The Glassius Reach

Geographically and politically isolated, The Reach is cut off from the rest of the world by The Peaks of Myth’ira and the treacherous Wrath Wastes. The Glassius Reach is the most alien of the kingdoms within The Three Corners. Both its wilderness, and its people are unlike any other. Inhabited by Changelings, and scorned by all of Zol, the Reach holds many mysteries.

The most notable mystery being The Oldshards. Two strange relics which the culture and society of Changelings is based around.

• Yorn et Gaul - The Broken City
• Corinth - The Bastion of Tradition

The Reach is as dangerous as it is awe inspiring. It is alien to the rest of Zol. Strange radially symmetric plants growing in consistent mathematical patterns, flowers and mushrooms the size of buildings, pebbles that are so light the drift on the air when kicked, and rivers and lakes that are impossibly deep.

The Reach is very cold due to its northern climate, but does contain some weather patterns and hot springs that allow for lush flora and fauna to survive.

The Glassius Reach was not discovered by the outside world for some time after The Awakening. When rumors began about an Off-Human people who have the ability to take any form of their choosing, the grim folk-lore essentially created itself. Common folk began to accuse their friends and family of being ‘Changelings’ who had killed and eaten their friends. A hidden threat that had come to their city to steal faces and coins.

Eventually, emissaries from the western world began to interact with The Reach. With increased exposure, the mythos around the Changelings began to dissipate a bit. However, the public fear toward the kingdom remained.

Some brave Changelings venture out into the the other kingdoms as proud members of their race, but most who do so under their natural disguise mimicking another of Zol’s Races. Their disguises a necessary precaution against many of Zol’s foreigners.

During the late First Age, Laenwalde and Gethsemane faced a great deal of political infighting. Evidence of this pointed to the interference of Changelings masking as important members of western society. Laenwalde and Gethsemane began proffering threats towards The Glassius Reach. The Glassius Reach denied these claims. When the supposed sabotage did not stop, the nations declared a war that would grow to fame as the Western War.

Fought mostly in the treacherous Pits of Zeralis, this war increased in intensity over a relatively short period and eventually amounted in the destruction of Yorn et Gaul and the emergence of The Word of Wrath. A Wordbearer of unknown origin who protects The Glassius Reach with his life.

One of the major results of this war was the loss of The Apex, one of The Oldshards. An object so central to the culture of Changelings that it has caused irreparable damage to their religion and culture. One recent example of this is some Changelings born within the city of Yorn et Gaul do not have the ability to change their form.

Despite the hardship and discrimination the people of The Glassius Reach have faced, they have gone to great lengths to preserve their way of life. The Changelings have succeeded well in upholding their culture considering what has happened to them.

The population of The Glassius Reach is made up of almost entirely Changelings. A people with a very reserved, unique culture.

There are two things one would notice when first arriving in the cities of The Reach:

• Extreme Formality - The people of The Reach have very set traditions, and procedures called The Pattern. The Pattern keeps society well mannered, fair, and efficient. The Pattern determines things like how long one should stay at a host’s house after eating dinner, how much one is allowed to drink at a wine house, and even important things like deciding a ruler. Ignoring these formalities is seen as extremely rude, and in many cases infractions against the rules of The Pattern are a punishable offence. The pattern stems from the influence of The Oldshards seeming to favor some individuals more than others. Over many generations scholars and philosophers have tried to determine the factors that cause this favor. The resulting research is what shaped The Pattern. It is half based in empirical evidence, and half in personal belief. It is a thing debated by many.

• True Forms, Pure Forms, and Pure Voice - Changelings posses the ability to alter their physical form to any humanoid shape of their choosing, given they are still of the same approximate size and shape. This alteration is not the use of Illusion magic like many assume, but actual Transmutation of the physical body, even modifying things like sex and metabolism, and the very Matter they are made from. This creates an interesting dynamic where people have the ability to appear however they choose, and can even mask as other people. To combat the obvious challenges this poses, as well as introduce a concept of individuality, Changelings will often spend their youth conceptualizing an appearance called a True Form. A highly unique, detailed, and beautiful appearance that is very difficult to counterfeit. This form is seen as sacred, and is to be respected by all other Changelings. One’s true form may make them appear as if they are made of translucent crystal, finely made porcelain, woodgrain, or anything one can reasonably imagine. Changelings use this form to identify themselves amongst their own society. It is illegal to attempt to counterfeit someone else’s True Form, and it is extremely rare one shows their true form outside of The Reach’s Cities, especially to outsiders.

  Changelings can also be identified by two other means: their Pure Form, and Pure Voice. These two traits being ones physical appearance at birth, and natural tonality of voice. These are seen as sacred and highly important to the Changelings. Some compare showing one’s pure form to the concept of nakedness, but it is not quite that. There is no shame in doing so, publicly or privately, but one would not do so without thought the same way one would not wear a wedding gown at a funeral. The occasion must be fitting.

  Pure Voice is another category of identification. Since Changelings can alter their appearance at will, physical traits are not as treasured when it comes to things like attraction or conventional beauty. However modifying one’s voice, especially in a way that is pleasant sounding, is quite difficult for a Changeling. This makes having a beautiful voice an ideal within The Reach’s society.

There are also a very small number of non-changeling peoples within The Reach. However these individuals had to go to great lengths to be welcomed into the xenophobic society of Changelings. They must follow strict rules and are always viewed as outsiders.

The Kingdom of The Reach is governed by 2 individuals (one for each city) known as Shardcallers. Each is supported by their own council, all of which are democratically elected and extensively tested for their positions. Those in positions of leadership are viewed in a unique way within The Reach.

Elected officials are seen as being ‘owned’ by the people of the city. The live very strict lifestyles where their whole days are scheduled out. Things like dining and recreation time are predetermined for them. Their homes are open to the public (and highly guarded). Citizens can come watch the leadership eat, sleep, and work if they choose to do so. While this sounds demeaning to outsiders it is the highest honor of the Changelings. Those who seek these positions spend their entire lives training for the opportunity.

The Shardcallers of The reach are Yemodhan Surrite of Yorn et Gaul and Osieur Xetac of Corinth.

The Reach has a socialist approach to its economy, and uses its own denomination of crystalline currency called a Glassmark which is divided into 4 types of coin:

• Quartermark - A small clear crystal cut into hexagons from quartz called, bearing similar value to a copper coin
• Halfmark - A medium sized yellow crystal cut into pentagons from citrine, bearing similar value to a silver coin
• Nearmark - A medium sized green crystal cut into squares from fluorite, bearing similar value to a gold coin
• Fullmark - A large sized opaque crystal cut into triangles from celestine, bearing similar value to a platinum coin

The Glassian Laws are very strict, but well respected by most. The Glassius Reach at one time, had the lowest crime rate of all the kingdoms. Now that has begun to change with the many years of hardship in Yorn et Gaul.

Art is very important to the culture of The Reach. Individuals will become career artists to try and encapsulate the many complex factors and ideals within their society. Visual arts like painting are prevalent within the cities, but more commonly artists focus on singing and Form Art.

Singing holds a special importance within The Reach because of the importance of one’s Pure Voice. Vocalists will occasionally play with instrumental accompaniment, but more commonly will sing acapella in grand opera-like performances. Frequently done in a theatrical manner.

Form Art is a changeling practice of altering ones own form into beautiful or interesting ways. This is done to express emotions or for general entertainment.

The general society around The Reach is very strict, utilitarian, well mannered. Individuals will generally try and keep an indifferent demeanor and won’t stick their nose into other peoples business. Changelings are very proud beings, to offend them is a very quick way to become an outcast.

The Reach is one of two kingdoms that does not implement Trains within its borders. Unlike the other kingdom who does not implement Trains, The Ward, The Reach does use Iron Light. They merely have not implemented the infrastructure. The Artificers of The Glassius Reach are behind in terms of advancements due to the isolation they face.

Academics and magic are exclusively taught through The Eelynn, a college of two campuses with one in each city. These schools offer teaching to all youth ages 5-18. Those who are promising academics may go further in their scholarship, pursuing magic and/or greater studies.

The Reach also has access to a unique manifestation of the will of Observance. This is obtained through interfacing with The Oldshards. What little is understood about this phenomena is extremely well guarded and is not known by many. Those who do have abilities granted by The Oldshards are quite powerful.

The Glassius Reach has faced much destruction in its recent history. The Kingdom has a general hatred for the outside world, especially Gethsemane and Laenwalde. The much of the The Three Corners returns the same sentiment. The Reach is however a small kingdom compared to its enemies, so it remains well defended in its borders.

The City of Yorn et Gaul faces a grim present. The Apex, an object central and holy to the city was lost in the Western War. However the importance of this object was so great to these people. They still worship the grounds where it was once held. They leave much of their holy buildings in their war-torn state as a remined of what they faced. Many seek to restore what was lost while others feel that the kingdom needs to change to adapt to the new world.

Recently, some Changelings within the city of Yorn et Gaul are born without the ability to alter their form. Many think this is due to the loss of The Apex.

The kingdom has a comparatively small military, but there is no other army who would so willingly die for its kingdom. The Glassius Reach stood its ground for extended battles many times during the Western War despite having loosing numbers. This is due to the highly defensible position, and extremely hostile environment that does not favor outsiders. It also helps that Changelings can appear as their foes for ambush attacks. The kingdom has a relatively small navy as well, but they are not very vulnerable to sea based attacks due to the rough seas near Zhal.

The Reach borders the kingdom of:

• Gethsemane via the Wrath Wastes

It also borders the wilds of:

• The Blades mountain range
• The Peaks of Myth’ira
• Holyfield

and has its coast on:

• The Narrow Sea

The Glassius Reach is not only home to the Changelings, but it is also home to the strange, and powerful Mimics. An ancient and mysterious society of beings who have a vested interest in The Oldshards.