Mysterial

A Fantasy style world filled with high magic, political intrigue, massive grand balls and parties where deals as well as scandals occur behind closed doors. While wars do exist most of it occurs through assassination, espionage, and strategic political maneuvering.

The Empire of Elysium is a nation who conquers not through violent wars but through intrigue, beauty, and seduction. Their capital Elysia is home to all sorts of races but mainly the faeries, the devils, and a few humans. The Imperial family boasts powerful magic and encourages political infighting amongst siblings so that the savviest and strongest will inherit the throne. This chaotic political landscape is rife with opportunity with those mad enough to pursue it. The Republic of Sortilege is a society that prides magical prowess and intellect. While there no royal family or imperial family there are a set of guilds with amazing amounts of power. Some guilds choose in inherit through family lines while others are more meritocratic in nature. All guilds are related to the pride of their capital city that is large enough to practically be its own city is known as "The Promise" a university that allows anyone with aptitude to join and graduate. Even other nations seek magical graduate from "The Promise" and it hosts some of the largest academic conferences around the world. The current guilds represented in the Guild Council are as follows: The Engineering Guild, The Guild of Performing & Visual Arts, The Guild of Alchemy, The Scholar's Guild, The Tailor's Guild, The Banker's Guild, and finally The Agriculture Guild. The main inhabitants of this nation are humans but all are welcome in the Republic of Sortilege. The Sunken City is a series of city states run mainly by the mermaids and mermen. They control many of the trades throughout the world as none can pass through the seas without their permission. Few who are not mermaids or mermen have been able to visit. If one doesn't drown then the depths of the water and strange sea creatures may get to your first. Guests are invited and these city states have never been invaded save by other underwater city states they are in conflict with and even then, most resort to trade wars rather than open conflict. The Wayward Woods hold the elves and faeries. While not an official nation many who wander the woods often find themselves helped or hindered by the denizens of these forests. There are a few towns and a rumored city deep within the woods of incomparable beauty but the elves are protective of this sacred place they call home. Some vampires also stalk the woods at night looking for their next meal. Stygia is a kingdom covered in perpetual fog and darkness. Vampires, Humans, and Devils linger here the most but you will find the occasional Elf or Fairy roaming about as well. All kinds of folks who do shadier business come here looking for work. It's the assassin capital for a reason. You want someone dead someone in Stygia has likely done the job.

Elves (The Empire of Elysium and the Wayward Woods), Faeries (The Wayward woods and Empire of Elysium, Mermaids & Mermen (The Sunken Cities), Humans (Any nation), Vampires (Stygia and the Wayward Woods), Devils (Stygia, Republic of Sortilege, Empire of Elysium) The relationship between individual races is neutral- it is the relationship between nations that determines hostility, neutrality, or allegiance.

The Emperor of Elyisum has been receiving pressure to marry. His siblings are eager to take the throne for themselves using various political schemes and machinations to try and take over the throne. There are even rumors of Stygian assassins about though they deny this rumor. The Sunken Cities have been rather quiet about the whole affair much to the chagrin of the Empire. Meanwhile the Republic of Sortilege has been trying to do research in the Wayward Woods upsetting many of the residents of the place. Stygia has been trying to do their best to recover some of their damaged reputation by sending out envoys and ambassadors to other nations with varying degrees of reception and success. However the upcoming ball in the Empire of Elysium has been rumored to be the biggest ball yet. The Emperor might finally choose a bride, alliances will be made, enemies might be created or perhaps destroyed, it is all up to the adventurer where they start and where their journey will take them.

Magic can be used by anyone with the determination to learn. Some races are able to learn more quickly but at the end of the day effort and aptitude is what determines the strength of the magic user. No deities really exist in this world, only sacred places filled to the brim with magical influence such as the ley lines which "The Promise" was built upon and the heart of the Wayward Woods. Magic is also used to bind and seal contracts as well- which means promises are not made easily nor broken lightly. Some types of magic are inherited such as the blood magic of vampires, the powerful dream weaving of the Imperial family of Elysium, and the contract magic devils hold the most power over.

Hell is the place where many Devils originate from if not outright call home. Think of it as a planar black market, anything and everything can be sold there, but the prices can be as simple as gold to a soul. Only the cleverest or most desperate come here to get something. Many faeries cross in and out of the Enchanted Hollow from the Wayward Woods. It is said that if a wanderer is not careful they may end up in the Enchanted Hollow where time works differently there. One day might be a hundred years in the world outside or vice versa. Or maybe time works exactly the same. The realm of death is the place where souls wander until they are reborn or brought back to life through strange magical means. Rebirth is ultimately a choice they make and some choose to remain forever.

The Age of Twilight was an age in which Vampire first came about and ruled many nations. Most of those nations have now crumbled and the remnants of grand gothic castles can be found in the Wayward Woods. Few Vampires from that age are still awake and most are often in a deep undead slumber waiting to rise again. No one wants this to happen- least of all younger vampires. The Gate Era was when the planes gates of both Hell and the Enchanted Hollow first opened creating a stream of magical chaos and was also responsible for the founding of the Empire of Elysium. It is also apparently why many who live in the Wayward Woods choose to keep outsiders...out. We are currently in the Golden Era. An era of apparent peace and prosperity. While no open war has been waged in at least a century there are many cold wars waging behind closed doors and whispered lips. The current technology level is that of the Regency Era.

The main currency is gold although jewels and other such valuable can be traded for gold or bartered for other items. Most trade routes are by sea and controlled by the Sunken Cities. Many pay the offerings to the Sunken Cities by dropping some gold into the sea granting them safe passage across the waves. There is also the Golden road which leads to all major capitals. The most prosperous nations, besides the Sunken Cities are Stygia and the Republic of Sortilege.

Many societies appreciate adventurers but tend to be wary of them. Stygia is the most welcoming to the most violent opportunists, while the Empire of Elysium prefers the talents of bards and other manipulators. Artificers, sorcerers, wizards, and the like are most welcome in the Republic of Sortilege whilst rangers, druids, and barbarians find themselves at home in the Wayward Woods.

Ancient Vampires, Hags, political instigators of all kinds threaten this world in various different ways. Wild creatures might terrorize those on the roads but escorts can help guarantee safe passage. Bandits, brigands, and thieves stalk the roads and alleyways of cities hoping to make some quick coin off of honest workers.