The Oushivia Tower

The Floating Spire, Land of Theory, Aether’s library and heart of learning.

## History

Much like the Siel of the now Silia De La Notre, the Oushivians were a splinter group of Aramoor having rejected the gods for one reason or another and diverging paths to settle in their own land.

Their journey was littered with harsh danger, from monsters to weather to catastrophic elemental shifts to magic to fauna, the Oushivians were slowly picked off from 600 to 200, with half of those remaining turning back after having their belief in the gods restored due to these disastrous events.

Those that prevailed and endured eventually settled in a desert oasis, but the Oushivia Tower we know today was still a long way off and not even a thought.

The Oushivians split into several pockets of people, Clans if you will, based on differing principles and thoughts on the future.

The **Feohtere** were the largest clan. They believed the gods existed but rejected them, believing them only mere mortals, in this they grew to believe the gods could be conquered and Aether freed from their arrogance and corruption. They focused on combat over all else.

The **Scôlere** were the second largest. They believed the gods did not exist, that all magic and the environment could be explained by science and physics. They focused on knowledge and collecting artefacts to study above all else.

The **Belîfend** were the smallest. They believe in mortal effort being more important than what any gods could provide them, seeing themselves as survivalists and that no deity would aid them, if they existed or not. They focused on building, structure, agriculture and survival.

Each clan hoarded their knowledge and skill, becoming aggressive, fighting and sabotaging for many years against eachother. It wasn’t until the next generation grew up that this new generation sought to bring the clans together, having battled to near extinction, eventually uniting the clans on shared principles such as learning and education, survival and protection above all else.

With some of the greatest minds and wielders of magic in the entire Aether, Oushivia was born and flourished. Building at such a rapid pace that many smaller kingdoms outside the desert took note and tried - and failed - to stop them.

Their speed, magic and knowledge became a terrifying force in such a frighteningly short space of time, within mere years they had built a looming tower that floated in the air. Yet at the same time they build down, crafting a landscape through and under the sand deep below and into the soil.

**Feohtere** became the army and crusaders, **Scôlere** became the magisters, government and teachers, while the **Belîfend** became the builders and crafters.

Historically Oushivia did not take on allies or enemies with other rising kingdoms, being a true source of neutrality that, along with the magic and sheer size of knowledge they acquired, saw them become the favourite location for pilgrimages and wealthy offspring.

The Oushivia - now known as the Oushivia Tower - developed a close relationship with the Occidere Empire, sharing information back and forth. On the other side of the scale, the relationship with Silia de La Notre was terrible, with many believing that if the kingdoms were closer they would have gone to war by now, yet distance keeps them apart.

When the Oushivia Tower became the best place for learning and storing artefacts they attracted more than just pilgrims and wealthy adults, they attracted both good and bad sorts. One of their earliest and most famous scholars was Alburn [REDACTED], born of the **Scôlere**, who’s intellect and talent for magics towered above most of his peers, earning him a reputation through his masterful works and education that saw him rise through the ranks to become one of the highest scholars of the Oushivia Towers Academy.

Whoever, what none new, as per tradition, was that Alburn had become a Magister, a detail only revealed many decades later.

Alburn was the founder of what is now modern Necromancy, being the first known being to discover soul necromancy and use it. He revolutionised magic to such an astounding degree that it made the arcane that came before him look like parlour tricks.

The way in which almost every being uses their magic for the last 500 years can be attributed to his prowess, which many believe to be second only to Circe.

However, such feats did not come without price, Alburns experiments and tactics were barbaric and widely known, countless were used as his pets and almost all suffered for it, all under the disguise that they were serving something greater when in truth, they were serving Alburns insatiable desire for more knowledge.

Alburn, due to his accomplishments, became Arch Magister, leading the Magisters and Oushivia Tower to what it is today. However, Alburn was the first to bring the tradition of government by sabotage.

Assassinations, bribes, sabotage, stealing and more became commonplace within the Magisterial circle as they scrambled for power and vied for Alburns favour, he relished in their squabbling and encouraged it, favouring those of the most creative minds and rewarding them with incredible gifts.

Perhaps rather ominously one day, Alburns name was added to the Oushivian book of the dead with his last name scratched out, having decreed him as the Second Arch Magister, although records of the First Arch Magister were wiped and no other Arch Magisters have been named in the book since, and yet, the Oushivia Tower still has an Arch Magister in play…

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## Government

Oushivia Tower has a Technocracy government, where a group of 15 Magisters are elected based on their intellectual and magical whit, accomplishments, feats, knowledge and capabilities by the singular Arch Magister who sits as judge and guide above the others.

What is more unique about this government is how every Magister and the Arch Magister is totally anonymous, only revealed after death if the family grants permission. Magisters are sworn to secrecy but not by oath or by law, rather out of fear and paranoia.

The government of Oushivia is argueably as dangerous as a battlefield, with treachery, backstabbing, assassination and more rampant in a scramble for the Arch Magisters approval and for thier own benefit. If any slight sign of a Magisters identity is revealed, chances are they won’t live for long, nor would their family.

To aid in being anonymous, the Magisters wear neutral and big gowns, masks and crows, disguising their genders, physical extremities, size, and more, some go to an even further extreme and communicate only via magical letters written in the air or on parchments, refusing to let their voice be heard.

No one even knows who the Arch Magister is, never have they been seen physically, in a gown or not, by another being for hundreds of years. They do not even speak, preferring to give signs of their decree and will or have imps speak for them and deliver their messages.

Yet the Arch Magister does not command, but advise, express their preference and guide the Magisters in all matters.

This Arch Magister has always been elected by the other Magisters, yet no vote has been cast for a very long time, yet no Magister will ever complain, perhaps because they receive extensive boons and gifts for their devotion to their mysterious figure…

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## Society

“Tell your friend a lie.” - Common gesture of affection amongst close companions and associated in Oushivia.

Oushivia’s traditions and customs are not obvious at first glance, requiring a discreet and astute eye to notice that tradition is more modest and academically focused than loud and vibrant.

### Freolstids / Festivals

There are numerous festivals called **Freolstids** revolving around major scientific events and discoveries of the past, these being the loudest Oushivia will ever be on ‘tradition’.

For example, a major holiday is the **Smyltnes Froelstid** which is hosted on the day when the clans first came together and united. This festival is a silent one, quite literally, where individuals will express their appreciation for another through gifts but no words, speech being forbidden unless truly necessary as each Oushivian is expected to take the day to truly appreciate where Oushivia is today and thank their ancestors and science.

It is considered very rude for outsiders to mock or take part in this Froelstid outside of being quiet and appreciating Oushivia as well, becoming an arrestable offence in the last 100 years.

Another, more sinister Freolstid is the **Endung Freolstid**, where middle aged or older members of society will die by fire in a giant display that takes secrets to the grave, quite literally, as well as ending their lifetime on a high note, so as to be remembered for all their contributions than for what Oushivians consider the weakness of old age. Those that take part are widely respected and admired for it, regardless of what their secrets or successes are.

Due to this festival, old age has become a rare sight and often one greeted with wide eyes and judgemental whispers.

Traditions and culture are seen as more of a self indulgence and time of reflection and inspiration more than celebrating, getting drunk or feasting for the sake of it.

Oushivians praise science above all else, with temples to the gods being nonexistent and illegal in public or communal places, only to only be allowed in one's homes.

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### Marriage

Marriage is a fanciful affair and almost never dubbed ‘marriage’. Instead, civil partnerships are the commonplace and called **Wifgrid** (sometimes ‘Wiffy’ in jests and jokes), whereby up to four partners are bound by oath and contract to strengthen the gene pool, share knowledge and secrets as one and serve the will of the Oushivia Tower.

Wifgrids almost never happen out of love, such indulgences being frowned upon unless the partners stand to gain.

Every Wifgrid is presided over by a Magister in a small, familial ceremony where the families of each partner is handed to their newly created family.

Divorce is not a concept most Oushivians understand, the closest is a civil parting or annulment, a rare occurrence that requires a Magister's approval and only under specific circumstances, such as betrayal of blood, oath or secrecy, abandonment or harming one's family.

### Law and Enforcing

Magisters act as judge and jury over all crimes, guided by the Arch Magister. But to get these criminals to the Magisters, the Cavalry is brought in.

**The Cavalry** is a sect of mostly **Feohtere** descendants and as such is often referred to as Feohtere. Rather than acting as a big branch, the Cavalry are more akin to a Guild for private investigators.

At the top of the food chain - but under the Magisters - are the Reeves who mostly do field worlk solo or in small groups, below them are the Private Eyes who are scouts, saboteurs and reconnaissance for a Detective that enlists them.

With their exceptionally secretive tactics, the Cavalry are very effective within the city, but struggle outside of it.

During heavy raids and ambushes, the Cavalry will call in the military.

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## Military

The military of the Oushivia Tower is called **The** **Oufryd**.

All citizens of Oushivia are enlisted after finishing their academics to spend one year in the Oufryd, unless they display exceptional skill elsewhere that would prove useful immediately, otherwise their skills are put to use for the Oufryd.

For many, this is an honour and something to build up to and work towards, furthering the army of Oushivia to be nothing to scoff at.

The Oufryd specialise in aerial combat, but rather than dragon or Griffin back, they take to the skies in magically propelled ‘boats’ and ‘ships’, similar to the Valir.

Balloons and air magic are common in these constructions, resulting in the Oufryd Ships to be made out of wood and light materials, making them deft and extremely agile, yet also well guarded with potent magic.

But the Oufryd do not just take to the air, half these ships are designed to glide across the desert so smoothly they do not disturb the monsters that rely on tremour sensing.

Foot soldiers are uncommon and almost exclusively used for the discretion of the Cavalry.

The Ourfryd can boast something truly unique: automatic projectiles. With the combination of dragon dust, ember eye flowers and Dokkal (Dokkal is explained below in Economy), projectiles of explosive elemental power can be loaded into cannons for quick fire from on board with little effort, resulting in devastating lethality that would make most armies double take.

Truly marvellous engineering, the Oufryd are fast and brutal, most fights with their assistance are over quickly. They serve the purpose of protecting Oushivia from other forces and the various extreme monsters in the desert, crusades for information, artefacts and items and aiding those they share a close bond with.

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## The Grand Oushivia Academy / Schôliaf Arcanis

The Academy of Oushivia is the largest educational site in Aether, spread through half of the colossal spire. All who show a talent or skill are welcome here, regardless of background, religion or origins, so long as their talents are at the beck and call of Oushivia.

It is home to all practices of magic and science, but nowhere will you find religious or Viothistic studies outside of learning folklore.

Necromancy, blood magic and taboo dark arts are somewhat restricted, but nonetheless open to those under a watchful eye.

The Academy is split into several Bureaus based on academic paths, each student can be a part of up to 2 of these Bureaus.

* Ligbryn ‘Flame’ Bureau - specialising in fire, Lava, blacksmithing, crafts, engineering
* Flotweg ‘Aqua’ Bureau - specialising in water, mist, alchemy, brewing, arcane
* Grennes ‘Forest’ Bureau - specialising in plants, growing, jewellery, nature and animals, enchantments
* Lyfthelm ‘Wind’ Bureau - specialising in air, flight, sagecraft, song, healing

To those more advanced students there are two extra branches.

* Scritta Bureau - specialising in necromancy, dark and demonic magic, summoning, sacrifice, cloning, binding, pestilence and Vessix. This Bureau keeps eachother in check under the guidance of the Magisters.
* Este Bureau - specialising in holy magic, religion, summoning, boons, resurrection, healing and Silia.

Only the Magisters choose who is worthy of Scritta or Este, with only those of the highest intelligence and potential chosen.

However, both Scritta and Este are well known for having their own cults that despise each other, engaging in sinister acts to their own gain that the Magisters deny the existence of.

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## Tax

Tax is based on production and engineering, with all those except in the Oufryd and Academy required to pay taxes in the form of production, engineering or knowledge for Oushivia, or money.

This tax system is designed to bring many benefits to those that benefit society the most, with monetary taxes being paid to specific Magisters directly every month who’s job is to collect taxes and organise who gets the discounts.

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## Economy

Oushivia Towers economy consists of several major elements that give the Tower its immense and relatively stable economy of Glimmer.

**Engineering**

By might of production, magical or physical, The Oushivia Tower manufactures and distributes their created marvels to kingdoms of their choosing who seek them.

Some of their largest exports of engineering are:

* Magic based lights seen and used throughout Aether, one of their biggest exports, if not the biggest.
* Recycling, of which they discovered, mastered and marketed. Whether being paid to take in goods from across the Aether en mass to be recycled, then to ship back out the recycled goods for whatever purpose, or being paid to share their engineering for recycling chains.
* Cages, chains and other means of confining creatures great and small, their confines being known as the most secure and greatest in the land and often being custom or bulk ordered. An example of this is the bars of divine used to confine Wremona in the dungeons of Aramoor.

### Overseers

Oushivia even finds great sources of income from sending advisors, students and master crafters across the aether to create, advise and oversee projects to the highest standard.

These advisors are almost always called Overseers.

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### Dust / Dokkal

A mysterious invention that appeared in the last 100 years from The Oushivia Tower, Dokkal is a brand new element whose means of creation is kept a heavily guarded secret by Magisters. Attempts to uncover its origin will only find that this dust is raw, vast and unstable magic confined by unknown means into such a tiny space that makes it appear like glittering dust, hence its name.

This raw magical dust can be used to give powers to otherwise dull weapons or items, it can be used in alchemy and the creation of various bombs, or even in the use of containment. The uses of Dust seem to be limitless.

The only downsides are the relatively high prices for a small quantity that can only be afforded on a middle class budget at minimum; the fact Dust needs to be replenished for enchantments to continue working as it is consumed with each use; and how unstable Dust can be, for example, magical weapons may backfire more frequently, release too much power or too little, or dust could get mixed up and become lethal if too many variants of dust are allowed to combine.

The upsides to Dust are the immense power they emit and their versatility, making them a favourite amongst the Oufryd and Cavalry who seem to have little issue, likely because they are served with the more stable Dokkal.

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## Clothing

The peak of Oushivian fashion is sleek and slender, with sharp edges and clear lines and little to no patterns. This style of fashion is usually made of linen and cotton, silk and velvet and is easily affordable due to its simplicity, making discerning the classes of lower class and up by fashion an almost impossible task.

Those of a lower class are usually discernible by how they care not for fashion, rather choosing what is most comfortable and will protect them best against the heat of Oushivia.

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## Religion

Oushivia’s view on Viothism are skeptical at best, they do not follow the orthodox Viothism of Silia De aka Notre. Instead, Oushivians believe in science over the might of certain individuals, with some believing these ‘gods’ to be mere mortals with exceptional skill, or simply to not exist at all.

Worship is illegal in public spaces, as such no churches to any religion are allowed within the Oushivia Tower, but private praying and worship is allowed in one's own homes.

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## Climate

Oushivias climate is best deprived as stagnant. Despite living in an oasis, they are still subject to the whims of the desert.

Summer is the dominant season, with only hints of spring and autumn for the remaining few months.

Temperatures can soar well into 30 Celsius during the day, dropping to -20 Celsius every night, with only mild deviations during spring and autumn.

Oushivia has never experienced settled snow, having only light mists if rain is to ever fall at night, however rain is infrequent here, with most of the oasis thriving off the natural gigantic reservoirs that can be found underground, bubbling to the surface in scenic pools that many visitors to the oasis describe as “straight from Silia”.

Dust storms are common, threatening to envelope the oasis even when the first clans arrived. It is only magical engineering that protects this paradise that protects so many rare species and peoples.

Besides the dust storm threats, wild beasts that lurk in the sand, venomous bugs in the bushes and trees, and wild heat, Oushivia and it’s oasis is safe and snug at the centre of the Gholkin Desert, a 15 thousand miles away from Aramoor.

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**Created by Impy**

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