Arterius

Generations ago, the world was a slowly developing place. There was so much to explore. Many things to experience and understand. Especially in a world ripe full of magic! In the old days, they were called Mages. Powerful individuals who could unravel the arcane, and bend it to their will! In the beginning, there of course was nothing wrong with this either. The world was young, and so pure still. Little would anyone have known that with every spell; every act of mysticism from these mages, they were slowly breaking down the very fabrics that stabilize the world.

Researchers and Scholars one day discovered these natural magical fabrics of the world. The Aether, they called it! Mystical weaves of transient energy that ebbed and flowed through the world, making up the very balance of the world itself! Mages had a natural connection to the Aether. Able to pull it forth from its 4th dimensional existence, and turn it into something tangible within the physical world! Alas, through research it was discovered that there was in fact a negativity to the use of the Aether. A byproduct, being produced with every magical act performed. Aether Flux, so it was named, is this destabilized energy, where parts of the Aether’s structure has been stripped away, leaving a more chaotic energy remaining. In such small amounts though, it was never noticed. Until it was left unchecked for long enough…

One of the first documented cases of a magical illness sweeping the land; The Ashen Sickness. A plague that befell localized waters in the afflicted region, resulting in rapid degeneration of an individual’s physical self. With the waters unsafe, people were left with only 2 options. Dehydrate and die, or succumb to the sickness, and live out your days until you simply dusted away. The need for imported waters was so vast that the entire region became poverty stricken, and the land dark and dismal. With no knowledge of how to combat the sickness, all seemed hopeless. Until, however, there was a chance for them all.

Marqus Nezz. A local philanthropist in the region, took great interest in the happenings in his homeland. A Water Nymph, who could take understanding in this emerging threat with great specialization. A man with intuitive ideas just crazy enough to work! Marqus gathered the local mages, scholars, and engineers, and put them all to work on a great project! A filtration system, for the waters of their land! This project became known as the Nezz Waterworks. A magnificent structure of magical and engineering brilliance! Built into the main waterway of the region, the Waterworks syphoned flowing waters into its chambers, and oscillated them through a series of anti-magic nodes and glyphs, combatting the presence of the Chaotic Aether trapped inside the water. This collection of Destabilized Aether was then syphoned to a final, reinforced chamber that pooled and filled with the neutralized waters. Upon reaching its threshold, the Destabilized Aether would burst forth from the anti-magic bindings, dispersing itself through the neutralized waters. This produced 2 results. One, the dispersed Aether enriched the waters it flowed through. Two, it superheated the waters at the same time, physically and magically purifying the waters at once! Thus, the Nezz Purity Waters were created.

Magically enriched with Purity that combated the illness of the Ashen Sickness, these waters were swiftly produced and given out to the region. Meanwhile, excess waters from the Works were pumped back into the environment. It took time, but over the years, the Sickness was eradicated! The peoples waters were clean, and even more so, the environment began to stabilize, as rivers and lakes flowed now with the enhanced Nezz Waters as if they were naturally there to begin with.

Fast forward a number of generations, and across the world the Nezz name became something of industry, and progress! The understanding of Magic, Technology, and the Aether, is said to have stemmed from these humble beginnings. Where society tested the limits too much and were punished by sickness, but, through strength and tenacity, were able to overcome and grow! This leads us to the age now of understanding! A time where people know the costs, the risks, and of course the benefits of growing, experimenting, and continuously growing the world and society itself! The world entered into the Aether-Age, riding the legend of the still growing Nezz Empire.

Nova Angra. The countryside, distant from much of the origins of the worlds early developments. Far from uncharted though, and within the growing ease of traversing the world, the soon to become center of growing technology! The City of Arterius was built and settled by 3 founding families during the age of expansion. A time shortly after the origins of the Nezz Empire, and success of Marqus Nezz. These 3 families were pioneers of their own. Looking to make their mark. Develop their own legacy. Arterius was built off these goals, and the 3 facets of their society were born. Medicine, Transportation, and Security.

The first of the families, making their mark in the fields of medicine, took great inspiration from the works of the Nezz Family. The Nari Family began their works, specializing in the fields originated during the Waterworks. The removal of Destabilized Aether, and safety of other people! The Xu Family was next, to make their marks in the fields of transportation. With a vast and growing world, the need to get around was important. Not just for global business though, but for the people of Arterius as well. Trains, boats, airships, and personal vehicles became the grounds of their success. Lastly, there was the Holtzen Family. Their specialties being in the realms of Security. Others would call ‘Death Merchant,’ but there is a business to be had regarding weapons and defenses. Importantly too, so much room for its development here in the growing world, now that the Age of Aether was upon them.

Arterius, founded by its 3 families, grew into a bustling city of Aether Technology! This was the new age, governed by the interests of the Arterius 3. To maintain their independence though, an interesting deal had long ago been struck with the Nezz Empire. Nova Angra was off limits for Nezz Expansion. This land was theirs, and they wanted their developments to run their way. Not through the vision of the growing Nezz Empire. So, the deals had been made. Arterius maintains its independence from Nezz Expansion and growth, and in return, Arterius feeds its research, development, and progress with all Aether Tech and Medicine to the Nezz Archives. With the contract long ago signed by the founding Family Members, the legacy is all that stands now, honored in timely fashion through todays day in age.

The culture throughout Arterius has been a free and growing one for generations since the founding of the city. With old Nezz money fueling the city early expansions with the 3 families, people of Nova Angra were ushered into a golden age almost immediately! Rich and fertile lands to be harvested! Sea and Skies to be plundered! So much adventure and potential to be had, in this vast countryside! Mining, cave diving, deep sea fishing, dredging and salvaging, air space harvesting, floating gardens. Art and entertainment flourished as well! Musical performances, concerts, opera, dance. Painting, sculpture work, masonry and architecture! Everything built up and around this city of Aether Glow! Powered by the Aether! Run of its great potential! So much development in place now for the safe use, and regular access to it in the day to day! A city where you now didn’t have to be a mage in order to have your magic! Aether Tech exploded in popularity, developed much by the 3 Families influence, but by independent geniuses of the city as well! The day to day folk now had magic in their lives, and this city was now a shining beacon of industry and growth, and most of all, prosperity!

Nova Angra and Arterius became a place of freedom and expression with its culture. As well as a place of business, and economics! Truly a place you were free to live how you wanted, among the technical marvels of the city, and make a name and some success out of something while you’re at it! Outside the city, the vast plains are rich and ready to farm. Cattle and crop, perfect for the region climate. Seasons of hot and cold flow through, but with proper Aether Tech, the most successful of farmers have even developed ways to keep their operations running almost year round! For the diversity of people too, one need look no further. Humans, elves, dwarves, merfolk, beastkind, slimes, and so much more! Each living their own lives in the culture of the city, where ones practices are not ever too out of the ordinary. From the faithful and divine, or the more risqué and debaucherously in nature. Then those who are just in between, living their lives, sticking to the grind, and seeing what life has in store for them. Arterius became a place to see it all just flow, among the beautiful and brilliant pipes of flowing blue Aether Power, coursing through the city!

It is up to everyone and all to maintain as much responsibility within an advanced society, of course. The city has its law keepers in place. The organizations and workers in place to ensure as much peace and stability as possible. For as all residents know, Aether Abuse is a dangerous thing, now that it is so standard in their city! For Flux to get out of control, and destabilized Aether to run rampant, there are always dangers to be had, despite preventative measures and best practices. Some derelict regions of the city certainly exist. Places where the powers that be have deemed lost, or not worth the further investments. Places where drugs, crime, and other acts of greed or wrath lead to an less than fortunate way of life for those who reside there. Aether is abused in these parts of town, where the manufacturing of the street drug GHOST is also performed. Similar substances like this drug are out there, abusing Aether for intoxicating or mind altering effects. GHOST is reported to make people feel like an Aether Ghost. It creates an out of body experience for the user, while of course dosing them with Aether Poisoning as a result. One of the many ways the abuse can be found. Some say there are illicit drinks out there as well, where people mix alcohol and aether, for a crossfade you’d never believe!

Aether Storms also occasionally form and roll throughout the country, pouring down upon the land with Aetherized Rains. Though viewed as just a common storm by most, there are those who must still tread lightly. Aether is dangerous. Toxic in its nature, when unstable, and come into contact with. Aether Poisoning, so it is now called, is the same sort of sickness as the old days, of the Nezz Waterworks. Though here in Arterius, Aether Poisoning is its own devil.

Similar in its sickening symptoms to the afflicted, Aether Poisoning consumes ones body and breaks them down physically into an Aetherized Form. A slang that has formed from this is known as ‘Dusting,’ as the body breaks away into ash like particles, leaving behind a figment of ones former self. These new figments of the self, have been dubbed ‘Aether Ghosts.’ Beings how have succumbed to the Aether Poisoning and their physiology now changed! Blue in their appearances. Body still physical, but slightly defiant of some common physics. Notably though, their form flows with powerful ebbs of Aether Energy. So powerful in fact, that unless they maintain their stability through various forms of Natural Aether consumption, they too can become unstable and further unravel into more chaotic beings.

Aether Ghosts are of two varieties, based on their own self-preservation. The Aether Folk, who are sentient beings, perhaps even much like their old selves, but just unfortunately Aetherized from Poisoning. Then there are the Wraiths; Ghosts who have become unstable after not sustaining themselves, and thus have lost their sanity and have become crazed and violent. It is because of these variables, however, that Aether Ghosts have obtained a bad stigma. Thought to be unpredictable, a lot of people just have negative feelings around them. There are no laws or enforcements in place though about regulating these people. Aether Ghosts are as free to live their lives like anyone else. Though, it is because of Society Stigma that there is a Safe Haven outside of Arterius, in the region of Nova Angra. Geistburg, once an abandoned ghost town of a farmer’s village, Geistburg is now the literal Ghost Town. Where Aether Folk settle and live their lives as comfortably as possible, due to the increased frequency of Aether Storms that happen around their home. It is considered the most stable region for Aether Ghosts, due to nature’s storms providing them clean and easy stability, from the rain.