 Was Thera's Downfall Sudden, I can't remember |
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 Jan 15 2004, 05:10 PM
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#1
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Moving Target  Group: Members Posts: 619 Joined: 27-May 03 From: Detroit Member No.: 4,642  |
I thought I read somewhere that the drop in the level of magic at the end of the 4th world was all of sudden and not gradual because Thera built those Orichalcum Obelisks to stabalize the mana level. The OO's kept the mana at a certain level for a long time but when the drop came, it came early and hard catching everyone by suprise. That's why civilization fell so far.
Did I read this in a book (Novel or Source), did I see it on the forums, or was I smoking crack? Any help? |
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Jan 15 2004, 05:39 PM
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#2
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 223 Joined: 23-December 03 Member No.: 5,929 |
no clue. theran empire is one of the 4 books i don't have. hopefully, AH or HoV can help.
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Jan 15 2004, 05:47 PM
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#3
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,047 Joined: 12-November 03 From: Perilously close to the Sioux Nation. Member No.: 5,818 |
You know, we should probably get a new forum for all this.
And then we could name it for me, for being dumb enough to start this cycle... |
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Jan 15 2004, 05:47 PM
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#4
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King of the Hobos Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 2,117 Joined: 26-February 02 Member No.: 127 |
Well IIRC, they used those three massive pillars of orichalcum to stop the world's mana levels from dropping, and general history has shown that messing with mother nature will usually get you bitch-slapped. Plus in the conversation between Infinity and Omega in Cybertech, they mention Atlantis/Thera going down in flames.
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Jan 15 2004, 06:28 PM
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#5
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,047 Joined: 12-November 03 From: Perilously close to the Sioux Nation. Member No.: 5,818 |
Could the balancing be why the Scourge is still somewhat going on?
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Jan 15 2004, 07:37 PM
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#6
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Avatar of Mediocrity Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 725 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Seattle, WA (err, UCAS) Member No.: 277 |
The Scourge isn't going on. There are a few little baby Horrors around, that's all.
Well, and Ysrthgrthe. I think that's the only big name Horror that's doin' his thing at this point. Was it ever explained how he got to stick around? |
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Jan 15 2004, 07:54 PM
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#7
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Manus Celer Dei Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 17,013 Joined: 30-December 02 From: Boston Member No.: 3,802 |
The fact that he's become overly human (for a Horror) might have something to do with it.
~J |
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Jan 15 2004, 07:54 PM
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#8
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Target Group: Members Posts: 42 Joined: 26-February 02 Member No.: 1,114 |
I don't remember where I saw it, but I saw this information too. However, there is an official piece of information that contradicts this. In "Humans and the cycle of magic", which is credited to Jordan Weisman.
"As the last age of magic came to a close, Atlantis was readying itself for disaster. [...] As the end came near, a migration of technology and culture spread from the isle to the rest of the world." If the fall was sudden, they wouldn't have been prepared. The date of the downfall is given in the text: "Atlantis [Thera] sank on August 12, 3113 BC, thus marking the end of the Fourth World and the beginning of the Fifth." |
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Jan 15 2004, 07:57 PM
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#9
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Great Dragon Group: Members Posts: 6,748 Joined: 5-July 02 Member No.: 2,935 |
The general idea was that the Theran Heavenherds had artifically kept the mana level world-wide at a certain level. Low enough for most of the more powerful Horrors to be unable to manifest, high enough for useful magic.
The idea is that at some time, this failed...explosively. It has been hinted that this is due to massive blood magic use, or when the natural magic level of the world was supposed to have dropped from Upcycle to Downcycle, but Lou once said Verjigorm attacked. Either way, something resembling a massive volcanic blast sunk Thera. |
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Jan 15 2004, 09:53 PM
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#10
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 223 Joined: 23-December 03 Member No.: 5,929 |
holy sheep balls, verjigorm attacked???
whoo hoo i like the sounds of that. any place that can be found or was it one of those discussions in the dark booth near the back? |
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Jan 15 2004, 10:02 PM
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#11
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Avatar of Mediocrity Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 725 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Seattle, WA (err, UCAS) Member No.: 277 |
If that's it, there might be a real interesting precedent here. Big Y's thought patterns aside, he still ought to need the mana to survive. Perhaps he's come up with a new way to generate a localized mana level, or something? Perhaps he draws enough power from his new, humanized, close relationship with Aina to overcome it? ANyway, I don't think there's any information on this point lying around, so it's all pretty baseless. If the Horrors have a way to get around their mana requirements, things could be kinda weird. |
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Jan 16 2004, 01:45 AM
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#12
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Great Dragon Group: Members Posts: 6,748 Joined: 5-July 02 Member No.: 2,935 |
Horrors need a certain environment to enter, but can maintain themselves at a lower environment.
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Jan 16 2004, 03:16 AM
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#13
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Dragon Group: Members Posts: 4,065 Joined: 16-January 03 From: Fayetteville, NC Member No.: 3,916 |
If Immortal elves could somehow survive the mana downturn, other magically active critters might have found similar measures to ensure their existence.
-Siege |
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Jan 16 2004, 03:28 AM
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#14
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Great Dragon Group: Members Posts: 6,748 Joined: 5-July 02 Member No.: 2,935 |
Spirits, yes. Horrors? Only the Named ones, if at all.
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Jan 16 2004, 12:12 PM
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#15
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 203 Joined: 26-February 02 From: The Golden Orchards Member No.: 2,011 |
Well, since Thera had a dome made of elemental fire and air held just apart with ritual magic, if the ritual dropped before the elemental material vanished, then the whole place would have blown up. Hence, volcanic blast, maybe?
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Jan 16 2004, 01:33 PM
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#16
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Great Dragon Group: Members Posts: 6,748 Joined: 5-July 02 Member No.: 2,935 |
That was part of the Scourge defenses (though I don't know if the two were layered or woven together). It's possible, if the dome was reactivated.
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