A Lumean Primer
Welcome, traveler, to Lume! The world you have just entered is an old one, forged by the grand divine countless millennia ago. But those days are long gone, and now it is the whims of mortals that shape Lume's future. This primer will give you an overview of the world as it currently is, from the gods in the heavens to the lands you walk upon. But take care, for a world as old as this holds many secrets...
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The World of Lume
Five continents cover the surface of Lume: The ancient land of Sundercrag, which bears the scars of the wars between gods; the primeval jungles of Naish, where mighty beasts roam freely; the frozen peaks of Myrall, forever caught in the icy grip of the Everstorm; and the twin continents of Gracia and Adari, once joined as the continent of Letias. Your adventures will begin on Gracia, but where they may take you nobody knows. As such, what follows is a quick overview of each of these lands and what you should expect to find there. -----Gracia
One cannot speak of Gracia without mentioning the Exalted Imperium of Oriand. Never before in recorded history has a nation grown so large, nor fallen so far. The Imperium of but a few centuries ago claimed nearly the entirety of Gracia, but today is simply a shadow of its former self. Yet even in its weakened state it still holds great sway, and many fear that its total collapse would signal yet another Age of Destruction. Recent history aside, Gracia is also known as the place where Saema, god of elemental earth, was nearly slain by his brother. His fallen physical form gave rise to the Godfall Peaks, known the world over for their ore-rich mines. -----Adari
But a few hundred feet east of Gracia, separated by Taran's Wall, Adari is home to a myriad of nations. Far back in the Fourth Age, Adari was still joined to Gracia and was known as Letias. But at the end of the Fourth Age, Taran the Uniter tore the continent asunder as he ascended to godhood, creating the strait that now bears his name. The people of Adari still share many of the same characteristics as that of their Gracian counterparts, a remnant of their shared history. -----Sundercrag
Far to the west of Gracia, across the Cobalt Tides, are the ravaged lands of Sundercrag. Thought to be the birthplace of civilization, it was devastated in the battles between the gods during the Second Age of Destruction. The once-pristine landscapes are now torn and scarred, particularly around the Six Cities of Dhelboran, which circle The Rift of Twisting Stones. From here stretch numerous valleys, canyons, and ravines within which huddle isolated settlements. While kingdoms rise in Sundercrag, it is not long before they fall, and only the Six Cities have managed to create lasting order in this chaotic land. -----Naish
Head due south of Sundercrag and you'll find yourself standing on the glistening shores of Naish. While the verdant expanse before you may be welcome after the bleakness of Sundercrag, take care! The jungles of Naish are equally as dangerous, if not more so. Beneath the canopy of leaves prowl many deadly creatures, each more monstrous than the last. The same can be said for the people of Naish, who have managed to carve out a home in this hostile environment. -----Myrall
Well to the northeast, past Gracia and Adari, lies a land shrouded in eternal winter. Caught within the Everstorm, most of Myrall is an inhospitable wasteland of ice and snow. Primarily home to Goliath tribes, other races can be found eking out a living in the Meltwater Archipelago past Myrall's southernmost tip. Ice floes are as common as boats in Myr ports, yet traders are drawn to these dangerous waters in search of old-world relics that appear with surprising regularity. Many locals have made their fortune scouring the rim of the Everstorm to find things uncovered by the swirling winds, although many more have lost their lives doing the very same thing. ----- -----The Gods of Lume
First was Mava. Born of a plane beyond planes Her arrival beget existence, from which all things followed.The Tale of Creation tells the story of the arrival of the five grand divine, they who lead the five pantheons of Lume and are worshipped the world over. They created all other gods beneath them, and they now number fifty-six in total. -----
Second came Reina, and Her light flooded the nothingness, filling it with bountiful life.
Third came Yaradicil, and with His being all worlds were born, new and wondrous.
Fourth came Karas, and His strength caused the worlds to shudder and be made old and weathered.
Last came Maranam, and His touch closed the cycle of being. And so all things began.
Mava's Pantheon, the Fate Watchers
Also known as Earthmother or All-Seer, Mava is the grand goddess of time, ruling the very nature of being. Mava commands the most basic and primal parts of the world, holding sway over the aspects of Nature, the Elements, and Fate. Mava works to keep balance amongst the other gods, particularly between Yaradicil and Karas. Her lesser gods similarly work to maintain order when other gods quarrel. Mava's mortal followers are often those with strong connections to nature or the elemental planes. She is also popular amongst diviners and fortune tellers. -----Reina's Pantheon, the Glorious Light
Also known as the Sun Queen and Lightbringer, Reina is the grand goddess of the sun, ruling over life and light. Reina holds sway over the aspects of Healing, Love, and the Heavens. With her sisters Esta and Lua by her side, Reina seeks to guide her followers to perfection so they may one day join her as deities themselves. Reina's following is second only to Yaradicil, and not by much. Spurred by her promises of divinity, many mortals flock to her temples in search of eternal salvation. -----Yaradicil's Pantheon, the Diligent Craftsmen
Also known as the Worldbuilder, Yaradicil is the grand god of construct, ruling over creation and unity. Yaradicil has the greatest number of followers amongst the lesser gods, which are split amongst the aspects of Artifice, Community, Knowledge, and Judgement. Yaradicil's worship is widespread among mortals; even the smallest settlements will have a shrine dedicated to him. -----Karas' Pantheon, the Eternal Warriors
Karas is the grand god of war, ruling over destruction and competition. Karas holds sway over the aspects of Glory, Chaos, Deception, and Ruin, and he encourages the gods of each aspect to vie for his favor. Karas' followers are almost always warriors of some kind, though they vary greatly. Noble paladins and brutal barbarians alike pledge loyalty to Karas in hopes of being granted his strength in battle. -----Maranam's Pantheon, the Silent Guides
Maranam is the grand god of the void, ruling over darkness and death. Maranam has only four followers, fewer than any other Grand Divine. These four are split into the twin aspects of Shadow and Decay. Maranam and the gods that serve him largely avoid interaction with the other deities. As youngest of the Grand Divine, Maranam cares only to fulfill his purpose and little more. Due to his morbid nature, mortal followers of Maranam are few. While his worship is by no means taboo, there are not many who would willingly pledge themselves to the darkness. For those who thrive under cover of night, however, Maranam is a popular figure. -----The Exiled Gods
Not all gods have a patron, and not all for the same reason. However, those who stray from the paths of the grand divine are dubbed exiles, and their worship is near non-existent. Yet behind locked doors and shuttered windows, whispered prayers are said to them in hopes of things better left unsaid. Such heretics are best avoided, lest you find yourself in the thrall of a profaned god. ----- -----The People of Lume
Many races cover the lands of Lume, to say nothing of those below the surface or beneath the waves. The most common races you might encounter are humans, dwarves, and elves, though you will undoubtedly meet many, many others in your travels. -----Humans
Though human cultures may rise and fall with the seasons, the things they build outlast even the oldest elf. While longer-lived races are oft unchanging, humans constantly push Lume forward, for good or for ill. They can be found most anywhere, and it is the rare settlement that is not home to humankind. -----Dwarves
A tragic race, the dwarves split long ago following the death of most of their kin during the Fall of the Underneath. Whilst many left their mountain homes forever, others remained and stand today as bastions against the twisted remnants of their lost kin deep below. -----Elves
As the longest-lived race on Lume, elves tend to keep to their own. The sun elves of Gracia are a notable exception, having emerged as the preeminent political power on the twin continents. Elsewhere they form isolated communities, finding refuge from the ravages of time that plague the other races. ----- -----A Final Word
You now know the lands, the gods, and the people of Lume, yet there is far more left to learn. Regrettably, to tell all would require a lifetime well beyond that of an elf, so instead take heed of this brief advice:Trust in yourself, and find trust in others. Let your wits, your faith, and your heart guide you. Just as there is danger in the world, so too is there beauty. Hold your destination firmly in mind, but of course, enjoy the journey.
The Eras of Lume
Lume has a long and storied history, broken into paired Ages of Creation and Destruction. -----The First Age of Creation
Marked by the arrival of the grand divines Mava, Reina, and Yaradicil, this age marks the beginning of all things. -----The First Age of Destruction
The arrival of the grand divines Karas and Maranam heralded the start of a cycle that would persist for all eternity. -----The Second Age of Creation
It was during this time that all other creatures, from gods to beasts, were created. Due to the events of the age that followed, almost nothing is known about it. -----The Second Age of Destruction
A great and terrible disaster beset Lume in the form of Odos, god of murder. The subsequent war between the gods was nearly the end of all life, and it culminated in the gods and their most powerful servants leaving Lume for realms beyond. -----The Third Age of Creation
A time of rebirth and rebuilding from what came before, the Third Age saw the creation of The Underneath. It was also during this time that Taruvata ascended to godhood, becoming the first mortal to do so. -----The Third Age of Destruction
The Underneath was not to last, as it was cursed by the jealous god Anduru and transformed into The Underdark. Entire civilizations disappeared overnight, wiped from the annals of history. -----The Fourth Age of Creation
Once again a time of rebirth, the Fourth Age was also a time of rediscovery, as many of the lost magics of the Second Age were found once more. -----The Fourth Age of Destruction
The spread of magic was ultimately the downfall of many kingdoms, as these new powers were poorly understood or controlled. The conflict that followed culminated with the ascension of Taran the Uniter as he ripped the continent of Letias in two to stop a war. -----The Fifth Age of Creation
Societies rebuilt themselves, this time with magic as an integral part. Precautions were taken to avoid the mistakes of the past, though their success remains unclear. -----The Fifth Age of Destruction
A terrible plague swept across Lume, reaching even its most isolated corners. The death toll was too high to count, and the consequences too great to fathom. -----The Sixth Age of Creation
Finally, we come to our modern day. The Sixth Age has lasted for nearly four millennia, an incredible length that leads many to fear it is soon to end. Yet for now all is well; nations flourish, knowledge grows, and progress marches ever on.Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
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