Nerzovd, Bards and Spirit Warriors
When the Moragai were wiped out by the Wyvern Riders, that infamous organization failed to completely eliminate them to the last man. What was left were the apprentices, those who had not yet achieved full Moragai status authorized and trained to create and use a Mind Sword. Those apprentices were then left to their own devices, to find their way in the world without the guidance and wisdom of their leaders. Some, the oldest and closest to ending their apprenticeship, bonded together. Realizing that there was strength in numbers, they completed their training as best they could and stayed together.
Over the years, they realized that their masters had been selective in allowing people into their ranks. All Moragai had certain psychic abilities in common, specifically telepathy (the ability to read thoughts), psychokinesis (the ability to manipulate the physical world) and extra sensory perception (the ability to perceive things beyond the limitations of physical senses). They started including those with abilities beyond these three into their ranks, training them to the best of their ability. As their numbers grew, they had to organize and created different orders within the greater Nerzovd organization based upon ability. Over the years, their understanding of the entirety of psychic ability grew to perhaps the most comprehensive outside of the Mixtali or Jiorti.
The orders they created are: Merloft, Kozhol, Haelokt, Moershakt, Moerghant (who bear the most resemblance to the Moragai), Bahkt and Zholft (who bear the most resemblance to the Doeneik). Unlike either the Moragai or Doeneik, they have no technique that is unique to their order. Perhaps because of this they are not widely known by the general public.
One of the least understood concepts is that of the Manitou. These spirits are felt keenly and interact freely with the people of Geis. As has already been discussed, those who have the greatest understanding are the Midewin but there are others who also gain benefit from a close relationship to these non-physical children of the Creator. There are others who utilize these primal forces; least seen and understood are the Spirit Warriors while the most common is the order of Bards. They gain certain abilities from the Manitou of Music that are not unlike magic. Lesser than the Midewin, they still use their Manitou-granted abilities to great affect for the benefit of the world as a whole. In theory anyway. The mainstay of the Bardic order is the Bardic Cant, a sort of symbol and sound language that exists on a primal, elemental level. Like music has keys of whole and half tone steps, the Cant also encompasses concepts. As a sharp and a flat are the same tone approached from a different perspective, so too are the different Keys. The Keys of the Bardic Cant are Light/Dark, Sound/Silence, Make/Break, Time/Motion, Life/Death and Knowledge/Emotion. Bards can use the Cant to communicate with each other either in writing, through music or vocal communication. To utilize the Cant for spell-like effects requires sound so a Bard must be able to sing, speak or use an instrument in order to call upon the power of the Cant. Even tapping fingers to produce different tones would enable a Bard to do use the Cant. The Cant is considered by Midewin and Bards to be the language of the Manitou and with it, a Bard can perform great feats including physically entering the Spirit World, although with all things dealing with the Manitou, understanding is key to doing. As benefiting those who devote their lives to the Manitou of Music, the entire world of the Bard is expressed in musical terms. They are travelers; comfortable in the wild and in the cities as they bring their Music to the world.
By contrast the Spirit Warriors are those who have so devoted themselves to a single Manitou that the Spirit will empower them with their power temporarily. This can involve a physical transformation, but such occurrences are rare. Far more frequently, the transfusion of power does not physically alter the Spirit Warrior but they take on aspects of the Manitou they have devoted to. In all cases increases in strength, speed and vitality are seen. Sometimes other attributes are seen such as the ability to manipulate an element or see in the dark or breathe water or fly. Spirit Warriors are found in all cultures but apparently there is no organization of Spirit Warriors. Each finds their way to their devotion by a different path. The relationship between the Manitou and their Warrior is unique for each such bond. The same Manitou often have more than one adherent, each with differing benefits to their relationship.
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Geis Basics: Timeline - Age of Dreams: Organizations part 3
Mimge, Hawthorne Agents and House Agents
There had always been those who moved between villages, towns, farms, ranches and cities bringing with them news of the world beyond. They are scholar warriors who remember history and tell stories that keep it alive for the people of the world. At some point after the defeat of the Kol Draahl, a number of these who were considered masters codified what would be accepted behavior for those engaging in these activities. A formal training regimen was created for apprentices to learn the tales and trade. A person must approach a Mimge and petition for admittance into the group. The Mimge then tests their knowledge and personality. Above all else, a Mimge must be willing to tell the truth of history as much as is known. Stories must be memorized to reflect the reality of what happened so that tragedies won't repeat. Any editorializing is quickly squashed; the Mimge feel the weight of the duty they've imposed upon themselves. They are to remain true to history, including and especially the ugly parts of it. That is of paramount importance.
Over the years, after the disappearance of the Doeneik, a man named Hawthorne who possessed incredible power and skill at teleportation. He formed an organization of information gatherers known as his agents. All were given an item of jewelry they could use to pass information on to the man himself. In exchange, they could petition for information from him. All was done at a price. Hawthorne and his Agents soon became walking libraries of information, much of it secrets. The organization lasted several decades, beyond the duration of a normal human lifespan, so it is assumed that Hawthorne died and someone else took over the organization. Some believe the bard Madigan had become the leader, but there is no evidence to support this theory. Shortly before the death of the Emperor of Anterre, largely considered the end of the Age of Dreams, Hawthorne's Agents disappeared. None know how it is the organization died away but as always theories abound. When an organization's stock and trade are secrets, often of a deadly nature, that are for sale to the highest bidder it is only a matter of time before the wrong secrets are learned. The most popular theory is that they ran afoul of the Characedo. If the Characedo actually exist.
As had been mentioned earlier, a constant throughout history are the Noble Houses. Noble Houses have a need to ensure their holdings, passing information, conducting investigations and generally acting in their best interests. They do this through their Agents. Unlike Hawthorne agents, an Agent of a Noble House has the backing of the Noble House they serve. This will provide them with equipment and authority as they need in order to carry out their duties. Some Agents are legal representatives to Court. Some are spies. Some are saboteurs or mercenary soldiers or even assassins. Each House handles their Agents independently. What is known that each House has them fulfilling various roles as they see fit. They have and continue to shape the world in accordance with the wishes of the Patriarch or Matriarch. They are fiercely loyal to the House, often this is a psychic or magical compulsion. Those who betray such oaths rarely live, even should they somehow get around the compulsion for the full power of the betrayed House will fall down upon them. Every House has secrets. It is the role of the Agent to protect them.
A note about Noble Houses and Agents; this sort of Nobility is based off certain conspiracy theories and history. European lines of nobility cross national boundaries. I took that idea and crossbred it with concepts like the Illuminati to come up with these Agents. Mimge are essentially House Agents without a Noble house; they serve history and humanity (here meaning all sentient beings) which puts them at odds with House Agents. In many ways, this is a shadow war that is constantly being fought with the House Agents striving to control the flow of information to favor themselves and the Mimge fighting to keep it pure and truthful. Agents and Mimge are spies, assassins and special forces operatives. Theirs is a dark, dangerous world that exist within the confines of polite society. The general populace is aware of Mimge only as storytellers and unaware of Agents other than Emissaries.
Hawthorne was a man trying to buck the system. He thought he could create an organization that ran counter to the Mimge, who work to keep the Houses from absolute rule over the 'little folk' and the Houses by manipulating the information flow. The Hawthorne Agents were almost certainly wiped out by a combination of Houses, likely by hiring the Characedo but that is a tale yet to be revealed.
There had always been those who moved between villages, towns, farms, ranches and cities bringing with them news of the world beyond. They are scholar warriors who remember history and tell stories that keep it alive for the people of the world. At some point after the defeat of the Kol Draahl, a number of these who were considered masters codified what would be accepted behavior for those engaging in these activities. A formal training regimen was created for apprentices to learn the tales and trade. A person must approach a Mimge and petition for admittance into the group. The Mimge then tests their knowledge and personality. Above all else, a Mimge must be willing to tell the truth of history as much as is known. Stories must be memorized to reflect the reality of what happened so that tragedies won't repeat. Any editorializing is quickly squashed; the Mimge feel the weight of the duty they've imposed upon themselves. They are to remain true to history, including and especially the ugly parts of it. That is of paramount importance.
Over the years, after the disappearance of the Doeneik, a man named Hawthorne who possessed incredible power and skill at teleportation. He formed an organization of information gatherers known as his agents. All were given an item of jewelry they could use to pass information on to the man himself. In exchange, they could petition for information from him. All was done at a price. Hawthorne and his Agents soon became walking libraries of information, much of it secrets. The organization lasted several decades, beyond the duration of a normal human lifespan, so it is assumed that Hawthorne died and someone else took over the organization. Some believe the bard Madigan had become the leader, but there is no evidence to support this theory. Shortly before the death of the Emperor of Anterre, largely considered the end of the Age of Dreams, Hawthorne's Agents disappeared. None know how it is the organization died away but as always theories abound. When an organization's stock and trade are secrets, often of a deadly nature, that are for sale to the highest bidder it is only a matter of time before the wrong secrets are learned. The most popular theory is that they ran afoul of the Characedo. If the Characedo actually exist.
As had been mentioned earlier, a constant throughout history are the Noble Houses. Noble Houses have a need to ensure their holdings, passing information, conducting investigations and generally acting in their best interests. They do this through their Agents. Unlike Hawthorne agents, an Agent of a Noble House has the backing of the Noble House they serve. This will provide them with equipment and authority as they need in order to carry out their duties. Some Agents are legal representatives to Court. Some are spies. Some are saboteurs or mercenary soldiers or even assassins. Each House handles their Agents independently. What is known that each House has them fulfilling various roles as they see fit. They have and continue to shape the world in accordance with the wishes of the Patriarch or Matriarch. They are fiercely loyal to the House, often this is a psychic or magical compulsion. Those who betray such oaths rarely live, even should they somehow get around the compulsion for the full power of the betrayed House will fall down upon them. Every House has secrets. It is the role of the Agent to protect them.
A note about Noble Houses and Agents; this sort of Nobility is based off certain conspiracy theories and history. European lines of nobility cross national boundaries. I took that idea and crossbred it with concepts like the Illuminati to come up with these Agents. Mimge are essentially House Agents without a Noble house; they serve history and humanity (here meaning all sentient beings) which puts them at odds with House Agents. In many ways, this is a shadow war that is constantly being fought with the House Agents striving to control the flow of information to favor themselves and the Mimge fighting to keep it pure and truthful. Agents and Mimge are spies, assassins and special forces operatives. Theirs is a dark, dangerous world that exist within the confines of polite society. The general populace is aware of Mimge only as storytellers and unaware of Agents other than Emissaries.
Hawthorne was a man trying to buck the system. He thought he could create an organization that ran counter to the Mimge, who work to keep the Houses from absolute rule over the 'little folk' and the Houses by manipulating the information flow. The Hawthorne Agents were almost certainly wiped out by a combination of Houses, likely by hiring the Characedo but that is a tale yet to be revealed.
Friday, February 1, 2013
Geis Basics: Timeline - Age of Dreams: Organizations part 2
Characedo, Myrandol, Vedari and Doeneik
Between the continents of Lothgar and Mologan lies the treacherous Great Reef. The largest single living organism on Geis, the Great Reef is a coral structure encompassing several hectares. Just east of the Great Reef lies the deepest trench on Geis: Owaha Chasm. Along the north western edge of the Chasm is the largest settlement of Merfolk while within it is believed to be the home of the Owaha. On the western side of the Reef is the remains of the fortress of the former master assassin, the man known only as Shark Tooth. He rose to prominence during the Age of War and was among the most powerful psychics the world has ever known. During his lifetime, he became the Consort of Death and established the Academy of Death. To get admittance, one had to kill a close friend or relative and have psychic abilities. While he stood as the headmaster, the Academy allowed all stripes of psychic ability. The graduates were known as the Characedo. Before he died, Shark Tooth killed every single graduate and destroyed the Academy as well as his fortress before killing himself as a final sacrifice to his Mistress. Some time during the beginning of the Age of Dreams, the most secretive of all organizations returned; the Characedo returned. Every single Characedo is a master of death by using their psychic abilities. They are not warriors. They are actors and masters of poison and hiding in plain sight. They kill with a thought and leave no trace. It is believed that they are a wholly owned subsidiary of one of the Noble Houses for every monarch seems to be able to call upon them. They are death incarnate. There are no rumors of the Characedo for they ruthlessly eliminate those who do not need to be aware of them. Their training is arcane, obscure and inescapable. Once hired, the target of the Characedo always die. Always.
High on Jorton Mountain, after the devastation of the fifth Psy-Mage War, the Orian Barve started receiving petitions from those with magical and psychic ability to join the order. Most of these were those who did not want to exercise their gifts. The Orian Barve order strictly forbids teaching of their arts to those who have access to those abilities, so all were denied. A single master of the Orian Barve named Myrandi spoke out against tradition, stating that they could indeed teach those with magical and psychic ability for in so doing they might avoid the devastation of war. The other masters disagreed with him and he was threatened with removal from the order. After delivering a passionate speech, one of the other masters agreed with him and the gathering agreed that Myrandi would be given permission to teach basic fighting arts to select candidates chose by the assembled masters. Three candidates were chosen and Myrandi taught them. Bowing to the wisdom of the other masters, he modified the stringent training and martial art forms to accommodate the magical and psychic abilities of the students he taught. He made adjustments to the training after seeing where his students struggled. Their progress was checked by the assembly of masters regularly. Having to divide their time between their martial and magic or psychic studies, they needed weapons and tools. Myrandi sought to make them unique in the world and so, working with his most gifted students, they crafted the tools of their order. Their code different from the Orian Barve, but their philosophy was very similar. The Orian Barve masters conceded that Myrandi was correct in his choice. They aided the fledgling order in creating a new training temple deep in the Gray Mountains. Unlike Jorton Mountain, the new location was secret, buried within the depths of the living stone. The temple doors are undetectable except by those who are worthy. After his death, those three initial students took over the training and leadership of the corps that they named after their beloved master. Thereafter they were known as the Myrandol.
Shortly after the first High King consolidated the Southern Kingdoms in peaceful union, rumors of the Kol Draahl surviving again spread. To abate the terror caused by these rumors, the High King commissioned the creation of an order of warrior mages. The aim was to create a force strong enough to stand against the most terrifying members of the Kol Draahl; the Myde Laethe. After many failed attempts, the representatives of the High King decided upon using rune mages. Runes were capable of creating powerful magical items and each member of the fighting force would be expected to create their own arsenal of weapons. It was, after all, the equipment and armor of the Myde Laethe that struck such fear into the hearts of the populace. A new rune language, unique to the order, was created. Masters of various fighting styles drawn from Nazd, Merebal and Gloanoq in order to create unique fighting style. The training regimen was established, the first volunteers were chosen and the Vedari order was born. They quickly became the mainstay of the Southern Kingdom forces, though it would be many many years before they faced their intended foes. They were called upon to investigate all sightings of the Kol Draahl. They became the primary investigators, special forces and law enforcement of the High King. Their authority and ability was soon recognized throughout the Southern Kingdoms, then the free world.
None know how the Doeneik faded. Their role in the shadows focused them more on information and secrecy, which kept them out of the limelight and histories of the world. It is known that they did fade from prominence sometime during the Age of Wars. It is believed by the Doeneik that they were persecuted and destroyed by the Moragai but proof is sparse, if it exists at all. Like the Moragai, two individuals found Doeneik texts that began the resurgence of the order some centuries after they had faded from memory. It wasn't until each had gathered followers that they met and it took them some time and effort before they realized that they were part of the same order. It has been postulated that Doeneik never really faded and the masters of the resurgence were instead led to the Doeneik by those texts. None really know. Those masters' identities have been a closely guarded secret, as has the current membership. Unlike the Characedo, the Doeneik do not destroy those who find them out. Their numbers are still too few for such efforts. Their stock in trade is information, not death, specifically secrets. They have techniques for accessing the Astral Plane, or Spirit World, that are unique to them. Like the Characedo, they are not warriors. They are not powerhouses who can level buildings. They focus on the more subtle forms of the psychic arts. They are masters of subterfuge and as such, they know best how to guard their secrets. Very little is known about them for that is how they wish it to be.
Between the continents of Lothgar and Mologan lies the treacherous Great Reef. The largest single living organism on Geis, the Great Reef is a coral structure encompassing several hectares. Just east of the Great Reef lies the deepest trench on Geis: Owaha Chasm. Along the north western edge of the Chasm is the largest settlement of Merfolk while within it is believed to be the home of the Owaha. On the western side of the Reef is the remains of the fortress of the former master assassin, the man known only as Shark Tooth. He rose to prominence during the Age of War and was among the most powerful psychics the world has ever known. During his lifetime, he became the Consort of Death and established the Academy of Death. To get admittance, one had to kill a close friend or relative and have psychic abilities. While he stood as the headmaster, the Academy allowed all stripes of psychic ability. The graduates were known as the Characedo. Before he died, Shark Tooth killed every single graduate and destroyed the Academy as well as his fortress before killing himself as a final sacrifice to his Mistress. Some time during the beginning of the Age of Dreams, the most secretive of all organizations returned; the Characedo returned. Every single Characedo is a master of death by using their psychic abilities. They are not warriors. They are actors and masters of poison and hiding in plain sight. They kill with a thought and leave no trace. It is believed that they are a wholly owned subsidiary of one of the Noble Houses for every monarch seems to be able to call upon them. They are death incarnate. There are no rumors of the Characedo for they ruthlessly eliminate those who do not need to be aware of them. Their training is arcane, obscure and inescapable. Once hired, the target of the Characedo always die. Always.
High on Jorton Mountain, after the devastation of the fifth Psy-Mage War, the Orian Barve started receiving petitions from those with magical and psychic ability to join the order. Most of these were those who did not want to exercise their gifts. The Orian Barve order strictly forbids teaching of their arts to those who have access to those abilities, so all were denied. A single master of the Orian Barve named Myrandi spoke out against tradition, stating that they could indeed teach those with magical and psychic ability for in so doing they might avoid the devastation of war. The other masters disagreed with him and he was threatened with removal from the order. After delivering a passionate speech, one of the other masters agreed with him and the gathering agreed that Myrandi would be given permission to teach basic fighting arts to select candidates chose by the assembled masters. Three candidates were chosen and Myrandi taught them. Bowing to the wisdom of the other masters, he modified the stringent training and martial art forms to accommodate the magical and psychic abilities of the students he taught. He made adjustments to the training after seeing where his students struggled. Their progress was checked by the assembly of masters regularly. Having to divide their time between their martial and magic or psychic studies, they needed weapons and tools. Myrandi sought to make them unique in the world and so, working with his most gifted students, they crafted the tools of their order. Their code different from the Orian Barve, but their philosophy was very similar. The Orian Barve masters conceded that Myrandi was correct in his choice. They aided the fledgling order in creating a new training temple deep in the Gray Mountains. Unlike Jorton Mountain, the new location was secret, buried within the depths of the living stone. The temple doors are undetectable except by those who are worthy. After his death, those three initial students took over the training and leadership of the corps that they named after their beloved master. Thereafter they were known as the Myrandol.
Shortly after the first High King consolidated the Southern Kingdoms in peaceful union, rumors of the Kol Draahl surviving again spread. To abate the terror caused by these rumors, the High King commissioned the creation of an order of warrior mages. The aim was to create a force strong enough to stand against the most terrifying members of the Kol Draahl; the Myde Laethe. After many failed attempts, the representatives of the High King decided upon using rune mages. Runes were capable of creating powerful magical items and each member of the fighting force would be expected to create their own arsenal of weapons. It was, after all, the equipment and armor of the Myde Laethe that struck such fear into the hearts of the populace. A new rune language, unique to the order, was created. Masters of various fighting styles drawn from Nazd, Merebal and Gloanoq in order to create unique fighting style. The training regimen was established, the first volunteers were chosen and the Vedari order was born. They quickly became the mainstay of the Southern Kingdom forces, though it would be many many years before they faced their intended foes. They were called upon to investigate all sightings of the Kol Draahl. They became the primary investigators, special forces and law enforcement of the High King. Their authority and ability was soon recognized throughout the Southern Kingdoms, then the free world.
None know how the Doeneik faded. Their role in the shadows focused them more on information and secrecy, which kept them out of the limelight and histories of the world. It is known that they did fade from prominence sometime during the Age of Wars. It is believed by the Doeneik that they were persecuted and destroyed by the Moragai but proof is sparse, if it exists at all. Like the Moragai, two individuals found Doeneik texts that began the resurgence of the order some centuries after they had faded from memory. It wasn't until each had gathered followers that they met and it took them some time and effort before they realized that they were part of the same order. It has been postulated that Doeneik never really faded and the masters of the resurgence were instead led to the Doeneik by those texts. None really know. Those masters' identities have been a closely guarded secret, as has the current membership. Unlike the Characedo, the Doeneik do not destroy those who find them out. Their numbers are still too few for such efforts. Their stock in trade is information, not death, specifically secrets. They have techniques for accessing the Astral Plane, or Spirit World, that are unique to them. Like the Characedo, they are not warriors. They are not powerhouses who can level buildings. They focus on the more subtle forms of the psychic arts. They are masters of subterfuge and as such, they know best how to guard their secrets. Very little is known about them for that is how they wish it to be.
Geis Basics: Timeline - Age of Dreams: Organizations part 1
I went out of order somewhat with the Manitou and Undead entry. I will finish the timeline before adding other topics in the future. I hope. Each of these organizations will be discussed in greater detail later; this is establishing a timeline for their appearance.
Noble Houses, Moragai, Beast Masters and Soul Riders
During the Age of Dreams, many organizations new and old appeared on the face of Geis. Prior to the Rune Expansion, as the next age is called, a sort of global outlook started taking shape among the population of Geis. While the vast majority of people still had a strong sense of patriotism for their homelands, there are those who looked beyond the borders of their own lands. In some sense these people always existed but there was a definite surge during the age of dreams.
The biggest of the global organizations by far prior to the Rune Expansion were the Noble Houses. These are old families, often with ties to royalty in at least one nation or another but some of the current Noble Houses are mercantile rather political. It started in the Southern Kingdoms on Mologan; certain families, through marriages, had ties to multiple monarchs and royal families. Over time, this gave them a sense of ownership over the land and peoples. As those families expanded beyond the continent of Mologan, their influence and power grew as well. It wasn't long before certain families had cousins in the royalty of all free lands. Power corrupts and the more power, the more corruption. Vast wealth and considerable power has that affect on people of all races. After centuries and generations of being the movers and shakers of political policy in all the free world, these Noble Houses created certain privileges for themselves among the laws of the nations and kingdoms that make up the world. In many places, a member of a Noble House cannot be arrested or charged with a crime for the Noble Houses have their own laws that transcend national boundaries. They have their own armies and agents with authority that is recognized wherever their influence has spread. They are a force unto themselves and they like it that way. The only free land that does not recognize the Noble Houses is Jiorta, for their political structure is not family based. The Mixtali also do not recognize Noble Houses but the nomads do not have a land under their control, choosing instead to roam freely about.
The first of the ancient orders to see a resurgence during the Age of Dreams was the Moragai. After their destruction by the Wyvern Riders, the Moragai became the stuff of legends and myths. Some three hundred years after their destruction, two Malacore named Jalan and Ailyn brought them back from obscurity. They started separately, researching the stories of the order and seeking to know the truth. Eventually, each discovered that the roots of the order lay within Bel'Aq. Jalan set off on his own while Ailyn formed a small group to travel with her, including a lost woman named Laurel. They met at the ruins. After a tense initial meeting, the two Malacore agreed to join forces. The two of them, using their combined might, were able to open the long-sealed cebarium that espoused the order's library of knowledge. There they studied for months, helping each other to understand the obscure language used. As they did, Ailyn's team further explored the ruins. Laurel, an initiate into psychic abilities, somehow unlocked a hidden container and found the fabulous artifact she called Jynx. The power of the Moragai of old had progressed so far as to be able to forge artifacts of such ability that they seemed to have more akin to magic than psychic abilities and one of the most powerful of these is Jynx. It is a statue that unleashed a Manitou of thought embodied in the form of a sapphire jaguar. Jalan and Ailyn unlocked the mystery of the greatest weapon of the Moragai, the item that immediately identified them: the mindsword. That final hurdle breached, they Moragai order was reborn. Over the next several decades, Lord Jalan and Lady Ailyn reformed and grew the fledgling order with Laurel as their first apprentice. Quinn-Jai, prince of Bel'Aq, was one of their first. He made a foray into the Madlands with the warrior Topaz and the mage Serival at the request of Lord Jalan. There, he apparently perished. As a result, King Nai-Jong banished all Moragai from the kingdom of Bel'Aq upon pain of death. When Quinn-Jai returned, he found his father to be under the influence of the Kol Draahl, who had not been wiped out. Laurel, with her husband the neutered Jiorti bard Madigan and the forces of Bloodstone Manor was able to free Nai-Jong from their influence but in doing so discovered the prince's secret. While in the Madlands, Quinn-Jai had been captured by the Kol Draahl where they attempted to pry from him the secrets of the mindsword. He was able to escape physically, but the torture continued. They tracked his movements and continued to invade his mind. He was going mad. Lady Ailyn and Lord Jalan, along with Laurel, worked in a gestalt to free him from the psychic blocks put in place by the Mein Grahl of the Kol Draahl. They thought they had succeeded and Quinn-Jai, his understanding of the mindsword now more complete than anyone's, developed the aura; a defensive item as powerful as the mindsword. All Moragai now carry both a mindsword and an aura. Unfortunately, Quinn-Jai had not been freed from the influence of the Kol Draahl. They had made it seem so, hoping that without the prince actively working against them they could probe his mind to unlock the secret. Lord Jalan, unknown to Lady Ailyn or Laurel, had placed a psychic trap in Quinn-Jai's mind around the mindsword. When the Kol Draahl finally located it, the trap was sprung and the minds of the Mein Grahl who had been inside Quinn-Jai were destroyed, reduced to babbling infants. So was Quinn-Jai. For this affront, the Moragai are forbidden from entering their ancient home upon pain of death. Lord Jalan resigned from the order, never to be seen or heard from again. It had been his intention to protect the prince and he failed.
Topaz's foray into the Madlands also returned another order from antiquity: the Beast Masters. They had been destroyed by the Dragon Kings in those last hours prior to Arcdawn. In his effort to evade the Kol Draahl that had captured Quinn-Jai and killed Serival, Topaz had fallen into a hole in the ground. There he found the stone pedestal of the Beast Masters. It called to him, bringing him to it. Not understanding what it was he was doing, he saw an odd raised portion that resembled a stylized beast's paw. Following the influence guiding him, he placed his right eye against it and raw power flowed into him, changing him. Topaz became the first Beast Master since Arcdawn. With his newfound power, he escaped the Madlands and made it back to civilization. There he joined the crew of the Soaring Narwhal, under the command of Captain "Midnight" John. The Narwhal's shore team were composed entirely of Stormchildes, as survivors of the Maestrom are called, and adventurers of note including Nia Voll. Not understanding what it meant to be a Beast Master, Topaz used his abilities purely in his mercenary efforts. The Soaring Narwhal was a Traveling ship, able to cross dimensions into other realms. It had been built for Midnight John by Sairao Goldriver and the Toffmarr Academy. During the course of their travels, they located and returned the Soul Rider Crystal to the Geis realm, which cost them Nia Voll who had to re-establish the order of Soul Riders. That was when Topaz left them to re-establish the Beast Master order. Nia Voll had a more complete knowledge of the Soul Riders and Beast Masters from her transformation and she passed along this knowledge to Topaz. The two of them traveled to the ancient site of the Great Library of Elbareth and were shocked to find the Library was open, with a new Librarian: a Malacore woman named Naliah. There, they were each given a tome so they could better understand their respective orders. Topaz left with his, where he traveled to the Moralay Archipelago and sought a secluded island. There, he studied the tome and was able to bring the stone pedestal. With the aid of the Beasts under his command, he constructed a home, which he then expanded into a training ground. The presence of the Beast Master Pedestal prevented the island from being submerged when the Chaos Current changed directions and shielded it from magical and psychic scrying. There, he slowly started to rebuild the order, guided by the Pedestal. Topaz was a warrior, not a scholar or leader and soon he found one better suited to commanding the Beast Masters; a Grenis man named Hyarg. The training ground grew into a compound under Hyarg's leadership. When Topaz passed away, they named the dormant volcano that dominated the island in his honor. The Beast Masters are still a growing order, learning more about their abilities with each passing year. The Beast Master Tome provided by Elbareth reveals things in its own time, according to the ability of the order to understand.
Nia Voll was initially a psychic bounty hunter and thief working with the shore team of the Soaring Narwhal. Another member was a fledgling sorceress called Bera who bore a powerful artifact known as the Light of Truth. That artifact was said to have been forged by the gods during the founding of the world but no one truly knew or understood its might. During one fateful trip, the Narwhal's navigating crystal was damaged and they arrived in a realm they hadn't intended to. They needed another powerful crystal to repair the damages and the Midewin Bird Man who was Midnight John's first mate sent them out to get it. There were other parties that knew of the crystal they sought and both parties had established camps in order to take it. One was a group of scholars and the other was a military force. During an exploratory foray into the military encampment, Nia was attacked and injured. She was saved by Garn Melthias, a Stormchilde from Geis who had ended up in the realm they were in. They were attacked by an Alahn from the Kol Draahl, who had also come to the realm and Nia was nearly killed. Bera attempted to heal her using the Light of Truth and while doing so, awoken the Soul Rider Crystal. The two powerful artifacts interacted, resulting in the Order of Precedence deciding in favor of the Soul Rider Crystal. Nia was transformed, a nearby beast being summoned and transformed as well. When the Order of Precedence was done, Bera and Lubast, another member of the Shore Team, were transformed as well and the Light of Truth was gone. The Soaring Narwhal returned to Geis with Nia and she left the ship to re-establish the order. Traveling with Topaz, they went to the ancient home of their respective orders, Elbareth and arrived to find the Library had returned. The new Librarian, Naliah, gave her the Soul Rider Tome and while Topaz left to study his own tome, she remained at Elbareth to study hers. Naliah's husband, Korys, was able to assist Nia with some of the tome as his knowledge of military matters far exceeded hers. The Master of the Undead sent an expedition against Elbareth, but were repelled by Korys leading the Vipak that lived in the surrounding area along with Nia, Naliah, her Moragai companion princess Xanna of Dogol and Naliah's apprentice, the Vipak sage Syristh. During that battle, Nia realized that the Soul Riders were meant to be a military force and after she ceded the mantle of Soul Rider Commander to Korys. Elbareth then became the seat of the Soul Rider forces, their number expanding under the leadership of Korys with Nia as his second. A powerful group, the Soul Riders are still learning the full extent of their power and are finding ancient artifacts made specifically for them.
Noble Houses, Moragai, Beast Masters and Soul Riders
During the Age of Dreams, many organizations new and old appeared on the face of Geis. Prior to the Rune Expansion, as the next age is called, a sort of global outlook started taking shape among the population of Geis. While the vast majority of people still had a strong sense of patriotism for their homelands, there are those who looked beyond the borders of their own lands. In some sense these people always existed but there was a definite surge during the age of dreams.
The biggest of the global organizations by far prior to the Rune Expansion were the Noble Houses. These are old families, often with ties to royalty in at least one nation or another but some of the current Noble Houses are mercantile rather political. It started in the Southern Kingdoms on Mologan; certain families, through marriages, had ties to multiple monarchs and royal families. Over time, this gave them a sense of ownership over the land and peoples. As those families expanded beyond the continent of Mologan, their influence and power grew as well. It wasn't long before certain families had cousins in the royalty of all free lands. Power corrupts and the more power, the more corruption. Vast wealth and considerable power has that affect on people of all races. After centuries and generations of being the movers and shakers of political policy in all the free world, these Noble Houses created certain privileges for themselves among the laws of the nations and kingdoms that make up the world. In many places, a member of a Noble House cannot be arrested or charged with a crime for the Noble Houses have their own laws that transcend national boundaries. They have their own armies and agents with authority that is recognized wherever their influence has spread. They are a force unto themselves and they like it that way. The only free land that does not recognize the Noble Houses is Jiorta, for their political structure is not family based. The Mixtali also do not recognize Noble Houses but the nomads do not have a land under their control, choosing instead to roam freely about.
The first of the ancient orders to see a resurgence during the Age of Dreams was the Moragai. After their destruction by the Wyvern Riders, the Moragai became the stuff of legends and myths. Some three hundred years after their destruction, two Malacore named Jalan and Ailyn brought them back from obscurity. They started separately, researching the stories of the order and seeking to know the truth. Eventually, each discovered that the roots of the order lay within Bel'Aq. Jalan set off on his own while Ailyn formed a small group to travel with her, including a lost woman named Laurel. They met at the ruins. After a tense initial meeting, the two Malacore agreed to join forces. The two of them, using their combined might, were able to open the long-sealed cebarium that espoused the order's library of knowledge. There they studied for months, helping each other to understand the obscure language used. As they did, Ailyn's team further explored the ruins. Laurel, an initiate into psychic abilities, somehow unlocked a hidden container and found the fabulous artifact she called Jynx. The power of the Moragai of old had progressed so far as to be able to forge artifacts of such ability that they seemed to have more akin to magic than psychic abilities and one of the most powerful of these is Jynx. It is a statue that unleashed a Manitou of thought embodied in the form of a sapphire jaguar. Jalan and Ailyn unlocked the mystery of the greatest weapon of the Moragai, the item that immediately identified them: the mindsword. That final hurdle breached, they Moragai order was reborn. Over the next several decades, Lord Jalan and Lady Ailyn reformed and grew the fledgling order with Laurel as their first apprentice. Quinn-Jai, prince of Bel'Aq, was one of their first. He made a foray into the Madlands with the warrior Topaz and the mage Serival at the request of Lord Jalan. There, he apparently perished. As a result, King Nai-Jong banished all Moragai from the kingdom of Bel'Aq upon pain of death. When Quinn-Jai returned, he found his father to be under the influence of the Kol Draahl, who had not been wiped out. Laurel, with her husband the neutered Jiorti bard Madigan and the forces of Bloodstone Manor was able to free Nai-Jong from their influence but in doing so discovered the prince's secret. While in the Madlands, Quinn-Jai had been captured by the Kol Draahl where they attempted to pry from him the secrets of the mindsword. He was able to escape physically, but the torture continued. They tracked his movements and continued to invade his mind. He was going mad. Lady Ailyn and Lord Jalan, along with Laurel, worked in a gestalt to free him from the psychic blocks put in place by the Mein Grahl of the Kol Draahl. They thought they had succeeded and Quinn-Jai, his understanding of the mindsword now more complete than anyone's, developed the aura; a defensive item as powerful as the mindsword. All Moragai now carry both a mindsword and an aura. Unfortunately, Quinn-Jai had not been freed from the influence of the Kol Draahl. They had made it seem so, hoping that without the prince actively working against them they could probe his mind to unlock the secret. Lord Jalan, unknown to Lady Ailyn or Laurel, had placed a psychic trap in Quinn-Jai's mind around the mindsword. When the Kol Draahl finally located it, the trap was sprung and the minds of the Mein Grahl who had been inside Quinn-Jai were destroyed, reduced to babbling infants. So was Quinn-Jai. For this affront, the Moragai are forbidden from entering their ancient home upon pain of death. Lord Jalan resigned from the order, never to be seen or heard from again. It had been his intention to protect the prince and he failed.
Topaz's foray into the Madlands also returned another order from antiquity: the Beast Masters. They had been destroyed by the Dragon Kings in those last hours prior to Arcdawn. In his effort to evade the Kol Draahl that had captured Quinn-Jai and killed Serival, Topaz had fallen into a hole in the ground. There he found the stone pedestal of the Beast Masters. It called to him, bringing him to it. Not understanding what it was he was doing, he saw an odd raised portion that resembled a stylized beast's paw. Following the influence guiding him, he placed his right eye against it and raw power flowed into him, changing him. Topaz became the first Beast Master since Arcdawn. With his newfound power, he escaped the Madlands and made it back to civilization. There he joined the crew of the Soaring Narwhal, under the command of Captain "Midnight" John. The Narwhal's shore team were composed entirely of Stormchildes, as survivors of the Maestrom are called, and adventurers of note including Nia Voll. Not understanding what it meant to be a Beast Master, Topaz used his abilities purely in his mercenary efforts. The Soaring Narwhal was a Traveling ship, able to cross dimensions into other realms. It had been built for Midnight John by Sairao Goldriver and the Toffmarr Academy. During the course of their travels, they located and returned the Soul Rider Crystal to the Geis realm, which cost them Nia Voll who had to re-establish the order of Soul Riders. That was when Topaz left them to re-establish the Beast Master order. Nia Voll had a more complete knowledge of the Soul Riders and Beast Masters from her transformation and she passed along this knowledge to Topaz. The two of them traveled to the ancient site of the Great Library of Elbareth and were shocked to find the Library was open, with a new Librarian: a Malacore woman named Naliah. There, they were each given a tome so they could better understand their respective orders. Topaz left with his, where he traveled to the Moralay Archipelago and sought a secluded island. There, he studied the tome and was able to bring the stone pedestal. With the aid of the Beasts under his command, he constructed a home, which he then expanded into a training ground. The presence of the Beast Master Pedestal prevented the island from being submerged when the Chaos Current changed directions and shielded it from magical and psychic scrying. There, he slowly started to rebuild the order, guided by the Pedestal. Topaz was a warrior, not a scholar or leader and soon he found one better suited to commanding the Beast Masters; a Grenis man named Hyarg. The training ground grew into a compound under Hyarg's leadership. When Topaz passed away, they named the dormant volcano that dominated the island in his honor. The Beast Masters are still a growing order, learning more about their abilities with each passing year. The Beast Master Tome provided by Elbareth reveals things in its own time, according to the ability of the order to understand.
Nia Voll was initially a psychic bounty hunter and thief working with the shore team of the Soaring Narwhal. Another member was a fledgling sorceress called Bera who bore a powerful artifact known as the Light of Truth. That artifact was said to have been forged by the gods during the founding of the world but no one truly knew or understood its might. During one fateful trip, the Narwhal's navigating crystal was damaged and they arrived in a realm they hadn't intended to. They needed another powerful crystal to repair the damages and the Midewin Bird Man who was Midnight John's first mate sent them out to get it. There were other parties that knew of the crystal they sought and both parties had established camps in order to take it. One was a group of scholars and the other was a military force. During an exploratory foray into the military encampment, Nia was attacked and injured. She was saved by Garn Melthias, a Stormchilde from Geis who had ended up in the realm they were in. They were attacked by an Alahn from the Kol Draahl, who had also come to the realm and Nia was nearly killed. Bera attempted to heal her using the Light of Truth and while doing so, awoken the Soul Rider Crystal. The two powerful artifacts interacted, resulting in the Order of Precedence deciding in favor of the Soul Rider Crystal. Nia was transformed, a nearby beast being summoned and transformed as well. When the Order of Precedence was done, Bera and Lubast, another member of the Shore Team, were transformed as well and the Light of Truth was gone. The Soaring Narwhal returned to Geis with Nia and she left the ship to re-establish the order. Traveling with Topaz, they went to the ancient home of their respective orders, Elbareth and arrived to find the Library had returned. The new Librarian, Naliah, gave her the Soul Rider Tome and while Topaz left to study his own tome, she remained at Elbareth to study hers. Naliah's husband, Korys, was able to assist Nia with some of the tome as his knowledge of military matters far exceeded hers. The Master of the Undead sent an expedition against Elbareth, but were repelled by Korys leading the Vipak that lived in the surrounding area along with Nia, Naliah, her Moragai companion princess Xanna of Dogol and Naliah's apprentice, the Vipak sage Syristh. During that battle, Nia realized that the Soul Riders were meant to be a military force and after she ceded the mantle of Soul Rider Commander to Korys. Elbareth then became the seat of the Soul Rider forces, their number expanding under the leadership of Korys with Nia as his second. A powerful group, the Soul Riders are still learning the full extent of their power and are finding ancient artifacts made specifically for them.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Manitou and the Undead
The Geis realm has two parts to it; the physical world and the world of the spirits. Everything in the physical world has a corresponding aspect in the spirit world. Every tree, rock, person and animal. Even concepts have homes within the spirit world. Those mortals who stand between and within both realms are known as Midewin.
The Midewin have the greatest understanding of the Manitou. Whereas the various religious orders concern themselves with the gods themselves, the Midewin focus instead upon the spirit children of those gods. All that is understood about the Spirit World comes from the understanding of the Midewin. They refer to the Spirit World as being like a long vast plain. The Near Spirit World is closer to the physical world and is nearly identical to it in geography. As one travels away from the Near Spirit World, one encounters the Manitou of non-physical things like forces of nature and concepts of understanding. This is called the Far Spirit World. The gods themselves live in the furthest reaches of the Far Spirit World.
Midewin use a sort of magic that is spiritual in nature, calling upon the relevant Manitou in order to attain the desired affect in the physical world. There are two known groups who have made permanent contracts with Manitou other than Midewin. These are the Bards, who have made covenants with the Manitou of Music and Story and the Palan Muerte, those servants of the Emperor who made covenants with the Manitou of Pain and Suffering. These three groups will be discussed in greater detail later.
The Manitou of Geis utilize their powers according to rules understood only by them. A mage or psychic may work with a Manitou without realizing it. Indeed, the Astral Plane and the Etherial Plane are simply other names for the Spirit World. Because of the nature of Manitou, information and knowledge may be stored within the Spirit World. This is not unlike the concept of cyberspace although the means for reaching it are vastly different. Midewin, Palan Muerte, Bards, psychics, mages and priests all can gain access to the Spirit World for the purpose of storing or gaining information. Each does so in a unique way, with only the Midewin being able to physically enter the Spirit World all others merely access it. However the Spirit World in accessed, there is danger to be found. The Manitou are intelligent and willful, they have perspectives vastly different from mortals. To apply concepts of beneficence and maleficence to them is folly for they transcend such ideas. The Midewin strongly caution all who seek to reach the Manitou for to do so is to literally court death or worse.
The further from the physical world one travels, the more powerful and foreign the Manitou one encounters. Many Midewin will never stray far from the physical world. Only the wisest or most foolhardy will venture into the Far Spirit World. Priests of the gods will regularly seek guidance and intervention from their deities. The prayers of these folk are direct connections to their deities and therefore the safest form of communicating with the most powerful beings of the Spirit World, for only the god being prayed to will hear and answer.
* As a side note, the names Midewin and Manitou come from the First Nations people of North America. My use of the terms is not meant as an insult in any way. I was inspired by stories of these people and the role they played in their society and wished to honor them in my fantasy pulp setting. The way I describe the Midewin does not reflect anything upon the reality of the Midewiwin in the history of their relevant peoples any more than the Druids of D&D reflect the ancient order found in Celtic tribes in Europe. *
The Master of the Undead is an intruder upon the Geis realm who has made a home for himself deep in the Far Spirit World. A powerful being of unknown origin, he contends with the gods themselves. His true desires are unknown. Prior to his arrival, there were no undead on Geis and as a consequence of it, the undead are different than in other settings.
To begin with, all Undead have an order of precedence. There are many types of undead from ghosts and skeletons to wraiths, liches and vampires. Some are mindless automatons whereas others are willful and otherwise independent thinkers that are enslaved to the Master. No undead exist without having made a pact of some sort with the Master. This means that some forms of undead like skeletons or zombies may indeed have intelligence and will, and others like vampires or wraiths may not. Do not seek to apply the rules of undead found in other settings to those on Geis for although the names may be the same, the creatures themselves may be vastly different.
The Midewin have the greatest understanding of the Manitou. Whereas the various religious orders concern themselves with the gods themselves, the Midewin focus instead upon the spirit children of those gods. All that is understood about the Spirit World comes from the understanding of the Midewin. They refer to the Spirit World as being like a long vast plain. The Near Spirit World is closer to the physical world and is nearly identical to it in geography. As one travels away from the Near Spirit World, one encounters the Manitou of non-physical things like forces of nature and concepts of understanding. This is called the Far Spirit World. The gods themselves live in the furthest reaches of the Far Spirit World.
Midewin use a sort of magic that is spiritual in nature, calling upon the relevant Manitou in order to attain the desired affect in the physical world. There are two known groups who have made permanent contracts with Manitou other than Midewin. These are the Bards, who have made covenants with the Manitou of Music and Story and the Palan Muerte, those servants of the Emperor who made covenants with the Manitou of Pain and Suffering. These three groups will be discussed in greater detail later.
The Manitou of Geis utilize their powers according to rules understood only by them. A mage or psychic may work with a Manitou without realizing it. Indeed, the Astral Plane and the Etherial Plane are simply other names for the Spirit World. Because of the nature of Manitou, information and knowledge may be stored within the Spirit World. This is not unlike the concept of cyberspace although the means for reaching it are vastly different. Midewin, Palan Muerte, Bards, psychics, mages and priests all can gain access to the Spirit World for the purpose of storing or gaining information. Each does so in a unique way, with only the Midewin being able to physically enter the Spirit World all others merely access it. However the Spirit World in accessed, there is danger to be found. The Manitou are intelligent and willful, they have perspectives vastly different from mortals. To apply concepts of beneficence and maleficence to them is folly for they transcend such ideas. The Midewin strongly caution all who seek to reach the Manitou for to do so is to literally court death or worse.
The further from the physical world one travels, the more powerful and foreign the Manitou one encounters. Many Midewin will never stray far from the physical world. Only the wisest or most foolhardy will venture into the Far Spirit World. Priests of the gods will regularly seek guidance and intervention from their deities. The prayers of these folk are direct connections to their deities and therefore the safest form of communicating with the most powerful beings of the Spirit World, for only the god being prayed to will hear and answer.
* As a side note, the names Midewin and Manitou come from the First Nations people of North America. My use of the terms is not meant as an insult in any way. I was inspired by stories of these people and the role they played in their society and wished to honor them in my fantasy pulp setting. The way I describe the Midewin does not reflect anything upon the reality of the Midewiwin in the history of their relevant peoples any more than the Druids of D&D reflect the ancient order found in Celtic tribes in Europe. *
The Master of the Undead is an intruder upon the Geis realm who has made a home for himself deep in the Far Spirit World. A powerful being of unknown origin, he contends with the gods themselves. His true desires are unknown. Prior to his arrival, there were no undead on Geis and as a consequence of it, the undead are different than in other settings.
To begin with, all Undead have an order of precedence. There are many types of undead from ghosts and skeletons to wraiths, liches and vampires. Some are mindless automatons whereas others are willful and otherwise independent thinkers that are enslaved to the Master. No undead exist without having made a pact of some sort with the Master. This means that some forms of undead like skeletons or zombies may indeed have intelligence and will, and others like vampires or wraiths may not. Do not seek to apply the rules of undead found in other settings to those on Geis for although the names may be the same, the creatures themselves may be vastly different.
Friday, October 26, 2012
Geis Basics: Timeline - The Age of Dreams: Tribes
With the delicate balance of the world established, the Age of Dreams began. This was a period of magical and psychic expansion. The state of the world remained balanced. On Lothgar, the kingdoms of Dogol, Bel`Aq, Beltizhan, Kailang and Caeron were the longest-standing. On Mologan, the seven kingdoms to the south and east united in an empire known as the Southern Kingdoms ruled over by the High King who was elected by the Royal Council consisting of the Kings of each of the kingdoms. On Anterre, the Emporer Kroll ruled with an iron fist. The Chaos Current continued to rage in the Moralay Archipelago. Puntas, long hidden by the Myst, has been all but forgotten as has the moon.
During this time, many organizations and societies have risen to prominence. The most ancient and secretive of these are the Wanderers. The most learned of sages are unsure exactly of the origins of this group. They operate always in the shadows, behind the scenes. They are organized into Lodges, each run by a Huntsmaster. It is known that they have carried different names throughout history but most agree the oldest of these names, likely the original name, is the Wardens. Although what it is or was that they are warding against is lost to the sands of time. They are not strictly a tribe, but certain families are prominent although even the most learned of sages are uncertain to what degree. It is believed that the very highest strata of the organization is controlled by the descendants of the original Wardens so they are often considered a tribe of sorts.
The Jiorti live on the island of Jiorta. Although they maintain a tribal structure, they are largely recognized as among the oldest of societies and among the most powerful. They were instrumental in freeing the people from the oppression of the Kol Draahl. They withstood the constant depredations of the Emperor. Many believe it was Jiorti tribal elders that had a hand in the creation of both the Soul Riders and the Beast Masters. Every Jiorti who ever lived, save one, possesses either magical or psychic ability. That one is the bard Madigan, whose exploits will be explained later. With the birth of a Jiorti tribesman, a small cache of a unique organic metal is found. This is known by the Jiorti as being "claimed by Jiorta". At the child's coming of age ceremony, that metal is forged into a knife and tied to the new tribesman by some means both magical and psychic and possibly more. Thereafter, the knife is known as a Jortai and it acts as a focus for the tribesman's magical and/or pyschic abilities. So long as the tribesman lives the Jortai will never tarnish or dull and upon their death, the Jortai will quickly corrode and eventually dissolve. Jiorti culture is very art-centered for through music, song, stories and art the Jiorti maintained their culture during the long hard years of oppression by the Kol Draahl.
Another tribal group of ancient origin, the Gloanoq have various homes throughout the continents of Geis. A warrior culture, they focus on the complete mastery of but a few weapons. Some are born within the tribes that have magical or psychic ability. These are not estranged for they view magic and psionics as natural tools of combat, little different than a hand or sword. All are trained from a young age in the ancient art of combat, called simply the training.
After the fall of the Kol Draahl, a schism in the Gloanoq tribe was formed. A perfection of the art of combat was sought, resulting in different paths. A group that believed a perfect warrior could use any weapon well splintered off, they became known as the Merebal tribe. None of their number has ever been born with magical or psychic ability. It is unknown if this is by design or just a natural progression. Another group believed that only by focusing on one weapon could perfection be achieved. This group became known as the Nazd clan. Whereas the Gloanoq and Merebal depend upon actual bloodline affiliation, the Nazd eschew that for talent and training.
The last of the most ancient of tribes is the Mixtali. Every member of the Mixtali are psychics of varying degrees of power, and though infrequent, mages are not uncommon. They are a nomadic people, whereas once they used wagons in massive caravans they now live in large groundships.
Members of these tribes may be found in any kingdom and most place a higher loyalty to their tribe than to their kingdom, but as always individuals may vary.
During this time, many organizations and societies have risen to prominence. The most ancient and secretive of these are the Wanderers. The most learned of sages are unsure exactly of the origins of this group. They operate always in the shadows, behind the scenes. They are organized into Lodges, each run by a Huntsmaster. It is known that they have carried different names throughout history but most agree the oldest of these names, likely the original name, is the Wardens. Although what it is or was that they are warding against is lost to the sands of time. They are not strictly a tribe, but certain families are prominent although even the most learned of sages are uncertain to what degree. It is believed that the very highest strata of the organization is controlled by the descendants of the original Wardens so they are often considered a tribe of sorts.
The Jiorti live on the island of Jiorta. Although they maintain a tribal structure, they are largely recognized as among the oldest of societies and among the most powerful. They were instrumental in freeing the people from the oppression of the Kol Draahl. They withstood the constant depredations of the Emperor. Many believe it was Jiorti tribal elders that had a hand in the creation of both the Soul Riders and the Beast Masters. Every Jiorti who ever lived, save one, possesses either magical or psychic ability. That one is the bard Madigan, whose exploits will be explained later. With the birth of a Jiorti tribesman, a small cache of a unique organic metal is found. This is known by the Jiorti as being "claimed by Jiorta". At the child's coming of age ceremony, that metal is forged into a knife and tied to the new tribesman by some means both magical and psychic and possibly more. Thereafter, the knife is known as a Jortai and it acts as a focus for the tribesman's magical and/or pyschic abilities. So long as the tribesman lives the Jortai will never tarnish or dull and upon their death, the Jortai will quickly corrode and eventually dissolve. Jiorti culture is very art-centered for through music, song, stories and art the Jiorti maintained their culture during the long hard years of oppression by the Kol Draahl.
Another tribal group of ancient origin, the Gloanoq have various homes throughout the continents of Geis. A warrior culture, they focus on the complete mastery of but a few weapons. Some are born within the tribes that have magical or psychic ability. These are not estranged for they view magic and psionics as natural tools of combat, little different than a hand or sword. All are trained from a young age in the ancient art of combat, called simply the training.
After the fall of the Kol Draahl, a schism in the Gloanoq tribe was formed. A perfection of the art of combat was sought, resulting in different paths. A group that believed a perfect warrior could use any weapon well splintered off, they became known as the Merebal tribe. None of their number has ever been born with magical or psychic ability. It is unknown if this is by design or just a natural progression. Another group believed that only by focusing on one weapon could perfection be achieved. This group became known as the Nazd clan. Whereas the Gloanoq and Merebal depend upon actual bloodline affiliation, the Nazd eschew that for talent and training.
The last of the most ancient of tribes is the Mixtali. Every member of the Mixtali are psychics of varying degrees of power, and though infrequent, mages are not uncommon. They are a nomadic people, whereas once they used wagons in massive caravans they now live in large groundships.
Members of these tribes may be found in any kingdom and most place a higher loyalty to their tribe than to their kingdom, but as always individuals may vary.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Geis Basics: Timeline - The Age of War
Freedom had been won for the people of Geis. Their escape from tyranny had been bloody and long. During the purge, things were done that shamed them in retrospect. The rage born from centuries of debasement, abuse and oppression was released in a blood bath of violence resulting in effective genocide.
The effect on the newly freed population could not be overstated. People who were ashamed of their actions isolated themselves from others, some even killing themselves. Many struggled to face their reflections. Society regressed as none lived who understood what was required to form a civilization. Lacking any other form of loyalty, people drew together in family groups. It was truly a dark age and one that modern sages do not name except as the "dark times" following the fall of the Kol Draahl. None are really sure how long it lasted or what it was that ended it.
Cloistered in family groups, society again reformed. Families strong in the use of magic and psychic abilities grew in power and influence eventually forming groups. One such group claimed the lands forming the high plains in the eastern mountains of Lothgar. This group, strong in psychic might, became the kingdom of Baenor. In the mountains northwest of them a kingdom of mages gained power, calling themselves Verellia. None alive now truly know how it started, most sages believe it was the result of a pending marriage that would unite the kingdoms falling apart but however it happened, the two kingdoms started warring. This was the first of the Psi-Mage Wars. It ended with Baenor utterly destroyed.
The hand of Master of the Undead was first played during these turbulent times. It is known that in an effort to gain control over life on Geis, the Master created his first Avatar. The resulting war of dead on the living became known as the Rise of the Fallen. The Seven Kingdoms on Mologan, not yet unified under the High King, struggled against the horde of zombies, skeletons, ghosts and other forms of undead that threatened their very existence. In response, the Creator's Seekers unified into an army for the first time. They were able to put the dead back into their graves, but ever since the undead have been a blight upon the face of Geis.
On Anterre, a man named Kroll unified a great army under his command and started a campaign of conquest. Aided by a woman known as Lady Vreilla, he equipped his army with the very best in magical equipment. He started in the southeast, taking over the kingdom there quickly, then spread east.
At the same time the second Psi-Mage war raged as Prince Torano, leader of Fallen Baenor, rallied the remains of his people and attacked the Emerald Cardinals that formed the leadership of Verellia. In a daring raid, the Tower of Verellia fell and the Cardinals' power was broken. The toll on the attackers was high; the prince had fallen and the leadership of the scattered forces of Baenor were unable to keep the people united.
A force of people suspect of the influence of magical and psychic power united on Jorton Mountain and immersed themselves in the study of the body and the hidden abilities locked within not only it but within nature. These alchemist warriors became known as the Orian Barve.
Portions of the psychically strong Baenor forces remained united and sequestered themselves in the study of psionic ability. They unlocked incredible ablities, eventually forming into a formidable force known as the Moragai.
On Mologan, the Master of the Undead refused to be defeated. His Avatar united the hordes once more and the Creator responded with a powerful leader, a Seeker of incredible faith known as Allyndra Thorindrel. Under Allyndra's leadership, the army of Seekers again pushed the undead back into their graves and in a final act of sacrifice, she killed herself to destroy the Master's Avatar.
Kroll's army had defeated the outer nations of Anterre and he set his sights on the center of the continent, seeking to unify his rule at the very center of the nation. His army had grown in size to include battalions of mages and psychic warriors. Rumors of Kroll spread like wildfire. Some speculated that he was the last remaining member of the Kol Draahl and the Trioka had sacrificed themselves so that he might create a new stronghold on Anterre. There was much evidence to the contrary. All that was really known was that Kroll had been leading his armies from the front for well over a hundred years with Lady Vreilla at his side. It was believed by his army that Kroll was immortal.
The third Psi-Mage war broke out on Mologan, in the northeastern forests. The Moragai had grown in power and influence and sought to create their own kingdom of psychics. Two forces of mages arose in response and prevented them from gaining control of the region; sword wielding sorcerers and armored wizards. United under Marok De l'Argent, the mages prevented the Moragai from establishing their desired kingdom. As a result, the Moragai split into two forces; one vowing to never again seek political power and the other vowing declaring that the true power of psychics lie in secrecy and they became masters of intrigue. This second group became known as the Doeneik.
Kroll unified his rule on Anterre, celebrating his success by raising a massive mesa at the very center of the continent and creating his castle atop of it. This became known as Krolspoint and it was from here that Kroll ruled over his empire. His first attempt at spreading his rule was targeted on Jiorta, a large island off the southeastern coast of his new empire. His forces faced defeat for the first time. It became a trend that would mark the entire rule of Kroll and eventually spell his ruin and that of his empire.
The fourth Psi-Mage war took place again on Lothgar, this time the battle raged across the Moralay Archipelago and onto Mologan. The two magical forces from the third war had grown in the interim into the mercenary Spellswords and the De l'Argent. This time, the kingdom of Bhletizhan's mages and Wyvern Riders sought to unite Lothgar under their rule. They made forays into the kingdom of Bel'Aq, their neighbor to the east who had become a stronghold for the new Morgai forces. The Moragai rebuffed the Wyvern Riders time and again, but it was the mage Ugden Toffmarr, a foreigner who had risen in the ranks of the mage army of Beltizhan, who ended the war. The Wyvern Riders penetrated into the heart of Bel`Aq and destroyed the Moragai headquarters. The mage council sent their agents throughout the world, seeking to totally eliminate the remnants of the Moragai order. Ugden had seen the corruption of the leadership on his side and sought to end it. His destruction of the mage council established him as a powerful magical presence on Geis and ended the fourth Psi-Mage war. He established the Toffmarr academy and opened his doors to mages of any national origin, seeking to train them in the proper use of their ability and create a safeguard on the seeking of power. Never again did he want to see magical power used for anything other than the betterment of the peoples of Geis.
Rumors had started on Mologan that the Kol Draahl had not been destroyed. The near-mythical Myde Laethe had been seen by farmers. These rumors spawned the fifth Psi-Mage war. Gloanoq tribes in the northeast portion of Mologan had been attacked by people claiming they had no idea why they attacked. Unable to find an enemy to respond to, the Gloanoq simply migrated out of the area. In the vacuum created by their absence two powerful Gloanoq, Nerevan and Aelok, sought to seize control of the region. Originally the psychic and mage, lifelong friends, sought to create a kingdom of both psychics and mages united in common purpose. The first few years went well, but the constant influx of rumors of a Kol Draahl presence plagued them. Every lead that they followed resulted in a dead end. A schism was created between the friends and the two factions that followed them became increasingly polarized. Civil war broke out. It is ironic that the fifth and final Psi-Mage war was unlike the others in that this time, there were mages and psychics on both sides. The area had long been home to powerful Manitou and these beings of incredible puissance and ability fought one against the other for the first time.
The result was devastating. The Nerevans and Aelokians soon destroyed themselves but the immortal beings they had brought to their respective sides continued the struggle and escalated it. Power unlike anything seen since Arcdawn were unleashed. Two Manitou destroyed each other in the midst of the battle and the energies thus unleashed took on a life of their own. Immortal beings of concept disappeared from the face of Geis. The resulting release coalesced into a storm. A living storm of energy related to both magic and psionics bearing an unfathomable intelligence and drive. The Maelstrom was born. At that very moment, on the opposite end of the world in a small town in the Moralay Archipelago, a child was born. Brother to the Maelstrom, his birth heralded a change in magic on Geis. The lands where the Maelstrom started became equally bellicose and maleficent, an almost living land where few could live and those that did were forever changed. They became known as the Madlands and none venture there without courting death.
The Maelstrom still rages, sometimes espoused as a small cloud and at other times a powerful hurricane. It wanders the face of Geis and any touched by it are forever changed. Many, the vast majority, die or disappear, never to be heard from again. Others, the very few, live on forever changed in ways unable to be understood by the sages.
The Madlands are a place of mystery. Entire cities disappeared. Lakes and rivers move about. Some say the very stones themselves speak. It is a place devoid of Manitou, where there is no direction or guidance for the raw energies that are normally contained by those spirits.
The child grew to become a man. He alone knew, instinctively, that if left unchecked the Maelstrom and the Madlands, his brothers, would grow and destroy until they eventually claimed the entire surface of Geis. He traveled with his friends and helped them in their adventures, always seeking to control the forces both within him and the world. Soon after aiding his companions in establishing the kingdom of Kailang, he traveled to the high plain that had one time been the site of the first Psi-Mage war. There, he created another opposing force to the Madlands. Where the Madlands was a rocky barren land devoid of life, he rose a place of life. Where the Madlands were uncontrollable he balanced it with a place of control. Just as he balanced out the power of the Maelstrom, Sairao Goldriver rose the Forbidden Forest to balance the Madlands.
With the undead forces of the Fallen balanced by the power of the re-established Church of the Creator, the power of the Empire balanced by the solidarity of the Southern Kingdoms and the Forbidden Forest and Sairao himself balancing the Madlands and the Maelstrom, an uneasy peace was at last reached. The Age of War was ended and over 850 years did it last.
The effect on the newly freed population could not be overstated. People who were ashamed of their actions isolated themselves from others, some even killing themselves. Many struggled to face their reflections. Society regressed as none lived who understood what was required to form a civilization. Lacking any other form of loyalty, people drew together in family groups. It was truly a dark age and one that modern sages do not name except as the "dark times" following the fall of the Kol Draahl. None are really sure how long it lasted or what it was that ended it.
Cloistered in family groups, society again reformed. Families strong in the use of magic and psychic abilities grew in power and influence eventually forming groups. One such group claimed the lands forming the high plains in the eastern mountains of Lothgar. This group, strong in psychic might, became the kingdom of Baenor. In the mountains northwest of them a kingdom of mages gained power, calling themselves Verellia. None alive now truly know how it started, most sages believe it was the result of a pending marriage that would unite the kingdoms falling apart but however it happened, the two kingdoms started warring. This was the first of the Psi-Mage Wars. It ended with Baenor utterly destroyed.
The hand of Master of the Undead was first played during these turbulent times. It is known that in an effort to gain control over life on Geis, the Master created his first Avatar. The resulting war of dead on the living became known as the Rise of the Fallen. The Seven Kingdoms on Mologan, not yet unified under the High King, struggled against the horde of zombies, skeletons, ghosts and other forms of undead that threatened their very existence. In response, the Creator's Seekers unified into an army for the first time. They were able to put the dead back into their graves, but ever since the undead have been a blight upon the face of Geis.
On Anterre, a man named Kroll unified a great army under his command and started a campaign of conquest. Aided by a woman known as Lady Vreilla, he equipped his army with the very best in magical equipment. He started in the southeast, taking over the kingdom there quickly, then spread east.
At the same time the second Psi-Mage war raged as Prince Torano, leader of Fallen Baenor, rallied the remains of his people and attacked the Emerald Cardinals that formed the leadership of Verellia. In a daring raid, the Tower of Verellia fell and the Cardinals' power was broken. The toll on the attackers was high; the prince had fallen and the leadership of the scattered forces of Baenor were unable to keep the people united.
A force of people suspect of the influence of magical and psychic power united on Jorton Mountain and immersed themselves in the study of the body and the hidden abilities locked within not only it but within nature. These alchemist warriors became known as the Orian Barve.
Portions of the psychically strong Baenor forces remained united and sequestered themselves in the study of psionic ability. They unlocked incredible ablities, eventually forming into a formidable force known as the Moragai.
On Mologan, the Master of the Undead refused to be defeated. His Avatar united the hordes once more and the Creator responded with a powerful leader, a Seeker of incredible faith known as Allyndra Thorindrel. Under Allyndra's leadership, the army of Seekers again pushed the undead back into their graves and in a final act of sacrifice, she killed herself to destroy the Master's Avatar.
Kroll's army had defeated the outer nations of Anterre and he set his sights on the center of the continent, seeking to unify his rule at the very center of the nation. His army had grown in size to include battalions of mages and psychic warriors. Rumors of Kroll spread like wildfire. Some speculated that he was the last remaining member of the Kol Draahl and the Trioka had sacrificed themselves so that he might create a new stronghold on Anterre. There was much evidence to the contrary. All that was really known was that Kroll had been leading his armies from the front for well over a hundred years with Lady Vreilla at his side. It was believed by his army that Kroll was immortal.
The third Psi-Mage war broke out on Mologan, in the northeastern forests. The Moragai had grown in power and influence and sought to create their own kingdom of psychics. Two forces of mages arose in response and prevented them from gaining control of the region; sword wielding sorcerers and armored wizards. United under Marok De l'Argent, the mages prevented the Moragai from establishing their desired kingdom. As a result, the Moragai split into two forces; one vowing to never again seek political power and the other vowing declaring that the true power of psychics lie in secrecy and they became masters of intrigue. This second group became known as the Doeneik.
Kroll unified his rule on Anterre, celebrating his success by raising a massive mesa at the very center of the continent and creating his castle atop of it. This became known as Krolspoint and it was from here that Kroll ruled over his empire. His first attempt at spreading his rule was targeted on Jiorta, a large island off the southeastern coast of his new empire. His forces faced defeat for the first time. It became a trend that would mark the entire rule of Kroll and eventually spell his ruin and that of his empire.
The fourth Psi-Mage war took place again on Lothgar, this time the battle raged across the Moralay Archipelago and onto Mologan. The two magical forces from the third war had grown in the interim into the mercenary Spellswords and the De l'Argent. This time, the kingdom of Bhletizhan's mages and Wyvern Riders sought to unite Lothgar under their rule. They made forays into the kingdom of Bel'Aq, their neighbor to the east who had become a stronghold for the new Morgai forces. The Moragai rebuffed the Wyvern Riders time and again, but it was the mage Ugden Toffmarr, a foreigner who had risen in the ranks of the mage army of Beltizhan, who ended the war. The Wyvern Riders penetrated into the heart of Bel`Aq and destroyed the Moragai headquarters. The mage council sent their agents throughout the world, seeking to totally eliminate the remnants of the Moragai order. Ugden had seen the corruption of the leadership on his side and sought to end it. His destruction of the mage council established him as a powerful magical presence on Geis and ended the fourth Psi-Mage war. He established the Toffmarr academy and opened his doors to mages of any national origin, seeking to train them in the proper use of their ability and create a safeguard on the seeking of power. Never again did he want to see magical power used for anything other than the betterment of the peoples of Geis.
Rumors had started on Mologan that the Kol Draahl had not been destroyed. The near-mythical Myde Laethe had been seen by farmers. These rumors spawned the fifth Psi-Mage war. Gloanoq tribes in the northeast portion of Mologan had been attacked by people claiming they had no idea why they attacked. Unable to find an enemy to respond to, the Gloanoq simply migrated out of the area. In the vacuum created by their absence two powerful Gloanoq, Nerevan and Aelok, sought to seize control of the region. Originally the psychic and mage, lifelong friends, sought to create a kingdom of both psychics and mages united in common purpose. The first few years went well, but the constant influx of rumors of a Kol Draahl presence plagued them. Every lead that they followed resulted in a dead end. A schism was created between the friends and the two factions that followed them became increasingly polarized. Civil war broke out. It is ironic that the fifth and final Psi-Mage war was unlike the others in that this time, there were mages and psychics on both sides. The area had long been home to powerful Manitou and these beings of incredible puissance and ability fought one against the other for the first time.
The result was devastating. The Nerevans and Aelokians soon destroyed themselves but the immortal beings they had brought to their respective sides continued the struggle and escalated it. Power unlike anything seen since Arcdawn were unleashed. Two Manitou destroyed each other in the midst of the battle and the energies thus unleashed took on a life of their own. Immortal beings of concept disappeared from the face of Geis. The resulting release coalesced into a storm. A living storm of energy related to both magic and psionics bearing an unfathomable intelligence and drive. The Maelstrom was born. At that very moment, on the opposite end of the world in a small town in the Moralay Archipelago, a child was born. Brother to the Maelstrom, his birth heralded a change in magic on Geis. The lands where the Maelstrom started became equally bellicose and maleficent, an almost living land where few could live and those that did were forever changed. They became known as the Madlands and none venture there without courting death.
The Maelstrom still rages, sometimes espoused as a small cloud and at other times a powerful hurricane. It wanders the face of Geis and any touched by it are forever changed. Many, the vast majority, die or disappear, never to be heard from again. Others, the very few, live on forever changed in ways unable to be understood by the sages.
The Madlands are a place of mystery. Entire cities disappeared. Lakes and rivers move about. Some say the very stones themselves speak. It is a place devoid of Manitou, where there is no direction or guidance for the raw energies that are normally contained by those spirits.
The child grew to become a man. He alone knew, instinctively, that if left unchecked the Maelstrom and the Madlands, his brothers, would grow and destroy until they eventually claimed the entire surface of Geis. He traveled with his friends and helped them in their adventures, always seeking to control the forces both within him and the world. Soon after aiding his companions in establishing the kingdom of Kailang, he traveled to the high plain that had one time been the site of the first Psi-Mage war. There, he created another opposing force to the Madlands. Where the Madlands was a rocky barren land devoid of life, he rose a place of life. Where the Madlands were uncontrollable he balanced it with a place of control. Just as he balanced out the power of the Maelstrom, Sairao Goldriver rose the Forbidden Forest to balance the Madlands.
With the undead forces of the Fallen balanced by the power of the re-established Church of the Creator, the power of the Empire balanced by the solidarity of the Southern Kingdoms and the Forbidden Forest and Sairao himself balancing the Madlands and the Maelstrom, an uneasy peace was at last reached. The Age of War was ended and over 850 years did it last.
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