Welcome to Gaia! ::

The City of Empyrean is set in a temperate climate, with moderately cold winters (seeing a small amount of snowfall) and moderately hot summers (not reaching over 35 degrees C). To the north lies what remains of the Old Forests, to the west the grazing plains and tundra, to the east a barren waste of rock and ravenes, and to the south the open sea.

Many years ago, there were no walls around the City of Empyrean, nor were there such vigilant Magical protections being cast. Now these things are thought of as mere necessity, and have become a way of life.
Although the War with the Outsiders is nearly ended, it still wages in some parts beyond the walls, and from time to time the Empyreans are forced to face them directly, sending their Gatekeepers to beat back the advances. While the Outsiders have nothing but science on their side, the Empyreans have both science and magic to their credit and because of this are heavily targeted as a threat by Outsider troops, and for the same reasons the Empyreans believe themselves superior to the Outsiders.

Shortly after the War began, the Outsiders used an unknown chemical agent that forever changed the Empyrean race. In fact, there are some who say the chemical is what made the Empyreans what they now are. The chemical was mant to kill off the Empyreans, but instead it rendered them barren. No empyrean can bear children, not even with the help of Magic. Because of this, the significance of intimacy and indeed of sexual intercourse lost all connotation of breeding, and has disolved into mere pleasure, love or attraction. Eventually the need to couple with a member of the opposite gender became a moot point, and now Empyreans merely choose that which they find attractive, regardless of gender.
While some (especially some Tribal Magic groups) believe that the Alignments should stick to their own, this is by no means the norm, and most Empyreans are drawn to their opposite in both Alignment and Orientation.
Further, as there are no parents in Empyrean, there are no marriages. While some dedicate themselves to a sole individual, not all find this a necessity. There is no institution for Marriage, and even if a marriage-like bond were enacted, it would have no bearing on the social or monetary status of the individuals involved.
The Question inevitably arrises then, how do the Empyreans propegate their species? This is a testy subject at the best of times, and you will hear many conflicting answers on the subject. The only ones who know for certain where Empyreans come from are the Stage 3 Empyreans who have left the city, learned the truth and returned. Some of these Stage 3 Empyreans return with young children swaddled in blankets or clothing, others come back empty-armed and shortly after are seen taking mysterious children to the White District.
The truth of the matter, O Best Beloved, is that there are no Empyrean infants in existence. Empyreans are not born, but transformed and made. Outsider children are stolen from raids on Outsider encampments, or Circle Magic is used to summon them from their parents beds. They are chosen for their beauty, intlligence, promise or other such attributes and then fused with one of the Essences. The Fusion of an Outsider child with an Empyrean Essence gives the child the colourations of their Alignment, and begins them on the path to become a true Empyrean. Through education, training and practise with controlling the Essence fused into their bodies, the young Stage Zero Empyreans begin the transition into Stage 1 in which their Empyrean markings begin to show through. This Transition continues until Stage Three when they are legally considered True Empyreans.
Although there have been whispers from members of the chorus regarding Stage Two Empyreans that upon leaving the City have seen or heard something beyond the walls that has made them desert their kin and run from the City never to return...these are never shared with other Empyreans of the City and it is forbidden to suggest a lack of loyalty to the City of Empyrean or a lack of Fealty to the Metatrons.

The White District is composed of the school, and ends at the School's outer walls. The school itself contains an auditorium and an eating hall at its centre, and classrooms that ring out from there, seperated by the Professor's rooms and then surrounded by the dormitories. In the outermost section of the school are the buildings that connect the school with the outer-lying districts of the Green, Red, Blue and Black Districts. The Stage Zeros are forbidden to exit these outer buildings, and can be tried in front of the Chorus for breaking this rule. The buildings that border the White District with the other colour districts are: the Library leading to the Black District, the Arena leading to the Red District, the Pool and Music Hall leading to the Blue District and the Flora Gardens leading to the Green District.
The Classes are held generally in the classrooms, but certain classes are taught in the rooms provided for them. For instance, Physical Education generally takes place in the Arena when duels are not in progress, or in the pool, when music lessons are not in progress. Botany lessons happen in the Flora Gardens when hands-on classes are required. Study and research for papers is done in the Library both in and outside of class time.
Certain events, such as duels and performances can be attended and witnessed by Stage Zeros, although most professors will make you write a paper regarding your experiences if you miss class time to do so.

Melancholia District

Cholera District

The Current Metatrons:

While the Metatrons are not seen by most Empyreans (Save the Chorus) Their names are well known through Empyrean City.

Currently the Metatrons are:

Sanguine: Nova

Melancholy: Mephistophiles

Phlegm: Fortuna

Choleric: Rasputin

Announcement!!

Hey folks, a little bit of Empyrean culture came up in conversation, and I thought you all should know in case you weren't previously aware.

Monogamy is a Breeder's concept.

Seeing as how Empyreans can't breed, single-partner relationships are not an expected concept. It is perfectly natural for an Empyrean to enter relationships as based on how they respond to the people the interact with, without concepts of Fidelity or Monogamy. Since there are no concepts of Marriage, there are no restraints on why someone should not entertain meaningful relations with other individuals. Having interest in, Dameron, for instance, does not mean that you are uncapable of having interest in melonia. They are two different individuals, offering different things. It would not be considered Cheating.

Because the players come from a society were fidelity and monogamy are expected, I think we all seem to be under the impression that we ought to develope a single one-true-love and that's the end of it.

But as individuals grow older and change through experiences and interests, their connections with people may mature, and grow stronger, or become a more friendly basis, or become more diverse or adventurous in appetite. This is considered natural, and in fact healthy.

Now, while some of the single partner relationships make sense, this is primarily based on the concept of the Character's needs and emotions, and their young stage of life. While some are possessive in nature, or withdrawn from social interaction may direct them into selecting a single person to trust and open up to so that they can otherwise focus and concentrate on life and society. Others of a more curious, free-spirited, or sexual nature should have no reason not to explore these desires, and should not be met with immediate suspicion of lack on interest (unless the character in question has a severe pre-existing self-confidence issue, etc.) or outrage since there's nothing extraordinary or unacceptable about this behaviour.

So, please keep this in mind for your Empyreans. I know for many of you it may be difficult to switch the mindset to understand the emotions of an individual in this situation, since it is so far from our own world and its demands on our social behaviour. But think instead, that this is a place where you are free to explore the Empyrean society and learn where the characters themselves wish to go. It may take you to unexpected places, and teach you more about your Empyr's emotions and inner thoughts than you had imagined could be there.

ie: I had no idea Grave would end up wanting to be with three indidivuals, or that Pyou would sexually be a rather free (and curious) bird. On the other hand, Danna had the opportunity to have two, and selected only one. See where the roads take you~

And if this is confusing, or unclear, please talk to me so that I can hopefully clear up anything that remains hazy about any aspect of Empyr world, culture, society et al.

Thanks all for playing!!