General Lore
This world is a dark one. Barren and void. Covered not in dry soil but with black stones that pierce the heavens. They are more than three times the size of mountains at their smallest. Nothing can survive here. Yet you awaken to this world with the sun shining as bright as ever. This is because of the fact that the landmass called the Edafos exists. It exists surrounded by an ocean of water. For those who live on this land, nothing else exists but the Edafos. This dark world is known as Protogonia, the origin of all.
A thousand years ago this planet was home to a war of all beings. But most importantly between Seraphim and Dragons. Dragons once ruled but were defeated by a being called the First Seraphim and its children called the Descendants. These Descendants make up the remaining people within the Five Kingdoms that exist on what remains of this world's magical land.
During these thousand years, the Descendants formed their own alliances and races. These races that control the world. The Kingdom of Fotia, run by the Tyro race, controls fire and magma. The Kingdom of Tearia, run by the Lassa race, control the oceans and lightning. The Kingdom of Gaia, run by the Oro race, control Earth and Wind. The Kingdom of Vrondi, run by the Sol race, control Light. The Kingdom of Nero, run by the Nayu race, controls Darkness. The other races are Dragon, remnants of the past, and pure Seraphim, the most sought after bloodline.
The Factions that work with or against the Kingdoms are the Taxis - Mercenaries of order. They hunt abominations and other dark evils. They also cure and heal whoever they are allowed. Sureiya - Mercenaries who hunt Dragons. Many Dragons still remain in this world despite being pushed to the outskirts. Magoi - School, and group of spell casting experts. Those who wish to learn about spell casting seek their accumulated knowledge. Aion - Secret group of seraphim liberators. They are comprised entirely of seraphim. Therosi - A secret organization of slavers whose primary target is Seraphim. Dolofon - A secret organization of assassins.
The land is not connected to nor do their waters share seas with other lands. Far out on the horizon is nothing but titan sized mountains that dwarf what previously is known. Like a wall, they keep all safely inside. As a result, none know what is beyond the walls. Those who do hold forbidden knowledge. Texts from Ancient Relics have called what is beyond the walls as no less than pure chaos. All sorts of mythical beasts exist on these lands. They are however dwarfed by the various dragons that dominate the lands. Thus most mythical beasts are rare or scarce. Wildlife matches these beasts and thus even normal creatures like Deer or wolves are enlarged, up to several-fold in some cases. Trees and vegetation grows to scale with this. There are still normal-sized animals as we know who live in small niches across the lands. However, not every single animal can exist or be found here, just the most common.
Currency
All stones that are known exist in this world exist in our world and more. Raw stones can be used as currency along with bartering other goods. There is a main form of payment and that is the Fotian coin. It is marked with a dragon on one side and the bust of a Descended on the other. The Fotians with their lava usage are able to melt down the rare stones to currency. They are the main providers of clean simple money. The rest of the lands welcome the gold, silver, and even diamond coins created by the Fotians. However the Merchants Guild still holds most of the wealth of Descended kind. Besides the Kingdoms.
Bronze 1 = 1 (Our base line)
Silver 1 = 5
Gold 1 = 10
Ruby 1 = 25
Sapphire 1 = 35
Emerald 1 = 45
Diamond 1 = 60
Art & Culture
Art was founded by the Dragons. Painting stones and other solid rock to create symbols. It evolved to a form of media and writing over time. The Dragon Gods were pleased by its development. They wanted more designs and felt that art holds an aura. Each God, or Ruler, designed their own forms of art to symbolize their aura, their essence. Horrid, beautiful, calm, and more feelings were expressed through different mediums. Resulting in the many different forms of art to this day. The innovators of technology and art are the Tearians, the Lassa kingdom. With their technology to create visual art through lights, and music based on pure technology. All other forms of music in the world is traditional and old world. Only the Lassa have modern and advanced art and music. Fotia - The erected volcanoes play a part in their culture. Their most absorbed medium of art is physical art. From Martial arts, dancing to juggling and fire spitting. Any physical activity that can put people in awe is art to Fotians. Even the bloody battles of the arenas. Gaia- Their most appreciated art form is sculpture. To form earth or matter into master pieces. From pottery and building structures to dolls and royal busts. Forming something from matter to depict something is the Gaians choice of art. Vrondi- The chosen form of art of the people of Vrondi is a direct result of their love of colors. The multiple colors formed by light and its reflections. Rainbows are adored. They use their access to many different colors of plants to create paint. They use this paint to make pieces of art that are colorful. There's never enough paintings and never enough colors. Nero- The art of the blind are words. Poetry and symbols on paper able to be felt when touched. Words that can form meanings that reach directly to the soul. The expansion of vocabulary is their specialty. The majority word recordings are done by the Nero. However they primarily use their knowledge amongst themselves. Only selling their works which later become staples of the rest of Descended kind. Tearianaris- The Tearians are a heavily technological society. This makes their art fairly vast in mediums. However their main attraction is their use of electric sound waves to create music. Able to replicate the majority of melodies, and even record and project voices. This is the closest to modern music.
Sex
Intimacy through out the Descended world is open and experimental. There are no laws against any sexual activity between two consenting individuals who are citizens. Slaves and noncitizens of any Kingdom, or are not important in some manner to a capital, do not require consent to be used sexually by any citizen. Though noncitizens who are important may be reprimanded their overall penalty will be a slap on the wrist. If a slave rapes a slave that is up to the owners to judge. The majority of Descendants are hetero, the second majority are bi, then homo, and finally everything else in a smaller percentage. There is very little to no shame for exploring sexual ideals and exploits. As Descended often enjoy new and exciting things as long as it is pleasant. Only Royalty and Lords find it distasteful to divulge in hedonism. Causing those beneath them a sense of shame unknown to the those of no high class.
Religion
The Divine are looked upon as gods, but many believe various things for various reasons. The branches of beliefs are as such. Most of those of the anthropomorphic form and of those who are dragons among descended believe in a eternal dragon and that the dragon lords of before were eternal gods that live elsewhere now. This eternal dragon however exists and has always existed within the planet and is the nourishing force behind their souls and the powers they wield. Those who die and do not ascend return to the dragon to nourish it for reproducing a new life. The descended believe that the divines are their god. He looks after them from afar in many different ways. However his presence is within each of their souls allowing them to do manipulations and manifestations. They consider that they all ascend in some way or another. Those who do not return however are taken by the seraphim to his kingdom in the heavens above. Though many pick and choose which are worthy of ascension, and those who do not get to his kingdom are taken by a hungry dark spirit that resides in the shadows. There are those who follow the belief that the blood of a seraphim grants power beyond that of their god. That there can be a way for new gods to form through this. By combining blood and harnessing the inner most power of the soul one can ascend without dying. These believers are secretive. These people are all members of the Therosi. A silent but terrible faction growing into a cult and perhaps if they are right a god hood.
Governing
The Governing powers all rely on the Kingdoms and their lordships, the Kings and Queens. Only those born within or well connected enough to become a citizen can live or enter into the capitals. The remaining people outside the walls of the lands are under serfdom. These people who farm and feed the people within the cities are known as Nomads. They reside outside as farmers living off the land and harvesting many crops under the control of their lords. However they do at times move from place to place, still under the rule of whomever lands they reside. Two additional hindrances on the nomads are the dragons and the bandits. Both want nothing more but to feed off of them. This makes the protection from the Kingdoms appealing. While still life within the cities are safe and plentiful. The Kings and Queens are the main authorities of power. But like gods they are only considered seeking if the interpretation of their discernment is not replicated by the high judges appointed by them. These judges are either relatives or other high bred families with close ties to the current Kings & Queens. As such they receive a form of diplomatic immunity. Each citizen is given rights to see a judge and go through trial. Those outside the lands are free game even if their slaying are well known. The only who live within the cities are the slaves of a citizen and these slaves have no rights. Underneath the high judges are those with family or friendly ties to the high judges or the kings & queens. They are received as royalty and receive a form of diplomatic immunity themselves. Though blatant harm of a citizen is still punishable by death. This is why many of these ilk are inclined to perform in important roles. High commanders, royal tamers/ slavers, treasurers, diplomats, and more. This extra net of importance allows even more over look of their wrong doings. The remaining powers are the enforcers and those with other important tasks. The guards and soldiers are the enforcers and every kingdom has them. The mystics, spies/ informants, religious & historical scholars, assassins, elite & royal trainers and more are people with important tasks who are considered higher than your average citizen. Though no citizen is beneath many slaves. There are only the slaves of the arenas that get recognition enough to become more important than a citizen. Though these cases are rare and short lived.