Navarre

### **Description of Region:**

Flat plains and rolling hills dominate the majority of the Navarran countryside while mountains often comprise some of the more remote areas and extremities. The regional borders with Rovgaz and Blueridge also possess such rocky barriers with only a few passes through the mountains allowing for land-based trade and travel to occur. Many islands dot the coastline, often densely populated with exotic flora. Some tales even say that these islands have been known to move as if they had a mind of their own. Legends explain that a hydra protects these islands and Navarre as a whole.

Perhaps the most defining feature of Navarre is the volcano of Vulcan, standing more than 1000m tall and residing on the border between Rovgaz and Navarre. Its value as a source of metals, gemstones, and other such rarities have turned much of the base of the fiery peak into a densely populated city. The industry and manufacturing in the area produce noxious fumes and gases that pollute the sky, turning it dark, and slowly poisoning its people. Such issues pale in comparison to the prospect of the volcano erupting in the near future. While it is currently dormant, many expect that in the coming centuries it could once again scorch the surrounding lands and destroy those who have made a home at its base.

However, such destruction in Navarre is not limited to the cities built by its natives. On the mountainous border with Rovgaz lies a wasteland that stretches for miles. A lasting scar of the conflict of the Elemental Lords, this area is home to no creatures nor civilization. Those that attempt to move through this area for trade or travel often find themselves baking in an unnatural, often lethal, heat. Much more brave the dangers of these wastes to claim the lost bounties of merchants and travelers, but these ventures too often only lead to more death. This wasteland has caused the majority of trade that would normally come from Rovgaz to instead move into Navarre by sail.

Below the trio of nations there also exists a labyrinthian maze that stretches for the majority of the region. These tunnels once served as a refuge during the elemental conflict. In more modern times, each of the realms still makes use of the underground for a variety of things including limited travel and honored burials.

The climate in the majority of Navarre is predominantly mild, its summers often hot and dry while its winters are cool and wet. Traveling far to the north or into the mountains bordering Blueridge, the colder months tend to drag on for longer and will experience actual snowfall. The mountainous regions are also home to a great number of small lakes that feed into water systems in the flatter areas of Navarre.

The peoples of Navarre are spread through its realms with relative frequency, mostly residing among the rolling hills and flat plains. Others seek out an existence at the bases of the great mountains that cover the borders between Rovgaz, Blueridge, and some areas within Navarre. However, regardless of the similarities of where these peoples might live, one could never describe any one of the realms or their peoples as the same.

Traveling within Navarre is generally quite safe so long as one keeps to the main roads. Soldiers often patrol the paths, constantly on the lookout for attacks or raids from the neighboring states. But even with the threat of such might, banditry and piracy can be quite common as the trade caravans or ships along the coasts are often laden with massive bounties that many deem worth the risk. Closer to the borders, skirmishes between the realms can break out but these conflicts scarcely escalate beyond that.

#### Nations of Navarre:

- Noblesse

- Ebitrea

- Athena

#### Influential Groups:

- Order of the Bulwark

- House of Whispers

- Mercenary Companies of Navarre

### Important Locales:

- Vita

- Jaux

- Wastelands

### Important Individuals:

- Felix Titus

- Lanius

### Player Factions Located in this Region:

- Aquarius

- Rayne Institute

### History of the Region:

Noblesse, Ebitrea, and Athena are nations in a constant power struggle for dominance over Navarre. Each nation possesses a different specialty that separates them from its neighbors. Ebitrea is a monarchy that bases much of its power around the strength of its military while Athena tends to exert less direct forms of influence. Noblesse, on the other hand, possesses a great technological superiority over its neighbors but lacks the conviction to dominate its neighbors with such power.

**Year 1000-2500**

Over this long period of time, the gods finally reintroduced intelligent life back into the world of Andora. Civilization began anew, as the nomads of the new world settled into what would become the modern regions and kingdoms of the world. Some of these peoples came to Navarre, a blistering wasteland, and managed to eke out a harsh living for themselves, using the large cave networks as shelters.

Ignarius was callous to these first generations of Navarreans, only concerned with his task. However, some of the Navarreans saw this titan of flame at work and soon became convinced that Ignarius was himself, a god. Soon, worshippers would begin to make pilgrimages toward the even more blistering deserts, to try and entreat with the lord of flame and heat.

Ignarius, then, at last, came to see those who had braved the inhospitable Navarre. He saw their faith and foresaw their potential usefulness in finally fulfilling his grueling task. He gifted them with a fruit, sprouting from a flaming cactus. It was infused with mighty magics, and those who ate from it would become nigh demigods, who would aid their elemental master in containing the power of the elemental flame.

**Year 2500-8000**

(Ignarius, with the assistance of his followers and their descendants, finally restores Navarre to the point where long-term agricultural civilizations can finally, truly flourish. What would become modern-day Noblesse and Athena begin to take shape at this stage.)

-Founding of what would become Noblesse, construction of cities like Jaux begin.

-Settlement of Aquarius pillagers on the far eastern shores. Athena is founded along with its capital city, Nyneve.

-Proto-Noblesse discovers Magmatic Technology

-Cold War-style arms race between Proto-Noblesse/Athena over Magmatic Tech? Potentially leading to them becoming some of the most advanced civilizations on Andora at the time?

**Year 8000-11,000**

War of the elementals happens here, with generations of Navarreans forced into cave living, with advancements in mining technology allowing them to live like the dwarven civilizations of a forgotten era.

**Year 11,000-Present Day**

Elemental Wars have ended, civilization returns to a new Navarre without Ignarius. It takes a while for civilizations to start recovering, with much in-fighting, revolutions, and conflict.

Cities of Noblesse are repopulated, make strides in recovering what was lost, and reestablish industry in the Noblessean provinces

Vita is found by some of the first people to venture out of Sub-Navarre since the war, ends up as the capital of a third nation, the imperial Ebitreans who conquer their way into a solid position but are halted in their attempt at regional domination by a coalition of Noblessean and Athenian forces.

Aquarius changes its focus on mercenary work to have order in Athena. The city-states become an oligarchy.