The Starfall Pact
The Starfall Pact: A Legacy of Hope and Caution
In the earliest days, when the refugees of dying worlds first stepped upon the soil of Tariel, they sought not only survival but purpose. Even amidst their despair, there was a yearning to shape this new land into a home worth preserving. Long before the rise of the Avaar and the ascension of the Netherime, the first and greatest gift of the Empyreals to mortals was Magic.
On their old worlds, mortals had wielded magic in varying forms, but it was always bound by the scarcity of Anima, the vital essence that fueled their sorcery. The Empyreals, in their wisdom, sought to change this. By crafting the Veil, a mystical boundary protecting Tariel, and Lucine, a well of pure Anima in the form of unworthy Shadows, they provided mortals with an abundance of magical energy beyond anything they had known. This was not a gift given lightly—it was a gamble on the resilience and worth of those they had saved.
Yet the Empyreals were not blind to the peril magic posed. They understood its capacity for destruction and corruption, especially in the hands of those who might wield it without wisdom. To temper these dangers, they forged not only the Veil but also a set of sacred principles: The Starfall Pact. This pact would serve as both a guide and a covenant, designed to cultivate cooperation, responsibility, and hope among Tariel's diverse peoples.
A Second Chance Etched in Stone
The Starfall Pact was born from the Empyreals’ belief that those given a second chance on Tariel might transcend the mistakes of their lost worlds. By following these commandments, mortals would be judged worthy of ascension to Celunar - at first to rest in peace unless dire need came, later to serve the Netherime - or condemned to Lucine, where even the unworthy were useful as Anima to fuel the magic protecting the world. These judgments would be rendered by the Leys, streams of mystical power that flow unseen through the Veil, gathering the shadows of the dead.
To aid mortals further, the Empyreals granted access to the Veil’s boundless Anima, and a natural phenomenon known as the Starfall. This celestial event rains meteors of rare metals and magical gemstones onto the world, providing the resources necessary for the working of great magics.
The Pact Through the Ages
Though the Pact has been amended over the ages to reflect the evolving struggles of Tariel, it has always adhered to the core principles of unity, vigilance, and sacrifice. The final revision was made by Muriel, the Lady of Whispers, upon her death. As the last Empyreal died, she updated the Pact to confront this grim reality. Her words acknowledged that the gods were gone, leaving the mortals of Tariel to uphold their legacy alone. Since her passing, the Pact has remained unaltered, an immutable relic of the Empyreals’ will.
The commandments of the Starfall Pact are omnipresent, carved into every temple dedicated to the Netherime or the Empyreals, every Avaar's lair, standing eternal in every village square, and etched into the waystones that guide travelers along lonely roads. These inscriptions serve as both a reminder and a warning—a reminder of the world’s sacred purpose as a haven, and a warning of the darkness ever poised to consume it.
The Enduring Weight of the Starfall Pact
The Starfall Pact is more than a set of rules; it is the heartbeat of Tariel. It binds its inhabitants together in a fragile unity, even as fear and desperation threaten to tear them apart. Its words carry the weight of a dying god’s hope and the somber promise of what awaits should they fail. With each passing age, the mortals of Tariel face the same question: will they rise to honor the Pact, or fall into the void it was meant to hold back?
This eternal struggle defines the world of Tariel, where every choice, every sacrifice, and every act of defiance against the looming darkness shapes the fragile balance of hope and despair. Never has it been followed unerringly - even the Netherime are guilty of betraying its tenets at times - but even through the worst of times it acts a guide on how to rebuild, and where to find the light.
The Starfall Pact
1. The Tenet of Unity
- Commandment: "Let no banner fly higher than that of the world. The divisions of blood, creed, and realm are the seeds of destruction. Stand as one or fall to the void."
- Purpose: This tenet deters inter-racial or inter-factional conflict, emphasizing that survival depends on cooperation. It creates tension as factions struggle to balance ancient rivalries with the necessity of unity.
- Complication: The distrust among the disparate races runs deep, leading to uneasy alliances. Betrayal or sabotage of this tenet can have dire consequences, as the Starborn and Outsiders are both known to exploit disunity.
2. The Ward Against the Beyond
- Commandment: "Guard the boundary of the heavens and the earth. Let no Starborn pass, for their touch brings ruin and their whispers madness."
- Purpose: This tenet charges the inhabitants with defending the world against Starborn incursions. Magical wards, vigil-keepers, and watchtowers dot the land as a direct response to this command.
- Complication: Vigil-keepers face the constant lure of Starborn whispers promising power, knowledge, or salvation. Some have already fallen, and their treachery weakens the world's defenses.
3. The Vigil of the Infernal Gates
- Commandment: "The fiends hunger for your despair and drink of your sins. Deny them entry and deny them feast. Seal every rift and purge every summoner."
- Purpose: This tenet establishes strict protocols to close infernal gates and eradicate demonic corruption. Any summoning, even for desperate reasons, is often punishable by death.
- Complication: The endless hells offer tangible rewards for those willing to summon and bind fiends. Some factions or individuals secretly defy this commandment, believing they can control the cost.
4. The Purity of Magic
- Commandment: "The gifts of magic are sacred, yet fraught with peril. Guard against the Starborn’s taint in the Veil, and the whispers of the Outsiders."
- Purpose: Magic, while necessary for survival, must be closely monitored. This tenet promotes the establishment of mage orders tasked with enforcing strict magical regulations.
- Complication: Rogue mages often emerge, corrupted by forbidden Starborn or infernal magics. This creates internal conflicts within factions dedicated to enforcing this command.
5. The Cycle of Sacrifice
- Commandment: "Give of yourself so the world may endure. Your blood may ward a city; your life may save a thousand. The Empyreals ask not for your death but your service."
- Purpose: This tenet encourages personal sacrifice for the greater good. Rituals to strengthen magical wards or empower guardians often require a willing toll from individuals or communities.
- Complication: The cycle is exploited by those in power, who coerce sacrifices from the weak. It also breeds resentment among those forced to give more than their share, threatening to fracture unity.
6. The Flame of Remembrance
- Commandment: "Forget not the Empyreals, nor their sacrifice. Honor them with deeds, not words, and let their memory be your guide."
- Purpose: This tenet emphasizes reverence for the Empyreals’ sacrifice and the preservation of their teachings. They demand not worship, but service. You'll find few churches to the Empyreals, instead most religion centers around the Netherime or Outsiders.
- Complication: Cynicism has grown among some groups, who despair that the Empyreals perished, leaving them to face such overwhelming darkness. These sentiments undermine faith and solidarity.
7. The Chain of Stewardship
- Commandment: "You are keepers of a fragile refuge. Preserve the land, the water, and the sky. Waste not what the Empyreals left, and guard it from corruption."
- Purpose: This tenet enforces environmental stewardship, critical in a world already threatened by external corruption. Temples and druids are often tasked with enforcing this commandment.
- Complication: Resource scarcity drives some factions to violate this tenet for short-term survival. The defilement of sacred sites or resources can weaken the world's defenses against the Outsiders and the Starborn.
8. The Oath of the Star-Bound Flame
- Commandment: "When all else fails, rise as the Star-Bound Flame. Let your defiance light the void, even if it consumes you."
- Purpose: This is a call for ultimate heroism. It asks individuals to take a final stand against overwhelming darkness, even if it means their lives are forfeit. This tenet serves as inspiration for legends and stories of hope.
- Complication: Those who take this oath may become symbols of hope—or despair if they fail. Communities often grapple with whether it is right to send their heroes to die, knowing that success is never guaranteed.
9. The Covenant of the Hidden Flame
- Commandment: "Beware the hidden truths that seek to undo you. Trust not what lurks in the forgotten places, for some lights conceal shadows greater than you can comprehend."
- Purpose: This tenet warns against delving too deeply into ancient or forbidden knowledge, as much of it has been tainted by the Outsiders or Starborn agents. Libraries and relic-keepers are tasked with safeguarding dangerous lore.
- Complication: Scholars often defy this commandment in their search for power or solutions to the world’s problems. Some believe the forbidden knowledge holds the key to ultimate salvation.
10. The Last Pact
- Commandment: "Should the darkness overwhelm you, let none surrender alone. The Pact binds you together until the end of all things."
- Purpose: This is a commandment of solidarity, urging communities to face even the apocalypse together, rather than fracture under pressure. It serves as a reminder of the Empyreals’ intent to unite disparate peoples.
- Complication: As despair spreads, individuals and factions may see this tenet as futile. Some choose to save only themselves, leaving others to face destruction alone.
Comments