Multiple Settings VALOR 2.0 // WORLD

[Arkangel]

THREAD // LORE

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CODE BY NOVELIGHT

 

[Arkangel]

Getting mega reworked.

 

[Arkangel]

Races & Origin

Exhelian

Once humans from Earth, they were groups of survivors from a long-over war that left Earth in more than just tatters, it turned it into an uninhabitable barren landscape in some parts while some others were stable, but that didn’t stop other survivors from further ruining it in one way or another as these stable regions were an extreme rarity at the time. These former humans have undergone some extensive form of augmentation to the internal systems of their bodies due to what they call “Agartha’s Blessing”, an occurrence in their history shortly after Eleanor Ophelia and her group had landed on Agartha.

On November 8, 2136, Eleanor Ophelia was chosen as Agartha’s master, blessing her and those who came with her with extraordinary gifts: mana, magical affinities, and most of all, the prized and famed Exousiarchs. On that day, they ceased calling themselves “Humans”, preferring to be separate from them with a new identity that they gave themselves, “Exhelians”.

Racial Perks

The Exhelians have been given a number of gifts by Agartha, altering their bodies that made them more powerful than the humans that they once were.

1. They have been given mana, called “Incarce”, that flows through their veins which allows them to have magical affinities and be able to cast various schools of magic. This mana also improves them physically, granting them more stamina, durability and athletic prowess than their human counterparts.

2. They have an increased average lifespan, the average Exhelian being able to live up to 120 years old compared to non-augmented humans that only have their average lifespan hovering between 70 - 80.

3. Due to Agartha’s Blessing, they have a diverse gene pool to make up for their gifts, giving varying physical appearances such as hair and eye colors that aren’t seen in average humans. Despite this, they still look exactly like average humans on the outside.

 

[Arkangel]

Races & Origin

Demonoid

Demonoids are the second dominating race of the Empyrian Empire, formerly an exclusive race of the ██████ before their daring escape from ██████. The race remains to be interstellar as not every Demonoid migrated into Empyria during the Foundation Era, some finding refuge in other societies in the galaxy. Approximately 89% of the Demonoid race is currently residing in Empyria, occupying around 30% of the population of the empire, making them common species. The general perks that comes with inheriting the blood of the Demonoid race includes increased longevity and organ regeneration, though the latter tends to be exclusive to pure-bloods with only a few hybrids inheriting the trait. Besides the common longevity that can span from 1,500 to 2,000 years, the Demonoids are also gifted with greater athletic capabilities compared to that of Exhelians.

Their appearance remains to be mainly humanoid, except majority bares demonic features on their body. From mixture of growing horns made of bones in the center wrapped around a thick-layer of keratin to feathered wings, the Demonoids are an odd race compared to the others. A Demonoid’s racial features are entirely dependent on their parents’ features, as the child usually inherits the features of their father or mother, sometimes mixed with both. However, rare occurrences often happen where a child is born with neither of their parent’s features and instead inherits their own demonic accessories, though these are considered to be birth defects as majority of them meet their fate to the sudden death syndrome. However, those that do survive seems to live shorter lives on the long run.

Origin

Locked...

 

[Arkangel]

Races & Origin

Hyzurian

Hyzurians are a humanoid race that exhibit select physical, physiological, and behavioral characteristics (e.g., sleek tail, improved eyesight and nervous system, etc., equivalent to 'kemonomimi' in terms of looks). Hyzurians have a strong cold tolerance as a result of having to endure the freezing temperatures of their home world. Hyzurians have a life expectancy of 120 years, but are slightly more vulnerable to disease than Exhelians.

Origin

Hyzurians existed for many centuries before humans had set foot on Agartha, they lived on a moon known to Empyrians today as “Sector Zero” with a predominantly tribal society. Due to their animalistic tendencies, Hyzurians were seen as feral savages to the other races.

Sector Zero—currently known for serving as the secondary, but more significant, headquarters of the Imperial Army—was a moon that consisted of chilly climates. As the result of many natural catastrophes and records of poor agriculture in its history, there was a severe scarcity of food for its inhabitants. This scarcity incited infighting among the Hyzurians, be it between other tribes or their own.

Hyzurians would often gaze upon the mesmerizing supergiant of a planet that was Agartha. A large majority of the race admired it not only for its beauty, but also for their belief in the idea that a higher entity existed on it: a god of eternal judgment, who would strike only at night when the planet would grow to the peak of its luminescence, causing the natural disasters that would occasionally occur on Sector Zero. (This is false, however; the planet was much busier at night than during the day at the time, and the calamities of Sector Zero were due to natural causes.)

A very particular tribe believed the cause of the natural disasters was the idea that the gods were displeased with them, and believed they required a mass sacrifice to appease their god. As a result, the tribe would massacre some non-tribal members once every six months from sunrise to sundown.

100 years after the Exhelians settled on Agartha, they acquired Sector Zero during their initial conquests. It was the first of many realms to be colonized and have its inhabitants enslaved. The Hyzurians were eventually freed and uplifted in exchange for their loyalty to the Empyrian cause.

 

[Arkangel]

Races & Origin

Phenex

Phenex are a race of innate fire elementalists whose blood allows for them to have a unique type of incarce. Instead of its standard blue hue, Phenex’s incarce are bright red or crimson in color. They are capable of flight using their natural wings of fire. Aside from these traits, Phenex seem humanoid in appearance and behavior.

Origin

Phenex are one of the earlier races of Agartha and are suspected to be a sibling race of the Demonoids, who had inhabited the planet shortly before them. Because the Phenex had lost their god, their customs, and their home, they had to search for a new realm to reside in. Upon discovering Agartha, they swore their allegiance to Empyria, who had welcomed them with open arms and provided them a place to stay. After years of migrating and intermingling with the other races, the Phenex found similarities between Demonoid blood and their own. However, no one could find solid proof of a racial connection between the two. To this day, the true origin of the Phenex race is uncertain, as the Phenex were created by a nameless god whose existence, in reality, was rather ambiguous.

 

[Arkangel]

Races & Origin

Revenant

Revenants are a race that bear vampiric characteristics, such as sharp fangs and a need for humanoid blood. Few other traits include horns and pointy ears, although they are stated to be birth defects. Revenants are currently the newest race in Agartha, yet their population is quite small. They are notoriously difficult to breed with as they are the most nutrient-dependent race, but their high nutrient consumption allows for them to have great quirks, which are most notable in their blood.

Because Revenants have very thick blood, they are able to withstand bullets and live very long lives. They tend to become weaker as they age, however, as their blood gradually becomes more feeble over time. Revenants are also able to use their blood to form iron and steel, which can then be used as a durable layer of protection for their bodies. Revenants are known to die in battle not only due to their role as a supersoldier, but also due to their philosophy that dying from battle is a more honorable death than dying from old age.

Revenants reside only within Sanguinum and parts of Ekranyth (the latter because the Collbrande of Ekranyth is a Revenant).

Origin

Revenants are not a biological race. In fact, out of the several hundred experimental races that the Eldrion race had tested, they were the only race to survive, giving the Revenants their name. Thus, for their durability in battle, the Revenants were tortured into becoming tanks for the Eldrion army, as the Eldrions would use their technology to turn Revenants into tools for combat. Because of this, the Revenants suffered from major psychological damage, so much as to be deemed complete socio- and/or psycho-paths.

The First Great War marked the Eldrions’ defeat against Empyria, who had invaded their empire to obtain resources for Agartha. The Eldrions were forced to become commonwealth for Empyria, and after finding the enslaved Revenants, were forced to release them. The Empyrians then gave the Revenants a planet to live in peace for hundreds of years, which allowed them to become a proper civilization and create their own warrior-like culture. Soon after, the Revenants migrated over to Empyria and began to populate the planet two hundred years before the current timeline.

When the Second Great War came to be, the Revenants came to aid the Empyrians who were fighting against the Rythens. Although Revenants were naturally able to hold their own, they had lost their homeworld because it had been invaded by one of Azmis’ more notorious Remnants at the same time that Empyria was being invaded by another. This caused the Revenant nation to fall entirely. To compensate for this, the Empyrians gave every surviving Remnant a citizenship to Agartha to commemorate their contribution to their victory. To this day, Revenants are considered one of the most respected races in Empyrian history.

 

[Arkangel]

Elemental Magic & the System

The Hexennacht System (Common Magic)

The use of magic in the Empyrian context is not much different from the way magic is used in other settings, particularly ones where the system is soft. Magic, or “psionics” in the nomenclature of other contexts, among Empyrians require mana, or “incarce” as they call it, as a catalyst for spellcasting at all levels from the basic even to the most advanced at varying costs that can be significantly lowered down to practical nonexistence by any number of factors or reasons.

The magic in Empyria is notably diverse as well in forms of casting. Some spells or improved versions of them may also require additional or other elements for activation such as an incantation, a drawn rune, a magic circle, a literal consumable enchanted scroll containing information about the spell, and more. These other means have their niche where they can enable people of differing magical affinities or those that cannot use magic to cast spells of various schools of magic of limited power so long as sufficient incarce is supplied. It is also possible to channel magic for more focused or targeted use by virtue of mediums such as staves or anything that can assist a caster in focusing their spells.

On the topic of magical affinities, there are numerous types that fall into various schools of magic, either of their own or as the constituent of one. Some schools of magic also perform well against or with others depending on the situation. The most common ones that are found across all social echelons are elemental schools of magic such as pyromancy, hydromancy, geomancy, aeromancy, electromancy, and cryomancy. Other schools of magic exist, but are less common, examples of these kinds of schools are that of enchantment magic, which is usually a generalist school as enchanters are expected to have knowledge of multiple schools, shadowmancy, photomancy, and holy magic. More secluded, strictly regulated, or even outlawed schools of magic include necromancy and other kinds of dark arts. Some spells or powers don’t even fall under any formal school of magic at all.

Variations

To reiterate, here is a list of the aforementioned schools of magic:

1. Pyromancy – the manipulation of fire.
2. Hydromancy – the manipulation of water.
3. Geomancy – the manipulation of earthly elements such as soil, rock, and nature to an extent.
4. Aeromancy – the manipulation of air.
5. Electromancy – the manipulation of electricity.
6. Cryomancy – a sub-discipline of hydromancy, it is the manipulation of ice and the cold.
7. Enchantment Magic – a jack-of-all trades and mostly utility magic that imbue objects or people with magical power.
8. Shadowmancy – manipulation of shadows, and to an extent, darkness.
9. Photomancy – manipulation of light.
10. Holy Magic – a rare school of magic that is usually a mix of photomancy and pyromancy but is imbued with holy power that can allow more offensive, defensive, and supportive uses. This school of magic is common among paladins or priests or those analogous to the sort, essentially spellcasters that are effective against elements that are considered impure, that the magic owes its classification to.

It should be noted however that since there are multiple races in Empyria, a school of magic that is seen as heinous or nefarious by one race is the way of life or is the norm for another. A key example of this is the relatively common school of demonology or demonic magic which is widely found and used among members of the Demonoid race, the use of holy magic around them is even regulated for their safety and vice-versa. To say that magic is just a part of the Empyrian way of life due to its commonality is an understatement. Similarities can always be found in non-Empyrians like the existence of mana or ‘incarce.’ Empyrian citizens that cannot cast magic at all do exist, but such incapability can usually be easily compensated by technology that is sometimes paired with additional thought.

 

[Arkangel]

Organizations & Hierarchy

Cardinal Caliburn Order

The Cardinal Caliburn Order are a triumvirate group of immortal individuals that rule over the three principals of the Empyrian Empire: Valor, Revelation, and Divinity. These three are the pillars that protect and maintain the prosperity and strength of the nation, the sworn protectors of the Aeterna Imperium and the Book of Icarus. Ageless and eternal, the Cardinal Caliburn Order are said to be the true rulers of the Empyrian Empire due to their immense influence over the culture and military, making them the most important group of adjudicators that cannot be easily replaced by the others.

The Order was able to maintain their political existence for the last 700 years since the beginning of the foundation era, as every Collbrande and provincial government figures are staggeringly loyal to the three, some seeing them as the real triumvirate monarchs, only answering to them. The group consists of the members Siegfried Ouroboros (Symbol of Valor), Zephyrus (Symbol of Revelation), and Asteria Fentris (Symbol of Divinity).

History

Formerly a singular position held by Zephyrus after the creation of the Aeterna Imperium, the quondam occupation served only one purpose: to influence the Monarch with their decision making when it came to the ceremonial rituals of knighting a Collbrande nominee. While Zephyrus managed to preserve her purpose for the last seven centuries, the position later migrated into an order to ensure the eternal prosperity of the empire, officially creating the Cardinal Caliburn Order under the ordain of Eleanor Ophelia. The first to join Zephyrus was Siegfried, who was already tasked with governing the Imperial Army to make certain that future rulers wouldn’t be able to abuse its military power. Afterwards, shortly before the imminent death of the first Empress, the sovereign positioned Asteria Fentris as the Symbol of Divinity to preserve and improve the socioeconomic side of Empyria.

Symbol of Valor | Siegfried Ouroboros

A brutal military tyrant known for their valorous testament, Siegfried Karleim Ouroboros, also infamously known as the Snowpiercer of Empyria, is the Sovereign General of the Imperial Army and the second member of the Cardinal Caliburn Order, symbolizing the valor of the Empire. She is undoubtedly one of the most controversial figures within the Empyrian Empire, notorious for the thousands of achievements that she garnered during her lifetime as the Imperial Army’s greatest and only leader. Along with her insurmountable rank, she is also the supreme leader of the Order of Eden, a prominent paramilitary group known for their chivalrous history of defending the interests of Empyria.

Symbol of Revelation | Zephyrus

Possibly the most influential member of the Order due to her ancient status as the first member to uphold a seat in the triumvirate group, Zephyrus is the ideal warrior of Empyria holding hundreds of achievements and influence under her belt. The Elerion soldier of revelation is tasked with savagely hammering down discipline into future candidates of the Collbrande’s round table, gaining her the reputation as the mentor of nearly 45% of the Collbrande roster both in the past and present. She is one of the most respected individuals in the empire with prominence that could rival the first Empress, though dislikes being compared to her first ever friend. Like the other members of the Order, she understands her purpose and does not act outside her boundaries, putting her trust to her other two associates. Due to her concealed status, she is rarely ever seen in public.

Symbol of Divinity | Asteria Fentris

A former human who traveled with Eleanor Ophelia during the great escape of humanity, Asteria Xerxia Fentris is the final member of the group symbolizing the Divinity of Empyria and the profound leader of the renowned templar knights, the Fentris Clandestine League. Not only is she the saving grace behind Empyria’s everlasting prosperity of moral positivity, she is also the polar opposite of Siegfried, making her the diametrical opponent that often engages in skirmishes with the dragon. Asteria lawfully owns every Agarthian church and social services located in Mainland Agartha, and partially owns multiple foreign-friendly organizations that helps the unfortunate outside Agartha by providing them with resources with no required defrayment from the foreign party. Because of her renowned status as the moral standpoint of Empyria, she is highly valued by the civilians of Empyria and is considered by many as the first saint of Agartha, though she often expresses discomfort by that title.

 

[Arkangel]

Organizations & Hierarchy

Collbrandes of Ophelia

The legislative branch of the Empyrian Empire accommodates other major political powers that essentially makes them the second-in-command of the empire’s hierarchy. Every Collbrande is given a designated province of their own to stabilize and manage, having full control over the province they are granted by the monarch, overriding even the provincial government elected by the people of the land. However, Collbrandes cannot effectively go against the parliament or the provincial senate, as majority of the votes against the decision of the Collbrande can easily nullify their rule.

While the laws of every province may be decided on the decision of he senate, the Collbrande’s rule is absolute otherwise. The primary job of the Collbrande is to defend and exercise the constitution to make sure that their province does not act against the Book of Icarus. It is important to note that the seat of Collbrande is commonly hereditary, though can have their seat of power revoked by the monarch depending on the state of the nobility that holds the position as reigning power.

Background

The Collbrande of Ophelia is an ancestral ceremony that was established by the founding empress ever since the beginning of the Empyrian Empire. The first generation of Collbrandes are considered to be legendary figures for their major influence over the construction of the empire, as even in death they managed to provide an immense amount of support to the empire during despairing events with their keen intellect in warfare and powerful Cataclysms that defended the empire from invaders multiple times.

Many of the Collbrandes after the first generation maintains the reputation of the group, as becoming a Collbrande is one of the greatest achievements an individual could acquire during their lifetime, especially if it was not hereditary. To become a Collbrande, however, is a challenging road that cannot be accomplished by the common folks.

 

[Arkangel]

Organizations & Hierarchy

Imperial Security Directorate (ISD)

The Imperial Security Directorate is the domestic intelligence and security service of the Empyrian Empire and its principal law enforcement agency. Because of the landmass of mainland Agartha, the ISD has a total of twelve identical branches operating in every province, excluding the fifteen territories located outside the mainland. The years of reputation and influence the ISD has accumulated during their countless centuries of service to the empire was the direct reasoning behind their current power, as they maintain the ability to breach the privacy of suspected individuals without needing the approval of their parent agencies, though they may require permissions if the investigation reaches the federal level of crime, especially against suspected corruption of nobility.

Background

The history of the directorate is nothing special compared to that of most organizations that exist in Empyria. To combat the inevitable rise of crime, the ISD was formed under the order of the Symbol of Revelation, with the funding of House Bismarck and Zervictus during the time of its formation. It became the official law enforcement agency for Empyria on 125 EC.

The most notable historical background is no doubt their involvement with the Sishén Treachery, as the first responders to House Sishén’s infamous betrayal. They were the main forces that neutralized the threat before the arrival of the Hand of Agartha and joined forces to put an end to the national disaster caused by the Sishén treachery.

Organizations & Hierarchy

Vanguards of Imperius

Nearly each province contains a group of prestigious warriors who serve under their respective Collbrande as an extension of their will. For Elesrith, that would be the Vanguards of Imperius, although as the nation's most famous organization to date, it seems their reputation precedes them. Not only do the Vanguards supervise their province like the Kriegshelds do, but they are politically active especially within the public, are responsible for holding executive power over autonomous zones of Elesrith, are highly involved in provincial security, and are active representatives of their Collbrande, Evelyn von Bismarck. The chances of securing a position as a Vanguard of Imperius is as difficult as what is required from them. In order to become a Vanguard, one must enter a quinquennial event called the 'Tournament of Valor' and win as the last one standing against hundreds of competitors.

System of Ranks & Operations

The main difference between the Vanguards and the Kriegshelds is their culture. The Vanguards are competitive, prideful, and dedicated to serving their Collbrande, while the Kriegshelds harness the idea of brotherhood, is resourceful, and dedicated to their province more so than their Collbrande. The Vanguards are also ranked based on meritocracy and combat efficacy, with the Chief Vanguard required to excel in both areas. The High Servitor is a rank exclusive to House Virelius, who are personal assistants to the Collbrande of Elesrith. Only one High Servitor may exist at a time. The Captain is the strongest of all Servitors and, as can be assumed from the title, the de facto leader of the Vanguards in absence of the Chief Vanguard. 'Servitor' is the default title given to members of the Vanguards and are listed last, but not least, in the organization.

Organizations & Hierarchy

Kriegsheld Cadre

Formerly known as Arclights, the Kriegsheld Cadre is recognized by the Collbrande of Aucteraden as a group of [six] esteemed Empyrian soldiers who work alongside the Imperial Security Directorate (ISD) to uphold peace and justice for Aucteraden. The name 'Arclight' was drawn from the sword that former Aucteraden Collbrande Xanthos Kaiser wielded during the Second Great War. The sword has since been immortalized in the Provincial Legendary Museum of Aucteraden, rather than becoming a family heirloom to commemorate House Kaiser's rise to the Collbrande title after the fall of House Zervictus. Ever since Xanthos Kaiser's right hand, Claudwin, joined the Kriegsheld Cadres, the organization has received an abundance of positive reviews. As the face of the organization, Claudwin leads the Kriegshelds with honor and moral code.

System of Ranks & Operations

The Kriegsheld Cadres perform in Empyria partially as ISD agents and partially as state security agents, who have a level of authority higher than that of city mayors and are typically the Collbrande's subordinates. Outside of Aucteraden, however, they have no power whatsoever. In the organization, ranks are not correlated to one's level of authority. Instead, seniority dictates leadership, with Claudwin being the wisest and longest term member of all.

 

[Arkangel]

Organizations & Hierarchy

Ashen Embers

The “Ashen Embers” Special Task Force, or just the “Ashen Embers,” is a paramilitary organization that is founded by and under the direct command of House Cineris with the absolute authority vested in the House’s head. Its headquarters is located in a large barracks in one of the Cinereous Citadel’s wings. The organization comprises of operatives at least on par with military special forces that serve various roles such as those of spies, assassins, researchers, and other specialists suited to the needs of a House whose bread and butter revolves around espionage and subterfuge. They constitute the best that House Cineris has to offer for Empyria in its demands for security, complementing existing security organizations in their own ways. Members of the “Ashen Embers” usually operate within the bounds of Anterås to assist in internal security with a small token force covertly operating outside the province’s borders for external security and providing assistance to its contemporaries when ordered.

Background

The “Ashen Embers” Special Task Force was originally part of the Anteråsan Internal Security Service or AISS as a covert operations unit created and commanded by the great grandfather of the current Collbrande of Anterås as a response to growing threats mostly at home and abroad, even threats to House Cineris’s interests. The unit and its members, chosen through very stringent and harsh methods, did not exist on the record formally. Those that did exist usually had whitewashed records with their respective true copies kept away in secure archives under House Cineris’s personal possession. This veil of official nonexistence granted the unit a wider degree of freedom that their contemporaries usually did not enjoy unless absolutely necessary. A freedom that it enjoys to this day.

Eventually, the unit was completely separated from the AISS by its creator’s successor, retaining its name and paramilitary status and being formally inducted as an organizational entity representing the House as its elite household guard and security agency as part of its legitimization and integration into the House as one of its arms. In practice, this has changed little about the organization outside of expansion of roles, popularity, and sources of funding. It kept much of its structure intact with no need for a reform. This lack of big overall change persists even today, the “Ashen Embers” from three generations ago still mostly present, their loyalty to House Cineris as unwavering as it was in the past. Their skill, cunning, and tenacity giving themselves and their liege a reputable and equally disreputable history that continues to be written.

Methods

The “Ashen Embers” Special Task Force’s operatives, in the general sense outside of the office or lab work delegated to researchers and more ‘civilian’ specialists, carry out the following as part of their internal security jurisdictions and responsibilities:

1. Covert operations that conceal the identity of those involved for plausible deniability.
2. Clandestine operations that are done in secret and are kept classified and must remain so. Also for plausible deniability.
3. Black operations which may be or are illegal and unethical to the point that they are either covert or clandestine and must not be attributable to those involved. Operatives or officials that are caught are immediately disavowed by the organization and House Cineris.
4. Household security for estates and valued properties under House Cineris’s ownership and control. These are usually joint responsibilities shared with special elements of the Anteråsan Imperial Garrison.

Covert operations aside, the “Ashen Embers” is also capable of conducting operations of the exact opposite nature if need be. It has the equipment and personnel required to do both kinds but the former is more preferred over the latter so as to not bring any unnecessary trouble. The organization’s doctrine also emphasizes its use as a spyglass, scalpel, and shield than as a sword.

Members

1. Luria Augustine Cineris – Collbrande of Anterås and director of the “Ashen Embers” Special Task Force.
2. Xavier Iohannis Valmore – Executive Chairman of the Imperial Secretariat of Anteråsan Governance and assistant director of the “Ashen Embers” Special Task Force. Left-hand man of the Collbrande of Anterås.
3. Thessia Lara Tyrren – Elite operative and right-hand man of the Collbrande of Anterås.