THE FOUR ELEMENTS
In the eastern part of the continent, four elements mark their dominance over the region. They are often considered by scholars to be the basic elements that bind the world together. These contrasting, magical regions have been engulfed in war for centuries, all guided by powerful, almost god-like beings, known as Patrons. While it might seem that only hatred exists between the feuding lands, and indeed it is what mainly drives them, It is also hard to deny their harmony. Fire, Water, Air and Earth have existed together, bound by eternal, destructive harmony since even before the Age of Arcane.
The Land of Fire is a kingdom ruled with an iron fist by Astaroth, the strongest of the strongest, the giant, dominating crocodile with 5 horns and 4 eyes. His citizens, servants of the flame, were born with the Astaroth’s spark burning in their hearts, and now devote themselves to pursuing the destructive powers of fire. They are all tough people, who perform dangerous magic and pursue great physical strength. They live in harsh conditions, hot lands full of steam, where among the barren plains, volcanoes and rivers of liquid lava it would be difficult to find places fit for life. Where others see hell on earth, the residents of the Land of Fire see their home.
The Land of Water, is the complete opposite of the barren wastelands of Fire. These lands brimming with life were painted by the soft, glowing hand of the Patroness Nemu, the living goddess of Water. The kingdom is in a perpetual bloom, soothing the wounds on the body and soul of its subjects. It is said that the kingdom of Water includes not only its valleys, hills and islands, but also the entire ocean, which would make it by far the largest of all kingdoms. Servants of Water are touched with life-giving energy, they are prudent and enlightened in mind, chosen to protect their Patroness and all that belongs to her. They strive to discover the secret flow of the universe.
Stretching across the continent, the great forests are home to many wild animals and citizens of the Earth element. The lush, dense foliage and canopies are a living monument to the power of two divine beings, Eldrin and Sylvaine, a couple forever bound by the oath of love. The Land of Earth, also known as the Woodland, is an ideal hiding place for their inhabitants, who habitually try to avoid contact with representatives of other elements. However, when the forest is threatened in any way, scouts roaming tree branches immediately alert their companions with the piercing sound of loud horns, growling among the trees. Adepts of Earth are associated with a strong, territorial attitude and impulsiveness when someone violates their peace.
The last of the four lands lies on the northeast coast, a region entwined with mountain ranges that belong to the Air element. Citizens defending these hard to reach hills have always had a significant advantage, as fighting battles on mountain peaks is quite a challenge, even for the most skilled generals. The patron saint of the Air Lands, flying high in the clouds is Sora, an enigmatic, calm deity taking the form of a large heron, always flying from shrine to shrine, offering advice to even the least important beings. Adepts of the Air are famous for their calm and balanced attitude, harmony and great sense of loyalty and honor.
All the lands of the continent, those mentioned, as well as those still hidden in the mists of mystery, follow the guidance of their Patrons, whose strength only seems to grow, as more of their followers are born. Beneath them, folk who serve them are often put under pressure to prove themselves worthy, and who, in the heat of the moment, emerge as true heroes. In such a competing world of contrasting ideals, feuds and wars are only inevitable.
However, what pushes those lands to pursue the path of war? Is it purely ambition, hatred, past grudges? Somewhere, hidden in the darkness, at the edge between two worlds, mysterious, dark forces are pulling the strings...