From 778e255106570a7cab68abb5e2a6698daf100247 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: AndrewMurrell Date: Mon, 25 Dec 2017 00:49:40 -0500 Subject: converted org to md --- src/apocrypha/anintroductiontoapocrypha.md | 23 +++++ src/apocrypha/anintroductiontoapocrypha.org | 29 ------ src/apocrypha/region_thecentersea.md | 13 +++ src/apocrypha/region_thecentersea.org | 8 -- src/apocrypha/region_theempire.md | 126 +++++++++++++++++++++++ src/apocrypha/region_theempire.org | 120 ---------------------- src/apocrypha/region_thenorth.md | 91 +++++++++++++++++ src/apocrypha/region_thenorth.org | 85 ---------------- src/apocrypha/thegournalgeographicaffairs.md | 133 +++++++++++++++++++++++++ src/apocrypha/thegournalgeographicaffairs.org | 137 -------------------------- 10 files changed, 386 insertions(+), 379 deletions(-) create mode 100644 src/apocrypha/anintroductiontoapocrypha.md delete mode 100644 src/apocrypha/anintroductiontoapocrypha.org create mode 100644 src/apocrypha/region_thecentersea.md delete mode 100644 src/apocrypha/region_thecentersea.org create mode 100644 src/apocrypha/region_theempire.md delete mode 100644 src/apocrypha/region_theempire.org create mode 100644 src/apocrypha/region_thenorth.md delete mode 100644 src/apocrypha/region_thenorth.org create mode 100644 src/apocrypha/thegournalgeographicaffairs.md delete mode 100644 src/apocrypha/thegournalgeographicaffairs.org diff --git a/src/apocrypha/anintroductiontoapocrypha.md b/src/apocrypha/anintroductiontoapocrypha.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e62a097 --- /dev/null +++ b/src/apocrypha/anintroductiontoapocrypha.md @@ -0,0 +1,23 @@ +--- +title: "An Introduction to Apocrypha" +updated: "2017-12-23 Sat 14:21" +categories: AP +--- + +Apocrypha is a world of mystery and forgotten history, built from +first principles and the realization that even simple truths have +consequences. + +My goal with building the world of Apocrypha is to create a generic +fantasy world which is both suitable for books and for use with TRPGs, +and is designed somewhere on the coherency spectrum between the +Forgotten Realms and Discworld. + +Though it is being designed to function with the 5th edition of Dungeons & +Dragons in mind, I am also haphazardly designing a TRPG of my own +which may be abandoned along the way, but draws inspiration from +Apocrypha as well as breathing life back into it. Over the last 2 +months, I've found that working on one usually generates ideas that +are applicable to the other, and overall energy for both projects +benefits from this dynamic. diff --git a/src/apocrypha/anintroductiontoapocrypha.org b/src/apocrypha/anintroductiontoapocrypha.org deleted file mode 100644 index d37a45a..0000000 --- a/src/apocrypha/anintroductiontoapocrypha.org +++ /dev/null @@ -1,29 +0,0 @@ -An Introduction to Apocrypha - ---- - -title: "An Introduction to Apocrypha" - -updated: "2017-12-23 Sat 14:21" - -categories: AP - ---- - -Apocrypha is a world of mystery and forgotten history, built from -first principles and the realization that even simple truths have -consequences. - -My goal with building the world of Apocrypha is to create a generic -fantasy world which is both suitable for books and for use with TRPGs, -and is designed somewhere on the coherency spectrum between the -Forgotten Realms and Discworld. - -Though it is being designed to function with the 5th edition of Dungeons & -Dragons in mind, I am also haphazardly designing a TRPG of my own -which may be abandoned along the way, but draws inspiration from -Apocrypha as well as breathing life back into it. Over the last 2 -months, I've found that working on one usually generates ideas that -are applicable to the other, and overall energy for both projects -benefits from this dynamic. diff --git a/src/apocrypha/region_thecentersea.md b/src/apocrypha/region_thecentersea.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..be49016 --- /dev/null +++ b/src/apocrypha/region_thecentersea.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +title: "Regions of the Center Sea" +updated: "2017-12-25 Mon 00:13" +categories: AP LD +--- + +# The Center Sea +The Center Sea is the beating heart of the civilized world. +Tributaries from all directions meet and mix here, bringing ships +together from all the nations of the world, laden with goods and with +ideas. + + diff --git a/src/apocrypha/region_thecentersea.org b/src/apocrypha/region_thecentersea.org deleted file mode 100644 index 6db442d..0000000 --- a/src/apocrypha/region_thecentersea.org +++ /dev/null @@ -1,8 +0,0 @@ -** Regions of the Center Sea - -The Center Sea is the beating heart of the civilized world. -Tributaries from all directions meet and mix here, bringing ships -together from all the nations of the world, laden with goods and with -ideas. - - diff --git a/src/apocrypha/region_theempire.md b/src/apocrypha/region_theempire.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..fdafc11 --- /dev/null +++ b/src/apocrypha/region_theempire.md @@ -0,0 +1,126 @@ +--- +title: "Regions of the Empire" +updated: "2017-12-24 Mon 00:14" +categories: AP LD +--- + +## Regions of the Empire + +Midlands (Etra, Vala, Isla), the Provinces (Midwood, ?), the Colonies +(Cover Islands, ?), and the Golden Road. + +The Empire + +How long has the Empire been around? 111 ages, but how many is that? +Current one is 62 years, but some have been less than a year. + +The best tax records in the oldest provinces say the empire is about +60 generations (or 3000 years) old. The average length of an 'age' is +therefore, about 27 years. The General Edict was given 62 years ago +and has done a better job of keeping the nation running than the +previous code did (the previous Emperor's reign was rife with civil +war). + +#### The Emperor +Emperor Josef IV is the official name for Lady Lizbeth Yates, the +eldest daughter and only remaining survivor of the Yates line. Though +technically, only a man may claim the title of Emperor, few complain +that the Lady Lizbeth legally declared herself a man (or rather, few +who complained about the matter remain among the living). + +### The Continent +#### The Midlands +North of the Marble Isle +Like the Holy Roman Empire if it were actually in Rome. Very +melting-pot of cultures. High politics, medium magic. + +I need to figure out the bodies of water to get more details. + +Etra, Vala, Isla [transcribe from notebooks] + +Gleimendun is like Constantinople, a second capital of a broken piece +of the Empire. Because it has broken off, the Song of Conquest is +diminishing, allowing more old magics into the land. + +### The Provinces +#### The North +There is a great difference between the area of the north claimed by +the Empire, and that controlled by the Empire. The only area of the +North (or Chill-Lands) from which the Empire has ever successfully +collected taxes is the southernmost border settlements (of which there +are 12) and Fort North. + +It is often said that a single southern town could more than match the +value of the entire Northern province of the Empire, and that may be +true in terms of wealth or resources, but in reality few forts +anywhere in the Empire can brag the same quality of recruits brought +into the Imperial Legion as from the tiny northern fort and outlying +regions. + +The occasional goliath barbarian or glacier dwarf fighter making their +way south and wanting to try their hands (and axes) at Legion life is +more than enough incentive to keep the fort fully staffed and +supplied. + +#### The Midwood +The Northwestern-most stretch of the Deepwood, this is the most +'civilized' area of that great forest, or at least that most citizens +of the Empire could ever hope to reach. + +Full of elves, gnomes, florans, faunus, halflings, and their kin, the +Midwood is one of the most ethically non-human locations in the Jar. +Regiments of the Empire's military raised from the Midwood are often +called 'menageries' and use strange, but undoubtedly effective, +tactics in combat. + +The ghostwise halflings come from an ancient ruin just outside the +midwood. + +### The Colonies +#### Cover Islands +Oft beset by pirates and even more often by deadly storms, the Covers +are an expensive and dangerous colony to keep. That said, the islands +remain one of the few places for the empire to acquire rare volcanic +minerals and alchemical agents useful in the development of magical +weapons. + +After the Black Tongues were disbanded in the Empire, many fled to the +islands, where they find, fewer and more lax regulations on their +activities. + +### The Golden Road + +Running from the Citadel of Ice in the North to the Feet of the Last +King in the South and twisting, diverging, merging, and turning around +all sorts of places in between, the Gold Road is revered as sacred, +and it's tireless, invisible creator worshiped by those who would +seek safety traveling along its many gleaming golden cobblestones. + +The Golden Road belongs to the Golden God, though it is claimed by the +Empire where it overlaps land claimed by the Empire. That said, the +Golden Guides maintain control of the road regardless of the claims. + +You need a Golden Guide for the golden road, or you'll travel 100 +miles and never lose sight of where you started, or worse, you'll go +90 miles to see your destination right ahead of you, then 90 more +without it seeming to get any closer. + +The Golden Guides are either Travel Domain Clerics or (Fiend or +Celestial) Warlocks. Despite the ambiguity, the Golden God himself is +actually an Icon and a Fiend, a powerful one at that, and was involved +in the discovery of the spell which created the tiefling pact. Once a +gnome, the Golden God can be built as a [Gnome (Fine) Wizard 15 +(Transmutation)/Patron 5/Icon 5]. + +The Golden God always needs more gold for the road, and the standing +orders of the Golden Guides are to find and aid parties that can +supply large quantities of gold. The Golden God builds the road +daily, moving it slowly towards an unknown end. + +#### Lair + +The whole of the Golden Road is the Golden God's Lair. The gnome +himself is cloaked in a Perpetual Greater Invisibility spell (via +level 5 Icon power) and can cast *fabricate* at will. + + diff --git a/src/apocrypha/region_theempire.org b/src/apocrypha/region_theempire.org deleted file mode 100644 index 41f8853..0000000 --- a/src/apocrypha/region_theempire.org +++ /dev/null @@ -1,120 +0,0 @@ -** Regions of the Empire - -Midlands (Etra, Vala, Isla), the Provinces (Midwood, ?), the Colonies -(Cover Islands, ?), and the Golden Road. - -The Empire - -How long has the Empire been around? 111 ages, but how many is that? -Current one is 62 years, but some have been less than a year. - -The best tax records in the oldest provinces say the empire is about -60 generations (or 3000 years) old. The average length of an 'age' is -therefore, about 27 years. The General Edict was given 62 years ago -and has done a better job of keeping the nation running than the -previous code did (the previous Emperor's reign was rife with civil -war). - -**** The Emperor -Emperor Josef IV is the official name for Lady Lizbeth Yates, the -eldest daughter and only remaining survivor of the Yates line. Though -technically, only a man may claim the title of Emperor, few complain -that the Lady Lizbeth legally declared herself a man (or rather, few -who complained about the matter remain among the living). - -*** The Continent -**** The Midlands -North of the Marble Isle -Like the Holy Roman Empire if it were actually in Rome. Very -melting-pot of cultures. High politics, medium magic. - -I need to figure out the bodies of water to get more details. - -Etra, Vala, Isla [transcribe from notebooks] - -Gleimendun is like Constantinople, a second capital of a broken piece -of the Empire. Because it has broken off, the Song of Conquest is -diminishing, allowing more old magics into the land. - -*** The Provinces -**** The North -There is a great difference between the area of the north claimed by -the Empire, and that controlled by the Empire. The only area of the -North (or Chill-Lands) from which the Empire has ever successfully -collected taxes is the southernmost border settlements (of which there -are 12) and Fort North. - -It is often said that a single southern town could more than match the -value of the entire Northern province of the Empire, and that may be -true in terms of wealth or resources, but in reality few forts -anywhere in the Empire can brag the same quality of recruits brought -into the Imperial Legion as from the tiny northern fort and outlying -regions. - -The occasional goliath barbarian or glacier dwarf fighter making their -way south and wanting to try their hands (and axes) at Legion life is -more than enough incentive to keep the fort fully staffed and -supplied. - -**** The Midwood -The Northwestern-most stretch of the Deepwood, this is the most -'civilized' area of that great forest, or at least that most citizens -of the Empire could ever hope to reach. - -Full of elves, gnomes, florans, faunus, halflings, and their kin, the -Midwood is one of the most ethically non-human locations in the Jar. -Regiments of the Empire's military raised from the Midwood are often -called 'menageries' and use strange, but undoubtedly effective, -tactics in combat. - -The ghostwise halflings come from an ancient ruin just outside the -midwood. - -*** The Colonies -**** Cover Islands -Oft beset by pirates and even more often by deadly storms, the Covers -are an expensive and dangerous colony to keep. That said, the islands -remain one of the few places for the empire to acquire rare volcanic -minerals and alchemical agents useful in the development of magical -weapons. - -After the Black Tongues were disbanded in the Empire, many fled to the -islands, where they find, fewer and more lax regulations on their -activities. - -*** The Golden Road - -Running from the Citadel of Ice in the North to the Feet of the Last -King in the South and twisting, diverging, merging, and turning around -all sorts of places in between, the Gold Road is revered as sacred, -and it's tireless, invisible creator worshiped by those who would -seek safety traveling along its many gleaming golden cobblestones. - -The Golden Road belongs to the Golden God, though it is claimed by the -Empire where it overlaps land claimed by the Empire. That said, the -Golden Guides maintain control of the road regardless of the claims. - -You need a Golden Guide for the golden road, or you'll travel 100 -miles and never lose sight of where you started, or worse, you'll go -90 miles to see your destination right ahead of you, then 90 more -without it seeming to get any closer. - -The Golden Guides are either Travel Domain Clerics or (Fiend or -Celestial) Warlocks. Despite the ambiguity, the Golden God himself is -actually an Icon and a Fiend, a powerful one at that, and was involved -in the discovery of the spell which created the tiefling pact. Once a -gnome, the Golden God can be built as a [Gnome (Fine) Wizard 15 -(Transmutation)/Patron 5/Icon 5]. - -The Golden God always needs more gold for the road, and the standing -orders of the Golden Guides are to find and aid parties that can -supply large quantities of gold. The Golden God builds the road -daily, moving it slowly towards an unknown end. - -**** Lair - -The whole of the Golden Road is the Golden God's Lair. The gnome -himself is cloaked in a Perpetual Greater Invisibility spell (via -level 5 Icon power) and can cast *fabricate* at will. - - diff --git a/src/apocrypha/region_thenorth.md b/src/apocrypha/region_thenorth.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d9423a5 --- /dev/null +++ b/src/apocrypha/region_thenorth.md @@ -0,0 +1,91 @@ +--- +title: "Regions of the North" +updated: "2017-12-23 Sat 14:21" +categories: AP LD +--- + +## Regions of the North +The North is comprised of seven major areas, the White, the Wall, the +Wastes (or Spiritlands), the Chill-Lands, Fort North, the Vast, and +the Sunpeaks. + +### The White +The White is a region of bitter cold at the northern edge of the +world. It is constantly snowing from an eternal blizzard that swirls +around the edge of the world. It's chilling winds and subzero +temperatures make the White one of the most inhospitable places in +existence. But it is not empty. + +Ice wights roam the icy plane, remnants of those who knew the land +before the coming of the storm. But even these are benign compared to +the greatest danger of the frozen north, The White Death. + +Her lair lies hidden in mountain crag, covered deep with snow. The +greatest of her kind, the White Death is an ice dragon of unspeakable +size and power. It is said that she has seen beyond the boundary of +the world and glimpsed the great beyond. She wants to forget. + +Her presence in the cavern inadvertently protects one of the eight +Shadefalls (the permanent anchor and gateway to one of the eight +shades, in this case, the Icebright), from which she also is able to +draw energy to heal herself and power her Icy Breath, which magnified +by the power of the Shadefall, has the ability to turn creatures fully +caught in it to ice. + +### The Wall +TODO - Goblins, Giants, and the Throne on the Golden Road + +### The Wastes (the Spiritlands) +Roving tribes of frost goliath and half-frost goliath barbarians roam +the area known as the Wastes. Drawn to the area by the presence of +the Giants to the north, the barbarians are always alert to the +dangers of the Frozen Throne and regularly form war parties to destroy +whatever designs or advances are made by the Frost Giant kingdom. + +They do not do so out of any loyalty to the empire, but out of a sense +of reverence to the land itself and for some, a sense of paternalist +duty towards the unknowing smallfolk to the south. + +The tribes come together for the biennial meeting at the ancient +circle of stone known as 'gianthome'. It is a sacred location and is +said to be the location of the ancient ritual which created the first +goliath. + +TODO - Gianthome Circle, non-goliath inhabitants, faunus, spirits + +### The Chill-Lands +TODO - Twelve-Towns + +### Fort North +The only part of the north which can accurately be described as being +controlled by the Empire. + +TODO - Fort North + +### The Vast +The mountain plateau of swirling frozen wind and thousands of natural +shifting gateways into the Icebright. The entire area is suffused +with magic, which causes creatures that spend too long inside the area +to grow in size and risk becoming shaded. + +A creature shaded by the Icebright, cannot leave the Icebright or the +Vast without suffering penalties [???]. A creature born in the Vast +which has resistance to either Radiant or Cold damage may be able to +gain the benefits to size given by the Vast without becoming shaded. + +TODO - magic of the vast, geography, peoples + +#### Cities in the Vast: +##### Monastery of the North Wind +TODO +##### City of Glass +Home to a powerful sorcerer [Air Genasai Frozen Heart Sorcerer 18/Patron 5] who TODO + +### The Sunpeaks +Huge mountains. Connected to the Upperlight. Sun-soul monks and +clerics of Tabor. Conflict with the Coastal Colonies (and Black +Tongues, who have tried to take it over) . Not officially part of the +empire, though not for lack of trying on the part of the Emperor and +the nearby barons. + +TODO - Description of warming due to gateway, sunlight, constant daytime diff --git a/src/apocrypha/region_thenorth.org b/src/apocrypha/region_thenorth.org deleted file mode 100644 index 15fb961..0000000 --- a/src/apocrypha/region_thenorth.org +++ /dev/null @@ -1,85 +0,0 @@ -** Regions of the North -The North is comprised of seven major areas, the White, the Wall, the -Wastes (or Spiritlands), the Chill-Lands, Fort North, the Vast, and -the Sunpeaks. - -*** The White -The White is a region of bitter cold at the northern edge of the -world. It is constantly snowing from an eternal blizzard that swirls -around the edge of the world. It's chilling winds and subzero -temperatures make the White one of the most inhospitable places in -existence. But it is not empty. - -Ice wights roam the icy plane, remnants of those who knew the land -before the coming of the storm. But even these are benign compared to -the greatest danger of the frozen north, The White Death. - -Her lair lies hidden in mountain crag, covered deep with snow. The -greatest of her kind, the White Death is an ice dragon of unspeakable -size and power. It is said that she has seen beyond the boundary of -the world and glimpsed the great beyond. She wants to forget. - -Her presence in the cavern inadvertently protects one of the eight -Shadefalls (the permanent anchor and gateway to one of the eight -shades, in this case, the Icebright), from which she also is able to -draw energy to heal herself and power her Icy Breath, which magnified -by the power of the Shadefall, has the ability to turn creatures fully -caught in it to ice. - -*** The Wall -TODO - Goblins, Giants, and the Throne on the Golden Road - -*** The Wastes (the Spiritlands) -Roving tribes of frost goliath and half-frost goliath barbarians roam -the area known as the Wastes. Drawn to the area by the presence of -the Giants to the north, the barbarians are always alert to the -dangers of the Frozen Throne and regularly form war parties to destroy -whatever designs or advances are made by the Frost Giant kingdom. - -They do not do so out of any loyalty to the empire, but out of a sense -of reverence to the land itself and for some, a sense of paternalist -duty towards the unknowing smallfolk to the south. - -The tribes come together for the biennial meeting at the ancient -circle of stone known as 'gianthome'. It is a sacred location and is -said to be the location of the ancient ritual which created the first -goliath. - -TODO - Gianthome Circle, non-goliath inhabitants, faunus, spirits - -*** The Chill-Lands -TODO - Twelve-Towns - -*** Fort North -The only part of the north which can accurately be described as being -controlled by the Empire. - -TODO - Fort North - -*** The Vast -The mountain plateau of swirling frozen wind and thousands of natural -shifting gateways into the Icebright. The entire area is suffused -with magic, which causes creatures that spend too long inside the area -to grow in size and risk becoming shaded. - -A creature shaded by the Icebright, cannot leave the Icebright or the -Vast without suffering penalties [???]. A creature born in the Vast -which has resistance to either Radiant or Cold damage may be able to -gain the benefits to size given by the Vast without becoming shaded. - -TODO - magic of the vast, geography, peoples - -**** Cities in the Vast: -***** Monastery of the North Wind -TODO -***** City of Glass -Home to a powerful sorcerer [Air Genasai Frozen Heart Sorcerer 18/Patron 5] who TODO - -*** The Sunpeaks -Huge mountains. Connected to the Upperlight. Sun-soul monks and -clerics of Tabor. Conflict with the Coastal Colonies (and Black -Tongues, who have tried to take it over) . Not officially part of the -empire, though not for lack of trying on the part of the Emperor and -the nearby barons. - -TODO - Description of warming due to gateway, sunlight, constant daytime diff --git a/src/apocrypha/thegournalgeographicaffairs.md b/src/apocrypha/thegournalgeographicaffairs.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..17387a6 --- /dev/null +++ b/src/apocrypha/thegournalgeographicaffairs.md @@ -0,0 +1,133 @@ +--- +title: "The Gournal of Geographic Affairs: The Sun-Touched Mountain" +updated: "2017-12-23 Sat 14:20" +categories: AP WB +--- + +# The Gournal of Geographic Affairs: The Sun-Touched Mountain + +Welcome Readers, to the second Special Edition of our illustrious +catalog of facts and figures. + +Last year, after our exploration of the Lowerdark's Cragmag Caverns +proved such a fantastic success, we set our sights higher: to answer a +[nagging] reader's question. Lola, age 8, from the Valanacian city of +Florora, has been sending us letters. Over two hundred letters to be +precise. Each has asked the same question, + +"Deer GGE, what is the talest mowntun [sic] in the world?" + +And while we don't usually reward improper spelling, her insistence, +and the fact that no expert in the world seemed to know a precise +answer, convinced us to settle it once and for all. Who knew that +simple question one year ago would spark a fantastic journey of +discovery and collaboration that may have ramifications beyond what we +dreamed possible. Returning laden with treasures only one month ago, +the GEE (& co.) Expedition has brought us the greatest treasure of +all: an answer. + +Dear Lola, + +The greatest mountain in the world stands atop the far-northern range +of snowy mountains known as the Sunpeaks. + +Since the entire northern ridge is filled with enormous mountains +dwarfing (or maybe even gnoming) all other mountains found elsewhere, +it was rather difficult for our sages here at the Imperial Center for +Geographical Excellence to locate the general area of the range in +which the peak might exist, much less its correlative parallel, and +the sheer size of the range combined with its namesake ever-present +blinding sunlight made clairvoyance and scrying spells of little use +above 50,000 ft. + +Yes, you read that right. 50,000. That's almost three times the +height of Mount Pang and twice that of the Skyknife, but in the +Sunpeaks, that's barely passing for average. + +But fear not dear readers. The Geournal for Geographical Excellence +is here to quench your thirst for knowledge. For comparing the several +dozen peaks which form the Upper Cluster, we had to go to extreme +lengths (and heights). Simply put, we had to go there. + +With our collaborative sponsors, The Community Climber, Aerial +Affairs, Snowpeak Tea, and a grant from the Ministry of Maps, we +raised 1.3 million Imperial silver swans (a little more than the +monthly taxpayer cost to support an entire legion of cavalry), to +finance a voyage into the unknown, staking both our reserves and our +reputation on the Expedition. + +We spared no cost, hiring only the best of the best. Trackers, +weatherworkers, guards, and guides, we set out into the Plateau of the +Sun to find our answer. + +Six months we searched the pockets of mountains that exceeded our +50,000 mark, listening to local legends, sending up balloons, and +using a combination of our savvy and our ability to take small arcane +gateways to cross from peak to peak. And those were fruitful months, +even though we had yet to locate our quarry, days spent mapping and +drawing, nights spent gazing into the clearest sky anywhere in the +world (and then mapping and drawing it too)! + +We had found mountains. Tall ones. But had we found the tallest? + +We wouldn't know for almost three more months. The answer, it seemed, +was always no. We would crest a peak, only to find another rising +above us on the horizon. We had to to maintain a constant litany of +darksight spells to see (without going blind) and frost spells to +avoid melting (while in the sun) and fire spells to avoid freezing +(while in the shade). + +We had to conjure air to breathe. + +And it was in these inhospitable conditions that we found them. Not +mountains, those would come later, but our guides and our salvation. + +We were somewhere precisely north of the 47th parallel, when one of our +forward seers called for a halt. He had found a body. We assumed the +worst, and began to prepare a frost-bag for storing it to take back +with us when we came down the mountain (as we'd had to do with most of +our veritable zoo of animals by this point). + +Imagine our surprise when the body rose to greet us with a smile. + +He was a bald human man, and no more than a few years into his young +adulthood, and was absolutely blind, and fairly near naked. He led us +to his small mountain abode, filled with others like him. They called +themselves monks, but when I asked them about their order, they had +none! + +Though I would have offered the poor unregistered fellows use of my +official quill and Imperial ink (had it not been alternatively frozen +and then boiled) to register with an approved order, they assured me +that they had no interest in the ways of the 'folk from down +below'. Upon our request (and a few oddities accepted in exchange, +namely a small bowl made of True Timber and a pair of hollow diamonds) +the unregistered 'monks' agreed to aid us towards our goal (though I +gathered the distinct impression that they very much acquiesced +primarily in order to rid themselves of us). + +Two weeks after meeting with the 'monks' we had found it. + +The Sun-Touched Mountain. + +So, Lola, I'm sure you're lost interest by now, being the petulant and +insistent child that you are, but deep within the Sunpeaks, beyond the +ken of the civilized peoples, stands the tallest mountain in the +world. + +We didn't climb it; we didn't dare. And our humble guides requested +that we saved ourselves the trouble. For we had found it. High above +the world, on a ridge of mountains the locals call 'The Edge' stands +the impossibly massive peak. + +Shrouded from below by almost constant cloud-cover and the jutting +cliffs of that massive ridge, we only dared observe it from afar. The +expanse between the ridge and the cluster we found ourselves on was +measured in miles. + +Our best calculations put the height of the Sun-Touched Mountain at a +staggering 179,400 ft. And at it's peak, a brilliant day's Sun. + +I'll never forget the sight. + +Thank you Lola. Now please stop writing us. diff --git a/src/apocrypha/thegournalgeographicaffairs.org b/src/apocrypha/thegournalgeographicaffairs.org deleted file mode 100644 index 3d28b90..0000000 --- a/src/apocrypha/thegournalgeographicaffairs.org +++ /dev/null @@ -1,137 +0,0 @@ -The Gournal of Geographic Affairs: The Sun-Touched Mountain - ---- - -title: "The Gournal of Geographic Affairs: The Sun-Touched Mountain" - -updated: "2017-12-23 Sat 14:21" - -categories: AP, WP - ---- - -Welcome Readers, to the second Special Edition of our illustrious -catalog of facts and figures. - -Last year, after our exploration of the Lowerdark's Cragmag Caverns -proved such a fantastic success, we set our sights higher: to answer a -[nagging] reader's question. Lola, age 8, from the Valanacian city of -Florora, has been sending us letters. Over two hundred letters to be -precise. Each has asked the same question, - -"Deer GGE, what is the talest mowntun [sic] in the world?" - -And while we don't usually reward improper spelling, her insistence, -and the fact that no expert in the world seemed to know a precise -answer, convinced us to settle it once and for all. Who knew that -simple question one year ago would spark a fantastic journey of -discovery and collaboration that may have ramifications beyond what we -dreamed possible. Returning laden with treasures only one month ago, -the GEE (& co.) Expedition has brought us the greatest treasure of -all: an answer. - -Dear Lola, - -The greatest mountain in the world stands atop the far-northern range -of snowy mountains known as the Sunpeaks. - -Since the entire northern ridge is filled with enormous mountains -dwarfing (or maybe even gnoming) all other mountains found elsewhere, -it was rather difficult for our sages here at the Imperial Center for -Geographical Excellence to locate the general area of the range in -which the peak might exist, much less its correlative parallel, and -the sheer size of the range combined with its namesake ever-present -blinding sunlight made clairvoyance and scrying spells of little use -above 50,000 ft. - -Yes, you read that right. 50,000. That's almost three times the -height of Mount Pang and twice that of the Skyknife, but in the -Sunpeaks, that's barely passing for average. - -But fear not dear readers. The Geournal for Geographical Excellence -is here to quench your thirst for knowledge. For comparing the several -dozen peaks which form the Upper Cluster, we had to go to extreme -lengths (and heights). Simply put, we had to go there. - -With our collaborative sponsors, The Community Climber, Aerial -Affairs, Snowpeak Tea, and a grant from the Ministry of Maps, we -raised 1.3 million Imperial silver swans (a little more than the -monthly taxpayer cost to support an entire legion of cavalry), to -finance a voyage into the unknown, staking both our reserves and our -reputation on the Expedition. - -We spared no cost, hiring only the best of the best. Trackers, -weatherworkers, guards, and guides, we set out into the Plateau of the -Sun to find our answer. - -Six months we searched the pockets of mountains that exceeded our -50,000 mark, listening to local legends, sending up balloons, and -using a combination of our savvy and our ability to take small arcane -gateways to cross from peak to peak. And those were fruitful months, -even though we had yet to locate our quarry, days spent mapping and -drawing, nights spent gazing into the clearest sky anywhere in the -world (and then mapping and drawing it too)! - -We had found mountains. Tall ones. But had we found the tallest? - -We wouldn't know for almost three more months. The answer, it seemed, -was always no. We would crest a peak, only to find another rising -above us on the horizon. We had to to maintain a constant litany of -darksight spells to see (without going blind) and frost spells to -avoid melting (while in the sun) and fire spells to avoid freezing -(while in the shade). - -We had to conjure air to breathe. - -And it was in these inhospitable conditions that we found them. Not -mountains, those would come later, but our guides and our salvation. - -We were somewhere precisely north of the 47th parallel, when one of our -forward seers called for a halt. He had found a body. We assumed the -worst, and began to prepare a frost-bag for storing it to take back -with us when we came down the mountain (as we'd had to do with most of -our veritable zoo of animals by this point). - -Imagine our surprise when the body rose to greet us with a smile. - -He was a bald human man, and no more than a few years into his young -adulthood, and was absolutely blind, and fairly near naked. He led us -to his small mountain abode, filled with others like him. They called -themselves monks, but when I asked them about their order, they had -none! - -Though I would have offered the poor unregistered fellows use of my -official quill and Imperial ink (had it not been alternatively frozen -and then boiled) to register with an approved order, they assured me -that they had no interest in the ways of the 'folk from down -below'. Upon our request (and a few oddities accepted in exchange, -namely a small bowl made of True Timber and a pair of hollow diamonds) -the unregistered 'monks' agreed to aid us towards our goal (though I -gathered the distinct impression that they very much acquiesced -primarily in order to rid themselves of us). - -Two weeks after meeting with the 'monks' we had found it. - -The Sun-Touched Mountain. - -So, Lola, I'm sure you're lost interest by now, being the petulant and -insistent child that you are, but deep within the Sunpeaks, beyond the -ken of the civilized peoples, stands the tallest mountain in the -world. - -We didn't climb it; we didn't dare. And our humble guides requested -that we saved ourselves the trouble. For we had found it. High above -the world, on a ridge of mountains the locals call 'The Edge' stands -the impossibly massive peak. - -Shrouded from below by almost constant cloud-cover and the jutting -cliffs of that massive ridge, we only dared observe it from afar. The -expanse between the ridge and the cluster we found ourselves on was -measured in miles. - -Our best calculations put the height of the Sun-Touched Mountain at a -staggering 179,400 ft. And at it's peak, a brilliant day's Sun. - -I'll never forget the sight. - -Thank you Lola. Now please stop writing us. -- cgit v1.2.3