Spoiler
The Astral Seas
The Astral Seas, collectively known by various names such as the Astral Plane or simply The Astral, form one of the main realms of existence (along with the Mortal Planes and various more esoteric realms). Each is an enormous expanse of matter and magic with differing physical properties, interwoven with the Astral Currents - rivers of magic and life energy that deliver souls to and from the many planes of mortals. Once the realm of the gods when they still lived eons ago, it’s only relatively recently that mortals have moved from their home planes and begun to claim bits and pieces of the Seas for themselves.

The Beating Sun
One of the smaller seas (relatively speaking, of course), The Beating Sun (often known simply as the Sun) is a star of titanic scale, sitting at the apex of the Sea of Stars. The Sun is much larger than the other stars, closer in scale to an actual real-world star. Its most notable property is that it “beats” or “pulses” over time, wavering between extremes of heat and light. The Sun is the origin of the Astral Currents, and plays a key part in the cycle of life and death as both the origin and final destination of souls - a cycle thought to be tied in some way to the solar cycles themselves. Many islands and continents orbit the Sun, some on its surface and some further away. Communities in this sea have to deal with the temperature extremes, one way or another - the furthest islands are freezing cold most of the year, while the nearest are practically superheated.

Common Ancestries: Solans, Leshies, Goblins, Ignans, Dragons, Dragonborn, Wyvarans, Kobolds, Elves, Aasimars, Tieflings, Duskwalkers, Weavers, Merfolk (Solar)

Black Ocean
Notable for being a more “traditional” sea, the Black Ocean is a vast ocean of dark water blanketed with grey clouds and frequent storms. Many islands, ranging from small rocks to entire continents, are spread all across the Ocean, as well as under it - there is no true sea floor in the Black Ocean. Though the exact number of planes connected to the Black Ocean is unknown, a particularly notable one is the doomed world of Aphaea - the plane of origin for humans, halflings, and dwarves. Said world was flooded long ago, and far more recently, its oceans were corrupted by the influence of an angry dead goddess, forcing a near-total evacuation through a series of mysterious mechanical portals known as the Great Gates - and as a consequence, bringing multiple new nations to the Ocean itself.

Common Ancestries: Humans, Dwarves, Halflings, Goblins, Orcs, Elves, Kobolds, Dragonborn, Merfolk, Selkies, Undines, Solans

Deep Wilds
The least-inhabited and perhaps least-explored of all the seas, the Deep Wilds is largely a foggy void, filled with countless floating islands and continents, each entirely overgrown with dense tangles of forest, jungle, and other masses of plantlife. Many of the islands of the Deep Wilds hold the ruins of some ancient civilization, but the sea as a whole resists any new attempts at settlement. The one exception is the city-state of Zenith, a city built at the intersection of two Astral Currents, ruled by seven immortal beings known as the Archons who have thus far managed to hold back the tide of nature. Its location makes Zenith a notable hub of trade, attracting people from all across the many seas.

Common Ancestries: All (Zenith), None (anywhere else)

Special Note: As Zenith and the Deep Wilds will be the core of my upcoming campaign in this setting, I would prefer to not have it be the main setting for any character in this game. It’s a place you can visit or even live in when you’re not adventuring, but I won’t set anyone’s entire plot here.

Eschatos, the Divine Sea
Thought to be the first sea populated after the death of the Old Gods, Eschatos is a great sky filled with many layers of floating islands, great and beautiful continents, and craggy chambers of fire, brimstone, and all sorts of other wonderful things. Eschatos is the home of the many, many varieties of fiends, celestials, and other such beings that once served the Old Gods. Many distinct states exist here, some the fiercely-guarded domains of many of the New Gods, others at least nominally independent of all that. Here, numerous afterlifes exist, shaped by the gods that oversee them - and while there’s nothing physically stopping mortals from entering while still alive, it’s generally very frowned upon. Politically, the Eschatos is mainly divided between two major powers - the Infernal Host and the Celestial Pact, forming a rough political division between fiends and celestials. The squabbles of the two main powers, the affairs and relationships of many gods, major and minor, and the sheer amount of distinct divine states makes this sea a busy place indeed.

Common Ancestries: Aasimars, Tieflings

The Grand Tempest
Put simply, the Grand Tempest is an enormous, eternal storm. The whole sea is filled with dark clouds, raging winds, and precipitation of all sorts. Offshoots of the Tempest regularly drift into other, adjacent seas, forming a wide variety of sometimes-devastating storms. The Grand Tempest is notable for being nearly impassable - no reliable passage has been found through via the Astral Currents, and off-Current travel is, for obvious reasons, incredibly dangerous. Those few explorers who claim to have navigated the Tempest successfully speak of untold wonders in the seas beyond, but their claims are rather hard to verify. Despite everything, the Grand Tempest is not uninhabited, though many of its inhabitants have little contact with the other known seas.

Common Ancestries: Sylphs, Djinn, Dragons, Elementals, Other Unknowns

Midnight Sea
The Midnight Sea is, first and foremost, noteworthy for its total lack of natural light. Darkness is almost tangible in this sea, with massive bodies of supernatural darkness forming oceans of a sort. Even the land that floats here, both on and above the seas of shadow, is dark, made of obsidian and similar materials. The Astral Currents flicker and dim here, and a pall of negative energy is cast over everything - making the Midnight Sea a place where undead thrive. Still, the living thrive in a few pockets - most notably the draconic theocracy of Serkath, where light is worshipped and spread far and wide across this dark place.

Common Ancestries: Undead of all sorts, Dhampir, Kobolds, Dragonborn, Wyvarans, Dragons

Sea of Stars
Both the largest and the emptiest of the known seas, the Sea of Stars is a void with exceptionally thin air, dotted with thousands of stars - enormous balls of life energy, arcane power, and incandescent plasma that wash the void with brilliant light. Gravity is strange in the Sea of Stars, allowing masses of all shapes and sizes to orbit the stars, and navigation requires accounting for these orbital mechanics. The bodies orbiting the stars come in all shapes and sizes, the largest being the size of particularly large moons. A number of these planetoids are inhabited by mortal societies of all sorts, one of the most notable being a coalition of many different worlds known as the Solar Federation. The Sea of Stars is finally notable for being connected to many different seas and planes, forming a starry night sky and allowing for travel to many different places.

Common Ancestries: Solans, Tengu, Catfolk, Wyvarans, Kobolds, Dragonborn, Weavers

Shattered Sea
As the name might imply, the Shattered Sea is a sea that was utterly ravaged in the distant past, leaving it a broken mess. What shape the sea took before is unclear, with much of its land now being shattered, glassed, or melted into a radioactive soup. The sea is flooded harshly by both the formless chaos beyond the universe and by raw, unfiltered life energy from several broken stars, making it incredibly inhospitable. Despite this, though, life does still thrive in places - most notably the broken world of the serpentine ouros, one of the main species of mortal to originate in this place. Speculation is that the Shattered Sea was the site of an ancient battle, as evidenced by the remains of several gods that form the majority of the land in this sea, as well as the Leviathan - a dead creature of truly immense scale, whose surface is home to countless materials of magical value, for those foolish enough to brave the journey.

Common Ancestries: Ouros, Slimes, Proteans, Goblins, Orcs

Subterrane
The Subterrane is a vast network of caverns, connecting between many different seas and planes. It is mainly made up of chambers in a variety of sizes, the largest many hundreds or thousands of miles across - these largest chambers tend to vary greatly in composition and contents, hosting entirely different biospheres and such. The layout of the Subterrane is notable for its inconsistency - while the large chambers remain mostly static, smaller tunnels shift around far more frequently, with major shifting events occurring regularly at the Beating Sun’s apex. As the caves shift, so, do connections to the seas and planes beyond - drawing in new life, minerals, and other matter to populate the caves’ many chambers. New minerals tend to emerge in the Subterrane after these shifting events, with some speculation that the caves regularly feed on new places to produce them. Evidence for the caves being “alive” in some sense, though, is so far inconclusive.

Common Ancestries: Dwarves, Terrans, Humans, Goblins, Hobgoblins, Ratfolk, Dragons, Kobolds, Dragonborn, Wyvarans

The Planes
Beyond the seas, there are many, many planes of existence, ranging in size from a single small planet to an entire solar system. Each plane is formed from the remains of an Old God, who died in an ancient age. The vast majority of planes have developed life, and specifically the sapient sort of life usually called “mortals”. The number of planes is uncertain, and there are potentially hundreds or thousands - certainly there are many more than those currently known. Save for the ouros, almost all mortals have their origins in one plane or another.

Spoiler
Imperial – the Empire is a vast and bureaucratic entity ruled by the Imperial Line from the City of Glass, so-called for its beautiful stained-glass windows and glass-studded streets. It has expanded and conquered many cultures, and is generally tolerant of them so long as they pay taxes and homage to the Great Empire. The core Imperial culture itself is one of extreme filial piety and ancestor-worship. The family line is all, and a good head-of-family hopes one day to join the ranks of their exalted ancestors. The most noble, wise, and powerful of ancestors are deified as Heroes and worshipped throughout the realm, their cults having notable influence over imperial politics. The Imperial Line derives legitimacy through the Sacred Flame of the First Emperor, a holy site for the entire nation. It is said that the strength of the Sacred Flame reflects the First Emperor’s opinion of the current line. In the few times the Flame has been extinguished, the Empire entered a state of turmoil and civil war, with a new dynasty arising to relight the flame and claim the throne. It is rumored that the flame burns low for the current Line, a bad sign. Some Imperial veterans, rather than return to their homelands, have decided to stay behind in the League and join the resettlement rather than face the coming chaos at home.

Fenic – The people of Fen have always been raiders and traders, living off of the land routes between the Empire and the League, defending and plundering the caravans in turn. They are nominally a vassal of the Empire, but have always shown a great deal of independence. However, since the fall of Erihal, Fen has become impoverished and many suspect that they will soon request a greater deal of Imperial guidance and be integrated as a regular province. The Fenic people hope for a restoration of Erihal and a return to the way things were, and will aid the resettlement as best they can in order to further that goal.

Erihalese Refugee - Though much of Erihal was destroyed, some people managed to flee the conflict into the lands of the League before the great catastrophe that annihilated its major cities. The descendants of these refugees barely remember their homeland, but are the poster-children of the resettlement. Erihal was a polytheistic society that flourished due to their rich farmlands. They exported many cash crops and were a powerhouse of both land and sea trade. They were cosmopolitans and loved music, art, and culture. The world is poorer for their loss.

Spoiler
What is the format of the game?

This game is a mixed settlement management and character-roleplaying game. Most activity will take place in the thread, with secret info or solo activities going on in private messages.

What is the technology level?

Age of Gunpowder. Think muskets and large ships, urbanization increasing, early standardization of industry, etc. The Empire used to be the leader in technology, but its stagnation in the past hundred or so years led to the League advancing and this is what enabled them to repel the invasion.

Is there magic?

The setting is low-magic, with some occult goings-on. The Imperial Flame and other such phenomena are definitely supernatural entities, but in general the study of the arcane and the occult has yielded meager results. Erihal was one center of arcane study, but if they found anything groundbreaking it's most likely been lost. Still, you might encounter the strange and supernatural, so it's perfectly possible for you to be interested in magic! Just talk with me about your character first so I can OK things.

How large is Erihal?

The size is mutable. I've purposefully left the map sort-of unclear. I based it off of north-east india, but that won't necessarily be the scale. I'll expand the map based on player contributions for League nations.

Are there non-humans?

The Empire is an overwhelmingly human nation, as is Fen. The League may have non-humans, and if so, Erihal is somewhere in-between the two.

How much world-building did you do? What's open to world-build?

I have pre-written secrets and worldbuilding for the Empire, Fen, and Erihal. I've intentionally left the League vague to give all of you a chance to write your own personal homelands :)

SpoilerThe Republic of Mynstera (President Paul Bruxes):
Hypatia hails from Mynstera, a moderately sized state not extremely far away from the former border between Erihal and the League. Mynstera is filled with farmland, and serves to provide a good portion of produce to the League as a whole. During the war, Mynstera found itself stretched thin. With Erihalese refugees from one side and the wartime demands from the League from the other, Mynstera was forced into a precarious position. Its produce and manpower was moved out, while more and more people ravaged by the war came in. It was then that Mynstera's culture shifted, adapting to the sudden influx of people. Erihalese refugees mingled with Mynsteran citizens, and their culture swirled together, being neither Erihalese nor League based. The culture found its focus on farming, as it was common ground, and bloomed out from there. For now, as a whole, Mynstera is still finding itself, but it's main cultural focuses lay with hard work and flexible, flowing support webs for the towns of people who no longer know where they belong.

The University-City of Kelthurios (Rector Sodda Humic & the University Board):
Duril comes from Kelthurios, a smaller state of the League. It consists of a single large city placed amidst some mountains supported by verdant agrarian valleys and small townships. Kelthurios is hardly an economic or military heavy-hitter within the League. However, it is famed for its mountaintop observatories, as well as the scholarly libraries and educational institutions that grew around them. About a hundred years ago, this amalgamated into the Kelthurios University, an organization dedicated to expanding, spreading and preserving the knowledge base of all mankind. The city has a hardworking communal culture, though the long years of the war and the duty that was placed on its shoulders to copy imperial technology and send soldiers to the battlefield has worn away some of the kinder and more tolerant parts of the city's cultural fabric. The University tried to resist having its character changed by the war, but as the years of the conflict dragged on, it took on an aggressive air, trying to seize and compile the most useful knowledge from the world over to aid the League.

Thrannite Trade League (League Representative Luc Mallon):
Mistcrest, a tiny port town in the league which exists under the banner of the Thrannite Trade League, a union of cities which govern much of the sea-trade of the region. Mistcrest itself is known mostly as a stopping spot for ships to restock, and a place to pick up unprocessed wool. The Trade League’s government is very loose, with merchant houses dominating their respective cities and often squabbling with each other. They see Mer-Dazur and Klorty as their main rivals, and compete with both bitterly for Refic Ocean trade.

Dogedom of Klorty (Doge Elanic the Sorrowful):
From the southern shores the league, in the dogedom of Klorty. Klorty is mainly known for being a breadbasket of fish, and pasta that stays technically edible for a long time. Their exports also include precious teal marble, and strange bones which might be the renmants of sea dragons. The national instrument is the Mournful Flute, known for its deep sound, but the Sailor's Bagpipe is also popular nowadays, as it is said that it wards of sea monsters. Costumed festivals are also very popular, to announce the coming of winter. Everyone wears grey, black and white costumes. The Sea Doge rules the country, elected from the most prominent sea captains, and rules for ten years, before retiring. There is magic in the sea, and there are research ships anchoring above big magical hot spots, trying to somehow extract magic from the seabed.

March of Turai (Margrave Adric Kim): Taking up most of the border with Erihal, Turai is a militarized and vigilant state. Their land is dotted with fortifications and entrenchments, and their people have a strong martial tradition. They fought the Empire the hardest, making the Imperials bleed for every inch of Turai land. Each soldier of Turai is valuable, trained to perfection. They are proud of this, but also eager to join the Resettlement because the war has bled them too.

Mer-Dazur, city of Fortune (The City Council): The city of Mer-Dazur is known as the “lucky city” due to its miraculous survival during the war. Most of the Mau fled there from Mau-Aaru, and the human inhabitants of the city see them as a lucky charm. They venerate cats, which the Mau find a little weird though they enjoy the respect they’ve gotten. Mer-Dazur survived attack after attack, with sudden storms, last-minute supply ships, and more miracles protecting them. They make their living on trade and handicraft. The city is dominated by the Grand Pyramid at the center, serving as its base of government, and is also known for their giant granite lighthouse.

The Kingdom of Lyssea (Queen Fiona Merella): The largest surviving state of the League, the Kingdom of Lyssea is rich and powerful. With a large population and plenty of natural resources, they provided the materiel for the war with the Empire. Their wealth of wood and iron led to a boom of industry and foundries. Most armor, rifles, and pikes in the League are Lyssean-made, and they pioneered the art of mass combat and standardized equipment.

The Chiefdom of Ar-Kalin (Head-Chief Bryn): On the rocky and cold northern shore of the Badin Sea, Ar-Kalin is a reclusive and mysterious nation. Their people are short and stocky, leading to the legend that the original settlers intermarried with dwarves from the mountains. Although there is no evidence that such dwarves exist, the people of Ar-Kalin are tight-lipped about their history. Their longships, however, helped keep the Badin Sea safe from Imperial incursion.
The Principality of Marial (Princess Anastasia): Beautiful Marial, jewel of the North, is a land poor in population but rich in silver. With little arable land, they make their fortunes on the fur and whaling trade. They dominate the Northern Sea, occasionally clashing with the people of Ar-Kalin. Their ships also make it to the Eastern Ocean, and they jealously guard their routes through the ice. There are rumors that they know of lands even beyond the Eastern Ocean Kingdoms, but if they do then they don’t tell of them.

The Bont Republic (Tarkhan Li-wen): The people of Bont are born riders, free and wild. They are the undisputed rulers of the steppes between the East and the League, and they are proud of it. In contrast with the raiders of Fen, the Bont are at least rich enough to live off of their herds. They are also expert horse archers and brought the mysterious food of yogurt to the League. They fiddle with their horsehair bows and love music and laughter.

The Kingdoms of Punia and Rynia (King Humboldt and Queen Alea): United by the marriage of their monarchs, Punia and Rynia are otherwise unremarkable members of the League. They do some mining, though not as much as the Omothi. They have a little industry, but nowhere near as much as the Lysseans. They ride, but not as well as the Bont, and they trade with the East, though not as much as the Marialese. In short, Punia and Rynia are the jack-of-all-trades, master of none.

The Duchy of Sel-Saens (Duke Francois Pierre Damout): Sel-Saens is a fiercely independent state nestled in the heart of the League. The Dukes of Sel-Saens are proud of their heritage as diplomats and negotiators. Their crowning achievement is the League itself, founded in the mountain retreat of Duke Lysandre Damout, the current duke’s great-grandfather. Sel-Saens exports wine and olive oil to the rest of the League.

The Omoth Hierarchy (Director Finnegan Blunt): Omoth is a mining powerhouse, ruled by the mining guilds and conglomerates. The most important thing to an Omothi is who owns the mineral rights. They sell many rare ores and metals, and they supply coal for the League’s nascent industry. Omothi are ruthless capitalists who want to export their ideology to the rest of the League. Nobody really likes the Omothi, but they are tolerated because they’re useful.

Bialland (No clear leader): Bialland is a state in chaos. Ostensibly a kingdom, their throne has remained empty since the death of the King in a disastrous battle near Lake Ka. Even worse, their coastal cities broke off when it became clear that the central government no longer existed. Their lands are being eyed by their neighbors in Omoth, Kelthurios, and Hesh, each weighing the consequences of breaking League rules in order to expand their territory. Many people left Bialland to fight in the war, and it doesn’t look like they’re coming back

Atar, Emec, and Tyr (The Lords Mayors):  United in their freedom from Bialland, the Triple Cities are being courted by the two dominant trade powers of the South – The Thrannite League and Klorty. The three cities are the birthplaces of many adventurers and freedom-fighters, known throughout the League for their heroism and bravery. Atar is known for its unique dances, Emec has many fine jewelers, and Tyr trades in spices and has the finest chefs of the League.

The Sheikhdom of Hesh (Sheikh Uman III): Hesh is surprisingly dry land, especially considering that their neighbors have fine rainfall. Some claim that the lands of Hesh were cursed long ago, others that there are strange meteorological disturbances that direct the rains away from there. Whatever the case is, Hesh is an empty land. If there was a civilization there, it was gone long before the Sheikhs took residence. They arrived from somewhere across the Refic ocean, and settled there a few centuries ago. Unlike their dark-skinned neighbors of the Southeastern Coast, the people of Hesh are unnaturally pale, invariably with green eyes and strikingly dark hair. Rumors swirl around Sheikh Uman, who looks remarkably like his grandfather. He took power after the mysterious disappearance of his uncle Amir near the start of the war, and despite being over eighty years old, he looks much younger than his age.

Trainee ClassesIn general, trainee classes are the 'baby' classes. They start out very weak, and need to be protected and to participate in combat before they can advance into proper fighters. This is where you'll begin!

Novice - All around the world, hotheaded youths dream of becoming brave swordfighters. It's easy to see why: Swords are heroic and versatile weapons, capable of blindingly quick slashes and great, devastating swings both. The novice is unskilled, untempered, and weak, but as they learn their weapon's strengths, they will quickly grow into one of three sorts of warrior: the bold, brawny mercenary, the quick, graceful myrmidon, or the quiet, sneaky thief.

Journeyman - The lumberjack taking up arms to defend their village; the peasant rushing into battle with the only tool available to them; the foolhardy youngling hoping to make it as a bandit: all sorts of folk can be a journeyman, so long as they walk the path of the axe. A mighty weapon, perfect for smashing through anyone who stands in your way, the axe would be a perfect weapon were it not so heavy and slow. Journeymen are still clumsy with these great hunks of metal and wood, but as they grow, they will advance into one of three classes: the skilled, well-balanced fighter, the surprisingly nimble pirate, or the burly, brawny bandit.

Lancer - The lance is a weapon commonly seen in the hands of infantry and cavalry alike the world over, and it's easy to see why: it's a well-balanced, easy-to-use weapon with none of the strengths or weaknesses of the axe or the sword. Its mechanics are simple: point and thrust. It demands very little to use. All the same, those who dedicate themselves to the path of the lance can rise from mere chaff, utilizing the weapon in ways green recruits can hardly comprehend. As the lancer walks down this path, they'll find themselves advancing along the path of the heavily armored knight, the skillful, diligent soldier, or mounting a horse to become a cavalier.

Rider - Some people dedicate themselves to learning a weapon; others a school of magic. The rider is dedicated to learning to understand their companion. As a rider, you begin somewhat weaker than most units, and your options for advancement are somewhat limited: while most classes have three options for advancement, you only have two. However, you come with a massive boon: you have been given a horse, a loyal friend to the very end, who you may count on to bring you through combat at all times. Your specialization is mobility, and through that mobility, you'll find your way forward. The rider gets to choose one of two weapons to start with: either the lance, through which they'll grow into the mighty cavalier, or the bow, which will guide them down the path of the quick, ranged nomad.

Flyer - While the Rider travels swiftly across the earth, the Flyer... flies. These fragile units speed through the air, annoying any terrain that may slow them down, and strike while the iron is hot - or they will, once they're strong enough. The flyer may choose one of two mounts: the nimble, magic-resistant pegasus, or the powerful, decently-armored wyvern. The choice you make will lock you into an advancement path for either of them. It will take some time for you and your mount to grow into your roles, but once you do, you will be a force to be reckoned with!

Scout - The front lines are chaotic, hectic, and scary. Some would prefer to attack from afar. Be it out of cowardice, prudence, or a mere affinity for the bow, the scout hangs back from the fray, supporting their allies with indirect strikes. They are frail and fragile, and their attacks don't pack the same wallop as a close range strike. They may be weak now, but give it time, and the scout will advance quickly into one of three classes: the rapid, mounted nomad, the reclusive forest-dwelling hunter, or the swift, accurate archer.

Scholar - Some prefer to study esoteric and arcane arts. These folk - fragile as any, and weak to boot - must call on another form of strength to bolster them. Some choose the conventional anima magic - a sort of magic which evokes the forces of nature to fight on one's behalf. Others delve into more obscure texts, summoning the power of the Old Dark to destroy their opponents. As a scholar, you're still weak, but you're learning how these things work. You may choose either anima or dark magic. Your choice will send you down the path of either the spell-slinging mage, or the dark-stalking ritualist.

Acolyte - The acolyte is a servant of all that is righteous. Invokers of the gods, these clerics use holy magics to protect their friends or smite their foes. Beware, though: they're about as fragile as the scholar, and ending up on the wrong end of a sword is a real danger. As an acolyte, you must choose to either wield healing staves, or holy light magic. Depending on your choice, you'll advance into either being a gentle cleric who heals the wounds of the sick, or a steadfast monk, bringing light down upon your foes.

Base ClassesIn time, you'll advance into a base class! I'll keep the descriptions here short, since you have an idea of what's going on from the last section.

SWORD USERS

Mercenary: Some treat swordplay as sport; others, an art. The mercenary treats it as a tool. Focused on great, hacking attacks, and decently balanced stats, the mercenary is here to get the job done, whatever that job may be. They can advance into the Hero, gaining an extra melee weapon and even more bulk, or the Vanguard, a staff-wielding commander whose ability to heal and buff their comrades compliments their bulk nicely.

Myrmidon: Only few understand that the sword is not merely a weapon - it is an extension of yourself. The myrmidon is a quick, skillful warrior, one who has dedicated themselves to swordplay as a way of life. It's not always clear what lies at the end of their path, but should it come to arms, one might expect a trail of bodies in their wake. They can advance into the swift Swordmaster or the deadly Assassin - a specialist who has found meaning in the sword, or in killing. The former is a specialist, dedicated to their weapon first and foremost; the latter a pragmatist who has learned to use the bow as well.

Thief: Not all who wield a blade are here to fight. Some just want to survive. The thief is better suited to the shadows than the frontlines, and while their speed helps them, their frailty is unmatched among other melee units. However, not all is lost: they're able to use their various tools to pop open doors and chests that your other party members cannot without a key, and their quick fingers can snatch goods from their enemy before anyone even notices they're there. These dastards can advance into the Assassin and become true dealers of death, or ply their trade with even more skill and become the graceful Rogue.

AXE USERS

Fighter: Too many use the axe like it's a blunt instrument, swinging with wild abandon. It takes a real expert to know how to slice them with the sharp end. The fighter is, much like the mercenary, here to deal blows and take them. Unlike the brigand, the fighter doesn't forsake speed and skill for just destructive power; you have to swing hard, and you have to land it. They come equipped with reasonable defenses so they can make it out alive. The fighter can advance into the level-headed warrior, mastering more weapons all the while, or turn into the Barbarian, taking up the bow and putting their skill to use at close and long ranges both.

Pirate: The sea be a cruel mistress - but you don't need to have been on a boat to become a pirate! This scurvy dog is a fast, brutal powerhouse, dedicated to dealing (or trying to deal) as much damage as is possible as quickly as possible. In terms of style, one might relate them to a myrmidon - but while the myrmidon will snark that you have to land the hits to do damage, the pirate would remark that you have to get through the enemy's armor for it to matter. Unskilled, wild, and excitable, the pirate can refine their skills and learn a thing or two from the Myrmidon to become the salty Sea Scourge, or they can say 'fuck it' and get an even bigger axe, becoming the Berserker.

Brigand: If a pirate might accurately be described as 'unrefined,' the Brigand is as raw as it gets. Big, lumbering brutes swinging big, towering axes to deal massive blows - assuming they can actually connect. But hey, if you can't land a hit, you just need a bigger weapon to swing with, right? (Don't tell them they're wrong, they don't like that.) The brigand can either take up the bow to launch projectiles with equal abandon, becoming the Barbarian, or just scream really loud and become the mighty, crit-heavy Berserker.

LANCE USERS

Knight: A stalwart, heavy-armored unit focused on holding the line above all else. Though they lack in speed, these fellows are immovable by common means. That said, their armor acts as an arcane conduit, making them rather susceptible to magic, so watch out!

Soldier: ‘Spears are the weapon of the peasantry’ - so say the arrogant nobles in their hallowed halls. They have little to say when their fine cavalry charges are met by a wall of spears. It takes someone divorced from their impractical classism to recognize the true power of an individual with a spear. The soldier is a well balanced unit, competent in defense and offense both, playing off their weapon’s well-balanced practicality to hold their own in combat. They can take up armor to become the defensive General, or further focus on the ‘peasant’ way of fighting to become a Sentinel - a fighter who would strike true fear in the hearts of those who dismiss the powerful polearm. 

Cavalier: [See Riding Units]

BOW USERS

Archer: Quick, precise, and skilled, the Archer fights from afar. While their fellow bow-users might decide to use the bow to supplement their fighting style, the archer treats the bow as a way of life. They are competent in using the bow in all situations - no gimmicks required! Can promote into a Sniper or a Bow Knight.

Nomad: [See Riding Units]

Hunter: Many bow-users are competent in the hunt, but only those who bring hunting onto the battlefield can become Hunters. While the Nomad specializes in the open plains, the Hunter makes their home in the woods. These sneaky fighters aren’t as good in straight battles as archers, but excel at utilizing rough terrain to make the odds uneven. Where cavalry fear to tread, the hunter makes their home... Can promote into a Ranger or Guerilla.

RIDING UNITS

Cavalier: Valiant riders seeking to prove themselves on the field of battle, Cavaliers ride forth! Capable of using a second weapon in addition to the lance that come naturally to them, the Cavalier is versatile, swift, and strong. Their biggest weakness and their greatest strength is their four-legged companion, as their horse is vulnerable to certain weapons and travels more slowly in rough terrain. Can promote into a Paladin or a Great Knight.

Nomad: Swift and deadly, the Nomad combines mobility with range to bring terror to the open field. While they're fairly fragile, they're exceedingly hard to catch, and should the volley be followed by a swift offensive maneuver from one's allies, they should get out scot-free. Can promote into the Ranger or the Bow Knight.

FLYING UNITS

Pegasus Knights: Dancing like feathers in the wind, Pegasus knights ride their majestic mounts through the fray. Delicate, but quick and strong, armies the world over use these winged warriors as the most mobile sort of shock cavalry, to strike quickly at the enemy’s weakest units before flying back to safety. The blessed Pegasus is very resistant to hostile magic, but lacks in physical defense - they must rely on their speed and mobility to avoid enemy counterattack. These battlers can Takes extra damage from arrows! Can promote into a Falco Knight or a Valkyrie.

Wyvern Riders: The terror of land and sky, the Wyvern Rider takes advantage of its huge, bulky mount to lock into melee and see the enemy broken. Swinging into battle with daring confidence and heavy armor to back it up, the Wyvern Rider fears only two things: the sting of magic, the zip of the arrow, and their own unfortunate lack of speed. Can promote into a Wyvern Knight or a Wyvern Lord.

ARCANE USERS

Mage: Bringers of destruction who rely on natural magic to dispense of their foes, Mages are strong with all sorts of anima, and have chosen a particular subcategory of anima magic as their expertise: wind, thunder, or fire. Each has its uses, strengths, and weaknesses - wind magic is effective against flying units, and is light, fast; thunder is powerful and can easily land critical hits; and fire is balanced, versatile, and useful in any situation.

Ritualist: There are two types of ritualists: the practitioner of dark arts which oughtn't see the light of day, and the wielder of Elder Magic, a lost art from a bygone era. Either way, dark magic is slow, powerful, and unrelenting. It often comes with an additional effect as well, making it well suited to destroying one's enemies or benefiting oneself.

LIGHT USERS

Cleric: Healers might not be the flashiest members of the team, and they rarely get the glory, but they're absolutely essential to any functioning army. Defenseless, the healer pours holy magic from sacred staves to heal and buff their allies, as well as to bring chaos to the enemy line. A staff user might set an enemy to sleep, or bring a comrade back from the brink of death. Their job might not be glorious, but that only makes it even more important to make sure you thank them for their hard work!

Monk: Evil is out there, and it must be destroyed. Protectors of the weak and slayers of the wicked, monks fight not to do harm, but to prevent it. They fight only because they must. 

Laguz Classes!The Laguz aren't 'classes' so to speak, but are rather several species of intelligent people sporting animal features and the ability to transform into beastlike bodies. The form of Laguz you appear as will be somewhat customizable, but will fall into one of two categories. Beware! A laguz can only remain transformed for so long, and after they revert back to human form, they are incredibly vulnerable to attack, and more or less helpless to respond. In addition, a variety of weapons are made to specifically counter the Laguz. I will probably limit you to one to two laguz in your party, depending on how large it is.

Beast Laguz: Fierce fighters who are physically powerful, these Laguz tear across the ground and fight their enemies with claw and tooth. Can take the form of cats, bears, tigers, lions, and other land mammals, pending GM approval.

Bird Laguz: Swift and solemn, these Laguz travel more easily than their beastly counterparts (on account of flying) but must fear arrows, wind-magic and standard anti-laguz weapons, as all do greater damage to them when they are transformed. Usually appear as ravens, crows, and hawks, but can take other forms pending GM approval.

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SpoilerDoctor Maliciousman laughed maniacally. Shortly after, his neighbor pounded on the wall. "Keep it down!" he shouted, "I'm trying to watch TV here! Also, I know your eyepatch is fake!"

Doctor