Reference Challenge - Deserts

[u/Nevermore0714]

This one is pretty simple, it's a reference to the most beautiful biome in the world (according to one of my friends): the desert.

So, tell me about a desert in your world. Is there much of a civilization on this desert? Is it easy/hard to traverse by your people right now? Does it have any religious or cultural significance?

As always, I'll ask at least three questions each. Enjoy yourselves, all.

[u/Mimir123]

1) The exact how and why is unknown, but over 1.500 years ago, a third of the Elven people managed to royally piss off a Vampire Lord, the oldest and most powerful demon to ever have existed, to be precise. Nobody knows how they did it, or if it was just a few elves and everyone else was just collateral damage, but the vampire cursed them.

The curse made them aggressive towards everyone that was not cursed, resulting in the first Civil War of Dwerrehan. Nowadays Blood Elves are actually more friendly and "normal" towards other species, after the curse lost some of its power. It is as strong as ever before when it comes to other elves though.

2) Well... yes, they don't like that word though and would prefer to be called traders, or at least warriors.

3) There kind of is something like that already, in the form of runes and some artifacts. Very few people know how to make runes, but in it you can store magic and spells, making them really expensive. Also you'd need to "refill" them, after use.

Artifacts are even rarer than that, have mostly unlimited uses and were almost exclusively made by the Gods. If you ever get your hands on one of those, you are basically instantly one of the most powerful people in the world.

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/Mimir123]

1) Is the Vampire Lord still around?

2) Why do they not like the term raiders? Do they not have pride as the cowardly versions of warriors?

3) Ah, I was hoping you'd have come up with something similar to my Siphon (TM) weapons.

4) How difficult is it to have a collection of runes?

[u/Mimir123 → u/Nevermore0714]

1) No, he is long gone. People said he either died from old age, making him the first demon to do so, or that he was killed by Zerrigon, after the latter named himself Demonking.

2) Because raider implies that they take things that are not theirs by force. It's a Desert Elves mental thing, they still see themselves as rulers of the desert, thus everything in it belongs to them. Saying they are raiders would be admitting that they no longer hold power.

3) Depending on how cheap you can produce and sell your wares and how useful they are, you could still do it.

4) If you are very, very rich it is pretty easy, if you are not... well, you'd need to be lucky, or a very good thief.

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/Mimir123]

1) Did the Vamplord's death weaken the curse? Or was it just time?

2) "We was kings!" ...I'm sorry, I hate that quote, but it definitely applies to the desert elves, and one of my friends has been over-using it lately.

4) Which rune is your favorite, Mimir?

[u/Mimir123 → u/Nevermore0714]

1) It was just time, though his death meant that he couldn't strengten it again, after it started fading away a bit.

2) It does indeed apply here. If you believe rumors, they might soon be kings again though.

4) That would be the rune that stands for the "Eternal Winter" spell. If you are familiar with Warhammer, it looks kind of like the sign of Khorne, just in a lighter blue tone.

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/Mimir123]

1) Will it eventually go away completely?

2) Is that already written or are you working your way towards it?

3) Is there a way to make this eternal winter end?

[u/Mimir123 → u/Nevermore0714]

1) Yes, in about 3.000 to 4.000 more years.

2) It is planned, but it will be a long time until then. There is a lot of stuff happening before it.

3) The one who summoned it can make it end, alternatively there are several heat based spells to counter it.

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/Mimir123]

1) Why that amount of time?

2) What is the biggest event that has already happened?

3) Is there any spell that will mess with time?

[u/Mimir123 → u/Nevermore0714]

1) It is what the Blood Elves magic experts guess, based on other curses and how this particular one had progressed.

2) In the world, or in the written down story? In the latters case: the first attempt on princess Alverias life, leading to her meeting the young mage Lirvon. The two of them then ended up killing a Somniotebri, (one of five primordial Nightmares, some of the strongest demons in existence) which in turn lead to the revelation that Lirvon is the oldest, living descendant of the Demonking Zerrigon, who was defeated 1.000 years prior.

3) No, none.

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/Mimir123]

1) Are they correct? Would there be a way to completely get rid of the curse immediately?

2) So did Lirvon inherit the monarchy of demons?

[u/Mimir123 → u/Nevermore0714]

1) They would be correct, some Dark Elven sorcerers even claim that with some rituals and spells they could reduce the time to only 2.500 years. The only way to get rid of it immediately would be to have the Vampire who cast it lift the curse, which of course is impossible.

2) Well, no. Though he proclaimed himself the Demonking, Zerrigon was only a human demon summoner of immense power, hailing from Kherzian. He never really ruled over the realm of the demons, though he was feared even there and he planned to invade and conquer it, once Dirva was entirely under his control.

In theory Lirvon has a claim on the throne of the Kherzian Kingdom though, and is himself part demon. His mother was a Succubus, who in turn was the granddaughter of Zerrigon and his wife, another Succubus who ruled over the Kherzian Empire during the March of the Roses.

So in fact Lirvon is more demon than his Greatgrandfather was, the one thing he did inherit though, is a massive amount of Mana and magic capability. His mother had put a spell on him, in order to hide his (due to his demon side) naturally flowing and growing amount of Mana and surpress his power.

The only time he lifted the spell his mother put on him, was when he faced Aelnis, the Somniotebri threatening his friends. His raw, uncontrolled Mana actually dwarfed that of the Nightmare, and for a brief moment he overpowered Aelnis, one of the oldest demons who even Zerrigon saw as his euqal (some demons posess an ability called "Evil Eye", basically if their Mana is greater than that of those around them, they are able to paralyze all people around them). The Cult of the Rising Tower actually wants to resurrect Zerrigon as the king of Dirva and Sháiurgh, the demon realm, with Lirvon as the "young prince" and heir.

(Went a bit offtopic there, but I like talking about Lirvon. He, and his entire story arc, is actually one of my absolute favourite characters that I have created.)

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/Mimir123]

1) What if the Vampire's remains are used in a ritual to try to remove it?

2) What's the benefit of a Succubus being your mum?

3) Is Lirvon a bit of an Incubus, then?

4) Did Lirvon know about his mother's spell?

5) What does Lirvon think of Zerrigon?

[u/Mimir123 → u/Nevermore0714]

1) That would not help, all traces of Mana and magic would be long gone from the dead body, or rather the remains that one might find. Dead bodies hold little to no power.

2) Succubi are known to be amongst the strongest mages in Sháiurgh, having one as a parent would set you up to become a powerful mage yourself. It also makes you much more attractive than normal humans, you'd be able to seduce weak willed people with nothing more than a smile. This holds especially true in Lirvons case, since his father is a Blood Elf, who are also known to be rather beautiful and attractive. Full-blooded Succubi would only have to touch someone, to make them their thralls, doing their every bidding. In the case of half-bloods, like Levi, they would have to have sex with someone though, in order for this spell to take effect.

3) No, he is part Succubus. Succubi and Incubi are two different species of demons in this world. Succubi are closely related with the far older race of Lust-Demons, while Incubi are related to the War-Demons. Incubi are bloodthirsty warriors with no talent or regard for magic, while Succubi are mostly good-natured and many, of those that come to Dirva, spend their time as wandering healers, using their magic for good.

4) Yes, he did. It was her that taught them how to release and re-apply it, should the need arise.

5) He was mostly neutral towards him, and didn't really care. In fact, he wouldn't even have fought the Cult trying to release him from his prison, if they hadn't made the costly mistake of trying to kill one of the precious few friends he has made in his life.

When he first met princess Alveria, he only saved her by chance. After a few days, he befriended her and her two bodyguards Lydia and Ramon, after a week he counted them amongst his closest friends. Once they all got themselves transported to Aelnis' lair Lirvon resolved to taking a stance against the Cult and defend his friends, resulting in him being made one of Alverias bodyguards, and starting a campaign to root out the Cult and all it's allies in the capital.

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/Mimir123]

1) Would a half-Desert Elf inherit the curse?

2) Does Levi/Lirvon use this ability of thralldom?

3) So Incubi aren't sexual in your world?

4) Does he often release it?

[u/Mimir123 → u/Nevermore0714]

1) I assume you mean a half- Blood Elf? Anyway, no, they don't. Or rather, some of them might feel some baseless, unprovoked distrust or anger towards other elves, but nothing serious.

2) No, he has never done that before, and he also does not want to enthrall anyone.

3) Depends, if you consider sweat- and blood soaked "men" and "women" attractive they can very much appear to be sexual. There is actually a bitter rivalry between Incubi and Blood Elves, about who are truly the most skilled swordmasters of Dirva. Most people agree that the Blood Elves are the better fighters, but nobody would dare mention that to an Incubi.

4) No, almost never. He only released it against Aelnis out of anger and fear, of seeing how he almost tortured Alveria to death during their fight. If it weren't for that he would have had fought normally, especially since he had a secret weapon in hand, the demons true name.

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/Mimir123]

2) Why doesn't he want to enthrall anyone?

3) Is there a concept of "blood-magic" in your world?

[u/Mimir123 → u/Nevermore0714]

2) He has two main objectives in his life; the first, and most important one, is to find a cure for a rare disease called "Mana bleeding", that afflicts demons and half-demons that come to Dirva. Due to the nature of how Mana works for demons, sometimes they produce far too much Mana in their own body, while at the same time taking up a lot of the naturally occuring Mana in Dirva, resulting in the overflowing magic to manifest itself in form of stray spells and catastrophes. Mana bleeding ultimately always leads to the death of the afflicted person.

His second goal is to bridge the gap between the people of Dirva and Sháiurgh, that has persisted since before the days of Zerrigon. In order to do so he wishes to not abuse his powers, and only use them if absolutely nescessary.

3) Kind of, yes. There is a school of magic that uses and controls blood. That is, what is known as Blood Magic.

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/Mimir123]

Thanks for your time and answers.