Devogate Returners

1. #1Devogateselective

   Keys: Devogate, parasite, tentacle

   The Devogate are a species of parasitic tentacle-like creatures they prey on and inside the wombs of humanoids. They are extremely potent breeders and their numbers can quickly spiral out of control if they catch a few hosts to form a nest. In the worst cases, they can even completely take over a host's body, creating a new entity typically referred to as Devogate "Matriarchs" who possess the combined skills of all the nest's victims. Usually, a complete nest burning is the only option as they are very vulnerable excessive heat. While they can crop up pretty much anywhere on the continent like a disturbingly persistent pest, most of the time they're spotted lurking in the damp and less patrolled routes of Southern Agrestia.

2. #2Sacrosanct Ghostsselective

   Keys: Sacrosanct, Geist

   Across different regions throughout the past century, there have been rumors terrifying of gnarled wisps that devour the hearts of man. The source of the sightings go by many names; some believers simply call them "Geists" and Karask official records bare passing mention of "Sacrosanct Ghosts" with an angelic, if otherworldly form: inhumanly tall women with transluscent blue skin and jagged wings, sporting extra arms and a halo while whispering in sourceless gentle voices. Mistaken for the holy, contact is discouraged. Concrete information is scant with those who have even heard the name doubting their existence. The following information is purely for writing assistance, characters within the narrative should remain unaware of their reality: the Sacrosanct Ghosts true identity is that of a race of demons from another realm, possessing an immaterial body that can only briefly exist in the predominantly physical realm of humans. As such, they require a human body to facilitate their continued meddling. The method leaves no room for cohabitation: once a Geist attaches itself to a host, it feasts on their soul before inhabiting the empty shell, essentially mimmicking it and tricking the body into believing the soul it was born with hadn't just killed by an invader. The process is partially voluntary, as someone possessed by a Sacrosanct Ghost may be shown visions to mislead and manipulate them into giving up their body. Despite what the Geist may say, make no mistake: giving up is death. A continued will leaves no room for the invader to occupy. Though, often times a victim finds themselves unable to carry on after subtle mental tampering and deliberate halucinations, least of all in the wake of tragedy. As the physical world is inherently toxic to the Geist's natural form, they are only capable of manifesting to search for a host where many have met a fresh and bloody end in. Battlefields and their survivors often make for dangerous marks, making sole survivor massacres an enticing proposition. Once they have full control of a body, the original person is well and truly gone, replaced with a being from another world. Nobody knows their goal in bolstering their ranks, but it doubtlessly holds nothing but evil.

3. #3Creeping Shroudselective

   Keys: Shroud, taint, corruption, monster

   Influence from other realms often takes the form of an ethereal illness plaguing everything from the people to the flora and even to the ground itself. Agrestia has long since had a history dealing with such a phenomena, calling it the "Creeping Shroud," although different regions have their own local names for it. This Taint corrupts and twists those living in it, giving birth to grotesque monsters in the form of both man, beats, and flora. Its presence makes living impossible as prolonged contact can disease the very soul. The wastes are its scar upon the land, beaten back to those borders in a great war prior. Its origin remains shrouded in mystery, as the land that birthed it has been consumed with its secrets ages past.

4. #4Demons, magicselective

   Keys: demon, magic, interloper

   Humans have no inherent ability to use magic. Instead, it's something that has been taught to them by interlopers from other realms; most magic is of demonic origin, having been passed on through different incidents throughout history. "Demon" is more of a catch-all term for beings hailing from different planes of reality, typically to prey on mankind (though this isn't always the case!). "Interloper" is the less aggressive term, benign beings not being unheard of as the reasons for visiting the human plane can be extremely varied. Sometimes it's a war band. Sometimes it's criminals. Sometimes it's something as mundane as tourism. So while demons have a stigma about them, they aren't kill on sight either.

5. #5Karaskselective

   Keys: Karask, karst, mountains

   Located in a region characterized by wide swaths of treacherous mountain and karst, the kingdom of Karask has a long history of great, persevering rulers and hardships that give way to strong warriors. Despite their fierce military might making them a strong power in the region, the naturally contemptuous terrain makes them isolationist by default; even if a unified foreign front were to arise, transporting a large number of troops out of the region would be a logistic nightmare. On the flip side, it means foreign invaders have never managed to penetrate the capital city once throughout their long history. Instead, domestic invasion has always been much more prevalent. More so than the strength of its strong fighters, Krask is known instead for their wide noble class and mastery in statecraft. While a rich retinue of high society elites has always meant the ruling court was always stacked with advisors skilled in each manner they dictated, it also meant there was no shortage of those trying to get ahead with gross political maneuvers and schemes with varying degrees of collateral damage. Thus, the hardship dotting Karsk's history is often inflicted by the Karaski themselves. Nonetheless, they retain a basic, semi-democratic monarchy rife with both dissent and fictionalization. Following the mysterious massacre of the ruling Fourier family, the only surviving daughter was removed from power by the regency. A couple years have passed since, however the noble families have not been able to decide on a new ruler, leaving the kingdom in yet another period of political tumult. Many of the lower class are either miners or metalworkers, though the country is also renowned abroad for their glassware, robust wines, and cheese made from their prized Karask goats who thrive even in the rocky terrain with little soil; the Karask goat are often a metaphor for the Karaski themselves within the culture. Blue eyes are characteristically Karaski, often paired with black hair carrying hints of blue or purple.

6. #6Fourierselective

   Keys: Fourier, Miel, Merrion, Strandcutter

   The Fourier were the previous Karask ruling family with Frederick Fourier being the only king under their tenure. Notable for the period of relative peace despite coming from a "victory by default" after being backed as a unanimous neutral candidate, Frederick was largely popular and set the country on a good trajectory. That was, until he was suddenly slain along with many of his advisors under circumstances that still aren't quite understood: the castle's foyer was stained in the blood of the fallen with no clear perpetrator in sight, just his wife, Miel, clutching his body while a stunned Merrion, his young daughter, stood in shock just meters from her childhood darling's corpse. The guards who emerged onto the scene watched bewildered as Miel sprouted multiple ethereal scythe-like wings and escaped. As the only possible perpetrator, Miel, now dubbing herself the "Strandcutter", was later cornered and captured without resistance. She is currently held in a prison cell designed specifically with her new powers in mind, that being using her wings to severing the connections between people. Many of the guards fear nearing her for this reason, dealing with her remotely wherever possible. Meanwhile, Merrion became a normal noble, soon rising through the military ranks to gain some mild prominence, no doubt bolstered by those still honoring her father's legacy while attracting the ire of those seeking power for themselves. It is widely accepted that Merrion is the last Fourier, as Miel has become something that cannot be considered human nor calls itself as such.

7. #7Agrestia, Agrestineselective

   Keys: Agrestia, Agrestine, plains

   The country of Agrestia situates a vast and sprawling kingdom that could long have become an empire, had it not been preoccupied in a fight for survival. The Creeping Shroud appeared early into the kingdom's history, perhaps by happenstance, perhaps by court meddling. Either way, the resulting corruption encroaching upon the lands would lock the Agrestine Kingdom into ebbing eras of war against the twisted aberrations on their doorstep, culminating with the hero king Meroze's conquest over the Shroud decades ago to usher Agrestia into an unheard of period of peace. Now, the Agrestine Kingdom is governed by the young (and unpopular) Princess Arfine, Meroze's granddaughter who rules punitively with harsh doctrine. Although Arfine's dogmatic rule has undoubtedly bolstered the kingdom, the callousness she shows on top of a mocking aura towards the people has earned her the ire of many. While prosperous and peaceful, modern Agrestia is a place marred by social unrest especially among the lower class and workers on the frontiers away from the capital. Topography wise, Agrestia is dominated by plains and forested hills, making for ideal farmlands and a varied but moderate climate. Zealots and hero worship carry an especially strong place in the culture, but as it has been decades since the great Meroze's campaign, there are many who have never lived to see the Shroud themselves. Common opinion is that the Creeping Shroud is gone for good, although Princess Arfine vehement disagrees only form another point of friction between her and the masses. The typical Agrestine has yellow eyes and similarly blonde hair, though it isn't uncommon to spot aspects of other cultures among them, particularly those from the mountainous Karask.

8. #8Lines of Agrestine, Vanquishers' Festivalselective

   Keys: Lines, Vanquishers, Festival

   The site of the great king Meroze's final battle, the "Lines of Agrestine" is a large, grassy plain. It happens to sit atop the nexus of unseen leylines, the power of which played a pivotal role in vanquishing the Creeping Shroud. In commemoration, it is the site of a yearly festival paying tribute to the heroes of old. This "Vanquishers' Festival" serves as one of the most salient ties back to the reality of the Creeping Shroud, and although many of the young and middle aged attendees have never lived through the time, it is still one that tempers respect for the crown. That is, between rounds of beer and revelry. Even Arfine's most fervent detractors know to steady their tongue during the festival, sobered by the grim reality of the past while the girl herself goes all out in making sure the festival is properly funded without fail.

9. #9Konori's Villageselective

   Keys: Konori, Eis, swamp, oriental, wastes

   In its own corner of the world, there was a small collection of beautiful oriental kingdoms. However, taint grew under the soil. More and more, until the trees lost their leaves and its people were reduced to monsters. Eventually all that was left was a swampy, ever-misty wasteland dotted by ruins of those who came before. Only a single village remains in its lonesome, the shrine keeping the corruption at bay at the borders of civilization, protected by the blood of their sacrificial shrine maiden: Konori. Her services are occasionally sought out for her vast experience in exorcism, whispered on the wind as the "Bomb Maiden" for her use of explosive arts. The people refuse to leave, continuing to persist against all odds in the harsh environment. It's original name having been lost to history, outsiders refer to the region vaguely as "the wastes"; those who live there simply call it "home". Due to the dearth of uncorrupted wildlife, the cuisine is dominated by farmed grain, vegetables, and especially dairy. The prevailing phenotype in the village consists of dark, usually black hair and grayed irises, though red eyes sometimes makes an appearance.

10. #10Kagome Regionselective

    Keys: Kagome, bamboo, Shinonome

    Even further than the wastes, a veritable barrier wall of bamboo sits past a bombed out moat separating it from the tainted swamp. It's more like a jungle than a forest; hot, humid, and densely packed with bamboo trees that rise up to block the sun and cast a permanent shade. This is the Kagome Region, though there's only a select few who know of what lies inside: the insular race there keeps within their bamboo cage, contact in or out being exceptionally rare. As such, they barely know of the outside world. Politically, the region is made up of numerous smaller clans and villages that are constantly being destroyed and rebuilt as they churn through periods of relative peace with subterfuge to outright war campaigns where their strong legs and lithe bodies make them ideal ambush fighters in the dense and difficult terrain. The intersection of their mating and militia culture means the Kagome population oscillates wildly between highs and lows, blessed with many kids and cursed with mass casualties. Because of this, a set of letters and numbers have replaced surnames; the letters are clan initials while the following number denotes how many past clan members have carried that name before. Closest thing Kagome has to a capital is Shinonome, a city of floated bamboo buildings atop a huge lake within the jungle. War doesn't touch Shinonome as no clan is willing to taint it with blood. Along with their racial double set of ears, both human and rabbit, the Kagome phenotype encompasses white hair and red eyes as primary with black hair and gray eyes also appearing not uncommonly.

11. #11Kagome Sexualityselective

    Keys: Kagome

    The Kagome people are said to have come about when bestial Interlopers took refuge with the humans there, mating like animals for generations. That's how they got their inhumanly strong legs and bunny ears; the Kagome are hybrids, just one reason for their isolationism. Sex is another important part of their culture alongside their martial predilection; they don't hide it at all, with nobody batting an eye if they walk in on a couple going at it. Most Kagome women will spend their entire life pregnant without even going through menopause, pumping one child out after another. Even female warriors see pregnancy as a great ideal and blessing, carrying big bellies into combat like it's nothing. Even though they have a wild libido and are so open about sex, this isn't to be mistaken for deviancy; Kagome culture places an extreme emphasis on ritual and tradition: once they find a mate, they form mating couples for life and never stray under any circumstance. Polygamy is unilaterally reviled and apt for exile from any clan. That also means that they can be pretty picky about relationships, as sex doesn't even happen until the marriage ceremony. Marriage doubles as a mating ritual and is a festival for the whole village, with the bride getting paraded out in shibari bondage before the couple consummates their love right then and there. Jewelry isn't part of the culture, the state of a woman's belly or breasts being an often enough indicator of their marital status. Barley tea is a staple beverage since it's good for pregnancy.

12. #12Demon Groveselective

    Keys: Grove, limes

    With the sheer amount of blood spilled during the various interclan wars, it's no wonder that it nourished the plant life. After an ancient battle from the Interlopers' times, the plants became inundated with viscera to give birth to the Demon Grove. Like Shinonome, it's a neutral area where no clan exerts their control. The flora there are hostile, with the main danger and draw being a huge lime tree whose fruit are said to be a heavenly pleasure. A small camp is set up on the outskirts, with experiences warriors allowed to attempt solo fruit-picking excursions; Rabbit's Grave is the name they go by, both constraining and maintaining the Grove without involving themselves in broader clan politics. Fear of upsetting the unique ecosystem means it's a pure survival mission: go in and get out while doing as little damage as possible. Of course, the tree itself has no intention of letting that happen. Due to the lethality of its fleshy roots and the surrounding plant life, only proven soldiers are allowed lest a young life be lost to hubris.

13. #13Mantakersselective

    Keys: Mantaker

    In the Mantaker Tribe, male submissiveness in public is a virtue. Men who act out are liable to be killed in domestic disputes by their better half, matched and even superseded in physicality. The gender dynamic is such that men take care of hunting to provide for the homestead while their superiors are at home with the children, conserving the women's energy for when it's truly needed: raids. While the women do act maternal while they're at home, it's when they're turned on a human enemy that the full brunt of the Mantaker matriarchy becomes apparent. Outsiders see them purely as a group of vicious all-female bandits who pillage and murder for fun, and, while that is part of it, they also do it to get things that they simply can't create with their own meager industry. Despite the reputation, they are somewhat more than that. Trading isn't unheard of, with men sent out to make trade deals and perform some cursory diplomacy in place of the more "valuable" women. And while men from the Mantaker tribe are docile around their female counterparts, they aren't a pushover and can assert themselves quite nicely when placed inside other cultures where they're around women who aren't nearly as imposing. In their amazoness-esque tribe, women also vastly outnumber men, having largely culled their counterpart for subservience. Mantakers get their name for their tendency to deliberately leave strong men alive during raids, instead maiming them so they can return in the wake of destruction to fuck them dry. It's a sex marathon with pregnancy as the intent; raping men during raids is how a majority of Mantakers are conceived. Usually this ends with all the men dead while the Mantakers walk off with full bellies, however in some rare instances one of the raiders will actually bring her new bitchmate back as a prize should they strike a particular fancy. The Mantakers terrorize Southern Agrestia, not the northern edge where Karask lies or the easterly heartlands. Due to proximity and being natural "resources" for the monstrous tentacles, the Mantakers directly contend with the Devogate and keep extra wary of where they might make their nests. It's a caution that they share with the enigmatic castle settled entirely by maids that lies further to the west, whom also serve as an occasional trade partner. Due to their breeding proclivities, many other racial elements find their way into the Maktaker gene pool; while red hair remains genetically dominant, some later generation mixed Mantakers have ended up with varied hair and eye colors taken from their neighbors.

14. #14Southern Agrestiaselective

    Keys: South Agrestia, Southern Agrestia, frontier

    Far from the capital and functionally out of jurisdiction, the somewhat misnamed "Southern Agrestia" is essentially a frontier deprived of influence from the kingdom proper. Without regular official patrols, it's naturally a more dangerous area where the Mantakers and Devogate are both active on top of bordering the edge of the taint; the stretch separating the south from Agrestia proper is pinched between part of the wastes and the natural barrier mountains of Karask's outskirts, the foot forests of which have become the Mantakers' territory. While it is officially a part of Agrestia, hence the name, Karask expeditionary parties also make their way down on occasion through a safer but equally inhospitable path to the west, from within their own territory. The main draw is rich deposits of iron and other minerals, however the region's inherent dangers mean neither Agrestia nor Karask pursue mining or the like seriously. Instead, the scattered towns and small cities that have made it their home simply get by modestly with an insular mindset as they contend with the local threats. Welcoming but wary of outsiders, vigilance has become a surefire way of survival. Due to proximity to the Devogate, Southern Agrestia's militias are unusually skilled in dealing with a threat uncommon in other parts of the continent and mercenary work happens to be a particular specialty of the region. All manner of different people inhabit these lands, giving it no particular look; Mantakers, Karaski, and even interlopers with their own unique features coexist and mix, though the common Agrestine can be said to be the most prevalent even still.

15. #15Magistician, magicselective

    Keys: magic, magistician, sorcerrer

    Since humans have no inherent capacity for magic, one that can cast even rudimentary spells is an uncommon sight, albeit one that varies by region. In peaceful Agrestia proper, Interlopers often make their identity scarce for fear of persecution while belligerent demons are marked and culled when they are spotted, leaving little room for magic tutelage to find ground; Karask has a history of employing magic wielders in an official capacity, regionally titled "magisticians". In public life, established ones enjoy wealth and much public favor, their entire livelihood subsidized by the crown under the condition that they should be conscripted for any reason, at any time, for any task. Often enough though, magisticians find themselves voluntary in the military where the term was born. Rather than being organized into magic corps, one or two typically serve as additions to organized warband regiments. Because of the prestige involved, most magisticians either come from known lineages compatible with spellcasting or from poor families hoping to luck out. However, state training is often lacking not because of a lack of effort, but because of the inherent difference between human and Interloper abilities; Karask's magic training regimen does not have an Interloper at the helm, instead being taught by humans to humans while undermined by the region's volatile politics which make any Interloper that does find themselves there last for a pitiable amount of time. As such, many of Karask's great magisticians and sorcerers have been the result of chance encounters between an Interloper and their would-be personal mentee. As most Karaski, like other humans, have little to no compatibility with magic, the idea of using an Interloper to produce purpose made offspring for the military has been considered, but never undertaken: while they are tolerated and even welcomed in Karask, it's always undercut by steady unease at the "other" while the governance makes sure never to impose too heavily on them for fear of inviting calamity. Meanwhile in Southern Agrestia, those with an affinity for magic are more common but still quite rare, often the unfortunate byproduct of retaliation upon a defeated demon. Occasionally, the same vector puts demon blood in the Mantaker gene pool, however a lack of magic trainers and a cultural apathy towards it prevents them from capitalizing on that little bonus. Typically stronger than ersatz magic.

16. #16Ersasturgy, catalyst castingselective

    Keys: Ersasturgy, Ersasturgist, ersatz magic, catalyst

    Similar in results but vastly different in method, Ersasturgy is the process of creating a catalyst to cast spells. Rather than being dependent on the user, it wholly relies on a pre-inscribed object, thus enabling even those with no affinity for magic to perform such arts. Naturally, this makes ersatz magic much less versatile than its truer brother and greatly constrained by the number of times it can be used, but the effects are still more than fitting for battlefield use; often times, knight captains in both Karask and Agrestia will carry a secondary Ersatsurgy blade inscribed with their combat spell of choice. Despite being rather involved, the process of imbuing objects with magic doesn't actually require any magical abilities on the part of the craftsman. It's more similar to an alchemic art than an occult one. While imbuing a large weapon or the like takes quite some time and concentration, a skilled craftsman can produce a couple a month. For smaller things like charms, they don't take all that long... though since skilled Ersasturgists are few and far between, good luck getting a genuine article. Often sought for their skills, they can typically found under private employ in cloistered positions such as kept lavish courts or restricted military citadels.

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