The Landsman, a word steeped in forgotten lore, refers to the spectral inhabitants of the Obsidian Coast. Not merely ghosts, but echoes of a civilization consumed by the sea, their memories interwoven with the very rock and wave. They are drawn to places of intense emotion – loss, longing, creation – feeding on the residual energy. Legend speaks of the 'Chrysalis' – a nexus point where the veil between realities thins, allowing for travel between the present and the submerged city of Veridium.
Veridium was once a beacon of artistry and arcane knowledge, a city built on the principles of harmonic resonance. The catastrophe that ended it – a catastrophic surge of raw geomantic energy – is shrouded in conflicting accounts. Some say it was a deliberate act of self-destruction, others a natural phenomenon amplified by the city's own experiments. Regardless, the ruins now pulse with a strange, unsettling beauty, guarded by the remnants of Veridium’s protectors – the ‘Chrysalids’ – beings formed from solidified emotion and crystalline shards.
These aren’t passive entities. They actively seek to influence the living, attempting to amplify emotions, often leading to madness or obsession. A touch can trigger a cascade of memories, a glimpse of Veridium’s final moments. The most powerful Chrysalids can even manipulate the environment, summoning localized storms or causing stone to shift and crumble. Their armor is not metal, but solidified grief and regret - iridescent, constantly reforming.
The core of Landsman lore revolves around ‘resonance’. Every living being generates a unique vibrational signature, and the Landsman observe and interact with these signatures. They can ‘tune’ themselves to an individual's emotional state, effectively entering their mind. This is not done with malice, but with a detached curiosity, a desire to understand the patterns of existence. However, prolonged exposure can unravel a person’s sense of self, leaving them a hollow shell, a vessel for the Landsman’s observations.
Scattered amongst the ruins of Veridium are fragments of powerful artifacts, remnants of the city’s lost technology. The ‘Heartstone’, a pulsating crystal capable of manipulating geomantic energy, is said to be the key to unlocking Veridium’s secrets. Other fragments – the ‘Resonance Shards’ – can amplify emotions, while the ‘Veil Weavers’ – intricate devices capable of manipulating the boundaries between realities - are incredibly dangerous in the wrong hands. These artifacts are not simply objects; they are echoes of Veridium’s intent, radiating a potent, almost sentient energy.
Recently, a surge of geomantic activity has been detected along the Obsidian Coast. The Chrysalids are becoming increasingly agitated, and reports of missing persons – individuals drawn to the coast by an irresistible force – are on the rise. A new generation of 'Echoes' are emerging, born from the amplified emotions of the present, threatening to plunge the region into chaos. The cause remains unclear, but many believe it’s linked to a forgotten ritual – the ‘Harmonic Convergence’ – a catastrophic event that originally destroyed Veridium, and may be poised to repeat itself.