Sword & Star
"He who can destroy a thing,
can control a thing..."
-Frank Herbert
can control a thing..."
-Frank Herbert
Sorcerer
The sorcerer Veldt hurtled through the thickly curling clouds atop his chimera. Three beastly heads weaved through the air current, and Veldt gripped the reins fiercely. Skimming across an elegantly floating landmass the mount and rider sped, narrowly missing a gushing waterfall. The cool water splashed upon the sorcerers young face, invigorating Veldt and soaking his short, bleached white hair. From one of the chimeras bestial heads came a low grunt of disdain.
Murky swamps and angular ruins lay below, covered in a brightly glowing green cloud of mist and misery. The Luminous Fade, thought Veldt, not without fear. The sentient vestige of a vengeful planet would mire the ruins for centuries to come, slowly disintegrating alien and inorganic materials. With somber curiosity, Veldt could not help but wonder what fate befell the ancient masters of his planet.
The cloudscape cleared abruptly and chimera and rider broke free of the murky air. Before Veldt lay a dismal fortress, scarred black from arcane wars and surrounded on all sides by a lurid sea. The crumbling towers and walls of Castle Acheanbor were covered in shiver-vines, that snapped and hissed at the sorcerer as he circled, searching for a ledge to land upon.
“Steady, Threakin,” whispered Veldt to the chimera. “We have nothing to fear from this height…”
Veldt spied a suitable landing and slowed the beast with a tug of the reins, and an arcane phrase in order to descend. The cracked earth scattered as the thick scaly wings of the chimera beat the air, finally coming to a rest. Veldt dismounted and patted the chimeras lion-head lightly. Ignoring Veldt, Threakin curled its muscular wings and tucked its heads one by one beneath the scaly muscle and feather. Satisfied, Veldt walked towards the castle with caution.
The castle gate, a grid of iron and stone was intact, but raised just enough for a man to slither through. Scorch marks were burnt into the ground, and the wide stone steps leading to the portal were cracked and broken.
Veldt stopped at the steps and produced a clear glass orb from his cloak. “Zyssiz!” in-canted the sorcerer. The orb hissed from his open palm and came to a stop three paces away. A crackling of arcane light appeared, captivating the orb in lightning. Veldt nodded approval and looked to the high castle walls.
Far above, a sickly yellow light shone. A shivering wail echoed through the ruins, and then came the sound of a thousand skittering legs. Veldt raised his gloved hands before him and summoned a sword of flaming white light. He gripped the arcane weapon without flinching and took a few steps forward. The crackling orb followed.
The wailing stopped abruptly as the sorcerer reached the steps leading to the castle gate. Veldt turned to Threakin. “Sleep lightly friend, for I may need to expedite my departure!” said the sorcerer, before stalking into Castle Acheanbor.
Murky swamps and angular ruins lay below, covered in a brightly glowing green cloud of mist and misery. The Luminous Fade, thought Veldt, not without fear. The sentient vestige of a vengeful planet would mire the ruins for centuries to come, slowly disintegrating alien and inorganic materials. With somber curiosity, Veldt could not help but wonder what fate befell the ancient masters of his planet.
The cloudscape cleared abruptly and chimera and rider broke free of the murky air. Before Veldt lay a dismal fortress, scarred black from arcane wars and surrounded on all sides by a lurid sea. The crumbling towers and walls of Castle Acheanbor were covered in shiver-vines, that snapped and hissed at the sorcerer as he circled, searching for a ledge to land upon.
“Steady, Threakin,” whispered Veldt to the chimera. “We have nothing to fear from this height…”
Veldt spied a suitable landing and slowed the beast with a tug of the reins, and an arcane phrase in order to descend. The cracked earth scattered as the thick scaly wings of the chimera beat the air, finally coming to a rest. Veldt dismounted and patted the chimeras lion-head lightly. Ignoring Veldt, Threakin curled its muscular wings and tucked its heads one by one beneath the scaly muscle and feather. Satisfied, Veldt walked towards the castle with caution.
The castle gate, a grid of iron and stone was intact, but raised just enough for a man to slither through. Scorch marks were burnt into the ground, and the wide stone steps leading to the portal were cracked and broken.
Veldt stopped at the steps and produced a clear glass orb from his cloak. “Zyssiz!” in-canted the sorcerer. The orb hissed from his open palm and came to a stop three paces away. A crackling of arcane light appeared, captivating the orb in lightning. Veldt nodded approval and looked to the high castle walls.
Far above, a sickly yellow light shone. A shivering wail echoed through the ruins, and then came the sound of a thousand skittering legs. Veldt raised his gloved hands before him and summoned a sword of flaming white light. He gripped the arcane weapon without flinching and took a few steps forward. The crackling orb followed.
The wailing stopped abruptly as the sorcerer reached the steps leading to the castle gate. Veldt turned to Threakin. “Sleep lightly friend, for I may need to expedite my departure!” said the sorcerer, before stalking into Castle Acheanbor.
Humanity
The billion billions of eons past are greatly diminished in the twilight eons of the universe. Humanity has evolved beyond the ancient kin of long dead Earth, instead awakening to the cosmic fabric that courses through all things. Of course, certain primitive vestiges of the race remain;
Sorcerers rule planet-sized kingdoms in a hostile galaxy, fending off hordes of marauding aliens, barbarian revolts and of course, each other.
Chrystar
Chrystar is a wilderness of unchecked arcane power, curses, ancient temples and visions. Dominating the single semi-tropical continent is the city of spheres, home to the sorcerer Veldt, last ally of mankind. Veldt has allied Chrystar with the Verdigris League in an effort to stave of the approaching darkness of the Scream.
The Scream
An expanse of space littered with ruined worlds, portals, black holes, marauding alien hordes and renegade sorcerers. The Scream is expanding....
Din Star
Every 48,000 years the Din Star, an enormous sentient armored star activates and begins the journey towards seemingly random planets or stars where it collides fantastically with the celestial object, spreading destruction, death and extinction. Prophecy has foretold of the Din Stars destruction by one who trades his humanity for the ultimate power....