The Splintered Lands of Aeterna
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The Splintered Lands of Aeterna is a world where the sun never rises past the horizon, but has no problem setting below, keeping the sky dark, but not truly devoid of color, existing for over 500,000 years. The Splintered Lands are divided into five distinct continents: Crystira to the northeast, Umbrari to the west, Etheria in the center, Volans Hortusia to the east, and Kalamituia to the south. Each of these continents hold many diverse species that populate the Splintered Lands. Of these many species, eleven of them stand above the rest, the High Species, the ones that make up civilization. Each of these species have characteristics and abilities that make them distinct from each other, influencing their construction, civilization, and culture. Beyond their differences, all High Species share one thing in common, the existence of a Champion for each High Species. Champions are chosen via Zenith Tournaments to not only represent their High Species, their versatility and their strength, but also to be their guardians as well, ensuring the best for them.
Champions, as a symbol of their status, are given a crown to wear which expands their capabilities as a member of their respective High Species in addition to slightly changing their appearance, also to signify their status. These crowns are known as the Zenith Crowns, indestructible artifacts for which there exists one per each High Species, only to be worn by the Champion. The powers vested within the Zenith Crown can work with other members of the correct High Species, however, not only will their physical appearance not change, if there’s a reigning Champion, then the Zenith Crown won’t bestow its powers to anyone but the Champion. Zenith Tournaments are held in Zenith Arenas which are scattered across the Splintered Lands, managed by the Tournament Elders. Zenith Tournaments occur once every five years, upon the unanimous request by a large majority of a High Species, or following the Champion’s death. Zenith Tournaments favor combat and use a bracket system that places multiple individuals in one to unite and fight against their opponents. Eventually, the ones who last long enough will have to fight each other and the winner of that becomes the Champion. Some High Species, instead of a Zenith Arena and Tournament, utilize Zenith Temples and Rites of the Zenith, more peaceful methods of deciding their Champions.
Champions are not to leave their home continent as to not bring the Zenith Crowns closer together, without special permission and strict protection. The reason for this is to prevent all of the Champions and their Zenith Crowns from coming together to create the Eternal Sun Crown. This Crown was once worn by the Aeternal King, back when the Splintered Lands were known as the Land of Aeterna, giving him the power to manifest the physical and characteristics and traits of any living species in the world. Each Champion, to form the Eternal Sun Crown, is to select an individual they believe is worthy of the Crown who isn’t themselves or another Champion. An individual who is supported by a Champion will be able to receive the powers granted by the Eternal Sun Crown and the more Champions that support one individual, the higher the Sun will be able to rise. The reason the Eternal Sun Crown is not allowed to be formed is due to its additional power of allowing the wearer, the High Champion, to grant a wish once a year, when the Phoenix, the Emissary of Life, flies across the planet. The higher the Sun is able to rise, the more stable and less of a monkey’s paw the wish has. There can only exist one Eternal Sun Crown at a time and its creation does not destroy or affect the existing Zenith Crowns or their Champions in any way. Unlike the Zenith Crowns, which are indestructible most of the time, the Eternal Sun Crown is capable of being destroyed, becoming more vulnerable the further the Phoenix is from the Splintered Lands and the more the Sun sets.
The Aeternal King, the first and only king of the Land of Aeterna, was a legendary figure who had the support of all of their Champions, allowing them to grant wishes that could reshape reality every year. However, even with this power, they did not wish every year, instead they spent years analyzing a problem, watching and listening to it to eventually make a decisive wish that fixed the root of the problem and pleased everyone. This was in contrast to how their subjects expected them to use their wish, to solve problems that were hurting everyone, not realizing that simply wishing to solve the problem would only cause more problems and worsen the one that was already there. The reason the Land of Aeterna became the Splintered Lands of Aeterna was the result of a wish the King made. Some believe that the King finally made a hasty and irrational wish, others believe that their Champions lost support of them, causing the wish to destabilize and weaken, but a select few believe the King alone or they and their Champions made the wish to split the Lands intentionally. Regardless, as per the regulations enforced by the Aeternal Council, a council consisting of representatives from each Kingdom across the Splintered Lands, situated on the continent of Etheria, the Zenith Crowns are not to be brought to together and the Eternal Sun Crown is not to be formed again.