The World of Elarion

A fractured urban nightmare where climate zones collide, mutations run rampant, and six factions war for control of the most valuable substance on Earth.

Elarion Overview

World Overview

Elarion was once an ordinary metropolis—a sprawling coastal city of eight million souls, unremarkable save for its size and industry. Then came the Aetherfall, a cataclysmic storm that shattered reality itself and buried the earth beneath the city in crystalline Aether. In the century since, Elarion has transformed into a fractured urban nightmare where climate zones collide, mutations run rampant, and seven factions war for control of the most valuable substance on Earth.

The outside world watches with a mixture of greed and horror. Refugees flee while fortune-seekers flood in. Governments and corporations sponsor expeditions. But within Elarion’s twisted geography, only the strong survive—and only the ruthless thrive.

The Aetherfall Event

The Storm (Year 0)

One hundred years ago, Elarion was struck by an unprecedented meteorological phenomenon. Witnesses described:

  • A purple aurora that consumed the sky for three days
  • Lightning that struck upward from the ground
  • A deafening resonance that shattered glass across the entire city
  • Gravity distortions causing buildings to twist and warp

When the storm passed, the earth beneath Elarion had fundamentally changed. Crystalline purple veins ran through the bedrock, pulsing with otherworldly energy. The city’s infrastructure was in ruins. Tens of thousands were dead. And reality itself had become… negotiable.

The Fracturing (Years 1-20)

In the two decades following the Aetherfall, Elarion’s climate became increasingly unstable, creating the distinct zones that define the city today (see Climate Zones).

Discovery & Exploitation (Years 20-50)

Around Year 25, salvage crews discovered glowing purple crystals in the ruins. Initial studies revealed:

  • The material (dubbed “Aether”) exhibited impossible properties
  • It could be refined into a liquid that granted enhanced strength, intelligence, and reflexes
  • Prolonged exposure caused mutations, psychological changes, and dependency
  • The substance seemed inexhaustible—mining operations only revealed deeper veins

Word spread globally. Elarion’s original government collapsed under the weight of competing interests. What followed was fifty years of corporate wars, gang conflicts, and the rise of the Six Factions—followed, in the current era, by a seventh major power that monetized the city’s hunger for rules.

The Current State (Year 100)

Today, Elarion is a warzone with no single authority. The seven factions control different territories, each with their own philosophy regarding Aether and the city’s future. Fighting happens daily—in back alleys, abandoned factories, and formal dueling rings. The Night Market serves as neutral ground where deals are struck and blood money changes hands.

The world beyond Elarion remains connected via heavily fortified transport corridors, but most outsiders who enter seeking fortune never leave. The city has a way of keeping what it claims.

Geography

Pre-Aetherfall: Elarion was a coastal metropolis spanning 150 square miles, population 8 million. Major industries included shipping, manufacturing, finance, and tech.

Post-Aetherfall: The city’s geography fractured into numerous distinct climate zones. The zones are described in detail in Climate Zones, but the fractured landscape contains countless smaller districts, each with unique characteristics. New zones continue to be discovered as survivors venture deeper into unexplored territories.

Explore Elarion

Climate Zones

From the frozen Frost Quarter to the volcanic Scar — discover the fractured geography of Elarion.

Key Locations

The Night Market, The Crucible, The Canopy — the landmarks that define each faction's power.

Timeline

From the Aetherfall to the present day — 100 years of conflict, discovery, and transformation.