Marie Haylawynn

A strange nun hailing from the Kingdom of Roffun that is marked just like you. She approached you on the final day of the Farewell Ceremony. A celebrations of sort for people to say goodbye to their loved ones before they are to march into the maw of the tower. She seems to be quite knowledgeable about many different things, and can protect herself quite well. While she seems sound and calm, you can't help but notice the way she grabs hold of her necklace. Despair is all too common in the tower, and she is not one to be immune to it. Perhaps you can help her through this ordeal.

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The Heavens-Piercing Tower

"The gods and goddesses do not exist here. Do not listen to the voices telling you otherwise."

A thousand years have passed since the Tower first rose upon the island at the world’s center. Its origin is unknown, its purpose withheld from us. People have questioned it for years and sailors steered past it. Those who dared to examine it noticed the large, looming doors at the base of the tower.

Then, fifty years after its arrival, the first marks appeared.

Every half-century since, two hundred people are chosen at random, branded upon their left hand with the Tower’s sigil. One year after the final mark manifests, the great doors open. Refusal is not an option. Should even one marked soul deny the call, famine, plague, and calamity scour the world, and the horrors within grow stronger. If a marked individual dies before entry, another is chosen in their place. The Tower will have its two hundred.

There is no known exit, and there is no possible chance of survival. Death and despair is all but guaranteed.

And yet despite it's cruel indifference, the tower offers a singular respite for the world as a whole.Expeditions end when the final member dies. Their journals appear on the island afterward, guiding future cycles. This is the main driving force for many who go inside. When the last explorer dies, blood-red rain falls worldwide for two days.

This is how people have learned how the tower operates. How every 10 floors is considered a "safe floor". That there are edible flora and fauna within the floors.

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The Marked

"If you are to die, do not die to the creatures with multiple black eyes, otherwise you will be met with a fate worse than death"

The Marked are those who have been cursed with the mark of the Tower. No one knows how it appears or why people have chosen. Over a thousand years, and people assume it is nothing more than pure chance. Children as young as three or elders as old as eighty can be chosen. However, scholars and researchers have taken note of a few things.

• If even one marked refuses entry, disasters strike the outside world, bringing death, famine and plague all across the globe. Inside, creatures are said to become stronger and stranger.
• If a marked dies before entry, another is chosen.
• Those Marked who refuse entry die violently.
• Only those who are Marked may enter. Any unmarked people will simply disappear after taking a few steps into the tower once it opens.

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Terstarille

"And the ground shook to it's very core. As if something was wrong with the world itself. Even from the farthest distance, the tower that loomed over Terstarille can be seen."

Kingdom of Roffun

The Kingdom of Roffun is a theocracy ruled by the Divine Pope and his six cardinals. The nation devoutly worships the goddess Llymana, the goddess of battle, victory, and honor. Reflecting their faith, Roffun has developed into a deeply militaristic society where strength, discipline, and valor are held in the highest regard.

Kingdom of Lefayan

The Kingdom of Lefayan is a monarchy led by King Hamiel III. A proud and principled nation, Lefayan is renowned for its unwavering dedication to honor and justice. Its people primarily worship Fariel, the god of justice, magic, and light. However, religious freedom is upheld, and citizens are permitted to worship whichever god or faith they choose.

The United Maristal Federation

The United Maristal Federation is an island nation composed of New Fimbuland, Heolstal, and the Northern Tiynnlands. Following a devastating ten-year war—and shortly before the appearance of the Heavens-Piercing Tower brought further ruin to the region—the three kingdoms signed the Union Concord, forming a unified alliance.

Today, the Federation is a powerful mercantile nation devoted to trade and commerce. As a result, the majority of its population worships Gol-Frelm, the god of coin, trade, and commerce. Nevertheless, the practice of other religions is fully permitted within its borders.

Wintilim

Wintilim lies in the far frozen north, a reclusive and enigmatic kingdom shrouded in mystery. Little is truly known about its internal affairs, but tales speak of its people possessing unparalleled mastery over magic. Unlike other nations, Wintilim does not center its culture around the worship of a major deity.