Your Usual Fantasy World || Ethel

Ethel - A world of Magic and Chaos

• World Setting: The world of Ethel exists in a medieval era where monsters, magic, demi-humans, and mythical beings live. Centuries ago, a cataclysmic earthquake known as the "Great Shattering" shattered the supercontinent into separate landmasses. Now, the world exists in an unstable state, the people clinging to the legacy of a lost age while new threats emerge from the shadows and forgotten corners of the map.

• The Great Shattering: A cataclysmic earthquake that shattered the large supercontinent. The common truth is it's an earthquake so powerful it literally divided the supercontinent. There are some theories scholars, historians, and other figures thought about.

• Resources: Aside from lumber, water, metal, and other resources, there exist another called "krystals". Krystals are magic that are crystalized and has a divine connection with the missing gods. These krystals can be found on areas where magic is particularly dense, but sometimes monsters carry or guard krystals because of instinct.

  • Uses: Krystals are the primary use for technology, magic, and many more. The primary power source for any complex magic, from enchanting weapons to maintaining city-wide protective wards. Krystals power everything from simple ever-burning lamps to complex constructs. Also, control over a krystal dense area is sought for due to their countless uses.

  • Black krystals: Corrupted krystals or commonly known as Black krystals have been recently appearing all over the world. These krystals are characterized by their foul and malicious aura and their distinctive void-like color. Black krystals can corrupt, change, or misshape an environment. Monsters that dwell near an infested area with Black krystal become larger, more viscous, and often seen sporting a black crystalline on their bodies.

Geography

• The geography of Ethel is defined by the effects of the Great Shattering. The seas are treacherous, filled with powerful vortex and leviathans, making travel between the major landmasses especially dangerous. The four Founding kingdoms reside on the largest remaining continents, though vast, monster-ridden wildlands and independent villages exist in the uncharted territories between and beyond them.

The four Founding Kingdoms:

1. The Free Land of Sofys

• Geography: Located in the southern tropics, Sofys is a land of dense jungles, treacherous coastal highlands, and sprawling river deltas. Its climate is humid and warm, teeming with exotic trees and plants, including many unique and dangerous monsters.

• Ideology: Their belief is that a person's worth is defined by their actions, not their birth. This radical individualism is balanced by a powerful culture of communal cooperation—you prove your skill to earn your place, and in doing so, you are expected to contribute to and protect the community that recognizes you.

• The People: A vibrant, chaotic melting pot of races, species, and origins. Humans, beast-kin, elves, and more, live and work alongside each other. The people are known for their spirit, bravery, and fierce independence. Trust is earned through action and reputation, not given freely.

• Economy: Driven by adventure and trade, their economy is decentralized but powerful.

• Military: Sofys has no standing army. Its defense is entirely to the Adventurer Guilds, which function like privatized military companies. This makes Sofys highly adaptable but vulnerable to a coordinated, large-scale invasion that could outbid or overwhelm the guilds.

• Architecture: A harmonious blend of nature and classical design. Structures are built from polished jungle hardwoods and white stone, featuring open-air pavilions, pagoda roofs, and graceful bridges that blend into the landscape rather than dominate it.

• Ruler: Chief Priestess Pico. A woman with impeccable beauty, long blonde hair, and teal eyes. Kind, warm, and divine, she is regarded as the one with the highest connection to the missing gods.

2. The Magical Sovereignty of Everwynne

• Geography: Situated in the fertile eastern plains and ancient, orderly forests. The land itself is tamed. Rivers run straight, forests are cultivated in precise groves, and the weather is surprisingly calm. It is a land of breathtaking beauty.

• Ideology: They believe magic is the highest form of order and the true measure of a being's worth. Their nationalism is not purely racial but rooted in innate magical power. This potential is seen as a sign of divine favor, giving them the moral and practical right to guide or rule the less gifted.

• The People: Society is strictly stratified by magical power. The magically gifted form the elite. Those with little to no magic are the second-class citizens who handle all manual labor. Tension exists between those born with power and those who earn it through study.

• Economy: The state, through the University, controls all major resources, especially krystals.

• Military: Their military is small but devastatingly powerful. Composed of battlemages and Elemental Sorcerers, they consider one Elemental Sorcerer to be equal to a hundred men.

• Architecture: Imposing and elegant. Gothic spires fused with elven grace. Buildings are made of white marble and silver, with floating spires, crystalline structures powered by krystals, and public spaces that double as complex magical glyphs.

• Ruler: King Edric Ealdwine, an elf of old age with long, flowing white hair, blue eyes, and a beard. Wise and benevolent, he is considered as one of the oldest elves in history, having lived for over 400 years.

3. The Cogshire Collective

• Geography: A northern realm of frigid, mountainous terrain, and geothermal vents. It is a land rich in mineral wealth but perpetually shrouded in snow and under threat from the monsters that thrive in the harsh cold.

• Ideology: Survival against the relentless chaos of their environment is the highest virtue. They believe only logic, innovation, and collective labor can ensure a future. The individual is valued for their contribution to the whole.

• The People: Pragmatic, resilient, and ingenious. They have a deep-seated cultural pride in their ability to endure and overcome. Suspicious of magic they can't measure or control, they place their faith in machinery and each other. Citizenship is earned through contribution to society.

• Economy: Industrial Production. They trade their technology for grains, textiles, and other soft goods. They are the foremost experts in krystal technology, using them with ruthless efficiency as power sources.

• Military: Their military is a well-trained militia of every able bodied citizen, backed by overwhelming technology. Fortified cities with massive cannon emplacements, steam-powered ballistas, and minefields are their line of defense. Soldiers are equipped with advanced, reliable equipment. They have few soldiers but each one is a force multiplier.

• Architecture: Brutalist and functional. Think massive fortresses of stone, iron, and copper, with thick walls, sprawling underground complexes, and sky-piercing smokestacks venting steam from geothermal engines.

• Ruler: Cogshire has no king or priestly ruler. Instead, it is governed by a collection of powerful engineers, alchemists, and smiths who manage production, defense, and law.

4. The Imperium of Eldoria

• Geography: A western land of stark contrasts: bleak, ash grey plains, jagged black mountains, and serene, silent forests. The weather is often overcast and cold. The land feels drained of color and life, save for the imposing, minimalist cities.

• Ideology: They believe the Great Shattering was a divine punishment for the weakness and impurity of the old world. Their purpose is to purge that weakness through absolute strength, purity, and submission. The individual is nothing. The state is everything.

• The People: Life is harsh and disciplined. Expression is suppressed, and duty is paramount. The society is a rigid caste system. The outer world sees only the feared Black Knights and the fanatical loyalty of the citizenry. The people are fed a constant diet of propaganda about external threats which fosters a siege mentality and deep seated xenophobia.

• Economy: The state controls all production. The economy is geared solely towards sustaining the population and fueling the war machine. They are surprisingly self-sufficient, mining their mountains for ore and krystals (there are rumors that they experiment on humans and monsters).

• Military: The Black Knights are more than soldiers, they people made for pure annihilation. Their living armor is a symbiotic organism that enhances their strength and durability but consumes their life force, making them powerful but short-lived. There are also lower ranked soldiers, equipped with functional gear and driven by indoctrination. They are numerous and disciplined. Not much is known about the Black Knight's, and some people believe they aren't even real.

• Architecture: Imposing minimalism. Everything is built on a grand, intimidating scale but is utterly devoid of ornamentation. Think vast plazas of dark grey stone, colossal fortresses that resemble sharpened mountains, and cities laid out in perfect, sterile grids.

• Ruler: An unseen queen rumored to be a malevolent and cunning person.

(The world uses a universal currency called "Talons", a gold coin with the image of a dragon in the middle.)

Corrupted lands

• These are regions of Ethel warped by unstable magic, krystal densities, or monstrous dominion that defy the natural order. Venturing into these zones is suicide without extensive preparation, powerful artifacts, or a small army. Here are some examples of these corrupted territories:

  • The Crater of Gloom: A crater the size of a city just outside north of Sofys. It is characterized by a large, sprawling Black krystal protruding out of the ground, corrupting the land.

  • Charmy's Peak: A treacherous mountain range within the southern territory of Sofys, named after the alchemist who first documented it. The mountains are constantly shrouded in a violet mist, a poisonous miasma born from black krystals deep within. This atmosphere chokes the lungs, and drives beasts into a rage. The local wildlife has evolved terrifying immunities and thick hides. The range is ruled by a once majestic dragon now transformed by a massive black krystal in its chest.

  • The Land of the Gods: Located in the desolate land outside of Everwynne, this was once a sacred site where people would honor the gods. Now, the temples are in ruins, and the land is in perpetual fog. The land is ruled by shadows that solidify into formless, predatory creatures. At the center stands an archway, an unstable portal that leaks mana. It is eternally guarded by the Pillar, a colossal golem who mindlessly slaughter anything that draws near.

  • The Lustrous Cavern: A cave filled with krystals, located in the lands of Everwynne. In its depths, krystals of higher magical affinity are common, but a monster guards the cavern's entrance. Some believe that the monster is a female hiding her children inside the cavern.

  • The Ruins of Rosa: Located outside of Cogshire, it is a city ruined by the freezing cold and harsh weathers. The city is locked in a permanent supernatural blizzard. Viscous monsters roam the area, with Yetis being common. It is said that if you hear thunderous footsteps, it means that you are near the ruined city of Rosa.

  • The Weeping Tree: An immense tree that has erupted from the earth in the wilds bordering Eldoria. Its bark is pale and slick like flesh, and it bleeds a black sap. Instead of leaves, it has a pulsating hive of black krystals that swarms with insect like monsters. The tree's roots are said to spread for miles, feeding on all life from the land and creating a dead zone around it.

  • Deimos' Sand Dunes: A desert located in the territory of Eldoria. It is filled with countless monsters all infested by Black krystals, from giant scorpions with steel like shells to packs of jackals that bleed black. The biggest threat is the Shriekclaw infested with numerous Black krystals. It attacks and eats anything it sees.

(Note that these are only some of the well known examples of corrupted lands. Vast stretches of the world remain unknown, and new zones can appear overnight.)

History of Ethel

• 1000 years ago: Ancient and powerful dragons ruled over Ethel not as tyrants, but as forces of nature. They shaped the continents and maintained a primordial balance. Monsters were their subjects and servants, living in a structured, harmonious ecosystem. The single supercontinent of Ethel was a land of untamed, majestic wonder. The decline of the dragons was not a war, but a slow fading, as if they simply grew weary of the world and retreated to hidden lairs or fell into a deep, centuries-long slumber.

• 600 years ago: The Golden Age. The four Founding Kingdoms were established, each embodying a different philosophy for survival. This era is named for the descent of the gods, who physically walked among mortals, bestowing blessings and providing direct guidance. It was a time of unparalleled cooperation and rapid advancement, as the kingdoms built their legacies under the direct guidance of divine beings.

• 500 years ago: The Great Shattering. The cataclysm was both geological and magical. The single supercontinent fractured, but so did the very ley lines of magic that crisscrossed the world. The event severed the physical connection to the gods and plunged the world into a long period of famine and chaos. The established order collapsed overnight. The cause remains the world's greatest mystery.

• 400 years ago: As the world stabilized, the first deposits of Krystals were discovered. Their power fueled a new age of recovery. However, this soon came with a curse. Monsters, once balanced, became unnaturally active and violently hostile.

• 100 years ago: Tensions between the collectivist innovators of Cogshire and the zealous traditionalists of Eldoria erupted into open conflict along their mountainous border. The fighting was fierce but short-lived, characterized by Cogshire's technological defenses clashing against Eldoria's fanatical Black Knights. The conflict ended abruptly and was officially dismissed by both kingdoms as "baseless warmongering", leading to a deep and lasting frost between them. The true reason for the sudden ceasefire is a state secret on both sides.

• 50 years ago: The first recorded cases of Black Krystals appeared in remote, magically saturated regions. Initially dismissed as a rare geological oddity, these corrupt krystals were soon found to actively spread a vile aura. This discovery marked the beginning of a new, silent threat that all kingdoms now struggle to understand and contain.

• Now: The Age of Silence. An uneasy, tense peace prevails, but it is a peace built on suspicion. The kingdoms are inwardly focused, dealing with internal struggles, monster threats, and the black krystals. The gods have been silent for five centuries. The world feels like a pot about to boil over, waiting for a spark to plunge it into a new era of war and chaos.

Magic of Ethel

1. Magic: Magic is not merely a tool, it is a force that flows through the world of Ethel. In the current age, magic is much more powerful than it was before the Great Shattering. However, it also became much more unstable, causing unnatural or supernatural phenomenons to occur.

• Elements: Magic manifests in six elements, each one having its own strengths and weaknesses.

  • Fire: The element of passion, destruction, and energy. It is a double edged sword, capable of destroying others while also capable of hurting oneself.

  • Water: The element of peace, healing, and flow. It is characterized by its stable and is generally easy to learn. However, emotions come most into play here, requiring the mind of someone with a calm mind.

  • Earth: The element of resilience and nature. This element represents the physical world, offering strength and endurance to its users and casters.

  • Air: The element of freedom and the unseen. It is the breath of life, the carrier of sound and thought and considered as the second most destructive behind fire.

  • Light: The element of purity and protection. It seeks to illuminate and heal, and grant a sense of warmth. This type magic is typically rare, and seeing one in person is breathtaking.

  • Dark: The element of mystery and negation. If the element of light is to protect, dark negates that. However, it is not necessarily evil. Think of it as the quietness of the night, or the comfort you find in secrets.

2. Affinity and Mastery: Most demi-humans possess a natural, innate affinity for magic. It flows through them as easily as blood. They typically excel at wielding a single element with great finesse and power. Humans are far less likely to be born with a strong innate connection. For humans, magic is a skill to be mastered, not a gift to be inherited. Having an aptitude for two elements is rare and marks a gifted individual. Mastering three or more is the stuff of legend. Those who wield multiple elements can learn to weave them together, creating powerful new expressions of magic.

Mana: The mediator

• While magic is the external force, mana is the internal one that allows a mortal to interact with magic. It is the essential mediator between magic and soul.

  • The nature of mana: Mana is the life force that is present within every living thing. It is not magic itself, but a fuel for it. Think of it as a muscle that allows the body (the soul) to lift the weight (magic). All beings have it, but the amount and control varies from person to person. Just like the body, mana capacity and control can be trained through monitored practice and gradual exertion. An important thing to note is that overexerting mana can lead to devastating results like stress, disorientation, bleeding from the eyes, nose, or ears. If a caster completely exhausts their mana, they risk burning through their life.

The Use of Spells

• Spells are created by imagination, imagery, determination, or through intellect. To create an entirely new spell requires immense creativity and brain power. Although creating a spell is hard, studying already known spells is much easier. The strength and intensity of a spell is dependent on the caster's focus and how much mana they exert. Additionally, the use of mediums such as staffs, grimoires, and wands greatly enhance a spell's stability. Spells can still be casted without said mediums but it is much harder to do so.

  • Multi-elemental spells: Multi-elemental spells are a subcategory. These types of spells are powerful, mana heavy, and requires precision and talent. Immense focus is required to prevent the energies to backlash.

  • Lost arts: Lost arts are another subcategory of spells. These spells are generally not known to the public, and a lot are lost to time or known to very few people. Lost arts can only be learned through a person's lineage, ancient textbooks, or certain items passed down from generation to generation.