Lore Bible: The World of 'A Heroic Death' (Chapters 1-8)
1. Geography and Atmosphere: The Urban Decay of Kilder
The City of Kilder:
Kilder, the sprawling capital of Yewlin, is less a city and more a sepulchre of secrets. It is defined by a pervasive "dark mist" that clings to every street corner, acting as a shroud for the forgotten and a veil for the city's endemic corruption. Within these mist-laden cracks and crumbling concrete structures, memories of shame and regret fester. The social order is hollowed out by a police force where detectives find more profit in bribes than in justice, leaving the citizenry to rot in the gloom.
The Burrow of Gurun:
The Burrow of Gurun serves as the nation's melting pot of social unrest. It is a district where urban decay meets the harsh glare of neon; mould-infested corners and peeling yellow wallpaper are illuminated by vibrant lights reflecting off blood-soaked sidewalks. The population is a desperate mix of gang members, people with an addiction, and those crushed by insurmountable debt. It is a place where the human outline on a wet sidewalk is a common sight, ignored by a populace that has traded pity for disgust.
Climate and Environment:
In Yewlin, the joke remains that there are only two seasons: "winter and colder winter." Even during the summer months, a biting chill persists. The sky over Kilder is a perpetual "pewter" grey, and when snow falls, it is never white; it descends as a soot-colored slush that mirrors the filth of the streets below.
2. Metaphysics: The Mechanics of Miracles
The Origin of Miracles
The "Miracle-born" are a microscopic minority possessing supernatural abilities rooted in their former lives and "noble deaths." While the state-funded scientific community—bolstered by the president's own son being Miracle-born—desperately seeks to codify the "pure-hearted death," the exact mechanics remain a mystery. These powers are often viewed as a sign from the angels to "break through the dark mist," though their manifestation varies widely.
Classification of Abilities
Miracle names and users:
Title: Unkown
User: Korven
Ability: Reviews past memories and failures with perfect clarity.
Catalyst: Self-harm (snapping fingers like carrots or slitting palms).
Past self: Unknown
Title: Guardian
User: Aldrick Yyelter
Ability: Heals and protects others from injury or death (even broken ribs/bullet wounds).
Catalyst: Contact with a shield-shaped amulet. Limit: Must see the target; cannot heal self.
Past self: King Dorsin the second: heroic King who died in battle after being ambushed, in the myth.
Title: Static
User: Hrin
Ability: Absorbs electricity to enhance movement and thinking speed.
Catalyst: Contact with electricity (Lightning bolt amulet acts as a battery).
Past Self: Yiun Gint: Inventor who dedicated his life to developing the modern technology of the world. Died in his lab while working on electrical surgical equipment.
Title: Vanish
User: Silia
Ability:Invisibility or mimicry of the observer; the user "has no true self."
Catalyst: Touching transparent objects (glass). Limit: Form is lost if the user speaks.
Past Self: Olyvin Lind: An average girl whose throat was slit by a serial killer while staring into a mirror. In her last moments, she started a recording that helped catch the killer.
Title: Blaze
User: Arune
Ability: Unknown
Catalyst: Unknown. Used to consolidate Gurun's underworld.
Past Self: Henrick Gueln: Ran into a burning building to save his baby brother, his brother survived, but Henrik died from the burns
Title: Dream Walker
User: King Dytler Yewlin
Ability: Could enter people's dreams
Catalyst: Watching someone fall asleep. Limit: has to watch them the whole time
Past self: Slisz: Saved a fellow soldier's life in an action that put themselves in a coma
3. Major Factions and Power Players
The Protagonist: Korven
An independent investigator with pale skin and emerald-blue eyes, after an encounter with Aldrick, had suspiciously healthy hair that had once been brown and damaged. She resides in a single-room apartment that serves as a physical manifestation of her "exhaustion-inspired fits of genius," with walls covered in red string and blurry photographs.
The Litany of the Investigator:
"I am Korven, I see through the secrets of Kilder, and it is up to me to cut through them."
The Chosen Angels (Cult)
• Leadership: Father Guardian (Aldrick Yyelter). The fourth son of the current president, Aldrick, is a charismatic figure with curly blonde hair and a scar on his cheek from his "missing" years. He claims to be the direct reincarnation of the hero-king Dorsin II.
• Doctrine and Secrets: While masquerading as a benevolent religious community, the cult has a dark history of mass child sacrifices—an "experimental phase" Aldrick dismisses as a necessary test. Their current objective is to transition from a "cult" to a state-recognized official religion.
The Agorian Church
• Theology: Worship of Agor, a hero ascended to godhood through the collective faith of his followers. The central mythos involves Agor's eternal battle against the "demons of Vrulgin."
• Structure: The First Agorian Church of Gurun is a Gothic, limestone, oval-shaped sanctuary led locally by Father Wulkin Runhuld.
• Lineage and Governance: The church is inextricably tied to the royal Dytler family. High Father Hylnrer Yewlin currently leads the faith, having adapted the church to modern social views (such as the decanonization of historical shunnings) to maintain political relevance.
4. History and Global Law
The Yewlin Lineage and Genesis
The nation of Yewlin was born from the "Liberation," a foundational war in which a coven of Metal Witches fought back the Reclyns. This history is etched into the very vestments of the priesthood.
• The Yewlin Family: The original royal name before the family dedicated themselves to the church. Namesake of the nation. Even though Kilder l, ll, and lll weren't related to the original lineage, they took the name anyway Kilder ll married the descendant of the original Yewlin family to attempt to rebuild faith in the monarchy.
• King Kilder II: The city's namesake who institutionalized the Agorian faith.
• King Kilder III: Abdicated the throne 300 years ago to commit his lineage to the Agorian Church.
• Dorsin II: The 8th king and the "Heirless Hero" who died in an ambush saving his army.
The Gun Decree:
Five years ago, High Father Hylnrer Yewlin issued a sweeping decree that banned handguns, nuclear arms, automated drones, and heavy explosives. Most Agorist nations adopted this law to curb violence through religious mandate.
Socio-Political Consequences:
In Kilder, the weapon worked everywhere except for Kilder, where it created a power vacuum filled by weapons cartels.
• Gang Consolidation: The ban disarmed the citizenry but empowered those with miracles or black-market connections. The pyrokinesis of the miracle-born Arune was used to incinerate smaller gangs, effectively consolidating the Burrow of Gurun into only three major, warring factions.
• Police Complicity: Since the police are incentivized by cartel bribes, the law serves primarily to ensure the populace remains defenceless against the rising tide of Miracle-born criminals.
5. Supplemental Research Notes
The Runhuld Files
Critical intelligence regarding the Chosen Angels is contained within a notebook authored by Tynro Runhuld, a renowned investigative reporter who went undercover within the gangs of Gurun. A copy of this notebook was sent to his brother, Father Wulkin Runhuld, and subsequently acquired by Korven. It contains evidence of the cult's child sacrifices and their political infiltration strategies.
Key Terminology:
• Ehelm: The sacred text of the Agorian faith.
• Vrulgin: Demonic entities representing the antithesis of Agor's light.
• Agorian Priest and Pastor's Sermon Handbook: The central liturgical guide written by High Father Hylnrer Yewlin.
• Silver Birreta: A ceremonial headpiece woven with genuine silver. It honours the fallen coven of Metal Witches who were instrumental in the nation's liberation from the Reclyns. The Metal Witches make up one of the 4 covens that Wulk mentioned with his saying, "By the 4 Covens."
Random info:
Years are divided into 13 months (13x28)
There are 130 countries, 5 of which are similar to Yewlin in size
The population of Kilder is 15 million
Downtown Kilder is modern and known as the financial capital of the world
Reclyia borders Yewlin, and although they have a harsh history of war, in the last half-century
Thrown of Yewlin
First king of Yewlin: King Aldrea Yewlin
United 6 out of the 12 kingdoms that ruled the land. Speculated to have been a Miracle, known to have worked with 3 Miracle born advisers (One of them being his son) who later betrayed and killed him.
Second king of Yewlin: King Dytler Yewlin
Killed his father. Could enter people's dreams. Betrayed the two other miracles but died early in his reign, leaving only a female heir.
First Queen of Yewlin: Queen Alina Yewlin
United 2 more Kingdoms and started a war with the neighbouring Kingdom of Blesnyk. Known as the Queen of Blood, she left behind 3 children and a bloodthirsty nation.n
Third King of Yewlin: King DylterIIl Yewlin
Took the throne at 18, died at 19 without leaving an heir, and left the throne to his younger brother
Fourth King of Yewlin: King Dorsin Yewlin
Had a long reign in which he revolutionized the farming industry and ended the war between Blesnyk. United 2 more kingdoms, giving him the nickname: Lord of land. Had 5 Children (3 daughters, 2 sons), but only had one surviving child to pass the throne to because of how long he lived.
Fifth King of Yewlin: King Gordyn Yewlin
Usually skipped over in history books, accomplished very little during his three-year reign. Left his throne to his youngest child instead of her two older brothers
Second Queen of Yewlin: King Korven Yewlin
Namesake of our protagonist. Defeated the last remaining kingdom that inhabited the land now known as Yewlin. Moved the capital from Rhelm to the new city of Dorsin (now known as Selnin).
Sixth King of Yewlin: King Thao Yewlin
Proclaimed Miracles to be devil-born, and started the religion of Taoism. Fought against the Coven of Blood. Set back scientific advancement by decades by focusing on conservative religious beliefs.
Seventh King of Yewlin: King Dilyk Yewlin
Shunned his father's actions, created close partnerships with ¾ of the covens. Worked for peace, but near the end of his life, he was convinced by his allies to wage war against Reclyia.
Third Queen of Yewlin: Queen AlinaI Il Yewlin
Spent most of her life leading armies against the neighbouring nation of Reclyia and died in battle.
Eighth King of Yewlin: King Dorsin II Yewlin
One of the greatest kings in Yewlin History. Led armies to fight Reclyia and improved the Quality of life all over the nation using his speeches and laws. Died in an ambush while protecting his soldiers
Nineth King of Yewlin: King Dorsin III Yewlin
Lost the war against Reclyia, lost almost all of Yewlins' territories, ending an era of greatness
3 generations under Reclyian control
Tenth King of Yewlin: King Korven l Dytler
Worked with the Metal wiches and revolutionaries in Reclyia to build back Yewlin
Eleventh king of Yewlin: King Korven II Yewlin
Lost the respect of the people because of his aggressive approach to fighting Reclyia, ended up marrying a descendant of the original king, and took her name in a failed attempt to rebuild faith. Introduced Agorism to Yewlin. Executed for his war crimes.
Citizen Kilder III
Abdicated the throne 300 years ago to commit his lineage to the Agorian Church.
The democratic system was chosen instead of finding a new King.