Legendary Mortals
Heroes and villains whose choices changed the course of divine history.
"The gods may have created the world, but mortals decide what it becomes. For better or worse, we are the authors of our own fate."
Philosopher Aldric, "On Mortal Potential"
Throughout Arcania's history, certain mortals have risen to legendary status-their choices echoing across millennia, their names spoken with reverence or revulsion. These are the individuals who proved that mortal will can shape divine destiny.
Aldric the Undying - First Paladin
| Attribute | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Race | Human | Proved mortals could carry divine light |
| Title | First Paladin | Founder of Erion's Vanguard |
| Status | More Light Than Flesh | Still leads the Paladin order |
| Achievement | The First Spark | Received the original fragment of divine light |
Story
When Marael's armies descended upon Arcania, mortal soldiers broke against nightmare creatures that no blade could harm. In desperation, a knight named Aldric climbed the Sunspire to seek Erion's blessing.
He found the god weeping over a dying world-and offered his life in service.
Erion did not simply bless Aldric. He burned away his mortality with the Spark of Light, reforging his soul into something between human and divine. Aldric became the First Paladin-and the template for all who would follow.
Legacy
Aldric still leads the Paladin order, though he is now more light than flesh. He has not aged since receiving the Spark. Some say he will only rest when Anias's dream is fulfilled-or when the last Paladin falls.
Note
Every Paladin carries a fragment of Aldric's original blessing. When they channel the Spark, they touch a lineage that begins with a single mortal's desperate climb up a sacred mountain.
High Priestess Veyla - Discoverer of the Eternal Light
| Attribute | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Race | Human | Showed mortals could connect to Anias's essence |
| Title | High Priestess | Founder of the Cleric tradition |
| Status | Deceased (Natural Causes) | Lived a full mortal life serving others |
| Achievement | The Forty-First Day | Discovered the Eternal Light's existence |
Story
After Anias's death, her followers despaired. How could they serve a goddess who no longer existed? Many abandoned their faith. Others turned to darker powers.
But a young acolyte named Veyla refused to accept that Anias was truly gone. She meditated for forty days at the site of the goddess's death-and on the forty-first day, she felt warmth within her chest. A light that whispered of compassion and forgiveness.
She had discovered the Eternal Light: Anias's distributed essence, living within all things.
Legacy
Veyla founded the Cleric tradition-proving that mortals could channel divine healing without being born divine themselves. Her discovery gave hope to millions. The Forty-First Day is still celebrated by Clerics worldwide as the anniversary of her revelation.
Nimue - The Godslayer
| Attribute | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Race | Human | Proved mortals could challenge even gods |
| Title | Godslayer | Murderer of Anias |
| Status | Unknown | Fled after the murder; fate uncertain |
| Achievement | The Duskfall | Triggered the current age of war |
Story
Nimue was a blacksmith's daughter who captured Erion's heart. Their love was genuine-but Nimue could not escape her mortality. She watched herself age while her immortal husband remained untouched by time. Her greatest fear was being left behind.
The oracle Mildor preyed on her insecurities, telling her of a forbidden ritual: if a mortal slew a goddess with a sacred weapon, they would inherit immortality.
On the eve of her wedding, Nimue took Erion's dagger-the Arcblade-and murdered Anias.
The Aftermath
Nimue did not gain immortality. She gained only horror at what she had done. When Erion nearly killed her in rage, Anias's dying words stopped him. Nimue fled into the night and was never seen again.
The Nimue Question
Humans struggle with Nimue's legacy. She proved mortal potential could challenge the divine-but she also killed their creator. Most condemn her. Some secretly wonder if she was right to strike against immortals who ruled mortal lives. A few heretics even worship her.
General Kira Ironhand - Founder of the Steel Covenant
| Attribute | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Race | Human | Champion of mortal self-reliance |
| Title | Steel Covenant Founder | Created the Warrior philosophy |
| Status | Deceased (In Battle) | Died defending Meridia's gates |
| Achievement | The Steel Covenant | Proved mortals didn't need magic to fight |
Story
During the early war, Kira watched her soldiers crumble when magic failed them. Mages succumbed to Titan Madness. Paladins lost their light. Clerics couldn't heal fast enough. But the soldiers who relied on steel and skill-they held the line.
From this observation, Kira founded the Steel Covenant: a philosophy that mortals should trust in their own strength, not powers that could be taken away.
Legacy
The Steel Covenant became the foundation of the Warrior class. Its principles-self-reliance, discipline, adaptation, and unity-shaped human military tradition. Kira died defending Meridia's gates, but her philosophy lives on in every Warrior who trusts steel over magic.
Empress Lilith - First Daughter of Anias
| Attribute | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Race | First-born Lilin | The first dream to become flesh |
| Title | Empress of the First Forest | Immortal ruler of Anias's dream-daughters |
| Status | Alive | Oldest mortal being in existence |
| Achievement | Witnessed Anias's Awakening | The only being who remembers her mother opening her eyes |
Story
Lilith is the first-born of all Lilin-the very first dream of Anias to take form. While the goddess slumbered in the void after the Titans' destruction, her peaceful dreams gave rise to the First Forest and the tiny beings who lived within it. Lilith was the first of these dream-daughters, emerging from pure love and innocent imagination.
For ages beyond counting, Lilith watched over her mother's sleeping form, tending the First Forest alongside her sisters. When Marael found Anias and woke her, Lilith was there to witness the goddess's eyes open for the first time-a moment she treasures as the most sacred memory in existence.
Legacy
Lilith has led the Lilin since before time had meaning. Her wisdom spans from the dreaming age to the present day, and her love for her people is boundless. She sits on the Grand Alliance council not as a politician but as the eldest voice of all mortal-kind-a reminder that innocence and kindness are worth fighting for.
High King Thorin Stonefist - Current Darkan Ruler
| Attribute | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Race | Darkan | Heir of the Dark Titan who serves the light |
| Title | High King | Elected ruler of all Darkan clans |
| Status | Alive | Leads Darkan war effort from Redmire |
| Philosophy | Forge Creed | Shape yourself as you shape steel |
Story
Thorin was elected High King after his predecessor fell in battle against Marael's forces (before Marael's defection). He is a pragmatist who believes actions matter more than origins. Under his leadership, the Darkan have become invaluable allies-their forge-craft producing weapons and their warriors holding lines no other race could.
Philosophy
Thorin embodies the Forge Creed: the belief that beings can shape themselves as smiths shape metal. The Darkan descend from the Dark Titan's corpse, but they are not bound by that origin. Through discipline and choice, they become something new.
Note
Thorin's cooperation with Luminar leaders was initially controversial among traditional Darkan. His argument: "We share an enemy. We share a world. What does origin matter when survival demands unity?"
Cassian - The Betrayer Who Became Hollow
| Attribute | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Race | Human | Mortal man who broke a goddess's heart |
| Title | The Hollow | Empty vessel filled with Anguish power |
| Status | Alive (If That Word Applies) | Guards the Hall of Fallen |
| Tragedy | Lost Everything | Cannot feel love, hate, or regret |
Story
Cassian was a charismatic army general who won Alassa's heart. Their love seemed genuine-until Alassa discovered his betrayal with a servant. In her rage, she killed the servant and her family, then tore Cassian's heart from his chest.
She didn't kill him. She made it so he could never feel again.
Cassian wandered the world as a hollow shell until the Anguish Stone found him. It filled his emptiness with power and purpose. Now he guards the final gate before Alassa's throne-bound by whatever trace of their old bond still lingers.
Tragedy
Cassian's story is uniquely horrible because he cannot experience his own tragedy. He remembers loving Alassa. He remembers betraying her. He remembers losing his heart. But he cannot feel anything about these memories. He is a monument to consequences, forever denied the grief he deserves.
The Nature of Legend
What makes a mortal legendary?
| Figure | Quality | Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Aldric | Devotion | Became the first bridge between mortal and divine |
| Veyla | Faith | Discovered that death cannot end love |
| Nimue | Desperation | Proved mortals can destroy gods-and themselves |
| Kira | Pragmatism | Showed strength doesn't require magic |
| Lilith | Ancient Wisdom | Oldest mortal being, keeper of Anias's first dreams |
| Thorin | Discipline | Demonstrated origin doesn't determine destiny |
| Cassian | Weakness | Became a warning about the cost of betrayal |
Tip
Every player character has the potential to join these legends. The war is ongoing. The final chapter isn't written. Heroes are made in moments of choice-and those moments are coming.