Talk:Alkhemia
The Eight Pillars
Ancient Ruins and Harsh Lands
The world is an ancient and dangerous place: cities and villages are separated by vast plains, scorching deserts, frozen peaks and impenetrable forests. The land is dotted with crumbling fortresses and shrines devoted to deities whose names have been lost to time. Past civilizations and ages of darkness have left behind a world of powerful artifacts and cryptic legends, as well as magical (and often dangerous) places.
This pillar plays an important role in the natural fantasy style: its protagonists often find themselves traversing vast uninhabited regions, where ground and roots merge with millennia-old ruins of the past.
A World in Peril
Villages, castles, and city-states are among the few areas that aren’t literally crawling with monsters, brigands, and hostile creatures. Far more dangerous still are Villains, powerful antagonists casting their shadow over the entire land. Cruel sorcerers, evil gods seeking reincarnation, power-hungry emperors, perhaps even alien entities: there’s a single, unspeakable terror behind the dangers of the world, and our heroes are bound to cross its path sooner or later.
In natural fantasy worlds, humanity is defined by its relationship to the creatures of wilderness: some coexist with them, others hunt them for food or protection. Far more dangerous are those creatures born of ancient curses and experiments, not to mention any antagonists who want to make an improper or self-serving use of magic and technology from the past.
Clashing Communities
The world may be in danger, but its inhabitants are still divided by ancient grudges: religious schisms, memories of war crimes, and the conflict between magic and science are among the most common causes of enmity. Reuniting these communities will be key to defeating the great evils of the world; the protagonists should help them overcome their hostilities and see their differences as blessings instead of obstacles.
In natural fantasy campaigns, the clashes between different factions are often of a much smaller scale: tensions between neighboring villages or clans, and fights between humans and animals or spirits, or between opposing parties of the same people. In its darkest forms, such conflicts erupt into violence, expropriation, or even genocide.
Everything Has a Soul
All matter that forms the world, including its creatures, the earth, sky, sun, and stars are part of a vast flow of spiritual energy. The origin, nature, and function of this energy may vary depending on the world you create, but its presence is undeniable and anyone possessing the ability to manipulate it (be it through magic or science) is a force to be reckoned with.
This pillar is both central and explicit in natural fantasy: the stream of souls manifests as elemental entities, animals or plants, veritable holy symbols that embody the life cycle of regeneration and transformation. The stream of souls is also among the main victims of the Villains’ actions.
Magic and Technology
In every Fabula Ultima world, science and magic represent two different ways of studying and manipulating reality: one concerns itself with the tangible nature of matter, the other with the souls that dwell within it — two sides of the same coin. Miraculous machinery might be hidden beneath the ruins of an ancient civilization, and even the most powerful wizards will often make use of vehicles and airships. Many of these worlds also feature an unusual discipline that combines magic and technology into magitech: metal soldiers animated by the souls of the fallen, bombs that can unleash elemental mayhem, and flying machines fueled by wind spirits are only a few examples of what can be created by this hybrid craft.
The juxtaposition of magic and technology is a powerful element of natural fantasy stories. Both have a light and dark side: magic is tied to natural elements, but it can also destabilize them, causing terrible catastrophes; technology – a reminder of the wars and destruction of the past – can be recovered and adapted, but it comes with the risk of repeating the same mistakes.
Heroes of Many Shapes and Sizes
Fabula Ultima’s protagonists are full-fledged heroes, extraordinary individuals that possess unique abilities and whose actions will shape the fate of the world. While some may not be noble paladins or virtuous paragons of justice, even the thieves and dark knights among them have a fundamentally good nature and can be trusted to do the right thing when the situation gets desperate. In line with the video game genre Fabula Ultima draws inspiration from, our heroes do not follow any rule of realism: be they children with incredible magical powers or elderly warriors able to single-handedly challenge an entire army, all that matters is their strength of spirit.
The natural fantasy genre focuses upon the difficult journey toward coexistence and harmony; as such, the Player Characters represent a fundamental opportunity to show how representatives of different people and cultures can learn from each other and, in a spirit of mutual respect, fight for the future together.
It's All About the Heroes
Any relevant event in a game of Fabula Ultima is tied to the heroes, either directly or indirectly. Dramatic plot twists shall happen when the protagonists are present on the scene, and the great powers (and evils) of the world shall pay them special attention. Following the same logic, the heroes’ determination will allow them to achieve the impossible, such as defeating an empire or sealing away a powerful deity.
Natural fantasy protagonists might not look as extraordinary as other heroes but, in reality, they embody the deepest meaning of heroism: humility, respect for life, looking for dialogue, choosing the hardest path, and fighting cruelty and ignorance with fiery compassion. From this point of view, the world has a desperate need for people like them.
Mystery, Discovery, and Growth
This game is built upon discovery: of ancient mysteries and forgotten powers, yes, but most of all, of the heroes themselves, of their feelings, and of what they are willing to do in order to fight against darkness. Fabula Ultima’s protagonists are complex and sometimes tragic figures, and their journey will change them forever.
Given its focus on stories about travel, exploration, and encounters between different people or discoveries from the ancient past, mysteries and growth are two key elements of natural fantasy. At the same time, this genre questions the consequences of the application of knowledge, and how it can be used for both good and evil.
