Fantasy Writing Archives

Magical Items of Zalonia

1. The Shattered Crown of Kings

Description: A crown once worn by an ancient king who united a vast empire. The crown was shattered into several pieces when the empire fell, and each piece is now held by different rival factions, each claiming to be the true heir to the throne. This was the first place to be destroyed in the Great Battle of the First Age.

Controversy: Scholars argue over who has the right to reunite the crown, as ancient texts are unclear about the true lineage of the kings. Different regions and factions claim the crown’s fragments as their own, leading to political and military conflict. Some even believe that reuniting the crown would bring back the old empire, while others fear it would awaken a terrible curse.

2. The Tablet of Prophecy

Description: A stone tablet said to contain a prophecy about the world’s future. However, the tablet is incomplete, and scholars have debated for centuries over the missing pieces, each interpreting the prophecy in radically different ways.

Controversy: Various religious and political groups claim that the tablet supports their agenda, often using it to justify wars, leadership changes, or societal upheaval. Some scholars believe that the missing pieces are deliberately hidden, while others think they were destroyed to prevent a dark future.

3. The Sword of the Fallen Star

Description: A blade forged from a meteorite that fell to the planet during the Second Age. The sword is said to have been wielded by an ancient hero who saved the world from a great evil.

Controversy: While some believe the sword belongs to the descendants of the hero, others claim that the blade has corrupted those who wield it, and that it was actually a tool of ancient evil. The sword’s true origins are shrouded in mystery, and some argue that it should be destroyed, while others think it could be a weapon of salvation in future conflicts.

4. The Scrolls of Eternity

Description: An ancient collection of scrolls said to contain the secrets of immortality. They were believed to have been written by an ancient race that vanished mysteriously. They were found by the quintum as they searched the parts of the Isles of Desolation that were still not underwater.

Controversy: While many scholars dismiss the scrolls as myths, some claim to have found fragments, leading to fierce debate over whether the knowledge should be shared with the world. Religious orders claim that immortality is a violation of natural law, while others seek the scrolls for personal gain. Conflicts arise over whether the scrolls are real, and if so, who deserves to hold them.

5. The Bones of Dragon-like Species

Description: Massive bones discovered in a remote mountain range, believed to be the remains of the first dragon-like species—a creature central to the mythology of many cultures in the world.

Controversy: Different races and kingdoms claim the bones as their heritage, and some argue over whether the creature was a benevolent god or a malevolent beast. There are also disputes over the bones’ potential power, with some believing they could be used to resurrect dragons, while others think they hold untold magical energy. Religious factions might view the bones as sacred relics, while others want to harness their power for war. There are questions as to whether the bones belong to a dragon or not because there is only one dragon that is known, and is alive. Some, especially the medes don’t believe they are bones of an actual dragon. This is because the dragon in Zalonia is one of the great beasts, and there is only one of each when it comes to great beasts, so there can be only one dragon.

6. The Everglass Chalice

Description: A mystical chalice said to grant eternal youth to anyone who drinks from it. The chalice is believed to have been used by an ancient royal family, but its origins are obscure.

Controversy: Some claim that the chalice is cursed, as every ruler who drank from it met a tragic end. Others view it as a symbol of power and immortality. Competing factions fight over its authenticity, with some calling it a forgery and others seeking to control its power. There is also debate about whether eternal youth should be wielded at all.

7. The Compass of the Lost Age

Description: An ancient, ornate compass said to guide its bearer to a lost city that holds unimaginable riches or ancient knowledge. However, it no longer points to a true direction, and only a few know how to decipher its movements.

Controversy: Explorers, adventurers, and nations all vie for control of the compass, each interpreting its movements differently. Some believe the lost city holds magical artifacts that could change the balance of power in the world, while others argue the city never existed and that the compass is a trap leading to doom. Theories abound about whether the compass was broken, enchanted, or never worked as intended.

8. The Staff of Ascension

Description: A powerful staff said to have been wielded by a god-like figure who ruled the world in ancient times. The staff is believed to bestow god-like powers on whoever holds it, but it has been lost for centuries. The staff is virtually indestructible. Magicians seek it out because they want to use it to add to their powers.

Controversy: Various religious and political groups claim that the staff belongs to them, and there are rumors that it has reappeared. Some factions argue that the staff’s power should never be used again, as it caused the downfall of the ancient civilization. Others believe it could bring peace and unity, leading to conflicts over who should wield it.

9. The Mask of the Betrayer

Description: A golden mask worn by an ancient figure who betrayed their people, leading to the downfall of an entire kingdom. Legends say that the mask holds the power of the betrayer’s spirit and can influence whoever wears it.

Controversy: The mask is found and passed between rulers and thieves alike, each claiming they are immune to its curse. Some believe the mask is a key to great power, while others think it will bring ruin to whoever possesses it. Different factions try to destroy it, while others see it as a tool to rewrite history or undo the betrayal.

10. The Mirror of Truth

Description: A large mirror said to reveal the true nature of anyone who looks into it. It was once held by a great king who used it to judge his people, but it has been lost for generations.

Controversy: When the mirror is rediscovered, some claim it is a forgery, while others believe it shows not just the truth of individuals but the truth of the world itself. People fear what the mirror might reveal about their leaders or their own dark secrets. Religious leaders might argue that only the gods should know the full truth, while rebels see it as a tool to expose corrupt rulers.

11. The Coin of Destiny

Description: An ancient coin said to determine the fate of empires. Whoever flips the coin will receive a prophecy or a vision of the future, but the outcomes are always ambiguous, leading to multiple interpretations.

Controversy: The coin is passed between rulers, adventurers, and fortune-seekers, each trying to use it to gain an edge. However, the vague and cryptic visions it provides cause as much chaos as clarity, leading to wars and betrayals based on different interpretations of the same vision.

12. The Book of Unwritten Tales

Description: A massive, ancient tome that is said to write itself, recording the deeds of those who are destined to change the world. The book’s pages are blank when first found, but it begins to write as events unfold.

Controversy: Different leaders and factions vie to control the book, each believing that their destiny is recorded within. Some see it as a divine oracle, while others think it is cursed and will doom those who seek to fulfill the prophecies it contains. There are also rumors that the book can be manipulated or rewritten by those with the right knowledge.

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The Fifth Age Of Zalonia

Age 5 – Year 2 – The Famous Witch Nora is Born.

Age 5 – Year 3 – Arsendia, the Prophetess, is born.

Age 5 – Years 5-10 – A ruling elite takes over Magdad and connects with the celestial realm to keep the Creatrix bound.

Age 5 – Throughout the age – Druids, High Priests, and Priestesses – While there were none of these before, they start to become more prominent, and Magdad created a special training program for them. Several new temples are built to honor the new gods. Temples were much rarer in Zalonia in the prior ages.

Age 5 – Year 668 – Kingdom Within United Territories beings construction –This is founded by the Wizard Catino and those who travel with him

Age 5 – Year 1639 – Elves Quest – Matthias and Xandria go on their quest in the Elements Pentalogy

Overview – The History of Zalonia

The Planet is called Aztharian. The most well-known continent is Zalonia, but there are other continents that exist. There are five planets total and three moons that are generally seen from the continent of Zalonia.

No one knows how exactly the universe came about. Not even the Prophet of Old or the Great Historian was given the vision of what came before the universe

In the beginning, there was a giant explosion creating infinite parallel universes. The explosion was created by the Nine Ancient Ones, who organized the universes as they exploded. These universes held magic within them. Some had strong magic, and some had weak magic. If the magic were too strong, the universe would be destroyed by the misuse of power. If the magic were too weak, then people would die from sadness because they would have no hope. The magic of hope is a strong enough magic to keep a universe alive. Our universe is a world with just enough magic, whereas the fantasy world of Aztharian has much stronger magic until the ages come to an end.

Ruinoneo was the first, with no known origin. It wasn’t made by the Nine Ancient Ones, and they don’t even know where it came from. It came before the explosion and, at some point in time, was attached to Aztharian. It existed before the first creation of Aztharian. There was an unknown good species that inhibited it at one time that knew the prophecies of the planet of Aztharian, even though it was not attached to the planet yet. They inscribed the prophecies in a lost language in hopes of saving some. They had a leading prophet known by some as “The Prophet of Old,” but they don’t know their origin. They inhibited the city, but were overcome by the original evil force. However, as they went down, they cursed the city, killing anything alive and bringing the evil force to death along with them. Had they not used this curse, evil would have spread over Aztharian and the universe. The ancient good and the ancient evil combined as one, and everything that came after had aspects of both. These aspects are often denied by most, besides a select few philosophers. This is a parallel to the Yin-Yang

Many medes and some of the other scholars of the world believe that life first came from very small particles that combined together.

Centuries (billions of years according to some of the medes and some scholars) came and passed before the beginning of life came into being. The four elements of earth, fire, water, and air existed, but Spirit had not entered yet. When Spirit descended upon the elements, life came into existence. The beginning of life marked the beginning of humans, animals, and plants.

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Other Space Phenomena

Aetherlites

Aetherlites are other objects that can be seen using instruments like telescopes. The medes can see them with their eyes, which are seven times the strength of the human eye. They are light objects that orbit around the sun. They have a short lifespan of about 3,000 years for a really large one, to about 500 years for a small one. There is fear among medes that these objects could collide with Aztharian. In fact, some medes have predictions as to when one will hit. However, no one knows for sure because it is hard to tell where they are coming from, and each has a different orbit. They produce their own light source, and if one comes near the planet, even humans can see them with their naked eyes.

Glimmerglobes

These are objects that glow, but are smaller than the stars and planets. They are part of the solar system, but do not follow a particular path. There is some fear among the medes that one of these can collide with Aztharian and destroy the planet. However, the glimmerglobes have an antigravity aspect to them which is how they seem to avoid colliding with large bodies such as planets.

Skygleams/Shineliths

Skygleams/Shineliths are objects in the sky that appear similar to stars. However, they are low in gravity. Legend has it that the Nine Ancient Ones put them there as constellations to help give people directions. They do not twinkle like stars but hold a solid look. They are larger than the sun, but are at least a few light-years from the solar system. They are called both shineliths and skygleams, depending on which culture is talking about them.

Celestiorbs

Merging “celestial” with “orbs,” this term emphasizes their heavenly, spherical nature. They are beautiful if peering through an instrument. They are almost like crystals, and they give off their own light. They are different from the stars and are typically diamond-shaped. There are only three or four that can be seen in the night sky. It is believed to hold certain magical meaning, such as it is good to focus on a celestiorb when it is in the sky. The main magic it produces is that of healing. There are temples that have open ceilings so people can be healed through these space objects. Some high priests and priestess can access their magical properties, especially if their magical strength is in healing others.

Luminarocks:

A simple combination of “luminous” and “rocks,” indicating their glowing appearance and possibly lower density compared to normal stars. They can only be told apart from the stars due to their behavior. They are in the solar system, and while small, they have a strong glow to them. Once in a while, they will crash onto the planet, and magic users often grab the remnants. While the remnants can be used for magical purposes, the luminarocks have no magical qualities while they are up in the sky.

The dust gathered from them can enhance many magical abilities. It is often used in times of war, whether it is a defensive or an offensive war. A laser-like beam can be produced by the particles of luminarocks, and the laser is typically deadly. It is a great advantage to have luminarocks in war, but they are very hard to find.

Ethereospheres

Combining “ethereal,” which conveys a light, airy quality, with “spheres,” indicating their shape. They are the largest objects found in space, and there aren’t any in the same galaxy in the stories. They are bigger than galaxies, but they are so far away that their influence is minimal. They are not close enough to be able to work with in a magical sense. However, they appear in various shapes like triangles and circles. They are too far away to see with the naked eye, but the medes have found them using their devices to stretch how far they can see.

Radiant Stones

A more literal name that directly describes their appearance and nature. They are asteroids that glow, and they have their own irregular belt that is typically between Onog and Anohpmi, but they sometimes come closer. Sometimes, a Radiant Stone can go off course and crash on either. There are magical properties that give one the ability to temporarily disappear. They can also make one quieter when sneaking up on someone, so they can be used for this in times of war. They also work as lie detectors. The one accused of lying has to come before the stone, and if he is lying, then the stone glows. The larger stones, about 9 inches in diameter, can sometimes help a person teleport to a different part of Zalonia.

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Planets of Zalonia

Latrina (1st Planet)

It is similar in size to Aztharian, but is too hot for life as it is the closest planet to the sun. However, there might be heat-resistant beings on it, but no one is certain. Once in a while, the planet can cause a small eclipse, but not as thick as a lunar eclipse. The surface can reach 300 degrees F, but it rotates more slowly than Aztharian, and the side facing away from the sun can get down to about 50 degrees. Most of the planet is covered by an unknown light green liquid.

It represents both romantic and sensual love, creativity, artistry, and self-expression. It rules beauty and pleasure, arts and crafts, all of the sweet things of life. It is particularly associated with sexuality, but like the Maiden, her most essential quality is strength of self.

In negative terms, Latrina is associated with selfishness, greed, and indulgence. Negative Latrina thinks of herself first, and others second, if at all. Over-indulgence of all sorts, but especially sexual, is associated with Negative Latrina, as well as a conspicuous lack of concern over consequences.

Symbology – The hieroglyph for Latrina is the Sphere of the Conscious Self over the Cross of Matter; that is to say, the conscious self-expressing itself in the physical, with little reference to the Higher Self.

Aztharian – World (2nd Planet)

Aztharian is the world where Zalonia exists. Think of it as an alternate world that’s roughly the same size as Earth and follows similar rules of physics, especially gravity. However, the continents and landmasses are arranged differently. Most of the stories happen on the large landmass of Zalonia, but there are other big landmasses on Azatharian with lots of mysterious things, creatures, and more.

People have lived on Azatharian for a really long time. The folks in Zalonia can trace their roots back to close to the beginning of the First Age when they were created. But there are whispers about a Lost Age that might go even further back. On those other landmasses, there are beings that might have been around since that rumored Lost Age.

Now, some ancient stories, especially those from a few mede historians, talk about the Prophet of Old and their descendants in a place called Ruinoneo before it was cursed. Legends say that this Prophet might have been the one who made medes, humans, and the legendary stiminites. But remember, these are really old legends, and a lot of time has passed. There’s some evidence that hints at these ideas, but it’s all a bit of a mystery now.

There’s something unique about its night sky. Instead of regular stars, they have these magical constellations known as the “9 constellations.” These constellations are made up of objects with very little gravitational pull. They might look like stars or planets to the naked eye, but they’re different. They don’t twinkle like our stars; instead, they move across the sky like stars, which could be quite puzzling for someone from Earth who notices these differences.

It has 3 primary moons, which can cause various kinds of tides. There is only one star in the solar system similar to our sun.

Populations exist where food, water, warmth, and shelter

World Population
Humans – 13 million
Medes – 950,000
Elves before destruction – 3 million – There is one elven territory not found in Zalonia
Woodland Elves – 100,000 – They are only in Zalonia
Frolm – 500,000 before the shadow thieves and about 2,500 after – All in Zalonia
Rokars – 9 million
Sxiox – 2 million

Alien Satellite (3rd Planet) – Onog

Onog is a satellite that is near Aztharian. It is used as a base for technology and weapons to spy and try to influence things on Aztharian. There is a wormhole on the side that faces away from Aztharian that leads to the aliens’ (Gnonows) home planet. It is a very compact satellite, but small and further away than the blue moon. To the human eye, it looks like a faint planet. The medes can see it better, but they can’t see the aliens themselves. The aliens also use a force field that the medes can’t see through. This is the satellite they used when they fought in the Great Battle of the Fourth Age. Some believe this is the furthest planet away because of its small size, but it is relatively close to Aztharian.

Gas Giant (4rd Planet) – Anohpmi

This is a further out planet, a little bigger than Jupiter, that works as a shield to destructive materials such as comets and asteroids. Seen up close, it looks like a beautiful planet and has several moons. There are said to be over a hundred moons. It has various colors such as red, yellow, blue, brown, and so on. It is an impossible planet to survive on because of the gravity, but the moons could possibly hold life. It is the biggest object in the night sky besides the moons revolving around Aztharian. Its diameter is thirteen times as long as Aztharian. It takes about 8.6 years to orbit the sun. It is often associated with wisdom.

It is a symbol of wisdom according to the medes. When it is seen in the sky, the medes study a little harder because they believe they will gain knowledge more clearly when it is visible. It is a gas giant with hundreds of moons revolving around it.

There are several spots on Anohpmi which the medes believe are dangerous storms, but they are uncertain. The spots seem to move around on the planet and increase and decrease in size at a slow rate. Its magnetic atmosphere is so strong that it can crush virtually everything that comes through it.

Anohpmi has many moons, and it is possible that they have life, especially the moons with water on them. Between their strong eyesight and telescopes, the medes can’t see the moons well enough to see actual other beings on the moon, but there seem to be enormous structures that appear to have been built by intelligent life.

Gas Giant (5th Planet) – Itenasa

This is the furthest planet away from the sun. It is about half the size of Aztharian. The planet appears blueish green due to its methane gases. There is rumored to be life on this planet among the Zalonians, but that’s only been in legends. Not much is known about this planet, and even the Gnonows have never explored it or looked at it closely. It holds about 20 moons, some fully made out of ice. It is also believed to be a portal somewhere in Zalonia that can reach this planet, or at least near it. This planet also has rings like Saturn.

It is often associated with chaos and uncertainty among the Quintum. The Quintum will never point their ships toward Itenasa because they believe this will lead them to chaotic situations at sea, such as large storms and whirlpools.

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