Anna Kyoyama
Loveless Angel of darkness
Fate of my dreams
In my mind, in darkest corner, there's graveyard, filled with desires, a dark land, raped, scarred... In my thoughts, hidden, necropolis of dreams, filled with dead hopes, echoing, ghostly screams... In my death, I take it all, cemetary of my soul,
filled with darkness, in burial ground, whole...
The History of Ter'Ciel
For generations the land of Ter'Ciel has been divided. The Ata'hua, longtime dwellers of the vast and lush plains of the east, lived in harmony with nature and sought to preserve their rich heritage against the test of time. The people believed themselves to be the children of the planet, and held a lofty sense of privilege as heirs to its bountiful resources. Inevitably, their steadfast yet narrow view of the world proved to be the Ata'huans' undoing.
Situated in the northwest corner of the Caldarian continent, the Kingdom of Valexia enjoyed immense prosperity from its recent increases in continental trade. Soon, the ambitious ideals of the kingdom encroached upon the old-world traditions of the eastern tribes and thus, the wheels of discord began to turn. Disputes gave way to skirmishes which soon escalated into organized, internal warfare. Unable to withstand the military might of Valexia, the Ata'huan tribes found themselves at the mercy of their technological superiors. Those who resisted met with an untimely end, while the remaining Ata'huans were enslaved and forced to watch the influence of modern culture affect the only world they'd ever known.
The proud fire of tradition that burns in the heart of every Ata'huan eventually proved too much for Valexia to control. Rebellions sprung up in increasing numbers and the ensuing chaos saw the destruction of much of the kingdom's inhabitants and resources. Valexia was left with no choice but to allow equal rights to be granted to the people of the eastern tribes. As both nations began to rebuild what the other had taken from them, it was obvious that too much damage had already been done. While war has not again broken out, tensions between the Ata'hua Tribelands and the Kingdom of Valexia remain as thick and apparent as ever. Each nation watches the other with eyes of suspicion, constantly wondering when the seemingly inevitable threat of war will loom over Ter'Ciel once more.
Present Day
Reports of altercations between Valexia and the Ata'huan Tribelands have increased in number as of late. The people do little to conceal their racism and social tensions are running high. Stories about traders losing business and ambassadors going missing only add to the political unrest between the two nations. With both parties expected to take action, one particularly curious rumor has the nations' leaders more than a bit concerned...
The city of Harlemont teeters on unsteady ground. Standing on the land in both Ata'huan and Valexian territory, it has long been viewed as a sanctuary for all. At the center of the humble city lies a temple housing a legendary artifact of great influence.
The Mirror of Akyel has existed since before the written word and has miraculously survived due to the protection of a chosen few. The mirror was said to have belonged to the hero Akyel. A young man who, according to legend, ascended to the heavens as a human deity to cleanse the world of a deadly poison, it is believed that he first received the oracle foretelling of his destiny from gazing into the reflection of the mirror. While the exact details of Akyel and the unknown "poison" remain widely speculative, the sacred mirror is a tangible testament to the history and survival of Ter'Ciel.
The mirror has resided in the care of Akyel's followers ever since. Enshrined in a temple at Harlemont, it is visited by countless faithful and skeptical viewers each year, drawn by the allure of the power it is said to behold.
Many believe that the Mirror of Akyel is the hero's way of continuing his watch over the world he loved so much. That, when the time comes, it will be used to save Ter'Ciel from destruction once more. Popular belief among the modern kingdoms, primarily Valexia, claim that the mirror will summon forth Akyel himself. A hero reborn to smite any who oppose them and usher in a new era of prosperity. A radically different tale can no doubt be heard among the tribes of Ata'hua saying that the mirror will summon the guardian beast of the earth. This guardian will purge Ter'Ciel of all injustice and return the rule of the planet back over to its rightful owners; the children of the land, the Ata'huans.
Standing on the land of both nations, Harlemont finds itself with a voice in each ear. With the threat of full-scale war looming on the horizon, surely the power of the Mirror of Akyel will prove to be paramount in the case of the planet's future. But the hushed words barely heard in noisy taverns and narrow alleyways only add to the peoples' unrest:
The Mirror of Akyel has gone missing...
The World of Ter'Ciel
Ter'Ciel is a vast world consisting of several continents. This story will mainly feature the happenings of one continent in particular, Caldaria. The center of the mainland consists of flat, grassy plains of the Ata'hua Tribelands, surrounded by more rugged, mountainous regions on the continent's coastlines. The Kingdom of Valexia lies to the northwest by the sea and is the largest city on the Caldarian continent. Other, smaller towns lie scattered about Valexian territory. East of Valexia is Harlemont, the halfway point between the kingdom and the tribelands. To the north is a vastly unexplored territory of thickly forested land. Far to the west there exists an island that belongs to neither Valexia nor Ata'hua. The city of Davonshire was built upon this land and is an independent, mercantile nation ruled by a family of nobles.
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The technology of Ter'Ciel is somewhat unevenly distributed across Caldaria. The Ata'hua Tribelands, although aware of modern technology, widely refuse to change their traditional ways. As such, the villages of the tribelands include clusters of huts among the marshlands and gypsy-style caravans drawn by horses. The Kingdom of Valexia, on the other hand, has recently discovered how to master the usage of steam. This new energy source powers crude yet advanced machines such as airships, elevators, etc. An easy comparison would be a somewhat Steampunk-era world where new age inventions meet old-world staples. As such, electricity is popular but many still use candles, it is commonplace for individuals to carry swords or various other forms of melee protection, yet crude rifles are new on the market.
Magic is also a known phenomena in the world of Ter'Ciel. Spells are divided into two main divisions; the first type consists mainly of charms to help find lost objects, bring good fortune, places curses, etc. The other type is more unnatural and conjures forth magical energy to create and manipulate things such as fire, air currents, small-scale natural disasters, etc. While magic is somewhat commonplace in Ter'Ciel, one still must be born with the talent to control and manipulate mana.
While "monsters" do not widely inhabit the lands and plague the people constantly, it is not entirely unheard of for people to encounter savage beasts in the more rural, uninhabited locales of Ter'Ciel.
That about covers the basics of the world. If you have any additional questions as to the technology or culture of Ter'Ciel, do not hesitate to ask me. Also feel free to contact me about adding any new locations to the world map.
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