The Inverted Earth [OOC/OPEN]

[Aureumterra]

App

Civilization name: Early Andamani Civilisation
Civilization location: Lands of Andaman and Malacca, Selat Karimata, Java, Thai Peninsula
Civilization Leader: Prebenura (High Teacher) Mansuukalikon
The Prebenura heads the eNura Hekon, the Teaching School. The School is more a tradition, having sole access to the Grand Alphabet. The writing system of the early Andamani is incredibly complex, almost like a secret code, and it takes years of study and great intelligence to become familiar with it. It is seen as holy, and to try and make a different system of writing is seen has heretical. The pupils of the School are the only ones capable of understanding the alphabet and the counting system, making them incredibly valuable in all parts of society. These Taught, as they are known, help with agriculture, taxation, legal judgements, and trade, among other things. This is the way the central authority exerts control.
Describe culture: Culture-wise, the early Andamani put a lot of faith in symbols and the written word. In their theology, the written word is somthing from the realm of the gods, fundamental to the fabric of the universe, capable of changing and securing the nature of reality. As such, the written word is itself a work of art, entirely separate from the stories that are conveyed by them. Those who can translate the written language of the universe into the spoken word ar held in high regard. It is hard to say where Andamani culture begins and their religion ends, as their love for writing enters sheer veneration. Buildings of culture and writing serve as temples, as do libraries and archives, which hold central positions in Andamani society.
Describe religion: The religion of the Andamani can be called both formal and informal. It is formal, in the sense that only one group, those taught by the School, have the ability to play a significant role in the religion. However, there is no holy book, as all script is inherently holy. These Taught fulfil the role of priest as well as bureaucrat and magistrate, and those positions are not really seperate. There are no religious services, per se, but cultural events are very spiritual events as well, and always center around the written word. The written word, as they say, is the very fabric of reality. In the beginning, the Spirits, essences of reality, wrote the world into being. The water spirits wrote the rivers and the seas, and the woodland spirits wrote the forests and the trees. Still, these spirits communicate to the Andamani through writing. Part of the goal of the School is to unlock the secrets of writing even more, to unlock even more powerful words, symbols of numbers.
Describe history: According to legend, Man was once like an animal, uncaring about its environment and incapable of creation. MeWa, the Spirit of Mischief, came down to Earth and taught the skill of language and writing to the Chief of one of the groups of Man. The man understood but the smallest part of the lessons of MeWa, but with this knowledge he could bring about enormous change. His group built a village, on the site of the current capital of Malacca, and he chose the most intelligent man and his only son to teach what MaWe had taught him. However, not all agreed that just the Chief should have this power, and while the intelligent man stayed true to the will of MaWe, the son left and tried to teach the world, which led to the creation of lesser civilisations.

This is, of course, an origin myth. In reality, the foundations of the early Andamani civilisation are much more practical. Known for their lake-terrace farming in an otherwise quite inhospitable land, the Andamani settled around the sweet water lakes of Borneo, Sumatra and Java for their sustenance. Writing was discovered by one of the city-states, which made them incredibly wealthy and powerful, and allowed it to overwhelm its neighbours. The secret of writing, however, was closely kept by the rulers of the city-state, which led to the foundation of the School. This School would eventually use its spiritual standing and effective control to overshadow the various governments of the city states to become the ruling body in the realm. While local princes and bodies, make laws, technically, true power lies with the bureaucracy.

Accepted, I kinda expected the Indonesian Archipelago to have a cradle of civilization, so it makes sense too

[The Island of Webb]

Tag I would like to lay down a claim for the great lakes er...Islands.

[Aureumterra]

App

Civilization Name: Ilania (მთამეფო; "Mtamepo")
Civilization Location: Lake Baikal, Issyk-Kul, and Balkhash (I mean, the Baikal-Balkhash Archipelagos)
Civilization Leader: Matriarch Nonna Ketevan
Describe Culture:

• (Government): The Ilanian government is a spiritualistic dictatorship, ruled by a single individual in a hierarchical power structure supported by the official state religion. The leader is always a female, typically one who is considered the most wise and loyal among the Ilanian faith (Sulism - see 'Religion' for more details). It be correct to say that the Ilanian government is an elective monarchy, because whenever a matriarch cannot provide a worthy heiress, the religious clergy can elect an alternative ruler. Real power is all in the hands of the matriarch herself, with her rule defended by a cadre of informants and spies, whom take orders directly from the matriarch herself. But if the matriarch is suspected and accused of treason and/or incompetence, she can be disposed by the clergy and secret police all together, subsequently replaced by another matriarch.
• (Social Structure): Ilanian society is based around a social structure with merchants on the bottom, peasants and artisans in the middle, and the Ilanian clergy at the top. Undesirables/Outsiders are a forbidden social class, silently segregated and isolated from the rest of Ilanian society, mostly sent to work camps or imprisoned in solitary. One can move up the social ranks, however, via undergoing religious assimilation and disciplining, essentially becoming a full-time monk. Heresy and apostasy is punishable by permanent solitary confinement, with some offenders lucky enough to be released and brainwashed into becoming a different person.
• (Architecture): Ilanian architecture is typified by wooden structures, elevated slightly off the ground, with tiled or thatched roofs. Sliding doors were used in place of walls, allowing the internal configuration of a space to be customized for different occasions. Due to the subzero temperatures in the winter, hot spring baths and saunas are commonplace in Ilania, often built using insulated wooden structures to retain as much as heat as possible. Stone is rarely used in Ilanian structures due to its weight, erosion, and inflexibility to earthquakes. Thus, timber is the most common building material across all Ilanian construction projects.

Describe Religion: The Ilanian religion is an animist faith generally referred as 'Sulism' (მთისული; "Mtisuli"). There are no guiding dogmas, official scriptures, or founders, but Sulism is based around spirits and forces of nature. It's believed that every intelligent lifeform has a soul, and when in death, he/she will simply be reincarnated into a new life; however, if one has lived a hard and worthy life, he/she will instead become a spirit themselves, freed from the sufferings of life. Lastly but not least, females are often considered as revered and respected figures, since it's believed that they're the spirits of life in a mortal form. Thus, Ilanian society is subsequently matriarchal.
Describe History: The Ilanians were originally from the continental landmass. Unfortunately, warring tribes forced the Ilanians to migrate northward into the Eurasian Ocean. There, the Ilanians found the Issyk-Kul islands, but the exploration and expansionism didn’t end there. While the Ilanians were settling down on Issyk-Kul islands, the remaining Ilanians island-hopped to other islands, eventually finding the Baikal archipelagos. Discovering an even larger landmass known as Baikal, the Ilanians resettled to that particular nearby archipelago, but Issyk-Kul archipelagos remained very much under their control.

Through fishing and herding, the Ilanians survived and lived on their newly founded homes based on a meat-based diet. Using the furs of great games and bears, and the hide of seals and whales, the Ilanians were able to survive and tolerate in the extreme cold. But life up in the north was anything but lazy. That was because the Ilanians were a religious society, unified together by faith and common ethnic traits. They hope to unify their lands - and perhaps any future land they stumble upon - under their faith and iron rule.
Anything else?:

• (Ilanian Landscape and Climate): Ilania is an archipelago mainly comprised of hilly or mountainous islands, with the Baikal mainland being the tallest and largest island. On the flat and small islands, there is only tundra or permafrost. But on the larger islands like Baikal and Issyk Kul, there exists rugged taiga, snow, and rocky coasts. Rainfall is very common among the islands as much as blizzards and snow storms exist in winter. The Ilanian climate is described as having moderate yet hot summers (May to September; temperatures rising as high as 35 Celsius), while winters are long and cold (October to April; temperatures drop as low as -65 Celsius).
• (Ilanian Military): The key to the Ilanian's success in administration and control was its navy, both maritime and military alike. The Ilanians have a special type of wooden sailing ship called, the Baikalina, designed with a high freeboard to allow the ship to slide on top of ice sheets. Akin to a caravel, the Baikalina has two large lateen sails that allow the ship to sail against the wind, and when combined with the ship's high freeboard, the Baikalina is a fast yet cramped vessel. Ship-to-ship combat is primarily defined by boarding each other; however, destroying the actual ships themselves are taboo, since ships are highly valued among Ilania's maritime culture and fishing industry.

Alright, accepted

[Aureumterra]

We have two civilizations, IC will be up shortly

As for my role, I’ll be doing occasional events since I didn’t want to play my own civilization and just see how things would play out in this hypothetical world

[The Archipelago Territory]

Could I reserve something like this please?

[Aureumterra]

Could I reserve something like this please?
(Image)

Alright

[Aureumterra]

IC is up!

viewtopic.php?ns=1&f=31&t=470387&p=36074737#p36074737

[Zjaum]

I might join, if you'll have me. Looks interesting.

[The Hindustani State]

Sorry for not making an app, also, I just realized IC is up and no one’s posted

[Ralnis]

Can I ask to be something stupid? Like I wanted to make the last Neanderthals who formed their own civilization somewhere in the world?

[Aureumterra]

Can I ask to be something stupid? Like I wanted to make the last Neanderthals who formed their own civilization somewhere in the world?

Sure

[Zjaum]

So, I wanted a defensible area surrounded by sea, but I didn't want to exist isolated from the rest of the group, for the sake of roleplay.

My initial thought was the Gulf (now Peninsula) of Mexico and the Gulf (now Peninsula) of California, but that seems too far away.
I believe the Mediterranean Sea (now Island) is way too important to claim.
The Sea of Okhotsk and the Sea of Japan combined is about the size of the Mediterranean. Should I pick one or the other? If so, I'd like to reserve the Sea of Okhotsk.

[Aureumterra]

So, I wanted a defensible area surrounded by sea, but I didn't want to exist isolated from the rest of the group, for the sake of roleplay.

My initial thought was the Gulf (now Peninsula) of Mexico and the Gulf (now Peninsula) of California, but that seems too far away.
I believe the Mediterranean Sea (now Island) is way too important to claim.
The Sea of Okhotsk and the Sea of Japan combined is about the size of the Mediterranean. Should I pick one or the other? If so, I'd like to reserve the Sea of Okhotsk.

Humanity has spread everywhere by now, so nothing’s really too far away

[Zjaum]

So, I wanted a defensible area surrounded by sea, but I didn't want to exist isolated from the rest of the group, for the sake of roleplay.

My initial thought was the Gulf (now Peninsula) of Mexico and the Gulf (now Peninsula) of California, but that seems too far away.
I believe the Mediterranean Sea (now Island) is way too important to claim.
The Sea of Okhotsk and the Sea of Japan combined is about the size of the Mediterranean. Should I pick one or the other? If so, I'd like to reserve the Sea of Okhotsk.

Humanity has spread everywhere by now, so nothing’s really too far away

Distance wasn't my concern because of plausibility; it was my concern for the roleplay. Rome and China, while on the same continent, had only a handful of interactions over the course of centuries, and those were the two most powerful empires at the time. At the dawn of their civilizations, the Celts couldn't interact with the Mongols, and the Tswana couldn't interact with the Swedes. If there's no player interaction, the RP dies extremely quickly. I don't want that to happen.

As a result, I believe I'm making my primary choice the Seas of Japan/Okhotsk. It's close enough to the other two empires that I believe I can whip up some interaction. Expect an application soon.

[Ralnis]

Humanity has spread everywhere by now, so nothing’s really too far away

Distance wasn't my concern because of plausibility; it was my concern for the roleplay. Rome and China, while on the same continent, had only a handful of interactions over the course of centuries, and those were the two most powerful empires at the time. At the dawn of their civilizations, the Celts couldn't interact with the Mongols, and the Tswana couldn't interact with the Swedes. If there's no player interaction, the RP dies extremely quickly. I don't want that to happen.

As a result, I believe I'm making my primary choice the Seas of Japan/Okhotsk. It's close enough to the other two empires that I believe I can whip up some interaction. Expect an application soon.

I will be in there as well. Want to keep the interaction.

[Zjaum]

App

Civilization name: Welkwu
Civilization location: Peninsula of Ohkotsk, Peninsula of Japan
Civilization Leader: T'korow, line of Kalti
Describe culture: Values a quick wit above a strong hand, and a well-timed joke above a hearty meal. Their artwork draws heavily upon geometric shapes, and their architecture is simple and practical. A perfectly bred wheat crop and a balmy farming climate allowed the inhabitants access to all the plants they could desire. However, due to the lack of domestic animals, the hunting industry is alive and well in the taiga north. The southerners have a reputation of sloth due to their lack of physical activity, but they view themselves as enlightened. Physical needs are met, and now philosophy, education, and linguistics provide fulfillment. Despite all this, it is a social faux pas to talk while at a place of eating. The family structure is patriarchal, and families are expected to have at least three children that mature into adulthood.
Describe religion: It's more accurate to say that the inhabitants are in search of a religion. They have a set of seven concepts, dubbed the Seven Truths, which they claim to have been given to them from a higher power. Who this power is, and what this means for the people, can only be determined by the Truths. Anyone with an interpretation is welcome to preach and practice, but those without an explanation are heretics. There is only one true answer, and perhaps it will be found one day.
Describe history: Separated from southern invaders by the Isthmus of Korea, protected on the west by the Siberian Sea and on the east by the Mariana Wall, and encroached on the north by a large arctic pole, the people of Welkwu knew no external conflict. With the exception of a single central highland, there were no land borders that could separate tribal territory. As a result, an ambitious chieftain, through diplomacy and the barest of militaries, united the tribes of the south under one banner. The relatively sparse northerners, while much more aggressive, simply couldn't compete with the sheer numbers of the south and so submit of their own free will. The flat terrain allowed for easy administration from a centralized monarchy atop the singular high point to the far reaches of his domain. There were neither chieftains of note nor fiefdoms to carve, so there was no established nobility. Challengers to the throne would come from the lower class, usually from the north. If successful, the revolutionary would name the new line after himself. Regardless, the lack of a predator has made the royal military a weak muscle, and the overabundance of food provided both a large population spike and a trade culture.
Anything else?: Clouds move across from the Eurasian Ocean and are blocked by the Mariana Trench. The water vapor rains down upon the land, making the Sea of Japan the world's largest freshwater set of lakes, and thus the primary location of agriculture. Welkwu specializes in trade and education, a pacifist run, but will switch to a very aggressive, adaptive, and dangerous military stance if/when provoked. Because of the nutritional system, the median citizen is very tall.

[Aureumterra]

App

Civilization name: Welkwu
Civilization location: Peninsula of Ohkotsk, Peninsula of Japan
Civilization Leader: T'korow, line of Kalti
Describe culture: Values a quick wit above a strong hand, and a well-timed joke above a hearty meal. Their artwork draws heavily upon geometric shapes, and their architecture is simple and practical. A perfectly bred wheat crop and a balmy farming climate allowed the inhabitants access to all the plants they could desire. However, due to the lack of domestic animals, the hunting industry is alive and well in the taiga north. The southerners have a reputation of sloth due to their lack of physical activity, but they view themselves as enlightened. Physical needs are met, and now philosophy, education, and linguistics provide fulfillment. Despite all this, it is a social faux pas to talk while at a place of eating. The family structure is patriarchal, and families are expected to have at least three children that mature into adulthood.
Describe religion: It's more accurate to say that the inhabitants are in search of a religion. They have a set of seven concepts, dubbed the Seven Truths, which they claim to have been given to them from a higher power. Who this power is, and what this means for the people, can only be determined by the Truths. Anyone with an interpretation is welcome to preach and practice, but those without an explanation are heretics. There is only one true answer, and perhaps it will be found one day.
Describe history: Separated from southern invaders by the Isthmus of Korea, protected on the west by the Siberian Sea and on the east by the Mariana Wall, and encroached on the north by a large arctic pole, the people of Welkwu knew no external conflict. With the exception of a single central highland, there were no land borders that could separate tribal territory. As a result, an ambitious chieftain, through diplomacy and the barest of militaries, united the tribes of the south under one banner. The relatively sparse northerners, while much more aggressive, simply couldn't compete with the sheer numbers of the south and so submit of their own free will. The flat terrain allowed for easy administration from a centralized monarchy atop the singular high point to the far reaches of his domain. There were neither chieftains of note nor fiefdoms to carve, so there was no established nobility. Challengers to the throne would come from the lower class, usually from the north. If successful, the revolutionary would name the new line after himself. Regardless, the lack of a predator has made the royal military a weak muscle, and the overabundance of food provided both a large population spike and a trade culture.
Anything else?: Clouds move across from the Eurasian Ocean and are blocked by the Mariana Trench. The water vapor rains down upon the land, making the Sea of Japan the world's largest freshwater set of lakes, and thus the primary location of agriculture. Welkwu specializes in trade and education, a pacifist run, but will switch to a very aggressive, adaptive, and dangerous military stance if/when provoked. Because of the nutritional system, the median citizen is very tall.

Accepted, looks good

BTW, the Mariana Mountains are pretty much impassable akin to the Mid Atlantic Basin, so the only connection of the Pacific Savannah to the rest of the world is through the Southern Hemisphere, just saying for anyone planning to make a civ there

[Aureumterra]

Also, the IC exists for all those accepted

[Arkeyana]

Color me intrigued, might go with a thalassocracy or a nation that'd evolve into one. Just gotta decide where to put it.

[Aureumterra]

Color me intrigued, might go with a thalassocracy or a nation that'd evolve into one. Just gotta decide where to put it.

Canadian Lakeland (Now archipelago)?

[Delta Archipelago]

I've seen this map before. Though wouldn't the Arctic still be frozen over?

Anywho, here's a nation:

App

Civilization Name: Flambeau
Civilization Location: The mountains near the Lakes of Japan.
Civilization Leader: Onasa (Leader)
Describe Culture: Brave and adventurous, the Flambeaus are a tribe well known for their countless mountain expeditions and adventures across the Lakes of Japan. They are one of the first tribes to develop some sort of government. They are also infamous for their hunting tactics, acting more of hostile Native Americans in the Rocky Mountains.
Describe Religion: They believe somewhere, a god is waiting for them. It will grant them immortality, which is why they explore constantly.
Describe History: Originally a small hunter-gatherer tribe by Tokyo Bay, they adapted a sense of adventure and a form of government naturally though their DNA. They now attempt to conquer any tribes in their sight in determination to find their god.
Anything else?: Yes, their form of government is much like democracy. They vote for the leader at special ballots, which few attend. A council can appoint the final decision if they want to, though they mostly explore the vast cave system in the mountains, like all Flambeaus. Also, Flambeau is French for torches.

[Aureumterra]

I've seen this map before. Though wouldn't the Arctic still be frozen over?

Anywho, here's a nation:

App

Civilization Name: Flambeau
Civilization Location: The mountains near the Lakes of Japan.
Civilization Leader: Onasa (Leader)
Describe Culture: Brave and adventurous, the Flambeaus are a tribe well known for their countless mountain expeditions and adventures across the Lakes of Japan. They are one of the first tribes to develop some sort of government. They are also infamous for their hunting tactics, acting more of hostile Native Americans in the Rocky Mountains.
Describe Religion: They believe somewhere, a god is waiting for them. It will grant them immortality, which is why they explore constantly.
Describe History: Originally a small hunter-gatherer tribe by Tokyo Bay, they adapted a sense of adventure and a form of government naturally though their DNA. They now attempt to conquer any tribes in their sight in determination to find their god.
Anything else?: Yes, their form of government is much like democracy. They vote for the leader at special ballots, which few attend. A council can appoint the final decision if they want to, though they mostly explore the vast cave system in the mountains, like all Flambeaus. Also, Flambeau is French for torches.

This is far too early to form a fully functioning democracy, remember, everyone’s still human and has human nature, thus thirst for power develops naturally

[Zjaum]

Also, were you planning to be in the Sea of Japan? If so, my nation is already there. However, I can give it to you, and I'll just be the Sea of Okhotsk. I will need to edit my nation considerably, but it will work.

[Aureumterra]

Also, were you planning to be in the Sea of Japan? If so, my nation is already there. However, I can give it to you, and I'll just be the Sea of Okhotsk. I will need to edit my nation considerably, but it will work.

He’s in the Mariana Mountains

[The Union of Allied Peoples]

I've got some interest in the lands of Banda, Timor and Arafura. Reserve them for me, please!