Counter to The One Below, there are also groups dedicated to The Watcher On High, another unidentifiable source of power. Whereas the cults of The One Below are recorded as committing crimes of varying magnitudes, those pledging to The Watcher On High appear at least to be involved with charitable endeavours and community involvement. While not officially sanctioned, many places will turn a blind eye to the actions of Watcher pledges.
#Lore24 26/1/24

The Brightfields, analogous to the Feywild in other parts of the multiverse, is the domain of fanciful creatures of all shapes and sizes, including the Eladrin and Fairies (names pending). Ruling over the land, atop a golden throne of pure majesty is the Bright Lord, Colin McDaniel. Claiming to be from an unknown village known as “New York”, he has made a name with his experience as an “electrician” to introduce a number of ideas to the Brightfolk. But there is a downside…
#Lore24 27/1/24

When night falls in the Brightfields, unpredictable and inconsistent though it be, the land and its inhabitants change, becoming dark reflections. This is The Nowhere Between. The Absent King awakens, and Colin becomes imprisoned, as per his (potentially unwise) pact. Travellers from #Matea who find themselves Between at nightfall are also altered to suit the darkness. From palace to ruin, from garden to grave, from throne to cage, from light to dark. Such is The Nowhere Between.
#Lore24 28/1/24

Though the Great Rift is long sealed, there still exists the vestiges of strength in the Northern Reaches, for those brave, reckless, or desperate enough to seek it. Ta’terra, the source of infernal energy, and the ancestral home of the Tieflings (name pending), is ruled by Maag, Mistress of Pain. Though her influence is waning, rumours persist of promises of riches beyond dreams for those who wish to bend a knee.
#Lore24 29/1/24

Not all adventure promises reward, monetary or otherwise. Hard to find, and harder to leave, the Endless Asylum tempts you to stay within its labyrinthine halls, rooms containing the damaged and lost, taking more and more of you until you join them. Not a place to be taken lightly, or without thorough preparation, very few explorers have ever returned to tell of it, and none of them remotely whole of mind.
#Lore24 30/1/24

While you can, of course, attempt to cast spells, construct sigils, or otherwise use magic in any fashion you desire, you run the risk of it failing. The weave of mana literally unraveling before your eyes, if one could visually distinguish it. Not so with a mana crystal. By crushing one in your hand during the casting, you unleash the dormant magic within to supplement and amplify your efforts. Be warned though, there is no way to ration the crystals’ power. It’s all or nothing.
#Lore24 31/1/24

In The Fall, not all of the great citadels fell to earthbound ruin. Such is the case of Bul-Ji-Ma. Desperate to escape their doom, the mageocracy demanded the magitek engines be pushed past their safe limits in order to minimise damage to a safe descent. The backfire was catastrophic. Not only was the citadel destroyed, but its citizens alongside. Travellers through the area speak of attacks from monstrous humanoids, covered in crystalline shards, almost calling to them.
#Lore24 1/2/24

Nuvain Firathiryth was, by all accounts, a champion of the downtrodden, never afraid to get her hands dirty in order to see those in the depths uplifted. Making a home for herself in Genna, one of the docktowns of the citadel of Weisai, she frequently found herself at odds with the upper classes, especially if they took umbrage towards the smallfolk who resided there. If necessary, she would even turn to villainy (and as we would come to find out, martyrdom) to achieve a goal.
#Lore24 3/2/24

Hearing stuttering reports that other citadels had started to fall, their engines failing, the Guiding Hand of Weisai ordered their return to the nearest docktown in the vain hopes of docking before anything happened to them. They never made it.
Seeing the city on a collision course, Nuvain channeled all the magic within herself, and called for the aid of everyone around to join in. Her efforts were rewarded, as she herself had done for many others, as Nuvain grew to giant size.
#Lore24 4/2/24

Towering over the settlement, Nuvain found herself adorned with a majestic pair of wings, that would’ve made her the envy of her elven kin, as she flew towards Weisai on an intercept course. The time for restraint past, she drained the power within herself and her manasteel adornments and pushed back against the citadel with all the might she could spare. The faltering engines mixed with the incoming force, sending shockwaves throughout the citadel.
The feedback was catastrophic.
#Lore24 5/2/24

Faced with an unenviable choice, Nuvain pushed past her limits, and tore the citadel apart magically, sacrificing unknown lives for those she loved.
Her last thoughts were of joyful relief at accomplishing her task, and regretful sadness that it was necessary.
The citadel crumbled into pieces around the land, and something else besides: a giant, winged statue of the woman who gave her life to be a saviour, arms wide in mercy.
Forever lost, and remembered, Nuvain Firathiryth: Hero.
#Lore24 6/2/24

The residents and their immediate descendants revered Nuvain as a respected figure, naming the town after her in memorial. It wasn’t until later that a chance find near the statue’s heel, already weakened by the impact and crumbling slightly, revealed the internal parts of the statue held manasteel. As by this point, all had thought it lost, the news spread quickly, despite the townsfolk’s best efforts. The mining companies established were the first to build homes on the statue.
#Lore24 7/2/24

Early survey attempts revealed that although the manasteel running throughout the statue was near identical to the pre-Fall variety, upon removing it from its resting place entirely, it too would unweave a majority of the time, leaving viability of mining a perpetual question. This question was answered by the owners of the mining companies with a resounding “yes”, as they saw only potential profit.
And when the miners from out of town started falling ill, they cared even less.
#Lore24 8/2/24

With non-local workers falling ill from an unknown disease, the companies pushed harder to hire locally. Sensing desperation, the locals priced themselves accordingly. It wasn’t until a superstitious parent of one of the ill miners stole some of the manasteel and returned it to Nuvain that the mysterious disease revealed its true nature: a curse afflicting only those from out of town. To counter this, the companies begrudgingly raised payrates to entice their workers to stay on.
#Lore24 9/2/24

Not being familiar with the interior of the statue as they mined, the workforce accidentally cleared out to the exterior, leading to several falling deaths. The manasteel exposed to the air unwove partially, turning into a molten liquid. Hitting the ground, the fallensteel (as it was named) would flow like a river, and rejoin a connected vein in Nuvain’s heel, where originally uncovered. Support pillars were constructed, both to support the statue, and to isolate the fallensteel.
#Lore24 10/2/24

Palient S'choa, Aasimar vice-president of the mining conglomerate and First Counsel of Nuvain, serves the interest of capital gain over the duty of care to the citizenry. On his climb through the corporate ranks, he noticed that although not personally involved, the presidents of the company would also succumb to Nuvain's Curse, leaving the position frequently open. He opted to cease his climb through the company, control it from the sidelines, and go into the political field.
#Lore24 11/2/24

The Second Counsel seat belongs to Chalia Philen, an elf who represents the Upper Plates, consisting of the districts of East and West Gauntlets, The High Pauldrons, Cuirass Pass, and Diadem. The higher on Nuvain your location, the richer and more powerful you tend to be. Thus, Chalia’s portfolio pushes the interests of those who wish the divide of haves and have-nots clear and precise, though she seems conflicted at times with their agendas. But not enough to sway her opinion.
#Lore24 12/2/24

The Third Counsel seat is traditionally held by the Guildmaster of the Guildmaster’s Guild. For some time, this position has been filled by the warforged, Inspector. Though unions are the backbone of industry, Nuvain takes it so seriously that every job has a union, no matter how niche. The Guildmaster’s Guild exists to assist Guildmasters of their respective industries, as they are technically not members themselves. Inspector handles all the bureaucracy with peak efficiency.
#Lore24 13/2/24

Standing opposed to the prior seats, the Fourth Counsel is democratically elected by the residents of The Shades, the former, pre-statue settlement, renamed after being incorporated into the city at large for being in the shadow of the statue portion of Nuvain. Serving his second term as Counsel is Druld, a goblin with a long history of family within the town. Trying his hardest to advocate for the rights of the community in The Shades, he often clashes with the other three.
#Lore24 14/2/24

Adorned in a sash of midnight blue with silver-threaded trim sits the seat of the Fifth Counsel. Traditionally kept empty, it resides in the centre of the chamber, as a symbol of who the governing bodies are meant to be representing. The power granted by the position is not held by any one individual, but instead distributed by public vote in the event of a tie amongst the other four counsellors. To be eligible to vote, citizens must have resided in The Shades for a year minimum.
#Lore24 15/2/24

Self-styled “Count”, Vernie Nagle runs the Night Watch, and controls the Dawn Guard. As a vampire, he cannot be present in sunlit hours, nor can his vampiric spawn commanders. But that means that nocturnal security is well handled. Alongside the usual salary, he maintains a cadre of normal civilians for blood sources, most of whom also form the Dawn Guard: the morning-to-evening forces of Nuvain’s security. Who better to watch over people while they sleep than the sleepless?
#Lore24 16/2/24

For a sanctioned amount of theft, the Untouchables act as a Thieves’ Guild and enforcers for the underground elements that the Dawn Guard or Night Watch can’t handle. They are so named for the fact that only one member is officially on the books: An individual named Nort. Save for those they employ, none know the secret of their identity as a Changeling.
While not officially listed, the majority of the Untouchables are ghosts, possessing individuals to accomplish their tasks.
#Lore24 17/2/24

The “accepted” rule is that the higher on Nuvain you reside, the more affluent you are. The notable exception is the Hanging Gardens. Despite the name, it is a prison that uses the open air setups provided by Nuvain’s wings to convey to criminals that their actions have consequences and won’t be tolerated. Perpetrators of lesser crimes “enjoy” cells with more secure foundations higher on the wing. Serious offenders experience the threat of gravity as they hang off the lower edge.
#Lore24 18/2/24

The Godshand district houses the Union Temple, the smaller dedicated shrines, and housing for those who serve the Divinities. Personal rituals and rites can be held at their respective shrines, while the more involved ones occur within the rooms within the Union Temple. These chambers also host worship services.
The district gets its name from being nestled within one of Nuvain’s hands; the one closer to the sky. On landing, the statue leaned to one side, to ground it securely.
#Lore24 19/2/24

While Godshand enjoys the greater elevation, Nuvain’s other hand is no less occupied. The Market of Offerings claims residence within the opposing palm, utilising its admittedly awkward positioning to advertise itself as a purveyor of finer goods and upscale commodities than the more conventional markets in Bootland. Shopkeepers tend to agree that while they aren’t necessarily the busiest, the amount of money on their books makes the trade they DO take more than worthwhile.
#Lore24 20/2/24

The Crawling Courier Company handles deliveries across Nuvain for big or small requests. Operated primarily by Goblins, they use their innate abilities to cling to walls and a variety or surfaces to traverse paths that others would struggle with, or simply fall from. Longer distance communications or deliveries available. You can always tell a Courier post by the happy goblin face stamped onto a sign next to it. Like the song says: “Hire a Crawler today, it’s the Nuvain way!™️”
#Lore24 21/2/24

Though Greaves is the official name for the district, it has another name unofficially among the citizens: The Caps. Famous for its availability of services of the more adult variety, it is a place of impropriety that many faithful publicly decry. In private, however, many threats are made along the lines of “If I catch you with the harlots in the Kneecap again, you're going to lose yours!”
Greaves or The Caps by either name is a place of varied entertainment for the masses.
#Lore24 22/2/24

Almost as if by design, the only lifts directly from The Shades to anywhere on Nuvain go to The Pillars. Housing is reserved for members of the Engineer’s Guild and their families, as their job is primarily to maintain and protect the support pillars holding Nuvain upright (as much as is possible). Residents must present their Guild membership card before being allowed on any of the lifts as a safety precaution.
Further Nuvain access begins with the Bootland station funiculars.
#Lore24 23/2/24

Regardless of the district, structures are built on rings around Nuvain, with some partially carved into the statue for support. Those in the higher districts also enjoy the security of manasteel support beams, whereas closer to the ground, people make do. The Operators Guild run funiculars between the levels, but cross-guild restrictions dictate that an ascending funicular cannot serve as a descending one. This means traffic flow is an issue for the Traffic Controllers Guild.
#Lore24 24/2/24

The Nuvain Faithful are a cult that work behind the scenes to sabotage the mining guilds and regular citizens alike, with their belief that their savior could be restored via specific applications of manasteel, and the destruction of most of the structures withing the statue. Despite several arrests, the cult remain at large, and as adamant as ever. If you spot any suspicious behaviour, please report it to your nearest Reporter's Guild member, to be passed on to authorities.
#Lore24 25/2/24

The Repository sits within the domain of the Diadem district, though it is based near the statue’s mouth. It remains one of the few exceptions of places allowed public access within the district, as it is intended as a public library and educational facility. Non-residents or citizens below the Belt must present an issued transit pass, be accompanied by a member of Repository staff, or be in the hire of a member of the Authenticator’s Guild to vouch for their identity.
#Lore24 26/2/24

The Authenticator’s Guild works as creditors and verifiers for all manner of things, due to their magically compelled inability to lie. This comes from an artifact recovered from the ruins of Weisai, the citadel that Nuvain sacrificed to save her people from. Once you join the guild, you swear upon the artifact to tell no lies, and the magic takes hold. There is no known way to remove it. People wonder how it still works, but the Authenticators say it does, so it must be true.
#Lore24 27/2/24

A popular superstition among the miners of Nuvain says that although the gods are powerful, their intervention is too high-level to assist in smaller parts of a mortal life. In the unlikely event of a tunnel collapse, miners will pray to Captain Arno: A Tabaxi with (according to story) a predisposition to tunnel with extraordinary ease after having claws replaced with manasteel, vanishing once the job is done. No such individual is registered in town, and confirmation is spotty.
#Lore24 28/2/24

The agricultural landscape around Nuvain has expanded drastically since its pre-statue days, for a pair of very good reasons. Firstly, the population boom needing to be fed. Secondly, a new, highly tradable crop grown from the soils near citadel wreckage. Gosaberries resemble grain pods, but in a bright blue hue, and can be plucked individually. Easily fermentable, it produces a smooth liquor that has the mysterious effect of increasing one’s gravitational force for a time.
#Lore24 29/2/24

One of the greatest secrets of #Matea is that of all the great Citadels, there is one that still travels the skies. But with the effects of Rakhada’s Folly, people are only familiar with the magic that dwells within the city’s core, in the bowels of the engine control chambers. Like Bul-Ji-Ma, the citadel of Si’dae acted upon the orders of their Guiding Hand to push the magitek engines to, and past, their limits to escape doom.
Any wreckage, or survivors were never found.
#Lore24 1/3/24

One of the greatest secrets of #Matea is that of all the great Citadels, there is one that still travels the skies. But with the effects of Rakhada’s Folly, people are only familiar with the magic that dwells within the city’s core, in the bowels of the engine control chambers. Like Bul-Ji-Ma, the citadel of Si’dae acted upon the orders of their Guiding Hand to push the magitek engines to, and past, their limits to escape doom.
Any wreckage, or survivors were never found.
#Lore24 1/3/24

One of the greatest secrets of #Matea is that of all the great Citadels, there is one that still travels the skies. But with the effects of Rakhada’s Folly, people are only familiar with the magic that dwells within the city’s core, in the bowels of the engine control chambers. Like Bul-Ji-Ma, the citadel of Si’dae acted upon the orders of their Guiding Hand to push the magitek engines to, and past, their limits to escape doom.
Any wreckage, or survivors were never found.
#Lore24 1/3/24

In trying to reverse their descent, Si’dae unknowingly signed up for their own eternal damnation. The citadel still flies, but is locked in time. From a brief period before hearing the first distress calls, to its catastrophic destruction, the city and its populace experiences the same events on an endless loop, helpless to change their fate.
To outsiders, the only evidence they have of anything out of the ordinary is that occasionally, people get caught in loops of their own.
#Lore24 2/3/24

The effects of Si’dae’s passing overhead can be experienced anywhere on #Matea, excluding any extra-planar locations. Though the citadel and its residents experience the same length of time on repeat, external experiences report a variety of time differentials. Some say they felt the same 10 minutes for a full day, while others have had a day for a week. One unlucky merchant tells the tale of the time she spent reliving the same three day span for four years.
#Lore24 3/3/24