The Tower

All the world is a tower. Within its walls are 9 floors, each 6 days walk across, containing numerous towns and cities. The lower floors are wide fields and forests, generating food and resources from their agrarian societies. As one climbs higher, each floor becomes more and more prosperous and advanced until at the 8th floor one stands in a wealthy utopia beyond the dreams of many below. The 9th floor is the domain of the God King Adamax, creator and ruler of the Tower. Few get the chance to see its glory, but those that do find themselves unable to describe it.   Despite the grandeur, the Tower is a harsh place. Its people strive to do better, work harder, and climb higher. They work to realize their ultimate potential, no matter the cost. The greatest test of this effort is the Inner Tower. While people can freely descend to lower floors, the only way to climb higher is to pass the challenges of the Dungeon Masters at each floor of the Tower. Any who wish to do so must begin from the lowest floor, and those that fail may never see their family again, if they survive. Those who succeed at this endeavor, however, find the rewards well worth the hardship. Though it may take years or even decades to climb the tower all the way to the top, those who make it to the 9th floor and pass the God King Adamax's final challenge are granted any single wish they desire.   All of this majesty is powered by an energy called Mana, which is both life force and will. Mana creates many strange natural effects, and many strange creatures have innate powers which manipulate the mana around them. Humans, however, are perhaps the most adept at Mana manipulation. Using Mana, one is able to pass the traditional limits of mortals, and ascend to true power. Whether by burning it to enhance one's physical abilities, studying it to allow deeper insights, or directly manipulating it to affect the world, Mana is the ladder people use to climb the Tower.