Fantasy Rhindeval's Kingdoms

[Zodia195]

In this forum, I will be posting information regarding all the Kingdoms of Rhindeval. At the moment they are Principalities, except Traumet. All images used will be what the place looked like before Ivelda took over. All palaces and their towns have also been sealed off by the hidden magic of the kingdoms (except for Lostein). All of Traumet is sealed though. I'll be talking about how to unseal them in the main OOC thread. Also, no one knows what happened to those who've lived within the palaces either. This thread will get bigger since I want players to create their own kingdoms or if they don't want to, I'll be creating them. To those who do create kingdoms, please describe your kingdom before and after Ivelda's takeover.

Lostein is the area the Queen currently reigns and is home of Prince Richard. It is the central most kingdom in Rhindeval. The castle (it's the image on the main page btw) is situated on an island in the middle of a lake and sometimes a mist settles in the palace looks like it's in the clouds. Nearby the palace is a wooded area that is rumored to be enchanted. Before the rulers fell, the area was known to be the most peaceful of the kingdoms due to how loving its rulers were and how strong their magic was. With the surrounding kingdoms as their strongest allies, it seemed no one could overtake them. It was for this very reason that Ivelda target it first, for she believed that by taking control of that kingdom's magic she would have an easier time conquering the others. And that's exactly what happened.

However, Ivelda hasn't managed to gain all of the kingdom's magic for the rulers had a backup plan just in case. This magic is hidden deep in the Enchanted wood, sealed by the Fairy Queen herself, whom Ivelda cannot oppose directly. Only the Fairy Queen herself can unlock the area. Still the woods itself is a very dangerous place now. It'll be this area that Lilith plans to transport the princesses to.

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Traumet is one of the kingdoms that neighbors Lostein. Half of it is made up of forests. It actually has an underground water system. Princess Aurora's parents ruled this area. This area is well known for its fairy population and the people are so in tuned with the magic of this area that it's not uncommon for magic users to originate from here. The rulers themselves were both magical too, especially the queen though who had the 2nd sight. She actually had nightmares leading up to the attack and took great pains to do what she could to protect their kingdom by contacting the fairy folk and they planned ahead. She's also responsible for the creation of the pendants for the princesses and the weapons for the princes.

So when Ivelda killed the rulers, word spread like wildfire to the fae folk of Traumet and in an extreme attempt to protect the kingdom, the Fairy Queen, who lives here also, put the whole kingdom into an enchanted sleep and sealed it off so that no one may enter except those who carry the royal blood. So really the only one who bring the seal down is Aurora herself. Ivelda has tried breaking the magic barrier down, but stopped once she learned who was responsible for the seal. Eons ago, a treaty between the opposing forces of Good and Evil of this world was created to balance. Neither could directly attack the other, otherwise Rhindeval and the lands beyond it would fall into constant war and chaos, which was the case prior to this treaty. This also applies to servants of these forces. Ivelda is a servant of Evil now and hence must abide the rules of this treaty since the Fairy Queen and her people were one of the Representatives of Good. On the flipside, fairy folk cannot directly oppose Ivelda either, which is why they couldn't stop her continue invasion of Rhindeval. The best they can do is hope for Lilith and princesses' return and help them any way they can.

 

[Zodia195]

Angalais is mostly plains kingdom. It's mostly an agricultural kingdom ranging from farmlands to ranches. The capital of Angalais, Windemell is located in an area though that is very hilly with interesting rock formations. Also in the deep south of the kingdom are marsh lands since a large river borders the kingdom. In the eastern part of the kingdom there are ports since the kingdom has coastal areas too. Angalais is also know to be the Kingdom of Flowers due to having the most diverse species of flowers. The people of this kingdom worked very hard and loved the fruits of their larbor. While magic isn't is as well known here as in other kingdoms, the kinds of magic that are practiced here are mostly earth related or anything that helps tend to the land.

Angalais though saw major changes happen when Ivelda took over. Even though Angalais was one of the last kingdoms she targeted, it still suffered a lot of damage. A lot of people tried fighting back but lost a lot of property as a result and many ranches and farms were burned. Ivelda wasn't dumb though. She knew a good chunk of Rhindeval's crops came from this kingdom, so she did rebuild in certain areas, but put her own people in charge. Sadly, this place also has a lot slavery since Ivelda found pleasure in breaking people this way. Only the flower farms were completely destroyed and never brought back. There are those who still hold out hope that their princess will return. The Overseer of this area is the ruthless Lady Shannon.

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Hanasaki is a kingdom that honors both old world traditions and new advances. The land itself is very diverse with mountainous areas to rice paddies to numerous towns. Hanasaki has always been on the forefront of inventing new means to help not only the people within its kingdom but to others as well. They were the kingdom to invent paper, fireworks, and advances in weaponry. Healing and alchemy are huge areas the kingdom is known for. The capital city of Nayong happens to have the biggest library in all of Rhindeval since knowledge is so vital here. They have many trade routes the go through the kingdom and beyond.

Despite all the advances this kingdom had, Ivelda's determination to bring Hanasaki under her control were too much for it, even though the kingdom was one of the last ones to fall thanks to a combination of their natural barriers and army. However, Ivelda had an ace up her sleeve in the form of one of the kingdoms most wanted criminals who knew the ins and outs of the kingdom and who now its Overseer. The kingdom is still making technological advances but mostly towards warfare needs. Alchemy is also still practiced. However enchanted creatures like the kirin and dragons have been hunted down and poaching is a common practice now. However, the kingdom has a hidden rebellion group led by none other Prince Kaito's aunt, the younger sister of the former king and former captain of the guard. She and others are still holding out hope for their prince to get out of Ivelda's grasp.

 

[AudioBox]

The Silvani Kingdom
[image will go here]​

In a mystical forest valley between two mountainous regions, there exists a small kingdom of nature weavers and beast masters. No more than a dozen towns are scattered through the forest, acting as points of light in an otherwise dark domain of magic, beasts and unseelie fey. The light that shines within these towns to drive away the darkness is the will of Akantha, warden spirit of the Silvani Valley. Her druids and sages, all led by her champion, maintain order in the valley. Her hallowed groves are protected by her champion. Their seat of power is in Greenhaven, the Kingdom's capital, located smack in the middle of the valley. It can be accessed via the main river or via the caravan roads; all caravans in the country eventually pass through there.

[Image here too]​

In the past, settlements were kept safe by sages from Greenhaven who mediated between the townsfolk and the spirits who controlled the town's share of the forest. The townfolk provide offerings and reverence, and in exchange they got protection and good harvests. Once the settlements (and subsequently Akantha within her temple) were sealed by the fairy queen's sleeping enchantment, the sages' powerful spirits broke free and began fighting to see who would be the new master of the forest.

This ongoing conflict has affected the continent in varying ways, since Silvani is a major supplier of skilled druids, lumber, and some specialized alchemical supplies. Queen Ivelda’s Overseer, the exiled sage Asher, has been putting up a good fight against the monsters and spirits that now roam the valley. They've become ingredients for his elixirs, or test subjects for his alchemical weapons.

[One last image here]​

 

[Bloody_Death]

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(Credit to Diego Matiz)​

Hortensia Harbor is a kingdom made of many different islands. The main island is where the palace and capital of the kingdom are located. And then plenty of smaller islands that house many different settlements and tribes. Hortensia has always been known as a hot spot for trading and markets alike. Their capital is the place to go, thanks to their booming economy and world-class bazaars. However, part of their economy was corrupted by monopolies and violent companies. But when Azami and Fathia took the throne that all began changing. They began making large steps to help unify and make everything fair between both the rich and the not-so-rich. Progress was being made quickly and all islands of the kingdom were able to enjoy the land together.

Once Ivelda took over and Kalima was put in charge of Hortensia, the land was somewhat converted back into the situation the kingdom used to be in before Azami and Fathia's rule. Except much worse. People from the small tribes and settlements were taken and forced to work with little to no pay. Attacking those that tried to stand against them and making use of those who accepted their fates. All except for the capital that's protected by the shield and a small cluster of islands defended by Leviathan and his resistance are under her control. An endless conflict between Kalima and Leviathan's armies has been at each other's throats since Kalima was put into power.

 

[Sir Mayday]

Resauk



Resauk is a ancient war torn land. The swamp and marshlands cover a great distance. Ruins of past keeps or bastions can be found in abundance. Some say that the land is cursed, suffering from a broken promise long ago. It is a land that full of people that focus greatly on their past, and the actions of their ancestors. Tradition, honor, and the strength of your character were valued heavily in the land. Compassion and honesty were nice, but they did not guarantee food on the table. They did not guarantee that you would catch a disease from the land and be dead in a week. The people of Resauk were a strange folk to the neighboring kingdoms, living off the stories and teachings of their ancestors. Swearing themselves to tribes, nobles, or clans with life debts. Survival was the main goal of the people, as they were too stubborn to leave and dishonor their ancestors. They found a way to survive, with a strict set of rules and structures.

The land was also full of treasure hunters. The land was rich in history and relics. Tombs full of treasure and magical artifacts Many treasure hunters come to the land, hoping to make a big score and be set for life. Many end up becoming part of the swamp, and adding their bones to the tombs.

Beasts are rampant, and the tombs are filled with magical traps and vengeful spirits. Plus the sicknesses that could be caught. It was a deathtrap to go exploring without a local native or guide.

Once Ivelda took over, the local structure that has been nurtured for centuries imploded. Settlements were sealed, people, supplies. Trade pacts and contracts were impossible to complete. Tribes couldn't keep their pacts, the strong became week without proper support. Many natives of Resauk died not in battle, but to disease and the dangers of the swamp. Shipments of medicine and supplies were hard to acquire. There is very little civilization left in the land, with only a few groups of well hidden people surviving..or those that had sworn allegiance to the Queen in order to be granted supplies.

 

[SilverFeathers]

The Kingdom of Havintena

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Introduction & Worship
The Kingdom of Havintena, also known as the Grey Peripheries, is a distant and isolated mountain nation centred around their sacred volcano, Havi. Believed to be the ancient resting place of a long lost god by the same name, Havi is treasured and worshipped by all of the kingdom, with many making multiple pilgrimages a year merely to visit the volcano in person and pray. Otherwise, many shrines and temples exist on their own isolated mountaintops for more frequent visitations. Unlike elsewhere, every time the volcano erupts, the people of Havintena celebrate, thankful for the soil on the mountain floor for growing extra fertile, for the rich mineral and ore deposits that are left behind, as well as any re-shaping of the land brought forth by Havi's will. Buildings and infrastructure are protected by fire-proof magic stones sourced from Havi himself, allowing even the closest settlements to remain immune to any stray magma flows. The Lava Festival that follows every eruption is a rare, but beloved moment by all, celebrated slightly differently in different regions across the kingdom, but always accompanied by special shows of song and dance. The capital of Havintena is Vifeyri, very small for a capital city, but built into the closest and tallest mountaintop beside Havi. The palace of the royal family resides peaceful and isolated on the very top of the mountain, a misty distance away from any other buildings.

Environment
Havintena is a heavily mountainous region, populated mostly by tall jagged mountaintops and steep, treacherous valleys or ravines whilst lacking in flat land. It was only with the painstaking efforts of the early settlers in re-shaping some of the mountains that allowed Havintena to grow into the kingdom it is today, with now thousands of homes built into and atop of the perilious mountains, connected by various swaying wooden bridges and mountain passages. Grey-ish mists and clouds float in the air, particularly dense by the taller mountaintops closer to the capital. The air is thin and cold here, with the rare, occasional tourist willing to brave the mountain tops often finding it difficult to breathe as they adjust. It is rare for Havintena to see warm weather, hence many dress warmly in many layers here, with fur from slain mountain monsters being a popular choice.

Culture
The people of Havintena pursue a relatively simplistic way of life, mainly including working hard, appreciating nature and worshipping Havi. Meditation and taking walks are more common past times here, with residents, especially elders, valuing the traits of adaptability, calmness and spirituality. Due to how long and arduous journeying takes here, across lengthy bridges, mountain caverns, and hiking up pathways, the people are also quite naturally hardy and durable, with many adults spending hours traversing just to farm on the mountain floors and valleys. Naturally, on the opposite side, Havintena receives few tourists due to its arduous terrain and few special attractions. On the rare occasions visitors do come however, they are welcomed quite warmly despite the kingdom's quietness, with residents often curious about their stories and wanting to share the unique culture and food of Havintena with them. Magic-wise, spells engraved into stones or runes are rather common, often carried around by residents on the daily for various usages. Other than rune engravers, it is common for mages to pursue the likes of summoning mounts/pets from alternate realms, or taming beasts/monsters out in the wild for transport/travel.

Ivelda's Corruption (13 years ago)
Despite Havintena's unique terrain, making it difficult for non-natives to breach or invade, especially with all the mountain passages, Ivelda was relentless, and the reach of her dark magic was unavoidable. Forced to surrender to the new Overseer's commands, he/she took twisted enjoyment out of the citizens' devotion, forcing them to worship and pray to them instead every day without fail. Hundreds of guards were sent to patrol and force these actions in every temple and shrine, with cruel punishments being given if one failed to attend, even if sick or disabled. Heavy 'donations' to the Overseer were also enacted, causing poverty and strife to spread like wildfire across the land.

 

[Sunsmiter]

Xiuhcoatl​

Xiuhcoatl, or simply known as the Wildlands or the Plaguelands by the commonfolk, is a distant, isolated jungle surrounded by mountains, known primarily for its abundance of natural wealth, and its deadly, toxic fauna. Its wildlife is primarily characterized only by their fangs and their endless hunger, along with the sharp uptick of plagues and parasites within Xiuhcoatl, earning it the name the Plaguelands. The moniker is quite ironic, given the fact Xiuhcoatl is known for its fertile agricultural and abundant harvests.

• General Information
• Plagues of Xiuhcoatl

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  Environment
  The Serpent’s Spine: The name of the mountainlands that surround Xiuhcoatl has made it difficult for guests, coiled around it like a huge, slumbering serpent. Like a festering scar, the edges of the jungle spill forth, clawing its way up the rocks and stone. Tendrils of plants and membranes of flowers, thick and resilient, crawl and creep into every pockmark and outcropping of land they can find. It will not be long until the encroachment swallows the mountains whole.
  
  The Oasis: The de facto capital of Xiuhcoatl. Sequestered from the outside fauna, the Oasis contains an intricate structure of aqueducts and waterfalls running through the verdant city. Water pools in controlled deluges, soaking the soil, bathing the environment, and providing continual, refreshing sustenance for the tall timber forming the natural outer walls of the Oasis. The capitol is protected by nothing but the jungle and its natural inhabitants, yet the thick, almost vengeful canopy of the jungle provides a lethal journey for all those who visit. At the very center of the Oasis is the Pavilion of Four, a massive, hulking palace seemingly carved from nature magic, grown into the massive trunk of trees itself. WIth each season that turns, the Pavilions change. Some say the Great Serpent once slumbered within the maze, some say the tree is part of Her mighty form. Birds of paradise nestle within its branches, and entire houses could be constructed among its leaves.
  
  Healers specializing in every ailment dwell here, Xiuhcoatl’s greatest pride and joy seemingly found in their herbal remedies. The paralyzed crawl in and walk away, the broken come and find their way home, the blind learn to see again. It is said there is no wonder Xiuhcoatl’s healers cannot reproduce…not even the price of death.
  
  The Catacombs: Locked within the roots of the Pavilion, lies the dungeons of the Pavilion. Prisoners who die here are interred within the earth, grown into the flesh of nature itself. It is said once a healer brought back a princess from the dead, and for this blasphemous deed he was sentenced to die within the earth. Here, in the darkness where even diseases die, is where the Great Serpent has been forsaken.
  
  The Everbloom Glades: A great conqueror was once born here, in these fertile lands. The man who united the once-savage tribes of jungle under his banner, who beat back the fauna and the beasts, and created Xiuhcoatl. A Warlord whose name was forgotten, yet whose accomplishments would reign forever. His brother betrayed him, and was slain by a poisoned blade. Legend has it that the bloom who poisoned him was grown in these very fields.
  
  Skyscar: A massive, hulking monument, like a finger stripped of bone jutting out against the sky. The tragic remains of one of the kingdom’s old conflicts, the name of a would-be conqueror forgotten, stripped from the face of history itself until not even his tomb remembers him. The shattered face of this stone idol is known only as Skyscar. The blade that took his life lies inside the Skyscar, entombed with the Warlord’s dead brother.
  
  The Jungle: The lush, tropical growth of Xiuhcoatl entices the senses, almost too beautiful for life. Colorful birds flit between blossoms, animals sing a nectar-rich symphony among beautiful flowers that coat the jungle floor. Perfume dances upon the succulent breeze, and serpents coil beneath tree branches. Parasites fester within serene pools, and insects hum a maddening orchestra of voices as they burrow and gnaw into living flesh. Men walk in and corpses walk out, their flesh scoured to the bone by carnivorous plants and hungry scavengers, mushrooms already booming within their bones. This is the cauldron of plague, this is the eye of the Great Serpent, where life lives forever, yet longs to live.
  
  Worship: The Great Serpent
  “She lives forever, and She longs to live.”
  No one knows who or why. One only knows that She hungers. The Serpent is all consuming, and all giving, believing to be an ancient goddess of fertility and plague who blessed the lands. Sacrifices are given to Her, their dead are ritualistically buried, food is buried at the maws of Her temples to “feed” the ancient goddess. No one knows why She rests. No one knows if She’ll ever awaken. No one knows if they want Her to wake. It is She who stirs the broth of plague, it is She who brings the gift of life and healers.
  
  Culture
  The people of Xiuhcoatl are skilled agriculturists, cultivating crops within the lush jungle. They celebrate bountiful harvests with elaborate festivals, featuring dances, music, and rituals to honor the Great Serpent for the fertility of their lands. One of the festivals, the Dance of the Scales, is quite commonly known. People are quite in tune with the earth and nature, quite much so given the fact a jaguar can and will wander right in and eat you. Nature is an all-encompassing eye, both beautiful, and terrifying. Druids are highly respected figures in the community. The Pavilion of Four, at the heart of the Oasis, serves as a center for magical teachings, where aspiring healers learn to harness the power of the earth, or learn to fear it.
  Due to the lethal nature of the jungle, visitors are rare, with Xiuhcoatl being almost entirely independent except for the trade that occurs in the Oasis.
  Visitors are seen as needing protection, and welcomed and treated as family members, even if it is in the coarse, playful way residents of Xiuhcoatl seem to possess.
  Magic-wise, Xiuhcoatl is heavily dependent on the land, and its nature’s whims. A delicate balance of life eternally fighting against plague is struck, and Xiuhcoatl’s healers are the finest in the realm, driven to perfection before the ruthless march of the earth. They either learn to survive the Great Serpent’s poison and Her trials, or they learn to fear them
  
  Ivelda's Corruption
  Despite Xiuhcoatl’s natural resilience, it had one, single, fatal weakness. The naivete of the Oasis. The royal family welcomed them with open arms, and it was during the festival of the Dance of the Scales that they were betrayed.
  Xiuhcoatl was fierce, they had their warriors, they had beasts to call and beckon. But their armors were doffed, their dancer’s attire donned, their spears and blades put away and beasts muzzled for one of the greatest festivals of the year. They were unguarded, so naively welcoming of visitors they forgot the inherent unfairness of trust.
  The Oasis did not survive.
  The royal family were scattered, their beautiful monuments burned. The feathers and the scales of the Great Serpent’s massive monuments were shed like rain, Her priests and healers brought to heel with a single terrible threat: raise a single fang or blade, and the Oasis will be burned to ash.
  The rest of the jungle nation did not survive long after the fall of their capital. The invasion was essentially over before it began, the resistance had crumbled the moment their beloved sanctuary fell.
  The flowers are withering now, the healers worked to the bone and the beasts of the jungle hunted relentlessly. Plagues spread and fester unchecked, the Great Serpent’s shrines left untended. Instead of perfume, there is the smell of fire, and fear, in the air.
  
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  Enviroment
  The Wyrmwood: A lingering blight, a living scorn upon the earth. It is an open wound, a festering scar, a section of the Plaguelands quarantine, for it is not barren, but fertile. Far too fertile for like. Some say it is the maw of the Great Serpent, blessed by Her fangs. Some say it is where She fell and was buried beneath the earth, it is where Her poisoned blood fertilized the languid earth. A massive mountain worn away by titanic tree roots into a hollow tumor, where rivers gather into serene pools, this is where parasites slumber. This strange, hollow structure of pools and fetid water seem to hum with eternal hunger, bringing forth strains of ever-ending calamity. Even the mages once assigned to keep the contagion at bay know to steer clear from its deceptively tranquil, yet fetid liquid, its surface eerie colors just shy of natural.
  
  It is unlike the Oasis’ catacombs, for even then the horrors were confined beneath the earth. In Wyrmwood, gouged on some ancient hunger, some empty, hollowly echoing voice, life lives forever within the swamps of the Wyrmwood, yet life longs to live. While not all plagues originate from Wyrmwood, many are linked to its properties. Some examples include....
  
  Plagues
  Marrowblight: For a while the diseases of the Plaguelands were thought lost. They were not. Legends has it that, once, explorers ventured into the Wyrmwood in an attempt to recover ancient Ironwood tree seeds. They succeeded, and the seedlings were healthy, yet nothing spawned from the blood of the Great Serpent could come without a price. They brought Marrowblight with them, and it swept the land. In a cruel twist of fate, the seedlings were completely immune.
  
  When Marrowblight infects a victim, their bones begin to warp and twist as the disease feeds upon their marrow. This progression could cripple, rib bones clean out of alignment or twist the victim’s body, even causing eventual death by asphyxiation. It was not a fast-moving disease, it was slow, and painful.
  
  Verdant Rot: The disease is caused by a magical fungus that thrives in the humid jungle environment. It rapidly consumes flesh, leaving behind a trail of decay. Only powerful herbal remedies from Xiuhcoatl's healers can slow its progress.
  
  Blighted Vines: Vines that once bore delicious fruits become blighted, bloated versions of themselves, carrying a magical contagion. Anyone who consumes the tainted fruit experiences a slow, itchy spreading vine-like pattern on their skin. The disease is not dangerous, only merely annoying. Some say it was a druid’s idea of a prank.
  
  Serpent's Curse: An infection carried by serpents. Once infected, the serpent becomes aggressive, hostile, and grows at an unmatched rate. Its poison becomes not only more potent, but also causes hallucinations.
  
  Mistwalker's Dance: A thick, poisonous mist occasionally rises and covers certain areas of the jungle. Those who breathe it in become disoriented and lose their way, or experience vivid hallucinations and respiratory issues. Those who stay lost in the mist for too long are rumored to be transformed into ghostly apparitions, their flesh incorporeal and embraced within the mist.
  
  Leafred: A parasitic plant known as the Leafred infects the water sources of Xiuhcoatl. When ingested, the plant's tendrils grow within the bloodstream, causing intense pain and fever.
  
  Feverbloom Sickness: A mysterious illness that causes vivid and hallucinatory fevers, caused by eating an infected fruit or blossom. Those afflicted experience intense visions. The fever is often accompanied by lethargy and weakened immunity, making individuals susceptible to other diseases.
  
  The Pale Veil: A disease spread by airborne spores released by certain exotic flowers. Those affected suffer from paralysis and convulsions as the toxins slowly spread through their bloodstream. The venomous veil is challenging to avoid as the flowers' spores are pervasive throughout the jungle. It is unknown whether the Pale Veil is a disease or actually just part of the plant’s natural defense mechanism.
  
  Ghostrot: A skin disease that causes patches of the afflicted person's skin to become translucent, giving them an eerie, ghostly appearance. Sometimes purposefully induced by healers to “see inside” a person’s body.
  
  Serpent's Embrace: A curse that transforms individuals into snake-like beings. Victims gradually develop scales, fangs, and a reptilian gaze. The curse is rumored to be linked to displeasing the Great Serpent, and those afflicted are often shunned by the community.
  
  Fleshwood Blight: A curse that turns the skin of individuals into a hardened, wood-like substance. Those affected experience excruciating pain as their bodies transform, and movement becomes increasingly difficult. Often linked to specific exotic tree-bark.
  
  Mauvetide: A bloodborne disease that turns the afflicted person's blood into a thick, crimson substance resembling sap. Those infected experience weakness, anemia, and susceptibility to bleeding. The disease is often associated with tainted water sources.
  
  Harvesting Madness: Affecting the agricultural practices of Xiuhcoatl, this plague causes crops to grow at an accelerated rate, but become toxic when consumed. This once nearly caused a famine before new crops were quickly planted, with aid from fairies and local druids.
  
  The Crimson Embrace: Among the most deadly plagues within Xiuhcoatl’s borders, once thought exterminated when the Betrayer died. The origins are tied to a mad chemist whose husband died, who loved him so painfully she went mad through his loss. She created horrific concoctions, each more twisted than the last, trying to resurrect the man she loved. Her research is now buried with her husband beneath Skyscar. What remained of the chemist is unknown.
  Quite ironically, the Crimson cannot grow around their shared tomb.
  In revenge, or perhaps in mourning, for her husband’s murder, she created a parasite who fed upon life itself. Perhaps she bargained with the Great Serpent to bestow her greatest horror upon the earth. Perhaps she stole power from the rightful gods and used it to madness. Whatever she did, the Red Veil is a parasitic flower known only for its deceptive beauty in its final phase. A beautiful flower, with purple petals streaked with crimson, and it is the herald of horrific decay.
  It grows quietly, it latches on any lifeform, be it a beast, a plant, a tree, or even remains of bone, and it infests it. It infests it with the insatiable urge to devour, to feast yet ever hunger, it turns them into unliving monsters whose life was forfeit to decay. It manifests itself as a hunger that cannot be satisfied, mutating plants into carnivorous, bloated versions of themselves and even the more docile of beasts into rabid, frenzied caricatures. They kill so they might feast, and sometimes not even then do they surrender.
  The Crimson spreads from both bites, spores released by the flower which blooms from the host near the end of their lifespans, from the carcass feasted upon by an infected or simply from the first, progenitor flower, the very last gift from the chemist for her husband.
  There was no cure, there was simply destruction, and an attempt to starve the parasite into submission. The plague had taken Xiuhcoatl by storm, revoking ancient fears of plagues more myth than reality.
  Entire areas were isolated and quarantined to prevent the further spread of the plague, entire regions might have been sacrificed, intentionally left to wither and die to prevent the Crimson from spreading further, creatures left to starve and rot. These quarantined lands became known as the Red Veil.
  Records differ on how it ended. Some say that fairies helped to destroy the progenitor flower, some say the Great Serpent chose to end it in all Her cruel wisdom. Others say it only ended with death, and devastation, or multiple kingdoms sent out their greatest heroes to hunt down and destroy the chemist’s research, and bury the abominations beneath the earth.
  Yet, even then, the stories are clear upon one thing. The Crimson Embrace died in the Glades they were born in. Fairies, healers, citizens and soldiers alike lit the torch and watched as the once beloved home of a king and warlord burned to ashes, as the flowers withered and turned to smoke, as the Everbloom became the Everash. The hunger died in fire, screaming into the smoke, burned to ash, coloring the Red Veil grey with its soot.
  The last of the Crimson died beneath fire, and was never seen again.
  It was eons ago. Now, some scholars wonder if the Crimson ever existed at all, or if it was simply a famine. Yet, other mythologists shake their heads, and ponder, stroking their beards in contemplation as they recite distant stories of a more ancient, far more horrific plague that had descended upon the entire jungle like a curse, a plague that would have made the Crimson look pale in comparison, yet had symptoms so similar the two could have been wrought perhaps not by the same hand, but by the same soul.
  
  The Forgotten
  It is a hollow voice, an open wound. It is the sobs of a forgotten mother crying out for her children to come home. A name whispered in fearful reverence among the scholars and mythologists of Xiuhcoatl. A memory so devastating that its very record was intentionally erased from the records, its anger so great it was erased from history itself.
  Legend says those who were struck by the forgotten plague would hunger, thirst, and dream so fervently. They would not merely desire consumption, they desired all, in all its forms. They would dream, and love, and cherish to the point where love turned to hatred. Wounds inflicted upon the infected never heal. Instead, they fester and decay, creating open sores and exposing the decaying flesh beneath, yet they do not die. For they shall live forever, yet long to live. They will suffer as She has suffered.
  But they do not die. For death would have been too merciful a fruit.
  It is so distant, so ancient, the only clear reference found was from a ruined temple once dedicated to the Great Serpent, left by one of the ancient priestesses who once tended Her altar.
  “To those who have turned their backs upon the Mother. To those who have abandoned their faith. To those who have struck Her down and burned Her skin, to those who stripped Her scales and feathers with the tenderness of black knives. To those who have forgotten me. To those who have forgotten Her.
  I will cast vengeance. I will cast judgment. I will teach you the meaning of fear. As the wheel of time turns, you will not forget, and we will not forgive.
  I will give this gift of love turned to hatred, so you will be as I am now, you will be broken upon the earth as I have been forgotten. You will be forgotten, as I have been forgotten. I will burn this brand upon you. You will carry this burden I have laid out for you. I am the last priestess of a dead god. I am the last witness to watch where man has chained Death, and won. I am the plague, the rot, the endless decay, and now you will be too. Let this be my final gift to a goddess I failed.”
  It has since been forgotten, relegated to be less of a myth and more of a fantasy. It never were, and it never will be. The Crimson is gone, the Forgotten is dead. No one remembers, and no one believes.
  
  The Plaguebearer: In the darkest corners of Xiuhcoatl, sometimes, just sometimes, old wives' tales spread of the return of the last priestess herself. A hollow, rotting figure, surviving through nothing but healing magic turned to abomination, draped in serpentine shadows, is said to roam the cursed lands. It is she who stirs the cauldron of plague, who unleashes wyrms beneath the earth, exacting vengeance on those who have forgotten the Great Serpent.
  
  It is probably just a boogeyman though…