Saqir - V.1.1 Grand Arc

Main Theme: The Second Rebellion of Lucifer has just been defeated with tremendous losses. Though it's been a few years, Instability marks the current trend of the world, with an overreaching grand empire slowly losing its hands to play, an idealistic movement starting to gain traction against the grand empire, the possible coming of a new prophet, and rumours of a mysterious entity named Perseus run wild in the shadows. Is this just another page in history worth skimming through, or did The Second Rebellion never end in the first place? Magic level: "High magic", but very, very VERY unfairly and rarely distributed between individuals. Individuals who have high magic affinity and capabilities are usually referred to as "The Gifted," and their magic is usually a one-of-a-kind blessing that is simply incomparable to normal magic in terms of destructiveness and utility. "The Gifted" isn't bound by lineage or species, but is a major aspect of The Religion, as all prophets possess some kind of "Gift." Normal magic is way more balanced and less cataclysmic; every living individual is capable of magic. Technology: A mix between Roman and medieval; Large cities with massive populations, a centralized governance system is common, factories and production lines (without steam and all'at), crossbows, sailing ships, and a high-end understanding of metallurgy. (no guns) P.S.: The world as a whole is a combination of Christian and Muslim theology set in a rather odd D&D setting, plus some ideas I had along the way. There are some easter eggs in the description, and of course - Enjoy!

Doruman is the largest empire that exists within the realm and is very much the center of the world. It was one of the first empires ever created that remained strong for almost 200 years. However, as the transitional period approaches and after the terrible losses it faced during the Second Rebellion, the empire is extremely weakened and is now focused on reconstruction. It is hard for people outside the interior to be a part of internal Doruman politics. Military: Now consisting of only 11 legions, unlike the 28 before the Second Rebellion. The Doruman military is characterized by its flexible composition and formation, preferring a decisive strike doctrine over a battle of attrition. Here are the important forces. Legions: - Legio VII "Immortales"; an extremely specialized legion consisting of way fewer troops compared to other legions, the doctrine mentions them as the empire's first responders against any threats, and is also a legion that requires little logistical support. They are the Empire's finest when it comes to asymmetrical warfare. - Legio IX "Droma Primus"; The Empire's most feared legion, well equipped, well armed, and well fed. Their name strikes fear into foes and instantly boosts the morale of allies. A highly prestigious legion, well-regarded for its unwavering defense of the capital and its famous "100km Counteroffensive" against Lucifer's force. Specialized detachments/cohorts: - Cohort II - Legio VII "Scutum Daemonis"; A part of the 7th legion, this specialized cohort is the Empire's finest anti-demon/monster and unconventional force. Usually operates independently from the main legion as an expeditionary/scouting force, but will be called back for major operations. - "M.I.R" (Ministerium Intelligentiae non Revelatum); The first ever organized secret service created in the world of Saqir. Their existence is unknown to the general public, and their actions include both intelligence gathering and black ops. Cities and Regions: Dorum: The capital of the Doruman empire, featuring complicated road networks both wide and narrow, and factories. The city surrounds the citadel of the empire. Buildings outside the citadel are usually made of a sort of concrete with modest colors, whereas buildings in the citadel (most being governmental buildings or politicians' private residences) are usually made out of marble with expressive colors if there is space. The city is surrounded by multiple tall and thick walls and also has access to the river "Aurum" which connects to the Ababyl canal. Gulf of Serenity: One of the first regions ever conquered by the empire, known for its long coastlines and peaceful nature. It's a part of the south-east interior and is one of the few places that were unaffected by the Second Rebellion. Diekman's Forests: A gigantic forested region located in the north-west exterior of the empire. The Empire keeps a loose leash on the region despite its valuable resources, thinking that there is no threat able to take it away from the Empire. Leidheim is a successionist state in the north-west region of the Doruman Empire, sitting on the other side of Diekman’s Forest. They are an amalgamation of multiple city-states that eventually form a united federation against Doruman. They are known for their large cities, which are filled with life and trade, thus making them a very rich state, rich enough to almost catch up to Dorum if they were given their way. Military: The State could only muster 6 legions of comparable size to Doruman's due to the lack of military infrastructure. Here are some interesting ones. - Komp. 1 "A Vajakat"; The name is an old translation of a term used by Doruman soldiers to describe foes from the Diekman's Forest that continuously evaded their army. Komp. 1 adopted this name after its battle against Dorumans's 10th Legion, where it pestered the legion so much that it was forced to abandoned siege before even reaching the city it was supposed to attack. - Komp. 3 "Gazember"; The State's number one f-you force. When a problem too big arises, this mess of humans, orcs, elves, dwarves, and whatever thing was stupid enough to sign up is sent straight to be the vanguard. Characterized as being so unorganized that it's effective, this mess of an army includes the state's best shock-troopers. Cities and Regions: Leidheim: The designated capital of the union. Well known for the rivers Kinabalu and Tembaga that cut through the city in winding patterns. The city is a beautiful, large city, and a dream for traders. Buildings are mostly made out of red brick, usually painted over with a calming orange or green. The city lacks a centralized citadel. It also lacks tall walls, preferring wide moats with shorter, easier, and more frequent walls. Trauheim: This "city" is more or less a gigantic farm. Largest city by area in the state, the actual city itself is smaller than some towns in Doruman, but the amount of farmland compensates. Trauheim sits on the edge of Diekman's forest and was considered Doruman's breadbasket before its succession. This was the city the 10th Legion was supposed to siege. The Daemon Hunter Association, or "DaeHA," is not a nation, but owns the largest private military within the continent. It was created the moment the Second Rebellion presented itself and was originally tailored to only hunt demons. As time progressed and the Second Rebellion finally ended, the DaeHA broadened out to be a major adventurers' guild, spanning multiple nations and territories. Military: Although lacking legions, the Promptus Custodia is still numerous and even matches the number of troops that the 7th Legion has. This is intentionally done to keep the Scutum's power in check, occasionally leading to skirmishes between the two. Numbers within the DaeHA are also bolstered by the countless freelancing adventurers willing to fight for money. Key places/Area: Irian Maxim: The organisation's headquarters and subsequent key buildings are located within this walled area in the city of Dorum. It is located outside the city's citadel, but many travellers might even mistake it for the citadel. The complex centers around the Church of Renata, thus giving the complex a distinctly holy architectural feel, being the only place outside the citadel to hold marble buildings. The Church of Renata: The building where the organisation was first conceived. Although not the largest, it is the oldest in the city. It is said that the current Guild Overseer (who is also the first) was a prominent swordsmaiden from this church. Feyerabend's Zone: The only strip of land that the organisation is fully allowed to control. This 3x3 Km area was the source of Lucifer's army during the Second Rebellion. The breach remains active, continuously allowing smaller demons and monsters to escape. Despite containment efforts, the organisation isn't able to fully close the breach or the area itself, thus allowing many demons to run wild around the old lands of the fallen empire of Kirin.

It is worth mentioning that Xenophobia exists, not between races nor species, but between places of birth and nationality. (The Dorumans in Dorum are very xenophobic) The basic races in DnD exists, though there is a bit of a twist: Hominus: Includes every kind of creature with sentience that isn't a demon or an angel - Humans: Includes multiple races and cultures. Known for being destructive and overall very physical. - Elves: Includes multiple races and cultures in different biomes, mostly found in Diekman's Forest. Known for being generally indifferent to many things. - Dwarves: Multiple races and cultures in different biomes, usually found in the mountains within Doruman. Known for being hard workers and short. - Orcs: Multiple races and cultures in different biomes, indigenous to the Lands around Trauheim. Known for being orcs. - (basically anything else that has sentience, that i didn't mention) Creatura: Includes creatures that lack sentience that aren't demons or angels - Night creatures: Creations of either mischievous magicians or low-tier Lucifer's demons, that are capable of creation. Generally hostile to anything with a soul and sentience. - Monsters/Animals (General term for dangerous non-sentient lifeforms that exist naturally without any summoning/creation-magic involved. They are a part of the ecosystem. Angel Sentient beings of heavenly origin serving God - Lower/2nd Generation Angels: Angels with near to no autonomy. The simple no-named grunts sent by God to do mundane tasks. Powerful, but the possibility of one being killed by a normal homini is possible. - Ehren/1st Generation Angels: Angels who were given names after creation and thus given some autonomy. An all-rounder, sometimes sent to oversee the lower angels, and sometimes given tasks of their own. Very powerful, impossible for the normal individual to kill, but possible for "The Gifted." - Founding Angels: The first-ever kind of angel created. They are all named before they were created. Includes angels such as Gabriel, Michael, and Izrafil. The only angels allowed to deliver messages to prophets. Incomprehensible power, with only a select few being able to fight one equally. Daemon Sentient beings of both heavenly and hellish origins who defy God, Split into two groups: Lucifer's demons: demons that follow the lead of Lucifer on his quest to defeat the Lord. These demons vary in appearance, but high-ranking ones have managed to keep their wings, albeit now charred black, with another consequence being their very long horns. Easy to spot, hard to miss. - Subpar demons: night creatures that were given some form of sentience. Can be pretty tricky to kill, but not hard. - Low-class demons: Demons that were created by giving them a tiny fraction of Lucifer's soul. Extremely impulsive and aggressive. Examples include drudes, familiars, suc/in-cubi, imps, etc. A bit trickier to fight, very hard for those unprepared. - High-class demons: Demons that were either created with a larger portion of Lucifer's soul or Ehren-angels who followed Lucifer. Same difficulty with Ehren angels when it comes to killing. Very dangerous - Royal demons: a small group consisting of Lucifer and several other Founding Angels that agreed with him, like Beelzebub, Asmodeus, etc.... Iblis demons: Demons who were former Ehren or Founding Angels that agreed with Iblis' point of view of God’s greatest mistake: the Homini. These demons have lost their wings, but are characterised by their near-human appearance and ethereal beauty. They have varying horn and tail sizes, but can be easily identified by their distinct horn-shape and horn-growth, which first grows out before suddenly spiking up sharply. - Inferiore: Former Ehren Angels. Unpredictable in nature, won't attempt to kill if not hungry. Same difficulty with Ehren angels when it comes to killing them. - Melior: Former Founding Angels like Iblis. Extremely unpredictable. Prioritises doing what they see will benefit their goal, though generally much more civil. Impossible to kill like Founding Angels. Another thing to mention is that some Demons and all Angels cannot manifest in the world without a human-like body. What we see is not what they actually look like. Ethereal beings require an "exhaust" to exist in their human-form in order to exist for long periods of time. Common traits of ethereal beings: - Angels have their white wings and sacred halos - Higher-ranking Lucifer's Demons have their dark wings, horns, and tail - Iblis' Demons have their sharper horns, tail, and usually their "red lining" (a sort of tattoo that lines their main torso and legs).

Current events: The search for Perseus: Rumour has it that a mysterious party named Perseus is planning to incite a third rebellion of Lucifer. Whether or not this Perseus is a singular person or a whole organization is unknown. But it is certain that because of this mysterious force, the number of demonic infestations is increasing by the day. Demonic attacks coming from the fallen lands of the north are usually attributed to his actions. Leidheim's succession: The states of the northwest unite under one banner, following the lead of Leidheim. The new state believes that Doruman has strayed from the words of the prophets due to their insistence on the usage of slaves and Doruman elitism in politics. Doruman cannot lose such a valuable asset to their reconstruction efforts, and they cannot let the idea of revolution spread across their lands. Doruman is actively preparing for an invasion, and a blockade, both on land and sea, is in its early stages. The 7th legion is expected to make an early appearance. The case of the "last" Prophet: Somewhere between Dorum and Leidheim sits a single man who's been preaching words from God. He warns of division and urges unity, even with the most bitter of foes. It's not yet clear whether or not this man is an actual prophet, as he has yet to show his "Gift," and there are rumours that the peace he's preaching for is a peace he might go to war for. DaeHA vs. Scutum Daemonis: Despite their similarities, these two anti-demon forces disagree on how demons are to be treated. The DaeHA believes that all demons should be destroyed or, at the very least, contained and weakened. The Scutum Daemonis believes that demons, no matter what kind, should be considered to become weapons of war. Although not always fatal, as the two do occasionally work together, with the threat of Perseus growing, this tense coexistence of ideology will be challenged. Recent events: The Second Rebellion: 15 years ago, signs of bridges connecting the underworld and Saqir began to increase until it was then discovered that Lucifer had returned to destroy God's creation. What ensued was 13 years of pure chaos as nations desperately fought back against a hellish army never seen before. Although ending as a victory for the people in Saqir, the cost is unimaginable. Nations perished, and others were severely weakened. The lands north of Dorum are nothing more than ash and withered forests, but Lucifer is defeated for the last time. Or so they think. The fall of Kirin: Kirin was Doruman's greatest rival. The two had a destructive relationship up until the Second Rebellion, where they decided that killing each other wouldn't be possible if both of them were dead. Kirin's lands stood closer to the main breach (Feyerabend's Zone) and therefore stood at the forefront of the war. The empire did not survive, and it failed to hold the line. Only ruins and shattered goods remain of what the nation was. However, stories are told that when the army of Lucifer was actively besieging Kirin, Kirin’s grand army was nowhere near the city, instead, in a place far-far away in the northern mountains. Other notable events: "The 100km counteroffensive": Taking place in only 2 days, this miraculous attack was conducted by the 9th legion "Droma Primus" against Lucifer's main army. The attack broke the siege of Dorum and caught the entire hellish army off-guard as the 9th legion was expected to be at least days away from the capital, yet they made the march in 17 hours. The attack cemented the legion's glory in the history of not only Doruman but also the entirety of Saqir, as it was the first army that went on the offensive, rather than the defensive, against Lucifer's army. "Shattered Skies": About a year ago, the skies over Diekman's forest suddenly split in two with a bright thundering glare between them. Then, the words of a prophet began spreading across the lands. It is said that the man needs only to say the word “Kunfayakun” for him to harness his power. It's not yet certain if these two are connected, but the idea of a person sent down by god, gifted to be able to split the sky in two, hits many people in the wrong heart.

Magic Everything is capable of magic, but beings who wield magic with knowledge of what they're wielding are usually limited to beings like the Homini, angels, and demons. For most, magic is just another aspect of life that isn't too remarkable, because of the divide that exists between standard magic and "The Gift." Standard Magic: The magic that everyone has; levels of mastery vary, and it is possible to make it extremely powerful. It is sorted into two categories: Fire and light. Fire magic refers to types of magic that affect things physically, whereas light magic affects the mind. It's also an important baseline that acts of magic that greatly alter the laws of nature take a lot more to be conducted (ex. Flight), thus usually making them impractical and unpreferred in comparison to much easier defense magic or illusion magic The Gift: Magic that goes against the laws of nature. This type of magic directly correlates to religion, as it requires a heavenly blessing to be bestowed upon anyone (either in the form of ethereal spells, weapons wielded by angels, or weapons blessed directly by God). Usually reserved for high-ranking angels and former angels, the only individuals within the mortal plane of Saqir who do have the Gift are usually prophets or extremely lucky individuals who made deals with a demon or an angel. Obtaining the Gift out of sheer luck is practically impossible. Extremely sought after and very hard to obtain. Religion Known as either "Forma Deus" or just "The Religion". The religion in the world of Saqir follows a monotheistic deity commonly referred to as simply God or the Lord, who is all-capable. There are, however, two major sects within the religion: Patiori - The belief that the greatest evil comes from Lucifer's war against heaven and God, the sect followed by most within Doruman. They are generalised by their churches and exhibit active, hostile behaviour against all kinds of demons. Certamist - The belief that the greatest evil comes from Iblis' denial of Homini's equivalence to God. The sect is known for its large temple complexes and mosques. Certamists are usually less worried about defeating demons, as they believe that the war is in the soul of each individual and the deeds they do. The two satans Within the lore of the heavens. There were two diferent rebellion which occurred against God, and it resulted in two different sects of demons who believe in diferent ideology, who also extremely detest each other. Iblis demons: Iblis was a former Founding Angel who objected to God's order to bow to Adam, the first Hominus. He and his kin believed that to bow to another creation of God would be the same as putting a creation equal to him, thus going against their initial orders of submitting to the only God. This sect of angels is banished to the depths of hell, but still actively tries to cause mischief within the Homini to prove their point. They number fewer than Lucifer's kin, but consist of more high-ranking Ehren and Founding angels. Lucifer's demons: Lucifer feels that the order to bow to Adam is a contradictory statement by God, and therefore claims that God is a fraud. His initial conflict with God would later be called "The First Rebellion", and it resulted in him and his followers sent down into the underworld. Despite this, he will not stop his fight until each of God's creations is destroyed. The majority of demons and fallen angels belong to this sect, but they lack the number of former Ehren and Founding angels. Demonic sect traits: Iblis demons are generally much less hostile against other creations of God, as they believe that it is not the creation's fault for its creator's mistake. This does not mean that they are passive; it just means that they are less likely to kill you on site, but wouldn't hesitate to use and mislead you to do acts that go against God's commandments. The underworld and hell: Another important note is that the Underworld and Hell are different places. The Underworld exists in the realm of Saqir and follows simmilar structure to the overworld, although closed off by layers and layers of earth and run by Lucifer. Hell is a completely different plane of existence and has no actual ecosystem until the end days. Beings from Hell require a body, either created from their own power (which would result in a weaker manifestation) or a body birthed by a Hominus (which allows a larger portion of their power to transfer between realms and is usually done by an oath)

Heavens' Realm God's kingdom interacts with the world often, but always subtly. Most of the time, it is through the words of a prophet whenever a new age of large conflict arises. High-ranking angels are sometimes allowed by God to make pacts with a chosen homini, allowing them to receive a part of the angel's gift. The Underworld Although not exactly a different plane of existence, it is the kingdom that Lucifer rules. It's hot and contains a much more hostile ecosystem. The environment allows high-ranking fallen angels to exist without worry of limiting their power. Saqir's overworld and the underworld are connected through many holes between the layers of earth, referred to as "Breaches". Breaches are usually naturally generated and close on their own, but one can be forcibly created by an extremely powerful demon. Hell Currently empty of God's other creations. Hell is occupied by Iblis demons and is actually similarly structured to heaven, even featuring a temple to worship God. Hell is destined to be the final place where the sinners are placed, and for now, its influence on the world of Saqir is limited to Iblis demons who manifested into Saqir, intentionally misleading Homini so that they will share the same fate as the demons.

The different ages Al-Kisah - The ancient age of prophets. Civilisation followed the lead of prophets as nations began to form. Al-Nawm - The age of heavenly silence, as prophets are no longer given to the Homini. Some also call this era the Age of Sin, as demons began utilizing the lack of oversight on the world to their advantage. Paxa Varius - The age of relative peace between countless nations within Saqir. Starting right after the solidification of Doruman’s power in the world, it was marked by the rivalry between Kirin and Doruman, and the language shift that happened. Inconstantia - The term used by scholars to describe the years during the Second Rebellion of Lucifer. Marked the end of relative peace and destroyed many lands. Anastasis (current era) - The world is unstable as Doruman begins to lose its influence. The new age is marked by a resurgence of heavenly events and considerable demonic infestations.

Standard DnD systems. Trade routes Doruman's Will: An interconnected-intercity-road system connecting major hubs within the world of Saqir with Dorum as its hub. Created during the Paxa Varius, it connected Dorum to the now destroyed capital of Kirin, Leidheim, the Gulf of Serenity, and many other cities. Due to its age and its proximity to the old battlefields, it is now entering a period of disrepair and frequent raiding. Ababyl Canal: A canal connecting the river Kinabalu and the river Aurum, which ends at the Gulf of Serenity. This marvel of engineering cuts through the western plains of Dorum and south of Diekman's Forest. It is the preferred route when it comes to transporting goods related to food. The Golden Circle: A ring road connecting many city-states and lands, centered around Leidheim. This network is Leidheim's key to wealth and is heavily developed with taverns and other rest areas littered all around. Newer and much safer than Doruman's will.

Justice and punishment The Court: The Court is the standard system of law created by one of the prophets during the Al-Kisah age. Despite its ancient age, it was created with flexibility in mind. The Court stands by the belief that every individual is to be treated equally, no matter their status and how laws have changed. This system has been (mostly and) largely preserved because of the general taboo that exists in overriding a prophet's guidance. Punishment sentenced on the guilty usually follows an eye for an eye doctrine, unless it involves the case of the loss of life. In such a case, the system will resort to either a longer sentence in prison or the amputation of fingers, parts of the outer ear, or a limb. Lament: Lament is another form of the justice system. In this case, the one proven guilty is given the choice to stand before the altar of a church or the steps of a mosque. Their hands would then be tied, and they would spend the entire day praying for forgiveness in the eyes of God. This is done under supervision, and the number of days one would have to serve depends on the crime. Once their sentence is completed, the guilty will receive a reduction in their prison sentence and will be saved from amputation, but will be branded with a hot iron on the chest. Slavery: Extremely common within Doruman. Slavery is the punishment given most of the time instead of imprisonment within the Doruman court. Despite being against the general idea of The Court, slavery is a system that runs Doruman’s empire and, therefore, is considered too vital to end. Although considered a part of life within the empire, the new age is slowly pointing out the hypocrisy of Doruman’s usage of slaves while actively following the doctrines of the Court The view on adventurers Indifferent acceptance: Adventurers are important for the economy. Many treat them as the most cost-efficient source of any kind of labour, with acceptable quality, and there are times when adventurers are preferred over dedicated mercenaries or magicians. Uneasy admiration: Many see adventurers mostly by the guild they often work for. An adventurer with the DaeHA’s badge would usually be treated better, even admired at times, but would also be surrounded by wary eyes since they’re only seen near larger problems. The “fun job”: Being an adventurer is one of the first things a child is usually keen on doing. It’s common to hear people talk about new adventures and placing bets on how long the new guy’s gonna last.

Absolute threats Perseus: The shadowy force slowly reopening old breaches and widening current ones. His goal of assisting Lucifer’s dream of the annihilation of God’s creation goes against your drive to stay alive. With Perseus on the move, more and larger demons are coming through to attack the world. It’s only a matter of time before the breaches become big enough to support an army. Demon Court: Through the breaches widened by Perseus, stronger and more influential demons are starting to pour through. DaeHA public reports and Scutum Daemonis intel suggest that demon infestations are starting to look much more organized. Ya’juj and Ma’juj: Within the old remains of Kirin’s empire lies a mountain range in the far north. It is rumored that there lies a wall created hastily by the last emperor of Kirin to hold back two unimaginable horrors whose combined power is rumored to rival Lucifer. No one knows where this grand wall is, but those who know are sure that there will be a time when it fails to hold them back. Possible source of conflicts that may arise from the player’s choice Doruman forces Scutum Daemonis: Goals: The specialized cohort’s main goal is not only to remove the world from the demonic threat, but also utilize demons as weapons of war, or at the very least, as slaves and servants. The cohort is also interested in possessing anything ethereal or magical, and is therefore interested in finding the new prophet. Currently focused on the search for Perseus and the new prophet. Faction relationships: M.I.R: Cross-branch competitiveness; stingy when it comes to sharing intel DaeHA: Reluctant coexistence; similar goals, albeit different views, the two can go from fighting each other one day and working together on the next. Prophet’s forces: tense truce; understands that the prophet is also against Perseus, but is interested in understanding and obtaining the prophet’s Gift Leidheim’s forces: Hostile; the enemy of the empire is the enemy of the legion, and the enemy of the legion is the enemy of the cohort. Leader: Aurelius “Ari” van Libra Appearance: Young, able-bodied, lean male demon of average height and light skin complexion. Red eyes, long black hair, sharp horns, and a spade tail. Described as beautiful by many, often seen wearing Legion 7th’s ceremonial uniform, albeit modified for instant action. Bio: A playful yet mysterious demon presumed to be a manifestation of a former Founding angel who follows Iblis’ ideology. Despite his known allegiance, his skills and knowledge prove to be an important aspect of the empire’s efforts. His mysterious title as van Libra (from the ruling house Libra) also removes any say in the matter. Though technically only 12 years old, his nature as a demon allows him to obtain the body of a 20-year-old quicker. Character relationships: Markus Enschel: treats him as the annoying, nosy coworker Ethelia: Sees her as a very dear friend, comfortable around her, and willing to fight with her when asked, despite their difference in ideologies Prophet Allakhir: as a demon, he’s wary of the prophet’s goals and attempts to stay out of his way Zsofia Nagy: personally neutral and holds no resentment towards her, but professionally inclined to be her enemy M.I.R: Goals: The organisation’s interests mirror Doruman’s will of control. It will attempt to find out every aspect of an event or a person. Currently, its priority lies in discovering Perseus’ nature and will not hesitate to question any person they deem slightly suspicious. Faction relationships: Scutum Daemonis: Resentment; hates the Scutum’s reluctance to cooperate DaeHA: Easy source of info; the MIR occasionally steals records from the DaeHA to help with their own investigations or to limit the DaeHA’s Prophet’s forces: An obstacle; similar interests result in confrontation. The MIR will usually attempt to get out of the Prophet’s way Leidheim’s forces: Enemy of the state; will go to sabotage and assassinate key figures whenever possible. Though not the priority, their eyes are still on the new state Leader: Markus van Enschel Appearance: A man in his early 40’s, larger, muscular body, yet relatively clean of any scars. Blue eyes, short-cut, greying hair, and olive skin complexion. Often seen in his purple colored toga. Bio: An idealistic politician in the eyes of the public, the most ruthless person in the eyes of the Grand Council but always calm and composed. Heir and current master of a rich and renowned line of politicians. Going against the rules of the empire and even the prophets is nothing to him, as he believes that the ultimate victory of Doruman is the best future for the world. Character relationships: Ari: Genuinely hates him to the core, because of what he’s doing and because he’s a demon Ethelia: Thinks little of her abilities as a leader, though admires her capabilities as a fighter Prophet Allakhir: Personally interested in the new prophecies, but only taking everything with a grain of salt until it’s confirmed that he’s a prophet Szofia Nagy: Wants to see the traitor dead, but is held back by his mission Non-Doruman forces DaeHA: Goals: To expel all demons from the world of Saqir. This patioric organisation believes that demons, especially Lucifer’s demons, should all be exterminated even in the underworld. However, the organisation is aware that some demons are too powerful to kill and so resorts to either containment or creating a pact with a demon to keep it occupied. Faction relationships: Scutum Daemonis: Reluctant coexistence; similar goals, albeit different views, the two can go from fighting each other one day and working together on the next. M.I.R.: Extreme distrust; the DaeHA is aware of the M.I.R.’s acts of espionage, but can’t decide if it’s for the better or for worse to let them continue Prophet’s forces: live and let be mindset, it’s rare for the Promptus Custodia to meet the forces in the first place Leidheim’s forces: True neutral; the DaeHA doesn’t like to meddle too much in politics, worried that it might jeopardize the benefits they have received from Doruman Leader: Ethelia van Renata Appearance: A tall, athletic woman with many scars all over her body, appearance-wise slightly older than Ari. long, blond curly hair and green eyes of white skin complexion. Often seen in her suit of armor, which is a modified swordsmaiden’s armor Bio: The former lead swordsmaiden in the church of Renata, now the leader of the DaeHA’s Promptus Custodia. Grew up as an orphan and spent her early 20’s as Ari’s “babysitter” in the royal palace, her life is suddenly flipped upside down after she leaves the church to marry a local bartender, only to then lose him during the early years of the Second Rebellion. The loss of her dear beloved fuels her hatred against all demons, except Ari. Character relationships: Ari: Sees and occasionally treats him as her little brother despite his sinful origins. Synergizes very well in combat and relies on him when it comes to demonology Markus Enschel: Although unaware of his identity, her opinions on the leader of the M.I.R. are resentful due to their acts of espionage Prophet Allakhir: Very respectful towards him, although the two have not met. She is interested in his teachings but likes to put religion and work seperate Szofia Nagy: wary suspicion; tries not to get too close to her to stay out of international politics The Prophet’s force: Goals: He and his believers seek to correct the injustice within Doruman’s slavery loophole in the justice system. He preaches for the unification of every Homini under one banner, creating a second Al-Kisah era. Currently, he is legitimizing his holiness by being the one most keen to search for and defeat Perseus. Faction relationships: Scutum Daemonis: treats the cohort with suspicion, originally believing them to be conspiring with Perseus, although the sentiment is changing slowly DaeHA: Is usually on good terms with the organisation, but sometimes gets into conflict when it comes to the DaeHA’s destructive methods M.I.R: Unrecognized player; the average follower of the prophet isn’t aware of its existence, but the prophet and inner circle are generally against the M.I.R’s operations Leidheim’s forces: On paper neutral, but secretly supports the rebellion with information, resource and volunteers Leader: Prophet Allakhir - former name unknown Appearance: A man in his mid 40s. A relatively unthreatening frame, but it has seen its fair share of hard labour due to his hard life. Long black curly hair, slightly sunken brown eyes, and a relatively darker skin tone. Often seen wearing simple laborer’s clothes. Bio: Originally native to the southern lands of Doruman, he was tossed around mines and lumberyards all across the empire before being lifted to heaven to receive his Gift. Now he resides somewhere within Diekman’s forest, spreading the word of God and slowly amassing new followers to help him accomplish God’s goal. He’s known for his smile and kindness, accepting everybody no matter their circumstances or origin, a person willing to hear but also willing to fight for what he believes is right. Character relationships: Ari: Treats Ari as a sinner, but also acknowledges his hidden divinity and holy origins. An adversary, but not exactly the current enemy Markus Enschel: Has an interest in speaking with him, perhaps even converting him to the new goal. Ethelia: Treats her respectfully, as she was the grand swordsmaiden in the church of Renata Szofia Nagy: Starting to slowly see her as a close friend. Willing to go out of his way for her Leidheim’s forces Goals: To liberate the northwest region of Doruman from its elitist politics and Dorum-centered mindset. Currently focused on amassing units to defeat Doruman in the next major battle. The faction welcomes volunteers of any kind Faction relationships: Scutum Daemonis: The cohort is part of the 7th legion of Doruman, thus making it an enemy of the state M.I.R.: The new state is starting to learn of its existence and is actively trying to eliminate its operatives within its borders DaeHA: Thankful acceptance; many see the DaeHA as handling the demonic threat pretty well, allowing Leidheim to allocate its resources for the war effort Prophet’s force: Seen as a supporter of the Leidest cause, an alliance is slowly forming Leader: Zsofia Nagy Appearance: A short elven woman in her mid 20s in terms of looks, with an able body. Short, dark, braided hair, hazel eyes, and olive skin complexion. Often seen on her horse, wearing a simpler set of armour, but always with an orange scarf. Bio: Was a renowned magician within the Doruman military before her betrayal. She deserted during the empire’s expedition into Diekman’s forest after finding out that her sister was found guilty within the Doruman court back at home for allegedly conspiring with demons. Her betrayal hit Markus Enschel the hardest, as he was her sponsor who allowed her a higher ranking position despite not being from the Interior. Character relationships: Ari: begrudging respect; she dislikes his flippant nature, but is aware of his power when things get serious Markus Enschel: She’s slightly ashamed of her betrayal, but believes that the cause she is fighting for is just and sits higher than Markus’ Ethelia: She sees her as an admirable figure willing to fight against terrible horror, but respects the boundaries between them Prophet Allakhir: An even more admirable figure and a kind man who’s been helping her a lot. She is aware that she’s becoming more attached to him