General Education & Values

In the Post War Era, a standardized Education in both Below & Above has become more highly valued than in previous generations. While formal Education has long been an important value of the Demons, Litches & Fallen, the modern era has seen a greater emphasis on the importance of such all throughout Below.

Early childhood education varies drastically by individual culture and region. However, all Dreamborne receive some variety of education until they reach adulthood, whether that is through a formal educational institution or simply receiving an informal education at home and within their community.

It is becoming increasingly common for young Nightmares (and Daydreams) to be sent to boarding schools, such as the esteemed Asphodel Gardens Academy and other affiliated institutions. Many are also increasingly seeking Higher Education at a university in their adulthood as well.

Asphodel Gardens Academy

Asphodel Gardens Academy is one of the most esteemed schools not only in Euros, but in all of Below. While it is highly regarded, it isn’t difficult to gain acceptance to the school either, which only adds to its increasingly growing popularity & expanding student body.

The Academy was founded right after the end of The Great War, for the sake of educating the newly awakened Nightmares during the repopulation effort following the discovery of the great Soul Stone cache in Halcyone. While first founded to raise and educate these Orphaned Nightmares, it soon opened its doors to exchange students, and the children of Alumni, in hopes of cultivating more cultural diversity for the sake of its students and their education. From that point on, The Academy quickly gained recognition, locally and beyond, attracting more students from far and wide, eventually even opening an exchange program with Academies in Above.

The Sister Universities

There are three equally esteemed sister Universities affiliated with Asphodel Gardens Academy that can be found around the Asphodel region of Euros: Leviathan University, Asterion University, and Grendel University. Most Asphodel Gardens Academy graduates attend these schools, as admissions are guaranteed with passing grades.

Leviathan University, tucked away in the Valley of The Maiden’s Wreath, focuses on the scientific studies, both magical and mundane, such as Medicine, Alchemy, Engineering, and Numerology.

Grendel University can be found among the rolling hills of Asphodel fields, and focuses on all variety of Bardic & Fine Arts, including subjects such as Musical Theory, Illusionary Arts, Literature, and Design.

Outside the ruins of Helltower/Hyperes, Asterion focuses primarily on Nightmare culture. History, Mythology, Anthropology, Sociology are some of the Majors a Nightmare may pursue when attending Asterion.

Affiliated Trade Guilds

The community of Asphodel Gardens also has a variety of affiliated Trade Guilds that provide training for various trade skills and vocations important to the community. These training programs and apprenticeships often appeal to Academy Graduates and Asphodel locals alike. Those less interested in a University education will often enroll in one of these affiliated apprenticeships.

Government in Below

Every culture in Below & Above has its own system of government, with its own rulers, laws and regulations in place. You can find out more about these individual government systems in the Race Lore guides.

The vast majority of Euros, which includes Asphodel Gardens, is under the rule of the Demonic Sovereignty. While Historically more of an Imperial Monarchy, the Demons now largely rule through an elected Parliament that oversee the provinces in Euros - although a Sovereign still remains as a figurehead of the Nation.

There is also The Grand Council, which is made up of an elected body of smaller councils, each with their own leaders, and functions as something similar to a United Nations in Below. The Grand Council has made great efforts since the end of the 100 Year War to maintain peace, and guide the various nations of below towards a standard of prosperity and stability. The Grand Council is heavily involved with Demonic Parliament and The Academic Society of Asphodel.

Law Enforcement & Crime

As the governing entities differ throughout below, so do the standards of laws, regulations and law enforcement. But there are certainly many common standards, especially with The Grand Councils more recent involvement with regional governing bodies.

Laws regarding violence, theft, property damage, dangerous use of magic, and child welfare are the most standard, the breaking of such laws considered most serious, and punishments of these crimes the most severe, including the potential of imprisonment. This is certainly the case in Euros, and The Grand Council upholds this standard.

A notable exception to these standards is the culture of the Geists, with theft being viewed far less harshly in the eyes of their law.

Magical Arts & Regulation

Below & Above are realms teeming with Magic - the very fabric of their worlds is magical. Therefore, magic is an intrinsic and inseparable aspect of everyday life, with all Dreamborne dabbling in the magical arts, even if different cultures have varying magical customs and a varying range of magical abilities.

Wielding powerful magic is a rare talent, and a difficult skill to master, but all the same it can be a very powerful force in the right (or wrong) hands. Due to this, magic is something that is heavily regulated in Below, especially in Euros, and something The Grand Council keeps a close eye on.

With its regulation not only comes enforcement that there is no misuse of dangerous magic, but that a standardized practice of magic can be taught so all can learn to wield it in a way that’s most beneficial to society as a whole.

There are, of course, restrictions and taboos when it comes to magical use, but these largely vary culturally. A notable example is that of the Art of Necromancy, a form of magic that is more heavily regulated than some and is seen as far more taboo in Above than it is in Below.

Technology

As magic is such an important and powerful aspect of everyday life, this impacts the technology in the two realms significantly as well. It’s difficult to say in many cases where the technical aspects of mundane engineering ends, and the fine tuning of magical artificing begins, as all Dreamborne technology relies on magic to power and facilitate it to some degree. Even basic tools and simple machines often find themselves enchanted in one way or another.

As most Dreamborne possess some natural affinity for channeling energy with the use of crystals, technology is often powered through the use of crystals, as well as various enchantments in combination with clockwork and steam power. Because of this, Dreamborne technology has a hodge-podge of what you might consider both “modern” and “antiquated” aesthetics, with more advanced technology usually having a significantly crystalline appearance - and a much higher price tag on top of it.

The most cutting-edge technological advancements in the modern era can invariably be traced back to developments during the 100 Year War - which notably resulted in significant advancement in communication devices, mountless carriages, airships, film projectors, data storage, and efficient indoor plumbing. As a player, feel free to get creative with the magical technology in this universe.

Gender in Above & Below

Gender is a loose concept in the worlds of Below & Above. While distinctions between personal gender identity do still exist in society, gender has no basis on a Dreamborne's physical traits, nor does it have any effect on their abilities or expectations with in society.

Dreamborne have something like a triangular spectrum of three gender distinctions that roughly correspond to real world notions of Male, Female, and Nonbinary. As this is a spectrum however, plenty of Dreamborne have gender identities that fall on all places within the spectrum, and even outside of it.

While some gender expressions my have certain conventions in regard to presentation, not all Dreamborne who identify in a certain way necessarily adhere to those conventions.

Above & Below both recognize gender equality in their societies, and while some conventions of gender may differ slightly from culture to culture, prejudice or oppression based on a Dreamborne's gender is completely unheard of.

Soulstones

All Dreamborne are awakened from Soul Stones which have been imbued with the life essence of at least one, and up to three parents. Once a Soul Stone is imbued, it will emit a glow. When the time is right, an imbued Soul Stone can be awakened as an infant.

Infant

For the first few weeks, newborn Dreamborne often have bits of crystal still clinging to them from their Soul Stone, and will continue to emit a faint glow. Infants sleep quite soundly for the first couple of weeks, only waking now and then to briefly interact with their parents before falling back into their slumber. The residual magic from their Soul Stone is enough to provide nourishment to infants at the stage, so they are relatively easy to care for. As the crystal residue begins to diminish and the glow starts to fade, infants will begin to awaken for longer periods, and start to require more attentive care.

Freshling

Freshling is an affectionate term given to young children at the age they attend primary school, somewhere between about five to ten years of age. Dreamborne in this life stage are starting to learn more independence and require less constant care from their guardians with each passing year. They are comparable to human children of the same age in just about every way - except, of course, their affinity for magic, which will begin to manifest during this stage.

Juniors

Juniors are school age children at the age they attend secondary school, which is usually around the time of their first growth spurt. Juniors are your classic tweens and teenagers. Many Junior Dreamborne, will be sent off to boarding schools by this age as their Guardians have recognized their ability to be more independent - though they still need more guidance than they would like to acknowledge - especially given their tendency to misuse their magical abilities.

Senior

Seniors are Dreamborne after they have had their final growth spurt, usually in their final years of secondary school and beyond graduation. Seniors are young adults who have gained independence, some of which are seeking higher education at Universities, others who are enrolled in apprenticeships in trade guilds. Of course some Seniors are less ambitious than that as well, preferring to see where life takes them in their newfound adulthood.

Once a Dreamborne has entered this lifestage, they are capable of imbuing Soul Stones of their own, and some even prefer to settle down and start families after completing their education.

Elder

As Dreamborne leave their young adult stage, becoming more experienced and world-weary, they are considered to be Elders. For most Dreamborne this somewhere around their 50th year, which is when signs of aging start to begin. The exception to this would be for Litches, who have quite a long lifespan, and gauging middle age for a Litch is somewhat more complex, though many will not be considered Elders until around their 150th year. Elders are generally regarded with more respect in their individual societies, compared to Seniors.

Grand Elder

Grand Elder is the last lifestage of Dreamborne, usually being reached somewhere between their 75th to 90th year. This is when most Dreamborne retire from their occupations, and have finished rearing families - unless they are active Guardians of their grandchildren. Of course this depends entirely on the person! Some Elders enjoy working into their old age, or even prefer to continue imbuing stones and raising new generations if their vitality allows. Grand Elders are generally regarded with the most respect, given their assumed life experience. Litches don’t tend to reach this Lifestage until around their 300th year.

Lifespan

As noted, Dreamborne have lifespans that surpass those of humans, with the average life expectancy of most being somewhere around 100-125 years. Some races have lifespans that push towards the upper limits of these averages, and certain kinds of magic use can sometimes extend lifespans as well. Litches are the most notable exception, being a magically altered race, and see lifespans upwards of 300 or more in some cases.

Dreamborne Family

Family is an important part of most Dreamborne’s lives, even though families can take many different shapes from one culture to the next. For example, Demons generally only consider their immediate blood relations and romantic life partners to be their “family” as trust is something Demons don’t extend lightly, while Chimera often extend familial bonds toward anybody they might share an ancestor with, as it’s a matter of pride to descend from an important bloodline.

Given that it varies from culture to culture, the size of family households can differ wildly depending on Race. Demon households are generally small, tending toward nuclear families of around 3-5 members at most, while Geist households can have quite significant numbers, as Geists tend toward romantic triads, and often live in multi-generational households.

The concept of family itself can differ significantly - many Orphaned Nightmares raised at Asphodel Gardens Academy may consider their guardians and teachers as family, or their peers as such as well. The packs that Grimm form are also another kind family - though usually multigenerational, packs aren’t just made up of single households and bloodlines but are communities. Grimm packs may not be “families” in a traditional sense, but they tend to share close bonds with one another and are more close knit communities than you tend to find elsewhere.

Romantic Partners & Courtship

While there is a common thread to romance and how it’s experienced among all Dreamborne, as with all things, partnerships and courtship practices vary from Race to Race. More information on how each culture engage with romance and courtship can be Founds on individual Race lore entries.

For the most part, all Dreamborne have some desire for romance, and every culture has its own marriage customs.

Technology

As magic is such an important and powerful aspect of everyday life, this impacts the technology in the two realms significantly as well. It’s difficult to say in many cases where the technical aspects of mundane engineering ends, and the fine tuning of magical artificing begins, as all Dreamborne technology relies on magic to power and facilitate it to some degree. Even basic tools and simple machines often find themselves enchanted in one way or another.

As most Dreamborne possess some natural affinity for channeling energy with the use of crystals, technology is often powered through the use of crystals, as well as various enchantments in combination with clockwork and steam power. Because of this, Dreamborne technology has a hodge-podge of what you might consider both “modern” and “antiquated” aesthetics, with more advanced technology usually having a significantly crystalline appearance - and a much higher price tag on top of it.

The most cutting-edge technological advancements in the modern era can invariably be traced back to developments during the 100 Year War - which notably resulted in significant advancement in communication devices, mountless carriages, airships, film projectors, data storage, and efficient indoor plumbing. As a player, feel free to get creative with the magical technology in this universe.

Religion in Below & Above

All Dreamborne in Below generally recognize The Nine: nine deities that, in their cosmology, have shaped the world and brought to life each of the races.

Some cultures put more emphasis on certain deities out of The Nine, like the Chimera who have a special relationship with Oreia, the protector, while others regard the whole Pantheon with equal importance. Some even take care to connect with certain deities to be their individual patrons, such as the Demons.

While not everyone in Below (or Above) is devoutly religious, most do recognize and have some relationship with The Nine, as their presence and influence in the world is evident to the Dreamborne.

Above also recognizes their own pantheon of Nine deities, and have similar relationships to their pantheon as Dreamborne of Below have to theirs.

The Nine of Below

Kthonios, The Emperor

The leader of the Gods of Below, Kthonios embodies the benevolent ruler. He is wise, patient and generous, defending his realm and watching over his people. While understanding, he is not to be crossed, however, as he is also the one who doles out justice to those who threaten his realm, citizen or not. With an iron hand, he governs over authority, resolve, justice, hospitality, oaths, generosity and discipline.

Oreia, The Protector

Oreia is protection personified, often represented by mountains. She is the caring parent and the sacrificing guardian. Her duty is to lend her strength, courage, fortitude and grace to the realm, allowing them to weather the bad and live to see the good. She governs over the home, parenthood, family, defending the weak, nourishment and sacrifice.

Asteria, The Magician

Called The Magician, Asteria is primarily a God of sorcery and hidden knowledge. She will guide us while we traverse the unknown, lending us her wit, sagacity and intuition. Her sphere is that of witchcraft, magic, alchemy, herbalism and prophecy, allowing us to better our lives through experimentation and discovery.

Kallistos, The Hunter

The Hunt associated with Kallistos is not always literal—it encompasses all things we wish to find and capture. With his far-reaching bow, Kallistos aids those who desire, giving them the ambition, cunning and charisma to find what we seek, whether it be prey to nourish our family or a romantic interest. He governs over achievement, romance, searching and finding.

Mnemosyne, The Wise

Described as The Wise, Mnemosyne's sphere is that of gaining knowledge and utilizing it well. She governs over study and learning, but not only in a mental capacity—she is also prayed to for physical skill as well. As such, she is the master of dexterity, the skill associated with all arts, and practicing tirelessly until we are the master of our bodies.

Enyo, The Warrior

As the Warrior, Enyo embodies both the chaos and ruthless cunning of war. While Kallistos is romance, she is burning passion. Where he is ambition, she is the ruthless conqueror. She will fight fiercely, but defend what is hers just as fiercely as well. She will assist in battles both literal and metaphorical, lending her passion and courage to the realm.

Eleuthereus, The Liberator

Eleuthereus is a two-fold deity, as Liberation can mean breaking free of those that wish to oppress you, but also reckless abandon, madness and chaos. He is the God of enjoyment and entertainment, embodying the passion and elation of drink, celebration and song. However, as he is found in the tipsy ecstasy of a good party, he is also found in the riot, the bar fight and the drunken rage. Because of this, many will ask him for his wisdom and temperance along with the liberation he provides.

Cyllenus, The Facilitator

The God of exchange, Cyllenus is the oil that keeps the gears of the realm moving. He is considered to be the busiest of the Gods, as exchange is something both literal figurative. He is the exchange of goods, as the God of Trade, but also the God of Thieves. The exchange he governs can be that of ideas. As such, he is the God of language and writing. One will also pray to him for safe travel, as he is, when boiled down to his bare essence, the God of motion.

Eleusinia, The Empress

Eleusinia has many different roles. As the Empress, she is her stoic consort's warm counterpart, the diplomat and the forgiving ruler who wants the best for her people. However, she is also called "The Maiden" due to her youthful appearance and connection to life and vitality. In governing over life, she also governs over death, watching over the dead in her realm. One would pray to her for vitality, diplomacy, patience and courage in the face of mortality.

Occupations

Nearly all Dreamborne choose an occupation for themselves once they reach adulthood. While some occupations are more valued over others, depending on a Dreamborne's culture, all Dreamborne value contribution and upkeep to keep society running smoothly.

Traditional Dreamborne generally have pressure placed on them to carry on traditions and work for family businesses, family farms, or puruse a trade skill that goes back generations in their family.

However, there are a diverse range of both magical and mundane occupations, and plenty of new job oppurtunities in post-war Below, that drive many Dreamborne to break away from tradition and pursue other occupations..

Trade Guilds

Below has many Trade Guilds, and a an interconnected network of them offer many oppurtunities to those in Asphodel Gardens, especially to Academy graduates. Many Academy students opt to join an apprenticeship with one of these Guilds rather than enroll in University, while some even take on apprenticeships alongside university enrollment.

Trade Guilds in Asphodel Gardens also organize lots of community events and workshops, so even Dreamborne who aren't affiliated with a certain Guild, often volunteer their time with a Guild to help out for certain community projects events.