Aetherus


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Aetherus is a world and the setting of Aetheric Order. Aetherus is a unique world, being entirely comprised of massive floating islands in the sky with an endless, water-like sea of clouds beneath.

The world has a past shrouded in mystery, largely surrounding a massive conflict known as the Ancient War. Little records of the war exist despite its destructive impact on Aetherus as a whole, and much effort is dedicated to uncovering what really happened.

= Regions = Arcadis

Thought to be the isle from which all life in Aetherus sprang forth, Arcadis is home to the largest temple to Gaea, which is said to be where she herself once resided in ancient times. Many often make pilgrimages to Arcadis to visit this massive temple and give prayers and offerings to the Goddess of Life. Thanks to this, Arcadis is a largely religious state.

The land itself is filled to the brim with diverse landscapes- from vast mountain ranges to great plains and lakes, and the cities with unique architecture and impressive shrines and such, old and new, to Gaea and the other gods of Aetherus.

Atmos

The world's first fully mechanical floating city, founded around 150 years ago, Atmos is a bustling megacity supported by a combination of massive machines and powerful magic- a true marvel of engineering. Smaller artificial cities have popped up around the world, serving as checkpoints and all controlled by Atmos, however none quite match the magnificence of the capital city.

Atmos has become the hub of travel and trade throughout Aetherus thanks to their revolutionary technology. Their technology finds use in many areas, from household applications to service constructs to even large-scale warships.

Haikara

Haikara arose from the ashes of the Ancient War, quickly becoming a major power in the world. They hold strong tradition and culture and dislike those who do not honor it. The landscape can range from mountain peaks to thick bamboo forests and cherry blossom trees. Haikara also controls many smaller regions across Aetherus, extending their influence across Aetherus.

While there are many strange groups in Haikara, people speak of some secret organization working in the shadows. These stories range from simple crime to puppeteering the royal bloodline of Haikara itself.

Leau

The isles of Leau are full of magical energy and covered in vast amounts of water. In some places, rivers and lakes seem to be strangely suspended above the void of the sky. Amid the waters lie large, fortified cities. In the grand capital city, the castle of the king is a towering fortress stretching high above the land and filled to the brim with archives of arcane knowledge- some of which is said to have been sourced from Volin.

Often, people see strange reflections in the waters, which they claim belong to the lingering spirits of the deceased- Though the cause of this is still a mystery.

Ezerium

The air temperature around Ezerium is much warmer, and thus the land is filled with a variety of warmer climates- from barren deserts to canyons and savannahs. It is ruled by an iron-fisted bloodline that has been in power for as long as the country has existed and heavily follows the teachings of Golwyn. Their relations with other nations are strained but they are notably allies with Haikara.

Buried in the sands are long destroyed ruins presumed to be from before the Ancient War- remnants of the previous civilization that inhabited Ezerium. However, the ruins are so heavily damaged it is difficult to learn much from them.

Mianach

Mianach's lands contain abundant natural resources- more specifically, high amounts of a unique material known as Dravelite that is highly sought after for its multitude of uses. As a result, the larger nations of the world have been in conflict trying to take control of the area for themselves, including Arcadis, Haikara, Ezerium and Leau.

The land was scarcely populated prior to the discovery of Dravelite, which caused people to flock to the land, hoping to profit off of it. Many people living in Mianach work in mines and similar jobs to find and sell Dravelite and other materials and dislike other nations' attempts at taking control of their livelihoods.

Polaris

Diametrically opposed to Ezerium, Polaris is a cold and frigid land. With barren wastes, frozen moutain ranges and large glaciers and other formations of ice, Polaris is a truly hostile environment. Regardless, people have chosen to make their home here, finding ways to overcome the harsh conditions.

Legends speak of secrets hidden within the ice and mountains as well as some ancient tribe living out of sight.

Florere

Florere is a mystical land of overgrown nature and strange wildlife. Immediately upon entering the land one will witness fantastical sights and environments not seen anywhere else in Aetherus. From the colorful fauna to the vast rivers and stretches of forest, everything in these lands is truly unique.

In the center of the main island lies a massive tree the people call Aldrasil, visible from many parts of the land, which the people say is the source of the biodiversity in Florere. The capital city is built around it, as the people believe the tree to be a gift from Gaea herself.

Isola

The people of Isola have distanced themselves from the rest of Aetherus in an attempt to form their 'perfect society'. As a result, they rarely make contact with the other regions and stay out of all conflict. On rare occasions where visitors were allowed, they were very particular on what they were allowed to see. This has lead to the spreading of strange rumors surrounding the mysterious nation.

Not much is actually known about their current state, but they seem to be doing well.

= Specific Places =

The Great Barrier Sea

Far below the floating isles of Aetherus lies the Great Barrier Sea. It acts much like a normal ocean, however it is entirely made up of clouds. One can survive atop the clouds, though without some kind of magic or transport one will find it difficult to return to the isles above. Things are often found floating amidst the sea, be it debris or other materials fallen from above, to strange creatures that have made their homes in the upper layers of the ocean.

The sea itself has no known bottom to it. Any attempts to descend too far into the great depths below have resulted in the explorers simply not returning or having to be pulled back before they can suffer such a fate, as the pressure of the sea increases greatly the further down you go- bypassing even magical means of surviving such environments.

= Major Events = The Ancient War

Long ago, there was a massive war waging across all of Aetherus. Details on the conflict itself are scarce as the destruction was great, leaving entire civilizations and even islands destroyed in its wake, and all surviving prominent figures in the war are said to have mysteriously vanished after the dust had settled. Regardless, some remains of the war have been found, from mostly destroyed bases and weapons to the much larger Remnants. The end of the war marked a new era for Aetherus, and while the exact length of the pre-war era is currently unknown, the war itself is thought to have encompassed around the last 200 years of the era.

= Other Information = Remnants of the Past

Floating in the sky, lie unusual, massive metallic structures. They are very different in construction from the likes of Atmos, and have been around for as long as recorded history, dating back to the Ancient War- Their original purpose forgotten to time. These monoliths are most often seen around Arcadis, though there are some in other regions. None have been able to enter them, as the structures have been reliably sealed off both physically and magically.

Other scraps of unknown technology have been found around the world, and are often salvaged and sent to Atmos for research purposes or to recycle the materials.

Calendar

The current year in Aetherus is 3103 PW. The current era is known as Post-War (PW), and the previous era is known as Before-War (BW). Every month has 30 days, making a year 360 days long.

Months First Sun, Ferdeas, Morenus, Aralis, Mew, Jin, Jil, Aolean, Seztem, Ontem, Nevtem, Last Moon

Nephilim

Some individuals in Aetherus are born with mysterious properties, ranging from different appearances to supernatural strength and other abilities. These people, dubbed Nephilim, are few and far between, and the cause for their strange abilities is still unknown.

A common indicator of a Nephilim is a series of strange markings somewhere on the body, though other traits have been observed in more extreme cases.

= Story =

= Trivia =

= Gods =
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Gaea, Goddess of Life

Gaea is the goddess of life, nature and light. Gaea is said to be the one who shaped Aetherus, forming the isles and granting it the gift of life. Thus, she is the most widely worshipped god throughout Aetherus, and keeps a watchful eye over its people. She is kind, caring and benevolent. She is also the leader of the pantheon of gods.

Ferion, Goddess of Steel

Ferion is the goddess of the forge, metal, technological advancement and strength. She represents the will of humanity to overcome hardship, no matter the odds- Be that with powerful devices, weaponry or sheer strength alone. She is stalwart and steadfast.

Golwyn, God of War

Golwyn is the god of war, conquest, liberation and glory. He heavily believes in the glory of combat and that his worshippers should fight for what they believe in. However, in the end, war is still war, and will always lead to bloodshed. As they say, war never changes.

Volin, God of Magic

Volin is the god of all things arcane, knowledge and discovery. He is at one with the chaotic energies of magic iteself. He believes that through study and discovery in both the arcane and the world itself, society can grow for the better.

Hesla, Goddess of Healing

Helsa is the goddess of healing, wisdom and protection. She is a disciple of Gaea herself, and thus shares many of her teachings and ways. She cherishes life on Aetherus and all that it brings and wishes for all things that threaten life to be destroyed to protect it.

Lasartes, God of the Arts

Lasartes is the god of all forms of art, as well as freedom, love, and companionship. They represent the creative and carefree spirit of humanity and dislike those who choose to oppress others.

The Siblings, Gods of the Elements

The Siblings are the gods of the core elements that make up the world, weather, as well as balance and stability. Together, they maintain the balance of these elements. The group is comprised of Aijin of Air, Firdin of Fire, Eadin of Earth and Wajin of Water. They are worshipped both as a collective and as individuals.

Exyrus, God of the Afterlife

Exyrus is the god of the cycle of life and death, as well as harvest. Exyrus sees to it that all souls are judged fairly, deciding where they will reside eternally in their afterlife. While they are unbiased in most affairs, they despise those who attempt to defy the cycle excessively- especially in relation to the undead.

Nyluna, Goddess of Night

Nyluna is the goddess of darkness, the moon and the stars. She represents the dark that opposes the light. Where there is light, something lurks in the shadows, and Nyluna wishes to keep that balance in the world. She often attracts the worship of those who choose to live in those shadows.

Malyx, God of Trickery

Malyx is the god of trickery, mischief, and misfortune. They revel in pranks, petty crime and the misfortune of others. As such, Malyx is often worshipped by lowlifes and people who simply wish to cause chaos throughout the world.

Ophion, God of Death

Ophion is the god of death, destruction and pure chaos. He is an enigmatic figure that supposedly wishes for a cleansing wind to cover Aetherus and rid it of humanity completely. Due to this, Ophion is notably distant from the rest of the pantheon and not much is known about him, even to his worshippers.


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