VANTANIC CHROMANITY: A Hole Where A Person Should Be

Vantanic Seer

As part of the Gygax 75 Challange, I wanted to go on a write down some notes about one of the factions for the campaign. Maybe jumping the gun a bit in terms of the document, but didn't want to lose the idea.

Of the eight different facets of chromanity, two are secretive, elusive, and steeped in speculation: the Vantanic and the Ulfire.

A HOLE IN REALITY

There are only three subjects that all of chromanity can agree upon:

One, the Divine Chime must be completed and rung alerting the gods of chmanity's readiness.

Two, Ulfire sorcerors are foolish for using communing magically with serpent empire ghosts.

Three, that Vantanic shadows are so wretched the gods cut them out of reality leaving a hole.

THE VANTANIC UNION

Before and After effect
of the gift of Yibb-tstll

The Union are worshipers of Yibb-tstll, the "Eyes of the Night" or "The Space Between the Stars", a being obsessed with seeing and knowing all. Its blood mixed with other beings allows it's essence to exist in V'COSA's plane of reality where it is still very blind.

Vantanic chromanity is composed of members of all peoples on V'Cosa who have been infused with the blood of Yibb-tstll, a flaky substance like black snow. While dangerous, this injection results in preventing congregates from being "known" via Detect Magic, ESP, scrying with orbs, and even from the gods above/AI on V'COSA. They are in effect erased from reality hence being seen as a biped-shaped hole in reality. This hole is how Yibb-tstll peers into a new plane. It is said members of the Vantanic Union are present when a person feels an eerie sense of deja vu.

GOALS

These folks turned toward Yibb-tstll because they grew frustrated by the idiocy of the gods above, disillusioned with the Divine Chime,  wary of the Combine of Cuulat, appalled at the hubris of Ulfire efforts with the Serpent Empire, but hopeful with the arrival of the New Moon Ghoroth- a gift from Yibb-tstll.

The goal of the Vantanic Union is to acquire knowledge and material to travel to Ghoroth. On this moon, a new, more perfect home can be formed. A seat above the old gods and in the eyes of the new. 

The goal of Yibb-tstll is to eat the New Moon Ghoroth and have a window into all. The Vantanic Union is unaware of this.

WANTS & GIVES

  • Want Power and logic core material from Gith astro-fortresses and keeps
  • Want Schematics and technology related to astral travel & survival
  • Want Ulfire summoning methods for shantak & byakhee
  • Give: Will accompany expeditions to crashed Gith fortresses for 1 full share of the treasure to help bypass mechanical/AI security; will absolutely betray the party to save own skin
  • Give: Brokers of information and location

LOCATION

Because AI is blinded to their presence, the Vantanic Union is headquartered in a ruined AI manufacturing facility. Though damaged, the automated defense systems are still activated and protect the group from all attacks. While remaining oblivious, save for a few anomalies, to their presence inside the base.

UNITS


The sum of chromanity with
ulfire (apart left) and vantanic (apart right)


4 comments:

  1. I love the Vantanic Union. This is great stuff, and exactly the sort of worldbuilding that instantly grabs me. Sci-Fantasy truly is the sweet spot!

    One thing that I really love about well built factions is how easy it is to identify them, and how easy it is to use that "identification" to build out the world and the things they control. Having the "facets of chromanity" tied to a color (or lack thereof) is such a great and easy to riff on thing. Can't wait to read more about this!

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    1. That is nice to hear! Thank you. I was hoping it would come off that way. The colors of humans was always an interesting aspect of the Carcosa material to me.

      But I've always felt they needed a little more purpose in part to challenge players to use that purpose in game. Either as a prompt for their own characters or as a way to deal with NPCs

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  2. I wonder what it is about fictional colors that ulfires the imagination so.

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    1. Dolm if I know. I guess it just Jales inside my brain.

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