Aenstria (Country)

Aenstria sits in a subtropical wetland on the northern portions of Kadenzya. Aenstria sees frequent sometimes violent storms at almost all times of year. Snow rarely happens, but cool air from the north occasionally brings freezing temperatures. Never enough to freeze the bays and inlets solid.

Nestled within the embrace of the Roinen Mountains and caressed by the shimmering waters of Moondrop Bay, the realm of Aenstria unfolds—a land where enchantment and reality interweave to shape a realm of captivating wonder. These lands, basking in the legacy of ancient tides and whispering winds, hold the secrets of history and magic, where rolling hills and crystalline islands become the stage for a tale waiting to be told. Welcome to Aenstria, a realm where artisan crafts, arcane mysteries, and the ebb and flow of gods and humans converge, painting a canvas of extraordinary beauty and boundless possibilities.

## **Geography:**

### **The Roinen Mountains:**

The Roinen Mountains occupy much of the eastern portions of Aenstria, and the Kadenzyan landmass in the area. While called mountains, in reality they're large rounded hills that span the coast and inland. Likely remnants of a time from prehistory where much of Aenstria was underwater, sediment deposits eroded away over time as plate tectonics lifted the land above sea level, carved out by draining water. Covered with thick tall grasses, and subtropical trees, the heights are often incredibly safe from floods, while the valleys can be potentially deadly for the same reasons. Mages from the Infinium taking up residence in these rolling hills have found it an excellent location for grape cultivation, the pervasive warm climate and bracing easterly breezes grow strong, acidic varieties on the slopes.

### **The Esryan River**

Flowing into the mouth of Stillwater Bay, through the subtropical Shadewood Forest that covers the southern coast of the bay, from it's source in the Roinen foothills, the Esryan River is a spring and runoff fed wide, slow flowing river. The gentle nature of the Esryan makes it a vital trade route in the region, as well as the only overland path to the Infinium, at it's source in the mountains. Named after the pair of explorers who founded Port Rose at the Esryan Estuary.

### **The Eryn River**

We've mentioned her partner's namesake river, now we discuss the Eryn - named after the other of the pair of explorers who struck out from Aenstria City to found Port Rose. The Eryn flows into Moondrop Bay from a large fresh water lake to the east, about half as wide as the Esryan, she is still able to carry barges and ferries with ease, though she twists and turns to a more chaotic tune and course.

### **Moondrop Bay**

The prominent gateway to Aenstria City, Moondrop bay was named so due to the presence of the Moondrop, a massive blue crystalline island that rises up like an egg laid on it's side, a mile or so off the Aenstrian coast. Moondrop bay features rocky beaches, and steep cliffs towards her apex, leveling out to white sand beaches as you move further out towards the open seas. A large portion of Aenstria's population lives around the bay, with Aenstria City at it's heart. The massive naval beacons of The Sentinel and Threshold guard the north coast, and further out, Perigee Point sets the demarcation point between Aenstria, and the Mo'anwi Islands.

### **Stillwater Bay**

Located north of Moondrop Bay, opening out into the eastern ocean is Stillwater Bay. Ironically often a turbulent mess of dangerous waves stirred by strong seasonal storm winds coming overland. Mostly sea-level on her northern shores, the southern portion is higher in elevation, as the foothills of the Roinen meet the bay with steep rocky cliff faces. Stillwater Bay is sheathed in forests, the Shadewood to the south, and the dark, imposing Miremurk to the north, oaks, cypress and holly among them. Port Rose and her surroundings mark the only place along the bay not occluded by thick almost jungle. Robert's Rock sits in the middle of the bay, creating a hazard for incoming and outgoing vessels.

### **Lake Yesiran**

Named after Aenstria's most famous explorers, the founders of Port Rose, Esryan and Eryn Yesiran, this great lake occupies the heart of the Kadenzyan landmass, flowing into the Eryn river, before draining into Moondrop Bay. Surrounded by lush forests, with the rolling hills of the Roinen to the north and east, it's likely that Lake Yesiran is a blown out caldera of a long dormant volcano, perilously deep at it's center. While not currently widely inhabited, fishing communities are popping up with the expansion of the Aenstrian nation. On her southern banks, the subtropical forests trade out to more arid scrub of Willows, Cottonwood, and Mesquite.

### **The Moondrop**

The jewel at the heart of the crown, a massive crystal island off the coast at the center of Moondrop Bay. Aenstrian Captains figured it was roughly the same size as Perigee Point, around 10 or so miles from tip to tip, however its elevation was substantially greater. Sheer, smooth crystal soared from the waves a good hundred feet, and the island was likely another 50 or so feet tall at its center. Like a big blue egg, resting on its side in the bay, except for near the waterline, where floating vegetation and barnacle had collected, decayed, composted, and turned to soil. An irregular stripe of green plant life coated the shore of the island, doing its best to completely cover the strange, alien stone. The Moondrop is revered by the Aenstrian common folk as a holy site, Coralya's presence, manifest on Abhaile.

### **Roberts' Rock**

A large, rocky island that sits at the mouth of Stillwater Bay, Roberts' Rock features a sparse ecosystem, with few trees, and jagged, unforgiving beaches. Approximately 7 miles across, the island acts as a semi-permanent way-station for vessels traversing the bay. This camp settlement was established when Port Rose's ship, the Infinite ran aground on her southern shores during sea trials. It will likely serve as Aenstria's first eastern Naval Beacon in the future.

### **Perigee Point**

Located at the mouth of Moondrop Bay, Perigee Point was home to the first Aenstrian Naval Beacon, or large white stone tower giving light to warn ships of danger. Flat, and arid along the north shore, the perfect location offering good visibility. The south, west and eastern shores are much more rocky and treacherous. The island is approximately 8 square miles, and consists of a few fields for growing crops, and a citrus grove for growing oranges. A small hamlet sits up hill, supporting the beacon with subsistence agriculture and maintenance staff.

### **The Illuminated Coast**

The Aenstrian peoples' name for the coast along Moondrop Bay's northern shores, turning northward towards the Miremurk and Boral Span. Peninsula and cove line this coast, providing excellent locations for the construction of naval beacons, shining their lights out into the ocean, guiding ships to and from the heart of the nation. Sandy beaches, and flat ground, perfect for crops and livestock - the coast connects into the Aenstrian heartland, much of which has been deforested for the purposes of ship, residential, and commercial construction. Reforestation efforts are being taken by responsible custodians of the land, who operate small fiefdoms with varying numbers of skilled workers and craftspeople under their protection and banners.

### **The Paralys Cut**

Off of Aenstria's east coast, the Paralys Cut is the name for the passageway between Kadenzya proper, and the outlying series of islands. The channel is deep, and wide enough to appear safe and hospitable, but strong winds and rocky structures beneath the waves cause for a fairly perilous passage.

### **The Miremurk**

North of Port Rose, Aenstria is covered in a thick, relatively unexplored expanse of thick forest known as the Miremurk. Slowly being pressed into by necessity for timber, the Miremurk is inhabited by a number of dangerous creatures and pockets of permeable darkness that make even the bravest adventurer shy away. Swamp and bog in some areas, stagnant in the heat - while other areas are thick with Cypress, Oak and Holly. Reports of large black furred cat-like creatures that confound their pray have come in from explorers and loggers.

### **The Boral Span (Undiscovered, name is subject to change)**

The Northern channel between Aenstria and Boreala

### **Emriwyn Island**

The most remote of Aenstria's settlements, Emriwyn is a large island, approximately 15 square miles, situated off her western coast. The island was selected as a location of critical importance for Aenstria's naval beacons along the Illuminated Coast, but given how far out the island sits, ground was broken on a small town able to support a fishing industry, as well as serving as a vital port of call for coastal merchants. Likely an ancient volcanic island affiliated with the larger chain of volcanic islands to the west, she's been flattened by strong winds and water over the years, and is no longer active. Sandy beaches, and palms make up the scenery around the settlement of Wynwer and her proud beacon.

### **Laurel**

A newly discovered island of significant size off of the east coast of Aenstria, on the far side of the Paralys Cut, this strange land is covered in a thick forest of Luminous Willows, Etheral Birches, and Dreamwood Trees - a large natural spring near the northern shore somehow acts as a gateway to the Feywild, it's influences and denizens spilling over into Abhaile proper. Much of this land remains unexplored and dangerous. Originally called the Etherwood Strand by Aenstrian cartographers, the island was renamed Laurel after crew from the Infinite made landfall, and met with the fey inhabitants. As a sign of goodwill, engineers remained ashore and helped establish the town of Taeryn on it's northwestern shores.

## **Locations:**

### **Aenstria City**

Capital of the growing nation, Aenstria City is the cultural and political heart of this corner of the world. A veritable force of dedicated artisans and craftspeople make up the working class, dutifully chasing perfection in ship construction, civic upkeep, and aquaculture. They're a largely monotheistic working class worshipping Coralya - goddess of order, self-discipline, and duty, juxtaposed with intentional irony in that she is represented by the chaotic movements of the blue moon overhead. The Aenstrian Nation is governed by the Novenarchy, a council of 9 powerful mages, who work through arcane means to innovate and improve the lives of the citizens. They often meet resistance in offering these advancements to a fairly superstitious and religious population.

### **Port Rose**

Sister to Aenstria City, Port Rose is the nations' second major city - located far to the north along a well maintained dirt road that is in the process of being paved. Port Rose was founded on the banks of the inappropriately named Stillwater Bay, notoriously sheathed in thick forest save for one vast field of roses found by the explorers Esryan and Eryn on their trek north into the unknown. Seeing this as a sign from above, they broke ground. Still influenced heavily by Aenstria City, Port Rose has a much smaller civic divide, with a vast majority of the population being working class folks, the Novenarchy has a much smaller footprint in this second city, leaving the governing to the Stormlord, and their advisors. Like Aenstria City, however, Port Rose has a massive 3-pier dock, and shipyard, fishing and aquaculture are critical to the Port's daily life. Port Rose is also home to the Kadenzei, a pseudo-military exploration group founded to protect the area from possible threats within the Miremurk.

### **Perigee Point**

A small hamlet supporting the massive white-stone tower of the Perigee Point Beacon, mostly subsistence farmers (mostly growing citrus fruits and grains) as well as fishers, all moonlighting as artisans or craftspeople. Three members of the Luminary Guard acted as civic leaders for the population, with no formal Stormlord or Novenarchy representative to speak of, until the Aenstrian people started trading and pressing out into the ocean. Perigee Point became the gateway to Aenstria. Up until this time, people on Perigee Point live fairly isolated, rural lives, but are never far from resupply and passing vessels heading out to sea. Once trade became a more prominent industry, the population of the island blossomed into a small town, with white marble walls and cobbled streets. Under the newly appointed Brynden Vale as Stormlord, Perigee Point stood with open arms to the world around it.

### **Wynwer**

Aenstria's currently most remote settlement, Wynwer serves an identical purpose to Perigee Point, however due to it's remote nature, they've had to adapt to their geographical isolation. A small town with a growing population takes fishing barges out to mind shellfish farms, and cast nets. Citrus plants, and grapes grow in the flat fields, and slopes, respectively. A skilled sect of artisans have adapted their own unique style on the island, which is a popular trade-good for vessels coming from Aenstria City or the outlying areas. Wynwer has become large enough to necessitate a Stormlord to ensure order.

### **The Sentinel**

The closest beacon to Aenstria City, The Sentinel is also the most recent terrestrial beacon. Built on the northern shores of Moondrop Bay, The Sentinel is the only militarized Beacon, hosting a small contingent of Kadenzei, and a few specialized ferries, The Sentinel and it's supporting hamlet serve as a last line of defense should any outside force attempt to attack the city. The Sentinel's location on the Illuminated Coast also allows the garrison to operate as peacekeepers for the Stormlords spread throughout the Aenstrian countryside.

### **Threshold**

Marking the threshold, or northern mouth of Moondrop Bay, Threshold sits, shining its light out to guide ships back home. A large village sits at the base of this white-stone beacon, with a diverse population pursuing various crafts and professions. While aquaculture is still a staple, many denizens of Threshold have taken to capturing and domesticating feral bovine from the area, known to disrupt crops and cause damage to wind breaks and structures.

### **The Infinium**

A massive, hundreds-foot-tall tower of Black Stone, the Infinium was the brainchild of Jzevhan Risan and Reigan Lei of the Aenstrian Novenarchy, to foster the development and research into the arcane mysteries. The Infinium is, first and foremost, an educational institution. Seeking to teach future generations of mages, and expand the influence of the Novenarchy. It is, however, rumored that the topmost floors sequester instruments and texts used for secretive arcane research and clandestine operations. At the base of this grand tower, a village of almost entirely elven population has sprung up, to support the structure, and offer permanent residence for some mages, all crafted out of a contrasting white stone. Officially this village is considered part of the Infinium, unofficially the people refer to it as the Risan Heights.

### **Taeryn**

On the north-western shores of the island Laurel, Taeryn is a small village comprised of a mixture of fae-folk, and Aenstrian migrants from Port Rose. Denizens of Taeryn fish, hunt, and work the land - a relatively strong departure from the rest of Aenstrian society.

### **al'Marenth**

al'Marenth, or Northern Port in the native Aenstrian tongue, sits in an inlet on the south end of the Boral Span, offering some protection from storms coming off of the ocean. With ample access to timber, a small village was quickly constructed, with plans for further, more significant expansion.

## **Government:**

### **The Novenarchy**

Aenstria's Novenarchy is a ruling council of nine powerful mages, their headquarters are officially in Aenstria City, however at least some of them frequently travel to the Infinium to preform research. They use arcane understanding and research to improve the lives of the citizens, but are often times at odds with the working class, who are often fearful of aggressive advancement, praying to their Gods for guidance, rather than making informed decisions. The Novenarchy, while responsible for most substantial decisions in the growing nation, tend to leave much of the governance to the Stormlords and Commission.

### **The Stormlords**

Stormlords are prominent land owners or local governors spread throughout the Aenstrian nation. These holdings vary from small, country estates, to villages, and even cities. These lands and titles were entrusted to the Stormlords by the Novenarchy specifically - so while the Stormlord of Aenstria City doesn't *own* the land, they reign custodially over the land.

### **The Commission**

The Commission is a guild of merchants, traders, and assessors who developed as a natural progression in step with Aenstria's outward growth. The seeds of the Commission were planted when Eryn and Esryan Yesiran discovered flecks of a yellow metal in the river that Aenstria was built upon. This metal didn't tarnish or mar with age, and was easily formed and worked. It's scarcity created value, which early Commissioners capitalized on. As the borders of Aenstria pushed ever out, so to did the Commission's interests. A desire for more, equaled only by the Novenarchy's desire for knowledge. The Commission would be the Novenarchy's strongest ally among the working class, creating an upper-middle class progressive group. They were responsible for co-financing the construction of Aenstria City's first two ships.

### **The Luminary Guard**

Members of the Infinium, the Luminary Guard are a group of mages specifically trained to stoke and maintain the arcane fires that light the tops of Aenstria's naval beacons. Similar in many ways to monks, they lead isolated lives in remote locations, dedicated to a singular task. The Luminary Guard is revered as a position of honor by some, and a punishment by others.

## **Industry:**

### **Aquaculture**

Shellfish Cultivation, and aquaculture were early Aenstria's chief source of food, and as the nation developed, quickly became it's most lucrative trade resource as well. Moondrop Bay Scallops have become Aenstria's chief export to remote settlements in the nation, loved by all for the depth of flavor, and size. Muscles, clams and oysters are other popular species cultivated in Aenstria's waters. Fishing is also a thriving industry in these waters, but more popular on Lake Yesiran - where fresh water catfish, and crawfish are common.

### **Land-Based Trade**

The Commission often runs trade caravans from Aenstria to Port Rose, as well as from both cities to outlying estates and settlements, selling or bartering goods and supplemental foodstuffs for crafted wares, salted meats, and precious metals, as gold and silver begin to circulate.

### **Naval Trade**

Naval Trade in the Aenstrian nation is more prevalent than over-land trade, as many settlements are situated near the coasts. Barges and similar smaller vessels frequently venture out with supplies towards the remote outposts of the nation, trading often for the fresh fruits grown on Preigee Point and Wynwer, as well as unique crafted goods. The Adrienne has pressed out into the Mo'anwi islands, hoping to expand the Aenstrian Trading Influence into new lands.

### **Agriculture**

In the Aenstrian heartland, subsistence farming has, in more populated areas, given way to surplus-farming, maize, beans and squashes are the most commonly farmed agriculture, as well as grapes in certain areas of the Roinen Mountains, and on Emriwyn Island. Citrus fruits grow on the islands, as well as coastal areas along Moondrop Bay, and Roses are commonly grown en masse on the outskirts of Port Rose. The Novenarchy has pushed reforestation on the Stormlords as well, replanting what is harvested for building supplies to ensure that the great sand sea to the south does not encroach further north.

## **Military:**

### **Navy**

Currently, Aenstria has no militarized naval forces. The Kadenzei have a few barges for transportation, but that is the extent of it. Armed guards are present on their ocean-going vessels, but weapons of war have not been needed by the Aenstrian people, yet.

### **Kadenzei**

While Aenstria has no formal military, the Kadenzei act as a sort of exploratory police force, protecting the interests of Aenstria as they expand outward. A relatively small group of highly trained swordsmen, archers, and martial practitioners, the Kadenzei are a formidable yet thin-stretched force.