Cephiro (+Outlying Nations)

Jadwiga · Aug 22, 2021

Faction Name: Cephiro
Government: Theocratic Monarchy
Capital: Etherea Castle
Territories: The World of Cephiro
Population: ~120,000
Goals:

Maintaining the peace and stability of the world
Defending the Pillar at all costs
Keeping the general populace safe and content
Eliminating monsters and other irregularities should they appear

History:
Cephiro was created in antiquity, seeded by the Protoculture alongside the other formative cultures of the Ancients. Like their kin, the leaders of Cephiro were gifted in the art of creation magic and utilized it to strengthen the fabric of their reality. Yet where the Ancients exercised group rule and ultimately faced a world-ending crisis of their own making, the denizens of Cephiro came to place their faith in their purest and most willful creator to forge the stability of their world. As long as this Pillar remained isolated and singularly focused on prayer for the stability of their world, their piety would be rewarded by nigh immortality, and their land would thrive.

Yet, eternity is a very long time. Pillars could lose focus, or become distracted. In such cases, correction was required to restore the purity of their prayers. If it could not, then a new Pillar needed to be selected. And the only way to vacate the lifetime position was by one's own death.

In this way has the land of Cephiro maintained its harmony for eons, even as other worlds rose and fell. Peace for all, at the cost of one person's sacrifice.

The heart of Cephiro is the Pillar, whose attire and surrounding chambers are resplendent, but tend to be lacking in color. Gold rim and jeweled inlay abounds, but only as accessories - much of the Pillar's world is marble and stone. Other high-ranking casters tend to dress in similarly neutral tones, accented by pops of color in the form of numerous focusing gems. Even the Pillar's royal guard, clad in blue armor, features matching jewel work.

The general populace lives mundane agrarian lives comparable to Earth's middle ages. As the climate is mild and ever so slightly damp, most dress in tunics with raised collars, featuring geometric trim of black triangles over a central color. Commoner clothing is less fanciful but often more diverse in colors, reflecting the vibrant flora and fauna of the grassy plains and forests they dwell in.

Name: Princess Aurea
Age: Unknown
Gender: Female
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 110 lbs
Eye Color: Unknown
Hair Color: White
Description: The current Pillar and Princess of Cephiro. As she rarely leaves her prayer chambers, few know what she looks like, and fewer interact with her on any recurring basis. Almost all of her time is spent in solemn prayer to maintain the foundations of Cephiro, and the length of her tenure has left her body so pale as to be difficult to distinguish from her stark white dress. Details about how she came to be the Pillar, or what exactly occurred during the last Pilar transition, are lost to history. All that is known is that it was calamitous, and that is a large factor in the strength of her piety. Due to her isolation, errands and general management of Cephiro are largely delegated to Guru Aixam, while High Priest Saehan presides over her court.

Name: Guru Aixam
Age: 527
Gender: Male
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 170 lbs
Eye Color: Lavender
Hair Color: Platinum
Description: The Guru, the personal attendant to the Pillar and highest mage in all of Cephiro. His magical knowledge and ability surpass even that of the Ile, or high wizards. Patient but severe, he takes his duties as a steward and teacher very seriously. Tall, slender, and care-worn, his at times haggard visage is commonly seen afield tending to matters large and small.

Name: Sol Saehan
Age: 428
Gender: Female
Height: 5'7"
Weight: 130 lbs
Eye Color: Royal Purple
Hair Color: Sugar Pink
Description: While the Sol, or High Priest, is normally an advisor to the Pillar and assists in prayers for the nation's stability, Princess Aurea's choice to isolate herself has left her seat in mediation in the country's affairs empty. In accordance with her wishes, the stately Lady Saehan presides over Princess Aurea's court in her absence. She is kind and beneficent, but also firm and tries to be fair.

Name: Pharle Esemka
Age: 282
Gender: Male
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 200 lbs
Eye Color: Amethyst
Hair Color: Platinum Blue
Description: The Master Smith of Cephiro. In peaceful times, he busies himself as the principal fabricator of tools and machinery, helping maintain the world's infrastructure. When needed, he is also the main manufacturer of magical weapons, armor, defenses, cannons, and so on for the combating of monster threats. His sizeable workshop is housed in a mansion in a glade near the Forest of Silence.

Name: Captain Sofia
Age: 186
Gender: Female
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 150 lbs
Eye Color: Emerald
Hair Color: Copper
Description: Originally from Taflon by the Sea. Captain Sofia is a hard and firm guardian of the Pillar and the people both. As a Dal, or master swordsman, her martial ability is among the highest in the land. Her duties keep her away from her home most of the time, but she has managed to start a family and tries to visit as often as she can. When she's away, the local guard helps look after her wife and two children.

Seijuu (聖獣) / Spirit Beasts
A lesser form of guardian spirit, summoned or temporarily conjured by a capable mage. Spirit Beasts resemble creatures of legend, such as griffons, unicorns, qilin, peng, etc. They vary in size depending on the nature of the spirit or the imagination of the caster. Many are easily over 20 meters in height or length, making for ideal creatures for travel and defense. Much like Rune Gods, the caster can ride them into battle and cast spells directly, or utilize the Spirit Beast's magical nature to cast spells through them or with them. A truly gifted mage with a singularly powerful Spirit Beast may be able to transform them into a Mashin - but they will always pale to the Rune Gods in power and ability.

Etherea Castle
The palace at the heart of the world, and home to the Pillar. Its three crystal spires tower over the surrounding landscape, while a sprawling watery labirynth extends almost as deep underground. Its scale is substantial enough to be a city unto itself, with enough room to spare for much of the populace to shelter within its grounds in an emergency.

The Elel Wood
The Forest of the Elements. A sacred forest surrounding Etherea Castle, beneath whose boughs (usually) no monsters dare tread.

The Forest of Silence
An ancient forest fabled for its mysterious properties: the one place in Cephiro where magic cannot be cast, and where monsters roam even in the best of times. Black stones pulsating with malevolent energy turn innocent creatures into vicious beasts. The exceeding danger found within it means few who dared to explore it ever returned at all, and fewer still in any fit state to tell the tale. Nevertheless, the legendary Spring of Eterna is reputed to lie at its heart.

The Spring of Eterna
The sole source of Escudo in Cephiro. From the ground it appears as a line in midair. Only from a vantage point on a nearby outcropping does it appear as a swirling pool, into which one must plunge to find Escudo. But the legendary mineral to make evolving weapons will be awarded to those who can face their fears, and overcome a trial of the heart.

Tree Village of Lairy
A woodland town situated at the base of the enormous Tree of Life. Because the leaves harvested from the tree hold great curative and restorative properties, the town is a hub for the healing arts.

Lake Village of Lekuido
A lakeside village home to scholars and a museum to Cephiro's past. Legend has it that a friendly spirit beast dwells in the lake and watches over the town.

Mountain Village of Polizu
A smaller village situated between the Forest of Silence and the base of the inland mountains. Proximity to both the forest and a notorious cave has led the residents to maintain a barrier around the village, and to be suspicious of anything approaching from outside.

Aueria, the Sky Garden
A town in the sky, situated on one of the larger of Cephiro's floating islands.

Ice Village of Rosen
A snowy village high in the mountains, part of which is constructed from unmelting ice.

Taflon by the Sea
A seaside village and agricultural hub, bordering the open plains and farm fields. The nearest docks to visit the Ocean Shrine.

Steppe Village of Iaye
A semi-arid grassland village situated near the base of the Mountain of No Return.

Jadwiga · Aug 29, 2021

Faction Name: Autozam
Government: Social Democracy
Capital: Isdera
Territories: The World of Autozam
Population: ~1,000,000
Goals:

Stem the deteriorating ecological crisis
Clean the polluted atmosphere
Correct the depletion of mental energy
Expansion

History:
Autozam is one of the single most advanced worlds within the Overworld, with technology surpassing even the Garlean Empire. Unlike other realms that are closer to incarnations of myths and legends from Earth, Autozam is a world of simple ingenuity that developed similarly to Earth. The primary difference between the two worlds is simply that Autozam is far smaller but far further along. Their smaller scale meant they exhausted their fossil fuels far earlier, precipitating the need to harness sources of 'green' energy. They thus came to rely on the peculiarly replenishable mineral Tiberium in the development of a highly automated society, and, in time, to harness their own mental energy to power their overabundance of machinery. The need for every last person to be productive as an energy source led to a highly egalitarian and regimented social structure. For a time, they achieved a futuristic utopia.

But over time, the longer-term effects of such widespread Tiberium usage have become more apparent, and even with reductions in its use, the tide of its pollution has proven difficult to overturn. What's more, the population has not been able to keep up with the sheer scale of demand their own creations put upon their collective energy pool. They are left between a rock and a hard place - a populace whose mental energy is withering as it is consumed by the machine world they built, but whose only alternative is a mineral that will further poison that same populace.

Name: President Lada Melkus
Age: .
Gender: Female
Height: .
Weight: .
Eye Color: Blue
Hair Color: Blonde
Description: The current President of Autozam.

Name: Singer Trivoiturette
Age: .
Gender: Male
Height: .
Weight: .
Eye Color: .
Hair Color: .
Description: A ranking officer in the capital guard.

Name: Maxwell Chalmers
Age: .
Gender: Male
Height: .
Weight: .
Eye Color: .
Hair Color: .
Description: Director of the Information Bureau.

Name: Dodge Demon
Age: .
Gender: Male
Height: .
Weight: .
Eye Color: .
Hair Color: .
Description: Operative for the Information Bureau.

Name: Desoto Zimmerman
Age: .
Gender: Male
Height: .
Weight: .
Eye Color: Red
Hair Color: Blonde
Description: Captain of the NSX. A prominent general and storied veteran of mechanized combat tournaments.

Name: Nash LaFayette
Age: .
Gender: Male
Height: .
Weight: .
Eye Color: .
Hair Color: .
Description: Lead pilot aboard the NSX, assigned to the FTO.

Name: Simca Aronde
Age: .
Gender: Female
Height: .
Weight: .
Eye Color: .
Hair Color: .
Description: NSX pilot, assigned to the GTO.

Name: Talbot Solara
Age: .
Gender: Male
Height: .
Weight: .
Eye Color: .
Hair Color: .
Description: Prominent merchant in the capital.

Name: Humber Pullman
Age: .
Gender: Female
Height: .
Weight: .
Eye Color: .
Hair Color: .
Description: Mercenary pilot, operator of the PTO.

Tactical Operator
An example of Autozam's advanced technology is its towering mechanized fighters, the Tactical Operator Units. Pilots train rigorously and spar in gladiatorial pits to master them, and can make formidable opponents even for Rune Gods. What they lack in raw magical power or versatility they make up for in tools and agility. As they utilize mental energy to operate, the Tactical Operators have a theoretically indefinite operational span, limited only by the pilot's constitution. Weaponry varies by machine but is often energy-based, with most hand-carrying an energy cannon or bazooka.

Jadwiga · Aug 29, 2021

Faction Name: Chizeta
Government: Monarchy
Capital: Khodro
Territories: The World of Chizeta
Population: ~500,000
Goals:

Expansion/colonization to solve perennial overpopulation
Protecting the Sultanate

History:
Like Cephiro, Chizeta is a world of legends and mysticism, though much of its society resembles elements of Persia, India, and the Arabian Nights. Their world is certainly no larger than Cephiro in land area, and yet their population is exponentially larger, making for a very cramped and crowded society. Not helping matters is the decline in male birth rates, leading to a lopsidedly female populace and a harem-centric culture to help distribute available males. Yet, what Chizeta lacks in land it makes up in vitality and fertility of land and residents both - the world's soil is peculiarly rich in minerals, making for an abundance of plantlife and precious metals. Over time, Chizeta has translated its flowing resources into a prosperous merchant kingdom, supplying dancers, jewelry, and exotic produce to its neighbors.

Name: Sultan Rajah
Age: .
Gender: Male
Height: .
Weight: .
Eye Color: .
Hair Color: Red
Description: The Sultan of Chizeta.

Name: Kerala
Age: .
Gender: Female
Height: .
Weight: .
Eye Color: .
Hair Color: Red
Description: One of the foremost champions of Chizeta, and a favorite of the Sultan. She routinely serves in the role of a military advisor to oversee incursions into other worlds (or defend against them), but vehemently rejects any formal post of leadership. She prefers to fight her own battles by herself, not lead troops to do so. In between, she can often be found wandering the gladiatorial circuit to keep her abilities sharp.

Name: Mahindra
Age: .
Gender: Female
Height: .
Weight: .
Eye Color: .
Hair Color: Red
Description: The bandit queen of Chizeta. Lording over the largest thief guild in the underworld, she has eyes and ears in most corners of the land. While ultimately in it for herself, she routinely undertakes jobs from the Sultan when a more subtle approach is required. She is also a ruthless commander, a formidable solo fighter, and a force of nature with forty thieves at her back.

Name: Kazwa
Age: 54
Gender: Male
Height: 6' 1"
Weight: 220 lbs
Eye Color: Gold
Hair Color: Red
Description: Carina's father, the current patriarch of the Badal clan. Years of struggle to eke out an existence for his family have made him a stern and methodical merchant. Once a romantic of the slums, his devotion to providing for his family has led him to view the world only through trade, with the happiness of his daughters yet one more commodity to be bartered against.

Name: Sipani
Age: 48
Gender: Female
Height: 5' 5"
Weight: 110 lbs
Eye Color: Honey
Hair Color: Auburn
Description: Carina's mother, third wife of the Badal clan. While she and her children are relatively low in status within the clan, she has accepted her lot in life with grace and tries to make the best of it. She believes Kazwa's softer side still lurks beneath his rigid exterior, and that belief drives both her acceptance of his edicts and her quiet rebellions against them.

Djinn
A lesser form of guardian spirit, summoned or temporarily conjured by a capable mage. While comparable to Spirit Beasts in power and scale, they adopt humanoid forms of varying description, and usually are commanded remotely by their summoner. They are distinct from Mashin in that thy have a more visceral, organic appearance and highly expressive faces. While individually inferior to Rune Gods, they are often summoned in multiples, and can use their coordination and high mobility to present a challenge.

Jadwiga · Aug 30, 2021

Faction Name: Fahren
Government: Monarchy
Capital: Wuling
Territories: The World of Fahren
Population: ~1,500,000
Goals:

Imperialism

History:
One of the larger realms in the Overworld, Fahren is steeped in methods and traditions resembling various cultures from the southeast Asian region of Earth. Its size and bountiful wealth have led to become largely stagnant and self-indulgent, however. It is a society of rigid hierarchy and uniformity, with the populace serving out their allotted roles in life without question or open complaint. The decisions of the bureaucracy are absolute, and the empress is regarded as living divinity. Their lack of want stems from their near lack of any spark of evolution, leaving the nation largely content with its prosperity. The only greed stems from the ruling class themselves, who eye the conquest of new lands as a deed to further embellish their legend, rather than a service to any material need.

Name: Emperor Baolong
Age: 37
Gender: Male
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 200 lbs
Eye Color: Gold
Hair Color: Raven
Description: The Emperor of Fahren's name, Baolong, translates roughly as Treasure Dragon. Indeed, he is also known as the Collector of Treasures, but his reputation is more as a thoughtful curator of all things he considers beautiful rather than an avaricious thief. His pursuit frequently takes him the length and breadth of the kingdom, and thus he is more often absent from court than otherwise. In his stead, he has assembled a highly capable court with his Empress at the center - the members of which are somewhat peculiar, but time-tested and thoroughly proven.

Name: Empress Chang'an
Age: ~32
Gender: Female
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 110 lbs
Eye Color: Red
Hair Color: Blonde
Description: The Empress of Fahren, de facto leader of the nation when the Emperor is on one of his many sojourns. The nature of the pair's meeting or relationship is a jealously guarded private matter - near as anyone can tell, the Emperor merely picked one of his consorts that happened to have foreign blood. Her peculiarly hued hair has led to some grumblings within the established houses of Fahren, but the prosperity the Emperor has brought the nation has gone a long way to smoothing over hurt feelings or prejudices in the noble class. The colorful nature of his court is seen as an eccentric reflection of his openness to outside trade and the exotic treasures it brings to Fahren. For Lady Chang'an, this clout has helped ensure her authority is respected, even if she isn't always so lucky.

Name: Asahi
Age: Unknown
Gender: Female
Height: 5'6"
Weight: 120 lbs
Eye Color: Red
Hair Color: White
Description: One of Chang'an's two bodyguards - a red oni with a sunny, sometimes overenthusiastic disposition.

Name: Mitsui
Age: Unknown
Gender: Female
Height: 5'7"
Weight: 130 lbs
Eye Color: Blue
Hair Color: White
Description: One of Chang'an's two bodyguards - a blue oni with a quiet, sometimes melancholy disposition.

Name: Prince Sunlong
Age: 36
Gender: Male
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 180 lbs
Eye Color: Gold
Hair Color: Raven
Description: The Emperor's younger brother Sunlong is a restless, adventurous sort. While often left to stew in the court while the Emperor is abroad, he tends to be right out the door the moment his brother is back, entertaining a wanderlust every bit as potent as his sibling's. Yet where Baolong seeks to gather and protect beauty, Sunlong seeks experiences and vistas, often getting himself headlong into dangerous situations.

Name: Kyra Tomi
Age: Unknown
Gender: Female
Height: 5'11"
Weight: Unknown
Eye Color: Gold
Hair Color: Blue
Description: A high-ranking but equally enigmatic figure, Kyra Tomi is ostensibly the Emperor's most trusted court mage. She's also one of the most reclusive members of the court, and has a reputation as a vengeful witch. Few have seen her much in person, and fewer wish to do so again. Perhaps conscious of this fact, even when Kyra routinely travels with the Emperor, she remains out of sight in her chambers.

Pictomancy
Fahren's unique version of high sorcery revolves around the use of ceremonial ink and paper to conjure whatever the caster can draw. This includes both single magical effects and the creation of formidable illusion creatures to do the caster's bidding. Unlike the guardian spirits employed by other lands, these conjured servitors are not alive and have only the most minimal intellect or autonomy. This lack of a spirit or will of their own makes them only as durable as the will of their creator. Further, while they do not take direct damage, repeated abuse will cause their originating scroll to deteriorate. Should either the scroll finally fall apart, or the caster run out of willpower and be incapacitated, the illusory servant will evaporate.[/quote]

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Cephiro (+Outlying Nations)

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