Blogs in The Dark

While the nation states of Akoros, The Dagger Isles, Iruvia, Severos, Skovlan and Tycheros were all largely established prior to the Cataclysm, the character of these nation-states as we know them today was formed in the immediate aftermath of the event. After the separation of Kotar, each of the newly-immortal sorcerers commenced stewardship over one of these nations. The differing personalities of each sorcerer is reflected in the current state and power of these nations, and the radically different political and social natures of each nation is better explained by my theory than previous notions of history. Take, for example, the state of Akoros. With the ashes of the Cataclysm barely cooled, the Immortal Emperor seized control of power and immediately instituted a rigid bureaucracy that allowed them to wield power over the whole of the state, and eventually, the world. This control is reflected in the person of Akor, The Immortal Emperor, who by all accounts has always been a ...

As a crow flies, it hears things. It hears goats pulling carts through the streets. The shriek of machinery in the factories, the gears and cogs eventually making the shiny things the humans so desperately need. The crackle of the lightning barriers and the white-noise howl of the ghosts outside. Mostly, though, the crow hears the babble of humans, speaking of their desires, their fears, their hopes, their deaths. It hears but does not understand. If it could understand, it would know that things are changing in the city of Duskwall. “Yeah, you heard about the Sashes and Lampblacks? Fought a war outside the Sashes temple last night. I went by on my way to the factory. Bodies just lying in the streets, the Wardens couldn’t even keep up. Looked to me like the Sashes knew they were comin’. Tore em to shreds with that whirlwind sword fighting. No sign of Baz, though. He must have hightailed it." “Hey Skov! Yeah, I mean you! You wanna buy this shit? Top quality Dusk right ...

The Billhooks: A tough gang of thugs wielding hatchets and meat hooks. The Brigade: The fire-fighters of the city. Beloved for their life-saving heroism, or reviled for their looting and extortion rackets. Also known as “Sallies” (from “salamanders,” their ancient name). The Bluecoats: The City Watch of Duskwall, tasked with upholding the law. Known as the meanest gang in the city. Corrupt, violent, and cruel. Rigney used to pay them extortion money but stopped a year or two ago as the fees were getting too high. Cabbies: The public coach operators. They also breed the large Akorosian goats used to pull the carriages. An impressive gossip network. The Church of the Ecstasy of the Flesh: The “state religion,” if there is such a thing. They honor the life of the body and abhor the corrupted spirit world. Essentially a secret society. The Circle of Flame: A secret society of antiquarians and scholars; cover for extortion, graft, vice, and murder. Someone one of you is...