Magmus Ridge

Fumes choke the dimly lit forge, its sulfurous stench clinging to cloth and hair as the magma beltches its rebuke. Forearms singed with golden fire, the bladesmith strikes his steel, the dull orange light spilling forth from the anvil like water from a spring. A blade to strike the angels down. Lying on the southern peninsula of the eastern continent, the infernal peaks of Magmus Ridge are regarded with both reverence and caution. This is largely due to the fact that Magmus ridge is one of the few, if not one of the sole, places where the first races of Cier have survived to modern day, culture and all intact. In fact, the culture of Magnus ridge is so far foreign and diverse relative to the other regions of Cier, the eons old traditions seem alien in comparison.

Legend has it that the ancestors of modern day Magmians resisted the Seraphic subjugation of lesser races during the Seraph-Somniatic war over 2000 years ago, in what was so-called “The War of Severed Wings”. These one sided massacres would drive Magmians to the edge of extinction, leaving kingdoms dead in their wake. However, it is said that during the final days of the war, as the Seraphs were closing in, the ancient races slayed a true Seraph, piercing their heart with a blade of smoke. In this singular clash the lesser races exposed Seraphic mortality, striking fear into the Seraph ranks and forcing their retreat. To this day, the Magmians still bear a lasting grudge towards angelic races for the crimes committed by the Seraphs, mourning the thousands slayed in their name.

Geography

Stretching along the South-Western border of the eastern continent, the Magmus ridge is a long series of volcanically active mountain ranges, arcing down where the last of its peaks terminate in the Magmian isles. Once home to a plethora of exotic birds, trees and fruits, the Downfall’s drastic shift in the environment caused large swathes of life to go extinct, surviving only where traders had ferried them to foreign soil. The enduring wild life that survived the shift in climate adapted to their new fire-touched, ash-choked home, giving birth to heat resistant wildlife and flora. From candle wings and sulfur blooms, a local Magmian can sufficiently thrive off this burning hellscape.

Architecture

Drifting over the flows of searing magma, Magmian pontoons and small trade ships continue their travels built with blackened stone and steel. The locals have learned to fear and respect these powerful rivers of molten rock that snake around their homeland. Underground, the winding lava tunnels open up to a large underground Magmian civilization, the heat of the magma licking the massive metal supports that provide stability to the caverns. The cities are a dense labyrinth of bridges, lakes, and stone. One can sometimes spot a local Magmian using domesticated lava beasts to help with construction, transportation and even entertainment such as pontoon races through the molten rivers.

Technology / Wealth / RICE

While Magmus does have access to RICE, their main export is actually a rare crystal exclusive to the region called Ecirite. More commonly known as Black Diamond, this material has the unique property of magic resistance that can only be brought out using specialized lava forges that are hot enough to super-heat and melt the resilient crystal. The melted Ecirite is then mixed with different metals and forging techniques to form a crystal-steel alloy that is pitch black in colour, and slightly translucent. Properly forged Ecirite armors, weapons, and materials, are known to dampen, absorb, or deflect even the most powerful magical attacks, making them highly valuable and sought out to warriors wanting to defeat wizards or mages.

People and Culture

When the volcanoes first erupted and destroyed their homes, most of the inhabitants fled Magmus ridge. The few that remained adapted and evolved to embrace their scorched home of fire and flames, living with a deep respect and reverence for the volcanoes. Having survived some of the most terrible wars and natural disasters, the Magmians pride themselves on their perseverance and independence, oft to the extent where it becomes a large point of contention in both foreign affairs and bar room talk.

Many years ago the people of Magmus Ridge once had a friendly relationship with their neighboring regions such as Kaihon, but the Magmians were largely left abandoned when they dared to push back against Seraphic rule, sparking The War of Severed Wings. When most others submitted to the Seraph’s rule, the Magmians stood firm in defending their land, culture, and way of life. Now the people of Magmus Ridge have grown emboldened by their victory from the war, becoming fiercely independent and self-sufficient from other regions.

Government/Religion

The Magmians consist of many small groups and factions sharing the same territory. Although these factions are mostly self-governed, they are strongly united over their combined struggle fighting the Seraphs. As one of the oldest standing races of dwarves, it’s rare for Magmians to feud against one another.

Instead of practicing Seraphism or Systemism like most regions in Cier, Magmians only answer to the spirits of their land, as it has always provided throughout their history. Although the volcanoes destroyed their homes, it also provided the resources they needed to defend their land against the Seraphs and evolve into a tenacious race of survivors. The spirit of the volcanoes remains to be a symbol of power, destruction, and rebirth.

There is no shortage of Magmian folk tales that are told amongst the locals. It is said the volcanic mountain range was formed when the great stone serpent was flayed open by the gods for swallowing a fire cierite of enormous size, her blood becoming magma, and her veins becoming the lava tubes that web the landscape. Some also say the ancient Magmian race was born from the magma and stone itself, explaining their extreme heat resistance. The locals even tell the tale of once slaying a mighty Seraph during The War of Severed Wings, boasting their power over these assumed “gods”.

History

The people of Magmus Ridge have had a long and scarred past, but they have always pulled through and prevailed even to this day. What was once a small and tropical coastal town run by a few peaceful locals, transformed into a hellish landscape of molten rock and exploding volcanoes when the mighty Seraphs and Somnians waged their war, destroying anything and everything caught in their crossfire.

However, the War of Severed Wings is one of the few examples in history where lesser races revolted against the rule of a greater race. As far as can be determined, Seraphic rule preluding and during the Seraph-Somniatic war was a cruel, harsh, martial regime; ostensibly, they leveraged their position as caretakers to mobilize the lesser races into proxy forces against the Somnians, labeling it a “holy crusade”. But having suffered the majority of the losses and at the hands of the Seraphs themselves, many chose to question the cause, and eventually would come to defy it.

Whilst skirmishes and mutinies would occur between the lesser races and the Seraphs throughout the extent of the Seraph-Somniatic war, I would all come to a head on a lone valley on the outskirts of the Magmus Ridge. The battle would last several days with overwhelming losses on the side of the lesser races, but during its final hours it is said a Seraph was struck from the sky, hook and chains mangled with flesh and wings severed in retribution. Having witnessed the brutal act, and now fearful of their mortality, the Seraphs retreated, continuing their crusade until they too were consumed by its wrath.