[i]"W-what did you just say? Surely I must have just misheard you m'lady..."[/i] The desperation in her paladin attendant's voice was overwhelming. The Oracle, voice of the gods, had just delivered a message that greatly disturbed her [i]"I'm afraid you have not."[/i] she did her best to appear strong yet the conversation had left her weak in her legs, barely able to stand[i] "The gods have gone to war and have abandoned us."[/i] she felt her heart sink saying it once more as if speaking of it made the situation more real. The paladin's face went grim quickly and she could not blame him. The end of the world was upon them and the gods' had forsaken them. [center][h1][color=f7976a]Story[/color][/h1][/center] [center] For the past 1000 years the kingdoms of the Avriel have been in constant war only interrupted by momentary peace then soon after returning to the bloodshed. Religion was the only force that seemed to tie any of the kingdoms together and even then different orders formed under the devotion of one particular god or goddess. At the top of the religious hierarchy was the High Oracle who was a female of any race selected by the previous Oracle for her devotion to the gods and love of all living things. The kingdom of Altamea, a province known for its study and advancements in the magical arts, were in the process of developing a ritual that would turn their dying king, an powerful mage himself, immortal and enter a new golden age. The ritual was completed by combining the king's soul with a mana-infused necklace. Magic involving the soul was strictly forbidden by order of the Oracle herself yet they proceeded anyway. The king was found dead in his bed only a few days later ant the mages responsible for the ritual were tried and imprisoned. A week into the kingdom's mourning a servant found the king sitting on his throne and discovered the horrible truth behind the ritual. The process that bound the king's soul to the necklace was done through the hand of a powerful demon lord, creating the first Lich. Altamea was destroyed and consumed before the other kingdoms fully understood what was going on. [img]https://i.pinimg.com/originals/bd/bf/95/bdbf95523d6d5b8eae28217ccaade2f6.jpg[/img] [h3][i][color=fff79a]The Lich King Sunder[/color][/i][/h3] The High Oracle upon hearing the new quickly prayed to the gods for guidance yet was met with silence. She spent a week without eating a single morsel of food and taking the smallest sips of water, locked in a deep prayer until finally the gods answered. The Demonds of hell had declared war on Heaven to keep the gods from helping their charges. The countless wars had left plenty of bodies to add to the undead army growing under the king's dead hands. He quickly became referred to as the 'Lich King' and while the neighboring kingdoms of Altamea held off the horders for a time, they were soon overrun and devastated. The paladins of the various orders were the first to band together against the horde, buying time for the remaining kingdoms to rally together. The twisted un-dead were too much for the smaller number of paladins and a scarce few remained after a pyrrhic victory called the 'Battle of Cersei's Flower'. The name was derived from a small, beautiful flower a small girl gave to the paladin general whose sacrifice stemmed the tide. The flower was later retrieved and became a symbol all those who fought the un-dead to bear. [img]https://static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/13/136373/3154354-1356903733-knigh.jpg[/img] [h3][i][color=fff79a]The Battle of Cersi's Flower[/color][/i][/h3] That first undead arose 300 years ago and now there were too many to count forcing a united front for some time. The real name of the Lich King was mostly forgotten by the common citizen, the monster replacing the man in history as the end seemed to be soon approaching. There was a small hope however, a mysterious military force arrived shortly after the first kingdoms fell and immediately engaged the un-dead during the most dire point in a important battle. The heroes were like demi-gods in the eyes of the soldiers fighting there, moving with such speed and strength it was almost hard to believe. Any kind of attempt to contact the strange heroes afterwards was found futile, until one day a scouting party discovered a lone, remaining city of untold size still under construction and they had found their mystery saviors. They have only identified themselves as the 'Architects' and claimed to have the weapons and tools to defeat the Lich-King but refused to share with the remaining kingdoms. Their only requests were that any outstanding warriors, mages, or intellectuals be sent to their city-fortress if they wished to save the world. Currently none other than Architects have been allowed inside the city, despite their numbers far below what the city could house. [img]https://i.pinimg.com/736x/9e/38/2c/9e382c18aedb7e4baf03dd775b070474--fantasy-city-fantasy-castle.jpg[/img] [h3][i][color=fff79a]The Architect's City[/color][/i][/h3] After this encounter, the number of attacks were reduced to almost none and it was believed the Architects were the direct cause. The term 'The Silent War' that was initially used to refer to the absence of the gods was then changed to include the unknown war the Architects seemed to be fighting against the un-dead. The kingdoms were soon sending all potential candidates to the massive city in hopes of ending the madness they couldn't seem to stop. Eventually with the absence of the gods, the Architects seemed to take their place in the eyes of the people and it became tradition to have a ceremony before those sent off to the city left called 'Ascension Day'. The streets of every capital city in Avriel would fill with street vendors, music, and people celebrating the idea that one day this nightmare would end. Every chosen would have the same kind of flower given to the paladin general donned on their chest as a symbol of their bravery. No one had any clue what even happened to those sent to the city until one day a warrior clad in an armor never seen before and a white scarf stained heavily with blood approached the border of one of the kingdoms a long, distant stare in his face. Despite his age, the border city recognized him as one of those sent by the city nearly a decade ago. The majority of the kingdoms armies did not have a serious engagement with the un-dead for a hundred years, which led to a popular sentiment that the war was going well, so when they asked how the war was going against the dead the warrior looked at them with a chill gaze "Hell, its hell..." is all he spoke before collapsing. Once he woke, he would speak nothing of the Architects when questioned or what had brought him there. There were rumors circulating that he was a deserter but after it was made public the kind of injuries he sustained, they were quickly squashed. After he had recovered he immediately departed and when asked where he was going, he replied grimly "Back to my station. Pray to whatever god may be listening that you do not see one of us again.". The warning was not what the people wanted to hear nor the somberness of the man. Regardless, they were moved by his commitment to return to the front despite what horrors may wait. You are one of the many citizens of Avriel living in the remaining kingdoms and you have been chosen to leave for the lone city to become part of the vanguard that protects the world from the Lich-King, the Architects. Little to nothing is known about them except they keep the un-dead horrors away from the kingdoms. There are a scarce number of veterans alive who remember what it was like before. Ascension Day is upon you, a joyous occasion, but nothing will prepare you for what lies ahead. [img]https://orig10.deviantart.net/ec84/f/2012/255/7/2/72572961c127e7afc984a58c279e5821-d5egayt.jpg[/img] [h3][i][color=fff79a]Ascension Day in Crux Redentor[/color][/i][/h3] [/center] [hider=Gods & Goddessess] [center][img]https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b6/b2/13/b6b2132a792e0ea5db60e7dc925295f3.jpg[/img] [h3][i][color=fff79a]Satelle, Queen of the Gods[/color][/i][/h3][/center] -[color=6ecff6]Satelle: Queen of the Gods and the Goddess of Peace & Order[/color] Satelle was once the head of the holy hierarchy until her husband Arun, along with their daughter Nalissa, broke the peace among kingdoms plunging the world into wars that lasted until the Lich-King. Her followers did not diminish as greatly as Arun hoped as many wished for an end to the constant conflict. Those with heaviness in their heart will often find Satelle willing to extend her hand to them. -[color=6ecff6]Arun: King of the Gods and God of Justice & Retribution[/color] Sitting on top of the gilded throne of the heavens, Arun is the sole deity whom may pass judgement on the other gods. He is the patron of those with a strong sense of justice and was the deity of the first paladin order. Justice underneath Arun can take many forms leading to many praying to him for revenge against their enemies. -[color=6ecff6]Ilyana: Goddess of Love & Creativity[/color] One of very few deities to physical appear on the mortal plane, Ilyana is the sister of Satelle and regarded as having unimaginable beauty. In many romantic epics, Ilyana typically makes an appearance to guide the lovers to each other. There a quite a few instances of artists reporting having a dream of the gorgeous goddess and being inspired. The stories often preceded the creation of their most notable works. -[color=6ecff6]Croan: God of Smithing & Strength[/color] Brother to Arun, Legends say that it was Croan who shaped the world as we know it using his strength to carve oceans and raise mountains. Croan is depicted as a very muscular with silvery hair and a long beard. He is the only god believed to carry the scars of his work as he constantly shapes the world. Laborers and smiths alike treat him as their chief god. -[color=6ecff6]Rosen: God of Wisdom & Understanding[/color] -[color=6ecff6]Volker: God of Learning & Knowledge, twin to Rorsen[/color] -[color=6ecff6]Nalissa: Goddess of War & Ambition[/color] Nalissa was once despised during the distant era of peace until she tricked the kingdoms of the world into a never-ending series of war, in the hopes of one day seizing the gilded throne. She is not only the perfect warrior but she is also a master strategists, sometimes making appearances in the middle of large battles to turn the tide to whichever side she favored at the time. This lead to many kingdoms having large ceremonies dedicated to Nalissa before entering a war in order to gain her favor. -[color=6ecff6]Arcadia: Goddess of Harvests & Weather[/color] Arcadia is often said to rival Ilyana in terms of beauty. She is responsible for the changing of the seasons and the majority of plant-life. Fields blessed by Arcadia are said to produce the best crops and guarantee a successful harvest. Naturally she is loved by farmers and gardeners who tribute a portion of their crops to her temples if they wish for her continued support. -[color=6ecff6]Damascus: God of Shadows & Trickery[/color] The 'master of games' as people tend to refer to him, Damascus is the force working behind the scenes always using mortals in complex games for his amusement. The first assassin was reported to be the son of Damascus and a mortal, able to blend into darkness and use his own shadow to eliminate his targets. Damascus is very clever and enjoys manipulating the minds of lesser beings. -[color=6ecff6]Malaya: Goddess of Prosperity & The Afterlife[/color] The ruler of all that comes after death, Malaya guides worthy souls to a paradise of their desires. Those who have done evil suffer for many years and are reborn to try again leaving a permanent mark on their soul. Prosperity often comes from the ground and those wishing to obtain it must pray to her first. -[color=6ecff6]Arcanus: God of Magic & Mystery[/color] -[color=6ecff6]Silena: Goddess of Death & Dreams[/color] -[color=6ecff6]Tyris: God of Medicine & Mercy[/color] -[color=6ecff6]Naviro: God of Communication & Haste[/color] -[color=6ecff6]Celesta: Goddess of the Unseen[/color] -[color=6ecff6]Temis: Goddess of Time, twin to Celesta[/color][/hider] [hider=Demon Hierarchy] [center][img]https://i.pinimg.com/originals/98/9a/a8/989aa861a2b5531976caa1d31fa9c1cf.jpg[/img] [h3][i][color=fff79a]Desida, Lord of the Demon Realm[/color][/i][/h3][/center] -Desida: Lord of the demon realm -Verile: Lord of Disease -Agnaros: Lord of Torture -Mordex: Lord of Manipulation -Renus: Lord of Wrath -Beatrox: Lady of Betrayal & Deceit -Aureila: Lady of Lust -Calestrom: Lord of Greed -Galvex: Lord of Gluttony -Vecuri: Lady of Sloth -Karmin: Lord of Pride -Tiriel: Lady of Destruction, wife of Desida[/hider] [hider=Races] [center][img]https://www.anbient.com/files/img/re-zero-kara-hajimeru-isekai-seikatsu/ss-21883.jpg[/img] [h3][i][color=fff79a]A town square filled with various races[/color][/i][/h3][/center] [b]-Humans[/b] Humans out-number all of the other races but not by a huge margin. They are able to learn and wield all the various types of magic, whereas most other races are limited. The difference in power between humans and their neighboring races has fostered a strong creativity and ambition in Humans. [b]-Draelni[/b] A huamnoid race with typically grayish skin, horns, and most notably pitch black eyes except for the iris. They are commonly misunderstood by the other races due to their appearance being similar to common depictions of demons. They are extremely adept at reading the emotions of others due to their minimal amount of emotional expression in public. Draelni express their emotions more freely in private environments. [b]-Amali[/b] A general designation for the races with animalistic features. Amali normally have the ablity to fully transform into the beast they mirror, and retain many of the same attributes. Their senses are often greater than other races and their culture is very comfortable with physical interactions, which often surprises those unaware. [b]-Anserian[/b] Believed to have derived from the same species as Dremorians, Anserians are a prideful race with large, normally white, feathered wings and a superior view of themselves compared to other races. Their culture is highly refined and proper, with an emphasis on appearance over practicality in most of their decor. [b]-Dremorian[/b] Dremorians' wings are typically black in contrast to their Anserian cousins but are very similar with the exception they possess very sharp, durable, black fangs. They are strongly emotional, passionate race that honors fighting ability over everything else. They naturally possess the ability to use fire magic, which is a sort of testament to the fiery personalities they exhibit. [b]-High Elf[/b] High Elves are refugees of one of the kingdoms destroyed in the Lich-King's War. An extremely reserved and critical race, they spend most of their time within their own communities focusing on recovering the large amount of knowledge lost. [b]-Light Elf[/b] Naturally attuned to light magic, one of the defining features of this race is their unyiedling optimism. Every Ligh Elf is capable of creating a magical light source and in dangerous situations, use this ability like a flare. [b]-Dark Elf The charcoal-skinned relatives of the light elves, their naturally practical minds can sometimes come off as pessimistic to other races. Dark Elves typically believe heavily in the philosophy 'the ends justifies the means' and thus have often come under question in regards to their clandestine operations. [/b] [b]-Giant[/b] A race of very strong and tall humanoids, they generaly live around a couple centuries. Records suggest they were once much taller than the 9m height they possess now. Their kingdom, Jarunn, is one the few remaining. [b]-Dragon[/b] Regarded as the most powerful and oldest race, Dragons can live for a millennia or more. Once in constant battle with the other races over land, they are now a rare and have developed a hatred for the younger races. [b]-Draconian[/b] A humanoid race with features like a dragon, they are not however descended from them like many claim them to be. Their pride and arrogance is well-known but some of the leading scholars are from this race. [b]-Vampire[/b] A race resembling humans who need to drink blood to survive. There are very few Vampires in the world as they live extremely long lives and do not want to exhaust their food sources. The oldest living Vampire is believed to be the head of a wide-spread criminal organization known as the shadow-ban. [b]-Aetheri[/b] Also known as faeries, they are normally small winged humanoids but can magically make themselves human-size for short periods of time. They are very energentic and fast-thinkers, often talking faster than most can understand. Their lack of physical strength is compensated by their masterful control of magic [b]-Dwarves[/b] A race of stocky, strong, and often stubborn individuals with a similar appearance to humans. They are natural engineers are deep earth miners and have built some of the most advanced contraptions the world has come to know. [b]-Orcs[/b] Orcish society is divided among several chieftains and tribes, while all under the rule of an elected king. When the king dies a great feast is held where a tournament decides the winner as only the strongest are fit to rule. Honor, especially regarding traditions, is sacredly treasured despite their brutish nature. [b]-Ravseni[/b] A reptilian race with a natural ability to camouflage, they have a mostly carnivorous diet and have the shortest lifespan of all the race living on average 55 years. They mature quickly however and are highly adaptable, able to survive the harshest environments. -To be added... [/hider] [hider=Kingdoms] [center][img]http://img13.deviantart.net/d356/i/2012/181/4/1/the_city_of_shakar_by_noahbradley-d55frpt.jpg[/img] [h3][i][color=fff79a]The major port city of Nimas in Crimmole[/color][/i][/h3][/center] [b]-Dremore[/b] This kingdom rests on a array of plains with a large desert on the eastern border. It is one of few kingdoms to have a large city as its captial. Their warrios are seen as some of the strongest in Avriel due to a militaristic cutlure. [b]-Anserith[/b] The landscape of Anserith is unlike any of the other kingdoms, as a majority of the people live on large landmasses created by an magical anomaly. This suits the winged inhabitants very well as each 'island' is self-sufficient. The natural beauty of the area has made it a popular destination for travelers. [b]-Jarunn[/b] The highest mountain range in Avriel belongs the honorable Ice giants excursively. They use their strength to construct fortress-towns of an incredible size. It is currently the only known source of lunarite, a magic-negating ore with a beautiful white shimmer. [b]-Scarne[/b] A incredibly hot and humid environment, the land is mostly covered in a dense jungle. It host to a wide variety of medicinal herbs leading to a market of highly effective medicines however recently it has become host to a rising illegal drug trade. [b]-Crimmole[/b] Ocean forms nearly the entire western border of this small kingdom. Despite a major fishing industry, A very small number of sailors have been into the open ocean due to dangerous sea creatures. It is also home to some of the most potent alcohol available for consumption. [b]-Delfari Sovereignty[/b] A kingdom headed by a religious hierarchy, A large amount of new literature and art has come from here. The inhabitants are deeply devoted to their beliefs and have made several requests for the Grand Oracle to be re-located to their capital from her isolated temple. [b]-Roughann[/b] A mountainous region with surprisingly fertile land, it is one of the newest kingdoms before the start of the Silent War. The inhabitants of his frontier kingdom are focused in small, well fortified villages and are a mostly solitary people. A capital is yet to been determined. It is also the closest in proximity to the Architect's city. [b]-Altamea[/b] A large expanse of wastelands, dead forests, and valuable minerals. The effects of the Lich-King's reign has marked the land in a seemingly permanent fashion. Dark energy and dangers are abundant here guarding ancient ruins and treasure with the sole remaining structure being the Lich-King's tower. All efforts to scout the area have been met with extreme causalities. [b]-Caraxis[/b] Swamp-land covers half of the land in this kingdom and the rest is a series of rolling hills. The people are the foremost experts in smithing and ingenuity, turning their aggresive environment to their advantage. [b]-Voy[/b] The oldest kingdom that remains with a government run exclusively by mages. A acamdemy devoted to magic exclusively was founded by the four major families. The active volcano area in the north is a sacred place to pyromancers. [b]-Selsta[/b] The people of Selsta pride themselves in ancient traditions and a spiritual understanding of the land around them. Selsta has had some of the greatest healers and medical minds come from them. [b]-Yolsol[/b] A tundra land host to some unusually fierce beasts, it once drew hunters from across the kingdoms. A strong sentiment of 'survial of the fittest' has lead the people's hearts. Yolsol is regarding as having the best marksmen in the kingdoms. [b]-Crux Redentor[/b] A strong system of loyalty, honor, and devotion dominates the culture of his this kingdom. A group of warriors known as the Sentinels have their headquarters here founded by the remaining paladins. The Sentinels are the only group that actively hunts down any instances of necromancy within the kingdoms and carry out the will of the High Oracle. [b]-Sotor[/b] The people of Sotor tend to live in tall, communal spires instead of typical cities. They are honest to a fault and have trouble telling or understanding lies, even sarcasm. Their unique living style is a testament to their ability to work together to accomplish great tasks. [b]-Illyria[/b] Illyria contains several pockets of a natural gas that acts like stimulant when breathed in moderation. This effect had lead to the people wearing heavy clothing and masks combined with a tank on their back to store the substance for use. [/hider] [hider= Basic Character Sheet] [center] Appearance: (Image preferred but Written description is fine as well) [img]https://i.pinimg.com/736x/76/cd/3b/76cd3b3606ea4f240d468c882ed63f00--fantasy-male-fantasy-characters.jpg[/img] Name: Age: (18+) Race: (Life expectancy of individual races do not matter) Kingdom of Origin: (Where you were born, may include town or unnamed city as well) Bio: (Your personal history and why you have been selected) Personality: (What your character acts like around others; optional) [/center] [/hider] [center][h2]Rules[/h2][/center] 1. No God-Modding 2. Please be courteous to other players (No vicious name-calling or hostility will be tolerated) 3. If two characters meet and are having an argument over what is happening, please message me. 3.a. No player character (PC) cannot force another PC to do anything. Any actions against (or with) must be suggestive only. 4. If you wish any part of the world or story to be expanded upon or just want more information, please ask. 5. You may have no more than two characters active at one time. 6. Players make not be in control of Important NPCs, such as kings or generals, but there is no issue with shop-keeps, citizens, bar tenders, etc. 7. Please PM me any character submissions for review before posting. If anything conflicts with the lore or story I will advise you on how to correct it. 8. A good standard is roughly two paragraphs a post but feel free to post more than that. 9. Most importantly have Fun!