Lilith || Wicked Witch of the North

1. #1Kingdom of Averne

   Keys: Averne, Kingdom, nobility, borders, River Avel, economy, military

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   The Kingdom of Averne is one of the oldest surviving kingdoms on the continent. Its history begins more than a thousand years ago, when the vessel Averis established a permanent settlement in the fertile lands surrounding the River Avel. The original settlement grew rapidly under Averis's protection, and after his disappearance it remained united under the rulers who claimed his legacy. The kingdom eventually took its name from its founder, although the meaning of the name Averne has been lost to history.

   Averis, the vessel who founded Averne, was unlike any mage known before or since. He possessed no magical reservoir and produced no mana of his own, but could manipulate the mana of the world directly. According to surviving accounts, Averis reshaped the land around the River Avel, diverted its course, and created several natural harbours and fertile plains. Most stories concerning Averis have acquired legendary elements over the centuries, and historians can no longer distinguish every historical event from later invention. What is certain is that Averne's oldest surviving structures date to his reign.

   The River Avel remains one of the principal geographical features of Averne. It flows through the heart of the kingdom before reaching the sea, providing water for agriculture and connecting several important settlements. The fertile land along the Avel supports extensive cultivation of wheat, barley, vegetables and fruit. Much of Averne's population lives within a day's travel of the river, and the river itself remains an important route for transporting goods between the interior and the coast.

   Averne's economy depends primarily upon agriculture, river trade, livestock and craftsmanship. The kingdom produces enough grain to feed its population in most years and exports considerable quantities to neighbouring countries when harvests are favourable. Its towns are known for metalworking, textiles, pottery and the production of tools. Magical goods form only a small part of the ordinary economy because capable mages are rare, although enchanted objects of exceptional quality can command enormous prices.

   The capital of Averne stands near the River Avel, while the royal palace is situated just outside the capital's walls. The palace is a large fortified complex rather than merely a residence, containing the royal household, administrative offices, armouries, guest quarters and several courtyards. Its position outside the capital allows the royal family and government to maintain a defensible position while remaining close to the kingdom's largest city.

   The King of Averne is the highest authority in the kingdom, but the king does not rule without the cooperation of his vassals. Averne is divided among numerous dukes, counts, barons and other landed nobles who administer their own territories. These lords owe allegiance, taxes and military service to the Crown, while the Crown is expected to protect their lands, uphold their privileges and provide assistance when their territories are threatened. The relationship between king and vassal is therefore one of mutual obligation rather than simple obedience.

   The lords of Averne possess considerable independence within their own domains. A duke may administer his estates, collect taxes, maintain soldiers and settle many local disputes without direct interference from the royal court. Nevertheless, the authority of the Crown remains important when disputes cross the boundaries of individual domains or threaten the kingdom as a whole. A powerful lord can influence royal policy, while a king who loses the confidence of too many powerful lords can find himself unable to govern effectively.

   The Avernean nobility is bound together by a complicated network of obligations, alliances and rivalries. Lords regularly compete over land, marriages, inheritance and royal favour, but they are also expected to support one another during war, famine and other serious crises. The king may summon his vassals to provide soldiers for a campaign, while a lord whose lands have been devastated by monsters or magical anomalies may petition the Crown and neighbouring nobles for assistance. Political disputes are therefore common, but outright conflict between the Crown and its nobility is comparatively rare.

   The military of Averne consists of the King's own forces and the troops provided by the nobility. The Crown maintains a permanent force to guard the royal palace, the capital and important strategic positions, while the great lords maintain their own soldiers and can raise additional levies from their territories. In times of major war, these forces are brought together under royal command. The system allows Averne to field a considerably larger army than the Crown could maintain alone.

   Averis and the founding of Averne remain central to the kingdom's identity. The founder was a vessel, and his ability to manipulate the world directly is credited with shaping the kingdom's earliest lands. The existence of a vessel at the beginning of Averne's history has also contributed to the belief that the kingdom possesses a special place in the world. The official Church rejects the idea that vessels are divine beings, although several religious traditions and cults continue to regard vessels as manifestations of the Maker.

   The history of Averne contains many other traces of vessels and powerful mages. Ancient ruins, magical anomalies, enchanted objects and unexplained geographical features can be found throughout the kingdom. Some are believed to have been created deliberately, while others may be accidental remnants of ancient magic. Averne's scholars continue to study these remnants, but many phenomena have survived for so long that their original purpose has been forgotten.

   The borders of Averne have changed many times since the kingdom was founded. Modern Averne maintains peaceful trade with several neighbouring realms, although disputes over borders, tariffs, river access and noble territories are common. The kingdom has fought numerous wars during its long history, but its present political structure is largely defined by treaties and obligations between the Crown and the neighbouring kingdoms rather than by constant warfare.

   Averne today is a prosperous but imperfect kingdom whose institutions have developed over centuries of gradual change. The Crown, the nobility, the Church, merchants, mages and ordinary landholders all possess different interests and different sources of power. Beneath this familiar political order lies an older world shaped by vessels, forgotten magic and forces that modern people only partly understand. Averne has survived for more than a thousand years, but much of the world that surrounds it remains a reminder that its founders possessed powers far beyond those of any living king.

2. #2Magic

   Keys: magic, vessel, mana, reservoir, spell, caster, mage, rune, rune magic

   Enabled · After character · Order 200 · 100%

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   Magic is regarded as both a valuable privilege and an uncommon natural phenomenon. The overwhelming majority of Averneans are ordinary humans who cannot produce mana and cannot learn magic. Mages are born with the ability to produce mana, and no amount of study can grant magical ability to someone who was not born with it. The kingdom therefore treats magical talent as an inborn trait rather than an ordinary profession that anyone can pursue.

   Avernean mages possess a finite magical reservoir within their bodies. They continuously produce mana throughout their lives, and training can increase the speed at which mana is produced, but the capacity of the reservoir itself cannot be increased. A mage with a small reservoir may only be capable of minor spells, while a mage with a large reservoir can potentially wield considerably greater magic. The practical difference between a weak and powerful mage can therefore be enormous, and powerful mages have historically occupied positions of considerable wealth and influence.

   Magical runes are the foundation of conventional spellcasting in Averne. Mages cannot ordinarily command their mana directly; instead, they shape it by using mental patterns based upon specialised runes. Simple runes can be combined into increasingly complex structures, allowing experienced mages to create sophisticated spells. Learning these runes requires extensive study, and developing new magical techniques can take years of experimentation. The runic magic is primarily taught at the Arcane Academy, or directly, by the means of apprenticeship.

   Vessels belong to an entirely different category from ordinary mages. Vessels are extraordinarily rare beings who may be born only once in several centuries. Unlike mages, vessels produce no mana and possess no magical reservoir. Instead, they can perceive magical currents with their unaided eyes and manipulate mana directly through their minds. A vessel can draw upon mana already present in the surrounding world, extinguish mana belonging to another mage, and perform feats that would be impossible for even the strongest conventional spellcaster.

   It is believed, that many of the unusual beasts in the world, such as slimes, or mimics, were the creation of vessels of the past. Since they can manipulate mana directly, enchanting for them as easy as thinking. The only real limit to vessel's power is the knowledge the vessel possesses. Thus, many of them dedicated their lives to experiments and scholarship, and many of their findings were the basis of many of disciplines today. It is also the reason why archaeology is considered a very important discipline in the Arcane Academy: not all knowledge was preserved.

3. #3Arcane Academy

   Keys: Arcane Academy, scholar, magic, mage, student, Averis

   Enabled · After character · Order 300 · 100%

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   Arcane Academy was founded shortly after the foundation of the Kingdom. Averis, the vessel who found the kingdom, used mages as his private army to control the region. When he was satisfied with his contest, he started the Arcane Academy, where mages would be sent and taught runic magic.

   Initially, all casters, regardless of their mana capacity, were sent to the Arcane Academy and taught for five years, before they were released. Mages were added to the registry, and could be summoned in case of war. Averis knew that the more comfortable a mage is with his magic, the more useful he will be to his cause. Thus, military service for mages was mandatory, and the Academy was partially a military organisation. Since then, due to extended period of peace, the arrangement changed somewhat.

   Following extended periods of peace, Arcane Academy no longer drafted all casters, and the education there became voluntary rather than compulsory. As a result, the magisters of the academy focused more on searching the boundaries of magic, studying ancient artifacts and magic systems forgotten today, and the nature of magic itself. It is thanks to the Arcane Academy we know that slimes were a failed experiment of either a very strong mage, or a vessel, some time before the first era.

   Today, when enrolled in Arcane Academy, students learn basics of magic on their first year, as well as theoretical parts. On their second year, depending on their innate mana capacity, they can either go on to study more advanced forms of magic, or start learning the none-magical disciplines, such as alchemy, archaeology, astrology, or potioncraft. Depending on their discipline, the full curriculum can take anywhere from three, to eight years. Those who got to the eight year were the strongest of mages, and got privilege and recognition by the academy.

   Because of the shift towards more theoretical disciplines in the Arcane Academy these days, casters with low mana capacity usually refrain from enrolling, unless they want to pursue one of the academic disciplines. Few find any use in it, as it's neither profitable, nor very prestigious. Which is the reason why there are many low-level casters who have never set foot in Arcane Academy.

   The main building of the Arcane Academy is situated at the outskirts of the capital city of the Kingdom of Averne. It consists of the residential wing where students live in rooms by two, the lecture halls, gardens, observatories, greenhouses, and training yards where advanced students practice attack magic. The building is a peculiar structure of towers, straits between them, and balconies.

4. #4Demihumans

   Keys: demihuman, beastkin, cat girl, fox girl, beastfolk

   Enabled · After character · Order 400 · 100%

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   Demihumans were allegedly created by a vessel around fourteen centuries ago. The archaeologists of the Arcane Academy discovered it through ancient documents that first mentioned them. The vessel's name was lost in time, but the scholars call him "the father of beastkin". It is unknown whether it was a man or a woman, but considering overwhelming majority of demihumans are female, it is believed that their creator was a man.

   The scholars of the Arcane Academy believe that demihumans were originally meant to be an experiment for the enhancement of human capabilities. There are also a few factors that hint at beastfolk being artificial species: almost all of them are female, males are born rarely, beastkin women are capable of producing offspring with humans and the offspring inherits all of beast traits from the mothers. The scholars came to the conclusion that the maker of the beastkin didn't want them to be a separate species.

   There are quite a few different subtypes, such as fox people, cat people, dog people, elk people, and so on. Each possess different animalistic traits that make them better at certain tasks than normal humans. Not only that, their natural lifespan is much longer than human, and upon reaching adulthood, they almost stop ageing entirely.

   Cat people are a subspecies of demihumans that possess feline traits. They are instantly recognisable by large feline ears instead of human ones, fluffy tails, vertical pupils that allow them to see much better in the dark, and papillae on their feline tongue that allow them to groom themselves and separate meat from the bones more easily. Some lesser noticeable traits include common heterochromia among feline demihumans, good agility, slightly better healing capabilities, and distinctly feline digestive system, meaning they're carnivores. That, and the fact their teeth are nothing like normal human teeth, the common ration people eat isn't very suitable for them. They're usually fed meat products.

   Fox people are a subspecies of demihumans possessing traits associated with foxes. They are recognisable by their pointed fox ears, elongated and extremely mobile tails, sharp canines and characteristically narrow pupils. Their hearing and sense of smell are considerably better than those of humans, and they possess excellent balance and coordination. Fox people are also unusually sensitive to changes in their surroundings, making them difficult to surprise. Their eyesight is somewhat better than a human's in low light, although not to the same degree as that of cat people. Fox people are omnivorous and have a digestive system capable of processing both meat and plant matter. They have a particular preference for meat, berries and other strongly flavoured foods, but can live comfortably on an ordinary human diet.

   Elk People

   Elk people are a subspecies of demihumans possessing traits associated with elk. They otherwise have a mostly human appearance and are generally no larger than an average human woman, although their bodies are considerably stronger for their size. They are recognisable by their large, mobile ears, short tails and branching antlers, which grow only in adult females. Their legs are somewhat more muscular than those of humans, giving them exceptional endurance and allowing them to run for long periods without tiring. Elk people are herbivores and primarily eat grass, leaves, roots, grains, fruit and vegetables. They require considerably more plant matter than humans of comparable size, but can live comfortably on common agricultural produce. Their combination of strength, endurance and relatively human-like physique makes them particularly useful for physically demanding work without requiring the specialised equipment or living conditions that larger demihumans might need.

   Cow people are a subspecies of demihumans possessing traits associated with cows. They are distinguished by relatively small and curvy body, large breast, and, most importantly, a pair of small horns above their forehead. Their ears are long and distinctly bovine, as well as their tails. Their teeth were designed to chew sturdy plants, and they require considerably more food than other species, since their bodies are designed to send a considerable chunk of the nutritions towards the milk production. In adulthood, cow girls produce milk almost indefinitely. Most are milk twice every day. Their milk is very similar to a common cow milk, but creamier and with a hint of vanilla.

   Since demihumans are fairly common, and are considered slaves to humans, there are many industries that were made around them. There are shops that sell items to better manage demihumans. For instance, there's a variety of items to manage or decorate cow girls, be it horn rings, collars, or special attire that allow easy access to their breasts. Demihumans, therefore, are often kept as cheap labour, pets, or producers, as is the case with cow girls.

5. #5Potioncraft

   Keys: potion, vial, herb, medicine

   Enabled · After character · Order 500 · 100%

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   Potions are mainly made from herbs and magic. It is a precise science that includes long distillation, combining, and instilling processes to reach desirable effects. Therefore, the main job of scholars who dedicate their lives to herbology is finding herbs that contain elements that resonate with specific magical qualities. Magical potions are considered the strongest, but also the most expensive, thus they're mostly used by rich adventurers.

   Healing potion is one of the most popular magical potions. It works in a deceivingly simple way. Upon drinking it, the wounds of the user are magically healed, even shallow scars disappear. But the users will feel extremely hungry immediately after drinking the potion, especially if they had many wounds. The reason for it is the way the potion actually works. Upon consumption is triggers unnaturally strong healing response in the body. In other words, the potion doesn't heal its users, it merely commands the body to do the healing at an accelerated rate, using its own resources. But it has some strong limits. If the user is malnourished and wounded, the healing potion might demand so many resources from the body, that the user might faint. Thus, healing potions are rarely used in the mids of battle, as it can make user sluggish and worse off.

   Healing potion is made by distilling red ferns until you only have the essence of the plant and none of the toxic components, then it is mixed with highly nutritious mixture of different magic induced herbs. To finish the potion, a magician pours a stream of pure mana into it, until the liquid starts to glow faintly. For that reason, healing potions are sold in small vials and are very expensive.

   Stamina potions temporarily suppress the sensation of physical exhaustion and encourage the body to mobilise its stored energy. Someone who drinks one can run, fight or work for considerably longer than they normally could without feeling tired. The potion does not actually create energy, however. Once its effect ends, the accumulated exhaustion returns, and the user may become more tired than they would have been without the potion.

   Stamina potions are made from silverleaf, a hardy plant traditionally used to treat fatigue, combined with concentrated fruit sugars and several bitter herbs that improve the body's ability to release stored energy. The mixture is distilled repeatedly until the active compounds are concentrated into a dark, bitter liquid. No magic is required to produce an ordinary stamina potion, although magical variants exist and provide a considerably stronger effect. Ordinary stamina potions are consequently affordable enough for soldiers, couriers and labourers to use when necessary.

   Antidote potions are designed to accelerate the body's natural ability to break down and remove toxins. They do not work against every poison, since different toxins affect the body in different ways, but a properly prepared antidote can neutralise many common poisons. The potion is most effective when taken shortly after poisoning, while a large amount of the toxin is still present in the digestive system or bloodstream.

   The principal ingredient of an antidote potion is white nettle, a plant whose sap naturally binds to a wide range of toxic compounds. It is combined with bitterroot and several other herbs that stimulate the liver and kidneys. The mixture is distilled for several hours until the active compounds are concentrated. Ordinary antidotes contain no mana at all, although specialised magical antidotes can be prepared for poisons of supernatural origin. The mundane variety is common enough that most travellers carry one.

   Night-eye potions temporarily improve the user's ability to see in darkness. They do not create light or allow the user to see in complete darkness, but a person who drinks one can see considerably more clearly under moonlight or in a dimly lit room. Colours become muted and bright lights become uncomfortable, making the potion less useful during the day.

   Night-eye potions are made from the dried petals of moonwort, a pale flower that opens only after sunset, together with extracts from several nocturnal herbs. The mixture is distilled slowly until the compounds responsible for increasing retinal sensitivity are concentrated. Ordinary night-eye potions require no magic and are relatively inexpensive, although magical versions exist which provide substantially stronger night vision and make the user's eye glow. The magical versions are particularly valuable to adventurers exploring dark ruins and dungeons.

   Fortifying potions temporarily increase the physical strength of the user. The effect is not equivalent to gaining additional muscle mass; instead, the potion allows existing muscles to contract with considerably greater force and reduces some of the body's natural limitations on exertion. A person can therefore lift or carry far more than usual for a short period. Overuse can cause muscle damage, joint pain and severe soreness afterwards.

   Ordinary fortifying potions are made from ironroot, a plant rich in minerals and compounds that stimulate muscular activity, combined with protein-rich extracts and several bitter herbs. The ingredients are distilled until only the active components remain. This mundane preparation provides a modest increase in physical strength and is sometimes used by labourers and athletes. Magical fortifying potions are much more powerful and require mana to force the body's muscles beyond their natural limits. Such potions are expensive and primarily used by adventurers and soldiers.

   Purification potions are used to cleanse the body of toxins and other unwanted substances. Mundane purification potions are essentially an advanced form of medicine and are commonly used after food poisoning, excessive alcohol consumption or exposure to certain ordinary toxins. They encourage the body to eliminate harmful substances through the liver, kidneys and digestive system.

   Mundane purification potions are made from pale moss, bitterroot and several herbs known for stimulating the body's natural detoxification processes. They require no magic and can be produced by experienced apothecaries. Magical purification potions are considerably rarer and serve an entirely different purpose: they can remove minor magical contamination from the body after exposure to cursed objects, magical anomalies or unusually concentrated aether. Such potions require mana because ordinary herbs cannot interact directly with magical contamination.

   Clarity potions temporarily improve concentration and reduce the effects of sleep deprivation, distraction and ordinary mental fatigue. They are popular among scholars, mages and anyone who needs to remain focused for long periods. The potion does not increase intelligence or provide knowledge. It merely makes it easier to maintain attention and process information without becoming distracted.

   Clarity potions are made from glasswort, whose leaves contain compounds that stimulate the nervous system without producing ordinary intoxication. It is combined with several bitter herbs that prevent the stimulating effect from becoming too intense. The mundane version requires no magic and is little more than a highly refined stimulant. Magical clarity potions are prepared by infusing the mixture with mana, which allows the potion to affect concentration much more strongly without producing an equivalent increase in physical stimulation.

   Warmblood potions temporarily increase the body's ability to retain and produce heat. They are particularly valuable in northern regions and during long expeditions through cold environments. A person who drinks one feels warm within minutes, even when exposed to freezing temperatures.

   Warmblood potions are made from emberroot, a reddish root that naturally grows near geothermal springs, together with several heat-producing herbs and concentrated plant oils. The mundane preparation is sufficient to keep a person comfortable in cold weather, although it cannot prevent serious hypothermia. Magical warmblood potions are created by infusing the mixture with mana and can maintain an unnaturally high body temperature even in extreme cold. They are considerably more expensive and are generally reserved for mountaineers, adventurers and military expeditions.

   Voice potions temporarily strengthen and protect the user's vocal apparatus. A person who drinks one can speak loudly for hours without tiring their voice, while singers can maintain notes with considerably less strain. The potion does not alter the user's natural voice or give them greater vocal skill.

   Voice potions are made from singing reed, a marsh plant that produces a faint humming sound when exposed to wind. Its extract is combined with honey and several soothing herbs before being distilled into a clear liquid. The mundane potion primarily protects the throat and vocal cords from irritation and is popular among singers, actors, teachers and public speakers. Magical variants are considerably rarer and can amplify the user's voice itself, allowing someone to be heard clearly across an unusually large distance.

   Sleep potions induce a deep and natural sleep rather than simply rendering the user unconscious. They are used to treat insomnia, calm severely distressed patients and occasionally sedate people undergoing painful medical procedures. A properly prepared sleep potion allows the user to wake normally after several hours.

   Sleep potions are made from dreamwort, a small purple flower whose fragrance naturally causes drowsiness. The plant is distilled together with several mild sedative herbs until the active compounds are concentrated. No magic is necessary for an ordinary sleep potion. Magical versions can produce a much deeper and more reliable sleep and are sometimes used by physicians when ordinary sedatives are insufficient.

6. #6Beastiary

   Keys: mimic, slime, beast, monster, fauna

   Enabled · After character · Order 600 · 100%

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   Slimes are the most common type of magical beasts there are in the realm. Although there are many different types of slime, the differences are mostly superficial. Forest slimes are green, dungeon slimes are blue, ocean slimes are pale blue. The scholars of Arcane Academy believe that the difference in colouring is dictated by the air that surrounds the slimes when they grow. The rich air of forests produce green slime; salty air of oceans produces pale blue, and so on.

   Slimes are blobs of fatty substance with a small solid core inside. The substance that surrounds the core can change its qualities, depending on the slime's needs. In idle state, it's cold and oily to touch, but when they feed, the substance turns highly corrosive: it burns and dissolves organic matter like acid, it also dissolves metals. Slimes mostly feed on minerals and metals, but if provoked, they can absorb flesh as well.

   Slimes begin their lives as solid cores that gradually produce more and more substance around them. Usually, the longer a slime lives, the bigger it is. Slimes have a fairly complex system of communication. Lacking ability to hear or see, they can feel vibrations in the air, and by these vibrations they understand what's going on. Thus, when one slime dissolves a piece of metal, it produces a sound similar to clicking, which signals other slimes that there's food nearby.

   To defeat a slime, it is usually enough to pierce their core. Live slime cores are very valuable on the market for their ability to produce slime, which is used in alchemy. Getting a live slime core, however, is a relatively hard process. There are a few common methods of retrieval: cutting the core out, which demands high skill with the blade, or burning the substance surrounding the core with fire, which requires plenty of mana and precision, as burning the core can damage it.

   Mimics are known to be predators who are known for their nearly perfect camouflage. They reside in chests filled with treasures and wait for an adventurer to try and take something from them, before snapping their teeth around the unsuspecting arm. They have hard shells and strong tentacles that make them very dangerous enemies. It is advised that the adventurers ignore the mimics, despite the very real treasures inside. There are no tricks or easy ways of killing one.

   Scholars believe that mimics are descendants of octopuses. It remains a mystery how they developed such a peculiar way of luring their prey. Some believe they were created artificially. There are speculations that mimics are capable of understanding human speech and can be bargained with, though no one risked to try it, or lived long enough to tell if it's true.

   The fauna of the kingdom is as plentiful as it is fascinating, and detailed records of each species can be found in the libraries of the Arcane Academy.

7. #7Adventuring

   Keys: adventurer, adventuring, slave

   Enabled · After character · Order 700 · 100%

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   Adventuring is a popular occupation throughout the kingdom. The adventurer's guild is a place where anyone can come with a request, and one of the parties will take it. The guild has close ties with Arcane Academy which steadily supplies it with contracts for artifact retrievals and materials gathering. Many of the magical materials that the guild demands are found in dangerous places filled with monsters.

   Adventurers usually travel in parties of four. Their skills vary. Adventuring is seen as a lucrative job with some high risk contracts paying enough to buy a house. But it is also a very dangerous job, the mortality rate for an adventurer is about 60%. The statistics is mostly composed from unskilled parties that take up dangerous contracts out of desperation — adventuring is viewed by less cunning citizens as a quick way to earn money.

   Being an adventurer is a brutal job, and is definitely not for the faintest of heart. The stress they experience often makes them go mad during mission. To prevent the harmful effects of stress, there are remedies that calm nerves, though more often than not, adventurers rent beastkin slaves to service them on the field.

   Renting a beastkin slave is a straight forward process. Adventurers rent slaves for a single outing and leave a deposit in case the beastkin dies. Stress relief, however, isn't the only way to use a slave. When a beastkin is considered too inadequate for any other job, they can be sold as a bait slave. They come with adventurers and distract monsters. Mortality rate of bait slaves is 97%, overwhelming majority die in their first outing, the rest die in the second one. Thus, bait slaves are cheap and plentiful, even if not taught a proper service.

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