I like to work my setting from as many angles as possible.
One of the big things is that a created race which was literally designed to be a bunch of ultra-diplomats and non-total-jackass politicians is working its way into power in human civilizations... they tend to be better at "waging peace" than humans are... but they're also basically in existence to keep humanity controllable and in check... it's a gentle mastery, for the most part, but it IS a mastery, and it's always slowly getting stronger...
Then you have all the problems caused by the various groups seeking eternal life... kingdoms have had their treasuries emptied by rulers going after the latest snake oil elixir of life, spurring conquests and so forth. It's made all the worse by the existence of at least one proven, but impermanent source in the form of a powerful serpent being who charges immensely for it... selfish royalty get a few extra decades to overtax the hell out of their peasantry while they look for a cure for time. Beyond that, there are legends of a group of epic power who, if not given eternal life by a set date, will awaken to destroy all other life, taking it down with them before old age finishes them off... so there's also a valid reason to keep looking...
He got temp-banned for bullying someone and not letting up, and upon his return imagespammed [chat]. It a rare fit of mercy, Tube banned him from posting in D&D but allowed him to keep posting in SE++.
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One of the big things is that a created race which was literally designed to be a bunch of ultra-diplomats and non-total-jackass politicians is working its way into power in human civilizations... they tend to be better at "waging peace" than humans are... but they're also basically in existence to keep humanity controllable and in check... it's a gentle mastery, for the most part, but it IS a mastery, and it's always slowly getting stronger...
Then you have all the problems caused by the various groups seeking eternal life... kingdoms have had their treasuries emptied by rulers going after the latest snake oil elixir of life, spurring conquests and so forth. It's made all the worse by the existence of at least one proven, but impermanent source in the form of a powerful serpent being who charges immensely for it... selfish royalty get a few extra decades to overtax the hell out of their peasantry while they look for a cure for time. Beyond that, there are legends of a group of epic power who, if not given eternal life by a set date, will awaken to destroy all other life, taking it down with them before old age finishes them off... so there's also a valid reason to keep looking...
Messy messy messy world.
you tempt me
He got temp-banned for bullying someone and not letting up, and upon his return imagespammed [chat]. It a rare fit of mercy, Tube banned him from posting in D&D but allowed him to keep posting in SE++.