World of Khaas - Technology in Khaas

Not since the Interstellar Wars that devastated the fifth continent of Archaela has there existed a widespread level of technology. The innovative and seemingly intuitive "breakthroughs" and "leaps" in technology common to our world are rarely seen in Khaas. The vast majority of advanced science lies in the hands of the aliens who have come to Khaas and they are not inclined to share it. The majority of nations with any level of technology or science make little progress in applying their knowledge in new ways. This seeming stagnation is due to several factors, not the least of which is the lack of advantage in sharing this knowledge with the masses.

In Khaas, not only does magik vary from region to region in its very use, but also technology! Some have dubbed this randomness the chaos factor. Most technology beyond the chemical or low-level mechanical does not work reliably. The more "advanced" technology becomes, the less chance it will work in a given region of Khaas. If this were a static effect, then some areas would flourish, but the effect is chaotic indeed and seemingly changes with the wind. More reasons than are plausibly possible to mention have been purported as to why but chief among them are the following. Perhaps most prominent explanation is, to effect, "the will of the ten thousand gods who rule the heavens and hells". Another more scholarly one is due to "fallout" from the world devastating Interstellar War, or lastly, the last touch of the unknown beings that drove the Kthoi back into their fortresses and eventually shattered their empire to broken shards.

To attempt to explain why the advent of one technology occurred and another has not is impossible. The vagaries of why someone hasn’t thought of something seemingly totally apparent is beyond the resources of this website. Yet, this very reasoning is why the many people of Khaas have not invented certain architectural, scientific, or mechanized items, even simple or basic things (to us, at least). Most cultures have access to the wheel, but some do not and yet, have devised perhaps more advanced technology despite the fact. There is no great solitary means to explain ‘why’ outside they have just not conceived of it. Magik is partly to blame, as it dominates most thinking and cultural mindsets place it as the means, not technology. For instance, why invent an elevator when you can levitate? Make vehicles to move great distances when the very fact of magik providing this means exists or that nexus gates and magik portals open to dimensions and worlds farther away and vaster than often can be imagined?

The very nature of societies dominating Khaas work against any dissemination of education or benefits on a mass scale to the common being. Their conservatism, and hoarding of power are the antithesis of such an idea, even in the most enlightened. The Colleges and Guilds work against any attempt or spread of ideas such as mass production or the many articles of industrial revolution, which would take from their power base. The ruling elite of every nation see no benefit to such an activity even if they could conceive it. Thus, a majority of Khaas’ lands exist without significant industry, technological innovation, or a significant level of machinery. Even those nations with steam power or basic technology (or even more advanced technology in many cases) do not have an even distribution of the art. For instance, the Morvaenians have a great grasp on electricity, but the entire science and its related uses are utterly dominated by the priests of HIM, who have a stranglehold over the use of this science. Used for altars, "divine displays", to test believers (or unbelievers--usually quite fatally too) and more, none of this technology impacts the commoners of the nation. Their lives continue the same, influenced only the application of rudimentary technology through their religious view.

In fact, many influences work against technology branching out beyond a few secluded regions or organizations. The very fact and advent of magik in the land is perhaps the greatest obstacle to technology. For last few millennia, magik has steered the course of the land, for good or ill, and even while technology has played a part in history, its recent advents are small or regional only. Playing into this is the fact inventors, technos, and scientists are equally as inclined to guard their blue prints, secrets, and plans to their devices as wizards, rune weavers, and other magik using people.

Most people are familiar with the simple machines like the use of the wheel, plow, pulley, and like things. Architectural concepts vary widely but many cultures often display definitive building prowess, such as the Thrale, the defunct Pandooris Empire (and their primary heirs, the Pandurians), and others. More advanced machines exist, but they are rare, as much of the broad technological knowledge was lost earlier in history during the Interstellar Wars. Often the advanced machines are viewed as magik, in the province of mages, Rune Weavers, and the other elite types who can fathom and understand magik. Aside from the technos who understand technology to the level of their cultural ability, and rarely widely beyond, even the highly advanced machines of the alien races or the antediluvian ones of Khaas, can be too complex to comprehend (not that any one of them would admit it!)

Some technological principles and processes are visible to all, though cultural blindness plays a part in restricting the belief "they could do the same". Dwarves, Gnomes, Khai-Shang, Khai-Zirin, and others are well known to have mastery over mechanics, calibration, metallurgy, and so on. The Dwarves of the Grey Mountains for instance, use toothed wheels, underground pumps, and other devices to create crude machines. Khai-Shang are frequently fascinated by and use more "advanced" technological devices. Gnomes seem to share an almost equal fascination, such as the Gnomes of the Barrow Hills and their Paranga , which have gained prominence as a favored weapon on the Rainbow and Southern Seas as anti-boarding weapons. While devices and technologies like this exist, they are far and wide, kept secret by those who own them.

Trade Secrets

The guilds and organizations that use technology carefully and steadfastly protect their knowledge. Even if one guild had information that could enhance the effectiveness of another’s, the transmission of such knowledge would never occur. Disclosing details of a guild process will get one blacklisted or killed. Craftsmen depend on these secrets and they are protected through a variety of means, such as oral tradition, secret books, codes, ciphers, and myriad of other ways. Masters transmit this knowledge to journeymen, who pass it on to apprentices, and so the privileged secrets are passed on over the cycles to a tightly controlled number.

Astronomy

Across the continent of Khaora, and indeed most of Khaas, astronomy has a fair degree of development. The astrolabe is known and the telescope has found its place, thought nothing on a large scale. Magik plays as large a part in astronomy as technology and many of "devices" used in astronomy are magikal, working in part or replacing technological ones. The simple compass is commonly used, and even slightly more advanced ones exist across cultures, though navigation relies greatly on the starry skies and landmarks to still cross the vast gulfs of seas and oceans.

The Thralians have a well-developed astronomic heritage, using the stars and their night searing fires as the cycle to gauge the ages of the world. Their processional calendar is esoteric and often unfathomable to any but a native. While Khaasian natives record their birth times, there is no widespread zodiac or "houses" in which the presence or absence of the moons, stars, or sun is noted and relationships explored. Such charts do exist in a few cultures, but are used very regionally.

Your average Khaasian does not dwell on the structure and the nature of the universe beyond the speech of the priests and the lore of common knowledge and views bequeathed on them by their parents or culture. Those who look past these boundaries (like sages, technos and the ilk) know Khaas is but one world of many, a concept easy to accept in the face of the active nexus gates and magikal powers that unfold myriad worlds and dimensions. Your commoner is more likely to understand that demons are from the 21 hells than a Khai-Zirin once harkened from another world in their Multiverse. For those with the learning, they understand Khaas revolves around a sun and is rotated around in turn by the moons. The many religious views on the subject tend to hamper an unbiased view, however, and always serve to confuse matters about the truth of the Multiverse.