A primer on Cyorion

Almost 100 years after the defeat of Buroz the Corruptor, in the year 151 LB, and Cyorion is flourishing. Various peoples and kingdoms are lifting themselves up, trade is prospering throughout the world, and inventors have been creating improvements for exploration and life, rather than machines of war. Something creeps through the cracks, however, and dark rumors of evil powers, both ancient and new, permeate conversations in seedy taverns and side streets.

...And the Corruptor held aloft The Aethermirror, a conduit of his horrendous power. From the great beyond, his power smote Gweyir, and all wept.

— Esu de Carlisle - Historian

Girl holding flower by Sharon McUtcherson

Conquerors may not all hate, but those that hate do so with great zeal. Buroz held such animosity for Elves, particularly the High Elves of Gweyir, that his primary motivation for conquering the entire world was to destroy as many Elves as he could.
While Wood-Elves were able to survive the devastation, the Elven capital of Gweyir was attacked by surprise and completely destroyed. Many hundreds of thousands fell in the aftermath and ensuing campaign against the rest of the world. However, High Elves continue to be a rare sight, some resigned to a life of homelessness, and many take pity on those left begging in the streets of cities. Eternal, devastated, and broken.
The sun sets in many places, but never in Cyorion, which is a tidally locked world. Aside from the two moons Vakiter and Iovis and the cracks in the sky, Cyorion boasts another celestial anomaly. Known as The Veil, night washes across the landscape as the sun is blocked every 12 hours, followed by 12 hours of daylight. The Veil grows and recedes slowly, allowing for a dawn and dusk cycle.

Those that were captured were placed into the ranks of the Corruptor, his army of Faceless. Their minds blank, they existed only to serve.

— Esu de Carlisle - Historian

50 Years of Tyranny

The War of the Faceless was a devastating conquest led by the Orc Buroz. It is rumored that he achieved great power through sacrifices made in the The Arid Expanse. He rallied other Orc clans to his side, then began to march against the world. Buroz continued to grow his ranks by enslaving the minds of conquered enemies.

The Shattered Sky

A group of Faceless were cleansed of the magic that enslaved them. Unfortunately, the group of wizards that freed them gave their lives casting the powerful counter-spells and were only partially successful. The newly freed individuals had severe amnesia and couldn't remember who they were. They traveled far to solve the mystery of how they came to be and started an uprising against their oppressor.
Eventually, they began to earn the people's trust, gained artifacts and power, then marched on Buroz himself. Legends tell of a great battle that resulted in the destruction of The Aethermirror, a celestial mirror that served as a conduit for Buroz's power. The heroes told how the blinding explosion almost killed them, and the Aethermirror flew up, shattering the sky itself.

Theme of Cyorion

Revitalization

Cyorion has recovered from a terrible and awesome rule at the fist of a dictator. As the world rebuilds and prospers, economies are booming, and more people are striking out to make a name for themselves. Children are motivated to become greater than their predecessors. The world is a beautiful place and many are taking the opportunity to capitalize on it.

Remorse

The War of the Faceless was draining on the entire world. Buroz used strange magic to conquer armies and enslave their soldiers to his will. Fathers were made to march against their own villages, and many were sent to the ends of the world to die in strange lands, never aware of what they were doing. When the tyranny finally ended, the soldiers woke up and remembered the atrocities they caused. Some never came home, and others were not able to live with what they had done.
There also exists deep remorse for the destruction of the Elven empire. Not only was Gweyir destroyed, but Buroz sent Death Squads specifically to exterminate Elves wherever they could be found. The survivors languish in poverty, stricken by survivors' guilt only magnified by the eternal lives of Elves.

Suspicion

While the world continues to recover and prosper against a backdrop of a cracked sky, strange rumors circulate that everything may not be as it seems. Horrible cults, unexplained disappearances, and unease toward Elves, Tieflings, and Half-Orcs exist throughout the world. Something stirs just beneath the surface, and those that look too closely may not be rewarded kindly.

Pronunciation Guide

This section provides phonetic pronunciation for words in this article. This was tested using the Microsoft Edge "Read Aloud" feature, using the Microsoft Aria Online (Natural) - English voice option. If you have feedback to improve the accessibility of this article, please comment below!

Word as written	Pronunciation
Cyorion	See-Or-Eon
Buroz	Burr-Oz
Vakiter	Vah-Kitter
Iovis	Ee-Oh-Vis
Aethermirror	A-Thurr-Mirror