As with the original RP this was born from, no definite plot is decided. It's up to us - the players - to craft it as time goes on.
Now then...
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/...ethearaMap.jpg
The hub for all that is diverse in this world. All walks of life can be found here, as can all trades. If it exists and is not some kind of super-rare treasure, odds are that it can be found here.
A city surrounded by desert on all sides. This city makes its living via trade and some of the best merchants and traders in the world are known to live in Werek. However, on occasion it suffers from bandit raids, but more often than not, the city guards are perfectly capable of handling it, as well as any travelling adventurers who happen to be in town. In the northeastern part of the city, one can find Merchant's Playground, an 24-7, all-year-round trading bonanza with deals so great they should be illegal.
A city nestled away in and built under the mountains, it is the greatest place for apprentices of the forge and any goods that come from that forge. Most of the greatest blacksmiths in the world either come from or live in Noruk, and in its center, deep undeground and beneath the rest of the city, Halgyon's Forge rests. This is both a massive anvil and a monument dedicated to a legendary dwarf blacksmith who single-handedly built this city of iron with his own two hands and over six decades of hard work.
Eraseg is a city of mages, hunters, and mercenaries all for hire. This city makes a living in the ways of services to others, and some of the wisest mages live here. It isn't built at the cost of the trees in its vicinity, but is built using those very trees as a base for construction. It's reputation isn't so great, but Eraseg is a great city regardless. In the center of this city is the King Oak Tree, a tree large enough to be called a settlement in itself. Inside of this tree is the Arcane Hall, the foremost center of the learning and use of magic.
A city of thieves, the law here is loosely upheld. In reality, Salared is simply a number of settlements that are built extremely close to each other, and each of these settlements is treated as a different district. Nobody in one given "district" seems to care about the affairs of the rest of this "city" and it's even known that different districts will declare war on each other. How this city manages to still stand without absolute collapse and anarchy is anybody's guess.
A town of thieves where there's absolutely no law at all. Instead, the citizens of the town decide on what is right and what is wrong, though the arguments on this front will often get so intense that it can lead to an all-out brawl. To make matters worse, they've been raiding any merchants or traders who even try to get near the town. Be it through pacification or death, the anarchistic thieves and bandits of this town need to be dealt with.
Mankind's attempt to settle in the island north of mainland Aetheara. It's currently a failing effort, sadly. Short of merciless cold, recent difficulty getting supplies, and slowly-spreading poverty, the settlement of Ckrith is having a serious problem with dragons attacking them. As it stands, the tavern in town, Dragonbelly Brew, is also acting as a shelter and an overly-crowded house for its owner, his family, and nearly half the town. Something has to be done, and surely the settlers would be thankful to any bold adventurer able to defeat the nearby dragons and allow them to safely collect resources from the island.
A fishing town that is modest in word, humble in mannerisms, and strained in guardsmen. Aside from being a fishing town, it's also known to have the largest port in the world, able to hold an entire army's worth of boats at once. Sadly, it's also known to have rumors of priceless treasures hidden in some underground catacombs that run beneath the entire town. This has attracted not one, but several crews of pirates who are nearly taking over the town. Whether these treasures exist or not is unknown, but for all the pirates care, either they do and they can get away with them, or they don't and they can make this town their new hideout at the expense of the citizens. Perhaps, if these treasures do exist, an adventurer could get one for exterminating the pirates, or at least one damn fine mug of ale.
The world's attempt at settling in the swampy island south of mainland Aetheara. Unfortunately, the effort isn't going well. The reason is simply because we weren't the first people there. A race of tall, dark-skinned elves have lived on the island for a long time, and attempts to settle here haven't been treated so well. Nearly every day, Borega is under attack, and literally everybody in town has been forced to take up arms to defend their homes. Peace cannot be established because these swamp elves speak a language not known to any other race, so they must be intimidated. Whether this holds reward or not can only be determined by how much of the town is left by the time Borega is saved.
Once the foremost mining center in the world, this mine had, in the past, supplied every pound of iron needed to build the entire city of Noruk. However, some time ago, it was raided by bandits. The miners were helpless, and all were slaughtered. Afterward, the bandits were driven out by something far more powerful. Vampires. Now a vampire-infested mine, Old Mine, as it's been called, holds promise of a challenging battle for any adventurer who wishes to delve into its depths. Of course, they should be wary that they don't become a vampire themselves!
Here live many dragons. They populate the entire northern island, but this is their "city" if the dragons had such a thing. Countless pleataus act as nests for the dragons as the icy winds blow viciously across the massive mountain atop which these pleataus rest. Of course, dragons are known to hoard valuable treasures, so surely the bravest and strongest of adventurers will find all sorts of invaluable artifacts and treasures should they manage to escape with their lives intact.
Several thousand years in the past, there was one widely accepted religion that worshipped a god known as Aeroth. This religion had managed to once unite all of Aetheara, but 2,000 years into its greatness, the Kingdom of Aeroth collapsed. The Temple was the ultimate religious center and also acted as a home for the king of the Old Aerothan Kingdom, as well as the religious leaders. War had erupted, and before long this was the last line of defense. Then suddenly, everybody in the Temple had died. It's believed that this was the work of the enemy of Aeroth; a powerful demon known as Naxas. Whether Naxas exists or not, wicked demons now populate this area, and it shows in the demonic taint that surrounds the grounds of the Temple. Of course, with such evil comes great reward for the intrepit adventurer.
Noruk has only one thorn in its side, and that is a goblin problem. Much like the citizens of Noruk, the goblins have established a massive underground city, but while their technology is highly primitive, their strength in numbers can destroy any direct assault. This has allowed them to take armor and weapons from the city famous for its first class blacksmiths, making the goblins a force to be reckoned with. The city is composed of countless caves, and anybody who could clear even one of these caves would have access to that cave's treasure cache. Clearing them all alone could easily make a person become a millionaire.
Old Alderoch was the foremost city in the world for warriors, and the greatest of the great lived there, defending their beloved city. Old Alderoch was a prosperous city, but one day, a powerful necromancer-turned-lich named Urexxaman raided the city with a legion of the dead. Every soldier Old Alderoch lost allowed Urexxaman to gain one more soldier, and before long, the city crumbled before him. Deep within the decrepit ruins, he is still there, constantly building his army from any adventurer foolish enough to challenge him. Urexxaman intends to someday conquer the world, so stopping him is probably a high-priority task for anybody who happens to pass Old Alderoch, be they good or evil. It's also been rumored that Urexxaman has a treasure more powerful than any other...
Exactly what its name implies. Anybody who enters this cave never gets out. Deep within the cave is a priceless and ancient artifact, that when touched grants any three wishes, but its magic only works inside the cave thanks to numerous magical seals. Once the third wish is made, the wisher is cursed and becomes unable to touch the door that leads back out of the cave. People have tried to take this treasure with them, but they died and became undead guardians to the very thing they tried to gain. Using this treasure is heavily advised against, as is attempting to take it. But maybe, just maybe, there is a way to save the damned souls of the people who have died in this cave and succumbed to the power of the treasure deep within.
The only remnants of a magic-heavy civilization long since vanished; a civilization known only as The Ancestors. The Ancestors had a massive empire that held all of Aetheara, and far beyond. It's said that they were perfect in every sense of the word. Even today, one can feel the aura of magical power around Pharumis, which was supposedly its capitol city. However, in an event known only as Old Catastrophe, the entire civilization was decimated save the safe haven of Pharumis, and the very land of the world was altered. This was how Aetheara was created, but Pharumis still stands. Even today, it's towering buildings made of glistening crystals hold treasures of The Ancestors. The only problem is that nobody can get past the wall surrounding the city, also made of crystals. Even if they could, there have been countless reports of hysterical screams and what sounds like fighting. Clearly, The Ancestors that live in Pharumis still live, but are greatly demented, so much so that they would probably try to kill you on sight.
A small settlement nestled away in the desert, Piira's guards are all women, something unusual in Aetheara. In fact, EVERYBODY living in Piira is a woman. They're all known for two things; their breathtaking beauty and their unmatched ferocity in battle. The women of Piira call themselves Daughters of Sand, and are fond of bows or in some cases, dual-wielding swords. They're all mercenaries for hire, but they always expect a nice lump of gold at the end of the mission and don't take well to being lied to. It's also known that they keep a list of people they dislike, people they like, and people they'll kill on sight. Authority figures from outside of Piira are always shot on sight.
A small town of retired adventurers, Weyna is humble in word but great in deed. Some of the greatest heroes of the last couple of generations retired and moved to Weyna to perform more menial tasks, such as warriors becoming blacksmiths or mages becoming librarians or alchemists. It's tavern, Lion's Pride, is famous in town for being the only building made entirely of iron, and famous to blacksmiths for being built by Halgyon, the legendary dwarf blacksmith who single-handedly built Noruk. On a final note, the citizens of Weyna don't take too kindly to blasphemy, especially the priests, some of which were extremely powerful mages in the past.
The northermost settlement in Aetheara, and built upon the highest point in the world. Eobre is a very cold town, but it's warriors are fierce and it's beer strong. At the highest point of Eorbre is a flag with a wolf on it. The people of Eobre call it Wolf's Watch, and from here one can see as far as the ruins of Old Alderoch, no matter the weather. Wolf's Watch is also known to be the site of some of Eobre's most famous duels and brawls, and it's nearly a sacred place to the folks of Eobre. Just don't do anything to piss them off and they'll treat you like family!
A small settlement built within the forest. It's known to be the oldest settlement in Aetheara that still stands, Pharumis aside.
Since Old Alderoch was taken over by a necromancer-turned-lich, the few who were lucky enough to escape with their lives fled north to build a new settlement not unlike their beloved hometown. These days, New Alderoch is an exact replica of its older brother, minus the death and destruction of course. New Alderoch, short of being built by the survivors of Urexxaman's raid on Old Alderoch, has no real claim to fame.
More of a large camp than a settlement, Dariel is home to druids, hunters, and other men of the woods and nature. It has no real economy, as material possessions from the outside mean nothing; everything in Dariel is built by its residents. The people of Dariel are also very wary of outsiders, especially those who seem to carry a dark aura.
The desert penninsula of the continent of Aetheara is known for two things. It's known for its unforgiving heat and for countless bandit camps that dot the penninsula. Few choose to live here, but you can bet your skin that anybody who does knows more than a bit about being stealthy or otherwise profitable. There is also a much cooler inland desert, which holds the greatest fishing settlement in Aetheara; Haerek.
The open plains of Aetheara. A natural beauty if ever there was one; nearly flat land all the way through and short grass as far as the eye can see. Few people live here at all, mostly to preserve its beauty. However, there have been sightings of demonic cults and actual demons, especially near the Temple of Aeroth. Those who wish to trifle with the denizens of the plains...don't say I didn't warn you.
A small island just north of mainland Aetheara. It's famous for a number of things. Mercilessly bitter cold, blinding snow, whipping winds, and dragons. Altogether, it's a very inhospitable and uninhabitable land, but that isn't to say living here has no reward. Indeed, the finest natural resources in the world can be found here. Flawless oak wood, nearly-indestructible metal, and of course, dragon hides. That also allows for trying to take the treasures that the dragons that live all across this island guard.
The grand forests of Aetheara. In it live countless creatures, man or otherwise. It's densely wooded glory is only broken in lines known as the roads of Aetheara.
A long and high range of one mountain after another is one of the most diverse areas in Aetheara. Near the bottoms of the mountains is a wooded area not unlike the massive forest that covers most of the world, but about a quarter of the way up, things start to change. From that quarter-way mark, the mountains become a rocky area with different creatures that cannot be found anywhere else, and as one nears the tops of these mountains, they enter an icy tundra. And then, of course, underneath the mountains is the city of Noruk and the massive goblin civilization. Simply living here proves toughness in a person.
The largest mountain in the world, seeming to almost reach the clouds themselves. This mountain is unlike the others in the sense that all parts of the mountain is cold, with the fabled Wolf's Watch at the very tip of the mountain being the coldest known place in the world. Life here is difficult, but happy when not lonely. People who aren't from here aren't recommended to move here.
A small island just south of mainland Aetheara, and a massive swamp. Murky and damp at all times, the place is rife with insects that more likely than not carry diseases, and a race of tall dark-skinned elves who seem to be immune to these exotic diseases. Few people leave here without being either sick or dead.
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It's a tad bigger than in the last one, but it shouldn't be too tough to fill out :)
I'll post mine as others start coming in. I'm also going to add as much lore as possible in this main thread, to keep things smooth. Already, I have at least two warring cults to start us off.
Worshippers of the deceased god Suroxi, the Brotherhood of Black Dawn is a cult of mostly wizards with particular skills with the black arts. It's unknown who started the cult, but it has been such since the day Suroxi was struck down in the divine world 100 years ago. Above all else, the objectives of the Brotherhood consist of honing their own powers to tap into Abyss - the catastrophic world Suroxi was sent to - and resurrect that very deity. The latter of these two would bring about an event called Black Dawn, in which Suroxi would walk the mortal plane and enslave the mortal races, sparing only his worshippers from the chaos and destruction.
The Rising Sun cult is a bitter and sworn enemy of the Brotherhood of Black Dawn simply based on the fact that the former is devoted to rooting out and destroying magic where it can be found, supposedly at the order of their patron deity - Orci Persona - to stop a global catastrophe that would bring about the end of all life. The cult is pretty big, widespread, and tenacious. However, because their cause prevents the use of magic, they lack the speed and operating power of most other cults.
Formerly the god of unholy rites, Suroxi was stricken down from the divine realm 100 years ago and sent to Abyss because of his wicked nature causing a bad name for other gods. His ultimate goal is complete conquest of the mortal plane so that he can destroy all faith in other deities, effectively rendering them powerless and allowing him to conquer the divine realm as well. Attaining this feat would give him all the powers of a monotheistic god, making him unstoppable and omnipotent.
A deity in title only, Persona is truly a demon who became such after a ritual gone wrong almost 1,000 years ago. Not long afterwards, she was sealed away in Abyss because of her power bordering on that of a war god by the gods themselves. Despite being a demon, her intentions are often benevolent, and she started the Rising Sun cult when she caught words of Suroxi's intentions and observes the mortal world through her right eye - currently in the socket of that cult's leader - while she watches her new sworn enemy in Abyss with her left eye. As an emergency measure, she took up the name Orci Persona some time ago to act as a servant to a higher power - Orci Mundus - so that if Suroxi were to be resurrected, she could have Mundus consume the mortal world.
The devourer of worlds. Since the beginning of time, infinite worlds have existed only to satisfy the endless appetite of Orci Mundus, and with each world consumed, his power rises. The only weakness Orci Mundus bares is that he lacks the ability to see, and thus has been randomly devouring any world he encounters until recently (on the scale of history) when somebody offered to become his guide. That person took up the title of Orci Persona, and she has been guiding the blind Mundus so that he can eat more efficiently and gain power faster as such. He isn't quite strong enough to consume the world Aetheara rests in just yet, but that day may soon be at hand.
