Altered City of Atlas

The **Altered City of Atlas** is a version of the Holy City of Atlas in an alternate reality of Io, on which some campaigns in the World of Io take place. When the gods were slain in a cosmic event of great significance, this altered reality was connected to Io's prime reality through the power of an unknown force called the Black Star. This floating city acts as a hub for Io's most powerful adventurers, allowing them to connect with one another and make homes for themselves if they so wish.

## Appearance

The Altered City is a floating island above the clouds. Much of it is the immediate center of the city, with several houses clustered together on either side of the Main Street. The area is decorated with several lines of trees parallel to the street. At the end of the road lies the Altered Chapel, which appears to be a majestic towering structure. However, the chapel is surrounded by a strange aura that distorts and discolors it compared to its surroundings, as a consequence of housing the Black Star.

## History

In this reality, much of the events of the Fallen Heroes' journey were identical to that in the Prime Reality. However, rather than the Heroes succeeding, they were defeated by DIV and VOID during their conflict. This lead to the planet of Io being destroyed in its entirety. However, several of the cities of Io, such as Atlas and Alabaster, rose up into the sky by unknown means. These new floating cities became the last refuges for the people of Io.

However, for this reality, something unexpected came into play. Through the power of a mysterious force called the place star, eight individuals identical to that of the Fallen Heroes arrived in the Altered City. Shortly afterwards, a strange blue-skinned individual named Lagos also came into town. He took custody of the Heroes of the Sky (as the eight had been named) and held them in the Altered Chapel, where he began to experiment on them and the Black Star phenomenon.

## Notable Locations

### The Gateway

The Gateway to the Altered City exists in a odd space. A rocky cavern with no discernable entryway bar a giant set of ornate stone doors, it appears that this gateway exists in a space between the Prime Reality and the Altered City.

### The Main Street

The Main Street of the Altered City is a broad paved promenade with housing and trees on either side. Wanders of the city can find two notable features on this street. One is the diligent blacksmith Manda, a lycanthrope who has lived multiple alternate lifetimes through the magics of the Black Star. Her forge is a frequent place to visit for adventurers. Behind her is a staircase leading down to the Magi's hut, the home of an eccentric merchant with a penchant for stories and shenanigans.

### The Altered Chapel

The Altered Chapel is unmissable, a enormous finely crafted building that once housed High Pope of Atlas, Bathlazar. Now it has been transformed. It appears to be almost photonegative in appearance, surrounded by the trademark black and white hues of the Black Star within. Inside the magnificent chapel is the Chamber of the Eight, a large room containing eight glass pillars, four on each side. The entrance is flanked by statues to the former gods DIV and VOID. Meanwhile, in the centre of the room lingers the core of the enigmatic singularity called the Black Star.

### The Library

The Altered Library of Atlas exists separately to the main city, floating some several 100's of yards away, a vast building that houses a great deal of knowledge and danger.

## Campaigns

The following campaigns and events take place on the Altered City of Atlas.

# **Nigel's Fate**

## Mechanics

*Main article: Technical Details*

The world of Io is a heavily homebrewed setting with many experimental mechanics working at the same time. As an example, there are mechanics that apply only to certain campaigns, and there are mechanics that can be or are shared between multiple campaigns.

## Etymology

The word "altered" is used to describe something that has been changed or modified in some way.

Atlas is the name of a Titan from Greek Mythology, the son of Iapetus and brother of Prometheus and Epimetheus. After being defeated in the Titanomachy, Atlas was sentenced by the Olympians to hold up the sky on his back for all eternity, earning the moniker *Atlas Telamon*. In his encounter with Hercules, Atlas passes his burden temporarily to the atoning hero for his aid in completing one of his Twelve Labors, only to shoulder the sky once again (though in some versions, he is freed from his torment).

## Trivia

* The Altered City of Atlas first appeared in the campaign "Chamber of the Eight". Since it's initial appearance, it has served as a hub city for the various parties of heroes roaming Io, allowing them to meet and assist one another on their adventures.