord high general is a half-giant.

How about taking some terms from the persian empire, we could use terms like satrap and Padishah?

An enemy empire on the other side of the ocean?

 

[brehobit]

I hope that would be clear. Obviously I could be wrong, but if the goal is to make a "collaborative version of a world ruled by dragons" then having it state "but its really ruled by X" where X = demons, magic items, drow, etc. seems to violate the original agreement.
It's also endlessly iterative... the magic items were made by dwarves, who were being controlled by squirrils, who were manipulated by mind flayers from the future who want to insure they'll be created, etc. etc.

I appologize, I thought that "direct ruling class" actually left room for a power behind the throne (indirect ruling class). But I agree it was a bad idea and I'll strike it.

Mark

 

[Graf]

I appologize, I thought that "direct ruling class" actually left room for a power behind the throne (indirect ruling class). But I agree it was a bad idea and I'll strike it.

I should probably apologize too. I didn't mean to be excessively critical and your point about direct and indirect is an understandable one.

Powerful intelligent magical items could be an interesting part of the setting. Two random ideas:
1. The five ancient chromatic dragons who lead the destruction of the elves fell ill and died as the centuries passed. But some sort of ancient curse still lingers. Each one has left behind an artifact, specifically some piece of their body, the five parts claw, eye, tooth, horn (blue) and horns (black), reportedly grant great power to one who attaches them to their body.
2. Transformation into a Dracolich is revolting to most wyrms, but over the years a shadowy collective of dragons called the Bone Circle has developed. With patience that outlasts that of even the greatest wyrms they happily wait for their foes to weaken in old age. In an attempt to counter this trend a number of good dragons calling themselves the Vigilant Makers have created an magical items and empower them with their souls upon death. In this way they hope to stand eternal watch against the Bone Circle.

 

[Someone]

There are those who would prefer not to be dominated by dragons. Since using weapons and magic is closely watched and "discouraged", they train in unarmed combat and psionics, which need little special equipment.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Politically, dragons fall into three major groups by color type - chromatic, gem and metallic. No dragon is tied to the affiliation of their birth -- any dragon can wear ornamentation showing off their chosen political affiliation -- but crossing color boundaries raises eyebrows and rarely are such converts fully trusted by their new affiliation.

Dragons not born into an affiliation (such as shadow dragons) sometimes form their own power structures, but more often go their own way instead.

Religious affiliations cross all political affiliations and serve to make dragon politics more complex.

 

[Infernal Teddy]

Only the wisest and most "valueable" members of each generation are allowed to become dracolichs. Each dragon type chooses their candidate by a method of the dragon type's choice.

 

[Insight]

2. Transformation into a Dracolich is revolting to most wyrms, but over the years a shadowy collective of dragons called the Bone Circle has developed.

This kinda contradicts the above post about becoming a dracolich being something reserved for the most revered dragons.

Here's my entry for now:

Though modern dragons generally disdain the undead, especially attempts by other dragons to become dracoliches, this belief was not always the case. In fact, in the annals of old, there are many tales of dying leaders becoming liches to prolong their lives and whatever causes they served.

Over time, this practice earned an unsavory reputation, and declined in popularity. As recently as 500 years ago, only the draconic clans Xaranthraxus and Derthanlicus regularly sought dracolich transformation.

** Hopefully that kind of smoothes over the above conflict. Cheers!