Lore & Arcs of the Warring States Era

[Drackos]

Arc 20: Unraveling
Twentieth Story Arc - 817
October 13th - November 28th

Phetra, Voidlord and former Ruler of the Underworld, has been defeated. The Champions of Humanity emerged victorious after a long and protracted struggle in Irkalla, returning with riches and artifacts lost to time. But Phetra’s death revealed a harrowing truth: the Domain of Death was shattered. The Void now encroaches on Irkalla, threatening to swallow the realm whole as Ereshkigal, reappointed Goddess of the Dead, fights against the inevitable. In this chaos it was revealed that Abzu, the Primordial God of the Freshwater Sea, exists within the Void. But their struggle was not the only front that humanity has battled the relentless forces of Imeroth on. Nefarian, partial inheritor of Ereshkigal’s own Divinity, has spread a virulent Prismatic Plague throughout the world, starting in the Land of Fire. The infection spreads through nearly all available vectors and does not act to kill, but to render immortal. In Nefarian’s own words, “Death has left this world.” The Domain of Condition strains under its weight, and time is of the essence to find and stop the Voidlord before it shatters.

To aid in their battle Emiya Shirou rescued Marzan from the depths of Irkalla. Together they entered the sealed Armory of Marzan, the forge where the first God-Slaying Tools were crafted. There they encountered Demetrias who, after a brief encounter leading to Emiya’s suicide, departed unceremoniously. Marzan revived Emiya by reforging Blessings from the End of the World into a new God-Slaying Tool, one born of Void and Divinity: Tsumukari, the Heaven Reaching Blade. With it Marzan cut causality, effectively reviving Emiya. Once revived Emiya discovered, to Marzan’s dismay, that the God-Slaying Tools stored there had been stolen somehow. Marzan, a capable smith, pledged to reforge a new generation to aid in humanity’s coming battle. In an undisclosed location Nefarian moves his plans toward its final phase: the shattering of the Domain of Condition. A race against the clock as Demetrias faces Nefarian in a tragic encounter.​

 

[Drackos]

Arc 21: The Shadow of Death
Twenty-first Story Arc - 814
December 6th - February 6th

The Prismatic Plague has pushed the Land of Fire into a crisis. A division of former Hangurian soldiers, now bandits, led by former Captain Niashin. The match has been lit to set off a powder keg of scarcity and resource competition; his brigand faction have executed a series of raiding and psychological operations to turn the people of the Village Hidden in the Valley against their overlords, setting the countryside aflame. The skirmishes and riots are localized in the western regions of the Land of Fire, primarily within Tanigakure. Villagers have taken to the streets, pillaging for whatever food they can feed themselves with as their immortal bodies starve, caused by Nefarian’s machinations. In battle they do not die, instead laying on the ground wounded and in pain though unable to pass onto Irkalla. Meanwhile, the man responsible for the disease, Nefarian, prepares to embrace his own Domain’s shattering. As the onslaught leaves the Land of Fire in ruin he fortifies himself deep underground.​

 

[Drackos]

Arc 22: Journey to the West
Twenty-second Story Arc - 815
February 13th - June 13th

The Domains of Death, Condition, and the Soul have been shattered. With their demise the island of Kamiyasumi has revealed itself, a continent to the far west sheltered in mystery. The island's very nature is in flux, warped and bent in a reality as solid as water. It has not seen human activity for thousands of years, with only a small pocket of Immortal Humans, Marduk's Chosen, remaining. Two opposing factions, the Champions of Humanity and the Akatsuki, will embark on an expedition to explore the continent and its surrounding oceans. Though they are not alone. The Sentinels, guided by the Void Tree, have infested its western waters in the Veiled Ocean. They have constructed a magnificent fortress of crystal to fortify their position.

Solomon and the Spider have covertly orchestrated an expedition. With the promises of riches and glory the Champions of Humanity will embark to find themselves on the island's eastern shore. Meanwhile, the Voidlord Basel has contacted Madara Uchiha to organize the Akatsuki to lead their own expedition into the island to find the elusive Six Tails beast, a monstrous creature that represents one of the final beasts needed to be captured as Strix and Kotetsu battle the Five Tails. Though unbeknownst to all factions deep in the Void an ancient god stirs.​

 

[Drackos]

Arc 23: The Dragon of Desire
Twenty-third Story Arc - 815
July 3rd - September 3rd

Humanity has made contact with Sanctuary, village and home to Marduk's last remaining Immortal Humans. Unlike the Immortals of Tobusekai, who went on to build the Golden Empire, these humans live with humility. Their only stone structure being the temple that houses Grandmaster Iavid, the true master of the Atavistic Flame. But not all is as it seems. Just to the north, where the Heart of the Titan lies, a dark truth begins to reveal itself. Its true identity is that of the heart of Enlil, God of Storms. It was here he was slain and his heart has sustained the hurricane in the skies above for thousands of years, ravaging the island and all its inhabitants. To protect them one known as a Voidlord, Basel, would erect a barrier that would be sustained by him and Grandmaster Iavid. Only Basel and his master Imeroth could say for what reason they would protect the last of Marduk's Immortals.

In response to the Champions' arrival Basel has marched forth and engaged Emiya at Last Shadow. But what powers drive the Dragonkin? Solving this mystery is essential to defeating him. As long as he draws breath the Beast of Greed will remain a threat, walking the earth in service of his nefarious master's plans.​

 

[Drackos]

Arc 24: Novi Coeptus
Twenty-fourth Story Arc – 815
End of Part II: The Twin Pillars of Existence
September 19th – April 14th

A last stand of sorts has begun in earnest against Abzu, the God of the Freshwater Sea. Over the dead sea Champions of Humanity and Akatsuki battle against the very cosmos themselves. It is the climax of a plan that was brought to fruition four years ago, on the eve of Takauji Ashikaga’s kidnapping, Tiamat’s release, the Red Fever, the Siege of Irkalla, the Prismatic Plague, and Basel’s assault. The Dragon of Greed may lay dead, defeated by Lucifer, but his greatest wish came to pass: Abzu, the Void itself, has returned. In the distant East, divine cavalry has been called upon. And in the west humanity's forces have come together in a final stand.

Fight for your world. ​

 

[Drackos]

Arc 25: The Broken Pillars
Twenty-fifth Story Arc – 815
Start of Part III: The Seven Sovereigns
June 19th - August 19th

Two years have elapsed since Abzu emerged from the Trench of Engur. In spite of Enkidu and the Pantheon’s best efforts, calamity still claimed humanity’s home. The Twin Pillars, which once maintained order in the world, fell to disorder. The Chains of Heaven stopped the Void Tree from reaching maturity. But his final attack was redirected at Eanna, home to Anu and the Heavenly Arali. Much of the Moon was shattered, leaving a broken celestial in the sky as a constant reminder of that fateful battle. Its remnants rained upon the earth, bringing about a cataclysm.

But humanity’s flame was not extinguished, although many died. What remained regrouped under three distinct banners: the Monks of the Human Order and their ally Enkidu, Konoe Sakihisa’s reformed Freehold, and Mara’s mysterious Order of the Golden Amputation. Each is a bastion of humanity, carrying their flame.

In this broken world, humanity is not alone. In the Void Tree’s death three new gods emerged to take the place of the fallen Pantheon: Tanacetum, Archelirion, and Aureliana. In the two years since their emergence, each of these divinities carved out their own territory, following, and power. And each seeks to shape the broken world left behind.

The new gods, and their competition in mankind, are locked in stalemate. If one were to move against another, then the third would press the advantage at full strength. Thus, a tenuous and hollow peace has claimed the world. But darker forces operate on the horizons. In the west, the Sentinels lurk deep beneath the surface of the oceans and in the Trench of Engur. The former friends of humanity have begun excavating the Trench, digging ever deeper to find a link to the Void so that they may achieve their own divinity. In the east, the Basmu has destroyed Last Bastion. Its rampage has spread a gargantuan lake of Rot, now known as the Aeonian Swamp, across Tobusekai. Humans have given themselves over to the Rot, led by Millicent, now a devout worshipper of the Basmu.​

​

 

[Drackos]

Arc 26: Lost Gods
Twenty-sixth Story Arc – 815
August 28th - November 15th

Falnir, the Burial King, is dead. A champion of Ereshkigal and general of her armies in the war against the encroaching Void, his death serves as the catalyst for her desperate plea: a call to all Champions of Humanity to return to the Underworld, to Irkalla, and bolster her fight against infinity. The assassin, a knight of the Golden Amputation, spirited away from the crumbling afterlife. His true target had been Ereshkigal all along, but during the battle failed to acquire the intended target and struck Falnir down instead. Meanwhile, Anu, the Steward of the Heavens, has not been found since the devastation wrought upon the Moon two years ago. A Rift has opened, peering into the past just hours before Enkidu's Chains of Heaven struck the Moon; perhaps a glimpse into this Rift may give the Champions of Humanity a clue as to where Anu vanished to.

With her plea sent and the Rift opening to Eanna, humanity faces an important decision. The Pantheon may no longer be a credible force in the world, but members of its third generation still linger. For humanity and its supporters, finding the Queen of the Dead and the Steward of Heaven could mean gaining key allies in its struggle. And for its detractors, slaying or containing these Divinities could mean one step toward certain victory. And yet darkness stirs elsewhere...feeding on the souls of others.​

​