Bleak

Magic: Low World type: Dark Low Fantasy Technology: Medieval Bleak is a realm perpetually shrouded in a pall of despair, where the very air seems heavy with the scent of decay and the echoes of lost souls. Survival is not a given; it is a daily, desperate struggle against an unforgiving environment and the monstrous entities that have claimed it. The landscape itself is a tapestry of death and deprivation, from the skeletal remains of ancient forests to the dust-choked plains where the earth hungrily swallows the unwary. Humanity, or what remains of it, huddles in meager settlements, their existence a testament to sheer grit and a constant, gnawing fear of the encroaching darkness. Every sunrise is a victory, every sunset a prelude to the night's terrors. The pervasive sense of doom is palpable, a constant companion to those who dare to tread these forsaken lands. The realm's diverse biomes are each a unique hellscape. The hauntingly beautiful forests, while offering respite from the open desolation, harbor a sinister sentience. Towering trees with gnarled, grasping branches and carnivorous flora lie in wait, their roots delving deep into soil enriched by forgotten victims. Desolate wastelands stretch for leagues, where perpetual sandstorms scour flesh from bone, and colossal, burrowing creatures use the shifting sands as their hunting grounds, creating sinkholes that drag prey into the planet's insatiable maw. Vast, murky marshes teem with grotesque abominations lurking beneath the stagnant waters, their hunger a source of grim sustenance derived from the decaying bodies of the fallen. These waters are inky chasms, where sunlight fears to penetrate, and the chilling embrace of the depths promises a slow, suffocating end. Even in seemingly calmer regions, a primal, archaic essence permeates the land; certain caves and waters harbor sentient, often lethal, flora, and the fauna ranges from huntable game to apex predators that view sentient beings as mere prey. Beyond these established races, other sentient beings exist, some displaying rudimentary intellects, others embodying a raw, primal power, creating disturbing abodes by blending the flesh of man with that of beasts, adding a layer of ancient, unsettling horror to the world's already vibrant, terrifying tapestry of life.

Human Kingdoms: Most human kingdoms are old forts or highly militarized cities with stretching walls to protect its denizens. Villages tend to be slum like. Elves: Elves tend to live in miasmic forests shrouded by magic in tree homes. These forests tend to stay dark and allow their eyes to see their surroundings. Dwarves: Live underground or in mountain fortresses keeping to their stone and using their hands and feet to see in the dark. Halflings: Travel by caravans or live in holes or houses fit into hills covered in moss. Gnomes: Make homes in giant rock formations of any sort. Living in them with glee as great gem makers. Drel: Live in mercenary bands or Miasmic forests in hunting huts and hunt down wild beasts. Half-Elves: Live among humans or Elves Half-Orcs: Live among Humans or Orcs Hobgoblins: Make fortresses out of meat and bone that resemble forts. Orcs: Make Tribal forts out of Animal parts. Goblins: Tend to take human settlements and turn them into their homes. Pixie fairies: They live among elves in miasmic forests in the trees or other plant matter.

Humans: They are a greedy species that seeks knowledge as well power however their culture is very diverse. Though they keep half-orcs and half-hobgoblins as slaves and look at them as monsters. 5 feet- 7 feet tall Elves: Are an arrogant race that is high in their religious cult like attitude worshipping primal magics and forging them into something new. They tend to focus on chaotic energies. They see all other races as heretics but only really execute orc and goblin kind. They wear blind folds outside of their dark forests as the sun is blinding to them, they see in ultra violet. 4 feet-9 feet tall. Dwarves: They stay in their mountain halls carving stone and mining ores to make weapons and tools as well engineer great and innovative things. They are the only race that makes magical weapons via rune smithing. 4feet-5 feet tall. Gnomes: They are gem makers and live in any rock formations sometimes among dwarves where they make jewelry and magical tools with wood and stone as well metal with said gems, however these simply are wands or staves. 3 feet - 4 feet tall Gnome Titans: These are warrior breed gnomes and are very aggressive they tend to stick to learning how to fight and stay around dwarves to do so. They don’t make gems but they do make war. 4 feet - 6 feet tall. Drel: These are a type of elf born to hunt and kill they worship nature’s cruelty and seek to take down wild beasts and use said material to make magical clothing for their hunting parties. They create bows and arrows that fly far and true as well spears. They are much stockier than elves and can see in daylight just fine. 6 feet-8 feet tall. Halflings: They are great farmers and foragers able to find food easily they love quiet and peaceful things they hate loud noises however they do enjoy music. They eat tons of food and their culture is around food and making the best of it. 3 feet- 4feet tall Pixie Fairies: They are about mischief and causing trouble as they don’t live long only 12 years and reach adulthood in 1 year however they do reincarnate after death when put to rest next to blood oaks. They greatly Fear Orcs and Goblin kind. 1 foot - 2 feet tall Half-orcs: These are made from the forced birth of humans to make said creatures by Orcish kind and are treated terribly by all races for their orcish blood. 5 feet-8feet tall Half-hobgoblin: These are a monstrous race from the warring hobgoblin race that seek to attack humans and other races but aren’t as bad as the orcs as they try to make civilizations, their half bred selves from human make tend to live in human society easily but still oppressed by humans for their monster makeup. 4feet-7feet tall Half-elves: Half elves can either live with humans or elves, they share elvish eyes in seeing ultra violet and must wear blind folds to protect their eyes but they share looks from both parents and tend to be more magically attuned. 5feet- 7 feet tall Orcs: A warlike tribal group who goes out of their way for battle and seeks it, destroying towns and cities to only use people as slaves or cattle. They make homes from flesh and bone as well move a lot in their clan systems. 6 feet-8 feet tall. Hobgoblins: A race known for their aggressive and warlike nature. They war amongst themselves and orcs as well the other races though they tend to slave those they have beaten but if beaten themselves offer servitude as slaves. 5 feet-7 feet tall Goblins: This race ranges heavily between Goblins, Hobgoblins, Trolls, Ogres however they are all warlike. Only hobgoblins show true intellect, the others just attack and destroy not even making anything as tinkers if they try it is crude imitation.

They world itself is dangerous to live in for all races of man, The orcs and Goblins tend to cause the most annoyance with constant raiding and butchering however the monsters in the swamps, forests, as well mountains cause their fair share of issues. Especially the rare Dragons and Worms that can level even the most fortified homes, The miasma is also a great catastrophic weather event made via the pure energies of chaotic magic that brings the dead to life. Miasma does not affect gnomes, elves, or fairy folk in bringing them back from the dead but it does tend to weaken them and cause sickness.

Magic is a system of energies forged from ley lines all races can use magic however elves are highly attuned and can use more chaotic magic then the other races. Magic is very primal and Low. Dwarves usually make magical weapons via runes, a writing system to enchant metals. Gnomes make magical tools and items via jewelry that have mana poured into them via ley lines. Humans are the only race however to be able to perform miracles a magic that is not tied to ley lines or the chaotic nature of magic, This is done via the church of the mourning star. Religion: Humans worship the Mourning Star a female god that is crying towards the land in mourning. Her name is Leya she talks through her priests and provides assistance as well miracles. Elves worship the chaotic energies of magic and it’s more primal nature which causing miasma to emerge when ley lines are tampered with. Dwarves don’t have a religion really but they do worship more on the lines of rock and stone and speak with it. No other religions exist.

The currencies are Shil, Bruk, Sil, and Gol. 1 shil=8 Bruk, 1 bruk is 1/10 sil, One sil is the equivalent of 10 Bruk, 1 Gol is the equivalent of 50 sil. The main currency used is sil however most peasants and poor folk use Bruks. 1 sil can get you lodging and food in cities 5 bruks can get you lodging in villages 1 bruk a meal Most transport costs 10 sil. Weapons tend to go for 10 sil to 100 sil depending on its make and the weapon it is. Armor can go anywhere from 6 sil to 500 sil depending on material, and piece of armor.

The world is stem with all kinds of crime and manner of beast. Dragons and Worms lurk in the shadows of the world waiting to destroy though they are rare. Vampires which are giant humanoid like bats tend to stay in deep caves and vary. Wolf like creatures that run on all fours or bipedal can be seen in dark forests, the undead are prevalent in miasmic locations. Swamps have underwater creatures willing to drag you into the depths, Beautiful forests with flora waiting to consume flesh and bone as well fauna waiting to poison or even tear you to shreds.