The_Universe
First Post
A bit on cosmology/mythography/etc. I just have the PHB in front of me, at the moment, so this information, as written, will primarily apply to the basic classes and races, insofar as they may exist in the unnamed world in which Abandoned takes place.
The Basic Idea
In the long-forgotten past, a cruel and demanding god (Asheal to men, Thanial to dwarves, and Calarel to the elves) created man as a race of slaves to toil on a harsh and barren world, to serve his capricious whims, etc.
Man, however, was not alone among Asheal's creations. Asheal's children, 10 gods, were birthed to watch over Man's horrid prison world, and to serve as intermediaries between Man and Ashael. At first, the gods were hesitant to defy the will of their powerful Lord, but soon their concern for Man allowed them to overcome their fear.
At the behest of Sammeal, Asheal's eldest child, the 10 children of Asheal planned to spirit man away, beyond the veil of worlds, to a place of their own creation (the current world). When the moment was right, Sammeal and her eldest brothers and sisters stole man from under Asheal's watchful eye. Asheal was furious, and the heavens erupted in battle for the fate of man.
Sammeal sacrificed herself in the attempt, but the remaining 9 sons and daughters of Asheal were able to escape beyond the veil with Man. On this new world, the 9 mourned the loss of their eldest sister, but soon set about adapting Man to his new home.
Each of the 9 thought that they could improve upon Asheal's design for the mortal races; though some of these experimental "demihumans" have since past beyond memory, some remain. The Dwarves remain lords of mountain and stone; the Elves no longer rule their dark primevil forests, but live on, as well.
Though most man-like races come from modified human stock, they have since grown apart. Though the myth of the nine remains essentially unchanged from race to race, the importance of the various gods varies, depending on who one may be talking to.
The Basic Idea
In the long-forgotten past, a cruel and demanding god (Asheal to men, Thanial to dwarves, and Calarel to the elves) created man as a race of slaves to toil on a harsh and barren world, to serve his capricious whims, etc.
Man, however, was not alone among Asheal's creations. Asheal's children, 10 gods, were birthed to watch over Man's horrid prison world, and to serve as intermediaries between Man and Ashael. At first, the gods were hesitant to defy the will of their powerful Lord, but soon their concern for Man allowed them to overcome their fear.
At the behest of Sammeal, Asheal's eldest child, the 10 children of Asheal planned to spirit man away, beyond the veil of worlds, to a place of their own creation (the current world). When the moment was right, Sammeal and her eldest brothers and sisters stole man from under Asheal's watchful eye. Asheal was furious, and the heavens erupted in battle for the fate of man.
Sammeal sacrificed herself in the attempt, but the remaining 9 sons and daughters of Asheal were able to escape beyond the veil with Man. On this new world, the 9 mourned the loss of their eldest sister, but soon set about adapting Man to his new home.
Each of the 9 thought that they could improve upon Asheal's design for the mortal races; though some of these experimental "demihumans" have since past beyond memory, some remain. The Dwarves remain lords of mountain and stone; the Elves no longer rule their dark primevil forests, but live on, as well.
Though most man-like races come from modified human stock, they have since grown apart. Though the myth of the nine remains essentially unchanged from race to race, the importance of the various gods varies, depending on who one may be talking to.