Background Information PDF's
A Brief History and Overview of the Shards World
Note the information in this world background section is true only as far as a typical starting character may be aware. This information may be the truth a half truth and may even contain outright lies, its for your character to discover in game, of course you may decide your character should even less that's up to you.
For eons unknown, the Shards as they were known were seven independent worlds, clustered together and linked by well travelled portals. On the year AU0 that all changed one cataclysmic night when the Shards came together, fusing to form one world. In the hours between dusk and dawn millions died, wiped from the face of the Shards along with the lands they occupied.
The World as a whole is referred to as the Shards World, with a Shard representing a continent or large geographic region.
Now a 2 decades and more after the union the Shard world as moved from one star system to another across the great divide.
PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK FOR EACH REGION ABOVE THIS WILL TAKE YOU TO A PDF CONTAINING MUCH MORE INFORMATION SUCH AS GEOGRAPHY, HISTORY, POLITICS, RACES AND CREATURES, COSTUME, NOTEWORTHY INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS AND OTHER ESSENTIAL SNIPPETS OF INFORMATION.
Archipelago Main Theme - Pirates, Guilds, Voodoo and Vikings
As the name suggests, many, many islands with stretches of open water populated by all manner of sea faring cultures and people, including pirates, fishermen, sailors, Norse raiders, privateers, other cultures similar to the Spanish Main, plus oriental Triads. Also primary home of the Rakken and Water Sidhe.
Dust Main Theme - Egyptians, Elementals, Mesopotamians and Arabians
A dry, arid, desert land buried under constantly shifting sands, although conditions have been steadily improving since the union of the Shards. This land is home to Arabian and Egyptian style cultures, with a backbone in commerce and trade. Dust is home to Ogres, slavery is common here and wealth opens doors.
Faerie Main Theme - High Fantasy, Fey and Celtic Clans
A land of magic and mystery where nothing is ever quite as it seems and enchantments are commonplace. Faerie is home to many people and reputed (amongst Faeries at least) to be the oldest of the worlds cultures; here you will find the Fae (elves) and the Courts which trade in favours rather than money; the Fomorii, and many creatures both mundane and fantastic.
The Thunders Main Theme - Samurai, Oni and Ninja
A land based around the cultures of Ancient Japan, China, Tibet and Mongolia. This land is split between three rival factions: The Imperial Empire ruled by the Emperor a hereditary position, its culture very much like ancient China. The Shogunate is ruled by lord called the Shogun who is elected by other the lords called Diamyo, a land very much like feudal Japan. The last region is called the Sanctuary it is ruled by the people with culture like Communist China the people rule and nobility is ejected. All these 3 region consider their way of life the best way forward for the Thunders and a cold war exist between all three.
Frontier Main Theme - Cowboys and Indians meet Monstrous Jungles
A savage forest land full of dangerous wildlife and aggressive, flesh eating plants. The peoples of this land include tribal groups (think Native American) and forest sidhe; living uncomfortably alongside them (and often regarded as unwelcome invaders by their neighbours) are settlers, descended from populations displaced from the other continents.
Salem Main Theme - Old Europe, Religion, Witch Burning and the Undead.
Primarily based around the culture and geography of 17C Europe. The continent is split between many competing ideologies and degrees of oppression, from region where personal freedoms are suppressed for the good of all, reading is forbidden punishments are swift and harsh to those that can just about tolerate foreigners.
Union Main Theme - Scholars and Steampunk
Once a world with no native population but acting as a centre for all portal travel between worlds, this land was a valuable military asset and has seen its share of bloodshed. Originally an empty continent, it now boasts several progressive settlements which have sprung up in recent years from refugee populations from other continents, most notably from Faerie and Salem. Its also home to the Vampires and growth in steam power.
Note the information in this world background section is true only as far as a typical starting character may be aware. This information may be the truth a half truth and may even contain outright lies, its for your character to discover in game, of course you may decide your character should even less that's up to you.
For eons unknown, the Shards as they were known were seven independent worlds, clustered together and linked by well travelled portals. On the year AU0 that all changed one cataclysmic night when the Shards came together, fusing to form one world. In the hours between dusk and dawn millions died, wiped from the face of the Shards along with the lands they occupied.
The World as a whole is referred to as the Shards World, with a Shard representing a continent or large geographic region.
Now a 2 decades and more after the union the Shard world as moved from one star system to another across the great divide.
PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK FOR EACH REGION ABOVE THIS WILL TAKE YOU TO A PDF CONTAINING MUCH MORE INFORMATION SUCH AS GEOGRAPHY, HISTORY, POLITICS, RACES AND CREATURES, COSTUME, NOTEWORTHY INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS AND OTHER ESSENTIAL SNIPPETS OF INFORMATION.
Archipelago Main Theme - Pirates, Guilds, Voodoo and Vikings
As the name suggests, many, many islands with stretches of open water populated by all manner of sea faring cultures and people, including pirates, fishermen, sailors, Norse raiders, privateers, other cultures similar to the Spanish Main, plus oriental Triads. Also primary home of the Rakken and Water Sidhe.
Dust Main Theme - Egyptians, Elementals, Mesopotamians and Arabians
A dry, arid, desert land buried under constantly shifting sands, although conditions have been steadily improving since the union of the Shards. This land is home to Arabian and Egyptian style cultures, with a backbone in commerce and trade. Dust is home to Ogres, slavery is common here and wealth opens doors.
Faerie Main Theme - High Fantasy, Fey and Celtic Clans
A land of magic and mystery where nothing is ever quite as it seems and enchantments are commonplace. Faerie is home to many people and reputed (amongst Faeries at least) to be the oldest of the worlds cultures; here you will find the Fae (elves) and the Courts which trade in favours rather than money; the Fomorii, and many creatures both mundane and fantastic.
The Thunders Main Theme - Samurai, Oni and Ninja
A land based around the cultures of Ancient Japan, China, Tibet and Mongolia. This land is split between three rival factions: The Imperial Empire ruled by the Emperor a hereditary position, its culture very much like ancient China. The Shogunate is ruled by lord called the Shogun who is elected by other the lords called Diamyo, a land very much like feudal Japan. The last region is called the Sanctuary it is ruled by the people with culture like Communist China the people rule and nobility is ejected. All these 3 region consider their way of life the best way forward for the Thunders and a cold war exist between all three.
Frontier Main Theme - Cowboys and Indians meet Monstrous Jungles
A savage forest land full of dangerous wildlife and aggressive, flesh eating plants. The peoples of this land include tribal groups (think Native American) and forest sidhe; living uncomfortably alongside them (and often regarded as unwelcome invaders by their neighbours) are settlers, descended from populations displaced from the other continents.
Salem Main Theme - Old Europe, Religion, Witch Burning and the Undead.
Primarily based around the culture and geography of 17C Europe. The continent is split between many competing ideologies and degrees of oppression, from region where personal freedoms are suppressed for the good of all, reading is forbidden punishments are swift and harsh to those that can just about tolerate foreigners.
Union Main Theme - Scholars and Steampunk
Once a world with no native population but acting as a centre for all portal travel between worlds, this land was a valuable military asset and has seen its share of bloodshed. Originally an empty continent, it now boasts several progressive settlements which have sprung up in recent years from refugee populations from other continents, most notably from Faerie and Salem. Its also home to the Vampires and growth in steam power.
