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Post by TheGlyphstone on Oct 22, 2004 20:19:58 GMT -5
I'M DONE!!!!
Sorry for shouting. Here goes nothing......
For thousands of years, the galaxy has had observers. They are secret watchers who study from the shadows, intervening when necessary. Their planets stretch over an area almost as large as the Imperium and even into areas the Imperium does not control, but they make to claims as to owning an empire, for the very nature of their survival is that they remain hidden from the galaxy at large. These are the mysterious beings called the Atlanteans, and their story had much to reveal.
Evolution and History
The race evolved on a watery world, much like the primordial swamps of prehistoric Earth. The indigenous races were varied forms of fish and amphibians, actual dry land being almost nonexistent. This would have continues for millennia with nothing evolving higher than a trout, but all was to change upon the arrival of a freak comet from out of system. The frozen ball was snared by the sun’s gravity and set on a collision course with the planet. Miraculously, total annihilation was averted as the comet did not strike full on, but skimmed through the upper atmosphere of the pole like a skipping stone. Damage was still considerable though, the near miss wreaking havoc on the ecosystem. Foremost in this was severe damage to the planet’s orbit, creating a noticeable “wobble” on its axis. Combined with the influence of the planet’s two moons, which had avoided the comet, the result was a set of violent and unpredictable tides which would leave vast stretches of the surface high and dry for months at a time. Many species died out in the following years, and others changed to adapt. Some learned to burrow into the mud, hibernating until the return of the waters. Others grew air-breathing organs similar to that of the lungfish, making it possible for them to migrate in schools from one area of water to another when the first was in danger of drying up. This also heralded the rise of marauder species, true land-dwelling creatures that acted in the reverse of the water-dwellers and wandered from dry patch to dry patch, preying on whatever they could reach.
A certain species in particular, one of the migratory fish, developed a unique method of survival. Other types, when moving to a new sea, simply flopped forward with no clear knowledge of where they were headed and were devastated by marauding beasts that ate their fill of the school as the rest forged blindly onward. But this fish was different. A strange quasi-psychic link formed that bonded members of a school, enabling them to sense basic emotions such as pain and satisfaction from other schoolmates, and triggering appropriate responses. A signal of pain or fear from one fish would cause the rest of the school to alter their path away from the source, leaving the injured one to its fate to save the rest of the school. The opposite would come from a satisfied feeling, a signal that one and found life-giving water, and the rest of the school would gravitate toward the originator. They developed rudimentary limbs to increase their ground speed when the marauders learned to combat the telepathy by attacking from multiple angles. Their eyes gained increased depth perception for evaluating the threat of predators, and for hunting the smaller fish that were their prey when in the water.
Thus this particular genus of lungfish survived and thrived, becoming the most widespread species on the planet with the accompanying expansion of the psy-bond. The species learned to perceive distances, only responding to signs of threats close to where they were. As their legs grew stronger, they gained the ability to walk upright for short distances. Increasingly advanced intelligence brought with it the beginning of a spoken language in a sing-song pitch inaudible to most other life-forms above water, and a written one, consisting of elaborate curling script that overlapped and interlocked in significant ways. As sentience emerged, they discovered other abilities of the psychic link. Actual physical contact heightened the link to the point where thoughts and emotions could be exchanged directly. Further away, it lessened to being able to sense strong outputs of emotion, at the very edge of their known world (then simply the boundaries of their planet), it became merely a faint awareness that there were comrades alive in the galaxy. Some found they had a talent for focusing this power, turning it from a passive pool of energy to a tool that could be wielded or a window into the twisting futures, and became the first psykers and seers. They had no name, referring to themselves as “the people” since they were the only sentient race on their homeworld.
But they lacked a focus for their existence, and a time passed when they were in danger of devolving back to their pre-sentient state. A great catalyst would be needed to propel them forward, and what was known as the War in Heaven would provide it. During this time period, the people that would become known as the Atlanteans were still quite primitive and blissfully unaware of the world-shattering conflict that raged around them. All this changed when a war party of the Old Ones briefly landed on their planet. The natives were awestruck by these all-powerful, god-like beings and equally impressed by what they were told. The visitors spoke of a perfect galaxy, where all sentient races lived in harmony and the threat of the C’tan was no more. Then they left, never to return, leaving the wonderstruck primitives behind them. Shortly after came the disappearance of the Old Ones and the Enslaver Plague. No records remain of this time, but it is evident that the proto-Atlanteans survived. Millennia passed, and they grew. Sharp rocks gave way to spears and streamlined harpoons. Their body became more adapted to bipedal movement, though their spinal cord was not suited for long periods of such pressure, and their lack of toes made them very ungainly, their true home being in the water. Experiments into the paralyzing cry of the symbiotic Screamer Slug, a fearsome predator that fed on them, led to the first ultrasonic disruptor gun, which would eventually become the mainstay of their arsenal.
Somewhere during this period, a philosophy arose that hearkened back to their prehistoric legends. Known in their language as “The Eternal Destiny”, it depicted a galaxy of balance in the image that the mythical Old Ones, (now referred to as the Fathers of the Stars) had described, a universe of equality and friendship. If this state could be achieved, it might be enough to call back the Fathers of the Stars. Naturally, only the Atlanteans were capable of bringing about this balance, so they would have to rise to the occasion for the benefit of all life. There was controversy over how to go about engineering it, but all agreed that the first step would be to collect information about the lesser races of the galaxy to determine how they could be manipulated (for their own good, of course) Their first orbital probe was launched on a date that would lie in the Terran mid-10th millennium B.C. Many more followed, including the first manned vessel and explorations of their moons. The discovery of the Warp or the Immaterium, which they christened the Great Ocean of Change, sparked a revolution of exploration. For some as of yet unknown reason, the Atlanteans discovered that they were naturally adept at steering through the currents of the warp, perhaps related to their inherent affinity with tides and currents, thus capable of moving without the aid of Navigators. They noticed the presence of warp denizens, but were unconcerned. The creatures were viewed as harmless, as they were unaware that their only protection from the demons was the racial psy-link that deflected any sort of possession or influence. Actual travel through the ever-shifting warp proved a problem until they developed a force field very similar to the Geller Field, serving as an anchor to reality to keep the physical form of the ship intact where it would otherwise be rendered into pure Change instantaneously. Once that hurdle was overcome, colonies were sprouted all over. Seers found that they could utilize the Warp to communicate instantaneously with each other, and the Atlantean network of watchposts spread even further.
The first contact with humanity occurred roughly during what would become known as the late Bronze Age. A small exploration party of Atlanteans descended to the surface and collected various samples before leaving. For some long-forgotten reason, the planet then called Earth and later Terra intrigued them, as did the indigenous race’s immensely strong ties to the Warp. A post was set up on the liquid-water moon of a nearby gas giant, the beginning of a long study that would result in an archive of human development and technology so extensive that even the Adeptus Mechanicus’s collection of STC templates would pale in comparison. Man was not the only race paid close attention to. They discovered the Orks and the Eldar, and recognized the handiwork of the Old Ones in both of them, deciding that they too would play a key role in the future. During the Dark Age of Technology, many colonies were abandoned or cut off to avoid discovery, and the Age of Strife that followed was a welcome opportunity to expand their eyes and ears once more.
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Post by TheGlyphstone on Oct 22, 2004 20:20:19 GMT -5
The psychic shockwave resulting from the Fall of the Eldar was devastating to the Atlanteans. Hundreds of Wave-Seers were killed, and the psychic feedback injured or crippled many ordinary Atlanteans. Assessment of the damage resulted in a shock. One of the great races of the galaxy had been laid low, and humanity was rising to take its place. The Great Crusade was a venture of great interest to the Atlanteans, who watched the appearance of the Emperor closely to see how effective his reunification of the human race would be. Everything appeared to be going smoothly, and the Atlanteans documented it all - till the Horus Heresy caught them completely by surprise. The disruption caused by Chaos crumbled their galactic network of colonies to a small cluster around their homeworlds. Their tiny military was not geared towards any sort of large-scale combat, a lesson that was emphasized upon their first hostile contact with demons. A small group of Atlanteans encountered a group of traitor scouts, who called upon a host of Khornate Bloodletters to assist them. The naive Atlanteans advanced fearlessly, recognizing the foes as warp creatures, who they had only encountered in their native element where they were harmless. Less than a half-dozen Atlanteans escaped the massacre that followed, and the Atlantean response was to withdraw completely around their core worlds to await the end of the war. When Horus fell and the traitors fled to the Eye, the Atlanteans wasted no time in reconnecting their network of spyposts while the Imperium teetered on the brink of collapse, using their newly reinvigorated military as escorts. Their studies into the warp continued, though they were forever wary of those that lurked there after being made aware of their material power.
They were the first to realize the impact when strange, six-limbed beasts were discovered on the edges of the Imperium. The humans found them first, naming them the Genestealers of Ygmarl after the planet whose moon they came from. But the learned Atlanteans realized that such a primitive species was not capable of space travel on its own, and they had been found on many planets. One was captured, and experiments performed, but it was slow work. By the time they worked out the horror that was upon them, the leading edge of Hive Fleet Behemoth was creeping into the galaxy. They watched in mourning as several alien races were enveloped utterly by the Great Devourer for the crime of fighting, or merely being in the way, and they vowed to escape that fate. ----- Their homeworlds were fortunate enough to be out of the path of Behemoth, but many watchposts were not and the hidden empire was once again split. Small Atlantean raids chipped away at isolated hive ships and fleets, but the seers knew that it would be up the Imperium and their mighty Space Marines to hold back the tide. Thankfully for the galaxy, they succeeded and Behemoth was shattered, Kraken receiving the same fate soon after. The schism torn by the two hive fleets had devastated several previously habitable worlds, and the galaxy-wide network of colonies became small pockets of worlds linked by relay satellites and remote outposts.
Each Black Crusade was another time when the Atlanteans restrained their involvement, seeing them as the periodic symbolism of the eternal struggle between light and dark – although, which side was which?
When the Necron raiders emerged, panic reigned through the Atlantean society. No more was known about them then any other race knew, but the handiwork of the C’tan was clearly marked and the race was collectively horrified that the star-demons stalked the mortal world once more. By chance, the location of the slumbering Nightbringer’s tomb was discovered, and a mighty battlefleet dispatched to annihilate it before awakening. But again, chance reared its head and a group of Imperials accidentally disturbed the beast. The Atlanteans were still too far away, and could only watch in horror as the monster fled.
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Post by TheGlyphstone on Oct 22, 2004 20:20:37 GMT -5
Physical Traits
The race as a whole is now almost fully bipedal, though they retain paddle-shaped feet for rapid movement in the water and are very ungainly on land. They are quite tall, standing six to seven feet tall on average. Their legs and arms are thin but sturdy, the feet being roughly oar-shaped with only rudimentary toes while the hands and clawed fingers, all six of them arranged in a half-circle, are fully developed. Hearkening back to their primitive origins, they breathe through a dual system of gills when underwater, and a single lung-like organism when above it. Their skin is thick and rubbery, ranging in color from grey to a blue so dark it appears black, the exact shade depending on their home oceans, save where a thin layer of scales blankets their chest and limbs. A heart pumps bluish-copper blood through veins, and various other organs perform vital functions such as digestion, surrounded by a thin but dense rib cage. Their muscles are quite strong, theoretically capable of matching a powerful human or even a Space Marine unaugmented by their power armor, but this is hampered by their weak skeletal system. Their bones are fragile for increased buoyancy, and it is difficult for their spinal cords to bear the full weight of their upright body for long periods of time, requiring the development of the armored combat suits for long-term surface operations. Their flexible limbs provide great speed underwater, with the oar-like feet giving forward thrust as the muscular arms paddle.
Culture and Government
Atlantean culture is generally divided into several parts: The life of civilians, and those in the military. Civilian life is rarely a troublesome existence. Most civilians lead a peaceful life, with few things to worry about besides their jobs or family life.
Atlantean society is centered around a clan unit, an extension of the schools of their pre-sentient state. A clan will usually consist of several extended families that live and travel together. On the homeworld, clans are habitually nomadic, traveling when the waters begin to dry up. Rarely must they travel far, though, because across the surface are spread clusters of buildings, small villages erected by other clans and left behind when the oceans seeped away for another clan to inhabit. It is by mutual, unspoken law that a clan must treat the area they inhabit with care and respect, in honor of those who lived there before and those who will come after. These villages, constructed of the standard air/waterproof structures, are spread out over a number of miles to avoid crowding, and are only rarely visible from orbit. In contrast, the five colossal metropolises are easily seen from space, the Atlantean equivalent of a hive city. They are domed and sealed, created a year-round habitat for the operation of the government, the spaceports, and other critical industries. Clans are present here as well, though they tend to intermingle as families spread out. On other worlds, where the waters are not as turbulent, clans may still be found. Occasionally they may be nomadic out of habit/instinct, but the majority live in fixed villages. Clans are the base unit of the social society, eclipsing even families (for they are in effect a very large family), which is one root of a common Atlantean battle cry, “For Clan, For Honor, and For Destiny!” Military life also contains its clans, though clans there consist of the soldiers grouped within a division or company. This may sometimes lead to membership in several clans for those who belong to the military. Multiple clanship can also occur in civilian life, though it occurs extremely rarely and usually only given as an incredible honor. Being the cornerstone of Atlantean society, other clan members are the only people that society will permit physical contact, and the ensuing telepathic link, between. Forced assault on another is the ultimate taboo, seen as both a violation of mind and body. Periodically, though the time frame varies between clans, the group will gather for celebrations that honor the clan ancestors, the gods, and each other. This invariably includes a mass linkage, where all member of the clan from the wise elders to the egg-linkers who speak for those unborn, will join hands and meditate as one immense mind.
A typical civilian’s day starts with a tribute to the two Primary Faces of Moranon (see below), as well as the particular lesser Faces that they prefer. After, they consume the small morning meal and prepare for the day. From then till mid-day is filled with the daily activities of life. At mid-day, they break for another meal of similar size. They then return to work, stopping in the mid-afternoon for a prayer session then continuing until the end of surface-light (sunset) when the water temperature typically drops and they return to their dwelling for the final meal of the day, much larger than the first two. Latemeal consists of two phases. First come the lighter courses. They do not eat soup (for obvious reasons ) but they do consume a variety of dishes including salads made from sea plants and flavorings, and different types of small, snail-like shellfish. The meal is broken up by a short period for digestion, when they will typically either discuss their day or meditate. When this is over, the second course begins, consisting of various fish and sea vegetables. Some Atlanteans prefer off-world foods, though this is generally restricted to the more affluent ones who can afford the import fees. When the latemeal is concluded, another prayer session follows, paying final respects to the Faces before sleep.
Members of the military follow a much different routine, with far less time for relaxation. Soldiers who are in an active campaign have no defined schedule, eating and sleeping when they can grab a moment, and do most of their praying in a crouch or lying prone while projectiles whiz overhead. Troopers who are in reserve or not on active duty find a middle ground, nowhere near as hectic as active combat nor as simple as civilian life. One-third of the year is true off-duty, when they can live with their family or do other civilian activities. The rest is spent in the base they are assigned to, living and training with their squadmates. They rise very early in the day, and gather in a large hall for a mass prayer session to the two Primary Faces as well as the Face of War, the soldier’s patron Face. A short breakfast follows, and the time from then to the midday prayers are spent in hard training depending on their specialization. After the midday worship, the period until latemeal is consumed with tactical and strategic lessons, lectures and demonstrations the central focus. Their latemeal is much more condensed than the civilian equivalent, with no break in the middle and food being only nutrient-rich processed foods. Fresh meals are saved for special occasions. A final group prayer comes after, and the day ends with not nearly enough precious hours of sleep till the rising bell and the start of the next day.
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Post by TheGlyphstone on Oct 22, 2004 20:20:54 GMT -5
Religion
Atlantean religion centers around their god, Moranon, and his five Faces, or aspects. Each had a specific personality and governs a certain area of life. They consist of the following:
Sala’Moranon (sah-lah-more-a-non): A Primary face, the Face of light and Life. Commands the positive forces of the universe, including the eventual renewal of all.
Sulu’Moranon (sue-loo-more-a-non): The second Primary face, the Face of Death and Darkness. Counterpart to and rival of Sala’Moranon. The master of entropy and destruction, but also responsible for the elimination of outdated things to make room for the new and better, the upswing of the great cycle.
Moranon’irali (more-a-non-er-alley): A secondary face, the Face of War. Worshipped by soldiers and warriors, for it is believed to bring luck to them on the battlefield and to smite down their enemies. Moranon’yere (more-a-non-ee-air): Another secondary face, the Face of Peace. The counterpart to Moranon’irali, though they are not rivals and each takes their turn in prominence. It is worshipped by craftsmen, merchants, government officials, and diplomats, all of which need calm waters in which to conduct their business.
Xa’Moranon’az (Za-more-a-non-az): The final Face, also a secondary face, the Face of Growth. Growth is the one force in the universe that will remain regardless of interference, and as such this Face has no counterpart, though Sulu’Moranon will occasionally try to cause problems. It is worshipped primarily by traders, builders, and farmers, though all Atlanteans pay a degree of worship. In the very rare cases that an Atlantean is influenced by Chaos, it is usually one devoted to the Face of Growth and will be without their realization as they will have been tricked by Tzeentch masquerading as Xa’Moranon’Az.
All Atlanteans give daily homage to the two Primary faces, with secondary faces given regular observance depending on occupation. Individual clans often pray to ancestor spirits, typically wise and respected heroes from the clan’s past that supposedly stick around to watch over their descendants, but this is minor. Worship takes the form of small shrines or statuettes dedicated to each Face, with sacrifices of food and valuables given on festival days. Oddly, an infrequent genetic defect will occasionally arise among Atlanteans, causing a complex form of schizophrenia that will invariably manifest five differing personalities. Individuals such afflicted are hailed as prophets of Moranon, and enjoy much luxury before their deaths.
Government
In Atlantean society, governmental power is set up in a series of layers. At the lowest rank is the Tidemaster of each clan. The Tidemaster is chosen from among the ranks of the clan, often a very wise, respected, and/or powerful member. They will make the decisions that affect the clan as a whole, but always keep the benefit of their clansmen in mind. Anyone that attempted to usurp power would be quickly driven out of office, and at risk of losing their life as well. Tidemasters are almost always chosen for life, though they may retire early to enjoy living in peace. In urban areas, a Tidemaster will instead be entrusted with the maintenance of a small portion of the city. ---- At the regional level are the Currentmasters. Currentmasters in a city will oversee larger areas, each managing several Tidemasters. For example, a large city may have one Currentmaster overlooking the residential sector, one to run the industrial areas, and another to manage commercial areas or farming areas, with very large cities having plurals of all the above. Like all Atlantean leaders, Currentmasters are careful not to abuse their power, and often defer to the Tidemasters under them in lesser matters. Among the nomadic clans, Currentmasters serve as heralds of important changes, having few duties beyond that.
The next major link in the chain of government is the Seamasters. Seamasters watch over large areas, encompassing multiple Currentmasters and their territory, or may be the head of a large city’s government and the area surrounding it. In a city, the Seamaster would be in charge of things that involve the city as a whole, such as transportation, crop harvesting, and business. A Seamaster is elected in a general election by all Atlanteans in the region/city, and holds their office for one local year, at which point they must step down. Re-election is possible, but only after at least term of not holding office. In some cases, a Seamaster may be in charge of an entire colony (the smallest ones, at least).
At the top of the totem pole (so to speak) are the great Oceanmasters. They are the most powerful and respected of all Atlanteans, making decisions that affect entire planets. The Council of Five, the five greatest Oceanmasters, rule over the entire far-sprung Atlantean spread of planets from the homeworld. Individual planets are then assigned their own Oceanmasters, or systems in case of multiple small colonies in one system. Oceanmasters rule for life or until they step down, but are incredibly careful due to the immense power they wield.
Due to the fragmentary nature of the power, it would appear that Atlantean government borders on anarchy. But that is far from the truth, for the system flows very well. Leaders at the local level make decisions that affect those around them, but always strive to cooperate with neighboring leaders and will obey the dictates of their Currentmaster/Seamaster/Oceanmaster in matters of importance. This is the primary cause for corruption being such a hideous crime, for trust in the other levels of government is essential to keep the system working. The higher echelons trust the lower ones to manage their affairs well, and in turn the lower levels trust those in positions of higher authority to not intervene unless necessary. Any abuse of this system could lead to a breakdown of trust, and eventual collapse of society. Note that this does not mean Atlantean government is free of politics, not at all. Intrigue is a traditional part of the Council’s rule, with two seats always being filled by those of the Silent Eyes idealism, two being taken by those of the Fist of Iron philosophy, and the fifth seat left for one of neither preference, typically one of the minor and more moderate groups. This fifth Councilmember is consistently the target of attempted cajoling by one of the two major factions, stopping just short of outright bribes or blackmailing (both cardinal crimes in Atlantean society).
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Post by TheGlyphstone on Oct 22, 2004 20:21:14 GMT -5
Laws and Crimes The Atlanteans have a loose set of laws, but are still bound by a strict moral code. Universal crimes like theft and murder are likewise punished by the Atlanteans, along with many other things. Injuring another without rightful cause is illegal, as is blackmail or bribery (the latter only useful if you could find one low enough to take it). Deliberately violating another’s mental or physical privacy by unwanted touch is unforgivable. Many crimes are not committed due to the Atlantean code, which requires honor and integrity among all to uphold the balance against those who would do otherwise. But most Atlanteans are kept in check by their fear of the Judgment, the Atlantean belief of the afterlife. At the Judgment, a soul is measured before Moranon for its positive or negative impact on the galaxy as a whole, as well as its individual conduct in life. Those deemed worthy will ascend to paradise, while those who spent their lives in evil are doomed to the Atlantean equivalent of ****. In the cases that one commits a crime, for there are always those desperate enough or bad enough to commit such crimes without care for the consequences, both spiritual and corporeal, a tribunal will be set up. A council of judges is formed, as impartial as can be. Evidence both for and against the accused is presented, an Atlantean with interest in law acting as what would translate into “devil’s advocate”, but is in actuality the defendant’s lawyer. Despite this apparent bias against the accused, the tribunals are almost always fair and a person only convicted if there is overwhelming proof that the crime was done by them. Sentencing is a mutual agreement by the judges, varying according to the crime. Some, like minor theft or vandalism, may be punished by a fine, a period of forced labor, or imprisonment. More serious crimes can result in long imprisonment, exile, or in the most brutal of cases, forced severing from the greater Atlantean mind. This can be done by a group of Wave-seers trained in the hateful deed, who erect psychic barriers that block the punished away from the group consciousness. This is tantamount to a death sentence, for many will go mad at the loss of their link to their race, and most others will be set upon by Warp-demons who eagerly pounce on this exposed meal, no longer untouchable. Atlantean Military Forces and Weapons Atlantean military forces are grouped into types depending on their specialization. When an Atlantean joins the military, they are first tested and evaluated, then assigned a specialization depending on their aptness for certain tasks. Recruits who show talent in marksmanship and shooting, or those who are not special enough to join one of the other classes, join the Jouer-Nae (gun-wardens), known as “Strikers”. The basic infantry of the Atlanteans, Strikers carry the high-tech disruptor rifles and are the mainstay of many assaults. An Atlantean who shows particular ability in hand-to-hand combat will become one of the Khaz-Nae (blade-warden), the Atlantean assault troops. They carry small pistols and the dangerous vibro-blades, which carve through armor and flesh with equal ease. They are often known for their viciousness on the battlefield, sometimes approaching a state that borders on frenzy, which earns them their nickname of “Piranhas”. Piranhas are always the first into a combat, and the last to retreat. Those who are notably stealthy and skilled at concealment are inducted into the ranks of the Vhil-Nae (stealth-wardens), the Stalkers. Stalkers are the scouts and snipers of the force, creeping ahead of the main force and gathering intelligence, before peppering the enemy with deadly fire from their lifeseeker rifles. They are often as fast on land as they are in the water, and are peerless in taking advantage of whatever cover they can find. The biggest and burliest of the Atlanteans are trained as Pocq-Nae (Cannon-wardens), the heavy weapon-bearing Barracudas. They are trained in the use of the most powerful weapons in the Atlantean arsenal, including the electrifying teslacannons and the jet-propelled submersible razor torpedo launchers. Occasionally these weapons are given to other units, primarily squads of Strikers for fire support, they are always concentrated in the Barracudas for maximum effect. The fifth and final Atlantean soldier type is an anomaly, for they are not recruited from the general population. The northern ice cap of the Atlantean homeworld is very thick, and thus one of the few places on the planet where water is present year-round, though the thickness varies as the ice melts and freezes. Due to the thinner atmosphere here, disproportionately high amount of radiation from the sun reaches this area, and affects the Atlanteans living there. This radiation is known to cause a bizarre mutation among Atlanteans exposed to it, causing them to sprout a set of long and tactile tendrils from their backs, almost like tentacles minus the suckers. Warriors affected in this manner can use these tentacles like extra limbs, and are destined for a special fate. At birth, Atlantean babies displaying this mutation are taken away and raised to become one of the Chors-Nae (history-wardens), the feared Octopi. They are trained in the most specialized combat arts, and entrusted with the safety of their race’s greatest treasures: The knowledge and records contained within the Great Library of the Atlanteans. These solemn warriors are rarely seen off the homeworld, rare in number as they are, but are sometimes joined to a warhost for a short time. During that time, they display their skill in a most deadly manner, tearing through the most elite enemy troops with ease. Their tentacles wrap about enemies and strangle or immobilize them, leaving them helpless to a killing blow from the Octopus’s blades. They are the elite shock troops of the Atlanteans, and prove their worth with every foe they slay. --- Technology and Weapons Atlantean weaponry is very advanced in nature, with perhaps only the Eldar and maybe the Tau surpassing them. Their basic weaponry, the disruptor pistols and rifles, are sonic based. Two resonant crystals embedded in the barrel project narrow streams of ultrasonic energy, which intersect for maximal effect on the target. An enemy struck by the shot is bombarded with ultrasonic energy that is fatal to an unarmored target and still dangerous to an armored one. Eardrums can rupture, eyeballs explode, and blood vessels pop under the barrage of sonic death. Fragile electronics can be ruined by the shock, and sensors blinded. Even those shielded from the worst effects will be stunned and disoriented under the onslaught. The larger disruptor cannons can be fine-tuned to frequencies sympathetic with their target, reaching harmonics that rend apart even the thickest armor. Also among their diverse arsenal are weapons such as the teslacannon, lifeseeker rifle, and various plasma weapons. The shockingly powerful teslacannons are effectively a massive taser of sorts, firing a pair of entwined cables attached to a tiny rocket that embed themselves in a target and release a immense surge of electrical energy coruscating through it. Once released, this energy is completely wild and known to leap from enemy to enemy before dissipating. The Stalkers, skilled scouts and snipers, wield the complex lifeseeker rifles. Lifeseekers are a miniaturized mass driver or railgun, firing a small slug at hypersonic velocities while maintaining pinpoint accuracy. Occasionally Stalker groups will swap the stealthy rifles for more bulky harpoon guns, aiming to snare a vulnerable enemy and drag them into reach of other units’ guns. Only rarely are plasma-based weapons utilized, because of the inherent difficulty in making them function. Early in their history, the Atlanteans quickly and explosively learned that plasma was not an effective medium underwater, till they devised a solution. Experimenting with the chemical and physical properties, they succeeded in creating a new compound that was capable of restraining plasma within a definite shape, like a bubble. Their weapons were built to fire spheres of this “nega-plasma” filled with its more volatile cousin, which would rupture on impact. The guns were still in danger of overheating, but the calibrated targeting systems and the inherent stability of the plasma spheres meant that a warrior armed with such a weapon could fire it without being forced to halt for aiming. The end result made Atlantean plasma cannons much more mobile than their Imperial counterparts, though no less risky. Another of the less-used tools of war is the razor torpedo. Fired from special launchers, the razor is named for its unique propulsion system and shape, which allow it to travel both underwater and through the air without any noticeable change in velocity. Often, troopers stationed in water will fire the torpedoes underwater and the ingrained computer chips will ignite the rocket propulsion at the correct moment, resulting in a deadly missile “popping up’ out of seemingly harmless water and speeding to its target. On the rare occasion that Atlanteans will be forced to defend themselves in large-scale battles, they are quick to employ defensive minefields. Mines used by the Atlanteans are much more sophisticated than other race’s mines, bearing a small drilling mechanism and a microcomputer to run it. When deployed from an Apollo-class minelayer, the bombs will burrow down and wait for a target within a set of pre-programmed mass limits to approach, then pop up and detonate.
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Post by TheGlyphstone on Oct 22, 2004 20:21:35 GMT -5
Atlantean technology does not stop at their weapons. To even move above water for any lengthy period of time, let alone strenuous running and fighting, requires mechanical assistance. This takes the form of the powerful combat suits, which are very similar to Imperial power armor. A hydraulics system pumps fluid through an armored, flexible exoskeleton composed of artificial polymers and threaded metals, both keeping the Atlantean’s body moist and augmenting his natural strength and endurance to where it is possible to move efficiently. The material that forms the suit is tough to rupture, but once the integrity is breached, the hydraulic fluid will drain and the soldier inside (assuming they are still alive) is left unaided to struggle back to base, or failing that, to a nearby body of water for recovery and repair of the suit. The suit also takes varied non-combat forms, including pressurized and multi-layered ones for vacuum work and cybernetically enhanced versions for heavy labor. The Greater Racial Mind Very little can be discussed of Atlantean psychology without first understanding the concept of their “racial mind”, or unified subconscious. The link is believed to have its roots in prehistoric times, when the Atlanteans were little more than predatory fish. These fish had a instinctive psionic link with the other members of their particular school, and basic emotions such as pain or satisfaction transmitted across the link. When such feelings emanated strongly, the other members of the school would flee away from the injured fish, which likely had been attacked by a predator, or towards them, if feelings indicated a source of food. When the cataclysm occurred, these traits catapulted the species to the top of the food chain due to the relative ease with which they could escape the marauding predators and find the life-giving temporary oceans. When sentience and a coherent society developed, curious Atlanteans began to explore the mysterious link between the members of their race. One of the first discoveries was that physical contact heightened the empathic link to the point where thoughts and feeling could be exchanged telepathically, from which arose social taboos against unwanted touch. As the species evolved, their sensitivity to the link heightened to where they could sense more detailed emotions. An Atlantean ambushed and fatally wounded will “feel” differently to nearby fellows than one who has suffered an accident, just as a scout discovering a vital objective will “feel” different than one who discovers a dead end. The link has its limits, though, and these examples and other like them are often the most complex feelings that can be sensed Some Atlanteans were gifted with strange powers, becoming “witch doctors” during primitive ages. Once society was sufficiently advanced to recognize their talents not as magic, but inherent psionic ability, they became known as Wave-Seers. Atlantean psykers were very similar to those of other races, but for one important difference: Their power is not drawn from the chaos of the Immaterium, but from the subconscious energy of the Atlantean race. It can be envisioned as a pool of energy, reinforced by every thought that any Atlantean makes, that those gifted with the right talent can draw from to manipulate the material universe just like other races utilize Warp energy. Being separate from the Warp itself, use carries no risk of demonic attack, but an overconfident Seer can funnel too much energy at once and have their own life force caught up in the flow, with similarly fatal results. The final effect of their unified subconscious is not easily apparent, but played a pivotal role in their expansion. All beings have a “presence” in the Warp. To the hungry demon predators, individual mortals appear as brief flickers from a candle. More powerful warriors and psychic talents shine bright in the darkness, fiends flocking to swarm around them like moths. When they congregate enough to overwhelm the light, the result is death or possession. Atlanteans are unique in that they do not present individual glows, but shine with a single, combined, steady light. It does not shine enough to attract large numbers of demons, but any entity that attempts to attacks it finds itself rebuffed by the entirety of the Atlantean subconscious. Even the most mighty of demon-beasts is far too weak to possess an entire race at once, which overwhelming the warp-light of the Atlanteans would amount to. The Warp From the beginning of their studies into the Warp, Atlantean scientists were fascinated with the immaterial universe. They saw and sensed it as a great ocean that stretched beyond imagining, not restrained by the paltry limitations that were planets. It was not long before they learned of the possibility of riding the swirling currents of the Immaterium in the same manner that they would ride the waters of their homeworld. They developed their own version of the Geller Field, but its purpose was solely keeping the ship intact without protection from the apparently harmless warp-creatures. They had detected the creatures living in the “Great Ocean of Change”, and saw them as kin of sorts, fellow denizens of the tides. Their first contact with demonic entities during the Horus Heresy came as a very rude surprise, and forevermore their forays into the Warp bore a healthy measure of caution. For an as-of-yet unknown reason, early Atlanteans discovered an inherent talent for navigating the chaotic currents of the Warp, which aided in their expansion. Any Atlantean has a rudimentary ability to pilot a warp-craft, and those trained in it are equal to even the most powerful of Navigators. Rumors persist of renegade Atlanteans who hire out to pirate captains as warp-pilots, but neither the Inquisition (who would purge the pilot and the ship’s crew as heretics) nor the Atlanteans themselves (who would kill the rogue for betrayal of their race) have managed to find any evidence. Life Cycle Atlanteans begin their life as eggs. The female produces them, then after being fertilized, they are placed within special flaps or pouches on her skin. Here they develop in relative safety, nourished by nutrients absorbed from the mother and slowly gaining the appearance of large fleshy bubbles on the parent’s back. An average clutch consists of between one and three young, who emerge fully formed from the ruptured sacs. This does not injure the mother in any lasting way, the birth sacs being blisters of sorts with a layer of skin beneath them. The only traces are faint circular scar left behind, which can accumulate after multiple birth cycles. Newly hatched Atlanteans are capable of walking within a few days, but develop very slowly (physiologically) after that. Their equivalent of adolescence is reached around age twenty, and full physical maturity and recognition as an adult being achieved roughly a dozen years after that. This slow development is not unduly hampering, though, the average Atlantean lifespan stretching past two and a half centuries. The mental aspect is more accelerated (again, a little-understood aspect of the “collective subconscious”). A ten-year old Atlantean will possess the cognitive ability parallel to a human in their late teens, maxing out at the same time physical maturity is reached. Whew! This took forever. I'm going to bed, chew over this for as long as you like. Bye now.
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Post by TheGlyphstone on Oct 23, 2004 7:21:12 GMT -5
If anyone's reading through this, please let me know. I'm aware it'll take a while to digest, but i'm just curious if anybody still cares about my Atlanteans......
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Post by RascalLeader on Oct 24, 2004 21:01:03 GMT -5
*Read Through* *Exhausted* It took me a while to get through and I had to re-read several sections twice when I got all cross Eyed. Joking aside, it was very well thought out and written. It must have taken you ages (I am in the middle of creating my race so I know how it is) but it was worth it. Although it was well done, like the horrible person I am my mind has thrown up a few questions about the Alanteans. You have pieced my curiosity, so its your own fault . 1) Do the Old ones have anything to do with the moranon god? 2) Does the 'Greater Racial Mind' effect all of the Atlanteans or just those in close proximaty? 3) How are they invoved in the Anargo sector? does it contain their homeworld, or a major base? 4) Do they interact with any race at all; do they talk to the Elder (considering they are perhaps two of the oldest races in the galaxy)? 5) How do they view other speices? Do they look on them as children or equals? 6) How did they 'first' develop a military? since having them psycically conntected to one another means that war would have been a somewhat difficult task for them 7) What no Battle Crabs? ?
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Post by TheGlyphstone on Oct 25, 2004 16:12:52 GMT -5
1) Do the Old ones have anything to do with the moranon god? 2) Does the 'Greater Racial Mind' effect all of the Atlanteans or just those in close proximaty? 3) How are they invoved in the Anargo sector? does it contain their homeworld, or a major base? 4) Do they interact with any race at all; do they talk to the Elder (considering they are perhaps two of the oldest races in the galaxy)? 5) How do they view other speices? Do they look on them as children or equals? 6) How did they 'first' develop a military? since having them psycically conntected to one another means that war would have been a somewhat difficult task for them 7) What no Battle Crabs? ? First of all, thanks for going through it. Hopefully the other Powers That Be will notice me soon. AS to your questions: 1)Old Ones/Moranon: Not really. Moranon is more a personification of the different aspects of intelligent life. The Five Faces are a relic of the early Atlanteans (who were called Amphiblians - what a stupid name ), when the number five had some significance. It's also different. 2) Great Racial Mind: I guess I didn't clarify the collective unconsciousness enough. There's really two parts to it, the big "pool of energy" that shields them from demons and gives Wave-Seers their powers, and the part that lets them sense "emotion messages" from nearby Atlanteans and communicate telepathically when touching. That's another thing I forgot to add on their civilian culture, that they all wear "gloves" of sorts to avoid accidental physical contact. 3) In the Sector: Their homeworlds are far away, in the uncolonized wilderness areas of the galaxy. They have a small ice-planet colony and watchpost somewhere in the sector (last located on the edges of the Dorvaster subsector, could quite possibly change once I rebuild it). It's not a particularly important planet, but the sector is supposed to be "average", so the Atlanteans would have a planet somewhere nearby. My original purpose in introducing them was for the Project to serve as a testing ground for the codex I was trying to write. That got backburnered and tossed out in favor of the more important fluff, and I slowly got sucked into the ASP as a whole. 4) They try more to manipulate other races, on sort of a lesser scale than the Eldar or Tzeentch. They can't see as far ahead into the future as the Eldar, and aren't immortal like Tzeentch, so their methods/plans tend to change whenever a new generation of leadership takes over. They treat the Eldar like any other race, even though the Eldar are a bit older (Aren't they created by the Old Ones?), being unobtrusive. I mentioned in Government the two primary "political parties" of sorts. The Iron Fist group wants to actively manipulate the rest of the galaxy into achieving balance, to hasten the return of the mythical Star Fathers. The Silent Eyes group prefers to sit back and watch, collect information, and let the "lesser races" work it out themselves. 5) They look upon other races as sort of less sophisticated, rather arrogantly in fact. Since no one else can get along, all fighting without end, it's up to the Atlanteans to gently nudge the galaxy into where they think will bring balance. This can vary depending on the individual, of course. Those who spend their life studying and documenting humans tend to develop a sort of attraction towards the species. Thinking of the Eldar again, they'd actually be the race that they have the most respect for, the closest to an equal that you could get from them, since they (the Eldar) are also long-lived (though quite a bit more so), and are also trying to manipulate the galaxy (except that they're going about it the wrong way, putting their own interests always first). 6) War's not really an "alien" ;D ;D concept to them. They haven't fought each other in large scale, but they are both predator and prey in a very turbulent ecosystem. The foundation of a military grew out of self-defense from roaming predators bigger and stronger then them, instead of a need to slaughter each other. 7) Battle Crabs: Oopsies, forgot them. I'll add a line or two under Weapons and Technology, and go into detail if I write a section on combat tactics.
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Post by Destecado on Oct 29, 2004 11:30:54 GMT -5
Definitely an interesting read Glyphstone, but I do see some things that have raised questions in my mind or which don't seem plausible. Evolution and History The race evolved on a watery world, much like the primordial swamps of prehistoric Earth. The indigenous races were varied forms of fish and amphibians, actual dry land being almost nonexistent. I think you need a more in depth explanation of the geography of the planet. Most of us were not around at the tme of the primordial swaps, so just saying that this is what it was like really does not convey an image. When you say dry land is none existant, what do you mean? People may beleive, that there is only one type of swamp, but this is actually incorrect. Let us take the Florida Everglades as an example. Many people view this as one large swamp, but it actually contains many different habitats. Slight changes in elevation (mere inches), water salinity, and soil create entirely different landscapes, each with its own community of plants and animals. Marine/EstuaryFlorida Bay, the largest body of water within Everglades National Park, contains over 800 square miles (2072 square km) of marine bottom, much of which is covered by seagrass. The seagrass shelters fish and shellfish and sustains the food chain that supports all higher vertebrates in the bay. The hard bottom areas are home to corals and sponges. Coastal PrairieLocated between the tidal mud flats of Florida Bay and dry land, the coastal prairie is an arid region of salt-tolerant vegetation periodically flooded by hurricane waves and buffeted by heavy winds. It is characterized by low-growing desert plants that can withstand the harsh conditions. MangrovesMangrove forests are found in the coastal channels and winding rivers around the tip of South Florida. Red mangroves (Rhizophora mangle), identified by their stilt-like roots, and the black (Avicennia germinans) and white mangroves (Laguncularia racemosa) thrive in tidal waters, where freshwater from the Everglades mixes with saltwater. This estuary system is a valuable nursery for shrimp and fish. During the dry months, wading birds congregate here to feed. Many bird species nest in the mangrove trees. Freshwater SloughThe slough is the deeper and faster-flowing center of a broad marshy river. This "fast" flow moves at a leisurely pace of 100 feet (30 meters) per day. Dotted with tree-islands called hammocks or heads, this vast landscape channels life-giving waters from north to south. Everglades National Park contains two distinct sloughs: Shark River Slough, the "river of grass;" and Taylor Slough, a narrow, eastern branch of the "river." There are no surface connections between the two. A series of other sloughs through the Big Cypress Swamp supply freshwater to western Florida Bay and the Ten Thousand Islands. CypressThe cypress tree is a deciduous conifer that can survive in standing water. These trees often form dense clusters called cypress domes in natural water-filled depressions. The trees in the deep soil at the center grow taller than those on the outside. Stunted cypress trees, called dwarf cypress, grow thinly-distributed in poor soil on drier land. Freshwater Marl PrairieBordering the deeper sloughs are large prairies with marl sediments, a calcareous material that settles on the limestone. The marl allows slow seepage of the water but not drainage. Though the sawgrass is not as tall and the water is not as deep, freshwater marl prairies look a lot like freshwater sloughs. Hardwood HammocksHammocks are dense stands of hardwood trees that grow on natural rises of only a few inches in the land. They appear as teardrop-shaped islands shaped by the flow of water in the middle of the slough. Many tropical species such as mahogany, gumbo limbo, and cocoplum grow alongside the more familiar temperate species of live oak, red maple, and hackberry. Because of their slight elevation, hammocks rarely flood. Acids from decaying plants dissolve the limestone around each tree island, creating a natural moat that protects the hammock plants from fire. Shaded from the sun by the tall trees, ferns and airplants thrive in the moisture-laden air inside the hammock. PinelandsThe slash pine is the dominant plant in this dry, rugged terrain that sits on top of a limestone ridge. The pines root in any crack or crevice where soil collects in the jagged bedrock. Fire is an essential condition for survival of the pine community, clearing out the faster-growing hardwoods that would block light to the pine seedlings. Pine bark is multi-layered, so only the outer bark is scorched during fires. The pinelands are the most diverse habitat in the Everglades, consisting of slash pine forest, an understory of saw palmettos, and over 200 varieties of tropical plants. This is but a glimpse of the variety of flora that can exist in a small area. It only begins to touch on the flora that can be found there. I hope it provide some insight and can help you better define the ecosystem of the Atlantean homeworld.
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Post by Destecado on Oct 29, 2004 12:58:06 GMT -5
This would have continues for millennia with nothing evolving higher than a trout, but all was to change upon the arrival of a freak comet from out of system. The frozen ball was snared by the sun’s gravity and set on a collision course with the planet. Miraculously, total annihilation was averted as the comet did not strike full on, but skimmed through the upper atmosphere of the pole like a skipping stone. Skipping off the upper atmosphere really wouldn't have the consiquences that you describe. There are alot of small asteroids and other pices of debris floating through space. Most burn up on their way through out atmosphere (these can be seen as meteor showers). A ball of ice might out gas a substantial portion of its mass as it skipped of the atmophere, but unless it made ground fall, I again don't see it having the "impact" that you are attributing to it. Perhaps there could be chemicals suspended within the commetary ice that some how reacted with the atmosphere. Maybe it degraded the ozone layer of the planet, which in turn allowed more solar radiation to reach the surface of the planet. This would cause increase mutations, which could explain a sudden increase in the developement of a species. The alternative would be to have the comet/asteroid strike the planet. If it has perhaps a nickle iron core it could maybe punch through the crust as it plummets into the sea, perhaps fracturing a tectonic plate. the outpouring of magma might creat a land mass on the planet. Of course this might cause wide spread destruction... which it seems that you are trying to avoid. I still think this might be a better explanation of why the sea level falls. A large body striking the planet might cause a climactic shift (as well as changing the planets orbit). If the planet was thrown into an ice age, much of the water would become frozen at the poles. this would have the effect of lowering the sea level world wide. this could explain the draining effect that you are looking for. One misconception about an ice age is that the world is cold all over. This is not the case. Near the equitorial regions, high temperatures and droughts can occur. The equitorial regions rely on the cold norther currents and moisture brought from colder regions in order to regulate the temperature. With most of the water trapped as ice, these systems shut down. The direct strike seems to fit the parameters you have set up for the proto-Atlanteans (as long as they are in equitorial regions). Damage was still considerable though, the near miss wreaking havoc on the ecosystem. Foremost in this was severe damage to the planet’s orbit, creating a noticeable “wobble” on its axis. Combined with the influence of the planet’s two moons, which had avoided the comet, the result was a set of violent and unpredictable tides which would leave vast stretches of the surface high and dry for months at a time. A Planet and its satelites are not discrete systems. they are interrelated. The change in the tides that you have described seems to point to a major planetary shift, rather than just a wobble of the planet. On earth the tides are effected by both the moon and the sun. for there to be such a pronounced shift in the tides, the force of one of these attractors would have to be increased. Since neither is gaining additional mass, this would point to a reduction in distance from one or both of the attracting bodies. Perhaps the planets velocity was changed from the impact. This decrease in velocity, could move its orbit closer to its star, thereb increasing the effects on the tides. The changes in the tides therefore mightnot be caused by the planets moons, but by the sun. The wobble itself may be indicative of a change in the planets electromagnetic field (magnetosphere). If such ossilation continues, it could have a major impact on the rotation of the planet or its relationship with its sattelites. By throwing of the planets orbit and rotation, there may be changes in the Lagrange points that exist in the planetary system. Given two massive bodies in circular orbits around their common center of mass, there are five positions in space where a third body, of negligible mass, could be placed which would then maintain its position relative to the two massive bodies. similarly with regards to elliptical orbits, stationary elliptical orbits which are similar to the orbits of the massive bodies will form. By changing the orbit of the primary, these Lagrange points will be disrupted. In some cases, there are asteroids which congregate at these points if they are disrupted, these asteroids may wind up falling into the gravity well of one of the moons or the planet itself, which could lead to further meteor strikes... That is all I have time to post at the moment. I will follow with further comments as time permits. I hope this feedback proves useful.
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Post by TheGlyphstone on Oct 29, 2004 16:39:10 GMT -5
(Lots of stuff about swamps Wow, I never knew there was so much stuff in a swamp. Maybe describe it as a diverse, swamp-like world. Areas near the equator would be very Everglade-like, while the more northern temperate zones would be like the marshy swamps or bogs of New England. Would that be plausible, to have differing climate zones like that? Skipping off the upper atmosphere really wouldn't have the consiquences that you describe. There are alot of small asteroids and other pices of debris floating through space. Most burn up on their way through out atmosphere (these can be seen as meteor showers). A ball of ice might out gas a substantial portion of its mass as it skipped of the atmophere, but unless it made ground fall, I again don't see it having the "impact" that you are attributing to it. Perhaps there could be chemicals suspended within the commetary ice that some how reacted with the atmosphere. Maybe it degraded the ozone layer of the planet, which in turn allowed more solar radiation to reach the surface of the planet. This would cause increase mutations, which could explain a sudden increase in the developement of a species. Dunno. I like the next idea better. An excellent solution. I tried to avoid an actual impact in fear of an Armageddon-style disaster. You seem to describe more of a Deep Impact scenario (to stretch two extra-planetary object disaster movies a bit). Very useful info. I suppose a mini ice-age could fit in. The only problem is the obstacles it puts in the way of the Octopi sub-species, which was supposed to have developed from Atlanteans that migrated to polar regions, where water pools were more stable, and began mutating from the thinner ozone layer. With thick ice at the poles along with an ice age in progress, it puts a damper on them, but I really liked the Octopi even though they are the only truly implausible part left from the Amphiblians/Atlantans/Atlanteans. After a bit of thought, I'm liking the object-impact solution more and more. It gives a wealth of fluff potential, such as early Atlantean legends of the "land where water does not go", poetic rendition for a gigantic shield volcano (extinct, naturally) that resulted from the magma burst you mentioned. Perhaps great caves or craters that clans or seers would make pilgrimages to, struggling without bodysuits to prove their strength. It also adds to diversity, by giving a place for the marauding predators to develop/survive and other flora species to evolve. A planet entirely of hybrid seaweed/cactus would be mighty boring (a needed combination to tolerate long periods of dry combined with total immersion for times). I see... Interesting. I'm largely ignorant of large-scale stuff like this, so your mention on the EM field of the planet is intriguing. Anything that messes with the tides is good. Forcing it closer to the star is even better. The only problem I can see is producing the unpredictable changes in tidal motion that would bring about the evolution of the Atlanteans. If the tides just change to a different, equally predictable pattern, life will go on as normal. Even more chaos....always helpful. Of course, I don't want to induce total ecosystem collapse. You're kidding, right? You've done nearly as much work refining and critiquing the Atlanteans as I have writing about them. I will be very deeply in debt to you once this is over. Can I take heart from the fact that you've found far fewer improbabilities/impossibilities/Star Trek physics instances this time around? ;D ;D
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Post by Destecado on Nov 1, 2004 13:05:51 GMT -5
Wow, I never knew there was so much stuff in a swamp. Maybe describe it as a diverse, swamp-like world. Areas near the equator would be very Everglade-like, while the more northern temperate zones would be like the marshy swamps or bogs of New England. Would that be plausible, to have differing climate zones like that? This is not only plausible, but preferable. Few worlds are homogenous (the same) across their entire surface. Even water worlds, which would appear homogeneous can vary greatly based on the underwater topography. In fact, this may help to explain where the larger land animals came from. If the temperature began to change and grow colder, you would probably have animals from the north migrating south. These animals need not be of any great size either. A bunch of raccoon or otter sized animals could have a major impact on the habitat. Since these creatures probably would not have the natural predators in this new habitat, there could have been a population explosion that further impated the local ecosystem. It may be that this change in diet also caused mutations or developement within these land animals. As different types of foods have different minerals and vitamins in them, changes in a creature's diet can also change their biochemistry. Let us look to milk as an example of this. The feed of many cows (slaughtered for beef as well as dairy cows) is fortified with hormones and vitamins to promote the growth of the cow. These hormones are therefore in the beef and milk that the cow gives. When this beef is eaten or the milk drunk, a portion of the hormones are transferred to the individual. It is beleived that the hormones in milk and beef is one of the things that has lead to the early onset of puberty today's young people. Of course I'm not trying to say that the fish of the souther regions are fortified with hormones, but the additional proteen in their diet might increase the growth of the land animals young. If more of the young survive, there is a better chance that more will reach the age to procreate. This increase would also increase the potential for mutations to occur...especially with the need to adapt to their new enviroemnt. An excellent solution. I tried to avoid an actual impact in fear of an Armageddon-style disaster. You seem to describe more of a Deep Impact scenario (to stretch two extra-planetary object disaster movies a bit).[/'quote] Armageddon was horrible (I actually fell asleep during the movie). Deep Impact was a much better film. Unfortunately, most people prefer glits and effects (and horrible actincting) to a good story story.....and that ends my off topic rant. Very useful info. I suppose a mini ice-age could fit in. The only problem is the obstacles it puts in the way of the Octopi sub-species, which was supposed to have developed from Atlanteans that migrated to polar regions, where water pools were more stable, and began mutating from the thinner ozone layer. With thick ice at the poles along with an ice age in progress, it puts a damper on them, but I really liked the Octopi even though they are the only truly implausible part left from the Amphiblians/Atlantans/Atlanteans. The octopi may still be doable. there are actually several varieties of giant octopus that inhabit the dark cold waters of the polar regions of earth. I do not completely rememebr how the octopi were ntegrated into the society, but I don't see them as really being part of the Atlantean race. Their evolution is too seperate from where the species of "fish" that the Atlanteans evolved from grew. They also appear to have no common ancestry or if there is one, it is too removed. Perhaps the octopi could represent a species that the Atlanteans have geneticaly manipulated or bio engineered in order to serve a specific need. An image is forming of having the octopi be something analguous to the tenticle of Dr. Octopus from the second spider man movie. Of course instead of being mechanicle they are a biological alternative. Interesting. I'm largely ignorant of large-scale stuff like this, so your mention on the EM field of the planet is intriguing. Anything that messes with the tides is good. Forcing it closer to the star is even better. The only problem I can see is producing the unpredictable changes in tidal motion that would bring about the evolution of the Atlanteans. If the tides just change to a different, equally predictable pattern, life will go on as normal. You don't need large tides to force evolution. the receding of the water into tidal pools will force competition and help drive evolution. The introduction of new predators can also drive evolution. Glyph, you have to rememebr, that there are many things other than the tides that can produce the kind of evolution that you seek. Actullay one thought that comes to mind is the fact that the decrease in the water level will have the effect of increasing the radiation exposure of the "fish" from which the Atlanteans evolved. generally, there would be a refraction of light caused by the water. This refraction is changed by such things as the salinity (salt content) of the water, the temperature, any polutants or other matter in solution, wave action, and a multitude of other variables. The refraction of light is generally why after a certain depth the ocean is dark. the light is just unable to penetrate beyond a certain depth. As the light itself is unable to penetrate beyond a certain depth, the same holds true for radiation, such as Ultraviolet and Infared. Therefore a decrease in the depth of their tidal pools will lead to a potential increase in exposure to solar radiation. Another factor to take into account is the increase in growth of the marine plants with greater access to the sun (because of the decrease in water levels). what would be the impact of an explosion in the growth of these water plants? I hope illustrates that even one small change to an enviroment can have a cascade effect that causes a multitude of changes in the eco system. Even more chaos....always helpful. Of course, I don't want to induce total ecosystem collapse. You're kidding, right? You've done nearly as much work refining and critiquing the Atlanteans as I have writing about them. I will be very deeply in debt to you once this is over. Can I take heart from the fact that you've found far fewer improbabilities/impossibilities/Star Trek physics instances this time around? ;D ;D
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Post by TheGlyphstone on Nov 1, 2004 21:00:50 GMT -5
i think one of our problems is that you see "mutation" as being synonymous with "evolution", where I see "mutation" as being extra limbs, extra heads or eyes, creepy stuff that shouldn't be there. Not a big deal, I can deal with it. Read on.This is not only plausible, but preferable. Few worlds are homogenous (the same) across their entire surface. Even water worlds, which would appear homogeneous can vary greatly based on the underwater topography. In fact, this may help to explain where the larger land animals came from. If the temperature began to change and grow colder, you would probably have animals from the north migrating south. These animals need not be of any great size either. A bunch of raccoon or otter sized animals could have a major impact on the habitat. Sweet. Varied habitats it is. Okay..... Miscommunication strikes again. The "Octopi" are not actual Octopi. They're a subspecies with a bizzare mutation. Hold on, let me drag out my old sketch of the "types". It's out of date, but will get my point across. See on the far right? The Octopi have a set of long, tactile tentacle-like appendages that sprout from their shoulders and upper back, that they can use like extra limbs. The mutation that causes this is rare, but can potentially happen to any Atlantean baby, sort of like the albino defect in mammals (Are you gonna supply a website on albinoes now? ). In the early days, they came primarily from the northern oceans where the atmosphere was thinner, but that's gone. NOW we're talking. This is a very close description, except that the Doc Ock tentacles were surgically attached, where the tentacles of the Octopi appear naturally. I know there are other factors, i'm just stuck on the tides for some reason. I think it's because without the need to cross dry land frequently, they'd never need to grow legs/arms and the entire idea is sunk ;D. Got it. Increased solar radiation speeds mutation. The flora would indeed change drastically. Some plants would starve from lack of abundant water that they were used to, others would drown in a sudden overflow.
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Post by TheGlyphstone on Nov 8, 2004 20:43:19 GMT -5
I'll start re-writing the planetary history to account for Destacado's critiquing, but I would still like input from any source. I REALLY want to finish this.
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