Voshen

Voshen is the world Sudden Death is set in. Voshen is mostly analogous to middle ages England, with the exceptions being the inhabitants of Mashviatu, the region the story is centered on. Voshen has unique magic and a unique history, both of which are shown in the following story:

> The world of Voshen was nothing. And then it wanted to be something. It sent out a pulse of will, from deep within the planet itself, and it made a request to the universe. "Water." The then-hot planet's surface was cooled, and their thirst was quenched, the universe responding to Voshen's request. As Voshen settled into themself, they felt a longing, a sense of emptiness. So they asked the universe to bring life to their surface. And so yet again, the universe delivered. So now that Voshen's surface was verdant and green, and their oceans deep with water. Voshen made one last request. Animals. Life. Children to roam their surface and experience them in all their glory. To not be so alone. And the universe granted this last request.
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> But then, something interesting happens. Humans. The first people on Voshen's surface, they too had will. They too had requests of the universe. And the universe grew hardened, and less willing to answer requests. The people felt they couldn't farm well, their plants would die. So the universe granted them more water. But here the universe made a mistake. People, plants, animals, they can't survive the impact of a meteor. And Voshen was ruined.
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> So the universe set out a new plan; delegation. Let fractions of universal might do as they want, and return to the universe when finished. So everything was created yet again, and all worked out. Things were fine. Yes, people had petty squabbles, there was bloodshed. Such is life, the universe wouldn't intervene. But, there was an error.
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> The Star of Voshen, Simara, it too had will. But it was *also* of the universe. This combination allowed a part of Simara to break free and act on her own. But, their energy dwindled, radiated out of it in sunlight, and it had to act quick. So Simara went to Voshen and created her own colony. One further from the rest of the world, in a cradle of peace. The little starling didn't know her own power, however, and mistakenly used up much of it on the land, tainting it. She wanted her people to not die as easily, to last through the bloodshed. Maybe then they wouldn't kill, and would try to coexist.
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> The people she created, they were strong and healthy, but, their internal systems moved too quickly and made mistakes. Over time, they mutated, grew pained, weak. And eventually, they become something inhuman, reverting back to their original state, the state of the first people, before they were wiped out. So, the starling, with what little energy she had left, quickly made a new people, using up everything she could before returning to the star. She saw her people as she left. They worked! She wanted to give them the ability to heal one another, but, as her power dwindled and she left the planet, some of her powers were stripped from her people as well. They could heal each other, but instead of the energy coming from her, it came from within the individual. But it was all she could do.
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> Content, she said a single, flaming tear of light, as she returned to the surface of her home, and herself.
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