Book 1: Vindicta Carnificis (An Overview)

 “A mother’s desperate search for a way back to her loved ones, a daughter’s desire for revenge against those who have wronged her & their family, whose vendetta threatens to plunge the world into a chaotic darkness.”

Key Concepts: Betrayal, Family, Retribution

Cast of (Playable) Characters (The Carnifices)

Perspective: “Brewing Thunderstorms...”

• Elmyriah Tenyeva-Harrakh, 54, the Arcanist (Trope: Hot Witch)- This "Spiteful Sorceress" is a 5'8", Middle Aged Female Kambyoun, lithe with ivory skin, yellow eyes & wavy azure hair

• Rashyl Harrakh, 59, the Ronin (Trope: Knight Errant) - This "Truthful Trooper" is a 6'1", Middle Aged Male Nefylihm, muscular with cream skin, blue eyes & ponytailed chocolate hair

• Melusine, 786, the Vindicator (Trope: Fallen Angel) - This "Scornful Saint" is a 5'11", Youthful Female Angellius, toned with cream skin, blue eyes & layered chestnut hair

Perspective: “Underground Activities...”

• Aidan Harrakh, 27, the Illusionist (Trope: Blue Oni) - This "Irresistible Intellectual" is a 6'5", Youthful Male Sheidym, toned with light olive skin, yellow eyes & layered chestnut hair

• Yeva Harrakh, 27, the Infiltrator (Trope: Red Oni) - This "Savage Stunner" is a 5'10", Youthful Female Sheidym, toned with light olive skin, blue eyes & straight azure hair

• Ursanhaby Eildursunn, 77, the Bouncer (Trope: Battle Butler) - This "Colossal Caretaker" is a 7'10", Older Male Dhambwaluh, chubby with obsidian skin, sapphire eyes & ponytailed platinum hair

Perspective: “Hellish Escape...”

• Nocnitsa, 783, the Necromancer (Trope: Mama Bear) - This "Hurting Hellion" is a 6'1", Youthful Female Deimonus, lithe with bronze skin, yellow eyes & long obsidian hair

• Orshyn Tenyev, 83, the Balladeer (Trope: Musical Assassin) - This "Melodic Marauder" is a 6'0", Older Male Syreane, muscular with ivory skin, brown eyes & wavy azure hair

Perspective: “Unwavering Resolve...”

• Ershylan Tenyev, 58, the Bombardier (Trope: Cultured Warrior) - This "Refined Renegade" is a 6'3", Middle Aged Male Kambyoun, muscular with ivory skin, yellow eyes & cropped azure hair

• Arylle Harrakh, 52, the Puppeteer (Trope: Marionette Master) - This "Provocative Performer" is a 5'9", Middle Aged Female Nefylihm, lithe with cream skin, blue eyes & layered chocolate hair

Geopolitics of Paradisus, Part 1: Rising Powers (A Mending Landscape)

The continental landmass know as Paradisus is divided into four major, geographically distinct regions, each harboring unique cultures & political systems.

It is worth noting that, for all the Feudalistic forms of Government common in this Era, these Lords of the Land often times, to a certain degree, bend to the Will of the People, lest they lose their stranglehold of power through any sort of People's Rebellion.

The Political Structure of Paradisus in the Post-Cataclysm Era is marked by the rise of the Consolidated States,  nations shaped by the Age of Advancement & various other effects that marked the ancient, world-altering event.

Consolidated States:

• Silles -  Maha Shynn Empire
• Hortris - Tabbuch Empire, Takh Rhung Empire
• Sanctualis - Urmukh Synod, Bachluud Kingdom
• Campentes - Kharmoune Principality, Orukhta Kingdom

Numerous smaller islands surround the continent. The most prominent of these is an archipelago, just off the coast of Campentes, which is  rumored to be the base of operations for the mysterious, clandestine faction known only as the Umbrae.

Faces of Paradisus, Part 2: Silent Voices (A Whisper Unheard)

Echoes of the Forgotten... This is often what is said about those whose existence is unconfirmed or unverified. Stories abound of Mythological Creatures who have roamed the land, sea & air from a time that predates known history, with Magics that know no limit - but that's all they are -  Stories. Or so we're told... This is how the Mystical & Legendary are born.

Sentient Wildlings

• Automaton
• Gargoyle
• Golem
• Chthonian
• Efreet
• Gorgon
• Imp
• Kobold
• Empyrean
• Dryad
• Fairy
• Pixy
• Etherean
• Djinn
• Phantom
• Wraith
• Others
• Centaur
• Faun
• Kelpie
• Kitsune
• Merfolk
• Selkie
• Tanuki

Legendary Cryptids

• Canine
• Amarok
• Fenrir
• Kerberos
• Tibicena
• Dragon
• Amphitere
• Drake
• Wyrm
• Wyvern
• Equines
• Pegasus
• Unicorn
• Monsters
• Chupacabra
• Wendigo

These creatures may be dismissed as mere folklore by the General Populace, but their presence defines the boundaries of the civilized world. They are the unseen pressure of nature & a constant threat that ensures every citizen of Paradisus understands the true cost of their new way of life. They remind us that the deepest, most dangerous secrets of Mirabilis still reside in the darkest, most reticent of places. While these voices may be silent, their power shapes their surroundings, waiting for a time when they are forced to make their presence known. What will happen when these voices finally break their silence?

Faces of Paradisus, Part 1: Rising Civilizations (A Cultural Rebirth)

Long before, as well as shortly after, the Spore Diffusion Cataclysm, various Species, each with their own distinct culture & customs  have all called the continent of Paradisus home. These inhabitants can be classified according the various Ancestries.

Core Ancestries: Species whose origins are either native to Mirabilis, or whose lineage became fundamental after the Cataclysm. They represent the pure, foundational populations.

• Dhambwaluh: These are Giant-like or Ogre-like Species of Paradisus. Believed to be the Progenitor Species of Paradisus
• Khymeran: These are Anthropomorphic Animal Species of Paradisus. Their Origins are Unknown, but are believed to be almost as ancient as the Dhambwaluh. They come in five (5) Variants:
• Avia - Characterized by Bird-like features
• Amphibia - Characterized by Amphibian-like features
• Icthia - Characterized by Fish-like features
• Mammalia - Characterized by Mammal-like features
• Reptilia - Characterized by Reptile-like features
• Human: These are Quintessential Humanoid Species of Paradisus. While their Origins are Unclear, they are believed to have descended from a far away Star System
• Dwyndee: These are Dwarf-like or Gnome-like Species of Paradisus. Descended from mutated Humans during the Spore Diffusion Cataclysm
• Syreane: These are Elf-like Species of Paradisus. Descended from mutated Humans during the Spore Diffusion Cataclysm

Peculiar Ancestries: Species who trace their lineage to otherworldly planes of existence. They represent the external forces that disrupt the natural order.

• Angellius: These are Angel-like Species of Paradisus. Supposedly trace their origin to the Heavenly Dimension, Caelus. They come in three (3) Variants:
• Afshyra - Traditionally perceived as Messenger or Guide Types
• Serafym - Traditionally perceived as Enforcer or Protector Types
• Vhalkriye - Traditionally perceived as Reclaimer or Berserker Types
• Deimonus: These are Demon-like Species of Paradisus. Supposedly trace their origin to the Hellish Dimension, Infernus. They come in three (3) Variants:
• Bahnsydhe - Traditionally perceived as Channeller or Seer Types
• Qaryna - Traditionally perceived as Charmer or Enchanter Types
• Shayitahn - Traditionally perceived as Manipulator or Schemer Types

Hybrid Ancestries: Species that result from the union of two distinct categories. These are not independent species but rather a mix of bloodlines, who represent unique blends of physical or magical potential within the societies.

• Kambyoun: These are the offspring of any Humanoid Species & a Deimonus
• Nefylihm: These are the offspring of any Humanoid Species & an Angellius
• Sheidym: These are the offspring of a Kambyoun & a Nefylihm
• Mharydh: These are the offspring of an Angellius & a Deimonus

Despite the differences among the Species, they have a common unifying factor, their use of the Paradisian Calendar, an ancient calendar system, which was rediscovered after the Spore Diffusion Cataclysm, uniting the people of Paradisus, crossing cultural & societal boundaries.

Spore Diffusion Cataclysm: Pollen & Magitech's Advent (A Transformative Calamity)

The -7075 GPC Cataclysm marked a watershed for the people of Paradisus. This event caused the divergence of the Syreane & Dwyndee species from their parent Human species. It also led to the discovery of the true function of Birdhouses, once thought decorative, as Filtration Systems that converted dangerous spores into magical Pollen.

The discovery of Pollen's true nature unlocked a new age of innovation. Researchers quickly learned that various species of pitcher plant produced a unique type. These were categorized by their distinct properties, giving rise to the formal Schools of Magic and defining the various Glamour Systems that would come to power the world. Simultaneously, this new resource became the power source for a technological renaissance. Engineers harnessed the latent magical energy within the Pollen, creating a new form of power known as Magitech. This hybrid technology seamlessly integrates the supernatural with the mechanical, allowing for the creation of wondrous devices. From intricate clockwork automatons to cities illuminated by magical streetlights, Pollen became the fuel that drove Paradisus technologically forward, driving this new Age of Advancement.

Whispers of the Spore Cataclysm's Cyclical Nature persist in esoteric folklore, a theory that is largely dismissed as mere superstition as it lacks definitive substantiation. This knowledge is not held by any single faction but is scattered among various individuals, passed down through generations in fragmented, apocryphal tales. The few archaic texts that mention it are either garbled messes or have been lost to time. The stories that are known, however, warn that should the phenomenon return, it will once again be a cataclysmic event with a terrifying consequence: the potential for another Divergent Species to be born, forever changing the face of the world.

Mirabilis: The Home Planet (A Living World)

Mirabilis, a Super-Earth with three times the mass and five times the diameter of real-life Earth, is the only known habitable planet in the Mirabilian Star System. It also has the following companions (Moons):

• Radiatos - The Radiant Twin, is smaller & orbits closer to Mirabilis. It has a lighter hue, being composed of iron- & magnesium- poor rocks, such as Quartz.
• Umbratos - The Shadow Twin, is larger & orbits farther away from Mirabilis. It has a darker hue, being composed of iron- & magnesium- rich rocks, such as Basalt.

Due to Mirabilis' colossal size, the planet's geological forces have resulted in the continent of Paradisus. This single, massive landmass, which is also surrounded by numerous smaller island archipelagos, is a natural consequence of the planet's formation, defining all known civilization.

By no means is Paradisus pristine, having been scarred by the ancient, world-changing Spore Diffusion Cataclysm. This is the reason the entire continent, along with the surrounding archipelagos, is continuously permeated by magical remains of that defining disaster - the latent, dangerous Spores.