Volis

**Volis**, also known as **The Broken Planet**, is a world that was long ago shattered by a apocalyptic event, resulting with the remaining livable areas of the world being restricted to floating islands. The largest of the floating continents are known as Terra, Ignis, Aqua, and Ventus.

## Geography

Volis is divided up into four main floating continents, with one being comprised of a cluster of islands. The continent of Terra is the largest concentration of ores and precious metals left on the world. Aqua is home to the largest freshwater reserve left on the planet and supplies the watering needs of the world. Ignis is home to volcanic ranges and is the resting place of the Eternal Flame, an ever burning flame left by one of the Gods. Ventus is the cluster of islands, and home to the riptide winds, dangerous winds that carry the currents of air across the whole world.

Below the continents is known as **The World Below**, and is a constant swirling mess of chaotic firestorms, lava eruptions, and ground quakes. It is considered suicide to attempt to travel down there, and none who have tried have been known to return. The constant chaos of the world below belched an endless cloud of debris into the skies, creating a layer of dark clouds that hide the destruction of the old world from those on the upper world, and many are thankful to not have to see the constant reminder of the fate of the old world.

## A World Shattered

Long ago, the planet of Volis was a paradise, verdant and bountiful in resources. This abundance of life is what attracted the attention of **Atropus**, **the World Born Dead**. It is anti-life, and seeks to utterly destroy all life in the multiverse before it too can become one with the Great Void. Eventually, the scholars of Volis discovered the movement of Atropus, and knew it's course would bring it into contact with the world, killing all life. To that end, all the shcolars, mages, and clerics of the world gathered together and joined their considerable might to try and repulse the planet before it could destroy the world.

In the end, all their power was not enough, as Atropus sent his agents ahead to prepare the world for his arrival. Doomsday cults and monsters beyond imagining rose up and challenged those attempting to stop the dead world. As the end loomed near, one last resort was used. All the Gods of Volis united their power and funneled their combined might into a singular being: the Tarrasque. The power channeled into this pure engine of destruction allowed the beast to challenge Atropus and repulse the creature in a massive explosion of arcane power. This event caused many things to happen. First, Atropus currently believes this world is dead, destroyed by the release of their combined powers. Second, this event caused the destruction of the known world, and the destruction of the Tarrasque itself. The livable areas of the world are now restricted to the great land masses that float high in the sky, a last act of the Gods before their destruction by Atopus' power. Because of this event, the Gods of the world are considered dead, as such, only an echo of their power is felt by their Clerics.

## A Hard Life

Initially, life on Volis was difficult, the survivors of the end of the world found it hard to live on the meager resources available. Many died of starvation and disease brought on by the changed world. Wild magic stormed across the world, resulting in Arcana Storms, which could unleash everything from Fey magic to Necrotic destruction. Eventually, the survivors of this change hardened themselves and adapted to life on this new world. With the Gods now dead or silent, the people turned away from the divine ways, and sought other means to live.

Eventually, this lead to advances in technology. Now great airships move between the floating lands, ferrying supplies to the different people of Volis. The people settled and began new lives across Volis, fiercely protecting the resources left on the world. The dwarves and dragonborn settled on Terra, the Elves and Gnomes took to Aqua, the humans and halflings took to Ignis, with the other races scattered around the world in smaller settlements.

## Religion

Religion on Volis is simple and straight forward, people may often swear by the Silent Gods, or the Dead Gods, but most of the worship seen is towards the elemental power that keeps the world alive. Prayers are often eliciting the elements ("May the Air you breath be ever fresh." or "May the fire warm your body and home.", etc).

There are some who still keep to the old ways, worshipping their gods, and can tap into an echo of that power. But it is fleeting and hard to maintain, as the God is not there to hear the prayers of their worshippers. There are ancient shrines to the Gods that the clerics and others pray at, hoping to one day again hear their Gods. However, most of the information on the Gods were lost to the destruction of the Old World, as such most of what is known was passed through oral tradition and with the struggle to survive, many things may have been passed down wrong.