Fiction:Arcadia

"Hear me, my child, there is a land where all is quiet and at rest,'' Where lanterns glow and angels fly by heaven's father's blessed, Where Father Kauraran will take us all one day And smite the void abhorrent and then seal fore'er away."

- poem about Midnight

Arcadia is the name given to a cosmological domain that comprises of the two realms of Zenith and Midnight, ruled respectively by the celestial deity and the Simulacrum of Purity,. Arcadia is sometimes referred to as the heavenly domain of the universe, despite the frequent attestation of Midnight being one of the twelve hells to.

History
Arcadia is allegedly one of the three distinct cosmological domains within the Aethereal Firmament; the Chaosphere, Arcadia itself and the worlds between that consist of most of the realms of the Simulacra and Koldenwelt. Some believe that Outworld may have been Arcadian in origin, though most agree that it is much more closely linked with Koldenwelt than Zenith or Midnight. The Arcadian Domain is known to have existed long before civilisation began on Koldenwelt, though like all other realms has existed concurrently with the rest of the Aethereal Firmament since before the beginning of time.

It is known that prehistoric cultures, primarily the Orichalcum Elves and were aware of the existence of Arcadia as the highest rank of the Arcadians, the  had introduced civilisation to the earliest cultures on Koldenwelt, as well as teaching some of the i races language. Zenith was treated as the paradise realm of the Orichalcum Elves for much of their history, whilst cultures that still worship Nalashtannylor in turn treat Midnight as their paradise realm.

Apart from the apparent mythology taught by these two cultures, no history whatsoever pertaining to Arcadia remains other than the stories told about them. Some of the earliest myths of the Arcadian realms tell stories of wars between the Moon Phoenixes and Sun Phoenixes, which greatly ired both Nalashtannylor and Soldalatel. In the modern age, it is known that Midnight was destroyed by following his resurrection on Koldenwelt, though it was later restored to its former condition by Nalashtannylor not long after his own resurrection. The fate of Zenith remains entirely unknown, though it is believed that it remains, like Midnight, in a state of activity unknown to mortals.

Zenith


Zenith is the realm governed by. It is bathed in eternal sunlight, and is said to be a set of perfectly symmetrical landmasses scattered across a deep sea. In mythological terms, Zenith is the highest of all realms ruled by the gods, though others believe that Zenith is the southern half of one greater landmass, where Midnight is the northern half. Of all fifteen known realms within the Aethereal Firmament, Zenith is the one most like that of Koldenwelt. Zenith has a vast populace of Arcadians, the specific name given to their denziens of which have multiple ethnicities and ranks which have been allowed to thrive independently in the absence of the Echdrarothrayu. They themselves have their own governments and civilisations independent of one another.

Scores of wildlife also thrive within Zenith, though very little have been described in the mythology passed on by the Orichalcum Elves. The Orichalcum Elves themselves believed that they were a rank of Arcadians, though the mythology involving the Echdrarothrayu would disprove that theory. Sun magic is the prevailing magical force within Zenith, and like Midnight, Zenith is completely inaccessible to beings of any plane - so much so that no method to venture into Zenith has ever been devised, let alone contemplated. It is said that any mortal that tries to enter Zenith is so overwhelmed by its magical force that they are, at the very least, driven mad by it.

Midnight


Midnight is the realm governed by. The magical opposite of Zenith, Midnight, like its namesake is constantly plunged into eternal night, and is said to be a landmass smaller than that of Koldenwelt (about three quarters of the size of the Slumbering Lands) suspended in the void of space. Midnight is the second highest of all realms according to some - above that of Outworld, and below that of Zenith - although others believe that Midnight is the northern half the greater continent to which Zenith is the southern half. Midnight is usually described as a realm experiencing an eternal winter, and the Arcadians of this realm embody the coldness of this realm. Midnight is said to be sparsely populated in comparison to Zenith, and has a far more peaceful atmosphere to it.

Wildlife is even more diverse than the life within Zenith, though much like Zenith, little insight was given to the Néva. Unlike the Orichalcum Elves, the Néva were aware that they were world-born elves rather than a kind of Arcadian. Storm magic is the dominant force of Midnight, hence the somewhat more turbulent weather that the realm experiences at times. Though as inaccessible as Zenith, Nalashtannylor has invited mortals into his realm on more than one occasion in the past, and it is known to have no adverse effect on the mind or body of those who wander through it. Due to the 'darker' magic that is prevalent in Midnight, it is generally considered a Simulacrum realm.

Arcadians
The Arcadians are the denizens of both Zenith and Midnight, and the term demon or angel is used interchangeably to describe the nature of one or the other. Arcadians are typically immortal and imperishable entities, and generally greater in size and ability than the common mortal. Very little is known of the Arcadians, though there is veritable evidence that the Arcadians have walked on Koldenwelt at some point in its history, long before written history began. Many think that the s and s are Arcadian in nature also, but it is accepted that the two kinds were inherently born with that power upon Koldenwelt.

Echdrarothrayu†=




 * Name -
 * Size - Whatever they will it to be
 * Relative Threat - Extremely High

The Echdrarothrayu, known by Koldenweltians as the Phoenixes were the highest rank of Arcadians that existed both as the Aúrdrovma (Sun Phoenixes) and Kaúvradrovma, who existed in Zenith and Midnight respectively. Ultimately seen as the architects of civilisation by some, the Echdrarothrayu influenced much of Koldenwelt's early civilisation by teaching them the concepts of language, civilisation in itself, and magic to some others. Throughout history, those directly influenced by the Echdrarothrayu treated them as gods. The Echdrarothrayu were later destroyed by, leaving as their last survivor. As Kinmorunddraver's soul merged with that of Nalashtannylor's own soul, the last phoenix on Koldenwelt was no longer his own entity, thus rendering the Echdrarothrayu extinct.

Nidhráz=




 * Name -
 * Size - 2.90 m
 * Relative Threat - High

The Nidhráz a race of equine Arcadians native of Midnight. A very small number of the Nidhráz remain on Koldenwelt, known as Tempest Horses to some - these individual Nidhráz are said to have been on Koldenwelt since the time of the first visitation of the Echdrarothrayu over thirty millennia ago. Known for their incredibly elusive nature, the Nidhráz are seen as a fortuitous omen to those who believe in Nalashtannylor. Approaching a Nidhráz is by most accounts impossible - they are known for their unnaturally fast-paced galloping, which has been said to burn down forests as they leave trails of flame behind them. The have made many attempts to hunt them down to extinction.