The World Made in Blood

[Worldwander1010]

According to the followers of the Ascension of The People this world was created with the flesh and blood of a traitor.

In the tales of the Esh'Umani the world was hatched from an egg crafted by ancient hands of untold wisdom, and is still young in their eyes.

In the prophecies of the formless Amori the world was once consumed by a fiery God Serpent, only to be spewn forth again. The prophecy also states that it will happen again, and many Amori believe it to be sooner rather than later.

In modern times Our People, the Tyri so blessed with great height and intellect to accompany out pointed hearing, have survived what is believed to be a worldwide disaster. The Sun went dark for an hour, the air grew cold and colors went grey, fires went out everywhere. The Mist that hides in caves and places with little to no light grew a thousandfold as at the end of the hour a flash of light swept across the world.
Almost.
A large stretch of land was passed over, as light collected above this small section of the New Imperium of Tyri. The point where it collected disappeared as the waves of destruction ceased, leaving devastation where it touched unrestrained.
We have mapped out the extent of our untouched lands, finding the amphibious Esh'Umani along the lakes and rivers, the Meridian Folk in their factory city-states on the other side of the coastal ranges, countless Amori everywhere, and a few Gigants that deigned to actually speak to us.

What happened? Why were we unaffected?
Orem-Gal, the Flying City, was brought low by the Light and crashed beside the New Capital. Many of the demi-folk survived due to their mysterious Mist-arts.
Our Mist engines and various technologies avail us naught if we cannot find the other cities of the New Imperium.
Please approve of the motion to send more scouting parties south.

-"Letter to the Ven-Tatelus" by Brije of the University.

[Worldwander1010]

The purpose of the Mist is not for us to know.
What is for us to know is how to utilize its spiritual qualities, as well as its energy potential.
Hubris, blind and feckless, would dictate we claim to be the first to utilize Mist as a power source for our great machinery. Reasoning and the light of knowledge guide us to the real answer: We are not the first by any means. We are not even the best at it, as the First Imperium was rumored to have seen the Astral Seas dotted with stars, and sailed their darkened waters in mighty Mist-powered ships made of glittering metals and mythological substances.
Mist below, we cannot even claim to be the first to rediscover it. The Meridian, brutish though they seem, most assuredly can and do claim that privilege.
And while our practicioners of the Mist arts are fine indeed, the Demi-folk of Orem-Gal fallen have us beat by millenia, as their grand First Among One is said to be over a thousand years old.
What makes us so special then?
Our Intellect is incredible, our adaptability astounded other kingdoms and species. Our machinery, while not all original, is far more refined in function and form.
Even our society, while flawed in some ways, is far superior. We care for all of our people, even going so far as to help others who come to our cities, in order to preserve peace and law. We raise our young with great love and care, so as to keep societal values alive. Education and military training are standard, to keep the minds and bodies of the Tyri honed.
Then what keeps us from ruling the whole world?
Pride, infighting amongst the Ruling Families and their businesses, the Church Proper, and the University.
All differ just enough to never be at ease with the presence of another, as a hunter beast is never fully at ease in the midst of a herd of nomad beasts.
What point my rambling?
Ah, now we get to the meat of the matter!

-"Introduction to Mist Mechanics and Engineering" a speech given by high Pructos Selivier Solsun.

[redwizard007]

You lost me at the first apostrophe...

[Bohandas]

You lost me at the first apostrophe...

it kind of sounds like a gaslamp fantasy version of something being snatched up by the demiplane of dread, what with mists rising and placrs disappearing

[Worldwander1010]

it kind of sounds like a gaslamp fantasy version of something being snatched up by the demiplane of dread, what with mists rising and placrs disappearing

In a way, yes. The majority of the world was scoured by an appalling surge of light and heat, leaving naught but ocean, wastelands, ruins, and sterilized soul.
The one untouched section of land was protected by something powerful, and contains upwards of 2,000 kilometers.
The Mist has always been there, and is being used as a battery by the survivors.