Eira.
A planet that has seen the rise and fall of great civilizations at least twice. Civilizations that were ended by wars and devestation. Wars that resulted in disasters, such as the arid badlands that cover much of the planet in an unlivable, barren wasteland. The remnants of these great civilizations remain, buried beneath land and sea, but much of today's people continue on, unwary of what once happened, and very well may again...
Currently, Eira is experiencing an era of peace. The last war was over fifty years ago. However, there are many attacks from monsters, for which mercenaries and soldiers exist to fight. Though the Gaillardian Empire makes use of its own military might, other countries mostly rely on those from the
Aserias. Aseria is an ancient Pomonian word whose meaning is closest to 'to gather strength together'. Though most Aseria graduates become part of their school's own guild, Gaillardia's Aseria graduates are sent to the imperial cities, where they are trained further before becoming part of the Gaillardian Army. When used in a formal context, the order of the wording is reversed, to fit ancient Pomonian; Adria Aseria becomes
Aseria Adria.
There are two races, humans and merleons, who have been living in harmony for many millenia. Though the two species are seperate, they are capable of interbreeding with consistently healthy, fertile offspring. However, their lifestyles differ at the most basic levels, which prevents many relationships from forming, and prematurely ends most that do. The ratio of humans to merleons is roughly 1:1; there are just as many Merleons as humans, though humans predominantly populate areas surrounded by large amounts of land, and merleons predominantly populate beaches, and have the ability to live underwater, unlike humans. It is believed, however, that ancient humans had developed the technology that allowed them to build cities underwater, and that this is what lead to human and merleon contact.
Merleons are amphibious creatures with multitudes of tiny scales instead of skin in most places; they are capable of changing the color of their scales. Their eyes are capable of looking in many more directions than humans' are, and the sclera are a very dark hue of blue, but the iris may differ amongst them. They have long tails that are as long and wide as their legs and ends in a large fin, which assists them in swimming; Arms and legs have fins as well. They are capable of eating certain things that humans are not, as their bodies can absorp certain kind of poisons, and they are even better adapted to heat, thanks to their scales and their ability to produce less body heat at demand. Their arms have Seera, eyes hidden within the arm that are capable of moving to their palms and seeing the world around them in an entirely different spectrum. However, their bones are slightly more brittle than humans' are, making them more susceptible to physical damage, and though they are adapted to heat, they require far more water in their bodies than humans do. They have no body hair, and instead have fins on their head, which drop down in a way that resembles head hair. They have elongated, prehensile tongues as well, that can stretch up to five feet in length. They are capable of withstanding far more pressure than a human, allowing them to swim down deep to even the ocean floor. Their teeth are all sharp as well, as they have not made much a diet of plants, getting most of their nutrients from underwater lifeforms.
Hybrids have the tail and seera, as well as the ability to change their skin color. They have both hair and fins on their head, and the sclera of their eyes is a light blue. Their tongues can only reach two feet long, and they are less tolerant of heat. However, they are not as reliant on water, and their bones are as dense as a human's.
The level of technology is a mix of modernesque, medieval, and futuristic, with magic playing a key part in keeping things going. They have automobiles, air-vessels, and submarines for transportation, and computers. They have developed special armored suits for combat situations underwater, or in places with hostile conditions. These suits and other modern tech are incredibly hard and thus expensive to produce, however, and so remain rare in usage. The people live in villages, towns, and there are a few metropolis-sized cities.
Adria Aseria, the prestigious academy and guild that governs itself, Adria Aseria is the only academy to also be a city state. Adria is mostly made up of one reality-defyingly humongous structure, large enough to be called its own island. It is surrounded by several other natural islands, all connected to the main structure by bridges and/or underwater pipe structures. The islands are hollowed out, and Adrians live both in and on them.
The interior of the Aseria varies. Though there are many classrooms and dorms, there are also large areas devoted to training grounds and other things. The exterior, on top of the city is home to farms and fisheries and ranches, as well as the townspeople who perform these more relaxed but very neccesary jobs. Off the shores are Merleon farmers and ranchers as well, who raise various sea faring creatures for human and merleon consumption, some of which humans had never heard of or seen of before merleons introduced them because of their habitat.
Adria gets students and teachers from all over the world, being one of the top renown and well rounded Aseria. It gets most of its clients from the Pomonia Kingdom and Pomonia Republic.
One would think that because of its location, it is predominantly populated by Merleons, but it has a fairly even ratio of humans to merleons because of its higly rated combat training program.
Pae Aseria, the Aseria closest to Holy Citadel Supak. This Aseria specializes in martial arts and honing the soul; they have developed special techniques that make use of an energy that is generated by the body, which they have come to call 'Haku', Ancient Supak for 'life energy' (the modern translation is snow, showing how the language has changed). Their experts in medicine are also masters of manipulating haku, in both humans and merleons, for positive and negative effects. Because Haku increases in strength and versatility with exercise and, their best mercenaries are melee oriented, with talent in manipulating Haku in various ways. They are not known for producing powerful mages, instead focusing on the charm aspects of magic. It is predominantly populated by Merleons thanks to its location.
Snowspring Aseria, the Aseria in the mountains of Jestaik. This academy, high up in the mountains, is known for producing various powerful mages. The main structure is that of large medieval castles, with magic mostly used for every convenience. They specialize in using magic in unorthodox ways, and as such they are capable of producing
combat mages, magi whose magic are completely based around fighting, and whose mana is capable of boosting their physical power considerably, allowing them to fight on par with any other melee combatant. They are also capable of producing the extremely powerful mages whose offensive spells can tear asunder mountains. It is predominantly populated by humans because of its location.
Klive Academy, the academy that produces students for the Gaillardian army. Scholars become scientists of his majesty, and combat oriented students become soldiers and knights. This academy is one of the best funded, and as such can afford almost any teacher, making it one of the best well rounded as well. It is a major rival for Adria. Unlike the Aserias, Klive is only an academy and does not give out mercenary liscenses, instead sending its graduates to imperial cities for further training. It is predominantly populated by humans because of its location.
Zangal Aseria, the Aseria of the island continent. Zangal is best known for producing scholars instead of mercenaries, and almost all of its mercenaries are also scholars. Its graduates travel the world to learn, uncovering more of its secrets everyday. They are one of the main leaders and sponsors in the archaeological expeditions that seek to understand the ancient civilizations, the extent of their reach, and why they fell. It is evenly populated by humans and merleons despite its location, as aspiring scholars from across the world come to it to learn.
All Aseria have a similar ranking system, in which the students and achieve a liscence. Liscenses are magically self-updated, reflecting one's achievements. This is the system used by Aseria Adria:
-Beginners-
Student;Red - The beginner rank for all students, this is the lowest rank. It denotes that one has no training in combat, nor any formal education.
Student;Blue - The secondary beginner rank for all students, this denotes one has achieved a slightly higher level of either combat or formal education.
Student;Green - The tertiary beginner rank for all students, this is the last rank before one is considered capable of fighting in groups for self defense.
-Intermediates-
Student;Brass - A rank that denotes one has achieved an intermediate level of combat training. This is the level where serious combat training begins, and emphasis on formal education is reduced.
Student;Quartz - A rank that denotes one has achieved an intermediate level of formal education. This rank is the one given to those hoping to become scholars, scientists, or magicists, and is equal to Brass.
Student;Bronze - A rank that denotes one has achieved a higher level of combat training. Magic training begins, the student has picked a personal main weapon to begin training in use of.
Student;Amethyst - A rank that denotes one has achieved a higher level of formal education. A main subject is chosen by the student, from sciences, to math, to linguistics, to art, and others, but focus is not taken from others.
Student;Silver - A rank that denotes one has achieved some mastery with their chosen weapon. A sub weapon is introduced into training; this weapon is a secondary personal weapon such as a dagger or gun that serves as protection and is more easily concealed.
Student;Emerald - A rank that denotes one has achieved some mastery with their chosen subject. The student explores sub-topics within their main topic; within science is biology and astronomy, within art is painting and creative writing.
-Advanced-
NOTE:All students at the Advanced level no longer take tests to graduate, but must simply accumulate an amount of experience and achievements.Student;Gold - A rank that denotes one has achieved mastery with their chosen weapons, magic, and style of fighting. The student is allowed to take part in missions from this point on. Gold level students are always to be lead by Liscensed Mercenaries on missions.
Student;Sapphire - A rank that denotes one has achieved mastery with their subject in formal education. The student is allowed to pursue their interests in their topics, and develop theories and have discussions with peers.
Student;Platinum - A rank that denotes one has experienced some amount of real combat. These students are allowed to take missions with other platinum students.
Student;Ruby - A rank that denotes one has spent a great deal of time working over their topics. Students are encouraged to travel the world and study with others who share their interests and topics, as well as learn from distant masters.
Student;Titanium - A rank that denotes one has much experience in combat. These students must lead a certain amount of missions with other platinum or titanium students to be elgible for a Mercenary Liscense.
Student;Diamond - A rank that shows one's dedication to their subject. These students are allowed to teach beginner students, as well as write papers and have forums with their peers. They are allowed to have their own experiments as well.
It is possible to have a mixed rank. A student who has an intermediate level of formal education and advanced level of combat might be denoted as:
Student;Platinum-Quartz
With the combat rank always primary and the scholarly rank always secondary.
The student's IDcard is updated to reflect rank. The rim of the card depends on the scholarly rank, while the majority of the face of the car depends on the combat rank. A scholar with no combat rank will have a white ID card with a rim depending on their scholarly achievements. A combat student will have a card whose rim is the same as the face.
Once a student has so much experience, they can apply for a liscense. Liscense ranks are a bit simpler. Unlike student ranks, these are considered seperate, so one must apply for a liscense in both and may at any time have a liscense in both.
Mercenary;Special - A liscense that has been given despite not officially meeting the requirements. These ranks are rare and given only in special circumstances. In time, they may be promoted to an E level rank, and treated as a regular mercenary.
Scholar;Special - A liscense that has been given despite not officially meeting the requirements. These ranks are rare and given only in special circumstances. In time, they may be promoted to an E level rank, and treated as a regular scholar.
Mercenary;E - A beginner mercenary, they are allowed to lead missions with students of gold level or higher from their own Aseria.
Scholar;E - A beginner scholar, who is allowed to lead sapphire or higher ranked students on field missions and in experiments.
Mercenary;D - A mecenary who has seen some intense battle. They are allowed to teach the specialized classes of intermediate students in their own Aseria.
Scholar;D - These scholars are allowed to teach the specialized classes of intermediate stuends in their own Aseria.
Mercenary;C - A mercenary whose experience is undeniable. Solo missions become available to C ranked mercenaries.
Scholar;C - A scholar that has reached a high level of knowledge. They often go on extended research trips in the field, or spend time working with their peers.
Mercenary;B - These mercenaries skills are acknowledged far and wide. They are allowed to teach and lead missions for students from any Aseria.
Scholar;B - Scholars whose wisdom in their field is acknoledged by many. They are trusted to teach scholarly students at every Aseria.
NOTE:A level and higher mercenaries or scholars may sometimes take apprentices, either from an Aseria or from some random city or town.Mercenary;A - Higher level mercenaries, these are the ones whose skills and abilities are perfered. Mercenaries who have reached this level charge higher prices for their time and ability, and their reputations are known far and wide. Their level of combat ability is such that when two must fight one another, or they must fight with a monster of their level, they are given a wide berth.
Scholar;A - Some of the highest level scholars in the world, they are called to give lectures in various cities and Aseria.
Mercenary;S - Mercenaries whose level of combat ability has earned them fame far and wide. These are the ones whose skills begin to get into the unreal - witnesses have claimed to have witnessed S level melee mercenaries capable of running on water, and S level magi capable of large scale magicks which can tear apart mountains.
Scholar;S - These scholars are the ones whose books are read in Aserias and by those who can privately afford them. They are regarded as the top level in scholarly circles, and to disagree with one is usually considered heresy amongst the scholarly.
Mercenary;SS - These battle crazy fighters are amongst the strongest in the world, capable of ridiculous feats of power and speed. Few can claim to have reached this rank, and those who have, are respected the world over.
Scholar;SS - Scholars who simply love their subject, and do everything to learn more about it, sometimes building their own research facilities with unique tools that they themselves have devised. The nobility and rich folk pay to have them on hand for their knowledge.
Mercenary;SSS - The final rank of a mercenary. This is one who has achieved total mastery of their fighting skills, one whose fighting ability is unquestionably amongst the greatest the world has seen. Their skills are awe-inspiring to see, capable of wrending the landscape apart at will. The few SSS rank mercenaries have all been recorded in history, with various statues and idols erected in their honor.
Scholar;SSS - The final rank of a scholar, this is one who has been acknoledged as a true master of their subject. It is the SSS level scholars whose theories later become regarded as scientific laws, and whose works of art are reveled in by admirers for centuries. Aserias beg for such people to even make an appearance, and statues are made in their dedication.
Locations
Pomonia Kingdom - Home to the Pomonian Royalty and their subjects, Pomonia is one of the largest, most powerful and influential countries in the world, second only to Gaillardia.
- Morea - The capital of Pomonia.
- Adria Aseria, City State
- Adria Aseria, which assumed independence during the Pomonian Civil war that ended with the creation of the Pomonian Republic.
Pomonia Republic -
- Capital
Gaillardian Empire -
- Raksid, Imperial City - Home of the current Emperor.
- Klive Academy
- Zocet City
Jestaik Koloria -
Caerasia -
- Zangal Aseria
- Bomglad City
- Isan
Supak -
- Holy Citadel Supak
- Pae Aseria