Revision as of 18:37, 31 August 2010

Summary

The Island of Avarine was created by Pelagia and Dertmore. They manifested there, in fact, as did their love. The great God and Goddess conceived their children there and also created four Ladies as guardians of their Sacred Trust: Lady of the Lake, Lady of the Grove, Lady of the Sky, Lady of the Flame.

The Heart of their Sacred Trust is deep inside the island, where the Lady of the Flame resides. It is only accessible by Intervention of the Gods or the Ladies.

Geography

The island is nearly inapproachable by ship, but for one narrow hidden passageway that provides natural protection from outsiders. There are two halves to the island. One half is green and features tall peaks, elegant trees, and many flowers. The Avariel live there and have begun to thrive. A village has been erected as have many homes.

The other half of the island also features tall peaks, but the land is barren and cold, and inhabited by Trolls, and various forms of Giant. It is reached by an underground tunnel system where strange creatures hide and reside.

History

Long ago, the Maker had stolen Avariel like he steals everything else, and put them there, along with the other creatures currently found throughout the island. Some time after this, during a time when the island and its residents were thriving, the "Mage With No Name" decided he wanted the island for himself, to turn it into a hallowed island for the undead, by twisting the power of the great God and Goddess to his own. If he had succeeded, it probably would have weakened Pelagia and Dertmore and increased Helthor's power, making him the leader of the Pantheon instead.

The "Mage With No Name" attacked with all of the power he had access to, much of it negative energy. The Four Guardian Ladies fought with all of the strength they had as well.

The war eventually was won, but not until the island was nearly destroyed. The Ladies and the rest of the island went into long-term sleep, using all of their energy to heal the island once again. The Avariel offered themselves in sacrifice to keep the island alive and the Lady of the Grove accepted this gift, planting their life forces inside of trees, the strongest of them in treants and the other magical creatures of the island. The slow, pure and powerful nature of the process during this healing has made certain creatures extremely powerful, including the Ladies in each of their elemental domain, the Treants who now keep evil from the inner sanctum, Gynosphynxes who see the future, White Stags who provide fertility and Frost Giants who epitomize physical strength.

But all is not bliss. The Lady of the Sky still resides encased inside a crystal at the top of the Frost Giants' Tower where she had gone to sleep. If she does not remain there, like dust in the wind, her essence will eventually be lost. However, when given the opportunity, she joyously leaves her confines to visit her sisters. This is only can be done if a brave adventurer makes a sacrifice. It is hoped that one day a way to free her permanently will be found.

With life returning to the island, as well, the old wars between trolls and giants live on, and it is likely that there are other secrets that will unfold over time.

The Ladies of Avarine

The Lady of the Wood:

Appearance/Physical Characteristics: Roots retract and spring quickly out from around her toes and heels and enter the ground under her feet as she walks. Her voice is deep and melodic and seems to echo through the trees.

Personality: She is very welcoming, and pleasant. She is the very start of the quest system.

The Lady of the Lake:

Appearance/Physical Characteristics: She has deep blue eyes. Her gaze is more threatening and intimidating than it is welcoming and her speech has an eerie, gurgling echo. She is summoned to the shore within the quest system. She does not speak under water, obviously, but she continuously watches people if they are around her.

Personality: She is somewhat arrogant and untrusting in personality, but can become more friendly. She is very protective of the Avariel and the waters of Avarine. She is close to Rune because he lives close by and she likes that he woke her up first.

The Lady of the Flame:

Appearance/Physical Characteristics: She has blazing red eyes and her hair is made of burning, lapping flames. Her deep red skin seems to continuously sizzle and steam rises from her shoulders, arms and legs. When she speaks, and especially laughs, sometimes she burns people in front of her, by accident.

Personality: She has a lighter personality compared to her sisters. She is warm (no pun intended) and laughs easily.

Peculiarities: She lives deep within the underground of Avarine, which people can't get to without divine intervention. She uses a special gem filled with the Lady of the Lake’s magical water in order to communicate with the Lady of the Sky, since she cannot go to the Ice Tower without melting it. A problem with this is that sometimes she melts the Lady of the Lake’s gem too, so she prefers a willing adventurer bring it to the Lady of the Sky for her.

The Lady of the Sky:

Appearance/Physical Characteristics: She has striking silver hair and snow-white feathered wings. She has silver, lightening-like pupils. Her skin is shades of light pale blue, gray and white, and seems to continually change as if there were soft white clouds moving over her body. When she speaks it is as if the heavens are speaking.

Personality: She has a very strong but comforting personality. She is imprisoned at the top of the Ice Tower by Choice.

Peculiarities:Her story is best delivered through her own words:

“Many years ago a horrible necromancer attacked our island with an army of undead on his side, along with vast numbers of Frost Giants and Ice Elementals. On our side were my three sisters and I, the Avariel who lived here, and other animals and magical creatures that can be found on the island. The horrible war for ownership of the island began and lasted for many years. There was so much death and damage with no end in sight…

"As what seemed like our last resort, I agreed to this captivity in order to gain favor from the Giants and Elementals here, and they turned against the necromancer and the rest of the undead. It was this sacrifice that turned the war around in our favor, so I remain here with no regrets. I remain here for as long as the Frost Giants remain, to keep this part of the island continuously frozen and cold, so they may thrive.”