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Post by Two McMillion on Sept 9, 2013 18:17:26 GMT
Welcome to Modern Scadrial
Modern day Scadrial is a world on the brink of industrial revolution. The first horseless carriages travel the streets of the cities, streets newly lit by electric lighting. Buildings of steel are beginning to reach for the sky. The steam engine has shrunk the world dramatically, and every day new discoveries in science, medicine, and philosophy are being made.
Undergirding it all are the Metallic Arts. The sought after magical abilities granted by Allomancy and Feruchemy grant men and woman superhuman powers. The powers touch every aspect of life: war, industry, law enforcement, science, and much more are all affected by the Metallic Arts. For hundreds of years, these powers were limited, only one or two per person. It remains to be seen how the reemergence of Mistborn and Feruchemists will affect the lives of everyone on Scadrial...
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Post by Two McMillion on Sept 9, 2013 18:42:12 GMT
How We Got Here
Though a great deal of information about the world from before the Final Ascension was contained in the Words of Founding, much of the specifics of that time have been lost, or passed into popular legend. For all practical purposes, the history of modern Scadrial begins with the Originators. It is known that the Originators first emerged in the Field of Rebirth- today a shrine and park in the center of the city of Elendel- following a disaster of some sort. Depending on who you ask, Harmony may have first emerged during this time, or may have existed previously, or has never existed at all. Harmony might have caused the disaster, or been the one who fixed it, or had nothing to do with it. In any case, the Originators built the city of Elendel, under the rule of the Lord Mistborn. The power of the Lord Mistborn was legendary, but he was the last Mistborn until much more recently. Before the Day of Return, most considered him utterly unique, a person unlike any other whose equal would never again be seen.
The descendants of the Originators began to spread out and fill the world, and soon other cities began popping up around Scadrial. The Words of Founding contained information scientists were able to use to build engines that ran on steam and electricity, and soon the rail lines began to pop up between the cities. At first, these cities all gave alligence to the Lord Mistborn, but when he died and left no heirs they became mostly independent city-states, though technically each still owes allegiance to the Lord Mistborn should someone with a proper claim show themselves. Still, as time past an no heirs showed themselves, the cities became secure and comfortable in their own independence.
A furor of exploration seized the world. Ships set sail for uncharted parts of the globe, mapped and colonized distant islands, found new mines for metals in the Roughs. Advances were made in the field of optics, allowing for telescopes, in the field of explosives, allowing dynamite to break the mountains open for the trains and to break city walls open, too, in their field of medicine as people became aware of germs for the first time. The printing press was invented, and within a few short years books were everywhere. The advent of cheap and practical firearms brought another revolution to war, crime, and peacekeeping. The world is changing at a breakneck pace, spinning faster than anyone can catch, and running on top of the world are those with the Metallic Arts, spinning with it, or spinning it for their own designs...
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Post by Two McMillion on Sept 10, 2013 21:55:35 GMT
The Words of Founding
A book- well, a series of books, really- that claim to have been written by Harmony himself, the Words of Founding were present as early as the Origin. They contain scientific information as well as advice on government, law, and morals. The Words of Founding are all accepted by the major religions to some degree or another, and various parts of them have been codified into law. It was the Words of Founding that gave the advice that led to the discovery of Electricity, and they also contain tantalizing hints about human flight, driving research in that area.
The Major Faiths
Survivorism
Survivorism is the largest religion in the world. Survivorists venerate the Survivor and the Ascendant Warrior as deities and as role models for life- the Survivor as a model for men, and the Ascendant Warrior as a model for women. The most important part of Survivorism is the Survivor's Mandate- the call to fight for justice, particularly for the oppressed, regardless of the cost to oneself. Survivorism holds that violence can be an acceptable way to fight for justice. Survivorists see Ironeyes as an Angel of Death type figure, and see Harmony as enforcing the cause of "balance", rather than right or wrong (this is why Harmony is not worshiped in this religion).
Survivorism's symbol is a wooden spear, painted silver.
Pathism
Pathism sees Harmony as the only deity, but also teaches that there is good to be found in other faiths. Note that followers of this religion do not call themselves "Pathists"- they would say they "follow the path". Pathists are required to pray to Harmony for fifteen minutes every day, wearing they holy earrings while doing so. It is believed that Harmony communicates to them during this time. Pathism sees the Survivor and the Ascendant Warrior as examples to learn from, but not deities. Pathism's most basic tenet is, "Do more good then harm". Other admonitions include, "All truth is valuable", "Do not seek lust without commitment", "See strength in all flaws", and "Give more than you take". Pathists founded the University and are responsible for allowing women to enroll; they believe doing so is commanded by Harmony.
Most of the Terris people follow Pathism, with one slight difference: they believe that Harmony was once a man from Terris, a prophesied hero of the ages who saved the world. Most orthodox Pathians see this view as heresy.
Sliverism
Sliverists believe that all is part of Infinity, but certain individuals are endowed with a greater portion of it, becoming "Slivers" of Infinity. They venerate the Sliver, a supposedly divine being from before the Origin, and also worship Ironeyes. That believe that when they die, they will be escorted to paradise by Ironeyes(code word: Lestibournes).
Trelagism
An uncommon religion, Trellists believe that the stars are the Thousand Eyes of Trell, watching over them, and that the sun is the single eye of Trell's jealous brother Nalt, source of all evil. The religion sees night as sacred. Trellists believe that Metalborn are special. Some claim this means that Metalborn have a right to rule the world, while others claim it means they have a responsibility to use their abilities to make it a better place. Some say the priesthood of Trelagism hides the secret of a third metallic art, one where spikes are driven into the soul of the victim...
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Post by Two McMillion on Sept 12, 2013 0:16:10 GMT
Language
The people of Scadrial use slightly different expressions and turns of phrase than people from Earth. Many of these expressions are based on metals.
"Allomancer" - A person who uses the Metallic Art of Allomancy.
“Broadsheets” - word used for newspapers.
“By the Survivor!” - exclamation; Sliverists sometimes say “By the Sliver” in the same way.
“Clouds” - sometimes used as a slang for a woman's breasts, because “they float above the pleasant fields where fertile seed is planted.”
“Harmony” - can be used a minor swear, something like saying “God” in English. “Harmony's arms” is an extremely offensive swear.
"Hazekiller" - someone who fights and kills Metalborn without being Metalborn themselves.
“Ironeyes take me” - used as part of an oath. You might be advised to be careful with this one, though, lest Ironeyes hear you...
"Ferring" - A person with a single Feruchemical ability.
"Feruchemist" - A person with all 16 Feruchemical abilities.
“Koloss in the room” - equivalent expression to Earth's “elephant in the room”.
“Meeting old Ironeyes” - euphemism for death.
"Mistborn" - Someone with all 16 Allomantic abilities.
"Misting" - Someone with a single Allomantic ability.
“Now we're burning” - equivalent expression on Earth is “Now we're cooking”.
“Old habits make for strong steel” - that is, old habits are stubborn ones.
“One bad alloy spoils the barrel” - equivalent expression on Earth is “one bad apple spoils the barrel”. This refers to the fact that burning an improper alloy is unhealthy for an allomancer.
“Old habits make for strong steel” - that is, old habits are stubborn ones.
“Pound a brittle metal”- equivalent expression on Earth is “beat a dead horse.”
“Perservation's wings” - a moderately offensive swear, also blasphemous.
“Rust and Ruin” - a common swear phrase; sometimes “Rust”, “Rusts”, or “Rusting” is used by itself.
"Spikeway" - A series of spikes hammered into the ground at regular intervals to form a path between two areas. Coinshots and Mistborn can use them to travel quickly.
“Take it with a pinch of copper” - equivalent expression to Earth's “take it with a pinch of salt”. The phrase is a reference to how burning copper can help shield from emotional manipulation.
“True as titanium” - completely true or sure.
“Weak/Useless as an aluminum gnat” - something very weak, useless, or unimportant. Given the expense of aluminum, being an aluminum Misting is a useless ability with a high cost.
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Post by Nosuchthing on Sept 13, 2013 1:44:34 GMT
Weapons and Technology
The technology of Scadrial has advanced considerably since the Origin. Canals are no longer the dominant form of transport, though still a lucrative trade, the train lines that crisscross the land are growing more and more numerous. Steam engines run in the mines and electric lights line the streets of the main cities, though only the very wealthy can afford electric lights inside their homes.
The cities still possess the soaring spires and Gothic architecture popular since before the events of the Origin, but the towns of the Roughs are makeshift and cobbled together, more akin to those found in the heydays of the Wild West. Though technology has advanced considerably, the existence of magic has some responsibility for a certain stagnation in some areas. The telegraph, for example, has not been invented- Coinshots can travel extremely quickly on spikeways, and Steelrunners or Thugs can travel quickly as well, so there has been less need for the development of long-range communication than on earth. Weaponry of course, has not stagnated, few are talented, and fewer still have the talents useful in a truly offensive capacity.
Firearms are common, with revolvers and lever-action rifles currently resting at the top of the food chain in the roughs. Most weaponry is fairly similar in design, though materials vary between gunsmiths, some have recently taken to using aluminium in their guns, a design first created by Nouxil twenty years previously, the use of such a metal making them impervious to allomantic abilities. Though aluminium revolvers are popular, the cost of the material, and the difficulty of manufacturing an alloy strong enough for the design lead to their exorbitant costs. It is simply cheaper, though still expensive, to purchase what are known as Hazekiller rounds, and are effectively bullets specifically designed to combat Allomancers. Examples of Hazekiller rounds are:
1. Anti-coinshot rounds that have a ceramic tip which will keep travelling even when the metal of the bullet is pushed away.
2. Anti-lurcher rounds with ceramic sides that explode into shrapnel when pulled on, showering the area in harmful shards.
3. Anti-tineye rounds which make a distinctive, loud sound when fired, and another on impact, intended to disorientate and disable the tineye.
4. Anti-pewterarm rounds are significantly larger and heavier rounds with greater gunpowder charges that have a substantially greater impact to counteract the increased resilience granted by burning tin.
Though cars are rare, the sight of such horseless carriages is becoming an increasingly common occurrence in the great cities, though horses and steam engines remain the only effective method of transport out in the roughs. Clothing in the roughs is usually hard wearing and functional, while the fashions of the cities tend towards tight fitting formal wear in the Victorian style in men, and elaborate, expensive dresses for women. Of course, those who cannot afford such fashions are usually dressed in hard wearing fabric and leathers designed to last as long as possible without being replaced, similar to that in the roughs, but often in much better condition.
The Words of Founding stressed the importance of sanitation and contained a great deal of medical knowledge, so in the cities there are functional sewer systems and indoor plumbing for all but the poorest, and medicine is actually quite advanced- antibiotics are known ("Sulfides" is a common term for them), and anesthesia is used during surgery. This knowledge is largely what has contributed to the extreme population growth since the Origin, along with the richness of the land in the Basin.
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