Achyon
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The City of Achyon was one of the first key territories taken by the invading forces of the Empire of Barsburg, and it soon became a center piece in their conquest of Esshar. Following the events of the Pandemonium Chase, what remained of of Barsburg's forces migrated from Osrona to Achyon, further building out the city. In its prime, it was a centre of industry, innovation, and a bastion against the barbaric forces of Esshar. Heavily fortified and prioritizing the efficiency of its infrastructure over the comfort of its own citizens, the city was a standing fortress and a defiance to the continent’s resistance to the Empire in this new age. Following years of setbacks, Barsburg withdrew from the city, and after two decades of decline and darkness as ‘Pauper’, the city was ultimately destroyed by the catastrophic overload of an old piece of technology.
Society
As Achyon
Socially, Achyon initially adhered to strict Barsburgian ideals under the Machine Doctrine. The military was the chief power in the city, and the populace all worked for the greater good of the Empire. Following decades of corruption, Achyonian society was on the brink of collapse into utter depravity and rampant drug use.
- Progress Over Morality: Everyone inside of Achyon was considered equal so long as they worked and supported The Empire and followed the chain of command. Occultists and Holy Magi were seen as 'lower class' citizens until they proved their worth, as this magic has proven only to poison the mind. No price was too much, and no sacrifice too far, in the name of Barsburg and its ticking progress.
- Dissent Will Be Broken: Active betrayal or disagreement with any aspect of the Empire was crushed underfoot immediately, generally through violent force, such as tactical squads and silent political murders. Political opponents were, generally, blinded with their eyes gouged, and those who were blinded were considered heinous in the eyes of the public. Prisons are uncommon, and those who weren’t blinded were often sent to physical labor facilities, such as mines or factories to work away their crimes. Many sent to these facilities did not come back. Despite these risks, there were frequent occurrences of treason by the citizens of Achyon, either due to tipping too close to corruptive magic or out of a desire to address perceived corruption within the leadership.
- In The Name of Humanity: Religion was a curious topic within the walls of the city. While most were content to look aside and not worry about such trivial matters, a select few took to worship of the Magitech and technology crafted by technomancers. These priests did not worship a god or a divine presence, but rather respected both the Government and the tools they produce on a level similar to that rivalling Celestialism or the Fireblooded. Though not officially recognized by the Barsburg council, those Technomancer Priests often bolstered the Achyonian armies and were well known mechanics and engineers, with it being not uncommon for them to be on both the front and backline of assaulting forces, repairing mechs, magitech, and any other manner of weaponry, as well as dismantling and studying the enemy weapons and armor to get a better feel against their opponents.
The Technomancer’s Guild was an organization cradled in the core of Achyon culture and the ones responsible for the maintenance of the entire complex infrastructure of the city, including the widespread wires that feed energy between the city and underground galleries that keep everything functioning day and night, in near-perfect synchrony.
They were easily identified by all not only taking part of the Barsburgian Military and their uniforms, no doubt a custom cemented back when they were still the Iron Reavers, but also a very specific collection of brain-oriented augmentations, rumored to dull some emotions and assure obedience in exchange for connecting their very thoughts to the Coalescence. It is believed that the withdrawal of the Technomancer’s Guild in 1850 AC significantly sped up the decay of the city, as no longer were such efficient mechanics maintaining the city.
Magitech
Notably, weapons of war and other such advancements defined the culture of Imperial Achyon, where the more traditional use of magic was seen less favorable than the developments provided by artificers. Descending from the Empire of Barsburg, the beginnings of this pathway is clouded in mystery - Everything from a shadow government of mad scientists pulling the strings to strange, otherworldy entities travelling in a floating castle of darkness that gifted the higher ups with insight. Whatever the case, this culture was dominant and seen in everything from mechanical eyes to ear inserts, to the enhanced firearms that trained soldiers were issued with.
Mecha Titan
These mechanical behemoths stood at twice the size of any man and were piloted by an officer, strapped down in the seat with a holographic visual display surrounding them. Limbs were wired in and connected to the core controls and the center piece of the golem involved a particularly powerful energy source, with intricate wiring and advanced runework spanning out to each part of the mecha. Thin adamantite 'glass' provided a clear view for the pilot beyond the confines of their cockpit.
Coalescence
The Coalescence is the name of a concept, idealized by numerous thinkers from multiple eras, all towards a particular ideal: A perfectly united hivemind, a creation of magitech which works without any dissidence and without any disagreement. The minds of many joined together and all of them tuned to the same purpose in harmony with memories of the deceased transferred to this entity, processed in a way that gives it insight and knowledge. It takes many of the concepts of the synthetics and advances upon them. Thusly, many technomancer worship the Coalescence as something resembling a god.
The Coalescence Tower in Achyon was ultimately shut down when the Empire withdrew from the city.
Advanced Firearms
These weapons are specialized for various classes that are trained to use the firearm. These are capable of burning, charged blasts of mana that's refined towards a particular purpose. The gunner, which overwhelms the opponent with rapidfire, the heavy assault class, that dazes and captures the foe with a strong blast of magic, and then the sniper, with a gun that's designed for long-ranged, piercing bolts across the battlefield.
Synthetic
Arguably the pinnacle of magitech, a synthetic is an artificial human that's fully manmade. Lifelike skin and functionality, with an interior of weightless mythril and various crystalline cores to resemble organs, as well as heavier metals and constructs, wired together neatly. Often a group project to construct with at least several thousand runes and glyphs in unison like clockwork. While typically designed for combative purposes, a synthetic also benefits from improved cognitive functionality where they're able to process information quicker, with the downside of a lack of empathy and the more subtler clues in human interaction. Brought to life by the ritual of a technomancer in a flare of electric and fluorescent mana, the empty body of a synthetic is hooked up to a narrow tower which transmutes a soul from above into them the moment they come to life. As a newborn, they're immediately flooded with information and past memories by the Coalescence, learning the common tongue and assigned a codename in their first few seconds of coming to be. It is a capital crime to create a Synthetic without the relevant licenses, though once such a license has been acquired experimentation is highly encouraged. There is no one uniform design of Synthetics, with individual variations made for different purposes. All, however, work off of the same base schematics.
- Appearance varies, depending on the construct. The standard issue synthetic has a natural look, though they can appear somewhat doll-like due to their makings.
- They can absorb and deflect magic through glands in their hands, able to mitigate incoming blasts. Their own mana is a pure, dulled silver. Additionally, they have enhanced speed and strength, and depending on the model they weigh in at four hundred pounds or more.
- Linked to the Coalescence, they often take the role of advisors as much as they are combat units. They can receive direct commands and insight.
- They have no need for food or drink, but are fully capable of tasting and digesting such things. They're designed to be an improvement on humans, after all, and the lighter aspects of life are kept in check. They can turn off their pain receptors completely if desired, and can go weeks without any sleep (or 'hibernation'), but resting occasionally is advised.
- Rumored to have a self-destruct module the moment in the rare event that one should go rogue, though by design they are loyal to their creators.
- Are not - both by design and law - capable of Occult or Holy magic; Synthetics that attempt to develop the capability to use these magics are said to immediately trigger their self-destruct modules.
Following the withdrawal of the Empire, many Synthetics in Achyon simply detonated, though a rare few were disconnected from the Coalescence prior to this, and thus survived.
As Pauper
Under Nidaz Vanreth during its time as Pauper the populace changed dramatically. So long as one heeded the commands of the Lich, most everything was permitted. The city became the home of pirates, undead, cultists of the Mori and the Void. Occultism flourished, and little respect was shown to the dead - they merely became meat to be used by the Lich’s experiments.
Cults
Pauper was home to several cults deemed to extreme or corrupted by the majority of the other settlements of Esshar. A cult of the Deep One - a tradition of the Deep Company - persisted in the city, and its followers were often found upon the docks, praying to their chthonian god. The cultists of the Deep One were known to often claim that their God's eye was upon the city, and indeed their rituals seemed to have some effect, as a miasma of thick fog often rolled over the city, making it difficult to see. A strong cult of Void Worshippers also enjoyed the freedom to practice their foul religion within the city, their machinations known only to them, as were the purposes for their dark deeds. Nidaz Vanreth was himself a void magi, and thus encouraged those with an interest to seek out the knowledge man was not meant to know.
Fleshcrafting
A practice best described as an alternate variant of Necromancy, fleshcrafting involved the use of organic material - often corpses - to create abominations of war and chaos. During the Imperial era of Achyon, Fleshcrafting was considered a science in its infancy, given it had only truly been developed in the late 18th century by Iron Councillor Trik Gutterrunner. Nidaz Vanreth - Trik's apprentice - truly defined the art in Esshar, pushing the art so far he cracked the secret of true necromancy and became the first Lich Esshar had seen in centuries. While fleshcrafter abominations had their place in the Achyonian armies during the Imperial era, this practice truly exploded in popularity in Pauper due to the Lich's influence, with an open invitation extended to any willing to learn the dark art. As such, the undead were a common fixture in Pauper, shambling about the streets and threatening anyone who should not have been there.
History
Founding and City of Esshar - 1001-1722 AC
Founded as one of the later cities of the fledgeling Kingdom of Esshar as part of the series of infrastructure projects developed in the early 11th century under King Ameus rei Petrakis, Achyon was built to help cope with the exploding population following a century or so of prosperity, with another century of the same projected.
Construction of the city’s castle was completed in 1024 AC, twenty three years after the initial plans for the city were developed, and by 1030 AC a series of professionally built manor houses comprised the city’s inner district, several minor noble families being encouraged to settle into the city. A thriving market built up in short order, and continuing investment into the infrastructure ensured Achyon became a relatively prosperous city.
The city would remain under the control of Esshar for the next nearly seven hundred years.
Siege of Achyon/Capture by Barsburg - 1723-1724 AC
With the invasion of the Empire of Barsburg, the Kingdom of Esshar is pushed to breaking point. Achyon is one of the earlier cities put under siege, but holds out relatively well until the Barsburgian besiegers decide to test an experimental cannon on the city’s walls. The test is a success; the city falls in a three day assault, with the governor hung from the castle’s ramparts as the banners of Barsburg replace those of the Petrakis monarchy. When the war ends, Achyon is one of several cities ceded officially the Empire of Barsburg.
Early Occupation - 1725-1799 AC
Achyon is relatively quickly transformed into an Imperial City. The Essharan territories of Barsburg are rife with pro-Essharan resistance groups even post war, but the establishment of the Achyon’s Hand branch of the Barsburgian military ensures that dissent is quickly and decisively dealt with, and the collapse of the Essharan Empire in 1741 AC marks the lessening of a great deal of resistance.
At some point after 1741 AC but prior to 1754 AC, the King-in-Exile Alexander II Petrakis leads a group of Knights to attempt to support a resistance in the city, but ultimately the attempts to liberate it fail.
In the following decades, the city rapidly industrialises to fit with Barsburgian standards, and a local hub for the Coalescence is installed in the city’s castle. Synthetics become a not-uncommon sight in the city, and when occupied Osrona is abandoned by the Barsburgians, Achyon becomes the new capital of the Essharan territories.
Campaign against Esshar - 1800-1849 AC
By 1800 AC, the Iron Council leads Achyon mostly autonomously, comprised of individuals who carry roles of importance; Trik Gutterrunner representing the Razuka and Fleshcrafters; Iris representing the Coalescence/synths; Luca pyr Docro representing the Docro Family; Amelia Locke pyr Aertas representing the Aertas Family; Freda Von Bohm representing the technomancers and Neoni Faudain representing the military. Their mandate is simple: they are to expand Barsburgian territory in Esshar, defeating the regional powers or subjugating them as necessary. The Coalescence also offers them a secondary mandate: the ADAM project. Achyon is directed to do what must be done to reactivate this early Synthetic prototype through whatever means necessary.
Conflict with Osrona begins almost immediately, with skirmishes over territory such as the Temple of Eos becoming common. While the city cannot claim the Temple of Eos, an expedition force does meet Achyls. The exact circumstances of the meeting are unknown, but historians mark it as one of the early events that result in the following decline.
War marks the next few decades, Achyon fighting against Osrona, the Moxtli Tribes and the Fireblooded for long periods, intermittently resulting in ceasefires and temporary alliances between the different factions. For a short period of time, Osrona and Achyon are defacto allied through a ceasefire, the war paused long enough for the first class of Starfall Academy to grow up and graduate. With the surprise attack of Ryker pyr Docro on Osrona, the ceasefire comes to an end and the war resumes apace, lasting until the finally battle at Achyon in 1850 AC.
While the city has its share of triumphs in this period - including the holding of Silverwall Mine for several decades and the success of the ADAM project, thanks to the work of Amelia pyr Aertas and Marcel Delisle - it also faces a great deal of internal conflict. Two disorganised factions form within the city - the Imperial loyalists, focused on ensuring the city retains the ideals of the Empire of Barsburg, and the more liberal faction, which fosters rampant sylavanum addiction, collaboration with Vampires, and ignores several key aspects of the Machine Doctrine. Despite a subtle intervention attempt by the Empire to push Achyon back in line gaining some ground in the city, increasing corruption and continued failures to gain territory alongside several setbacks ultimately come to a head in 1850 AC.
The Fall of Achyon - 1850-1870 AC
Following the successful repelling of the Osronan Alliance in the Siege of Achyon, the Empire of Barsburg withdrew from Esshar, abandoning the city to its own devices. With the lack of effective maintenance, the city very quickly began to decay, with the Docro family and Nidaz Vanreth - likely the greatest Fleshcrafter Esshar had ever seen, and the first Lich in centuries - taking full control. With the Docros soon focused on their own manor and conflict with the Shadowmire and Asphodel, Nidaz was permitted full control, and with the partnership of Tigerseye Reave, captain of the Deep Company, the city of Achyon became Pauper, a settlement of corruption and darkness.
Existing largely in the background of conflicts such as the wars of Asphodel against the modern world, much of Pauper’s machinations are unknown, though they are believed to have significantly affected the world through ripple effects. When Nidaz completed the Mort Donjon, it became a common sight over the settlement, and it was the forces of Pauper and the Docros who battled against Osrona to break into the Vault of Heroes. Indeed, Nidaz’s creations harassed the world for the next two decades past the Barsburgian withdrawal. In 1870 AC, however, the Mort Donjon vanished from sight above the city, and scant days later the city itself detonated in a horrific blast, the effect of a project known as the ‘Phoenix Chamber’ made by Commander Marcel Delisle being overloaded. What little of the settlement that was left was left in ruins.
