Blessed Lands KickStarter Updates

Just finished reading the first chapter and really enjoyed it. It gave me quite a few ideas for characters and backgrounds tied to events in the past. It was interesting to read of the origins of the Ul. The blood wars section was definitely interesting especially when combined with the origins of the Ul.

It certainly sounded like all of the families that remain “val” participated in the war with perhaps a few exceptions – the val’Haupt come to mind as a family that hid. The val’Trisin and I’m forgetting another family. The val’Holryn only grow in mystery given the Sarishan findings. Either they were wrong about absorbing the various abilities of the other families or there is something even more odd about them.

Possibilities on the val’Holryn:
1. Found a way to get around the family limitation that the val’Mehans couldn’t. Unlikely.
2. Descended of the line of the god of the PoM who was eaten / destroyed. If so, would there even be power there and why would it so mimic the other bloodline abilities?
3. Descended of a god other than of the PoM. Umor for example.
4. Descended of a god with an aspect that would explain it – some sort of deceit, enlightenment or something similar that would mimic or grant that access.
5. And most likely, something not covered by any of the options 1 – 4 above.

I am curious if we’ll find out more about the Blood Guard, what became of the Second Blade or any of the other teasers thrown into the history.

Let me also say I’m a big fan of having the relevant ranks or background necessary to unlock certain knowledge. The 20 ranks for some of it, wow. I almost feel like I need to design a character around just having that kind of sage wisdom.

It’s a great start and I look forward to the rest of the book.

With a sweep of his hat,

Paul

The val’Holryn mystery remains of great interest to me. I will keep at the Arcanis world until I know the true story behind that mystery.

We know OOC that the 1st Imperium had flesh crafting. We can guess the Val Mehan (and others?) experimented with bloodline powers leading up to and perhaps during the Blood War. We know The Val Holryn are called “the bastard children” of the gods. My best guess with what we know is that they weren’t created by a Valinor at all but through some “bastard” process. And are instead the creation of some faction of Imperium era Technomancers lookng for a way to manifest all the (then available) bloodlines.

I’m excited that we now know a little more (I think) about the sleeping emperor. I assume that is the Larissan val of dreams mentioned. The thing I found really interesting was that he seemed to respect Manetas (“you knew your place in the Celestial Order when Blessed Manetas appeared and had no hand in his imprisonment.”) I didn’t play in the last campaign, but as I recall, Manetas had quite a following among the Valinor (a third of the host?) I suppose it makes some sense, since he has done something similar to what Manetas did by “ruling over” the Khitani (if in a sleepy fashion). But if he was a true ally of Manetas, shouldn’t the Khitani have helped in the war? I would really love to know more about Valinor “politics” and how many are fallen, vs. not fallen; and what the power difference may be between the two.

Manetas actually, in the last campaign, would have killed the Sleeping Emperor had he not been defeated (To Pierce the Veil of Darkness and Light, IIRC). The Dreaming of Larissa may not be an ally of Manetas, but it would be “accepting” of Manetas’ methods as it is doing pretty much the same thing with the Khitani. Basically, “Manetas was flawed, but if you followed him you sshould follow me.”

Perhaps most interesting about this is that the Dreaming of Larissa ISN’T fallen, while Manetas is, apparently employing similar methods.

With a sweep of his hat,

Paul

Cody, you’re correct. It is possible that the Dreaming of Larissa has fallen. Though if that were the case it would seem more likely that we would have a separate name associated with him.

My comments about fallen vs. not fallen have nothing to do with the amount of power they wield. To date what we have seen is that fallen Valinor have individual names – Manetas, Xabal, Uremeh while those who aren’t fallen are referred to strictly by their aspect – The Reluctance of Hurrian, presumably the Dreaming of Larissa, etc.

IF the Dreaming of Larissa hasn’t fallen it raises interesting questions on the extent to which the Valinor may involve themselves in the affairs of val and men before crossing some line.

With a sweep of his hat,

Paul

Was Skizz the Rat (aka, Skozorantus, the Strength of Saluwe’) fallen? I cannot think of any reference to him(?) being that way beyond having a name.

Though typically we associate ‘fallen-ness’ with having a given name, more and more it seems like the Valinor already have given names and they simply lose their Title after ‘falling’. As such, going to Game of Thrones, Eddard the Hand of the King would become simple Eddard after ‘falling from grace.’

val’Holryn brings up a great point. Blood Reign of Nishanpur gives the story of how Manetas became fallen. Sarish watched as the Valinor of Illiir almost crushed the Valinor of Neroth in a heavenly battle. Fearing he would be next. Sarish send Loshnek to turn the tides. Working against Manetas’s pride, he told him he’s never be more than the first among the God’s slaves (Valinor). This caused Manetas to revolt against the Illiir’s wishes, leading him to the story in the Blessed Lands book, and taking 1/3 of the entire Valinor host with him. but in the end he failed. The Valinor that sided with Manetas were also cast out. Sarish taking advantage again, gave each Valinor a choice, he couldn’t undue the others’ commands, but he offered them the chance to lead his Infernal forces against the Gods’ enemies and maybe one day they would atone for their mistakes. Urumeh the Honor of Cadic, and many others, took the chance and we saw him leading a losing battle on another plane. I can’t find the reference but the ones who didn’t take his offer were cast out to wander the void. (I’m guessing that means wander space.) Fast forward to the End of Year 6. Manetas is back, his new and improved plan is in action. We learn from the Love of Illiir, that again the Host is divided (not equally this time) those against Manetas (the smallest group), those with Manetas, and those who choose not to take sides (the largest group). Thanks to magical coercion those who choose not to take sides join the group against Manetas. Once Manetas was again trapped, all the Valinor that joined him were trapped with him as well.

Pride became too prideful, Patience lost his patience, Honor lost his honor. These are the only 3 fallen Valinor we know of the rest are speculation. As for the difference between fallen and not fallen, it would appear to be power. In the story of how Patience lost his patients Xabal states.

His role was only to observe, never to act. But he had acted, had done that which could not be undone, and whatever happened, he would never again be the Patience of Sarish. Even now, his master would know what had been done, and would be stripping all power from the Valinor that dared break his rules – the rules of the Binder, that none dared defy. … With that word, the last of Sarish’s power was truly gone from the Valinor, and he fell to earth.

What power? Could we break it down into the mechanics of the game in a way we could understand, possibly. The end result is when a Valinor goes against the final order from the Gods (like Patience), or when their God declares it (like Manetas, or Urumeh), they become fallen and lose something.