STC - Lore

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DIRECTORY ─────────────

— ○ ○ ○ OUT-OF-CHARACTER [xxx]


— ○ ○ ○INTEREST CHECK [xxx]


— ○ ○ ○ CHARACTERS [xxx]


— ○ ○ ○ IN-CHARACTER [xxx]

 

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DICTIONARY ─────────────

— ○ ○ ○ ANAX (n.)
the ruler of a city-state; usually inherited by blood but there are some that choose based on merit alone.


— ○ ○ ○ CONTRACT (n.)
a bond formed with nymphs to allow the ability to control the forces of nature; accessible only by the clergy and the Paideia.


— ○ ○ ○ GRACE (n.)
a gift from the Nymphs allowed to those who commune with them; essentially provides permission to control the forces of nature.


— ○ ○ ○ DIM (v.)
to lose the ability to control the forces of nature due to an incompatibility with one's respective element.


— ○ ○ ○ DISTORT (v.)
to gain increased success and potency in controlling the forces of nature at the cost of potential backfire.


— ○ ○ ○ KING (n.)
the highest of the nymphs and distinguished by their power's independence from compatibilities; the only one of their kind capable of holding a conversation with humans.


— ○ ○ ○ NYMPH (n.)
creatures that control the forces of nature.

 

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HISTORY ─────────────

— ○ ○ ○ WHEN GOD WALKED AMONG MEN
It was so different in the past.

The sands that drown today's Theosmati was but a rare fixture then, confined only to the edges of the world. Instead, there were a myriad of trees, its vermillion leaves painting the landscape in warm reds. In the distance, one can hear the gentle babbling of a brook. The playful winds brushing its fingers through the grass. The rustling of fauna prancing through the thicket. Those that lived through the Flood tell this story with much of the same fondness.

And yet, for all that sentimentality, there was a caveat that no elder could forget, for as beautiful as it once was, things weren't perfect. It, too, had its own perils.

Monsters from what's now known as the Abyss snaked its way into the continent to defile the earth. Many villages fell to its corruptive poison before it could be driven out by their God, who had descended from on-high. They, together with the great warrior-king, Alexandros, pushed the monsters back 'till peace was gained and the continent was unified into one empire.


— ○ ○ ○ 50 YEARS AGO
Little did they know, however, of its ephemerality.

As God closed their eyes to exhaustion, so, too, did the world upon its inhabitants. The sun's gentle gaze harshened with malicious intent, the waters left vaporized by its glare. The trees bled their leaves, crawling in on itself 'till they were naught but ash upon the earth. Soon, sand swallowed the verdant fields, burying it along with all that has happened. A few groups of people and structures had survived this mass purge, but the rest? Reduced to mere footnotes to what will be known as the Flood.

It was only through a sub-conscious intervention that the remaining people continued to live to this day. God, asleep as they were, could only be a bystander, and this brought them immeasurable sorrow.

So, they wept.

And wept. So much so that the river, Dakrya, flowed from the mountains they were entombed in, nourishing the continent for generations to come. Shortly after, a young man, touched by their God's benevolence and fragility, founded the Church of the Weeping Eye.


— ○ ○ ○ 32 YEARS AGO
God imparted another gift to this land; at the cynosure of Theosmati was a sapling, buoyed from the mountains by river. The seed of the World Tree, in the span of a year, would soon stretch high into the heavens. The Paideia was soon built a year after the tree's maturity.


— ○ ○ ○ 8 YEARS AGO
Ancient tablets from long before were unearthed, detailing bits of history here and there, but most importantly, the method to reconnect with the Nymphs of the old. The Church in Malum were the first to make contact, forming a bond with Hydro-nymphs first.


— ○ ○ ○ 5 YEARS AGO
Some time after, the Paideia was able to divine the ritual to communion, too, and repurposed itself to the study of this long-lost magic.


— ○ ○ ○ A MONTH AGO
The Amaryllian Archives, a blend of technology and magic into one airship, took flight for the first time. It's currently docked at the World Tree, preparing for an eventual trip across the continent.

 

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TL;DR THEOSMATI ─────────────

— ○ ○ ○ A desert wasteland, with small bursts of greenery found throughout the continent


— ○ ○ ○ The sea is in an impenetrable fog that all those of Theosmati avoid


— ○ ○ ○ 5 city-states in total, each managed by an Anax, with many small settlements both above-and-below in between


— ○ ○ ○ Cave systems are found throughout the continent, which is where most smaller towns go to settle in


— ○ ○ ○ All are part of the Church of the Weeping Eye and worship the God Who Sleeps


— ○ ○ ○ Technology is mostly medieval; Amaryllis, Chrysos, and Malum have Victorian levels of technology (i.e. steamboats, airships, though they're all fairly basic and new.) Technology is only recently being developed with magic.

───────────── ENVIRONMENT

Golden winds plume through the desert wastes, each breeze bringing tidings of heat that leave you longing for an oasis. Aureate plains, as far as the eye can see, dominate the horizon uncontested, save for the ominous ring of fog that enshrines Theosmati. Speckled across the desert sands are speckles of stone, ruins, their discolored figures hewn from the hands of wind and time.

Thanks to the arid heat, most settlements take shelter within cave systems scattered all over. The only exceptions to this are the city-states, who either have agreeable weathers (ie. Amaryllis, Malum, and Vissarion), or are protected within their fort (ie. Aniketos).

FASHION ─────────────

The population generally defaults to kaftans and linen coats over their usual clothing to protect themselves from the sun's harsh glares. What's worn underneath is generally dependent on the city-state they originated from. Those from Malum and Amaryllis, for example, favor scantier clothing of brightly dyed colors, whereas those from Chrysos tend to wear thicker full-coverage cloths fashioned from animal hide to shield from the cold underground and decorate, instead, with jewelry.

───────────── GOVERNMENT

The city-states, each ruled by an Anax, manage their domains independent to one another and don't take encroachment lightly. Even Malum, the Holy City, can't freely interject in matters outside its own, as it usually provokes the other four into an uproar.

All of the city-states live in fair harmony at this moment, knowing that the extinction of one city-state could mean the end of them all.

RELIGION ─────────────

Established just fifty years ago was the Church of the Weeping Eye, its faith centered around their slumbering God in the mountains. They firmly believe in their God's return to consciousness and seek to perform acts to bring this about. Sometimes through vibrant festivals to pique their God's curiosity, other times, a sacrifice; regardless, it's always held on a regular basis. Because of this, the southern half of Malum is usually engaged in some form of festivity, courtesy of the Church.

Northern Malum, by contrast, is quieter in its reverence. The clergy volunteering there stand at the sole entrance to Theos' Rest, insistent on keeping God's tombs untouched by mortals. Those that seek entry into Northern Malum are required to undergo a pilgrimage, one that will end at the very headwaters of the Dakrya River.

───────────── TECHNOLOGY

Technology is medieval for most places. For fifty years, the continent's most pertinent problem has always been to secure shelter and food, enough that every city-state (and anything in-between) can be satisfied. As can be seen with Aniketos, that hasn't been achieved just yet. With most advancements thus far being focused on agriculture, the military is left underdeveloped, with most of Theosmati still stuck to spears as weapons.

Recent events, however, have tipped the balance; with magic now in the equation, further methods of transportation and other branches are being developed, with the Paideia at the forefront of this research. The first airship, completed just a month ago, is one such example.

CRAFTING ─────────────

Wood is considered sacred here and rarely, if ever used. Even those of the upper echelons have but a small figurine in their collections. Most tools and furniture are fashioned from stone or animal bone.

 

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SIGNIFICANT LOCATIONS ─────────────

— ○ ○ ○ THE ABYSS
Vigilant parents are quick to chastise curious children of the sea, fearing that their children might be reduced to folktales themselves, spoken of only in derogatory words and only as a warning to others. It's believed that sailing too far into the fog could lead you off the edge of the world. Or at least, that's how the story goes. What lies in the sea of fog is, truthfully, unknown; after all, every single expedition into the sea has returned no survivors.

— ○ ○ ○ DAKRYA RIVER
Like Theos' Rest, the Dakrya River simply popped into existence just a little after God had slumbered. Many see the river as their God's tears and apology for what the land has become in their absence. Unlike most of Theosmati, the sands around the river are either white or teal in colour.

— ○ ○ ○ THE PAIDEIA
The Paideia is unlike other academies. Barring the fact that it sits high above the clouds, it's also the only other institution privy to the methods of communion with the Nymphs.

— ○ ○ ○ THE WORLD TREE
At the very center of Theosmati is the World Tree, a gargantuan tree whose branches stretch further than the clouds. Winding around its length are wooden stairways leading to the Paideia. Every hundred feet or so is a checkpoint, there to assure that only students and staff enter the college premises.

───────────── CITY-STATES

— ○ ○ ○ AMARYLLIS
What once was a small offshoot of Malum just thirty-three years ago has quickly grown to become the most populous and prosperous of all major cities. Built beneath the shade of the World Tree, Amaryllis enjoys the gentlest of weathers and frequent travelers, thanks to both the Paideia and the recently-finished Archives.

It's quickly become the trading hub for all city-states, being the geographical center of the continent, and has the most competitive markets. Most of the natives of Amaryllis believe themselves to be superior to the other city-states and are condescending to those from outside their safe haven. Still, their haughtiness doesn't seem to dissuade the constant stream of dreamers who seek to make their name big enough that the Paideia would notice.

— ○ ○ ○ ANIKETOS
Armies of ancient times used to fear The Unconquerable City. Known for its military fortress atop a secure incline, it outlived many wars and disasters, its sand-stone walls unscathed. It was home to the continent's greatest warrior-king, once, but that story has long been forgotten, pushed aside by the depravity now found within. Hunger and poverty have devoured its population, sparing only those few that had built empires from their unsavory activities. The Anax of Aniketos, once a benevolent ruler, is reduced to an incompetent with little choice but to bow down to its oligarchs.

How Aniketos hasn't collapsed from the weight of its people is a mystery, but there are rumors of a secret vault, holding treasures of unimaginable worth inside. Some suspect that the oligarchs have ransacked it. Others hold on to hope still.

— ○ ○ ○ CHRYSOS
Outside of a few outposts, most of Chrysos is situated deep below the golden sands, far from the sweltering heat above. Because of this, they have the most extensive tunnel systems and make their living from crafting tools and jewelleries found beneath. Their work with the tunnels is far from finished, if the Anax of Chrysos has any say in it. To this day, the city-state continues to mine, expanding the roads beneath in the hopes of excavating the green fields lost to the sands.

— ○ ○ ○ MALUM
The Holy City is a particular marvel to hold, as it's the only city with rivers, rather than stone, as its roads. Many of the establishments float upon the lazy river, giving way only to those who sail to the entrance of Theos' Rest for their pilgrimage. The city is divided into two halves. The southern half of Malum is populated by common folk, with hundreds of boats decorating the waters. The northern half, home to the most devout (and fanatical), is an area heavily restricted by the Church of the Weeping Eye.

— ○ ○ ○ VISSARION
As the only forested region aboveground, Vissarion works hard to provide produce for all five city-states. Recent years has seen the lake at the center gradually dry up. Why this is so has yet to be uncovered. The current Anax, Xanthi Spyridon, and her son are currently trying to prevent this impending crisis.

 

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PAIDEIA

 

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CONTRACTS ─────────────

The seven elements, all forces of nature, fall under the dominion of nymphs who, themselves, can loan those reins over to those who are graced. Receiving that Grace, however, is no simple task, requiring an extensive ritual that must be performed on specific days of the year and only upon hallowed grounds. What these methods entail are largely kept hush-hush by the clergy and the Paideia.

───────────── NYMPHS

Nymphs, while technically plural, have no individual will and are, instead, divided solely by the Force they control. They, depending on their element, share the exact same preferences and gravitate to people who uphold those preferences.

Only the Kings seem to exempt of this. These Kings, unlike their brethren, are capable of human speech and aren't nearly as fickle as the nymphs. This means that those contracted to Kings have a steady source of power and are generally free from the effects of distortion. Take heed, however, that the flow of power depends on another thing instead: one's relationship with the King. Thus, it is imperative that one maintain a positive relationship with such beings.

ATTUNEMENT─────────────

Nature is no passive giver. The contract, while impossible to sever and shift on your end, isn't as binding for the nymphs. It's called Grace for a reason, in that it's a courtesy given to those willing to commune; as a guest, it's only polite to conform to what the Forces itself value. To act in a manner displeasing to one's respective Force is to invite their indifference, thereby leading to one's Grace dimming.

When their courtesy and interest fades—that is, when one's Grace dims—one will lose the ability to shape the Force they contracted with. In other words, a loss of magic.

There is, however, another potential pitfall. If one goes too far in trying to please them, so far that one perverts the very values the Forces touted, that Grace will become distorted. Though your persuasion over the Force is increased tenfold, it comes at the cost of, not only one's surroundings, but oneself. Whatever force of nature one had conjured will inevitably turn against oneself in some way or another. (I.e. a hurricane one had summoned quickly homing in on oneself, taking everything out in its wake.)

Of the seven, Anemo, Cryo, Dendro, and Hydro are at risk of distortion. Dimming, on the other hand, is common, occurring in all seven Forces, and significantly easier to solve; one must simply return to the ideals held by the Force and move in accordance to it. (I.e those graced by Hydro should strive for perfection by learning and improving their skills.)

 

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THE SEVEN FORCES ─────────────

— ○ ○ ○ ANEMO
—————• • • Ruled by King Aera
—————• • • Susceptible to Dimming and Distortion
—————• • • Values freedom and open-mindedness
—————• • • Despises boredom and constant familiarity
The winds are the true overseers of the world, for they see and hear all there is to the world. Naturally, they flock to those that share their natural curiosity of the world. As they've seen everything there is, Anemo are drawn more to people, and enjoy being in the company of many. Thus, those that quarantine themselves from all stimuli and people are quick to lose their interest.


— ○ ○ ○ CRYO
—————• • • Ruled by King Chioni
—————• • • Susceptible to Dimming and Distortion
—————• • • Values love and sacrifice
—————• • • Despises indifference
That those of Cryo value love most might seem surprising; understand, however, that there's always more to that iceberg. Their love, rare as these occasions may be, is a smouldering flame, one that threatens to destroy their very beings, and a fate they welcome most. In their eyes, to melt away is a merit worth praising.


— ○ ○ ○ DENDRO
—————• • • Ruled by King Vlastisi
—————• • • Susceptible to Dimming and Distortion
—————• • • Values control and wisdom
—————• • • Despises chaos and spontaneity
What is wisdom for, if not to tame the unknown? Dendro seeks to domesticate the chaos that naturally comes with its territory into something gentler, benign. To that end, they wish for control, and support actions that benefit such, especially if done for the greater good. (Sometimes, it disregards the means if it serves the goal.) Because of this, Dendro is the easiest to pervert, for it is all too easy to go out of control in the pursuit of their values.


— ○ ○ ○ ELECTRO
—————• • • Ruled by King Vronti
—————• • • Susceptible to Dimming
—————• • • Values stagnation and stillness
—————• • • Despises constant change and flightiness
Though erratic by nature, Electro yearns for their opposite. They are drawn to calmer temperaments, to those who keep their heart still and their minds free of impurities that might otherwise disturb their stoicism. Better yet are those with unwavering moral codes, a beacon that naturally tempts Electro into making such individuals their home. After all, lightning always strikes the tallest trees.


— ○ ○ ○ GEO
—————• • • Ruled by King Choma
—————• • • Susceptible to Dimming
—————• • • Values kept promises and integrity
—————• • • Despises fraud and unreliability
Solid. Sturdy. Unchanging. The earth beneath you will always be there to catch your fall and, likewise, expect the same from you. They prefer to align themselves to those that hold themselves with integrity and are focused on their goals, whatever it may be. Stray from the original intent of the goal or fail the goal entirely and you'll find the earth as fragile as your promises.


— ○ ○ ○ HYDRO
—————• • • Ruled by King Revma
—————• • • Susceptible to Dimming and Distortion
—————• • • Values perfection and hard work
—————• • • Despises stagnation and complacency
Rivers rush endlessly into the sea, pouring all of itself in the hopes that it might ascend into something greater, something more. And, just as the rivers flow, so must you. Nymphs of Hydro demand the most out of their contractors: perfection, and nothing less. They expect constant efforts towards that very goal and shun those that fall short, or worse, give up altogether.


— ○ ○ ○ PYRO
—————• • • Ruled by King Fotia
—————• • • Susceptible to Dimming and Distortion
—————• • • Values war, passion, and courage
—————• • • Despises inaction
To those of Pyro, there's no truer proof of life than to be the one holding the sword. To be drenched in the blood of your enemies is a celebration, not only of your triumphs, but of your continued existence. Therein lies Pyro's true standard. They value the feeling of being alive, of the adrenaline rushing through your veins, leaving you burning for more. Though the current peace has softened their flames, it'll never die out. It only takes a spark to light it all on fire.

 

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THE VISUAL NOVEL ─────────────

WIP