Lifecycle
The initial development of the Aralia from egg into bipedal stage takes approximately six months, at the end of which time, the child stands approximately 3 feet in height, but possesses basically the same proportions as an adult. Over the next year, the child will progress to full height and stature, and it is during this time that he is indoctrinated into the ways of Aralia society and the importance of loyalty to clan and race.
Once the child is fully grown, his education begins immediately, being trained in the trade of his clan, whether this takes the form of an academic course of study, military drills, or even manual labor. Aralia are quick learners, and education generally takes on some aspect of on the job training; children are effectively put to work within a year of their metamorphosis, taking on the menial tasks of society. The young essentially serve as the lowest rung of the work force.
The child serves and learns in this fashion for approximately 8 years, before his body begins to age and weaken, and within a matter of months, returns to the familial pool and enters into a form of coma. It is then that the child enters the first of his hibernations.
Aralia have evolved with a peculiar solution to the problem of longevity. Like many of the salamander species who share much of their genes, they possess a regenerative gift, able to regrow lost limbs or tails, and even some secondary organs. However, in the Aralia, this regenerative gift takes on an additional form. The body, once it reaches a certain level of aging, senses it's impending expiration and triggers a system-wide development of undifferentiated cells, a similar reaction to the blastoma that form around a severed appendage, but on a much wider scale. This process consumes a remarkable amount of energy and nutrients, which ultimately induces a hibernative state in the body. This state lasts approximately two to three weeks, during which point much of the body essentially regrows itself anew, leaving it as youthful as it was after it's first year of newborn life.
The Aralia call this the As-namsu, the first death, and it is considered to mark the child's entrance into adulthood. This state is normally induced merely by age, however, extreme physical trauma or injury can incite this regenerative state early, essentially cutting short the Aralia's childhood. Those unfortunate enough to experience this regeneration early are often stigmatized by the rest of society. Their intellectual growth stunted, these Zal-namsu are considered failures, having not even been able to survive to a natural As-namsu, and are relegated to a life of permanent menial labor and barred from ever ascending any further in their social hierarchy, and even from breeding.
This regeneration process will repeat itself approximately every 8-10 years, overall about 4-6 times over the course of the Aralia's lifetime, though individual examples have displayed shorter or longer lifetimes. The process is extremely complex, and is still not fully understood by Aralia medicine, though some experiments have been successfully completed in forced triggering of the process, and indeed, some rumors persist that in times of labor shortages, Aralia governors have essentially created Zal-namsu by inducing early regenerations in children, in order to provide a larger stable of menial laborers.
By and large however, the upper limit on regenerations seems to be mostly unavoidable, eventual final death being caused by degenerative failure of crucial organs like the brain which remain largely intact during the regeneration process and as such do not benefit from its healing effects, as well as an overall reduction in the kind of stamina and energy reserves required to survive through the hibernation. Some experiments have been made towards trying to extend the overall lifespan, but the procedure is incredibly difficult and has a rather poor success rate.
It is also not an "extra life" in any sense. The regeneration can be triggered by critical injury, but the subject must still survive the ordeal. If the heart has been destroyed or stopped, or too much blood loss has occurred, or the subject suffers brain death, the regenerative process will be unable to trigger as the systems that manage it shut down with the rest of the body. At best it may trigger in the final moments, but it will at most succeed in producing a permanently comatose individual, and is likely to simply fail, running out of the necessary energy as the body expires, leaving only a half-regenerated form.
Showing posts with label setting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label setting. Show all posts
Friday, May 25, 2007
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Nightfall
It almost seems hard to believe now that once humankind were the masters of this world. At the dawn of the 21st century, humans touched almost every part of the Earth save its most barren and hostile places. Their seemingly limitless adaptability, and the implacability of the human spirit had led them to accomplish great things, marvelous things. Men had plumbed the deepest depths of the ocean, and even reached out into the heavens, even putting a man on the Moon, that great orb that so many of us have now only seen in ancient books.
The end of the 20th century had, we are told, been met with much trepidation by many, feared to be the date of some great apocalypse that would doom all men. When the century turned to largely nothing more than a few glitches and then business as usual, humanity relaxed, now convinced that where once they had feared doom, there was now only an uncertain and exciting future. Optimism seemed to rise again, and mankind looked forward to it's next great triumph, as many talked of travel to Mars, and cures for seemingly incurable diseases, and bringing peace to torn lands.
And then one day, without any warning or cause or explanation, the sky went black. From that moment on, no light shined on the Earth, not the light of the Sun, nor the Moon, nor even the stars shone on our world. Whatever had blanketed our skies allowed only just enough heat through to keep the planet from simply freezing over.
First, there was panic. Hope was shattered, and now the certainty of doom was all too clear, written in the heavens with great swaths of black ink. Riots and fighting swept the globe. Leaders of nations rattled their sabers at anyone and everyone who had ever done them the slightest wrong, seeking someone to blame for this mysterious catastrophe. Halls of learning were attacked by frightened, confused people desperate for answers and receiving none. Stores of food were looted and ransacked. Countless people lost their lives in this global chaos.
The chaos eventually gave way to acceptance, and those that remained after this great tumult faced a very grim future. The lack of sunlight had killed crops in a matter of days, and famine became the true master of the world, as those that remained struggled to grow their own food under lamps, or scrounged through the cities in search of whatever food remained.
Then, in the midst of this time of great fear and trepidation, they came to mankind as knights in shining armor. They called themselves the Aralia, and they declared that they would now take control over the Earth, that they had lived for millennia underneath the Earth and knew how to survive in the darkness. They said they could give us food and shelter, that they had built machines that would keep the air breathable even as the plants had all since perished, but in return they demanded eternal servitude, life as beasts of burden for their great empire. The alternative was to be eternally branded a threat to their domain, and any who dared resist would be slaughtered, and even their bodies would be used as food.
They claimed to be our saviors. To many of the starved and frightened people that remained of a now shattered civilization, they may as well have been. And so, as these new conquerors poured from the Earth, much of what remained of humanity was simply absorbed into their massive machine, as they set up outposts all across the globe, endlessly patrolling for any humans who remained outside their grasp, or dared resist their might.
It has been ages since the Aralia took control over the Earth. Since that time the Earth itself even has changed, as what life remained after night forever fell over her lands has twisted and changed, struggling to adapt to this strange new circumstance. Scavengers reign supreme, twisted beasts roaming skeleton forests, devouring anything that might satiate their hunger, even each other. Rot and mold run rampant, giant fungal fields of towering spores and pulsating living soups of bacteria feed off the miles of dead and dying matter than litters the earth.
So much of the Earth seems to have forgotten that humankind once was it's master. The animals no longer fear him, not even the most docile of beasts that remain, and even much of mankind seems to have simply resigned itself to a life beneath the steel boots of Aralia battle armor.
Yet some of us have not yet forgotten. We still thirst for our opportunity to once again take back control of our world, and we will not go quietly into the dust as so many lost species have before us. We remind ourselves often of the days when the human spirit brought us to do great things, incredible things that so many had though impossible, and that even in the face of the most terrific odds, we triumphed.
Hope is our greatest weapon, and even should it prove only vanity, it should never be lost. Humanity must survive.
The end of the 20th century had, we are told, been met with much trepidation by many, feared to be the date of some great apocalypse that would doom all men. When the century turned to largely nothing more than a few glitches and then business as usual, humanity relaxed, now convinced that where once they had feared doom, there was now only an uncertain and exciting future. Optimism seemed to rise again, and mankind looked forward to it's next great triumph, as many talked of travel to Mars, and cures for seemingly incurable diseases, and bringing peace to torn lands.
And then one day, without any warning or cause or explanation, the sky went black. From that moment on, no light shined on the Earth, not the light of the Sun, nor the Moon, nor even the stars shone on our world. Whatever had blanketed our skies allowed only just enough heat through to keep the planet from simply freezing over.
First, there was panic. Hope was shattered, and now the certainty of doom was all too clear, written in the heavens with great swaths of black ink. Riots and fighting swept the globe. Leaders of nations rattled their sabers at anyone and everyone who had ever done them the slightest wrong, seeking someone to blame for this mysterious catastrophe. Halls of learning were attacked by frightened, confused people desperate for answers and receiving none. Stores of food were looted and ransacked. Countless people lost their lives in this global chaos.
The chaos eventually gave way to acceptance, and those that remained after this great tumult faced a very grim future. The lack of sunlight had killed crops in a matter of days, and famine became the true master of the world, as those that remained struggled to grow their own food under lamps, or scrounged through the cities in search of whatever food remained.
Then, in the midst of this time of great fear and trepidation, they came to mankind as knights in shining armor. They called themselves the Aralia, and they declared that they would now take control over the Earth, that they had lived for millennia underneath the Earth and knew how to survive in the darkness. They said they could give us food and shelter, that they had built machines that would keep the air breathable even as the plants had all since perished, but in return they demanded eternal servitude, life as beasts of burden for their great empire. The alternative was to be eternally branded a threat to their domain, and any who dared resist would be slaughtered, and even their bodies would be used as food.
They claimed to be our saviors. To many of the starved and frightened people that remained of a now shattered civilization, they may as well have been. And so, as these new conquerors poured from the Earth, much of what remained of humanity was simply absorbed into their massive machine, as they set up outposts all across the globe, endlessly patrolling for any humans who remained outside their grasp, or dared resist their might.
It has been ages since the Aralia took control over the Earth. Since that time the Earth itself even has changed, as what life remained after night forever fell over her lands has twisted and changed, struggling to adapt to this strange new circumstance. Scavengers reign supreme, twisted beasts roaming skeleton forests, devouring anything that might satiate their hunger, even each other. Rot and mold run rampant, giant fungal fields of towering spores and pulsating living soups of bacteria feed off the miles of dead and dying matter than litters the earth.
So much of the Earth seems to have forgotten that humankind once was it's master. The animals no longer fear him, not even the most docile of beasts that remain, and even much of mankind seems to have simply resigned itself to a life beneath the steel boots of Aralia battle armor.
Yet some of us have not yet forgotten. We still thirst for our opportunity to once again take back control of our world, and we will not go quietly into the dust as so many lost species have before us. We remind ourselves often of the days when the human spirit brought us to do great things, incredible things that so many had though impossible, and that even in the face of the most terrific odds, we triumphed.
Hope is our greatest weapon, and even should it prove only vanity, it should never be lost. Humanity must survive.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Who are the Aralia? Part 1
The Aralia (from "arali", meaning underworld, and "a" or "lilia" meaning child or offspring) are an intelligent, amphibian descended species, whose principal habitat prior to the Nightfall event was underground. Their development of sentience predates that of humanity by a number of thousands of years, and as a result they are significantly more advanced technologically than ourselves.
Appearance
Aralia are bipedal, and are approximately 5 feet tall on average, with a tail that extends about 3 feet from the hindquarters. The tail is highly flexible, but not prehensile. The head is of a similar shape to that of a salamander's, except for a more prominent domed shape to the top of the skull, indicated a larger brain than that of their primitive cousins. Their hands and feet contain 4 digits, 3 fingers and an opposable thumb on the hand, and four stout but long toes on the feet. They are hairless, possessed instead of extremely smooth skin that is actually covered in extremely small, slick scales.
Their skin color varies significantly, and is one of the major individualizing factors in an Aralia's appearance, presenting patterns and coloration as wide-ranging as the amphibians from which they descend. Common skin colors are grey, black with reddish patches, and green or yellow with a whitish patch starting from their chin and running down through the legs and past onto the tail. Patterns however can range from spots, to stripes of all varieties, to splotchy patterns, to solid colors.
Males and females of the species are largely indistinguishable from each other, their sexual characteristics being largely internal. Some have suggested theories regarding sex affecting the patterns on the Aralia's skin, but as of yet no evidence has been able to be pieced together, while some of what is extant seems to contradict this, in that skin color and pattern are often shared familial characteristics.
Biology
Aralia are cold-blooded, like all amphibians, and particularly adapted to cool, damp climates, due to their amphibian nature as well as the nature of their habitat. They respond poorly to much warmer temperatures, as well as to extremes of cold, and temperatures too far from their comfort zone can negatively affect their energy levels. Lack of moisture is also problematic, as their skin does not hydrate itself well and can dry out easily. As a result of this, a large body of Aralia technological research centers around climate control systems, and when outside of their own home environments, Aralia scouts and military units usually wear climate controlled armor suits. However, like humans, there is considerable variation by local climate as to what constitutes an individual Aralia's personal comfort zone.
Aralia are primarily carnivores, but also supplement their meat diet with various species of fungus, and also some low starch, low sugar vegetation. Their metabolism is especially effective at producing energy from relatively small amounts of carbohydrates, and as a result consumption of foods with a higher concentration of sugars can cause havoc on the metabolism if not taken in extreme moderation.
Reproduction takes place through intercourse, with the male of the species impregnating the female, who then lays the inseminated eggs into a familial pool constructed for the purpose. The entire extended family lays it's eggs into this same pool; Aralia offspring generally are not aware of their direct parent, nor are their direct parents aware of which of the offspring are their direct descendants. The young develop through a tadpole-like stage, through to a stage strongly resembling that of their salamander cousins, before finally learning to stand on their hind legs. During this period, care of the young is shared collectively with the entire extended family unit, and as a result of this, familial bonds tend to form with the broader body of the family or clan rather than individual parents. This has lead to a much more communal tendency on the part of the species, favoring the importance of clan and state over individualism.
This attitude towards the importance of the greater good of the race also leads to a form of instinctual eugenics, as young children who appear to possess sub par genes or capabilities are often culled and even eaten, such as the sick or those possessing of genetic maladies or lesser intellect of physical capability.
Appearance
Aralia are bipedal, and are approximately 5 feet tall on average, with a tail that extends about 3 feet from the hindquarters. The tail is highly flexible, but not prehensile. The head is of a similar shape to that of a salamander's, except for a more prominent domed shape to the top of the skull, indicated a larger brain than that of their primitive cousins. Their hands and feet contain 4 digits, 3 fingers and an opposable thumb on the hand, and four stout but long toes on the feet. They are hairless, possessed instead of extremely smooth skin that is actually covered in extremely small, slick scales.
Their skin color varies significantly, and is one of the major individualizing factors in an Aralia's appearance, presenting patterns and coloration as wide-ranging as the amphibians from which they descend. Common skin colors are grey, black with reddish patches, and green or yellow with a whitish patch starting from their chin and running down through the legs and past onto the tail. Patterns however can range from spots, to stripes of all varieties, to splotchy patterns, to solid colors.
Males and females of the species are largely indistinguishable from each other, their sexual characteristics being largely internal. Some have suggested theories regarding sex affecting the patterns on the Aralia's skin, but as of yet no evidence has been able to be pieced together, while some of what is extant seems to contradict this, in that skin color and pattern are often shared familial characteristics.
Biology
Aralia are cold-blooded, like all amphibians, and particularly adapted to cool, damp climates, due to their amphibian nature as well as the nature of their habitat. They respond poorly to much warmer temperatures, as well as to extremes of cold, and temperatures too far from their comfort zone can negatively affect their energy levels. Lack of moisture is also problematic, as their skin does not hydrate itself well and can dry out easily. As a result of this, a large body of Aralia technological research centers around climate control systems, and when outside of their own home environments, Aralia scouts and military units usually wear climate controlled armor suits. However, like humans, there is considerable variation by local climate as to what constitutes an individual Aralia's personal comfort zone.
Aralia are primarily carnivores, but also supplement their meat diet with various species of fungus, and also some low starch, low sugar vegetation. Their metabolism is especially effective at producing energy from relatively small amounts of carbohydrates, and as a result consumption of foods with a higher concentration of sugars can cause havoc on the metabolism if not taken in extreme moderation.
Reproduction takes place through intercourse, with the male of the species impregnating the female, who then lays the inseminated eggs into a familial pool constructed for the purpose. The entire extended family lays it's eggs into this same pool; Aralia offspring generally are not aware of their direct parent, nor are their direct parents aware of which of the offspring are their direct descendants. The young develop through a tadpole-like stage, through to a stage strongly resembling that of their salamander cousins, before finally learning to stand on their hind legs. During this period, care of the young is shared collectively with the entire extended family unit, and as a result of this, familial bonds tend to form with the broader body of the family or clan rather than individual parents. This has lead to a much more communal tendency on the part of the species, favoring the importance of clan and state over individualism.
This attitude towards the importance of the greater good of the race also leads to a form of instinctual eugenics, as young children who appear to possess sub par genes or capabilities are often culled and even eaten, such as the sick or those possessing of genetic maladies or lesser intellect of physical capability.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Another writing sample
Just for fun, here's another sample of Aralian text. This one is a brief battle report, discussing the destruction of a rebel human force that attempted to attack an Aralian outpost. You'll notice the use of underlining as a way of indicating proper names. A transliteration of the text follows:
A-aga: Birtu 345
Kibala dud-gar Aralia kizrum 345. Kibala kizrum us. Nu dirig dub-gar udnamekam.
Nubanda Kelara, Birtu 345
Approximate translation:
Report: Fort 345
Rebel forces attacked Aralian unit 345. All rebel forces killed. No further attacks expected.
Commander Kelara, Fort 345
Today's update
I've continued work on the Aralia script, and have managed to produce a font out of the alphabet. It includes the basic characters, numbers, and some basic punctuation marks. It's very rough, I have no experience with font design, and the editor I was using was very awkward, so there's no doubt all sorts of wierdness.
Download now!
Download now!
Saturday, May 19, 2007
First words.
So, after hours of research and experimentation, I am able to present what may be the first piece of the alien language written.
Transliterated: Aralia en abzu
Translation: Aralia (lit. "progeny/seed of the underworld"), rulers of the waters beneath the world
This is actually an archaic name for the Aralian nation, from before Nightfall. More recent texts which refer to the official name of their state generally read "Aralia en arali, en abzu, en anki", "Aralia, rulers of the underworld, rulers of the water, rulers of the heaven and earth", a much more lofty title suited to their present dominion over the Earth.
Transliterated: Aralia en abzu
Translation: Aralia (lit. "progeny/seed of the underworld"), rulers of the waters beneath the world
This is actually an archaic name for the Aralian nation, from before Nightfall. More recent texts which refer to the official name of their state generally read "Aralia en arali, en abzu, en anki", "Aralia, rulers of the underworld, rulers of the water, rulers of the heaven and earth", a much more lofty title suited to their present dominion over the Earth.
A taste of things to come . . .
"Earth's twilight hour has fallen. The skies have gone dark, and the very spark of life is fading, and what remains has become twisted and strange, vicious scavengers and massive fields of living rot. Mankind survives in slavery at the mercy of a lost, ancient race once long forgotten but now all too terribly real. Those few who live free exist in a constant and desperate struggle for survival, where a simple can of beans is worth a thousand times it's weight in diamonds, and the hunt for food perhaps a more dangerous and terrifying prospect than starvation. This is where humanity meets its final test, the final war over the very soul and nature of humanity, and the final decision over who will hold dominion over what remains of the Earth. Will you survive the darkness?"
This post is to announce the coming of, A Song in the Dark, a game of post-apocalyptic horror set in world where the skies have gone dark, and humanity stands on the brink of destruction at the hands of the very ancient race that keeps the planet alive.
The core seed of this game has been in existence for over ten years, and it's finally come time for it to come together.
Development will follow post by post, building the setting and system of the game, and then assembled into a completed game to be tested and finally published.
Hopefully this will be a fun ride for all of us.
This post is to announce the coming of, A Song in the Dark, a game of post-apocalyptic horror set in world where the skies have gone dark, and humanity stands on the brink of destruction at the hands of the very ancient race that keeps the planet alive.
The core seed of this game has been in existence for over ten years, and it's finally come time for it to come together.
Development will follow post by post, building the setting and system of the game, and then assembled into a completed game to be tested and finally published.
Hopefully this will be a fun ride for all of us.
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