Fantasy Valthoom Infested-Lore

[TheHistorian]

The Origins of Igrid

Igrid is a large planet roughly twice that size of earth. A gorgeous ring of ice surrounds it and can be seen day and night, along with its smaller moon. It is home to countless species, many of which were created by magic, a force which is ever present on this world. It is believed that the Nine Heavenly Gods came to the Planed Igrid long ago when it was populated only by beasts, Fish, and the wild forces of Nature. These nine heavenly gods spike amongst one another and decided to create tasks for each of them. And with these tasks came titles.

The Beast god Tamed them and Created balance, he is known by many named and is portrayed as a woman just as often as a man. The God of Humans crafted mankind out of water, and as such they would dwell beside rivers and oceans. The dwarven God crafted the dwarves from stone and gave them the bounty of the earth.The Elven god crafted the elves put of the Wind and Like the wind they would blow through the high trees and mountains.The Orcish god Forged his children out of flames and his own blood. They would be given whatever they could take. The Giant god Would craft his many children and they would fill the lands inhospitable to other mortal races. The Dragon God would forge a race of mighty beasts who would keep all the world humble. But who would be the makers of legends. A sea god crafted the merfolk and taught the mortals to sail, fish, among other naval trade. And finally a god of War and Magic would serve as the driving force of ingenuity, advancement, civilization, and Would be considered Chief amongst the Nine Heavenly gods.

These nine gods would come to be known by many names from many different peoples, but the denial of their existence is rather rare, most believing that the Gods dwell Within the planets moon, and that the souls of those faithful to them collect in the rings of the world awaiting the time when the gods deem it necessary to return and bring order to the world once again. Or so the faith of the nine heavenly gods dictates. Both scholars and religious leaders do agree that intelligent life of all kinds sprung up around 100,000 years ago with a variance of less than a hundred years between each intelligent race.

The Intelligent races of Igrid

The Six “Old Mortal” races include Humans, Elves, Orcs, Dwarves, Dragons, And Giants. These beings all possess the ability to Use magic, Are self aware, And possess sentience. However in the times since then Multiple variations of these species have arisen. And not variants derived from region. Some humans have been altered via magic. Likewise with all other species. Some of these hybrids do not produce sentient beings, such as the Hydra which is a magical hybrid of Dragon and snake genetics. However most of them are in fact their own new species such as the Genasi, who are basically elemental Elves. Or the Asir who are holy burning dwarves that look as if they were made of gold. Genetic scientists from the advanced nation of Valthoom have registered at least 128 different sentient species on the planet and the number seems to be growing as more and more refugees flood the area.
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A timeline of Global events.

100 years ago- the invasion begins.

92 years ago- Malik falls, its fleeing population and knights lay waste to several smaller nations and communities as they flee.

88 years ago- Calvados forms an alliance with the remnants of the Malik army, they cleave deep into the enemy but are surrounded and killed.

87 years ago- Calvados falls.

79 years ago- Valthoom begins opening tunnels and accepting refugees.

75 Years ago- dragons begin to launch coordinated assaults on the invaders.

69 years ago- The giant Federation of tribes joins the conflict. The world sees the first ever Dragon Mounted Giants.

48 years ago- More than half the worlds nations have fallen. Casualties reach into the billions.

41 years ago- Rughan Empire is attacked.

30 years ago- Rughan empire falls, Their Moongate magic saves not only their civilians, but adds the ability for portals to be opened to collect refugees.

22 years ago- Valthoom’s Eastern tunnel entrance is breeched by the invaders, the Eastern Fortress city begins repelling the invaders siege.

16 years ago- the Western tunnels are breeched and the Fortress city there joins the fray.

9 Years Ago- the northern tunnel is breeched and Their fortress city joins the battle. Leaving only the southern city to take in refugees.

5 years ago- Valthoom and the Fortress cities reach a population of nearly 500 million by themselves, tunnel expansion begins as towns now fill the tunnels into the city and threaten to impede resource transportation. The Entire Surface is Taken by the Invaders leaving only Valthoom.
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[TheHistorian]

The history of Valthoom

The people of Valthoom have existed as a nation for the past 1,153 years. While not the oldest of empires it has certainly outlived more than half of the other empires that were on the planet prior to the Invaders came. Originally a Agricultural community that lived in the relative safety of the Bowl mountain range. That was until their God came to them from the stars. Tachtuul, an advanced machine being from a long dead world arrived wounded and damaged. With his guidance they were able to repair him and for their efforts he rewarded them with Technological advancement. They grew from agriculture to mining, began to trade with others to obtain the resources they needed, but again under the guidance of their god they accumulated the materials to begin industrialization.

To please their new god, The people of Valthoom would pour themselves wholeheartedly into science. Attempting to learn and develop, until eventually their progress became natural. Rather than give them the knowledge of his own people and make them walk the same path, Tachtuul began to grow curious as to what their own progress could be, and thus he told them that they would grow from here on without his guidance, but under his gaze. To Tachtuul’s surprise the people of Valthoom began to create a symbol for them, one that put half of his own skull, and half of a human skull, on the pattern of a gear. They constructed buildings and vehicles by trail and error. At first relying on Tachtuuls great power to smite the occasional dragon or giant, and even break armies of other nations. But eventually they would grow beyond even the need for that.

450 years ago a genius named Zalduir leapt the Valthoom forward with the development of the first Fission Reactor, The advancement of Ballistic weaponry, and more efficient engines allowing for aircraft. It was during this period of rapid development that a mixture of a population Boom, growing crime rates, economic turmoil, and stark silence from Tachtuul lead to a civil war within the kingdom that would cost the lives of tens of thousands of troops, and similar numbers of innocent civilians. Unfortunately those who seemed most likely won the war were those with the most fanatical of views. A cult called “The Children Of Tach” gained a huge edge due to them scavenging and repurposing fallen soldiers through cybernetic grafts, and even forcing such grafts onto the fallen. When the cult seemed to be closest to victory Tachtuul acted.

In one fell swoop the Cults resurrected corpse soldiers were dominated by Tachtuul and he turned them on the cultists, at the same time soldiers outfitted with the now immortalized Zalduir’s best work came inti the fray on behalf of the Sane non fanatical civilians. These “Vanguard of Valthoom” wiped out the Cultists and Quickly subdued the Militia’s. Once again United Valthoom began to once again return to their ambitious ways of the past. They pushed their scientific knowledge to the limits using the horrific practice of the cultists and adapting them into medical practices. People began to replace damaged parts of their bodies with machinery.

With their leaps in technological progress the People of Valthoom and their vanguards became figures of myth around the world. With the civil war of theirs having had outside factors arming and playing politics with the warring sides, Valthoom had begun to distrust the rest of the world and for a time there was serious thought put towards invading and conquering the world. Yet Tachtuul viewed this as unwise, and the newly formed council of Elders decreed that such a move would never occur. Instead they began to set their eyes on occupying the Theza the planets Moon. Turning their eyes to space they began to joyfully construct a massive celestial observatory On the mountain top, complete with a powerful radio telescope.

However this project would not bring them the joy they thought. Upon gazing at the galaxy, the people of Valthoom saw only madness and horror. The galaxy it seemed was full of life, but it was hungry. Upon revealing it to Tachtuul he ordered the observatory and the valley to be abandoned. He carved out a massive cave system and had the people of Valthoom move into the cavern, their progress would continue under the ground for another 250 years, however in this time they seemed to he focusing their development on defense and warfare. Finally they would construct the four fortress cities in front of the access tunnels and finally 15 years ago they opened the tunnels and began to bring refugees from the surface into these fortress cities. Educational programs help to teach people how to use the Technology, and things that are too advanced or critical are still manned by the Valthoom citizens. The cultures seem to be blending well for the most part, as the people of Valthoom are confident, straightforward, and generous.

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[TheHistorian]

The culture of Valthoom

Location- Early in their development the Valthoom people were a peaceful farming nation nestled in the safety of their fertile mountain valley. They developed a warlike culture towards the end years of their time on the surface and Since going underground they have become very defense oriented and reclusive. They currently dwell in a massive underground chamber beneath the valley and mountains. One massive chamber that is two kilometers from floor to ceiling, with an area of and Nine by Twelve kilometers. From that chamber there are four massive tunnels at least sixty meters in diameter which lead to smaller chambers where the fort cities are built. These smaller chambers each have two tunnels, one leading to the central city, and one leading to the surface. The fort cities are allowed their own culture, economies, governance, and faiths. However the Capital city is Exclusively Tachtuul’s and open worship of another god is not permitted within that city, Due to this most outsiders tend to occupy the fort cities so as to avoid persecution.



The Faith of Valthoom-
An odd religious belief system which holds Function, Advancement, Machinery, Technology, Thought, Control, and Efficiency as its sacred tenants. A persons worth is measured by the value they offer to the community as a whole, and the value is measured by how well they adhere to one of the seven tenants. To live according to this ideal is to have ones every Movement, every thought, and every action be sanctified by glorious purpose. Meals are optimized for nutritional value, duties are optimized for physical development. Mistakes are catalogued and used to learn from. However some of the practices of this faith are unnerving to others. Broken or failing body parts are replaced with mechanical prosthetics. workers and warriors will often graft themselves into their vehicles or attach additional limbs with their jobs required tools. Even the dead will be converted into cyborgs and drones to continue their work. Furthermore the priests of this faith are as much warriors as they are engineers and often lead mechanical titans and armored troops into battle. Many said preists are multiple hundreds of years old, kept alive through mechanical augmentation, several are even veterans of the Civil war of Valthoom.


Military- The military aspects of valthoom culture run deep as the current structure of the empire was built after a grueling civil war period. Their weapons have strayed away from melee combat and they tend to rely upon energy weapons, unguided missiles, Flame throwers, Grenades, Tanks, and Mechs. While they seem to lack a magical focus, some of their most advanced technology still radiates mystic energy from their Zealous devotion and prayers offered to their god during construction, however this effect tends to only last about a year and its potency fluctuates. It is common practice to Pray to Tachtuul that he bless your weapon prior to battle. As powerful as their weapons and armor are the people of Valthoom are clearly not warriors for the most part, lead by their preists into battle the amount of tactical prowess tends to depend on individual preists, some of whom are dangerous war veterans, others however are more comparable to a college professor who has spent their lives in the laboratory. Yet many find the most unnerving aspect of their armies to be “dreads” which are dead bodies with machines affixed to them to keep them fighting. The bulk of fighting forces are made up of these with the occasional vanguard.


Tachtuul- A machine being from another world which fell to the planet critically wounded and in need of repair. Under his direction the people of Valthoom were able to repair him. Since then Tachtuul has served as their guiding and protecting figure. In the early years he shot dragons down from the skies, Tore giants asunder, and even laid waste to invading armies. However as his people advanced scientifically they began to be able to handle these things themselves. Thus Tachtuul took a more supportive role, giving the people goals and unity. Ending their civil war and giving them some form of absolution after death with the “Dread” program. Tachtuul does however view organics and flesh as inferior, and looks favorably upon cybernetic augmentation, often giving his blessings to the grafts. Priests of his order must go through a process of putting their lives in the hands of machines, by replacing their hearts with machinery, and adding a device to their brain. It maters not what device, some choose a thermal imaging eye implant, others prefer a more subtle implant which boosts coordination and motor skills. Regardless Tachtuul can speak through and communicate with machines thus the implant allows his priests to always hear him.
(He is an NPC that cannot be controlled.)

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[TheHistorian]

The History of The Infernal City of Malik

One of the oldest empires in the world Malik has ruled its dark section of the world for nearly 2000 years. Once a shining example of a cathedral city state that worshiped the nine heavenly god, their fall is a reflection of their once great splendor. Long ago they were the very city whose pilgrims spread the faith of the nine heavenly gods, the worlds predominant faith, however 750 years ago their first Emperor would be born and due to deformities and mental instability he deemed the gods his enemies and burned the holy sites of his own city, chasing away the bishops and faithful, leaving only those willing to strive for power. The first emperors rule was short lived however, so short that his name would be forgotten to history as the cities first demon possessed warrior would steal victory for himself. Setting the tradition of the crown being taken by blood.


Since then Demonic indwelling, forced possession of objects, and infernal magic has been the primary source of power in this forsaken city. The smell of blood lingers in the air and the promise of unbridled power continues to draw in those who seek personal gain. None foresaw the fall of this nation as it had always been said that the worlds most powerful warriors came from among their Possessed Hellknights. However Malik would eventually fall to the invaders after a nearly thirty year conflict where Hundreds of thousands of Maliki warriors perished, at the cost of tens of millions of the invaders forces. The demon king of the great city himself stood for half of that time before he detonated himself in a blast of hellfire that shook the world itself and etched a scar on the planet that would be called Maliks Defiance. Even today, the Possessed Hellknights who made it to the fortress cities are among the most potent slayers of the invading forces…though it would be an error to call them heroes.

The culture of Malik centers around bloodshed and violence, the only law is that which is decreed by those more powerful than yourself, if you do not like their decrees then you must get more powerful. However physical might is not all that is measured, Cunning deception can gain you power, treachery is almost assured, Honor is forgotten and cast to the wayside. There is but one way to survive and do so comfortably. Spill blood, take power for yourself, Make contracts with demons, and brace for your inevitable fall at the hands of one who does the same only better.

Death is not something that is feared by The Malik. Their bodies are cremated and they know beyond a shadow of a doubt that their souls will be going to the Nine hells. Where they will be forged into demons via the flames of torment. Because of this Battle is viewed as sacred and often will be sparked between random members of the Malik population. Furthermore they are known to raid villages and carry entire populations into their way of life in chains. However this is not born of racism or hatred of different beings, no, the Malik hate all things, and express that hatred in brutality. Any who do the same are as welcome in Malik as they make themselves. Even their most recent king was from a foreign land.
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[TheHistorian]

The Honorable Rughan Empire

Forged 800 years ago By the Rukka Elven tribes in the mountains of Hagori. The initial position between multiple other established nations made the mountainous elven people fall until The Kaghan Orcish nomads crossed into their territory and a deal was forged between the two. The Rukka elves would scale the mountains and get the Excellent wood that grew from the trees there, and the Rich iron and bring it to the Kaghan orcs below, who would in turn defend the Rukka. Eventually this deal led to intermingled families and relations and after five or six generations they began to refer to themselves as the United Rughan People. Though united the Rughan were not equal and this inequality would inevitably boil up. It did however take a very long time as the scale of inequality was fairly hard to notice.

Eventually however it became apparent as over the course of several hundred years society began to reflect more and more the class differences. At the bottoms of the mountains, the orcs lived as either Workers, Farmers, Or Warriors and Warlords. Meanwhile the elves lived atop the mountains and Their social class ranged from merchantile, to Noble. This imbalance in political power ensured that Elven Emperors would Be elected to serve elven needs and the orcs began to grow forgotten. The warlords and chiefs petitioned to be heard and eventually they were. A mere thirty years ago the first Mixed Race emperor was brought into power predominantly by orcish votes and two noble elven families who had put their support behind Emperor Yasuie.

(emperor Yasuie)
Unfortunately this would not go over well with his political opponent and a nasty period of unrest and terrorism would break out in the once peaceful empire. Orcish warlords were brought up the mountain and given noble houses, while the more corrupt elven houses were brought down. In the end the nobles more accurately reflected the nations people, however the fallen nobles began to rally behind the banner of the Albino Elven Noble Shien the Phantom.

The bloody conflict would see thousands dead, the imperial palace burned,Emperor Yasuie wounded , and Eventually Shien and his supporters would be beheaded. Finally the empire found peace once again. They had only just began rebuilding when the invading forces began to flood the area. From their mountain fortresses the Rughanese army was able to hold out for many months but hope seemed all but lost as their resources began to run thin. Eventually as the invaders crested the mountains, the Rughan Sages were able to create a “Moongate” to The Valthoom city after receiving word of refuge. The Noble Samurai of Rughan held the Hordes at bay on the mountains edge as their civilians fled into the moon gate. Their noble defense caused the Rughan nation to see the least civilian casualties…however two thirds of their warriors fell. 24,000 samurai cut down to a mere 8,000. Their emperor wounded and unable to fight, their army broken and their home lost, many Rughan people have Taken oaths of vengeance and have begun themselves training to be samurai, but sadly many more have given up on the fight, and moved into the Capital city of Valthoom where they begin to follow a mew peoples belief. They see Rughan as Dead, But the Emperor and his Samurai refuse to give up.



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[TheHistorian]

The Nation of Calvados

The Holy Nation of Calvados is a kingdom built atop a mountain that has existed for nearly 1400 years. When Malik first sent out its holy pilgrims before its fall Calvados welcomed them with open arms and adopted their faith and tenants. An Order of knights were formed to Protect a small village, as the village grew a second order was formed to guard the roads and merchants. Soon a fortress was needed to house these knights, the Village Mayor Became a Lord and moved to this Fortress. A third order of knights formed to guard the castle, towns began to spring up around the safety of the fortress, and so on. Soon Calvados would be home to Nine orders of Knights, a great Castle, a walled City, and dozens of surrounding territories.

Churches to each of the Nine gods would spring up, And they would even etch the foreign names of these gods onto their effigies ensuring that the gods were given their due respect. When Malik fell into madness it was Calvados that received most of the fleeing faithful, and their holy knights had fought against the Possessed knights of the Dark forces of Fallen Malik for centuries with neither gaining ground on the other, demons were countered with angels, infernal mutations, with divine blessings. The two were rivals for so long that their disdain and hatred grew slowly into respect.

Eventually Malik would Fall, And the Invaders would reach the Edges of Calvados territory. The people were sure of their holy knights and so no preparations to flee were made, when the people heard that the infernal Forces of Malik had joined the Holy knights they began to worry what could possibly make them need their help. Even as the orders to flee and news of their forces defeat reached them they did not believe it. Sadly Calvados would see some of the most horrific losses of any nation with more than four fifths of their civilian population perishing, the remaining knights giving their all to save what little people they could.

In the fortress city the People of Calvados are of low spirit, the loss of so many and the utter hubris that caused it struck a blow to the once proud people and have humbled them, their faith in the Nine is not shaken however it is reinvigorated. The orders of knights however have changed, adopting new magics, new weapons and armor and doing their best to optimize themselves even at the cost of their pride. Some knights have even taken to accepting Valthoom grafts and advanced weapons. Nonetheless they are some of the most selfless and noble warriors that can be found in the Fortress cities.
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