The world of Shroudfall
The sacrifice
Thousands of years ago Aethramor sacrificed his very essence, becoming the eternal Shroud, an arcane shield, protecting all of Astira, the last remaining human kingdom, until this very day. Thanks to this very sacrifice humankind was able to thrive under the protection of their newfound protector, finding a new god in the Shroud itself.
Never faltering, never showing the slightest weakness, the Shroud has stood as an unwavering protector and shield against the horrors of the Beyond for untold time. And the people of Astira are grateful to their protector, revering it as a physical manifestation of their guardian deity and bringer of life with its warm light.
The day of the rupture
Until one day the heavenly voice of the Shroud vanished from the minds of her priests. For untold times its wisdom had guided the people of Astira and the sudden silence left the people frightened. Then the very fabric of the Shroud quivered. It was as if a tremor of ancient power surged through the mystical barrier that encased their world.
The once-steady barrier, a symbol of unwavering protection, now pulsated erratically. It was as if waves of energy, like those in a stormy sea, crashed together at a single point high up in the sky. A hush fell over the bustling capital of Astira and all eyes turned upward, gazing at the majestic dome above. Fear mingled with curiosity, hearts pounding with uncertainty.
The waves of shudders intensified, vibrating through the very air itself. The sky seemed to swirl, an ethereal dance of colors painted across the dome’s surface. Dark hues of red and black cascaded like liquid light, mingling with the familiar teal and purple colors of the Shroud. And then, in a mesmerizing display of power and vulnerability, a tear appeared. A jagged rift etched itself upon the Shroud’s surface, its edges shimmering with an otherworldly glow. It was as if a crack in reality itself had formed, a portal to the unknown.
For the first time in millennia, the barrier thought eternal, had failed.
The Shroud must prevail
Although the first tear sealed itself in only mere moments, the races of Astira remained immutably changed. The once-distant horrors of the Beyond, only known from the holy scriptures, suddenly felt far more real and threatening. Fear, uncertainty, and vulnerability washed through the lands. The people stood frozen, unable to fully comprehend the implications of this desaster.
The Shroud had been an unyielding shield for as long as anyone could remember, and the races of Astira had grown complacent in their reliance on its protection. They were blissfully unaware of the true horrors lurking just beyond its confines.
While the preachers of the Holy Conclave managed to avoid uprisings with their preachings, the life in Astira has lastinlgy changed. The Shroud continued to falter and the only thing seemingly able to support its waining defenses are a steady supply of essence crystals. The people, once united by the protection of the Shroud, are now divided by the increasingly escalating demand for this precious resource, for the Shroud’s appetite for energy seems insatiable. Once available in abundance, essence crystals now increasingly become scarce and their prices keep escalating.
The lifeblood of Astira
Essence is a mystical and potent form of energy that flows throughout the world of Astira. The origin of essence is shrouded in mystery, and its true source remains unknown to most inhabitants of Astira. Some believe it to be a gift from the divine, a manifestation of the world’s soul or the energies of creation. Others theorize that it is a natural force that has always existed, an inherent aspect of the universe.
While only a handful humans among thousands are gifted with the natural talent to draw in ambient essence, this energy also can be stored in essence crystals of varying quality. The crystals themselves are formed through the crystallisation of raw essence over long periods of time or by essence monsters, that draw in the ambient energy and form crystals in and on their bodies to store the energy.
A new order
While the wealthy and powerful revel in their opulence, the less fortunate struggled in the shadow of their grandeur. With the waning supply of essence crystals, technology and with it the daily lives of Astira are faltering. The once-gleaming essence-powered machines that had brought prosperity to Astira now sputtered and stalled. The once bustling factories increasingly lie idle, replaced by a cacophony of people begging for food. While the wealthy hoard their essence reserves, the destitute struggled to survive.
In this tumultuous age of uncertainty, the Silver Line, once a representatory guard and symbol of the Shroud’s protection, finds itself facing unprecedented challenges. Tasked with not only maintaining peace within the human kingdom of Astira but also with gathering more essence crystals to sustain the weakening Shroud, the Silver Line shoulders a heavy burden. They must adapt to the changing circumstances and confront new threats that have arisen since the first rupture of the Shroud.
As the Shroud’s protection falters, the people of Astira find themselves exposed to the horrors of the Beyond, and fear grips the hearts of the once-secure populace. The sudden silence of the Shroud’s heavenly voice leaves them vulnerable and uncertain. The Silver Line, once accustomed to being a symbol of unwavering protection, now faces the challenge of maintaining order in a world where fear and uncertainty reign.
In their pursuit of essence crystals to support the Shroud’s defenses, the Silver Line must navigate a society divided by the escalating demand for this precious resource.
The Umbral Veil rises
In the years after the first rupture and in the absence of their only known god, a religious group known as the Umbral Veil rose quickly in popularity. Believing that the weakening of the Shroud is a sign from the divine, a consequence of the world’s imbalance caused by the excesses and corruption of the wealthy elite. The Umbral Veil followers see themselves as advocates for the marginalized and oppressed, preaching that only through humility, balance, and collective cooperation can the world be saved.
The Umbral Veil is led by charismatic and enigmatic leaders who claim to have received visions and prophecies about the impending doom and the path to salvation. For the true believers will be delivered in a glorious afterlife, free of the struggles of the mortal world.
As the divide between the rich and poor widens, more and more people turn to the Umbral Veil for guidance and hope. The movement gains followers among the struggling masses, who see in it a chance to challenge the oppressive system that has favored the wealthy few.
The Umbral Veil’s rise brings with it a clash of ideologies and a struggle for power. The established order, represented by the affluent and influential, views the Umbral Veil as a threat to their way of life and seeks to suppress the movement’s influence. Most of the leader of the Umbral Veil are therefor in hiding, planning their machinations from the underground and following forbidden arcane paths.
The protectors of balance
On the day of the rupture, the Spirit Tree awoke and spoke to all his divine chosen with one voice. The natural flow of essence had been disturbed, be it through the rupture or another mysterious cause and the Ailur, a race of strong and stoic giant pandas, and the Aiyani ,nimble and fiery red pandas, were tasked to correct this disturbance. Since then the divine visions grow increasingly sparse, as the Spirit Tree is slumbering for longer and longer periods.
Guided by this divine vision from the Spirit Tree and the increasing worry for its wellbeing the Ailur Aiyani embraced their role to restore balance with a favour uncommon for their natural disposition. Their once peaceful society now had a common new purpose—to restore the equilibrium of nature and the Spirit Tree itself.
On their path to heal the land, they quickly realised, that the humans had no grasp of nature and maintaining balance. As the human society increasingly became divided in the years after the rupture and increased their scavenging for essence crystals, no matter the cost to nature, the Ailur Aiyani realized that this misuse and exploitation of resources were part of the disruption.
Since then both races have clashed on numerous times and the relationship between them is deteriorating further with every day. The imbalance of the natural essence flow in the world has to be corrected and the Ailur Ayiani will not let anyone stop them from executing their divine mission.