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[h1]Edged Horizon[/h1]
[color=6ecff6][i]In the end, the fruits of their efforts bore only ashes, and she stood alone on the mountain of glass.

The goliaths advanced, each step causing another fracture, another fissure over the last testament of their struggle.

It wouldn't last. What they protected no longer existed, and what they fought for no longer mattered.

A final sigh left her body, as both hands wrapped around a black sword.

No. A black Key.

There was nothing left.

But even then, she would not surrender.

"One last time."[/i][/color]

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[img]http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b477/ERode/Second%20Horizon/Banner1_zps21ebe29a.png[/img]

A mere 15 years ago, the Jeualian Empire, a military powerhouse, rampaged through the lands on an unchallenged conquest. With towering war machines and weaponry fifty years ahead of its time, there were no countries that could stand up against them. With unbelievable ease, the red flag of the Jeaulian Empire was planted over half of the kingdoms, principalities, and city-states on the continent. The people were subjugated, their cultures homogenized, and soon, they too became part of the gears that moved the Empire.

It was at the halfway point, however, that the unwavering armies of the Empire were forced to halt. For, in the southern half of the continent laid three nations that, together, could indeed challenge the Empire’s sovereignty. Joining arms in the face of a common foe, the theocracy of Astopol, the monarchy of Illiserev, and the democracy of Dansila marched under a common flag, led by the Knight-Commander, Mirelle Keep. Even the monsters of Talze Utera joined in the war effort, as the Elders of the Scarlet Court put aside their feud with Astopol to feast on the blood of the Empire.

For months on end, the armies clashed, a hail of iron met by a hail of magic, every ambush reciprocated, every defeat paid for in blood. The land turned into ash, as conflagrations marred the battlefield. The wastelands became marshes, soil tainted with lifeblood. Over and over again, the war was waged, a mountain of corpses growing as the days passed on.

But the difference in resources was slowly becoming clear. The war machine of the Empire was powered by the hundreds of nations that they’ve conquered, while the defensive war waged by the coalition left their own lands razed. In a final, desperate offensive, all the armies of the coalition decided to strike head-on, signing a suicide pact that had no chance of victory.

On that day, as war hymns were sung and good byes were said, humans became the horizon, as two massive armies met on opposite sides.

With a selfless, selfish charge, the Knight-Commander led the horde of metal and flesh into her final large-scale confrontation with the Jeualian Empire.

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And then, just a little bit, the world cracked.

A soul-trembling sound broke over the horizon, as the sky shattered. From the darkness, never-before-seen monsters fell onto the barren fields like mud. And, just as incoherently as they came, those beings attacked, mindlessly lashing out at both sides. Incidents of these popped up all over the continent, as tears in the skies heralded the coming of these alien beings. Unable to fight a war on two fronts, especially with the majority of their forces concentrated in foreign land, the Empire retreated, closing off its borders with massive walls.

Their retreat was both the end of the war, and the beginning of a new one. Massive civilian casualties were incurred as these monsters, dubbed ‘rift-beasts’, appeared at random, rampaging through even the most heavily-fortified cities. They did not respond to any attempt at communication, and could not be stopped by anything less than high-class magic spells. A thoughtless, mindless, merciless enemy that acted with no purpose other than to attack.

Talze Utera was the first to disperse, seeking amnesty in the miasma that was their home.

The Coalition quickly broke apart, selfishly defending the well-being of their own kingdoms. The rift-beasts were not an enemy that could be defeated by a ‘combined’ force, and soon, all friendly relationships broke down between Dansila, Astopol, and Illiserev. No charity existed between them, and they crumbled under their own inability to eliminate these alien threats. Already weakened by their battles against the Jeualian Empire, the kingdoms fell into anarchy as the unknown monsters continued their senseless onslaught.

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It was in that dark hour, known as the ‘Talentless Strife’, that a special material named ‘Talentium’ was discovered.

Extracted from the bodies of dead rift-beasts, it was a ghostly metal that could be forged into a weapon stronger, sharper, and more durable than any past crafting material. Furthermore, though, Talentium was a metal that resonated with the will of the wielder. A mage would find themselves capable of achieving magical feats they’d never have dreamed of, while a swordsman would find themselves filled with strength that was beyond human.

With the first sword crafted by the Dansilan prodigy, Alier Velone, and wielded by the Astopolian captain, Aiv Recourt, it finally appeared that the rift-beasts could be driven back. Each encounter and victory brought forth more Talentium, and thus, allowed for more soldiers to gain the power necessary to fight off those amorphous monsters. Slowly, but surely, the coalition stood as one again. Knights, mages, soldiers, pilots, all people from all three nations worked together, scattering themselves to respond quickly to any rift-appearances.

Step by step, the Talentless Strife gave way to the March of Light.

In the end, through the valiant efforts of Mirelle Keep, who single-handedly dispatched a thousand rift beasts that poured out from north of Astopol, and Aiv Recourt, who slew the World-Eater, the rift-beast large enough to blot out the sun, the three nations could breathe easily once more. Rifts began to appear less, and the advent of Talentium had accelerated their living standards remarkably.

It was an era of peace, of training, of development, as fallow fields were tended to, as the lands were restored to their past glory. It was a time of rest, broken only by the few rift-beasts that appeared, and the residents of Talze Utera that hunted.

But such tranquility could not persist.

Not in a world that tore itself apart.

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[color=6ecff6][i]For the accursed wheel continues to turn, even when reset.

For individual fates continue to convene, even when untangled.

For the Man in Red continues to move..

His progress is unmade.

But his purpose remains.

All for the sake of [b][i]Kana[/i][/b].[/i][/color]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUwGxvm9MJM[/youtube]
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[hider=Astopol]
[img]http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b477/ERode/Second%20Horizon/Banner12_zpsa7309dc6.png[/img]
Astopol is a country that centers around the worship of the Goddess of Miracles. Led by the High Priestess Cairyn, protected by the Grandmaster Savaniel and policed by the Knight-Commander Farnor, it could be considered the most ‘blessed’ nation out of all four of them. Despite being situated in mountainous territory, it is flush with greenery and practically untouched by the banshee-cries of winter. Their farmers produce good harvests year round, and while other nations have a variety of seasons, Astopol stands distinct due to its weather conditions being a never-ending spring. At odds with the man-eating beasts that roam Talze Utera, Astopolian knights often crusade within the dark miasma.
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Historically, Astopol has produced the strongest practitioners of Sword Arts and Sword Skills to date. As such, they also hold the largest military force.
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[hider=Illiserev]
[img]http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b477/ERode/Second%20Horizon/Banner11_zpsfbef4f9a.png[/img]
When the other nations prepared for the war against the Jeaulian Empire, Illiserev stayed away from conflict, playing a supportive role. The current King, Lazaros the Third, is a rational, peaceful man who’d rather focus on making the kingdom as a whole more prosperous than to fight wars that would be avoided if people were slower to anger. In the lands of Illiserev, there are hosts of noble families with masses of wealth, stemming from centuries past. Few people are unable to find jobs in Illiserev, as the harsh land of Illiserev, beset with blizzards and tidal waves and a host of other natural phenomenon means that there is always something that needs to be repaired or remade or reinforced. Despite its monarchial status, it truly is a land of opportunity.
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Interestingly enough, Illiserev has never had a standing army. Instead, the maids and butlers employed in the houses of nobles are trained in the art of combat, to protect their masters from any potential threat. Unlike the knights of Astopol, these men and women specialize in disarming and disabling, something that is extremely effective against those that have become too reliant on Talentium.
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[hider=Dansila]
[img]http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b477/ERode/Second%20Horizon/Banner10_zps80f3e841.png[/img]
	Dansila is a pleasant land, with seasonal changes that aren’t extreme at all. Their winters are snowy and their summers are hot, making them rather ordinary in every way. Similarly, they have their fair share of hills, fields, mountains, and forests, but nothing particularly in excess. A democratic nation that puts emphasis on academia, Dansila is monitored by a governing body by the name of the Sidosa Board. Composed of scholars and leaders, they manage the majority of the funding for universities in Dansila, and are elected every five years. Despite this, however, the people in the Sidosa Board have remained relatively the same, with positions passed down from one generation to the next.
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With a focus on technological advancement, Dansila has always had a small military force, enhanced by technology. Noteworthy is the fact that they were the first nation to utilize rudimentary firearms, and still have a division within their military that is dedicated to its usage.
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[hider=Talze Utera]
[img]http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b477/ERode/Second%20Horizon/Banner13_zps15aa3bcd.png[/img]
Less of a nation and more of a plague, Talze Utera exists as a dark miasma, a heavy mist over certain areas that persist for decades without dispersing. Because of this, it could be said that Talze Utera is everywhere and nowhere, present in the lands of every other nation. With no proper ruler, it is a nation with a menagerie of races, too many to count. Anarchism is common here, and it is only through a show of strength that obedience is gotten. Every race is highly independent, often skirmishing with one another for no reason other than because they wanted to.
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Residents of Talze Utera are expected to help themselves, not to depend on some shoddy military, and as a result, blood is often shed in conflicts both interior and exterior.
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[hider=Rift Beasts and Talentium]
[img]http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b477/ERode/Second%20Horizon/Banner7_zps8151447b.png[/img]
Rift Beasts are monsters that are not of this world. They appear from cracks in the sky, seeping down onto the ground in a thick, black mud, before taking on a more bestial form. There are rarely two Rift Beasts that have the same appearance, and the only similarities that lie in this phantasmal race is that they bleed a putrid blood, and that they are an extraordinarily resilient existence. Extreme temperatures appear to have no effect on them, and they have no sense of pain, breaking through bonds with no concern given to their bodily well-being. Outside of a powerful magical attack or a superhumanly powerful strike, there is no way to kill a Rift Beast.

In death, however, the Rift Beast does not rot. Instead, this abnormal being will crystallize, becoming a crystal-white sculpture of itself. This crystal can be chipped away rather easily, until one gets to the ‘core’ of the statue, in which the ore, Talentium, lays. Often seen in the shape of a sphere, this silvery metal emits a white mist and can be forged in the same manner as iron. However, it is immensely more durable than the latter material, capable of maintaining a razor-sharp edge through tens of battles. A superior metal in every respect, it is a sign of both prestige and talent.
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Its physical attributes, though, are not the greatest advantage that Talentium provides.
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[hider=Arts and Skills]
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Talentium is an ore that resonates with its user. Certain people have an aptitude for using this odd metal, and because of that, are capable of drawing out the true benefits of Talentium much easier than those who are ‘untalented’.

For females, Talentium enhances their ability to cast magic. By pushing their mana through Talentium, they are able to bring forth much more power than normally possible. A lightning bolt becomes a pillar of electricity. A fire ball becomes a torrent of flames. A gust of wind becomes a howling tornado. Spells that once required preparation and incantations were now cast with the same ease as the most basic of magic. Due to this, Sword Arts were created, a martial arts that combined swordplay with magic. Physical strikes were synchronized with magical might, creating a complex waltz of the physical and the metaphysical. While the majority of Sword Arts center around utilizing a single element, there have been a few rarer styles that involve illusions, or barriers, or buffs.

Most famous of these special Sword Arts is the Six Winged Style of Mirelle Keep, in which one accelerates themselves to the extent where they can appear at six different places in a single moment.

For males, Talentium strengthens their bodies to extraordinary levels. While the manner of ‘strengthening’ depends on the person in question, there is one similarity that unites all of them. As men are normally incapable of using magic, it is not ‘mana’ that is pushed into Talentium, but ‘willpower’. The power they gain comes from their personal view of what ‘power’ is. Some become fast. Others become strong. Most strike a balance. A few become durable. Yet, unlike Sword Arts, Sword Skills is not a ‘style’, but a ‘path’.

There is a saying amongst users of Sword Skills: It is not a path of selflessness, but of selfishness, an earnest wish paid for by using your body as a collateral.
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Sword Skills are not waltzes, not displays of eloquent skill, but an attack born from single-minded savagery. They can be attained through training, passed on from one to another, but Sword Skills, in general, are considered singular attacks, each skill meant to end a fight.
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[hider=Magic]
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Despite the advent of Talentium, and how magic has a whole has been revolutionized, there are still things that Talentium is incapable of doing. Thus, there are still practitioners more traditional methods of magecraft. More specifically, the arts of healing, cursing, and summoning are still done without the aid of Talentium, and a skilled, experienced mage is still capable of holding her own against a Talented individual. While healing is a magic that can be used by any person, Cursemaking and Summoning are tools that are the trade secrets of the Witches.

Cursemaking is a magic that requires finesse instead of raw magical output. Often crafted over the course of many days, Curses draw strength from their ‘odd’ conditions. They inflict psychological damage or lasting effects, and the most dangerous of them would afflict the victim for the entirety of their lifespan. Unlike elemental magic, which simply takes what is already ‘possible’ in reality and then uses it, Curses are capable of bringing out the impossible. The sins of a human can be made physical. The mind of a man can be aged fifty years without changing the body. The regrets of one’s life can cling onto them, dragging them down into the depths of self-loathing. A victim of a curse has two ‘normal’ options to free themselves. They can either live with it, or they can find the witch that cast the curse upon them and kill her.

The other tool used by witches is Summoning magic, the ability to form a contract with a spirit that exists on the ethereal plain. In exchange for the pleasure of ‘physically existing’, the spirit must abide to the instructions of person who summoned them. While there are many ancient tomes that speak of contracts with mythical, god-like spirits, most summons nowadays are pretty much just run-of-the-mill monsters. It is said that the Vampiric art of Necromancy stems from Summoning magic.
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While magic is normally something that only females can use, there have been a few incidents in which men were able to use it. In such a case, these men hold the potential to become masters of the art.
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[hider=Gods of War]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/X1BjiAp.png[/img]
Colossals of another era, Gods of War are golems of steel and fire, standing at 15 to 20 meters tall, each of them distinct. Treasures of the highest class, these Gods of War have, in a pre-Talentium era, been seen as protectors of cities and champions of the people, their might absolute against all but the greatest of mages. Each God of War can only function with the command of their Chosen, and wields a unique weapon of gargantuan size.

Pilots of these Gods of War often ride on top of them, rising high above opposing forces as they smite them with superior strength. After all, at such a height, when shielded by a near-immortal golem of untold strength, they were practically invincible. Only a God of War can defeat a God of War, unless one used subterfuge to assassinate the Chosen.

Of course, all the Gods of War that the Coalition had didn’t matter in the face of the Jeaulian Empire’s mechanized army, and now, in a world where humans have power equal to or greater than Gods of War, many believe that these titans are no longer relevant, just a relic from another time.
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[hider=Map]
[img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/46225469/RP/EH/ehmap.png[/img]
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