"I, Amaranta of the Eternal Grove, shall be your guide..."
Amaranta, Seeker Warlock
What is Arte?
Arte is an eclectic setting. It is a realm of fantasy with a hint of science fiction. It is a post-apocalyptic world recovering from war and calamity. It is a place where people can fight for positive change and radical kindness. Where shall your adventures take you across these diverse lands, dear wayfinder?
Truths of Arte
These six truths should be kept in mind to better understand this world.
Greater and Lesser Gods
Deities are divided into two groups: the Greater Gods and the Lesser Gods. The former includes the Original One, the Seven, and the Twins. All others are the latter. Most of the Lesser Gods have limited spheres of influence and must involve themselves in the lives of mortalkind to maintain their power. It is believed that mortals who prove their worth have the chance to be granted a sliver of godhood.
High Magic, High Tech
Magick has been mastered, utilized to develop technology, and made accessible to the greater public. It can be studied in specialized academies. Magickal items are more affordable than they have ever been. And for those who value tradition, orders of mages still have their place in the world. Recent advances in magick studies include the creation of Dunamancy, Spelljammers, and the Aetherborn.
Ruined and Lost World
There was a time when the world was conquered and divided amongst mortalkind, but it came to an end. Society, immense and intertwined, has been reduced to settlements that isolate themselves or move to avoid danger, like monsters and preternatural disasters. Trade and travel is doable but risky. Ancient artifacts are lost among the ruins, free to be found and brought back by intrepid wayfinders.
War of Calamity
500 years ago, a conflict among the Greater Gods devastated the world. Cities were destroyed, lands were razed, and countless lives were lost. Despite this, mortalkind survived. They are doing their best to persevere in a world that can never return to the way it once was. And now only the Lesser Gods remain to watch over the world since the Greater Gods went into a deep slumber after the long war.
Draconic Legacies
Most cultures across Arte have a version of the
Song of the New World as part of their creation myth. It is believed that the Greater Gods are dragon deities. Mortalkind includes those with draconic blood or innate abilities stemming from draconic sources. Dragonkind also pioneered the study of magick. The three main groups of dragonkind are the metallic dragons, chromatic dragons, and gem dragons.
Orrery of Realms
Arte is the Mortal Realm that exists conterminously with Alethia, the Spirit Realm, and Leth, the Void Realm. Arte and Alethia's influences on each other are, for the most part, stable. Leth's influences on the other two, however, often lead to instability. Most mortals know of Alethia but few know of Leth. These realms form a universe that is part of the multiverse but also hidden away by its creator's will.
Comments
Author's Notes
Hi, it's Brie! Basically, Arte is a setting that will take things from the core Dungeons & Dragons books, and then some. Concepts have been mashed together from official and unofficial settings, such as Eberron, Strixhaven, Ravnica, Theros, Exandria, and the well known Forgotten Realms, Ravenloft, Krynn, and Oerth. In the end, it's meant to be used for a homebrew game with my friends, but I also want it to be a way for me to grow as a worldbuilder and writer by sharing my work with others. Thank you so much for reading!