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Background

Thousands of years ago, on the plane of Alent, something catastrophic happened, causing the water levels to rise and flood the entire plane. Thousands of species, both sentient and non, were wiped out, never to be seen again.

However, from this tragedy, sprang life. The Lokai, a species of dragon-blooded humanoids, become one of the dominant species of the plane. They enstated a rule on the largest remaining landmass - Orithan - in the name of their forebearer: the last dragon of Alent, Kor'lokai, who perished prior to the Cataclysm.

The humans scattered across of the face of Alent, gripping a foothold wherever they could. The humans had been Alent's greatest mages, but the plane's mana source was damaged, perhaps forever. Seeking a way to eek out a living, they became desperate. Some lived in peace with the Lokai of Orithan, creating a great nation that survives to this day. Others, feeing the loss of green mana on Alent, sought another source for their druidic magics. They came to the Mother Tree, a massive growth that managed to survive the Cataclysm still rooted to Alent's true ground. The humans formed a sect, hiding the nature of the Mother Tree, and created city-sized ships to sail the Worldsea. They acted as merchants to all of the smaller nations and to Orithan, spreading knowledge, culture, and goods across Alent.

The last group of humans tapped into a unknown sorce of power, one that hadn't existed before the Cataclysm. It was wild and untamed, a direct result of the Cataclysm. They named it 'Chaos' and the Chaotists, along with their artificier allies, created a massive man-made landmass known as Braidholm, a structure that remains tethered to the Worldsea and continues to grow and stretch as its masters deem necessary.

A third species grew from the Cataclysm. They were mysterious and had little to no contact with the other races. They lived beneath the waters of Alent and called themselves 'Homerid.' They appeared to be more crustacian than anything, but appeared to be vastly intellegent and strong. They remain huddled beneath the waves, lurking in their living colonies. The only contact they have with the surface is through the strange Lokai called the Seawardens, Lokai who are aligned with blue mana and give up a life on land to tend to the Worldsea.

The first Emperor-King of Orithan discovered a secluded island a distance from the coast of Orithan. The island consited of a tall, obsidian spire and a marshy coast. The Spire became a useful place for the ruling body of Orithan to place criminals, exiles, and other unsavories. Recently, however, the Spire has begun to shoot up noxious, black fumes that cover the island in a dark mist. Since that time, horrible monsters have begun to attack Orithan, pressing the nation into a corner.

In Braidholm, the Chaotists are rapidly losing control of the power they wield. Chaos pulses with a life all its own.

The Godship Sect has become even more xenophobic and paranoid and has ceased their murchant duties. They have taken to piracy, kidnapping small vessiles and placing their crew in indentured servitiude in the bowels of their great ships.

The Homerids have become restless, disconnecting their giant colonies and wandering the Worldsea, as if searching for something.

Alent's society is falling apart at its seems. What side will you take?

People

The Lokai - The lokai claim desendence from the last dragon of Alent, Kor'lokai. While they look human to the eye, every lokai has at least one draconic feature about him, from scaled skin and eyeridges to wicked claws and flightless wings. They are larger than humans and can live about twice as long. They are fairly resistant to most diseases and are a generally hearty race.

The Orithani - Rulers of the nation of Orithan, the Orithani are a shamanistic culture aligned with red and white mana, stemming from the features of their home. They curry favors from the spirits that guard Orithan and use their shamanistic magics to aid them in battle.

The coastal villages support a thriving fishing culture and trade with the Godship Sect, until recently.

-Emperor King Glyndwr - Leader of the Orithani nation. A wise and respected ruler.

-Kor'lokai's Chosen - The most skilled warriors in Orithan, Adepts who use their combat prowess and spiritual Patrons to protect the peace of Orithan.

--General Tamale Glyndwr- The leader of the Chosen. An honorably, well-known lokai who sought out Ko'tahl for some unknown purpose. Now MIA after the events in the Blasted Lands.

--Rawn- A surly guard at the Keep of Korgard, he seems convinced that Tamale is a traitor to his country.

-Wagoneers- Roaming merchant, tinkerers and traders who criss-cross Orithan selling their wares and services.

--Gordon- The leader of the caravan that found Hyku and hired him as a body guard.

--Svena- Gordon's daughter and a talented shaman.

Seawardens - Occasionally, an abbarent lokai will be born with an atunement to blue mana. For their entire lives, these lokai will feel a call to the Worldsea. They are destined to follow it. Forming ships out of the Worldsea itself, these lokai venture out to the waters. While their true purpose is unknown, these secretive lokai have a very important role to play; they are the only liasons that the Homerid trust.

The Exiled - Orithani sentenced to the Spire from crimes, real or imagined. Recently, since the fumes began to spew from the Spire, criminals haven't been sent there, but horrors have begun to assult Orithan. Several of these monsters look like twisted and gruesome Lokai. The entire island generates black mana, as do the creatures that come from it.

The Barbarians - Lokai who live on the other side of the Spine. While most of the Orithani do not even know they exist - or believe them a myth if they do - they are quite real, and vicious. They live on a volcanic, tainted land that has made them into vicious, wild creatures.

Humans - Humans are the most populous species of Alent, with the ability and will to survive most anywhere.

--?????- A sanguimancer (blood speaker) Ko'tahl and Liana met on their way to Korgard. Little is known about this man other than the fact that he is very, very ugly.

Chaotists - In the wake of the Cataclysm, many humans turned to a new source to draw upon. This was the power of Chaos. While Chaos is unpredictable at times, it is impossible to deny its powers. The Chaotists claim to be able to use it to do anything. The Chaotists, while drawing on no true mana source, have compared their powers to blue and red mana. However, while the ends may be similar, the means are quite different.

Artificers - The artificers of Braidholm, while much more unorganized than the Chaotists, are much more trustworthy. Since they do not dabble with the powers of Chaos, they keep their wits about them more. It is for this reason that the Chaotists leave the maintenence and defence of Braidholm to their non-magical comrades. The two sects are quite friendly to each other and assist each other as needed.

The Godship Sect - Riding the waves of the Worldsea in ships spawned from the Mother Tree, the Godship Sect at one time controlled all of the commerce and travel on Alent. In recent times, however, this has all gone awry and the sect as turned to piracy and menace in the name of their 'religion'.

Orithani Humans - Many humans live and work in Orithan alongside the lokai. Some have even ascended to the level of shaman. The current Emperor-King even has several human aides, as well as a human shaman in his court. Humans are trusted members of Orithani society, even if they are phycisally weaker and squisher than their lokai 'cousins.'

--Uri- A friendly, slightly overweight guard at Korgard Keep. He is a crackshot with his matchlock, although he rarely gets the chance to show off.

Homerids - Little is known of the hulking lobster-people. They seem non-hostile to the nations of Alent, but there have been a few reports of them attacking Godship envoys.

Spirits - Spirits are abstract beings that reside in the spiritual domain seperated from the material world. Usually, they have little influence on the material realm, but when called upon by shaman, they can have a powerful impact, sometimes for very destructive purposes.

-The Thunderhorse- A spirit of revenge, Svena called upon it to save Hyku from a particularly nasty quillcat. As its name suggests, it is a large steed that has the power to create lightning storms.

Patrons - Patrons are powerful spirits that have entered into a contract with Kor'lokai's Chosen, forming a powerful bond between spirit and lokai.

-The Lord of the Open Road- A spirit representing freedom from obligations and rules. A fun loving, somewhat capercious spirit, he is currently guarding Ko'tahl and Liana for reasons that only he knows. During a dream quest, he pushed Ko'thal to become one of Kor'lokai's Chosen, a goal that seems to have succeeded. It takes the form of a large, ferret-like creature, although this may just be a reflection of it's mount.

-The Power of the Depths- An immense spirit taking the form of a whale, it entered into a pact with Ko'tahl at the end of his dream quest. It's true power has yet to be seen.

General Tamale strode into the small fishing village, adorned in full armor. The hero of the Emperor-King's forces and one of the leaders of Orithan's defenses, Tamale cast an imposing figure over many lokai. While he wasn't the largest lokai around, he was well muscled and his teeth fit together with sharp points, giving him a strange grin that he wasn't afaird to unnerve his opponents with. One eye was covered with a dark patch, a causality from a few years back fighting the Spirespawn.

He cast his monocular gaze over the village. He was looking for someone, a lokai who would soon come to be known throughout Orithan. Ko'tahl Briggs may not have known that destiny had set him to the path of glory and honor, but Lady Destiny had had her eye upon him for quite some time now.

Ko'tahl heaved the huge sack of fresh fish onto his back and stepped onto shore. Shifting the weight of the catch to his shoulder, he began to trudge up the rocky shore and towards his village. Behind him, his father gathered the fishing supplies from the boat. The day was drawing to an end and there were many fish to gut and clean. Tomorrow's sale would be a big one.

Tamale, seeing his target working his latest catch, strode over to the fisherman, ignoring the other lokai and humans around him. They weren't important at the moment; Ko'tahl was.

Tamale approached the giant lokai from behind and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Ko'tahl Briggs? Congratulations. You're being conscripted." Tamale smiled with his toothy grin. Conscripted for what, however...that's a very different story.

A flock of scaly, gull-like creatures stared at Liana as she intruded upon their roof. One of them squawked noisily, glaring at the food she had stolen. "Grrrawwk?"

The scaled birds stared at her for a moment, then did the exact opposite of flee, which is this case happened to be charging directly at her while screaming in response.

One of the creatures swooped down and snatched the food out of Liana's hand as she dove. It stood, looking stupidly pleased with itself.