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History 101
A story from Unknown Author; Provided by Ezriaphiel
~As told by a professor of the Castle, receiving questions in History 101~
History 101
Why clans?
Clans were formed as the seven "god" dragons started to each gather their own followers and support. Despite being recreations of the originals, and having some slight modifications, each of the seven are different enough in their own aspects and powers that certain people are attracted to a specific one over the other. As people started to align with a clan, many villages and small cities became wholly engrossed in the idea of an alignment with a selected god, and to this day some places still retain marble statues and altars from their old history. As this went on, opposing towns and sects of people actually fought each other over their alignments and beliefs, and, although not sanctioned by the new gods, was still common place for some decades.
Over the few millennial that have occurred before the official re-opening of the high castle, the divides were evident enough for the castle to require all learning mages to declare the clan they side with, so that they may be specialized in the skills that appeal to them, and also be sorted with people who have the same interests as themselves in the housing. Within villages and cities, the pull of the clans is very weak now, as due to previous warring in between the clans a few generations ago led to a whole generation of people scorning those who felt so strongly for their affinity that they would harm others who failed to agree.
The "clan" system is also used to try and classify creatures based upon their creator and powers, although, since no one god has directly claimed a species to be their own work, this is highly inaccurate and somewhat flawed, and any advanced-level mages scoff at the idea.
Of Gods and Men
The gods are remnants of the old world, and as such, not much is known. It is not even certain if they are all the originals from the past, or if they are all remade by some unseen force. They are fairly reclusive in nature, so no one is able to tell, and as the book only goes back to a few weeks after the destruction of the old world, no one will ever be able to tell.
The genders of the "Gods" are debatable as they are not exactly things with DNA or chromosomes or, at times, even a physical body with which to name, although they all have some preferences at times, with Life, Nature, Wind, and Half of Fire leaning towards female, and Light, Water, Stone and Half of Fire leaning towards male. Strangely, a perfect split down the middle. They are constantly prone to changing, though, and nothing is set in stone with them.
The names of them are much like the element names, with the addition inclusion being the type of dragon they are. Life is Drefni Naruta where Drefni means Small Dragon, while Naruta means Life. Light is Felix Turom and Felix means Light / Sun, while Turom means Wyvern. Nature is Jessa Jasini with Jessa meaning Nature and Jasini meaning Dragon. Wind is Cellon Turiki, and Cellon means Wind, Turiki means Amphitere. Water is Auguan Lidiculus with Auguan obviously meaning Water and Lidiculus meaning Wyrm. Fire is Besir Daldious, with Besir meaning Fire and Daldious meaning Multi-Headed Dragon. Stone is Rethain Luse, with Rethain meaning Rock/Stone and Luse meaning drake.
On the "humans" living here in the Veil, they're basically all "humans", yes, with some were-beast accursed, of course, though, original humans died out just like everything else when the old world was destroyed. As such, they have some slight differences, usually taller and thinner, with longer fingers, and somewhat pointed ears. Hair is usually quite long if left unkempt, and leans towards pale, sun-bleached colors that look almost faded. Hands are usually heavily calloused in the palms, as channeling magic of any sort requires using them as the exit. Freckles are more than common, even if one was to spend their lives in a cave, they would still develop them. Students and anyone with a good wealth, though, are able to look whatever they desire, since enchantments for looks are quite easy to create or purchase. As such, the castle is full of students of various appearances, possibly even some who mask themselves as were-beasts. Magic can have its own vanity.
Mages are indeed all of the human variety, as a "mage" is a sub-type of human with magic ability. Not all mages are enrolled in the castle, and not all who are enrolled in the castle are mages, though a large majority are. The occurrence of magic ability in humans is uncommon, although being in the castle, one can come to assume that it is more than common.
There are some truly sentient creatures, or possibly just mages who have enchanted themselves to look like a creature, such a Minerva, Marsho, Thanto, and Lessux. All forms of draco are also semi-sentient, and can use magic and even understand humanity somewhat well, although there is a limit to some species and their comprehension. As such, it is considered wrong now to slay dragons unless being attacked, although in the past there was no regulation on this, and some had hunted certain species to near extinction in a search for wealth.
The Vast Lonliness
The Veil, much like the name suggests, is currently more of a flat plane of a continent, unknown if there are even other landmasses trapped inside of the darkness that encompasses, or if the land is only what we inhabit. The presence of the God-Dragons, though, silently confirms that our existence is the only one in this plane, and even more compelling is that the sun, moon, and stars, are all simply creations of magic, to give our world some sense of normalcy, and to represent hope that the memories of the old world will be embodied in our new world. If, one day, the darkness is fought back, then The Seven will be able to rebuild that area, but, their work will be undone if the darkness remains.
Society is Everywhere
Most people are farming and live in small villages, with merchants and traders preferring to live in one of the three cities, with each city having its own focus. Derisutox is a large city in the hearth of the desert, known for the trading of rare oils and luxury items, as well as being a center for animation magic. Faericol is somewhat large city, found on the eastern coast, somewhat north, that is known for the trading of food and animal products, as well as precious ocean resources. Unlike most places, there is a very strict ban on magic, due to the ancient sister city it had falling from magical misuse. Mages face some scorn their, should they not hide their powers. The final city is Abuuglock, which is the city that surrounds the Castle and is, by most terms, a normal city. It has no real trading focuses, though the mages that inhabit it drive a large market for spellscrolls and creatures.
There are some interesting trades, such as saddle making and armor for dragons and steeds, or mages who one consults when cursed, or some people whose trades are authoring spells, although they are usually hired by the castle as teachers. Most normal people live their lives like that of the 1800's, although there is a somewhat large lack of science as a skillset as a need for it never developed, much like the need for having cars or planes and such will never develop because of the creatures that inhabit the lands. Some people, who do not have the magic skills of mages, do pursue sciences, although they are few and far between- and tend to keep their studies to themselves.
All draco tend to be solitary creatures when they opt to not live in their cities, and their own societies and cities seem to be kept far away from the prying eyes of the normal population. Few mages have even been able to witness their lives, although the locations of their two centers of living are well known. The largest city, found in the great north, is rumored to be called Rothlumkot, and is home to many species who are able to withstand the cold weather with ease. In this city, it seems to be most a large, lonely mountain, riddled with claw-dug caves as dwelling, with each higher level up the mountain denoting rank, with the commerce level being located in the center. Trade is mostly based around bartering, with most draco trading kills for hoard items and luxury goods. The second city, known as Kalithus, is located under Abuuglock, as the mages who make their homes in the dorms at the castle also tend to bring their draco with them. This city is located somewhere within the dark caves that lie under the cliffs, and seemingly hidden with powerful magic, as any attempts to traverse into it have fallen short.
Why Raise Giant, Fire-breathing Lizards?
Mages and normal people both raise draco for companionship and as assistance, as having the help of anything larger than yourself to do tasks can be incredibly useful. In these cases, the draco are treated much like the children of the family, kept indoors with their own rooms if they so want to stay, although many of the draco come and go as they please, returning home when the bond between them and their caretaker calls upon them to aide. Even though these bonds are a seemingly form of magic, anyone will form one with their adopted family member, which allows for everyone to utilize the usefulness of the companionship. Some people also raise dragons as an attempt to feel closer to the gods they worship, as draco are said to be the embodiment of shards that have fallen off of them. Draco also are incredibly valuable when traversing and exploring the world, as some creatures are immune to magic, and some dragon feel as if humans are wronging them by taking eggs to raise.
Draco, do indeed, sometimes take and leave eggs for mages to care for in the creche, but most of the eggs in the creche are left their by mages who find abandoned eggs while travelling, such as when the parents of the nest have died. Eggs in the creche are also from mages who have bred eggs that neither the parents of the egg will claim, nor will the mage care to. Sometimes, a draco will take the egg, but usually, it left for another mage to care for, as most draco recognize that mages are willing to provide even greater care and attention to the hatchling than they are able to.
To Travel The World
The world isn't much better than before the castle re-opened, but it is doing somewhat better than it was before, with the return of organized magic and a larger force of dragons and other magical animals. It is uncertain how this in itself has had a positive effect on the world, but the recessing of the darkness from the ruins is a sure sign that it has occurred.
The areas that one is able to visit are limited in the sense that each of the land areas are owned and charted by the people who are in charge of the clan-representation at the castle keep track and hand out the passes to those who are 'honorary' members of their clan, by participating in events or helping out with problems they may be facing. The locations of these areas are very well known, but it is hard for a mage to get into the area without the proper paperwork, as they will most likely be stopped by other mages who have earned their way into the area.
Clans were formed as the seven "god" dragons started to each gather their own followers and support. Despite being recreations of the originals, and having some slight modifications, each of the seven are different enough in their own aspects and powers that certain people are attracted to a specific one over the other. As people started to align with a clan, many villages and small cities became wholly engrossed in the idea of an alignment with a selected god, and to this day some places still retain marble statues and altars from their old history. As this went on, opposing towns and sects of people actually fought each other over their alignments and beliefs, and, although not sanctioned by the new gods, was still common place for some decades.
Over the few millennial that have occurred before the official re-opening of the high castle, the divides were evident enough for the castle to require all learning mages to declare the clan they side with, so that they may be specialized in the skills that appeal to them, and also be sorted with people who have the same interests as themselves in the housing. Within villages and cities, the pull of the clans is very weak now, as due to previous warring in between the clans a few generations ago led to a whole generation of people scorning those who felt so strongly for their affinity that they would harm others who failed to agree.
The "clan" system is also used to try and classify creatures based upon their creator and powers, although, since no one god has directly claimed a species to be their own work, this is highly inaccurate and somewhat flawed, and any advanced-level mages scoff at the idea.
The gods are remnants of the old world, and as such, not much is known. It is not even certain if they are all the originals from the past, or if they are all remade by some unseen force. They are fairly reclusive in nature, so no one is able to tell, and as the book only goes back to a few weeks after the destruction of the old world, no one will ever be able to tell.
The genders of the "Gods" are debatable as they are not exactly things with DNA or chromosomes or, at times, even a physical body with which to name, although they all have some preferences at times, with Life, Nature, Wind, and Half of Fire leaning towards female, and Light, Water, Stone and Half of Fire leaning towards male. Strangely, a perfect split down the middle. They are constantly prone to changing, though, and nothing is set in stone with them.
The names of them are much like the element names, with the addition inclusion being the type of dragon they are. Life is Drefni Naruta where Drefni means Small Dragon, while Naruta means Life. Light is Felix Turom and Felix means Light / Sun, while Turom means Wyvern. Nature is Jessa Jasini with Jessa meaning Nature and Jasini meaning Dragon. Wind is Cellon Turiki, and Cellon means Wind, Turiki means Amphitere. Water is Auguan Lidiculus with Auguan obviously meaning Water and Lidiculus meaning Wyrm. Fire is Besir Daldious, with Besir meaning Fire and Daldious meaning Multi-Headed Dragon. Stone is Rethain Luse, with Rethain meaning Rock/Stone and Luse meaning drake.
On the "humans" living here in the Veil, they're basically all "humans", yes, with some were-beast accursed, of course, though, original humans died out just like everything else when the old world was destroyed. As such, they have some slight differences, usually taller and thinner, with longer fingers, and somewhat pointed ears. Hair is usually quite long if left unkempt, and leans towards pale, sun-bleached colors that look almost faded. Hands are usually heavily calloused in the palms, as channeling magic of any sort requires using them as the exit. Freckles are more than common, even if one was to spend their lives in a cave, they would still develop them. Students and anyone with a good wealth, though, are able to look whatever they desire, since enchantments for looks are quite easy to create or purchase. As such, the castle is full of students of various appearances, possibly even some who mask themselves as were-beasts. Magic can have its own vanity.
Mages are indeed all of the human variety, as a "mage" is a sub-type of human with magic ability. Not all mages are enrolled in the castle, and not all who are enrolled in the castle are mages, though a large majority are. The occurrence of magic ability in humans is uncommon, although being in the castle, one can come to assume that it is more than common.
There are some truly sentient creatures, or possibly just mages who have enchanted themselves to look like a creature, such a Minerva, Marsho, Thanto, and Lessux. All forms of draco are also semi-sentient, and can use magic and even understand humanity somewhat well, although there is a limit to some species and their comprehension. As such, it is considered wrong now to slay dragons unless being attacked, although in the past there was no regulation on this, and some had hunted certain species to near extinction in a search for wealth.
The Veil, much like the name suggests, is currently more of a flat plane of a continent, unknown if there are even other landmasses trapped inside of the darkness that encompasses, or if the land is only what we inhabit. The presence of the God-Dragons, though, silently confirms that our existence is the only one in this plane, and even more compelling is that the sun, moon, and stars, are all simply creations of magic, to give our world some sense of normalcy, and to represent hope that the memories of the old world will be embodied in our new world. If, one day, the darkness is fought back, then The Seven will be able to rebuild that area, but, their work will be undone if the darkness remains.
Most people are farming and live in small villages, with merchants and traders preferring to live in one of the three cities, with each city having its own focus. Derisutox is a large city in the hearth of the desert, known for the trading of rare oils and luxury items, as well as being a center for animation magic. Faericol is somewhat large city, found on the eastern coast, somewhat north, that is known for the trading of food and animal products, as well as precious ocean resources. Unlike most places, there is a very strict ban on magic, due to the ancient sister city it had falling from magical misuse. Mages face some scorn their, should they not hide their powers. The final city is Abuuglock, which is the city that surrounds the Castle and is, by most terms, a normal city. It has no real trading focuses, though the mages that inhabit it drive a large market for spellscrolls and creatures.
There are some interesting trades, such as saddle making and armor for dragons and steeds, or mages who one consults when cursed, or some people whose trades are authoring spells, although they are usually hired by the castle as teachers. Most normal people live their lives like that of the 1800's, although there is a somewhat large lack of science as a skillset as a need for it never developed, much like the need for having cars or planes and such will never develop because of the creatures that inhabit the lands. Some people, who do not have the magic skills of mages, do pursue sciences, although they are few and far between- and tend to keep their studies to themselves.
All draco tend to be solitary creatures when they opt to not live in their cities, and their own societies and cities seem to be kept far away from the prying eyes of the normal population. Few mages have even been able to witness their lives, although the locations of their two centers of living are well known. The largest city, found in the great north, is rumored to be called Rothlumkot, and is home to many species who are able to withstand the cold weather with ease. In this city, it seems to be most a large, lonely mountain, riddled with claw-dug caves as dwelling, with each higher level up the mountain denoting rank, with the commerce level being located in the center. Trade is mostly based around bartering, with most draco trading kills for hoard items and luxury goods. The second city, known as Kalithus, is located under Abuuglock, as the mages who make their homes in the dorms at the castle also tend to bring their draco with them. This city is located somewhere within the dark caves that lie under the cliffs, and seemingly hidden with powerful magic, as any attempts to traverse into it have fallen short.
Mages and normal people both raise draco for companionship and as assistance, as having the help of anything larger than yourself to do tasks can be incredibly useful. In these cases, the draco are treated much like the children of the family, kept indoors with their own rooms if they so want to stay, although many of the draco come and go as they please, returning home when the bond between them and their caretaker calls upon them to aide. Even though these bonds are a seemingly form of magic, anyone will form one with their adopted family member, which allows for everyone to utilize the usefulness of the companionship. Some people also raise dragons as an attempt to feel closer to the gods they worship, as draco are said to be the embodiment of shards that have fallen off of them. Draco also are incredibly valuable when traversing and exploring the world, as some creatures are immune to magic, and some dragon feel as if humans are wronging them by taking eggs to raise.
Draco, do indeed, sometimes take and leave eggs for mages to care for in the creche, but most of the eggs in the creche are left their by mages who find abandoned eggs while travelling, such as when the parents of the nest have died. Eggs in the creche are also from mages who have bred eggs that neither the parents of the egg will claim, nor will the mage care to. Sometimes, a draco will take the egg, but usually, it left for another mage to care for, as most draco recognize that mages are willing to provide even greater care and attention to the hatchling than they are able to.
The world isn't much better than before the castle re-opened, but it is doing somewhat better than it was before, with the return of organized magic and a larger force of dragons and other magical animals. It is uncertain how this in itself has had a positive effect on the world, but the recessing of the darkness from the ruins is a sure sign that it has occurred.
The areas that one is able to visit are limited in the sense that each of the land areas are owned and charted by the people who are in charge of the clan-representation at the castle keep track and hand out the passes to those who are 'honorary' members of their clan, by participating in events or helping out with problems they may be facing. The locations of these areas are very well known, but it is hard for a mage to get into the area without the proper paperwork, as they will most likely be stopped by other mages who have earned their way into the area.