#mediaevum

An article by Prof. Julio Samso Emeritus Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies, The University of Barcelona about Medieval islamic astronomer Aḥmad al-Bīrūnī

Finally! Here the info of my fan planet! :v

Mediaevum is a strange young planet, a little far from Alternia. The planet has the size of Venus, but unlike this one, is quite abundant, resourceful and has a rich biodiversity, like a more green Earth. Mediaevum was inhabited by humanoids with a culture similar to our medieval one, until “someone” sent trolls and lusii strange creatures to the planet. For a century the species lived in peace… until a parasitic species wiped out half the planet and thus, all the humanoids. The parasites continue to grow, and the remaining trolls must stop them before they annihilate the planet.

Guided by their visions, some oracles and alchemists created a portal directly to Alternia, the place they want like their “future home”. It was that a good decision?

Interesting, it feels sort of Contagion/I am Ledgend-esque. I like that, and it works well enough to stand on it’s own should you want to alienate it from Alternia later on for some reason. I don’t know that I’m happy with them using a portal—perhaps it’s a group guided by the oracles that set out on a ship instead? Or, if you haven’t got one already, make a fantroll that is the Oracle that opens the portal—it doesn’t have to be in depth, but most lowblooded trolls have some sort of power, so it could work for something like that. It’s really just a minor nit pick because opening a portal is sort of too vague.

That was the abstract about Mediaevum, a planet stuck in medieval era. Here the more detailed version.

Name: Mediaevum (The name comes from Middle Ages in latin: Medium Aevum).

Continents: The planet has two giant continents: Saxon (From Anglo-Saxon, people from Europe) and Alarab (From al’aráb, arab people). Both continents were enemies until the creation of the Universal Peace Treaty.

Inhabitants: A strange race of humanoids called Homisty(From Homo Sapiens and Mysticus, latin word for “mystical”), with the ability of talk with fauna and flora, similar to us but taller. 10 centuries later of the rise of the civilization, one of the Four Gods of Misfortune (Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse) send trolls to the planet, just for fun, hoping to see how the two races destroyed each other.

Like they wanted, both species started to fight to death (This was the moment when saxonians and alarabians decided to join forces). The trolls were strong enough to kill part of homisties’ army, but they were fewer, and the homisties take this as an advantage and started to attack them with bigger armies to the point they almost exterminate the trolls. At the both species solved their differences in a meeting with the leader of each side, this how the Universal Peace Treaty was born. They started to coexist with no problem, the trolls adapted to the homistian system; they even let their grubs and wrigglers to be raised by homisties in the absence of lusii (Here why some trolls from Mediaevum has human names).

I actually really like this, though part of me is saying that the names that you’ve choosen for the races are a little heavy-handed. Then again, this is an AU, so anything really goes. I like the concept, it feels fairly original from what I’ve seen of fantroll universes and it seems thought out. Though I feel like it may be better to say that this is an AU where earth is uninvolved, since the planet is so earth-like.

I will say that I sort of doubt that the trolls in the canon universe would be able to come to a peace agreement like you’ve mentioned here, the condesc really has them trained to be militants to the end, and it’s good to see you sort of straying from canon for an AU.

Really the only true advice I can give is that if it ties up loose ends then it works well.

Lusii arrived when the homisties were close to their extinction. Fungusii are another important race in the planet. Most of the wildlife is similar to the ones in Earth.

Religions: There are a total of 5 religions in Mediaevum (Followed by the inhabitants of both continents). Four of them follow each God of Misfortune, a person can follow the four religions, two of them or just one. The last religion is followed by a few persons and is considered a taboo in Saxon, a more closed minded continent. Let’s start with the aforementioned four religions.

1- Religion of the Conquest: Followed by warlords, kings, some knights and emperors. Every month the followers have to leave some tributes (Gold, jewelry, beautiful weapons, etc.) in the base of the statue of this “god of misfortune”. Most of the worshipers wear a golden ring with the cross of the “Conqueror” engraved on it in order to being blessed with victories in wars and military campaigns. This, plus the aforementioned ritual, is a way to show respect to their “god of misfortune”. The main figure in the religion is Conquest, rider of the white horse, great conqueror and the Lord of Victory.

2- Religion of the War: Followed by warlords, kings and most knights. Every year, for celebrate the benevolence of their “god of misfortune”, the kings arrange an event where the bravest warriors of the region assist to an arena where they fight in a coliseum; the winner is regarded with the “Red crown of the Warlord”. Most of the worshipers hold with them a bronze medal with the cross of the “Warlord” engraved on it in order to being blessed with his protection in wars and military campaigns. This, plus the aforementioned event, is a way to show respect to their “god of misfortune”. The main figure in the religion is War, rider of the red horse, great warlord and the Lord of Massacres.

3- Religion of the Famine: Followed by the peasantry and some emperors and kings. Every two years the followers make a ritual in order to keep away the Famine. For that they make a bonfire where they throw the favorite food of their “god of misfortune”. One of the requirements is: no one of the guests in the party can eat anything during the ritual; if that rule is broken, they’ll suffer a terrible famine until the next ritual. Once the ritual is completed, they make party at night and eat all the food they can until they feel completely full. Most of the worshipers hold with them a necklace with the symbol of the famine. This, plus the aforementioned ritual, is a way to show respect to their “god of misfortune”. The main figure in the religion is Famine, rider of the black horse, great equalizer and the Lord of Shortage.

4- Religion of the Death: Followed by everyone. Every five years the followers of this religion make a procession for the “Path of the Death”, a large, dead and desert road which leads to a place known as the “Heaven in Mediaevum”, a beautiful and abundant place where the worshipers take a rest and fill their baskets with delicious vegetables and fruits. All the worshipers hold with them a little pale toy which represents Death, also, is a way to show respect to their “god of misfortune”. The main figure in the religion is Death, rider of the pale horse, great reaper and the Lord of Mercifulness.

The letter “Y” is the symbol of the Four Gods of Misfortune. The upper points represent War and Conquest (As the main gods in the eyes of the people), the center of the Y represents Famine, and the base point represents Death (I positioned there for his bond with the Underworld).

5- Religion of the Creators of Universes (God Tier): Some of the people on both continents believe in the existence of gods more powerful than the Four Gods of Misfortune. They call them the “creators of universes”. This religion started when an alarabian oracle spread the word about a revelatory vision he had were he saw those strange gods creating different universes, including theirs. Worshipers of this religion are severely punished.

Wow, you know that’s completely not what I expected, I’d never have actually thought of God Teir Players being worshiped as gods (which you would think the name would make obvious, but I’m a liiiiitle dense.)I’d be careful though, there’s a lot of religious allusion that’s probably going to go over some people’s heads.

 I like the incorporation of the gods of misfortune throughout, it’s showing the great theming again, but I sort of feel unfair to critique this as just a fan universe because it’s really clear that a lot of thought has gone into it and it’s exploring an entirely different facet of an already complex universe. You’ve taken some of the ideas of homestuck and interwoven them carefully with your own ideas.

However, because it’s so well thought out I’m sort of on the fence about how I can go about critiquing this. I adore what you’ve brought to me, but I’m also going to have a very hard time saying how to go about things because you’re so meticulous about how you create it.

In other words, I’m really interested to hear more about it, but it seems unfair of me to have to limit you by what the canon universe says and it makes it hard for me to really tell you that you’re doing anything wrong because of the position I’m in. There’s only so much I can really critique for an AU.

Class Society for trolls (And homisties): Before the arrival of the trolls, the homisties had already a class system which they have to adapt to the trolls. There are two types of system; this is the one in Saxon, from the lowest to the highest:

1- Peasants/Servant/Serfs/Bards: Burgundy, Bronze and Yellow blood trolls enters in this category, their psychic abilities can be very useful when they need to teleport heavy cargo. Their short life spawn make them not able to be something above this class. All of them are perfect to be servants for their peaceful nature. Bards don’t belong to any kingdom, and all of them are considered part of the lowest class.

2- Merchants/Farmers: This class is for olive, teal and jade blood trolls. They belong to the “middle class”. Farmers are owner of their own farm as long they give their part to the higher classes, and merchants can sell whatever they want except objects related with taboos. Like in Alternia, jade bloods are not very common.

3- Knights/Vassals: Some teal and jade bloods can belong to this class, but usually the ones with all the right of become knights or vassals are the cerulean blood trolls. They are disciplined but strong at the same time.

4- Nobles/Jesters/Clergy: Indigo and purple blood trolls belongs to this class. Indigo bloods are captains of the army, owners of big fiefs, members of the clergy or princes. Purple bloods just can be jesters, and just kings/queens and the emperor/empress owns them. Some of them can be hired like assassins. The clergy follow the main religion of Saxon, purple bloods trolls aren’t allowed to  be part of it for their violence attitude.

5- Kings/Queens/The Order of Y/Hand of the Emperor: An exclusive class for sea dwellers with violet blood or lime blood trolls. The Order of Y is the “army” of the church; they are the bosses of the clergy and have the right of fight in the name of the Y (The “Christian cross” of Saxon’s folk). They can take the role of Inquisitors, too. Even The Order has its own leader: The Hand of the Emperor is… that, the right hand of the emperor and his/her representative in some events. Is the second higher title in Saxon. Konrad’s ancestor was The Hand of the Emperor. Kings/Queens rules over the kingdoms, which belongs to the Empire of Saxon, they are below the Order of Y.

6- Emperor: King of kings (Or queen of kings, depends of the century) and the highest authority in Saxon. This was an exclusive title for the homisties, trolls weren’t allowed to be emperors until the moment when the first tyrian blood troll was born. When all the homisties died for the “big plague”, this title becomes exclusive for tyrian blood trolls.

Mutants in Saxon are considered failures and a disgrace related with the Demon. All of them are killed when they are just little grubs. For their valuable powers, lime blood trolls were used in the war like soldiers, most of them died in the battles against the enemy. The few survival lime bloods are members of The Order of Y.

And the class system in Alarab is:

1- Slaves/Prisoners: The lowest and hated class, slaves and prisoners are considered the junk of society. They were citizens or nobles (Or even emperors) who made an atrocity or break the law. They are punished brutally, to the point some of them ends disfigured, and no one of the castes is safe from this punishment. They’re treated like something worse than animals. If those ones who deserve a second chance cry long enough for forgiveness, they can become the pupils of the priests and stay with them for 6 human months. If they show a real change, they become mamluks.

2- Merchants/Farmers/Cattlemen/Dancers/Servants: Usually, burgundy blood trolls are the ones who work like merchants for the same reason they are peasants in Saxon. Unlike this continent merchants are much respected in Alarab, commerce is very important in the warm continent. Some jade and teal blood trolls start like middle class merchants. Bronze blood trolls work like cattlemen thanks for his ability to communicate with animals, making the work easier. Farmers are less common but not less important than cattlemen, usually the olive and the yellow blood trolls are farmers, especially olive bloods. Whichever of the aforementioned caste can be dancers or servants of the higher classes.

I don’t think that all Bronze Bloods communicate with animals. Just some.

3- Priests/Nobles: Jade, teal and cerulean blood trolls belongs to this class. Priests follow the main religion of Alarab and are the ones who help slaves and prisoners to become mamluks (They usually teal/jade blood trolls). Nobles are the owners of entire farms or are the richest merchants of some regions, all thanks for their ability crafting jewelry. Sometimes burgundy blood trolls become rich merchants, too.

4- Knights/Mamluks/Alchemists/Supreme Court: Knights and mamluks are appreciated in Alarab. Knights are usually cerulean and indigo blood trolls with a great ability and discipline, teal blood trolls can be knights, too, but this case is very rare; they are loved and respected by the folk. These castes can be members of the Supreme Court, too. Mamluks are conformed for a great variety of trolls, from burgundy bloods to sea dwellers. All purple bloods are alchemists; no one of them has a clownish theme.

5- Sultans/Maliks/Oracles: Usually, sea dwellers with violet blood are sultans. They rule over the kingdoms that are part of the empire of Alarab. When a mamluk gain enough respect from people, they become maliks and rule over some kingdoms. Maliks are the strongest and intelligent mamluks, natural leaders in other words. Oracles are special cases; they are trolls or homisties who were born with the ability of “see the future” or “predict catastrophes”, all the oracles would be “Doom players” if they play SBURB/SGRUB.

I’m assuming that the oracles can be of lower blood castes?

6- Shah: Shah is the alarabian version of an Emperor/Empress. They have the same function as an emperor, with one difference: Tyrian blood trolls had the option of being Shahs since the arrival of trolls. Just real good leaders can be Shahs.

Unlike Saxon, mutants were adored for their special features; most of them were considered like messengers of the gods. They were under the protection of the Shah.

The class systems, overall, are pretty standard. I don’t really have a problem with them and the way that they’re set up, but they’re a little cookie cutter. Then again, it’s a class system and they’re sorta meant to feel that way.

Current situation of the planet: All the population in Mediaevum died for the rapid reproduction of the fungusii and the survivor trolls left the planet before the plague kill them (They flee to Alternia). The fungusii and the plants are now the only living beings on the planet, but plants are close to their extinction because of the poisoned water and air. At the end, the fungusii will be the only surviving species of the worn planet.

For now is all, I’ll submit Konrad’s current info later. (:

Overall this is a really well thought out AU, and I’m really interested in knowing how the fantrolls from this planet tie in with the Egyptian Zodiac based ones I’ve already seen. I sort of feel like there’s a connection already, but it may have gone over my head.

Mediaevum is a strange young planet, a little far from Alternia. The planet has the size of Venus, but unlike this one, is quite abundant, resourceful and has a rich biodiversity, like a more green Earth. Mediaevum was inhabited by humanoids with a culture similar to our medieval one, until “someone” sent trolls and lusii strange creatures to the planet. For a century the species lived in peace… until a parasitic species wiped out half the planet and thus, all the humanoids. The parasites continue to grow, and the remaining trolls must stop them before they annihilate the planet.

Guided by their visions, some oracles and alchemists created a portal directly to Alternia, the place they want like their “future home”. It was that a good decision?

That was the abstract about Mediaevum, a planet stuck in medieval era. Here the more detailed version. Hmm, it sounds interesting so far. 

Name: Mediaevum (The name comes from Middle Ages in latin: Medium Aevum). This is so neat, I like the reasoning behind the planet's name a lot.

Continents: The planet has two giant continents: Saxon (From Anglo-Saxon, people from Europe) and Alarab (From al’aráb, arab people). Both continents were enemies until the creation of the Universal Peace Treaty.

Inhabitants: A strange race of humanoids called Homisty (From Homo Sapiens and Mysticus, latin word for “mystical”), with the ability of talk with fauna and flora, similar to us but taller. 10 centuries later of the rise of the civilization, one of the Four Gods of Misfortune (Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse) send trolls to the planet, just for fun. Lusii arrived when the homisties were close to their extinction. Fungusii are another important race in the planet. Most of the wildlife is similar to the ones in Earth. Do the Homisty have multicoloured blood similar to trolls or any other similarities with them? 

Class Society for trolls (And homisties): Before the arrival of the trolls, the homisties had already a class system which they have to adapt to the trolls. There are two types of system; this is the one in Saxon, from the lowest to the highest:

1- Peasants/Servant/Serfs/Bards: Burgundy, Bronze and Yellow blood trolls enters in this category, their psychic abilities can be very useful when they need to teleport heavy cargo. Their short life spawn make them not able to be something above this class. All of them are perfect to be servants for their peaceful nature. Bards don’t belong to any kingdom, and all of them are considered part of the lowest class.

2- Merchants/Farmers: This class is for olive, teal and jade blood trolls. They belong to the “middle class”. Farmers are owner of their own farm as long they give their part to the higher classes, and merchants can sell whatever they want except objects related with taboos. Like in Alternia, jade bloods are not very common. Do any jadebloods get special treatment, by chance?

3- Knights/Vassals: Some teal and jade bloods can belong to this class, but usually the ones with all the right of become knights or vassals are the cerulean blood trolls. They are disciplined but strong at the same time.

4- Nobles/Jesters/Clergy: Indigo and purple blood trolls belongs to this class. Indigo bloods are captains of the army, owners of big fiefs, members of the clergy or princes. Purple bloods just can be jesters, and just kings/queens and the emperor/empress owns them. Some of them can be hired like assassins. The clergy follow the main religion of Saxon, purple bloods trolls weren’t allowed to  be part of it for their violence attitude. Do purplebloods exclusively have to be jesters, I feel as though a few of the more stable ones could be used as military leaders, for instance?

5- Kings/Queens/The Order of Y/Hand of the Emperor: An exclusive class for sea dwellers with violet blood or lime blood trolls. The Order of Y is the “army” of the church; they are the bosses of the clergy and have the right of fight in the name of the Y (The “Christian cross” of Saxon’s folk). They can take the role of Inquisitors, too. Even The Order has its own leader: The Hand of the Emperor is… that, the right hand of the emperor and his/her representative in some events. Is the second higher title in Saxon. Konrad’s ancestor was The Hand of the Emperor. Kings/Queens rules over the kingdoms, which belongs to the Empire of Saxon, they are below the Order of Y.

6- Emperor: King of kings (Or queen of kings, depends of the century) and the highest authority in Saxon. This was an exclusive title for the homisties, trolls weren’t allowed to be emperors until the moment when the first tyrian blood troll was born. When all the homisties died for the “big plague”, this title becomes exclusive for tyrian blood trolls.

Mutants in Saxon are considered failures and a disgrace related with the Demon. All of them are killed when they are just little grubs. For their valuable powers, lime blood trolls were used in the war like soldiers, most of them died in the battles against the enemy. The few survival lime bloods are members of The Order of Y.

And the class system in Alarab is:

1- Slaves/Prisoners: The lowest and hated class, slaves and prisoners are considered the junk of society. They were citizens or nobles (Or even emperors) who made an atrocity or break the law. They are punished brutally, to the point some of them ends disfigured, and no one of the castes is safe from this punishment. They’re treated like something worse than animals. If those ones who deserve a second chance cry long enough for forgiveness, they can become the pupils of the priests and stay with them for 6 human months. If they show a real change, they become mamluks. What defines a "real change"? Is it something like saving another troll, or perhaps showing a change of heart?

2- Merchants/Farmers/Cattlemen/Dancers/Servants: Usually, burgundy blood trolls are the ones who work like merchants for the same reason they are peasants in Saxon. Unlike this continent merchants are much respected in Alarab, commerce is very important in the warm continent. Some jade and teal blood trolls start like middle class merchants. Bronze blood trolls work like cattlemen thanks for his ability to communicate with animals, making the work easier. Farmers are less common but not less important than cattlemen, usually the olive and the yellow blood trolls are farmers, especially olive bloods. Whichever of the aforementioned caste can be dancers or servants of the higher classes.

3- Priests/Nobles: Jade, teal and cerulean blood trolls belongs to this class. Priests follow the main religion of Alarab and are the ones who help slaves and prisoners to become mamluks (They usually teal/jade blood trolls). Nobles are the owners of entire farms or are the richest merchants of some regions, all thanks for their ability crafting jewelry. Sometimes burgundy blood trolls become rich merchants, too.

4- Knights/Mamluks/Alchemists/Supreme Court: Knights and mamluks are appreciated in Alarab. Knights are usually cerulean and indigo blood trolls with a great ability and discipline, teal blood trolls can be knights, too, but this case is very rare; they are loved and respected by the folk. These castes can be members of the Supreme Court, too. Mamluks are conformed for a great variety of trolls, from burgundy bloods to sea dwellers. All purple bloods are alchemists; no one of them has a clownish theme.

5- Sultans/Maliks/Oracles: Usually, sea dwellers with violet blood are sultans. They rule over the kingdoms that are part of the empire of Alarab. When a mamluk gain enough respect from people, they become maliks and rule over some kingdoms. Maliks are the strongest and intelligent mamluks, natural leaders in other words. Oracles are special cases; they are trolls or homisties who were born with the ability of “see the future” or “predict catastrophes”, all the oracles would be “Doom players” if they play SBURB/SGRUB.

6- Shah: Shah is the alarabian version of an Emperor/Empress. They have the same function as an emperor, with one difference: Tyrian blood trolls have the option of being Shahs since the arrival of trolls. Just real good leaders can be Shahs.

Unlike Saxon, mutants were adored for their special features; most of them were considered like messengers of the gods. They were under the protection of the Shah. Do they still exist on Alarab?

Religions: There are a total of 5 religions in Mediaevum (Followed by the inhabitants of both continents). Four of them follow each God of Misfortune, a person can follow the four religions, two of them or just one. The last religion is followed by a few persons and is considered a taboo in Saxon, a more closed minded continent. Let’s start with the aforementioned four religions. Hmph, how are inhabitants on Alarab treated if they follow the Religion of the Creators of the Universe?

1- Religion of the Conquest: Followed by warlords, kings, some knights and emperors. Every month the followers have to leave some tributes (Gold, jewelry, beautiful weapons, etc.) in the base of the statue of this “god of misfortune”. Most of the worshipers wear a golden ring with the cross of the “Conqueror” engraved on it in order to being blessed with victories in wars and military campaigns. This, plus the aforementioned ritual, is a way to show respect to their “god of misfortune”. The main figure in the religion isConquest, rider of the white horse, great conqueror and the Lord of Victory.

2- Religion of the War: Followed by warlords, kings and most knights. Every year, for celebrate the benevolence of their “god of misfortune”, the kings arrange an event where the bravest warriors of the region assist to an arena where they fight in a coliseum; the winner is regarded with the “Red crown of the Warlord”. Most of the worshipers hold with them a bronze medal with the cross of the “Warlord” engraved on it in order to being blessed with his protection in wars and military campaigns. This, plus the aforementioned event, is a way to show respect to their “god of misfortune”. The main figure in the religion is War, rider of the red horse, great warlord and the Lord of Massacres.

3- Religion of the Famine: Followed by the peasantry and some emperors and kings. Every two years the followers make a ritual in order to keep away the Famine. For that they make a bonfire where they throw the favorite food of their “god of misfortune”. One of the requirements is: no one of the guests in the party can eat anything during the ritual; if that rule is broken, they’ll suffer a terrible famine until the next ritual. Once the ritual is completed, they make party at night and eat all the food they can until they feel completely full. Most of the worshipers hold with them a necklace with the symbol of the famine. This, plus the aforementioned ritual, is a way to show respect to their “god of misfortune”. The main figure in the religion is Famine, rider of the black horse, great equalizer and the Lord of Shortage.

4- Religion of the Death: Followed by everyone. Every five years the followers of this religion make a procession for the “Path of the Death”, a large, dead and desert road which leads to a place known as the “Heaven in Mediaevum”, a beautiful and abundant place where the worshipers take a rest and fill their baskets with delicious vegetables and fruits. All the worshipers hold with them a bronze medal with the cross of the “Warlord” engraved on it in order to being blessed with his protection in wars and military campaigns, also, is a way to show respect to their “god of misfortune”. The main figure in the religion is Death, rider of the pale horse, great reaper and the Lord of Mercifulness.

The letter “Y” is the symbol of the Four Gods of Misfortune. The upper points represent War and Conquest (As the main gods in the eyes of the people), the center of the Y represents Famine, and the base point represents Death (I positioned there for his bond with the Underworld).

5- Religion of the Creators of Universes: Some of the people on every continent believe in the existence of gods more powerful gods than the Four Gods of Misfortune. They call them the “creators of universes”. This religion started when an alarabian oracle spread the word about a revelatory vision he had were he saw those strange gods creating different universes, including theirs. Worshipers of this religion are severely punished. This is all very interesting, and I applaud you for it. I just suggest you tread very lightly, because I feel some people might get offended by this due to it partially being based on a still-existent real-world system. Other than that, great job :3

Current situation of the planet: All the population in Mediaevum died for the rapid reproduction of the fungusii and the survivor trolls left the planet before the plague kill them. The fungusii and the plants are now the only living beings on the planet, but plants are close to their extinction because of the poisoned water and air. At the end, the fungusii will be the only surviving species of the worn planet. Where did the survivors flee to?