


THE SYNOPSIS
When an ancient curse forgotten long ago starts to resurface in Eleria, it's up to Cass, a wingless Harpy, to put an end to it and save the world. To much of his dismay, he ends up in the company of Rook— a sheltered Frosian soldier who has been raised to believe her country's cause and who insists on capturing him to prove herself to her peers.
The two form a temporary truce for the time being, and as they proceed on their journey, Rook begins to doubt her lifelong teachings. Unbeknownst to them, they're being pursued by a cursed prince and a disgraced knight, both in search of their own road to redemption and willing to get it at any cost necessary.
Author’s note
The Land We Cursed is a worldbuilding project that has been in development since 2023. It has seen me at my best, my worse, and my in between. It was what what I returned to after college and my solace through the harsh times in the entertainment industry.
Many retocons and rewrites have been done since then, and the current version is also still a work in development with the objective of being the very best it can be. Nothing can ever be perfect, but the fun part is to aspire to learn and grow.
The project derives from my own inspirations as an artist and is a eulogy to the friends, family, teachers, artists, writers, and showrunners that have shaped me into the person I am today. It's a love letter to all those who even in the current age of technology, when Generative Al slop is forcefully shoved down our throats, chose to preserver and to create to their heart's desire.A story for the lovers, and dreamers.


A BRIEF LESSON IN MAGIC
Magic in Eleria follows a very simple magic system— Earnestness. The more dedication and passion one feels, the stronger their magic becomes. Magic is accessible to everyone in the world. Some find their connection more innately, while others have to find their own workarounds that work for them and them alone, but it’s usually when someone finds their truest self that they reach their full magical potential. Although it’s not a necessary component per se, most experienced magic wielders channel their magic domains through dance. Most people are attuned to only one domain, thought it’s not uncommon to hear of people attuned to two.


Air Wielders are perhaps some of the closest in personality to how Erion was in his prime. They’re carefree and easygoing, often taking their time enjoying the journey, and never rushing to the destination. They make for excellent companions for wielders of any of the other Domains, and their magic blends in very seamlessly with all the other elements as well.

Some societies have come to deeply value its members that are attuned to the Life Domain Among the Serakiff, they’re called Lifebringers, for their ability to heal the injured. To be attuned to the Life Domain is to carry the burden of knowing that in order to keep the balance of life, everything comes at a cost. One can’t expect a tree to live without another one of equal age having to die.

Although they tend to be calm by nature, to anger a living being from the Water Domain is to risk the wrath of the sea storms. Costal villages like to keep Water Wielders around to help keep in check the weather, and they’re considered to be tokens of good luck to have while travelling by ship. It is said that some members of the Water Domain that are particularly in sync with the element can sometimes hear the echoes of Thasseos’ cries coming from the bottom of the ocean.

Always steady and confident, Earth Domain magic users are certain of who they are and their beliefs more than any of the other domains. Their minds find comfort in knowing that they’ll always stay true to themselves, but while their mindsets are not easily swayed, their values and priorities can also be their greatest weakness.

Those whose magic tends to mainifest through flames tend to be, unsurprisingly, very fiery in personality. This often leads to the misinterpretation that those from the fire domain are temperamental, when in reality, it mostly means that whatever it is they’re doing, they put their heart into it. For that reason, flame wielders tend to be some of the magic wielders that most easily attune to their element and full capabilities.

Sharp witted and disciplined, the Frost Mointains seems to have most members of the Ice Domain out of any other nation. Mostly due to the persecution of said other elements in the territory. The Frosian people have managed to hone in their crafts when it comes to the variety of ways in which they can use their magic. Some use it as a cold-proof suit to survive the elements, while others make blades for ice skating with their powers.

Souls Domain attuned tend to make stellar artists. Their magnetic personalities compell people, and inspire them to follow their heart and see one another not as an enemy, but another living being. For this, they’re often seen as threats by more authoritarian powers, and most of the people connected to the domain tend to only show their abilities to those they’re closest to.





KINGDOM of
hellsgate

overview
The fiery kingdom at the edge of the known world. This nation is home to several vulcanic habitats that showcase abundant life can be found even in the most unlikely places. Plants of all kinds have adapted to live a long and prosperous life here and have become an indispensable part of the cycle of life of all sentient being inhabiting this land. Hellsgate is home to some of the biggest and smallest sentient species in Eleria.

sentient species
Lavawalkers
Lavawalkers are some of the most ancient inhabitants of Eleria, something seen in their increased size compared to most of the humanoid species living in this day and age. They´re gentle, peaceful creatures that mostly inhabit the shores of lava lakes and rivers. They share characteristics similar to cows and other type of kettle, yet have developed tough hides and thick heat resistant fur that allows them to travel across lava rivers.
Lavawalkers are social creatures by nature, and due to their long lifespans, they tend to form large, stable communities consisting only of members of their own species. They form lifelong bonds, and tend to have only one or two offspring their entire life.
Firespawn
Firespawn once made up the biggest chunk of the population of the land that would later become Hellsgate. They´re small, fragile looking creatures with dark, ashen and semi-translucent skin that allows them to blend in with the basalt spikes where they originally came from. Most Firespawn have a very scrawny, bony frame, and if found in a conflict, they´ll chose to flee instead of fight, since they´re passive scavengers by nature.
As the years passed, their population dwindled significantly due to crossing with other compatible species after the formation of the Unified Kingdom of Hellsgate that lasts. A lot of remnants of the Firespawn are visible in the subspecies that exist at this time, yet it´s rare to find a "pure blooded" Firespawn.
Hogfolk
Like Firespawn, Hogfolk are one of the founding species of Hellsgate, however, unlike their demon-looking distant cousins, they did not mingle with other species and instead mostly kept to themselves in closed off villages, leading to barely any changes being visible to this day.
Hogfolk have tough skin that is hard to pierce and faces similar to that of common pigs, hence the name usually associated to them, They have strong tusks and even stronger tempers. Hogfolk have seen many battles, mostly between their own tribes, though because they have such strong skin, they´ve refined the craft of weapon-making like no other culture in the Known World, and after the founding of the Unified Kingdom, a lot of them began making a living by making and selling weapons to nobles and the Royal City.
Harpies
Harpies are some of the most commonly found descendants of Firespawn that intermingled with other species. Harpies are hybrids between the aforementioned Firespawn and Avians from overseas, leading to their unique appearance. If Firespawn were already frail looking, then Harpies look like they´ll snap like a twig. They´re very nimble, and carry the horns of and tail of their Hellish forefathers while having the advantage of having strong wings and hollow bones thanks to their avian ancestry.
Harpies can travel very long distances in a short timespan, hence making them perfect for correspondence and fast delivery jobs. A lot of them have moved to the big city and work as heralds.
The Wildlands

overview
The no man´s land that everyone wants for themselves. The wastelands are a vast expanse of savannah territory with desert areas and clay deposits by the shores. It might look barren at first, but it´s home to several factions of outlaws that seek refuge in the vastness of the desert. As for it´s savannah territory, it´s the home of several Animal-like humanoid species all living in harmony with the land that surrounds them.

sentient species
Foxfae
Although they exist in many areas of the continent, the wastelands are the homeland of the Foxfae, a species of magical fox beings with the ability to shapeshift into whatever they wish. They are beings full of mischief and trickery, with eyes that show how quick witted and astute these beings are,
They were originally known for taking the form of fennec foxes in the desert, but now take forms so unique the look almost jackal and wolf-like in terms of their size. Foxfae are not very high on the magical hierarchy, with most of their powers being merely related to illusions and trickery, but they are very sensitive to the magic around them. They can tell when a magic disruption is about to happen before any other species, and because of that, it has become a common myth that it´s a bad omen if a Foxfay passes through town in a rush.
Corocodillians
Adaptable but cold blooded individuals, Corocodillians are the apex predators of the areas they live in. They live above ground during the night, when its fresher and they can gather for a hunt without risking the heat exhaustion of the strong sun, and during the day chose to live in the underground tunnels that expand for miles underground, creating a network that connects every house in a single community. They are weary of strangers, however they´re also curious, and so if another creature ventures into their land, they´ll try to test it to evaluate if they can be trusted, however, if you are trusted by them, you are sure to have a home for you at any time, even if it´s been years since your last visit. Corocodillians are one of the species with the longest lifespan along with Lavawalkers.
mAGIC
Much like the inhabitants of The Unified Kingdom of Hellsgate, the citizens of the Wastelands are mostly amagical or weak magical beings, although unlike their western neighbours, even amagical individuals have an innate magical sensitivity that allows them to travel the land like it´s the palm of their hand. It´s this magical sensitivity that makes the inhabitants of this region naturally born trackers and hunters.
fauna and flora
WIP
TO BE ADDED
Important characters
THAO Foxfay
Current God of Death and BalanceFINNICK Foxfay
Bounty HunterRENFIELD Corocodillian
First Mate of the Crimson Mary
The coral
empire

overview
Unlike the other kingdoms on the land, the Coral Empire´s population consists of mostly all one species. This nation is also the home of the most advanced technological achievements of Eleria, and the main sponsor of the Imperial Academy of Science, the most coveted university for all of those seeking to learn more about automatons and machinery.

sentient species
Naiads
Merfolk native to the the Coral Empire and the surrounding oceanic depths. They´re medium size when in their land forms, but can from to massive sizes underwater. Naiad allogenes, gain a trait that allows them to transform into giant sea monsters called Leviathans. Naiads are almost fully magical beings, being more in tune with their element more than any other species in Eleria. Because they´re such spiritual beings, they get very curious about how to improve the world around them through a physical lens, which has lead them to become pioneers in everything technological through their steam-powered machines. Naiads tend to be very welcoming creatures, and although they´re the only sentient native species to the Coral Empire, they love to learn about the cultures of those from abroad who come to study at the Science Institute. They´re also amphibians, with the ability to live both on land and water, tough when on land, they can only thrive in areas if high humidity.
mAGIC
Because of the feats of it´s matriarch, Empress Noriko, the land where the Coral Empire is settled is home to some of the most magic-abundant creatures in both land and sea, with the bodies of the two previous Gods of the Sea fuelling the land´s magical environment. With these unique life conditions, the natives of the sea are almost fully magical spirits with little attachment to the physical world. When a magical creature dies in the Empire, they will be immediately reincarnated as another magical see being, continuing the magical cycle.
fauna and flora
WIP
TO BE ADDED
Important characters
Noriko Beta Fish Naiad
"The Great Tide"
Current Goddess of the Sea, Arts and Music
Empress of the Coral EmpireSatorou Mantis Shrimp Naiad
Imperial Scientist
Professor at the Imperial AcademyKaiman Octopus Naiad
Captain of the Crimson MaryMarco White Shark Naiad
Navigator of the Crimson MaryHoney Lemon Shark
Imperial Fashion Designer
Frost Mountains

overview
A cold and unforgiving climate home to only the toughest wild creatures and a strange group of human settlers. Atop the mountain sits a stone fortress built by a faction simply known as The Befallen. No one choses to travel through the frost mountains if they can help it, with the exception of the Huntresses, figures at the service of The Befallen you never want to encounter while out in the wild by yourself.

sentient species
Humans
The Order of the Befallen
The humans living on the mountaintops of these mountains are not like the ones living on the pains at ground level. These humans are former members of the Cult of the New Sun, still believing the same ideals their leader once did. They are ruthless to those who trespass into their land, even if they´re an unrecognised nation operating in secret. They conduct experiments much like the ones ran by the cult their accessors ran, and created the Huntresses to hunt down Allogenes in hopes of harvesting their godly powers in an attempt to turn into gods themselves.
mAGIC
Being a mostly human nation, the Frost Mountains don´t possess a lot of magical beings among their midst. However, what they lack in magical population is made up for by the sheer amount of raw natural magic present in any given location in de territory. This wild magic has lead the population of the Frost Mountains to adapt in the best way they could: harvesting the power of these magical snowstorms and blizzards to fight back against it, harnessing it´s magic to power up homes and work stations alike.
fauna and flora
WIP
TO BE ADDED
Important characters
WHITE QUEEN Human
Ruler of the BefallenROOK Avian
Huntress in training
Ward of the White QueenWHITE BISHOP ???
Queen´s Advisor
Captain of the Royal Guard
Kiradim

overview
A once prosperous kingdom, now lost to the sands of time. Kiradim was a mighty underground kingdom and the homeland of one of the First Human Kingdoms after the Primordial War. The people of Kiradim were gifted in the Arts, Crafts, and Navigation, with vast maps of the stars that they could use to navigate underground thanks to the sky´s reflection on gemstones scattered through the cave walls. This is also the birthplace of Alchemy, however it did not have the chance to research it much before a deadly disease-like curse plagued the kingdom, leading to it´s quick and merciless downfall.

sentient species
Humans
Kiradinians
While certainly not the first humans to walk the lands of Eleria, Kiradim was the biggest human kingdom formed Post-War of the Divine.
fauna and flora
WIP
TO BE ADDED
Important characters
ANDOR Human
Former king of KiradimELYSIA Human
Queen Regent of KiradimIRCANO Alchemy Creature
Crown Prince of KiradimEVENDOR Human
Former NoblemanJESTER Alchemy Creature
Living extension of the Dark Plague





















































































