Ynuna
Mother of Ferea. God of Humanity. The White Dragon. The Divine Feminine. Life. Light. Day. Reality. Conscious
SHE/HER

THE DUAL GODS OF WHICIA

In the beginning, there was only void. When out of that void sprung consciousness, naturally the unconscious opened its eyes as well. These two opposing forces make up the fabric of reality, personified by the gods Ynuna and Oenar, humanity and monsters, femininity and masculinity, light and dark, day and night, reality and dreams. This is the constant push and pull of opposites which keep the world in balance. Throughout all myths of this word, these two figures can always be recognized.The true nature of the relationship between the gods is a mystery, but what is known is that they battled constantly for supremacy, locked in an unending and violent dance. Oenar’s monsters would torment humanity, and in turn humanity declared war on his monsters. This changed when Ynuna herself intervened, laying with a human man and conceiving the first king of Ferea. This child had been gifted the first Ynuna’s Blessing, able to control the ice and snow of the Ferean snow-wastes. With the help of the goddess, the king and his people pushed the monsters to the ends of the earth and killed Oenar, scattering his remains across Whicia.Today in Ferea, Ynuna is worshipped as the one true God and savior of humanity. Oenar has been recast as an unholy demon, a stain that was long ago rubbed out by their benevolent Mother. The Aramore lineage rules through her power, direct ancestors of the child that Ynuna conceived nearly a millennium ago. Furthermore, they share a heightened perception of the goddess, receiving guidance through her visions and prophecies. They closely guard her Blessing, passing it only to kings on the night of their coronation. But the human vessel cannot contain this power forever. The mind and body degrade, sanity eventually lost entirely, limbs rotted with frostbite. To die by Ynuna’s Blessing is to ascend to sainthood, forever immortalized in the tombs beneath The Ice Palace.✵Though his body was scattered, traces of Oenar’s power can still be found in the pieces left on earth. These Fragments of Oenar, as they would come to be called, contain a raw, unpredictable power – the ability to turn any human or animal into an Oenid. Through this transformation, they are granted immortality and monstrous abilities to shift their form at will. But, Oenids grow more monstrous as they age, eventually transforming into something else entirely. Some of the most powerful and elusive creatures in this world are Oenids who have reached this state.Meanwhile, behind the locked borders of Kaven, worship of Oenar remains supreme. These followers have been dubbed the “Cult of Oenar” by the Ferean state. In this belief, Oenar is reframed as a nature god who long ago tried to save the world by preventing Ynuna’s meddling. He is a martyr, and the world suffers in his absence. Generally speaking, members of the cult have a more positive view of monsters – thinking them essential to the environment and the world at large. This belief often coincides with other esoteric practices, such as astromancy and divination.Deep in the bowels of Oesueña, the Queen of Kaven lays her plan. Worshipping her God in the secret chambers of the palace, Maria Valencia X assembles the Fragments of Oenar, hoping to one day revive her dead God.

Oenar
God of Monsters. The Black Dragon. The Divine Masculine. Death. Darkness. Night. Dreams. Unconscious
HE/HIM

Ynuna and OenarMany versions exist of the story between the two gods. Some say they were lovers who kept the world in balance, while others claim Oenar an unholy demon, set on destroying humanity and filling the earth with monsters. Ferea subscribes wholeheartedly to the teachings of Ynuna, while Kaven follows only Oenar. Echoes of the story of two gods eternally locked in conflict are felt across Whicia. In Jin Ran, the dueling dragons are worshipped – creatures who constantly swirl between ecstasy and devastation. In Iyoryn, both gods are acknowledged, but are accompanied by a pantheon of other nature spirits. In the far flung snow barrens of Ferea, nomadic tribes give thanks to Oenar for the monsters they consume and revere Ynuna as a god of death. Though the story changes, both figures are always present.Ynuna’s Blessing and the Aramore FamilyIt is said that the first king of Ferea was conceived in Ynuna’s womb. She had lain with a human man, and when the child was born he carried with him a piece of the goddess’ power. He had been gifted the first of Ynuna’s Blessings.
This act angered Oenar, who tried to kill the king. Instead, he was thwarted by Ynuna. Oenar called upon his monsters, waging war against humanity. With the power of The Blessing and the help of Ynuna, humanity defeated Oenar, his monsters pushed back and his divine body desecrated and scattered. Humanity had been saved.
When the first king grew old and weary, he sought a way to pass The Blessing to his children. With the help of Ynuna herself, he wrote the Book of Ynuna, locking it deep inside The Ice Palace for only future Aramore kings to read.
Because of this connection, all Aramores are perceptive to Ynuna’s influence, receiving her guidance through visions and prophecies. But only the king, on the night after his coronation, receives Ynuna’s Blessing by entering the chamber and reading the holy book. This mysterious ritual grants him a piece of Ynuna’s power – the ability to control the ice and snow of Ferea. But the human vessel cannot contain this power forever. The mind and body degrade, sanity eventually lost entirely, limbs rotted with frostbite. To die by Ynuna’s Blessing is to ascend to sainthood, forever immortalized in the tombs beneath The Ice Palace.The Holy WarFor Ferea, The Holy War has no beginning or end. It has always existed and will always continue, as will the plight to spread the teachings of Ynuna. The conquest will not end until monsters are blighted and all traces of Oenar are banished from the earth.
With the coronation of Emperor Alexey Aramore VI, the war formally expanded into Iyoryn. It was claimed that the Cult of Oenar’s influence had spread, infecting the minds of the Iyorish people. Though Ferea claimed they intended only to attack those spreading Oenar’s dark gospel, thousands of civilians were caught in the crossfire. Rebel groups, with the support of Kaven, fought back for nine long years, working hard to purge the Ferean army. Though ultimately they were defeated, forced back into the shadows when General Nikolai Aramore took the capital city of Misneach. For the Iyorish people, The Holy War is known instead as The Devastation.

The Cult of OenarThough pushed to the edges of the earth or the safe haven of Kaven, many still worship the supposed monster god. In this belief, Oenar is reframed as a nature god who long ago tried to save the world by preventing Ynuna’s meddling. He is a martyr, and the world suffers in his absence. Generally speaking, members of the cult have a more positive view of monsters – thinking them essential to the environment and the world at large. This belief often coincides with other esoteric practices, such as astromancy and divination.Oenids and the Fragments of OenarWhen Ynuna killed Oenar, pieces of his corpse were scattered across Whicia. Though disconnected, these pieces still held immense traces of Oenar’s divine power. Eventually they were found by animals and humans who were then corrupted (or blessed) by these traces, transforming them into Oenids. They were granted immortality and monstrous powers, with the ability to shift their form at will. But, Oenids grow more monstrous as they age, eventually transforming into something else entirely. Some of the most powerful and elusive creatures in this world are Oenids who have reached this state.The Gutter Plague / Stigaran FluAt the start of The Holy War, a mysterious disease spread from the area around The Stigaran River. At first, it seemed only to affect the lowest ranks of society, earning it the pseudonym “Gutter Plague.” Though, in only a few weeks, the sickness spread to St. Aleksander. Thousands fell ill and died, with thousands more attempting to flee the country. With this, the plague spread across Whicia. It infected without reason, taking the strongest men yet sparing the poorest children. Some Fereans claimed it originated in Iyoryn, an evil curse cast by the Cult of Oenar. Others said it was divine retribution, vengeance on Ferea for their crimes of conquest. Yet just as quickly and mysteriously as it came, it vanished.
The plague is an inciting incident for many principal characters, namely Asva, Ivan, and Villanelle. During the plague, Ivan rose to prominence for his supposed faith healing skills. He carried a bizarre ability to ease the suffering of the inflicted, the only cure found thus far. When Asva, then fifteen years old and newly named heir of Ferea, fell ill with the plague, the empress called Ivan to The Ice Palace. Strangely, after all other options were exhausted, Ivan was able to heal the prince. Though, he was left with lifelong complications. Meanwhile, Villanelle, along with her mother and their band, fled to Jin Ran when the outbreak occurred. Her mother fell ill and died soon after, leaving her alone.

Alexey Aramore VI
Sixth of his Name. Emperor of Ferea. Bearer of Ynuna’s Blessing. Saint of Fortitude
AGE 63 | HE/HIM | FEREAN

Cold-hearted king and bearer of Ynuna’s Blessing, the first to proclaim himself emperor of Ferea. Nine years ago he began an aggressive campaign to expand Ferea’s borders, invading Iyoryn and beginning his so-called Holy War. Now that the capital city of Iyoryn has been taken and Kaven brought to submission through marriage alliance, his sights have set on Jin Ran.He is extremist and dictatorial, abusive to his wife and children in many ways. He exerts his power as king to manipulate those around him, obsessed with the idea of his legacy. Everyone seems to disappoint him.Tall and imposing, his hair and beard always perfectly groomed. Long, hooked nose and gray eyes. Mainly wears military attire.

Sestina Popova Aramore
Empress of Ferea. Duchess of Propia
AGE 50 | SHE/HER | FEREAN

The Empress of Ferea by marriage. Once the young, carefree Duchess of Propia, wasting her days alongside her younger brother and dreaming of love. Now a woman, she knows better.When she married Alexey Aramore, then only the First Prince, he was 13 years her senior. Their marriage was never happy, even less so when their children seemed to continually fail in their duties. Since then all subsequent failings of the Aramore family have been placed on her head.Most days she wanders the palace halls as if in mourning, accompanied only by her cats. She is emotionless and cold to all but the supposed faith-healer, Ivan Rykov. She devotes herself to finding a cure for her son, Asva, knowing the future of the Aramore family and Ferea itself depends on it.Long, sandy, grayish blonde hair. White hair has begun to grow from her roots. Lidded, gray blue eyes that she passed to all three children. Normally wears long veils.

Ludmila Aramore
Princess of Ferea. The Red Lady
AGE 32 | SHE/HER | FEREAN

A stain on the Aramore lineage. From birth her red hair was seen as a portent of doom. Indeed, she has always failed to live up to the expectations of her family, lost in the shadow of her younger brothers.For the first half of her life, Ludmilla rebelled against the court and her father’s expectations. She constantly competed with her brother Nikolai, excelling in physical challenges like hunting and fighting. Above all, she refused to marry, wiling away her days with pithy love affairs. Her comfortable life of mediocrity shattered when her father forced her to marry Tevri Zamodra, lord of a far off island in the Norish Ocean and several years her junior. For a while she played her part as a proper princess, but this did not last long. Now, she rebels again, aligning herself with the pirate queen, Fia Carver.Dark, blood red hair. Freckled skin and characteristically Aramore lidded eyes. Other than her hair, she shares strong resemblance with the rest of her family members.

Nikolai Aramore
Prince of Ferea. General of the Holy Army.
AGE 30 | HE/HIM | FEREAN

The oldest Aramore son and once heir to the throne. Though he showed enormous potential, he claimed to receive a vision from Ynuna telling him to abdicate. Taken as divine intervention, he was conscripted to the Holy Army by his father.
Once upon a time, he loved a girl named Villanelle, dreaming of leaving behind his legacy in order to marry her. His foolish wish cast him into an impossible position, caught between the expectations placed upon him and his true nature. For many years he lost himself, devoted to nothing but sex and violence, earning his sour reputation. He abandoned self preservation and threw himself to the army, rising to the rank of general. Yet he never forgot the girl he once risked everything for. Now, he pledges himself to the resistance, all with the hope of returning to his beloved and righting the wrongs of the war.
Black hair, as his father once had, now prematurely streaked with gray. Always seems to wear a cocky grin. Classically Aramore face with gray blue eyes. Normally seen in fashionable, black clothes.

Asva Aramore
Crown Prince of Ferea
AGE 24 | HE/HIM | FEREAN

The youngest Aramore son, yet he has found himself heir to the empire. In a position he never prepared for, Asva struggles to meet the expectations placed on him. Outwardly, he narrowly maintains the image of the perfect, somewhat cocky, prince. To strangers he is kind and courteous, but around his siblings he lets his true personality through.After his brother abdicated the throne and he was crowned prince of Ferea, Asva contracted the Stigaran Flu. With the help of Ivan Rykov, a faith-healer employed by his mother, he narrowly escaped death. Yet the illness left him with lasting health complications. Though he tries to hide his condition, he is often unable to leave his sick bed for days. Not least of all, his brush with death seems to have strengthened his connection to Ynuna. He is plagued by apocalyptic visions that violently wrack his body and seem to bring about new bouts of sickness. Now, he aims to hide the truth of his condition from his new bride, Princess Sigrid Valencia.Sandy, grayish blonde hair resembling his mother’s. Tall and handsome but skinny and malnourished due to his condition. Grayish blue, lidded eyes, characteristic to the Aramore family.

Ivan Rykov
Bachelor of Medicine. Priest of Ynuna
AGE 26 | HE/HIM | FEREAN

An accomplished physician and a man of the cloth. He claims to use his connection to Ynuna to help heal his patients. Though only seventeen at the time, he gained prominence during the Stigaran Flu outbreak. Some call his methods a hoax, while others revere him for saving many lives.Years ago, he was employed by Empress Sestina Aramore to help heal her son, Prince Asva Aramore. He devotes himself day and night to caring for the prince, living in The Ice Palace by his side. Though he buries his feelings deep, mired in religious guilt, Ivan has developed an attraction to Asva. This is only further complicated by his patient’s recent marriage to Princess Sigrid Valencia.Long, black hair and pitch black eyes. Sharp chin and sallow complexion. Often seems unkempt, like he puts no effort into his own health despite his profession. Wears dark, formal clothing that is slightly oversized. Always keeps a pocket watch handy.

Maria Valencia X
Tenth of her Name. Queen of Kaven. Lady of Oesueña. Starseeker
AGE 51 | SHE/HER | KAVISH

Heir to the Kavish throne by blood. A strong and prolific leader, though somewhat controversial. She prefers to leave the duties of running her country to the parliament, instead single-mindedly devoted to her own mysterious machinations.Gifted with the power of starsight, the ability to read the future through the stars. It is this vision that invested her in the marriage between her daughter, Sigrid, and the Prince of Ferea, despite the two countries’ long standing mutual hatred. She places high expectations on her daughter, being the only girl in a family with a long lineage of queens. Intimidating, strong-willed, and duty bound. She trusts entirely in herself and her abilities, to the point of extreme stubbornness.Long, dusty blonde hair kept very long. Her eyes appear pale because of cataracts. Wears loose tunics and scarves, but is heavily adorned with intricate gold jewelry depicting esoteric symbols.

Sigrid Valencia
Princess of Kaven. Princess of Ferea
AGE 21 | SHE/HER | KAVISH

Fair haired princess to two thrones. She was wed to the Prince of Ferea, Asva Aramore, to inspire peace between their two countries. Though it seems her mother, Queen Maria Valencia, has arranged the marriage for her own ends.Loyal and responsible to her duties, but young and hot headed. She is determined to fulfill the plans laid out by her mother: destroy Ynuna’s Blessing and the Aramore lineage. Almost from birth, her mother interpreted prophecies of her grand destiny and immense potential. Because of this, as a child she was sequestered from her brothers, forced by her mother to cultivate her skill in astromancy. Has an affinity for botany with a particular interest in poisonous plants.Pale, long, blonde hair, usually worn in double braids for practicality. Her eyes are clear blue and slightly unsettling. Soft, round face and sloping nose. Favors the color pink, wearing it to show her allegiance to her country despite the hostility she faces in the Ferean court. Feminine, frilly style.

Pasha Tamarkin
Lord of Tamarkin. Former Soldier of the Holy Army
AGE 46 | HE/HIM | FEREAN

Though aristocratic in name, he has long since given up that life. After many hardships, he is content to live in the mountains with his partner, Vasily Popov.When he attended university in the capital, he befriended and fell in love with Vasily. His father disapproved, and sent his son away to join The Holy Army. After witnessing the horrors of war, Pasha attempted to end his own life. Instead, the bullet misfired, permanently scarring him but sparing his life. When he was found after his attempt, he was dishonorably discharged and sent home, where his father then disowned him.With nowhere else to go, he turned to Vasily, who took him in with open arms. Since then, the two have lived together in the Popov family manor.Long, curly, dark hair. Mismatched eyes – one green, one brown. Characteristic star-shaped scar on his forehead. Wears what Vasily gives him.

Vasily Popov
Duke of Propia. Bachelor of Anthropology
AGE 46 | HE/HIM | FEREAN

The Duke of Propia and brother of Empress Sestina Aramore. He is an academic devoted to studying the many cultures of the Ice Wastes, uninterested in high class gossip or political struggles.Some say he has spent too much time isolated in the mountains, developing a number of strange idiosyncrasies. He has little regard for social norms or the rules of high society. As long as his partner, Pasha, is by his side he has no care for what others think. The two met while attending university in the capitol. When Pasha was disowned by his family after his dishonorable discharge from The Holy Army, Vasily took him in.Ginger hair, growing white. Wears square, wire rimmed glasses that he cannot see without. Sharp nose and warm, brown eyes. Enjoys dressing extravagantly.

Villanelle Vanner
Songstress of the Southern Countries
AGE 28 | SHE/HER | IYORISH

Villanelle emerged out of the city’s dark underbelly but now performs in only the finest clubs, amassing an ever growing number of rabid fans. All the while, she advocates against The Ferean Empire and for the emancipation of her people.Her birth was accidental, her mother a singer in a travelling band. From a young age, Villanelle was taught to sell her body in order to pay for their travel and expenses. Nonetheless, despite her hardships, her talent was undeniable. On a visit to St. Aleksandar, she met Nikolai Aramore (who disguised his identity in order to escape the palace). Their love affair ended in disaster, with Villanelle abandoned and forced to flee to Jin Ran because of the outbreak of Stigaran Flu that soon followed.When her mother succumbed to the plague, Villanelle was forced to set out on her own. As her popularity rose, she unwittingly found herself at the center of the anti-Ferea resistance. She coordinates their actions and works with foreign assets – namely General Nikolai Aramore, her former love.Devastatingly beautiful. Her hair is always immaculately curled, her makeup flawless. Prefers dresses that show off her assets, especially when performing.

Fia Carver
Madame Jaw. Captain of the Unbreakable Maiden. Pirate Queen of the Camilian Sea
AGE 33 | SHE/HER | CAMILIAN

Notorious pirate terrorizing the continent’s seas. Her crew takes in misfits from all corners of Whicia in exchange for their unquestioning service.Jovial but dangerous. In her youth she was imprisoned on Registration Island after murdering her abusive father. While there she discovered the secret of The Island – that hidden deep within its bowels was a Fragment of Oenar. She stole the fragment and escaped, transforming into an Oenid in the process. This fact torments her, and she keeps her identity hidden.For a second time she was caught and brought before the courts of Ferea, saved from death only by the intervention of Princess Ludmila Aramore. The Princess’ reasons are shrouded, but she has refused to leave the pirate queen’s side ever since.Muscular and covered in scars — most notably one slicing across the left side of her face. Hair has begun to grow blonde after her transformation, with only the tips remaining her original color. Round, grayish eyes. Her boots are adorned with shark teeth.