According to legend, Arconesia was the original continent: the first place in this world created by Arceus, and the epicenter of the globe's expansion. That was a thousand years ago; the moment of Genesis. Moments after he created the world, Arceus breathed life into it, giving birth to the first pokémon, Mew. Mew would then bring forth all other pokémon, filling the world with the children of Arceus. They quickly spread across the planet and made it their own, forming societies and bringing rise to nations. In the beginning, Arconesia itself was home to six separate nations; the six holy cathedrals, otherwise known as the Shatarcas. These nations were governed by the Arcanian Vestals: eighteen women that held the divine mandate of Arceus himself. They were his chosen guardians, and each of the six holy Shatarcas was ruled by a trinity of Vestals. The Vestals would go on to form the Disciples of Arceus, a brotherhood of devout followers that would hone their abilities through prayer and learn to influence the natural environments of the world.
After four hundred years with no appearance from Arceus, however, the Disciples began to lose followers. Pokémon weren't as pious as they once had been, and even though many of them still believed in Arceus and the teachings of the Disciples, they had become detached. Eventually some began to doubt, and others stepped forward to exploit such doubt to further their own motives. One thing led to another and eventually war broke out. Usurpers to the thrones of the Vestals gained power, and when they had amassed enough followers they challenged the rule of these holy maidens. Not at all versed in the art of war, the maidens stood little chance at defending themselves. It was not long before most of them had been slain, and new "Kings" seized power over the Shatarcas. The Disciples lost control over government affairs, but even the new power hungry rulers dared not try and eradicate them. And so the Disciples continued their roles as holy emissaries, and the nations entered into the mundane ruling of monarchies.
Of course, power hungry as they were, the rulers of each nation thought to expand their own boundaries. This led to further conflict between them, resulting in the deaths of millions of pokémon. Eventually the nation of Elpída came out victorious, creating the Elpídian Empire. The other surviving rulers remained, but they were forced to swear fealty to the Emperor. The Empire welcomed sects of the Disciples back into power, seeking to maintain some amount of connection with Arceus, and so it has been for the last seven hundred years.
Located at the southern tip of Arconesia is the land of
Elpída, ruling nation of the Elpídian Empire. The capital city of Tigretia sits in the plains area, at the center of the nation. The southern half of the nation is covered in forests, where three of its major cities lie. Four more major cities can be found to the west, surrounding the lake nation of Lemuria. To the north lies the Crescent Mountains, as well as one of the three major entrances to the Prism Labyrinth: a cave system that runs beneath the mountain range and connects the lands of Arconesia. Pokémon of all types call this nation their home.
Major Landmarks: Tigretia, Agatia, Citria, Chalcedonia, Aventia, Amethine, Onyxia, Quartz City, Silica Forest
To the west is the Verdean Peninsula.
Verdea is a forest nation, home primarily to bug, grass, poison, and flying pokémon. It's split by the largest river in Arconesia, and it's capital city of Nephritia is built on the east end of Jade Lake, where the river ends. The citizens of Verdea are very well adapted to their environment, with their architecture and culture blending perfectly with the natural world. They are incredibly resourceful creatures, and they're masters of medicinal arts. Other than by water or air, the only way to access the nation is through the Prism Labyrinth. It has five major cities beyond its capital, scattered about the peninsula.
Major Landmarks: Nephritia, Tourmalda, Peridin, Prehna, Emera, Tanzan, Jade River
Enclosed by the Crescent Mountains and the lands of Elpída is the Lake of
Lemuria, which is its own nation. It has one city, the eponymous Lemuria, which sits in the center of the lake, both above and below. It's home to mostly water pokémon, and though it sits alone, its warriors are the most highly trained in all of Arconesia.
Major Landmarks: City of Lemuria, Sapphire Armory
Due to the Crescent Mountain range's effect on the travel of rain clouds, the land immediately east of the range is desert. Despite its harsh conditions, many pokémon find it to be a fitting home. The desert composes the nation of
Érimia, which is home primarily to ground, rock, steel, and fire pokémon. The desert has one major oasis, formed by the Topaz River, sister to Verdea's Jade River. The capital city of Sun's Blight lies not far from this oasis, as does the third and final entrance to the Prism Labyrinth. All of these things exist within the Valley of the Moons, formed by two arms of the Crescent Mountains. Érimia has four cities beyond its capital, three of which lie at the edge of the desert.
Major Landmarks: Sun's Blight, Crater, Moonrise, Stonefall, Sandlight, Topaz Oasis
To the northeast lie the Aldrian Steppes.
Aldria is composed almost entirely of plains, and the majority is inhabited by normal, fighting, electric, and psychic pokémon. It has only three cities beyond its capital. It's home to Arconesia's greatest scholars, and its warriors have an excellent balance in physical and mental training. It's relationships with the other nations are strained, but as no other library in all of Arconesia, except perhaps the Royal Elpídian Library, comes close to the amount of knowledge stored in Aldria, the other nations tolerate it.
Major Landmarks: Morgan, Spinelia, Kunza, Andesta, Athenaeum of Aldria
In the northwest are the wastelands of
Fotiá, where criminals are exiled. It was deserted years ago when Arconesia's sole volcano erupted and left the area inhospitable. It has regained some amount of fertility, but just enough to keep the outcasts of Arconesian society alive, unless they kill each other, of course. It has three settlements beyond its "capital." Its west coast has turned to desert, and the Carnelian Volcano sits dormant. Dark pokémon seem to be drawn to this area.
Major Landmarks: Pyritia Ruins, Garnet, Ruby, Rust, Carnelian Volcano
Every faction is playable, with four ranks available to play as: three main ranks and one special rank. There may be other ranks involved in their faction, but only those listed are eligible to be signed up for.
Soldiers serving under the main banner of the Elpídian Empire. Any pokémon is eligible to join, so long as they show some amount of potential and can pass entrance examinations. The training regiment is broad, but intense, producing skilled warriors with a wide range of abilities. Those with particular talents may be inducted into more elite forces, with the most highly skilled composing the King's personal regiment. The King is the absolute ruler of the army, with his heirs holding the most power beneath him. Under them are five Generals, one from each nation other than Fotiá, which each command a large portion of the military. The forces are further divided into squadrons, which are each led by a Grandmaster. The Legion has four sub sects, for the four nations in the Empire beyond Elpída.
Soldiers hailing from the Aldrian Steppes. They are a sect of the Imperial Legion, but as is with each sect from the nations beyond Elpída, they are trained separately and differently from soldiers in the other nations. Aldrian soldiers specialize in styles combining mental and physical strength, and so only pokémon with strong psyches are permitted to join. They spend equal time honing their minds as they do perfecting their battle skills, focusing especially on loyalty and self control. Only loyal soldiers that prove their strength of will are eligible for promotion, and with a high enough rank they may be given access to special knowledge within the Aldrian Archives. Their best soldiers are renowned for their great minds and unsurpassed tactical abilities. They have a unique rank in Mystics, which are pokémon highly talented in the arts of divination.
Soldiers training in the vast forests of Verdea. They are trained to be masters of camouflage, hunting, and identifiers of plants and herbs of various uses, particularly medical. Initiates are judged based on their resourcefulness, and those that past the test are taught how to take their skills to far greater levels. They favor guerrilla warfare and are swift in their movements. Bulkier pokémon serve as sentinels, protecting their cities and squadrons. Only the most cunning of warriors are eligible for promotion, and their Generals are widely known for such genius. Their special rank is that of the Guardian, which is a title given to those highly in tune with the natural world, and those with this title have the innate ability to access mysterious chambers around Arconesia, which contain various secrets and powers.
Warriors like no other, Lemurian Legionnaires are almost all water pokémon. They rarely leave their home beneath the waves, so their training methods aren't widely known beyond Lemuria, except among the highest ranking officials. There are no deadlier warriors above or below the waves, and even on land they are formidable opponents. They are known for their resilience and unique fighting styles, which include various armored styles and the combination of weapons and regular attacks. It's said that their Generals can't even be touched on the field of battle, dishing out blows unlike any other. Of particular interest are their Leviathans: warriors said to know how to access the deepest secrets of the ocean.
Soldiers from the deserts of Érimia. They're hardened pokémon that have proven themselves worthy of the harsh conditions of the desert. Most of them are native, as it takes an impressive feat for an outsider to be welcomed into their folds. They are the best at surviving on the least, and have trained themselves to continue long periods without nourishment should the need arise. They can spot life even in the most barren of areas, and they know how to ration to keep resources going for the longest possible time. They're also known for having developed Sand Runners, which provide quick and easy transport across the sands. They're Generals are the most steadfast warriors out there, and their Banshee warriors are both astounding navigators and excellent engineers, on top of being the most ruthless soldiers in the Legion.
Outlaws living in the ruined lands of Fotiá in the northwest. They can be any pokémon of various skills and talents. The only thing they really need to have in common with one another is that they did, or were accused of, some crime that got them exiled to the wastelands, and those types of crimes have to be pretty serious or otherwise extensive. The Wastelanders have their own ranking system, including Pups, akin to normal soldiers; Wolves, similar to Grandmasters; and Hellhounds, taking on the role of Generals. There's also a Deathhound rank, reserved for the Wastelanders' personal assassins.
Devout followers of the one true God and his children. Most of them are typically raised as Disciples, but very few may only begin their worship later in life. They're found all across Arconesia, in every region and social class. In some places they're respected, and others they are scorned. No matter the case, they follow their lord and chosen deity with all of their beings. While they all answer to Arceus above all other deities, they can follow the path of any of Arceus' brethren that dwell within his Hall. Though the vestals and disciples were removed from rule centuries ago, the disciples still hold some amount of influence over political matters. Their three main ranks include Monks, Priests, and Vigilants. The Archbishop presides over them, in the absence of the vestals.
Criminals, the lot of 'em. But unlike the Wastelanders, they keep to the shadows, and they don't get caught. If they do, they don't reveal their secrets. They're comprised mostly of thieves, and they operate all over Arconesia. They follow strict codes, a sort of honor among thieves, and any who go against these codes are ejected from the brotherhood. They have hidden strongholds in every city, as well as in the wilderness of every nation. They are masters of stealth, and have so far managed to avoid detection by any of the governments of Arconesia. Their three main ranks include Shade, Den Master, and Blackwing. Their leader is known as the Dark Panther, and though his identity is unknown, there's no doubt the whoever holds the title is the greatest thief in the world. Anyone that displays an aptitude may seek membership, but only those truly gifted in th arts of thievery and also hold themselves with honor may join and rise through the ranks.
One thing to know about this friendly little brotherhood: they've a penchant for murder. Suffice to say they've left Arceus' good graces, and they don't really care. The Reapers are trained assassins, and they have the resources to do whatever is necessary to carry out a job. They're also a strict brotherhood, and they will slaughter anyone that tries to harm them or their brethren. They worship the god of death and destruction, Yveltal, albeit to varying degrees. Some see Yveltal as a sort of messiah, whereas others just use him as reason to commit murder. Whatever their motives, they're murderers, and they're good at what they do. They're main ranks include Initiate, the newest additions to their clan; Associate, who have passed initiation; and Graduates, who have ascended into the top rungs of the Reapers' hierarchy. They also have an elitist group of assassins known as the Obliviates, and they are the deadliest of killers in all of Arconesia.
At half past eleven, the fire falls:
The children of the lord will beck to his call.
When the end is nigh, and children weep,
The Warriors come to defend their keep,
When Shadows spread across all the land
And kingdoms fall by the Reaper's hand,
He will appear in the rainbow place
And decide then who deserves his grace.
Should they show themselves to be unworthy
They shall fall beneath his righteous fury.
But should they prove themselves deserving
They will be freed from a life of serving:
For when God descends upon this world
He will smite the evils that hath unfurled.
To sway his Judgment o'er their lives,
The few will have to greet Demise.
-Ancient Scrolls of the Disciples
So hopefully you'll avert the apocalypse! How will you do it? Well, that's the part that's up for debate: no one really seems to know exactly what they're supposed to do to save their souls. Because of that, they're kind of doing a little bit of everything, including going to war.
As for you, you'll either be a soldier from one of the Shatarcas, a Disciple, a thief, an assassin, or a common criminal. You'll have your own reasons and motives for everything you do, and there won't really be a right or a wrong path to take towards salvation—or destruction. Whoever you are and whatever your goals, something has brought you to Tigretia, the capital of the Empire. Here you will begin your journey towards saving the world or bringing about its destruction, in whatever way you see fit, both directly and indirectly.
There's one year left before Arceus descends upon this world, and the royal family isn't ignoring this deadline. It's rumored that they plan on making some sort of announcement at this year's Festival of Colors, and it's a piece of news that you won't want to miss.
