Farfallen (Campaign Seed)

Farfallen

This world has many names. The Universe's Gem, the Near Realm, Midgard... The only thing that the inhabitants of this world agree on is that the world has fallen far from the path of their gods, and they seek to bring it back. The true creators, the true gods and true denizens of heavens and hells have since been forgotten, with every temple claiming their god brings true salvation. How the world got so religiously twisted is a long story... One that starts all the way at the beginning...

History

Formation of the World

“	In the beginning, there may or may have not been anything. Then, there was something made by or from a god, several gods or none at all. Then there was the world, which may or may not have been crafted as the true center of the universe. Then, life may or may not have been created for the purpose of converting the world/protecting the world/controlling the world/ad infinitum...	”
—From The One True Holy Book, a satirical book about the contradictions of the world's religions by an anomynous source.

The true beginning of the universe is unknown, but the Reformed Panetheon, the most common panetheon, claim this story: It was the primordial spirits of fire, earth, water and air. They raged a war amongst each other unlike anything the world had seen. They would rage wars so fierce the very foundation of the universe, and they were unstoppable. However, the gods of the Celestial sea, a plane of life and magic, sought to stop the elementals from destroying their plane. The primordials were lulled to sleep somehow, and tricked into being trapped behind a rift in the center of the universe. The gods then sealed this rift with psionic crystals, a kind of living gate designed to actively fight the primordials attempts to awaken. The gods, faced with cleaning up the astral sea, grouped all the elemental debris onto the top of living gate, further sealing the astral sea off. The gods then returned to their activities, creating angels and other denizens. Eventually, one of the gods looked back at the living gate to find that the elemental debris on it had become covered in life and decided to create denizens specifically for this. Other gods joined in, eventually creating the world of Farfallen (The true name of this world lost over time).

Rise of Religion

“	The god(s) then took it upon themself/themselves to create sentinence. A terrible mistake. When presented by the gods, their new creations were from the beginning hooked like a fish onto an angler's promises of food. However; they didn't know which bait to take...	”
—From The One True Holy Book, a satirical book about the contradictions of the world's religions by an anomynous source.

The gods found their creations entertaining and created intelligence in the form of the races. The races were told of the gods by the angels, and formed religions. These religions at first covered only the original creator gods as seen by the different perspectives of the races, but eventually they created their own idols. These new gods were elevated to godhood, filling new panetheons. Eventually, these new panetheons completely outshadowed the eldar gods and they went into a sleep. The new gods took it upon themselves to interfere with this world they had been given charge of. These gods inspired crusades and holy wars, gaining new powers with each new worship. The gods' thirst for power was unsationable, and they granted powers to their mortal heroes in return for their worship. Nations grew across the world, uniting the tribes of races. These nations were led by churches, priesthoods and cults, each nation 'governed' by religion. A large union of nations under one panetheon (Now known as the Orthodox Panetheon) rose to power hundreds of years ago, their influence spreading across the western continent. They eventually converted the entire continent to their panetheon, and planned to convert the other continents but collapsed as a new movement of their religion spread through the union. The new Reformed Panetheon was much more popular and spread faster than the Orthodox Panetheon. This internal instability kept the union from moving outside of the continent until it eventually collapsed into the member nations. A philosophy of Psionics arose in the Orthodox state of Endrain, causing other orthodox nations to panic believing them demonic servants. Psionics were slaughtered by holy armies, but not before their teachings were passed along the nations.

Today

“	Today, whatever the true purposes of the Gods/God/Goddess was/were it is universally accepted that we/everyone else got it all wrong. This is every nation's excuse/blasphomous lies/right for years of bloodshed over the war/crusade/'missionary action' to spread/create the one 'true' religion; namely whomever's it was on the other end of the sword.	”
—From The One True Holy Book, a satirical book about the contradictions of the world's religions by an anomynous source.

Today, nations across the world are in constant crusade against other panetheons, and those that are not are backhandedly attempting to convert their neighbours. More powerful nations hold a system of reprogramming against any heretics, be they actively against the religion or otherwise. Psionics, Eldritch users who make deals with demons and heretics are subject to oppression and death or reprogramming. Endrain's religious standing has collapsed, becoming the only non-aligned nation in the western continent. It is home to many thieves, psionics and other refugees of the crusades. A large crusade between the millitant/orthodox nation of Pelora and the entirety of the reformed nations is in progress on the western continent, whilst on the eastern and northern continents their religion is reforming itself into newer panetheons.

Geography

Farfallen is mostly lush grassland, forest and fields. It is made up of mostly sedimentary rock, with high mountains made from igneous, often granite, rock. Any arcane energy that would be naturally created is sealed in by the living gate, divine energy taking its place. Places of great religious significance often allow the spirits of matyrs, battlepriest and others who have fallen in the name of their god to return as spirits from their afterlife. Forests are semi-living, there are no treants, sentinent plants or fey living among them. As such, most trees are cold, hard and wiry. Nights are significantly lighter than those in other worlds, as there are billions of stars constantly visible. This makes grass and other plants a much darker green, but more bitter to taste. The rocks of Farfallen are craggy and coastlines are often torn to bits by coarse, slightly acidic water. The water is still habitible, but contains higher traces of sulfur, sodium and other minerals. Salt water only exists in subterranean deposits and in the ice caps. The oceans are all fresh water, as are the fish that live in them. Storms, when they are allowed by the gods, are often powerful and devastating. Everything is acted upon by the gods. Some oddities such as a single nation being covered in snow and others constantly in shadow are common.

Nations

Pelora

A militant nation that has declared a crusade against any nation that does not follow their panetheon or moral code.

Cities: Capital: Heror. Pelora has many cities, numbering thirty in total. Most are the old cities of previous nations that Pelora has converted.

Religion: Orthodox Panetheon; they worship Pelor as their patron deity. They enforce reprogramming, and are particularly ruthless at it.

Population: 300000 people of mostly Humans, Elves and Half-Elves.

Location: Pelora is 2200 square kilometres in size and increases with each subsequent crusade. It is neighboured by Endrain, Mystrara. It is bordered by the Opal sea.

Defenses: Pelora is militant, and has 100000 soldiers in its army. It has 4 divisions made up of 40 regiments, each of 2500 soldiers each. These regiments contain 25 brigades with 100 soldiers each. Every 50 group of soldiers is known as a movement.

Notes: Pelora is a monarchy, but is run like a military hierarchy with the King as commander in chief. The king is an experienced soldier, and often leads brigades into battle. The cities it captures are often sacked and forcibly converted, either through reprogramming or on-the-spot admissions into it's church.

Endrain

A doomed 'Sovereign' state with no one religion, it is constantly draped in pouring rain. It is said to have been built by outsiders from this realm... A legend often abused by other nations.

Cities: Endrain is a sovereign state and thus just one city, itself.

Religion: Endrain has no state religion, and is often misrepresentedly said to be atheist. It, however, allows anyone to worship what they want.

Population: 70000 people of many races. Most live in slums.

Location: Endrain is 500 square kilometres in size and increases in size as the city expands. It is neighboured by Pelora, Mystrara and Llothana. It is bordered by the Opal sea.

Defenses: 30 Metre high walls surround the city. They have a substantial army of 8000 soldiers and 2000 clerics. They are a neutral city, however, and their defense force is mostly symbolic.

Notes: Endrain is constantly subject to pouring rain by other gods. The city has developed advanced sewers for this, however. It is constantly as dark as night because of the cloud cover.

Cosmology

The Celestial Heavens of Farfallen are merged directly with the natural world, suppressing arcane magic and permeating the world with divine energy. Rising high enough into the air would not, as in other worlds, reach outer space but instead would let you arrive in the Astral Sea. There is a single moon in Farfallen, silver and smooth. On the far side of this moon is a divine station for travellers to and from the material world and the celestial realm. The feywild and shadowfell are suppressed by the astral sea, existing only by will of the gods. As such, fey and magical beasts are rare if not impossible sights. Stars litter the night sky, and are visible even in the most light polluted cities. Stars representing the gods are visible anytime during the day.

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