Setting/Background Info
It's hard to talk about the characters when we have no idea where we are. So,
WELCOME TO THE FOURTH AGE.
The Fourth Age is the next stage of time, where the dragons have disappeared and humans take the reins as the dominant race once again, free of the influence of the dragon gods. Also known as, This Age, the time were are currently living. However, the year this story takes place is purposely made ambiguous (to keep things lifelike), but it's generally implied that it's sometime in the future from now.
How We Got Here
The Third Age ended when all Eleven deities got together to discuss a final solution for the Shade, that evil, all-consuming abomination out in space that's corrupting everything and striking involuntary fear into the hearts of everyone. Thanks to the increased popularity of polytheism due to the speakings of a suddenly appearing human magi from the Second Age (It Makes Sense in Context), the deities are, more or less, forced to work with each other and improve each others' relations (and their own mixed ideas of their existence become questioned). Through Teeth-Clenched Teamwork, they come to a drastic and ultimately risky conclusion:
They will sacrifice all the life energy of the planet, including their own, to restart the world, where humans once again rule, and project a magical barrier to block out the Shade as they rebuild.
Under the words of the last human mage (who they decided to keep alive this age as well to watch things, much to his dismay), the best chance they have against the Shade is through the constructive power of humanity, who was able to construct a machine so powerful, that it wiped the lands clean and brought forth the birth of three new deities. If the deities were able to utilize this energy, they could be able to eliminate the Shade once and for all. However, the dragons, with their animalistic forms and unconventional sizes, the deities nor their followers could design or construct such a mechanism, for that require a delicacy only human fingers have, and all the humanoid beastclans either hate dragonkind, or are also unwieldy for the task. And so, the deities were running out of options.
Due to the deities' position as gods, they shall always exist, in one form or another, and their spirits will lie dormant, where they will rebirth on the new planet in a human form. They will have no memories of their past life, and they will live like an ordinary human, from birth to death, unless they are reawakened (which never happened). With planning, the last mage (still here) had finally made it where they will be born near each other, all in the same town, where he can watch them all. Good timing too, since the Shade finally managed to make a crack in the Barrier of the World and will soon begin its feast.
You can read more about the history here. But let's move on.
Locations of Interest
- Sworncliff, California
Sworncliff, a beach-side town, was originally founded by miners who were hoping to cash in on the California Gold Rush. However, as it turns out, there was a distinct lack of gold in the area, leading the small settlement to be abandoned, turning it into a ghost town. Much later, a man named Duncan Hamilton rediscovered the cove and noted its potential as something greater than a failed scheme. Standing on a high cliff that over looked the town, he swore that he will restore this settlement, along with his family, to withstand test of the ages, hense the name Sworncliff. Currently, it's more or less similar to a college town, the culture basing itself around the World's Pillar Preparatory Academy. It's also a popular romantic spot, with its beaches and hills. It keeps a low population, usually just the students of the academy and their families, plus a few people who simply want to stay away from the bustle of the city.
- Reedcleft, California
Reedcleft is a lot like Sworncliff, except, instead of having the Academy, it houses the Talonok Institute. Placed along a river, the town is named after the thick vegetation surrounding the area. The river itself shared the name afterwards. It was originally founded as simply a homestead, but it eventually grew into a bustling town (thanks Manifest Destiny). Closest town to Sworncliff, or, at least, the most notable. It's a bit bigger than Sworncliff, due to being older, and has a few more shops and locations, but still relies on Heirston for most services.
- Heirston, California
Heirston is a economic hotspot, with many big businesses basing their operations here. It's the closest city to Sworncliff and Reedcleft, providing the citizens what their small town lacks, such as department stores, concert venues, libraries, etc. The lights are always on, but there are still dark corners, where shadowy business is dealted, the occult is whispered, and corruption runs unrestrained. Due to its multiple nuclei and very confusing roads (even for Californians!), it gained the nickname the Hewn City.
Places of interest
Most of these are in Sworncliff, where most of the action takes place.
- World's Pillar Preparatory Academy
A private high school founded by the Dunhoofs (Dunhooves?), it's known for it's academics and university-like campus. Our heroes attend this school, and it has funds siphoned in by many of the wealthier students' families, including the Lyffes and Prices. In sports and competitions, they are the Pillar Dragons, and their school colors are red and gold.
- Talonok Institute
A private high school not in Sworncliff, but Reedcleft. It's known for its sports and its infamous occult activities, possessing a black magic club and having multiple cases of disappearances on its campus ground. Despite so, it has a sponsor in Kingdom Industries. In sports and competitions, they are the Talonok Hawks, and their school colors are blue and white. They usually consider themselves the rival to WPA, and the feeling is mutual.
- Starfall Bookshop
The only place that sells books in Sworncliff. As the school library only has college brochures and textbooks for research, students who want anything else either have to go to the library or store in Heirston, order whatever online, or they can go to Starfall. The building is most likely one of the oldest ones in town, but very few actually remember it. It's owned by the Castor household, who also live in the flat above the store.
- Ashfall Forge
A metalwork shop ran by the Hino household. If it's made of metal, it can be found, made, and/or sold here. Usually, they have a collection of tools, sculptures, replicas or weapons, and spare parts in stock, but they also take commissions for people who need something specific.
- Home/Dragonhome
An important manor where the town founder's family, the Hamiltons, lived. Before the massacre, it was a great place to have parties. Afterwards, it's an empty shell closed off for investigation, parts caved in from tremors, and is humored to be haunted by the ghosts of its former residents.
- Focal Point Observatory
On some hills outside of town is an old abandoned observatory. It's in disrepair and nobody seems to consider fixing it back up due to lack of interest. Oddly, it's always windy around the hills, making them an excellent location for flying kites.
- The Boneyard
The graveyard. It's not actually named that, it's just that the place is so old that its name plate had become illegible. Everyone took to calling it The Boneyard and it just stuck. Even the authorities got too used to calling it that to give it a new name.
- The Forum
Not exactly a location and more of an idea. What the Sworncliff underworld is referred to sometimes. The area is in the poorer end of town, but the boundaries shift a lot. A notable location almost always within its invisible bounds is the Driftwood Drag, a tavern where the lowest of lows can hang out, play cards, get wasted, and make shady deals.
Groups of Interest
Companies and organizations to know.
- Tempest Corporations
One of the largest technological manufacturers in the world. Practices questionable, murky activities, but it's widely agreed that, whatever they are doing, it's working. Known famously for their phones, dubbed Spires. Current CEOs are both Victor and Oria Price; a staple of the company is that they always have a married two at a time. The founder is the deceased Ulysses Price.
- Kingdom Industries
Formed from the union of a few small businesses into a manufacturer of many high quality goods, it had been only around for about a decade so far, yet it is rapidly expanding and is climbing the economic ladder at extraordinary speeds. In the technology department, they are considered to be the rival of Tempest, based off of the relationship between the CEOs of both companies. Current CEO and founder is Tamara Howards.
- Kiloflux Architecture
An architectural and construction company based in Atlanta, Georgia, but they have offices all over the US, one in Heirston. That's the cover, anyways. Their more profitable business is their assassin faction, the Maren, who can be hired by the knowledgeable folk with the cash to pay for a taken life or few. They specialize in poisoning and invasion, preferring to take someone out and leave quietly with the arrows pointing elsewhere. However, they really do construct and do architecture, and many people who work for the company don't know about the assassins, and some even work both jobs. Current CEO is Undine Pickman. Founder is the deceased Mary Tamesis.