Immortal Legacy Primer

This is a Primer for Immortal Legacy intended for content authors.

Halestia is a world rich in lore and intrigue. Its people are diverse and its mysteries are unnumbered. It is home to a struggle between good and evil, the rise and fall of nations, powerful artifacts and magic, and of unseen supernatural forces.

Technology

The civilizations in Halestia today are not technologically advanced. There are no steam-powered devices nor electricity grids. Magic, however, is infused with the world itself, so to those that can spare the expense or have the magical ability can take advantage of magic-powered vehicles or devices, but this is rare indeed.

The arts of smithing are very advanced. All of the sentient races are skilled at blacksmithing and the crafting of jewelry, tools, and occasionally weapons and armor.

There are no printing presses—books are still transcribed by hand (or occasionally by magic). Great libraries exist throughout the world.

Magic

Magic is a very real force in the world. Some people may fear it, but most people are very intrigued by it. Magic users are uncommon. Sorcery is a very difficult art and there are few who are innately gifted with it; most people lack the discipline to become skilled. Magic items are uncommon and if sold would be expensive. Most of them are probably relics or handed-down in families (still others are hidden away in some dank ruin). Few adventurers possess magic items and those that do rarely have more than one; only great heroes whose deeds are recorded in legend would have more.

The nation of Zirien is a haven for sorcerers and spellcasters to research and practice the arcane arts. Nearly a thousand magi are members in the Congress Arcanum there.

Theology

Everyone acknowledges the Immortals as being divine, but not deities; they are not *all* powerful or *all* knowing. The Immortals are known — beyond a shadow of a doubt — to observe the world and intervene both physically and supernaturally within the limits of their power (which, compared to mortals, is understood to be quite vast).

Different countries and cities may revere one of the Immortals over the others, but all have a respect for the pantheon in its entirety. There have not been any wars as a result of the reverence of different Immortals. Although a person would generally be looked down upon for the reverence (or more likely worship) of Morrak or the other evil Immortals, the only time anyone is persecuted is when other crimes have been committed (e.g. murder, theft).

Most people believe in the existence of the Most High Being as mentioned in the creation story. Many hold that the Most High Being is as far beyond the Immortals as the Immortals are beyond mortals; omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent. A widespread belief is that mortals are so far removed from divinity that people must ask the Immortals to intercede on their behalves, and so prayers are *rarely* directed at the Most High Being himself. There are some who question whether the Most High Being is involved in the lives of mortals at all, and others who reject his existence entirely. When sacrifices (e.g. livestock) and offerings (e.g. harvests) are made, tradition in most lands is to ask whichever Immortal is locally revered to carry the blessing to the Most High and beg his favor.

It is commonly believed that those who honor the Immortals and the Most High, and lead good lives, are rewarded in the afterlife; those whose actions are evil are condemned to the underworld.

The largest temple in the world is the Holy Court of Alnarya at Mount Kayviar where the Voices of Life are trained.