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 know more, or 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. Some ten and a half years ago, 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 Gods died along with everyone else and come the dawn after that fateful night, the Shards were changed forever and life would never be the same again.
Now a decade or so after union the Shards have moved on and its people continue to adjust to this strange new world in which they've found themselves. The sum of its parts, the world seems to be much, much larger than the original seven Shards. Vast swathes of land and sea remain unmapped surrounding the original Shards, an age of exploration has begun.
The World as a whole is referred to as the Shards World, with a Shard now representing a continent or large geographic region. Over time, this may change as power shifts and the world is explored, but for now we have...
Archipelago - 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. Also home of the Sutekh and Water Sidhe.
Dust - 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, it is also the only former Shard that as not been located with the seas of the Shards world.
Faerie - 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 Faerie mainland is fast returning to its former glory as flood waters recede and the land recovers from the turmoil caused by the rise and fall of continent of Atlantis.
The Thunders - 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 - 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. In the past decade temperatures across this continent have continued to plummet, but temperate and tropical areas still exist amongst regions of geological instability.
Salem - Primarily based around the culture and geography of 17C Europe. The continent is split between between Thule Brotherhood in east who want a pure untainted race and imprison and execute priests and abominations, the poor land of the west with its Barons & Emperor who are recovering from the ravages of war, flood and disease, and the land of Avalon ruled by the Witchking and his Forsaken. A people long ruled by fear and paranoia, Salem has been at war for most of its bloody history. Personal freedoms are suppressed for the good of all, reading is forbidden amongst the populace and stories must never be told; punishments are swift and harsh.
Union - 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.
Page last updated on 14/6/10
Content by Julie and Richardh
