Aerenda: Difference between revisions

The universe of '''Aerenda''' is a vast and intricate science fantasy realm, blending elements of cyberpunk, magic, and cosmic mythology. Created by the divine beings '''Ontea''' and '''Medriel''', Aerenda is composed of multiple realms and diverse races, forever shaped by the struggle between light and shadow.

==Pantheons of Aerenda==

===Chaotic Pantheon===

*[[Melakor]], God of Domination and Control – Wielding power through fear and submission. Tyrants and warlords invoke him.

*[[Midra]], Goddess of Nightmares and Dreams – Haunting the dreamscape, she influences the subconscious fears and ambitions.

*[[Merina]], Goddess of the Abyss – Mistress of the void, embodying despair and existential dread. Deep-sea cults and void magi revere her.

*[[Griborg]], God of Destruction and Chaos – Worshiped by anarchists and berserkers, spreading ruin indiscriminately.

*[[Fithril]], Goddess of the Undead and Cannibalism – Necromancers and dark cults honor her, seeking to transcend mortality.

*[[Alinkar]], God of Tricks and Deals – The ultimate broker of sinister pacts, appealing to thieves, smugglers, and merchants of deception.

*[[Lusifer]], God of Lies and Deceit – Master manipulator, inspiring spies, politicians, and con artists.

==The Three Divine Guardians==

Fearing imbalance, Ontea and Medriel sent three Benevolent Gods to Mortus, tasked with safeguarding the world and its natural harmony.

*Elarin, the Verdant Shepherd – Guardian of forests and wildlife, protector of the Faunia.

*Solmara, the Blooming Flame – Keeper of the Floria, nurturing life and healing the wounded land.

*Vardros, the Stone Sentinel – A stalwart guardian of balance, ensuring that nature and civilization coexist.

These gods became revered by mortals, worshiped as bridges between the divine and the mundane. Yet even their presence could not fully suppress the growing shadow.

===Light Pantheon Artifacts===

*Amara's Veil (Amara, Goddess of Mercy): A shimmering cloak that heals allies and protects the wearer from harm.

*Chrono Sigil (Ildor, God of Time and Order): A bracer that can slow or accelerate time in brief bursts.

*Arandar’s Beacon (God of Peace and Faith): A radiant staff that pacifies foes and strengthens allies' resolve.

*Felimar’s Aegis (God of Fatherhood and Heroes): An indestructible shield that inspires those who stand behind it.

*Tetria’s Mirrorblade (Goddess of Beauty and Seduction): A sword that mesmerizes foes with illusions of their deepest desires.

===Dark Pantheon Artifacts===

*Melakor’s Crown (God of Domination and Control): A blackened helm that enslaves the minds of others.

*Fithril’s Grimoire (Goddess of the Undead and Cannibalism): A book bound in flesh, allowing the user to raise and command the dead.

*Griborg’s Warbrand (God of Destruction and Chaos): A massive, jagged weapon that destabilizes reality with each swing.

*Alinkar’s Coin (God of Tricks and Deals): A cursed coin that grants great wealth and fortune, but at unpredictable and often deadly costs.

 

* '''Culture''': Diverse and adaptable, ranging from corporate elites in neon-lit megacities to tribal communities in remote regions.

* '''Religion''': Most worship the '''Light Gods''', though underground cults dedicated to the '''Dark Gods''' quietly grow.

* '''Legacy''': Ruins on other planets hint that fragments of humanity’s once-great empire still linger, waiting to be rediscovered.

=== '''Elves (Elfia)''' – ''The Starlight Seekers'' ===

The '''Elfia''' hail from distant star-faring civilizations, gifted with natural magical affinity and longevity. Once rivals of humanity in the '''First War in Heaven''', the Elfia now tread carefully, burdened by ancient scars.

* '''Culture''': Stratified societies valuing knowledge, beauty, and tradition. Noble houses hold vast power.

* '''Religion''': Primarily devoted to the '''Light Gods''', though fringe sects turn to darker deities.

* '''Magic & Technology''': Masters of blending arcane forces with stellar technology.

=== '''Anthria (Beastfolk)''' – ''Children of the Wild'' ===

Anthropomorphic beings embodying various animal traits, the '''Anthria''' are native to '''Mideria'''. They range from feline hunters to avian scholars, deeply connected to the natural world.

* '''Culture''': Tribally organized but widely integrated into modern society. Many work in industrial sectors or serve as mercenaries.

* '''Religion''': Strongly spiritual, worshiping nature spirits, though younger generations adopt worship of the '''Light Gods'''.

* '''Appearance''': Diverse forms reflecting countless animal species.

=== '''Fell Folk (Drekia)''' – ''The Darkened Kin'' ===

The '''Fell Folk'''—orcs, trolls, ogres, and goblins—descend from the '''Drekia''', the repentant children of the '''Dark Gods'''. Historically feared and the cause of many wars, they are now largely integrated into society.

* '''Culture''': A blend of ancient war traditions and modern lifestyles. Many serve as laborers, soldiers, or gladiators.

* '''Religion''': Divided worship, honoring both '''Light''' and '''Dark Gods'''.

* '''Feral Tribes''': Wild, untamed clans still cling to ancient ways in remote regions.

=== '''Littlefolk''' – ''The Deep Dwellers'' ===

Comparable to dwarves, gnomes, and halflings, the '''Littlefolk''' emerged from beneath '''Mideria''', bringing with them advanced subterranean technologies.

* '''Culture''': Renowned for craftsmanship, ingenuity, and intricate underground cities.

* '''Religion''': Mostly devoted to deities of creation and craftsmanship. However, some follow dark deities tied to the underworld.

* '''Society''': Highly communal, with strong family and guild structures.

=== Lesser and Spirit Tribes ===

==== '''Faunia''' – ''Spirits of Beasts'' ====

Pure spirits embodying the wild and untamed aspects of nature.

* '''Nature''': Instinctive and primal.

* '''Allies''': Protected by the '''Anthria'''.

==== '''Floria''' – ''Spirits of Flora'' ====

Gentle spirits tied to growth, fertility, and the natural world.

* '''Nature''': Nurturing and serene.

! Species !! Primary Alignments !! Religious Affinity

| '''Humans''' || Adaptable, fractured || Light Gods, Dark Gods (minor cults)

| '''Elfia''' || Hierarchical, mystical || Light Gods (majority), fringe Dark God sects

| '''Anthria''' || Tribal, spiritual || Nature spirits, Light Gods

| '''Fell Folk''' || Divided, conflict-prone || Light and Dark Gods

| '''Littlefolk''' || Communal, inventive || Crafting deities, some underworld gods

| '''Faunia''' || Wild, instinctive || Nature spirits

| '''Floria''' || Gentle, nurturing || Nature spirits

* '''The Anthria's Forgotten Pact''': Ancient oaths sworn between the '''Anthria''' and the spirits of '''Aetheria'''.

* '''The Great Stoneheart of the Goria''': A mythical artifact said to awaken the deep forges of the '''Littlefolk'''.

In that endless emptiness, two mortal souls dreamed. Ontea, the Weaver of Light, and Medriel, the Shaper of Forms, were visionaries in a forgotten world. In their mortal lives, they spun tales of distant stars, gods, and worlds, their imaginations unknowingly giving shape to a fragile glimmer in the void—a drop of cosmic dew.

Upon their ascension to divinity, gifted by [[God]], Ontea and Medriel beheld this fragile spark—their own forgotten creation. Now with limitless power, they nurtured the drop into a vast and vibrant cosmos. They wove Aerenda from the threads of their mortal stories, birthing realms, gods, and mortal beings alike.

From their combined will, Ontea and Medriel forged four great realms within Aerenda, each with purpose and balance.

===Celestia – The Realm of Light===

A radiant plane, shimmering with endless starlight and ethereal palaces. Here, Ontea and Medriel birthed their Spirit Children—pure, radiant souls destined to populate the universe. To guide them, the creators forged the Lesser Benevolent Gods, entrusted with nurturing the spirits and maintaining order.

===Drekoria – The Realm of Shadow===

===Aetheria – The Realm of Magic===

===Mortus – The Mortal Plane===

The material plane where physical life thrives. Mideria, the most prominent world in Mortus, was sculpted to house Ontea and Medriel’s Spirit Children in mortal form. Mortus is a realm of life, death, and rebirth, where souls are tested and shaped by their experiences.

Ontea and Medriel divided their Spirit Children into five great tribes, each crafted with unique roles and destinies.

===Elfia – The Starlight Seekers===

Graceful and wise, the Elfia were attuned to the stars and magic. They were the first sent forth, given dominion over the stars themselves. From distant worlds, they forged civilizations of knowledge and power.

===Mania – The Bold Explorers===

Adventurous and innovative, the Mania embraced change and exploration. They roamed the stars beside the Elfia but were ever driven to reshape and conquer.

===Goria – The Stoneborn===

Hardy and steadfast, the Goria turned away from the stars. Drawn to the depths, they carved great halls beneath the worlds, hoarding the secrets and treasures of stone and metal.

===Anthria – The Wildborn===

Compassionate and adaptable, the Anthria were sent to Mideria to protect and guide the lesser spirits of Faunia (beasts) and Floria (flora). They took forms reflecting the wild and natural world, becoming its silent guardians.

===Drekia – The Darkened Kin===

Born from the gods exiled to Drekoria, the Drekia were forged in shadow. When they repented, Ontea and Medriel granted them freedom to choose their path. Yet, the darkness of their origin remained, and in Mortus, they became beings of great contention—often distrusted, yet undeniably powerful.

Faunia – Spirits of Beasts, embodiments of instinct and the wild.

Floria – Spirits of Plants, nurturing forces of growth and renewal.

The Anthria aligned with these spirits, adopting their forms to maintain the natural balance of Mideria.

To guide their mortal children toward growth, Ontea and Medriel established the Cycle of Rebirth:

Each soul is granted three mortal lives in Mortus.

Those who falter are either reborn or face judgment by the gods, with some cast into Drekoria to wander its shadows.

However, this gift of free will proved dangerous. The Drekia, with their complex nature, often strayed, and their darker impulses seeded conflict throughout Mortus.

As the Drekia’s darker kin grew restless, ancient resentments stirred. Whispers from Drekoria reached Mortus, twisting the hearts of mortals. Divisions among the tribes deepened.

The Elfia and Mania grew wary of the Drekia, blaming them for the creeping darkness.

The Goria withdrew into their mountain halls, distrustful of the surface wars.

The Anthria struggled to mediate, caught between duty and survival.

The Fell Folk—orcs, trolls, ogres, and goblins—emerged from the bloodlines of the Drekia. Though many sought peace, old prejudices painted them as threats. Tribal wars scarred Mortus.

It is said that when Judgement Day comes, the souls of Aerenda will gather before Ontea and Medriel. The righteous shall ascend, the wicked cast into Drekoria.

The benevolent gods of Celestia often aid mortals on their journey, offering guidance and protection. They manifest through dreams, omens, or through chosen champions.

From Drekoria, the Dark Gods seek to break the Cycle. They offer shortcuts to power and false promises of ascension, ensnaring mortals in endless damnation. To them, Judgement Day is an opportunity to seize Aerenda itself.

As the cycles turn and Judgement Day approaches, every choice becomes a thread in the grand tapestry of Aerenda.

At the foundation of Aerenda lies the unbreakable law of the Cycle of Rebirth, established by the creators Ontea and Medriel. Every soul is bound to this cycle, destined to live, die, and be reborn until they fulfill their divine purpose.

Each soul must complete three virtuous lives to ascend into Ontea and Medriel’s Kingdom in Celestia. There is no limit to how many times a soul may be reborn—be it a fourth, fifth, or even a hundredth life—until they succeed. Only when a soul has lived three good lives will it transcend mortality.

Whether born into poverty or royalty, peace or war, every life is a new chance to prove one’s worth.

It is foretold that one day, Judgement Day will come. The Cycle of Rebirth will end, and every soul will stand before Ontea and Medriel for final judgment.

Souls who have completed three good lives will ascend to Celestia, becoming part of the divine kingdom, free from suffering and mortality.

Ontea and Medriel – The Silent Watchers

Only on Judgement Day will they reveal their will.

A legend tells of a soul that has lived countless lifetimes but has never succeeded in living three virtuous lives. This Shattered Soul is said to be destined to either become a new god of balance or the harbinger of Aerenda's undoing.

Some rare souls are said to remember fragments of their past lives. Known as Veilwalkers, they are believed to be nearing the completion of their third life. These individuals are often gifted—or cursed—with visions of past and future, walking a thin line between salvation and damnation.

As Judgement Day looms ever closer, the mortals of Aerenda must decide:

The High Marshal who led the Humans during the First War in Heaven was given a second chance after centuries in Celestia. He returned as a Champion of Balance, wielding a blade of starlight to hunt those who would reignite the ancient war. Some say he walks Mideria still, watching for signs of the Dark Gods’ return.

{{Quote|Should the balance between light and shadow falter,and the hearts of mortals turn wholly to chaos or order,the weavings of Aerenda shall fray, and all stories will end.|Apocryphal Prophecy of the End}}