{This chapter contains many aspects of this world.}
{Don't read it if you don't want to be spoiled.}
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Houses of Gods/Great Houses
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Hieron/Main Houses
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Inquisitors
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Hierophants
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Lower Noble Houses
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Sealbearers
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Runebearers
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Debtors of Oath
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{Runethera}
A realm of Runes.
One with three stratums of different time periods, each connected by Divine Stairs, which are tree-like arbors that pierce directly through the strata, sprouting from everywhere, a sacred place for the people.
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[Third Stratum]
The lowest stratum is the Third Stratum.
A land controlled by Great House Hades, housing Tartaros itself.
It looks like a world of old, yet also surprisingly modern... at least in certain aspects.
Mostly Nameless, (unrecognized Runebearers,) and Lower Houses populate it.
Anyone stronger prefers the higher strata, where better Runes reside.
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[Second Stratum]
The middle stratum is the Second Stratum.
A land controlled by the Great House Khronos, people of time.
It is, for the lack of a better word, the present, a clanking, breathing belt of gears and steam. Houses of Gods with iron colonnades, braziers that hissed and vented, and massive city-forges working only on Divine Relic production, clouding their poor in smoke.
Here, Main Houses are common, and unlike the Third Stratum, more than one Great House resides, all mostly working in collaboration with House Khronos, making this the most driven part of this realm, where most advancements are made.
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[First Stratum]
Yet, the First Stratum, the realm's peak, is the land that enjoys such advancements.
It's controlled by the Great House Etherion, a Divine people, or so they claim.
This is the future, completing and perfecting the realm.
Past, Present, Future...
Birth, Life, Death.
Columns here are glass, or rather, mostly everything in the sanctuaries is.
Only Great Houses gather here, for only they could reach the peak, needing both Great and Ancient Runes; the lands under their control too massive and too numerous.
Saints aren't a rare sight, ruling by presence as much as by law.
Systems stay the same across strata—the Hall, the Rune-Leash, the Sealbearers—but they wear different faces, matching both the time and the capability of their stratum.
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[Noble Houses]
Great House
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Main House
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Lower House
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[Three Great Houses]
First Stratum (Highest)
Name: Etherion
Lord: Hyperion, of House Etherion, son of Ouranos, Lord of the First Stratum.
...
Second Stratum (Middle)
Name: Khronos
Lady: Anake, of House Khronos, daughter of Aion, Lady of the Second Stratum.
...
Third Stratum (Lowest)
Name: Hades
Lord: Thanatos, of House Hades, son of Plouton, Lord of the Third Stratum.
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[Rune-Leash Decree]
A Divine Law binding all Runebearers to their stratum and their families, Noble Houses or not, even beyond death, returning everything to them, specifically their Runes.
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[Colesium Games]
Games held by the Pluto Academy to entertain the Gods.
These games could range from a Dive into Tartaros, a Dungeon run, a reclaiming of a Corrupted land, or even a trial from the Gods themselves, each game with its own varying reward.
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[Tartaros]
It's the pit under the Third Stratum...
This realm's hell.
A living thing older than all Houses, constantly reaching up in hunger.
Its spawn climb the stairs to seek the stronger Runes, and though they live in the Third Stratum, their most dangerous and highest class are often found in the First and Second Strata, as they have the best Runes.
Those who Dive deep into it are called Inquisitors, usually in search of Great Runes and Divine Relics, as those are commonplace in a land nearly impossible to survive.
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[Divine Relics]
Incredible items, either found in the realm, Tartaros, or created with Divinity.
Each mimic Runebearers in ability, breaking the Rules of the world and creating wondrous effects, with the only downside being the existence of a Flaw, greatly balancing its strength.
Some Divine Relics are so strong, they are sealed, many since the very first epoch.
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[Epochs]
First Epoch: The Age of the Fool.
Second Epoch: The Age of Endless Chaos.
Third Epoch: The Age of Drought.
Fourth Epoch: The Age of Corruption.