In ancient times, Azoth was said to be inhabited by primordial elementals. Each held dominion over an aspect of the world. Exceedingly curious, those elementals raised the land, filled the seas, and blessed the airs, breathing life into a roiling and energetic world. They watched in delight as their progeny constructed and shaped the landscape in their image, sometimes forging with, oftentimes clashing against others. Lava continuously spewed forth from the earth. The winds then eroded the newly formed landmass into intricate shapes, before the rains channeled rivulets of rivers and canyons into the cracks.
Once satisfied, those primordials laid down to rest, themselves forming the key elemental leylines of the modern age. This creation myth has been molded, filtered, and refined throughout the ages, passed down in various forms and tales from civilization to civilization. However, the embodiment of relentless ingenuity has always remained a key philosophy of Azoth’s creation.
Gone were the hereditary nobility, extravagant luxuries, and useless sycophants. The Aurous Kaiser filled her court with hungry and ambitious advisers and established ruthless policies for the rapid industrialization of the empire. She opened up extensive connections with Krustallan craftsmen and Flagma’s Oasis, trading away copious amounts of gold for valuable resources. In addition, she invested heavily in the Winbless Collective and implemented the notorious Imperial Alchemist program. The program’s directive was to scour the nation for talent and genius and conscript them, whether by incentive or force. The rewards for becoming an Imperial Alchemist were generous and the resources one had access to were nearly limitless. However, the pressure to deliver innovation was relentless.
8 years after the founding of the program, one fated visionary and his inventions would completely upend Azoth’s power balance. Claude’s discovery of automaton alchemy would bestow upon him the title of Imperial Alchemist and completely transform the technological engine of Dorumegia.
They carved out an extinct volcano for their new capital as a symbolic dominance over the elements, erected barriers to ward off the weather, and claimed themselves to be masters of Azoth. Various modern-day marvels were discovered during this period. By quenching molten iron within the frozen core of the volcano, a nearly unbreakable metal aptly named Krusteel could be forged. Advances in heat transfer theoretics from alchemists studying heat barrier engineering set the stage for the Forgelight’s eventual mastery. For centuries, their expertise in alchemical theory led to leaps and bounds in technological advancements.
However, this chase for perfection would not last. Whether it be from a severe miscalculation or malicious apotheosis, the majestic acropolis of what is now Shatterfall Keep was the focal point of a blasphemous ritual. A third of all living beings within Krustal were instantaneously consumed to fuel the rite, a third briefly witnessed the ascension of a terrible god, and a third froze under the Krustal Froststorm that ravaged the continent. Some say foreigners from a distant land were able to slay the fledgling god and stop the drained leyline from fracturing Azoth entirely, but Krustal was left devastated, and their knowledge left buried under blood and snow.
The first group to settle and excavate the Oasis were the Forgelight–a band of nomadic and reclusive craftsmen who had traced the rich iron veins to Flagma. By excavating tunnels and caverns, they could shelter themselves from some of the more unpredictable elements while also controlling pools of lava for smelting and forging. Under Cordelia’s expansion, the Oasis was brought into the fold of Dorumegian’s trade network and both the expert craftsmanship of the Forgelight and the alchemical properties of the Oasis herbage were discovered. Now, with access to exotic material and the exchange of ideas, the Forelight furnaces burn energetically into the night.
In such an inhospitable environment, only the most hearty of wildlife could survive and thrive in Winbless. However, Dorumegia’s interest in the region led to the discovery of hurricane farming. An Imperial Alchemist discovered that Krusteel, when forged with ore from the Oasis, forms an alloy that is lightweight and durable enough to withstand the gale storm winds of Winbless. Now, the question was what could be done with a near-limitless source of power. Thus, the Winbless Collective was founded. Today, a flourishing city has grown at the foot of the mountains, protected by a wind-dampener barrier. The leading manufacturer of automatons, Gearstride Automatics, is also headquartered within the Winbless Collective, offering opportunities and education for all residents of the Collective.
Once satisfied, those primordials laid down to rest, themselves forming the key elemental leylines of the modern age. This creation myth has been molded, filtered, and refined throughout the ages, passed down in various forms and tales from civilization to civilization. However, the embodiment of relentless ingenuity has always remained a key philosophy of Azoth’s creation.
Dorumegia
The Empire of Dorumegia stands at the pinnacle of the modern age. With power clenched in onyx and wrought in iron, the Aurous Kaiser, Cordelia Aurelian, sits on top of the Exalted Throne, overseeing one of the mightiest and richest nations in Azoth. 15 years ago, when she rose to the throne as the youngest Kaiser in Dorumegia’s history, the empire was indolent and lazy, growing complacent on its bountiful gold veins. Her predecessors had thrown lavish parades and celebrations year after year, ignoring the surrounding countries and even their own citizens. Knowing this idle consumption could not last, Cordelia made drastic upheavals upon her coronation.
Gone were the hereditary nobility, extravagant luxuries, and useless sycophants. The Aurous Kaiser filled her court with hungry and ambitious advisers and established ruthless policies for the rapid industrialization of the empire. She opened up extensive connections with Krustallan craftsmen and Flagma’s Oasis, trading away copious amounts of gold for valuable resources. In addition, she invested heavily in the Winbless Collective and implemented the notorious Imperial Alchemist program. The program’s directive was to scour the nation for talent and genius and conscript them, whether by incentive or force. The rewards for becoming an Imperial Alchemist were generous and the resources one had access to were nearly limitless. However, the pressure to deliver innovation was relentless.
8 years after the founding of the program, one fated visionary and his inventions would completely upend Azoth’s power balance. Claude’s discovery of automaton alchemy would bestow upon him the title of Imperial Alchemist and completely transform the technological engine of Dorumegia.
Krustal: Cataclysm
The first Age of Alchemy was rumored to have arisen in Krustal’s frigid snow. Desperate for a means to survive, a mother gave her own soul to bind an errant elemental to her child. Thus, the first alchemist was born. A long-forgotten civilization soon sprouted from the founding alchemist’s innate control over elements and thousands flocked in pilgrimage to learn their secrets. Krustal became the center of the alchemical world, bringing together dilettantes, practitioners, and academics all in the pursuit of knowledge and perfection.They carved out an extinct volcano for their new capital as a symbolic dominance over the elements, erected barriers to ward off the weather, and claimed themselves to be masters of Azoth. Various modern-day marvels were discovered during this period. By quenching molten iron within the frozen core of the volcano, a nearly unbreakable metal aptly named Krusteel could be forged. Advances in heat transfer theoretics from alchemists studying heat barrier engineering set the stage for the Forgelight’s eventual mastery. For centuries, their expertise in alchemical theory led to leaps and bounds in technological advancements.
However, this chase for perfection would not last. Whether it be from a severe miscalculation or malicious apotheosis, the majestic acropolis of what is now Shatterfall Keep was the focal point of a blasphemous ritual. A third of all living beings within Krustal were instantaneously consumed to fuel the rite, a third briefly witnessed the ascension of a terrible god, and a third froze under the Krustal Froststorm that ravaged the continent. Some say foreigners from a distant land were able to slay the fledgling god and stop the drained leyline from fracturing Azoth entirely, but Krustal was left devastated, and their knowledge left buried under blood and snow.
Flagma: The Oasis
Lava continuously carves through the landscape of Flagma, destroying and creating land anew. Hidden underneath the fiery terrain, however, is the Oasis. With redstone canyons rich in iron oxide carved from ancient rivers, a lush valley of flourishing and vibrant flora covers the canyon banks. The volcanic ash mixed with phosphorus and sulfur silt from the river to form the perfect fertilizer, cultivating a diverse and unique mixture of herbs and plant life. However, the scalding steam and sulfurous air meant that, ironically, very few animals could survive in the Oasis.
The first group to settle and excavate the Oasis were the Forgelight–a band of nomadic and reclusive craftsmen who had traced the rich iron veins to Flagma. By excavating tunnels and caverns, they could shelter themselves from some of the more unpredictable elements while also controlling pools of lava for smelting and forging. Under Cordelia’s expansion, the Oasis was brought into the fold of Dorumegian’s trade network and both the expert craftsmanship of the Forgelight and the alchemical properties of the Oasis herbage were discovered. Now, with access to exotic material and the exchange of ideas, the Forelight furnaces burn energetically into the night.