Balance Breacher

Balance Breacher

About

Hey! I’m Icezimy, a freelance artist from Germany, and creator of Balance Breacher.What started as drawing a few OC’s, now turned into a full-blown fantasy world.On this site, I’m giving an overview about Balance Breacher including story snippets, character bios, worldbuilding stuff, illustrations, and concept art as the project evolves. It is an ongoing progress, so check back for updates in the “News”section. :)Eventually, I want to expand Balance Breacher into a webcomic... maybe even cinematic trailers, merch, or an artbook.For the best experience, read in the order of the menu (Story - Characters - World - Magic). The Compendium serves as a wiki for everything, including exclusive content that didn't fit elsewhere.Thanks for dropping by, it seriously means the world! ♡

Branded a “Balance Breacher” for powers she can’t control, one outcast must rely on her allies to survive an empire determined to erase her kind.

News

Highlights

9 Jul 2026
The website is finally live!! 🎉Welcome, curious one! Please have fun exploring the world of Noddara, meet my characters, enjoy the art or read a little lore!And if you’re in a spooky mood, check out The Lantern Collector short story featuring my OC’s. It's perfect to get to know them... you better keep the lights on, or should you? 👻

Shoutouts

Check them all out under the Fanworks section!

  • Super precious and adorable fanart of Nelvian and Squeaky drawn by @lunar_fox.arts!

  • Absolutely amazing fanart of Nelvian, Fiora, Caladir, and Squeaky drawn by @jobless_slime!

  • Cute fanart of Fiora, drawn by @dekumi6!

Updates

  • 9 Jul 2026 New Short Story: The Lantern Collector
    A stormy night, a campfire, and one of Caladir’s unsettling tales… but is it really just a story? Read Now

  • 9 Jul 2026 The Website is finally live!🎉

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The Story begins...

Nelvian never got to know the world, only the dusty books in her father’s basement and the word he called her: Monster.Her Duvalis powers mark her as a threat to the so-called Era of Balance in Estrya. Thus, she is branded a Balance Breacher and hunted by Zerathis, the ruthless emperor determined to erase her kind.Nelvian’s only hope now lies with a group of outcasts: Thessa, a steadfast Vitalyst healer; Fiora, her bubbly apprentice; and Caladir, a guarded Illusionist, with his cheeky assistant, a flying squirrel named Squeaky.But even together... for how long can they avoid the empire’s reach?

Tales of Noddara

Short Story

The Lantern Collector

A stormy night, a campfire, and one of Caladir’s unsettling tales… but is it really just a story?

Slice of Life Comics

Characters

Meet the Main Cast

Nelvian

The Cautious & Curious Duvalis

Age: 19 | Height: 170 cmNelvian has spent most of her life hidden away from the world, so she is shaped by isolation, fear, and the belief that something is wrong with her. As a Dualborn Duvalis, she embodies the unity between Aether and Nether, a combination she barely understands herself, and one the empire seeks to erase.

Fiora

The Bright & Bubbly Vitalyst

Age: 18 | Height: 158 cmFiora is an Aetherborn Vitalyst apprentice learning under Thessa, who is also her gran. She draws vitality from plants, using their life energy to heal wounds. But unfortunately her eagerness often outshines her control.

Caladir

The Cold, But Caring Illusionist

Age: 19 | Height: 195 cmCaladir is an Illusionist who can project illusions to manipulate one's perception, often aided by his flying squirrel Squeaky to anchor them in reality. Cal is stoic, serious, and can seem a little intimidating at first impression, hiding his softer side behind a mask.

Thessa

The Motherly Mentor

Age: 55 | Height: 168 cmThessa is a seasoned Aetherborn Vitalyst Healer, mentor, and the anchor of the group. She possesses a lot of patience, while guiding the "kids" with the wisdom of someone who has seen the beauty and the cruelty of the world.

Squeaky

The Cheeky Companion

Age: Unknown | Height: Hand SizedSqueaky is Caladir’s ever-present flying squirrel pet. He is part companion, part troublemaker, and Cal's personal illusion assistant.

Others

Map

Lore

The Flow of Existence

At the heart of Noddara, all things flow from two fundamental forces, Aether and Nether, collectively known as the "Balance Essence".

  • Aether embodies things like beginnings, day, light, life, and the sun. It is the outward current of creation, like a brilliant star that builds and sustains existence.

  • Nether embodies things like endings, night, shadow, death, and the moon. It is the inward current of destruction, like a black hole that consumes what has completed its cycle, returning it to raw potential.

Together, these opposite currents form the "Flow of Existence", which is the natural movement and interaction of those forces. They are inseparable, neither can exist without the other. Because every act of creation requires something to end, and in turn every ending makes room for something new.It is widely believed that Existentia, the Goddess of Existence and Mother of Creation, shaped the world this way. Thus, she is often depicted holding a balance scale pan in each hand, one side representing Aether, the other Nether, weighing creation against destruction, so balance in Noddara may forever be upheld.See also: The Arts of Balance (Isoturgy)

“Yer can curse the rain all ye like, but without it, the wheat won’t grow. That’s the Mother’s balance for ya.”✧ Wise Farmer

History

  • Formation of the Estryan Empire

Year 0 AU (=After Unification)

In an attempt to stop previous wars and chaos, a handful of countries unified into one single empire. Big cities rose, Balancers got categorized and prosperity slowly increased, making Estrya one of the biggest and strongest empires in Noddara, governed through multiple smaller provinces.

  • The Golden Age

Year 1 - 105 AU

A Duvalis emperor was chosen to fully unify the empire. The borders between provinces softened and finally peace was reality. Most folks called it the golden age. The tradition to always keep a Duvalis as emperor manifested over the years.

  • The Great Imbalance

Year 820 - 869 AU

Seemingly without reason, many Dualborn became a source for concern, as many Duvalis lost control over their powers, which led to multiple devastating incidents.The folk was especially left scared and confused when even the former Duvalis emperor succumbed to such madness.

  • Zerathis’ "Era of Balance"

Year 870 AU - Present

Zerathis, an Aetherborn Amorists, took over the throne.His claim was to “restore the true balance,” because in the past, "balance was mistaken by unity." He preaches that Aether and Nether were never meant to mingle together, and thus Dualborn are unnatural, unstable, and dangerous.His Paragons patrol the streets to enforce his new vision. Netherborn are usually confined to undesirable roles and the Dualborn are hunted and executed. Anyone who defies Zerathis‘ order is branded a “Balance Breacher.”In the beginning many people latched onto his words, scarred by the previous events, hoping for a better future under an Aetherborn emperor.But now there are whispers of rebellion among the Estryan people.

Factions

The Paragons

Zerathis’ elite force. Mostly filled with Aetherborn Balancers (Lumibra, Vitalysts and Amorists). They often wear bright white and golden armor or robes and enforce Zerathis' regulations like it is their god-given duty.

Balance Breachers

What the empire’s regime calls anyone who steps out of line. Some are rebels or criminals, but many are just people who asked the wrong questions. Under Zerathis’ regulations, Dualborn are automatically classified as Balance Breachers due to the unstable nature of their potential balancing abilities. Essentially it is not a formal faction, but more so a political branding.

Shadehaven

A rumor to some, but a real place and organization to others. Known as a safe haven for outlaws, rebels, lost souls, surviving Dualborn, aka all kind of Balance Breachers. No one knows who leads them, or if there even is one true leader. It's said to be near impossible to locate, unless ”they“ allow you to find it.

The Lorekeepers

Safeguards and scholars of the Library of Ages. Consists entirely of Netherborn Chronolysts, with utmost devotion and care for their tasks. Thanks to their time manipulating powers, they are able to restore and preserve old books and artifacts, for ages to come. Once appointed a Lorekeeper, one can never leave the order again and must swear to protect the libraries secrets with their life.

Cultures

An Empire of Many Cultures

The Estryan Empire is divided into 9 regions, further split into 18 provinces. Before the empires formation, many of these areas existed as separate countries, resulting in vastly different cultures, from clothing and cuisine to holidays, languages, or accents.Since unification, a shared language, belief system, and other customs have slowly spread across the regions, but each still maintains its own unique cultural flavor.

Provinces are governed locally, often with governors who carry Essence Blood, placing them in automatic positions of authority and control.However, all provinces ultimately answer to emperor Zerathis, and the influence of his Paragons extends even into the most remote corners of Estrya.The 9 main regions are:

  • The Northern Regions: Granorr, Ishknorr and The Wildnorth

  • The Western Region: Woldir

  • The Center Region: Heartlands

  • The Middle Eastern Region: Vaeruun

  • The Eastern Region: Saenri

  • The Southern Regions: Jalerha and Feudric

Essencetech

Essencetech is possible thanks to artifacts, crystals, and botanicals that store Balance Essence energy.It was originally created to aid a Balancers abilities, such as special type of lenses and prisms for Lumibra, potions for Amorists or medical tools for Vitalysts.But it has developed beyond that and is nowadays also a way for ordinary people without balancing abilities to make use of the essence energies in many helpful ways. For example:

  • Prismar Lanterns (Often used to light streets in bigger cities)

  • Heating Crystals (Often used to heat stoves, warm a room or water)

  • Echo Marbles (Allow short distance instant communication)

  • Flow Trackers (Show recent changes within the Flow of Existence)

  • Enhanced Weapons & Other Objects

  • Various Potions (For healing and other benefits)

In theory, anyone could make use of Essencetech. But in practice, only the wealthy and well-connected can afford it, which makes the great cities shine with technological marvels, while the hinterlands still have to make do with candlelight and muscle.

“Essencetech, eh? In them cities they gat lanterns that nay go out an’ pipes runnin’ hot like summer springs, all fed by fancy little crystals. Out here? We split the logs an’ boil the water ourselves. Mother’s balance, my arse! It’s all coin, an’ who’s gat it anyhow.”✧ Annoyed Villager

The Arts of Balance
(Isoturgy)

Overview

Balance Magic, also known as Isoturgy, is the art of manipulating the Flow of Existence.Isoturgy manifests where the opposing currents of the Flow meet in temporary equilibrium, allowing a Balancer the creation of a spell.

“What is unstable must be controlled, and what cannot be controlled must be removed. For the promise of Balance in our Holy Empire.”✧ Zerathis

The Flow can be manipulated by three main methods:

  • Intuitive or learned hand gestures, body movement, touch, voice, etc.

  • Runes that are used to hold and extend the temporary state of balance within a Flow, allowing more complicated, stable spells.

  • Anchoring it via Essencetech, objects, environments, or living beings, to strengthen and stabilize it against collapse, allowing much stronger spells.

A spell fails or becomes unpredictable when the balance within the localized Flow breaches, causing it to destabilize, completely collapse, or release uncontrolled Balance Essence into the immediate area.

The intentional destabilization of the Flow beyond regulated parameters, constitutes Balance Breaching and is punishable by law. Under Zerathis’ regulations, Dualborn are automatically classified as Balance Breachers due to the unstable nature of their potential balancing abilities, which makes them subject to the Empire's containment and termination protocols.See also: World → Lore

Origin of Isoturgy

Initius, known as the deity of Aether (beginnings, light, life, the sun), and Finia, the deity of Nether (endings, shadow, death, the moon), are said to be the primordial sources of all Isoturgy, in the world of Noddara.Their mother, Existentia, the Goddess of Existence and Mother of Creation, birthed them from her own essence, in order to protect the world she had created.But her children grew greedy and envious, seeking dominance over each other, blind to their duality and that they were two sides of the same coin. Their conflict escalated into a devastating fight that threw Noddara out of balance, threatening to tear apart existence itself.Existentia wept, and in her sorrow, she bound her children's essences to humankind, forcing Aether and Nether to coexist within mortal hearts. Now forever linked, and unable to ever act alone again.Thus, Balancers were born. Or so it is widely believed.

“When the children of Aether and Nether fell to envy, the Mother chained their essence to mortal hearts, so that Balance may be preserved through all who bear her gift.”✧ Old Temple Inscription

Who can use it?

Those capable of wielding Isoturgy are called Isoturges, more commonly known as Balancers. They are individuals born with Essence Blood, allowing them to sense and manipulate the Flow of Existence to varying degrees. A Balancer can be aligned with Aether, Nether, or, in rare cases, both.

  • Aetherborn channel Aetheressence, which metaphorically flows outward. Their energy expands, builds, and sustains. They have pointy ears and natural light colored tattoo-like markings on their skin.

  • Netherborn channel Netheressence, which metaphorically flows inward. Their energy consumes, compresses, and transforms. They have horns and a tail.

  • Dualborn are very rare and channel both. Their energy expands and consumes, converging the flow of existence itself. They often have a mix of Aether- and Netherborn physical traits, and dual colored hair.

These bloodline alignments are not about good or evil. In the end, it is the Balancer alone who decides whether to use their Isoturgy for better or for worse.

Also, while Aetherborn and Netherborn only channel one essence, they are still reliant upon the other. An Aetherborn’s power is ultimately defined by Nether, just as a Netherborn’s power is defined by Aether.Roughly 35% of Noddara’s population carries Essence Blood, but only about one in five ever awaken their abilities, becoming a Balancer. These powers usually manifest before the age of 10, often during moments of intense emotional or physical distress.Those without Essence Blood are not entirely cut off from the Balance Essences. Through Essencetech, ordinary people can harness fragments of these energies using specially engineered tools, devices, and potions.

Classes

Seven official classes of Balancers exist: three Aetherborn, three Netherborn, and the rare Dualborn. One does not choose their class, they are born attuned to it.Each class is tied to a Plane, which represents the metaphysical origin of its power.Environmental Plane (Common)

  • Lumibra (Aetherborn): Bends light (Aether) defined by shadow (Nether). From scorching beams and blinding flashes to protective rainbow prism nets.

  • Umbrali (Netherborn): Weaves shadows (Nether) defined by light (Aether). Shaping shadow formed weapons or concealing themselves in the darkness.

Transient Plane (Uncommon)

  • Vitalyst (Aetherborn): Channels life (Aether) by taking it from death (Nether). Through the exchange of life energy, they may choose to heal, or to harm.

  • Chronolyst (Netherborn): Manipulates decay (Nether) by reversing or accelerating the effects of time (Aether) in objects. From preserving ancient relics, to rotting steel to dust.

Sentient Plane (Rare)

  • Amorist (Aetherborn): Influences attraction (Aether) by redirecting repulsion (Nether). Masters of emotional manipulation, they are able to influence what one feels.

  • Illusionist (Netherborn): Creates illusions (Nether) by manipulating reality (Aether). They blur the line of both, making one question their own perception.

Existence Plane (Very Rare)

  • Duvalis (Dualborn): Channel the Flow of Aether and Nether directly, right where creation and destruction meets, they can rewrite fragments of existence itself.