Midastead

## History

Our great antediluvian capital of Midasted has been desecrated by several Vhardic raids on 0 A.K (After King), led by Mirver II or Drinþer II. Our Sovereign king, renowned for his great rule, was murdered in his palace, according to whom the calendar system is based on. What followed in the capital was an epidemic of thievery and selfishness among those who survived what is now called The Great Raid. Due to the degregating situation people started committing more evil acts amongst themselves and became increasingly evil, partially as a result of a profound lack of food and amenities. The situation deteriorated for about a year until it reached a boiling point.

The Princes were forced to flee the Desecrated city from the evil, but they also needed to raise an army to repel the continuing Vardhic raids. Before they left, they sealed the tomb of the king to keep his burial site safe, but the King's Scepter managed to get stolen before that. Many people followed in an exodus to the countryside. Complete chaos and anarchy reigned in the city. A few weeks later, soldiers came in to restore order. Midastead was found completely abandoned; no blood, no bodies, not a dead soul. No one left the city by road or any other earthly way. When the soldiers rested within the city for the night horrible shrieks and cries for help were heard all around the town. In the morning no one was found. For all these years an evil presence lurks within the town's walls, palace and streets.

Nowdays, the abandoned city of Midastead is still the nucleous of the country. It is surrounded by villages who farm food (related to Religion). Trade is limited due to the relatively isolated location of The Petty Kingdom, but several towns do exist on the fringes.

## Religion

The city of Midastead became increasingly dilapidated over time but none the less, people came there during the day to pray from dawn to dusk in the temple's halls. The old religions, now long-forgotten, have been replaced by spirit-worship (denounced by the state) and The Cleansers (who wish to purify the city of the evil spirit). Other religions have also taken places of worship in the town due to a strong magical aura. However, what both religions have mutual s the ritual of depositing grain in the town. The legend says that giving food to the horror which lurks in the town at night will prevent it from venturing outside to consume flesh. Any grain deposited in the town disappears the next night. It is unknown if this has any effect.

A relevant organization named "The Esoteric Order of Midastead" strives to comprehend this phenomenon using facts and logic, not attributing it to a deity. This organization is directly sponsored by the Prince-Regency.

## Government

Our Sovereign king was murdered in his palace during the desecration by the marauding raiders and now only a princely elective remains to rule. No single ruler dares to usurp the position of the dead king. Thus the direct descendants of the king all rule together, both male or female. The Kingdom of Midastead was accordingly renamed to the Petty Kingdom of Midastead. It is said that the King rules from his tomb still and that the Prince-regents merely act out his divine will. Outside the cities walls great monuments are built by each new prince regent of the great king to honour his great legacy and prestige. This is more than a custom - it has become an unwritten requirement to become one in the princely elective.

## Architecture

The buildings in Midastead are mostly comprised of great stone blocks and are serval stories tall. Some streets slope downward and carve into the ground beneath, giving great streets which are in their own respect ravines. Buildings of the same style are carved into the rockface there. Large sections of this parts of Midastead are now flooded.

## The Seeking Wraiths

In the year 433 A.K., a great drought and famine struck The Petty Kingdom of Midastead. The yearly offering could not be made as there was even not enough food for the nobility. Visitors to Midastead reported an increasing opressive aura in the city, as if something was not only lurking during the day, but reaching out. The unsafe area around the City increased and several of the nearest villages were devoured. Several wraiths ventured into the world, called "The Seeking Wraiths". This event is called "Quadruple Spirit Exodus" by the Esoteric Order of Midastead. According to legend, these spirits, although apparently initially looking for food, found wonders of gold and wealth. They did not return to the city so that they may have all the world's wealth for themselves. Another story claims that these wraiths are merely aspects or shards of a single wraith inside the City, although this is a far less common belief.

They now scour the world for gold. This was the first time where someone saw the effect of wraiths and lived to speak of it. During night, their movement was seen in the form of bushes rustling, windows breaking and living creatures feeling fear when nearby for an indeterminable reason. The wraith itself had no perceptible shape or matter, only a fuzzy halo was seen when looking through it. Furthermore, a feeling of coldness was sensed when in the imminent vicinity of the the spirit. During day, no sign of them was present in the least, as if they disappeared to another domain (theory proposed by The Esoteric Order of Midastead). Victims of the wraiths were seen initially fully enveloped by the fuzzy presence and unable to move. Then, a series of talon-like wounds struck rapidly and split the victims into flesh-pieces. Then a corrosion of sort affected the remaining flesh, removing any trace of the victims.

## Ethnicity and race

The general populace comprises mostly of regular men. However, those which stayed in the city after the evil took hold, are all affected. Most of the nobility left quite early and were unaffected. Affected nobility were stripped of rank. Those which were affected are known by their low stature, eyes yellow as gold, exceeding greed and manipulative nature. Affected ones are banned from governmental positions and government employment. However, they often become parts of trade companies and emigrate outside to seek profit. They are considered a menace by some.

## The Magical Nexus

It has been theorized and proven by The Esoteric Order of Midastead that there is a very strong magical field in Midastead, or somewhere nearby. Esoteric knowledge obtained from traveling mysterious traders clad in black in exchange for our collected knowledge of history and the world. They were also allowed to analyze a magical artifact, the King's Scepter. Knowledge and information from the mysterious traders indicates this may be a Magical Nexus, perhaps the reason the evil manifested the wraiths.

## Artifacts

* King's Scepter - stolen by the mobs before the King's tomb was sealed. Persons around it with ambitions to usurp the rightful ruler of a nation will convert into one of The Affected.

## Folk Tales

* King's Tomb - Legend speaks that the tomb of the king, in which large quantities of gold are sealed, must remain closed to keep the spirits out. It is commonly believed that such an event would result in a calamity. Here the stories vary, ranging from the wraiths becoming obsessed with gold and venturing out to seek for more, or the King's body being desecrated and the Petty Kingdom thus collapsing as his divine will would lose contact with the earthly domain.