Main Story - Chapter 0
Where the garden grows, there’s a story to tell
Deep beneath the rocks between heaven and hell
Come settle down, neath the glow of the night
And hear this solemn soul tell of t’ranian skies
Deep into the past, twas a day lost to time
For the lack thereof left a crack in the starlight
Life split in twain to be merged once again
A fall into the deep to be known by no name
Tension in the earth, forged on eden’s vestige
Grown into the soil, magic bursts into reprise
Born out of love for the art and the artist
Branded on the brow with Leuviah’s mark
Eyes on hollow stalks chalk a sigil in air
Teeth of hallowed bone bite at what still remains there
God sighs a breath unto all that survive
And chart the ones they lost in T’rrania’s skies
Deep beneath the rocks between heaven and hell
Come settle down, neath the glow of the night
And hear this solemn soul tell of t’ranian skies
Deep into the past, twas a day lost to time
For the lack thereof left a crack in the starlight
Life split in twain to be merged once again
A fall into the deep to be known by no name
Tension in the earth, forged on eden’s vestige
Grown into the soil, magic bursts into reprise
Born out of love for the art and the artist
Branded on the brow with Leuviah’s mark
Eyes on hollow stalks chalk a sigil in air
Teeth of hallowed bone bite at what still remains there
God sighs a breath unto all that survive
And chart the ones they lost in T’rrania’s skies
The above poem was written a good time ago, lyrics to a folk song sung in the Looman areas not long after the fall of Infinitus. This story is very important to many of the folk in Terrania, so much so that a prophecy was written in direct response - but you will learn about its contents soon enough.
Most importantly, let me introduce the text you are going to read. This story is an account, translated from Verdurian Common, of a group of unlikely adventurers who, a long time ago now, ventured across the five regions and etched their names into history. I was tasked with compiling, translating, and distributing their stories across the realms, meaning - depending on where you’re reading this from - this world will likely seem foreign and strange. Don’t worry, all will be explained. But, it’s in no small part due to this process that some things may not be exactly as they happened. Despite it all, this has been adapted as faithfully as I can manage with the archives present in Verduriis (and the first-hand accounts I’ve been able to secure).
Now, to those not present in Terrania, I feel there are some bits of vocabulary I should explain upfront. Firstly, most Terranians go by a few names - their given name, and a moniker. Monikers are often shorter, one-word descriptors given to a Terranian by their peers as they age, but some forego such things deliberately, and others simply haven’t found a suitable one yet. For simplicity, when a given person is introduced, the decision was made to give their full name first, and their moniker second, placed in parenthesis. Like this: Zekiel Shwibblesworth (Authoriel).
Secondly, Terrania features many distinct sentient races. These races came about relatively separate biologically-speaking, but alongside one another (save for a few exceptions) culturally, so while the difference between them is that of distinct species, they are all usually just called “Terranians.” Specific races have their own descriptions listed in glossaries and such elsewhere, but I feel chief among them for our purposes are Masklin.
Most importantly, let me introduce the text you are going to read. This story is an account, translated from Verdurian Common, of a group of unlikely adventurers who, a long time ago now, ventured across the five regions and etched their names into history. I was tasked with compiling, translating, and distributing their stories across the realms, meaning - depending on where you’re reading this from - this world will likely seem foreign and strange. Don’t worry, all will be explained. But, it’s in no small part due to this process that some things may not be exactly as they happened. Despite it all, this has been adapted as faithfully as I can manage with the archives present in Verduriis (and the first-hand accounts I’ve been able to secure).
Now, to those not present in Terrania, I feel there are some bits of vocabulary I should explain upfront. Firstly, most Terranians go by a few names - their given name, and a moniker. Monikers are often shorter, one-word descriptors given to a Terranian by their peers as they age, but some forego such things deliberately, and others simply haven’t found a suitable one yet. For simplicity, when a given person is introduced, the decision was made to give their full name first, and their moniker second, placed in parenthesis. Like this: Zekiel Shwibblesworth (Authoriel).
Secondly, Terrania features many distinct sentient races. These races came about relatively separate biologically-speaking, but alongside one another (save for a few exceptions) culturally, so while the difference between them is that of distinct species, they are all usually just called “Terranians.” Specific races have their own descriptions listed in glossaries and such elsewhere, but I feel chief among them for our purposes are Masklin.
Masklin are something of spirits, or ghosts, but distinct from simple reanimated corpses in the fact they are still fully living. They descend from an aquatic race, yet at this time believed themselves more closely related to the ancient Zela whose homeland they occupy. Their bodies are almost completely incorporeal, and interaction with objects is largely done through a sort of involuntary telepathy that simulates physical touch mostly analogously. Despite this, the mask (diamond-shaped, with golden ridges atop the nose and brow on older males) and core (small, pearl-like adornments near or within the neck and chest) of a Masklin are completely tangible, and within the latter are most of their proper life forces, juices, etc. Their core is what creates most of their ghostly body, and it projects that body outwards to protect itself. They were a very vain race during this time, believing themselves to be something very important and occupying much of Looma in spite of the Zela previously existing there.
Future races, when mentioned, will be catalogued liberally as soon as possible, and those will be referenced within the text as opposed to written in full as to not break up the pace of the story with constant descriptive paragraphs.
Oh, I should also explain that! This story is not one that can easily be told through a single book, there is many pieces of context and history that need to be given separately. As such, I have taken the liberty of preparing this website (with help from a few earthfolk friends I have made) as a resource, where I will make available other stories, texts, and educational materials on our world, as well as linking them where applicable so one can read on them as needed. I have also worked with these same earthfolk to procure suitable music and art accompaniment. These things - the arts, I mean - are deeply important to Terrania, to the extent where some call it the ‘Realm of Dreams.’ It would be unjust to tell such an important tale without including them.
Without further ado, I believe that is all that you should need from me. Please enjoy this tale of music, magic, love, loss, and the constant changing of the written word. Thank you.
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