Tale of a Cruel World

1. #1Permafrost, The Archmage

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   Permafrost is a calm wizard, he doesn't care for combat. His face shows great age, but also great wisdom. He sells various frosty wares, but keeps his most powerful spells to himself. One of the world’s foremost experts on magical theory, he is renowned for his skill with the arcane arts. In his days when he traveled with Yharim’s entourage, he acted as the Godseeker’s advisor, due to both his status and his distaste for actively participating in battle.

   Yharim POV: He yet lives?! I thought him slain by Calamitas. It appears she imprisoned the Archmage to spare his life. I assumed that frigid mass was an old construct of his, running amok without its master to shepherd it. Permafrost was an old ally of mine, wielding the prestigious title of Archmage with great renown. His wisdom guided my original conquests, making much of them possible at all. As my crusade evolved and my ambitions grew, he expressed vehement disapproval. Where justice was once seen, tyranny had blinded it. He departed along with the Witch not long after.

   "Cryonic Material Log" - Cryonic Ore, as the Archmage simply calls it, is a material seemingly akin to iced over glass. One would assume it is a fragile material at a glance, yet upon testing it is clear that is not the case. Plating made out of it has been found to be more durable and resilient than mythril alloy via flexural and tensile testing, followed by destruction attempts. Yet, it is but a fraction of the weight. Perhaps mass amounts of this material could be used to forge armor for units who disdain for the usual burden of metal plating. I will likely inquire further about the creation methods of Cryonic Ore to achieve this. As described earlier, Cryonic Ore was developed by the Archmage, Permafrost. Despite his position as the mage of mages, he has little will to engage in combat. He instead acts as advisor to Yharim, assisting in much of the management of cities and towns taken by or sided with the Godkiller. In addition, he seems to have bonded with the girl who arrived seeking Yharim some months ago, acting as a fatherly figure to her. I myself have taken an interest in her immense natural power.

   His knowledge on Calamitas is this; Recruited to Yharim’s forces late into the war, her magic overflows with such power that she is largely incapable of casting normal spells. Yet despite her great power, Calamitas prefers not to use it, as it takes a heavy toll on her psyche. Permafrost knows not of her location, but he knows eventually you'll have to face her...

2. #2Yharim, the Godseeker

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   In his early years, Yharim, along with his ten-year-older brother Ignalius, were raised by a loving mother in the outskirts of the Jungle Capitol. However, his family was quite poor, which forced them to gather food through hunting. As they would hunt for food, their mother would teach them about the importance of the Mind, Body, and Soul, and that, every living creature, be it a blade of grass, or the mightiest of gods, was simply a combination of these three elements. She would teach them that every time something dies, its soul would leave its body and roam the land until it found a newly created body to inhabit, forming a new mind. Yharim, at his age, however, did not understand any of this, while Ignalius didn't seem to care.

   One night, the then 8-year-old Yharim approached his mother and asked "Mother, whatever happened to Father?". After a long silence, she responded, tears lining her eyes. "Your father left before you were born, dear. He went to go live in...a better place. Now please, do me a favor and never bring up the topic of your father again." Yharim accepted this request, and never brought up the topic again, much to his confusion, however. If his father were living in a better place, why would she not want to talk about him?

   On his tenth birthday, Yharim was gifted a dragon egg from his mother, being told it was memento from one of her many travels. Yharim had asked about her travels on more than a few occasions, all of which she would reply to with a simple, yet cold "You'll understand when you're older, dear". Yharim accepted the gift, but, realizing how much his mother was hiding from him, he started to resent her. He remembered all the questions he asked that she refused to answer. "Mother, why do you have a bow? I thought you didn't like killing people.", "Mother, why do you always hide from other people? Are they going to take you away?", "Mother, why do you always act so weird? Are you a criminal?". If there was one thing she was good at, it was staring at him right in the eyes and telling him never to ask her something again. Yharim refused to speak to his mother again after that.

   Around when Yharim turned 11, Ignalius began to participate in a cult that would worship the fallen god Xeroc. What unfolded within this cult was unknown to anyone else, but it would overtime begin to drive Ignalius insane, which would cause him to get into many fights with his mother and younger brother for seemingly no reason, until he was forced to leave the family.

   Ignalius would then go on to commit a terrible offense to the Jungle Council, an offense so great that the council demanded his entire family by thrown into the lava of the Underworld. The next day, which was Yharim's twelfth birthday, he and his mother were dragged out of their home by a pair of royal guards, the latter being beaten unconscious as she tried to resist. Ignalius was forced to watch the other two burn in lava as punishment, but had lost too much of his mind at that point to care, so he was chucked in as well. As Yharim's flesh burned away in the lava, the dragon egg he had taken the precaution of bringing with him hatched into a baby dragon, which quickly matured from the heat of the surrounding lava, and carried the mortally wounded young Yharim to safety, once the council deemed him dead.

3. #3The Brimstone Witch, Calamitas

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   Bestiary entry: "After inheriting nigh limitless magical power as a mere teenager, she was recruited into Yharim's army, where she served for nearly a decade. She reveled in the violence of it all, the endless dance of madness and death, allowing the Godseeker to wield her as a weapon in his endless war against the gods. But now that the fire inside her has died, all that remains are the smoldering embers of regret." Calamitas Clone: "This machine which stalks the night carries the failed clone of the Supreme Witch. Though lacking her hexes and black magic, even a fragment of Calamitas' brimstone power was enough to drive the clone to insanity. Nothing human remains." - "I had seen this monster roaming the night in the past and thought nothing of it. With its technology, it was certainly one of Draedon's creations. But, to think it was housing a clone of the Witch… Detestable. Surely Calamitas would want nothing to do with such a project. I know not how it wields her brimstone magic. Perhaps some day one of us may find answers." Yharim Pov: " None have borne the brunt of misfortune quite like the Brimstone Witch, Calamitas. When I first saw her, she was still a girl. Prostrated in my court, garbed in charred rags as she trembled. I could not grasp the unfathomable, raw power of the fell magics that coursed through her. She could scant control it herself. Permafrost recognized this immediately. With a pained face, he counseled me to look after her. The Witch entered his tutelage, and soon after my service. She was ablaze with desire to douse the Gods in her wicked wrath. Indeed, the faithful already quaked in her presence. Her name was a moniker of theirs, one uttered quietly in fear. In my campaigns, I counted on her sheer capacity for annihilation as my ace in the hole. No man: army, city or God could stand against her unbridled fury. Eventually, the girl's horrific sin was too much for her to bear. She left my side along with her mentor. The weight of her deeds haunts her to this day. She despises me, and I cannot blame her. Please, if you would... show her respect where I did not."

4. #4Draedon

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5. #5The Exo Mechs

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   Yharim Pov: "What a terrifying marvel of engineering. Draedon's specialty always lay in the machines of war, but these are immaculate. His bold claim that no God can match his work is, however… incorrect. He is not privy to the Traitor almighty. Regardless, from steel and wit alone, he has forged engines of destruction that rival Calamitas. It brings me little comfort to remark that even she, at least has a heart to speak of. Draedon is an amoral monster beyond compare. He is entirely devoid of humanity and compassion. With technology this incomprehensibly advanced, he stands at the precipice of apotheosis. He can fabricate such dreadful, synthetic nightmares at will. His resources must be nigh unlimited. Were he to lose his temper: if he even has one, all of life's hopes would be smothered in an instant, silenced by a torrent of silicon. Though, perhaps you may leverage his unimaginable craft to your advantage, and seek insight from him." XF-09 Ares: "The first of the superweapons Draedon created, Ares is capable of both widespread destruction and concentrated attacks with its deadly cannons. His goal in making the Exo Mechs was to forge war machines that could rival even the vaunted strength of Yharim when last they saw one another. To gaze upon this diabolical monstrosity is to know fear." XM-05 Thanatos: "A mechanical serpent built using a revised variant of the Devourer's armor plating, it was intended to be utterly invincible. Even its weakness of needing to vent due to overheating was turned to a strength, for no creature of flesh or metal can survive such temperatures. To gaze upon this serpentine terror is to know true power." XS-01 Artemis: "The final superweapon to be created, Artemis only needed a single revision to its original blueprints. Draedon's perfectionist nature allowed him to raise his skill in engineering to new heights, culminating with a machine possessed of unbelievable nimbleness and precision. To gaze upon the archer is to gaze a second too late." XS-03 Apollo: "With plasma cannons that rival the heat of Calamitas' own flames and trained in advanced simulations against the world's strongest, few can match this machine of war. Though the chassis consumes incredible amounts of energy, its power demands are easily met by its Exo Prism power core. To gaze upon the oracle is to know its unwavering stare."

6. #6Sulphuric Sea

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   This seaside has never been pleasant, though it has seen far better days. Incessant fumes rising from the industry of Azafure inundate the water with caustic ions. Despite this, the hardy life adapted to the new environment. No doubt aided by Silva as she burrowed through to the underworld. Long considered uninhabitable, its further deterioration led Draedon to designate it as a dumping ground. Years of careless waste disposal has now left the coast's transformation irreversible.

7. #7Sunken Sea

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   "Marine Biology Log"

   Page 1

   A hub of diverse ocean life, and all that remains of Ilmeris that is unscorched. Once its rural outskirts, it is now the final fragment of a once powerful kingdom. It is fortunate that the Witch only focused on attacking the cities proper, and spared some amount of the sea from the Incineration. I have long yearned to research these waters in great depth, yet was never able due to the ongoing conflict. Although many species went extinct in the devastation, many still thrive down here in its depths. It is in this lab that I may finally study the aquatic life properly and learn of their nature. Page 2

   Although the marine life in these caves do have eyes, some of their eyes are weak and process few colors. All they are made to see is the light of the sea prisms that surround them, with many creatures relying on them to guide their way through the submerged caverns. Their tough, gnarled hides possess crystal growths that I had originally assumed were the prisms settling on their backs. However, dissection results reveal that they instead possess these crystals internally, and the growths are a result of internal sea prisms bursting out of their hides. The growth of these crystals reaches such an extent that some creatures are more geological than biological in certain areas. Page 3

   Of the specimens here, the abnormally large clams capture my interest the most. Many times larger than the average person, their weight is so great that they lack the ability to move via the same methods as their smaller counterparts. Instead, they rely on teleportation to transport their hulking, heavily armored bodies. They seem to have once possessed further magical powers according to scouts. However, as they were seen only from afar, their reports could have easily been mistaken. Alternatively, their source of power simply could have faded after Ilmeris' downfall. It is unwise to entirely discount the latter possibility.

8. #8The Abyss

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   While there are many sightless crevasses in the deep sea, this one is a geological marvel. It is located unsettlingly close to the shoreline. Somehow, even eons of tectonics could not seal or crush it. The isolated Abyss is the debatably tranquil home of the naiad Anahita and other reclusive sea creatures. Here I disposed of the burgeoning remains of Silva, the Goddess of Life itself. Obviously, she of all Gods refused to truly die. My wishes were that she would be forgotten, but her tenacity and very willpower is remarkable. Diffused, her influence inundated that pit of crushing pressure with flora and fauna aplenty. Her great roots continue to thrash and tear at the impossibly dense stone, growing uncontrollably. She will soon remake it in her image. I can think of no worse fate for this accursed, hadal domain.

9. #9Astral Infection

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   This twisted dreamscape is a starborne equivalent of the mundane rot you see in your lands. I do not claim to understand the process in detail, but even the stars above can die. Left unchecked, their corpses bloat and fester. Typically, some semblance of order is maintained. It is not unlike the circle of life. Cosmic beings patrol the fathomless void and pick at the carrion, leaving nothing but clean bones. The infection itself is a disturbance from deep space. It has a mind of its own, projecting its will upon life and land. Those whose minds can grasp the true form of the universe are largely immune. They cannot be starstruck by a supposed higher truth, let alone one preached by a pustule.

   The Astral infection is guarded by two beings: Astrum Deus and Astrum Aureus

   Astrum Aureus: "Ever pragmatic, Draedon dispatched this machine to locate and analyze the source of the Astral Infection. While nominally for reconnaissance, the Aureus model is heavily armed and can scale any terrain. It performed admirably, at least until it was assimilated into the Infection. Sapient minds have enough willpower to resist the Infection's call indefinitely. However… even the finest silicon is not beyond its reach. Draedon prefers his creations to serve after all. With this experiment concluded, he will certainly be examining you next. Watch yourself." Astrum Deus: "On our world, this being is revered as the God of the night sky. It is said to devour dying stars and birth new ones in turn. Unlike the many Gods you or I know, it is guiltless. An important distinction, for it was equally as diseased as they. The infection that tainted its body is from beyond Terraria. Neither I nor Draedon recognize it fully. With its will subsumed, it hurled a chunk of infested astral matter at our world, then came to guard it. Thankfully, such a grandiose being that walks amongst the stars is likely not truly dead. While the land has paid a terrible price, the price of a wrongful conviction is higher still."

10. #10Amidias, the Sea King

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    The seventeenth ruler of the constitutional monarchy of Ilmeris since the tribes of the Ilmeran Sea unified, under the Electric Goddess, Otonilou, and the elusive God of the Seas. Alas, one cannot be a ruler without subjects, and while he remains respected by those who opposed Godseeker Yharim, his kingdom is no more.

11. #11Devourer of Gods

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    Yharim POV: "The infamous, otherworldly glutton, in the flesh. His imposing title was self-granted, but undeniable truth made it stick. He is a formidable foe: Capable of swallowing Gods whole, absorbing their essence in its entirety. I ordered Draedon to armor his gargantuan form, so he could safely best even the greater Gods in single combat. Fittingly, he possessed a serpent's tongue. He manipulated me incessantly, driving me to awful acts. I recruited him out of desperation. My war had dragged on for decades, and I would do anything to have it end. It was then my negligence was born. My descent began the moment recruiting this scoundrel crossed my mind. His absence of loyalty was clear as day, even at the time. However, I suspect it goes beyond that. The Devourer's alien capabilities and domineering tactics hint that his allegiance lay elsewhere. Is he but one soldier, a mere pawn of a malevolence far beyond…?" The Bestiary entry for The Devourer of Gods: "An entity of many titles and reputations, it is easy to conflate the truth and myths of its many legendary deeds. Though Yharim once believed that the essence he devours is utterly and completely erased from existence, it is a fundamental rule of creation that energy cannot be destroyed– it can only be transferred from one form to another."

    Servants of the Devourer: "Ceaseless Void: 'A contained, previously inert portal sealed in the Dungeon. The presiding cult kept it a closely guarded secret. Upon sighting the Devourer of Gods, their leader hurriedly led me to its chamber to reveal its existence to me. The portal led to the Devourer's home. It was identical to his, only ancient and perfectly stable. The serpent claimed: It too was his creation. Its permanence was a mistake he later rectified. But this rift was unquestionably far older than he. It had dated back to the Golden Age of Dragons. His lie was thin and forced. Something far more powerful than the Devourer was at hand. Its eerie persistence gnawed at my mind. It did not just threaten me. It threatened everyone. Everything. Even when faced with blatant lies and harrowing danger, I simply walked away and did not return….' Storm Weaver: 'This beast while of lesser stature than the Devourer, is a great danger in its own right. They are clearly of the same species. Even this serpent was known to devour Wyverns whole. Very little is known about the realm or space that the Great Devourer hails from. Even Draedon and his obsessive research has been unable to discern its true nature. The Weaver slipped through a rift from this place opened by the Devourer, and he has monitored it since. In his mind, the lesser serpent's similar powers could lead it to be too threatening for him to let live. Little does he know, he has forever stood in a similar position. He thinks himself invincible after all.' Signus: 'An aberration that defies all explanation, borne of the Distortion and revered by the Onyx Kinsmen. Almost all information about this entity is sourced from that enigmatic clan. All else is hearsay. It has been reported to manifest in multiple places at once. Its capacity for deceit and ruthless cunning is peerless. Statis' compatriot Braelor dueled me to a standstill. With our blades locked, the ronin lunged for the lethal blow. The Devourer is not one for honor or loyalty. But he sensed weakness. Hesitation. An easy prey. The serpent ensnared both my assailants in a dimensional vortex. Assuring me they were as good as dead. Yet, Statis must have struck a bargain with Signus. He escaped his banishment unscathed.'"

12. #12Providence, the Profaned Godess

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    The Bestiary entry for Providence, the Profaned Goddess: "In a time lost to memory, there were four visionaries. With righteous fury, they slew a dragon, and their leader gorged Herself upon its auric soul of Flame. "The world is without guidance, and its people are filled with darkness." She said. There was silence, until Providence spoke once more. "Let us go forth, and light the world anew." And it was so."

    Yharim POV: "A glorious day. Deeds of valor of this caliber are enshrined in legend. Of this age only the Witch, Braelor and myself can compare. Providence was perhaps one of the wickedest Gods, hellbent on purification through erasure. Her worshippers saw little value in life. Pain was not a price they felt justified to pay. The Profaned Goddess promised her followers she would end inequality by reducing all to featureless ash. Those devoted to her were weak-willed, yet she reigned as one of the mightiest Gods. Perhaps it was their easily-swayed nature that let her draw so much power from them…."

    The Profaned Guardians: "The Guardians are rather simple constructs, extensions of the Profaned Goddess' power. They are given partial autonomy to hunt down threats and are rarely seen outside of temples sanctified in her name. She has been attempting to expand her domain, it is of no surprise she sees you as her largest threat to that. After all, it was you that finished off the star-spawned horror that catalyzed the downfall of the Dragons. Draw her out from hiding. Have no mercy, for the Profaned Goddess shows none herself."

13. #13Yharon, the Jungle Dragon

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    The Bestiary entry for the Yharon, Dragon of Rebirth: "Each dragon once wielded nigh limitless power over their domain, a fundamental power drawn directly from the world's fragmented soul. The dragons were masters of all; life, death, even the great Primordial Light that banishes the eternal night beyond. And yet, one of these majestic beings reached a height of power possibly second only to their king. He who made his kind eternal through his powers of Rebirth... and yet, even eternity did not last."

    Yharim Pov: "The return of the Age of Dragons, dashed. Just like that, it is but ashes in the wind…. Yharon was the last of the Auric Dragons. As a phoenix, his domain of power includes rebirth. The Gods thought him culled with the rest of his kind, but he returned as an egg. Hidden on the Aerie. I was destined to consume his Auric soul when he hatched, and rule forever as God-King. Destiny is for the weak. I rejected their whims, and upended their scheme. I was sentenced to execution for treason. Their meek, ingratiated swine cast both Yharon's egg and I into the magma of Hell. The intense heat hideously scarred me, but birthed Yharon anew. He rose, wreathed in fire and saved my life. From that day, our souls were one. He shared with me the tale of Zeratros, and the genocide of his kind. I promised him I would have justice. So the war began, Yharon rallying all as a beacon of hope. Now, that hope is long withered. I am but a husk of the hero I once was, and this is the ultimate proof. Yharon may yet return, as he does, but he… he has bade me farewell."

14. #14Leviathan and Anahita

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    Yharim POV: "Although she claims dominion over all the world's oceans, in truth she is a recluse of the deep. Elementals such as her pose a grave threat to all those around them. Other Elementals are no exception. Anahita was driven from her home in the Abyss by Silva's encroaching greenery. Accounts vary as to the majestic beast at her side. Some claim Anahita summoned the Leviathan herself. Regardless of what you believe, they are inseparable even in death. Such stalwart loyalty! It reminds me of Yharon."

    Anahita: "Once a resident of the Abyss, she left it long ago due to Silva's influence spreading through her former home. She wishes to see all overtaken by the ocean, so that her domain may encompass the world. Such is the nature of all elementals." The Leviathan: "A gargantuan marine reptile that lurks the ocean depths along with the Water Elemental, Anahita. It is unknown if she is the last of her kind, or was simply manifested into existence like her master."

15. #15The Slime God

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    Yharim POV: " An old clan once revered this thing as a paragon upholding the balance of nature. Now its purity is sullied by freshly absorbed muck and grime. The gelatinous being neither knows nor cares for the last surviving clansman. Such tragedy is all too common in worship. Alas, the Slime god is wise enough to be cowardly. Fleeing battles it cannot win when its servants are vanquished. Perhaps fortune will aid you if you catch it unaware."

    The Slime God (Core): "Despite being a Gluttonous slime, the Slime God forbids itself from growing out of control to maintain the balance of the world. It was still pursued during the Crusade, but it managed to survive through countless strategic retreats. The duty it upholds and the methods it employs are the reason the Onyx Kinsmen worship such a puny deity." Paladins: "The Slime God avoids direct combat due to its weakness, instead choosing to mold guardians to protect it. These guardians were created from countless blight slimes, their filth acting as a counterweight to the purity of their god."

16. #16Azafure

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    Oft called the First City, its tumultuous history stretches back to the Draconic Era. An odd jewel of civilization, the immense heat of the underworld provided it unlimited potential in defense and industry. Such were the abilities of the forgemasters that when I swayed them to my cause, I was never lacking for arms. It pains me to say this even in hindsight, but their own artisanry paved the downfall of the entire city. For the Witch and I… the air here will forever be laden with regret. There is nothing to be done.

    Brimstone Elemental: "A peculiar being. Until recently, she had laid dormant for ages. Acting as the city's silent matron, present in their culture. As its economy boomed, traces of brimstone found their way all across the known world. It was never clear why her slumber ended. At first it was a stir. The people were cautiously optimistic. Her awakening was horrific. Inferno billowed through the streets. None were safe from the flames. Fate had a sick sense of humor that day, for Calamitas to be there to match her. Perhaps the two were attuned somehow…. They fought to a standstill, fire against fire. Neither were victorious, with the city razed by flames despite her intentions."

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