Fantasy Torn Skies (Lore)

[Soviet Panda]

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The world was destroyed a long time ago. Magic, the very thing that made our world great, tore it asunder. It evaporated oceans and ground mountains to dust, it destroyed until there was nothing left but the roiling Storm. But not all was lost. The human race is a durable and cunning species, especially when faced with extinction. The took to the skies in impressive ships, the one place that seemed at least partially safe from the Storm. And for a time, we worked together, shared resources and knowledge. But soon enough, we once more took up the "necessity" of war. And soon, it was submit, be victorious, or die. Massive fleets soared through the clouds hunting each other until only two remained. The Grand Fleet, who pride themselves in their advanced technology and fortress like ships, while the Koi Confederacy hold fast to the old ways.

For years these two grand fleets have squared off, trading blow for blow, neither backing down from the other's challenge. Many have died, and many more will to if this fighting does not end. And it'll end when one stands victorious over the other. But maybe, just maybe, should the Gods smile upon this realm and bless a chosen few, this can end in peace. I hope it will be that way, but I will keep my rifle and my sword close, just in case.

• The Grand Fleet
• Koi Confederacy
• Magic
• The Hellion

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  The Grand Fleet is a collective of airships that rely on powerful engines to keep them afloat. A few of these ships serve as a floating fortress and cities, the Widow's Due (the capital and flagship) is an example of one such ship. This makes the general populace knowledgeable of at least basic airship maintenance. There is ample room to climb both the economical and social ladder for those that cannot use magic. Though there is a council of Admirals and Captains, all final decisions ultimately rest on the Grand Fleet Admiral.
  
  The massive engines, and most of the machines of the Grand Fleet, are powered by Cursed. Should someone with the ability to control magic be discovered, they are quickly whisked away, and their humanity erased. They are branded, stating their power when found as well as their engine number, before being placed in an Extractor. Extractors forcefully make the Cursed use magic before extracting it and using it as power. This forced use of magic is extremely painful, compared to bathing in fire, and turns the Cursed into apparent beasts. Those that have transformed the most and lost their humanity are dubbed Engine Beasts, reliable power sources that do as they are supposed to.
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  The Koi Confederacy prides itself in the speed and maneuverability of it's many ships, something quite easy to do when not relying on big, bulky, and heavy engines. Instead, these ships are powered by the wind and a coven of Blessed. They do not have any fortresses and leave their floating cities relatively exposed when compared to their enemy. Various families own multiple ships as a display of power and wealth to other Families. This gives the Koi Confederacy a much more divided, if not colorful, appearance compared to the order of the Grand Fleet.
  
  If one is not born into power, then they will rarely get it. The social structure of the Confederacy is rigid and allows for little progression up or down. Family heads squabble with each other in conference, sometimes even coming to physical blows, while the Emperor and Shogun try and hold the peace while also getting their word in. This slows down the bureaucracy, but inevitably makes things more fair.
  
  Covens of Blessed are present on all ships. Small groups of people capable of the use and manipulation of magic necessary to keep the wards from falling apart overnight and allowing the ship to silently slip into the Storm. Covens are best compared to guilds in how they conduct themselves though capable attaining much more power. Some Coven leaders have had more power than the family head they serve.
  
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  Few people can wield magic, though the Koi Confederacy seems to have slightly more. And simply being able to tap into the power is not enough to use it. Anyone can hold a sword, but only experts can use one. It takes years of training, practice, and meditation for someone to even get a taste of the power they can wield. And it'll take years more for them to gain full mastery, years they'll have in spades because of the extended life span. However, this power marks it's wielder, for those that can touch magic begin to develop beast like traits. Horns, feathers, scales, etc etc. This first marker develops rapidly, and slows immensely once this marker is fully developed but does not stop. The oldest having her entire lower half transformed into that of a snake and scales stretching across her entire body.
  
  The two factions treat their magic users differently and have named them accordingly. The Grand Fleet claims that it is they that created the Storm, and thus calls them the Cursed. The Koi Confederacy says that magic is a gift given by the gods, and thus call them Blessed.
  
  Engine Beasts are creatures that have long been used to power the machines and contraptions of the Grand Fleet. More beast than man, they are creatures possessed by anger and hatred. If it was not for their inability to control magic of their own will, never having learned how to in the first place, entire ships would have been torn in half.
  
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  The Hellion is not so much a single ship, but a multitude all lashed, latched, welded, and otherwise fused together to make one massive floating hulk. It serves neither the Koi Confederacy nor the Grand Fleet. In fact, it is where the people that are running from them go to escape. Neither side is willing to divert the manpower, or willpower, to capture the Hellion, and quite frankly don't mind the convinient pressure relief it provides as their unsavory citizenship flees to it. This has caused the Hellion to become renown for it's lawless nature. A shadowy figure, however, has set up a rudimentary list of laws that quickly boil down to 'an eye for an eye'.
  
  The Hellion serves as the central hub for the black market between the two factions. Where captured sailors from doomed vessels are ransomed back to their respective side or sold into slavery, smugglers sell their illegal wares, drug dens dot most of the walkways, and dirty deeds are bought and sold. It takes a brave, or perhaps foolish, man to wander the Hellion unprepared, unless they want to have their pockets emptied by the end of the day and their body falling into the Storm