Onthójedi

"The feel of magic floats in the air everywhere, and can even be seen with naked eye in places as rainbow-coloured swirls. The ground is hilly grassland, and far to the east and north are forests. The sky above is purple and cracked; behind it, only starless blackness. It's quiet everywhere: no singing of the birds, no humming of the wind.

"Something above reflects light, and it falls quickly from the sky to the ground, it's journey ending to a sound like the breaking of the glass."

Onthójedi is also known as the Plains of Beginning by the centaurs of Ager, and the Place Where One Runs (or Gallops) to the Horizon of Beginnings in the old tongue of elves and fey. It's connected to the Feywild by many Gates, and used to be a home for many who came from there.

History

It all began when a godess dropped a pearl in the universe in her rush. It floated empty across the space until a bored king changed its direction with a light touch of his finger. The sigh of boredom from the king warmed the world, and so grass grew onto its surface, further than eye could see. Numerous lonely souls living among the stars settled on its surface as they saw the alluring meadows and plains of the new home.

As time passed, the pearl was named Onthójedi, and for eternities there was peace everywhere as its peoples were more interested in running free and having fun than arguing about lands and rulership.

One could not be stopped by their harmony, however. The one who eats world after world, Lelinn Baraehil, the death of times.

The massive fangs of the beast sank into the ground, eating everything, living, inanimate, not caring for the pleas and begging. It was hungry, and nothing could stop it. Magic reflected from its thick hide like a drumstick from a drum. Spears and swords were like childrens' toys, every brave warrior only a morsel of its meal.

So many ran away, some to Feywild, some to other worlds. Some remained because they didn't dare face new realms, some because they wanted to find their loved ones; some, because they believed peace would one day return.

Generation after generation the peoples of the world ran and fought, died and hid, until one day Lelinn Baraehil layed down and fell asleep. Heavy silence fell onto the plains, and many held their breaths.

When the beast didn't wake up even days later, the peoples dared to silently walk around the land to find others that had stayed behind. No one dared to make any noise lest the beast awaken.

But there was hope. If it would be killed before it woke up again, Onthójedi would once again be the safe home of peace and song.

Today

Most of those who remained in the eaten world have taken the vow of silence to not wake the eater of the worlds. Many have developed telepathic abilities, and the rest speak in whispers and signs.

The sky is cracked like a broken mirror, and numerous shards that have broken off from the world surround it like tiny moons. Every now and then, small rocks fall back to the ground, and the people believe it to be a sign that their home is slowly healing, and will eventually recover entirely from the destruction.

The people send out someone to make sure the beast is still sleeping in regular intervals, but so far, there has been no sure signs one way or another. This is considered a duty that requires courage, and those who leave understand that they may never come back alive.

The people are trying hard to find a way to kill the beast, but so far they have found nothing that would most certainly help. Many dream of unmatched heroes and gods, but there are also those who know, that its best to relay on their own skills.

Hiding Places

Onthójedi's peoples have, for the most part, scattered into four hiding places located around the remains of the world. They are as follows:

Halámel

The western hiding place is full of ruins, and in the middle of it all is a church-like building, whose inside is painted with the many colours of the beautiful images in the windows.

Unnstrann

The northern hiding place, and the one closest to Lelinn Baraehil. Before the city was inland, but now, waves of the ocean lick at its ruins, and the edge of the world is a constant remainer of the state of their home. The few that live there can see the sleeping beast every day and will likely be the first to know when it wakes up. Understandably, not many live in the city, and it usually acts as a resting place for those that come here to make sure the beast is still asleep.

Abiëmel

The eastern hiding place hidden in a thick forest. Most who live here are of the smaller folk, for most homes are built on the boughs and inside the trees or in the caverns underground. The small folk has a brave heart, and so, many assume that the one to go look at the beast should come from their number, though they themselves believe they have carried that responsbility often enough. The others are too stubborn - and frightened - to hear them, however.

Osänne

The southern hiding place where especially the centaurs have settled. The hilly grassland gives a view into the distance, and the furthers location in relation to the beast. There is one gate to the Feywild near Osänne, and the locals often meed travelers that are tired of living in constant fear and only wish to go somewhere safe.

Type

Dimensional plane