Mare Noctis is a planet composed of almost entirely water. The world is shrouded by darkness, with the sun being visible for only a third of the day. Terrestrial life is rare, but it does still exist in a few places. One such place is the Cascades, a spire that rises from the ocean with several waterfalls cascading down its length.
There are six defined layers of the Cascades, each with its own environment, challenges, and culture. The most prominent species making its home here are Tatsukoi, a species of semi-aquatic dragon. They are very inquisitive and adventurous creatures, which compels them to try to make their way to the top. There are populations of Tatsukoi scattered all over the falls, most of them having climbed from the bottom, as is tradition for the species.
The Cascades, as said before, is comprised of six layers. Each layer is separated by waterfalls extending down the sides of the spire. These falls become more and more difficult to scale the higher you go, which causes many Tatsukoi to remain in the relative safety of the first three layers. However, many seek to reach the utopia of the sixth layer.
Those who wish to conquer the entirety of the falls often meet an untimely fate, but for those who can power through each of the layers, a world of peace and beauty awaits.
For information regarding any of the six layers, click on the layer's respective button!
LAYER ONE LAYER TWO LAYER THREE LAYER FOUR LAYER FIVE LAYER SIX
Tatsukoi society tends to be peaceful, with conflicts being resolved through diplomacy rather than violence.
However, each layer has its own way of life, and while some do maintain the peace commonly found in Tatsukoi society, others may be more prone to conflict.
Tatsukoi culture also tends to place emphasis on the creative arts. Many believing that self expression is a very important part of life. They believe it is important for the stories and feelings of the current generation should be conveyed creatively so the generations of the future can see the lives they once lived. Buildings and other structures are commonly decorated with paintings and carvings. Due to the importance of art in their society, artists, musicians, bards, and other creatives are often held in high regard.
Tatsukoi also tend to live in tandem with the nature of the Cascaces, with natural landscape elements being preserved within the cities. Beautiful and lush gardens are also very prevalent in many of the larger cities.
Each layer has its own culture, dialects, and general way of life. You can get a better idea of how each layer is by reading its respective description!
In Mare Noctis, magic is the raw energy of life itself. When a living being dies, its spirit passes on into the Sea of Spirits where it will remain. A soul that passes on is able to live a life in the heaven it provides until it one day decides to be reborn back into the mortal world. The cycle of death and rebirth creates an abundance of magic that can be woven into spells to enrich the lives of mortals. Magic exists between the mortal world and the Sea of Spirits. It is not visible to mortalkind.
Tatsukoi souls seem to be able to weave magic more easily than other creatures found in the Cascades, most being able to cast beginner level magic at least. (ex. Cleaning a surface, igniting a candle, etc. [Essentially just look up Prestidigitation from DnD 5E, anything that spell can do]) Many can at least learn how to wield intermediate magic through training. Common examples of intermediate magic include small-scale elemental magic (summoning fire, shaping water, molding terrain), minor healing magic (non-lethal wounds, poisons, etc.), minor skill and/or strength enhancements, and more!
Mastering magic past the intermediate level is a difficult task that takes several years to learn, and many more to master. Many give up and settle at the intermediate level. Examples of advanced magic include teleportation, major healing magic (lethal wounds, limb regrowth, etc.), transformation magic, major scale elemental magic, and more! There are several taboo spells that fall under this category as well, such as resurrection, animating the dead, and mind control.
Anything past advanced magic is near impossible and only a handful of Tatsukoi in recorded history have been noted as doing anything past advanced magic. Most occurrences of this type of magic are in a moment of immense desperation, and often take a physical toll on the user, sometimes killing the user after the spell has been cast. This type of magic is often referred to as miracle magic, as its effects are typically only something that could be perceived as a miracle. The only known living user of miracle magic is Cyrus, who used it 200 years ago to shatter a meteor threatening to impact the falls. Many believe this may not have been his first time wielding this type of magic, as it did not affect him in as major of a way as previously recorded in other miracle magic cases. Cyrus denies any suggestion of this.