Ardail

Cosmology

Each culture has its own dozens of views of the cosmos, but there are several recurring patterns to be noted.

  • The spirit world is a place of ideas, potential and creativity. These are nice things, but mortals need solid bodies and spirits to stay who they are, and these are in danger when spending extended periods on the other side.
  • Innumerable types of spirits inhabit the spirit world, no list even comes close to mentioning the majority of them.
  • There are dark spirits that feed on grief, pain, fear and hopelessness, and these things can manipulate mortals into getting so overwhelmed by these emotions that they become susceptible to possession by the them.
  • There are dark spirits controlling a mortal body, a notion that's really terrifying in all cultures.

Geography

  • The tropical Dragon Islands are inhabited by tribal people worshipping dragons, said to be sleeping on the towering central islands (really high rock columns). Some people are joined by flying drakes, making them be able to travel and fight using flight.
  • Ennanthir is a continent spanning all climates, but there is next to no contact with it due to it being overrun by demons, and rendered into a state often hostile to human life. The middle part is now basically a gigantic swampland, full of demons and faeries. The northern region is an enormous ice cavern system, while the southern region is a single hot tropical jungle, many of its vegetation inhabitants hungry for mortal flesh. There are no great empires, a small town and several villages and hamlets is the largest community to exist.
  • Gar-Serath features all kinds of climates, characterized by a generallly strong attitude against dark spirits, including numerous open orders working to destroy or banish those. Swords, metal armors, bows and horses are the technology as a rule of thumb. There are several large kingdoms with centuries of history, and well-established social systems.
  • Shigata lies east of Gar-Serath. Travel is hazardous and draining between the two, due to the violent weather over the open ocean. Its cultures are rooted deeply in the past, rely more on rigid social rules than their western neighbours, and most empires only allow avatars to be rulers. Associating with dark spirits is frowned upon, but not openly persecuted.
  • Waineroo is found to the south-west of Gar-Serath and travel is even rarer than with Shigata, because it takes months even in a straight line. This is a continent with very strong connection to nature and nature spirits, and large, permanent settlements are very rare. Shamans (spiritual guide avatars of a tribe) are the most respected members of a community, and most tribes consider a long journey the coming-of-age ritual.