Vael

The world of Vael is a melting pot of cultures and civilizations plagued by an eternal conflict known as the Everwar. Centuries ago the Gods of Vael disappeared without warning. In their absence, the souls of those who have passed on became inflicted with an absolute corruption. Without their shepherds these darkened souls began to attack the very hems of reality that separate their realm from that of Vael itself. For years the denizens of Vael struggled to contain this tear between worlds as their lands suffered at the hands of this soul scourge.     Finally, a group of Divine Arcanists unlocked the key to tapping into the residual energies left behind by the Gods. Utilizing this power they found a way to combat this growing threat at the source. By drawing the very souls out of living mortals they could cast the souls into the void to battle those that have been corrupted and hold the line. All while possessing the ability to call the soul back to its body. By the hundreds, volunteers, conscripts, and criminals were put to the test and their bodies were placed in a form of arcane suspension as their souls were sent to the front lines. For the first time in years it seemed like the conflict could, at the very least, be contained. And has been ever since.     For generations now the Everwar has been fought by the souls of the living. Those who serve in this conflict are called back to mortality by the few and far between. Only when their own souls begin to feel the stain of corruption from existing in the void without the Gods of creation to guide them do their anchors pull them back into their bodies. These people are known as the Unbound, and are paid with a plot of land and 500 gold upon their awakening. You would think that they would receive a welcoming not unlike kings, but that is unfortunately not the case.     The trauma of experiencing such a conflict can scar their minds and leave them forever changed. Though some are able to readjust back to civilian life, many cannot adapt to the lack of constant conflict. Some of them have served for decades or even centuries in the Everwar, and strife has become the only normal they know. For this reason, many of the most infamous mercenaries and criminals of modern history have been members of the Unbound. Speculation states that a piece of the soul is lost in the process of serving in the Everwar, and because of that the common folk of Vael have grown to become wary of them. They are still respected by many, but also feared by most. Their journeys to navigate life after service can be arduous, and without the option to return to the front lines of the Everwar they sometimes find themselves aimless.  

Welcome to Vael.   Welcome to life as the Unbound.