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Aetherplane is a dark high fantasy world, created to be used as a springboard for roleplaying, story crafting, digital games settings, and all other artistic endeavors.

Themes

The primary setting for Aetherplane is the world of Elodea. We are building it to become a lore-rich fantasy world, full of dark mystery. Themes include, but are not limited to:

Magic and the arcane
Eldritch horrors
Gothic and medieval fantasy
Mythical legends
Shady politics

Readers and players should experience a world that is exciting and full of potential, but also dangerous and often containing an unsettling undertone. Not everything is as it seems, on the surface, and the worst villains are often the ones that go unseen.

Story summary

We are currently getting the wiki organized and working on inputting information. In the meantime, to assist those who are interested in helping to write for and develop the Aetherplane setting, here is a summary of the story so far:

Creation of the universe

In the beginning, there was the Void. Coalescing from the aether therein, a being took shape -- the Mother, the First, Elodea.

For a time, she slept within the blanket of stars, but it was not long before she ached for companionship. So, Elodea pulled aether from her own body, to create the others with whom she would shape the universe.

As each new divine was "born" into the Void, they took on an aspect of Elodea's power. And as Elodea "birthed" each of them, she herself was weakened.

At the last, she created the world itself, and thus it shared her name.

The Fracture

In an age immemorial, a cataclysm occurred which resulted in the splitting of the world. This event is known as the Fracture, though the cause of it has long-since been lost to history.

Ruins of ancient empires that fell before, during, and in the aftermath of the Fracture are scattered across the world of Elodea. They can be found deep amongst the tangled roots of forests, sunk at the bottoms of oceans, and eroding away in the sandstorms of scorching dunes. What secrets do they hold? Only the bravest of adventurers, willing to plumb the depths of these dangerous places, will ever know.

Religious pantheons

The divines are not absent from the world. They created the initial creatures and races of the world, setting forth their children upon the world that Elodea formed as their playground.

When the Fracture split the world in twain, it created the Twin Pantheons. Each deity became two separate entities, each respectively representing the light and dark sides of their spheres of influence.

For example, Elodea became the twin goddesses: Elorea (goddess of fertility, growth, nature, and life) and Erodea (goddess of death, decay, pestilence, and despair).

Race relations

There is tension between the races of the world. Some mistrust others, some are oppressed, and others have retreated from the rest of the world. Even kingdoms among the same races are not necessarily at peace with one another.

Magical & elemental influence

An ethereal plane exists in twin to the physical plane of Elodea, brought about by the Fracture, and known as the Aetherplane. It is home to the magical web of leylines, primal elemental forces, and the Twin Pantheons that try to exert their will upon the physical world.

Geography & cosmos

The geography of the world is bio-diverse, like Earth, but with a dark flair. Forests are dark, deep, and mysterious. Jungles are thick with vegetation, full of ancient ruins, and largely unexplored. Deserts hide secrets beneath their shifting sands. Artic expanses are desolate and punishing. Ocean storms are unpredictable and their waves obscure the dangers that lurk below.

Elodea exists in a binary star system, though it wasn't always so. As with everything else in this world, when the Fracture struck, the sun and moon also split. This has resulted in the twin suns and twin moons. A twin eclipse (where both moons eclipse both suns) or a total eclipse (where both moons and suns align) are extremely rare occurrences that has varied cultural and religious significance across the planet. It also leads to a shadow being cast across the world, which may come with it's own repercussions....

Story hooks

Laws of the world

The gods are real. They don't wander the physical plane, but their influence is tangible.
An ethereal world, known as the Aetherplane, exists alongside the physical world, mirroring it.
Leylines, which wreath the Aetherplane like a web. Some believe that they are the source of all magic in the world, though others would be quick to point out that it is the power of the gods, not the Aetherplane, that fuel magic.

General themes

A gothic keep, its spires clawing out of a dark forest like skeletal fingers.
Ancient, mysterious ruins in the tangled undergrowth of a verdant jungle.
Recurring themes of things seeming fine on the surface, but being corrupt underneath.
Mirrored aspects of the same thing/character: a light and a dark side.
Themes of magical wonder and dark secrets; a world both ancient and ethereal.

Writing Prompts

A peaceful race of shapeshifters, known as therians, have kept to themselves for centuries. Their clans have been hidden away from the rest of the world, deep within their forest kingdom. Among the humans who live in the areas just outside the therian kingdoms, myths and legends have long told of the savage shapeshifters that stalk the night and the deepest parts of the forest. In their ignorance, they believe that these creatures kill for sport and feast on human flesh. A couple of curious therian children ventured where they were told not to go, by their elders -- beyond the protection of the forest tree-line. They were spotted by locals in the human town, and now rumors of ravenous were-beasts are circulating the countryside. It has drawn hunters from far and wide, who are looking to hunt down and put an end to the beasts, in return for fame and glory.

Life in the town of Stillrest seems to be perfect. People are happy and never seem to argue or fight. Fields are fertile and bountiful. Streets bustle with the happy sounds of people chatting and children playing. It is a blissful, idyllic picture of a little rural town. So why does something feel... wrong... about it all?

Overnight, a mysterious tower has appeared in a field where there had been no tower before. Locals are afraid to approach it, believing that it is cursed. Something apparently lives in the tower, as lights and dark shapes can be seen through its windows in the dark of night.

A human kingdom is on the brink of civil war and destruction, following the death of their king. The elder prince, heir to the throne, was given a vision by the kingdom seer. She foretold that he would go on a journey to find the "Bridge Between Two Worlds," as it was the only thing that could save his kingdom. In his absence, the queen spreads rumors that he has abandoned his kingdom and schemes to place his little sister on the throne as the new ruler of the kingdom, instead.

Broad Ideas to Explore

Monsters coming from nearby caves/ruins, terrorizing the local people.
Cults that follow the dark pantheon are up to no good.
Find lost soul fragments to lay a mournful spirit to rest.
Ruins, that were swallowed long ago by a sinkhole, are now home to a hidden civilization.

Inspirations

Books & Literature

The Cthulu Mythos (the body of work created by author H. P. Lovecraft)

The Dark Tower Series (written by author Stephen King)

Wikipedia entry for The Dark Tower series
The official website for The Dark Tower
The Tower Junkie Tumblr blog

Tolkien's Legendarium (the body of work created by author J. R. R. Tolkien)

Wikipedia entry for Tolkien's legendarium
Wikipedia entry for the cosmology of Tolkien's legendarium
Wikipedia entry for Middle-earth
Wikipedia entry for The Lord of the Rings
One Wiki to Rule Them All, The Lord of the Rings Wiki
Tolkien Gateway, a wiki dedicated to the works of J. R. R. Tolkien

The Witcher Series (written by author Andrzej Sapkowski)

Wikipedia entry for The Witcher

The World of Darkness (a tabletop RPG setting published by White Wolf Publishing)

Wikipedia entry for the World of Darkness
The official website for The World of Darkness
The Unofficial White Wolf Wiki

Forgotten Realms (a fictional setting in the Dungeons & Dragons tabletop RPG)

Wikipedia entry for Forgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms Wiki
Doomed Forgotten Realms, a dark take on the Forgotten Realms setting

Games & Movies

Legend (a 1985 film by Ridley Scott)

Wikipedia entry for Legend (1985 film)
IMDB entry for Legend
Ridley Scott Wiki entry for Legend

The Witcher (a Netflix series, based on the books of the same name)

Wikipedia entry for The Witcher (TV series)
IMDB entry for The Witcher TV series

The Witcher (a video game series, based on the books of the same name)

Wikipedia entry for The Witcher (video game)
The official website for The Witcher Game Franchise
IMDB entry for The Witcher video game
IMDB entry for The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings video game
IMDB entry for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt video game
IMDB entry for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Blood & Wine video game

Music

It is important to remember, for this section, that it is the music that should serve as inspiration, not necessarily the imagery that was chosen by the creator of the YouTube video.

Celtic Music Part III by Adrian von Ziegler
The Dark Trilogy by Adrian von Ziegler
Kala by Danheim
Mephisto's Lullaby by Xtortion Audio
Rún by SKÁLD
Wild Boar's Inn by Brandon Fiechter
Wolf Blood by Adrian von Ziegler
Wolf Princess by Adrian von Ziegler

Tools and Resources

Map Generators

Azgaar's Fantasy Map Generator
Mapgen4 by Red Blob Games
Demo of Martin O'Leary's Uncharted Atlas map generator
Watabou's Procgen Arcana (map generators for realms, cities, villages, and more)
Random Dungeon Generator by donjon
Dungeon Scrawl, a dungeon mapping tool by ProbableTrain
Gozzy's Random Wilderness Map Creator
Emile Kroeger's Castle Generator
Inkarnate fantasy map generator (Download)

Name & Word Generators

Chaotic Shiny, a collection of various name and concept generators
Seventh Sanctum, a collection of various name and concept generators
donjon's various name and concept generators
Fantasy Name Generators by Emily Kroeger
Name Generators by Mithril & Mages
Awkwords word generator (generates words from a given pattern, can be used to make constructed languages)

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-<strong>MediaWiki has been installed.</strong>
+'''Aetherplane is a dark high fantasy world, created to be used as a springboard for roleplaying, story crafting, digital games settings, and all other artistic endeavors.'''
-Consult the [https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Help:Contents User's Guide] for information on using the wiki software.
+==Themes==
+The primary setting for Aetherplane is the world of Elodea. We are building it to become a lore-rich fantasy world, full of dark mystery. Themes include, but are not limited to:
-== Getting started ==
+* Magic and the arcane
-* [https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Manual:Configuration_settings Configuration settings list]
+* Eldritch horrors
-* [https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Manual:FAQ MediaWiki FAQ]
+* Gothic and medieval fantasy
-* [https://lists.wikimedia.org/postorius/lists/mediawiki-announce.lists.wikimedia.org/ MediaWiki release mailing list]
+* Mythical legends
-* [https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Localisation#Translation_resources Localise MediaWiki for your language]
+* Shady politics
-* [https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Manual:Combating_spam Learn how to combat spam on your wiki]
+Readers and players should experience a world that is exciting and full of potential, but also dangerous and often containing an unsettling undertone. Not everything is as it seems, on the surface, and the worst villains are often the ones that go unseen.
+==Story summary==
+We are currently getting the wiki organized and working on inputting information. In the meantime, to assist those who are interested in helping to write for and develop the Aetherplane setting, here is a summary of the story so far:
+===Creation of the universe===
+In the beginning, there was the Void. Coalescing from the aether therein, a being took shape -- the Mother, the First, Elodea.
+For a time, she slept within the blanket of stars, but it was not long before she ached for companionship. So, Elodea pulled aether from her own body, to create the others with whom she would shape the universe.
+As each new divine was "born" into the Void, they took on an aspect of Elodea's power. And as Elodea "birthed" each of them, she herself was weakened.
+At the last, she created the world itself, and thus it shared her name.
+===The Fracture===
+In an age immemorial, a cataclysm occurred which resulted in the splitting of the world. This event is known as the Fracture, though the cause of it has long-since been lost to history.
+Ruins of ancient empires that fell before, during, and in the aftermath of the Fracture are scattered across the world of Elodea. They can be found deep amongst the tangled roots of forests, sunk at the bottoms of oceans, and eroding away in the sandstorms of scorching dunes. What secrets do they hold? Only the bravest of adventurers, willing to plumb the depths of these dangerous places, will ever know.
+===Religious pantheons===
+The divines are not absent from the world. They created the initial creatures and races of the world, setting forth their children upon the world that Elodea formed as their playground.
+When the Fracture split the world in twain, it created the Twin Pantheons. Each deity became two separate entities, each respectively representing the light and dark sides of their spheres of influence.
+For example, Elodea became the twin goddesses: Elorea (goddess of fertility, growth, nature, and life) and Erodea (goddess of death, decay, pestilence, and despair).
+===Race relations===
+There is tension between the races of the world. Some mistrust others, some are oppressed, and others have retreated from the rest of the world. Even kingdoms among the same races are not necessarily at peace with one another.
+===Magical & elemental influence===
+An ethereal plane exists in twin to the physical plane of Elodea, brought about by the Fracture, and known as the Aetherplane. It is home to the magical web of leylines, primal elemental forces, and the Twin Pantheons that try to exert their will upon the physical world.
+==Geography & cosmos==
+The geography of the world is bio-diverse, like Earth, but with a dark flair. Forests are dark, deep, and mysterious. Jungles are thick with vegetation, full of ancient ruins, and largely unexplored. Deserts hide secrets beneath their shifting sands. Artic expanses are desolate and punishing. Ocean storms are unpredictable and their waves obscure the dangers that lurk below.
+Elodea exists in a binary star system, though it wasn't always so. As with everything else in this world, when the Fracture struck, the sun and moon also split. This has resulted in the twin suns and twin moons. A twin eclipse (where both moons eclipse both suns) or a total eclipse (where both moons and suns align) are extremely rare occurrences that has varied cultural and religious significance across the planet. It also leads to a shadow being cast across the world, which may come with it's own repercussions....
+==Story hooks==
+===Laws of the world===
+* The gods are real. They don't wander the physical plane, but their influence is tangible.
+* An ethereal world, known as the Aetherplane, exists alongside the physical world, mirroring it.
+* Leylines, which wreath the Aetherplane like a web. Some believe that they are the source of all magic in the world, though others would be quick to point out that it is the power of the gods, not the Aetherplane, that fuel magic.
+===General themes===
+* A gothic keep, its spires clawing out of a dark forest like skeletal fingers.
+* Ancient, mysterious ruins in the tangled undergrowth of a verdant jungle.
+* Recurring themes of things seeming fine on the surface, but being corrupt underneath.
+* Mirrored aspects of the same thing/character: a light and a dark side.
+* Themes of magical wonder and dark secrets; a world both ancient and ethereal.
+=== Writing Prompts ===
+* A peaceful race of shapeshifters, known as therians, have kept to themselves for centuries. Their clans have been hidden away from the rest of the world, deep within their forest kingdom. Among the humans who live in the areas just outside the therian kingdoms, myths and legends have long told of the savage shapeshifters that stalk the night and the deepest parts of the forest. In their ignorance, they believe that these creatures kill for sport and feast on human flesh. A couple of curious therian children ventured where they were told not to go, by their elders -- beyond the protection of the forest tree-line. They were spotted by locals in the human town, and now rumors of ravenous were-beasts are circulating the countryside. It has drawn hunters from far and wide, who are looking to hunt down and put an end to the beasts, in return for fame and glory.
+* Life in the town of Stillrest seems to be perfect. People are happy and never seem to argue or fight. Fields are fertile and bountiful. Streets bustle with the happy sounds of people chatting and children playing. It is a blissful, idyllic picture of a little rural town. So why does something feel... wrong... about it all?
+* Overnight, a mysterious tower has appeared in a field where there had been no tower before. Locals are afraid to approach it, believing that it is cursed. Something apparently lives in the tower, as lights and dark shapes can be seen through its windows in the dark of night.
+* A human kingdom is on the brink of civil war and destruction, following the death of their king. The elder prince, heir to the throne, was given a vision by the kingdom seer. She foretold that he would go on a journey to find the "Bridge Between Two Worlds," as it was the only thing that could save his kingdom. In his absence, the queen spreads rumors that he has abandoned his kingdom and schemes to place his little sister on the throne as the new ruler of the kingdom, instead.
+=== Broad Ideas to Explore ===
+* Monsters coming from nearby caves/ruins, terrorizing the local people.
+* Cults that follow the dark pantheon are up to no good.
+* Find lost soul fragments to lay a mournful spirit to rest.
+* Ruins, that were swallowed long ago by a sinkhole, are now home to a hidden civilization.
+== Inspirations ==
+=== Books & Literature ===
+==== The Cthulu Mythos (the body of work created by author H. P. Lovecraft) ====
+* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cthulhu_Mythos Wikipedia entry] for the Cthulu mythos
+* [https://lovecraft.fandom.com The H. P. Lovecraft Wiki]
+* [https://www.hplovecraft.com The H. P. Lovecraft Archive]
+==== The Dark Tower Series (written by author Stephen King) ====
+* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dark_Tower_(series) Wikipedia entry] for ''The Dark Tower'' series
+* The official website for [https://stephenking.com/darktower/ ''The Dark Tower'']
+* [https://thetowerjunkie.tumblr.com The Tower Junkie] Tumblr blog
+==== Tolkien's Legendarium (the body of work created by author J. R. R. Tolkien) ====
+* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tolkien%27s_legendarium Wikipedia entry] for Tolkien's legendarium
+* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmology_of_Tolkien%27s_legendarium Wikipedia entry] for the cosmology of Tolkien's legendarium
+* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth Wikipedia entry] for Middle-earth
+* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Rings Wikipedia entry] for ''The Lord of the Rings''
+* [https://lotr.fandom.com One Wiki to Rule Them All], ''The Lord of the Rings'' Wiki
+* [https://tolkiengateway.net Tolkien Gateway], a wiki dedicated to the works of J. R. R. Tolkien
+==== The Witcher Series (written by author Andrzej Sapkowski) ====
+* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Witcher Wikipedia entry] for ''The Witcher''
+==== The World of Darkness (a tabletop RPG setting published by White Wolf Publishing) ====
+* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_of_Darkness Wikipedia entry] for the World of Darkness
+* The official website for [https://www.worldofdarkness.com/ The World of Darkness]
+* [https://whitewolf.fandom.com/ The Unofficial White Wolf Wiki]
+==== Forgotten Realms (a fictional setting in the Dungeons & Dragons tabletop RPG) ====
+* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forgotten_Realms Wikipedia entry] for ''Forgotten Realms''
+* [https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com The Forgotten Realms Wiki]
+* [https://www.dmsguild.com/product/398215 Doomed Forgotten Realms], a dark take on the ''Forgotten Realms'' setting
+=== Games & Movies ===
+==== Legend (a 1985 film by Ridley Scott) ====
+* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legend_(1985_film) Wikipedia entry] for ''Legend'' (1985 film)
+* [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089469/ IMDB entry] for ''Legend''
+* [https://ridleyscott.fandom.com/wiki/Legend Ridley Scott Wiki entry] for ''Legend''
+==== The Witcher (a Netflix series, based on the books of the same name) ====
+* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Witcher_(TV_series) Wikipedia entry] for ''The Witcher'' (TV series)
+* [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5180504/ IMDB entry] for ''The Witcher'' TV series
+==== The Witcher (a video game series, based on the books of the same name) ====
+* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Witcher_(video_game) Wikipedia entry] for ''The Witcher'' (video game)
+* The official website for [https://www.thewitcher.com/en/ ''The Witcher'' Game Franchise]
+* [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1135081/ IMDB entry] for ''The Witcher'' video game
+* [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1937416/ IMDB entry] for ''The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings'' video game
+* [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2993508/ IMDB entry] for ''The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt'' video game
+* [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5667286/ IMDB entry] for ''The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Blood & Wine'' video game
+=== Music ===
+It is important to remember, for this section, that it is the music that should serve as inspiration, not necessarily the imagery that was chosen by the creator of the YouTube video.
+* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDzledM4gIc Celtic Music Part III] by Adrian von Ziegler
+* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUhMLw6vq8g The Dark Trilogy] by Adrian von Ziegler
+* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwRDom8n5Rc Kala] by Danheim
+* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipCIlaij39E Mephisto's Lullaby] by Xtortion Audio
+* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9NIBZfVBW4 Rún] by SKÁLD
+* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2rs-OyJ-Q8 Wild Boar's Inn] by Brandon Fiechter
+* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06H_6oI4EK4 Wolf Blood] by Adrian von Ziegler
+* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJ_xsMnG26U Wolf Princess] by Adrian von Ziegler
+== Tools and Resources ==
+=== Map Generators ===
+* Azgaar's [https://azgaar.github.io/Fantasy-Map-Generator/ Fantasy Map Generator]
+* [https://www.redblobgames.com/maps/mapgen4/ Mapgen4] by Red Blob Games
+* Demo of Martin O'Leary's [https://mewo2.com/notes/terrain/ Uncharted Atlas map generator]
+* Watabou's [https://watabou.github.io/ Procgen Arcana] (map generators for realms, cities, villages, and more)
+* [https://donjon.bin.sh/d20/dungeon/ Random Dungeon Generator] by donjon
+* [https://probabletrain.itch.io/dungeon-scrawl Dungeon Scrawl], a dungeon mapping tool by ProbableTrain
+* Gozzy's [https://www.gozzys.com/wilderness-maps Random Wilderness Map Creator]
+* Emile Kroeger's [https://emilekroeger.github.io/metacastle/ Castle Generator]
+* [https://inkarnate.com/ Inkarnate] fantasy map generator (Download)
+=== Name & Word Generators ===
+* [http://chaoticshiny.com/ Chaotic Shiny], a collection of various name and concept generators
+* [https://www.seventhsanctum.com/ Seventh Sanctum], a collection of various name and concept generators
+* [https://donjon.bin.sh/ donjon's] various name and concept generators
+* [https://www.fantasynamegenerators.com/ Fantasy Name Generators] by Emily Kroeger
+* [https://www.mithrilandmages.com/index.php#names Name Generators] by Mithril & Mages
+* [http://akana.conlang.org/tools/awkwords/ Awkwords word generator] (generates words from a given pattern, can be used to make constructed languages)