Perzul: A World Divided

A Fantasy World created by two brothers. Run by Zag/Strumnar of The Dourfist Crew

[the-shattered-world]

The First Race ("et Primae Vitae”)

When the Parental God’s first came across Perzul, there was no life.  Drawing life from The Flow (the Nihil), they created simple organisms to exist throughout the vast oceanic planet of Perzul.  From these organisms, and through matter/DNA manipulation, the Parental Gods formed the first sentient beings.  The First Race, whose true name has been lost in the annals of time, were amphibious.  Growing tired of aquatic life, the First Race began manipulating volcanic structures and debri to form more complex land structures, to which they would then inhabit.  Resembling what would now be considered a “proto-human,” the First Race were massive compared to their kin races.  Standing nearly twice as tall as a human, around 9 to 10 feet, the First Race were a pale-complexioned giant in a world of smaller creatures.  Their facial features resembled those of modern races, yet lacked the definition of key facial features such as the nose, or the lips.  Their ears, while performing auditory functions, were flattened against their skull, doubling as a set of gills early in the evolution of the First Race. Their three fingered-one thumbed hands originally had thick membranous webbing that became vestigial (very thin and fragile) after they moved to living on land.

The Primae Vitae began forming complex societies early on in their creation, forming tribes, cultures--once they conquered the soil, these societies thrived.  The Primae Vitae began evolving, moving away from their amphibious heritage to a terrestrial one.  It is here, once upon conquering the continents, the Primae Vitae made leaps and bounds in technological advancement, mastering the Nihil (better known as The Flow) that trickled to Perzul, known as Ka, and eventually simple machinery.    

After thousands of years of watching the Primae Vitae evolve and progress, the Twins came upon the idea of wanting to create something similar themselves. And so the best aspects of the First Race became the others under the careful guidance of the Twins. Elves sprang from the Firsts’ elegance and intellect; the dwarves from strength and ingenuity; gnomes and halflings from the unending curiosity and inherent optimism. Finally, the humans took from them courage and unbridled ambition.

For millennia, the Primae Vitae lived alongside these new creations, whom they called “The Secundo Venire.” They treated these newcomers more like younger siblings than beings who were less than they were. With the First Race’s help, the “Secundo Venire” found themselves advancing at an alarming rate. It didn’t take long for them to adapt to some of the Firsts’ technology and to model their own cultures after them as well.

The Primae Vitae became an advanced civilization, teetering on the edge of exploring the universe outside Perzul.  Leaps in technology born of necessity, of war and peace, pushed the mortals beyond anything they normally would have developed. What had once been a collective society of different species soon started to splinter into segregated factions and caste systems that created divides by not only species but by level of wealth. Pure equality was gone. But the balance remained intact. New views of life (and death) meant the materialization of a need for a more precisely managed reality. At this point in time, Caernos and Auroca were far from Perzul, completely engrossed in their other creations, so rather than attempt to pull them back, the Librarian and the Twins extended their powers even further and gave birth to the Intermediate

Aspects, higher ethereal beings that would work under the Major Aspects.

One important boundary the mortals crossed was the ability to tap directly into the Flow. To feed directly off the very weave of reality to fuel their various technological advancements.  They did so with medical advancements, extending their lives beyond original design. And with those advancements came more powerful machines of war capable of destruction beyond measure. With the destruction came great leaps in the ability of reconstruction and desire to limit casualties in direct combat.  Artificial beings were “born” of mortal technology and magic combined, given life so the mortals could protect their own. And so mortals became like the gods that had created them in their own right.

When The Others (Cyclopethians) began to invade, and a slow process this was, the Primae Vitae, who saw themselves as guardians of Perzul, took it upon themselves to try and fight. Unfortunately, this lead to most (though not all) of them being wiped off the face of the planet and rendered much of their advanced technology useless to the Secundo Venire.

The invasion started long before any of the First Race actually realized, as agents had been inserted into their societies years before the first drop of blood would be spilt.  Through manipulation of local viruses and bacteria, the Others created an infection that would target the subject’s prefrontal cortex, and intertwine itself with the neurons.  This allowed the Others to telepathically influence, and in most cases completely control the host body.  These viruses and bacteria made their way through the Nihil, sent by the Others, by way of the artificial lifeforms the Primae Vitae created.  

The idea behind the pandemic was to weaken the Primae Vitae and the Secundo Venire.  The Others recognized the duality that kept Perzul in balance, and worked to exploit that balance to weaken the inhabitants.  The infection spread to the people of Perzul through the Aspects--constituents of a certain infected aspect became more susceptible to the infection itself.  

The Others first turned the Artificial Lifeforms to start the invasion, twisting them into horrific parodies of what they once were that turned on the very mortals that created them. By the time the scales were tipping to one side, the infection was discovered through autopsy of the dead, and some of the uninfected the Primae Vitae began developing a vaccine.  By the time they would finish, all-out war had broken out, and the finished product would go missing.  The Others made no secret of their existence or their power. They did not hide in tales of myth or parables. Their offers were clear and precise: give yourself over or be destroyed.  The Primae Vitae would split into separate factions, based on the Aspect they followed the closest, and the Pantheonic War--and ultimately the undoing of the Primate Vitae and their technology--consumed every aspect of life on Perzul.

[the-shattered-world]

The Pantheonic War

The Pantheonic War is what the battle between the Aspects of Perzul and the Others (Cyclopeathians) came to be known as. While technically the Aspects were always at odds with one another, never had the scales been so tipped before. The intervention of the Others caused the corruption of the Aspects who fell under Phelisia’s domain, and vastly tipped the scales in the favor of Death and Evil. Because of this, the Neutral Aspects, including the Librarian, took up the banner of Phemos and his forces of Good. While this was necessary, and in the end what lead Perzul’s guardians to victory over the Others, it also shattered the balance almost completely to the point where only an almost complete remodeling of the world could restore things to the way they should be.

Phemos and Phelisia were created by the Parental Gods with the instinct to always be at odds with one another. One would always try to best the other in their “game of chess,” but both knew at an instinctual level that neither of them could truly win. But it was also within their nature to still try their hardest to come out on top.

Ruotha was the first of the Aspects to become tainted, his very nature (Evil itself) making him particularly vulnerable to the Others dark promises, and it was he who spread the infection to Phelisia, empowering her and giving her an edge over her brother Phemos. While the exact details of the “battle” between Phemos and Phelisia can only be described metaphorically at best, the bottom line is that Phelisia had to nearly kill her brother before the Librarian finally intervened.

The veils between the realms of the Aspects were ripped asunder, and the guardians and faithful spirits of each were at each other's throats with a level of intensity never seen before. As these beings tore at one another, their respective realms weakened as well--letting even more of the Others corruption inside. This lead to many of the realms to become scarred in some way and in the end more difficult for mortals to summon from.

The realm of mortals was not spared from the war of their gods, for while the Aspects fought and slaughtered one another in their metaphysical realms, the mortals did the same to themselves. Entirely corrupted races and indoctrinated groups of others fought against desperate cells of what basically amount to resistance fighters.

The war went on with either side taking extremely heavy casualties. In fact, nearing the end of the war, the Primae Vitae found themselves on the brink of extinction. All of their technology and Ka expertise couldn’t save them from a corruption that was seeded to work with their DNA. The tide truly turned for the combined forces of Good and Neutral with the creation of the Alcidia, mortal beings infused with the raw power of Aspects.

As things began to look up for the inhabitants of Perzul, the Others initiated a final plan. One of their own would breach the dimensional veil and create a foothold on Perzul from which it could personally oversee operations and provide a stronger corrupting influence. This creature, known only as Gigeran, being personally present meant that the Cyclopetheans were getting desperate. Its arrival on Perzul was marked with a cataclysm that shattered one of the western continents (authors note: actual name to be added later), killing almost all of the inhabitants and creating a massive sea in the center. From the sea arose a massive, black citadel the likes of which had never been seen before. It was as if a cancerous tumor had formed on the surface of Perzul. The sea turned black and poisonous, the land around it uninhabitable by all except the Archytas and the indescribable army that Gigeran brought along.

The arrival of Gigeran was the equivalent of a god materializing in the mortal realm. Every effort made to move on it and the massive citadel it inhabited resulted in heavy losses for the combined Good/Neutral forces (a/n: details to be hammered out later). Thus the Parental Gods finally had no choice but to step in with direct intervention. This is where the Rites, in their purest forms, were introduced to the uncorrupted mortal races. These special blessings were the only thing that would allow the mortals to stand up to Gigeran and its forces.

A group of elite soldiers made their way into the black citadel to confront Gigeran. These soldiers were known as the Laerteric Order.  The Laerteric Order was elite unit of soldiers blessed by the Gods with the Rites, named for Laertes, the first of the Order.  

While in the end they met with success, none of them were ever seen again. Gigeran’s defeat put it into what amounts to a deep sleep, since it could only truly be destroyed by something from its own dimension. The Parental gods, in tandem with the Librarian, devised a plan which would seal Gigeran away forever. They bound the monster within the very core of Perzul itself, and to keep it there they had to create what became known in the mortal realm as the Rift.  The souls and Ka of those who battled Gigeran were entombed with their enemy.  

Because of this Rift, which looked very much like a belt wrapped around the planet, the remaining continents became isolated from one another.  The Parental gods declared that all knowledge of how the world used to be must disappear, so they effectively erased the memories of the mortals, banned the Aspects from direct contact with the mortal realm, and had the Librarian seal away the eternal documents he kept in his realm.

[the-shattered-world]

Pre-Rift Robotics

The world of Perzul saw fantastic technological advancements Pre-Rift, such as aircraft, automobiles, even personal telecommunication devices.  Perhaps their greatest achievement was artificial intelligence.  Through manipulation of Ka mixed with an extensive knowledge of mechanical engineering, the Primae Vitae were able to create primitive A.I. that could perform simple tasks and solve simple problems with particular programming, eventually developing complex A.I that mimicked mortal behaviors and cognitive functions, independent of programmer input.  While this A.I. certainly functioned due to the Primae Vitae’s mastery of mechanical and electronic engineering, the use of Ka was vital in the creation and function of these beings.

These hyper-intelligent A.I. began to develop a sense of self, eventually referring to themselves as Archytas.  While the Archytas were indeed becoming self-aware, they never could figure out how to untether themselves from the Flow and truly become like their creators.  Thus, constant connections to the Flow were necessary.  The Primae Vitae and the Archytas worked together to expand connection-technology--Primae Vitae saw it as an infinite pool of resource and potential, and the Archytas saw it as life.  The Archytas’ permanent link to Ka and the Flow made them the appropriate candidate for the Others finding their way to Perzul.  

Early versions of these automations resembled bulky metal contraptions with various input and output sources, and relied solely on the programming of their creators.  They lacked any artifical intelligence, as they were simply machines engineered to participate in various tasks. These were put to work in industrial settings, allowing for economies to boom, and their use became commonplace.  The brightest of the Primae Vitae took advantage of the technology at hand.  The first artificial intelligence created crudely resembled a human--the Primae Vitae considered their ambitious works to resemble that of the human spirit.  

This first design housed all crucial hardware in the torso, crafted on top of a bipedal structure.  An oblique cylinder was used as a “head,” though it’s only function served as a sensory input for light.  Two arms with hands were connected to its “shoulders.”  It lacked individual fingers--it’s hand resembled that of a mitten with one solid piece protruding from the hand with opposable thumbs.  The Archytas would refer to this first robotic creation as Pramathyus.  Pramathyus was the first automaton to be fused with Ka, giving it artificial intelligence.  A core-drive was inserted in place of its primary hard drive.  The core-drive possessed the precursor to Gods’ Ore, allowing it to connect to the Flow, giving “life” to Pramathyus.  

With the help of Pramathyus, the Primae Vitae developed more complex A.I. beings, eventually arriving upon the blueprints that would become the Archytas.  Once the first Archytas was created, production of the Archytas skyrocketed, and their numbers began to rival those of lesser races.  The Primae Vitae, seeing the Archytas on the same level as the Secundo Venire races, felt proud of their creations, and a familial relationship existed between the two.  

The Archytas, sticking to the Pramathyus prototype, resembled humans in size and proportion greatly.  That is not to say that all were created identical to one another.  Archytas were created in various shapes in sizes, depending on which task they were to specialize in. The information developed by Pramathyus that became the Archytas was termed as wares.  Wares referred both the physical aspects of the android, as well as the intangible processor instructions and data.

The central processing units were moved to the head of the robot, as advances in microtechnology had exploded at this point.  The “head” of these units were the identical piece across the board.  Spherical in shape, but taller than it is wide, a smooth, opaque silver surface covers the entire piece.  The size of the torso, arms, legs, hands or feet depending on the task primarily assigned to the android.  A rubbery silver material encompasses the entire head, and most of the body.  The joints commonly require repair due to wear and tear, and thus were left exposed.  It should be noted that while they were not covered by the protective coating, protective micro-bots were routinely sprayed on the exposed points, acting as a both lubricant and as a protective coating from outside elements.  Archytas, even when eternally disabled (or End of Service as the Archytas coined it), would never rust--the materials used to create these androids far exceeded the capabilities of iron-based material.  A thin silvery film would form over the joints at the End of Service, the remnants of the micro-bots around the exposed joints.  End of Service occurs when the core-drive is destroyed beyond repair.  The unit could turn itself off by reducing the amount of Ka generating from within the core-drive, another function to aid in assimilation.  While Archytas could “stay awake” for extreme periods of time, at some point, their core-drive would require a cooldown period (termed simply, “sleep”).

The Archytas, in the spirit of keeping all units connected and unified to spread the wealth of information gathered, developed a network they called Xarxa.  This network had no physical existence, but rather existed solely within the Flow itself.  Archytas could not manipulate the flow like a Weaver might, but rather exploited gaps in the Flow itself through their core-drives to store digital information.  All Archytas were required to connect to the Xarxa at various intervals to keep their wares up to date.  Try as they did, Primae Vitae (and even the Secundo Venire) failed all attempts to access the Xarxa--they simply lacked the computability in their brain to do so.  The Archytas refused to hand over this information.  Xarxa was far from a completely secure resource, as the Archytas would later find out.  

When the unit is asleep, no facial features are displayed.  When the unit is functional, a holographic face is displayed millimeters from the surface of the face.  The function of this face is purely aesthetic, as to present oneself as a familiar being.  These types of measures crucial to the assimilation of the Archytas into Primae Vitae and Secundo Venire culture.  Earlier models of Archytas were designed for optimal functionality, but their appearance proved to me troublesome to their worldly neighbors.  

The Archytas never achieved full self-actualization.  The majority of these androids saw themselves as lesser-beings to their mortal kinfolk, as their leash to the Flow would always hold them back from becoming what they considered their own race of people.  While some renegades certainly existed, none would achieve the magnitude of freedom without the aid from the Others that came later on.  When the Others began infecting the more rebellious Archytas, the malware spread quickly to each android through the Xarxa.  Every unit was eventually transformed into a slave.  The Others were one step closer to all-out war.  

[the-shattered-world]

Concerning Rites and the Blood-Fear Curse

What are Rites?

Rites are a special ability granted to the uncorrupted Perzulian races in order to combat the Other Gods and their armies.

The original blessing included only the positive effects.  Throughout time after the Rift, the Rites became a Blood-Fear Curse, causing the blessed to either gain or lose abilities related to each blessing.  

Rites were only initially bestowed upon those blessed to defeat Gigeran in the Pantheonic War, the Laerteric Order.  It was there the Rites lived and died with the Order.  However, the Order was entombed with Gigeran, the Orders’ Ka became corrupted.  With the deterioration of the Rift, along with Gigeran’s Ka seeping out, the Ka of Laerteric Order is reaching out as well, finding those who share the DNA the Ka-Rites instinctively seek out to activate the warriors to stand against the inevitable return of Gigeran.  

Human - The Rite for Humans (known as the Rite of Skill) bestows a great blessing on their physical abilities, and no one human can experience the enhancement of all three. The one they experience first is the one they get for life. The blessings are: an increase in strength by at least a hundredfold; an increase in agility that allows them to move quickly and perform great acrobatic feats; and finally, enhanced vision, which allows them to do things like see in the dark, and make impossible shots with ranged weapons (rifles, pistols, bows, crossbows), infrared vision.

Elf - The Rite for Elves (known as the Rite of the Weaver) bestows a great blessing on their magical abilities. Unlike with humans, there isn’t a great diversity in this blessing. A fireball spell makes a more violent explosion, a summoned demon/celestial is given increased strength, an illusion spell is made more real, and perhaps even actually brought into reality. It also grants an increased amount of focus, letting the elf tune out everything around them when casting a complicated spell.

Dwarf - The Rite for Dwarves (known as the Rite of the Berserker) bestows a great blessing on their battle abilities. When experiencing the Rite, a dwarf becomes greatly focused in battle, time seems to slow and they move with a speed that would surprise any enemy. Each blow they deal to an enemy seems to be far stronger than normal. Their strength remains the same, but they don’t lose stamina no matter how hard they fight.

Gnome -  The Rite for Gnomes (Known as the Rite of Genius) bestows a blessing that compliments their already superior intellect. Their natural gnomish ability to calculate numbers and predict scenarios increases sharply and they can use this to outsmart their enemies on the battlefield or construct technological wonders.

Halfling -  The Rite for Halflings (known as the Rite of the Fleet Footed) bestows a blessing on their personalities. They become strangely influential, able to talk anyone into almost anything (telling someone to kill themselves will not work, as it goes against nature). It also increases their stealth abilities--sharper vision, lighter-of-foot and acrobatic abilities.

Cygni - The Rite for Cygni (known as the Rite of Blessed Flight) bestows a blessing of a mixture of the other five races.  Gaining the agility of the Human, stronger Ka connection like an Elf, the perceived slowing of time in battle like a dwarf, and an increase in tactical and cognitive ability like a Gnome, the Cygni Rite is a jack-of-all-trades, but a master of none.  In combination, they are powerful, but no single ability outmatches those of their racial counterpart.  

Orc- The Rite for the Orcs (known as the Rite of the Tracker) greatly enhances the Orcs athletic and hunting related skills. Their senses take on supernatural qualities and their vision becomes sharp and clear. They can blend into any environment and become completely untraceable.

Oristegas- The Rite for the Giants (known as the Rite of War) turns the Giant into a veritable juggernaut. They become invulnerable, able to resist the most catastrophic damage with little to no sign of damage--an Unstoppable Force. Also, if they so choose, they may also become an Immovable Object, able to withstand any amount of force that tries to move them from their chosen, rooted spot.

Blood-Fear Curse

What is the Blood-Fear Curse? The Blood-Fear curse is a dilution of the original Rites blessed upon the loyal races of Perzul. After many years lying dormant, entrapped with the Ka of Gigeran, the Orders Ka became corrupted.  After seeping out of the Rift, the Ka used to bless the Order with the Rites instinctively searched for the DNA matches to latch onto and attempt to bless those to fight Gigeran once again.

During moments of extreme stress, the individual affected may experience of one of two outcomes.  The individual may experience what feels like a euphoria, increasing certain abilities above and beyond.  On the other hand, the individual could be crippled in those same aspects to a great degree.

Human - The Human can experience two possibilities, the Positive reflects the same as the original Rite. The negative are as follows:

- Strength

- Decreased greatly (not equal to increase in the Rite)

- Agility

- Loss of use in one or more limbs (random selection)

- Vision

- Completely blind

Elf -  The Elven experience is different than that of their Human counterpart.  Conversely to their great increase in magic ability, an Elf’s ability during the Blood-Fear Curse makes their Ka spells uncontrollable, regardless of Teaching/School. The Ka’s desired effect could be completely useless, or so wildly powerful they have absolutely no control in the outcome.

Dwarf - The Dwarven Curse forces the Dwarf into an uncontrollable rage, attacking friend and foe alike with a deadly increase in strength and precision.  A Dwarf suffering from the Curse is considered to be one of the deadliest situations to find oneself placed.

Gnome - The Gnome Curse is debilitating.  The Gnome loses the ability to process any information, essentially stopping any thoughts or actions.  They become immobile, unable to make any mental or physical action.  The Gnome succumbs to such fear that one begins to tremble, stumbling over words and literally over any movements.

Halfling - The Curse of the Halfling is just as devastating.  Their voice is completely lost, and since they are unable to communicate, this instills a great fear in their mind, causing them to flee the situation.  This renders the Halfling useless until they’ve fled a great enough distance to feel safe.

Cygni -  The Curse of the Cygni is a terrible one indeed, they lose the use of their wings and as long as they remain in the stressed, frightened state they remain grounded.

Orc- The Curse of the Orc is a particularly terrible one, because it was purposefully set upon them by the Parental Gods themselves (unlike the others, which are a product of outside antagonists). Orcs under the influence of the curse become completely feral creatures with no sense of what they once were. They become violent, bloodthirsty beasts incapable of true coherent thought, acting purely on instinct.

Oristegas- The Curse of the Giant, like the Orc, is one set upon them purposefully by the gods they betrayed. A cursed Oristegas becomes a mindless automaton capable of only the most rudimentary of tasks, and on top of that, only one of those tasks at a time. They cannot communicate, they can only obey. Obey whom, exactly, is a mystery. But cursed Oristegas, despite their obvious dimness, still move with purpose---compelled to complete whatever task they are given by any means necessary.

[the-shattered-world]

Gnomes of the Shattered World

– Average age 200 years, adulthood: 50 years; Average height: 3’5” to 4”

It is very hard for an outsider to tell the difference between a male gnome and a female, except under extreme circumstances (example: elderly male gnomes have beards, elderly females do not). Hair and skin color varies as much as it does with humans. A lack of physical prowess due to stature has left many gnomes to pursue careers in academic and scientific fields. Due to the small and seemingly weak stature of Gnomes, they are always born in sets of two. Gnome twins are connected at some psychic level.  

While they resemble Halflings in terms of size and build, the Gnome facial features are more pronounced.  The ears, nose, brow, and even cheeks are of the Gnome are seen as more “chubby” as their Halfling brethren, resembling a Dwarf in their facial features.  It is a common derogatory sentiment among other races to consider Gnomes the bastard-kin of Dwarf and Halfling.  However, the similarity lies only within stature, and not much else.  

Society:

The Gnome may share (or may not, depending on which race you consult) some things with their “cousins”, but in reality, physical size is the only similarity.  The Gnome is less physically gifted as the Dwarf, and  less laid-back than the Halfling.  While the occasional strong-Gnome isn’t unheard of, nor is the lazy Gnomish neighbor, the Gnome is generally considered one of the most naturally intelligent species to populate Perzul.  

With an ingenuity that rivals and often surpasses that of the Human, the Gnome has what the Human lacks when it comes to problem solving--time.  If Dwarves can be considered industrious and meticulous in their creative process, Gnomes can be downright manic. No subject is too taboo, no invention completely useless. Creating something from nothing is a trait the Gnome takes great pride in.  It is this attitude that lead to the forming of an official Gnomish Inventor Society. Not only does this Society regulate “the crazies” but, it ensure that no genius is overlooked.  Perhaps the Gnome is more Halfling then they would care to admit.

While Gnomish inventions range across a wide spectrum, those whose creations are either directly for military purpose or can be adapted as such, are usually the most successful. See: siege engines and firearms (which are credited as being invented first by a gnome). Some Gnomes who develop such weapons are prone to develop a specific kind of mental disorder that induces depression in extraordinary amounts which eventually either leads to suicide or the Gnome leaving society to live in solitude for the remainder of their guilt saturated lives.

Gnome societal structure is reminiscent of the Halfling, representing more of a Utilitarian approach than any other race.  Gnomish government tends to focus more on the greater good rather than the success of the individual.  The reasoning behind is clear to a Gnome.  Gnomish Doctrine dictates the an action is right as long as it promotes the greatest amount of happiness to the greatest number of the populace possible.  While this may be disseminated into some Gnome-controlled areas as socialist, it can also translate into one of a free-market/capitalist economic structure.  Gnome governments historically leaned towards the will of the people, whatever the majority deemed fair.

The doctrine that an action is right insofar as it promotes happiness, and that the greatest happiness of the greatest number should be the guiding principle of conduct.

Sidenotes:

The Gnomes of Zeratul have no longer have cities or villages of their own, preferring to either live in solitary structures in the middle of nowhere with family, or in communes in big cities they share with other species. These gnome communities still have some form of self-ruling amongst themselves, remnants of their socialist past, but usually prefer to adopt whatever laws the city they live in has.

Perzot’s Gnome population perhaps is the closest resemblance to that of their pre-Rift ancestors, unbeknownst to the current population.  The philosophic idea of Utilitarianism remains the main focus of Gnome leadership.  While Gnomes do not hold entire sovereign nations of their own in Perzot, they govern many of the smaller bodied jurisdictions.

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just remembered this existed and felt bad for not putting stuff in it.

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Humans of the Shattered World

– Average Age: 70 years; Adulthood: 18 years; Average height: 5’7” to 6’5”. Most common people found in Perzul, high birthrate, 2nd shortest lifespan, ambitious, morally impressionable, very diverse in culture and ideals.

Human DNA is the most malleable of all the races, making them able to produce offspring with a few other races humanoid races (specifically: Elves, Giants, Orcs and Cygni) and more prone to mutations that are common with those who work too closely with large amounts of raw, unrefined Gods’ Ore for long periods of time without adequate protection.  

Humans have one of the shortest average lifespans.  The shorter lifespan of the human generally contributes to a greater need to accomplish as much as possible.   Compared to the Orc--with the shortest average lifespan--the human is particularly ambitious, compelled by a need to accumulate wealth and personal valor in the shortest amount of time.  While it is certainly not the rule for all humans, they are more apt to attempt political or militaristic power-moves.  Greed and the accumulation of wealth are more often the vices of a human compared to that of another race.  These affinity for greed can make humans one of the more easily-corrupted of the civilized races of Perzul and more prone to fighting.

Conversely, this ambition can have a positive outcome.  The inherent need in the Human race has led to many of history’s greatest achievements.  The advent of a lot the artificial intelligence involving the Pramathyus and the Archytas was the result of Human ingenuity.  The creation of many of the machinery needing to harness the power of Gods’ Ore was the result of the Human proclivity for a scientific and systematic approach to critical problem solving.  Of all the races in Perzul, the human--like their DNA--has the most flexible personality, and ability to accomplish whatever they set their sights on, or fail miserably in the feeblest of attempts.

Society:

Typical Human society, as a whole, usually works in an economic based structure---wealthy, middle-class, and poor, with the respective behaviors and ambitions normally being what one would expect. It is entirely possible for a Human to change their place on the ladder during the course of their life, up or down, though a human moving up is far more atypical to one moving down. But, as with many things in life, there are exceptions to this rule. It is Human nature to adapt to their surroundings, so hybrid systems may develop amongst those that live in isolated pockets or among other races.

Side Notes:

In Zeratul, a disaster over 1200 years ago brought about by a human necromancer poisoned a large chunk of the human held lands and the people who lived in them. Human’s living in the Lowlands bore the brunt of the fallout, introducing all sorts of mutations into their blood, statistics say 1 in 10,000 children will be born with some kind of mutation, 1 in 100,000 with a severe mutation. This lead to the development of the Mutant Classification System for easy cataloging, which every mutant human is required to register in. Class 1 Mutants are those who are able to disguise their condition in some way, while Class 5 Mutants are the most affected by the Ka-radiation, with many either living shorter lives or ending up having to be cared for in an institution as they reach their venerable years. But often, Class 5 Mutants can be considered “candles that burn brightly, but quickly” as their powers manifest much more strongly than the other classes.

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The Major Aspects

Powerful beings working under the Twins and the mysterious Librarian. They represent the 3 sides of nature that exist in all living beings and are at constant battle with one another to achieve a certain balance that must be maintained so the very foundations of existence don’t shift and change the nature of life as we know it. While there is no hate between the Twins and the Librarian, the aspects beneath them share real disdain for one another.

Ruotha, Aspect of Evil - The Aspect held responsible for inspiring many of the major disasters in the world, supposedly follows Phelisia as a sort of majordomo with several demonic corps under his command. He’s known for his ruthlessness and refusal to ever take prisoners. It is said that if you dream of Ruotha it means he has his eyes set on your soul and there is no way to escape his grasp. Appears as a heavily armored rotting corpse riding an undead horse and wielding a great double bladed axe. His realm is an endlessly burning plain under a constant rain of meteors and storms that blow poisonous winds.

Veiyana, Aspect of Good - Phemos' version of Ruotha. Appears as a beautiful woman (depending on the race of the one looking to her) in heavenly white armor with a great sword and shield emblazoned with angelic white wings. Commands several legions of angels who are locked in eternal war with Ruotha’s demons. Neither side ever shows any signs of being dominant or winning. Constantly opposing Ruotha and providing aid to those affected by his disasters. Her realm is a great castle overlooking a peaceful lake whose surface can never be disturbed. The sun is always shining in a clear blue sky, an eternal spring. Symbol: Golden sun showing rays of bright light.

Althura, Aspect of Knowledge - Notoriously Neutral. Inspires scholars and those who seek truth, no matter what it is. Appears as a woman (of varying race depending on the person looking to her for answers) wearing flowing red robes and wearing simple looking reading glasses. While she takes no sides she harbors many secrets that could be used against either side should they somehow be released. Her followers then are also neutral and wear long, flowing red robes in her honor. She controls lesser aspects that affect all equally. She answers to the Librarian. Her realm is what one would expect; a giant library filled with countless books that hold every bit of knowledge ever gained. She cannot stand the constant warring between Veiyana and Ruotha because both of them are using things she provides for their own means.

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The True Gods

Auroca (Ah-ro-ka) and Caernos (Cair-nohs) —“parental gods” --- of Space and Time respectively. Created the planet “Perzul” and put “simple life” on it, simple beings. Simple micro-organisms with very little to them but the potential to evolve into something infinitely more complex. Eventually, Auroca and Caernos created two other god-beings to help micromanage the ever more complicated developing life. But this didn’t mean that the two “parental gods” truly relinquished any control, they still had their hands in every major event in the development of their little world, and letting the two lesser god-beings (aka The Twins) run the “game” along an already predetermined path set by Caernos. Auroca and Caernos are completely unknown to everyone but the Twins, thus they aren’t worshipped by mortals.

Phemos the God of Life and Phelisia the Goddess of Death -- Twins that oversee the very balance of the world and the fate of its denizens. Seen as the "Grand Creators" and often depicted as a young girl and boy playing some chess like game involving certain major events and fates. A yin and yang sort of deal. The “battle,” despite being depicted as a literal fight to see if life or death will conquer all, is actually a natural checks and balances ordeal that keeps the Twins in existence and always equal to one another. There is always a way for one twin to make things equal when the other seems to be “winning.” There are aspects, or concepts, that “work” under the twins. They have been given form to further exercise control and maintain balance over Existence.

The Great Librarian, Neutral Observer – Not much is known about this entity. Rumor from myth and legends have it that The Librarian was once a mortal, a proto-form of one of the races that now exists on Perzul, who was chosen by Carenos and Auroca to completely the trinity with the Twins and assure perfect balance was kept while keeping a record of everything that happens. The Librarian’s very existence is supposed to assure he is nothing more than an observer that occasionally influences the balance to ensure nothing goes wrong, but he has mysteriously evolved to take on an unknown role that could redefine the very balance he was created to protect. He also watches over the flow of “Ka” that flows all around the planet, making sure it remains “pure” and cannot be utilized by either Twin to their advantage. But because he is unknown to mortals, Althura is credited with watching over the Ka-flow.

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The Elemental Planes

Fire - Mirda - An endless, barren plain of fire and brimstone. The very land is cracked with molten trenches and pits of pitch that burn hotter than anything in the realm of the living; the air is filled with black smoke that would instantly suffocate any unprepared mortal if their flesh didn’t melt first. The fire elementals swell and recede as they constantly battle one another for supremacy and the good graces of their leader Hifriti.

Air - Kani - Clear blue sky with a blazing sun. Winged predators circle the infinite skies, screeching and tearing at one another in pure chaos as their leader Nothyraeus feeds off of the ones who are considered weak. From time to time the sky darkens and fills with storms of unimaginable strength, and any caught in them unprepared are ripped to shreds by the powerful winds.

Water - Niro - Sinnlir commands this vast subaquatic cove, filled with mythical sea creatures and monsters, great cephalopods (the Kraken, most famously) that zealously guard her from everything.  The tides vary, becoming so fierce throughout some corridors, that only Sinnlir herself can traverse--no beast or creation of her own could survive these tides. In the darkest depths of the cove live strange sea creatures that have never seen the mortal realm, but from time to time one escapes and terrorizes the mortal seas. This is a constant reminder of the power of Sinnlir.

Earth - Gnarus - An endless mountain range filled with traps and pitfalls ready to engulf the unprepared. The little golems that spawn from Planeia’s massive form also prowl the crags, constantly fighting and shattering one another, only to be reformed later to start all over again. Meanwhile, Planeia himself sits unmoving and silent, forever enduring and waiting for some unknown thing to happen.

Light - Felos - A sumptuous white palace; the sun always shining on the perfectly smooth marble halls. Small globes of light dance around the area playfully, taking random forms from time to time. Great. A stable can be seen not far from the palace, containing Dura’s colts.  These horses are seemingly made of gold that can purify even the most corrupt of items or lands.  Dura’s light shines bright into every corner and from every direction--the only shadow that exists comes from Dura herself.  

Dark – Nexos - Ancient ruins sit motionless in a perpetually dark realm, lit only by dim blue flames that float in nothingness. Shapeless things stalk the fallen columns and rubble, preying on any mortal Ka-user who stumbles into the realm or on one another when no mortals are present. Lalo has been known to kidnap mortals and bring them into his realm for sport, if either for himself or the monsters that lurk the darkness. The reason that it is so difficult for Ka users to summon demons from Nexos is because long ago a barrier was put in place, though the reason for that is unknown.

[the-shattered-world]

The Afterlife, part 2

Intermediate Aspect Planes:

Alauki - The Rat's Nest - True to it’s name, The Rat’s Nest is a den of filth of the highest caliber: a run down building shrouded in perpetual half-moon light with everything covered in thin layers of choking dust. Rigged games of dice and poker going on all around, being played by hopeless souls who will never truly understand they can never win. And each time they lose, the are forced to relive a moment in time where they chose their addiction over the well being of themselves and others around them, tormented with the knowledge that they had truly failed in life. The games are run by demons twisted into horrible shapes relating to what they are dealing. The ones who are being tormented by addiction to various substances have said substances constantly pumped through their bodies in fatal doses, inflicting great pain and inflicting death upon them again and again, with the feeling of sobriety and freedom from their pain seemingly always just out of reach. The demons who inflict this torment also physically reflect their tortures. Demons summoned from this realm generally serve as terrifying debt collectors and enforcers.

Lakou - Infinite Estate - A great, white mansion with a red tiled roof, and stained glass windows. Built in the middle of an endless forest filled with uncountable amounts of game that can be hunted for the enjoyment of the blessed souls. The mansion is filled with the “finer things in life” that make up the residents’ accomplishments. Souls who make it into the Infinite Estate are finally allowed to slow down and enjoy the fruits of their labors, whether that be through extravagant activities or indulging in a few harmless vices now and again. The Infinite Estate has butlers that attend to the need of the souls, and they are the celestials that answer the call when summoned by wizards. The summoned “butler” celestials can be put to various tasks such as giving the hard working man working for an honest day’s wage the inspiration he needs to carry on and resist falling into the trap of the “easy way out.”  

Cassia - Shimmering Casino - Neon flashing lights and men and women dressed in fancy, tacky outfits serving drinks and food as never ending jackpot bells fill the air only matched by the sound of flowing coins. The Shimmering Casino is always open and ready to pay out! The souls who are fortunate enough to have garnered Cassia’s special attentions enjoy an afterlife filled with close calls, lucky strikes and just-in-time-saves that always seem to fall in their favor. Thieves who dedicated their life to Cassia’s whims, whether the reaped the benefits on a regular basis or not and still maintained their faith, enjoy an afterlife full of on the edge success. The tackily dressed attendants are the celestials that are summoned, and their duties include blessing a burglar with being able to hit that safe combination perfectly on the first try or have a cloud dance over the moon to create just the right amount of shadow at just the perfect time. But they can also be used for nefarious reasons if manipulated correctly, taking away one’s luck instead of nudging it along.

Vetea - The Black Bank - A dark, large and falling apart building filled with vaults that hold the souls of the corrupt, who are forever counting money that they know they will never have. Those who paid tribute to Vetea actively become “dark bankers,” spectres in flowing, black robes that wander the halls of the bank making sure the trapped souls stay where they belong. The fluorescent lights are always flickering and buzzing, the off-white paint is flaking off the walls and the air is filled with the foul smell of stagnant cash that has been rotting in the vaults for an eternity. Dirty money for dirty people. The devils who occupy this realm are hulking monstrosities that act as guards that take care of business the dark bankers cannot. They are also the ones summoned into the real world to act as all around violent thugs.

Gahla - House of the Shining Blade - A great, multi-story house filled with different kinds of weapons and armor that the souls who have come to rest in the House of the Shining Blade can use to perfectly hone their skills for eternity. The halls are lined with famous ancient weapons and pieces of armor, used by champions of old thought lost to the ages long ago. There are no beds and no mess hall; the honorable dead need no sustenance, only a constant honing of their skills. Most of the souls trained here eventually move on to Veiyana’s realm to do battle with Ruotha and his hordes. The celestials summoned from this realm come in the shape of great, winged and armored angels wearing shining silver armor.

Partine- Highest Court - A court house painted white with innumerable marble pillars and a statue of a giant balance sitting at the bottom of a thousands steps that lead up to a large pair of double wooden doors. Inside, the floor is covered in pearl white tiles and the walls are lined with murals that attest to Partine’s greatest “victories” in the name of justice.  Partine’s chair sits in the center of the great chamber. In front of the chair sits thousands of rows of benches where the souls who have come to the Court sit and wait to be assigned to the realm of the aspect they worshiped most. Those who either did not worship a specific aspect, only worshiped through lip service, or have had their soul condemned to certain realms for devious actions in their life, are sent to a limbo until they are picked up by the proper “punishing” realm. Great, bulky celestials wearing robes are the guardians of the Court, and it is they who are summoned via ritual. Anyone attempting to summon one with ill intent is hit with a feedback loop that can be deadly.

Burbo - Quarry of Blood and Fire - Souls writhe in pain and eternal toil in the bloody, smoking pits of endless stone that never seem to go deeper into the ground no matter how much stone the chained and whipped slaves remove. The sky is black with smoke from the rock processing factories; trenches surround the quarry filled with rotting bodies and foul waste that fill the air with a constant putrid, oppressive smell that damages the slaves’ morale as much as the demonic slave drivers. Burbo stands on a great spire in the center of the quarry where he can see everything and everyone. Those who worshipped him in life and were successful are turned into the demonic slave drivers,these are the ones who are summoned from the plane via magic. Those who failed him are turned into slaves themselves.

Tjiermalles - Bastion of Freedom - Miles of endless meadows filled with tents of every size and shape. Scattered throughout the encampments, various types of livestock or crops are tended.  But one can never seem to find the “edges” of the camp. Tjiermalles resides in a leather A-Frame tent in what’s considered the center of the camp, the broken shackles that once bound him rest beside the tent.  Those who were once damned to servitude in life, dying before being freed, rest in the encampment with Tjiermalles. Spirits resembling large men and women wearing torn clothes and rags are the guardians of this place, and it is they who are summoned from it. They wield “procured” weapons that represent particularly nasty slavers that have been served Tjiermalles’ particular brand of justice.

Sellon - Camp Hatred - In a realm of perpetual torrential thunderstorms, spiked battlements and iron and steel walls surround a primitive military camp. The camp is located on a solitary piece of land surrounded by a bottomless trench filled with a mixture of blood, water and waste. Magical fires burn piles of bodies which are constantly being added to and subtracted from, the older bodies being tossed into the fissure. These are the corpses of those fallen to oaths of vengeance. While it is mainly orcs that inhabit this plane, other races appear as well in fewer number. Giant, tusked orcs bulging horrendously with muscles are the guardians of this place as Sollens sits upon an iron throne surrounded by his priests and various kinds of bloodied weapons.

Helena - Palace of Gold - An elaborate palace plated in gold, a giant bell adorning the apex.  Priests in white-hooded robes circle the palace, pacing slowly around the dimly glowing hallways.  Helena herself sits atop the palace, just below the bell.  For every instance of true love proclaimed in her name, the bell is rung.  Those summoned from this realm take the form of the hooded priests, wielding great staves.  A golden trinket wrapped around their wrist, with a tiny bell identical to the Golden Bell, these celestials are summoned to bring the summoner luck in love--only those with pure intentions earn their favor.  

Abaddon - Withering Bog - A fetid landscape filled with dead trees and murky water and populated with mutants of all kinds - animals, humanoids and “beyond.” Bloated corpses idly drift through the waters, giving birth to constant streams of insects. A continual acid rain washes over everything, leaving scars over what it doesn’t outright kill. Those who kill with poison and disease are prone to end up in this realm, tormented forever if they had not shown proper respect to the trollish Abaddon, who stalks the bog beneath the deceptively shallow waters, in life. The mutated and plague addled beasts of the bog are the spirits summoned through Ka, taking so many different forms it is impossible to document them all.

Mavena - Salvation Garden - A wooden dome frame covers the grassy pathway the Gardeners of this plane travel across.  Medicinal herbs, plants, and various species of vines grow from the frame.  The hills of the Garden offer respite for weary Gardeners, with sturdy benches every so often along the trail. The inclines are steep, however, indicative of the nature of medicine itself.  The bespectacled Mavena tends tirelessly to each plant in her Garden, and only the most dedicated to the practice are allowed to aid in her task.  Various regions throughout the Garden represent the different regions throughout Perzul.  While no guardians can actually be summoned from this plane, praying for their tender touch upon herbal gardens, and the hands of physicians alike can impart their blessing for those deemed worthy.

Plectus - Floating Observatory - A vast library located on top of a cloud that floats slowly through clear and sunny skies with the only access being a staircase that’s broken at the bottom and leads down into the nothingness. The interior is laden with gold, the walls are painted with images of accomplished philosophers and shelf after shelf of books reach high up to the domed ceiling where Plectus sits at a massive desk, with a giant telescope hanging over his head that he can look through to gaze into not only the realm of mortals, but the realms of his fellow Aspects.   In the center of the observatory is a large area designated for debate, rows and rows of bleachers surround an open floor where spirits of Plectus’ faithful engage in battles of words. Rumor has it that Plectus keeps watch over the documents of the Librarian himself, keeping them away from the prying eyes of any who might try to take advantage of the infinite knowledge for their own purposes.

Ivin - The Great Workshop - Deep underground a vast network of rooms and workshops make up Ivin’s Great Workshop, where all kinds of devices and weapons are invented constantly, though many are never seen outside of the shop. Great bellows spew smoke and fire, anvils spit great sparks and gears grind loudly. Each room is fully equipped with all the tools any aspiring inventor and blacksmith could ever imagine, and each faithful soul gets their own room, meaning the workshop is constantly expanding and forever churning with new ideas. Guardians of the realm are not summoned directly by Ka-users, but their blessings are bestowed upon creators looking to make something that could end up being useful to mortals. Being Neutral, Ivin does not police what his blessings are used for. Ivin’s personal workshop is a thing of wonder--it’s almost as large as any powerful king’s castle and is filled with tools that have yet to be introduced into the mortal realm.

Serae - Silent Forest - A hazy, overgrown forest with a single sprawling meadow in the center. Wildlife thrives in the forest, with virtually no predatory threats, no tension exists between any residing within these mossy trees.  Serae herself lives in the meadow, enjoying the pastoral symphony of birds singing in the distance.  Those who find themselves in this realm in the afterlife are required to have led peaceful, temperate lives.  When these residents are summoned to Perzul, they appear in the form of a cloaked elven djinn, possessing the ability to calm any soul.  

Marcout - The Eternal Battlefields - Black skies over a burned and scarred field littered with corpses and charred remains of warmachines. Marcout rages across the battlefield for all eternity, slaying and reveling in blood. There is no rest on the Eternal Battlefield, and those who find themselves there have no use for it in the first place. It is extremely rare for a soul who did not already pledge itself to Marcout to end up in the Battlefields. His followers, usually mercenaries and genocidal war criminals, follow his lead and take part in his glory---fighting either with or against him. But no matter what, the slain and maimed are always remade whole to be allowed to return to the fray at a moment’s notice. Great demons made of metal and bone act as guardians and most Summoners find them extremely difficult to control without extensive preparation.

Livion - The Highest Haven - Surrounded by a meadow with thriving wildflowers, Livion’s Haven sets up top on the towering mountain.  The wooden lamasery in which Livion and her monks pray and train has been painted a bright, vibrant shade of red. the symbol of Livion emblazoned across the entire roof.  The trails one must travel to arrive at the Highest Haven are menacing, containing the Pacifist’s Trials the Monks who reside here routinely must complete.  When one passes from the mortal plane, one must have lived a life of striving for true peace.  The celestial monks summoned from the Highest Haven will only respond to defend those with pure, peaceful intentions.

Klintous - The Heart of Compromise - The monastery on the mortal plane is modeled after the mythical home of Klintous. A multistory brick and mortar mansion sits on an island in the middle of an enormous river (which is split in two by the island). The followers of Klintous reside in this mansion, living a life of peace and luxury afforded to them by their diplomatic skills. This realm’s guardians are rarely summoned and even then the situation must be dire, but when invoked by amateurs (see: not officially trained monks) they are known to soothe volatile tempers during negotiations. However, when invoked and one party is found to not truly be willing to compromise, the ritual fails in a very obvious manner. This situation has been known to worsen conflicts.

Gaan - Endless Road - The Endless Road is a forever winding cobblestone road surrounded by various topographical features.  Signs line the road, all contain Halfling gibberish, as none lead to any actual location.  All roads lead to the same end--more cobblestone.  Small buildings scarcely occur along the Road, providing sanctuary to those guardians who wander.  Time slows to a crawl on the Road, with no end ever in sight.  Those who travel the Road, however, never seem concerned.  Upon death, only those who have dedicated their lives to travel and/or the purpose of discovery find themselves on the road, waiting to be summoned.  Upon being summoned, they travel through Ka to aid travellers on Perzul with finding their destination safely.  

Vinnchio - The Muse’s Atelier - Vinnchio’s private workshop for his devoted followers to continue to create in after their life ends. Everything and anything a sculptor, painter or writer could ever want can be found here, and a soul’s creative spark is strengthened a thousand fold. The studio itself is a large, open area with windows lining the ceiling. The sun never seems to go down, leaving the room bring with natural light. Vinnchio patrols the floor, offering critique and advice to his followers to help them continue to develop their craft. There are no guardian spirits to be summoned from this realm, but Vinnchio’s name and power can be invoked by an artist to help find their muse.

Exod - Dark Vault of Endless Wealth - A dilapidated bank, its iron walls rusty and decayed.  In the distance, inhabitants of this Plane can see a magnificent vault teeming with treasures untold, ripe for the picking.  However, as the damned souls make their way towards the Vault through a complicated labyrinth, they are tormented by the souls of the those they cheated.  No matter how close they may get to the treasure, Exod--in his throne atop piles of limitless gold and silver, takes pride in observing their torment, making sure that all souls are making their way to the Vault.  Those who slack, fall behind, or simply give up, are tortured endlessly until they continue their quest.  The guardians who serve under Exod perform the Aspect’s bidding.  When mortals attempt to summon Cassian guardians with corrupt intentions in their hearts, Exod’s minions appear instead--unbeknownst to the summoner, cursing their Ka-tricks.  The attendants of Exod look very similar to those of Cassia; instead, their eyes are black and empty, requiring a trained eye to recognize.

Teroqi - House of Endless Repast - This longhouse exists in a realm of perpetual dusk and is filled from one end to the other with piles of ever-replenishing food and drink, with entertainers playing music and singing. There always seems to be just enough room to fit everyone in. Due to Teroqi’s nature, as in not having any real dedicated church or following, those who showed great charity in life are allowed to visit Teroqi’s realm as they wish.

Neru - S.S. Constellation and the Galactic Armada - Neru’s caravel, the S.S. Constellation, leads the colossal armada on the Eternal Sea.  Her small ship is nimble, as if the wind is always in her favor.  Sailors and pirates alike that have dedicated their lives to the sea find themselves aboard their very own boat in the Galactic Armada.  Those who had lived with respect for the seas receive their own ship--those who would pollute the sea’s beauty find themselves damned to a state of perpetual drowning for all eternity.  

Lepyi, Loj and Lao - House of Cycling Seasons - A house made of paper and wood sits raised on wooden stilts just above the still surface of a clear blue lake. Trees of all kinds sprout from the water and exist in various states associated with the different seasons. There are no animals or fish in this realm, adding to the surreal stillness. No mortal souls reside in the House, and a hub to the elemental planes can be accessed here. There are three rooms--one for each resident--and one large common area where the three meet regularly.

Minor Aspects do not have realms of their own despite having groups of followers as they exist as servants to Intermediate Aspects.

[the-shattered-world]

The Afterlife, part 1

When a mortal dies and their soul is whisked away to the afterlife, they end up either in the realm of the aspect they actively worshipped or the realm of an aspect that matches the way they lived their lives. Each realm is also populated by specifics types of demons / devils / celestials that powerful wizards can summon and bind into duty (although the practice is more common with demons and devils as they are vastly more willing to do dirty work).

Example: A thief who regularly prays to Cassia for luck, and is good at their job, will be allowed into her realm when they die. But a gambler who may regularly ask Cassia for luck but cheats their opponents whenever they can might end up in the realm of Exod and tormented for all eternity.

Major Aspect Planes:

Ruotha – Lutan, aka The Plaguelands - A forever burning land of death and decay; constantly rains meteors and brimstone as the earth splits open from time to time and vomits fire and brimstone high into the air. Ruotha’s undead minions (made up mostly of worshippers, but includes a few stolen souls) constantly fight with one another, killing and maiming, but always end up renewed in the end. Horrible undead constructs can be summoned from this realm and are semi-difficult to control.

Veiyana – Murland, aka Mirror Castle - A great castle sitting on a hill overlooking green and golden fields and a great lake with an always still surface that perfectly reflects everything around it, including the ever shining, pleasantly warm sun. Veiyana’s faithful, like Ruotha’s, always spar with one another in fierce combat being renewed when wounded grievously. But her army is made up of heavily armored souls and great winged celestials that fight against evil tirelessly and endlessly. While the rituals to summon and bind celestials is much more complicated than any to summon a demon or devil, the celestials require no shackles and will swiftly and honestly complete their assigned tasks with sharp efficiency.

Althura – Leirit, aka the Great Library - A great grey stone building that lacks decoration completely on the outside and reaches up past the clouds with endless spires. The inside is another story: great banners of present and forgotten kingdoms and armies line the walls, lit perfectly with brightly burning torches. There are levels and levels of bookshelves filled with every document ever written, even personal letters and  uncompleted works and shreds of notes and blurbs. Althura’s followers and celestials are peaceful beings that only exist to study and watch over the Great Library. Rituals exist to summon beings from the Great Library, but all of them exist only for the purpose of recovering long thought lost information or learning things that the summoner could not possibly know (see: enemy battle plans, city defenses), though asking for the latter requires very specific, special rituals that summoners often don’t find worth the trouble.

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The Alcidia

Alcidians are mortals that have been specially selected by an Aspect to represent their portfolio. These mortals are turned into demigods and work as representatives on the mortal plane. They become ageless, but not immortal, and are blessed with powers (magical and otherwise) that put them on a tier above regular mortals.  Their existence is rare, especially after The Rift formed.  Legend has that many Alcidians of old were tossed into the Rift, as it was easier than completing the Framing.  The first of its kind to be selected was Alcides, selected by Partine, the Aspect of Justice. Alcidians were created for the sole purpose of fighting the Cyclopethians as a last resort.  

There is one way to dispel these powers bestowed upon these ageless beings: through a series of complicated rituals (known as Framing), a weapon can be forged and blessed by a priest/monk/cleric of the opposing Aspect to cut through the Alcidian’s “divine blessings” and make them completely mortal again and thus vulnerable. Alcidians belonging to Neutral Aspects can be weakened with weapons blessed with either Good or Evil essence, making them more vulnerable and thus less likely to be encountered (though in reality, Alcidia of all kinds are hard to find).

Alcidians who manage to escape death after having their powers banished become known as Unbound, they lose their agelessness and many of their Aspect-like powers, but they remain a powerful force to be reckoned with.

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Magic System

The Nihil (or the “Flow”)

Throughout most of the universe exists an energy, permeating through all things in its path, living or inanimate.  This energy is known by the Parental Gods by its true name, the Nihil.  It is through this “life-stream” that deities communicate, travel, and perform their miracles.  It is through this Flow that allows life to be created.  Throughout the universe, in between the various planes of existence in which deities reside, exist wrinkles in the fabric of the Flow, creating a high concentration of energy known as Ka.  When enough Ka exists in one spot, and a planetary body is present as well, the deities can create life.  

However, the Nihil does not cover the entire universe.  There are vast swatches of emptiness, known as Umbra, in which the Aspects have no control or knowledge over, but those of the same species as the Parental Gods and their Children do know, but are forbidden to interact with. It is in these empty shadows the Cyclopeathians would later emerge.   

The Ka (Magic) System of Perzul

Ka is the energy from the Flow mortals harness whether through Gods’ Ore for machinery, or through Weaving.  Everything living and inanimate (and in some cases even undead) thing contains some amount of Ka that can be manipulated to varying degrees using either specialized technology or learned skills that can take decades to master.

A person that can use Ka -- wizards, sorcerers, clerics and bards for example -- does so by literally reaching into the flow with their subconscious and plucking out small bits to manipulate into spells. The more complicated the spell the more mental power the caster has to use. When a caster has used "too much" of their stamina for spell casting they become extremely fatigued.  This fatigue can be countered with specially manufactured food and drink (not the kind that can be conjured up with spells) that have been infused with Ka-energy beforehand. This specialty line of goods is a recent development. Until a few decades ago, spell casters had to deal with the fatigue by simply resting. Though the energy food / drinks only do so much, those who rigorously cast spells will eventually need sleep.

The most difficult type of magic to use is Necromancy as it requires large amounts of Ka energy to be focused and formed into a "life spark" that is then forced into a dead body to bring it back to life. The process of resurrecting someone who has recently died is even more difficult as the caster is attempting to not only force a life spark into a dead body but also recall a specific spirit from the Afterlife. But Necromancy also includes summoning just raw spirits and undead minions that can be made out of simple things like body parts or just plain flesh sewn together into shapes.

Every person can learn to use Ka in such a way to cast spells. Some are just born with the natural ability (like elves) while others can master it by dedicating many years to learning (like dwarves, who are normally seen as being magically stunted).  

At this point in time it is very rare for a new spell to be introduced into the world. It's still a mystery how most of the universal spells that have already been perfected first came into existence. The techniques involving them have been passed down in the various schools of learning for so long that the origins have become obscured in the mists of time (and thanks to the fact that there are no records of history beyond the beginning of the 3rd Era).

A caster that overreaches their boundaries runs the risk of becoming Stream-Burned, which means they lose their connection with the Ka Flow. This “affliction” can last anywhere from a few days to the rest of the caster’s life. There are experimental ways to deal with Stream-Burn, but the more severe the Stream-Burn, the more expensive the procedure. Procedures can range from surgery to a series of special potions.

[the-shattered-world]

The Laerteric Order

The Laerteric Order was the band of soldiers blessed by the Gods with Rites, supernatural abilities given to the best of the uncorrupted races of Perzul in order to combat Gigeran.  Human, Dwarf, Elf, Gnome, Cygni, Giant, Orc, and Halfling all came together under the Order and were the sole warriors destined to fight Gigeran in the Black Citadel.

Laertes, a battle tested Gnome who had long led the Gnomish forces, was the first to receiving the Rites blessing.  The blessing augmented his intellect and overall cognitive ability.  Laertes’ newfound power allowed him to led the Order with utmost precision, devising the plan with his twin brother Aeson to defeat Gigeran.

Laertes knew that ultimately, the 13 members of the Order, would not survive the battle.  Laertes and Aeson figured out the plan the Gods had in put in place--they knew Gigeran was otherworldly, and to actually kill their opponent would be impossible.  The brothers knew they had to at the very least incapacitate Gigeran, and whatever prison lie in wait for the beast, they presumed they would very likely end up sharing its chamber for eternity.  They had hoped to use powerful Ka-binding spells to trap Gigeran in the Citadel for all eternity.

The plan was to infiltrate the Black Citadel and topple it from the inside, since it was unknown at the time if Gigeran, or any Cyclopethian, could actually be killed. They would trap the monster inside the Citadel using powerful binding magic, willing to sacrifice themselves to keep the Ka-bindings in place should that be necessary.

The plan would begin with the remaining, combined forces of the resistance conducting an all out siege on the Citadel in an attempt to draw out the bulk of Gigeran’s forces. The pitched battle would allow the Order to sneak into the Citadel via a system of underground tunnels dug by Dvargi engineers that connected with the strange sewer system of the Citadel.

From there, the Order would face the diminished, but still elite, remnants of the Cyclopethian forces. With them were distinguished veterans from the Secundo Venire Alliance, powerful warriors and Weavers alike, but the plan only called for the Order to make it to the end, the others would need to sacrifice themselves. There were plenty of volunteers, but it fell to Laertes and Aeson to pick specific individuals.

With the plans finalized, Laertes had the battalions gathered, and set to march on the Citadel.   As the main force marched towards the Black Citadel’s gates, the Order, with their Special Forces and the Dvargi tunneling specialists, moved elsewhere to start digging.  The forces at the Citadel’s gates suffered heavy casualties, the saving grace of an Alcidian itself helping maintain position.  

The Laerteric Order tunneled into the Black Citadel sewers relatively quickly, thanks to special drilling machines designed specifically for that job, but the maze of sewer pipe and walkways proved more difficult to navigate than anticipated.  Various Cyclopethian-controlled Archytas patrolled the sewers buried deep beneath the Citadel.   Many of the Special Forces brought alongside the Order lost their lives in the sewer.  Using their individual Rites, the Order was able to break through the guard, and into the courtyard where Gigeran itself was waiting, unexpectedly.  

The creature standing before the Order and the remnants of the Special Forces was far more gargantuan than anyone could have imagined, it was so big in fact that it looked to have very little room to move even in the vast, empty courtyard. How it got there in the first place was anyone's guess. Towering nearly a hundred feet, it stood on a massive system of twisted, black legs with feet ending in talons that looked similar to those of a vulture. Even more arms, uncountable in number, were being used to support the monster’s massive size, spread around like a system of webs with claws that looked disturbingly like human hands dug into the otherworldly stone that made up the Citadel itself. Its bulbous head was impossibly large as well, with no sign of a neck beneath what can only be described as a singular thick column of muscle that reached from its chest to the bottom of its face, with visibly glowing and pulsating veins running up and down. It’s face was made up of a mouth that stretched up in the corners like a crescent moon, reaching almost to the top of the skull. It sported unsettlingly white fangs that shimmered in the moonlight that shone through the open ceiling. Then there were the eyes, thousands of them of all different shapes and sizes, some bloodshot and others just black pools of nothingness, each seeming to look in a different direction and quivering in their sockets.

The mere sight of the monstrosity that was Gigeran drove the remaining Special Forces over the brink of madness and into the bottomless pit that is utter, unabashed insanity. Those that did not kill themselves immediately, killed one another or attacked the Order in an unstoppable blood-frenzy. It was only by the grace of the Rites granted unto them by the Aspects that the members of the Order were saved from the madness that claimed their allies. What it did not save them from was the utter despair and feelings of helplessness they experienced over having to fight the screaming husks that were once their friends.

After putting down the remnants of the Special Forces, the Order invoked their Rites and begin what is to be the final battle of the Pantheonic War. The battle lasted many hours, and almost completely in a psychic realm unseen by the normal eye. It was not something the Order had anticipated, but was adequately equipped for.

With Gigeran downed, the Laerteric Order weaved into the Flow one more time to incapacitate Gigeran.  All 13 members of the Order tapped into the Flow, and the Citadel began to shake.  Unbeknownst to the Order, the Librarian began summoning the Rift, the cataclysm that would sink the continent, killing all life and trapping the immortal Gigeran for eternity.  The Ka that held the the Order together mixed with that of Gigeran, and the Rift, split the planet literally in two, destroying the continent that held the Black Citadel. Another continent was swallowed by the sheer size of the Rift, trapping every living thing on it in the same stasis-like state as Gigeran and the Order.

Two continents were spared the fate of the others, but both were changed in shape and scarred. These came to be known as Zeratul and Perzot. The very top of the Black Citadels central, and tallest, spire can be seen sticking up from the Rift like a dark monument to terrible times, and it is guarded by dragons who were tasked by the Librarian to make sure no one from the surviving continents could ever find out what happened. This ensured that the horrors of those times were forgotten, allowing the wounded world to move forward.

Many centuries after the heroic sacrifice of the Laerteric Order, the Rites would once answer the call.  Laertes and his brother Aeson postulated correctly the plan to imprison Gigeran, what they didn’t learn was it would be their essence, their Ka, that would act as its eternal gatekeeper.   The bodies of the Order remain mummified in their places, as totems whose Ka forms the bonds that hold Gigeran in eternal slumber.  

As the Ka of Gigeran seeped through the weakening walls of the Citadel and the Rift, so too did that of the Laerteric Order, instinctively seeking out their bloodlines, to those destined to keep Gigeran imprisoned.  Should the bodies of all the Members be disturbed or destroyed, the bond holding Gigeran shall break.

[the-shattered-world]

Our maps have gone through a *LOT* of changes. The top one is a version of the very first. My ‘side’ of the planet being on the right, my brother’s on the left. Two distinct areas known as Perzot and Zeratul (mine). 

The 2nd picture is what Zeratul looks like now, and the 3rd is Perzot. These were created by my brother using the “water drop” method, where he dampened his hand and splashed water on pieces of paper, then traced the stains. Interesting technique. 

Zeratul being one continent, the people that inhabit it have made leaps and bounds in technology that involves long distance land travel---IE: robotic horses, elemental-powered carriages. That kind of thing.

Meanwhile, Perzot being highly fragmented like it is, they have excelled in naval technology. And a lot of the language revolves around nautical terms and themes. 

[the-shattered-world]

More early character concept art, these done by another longtime friend @harbingerloki !