Ayralef, anyone?

Hello, everyone! I am Jake, known on DA as "Mercatur12." Some of you might know me as "that Magic Card guy."

Well, I don't just create cards anymore. I do quite a bit of writing. One idea that I came up with some months ago (before cancelling that idea, then starting over, then cancelling again, then losing interest, then finding interest once again) was an idea for an Alternate Felarya, which I have since dubbed "Ayralef."

Ayralef is obviously "Felarya" backwards, and it is a world that shares the same origins as Felarya but diverged along a much different path than Felarya's history. In Ayralef, human beings are the dominant race and the giants of the world are either their sworn enemies or have been tamed to serve humans. I'd planned for many of the major characters in this world to have counterparts in Felarya, yet they are different because their histories have been altered by separate events.

Overview of Ayralef: Thousands of years ago, when Ur-Sagol was destroyed by the Guardians, the foundation for what is now modern Felarya was laid and its destiny determined to lie among the Giants of the world. But what if the Guardians did not exist? What if they did not destroy Ur-Sagol at the height of its expansion and instead the empire was allowed to spread unchecked? In one such a world, a vast empire was spawned and the forest of central Felarya was tamed by civilization.

Ayralef is a glimpse at what Felarya would look like when conquered by humans. I know a lot of you out there would find no appeal in this and that's fine. This obviously is not for you. But what I want to know is if there is anyone out there who would like to explore this further with me? Would you like to get involved? Would you like to help me build this world? Would you like to contribute your established Felaryan characters and remake them with a new look? This is an opportunity to create a world that is like Felarya, but much, much different! I don't just want to do this by myself (because that's really no fun). And before anyone asks, yes, Karbo has already been aware of this for some time.

So reply to this topic if you are interested in creating a Felarya AU. If not, or if the very idea of humans in charge of Felarya offends you, please do not flame this thread. If you must object, be constructive. Maybe submit ideas of your own. Everything is open to suggestion just so long as we don't end up creating a world that is almost exactly like Felarya because then that would just be copy-catting. Try to think outside the Felaryan Box and together we can create something totally new and exciting!

Do not want.

Sean Okotami wrote:

Do not want.

https://felarya.forumotion.com/t2499-important-note



I find the idea interesting personnaly. Seeing the known characters but in a different role can be a great fun. I'm curious what you'll come up with ^^

The idea sounds interesting, even if it's the usual 'alternate universe' topic. I think the AU part is what actually makes me consider that I'd prefer to sit and wait for the idea to develop a bit further before getting my hands into it, though.

Karbo wrote:

Sean Okotami wrote:

Do not want.

https://felarya.forumotion.com/t2499-important-note



I find the idea interesting personnaly. Seeing the known characters but in a different role can be a great fun. I'm curious what you'll come up with ^^

The idea does sound interesting, and perfectly plausible too, especially since felarya is within the multiverse, it is only logical to assume that there would be another version of felarya with that exists due to different things happening circumstantially.

Also, I find it unnacceptable that Karbo has had to refer to making a thread regarding this statement that he so often has to remind us of- that he has to just copy/paste it every time someone makes a comment that's uncalled for. Forums can be very stressful, and most are. I would love it if our forum could be an example of how to welcome and help people grow.

I certainly want to try better.

Interesting. Since the point of divergence is only the fall of Ur-Sagol it would be manageable.

Just ignore Sean, this is a valid idea and would be a fun "experiment", so to speak.

One thing - while the "reverse name" is a way to show its "opposite land", I'm not sure how it fits into history. If Earth history diverged radically, I don't think everyone would go around calling it "Htrae" or "Opposite Earth" - for them, it is the "real" world. But I understand it needs a label. Maybe the Sagolians rename their Empire as Sagolia or something...

Hmm... I have a hilarious image of Fenja in a dress sipping tea with elves.

and then Mara will join her XD wearing a cute dress as well

Let's forget for a moment that this a mirror universe and rather a separate world. This is essentially advertising something that doesn't belong here. Now, let's remember the mirror universe again. The thing is that it would obviously cause many, many more changes than one would think, such as new cities and locals. This would mean that we'd now have to manage TWO worlds and two continuities if we're serious about it, and to make matters worse, the Felarya we already know is constantly expanding and very few elements about it is set in stone. Just imagine the amount of work having a verse already in construction being flipped over and needing its own development as well.

This idea would be much, MUCH better in a Role Play or a stand alone Elseworld story, not something that will be tied to canon.

So far the replies are a lot kinder than I expected. Thank you all. Not that I necessarily thought you guys were those kinds of people, but I've been on many forums before and it can be a minefield for first-timers.

The positive feedback has me encouraged. For those that are interested, send me a note on DA or reply here in this thread. I'll be back in periodically to check on things. If you want to start cooking up ideas we can either do it in this thread or open up a new one dedicated to "Ayralef Ideas" or something like that. I would like to start global and work my way down. Therefore I think it's important to establish the general history of Ayralef since the Ur-Sagol divergence and of course how the world itself looks in modern times. I already have an outline that I drew up, but I don't want to monopolize everything.

I'll wait for a few more responses before making my next move. Again, thank you for your time.

Sean Okotami wrote:

Let's forget for a moment that this a mirror universe and rather a separate world. This is essentially advertising something that doesn't belong here. Now, let's remember the mirror universe again. The thing is that it would obviously cause many, many more changes than one would think, such as new cities and locals. This would mean that we'd now have to manage TWO worlds and two continuities if we're serious about it, and to make matters worse, the Felarya we already know is constantly expanding and very few elements about it is set in stone. Just imagine the amount of work having a verse already in construction being flipped over and needing its own development as well.

This idea would be much, MUCH better in a Role Play or a stand alone Elseworld story, not something that will be tied to canon.

The last thing I want is to clog things up here with my idea. But I needed a sounding-board from other Felarya Fans, as well as a means to recruit some willing contributers. I tried that on DA but no one bit and I think that's because DA in general is so expansive it's almost impossible to get people's attention.

But I don't want to take up space on this forum. Nor do I want to confuse people with continuity problems. If people are willing to help me with this, we can always start a separate category for it so there's no confusion. Or, in a more extreme case, start up a separate forum.

I'm not sure about this. I know you might not mean it this way, but this looks a bit like you;re getting Felarya and doing your own thing with it. It seems to me that Karbo won't have much of a say in what goes on there, since it's not Felarya at all. Why not just work with Felarya? You won't have to try to recruit people or anything

Anime-Junkie wrote:

I'm not sure about this. I know you might not mean it this way, but this looks a bit like you;re getting Felarya and doing your own thing with it. It seems to me that Karbo won't have much of a say in what goes on there, since it's not Felarya at all. Why not just work with Felarya? You won't have to try to recruit people or anything

And this is why I'm staying away from now, watching how it develops. If things go well, I might give it a chance, but if turns to be something very different and not an 'alternate Felarya', then I'm sorry but for that better start a whole new world from scratch - it's just one of many possible outcomes, but I'm pointing it out for being careful with it.

I think people are taking this too srsly.

I think its an amusing thought experiment for seeing characters operating in a different world under different circumstances.

Hence why I said it'd be much better on the Role Play forum or as a What If story disconnected from canon.

Sean Okotami wrote:

What If story disconnected from canon.

I agree with this.
This should be something done by one or two people just as a "This is what we think things would be like if X had been different" series, not a setting that has it's own serious development. If you want that, I highly recommend making your own original setting. It will probably end up being better than what Ayralef would have been and will involve just as much work as attempting to seriously develop "Ayralef."

Jætte_Troll wrote:

I think people are taking this too srsly.

I think its an amusing thought experiment for seeing characters operating in a different world under different circumstances.

More than taking it seriously is a bit more like "be careful with it", because these things look cool at first, but they can get out of hand and when you realize it's too late.

The idea of a "what if" story could work fine. You make sure you aren't screwing up at the same time you can get feedback for possible ideas for the AU...

By the way, shouldn't this thread be in ideas discussion?

I don't have a good feeling about this "Ayralef" idea. It raises too many questions in my mind.

It also strikes me as something that Karbo himself should headman.

gt500x wrote:

I don't have a good feeling about this "Ayralef" idea. It raises too many questions in my mind.

It also strikes me as something that Karbo himself should headman.

If you have questions, please ask.

Anime-Junkie wrote:

By the way, shouldn't this thread be in ideas discussion?

I wanted to put the thread here so that it would be separate from the actual Felarya ideas.

Does this mean we can mount Crisis with laser cannons and full body armor and a tail spike because she was raised to be used as a giga weapon for the humans?


Yea you heard me. Make it so.

Grave wrote:

Does this mean we can mount Crisis with laser cannons and full body armor and a tail spike because she was raised to be used as a giga weapon for the humans?


Yea you heard me. Make it so.

Perhaps not something so extreme, but something like that. What I was thinking was something along the lines of certain high-ranking mages, officials, and soldiers having their own Giant as a "familiar."

In the original version I put out, the main character had a Harpy who he rode underneath in a harness while flying. This Harpy was not a mindless weapon or a pet, but rather he treated her as a "partner." Additionally, she could alter her size so that she'd be huge while in combat or when flying the main character around, but the rest of the time she'd shrink down to human size so she could interact with him better (as well as move around in the human cities without causing mass destruction).

Put it this way, the Giants in this world are raised not to think of humans as food. I don't want to objectify them or turn them into pure weapons. I want them to have personality just like in Felarya.

I prefer the idea of Cyborg Crisis.

Personally, all I really care for is the avoidance of "Humans (as a whole) are Jerks", "Humans are Morons", and "Humans destroy everything natural." Avoid those three, or at least don't ham-fist them, and I'm interested in the idea.

Ur-Sagol is an interesting choice in that it was, from what we can find, an equal-opportunity, well-off, decent living condition city. The people had much rights (or at least much equality in rights), those cities under its command appeared to have a great deal of wealth, there was a large amount of knowledge in regard to magic and technology, etcetera. The choice in treatment of Giant Predators is a bit odd, unless they refused to give up the "OM NOM U TASTY SNACKS" style of life, but I can see it potentially being argued in story (just, again, avoid hamfisted "Humans are Dicks").

The one main problem, besides the three "please avoid these" that I stated, is that Ur-Sagol is pretty much an unknown at the time, and we still don't quite know why it was destroyed. The story would have to be set a great deal ahead in time in order to avoid the mystery of Ur-Sagol, so that the one in the story would be different from that of the past.

Malahite wrote:

Personally, all I really care for is the avoidance of "Humans (as a whole) are Jerks", "Humans are Morons", and "Humans destroy everything natural." Avoid those three, or at least don't ham-fist them, and I'm interested in the idea.

Mal, bro, you know that I'm as much of a pro-human guy as you are, but let's be real. We're humans; we expand. I'm not saying we're jerks, and certainly not morons (although I do believe that as our environment becomes easier on us, we get a little stupider), or that we're sheer destruction. But I don't see Ur-Sagolians as being tree-hugging hippies or Native Americans. I'm not trying to pull some James Cameron shit or anything, but you know what I mean.

Humans do have a dark side. As a whole, we're capable of great atrocities. I think it's best if you explore both the best and worst Humanity has to offer. In real life, at the same time that the Red Cross is helping refugees attain medical care and food, there's also rampaging bandits that are raping small girls and killing children in front of their parents. If Ur-Sagol grew and grew, I'd imagine you'd see enough diversity to get a taste of both.