History
For countless generations, the Gords roamed as wanderers, awaiting a sign from Echion—the "heart" of their world—to reveal the perfect site for their future capital. One fateful day, a group of tribal men at the base of Mt. Boel, located in Vrice's southwestern expanse, stumbled upon fragments of unidentifiable twisted metal strewn across the mountainside. Unfamiliar with advanced technology, the Gords couldn't comprehend the scene before them: the wreckage of an enormous spaceship. Manakel, a tribal chieftain, scaled Mt. Boel and discovered a gaping cavity at the rear of the mysterious object. Inside, he found an exquisite, luminescent stone, spherical in shape and etched with foreign glyphs. These symbols matched those recorded in the sacred Books of Ocoll. Convinced that Echion had finally guided them, the Gords believed their search was over, and Manakel was anointed as their inaugural High Scepter.
Politics
The reigning High Scepter, Krooln Cilphi, presides over the nation of the Gords and holds this esteemed position for life. Upon his demise, a time-honored ritual selects his successor, a choice believed to be sanctioned by the elements of wind, mountain, and water. The populace assembles at the base of Mt. Boel, the towering peak where the sacred Scepter awaits its new custodian. To complete the first stage of the ceremony, the aspirant must climb the cliff against fierce winds, endure excruciating pain, and retrieve the Scepter without succumbing to death
For the subsequent trial, candidates must plunge into the icy abyss inhabited by the perilous Blue Cyprine creature. Prior to submersion, a paste made from crushed Nepenberries—known for their toxic properties—is consumed, causing immediate muscle rigidity and overall weakness. After resurfacing with the creature, it is triumphantly held aloft before the community. The populace then vocally endorses their new leader in a cacophony of approval. The creature's natural secretions, serving as an antidote to the ingested toxin, are administered to the victor. Following a period of recuperation, a grand festivity takes place. The High Scepter wields unquestionable authority; his edicts are irrevocable and binding.
Culture
The Gords lead a humble existence, deeply rooted in the principles laid out by Ocoll. Ocoll preached that all beings on Echion, from the winds and waters to the flora and fauna, are interconnected with the planet and with the Gords themselves. He foretold a future where a divine sign would guide the people to construct the magnificent city of Niobe and select their leader. Living in a tightly-knit community, the Gords found it challenging to acclimate to the idea of open borders with their new interstellar neighbors. When venturing off their home planet, they carry a small sachet of soil, symbolic of their intrinsic bond to Echion. They hold the belief that this soil ensures their eternal return to the "Heart of Echion" should they perish while away from home.
Planet
Echion serves as a frozen world, holding the position as the 8th celestial body in the Zohar system and inhabited by the Gords. The planet's climate fluctuates between rapidly swirling snowstorms and serene, clear skies that amplify the reflection of its suns against its shimmering, icy terrain. Characterized by expansive tundras blanketed in blizzards and featuring dark, ashy trees and dense underbrush beneath layers of snow, Echion also boasts rocky landscapes riddled with deep canyons and labyrinthine caves. The Gords have chosen to construct their urban centers within some of these vast subterranean spaces.
Close to Echion's coastlines, one can observe light blue, moss-like grass covering the flatlands. The equatorial regions nurture small clusters of wildflowers, adding a splash of color to the otherwise monochromatic landscape. Immense glaciers dominate the oceans, while thick layers of ice conceal portions of the sea's surface. Niobe serves as the capital city, situated under the celestial gaze of Echion's three moons: Bani, Jora, and Meka.
