Eventide Empire

A romance-fantasy world filled with magic, wonder, and of course, romance and courtship. This is a world run on gossip, wealth, reputation, and esteem. It all takes place in a magical kingdom with a technological revolution fueled by magic and invention. While nobles cling to their blueblooded ways inventors, merchants, genius magicians, are all becoming increasingly wealthy are beginning to move into the upper crust of society.

The Eventide Empire is a place full of powerful magic both old and new. The Imperial Family "de Adumbrate" which reflects the name of the capital city itself "Adumbrate." The Harbinger Houses of old, the ducal houses, follow this naming convention as well- each surname reflecting the city which is the capital of their respective lands the hold dominion over. There is the city of Gossamer under the "de Gossamer" family. The city of Fantasma under the "de Fantasma" family. Then finally there is Magia under the "de Magia" family. The capital city of Adumbrate is a coastal city elevated up on a cliff side. There are many natural waterfalls integrated into the cities architecture and infrastructure. The city itself seems to dance in a perpetual twilight where the stars hang above as the sky is always painted with the colors of dusk. The city of Adumbrate is not only the capital and home to the imperial family but also hosts the foremost best magical schools for anyone to join should they have the aptitude. Witchcraft, wizardry, alchemy, enchanting, all sorts of magic are taught here and only the best and brightest are able to attend. Even those from noble families cannot bribe their way into these prestigious schools- or so it is claimed. The Brews & Brooms academy is the school for aspiring witches and alchemists to attend while the Everbright Academy is often considered the best school for wizardry. The two schools have a mostly friendly, occasionally heated, rivalry between one another and have many successful students to brag about. There is also the Star Tower, the public clock tower and astronomy tower that anyone can access with the permission of its keepers. There is also the Everbright Library, while attached to the Everbright Academy anyone can go to this library to get a book. Adumbrate is also known as the fashion capital of the Eventide Empire where the latest trends, fabrics, and cosmetics can be found. There are a plethora of fashionable teahouses, restaurants, and salons where the upper crusts mingle with each other, academics go on discussions, and business deals are made. The city of Gossamer is the closest to the capital city of Adumbrate which is only a day's ride away in carriage or horseback or just a few hours in one of their fashionable air ships. Gossamer has been making some waves in the magical world being at the forefront of a magitech revolution. Thanks to innovations in science and magic the two fields have steadily become one in this city. Air ships fly about bringing trade to and from this place as well as people. The weather has always been made to be perfect thanks to their magical towers that allow them to control the weather for farmers around the area. Medicine has also be revolutionized with new alchemical discoveries curing ailments previously though incurable in both plants, animals, and people. There is also a new university being built by the De Gossamer family to bring in more bright inventors to help their city continue this wave of prosperity. The university is to be called the Ethereal Engineering School and regularly partitions nobles and investors to help the last bits of constructions. The city is abuzz with news of the university's grand opening, its first wave of students, and not to mention the grand ball to compliment the university's debut. Gossamer is by far the wealthiest city in the Eventide Empire. The city of Fantasma is always stuck in a dark night where the moon hangs and illuminates the city along with its many street lamps empowered by magic. It is buried deep within the woods and while the air ships of Gossamer have made travel far easier in and out of the city these days the trek through those woods was often and still is considered quite dangerous to an unknowing traveler. While the city itself is dark the people there are bright and friendly. Many are some more odd folks and the de Fantasmas are known to wander the streets disguised like any other commoner to mingle among the people as they please. This place is one of the oldest cities in the Eventide empire and has the largest graveyard as well. Many considered being buried in the city of Fantasma an honor and all of the Harbinger Houses have family mausoleums which are well kept in the city. The De Fantasmas are also stewards of history, archivists, librarians, and those willing to preserve what might be otherwise lost to time can all be found here. This is also why the De Fantasmas often work as advisors to the Imperial Family and it has been this way for over one thousand years. It is rumored that the city of Fantasmas was the original capital but the records on hand contradict the rumors. Many scholars end up finding their way to the city of Fantasmas eventually if they are doing research since there is no better libraries anywhere else in the empire- perhaps to the chagrin of the Everbright Academy in the capital city. What the city lacks in monetary wealth they more than make up for in education. Many of the best and brightest come from Fantasmas and while the city itself does not have any formal academies or universities it has a public education system that benefits all of the city's subjects. Lastly Magia is the newest city to be founded but it is still quite old. Magia is a city which prides itself on entertainment. All sorts of earthly and unearthly delights can be found in this city. Dance halls, casinos, bars, breweries, vineyards, pleasure houses, you name it Magia has it or perhaps is creating it then and there. Magia has become the vacation playground for the wealthy and noble while its general populace exists to cater and serve their whims. However this also means that the commoners who work in these establishments also have the most delicious rumors and gossip about any person whose entered their places of work looking for a good time. The De Magia family has a vast spy network all throughout their city. It is a well kept secret that this city of delights and pleasures is actually a great place to create blackmail and rumor mills. The gossip tabloids that come out of Magia are absolutely scandalous and everyone in high society eats them right up. The De Magia's hold a considerable amount of power that many other nobles and the wealthy do not even realize as the De Magias whisper in the ear of the Imperial Family about all the secrets that might try and destroy their reign. The city of De Magia is a city that towers up and up into the sky with the top level being the beautiful castle of the De Magia family. It is considered an honor to receive an invitation to one of their many lavish parties at this famed castle.

Humans (any city), Faeries (any city, often noblity), Changelings (half-human & half-faerie, any city), Dragons (can change forms at will to look like humans- see Au Ra from FFXIV, often nobility, any city) There is no animosity between any of the races. Rather people are organized and judged by class. The family of De Magia are mostly Changelings are this point. The Imperial Family are Faeries perhaps with some Dragon heritage and Changelings in the mix. The De Fantasma family are Dragons. The De Gossamer family are a mix of Faeries, humans, and changelings. Many Banner Houses under the Harbinger Houses are also of various races.

It is no secret that the Imperial Family's control grows weaker. While the De Magias try and strengthen the De Adumbrate family and their rule some eager members of the De Gossamer family see opportunity. Meanwhile the De Fantasmas have remained neutral in this matter but many banner houses of been flocking to different sides. Meanwhile merchants, inventors, and the like are looking to see who to support. Many merchants and inventors naturally favor the De Gossamer family gaining more power since they directly benefit from it. All of this tension is coming to a head though as the social season is beginning. This year the social season is being hosted in Magia where either control will be restored or chaos may end up reigning. It is here that the Crown Prince, the eldest son and Heir to the De Gossamer family name, the seventh son of the De Fantasma family with untold magical prowess, and the youngest daughter of twelve daughters in the De Magia family are all considered the most eligible bachelors and bachelorette of the season. There is of course others in various banner houses and the Harbinger houses looking to make a good love match. Inventors and merchants of ambition looking to marry in to a noble title. The genius, handsome, and new Lord of the Star Tower has also entered the social season looking for a love match as well. There is the bright eyed young inventor and soon to be professor of magitech the De Gossamer Univeristy which is to open after the social season ends who is also apparently to be debuting. There is also the proprietor of the greatest casino in Magia a changeling woman whose beauty even paintings fail to capture shall enter the scene. Romance, adventure, political intrigue, all yours to explore in the new social season- or perhaps the next depending on where your adventures take you.

Anyone could theoretically use magic but one does have to learn. Witchcraft is actually the most common magical practice as it often is pragmatic in nature. While some other practitioners of magic look down on witches no one dares to spite or defy a powerful witch. Wizards create complex but powerful spells though it is all more theoretical than actually used. Many wizards have found jobs in magitech engineering actually and the line between inventor and wizard grows ever blurrier. There are no gods in this world who hold magical influence. There are beliefs in gods yes but whether or not they truly affect and influence the world is a hot debate topic in magic that has spanned thousands of years with compelling arguments on both sides. Alchemy is also considered a practical magic and often work alongside witches or on their own. They seem to bridge the divide between witches and wizards quite nicely finding a place in both sides of the magical world. Nobles have some inherited powerful magic specifically found in their families. The Imperial Family are whispered to be able to use the magic of divination to change their fate- or rather as some wizards describe it, luck seems to favor the Imperial Family, an assassin trips right before their blade falls upon an unsuspecting would be De Adumbrate victim, or a poisoned goblet is served to someone else rather than the intended Imperial Target. Meanwhile the De Gossamer family are masters of enchantments able to imbue every day objects with magic that seems to never fade. While enchantment magic can be learned the De Gossamer family's enchantments boast ever-lasting quality never needing to have an item re-enchanted once they give it their blessings. The De Fantasma family can control the shadows to their will, which might explain why the city of Fantasma itself is perpetually dark. The De Magia family has some of the most powerful illusion magic in the Empire. There are reports of De Magia illusions lasting, days, weeks, months, years even to those unfortunate enough to be ensnared in such a lovely web. Dragons are also natural shapeshifters able to switch between their powerful and large draconic forms or their more socially appealing smaller, more humanoid forms. Witches cannot shapeshift but they can borrow the shape of an animal, gently guiding the will of a creature and tagging along to perceive the world through its senses, though when they borrow they cannot move their own body until they return from the borrowing. Nobody knows why but the seventh child of a seventh child is always particularly magically potent. Many noble families try to fulfill this but of course it always tends to skip a generation or two.

There are no other planes of existence. Not officially anyways.

The Age of Chaos where magic ran rampant and monsters as well. Many adventurers and heroes rose and fell in this era. Many dungeons now lie empty of both monster and treasure in perpetual ruin to be explored for historians and scholars curious to learn about bygone magic and bygone knowledge. There was the Age of Kingdoms when the current Harbinger Houses were all separate Kingdoms. Through war and conquest did the Imperial family take control of these kingdoms and those Kings & Queens smart enough to surrender or perhaps even swear loyalty to the De Adumbrates became the Harbinger Houses. The Banner House Revolution is an era where many commoners banded together to be recognized by the Harbinger Houses and the Imperial Family who held immense power. This opposition to increasingly condensed power shocked the nobles who then granted Banner Houses under their various names to placate the people for a time. While this has worked resentment has begun to brew once more in the modern age and the tensions of the weakening power of the imperial family create sparks...

The new airship trade routes to Gossamer make it the most prosperous city. However Magia is also rich with its entertainment business and well paved roads and waterways. The currency is called coffers which are all minted by the Imperial Family. Most of the coffers are made with copper but some are minted with silver and gold. Other valuable items such as enchanted goods, jewels, and such can be traded for items of equal value or for coffers as well. Any attempts to mint coins outside Imperial purview is illegal and punishable by death.

There is usually a court of law where both civil and criminal cases go. Many who break the law such as thievery are thrown into jail for a few days and then released. Murderers are executed if they are found guilty by the trial, traitors also must be put on trial before they are put to death, and the burden of proof is put upon those who are accusing the defendant. If the Imperial Family wants to get a traitor executed they must prove that they are a traitor in court- of course the world is not always so simple and what juries would dare to stand against the Emperor or his family? Each city has its own way to track crime and put villains to justice often employing banner houses, adventurers, or in the capital city the Imperial Guard to stop criminals.

Brigands, bandits, assassins, the like all lurk the streets or the roads. Airship travel has made travel safer but some clever criminals have been able to pull off large scale robberies of the passengers before departing. This has created increased guard and adventurer presence on these ships. There are also strange creatures in the woods who will attack travelers. Starving wolves, the wandering dead, demonic entities, angry spirits, magicians who use their magic for malice and isolate themselves for twisted experiments can all be found in various parts.