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This is a reference that will one day contain entries for nearly every aspect of the world of Once Upon a Star. Updates will not be held to a schedule, but I'll try to keep them fairly frequent.
Last Updated: Sunday October 30th, 2005 |
Arms, Atlantean |
The Atlantean army prides itself on discipline and uniform. Guards wear heavier armour and carry large tridents and tower shields, while frontline soldiers carry two thin swords and wear lighter vests. All Atlantean armour follows the colour scheme of blue and yellow.
Related comics: 1, 2 |
Arms, Norse |
The Norsemen have a wide range of weapons at their disposal, from swords to bows to hammers. Most are made out of wood and iron. Armour takes more iron to make, and so many Norse warriors choose to wear animal skins instead. Shields are usually made of wood, and are easy to replace.
Related comics: 1 |
Arms, Penguin |
Penguins, being far more advanced than humans, have much more sophisticated weaponry at their disposal. Guns of all shapes and sizes are most common, but masters of Peng Fu prefer the katana, or similar bladed weapons.
Related comics: 1 |
Constructive Magic |
More traditional mages refer to Constructive magic as Artificial. This is because unlike Manipulative magic, it is not a force that exists naturally. Over time, various individuals or groups have used Manipulative magic in ways so unique that they have added new layers to the magical spectrum. This is Artificial magic. After its discovery, magic users found they could use it in more creative ways than Manipulative, because it does not conform to any set of natural rules. The more it is used, the more of it there is in the world. While Manipulative magic requires great willpower, Constructive magic requires study, careful thought, and sometimes ceremonies or rituals.
Related comics: 1 |
Asgard |
The home of the gods, the Valkyries, and the righteous dead. Asgard exists on a different plane than the mortal world, and so it is nearly impossible to get to. Little is known about it specifically, except that it is the home base for the immortal forces of good.
Related comics: 1 |
The Atlantean Oracle |
Once every century or two, one appears in Atlantis who is capable of predicting the future with startling accuracy. This person is raised up to the position of the Oracle, and though he has no true authority, his visions are given great consideration by both the Council and the Lord of Atlantis. The current Oracle is Bryus.
Related comics: 1 |
Atlanteans |
The people of Atlantis are largely a mystery. Their soldiers, the only citizens who leave the shores and surrounding waters of the island, are trained to show no emotion, as well as to be fierce fighters. They wear strong decorated armour and march in tight formation. They are commanded by nobles, who are given control of a small army and a plot of land so that the higher powers don't have to manage so much on their own. The top ranking Atlantean is called simply "The Lord", and the Oracle acts as his personal advisor. Under the Lord is the Council of Atlantis, a group that, between them, governs the day to day business of the country. The Atlanteans invaded the Northlands and overthrew their king, but have since been removed.
Related comics: 1 |
Atlantis |
Not much is known about Atlantis, except that is is an island east of the Mediterranean Sea. It seems, however, that Atlantis must be a rich land, for it trades heavily with many other countries. Atlanteans rarely leave their home. Their flag is a pair of dolphins circling the Crest of Atlantis, with two golden tridents flanking them.
Related comics: 1 |
Einherjar |
When a Norse warrior dies, a Valkyrie will bring him to Asgard to become one of the Einherjar. The Einherjar are some of the most fearsome fighters imaginable. Their strength and agility is beyond any mere mortal, and their masterwork armour and weapons make them nearly invincible. After having already faced death, they have nothing left to fear, and will continue to battle until they are either victorious or torn apart. Their main opponents are the evil giants.
Related comics: 1 |
Fire Giants |
Few mortals have ever met a fire giant in person, and none have lived through that meeting. The fire giants hail from a land of volcanoes and ash that no other creature can survive. They are extremely powerful and dangerous, and enemies of most other beings.
Related comics: 1, 2 |
Golems |
The mages of Atlantis have discovered a way to animate unliving things, such as armour or stone, to create magical beings known as golems. Golems are, by their nature, compelled to obey whoever created them. They are also intelligent enough to hate it, and so they always strive to find ways around their orders. They usually succeed.
Related comics: 1, 2, 3 |
The Halls of All Midgard |
The Halls of All Midgard is a large fortress in the Northlands, and dwelling place of the Northking. It has stood for centuries, ever since the Norse first united themselves. The Hall has high walls and a large underground dungeon, and is encircled by a moat stemming off of a river. With only one bridge crossing this moat, it is nearly impossible to attack it from any other point. The Halls have never fallen to attack.
Related comics: 1 |
The Hero of Legends |
"In a time of great need, there will arise a man unlike any other. He shall emerge from the Sacred Grotto, and lead his people against a foreign foe. When he summons an army to the Halls of All Midgard, he will be marked, and a new era of glory and prosperity shall begin." The Hero has been identified as Star North.
Related comics: 1, 2, 3 |
Immortals |
Immortals are rare, but powerful beings. They do not age, though they can still be killed. They have much more power than any human, but still much less than a god. Many Immortals have abilities such as jumping between planes, contacting the dead, or knowing the future. The Valkyries and the Reaper are examples of such. Some mortals can become Immortal upon their deaths, such as the Einherjar.
Related comics: 1 |
Krakens |
The kraken is a rare species of squid. Like most squid, they are capable of blending in with their surroundings and squirting ink from glands between their tentacles. Unlike common squid, they grow to incredible sizes, and have been known to hunt whales when fully grown. Also unique is their ability to survive out of water and their high intelligence.
Related comics: 1, 2 |
Manipulative Magic |
Manipulative magic, or True magic, is the invisible force that gives life to all things. Manipulative magic, as the name implies, can control and remold the natural elements. It is wild and unpredictable, fluctuating with the seasons and phases of the moon, and unimaginably powerful. Mortals, however, will never harness it to its full extent. To force True magic to do anything requires a great amount of willpower and inner strength. Therefore, only a handfull of people can use it to any noticable degree. Some are more adept at its use than others, and almost everyone has some small degree of the talent. Occasionally, this magic can run awry to such a degree that it reshapes or even destroys entire portions of the Earth.
Related comics: 1, 2 |
Minotaurs |
Minotaurs are the beastly servants of the Atlantean army. They are massive man-shaped creatures with the heads of bulls, and a wild distemper to match. They are extremely powerful and dangerous, especially if they are allowed to run wild. Their origins are unknown, but they have been under the control of Atlantis for many generations. Evidence has emerged that suggests they may have been peaceful in ages past.
Related comics: 1 |
Ninja |
The Ninja are a mysterious group from the far east. They seldom travel in the west, but those that do either cause a huge commotion or aren't noticed at all. They train is the use of unarmed combat, light weaponry, stealth, and Shadow magic. It is said that a ninja can only be killed by another ninja of equal or greater skill. Nobody has ever witnessed the death of a ninja except for the ninja themselves, so this rumour may be true.
Related comics: 1 |
The Norse |
The Norse people are fierce and hardy, and value honour and freedom above all things. They are ruled by the Northking, though each village or town is largely self-governing. The Norsemen are warriors, from the age of 14 onward until death. Norsemen prefer not to burden themselves too heavily with armour, relying on brute strength and well-forged weaponry to overcome foes. Lesser lords, called Jarls, are responsible for anyone who pledges allegiance to them. The Jarls rarely have to serve the Northking directly, although most are fiercely loyal. The Norse people have suffered under oppression in recent years, since the Atlanteans invaded and Lord Artirus was placed on the throne. They were made to wear badges signifying their servitude to Atlantis. A resistance, led by the Jarl Bjarne and the Hero, has overthrown the Atlantean occupation.
Related comics: 1, 2, 3 |
The Northlands |
The Northlands is the name for the chunk of northern Europe that is refered to by outsiders as Scandinavia. It is ruled by the Norse people, though penguins and trolls also inhabit the northern reaches. The Northlands have recently been invaded and usurped by the forces of Atlantis, but have regained their freedom. Their flag consists of many weapons on a red background.
Related comics: 1 |
Peng Fu |
Peng Fu is an ancient fighting art used by penguins. It takes a long time to master, but it is a very effective method of self-defense. It doesn't appear to have any effect on trolls, the penguins' enemies, however. There are millions of Peng Fu techniques, and no one penguin has ever mastered them all. Peng Fu is taught in dojos throughout the penguin lands.
Related comics: 1, 2, 3 |
The Penguinian Institute |
Full name Penguinian Institute for the Criminally Insane. Penguins believe in healing their criminals instead of simply locking them away. The Institute was founded by several psychologists and doctors, and has successfully returned hundreds of former convicts to normal penguin society. They have been known to take on patients from other races, though not very often.
Related comics: 1 |
Penguins |
Penguins are far more intelligent that humans ever realize. They are technologically and culturally advanced, though much smaller and physically weaker than their Norse neighbours. They avoid contact with humans (whom they refer to as Big Smelly Birdkillers), living primarily in the far north. But like their neighbours, they have a strong standing army. The trolls that dwell in northern caverns are a constant threat to peace, but the penguins resolutely defend the Northlands from them. Besides possessing technology far beyond that of humans, they are also very much in tune with nature and with themselves. Many penguins practice the fighting arts of Peng Fu, which emphasizes mind over matter and inner peace, while others are great patrons of the theatre.
Related comics: 1, 2 |
Polar Bears |
Polar bears are large carnivorous animals that live in the tundra. They are the largest and most dangerous species of bear. Polar bears are excellent swimmers, great fighters, and loving parents. They have also perfected the recipe for seal liver pie. When they aren't hunting or resting, they're usually found watching sports with penguins.
Related comics: 1, 2 |
The Reaper |
Everyone dies sooner or later. The Reaper is the one who allows souls to depart to the afterlife. The Valkyries do the same job within the Northlands, but most other areas are his responsibility. Sometimes, souls are able to evade him, and they become ghosts. The Reaper is immaterial, but those on the brink of death or with special supernatural abilities can see the dark cloak that he wears.
Related comics: 1 |
The Sacred Grotto |
Long ago, a battle was fought that tore the entire world asunder. The last few remnants of the world as it once was were afterwards stored in the Sacred Grotto, to await the coming of the Hero of Legends. The Grotto contains many strange pink gemstones that are said to possess magical properties. They can supposedly unlock areas of one's mind that have been overshadowed.
Related comics: 1, 2 |
The Silver Star |
The Silver Star is a mystery. It is somehow connected to the Hero of Legends, as it was placed in the Sacred Grotto to be found by him. Great power rests within it, but how it works is not known.
Related comics: 1, 2 |
Shadow Magic |
Shadow magic is not truly its own type; it is a subset of Artificial magic. It is built upon the famous proverb "If a tree falls in the forest and nobody is there to hear it, does it still make a sound?" Shadow magic can only function in ways that those other than the caster cannot detect. Any effects that can be seen only work when nobody can see them. Effects that alter the mind only work on the sleeping or otherwise unaware. The ninja, who train extensively in stealth and subtlety, are naturally the undisputed masters of Shadow magic. The only defense against it is to remain alert at all times.
Related comics: 1 |
Trolls |
The northern wastes are home to trolls, twisted monsters who serve the forces of evil. Trolls come in two varieties; smaller, smarter alpha trolls, and larger stupider betas. Both are ferocious, and often raid the penguin cities. The penguins have always managed to keep them at bay, however. Many say that trolls are servants of the giants, but there is no account of anyone actually encountering a giant, so whether or not this is true cannot be learned.
Related comics: 1 |
Valkyries |
The Valkyries are immortal warrior women who live in Asgard. They are identifiable by their blue eyes. The Valkyries have always strived to keep the world in balance, though their power only extends to the Northlands. They fight with spear and shield, ride horses capable of crossing the border between Asgard and the Earth, and they have extraordinary powers of healing.
Related comics: 1, 2 |
Wolves |
Most wolves are cunning in their own way, but still no more than animals. However, those of the Northlands are a different matter. They are enormous, nearly as large as a grown horse, and as intelligent as any of the sentient races. They behave much as normal wolves, except when led by more devious races, such as trolls. They have been known to empty whole villages in a single night.
Related comics: 1 |
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