- Invitation Status
- Posting Speed
- Multiple posts per day
- 1-3 posts per day
- One post per day
- Writing Levels
- Adept
- Advanced
- Adaptable
- Preferred Character Gender
- Male
- Female
- Primarily Prefer Female
- Genres
- Fantasy, Anime, Slice of Life, Fandom, High fantasy, Dark Fantasy, Vampires, Magical, DnD
Prologue
"I watched the years go by. And you, my son. You've grown into the very image our people would look on with pride and reverence. A fine Kul'ai you make. Even from this distance I see the muscle taut under those shoddy clothes the humans dress you in. Remember you carry the blood of our family, you are a descendant of the longest line of Guardians, a swordsman beyond mortal comprehension. Hone it well. One day, when the tides shift, I will come for you. We will restore the former glory of our beautiful homeland, so that you too might see the breathtaking magic that shaped our society. Let it be so, O Az'shanna, let it be so..." - A heartfelt prayer from father to son.
From every building in the municipality of Erilacia hung streamers of rich blue, floating lazily in the gentle breeze. Across the town, lanterns were being set up early to be ready to illuminate the night's festivities with a warm golden glow. It was around this time of the year that travelers flocked from far and wide to partake in the Moon Festival. Even the elusive Mao and Riyu can be seen walking the streets, the long journey north all to pay homage to the reverent moon and it's deities.
Already merchants and wandering troupes set up their stalls, the din of chatter pockmarked with shouts of discounts and cries of amusement. Fresh baked goods wafted tantalizing smells through the streets. Small games of dice rolling and Dragon's Tail were being played inside of taverns, many participants already deep into their cups despite the sun yet reaching it's zenith. All throughout the city spirits were merry, not a single person paying mind to the heavy clouds obscuring the mountains to the northeast.
This is where the story shall start. On one fateful night, blessed by the gods.
The World of Illythis
A wonder to behold, Illythis is a planet vast in culture and life. A planet with a history both deep and complex, stories of deeds both good and bad have been retold through the eons. A simple paragraph could not do the world justice, but for our purpose a brief synopsis will suffice.
150 years ago mark the downfall of the Shen'mei, the powerful elven race usurped of their magic and thus overpowered by their Ren and Grackthi neighbors, enslavement and poverty plaguing the elves and sending those who escaped into reclusion. The event responsible for this is known as The Banishment, a large-scale ritual preventing the material plane from drawing from the magical plane. The Ren were responsible for this, believing their fear was justified after another catastrophic event, the Implosion.
The Implosion took place in the southwest, a magical experiment gone wrong by a small group of Hala'nai, causing a wave of unstable magical anomalies to devastate the land, turning forests into desert and savannah. Most concerning, however, was the effect it had on the few locals. The magic ripped through the bodies of several villagers, killing them utterly. For others, they befell a worse fate. The wildcat population was mutated by the chaotic magical energies, growing humanoid limbs and shedding most of their fur. This new race of cat-folk were vicious, their newfound intelligence granting them the ability to strategize and eliminate the Ren who have hunted them and invaded their territory.
Using this incident as fuel, for the first time in history Ren and Grackthi forced allied under the common cause of putting an end to magic. Ren, with their swiftly developing technology, devised a way to get the job done, defended by the Grackthi while they worked. The Grackthi in return lavished at the though of the Shen'mei falling, in addition to the strange mechanical offerings the Ren gave them. Upon completion, the Banishment had one big unforeseen consequence.
The Riyu, the draconic race living in the volcanic mountain chains of the south, fed off of magic energy, one of their sources of life. The sudden absence of magic drove many Riyu insane, forcing their brethren to restrain and kill their own people. Without magic, several Riyu lost their draconian appearance, scales turning into soft flesh and wings withering away. After the initial chaos, the Riyu turned their enraged gaze outward, to seek out the source of this genocide. Upon discovery, the remaining Riyu struck out in white hot fury, killing the last of the Ren technicians who constructed the Seal. With no way of reversing the programming, they futilely reached out to other wary Ren communities, seeking an end to the Banishment. Realizing too late their mistake, the Riyu retreated back to their homeland to rebuild what was lost.
The world stands now as tensions rise amidst the ever increasing threat of the Grackthi Empire, long since abandoning any form of alliance between the Ren. Small Shen'mei groups have been gathering in the ruins of their cities, plotting. The Mao seem territorial as ever, yet a strange respect has formed between them and their neighbors in the skies, some Riyu walking freely in Mao lands. Despite the attack long ago, the Riyu are generally regarded by Ren in a hesitantly friend manner.
Regions
Playable Races
- Ren (Human)
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Ren (Human): Of moderate stature, Ren are a short lived and ambitious race consisting of several different genetic variances such as varying eye shapes and skin tones. Ren are one of the most expansive races, distinguishable from other Illythian due to their round ears and unique eyes, their irises small enough to reveal the white in the corners of their inquisitive gaze.
Life Span: 70-100 years
Height: 5'0"-6'3"
Eye: Ranging from shades of blue, purple, grey, green, and brown.
Hair: Regional hairstyles, consisting of brown, silver, blonde, and red colors.
Skin: Regional variance, from light peach tones to dark ebony.
Religion: TBD
Region: Ren live throughout the entire realm.
Speciality: Engineering, Naval Trade, Gunmanship, and Strategy
- Shen'mei (Elf)
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Shen'mei (Elf): "Spirits of Beauty". One of the eldest races, the Shen'mei cultivated Illythis into a verdant world of magical energy and flourishing nature. As their name suggests, Shen'mei are regarded to be beautiful, with shimmering, pupilless eyes and delicate features including sharply elongated ears. In ancient times, Shen'mei were power magi, with an astute connection to their deities. Now, since the banishment of magic, the majority of Shen'mei have been enslaved, or live in reclusive communities. Shen'mei fall into two separate groups: Kul'ai and Hala'nai.
Kul'ai
"Beings of Harmony", the ancient Kul'ai took upon the burden of nurturing the young world's flora, believing this was their divine purpose set out by the Shen'ai. Society followed stringent codes and teachings, valuing slow progression and intimate understanding over quick development. The main roles of Kul'ai mages were to develop and understand the nature around them. The swordsmen took to defending sacred sites and protecting nature.
Life Span: 300-400 years
Height: 5'3"-7'1"
Eye: Pupilless, varying shades of silver, gold, pale blue, or pale green.
Hair: Usually long or intricately placed, Kul'ai have blonde, brown, or silver hair.
Skin: Pale, with light pink undertones. Some have tanned depending on the region.
Religion: Worship involves the first three deities of the Shen'ai: Az'shanna, Ely'sola'na, and Inu'drasi.
Region: TBD
Speciality: Magic, Botany, Fine Crafts (such as elaborate armor and weaponry, tailoring, etc.), and Swordsmanship
Hala'nai
"Beings of Destiny", like the Kul'ai these Shen'mei also developed their culture around a divine calling. Innately attuned to the magic of Illythis, the Hala'nai were quick to study and master the arcane arts, building breathtaking cities and recording eons of astronomical movements. Highly superstitious, the Hala'nai became a very secretive and reclusive people, fearful of what might happen if the knowledge they amassed would fall into the wrong hands. Living in hard to access places such as marshes or mountains, the Hala'nai preferred to reach out to their cousins through their animal companions or magic instead of appearing in person.
Life Span: 300-450 years
Height: 5'2"-6'10"
Eye: Pupilless, varying shades of silver, gold, light purple, or pale blue.
Hair: Both short and long, oft braided. Silver, dark reds, purples, blues and blacks.
Skin: Pale and flecked with gold or silver, their skin ranges from light grey to greyish-blues, and medium greys.
Religion: Worship involves the last three deities of the Shen'ai: Inu'drasi, Ona'halah, and Una'anore.
Region: TBD
Speciality: Magic, Astronomy, Animal Handling, and Inscription.
- Mao (Cat-folk)
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Mao (Catfolk): Predators of the night, Mao society developed quickly after The Implosion, gifting them with cat-like reflexes and ferocity. Vastly nomadic, Mao tribes are led by a matriarch, the fighting prowess of the females valued more than the slower and heavier males. Their pointed ears gift them with astounding hearing, their tails aiding balance. Because Mao society is very harsh, many young tribes folk are exiled if their performance is not considered sufficient. Such things could slow down and leave a tribe prone. The exiled "catfolk" tend to travel the world, and are generally accepted by most societies.
Life Span: 100-200 years
Height: 4'10"-5'11"
Eye: Slitted, eyes tend to be multicolored. Yellow to green, green to blue, orange to silver, etc.
Hair: Having furry ears and tails, Mao hair ranges from light yellows and pinks to dark browns, reds, and blacks. Their ear and tail fur matches their hair color.
Skin: Ranging from pale to tan, Mao skin tends to have a yellow undertone.
Religion: The Twin Moons Hei and Kai.
Region: TBD
Speciality: Hand-to-hand combat, Spying, Navigation, and Hunting - Riyu (Draconic)
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Riyu (Draconic): A rapidly devolving race. Living amongst dragons, flying over the torrid and volcanic lands they call home, Riyu were once dignified and extremely powerful dragonblood, more resembling the majestic creatures than the softer races. The Banishment's impact on the Riyu was devastating. Being creatures bred with magic coursing through their veins, the sudden tear between the magic plane and the material plane wracked their bodies with excruciating pain. The magic was siphoned from their bodies, killing many. Insanity and bestial rage clouded several more, forcing the remaining Riyu to purge their home of their own kind. Bearing an extreme hate towards the Ren responsible for this massacre, there is no doubt that, if they weren't so sapped of their strength, hostilities would manifest full-scale war.
Life Span: 200-300 years
Height: 5'7"-8'9" (Less devolved Riyu possess wings)
Eye: Reptillian, yellows, oranges, reds, or pure blacks.
Hair: Varied. Less devolved Riyu have no hair, but scales. More devolved Riyu typically grow obsidian black hair.
Skin: Varied. Usually strikingly red, black, or green. The most devolved Riyu might have patches of color, otherwise their skin tone is reminiscent of Ren or Shen'mei.
Religion: TBD
Region: The Wastelands
Speciality: Fire/Magic, Flight, Dragoncrafted Armor, Dragonbreeding - Grackthi (Orc)
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Grackthi (Orc): Wardrums echo at the heart of every Grackthi settlement. Fighting pits litter the streets, sinewy champions of pure muscle shattering the bones of their weaker tusked brethren with no remorse. Such is the way of the Grackthi. Build to withstand jagged mountains and deathly cold, Grackthi warriors are feared throughout the realm. Unwavering followers of Grackth, this hostile race was said to have been shunned by the rest of the deities, having their magical aptitude entirely taken away from them, and consequently reducing their intelligence as a species over the eons. Spiteful for being cast out, Grackthi began to perfect the warlike discipline of Grackt, rarely interacting with any of the other races in a circumstance that does not involve bloodshed.
Lifespan: 80-120 years
Height: 6'1"-7'5"
Eye: Pupilless, ranging from various hues of red and orange.
Hair: Coarse, dark brown or jet black.
Skin: Regional, leathery, shades of grey, brown, and rarely some variances of reddish brown or grayish green.
Religion: Grackth
Region: TBD
Speciality: Axemanship, Survival, Intimidation, and Mining. - Jekrogothi (Troll)
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Jekrogothi (Troll): Said to be the ancestors of the Grackthi, Jekrogothi are more lithe than their stocky cousins, with smaller bones and slightly less coarse features. One of the least populated races, Jekrogothi are believed to possess a high intellect and magical affinity. Jekrogothi worship Jekrogoth, appointing sages to speak directly with this deity. Rumors of blood sacrifice are well known throughout the realm, however the rare encounter with a Jekrogothi, unlike their warlike brethren, typically do not incur violence. Being very territorial, they will quickly capture or eliminate trespassers.
Lifespan: 150-250 years
Height: 5'11"-7'0"
Eye: Pupilless, typically a murky grey or black.
Hair: Slightly coarse, usually dark brown, grey, black, or dark shades of grey-green.
Skin: Leathery, shades of grey, grey-green, and seldom blue.
Religion: Jekrogoth
Region: TBD
Specialty: Shamanism, Alchemy, Spiritspeech (communing with the dead), Collectors - Half-Breeds
Religion
A world rich in culture, the inhabitants of Illythis birthed several disciplehoods and orders dedicated to the 21 recognized deities of the realm. From the worship of gods and goddesses blossomed cities of unmatched beauty and prowess. From the iron will of these entities wars ensued, creating the endless cycles of the ages. Prophets delve into the starry abyss where the gods reside, relaying their findings to the denizens of their homes. The words of the gods shape the world.
Az'shanna: The First Shen'ai of Shen'mei religion. Goddess of the Sun, she is portrayed as a lithe elf with the colors of the sunset in her long hair and eyes. Az'shanna is the Goddess of swordsman and defenders, Shen'mei believing that just as her eternal warmth gives energy to the forest, her eternal spirit guides those who wish to protect the land.
Bermonthe: Ren Goddess of the Homestead. She is portrayed with a maternal visage, often riding or surrounded by a herd of wild horses. She is worshipped for swift and safe travel, healthy husbandry, and childbirth.
Deillah: Ren Goddess of the Seas. Portrayed as a vicious and dangerously beautiful mermaid, legends speak of a brave human captain aboard his rugged vessel courting her, thus forever binding the wild seas to the will of the Ren. Ren believe in ancient times, the see was unable to be traversed until this point.
Ely'sola'na: The Second Shen'ai of Shen'mei religion. She is the Goddess of the Forests. Often depicted as a green skinned elf with leaves and blossoms for hair. She is believed to be able to bestow life into all things, withered or dead. Botanists and forest dwelling Shen'mei often view her as their main deity.
Ethe: The Ren God of Creation. Portrayed as an animated giant made of tempered stone and earth, Ren believe Ethe had once existed in the mortal world through artificial creation. Architects and scientists believe Ethe can be restored to the world, and seek ways to increase their knowledge in their respected fields to expound upon this idea.
Grackth: The Defiler. The God of Never-ending War and Flame. The Reclaimer. Grackth is the twin brother of Jekrogoth, depicted as a two headed orc-like being with spikes protruding from his back, and flames seeping from battle wounds. Legend has it that Grackth was ever envious of the Shen'ai whom ruled over the lush lands and rich mountains of the Shen'mei lands, lands than once mirrored his own. However, his greed and lust for power siphoned the growth from the land, leaving little to salvage. After the discovery of the magical potency of gemstones, Grackth sought to overpower the Shen'ai. Taken unawares, the Shen'ai did their best to protect the land, but it was Inu'drasi who sacrificed himself in a daring move, ending the invasion. Grackth's soul was shattered, and his Grackthi lost all ability to tap into magic.
Hei: Mao Goddess of the Twilight Sky. Depicted as a black cat with stars glistening in her sleek fur, Hei is said to hunt in the stars, keeping Illythis safe from evil celestial entities. She is the goddess of navigation and protection. The full moon is believed to be a reflection of her third eye. On these nights, Mao do not fight or fear enemies, for their goddess is watching over them. While traveling, tribes pay homage to this goddess.
Holor: The Ren God of Politics. Portrayed as a stern faced man with a kingly posture, Holor is believed to be the moving force of them all, all knowing and urging people to do the things they do because it all falls into His masterful plan. Ren often times pray to Holor when they feel unsure of future decisions, or trust in Him when disaster strikes.
Hzzneth: The Riyu God of Illythis. The Riyu believe that each planet in the great vast sky have their own God within, maintaining the world from deep underneath the earth, enlisting the help of the races through dreams. The Riyu also believe that volcanoes lead to the center of the planet where Hzzneth lives, and thus these places are holy and very heavily guarded.
Inu'drasi: The Third Shen'ai of Shen'mei religion. He is portrayed as an ethereal elf, lacking an entirely solid form. Legend has it that he made the ultimate sacrifice during the unwarranted attack from Grackth, banishing the God by permanently expending all of his power. Because of his bravery, the Shen'mei crown him as the God of Heroes, Perseverance, Sacrifice, and the Afterlife. Shen'mei culture largely revolves around the stories and ideals borne from Inu'drasi.
Jekrogoth: The Jekrogothi main God, twin brother of Grackth. Slightly taller and slimmer in appearance than his two headed brother, Jekrogoth instead possesses four arms and intellect far beyond that of Grackth. The stories behind Jekrogoth are never clear, oftentimes shrouded in mystery and with uncertain morales of endings. Its said that even Jekrogothi priests are reclusive, providing as little information as possible to the general populace as necessary.
Kai: Mao Goddess of Victory. Depicted as a humanoid lioness, Kai is always pictured with blades drawn and fangs bared. Challenger of the Sun, Kai is worshipped for her fierce bravery and free spirit; any land that Kai treads on shall be ruled by Mao. Mao believe that all battles won are battles laid on the path of Kai. Battles lost are because they misread Hei's guidance, and the tribe will turn around immediately to try to once more follow their spiritual trails. Mao priestesses must not only devote their life to the goddess, but also have the upmost lethal ability to fight. The only exceptions are the rare Mao that is born with patches of fur where pale flesh would be. These gifted Mao are thought to resemble Kai, and are automatically cast into the priesthood.
Nottis:
Ona'halah: The Fourth Shen'ai of Shen'mei religion.
Perfhet: Though not a God, Perfhet is a respected Mao diplomat who was exiled from his clan and forced to carve his own path on Illythis. Him and his followers sought to push away from their fierce and wild origins, interested more in the diplomatic success between the Mao and other races. Extremely curious, these Mao tend to be much more well rounded, however they often operate in secret and do not reveal their allegiances, as several assassination attempts made by their enraged brethren have all but wiped out those following the Path of Perfhet.
Reinnhal: Ren God of the Crafts. Portrayed at a broad man with callused hands and mastery of all trade skills. Reinnhal is often worshipped by craftsman, specifically engineers, blacksmiths, and mech engineers.
Skkar: The Evil One. The Riyu God of Destruction and All Things Evil. The Riyu believe, just as every world has a God, there is an opposing force that is responsible for all the tragedies and natural disasters on Illythis. They call this being Skkar. He is often portrayed as an incorporeal behemoth with claws that can rip tears in reality.
Turalanat:
Una'anore: The Fifth Shen'ai of Shen'mei religion.
Vowayn:
Zercadia:
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