Dice Fire Emblem Divide: General Lore

[SirBlazeALot]

GENERAL LORE​

Welcome to the General Lore section. Here, you can learn all the basic details about the world of Terrunum, such as races, religion, and technology. Races are particularly important to check out, but I recommend of course you give this whole thing a read.

Once you're done here, go on to the Settings & Locations thread.
Click here to return to the Table of Contents.

• Races
• Religions
• Magic & Technology

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  Races
  In Terrunum, there are 5 playable races and 1 sub-race. The sub-race thing will make sense when we get to it, just hang tight amigo/amiga. These races are collectively referred to as "mankind" as they are all considered to possess the same level of intelligence and awareness. When you get to the Settings & Locations section, you're gonna notice that each of the Imperial Leaders is a different race. This is pure coincidence (I mean it's not, I did it on purpose but in character it's just a coincidence), each race can be found in each kingdom. No kingdom is "the kingdom of Elves" or "the kingdom of Manaketes" or anything like that. Everyone is everywhere.
  
  

  Humans

  
  
  Humans
  You know what these are, c'mon now. Bloody hell man, you’re one of these! Well... presumably. The majority of the Terrunan population is Human. Even Yuba, the kingdom with the highest population of Laguz still has many, many humans there. They’re like ants. Pathetic little asshole ants. Just kidding. Humans possess no inherent strengths or weaknesses, but they make up for their lack of natural talent by being able to fill many specialized roles.
  
  

  Laguz

  
  
  Laguz
  Humanoid creatures with some animalistic features and traits like ears, tails, or wings that have the power to transform into a "Primal Form" for combat purposes. It is important to remember that being a Laguz is both a class and a race. If you're a Laguz, you're fighting with a Stone and you're fighting exclusively in Primal Form. There are a fuckton of different types of Laguz, each of which counts as its own class. You can read more about the types of Laguz in the Transforming Branch of the Class Glossary.
  
  Laguz and Manaketes are born with their stones. These stones are extremely difficult to break and last pretty much forever long after the Manakete or Laguz that was born with them dies. So sometimes stones are passed down in families, sold to make a quick buck, stolen or you know...whatever. Collected, I dunno. The point is, that's why there's a lot of them that can be bought in stores. Any Laguz and Manakete can use any stone even if it isn't their birthstone as long as it's appropriate for their species. For Laguz, that means Beaststones for Terrestrial Laguz and Avianstones for Aerial Laguz. The more a stone is used the more powerful it becomes.
  
  Laguz are capable of enduring more physical stress than Humans. In ancient times, this made them ideal for slaves, but the practice of slavery was banished 10,000 years ago when the Empire was formed. However, Laguz will occasionally fall victim to poaching for the fur or teeth or what have you of their Primal Forms. This is extremely illegal and outlawed as one of the Empire's core rules, but it is still known to happen.
  
  Laguz tend to have beef with other Laguz as opposed to the other races of mankind. Canine and feline Laguz in particular have a long history of not getting along, as do Rabbits and Raccoons.
  Laguz have a lifespan identical to that of a human’s. If a Laguz mates outside of their species, the offspring will just end up being one or the other. They are the 4th most common race of Terrunum. They come in many sizes with the smallest being the Cat Laguz, which is pretty much the size of a really big dog. The largest would be Bears and Wolfssegners, which are just a bit bigger than a regular bear. Here’s some examples of what they look like in case you’re confused andimagining something like this.
  
  Wolf Human Form Vs. Wolf Primal Form
  
  Hawk Human Vs. Hawk Primal Form
  
  

  Manaketes

  
  
  Manaketes
  Manaketes are similar to Laguz in a lot of ways, but they’re a whole different… animal. BA DUM PSH!! Ahem, for one, they're not nearly as physically durable in their human form like Laguz are. For two, instead of a Primal Form, they have a Dragon Form. They live far longer than Humans and Laguz, averaging about 1000 years before death. Manaketes are valued for their great wisdom, rarity, and contribution to the earliest known periods of history particularly in Dinne. They are the most uncommon race in Terrunum. After The First Cleansing, many Manaketes inexplicably became infertile specifically when mating with each other, and the population dropped drastically over the course of 10,000 years, making them the most uncommon race in Terrunum. Today, more Manaketes are present due to being the descendants of fertile Manaketes, and so the population is on a rise, however, they are still the least common race of Terrunum.
  
  Laguz and Manaketes are born with their stones. These stones are extremely difficult to break and last pretty much forever long after the Manakete or Laguz that was born with them dies. So sometimes stones are passed down in families, sold to make a quick buck, stolen or you know...whatever. Collected, I dunno. The point is, that's why there's a lot of them that can be bought in stores. Any Laguz and Manakete can use any stone even if it isn't their birthstone as long as it's appropriate for their species. For Manaketes, this means they must use Dragonstones. The more a stone is used, the more powerful it becomes.
  
  Manaketes in their human forms can vary in appearance. Some have horns, some don’t. Some have wings, some don’t. Some have tails, some don’t. Some have reptilian eyes or scales on their body, some don’t. The one common trait Manaketes share with each other is their pointed ears. Their scale coloration is dependent on whatever element they embody. This element also determines their species and, you guessed it, their class. Just like Laguz, being a Manakete is both a class and a race. Go ahead and go to the Transforming Branch of the Class Glossary to find out what types of Manaketes there are.
  
  Much like Laguz, Manaketes are occasionally poached for their scales, and this too is a crime. However, Manakete scales are much more valuable than Laguz fur due to their magical resistance. So Manakete poaching happens more often, which is particularly disgusting when you consider how close they were at one point to extinction. Manaketes are completely immune to the element of magic they embody, so naturally when you make armor out of their scales… do the math.
  
  Manaketes have the ability to attack an enemy up close physically, or from 1 cell away with their magic breath. When a Manakete is using their magic breath, you'll roll for Anima, Light, or Dark depending on the breed of Manakete, and their weapon rank will match that of their Stone's weapon rank.
  
  In their Dragon Form, Manaketes aren’t like FUCKING huge. They’re only like… a little bigger than horses I suppose. In case you’re confused, lemme show you what a Manakete might look like.
  
  Human Form and Dragon Form all in one picture.
  
  

  Branded

  
  
  Branded
  The Branded are what happens when a Laguz and a Human get it on. Or a Manakete and a Human. Basically, if a Human gets it on outside of their race, you get a Branded. Now what is a Branded, you ask? Well they look completely Human by all means (Half Human Half Elven or Manakete Branded tend to have pointed ears though)...except for their Brands. Brands are strange tribal tattoo like markings that appear on their skin. Brands are unique to each individual and they vary greatly in appearance. While some form actual shapes and pictures, others are more abstract. The number of brands a Branded has also varies between Branded. Some have just one marking that may be obscured by their clothing, others are fucking covered almost entirely by their brands, and everything in between.
  
  Since Branded are the offspring of a Human and any other race of mankind, and Humans are the most common race, Branded have become the second most common race in Terrunum. Even if a Branded has Manakete blood, their lifespan is identical to a Human's lifespan.
  
  Branded are pretty special so listen up. This may not make sense if you haven't read Gameplay Mechanics yet, but don't worry, I'll mention it when it's relevant again. Branded get a Non-Rolling Stat bonus and detriment. Branded can receive a raise of one level in either Attack or Defense, but you must also lower their Magic or Resistance by one level. Any combination is fine. Also, I’m putting a cap on these guys. Each player is allowed to make only one Branded.
  
  

  Elves

  
  
  Elves
  So we've all heard of Elves, they make toys for Santa and shit. In Terrunum, an Elf is the offspring of a Manakete and a Laguz. Their genetic heritage of being part animal part dragon has granted them a powerful connection to nature and magic. Elves have long pointy ears, and come in a pretty much all colors of the rainbow. Seriously, these guys tend to look fuckin’ weird. There are common skin tones and types, many of which developed over generations of Elves breeding with each other. There are Night Elves, Blood Elves, the list goes on and on. With so many species of Manakete and so many species of Laguz, Elves come out varied as fuck.
  
  Elves aren't nearly as common as Branded or Laguz, but they're still more common than Manaketes. After The First Cleansing when Manaketes became infertile when breeding with each other, many Manaketes mated outside of their race. While Elves were present beforehand, they became more common, and when they became more common they were more capable of mating with each other and thus Elves rose in population over the course of 10,000 years. As mentioned Elves have a very special connection to magic, and many of them fancy themselves as the most intelligent race. However, they're much more fragile physically than the other races of mankind. They live about twice as long as Humans do.
  
  Like Branded, Elves get some special shit with their Non-Rolling stats so listen up. It may not mean anything to you if you haven't read the Gameplay Mechanics yet but don't worry, I will bring it up again when it becomes relevant. Elven characters can get a raise of one level in either Magic or Resistance. However, They must have either their Attack or Defense lowered by one level. These guys also have a cap. Each player is only allowed to make one Elf.
  
  

  Vampires

  
  
  Vampires
  Okay here's that sub-race I mentioned earlier. So Vampires aren’t an actual “race” all on their own, because any race of mankind can become a vampire. Vampirism is considered to be a disease. It began to inflict mankind immediately after The First Cleansing, and no one's found a cure yet. Aside from an insatiable hunger for blood, the disease is said to warp one’s mind as well, but truthfully that’s all dependent on the person. Most Vampires merely consume animal blood, as it is easier to find while some (usually the crazies) insist on drinking the blood of mankind. Vampirism is genetic, one Vampire partner will result in Vampire offspring. A Vampire's bite can also turn another person into a Vampire if they get sucked on for long enough.
  
  You can kill a Vampire in this realm the same way you would kill anyone else. You can stab them until they stop moving. Or you can magic them until they stop moving. It doesn't really matter, the point is, you don’t have to behead them or break out the garlic. Barring a gruesome death at the hands of another person, disease, falling from high places, being crushed by a boulder, etc. etc. a Vampire will live forever and technically their physical aging will cease.
  
  However the longer they live, the more vampiric they start to look, and the more powerful they get, and it's more likely they'll go nuts because immortality is some shit. So basically, if you’re in your first century of eternity, you’ll look more or less like a normal bloke. However, a couple centuries deep and shit you’ll start looking like Nosferatu. Your skin will turn white, and at a certain point you’ll lose the ability to conceal your fangs. For Laguz and Manaketes, whenever they enter their bestial forms they’ll look… well a lot more monstrous and undead and shit. It also gets harder for you to go out into the sun, though all Vampires no matter how young find themselves irritated by sunlight. At a certain point, an old ass Vampire would straight up shrivel to ash the second they step outside.
  
  Vampires have a special Basic Skill, make sure you list it in their skills but remember, Basic Skills don’t add to their Skill Loadout. They also get the UNDEAD Attribute, which kind of sucks for them. Each player is only allowed to make one Vampire. And yes, if this Vampire is an Elf or Branded, then that counts as both your one permitted Vampire and your one permitted Elf/Branded.
  

  • Consumption: Basic Skill. When a Vampire defeats an opponent, they can eat their ass and get a +15% EVA Boost for the remainder of the battle. It doesn’t stack, and this skill prevents the Vampire from moving on the next turn. Cause you know, they’re eating a guy.

  Breeding Table

  
  
  Okay so, if you're anything at all like me, you probably value when someone does a thorough job. And well, it just wouldn't be very thorough of me if I didn't explain what happens when people start mixing races. So in an effort to be thorough, I used a race from the Tellius FE games (Branded), and a race I'm sure we're all familiar with, Elves (BECAUSE I FUCKING. LOVE. ELVES.) so that we know what happens when races start mixing and shit. I explained it all up there in the Race section, but if you ever forget you can look at this quick little table I made in Paint back when bbcode was dead. Enjoy.
  
  

  

  
  

  
  
  
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  Holy Shit
  After The First Cleansing, much of what had been established about the religions of the ancients was lost, and 10,000 years of time didn't really help. All that remains now is a singular religion held by most people in the Empire that is interpreted in four distinct ways. So lets cover the history before we move on to modern religions.
  
  Religious History
  Naga
  Naga is the central deity of Terrunan religion. Those who worship her are referred to as Children of Naga. Ancient texts mention Naga quite a bit as having been the Goddess of the Universe, the being that brought all life and all things into existence and continues to watch over her children from up above in heaven. Most every Child of Naga believes this, it is commonly accepted. After this widely accepted truth, shit gets weird. The ancients apparently couldn't seem to agree on Naga's personality and exactly what she wanted or expected out of mankind or why she created anything at all. And people still disagree over that shit to this day.
  
  Naga's Angels
  It is understood by what's left and decipherable by the text of the ancients that Naga "gave birth" to six angels. The concept of Naga giving birth is dubious, as it is said that Naga did so without a mate. These angels are as follows: Ifrit, the Son of Passion. Aqua, the Daughter of Fortitude. Thorno, the Son of Innovation. Venti, the Daughter of Life. Uriel, the Son of Hope. Ysma, the Daughter of Knowledge. This is where shit gets a little muddy.
  
  From what scholars of the ancients can tell, these angels are what threw everyone off. Prior to the creation of the Fire Emblem, it would appear that each culture of Terrunum seemed to believe Naga only had one son or daughter, and many of their wars were fought due to disagreements about the identity of Naga's only child. There appeared to be a different religion based off each of Naga's children. The tensions were only enhanced by ancients known as Prophets, who had a direct line to a single angel.
  
  Each of these Prophets claimed that their angel spoke of what Naga's intentions were in creating mankind. Bolganone, the Prophet of Ifrit taught the people that Naga created mankind to engage in carnal pleasures. Fimbulvetr, the Prophet of Aqua believed that Naga created mankind to experience and withstand hardship. Mjolnir, the Prophet of Thorno believed that Naga created mankind to mirror herself as creative and inventive. Forseti, the Prophet of Venti believed Naga created mankind out of the simple joy of creating life. Alba, the Prophet of Uriel believed Naga created mankind hoping that they wouldn't abuse their free will for evil. And finally, Nero, the Prophet of Ysma believed Naga created mankind to learn all that there is to know so that they may one day create a universe of their own.
  
  Then historically, shit gets muddy. There's a huge gap in the history here, but sometime after the creation of the Fire Emblem, destruction of The Foreigners, and formation of the Empire, a new religion was formed, and the primary ideal of it is that Naga gave birth to all six angels. Many people believe that the Fire Emblem was created by angels, some believe it was created by the Prophets, or that the spheres of fire contain the souls of all six angels, some believe in any combination of these three schools of thought, but there is no definitive proof any belief in the writings of the ancients.
  
  Modern Day Religious Interpretations
  Light Children
  In modern day, the nature of Naga is deeply contested. There are those that believe Naga's ultimate wish for mankind is love, and that Naga loves all of her creations. And that all she wants is for people to love each other and care for one another and respect one another. Children of Naga who believe this is the nature of Naga are referred to as Light Children. The Light Children have had to do a lot of mental gymnastics to explain The Monolith. If Naga is love and Naga loves all, why would she create anything as horrible as The Monolith? Well, the running theory is that Naga didn't create The Monolith, or the demons it spawns. Demons are believed to have been created by an unknown entity with power equivalent to Naga. This entity is known as Grima. Grima is said to be the night to Naga's day, the cold to Naga's warmth. Grima is a specifically male entity who has his own universe filled with hatred and atrocities. Light Children can be found in all six kingdoms of Terrunum and in both factions of The Divide. This is not a war of religion.
  
  Dark Children
  Then there are those who believe that Naga's ultimate wish for mankind is to grow, more specifically to grow through hardship. To struggle and overcome obstacles no matter how high they are. All Naga wants is for mankind to realize its full potential. Children of Naga who believe this is the nature of Naga are referred to as Dark Children. The Dark Children have less mental gymnastics to do in order to explain The Monolith. They do not believe that Naga possesses emotions like mankind, or rather, that she doesn't express them the same way. Naga's idea of "love" is said to be beyond mankind's comprehension, and so sometimes it will seem more like hatred. This is why Naga's world is cruel and unforgiving. There is no Grima, there is no boogie man intruding on Naga's universe. Everything is made by Naga. Mankind is of Naga. Demons are of Naga. The Fire Emblem is of Naga. The Monolith is of Naga. All is of Naga. Dark Children can be found in all six kingdoms of Terrunum and in both factions of The Divide. This is not a war of religion.
  
  Betwixt Children
  There are members of society that don't identity as Light Children or Dark Children. First, there is the Betwixt. The Betwixt Children don't really take a side between Light Children and Dark Children, they can see where both is coming from. For them, they don't believe necessarily that Naga's love means that she treats mankind like pets. They believe that ultimately they are Naga's children in every since of the word. That people are free to do as they please, but at the end of the day Naga "taught" everyone the difference between right and wrong. Their decisions are on them and them alone. Whether or not they believe in Grima is up to whichever Betwixt Child you're talking to. Some do, and some do not. Betwixt Children can be found in all six kingdoms of Terrunum and in both factions of The Divide. This is not a war of religion.
  
  Faithless Children
  Then there's the Faithless Children, they're a bit different. As their names suggest, Faithless Children don't believe in Naga, angels, or any of it. That's not to say that they don't believe in some form of higher power, they just don't believe that Naga is it. The center of their beliefs lies in the extremely vague and poorly understood texts of the ancients. Magical researchers in Dinne and Glypheim, the capital kingdoms of magical research, seem to find a new meaning for the words of the ancients' language everyday. No one truly understands ancient texts, and what they are capable of understanding reads as poetic and not definitively literal.
  
  The Faithless tend to believe that Naga was simply an ancient woman who happened to be a magical genius. She was possibly the first of mankind to discover magic. She was probably a Manakete, as many of the ancient Dinnese were known to be Manaketes and Naga is often mentioned in ancient text alongside Manaketes and as being a motherly figure. Her "angels" were either literally her children or other extremely skilled magical researchers, potentially her students, or discoverers of different forms of magic from other regions. Grima was probably just an asshole or someone that Naga didn't like, or someone who discovered magic in a different part of Terrunum or maybe even in a different world, and so the people who liked Naga didn't speak favorably of him either and that's why it's easy to connect Grima to The Foreigners and The New Foreigners. In short, the Faithless Children believe that none of these figures were deities, they were simply ancient peoples who were super fucking good with magic.
  
  
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  Magic & Technology
  Magic is an innate force discovered by the ancient Dinnese that permeates the entire world, not just Terrunum, and comes in many forms. Its power can be manipulated in infinite ways. There are tomes which can be used to cast destructive spells, record sound waves, or summon phantoms. Even the musical abilities of Musical Class Characters are considered to be a form of magic that can influence the mind, body, and soul. Magic is truly limitless in possibility.
  
  Inherently, in a world where magic is present, technology will be based upon magic and its applications. Magic can be used to create everyday technology thanks to the creation of special rocks known as energy orbs. Energy Orbs are extremely useful in creating technology to assist in everyday life. For instance, red energy orbs can be used to create what real world people call stoves and ovens while blue energy orbs can be used to create what real world people call refrigerators. In fact, the Fire Spheres are considered by some to be extremely powerful energy orbs.
  
  Though magic certainly has its place in technological development, mechanical technology still exists. For example, explosives operate on basic science and not magic. Mankind figured out how to make boats and shit without magic, so on and so forth. Arguably, mechanical technology is more efficient method of developing technology, because energy orbs will eventually "lose their charge." If they aren't charged by a professional very quickly, they can become completely useless grey rocks.
  
  Many people see magic and mechanics as two fields of study that will propel mankind to limitless possibilities so long as they continue to work hand in hand. The Glypheitch roller coaster is a testament to this, as it is an invention that embodies the use of both mechanical and magical technology.