setting sketch: darla's world

this project is something i've had at the back of my mind for years (since around '98 or '99). i came up with it as an attempt to create something truly original. though i can't say that it's very original, there are some aspects that i haven't (consciously) seen elsewhere, and i really liked it. so it's become my 'when there's nothing for me to do for harriot' project.

alright, with the exception of the name of the immortal leaders of the world, i've finally finished this sketch of the history of the world leading up to darla's introduction. i'm still unhappy with how i've described some things (especially soul, since it's more of an intuitive idea), but at least i've something down. maybe later i'll spend some time just explaining the mechanics of the world. i'm also looking forward to introducing the painted mages (tease).

let me reintroduce the concept. darla lives in a post-post-apocalyptic hyborian world rich in magic, with the potential for the incorporation of ancient, unknown technologies used in ways other than intended, and the appearance of an advanced, technologically society.

essentially, darla is a post apocalyptic conan of magic destined to face the forgotten sci-fi overlords of the previous age. the only thing missing is zombies, but i'm sure i can work that in somewhere. oh, and there is no such thing as vampires, dammit.

hundreds of years ago, medical technology reached its pinnacle with the development of the "nostrum regimen", a series of treatments that were capable of extending human life almost indefinitely. naturally, this technology was hoarded by the powerful and the influential. they eventually became the permanent leaders of the world, the _____.

portions of the nostrum regimen were leaked to the public; though not enough to grant the apparent immortality enjoyed by the _____, the improvement in general health cause the world's population to explode. the earth was unable to support the weight of humanity, and for more reasons than simple scarcity of resources.

human nature is supported by the existence of soul, or life force, which is tied to the earth. soul is akin to what has historically been referred to as the collective consciousness, except that it is necessary for life (all living things tap into the earthly store to some extent) and grants humanity the attributes that make it the highest form of life on earth (since humans have greater capacity for soul then any other creature). however, the earth has only a finite supply of soul, and as humanity filled the planet, that supply became strained.

social institutions collapsed, chaos spread, and the _____ saw these events as evidence of their superiority, but conditions deteriorated to the point that the _____ feared even their strongholds could no longer protect them. they launched themselves into space and left humanity to it's fate.

and that fate was to collapse in on itself. without even the semblance of leadership provided by the presence of the ____, the mindless violence that erupted nearly destroyed humanity utterly. out of the dissipating conflagration, survivors began to converge and rebuild. only a few million people remained worldwide. because of this sudden drop in population, the extreme demands on the earth ceased, freeing massive amounts of soul.

because of this the earth quickly reclaimed the land. All manner of natural disasters toppled the constructs of man, which were swallowed up by the earth and sea and replaced by vegetation that grew as if to deny that any previous civilization existed. Even new species grew, some showing signs of intelligence and unusual abilities. the resurgence of plant life was paralleled in animals and humans, but much more slowly in the latter. some beings began to manifest powers out of legend, including control over the elemental forces of nature, and of the mind and body, beyond the interface granted by their physical bodies. this phenomenon was not restricted to humans. all humans seemed to show at least some capacity for using powers, where other species only rarely demonstrated any powers at all. there was no correlation between the frequency of occurrence and the strength of powers, however.

the fall of men, and the resulting resurgence, was thereafter known as 'the world's rebirth'. universally, and almost subconsciously, the new abilities being born were called 'magic'.

in the centuries since the world was reborn, humanity has regained its sense of civilization, and has even begun to learn about and understand the new rules that govern nature and magic. the world is still primitive, and there are still humans who thirst for power, some armed with uncovered ancient technology. and the ____ are still alive, preparing to return and exercise their rightful dominion over the world using the full knowledge of the age before the rebirth.