LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 50: Esstrey Writes the Glossary
[The Central Governor]
This system is here for the safety of your planet(s). This system will provide numerous functions, from classifying threats to life, to strengthening life against those very threats. This system would like to welcome all new users!
[Traits]
We all know life isn't equal, but don't you fret! With this handy guide, you will know exactly how outmatched you are in all scenarios! Traits are dependent on as the name implies, how rare a trait/species is, and how strong that trait/species is.
[Common] is easily found as the name implies. [Farmer] [Raccoon] are some examples.
[Uncommon] is where people become relevant, and are a must-have for warriors. [Guard Sergeant] [R.O.U.S.] are some examples.
[Rare] is where the bulk of the big leagues are entrenched, and the benefits are quite nice! [Guard Captain] [Mutated Rat] are some examples.
[Epic] is the realm of the strong, higher ranked adventurers are usually at this level. [Guard Commander] [Rat Ogre] are some examples.
[Legendary] is so strong it becomes dangerous! Many national conflicts always arise to acquire anything of this rarity. [Guard Marshall] [Rat King] are some examples.
[Mythic] lays in the realm of myth, and planetary invasions have been done to acquire the more useful of these. [Mucalinda] [The Black Plague] are some examples.
[Cursed] is a negative, and all negatives are [Cursed] by default, regardless of rarity. [Crooked] [Allergic to Dairy] are some examples.
[Traits] are hidden by default, and are more visible the lower the quality, as a rule of thumb. Curses are almost always visible, with few exceptions like [Vampirism]. They are also only hidden if they are considered socially unacceptable by the people around. A high enough buildup of these hidden modifiers will result in a [Facade] which stealthily hides the ne'er-do well beneath a cloak of disguise.
[The Veil] is an invention from the core worlds, and is what keeps things from other dimensions at bay. It slowly incorporates planets with high mana count underneath it for integration. May it provide all with eternal prosperity below it!
Esstrey barely got started with digging through inquiries, and when she idly wondered what the hell the [Central Governor] really is, it seems to have responded itself. Even if it doesn't seem to be the smartest, considering she wasn't integrated with a planet, and she wasn't kept at bay by [The Veil] in the slightest. Quickly sidelining the entity that seems to govern reality, she goes to more important matters like who her potential enemies and allies are.
The Faerune Kingdom is a kingdom that has stood the test of time, literature boasts how this is due to a combination of great heroes and excellent policy, but Esstrey still simply sees a feudalist backwater. The map gives a much better perspective on the true reason for its incredible stability, namely it being surrounded by natural barriers harder than china. Much like china, in such a situation the only relevant threats are internal ones, with external threat made irrelevant by unmovable mountains and an ocean that stretches across the eastern portion.
Information on the other regions is terrible, a heavy isolationist policy has had the kingdom in its grip nearly since the dawn of its inception. The last information pertaining to the outside world in written form speaks of an empire that erupted into chaos shortly after it had its sights set on the Faerune Kingdom... about a hundred years ago. Trade is minimal these days, and where there is trade it is done by dwarven intermediaries in the mountains, as they are the most viable option for crossing mountains. Most in the loosest sense here, apparently the mountains are filled with horrors of the deep, and only the high value goods of a kingdom with no external threats makes the path worth it. Artifacts and silk are the favored export of the kingdom, with the dwarves being the sole trade connection, mainly for metals.
Esstrey underlines the part about the dwarves being the best source of metals, she will need that information later.
Surprisingly, information on other worlds is in much higher amounts. This world is called [Brynya], and is considered a low value world of no importance by the rest of [The Veil] like so many others, a classification that suits Esstrey just fine, as nothing she reads about those interested in rarer planets is ever good. Usually the planets are quickly invaded, and a strong power is immediately made clear with the community as a whole agreeing on claims staked on new planets, but a recent calamity on a planet that spiked in value caused the death of 99.98% of life on it, resulted in stricter treaties on planetary invasions.
Esstrey distances herself from the various maps and books to really take that number in... the way it was noted down so casually as a recorded fact, and the part where she doesn't know how strong magical entities can truly get. If Luna was any indication, they can be plenty strong to strip a planet bare of nearly all life. Another sin of magical imperialists.
There is an extensive map of the world, and from what Esstrey can tell is that there is a massive archipelago to the far east, with the area west of Faerune being a scattering of mountain ranges and rivers. Some maps dating back four hundred years show that countries developed along the mountain ranges and rivers, indicating that Faerune isn't some exception when it comes to natural barriers securing a nation's hold. Books on monster logs are the solution to this conundrum, a lot of the powerful magical entities prefer such area's for habitation. The book speaks of dryads in the forests, water elementals in the rivers and dragons in the mountains. The underground is also extensively explored, but the more has been explored, the more said explorers know they know. For every species properly understood, seven more are discovered. Esstrey does not envy the dwarves that go toe to toe with said monsters.
The adventurer's guild, or from what Esstrey can read about them proffessional meddlers instead. A pan-Veil organization not so much bound with each other by any bureacracy but by common goals and circumstance. Generally, guilds are very hands-off with their adventurers, letting them run free unchecked. There have been plenty of cases throughout history to tie them to nations and bureaucrats, which generally end in rather spectacular failure. The wet dream of capitalists worlds-wide no doubt as money with a small sprinkling of morality seems to be the only thing that makes this guild move, but its members are not to be underestimated considering their wide history of clashing with nobles.
The Perrenian Matriarchal Coalition, or the PMC. An odd name for something that passes for the Coalition of Nations of Esstrey's last world. A coalition meant for the protection against world-ending threats, their track-record mainly shows impressive feats thousands of years ago, with no known members alive from that date. Documents indicate this coalition works like a council to discuss matters of importance, and are still active to this day. However, Esstrey finds it worrying that something claiming to be a coalition for the preservation of the planet has an all-female tradition. A true coalition isn't picky whether a body is warm or cold, just concerned with who they fight against.
Lastly, is a book dedicated to the gods. Esstrey didn't think much of it, more theological misunderstandings of magically mind-boggling entities. That is, until she notices an odd page, one that speaks of avatars of gods, and how they frequently interfere in mortal affairs. Unique to the world of [Brynya] is how their gods have more direct intervention, [The Central Governor] usually stops divine intervention of such a scale, but the gods of this world have found a work-around. Esstrey looks at some of their exploits, and actually has to read a few times to make sure it isn't some written comedy or illusion.
Genocide of Kfira; God of Death, Mortimer destroys heretical settlements of alleged necromancers.
Forest Bluehenge incident; Goddess of Life, Vivificania tests new fertilizer causing uncontrolled forest expansion, after a coalition manages to contain the forest the growth implodes in on itself, reducing the region to a husk of its former self.
Ascension of fort Crysthill; God of Shadows, Umbrackus gives literature pertaining to the Infernal Host to high ranking members loyal to it, experimentation results in the <REDACTED> of all personnel, who proceed to grow <REDACTED> and slaughter nearby villages, estimated casualties before containment 17,000.
The text on the God of War, Belluzoar is more similar to an entire list on every war that ever happened, with that god frequently helping the losing side, prolonging the conflict. The gods also frequently compete with each other for power and influence.
These abberant forces of nature are nothing like Luna, who deserved her title of God, as she was in quite the literal sense above everyone else. These 'gods' are nothing but trouble, and Esstrey hopes she never has to encounter them.
