God Name: Luman and Cali
Title: God and Goddess of Duality and Balance
God Name:
Luman
Title:
God of Duality and Balance, Lord of Light, Patron of Heroes, King of the Noble
Gender:
Typically male
Alignment:
Neutral, leaning towards good
God Appearance:
Luman is easily recognized as a divine warrior clad in gleaming armor with massive white wings to carry him into battle against evil and weapons to cut through the forces of darkness. This is indeed one of his favorite ways to appear, but just as white light is made of several different colors, Luman has many aspects of himself and many forms to represent these sides. In addition to the appearance of the golden hero, Luman often comes to others in the form of a mischievous young boy, a beautiful maiden, a blind man, or even a winged white stallion.
God Name:
Cali
Title:
Goddess of Duality and Balance, Lady of Shadows, Mother of Monsters, Queen of Hags
Gender:
Typically female
Alignment:
Neutral, leaning towards evil
God Appearance:
Unlike her husband, Cali has no one set form and no two depictions of her are the same. However, she is generally believed to take the form of a beautiful temptress with monstrous features, such as horrible claws, a serpentine tail, leathery wings, or twisted horns. Sometimes, all of her beauty is ignored, leaving the image of some hideous beast. Like her companion, Cali takes many forms, though she proves even more flexible with the faces she wears. Her favorite forms, aside from the beastly seductress, are that of an emaciated old hag, a gluttonous nobleman, a bloodied barbarian, and a monstrous dragon.
Personalities:
Since the dawn of creation, the world has relied on a divine balance between all things. Everything has something to counter it, keep it in check, and make up for it's flaws. The steady unmoving earth has the free and unpredictable winds. The burning passions of fire are contained and tamed by the calm and flowing tides of the sea. It is in these harmonious acts of duality that Cali and Luman find their calling. They are tasked with keeping balance between all the energies of Pandeum, lest the world fall into utter chaos. Even in a single entity there is conflicting sides and paradoxes. The most savage of beasts may be the most loving of mothers. The kindest of men may possess the bloodiest of blades. No coin is one sided and nothing stands alone. This is what the Lord and Lady represent. They are two extremes, yet they live together with little issues. The love between these deities is practically tangible as they respect each other and the things each of them guards. That being said, neither Luman or Cali will censor their opinions for the sake of their consort. In history, the pair have typically been on opposing sides of conflicts. Even during the Great Rebellion, Luman sided with their fellow Archaic Gods while Cali assisted the Young Gods in their uprising.
Luman is a friendly and relaxed energy, easily approached and very unlike the emotionless savior many artists and poets depict him as. He is highly charismatic with an infectious smile and charming nature that causes others to instantly open up to him. He cares for others and any member of any nation may call upon him to illuminate their path or assist in a noble deed. He is a patron of those with good intentions and many stories are told of the god lending his support to heroes in need. Despite his friendly exterior, one should not underestimate the Lord of Light, as he can become a ruthless adversary is it's necessary. He is devoted to protecting the balance between all things and if anyone threatens that, he is prepared to cut them down.
Though Cali loves her husband dearly, she is nothing like him. She is confident and intimidating, sending chills up the spines those in her presence. Her stare can shake the souls of even the bravest of mortals and her voice can make even a god melt with desire. She is sensual yet frightening, combining the sweetest of dreams with the worst of nightmare. Cali is typically unconcerned with anyone other than her followers, unless a hefty offering is involved. She indulges in passions and worldly desires and her roles in history typically involve tempting the pure to do so as well. She is quick to anger and has issues with dealing with other gods in ways that don't end in war. It was she who created the first monsters and beasts to hunt man and so Cali claims guardianship of all those who are seen as wretched and monstrous. She spends much of her time creating new monsters and sending them to challenge the heroes who hide behind Luman's skirts. Cali believes herself to be the mother of all those considered dark and wretched. She cares deeply for her followers and gives them what they need in order to survive in a world that hates them. She's also quite the trickster, a quality she likes to pull out of her husband, and she's well known for meddling in the affairs of others.
Opinion of mortals:
"Some are good, some are evil. All of them are necessary."
God’s Domain:
Trutina is the realm of where light and darkness meet. What seems like an endless road made from stained glass runs through the realm, separating two drastically different sides. The right side of the world is known as the Garden of Light, a lush paradise filled with fantastical creatures and the spirits of Luman's most loyal followers. The left side of Trutina is the Forest of Shadows, a desolate woodland filled with twisted dark trees. The forest is prone to playing tricks on the minds of those who enter it and the minions of Cali wander it's barren borders.
Avatar Name:
Dolus Magnus the White Fox
Personality:
Dolus has never been the type of prince to slay beasts and save princesses. He is more comfortable gossiping among the servants than on the battlefield with a sword in his hand. He is refined and charismatic, equipped with a sharp wit and a charming smile. He is careful and meticulous, never one to take chances if it can be helped and always prepared to cut his losses. Dolus is extremely clever and talented in the art of manipulation. With a few sweet words and an heart melting smirk, no doors are closed and no secrets safe from Dolus. Despite his trickster-like tenancies, Dolus truly is a kind person at his core and desires to see his kingdom flourish.
Magic Abilities:
Dolus is a talented spell caster, a quality enhanced by the hag blood running through his veins. He specializes in shape shifting and has a plethora of forms that he can take whenever he pleases. He is also proficient with battle magic and is skilled with a dagger.
Hero:
Orion Gladius
Rank/Reason:
Personal body guard and lover of Dolus Magnus
Personality:
Always slow to speak, Orion is a man of few words and many actions. He is serious, though Dolus can break his icy cool demeanor with ease. He is extremely honest, almost brutally so and cares not for the social niceties Dolus is fond of. He is devoted to his charge and loves him with all his heart. He would do anything for his prince.
Hero:
Madame Silk
Rank/Reason:
Leader of the Shade, the Empire's elite force of assassins. Silk also owns and operates the Widow's Web, Parilis' most successful and high end brothel.
Personality:
Though extremely clever, Silk's sharp tougue and quick wit aren't the only things that have earned her the title of the most dangerous woman in the Empire. Much like her Lady, she is extremely manipulative and charismatic, able to easily make an impact on anyone who crosses her path. She is incredibly cunning, with an ability to think her way out of almost any situation. Despite her reputation as a cut-throat and heartless woman, Silk holds much love and respect for her workers at the Widow's Web, her fellow assassins, and for Dolus.
Hero(es):
Animus Solvo
Rank/Reason:
Leader of the Knights of Lux and a brilliant military tactician. Also a very respected artist and poet.
Personality:
Since the death of his father, Animus has made quite the name for himself within the walls of Parilis. He has proven himself countless times on the battlefield, bested some of the most skilled of opponents, and protected many innocents from harm. He is charming and smooth, with a taste for romance and sensual pleasures. He is also renowned for his more artistic abilities, namely his paintings and poetry.
Hero:
Lamina
Rank/Reason:
Queen of the Nefai
Personality:
Both beautiful and terrible to behold, there is no one more fit to lead the beasts of Cali than Lamina. She has been hardened by the world and made strong by the adversities she faced as she climbed her way to power. Though not heartless, the queen will not hesitate to spill blood for her people or to defend her title. Many have tried to steal her throne, but after centuries Lamina still reigns. Below her are leaders who command the smaller factions that make up Lamina's kingdom. Among the most notable are:
-Cassis of the Northern Beasts
-Ignis Fervor of the Fallen Star
-Raven Witchmother of the Great Oak Coven
-Vena Luna of the Half-Beasts
-Nerkron Dai of the Dark Savages
-Atropos Eyesnatcher of the Black Pond Coven
-Pecker of the Southern Scavengers
-Lady Lastbreath of the Drowners
Terrain Preference:
Large cities
Name of Kingdom/Empire:
The Dualae Empire
Capital:
Parilis- Center of trade that lies in the center of the Empire. Home of the royal family for centuries.
Major Cities:
Lumanta- Center of religion and home of Luman's largest shrine.
Umbris- Center of the Empire's shadier operations. Home to the worst Dualae prisons.
Cora- Center of art, namely theater. Also home to many brothels.
Gladion- Center of military.
Society:
[People]
The people of the Dualae Empire come from all walks of life and are generally very well rounded. They are a welcoming melting pot of countless races, ethnicities, and cultural backgrounds as their gates are always open to friendly peoples. However, this causes their military to always be on guard and willing to stomp out enemies who hide behind masks of camaraderie. The Dualae are a strong people whose empire has fallen and re-risen many times. They are friendly and accepting, yet always prepared to defend what is there's. They emphasize balance and celebrate the differences between all people. They are poets, warriors, philosophers, prostitutes, mages, thieves, and many more. The Empire is home to many factions, each of which serves a purpose in Empire. Some of the major factions are:
The Knights of Lux- Order dedicated to fighting injustice and protecting the pure. Many Dualae heroes of legend come from this group. More recently, they have been charged with the protection of Parilis and guarding the royal family.
The Shade- The Empire's elite force of assassins who are always prepared deal with the dirtier sides of Empire politics. Not only do they carry out contract kills, but the Shades also deals in the interrogation and questioning of Empire enemies.
The Aura- An offshoot of the Shade, the Aura is an order that acts as a personal troop of spies under the employment of the crown. They are believed to be everywhere and were once feared for their skills of espionage and blackmail. Despite this, Dolus typically only uses them to catch up on the latest gossip in his court.
The Order of Mentis- A group of philosophers and mages who offer their knowledge and insight to the crown. They spend most of their time in their temples or wandering Pandeum in search of enlightenment.
The Hand of Incito- A group of artists who use their various skills to inspire and delight the population of the Empire. Though they have no general political agenda, many of them tend to be quite the revolutionaries.
The Blunt Blade- A troop of warriors who look for nothing but a good battle to fight and some wine to drink. They can be quite a rowdy group but are valuable assets to the Empire on the battlefield.
[Economy]
The Empire has one of the strongest economies in Pandeum and relies largely on it's trade with other nations. They produce a number of products, such as fine art, weapons, exotic foods, spices, fabrics, jewelry, magic tomes, and basically anything else one can use to make a profit. If it can be sold, at least one Dualae will being willing to sell it.
[Politics]
The Empire is made up of several large city-states, each with a council of fifty elected and respected representatives who handle the day to day activities of their respective cities. Over all the councils reigned the Concilium Maximus, a congregation of representatives from each city, personal advisors, and the Emperor. The Emperor has the final say in all things, but has traditionally followed the advice of his council.
Other: The Empire currently has no emperor. There is only Dolus, the bastard son of the late Emperor Solas and a mysterious hag. Since Dolus is the only heir to the throne, he will be crowned emperor on his upcoming birthday.
Terrain Preference:
Anywhere
Name of Kingdom/Empire:
The Nefai
Capital:
The Black Forest
Major Cities:
None
Society:
[People]
The Nefai, much like the Dualae, are a diverse and complicated people. They are made up of what the rest of the world considers monsters or outsiders. The many cults of Cali find themselves all over Pandeum and a good deal of these groups are nomadic. Countless races and creatures form these strange groups.
Oakborn
Every year, in the spring, the Great Oak, a large tree that supplies all of the Black Forest with it's magic, spawns hoards of young monsters from it's roots and branches. The Oakborn, as they're known, They come in many shapes and sizes, with a variety of abilities and personalities. No two Oakborn look quite the same. Typically, they are raised by the hags of the Great Oak Coven until they reach an age where they can fend for themselves. They have a deep connection with the Great Oak and it is believed that if the Oak is harmed, all it's brood will feel the pain.
The Fallen
Unlike the Oakborn, who where born into the lives of beasts, the Fallen were all once members of another race. In most cases they were undesirable or unwanted in their own society and chose to follow the goddess Cali, whose magic would slowly transform them into monstrous versions of themselves. In other instances, Cali or some other deity cursed them to their fate as a hideous best. Similar to their Oakborn brethren, they come in many different forms, which usually corresponds to their personalities and vices in their former lives.
Hags
Perhaps one of Cali's favorite creations, the hags combine the ferocity of a beast with the learned refinement of a magician. A largely female group, hags typically appear as average or even beautiful women, but when provoked they transform into ghastly versions of their former selves, often including sickly pale skin and animalistic features. They are respected as priestesses of Cali and are honored within the Nefai, but typically shunned by the outside world. They are powerful spell casters and spiritual beings. To keep herself strong and beautiful, a hag must feed on the life force of others. Despite this, most of them are fairly peaceful and choose to feed off of energy in small doses. However, hags who practice are darker craft feed on the flesh in order to sustain themselves.
The Spawn
Contrary to the Oakborn who come from the Oak and the Fallen who changed into monster, the Spawn are born in the same fashion that other species are traditionally born. They mostly resemble their parents, who may be Spawn, Oakborn, Fallen, Hag, or Crafted and tend to grow up with similar abilities and strengths.
The Crafted
Perhaps the rarest of all monsters, the Crafted are creatures created by Cali herself and released into the world to do her bidding. They range from malicious seductresses to sea monsters and demonic beasts. Most of them serve to test the strength of some hero that Luman is guiding or to punish those who have wronged their goddess.
[Economy]
The Nefai economy is different from faction to faction, but they are overall a fairly self-reliant group. They tend to trade amongst themselves and some of the more aggressive tribes pillage and plunder to get supplies. They have no united currency, but food, gold, and weapons are almost always accepted.
[Politics]
The Nefai are a loose network of tribes and clans that are united under a single monarch. Relations among these groups are subject to change as civil war is always a threat when Nefai leaders come together. The Nefai have a bloody past and the factions are constantly fighting for supremacy and rank. Not much is written in stone and the only permanent law is that one keeps what one kills. The crown of the Nefai is stained with the blood of countless kings and queens and Lamina is the longest in generations to wear it.
They usually don't involve themselves in the affairs of other nations and, as they are often shunned or hated, they stay in the presence of others like themselves. The Nefai have a bad reputation as pillagers and monsters, which is fairly accurate in some cases.
Other: