From the moment of his birth, Raybern's destiny was sealed. The Great Seer 'Will of the Woods' came to his parents shortly after his birth and delivered a prophecy that would forever shape his life: he was to become the Chosen One of the Dul'aruu, the Champion of Light that would watch over the Immortal Valley for all time.
Despite this grand and lofty destiny, Raybern's life has been anything but. Born to two accomplished mages, he was instructed in the art of the arcane from the time he was an infant, but never made much headway. His informal studies came to an end when both of his parents died of an illness that had spread into their town of Cai'each from the Veins to the west. He and his brother Damas were sent to live with their uncle Cruthal, the Lord of Glu'lodd.
During their childhood they were trained in the ways of the sword (at which Damas excelled) and the arcane (at which Damas was incapable and Raybern was terrible). Upon Damas reaching his age of maturity they returned to their hometown and settled in the cottage left to them by their parents.
Over the years Raybern has become somewhat of a laughing stock among his peers. His lack of arcane prowess after so many years of studying have made him the butt of many jokes, compounded by his so-called 'destiny' in which he is supposed to play the role of powerful mage and Champion of the Light. He spends his days training under the watchful eye of Will of the Woods, while trying (unsuccessfully) to gain entrance into the Mage's College of Cai'each to better himself.
In spite of the fact that his destiny seems to have been meant for someone else, Raybern is a caring young Solgria who wants nothing more than to prove himself worthy of the fate bestowed upon him but is fully aware that he is incapable of doing so.
In the Pool of Souls, an Ancient Evil has awoken. The Void returns, and none are safe.
Worthy or not, Raybern's trials have begun.
Fate, it seems, will wait for no one.
Prominent Races
Mogliru is shaped by its people ... people as different as night and day, and yet somehow so similar ...
The ImmortalsThe Elders
The Solgria
The Vogg
The Immortals
"They are my children, and they hunger ..."
~ Lisseria of the Immortal Forest
The Immortals were the first beings to walk on the surface of Mogliru. Created by the Dul'aruu and Cruth'anam himself, the Immortals lived harmoniously alongside the
dragons who once flew through the endless skies.
Perfect beings of god-like power, their time on Mogliru is often referred to as the Age of Immortals, or the Age of Perfection.
All things changed after the Collapse. The world was sundered beyond repair, and the lands beyond the Immortal Valley of Mogliru were burned and tainted by the wrath of the gods who had used them as their holy battlefield. Scattered and nearly decimated, the Immortals retreated into safe places across the Immortal Valley and waited for the gods to come for them.
Years passed, and the Immortals grew frightened. Their dragon allies were no more, and the Dul'aruu had not deigned them worthy of approach ... and yet, they were not alone.
A race of bipedal creatures who would one day be called the Elders roamed the Immortal Valley, claiming to have been there for ages, hiding from the Immortals. After the Collapse, seeing no other people, these Elders had begun building towns and monuments in reverence of the Holy Dul'aruu.
The Immortals struck a bargain with their new neighbors: so long as the Elders avoided lands actively occupied by Immortal beings, they would be allowed to claim the rest of the Immortal Valley as their own.
Centuries later, the Immortals are rare, and not a single mortal alive has met one in many years.
The Elders
"We are what came before ... and now, we are gone."
~ Willmial the Silver Mage, Last of the Elders
The Elders or Eldari were a race of immortal, infinitely powerful beings who wielded magic as easily as a child plays with a toy.
They were tall, thin people with silvery, ashen skin and silver hair. Their eyes were a pure silver, and their garments reflected their physical appearance.
In the Age of Immortals, long before the Collapse sundered the world, the Elders ruled the Immortal Valley alongside fierce Dragons and cunning, Immortal spirits.
After the Collapse of the world the Dragons were no more, and the Immortals who had once roamed the world had vanished. The Elders were rendered mortal, their powers waning.
Many left the safety of the Immortal Valley to establish a foothold in other parts of Mogliru. Their bretheren who stayed within the safe borders of the Immortal Valley
warned them not to go, saying that the world beyond the Golden River was tainted by the fires of the Collapse. The wandering Elders did not listen, and left regardless.
They were never seen again.
Over time, the Elders who remained behind lost their magical prowess. After years in the harsh sun, their skin turned yellow and their powers declined.
Now mortal, the Elders of the Immortal Valley renamed themselves the Solgria, or the "Elders of Sunlight" in their native tongue.
Centuries later, the Elders are no more.
The Solgria (soul-grEE-ah)
"May the Light of the Dul'aruu guide the Legionnaires of our Holy Host through the Tempest of Darkness that lays before us!"
~ Ard Jerilan : Creation of the Legion
The Solgria are beings highly attracted to the allure of magic, due in part to their natural attunement to arcane and Light energies.
They are an average of six feet tall with pale, golden-yellow skin and angular faces, usually with sallow cheeks.
Solgria, being descendants of the Elders, have long, pointed ears that twitch when they express intense emotion.
Most Solgria have blonde hair, though some are born with dark, almost black hair. These rare Solgira are said to have been marked for greatness.
Though their bodies are willowy and appear fragile, most Solgria are physically powerful creatures.
All non-magical Solgria have dull, brown eyes, while the mages have golden irises that glow with arcane power.
The Solgria use magic for almost everything from combat and architecture, all the way to mundane tasks such as cleaning.
They worship the pantheon of gods known as The Dul'aruu, or Children of Cruth'anam.
All Solgrian culture is based around their faith; buildings are constructed with six sides in reverance to the Six Dul'aruu. Gold is used to signify the importance of the Sun, and most of their art, literature, and music is based heavily on their religion.
The Solgria are ruled technically by the Ard of Bai'emor, the capital of the Immortal Valley, though most villages are governed by a local Lord who collects taxes and protects their borders from creatures
and bandits.
The Vogg (vAWg)
"Oxomm lomm zua'zk! Jeom, Tra'rath!"
~ Vogg Leader
The Vogg are a race of bulbous, demonic creatures filled with Void energy.
They live in darkness, mostly caves and other such abodes where the light of the Sun cannot harm them. They are stupid, brazenly harsh creatures who know only how to inflict pain and suffering. It is not known exactly how the Vogg came to be, only that they are creatures born from Void energy. As such, they are hated by the Solgria, Elders, and Immortals of the Immortal Valley.
Vogg are extremely rare since the Collapse, as all Void energy was cut off from Mogliru the moment that Lord Tra'rath the Betrayer was trapped by his Holy siblings. They have not been seen in the Immortal Valley for centuries, and few books or scrolls even mention the creatures. It is believed that they are extinct, though some Solgria have made claims otherwise ...
Places
From the Veins to the streets of Bai'emor, Mogliru is an interesting place!
The Immortal Valley
The Immortal Valley is a land filled with magic, power and wealth, shrouded in the mysteries of the past. The far western reaches of the Immortal Valley contain the Veins, a marshland of criss-crossing rivers that feed into the southern ocean. In the center of the Immortal Valley are the city of Glu'lodd and the Immortal Valley, and in the east lies Bai'emor, capital of the Solgrian people.
Bai'emor (bay-em-OR)
Bai'emor is the unofficial capital of the Immortal Valley, and the largest Solgrian settlement in existence. It is lead by the Ard, the leader of the city and its surrounding area. Lords within the controlled region swear fealty to the Ard, and pass on taxes and troops to the city in return for protection and access to the religious temples built within the city walls.
Cai'each (Kye-Ike)
Cai'each is a small, farming settlement several miles south of the Golden River, the northern border of the Immortal Valley. It is ruled by Lord Dareena, an accomplished mage and leader of the Cai'each Mage's College. If Bai'emor is the religious cornerstone of the Solgrian people, then Cai'each is the magical center where most mages first learn to control their arcane powers.
Cai'each is also the birthplace of several notable Solgria.
The Immortal Forest
The Immortal Forest is a place of great importance to the Solgrian people. It is said to be the home of an Immortal, and acts as a natural barrier between Glu'lodd and the fields of Cai'each. It is also the home of Willmial the Silver Mage, the last Elder and proclaimer of the Chosen One.
Glu'lodd (glOO-lahd)
Glu'lodd is a large town west of the Immortal Forest, and east of the Veins. Here, Lord Cruthal rules over a large populace and watches over the Pool of Souls, a massive lake through which all waters in the Immortal Valley pass before moving west.
The Pool of Souls / The Demon's Fountain
Near the center of the Immortal Valley is the Pool of Souls, a large lake of magically-imbued water in which several major events of Sol'grian history have happened. The Pool of Souls seems to be an unending source of water that feeds the rivers of The Veins and is seen as the border between civilization and the wilds of the Immortal Valley.
The Wasteland
It's a desert.
A barren land of sand and grit, consumed by an unending fire that threatens to destroy all it touches.
It is all that remains of the land beyond the Golden River, an empty expanse devoid of life. The Solgria of the Valley know that the only things keeping the fires of death at bay are the Golden River's holy waters, and their continued faith in the Dul'aruu above.
Religion
Religions of Mogliru
The Church of the Dul'aruu
"May our Light guide you in the endless expanse of Nothing"
The Church of the Dul'aruu is the religion of the Immortal Valley, and is practiced by the Solgria, Immortals, and Elders alike.
To understand the Sol'gria and what drives them, one must first understand their faith.
In the beginning, there was Nothing.
The endless, empty expanse of the Void, a space devoid of all sight, smell touch or taste.
The senses are useless there, where Nothingness reigns supreme.
From this Nothing was born a creature, a being of pure Light and warmth that pushed the Void away with a single word: his name.
Cruth'anam, the Creator, the Light Bringer, was born amid the Nothing of the Void and brought forth Light and with it, life.
Using his Light, Cruth'anam brought into existence seven stars that took twisted and churned, turning into beings like him.
They were the Dul'aruu, his children.
The Dul'aruu thanked their Father for their existence and set to work aiding him in his task to push away the remnants of the Void.
Next, Cruth'anam created a bright, golden city of pure Light that would serve as his kingdom and the heavens that would watch over all of Creation.
The Golden Heavens of Fla'hana were formed with ease, and the Dul'aruu rejoiced at the wonderous sight.
Cruth'anam rested, his energy expended for the time being, and watched his children work.
The Dul'aruu collected their power together and brought into Fla'hana creatures of Light and Fire.
They were pale and glowing, their eyes burning with the sparks of creation.
Wings with golden feathers sprouted from their backs and their arms and legs were thin yet strong.
Their hair was the colour of starlight and their bodies emanated a similar glow.
Their appearance was pleasing to the Dul’aruu; similar to them while being unique.
These creatures were named the Los'baeg, the golden workers of Fla'hana.
The Dul'aruu then set about creating their ultimate masterpiece.
Through their golden will, the Dul'aruu amassed a world of earth, water, wind and flame that they named Mogliru.
As a final act, they gave this world the spark of life and created many creatures.
The most powerful of these creatures were given immortality and dominion over all of Mogliru: the Elder Race of the Sun, or the Sol'gria, raised their newly created arms to the sky with thanks and began shaping their world.
Cruth'anam observed this creation with great interest ... and with concern.
With the spark of life, Mogliru would change and grow.
It would need to be watched.
It was in that moment that Cruth'anam decided to give his children responsibilities that would protect Mogliru from corruption.
Anthair,the First Child was given dominion over Life and Nature. She would tend to the gardens of life and ensure the growth of living beings.
Fiaeaga, the Second Child was given dominion over Death and Change. She would be the first being that all souls would see upon entry to Fla'hana.
Feadorr, the Third Child was given dominion over War and Strength. He would be the shield of the riteous and the sword of judgement.
Romcoth, the Fourth Child was given dominion over Justice and Wisdom. He would judge the souls of mortals and dispense justice throughout the world.
Drusaan, the Fifth Child was given dominion over Art and Beauty. She would serve as a muse to artists, and spread love and beauty across Mogliru.
Beotide, the Sixth Child was given dominion over Magic and History. He was given the task of controlling magic and ensuring the steady flow of time.
Finally, Tra'rath, the Last Child approached his father.
Cruth'anam had nothing left to give his last child and so, in his wisdom, he made Tra'rath the Guardian of the Void: the Dul'aruu that would protect Mogliru from the remaining Nothingness that would forever seek to destroy creation.
All was right with the universe for many years, until something changed in Tra'rath's mind. The youngest Dul'aruu grew jealous of his siblings and their powers. In a fit of rage, Tra'rath entered the last pocket of the Void. When he emerged, he was changed, warped by the energies of the Void. He began working in secret, abducting the Los'baeg and corrupting them, one by one, turning them into twisted, malformed versions of their former selves.
With an army of the First Demons at his command, Tra'rath, Lord of the Void, stormed Fla'hana. His rage was terrible and his actions swift. Tra'rath climbed to the tallest spire of Fla'hana and met with his Father. With a single stroke of his blade, Tra'rath ended Cruth'anam's life, his Light snuffed out forever. The other Dul'aruu were warned of their brother's attack and raced to stop Tra'rath, but arrived too late. Grief clouded their vision and, in a moment of anger, the Dul'aruu set their remaining Los'baeg upon their own city. So started the War of the Dul'aruu.
For eons they raged across the heavens and above Mogliru.
Seas boiled and burned, mountains fell and were broken, and the Elder Race hid within the rubble. In the end, the Dul'aruu were victorious. Using their magic, they sealed their hated brother in the Void where his spirit would drift uselessly for eternity. The Dul'aruu immediately got to work fixing the heavens, but the damage was done.
The Losbaeg had been slain, their Light scattered into the night sky to become the stars.
Fla'hana was sundered and Mogliru burned in the fires of war.
Without Cruth'anam's Light, the Dul'aruu could never again leave their golden city, for fear of it falling apart.
And so, with the Collapse of the world, the Solgria rose from the ashes of perfection, mortal and afraid, to seize their destiny.
One day, if fate allowed, they would speak to their gods once more and take their rightful place as the immortal rulers of Mogliru.
The Church of the Dul'aruu was founded based upon the belief that the Sol'gria are the remnants of the Elder race and, as such, shall regain their immortal status through devotion, faith, and magic.
The Church is split into groups known as Flocks. Each Flock worships the Dul'aruu as a whole, but follows the teachings of one Dul'aruu above all others.
Each Flock is lead by one of the Six Voices, and each Voice is part of the Council of the Sun, the council that advises the Ard of Bai'emor.
Magic
The Arcane, The Light, and The Void.
Arcane Magic
Arcane Magic and Magic of the Light come together, hand in hand.
Arcane magic is any other magic that does not fall into Light magic.
Summoning fire, creating illusions, blasts of energy and more are all considered arcane magic.
Mages use arcane magic for all sorts of things from the fury of battle to the mundane tasks of daily life.
Mages pull upon the latent magical forces within Mogliru and use this energy to create their spells.
Some mages argue that, by using your own, inner power you can make spells even more powerful, but most scholors dismiss this notion as superstitious nonsense.
The Holy Light
The Light is viewed by all races, regardless of religion, as a real energy that heals and mends living things. To use Light magic is to heal and sooth one's injuries. Light Magic is used by battle mages, paladins, clerics and priests, basically anyone who needs to heal themselves or others. Light Magic is created by calling upon the power of natural Light, like the sun. That Light is then twisted and directed into wounds, curses and diseases to burn away corruption and mend physical injuries.
Demons, The Vogg, and Void Magic
Demon is the name given to any living mortal fully corrupted and consumed by Void energy. They are created by Void energy entering fresh corpses, raising them from the dead. They can be identified by their empty, black-hole eyes and wails that crush all sound.
High Demons are the former Losbaeg (servants of the Dul'aruu) who were transformed by Lord Tra'rath himself in the War of the Dul'aruu.
The Vogg are a Void-creature that exist solely to destroy. The Vogg are hulking humanoids with grey, sickly skin. They are physically strong but lack mental fortitude. They have glowing, purple eyes and razor-sharp teeth. Their heads are bulbous, their entire bodies coated in the vile ichor of the Void. They seek out dark, damp places in which they can make Vogg-nests, giant pools of tar-like liquid in which more Vogg can be created.
Vogglings is the name given to any Vogg-like creatures like Imps (tiny Vogg with wings), Screechers (basically Void vultures), and so forth. The Vogg, Vogglings, and any other Void-creatures worship Lord Tra'rath, Betrayer and King of Demons.
Void Magic is any magic that uses Void energy.
Whether it is summoning High Demons, creating regular Demons or simply using the energy of the Void in magical rituals, all Void Magic is hated by the innocent people of the Immortal Valley, and use of it is punishable by death.
The Story So Far ...
The Age of Immortals
The Age of Immortals / The Age of Perfection was a timeframe pre-dating the Collapse. During this era, Immortals and Elders roamed the Immortal Valley, living side by side as undying creatures of mystical power.
The Immortals watched over and lived in the natural places of Mogliru while the Elders built wonderous cities and monuments infused with arcane might.
After the Collapse of the World, the Immortals have become an endangered species, and the Elders spread across the land. The Elders became a much more prominent race in the Immortal Valley, and began building and expanding from their ancestral home in the far east of the Valley ... but were shocked to find that this new supremacy came with the devestating loss of their immortality.
The First Tide
In the year 226 of the First Tide, the Solgrian people came into existence. Over the past several generations, the Elders who had remained in the Immortal Valley underwent changes both physically and magically. Their magical powers diminished, their eternal lives were made mortal, and their skin took on a golden hue like the sun above their heads. The Solgria, which translates to "Elders of Sunlight", quickly declare that the world beyond the Immortal Valley must be desolate and empty, a claim which is reinforced by the burning fields of ash to the northeast of the Golden River, and the empty sands to the north.
In the year 269 of the First Tide, the Six Flocks of the Church of the Dul'aruu are formally created in Bai'emor. The prophets known as the Six Voices speak on behalf of the Dul'aruu, whom they can hear through visions and dreams. The Solgria begin expanding even further, establishing the towns of Cai'each, Glu'lodd, and discovering the Immortal Forest and the Pool of Souls.
Year 300 of the First Tide: A Sol'gria named Armon is named the de-facto ruler of Bai'emor, the largest city (and first city) of the Solgria, formerly an Elder monument. He is proclaimed the first Ard of Bai'emor, and claims Lordship of Bai'emor and several of the surrounding towns (through military 'persuasion'). The Six Voices confirm that this is the Will of the Dul'aruu, and the title of Ard becomes synonymous with the highest Lord in the land. All of the towns east of the Eternal Forest officially declare fealty to the Ard. Glu'lodd does not, but remains on good terms with their eastern bretheren.
Year 302 of the First Tide: a Solgria named Raybern is born under strange omens within the town of Cai'each. The Last Elder, Willmial the Silver Mage, appears and declares the Raybern is the Chosen One who will watch over all of Mogliru, and become the most powerful mage in the world.
Year 412: The Six Temples: six temples are finish construction, becoming the centers of of their districts. In time the "districts" are made official sub-sections of Bai'emor. Each one embodies the tennets of one Dul'aruu, and each temple reveres all Six, but is headed by the Voice associated with that God. They preach specifically that Dul'aruu's Will.
Year 428: Bai'emor, City of Gold is completed. Ard Armon orders walls be constructed around the city, and the city is declared "complete". The Ard begins building his army and declares that his mortal divinity has been affirmed by the Dul'aruu ... and that the Immortal Valley will become whole again. The other Lords who rule cities outside of Bai'emor's immediate area begin to worry that the Ard might invade their lands and force his "divine will" upon them ...
Year 430: Solgrian Suicide: Lord Cruthal of Glu'lodd leaves his house and marches into the Pool of Souls, drowning in the process. He is the first ever recorded suicide.
Year 431: The Night of Tears: The Waters of the Pool of Souls are suddenly infused with powerful magic. They rise up and consume the entirecity of Glu'lodd, killing the entire populace. Over the next few weeks, strange happenings are reported in the western reaches of Cai'each. Cai'each sends out emissaries to Glu'lodd and hears nothing back. Worry begins to spread ... and the adventures of Raybern Wesha begin.
TALES FROM MOGLIRU: THE DEMON'S FOUNTAIN
FREE EXCERPT
Notable Characters
Damas Wesha spent his childhood training in all things martial from sword to longbow and everything in between. Despite not being blessed with arcane might, he rivals many mages with his dedication to his craft. Trained by his Uncle Cruthal, the captains of Glu'lodd's Militia, the Cai'each Militia, as well as several militant companies that sell their services to Lords of the Valley, Damas is a nigh unstoppable force on the battlefield.
Damas distinguished himself in several battles against bandit clans and rival Lords in the areas around Glu'lodd. When he was barely into his Eighties, he personally led a force of Solgrian warriors into a bandit camp within the dangerous marshes of the Veins.
Upon returning to his childhood home with his brother Raybern, Damas further proved himself to be a capable warrior and a cunning strategist.
When a small incursion by a large bandit group left the Captain of Cai'each dead, Damas was named by the former Captain and confirmed peers to undertake this role, much to Lord Dareena's displeasure (see Lord Dareena)
Damas is everything his brother is not:
Charismatic, daring, and at the top of his field.
With him assisting Raybern in his destined task, how can any of them fail?
Elyssia Dineth is one of the brightest and boldest of those recently admitted to the Mage's College of Cai'each. Handpicked by Lord Dareena himself, she is sure to rise to one of the highest ranks in the College system!
Elyssia has been the neighbour and close friend of both Raybern and Damas since childhood, and has been close with them through their familial turmoil and the loss of their parents. Though her family does not approve of her 'mixing herself up' with the so-called Chosen one and his brother, she is a staunch ally, one that any would be grateful to have on their side.
With her talents for magic and her ability to see the good in all things, she will keep the two brothers from being steered off-course.