Technology

This world is a challenging mix of technology and magic. The idea being that while the two generally compete to do the same things each has its strong points. The tendency ends up being somewhat racial: humans use technology, dragons use magic, and ceteceans use psionics which is somewhat akin to magic but they also embrace technology to an extent due to their close relation with humans.

Human technology tends to be akin to that of cyberpunk settings. Highly electronic with many bionic/cybernetic advancements. Military technology is also highly advanced. To an extent normal life technology has advanced as well due to the sometimes extreme conditions with which people need to survive. For instance the north is almost constantly in winter conditions and invariably in extreme winter weather situations.

The main hindrance to a lot of the technology is that it is somewhat limited. There are no satelites, space vehicles, etc in this world because there simply isn't any space. How to explain or argue that is a bit of a challenge (ie I haven't made something up yet) but from a practical aspect it makes sense. This is a closed system and having space opens it up as space is infinite. This world most certainly is not. The end result is that communications are limited to a certain distance from major population centers like the limits of radio today. Repeaters can push those farther out but they are not nessecarily always there. The frontier is still the frontier.

Within that closed environment humans tend to be king however. Even the simple ability to easily and instaneously communicate with multiple people within their environ gives the humans an edge (ala Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex cybercoms). Other edges are access to power supplies of various sorts and other logistic support. Technology generally requires much support making it severely less useful when denied that support ocassionally even being burdensome.

What does all this conclude? Not much, just random musings on a developing world.

Memorium

In one of the valleys hidden between clefts of autumn hewn and radiant green leaves is a quiet place of perpetual light mist cut by sunlight tracing slow patterns across the moss and grasses. Dew hangs from the young leaves of indivudal sugar maple saplings scattered valley casting small sparkling beads of light between rows of white crosses. Rows upon rows of crosses. Amongst the saplings lies this forest of simple white. They stretch across every point of open space, every hill, every knoll, from one end of the valley to the other in stately silence. Each one would bear a name and an age but some instead simply read: "This honored comrade's identity rests with God". For a world known to be filled with near immortals the ages read woefully young.

In the center of all this sits a slightly larger cross with the simple form of a wolf lying in sad, patient watch at its base. On the front it reads: "You left us too soon child"; on the back: "Our future is better by your sacrifice". On the cross if one looks closely the initial "ACP" and the number "0" can barely be made out.