"It's nice to meet you all," Apollo listened as his new classmates introduced themselves, each of Iris, Theo, Blake and Dionysia taking a turn to familiarize the cohort, or at least the half of the bunch that formed this circle. They were within earshot of the absolutely elated man who was forced to be their wrangler, but had not yet coagulated around him as a few his other students seemed to have done. "Ohh, well hopefully we'll all be fast-friends, then," Apollo nodded at Blake's explanation. "How long did you stay at Pebblebrook for? I just arrived today from Pontaion, so I didn't really get to see the town much." He rose his hand to the back of his head and gave the others a light hearted smile. "It seemed quaint, though!"
With the inquisitive gaze of Umildraen upon you, your hand reached up to lower your scarf from around your face and give room to speak. "Not too long ago, a woman by the name of Aika Lenonne made her way up these mountains in search of this temple. She never came back down, and so here I am- to find her," you trailed off as you looked off to the temple across the peaks. The grim thought crossed your mind that in a place as cold, dark, and dangerous as this, someone unprepared, lost or injured would have a very short time remaining. Your view snapped back to your guide, a questioning leer of your own fired back at him. "You wouldn't happen to know anything about her, would you?"
The dwarf by your side flustered a bit under your scrutiny and shook his head side to side. "Can't say I do, yer th'first one to hire me services fer some while. There are other hikers among th'peaks that take travelers too- or worse- she tried gettin' up here herself," he shrugged and looked out to the temple himself. "She could be anywhere up here, y'know. What makes ye think she's in there?"
"The client- her teacher, master? He had tasked her to explore the temple. He wouldn't tell me why, but it was clear this was her intended destination."
"Well he sounds almost as daft as she does. Least he ain't tryna kill her, or there'd be no sense in sendin' ye up here."
A nod was all you felt needed as your eye scanned the pass between you and the temple, planning the final leg of the route in your head. You seemed to get lost in thought for a minute, as a nudge from your guide returned you to focus. "Seems strange to me though, don'cha think? One girl disappears up a mountain, so he only sends one more person to find her?" It dawned on you that he might be right, and that something isn't adding up here. Either way, there would be little point in turning back now. "I'm confident that I can find her," you reassured both Umildraen and yourself. The response you earned was a rather hearty "Har har! That's th'spirit," and an even heartier slap on your back. He retracted his arm into the other and folded them over his chest, pinning his beard down to it. "Unfortunately for ye, this is as far as I go. Th'path ahead speaks for itself. But unless this Aika could fend fer herself, she could be layin' face-down in some red snow in that there pass," he released his hand and aimed a fat index finger down between the two ridges in the distance, a small crevasse splitting them would be the most direct route to the temple.
"Aye, best o' luck to ye," the dwarf excused himself, turning about face and trudging back the way you came. With no one left to kill time for you, you pulled your scarf back over your mouth, and carefully made down the steep incline before you.
Even here at the top of the world, the remaining peaks towered as mountains in their own right. The base of the ridges you found yourself between was cast under an umbral curtain, shielded from the silvery gaze of the moon by the sheer cliffs that rose to your left and right. From here, the Temple of Zorkuth was no longer in view, but you were certain you were headed toward it still. With the tall stretches of rock on either side, the bitter cold wind here died down significantly, along with the accumulation of snow, revealing the remains of an old stone-worked path of large bricks. This ancient semblance of a road crept along the pass, carrying you closer and closer to the other side. Still, no sight of your missing person could be made. Any snowfall even as recent as this morning would have covered tracks before this pass in minutes, and here there was almost no snow in which to leave footprints. It wouldn't be until halfway through the pass that you encountered anything of merit.
Of course, the one thing you hoped not to cross was the exact thing blocking your way. Taking up a rather greedy amount of space between the cliffs was a hulking beast of a creature, clad ivory in thick fur and hunched over the carcass of something unrecognizable, though thankfully too large itself to be a person. This two-legged, two-armed thing was no part humanoid, as a fully monstrous maw accented small predatory eyes, all of which crowned by two massive horns which curled in erratic directions. It tore into its prey with vicious claws, bringing the color red into this otherwise black-and-white landscape as it knelt down and sunk its teeth into the meal to rip away something to chew on. It was at that moment, as it lifted its head from the food it crouched over, that its eyes locked with yours.
There was no ambiguity in what would happen next. You reached for your...
The final day in Pontaion was somber, sobering for Apollo. Surrounded by his family- both blood and bond- he put on an air of pride for the small audience that gathered to see him off. He had given his temporary goodbyes to each one of them, the least of which not being his own mother Freyalise as she pulled herself away from the teleportation circle in which he stood. Operating this circle was a simple task for the expert mage that took posture between him and his mother, and as the historian performed his incantation, Apollo looked upon this man with a silent nod of gratitude. A thanks not only for whisking him away, or for composing the letter that secured him a place at his destination. He thanked Ezeras for all of the support the Ekkenhart family provided for the last two of the Sophos name.
The young student drew in his breath, closed his eyes, and let his mind wander. When focus had recoalesced around him, his new view was that of the through-town of Pebblebrook. The sounds of gentle waves bid him to about-face and find the ferry upon which he would make the final leg of his venture. The letter aided him in boarding the ship, and he took in the faces of his would-be classmates and companions as more bodies joined for the ride.
Apollo wasn't a stranger to living under weather changing magic, but even his childhood in the climate-controlled city of Tythrae didn't prepare him for the spectacle he'd marvel at as the ship set unto the waters. Upon witnessing the gloomy clouds make way for the elegant sunlight above, his eyes grew wide in amazement. A bright smile plastered across his face as the school that would make his new home came into view, presented in all its opulent glory. The downdraft of Ouranic magical energy only helped electrify his mood with energy, filling through him as it did the dancing lights that fluttered throughout the sky and across the lake. Anyone who looked upon him would see one giddy mageling, not enough to bounce off the walls, but one who was clearly optimistic about the year ahead.
Upon arrival at the campus island, Apollo's bewildered sight-seeing would continue as he and his fellow freshmen were led into the small gathering hall, and having coagulated with his assigned cohort by now, was unable to avoid hearing the banter that some of the students already seemed to involve each other in. An affair amongst the teachers certainly wasn't the first thing he expected to hear, but an institution run by the gathering of some of the most powerful mages- both politically and magically- it didn't exactly surprise him either. Being the ever extrovert he was, he leaned in toward them with a friendly smile. "Hey there," he greeted. "It seems like we're in the same class group, so... my name's Apollo. Nice to meet you!" As he introduced himself, he familiarized himself with the faces of his new classmates. "Do you three already know each other? It must be nice to already have some friends right out the-" If any of those he spoke to were paying him attention, they likely would have caught his mouth forming the word "gate," but heard no sound as the silencing spell washed over the crowd and music to make way for the formalities to begin.
Apollo was taken aback with a slight confusion at first, but as the Chancellor began to speak, his head turned to face their headmaster and understanding found him not long after. Unfortunately, he also picked up on the slight dissent that seeped through both the student body and the faculty like a thinly veiled miasma. He shook it off as best as he could and focused on the words of the head of staff, as well as the instructions of the Vice-Chancellor that followed. As the ceremony seemed to end as suddenly as it began, and the volume of the hall returned to its previous levels, Apollo spared a glance at the black-haired man who would oversee his cohort before returning to the other students he was addressing. "Huh, that was a bit dry for a welcome ceremony, don't you think? Oh! And I didn't catch your names before, again I'm Apollo," he repeated with a bit more decorum.
Race Humanoid - Dwarf (Mountain) Age 185 Appearance Standing at just a hair over three feet, Umildraen is short even by dwarven standards. He makes up for this less-than-impressive stature with a bulk of musculature toned by a lifetime on the treacherous Therakin Mountains. Screwed on straight atop his broad and round shoulders is an equally round face, decorated by a flat and bulbous nose between two beady almond colored eyes, and a colossal black beard, greyed with age. He is often seen clad head-to-toe in thick furs and cloths, protecting himself from the freezing temperatures he calls home.
Personality Umildraen's youthful heart beats warm life through him, like the geothermal drums of his people. Ever curious, he is happy to wander with seemingly aimless cause across the mountains he calls home, and is selfless in his desire to share such wonders with anyone willing to tread beside him. Biography Umildraen Nogrid has lived a relatively peaceful but fulfilling life. Born in the border city of Jotov, the Nogrid family spent as much time above ground in the Daldoran half of the city as they did underground in the Lasaruujian sectors. As a through-city for merchants, militia, and adventurers, Umildraen quickly found a love for those who would make exploring and travel their hobby and career. He took this penchant for adventure to heart, spending his free time hiking the mountains of Daldon and feeding his wanderlust from dawn to dusk and then some. In his later age, Umildraen settled further up the mountains than his family had lived before him, nestling into a cozy hole-in-the-wall where he sold his services as a travel guide for those seeking to cross the maze of peaks within the Therakin Mountains.
Well- I had a bit of time to squeeze out some writing today, and I'm a bit too excited to wait until tomorrow! Don't worry, the voting for this first round will still be a week long as normal, so you'll all have until the end of Saturday May 20th to vote one of the prompts.
Our story begins with the night sky, an infinite dome of deep midnight blue, decorated by the glistening motes of the heavens. From zenith to horizon, this celestial shell remained unobstructed as you crest one of the peaks of the Therakin Mountain range. The darkness above your head contrasted the ethereal silver below your feet, the snow around you illuminated by the captivating moonlight. To your sides, the cliffs of this peak dropped steeply, granting you an unobstructed view of the countryside both to the east and west. On your right, the mountains receded quickly as your gaze flew further east, and to the still somewhat unexplored forests that sat snug against this earthly spine you walked atop. There, the border leading to the Kingdom of Geland and its many provinces was drawn where tree met stone. On your left, the mountains of Therakin sloped more gently west, dotting the Daldon Empire with several more peaks as far as the eye could see.
"Th'wind's quite calm tonight, ain't it?" The only other living thing nearby spoke to you as he tossed a glance over his left shoulder. What looked back at you with beady almond-colored eyes was the stout and stocky mug of a mountain dwarf. His head was helmeted by a massive wool cap, rivaled only by the magnitude of his salt-and-pepper beard which cascaded from his lips and jaw just beyond his belt. Adding to his width was a heavy fur coat wrapped tightly over his shoulders and around his stomach. You had only met this man half a day ago, but you knew him as Umildraen Nogrid, a hermit and guide-of-sorts for those daring or foolish enough to embark on this pilgrimage. "Count yer'self lucky," Umildraen wagged a finger before facing forward and continuing to trudge through the snow. "I gave a mighty fine prayer to Ersu for a safe hike after our dinner- a bit rushed but I'm supposin' some of th'gods ain't that picky," he mused himself with a low chuckle. As he continued, the path he led you on steepened further, and you found yourself cresting yet another spike of frozen stone along the uneven spires here at the top of the world.
From this miniature peak, your intended destination finally came into view. The summit of Therakin itself rose from between the next set of ridges, with only one more pass between you and the temple that jutted from the side of the cliffs near the very top. With only its entry structure visible from the outside, you presumed that the remainder- and what you sought within- were carved, chiseled, and constructed directly into the mountain itself.
"Still don't get it, why yer' in such a rush to see th'Temple of Zorkuth," your guide very visibly shrugged as he pulled himself up to the top of this penultimate peak. "I've led many a traveler to this very peak- you know. Th'temple's a sight for sure, but ya've seen th'walk to get up here, even from me cozy little shack half-way up." Umildraen scratched his beard with a thickly gloved hand and turned to face you. "Somethin' tells me you ain't just a tourist. Nobody would come up here at this time o'night just to take a gander and walk back down. What's in there that's gotcha in a hurry?"
• "Reports of a missing person led me here."
• "There's a great evil residing in that temple."
• "I've heard of the vast treasures that lie within."
While the term "Atros" refers to all of the known world, planet, and material plane, the stories told focus primarily in the small region surrounding the Kingdom of Geland. Atros is a traditional medium-high fantasy medieval setting, full of the classic tropes of dungeons, dragons, knights, kings and magic. People and monsters of all different kinds can be found here, and each nation or region is a unique place on its own:
The Kingdom of Geland
Seven-hundred and sixty three years ago, the lands were wracked with war. The draconic army of Minerva closed in on the elven city of Albrigh in an attempt to conquer the United Provinces of Albrigh, Cesbury and Vatiir. According to the legends, Syr Roethel Geland I himself led the city's forces to victory, fending off the dragons and winning what would later be known as the Golden War. In the wake of his victory, Geland annexed land from Minerva, forming the provinces of Aurelius and Blizlet and uniting the five lands together as the new Kingdom of Geland to mark the dawning of the Second Era. Over three-quarters of a millennia later, Geland is a peaceful and prosperous kingdom, ruled by the current king Roethel Geland IV. Over half of the population is an even mix of elves and humans, but people of all fantasy races can easily be found within its borders, with humans more common in the east and elves more common in the west. The Gelish Royal Family is and always has been elven. While the central province of Geland is overseen directly by the Royal Family, the other four provinces are ruled by dukes, who answer to the King.
The wide cultural variance of the Gelish people have led to spreading not only their population but also their language across the countryside. Most peoples across all the lands are familiar enough with the Gelish tongue to make everyday conversations, though the more nuanced Elven language is less widespread outside the kingdom.
Geland
Geland proper is a temperate region of rolling hills, sunny plains, and beautiful flowered forests. The land is storied, cities as old as the First Era still stand, along with ruins that predate even those. The capital city of Albrigh is the largest city in the entire kingdom, and is home to the Albrigh Acadamy of Arcane Arts. Geland has the most even mixing of races among its population.
Cesbury
To the north, the hills of Geland continue up into the province of Cesbury. Historically, Cesbury's duke has always been the next sibling to the king: the current duchess being the younger sister of Roethel IV, Duchess Janilla Geland. Cesbury is most well-known for its marble, salt and quartz quarries, as the north and west areas of the province sit snug next to the massive Therakin Mountains that act as a natural border between Geland and Daldon. The capital Cesbury City is a dense city of spiraling inner-city districts, with the center district being a massive plains dotted with mansions in view of a grand palace.
Vatiir
To the west, the forests of Geland thicken into the province of Vatiir, led by the recluse archsage Duke Ezeras Ekkenhart. The most ancient legends claim that the first elves were born here, and their historical architecture blends into the environment. Vatiir is also home to many creatures of sylvan origin, as the border between our world and the feywilds is thin here, and most of the forests are unexplored. The capital city Lyvaserin is built directly into the trees, the seamless unity of nature and civilization.
Aurelius
To the northeast, the plains of Geland dry out into the savannahs and salt-flats of Aurelius. There are few towns and villages within this small province, with the capital Witham being the only proper city. Six months ago, the ambitious Duke Alexander Aurelius was overthrown by his son Brennan in an attempt to save the land from his father's cult of brainwashed assassins and the rogue illithid pulling the strings. Now, Duke Brennan oversees the land with a renewed vow to do good by his people.
Blizlet
To the east, the plains and coast of Geland meet the Minervan desert in the province of Blizlet. The cities built here follow a rigid grid-like structure, under the iron-fisted rule of Duke Walt Blizlet. The capital Viveton acts as one of Geland's strongest port-trading cities, as well as the home of the Blizlet Bardic College of Fine Arts. By the order of the Duke, his estranged eldest son Bartleby is to be considered an exile, his claim to the throne null and void.
The Minerva Oligarchy
Also known as the Golden Ocean, the sandy desert of Minerva is a massive expanse with great open skies, fitting for the dragons that rule here. On the ground level, the people live in relative poverty and modesty, small hamlets built near the the ocean or near oases are the only respite from the extreme heat of the day and the cold of night. In the skies, massive floating cities of sandstone and precious metals are suspended miles above the sand though magics unknown to the outside world. The only people allowed in these cities are beings of draconic origin- kobolds, dragonborn, and of course, true dragons. All others who live in Minerva are second-class citizens, not allowed to pursue higher education or hold office. Despite fighting against Geland during the Golden War, tensions between the kingdom and the oligarchy have died down in the several hundred years since.
While the official language of Minerva is Draconic, it is a speech restricted only to those same "upperclass" members of Minervan society. A non-draconic person speaking the language is as unheard of as it is punishable by law.
The Daldon Empire
Just to the west of the Kingdom of Geland lies the Therakin Mountains, a colossal mountain range that runs from north to south, and act as a natural border between Geland and the empire, but exist within Daldon's jurisdiction. Daldon is a somewhat militaristic nation, comprised mostly of humans, but its proximity to the underground kingdom of Lasaruuj has brought a large population of dwarves to the surface. Currently, Daldon is caught in civil war, as the venerable and sickly Emperor Adalsteinn Vidar's two sons Anvindr and Hjortr fight over which of them will take the thone following their father's inevitable death.
The language of Daldon is as rough as its people. Unlike the smooth graceful dancing of its Gelish neighbor, Daldoran is staccato, rhythmical, and "powerful" when spoken fluently.
Therakin Mountains A massive spine of earth that runs north to south, the Therakin Mountains are not only the largest mountain range in Daldon, but in all of Atros. The eastern edge of the mountains acts as a natural border between the empire and the neighboring Gelish Kingdom, and the western side has no edge, instead tapering more gradually deeper into Daldon's otherwise crag-like surface lands.
The Kingdom of Lasaruuj
Deep below the earth, under the mountains of Daldon, lies a series of tunnels and cylindrical shafts, hollowed out from the stone directly. This network of underground cities and pathways is the dwarven kingdom of Lasaruuj. Supporting the caverns and tunnels is the framework of ancient and modern dwarven technology and architecture, which span across the chasms to create bridges, scaffolding, and even living and work spaces from the stone itself as well as worked iron and steel. The capital city Bher Zanor translates to Gelish as "The Heart of the Earth," and was the scene of a great conflict between Brennan and his companions against the ilithids that threatened Aurelius, as they fought over an ancient artifact deep below the palace of King Kirin Raeburn.
As a kingdom founded and inhabited mostly by dwarves, the Dwarven language is as integral to the structure of Lasaruuj's people as the earth itself.
Ethawen and The Everfrost
Long ago during the First Era, the southern marshlands of Ethawen were inhabited by warring tribes of nomads. These clans waged brutal warfare as they vied for control of the jungle-swamps, but their mutual love and respect for the nature and land of Ethawen kept their skirmishes and their outcomes honorable. There was balance in all things, a method to what outsiders saw as madness. That is, until a mysterious and harsh winter suddenly settled upon the lands.
Blanketed by snow and bombarded by blizzards, the swamps of Ethawen froze over, plants and wildlife began to perish, along with those who were unable to flee. They rightfully called it a curse, as the very few who managed to survive the supernatural winter found themselves corrupted, twisted into horrible visages of what once was. This dark winter has remained ever since, known now as The Everfrost. It has been almost five hundred years since the sudden and devastating arrival of The Everfrost. For centuries, it has maintained hold over the land, forming perfectly to Ethawen's borders.
While there is no longer a modern Ethwanean civilization, those who carry the old blood of ancestors have settled within the southern borders of both Geland and Daldon. Today, they use their ancient language among tightly-knit communities for prayer and other cultural needs.
[The Player Character] Race Humanoid - Human (Gelish) Age ?? Appearance The form taken by Verity is still uncertain, mutable.
Skills and Abilities Archery Verity is a skilled archer, able to place arrows at a moment's notice with reasonable accuracy.
Personality Altruistic Verity has a strong desire to help others, be it directly or not. She's even willing to put herself in danger and stave off suffered wounds to ensure that others are safe before tending to her own needs. Just With a strong sense of ethics, Verity asserts what she believes is the right thing to do, even if it flies in the face of convenience. Vengeful Verity is not one to take a punch lying down. Those who cross her easily draw her ire.
Biography Verity's past is still shrouded in mystery.
Health and Harm Left shoulder - Stabbed (Major)
Inventory Gear and Tools Shortbow Dagger Leather Armor Consumables Health Potion (2)
Welcome to Adventure Awaits! Together, we'll tell the story of one adventurer in a fantasy world of limitless opportunity, as we learn who they are and what they might accomplish. To do this, any and all people are welcome to hop in as players for as long as they'd like, making choices on behalf of our protagonist as they explore the world of Atros.
Every Sunday, a new page in the hero's tale will be revealed in the IC thread, along with several prompts, actions and/or responses for the main character to take. Throughout the week, anyone reading along can vote on the choice they'd like to see unfold by posting their vote in OOC. Sometimes a "write in" prompt will be available. In these cases, the players may either fill in the blank with a short (one-ish line) response of their own, vote for another player's response, or vote on an existing prompt if there are any.
As we continue along our little adventure, the Character Sheet thread will grow to keep track of the faces we've met along the way, and everything we learn about our player character. And as we learn more about the land our adventure takes place in, the lore here will expand as well.
Lastly, suggestions beyond voting are more than welcome! While I would prefer people not write in IC, all manner of possibilities, NPC ideas, places and invoking the "Rule of Cool" are all totally fine to discuss in OOC!
Member
Snowdrops
LimeTime966
Sky Blue
proudwrites
Queen Arya
Charley
Vampiretwilight
Ojiro Mashirao
BurnDaWitch
