Balance was broken the day god Voone disappeared. Argenveil felt the divine energy fade away and the king was assassinated.
Without Voone to choose the king’s successor, Travald Graf took the throne. Under his rule, Magic was forbidden and spellcasters were either arrested or slain. It became a crime to be other than human in their land. Those with non-human blood were persecuted and killed. Families destroyed, children left behind, cities left in disarray.
This was the world Bartholomew Steiner grew in. Left in the care of the Guard as a boy, he learned to hate outsiders and distrust Magic as stated by the Law. His world turned when he met half-elven twins Allora and Allura Nightingale as Steiner was confronted with the reality that Magic is still a part of his country.
Their only hope is to untangle the threads goddess Ilo had laid 30 years ago to return Her son, the god Voone, to His full power.
Webs of Ilo started as a D&D campaign me and my group of friends ran every weekend for about 2 years. These were such fun times that my friends kept asking me to draw their OCS and commission me for artwork to the point of asking me to use the campaign to draw each day during the Inktober 2018 challenge. After rising up to the challenge I started to miss my characters and the moments we lived through the campaign and as such, decided to share this story with the goal to make other people have fun and share our good times and memories too.
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"Before you speak, keep in mind I don't look kindly at liars."
In a country that abominates Magic, Steiner had the misfortune of being born with the innate ability to heal wounds with Magic. The only one in the family. This innate ability led his parents to leave him as a boy in the Guard’s care hoping that, by serving the King, his ability would not bring them all to prison. All he has left from his family is an old trinket his father once gave him.
He grew up to become an Argenveilian Guard, in Khaltorsweg, who tends to use his moral compass more often than the Law, and that ended up entangling him in a giant web of events he could no longer have any control over.
"Some burdens are too heavy to carry."
She's the oldest of the twins. Ambitious, focused, and kind-hearted yet stubborn as they come.
Having her path chosen from birth was not what she wished so she took off in pursuit of her research. Her studies brought her to the creation of the fire weapon. A weapon even deadlier than Magic as anyone could wield it.
Back at Selin, the Council of Fates still waits for the return of the Nightingale Chair to take her blood right and help to lead the country.
"No matter what it takes I'll make you survive this!"
The youngest of the twins. She is best known for her carefree attitude, both in life and in battle. Quick-witted and nimble, she will easily disregard whatever rule to reach her goal.
Although Magic is common with elven blood, Allura's is somewhat different, not only is she exclusively attuned to the fire element, but she can also use Shadow. That's not something a spellcaster can learn because it belongs to the Death Realm where the deadly Shadows absorb all remnants of life.
"Time is too precious to use it unwisely."
Prime Minister of Argenveil and the closest figure to King Travald. He became the King's counselor since before the coronation.
He's also the heir of the Hunter's Guild as his mother, Cassandra Hunter, reaches old age. Raised by his mother, Adam was taught who his father was and how he should take what was his by blood right. Adam's goals now encompass both the new metal mines near Khalthorsweg and the search for the Relic of Denwall.
"I will bring back the true King!"
Together with her brother, Ava was taken by the court of former King Gunther as a new High Mage under the teachings of Prime High-wizard Theodor Ezdur. Young as they were, they were considered High-Magic prodigies.
Times rapidly change with the sudden rise to the throne of King Travald and Ava and her brother were taken to the dreaded prison known as The Tower. Years of magical experimentation and torture on her body and soul left her scars that translate into the deep scaring of her face and heart with the dark touch of the Death realm.
Saved by the Resistance she became one of their most trustworthy members and has risen as a true leader among the refugees.
Now she seeks the True King of Argenveil.
"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua." - Allora , 2020
She fell in love when Captain Weintraub rescued her from her former life as merchandise for rich families around. A common fate for "foul-blood" females that survived the purge 30 years before or were born after that chaos.
Carolin has elven blood though only her ears mark her as truly elven. Weintraub took care of that, just like his mother did to him when he was a child: he cut her pointy ears. Her hair covers the scars and without the ears showing, no one can see she's not human. She even left her elven name behind.
Carolin knows she does not belong in Weintraub's heart but she lingers in the hope that their child will keep him close. She also fears that come the chance, she will lose both Hazel and Weintraub to Steiner.
"Sometimes the winds blow hard but you cannot lose focus."
Cairbe hails from the elven country of Selin to join forces with the Resistance. Sharp tongue, quick bow, and a crush on red hair, Cairbe can quickly get into someone's heart and someone's nerves.
With a foot in both countries Cairbe's eyes and ears are most important for the Council of Selin and he's soon able to find out who the Nightingale sisters really are.
"Can't explain Magic. It just... happens!"
Youngest son of the Lentner House. Born at the wrong time, Ernst must keep his ability to control Magic well hidden, even from his family to avoid being taken by the Guard. Only his older brother, Wolfhard, knows about his abilities.
After being openly accused of being a spellcaster, Ernst is forced to leave his family and step into a dark world outside the gates of his sheltered life. Still, he’s a kind, light-hearted spirit who prefers to see the bright side.
"Should it come to it, I would lay my life for him."
Commander John Reed from Ansberg Guard (capital of Argenveil).
Commander Reed was still a young boy when he took the most important mission for Argenveil into his own hands, risking both his life and the future of the country.
30 years later even the Argenveilian Prime Minister Adam Hunter notices his affection for Khaltorsweg City.
"Survival made us use the Law as a cover."
In a world where magic is illegal, Mauss is one of the few authorized Divine Mages of the Kingdom as well also a trustworthy guard.
When Weintraub decided to replace Steiner as the official reporter to Ansberg, Mauss was the first appointed name to come up. He gladly took the place because as it so happens, it was there that a lot of hidden information could be obtained…
...and Reinhard Mauss was also a member of the Resistance.
"The Gods have forgotten us a long time ago so we make do on our own."
Khaltorsweg City Guard's Captain therefore the leader of this city and Mauss and Steiner's chief in command. He entered the Guard at about 10 years of age, not much time before Steiner.
King Travald's campaign against non-humans brought great pain to his life at a very young age yet somehow he managed to pull through and even take advantage of the new regime.
Weintraub and Steiner grew together as orphans adopted by the Guard and the relationship between them grew as they relied on each other for support, to keep their secrets, and to share their love. But as the stakes became higher they started to see the world through different colored lenses as Weintraub started to connect the hidden dots left behind by his father.
"I regret his killing but I don't regret his death."
An old man who lives alone in the Dark Marsh where he moved to before the anti-Magic law was passed. Here, he can still teach Magic to those still born with the skill to use it.
He doesn't speak much about himself or his past but his true nature is shown as we learn he has strong connections with the Resistance.
Theodor is also old enough to remember the old King, Voone's lost gift to Argenveil, the Relic of Denwall, and what happened to them both.
"I lost my first family. I won't lose this one too."
Eldest son of the Lentner House and the heir to the vast heirloom of his family. He was raised to be a businessman and to expand his family's influence as such he is a learned, intelligent, and silver-tongued youth.
Life turned upside down really fast for Wolfhard when his little brother was accused of spellcasting in an anti-magic society. He then had to choose between his family legacy and the life of his brother.
"You can fight for your country even after you leave the army."
Known for being the Captain of the fastest ship in Selin, she is a former knight who decided to take a civilian path after losing most of her family and friends over 30 years ago during the Shadow invasion at Drergred.
Later she met a human soldier still living in Selin after the borders were closed, they married and together they changed their path to the seas.
Darkstorm still remembers the alliance between Selin and Argenveil and the events that took place in the now wasteland of Drergred which led to its dissolution.
"...It's about survival...
Inspired by the bravery of Argenveilian soldiers who fought the threat in Drergred lands, Oliver joined the Guard as soon as able, only to discover that the Guard was becoming something corrupted and a far cry from what the stories told.
Time and civil unrest took all he had left outside the Guard and left him alone in a world of corruption and subterfuge. No longer able to follow distorted rules and morals he decided to leave but in a twist of faith, found himself bound to a new group only this time he was no longer bound by the Law and with far greater pay.
Goddess of Fate, obstacles, and challenges throughout Life. Represents one’s development through Life. She’s the connection between Birth and Death, her children: Voone and Hephaat.
Ilo is praised throughout the entire continent. She’s both respected and feared because of the twists of fate she can suddenly offer. Although considered fair, She will challenge her Chosen to the extreme to show the best in them and thus grant them the fate they wish.
Always represented by a three-headed female (child, adult, and old), the race will change according to the country/kingdom she is found in. She is Selin’s main Goddess since the long elven life gives them more time to face Ilo’s challenges.
Goddess of Death, night, and darkness. The-one-that-comes-in-the-end. Represents the end and opens ways for the rebirth of Voone. Hephaat is present in death, battlefields, slaughterhouses, and every time the end of something has come.
Hephaat is neutral but represents what many people take as evil or bad so most of the time she’s not welcomed. Helligenn, being the realm with the hardest life conditions, has had a close connection to Hephaat for millennia and She became their main goddess. Helligenn rulers are known for keeping pet crows in honor of Hephaat and the Table of Ancestors is presided by 12 Hephaat priestesses along with the living rulers.
Hephaat is known for being the ruler of the Shadow World although no real connection with the Goddess has been found. Her chosen do not have access to that realm and are adamant about keeping that distinction and protecting the Living world from the Shadow world. They were at the forefront of the battle against the shadows in Drergred.
God of Life and light, The-one-that-Iniciates. Present in births and creation, the source of Life and Strength.
Voone is the one that begins life and projects and the last God of the main triad to bless the mortals. Voone is summoned every time a new project, endeavor, crowning, and birth occurs. He’s also prayed to by those who work with discoveries: sailors and explorers, artificers, and mages. Those blessed by Voone are considered bringers of change and are usually known for being innovators. They often grow as outcasts and rarely reach their full potential because they can be easily estranged.
Voone is Argenveil’s main God and the one who chose the country's first King. He chooses the ruler, blessing them with the Relic of Denwall. Voone is usually represented by a flaming sword since that was the appearance of the first Relic.
The sigil of Argenveil was adopted from the Builder’s Guild from where the current King, Travald Graf originated. As he rose to the throne, Travald chose to erase all the remaining symbols and connections to the past and thus a new flag arose from the troubled times that led to his coronation.
Argenveil is, by nature a monarchy. It’s ruled by a king/queen who is chosen not by bloodline but by divine will with the use of the Relic of Denwall. For centuries, since the time of the first chosen of Voone, Denwall, the land has been governed by a chosen of the Relic. The ceremony of presenting the Relic is done to every descendant of the ruler as they are born and year after year, to all of their descendants until either a new heir is chosen by the God or the active ruler dies. If this event occurs before a new heir has been chosen, any who feel the call can be presented to the Relic. As such the bloodline has changed throughout the centuries with new families rising to the throne.
Since this system is a bit unstable and able to elect an unprepared ruler, Argenveil counts on selected representatives of different areas to ensure the new ruler is taught what is necessary to take on the role.
Without the Relic ceremony, there would be no official ruler, and thus, as the Relic of Denwall disappeared a new type of ruler took the throne by ensuring a strong military and political power. This was how King Travald rose to the throne.
A weapon that will only attune to their rightful owner. Carries the name of the first king of Argenveil and it is said it was given by the god Voone himself. It can take the shape most convenient to its rightful heir. This is the reason Voone is represented as a flaming sword as the first Relic took that shape in the hands of Denwall.
The Relic is usually passed down through bloodline as long as Voone accepts the heirs. The heirs can be chosen anytime, even as a baby is born, so there can be two Relic users for a while. But not for long as this is also a sign that the former user is nearing the end of their life. In this case, the relic will change its shape to best fit the strongest heir or the nearest one.
Since the death of King Gunther Wilhelm, the Forsaken, the Relic is nowhere to be found, and no true heir has been chosen. The last time the relic was seen using its full, raw, nature was during the battle against the Shadows at Drergred. It stood above Argenveil’s throne for years and even after King Gunther’s death until disaster struck and enemies of the crown destroyed it 30 years ago.
The Table of Ancestors is a mix between a democratic society and a theocracy in its essence. Three (3) members are elected from the three most important cities of Helligenn and will intervene and decide for their fellow countrymen together with 12 priestesses of Hephaat who are in charge of invoking the 12 Helligenn most powerful and influential ancestors.
Similar to a temple complex, The Table of Ancestors is located under a mountain, in which 12 small temples were built with the remains of Hellien influential ancestors. The priestesses are in charge of these temples and of constantly communicating with the souls of the dead. Through Hephaat’s power, the souls of the dead are locked in these temples and can only manifest through their assigned priestess.
It’s only with the souls of the dead’s attendance that the 3 chosen Hellien can make their decisions.
The 3 half moons represent the 3 heads of the goddess Ilo, Selin’s patron Goddess. The pattern, drawn as a circle is also representative of the magical circles cast by high mages from the Council reminding everyone that Magic is almost innate to elven blood.
Selin is ruled by the Council of Fates. Considered blessed by the goddess Ilo herself the eight ruling families share political, economic, and military powers. The Chairs or, Tsao´ollae, are inherited by blood and blood alone. No other bloodline might sit on the Tsao´ollae. An empty chair, belonging to the ninth family, the Cranes, is a testimony of this. As the bloodline died so did their power.
As such it’s in these families' best interest to keep a pure and healthy bloodline, ensuring that their marriages are well arranged (considering both genes and power). Good breathers are also important and females are encouraged to have many children. On the other hand, females also have priority over the Tsao´ollae. If the firstborn is a female it’s considered a good omen and she will immediately be considered as the next heir. The ruling is passed through the female line considering males only if no other female blood relatives are able.
