[center][color=2e2c2c][table][row][cell]_______[/cell][cell][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019afaa1-e127-7523-89e8-8a0fc4ca55ae.webp[/img][/cell][cell]_______[/cell][/row][/table][/color][/center]

[center]— [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJjQVIPadPY]♫[/url] —[/center]

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[center][sup][sup][h3][i]"The Eternal Throne of Man lay empty. Let it lie."[/i][/h3][/sup][/sup][sup][sup][h3][color=a9a9a9][i]— Aeolus the Forgebound[/i][/color][/h3][/sup][/sup][/center]

[sup][color=D9BCB6]"Come, children, sit by the fire. It's time to tell the tale of the Godfall. Side by side, now, gather round. This story is important, one you should forever remember, so as not to repeat the mistakes of the past.

Our story begins where the gods' ended, in the Great Void. Time is vast and endless, and in the many, many years before our flock came into being, there was nothing in that deep, crushing darkness. It should be said, though, that in the immense pressure of the void, a diamond was born—our home, this beautiful land we call Makyos. At first, it was barren, held together by the weight of the Great Void, lifeless and incomplete. It was here that the gods, may they be at peace in the realms beyond, took pity on it and decided to give it life.

We owe our existence to Ihlo, Mother of Creation, and her descendant, E'co the Rootmother. Through their breaths, through their steps and dances and tears, Makyos was made living and colorful, swirling with wind and water, burgeoning with flora and fauna, inhabited by the existing. Ihlo's brother, Bellua, inflicted us with mortality not as a curse, but as a way of giving us the ability to appreciate the time we have with one another. Love exists because of him. Nachma-Sol is responsible for ability to learn and grow wise, to speak and read and write the languages of all our people, to express ourselves, to be attentive and mindful of our pasts, presents, and futures. Nihalla, he who was betrothed forever to our Mother, gave us perseverance and determination, to persist in the face of overwhelming odds. He gave us hope and bravery.

And Aramais, reviled as he may have been, gave us the awareness of knowing we are not perfect. He gave us the ability to desire, to seek and satiate our sins, to become awash in hedonism and impropiety. Through this, we were given the most difficult and important choice—to be good despite our flaws. To work toward a brighter future. To become something better than our sins.

When we were made, we were directionless, but it was through them that we found purpose in our lives: to grow and prosper and evolve. To live for the sake of continuity, and to do so, we needed a leader.

The gods were not meant to lead us, but in one of their last decrees, they gave us the Eternal Throne of Man. It was unbreakable, made to outlast all who lived before, all who live now, and all who could live in the future. They determined that Man should lead Man, that we could only grow when taught by our peers, and so they commanded that whoever would take the Throne would be given the spoken blessing of the divine and dominion over mortalkind. Our records do not tell us of the first being who took the Throne, but the tales passed down to us from countless generations called them Votum.

According to those tales, our lives were peaceful for a time, by the vices instilled in us by Aramais led to greed and a lust for power. Votum was murdered, and another took their place, and then another, and then another. The reigns of those upon the Throne were cut short often, and soon, there was no one to place themselves upon that fabled seat of power. Endless war plagued the realms of Makyos, staining the land of the Eternal Throne a permanent red. The air was thick with the stench of smoke and death, with the cries of anguish and suffering. It was here that the gods, may they be at peace in the realms beyond, chose to intervene.

Little ones, know this. The gods had strength beyond comparison. To touch the very soil we walked upon invited calamity in their wake, and though they didn't mean to, their presence among us led to unexpected destruction. Many of us died in the wake of their salvation, and Ihlo was so overcome with the guilt of her actions that her weeping lasted for a hundred days. Despite his best efforts, Nihalla could not comfort her, and a part of him grew resentful of us for having warred among ourselves to such an extent that an intervention like that was made. Bellua fed from our demise and grew large, something for which we could not fault him, for the Great Devourer returns us all to our origin. Nachma-Sol implanted within us the pain of reckoning, to help us come to terms with our slaughtering of each other. This event would be known as the Sundering.

But, Aramais, reviled as he was, was gleeful. He saw what happened among us as the greatest offering of worship. Aramais was pleased.

After her grief had ended, Ihlo made a decision to leave us to ourselves, and beckoned her family to take to the skies with her, where Man could not go. She took the form of a dragon, and her ilk followed suit, launching into the skies and separating themselves from us, but Aramais would stay behind. In the midst of the destruction and chaos that had been sewn, Aramais wished to seize the opportunity to become stronger, to outclass his kind and become the most powerful of the gods. Nachma-Sol, however, he who is knowledge unending, had foreseen Aramais' ascent to power and the subsequent destruction of that was made, and warned the others of his plan.

We are not privy to the events of the Godfall, but there are two things that every tale of such a cataclysm inherits.

The first is that Ihlo, Mother of Creation, Light of the Void, was killed. The second was that the gods, as a whole, vanished, never to be seen again. We have been alone since then. All the gods and all their patrons are gone, yet we still cling to their former presence, to their ideals and beliefs, as it gives us comfort in uncertainty. Such is the way of faith. Such is the need for an answer.

The Throne, in its infinite existence, has also disappeared, buried beneath thousands of years of civilization, the rise and fall of empires, the lives and deaths of the countless mortals that wandered and made their names here in Makyos. In all but name, it has been forgotten, and we have learned to live without its power. Despite their absence, we as mortalkind have continued to exist, a testament of gods' gifts, and it's up to us—and yes, you too, children—to not take them for granted. All of this could end in an instant, so we must appreciate all that we have and all that we are."

[color=B6D3D9]"Elder Ohko, do you think someone will find the Throne in the future?"[/color]

"Child... if the Eternal Throne was made known to exist once more, the world—as we have come to know and love—will end."[/color][/sup]
[center]____________________[/center]

[sup][h2][i][color=black]T H E   W O R L D   O F   M A K Y O S[/color]
[sup][sup][color=goldenrod]e y e   o f   t h e   m o t h e r[/color][/sup][/sup][/i][/h2][/sup][hr]
[sup][color=D9BCB6][color=C2D9B6]"Elder Ohko, Elder Ohko! Can you tell us about the world again?"[/color]

"Again? Heheheh. Why the sudden interest?"

[color=C2D9B6]"I'm not getting younger, Elder... I'll have to go on my pilgrimage soon!"[/color]

"Pilgrimage? My, the youth are growing so quickly these days! Fair enough—it only makes sense that you know of the world you will eventually wander through. Listen well.

The world of Makyos is divided into eight regions. These regions are known as Siliach, Verja, The Cascades, Lamafon, Lune's Shelf, The Saltlands, the Quill Islands and, finally, the Zeniths. Most of the regions, respective of their climates are considered habitable, while others are considered dangerous."[/color][/sup]

[hider=Siliach]
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[sup][h2][i][color=black]S I L I A C H[/color]
[sup][sup][color=goldenrod]t h e   i r o n   w a l l[/color][/sup][/sup][/i][/h2][/sup][hr]
[sup][color=D9BCB6]"Siliach is a reclusive and restrictive region, bordered on all sides by a structure known famously as the [i]Patronaat[/i]—the Iron Wall, and with good reason. In recent times, there's been a curse placed upon the kingdom. Each ruler within the last 40 years has been murdered, and the current ruler wishes to escape that curse entirely, so restrictions on entering and leaving the region have been placed, with security tightened all across the land. The only entry point into Siliach is Port Kaigurne, a location famous for its stringent policies and thorough searches that is only approachable by the sea. Even then, you'll need a special permit to enter the region; if you're not a merchant, these permits are hard to come by, and the waiting list to acquire one is so long that you'll be as old as I am by the time you get in!"

[color=C2D9B6]"Have you ever been inside, Elder?"[/color]

"Several times, child. Before I became Elder, I was both a pilgrim and diplomat for our flock, but this was decades before the current state of the region. Still, Siliach's air was rigid. Soldiers patrolled every path and remained ever vigilant for any threats to the kingdom. Frequent searches and seizures were held against the citizens of that place. As a diplomat, I was lucky to be left enough alone, though I was subject to endless interrogation by the Death Guard."

[color=C2D9B6]"The Death Guard?"[/color]

"They're not as scary as the name implies, little one. The Death Guard are the lord's elite soldiers, tasked with upholding peace in the realm, as well as protecting the kingdom. In the days that I roamed the lands inside the Patronaat, they were less overbearing, but in the wake of myriad lordly deaths, their members and the evolution of their ranks have changed. I wouldn't be surprised if they've made the citizens fearful, but at heart, they have good intentions... I hope.

"Still, the lands of Siliach are verdant and beautiful, with the grasslands of the Sojourn beholding great majesties the likes of which of no other land can claim. From that area alone, one can bear witness to the breadth of the world, from the blistering deserts of Verja to the spires of the Cascades to the sky-borne Zeniths and beyond."[/color][/sup][/hider]
[hider=Verja]
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[sup][h2][i][color=black]V E R J A[/color]
[sup][sup][color=goldenrod]b l o o d   o f   t h e   l a n d[/color][/sup][/sup][/i][/h2][/sup][hr]
[sup][color=D9BCB6][color=C2D9B6]"I've heard that Verja's really hot."[/color]

"Unbearably so, child, and even hotter in the Hadal Zone."

[color=C2D9B6]"What's a hadal zone?"[/color]

"Not 'a', child, 'the'. The Hadal Zone is the hottest place on Makyos, with temperatures so high that no being can last more than an hour inside its embrace. The very sands have turned to glass, and the place was once used as a means of execution for criminals and traitors."

[color=C2D9B6]"What happened to them?"[/color]

"For better or worse—they returned to their origin, in the embrace of Bellua. But enough of that, there's more to know of the deserts of Verja. You will never find a more diverse people than within the dunes of the region. Ogra, ylva, huma, and yes—even us, the eidola—you can find all of us within the melting pot of the desert, for the people of Verja are not united by race, but by a primal belief in the nature of the world. Within each of them rests a great respect for the world and its gifts, namely water, for which the people of Verja name the 'blood of the earth'.

"Sadly, it's water over which the region has been divided. Verja has been locked in a civil war between the Aquus and Ceir clans for decades, with many nomadic innocents caught in the crossfire. As they battle for control over the region, their violence disturbs Mount Atyunnata, a dormant volcano that has recently seen its fair share of strife and provocation. Reports say that Lady Eirelia la Mir, leader of the Ceir, plans to use the eruption to severely cripple the Aquus, if not remove them entirely.

"Regardless of what could happen, if you wish to travel through Verja, you should be prepared. Training with Keiha in the mountain forge will help you develop your strength; with Vestamel in the Stratos trials, your speed and wit. You'll need these things to counter the potential violence you will face. Bandits and raiders both prowl the sands that surround the Hadal Zone, and one wrong move will see your possessions and, perhaps, your life stolen from you. Granted, our flock can fly, but the Verja are not capable of ranged combat, but of manipulating the primal force of fire. It is recommended to avoid combat at all costs, but if you can't, strike hard and fast.

"Outside of the ne-er-do-wells within the desert, you'll encounter many nomadic tribes that belong to neither Aquus or Ceir. Some of these wanderers are merchants that deal not in coin, but in trade and favors. Satisfy their needs, and they will take care of you. Share with them the natures of the outside world, and they will admire you."[/color][/sup][/hider]
[hider=The Cascades]
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[sup][h2][i][color=black]T H E   C A S C A D E S[/color]
[sup][sup][color=goldenrod]p i n n a c l e s   o f   t h e   c o m p r o m i s e[/color][/sup][/sup][/i][/h2][/sup][hr]
[sup][color=D9BCB6]"The Cascades are a label given to two giant opposing landmasses, each more mountainous and vertical than its counterparts across Makyos. Survival in its higher elevations requires endurance the likes of which no other resident is capable. The country is home to regal kingdoms and resplendent architechture, the efforts of centuries of Ylvan habitation. The Cascades are ruled over by two Ylvan families, the Alenjas and the Bhelvilles, both of whom vie for the other's territories.

"War, however, is out of the question for the sake of Thuata, the neutral capital of the Cascades that sits firmly on an island planted between—and suspended by—the two halves of the country. The reason for this is the Thuatan College of Alchemy, the only one of its kind in the world, and its headmaster—the legendary alchemist Valmar Gren—whose attentions hardly include the state of the country. Instead, the heads of the Alenja and Bhelville families send their children to the College in the hopes that one of which will discover an elusive, mythical alchemical formula known as the 'Hand of Midas'. Such a discovery would likely pull Headmaster Gren to their side, ensuring victory over their enemies without a drop of blood.

"The Cascades are home to all freelancers and serve as the entry point for guilds across Makyos. Any guild that exists must first register with the Guildroot Society, who funds and provides amenities to guilds across the world. Because of this, the Society employs a small but elite group of highly-skilled individuals known as the Adjudicators, whose sole job is to evaluate the effectiveness and standing of guilds all over Makyos. Guilds who fall below the standards of the Adjudicators are subsequently dismantled and deregistered, the names of those within scrubbed from Guildroot Society records and effectively purged from memory."

[color=C2D9B6]"Alchemy is considered magic, right? Do you know any magic, Elder?"[/color]

"Alchemy sits on the fringe of magic, so much that it's hard to say. To answer your question, child—very little, but I do. However, the Compromise is absolute in its trade, and what I sacrificed of myself to be able to understand its secrets was, sadly, not worth it. I will never fly again, not that I need to in my old age. If you, too, wish to learn magic, you will need to understand what it takes to do so. Magic is costly, both in learning and in practice."[/color][/sup]
[/hider]
[hider=Lune's Shelf and the Saltlands]
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[sup][h2][i][color=black]L U N E ' S   S H E L F   |   T H E   S A L T L A N D S[/color]
[sup][sup][color=goldenrod]c r a d l e   o f   g h o s t s[/color][/sup][/sup][/i][/h2][/sup][hr]
[sup][color=D9BCB6]"Do you remember why Lune's Shelf is named so?"

[color=C2D9B6]"It's named after Lune, the god of night!"[/color]

"Correct! Well done, little one. For remembering, I'll give you half my fish at tonight's supper. Make sure to eat it all—the strongest of us all share the same fullness, in body and spirit."

[color=C2D9B6]"Lune's Shelf is so small, Elder. Does anyone live there?"[/color]

"Yes, child, but the Shelf is a place we do not go. Those that live there have a special place among the people of Makyos. Caretakers and shepherds, all. Though very few share space there in such a small community, they are tight-knit and care for each other and their charges with such ferocity that they are willing to risk life and limb for it. Legends say the Adjudicators of the Guilds are trained there exclusively."

[color=C2D9B6]"The Adjudicators are so cool... but they're not caretakers, Elder. What do the people there take care of?"[/color]

"The Saltlands, child. Lune's Shelf sits to the south of the Cascades, and the Saltlands to the east of the Shelf nearby. Have you ever wondered why we don't bury our dead here?"

[color=C2D9B6]"Why?"[/color]

"In ancient myth, as we were being made flesh, Bellua gave to us mortality. That mortality is meant to feed Bellua, to complete the cycle and return us to the origin of our birth, but our deaths stain and infect the ground, turn it arid and poisonous. Lord Imbricado of Lamafon, fearing that our short lives would bring the diamond that is Makyos to ruin, designated a stretch of land as our burial ground. All who die are brought to the Saltlands by the monks of the entombed city of Sepkur and are taken care of from then on by the shepherds of Lune's Shelf. For reasons that remain unknown even to a wise bird such as myself, the waters that surround the Saltlands have turned the shores white with excess salt, locked the spirits of the world to this small collection of islands. The shepherds of the Shelf are then tasked with laying these souls to rest; an eternal endeavor, but one they take most seriously.

"Naturally, not all dead are interred in the Saltlands. Our numbers, as mortalkind, are uncountable, not for lack of trying. There are bound to be spirits that wander the lands, tainted earth that remains a nest for indiscriminate evil."

[color=C2D9B6]"Has anything ever occurred in the outside world from the bodies not being buried in the Saltlands?"[/color]

"Yes, child. I am glad you asked."[/color][/sup][/hider]
[hider=Lamafon]
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[sup][h2][i][color=black]L A M A F O N[/color]
[sup][sup][color=goldenrod]s c a r r e d   w o m b   o f   e ' c o[/color][/sup][/sup][/i][/h2][/sup][hr]
[sup][color=D9BCB6]"Long ago, before you and I and those of our current flock existed, there was the First Tear. It was a terrible disaster that nearly destroyed the overgrown, forested regions of Lamafon, tearing it asunder and oblitering much of its wildlife and people. You see, child, the soil of Lamafon is special, infused with a type of energy that makes it susceptible to quick growth of its flora, and death only exists to speed up that process. This, in itself, is not disastrous, but the reach such a tainted energy had extended all the way into the central sanctuary of Lamafon, dubbed E'co's Heart. There, it corrupted the core roots of the land's growth, and with that corruption came the First Tear.

"There was nothing that could be done to stop it at the time, but the people of Lamafon slowly rebuilt the region into what it is today. Lord El'ech von Imbricado, lord of Djolgn Balan and ruler of Lamafon, commanded that the dead should be buried elsewhere, lest another event like the First Tear were to occur. Since then, the other regions followed suit, recognizing the destruction the First Tear caused. The Saltlands became our burial ground, and the rest has been carved in stone."

[color=C2D9B6]"Is the Heart okay?"[/color]

"It is now, but it took quite some time to restore its stability. Now, Lamafon is back to its prolific self, teeming with life in every corner, and it all culminates in the region's capital, Djolgn Balan the Mushroom City. Its architecture towers over even that of the Cascades, nearly touching the clouds. Living within the city is not for the weak, and it takes a lot of conditioning to get used to the thin atmosphere, but it's a beautiful, sprawling city. If you find yourself brave and hardy enough, you should visit. I hear the Grand Library holds many a secret to Makyotan history."[/color][/sup]
[/hider]
[hider=The Quill Islands and the Zeniths]
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[sup][h2][i][color=black]T H E   Q U I L L   I S L A N D S   |   T H E   Z E N I T H S[/color]
[sup][sup][color=goldenrod]a   h i s t o r y   l o s t[/color][/sup][/sup][/i][/h2][/sup][hr]
[sup][color=D9BCB6]"I often find myself placing these two together because they share something in common—both lack a recorded history. Traveling to the Zeniths is not impossible, but it is extremely dangerous, as the only accessible path is upon an enormous, swinging chain originating from Lamafon itself that is miles long. The Zeniths themselves are a collection of floating islands that sit above the clouds in the center of all the regions, out of reach for all but the most intrepid adventurers (and foolish, if you ask me). Because of the nature of such a trek, there is no record of anyone returning from the climb. Those that tried had their lifeless bodies fished from the Kahalen Sea for such an attempt.

Likewise, traveling to the Quill Islands isn't impossible, but you will find naught but ruins and pirates there. The ruins themselves have been either picked clean or are so far underwater that diving for their supposed treasures is unlikely without catching the attention of That Which Lives Below. The islands themselves get their name from the shape of their collection, that bearing resemblance to a large feather. If you travel there to see what remains of its withering history, keep your possessions close. The pirates there will do everything they can to pick you clean."[/color][/sup][/hider]
[center]____________________[/center]

[sup][h2][i][color=black]T H E   R A C E S   O F   M A K Y O S[/color]
[sup][sup][color=goldenrod]d i s p a r a t e   s o u l s ,   s h a r e d   b l o o d[/color][/sup][/sup][/i][/h2][/sup][hr]
[sup][color=BAB57D]"Easy, Ra'am. We have to be careful with the artifacts we pull from the dirt."

[color=C2D9B6]"Sorry, sir. I've never done something like this before. I'm eager to learn about the people of the world. Doctor Winst, could you tell me about the races of Makyos again? I'd like to know more about them before I travel on to meet them."[/color]

"Of course, boy. To know people is to connect with them. Who should I start with first?"[/color][/sup]

[hider=Huma]
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[sup][h2][i][color=black]H U M A[/color]
[sup][sup][color=goldenrod]p o p u l o u s   a n d   f l e e t i n g[/color][/sup][/sup][/i][/h2][/sup][hr]
[sup][color=BAB57D]"My people, the huma, are the shortest living of all races on Makyos. Our typical lifespan ranges anywhere between 60 and 80 years, if we're not dumb enough to cut it in half the first chance we get.

"Like the ogra and ylva, we have front facing eyes in a swathe of colors, though nothing so unique like what you might find among their kind. We are not as slender or as tall as the ylva, nor are we as brawny and tough as the ogra. We cannot fly or run fast like your kind, and our adaptability to temperature and the pressure of depth is nothing like the saura. Our advantages lie in our numbers and our wit. While there are some individuals that display higher wisdom and intelligence than our general average, we are typically smarter than most. However, that intelligence has been weaponized to do some stupid things, and that in consequence tends to inflate our egos, so make of that what you will.

"We are good with all manner of weapons, and make use of magic in more ways than other races. Most methods of travel you see these days are a direct result of our ingenuity. We hail mainly from Siliach, to the north, but my people can be found elsewhere, like the deserts of Verja—where our foolishness in thinking we can fight the sun flourishes the most."

[color=C2D9B6]"Is there a momentous point in history where the huma were recognized?"[/color]

"There is, actually, but records won't tell you that. The first person to sit upon the Eternal Throne, all those years ago, was a huma. His name was Votum, brother of Delta, and he was kind, if the stories are to be believed. But stories are just that. Without written history, there's no concrete source of information, and even those that do exist can simply be hearsay. It's been too long—we can only believe, now. Knowing is impossible."[/color][/sup][/hider]
[hider=Ogra]
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[sup][h2][i][color=black]O G R A[/color]
[sup][sup][color=goldenrod]s t a l w a r t   a n d   p o w e r f u l[/color][/sup][/sup][/i][/h2][/sup][hr]
[sup][color=BAB57D][color=C2D9B6]"How strong are the ogra?"[/color]

"They were on the frontlines when the First Tear happened. If it wasn't for them venturing into E'co's Heart almost entirely on their own, Lamafon would have been disintegrated, and who knows what would've happened from there? Verja is just north of Lamafon. The First Tear could've ruptured the plates beneath the region and caused them to collide, resulting in the eruption of Mount Atyunnata, but on a greater scale. The deserts would've been flooded with lava and ash, and their people would've died."

[color=C2D9B6]"Wow. I didn't know they were so important."[/color]

"The ogra are stronger than any other race. The strength of one ogra is about that of five huma, but the tradeoff is that they are not as speedy with their reactions or movements. However, with skin as thick and tough as theirs, they don't need to be. They are walking spiked shields, with skin as resistant as stonetree bark and muscles that can fell a steer in one blow. They make for perfect blacksmiths and builders and much of the architecture that sits in both Lamafon and Verja are contributions made by the ogra. Despite not sharing in the intelligence of the wider world, they are surprisingly adept at the design and construction of their buildings. I haven't seen any one of their creations laid low by anything less than direct cannon fire, and even that's a stretch.

"As for their traditions, shows of strength are in their blood. The ogra used to be very warlike, often engaging in battle with other races and lands not for control over territory, but to show their superiority over all others. They are tactical geniuses both on and off the field."[/color][/sup][/hider]
[hider=Ylva]
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[sup][h2][i][color=black]Y L V A[/color]
[sup][sup][color=goldenrod]e l e g a n t   a n d   s h a r p[/color][/sup][/sup][/i][/h2][/sup][hr]
[sup][color=BAB57D]"Though the huma utilize magic in more ways than most, it was the ylva who truly revolutionized magic to its fullest extent. Sharp-witted and insightful, they saw the formulas that would result in the boundless depths of magic and said 'we can do that.' They are the longest-lasting species, with some saying they were the first mortals to walk upon the surface of Makyos. They are naturally slender and tall, and their graceful movements and superior vision make them excellent archers. They value quality above most other things, as evidenced in their architecture and fashion. However, a select percentage of their people have near vehemently rejected the pristine designs, deigning to steep themselves in nature and the organic.

"The ylva have made their homes mainly in the Cascades, but those blowhard Alenjas and Bhelvilles are sticklers for pureblood birth. Half-breed ylva are almost wholly reviled there, made to reside in the root-villages at the feet of those mountainous islands. Apart from that, they also made their homes in Lamafon, among the brush. Some were crazy enough to tan their pale skin beneath the rays of the Verjan sun.

"Their memory is incomparable, and they can hold grudges like none other. If your intent in the world is to cross an ylva, be sure to remember how long forever really is."[/color][/sup][/hider]
[hider=Saura]
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[sup][h2][i][color=black]S A U R A[/color]
[sup][sup][color=goldenrod]k i n d   a n d   u n i f i e d[/color][/sup][/sup][/i][/h2][/sup][hr]
[sup][color=BAB57D][color=C2D9B6]"Doctor Winst, I found something!"[/color]

"Ah, good find, Ra'am! Be careful with that, it's ancient saura."

[color=C2D9B6]"Are the saura still around?"[/color]

"Hahah, of course, boy, but their kind is rarely ever seen on the surface. The salamander-like saura prefer the comfort of their Deep Cities beneath the surface of the land. They're adept at seeing in the dark and experts at navigating the Everdown."

[color=C2D9B6]"Everdown?"[/color]

"A sprawling, cross-region network of tunnels that the saura use for travel. Dangerous for the typical adventurer, but the saura can crawl across walls, avoiding all manner of creature down there. As long as they remain on all fours, they have the speed to outrun most beings, save for your kind perhaps.

Come to think of it, the saura are... an eclectic race. Their way of speaking is unique, referring to the self as 'this body' and those outside of themselves as 'your body' or 'their body'. They believe in the concept of a greater unified soul, and that each body houses only a fragment of that soul. Regardless of how true that may be, they still express some sort of individuality. They're not really the kind to fight, oft opting into the fields of healing magic, medicine, mercantile and guidance. They are always warm and kind to others, even at the expense of their own safety. Almost like they're working towards achieving the highest karmic result. Maybe I'm projecting. Regardless, their hospitality is unrivaled."[/color][/sup][/hider]
[hider=Eidola]
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[sup][h2][i][color=black]E I D O L A[/color]
[sup][sup][color=goldenrod]c a u t i o u s   a n d   c u r i o u s[/color][/sup][/sup][/i][/h2][/sup][hr]
[sup][color=BAB57D]"Now, the Eidola—"

[color=C2D9B6]"I know about us, Doctor Winst. We're an isolated people, taking refuge in the mountains that surround E'co's Heart in Lamafon."[/color]

"Correct, boy. I've been meaning to ask—why is that?"

[color=C2D9B6]"From what I was told by the Elder, two reasons. Our isolation is self-imposed, but it also stems from a terrible event in which the huma tried to hunt us to extinction. These days, our numbers are limited, though we are slowly growing back."[/color]

"That's awful, Ra'am. I'm sorry that my people would do that to you."

[color=C2D9B6]"It's not something any living eidola has experienced. This all happened several hundred years ago. Something changed in the relations between huma and eidola, and we've been left alone ever since. We rarely leave our home in the mountains, only doing so in the case of pilgrimage, to learn more about the world and its people. Some of us don't return. I think they see the world for what it is and are enamored by its splendor, or are attracted to the ways of life of those who live here."[/color]

"Are you?"

[color=C2D9B6]"I don't know, Doctor. I love my flock; I don't know what I would do without them, without Elder Ohko. I like circling the mountains with them, our feathers touching the clouds in tribute to Stratos, god of the sky. We're a deeply religious people, although I've been told the gods have vanished long ago. Perhaps faith is an answer in times of uncertainty."[/color]

"Ah... so you were told about the grim truth of the Eternal Throne of Man. The eidola have never held the throne, according to the stories. I think they had the foresight to know what would come of such a thing."

[color=C2D9B6]"We worship the wisdom of Nachma-Sol, Knowledge Unending. He has given us unparalleled wisdom, and a few of us have enough to almost predict the immediate future. It has been invaluable in shaping the continued survival of our people. It's how we've gotten this far."[/color][/color][/sup][/hider]
[center]____________________[/center]

[sup][h2][i][color=black]T H E O L O G Y   O F   M A K Y O S[/color]
[sup][sup][color=goldenrod]a b a n d o n e d   d i v i n i t y[/color][/sup][/sup][/i][/h2][/sup][hr]
[sup][color=82F6FF]"Sweet air, brother Ra'am. Does the day find your body well?"

[color=C2D9B6]"Good morning, brother Iskota. It does, though I think I slept wrong. My neck is a little pained. How are you doing?"[/color]

"This body has rested well enough. This body finds your body a welcome presence in the monastery this morning."

[color=C2D9B6]"Thank you, brother. If you don't mind—I suppose if you're not busy—I'd like to learn more about the gods of the world through the eyes of its people. I was hoping you could educate me on how others remember the theology of Makyos."[/color]

"Certainly, brother Ra'am. This body has studied the world's divinities for quite some time. Your body will know, better, that of the gods by lunchtime."[/color][/sup]

[hider=Ihlo, E'co, & Edelahn]
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[sup][h2][i][color=black]I H L O ,   M O T H E R   O F   C R E A T I O N[/color]
[sup][sup][color=goldenrod]l i g h t   o f   t h e   v o i d[/color][/sup][/sup][/i][/h2][/sup][hr]
[sup][color=82F6FF]"There are many gods, but their bodies were all born from the existence of Ihlo, Mother of Creation. Ihlo was the first god, responsible for the creation of Makyos, plucking it from the abyss. Ihlo's first descendant is E'co the Rootmother, who is responsible for giving this planet life. Our bodies would not exist without Ihlo's hands and E'co's breath. The virtues extolled through worship of the Mother are charity, selflessness, and an appreciation for life, and this is likewise for their descendant deity.

"Lamafon hosts the most worshipers of the Mother, with E'co's Heart mythologized as a sacred sanctuary within which the soul of Ihlo rests. Legends say the First Tear was Ihlo returning to life in protest of the many deaths resulting from suffering within Lamafon, though this body does not adhere to such beliefs. Iskota knows that Lamafon's soil teems with magical energy, and believes E'co's love is this energy that allows the plants of the region to flourish and thrive.

"Ihlo's second descendant is Edelahn, Eater of Wounds. A formless body with the virtues of good health and the ease of pain, the myths say that Edelahn was capable of healing all by taking the wounds unto itself. Its body is depicted as a living wound, ever weeping with blood and tears. Many bodies versed in healing magic, including the Shrikes and Magpies within the Venators, follow the will of Edelahn, always seeking to help others ease their pains and heal completely."[/color][/sup][/hider]
[hider=Nihalla]
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[sup][h2][i][color=black]N I H A L L A ,   S E C O N D   S U N[/color]
[sup][sup][color=goldenrod]m a e l s t r o m   o f   a m b i t i o n[/color][/sup][/sup][/i][/h2][/sup][hr]
[sup][color=82F6FF]"All that our bodies, as a civilization, have accomplished, we owe to Nihalla. They are known as the Second Sun because of the heat of ambition with which our bodies are filled. They govern the virtues of invention, perseverance, determination, and evolution. Without the Maelstrom of Ambition, our bodies would still be incapable of growth."

[color=C2D9B6]"I heard the tales speak of Nihalla's contempt for Man. Why?"[/color]

"When our bodies slaughtered each other over the Eternal Throne of Man, Ihlo feared for us and selflessly chose to intervene out of love for their creation, but when the gods stepped foot in our realm, there was untold destruction. Many lives were lost because Ihlo didn't recognize the strength their kind had simply by existing in the same place as us. Nihalla loved Ihlo with all of their heart, so when the Mother wept over the loss of their children, Nihalla cast their aspersions upon us, berating us for the events that led to such a thing occurring. It has been eons since then. There is no telling what Nihalla thinks of our bodies now, as they haven't been seen since the great betrayal by Aramais, but wherever they are, this body would like to think they have better enemies than us."[/color][/sup][/hider]
[hider=Nachma-Sol, Oneira, & Xovos Uun]
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[sup][h2][i][color=black]N A C H M A - S O L ,   K N O W L E D G E   U N E N D I N G[/color]
[sup][sup][color=goldenrod]g r a v e s e e r[/color][/sup][/sup][/i][/h2][/sup][hr]
[sup][color=82F6FF]"Without Nihalla, our bodies have no ambition. Without Nachma-Sol, our bodies would lack the intelligence to realize that ambition. The Graveseer is responsible for granting our bodies wisdom, forethought, intelligence, reasoning, and all matters of the mind. From birth, Nachma-Sol was cursed with an endless font of knowledge, plagued by the burden of knowing everything across all of time. Their gift to our bodies has been recognized as an attempt to relieve the burden of that curse, but infinite is infinite, and so Nachma-Sol remained afflicted."

[color=C2D9B6]"When the great betrayal by Aramais occurred, what happened to Nachma-Sol?"[/color]

"Unknown. Ihlo died in the event. Nihalla, Aramais, and Bellua were swallowed by the void. Nachma-Sol simply vanished. Given the god's curse of knowledge, it's likely their body was able to escape the Godfall event. Myths have theorized that Nachma-Sol, cowardly as their body was, found solace and safety underground, far below the surface of Makyos. How their body would exist on mortal soil without completely tearing the world around it asunder, this body does not know.

"Nachma-Sol's descendant deities are Oneira the One-Mind, and Xovos Uun the Sleeping. Both govern the fields of shared wisdom and dreaming, respectively, with close concern cast upon the latter. Legends say Xovos Uun was borne into the void, rather than originating from it, eternally slumbering, and that should the Sleeping God awake, reality as our bodies know it would cease to exist. Dreams are rumored to be how Xovos communicates with mortals, though not much is understood, if anything at all. Sometimes, their words become corrupted and entangled, resulting in what our bodies would refer to as nightmares."[/color][/sup][/hider]
[hider=Bellua & Pailam]
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[sup][h2][i][color=black]B E L L U A ,   G R E A T   D E V O U R E R[/color]
[sup][sup][color=goldenrod]t h e   w i t h e r i n g   g o d[/color][/sup][/sup][/i][/h2][/sup][hr]
[sup][color=82F6FF]"Every one hundred years, we take part in an event known as the Godsharvest. It is a celebration of life, the passage of time, and the memory of all those who came before us. No matter how long we live, our time on this land is finite, and our end is ever closer approaching. The shadow of death looms over us all, not as a grim reminder, but a specter of comfort. We embrace our end because it is the only thing certain in this world, and that we are able to appreciate ourselves and each other and all that we leave behind, we owe to Bellua, the Great Devourer.

"He was once a fearsome creature, incomprehensible in his design. Myths depict him as a massive sphere of flesh, with a pattern of outstretched hands upon his underside that slowly sink into the darkness until culminating at a pair of exposed lungs. It was once said that Bellua could kill and harvest his meal all from his sheer presence; one terrible scream could turn all near him to dust, all to satiate his ever growing hunger."

[color=C2D9B6]"He sounds terrifying. Why do people worship him?"[/color]

"This body thinks their fear was misplaced. The beliefs we hold to today tell our bodies that Bellua granted us the ability to die at Ihlo's insistence, that our bodies all must return to the gods from whom we came. In a way, we are embraced by the end, made children again, forever held in the bosom of our Mother. It's the belief this body holds onto. It's comforting in the face of knowing that, in the future, this body—that [i]I[/i] will be dead.

"..."

[color=C2D9B6]"Brother Iskota? Are you all right?"[/color]

"...yes, Brother Ra'am. This body is just scared, that's all. Fear is a sobering thing. Nonetheless... Bellua's descendant deity is Pailam, Blood of War. All violence stems from his body's presence, and serves in its own wicked way to return our bodies to their Ihlo's cradle. There is little to say of Pailam that cannot be found in blood, that which is pulled from our bodies unjustly and indiscriminately."[/color][/sup][/hider]
[hider=Aramais]
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[sup][h2][i][color=black]A R A M A I S ,   S E E K E R   O F   T H E   F I R S T   D E S I R E[/color]
[sup][sup][color=goldenrod]t r a i t o r   o f   d i v i n i t y[/color][/sup][/sup][/i][/h2][/sup][hr]
[sup][color=82F6FF]"Aramais doesn't deserve to be discussed."

[color=C2D9B6]"Why is he so reviled?"[/color]

"The gods disappeared because of Aramais. After they intervened to keep mortalkind from hunting each other to extinction, the destruction they caused in their wake was enough to make our bodies hate them. Ihlo wept for days, and it rained upon Makyos for a comparable amount of time. Nihalla grew to despise our bodies in return, for it was us that spurned the gods into action and, in doing so, resulted in our near-decimation at the hands of divinity.

Because of this, Ihlo ordered her family to leave. They took the form of resplendent dragons and leapt into the skies, leaving the Makyos without their presence, at least this is what the texts tell our bodies. According to those very same texts, Aramais chose to stay, and Ihlo feared the worst for her children, so the gods returned to confront his inaction. What resulted was a destructive battle that pit Aramais against his family. From what was passed down to our bodies, we know three things: Ihlo died in that battle and left the Eternal Throne of Man powerless, the rest vanished, and the gods haven't been seen since. Not even the presence of their descendants has been felt here on Makyos. Many believed that our bodies were abandoned by our creators."

[color=C2D9B6]"Do you believe that, Brother Iskota?"[/color]

"This body has no room for negative beliefs, Brother Ra'am. This body must have faith that the gods still persist in their own way, and that they will return. It may not be now, or even in the near future, but someday, they will return."[/color][/sup]
[/hider]
[center]____________________[/center]

[sup][h2][i][color=black]G R O U P S   O F   I N T E R E S T[/color]
[sup][sup][color=goldenrod]s t r e n g t h   i n   n u m b e r s[/color][/sup][/sup][/i][/h2][/sup][hr]
[sup][color=A1B8C3]"Hmmm... I've never seen you in the Grand Bazaar before. Are you a merchant from Lamafon?"

[color=C2D9B6]"Me? I am from Lamafon, but I'm no merchant. I'm on a pilgrimage, away from my flock to learn more about the world. I'm currently waiting for my travel permit to be approved so I can see Siliach in all its beauty. I hear the sights from the Sojourn are amazing."[/color]

"Hah, they sure are, but, uh... word of advice—if you're going to be traveling on the inside of the Patronaat, you'll probably want to dress more like you could kill someone with a single look. There's a few groups to watch out for—not just inside Siliach, but all over. Some of them are a little more clandestine than others, but all of them could be dangerous if you approach them wrong."

[color=C2D9B6]"Oh, gods. Who should I know about?"[/color][/color][/sup]

[hider=The Silent Hand]
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[sup][h2][i][color=black]T H E   S I L E N T   H A N D[/color]
[sup][sup][color=goldenrod]e v e r y   m a n   a n   e v e r y m a n[/color][/sup][/sup][/i][/h2][/sup][hr]
[sup][color=A1B8C3]"The Silent Hand are a secretive group, but most people consider them the jack of all trades in the criminal world. Theft, trafficking, murder, societal upheaval... for the right price, they'll do anything. What makes them secretive is the fact they all conceal their identities, even from each other. Names and faces don't exist within the Silent Hand. The only one who has a name is the leader, though they only refer to them as the 'Shadow Zealot'. With the way they work, it makes no sense not to keep your head on a swivel—anyone could be a member, and all of them are dangerous. Some even say they've had a hand in the curse of Siliach royalty, killing off every king for the last 40 years, though no one can confirm it."

[color=C2D9B6]"Is there any way I can protect myself?"[/color]

"Just try not to cross the wrong people, I guess. Beyond that, they have a pretty recognizable symbol, a set of lips being silenced by a dagger that kind of functions as the index finger of a hand. Opinions on the design aside, if you see it, steer clear. You might just save your own life."[/color][/sup][/hider]
[hider=The Adjudicators]
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[sup][h2][i][color=black]T H E   A D J U D I C A T O R S[/color]
[sup][sup][color=goldenrod]s e t t i n g   t h e   s t a n d a r d   o f   g u i l d s h i p[/color][/sup][/sup][/i][/h2][/sup][hr]
[sup][color=A1B8C3]"Ho-ho, man... the Adjudicators are not nefarious by any means, but wow, are they dangerous. They're a group founded within the Guildroot Society in the Cascades. There are only three official members, but according to all the stories I've heard, three's all they need.

"The first member is Lasma Monserrat, Adjudicator of the Arcane. He's an older man, with quite a long beard to match his age, and he's responsible for making sure all the magic-based guilds across Makyos maintain a certain standard of academic pursuit, as well as guild effectiveness in all things related to magic. Legend has it that Monserrat is the only magic user that was able to gain his magical abilities without ever being affected by the Compromise. To me, that seems impossible, but you won't find me ever trying to test that theory.

"The second member is Bol'ten Vieg, Adjudicator of the Unseen. He keeps his identity mostly hidden, and he's responsible for all of the stealth-based guilds across Makyos. The unique thing about him is that he's a saura which, if you know anything about the saura, is pretty surprising, given their penchant for pacifism. I've heard that he could pop up anywhere at anytime with absolutely no sign of his approach. The rumors go even further to state that he's never actually really [i]anywhere,[/i] that anyone who sees him is actually seeing some sort of decoy. He's a master at deception and stealth, a silent observer of the world. The moment you see him is the moment you realize he could've killed you a million times over.

"The last member is Memory Crow-Bell, Adjudicator of the Strong. Now, Memory? She's an interesting case. She's not only the newest Adjudicator, but she's also the youngest, coming in at the age of 15. Don't let that age fool you, though—I've personally seen her strength firsthand. She can punch straight through massive boulders as if they were parchment. People are still trying to figure her out, but supposedly she hails from Verja and was once part of the Ceir clan. Not sure what happened to make her abandon her people altogether, but if she was still there, chances are that the civil war would've been ended before it began. Anyway, she's responsible for all the combat-based guilds across Makyos, and she frequently stops in to challenge their strongest warriors to make sure they're up to snuff. A warning, if you do happen to meet her—don't piss her off. She's got more hidden up her sleeves than just her strength."[/color][/sup][/hider]
[hider=The Venators]
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[sup][h2][i][color=black]T H E   V E N A T O R S[/color]
[sup][sup][color=goldenrod]a   c r o w n   o f   b i r d s ,   c i r c l i n g[/color][/sup][/sup][/i][/h2][/sup][hr]
[sup][color=A1B8C3]"Ever heard of the Venators?"

[color=C2D9B6]"The name, I've heard, sir, but not anything else."[/color]

"Well, if there was ever a group you'd actually want to cross paths with, it's them. They're a lot like plague doctors—well, kinda. They [i]look[/i] like more colorful plague doctors, and they specialize in all sorts of goodwill, from medicine to charity and beyond. The colors they wear denote their ranks, though I've never seen a member above the rank of Magpie. You'll likely see Vultures most often—they help ferry the dead to the Saltlands.

"Shrikes are low-risk bounty hunters. Magpies are healers. I hear the Ravens are debt collectors and, as a result, are a lot more combat-capable. Eagles tend to be bodyguards or hired muscle. Apparently the leader is the rank of Swan—whatever that means."[/color][/sup][/hider]
[hider=The Black Crown]
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[sup][h2][i][color=black]T H E   B L A C K   C R O W N[/color]
[sup][sup][color=goldenrod]e m b r a c e   t h e   v o i d[/color][/sup][/sup][/i][/h2][/sup][hr]
[sup][color=A1B8C3]"I can't tell you much about the Black Crown, except they seem to be cultists. They operate mostly in secret, and their intentions are obscure, but when they do pop up, you can almost immediately tell. They have this thing about 'embracing the void', and I hear their leader is searching for the Eternal Throne. If you ask me, that's a lost cause. The Throne has been well and truly buried, and it's powerless. Even if they did find it, whatever they have in mind couldn't possibly come to fruition."[/color][/sup][/hider]

[sup][color=C2D9B6]"Oh, my. These guys seem pretty scary, but that's all, right?"[/color]

[color=A1B8C3]"Hah! You're funny, kid. I like you."[/color][/sup][hr]
[center][h3]Hello. Welcome to the world of Eternal Throne.[/h3][/center]

[b]Eternal Throne[/b] is a campaign set within the grand world of Makyos and is centered around the search for and acquisition of the titular Throne of Man. Long ago, the gods gave to mortalkind a seat of power, that whosoever could claim it would be granted the blessing of divinity and dominion over Man. This eventually caused the mortals to kill each other for a taste of power, and what followed would ultimately result in the vanishing of the gods. The Eternal Throne now lay empty and without influence, buried beneath thousands of years of civilization, but there are those, even now, who seek the Throne once more for their own self-justified reasons. Within this world, you will play a large part in the events to come, seeking to stop the world from falling into ruin.

This campaign is seeking a maximum of [color=FC4242]five players[/color](not counting myself) of a casual skill level. If I find enough interested players, I'll make another post explaining a bit more on the rules/posting requirements, as well as the character sheet and details you'll need to create your character.

And now, time for some FAQs that I thought up on my own and was not asked about.

[hider=FAQ]

[h3]You using any tabletop systems for this?[/h3]
Nope. I could make a simple system to put some complications into the story based on chance, but if that's not something people are interested in, it'll be system-agnostic.

[h3]PvP?[/h3]
Nope. All of your characters will be working together for the purpose of making sure Makyos doesn't fall into ruin. By my count, there are already [u]five major antagonists[/u] (six if one of them separates somehow, seven if a minor antagonist gets [i]too strong[/i])—I don't think I'll need to add the option of players also becoming antagonists. Besides, a user in the prototype interest check made a good point about PvP causing frustration between players, and I don't want that.

[h3]What's with the weird story thing?[/h3]
I don't know, I just wanted to try something different.

[h3]What's with all the typos?[/h3]
Yeah, there's probably a few. I wrote this over like ten days and didn't particularly proofread. Whoops.[/hider]

Alright. I'm going to take a break now. Here's hoping this garners some interest.