Sphere: Sidgard

[Ayzek]

The Sidgardian sphere encompasses the High Kingdom of Sidgard and the areas around it. Other major civilizations in the area are Starslagen Confederacy and the Sinne Realms—which are the dominant powers together with Sidgard. There's a multitude of smaller powers, most of which can be considered client states of the High Kingdom. This region can also be considered the "heartland" of Andlosheim, as it is home to the Pristine Fountain, a massive natural reservoir of magical power, and the setting of many historical events that affected the entirety of Andlosheim—including the Great War of the Gods.

Power in this region does not lie only with countries, however. There's many influential organizations that transcend borders. The Holy Order is the largest of such organizations.

This a great setting if you're after the general medieval-European/high fantasy flavor.


Factions

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The Kallayadeva
The fountain is home to a boy. Pretty much all he does is sit there. Never eats, never sleeps, never even seen to blink. Certainly doesn't age. He's dreadfully pale, white-haired, and silver-eyed. Over the ages, an organization of 'wise men' has gathered around him—building a sanctuary around the fountain—the Pristine Fountain, so named due to its mystically clean and gleaming water. The boy is called Siora. The organization, the Kallayadeva (the Sourcers), work to discover and protect not only the Fountain, but knowledge, both written and oral, throughout Andlosheim. They're generally treated with respect among the civilized races. Though the boy rarely moves or even talks, the few times he has Very Serious Business unfolded. He predicted the death of High King Husmund in battle against the Blackspawn, warned the Archmages of Lord Bryt's inevitable succumbing to Chaos, and even single-handedly defeated an invasion by the High Lich Gruva. It's also believed that the boy visits people in their dreams, providing advice and forewarning of things to come.

The High Kingdom of Sidgard
The largest noble kingdom in Andlosheim, ruled by the High King from his impenetrable fortress in the sprawling city of Sidgard. As Andlosheim's greatest noble power, it often leads the wars against not only the Blackspawn, but also against the heretic kingdoms and other 'rogue' states. It's most prominent fighting force is the Vittaslatt Riddareva (Whitecastle Knights)—commonly referred to as simply "the Knights". The Knight are usually at the head of a charge, though also serve as law enforcement during times of peace.

The Circle of Mages
The chief association of mages that often cooperates with the High Kingdom in it's just pursuits. Much like the Kallayadeva, the Mages value knowledge, and are lead by the wisest and most powerful magic users—the Archmages. The Circle's rights and privileges vary between states, and they are even banned altogether in some—likely due to their susceptibility to Chaos. Indeed, the Holy Order is known to kill mages on sight where it has been granted that right.

The Holy Order of Saint Augustine
Most commonly known simply as "the Order", the Holy Order is a paramilitary religious organization—the largest in Andlosheim. Headquartered in the Crystal Basilica on the borders of the High Kingdom of Sidgard, the Order controls enclaves throughout the known world—granted territory here and there by various states to help it in it's crusade against the Chaos and the Sinne-fortayadeva.

The organization is led by His Holiness, assuming a man who is believed to be the original Lord Joshua (once a member of the Sidgardian nobility, though abdicated his titles in favor of the Order), though no one has seen the man in thousands of years. Indeed, the Order is usually represented in public by Archangels—the Lord's most devout supporters who have ascended beyond their mortal bodies into holy beings. The true military strength of the Order is unknown, as, though there are only seven Archangels, their mere existence suggests the Order is capable of more. For the most part, the Order engages using mortal races.

The Sinne-fortayadeva
The Mind-eaters, more commonly called the Sinne, are a cruel group of creatures and humans that, using magic, are capable of utterly destroying a person's soul, rendering their body a mindless slave. Consequently, they are a firm enemy of both the Order and all noble states. Nonetheless, the Sinne have managed to carve themselves states in Andlosheim—states powerful enough to force a fragile peace with the noble powers.

The Starslagen Confederacy
A loose alliance of a multitude of minor monarchs and city-states, united under the banner of it's tolerant boy-king. Bordering both Sidgard and the Sinne, the Confederacy is under constant external threat, though has nonetheless largely rejected the Order—instead favoring self-sufficiency and a strong central army formed of a variety of races. Indeed, a tolerant society, many races have gathered beneath the king's banner, providing strength in return for equal rights—a relatively rare status in Andlosheim. Though some of the human lords within the confederacy frown on this, their trust in and fear of the boy-king dissuades them from defying his wishes.

Interestingly, it seems this boy-king has sat on his throne since the birth of the Confederacy, though it is unknown how. Immortality is usually beyond those of noble spirit, and the gods aren't often will to provide it.

The Blackspawn
The Blackspawn are the agents of Chaos that seeks to destroy Andlosheim. In short, they're demons, and little is known about them, beyond their basic combat capabilities. The Blackspawn make rare large-scale intrusions into the Sidgardian sphere, attempting to spread their disease. More often than not, however, the Blackspawn are elusive, solitary creatures that murder lone or unprotected travelers, raid outlying villages, or engage in assassinations of high-valued targets—which suggest they're fairly sentient and capable of advanced thought. Furthermore, persons under high mental stress are known to turn into Blackspawn—succumbing to Chaos. Depending on their natural strength, this can bear very bad news for Andlosheim.

The most famous succumbing is that of Archmage Lord Bryt, who destroyed an entire city before being killed by the Archmages.

Other Factions
Andlosheim is a large place, occupied by various races and lifeforms. Dragons are believed extinct in the region, as they were the target of a genocide by most noble states.


Potentially Interesting Characters/Projects

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Characters
If you're interested in trying out one of the following characters, talk to Ayzek:

• Sidgardian High King during a previous Infestation or great war: human or elf
  
• Outlaw Dragon Rider: any humanoid (the adventure of a dragon rider in a world where his kind may be killed on sight)
  
• High Lich Gruva: humanoid lich (how did he become what he is?)
  
• Sinne monarch/heir: any humanoid
  
• Minor Faction leader/heir: any race
  
• Order Cherubim: human or elf (not too interesting, frankly)
  
• Farmboy Turned Hero After Having His Village Destroyed by the Evil <insert proper noun>: any race(?)
  
• Sexy, powerful mage: any race
  

To submit a character for  review, post the following:

Code:

[table][tr][td][b]Name[/b]:
[b]Gender[/b]:
[b]Age[/b]:
[b]Race[/b]:
[b]Allegiance[/b]:
[/td][td]Image or Description[/td][/tr]
[tr][td=2][u]Bio[/u]

[/td][tr][/table]

Projects
If you'd like to get involved with one of the following projects, talk to Ayzek:

• World origin story: the great war between the gods, leading to their banishment from the World by the primordial deity Lag.
  
• Order origin story: Lord Joshua's story, from the lord of a small manor at the edge of Sidgard to the warlord of what'd become the largest, most powerful paramilitary religious organization in the history of everything.
  
• Confederacy origin story: who is the immortal boy-king who founded the Confederacy and made it the sprawling conglomerate of minorities it is?