Phyre
Fate of Creation
You think you heard in a story or two, “that with great power comes responsibility.” But, in your case it is not like you were given a guide. Recently your entire life took an unexpected change. Previously you have gone about your life in this world like everyone else, regardless of your background you just tried to enjoy your life as best as possible.
The world has always seemed like a pretty cruel world where those in power have often been tyrannical lords only concerned for material things. People like you are often just a resource to be used for the gain of others. Slavery abounds, drugs addictions common and the value of an individual’s life often less than that of herd animals.
Many individuals in power gained that position through having abilities that far exceeded the norm. When you come from a world where spirits are reals, gods walk the land, and rulers often have magical like abilities what can a mere farmer who is tied to the land, eking out an existence able do?
As the curtain opens you and a select few like yourselves have within the last twenty months ( a little less than a year and a half on your world) been given this great power. Who gave it to you? Most would have you believe that the source of your powers are from demonic beings that in the past ruled the world with an iron hand. They say life in this time for everyone was far worse than it is today. If these tales be true then you are supposedly destined to try and repeat the same thing, to subjugate those who you come across and destroy the world as it is.
You have seen or heard of others in the past gaining powers like yourself. Those who follow the Immaculate faith call these people Anathema. These are being whose souls have forever been tainted by dark power, and must be destroyed. This faith is followed by everyone on the Blessed Isle, but outside of this land; attributed as the Threshold, Immaculate people tend to be those who say they follow these teachings, yet only give it’s tenets lip service. A person in the Threshold tends to often be judged by their own actions.
You are unsure where your power comes from, what you remember distinctly was that during the moment that you seemed to be empowered with these powerful magic like abilities, you underwent some type of “vision.” Make no mistake, it seemed real and as if you had been temporarily transported to a different place. You stood, knelt, or laid on lush grass, the sun, or what ever the light source before you was so bright you had to avert your eyes, some force was drawing your attention to gaze though the light. In the distance stood a being you could barely make out. The creature was a giant of a being who appeared to have more than two arms. While you could barely make out details you eventually were able to see that the being was not facing you. Your eyes finally began to adjust to the light, and things began to come into focus.
The being before you was not facing you, he was standing maybe twenty or more yards in front of you. The source of light came from the beings head, you could see that its head was completely lit and it made the immediate area appear as if it was daylight. You looked around and for the first time, the sky was full of stars, although some of them were shining brighter than the others. The moon was full and in the distance of the sky the sun wa absent, the light came from the head of the being! You began to unconsciously walk towards what you realized was a giant four-armed being. He held an object in each arm, though try as you may you can’t make them out. They each reflected or glowed with light of their own.
The being was not looking at you, instead its’ attention was beyond the ledge it stood near. One of his arms stretched out as it waved drawing your attention. As you neared the ledge you could see in the distance a beautiful city which had many buildings shining like gold. A place you had never seen. The city had a bustling port with many ships present. You suddenly heard music and cheers, though you knew the sound was not close. Suddenly the sounds of joy was replaced with screams and sorrow. Another light in the distance brightened the city, it was large flaming objects, all headed for the city. You realized that nothing but death and destruction awaited the city and its inhabitants.
The giant turned to you, its’ face was almost blinding. The giant then turned from the city, and brought your attention behind where you stood, his light seemed to extend only so far though now you could see just beyond the light creatures. There was many perhaps thousands, they all seemed intent to inflict harm on you, but the light keep them at bay. The giant faced you again. Pointing with a hand that seemed to hold a horn with a finger pointing to the sky. The stars and moons were gone now. You could see no flaming objects anywhere but those over the city. After some time you felt the heat that radiated from the giant you looked to see it looking at you. Finally something else brought your attention. You were being grabbed by many different arms and hands, they surrounded you and suddenly you could feel your entire body was being dragged below the surface, the grass was starting to burn away all around you as you plummeted. The limbs bringing you down where all pale. The limbs had sickly looking seeping wounds which oozed putrid dark blood and writhed with many maggots. Looking for your giant companion you then noticed was no longer near instead from a distance it held out an outstretched empty hand to you. All you can remember is trying to reach out so the giant could help you, but you were out of reach. The giant seemed to radiate a feeling of disappointment in you. The giant still held its’ arm out to you but the distance between you two grew further.
Suddenly you felt a great warmth within yourself. You began to shine your own light somehow. You shined so brightly the limbs grasping you began to loosen the grips and fall off your body. Realizing you were free you gathered your wits about you and looked around you. The giant was no longer in sight. Now you stood at the ledge alone. As you looked around the scorched earth had no more zombie like limbs, the light emitting from you kept those other dark creatures back and the city in the distance had burning objects still headed for it.
As suddenly as the vision came it vanished. What happened while you had drifted off you don’t remember, but when your mind came back to your present surrounds you were glowing intensely! What happened then, do you recall it?
Now it has been sometime since the vision, your group each strangers at one will not be forever, because this story changed your world. What are you destined for? You can’t seem to hide or run from an unknown future that draws you. You are on a journey and now have abilities far greater than any normal man. You see at times the eyes of the desperate, the smiles of the greedy, the fear of those who just don’t understand exactly what you are. A world awaits you, and it seems yours for the taking. No one has told you what to do with your powers.The choice is yours, but you know that your life will never be the same again. Some people who follow the Immaculate Philosophy think your are a threat, they are likely to one day report to an Immaculate Monk anything they deem a trait of the Anathema..
The Realm (the empire of the Blessed Isle) calls itself the most powerful nation in all of Creation. They are lead by other mortals that has exalted into elemental powered being of air, wood, fire, water or earth. For nearly a century the Realm has been run by a powerful lady called the Scarlet Empress who has been running the realm from the center of creation. She has control of powerful defensive weapons that are placed throughout the world which has helped keep evil beings called the Fair Folk from destroying Creation. Allied nations of the Realm exist throughout the Threshold known as Satrapies but not all nations bend to the will of the empress.
Again, their religion marks you and others like yourself who have exalted with non-elemental powers as the gravest danger within the world. When they find out about an anathema the Realm put together a powerful team of Dragon-Blooded (or Terrestrial Exalt) the name of an elemental aspected exalt, and track down known Anathema to kill. As of right now this is your biggest danger of concern. These teams known as the Wyld Hunts. If they find you, no matter what way you use your powers they will hunt you down to destroy you. Children that have exalted have been killed without hesitation, and you will be treated no differently. But not all Dragon-Blooded are a part of the Realm, and not everyone follows their beliefs.
Conveniently the Realm’s religion uplifts the status of anyone who exalts as a Dragon-Blooded, considering them superior to every other being in creation. In fact by their they are supposed destined rulers of the land. The Immaculate faith states anyone can exalt into a Dragon-Blooded if they live their currently lives as they have been born into as long as they live righteous lives and dedicate themselves to the faith. Then maybe in a future incarnation they too will be gifted with such an Exaltation. Yet, the Realm is not full of beings with immense power looking to make the world better for all. In fact most of them seem only to care about themselves and using others to further their own goals. The Realm is a constant threat to non-confirming nations within the Threshold.
Ever thought about what you would do if you woke up one day with super powers? Well the thought has become a reality. What will you do with it?
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