My post-rapture, left behind ideas

Sections

- Brief Description of the Torinians
- Brief Descriptions of the Setting
- The Story of the Torinians (needs update)
- Architecture & Major Locales
- Torinian Harpies
- The Art of War
- Culture
- Government
- Environment
- Timeline
- Prominent Characters


[A Brief Description of the Torinians]

Said to live on a mountain summit on Iracal Island, very little fact is known about the Torinians primarily because the many explorers and cartographers traveling to the island have yet to return from their journies. Their fate, like the Island, is shrouded in mystery. All that is known about the Torinian people came from the mouths of alleged natives of the Island.

The Torinians are a very tight knit group of people said to be living in relative harmony along with an array of Harpies in the sky high city of Torin. The first century together since the invasion of Harpies was especially tumultuous for the two races, but they eventually found peace between them; it can even be said that the Harpies consider the Torinians to be part of their flock now. Apparently, the Island has a power that yields changes in lifeforms similar to the effects of the Miragia Forest, though not quite to the same extent. Years of living through the often harsh weather conditions and living along side Harpies have contributed to the changes still taking place in these humans. The most common of the physical changes are avian eyes, a lighter bone structure, and plumage mixed in with hair. The Torinians have also developed innate magic. This store of raw magical energy inside their bodies is often referred to as "psiki" and can be focused in many ways but is usually manifested externally in the form of elements. As it turns out, they require the use of Iracal Crystal to manifest their innate magic externally but this isn't a problem since the crystal is found in abundance all over Iracal Island, sometimes in 80 foot tall monoliths.

One way the Torinians focus their innate magic is in physical enhancement; increasing attributes such as speed, strength, and awareness by two or three times. The ability to increase durability in battle is very helpful to the Torinians because their lighter bone structure is more prone to breaks than the normal human skeleton. However, it is impossible for anyone to maintain that focus for an extended period of time; during those periods in a battle when the focus of their magic is lost their lighter skeleton is becomes a weakpoint. A second way their magic, or psiki, is focused is through weapons crafted with shards of Iracal Crystal that allow them to fire off energy in the form of elements. A third way, as the famed young healer Gabrielle Epidaurus had discovered, is to focus their magic into healing power. This ability is very difficult to become proficient at.

The Torinians and Harpies are currently in a fragile truce with the Sphinxes after decades of war but still face many threats from Iracal Islands other inhabitants.


[Brief Descriptions of the Setting]

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Iracal Island
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Danger: Normal
Major Inhabitants: Humans, Inus, Elves, Harpies, Sphinxes, *Reindeertaurs, Chlaenas, Dryads, and Dridders
Notable Minor Inhabitants: Small Nagas, Chilotaurs, Genies, Squamataurs, *Gigan-meras

One of "the vanishing islands," Iracal Island has a mysterious nature that can be linked to a mythical civilization of giantess called the Oiriopata that were said to have based their kingdom on the island thousands of years ago. Whether there is any truth to the myth has yet to be seen, but it is possible that the marvelous structures they are believed to have created have been burried by nature over the many years since their disappearance. The fact that Island lies in one of Felarya's most stable zones in terms of dimensional shifting is said to be one of the ways the Oiripata impacted Iracal Island and the rest of the archipelago.

The island is said to be surrounded by a field of distorted space, time, and light that is created by a mysterious power hidden somewhere within the archipelago of the Shimmering Sea. The radius of the field is said to reach about half way to the Felaryan main land. The mysterious power hidden within the archipelago isolates the islands from the chaotic dimensional shifting of the rest of Felarya, while keeping the ground forever rooted in Felarya. In other words, Iracal Island will not be disconnected from Felarya even when it links up with a totally different dimension. The field of distortion is the boundary of its power and it keeps the island chain shifting dimensions in a consistent rotation. During the time when the islands are not sharing dimensions with Felarya, no one from the Felaryan mainland will be able to see the islands of the Shimmering Sea because of the dimensional field surrounding them. Should someone unwittingly pass through the field they will be surprised to see the island chain appear before them. Many ships have wrecked after sailing through the dimensional field, often running into a storm that lied on the other side.

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Mount Litocoro
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Danger: Normal
Inhabitants: Humans, Harpies, Dryads

The taller of Iracal Islands two mountains at nearly 6 kilometers above sea level, Mount Litocoro has been the site of many battles between Sphinxes and Harpies. Litocoro's impressive size and virtually flat top make it an ideal location for the giant predators to call home. Many signs point to the mountain's flat summit being unnaturally formed, which has spurred the belief that it was once occupied by the mythical Oiriopatan civilization. There may very well be many wonders and even dangers to be discovered within the mountain, left by the Oiriopata before their mysterious disappearance. Interestingly, it was not the Harpies that laid claim the summit first, but it was the humans that were the sole owners of this mountain top for many years.

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- Torin City
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Danger: Low
Inhabitants: Humans, Harpies

Torin is a very large city with a population of about 200,000 humans and an uncertain number of harpies, both giant and human sized. While many harpies leave the city limits and take up residence anywhere from Mount Litocoro to the Pyrale Mountains, Torin is still considered their home so it becomes hard to guage the number that come and go on a daily basis. The enormous city walls are gaurded heavily by both humans and harpies from the many predators that roam the island, especially the airborne variety. The inhabitants of Torin have devoloped a tight knit flock mentality under the leadership of the quiet, yet intimidating, harpy Ourana. They have become protective of each other, though the humans and harpies have endured quite a few growing pains from their originally clashing cultures.



[The Story of the Torinians]
(Story requires update)

While the majority of their predators were hunting below, the humans had established a city on a mountain summit and lived by the rule of King Cretes Torin. The great fear held by many was that the giant predators would eventually discover their presence. That dreaded thought pushed to the back of their minds would one day be realized when a giant harpy named Ourana ascended from below to claim mountain's peak, having grown tired of fighting the Sphinxes over the lower areas.
The bronze skinned predator gazed upon the panicked humans with irises of gold that shined with burning energy like the Sun. Her long white hair blew in the wind and her feathers were as pure and bright. The splendid beauty of the uncommon Flare Harpy was lost on the inhabitants of Torin however; for she was enormous even by giant standards, which made her a fearful sight to behold. Ourana was followed shortly after by more Harpies. The ensuing battle saw the humans defeated and the city nearly ruined. Given the unusual workings of her mind, Ourana saw other uses for her typical prey and decided not to wipe the humans out. Her fellow harpies found this strange but rarely has her logic ever proven flawed so there was little argument. Without Ourana's leadership the harpies would have lost many past battles to the Sphinxes and may even have been run off the Highlands. At the end of the day, very few humans were allowed to stay within the walls of the city and were granted a protected status. In exchange for protection, the citizens became enslaved to Ourana and the other harpies, having to meet their every need. As for those that were put out of the city, they were declared prey and most were immediately devoured by the Harpies.

Over the next hundred years, the humans and harpies of Torin endured a tumultuous coexistence. Bare in mind that Harpies are not known for being kind, especially towards prey. It has only been possible through the harpies' loyalty to Ourana.

For the most part, the Harpies are aloof and the Torinian citizens govern themselves. They have maintained some small semblance of their old way of life; rebuilding their schools and even their judicial system. Yes, even in a harpy occupied city, humans still prey on humans. Punishments for criminal misdemeanors are usually in the form of fines and jail time. Felonies are punishable by expulsion from the city, where the criminal will have to descend the mountain side to seek safety in another city below before the harpies find him/her during their hunting. In the event of a more serious offense, which are very rare, the criminal is given the death penalty; in which case a harpy usually requests to be the executioner. Another way harpies occasionally contribute to human society is they will escort workers outside the city to allow them to work. These duties are divided equally among the harpies and they don't like them much, but Ourana's instructions are carried out to keep chaos from disturbing the order which keeps their flock strong against the Sphinxes. Not so surprisingly, during these times a worker or two may "mysteriously vanish" while on the job.

As mentioned, the Sphinxes are not on friendly terms with the current ownership of the mountain summit, but there are many other threats that occupy the skies as well. The humans have an army ready to guard the city and aid the harpies in battle. Although they lack the power to take on a predator alone, they show strength as a unit or simply when they man the defenses at the city walls. The men and women of the city realize that they must defend their home to the best of their ability, lest the many threats come in and wipe away all traces of the previous occupation.

Interaction between the citizens of Torin and harpies go beyond law and order. Young harpies and the Torinian youth grow up in close proximity and are even educated together so rare friendships have been known to come out of it. Sure there are "accidental" eatings amongst the youth, but this is to be expected when predators and prey are raised together. A natural result of these close upbringings is that the latest generation of Torinians have absorbed the harpy language. The cross culturalization has also led to citizens going to watch harpies play their games, usually involving a prisoner in a colesseum-like arena fighting for his life. On the flip side, some harpies have become fans of stage plays and human sporting events.

A number of Torinians have come to accept the harpies' rule and never want to see the status quo changed. Then there are some that feel oppressed and bullied by the Harpies, constantly having their lives dangled above their heads by the high and mighty predators. King Torin, the former ruler of Torin, was the first and last of a group called the Revolutionaries. Tired of living in fear for their lives, the Revolutionaries marched up to Ourana and raised their voices demanding that the Harpies treat them with dignity and respect... their memory will live on forever in the hearts of the Torinians.

The many, long years have brought both hardship and joy for the people of this mountain top city. The Torinians still manage to find some shred of comfort in each other and in the labor of love that is Torin. But everyday there are many more reminders that the harpies beside them are still very much predators; growing up with them will not change that fact. To those who hopelessly yearn to be free from this fearful existence, it seems the only freedom within grasp lies in the wilderness outside the city gates.


[Architecture & Major Locales]

A city on a flat mountain top large enough to accomodate a number of giant harpies and thousands of people seems inconceivable, but that's what you have in Torin. The harpies have areas where they are able to reside within the city walls but they are understandably not going to be able to move anywhere they please. Most will have to spend the majority of their time outside the city walls to keep from over crowding and damaging the marvelously constructed buildings of the Torinians. No one knows the entire background of those who had the vision for the city's architecture, but the fingerprint of Greco-Roman design is clearly visible in the city. The craftsman turned grand-architect, Amardes Archeladon, had always claimed to be inspired by the "dreams of a great city," which he described being as vivid as day.

The Torinian Forum is an expansive district full of marketplaces. Some might call it Torin's "downtown." It is a significant social meeting place offering many activities, even philosophical debates. One of the Forum's most prominent frequenters was Heseodorus, affectionately known as the Great Storyteller. When he spoke, the Torinian humans and harpies alike would stop to hear what he had to say. Some of his many stories were told in the form of poems or songs while he played a melody on his lyre, sometimes creating a party-like atmosphere. Whether in the streets, in the Forum, or in the Theatre of Torin, Heseodorus drew crowds in the thousands. As he was famously quoted at a party long ago, "I do not create these stories of giants, heroes, and villains... nor do I know if they are true or not. I'm only sharing with you what was shared with me."

The Temple of Elysia is very large and reminiscent of the Parthenon in Athens, Greece. Thousands of faithful make the journey to the temple daily to give thanks to those that watch over them.

The Hall of Elysia is a temple dedicated to all the Torinians that fell in defense of the city, the Hall of Elysia is constructed of stone, marble, crystal, and gold. In the center of the round building stands an enormous sculpture of crystal and gold depicting Prince Rhodes Torin and Pyros Taio bravely leading a unit of fierce warriors into battle. Along the walls are etched the names of all those soldiers that gave their lives to protect the Torinians. The names of the Elite soldiers, or those that passed away taking the final test to become an Elite, are placed higher. The Hall has a large, gold trimmed, circular opening in the ceiling called the Sacred Gate that is directly under the land in Heaven where the fallen Torinians are believed to reside. They are able to ascend and descend to and from Heaven through this opening.

The Asclepeion of Gabrielle Epidaurus is the medical center dedicated to the young girl who had lived her life serving the sick and wounded. It is a hospital, a spa center, and shelter.

Ourana's Palace is the tallest structure in Torin and dominates the sky line. It also extends deep into the ground and features open levels so that humans are able to meet with her, standing about even with her nose. Naturally the palace emmense and was not built over night.

Priscilla's Temple is much like Ourana's Palace in that it was not built over night and is very large. The people are able to seek the Wrath Maiden's wisdom and have their fortunes read. Priscilla often has days when she isn't in the mood to give consultations and has to cut off visitations for fear of infecting the people of Torin with her particular mood.

The Theater of Torin is where dance, concerts, stageplays, and even stand-up comedy can be enjoyed by thousands at a time. Popular draws at the Theater of Torin are the comedic antics of Mocking Harpies, Dione and Eva, the performances by the gorgeous actress Nike.

The Gladitorium is the Colesseum-styled arena that seats up to 60,000 people as they are entertained by sports, Hypogryph races, fights, and even battle reinactments. Here, the multi-talented Nike is also a big draw as she is one of the most popular gladiators in the history of the arena. Trademarked by her long spiral hair, the elite warrior rarely loses a battle. She is quite the celebrity. Most would call Nike the most beautiful female in Torin, behind Eris who happens to be a giant harpy.

Although it doesn't happen as often now, many years ago, the biggest draws were always the contests between a Torinian warrior and a small predator that had been captured near the city. The predator was often injured or inhibited in some way, putting it at a serious disadvantage that the warrior would exploit. There was no sympathy for the predator, only a spectacular death before the eyes of a cheering blood thirsty audience. After Torin was conquered by the Harpies, the arena was still used by the Torinians for arts, sports, fights, and even predator vs prey contests; except now the tables had been turned by the Harpies. At first they were randomly selecting humans to participate in their "games." The terrified man would be given an array of weapons and places to hide. As the crowd of on-lookers watched with morbid curiosity, the human scrambled around the limited space he had left to escape the giant Harpy. Other Harpies watched from afar, laughing as they kept track of the time it took to catch the human. The longer it took, the more the Harpy was going to get razzed by her flock.

It wasn't uncommon to see the Harpy snatch a person or two from the crowed out of frustration. Needless to say, a riot erupted. One day, the ensuing chaos threatened to destroy what was left of Torin. Even though the citizens were supposed to be protected inside the walls of the city, the Harpies had still been gulping people down at a ridiculous rate. Ourana was forced to take a firmer stance with her flock to keep them from eating what was left of the people. After reassuring the people of their... well, not so guaranteed safety, the people settled down and the fires were put out. From that point on, only prisoners were allowed to take part in the Harpy games. Most Torinians swore off watching those spectacles, but the allure of watching some prisoner get his come uppins was too much to resist. And some were admittedly attracted by the thrill of another possible riot breaking out.

//yeah, I know... that probably makes no sense XP


[Torinian Harpies]

A very young Harpy is close in size to a human therefore feeding them was at one point problematic for the Harpies. The humans had the bright idea to give them a taste of Torinian home cooking. Great relief fell upon everyone when they saw that the chicks enjoyed the human food. Such relief would only last for so long, however. Each young Harpy had to grow up and the friendships forged with the Torinians didn't always survive her coming-of-age.

The difficult transition usually starts around a Harpy's preteen years when her size has multiplied many times over. The human food slowly starts to lose its flavor and the Harpy finds herself feeling less satisfied. Before long she notices strange urges to taste her human friends. It can be frightening at first, but curiosity usually gets the better of her and she finds a way to discover the taste of a human being. A sly way of going about it is to disguise it as a game, perhaps the Harpy is trying to convince herself of the same. If the trust between the Harpy and the human is strong enough, he/she might voluntarily climb into the Harpy's mouth to play along. At this point, the many different sensations and flavors that excite her tongue often proves too much for the Harpy to resist sending the human down her throat. Even if she is able to regain control of herself and spit the human out, the fragile trust that might have bonded them is broken once they realize the deadly line that was nearly crossed.

The end result depends heavily on the strength of the bond between the Harpy and her friends, or even her adopted human family. Strengthening the bond early on would ensure that the Harpy never sees the family or friend as food after her predatory instincts fully awaken. Torinians smartly go out of their way to make a positive impact on the lives of impressionable young Harpies.
Because of the limited space within Torin's walls, when Harpies reach the age when they can fend for themselves they are encouraged to search for a place to reside outside the city. Very few put up much of a fuss about it and find a place to stay on or near the mountain. It's rather common for their human friend to move out with them. Seeing how many humans and harpies have been raised and educated together, some unbreakable bonds are formed. Some pairs have been known to branch out as far as the Tolmeshal Forest and the Topazial Sea. In the end, no matter where they settle down they will always consider Torin home and can return to visit anytime.

Their attitudes towards eating non-Torinian humans can usually be narrowed down to three types. The first type, "the free eaters," have absolutely no qualms about eating humans. The second type, "the remorseful eaters," swears to never eat a Torinian and are usually hesitant to eat other humans because Torinians are also humans, so naturally they always feel guilty after giving into their hunger. The third type "the non-eaters," refuse to eat humans at all and stick to eating either elves, nekos, or inus.

Since Torinian harpies are known to exist all over Felarya, the traits that distinguish them from other Felaryan harpies becomes more apparent; often these traits get them picked on by those other harpies. Torinian harpies tend to wear jewelry or other accessories with designs too small to be crafted by giants, lending to the idea that they were created by humans or creatures of similar size. They are also more at ease with toning down their dialect when speaking to humans, something that is considered very difficult among harpies. Finally, most will always take a brief moment to ensure their potential prey does not have any Torinian traits before swooping in to grab a meal. A big reason for this is that they prefer to avoid eating a possible friend, or a friend of a friend. These little nuances may go unnoticed by most other predator species, but harpies can spot them almost immediately.


[The Torinian Art of War]

(a) The Torinian Army: There are two main divisions of the military force. The Standard Soldiers and the Torinian Elites. Boys, and occasionaly girls, are drafted into the army at age 12 then enter the Torinian Military Academy. They must make a vow of loyalty to Ourana and know that laying down their life to defend Torin is the greatest of honors. Those with Elite potential are filtered out of the classes and put through an intensified program. Their training is grueling and borders cruelty at times. For the Elites, the final test before graduation at age 18 requires them to leave the relative safety of the city and descend the mountain side engage a giant predator in battle. They must return with proof of slaying said predator, or not return at all. A class of 100 in seperate groups of 5, may see only 20 return successfully. Sometimes this test can take up to weeks. This Final Test is optional but must be taken in order to join the ranks of the Elites.

(b) Magic: There is a store of raw magical energy inside the Torinian's bodies that they believe is linked to their souls, it is sometimes refer to as Psiki, or soul force. The psiki can be shaped or focused in many ways but usually manifested as elemental magic. Because Torinians don't possess any knowledge of anything but innate magic, they are generally intrigued by any magical artifacts that they might come across.

The Torinians were not magical by culture, so discovering the ability to generate fire, wind, and lightning came by accident.
Not long before the arrival of the Harpies, a skilled young craftsman named Archeladon had been collecting materials for the creation of a sculpture to present as a gift to King Cretes Torin for the birth of Prince Rhodes Torin. He gathered some Iracal Crystals for decoration. Being the fierce perfectionist that he was, he frowned upon his creation and cast it against a wall in frustration. To his surprise, the sculpture exploded into flames and blew a gaping hole in his sturdy stone wall. After experimenting with the pieces of the sculpture, the young artist found that the Iracal Crystals were the source of the fiery blast. He took his discovery to the King who wasn't overly pleased with Archeladon's gift, that was until the military applications occurred to him.
After more experimentation, it was learned that the abundant crystals unique properties that harnessed the elemental energies within a person's body. They didn't actually grant the user any additional power at all. More research fount that only the recent generations were born with the innate elemental magic within them and each Torinian seemed to have a particular affinity. When one of the test subjects channeled their energy through the transparent crystal it would glow either red for fire, yellow for lightning, white for wind, blue for water, and green for earth. Although each had the ability to use any of the elements, the element of their affinity was by far the strongest.


- Internal Magic Uses; Physical Enhancement: The focusing of their psiki (innate magic) can multiply attributes such as speed, strength, durability, and awareness by two or three times. This is especially helpful because the Torinians have a lighter bone structure that is slightly more prone to suffer breaks.

- External Uses; Weapons, Artifacts, and Transport: Much research went into the engineering of weapons to utilize the Iracal Crystals. Although there were a wide range of weapons developed, for the most part the soldiers rely on four basic weapons; the bow, the spear, the sword, the shield.

The Sky Glider, a transport device, is basically a smaller version of a hang-glider. It's built with a metal frame and Iracal Crystal handles, then fitted with light but durable cloth to form the wings. The gliders were engineered to be propelled by wind magic but were rarely used because of the airborne predators. Even though their excellent vision and lighter weight enhanced the Torinians' abilities to pilot the gliders, the only pilots capable of out flying a predator were those with a natural affinity for wind magic.

The Ballistas were large scale bow and arrows with a huge crystal mounted as the firing rod. The Ballista required at least four soldiers to power it and it's force was lethal to a large predator.


(d) Tactics: The Torinians have extraordinary vision which is well suited for long range weapons such as the bow. While guarding the city, they stand in large formations and fire hundreds, or thousands of arrows into the sky at the invading predators. In the wilderness, they use their sight to their advantage by stealthily striking from a distance, then using their swiftness to either evacuate the area or move for another shot. Living on a mountain summit, the Torinians have adapted well to hiking and climbing. The best of them take to the incline with astonishing speed and stamina. Outrunning a predator on a mountain side may not be out of the question for them. If they lack a long range weapon, the sword and shield are called upon. When facing an opponent in hand to hand combat, so to speak, they rely on a very kick-oriented fighting style, which was adopted to suit their skills.



[More on Culture]

(a) The Sacred Torinian Figures (aka The Torinian Pantheon)

The Torinian Pantheon may be unconventional in the sense that it contains only one actual God, Somah. The other members are Torinians that have attained a sort of higher sainthood, being God-like in some ways; so incredible were their accomplishments that they were believed to be divinely driven and thus resulted in them becoming regarded this way.
Beautiful stone, bronze, and crystal monuments depicting them in their most of glorious of moments grace the cityscape; some standing 40 feet tall, and some statues serving as pillars on buildings.
In the Temple of Somah, statues line the walls with inscriptions describing their notoriety.

Somah, chief among the three crowned figures of the pantheon. Somah is portrayed in artwork as a humanoid figure with a hundred wings and radiant light in place of his head. Somah is believed to embody karma and destiny, a force that can cause or prevent any event. The people pray that Somah brings good events and protects them from the worst. Although none will say that the day Ourana and the Harpies conquered their city was a positive event in their history, they all admit that it may have prevented an even worse fate. Such is the way of Somah. It is also believed that he can be pursuaded by positive energy released in the thoughts and actions of Torinian people; in other words karma. Furthermore, living or dying surrounded by negative Karma brings terrible events to those that remain behind. If a man cares for the well being of his family and friends, he should create as much good karma as possible so that they will be protected after he is gone.

Cretes Torin, the founder of Torin and benevolent King who once ruled over the city. The Torinians believe Cretes Torin still watches over his beloved city and its citizens. He grants wisdom and fortitude to leaders or those in positions of power. He is a loving father figure to all. He is the second highest among three crowns wearers. Ironically, it was Ourana, the Harpy who ate Cretes and his son Rhodes, who proposed the idea of the three crowned figures and their inclusion among them. His statue in the Temple of Somah portraits Cretes Torin in his Kingly attire with a scepter in his right hand and Torinian people sitting in his open left hand.

Rhodes Torin I, the courageous and chivalrous warrior who was known among the conquering Harpies as the "moral backbone" of the Torinian army. Rhodes is the third crowned figure in the pantheon. He represents the virtuous; upholding honor, courage, ambition, and dedication. He helps people during difficult trials, encouraging them to face the trials proactively with optimism and resilience. He is portraited in art work as a young man wearing light armor, with a shield in one hand and a sword bravely pointed forward in the other hand.

Archeladon, the skilled craftsman who became a grand architect responsible for many wondrously designed structures, such as the Theatre of Torin and Priscilla's Temple. He was also an engineering genius and designed the tools, machines, and weapons that the Torinians thrive on. After his passing and injection into the pantheon, Archeladon has been viewed by the faithful as a bestower of creativity and an inspiration to both artists and engineers. He is most often portraited painting, sculpting, or drawing; but he is also portraited in a thinking position over a new invention.

Pyros the Giant Slayer, the elite warrior who was said to have once brought down a Sphinx by choking her from inside her throat. He was a towering mass of muscle who preferred his uniquely designed sword over the bow for the thrill of close range combat. The ferocity of his heart was palpable in the intensity of the fire he wielded. Though many bare witness that he was eventually eaten by a Blue Sphinx, the Torinians would rather conjure up romanticized tales of why he vanished. As a sacred figure, it is believed that Pyros grants bravery and might to warriors in battle. He is portraited in full Torinian armor; either battling, slaying, or standing victoriously over a predator of some sort.

The Deceiver, the one who's name is forbidden to be spoken, Torin's infamous traitor. The youthful female warrior with enticing beauty was once a jewel in the eyes of the Torinians before she sided with a Sphinx. Now she is often depicted in murals and paintings of various scenarios with one hand always hidden behind her back to portrait her dishonesty. Whether this demonization was rightful, or not, this is what the Torinians believe her to truly be. A statue of the Deceiver stands outside the Temple of Somah looking for any righteous soul to corrupt, beckoning them forward with one hand while the other is hidden in her usual manner. She is the one who whispers into ears of every Torinian man and woman, soliciting the thoughts they must not give in to. Snaring the upstanding and misleading them down a dark path to destruction. Sewing discord where ever walks. She is the protector of liars, thieves, and murderers.

The Great Storyteller, Heseodorus, a man just as legendary as the characters in the stories he told; Heseodorus was more than a master of story telling, to some he was a bona fide historian. The Torinians believed that their primary God, Somah, would show Heseodorus visions of significant events from all over the world the moment they happened. Heseodorus would then sit, open his book, and write the visions that appeared before him.
As a sacred figure, Heseodorus watches over the Torinians and writes their deeds in a book that shines like a star. Torinians actually point to the brightest star in the sky and believe that it's the Great Storyteller watching from Heaven; recording every single act of kindness, every humorous moment, and every heroic feat. No good deed goes unseen. When a Torinian passes on and ascends to Heaven, his or her legend will already be well known. Heseodorus will then tell those stories to King Torin and all those that now live in their city in Heaven; there will be a party where a wonderful time is had by all.
(Heseodorus is the narrator of my future stories)

Gabrielle the Healer, merely a child at her passing at the beginning of the war with the Sphinxes, Gabrielle was renowned for her inspiring selflessness. She “put grown men and women to shame” with her countless displays of compassion; caring for the sick, wounded, and broken hearted. Gabrielle was said to be the first Torinian to ever discover the ability to heal others through touch, and even hugs. The raw magical energy within her was transformed into a healing power through her immense desire to help the wounded. Adults became her pupil, hoping to release their own healing powers which were badly needed during the conflicts with the Sphinxes. At 13 years old, Gabrielle was crushed while rescuing an injured soldier trapped in a collapsing hospital. She is quoted to have said with her last breath, “I only wish that I could see our enemies right now, so that I could tell them that I love them.”
As a Sacred Figure, Gabrielle descends from Heaven and comes to the aid of the sick, wounded, and broken hearted. She encourages Torinians to follow the love in their hearts to help others and forgive others, even their enemies. She is depicted in art work as a young girl wearing a dress with a crown of Crystal Blossoms on her head. She is often caring for a person in need, or delivering gifts and hugs to a grateful person. At the base of the statue of Gabrielle that stands outside of the hospital named after her is inscribed, “Love is what created us. Love is what heals us. Love is what will save us.”

(b) Faith

The Torinians believe that once they pass on they will all be reunited in a city in Heaven that King Cretes Torin has built specifically for his beloved people. Whether this is allowed by any other powers that may exist in Heaven is irrelevant to the Torinians because they are convinced that a large city of people have the power to create anything by believing in it hard enough. This is also why they believe that souls that they hold sacred can become bona fide deities. It also explains why they believe that souls of fallen soldiers can return to the land of the living and defend those that call upon them, even in spirit form, before returning to their Torinian city in Heaven.

(c) The Celebration of History

The last day of every calendar year, which the Torinians recognize as the end of the snowy quarter, the people of Torin gather in their enormous garden for a festival called the Celebration of History. With many delicious foods made using leaves and berries from the Crystal Blossoms in the garden, the Torinians have a massive picnic to reflect on their history and express appreciation for each other; each and every Torinian has contributed to the building of their great city. The people pray to the founders and all those that have given their lives for the city to descend from Heaven and join in the festivities. There are special, and very large dishes prepared for the harpies. It's also an opportunity for the harpy Harriet to display her divine singing voice within the city limits, which she isn't allowed to do very often. The celebration goes well into the wintry night until the rain begins to fall, signaling the beginning of the new calendar year.


[Government]

With the deaths of King Cretes and his son Prince Rhodes, the people of Torin threatened to lay down their weapons and let the attacking Sphinxes destroy their city unless Ourana and her flock left. To avert a complete collapse from within, Ourana expressed her remorse over eating the two most central figures of the Torinian people. She then went a step further by relinquishing some of her control over the citizens; promising to honor the requests made by a group of people chosen by the Torinians to speak for them. This select group became Torin's first senate.

The Queen

As the head of her flock of giant harpies, Ourana was recognized as an immovable figure among the Torinian people. She had emmense power and with that control, much to the dismay of Torinians in the early years of the harpy occupation. With the passing decades, she had a change of heart and her image went from "overbearing tyrant" to "firm ruler." In the present, the people generally have no issue with referring to Ourana as "the Queen."

The Senate
Led by a descendant of King Cretes Torin named Cornelius Torin, this elite collection of citizens consists of military members, scholars, doctors, and more. They hold Ourana to her promise to give the people a voice and relinquish almost half of her authority to them.


[The Evironment and Time]

While the Island may have shifted at random in the beginning, it is now locked in a rotation between the same four dimensions. The first dimension is either constantly seeing rain or it just happens to be rainy when the Island links up with it. The second dimension is incredibly cold and snowy. The third dimension is like the first in that it brings plenty of rainfall. Then finally, the fourth dimension which may not count technically because the Island simply synchronizes with the rest of Felarya. For some inexplicable reason, during this time period the Island seems to get very little precipitation. Temperate coniferous forests and Temperate rainforests cover the majority of the mountainous Iracal Island's peaks and valleys.
Torin City sits on the highest mountain summit at about 6 kilometers above sea level, thus it does require some acclimatization for anyone planning on visiting. Even given Felarya's expanded atmosphere, the city is at such an altitude that air becomes noticeably thinner. The Torinians' bodies have become very oxygen efficient and they find conditions there more comfortable than at normal sea level.

The Clock of Aian, the mysterious power, allows dimensional shifting to occur at the end of every quarter which is made up of 127 chronological days. As indicated by artifacts left behind by the Oiriopata, a day consists of 32 hours of 64 minutes of 32 seconds. Though most civilizations in the archipelago have their own names for the quarters, they were originally named after *The Four Horae; Bori in the north, Eure in the east, Notul in the south, and Zehyr in the west.

*The Four Horae: The only four components of the Clock of Aian that are positively known to be working. Constructed out of stone and Iracal Crystal by the ancient Oiriopatan civilization, the Horae are four colossal statues that stand on islets in the north, east, south, and west of the Shimmering Sea surrounding the archipelago. Each resembles a female warrior with three faces, six wings, and stands about 300 feet (91.4 meters) high. The reason behind the appearance of the Horae is the object of much speculation. Some have theorized that the three face and four wings are symbolic, but of what, no one knows. At their base which is firmly planted on islets is engraved, "In the name of the Oiriopata, we stand watch over this domain now and forever more."

There have been rumors of the Horae moving and even speaking, but these reports come from sailors who were either intoxicated, or just so many kilometers away that they could have been fooled by atmospheric illusions. What may not be so far-fetched is the myth about the Horae marking the border of a field of highly unstable space-time that can have unpredictable affects on those that pass through it.


[Water storage/treatment/recreation]

Through the center of the city and circling around the Palace is a large irrigation canal. During periods of high rainfall and even snow, the water from around the city will follow a sophisticated system of drains into the canal. To prevent stagnation, the water is kept in circulation by wind powered pumps with components similar to windmills. Pipes carry portions of the water to the small Torinian farms that can be found in certain areas of the city. The water is also filtered by nets in the canal. Water drawn from the canal is further filtered and boiled before use.
Water for recreation appears in the form of a hot spring that was discovered while the city was being built over 200 years ago. While Humans and Harpies both enjoy the enormous spring, they rarely do at the same time for understandable reasons. During the often rainy seasons, the spring overflows and the water is funneled into the canal. If the capacity of the canal is exceeded, the excess water will flow into a drain that travels down the mountain side.

...and the spamming of ideas for Torin city continues... Feel free to tell me how bad these ideas are before I consider using them in stories. Names of characters are subject to change.


The Zoological Institute of Torin

Founded by a "flea bitten twit of a hairless monkey" named Sophethia Logos, the Zoological Society collects fauna for research, preservation, and sometimes to be put on display for Torinian children. The veterinarians there are also known for treating the ailments of Torin's resident harpies, though many have suggested ending this service as a few dentists have been victims of accidental swallowings.

Sophethia was inspired to start the Zoological Society during her time as an Elite soldier in the Torinian Army. She had recruited other former Elites to aid her in capturing more species. They had managed to rescue a lost young Reindeertaur, whom they named Nona, and she has grown to giant size in captivity. Make no mistake, the Torinians consider Nona to be a predator, not a person, so she isn't treated well at all. Nona accepts her life in captivity as she has known nothing else.


The Golden Harpy Circus

Named after the circus' official mascot, the Golden Harpy Circus features a number of fauna from Torin's zoo that have been trained to perform astonishing acrobatics and hilarious pranks on the audience. Torinians flock to the Gladitorium, as it's the only venue large enough to facilitate such shows, where the ringmaster Julius often performs the final act with the star of the circus, Alexus the Golden Harpy. While it's a known fact that Alexus is a native of Torin and not one of the fauna from the zoo, the audience can't help but fear for Julius' life as the ringmaster allows himself to be swallowed by Alexus. Alexus continues to perform minor acts to prove Julius has been swallowed, and that he's not simply hiding somewhere in her mouth. After five nerve racking minutes, Alexus spits Julius up and he somersaults into a net held by circus clowns to the sound of a standing ovation. Alexus is among the most popular persons in the city. The Golden Harpy Circus has been and will continue to be a staple in Torinian culture as people never seem to grow out of it.



[Flora: Crystal Blossom]

Resembling the Cherry Blossom, a tree rumored to exist in another world, the Crystal Blossom blooms only in cold weather. It can be found in various lands in the Shimmering Sea. Its beauty and sweet petals makes its blooming a special occasion in many cultures. The petals of the Crystal Blossom are actually formations of sugar crystals that are very light and soft but also hold together well when frozen. The bright red berries that grow on the Crystal Blossom are very juicy but slightly tart. When the berries are eaten with the petals of the Crystal Blossom it is said to create an icy symphony of flavors on the tongue. These berries and petals are highly sought after. Many humanoid species have come to the Shimmering Sea in search of Crystal Blossoms only to be intercepted by patiently waiting predators that know of their taste for sweets.

[Mineral: Iracal Crystal]
Rarity: Abundant

One of the most conductive materials in Felarya, Iracal Crystal is exceedingly good at storing and transmitting energies; energies such as sound, light, heat, cold, electricity, and even kinetic energy. Energies can be stored for months or years before it fades or is discharged by an outside force. The 50 to 80 foot (15 to 24 m) high monoliths found in the area resonate melodiously in high wind and stay charged with sunlight throughout the night. Because the crystal doesn't grant the holder any power it is not very sought after by explorers, even though it has many uses. To innately magical people, such as those that reside in Torin, the crystal is very much appreciated as a medium to manifest the magic within their bodies. It's also used to light buildings, power machines, keep food cold, and craft weapons and artifacts.

I think I better work harder at developing this city... Hmmmmm....

The timeline probably has a bunch of wacky wholes.. I better hammer those out. Of course, a lot of character ages will have to change depending on what this timeline looks like in the end.


Torin's Chronology


- (1681 AU) Cretes Torin founds the city of Torin at the summit of Mount Litocoro.

- (1686 AU) Khein Torin, brother of Cretes, is imprisoned after a fight that arose over authority.

- (1704 AU) Khein escapes while the city is rebuilt after surviving a Tanngiosts attack during "The Great Storm."

- (1725 AU) Rhodes Torin, son of King Cretes Torin is born.

- (1725 AU) New generations of Torinians discover a magical power within themselves.

- (1737 AU) Prince Rhodes Torin slays the Shimmering White Dragon with a mighty lightning bolt, saving the city from destruction.

- (1749 AU) "The war that stole the Sun"... In this year long war, dark clouds dominated the skies as a cloaked man with mysterious power accompanied by a *Rogue Angel named Nemesi and a large army of grotesques nearly destroys the city. King Torin is wounded and his wife Ida is killed.

- (1781 AU) A rainbow appears in the winter sky followed by the first sproutings of Crystal Blossoms all over the city.

- (1786 AU) A young boy named Heseodorus awakens from a powerful dream. The next day he fascinates the people of Torin with the story of his vision.

- (1794 AU) The city suffers significant damage during an attack from a herd of migrating Taurogryphs.

- (1800 AU) Torin is conquered! Ourana and her flock of harpies swoop in and crush the Torinian Army in a flash. Instead of devouring all the humans, Ourana subjugates them.

- (1805 AU) A pride of Sphinxes led by Jax ascend Mount Litocoro and calls out Ourana. When Ourana refuses to engage, the Sphinxes attack, continuing their war that began at Ourana's betrayal.

- (1899 AU) During years of turmoil, Cretes Torin and his son Rhodes Torin formed "the Revolutionaries." Along with a number of Torinians from the older generation, they marched up to Ourana and demanded she relinquish authority; she ate them. Ourana later became very remorseful and "changed." Torinians suggested that the change was brought about by the overwhelming good that was in Cretes and Rhodes.

- (1981 AU) A young warrior named Pyros Taio reaches legendary status when he allegedly chokes a Sphinx to death from inside her throat. He went on to accomplish many more amazing feats and became known as "The Giant Slayer."

- (2037 AU) A famously beautiful young warrior named Kitane Khaminari becomes known as "The Next Great" because of her heroics and vast potential for power. A jewel in the eyes of the Torinians, many believed that she was actually more powerful than Pyros but was too humble to prove it.

- (2062 AU) "The Fall From Grace"... Many Torinians lost their lives because Kitane Khaminari, the pride of the Torinian people, befriended a Sphinx named Elpida and led many Torinians to follow her "path to peace." With the division and discord among the Torinian people they were unprepared to face the next wave of attacks from Jax's pride; it was one of the deadliest days in Torinian history. As a result, the Torinians put Kitane to death and her name was forbidden to be spoken ever again.

- (2063 AU) Pyros Taio is rumored to have been swallowed by a mysterious blue and white predator with orange stripes not far from the city.

- (2064 AU). The Sphinxes called a truce because they were unwilling to harm anymore humans in their pursuit of vengeance against Ourana.

- (2068 AU) Present.

The Lipari Temple in the Valley of Atomata
(Atomata, formerly Automata)


In the elven city which lies in the valley between Rainbow Mountain and Mount Litocoro, stands a temple devoted to the mythological figure named Lipari. The Atomatans believe themselves to be descendants of the legendary smith. In and around the temple are various forms of artwork depicting Lipari at different points of his life, many portraying the famous labors that he had to complete on his way to becoming the Guardian Blacksmith that Atomatans believe he is.

He lived in a period of relative safety for non-giant humanoids; the era of great beast was ending and the age of giant hybrid predators was in its early dawn. The elf is said to have met Volkan the lava elemental during his journey to the Pyrale mountains on a homemade electric-motorbike. Volkan was intrigued by the riding contraption and inquired about its creation and Lipari's reasons for coming to the mountains. The teenaged Lipari explained that he was the son of an inventor and a skilled blacksmith himself, and he was in search of Tedrek metals. Volkan became more intrigued and revealed that he too was a great blacksmith and invited Lipari to see his works. Lipari was so taken that he begged Volkan to mentor him. Volkan turned the request down, citing that he was uninterested in teaching a tiny humanoid, as their potential was limited. But Lipari was persistent. He returned to the Pyrale mountains again and again until Volkan agreed to take him on as an apprentice, but only after Lipari completes seven trials, or labors.

Each labor was said to be harder than the one before it. Lipari bravely faced the decade of challenges ahead of him. The first labor was to fetch a fish from the Topazial Sea, which Lipari is said to have completed after harpooning a mermaid’s tongue. The second labor was to charm a naga, which Lipari did with a custom made flute. The third labor was to make a harpy laugh, which Lipari did by trying to insult her. The fourth labor was to prank a fairy, Lipari accomplished this by holding up a mirror in front of a fairy that tried to shrink him; the fairy was most displeased to see her ample breasted reduced to almost nothing. The fifth labor involved stealing a nut from a squirrel, so Lipari crafted a giant acorn out of metal and offered it to a squirrel. When the squirrel went for the fake giant acorn Lipari ran off with the squirrel’s stash of real acorns, but he was plagued by nightmares ever since. The sixth labor was to forge an object of his choosing out of Tedrek steel; Lipari built a vehicle that was at least 20 feet long. At first, this baffled Volkan, the lava elemental, but it made sense once Lipari reminded him of his seventh and final labor to spend one night with a succubus. The final test was passed with flying colors, as the succubus put it, and so was the elf’s journey into manhood. Never in his wildest dreams did Volkan expect Lipari to accomplish such ridiculous tasks but somehow the elf made it happen over the course of a decade. It was clear then to Volkan that Lipari was much greater a being than his small size indicated and he followed through with his promise to become the elf’s mentor.

As legend goes, Lipari one day surpassed Volkan as a blacksmith and was called upon by the Guardians when Felarya came under siege by a mysterious threat. This threat seemed to have no end to their numbers and the Guardians were in search of an army to match, so Lipari went to work on a creation that he’d always dreamed of, but unlike anything he’d ever attempted. During the following years of war, Lipari's creation served the Guardians well kept the threat at bay, but then things took an unexpected turn for the worse; the creation turned on the Guardians. It was a regrettable event but not as regrettable as the descision to give the creation the power to reproduce on its own. When Lipari came into possession of a weapon that might prove devastating to his creation, he suddenly found himself targeted by many gigantic and dangerous forces. He was eventually captured by one of the armor clad giantesses with long luminous hair and was crushed in her hands. Some believe this to be the death of Lipari, but the Elves of Atomata believe that Lipari lived on, eventually joining the ranks of the Guardians. Whether this legend is true or not, its importance to the Atomatans can’t be overstated. Every form of art they create, whether wooden or metallic, is inspired by Lipari’s greatness. Every construct that walks the forest surrounding their city, from the tiny beetles to the giant sentries, are powered by Lipari's magic.


Lipari's Forge and the Legion of Creations

Colosal structures move about somewhere in uncharted territory; they search a land riddled with scars for the remains of stone and metal warriors of an era gone by. This is both a clean up effort and an effort to bring fallen brethren home to be reborn. Further north they travel to a volcanic crater the size of a city. In this crater stands an incredible amount of constructs patiently awaiting the orders of their creator. Marvelous machines work tirelessly together, shaping and assembling, increasing the size of the mighty army. In their varied forms, armed with varied weapons, they are ready for the event their master calls upon them or his life is somehow threatened. There is no sentience about them, only the drive to serve the ancient elf drafting ideas for new additions to his gallery of living art. Surrounded by metals of many sorts, covered in dirt and sweat, the elf never grows weary of this labor of love which he has been at for thousands upon thousands of years. Such a fantastic tale... in the end, it's still just a tale.