[OOC] Avalia: Lore
The Kingdom of Avalia
Avalia is a kingdom, located in an area of the world with a moderate climate. The kingdom centres around the three great cities, known as the Triad. In the centre, there is a great lake, which provides water for the inhabitants of the cities, and the outlying villages. The lake hosts the King's palace, now empty, along with the Temple of Ages.
Five years ago, the King disappeared without explanation, other than he was snatched by unnatural forces from his chamber. A message was found, carved into the wall above his bed - "The Crown rests with the sum of the infinite."
The Great War
Any kingdom faces its own hardships. For the kingdom of Avalia, the great war with the Feroul Kingdom was its greatest so far. The fighting tore through the outlying villages to the West, eventually resulting in a siege situation focused on the City of Drexton, that lasted for nearly six months. Eventually, time took its toll on the attackers, and slowly, they began to retreat to their own land leaving desolate wastelands west of the city as a long-lasting reminder of what had happened.
The Feroul Kingdom
The Feroul Kingdom, to the West, is fueled by tyranny and fear. The poor are kept poor, and the rich made richer, and promises of wealth made to give the inhabitants hope to obey by. The kingdom plays host to many different creatures, from the common humans, elfs, and earthly creatures, to corrupt creatures of darkness, and even dragons.
It is strongly believed that the ruler of the Feroul Kingdom became aware that Avalia was under no kingship at all, and saw an opportunity to expand his kingdom.... well, he was wrong about that.
The Infinity Vault
Taken from translated scriptures from the Altar of Ages:
"....that he cast his breath on the walls of stone, and bid that they stand strong. With the shard in hand, he muttered unto the air, that it would thicken before him, that he might cut into the fabric of what was there before us all." "The Lord fell silent as the air followed his command, and with the shard raised high, he carved lines through the thickening clouds - a square falling away to reveal nothing but a void. Darkness - nothing more. The Lord pushed it to the far side of the room, and stretched it from corner to corner, then pulled it back towards the doorway, oblivion approaching in his wake. Satisfied, he closed the door, and turned to our gathering of five,"
"This is our space for all time, and time will always be ours. This is the Vault of Infinity, a safe haven for items coveted, from those who seek only to steal them."
"And you who bear witness to this, go forth. Tell the people of the wonders you have seen today. Tell them that the vault will only open on the longest day, when the sun casts no shadows on the land. Tell them that those who will give may take, and those who take will give their lives."
-From the account of Arromedes
The Broken Heart
Another account of the legend suggests that Arromedes received the 'shard' from the Lord, but he had no-one left to pass it on to - rather than give it to one of the other 'witnesses' to the creation of the vault, it is thought that he hid the 'shard', and gave each of the four witnesses a part of a map, believed to be known as the Broken Heart.
"I set forth today for fresher waters, so to speak. My life has been a part of many magnificent things, that I can't even begin to share in this lifetime, however, I am left with the matter of the gift bestowed upon me by his grace, and what will become of it. My brethren do not see eye to eye as they once did, and it hurts me... so I will give them each a quarter of my heart, that they may some day reunite the pieces and their brotherhood, and when that day comes, they will know where to go..."
-From the last entry of Arromedes in the scriptures of the Altar of Ages.
It is unclear what these pieces of the Broken Heart look like, or how they will lead those who bring them together to the 'shard'.
The Guardians
The witnesses of the vault's creation numbered five:
Arromedes - The keeper of the 'Shard'. He was a selfless man, who sought only to aid the people. The Vault, designed to reduce the number of wealth-induced crimes and fighting was supported by him. No-one knows for certain, but it is believed that he was a gardener in the Lord's home, with a certain liking for Roses. It is unknown how he died, or when exactly. Some believe the Broken Heart will lead to his tomb, where the Shard is buried with him.
Occliodes - The watchman. Occliodes served his life as a night watchman, never complaining or wishing for more than he had in his life. The Lord rewarded him with an understanding of magic. It is said that his tomb lies far to the North of the Triad of Cities, somewhere near the border with the Baolklands, though no-one who has found it has ever returned.
Cassaus - The Librarian. Cassaus was the head librarian of the Eternal Library, a gathering of all records for all of documented time in Avalia. Those who knew him would know that he regarded knowledge as the one true measure of wealth. His tomb lies towards the South of Avalia, containing a vast array of books. It is believed that the tomb is guarded by spirits of the dead, but like so many things, it is unconfirmed.
Pentrei - The Inventor. Pentrei was known as one of the foremost experts in the revolutionary field of steam-powered machinery. It is believed that he designed the initial Skyport system in the cities - powered by magic and water, resources they would not likely run short of. His tomb is known to be near the Hell's Gate - the main passage West to the Feroul Kingdom - but it is booby trapped, with mechanisms likely designed by Pentrei himself, and who knows what else lies deeper....
Brutus - The Warrior. Brutus fought many battles in the name of the kingdom. His service was truly worthy of a knighthood, but he declined, rather his service was remembered, than acknowledged by a title. After the creation of the vault, and the Lord's disappearance, Brutus began to wonder about the ever-mounting contents, and what harm there would be in taking from it. The others cast the idea aside, along with Brutus himself. Brutus left, determined that one day the treasure would be his, but to no fruition. It is said that Arromedes presented him with a piece of the Broken Heart whilst Brutus was on his deathbed. Brutus' tomb is known to be found in the Drexton City Centre - a momument next to a beautiful fountain. The monument itself is enchanted - above the sealed stone doorway, there is an engraved message.
"Those that seek the truth, seek shelter from the storm.
Those that seek their own truth, seek a watery grave."
No-one knows what this implies, or what exactly lies in the tomb itself, but the stone walls are unbreakable by the tools of man. Some say the Lord returned, and crafted it in the dead of night, that it would be a resting place fit for a faithful servant to the kingdom.
The Lord
There is very little known about the Lord, or if he even exists. All we have to go on are the accounts of the five witnesses who saw his acts on that day, and they don't describe him in any detail. If the vault does exist, and was indeed created by him, we can safely assume that the Lord is a powerful magician, capable of acts almost godlike.
The salvation of man lies not in his ability to forgive,
but in his ability to forget what is forgiven.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RolePlayGateway/~3/LAJv4pn09ZQ/viewtopic.php
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