“You have given them blood to drink as they deserve.”
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Five years ago the sky split open and mysterious beings descended upon the earth. Entire countries were razed within minutes, millions of lives ground into dust. Since that day humanity has lived a fearful existence, fortifying their paper strongholds against the gods themselves. But like the misfortunes that sprang forth from Pandora’s box, there was a glimmer of hope.
People who had survived the disasters, scarred and broken, young and old, a fragment of God nestled deep within their bodies. The last ray of light in a dying world.
Survivors, they called them. Chosen ones. Blessed. Anointed. The heroes, the saviors, adorned with murky purple scars that criss-crossed their bodies. Wielding powers similar to that of the ancient beings, they fought, and they prayed, and perhaps they ran, and many of them died, but the truth was that they were the only ones who stood a chance.
Desperate, the nations of the world joined hands and formed NOVUM. A politically neutral facility dedicated to protecting and training the Survivors until they were strong enough. Seeking volunteers from all backgrounds and origins, NOVUM’s ultimate goal is the eradication of the monsters and eventual rebuilding of the world.
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The fictional countries of Lapsarian Opera have loose inspirations from cultures around the world, but are not meant to be an accurate representation of them. Creative liberties have been taken and real-life politics have no bearing on this group.
NOVUM is a research facility turned paramilitary dedicated to the preservation and training of Survivors. Composed of personnel from all eight nations, they are led by retired commander and researcher Leona Iyengar.
Facilities are located on a demilitarized island off the coast of Therenir. The island's true name has since been replaced by that of the ubiquitous organization residing there. Due to the pointed lack of anything useful, it relies on exports from other nations to sustain the residents. NOVUM facilities are built on top of the original structures, modern glass and steel buildings interspersed with gothic stone halls.
The island itself is quite small, only a few hundred square kilometers in area. You can get from one end to the other in less than three hours by vehicle. NOVUM itself takes up a good chunk of the island with their scattered stations, but there is a small residential suburb to the south that houses employees and their families.
The weather is quite brutal in the winter months, with temperatures dropping below freezing regularly. During the summer, the ocean is warm enough to swim in. Due to the errant and unpredictable winds around the island, air travel is strongly dissuaded and the main mode of transport to and from the island is by boat.
NOVUM
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NATIONS
You are free to make your own cultures and cities to flesh out OC backstories, and the world is left intentionally open-ended to encourage this. However, creating new countries is not permitted.
Since the Arrival, many countries have fallen into ruin and around 30% of the world’s population has died from the disasters or related events. Large cities with military defenses are the most likely to have survived and retain some semblance of normalcy. Utilities such as running water and electricity are still available in unaffected areas.
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A former archipelago that was home to a myriad of cultures and peoples. Located in the far northern reaches of the globe, cities were mostly located on the southern islands with few isolated communities elsewhere. The weather was harsh year-round, but summers were mild enough that the area was a popular tourist destination.
Four years ago, the denizen now identified as the Ancient of Delirium sank the majority of the islands in a matter of hours. Many fled to neighboring countries and countless others have perished.
NOLLA
A large prosperous country with an immensely affluent agrarian economy. Relatively untouched by the Ancients save for the ever-dangerous coastlines, people are able to live relatively peaceful lives in the pastoral setting. Still, a growing number of incidents draw worry.
There is a large incentive to ensure that Eden is safe from harm as the majority of the world’s food is produced here. Supply lines to and from the capitol are closely monitored and guarded by military presence. The primary method of shipping is by railroad.
EDEN
An industrial country that has natural reserves of fuel to power their large machinery. Despite being a tiny area, the technology of Xu'anh is constantly advancing and the cities experienced a population boom in recent decades. Many areas are urban metropolises practically bursting with life.
After the sinking of Nolla, residual waves flooded many of the coastal cities. As a result, the entire coastline has been barricaded by enormous walls to protect them from future disaster. The citizens live with the constant worry that one day, their stronghold will be breached.
XU'ANH
One of the largest nations and de facto leader of NOVUM operations due to their centralized location and ownership of the island. The land of Therenir is rich in natural resources and their military prowess is unparalleled. For that reason, despite the numerous Ancient attacks, nearly every large city is still intact. Citizens here live out their lives mostly in peace, but are prepared to flee at a siren’s notice.
The consequence is that areas outside are hardly more than hollowed out warzones and many of the agricultural regions of the land are ruined. To survive outside the walled cities of Therenir is no less than a miracle.
THERENIR
A mid-sized country with a river bisecting it, Cazra is a temperate rainforest area with heavy rainfall in the spring and autumn. The land is semi-rural, with a few large cities along the northern border. Many young folks leave their homes in the countryside to seek more exciting things.
The entire southern portion of the land has been destroyed , and many riverside communities have been abandoned due to the danger the waterways now pose. But the people here are resilient, and while they might fish up the occasional monster or two, they have devised efficient ways of dispatching them.
CAZRA
The Tanoh Federation is composed of many trading communities who joined forces after the Arrival. A fledgling republic with representatives from each area, they have banded together (for now) and are on equal footing with the other nations. The area is extremely large, and the climate ranges from arid to tropical.
Relying on the icy mountains to keep the larger overrun areas at bay, most of their time has been spent searching for adequate defenses against rapidly growing danger area in the southeast. However, nothing has worked so far, and many have been killed or gone missing.
TANOH FEDERATION
A militaristic nation that takes NOVUM’s creed very seriously and is one of its staunchest supporters. The collapse of the old government after the first series of attacks has rendered the country under permanent martial law and they have taken a hardline stance against Ancients. Much of the current workforce is dedicated to producing artillery and weapons to supply the rest of the world.
Previously an industrial hub, Altor was responsible for much of the large-scale manufacturing that Xu'anh was unable to keep up with. Due to disruption in factories and supply chains, Altorian goods are highly coveted.
REPUBLIC OF ALTOR
A nation founded on the longstanding tradition of academic excellence, Shilgo is home to top academic institutions. Their doors are open to anyone that qualifies, and nations will send the best and brightest; many of NOVUM’s researchers are alumnus. The presence of Ancients has made it difficult to operate normally, and several people have been stranded for years, unable to go home.
The southern half of Shilgo functions independently as a primarily agricultural society. The large, dormant volcano in the area makes the land extremely fertile. But the area has since been hit with repeated disasters and most have evacuated.
SHILGO
ANYJABU
Perhaps one of the most hostile regions to live in before the Arrival, the Ancients have made this place infinitely worse. Dry and scorching desert makes up the vast majority of Anyjabu, and the back country is filled with various dangerous animals. Still, the cities along the western coast and northern border bustled with life, skyscrapers filling the horizon, the waterfronts filled with boats.
Aberrations here are notoriously dangerous, having corrupted from some of the hardiest animals on the planet. It takes constant military presence just to prevent them from encroaching on the few remaining safe areas.
