Gordoa

History
The Gordoans are a tortured people. Pushed around and mistreated by those who see them only as bloodthirsty monsters. First thrown out of the capital of their nation, then their own city and finally the world they were living in.

The Beginnings
On the Schiffsbruchs islands, somewhere in the uncharted ocean, an old man was washed up on the shore like dozens before him. He however, unlike the others wasn't scared nor confused, he knew why he was here, he knew it all his life, a prophecy he had to fulfil. This legendary figure later will be known only by his title of "The First Born". He waited for years on the islands until what he saw every night would come true. A man was washed up on the shore like many others, like the first born, but this one, this one was special. First Born awaited his arrival and staged events in preparation. The new comer was called Lupus, quickly he was seen by all in the islands capital "Avalon" as a capable leader who could make a difference in the fractured community. This didn't make the powerful towns folk happy. They blamed Lupus for a murder he didn't commit in order to execute him and lower the support for his ideas. The First Born saw this in his visions, month before the incident he has bought ships and employed a group of loyal sailors. He helped Lupus and his supporters to escape the capital, leaving everything behind the group set out westward like the first born saw them do.

Rebirth
Finally after weeks of sailing they reached an isolated island. At first it seemed to be uninhabited but upon closer inspection ancient ruins have been found. The First Born took Lupus inside. No one except the two knew what happened in the slate walls of the temple, but once they came out they were changed. Their hair and skin turned pale, Lupus's eyes changed to a deep red colour, while the first born's to a vibrant orange. The two men seemingly overnight became the most powerful among the island dwellers, being able to tirelessly work for hours. The others asked to receive the same supernatural power and the two leaders granted their wish, creating the first two blood lines, Lupus's line of pride and first born's line of wisdom. This was the birthday of the Gordoan people, celebrated to this day during Ascensionday.

The Empire
The years past, new people fled other city states for the newly established Gordoan empire that spread between half a dozen islands raised out of the sea by ancient rituals to form a man made archipelago. Universities and castles have been built out of the dark slate stone on top of Volcanoes to honour the home grown philosophy of the Kshatrii shabash, now known as Moranas shabash a philosophy within Noxism. The other island states were worried of the new power formed by their undesirables. The demons of the lost woods who bordered Gordoa waged multiple wars on them that all ended in a stalemate, while other powers tried to better their relationship by trade and political marriage.

Times of strife
With their position on the world stage secured and even a non aggression pact signed with lost woods, the empire entered a golden age. The Elders became more numerous, what initially was only two now included five, each with their own bloodline, beliefs and goals. Tensions were high between them as the only sense of unity they had, came from a voluntary curse upon them. Game vanished from the island controlled by the line of Dedication. Their leader, Sword accused their neighbour's from the line of strength of stealing what was rightfully theirs and demanded reparations. Tigrara, the Elder of the accused line, sent her blood furies to steal even more. She reasoned it as being a fair price for the false accusations and if they can't protect their animals from some bandits, it would serve her people better. As their king Lupus and the First one were absent, creating a new Elder, Sword decided to deal with the problem himself. For the next month the archipelago was at war. The lines of Strength and Dedication killed each other without noticing that the mischievous line of Duality was behind all this carnage. Month past when the king of Gordoa returned with the First Born and a newly created Elder. Vincifal the elder of the Guilt blood line, quickly understood what the situation was. He punished the Pale one, leader of the line of Duality and with their immense blood sorcery powers, all six created a bonding ritual, all Ghouls became one family and none of them could raise their hand with ill intent against another from that day and on.

This day is celebrated by a masquerade every ten years. It honours all the Elders and their children and also serves as a day for business, as the entire family gathers in one spot.

The Fall
Out of nowhere, unseen before creatures fell from the sky. They managed to completely eradicate two islands before they could have been fully evacuated. Gordoans first thought that lost woods broke the no aggression pact, again, but the problem was much deeper. All of the Schifsbruchs islands were attacked. After a few weeks leaders of all countries gathered in Avalon to discuss the issue the common folk named the apocalypse. The mages of the islands proposed a ritual at the world tree in the middle of lost woods. A large portal would have to be opened to transport the people thousand kilometres away. However someone would have to stay behind to hold it open. The Demons could live comfortably in the scourged world so they volunteered for the task.

A new beginning and end
The new land was small and crowded with the refugees. Old grudges were still very relevant, so the Gordoans decided to hide deep inside the caverns below the new megapolis, New Avalon. They created a great underground kingdom, right under the noses of their adversaries. Using shapeshifting they had their eyes and ears in every organisation, collecting intel around the clock. Even so they banned flash for consumption and gained more allies, such as the Vulpes Cartel, old enemies organised themselves into a group called "The Gruuns". Gruuns monopolized many labourers groups and tried to push the Gordoans out of business. With the help of the Vulpes cartel, who had lots of contacts and experience in the more, illegal trades, they managed to prosper even though this trying times. This was not to last long however, the Gruuns captured Vincifal, the most compassionate of the Elders. They starved him out to a state of frenzy and released him into the trade district. Most of the populous was furious about the sheer existence of such monsters among them. They picked up pitchforks and torches and destroyed dozens of Gordoan shops and houses. This atrocity will later be called as "the bright night". Not all believed the lies of the Gruuns and sided with the Ghouls in this conflict. Most notable of them would be Nova Belis, the trade princess of the Vulpes Mercatores Cartel, who became the youngest Elder living now, the Elder of Greed. The fights between the two groups were more destructive then the apocalypse that pushed them to live together itself. The Gordoan forces fought fearlessly, but where heavily under numbered and had to retreat to their underground kingdom. The Gruuns payed a dire price for every meter, but at last the fight was in vain as Lupus opened a rift in reality to enter the world between worlds, the library of the lost. While they fled, The Pale one, Nova and Sword with their bloodlines stayed behind to ensure their safety. Many fell this day but at last they heard the signal to retreat, there job has been done.

Beyond the Vale
The Gordoan last stand fell back to the Library of The Lost, but before the rift closed, many Gruuns managed to cross it as well. At some point the fight stopped, as the portal closed itself with the noises of a hundred bells and an agonising screech, that made everyone drop to the ground. The realization washed over the enemies, the fight was over. Nova approached the demoralised people who just a few months ago tortured and called their family monsters. They proposed a truce between the two groups, at least until they come out of The Library and could part ways. It took years and many hardships to get to the point where a new rift could be opened. The two groups managed to some what overcome their differences in order to survive and escape the immaterium, some even founded families with each other and had half blood children. They now understood why the war happened and decided to stick together even after they would find their way out. Forty six died in the library up until this point, as their souls could not escape it, they started to haunt and even kill members of the group. But even worse, the monsters of the Apocalypse which brought them together in New Avalon in the first place where spotted by scouts burning the Library. The Wanderers had nowhere to run this time, so they confronted the Monstrous hordes in fierce battles utilising guerrilla tactics. They where noticed by a forgotten Noxist goddess Morana, she was not powerful enough to cleanse her domain of the monstrosities on her own, so they struck a bargain. She teached them how to collect and use souls of recently past, for the price of devotion and transformation of some mortals to fit her own Goblinoid appearance, one of which was the leader of the group Nova Belis. Souls of the fallen monsters and Wonderers alike where collected into lanterns, Monster souls where used to create soul forged weapons that proved to be invaluable in the fight for the Library. Souls of those Wanderers who passed in the library would never be able to ascend to whatever gods they worshiped, but the once who lived may get a chance to do so further. Once the wanderers would get out, they strapped the lanterns on to tiny balloons so they may roam the world freely. It is tolled that during important events for the people the lanterns return to their survived families to guide them through the darkest times. Once the Monsters where pushed out of the Library, Morana as her last gift opened a Gate for the Group that led to Rathnier, a world she saw fit for her new worshippers.

Strangers in a Strange World
On the other side they found themselves in a giant cave, many panicked thinking that somehow they came back to New Avalon. It couldn't and wasn't the case, the cave was filled with water and wild plants, mushrooms and insects, without a way on to the surface. It truly felt like a new beginning, a similar cave with enough food and resources to build a new home.

Nova Belis became the undisputed leader of the group already in the Library and only confirmed it to be a good choice in their new home, settling disputes and helping their people. The Immigrants decided to name Nova as their Princess and Lady.

Nova named the new Home of their people Hollows' reach. It developed slowly as many parts of the cave had to be stabilised before building. On one of these missions the mining crews discovered a passageway leading to the surface above the city.

Search crews were sent out to find out more about the environment around Hollows reach. A week of anticipation passed, with all citizens on edge. This wasn't only a risky but also a costly expedition. An airship had to be constructed in order to traverse the endless sea above the underground city. It was powered by dried sea pickles, which were surprisingly, a rather good fuel source.

Sword, the expedition leader, reported of ruined fortresses to the south, a left citadel north, wars waged in the west and people freely living eastwards in their walled settlements among dense forests and marshes.

Nova decided to create a Town on top of the tiny island where the cave entrance was set. With massive platforms filled with hardest stone, as the foundation for the shops and homes that would be built for their future visitors.

With the first steps done and more information gained about their neighbour's it was decided to contact Cade the leader of the Floramii people. A delegation was sent out to greet them, however a ship filled with gold, gemstones, sea pickles and a block of a precious metal called netherite was lost to the sea. People say it fell out of the world but these sayings are dismissed as rumours.

The following month Nova and their people were weary of the people outside, they didn't know them personally nor even their races. Nobody was accepted until the walls of the surface city were constructed. And afterwards the mistrust only grew, as a great imperialistic power to the west took city after city, state after state under their control.

A series of new projects was issued: obsidian should be placed inside the cities platforms, more zeppelin's will fly above it, a underground railway, connecting to the nearest Floramian Town and with the help of ancient rituals, chunk after chunk of land was raised by Nova around the town to create agricultural and foresting industries on newly emerged islands.

Cade the Floramii leader visited Nova in the surface Town. They discussed important matters like the tensions between the order Müviel with the Emirate of Najer and the prospect of war or the high upkeep costs of such a big city. The talks went for hours until the moon came out and the beautiful coral reefs surrounding the city started to shine through the water. It is said that this Night the town's more common name was created, Night Water Port.

A few weeks later the city grew, both in size and in population. Nova was more involved in Floramia and the lands surrounding it. They came to the conclusion that both the over-populated order Müviel and the mostly unsettled Floramia would benefit greatly from a unification under two sovereign leaders. They presented this plan to Cade and were surprised to hear not only approval but that he had the same idea. Just a few weeks later the two states United into a greater one, the Simulami Empire.

Nova invited the Müviel people with their leader Zeno Maestro to visit Night Water and Hollows reach, the guests expecting a small backwater Town at the far edge of the Empire were caught by surprise to see massive platforms and giant caverns. Zeno said that he was glad to have such a person like Nova in the young Empire and offered help in the construction of the city.

Sailors discovered a new large landmass quickly named Eldham. Old Empires took the land by storm, creating hundreds of colonies, among them Simulami ones. Nova took the opportunity and one of their zeppelin's, Flying over the sea to new lands, helping the Mörgöd colony and exploring the new lands.

But this times of prosperity did not last, out of arguments between Zeno and Cade a crisis was born. For weeks the unity of Simulami was no longer certain and Night Water was caught in the crossfire with both of the Imperares wanting to have the town on their side. A civil war brock out soon after, both leaders summoned their allies in preparation for conflict. Nova decided that siding with Zeno was the best possible decision to ensure their peoples safety and prosperity. The day of the final fight has come and armies moved out on the Floramian capital of Silva, however it was empty. Seemingly all the defenders left taking everything they could carry, it is said that they died in swamps trying to flee the battle and come back as ghosts to haunt the land surrounding Silva.

The allegiance with Zeno proved to be a boon for all their people. Nova quickly rose to the rank of Grand Advisor influencing the Empires politics they secured favourable deals and alliances with other nations gaining many new friends and contacts such as the Daelyrian merchant Monopolyman. Together the two tried to bring the SC together for the third time which failed, but brought together the leaders of Simulami, Plagathea and Najer together to create the Sapphire Commonwealth, a dominant power on the world stage that held for many month with Nova as one of its high council members.

After the long time of Service the people living in Night Water Port, Hollow´s Reach and the flying town of Skye's End where granted the status of a District within the Simulami Empire, cementing the unity of past enemies now once again known as Gordoans and bringing economic prosperity with many trade restrictions lifted.

To this day Gordoa is a well respected and known part of Rathnier for its trade, strategic location, beauty and one of the last dedicated Noxist communities that builds beautiful temples and holds ceremonies in the name of their goddess saviour Morana.

Gordoan eating habits
The curse upon most of the Gordoans made normal food at best unpleasant, only raw meat is able to satisfy and nourish the cursed. The meat of animals can sustain a so called Ghoul, for a short amount of time, but the flash of sentient beings not only would sustain a Ghoul for much longer, but also gives them the ability to use blood sorcery to a much greater extent.

The Seven blood lines and their elders
Pride - Lupus Lupus,

The one born to rule. The pride of ours, the prophesied king. He embodies our perfection in his best times and our nightmares in his worst. In his blood we all died and been reborn. He is the wolf leading his pack behind the vale. We shall wait for your return, eternally.

Wisdom - The First Born,

Our eldest, he is the prophet. He showed our alpha the way to kingship. The witness of all. The wisest mortal being known to us. He guides our people for seven blood cycles now, none of his words dishonest. We feel you come friend, lent us your wisdom.

Strength - Tigrara,

The fierce gladiator. The jail and warden of demons within. She is our strength, our will to fight for our survival. First Baroness of Roses. The one who will protect our king and our family beyond. The scarlet rose, the beautiful thorn. Protect our people eternally.

Dedication - The Sword,

Sword our greatest Smith, he is not the strongest nor most cunning, but your dedication has no end. He stood with us in the most trying times, always in the vanguard. His artisanship saves countless lives every single day. He is the most crucial cog in our family.

Duality - The pale one,

Our bright friend, the half blooded Ghoul. He embodies what we are and where. His unique blue eyes are stars in the scarlet skies. His rebirth was flawed, but he made it his strength. He is the duality of our unlife. One of the heroes of the last stand, remind us of our selves.

Guilt - Vincefall,

The first among blood sorcerers, our most beloved brother. He took our gilt and swallowed it whole. The one who was kind to all the living and undead. Betrayed and tortured by the once he swore to protect. But still he forgives and helps them to this day. Our kind brother, don't loose your compassion in this strange world.

Greed - Nova,

The pup among the seven. Theirs is our greed. Knowledge, power, passion, their is no thing they do not desire. The first among the lost in this different world. Our temporary leader, the most loyal to our alpha. The silver Fox that waits for their beloved king. Guide us in this trying times.

Official Gordoan holidays
WIP

Day of homecoming

• A small yearly celebration.

• Celebrated within a friend group or family circle.

• It celebrates the day we came to Rathnier.

Ascension day

Annual Crafting bench burning

The masquerade of the seven

• Every 9 years (about three months).

• Honors to the seven blood lines and the respective elders.

• Lots of alcohol and food, the only day meet of the sentient beings is allowed to be consumed.

• Main event is the ball masquerade.

• Auras of the dancers is suppressed by potions and the faces by masks for true anonymity.

• It is the day, for discussions between the entire family, as all gather this day.

Month of blood

• Every 100 years (2 irl years).

• Most important celebration.

• New Ghouls are created.

• Often one new blood line is born.

• The entire month the celebration does not end (a little less than 20 hours)