[Lore] Pariō

SadistPoet

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  1. Primarily Prefer Female
Mainland Information

Overview:
Commonly referred to simply as the "Mainland" by the denizens of Dantante - although this sizable continent has gone by many names throughout its extensive history. Some of these names included: Alywyn, Shadowhaven, Celeston, and Hearth. Each of these four names represents a distinct era in the mainland which demonstrates an extensive history that, unfortunately, has mostly been lost to time. However, the main cause for the drastic loss of history was the War of Kinds that took place at the end of the Celeston that led to the exile of all non-human kinds from the mainland - now known as Hearth.

Alywyn Era: The Alywyn Era is the most mysterious era of the mainland and spanned a massive two-thousand years. An ancient species known as Necx were the dominant species occupying the mainland during this time period. Nexc are recorded as being humanoid in shape, but having gelatinous bodies. Distinctions in individual Necx was made by unique energy-patterns that coated the gelatinous-surface which are only discernible if an individual can see mana. Humans during this time did not exist as known in latter eras and were predated by a species of towering giants that lived on the northern-most portion of the mainland known as Neanderites. Both the Neanderites and Necx had a neutral relationship between one another.

Neanderites were highly-intelligent, but lacked the ability to form social-structures that would dominate their ancestors later society, thus they lived in small group that were at-most 30 individuals. Nexc on the other hand lacked individual-intelligence, but made up for it by having a communal mind, which led to them constructing massive cities in a matter of months. The Neanderites were naturally curious of the species to the south and would occasionally attempt contact which sometimes led to trade, or other times resulted in conflict due to the Neanderites lacking social-intelligence that interfered with the Necx collective mind.

The Nexc went on to construct a sophisticated civilization that spanned all areas of Alywyn but left the north untouched seeing no tactical benefit to claiming the frozen land or having a conflict with Neanderites. Nexc generally sought peaceful solutions, thus they were woefully unprepared for conflict. Furthermore, the gelatinous race did not utilize conventional weapons and instead harnessed mana into volatile orbs of attack, long arcing whips, and many other applications. A nomadic void-race, now known as mana-eaters, descended from the sky and cut off the Nexc connection to mana. Without a connection to mana, they could no longer recognize each-other and maintain order, all Nexc became anti-social and self-absored as the mana-eaters devoured their population.

Neanderites, spared from the mana-eaters wrath, remained in the north for 300 years as the Nexc were slowly devoured. Eventually, the mana-eaters finished their feast and returned to the void. This left a large plot of empty land with odd structures and technologies for the Neanderites to claim as their own.

Shadowhaven Era: It is important to note between the Alywyn Era and Shadowhaven Era is an undetermined time-period that saw Neanderites become the modern day Human and Alkuman (NOTE: Alkuman are the subspecies of human which are female alchemists). It is theorized that accidental or intentional tampering with Nexc technology saw Neanderites rapidly transform into smaller, modestly less intelligent, and more socially-capable creatures. Many agricultural-based human kingdoms popped up at the start of the Shadowhaven era that were mostly led by an elite class of Alkuman. The Alkuman were capable of using latent mana-bending to alter the composition of objects and turn them into other things. During this time period, and with the Alkuman being female, most of these kingdoms were matriarchal in order and revered a Goddess.

Eventually, and starting off the proper-onset of the Shadowhaven Era, an enclave of fleeing non-human species from the East settled on the mainland. It was eventually learned that they were fleeing "The Shadow" which is why the continent became known as Shadowhaven. Other species with new social-ideas threatened the status-quo of the Alkuman's nigh-universal rule which caused the first great human revolution known as the Alchemy-War. The whimsical species known as the Fyrie led the conflict to dismantle Alkuman rule and the remaining Alkuman (along with loyal followers) fled the mainland in shoddy-boats to found Dantantes and would remain relatively untouched up to the present era. Meanwhile, a ruling class of Fyrie took charge and began reign of the Faerie-Imperium. The Fyrie created a strict cast system based on species which saw humans as expendable workers and soldiers. Years of conflict with non Faerie-Imperium kingdoms of various species occupying the mainland would persist and eventually leave the mainland a battered and broken mess.

An uprising would occur that saw the Fyrie being knocked out of control led by the Humans and Vishkan. The Fyrie-Genocide occured and an estimated fifty-thousand were systematically tortured and executed over the next one-hundred years.

Celeston Era: The Celeston Era is also known as the "fragmented" era because of its unclear history. Without Fyrie rule, much of the mainland was up for grabs if not already ruled by the many small nations that fought against the Faerie-Empire. Celeston became the name of the mainland due to the decent of creatures of light that occupied the continent as mentors to the "lower" races. They attempted to bring together the fragmented and species-divided countries as they warned of a great "darkness" (which is presumed to be the "Shadow" of the last era) that they would have to fight. Ten-years of united purpose created the Celeston Empire, but it did not hold together for long. A new organization simply known as the "Inquisition" pointed out that this Shadow has never been seen and has not attacked yet, thus the creatures of light must be doing this to control all life.

The Celeston Empire fell apart and the beings of light were subsequently eradicated. Furthermore, the inquisition went on to establish a thesis that intelligent species could not exist alongside one another. Which was, right or wrong, backed up by constant historical fighting between species. Thus, the bloody 500 year long War of Kinds commenced which saw humanity slowly force almost all other intelligent-species off the mainland to find a home elsewhere (if any).

Hearth Era: This is the current era of the mainland and has been thus far shaped by one major event. By the end of the Celeston Era, many human kingdoms existed all throughout the mainland. An inquisition led faction, known as the Ravencroft Sovereignty, would begin a bloody conquest as they decimated resistance over the next one hundred years through technological superiority. Now, only a few opposing nations remain at the end of the conquest that created the Ravencroft Empire. Bledgemore, a city-state, is the primary opposition to the Ravencroft Empire due to their mystical dark-arts that have been able to halt Empire advances, but that might change soon as technological advances slowly turn the tide in their favor.
 
Species Index:

The following list only accounts for species capable of building structured civilizations and conducting dynamic-communication with other species (whether it be beneficial or detrimental communication). Furthermore, subspecies are not covered in this list.

Fyrie(Humanoid): Short humanoid creatures that stand approximately one meter in height. Notable features are leaf-like hair on the scalp, but a lack of hair on the body. Instead, it appears many of the hair-facial features (eye-brows, eye lashes) on the average humanoid are naturally colored onto their face giving the appearance of tattooed on "makeup." The Fyrie's original homeland was a lush-jungle full of dangerous predators. However, they managed to survive by having the capability to charm lower-functioning mammalian species which has given them many symbiotic relationships with large predators. Careful breeding between Fyrie prior to the Shadowhaven era created an elite ruling class that extended their charming capabilities to all mammalian species. This is what enabled an elite class to form on the mainland which created the Faerie-Empire.

Gal(Insectoid): Bulky six-legged insectoid creatures. They are rarely ever seen despite their enormous size due to them existing beneath the mainland. Each can live up to one-thousand years and spend much of that time in solitude. This solitude leads to Gal mating only once or twice during their typical thousand year lifetime, making them, to others, a comparatively small species Recently, with dwindling food-sources underground, they have adapted to become mercenaries for the Ravencroft Empire. Their exo-skeletons are hard enough to resist gunfire and the most efficient way to deal with them is the use of flammable tar (which is a rare commodity).

Vishka(Humanoid): Despite being "human," this species has become distinct enough to be considered its own kind. They typically have ebony-black or olive-green skin that has a concentration of scales on the neck, hips, chest, and neck. Although, male Vishka tend to have less scales on these areas. Furthermore, they have slit-eyes and some possess fangs. All of the Vishka's bodily fluids are poisonous to other species and causes confusion and dizziness, but can kill in large doses. The Vishka are reliant on the bonds of civilization to keep them from reverting to a more primitive bandit-type society. Once reverted, Vishka will prey upon other species and consume them, finding particular delight in eating their young. A disturbing trait is a female Vishka's ability "smell-out" the pregnancy of humans which makes them quite receptive to said women. This reception in their civilized form is usually warm with praise, gifts, and food. On the contrary, in their natural form, they will usually attempt capture and eventual consumption of said pregnant woman.
 
Alchemy

Alchemy is most prevalent in the subspecies of human known as the Alkuman. Put simply, it is the process of converting a substance to another one, or altering the fundamental properties of an object. It is separated into several different schools of alchemy - which are all able to be learned with the limit only being the alchemist's talent and effort. Typically an alchemist will choose to specialize due to the substantial investment of time and effort it takes to master one school of alchemy, which typically takes a lifetime to even consider being a master of a school of alchemy. Furthermore, the separate schools are not equal in talent or usefulness.

Meld - The most simple, broad, and useful form of alchemy. The process consists of combining physical items to create new items. All reactions, combinations, and creations are based upon science and follow specific logical patterns. For example, an alchemist practicing meld would combine iron + carbon to generate steel. The basic combining of materials to generate other ones is typically where an alchemists skill begins to peak, but particularly talented alchemists can make more specific items through meld. For example, iron + carbon + wood could be used to fashion an axe out of thin air.

Further experimentation with meld has resulted in more offensive uses. Manipulating particles already in the air can yield fire, toxins, and even biologically deconstructing radioactive reactions.

Aether - This form is less utilized due to it not being outright useful in day to day life, but it has an even more broad amount of options than its meld counterpart. Aether focuses on interacting with the higher elements that are space, time, and spirit (also known as mana). Additionally, concepts such as light and darkness are categorized within this school of alchemy. A basic trick of Aether that can be learned rather quickly (A month of study) is the temporary conversion of light to dark and dark to light. Thus, an inexperienced Aether user can turn a room a deathly-dark, an experienced user can turn a city dark, and a master could potential turn an entire nation into darkness.

Space can be manipulated to warp the interiors of buildings to be larger or smaller. Time can be manipulated in minor bouts to reverse or accelerate small scale reaction, which is typically used in addition to meld alchemy to cut down the time of certain reactions. Spirit is the most abstract form and manipulation of it can bolster someones "mood" or "depress them." Needless to say, Aether is still understood very little due to reported dangers of utilizing it. One notorious danger is alleged inter-dimensional creatures who can use it as a gateway to enter the world.

Waupar - A vile, yet arguably necessary form of alchemy, that takes the dangerous aspects from other forms of alchemy and combines them into a form that is solely based on killing. It is seldom practiced due to the potential negative psychological effects on an individual. These effects come from an individual beginning to see everything as a potentially lethal object to kill. Users are taught to combine various chemicals, objects, and other entities to become lethal objects. Waupar users can alter the chemistry of plants to become explosive, or create gusts of wind that move sand, while also sharpening each grain of sand to shred apart a target.