Fantasy ∆The Divine Vendetta - Lore & General Info∆

Croaker · Mar 13, 2019

|Play Style|
In The Divine Vendetta players will be siding with one of four warring factions that currently dominate the world. This role play – if all goes well – should be in essence controlled by its players, with little necessary action or input from any "GM" figure. That being said, any progress/guidance the player's desire will still be given by the faction leaders (more on them in a second) and myself through the culminating story arcs of this RP.
Due to my desire for a player-centric RP, the four factions at odds with each other will be built from the ground up by those of you who join in on my shenanigans, and headed in construction by a faction leader (who will naturally fall into a sort of "Co-GM" status should it be necessary or desired), with a few guidelines from me to help keep things congruent. Everything else between these factions will be almost entirely sandbox.

The Divine Vendetta 's story will progress via factions and their members interacting, special events that I will occasionally create to introduce new elements into the ongoing arcs, and a world timeline that will be consistently updated to keep everyone informed on how their actions have affected the environment of the world and what's going on around them in current day society. As the story evolves, so should the characters and the world.
|World Lore|
The world is ancient and diverse, bountiful with unique cultures and people. Her history, long and unpleasant, is defined by ages of conflict and the doctrine of tyrants. Her face is scared by the blades of war, blemished by the chemical fires we set upon her. Empires rise and fall, conquest after conquest claiming this land. Though many aspects of this world might change, these things will not. It is a comfortable cycle and one that will keep spinning for all of eternity.

"I now recall something a wise man once said to me. Something about the three stages of an empire, the three generations. 'First came the conquerors, unstoppable in war. Then came the administrators, who bound it all together into one apparently unshakable, immortal edifice. Then came the wasters, who knew no responsibility and squandered the capital of their inheritance upon whims and vices. And fell to other conquerors.'
That is our world; in it's barest of essences."
~Mulkain The Scribe

Little is remembered of the world from before the calamity, from before the Seven Days of Fire. What few history books we find from The Age of Creation only give us small glimpses into the past, faint shadows of truth. Reading these grimoires, we can discover small slivers of information regarding times like that of the Eldritch Era and the Psychic Wars, or the Time of Titan and Era of Blood, but the anecdotal material available is too cryptic and spars to provide true illumination on these times in Man’s history. All that can be remembered now is the Age of Creation, and what has come since then.

Nearly a thousand years ago, mankind reached a golden age known now as the Age of Creation. With the marriage of science and magic, humans were able to perform epic feats and perform tasks now considered unimaginable. With the snap of a finger, Man could move mountains and clear forests, and in the blink of an eye, cities could be raised with buildings built so tall one could knock on the heavens and pluck stars from the night sky.
For a hundred years we slowly constructed a world of rapture... But it wasn’t enough. There was hatred in the belly of man, hatred as old as creation.
In the Age of Creation, we had grown weary of our Gods, and so in an act of defiance and rage, we built our own and savagely set them upon our creators.
The constructed Gods were ruthless, and with their power in the hands of man, we ascended to the planes of starlight, on clouds, in cities made from bricks of breeze.
In the light of our burning creators, we danced madly, inhaling with euphoria their burning flesh.
It wasn’t long after our success, that we experienced the Calamity.
For reasons we still cannot explain, our constructed Gods turned on us and each other. Seven Days of Fire followed, and man was wrapped once again in darkness. We tumbled back to Nalderoth, our Gods, now ablaze, following suit. When we impacted, all but one of the Gods went into hiding for an eternal slumber.
Man, once again, was weak and vulnerable.

Life in the modern age is grim. Technology from The Age of Creation has been lost to the annals of time. Secrets that our forefathers once knew have died with the Gods, sending whatever is left of humanity back to the dark ages. When we stare at the night sky, the face of a shattered moon stares back, reminding us of our failure.
Slowly we attempt to rebuild, but our cities now lay on the graves of older cities and our streets and catacombs fill with the dead. We erect tall and formidable walls to keep out the plague and lepers, but somehow they still find ways into our alleyways and sewers.
These are dark days, but we cling to hope, any scrap of it we can find. It is widely believed that if one were to find and take control of one of the slumbering Gods, the world’s ancient secrets would become readily available once again. Because of this, multiple factions have arisen from the ashes of our fall, and now scour this grim planet for traces of the old world and its mighty Gods. These factions find themselves constantly at odds, warring with one another, spilling blood over old relics and clues to the unyielding mystery of our Gods.
At the same time, the final God, Ithisis, roams the land, casting judgment as they see fit. They are like a force of nature, appearing randomly and for unknown reasons, unstoppable and all-powerful. Their goals are unclear, all that is known is that he acts as a God does, breathing life into strange and bizarre creations, and destroying on a whim.
He surrounds himself with a council of once-mortals, monstrous beings of immense power, who aid him in his quest, whatever it might be.
|Setting(Mood and Motifs)/Environment|

–Example of possible Desert City Nalderoth is an old world with a storied past, however, this particular tale takes place hundreds of years after humanity faces its greatest fall. Because of this, The Divine Vendetta takes place in a time period that is both Gothic and Medieval. The landscape of Nalderoth is filled with a diverse set of biomes, which house unique and diverse groups of people and cities.
The geography is scattered with ruins of older civilizations and their respective corpses. Catacombs lie beneath city streets and the bones of the old world occasionally find their way into the current architecture. Colonies of lepers and plagued individuals bite at the walls of great cities and lurk in their alleys along with other miscreants who'll slit your throat for a just few coppers.

Ice

Completely covered in ice, potentially a mile or thicker, whether over land or floating on the sea.

Tundra

Areas of stark landscape, frozen for much of the year. The subsoil is permafrost: permanently frozen soil. During the winter it is very cold, with very short period of light during the day. Tree growth is almost completely hindered by low temperatures and short growing seasons. The tundra is a very windy area.

Tagia

Cold temperatures and coniferous forests of pine, spruce, and larch characterize this region. Winters are long and cold; the warmer and rainy summers are brief but filled with life.

Temperate Forest

Dominated by trees to the point where the branches and the foliage of separate trees often meet or interlock.

Rainforests

Temperate: Similar to the Temperate Forest but with increased rainfall, leading to heavier moss and low foliage growth.
Tropical: High temperature and humidity produce conditions which allow the vegetation to thrive and grow into spectacular forests so dense that little light reaches the floor.

Tropical Forest

Warmth and moderate rainfall produce a landscape dominated by heat-loving trees, but not as dense as the tropical rainforest.

Grassland

Dominated by grasses, supporting a vast variety of mammals, reptiles, birds, and insects.

Shrubland

Dense thickets of evergreen shrubs and small trees.

Savanna

Grassy land with widely spaced trees, this region may be hot or merely warm. Think not only of the African savannah, but also rolling hills dotted with oak trees. The region is dry much of the year, with most rainfall coming during a single season.

Desert

A barren area where little rain falls, deserts may be hot or cold. Living conditions are hostile for plant and animal life. The lack of much vegetation exposes the unprotected surface of the ground which is harshly weathered. This includes much of the polar regions where little precipitation occurs and which are sometimes called 'cold deserts'.
|Technology| (This is a common question I see asked in fantasy RPs. I figured I would answer before anyone got the chance to ask.)

For the most part, technology is what one would expect in a medieval fantasy world. That being said, through the merger of science and magic, many things are possible, but generally not available to the common folk. Clockwork – to give you an example of "advanced" yet mundane technology – is available in the world, though generally reserved for the upper-class. On the other side of the spectrum, however, are things like airborne ships and golems, which are heavily reliant on magic. Again, this is technology that is rare, but still in existence. As far as more popular "advanced" devices go, the "Arc-Lance" – or "Arcane Lance" – is a great example. This relic was discovered about a century ago, and after much study, a few scholars have been able to decode its design, and then replicate and reproduce the items.

The Arc-Lance is a long polearm-like instrument, generally made from bamboo or finely lacquered wood (though there have been other variants), with a metal rotating joint in the center. By cranking this joint the wielder connects a rune carved on the metal piece to a series of runes carved into the shaft of the Arc-Lance, which then triggers sorcerous projectiles to fire out the dispensary end of the lance. These weapons are expensive to make and require impressive sorcery but are a great tool against magical monstrosities. Many upper-class citizens, as well as royalty, will carry on them uniquely designed and ornamented arc-lances as a sign of status.
|Factions| Of the factions fighting in this campaign, three of the four will be their own state. These three groups will be built and run by the players taking on the role of faction leader, with one to two players acting as the state's rulers. The rulers of each state will be significantly more powerful than a standard character, but will also be treated to more responsibilities to help ensure this position attracts dedicated storytellers. If you have interest in becoming a Faction leader, PM me expressing your interest and give me a sample of your writing (which can simply be a link to a post that you are proud of). I want good writers and creative minds for the role of faction leader, as you will be tasked with heading the construction of your faction's state and running it to some extent. I'd urge you, however, not to worry about any heavy "work-load" because there really won't be any. All this means for the faction leaders is that your character will likely have to deal with a little more of the political aspect and you will be in charge of fleshing out your section of the world with your fellow players. It is first come first serve for the role of faction leader (if you're interested), but I'll also allow faction leaders to operate in pairs if that is desirable to you. I find having another creative mind to bounce ideas around with is always useful and far more fun. Lastly, the fourth and final faction in this world is the Mercenary Guild. These will be characters who pledge no allegiance to any particular state but can have their services bought out by any of the factions willing to pay the right amount. These characters will operate under the flag of whichever faction they chose/buys their service. This is the faction to go with if you care less about character interaction and political intrigue, and prefer to focus more on PvP stuffs. TL ; DR I want three faction leaders (King, queens, emperors, what have you) to create some kind of kingdom/state/empire. Everyone else will make characters as members of said factions, whether it be part of the mercenary guild or one of the player made factions. The construction of a faction is a task that will be headed by the person assuming the role of the faction's leader. As an incentive for becoming a faction leader, these characters will be significantly more powerful. (faction leaders are encouraged to work with a partner or bounce ideas off other players)

Faction Name: Banner/Flag/Crest: History/Origin: Type of Government: (Good place to start if you're having trouble: List of forms of government - Wikipedia) Prominent Religions: (what god/gods are worshipped the most amongst your faction, if any) Untouchable Rights: Important and Most Notable Laws: Main Exports: Main Imports: Flora and Fauna: Geography: (make sure to mark off on the map where your faction is centralized) Capital City: (Just a small description of what it's like is fine. Pictures are welcome as well) Currency: Extra: (Important Cities, Locations, Landmarks, etc.)

Faction Name: Mercenary's Guild

-The Crest of the Mercenary's Guild has gone through many changes over the millennium and depending on when a mercenary joined, they may be carrying a different emblem from their associates. That being said, the crest has always depicted a skull encircled in a fire originating from its mouth, somewhere in the design. History/Origin: Since the dawn of war, there have been those who have sought to profit from conflict. In this way, the Mercenary's Guild has always existed, though likely under a different guise in the past. This particular incarnation of the Mercenary's Guild rose from the ashes of civilization amongst the other warring kingdoms hundreds of years ago, and like a parasite, has latched on to every branch of humanity it could find, embedding itself deep in society. Because of this, a Guild House can almost certainly be found in every major city, each one of them packed to the brim with immoral cutthroats ready to make some coin for doing your dirty work. Organization: The Mercenary's Guild is known for running a tight ship. If it weren't for the company's neat and orderly manner, chances are it would never have been able to exist in the first place. The Mercenary's Guild prides itself in skirting the line between legalities, expertly weaving its way through red tape and contracts. Though no one has seen them personally, the Guild Master that runs the Mercenary's Guild is a bureaucratic mastermind and has been able to keep the company running smoothly and without the threat of political backlash from any kingdom or empire. At the very ground floor of the Mercenary's Guild are, of course, the mercenaries. Mercenaries are people who do away with labels, they fight for money and an indefinable pride. The politics, the ethics, the moralities, are irrelevant to them. A mercenary buries their doubts as they bury their dead, lest they succumb to the grim touch of death themselves. Above a mercenary in rank is a Headmaster. Headmasters are usually seasoned veterans retired from the sellsword business, now running their own Guild House. In the Guild House, a Headmaster and their employees are responsible for boarding other mercs, keeping an armory stocked and available, keeping job postings up to date, accounting and much more. A Headmaster's job is arguably much more difficult than a standard mercenary's, but once a mercenary has had their fill of death and bloodshed, a job as a Headmaster tends to sound rather appealing. Mantra: "We are the Mercenary, the mighty and few Our law is the contract, will of the employer Our God is the Guild and its peoples, tether to this world Blood for fortune, fortune for pride." Code of the Mercenary: I am a professional soldier. My equipment and comportment shall reflect this. I may retake contract, at any time, but may not seek employment with the original employer's enemies for a length of time no less than the length of the original contract or current conflict. I shall pay my membership fee on time, lest I be cast out from the guild. I shall uphold my contract and perform my duties to the best of my ability. I shall not betray my employer. I shall not rape. I shall not torture, loot or pillage without my employer's consent. I shall not act in a pugnacious manner when in a Guild House. I shall not seek to abuse my Guild House privileges. I shall only ever hurt, maim or kill another member of the Mercenary's Guild if met on the battlefield or contracted to do so, but never on Guild House grounds. If my employer betrays me, I shall seek redress through the Guild. Upon completing my contract, I shall pay the respective Guild House its 10% cut of the earnings as well as covering the cost of any damaged equipment I had borrowed. Code of the Guild House The Guild House shall uphold its contract and perform its duties to the best of its abilities. The Guild House shall not betray its employers nor its Mercenaries. The Headmaster shall not post impossible nor suicidal missions for their mercenaries. The Headmaster shall not deny a member of the guild entry into their Guild House unless that Mercenary seeks to break their code.
|God Touched| –Illustration of Gilbert "Deepsleeve", famous God Touched street magician In Nalderoth, there is an abundance that has changed since the Calamity. One of the largest developments, however, is the appearance of God Touched. God Touched are individuals who have come into contact with the God Ithisis, or some other divine phenomena, and thus have been affected by the subsequent divine energies. Divine energy is a potent and powerful force with the ability to distort reality, to create and to destroy matter. For someone to come into prolonged contact with such a thing is often fatal, but there are those who survive contact with divine energy and are altered because of it. God Touched are often humanoid in some way – though there are extreme cases in which a God Touched has become so altered they become an indistinguishable abomination – usually with additional monstrous features and mutations. Rarely are the alterations subtle. A human who has become a God Touched will also have a strong connection to divine energy and will be able to harness it to some extent for their own purposes. If a God Touched is to ever lay with a human and produce offspring, the result is almost always a full-blooded God Touched child.
|Learning Magic and the Schools of Magic| In the world of Nalderoth, magic is a fairly common commodity. Most people, even your average bumpkin, will likely have seen a few impressive magical feats in their lifetime. But how does one become "magical", or use magic? The easiest way, of course, is to be born gifted. Some people's bloodlines seem to possess inherent magical qualities, which is especially evident in the case of the God Touched. For the God Touched and those born gifted, conjuring magic or divine energy comes second nature, it's as easy as breathing. However, for those who cannot be born gifted or God Touched, do not fret, there are still other means of learning magic. The most common way, of course, is study. Many people devote decades of their life to mastering the arcane arts and even go to universities specifically to learn the intricacies of Arcane Theory. This is the method that often takes the most time and dedication but often leads to the most success. A graduate of a university will often have a fuller understanding of magic, as opposed to someone who, say, was simply born with the gift (remember: controlling magic, and conjuring magic are two very different things). The final method for obtaining arcane abilities is perhaps the most dangerous and frowned upon method in common society, and the consequences can be disastrous. You see, in the universe, there exist creatures who are very old and very powerful. Rarely are they understood, and rarely do they interfere with the world of humans, but in some rare cases, man has made contact with these entities and have gone as far as to make pacts with them. In exchange for any number of things (a firstborn child, a soul, the life-blood of the residents of a nearby village, etc.), a human will be given a small sliver of the entities powers. These people are called Warlocks and rarely are they welcomed in civil society. Academies of magic group spells into eight categories called schools of magic. Scholars, particularly wizards, apply these categories to all spells, believing that all magic functions in essentially the same way, whether it derives from rigorous study or is bestowed by a patron. Most casters will find interest in a particular school of magic and specialize in that one particular niche –Chart drawn in a student's notebook at a prestigious arcane academy Abjuration spells are protective in nature, though some of them have aggressive uses. They create magical barriers, negate harmful effects, harm trespassers, or banish creatures to other planes of existence. Conjuration spells involve the transportation of objects and creatures from one location to another. Some spells summon creatures or objects to the caster’s side, whereas others allow the caster to teleport to another location. Some conjurations create objects or effects out of nothing. Divination spells reveal information, whether in the form of secrets long forgotten, glimpses of the future, the locations of hidden things, the truth behind illusions, or visions of distant people or places. Enchantment spells affect the minds of others, influencing or controlling their behavior. Such spells can make enemies see the caster as a friend, force creatures to take a course of action, or even control another creature like a puppet. Evocation spells manipulate magical energy to produce a desired effect. Some call up blasts of fire or lightning. Others channel positive energy to heal wounds. Illusion spells deceive the senses or minds of others. They cause people to see things that are not there, to miss things that are there, to hear phantom noises, or to remember things that never happened. Some illusions create phantom images that any creature can see, but the most insidious illusions plant an image directly in the mind of a creature. Necromancy spells manipulate the energies of life and death. Such spells can grant an extra reserve of life force, drain the life energy from another creature, create the undead, or even bring the dead back to life. Transmutation spells change the properties of a creature, object, or environment. They might turn an enemy into a harmless creature, bolster the strength of an ally, make an object move at the caster’s command, or enhance a creature’s innate healing abilities to rapidly recover from injury.
|Religions, Sects, Cults, and Clicks| Despite the disappearance of the Gods, worship for our divine counterparts has not ended. The following is a list of Gods (the ones humanity constructed in the Age of Creation) and what they represent.

Keter

-Keter:

"A silver rim, adorned with a single drop of pure light dancing to an unknowable rhythm. It thrums in the dark and a melody pours from it, slow and out of Time."
~Eve, Priestess of Keter

Keter, God of fortune and luck. They are known as the Crown, the patron God of kings. Their blessing is a blessing of riches and wealth.

Keter is sublime, incomprehensible, unknowable. The infinite, the stream from which luck is channeled. Pure chance, beyond all and timeless. The opening, a singularity from which fortune, both good and bad, is created.
Keter is the first utterance. The font of energy through which destiny permeates into the universe. The Crown sits above the head and embodies that which is beyond our comprehension. One must envision Keter not as an object that can be perceived, but as both the light and the shadow that is cast upon it. Keter’s light is beyond knowability, a timeless expanse of pure coincidence. Only through our respect for our own limitations do we begin to see the shadow of its nature.

As the highest point of the universe, all continuums cascade downwards from Keter. The Crown stands in contrast to Malkuth, who rests at the very bottom of the universe. The span that lies between them measures the complete distance from most spiritual, to the most physical aspects of our existence. Journeying downwards from this point, all other Gods become increasingly close to our present experience.

Found In: Divination, Risk, Loss and Gain, Faith, Spiritual Epiphany

Einsicht

-Einsicht:

"Einsicht is faith and premeditation turned to stone. Potentiality's demise and purpose. The first step out of the mystery of the universe to awareness. First steps, like first love, require commitment to things you cannot know. The requisite faith to leap into the chasm without even the certainty of death, or the hope of flight. Einsicht is not the step, Einsicht is the ephemeral decision dissolving into action. Einsicht is the first light of reality. Open your eyes young one."
~first rites performed for a newborn

Einsicht, God of wisdom and pursuit. They are known as the Vessel.

The second God, Einsicht is a vessel to hold that which is most precious. The first gate out of potentiality and a step into the realm of the known. He is the first moment a newborn child opens their eyes. That child’s first steps. Their first word. He is the beginning of a lifelong journey, whose path disappears over the horizon. Where Ithisis is the moment of contact, the pen that hangs above the page is Einsicht . From nothingness, wisdom is formed. To have insight into that which is not known is a gift that is not bestowed lightly.
Descending from the summit of the Universe, we see its duality begin for form.

Found In: Birth, Intuition, The Subconscious, Travel

Veraque

-Veraque:

"Uncaring, compulsory, like a deep river or a terrible fate strengthened by negligence. Like undine tears, that don't fall but cascade. Formed formless. The measure of simple and devastating things, like a cold gaze and passionless sins. Ephemeral and - I beg your pardon, my son, my answers are tangled in the labyrinth of your question. How does one succinctly describe the font from which the wind springs? Such is the mystery of Veraque."
~a conversation between Father and Son, overheard, under the shade of a tree

Veraque, God of storms and the guiding winds, both deceptive and bluntly honest. They are opposition, the right hand on the scale of balance. Simply lightning, rain, and blistering winds. The God that scars the earth with forked words.

The fourth God, Veraque. They are the hand that carves. The ever-changing force brought on by passionless sins. Each adaptation repaid in kind, at random and without cause. Their force sculpts Nalderoth, playfully guiding or disturbing humanity. This is the apathy of those around us, an uncaring force.
Forming an extreme opposite to its counterpart Gevurah, the two arms of the universe extend in opposite directions. Veraque pushes away so that Gevurah cannot pull in. This wrestling match cannot be won by either side, yet the struggle itself is meaningful because it is the struggle that defines our morality.

Found in: Apathy, Change, Chaos

Gevurah

-Gevurah:

"The left hand of the universe. The harsh Judge and curator of action.
As the forceful left hand, Gevurah must temper the dreams of existence with harsh protocol. Ever steadying the wings of migrant hearts to ensure the journey."
~etched on the crypt of a local Constable

Gevurah, god of judgment and righteousness. They are the left hand on the scale of balance, the blade of finality that cuts the heart of man. The Blade is a compassionate force, a force of reason.

The fifth God, Gevurah. She is the hand that separates and binds. The rule of law that brings order to the world. They assess what is just, letting us overcome our adversaries both from outside and within. Theirs to cleave apart a unified whole and leave two component pieces or to unify that which has been separated. It’s a trait that demands as much fear as it does respect because with it comes an inherent violence. They do this with compassion, an act that must be committed to create balance.
Their pull for Veraque, on the opposite side of the universe, is met with equal and opposite resistance. Without both of them in equal measure, we have no means of maintaining a healthy existence.

Found In: Law, Bravery, Valor, Conquest, Chivalry

Tiferet

-Tiferet:

"It is true, to look upon the countenance of Tiferet is to know many faces. Such is also, to know the thread within the rope.
Tiferet wears a crown comprised of the fingers from the many hands of the universe, whose many efforts goad existence from the dark. They scribble their will onto the face of Tiferet, forming the features and expression of creation. Tiferet knows love and justice from the great legs of the universe, Gevurah and Veraque. Tiferet is intuitively present and steeped in wisdom, by Ithisis and Einsicht. Knows glory and its cost, by the balance of Netzah and Hod. All that is unseen, be the face of Tiferet.
As the Gods are, so too is Tiferet. A chorus of many, a song of multitude, a dream with many dreamers.
So many wills to be sung unto Nalderoth."
~from the Book of Summations

Tiferet, God of beauty and love. Tiferet is not the sum of parts but the clear reflection of a faceted gem. Form must have dimension and it is Tiferet who coats it in definition.

The sixth God, Tiferet. Tiferet is without extremes or absolutes. Their temperate force allows the power of the rest of the Gods to exist in beautiful harmony. As each other aspect rages around him, he neither yields nor resists. He is the equilibrium that exists as the result of those forces. He is guiding hand that braces against the many aspects of the universe to gracefully bring them toward one another.
Forming the midpoint between Keter and Malkuth, he defines the balance. At the glowing center of the universe and the midpoint between all its relationships, he distributes energy from each God back to across its paths. It’s a careful balancing act, incorporating such extreme opposites, but this is the nature of the universe as a whole. Tiferet mirrors the structure of the universe, existing as a microcosm of the whole.

Found in: Art, Health, Community, Romance

Netzah

-Netzah:

"Beneath this stone, I am Glory. Tension and suffering pushing me down and burying my face in the muck.
But even then, I am sweet fire ablaze the torch, burning in the abstractions between agony and patience."
~a mantra of Netzah

Netzah, God of strength and light. Netzah is brilliant and withstanding. They are trial and the exaltation of endurance.

The seventh God, Netzah. They are the force that resists. Stalwart in the face of adversity, this great leader carries us forth through our darkest times and lights our way out of shadow. They are the strength to endure, regardless of suffering. When we feel that we are beyond our limits and new strength continues to emerge, we find the embrace of Netzah. With any increase in force, they too grow stronger. Each challenge met with equal vigor.
Netzah is the closest we get to the bottom of the universe before merging back into the middle. His station is one of constant stress and strain. Supporting the weight of the universe by pressing back upwards against it.

Found In: Victory, The Sun, Fire, Battle, War

Hod

-Hod:

"Hod's glory veils even the Sun. It is said, in some parts, the Sun's rays only shine in the space left behind by Hod's radiance. The Sun existing only in deference and awe. Splendor submits to Hod and beauty fails before Hod. The sky withers and retracts and all that can remain without Hod languishes in mediocrity. Yes, Hod is greatness, but the price of knowing such brilliance is the sundering of one's own 'self'. Why should we bother to know our own visage or to look even at the Sun while we choose to remain so ignorant of what Hod is? It is all darkness by comparison..."
~ramblings of a blind stowaway when the Captain asked his identity.

Hod, God of secrets, lies, and mystery. Supreme Deceiver. Hod's presence calls for whispers, prostration and unfettered secrecy.

The eighth God, Hod. The force that conceals. Hod is the mystery that guides us when we relinquish our curiosity to the flow of fate. Through their shadow, we see unanswerable questions and the secrets of our own past. Running our hands through the whispers of the earth, we feel the great universal lie pull us farther into the veil of mystery. It’s only by veiling ourselves from the forces around us that we truly see the nature of those forces.
Hod does not press back against the weight of the universe. Instead, they simply hide from it, flowing like water down into the lowest portion of the divine connection.

Found In: Mystery, Deception, Secrets, Shadow

Yesod

-Yesod:

"Light dances atop Nalderoth. Where it touches, cinder-soft turf is upturned and exposes this planet to the God. At midnight a precious conversation takes place between Malkuth and Yesod under the gaze of a hooded moon and we are the words. Our story continues to scrawl itself across the world, forever."
~an old destiny

Yesod, God of stars, magic and the moon. Yesod is foundation. The bedrock beneath existence. The fertile soil, impregnated by the arcane sparks of moonlight.

The ninth God, Yesod. They are a foundation that supports the world and forms the gateway between the spiritual and the physical. They are the medium through which we can experience the universe. Upon their shoulders rests the sky and all that lies beyond it runs through his fingers. We stand at this doorway and peer through, seeking answers to our nature.
As a single column, the flow of energy through the universe only moves downwards. Yesod is the last stop before moving into the fully physical realm. He is surface of the looking glass through which we examine ourselves.

Found In: Magic, Starlight, Moonlight, Astrology

Malkuth

-Malkuth:

"There is a mighty Tree and at the root of it, there is a Kingdom. So much light emanates from beyond the leaves above it. We live in the shadows of those leaves and that is how we know Malkuth."
~description of Malkuth,

Malkuth, God of earth and nature. The Earthly, the lowest of all the Gods and most grounded in comprehension.

The tenth God, Malkuth. They are the physical world in which we live. The domain of mankind. They are a God of Gods, the culmination of the many aspects that form the Universe. Everything from our bodies, to the experiences we have in them, to the world in which we exist is Malkuth. The infinite space that expands across the universe is a manifestation of them.
Below the feel of a tree, the ground stretches outwards forming a base. This is the space that Malkuth exists. They are beyond just being the lowest point, they are the foundation itself. Being the thing that we experience every moment in our lives, Malkuth contrasts clearly with Keter, whose existence is marked by its total unknowability. As with all things in the universe, one mirrors the other, forming a complete continuum through which we can understand the boundaries of existence.

Found In: Earth, Nature, Growth

Da'at

-Da'at:

"The stars fill the world with so much light, it opens the eyes of creation and widens the mouth of existence. The many faces of Da'at turn and turn in that light, catching the overflow within the Crown of the Mind. Da'at holds the Gods as some words might carry many meanings.”
~description of Da'at

Da'at is the emptiness. Da'at is relief and flexible. The grateful bearer of Burdens. Many do not believe Da'at to be a God at all, if it even exists. Da'at is death and nothingness, the spaces between. If life is the great indulgence than Da'at is death, the great abstinence.
Worshippers of Da'at consider death and destruction sacred. Worshippers of Da'at are not well regarded in most of Nalderoth, and not many are devoted to the Emptiness.

This emptiness is often considered a conduit. It is said Da'at radiates no light for itself, holds no shape and touches nothing. Many believe it is perfect and invisible. A space through which nothing passes and nothing is effected. In its arms, all ten of the Gods dance, each of them shining a great light through its void.
This God – if that is indeed what it is – has no connection to the other Gods. In that way it is extremely unique. Its solitary nature sets it apart from the other Gods in such as significant way that Da’at is sometimes considered to not exist at all. To give a name to the emptiness at the center of the universe is vital and so too is to understand the significance of that emptiness.

Found In: Death, Dreams, Sleep, Silence
|Ithisis|

A Palace of Mirrors. All things, in all forms, under all light, are given shape. Under this axiom, potentiality falls away. A Song must begin, Thunder must crash from above, the Sun must rise (All from potential). If existence blossoms in a Palace of Mirrors, the Light cast there is called Ithisis. -description of Ithisis
Ithisis, God of knowledge and creation. It is understanding, the thing that brushes the infinite. It is context. Intuitive and contemplative. Ithisis is the supreme creator, spinner of words and architect of life. Their wrath plagues Nalderoth, their goal unknowable. On a whim, Ithisis breathes life and takes it away. Followers of Ithisis believe that their deity is righteous judgment incarnate and that those who face Ithisis' wrath are deserved of their punishment. They preach that one must fear God, and those who do not bend to Ithisis' anger must be punished. Ithisis, the third God. A flow of light that pours into the world. Like a candle whose flame may light another without diminishing its own. They seek not only creation but purpose. A flare of pure intent that blossoms from the heart of existence and out into the world. Their energy brings with it a desire for knowledge. They are the force that churns all the potential from higher Gods into a form that can be received by our consciousness. Ithisis creates a perfect balance with Einsicht. Together they represent a continuum of psychic understanding. While Ithisis represents the power of knowing, Einsicht reveals the power of not knowing. One acts as a vessel as the other fills that vessel, giving it purpose. Found In: Learning, Shared Experience, Creation, Birth, Evolution For hundreds of years, Ithisis has roamed Nalderoth, churning the world into an image that only they can envision. Few meet Ithisis' wrath and live to tell the tale, while those who do, speak of horrible sights not meant for human eyes. Why the Gods turned on each other during the Age of Creation, no one can be certain, and what Ithisis' goals are now are even more mysterious. Many organizations have dedicated themselves to studying the roaming God, but very little new information has been uncovered. Because Ithisis embodies creation, many of their constructs now roam this world. Of them, the most commonly known are "Shadows". Shadows are a type of living darkness that posses weird dimensions not meant for the physical world. They often act as scouts, spies, and assassins for Ithisis, but hordes of them have been used to destroy cities in the past. The Arc-Lance was popularized to help combat Shadows.
|The Circle of Twelve|
"We followed a spoor of violence, a swath of destruction. Ruined fields fell behind us. Burned villages. Slaughtered people and butchered livestock. Poisoned wells. The Circle of Twelve left nothing but death and desolation." ~ Soldier overheard speaking at a bar

At Ithisis' side is the Circle of Twelve, a council of immortal God Touched individuals, each of them possessing a mastery of magic. They are hundreds of years old at the youngest and mostly pulled from the same period of time, though most are known to have considerably childish temperaments despite their age. Reports say the Circle quarrel, fight and bicker on just about everything they reasonably can. Members of the Circle are constantly trying to outwit their peers so as to gain more favor with their master, Ithisis. It is also said that the collateral damage from their arguments is generally more disastrous than when the demigods actually focus attacks on asigned targets. Popular belief states that when members of the Circle fight with each other, there is true ire and rage behind the violence– when they destroy what Ithisis tells them to destroy, the Circle is simply following instructions, usually executing in a passionless manner. The following information is a collection of rumors taken from gossipmongers, myths gathered from universities and churches, and first-hand accounts received from soldiers and scouts. Though most of the information is far from credible, the following will give you an idea as to what each member of the Circle of Twelve is like.

Rudel – Dissipator

Rudel is often referred to as a master of abjuration. Many of the classic abjuration spells taught to novice spellcasters were developed by him hundreds of years ago. The man was once a professor and researcher, uncovering much of what we now know about magic. No one knows why Rudel was selected by Ithisis, or why he now stands by the side of his God – as is the case with any member of the Circle – though his might and power is certainly something to be feared.

In battle, Rudel has been known to fool entire armies into activating devastating runes and traps – often times causing large groups of soldiers to fall through portals into pocket dimensions – as well as shielding his allies from attacks. Though, if Rudel is in the midst of feuding with another member of the circle, the abjurer has been known to "forget" to shield them from harmful attacks and spells.
Though he is generally seen as one of the more reasonable members of the Circle, he is not exempt from the pettiness that comes with immortality.
Many say that Rudel is the Circle's first and best line of defense. His main purpose is to protect his allies, but that doesn't mean he isn't deadly in his own right. Rudel is considered a very calm and stalwart individual with a mind as sharp as a tack. He has an extreme dislike for his associate Af, who is much too brash and chaotic for Rudel's liking, and the two frequently are at each other's throats. On the other hand, Rudel seems to frequently ally with Asa and Gadreel and is known to aid them more than any of the other members.

Baraqiel – Stormbringer

Baraqiel is a master of conjuration magic. Not much is known of this individual from before his time in the circle, but rumor says he was once a member of an infamous pirate crew. If myth is to be believed, he was a Wind Walker (a conjurer who summons good winds for sailing) for a notorious pirate ship that was sunk by Ithisis hundreds of years ago.

Coasting on the rim of mountainous storm clouds, riding down on forked tongues of lightning, Baraqiel – or sometimes called Stormbringer – appears in a flash on the battlefield, summoning his allies with thunderous cracks. Baraqiel is known to conjure terrible storms to batter and wear down approaching armies, destroying their moral before destroying their forces. The demigod has an evident affinity for lightning, summoning viscous and precise bolts to strike down his opponents. In some rare cases, Baraqiel has been seen summoning great winged beasts to his side as well as other terrifying monstrosities.
Baraqiel is a quick thinker. Even in life-threatening situations, he is known to remain eerily calm until a way out of his predicament becomes clear. The demigod is more cunning than most anyone, and he won't hesitate to remind you.
At one point in time, it is believed the Baraqiel was Penem's lover, though eventually, the two had a falling out and now their hatred for one another is unbridled. Because Satham resents Baraqiel for breaking her sister's heart, the two are also known to fight frequently.
Baraqiel has a strong distrust of Asbeel, but spends much of his time engaged in conversation/flirting with Armaros and is subsequently forced to be around Asbeel.

Penem – Spidersilk

Penem is a master of divination. At her sister Satham's side, Penem was second in command of an empire hundreds of years ago, ruling as wizard tyrants. That empire has long since been brought to ruin by the might of Ithisis, however Penem and Satham still live, now working beside the God.

Penem rarely engages in battle. Though she will often be seen on the battlefield with other members of the Circle, never is she alone. Penem is a diviner of truths and uses her ability to see the many outcomes of a conflict before they even begin. Pairing her powers with Sariel's, the two diviners also locate points and people of interest for Ithisis. Aiding her sister, Penem will also locate targets for Satham to assassinate.
Though Penem may not seem as threatening as the other members of the Circle, she is still a powerful magic caster. If one finds themself engaged in a fight with a willing Penem, chances are she's already foreseen the outcome of this battle, and chances are the odds are not in your favor.

Penem was once a lover of Barqiel's but after a falling out and has thusly grown contemptuous of the demigod, doing all that she can to undermine him.
Often times aiding her sister, it is assumed that Penem and Satham have a good relationship with one another. It is also said that Penem puts a fair bit of trust in Rudel, and holds a fair amount of respect for the man. Sariel is also seen regularly working with Penem, and the two make a deadly pair.
On the other hand, Penem distrusts Zaqiel and avoids or tampers with him if possible.

Af – Bloodletter

Af is a master of chaos, a manipulator of the more destructive side of divine energy. He is an inexplicable anomaly that exists within space he was not meant to occupy. Though many have tried to discover his origins, no one can be sure as to where this fiend came from, not even other members of the Circle seem to know. Some scholars speculate Af is a failed creation of Ithisis, a conjuring of divine energy gone horribly wrong. He is often described as a wound in the universe.

Over the din of battle, Af's cries are heard. Never has a word been uttered by Af, it seems the demigod can only muster anguished screams and howls. It's flesh withers and dissipates randomly, reappearing and reforming on a whim. It is said that Af's existence is one of pure pain and that in order for Af to continue to possess a physical form, he must continuously consume matter. From what has been observed, the fiend has a strong preference for blood and flesh.
In combat, Af becomes a perverted force of nature. He is chaos incarnate, draining energy and life from his surroundings randomly, engaging holy squadrons of soldiers in melee combat.
Af fights with a longsword that is often seen embedded in his chest. The monstrosity's swings are ferocious and relentless, performed at extreme speeds with unpredictable and erratic movements. The demigod seems to be able to switch up his stance and style from an arsenal of a thousand perfectly memorized techniques, though the shifts in form are rarely sensible and come at awkward periods of combat.
Af has no close allegiances with other members of the Circle of Twelve. Most members have a strong dislike for him (though Rudel is known to bare an unreasonable amount of hatred for the creature), but Asbeel has been known to spend much of their time near Af, speaking in whispers to the howling beast.

Malbra – Shadowweaver

Malbra is a master of illusion. When Malbra walks, he casts no shadow of his own. When he moves, he moves with an eerie and ghostly presence, the shadows around him suddenly springing to life. Outside of the Circle, not many people can say for certain what the origin of this mysterious individual is. Some rumors claim that he was once the leader of a thieves guild that brought a kingdom to anarchy, and eventually, annihilation. Others might claim that he was once an esteemed professor who taught the art of illusion, and was later seduced by some power Ithisis had offered him.

Very few people have had the displeasure of actually seeing Malbra and living to tell the tale. Even those who have lived rarely believe that what they saw was the true Malbra. Many think the visage that appears on the battlefield, by the side of the other members of the Twelve, is simply a trick or illusion woven together by shadow. Some also seem to believe that what is generally thought to be Malbra is an illusion cast by the larger form that occasionally appears and trails behind it's smaller counterpart. The thought is certainly a terrifying one, though Malbra is known for being a prankster with an outlandish and nonsensical sense of humor and love for skullduggery. Making pointless duplicates of himself just to confuse the world seems highly possible.
In battle, Malbra loves employing underhanded tactics. The illusionist is known to cause mass hallucinations and even implant fake memories to cause soldiers to turn on one another amongst their camps. There have even been instances in which Malbra lead entire squadrons of soldiers marching off a cliff by masking a chasm with hallucinatory terrain.
Most members of the Circle posses a strong distrust of Malbra, for even they are not exempt from his pranks. Only Penem and Sariel seem to humor the trickster, which is likely because of their ability to see past illusions and divine his intentions.

Armaros – Souleater

Armaros is a master enchanter. It is said that hundreds of years ago, the woman was a feared and respected sorcerous who used her abilities to charm and seduce kings and queens for her own personal goal. She was a manipulator and puppeteer, the reason behind the fall of more than few empires in history.

Using her prowess with manipulation, Armaros is known to charm important officials and their more easily seduced help into acting as spies and informant for the Circle. Rarely does the enchantress engage in combat or directly partake in battles. Often, Armaros will be aided by Satham, who will mask the sorcerous with illusion so she can manipulate and alter the minds of generals and their soldiers without being detected.
It is said that when certain individuals or groups unknowingly get in the way of Ithisis, Armaros will sometime be sent to bring that individual to their knees, to crush their very soul. Usually, these cruel afflictions end in death, though never is it by the many hands of Armaros. When individuals are suddenly brought to ruination by a bad streak of unfortunate events, it is often said that Armaros may have been involved in some way. Though, it could be said this is just a way for people to blame someone besides themselves and Keter for their failure.
Feuds other members of the Circle might have with Armaros rarely last long, as it seems the other demigods are quick to forgive her. Whether this is the result of her charms and sorcery, her overly charismatic personality or a combination of the two is up to speculation.
The enchanter has a particularly close kinship with Baraqiel and Satham. Reports also say that the sorcerous has taken particularly motherly disposition around Asbeel and keeps her close at all times. It is said that those who hurt Asbeel will soon feel Armaros' fury.

Asbeel – Whisper

Asbeel is a master of necromancy, a controller of life and undeath. Hundreds of years ago, Asbeel was the young princess of an empire now buried beneath the dunes of a nameless desert. It was believed in her society necromancers commonly utilized dead bodies as a resource, using them to perform most all required manual labor. Because of this, Asbeel was taught necromancy at a young age so she could become a prime example of her people. However, legend tells of a failed ritual that left Asbeel's body in a constant state of decay, which required constant necromantic spells to keep the affliction at bay. She was cast out by her people, and eventually picked up by Ithisis. As a side effect of Asbeel's immortality, it is rumored the necromancer is stuck in the body of a young girl.
It is unclear if Asbeel's mangy crow visage is a God Touched mutation or a mask.

Though Asbeel is the meekest and childlike of the twelve, her presence is feared throughout the realm. With the power to raise armies of undead, Asbeel can turn your fallen friends into foes with a single whispered word. And what's more, even when not raising the dead to fight for her, Asbeel can cause a foe to begin rapidly aging, destroy organic materials with blight, spread plague, or even rust and tarnish metals.
Asbeel is a strange and powerful force, and it is believed that many lepers and plagued individuals turn to her for worship. Entire leper colonies have transformed into cults devoted to Asbeel, and wear their disease with pride.
Asbeel is frequently overlooked by other members of the Circle, though there are a few who seem to frequently associate with the necromancer. Most noticeably is Armaros, who, it appears, has taken up a motherly role around the necromancer. Asbeel does not seem to mind the coddling.
Asa and Zaqiel have also developed a certain level of fondness for the necromancer, though Asbeel seems to avoid Zaqiel's presence.

Satham – Gossamar

Satham is a master of illusion. With her sister Penem by her side, Satham once ruled a grand empire as a feared wizard tyrant. That empire has long since been brought to ruin by the might of Ithisis, however Penem and Satham still live, now working beside Ithisis.

Unseen and gliding on massive butterfly wings, Satham cuts through the ranks of man to the heart of its armies, where she then skillfully assassinates commanders and generals, leaving legions of soldiers crippled and headless. When there are particularly dangerous figures to Ithisis' cause (whatever that may be), it is frequently up to Satham to infiltrate and quietly deal with the threat, using her illusions and hypnotism to sneak about unseen and then dissipating into a cloud of smoke to make a quick getaway. When not performing wet-work for the Circle of Twelve, Satham is usually aiding her sister and Sariel in some way, generally masking them from prying eyes.
Satham is known to be cruel and cunning, with a strong dislike for cowardly individuals. Malbra, for example, is someone that Satham prefers not to associate with. She does not like his lack of honor and underhanded tactics. On the other hand, Satham seems to respect her allies Rudel and Gadreel a fair bit.

Zaqiel – Abysswalker

Zaqiel is a master of evocation, specializing in different uses of eldritch and negative energy. Many speculate that hundreds of years ago, Zaqiel was the leader of a feared legion of soldiers that had gone rogue and broken off from their kingdom of origin. There are old tales that tell of a ruthless crusader who led righteous campaigns against the world, spilling blood and tearing down governments in the name of some forgotten order. Eventually, that legion was dealt a finishing blow during a particularly gruesome battle, however, it is rumored that Zaqiel had been that legion's feared general.

A roar of insane laughter erupts from Zaqiel as a thousand eldritch bolts are slung by his writhing mass of tentacles, tearing through the ranks of his foes. The evoker is known to enjoy murder and death more so than most other members of the Circle, his sociopathic tendencies frequently putting him at the frontlines of any conflict they're involved in. Those engaged in combat with the sorcerer can expect barbarous and wicked attacks that generally end with terrible explosive force. Zaqiel is a tool used for crowd management, able to break the tide of an army like a boulder amidst a strong current.
Zaqiel specializes in fashioning eldritch energy into a variety of dangerous shapes, using his sorcery in a variety of ways to brutally slay his enemies. His savagery is truly a spectacle, something an onlooker won't soon be forgetting.
Zaqiel is considered aggressive and short of temper. Because of this, there are few members of the Twelve who stand with Zaqiel, though it seems Gadreel and Baraqiel will put up with the evoker's fits of rage. Zaqiel also seems to have taken a particular interest in Asbeel and often pesters the necromancer for his own musings. It is clear that Asbeel does not appreciate this.

Sariel – Augur

Sariel is a master of divination. It is said that he was once a high priest of Keter and as such, spent his days trying to interpret the will of the universe, putting his spiritual epiphanies in tomes that are still widely used by the church today. He was an influential member of his community and loved by many. As such, there were many in the church that grew envious of Sariel’s gift. Because of their jealousy, a few priests of Keter attacked their brother in his sleep, holding Sariel down in his bed and removing his eyes with hot iron tongs. These priests believed that if they could consume their brother’s eyes, they too would receive Sariel’s gift for divination. Now blinded, Sariel’s visions into the future became even more powerful. It is said that Sariel’s sight reached so far into the future that night, that he witnessed the annihilation of the universe first hand. The image was too powerful for the man and drove him to insanity. The other priests were mysteriously murdered the next day.

Sariel is not one to engage in direct combat. Though he is a tall and undoubtedly imposing figure, the demigod has no desire to fight. Instead, he is seen aiding his allies in their conquests, often times at the side of Penem, whom he has grown very attached to. The blind diviner is superior to Penem when it comes to gazing into futures, but is not as skilled in locating people, places, and objects. Together, however, the two can find virtually anything as long as they know what it is they’re looking for.
The diviner habitually speaks in riddles and poetry, with statements as cryptic as one should expect from a mad soothsayer. This, however, is rarely a problem for Penem, who seems to understand her ally perfectly. In many ways Penem is Sariel’s translator, as no one else in the Circle can make much sense of what the diviner says.
Sariel has not shown much contempt for other members of the Circle but has gotten in a few feuds with Baraqiel.

Gadreel – Sentinel

Gadreel is a master evoker and combatant. Before he became a member of the Twelve, it is said Gadreel was an elite mercenary working for the mercenary’s guild. The mercenary’s guild often uses Gadreel as an example of the soldiers they produce, though no member of the guild has come close to Gadreel’s level since his supposed time as a member, hundreds of years ago.

In combat, Gadreel is known to use a variety of weapons, though his signature tool is a double-pronged spear (or a “bident”). Using his evocation magic, Gadreel will ignite his weapons with a variety of energies, or even prime his attacks with quick destructive spells.
Engaging Gadreel in melee combat is a fool’s errand. Those who do will find their movements limited, as Gadreel forces his enemies into uncomfortable positions by herding them with harmful spells. Gadreel’s foes will also find that the demigod can easily outmaneuver them, no matter his weapon.
When not engaged in close combat, Gadreel has also been known to show expertise in the use of longbows and other such weapons. It is said that Gadreel can down a soldier from over three hundred meters, while also being able to behead a man with a single arrow. Gadreel is a stoic individual, with little use for conversation. It is clear that the soldier prefers combat to most anything else. Regardless, Gadreel has found kinship with fellow evoker Zaqiel, as well as Satham and Rudel.

Asa – Jackal

Asa is a master of transmutation. It is said she was once a bright and young alchemist with a desire to uncover relics from the old world and headed many explorations into dangerous ruins form the Age of Creation.
It is also rumored that in the ruins of an ancient city Asa’s old lab still stands, and anyone who can locate it might uncover a treasure trove of relics from the old world. If this lab does truly exist, it has yet to be discovered.

Riding on the wind as nothing more than a cloud of dust, Asa comes and goes as she likes, taunting her foes before turning their armor into paper and running them through. Asa’s mastery over transmutation allows her to shape and mold battles, just as she might shape and mold the molecular makeup of an object. Whether it’s transforming enemies into harmless butterflies, or rusting their armor, Asa is a sly and difficult adversary to deal with. Nothing can be trusted when fighting the alchemist. What might have seemed like a masterfully forged weapon in your hands but a moment ago, might suddenly become a wooden simulacrum, useless against an opponent who can make their skin tougher than steel.
When aiding other members of the Circle of Twelve, Asa can turn flesh into steel, or even speed up a target’s particulate movement to give them a boost (though this usually has some nasty side effects).
Asa seems moderately cheerful compared to other members of the Circle. She’s known to be friendly towards most of her allies, with a particular fondness for Rudel and Asbeel. However, Asa has also been known to harbor some resentment towards Penem and Sariel.

Fantasy ∆The Divine Vendetta - Lore & General Info∆

Croaker

Little Horned Boy

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