Desthera
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Ter'Desthera is the third world in the traditional 'Seven Worlds' veiwpoint of the #Aethos multiverse. For those who are unaware, the general conceptualization of it is this:
Aethos = Qui'Desthera - Quadesthera - Ter'Desthera - Twi'Desthera - Undesthera = Naethos
Ter'Desthera, being the fulcrum point of the power balance between Aethos and Naethos, is arguably the most important of all of these worlds, and therefore the one upon which most RPs located in this multiverse occur.
The History of Ter'Desthera
Like most worlds, Ter'Desthera was created by some form of ill-defined omnipotent being, who then decided to head off, possibly back to the omnipotent country club, or something. Really, nobody knows, and there's nothing more to say about him at all. Luckily, before he left, he remembered to include a method by which a pantheon of gods could take care of everything, and show up all the other omnipotent creators when he told them about how HIS world was doing quite nicely, thank you. Sadly, this was not to be.
Sadly, tensions between the gods and their followers mounted quickly over the course of the first thousand years of civilization (for those wondering if these people evolved or were created spontainously, the answer is yes). Rather quickly, war broke out between all peoples and all gods- a GODSWAR (!!!).
- Now, it is important to note here that all of the continents were not connected during this time, and sea travel really did suck. Therefore, most armies used magic to transport themselves, with various degrees of success, across the oceans. This resulted in various tragidies, such as the mass drowning of the Sons of Fire, the spontanious burial of several thousand members of the Lances of the Dark Queen, and the first men on the moon. They weren't on the moon for long.
These wars continued, escalating for yet another thousand years (which might seem like a suspiciously impressive and round number), until at last the conflict had grown so far beyond all proportion that the planet was unlivable. At the end of this period, one notable spell tore a hole in the sky, revealing yet another world. Eagerly, the gods advanced, wishing to claim the resources therein.
Instead, the gods encountered the Grey Lord, who had been commissioned by the Creator to stop all the omnicide nonsense. He undertook two actions:
1. He reversed time, unmaking all that had happened during the entire Godswars. 2. He cast a spell known as the 'Pax Enforcas', which magically prevented any large-scale warfare. This proved entirely resistant to every countermagic known to man or god.
One thousand years later, on the celebration of Heirflamme, there was a great storm which passed over all the lands, moving with speed unnatural. When the clouds had vanished, so had the Pax Enforcas.
The Formation of Empire
The first city built of Man on Ter'Desthera was Endheim- and in a startling reversal, it was this act of construction which later caused the races of dwarves and elves to build LARGER cities. In the city of Endheim, the first human dynasty arose, preaching peace with nature, other races, and unending war with other nations. This gave rise to rival empires, and for the next several centuries, the human race bickered.
(It should be noted here that though the continent on which Endheim was built contains only half of the race of humanity, the others were more widespread, and seperated by other species. Therefore, they never formed more than small principalities)
For about four thousand years, the situation remained largely the same, until two events within the same century rocked the foundations of the world;
Within the small town of Malrya, the altar of the shared temple began to glow. For three days, before an awed clergy and apprehensive populace, it continued to glow brighter and brighter, before it exploded rather suddenly, leveling the entire town. When the dust had cleared, all that remained of the temple was a well-made but nondescript sword. As soon as the only surviving Sister of that temple, Sister Anden, touched the blade, however, she was given over to the voice of the divine, and she took the blade from the town.
Fifty-three years after the destruction of Malrya, Duke Philipon Silen had a son. For some time, the young nobleman hardly seemed exemplary in any fashion. In his twenty-eigth year, however, he undertook a trip to a neighboring village, and vanished for a decade. When he returned, it was before an army of fanatics. Within the year, he had conquered Endheim.
Over the next twenty years, Emperor Silence undertook the momentous task of overtaking the surrounding empires. When he had done this, he created a vast navy, and sailed with them to other continents until, eighty years after his birth, he ruled every part of the world except for the primeval forest of Flammegard, where the elves still held out against him, and the northern tundera. As he rallied his armies to land a crushing blow against the elves, however, he was slain when an ancient structure collapsed atop him.
Though the Empire of Humanity collapsed with the death of Silence, it left behind an organized human presence on every continent. In response, other races solidified as well, which led to heterofore-unknown racial tensions. Three centuries after the death of Silence, however, something terrible happened.
In an attempt to rid themselves of draconic presence (who prevented any sort of incursion into their own territories, which were rumored to be rich with valuable minerals and gems), the dwarves offered an alliance to one of the human Emperors of the time. As a show of goodwill, the progressive dwarven king of that era, overriding his advisor's pleas, offered the king one of the ancient relics of his kingdom- the Tabula Rasa. Eleven years later, inspired by a dream, the king designed a massive focus for magic, which would allow mages to consolidate their offensive spells and launch them instantly to any point on the globe. Fearing the impact this might have, a prominant mage of the time, Vansen Canard, went to seek the help of other empires, then other races, and finally the gods themselves. Eventually, he vanished, and everyone assumed he had been murdered.
With the first test of the weapon, disaster struck- the reverberations of the crystal unleashed waves of violence in every crystal substance in the hemisphere. It was quickly ascertained that the disruption had somehow altered the flows of mana throughout the world, and the biospheres were being forced to quickly change, with disasterous results.
Rather dramatically, however, Vansen returned to Desthera, claiming to have visited Aethos and recieved the support of the Grey Lord. Few skeptics remained when he demonstrated this support by calling upon the Worldwarder to carve from the highest peak in the daggermonts a massive temple. (Skeptics still wondered exactly how a giant temple would help much)
Vansen spent the next two months painstakingly weaving and fitting a stainless white cloak, which he then sewed with silver threads (Again, many of his followers were confounded by this), and finally erecting a great obelisk within the center of the city of Endheim. Finally, he drew his blade - the nondescript sword which had appeared amidst the destruction of a town many, many years ago - and took it to the top of the Temple of Aethos, where he planted it in the earth. At once, the flows of magic were restored, and Vansen perished. Some might say that he didn't get much of a reward, but that's because they're not fond of wrapping up loose ends.
Afterward, history took a turn for the better, until-
Oh dear. Looks like this is where I cut off.
Landmasses
There exist a total of five major landmasses on Ter'Desthera. There are actually six continents, but one is nearly entirely underwater. Yes, an underwater continent. There are indeed merpeople, but they're largely boring. And largely ugly.
Averheim - The continent upon which can be found Endheim, the Daggermonts, the Temple of Aethos, and a number of other things. It has an extremely european climate, and therefore supports quite a number of pine forests. Rather oddly, the entire central section of this landmass is taken up by the largest desert in the world.
Palgier - The continent upon which can be found Flammegard, Neverborn's Watch, and a number of tribal civilizations. Reknowned as a place where nobody ever really wants to go, but sometimes must.
Aven - A southern landmass, which is quite comperable to a paradise. The parts which are not rainforest are sprawling mesas, spectacular waterfalls, and over seven hundred active volcanos.
Sengail - The largest of the landmasses, and absolutely covered in mountains. The area is so rocky that there exists only a single agriculture-based city upon the entire continent, and the prices which they can demand for produce are astounding. Chock-full of delicious minerals.
Dynast - A smaller landmass, which contains the fewest humans, and a large number of 'the beastal races'. It is generally marked by a ??? on maps.
Crysont - It's underwater, and therefore nobody cares.