OOC Link: https://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/173239-phosphoros/ooc

[center][h2]Phosphoros[/h2]

[img]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/46/Triumph_of_Achilles_in_Corfu_Achilleion_cropped_color_enhanced_white_balanced.png/800px-Triumph_of_Achilles_in_Corfu_Achilleion_cropped_color_enhanced_white_balanced.png[/img]

[i]“By my blood … and those before me.”[/i]
-Mennonite warrior’s oath[/center]
[hr]
	In an age lost to time, a great mountain once dwarfed these lands - lands inhabited by the ancients, corpulent and arrogant. They raised their civilizations under the shadow of this mountain and warred, drank, fucked and prospered… for a time. Their magics and excesses upset the mountain, corruption at its feet, and tolerated it no longer. A great eruption, the Omega, drenched the land in ash and fire. 
	The once-great ancients perished to a man, leaving behind their ruined temples and monoliths. For many years, the clouds of ash choked the life from anything foolish enough to linger. But it eventually settled, turning the land rich with minerals. The Omega reformed the geography into a massive plain, ringed with volcanic ranges - a land we call the Cradle. 
	Nowadays, life has returned to the Cradle and the great mountain stands no longer. Five nations thrive within its boundaries, sometimes competing, at others coexisting. The greatest and most warlike of these, Kothar, marches on its neighbor Mennon, intending to break the back of its alliance with the western nations for good. It is the largest offensive seen in centuries.
	As if this were not the worst of it, the magic of the ancients did not die out with its creators. In the shadows of the Cradle, dark things lurk unseen. Crypts are nesting places for horrors, children are snatched in the dead of night, shadows descend on caravans that are never seen again. 
	Legends tell of men and women of great ability, strength and character rising against such adversaries and emerging victorious. In times of need it is said they will appear, triumphant against insurmountable odds and bringing balance to the Cradle. If there was a time to make themselves known, now would be it.

[center][i]It is a time of war, a time of monsters, but most of all, a time of heroes.[/i][/center]
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Welcome! This RP revolves around the volcanic plains of the Cradle, a bountiful, yet dangerous land of war, monsters, magic and myth. The story takes place in the midst of a war between the kingdoms of Kothar and Mennon, and threatens to drag neighboring states into the fighting. As the war rages, ancient creatures stir in long-forgotten tombs, awoken by the scent of blood and ancient magics that linger, cast by long-dead civilizations. You will step into the shoes of a great individual, akin to a classical hero, their companions or any other gifted persona. The RP will take you on a journey across the breadth of the Cradle and into the heart of Kothar - your deeds etched into legend and your spear into the heart of your enemies. 

[hider=Civilizations of the Cradle]
*To be expanded upon in the OOC & IC*

Kothar - the dominant polity within the Cradle. Most warlike of the civilizations. Often the chief antagonist, requiring smaller states to form temporary alliances in times of war. Has annexed tribes in the past, growing fat on tribute from these peoples. Many heroes come from Kothar and a great many more of its people aspire to become one, someday. Its soldiers are very disciplined and well-armed. 

Roshad - insulated from the armies of Koshar by the other Cradle states, Roshad boasts the most learned academics of them all. It is known for its great library of texts uncovered from prehistoric (pre-eruption) ruins, and has sent many expeditions into these depths. There are whispers of strange happenings and sorcery within Roshad’s walls - who can say for certain what goes on behind them?  

Mennon - the nation at the heartland of the Cradle. Mennon has born the brunt of many Kothar offensives throughout history, and is the de facto leader of military alliances to counter its attacks. It has strong agriculture, thanks to the volcanic minerals, and a tradition of horsemanship. The second most powerful of the Cradle civilizations.     

Silesea - The southernmost nation. Ruled not by kings, but by a confederation of representatives from each of its major tribes. A strong mercantile power, blessed with mineral deposits and most of the few rivers in the Cradle. Known for its archers and light troops. Mennonite grain is ground into flour via watermill and sold for profit.   

Baccum - Little is known about the Baccum. They are a private civilization that little have the desire to interact with. Among the other civilizations they present themselves nearly naked, covered in tattoos and with their wiry, animalistic muscles decorated with purposeful scarring. Often rumors appear about cannibalism and other barbaric acts in their often untouched lands, their representatives are uneager to dispel the rumors. From the outside they seem an unintelligent people of hunting and infighting, but others speculate it is simply a facade, a grand illusion to keep the others at bay, and if this is true, it has worked. 
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More info and sheets to be released on OOC. This is a preliminary check for interest and chance to ask questions before more work is done.