Cressida

Cressida is an Island formed in the aftermath of the Titan’s fall. It has remained mostly undisturbed for much of its history, offering shelter to those requiring it and refuting those who would abuse it's natural magical gifts.
It currently resides in the Nemec Sea.
== History and Timeline ==
=== The Titan Eser (Eons Ago) ===
As the Gods began their siege of the world they created the Titans, a race of powerful beings to act as their personal guards. The Titans’ existence was short-lived however, as the Gods grew paranoid the Titans would rebel against their creators like they themselves had against Nature. As such, the Gods erased the Titans from existence, leaving only their powerful weapons behind. As he faded, the Titan known as Eser stabbed his mighty Reality Sword into the earth beneath him. The sword, having the ability to tear holes between the Overworld and the Nether, rippled out a surge of power so intense that it separated the shores around it from the mainland. This entire chunk of land floated out to sea and was the beginning of the Island (later known as Cressida).
Sometime after, the Island formed a triad with two other islands (Artemsia and Reiddosa). It’s uncertain how or why, but the placement of these three islands in proximity of each other allowed them to bond and amplify their pure, untouched magical energy.
=== An End is the Beginning ===
There were many powerful beings in the early era of the universe, one of which was a spirit that embodied all things frosty and cold. This spirit, old and tired, wished for nothing more than to fade away and know peace. They were drawn to the islands because of their power, like beacons shining in an endless night. The spirit chose Cressida as their final resting place, and it’s there that they finally allowed death in. The spirit's energy sank deep into the earth and formed a tree of ice and snow, a tall and sprawling monument to the entity that just left this world behind.
This influence of this tree and the power that created it was felt on all three islands. The old spirit was formed from the primordial soup of the universe, and thus its power was near equivalent to the Gods themselves. The effects of that power now belonging to the islands would be felt for millennia to come.
=== Shi Song’s Army and the Reality Sword ===
Shi Song was an ancient dictator who wanted to rule the mortal world. He dreamed of being second in power only to the Gods themselves. During his reign of terror, he and his people accidentally discovered the Island. It didn’t take long for this man, corrupt and evil but with a scholarly side, to realize what the Reality Sword was—and what it meant for his growing empire. In response he brought his entire armada to the Island to help harness the sword’s power.
However, things didn’t work out for Shi Song, because when he tried to touch the sword and absorb its power it instead looked into his soul, and crystalized him. Shi Song and his entire army were all crystal statues, sparkling and beautiful, and now lost to time.
Long after his empire disintegrated, Shi Song’s story became one of myth. Stories told of a powerful conqueror whose entire empire vanished over the horizons.
=== Icky, Sticky, and Ba ===
At some time, an unknown group used the Island as grounds for a ritual. The exact nature of the ritual isn’t entirely clear, but what is known is that the ancient spirits Icky, Sticky, and Ba were bound and trapped into statues to harness their powers. After the ritual was complete this group left, leaving the three spirits trapped in stone form. They remain there to this day, bickering amongst themselves and enjoying the occasional picnic with Lyra.
The hill that Icky, Sticky, and Ba reside on is one of the most powerful magical spots on the Island, with tendrils of magic consistently swirling above their heads.
=== The Sersian Empire (6190 BG) ===
The Sersian Empire established a colony on the Island in 6190 BG. They named the Island Cressida and the two nearing islands Artemsia and Reiddosa. Known for their clean lines and quartz architecture, the Sersians built large and lavish structures to mark their new territory. They mined away the crystalized statues of Shi Song’s army and used them as decorations in their architecture.
The reason for the Sersians coming to Cressida was no different than the few others before them: They wanted power. With this goal in mind, they created the Sersian Superweapon, an orb with the potential to channel Cressida’s magic into a devastating laser.
When the Superweapon was first activated, it went rogue immediately. The Island’s power overwhelmed the machine and created a storm of pure untamed magic that ripped the Sersian colony apart. With their entire operation in ruin, the surviving Sersians fled the Islands and deemed the whole venture a failure.
=== Marcus, Peach, and Margaret (103 BG) ===
Marcus Rainier and Peach Hudson were born to two warring families, the most powerful of their era. Star-crossed lovers, they didn’t care about family and legacy and fortune, they only wanted each other. They wanted a happy life together that they could never have. And so they met in secret, using city trains to avoid watchful gazes. The train car Margaret, from the oldest train still in operation, became their private getaway.
One day, while the two were canoodling in their own little world, the train went through a tunnel. When it came out the other side, the Margaret car was gone. The tunnels were extensively searched, the thought being the car had accidentally disconnected somewhere on the line, but it was never found.
Peach and Marcus were confused by their sudden appearance on a far-off island, but they embraced that strangeness. They had no answers, and frankly, they didn’t want them. They could finally be together and that’s all that mattered! They spent the rest of their lives on Cressida, happy and just as in-love as when they first met as kids.
Their disappearance, however, led to the largest war of the Old World. The families, deeply faithful to different Gods, blamed each other for the missing pair. Certain of the other family’s guilt, a civil war broke out in the city that stretched many years. As the members of the families died off, the war took on heavier religious tones, its original purpose being twisted and forgotten, and eventually it became a war to claim the One True God.
This war decimated so much of mortal civilization that the Gods, fearing they’d have nothing left to rule, stepped in, reuniting what was left of humanity. This event changed the course of history, even affecting the count of the yearly calendars (BG, Before the Gods, and AG, After the Gods), all while Peach and Marcus remained blissfully unaware of their impact.
The smallest things can have the largest ripples.
=== Lyra of Mirstone (2471 AG) ===
The Islands revealed themselves to Lyra, Nova, and Rynni when they needed them most. The Islands became their refuge from the watchful eyes of the Gods and their Demigod children. Since the trio received their powers from the same source as the Gods, the Runestones kept the islands hidden from them too. Apparently the all-powerful protection magic couldn’t differentiate the trio from the Gods, and only did now because of new context.
Lyra felt the strongest connection to the magic on Cressida, so that’s where they decided to stay. They built a house on the far North-Eastern shore of the island and began delving into the rich history of their new home. Making fast friends with Icky, Sticky, and Ba, they told Lyra all that they’d seen over the millennia—and there was a lot.
As Lyra spent more time on Cressida, expanding their home and establishing roots, they began to feel like this place was their one true home. They hadn’t had one since their daughter died centuries before, and it was nice to finally stay in one place. Eventually Lyra began to see the islands for what they were: Living entities in their own right, and 
=== The Pirate and the Orphan (3322-3611 AG) ===
Casper Branning, infamously known as Captain Pinkbeard, was known for his showboating style and refusal to kill others unless it was self-defense. His ship, The Wicked Folly, struck fear into the hearts of the rich, it’s bright pink flags a final “fuck you” to its victims as it sailed away.
Branning was a controversial figure in his glory days, with some admiring his honor among thieves and others condemning him for his acts of piracy.
During a storm at sea in 3322 AG, The Wicked Folly was abandoned by its crew, all except for Pinkbeard, who stayed onboard to try and sail through the chaos. The crashing tides pushed the ship onto the shores of Cressida, damaging the hull beyond repair and grounding it forever.After a short feud with Lyra, the two became friends and Casper built a small house on the shores beside his ship. He stayed there for the rest of his life, and The Wicked Folly remains as a permanent fixture on the island.
In 3559 AG, a girl named Mirabel washed up on shore after her boat capsized. She also settled on the island, taken by its wonder and whimsy, and she and Lyra built a small house for her on the Western hills.
=== The Heart of the Island ===
At the center of Cressida was a cave system used by Lyra to redirect magic to the Heart, a crystal safely tucked away in a pocket dimension made of pure magic. The Heart served as the conduit for the planned Binding Spell against the Gods, with it amplifying the island’s natural magic. The Heart was created using the same crystals the Sersians harvested from Shi Song’s army, who found their natural ability to interact with magic very useful. The Heart was constructed with the same principal the Sersians used in their failed attempts at a superweapon, but this time for something good.
=== ... And One to Free the World (4322 AG) ===
In 4322 AG, Lyra activated the Heart, which resulted in the magic of the Runestones being bypassed and the Gods arriving on Cressida. The Runestones were destroyed in this process. The following event would never truly be known by the greater universe, but the actions taken resulted in the world being freed of the Gods and their conceited reign.
Now mortal, the former Gods and their children slowly dispersed from Cressida.
Lyra continues to live their human life on Cressida with their husband and three children.
== Other Locations ==
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Animal Valley 	A large valley at the base of Icky, Sticky, and Ba's hill. It's open, with several ponds and food sources. The animals on Cressida can come and go as they please. 	
Central Spire 	This spire served as the hub for all operations run by the Sersian Empire. It was destroyed in 6193 BG by the storm created from their own Superweapon. 	
Hall of Records 	The Sersians kept detailed records of their exploits on Cressida within this structure. All files within were either destroyed the storm or weathered away by time. 	
Homing Beacon 	This tower was built using the same technology as the Superweapon, intended to bypass the magic of the Runestones so the main Sersian Empire could track the island. When the storm forced the Sersians out, the Beacon was damaged along with the tower. In the millennia since the Beacon has kept drawing power, but acts only as decoration, it's main functionality lost.	
Lyra's Farm 	Lyra built this so they wouldn't starve. Exotic fruit trees can only get you so far. 	
Lyra's Storage 	Lyra's storage, located inside a hill in front of their house. 	
1st Runestone 	The first Runestone to be formed from Cressida's magic. This stone and it's five sisters acted as a natural protection for the island, using magic to shield it from the Gods. It resided on the Isle of Dominion and was ultimately destroyed by the God Consol in 4322 AG. 	
2nd Runestone 	This stone resided on the Isle of Ramora and was destroyed in 4322 AG. 	
3rd Runestone 	This stone resided on the Isle of Dminny and was destroyed in 4322 AG. 	
4th Runestone 	This stone resided on the Isle of Maskai and was destroyed in 4322 AG. 	
5th Runestone 	This stone resided on the Isle of Valaska and was destroyed in 4322 AG. 	
6th Runestone 	This stone resided on the Isle of Wallsey and was destroyed in 4322 AG. 	
Sersian Superweapon	The machine created by the Sersians. The crystal inside absorbed nearby magic and the orb honed it into a beam. The earth beneath is scorched and scarred from when the weapon lashed out in 6193 BG. 	
Tunnel of Love 	Built by Lyra to connect the Animal Valley and the Farms, back when they thought they'd walking more. 	
Unknown Statue 	A statue with no time markers. Not even Icky, Sticky, and Ba know much about it. It just exists. It was later used by Lyra as the secret entrance to The Heart. 	
==Sentience==
The Islands, but especially Cressida, have their own form of consciousness that manifests in the island defending itself or rejecting those it deems unworthy. It's very clear the island acts as a refuge of sorts, and anyone who tries to abuse that ends up punished (Shi Song and his army; the Sersian Empire). The Islands can also reveal themselves to certain people who need them most, like Marcus and Peach; Lyra, Casper, and Mirabel. It’s unclear how or why the Island chooses these people or why it happens so infrequently, but all were examples of people who had no other choices.
This sentience is also responsible for the slow rate of decay on the island. Structures that were built thousands and thousands of years prior remain in a fair state considering their age. Time doesn't follow regular rules here.
==Trivia==
*Icky, Sticky, and Ba once knew the ice spirit that came to Cressida to die. They don't remember much, but say the spirit "was a pretentious old fuck."