ToC Backstory

Somewhere in the uncharted lands of great Kebiras, amidst the myriad mysteries that pockmark its surface, one may find the strangest place of all.

Its existence is a paradox, for it is a site of sustained chaos, in constant yet cyclical flux: it is said the laws that bind the world at large hold little sway in this singularity. Thus, it has become the origin of many a myth and legend – a means to explain ghastly apparitions and unique phenomena in both the daytime heavens and darkling skies. Due to this, some call it the Beyonders’ Gate whilst others revere it as the God Circle. Though nary a culture agrees on its name, its purported location is a rather different matter; indeed, rumour has it that this land of promise sleeps in the crook of a sunless valley, hidden beneath the barren shroud of dead stones and grey canopies. There, its secrets were said to have lain untouched, from the day of their inception and forever onward.

Yet, it is not so. Whereas many today perceive this mystic realm like they do the fallen gods of yore, a select few could still see beyond the old wives’ tales. These are men and women of great wisdom, knowledge and power: once solitary heroes, legends and dark lieges whose influence spanned the four corners of Althanas, and even further than that. As all who followed the path to godhood before them, they grew weary of worldly matters, of right and wrong, good and evil, and the distinctions in between. Instead, they turned their weary eyes to the furthering of their knowledge, a goal that ineluctably led them to this garden of secrets, at the heart of Kebiras. There, they formed of powerful cabal, and set out on their greatest endeavour yet: the gathering of powerful beings from other worlds – of other dimensions – for a tournament of unprecedented proportions.

Using the mysterious powers that sprang from the Garden of Secrets, they created rifts to countless other worlds, both distant and contiguous. Hereupon, each member of the Cabal acted on its own, to usher or to lure the objects of their study into their own world. One sent artefacts that radiated great energy through the dimensional rifts, certain that only the strongest or wisest would resonate with these items. Those who discovered them would subsequently be informed of the Cabal’s purpose and of the vast rewards for those who would choose to step through the threshold. Others were formal in their tactics, sending invitations to each world’s governing power, inviting the greatest minds and strongest arms – or any analogous expression of superiority – into their home for this competition, with the promise of granting, within the realm of their power, the wishes of the winners’ world. Some were, alas, not as courteous, as they set portal traps in locations where great powers converged, leading to a series of most unfortunate abductions.

Still, no matter what means were used, they were successful in bringing to Althanas a motley assortment of champions from innumerable realms. Whether they came for the promise of sport or the lure of power, for the call of greed or the sake of knowledge, it mattered not. What mattered was that they were here, now, in the Garden of Secrets…

And for the Cabal, they would fight.

• Hosting the Tournament of Champions is a group of powerful beings on their way to godhood, who wish to learn more about other worlds, their culture, their science and physical laws (including magic). The point of the Tournament is to observe the powers, technology and physiological advantages of the competitors pitted against one another, among other things.

• The Garden of Secrets is located in a vague region of Kebiras, which is, for all intents and purposes, a mass of uncharted lands east of the known continents of Althanas. It is a place riddled with space-time anomalies, which were used by the Cabal to create portals to your character's homeland. Other than that, it contains various other unexplored portals. Also, it has a Waffle House.

• The winning team will be granted one wish (either theirs, of their home world's), as long as it is within the power of the Cabal, that it does not cause harm to them and various other things that were subtly inserted as fine print on your invitation cards. An example of the range of things they can offer. Your characters will be given a chance to voice their wishes prior to the tournament, so that the Cabal may decided whether or not it is possible for them to grant it.

• To explain your character's arrival, you may use anything you can think of. The Cabal is made of an indefinite number of members, and each have used their own ways to attract people from other worlds and dimensions. Here are a list of ideas, including the examples from the back-story:

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Tracking the powerful emanations from an artifact (what kind is up to you) sent to your character's homeland. Upon finding it, a portal opens to the Garden of Secrets, and your character is informed in his/her/its own language of the Cabal, the tournament, and the winners' right to be granted a wish.

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Your character's home government was sent an invitation through a large portal, disclosing the same information as in the above example. It also invites great minds that have no interest in fighting to join as well, for the sharing of knowledge between worlds.

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Your character falls into a portal trap by accident, and is whisked away into the Garden of Secrets against his/her/its will.

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Your character stumbles upon the Garden of Secrets by pure chance.

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Your character finds the Garden of Secrets by his/her/its own means after actively looking for it.

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Your character was attracted by a magical beacon that marks the location of the Garden of Secrets.

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Anything you can think of that's convenient for you and your character.

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• If your character originates from Althanas, all of the above still applies.