The Imagination Nexus
Crux is best known as the primeval earth, the one land that contained the very first light of the universe: the Imagination Nexus.
The Nexus of the gods, the source of everything that has ever existed in the world.
The way it works is not as simple, however. In order to create something, one must understand it. How it functions.
If one desires to create life, then they must understand everything that surrounds it.
Imagining something when the mind is not in order, results in chaotic thoughts, and then chaotic creations. The more chaos resides in the mind, the more gruesome and twisted the creation of the Nexus will be, therefore, the usage of the Nexus was limited to the gods. However, one of them saw more to the essence of the Nexus, and rebelled against the other gods and created a twisted amalgamation of darkness and chaos. This resulted in the Maelstrom War.
After this terrible war against Linedáe, lord of the Maelstrom, the Imagination Nexus was sealed in order to prevent further chaos. The key to the seal was taken to a far away land, far beyond the stars seen on Crux' skies during the night. It is said that the key was hidden inside a city built by the Mythran, descendants of the gods.
The gods took just enough power for their creations in the outside, and the Nexus would not be disturbed ever again, unless a desperate situation required its usage once again.
The Sacred Tree
One of the most influential communities in Crux is that of the Sacred Tree. It is located in the Grey Valley, one of Crux' greatest stone plains.
The Sacred Tree's purpose is to grant guidance to everyone in need, and share words of comfort about tales of yore: the blessing of the Nexus.
It is said that the gods themselves granted this eternal duty to the first humans in Crux, so that they would never lose themselves to chaos.
The community is led by the Sage, who is elected by the three Grandmasters in time. The Sage's duty is to guide the people of the Sacred Tree through an illuminated path, and make sure darkness is always cast away of the Tree.
The Sacred Tree is also known for its warriors. Powerful masters of martial arts. These warriors only fight in the name of those in dire need, using old techniques that link back to the dawn of time.
The Warriors of the Tree are trained by Masters clad in white robes that symbolize the Allfather's blessing, and a warrior can only be ascended to Master by the Grandmasters.
The Grandmasters' duty is to watch over the Warriors of the Tree, and they adjudicate who will train the next warriors, as well as who will guide them to light.
Despite its great amount of power and warriors, the Sacred Tree seeks no control over the valley.
However, when darkness threatens the land or the Nexus, it is the Sacred Tree who will answer the call of the Mythran.
The Chaotic Faith
Even when Linedáe was cast away in the depths of Crux, some people heard the tale of the god of chaos. Some took this story as a legend of one who would free them from the shackles of the gods. These people would willingly embrace the dark and become one with the Maelstrom, which would mark the beginning of a lightless era.
The sages of the Sacred Tree deemed this as the Chaotic Faith.
The Chaotic Faith had many followers, but some of the most remarkable ones were the Oni Riders of the Maelstrom.
The Oni Riders, comprised of Seibatsu, Kikin, Ikusa and Shi, were the leaders of this faith. Clad in black and bronze armor, featuring demonic aspects that represented the face of the spawns of the Maelstrom, and their approximation to these twisted forms. Seibatsu took the symbol of the raven, Kikin took the snake, Ikusa took the bear and Shi took the spider.
Each of them also carried a specific weapon which symbolized an special aspect of the Maelstrom and its dark lord.
The Bow of Seibatsu represented the relentless seeking of darkness of the Maelstrom.
The Mace of Kikin represented the hunger of their lord, that would only be satiated with death.
The Greatsword of Ikusa represented the strength of the chaos in war.
And the Scythe of Shi represented the punishment to those who would oppose the shadows.
The Oni Riders also had many men at their command, but their main source of strength came from the Accursed Cavalry.
An army of horsemen, armed with lances and special katanas forged in black. Merciless riders who would ravage entire colonies just to prove the strength of the Maelstrom against those bound to the light and the Imagination Nexus.
But with time, some people arose to fight back.
Many people fought against this faith, in the name of the gods and the Allfather.
For one, an army of warriors who took no master, enemies of the Chaotic Faith. No one knew their name, but they were later immortalized in stone, thus gaining the name of "Stone Ronin".
The Dragons of the Grey Valley were too enemies of the dark. These mighty beings swore to protect the land from the Maelstrom, and at any sight of its return, they would be the first to fight against it.
After the death of the Oni Riders, the Chaotic Faith slowly disappeared, and only a handful of loyal swordsmen and soldiers remained with time. Forlorn warriors who will never forget the tale of the Riders and the Maelstrom.
Maybe after many years, their wait will prove to be successful...
The Summoners
The Summoners are ancient warriors of the Imagination Nexus that fought in the war against the Accursed Cavalry, followers of the darkness.
A Summoner is born from an special link with the wildlife, and they have the ability to call upon the spirit of any creature who deems the summoner worthy enough, so that they could assist them in battle.
The Summoners followed the steps of Coalessa, creator of this ancient art. An art inspired by a legend of yore, that with time was imparted by the Mother of Life to the people of the Sacred Tree.
The Imagination Nexus grants life to the thought, and those linked to its power would be able to call upon any creature to summon its spirit, formed by a ghost of the Nexus' power.
The Chosen Summoner
The Chosen Summoner is a legendary warrior the sages of the Sacred Tree of yore spoke about.
It is said that Coalessa, Mother of Life, would see a blessing deep within a pure heart. A Summoner that was one with the legendary creatures of Crux.
In the dawn of Crux, five gods were amongst the first to step on its lands. The first one took the form of a human in white clothing, mirroring the appearance of Allfather Álnibus. The second one took the form of a mighty golden dragon, becoming the strength of the valley. The third one became a hulking creature of stone, but one that imparted wisdom and peace. The fourth one transformed into a flying warrior, a guardian of the meek with the wind at its side. And the fifth one took the form of a feral beast, to never be seen again by the eyes of men.
After the end of the Maelstrom War between the gods, these five made a covenant: Should the shadows threaten the land ever again, their spirits shall become one, and together they would fight against the dark.
This is the legend of the five creatures.
The Chosen Summoner would appear one day, possessing the ability to call upon any of these five creatures, and they would arrive to assist the summoner in a time of dire need. Its spirit would be one with those of the beasts, and legend says it would arrive when the dark lord returned.
The Dragons of Crux
Crux was home of powerful dragons, beings who roamed the skies, guardians of the land. Enemies of the Maelstrom and friends of anyone bound to the Imagination Nexus.
The dragons were ruled by their queen, the Mother of Dragons. It is said the the mother was the first of them all, and that it fought in the Maelstrom War by the side of the Primaléic Gods.
The white flames of the mother are said to be a blessing of the gods, but no one can be so sure in this time.
The dragons' greatest champion was the one who the people of the Sacred Tree named "Butterscorch". The black dragon, bearer of the blue flame of the Nexus.
Butterscorch was a powerful dragon who valiantly fought in the war against the Accursed Cavalry. Even the Oni Riders and their army feared her scorching wrath.
Other remarkable dragons are the three guardians of the Slumbering Mountain: Burnshout, Torchblight and Blastbreath. The Dragon Princes.
Said to be the brothers of Butterscorch and the first to be brought to the world by the Mother of Dragons. Their mission was to protect the mountain of all servant of darkness, a duty given to them by the mother. A duty that they would never forget.
The abilities of the dragons can vary between them, but they all share similar traits.
An adult dragon is able to fly at will and transmit thoughts with anyone that understood the "language" of the dragons. They all can emit a flaming breath from their maw, and some special cases can also fire an extremely powerful beam feared even by the dark gods of yore. The color and power of said beam varies depending on the dragon's traits and strenght. For example; the beam of Butterscorch is colored in blue as an effect of the Nexus, although the most commonly seen is of orange color, and can be compared to a fiery trail of energy.
The Thwok
The Thwok are another race of creatures that reside in Crux.
Gargoyle-like creatures that roam both the land and skies. They have made their home in many places throughout Crux, but they can be commonly seen in the Gnarled Forest and the Grey Valley.
Generally, the Thwok are colored in shades of brown and grey, and their size depends on their homeland. Forest Thwok are usually smaller than their conterparts in the valley. Their height can range from seven feet to even twenty.
Winged Thwok are usually the largest, and they are well known for their protecting behaviour. Thwok are gentle and honorable creatures, and they always seek to protect anyone in need. The winged Thwok are better known for this, as tales of the flying beasts that fall from the sky to protect the meek are told all throughout colonies on Crux.
Thwok are also intelligent and are capable of many things, being able to craft their own weaponry, made from the greattrees found all across the land. These usually range between spears, halberds and giant hammers.
While the Thwok do not follow the rules of any sort of leader, they do listen to the words of an what is said to be the oldest of them all, the "Thwok Lord", as the sages of the Sacred Tree have referred to as.
The Thwok Lord reveals traces of golden color along its skin, as well as a pair of giant wings that are as strong as the hardest rock. A creature that answers the call of anyone who requires succour, protecting them with its unbreakable wings and the giant halberd colored in bronze.
Major Locations of Crux
Many different places exist within the variety of the biomes of Crux.
The biggest of them is the Grey Valley, a land of stone plains surrounded by great trees and mountains. Within the middle of the valley also resides the Sacred Tree, the biggest of them all, and below of it is the Mantis Rock, where many warriors of the past were immortalized in the form of stone statues.
To the far north in the valley lies the Cavalry Hill, home of the catacombs created by followers of the Chaotic Faith to bury the Oni Riders and their horsemen, and even further beyond lies the Slumbering Mountain, home of the Mother of Dragons.
In the south resides the Ravencloud Pass, home of an ancient race of peaceful giants; the Ravencloud Trolls. And to the southeast, the colony created by the flying Thwok can be found.
By the furthest shores in the northwest of the Grey Valley resides a great monastery, said to be the home of the army of ronin that fought against the Accursed Cavalry. It is deep within the monastery where the ronin crafted their blades and armor, using the onyx found deep in the mines below the temple.
And to the east of the Grey Valley, at its very borderline lies the Imagination Nexus itself, within the great temple built by the gods. Visiting this place is allowed, and serves as a monument of hope and prosperity to everyone who seeks guidance. A place that holds the memories of everything that exists in the universe, and a reminder of the glory days during the dawn of time.
Another remarkable place is the great jungle of the east, the Gnarled Forest. It gains its name due to the leaves that conglomerate with each other all throughout the jungle.
Within the forest the gorillas reside, and act as the guardians of the place. In the north of the forest a gigantic monument is found, originally a prison created by followers of the Chaotic Faith, but one that lost purpose not long after.
To the south lies the Great Ravine, which leads to a trench in the north. It is said that people of the jungle once dug too deep in the trench, finding a cave system that ran its way to great chambers of stone.
Beyond the Gnarled Forest's eastern side, the leaves of the trees already separate and mountains start to rise in the distance. This forest was deemed as the Avant Grove, and next to it, the Avant Gardens, a great mass of green land covering everything the sight could gaze upon.
In an island below the southeastern coasts of the Avant Gardens lies the Wild Cove, home of Coalessa, the Mother of Life.
Up in a small hill in the cove a tower was built. It was originally made to overlook the seas and guide people in need to the home of Coalessa.
Every man or woman who desired to discover the art of summoning would travel to this island and learn of this ancient ability, and Coalessa would be more than glad to impart such art.