The Fourth Cycle Of Strakh

It is the 3rd Rotation of Pattern 1: Age 2020, 4th Cycle.

The Fourth Cycle Of Strakh, a nightmarish realm that has been secluded from humanity and the other realms within the Nine Sets. A dark world, said to be suspended underneath Hell itself, Strakh is a dangerous location to live in, holding a civilization of which you should not attempt to anger. Home of the human-like Lyudi, the servantry Nizkiy, and the nightmarish Bozhestvo, Strakh has had a long and dangerous history to it...

SIGILS

A SIGIL has many meanings for those within the realm of Strakh. It refers to not only the region of land they inhabit, but their culture, the common traits associated with them, the sign that they fall under, everything. For some, the SIGIL is a high source of pride, but for others, it's not but a curse for them. These SIGILS, either being the source of or named after the major arcana tarot, are:

Alongside these, however, are different types of SIGILSs that either have no land of their own for one reason or another:

Geography

Beneath a starry, yellowish-red sky whereupon the sun neither sets nor rises; the landscape of Strakh is rocky, almost cavernous at times due to the roughness of the landscape. Throughout the land, you'll encounter tall stalagmite spires leading up high into the sky; and deep caverns leading to the darkness below. Magnetic Trees are scattered across the surface, often making up massive forests whereupon there is a heavy magnetic pulse existing in the area, causing metal to stick to the trees.

Strakh is a massive landmass held up by large, extremely durable chains that reach up for hundreds of miles, high enough that it's impossible to see it in a the starry red sky above. Despite efforts to reach the top of the chains, no living organism within Strakh has been able to reach the top. At the bottom of each chain is a large, spherical mechanism that has operated for an unknown amount of time, a massive amount of Mana being emitted from it. Below Strakh, meanwhile, is a vast void, leading towards nothing. None whom have fallen down into it have come back.

Water in this realm is substantially different than that of other realms. Along with high doses of Mana in it, it has a more slurry-like texture to it's surface, almost comparable to oil when it is on your skin. The sources for the massive lakes and rivers of these waters come from the bottom of select chains located throughout the land.

Ecosystem Cycles

Due to the nature of the sky within Strakh, the standard convention of 24-hour time works differently here. When Strakh's source of light, The Nightmare Star, is facing east, that is considered to be the beginning of the day for those within Strakh. The star slowly rotates clockwise from there, going south, west, north, then east again; with west being considered the mid-day for Strakh. As a result of the way the star is positioned, there is no definitive night-time. Those that wish to sleep, whether it's a Lyudi or any of the other species in Strakh; will often seclude themselves where it is the most dark, often indoors or within a cavern.

Localized Phenomena

Along with the manifestation of Warp Storms and Tears that the other realms within the Set Of Nine go through, Strakh has a few odd weather phenomenas of its own. Darkening Voids, which erase all light from an area and leaves behind a thick, vicious black sludge; and Brimstorms, whereupon fire and brimstone quite literally storms down from the sky despite no visible source. Occasionally, there will be a source of screaming seemingly from nowhere. This is considered normal.

Natural Resources

Along with the high abundance of Mana in the air, trees and lifeforms throughout Strakh, there are several other materials that are considered useful to those within the realm and others outside it. These include Edenite, the powerful gem known as Blight, and the powerful energy generated from feelings of fear, Noxious.

Alternative Name(s)

The Nightmare Realm, What Lies Beneath Hell

Owner/Ruler

The Broken Mind

Owning Organization

Those Among The Sef

Inhabiting Species

• Lyudi