The World
This plane has four continents. Two of them are arctic and mostly uninhabitable. The other two support life and one is significantly larger than the other. At the south edge of the largest continent an archipelago of islands can be found. Plains are located to the west and north-central areas with heavy forestation dominating the southern coast and mid-eastern portions. Mountains crown the continent and top of the western coast. Most of the east is lowlands, glades, and deltas.
The other continent is heavily forested.
The beliefs about the mana of this world are very very distinctive, with the belief that a being has mana vortices contained within them and they can become more powerful if they can join their mana with that of the universe. It is also believed that magic can be blocked by emotional instability.
Humans: There are three major human empires, greatly outnumbering the other races individually. They are composed of a u/b mercantile empire, a w/b theocracy, and a u/r/g kingdom of druid shaman clerics (yes, ALL THREE).
Deva (Angels): The angels of Balance, they work as agents of karma, supporting the good and punishing the wicked, strictly along the lines of a being’s karma. They lack wings, having another set of arms sprouting from their backs instead. A halo of light glows around their bodies. Long lengths of white pearlescent cloth surround their bodies, constantly flowing as if underwater. Aside from these they dress simple; white wraps around their hips and simple armored tops. Often associated with flowers.
Loxodon: Loxodon live in herds that are protected by the yoddha, a caste of high warriors dedicated solely to the herd. Their religious beliefs and government both revolve around elder worship. Nomad is the most prevalent class type.
Matsya (Merfolk): The merfolk believe that there was once more land upon which their ancestors walked with great cities that stretched high into the sky. Within these cities, the gods dwelled and taught man their secrets. However, all things flow in a great cycle, and the gods departed from the world. A great flood came to wash the world anew and to preserve their civilization, they were given knowledge by the divine to transform themselves into the beings they are now. The Matsya dive the oceans to try and find the secrets lost to the ages and the deep. They function as a Meritocracy.
One of the earliest secrets they discovered was the secret of flight, allowing them to interact with the dry world once again. Ruins are discovered once in a lifetime, but it takes several more to discern even a fraction of their secrets.
Viashino: The Viashino of this world live at the mouth of a major river and deltas. Descended from the dragons and are demon worshippers. Thuggee inspired.
Garuda: Garuda are Aven descendants of the legendary phoenix, Simurgh. Simurgh was the largest and oldest phoenix to have ever lived, using an entire mountain as its cradle and nest. During its last death, the explosion it generated cast its ashes to the four winds which snatched them away and spread them across the plane. Instead of the great bird rising and being reborn, each ash gave birth to an aven. And so the Garuda were born. They choose to live high up in the mountains, where the eddies and wind currents are strong, but without natural resources they are forced to fly down and raid lower settlements.
Amongst their settlements are monasteries dedicated to spiritual enlightenment. This monastic sect is called the 88 paths of flame. These monks combine martial arts with pyromancy, believing that if they master all 88 paths, they’ll reincarnate as a phoenix upon their funeral pyre. The yogas of the 88 paths become increasingly mental and spiritual as one approaches the highest practices, focusing almost solely on the spiritualism of pyromancy.
Phoenix
Rhox: The Druidic Rhox of the world have long been victims. What remains of their culture has been split, forced into the deepest recesses of the forests and jungles. Those settlements that have not been well hidden have been enslaved by the human empires in order to perform heavy labor. Their slave masters have cut their horns. The last of the free Rhox were driven to the forests and some have made their way into the smaller continent. Some of the enslaved Rhox have formed an underground rebellion led by a charismatic leader.
Asura (Demons): On this world, demons, called Asura, are formed when a being's karma becomes overwrought with sin. Each color (aside from Black) has its own sin, which influences the birth of the demon. When a soul becomes utterly corrupt, and the weight of its karma is beyond what the wheel of life can bear, that being becomes a demon and their very form changes. This process takes a great deal of time, and no two demons look exactly alike, as they retain much of their former race. An asura is completely driven by sin, slaved to its whims and desires.
Abhimasura (Pride): Asura of Pride are recognizable by their skin, becoming as stone resembling marble or porcelain and the growth of multiple faces upon their heads. Around their body float disembodied limbs, circling around them and responding to their commands.
Lalachura (Greed): The Asura of Greed live only partly in this world, residing in part in the spiritual realms. They have massive ethereal claws at the end of their long arms that can rend a being’s mind and spirit. Their faces and shoulders are covered by their long hair, with only their glowing demonic eyes visible through the veil of hair. They collect resources, both material wealth and more importantly knowledge, which float as small balls of light orbiting around them.
Krodhura (Wrath): Demons of Wrath are bellicose beings with black skin and great vicious tusks. They grow extra arms topped with large thick claws and horns crown their heads. The horns and claws fade to stained red. Bones jut haphazardly from their body, which they break from their flesh and use as blades. Whirling motes of fire rise from their skin and hair, which is long and flaming, flowing as if underwater.
Petupasura (Gluttony): The Green Asura are enormous and corpulent. They have multiple arms and a wide, stretched mouth with rows of fangs and forked tongues. They bring pestilence and disease that weep from sores. These sores grow as they become more and more sedentary, never moving, relying more and more upon their impish handservants. These Asura crave food all the time and will eat anything they have at hand. They prefer fresh meat, new meat harvested from exotic beings. They wear thick make up, kohling their eyes and coloring their lips to fake the appearance of nobility. The Petupasura make their lairs in places of former beauty, corrupting it with their presence and lounging indolently.
Misc.
Rakshasa- Cat horror
The history of the Rakshasa is lost in the annals of history, but the Matsya believe that they were a race of catfolk that existed before the great flood that washed the world clean. They might have existed, but when the rains started, they turned to the demons to save them rather than the gods. When the waters receded, they emerged, unaware that they had been transformed by their time in the demon's lair and were driven mad when they learned of the horrible thing they had become. They are so bestial now, that it is difficult to believe that they were ever more than horrible near mindless monsters.
Dragons: Most of the Dragons have transformed into Asura of Wrath.
Naga- Mortal enemies of the Garuda. Keepers of the natural secrets. U/G
Yeti-
Aspara- Aspara are sirens that dwell in the mists and seas. The Apsara are beautiful women who appear when the mists hang above the seas. They recline on rocks and entice sailors with their displays or their song. They tend to come in groups and act like floozies to get people close enough to them.
Unlike the classical siren though, they save people who crash and basically hold them prisoner. They are unable to leave because the Apsara crave attention and they'll lavish the prisoners with gifts and pleasures. The mists that form on the seas act as a gateway to the Apsara's palaces, far far up in the clouds. Naturally, this means that sailors 'ware the mists that blow in.
Eventually they will let the men and women they take go home, but not before they learn something new from the outside world. Usually a new dance or new song that they've never seen before, but they have a darker impulse of plunder too. They hunger for art and have been known to crash boats to harvest the goods on the ship, or even the ship itself if it's nice enough.
Apsara occasionally turn up where you wouldn't expect them. The imperial courts take huge pleasure in having an Apsara appear and they are drawn to festivals.
As an aside, the mists are the only things that dictate where an Apsara goes. They can turn up on land, but are most often associated with the sea.
