Aerovern [air-oh-vern] – Greater order. The smallest in size, with a wingspan half the size of their firedrake cousins but possesses a healthy dose of claw & lightning breath. Their scales drip poison & frost, but once past their exteriors, they make for excellent food seasoning.
Terrisvvyrm [ter-uhs-vurm] – Greater order. All have perished during the destruction of the aethecite mines & Temple of Mother Marrow. The largest drake, but simplest of intelligence. These subterranean behemoths had slimy scales & no eyes. Instantly after death, vvyrm corpses become fetid & rotten, making a perfect source of fertilizer.
Drakken [drey-kuhn] – Lesser order. Anthropomorphic, these drakes live amongst men. Renowned for their warrior-heart, some become wardkeepers, or counselors & generals to rēgis & rēginae.
Blooddrake [bluhd-dreyk] – Lesser order. Cunning & secretive, most owing allegiance to the Divines. These loathsome drakes utilize aether to wear the flesh of men, stealing their identities to further the Divine’s endeavors. Wily & hateful.
Aetheurgy Forms
Soul Form [sohl fawrm] – the purest form, borne only in those with Godsblood, the world’s essence via Eminence theirs to command. Marked by pristine, white pupils & irises. Manipulation of all Forms.
Vision Form [vizh-uhn fawrm] – the voice of the Pentax Gods, Bliss & Brio. Marked by one all-white eye & one all-black eye. Manifests in prophetic visions of past, present, & future, as well as manipulation of the veil between Life & Death.
Burn Form [burn fawrm] – borne in the essences of the Four Enhancements of Aether. Burned via injection or ingestion of distilled aethecite, called parch. Marked by a colored pupil; colors of garnet, sapphire, peridot, or emerald. Enhances senses, speed, strength, & stamina.
Shard Form [shahrd fawrm] – borne in the essences of the Four Tenets of Aether. Burned via inked runes in the flesh sparked by inhalation of the poisonous mist. Marked by a colored pupil; colors of garnet, sapphire, peridot, or emerald. Enhances strength, speed, & senses, as well as allows manipulation of the four elements.
Void Form [void fawrm] – from the darkness of the void beyond the veil of Life via Noctis, scarred runes upon breast & spine. Marked by all black pupils, irises & sclera. Manipulates the body by use of blood, as well as manipulation of the mist.
The Runes of Aetheurgy
The Auras of Soul Form
Aura [awr-uh] – the art of reading a person’s emotions and/or intent by a color. Used solely by a wielder of Soul Form aetheurgy.
Blue – the ideal of Trust.
Tints – Serenity, Wisdom, Stability, Contentment, Intimate, Nurturing
Shades – Distancing, Aloofness, Inferior, Apathetic, Bored, Guilty
Green – the ideal of Awareness.
Tints – Health, Fertility, Faithful, Confident, Eager, Powerful
Shades – Greedy, Sickness, Jealousy, Wanting
Red – the ideal of Stimulation.
Tints – Loving, Passionate, Lusting, Strengthened
Shades – Anger, Danger, Warning, Critical, Hateful, Hostile
Yellow – the ideal of Energy.
Tints – Joyous, Optimism, Playful, Daring, Amusement, Excitement
Shades – Cowardice, Fear, Anxious, Rejected, Submissive, Bewildered
Factions of the Mistlands
The Scattered Shards [thuh skat-erd sharhds] – the religious order formed after the Fall of Eminence. Broken into four sects, each branch devoted to one of the Pentax Gods. Headed by the Conclave & pontifex maximus in Kalderim.
Augur [aw-ger] – the preachers of Bliss’ words & healers of the ill. Denoted by a pristine white cassock. Upon attaining the cassock, an augur receives a new name, determined by their Shard preference. An augur’s Shard Form is held within the Beads of Aether wrapped around their wrist, each sharded Bead contains one of the Four Tenets & will crack upon use. Untainted by the corruption in the mist.
Ingeniator [in-ge-ni-ator] – the followers of Mother Marrow, creators & scientists using aether. Denoted by an emerald cassock. An ingeniator carries a smaller version of the Forgemistress’ green-iron hammer but are not warriors. An ingeniator’s Shard Form is tattooed upon their arms, which allows them to combine aether with science. Untainted by the corruption in the mist.
Quaestor [kwes-ter] – the tainted warriors of Brio. Denoted by a crimson cassock. Former criminals allowed to repent. Upon attaining the cassock, a quaestor receives a new name, determined by their crime. A quaestor’s Shard Form is tattooed upon their arms & is only accessed by inhalation of the corruption in the mist, thus their tainted bodies wither & die. A quaestor carries a red-iron mace. All Shards strongholds are headed be a grand quaestor.
Vicar [vik-er] – the untainted warriors of Justice. Denoted by a midnight blue cassock. Upon attaining the cassock, a vicar receives a new name, determined by their Shard preference, plus given an honorific denoting a physical or emotional attribute. A vicar’s Shard Form is tattooed upon their arms & is only accessed by inhalation of the corruption in the mist. They are, however, untainted by the corruption.
The Imperium of the Fallen [thuh im-peer-ee-uhm ovh thuh faw-luhn] – the physical embodiment of the Fallen’s coven, in both lands conquered & soldiering force.
Scourge [skurj] – the assassins of the Imperium. Broken by torture, they are the blade of the Fallen. Some scourges are trained in Void Form.
Oracle [awr-uh-kuhl] – aged aetheurgists living in a basilica in the ruins of Illigan. Blind, these seers paint one hand in whitewash, one in blackwash in a corrupted Vision Form. Led by the Matron.
The Guild [thuh gild] – the growing affiliation of Houses within each mega-city, each pledging fealty to the High Seat in Alizarin.
The Golden Throne of Kalderim [thuh gohl-duhn throhn ovh kald-er-im] – the imperium & formal seat of power in Kanja. Led by the rēx & rēgīna.
The Legion [thuh lee-juhn] – the soldiering force of Kanja. Legionnaires are trained in hand-to-hand combat as well as artillery. Each stronghold is led by a primus pilus (captain) & serve under the guidance of the praetor (general).
The Golden Sword [thuh gohl-duhn sward] – a title & a weapon held by the eldest heir.
The Holy Order of the Vird [thuh hoh-lee awr-der ovh thuh vurd] – a sect of devout believers in the Shards of Eminence & Noctis. Found upon the highest peak of the Forgemistress’ Blades, they are the creators of the rune inscribers for the Scattered Shards.
