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So wait, I just put thought into this. I know, pity me, but hold on. Assuming the genitalia are in the same position as male genitalia, when one wraithu penetrates another, the geometry of it is just mind bending. Can't do it standing up with one bent over because the hole isn't there! And lying down? HA! I imagine it would appear as if one is doing the worm atop another. Standing face to face would be the easiest, but the leverage would be off, I imagine. I just realized I actually had to visualize all that. Ugh.
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| # ? Mar 8, 2012 02:46 |
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| # ? May 20, 2013 15:55 |
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Tasoth posted:So wait, I just put thought into this. But suppose Just suppose They were prehensile. 
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| # ? Mar 8, 2012 02:54 |
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Punting posted:But suppose What like a dolphin or some 
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| # ? Mar 8, 2012 02:56 |
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Worse. Semen anemones.
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| # ? Mar 8, 2012 03:01 |
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Wait are those the ones with penises larger than their bodies?
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| # ? Mar 8, 2012 03:05 |
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Ronwayne posted:Wait are those the ones with penises larger than their bodies? That's ducks, at least if we're talking longer. The things you learn watching QI!
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| # ? Mar 8, 2012 03:10 |
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Midjack posted:Does anyone have Tales from the Floating Vagabond? I was too young to appreciate it when it was released but it might have some potential. I do, along with several other old and/or weird and/or unappreciated RPG rulebooks sitting on my desk right now. I'm still trying to decide which one I want to write up first. You may have just helped me make up my mind.
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| # ? Mar 8, 2012 03:10 |
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Tasoth posted:So wait, I just put thought into this. Based on the very awkward description of the wraeththu's feminine sex, it's between the scrotum and anus. Which... is actually where the muscular root of the human penis is. Assuming that 'parts' or something, the result is fairly normal penetrative sex. I hate you because you made me think about this (and visualise it) far more than I ever wanted/intended to. I cannot express how much I hate you right now in proper words, so I'll just go with ugghgharargharbl.
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| # ? Mar 8, 2012 03:17 |
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Bieeardo posted:Worse. Semen anemones. We call them semenemones.
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| # ? Mar 8, 2012 03:27 |
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I think we need to change the thread's headliner.
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| # ? Mar 8, 2012 03:30 |
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Analyzing all the ridiculous biological fallacies of the Wraethuluhulahoop is honestly my favorite part. 
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| # ? Mar 8, 2012 03:30 |
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So after all that buildup they just turn out to have fairly normal if nonhumanoid dicks and vaginas, just simultaneously and they don't work very well? Coulda at least gone with slug-style hermaphroditic cock swordfighting or something. Imagine the PvP mechanic potential! Tubgirl Cosplay fucked around with this message at Mar 8, 2012 around 03:41 |
| # ? Mar 8, 2012 03:36 |
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Tubgirl Cosplay posted:So after all that buildup they just turn out to have fairly normal if nonhumanoid dicks and vaginas, just simultaneously and they don't work very well? Careful. She might steal that idea if it ever occurs to her to make another edition and then purplexvi will have to review it and oh god no.
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| # ? Mar 8, 2012 04:15 |
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The realization that I lost track of the date and am on break next week has given me the energy to write another one today. 7th Sea: Right here is where, alone and restless,/He begins a journey of a thousand miles. So, with the rise of Han Wu Ti, relations with the Crescent Empire were established, opening trade between the two nations. Ussura sent complaints about the mauraders of Xian Bei, which the Emperor ignored, saying that the Xian Bei tribes could not be controlled. They should understand that, as worshippers of Matushka. The Emperor didn't really care, as long as the Xian Bei paid their tribute. However, one tribe, the Toba, began to collect others under their banner. They were ruthless and bloodthirsty, makiing huge incursions into Ussura. The Emperor was an old man when Ussura announced to him that Matushka had reawakened, ready to unleash her wrath upon Cathay. He knew that if he sent his army north, it would leave the nation and especially the capital at risk. When the Toba sent back the body of a negotiator to him in a bag, he had no choice but to use magic. In 735 AUC, he raised the great Fire Wall, trapping the Toba in Ussura and leaving them to Matushka. The next morning, he was dead...and with him, the Han Dynasty. None of the Han descendants were able to control the civil war that occurred on Han Wu Ti's death. Decades of war weakened the kingdoms of Cathay, which withdrew from each other. Khimal moved higher into the mountains, Koryo deeper into the forests. Tiakhar ceased to support the Imperial armies and began construction of a navy. By 835, a group known as the Tai Ping Tao or Yellow Turbans arose in central Han Hua. They followed the teachings of the magician Yu Chi, seeking a utopian society that would eradicate evil via the quest for the jing hueng. (That's the Golden Soul. The Jade Emperor had it.) This led to the civil war starting again, which ended with the rise of a powerful duke named Tsao Tsao. Tsao Tsao worked to reunify the nation, and was most greatly successful with the Imperial Army, reconstructing so that it was no longer just Han Hua forces, but from all the Seven Kingdoms. The fiercest troops were Xian Bei, while a cadre of Han Hua nobles began to form their own elite units. Led by the Ssu Ma family, they challenged Tsao Tsao, who lost to them at the battle of Red Claff in AV 217. Once the kingdoms were brough under the control of the Ssu Ma, the the Emperor Ssu Ma Yen formed the Chin Dynasty, no longer fearing internal uprising. The Fire Wall protected the nation from Ussura and the Toba, and Crescent trade brought in profits. There was little need for a strong standing army...and so the Emperor disbanded the Imperial Army. While the Seven Kingdoms were shocked by the move, many nobles began to recruit the elite soldiers to staff their personal guards. When the Emperor died, the Chin Dynasty was greatly weakened, thanks to assassinations and resistance from the nobles, who knew there was no army to threaten them. The nobles were not the only ones to have strong armies, though. The warriors of Xian Bei returned to their steppes knowing the ways of soldiering and military thought. Ussura was backed by the Fire Wall, Khimal by mountains and Koryo by forests...so the Han Hua plains were the easiest target. The Chin retreated to the east and the Xian Bei seized the northern kingdoms. The southern Han Hua people sought protection from Tashil, and fortunately, the Xian Bei seemed unwilling to pursue them. That takes us to AV 533. The Sui Dynasty has formed with two Emperrors, reuniteing the nation except for Koryo. After several attempts to invade Koryo, they reach a peaceful truce with Koryo paying nominal tribute in exchange for being left alone. The Sui Emperors restore the Imperial Army, and the nobles, while not happy, know they can't afford another civil war. The Sui also begin to restore the works around the Hueng He river which had fallen into disrepair. Tribute from Tashil, Lanna and Tiakhar is re-established. Control of the empire passes smoothly to the Tang, a branch of the Sui family by marriage. The Tang Emperors become patrons of the arts, and are known for their wisdom and skill. They return to a more bureaucratic form of government, but with tighter control than before. The judicial system is overhauled, and for the first time, laws are codified across the entire empire, although Xian Bei and Tiakhar continue to use their own legal systems when judges are not present. Under the Tang, peasants are finally able to own land legally. Taxation is calculated per person rather than by land ownership, allowing the government to conduct the first relatively accurate census. Rice production is extended throughout the Seven Kingdoms, improving the diet and health of the poor. The Imperial cavalry is expanded, and ofr the first time, it matches the Xian Bei in size, if not skill. Many Xian Bei join the cavalry, especially those without much inheritance. The Tang also bring forth Wu Tse Tien, the first CElestial Empress and one of only two women to ever rule the Seven Kingdoms directly. Despite her beginnings as a lowly concubine, she rises to power as the Emperor's official wife, and on his death becomes wife of his eldest son (not her child, thankfully). She takes an active hand in the government, especially trading, which proves very lucrative. Much has been written about Empress Wu, not all flattering, Master Kung, after all, did not believe in women rulers, and the military believed her a usurper. The bureaucrats didn't like her cronyism, either. Her heavy taxes on the poor also reduced the glory of her reign, which ended in another civil war in AV 858. However, by this time the people seemed used to it, and were able even to be productive in the chaos. In Tashil, the ta trade rose, while in the east and west coasts of Han Hua, the porcelain industry flourished, Moveable type was invented now, allowing printers to produce books in great numbers, and also giving rise to a short-lived experiment with paper money. There are several self-declared emperors, but most people regard local nobles or governors as the authority in the region. The various kingdoms turn inward, relying on themselves rather than whoever claimed the Imperial seal this week. In AV 930, the General Chao Kwon Yin takes control. He is so beloved by his troops that when he successfully subdues the warring factions, his soldiers demand he accept the Mandate of Heaven. He is a religious man, however, and a strict observer of Master Kung's teachings, allowing him to survive quite a long time. He is also smart enough to know that an attempt to conquer Xian Bei would be futile, so he instead turns his attentions to Tashil and Tiakhar. He decides, eventually, that Tiakhar, as an island kingdom, is best left along, and that Tashil might be subdued by a display of arms and lots of diplomacy. The Song dynasty, founded by Chao Kwon Yin, favors diplomacy and tribute over armed responses. The Song encourage art and science, leading to the development of gunpowder. The CAthayan Navy becomes a powerful force thanks to the development of the bao chuan (which we'll learn about much later). These were big ships, basically. Medical science expands, leading to longer and healthier lives. Scholars flourish, as do artists. Song porcelain is the best in all history. During this time, jing ju, or opera is developed as an entertainment. PEace spreads throughout the Seven Kingdoms...except for Xian Bei, which is unhappy with the tribute it is forced to pay. The Xian Bei also dislike being seen as barbarians. They decide that now, while the army is weak and the people complacent, it is time to act. In AV 1230, the Xian Bei invade. At one point, they had ruled as far south as Pei Lin and even controlled all of the north save Khimal and Koryo. However, they had never conquered the capital, Jing Du, or been holders of the Mandate. They wanted a chance to prove they could do it. Sweeping south, they conquer everything up to the point of Jing Du. Once they get there, though, they find themselves unsatisfied. They know the Han Hua despise them, but they do not care. They establish the Yuan Dynasty. The Xian Bei are a proud people, tracing themselves back to the Yangshao tribe. They speak a dialect most do not understand, and find the Imperial bureaucracy baffling. Most cannot read, as well. While not as barbaric as many think, they are not accustomed to the same levels of social rules that the Han Hua are. The Yuan dynasty is a disaster. The new rulers need translators to speak to their officials, and the translators are happy to lie about what is said, knowing it won't be caught. The Yuan do make improvements of the canal system throughout Cathay, but they largely waste the Imperial treasury in a very short time and become very hated. Meanwhile, the north is threatening to dissovle into warring tribes. The peasants are unhappy, the nobles are unhappy, the military is unhappy and the Yuan are beginning to wish they'd never invaded. An uprising led by a peasant begins, screaming for the Emperor's head. The Yuan decide to leave in AV 1319. Hong Wu, the peasant who started the revolt, is extremely practical. He knows the power is from the land, and as the first Ming emperor, he focuses his efforts on improving peasant life. He reduces land taxes and ensures food is being stocked in case of famine. He orders all bridges to be regularly repaired and encourages farming and internal trade. He is less concerned with luxuries and has no interest in foreign trade. Emperor Hong Wu also restores the military to glory, knowing the Xian Bei will once again become restless some day. The Ming Dynasty also leads to the invention of the novel, which becomes very popular with the middle class. They also invent encyclopedias and dictionaries. Under the Ming, the government is reduced to prevent it from usurping Imperial power. The Prime Minister's office is abolished, and the Emperor is required to perform much more work as a result. He appoints a staff of personal assistants and secretaries, but this creates a bureaucratic nightmare, as everyone needs the Emperor's approval to do anything. Cathay is practically bankrupt as well, and while other kingdoms have treasuries and pay tribute, there is no way the army was ready to invade to get more money. The Emperor tries to print paper money, but inflation ruins the thing, reducing the paper qian to 1/70 of its value in coin. Minting coinage stabilizes the economy and gives people jobs. The navy is expanded, as a way of seeking more wealth. Its ships are far larger than anything Théah has ever built. Despite the money this brought in, Emperor Hong Wu is unable to realize his dream of building a great wall across Cathay. His plans are well designed and his scale model is excellent, but he lacks the funding. The personal assistants of the Emperor, after his death, begin to consider themselves the true power, and the Ming emperors are isolated from the people. The nobles build power unmolested, and the Imperial Army grows jealous of the navy. Politics becomes very complex in the Imperial City, and children are placed on the Imperial throne that they might be controlled. Corruption is rampant, and the infrastructure is crumbling. The Wu family is an old and powerful family. AS the Ming Dynasty rots, the Wu see a chance to save Cathay and reach Imperial rank at the same time. They are believers in Master Kung and the quest for jing hueng, and they have no tolerance for waste and corruption. Soon, they purge the Imperial City of toadies and secretaries, requiring examnations for civil service with harsh penalties for cheating. Crescent relations are strengthened and internal relations with all the otherk ingdoms are re-established. The Army and Navy are reorganized and streamlined. Taxes are lightened and the money is used within the collecting region rather than being shipped to the capital. Empress Wu Shang Fon takes power in 1649 AV, at the age of 20. Her father is sick and did not want to weaken the throne, so he consulted with Khimal's High Lama to choose a successor, and there was no question: Wu Shang Fon was it. Her beauty, wit, skill in battle and intelligence are in perfect balance. Her path will not be easy, the High LAma has warned, but she will be equal to it. Next time: The Seven Kingdoms of Cathay! Mors Rattus fucked around with this message at Mar 9, 2012 around 04:39 |
| # ? Mar 8, 2012 04:17 |
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SWMadness posted:Analyzing all the ridiculous biological fallacies of the Wraethuluhulahoop is honestly my favorite part. My favorite part is spreading the panic and confusion I feel when I actually pondering these things from the standpoint my education landed me to everyone else. Also, thanks to that Semenemome joke, I can only picture a pair of Wraithu awkwardly spending the night at the local dive bar trying to pick each other up, finally realizing they want each other, going home and, when the clothes hit the floor, each has the face of Zoidberg where their genitalia are. WOOBWOOBWOOBWOOBWOOB
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| # ? Mar 8, 2012 05:43 |
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You could run an Apocolypse World game set in Wraethuhu where the party is humans trying to survive. The sex related thing would be the sexy character class having the ability to survive sex with a Wreathuthu.
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| # ? Mar 8, 2012 07:38 |
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Wraeththu Wicked tummy-aches Geography & Culture Okay, so just to try and make sense of the dumb new names we're dealing with. North America is now Megalithica, and the entire west coast collapsed into the sea, the humans are in charge of the east coast, and the Wraeththu are being fuckheads all over the center, north and south. Almagabra is either South America or somewhere in Asia. I think it might be South America, hosed if I know, what's important about this place is that it has the CITY OF IMMANION, which is the magical idyllic city of the Wraeththu. On the other hand, it also has a place named "Floridana," so maybe this is what became of the West Coast and it's just sort of floating around in the Pacific somewhere? gently caress this stupid poo poo. Alba Sulh is the UK, you can tell because they decided to name the capital loving "Avalona." Seriously. Olathe seems to be the Middle East. Just about the only two places that have recognizable names otherwise are Freygard(Sweden/Norway) and Nunavut(far north Canada). The only places that are marked as THE HUMAN DOMINIONS seem to be Denmark, 'round the edges of the Baltic and Russia. The rest of Europe has gone Full Bishie. Nothing about Asia whatsoever. Apparently despite the world going Full Post-Apoc just a decade or so ago, there's already a thriving entertainment industry among the Wraeththu. You'd think that, what with the vivid descriptions of biological and chemical weapons being deployed, nukes thrown around "with abandon," volcanoes, earthquakes and tidal waves, even the Superior Bishies would be fighting just to have a functional farming system or something going on. Oh and apparently there are ghosts and demons now and they haunt places. This is really only given a side-mention so we know that there are SPOOKY HAUNTED FORESTS and poo poo. Soda Lake Cat Lair: So there's this really spooky lake where some humans used to live but now the HUMANS ARE ALL GONE, so now it's full of SPOOKY CATS who are NEVER HUNGRY OR MALNOURISHED despite there being no food so all the Wraeththu are like "THESE CATS ARE OBVIOUSLY MAGICAL GUARDIANS OF THE LAKE." Oh and if you don't bring gifts for the cats I guess something bad might happen? Maybe they'll take a dump in your shoes while you sleep. Did I mention it's barely been a decade or two since everything went tits up? Somehow this has still done enough brain damage to the Wraeththu that they refer to machines and cars as METAL BEASTS. There's also a list of FAMOUS WRAETHTHU. Spoiler: They're all pretty, perfect and incredibly loving boring. You've got the MYSTERIOUS ONE, you've got the WARRIOR GUY, you've got the PHILOSOPHER DUDE and oh wait, did I say THE mysterious one? Because like half of these are MYSTEEEERIOUS AND SPOOOOKY AND NO ONE KNOWS MUCH ABOUT THEM, EXCEPT FOR HOW PERFECT THEY ARE. I'm sorry, this section is just so loving bland I can't even make fun of it. THE TRIBES Colurastes: Pedophiles with prehensile hair. Gelaming: Wizards and scientists. Kakkahaar: Gypsy wizards. Obliviata: Religious nomads. Sulh: Literally the third out of five tribes so far to be praised for how ESPECIALLY PSYCHIC AND MAGICAL they are. Also British. Uigenna: The generic GRAR FIGHTER BERSERKER dudes. Unneah: Flamboyant pirates. Varr: A bunch of military dudes and just about the only ones who don't prance around as completely androgynous, instead preferring to act sorta masculine. Religion If you believe in some deity hard enough it becomes real, no, really. Which kind of offers puzzling questions of why major pre-Wraeththu deities didn't do anything to stop all the bullshit, or maybe turn the Wraeththu into pillars of salt. And despite shitloads of different religions, Wraeththu are totally too civilized to ever have religious wars. Because they're not huuuuumaaaaan, guuuuuuuuys. Also if two Wraeththu make out they become telepathic together forever. Inception Selection: Gotta be pretty! Oh so pretty! History: Despite their superhuman intellect, Wraeththu used to just cut people open with broken bottles, pour blood on them and see what happened. Now most of them are less retarded and use, you know, syringes and clean knives and poo poo. Process: First they starve you and wash you for days. Then they shave you and bleed on you. Then your body forms a cocoon of poo poo and blood which somehow protects you from infection and saves you from having major organ failure while your DNA is being rewritten! quote:Internally the Wraeththu DNA will latch on to that of the humans in a manner similar to that of a virus. Then, harish DNA gradually overwrites the human code. Also the DNA brings ribosomes with it, which help the mutation process to change the human tissue and organs. Then you have a WICKED tummy-ache as your new pseudo-vagina gouges out a pocket inside your stomach for itself. Then your cock turns into a flower. "Muscles will at first retract, then regrow in a stronger form. The bone structure will become denser, but at the same time more flexible." And then the cocoon of human poo poo and scabs falls off and you're now a beautiful butterfly! Also if no one fucks you afterwards you become a crazy zombie Wraeththu who attacks everything. And if you're not perfect and beautiful after the transformation, for instance if your bad eyesight or hearing has remained, the other Wraeththu will set you on fire or ritually murder you.  Mostly just adding this because the art style changes a bit around here, getting a bit more anime There's a bit on the extremely boring tribe-specific Inception rituals, but the only ones that stand out are the Obliviata, who are the only ones that DON'T kidnap and surprise sex random humans, instead only taking willing supplicants, the Varr, who actually do it in a scientific way instead of a religious fashion, and attend to the poor person with painkillers and stuff if the UTTER MISERY becomes too miserable, and the Colurastes, who, as mentioned repeatedly, are creepy, creepy pedophiles! Bad names of the chapter: Wraxilan, Laice, Loveless. EDIT: For anyone who cares, here's a somewhat more believable-looking picture of Storm Constantine than the prettied-up one a page or two back: http://www.antipope.org/feorag/fluf...ges/Image9.html PurpleXVI fucked around with this message at Mar 8, 2012 around 07:58 |
| # ? Mar 8, 2012 07:42 |
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PurpleXVI posted:EDIT: For anyone who cares, here's a somewhat more believable-looking picture of Storm Constantine than the prettied-up one a page or two back: http://www.antipope.org/feorag/fluf...ges/Image9.html WHY DID YOU HAVE TO SHATTER WHAT LITTLE GENUINE GOOD I WAS GARNERING FROM THIS drat YOU FOREVERRRRRRRR
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| # ? Mar 8, 2012 08:03 |
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quote:Internally the Wraeththu DNA will latch on to that of the humans in a manner similar to that of a virus. Then, harish DNA gradually overwrites the human code. Also the DNA brings ribosomes with it, which help the mutation process to change the human tissue and organs. What. DNA cannot "bring ribosomes" on its own unless the DNA in question actually has genes for producing them. And even then, they need a way of inserting those genes into the host's genome. Ribosomes only create proteins from mRNA (transcribed genes that go out of the nucleus to the surrounding area where the machinery to properly process those proteins is located), they won't assist the actual process of "mutating". At all. Because THAT'S NOT HOW RIBOSOMES WORK.  Retroviruses (which I assume are the ones that they're referencing here) have their own special enzymes, called reverse-transcriptase that turn their own RNA genome into a DNA sequence that they splice into a random chunk of whatever host DNA they can get into. The hosts own ribosomes and machinery actually transcribe and translate that DNA once it's inserted into the host's genome though. And that's not even going into the fact that "rewriting DNA" won't change existing tissues or organs. You'd need to find a way to force adult, differentiated cells to turn into a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT cell type and begin dividing again, which is really what the whole stem cell research area is focused on right now. And even then, it wouldn't be "changing" existing structures as much as just growing an entirely new one, which you would imagine would take a fair amount of time and energy. quote:The genetic mutation takes place over the first two days, with the organs changing at a slower rate. The process is similar to an embryo gestating in a womb, as the cells and organs of the human are literally reborn. But... but you just said it works like a virus and.... loving hell. So according to this, the victim turns into a puddle of undifferentiated stem cells for a short period of time while undergoing the process. No wonder it hurts. PurpleXVI posted:
Denser bones cannot be more flexible. It's a tradeoff between strength, weight, and flexibility. Want a flexible skeleton? It's going to be light and spongier. Want a strong skeleton that can support more powerful muscles anchored to it? It's going to be much denser. And now it's three in the morning and I've spent far too much time pointing out the obvious fact that the authors have never attended a biology class in their life. 
SWMadness fucked around with this message at Mar 8, 2012 around 08:11 |
| # ? Mar 8, 2012 08:04 |
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SWMadness posted:And now it's three in the morning and I've spent far too much time pointing out the obvious fact that the authors have never attended a biology class in their life. Good Christ imagine if they had! Then we'd get to see them misuse words and phrases like totipotent, transcriptase, epimorphosis, or seeing as this is all about androgyny we could marvel as they screw up sex determination! "No see the magic Wraithulhu enzymes act like beta-catenin and to dedifferentiate adult cells and cleave off the small arm of the Y chromosome!" Imagine how much more it would hurt if they knew just enough to be wrong.
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| # ? Mar 8, 2012 08:25 |
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"All Wreathulhu are pretty and perfect and flawless because we murder the ones that aren't" EDIT: Speaking of pretty and perfect and flawless, somebody remind me to do my next Synibarr writeup tomorrow.
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| # ? Mar 8, 2012 08:27 |
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I'm going to say it is because it is three thirty in the morning and I am approaching close to twenty four hours up, but reading your last update on how Inception work literally resulted in me responding like I was taking blows to the head. I wish I was kidding. This work has literally caused me to act like I was assaulted. Jesus making GBS threads marble kittens. SWMadness covered it pretty well on how retroviruses work. What's interesting is how they are countered by proteins known as a Restricton Enzymes in bacteria. These enzymes look for palindromes of nucleotides (such as AGAAGA) and cleave in the middle on both sides, often in a fashion where the two strands of DNA have little over extending bits known as Sticky Ends. Additionally, once humans discovered these, we started using these to splice DNA. And we still do, ECoRI and HIndIII being ones I was exposed to in undergrad. Additionally, the origin of fetal structures is waaaay different than what Ms.Constantine believes. You're mostly a blob of cells that turns into a sheet of cells that curls into a tube of cells that then grows shut. All the separate bits are created by a controlled dying off of cells in set patterns controlled by multiple chemical gradients within the womb. Undergoing that again with a fully developed nervous system is either going to be fatal or do significant damage to you. The muscle thing and what not SW covered. Question: What is the max speed a Wraithu can move at? Because, you see, cheetahs can only sprint at their maximum speed for a handful a seconds before they cook themselves alive from the heat they generate. That's right, world's fastest animal has to bag a kill within (I think) about thirteen seconds or they pack it up and go home with way less energy than they started with. So, assuming we have SUPRA FAST HUMANOIDS, which are going to eat way loving more energy propelling a two legged frame to such speeds than a cheetah, these guys should radiate heat like a literal oven. If there is typos, too bad. I should be sleeping. EDIT: I spent an good portion laying in bed once I realized I got my origin of Restriction Enzymes wrong and I had to come back and change it. gently caress me. Tasoth fucked around with this message at Mar 8, 2012 around 09:40 |
| # ? Mar 8, 2012 08:38 |
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Any history majors want to do this to 7th Sea?
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| # ? Mar 8, 2012 08:43 |
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Tasoth posted:I'm going to say it is because it is three thirty in the morning and I am approaching close to twenty four hours up, but reading your last update on how Inception work literally resulted in me responding like I was taking blows to the head. Not that I don't empathize with your suffering, but this just makes me feel proud.
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| # ? Mar 8, 2012 08:47 |
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Ronwayne posted:Just accept they have the same plot armor that lets zombies defeat the combined military forces of the entire planet. There's sort of a difference between yaoi fetish material dudes and five billion single-minded bodies that ignore fatigue, hunger and the elements and can kill you in one bite, though.
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| # ? Mar 8, 2012 12:25 |
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Count Chocula posted:Any history majors want to do this to 7th Sea? As someone whose specialty is East Asia, the Cathay book so far sounds pretty close to actual Chinese history from a quick scan. Some things are different, like Ussura (Russia) being the Xiongnu, who were probably the Hun, and the Xian Bei being the Mongols for instance. The dynasty names are pretty close though the Chin(Qin) Dynasty is the first imperial dynasty and the Han is the second. They may just be using some Wade-Giles transliteration of Xin but the Xin Dynasty was a very minor dynasty, only lasting 14 years. They actually have the Romance of the Three Kingdoms but Tsao Tsao(Cao Cao) seems to be given more of a hero status. Cao Cao is generally regarded as a villain, like Richard III in English history, largely because he lost and the history books were written by a guy who had a hard on for the Three Brothers and Zhuge Liang. Cao Cao is also very similar in his status to Oda Nobunaga in Japanese history. The Song Dynasty seems a little romanticized and the Ming sounds pretty accurate for it's decline before the Manchus invade and take over. RocknRollaAyatollah fucked around with this message at Mar 8, 2012 around 12:44 |
| # ? Mar 8, 2012 12:39 |
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PurpleXVI posted:Not that I don't empathize with your suffering, but this just makes me feel proud. That's probably the arunase talking.
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| # ? Mar 8, 2012 12:47 |
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Midjack posted:Does anyone have Tales from the Floating Vagabond? I was too young to appreciate it when it was released but it might have some potential. Yep, somewhere. Pretty funny, but the system was mostly skewed to failure (which I suppose is appropriate if you're going for slapstick)
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| # ? Mar 8, 2012 15:55 |
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Lemon Curdistan posted:There's sort of a difference between yaoi fetish material dudes and five billion single-minded bodies that ignore fatigue, hunger and the elements and can kill you in one bite, though. Of course there is. They're a bunch single-minded bodies that ignore fatigue, hunger and the element and can kill you with one pelvic thrust into your butt.
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| # ? Mar 8, 2012 16:53 |
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Ronwayne posted:Of course there is. Oh, you think they just have to engage in normal homosexual sex acts with men. But they have the semenemone that lets it happen in a heterosexual manner, too.
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| # ? Mar 8, 2012 17:08 |
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inkblot posted:Good Christ imagine if they had! Then we'd get to see them misuse words and phrases like totipotent, transcriptase, epimorphosis, or seeing as this is all about androgyny we could marvel as they screw up sex determination! "No see the magic Wraithulhu enzymes act like beta-catenin and to dedifferentiate adult cells and cleave off the small arm of the Y chromosome!" Well then at least I would have something specific to correct rather than having to go back and give an entire lecture on the CENTRAL DOGMA OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY. 
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| # ? Mar 8, 2012 18:19 |
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Transient People posted:First of all: Holy crap, the Legend review is back and I missed it. There are a ton of good points here (the one about the ratio of real maneuvers to passive enhancement in tracks is close to my heart), but just to check for a second: have you read the feats?
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| # ? Mar 8, 2012 18:56 |
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7th Sea: Those in the West have the peculiar notion of a place called "Cathay" wherre we all move about like stately porcelain figurines. These people are very simple-minded. Cathay is split into seven kingdoms: Khimal, Xian Bei, Koryo, Han Hua, Lanna, Tashil and Tiakhar. It borders on the Crescent Empire and Ussura, though the Fire Wall has seperated Ussura from it for centuries. The Toba, whom the Ussurans know as Tumen, were trapped in Ussura when it was raised; this was the real purpose of the Fire Wall. They were descendants of the Xian Bei, as were the Atlar'vahir of the Crescents. Now, let's look at the nations. First is Khimal, ruled by High Lama Kunchen Choden. It's...it's Tibet, sort of. It lies far to the north, surrounding the world's tallest mountain: Mt. Qomolangma. While most people find it hard to survive up there, Khimal thrives and often its people live to be very old indeed. The Khimal claim they are blessed by the gods, and that the presence of the High Lama, who posses the Golden Soul, gives them a great example. They believe that meditation, exercise and a good diet will ensure that life is long, thanks to good flow of q1. The first of their major cities is Yarlong Tsangpo, a shrine-city full of temples. Its people used to trade with Ussura before the Wall of Fire was raised, but now its major trade partner is Koryo. Life there is very old-fashioned. It is famous for cloth, and they say the city is a bridge to the supernatural world, where the gods are freeer to come and go. Next is Shegar, a lowland trading city that serves as a government office. It is also famous for fish and red pearls. Then there is Potala, the capital and one of the most holy cities in the Seven Kingdoms. Few ever go there, though. It is the home of the High Lama and once a year the Emperor makes a pilgrimage to it. Legend says Potala was chosen because the Goddess of Mercy appeared to a king of Khimal in a dream and told him to head further into the mountains. She said it would one day save Khimal. The name Potala was chosen for the goddess's sacred cave on Mt. Potala, a mythical mountain supposed located near Tashil. Potala is home to the White Palace, formerly the home of the kings of Khimal, and the REd Palace, home of the High Lamas' tombs and temple. Each High Lama has extended the construction, though the White Palace is now used for government business and the Red for spiritual business. On state occasions, the High Lama sits on the Snow Lion Throne, a golden chair decorated with gems represting the six perfections of the Golden Soul: prajna, or wisdom, dhyana, or concentration, virya, or effort, kshanti, or...also effort, shila, or morality and dana, or generosity. This books is not well-edited. Anyway, the current High Lama, Kunchen Choden, is a practical and humble man who is known for his dog breeding, his love of children and his skill at strategy games. Next is Xian Bei, ruled by Khan Dalan-Tai. It liesi n the Steppes between the plains of Han Hua and the forests of Koryo. It's a difficult land - little water, long winters and wind all the time. The Xian Bei are a touygh and fierce people, natural horsemen with amazing accuracy in archery. They are a nomadic people, and their cities tend to be little more than seasonal gathering places. The first city is Khovsalnur, which lies close to the Fire Wall. It is the spring camp of the Khan and was once the territory of the Toba. Next is Yolyn Am, the summer camp of the Khan and site of the largest festival in Xiuan Bei: the Naadam, a week-long market and athletic competition. The High Lama of Khimal even came by once and particpated in the heavy betting on the games! The Naadam features a triathlon of horse racing, archery and wrestling. Men and women can both compete, but the wrestling bouts are seperated by gender. Children are allowed to compete in the race as early as five! But it is the wrestling that is most popular. On the day after the wrestling, the Khan holds an open court and the evening is devoted to a special event for the women, forbidden to the men to even view, to welcome new eligible brides into society. The final day is a great fist and celebration. After that is Amarbaya, the autumn camp, which is essentially a giant flea market rather than a city. Last is Dharkan, the winter camp and one of the few cities with permanent buildings. It is home to the fishermen and netmakers, and they tend to be there all year. When the Khan is here, it is the time for meetings with officials from Han Hua and the Empress. The last is the capital, Sukhbataar, an ancient location from the time when Xian Bei ruled a much larger area. IT is the main camp for those who want the same residence year-round, and also the home of the Xian Bei's military staging ground. There is also a monastery thjat was founded a centyury ago, which the High Lama is quite interested in. They are more physically inclined than most monks. Next up: Koryo, ruled by King Kye Hwan Bae. Koryo is home to a very private people, deep in the forests between Khimal and Xian Bei. Its people are shy and withdrawn, and its women are famus for their beauty. More than 80% of Koryo is forest, and while the ancient Koryo were famous as warriors, they have preferred to retreat and hide in the woods. However, they are not weak - they are practitioners of the martial art of Tie Xiong Kung, and one of the king's twin daughters, PRincess Kye Lim Ho, is extremely skilled despite being only sixteen. Cities in Koryo tend to be in clearings in the woods. They have very few paved roads due to lack of stone. First is Kayasan, a trade city and the largest in the kingdom. It sits on the border and holds the king's summer residence. IT is famous for hu po - that is, amber. Next is Backje, the former capital in Koryo's more aggressive age. It is really a complex of ruined shrines, and is said to be haunted by many spirits of the dead. The capital itself is Shilla, the most beautiful city in Koryo thanks to its location. It is on the edge of the forest, where it rises to steep cliffs, and the royal palace itself looks to be in the trees themselves. With no enemies, the people have little fear of invasion, but the city's defenses are amazing thanks to the cliffs. They fear lightning more than soldiers. The last city is Songnisan, which appears on no maps whatsoever. Only the natives of Koryo may visit it, for it is the home of the temple complex of the shin liung nim (roughly: Tree spirit friends), where the special magic of Koryo, the song hwang tung, is taught. Princess KYe Lim Min is a student there and promises to be one of the most skilled. Shinb liung nim teaches that the trees themselves will protect the forest from harm, and the Koryo as a whole believe that if invaded, the shin liung nim could get the forest to defend them. Next is Han Hua, the central kingdom of Celestial Empress Wu Shang Fon herself. IT is the largest kingdom in cathay and the seat of government for the empire. It lies on a fertile plan split by the Huang He river, and is what most westerners think of when the word 'Cathay' is said. It has a ton of cities. The first is Bei Hai Guan, a fort city to the north which serves as a staging point in case Xian Bei gets restless. It is ruled by Duke Tzou, who keep his army prepared in case Khan Dalan-Tai does not send his tribute. Next is Xi Huo Guan, which still shows some Ussuran influence from before the Wall of Fire. Now it is a fishing town, though the fishermen do not go out too far - the legends of the dreaded Mi Shi De Chuan ghost ships terrify everyone. Then there's Pei Lin, whiuch is basically a sanctuary for a huge number of monuments. It's a sacred place protected by monks who offer sanctuary to all travelers. The monuments tend to commemorate historical events and people with proper burials; improperly buried people can't have tablets raised to them for fear of calling their ghosts to the place. The place is home to the Da Xiong Bao Dian temple, an extremely holy site in which no living being may ever be killed. Next is Tien Jin, a major porcelain producing city. It is a major trading city as well, selling porcelain to merchants across the empire! (It is, in fact, here that Kheired-Din found the First Switch of Cabora - he claims it was a hidden oasis, but he was super high on a drug called afyam at the time. He was visiting a merchant here on slaving business.) Next we have Bai Tao, the secondary naval shipyards of the empire, and Xi Hai Long, the primary shipyards. However, most shipbuilding is done in Bai Tao these days, as Xi Hai Long has become something of a tourist destination after the rise of Cabora, and they want naval ships to be built unobserved. To the north is Hua Ting, where the sailors focus more on traveling within the rivers, bringing goods across the nation. Merchants here prefer to leave coastal travel to the city of Nan Gang. Northwest of that is the city of He Hai, which travels the western coast and Huang He, along with its tributary, the Fei Huang He, or Small Yellow River. Heading south from here, we reach Ji Long, another ceramics market, though a more relAXED ONE. Then we have the military city An Rang, on the southern border with Lanna. Hostilities are not expected, but it pays to be prepared. An Bang is much nicer than the fort city to the north, since the warm weather is appreciated and the people are more friendly. From there is Sheng Tao, the must luxurious place in the Seven Kingdoms. It is a place where anything you desire can be found, and is the ultimate tourist spot for all the land. The most beautiful people, the beast entertainment, the best food - all can be found here. Some believe the place is a violation of the religious necessities of empire, but the Empress laughs at them...and practices moderation. The worst she seems to do is stay up all night playing games, which is not much of a danger to the soul. However, Sheng Tao is also home to a terible slave market and drug trade. From here there is the capital, Jing Du, a city surpassing even Charouse or Iskander in size. Its mazelike streets make it easy to get lose there, and in the center of the city is the Gu Gong, or Imperial Palace - practically a city in the city. The people of Jing Du tend to look on more rural people with scorn. Then we have Huo Long Cheng, the most sacred city in Han Hua. It is the burial site of emperors. There are two great monuments here that bring pilgrims from all overy Cathay. First is the tomb of Qin Shi Huang, full of 7000 terra cotta soldiers of amazing accuracy, each with a distinct face. It took architects from across the nation, and each figure had to be painted seperately. The second is the Pai Wei, the memorial tablet commemorating the uniting of the seven kingdoms into the empire under Han Wu Ti. Speaking of Wu Ti, let's talk about his last creation: the Huo Qiang, or Wall of Fire. It was made in 735 AUC, using the power of Fu sorcery. (So that's what Fu is - it's talisman magic.) In fact, it took the Emperor and 63 other sorcerers to make. Publically, they were dedicating the Pai Wei...but in truth, they were making the Wall of Fire, the greatest act of sorcery since the Bargain. We get a sidebar now on the Imperial Throne. It is not exactly a Talisman, quite, in the traditional sense. It bears none of the marks. Rather, it is a focus of power. Normally, a Fu Master can only lay down a single hexagram on a Talisman, and that is why it took 64 to make the Wall of Fire. The Imperial Throne, however, allows a Fu Master to alter a Talisman even with multiple effects. To use the Throne, you need permission and you must be a Fu Master - using it without permission is death, if not by the guards or sorcerers of Empire, than by the throne itself. It knows its master. Now then! The Huo Giang took 64 sorcerers. One of them was the Emperor himself, and one was Koshchei. The Emperor had to gather 62 other sorcers who were willing to sacrifice their once-in-a-lifetime chance to create a new Talisman rather than altering an old one, to turn the PAi Wei itself into Shen, or Keeping Still, the Talisman of the Mountain. The only way theWall of Fire can be taken down is to get all 64 Talsimans and find 64 sorcerers powerful and skilled enough to reverse the spell. Of the 64 Talismans, the locations of 16 are known. The first of these is Ta Yu, or Possession in Great Measure. It is one of the gems in the Imperial Crown. Hsu, or Waiting, is in a shop somewhere in Freiburg. Chen, or Arousing, is in the possession of the villainous Duchess Meng, who is seeking the other Talismans. Kan, or Abysmal, lies at the bottom of the sea off Avalon, in the possession of Queen Maab. She has no idea what to do with it, but knows it's magical. Perhaps Derwyddon knows its purpose. Ken, or Keeping STill, is said to lie in the hands of Ebedi Yilan in the heart of the Muglak'kum desert in the Crescent Empire. Lu, or Wanderer, was given as a gift to Admiral Hai Ping, who set sail 200 years ago into the Corridors of Flame and has not been heard from or seen since. Chia Jen, or Family, is in the possession of Koshchei. Tui, or Joyous, is located somewhere in the Imperial quarters of the pleasure palace in Sheng Tao. And eight of them are strange and dangerous, and thus lie in the Treasury in the Imperial City, that they might not be abused. These are Po, or Splitting Apart, Ko, or Revolution, Kuei, or Opposiotion, Sheng, or Pushing Upwards, Shih Ho, or Biting Throuhg, Sung, or Conflict, Kuai, or Breakthrough and Chien, or Obstruction. Thus, taking down the Wall of Fire will probably be the hardest goal any adventurer has ever faced. Next time: More kingdoms! Mors Rattus fucked around with this message at Mar 9, 2012 around 01:44 |
| # ? Mar 8, 2012 19:10 |
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Ronwayne posted:Of course there is. The main reason is that zombies work as symbols of a lot of things and they need to be everywhere to serve the story, while wraithoo are a fetish.
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| # ? Mar 8, 2012 22:17 |
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Psalmanazar posted:The main reason is that zombies work as symbols of a lot of things and they need to be everywhere to serve the story, while wraithoo are a fetish. But still I think nitpicking the biology of Wreathuhu is a bit petty. You could do the same for any RPG ("As an alcoholic, I know that drinking enough to get a Major charge in Unknown Armies would kill you"). When I first heard about it I was going through a serious hipster phase and liked the idea of playing a pretty androgynous superhero, but I guess Starchild is better for that. I can't imagine David Bowie raping people with his acid cock.
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| # ? Mar 8, 2012 22:25 |
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For those playing at home, Koryo is not Korea. Koryo, now romanized Goryeo, covered most of modern Korea and was an independent kingdom. They were conquered by the Mongols but they were able to successfully revolt. Most Korean people would be offended by the implication that a Korean kingdom was a part of China. Then again, most Korean people are offended very easily by a lot things. The same can be said of Chinese people as well. The official Chinese government history goes out of its way to include independent, non-Chinese kingdoms and empires as part of China to preserve the current national boundaries of China. This includes historical Tibet, the Mongol Empire, and parts of Northern Korea. The parts of Northern Korea that China claims historically are no where near as encompassing as Koryo and Korean people in both Korean nations were outraged by the implication. I know this is a fictional game but Korean people would probably be burning effigies in Seoul if 7th Sea actually was something they would hear about.
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| # ? Mar 8, 2012 22:51 |
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Well, Korea was a tributary ally under the Yuan in the real world...but yeah, China never managed to conquer it. In 7th Sea, well, they mostly stick to the forests and send occasional tribute but have never been the focus of a war.
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| # ? Mar 8, 2012 22:55 |
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Count Chocula posted:But still I think nitpicking the biology of Wreathuhu is a bit petty. You could do the same for any RPG ("As an alcoholic, I know that drinking enough to get a Major charge in Unknown Armies would kill you"). Unknown Armies doesn't set itself up for criticism by making sweeping, blatantly incorrect claims about the chemical properties of booze, though. It would be one thing if it just said 'they're magical bishies that Nature loves', but instead it goes on about extra base pairs and ribosomes and things that are irrelevant, wrong, and make the writer look like a blithering idiot.
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| # ? Mar 8, 2012 23:03 |
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There are many horrible and stupid things about Wraeththththu, but for some reason the one that bugs me most is that the names of places have utterly changed into mythical/fantasy/made up bullshit after, what, ten years? London has been called London or some very close variation for literally thousands of years; it's not going to arbitrarily change overnight to something mish-mashed out of Arthurian legend, androgynous flower-cocked vampire invasion or no.
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| # ? Mar 8, 2012 23:07 |
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| # ? May 20, 2013 15:55 |
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Payndz posted:There are many horrible and stupid things about Wraeththththu, but for some reason the one that bugs me most is that the names of places have utterly changed into mythical/fantasy/made up bullshit after, what, ten years? London has been called London or some very close variation for literally thousands of years; it's not going to arbitrarily change overnight to something mish-mashed out of Arthurian legend, androgynous flower-cocked vampire invasion or no. I kinda want to start referring to all real places by their 7th Sea names. I'm part Spanish, and I've never really felt any national pride until I read the writeup on Castille.
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| # ? Mar 8, 2012 23:10 |
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