Yellows FactionRichard GalbraithYellow by name, but not yellow by nature. If the Yellows are renowned for anything, it’s their flashiness, their zeal, their absolute, unrelenting ability to get what they want, and look good while they do it. Certainly not cowards. They have this arrogance and pomposity about them that’s hard to rival and impossible to replicate.
Whereas the Pinks found their position in the Kingdom of Speedfreaks as the freakiest, the most flamboyant and wildest, the Yellow Faction has made their name for being the smoothest, coolest and possibly the most sensationally awesome faction not only within the Speedfreak kingdom, but in the KOE as a whole. Only accepting the very best new talent into their ranks, they’ve been able to prove why they can do this by their prowess on the battlefield time and time again, fueling their growth and bolstering the power of the kingdom overall.
Speedfreaks KingdomRichard GalbraithRevolution, change, turmoil, the people pushed the Empire through all these and pulled something out the other side that no one could have predicted. For some, the need, the want and lust for this change was there for generations, those that were subjugated by the Empire and forced into their roles, to provide more for those who already had so much. For others, the ones in power, the force was in the opposite direction, trying to cling on to their establishments and institutions as the power of the Ether Crystals gathered and became that catalyst that grew into an unstoppable force of change. Then, there were the others, reckless and carefree, those that neither cared to support the regime of the past, or to fight for the freedom of the future. Here, we find the Speedfreaks.
The Empire had many layers, the institutions, the powerful, those grandiose bourgeoisies that strutted through their world, high in their ivory towers. The challenge for such individuals, these groups, was rarely to keep their power, but more, to keep themselves entertained, and during the halcyon days of their reign, the primary source of this entertainment were the jousters. Entertainers, celebrities, stars in their own right, these warrior-sports-people fought their battles and then partied like there was no tomorrow, mixing with the great and powerful. Admired by the rulers, idolised by the ruled, they held everyone’s attention, and they knew they had it.
As the world changed, as all realised the power of the Ether Crystals and the revolution took place, everyone had to find their new roles. The Kingdoms of Ether rose, and the kingdoms within, each with their own reason for being, took form, shaped themselves around their new environment, and found their purpose. The Speedfreaks were no different, jousters similar to the Speedfiends, but whereas the Fiends were those elite warriors that dominated the sport, the Freaks were the youngbloods; the ones fighting their way to the top.
Now, with the dust settling, and the Kingdoms of Ether establishing themselves in their own particular ways, the Kingdom of Speedfreaks is a kingdom of rebels. Once the young jousters fighting for their spot in the limelight, now they hold their own within the KOE by accepting anyone and everyone into their ranks. Open minds, open arms, freedom and rebellion are their key traits, and to fight for a new world where they are at the command of no one, and are there to make the future their own.
Tigers FactionRichard GalbraithThe Rudescouts, a kingdom of feral children, born out of their ability to use the Ether Crystals to connect with their primordial self and their animal spirits. Everyone that enters the kingdom knows that they have little say in what that spirit is. They only know that if they choose to enter the Rudescouts, they will be taken to the Ether Crystals, and their spirit animal shall be revealed.
Each animal has its advantages, some stealth, some strength, but there is one faction within the kingdom that stands above the rest. Here we have the Tigers. A combination of raw power, courage and strength, alongside the ability to stalk, hide and chase, the Tigers are not only feared within the Rudescout Kingdom, but across the Kingdoms of Ether total.
Rudescouts KingdomRichard GalbraithThe Empire, colossal, ancient, vast in scale but always deeply divided. Since its inception and across its monumental rise, the divide that existed was clear to all those who cared to look, the line drawn between those that believed in the Empire’s continued existence, and those that wanted change. The fervent passion of those on both sides built and spilled out in various forms, the Empire’s advocates looking to stamp out rebellion, those in search of change, looking to rise. For time immemorial, the back and forth remained, but when the world discovered the Ether Crystals, the advocates for change realised here was now an opportunity that had never come before.
The Empire fell, the Kingdoms of Ether rose, and within those kingdoms, something peculiar happened. It’s no new thing to use children as tools for war, but never had anyone seen the youngest amongst them gather up with such strength, and with such fervent passion for something new, something different. Instead of being indoctrinated and held by the various Kingdoms, the younger generation of the revolution banded together to form their own Kingdom, one driven by those who were always looking for change in the old Empire, but could never gather the strength to move forward, to create that revolution when faced with something so colossal.
The Ether Crystals changed that, changed everything. The youth of this world found they could utilise the crystal’s power in a way those beyond a certain age could not, and with this discovery, the Kingdom of the Rudescouts was born. Primordial, feral, children and teens banding together to form their own Kingdom, finding this new power within the Crystals to connect with the animal nature of the inner self, copying the fighting styles of various animals, and embracing the primordial nature of early humankind. A kingdom or raw energy, primal rage and bloody passion.
Nethers FactionRichard GalbraithWe each engage the world in our own particular way, some lust for power and wealth, others for knowledge and wisdom. The spectrum is wide and ever expanding. There are factions and kingdoms throughout the KOE that cater for every viewpoint, every stance, every creed or philosophy, so it comes as no surprise that within the mystical Kingdom of Fairywaves, there are those that reach down into the darker side of reality, down and into the Nethers.
The Nethers faction is those that look to the Ether Crystals as a conduit for communication with those that we have lost to time. A vehicle for something that has tormented humanity since the birth of early consciousness, how to communicate with the dead. Now, the Nethers believe they have that ability, that chance to not only open those doors of communication, but perhaps even bring the dead back to life.
Fairywaves KingdomRichard GalbraithReligion sects, pagan cults, spiritual sects, deep-rooted orders, underground denominations, the Empire, as old and as wide reaching as it was, had it all. As its power grew, conquering and sucking up civilization after civilization, sometimes they aligned with the core religions of the state, other times they added new ones. The Empire, despite its lust for ever-growing power, was light in its religious oppression. Most were free to choose which faith they wanted as long as it did not subvert the Empire itself, and they met anything that did with a swift hand, either wiping it out, or driving it so far underground it was not possible to have any impact.
Then came the Ether Crystals, where some saw an opportunity for building power, others saw the potential for riches, where some saw a tool for science and industry, others saw a catalyst for religion and spirituality, and then, there were others that saw mysticism and wisdom. There are those within the Empire that chose a different path, where they were laughed at and mocked for their mystical beliefs, and yet they did not care. They kept themselves closed off, buried deep within the old roots of the ancient cities. They held onto their beliefs and found solace in each other and the mode of their thought. When the Ether Crystals were first discovered, they found an element that gave their mode of thought truer meaning, that brought to life that which they sought for so long.
Here, we find the Fairywaves. A Kingdom of mystics that came together through their own particular beliefs in the world around them, and in the Ether Crystals. They work with the crystals as a tool to bring them closer to their deities, believing in ancient powers and looking to the sun, the moon, the forest and the nether as sources of their wisdom and power. In the old world, within the Empire, they met ridicule. Within the new world, within the Kingdoms of Ether, where the power of the Ether Crystals can facilitate the unknown in ways beyond comprehension, they are considered a force unto their own with mysterious powers and cryptic goals.
Fairywaves KingdomRichard GalbraithThe Fairywaves, a Kingdom of mystics that came together through their own particular beliefs in the world around them, and in the Ether Crystals. They work with the crystals as a tool to bring them closer to their deities, believing in ancient powers and looking to the sun, the moon, the forest and the nether as sources of their wisdom and power.
Lore: Religion sects, pagan cults, spiritual sects, deep-rooted orders, underground denominations, the Empire, as old and as wide reaching as it was, had it all. As its power grew, conquering and sucking up civilization after civilization, sometimes they aligned with the core religions of the state, other times they added new ones. The Empire, despite its lust for ever-growing power, was light in its religious oppression. Most were free to choose which faith they wanted as long as it did not subvert the Empire itself, and they met anything that did with a swift hand, either wiping it out, or driving it so far underground it was not possible to have any impact.
Then came the Ether Crystals, where some saw an opportunity for building power, others saw the potential for riches, where some saw a tool for science and industry, others saw a catalyst for religion and spirituality, and then, there were others that saw mysticism and wisdom. There are those within the Empire that chose a different path, where they were laughed at and mocked for their mystical beliefs, and yet they did not care. They kept themselves closed off, buried deep within the old roots of the ancient cities. They held onto their beliefs and found solace in each other and the mode of their thought. When the Ether Crystals were first discovered, they found an element that gave their mode of thought truer meaning, that brought to life that which they sought for so long.
Here, we find the Fairywaves. A Kingdom of mystics that came together through their own particular beliefs in the world around them, and in the Ether Crystals. They work with the crystals as a tool to bring them closer to their deities, believing in ancient powers and looking to the sun, the moon, the forest and the nether as sources of their wisdom and power. In the old world, within the Empire, they met ridicule. Within the new world, within the Kingdoms of Ether, where the power of the Ether Crystals can facilitate the unknown in ways beyond comprehension, they are considered a force unto their own with mysterious powers and cryptic goals.
Blackcore FactionRichard GalbraithA faction as shrouded in myth and secrecy as can be possible within the KOE. We know so little of the Blackcore that some even consider them a Kingdom in their own right. After the fall of the Empire, it was those that sat at the top of the highest elites within the old world that reached out, took as many Ether Crystals as they could, and disappeared.
Driving themselves down, deep into the ancient catacombs of the Empire’s fallen cities, to look deep into the Crystals, to use their unsound methods and their dark arts, and to find another plane, another level of existence that they’d never reached before. Now, no one knows whether they have attained their goals, but some day, the KOE will come to understand what the rituals, sacrifices and venerations of the Blackcores have achieved, but whether the world will be ready is another consideration all together.
Drippies KingdomRichard GalbraithWe can hardly imagine now the vast wealth that the Empire created for those few at the very pinnacle of its hierarchy. Before its fall and at its peak, those that sat atop of the Empire’s mighty ivory towers experienced luxury and riches beyond even the wildest dreams of those that trudged the streets or fought on the battlefields of this colossal civilisation. But, as with any culture, those riches rarely satisfy those at that pinnacle, at the top and, thus, they become bored with what they have, and move beyond the material and into other areas of pleasure and gratification.
As the Empire grew, so did the wealth of this elite group. As more and more hoarded their riches and power, the want and lust and greed for ever more nefarious activities also continued. The lives of these people growing ever more complex, ever more intertwined and ever more impossible to understand by those outside this ultra-exclusive ring of humans. Their lusts moved on from material possessions. Diamonds, cars, and other such things no longer pleased them. They looked to other orders of pleasure, of satisfying their wants and desires, the occult, and the dark arts. As the power of the Ether Crystals continued to be discovered, as the idea of their power grew, these people looked at them as a way of not only extending their control but also in helping them reach ungodly realms of pleasure and bliss.
Here, we find the Kingdom of the Drippies, the ultra-elite of the KOE. Shrouded in mystery, they used the vast wealth they had before the fall of the Empire to band together and depart their old estates. Reaching into the new world, they accumulated as many Ether Crystals as they could, and shut themselves off from the rest of the kingdom in order to delve into the crystal’s power, looking to explore their ability for ever grander pleasures. Their bizarre rituals, intertwined lives, occult rites of passage and everything else to do with their behaviour is only that of rumour within the KOE, as they continue to keep themselves utterly closed off from the world, unless it is to their benefit, to meddle in the lives of others.
Blackcore FactionRichard GalbraithA faction as shrouded in myth and secrecy as can be possible within the KOE. We know so little of the Blackcore that some even consider them a Kingdom in their own right. After the fall of the Empire, it was those that sat at the top of the highest elites within the old world that reached out, took as many Ether Crystals as they could, and disappeared.
Driving themselves down, deep into the ancient catacombs of the Empire’s fallen cities, to look deep into the Crystals, to use their unsound methods and their dark arts, and to find another plane, another level of existence that they’d never reached before. Now, no one knows whether they have attained their goals, but some day, the KOE will come to understand what the rituals, sacrifices and venerations of the Blackcores have achieved, but whether the world will be ready is another consideration all together.
Drippies KingdomRichard GalbraithWe can hardly imagine now the vast wealth that the Empire created for those few at the very pinnacle of its hierarchy. Before its fall and at its peak, those that sat atop of the Empire’s mighty ivory towers experienced luxury and riches beyond even the wildest dreams of those that trudged the streets or fought on the battlefields of this colossal civilisation. But, as with any culture, those riches rarely satisfy those at that pinnacle, at the top and, thus, they become bored with what they have, and move beyond the material and into other areas of pleasure and gratification.
As the Empire grew, so did the wealth of this elite group. As more and more hoarded their riches and power, the want and lust and greed for ever more nefarious activities also continued. The lives of these people growing ever more complex, ever more intertwined and ever more impossible to understand by those outside this ultra-exclusive ring of humans. Their lusts moved on from material possessions. Diamonds, cars, and other such things no longer pleased them. They looked to other orders of pleasure, of satisfying their wants and desires, the occult, and the dark arts. As the power of the Ether Crystals continued to be discovered, as the idea of their power grew, these people looked at them as a way of not only extending their control but also in helping them reach ungodly realms of pleasure and bliss.
Here, we find the Kingdom of the Drippies, the ultra-elite of the KOE. Shrouded in mystery, they used the vast wealth they had before the fall of the Empire to band together and depart their old estates. Reaching into the new world, they accumulated as many Ether Crystals as they could, and shut themselves off from the rest of the kingdom in order to delve into the crystal’s power, looking to explore their ability for ever grander pleasures. Their bizarre rituals, intertwined lives, occult rites of passage and everything else to do with their behaviour is only that of rumour within the KOE, as they continue to keep themselves utterly closed off from the world, unless it is to their benefit, to meddle in the lives of others.
Drippies KingdomRichard GalbraithWe can hardly imagine now the vast wealth that the Empire created for those few at the very pinnacle of its hierarchy. Before its fall and at its peak, those that sat atop of the Empire’s mighty ivory towers experienced luxury and riches beyond even the wildest dreams of those that trudged the streets or fought on the battlefields of this colossal civilisation. But, as with any culture, those riches rarely satisfy those at that pinnacle, at the top and, thus, they become bored with what they have, and move beyond the material and into other areas of pleasure and gratification.
As the Empire grew, so did the wealth of this elite group. As more and more hoarded their riches and power, the want and lust and greed for ever more nefarious activities also continued. The lives of these people growing ever more complex, ever more intertwined and ever more impossible to understand by those outside this ultra-exclusive ring of humans. Their lusts moved on from material possessions. Diamonds, cars, and other such things no longer pleased them. They looked to other orders of pleasure, of satisfying their wants and desires, the occult, and the dark arts. As the power of the Ether Crystals continued to be discovered, as the idea of their power grew, these people looked at them as a way of not only extending their control but also in helping them reach ungodly realms of pleasure and bliss.
Here, we find the Kingdom of the Drippies, the ultra-elite of the KOE. Shrouded in mystery, they used the vast wealth they had before the fall of the Empire to band together and depart their old estates. Reaching into the new world, they accumulated as many Ether Crystals as they could, and shut themselves off from the rest of the kingdom in order to delve into the crystal’s power, looking to explore their ability for ever grander pleasures. Their bizarre rituals, intertwined lives, occult rites of passage and everything else to do with their behaviour is only that of rumour within the KOE, as they continue to keep themselves utterly closed off from the world, unless it is to their benefit, to meddle in the lives of others.
Bowies FactionRichard GalbraithThe Ether Crystals are still largely an unknown entity within the KOE, some believe that humanity will never truly know their origins or powers, others simply believe there is nothing to know, that they are a resource to be mined and utilised the same way any other resource would, from precious metals to minerals and ores.
There are some however, that see them as something different entirely, whereas most want to explore and understand the crystals to help them gain power, the Bowies are here to use them to explore the universe. Hopeful interstellar explorers, the Bowies focus on the unrealised potential of the Ether Crystals to explore the universe; they do not want to fight the wars of the rest of the Factions and Kingdoms, but escape into the unknown with the power of these new elements.
Retrorockers KingdomRichard GalbraithFor as long as the Empire reigned, for as long as it held onto its power and held dominion over its people, there were also always those that stood and fought against it. For those on either side, the work was endless. The Empire had its ways and means, had its own particular forces at work that were ordered with not only maintaining the status quo, but ensuring that their power continually grew. The Templars of old, there to crush rebellion, stamp out dissent, quell revolution, now have their own kingdom and factions within. Their mission, to resurrect their old power and strength. Those that stood up to the Templars then, and that continue to fight them now are spread across many kingdoms within the new realm of the KOE, those looking for freedom, for individuality, for their own piece of this world, but where they are most concentrated is within the Kingdom of Retrorockers.
Rebels true, freedom fighters, those that stood and looked at the way of things, at those who ruled, and those that were subjugated, at those who had the power and wealth and those who didn’t, and decided that things needed to change. For centuries, as the Empire grew and consolidated its power, there were always those that struggled against it. There will always be a cause, always those to raise a fist, always a group or force that simply refuses to follow the herd. Sometimes these people fight for their own beliefs, sometimes they take the battle to the very streets they are trying to free, other times they utilise more peaceful means, protest and rebellion take on many forms after all.
As the Empire fell, many realised the power of the Ether Crystals. Some for the technological power and knowledge that they possessed and how to understand that and utilise it for change. Others, those peaceful rebels, the ones that often looked inward rather than outward, looked to the crystals as a message, as something to be considered, understood and taken inward, rather than used outwardly. These individuals, those that searched for freedom and peace in the old Empire now have come together to form their own Kingdom within the KOE, one that preaches their ideals, and looks to the Ether Crystals as not only a catalyst for change within the world, but within humankind itself. Psychonauts with interstellar ambitions, they are here to find a truer meaning for their cause, within the crystals and spread it across the land.
Skulls FactionRichard GalbraithFor those that believe in nothing, for a kingdom of nihilists, the factions of the Gothpunks have certain characteristics that distinguish them between each other and help them come together under even the smallest of banners.
The faction of Skulls are here to fight for the love of fighting. They are here for scorched earth and raised cities, as opposed to any noble cause or crusade. In a Kingdom where most factions choose to fight in the digital realm, the Skulls take the fight offline and into the real world. Where they don’t have the tactical knowledge of those factions that belong to the Templars, or the suave and cunning of those in the Speedfiends, the Skulls and the other fighting factions of the Gothpunks also lack one thing that gives them an advantage, they have no fear.
They fight for nothing, they fight for no one, they only fight for the love of fighting, and on the battlegrounds of the Kingdoms of Ether, this is a rare advantage that often sees them topple even the most brutal of fighting factions.
Gothpunks KingdomRichard GalbraithChange, this is the word, the idea, the concept on which the revolution took place, that helped fuel the downfall of the Empire, and the rise of the Kingdoms of Ether. The Ether Crystals themselves were, of course, the catalyst, the tool by which the change started, but long before they found the crystals, the idea had taken root. The people were looking for something different, eager for a new way, desperate for the balance to tip and the old order to fall. So, when the change came, the Empire fell, the Kingdoms rose, many thought that this new dawn, this new era, would bring with it a sense of harmony, the challenge being that not all wanted harmony to begin with.
The Kingdom of the Gothpunks, an undercurrent, a divergence, a world of factions and the individuals within them that hold only one belief, that they believe in nothing. The wanderers and the outcasts of the Empire, they have found some solace in the new world, banding together in their own kingdom, hoping they might yet bring down the system entirely. Wanting nothing other than chaos, the absolute collapse of any form of civil or normal society. Where they were separate, disparate and weak in the old Empire, now they have their own kingdom, and they are legion.
They go about their fight in the nihilistic fashion their belief system aligns with, scraping together small armies to attack Ether Mines where they can find them, kill and steal as much as they can before heading into their true home, the digital realm. Whereas other kingdoms and the factions within have the strength of powerful armies, the knowledge of engineering or warfare, the Gothpunks choose to take their fight into the digital world of the kingdoms, where they topple other factions and recruit as many as they can to their cause, one of ultimate anarchy and total freedom.
Crusaders FactionRichard GalbraithThere is a reason the Empire was called the Empire, and this war largely because of the bold efforts of the Crusaders. They consider themselves noble warriors, as all crusaders tend to. The ones on the receiving end of their efforts to conquer and convert often think differently. Pre the fall of the Empire, they marauded across lands with raised flags of their states and rulers, conquering all and destroying anyone that dared raise their own arms against the Empire’s ever expanding borders.
Now, in the Kingdoms of Ether, they are part of the remaining few, the Kingdom of Templars, those that stand for the ways of old and hope to resurrect their former glory. The Crusaders are heavily armed, bold in purpose, but still deny or are just too ignorant to admit to the power of the Ether Crystals, and this hampers them in their attempts to rebuild the old Empire.
Templars KingdomRichard Galbraith The fall, the change of the guard, the rise of the new out of the old. It took time, and it was painful. The discovery of the Ether Crystals and the gradual erosion of the Empire took place over a prolonged period. As much as some people wanted change, there were old powers, establishments and structures in place that were there to quell any uprising, to destroy any sedition and to wipe out any thought or chance of rebellion. They quickly crushed those who looked for something new, some way out of the Empire’s reign, and the Templars were instrumental in this process. The embodiment of the Empire, the right hand of the rulers, the rod and axe, ready to dispense their own form of justice and punishment to those that dared speak openly about something new, about this change that they so sought.
Of course, even the mighty Templar could not withstand the power of revolution. The Ether Crystals, this catalyst for change, their infiltration of the Empire did not go unnoticed, but perhaps hubris played a part in how they were not so swiftly delt with. The Templars, almighty, powerful, undefeated in time immemorial, with eyes and ears in all places. They believed they knew all, saw all, heard all. They thought nothing escaped them, that they quickly crushed slight against the Empire and wiped it out, but it was this arrogance that made them almost blind to what was happening right before their very eyes.
A mighty fire rose out of small sparks, and soon, the revolution even overcame the mighty Templars. They underestimated the power of the Ether Crystals, and as the Empire fell, buckling under the weight of its own arrogance, the Templars also suffered. In the Kingdoms of Ether, the remaining Templars have come together to build their own Kingdom, one dedicated to utilising the Ether Crystals to rebuild the Empire of old, to control all once more, and to regain the power they once had. They are strong now, not as strong as they once were, but their warrior nature, their secretive ways and their fraternity and brotherhood hold them in good stead for the ongoing evolution within the Kingdom.
Reds FactionRichard GalbraithRed for fire, red for warning, red for flare. The Kingdom of Speedfiends is known for its engineering and cunning, for being builders, for being legends in the old world and heroes in the new. Using that knowledge, that skill, that guile to mine for the Crystals of Ether, the Kingdom does well in a world fraught with war. Within a Kingdom renowned for its engineering excellence and heroic arrogance, the Reds stand out due to the sheer levels of their skill and prowess when it comes to handling these vehicles.
Whereas most of the factions within this kingdom use the menagerie of vehicles at their disposal with their knowledge and flight of foot for quick mining activities, and to barter with others, the Reds use them fearlessly for whatever requirements they have. From mining, to bringing the fight to some of the other more war mongering Kingdoms. Their unique mix of bravery, skill and arrogance sees them often holding power across the Kingdom, and the other Speedfiend factions.
Speedfiends KingdomRichard GalbraithThe Ether Crystals, the catalyst for change, the element for revolution. As the Empire fell and the Kingdoms rose out of the old world, each began to find its own unique character. Each building on foundational ideas and philosophies, sometimes brought from the old world, sometimes new and rendered from the need for change.
The Kingdom of Speedfiends, an eclectic mix of warriors and engineers and heroes that pull together a unique blend of the old and new. Sports heroes from before the Empire fell, from jousters to turbo-charged street car runners and elite super-car racers. Engineers that looked to jack-up every possible vehicle they could get their hands on, EV ultra-torque desert mobiles, swamp buggies, turbo-fired speedboats and everything in-between. A kingdom that came together around the passion for speed, a love of machinery, and a lust for building and a need for fame.
Now, in the new world, post Empire and in the race against the other Kingdoms for the Ether Crystals, the SpeedFiends hold their own unique position amongst them. Not the strongest of Kingdoms, not the most gallant or the bravest, but they are the fastest and where they lack in fighting ability, they more than make up for in flair and cunning. Their prowess when it comes to engineering and the vehicles they can build goes unmatched. Sometimes they barter and build alliances with other Kingdoms and Factions to help them work the Ether Mines, other times they’re able to head straight into new deposits and back out again before the other Kingdoms have even noticed.
The Kingdom holds its own against the others a mix of engineering skill and pure arrogance, they are each day evolving their engineering skills and honing them in on the ability to mine the Crystals, barter and trade, and defend themselves against the more imperial of Kingdoms.
Crystals of EtherRichard GalbraithThe Empire fell, the Kingdoms of Ether rose. The Ether Crystals became the source of value and power, and the mining of these powerful elements became the sole cause for the Kingdom's existence, as they each sought supremacy through the powers the crystals possessed.
It is said, any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. The Ether Crystals are that critical element within the Kingdoms of Ether that are used as a form of currency, and also by those who believe such magic, a catalyst for revolution, exists in these precious elements. Not a technology, an element, but as with all elements, ones that start as a simple precious mineral often evolve, their use becoming more complex as great minds get to work. Their powers are just being discovered, they are used in technology, they inspire, and they help create change.
Kingdoms of Ether PrologueRichard GalbraithThe Empire, a world divided. A world of vast power, control, riches and wealth, but split, cracked, rife with division, fueled by those who fought to claw their way toward a better life. For the others, the ones in control, the politicians, the mega-corps, able to act as they wished, they held onto their power with every atom of their being, but there were rumblings of subversion, of revolution.
Change has a way of finding cracks in the mortar of dominion.
Those who were controlled by the few began seeking a new way, a new rule, a new mode of existence. This didn’t come in a moment, a sudden flash of revolution, but more in the creeping roar of evolution. The change that so many sought, found in the Ether Crystals.
They say, any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic, and many believed they would find such magic, a catalyst for revolution, in these precious elements. Not a technology, an element, but as with all elements, ones that start as a simple precious metal often evolve, their use becoming more complex as great minds get to work.
To begin, in their simplest form, they used the Crystals as a new form of currency. Accessible to all and uninhibited by the lords of the Empire, it rose quickly in usage amongst the have-nots of the world, and with this, the idea of the revolution they sought grew. The currency of the Empire collapsed and with it came the fall of the powerful and corrupt, those who controlled the lives of so many. As the system failed, war began, and it was devastating.
Great finality, seasons of blood, confusion and death. The Empire found its way to its ultimate demise, but the world cascades. Empires rise and fall, but for the colossal scale of every empire, for the magnitude of such powers, it is as above, so below.
As the reformation of this world took place, out of the Empire, we saw Kingdoms appear, and down further, into Factions, and further still, bands of warriors, and thus, the Kingdoms of Ether were born.
Within the Kingdoms, the Ether Crystals became the core catalyst for change. Currency, but increasingly, as a tool for the ongoing revolution, for critical innovation and for the people to take the power back into their own hands. As the apparent powers of the Crystals constantly revealed themselves, the rush to mine them escalated.
The different kingdoms rose, each with their own particular traits, ideologies, philosophies, but each seeking the Crystals. Some, bearing the signs of the old Empire dragged with them ways of the past, and honed their skills and strengths to fight for that old power. Others strived for a new way, a new dawn, life that is equal, open, and not closed, controlled, leashed. Whether for freedom or tyranny, each fight for control of the Ether Mines, where the Crystals are found, and each knowing this is where the future lies, where from which, that tech, indistinguishable from magic, will come to creation.
Here and now, within The Kingdoms of Ether, each person can be their own hero, their own legend. Within each Kingdom, each Faction, from Lancelot to Alice and her own Wonderland, this world is enriched with fable and myth, with old ones evolving and new ones arising. Mercenaries, rebels, outcasts, freedom fighters, a world where anything is possible, and change is now here, and the story has only just begun.