On the island of Pacari, the people's Essence bonded with beasts allowing them to take on their shape and attributes or even command great herds. They are tribal people reflective of the beast they choose at a young age—the tribes who bond with bog wolves and very different from those who bond with four-winged ravens.

A Beast Master leads his pack of tusked jungle rats in pursuit of his next kill.

The Dust Plains of South Pacari

On the verdant island of New Gaia, ruled by The Council of Mothers, their Essence bonded with plants giving them the power to reshape them into living weapons and complex tools. They are the innovators, and their living devices have crossed the seas to the other islands and have become a way of life for most.

A Plant Weaver from New Gaia

An Inventor's shop outside of tree village in New Gaia

But not all the people of New Gaia bonded with the plants. A few select bonded with the insects, allowing them to summon large swarms and to take on insect-like traits. They became hated and cast out, blamed for plagues and droughts. They formed a secret society known as The Red Alliance to fight back. Some call them terrorists, and others call them heroes.

An Insect Weaver watches his swarm devour the corpse of his latest kill

On the Mainland, where most of the population resides, their Essence was contained, making them more resilient to the strain of living gear. They are the only people of Asunder with the gift, or some might call the curse of wielding Chaos, the god's creation power. It requires touching a source of pure Chaos to awaken, but it was meant for gods and not humans. It destroys all who tamper with it.

A chaos Wielder pushed the limits of their power, destroying themselves in the process.

A Mainland Symbiont testing his new artillery canon

On the barren rock of obsidian and fungi known as the Black Isle, their Essence turned inward, making those known as the Demon Wrestlers hardened and able to withstand impossible physical conditions. They can lend their strength as a group to a single warrior, making them capable of battling the demons that spew forth from The Great Scar. Their war with them is endless, and so is their commitment.

A Demon Wrestler of the Black Isle delivers a killing blow

The Coward's Port is for those who leave the Black Isle for fear of the demons.

In the floating isles of Sky City, where treachery hides behind rigid formality, their Essence bonded with the Blice Crystals that allow their islands to rest in the sky. Skimmers can alter gravity, allowing them to leap great distances or wield massive weapons. With the aid of spore-propulsion packs, they can even outmaneuver even Wyverns.

A Skimmer leaps between Isles, delivering a volley of stone daggers.

Rope bridges string the Sky Islands together.

And last were those on the sea. Their Essence was tossed in the waters and became unstable, causing mutations suited for their survival. They might sprout extra limbs to increase their strength or grow a gaping mouth on their kneecap to help them hold onto sea serpents. Each Seafarer has a mutation or three and none are the same. They have developed methods to shape crustaceans into living weapons and tools that help them breathe underwater or navigate through the chlorine clouds on the far seas.

A Seafarer captain and her first mate prepare to hunt a sea serpent.

Megalyth is the crossroads of all the waterways in the mainland. The Seafarers call it home.