Crussaria new lore idea. WIP

[Madcombat]

Crussaria Lore
(The New Edition)
If you don't wish to read the story, don't.  Skip to the "Too long didn't read " for a quick explaination.
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"In the depths of time, people have come to pass,   Kings come to pass, gods come to pass.  It was there that there was an ancient being, a human, his name Malgore. This Malgore carried a foul will, twisted by his inner temptations and a corruption so desired for power that he himself no longer found peace.  With the forging of a new armour, new weapons he also brought forth his armies of the cursed and dead.    He came to Kingdoms, seeking and destroying, those who did not resist were offered a blessing by him.  He bestowed upon them fine gifts, mighty helmets and swords of war.   Many given to the Warlords of Surna who upon their frozen wastelands gave into their own inner demons, bloodshed and gore.  All of this desired by these men.   It was this time when his terrifying presence gifted himself his own immortal blade and into this blade he crafted his desires, cruelty and knowledge as well as will to kill all life.
But there was also, Kingdoms who fought.   A great Religion was formed against the forces of evil, many answered the call and all came forth from the southern kingdoms, across the sea to meet the evil's blade.  A vaste alliance of Humans, Elves and Dwarves marched across the mortal plane of Crussaria and at the frozen wastes of Surna, they fought against the evil that seeks to consume the world.  This religion, this force was called "The Light", carrying mighty banners of a sun upon a world.   The Light battled, voices cried out, light wavered.  Into the eve of the battle commanders yelled to their men, ordering for the plague to be withered down by flaming arrows.   One commander of the light by the name of Moov screamed out to his men.

The armies advanced, the death screamed.  Death called.  There was distance yet to close "Archers, draw your arrows!"  with the command, mighty legions of men in a lightly tanned leather withdrawal their arrows with their right hands, all of which gripping the arrow by the shaft between the fletching.   "Draw your bows!" he screams out, the consequence all of which archers put the nock of the arrow into place of the bow string.  Aiming towards the sky, they pulled back.  "Release!"  A flurry of arrows pierced the heavens onto to strike down again towards the earth.  Arrows pieced necks, skulls of the enemy revealing only that they wasn't all immoral.   A commander to the front screamed out to his knights.   As the enemy enclosed, blades clashed against the armour of the damned as gore coated the snow.  Ghouls came forth, scratching and biting upon human flesh.  Human steel met deaths cold wind, embedding and splitting the bone of death itself.  Skulls cracked, blades crashed and clashed.    Moov came forth, wielding a mighty battle hammer, coat in golden features.  Inscriptions upon the handle engulfed in a holy light.  The hammer clashed down upon the surface of the dead legions, bones flocked to the sky.  Bodies swayed to the air and back down again, crashing upon their own legions. 

Screeching was heard, the whispers on the cold wind echoed the will of its master.   The flock of wings coated the sun, blocking the light out.  The hammer waned and it revealed itself.  A large creature, wings spread out as black as the night.  Bone and skin, no feathery feature and no scales to match flocked down and with the mighty long neck of the creature, the jaws widened engulfing the holy warriors body waist down.  Swinging the man left to right, his body was broken.  Moov was broken, it let go and Moov fell to the ground amongst his armies, his body broken and shattered, split in half as his entrails was spread in a clear line from the beast to his half broken corpse.  He was dead.  It was then, a man in the coating of a Paladin stepped forth with his Blade, his armour a silver plate.  His eyes followed the creature, watching it.  With his blue eyes he knew he was powerless, but none would stop him.  The creature reached down to grasp him with its fangs and in that brief moment this man by the name of Enlor swings his blade and it crashes upon the neck of his enemy with a mighty side step.  The beast's head was not cut clean, he continued and repeated his swing until the head fell from the neck of the beast.   The ground cracked, a mighty being stepped forward.  Amongst the hero Enlor, men fell to the ground shivering in the cold frozen might of the evil that approached.  A burst of energy, light enfolded upon Enlor "Stand and fight Hero's" he roared.  A warmth covered the men, they stepped to their ground and met his call.   The mighty over towering man looked down upon Enlor, it was Malgore.  He had joined battle to end this rebellion quickly, with a strike from his evil blade, Enlor held him off.  Parrying his deathly swings, there was no opening in Malgore's defence.   It was just then; Malgore impaled Enlor with the evil blade.  Enlor was finished, the rebellion was finished.  He looked upon Malgores eyes and he knew the future.  He saw flame, ash, plague and death.  Amongst all else he saw a very long and foreseeable winter.  Upon this winter he saw a frozen hand, skin pale and dead.  Enlor grasped his sword.  Pulling closer as his soul etched from his body to reach the heavens and with a single Swing,  Enlor cut deep into Malgore's neck.  His sword powerful enough to pierce the unholy armor of his opponent yet weak enough to cut clean.  The Blade was embedded in Malgores neck.    The evil blade was let go, his will separated between himself and the evil blade.  The master had no ambition, no will, no power.  Malgore stepped back, his eyes opening to a bright white phantom light.  Falling to the ground, the Blade inside Enlor vanished into a ash and much like to it's master, so did he himself.
Malgore, the damned being of Crussaria was defeated.   Enlor fell to the ground, his death met his impalement and Enlor came to pass.
Centuries passed, holy orders had been formed.  The will of the Paladins had come to an age."
-The ancient history of Crussaria XII

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Too long, didn't read?
In short, there was a evil human that took it upon himself to forge mighty weapons.  One of these weapons he kept for himself and empowered himself using it.  Much like the one ring from lord of the rings.  He was able to tome Necromancy and bring forward mighty armies, he conquered the North, blessing Surna's Warlords (A highly tribal and barbaric Kingdom) with lessor weapons of his own that dominated them under his will.   Sooner or later however much like many stories, people grew angry and desperate giving into a new religion.  This religion is known as the Light and it is what the Paladin orders follow.  Unlike the old gods of Crussaria, the Light is made substance by it's worship. It is empowered by worship and due to this worship, the light came to be a powerfull entity that protects.    Armies from both sides marched to Surna to join in a holy battle that would determine the fate of Crussaria.   The armies having their respective leaders, Moov was the leader of the holy alliance however he was grasped by the fangs of a undead dragon and thrown and crushed by force.   People seeing the death of their commander, fell to the ground in cold.  However much to their peril all was not lost when a man with hardly any renown to him stepped forward to challenge the creature.   Eventually the creature was killed and that same evil human came to fight him in the battle.  Empowered now by a holy light, they fought and eventually the human lost after he was impaled, but not without seeing a grim future he was reawakened and managed to deal a killing blow against the evil human thus killing him and destroying the undead army that followed him.  However the price of victory was his own death.

I will follow on with the time line and what races are in Crussaria from a OOC perspective.  No more IC stories, just pure explaination.

[Madcombat]

Crussaria Lore
[New Edition]

Section 1A - An Introduction to Crussaria

Crussaria is the name of a large, western continent that borders The Floricia Ocean. The continent itself is split up into nine different nations of which abide by their own native culture. The Continent itself is named after one such kingdom within it, that nation being Crussaria, the primary setting for the roleplay. You will be able to find the majority of the information of the lore of Crussaria in a simplified form within this thread.

Section 1B - TABLE OF CONTENTS.

---Section 1A - Intro.

---Section 1B - Table of Contents.

--- Map Contents.

--- The Old Gods.

--- The current events and history.

[Madcombat]

Section 2 - Continents

Shown Continents

-Crussaria
Crussaria was once a place ruled by man.  Ruled by kings, emperors and queens.  Nobles squattered and the poor suffered.  Since the Crusade against the undead.  Crussaria too was caught in the holy fires of the Light and found itself re-orginised and re-governed.  Crussaria is home now to Knightly orders and Holy Paladin orders.   In Crussarian Culture, Paladins reign and keep watch over the civil life of Crussaria.

-Ambertoll
Ambertoli is a large desert plain, which is inhabited by the Ambertolians. The lands are hostile, with massive sandstorms and scorching heat. The land is divided up between multiple sultanates.  During the Crusade, the undead did not enter Ambertoll.
       --Ma'Rahn
     It was known once that Ambertoll once held these lands under slavery.   However with the formation of a new god, new religions.  There have been holy crusades to retake and restore hope to the slaves of Ma'Rahn.  Thus, many slave revolts are in effect in Ma'Rahn.   Thus it's safe to assume Ambertoll's grip over Ma'Rahn is failing.

-Noverseer/Gaesgro
Noverseer and Gaesgro is a land that is unofficially claimed by anyone. It is dotted with multiple mountainous ranges, and ruled by large tribes that are in conflict with eachother very commonly.  This was until the Crusade as which the Noverseer and Gaesgro was unified under the Holy alliance.  However to this day Noverseer and Gaesgro do not see eye to eye and still squabble over down to the petty discussion of common folk.

-The Outlands
The Outlands is a region that is shrouded in vast veils of mystery. It is the land from which the Natoli hail from, and it is also native to savage orks that battle Natoli for control.  There are many treasures that should remain burried in the Outlands.

-The Iron States
It used to be that that Dwalfs built grand iron states, mines and cities that fueled industry and ensured their mighty power.  Since the Crusade however, the mines have fallen silent and Dwarfs too have moved on, only few cities remain in the Iron States save to travel.  Barbaric Orks fester tunnels and travel the mountains.

-Alura
Alura is the land of which the Elves hail from. It is a forest nation, lush with flora and fauna, both of which are greatly respected by its inhabitants. All over the nation are multiple tribes, composed of elves. Each tribe has a different culture revolving around it.  Alura was untouched by the Crusade and is one of the oldest civilisations known.

-Khopai
Khopai, or the Dragorfell Isles, is the home of the Khopaians. It is a large set of Islands, and a larger island itself, that is dotted with multiple harbor cities and covered with a hostile desert.

-Surna
Surna is a land far to the north, wrecked in long blizards and cold winds.  There are many tribes and barbaric forces that dwell there.  In ancient it used to be a place of Noble and skilled Knights.  But since then such Dynasties have moved on such as the Dragunsurn Dynasty.  Now Surna remains a unholy land.

[Madcombat]

Section 3 - Religion

The Old Gods
(Crussaria's prime Gods)

Dathius
God of War
[spoiler]
Dathius is the God of war, he is usually worshiped by warriors and knights.  Dathius usual when need be grants his gift upon those he finds worthy.  It is said that the God carried his Axe into battle and once fought Tioen and prevailed in sealing him into the Demonic Realms.[/spoiler]

Cybil
Godess of life, prosperity and love
[spoiler]Cybil, the god of life, prosperity and love.  Many have prayed to this one, and many have been blessed.  It is said that only the kindest of hearts are rewarded by Cybil.  Cybil loves all, and watches over all. [/spoiler]

Melelisana
God of Temptation
[spoiler]Melelisana, the Goddess that brings only temptation. It is said that Melelisana would reward one with any wish. All desires may come true IF one is to fulfill Melelisana's pricy desires.[/spoiler]
Tioen
God of Hate & Evil
[spoiler]War, hate, evil.  These are the influences cursed upon Crussaria by the Demon god, Tioen.  Many Orc's worship the Demon god, and many Cults worship the Demon god, you may be empowered but at the price of your freewill.[/spoiler]

The Shadow
God of Death
[spoiler]Death, is it a curse?  Maybe at truth it is rest.  They say the Shadow calls down to many warriors upon being slain and lends a hand to the afterlife.  This is the Shadows will, and is only the start of eternal rest.[/spoiler]

(Crussaria's New God)
The Light
The light is describes to be a flame.  In the wake of the destruction of the evil that ravaged the world, regular people lost hope in the gods.  It was because of this, in defiance against the old gods people began to worship somthing different known as the Light.   A body that served justice, retribution and good will.  What regular folk did not know was, to give something non-existant vision, people gave birth to the entity known as the light.  It was through this birth the light had power over Crussarians and it's will made vison.  Unlike the old gods, the Light is reformed.  Its will made into scripture and text, it even has it's own army of crusaders and Paladins that serve the light.  Despite what most think, the lights will does not extend to the destruction of the old gods.  It simply exists to ensure Balance and harmony.  When one see's the light, it is much describes like a golden aura, it even bestows a warm temptation and feeling.  Thus the light is given substance.

The light holds old gods under its beauty:
Dathius
Cybill

The Dark
With the birth of holy light and flame.  There is a dark side to things,  understand there can not be light without a darkness to be engulfed by light.  Two of which must exist under the same lore.  This has given birth to sinnister things.  The Dark does not reveal itself, its subtle and only seeks to engulf the light in Shadow.  It seeks to shroud and corrupt the Old Golds.  Bring the old gods under it's own will.  It is because of the worship of the light, the Dark must exist for there is no light without dark.  To the North, Barbarians become more savage.  The blood must spill and skulls must pile to empower the Dark.

The Gods the Dark holds in Sway currently are:
The Shadow
Tioen
Melelisana

[Madcombat]

Section 4 - Races

-The Humans
Within the continent of Crussaria, the Humans have always held a state of perpetual dominance over the other races, seeing them as inferior since they do not hold as many prestigious achievements as the Humans have. Your average Human is a versatile man or woman, able to commit themselves to many various applications through rigorous training.

[spoiler]Humans are split into four different ethnicities, each one according to the Nation of which they hail.
     --Crussaria(ns)
     Crussarians are Humans that hail from the Kingdom of Crussaria, they make up your typical Western Human. The Crussarians are the most versatile of the Races, simply working in accordance to their specialization. Most Noblemen are Crussarian, making this Ethnicity an important one.

     --Ambertol(ians)
     Ambertolians are Humans that hail from the Kingdom of Ambertoli, a great desert nation. The Ambertolians are fine warriors that are prized for their skill with light weapons, such as scimitars.

     --Khopal(i)
     Khopalians are Humans that hail from the Kingdom of Khopal, they are your typical Eastern Human, and they make for great merchants due to their naturally diplomatic attitude.

     --Gaesgro(es)
     Gaesgroes are Humans that hail from the Kingdom of the Gaesgro, they have had a grisly history intertwined with Dwarfs, and this has taught them many useful skills. Most Gaesgroes are Smiths, in accordance to their natural talents.[/spoiler]

-The Natoli
The Natoli are a Lizard race that hails from The Outlands. The Natoli are a very agile race, having retained their adaptions to their homeland. The scales that marr their body provide as a basic form of protection from small cuts and nicks. The Natoli have been hailed to be good merchants, fine scouts and lightly armed warriors.

-The Dwarves
The Dwarves are a race of exceptionally fine craftsmen, having retained their natural talents of mining and operation of a forge. Dwarves are small and hardy people, usually away from combat, and moreso usually in the mines or outside of a Forge. They hail from the Iron States in general, and are a rare sight in Crussaria to date.

-The Orcs
The Orcs are a race of large and strongly built folk, whom usually tend to keep to themselves, rather than intermingle with the other races. They hail from various tribes that are dotted all over the landmass. Most Orcs are known to be intelligent creatures with a generally peaceful nature, but due to their physical traits, it's common for an Orc to be made a prized Heavy Trooper in most armies. Orcs are rarely seen inside Crussaria.

-The Elves
The Elves are a race that hail from Aluria. The race itself is largely orientated around nature, as per the derivative of the tribes that dot the landmass.
Elves are naturally light on their feet, but as a byproduct of this, they are usually rather fragile, not sharing the hardiness of any other race, or the protection of the Natoli. The Elves that break from the traditions of their tribes usually make for good messengers, scouts or lightly armored warriors. They are rarely seen in Crussaria.

[Madcombat]

Section 5
The Timeline Of Crussaria
(The Story so far)

The Rise of undeath (1BTD - 4DC)  The end result was unclear, much text is lost
[spoiler]
1 BTD (Before the Damned)
(The past)
Ravendale, a town to the North of Stormhelm was subject to many supernatural appearances, no one knew what was appearing but the blood that stained the soil, there was murders and sacrifices.  The demons looked into the realm of Crussaria


1 ROTD (Rise of the Damned)
(The past)
Crussaria witnessed the start of a hidious world, a world of undeath.  It began with a Dragunsurn supposidly trying to save his fellow Guardmen from a demonic encounter, to which he managed to singlehandedly slay the Demonic encounter, soon he found himself wielding a legendary demonic blade, a day later he tried to save his guardsmen but was forever changed, he was a thrall and seeked only vengence, he took it upon himself to find the Undead and gain control.  Tormentor was born.


2 DC (Damned Conguest)
(The past)
The Undead were gaining a stronger pressence each day, it was not long till the house of Aurora looked to fight against the damned, whether for control or the peace, this is unknown.  While Tormentors eyes were fixed on dominating Northern Crussaria, the house attacked swiftly.  The defiled soil the undead claimed had been taken back, peace fell into Crussaria, however Tormentor was forced to flee south towards Stormhelm.



2 DC (Damned Conguest)
(The current time)
The Undead have a presence, they are discovering new horrors to fight Crussaria with.  Stormhelm have forced together a Militia to fight and protect against the Undead.  Rumor has it there are cults inside the City walls waiting for the time to come.  This is your time, and your time to act against the damned so peace may reign again.

The great holy Crusade and Formation of the new gods)

[spoiler] 345 GHC (Great Holy Crusade)
[spoiler]Crussaria was engulfed in sudden unholy forces.  Caught in slaughter.  The Warlords of Surna allied itself to Evil.  Much of Crussaria was lost.[/spoiler]

310 GHC (Great Holy Crusade)
[spoiler]The Birth of the Light and the Birth of the Dark are given vision through the formation of paladin orders and the desertion of old gods.  The Light is given substance fielding a grand army of Paladins and Knights.  Truces and pacts are made as Elves, Humans and Dwalfs prepare for a Grand Crusade.[/spoiler]

311 GHC (Great Holy Crusade)
[spoiler]With the fielding of a holy army.  The Alliance of men, elves and Dwalfs marched north to Surna and find both Death and victory.[/spoiler]

316 GHC (Great Holy Crusade)
[spoiler]After the deciding battle, the Army turns south to Crussaria and marches through the Capital in victory.  The common folk accept the Paladin orders and Knights, many more common people convert.   Sooner or later due to the unrest between people and their gods.  The King orders the desolation of the Holy Armies.  In Responce to this, Paladins fight their way through the Capital and end the Kings reign and install his son as the new King, being a child he is educated by Paladin Masters and thus becomes Zealous in his belief.[/spoiler]

320 GHC (The end of the Great Holy Crusade)
[spoiler]With the Holy orders installed into power, disent reduces.  Rightous training takes place in capitals and unholy cults are seeked out by Inquisitional powers.  The end result of the Great Holy Crusade is a mass fire of the execution of heretics and unnatural forces.  Believes of the old gods are spared for it is the belief that the old gods have alligned themselves with the Light and that evil has alligned to the Dark,  Thus the Dark Gods are born.[/spoiler][/spoiler]

A new Chapter  (2000 years later)

2320 AC - Humans
[spoiler](Current - To be written)[/spoiler]

[Madcombat]

Section 6
Factions of Crussaria
(Just your new factions)


The Guard
"Filthy Criminals!"
[spoiler]"New and Improved, due to the reformation of Crussaria we no longer have to use the Milita.  Because the Guard was inactive last time round, I hope to ensure it's quality personally.  Comes with all the fancy things we did with the Milita last time but more.  Expect more!  The guard will patrol the city, imprison those criminals and put them in cages for all to throw rotton fruit at, what more do you want?"[/spoiler]

The Holy Order
"Paladins, Preists, crusaders, Inquisitors.  Your noble fighting force."
[spoiler]With the addition of the Holy Order, we can now really push forward a more "Good natured" system to Crussaria.  Lots of people had a annoyance with the constant demons.  Now Demons got somthing to fear and in force too.  Daily routine goes through purification of the city.  The expelling of unnatural forces from homes.  Healing the sick, crusades against the unjust and finally running the Guard.  Paladins are known as leaders.[/spoiler]

The Dark
"Burn, pillage, burn!"
[spoiler]Highly Chaotic in nature.  Many Seductive in Nature.  The Darkness of this world is not to be taken lightly.  With the addition of the Dark we can actually raise interesting factions around a more sinnister evil.  Demons from now on are somthing call upon from another world and not somthing that must have a constant presence in Crussaria.  It is the evil of men that will destroy this world, not some godly Demon.[/spoiler]

[Madcombat]

Just a note to explain why the changes to 2000 years ahead and why emphasis on Gods.

Much of what is above was written by me and Headcrabs when we first decided to fix the Lore.  Now that i've returned to rebuild Crussaria I've made many changes to the lore and updated it.    I think it'll be interesting to see where we go with a emphasis on gods more.  Last round we had less focus on that aspect and it felt pretty messy when everyone was acting satanic.  There for, I've decided we can improve that situation by adding rewards to godly worship. 

Where people seek'd to become a Demon or Undead last round because you'd become stronger, so too will you become stronger through worshipping a god.  Call it a buff if you'd like.  Through this, we'll hopefully have a much more balanced system.

Also the reason we're 2000 years ahead is so that we can leave the past behind, its just quite that simply.  If you want to play a decendant feel free.