Purgatoris: Overview

Purgatoris is the game setting I’m developing for use with the Dual-Core System. Purgatoris is a Dark Fantasy setting with elements of Horror and Science Fiction thrown in for good measure. Purgatoris is the name of the a large cavernous chamber deep within the Earth. Purgatoris, about the size of India and has a mile high ceiling. The world features a large lake that takes up about one third of the chamber and a single lighted sphere suspended in the middle of the chamber between a huge stalactite and a stalagmite.

This sphere is called the Orv by natives and, while providing life giving light, is the subject of fear, as most of the natives believe that within the Orv is the unborn creature that is destined to destroy the entire world. The deities of Purgatoris claim that it is only they that keep the creature imprisoned. The seven of them live within the Stalagmite below the great Orv, into which a great tower has been carved. Around this tower thrives the greatest city within Purgatoris.

Magic is only legally practiced by the priests of the deities, as the practice of magic has the tendency of drawing the attention of demons. Sometimes, when a arcanist casts her spells, a demon will manifest and attack the arcanist and any living thing around her. Priests claim that this is because arcanists draw their power from demonic sources, while their power is granted by the gods. Others whisper that there is little difference between priestly and arcane magic, and that the deities, who rule Purgatoris with an iron fist, are demons themselves.

Psychic powers are also illegal. Most people believe that psychic power is indicative of demonic blood – otherwise, how would the psychic be able to use their powers without attracting the attention of demons? Priest go a step further, often claiming that psychic powers siphon strength from the deities – strength they need to keep the creature within the Orv imprisoned. Psychics, on the other hand, tend to see their powers as a gift, and the natural evolution of their species. Some psychics even go so far as to say that the seven deities are suppressing the natural evolution of humanity and the other species that inhabit Purgatoris. They point out that these so-called Gods appeal to the baser nature of the natives by encouraging greed, hatred, lust, envy, and sloth. The same psychics often also claim that there is a world above theirs that is full of light and warmth – a claim that most people believe to be foolish dreams.

Five different races inhabit Purgatoris. In addition to magic and psychic powers, there exists the strange practice of biomancy. There is also the issue of technology within the Purgatoris, the outside forces that threaten to destroy Purgatoris, and the political forces within that threaten to do the same. More of these subjects will be discussed  in the next installment.

NOTE: While The Dual-Core System will be released under a Creative Commons License, the author retains all rights in regards to the setting – Purgatoris.