The Half-Dead Realm (Lore Page)

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forg3ttablexs0ul
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Posts: 112

The Half-Dead Realm (Lore Page) Feb 11, 2021 13:11:22 GMT

Post by forg3ttablexs0ul on Feb 11, 2021 13:11:22 GMT

Hello. This is a lore-page i am going to use as reference to a few different RPs. I will update it with things every now and then, but it all melds into the same universe.

Tavoria.

A massive landmass with everything from thick forests to lush, over-grown jungles, to snowdrifts spanning as far as the eye can see. The multitude of races that inhabit the lands lived in relative harmony. These times of peace lasted for centuries and included all in the land, even spreading to the lizardmen and halfdemons.

However, as is with all things, the peace would not last forever.

Through the workings of the Six, a small group of elves from every subrace and excelling in Abyssal magics thought to have been erased from history, the world was tainted with darkness. As time progressed, the world grew ever sicker, and when the time came for something to be done, it was too late. Creatures emerged from the depths of the deepest caves and the darkest crevices, their forms so twisted and grotesque it drew even halfdemons to absolute madness when seen. Deaths of every race drew upon the ancient curse of the undead, forcing kin to slay and burn the loved ones they had already lost.

As the light of the world grew ever dimmer, The Great Sages of the world gathered. Using every drop of life essence between them, they called upon every deity and drew upon their power, erecting walls infused with the purest of holy magics around every city and town, save for the smallest farming and fishing villages. As the sages drew their final breaths, the gods all decended upon Tavoria, and swore to defend the lands and their peoples until the light could shine no more. The Templars rose, gathering teachings of the holy magics from the gods themselves, Each having their own strengths and weaknesses but all with the common goal of protecting Tavoria.

As the holy warriors trained, the nations gathered warriors with skills in every weapon from bows to swords to magics and more. With the Templars at the front, and supported by every able bodied warrior, Tavoria beat back the Abyssal horde that had plagued them for so long. The loss of life was in untold numbers, the battle even going so far as to claim the lives of every Gnome on Tavoria - but the battle was won, the walls protected, the villages saved, and the lands defended.

300 years have passed since that fateful day, but not one soul in all of Tavoria will forget it. The Templars are now a dying breed, with some deities having been all but forgotten with the deaths of their scribes and preachers. The lands are still tainted. With the undead curse running rampant in some areas and Abyssal creatures reinforced with deformed animals corrupted by their presence terrorizing others. If the Templars fall, who will save them? Will Tavoria survive a second cataclysmic conflict, or will the great battle deep on the horizon wipe them all out once and for all?

Last Edit: Jan 4, 2022 19:55:26 GMT by forg3ttablexs0ul

forg3ttablexs0ul
Member

Posts: 112

The Half-Dead Realm (Lore Page) Feb 11, 2021 13:11:52 GMT

Post by forg3ttablexs0ul on Feb 11, 2021 13:11:52 GMT

Playable Races

Humans- the darkness that overcomes Tavoria has been especially hard on the humans. While not having natural advantages in combat, magic, or general skills, they do possess the ability to do everything from farming to high level conjuration magics. Their adaptability and reliability alone is what has kept them alive for all these years.

Lizardmen(aka. Alpox)- often believed to be the mightiest of the races, the Alpox resemble bipedal crocodiles standing anywhere from 7 to 10 feet tall (2 to 3 meters ish if im thinking right?). Tribal roots run deep in their culture to an extent, yet, over the centuries, the Alpox have become more integrated with other races and societies, some even living in the mountains with the Dwarves, and the Sacred Groves with the Elves! Their warriors at half strength can do that of what 100 men can do, and many warriors of legend either were trained or were themselves Alpox. They have no way of using magics of any form however, so reliance on martial skills is all but required for them. Quite a few Alpox that still reside in the marshlands and jungles of their native lands also usually do not accept members of other races, often calling them Kul'Jans, or "he who does not belong."

Dwarves- Masters of the anvil and the pickaxe, the Dwarven mountain cities were once thought to be impenetrable until the darkness arrived. While being commonly known for being master craftsmen, Dwarves are also known to be fierce fighters utilizing the axe and the shield wall. Being short in short in stature comes at a massive disadvantage in combat with anything that isn't another dwarf, and one wrong step in combat could come at a deadly cost. Dwarfs are very open to all races, but most are silver-tongued, always with profit on their mind.

Elves- known by many as the most illustrious of races, the Elves were a race of hermits before the great harmony, secluding themselves beyond their groves and ivory towers and dealing harsh deaths to any and all that dared approach. In the times of the darkness, the Elven Legions stood at the ready, utilizing phalanx and great bow to bring death to their foes. It is still thought that, to this day, no one member of any race can match a Wood Elf in accuracy with a bow, nor a High Elf in spear combat. When the Six rose from the elves and nearly caused a calamity, the Dark Elves were completely eradicated by both the Wood Elves and the High elves, claiming that the darkness tainting them is what corrupted the Six to bring darkness to the world. The Elves have since enjoyed open borders to all who wish to leave or enter their lands, and still offer to share magics with those who wish to learn or perfect them, though dark magic has been all but banned in Elven lands, and any Elf thought to use dark Magic of any kind receives a swift death penalty at the hands of the High Queen.

Gnomes- RIP gnomes. They were eradicated during the great battle. Artifacts to their technology and cities still litter the land, but a gnome hasn't been seen in 2 centuries, with the last of their kind supposedly passing from natural causes in a human city.

Half-Demons(aka Faelin)- centuries before the great harmony, when chaos roamed the lands. Demons of many forms bred with human slaves, and the result of this was the Faelin. Faelin possess mostly human features, but most have distinct features bestowed upon them by their demon heritage, the most common of which being horns and/or a tail of some sort, with some even having the legs of a goat, or the wings of a harpy etc. The Faelin, sympathizing with their human kin, turned on the demons, and assisted in driving the demons out of Tavoria. The Faelin have no one true kingdom, though some settlements do scarcely dot the land here and there. They mostly integrated with the humans, and also settled with the other races. Most because skilled warriors of their own, with a few even assisting in the creation of the adventurers guilds that exist in every large town and city across the continent. Skilled in dark magics, but immune to corruption, as well as being skilled particularly in halberds and other dexterous weapons, Faelins are revered by most humans as venerable warriors and honored protectors of the realm. Elves have no good will toward Faelin, believing them to be corrupted by the same darkness that allegedly inhabited the Dark Elves, and some have even had a blind eye turned to their murder in Elven lands for their heritage alone.

Last Edit: Mar 31, 2021 7:49:02 GMT by forg3ttablexs0ul

forg3ttablexs0ul
Member

Posts: 112

The Half-Dead Realm (Lore Page) Feb 12, 2021 13:47:24 GMT

Post by forg3ttablexs0ul on Feb 12, 2021 13:47:24 GMT

Factions/Nations:

High Avelorn (High Elves)

A Monarchy ruled by the High Queen and advised by the Court of High Lords, The Kingdom Of High Avelorn is has stood as one of the most illustrious societies in Tavoria. Cities of tall Ivory and Gold spires with winding pavestone roads and immaculate architecture of even the low-class residences make most other nations swoon.

The High Elves view themselves quite differently however. The High Lords of the Court fight each other constantly for land or valuable resources. Even when the Dark Elves were purged, and even when the Great Curse first emerged, The High Lords still squabbled between themselves, seldom caring for the happenings of the world outside of Avelorn's borders.

The High Queen carries thoughts of blissful peace and worries not about the happenings of her homeland, but keeps her eyes turned outward toward the other races and nations. This attitude she has carried has caused more than a few minor wars in Avelorn already, but she stays willfully ignorant.

The Elves have always had a thought of superiority to themselves, mostly for their adeptness at magics, and even as Avelorn enjoys open borders and trade, they still look toward others as lower than most. Of course some races are viewed more highly than others, but no one bests a High Elf except for another High Elf.

The Many Lords of the Court look toward any gain they can, be it powerful adventurers for mercenaries in their armies, or assassins to silence their opponents in the dead of night. One thing is to be certain though when it comes to High Elves, and some would even regard this as common knowledge: Never Trust Nobility. Most High Elves speak Common, or English, but the most ignorant refuse to communicate with other races at all, and do not bother with learning other languages.

The Sacred Groves(Wood Elves)

The Wood Elves had always been more welcoming of others, as opposed to their High Elf brethren. The Sacred Groves form a thick border around Avelorn, with some of the forests spanning for miles without end. The Elves focus most of their infrastructure and income on the forest, and sawmills and carpenters are common.

Their smaller villages seem more rustic and generic, but their towns and cities occupy both the ground and air. The Sacred Grove Itself is a massive forest with towering trees. The Largest cities had Platforms that hold buildings on the trees, with buildings scouring down the tree and spreading near the roots. The trees these hanging cities are built on are so massive, it is said that when one falls, it causes worldwide earthquakes. The only trees known to be anywhere close to this size are in the Jungles of Alpoxia.

With their position around Avelorn, the ancient ancestors of the Wood Elves stood as protectors of Avelorn, thought to be a Holy Place, but as time passed, the High Elves quickly became their own entity, and forgot of the importance of the role the Wood Elves were given. When the High Queen was given her Crown over Avelorn, the Wood Elves began to slowly isolate themselves from their counterparts.

The Dark Elves, while a major enemy at the time, gave great hindsight to the Wood Elves. Fearing they would one day turn on them as well, the Hesitation was quickly removed. When it came to the other races, however, the Wood Elves were much different. All who respected the sanctity of the Groves have always been respected. Most of the blood shed by the Wood Elves collectively has been to defend the forests, other than the Dark Elves. Every Wood Elf town is accepting of adventurers, and nearly every Wood Elf speaks Common.

Alpoxia (Lizardmen)

Perhaps the most mysterious of all the nations, and truly the most secluded race; not secluded for purposeful reasons, however... no... The Great Jungle of Alpoxia is a vile and murderous place. Before the curse, nightmares were born here. Since the days of the High Reptiles, grotesque abominations of nature have roamed the jungle floor. The Jungle itself was the very reason that the High Lizards were cast asunder, their own empire unable to withstand and overcome the fearsome beasts.

The Alpox, a small tribal clan in the relatively peaceful, yet dangerous marshlands, have since began to spread. These mighty beings synergized with the Jungles, using the chaos and terror to their advantage. Before the Great Warring Clans, Great Hunts were organized to slay the most apex of predators. Once the Jungle was tamed, and the Alpox were rulers of this vile place, they turned not outward beyond the jungles, but inwards towards each other. The Clans formed, a collection of 20 tribes making up hundreds of thousands of Alpox Warriors.

Their society turned into one of Bloodlust. Most Warriors were able to find a purpose in this, Living for Honorable Battle, but some of the tribes seek nothing but a quench of bloodthirst, their primal roots taking hold as the new apex predators of the Jungle. Outsiders are viewed poorly by all but two tribes. Very few Lizardmen native to Alpoxia will speak any language besides their own, and some will even move to kill before anything else.

The two tribes that do view outsiders in a more respectful light, however, see their journeys into Alpoxia as proof they can stand with their tribes, for they managed to survive the Jungle. The tribes themselves, however, still reside in the Marshlands, beyond the Jungle. Only a handful of outsiders have actually met with the tribe and returned to speak of it. Their infrastructure is still very privative, with many clans residing in tents of furs circled around a bonfire. There are a few clans that have resettled in the ruined cities of the High Lizards, but there is no dense, urbanized society in Alpoxia as of yet.

The Holy Circle (Humans, Elves)

When the deities created the Templars to shield the world from the Curse, The Holy Circle was created to serve as a gathering of both the deities and their servants. The Holy Circle was endorsed by Lothern, the nation of the Human Kingdoms, yet, as kings rose and fell, it was forgotten as new rulers sought to focus on more trivial matters. Since then, the Circle's meetings have been more secluded and privatized. As of now, only 14 of the original 30 Templar Orders remain, and the headcount for each grows ever smaller.

The Templars themselves were viewed differently depending on their whereabouts, but collectively, the only group -or race for that matter- to fully and collectively accept the Templars is the Faelin, ironically. For most of its existence, the Holy Order has operated in secrecy, resulting in dwindling numbers and general fear due to misunderstanding and lack of information. The Templars are very noticeable, with the seal of their deity engraved and painted on their chest plates. Because of this, when they travel, they usually wear a thick cloak to cover their armor with a hood to cover
their face.

Templars are sworn from a young age to live to fight the curse. Most recruits, if any, are kidnapped from their homes. Most come from secluded villages or quiet towns. They are taught swordplay and tested for affinity with magic. In the earlier stages of training, the Holy Circle holds them all collectively. By the time the trainees become teenagers, they are allowed to choose, or are chosen by a Templar Order. Each Order follows one specific Deity, and either uses a specific class of magic, or trains to use more specialized weapons or fighting styles.

Very few people see Templars nowadays. They are always traveling to fight the Curse. Most see them often where the Curse is at its worst, yet even those seem more like rumors than fact. Templars speak almost every language, with a rare few even speaking rare dialects of Alpoxian Tongues. They will assist all who peril from the Curse, but often disappear soon after the battle is over, moving on quickly to the next infested creature to smite. It is said that those who do great deeds against the curse at the audience of a Templar with receive an audience with a deity, it the 300 years since the Great Battle, only one man has ever documented this.

Lothern (Humans)

The Realm of the Humans is as diverse as Tavoria wholesale. The land of Lothern stretches from the war torn and bloodthirsted archipelagos of Breslauca, The coastal trading nation of Coralla, and the High and Mighty Tiered Spire cities of Melidan, to the rolling hills of Baxtor, and the pearl cliffs of Mecklena, Lothern is a name that does nothing but mark the spot on the map; this is where the humans are. The other races do have other rulers, persay, yes, but none so culturally different, and to that end, diametrically opposed. To count all the different Humans who call themselves kings would be counting the ants on a kicked anthill. No one man truly knows every ruler, for for every ruler that dies, two or three appear in his wake. The human realm of Lothern is truly a hydra whose heads are many.

with the Border Gore that persists within Lothern the notables that find themselves in its midst and on the outside are at a loss, for diplomatic relations hold as steady as a feather in a hurricane. One might secure alliances with a "king" only to find him deposed and his lands in five the next week. One might turn down an alley and step into a life of assassin work spanning tens of towns and cities. One might win a tournament and find himself a renowned knight on the field of battle against other humans, or even Abyssal Demons! To truly list the sprawl that is the Human life would be a tiring endeavor. To spectate the theatrics is even worse. The High Elf Queen inserts herself to attempt to stop the fighting at times, but to no avail, for human lives are fleeting compared to the centuries of Elves.

The factions that operate within the many kingdoms fluctuate almost as often as the bodies they operate in. Some come to great power, enough to depose kings and rule in their own right, others become as notable as local bandit crews, and amount to nothing. Those organizations that stay, one of note being the adventurers guild, with a local branch in every town, become reliable sources both for those looking for work and those seeing swords for hire. The many dangers that exist in the world create many opportunities for able bodies people of all races, and some adventurers become more notable than some rulers do. Alas, most end up becoming more fodder for the battlefields that turn the gears of Lothern. Any human in their life will always hear a phrase known by all, To be born in Lothern is to be put to the sword by birthright.

Last Edit: Oct 28, 2022 23:53:03 GMT by forg3ttablexs0ul

forg3ttablexs0ul
Member

Posts: 112

The Half-Dead Realm (Lore Page) Feb 16, 2021 20:45:58 GMT

Post by forg3ttablexs0ul on Feb 16, 2021 20:45:58 GMT

As there will be multiple RPs built for this setting, these are some general rule for every roleplay that involves Tavoria.

1.) Stay True to the Race You Choose.

For example: Alpox cannot use magic. Do not attempt to throw a fireball as an Alpox. The more lore friendly we are, the easier it will be to add depth both to the characters we play and the world we reside in.

2.) abstain from romance between characters.

Okay, I understand this rule might be crazy, but you never know. We are a band of friends traveling the world. So that the whole story doesn't simply die out from lovebirding, and so the story can have a connection that isnt just Inuyasha for Lord of the Rings fans, let's try to just keep them all friends. Of course, heart to heart moments can happen, but i would like to ask that you try to resist the more romance-y encounters and stick to good friends.

3.)No Edgy Teen Backstories, No Crazy Weeaboo Samurai Warrior Characters, and Absolutely No Anime Pictures on Character sheets.

This one is a bit of a Doosey. Trust me, I know. Some of you just read that bold line and just went, "Why no samurai? And what do edgy teens have to do with my Good Christian Fantasy Grimdark Roleplay?" Look, as cool as it would be to *checks notes* do a crazy draw strike with a 12 foot katana as a 3 foot dwarf with a 5 foot beard and cleave several enemies in half with one blow while crying because *checks notes again* you watched your parents burn to death before getting duked on (yes, like Mr. Mackey and the Urinal) by an elder dragon that then burned the rest of your hometown down and then bullied you in high school when you were 2 months old, it doesn't fit here. While we're on that, the taboo watched my village burn down when I was little boy backstory is way over done. Shake it up, be creative, but I recommend you write down the dwarf idea and use it in a DnD campaign, or just take it to casual RP, they love crazy sh&t like that in there. I will make one exception. If you just so happen to make an Elf, or a Dwarf, or whatever nonhuman race you decide on, and want to post a picture for your character sheet, but can't find one, I will accept an anime picture on that, HOWEVER if the character is overly sexualized, I will not accept it, and tell you to find another picture.

4.) No Godmode, please I beg of you.

Look, I get it. We're the main characters. We always win. However,we only have plot armor, and plot armor has weak spots, right? So take a hit every now and then. I'm not taking a baby scratch like you just got a paper cut, get wounded a bit. It shakes the story up, and gives the others something to react to in the midst of fighting. He'll, if you have to, roll a D20 when you go to make an attack or defend from something. You control your own fights of course, but dont just live unscathed through everything. That makes the story boring a stale, and the action feel less genuine.

5.)NO. SKAVEN.

T H E Y. D O. N O T. E X I S T.

Last Edit: Feb 16, 2021 20:47:00 GMT by forg3ttablexs0ul