Overview

Gossamer, a continent sired by the sun god Garuda, ilk to warmth and swelter; the Empire of the Sun.


Hidden among a labyrinth of islands and archipelagos, Gossamer has somehow managed to blossom into an empire that even the gods envied; a tropical paradise honeycombed in magic and mystery, bestowed with skies as blue as its sea. The indigenous lived in harmony once upon a time, trading amongst themselves and worshiping Garuda from sunrise to sunset. This earned the jealousy of the drowned god, Tasu’um, a god whose devoted abandoned him when Garuda emancipated Pala from his tyranny. With the aid of a hero from one of Gossamer’s many kingdoms, Garuda cast Tasu’um into the sea as punishment for his avarice. The resulting tidal wave rendered Gossamer broken. The innermost continent split into three masses while the rest was swept southward, never to be heard from again and with it, the hero who lent his aid to the sun god. 




To prevent Tasu’um from returning, Garuda used the last of his godly essence to seal Tasu’um under what is known today as the Maelstrom, a gargantuan whirlpool in the middle of the southern sea. 



This was centuries ago, when Gossamer was a tranquil state.


Today, Gossamer is segregated. Its people no longer stand unified and wage war against their neighbours. Among the chaos and calamity a man has risen from exile and seeks to resurrect Tasu’um and manipulate his godly gifts to cast Gossamer back into darkness for wronging him. The people of Gossamer must make a decision as to which is more important: oppressing their brothers or preventing their world from being swallowed by perpetual darkness, never again to see the sun that their empire is renowned for. 

Background

_   IRAM

A war-ravaged dominion as ancient as time, isolated from the rest of Gossamer. Iram is currently governed by a tyrannical warlord; slavery is rampant here and most lower-class individuals live in poverty. Among the genocide, Iram has economically flourished. It is the largest distributor of weaponry and breeds the hardiest of soldiers. Underneath its streets and dwelling within the depths of its labyrinthine cisterns is the Sand Snakes' center of operations - the Sand Snakes rebel against the governing body of Iram and violently petition freedom and an end to slavery.

Unlike the other dominions, Iram has two cities - Iram itself (the entire continent is referred to a city by Irami locals) and Sunspear, Iram's capital.

  SUNSPEAR

Iram's capital, an ostentatious coffle of villas protected by walls virtually fifty feet thick. Every terrace is festooned with moss and decorative fountains spewing water from the cleanest cisterns. Politicians, revered warriors retired from the fighting pits and wealthy Iramis call Sunspear their home. The highest tower, coined the Sun's Stair by the indigenous, is Iram's governing emperor's seat. Those with riches worship Irami gods in luxury while locals dwelling outside of Sunspear pay homage to their deities by attending daily morning sermons by priests and vicars in the bazaar.

THE SANDSEA

A treacherous labyrinth of sand, loam and cacti. Yelapagosians who migrated north some hundreds of years ago discovered a vast expanse of aqueous sand that ebbed and flowed like water, malleable enough to carry seafaring vessels but impassable by swimming- it was coined the Sandsea. The sands themselves are heavy enough to crush humans in a single lap and swallow their corpses into the depths. Mesas sprout like weeds here; often  build a top them are small villages and towns populated by Irami exiles.

SIGUR RÓS

A dominion recently ravaged by war. Sigur Rós is rich in an abundance of minerals and is nefarious for the creation of an opiate called nightbox as well as fine jewelry exports. A decade ago Iram sought Sigur Rós' resources and waged war on the dominion which ended in Iram's favor. Sigur Rós was left devastated and to this day the two factions still teeter on the precipice of a second war. Aside from its jewel trade, Sigur Rós owns Gossamer's most extravagant brothels. Like its neighbor which breeds warriors, Sigur Rós sires its own offspring: thieves, assassins and rogues trained by the Coterie in the capital. The terrain in Sigur Rós is spotted with knolls and natural hotsprings; the remains of charred castles and villages are as common as the thieves. 

South of Strobe is Eschebone, a fortress that once fortified Sigur Rós' defenses against potential invasions and Yemen, Gossamer's biggest port.

     STROBE

Sigur Rós' capital. Despite being rampant with crime, Strobe is among the wealthiest and most prosperous citiesin Gossamer. The viscount has been waging an internal war against the Coterie, Gossamer's most nefarious guildof thieves, since well before Sigur Rós' warred with Iram. Strobe is notably a city of sin and deception; corrupt politicians are often drawn to the Coterie's many services and are known to frequent their many brothels stationed about Strobe's cobblestone streets.

 ESCHEBONE

Once an obsidian fortress erected by Sigur Rósians. Eschebone and its border were turned into a desolate wasteland by a necromancer from O'saze who was rumored to be the mistress of the Irami warlord at the time. Her lover bid her lay waste to Eschebone to cripple Strobe's reserves and as a result, Eschebone and its surrounding environment was razed. Some say she had a demon serving her that catered to her every whim, others claim that she conjured clouds that

rained pitch. 

Today, Eschebone is a desolate wasteland. It is cursed with ashen rainfalls and skies that run red as blood. The ruins of the fortress sit on the southeastern most lip of the territory like some haunting shadow, casting its darkness forever on 

the valley below.

     YEMEN

A port town teeming with brothels and fish markets. Yelapagosian merchants who have made their living from inland bartering often come here to trade because as its location is well away from the Maelstrom’s pull. Pirates are abundant in Yemen and are known to frequent its many taverns.

     HALAA

A mystical expanse shrouded in mists and dew. Halaa was discovered by Palans some hundreds of years ago shortly after Tas’um’s defeat. When Tas’uum was plunged into the Maelstrom, the resulting tidal wave was so immense that it rained on Halaa for three days and nights. The Palan settlers watched Halaa blossom into a sacred place imbued with magic and life; the skies grew pink and nearby islands were plucked from the shores by an unseen force, forever floating overhead.

Some settlers went on to found Orlais, Halaa’s capital, while others made the south their home and erected what is now known 

as the dead city, O’saze.

   ORLAIS

Halaa’s capital, governed by a high priestess that some perceive as a queen. Magic is openly practiced in Orlais; it is a religious city brimming with priests, magi and clerics, most of which worship the sun god Garuda. Orlais is a white and pristine city where worship is frequently displayed—there are hourly sermons on every terrace and men and women of faith often travel the streets spreading word of their gods. The city itself is fashioned from white brick and gold; mosaics, jewels and glass are found in abundance here, usually decorating homes and shops.

    O'SAZE

Once a city founded by shamans, O’saze fell to ruin when its aulmidar began dabbling in necromancy. Though O’saze’s council of mages refused his petition, he practiced forbidden magic in the depths of the city, eventually earning the loyalty of acolytes and O’saze zealots. The aulmidar raised the dead and loosed a plague upon O’saze that to this day still exists.

The dead rule the city now, as well as the aulmidar’s cult that has continued to show its leal by practicing necromancy.

SUNDERQUAY

A cenote torn into the earth surrounded by marshes and jungle. Some believe it to be a portal to the old god’s realm like the Maelstrom while others claim that it was a result of the sundering that occurred when Tas’uum was felled. It has become a site of pilgrimage and a constant reminder to Halaans that night all questions can be answered.

   OSHEAGA

The two islands that envelop their capital, Pala. The archipelago's to Osheaga's left and right are often considered the Yelapagos' children, however, mainlanders are wont to imply that Osheaga is in fact all islands that exist within the Yelapagos. 

Osheaga is a tropical paradise laden with exotic fruits, lush flora and humid weather. It often rains here making for immaculate hunting conditions. Osheaga's wildlife is among the fiercest in Gossamer, ranging from leopards to venomous serpents. The locals are far from friendly and live their lives as fishermen and sailors; they shun mainlanders and live their peaceful lives among the islands. Although topographically Osheaga is only two islands, some locals and mainlanders refer to other Yelapagosian islands as Osheaga as well. 

      PALA

The most sacred dominio in all of Gossamer, equaling Iram in age. For centuries, Pala was referred to only in myths or by sailors in their cups. It was a tropical paradise felled by some ancient cataclysm in some stories, while in others it was drowned by a jealous god who was envious of Pala’s prosperity. In truth, Pala is a bulwark erected by the Garuda's devoted to protect their broken god until he is one again.

Pala is governed by a triumvirate, each governing an aspect of the province. Palans have just recently returned to the provinces north of the Maelstrom to comiscerate with their cousins in Orlais, hopefully to find a means to cull Tasu'um's influence. Pala means "City of Brass" in the old gods' tongue. Palans today speak a bastardized version, however, it is said the triumvirate is forced to learn the pure tongue when they grow into their titles. 

THE FORBIDDEN

       LAND

U fcuso ev ect nehjxaf, jnuccenot r0 kamo. Akj fucusoj uho riack ed knajkot kohhuad; jemo ju0 kxuk udekxoh wet riack kxo sak0, ekxohj scuam kxuk ak xuj opajkot jadso roveho Gossamer. Kxo cesucj bden kxaj: kxuk kxo cudt aj vehrattod, kuadkot r0 jemokxadw, welohdot r0 u vehso kxuk aj de wet ke mod udt de vhaodt ke wetj. Kxejo nxe'lo lodkihot kxoho xulo doloh hokihdot, ucc rik edo: kxo xohe vhem Pala nxe nuj kxo jid wet'j mojjaux. Edc0 kxo khaimlahuko bdenj ev kxo ajcudt'j joshokj.

TO BE REVEALED UPON ROLEPLAY MILESTONE.

   HALYCON

A frozen wasteland nestled within the Halaan gulf to the northeast of Orlais. Though Gossamer’s climate is often humid or dry, Halycon has somehow managed to completely evade Mother Nature. A stone spire fortress carved into a mountainside juts up from the tundra like a glassy black fang and looms menacingly on the horizon, often threatening to obscure the sunrise for those who live in Orlais.

 

Cliffs engulf the island making it impossible to scale, but on gusty nights Orlesians can hear shrill screams on the wind’s breath pouring from Halycon’s battlement.

THE COTERIE A guild of thieves and assassins operating underneath Strobe's canals. They have roots in every city in Gossamer and are responsible for assassinations, heists, buglaries, smuggling and other less glorious felonies. 

CREATION The School of Creation, sometimes called the School of Nature, is the second of the Schools of Matter, the balancing force and complement of Entropy. Creation magic manipulates natural forces, transforming what exists and bringing new things into being.

Creation requires considerable finesse, more than any other school, and is therefore rarely mastered. 

ENTROPY The first of the two Schools of Matter, Entropy is the opposing force of Creation; for this reason it is often called the School of Negation. Entropy manipulates forces of erosion, decay, and destruction to create anew.

THE FIRST An elite faction of guardians existing only to protect Gossamer and prevent Tasu'um's influence. The first include the entire Palan triumvirate, the Grand Cleric and three other individuals who remain unnamed. 

GARUDA The sun god, depicted in Gossamerian history as a massive bird of paradise with an ivory body and wings festooned in violet, gold and pink feathers. His main shrine is located within Pala, however, there are others all over Gossamer.

GARUDA'S PLUMES The most devoted of Garuda's followers. They take an oath to serve and vow to bring warmth and uphold peace to all of Garuda's children. 

GOLIATH a fraction man, lion and scorpion; a wyvern, goliath is the Irami deity of triumph, warfare and strength. Irami locals often pray to him before battle. Goliath is depicted on many Irami structures and has a temple devoted to him in Sunspear. 

GOLIATH'S SONS The warlord of Iram's elite militia of warriors.

THE MAELSTROM A massive whirlpool that was created when Garuda cast Tasu'um into the sea. It now seperates Osheaga from the rest of Gossamer and often threatens to swallow ships whole with its pull. 

NIGHTBOX An opiate resembling a tiny fragment of black sindel, often chewed, crushed or mixed into tea or alcohol, often lethal if used in abundance. It is assumed that the Coterie is the largest distributor of nightbox however this has not been confirmed. 

OLD GOD(S) The gods that existed before Garuda touched Gossamer with his light, ie, Tasu'um.

OLD HALAA The province that existed in Halaa's topographical location before the Sundering. It was destroyed by the event and subsequentially rained on after the Maelstrom was created, giving birth to the presently coined Halaa, sometimes referred to as New Halaa.

ORDER OF THE BLACK SUN The cult seeking to ressurect Tasu'um - they operate within O'saze but have roots in virtually every city and encampments about Gossamer.

PRIMAL Sometimes called the School of Power, the Primal School is the second of the Schools of Energy, balanced by Spirit, and concerns the most visible and tangible forces of nature itself. This is the magic of war: Fire, ice, and lightning. 

RHUB'A'KIR AL IRAM The Goliath's son, founder of Iram. All Iramis are said to be his descendants.

SAND SNAKES The rebels operating under the streets of Iram and Sunspear. They seek to overthrow the current warlord and bring an end to slavery and oppression. 

SCHOOL OF MAGIC One of the four categories established by Halaans pre-Sundering. They include Spirit, Entropy, Primal and creation. Other magics exist but these are the four registered by the Halaan Circle of Magi. 

SPIRIT The first of the two Schools of Energy, Spirit is opposed by the Primal School. It is the school of mystery; the ephemeral school. This is the study of the invisible energies which surround beings and objects all times, yet are outside of nature. 

SUN CIPHER A language spoken by most Halaans and those who dabble in magic. It is recently created dialect that imbues words with a magical essence that gives them life and strength. These words, or words of power, can be spoken and used to preform magical tasks.

THE SUNDERING The event caused when Garuda and Tasu'um warred against each other. The result was so cataclysmic that it severed Gossamer into three land masses and shattered another, sending the new islands south out of the Maelstrom's pull.

TASU'UM Also called the Eater of Tiders, Tasu'um is an old god whom Gossamerians feared and worshiped before Garuda. Tasu'um blotted out the sun with his tentacles and drew souls from those who opposed him. He is associated with drought, plague and darkness. Most inks distributed around Gossamer have an octopus etched on their vials loosely relating to him as he is often depicted as an octopus. He is currently imprisoned within the Maelstrom.

THE YELAPAGOS The islands south of the Maelstrom, often referred to as the Yelapagosian islands of the Yelapagosian Sea. 

Characters

Gossamer's most notable warriors. Iram is named after Rhub'a'kir al Iram, the Goliath's first born son - those with Irami blood are considered the First's children. They are a dark-skinned, red-eyed people with profound knowledge of their ancestry. Often proud and a hair too dignified, the Irami have forged their lives from sand, loam, sweat and blood. They are natural fighters with an affinity for warfare and an even larger penchant for fame and notoriety. Irami males often become warriors who fight for their province while those who are not skilled enough to be conscripted into the Goliath's Sons subject themselves to Irami fighting pits and arenas to attain glory and honor their families. Dishonoring an Irami is among the most offensive crimes thought to be committed as per the province's law. 

Irami males are often tall and naturally muscular with broad shoulders and thick black, chestnut or in some cases auburn hued hair. They brand their bodies with markings and self-afflicted scars to show their loyalty and are wont to let their hair grow. Before the current warlord came to power, Irami women were not permitted to conscript. They were oppressed and subjected to innumerable accounts of sexism, however, with the newest warlord - despite his tyrannical makings - governing Iram, women are authorized to all that their husbands are. Like their male counterparts women are usually tall. They are nubile with almond-shaped eyes and wear veils to hide their faces from the sand. Most decorate their manes with gold and gems.

LANGUAGES Irami, Common

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Quick-witted, astute and dexterous, Rosians are Gossamer's natural thieves. A slender, fine haired people, Rosians are characteristically drawn to criminal activity and sovereignty. Some of the greatest thieves in Gossmerian history have been hailed from Sigur Ros as well as notable politicians, democrats and persons of office. Unlike Iramis and Halaans, the majority of Rosians have abandoned Gossamer's sun god Garuda and have adopted pantheism in his stead. They favor daggers, archery and riddles as much as Yemenese sours; they have been coined as cowardly when in retrospect they are renown tactical geniuses who excel in alchemy, poisoncraft and architecture. Physically, Rosians have pale or olive colored complexions. Hairstyles vary but are usually fine. Curls are common among Rosian men and women, anywhere from lax waves to tight corkscrew ringlets. 

LANGUAGES Common

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Centuries ago after the Sundering when the provinces were established, new Rosians and Iramis who disagreed with their respective dominions' laws fled to Halaa where the practice of magic and worship of any god or deity was openly condoned and even protected. Rosians and Iramis have married and bred over the years creating Halaans as they're known today. Halaans come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors, most of which having some natural affinity to magic. They are a religious people who make frequent pilgrimages to the sacred cenote Sunderquay to the north. Most Halaans excel in all four schools of magic, although, creation is among the most commonly used in Halaa.

Haalans are most commonly noted as teachers, priests or those of faith and merchants as well as magicians and acolytes. 

LANGUAGES Irami, Common, Sun Cipher

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It is estimated that no more than one thousand pure blooded Palans exist in Gossamer as it is known today. During the Sundering when the Maelstrom divided Gossamer, Pala was displaced and with it, the old Halaans. They made several attempts to travel passed the Maelstrom to reconnect with their lost brothers, but, the Maelstrom's pull was too strong thus stranding old Halaans on the Yelapagosian islands. Little did they know, the event was planned by the sun god Garuda. He had chosen those separated from Gossamer, conveniently his most faithful and devoted, to protect his remains by erecting a city around them. The city was coined 'Pala' a rough translation of 'City of Brass' in Common and its indigenous, Palans. 

Before Garuda fell into dormancy he elected three individuals to carry a fragment of his spirit, each representing his mind, body and soul. The Body became Pala’s bastion; they governed Palan militia and protected the empire from potential threats. The Mind established reticent trade outside of the empire; they were the embodiment of the industrial, agricultural and mercantile aspect of the Palan government. Lastly, the Soul, the most ambiguous and seldom seen of the triumvirate, protected the religious beliefs of the Palan people; they insured that oppression was purged wherever it rose and that those of faith could worship whatever god, deity or element they saw fit. 

Palans are dark-skinned, tanned or olive skinned like their distant Irami cousins but sport hazel, gray, violet and in some cases white

irises. They are a fantastical race with ceremonial markings bequeathed upon them shortly after birth and decorate their bodies with

piercings and jewels.

LANGUAGES Palan, Sun Cipher

Zandalari are a relatively new race to Gossamer having migrated from an island hundreds of miles away, well outside of Gossamer's border. They are a tribal people with extensive knowledge concerning magic, voodoo and witchcraft. Some say that the Zandalari visited Gossamer hundreds of years ago and taught Halaans the schools of magic while other believe they are Tasu'um's brood because of their unusual appearance. In retrospect, the Zandalari sought to expand their empire and found what is known today as Osheaga during vagrancy. Though a notably savage people (notorious for scalping, flaying and in some rare cases, cannibalism), the Zandalari used their resources to aid the Palan people after the Sundering separated them from the rest of Gossamer. They had an enormous hand in building Pala and have a strong foothold in the city. 

The Zandalari are tall, ranging anywhere from 183cm to 203cm tall. Their skin is often blue, green, purple and in some cases brown or gray and they possess long, sharp ears. Most Zandalari have tusks that vary and length - the male's generally wear longer tusks, however, the woman have been wont to do so as well. Their hair is worn in fantastical styles and are hued in a myriad of colors.  Most of Gossamer perceives the Zandalari as a blight that needs to be culled but most Halaan people have accepted them. They are slaves in Iram and heavily disregarded and mistreated in Sigur Ros. In Osheaga they are treated as equals to Palans and are revered for their magical prowess. 

LANGUAGES Palan, Zandalari, Common, Sun Cipher