Discussion Spektazuma, City of Lenses

[Scalenex]

Officially GW fluff started with Mazdamundi, the oldest and most powerful living Slann, and the only highly active Slann of the second generation declaring that for the Great Plan to move forward, they need to reset the world to what it was before the coming of Chaos.

In 5th edition, Maz took a hard line stance. According to Mazdamundi, dwarves must only live in the mountains. Humans must only live in the Old World, Elves must only live in Ulthuan. Halfling and Ogres need to stay to their little homelands, and everyone else needs to die. Between 6th and 8th edition his stance softened in vague terms.

In my fluff stories there is something called the Great Debate. One side of the debate is Mazdamundi's hardline stance (the Itza faction). The other side of the debate (the Klodorex faction) is that the Old Ones intended for humans, elves, dwarves, and maybe ogres and halflings to expand. That way they can fight the the Fallen and Anathema.

I also use the terms Prodigals, Fallen, and Anathema. Anathema are creatures that the Lizardmen believe the Old Ones do not want at all, orcs, goblins, fimir, chimera, beastmen, squigs, trolls, skaven etc. Prodigals are beings that the Old Ones approve of in essence but need guidance: humans, high elves, wood elves, dwarves, ogres, and halflings. Fallen are Prodigals that fell to dark powers: vampires, Warriors of Chaos, Chaos Dwarves, Dark Elves.

Another point of contention is that most of the Itza Faction does not see a difference between Fallen and Prodigals. The Klodorex faction believes that the Fallen are more dangerous than the Anathema. They need to be purged asap, so the Prodigals can better fight the Anathema without distractions.

The idea is the Empire struck or is trying to strike a deal to settle Spektazuma on the premise that the natural riches there would allow them to grow and would help fight the rumored chaos invasion looming or other foes, and therefore being the central Imperial hub for Lizardmen relations, trade, etc.

The Klodorex faction would support a trading relationship with the Empire, the Itza faction would not. In my fluff, the city state of Zlatan created a trading settlement between them and the dwarves of Karak Zorn. The Lizardmen are providing food and weaponizeable poisons to the dwarves. The Dwarves are providing superior weapons and armor to the Lizardmen.

Both the Lizardmen and the dwarves are very careful letting the other group into their capital (and this is after winning the trust of the other side fighting side-by-side against Skaven). Zlatan accepted about a dozen dwarf residents and Karak Zorn accepted about a half dozen Skinks.

The Skinks are planning to make a Saurian-Khalazid dictionary so both sides do not have to rely on magical translation. They also are sharing with the dwarves plants like potatoes that the dwarves can grow easily. The dwarves send some stone masons to help supervise construction in Zlatan and they also sent some brewmasters. They plan to examine every edible plant that the Lizardmen know of and ferment all of it.

It's highly unlikely that the Klodorex faction would support an Empire trading post occupying a temple city, especially one that has a buried item of danger in it. They would tolerate a Empire base near Spektazuma.

It's your fluff, do what you want.

 

[Sudsinabucket]

Officially GW fluff started with Mazdamundi, the oldest and most powerful living Slann, and the only highly active Slann of the second generation declaring that for the Great Plan to move forward, they need to reset the world to what it was before the coming of Chaos.

In 5th edition, Maz took a hard line stance. According to Mazdamundi, dwarves must only live in the mountains. Humans must only live in the Old World, Elves must only live in Ulthuan. Halfling and Ogres need to stay to their little homelands, and everyone else needs to die. Between 6th and 8th edition his stance softened in vague terms.

Very interesting, though being Maz, I could understand that.

In my fluff stories there is something called the Great Debate. One side of the debate is Mazdamundi's hardline stance (the Itza faction). The other side of the debate (the Klodorex faction) is that the Old Ones intended for humans, elves, dwarves, and maybe ogres and halflings to expand. That way they can fight the the Fallen and Anathema.

I also use the terms Prodigals, Fallen, and Anathema. Anathema are creatures that the Lizardmen believe the Old Ones do not want at all, orcs, goblins, fimir, chimera, beastmen, squigs, trolls, skaven etc. Prodigals are beings that the Old Ones approve of in essence but need guidance: humans, high elves, wood elves, dwarves, ogres, and halflings. Fallen are Prodigals that fell to dark powers: vampires, Warriors of Chaos, Chaos Dwarves, Dark Elves.

Another point of contention is that most of the Itza Faction does not see a difference between Fallen and Prodigals. The Klodorex faction believes that the Fallen are more dangerous than the Anathema. They need to be purged asap, so the Prodigals can better fight the Anathema without distractions.

I LOVE this idea and I may borrow it.

Do Lizardmen ever fight each other? Like could your faction and Maz ever go to War?

The Skinks are planning to make a Saurian-Khalazid dictionary so both sides do not have to rely on magical translation. They also are sharing with the dwarves plants like potatoes that the dwarves can grow easily. The dwarves send some stone masons to help supervise construction in Zlatan and they also sent some brewmasters. They plan to examine every edible plant that the Lizardmen know of and ferment all of it.

Fantastic idea

It's highly unlikely that the Klodorex faction would support an Empire trading post occupying a temple city, especially one that has a buried item of danger in it. They would tolerate a Empire base near Spektazuma.

I thought about that, in the story howevee, the Slann who knows of the weapon is on hibernation with no signs of waking and he hadnt told anyone else before falling asleep. In the story the deal has not yet been made, so depending on how I feel they may not get permission to settle it directly...havnt decided fully

 

[Scalenex]

I LOVE this idea and I may borrow it.

Do Lizardmen ever fight each other? Like could your faction and Maz ever go to War?

That could happen in a future fluff piece of mine. Right now they are fighting a cold war while outwardly pretending to be nice to each other. 90% of the Skinks and Sauri have no idea that the Slann are fighting.

The major cities have the right to call up reserves from the smaller temple cities. This is normally not done very often barring extreme situations, but the Itza faction has started calling up reserves from the smaller Lizardmen settlements loyal to the Klodorex faction to tie their hands. To counter this, the Klodorex faction has created a joint army of all the smaller groups so they can seek out their goals better. Neither faction wants to be the first faction to spill Lizardmen blood.

Both factions are trying to suck up to the Slann of Xlanhuapec because virtually none of the Slann there have taken a side on the Great Debate.

@Fhanados took my basic idea and ran with it. In his ongoing fluff piece, Lizardmen do fight Lizardmen.

Over 19 short story contests we have had 178 short stories. Some of them involve Lizard-on-Lizard violence though it rarely involves the Great Debate.

I thought about that, in the story howevee, the Slann who knows of the weapon is on hibernation with no signs of waking and he hadnt told anyone else before falling asleep. In the story the deal has not yet been made, so depending on how I feel they may not get permission to settle it directly...havnt decided fully

You could take the middle road wehre the Slann plan to kill the humans dwelling in Spektazuma...eventually. Slann are slower than ents when making major decisions and enacting them.

 

[Sudsinabucket]

You could take the middle road wehre the Slann plan to kill the humans dwelling in Spektazuma...eventually. Slann are slower than ents when making major decisions and enacting them.

This has crossed my mind, Im soon going to reference a "a great beast that lurks in the jungles around Spektazuma" which in my luff is essentially "The Shredder of Lustria" or one of the oldest Dread Saurians that my Slann "calls" upon in dire circumstances, which may be used, again, not sure though.

I have also mentioned a Mosasauradox that lurks in the surrounding sea of the Temple of Kara, the Dread Saurian of the seas, a sea dragon.

Over 19 short story contests we have had 178 short stories. Some of them involve Lizard-on-Lizard violence though it rarely involves the Great Debate.

Thats a lot of short stories!

That could happen in a future fluff piece of mine. Right now they are fighting a cold war while outwardly pretending to be nice to each other. 90% of the Skinks and Sauri have no idea that the Slann are fighting.

The major cities have the right to call up reserves from the smaller temple cities. This is normally not done very often barring extreme situations, but the Itza faction has started calling up reserves from the smaller Lizardmen settlements loyal to the Klodorex faction to tie their hands. To counter this, the Klodorex faction has created a joint army of all the smaller groups so they can seek out their goals better. Neither faction wants to be the first faction to spill Lizardmen blood.

Both factions are trying to suck up to the Slann of Xlanhuapec because virtually none of the Slann there have taken a side on the Great Debate.

Sounds intense!
Texcoco and its armies would join the Klodrex side of the Great Debate and Acattopa'Cocotona-Cocoxqui would ride on Metzlitlaco into the thickest of any battle

 

[Sudsinabucket]

This is just a very rough outline of how I sort of kind of imagine Spektazuma to be setup. I Imagine it right up against the mountain being protected by the mountains natural defense from the North, East and West. I also imagine there being swamp infront of the Temple City where there would be Spawning Pools, but also Spawning pools inside the Mountain. I named what I thought would be some of the main Temples, but obviously not all of them. The Black lines represent Roads, the Gold Lines represent the Sun light rays being transported to underground storage pits far under the mountain, which would also be right under the Temple of Quetzl and the Slanns chambers. The Arrows Represet Watch towers and the Brown lines are walls.

As I said, just very basic, but I wanted to have a visual of some type when I start to explore the city some.

Please let me know your thoughts!

 

[Nazqua]

Thats Very cool! awesome design

 

[Sudsinabucket]

Thats Very cool! awesome design

Thanks! I hope to do a more detailed map one day with possibly the city districts outlined by different constellations or something, Im not sure yet, just something more detailed at some point

 

[Paul1748]

Very interesting design but I think the roads need to be more organized, like this one. To emphasis the order aspect of the First.

 

[Scalenex]

This is just a very rough outline of how I sort of kind of imagine Spektazuma to be setup. I Imagine it right up against the mountain being protected by the mountains natural defense from the North, East and West. I also imagine there being swamp infront of the Temple City where there would be Spawning Pools, but also Spawning pools inside the Mountain. I named what I thought would be some of the main Temples, but obviously not all of them. The Black lines represent Roads, the Gold Lines represent the Sun light rays being transported to underground storage pits far under the mountain, which would also be right under the Temple of Quetzl and the Slanns chambers. The Arrows Represet Watch towers and the Brown lines are walls.

As I said, just very basic, but I wanted to have a visual of some type when I start to explore the city some.

Please let me know your thoughts!View attachment 60222

Nice map. I like the layout on the whole. I see you put Huanchi in the west and Chotec in the east. Did you read the thread on temples? Or this thread on city builidng? Or this thread on city defense? My only issue with your map is that the spawning pools are on the periphery of the city. The spawning pools are holy. The spawning pools are the only thing besides the Slann that are irreplaceable. Spawning pools are tied to mystic forces. I believe spawing pools would usually be connected to the ley lines for magic reasons and spawning pools would be surrounded by buildings for cultural purposes. For defense purposes, I believe they could use some fortifications, or at the very least, put the Saurus areas near the spawning pools so they can defend them.

Very interesting design but I think the roads need to be more organized, like this one. To emphasis the order aspect of the First.

I think Lizardmen cities need some Chaos. Sotek only recently became the preimiennt god of the Lizardmen. The Lizardmen have to deal with war, plagues, their leaders become comatose and a bunch of other things. I'm sure in the chaotic world of Warhammer, Lizardmen cities have periods of population growth and decline which leads to some areas of a city being abandoned, expanded, or refurbished.

 

[Sudsinabucket]

Nice map. I like the layout on the whole. I see you put Huanchi in the west and Chotec in the east. Did you read the thread on temples? Or this thread on city builidng? Or this thread on city defense? My only issue with your map is that the spawning pools are on the periphery of the city. The spawning pools are holy. The spawning pools are the only thing besides the Slann that are irreplaceable. Spawning pools are tied to mystic forces. I believe spawing pools would usually be connected to the ley lines for magic reasons and spawning pools would be surrounded by buildings for cultural purposes. For defense purposes, I believe they could use some fortifications, or at the very least, put the Saurus areas near the spawning pools so they can defend them.

I did read the Temples thread (or I believe the same one, i'll take a look now just incase) and actually copy and pasted it into my notepad for easier referencing. I was going to read the other threads now that I have a basic idea of how I think it would look.

As for the spawning pools, yeah, the ones outside are a bit defenseless I agree and should be moved. They were put there based on somewhere I read where they were built into the swamps around Temple Cities to serve as defenses as they are filled with pirhana and other dangerous fauna. the ones in the mountains are DEEP in the mountains, although seeing now I didn't make that clear at all, so that is understandable. I could see Spawning pools being closer or next to the Temple of Sotek as he is a God of War and agreed closer to the saurus areas. Thank you for the feedback! Going to read the other threads in a bit

Also, I decided that the River that runs from top the mountain into the Temple City then towards the arm of the mountain that it goes both underground and out towards the Beast Stables area (that is just a wide open area with some jungle cover nuzzled between the mountains providing natural fencing, whether or not it was natural that way or the slann crafted it with magic is unknown). When it goes underground it acts as two things: A natural cooling system for the chambers that hold the pure sun energy, I imagine without some natural form of cooling that energy (I guess assuming magic wasn't involved) would just burn everything up including the mountain. It also serves as an unknown passage way to an ancient vault that is holding an ancient weapon left by the old ones that was long forgotten to time and even most of the Slanns (or all of them, havn't decided if in my story if some of them know about it but are asleep or if my main slann for Texcoco while in meditation is given a vivid vision of said weapon)


Thanks for the feed back

Very interesting design but I think the roads need to be more organized, like this one. To emphasis the order aspect of the First.

Although I understand the reasoning, I disagree to some degree and agree with Scalenex. Temple Cities like Itza...I can totally see being 100% true to its original design, its THE original Temple City...however as it was pointed out, other ones of less significance atleast during the ages would I feel have to adjust to many improvements and population growths and declines as more threats came and went. Or if like in my vision, you traded with warmbloods and had to build trading areas, markets, etc beyond what would already be there to accomodate the added prescence of bodies. Cities naturally become disorganized over time due to different design visions of the various architechs, and Im sure Temple Cities have seen a lot of different visions of different skinks when the slanns are asleep and then when the Slann awakens and hes like "what the hell did you do to my city? *knocks it all down* rebuild it like this" Lol

That is a beautiful picture though, holy cow, not sure i'll ever be able to get THAT detailed lol

 

[Scalenex]

That is a beautiful picture though, holy cow, not sure i'll ever be able to get THAT detailed lol

Keep adding details until it no longer is fun to add details. Then move on to something else.

 

[Sudsinabucket]

Keep adding details until it no longer is fun to add details. Then move on to something else.

Thats fair! Been working on a new base for my Troglodon and newly built Oracle, will get back to map building soon

 

[Sudsinabucket]

I saw this by James Gurney and immediately thought about this thread...a few days later Im remembering to post it lol not sure if its been shared here, but yeah

Just the lenses and the sun rays...city if lenses indeed

 

[Nazqua]

Wow! Thats exactly how I imagined it, Great find