#elementum

A misty memory... A haunting face... Is she a lost embrace?

"Tellus", an alternate earth that exists within a dimensional plane called “The Mortal Plane”. A space where the majority of dimensional worlds are kept with an exception of a few whose rules differ from the ones within The Mortal Plane. Tellus however is a strange place containing all sorts of otherworldly life. The realm itself is what one would call “abstract” in terms of its appearance and the life that resides on it.

Tellus at one point originally only had a few beings that lived there throughout time. Those beings were…

✦Humans

✦Faunae

✦Florians

✦Monsters [undead, spirits, lycans,etc]

These four species were the original inhabitants of Tellus. But as time went on and Dimensional Travel became more common, more and more beings from all over came to Tellus as it was considered to be a safe place for all beings to escape from the horrors that occur within the dimensions they hail from. The other beings who now coexist alongside the original inhabitants of Tellus are- ✦Puppeteerians ✦Living Dolls ✦Witches ✦Demons ✦Angels ✦Draconians ✦Hybrids ✦Shades [shadow people] ✦Mythicals [faeries, elves, elementals etc.] There used to be plenty of other beings who used to live alongside the other beings, but that within itself caused problems as centuries went by, problems with overcrowding and tensions rising between the various people...it eventually led to an event called "The Great War".

This war changed Tellus forever. What happened during this war was that beings were fighting for power as well as their own fears of one another. Thanks to the tensions that grew...This war destroyed a lot of the old kingdoms and some others that used to stand simply disappeared.

The only kingdoms still standing are...

✦Coloris [The Kingdom of Colors]

✦Novern [The Kingdom of Land and Sea]

✦Nekropolis [The Kingdom of Monsters]

✦Timberlands [The Kingdom of Plants]

✦La Enchanté Royaume [The Kingdom of Magic]

✦Votlita [The Isolated Kingdom]

✦Elementum [The Kingdom of Fire and Ice]

✦Marionettica [The Kingdom of Porcelain]

These kingdoms as mentioned are the only ones still standing, each in their own respective countries and had to change the way they ran things after The Great War…some of these kingdoms used to be separate but became one as to make things less complicated during the realms recovery process of the wars aftermath…since then Dimensional Travel and the gates have been banned ever since locking off Tellus from the rest of the realms…however not all of the gates have been dismantled.

About the “Kingdoms”:

The kingdoms on Tellus are more modernized monarchies in terms of how they work. Each of these kingdoms reside in their own respective countries and have their own various cultures. There are also other lands where some of the old kingdoms exist; however not much is known about them other than that nature reclaimed them.

Coloris [The Kingdom of Colors]: Coloris rsides in a country known as “Kaleido”. Beings of all sorts reside in this kingdom. The kingdom itself is ruled by a King named “Saffron”, a Queen named “Viridienne” and their son “Prince Cyan”. Now with that out of the way…The kingdom is known to be artsy when it comes to the culture. Art plays an important role and all kinds of artists tend to find themselves living there. From painters, writers, performers, etc. This also reflects on the people and the places they live in.

For those visiting the country, Kaleido is known to be colorful, almost like a colorful dream. The landscape is often in various arrays of colors along with a sky that appears to change colors depending which part of Kaleido you’re in. From Cerulean Forests to Rainbow cities, it’s beautiful to the eyes. The people who live here are proud to call this place their home.

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Novern [The Kingdom of Land and Sea]: Novern is the name of the country where The Kingdom of Land and Sea resides. It’s next to an ocean simply called “The Novern Depths' '. This is the kingdom where beings known as “The Faunae'' live. This kingdom is ruled by two separate rulers. The lord who rules over the lands of Novern is a Snake Faunae known as “King Shakir '' and his daughter “Princess Cleo”. They reside in the country’s massive desert known as “Land of Nehebkau'' There resides The Land Kingdom known as ''Nevadet”.

Meanwhile the lord of the seas is a Great White Shark Faune Duke known as “Duke Zulimar”, his wife “Duchess Ursula” and their son “Dallomirus”. They rule over the Novern depths, an ocean full of all sorts of life from aquatic type Faunae to aquatic monsters and mythicals. Nothing could outmatch the beauty of this sea…however there is a lingering darkness deep below the depths…

The Kingdom and its rulings were split into two different rulers who allied with each other during “The Great War '' era. Because it became too much for just one lord to bear. Thanks to this change the culture here involves a lot of massive markets and trading based culture between land and sea. You come to find there are many settlements within both land and sea that also often trade with one another. The people here are friendly for the most part but they don’t trust outsiders right away so more often than not if you’re not from this kingdom you have to prove to them in some shape or form that you’re one of them. They follow the philosophy that anyone who is able to survive the harsh conditions of the lands is welcome to live among them.

The landscape as mentioned is harsh in terms of living conditions. The Land Kingdom is located in the middle of a desert known as “Nevadet”. Which can get into really high temperatures during the day and freezing during the nights. Weirdly enough the desert is surrounded by thick jungles along with various oases that contribute to helping the people live off of the land itself. There is also known mountain systems, plains, steppes and other mixed Geological environments to fit all kinds of life there despite the harsh weather conditions.

As for The Sea, the waters are mostly calm and peaceful but can be extremely dangerous when it comes to the storms that not only affect the surface above but also below with strong currents. Luckily the residents of both land and sea know how to handle it.

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Nekropolis [The Kingdom of Monsters]: Nekropolis is a country that all forms of monsters decided to inhabit and claim as their own. It is their safe haven as they still have to deal with threats outside of the country such as a group known as “The Hunters Guild''. However it is known for monsters to live outside of the kingdom under certain circumstances. Most of the beings on Tellus fear the monsters not because of what they are but what they are capable of as they have powers and knowledge unlike any other. Nekropolis itself is ruled by a group of vampyres who are part of their own clans these clans go by the names

✦Țepeș

✦Pentecost

✦Bathory

✦Acheron

✦Cel Tradat

Each of these Vampiric clans are primarily clans run by powerful Vampiric families, each of these families run their own section of Nekropolis as it is a huge country. Another name the clans go by when they are together is known as “The Vampyre Council”.

You’ll come to find that Nekropolis has a very rich culture when it comes to folklore and history. Nekropolis itself has the biggest historical archive there is to date. So it’s not unusual to see various academies here. Another important factor in this kingdom is that it does have a strong culture that revolves around love as well as death. The people here have a strong belief when it comes to romance and platonic love as they believe it is important to keep loved ones close both in life and in death. Anything toxic is frowned upon and often leads to exile of a person if they are found to have been an abuser. When it comes to their culture around death itself. To these beings death is celebrated in their own special way depending on the monster type. But it’s all the same in the end, Death is not an end but simply a new beginning for the soul and their next life. So much so they have a holiday to celebrate their loved ones.

The general place itself is equivalent to a Gothic Fairytale or Dream with a touch of Victorian and Romantic gothic styles when it comes to the overall aesthetic in the kingdom's buildings and clothing the people here wear. The landscape is in a strange array of colors making it seem like it’s something out of a strange and unusual dream…or a nightmare.

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Timberlands [The Kingdom of Plants]: The Timberlands is located in a country simply called “Terran”. It’s a country that inhabits beings known as “The Florians”. This kingdom is ruled by a Queen who goes by the name “Gaia”. Florians have existed in the lands of Terran for as long as life on Tellus had been around for. The Timberlands is known for having a culture that is surrounded by nature itself! They are primarily peaceful people having a strong philosophy surrounded by peace and equality, similar to hippies. However not all beings follow this mindset within The Timberlands….

Terran is a vast land that has the appearance of a gigantic garden. Each region varies depending on the Florian subtype. The denizens live in homes that are within the trees themselves or in settlements that are above the dense planted areas. However the regions and settlements vary depending on the Florians that live there, forests, deserts, tropical, etc. It’s also common to see hunting grounds, at least for the carnivorous subtype.

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La Enchanté Royaume [The Kingdom of Magic]: The kingdom of Magic resides in a country known as “Magika”. Beings of all kinds live here however they are usually born with magical abilities or people who come from other lands to study magic. It is governed by two Empresses named “Evangeline” and “Hera” as well as their two daughters and son.

The culture here is primarily academic and knowledge focused. The cities are filled with some of the best magic academies as well as magical related buildings. The largest in all of Tellus as a matter of fact. It’s also not uncommon to see people practice their magic on the streets.

For the appearance of The Magic Kingdom….The land it resides on is from a dimension that has long since been destroyed. Hardly anything is known about it and the elders of this mystical place don’t seem to wish to talk about it either…however it has been rumored that the history of the land is hidden deep within the castle vaults. Asides from that, Mystical cities can be seen as far as the eye can see with magical gates that connect to the different cities within Magika. The cities are often themed around the different magical classes, an example of this is that if a sector is based around one of the magical classes such as “Illusions” it’s not uncommon to see various things that fit the theme of the magic, in the Illusionary case one might be able to see glamor magic all around or magical “projections”. In the center of these lands is where the castle resides.

It’s also noted that the buildings here are in a similar style to French Gothic Architecture.

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Votlita [The Isolated Kingdom]: Votlita is a mysterious place, a kingdom that once had it’s gates opened to everyone are now forever locked…After the great war The Sovereign of these lands vowed to protect their people but in doing so it meant to completely shut themselves off from the rest of the world. The last time people checked on who had the throne it was someone who went by the name “Séverin”..Though the citizens of the kingdom hardly see them as they keep themselves locked away in the castle.

The culture to those outside of the kingdom is unknown, however to those who do live here are often solitary folk who are quiet and keep to themselves. The people are also very strict and serious at least from what others are told…not to mention they have a high regard for Respect and Honor within the kingdom.

The kingdom itself is surrounded by thick, darkstone walls that are impossible to penetrate. In short, it is similar to that of a fortress not allowing anyone or anything to get in or to get out. The kingdom is also said to have a bleak yet monochromatic appearance and usually has a heaviness lingering in the air, it doesn’t help that . The people are often seen wearing dark clothing, some are seen wearing hats, veils or cloaks to keep their faces hidden. However not everyone wears these items. The buildings are tall, dark and have Gothic Revival Architecture look to them.

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Elementum [The Kingdom of Fire and Ice]: Elementum is a kingdom split into two. One side is completely cold and has a vast tundra landscape known as “The Frostlands”. While the other side is covered in volcanic ash and various lava pools as far as the eye can see, a vicious place known as “Basilisks Edge ''. There is more smaller islands of Elementum based around other elements…however they remain much as a mystery to the two major islands…Their elements are as follows…The Windy Isles, The Storm Keys and The Kumumea Archipelago [an unpredicable island with magical essence running through it there fore elements are always changing]

Now, The ruler of The Frostlands is a Tsarina snow bird faunae who goes by the name “Natasha”. A powerful ice sorceress who the people describe to be just like the snow…gentle but cold.

The ruler of Basilisks Edge is a Draconian King who goes by the name “Fraener”. A fire subtype draconian who is full of pride and can be hot headed. Draconians or Draconic people tend to live in Basilisks Edge and thus it is how the island is ruled by a Draconian. Because of their differences Natasha and Fraener often butt heads which in turn…there is tension between the two lands..

The cultures are different between the two islands. The Frostlands is known to be rich in various things when it comes to its culture, particularly things involving the Ice element itself! It’s not uncommon to see people making things out of ice or participating in snow-based activities such as Ice skating. To add onto this The Frostlands people have a high belief in Generosity, Camaraderie, Cautiousness and Intellect.

Meanwhile…Basilisks Edge Culture.

Basilisk's Edge is considered to be “Barbaric” in the eyes of many, particularly Places that seem way to "Lavish" and don't appreciate the simpler things life has to offer. This is also a place where warriors seem to thrive in, The people here love to spar with one another to test their strength and will. Their methods seem to be a bit outdated compared to the rest of the world, the people don’t really seem to care. They live carefree, aloof, yet full of pride. They thrive on the thrill of battle as well as adventure. However despite their sword swinging ways the people do enjoy dancing, playing music, telling stories and legends over food and drink, as well as throwing hearty celebrations.

The Cultures on the smaller islands in Elementum seem to vary depending on the island, not much is known about the smaller islands other than that people inhabit them.

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Marionettica [The Kingdom of Porcelain]: Marionettica is one of the largest kingdoms that exists within Tellus, in fact it’s the third largest compared to Nekropolis and Novern. The people governing this kingdom is a royal living doll family known as “The Menncias” which consist of a King named "Vespasian", a Queen named “Amelia” and their daughter Princess “Velvet”.

The kingdom itself is known to be inhabited by beings known as “Living Dolls'' as well as some other beings known as “Puppeteerians'' however despite this place being their origin like other beings across Tellus they can live in other kingdoms as well. Marionettica is a strange place with it being made out of the same materials dolls are made out of, an artificial kingdom but somehow is still able to support all kinds of life. Although strange, people from all over often visit this kingdom to check out the various sights and sounds.

Marionettica’s culture is based around hospitality towards others especially to those who aren’t from the kingdom. The denizens of Marionettica are very friendly and open minded people who welcome everyone with open arms. Which is unsurprising why tourism is popular in this peculiar place. The people also have a strong belief based on playfulness and having an appreciation for life. Despite their friendly nature sometimes people who visit this place feel unnerved due to their over friendliness.

However this kingdom isn’t without its secrets, beneath all the hospitality and friendliness…there is a lingering paranoia that lurks in the shadows of this kingdom. Although the Living Dolls tend to be friendlier, their counterparts Puppeteerians ideology is less friendly, Puppeteerians were born from a different section of Marionettica, though no one seems to understand how their origins have been lost to time. The ideology seen in the other half of Marionettica in short is surrounded by the “survival of the fittest'' mindset. This ideology was born when “The Great War” changed everything and made it hard for some of the people to trust anyone without history repeating itself. Though not all people share this ideal and try to be as friendly as they can be!

As mentioned earlier, Marionettica’s landscape seems to be made out of materials dolls and other toys alike are made from. However they’re able to support life despite appearing materialistic! There are plenty of hills, valleys and open plains as well as some towns scattered about all over. It’s also worth mentioning that the houses represent cottages and dollhouses.

CYCLES OF EARTH

“Man eats bread, wine, beer, fruit. From these he produces excrements which are carried back to the fields. Seed is sewn upon them and his food grows again from his own excrement. In the same way a tree: when winter robs it of its leaves, they fall down to the roots and turn into the sap that seeps into the roots and feeds in fertilizes its own parent Tree.

“Let a man observe this carefully and he will easily recognize in it the Superius et Inferius Hermetis (the superior and inferior of Hermes), the Catena Aurea Homeri (the Golden chain of Homer) and the Annulus Platonis (the Platonic ring). That is: one thing changes into another and through the everlasting alternation of things turns again into the same thing it had before, or something similar.”

-Of Heaven and it’s Influences (influxes)

We are all but links in a chain comprised of the same elements of Nature. This interconnectedness isn’t merely a lofty ideal shared by mystics but rather something tangible and real that you can verify with your senses.

See the Alchemists of Olde knew the trappings of the intellect weren’t so easily dismissed and found a way to side step them. They’d give their pupils ways they could verify deeper truths based on logic and observation before moving them into the unseen realms.

To say “the all is all” is a very vague description of the Chaos that forms the four elements. It takes years of study and meditation to note the interplay of the Divine at work. Even then, those of us who do gain insight- and I mean understanding how little we actually comprehend - are at a loss of words on how to share Wisdom. So what we are left with are collections of writings from mystics the world over that share vision and perspective without encapsulating truth.

ELEMENTUM

The great philosophers of ancient Greece wrestled with the really large questions in their attempt to understand the true nature of reality. In modern times the debate rages on as we struggle with the understanding we are both the observer and the observed. If quantum mechanics has done anything for philosophy it's help shape how little we actually know.

Empedocles, trying to solve the contradiction between Paramenides asserting that "if reality is one substance then change is impossible" and Heracleitus' idea that "everything is in flux and only change is constant." He did this by suggesting that everything in existence is comprised of four elements- fire, air, water, & earth; and two principles of motion- love/attraction & hate/repulsion that would account for this change.

While we can all instantly recognize the duality at play here and quote countless thousands of mystics to counter this argument you have to respect the deep level of thinking taking place here.

Heracleitus' cycle of existence always had a better grasp on the nature of reality, although it was unknown to ancient Greece at that time; they were already awakening to a deeper truth- Nothing ever dies, it merely changes forms. Anaxagora confirmed these ideals by stating that mind is the origin of motion and change.

If this sounds like eastern philosophy it's because the Buddha himself stated it simply:

"All that we are is a result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think, we become."