To be honest I only recently learned of the Ziz, and I did some studies on its origins out of curiosity. I will have to tell you a little story before I introduce it to you, and I am no good at coming up with quick responses so pardon me if I take a while to produce an explanation.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I have made a huge homebrew setting that I am still working on putting here in DDB. Please give me feedback, I want to know all of what I am doing wrong, and what I am doing right. The thread is a huge work in progress, so everything in it from content to layout is subject to change. Please check this forum:Welcome to Zionderia
Also I have a fun thread that explores an idea about dreams based off the movie Inception. I still need to add the link but stay tuned.
anyways, let’s talk about something... Hmm, have you heard of the Yule Cat?
I have not it would seem.
The Yule cat is one of my favorite Christmas monsters! Originating in Iceland, the legend of the Yule cat is as follows:
During the Yuletide season, the Yule cat hunts the streets at night for its prey. Twice the size of a building, this house cat is a force to be reckoned with. It will peer through the windows of houses, searching for its prey: people. But it doesn’t hunt anyone in general, no. Only people who are wearing clothes from last year. If it finds them, it will burst its claw through the window and snatch them right up, devouring them.
the reason it hunts people with old clothes, is because the most important industry in Iceland at the time was making clothes, so if you didn’t have any new ones, it was a sign you weren’t working hard enough.
Lol, wow that is different, very interesting and creative. I haven't heard of many Christmas monsters, but that is kind of cool!
Indeed! This one is much more famous, but have you heard of the Krampus?
That one I have heard of, not pleasant lol. It is who Santa was made from by catholic people trying to make pagan practices "Christian". lol
Indeed! Although if I do remember correctly, Saint Nicholas was a real person from Turkey, which also vaguely inspired Santa Claus today. It’s really a whole lot of different things.
and Krampus is a whole lot meaner than modern day Santa.
anyways, let’s talk about something... Hmm, have you heard of the Yule Cat?
I have not it would seem.
The Yule cat is one of my favorite Christmas monsters! Originating in Iceland, the legend of the Yule cat is as follows:
During the Yuletide season, the Yule cat hunts the streets at night for its prey. Twice the size of a building, this house cat is a force to be reckoned with. It will peer through the windows of houses, searching for its prey: people. But it doesn’t hunt anyone in general, no. Only people who are wearing clothes from last year. If it finds them, it will burst its claw through the window and snatch them right up, devouring them.
the reason it hunts people with old clothes, is because the most important industry in Iceland at the time was making clothes, so if you didn’t have any new ones, it was a sign you weren’t working hard enough.
Lol, wow that is different, very interesting and creative. I haven't heard of many Christmas monsters, but that is kind of cool!
Indeed! This one is much more famous, but have you heard of the Krampus?
That one I have heard of, not pleasant lol. It is who Santa was made from by catholic people trying to make pagan practices "Christian". lol
Fun fact: Jesus was more likely born during summer than winter. People celebrate his birth during Christmas is because Romans had another holiday full of feasting during winter, and Christian’s at the time used it as a way to get people to celebrate Jesus. At least that’s what I heard. From a single source. It might not be a true fact then.
anyways, let’s talk about something... Hmm, have you heard of the Yule Cat?
I have not it would seem.
The Yule cat is one of my favorite Christmas monsters! Originating in Iceland, the legend of the Yule cat is as follows:
During the Yuletide season, the Yule cat hunts the streets at night for its prey. Twice the size of a building, this house cat is a force to be reckoned with. It will peer through the windows of houses, searching for its prey: people. But it doesn’t hunt anyone in general, no. Only people who are wearing clothes from last year. If it finds them, it will burst its claw through the window and snatch them right up, devouring them.
the reason it hunts people with old clothes, is because the most important industry in Iceland at the time was making clothes, so if you didn’t have any new ones, it was a sign you weren’t working hard enough.
Lol, wow that is different, very interesting and creative. I haven't heard of many Christmas monsters, but that is kind of cool!
Indeed! This one is much more famous, but have you heard of the Krampus?
That one I have heard of, not pleasant lol. It is who Santa was made from by catholic people trying to make pagan practices "Christian". lol
Fun fact: Jesus was more likely born during summer than winter. People celebrate his birth during Christmas is because Romans had another holiday full of feasting during winter, and Christian’s at the time used it as a way to get people to celebrate Jesus. At least that’s what I heard. From a single source. It might not be a true fact then.
I believe it to be true. I have studied that a bit and have found that fact to be very close to accurate.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I have made a huge homebrew setting that I am still working on putting here in DDB. Please give me feedback, I want to know all of what I am doing wrong, and what I am doing right. The thread is a huge work in progress, so everything in it from content to layout is subject to change. Please check this forum:Welcome to Zionderia
Also I have a fun thread that explores an idea about dreams based off the movie Inception. I still need to add the link but stay tuned.
anyways, let’s talk about something... Hmm, have you heard of the Yule Cat?
I have not it would seem.
The Yule cat is one of my favorite Christmas monsters! Originating in Iceland, the legend of the Yule cat is as follows:
During the Yuletide season, the Yule cat hunts the streets at night for its prey. Twice the size of a building, this house cat is a force to be reckoned with. It will peer through the windows of houses, searching for its prey: people. But it doesn’t hunt anyone in general, no. Only people who are wearing clothes from last year. If it finds them, it will burst its claw through the window and snatch them right up, devouring them.
the reason it hunts people with old clothes, is because the most important industry in Iceland at the time was making clothes, so if you didn’t have any new ones, it was a sign you weren’t working hard enough.
Lol, wow that is different, very interesting and creative. I haven't heard of many Christmas monsters, but that is kind of cool!
Indeed! This one is much more famous, but have you heard of the Krampus?
That one I have heard of, not pleasant lol. It is who Santa was made from by catholic people trying to make pagan practices "Christian". lol
Fun fact: Jesus was more likely born during summer than winter. People celebrate his birth during Christmas is because Romans had another holiday full of feasting during winter, and Christian’s at the time used it as a way to get people to celebrate Jesus. At least that’s what I heard. From a single source. It might not be a true fact then.
I believe it to be true. I have studied that a bit and have found that fact to be very close to accurate.
Cool cool. I learned it from a Christmas episode of ‘Worst Jobs In History’.
anyways, let’s talk about something... Hmm, have you heard of the Yule Cat?
I have not it would seem.
The Yule cat is one of my favorite Christmas monsters! Originating in Iceland, the legend of the Yule cat is as follows:
During the Yuletide season, the Yule cat hunts the streets at night for its prey. Twice the size of a building, this house cat is a force to be reckoned with. It will peer through the windows of houses, searching for its prey: people. But it doesn’t hunt anyone in general, no. Only people who are wearing clothes from last year. If it finds them, it will burst its claw through the window and snatch them right up, devouring them.
the reason it hunts people with old clothes, is because the most important industry in Iceland at the time was making clothes, so if you didn’t have any new ones, it was a sign you weren’t working hard enough.
Lol, wow that is different, very interesting and creative. I haven't heard of many Christmas monsters, but that is kind of cool!
Indeed! This one is much more famous, but have you heard of the Krampus?
That one I have heard of, not pleasant lol. It is who Santa was made from by catholic people trying to make pagan practices "Christian". lol
Indeed! Although if I do remember correctly, Saint Nicholas was a real person from Turkey, which also vaguely inspired Santa Claus today. It’s really a whole lot of different things.
and Krampus is a whole lot meaner than modern day Santa.
Yes Saint Nicholas was real from what i understand, and Krampus man...what a nasty dude and practice. The catholic's took a lot of roman holidays and made christian holidays out of them, but many of the practices are rooted in the old pagan ones which used to be pretty sick.
*sorry I will come up with Ziz stuff in a minute, also blackcat just got on the smorgasbord and was asking to rp, I let him know I was juggling threads.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I have made a huge homebrew setting that I am still working on putting here in DDB. Please give me feedback, I want to know all of what I am doing wrong, and what I am doing right. The thread is a huge work in progress, so everything in it from content to layout is subject to change. Please check this forum:Welcome to Zionderia
Also I have a fun thread that explores an idea about dreams based off the movie Inception. I still need to add the link but stay tuned.
So, it started with my Zionderia world. For fun, I decided to create a name for it as its own game, like D&D (dungeons and dragons). I debated a couple ideas like O&O (Oubliettes and Oblivion) was one, but it didn't match the feel of the overall world, though I really liked it. Another I came up with ZIZ (Zeal in Zionderia), and I ran it over with a friend of mine. They then shared with me that the Ziz was actually a mythological being. I looked into it, and I wrote this little note on it.
Ziz has root in a legend of the Talmud, where it is the name of a giant bird that carries the world, and protects it. The Talmud is the authoritative body of Jews who are in charge of keeping the laws of the Torah (however, they have kind of butchered it adding a bunch of things the Torah never mentions, and taking away from its meanings in a lot of ways). This is represented in the illustration by the wings atop Z's that hold the world up. {This illustration I hope to share later, so ignore that statement for now lol).
Also, Ziz is a root word of the Zizith, which is another spelling of Tzitzit. Zizith/Tzitzit are the little tassles that a Jewish man where's to remind themselves of the Torah, and there purpose is stated here in scripture:
The LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the people of Israel, and tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a cord of blue on the tassel of each corner. And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the LORD, to do them, not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to whore after. So you shall remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to your God. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I am the LORD your God.”
I chose the word Ziz because it was the abbreviation of my game, Zeal in Zionderia (it's structure of title and gameplay are derived from that of Dungeons and Dragons, or D&D). I did not know at the time that Ziz has meaning beyond my simple abbreviation, and that it related heavily to the Torah. While I as a believer in Yahweh and his son Yeshua, have never been a huge supporter for how the Torah is often used (where works are what justify you rather than a relationship with the one who made the laws), I do recognize it's importance in our lives structure and purpose. It is a tool that can be used to help give us a strengthened foundation, and remind us of how Yahweh wants us to live.
So, Ziz may become my official name for when I sit down to play campaigns and settings in Zionderia. It's meaning, Ziz will up front be Zeal in Zionderia and to many it will be nothing more than a simple abbreviation, which is what I originally intended when I came up with it. But now, for me and to those whom it speaks to, it also represents a world that functions much like the mythological Ziz bird, and the Zizith tassels. It functions like these to hold you up, to keep you grounded, and to remind you of the morality and righteousness that our creator is. Zionderia is a world that I designed to use the awesome structure and idea of D&D's worlds that use role-playing and fantasy to adventure, entertain, and even grow relationships with friends. Zionderia takes these concepts of D&D, and adds a new element to these amazing things, it attempts adds purpose and meaning.
It does this by challenging and testing one's current beliefs or the way they view the world, no matter what that may be (especially mine), and attempts to strengthen what is true, and remove what isn't. In the same way, Torah does this for the reader( if you do not get wrapped up in simply the letter and literal translation of the law, instead of the heart and real purpose of it), and I have found that the term Ziz is a perfect way to relate my game's purpose to that of the Torah, and the Ziz and Zizith's relation to the Torah.
In the illustration of Ziz (Zeal in Zionderia), there are several elements that I want to point out and evaluate. I will share this with the image when I find a way show you my crude illustration lol.
This illustration of Ziz has not only become a fond and meaningful portrayal of Zionderia, but it also hopes to become the emblem of Zionderia. If I ever successfully make merchandise where a logo or similar symbol is required, I hope to employ a similar looking illustration to this one.
Zionderia is a world where truth is pushed to be explored, where reality is challenged to cement what is right and what is wrong. Here adventures are to take place that shake a person, to make them wonder if what they believes is true, and if it is still what they want to believe. Venture here, enter this dream. Learn the truths about reality, so that when you wake from the dream of Zionderia, you will be able to wake from the dream life tricks you to believing that is all there is. There is a place beyond this life for us, a place where death is not the end, but a beginning; a place where suffering, tears, hatred, and evil are all wiped away. We need to learn how to escape this dream we call real life, and venture to the world beyond, the world where we can see Yahweh's face, feel his love, and know him personally.
This has a bit of my personal belies in it and feel free to ignore them. But as far as the actual Ziz bird is concerned, it is a cool powerful knowledge bird that holds up the world, and I employed some of that lore into my world out of fondness for the legend.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I have made a huge homebrew setting that I am still working on putting here in DDB. Please give me feedback, I want to know all of what I am doing wrong, and what I am doing right. The thread is a huge work in progress, so everything in it from content to layout is subject to change. Please check this forum:Welcome to Zionderia
Also I have a fun thread that explores an idea about dreams based off the movie Inception. I still need to add the link but stay tuned.
I must gtg, I have a family who want to spend time with me watching anime. I will pick this up later. sorry. I must now apologize to blackcat.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I have made a huge homebrew setting that I am still working on putting here in DDB. Please give me feedback, I want to know all of what I am doing wrong, and what I am doing right. The thread is a huge work in progress, so everything in it from content to layout is subject to change. Please check this forum:Welcome to Zionderia
Also I have a fun thread that explores an idea about dreams based off the movie Inception. I still need to add the link but stay tuned.
*This is a joke pretending real life is a video game*
WHY DIDN’T ANYBODY TELL ME YOU COULD PLAY AS ANIMALS IN EARTH?!?! I ALWAYS THOUGHT THEY WERE JUST NPCS!!!
We do play as animals
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Yo, I'm Himy (He/him) not as active as I use to be, but I'm here from time to time. I don't got much else to say.
"From the stars of the inner sea, from the tower of insight, from the four corners of paradise, let them know; their story is filled with blessings. Only those free of sin may pass... Garden of Avalon!”
”The elements coalesce, amalgamate, and bring forth the star that interweaves all creation. Bow down with death! Enuma Elish!”
Speaking of St. Nicholas, there's a story and iconography of him punching Arius, originator of the Arian heresy. As the story goes, Arius was,going on at a meeting when St. Nicholas, not wanting to hear it anymore, walked over and slapped him.
The story is most likely apocryphal. And more likely he slapped a different Arian bishop. And more like a tap of "Dude, what are you on?" rather than a full on slap. But it's a fun story.
And since the Arian crisis also ties into the Council of Nicaea, a fun fact on why Catholics/Protestants and Orthodox have different days they celebrate Christmas.
At Nicaea it was made official that Christmas would be December 25th. At that time the Julian calendar. Later on when Pope Gregory (I forget the number) came up with the Gregorian calendar, the Catholic West also adjusted the liturgical calendar to follow suit. Meanwhile the Orthodox East stuck with the Julian calendar.
So both celebrate on December 25th, just according to different calendars.
And here are those thread ideas! One is a more serious idea and the other is a more lighthearted one. I'm not gonna release both of these at the same time, but if one fails I might do the other later!
First: A rework of that one evil tavern inspired by the Smorgasbord that I mentioned once. Still not perfect but I feel like this would be more entertaining as a tavern then the whole empty plane without anything to do idea. And hoping this isn't just "smorgasbord but EVIL!!!!!1!1!1!11!1!1!"
In this world, there are a variety of things that shouldn't be. Taking a variety of forms from demonic to eldritch, even at their weakest they could slay an entire village with ease. We call these creatures Unholy Beings.
Long ago, the heavens were the sole beings outside of the earth. However, a cult seeked to gain more power. So, in a foul ritual, they created the very Unholy Beings. The heavens, upon being alerted of this, fought valiantly to halt the threat-- and they succeeded. However, the Beings would only revive if slain to appear later, and therefore they were sealed away.
Tenebris Sine Fine, commonly known as The Endless Dark or simply The Abyss, is a realm of seemingly infinite empty layers where the Beings have been cast away to. At the center lies the start of the realm, the City of Profanus, a red and black city where all Unholy Beings go to the center upon banishment. Even nowadays Unholy Beings still can be created, but the heavens put a quick stop to it and send them to The Abyss. There is no escape from The Endless Dark. But there can be conquering of it.
Basically, it would use a levelling system (probably not the Smorgasbord and Kobold's With Cannons one of __ per day-- it's good but I want something unique to stand out) and when you reach the maximum level you can claim a layer of the Endless Dark as your own domain. You can decide any aspect of it, such as it's design, its law if it has any, its residents, etc. In the meantime, you would grow stronger and stronger as an Unholy Being and gain more power (that I'm not sure how you would use in the meantime, will need to decide that if I do this). If you're slain, you respawn as a Level 1 Being after a bit of IRL time. This tavern is evil centered since we don't really have much of those on the forums, so you could do whatever evil acts you want without punishment.
Idea 2: An adventurer retirement home.
A way more lighthearted and less serious tavern, I feel like the title is self explanatory. Whether it be injuries, old age, etc, adventuring can reach a point where one feels it's time to put the sword down and start picking up some knitting needles. You play as an adventurer who's decided to retire. I'd write multiple paragraphs explaining the lore and such but again it's really self explanatory and simple. So yeah.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Hello! I am a perfectly sane gibberer. Hi! :D
Locations are dead, the Temple of Potassium has fallen but its ideals live on
And here are those thread ideas! One is a more serious idea and the other is a more lighthearted one. I'm not gonna release both of these at the same time, but if one fails I might do the other later!
First: A rework of that one evil tavern inspired by the Smorgasbord that I mentioned once. Still not perfect but I feel like this would be more entertaining as a tavern then the whole empty plane without anything to do idea. And hoping this isn't just "smorgasbord but EVIL!!!!!1!1!1!11!1!1!"
In this world, there are a variety of things that shouldn't be. Taking a variety of forms from demonic to eldritch, even at their weakest they could slay an entire village with ease. We call these creatures Unholy Beings.
Long ago, the heavens were the sole beings outside of the earth. However, a cult seeked to gain more power. So, in a foul ritual, they created the very Unholy Beings. The heavens, upon being alerted of this, fought valiantly to halt the threat-- and they succeeded. However, the Beings would only revive if slain to appear later, and therefore they were sealed away.
Tenebris Sine Fine, commonly known as The Endless Dark or simply The Abyss, is a realm of seemingly infinite empty layers where the Beings have been cast away to. At the center lies the start of the realm, the City of Profanus, a red and black city where all Unholy Beings go to the center upon banishment. Even nowadays Unholy Beings still can be created, but the heavens put a quick stop to it and send them to The Abyss. There is no escape from The Endless Dark. But there can be conquering of it.
Basically, it would use a levelling system (probably not the Smorgasbord and Kobold's With Cannons one of __ per day-- it's good but I want something unique to stand out) and when you reach the maximum level you can claim a layer of the Endless Dark as your own domain. You can decide any aspect of it, such as it's design, its law if it has any, its residents, etc. In the meantime, you would grow stronger and stronger as an Unholy Being and gain more power (that I'm not sure how you would use in the meantime, will need to decide that if I do this). If you're slain, you respawn as a Level 1 Being after a bit of IRL time. This tavern is evil centered since we don't really have much of those on the forums, so you could do whatever evil acts you want without punishment.
Idea 2: An adventurer retirement home.
A way more lighthearted and less serious tavern, I feel like the title is self explanatory. Whether it be injuries, old age, etc, adventuring can reach a point where one feels it's time to put the sword down and start picking up some knitting needles. You play as an adventurer who's decided to retire. I'd write multiple paragraphs explaining the lore and such but again it's really self explanatory and simple. So yeah.
I bet that a tavern set in the world of Smorgasbord would be fun. Especially if you're not a Will; you'd just have to suffer the effects of their wrath and such.
And here are those thread ideas! One is a more serious idea and the other is a more lighthearted one. I'm not gonna release both of these at the same time, but if one fails I might do the other later!
First: A rework of that one evil tavern inspired by the Smorgasbord that I mentioned once. Still not perfect but I feel like this would be more entertaining as a tavern then the whole empty plane without anything to do idea. And hoping this isn't just "smorgasbord but EVIL!!!!!1!1!1!11!1!1!"
In this world, there are a variety of things that shouldn't be. Taking a variety of forms from demonic to eldritch, even at their weakest they could slay an entire village with ease. We call these creatures Unholy Beings.
Long ago, the heavens were the sole beings outside of the earth. However, a cult seeked to gain more power. So, in a foul ritual, they created the very Unholy Beings. The heavens, upon being alerted of this, fought valiantly to halt the threat-- and they succeeded. However, the Beings would only revive if slain to appear later, and therefore they were sealed away.
Tenebris Sine Fine, commonly known as The Endless Dark or simply The Abyss, is a realm of seemingly infinite empty layers where the Beings have been cast away to. At the center lies the start of the realm, the City of Profanus, a red and black city where all Unholy Beings go to the center upon banishment. Even nowadays Unholy Beings still can be created, but the heavens put a quick stop to it and send them to The Abyss. There is no escape from The Endless Dark. But there can be conquering of it.
Basically, it would use a levelling system (probably not the Smorgasbord and Kobold's With Cannons one of __ per day-- it's good but I want something unique to stand out) and when you reach the maximum level you can claim a layer of the Endless Dark as your own domain. You can decide any aspect of it, such as it's design, its law if it has any, its residents, etc. In the meantime, you would grow stronger and stronger as an Unholy Being and gain more power (that I'm not sure how you would use in the meantime, will need to decide that if I do this). If you're slain, you respawn as a Level 1 Being after a bit of IRL time. This tavern is evil centered since we don't really have much of those on the forums, so you could do whatever evil acts you want without punishment.
Idea 2: An adventurer retirement home.
A way more lighthearted and less serious tavern, I feel like the title is self explanatory. Whether it be injuries, old age, etc, adventuring can reach a point where one feels it's time to put the sword down and start picking up some knitting needles. You play as an adventurer who's decided to retire. I'd write multiple paragraphs explaining the lore and such but again it's really self explanatory and simple. So yeah.
The first idea seems awesome, and I’d love to help!
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
To be honest I only recently learned of the Ziz, and I did some studies on its origins out of curiosity. I will have to tell you a little story before I introduce it to you, and I am no good at coming up with quick responses so pardon me if I take a while to produce an explanation.
I have made a huge homebrew setting that I am still working on putting here in DDB. Please give me feedback, I want to know all of what I am doing wrong, and what I am doing right. The thread is a huge work in progress, so everything in it from content to layout is subject to change. Please check this forum: Welcome to Zionderia
Also I have a fun thread that explores an idea about dreams based off the movie Inception. I still need to add the link but stay tuned.
Indeed! Although if I do remember correctly, Saint Nicholas was a real person from Turkey, which also vaguely inspired Santa Claus today. It’s really a whole lot of different things.
and Krampus is a whole lot meaner than modern day Santa.
Fun fact: Jesus was more likely born during summer than winter. People celebrate his birth during Christmas is because Romans had another holiday full of feasting during winter, and Christian’s at the time used it as a way to get people to celebrate Jesus. At least that’s what I heard. From a single source. It might not be a true fact then.
Hi, I’m DrakenBrine, here’s my Sig and characters
I am The Grand Envisioner!
I believe it to be true. I have studied that a bit and have found that fact to be very close to accurate.
I have made a huge homebrew setting that I am still working on putting here in DDB. Please give me feedback, I want to know all of what I am doing wrong, and what I am doing right. The thread is a huge work in progress, so everything in it from content to layout is subject to change. Please check this forum: Welcome to Zionderia
Also I have a fun thread that explores an idea about dreams based off the movie Inception. I still need to add the link but stay tuned.
Cool cool. I learned it from a Christmas episode of ‘Worst Jobs In History’.
Hi, I’m DrakenBrine, here’s my Sig and characters
I am The Grand Envisioner!
Yes Saint Nicholas was real from what i understand, and Krampus man...what a nasty dude and practice. The catholic's took a lot of roman holidays and made christian holidays out of them, but many of the practices are rooted in the old pagan ones which used to be pretty sick.
*sorry I will come up with Ziz stuff in a minute, also blackcat just got on the smorgasbord and was asking to rp, I let him know I was juggling threads.
I have made a huge homebrew setting that I am still working on putting here in DDB. Please give me feedback, I want to know all of what I am doing wrong, and what I am doing right. The thread is a huge work in progress, so everything in it from content to layout is subject to change. Please check this forum: Welcome to Zionderia
Also I have a fun thread that explores an idea about dreams based off the movie Inception. I still need to add the link but stay tuned.
So, it started with my Zionderia world. For fun, I decided to create a name for it as its own game, like D&D (dungeons and dragons). I debated a couple ideas like O&O (Oubliettes and Oblivion) was one, but it didn't match the feel of the overall world, though I really liked it. Another I came up with ZIZ (Zeal in Zionderia), and I ran it over with a friend of mine. They then shared with me that the Ziz was actually a mythological being. I looked into it, and I wrote this little note on it.
Ziz has root in a legend of the Talmud, where it is the name of a giant bird that carries the world, and protects it. The Talmud is the authoritative body of Jews who are in charge of keeping the laws of the Torah (however, they have kind of butchered it adding a bunch of things the Torah never mentions, and taking away from its meanings in a lot of ways). This is represented in the illustration by the wings atop Z's that hold the world up. {This illustration I hope to share later, so ignore that statement for now lol).
Also, Ziz is a root word of the Zizith, which is another spelling of Tzitzit. Zizith/Tzitzit are the little tassles that a Jewish man where's to remind themselves of the Torah, and there purpose is stated here in scripture:
The LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the people of Israel, and tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a cord of blue on the tassel of each corner. And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the LORD, to do them, not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to whore after. So you shall remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to your God. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I am the LORD your God.”
I chose the word Ziz because it was the abbreviation of my game, Zeal in Zionderia (it's structure of title and gameplay are derived from that of Dungeons and Dragons, or D&D). I did not know at the time that Ziz has meaning beyond my simple abbreviation, and that it related heavily to the Torah. While I as a believer in Yahweh and his son Yeshua, have never been a huge supporter for how the Torah is often used (where works are what justify you rather than a relationship with the one who made the laws), I do recognize it's importance in our lives structure and purpose. It is a tool that can be used to help give us a strengthened foundation, and remind us of how Yahweh wants us to live.
So, Ziz may become my official name for when I sit down to play campaigns and settings in Zionderia. It's meaning, Ziz will up front be Zeal in Zionderia and to many it will be nothing more than a simple abbreviation, which is what I originally intended when I came up with it. But now, for me and to those whom it speaks to, it also represents a world that functions much like the mythological Ziz bird, and the Zizith tassels. It functions like these to hold you up, to keep you grounded, and to remind you of the morality and righteousness that our creator is. Zionderia is a world that I designed to use the awesome structure and idea of D&D's worlds that use role-playing and fantasy to adventure, entertain, and even grow relationships with friends. Zionderia takes these concepts of D&D, and adds a new element to these amazing things, it attempts adds purpose and meaning.
It does this by challenging and testing one's current beliefs or the way they view the world, no matter what that may be (especially mine), and attempts to strengthen what is true, and remove what isn't. In the same way, Torah does this for the reader( if you do not get wrapped up in simply the letter and literal translation of the law, instead of the heart and real purpose of it), and I have found that the term Ziz is a perfect way to relate my game's purpose to that of the Torah, and the Ziz and Zizith's relation to the Torah.
In the illustration of Ziz (Zeal in Zionderia), there are several elements that I want to point out and evaluate. I will share this with the image when I find a way show you my crude illustration lol.
This illustration of Ziz has not only become a fond and meaningful portrayal of Zionderia, but it also hopes to become the emblem of Zionderia. If I ever successfully make merchandise where a logo or similar symbol is required, I hope to employ a similar looking illustration to this one.
Zionderia is a world where truth is pushed to be explored, where reality is challenged to cement what is right and what is wrong. Here adventures are to take place that shake a person, to make them wonder if what they believes is true, and if it is still what they want to believe. Venture here, enter this dream. Learn the truths about reality, so that when you wake from the dream of Zionderia, you will be able to wake from the dream life tricks you to believing that is all there is. There is a place beyond this life for us, a place where death is not the end, but a beginning; a place where suffering, tears, hatred, and evil are all wiped away. We need to learn how to escape this dream we call real life, and venture to the world beyond, the world where we can see Yahweh's face, feel his love, and know him personally.
This has a bit of my personal belies in it and feel free to ignore them. But as far as the actual Ziz bird is concerned, it is a cool powerful knowledge bird that holds up the world, and I employed some of that lore into my world out of fondness for the legend.
I have made a huge homebrew setting that I am still working on putting here in DDB. Please give me feedback, I want to know all of what I am doing wrong, and what I am doing right. The thread is a huge work in progress, so everything in it from content to layout is subject to change. Please check this forum: Welcome to Zionderia
Also I have a fun thread that explores an idea about dreams based off the movie Inception. I still need to add the link but stay tuned.
I must gtg, I have a family who want to spend time with me watching anime. I will pick this up later. sorry. I must now apologize to blackcat.
I have made a huge homebrew setting that I am still working on putting here in DDB. Please give me feedback, I want to know all of what I am doing wrong, and what I am doing right. The thread is a huge work in progress, so everything in it from content to layout is subject to change. Please check this forum: Welcome to Zionderia
Also I have a fun thread that explores an idea about dreams based off the movie Inception. I still need to add the link but stay tuned.
*This is a joke pretending real life is a video game*
WHY DIDN’T ANYBODY TELL ME YOU COULD PLAY AS ANIMALS IN EARTH?!?! I ALWAYS THOUGHT THEY WERE JUST NPCS!!!
Hi, I’m DrakenBrine, here’s my Sig and characters
I am The Grand Envisioner!
We do play as animals
Yo, I'm Himy (He/him) not as active as I use to be, but I'm here from time to time. I don't got much else to say.
"From the stars of the inner sea, from the tower of insight, from the four corners of paradise, let them know; their story is filled with blessings. Only those free of sin may pass... Garden of Avalon!”
”The elements coalesce, amalgamate, and bring forth the star that interweaves all creation. Bow down with death! Enuma Elish!”
Speaking of St. Nicholas, there's a story and iconography of him punching Arius, originator of the Arian heresy. As the story goes, Arius was,going on at a meeting when St. Nicholas, not wanting to hear it anymore, walked over and slapped him.
The story is most likely apocryphal. And more likely he slapped a different Arian bishop. And more like a tap of "Dude, what are you on?" rather than a full on slap. But it's a fun story.
And since the Arian crisis also ties into the Council of Nicaea, a fun fact on why Catholics/Protestants and Orthodox have different days they celebrate Christmas.
At Nicaea it was made official that Christmas would be December 25th. At that time the Julian calendar. Later on when Pope Gregory (I forget the number) came up with the Gregorian calendar, the Catholic West also adjusted the liturgical calendar to follow suit. Meanwhile the Orthodox East stuck with the Julian calendar.
So both celebrate on December 25th, just according to different calendars.
This is a signature. It was a simple signature. But it has been upgraded.
Belolonandalogalo, Sunny | Draíocht, Kholias | Eggo Lass, 100 Dungeons
Talorin Tebedi, Vecna: Eve | Cherry, Stormwreck | Chipper, Strahd
We Are Modron
Get rickrolled here. Awesome music here. Track 48, 5/23/25, Immaculate Mary
Feels like it came a lot quicker this year. Still got some decorating to do.
This is a signature. It was a simple signature. But it has been upgraded.
Belolonandalogalo, Sunny | Draíocht, Kholias | Eggo Lass, 100 Dungeons
Talorin Tebedi, Vecna: Eve | Cherry, Stormwreck | Chipper, Strahd
We Are Modron
Get rickrolled here. Awesome music here. Track 48, 5/23/25, Immaculate Mary
I’m looking through the stats of some creatures right now. What do you mean Arapaima’s have better armor then modern humans. IT IS A FISH!
Hi, I’m DrakenBrine, here’s my Sig and characters
I am The Grand Envisioner!
RRTGUGFSDTYUUYTRTUUIYYUY
cat walkin over top on computer key board
merlin the warlock
And here are those thread ideas! One is a more serious idea and the other is a more lighthearted one. I'm not gonna release both of these at the same time, but if one fails I might do the other later!
First: A rework of that one evil tavern inspired by the Smorgasbord that I mentioned once. Still not perfect but I feel like this would be more entertaining as a tavern then the whole empty plane without anything to do idea. And hoping this isn't just "smorgasbord but EVIL!!!!!1!1!1!11!1!1!"
In this world, there are a variety of things that shouldn't be. Taking a variety of forms from demonic to eldritch, even at their weakest they could slay an entire village with ease. We call these creatures Unholy Beings.
Long ago, the heavens were the sole beings outside of the earth. However, a cult seeked to gain more power. So, in a foul ritual, they created the very Unholy Beings. The heavens, upon being alerted of this, fought valiantly to halt the threat-- and they succeeded. However, the Beings would only revive if slain to appear later, and therefore they were sealed away.
Tenebris Sine Fine, commonly known as The Endless Dark or simply The Abyss, is a realm of seemingly infinite empty layers where the Beings have been cast away to. At the center lies the start of the realm, the City of Profanus, a red and black city where all Unholy Beings go to the center upon banishment. Even nowadays Unholy Beings still can be created, but the heavens put a quick stop to it and send them to The Abyss. There is no escape from The Endless Dark. But there can be conquering of it.
Basically, it would use a levelling system (probably not the Smorgasbord and Kobold's With Cannons one of __ per day-- it's good but I want something unique to stand out) and when you reach the maximum level you can claim a layer of the Endless Dark as your own domain. You can decide any aspect of it, such as it's design, its law if it has any, its residents, etc. In the meantime, you would grow stronger and stronger as an Unholy Being and gain more power (that I'm not sure how you would use in the meantime, will need to decide that if I do this). If you're slain, you respawn as a Level 1 Being after a bit of IRL time. This tavern is evil centered since we don't really have much of those on the forums, so you could do whatever evil acts you want without punishment.
Idea 2: An adventurer retirement home.
A way more lighthearted and less serious tavern, I feel like the title is self explanatory. Whether it be injuries, old age, etc, adventuring can reach a point where one feels it's time to put the sword down and start picking up some knitting needles. You play as an adventurer who's decided to retire. I'd write multiple paragraphs explaining the lore and such but again it's really self explanatory and simple. So yeah.
Hello! I am a perfectly sane gibberer. Hi! :D
Locations are dead, the Temple of Potassium has fallen but its ideals live on
A mysterious link of chain... (Extended signature). PRAISE JEFF THE EVIL ROOMBA! REALLY cool video.
One of the Warlock Patrons on the forums. Low, low price of your soul, your firstborn child and your liver!
Titles: The Echoing Story Spewer from Drummer, the Endless Maws from Isis, the Mad Murderer from PJ
Pretty good typing for a cat.
This is a signature. It was a simple signature. But it has been upgraded.
Belolonandalogalo, Sunny | Draíocht, Kholias | Eggo Lass, 100 Dungeons
Talorin Tebedi, Vecna: Eve | Cherry, Stormwreck | Chipper, Strahd
We Are Modron
Get rickrolled here. Awesome music here. Track 48, 5/23/25, Immaculate Mary
Still, humans have building and that's really overpowered. We should get the No Builds game mode back.
Hello! I am a perfectly sane gibberer. Hi! :D
Locations are dead, the Temple of Potassium has fallen but its ideals live on
A mysterious link of chain... (Extended signature). PRAISE JEFF THE EVIL ROOMBA! REALLY cool video.
One of the Warlock Patrons on the forums. Low, low price of your soul, your firstborn child and your liver!
Titles: The Echoing Story Spewer from Drummer, the Endless Maws from Isis, the Mad Murderer from PJ
I bet that a tavern set in the world of Smorgasbord would be fun. Especially if you're not a Will; you'd just have to suffer the effects of their wrath and such.
Roll for Initiative: [roll]1d20+7[/roll]
Proud member of the EVIL JEFF CULT! PRAISE JEFF!
Homebrew Races: HERE Homebrew Spells: HERE Homebrew Monsters: HERE
MORE OF ME! (And platypodes/platypi/platypuses) (Extended signature)
The first idea seems awesome, and I’d love to help!