PROPHECY LOST

This project takes place on [ x ], at this point still called Earth, during the Reclamation and Revival period of Era 3 (approx. 2023 E-3).

SYNOPSIS

In the wake of a supernatural near-apocalypse, the city of Switchback Falls is clawing its way back to normalcy—newfound magical capabilities and blue-skinned people from the Underworld notwithstanding. It helps that, after the initial chaos, most of the Svarenic people from the dark underworld of Svarenheil were just that: people, most of whom were very apologetic about what the worst of their people had to offer when the portals opened. So, they’re all doing their best to get along as they learn to accept their new circumstances.

(Again, worldview-altering events that bridge the gap between to worlds notwithstanding.)

Nyra Cyrinell, a junior veterinarian in Switchback Falls, now finds herself at a loss. Her place of work was demolished in the initial attacks led by barbarian-like Svarenic extremists when the portals opened. She herself spent weeks doing triage on humans, animals, and Svarenics alike, only to discover after the fact that she was out of work. After, she leaves her old apartment and moving in with a nurse she met in college and a Svarenic civilian stranded in Switchback Falls. She too attempts to accept and “flow” with her town’s “new normal.”

She does quite well until a supernatural experience of her own triggers magical seizures and complex, burdening visions of the future.

Now, with her new magic-educated roommate and the others she met during her trigger event, she must embark on a quest to find the one being who can save her before her visions become too much for a regular mortal to withstand: Ialu, the goddess of prophecy.

Can she and her unusual collection of new friends find a lost, silent goddess before Nyra’s time runs out? Or, perhaps even worse: before the remnants of the Svarenic extremists fight their way to Ialu first?

MAIN CAST

Maikoa (they/them) — the god of trickery, recently un-banished from a dark prison in Svarenheil. Hellbent on reuniting the Over- and Underworld, dedicated to the protection of magic, balance, and the Svarenic peoples… and also terrible puns and stupid pranks.

Had their memory tampered with post-War for Balance, like most of the gods, but forgot key parts of their identity. Getting their memories back is part of what got them banished.
Cares deeply about people of all kinds and colors, but puts on a big show with bravado, an snarky (sometimes cruel) outward demeanor, and shallowness.
One of the only full-capability shapeshifters (can be anything) at this point in history.
Fights with magic, cunning, traps, and occasional ranged melee weapons (spears, polearms, staves).

Mia Vas Etrya (she/her) — Svarenic noblewoman and civil war general, and now king* of her father’s region in the underworld. Seeks to smooth relations with the overworlders and usher in a new era of prosperity, cooperation, and general peace, but fears The Adversaries have ruined their chance. (*Not a monarchy. Nearest translated title-equivalent.)

Has a fantastic cause and is part of a larger movement within the Svarenic leadership to do better and strive for a greater future. Practical, morally centered, cares about the preservation of all sentient life deeply.
Is also a little shit. Studied at Maikoa’s feet (literally) while they were still being freed from their prison, and is a full-blooded devotee of theirs. She is every bit as cunning and intelligent as her patron.
Fights with magic and melee weapons, dislikes the handling of most human firearms and isn’t very fond of her people’s magic crossbows (though she can use them).

Nyra Cyrinell (she/her) — a normal veterinarian with normal goals and a normal life (except for the growing collection of rescue animals crammed into her studio apartment…) until she begins experiencing seizures and prophetic visions. Just wants to sort out her newfound gift of prophecy, find a goddess, and go back home.

Was not previously attuned to or “in the know” about magic at all. The Revival and the portals were a complete shock to her, the visions even more-so.
Cares about people and animals so much that she will put herself in danger to bring one to safety or treat their wounds. Yes, this becomes a problem on the quest.
Is generally a bubbly, glib person to be around and carries a healthy amount of optimism balanced by her intelligence and rationality. Does get very anxious when she’s pushed to far from her comfort zone.

Sky (she/they) — a Svarenic refugee who was caught between the invading Svarenic forces and a portal; ended up in Switchback Falls by chance. Prefers not to talk about where she was before, and has implied she escaped a dangerous living situation prior to the crux of the civil war. Polite, friendly, and generally go-with-the-flow.

Will not handle human firearms. Hates them with a passion, to the point its a little unsettling. Can and will handle a Svarenic crossbow well, though.
Possesses a great deal of useful survival skills, and while foraging is a bust in an unfamiliar Overworld, she’s useful to the team in many other ways because of this skill set.
Knows a healthy bit of Ialu’s lore and has general magic knowledge, which she helps pass on to Nyra.
Does not get along with Nyra’s orange cat, Cheese.

Nathan Shasear (he/him) — half human, half Svarenic; born in the Overworld to a single mother. Only learned about his heritage and magic when Hekata found him by chance, and later become Hekata’s favorite (illegal) mage. Studies history and mythology, and was working at a library while getting his PhD when the portals opened and his patron quit being so vague about the near-future.

Has been using magic since he was 20, but didn’t know what it was until he met Hekata (then going by the author’s name “H. K. Blackwell”) at age 23. Is now the most-educated “human” on the topic, and has become Hekata’s de facto High Mage/scribe.
- Was not asked before becoming Hekata’s de facto SIC. Just wants to get his degree, move to a different city, and get on with his life.
Gets roped into the quest for Ialu because, aside from Maikoa and a few select individuals, he knows the most about her last location and recent history. Ends up tutoring Nyra alongside Mia and Sky, giving her more advanced tips while trying to find spells that will help protect her mind.
Is a dog person, but even he likes Cheese the cat.
Is, at his core, a humanitarian (…or whatever the equivalent is now). Believes in Mia’s cause to bring about cooperation and mutual aid, and admires Nyra’s respect for life, health, and autonomy.

OTHER NOTES

Prophecy Lost was a project I started in my junior year of high school, shortly before I embarked on the first iteration of Broken Dimensions. While the details of this story have changed and developed over time (and have been fully integrated into Broken Dimensions lore), the basics remain largely the same:

“An unusual group of people (and a god) go on a journey through the no-longer-Appalachian region to find a lost goddess of prophecy, encountering monsters along the way and attempting to divert and mislead political adversaries with sinister goals.”

And… that’s about where it’s at right now! Prophecy Lost is, at present, a conceptual story. It was originally intended to be a comic back in 2019, but in 2025 I’m not entirely sure what I want it to become. It would be a good candidate for a proper novel (as opposed to the anthologic monstrosity of Fractal Alliances (said with love))… but we’ll have to see where the story takes me.

Stick around to see where this project goes!