Auria
Auria is the name of the Galaxy in which all major events of this setting take place in (albeit only the events that are known from the perspective of its denizens). It is one of infinite Celestial Spheres present in the vast ocean of the chaos, the primordial force known only as the Cosmos. It was created eons ago by beings known as the Eldest by compressing and ordering the chaotic Ethers of the Cosmos into a material place capable of carrying life. Before the Eldest left to create more Celestial Spheres they left behind Gods who would represent the primal forces of Auria and oversee its continued existence.
At the earliest stages of Auria when the galaxy was still newborn and the first races had only just begun to develop into sophisticated nations, the Planet Dragoosh would be the staging ground of the event known by the Dragons as the Dusk of Dawn which follows the first Dragons Zamendrya and Xaxandros as they lived in union with the races of their planet, giving gifts in exchange for friendship and story yet tragedy would befall the Dragons when the races they watched over began to war with one another for the attention of their winged guardians, leading to a desolation of their planet which coincided with Xaxandros' fall to depression as he began to question his very existence and purpose that the Eldest left him with. Throwing himself into the Cosmos to end his misery, Xaxandros's body broke and twisted itself into a demonic shape that washed madness over him, transforming the scholarly yet kind Dragon into a monster that sought to destroy the galaxy in the name of chaos.
The war between Xaxandros and his sister Zamendrya, the Gods and their foremost servants would lead to Dragoosh' annihilation and the All-Father being locked away within the deepest depths of the Underhell.
With Dragoosh in pieces, the rest of Auria would continue to host rich cultures and fervent peoples who would found kingdoms, developed technologies, waged war with monster and kin alike, only to fall into obscurity, their civilisations now ruins scattered and crumbling, ancient in the eyes of newer generations of races that continue to come and go. An endless cycle that is deemed necessary for the health of the galaxy.
Features
- - - The Heavens - - -
The entirety of Auria is encased in a spherical bubble known as the Heavens. It is the foremost and only defence against the rampant primal force of the Cosmos that threatens to pierce it. It is powered by the Afterworld and the Gods that dwell in it.
- - - Sea of Stars - - -
The space between planets is known as the Sea of Stars, a region that is light in Ether. With no air, living beings are incapable of breathing when exposed to the Sea of Stars, requiring the use of tools and vessels to breathe while on exodus.
- - - The Afterworld - - -
Existing in parallel to Auria, the Afterworld is both the place where souls go when their lives end as well as where life begins in new souls. It is the ethereal realm of the Gods themselves, a vast and beautiful world where time loses meaning and existence is bliss. The great river-like Soulstream runs through the middle of the Afterworld, a ceaseless stream of power fed on the experiences of souls who have passed on which also helps in the creation of new souls ready to take on life.
- - - The Ethereal Chain - - -
This powerful and ceaseless stream of energy originates from the core of the Sun and connects from one planet to the next, serving as a tunnel of power that Mortals use in moving between planets at a faster rate. After Wyrmeron it attaches itself to the Watchful Daughter, one of Auria's two moons who then guides the planets in their rotation. While the Ethereal Chain is static in the order of planets it moves through, smaller streams are created when two planets get close enough to one another.
- - - The Sun, Lifeheart - - -
The very centre of Auria features the brilliant Sun of the galaxy, the Lifeheart. The planets of Auria rotate around the axis of the Sun in a perfectly balanced state that allows a day-night cycle to occur on each planet as evenly as possible as well as the natural change in weather all year long.
- - - The Moons, Watchful Daughter and Wayward Son - - -
Auria has two Moons, the Watchful Daughter and the Wayward Son. Both are located on the edge of the Heavens and move across it. The Watchful Daughter is attached to Wyrmeron via the Ethereal Chain and takes part in guiding the movement of the planets around the Sun. The Wayward Son is independent from the rest of Auria's celestial bodies and moves freely on its own.
- - - Planets - - -
Auria features seven planets that are inhabited by life. Each planet features different climates and biomes unique from the rest. The planets are also known as Worlds, sometimes also Stars.
- - - Shards of Dragoosh - - -
The remains of Dragoosh, the world that was destroyed during the Dusk of Dawn, still float across the galaxy aimlessly. They are empty with life and exist merely as a reminder of a star that no longer exists.
Travel
Travel between the planets of Auria is accomplished via mortal-made Skyships and the utilisation of the Ethereal Chain. Each planet features a prominent Skyport where interplanetary travel begins and ends. The cost of a one-way ticket from one planet to another is 25G and takes around 24 hours to complete (48 hours between Gwynbrenon and Imperia; and Serena and Wyrmeron). All transport Skyships are built to accommodate passengers with private quarters for sleep as well as onboard services like a canteen and restrooms. Skyships used magically-generated barriers to create a habitable bubble while travelling in the harsh Sea of Stars and technology is used to simulate the passage of the day for passengers.
Dragons are also capable of flying from one planet to the next. Their fully-grown bodies are naturally evolved to withstand the void and an adult Dragon is able to fly roughly 50% faster than the common-variety Skyship used for public transport, making travel from one world to another take roughly 12 hours of constant flying.
Ancient Waygates are also present on each planet that, when powered, can create a portal that connects two Waygates for instantaneous travel. These Waygates are sparse and require the seal of the Dragonqueen to be activated.
