World Lore
Beginnings
"The Reepuls old tales say that the planet Totta was once a seed adrift in space. Their ancestors in the stars found the seed and cared for it until it sprouted
and grew into the living and breathing planet that it is today."
and grew into the living and breathing planet that it is today."
After the blooming of Totta, it is said that the ancestors began to create the first reepuls. Forming their bodies from one of four elements. Each element had a special connection with Totta, and these reepuls were taught how to care for and speak to their planet through them. They were called the Star-born, Tree-born, Stone-born, and Water-born. These first reepuls were then spread out across the world, living in the Mountains, the Forests, the Deserts, and the Oceans.
Star-borns were first placed on the highest mountain peaks so they could more easily commune with the stars they came from. Sometimes also called "sky-watchers', the Star-borns had an affinity for the sky and storm watching. They are said to be more mystic and spiritual in nature, and thought to be more commonly blessed with 'sight' gifts, magic involving the mind or time itself. Tree-borns were given the forests and jungles as their ward. Many tree-borns learn to speak to the trees themselves, even finding friends among them. They've used this connection to coax the trees into all shapes and sizes, forming their homes, cities, and even 'highways' among the treetops. Tree-born reepuls are more prone to learning plant based and alchemic forms of magic. Stone-borns were taught how to care for and shape the planet herself, listening to Totta through the deep rumbles of the soil and stone. They most commonly build their homes deep within the mountains, or in large underground cities of the deserts. They are known to be hardy individuals and the most easily adaptable. It is believed that manipulation and force magic were first gifted to the Stone-borns. Water-born reepuls were, not suprisingly, placed near the many waters of the world. They are adept swimmers, and survive taking most if not all that they need from the oceans, lakes, and rivers. These reepuls often nest close to their water source. Choosing to making their homes in shoreline cliffs, muddy lakeside houses, or within the trees of river systems and swamps. Healing and Restorative magics were first gifted to the Water-borns. And so it was for thousands of years. In the course of time the reepuls developed a shared language, a working economy, and a thriving planet that they both loved and nutured. The many clans often came together to trade, share stories, hold festivals, and even to connect with friends and find mates from other regions. Knowing their elemental lineage is still important to many reepuls to this day. The elders believe it can help a reepuls indentify themselves and come to know their spiritual connection to their planet, and furthermore awaken any spark of magic within them. |
The Arrival
Humans were not native to Totta, but instead arrived only a handful of generations ago, marking those days as 'The Arrival'. The first humans to step foot on Totta were part of a small colony expedition sent out to travel the stars in search of a new home planet. With the original arrivals finding Totta to be favorable, more soon followed. Their arrival signaled a great change in the culture of the planet. Humans brought with them their technologies, their beliefs, and their adaptability, and the first human settlements quickly began to grow into cities. There are many reepuls who believe the humans to be a plague, a pest that should have been dealt with quickly in the beginning. Something to eradicate. Other reepuls believe the humans to be a species worth communicating and evolving with. A species they can work with and share knowledge with. Many reepuls also find they enjoy the comforts of the human made cities and choose to live within them alongside their new neighbors.
Things on Totta are, at present, mostly peaceful. With humans continuing to grow in population the need for their cities to expand also grows and this does cause tensions in some regions of the world where humans begin to encroach on forests and other territories the reepuls lay claim on. Disputes are not unheard of between the two species, but most have thusfar been handled without violence. |