The realm detached from Earth, home to the Velaveils and the creatures that hide within the woods. A spiritual realm that not a single human soul can cross the threshhold of
Overrun by greenery, plants and trees, the plants are a constant companion to the species and are a constant in their day-to-day lives – many buildings can be overrun with vines and greenery. Ouroboros was, indeed, once a world in which only blades of grass covered the ground, a far cry from the land it is today.
Correlations between the gradual deforestation of Earth vs. the overgrowth of Ouroboros have been made, and it’s assumed that those species of plants and greenery that have gone extinct now thrive within Ouroboros.
With a map broken up between geographical regions and cities, Ouroboros has many areas that are untouched by the Velaveil or their cities, in which you can travel miles upon miles without seeing a living soul or town.
That being said, MIRRORS and reflective surfaces are their main modes of transportations, while the more adventurous or exploratorive Velaveil’s may take to carriages or riverboats on the rivers and canals that spider and reach to the ends of Ouroboros.
History behind the Veil
The Origins of Ouroboros
The true origins of Ouroboros, and the Velaveils themselves, seems to have been lost to time – long before records or language became commonplace. The only record of it being folklore that’s been written down after centuries of telling the tales via word-of-mouth. The legends and texts say that the first Velaveils were born when the first ‘discovery’ of humanity was conjured and realized. Of course, Earth was a long ways away from being discovered by them.
The hub of this new existence gave birth to a settlement as they decided to stick to one another for the sake of survival; giving birth to the first and eldest city of Ouroboros, [ EXODEA ]. Hunting, gathering, cultivation and language – while being born into a barren land, they slowly cultivated themselves to comprehend their own existences. Each Velaveil became an expert in what they chose to devote themselves to, called their “Choir of Knowledge”' ; a practice that seemed second nature to them, becoming The Rite of Passage to maturity.
Along with growing society, families that are similar in concept to monarchies started leading and guiding large cities and settlements. ‘ Royale ’ clans that represented large, basic knowledge ruled over the subsets and branches of their specific topic as elders would, leading to congregations and hubs for certain knowledge to easily be found. The ruling body served under the wisest Velaveil of them all – The Queen.
The first interaction with humanity and Earth happened when the first springs and rivers sprouted up, the largest eventually cultivating into DESHADE PORT.
A whole new world, concepts and subset of people opened before them, garnering interest, intrigue and adoration for this new discovery. But, the discovery of Earth and its inhabitants slowly gave way to unrest, and fed the current civil disorder between certain cities and settlements. An “uncultured, uncivilized, war-mongering or lowly species; that’s what they are.
After the land-wide squabble that was called the ‘Great Lutheran War’, the treaty “Parler Paix” was created, which ensured laws and regulations that prevent further strife.
Many settlements went through a dissolution of monarchy and the ruling clans soon after the peace treaty was implemented. While they did respect elders for their maturity and knowledge, Velaveils began a revolution of individuality and diplomacy – even the existence of The Queen gradually became a long forgotten dream, a fairytale. Now, many major cities have a council or a wiseman, if at all. Those that don’t are still considered valid settlements, mostly hubs for trade, though there are some volatile and almost lawless territories still.
After stability in Ouroboros was achieved, transportation via mirrors and reflections between Ouroboros and Earth continued on!
For a time, Velaveils became almost immaturely liberal with their interference with the human race, becoming the origin of many folklore and fairytales. From Sirens and Monsters to Demi-Gods and Valkyries, it’s even said that some certain individuals could have been Velaveils that masked themselves as humans to, as they say, ‘walk the walk’ while trying to help along the precious little humans. Of course, this once again brought upon the discussion on how much they should interfere…But eventually this, too, cooled down and brought itself to a natural balance.
And so, the Velaveils thrive.
Ouroboros is now at peace and in a steady stream of living. Having cultivated their own societies and desires, they all pursue knowledge and happiness in their own ways.
Addendums
The Grand Lutheran War
The Great Lutheran War; the war that tore Ouroboros apart, and eventually brought together in a peace treaty. It’s said during this period, Velaveils and their travel to Earth were completely non-existent.
There are three key reasons in which the War started. In which these reasons are listed:
- As more Velaveils were born, more colonies and cities rising, territorial disputes between the Royales boiled over into full-fledged wars. While the ruling families fought tooth and nail, the land and the pursuit of knowledge suffered.
- The secret pursuit of ‘Forbidden Knowledge’ had become overbearing, and an attempt to purge these Velaveils caused backlash.
- A vocal set of Velaveils wanted to use their cultivated knowledge and ethereal nature to rule earth in the stead of the humans; and even tried bringing over their weapons to fight in the war. While they had essentially lost the debate and faded out of relevance, some Velaveil Families have secretly carried out this plan, and are now worshiped by humans in different religions and mythology.
Society and Hierarchies
“Legendary” Velaveils, despite their category aren’t generally considered royalty by default – “Royalty” to the Velaveils constitute knowledge and wise souls, as well as their influence to Human and Velaveil society as a whole. Your contribution is power in itself, not your blood or clan. Inventions and discoveries can be the ticket to success, becoming very similar to what is considered ‘Counts’ and ‘Barons’. While there are Velaveils that gained power through physical prowess [similar to the concept of nouveau riche in aristocratic society], they aren’t as heralded as the latter.
In the past, Monarchies hoarded their certain ‘ruling’ knowledge to keep this power within their clan and bloodline, but this practice has slowly been integrated out
Now, it’s rather rare for complete monarchies to still hold power anywhere in Ouroboros. If anything, it’s more common for there to be constitutional monarchies – a symbol of power, while also working alongside councilmen or wisemen. Social hierarchy is still rampant in territories like Arcadia Faire.
Terminology
VelaVeil: The spiritual species that consumes and seeks knowledge as if it were its life.
Ouroboros: The Land where Velaveil calls home. On Earth, it’s a mythical concept that’s represented by a dragon or snake consuming its own tail.
The Fallen: Velaveils that have long forgotten their true purpose and have, as far as records show, become unable to transform from their Feral Forms. They’re very willing to attack other Velaveils on sight, and have a tendency of eating books with knowledge they used to study.
District Mirror: A large mirror in which can transport a large amount of people, or things such as carts and cargo. Each large city within Ouroboros has at least one.
The Rite of Passage:When teenaged or adult Velaveils go off on their own to find their specific Choir of Knowledge.
Choir of Knowledge: The specific piece of information or subject that a Velaveil rules over as being an expert over.
Bonded: A phenomenon in which a Velaveil will take on traits of a creature or concept they are closely attached to.
Life and Growth
Velaveils are the Dragons of Knowledge.
They’re believed to be the physical manifestations of the human concept of “Ouroboros”, spirits that have an insatiable appetite for knowledge and discovery. They’re curious beings whose main goal in life is to seek knowledge – whether it be trivial or life's truest mysteries.
Each Velaveil has a “Choir of Knowledge” – a specific piece of topic they consider theirs, to become an expert and devote their energy to.
That being said, while somewhat humanoid in their appearance, Velaveils are considered a draconic species – being the origin of the human conception of “Ouroboros”. Because of their spiritual classification, their time and physical appearance differ compared to those on earth, leading to an approximation of growth, but not an exact number. Being a species with such diverse outer appearances, there are tell-all signs that signal what is a velaveil and what’s a mimic – their veils, and their dragons tail. They’re able to morph their bodies to a dragon lifeform, coined as a “Feral” appearance.
Similar to most mammals, Velaveil’s are able to reproduce, but typically only once in their life. Although Vel’s are rather sturdy creatures, many find difficulties producing offspring, or have little interest in doing so. Familial units with more than one offspring are considered rare and a phenomenon all in itself.
Childhood
When born, Velaveils are almost indistinguishable from humans – other than the beginnings of their markings and their dragon tail, of course! They’re very similar to human children, other than that point. Due to how vulnerable these children are, it’s forbidden to teach them how to traverse through mirrors until they start growing their traits, and must always be with an adult when doing so.
Due to the disparages with parental ages, there are quite a few Velaveils that are parentless. A vague system for these children isn’t set, so they’re usually watched over by elders until they’re deemed old enough to take care of themselves / start their pilgrimage. There are a few institutions or Velaveils that will take in orphans, as well.
Adolescence and Adulthood
From around the age of 5-7, that’s when a Velaveil starts developing traits of their species – more specifically, their crown, bangle and veil. They slowly take on more and more of traits related to Velaveil’s including beginning to master the ability to float – an important feature for keeping their tails and veils clean!
It’s fairly common for Velaveils’ to begin their ‘Rite of Passage’ at age 15-17, just before they reach their physical maturity. Not only will they begin to search for their Choir of Knowledge, but they’re also free to start traveling from Ouroboros to Earth. When reaching physical maturity, their growth slows exponentially. Able to live for a max of three centuries, their appearance may remain youthful until the last century of their life, in which they start showing age in their skin and accessories.
Addendum: Adulthood VS Maturity
While any Velaveil can reach adulthood physically and emotionally, a Velaveil is only considered “Mature” once they achieve their “Choir of Knowledge”. There are usually three specific routes in which Velaveil has matured.
- Wandering: A Velaveil will wander the world and eventually decide on their Choir of Knowledge. This is the most common sort of route to maturity, due to most Velaveils believing in the freedom of choice, it is so wide that there’s no real approximation of age to achieve it.
- Guidance: At a young age, a Velaveil will have help and guidance by being introduced to topics at an early age. While considered unorthodox, it has the fastest maturity rate.
- Inherited: Velaveils that are born to certain families or clans may have traditions or certain schools set in place for them to study. Most common for those who deem themselves as ‘Royale’ or of aristocratic families.
Traits and Appearance
Velaveils are quite the gorgeous bunch, the humans will say. With hair, eyes, and even skin colors that are rare or unheard of on earth. Judging as they’re the ( quite accidental ) starters of human myth or cryptid lore, it’s not really surprising once someone comes to know of them. Needless to say, they’re quite the variety.
But, there are rather distinct traits and such that links them together as a species.
Veils and Markings
At the start of their growth, soon after the first manifestation of their crowns, a Velaveil’s veil will also start to appear. Veils are said to be the symbolic manifestation of their existence, etched into the cloth. Markings, as well. There’s some Velaveils that devote themselves to the study of Veils and Markings, becoming something similar to human fortune tellers with their hand reading.
When shrouded in their veils, they can remain unseen to the human eye if they so choose to do so. However, the veil also serves as their protection on Earth – unveiling themselves may leave them vulnerable to physical injuries, disease, or even death. That being said, Velaveils can sense one another’s presence with ease. When concealed, depending on the transparency of their veil you can see them either quite clearly, or the outline of their body frame.
Crowns and Bangles
These accessories start to appear when Velaveil children reach a certain age in childhood, at first being the general frameset of their ancestors before slowly but surely morphing into their own appearance. It’s said that once the last details of the bangles have appeared, they’ve reached the ending parts of their adolescence.
They can appear around limbs or dangling on said limbs, or floating. And, just like Veils, they’re sturdy but have no nerves and can be damaged if treated roughly.
Powers
While Velaveils have inherent abilities that can be considered supernatural (floating, traversing through mirrors, concealing via veil, ect ect), they may also have some others – Also known as “Talents”.
As a Velaveil grows, they will also show symptoms of these “talents” – supernatural abilities that may be associated with their choir of knowledge, or their surrounding areas. Things such as elemental manipulation or dismantling, these talents can range from a large variety of things; it’s more uncommon to not have one.
Bonds
TWhether they admit it or not, like humans Velaveils are sentimental beings. If they resonate with a creature, they may evolve features resembling the organism. For example, Vel’s who’ve bonded with a feline may develop cat-like ears or tails – they may even begin acting or evolving abilities common with the species, such as night vision.
Although rarely seen, there have been cases where Velaveil’s bonding with more than one animal occurs…or perhaps a creature only recorded in mythos…
Ferals
Velaveil's Feral Form is referred to as their Dragon Form – the form which is considered the ‘closest’ to the concept of Ouroboros. Dragons in every single right, they come in various shapes and sizes, ranging from buildings to a large animal. While in this form, they continue to have their veils and accessories. The process is rather simple to them, especially with the help of their veil; there are some Velaveils that actually prefer their feral forms to their humanoid.
Within feral form, they retain the ability to speak with their mouths – but aren’t able to translate their speech to humans. They’re only able to speak their original language of Ouroboros, and while some have tried to challenge themselves, speaking any other language seems to be unsuccessful.
Addendum: The Fallen
The boogiemen of Ouroboros – Velaveils that have long forgotten themselves, a danger to themselves and others around them. They’ve long lost their humanoid form and any sort of logical thought, only going for basic instincts. Fallen are very likely to kill any Velaveil on sight, and have a tendency of tearing up and eating books that have something to do with their Choir of Knowledge in the past.
In the scary stories told to children and hypothesis of Wisemen, the reason for this is because they’d fallen into “The Crypt” and gotten corrupted, their accessories broken and veil ruined beyond comparison by that unholy land.
Geography
The Land of Ouroboros
The Land of Ouroboros, while few views can surpass, has many locations in which Velaveil lives or linger within. The current locations and areas are listed here! More locations, buildings and cities within areas will be unlocked as events go on, although if you have an area idea in which you wish to officially contribute to the compendium, please discuss this with the mod team!
ARACDIA FAIRE
The Land in The Sky
With vines that spill over its borders and dangle freely in the sky, Arcadia Faire is a region that floats above the rest of Oroboros terrain, in which many winged Vel and those of a more fanciful persuasion reside. If you look up to the sky, you can see the silhouette of Arcadia from anywhere else in the world.
With cities of elegant baroque buildings and marble pillars, it could be fairly close to what humans consider a heavenly-area – Arcadia is a place that’s more ‘modern’ than the most due to the simple fact that importing or stealing ideas from the human world is rather common practice. That being said, imports of human-world items and inventions more often than not originate from Arcadia.
Arcadia also enacts a bit of a hierarchy, although it rarely stretches out to areas in which care very little for its trends.
DeShade Port
The Port Central
Just beyond a few cliff-sides, resides the traveling hub of this world – the region that glitters with the rays reflecting in the water, DeShade Port! Adventuring Velaveils and those who choose to traverse their world while taking in the scenery may soon become very acquainted with the port. The rivers and canals that stretch throughout Ouroboros all lead to the large ocean-like structure of Deshade Port. Every river, lake, and marsh leads right back to DeShade. It’s also home to the most amount of District Mirrors, so traveling large cargo and items may be easier.
Many MerVel live in the waters of this port city, and make a living being guided along the riversides.
The Crypt
The Land of the Forsaken
A place where the elders tell the children that if they aren’t careful, they’ll fall into. A place that will forever ruin their veils and dirty their bangles, where only ferals can survive. The source of many a fairytale-like forbidden area, one that no Velaveil should go!
In all honesty, the Crypt is simply a place where the typical greenery is replaced by brittle, almost calciumized plants and trees that are quite brittle and crumble away quite easily. One can find their way into the Crypt if they travel for long enough – residing in a Valley that’s surrounded by mountain-like trees. While it does have a somewhat eerie and solemn air, it’s not as inhabitable as the rest of the world deems it to be. In fact, it’s a place in which some originate from as well. Perhaps it’s because of the outer stigma that they don’t really talk about it all that much…
There’s a rumor that in the Crypt Region, there’s a Velaveil that has surpassed everyone in age. But, no one has ever met that person and thus it’s simply that. A rumor.
Prosperiegn
The Fertile Haven
Lush, fertile land that spans across miles and miles, the home of the first agricultural era that swept through Ouroboros! The main source of food, full of greenhouses and farmlands such as orchards and vineyards.
Those who live in Prosperiegn often have a wild facination with plant hybrids, and gives birth to many odd sorts of food and veggetation. For the sake of learning and discovery, of course!
The Land of Ouroboros
The Land of Ouroboros, while few views can surpass, has many locations in which Velaveil lives or linger within. The current locations and areas are listed here! More locations, buildings and cities within areas will be unlocked as events go on, although if you have an area idea in which you wish to officially contribute to the compendium, please discuss this with the mod team!
ARACDIA FAIRE
The Land in The Sky
With vines that spill over its borders and dangle freely in the sky, Arcadia Faire is a region that floats above the rest of Oroboros terrain, in which many winged Vel and those of a more fanciful persuasion reside. If you look up to the sky, you can see the silhouette of Arcadia from anywhere else in the world.
With cities of elegant baroque buildings and marble pillars, it could be fairly close to what humans consider a heavenly-area – Arcadia is a place that’s more ‘modern’ than the most due to the simple fact that importing or stealing ideas from the human world is rather common practice. That being said, imports of human-world items and inventions more often than not originate from Arcadia.
Arcadia also enacts a bit of a hierarchy, although it rarely stretches out to areas in which care very little for its trends.
DeShade Port
The Port Central
Just beyond a few cliff-sides, resides the traveling hub of this world – the region that glitters with the rays reflecting in the water, DeShade Port! Adventuring Velaveils and those who choose to traverse their world while taking in the scenery may soon become very acquainted with the port. The rivers and canals that stretch throughout Ouroboros all lead to the large ocean-like structure of Deshade Port. Every river, lake, and marsh leads right back to DeShade. It’s also home to the most amount of District Mirrors, so traveling large cargo and items may be easier.
Many MerVel live in the waters of this port city, and make a living being guided along the riversides.
The Crypt
The Land of the Forsaken
A place where the elders tell the children that if they aren’t careful, they’ll fall into. A place that will forever ruin their veils and dirty their bangles, where only ferals can survive. The source of many a fairytale-like forbidden area, one that no Velaveil should go!
In all honesty, the Crypt is simply a place where the typical greenery is replaced by brittle, almost calciumized plants and trees that are quite brittle and crumble away quite easily. One can find their way into the Crypt if they travel for long enough – residing in a Valley that’s surrounded by mountain-like trees. While it does have a somewhat eerie and solemn air, it’s not as inhabitable as the rest of the world deems it to be. In fact, it’s a place in which some originate from as well. Perhaps it’s because of the outer stigma that they don’t really talk about it all that much…
There’s a rumor that in the Crypt Region, there’s a Velaveil that has surpassed everyone in age. But, no one has ever met that person and thus it’s simply that. A rumor.
Prosperiegn
The Fertile Haven
Lush, fertile land that spans across miles and miles, the home of the first agricultural era that swept through Ouroboros! The main source of food, full of greenhouses and farmlands such as orchards and vineyards.
Those who live in Prosperiegn often have a wild facination with plant hybrids, and gives birth to many odd sorts of food and veggetation. For the sake of learning and discovery, of course!
The Areas of Ouroboros
Exordea
The City of Beginnings
The Heart of Ouroboros.
A city that’s sat in the middle of idyllic plains and hills, always seeming to shine as the sun rays hit it, Exordea is deemed to be the city in which their species first settled in. Although not much can be said about Exordea, which is slowly crumbling away due to time, many traditionalist Velaveil hold it fondly as a place or origin. It’s the start of many wandering Velaveil’s pilgrimage to maturity.
While seeming well put together at the distance, many buildings are just as much overrun with greenery as they are anywhere else. Exordea is also the area with the second-largest amount of District Mirrors!
Library of LeVeil
The Start
On the border of Ouroboros and the human World, there resides a vast library that can only be reached via the mirrors, governed by a knowledge-hungry Velaveil. A large Compendium of books that can stretch for as long as the eye can see, containing books with a variety of languages, topics, and knowledge.
Although it is uncommon practice, there are some Velaveil parents that bring their children to the library, in which the children are guided by the owner through the library to help choose their first-ever book. Children who follow through with this tradition tend to mature faster than those left to wander.