THE HORNS OF THE BEAST [INTEREST THREAD | FANTASY]

[Ontorisa]

THE HORNS OF THE BEASTS A FANTASY WORLD SET IN THE WARRING KINGDOM OF MIDDALIS BY ONTORISA "WHEN RIVALRIES TURNS VIOLENT, PREPARE YOURSELVES FOR A BLOODY WAR." Long have the many vassals of Middalis, or in common-tongue: the Middle Kingdom, have been ruled by the Kings of Tails' End. The House of the Tail have been benevolent rulers of the Middle Kingdom, while carefully navigating the delicate political landscape of the bitter rivalries and constant intrigue that plague the kingdom. Internal factions have formed, and the House of the Tail has been forced to align themselves with the most useful and most powerful. It is due to this, that we arrive in the year of 981 After Unification (AU) under the rule of King Jasper Tail the IV. Two factions located a moderate distance from Tails' End, the Grey Republics and the Potters, long bitter rivals over the abundant flax farms that exist between the control of the two factions. The Potters, longstanding allies of the Tail and led by Duke Jakub Potter the II, and responsible for a fair portion of the Middle Kingdom's artisan goods such as clay, pottery, and fine pieces of porcelain products, have repeatedly been raided by soldiers belonging to the Grey Republics. The Grey Republics, led by the powerful City of the Three Lakes and ruled by the Lake Council, have reportedly began recruiting mercenaries from neighbouring factions and have even been rumoured to have hired a company of Vikingr from the Northern Kingdoms. War is looming, between the Potters and the Grey Republics. It has been rumoured that King Jasper Tail IV has used the Royal Order of the Paw, the premier warriors and scouts of the Middle Kingdom, to investigate the reports of potential conflict. Whereas the Middle Kingdom may become involved in its own internal squabbling, it will be a bloody conflict regardless. The wealth of the Grey Republics makes the involvement of the Middle Kingdom enticing, as control over this wealth would enable the Middle Kingdom to stamp out any outstanding debts as well as further the interests of their longtime allies. Enter you, a mouse caught in the conflict. Whereas you may be a member of the Royal Order of the Paw, or a mouse-at-arms for one of the two sides, or a mercenary arriving to employ their trade, or an opportunist, the Middle Kingdom's three lakes region will be a stage of chaos and war. This is the Horns of the Beast.

[Nations United for Conquest]

Certainly interesting. Reminds me of a book I read a long time but who's name I can't recall

[The Twelve Isles]

Certainly interesting. Reminds me of a book I read a long time but who's name I can't recall

Redwall perhaps?

[Nations United for Conquest]

Certainly interesting. Reminds me of a book I read a long time but who's name I can't recall

Redwall perhaps?

Hmm, sounds familiar so it could be possible. Wouldn't be able to tell one way or another, though.

Regardless a few questions towards the OP and the World:

1. How are other animals going to be handled? Not necessarily if they will be playable, but rather are they intelligent like the Mice or are they simply going to be treated as beasts that may or may not need to be hunted/slewn.

2. Is this just taking place in a purely rural setting or is it urban? Likewise, assuming humans exist (time period of them being unimportant), how are they going to be treated? As if we're aware of them, sort of like Watership Down with some weapons being made of pins or scraps and/or clothing being formed from left over bits of cloth. Or are they irrelevant and these Mician? Mice-ic? Mousish? Kingdoms are able to independently function, just replacing humans with Mice? Manufacturing their own goods and such.

3. Is there any sort of magic among the Mouse Kingdoms? If so is it lighter in that it only accomplishes simple tasks or basic attacking or is it far reaching and powerful (I personal vote for something more akin to Druidism and more subtle stuff that high fantasy magic)? Is it a common thing anyone can learn to varying degrees, or is it just reserved for certain individuals?

4. Frog/Squirrel/Lizard Calvary?

[The Twelve Isles]

Redwall perhaps?

Hmm, sounds familiar so it could be possible. Wouldn't be able to tell one way or another, though.

Regardless a few questions towards the OP and the World:

1. How are other animals going to be handled? Not necessarily if they will be playable, but rather are they intelligent like the Mice or are they simply going to be treated as beasts that may or may not need to be hunted/slewn.

2. Is this just taking place in a purely rural setting or is it urban? Likewise, assuming humans exist (time period of them being unimportant), how are they going to be treated? As if we're aware of them, sort of like Watership Down with some weapons being made of pins or scraps and/or clothing being formed from left over bits of cloth. Or are they irrelevant and these Mician? Mice-ic? Mousish? Kingdoms are able to independently function, just replacing humans with Mice? Manufacturing their own goods and such.

3. Is there any sort of magic among the Mouse Kingdoms? If so is it lighter in that it only accomplishes simple tasks or basic attacking or is it far reaching and powerful (I personal vote for something more akin to Druidism and more subtle stuff that high fantasy magic)? Is it a common thing anyone can learn to varying degrees, or is it just reserved for certain individuals?

4. Frog/Squirrel/Lizard Calvary?

I would just like to put it out there that I am a strong proponent for frog/squirrel/lizard cavalry.

[Ontorisa]

Certainly interesting. Reminds me of a book I read a long time but who's name I can't recall

I may… or may not have borrowed elements from “Mouse Guard” … oups


as for your questions, i’ll answer them when i’m home from work

[Ontorisa]

1. How are other animals going to be handled? Not necessarily if they will be playable, but rather are they intelligent like the Mice or are they simply going to be treated as beasts that may or may not need to be hunted/slewn.

I was leaning towards this being a world where mice are the only sentient beings and all other animals aren't intelligent.

2. Is this just taking place in a purely rural setting or is it urban? Likewise, assuming humans exist (time period of them being unimportant), how are they going to be treated? As if we're aware of them, sort of like Watership Down with some weapons being made of pins or scraps and/or clothing being formed from left over bits of cloth. Or are they irrelevant and these Mician? Mice-ic? Mousish? Kingdoms are able to independently function, just replacing humans with Mice? Manufacturing their own goods and such.

So humans won't actually exist in this world per say. It'll take place in a fantasy world where humans don't exist, and therefore mice have evolved over the years into a sophisticated feudal-medieval society.

3. Is there any sort of magic among the Mouse Kingdoms? If so is it lighter in that it only accomplishes simple tasks or basic attacking or is it far reaching and powerful (I personal vote for something more akin to Druidism and more subtle stuff that high fantasy magic)? Is it a common thing anyone can learn to varying degrees, or is it just reserved for certain individuals?

I was leaning towards saying yes, but it having a very limited role in the RP. It would be something more akin to what you suggested, Druidism, and be more pagan-Celtic in nature than anything else.

4. Frog/Squirrel/Lizard Calvary?

Yes.

[Great Confederacy of Commonwealth States]

Will there be differences among various mouse subspecies? There are mice, for instance, that live in the desert and get all their water through their food, and as such, don't need to drink liquid water to survive. And there are other interesting mouse species as well. Or do you want one form of uniform mouse species here?

[Ontorisa]

Will there be differences among various mouse subspecies? There are mice, for instance, that live in the desert and get all their water through their food, and as such, don't need to drink liquid water to survive. And there are other interesting mouse species as well. Or do you want one form of uniform mouse species here?

Nah, all types of different mice will be available to be played. I was thinking that the overall layout of the mouse world is a complex continent with various independent kingdoms and dukedoms, with Middalis being located centrally. There will be other biomes where other kingdoms and dukedoms exist (worldbuilding required - could turn this into an RP series), but we'll be focusing on this specific portion of the Middle Kingdom.

[Nations United for Conquest]

- I was leaning towards this being a world where mice are the only sentient beings and all other animals aren't intelligent.

- So humans won't actually exist in this world per say. It'll take place in a fantasy world where humans don't exist, and therefore mice have evolved over the years into a sophisticated feudal-medieval society.

- I was leaning towards saying yes, but it having a very limited role in the RP. It would be something more akin to what you suggested, Druidism, and be more pagan-Celtic in nature than anything else.

- Yes.

1. Makes sense, and makes it easier to focus solely on the Mice-based adventures

2. Again, makes sense and definitely allows us more freedom with all manner of things from gear to buildings

3. Ah okay, that sounds reasonable. I was also leaning towards the pagan-Celtic type of magic and mystics when I brought up Druidism, so that's just more music to my ears

4. As a wise man once said; This is where the fun begins

[Ontorisa]

Here's a map concept. If anyone, who's better at making maps, wants to try their hand at it, lmk.

I'll work on a faction map later today.

[Utceforp]

This definitely looks interesting.

[Beutarch]

This definitely looks interesting.

Seconded, pagan rodent feudalism sounds like a blast.

[Ontorisa]

This definitely looks interesting.

Seconded, pagan rodent feudalism sounds like a blast.

i will blush stg