A young person who has the rare ability to sense the lingering emotions and memories of these fragments. They didn't choose this life; they were born with the ability and are just trying to make enough money to get by. When they discover the god's memory, they are forced into a world of conflict and power they want no part of, but they can't ignore the truth.
Name: Kael
• Ability: Kael has the rare ability of Echo Sense, which allows them to "see" the emotional and magical imprints on objects that have absorbed a lot of power. They can feel the lingering emotions—fear, rage, sorrow—and see fleeting glimpses of memories. This ability is often a curse, as it can be overwhelming and traumatic.
• Motivation: Their primary motivation is simple survival. The world they live in is harsh, and Echo hunting is one of the few ways to make a living, despite the risks. They're just trying to pay their rent and maybe afford a decent meal.
• Weakness: Kael is a loner and distrusts others. Their ability has made them an outcast, and they've learned that relying on anyone is a recipe for getting hurt. This makes it difficult for them to form alliances, which will be crucial later on.
THE WORLD SUNDER LAND.
The world is a fractured landscape dotted with "shards"—magical ruins and floating landmasses left behind by the war of the gods. These shards are dangerous, unstable, and filled with magical remnants. However, they are also where the valuable god fragments can be found. Guilds of powerful mages and mercenaries control the largest shards, but independent Echo Hunters like Kael risk their lives in the more unstable, unpatrolled areas.
THE INCITING INCIDENT: A Glimmer of Truth
Kael takes a contract to explore a recently discovered, minor shard—an unassuming piece of stone floating in the sky. It's a low-risk, low-reward job, perfect for someone like them. As they use their Echo Sense, they find a small, unremarkable obsidian shard. When they touch it, Kael is hit with an overwhelming flood of raw power, unlike anything they've ever felt. Instead of a fleeting memory, they witness a vivid, lucid echo of a dying god.
The echo reveals a shocking truth: the god wasn't killed by another deity but was betrayed and murdered by one of their most trusted followers, a powerful human mage. This mage, who has since become a legendary figure in history, used the god's power to ascend and create the very system of control that governs magic today.
Now Kael isn't just a simple Echo Hunter; they are the sole witness to a thousand-year-old conspiracy. And the powerful, ancient organization that was founded by that very mage is now after them.