Athica

**Athica** is the northwestern continent of the world of Valen'Dria, named after the central kingdom of Athica, which is surrounded by a number of baronies that owe fealty to the King of Athica. There is much in the way of political gamesmanship between the baronies, all vying for power, both within their courts and in the kingdom overall.

## Lands of Athica

* Charel - The Ivory Coast, north western barony. Mainly rocky landscape and white sand beaches.
* Grayspire - The Northern Barony, colder climate, home to the wizard made city of Bridgetown. Ruled by House Lyon, and the current baron Reginald Lyon.
* Stonegard - The mountain lined barony south of the Athican kingdom. Ruled by Baron Ulgrim Stonegard.
* Custos - Eastern barony, full of plains and forests, ruled by Baron Drakmir.
* Veldt - A heavily forested area north of the Deep Green.
* Deep Green - An ancient forest where the kingdom of the Elves of Athica reside. Heavily isolationist.
* Wild Lands - The unruled lands to the south of Stonegard, large roving bands of Orcs and Gnolls fight constant blood feuds here.
* Athica - The central kingdom of the continent where the throne rests. The Throne City of Athica rests here as the central power of the kingdom.
* The Kingdom of the Dwarves - Mountain Chain that is home to the underground kingdom of the dwarves and their great houses.

## Geography

Athica is a temperate area, with the northern areas trending to colder weather, and the south has warmer weather. A large mountain chain defends the southern area of the kingdom from the fiends of the Wild Lands.

## Government

The ruling body of the kingdom is the king and his court. Until recently, that was King Tiberius Aurelius Septimus. Executing his will was his brother, Archduke Atticus Septimus. Each of the baronies kept their own courts that reported to the king's council. The Barons also had their own council that would convene when desired to see to the needs of their own baronies.

## Recent History

Fifty years ago, the King lead the combined forces of the baronies in a battle against creatures from the Far Realm. His victory over the Far Realm allowed him to be crowned king over the lands of Athica. However, his body was wracked with wounds due to the exposure to void magic. He was never able to sire any children, and he had no queen to rule after his passing. His brother, Atticus, could not rule either, having given up a claim to the throne by becoming the Lord Executor. To this end, the King's attention was brought to the heroic deeds of Drakmir, a minotaur from the Corinth Island. His deeds in helping the dwarven kingdom and in dealing with elements of the local necromantic cult gained him and his companions fame, and the king capitalized upon that, appointing Drakmir as Baron of Custos.

Eventually, the King summoned Drakmir to the throne city, where he laid the final duty upon the white minotaur, to be the Arbiter of Succession, and to decide the new king of Athica. When the king finally passed, due to his declining health from void exposure, and from his wine being poisoned, it fell to Drakmir to decide between the two claimants to the throne: Barons Ulgrim Stonegard, and Milos Ballas. Both have the strongest claim to the throne from their deeds and governing. It was to be that Drakmir would decide the one to be the next king after the funeral of the king.

In the end, Drakmir made his choice, nominating Milos Ballas as the next king of Athica. In response to this, Ulgrim Stonegard vowed there would be no peace so long as the throne is denied him.

## Currency

The standard currency of Athica is the Athican Crown, the coins are minted in copper, silver, gold, and platinum.