A Living World
The Multiverse is a complicated place, not simply a plane of existence created by the First. It is a product of their innate ability, and therefore is deeply connected to their subconscious mind. In that sense, it has the potential to alter itself based on their inner desires and needs, not necessarily out of their higher-level thoughts. This phenomenon becomes more apparent as the Multiverse becomes more complex; more and more of it is tied into what they wish as compared to what they think.
This occurrence is most apparent when looking at the life of the world. The multiverse was created as a place to exsist. The First simply wished for a physical world, however, it contained plants; a form of life that the two did not expect to be there. Something deep within their minds wanted something there more than land and Souls. As the Multiverse grew, so did the non-soul inhabitants. Simple, unintelligent creatures started to appear as the multiverse feed on the desire for the souls of the First to live. This complex interrelationship is a powerful feedback loop; the greater and more expansive the Multiverse becomes, the greater the desire of the First to see it continue to grow. As the souls later completed their exodus to the world of Zeal, wanting to grow and make a better place than before, the Multiverse responded in kind by creating creature of higher intelligence: the slimes and wolves. It is likely that as the Multiverse continues its path of improvement and enlightenment, even more intelligent beings will emerge.
A Growing World
Th ether is a place of existing souls. But where did they come from? Why are there so many of these formless entities that exist outside of a mortal plane? The nature of this enigma is unknown to all, even the Elder Zo. However, outside of the various religios fanatics, there is some scientific debate as to the meaning of things.
As noted before, the inhabitants of the Multiverse are the physical manifestation of the Lost Souls. However, the Heroes of this world are able to reproduce, leading to the problem of an infinitely-expanding number of souls that exist. The act of reproduction is a physical one, requiring souls to have bodies of different types, male and female, to complete the act. The physicality of this process seems to be a safe-lock created by the Multiverse. The two parties must be sufficiently comfortable and loving towards one enough to allow themselves to submit in such a fashion. While the act is physical, the process is quite ethereal, because to create a new Hero, you must first create a new Soul.
During the act of conception, the souls residing within the two parties become connected, the feelings and emotions of the two pulling the souls together. This intermingling buds off a small mixture of the essences of each. Essentially, creating a primitive soul. This fledgling soul immediately finds shelter within the body of the mother, giving rise to the belief that male and female bodies are determined by the aptitude and willingness of a soul to harbor and protect its child.
As the new soul develops withing the body of the mother, it begins to create its body along with it consciousness, developing a form as the desire to exist grows stronger with it. When the body and mind of the new soul has developed, it is birthed by the mother to give life to a new Hero.
This process hints that Lost Souls in the ether can go through a similar act to create new lost souls, and also that there may have been other Universes like our own that failed and expelled their inhabitants back into the Ether.
Enemy in the Shadows
Shortly after the evacuation to Sanctum, rumors began to spread amongst the souls. Whispers of something moving in the shadows, watching them from just outside their range of vision. Over time, these reports grew in frequency while souls debated to whether it was just some kind of mass illusion. It all seemed to be once big farce concocted to play on the fears of others, until one night when the whispers became real.
The attacks started across Sanctum almost simultaneously. Creatures resembling zombies, spiders, and skeletons washed over the world with an unrelenting assault. Panic ensued as all, including Kainzo and his collection of guardians fought to stem the tide of these otherworldly assailants. As daybreak approached, hope was fading from the hearts of all, until everything simply, vanished. As light from the sun stretched its warm arms over the mountains and valleys of Sanctum, the monstrous creatures burst into flame and disappeared. Other than the devastation caused by the unanticipated attack, all seemed to suddenly return to normal.
It was a very long time until Kainzo and Apherdite deduced the cause of these creatures, and even longer until any dared venture outside at night. When Kainzo opened a path to evacuate the souls from the prior doomed world, many of the tormented and twisted souls slipped through as well. These souls could be categorized into two groups: Those who forgave Kainzo for what had happened and those that did not. Those that forgave congregated in the Nether, becoming what would be called Zombie Pigmen. These pigmen had very little of their original consciousness left. They were far more animalistic than anything else at this point, but they did still contain the desire to exist in a physical form. They will tend to themselves unless provoked, and wish to simply live in the state they are in. Those who did not forgive, however, had a far less pleasant fate.
Many souls who were tainted by the cataclysm died with anger on their minds; blaming those who survived for what happened to them. These angry, twisted souls acquired the physical form of monsters; giant spiders, bow-wielding skeletons, and slow-moving but powerful zombies. These creatures held the same level of consciousness and understanding as the Pigmen, however, their motives were twisted by the anger they felt to those who lived. Still tied to the time-warping magic that ruined them, these monsters can only appear at night, or if it is sufficiently dark for them to believe it is night. They attack all souls without abandon or regret, and are an extreme danger to anyone caught in their sights.
As Kainzo and his army of souls began to mount defense against these monsters, it seemed as if the plague could be lessened or contained. But their hopes weren't completely able to be realized. The bodies twisted angry souls were being destroyed, but the souls themselves were not allowing themselves to succumb to that final death. As the fighters for Sanctum continued to slay the monstrous creatures, an even more dangerous threat presented itself. Creepers, as they would be called, the last incarnation of the corrupted souls. By the time the broken souls reached this point, they had nothing left in their minds but anger. Pure, blind, rage. No longer thinking of themselves, revenge is all that drove these terrible things. Not harboring the desire to exist, these terrors would rush at anything that moved and then explode, ripping apart the surrounding landscape and ravishing anything caught in its blast. At this point the soul was gone, torn apart in its own fury. While the people of Sanctum feared the Creepers and hated that killing the other monsters created them, they could at least take comfort in the fact that the souls were finally free of their torment.
In the later age of Zeal, a portal to the first layer of the Nether was created to test the strength of souls wishing to be the personal army of the Elders. The portal needed to allow souls to pass back through to Zeal, so it needed to be guarded against intrusion from the creatures living in the Nether. An unanticipated effect of this portal was the escape of Exiled souls. These souls had not yet claimed a physical body, being enraged at their expulsion from the worlds of the souls. Not prepared to guard against formless souls, the watchers of the portal had no idea of what was slowly leaking out of the Nether. These furious souls, once again out in the world, became creatures as dark as their hearts. Initially seeming harmless as they traverse the world, they become infuriated when looked at, apparently feeling that the souls of the world are mocking them for their plight. At this point that become unstably violent, shaking in a rage until they attack, teleporting from place to place as they attempt to kill the one who they believe had insulted them.
Shadows in the Deep
Since the fall of Zeal and the imprisonment of Dagith Narr, heroes have begun to report strange encounters during expeditions into the nether. At first these encounters were nothing more than curiosities, small creatures seemingly formed of living lava. Over time the encounters became more frequent, and the creatures began to act aggressive, slowly advancing on and attacking any hero nearby. The peaceful Zombiepigmen of the nether seemed to multiply during this time, while they still left the heroes alone unless provoked, reports of mass gatherings of the pigmen started to be told. Worse yet, although peaceful, the pigmen were reportedly now armed with weapons, although it is unknown exactly how they came to posses these armaments.
These tales reached the ears of the Zo, however at first they were not overly concerned. The nether was vast and the lava creatures posed no real threat. The pigmen were still peaceful, if armed, and the seals on the prison of Dagith still held fast. Though they did promise the heroes that they would keep watch, in case something was amiss.
Little did anyone know, this was only a hint of things to come....
Night has always been a time for great caution while in the world, those living there still feared the evil souls that coalesced into creatures and hunted for victims in the night. But they were secure in the knowledge that the morning would always bring salvation, as the purifying rays destroyed the bodies of the zombies and skeletons, tamed spiders, and drove the shadow creatures from sight. Creepers were still a threat, but one known, and prepared for. However, horrifying tales of zombies and skeletons that do not burn in the daylight have begun to surface, zombies now armed with weapons of fallen victims, and clad in armor that walk the day hunting. Skeletons in armor using enchanted bows, small fast moving child sized zombies that do not burn, and whispers of increased numbers of the violent creepers.
But these pale in comparison to the stories coming from those who risk entry to the nether.
The gathering of pigmen and the living lava creatures were not the worse stories to be told of the nether. At first those who reported strange voices echoing across the infernal landscape were brushed off as having spent too long in that world, but the stories increased in frequency and intensity. They spoke of voices that seemed to follow you, promising harm and death, only to be nothing when looked for, followed by sightings of large "things" floating in the distance, only to disappear when those brave enough went to find them.
These stories have begun to concern the Zo, as the heroes who the intended to brave the nether to destroy the evil trapped at its heart now fear for their sanity if they travel the nether. Even with these new threats, the heartiest of souls still risk the trip into the Nether.
Now a new story has begun to spread, supposedly told from a lone survivor of an expedition to the nether, who later leapt to his death from a cliff after returning to the living world. His story tells of how his group traveled into the nether, how they began to hear the voices that had been reported. Instead of fleeing they followed the voice, and found the source, a large floating creature who, upon seeing them, launched a ball of fire at the group, killing one member and destroying the ground upon where he had stood. The explosion aggravated a group of the normally peaceful pigmen, causing the group to have to flee for their lives. During their flight they came upon what the survivor could only describe as a fortress. He did not know who had built it, and said that it seemed to almost grow out of the landscape, with halls ending in walls of the nether terrain, and bridges that ended in midair. Worse, he told of the creatures that in habited this fortress of darkness, creatures seemingly made of pure flames, that tossed fire at anything that came near. Black skeletons armed with dark swords that chased them though the halls of the fortress, and at the heart of the fortress a monstrosity. A creature with three heads that floated above the ground and launched, what was told to be, the heads of the black skeletons that exploded on impact.
How he escaped back to the over world the survivor was unable to say, and many thought that his story was just madness, until they saw the proof, a single black skull, brought back from the nether.
With this story and proof, the Zo have turned their attention to ensuring that the prison in the nether remains undisturbed, but it still falls to the brave souls of the world to combat this evil, if they dare to venture into the darkness........
Protection of the Dragon
The world of Kainzo is altered by his will and those like him, both consciously and subconsciously. Early in the days of the Multiverse, Kainzo looked across DH City and wondered. He wondered if the shining settlement of souls could ever be threatened by outside forces, and what would happen if it did. The Multiverse felt his uncertainty, and to the shock of all, the ground around Lord Commissar's magnificent dragon statue began to churn and crack, the statue appearing to be adjusting itself in its position within the city walls. The souls of the world gathered with the Elders, and watched in awe as the enormous statue seemed to glow and undulate, almost as if it were coming to life. It took several minutes for the dust to settle and the air to clear before any could approach this strange construction. Kainzo and Apherdite approached the feet of the stony creature, the mass of souls huddling back in apprehension at what it all could mean.
For the ages since then, the Statue of the Dragon watched over the primary settlement of Kainzo's worlds. It is an extension of Kainzo's will, protecting the cities under it's gaze from invasion or magical corruption. Most believe it can keep out the monstrous corrupted souls and their influence indefinitely. Others, however, are not so sure...
Notable Enemies
Dagith-Narr, the Intruder
- Dagith, invader of the Multiverse and leader of Daemon forces. A soul with power similar to the Elder Zo, he attempted to infiltrate the Multiverse and claim control for himself. His hasty actions caused the Multiverse to turn on him, however, and he is currently trapped inside the deepest layer of the Nether. A constant threat, his evil influence has in the past affected those in the worlds of souls and is a prime target of the Elders. The risk of clashing wills between him and the Zo has been his only saving grace, for they don't risk a direct assault by themselves. Few who have ever seen this Deamon Lord survived to describe him, only relaying that he is taller than any other with a combination of both human and deamon characteristics. The most dangerous threat the Multiverse faces, this soul could end everything that has been accomplished by the Elders and those that reside in their realm.
Ramuk, the Destroyer
- Ramuk, an undead giant of the north. This being of near-unimaginable strength was a particularly powerful soul which was caught in the destruction of the first world. This massive creature harbors a hatred on par with that of the other Tormented, however with a higher level of intelligence. Using what he retained, he crossed the veil to hide on the realm of the demons. Biding his time, until with their help he was able to breach the barrier between the planes of existence. Hiding in a massive underground cave, he gathered the sly hunters of this world to him; the wolves and slimes. With a howl that echoed across the entirety of the land, he burst forth from his dark lair, bringing the masses of minions with him. His size and volume were the only warning any had, and the enormous beast and his swarm left a swath of destruction as they moved south. Ruining everything in its path, and even severely damaging the statue of the Dragon, the army of evil nearly breached the city of Zeal itself! It was only the valiant and frantic defense by the souls of the Multiverse that the undead abomination and its horde were destroyed.
Asgar Serran, Flame of the East
- Asgar was once a man, a normal soul who wandered the world of Sanctum. However, in its end days, Asgar was one of those corrupted by Dagith-Narr's evil ways. Asgar became a being of unimagianble cruelty, often called "The Tatterer" for his habit of leaving the entrails of his victims strewn about the roof of their house. A master of fire and heat, he can creat fires unable to be extinguished, evil flames that can corrupt as well as burn the flesh they touch. Slain in battle during the Sundering of Sanctum, his body was separated and buried in different locations. However, rumors say part of him survived the transition to Zeal, and the flames of his spirit rise again.
Rogue Dragon Clan
- Little is currently known about the rogue dragons that caused the destruction of Zeal. They are driven by the dark, angry corners of Kaizno's mind. Conferences are currently underway with Commissar to determine their origin and what can be done in the future.
I have some more pressing matters to attend to. However I have the entire weekend off. Sorry
