The Aeon of Strife: Lend me your brains!

[Floco]

I've recently undertaken the task of writing a few short stories covering the hazy period of Protoss history known as the Aeon of Strife. I've been studying all the stuff Blizzard has released about it, along with wideley accepted beliefs.
Now, about the story. I chose to put the Protoss in a medieval-stage of development (so they'll have steel blades rather than energy and sailships instead of starships). Any comments, ideas, explinations, etc. will be considered.

[DarkMirror]

I advise you give them no psionic powers. Rememeber thats why the whole thing started. Oh, and I think that you could give them a few low tech energy weapons, like maybe things like electric arrows.

[ShadowGonissa]

I disagree about the psionics thing. All protoss have psionic powers, and the Khala (as well as DT beliefs) were only channels for this power. Maybe you could add some parts where the people are trying to make sense of what they are able to do.

[Razorstorm]

Yeah. I agree. Give them Psionics. There were wizards in medieval sorys wenrt there?

[Floco]

I believe the same as ShadowGonissa, they all inherintly have psionics but the link they used to have broke and that's what started the Strife. That and the Xel'Naga getting attacked.
I could also use some opinions on weapons other than the arm blade. Here's what I've got for that so far:

The arm blades were more than weapons, they were symbols of honor. While other weapons could be dropped, thrown or surrendered, the arm blade lived and died with the warrior. When a zealot strapped the steel to his arm, he made an oath that he would sooner die than yield.

So, maybe only certian tribes use blades based on honor, or, what? What do you think?

[PrestonBurke]

The arm blades were more than weapons, they were symbols of honor. While other weapons could be dropped, thrown or surrendered, the arm blade lived and died with the warrior. When a zealot strapped the steel to his arm, he made an oath that he would sooner die than yield.


Sorry, i think there dreadlock like hairs pwns blades. Actually thats not too bad.

[Floco]

Thanks for raising the hair issue! My friends and I could never come to a clear agreement on whether the majority of Protoss are bald or have hair of some kind.

[DarkMirror]

Well, they dont have "hair" as such. Hoiwevver, that long cord of stuff from the back of thier head is their equivlent. This "Nerve Cord" as it is called, is also thier link to the massive telepathic field that all protoss share. The Dark Templar showed how they were no longer part of the protoss race by severing thier nerve cords. However, as Razagul still has hers, it can be inferred that it it is only realy nessacary to sever the tips of them.
NOTE: Male protoss have the one nerve cord bundle on the back of thier head, Female protoss have more smaller ones all over their heads as well as the larger one.

[Zeltaris]

Protossy writing, huh?

The Aeon of Strife is a pretty rich subject and I commend you for working on it. It'd be great if you could have part of your story talk about the destiny of the Protoss Colonies off-Aiur after the strife. Khyrador - Green coloured Protoss anybody?

Also, on the psi-issue, I partially agree with nissa. See, according to blizzard, the protoss did retain their individual psionic capabilities. The starcraft manual mentions shields being formed out of a condensed psionic matrix around protoss warriors, for example. Individual psi can cover eye glows, shields, telepathy, since protoss have no form of communicating and maybe some moderate telekinesis.

Technology, however, is a big negative. Protoss technology is not based on individual psi, but rather on the psionic matrix generated by the communal link. Pylons, for example, tap into the matrix and channel its energies into buildings.
Also, you cannot expect a civilisation that has been at war for centuries to have decent enough technology. The Aeon of Strife is estimated to have lasted some 3-4000 years, right(Based on taldarin's age and his connection with Adun)? This gives us 2 scenarions

1.- If protoss lives are proportional to human lives on a 1:10 ratio [Humans live on an average 80 years, protoss live 800], then the aeon lasted the equivalent of 400 years. Just think what would have happened to humanity if it's entirety had been at war for so long.
2.- If protoss lives are proportional to human lives on a 1:1 ratio, but extend longer, then it's just makes the social and technological damage greater. Figure out what the world would look like if there had been endless war since 2000 BC. It's a huge span of time.

Probably a bit more rudimentary level of tech would suit the Aeon better

The armblade honour issue sounds just fine. As for the nerve extensions, their uses can be pretty much ritualistic in your story. Without the common link, they just become ornamental appendages.

[DarkMirror]

Yes. I beleive that this could be a great set of stories. I look forward to seeing them.

[Neo]

Err, on the Protoss age thing, wasn't Raszagal (sp?) over 1000 years old? So perhaps their average life span is closer to 900 or even longer, since she didn't really seem all that feeble (though why she would she would choose a scout to pilot is beyond me).

-Neo

[DarkMirror]

she disnt pilot a scout. but yes, a venreble protoss is about 1500 years old.

[Neo]

Wtf. Why'd I say scout? I meant Corsair.

So strange.

-Neo

[TitanWing]

I think that's mostly for the sake of just having a Corsair hero. Raszagal was a Dark Templar, not a pilot.

[Neo]

Whats even stranger is, the Corsair has the same stats as they did when BW was first released.

I suppose it's better then having a billion ghosts or battle cruisers though.

-Neo