Ofadin

“Many things lie beneath our feet. Countless souls, uncharted realms, and wonders beyond comprehension wait—not idly, but eagerly—to be uncovered. Even the most storied kingdoms of today pale beside civilizations whose splendor defies description. We need only the courage to seek them, the strength to carry them back, and the wisdom to ensure they do not undo us—as they may have undone themselves.”
—Diary of Count Perez, page 6, lines 7–13

Welcome, Chronicler. Welcome to the world of Ofadin—a land defined by the endless rise and fall of civilizations. It is a world where golden ages are buried beneath the dust of their own triumphs, and where ancient powers lash out against the onward march of time. The current civilizations are survivors—victors of apocalypses long past—who have forgotten why their ancestors once tempered strength with mercy. From the shattered fortresses that once shielded them, they now march out again, shackled anew by feudal lords and marauding warbands.

The continents remain fractured, divided into city-states locked in relentless struggle over land, resources, and control. The notion of unity is whispered of as myth, a miracle only embodied by the waning empire of Mormiloa, whose capital still dazzles with age-old wonders and relics from a forgotten age.

But change is stirring.

In the far north, a growing rebellion of commoners resists the bloody squabbles of nobility, calling for a new order—one where all are equal before gods and law alike. Should they prevail, it would mark the first true state on the continent. At the same time, explorers delve deeper into the underworld than ever before, unearthing unfamiliar dungeons and ruins. Arenaemancers wield strange visions, driving a mad race for innovation, arms, and discovery as nations scramble to outpace each other.

Yet beneath all this—beneath politics and progress—a shadow grows. A hidden cult spreads its influence, worshipping a distant star that heralds the return of calamity. They speak of a second Downpour, when the Abominations shall rise again...