Post by kolpool on Aug 16, 2018 16:44:46 GMT
Placeholder post, there will be a lot to write but it'll take a while, for now enjoy the poll
Minor background on each poll option since I'm still working on how it all fits together.
Saurians: Giant human/sauropod amalgamations (think centaurs but for dinosaurs) created through genetic mad science prior to the fall for the sake of being living WMD's, escaped during the events prior to the fall and have created a nomadic culture which spans the American continent. They get along well with humans, eat a lot, grow feathers instead of hair. They wear simple clothing that covers what's important but not much else due to resources.
A certain breed of fruit tree has evolved alongside them. This tree produces fruit which has enough calories to feed a small town. If they eat one of these fruits, a saurian does not need to eat again for a whole day. Their normal diets involve near constant high and low grazing. They are purely vegetarians. Very very strong, terrible at using magic. Their voices are so low that they require translation magic to make them able to be understood. They live a long time compared to most races if they survive long enough (about 300 years). They mature at 25 years and their children are typically the height of an adult human. They can grow to be almost as tall as the former skyscrapers, though at the high end of this height limit they require magic to maintain their bodies. Biological.
Mantids: Tiny insect race (caps out around half a foot in height but typically 4-5 inches tall) with great intelligence and jumping ability, typically fights by either swarming or out speeding their foes and giving them death by a thousand cuts. Live short lives but spend their time here very industriously. Often in reasonably high positions in any government they are a fair part of. Mature at 10, spend 10 years learning everything they can, take a journey at age 21 until age 31 to learn about the outside world through hands on experience, and then return home to teach/record what they have learned before dying around the age of 40. Biological.
Canids: Mutated and genetically modified dogs and wolves from before the end, designed to be infantry. Height varies by breed. They are brave, loyal, and strong. They have a culture that involves a pack mentality including pecking order based on Alpha's through Omegas, one can rise in rank by defeating the others in honorable combat. Despite their combat-centric culture (hunter gatherers, even the children play fight once they are old enough to, they are a major part of any colosseum or arena type venture) they are exceedingly good at fighting non-lethally as well as being experts in medicine. Some get along well with humans due to former ties to house pets, some find us detestable due to the experimentation and mistreatment. Double the lifespan of modern dogs, occasionally triple due to their medicine. Biological.
Felids: They are an aloof, laid back, lazy, but also very creative and tricky cat-humanoid species. Height varies by breed. Evolved from cats mutated and genetically engineered as a front lines species before the fall, they are master artists, culinarians, and magicians (one of the most magical non monster species around even). Despite their cool demeanor towards other races, the only kind they have frequent disagreements with are the Canids due to the old racial rivalry as well as due to their vastly differing general culture. Similar view of humanity as the Canids, though they aren't as vocal one way or the other about it. Their magic gives them triple the lifespan of the typical modern cat. Biological.
Moon Rabbits: They are another genetic experiment species (though decidedly less mutant due to being on the Moon during the fall). Slightly shorter than humans on average (3-4 foot) They would be a generally friendly but skittish species, they have a low propensity for psionics, instead being master mechanics and being reasonably talented in magic given the opportunity to obtain it (Magic is very rare on the Moon outside of the Simulation where it can be mimic'd). They also jump good.
They are not as friendly these days and even MORE skittish due to the AI taking over the moon, humans already got the short end of the stick, and they aren't even partly human (they've been given a mixture of other animal DNA to give them a more upright standing appearance and boosting their natural ability, but their intelligence was boosted without injecting human DNA). Their species was actually chosen as the species to go to the moon with humans by the Japanese... They live as long as humans. Biological.
Urchins: Refuge alien species that resemble sea urchins (hence their nickname given by humans) that came to the moon to flee oppression from an evil warlord. Ironically they integrated into society just as the evil AI's decided to throw everyone on the moon under the bus. They work with the Lunar Humans as part of the rebellion.
They talk by emitting various very specific frequencies of light from the tips of their spines. You can't understand them unless you are one of them or use a machine (or are an AI) to translate. Their shells can open up to store things and their spines can elongate and harden into exceedingly sharp points or become limp to be used to carry things. Their bodies are covered in eyes anywhere that isn't a spine or opening. They are variable in size but range from 2 feet to 6 feet in diameter.
They are moderately adept at psionics and magics when they have access but they excel in tech and close combat especially. They have souls though theirs are hard to read due to vastly different signatures than those of Earth/Moon born creatures. They live about 150 years but few do due to the AI menace. Biological.
AI: General term for Androids, Gynoids, and miscellaneous Artificial Intelligence that have achieved sapience. Their views on humanity (and other species) and vice versa as well as their appearance varies wildly based on prior experience, original purpose, and general variation in the programming that causes personalities to form. Many live on the Moon, most on Earth are corrupted or feral. AI made of a significant amount of iron cannot use magic, even those who can use magic find it difficult due to most metals insulating magic if not outright destroying it. they live until corrupted beyond repair or deletion. It is unknown if they can form souls but it has been claimed they can by some researchers but sadly attempts to fully detect such signatures have failed to produce consistent results. Mechanical or Digital.
Incarnations: The closest thing to true demons in this setting. They take wild and dangerous forms, they often appear to be a corrupted form of ooze until they latch onto and corrupt an individual. Each incarnation represents a certain evil, it could be minor or major, that evil then morphs the host based on what it represents. Incarnations only appear when the world is close to ruin (or in the middle of ruin). They feed on negative emotions and are completely unreasonable. They are essentially elementals of pure evil. Traditional demons are technically various forms of monster instead. They are soulless. True demons.
MONSTERS IN GENERAL: Monsters in general are insane due to the nature of magic, but some sapient monsters due occur or can be created by summoners. Sapient monsters are generally viewed with mutual distrust, but every now and then they are accepted into societies due to their potent magics or physical ability. Most monsters do not need to eat to survive and thus can live in harmony with nature (exceptions include vampires, chupacabras, and certain other naturally predatory species).
Monsters, (aside from those of the elemental and some of the construct variety) can absorb the magic of other monsters (and living beings if they are killed) and become stronger, not only gaining strength in the type of magic absorbed, but also gaining in size. Exceedingly powerful monsters are given titles based on ancient legendary beings such as Jormungandr, Leviathan, Zeus, Thunderbird, and so on. Monsters with titles are not the literal legends, but merely have their names due to having similar attributes (like Jormungandr would be a massive snake monster with earth and poison magics in high amounts).
Monsters cannot under any circumstances breed with biological beings (they might have the parts depending on the monster but nothing would come of it, aside from probably death if they are wild), although a monster may cooperate with a summoner to create a new monster by contributing their magic. Monsters rarely if ever manifest psionics unless they absorb a sapient biological creature's soul.
All monsters (and especially FEY) are DEATHLY allergic to iron and materials made with iron (too much iron in a biological creatures diet can also cause them to lose magic potency).
Monsters can manifest souls but it is slightly less rare than forming sapience, however any sapient monster presumably has a soul of sorts. Monsters live until they are banished or absorbed by another monster (though if they have a soul it is shown that their personality may take hold over the monster that absorbed them).
Humanoid monsters: This includes things like giants, certain breeds of goblin, harpies, many youkai, centaurides, and other such creatures.
Beast Monsters: Various forms of monstrous beasts (non humanoid) such as dire (insert animal here), dragons (even the small ones are high ranking monsters), chupacabra, some youkai, bird monsters (aside from birdmen like harpies and tengu and such). When sapient, they are often more ferocious of temperament with exception of dragons which are more varied.
Construct Monsters: Any kind of animated non robot monster. Examples include golems, living swords/shields/armor, mimics, item ghost yokai, and so on. They are typically more docile when given sapience typically focusing on their original purpose.
Elementals: Magical beings that can change their shape and are generally made entirely of a single non metal element (metal elementals exist aside from iron, but they are exceedingly rare). They are very curious creatures typically. They get along well with most species when they have sapience. Elementals can breed with each other to produce multi element offspring, but typically different element elementals live too far apart to intermingle.
An omni elemental (and elemental made of 8 or more elements) is considered the rarest of all elementals due to the low odds of such lineage occurring outside of a controlled environment. Incarnations are elementals made of pure evil, but there are also elementals made of pure good, they are called angels in most circles, they are rare and very odd looking unless interacting with sapients often.
Fey: A special breed of elemental often resembling the fair folk of legend (as well as fairies from story books). They have a queen which rules over all fey and is essentially the culmination of half the magic in the planet (a sort of backup magic battery for the Earth even). Fey do not change size when absorbing large amounts of magic, but they are also often adept at size changing magic meaning they are not to be taken lightly.
They are essentially beings made of pure magic, more so than any other monster. Because of this they are considered the highest tier of monster aside from those that achieve legendary status. Other types of monsters considered Fey would be high ranking youkai, Djinn, and some Indian monsters among others. The queen of the fairies if often considered the queen of all monster kind due to her nature.
Eldritch Monsters: Beings born of bizarre dreams and maligned books of great knowledge (basically HP Lovecraft and other types of monsters like aberrations in D&D). Their views on other species are often impossible to truly discern, those that are sapient can either greatly hinder or help others. Their powers are even less understood, they are one of the few monsters that can become psionic without absorbing a biological being's soul. They often make use of powers and magic relating to darkness and madness. Nightmare creatures, windigos, and highly magically corrupted organics also fit this category.
UNDEAD IN GENERAL: Undead are caused by a soul being trapped in this universe by magic or otherwise the body being animated through magic alone. They can be re-killed by powerful dispelling abilities. Healing abilities do nothing to them but they can heal ambiently by absorbing small amounts of magic (they regenerate naturally in the present world due to the abundance).
Different cultures have different views on sapient undead, varying from "OH GOD KILL IT AGAIN!" to "Oh nice to see you again great uncle Suchandsuch!"
Ghosts: Spirits trapped by magic without a physical body, can become poltergeists by possessing an object or a living being. They are essentially monsters in terms of their abilities but they also have the ability to phase through solid objects aside from iron. Can only be put to rest by dispelling all the magic trapping the soul. Usually sapient but rarely happy. Guaranteed to have a soul (they are literally souls wrapped up in magic). Can be made from any type of being with a soul.
Zombies: A body reanimated without a soul. They lack magic potency since they use it all they stay solid. Very durable. Usually mindless. By definition they are soulless. Biological species only.
Skeletons: Like zombies but less durable though they can pull themselves back together and actually take less magic to hold together thus letting them use magic more often. Very light typically compared to their original forms. Usually Mindless. By definition they are soulless. Biological species only.
Liches: A zombie or skeleton reanimated through magic while ALSO trapping the soul within. They can absorb magic at a much faster rate than other undead and thus can still use magic without fear of falling apart. Usually sapient, temperament varies greatly. Biological species only.
Mutants: This is the term given to any non human created genetic mutant. They often occur due to leftover radiation from the fall, but hundreds of years of magic have also severely disturbed natural biology, normal animals exist, but they live in fear of mutants which unlike monsters are technically part of the natural order now and thus prey on them.
Typically they are based on whatever creatures live in an area of high radiation or high magical shenanigans, but also many cryptids would fall under this category being biological creatures instead of monsters. Sapient mutants may or may not integrate into society depending on temperament and culture (also dependent whether or not they bring the radiation that created them with them...). Mutants (and regular animals) have souls just like other biological beings. Biological.
Dai Kaiju: Take a mutant animal (including mutant sapients) and make them several times larger, make them typically dumb and ferocious, and make them enjoy solitude. That is a dai kaiju, basically they are the biological equivalent of giant monsters.
Yes any biological species previously listed has the possibility to become a dai kaiju under the right conditions, but the amount of biomass needed and the level of radiation or magical interference to cause it to occur makes them exceedingly rare as most creatures simply melt from the sheer power. Dai kaiju that retain or gain sapience rarely interact with others due to not needing to. They are fully self sufficient and often need so much biomass that they'd out eat any other species they would try to live with. Still there are tales of one living in harmony with a certain province in asia.
They are also 99% sterile, if they aren't sterile they are typically hunted as soon as possible lest their species explode across the continent which would destroy any ecosystem. As just really big mutants, they have the same propensity for souls as other biological species. Biological.
Also, if anyone has a better suggestion for the series name that'd be great, not sure if I really want to be tied to 3333AD specifically since it may be further in the future. Haven't decided yet.
Minor background on each poll option since I'm still working on how it all fits together.
Saurians: Giant human/sauropod amalgamations (think centaurs but for dinosaurs) created through genetic mad science prior to the fall for the sake of being living WMD's, escaped during the events prior to the fall and have created a nomadic culture which spans the American continent. They get along well with humans, eat a lot, grow feathers instead of hair. They wear simple clothing that covers what's important but not much else due to resources.
A certain breed of fruit tree has evolved alongside them. This tree produces fruit which has enough calories to feed a small town. If they eat one of these fruits, a saurian does not need to eat again for a whole day. Their normal diets involve near constant high and low grazing. They are purely vegetarians. Very very strong, terrible at using magic. Their voices are so low that they require translation magic to make them able to be understood. They live a long time compared to most races if they survive long enough (about 300 years). They mature at 25 years and their children are typically the height of an adult human. They can grow to be almost as tall as the former skyscrapers, though at the high end of this height limit they require magic to maintain their bodies. Biological.
Mantids: Tiny insect race (caps out around half a foot in height but typically 4-5 inches tall) with great intelligence and jumping ability, typically fights by either swarming or out speeding their foes and giving them death by a thousand cuts. Live short lives but spend their time here very industriously. Often in reasonably high positions in any government they are a fair part of. Mature at 10, spend 10 years learning everything they can, take a journey at age 21 until age 31 to learn about the outside world through hands on experience, and then return home to teach/record what they have learned before dying around the age of 40. Biological.
Canids: Mutated and genetically modified dogs and wolves from before the end, designed to be infantry. Height varies by breed. They are brave, loyal, and strong. They have a culture that involves a pack mentality including pecking order based on Alpha's through Omegas, one can rise in rank by defeating the others in honorable combat. Despite their combat-centric culture (hunter gatherers, even the children play fight once they are old enough to, they are a major part of any colosseum or arena type venture) they are exceedingly good at fighting non-lethally as well as being experts in medicine. Some get along well with humans due to former ties to house pets, some find us detestable due to the experimentation and mistreatment. Double the lifespan of modern dogs, occasionally triple due to their medicine. Biological.
Felids: They are an aloof, laid back, lazy, but also very creative and tricky cat-humanoid species. Height varies by breed. Evolved from cats mutated and genetically engineered as a front lines species before the fall, they are master artists, culinarians, and magicians (one of the most magical non monster species around even). Despite their cool demeanor towards other races, the only kind they have frequent disagreements with are the Canids due to the old racial rivalry as well as due to their vastly differing general culture. Similar view of humanity as the Canids, though they aren't as vocal one way or the other about it. Their magic gives them triple the lifespan of the typical modern cat. Biological.
Moon Rabbits: They are another genetic experiment species (though decidedly less mutant due to being on the Moon during the fall). Slightly shorter than humans on average (3-4 foot) They would be a generally friendly but skittish species, they have a low propensity for psionics, instead being master mechanics and being reasonably talented in magic given the opportunity to obtain it (Magic is very rare on the Moon outside of the Simulation where it can be mimic'd). They also jump good.
They are not as friendly these days and even MORE skittish due to the AI taking over the moon, humans already got the short end of the stick, and they aren't even partly human (they've been given a mixture of other animal DNA to give them a more upright standing appearance and boosting their natural ability, but their intelligence was boosted without injecting human DNA). Their species was actually chosen as the species to go to the moon with humans by the Japanese... They live as long as humans. Biological.
Urchins: Refuge alien species that resemble sea urchins (hence their nickname given by humans) that came to the moon to flee oppression from an evil warlord. Ironically they integrated into society just as the evil AI's decided to throw everyone on the moon under the bus. They work with the Lunar Humans as part of the rebellion.
They talk by emitting various very specific frequencies of light from the tips of their spines. You can't understand them unless you are one of them or use a machine (or are an AI) to translate. Their shells can open up to store things and their spines can elongate and harden into exceedingly sharp points or become limp to be used to carry things. Their bodies are covered in eyes anywhere that isn't a spine or opening. They are variable in size but range from 2 feet to 6 feet in diameter.
They are moderately adept at psionics and magics when they have access but they excel in tech and close combat especially. They have souls though theirs are hard to read due to vastly different signatures than those of Earth/Moon born creatures. They live about 150 years but few do due to the AI menace. Biological.
AI: General term for Androids, Gynoids, and miscellaneous Artificial Intelligence that have achieved sapience. Their views on humanity (and other species) and vice versa as well as their appearance varies wildly based on prior experience, original purpose, and general variation in the programming that causes personalities to form. Many live on the Moon, most on Earth are corrupted or feral. AI made of a significant amount of iron cannot use magic, even those who can use magic find it difficult due to most metals insulating magic if not outright destroying it. they live until corrupted beyond repair or deletion. It is unknown if they can form souls but it has been claimed they can by some researchers but sadly attempts to fully detect such signatures have failed to produce consistent results. Mechanical or Digital.
Incarnations: The closest thing to true demons in this setting. They take wild and dangerous forms, they often appear to be a corrupted form of ooze until they latch onto and corrupt an individual. Each incarnation represents a certain evil, it could be minor or major, that evil then morphs the host based on what it represents. Incarnations only appear when the world is close to ruin (or in the middle of ruin). They feed on negative emotions and are completely unreasonable. They are essentially elementals of pure evil. Traditional demons are technically various forms of monster instead. They are soulless. True demons.
MONSTERS IN GENERAL: Monsters in general are insane due to the nature of magic, but some sapient monsters due occur or can be created by summoners. Sapient monsters are generally viewed with mutual distrust, but every now and then they are accepted into societies due to their potent magics or physical ability. Most monsters do not need to eat to survive and thus can live in harmony with nature (exceptions include vampires, chupacabras, and certain other naturally predatory species).
Monsters, (aside from those of the elemental and some of the construct variety) can absorb the magic of other monsters (and living beings if they are killed) and become stronger, not only gaining strength in the type of magic absorbed, but also gaining in size. Exceedingly powerful monsters are given titles based on ancient legendary beings such as Jormungandr, Leviathan, Zeus, Thunderbird, and so on. Monsters with titles are not the literal legends, but merely have their names due to having similar attributes (like Jormungandr would be a massive snake monster with earth and poison magics in high amounts).
Monsters cannot under any circumstances breed with biological beings (they might have the parts depending on the monster but nothing would come of it, aside from probably death if they are wild), although a monster may cooperate with a summoner to create a new monster by contributing their magic. Monsters rarely if ever manifest psionics unless they absorb a sapient biological creature's soul.
All monsters (and especially FEY) are DEATHLY allergic to iron and materials made with iron (too much iron in a biological creatures diet can also cause them to lose magic potency).
Monsters can manifest souls but it is slightly less rare than forming sapience, however any sapient monster presumably has a soul of sorts. Monsters live until they are banished or absorbed by another monster (though if they have a soul it is shown that their personality may take hold over the monster that absorbed them).
Humanoid monsters: This includes things like giants, certain breeds of goblin, harpies, many youkai, centaurides, and other such creatures.
Beast Monsters: Various forms of monstrous beasts (non humanoid) such as dire (insert animal here), dragons (even the small ones are high ranking monsters), chupacabra, some youkai, bird monsters (aside from birdmen like harpies and tengu and such). When sapient, they are often more ferocious of temperament with exception of dragons which are more varied.
Construct Monsters: Any kind of animated non robot monster. Examples include golems, living swords/shields/armor, mimics, item ghost yokai, and so on. They are typically more docile when given sapience typically focusing on their original purpose.
Elementals: Magical beings that can change their shape and are generally made entirely of a single non metal element (metal elementals exist aside from iron, but they are exceedingly rare). They are very curious creatures typically. They get along well with most species when they have sapience. Elementals can breed with each other to produce multi element offspring, but typically different element elementals live too far apart to intermingle.
An omni elemental (and elemental made of 8 or more elements) is considered the rarest of all elementals due to the low odds of such lineage occurring outside of a controlled environment. Incarnations are elementals made of pure evil, but there are also elementals made of pure good, they are called angels in most circles, they are rare and very odd looking unless interacting with sapients often.
Fey: A special breed of elemental often resembling the fair folk of legend (as well as fairies from story books). They have a queen which rules over all fey and is essentially the culmination of half the magic in the planet (a sort of backup magic battery for the Earth even). Fey do not change size when absorbing large amounts of magic, but they are also often adept at size changing magic meaning they are not to be taken lightly.
They are essentially beings made of pure magic, more so than any other monster. Because of this they are considered the highest tier of monster aside from those that achieve legendary status. Other types of monsters considered Fey would be high ranking youkai, Djinn, and some Indian monsters among others. The queen of the fairies if often considered the queen of all monster kind due to her nature.
Eldritch Monsters: Beings born of bizarre dreams and maligned books of great knowledge (basically HP Lovecraft and other types of monsters like aberrations in D&D). Their views on other species are often impossible to truly discern, those that are sapient can either greatly hinder or help others. Their powers are even less understood, they are one of the few monsters that can become psionic without absorbing a biological being's soul. They often make use of powers and magic relating to darkness and madness. Nightmare creatures, windigos, and highly magically corrupted organics also fit this category.
UNDEAD IN GENERAL: Undead are caused by a soul being trapped in this universe by magic or otherwise the body being animated through magic alone. They can be re-killed by powerful dispelling abilities. Healing abilities do nothing to them but they can heal ambiently by absorbing small amounts of magic (they regenerate naturally in the present world due to the abundance).
Different cultures have different views on sapient undead, varying from "OH GOD KILL IT AGAIN!" to "Oh nice to see you again great uncle Suchandsuch!"
Ghosts: Spirits trapped by magic without a physical body, can become poltergeists by possessing an object or a living being. They are essentially monsters in terms of their abilities but they also have the ability to phase through solid objects aside from iron. Can only be put to rest by dispelling all the magic trapping the soul. Usually sapient but rarely happy. Guaranteed to have a soul (they are literally souls wrapped up in magic). Can be made from any type of being with a soul.
Zombies: A body reanimated without a soul. They lack magic potency since they use it all they stay solid. Very durable. Usually mindless. By definition they are soulless. Biological species only.
Skeletons: Like zombies but less durable though they can pull themselves back together and actually take less magic to hold together thus letting them use magic more often. Very light typically compared to their original forms. Usually Mindless. By definition they are soulless. Biological species only.
Liches: A zombie or skeleton reanimated through magic while ALSO trapping the soul within. They can absorb magic at a much faster rate than other undead and thus can still use magic without fear of falling apart. Usually sapient, temperament varies greatly. Biological species only.
Mutants: This is the term given to any non human created genetic mutant. They often occur due to leftover radiation from the fall, but hundreds of years of magic have also severely disturbed natural biology, normal animals exist, but they live in fear of mutants which unlike monsters are technically part of the natural order now and thus prey on them.
Typically they are based on whatever creatures live in an area of high radiation or high magical shenanigans, but also many cryptids would fall under this category being biological creatures instead of monsters. Sapient mutants may or may not integrate into society depending on temperament and culture (also dependent whether or not they bring the radiation that created them with them...). Mutants (and regular animals) have souls just like other biological beings. Biological.
Dai Kaiju: Take a mutant animal (including mutant sapients) and make them several times larger, make them typically dumb and ferocious, and make them enjoy solitude. That is a dai kaiju, basically they are the biological equivalent of giant monsters.
Yes any biological species previously listed has the possibility to become a dai kaiju under the right conditions, but the amount of biomass needed and the level of radiation or magical interference to cause it to occur makes them exceedingly rare as most creatures simply melt from the sheer power. Dai kaiju that retain or gain sapience rarely interact with others due to not needing to. They are fully self sufficient and often need so much biomass that they'd out eat any other species they would try to live with. Still there are tales of one living in harmony with a certain province in asia.
They are also 99% sterile, if they aren't sterile they are typically hunted as soon as possible lest their species explode across the continent which would destroy any ecosystem. As just really big mutants, they have the same propensity for souls as other biological species. Biological.
Also, if anyone has a better suggestion for the series name that'd be great, not sure if I really want to be tied to 3333AD specifically since it may be further in the future. Haven't decided yet.