Empire of Asteveil

## Geography

Originally occupied by a series of minor kingdoms, the territory that now comprises the Empire was united by diplomacy, guile, and force over the course of generations, steered unerringly by the Emperor’s predecessors following the arrival of the old Pontic settlers and the founding of their capital of Niva Pontos. Within the Empire’s borders, the climate remains consistently temperate and innumerable rivers crisscross the land. Along the southern coast and particularly near the capital city of Niva Pontos, massive floating islands hover far above the ground. The Empire has claimed dominion over these as well, constructing vast citadels, theatres, estates, and airship docks atop the suspended rocks.

## Government

Overseen by the singular ruler, Emperor Orimaeon nu-Hereia Astevei. A sizable council of powerful citizens referred to as Paerarchs controls the sprawling bureaucracy that revolves around the throne. This council’s power is largely restricted such that their sole practical function is to transform the whims of the Emperor into action.

### Crime

Crime within the Empire is a nuanced and complex topic, the definitions and consequences thereof being set forth in a series of codices systematized over the course of many years and held as absolute in imperial lands. In the grand courthouses and amphitheaters of the Empire, educated advocates and interlocutors of all stripes make their arguments and weave intricate threads of legal interpretation, bending the spirit of the law as far as the letter will allow in order to support their claims.

## Trade

The fertile riverbeds and rocky terrain at the foot of Godbury allow the citizens of the Empire to produce a surplus of food and stonework, either in raw blocks or in the form of elaborate pieces of art which are exported westward to Sumarfold or shipped east to Vranir to be later brought to market in Darnelis. The Empire’s craftsmen are also capable of producing heavily enchanted trinkets, arms, and armor. Contrary to the practices of Alanach, these items are often restricted to circulation within the Empire itself, although no such trade can be controlled completely and imperial armaments humming with arcana have been found as far west as Leastrune.

## Culture

### Regions

Being comprised of disparate kingdoms united under a common banner, culture varies widely in different regions of the Empire. Although smaller local differences exist, the primary cultural influences can be grouped into eight main regions.

#### Niva Pontos

The central region of the Empire was once a series of disparate kingdoms and estates that stretched from the southern coast of Auldenon to the foothills surrounding the Godbury Mount. The Astevei clan’s rise to prominence first as courtiers and eventually as the rulers of Niva Pontos itself, however, began an era of consolidation. Through expert political maneuvering and more than one bloody campaign, the independent kingdoms surrounding Niva Pontos swore fealty one by one and the heartland of the Empire was born.

The land itself is generally flat, with rolling hills that become more severe as one travels toward Godbury and Uhel. The forests of Godbury and Auchord give way to wide, temperate plains near the city of Niva Pontos itself, with a few broad rivers running from the upper reaches toward the coast. The Empire’s characteristic floating isles are a relatively common sight, with smaller islets drifting overhead like clouds and the larger populated islands remaining fixed in place.

Decades of strong commerce and proximity to power have made Niva Pontos the most affluent region of the Empire. The roads throughout the region, carefully-maintained by local officials, are broad and smooth, allowing the bountiful harvests of the southern plains to be distributed easily. Ornate garments dyed with expensive pigments, precious jewelry, and valuable enchanted items are a common sight in the cities and even rural homesteads enjoy greater prosperity than their counterparts in other regions. While the inhabitants of Niva Pontos are considered by some of the outer regions to be effete and spoiled, they have garnered a reputation in other corners as calculating governors and capable stewards of the Empire at large.

Echoes of lost Pontos abound in the styles and architecture of the Imperial heartland, though they have been altered over time as humanity came into contact with, and was influenced by, elves and anachire. The result is a blend of fashions and motifs, most readily apparent in Niva Pontos itself where ancient buildings in the Pontic style stand beside their more contemporary counterparts.

#### Godbury

The northwestern region of the Empire is home to rugged hills, deep forests in the south and east leading toward Sumarfold, and wide stretches of grassland along the Rauthite border. The Godbury Mount, a towering peak of immense significance in Tresceian doctrine, lies at the center of the region surrounded by major temples connected by smaller towns and roadside inns.

The region was established early in human history as settlers expanded further upriver from Niva Pontos, with the resulting villages near the foot of the Godbury Mount proving a popular destination for pilgrims and priests alike. Temples sprung up quickly as places of intense worship and study, while the burgeoning towns enjoyed great prosperity as a result of the constant traffic through the region.

Being so closely entwined with the Tresceian orthodoxy, the culture of Godbury came to emphasize qualities valued by the faith: Godliness, honor, honesty, and loyalty. It was their commitment to these traits that led Godbury to align itself with the nascent Astevei dynasty, seeking to ensure the continued virtue of the Empire that would follow.

Godbury is the source of many of the Empire’s high-ranking priests, with temples and abbeys officially sanctioned by Niva Pontos dotting the landscape. Unlike their brethren in many other Imperial regions, inhabitants of Godbury remain largely in touch with their Pontic roots and the pious spirit of their forebears. To the rest of the Empire, they are considered blunt, hardworking, loyal, and devout above all.

When it comes to clothing, northerners tend to dress simply, foregoing the elaborate or colorful dress of neighboring regions in favor of ascetic, functional garb well-suited to their mountainous surroundings. Holy symbols are often worn on one’s person or woven into their clothing as a measure of devotion, but the garments themselves are generally unremarkable.

In matters of architecture, however, Godbury excels. The most ancient temples ringing the foothills of the Godbury Mount have been repaired and added to over time, becoming towering monuments adorned with statues and reliefs of the gods and their exploits, as well as the prominent saints and heroes of the faith. Each temple is a unique labor of love maintained by a throng of dedicated acolytes and masons, and echoes of their work can be seen throughout the region: Roadside inns maintain walls of carvings detailing popular myths, town squares are overlooked by stately buildings bearing the gods’ likenesses, and even the most humble farmer keeps an effigy of their favored god at their doorstep.

#### Haemathia

The second region to take up the Asteveil banner and the first kingdom to culturally distinguish itself from its neighbors, Haemathia carries a long and storied history in its own right. Situated in the drainage basin to the south of Uhel, the region has historically been blessed by bountiful harvests that attracted opportunistic settlers who were dissatisfied by the growing influence of elves and anachire in Niva Pontos. These homesteads eventually banded together and officially established the realm of Haemathia, proclaiming themselves the heirs to the ways of old Pontos.

In many ways, the attitudes of Haemathia are similar to those of Godbury, albeit more secular than religious: The historical values of old Pontos are revered and outside influence is met with mistrust and hostility. This worldview extends to the art and architecture of the region, which are consistent with the most ancient structures in Niva Pontos. To the dismay of many, this lends some legitimacy to the Haemathians’ claims of having preserved Pontic culture against the forces of change.

The kingdom’s early efforts to establish itself as the true successor of Pontos were seen as a provocation by its more influential neighbor, leading to the Hegemonic War between the two regions ca. 250 PC during which the Haemathian armies were decimated by the forces of Niva Pontos (who, it should be noted, included no small number of the very elves and anachire the Haemathians resented.)

The terms that ended the war were restrictive and rendered Haemathia a vassal state of Niva Pontos in all but name, ensuring that it would never regain the same level of prominence. In the intervening years, the region stagnated as it continued to cling to the ways of old Pontos. Efforts to modernize the kingdom were made after the formal establishment of the Empire but were met with mixed success, leaving the region a more traditionalist, more impoverished echo of its ancient counterpart.

Today, the language and architecture of Haemathia are the region’s most distinctive features. Large, square structures dot the landscape, supported by ornate pillars. The citizenry dress with none of the finery of Niva Pontos, preferring a more old-fashioned and neutral style, and the accent and phrasing with which they conduct their business are considered quaint– if not outdated– by the rest of the Empire.

#### Uhel

Uhel, roughly translated to “the high place” in the old dialect of the Olenfolk, is a region overlooking the sheer cliffs that border Vranir. Originally settled by the first clans to separate from the Host of King Olen, Uhel boasts a sizable population of Olenfolk and the influences of Vranic culture are apparent in all facets of life.

A rocky region situated high above the Rrelash Floodplains to the north and Haemathia to the south, Uhel stretches from the cliffs along the edge of Vranir to the foot of the Godbury Mount. It is home to the Empire’s most expansive quarries and deepest mines, providing the raw materials for everything from construction to enchanting.

Villages in Uhel strike an uneasy balance between the architectural styles of the Olenfolk and their Pontic counterparts. Entire settlements are constructed along cliff faces or over mountain passes, connected by a continuous series of walkways and bridges that unite the township in a way reminiscent of Vranir’s renowned megastructures.

Once an independent series of chiefdoms, Uhel fell victim to Imperial expansionism in the wake of the Hegemonic War. Opportunistic clans on the border of Haemathia took advantage of the conflict to pillage the small settlements along the border, drawing first the attention and then the wrath of the Empire. The disparate clans posed little threat to the united forces of the Empire and were quickly conquered. The edicts that followed were far less restrictive than those imposed upon Haemathia and were largely limited to imposing Imperial language and currency upon the region. Local leaders remained in place after being administered an oath and promising periodic tribute to the Empire, allowing Uhel’s insular clan-based society to continue without further disruption.

The region's inhabitants are seen as coarse and resilient by the Empire at large, and they cling tightly to their Olenfolk customs. Honor is paramount in Uhel, and any slight against one’s character or prestige demands recompense. Duels, both lethal and otherwise, are a common practice for honorably settling disputes, as are tests of skill or intellect. Likewise, the region’s common styles of dress and art reflect their old traditions: heavy cloaks and garments of simple, martial severity are the favored style and piles of charred offerings smolder outside of temples until the soot can be used to darken each home’s threshold. Meticulously-metered poetry is the favored means of recording true events and myths alike, and the two often blend further into each other with each telling until the boundary becomes impossible to discern.

#### Rrelash Floodplains

Named after the River Rrelash that runs from the Godbury Mount to the coast of Srathas, the Floodplains are home to several large rivers and tributaries that swell in the summer and drain into a number of small lakes and ponds as the water recedes. The land slopes gradually downward the further east one travels, leading eventually to the steep cliffs of Vranir and the rainforest of Srathas beyond. Since its soil remains wet nearly year-round, the region has proven a reliable and productive source of certain crops including berries, taro, and rice. As a result, agriculture remains a profitable endeavor and the harvests of Floodplains frontiersmen are relied upon to sustain the neighboring regions of Uhel and Godbury.

The Rrelash Floodplains are considered an isolated backwater by much of the Empire, far north enough to be beyond the immediate concern of the more influential regions and carrying enough Nsoni influence to be practically alien to outsiders. The recent rise of the Heir in the border settlement of Menath’vha has only contributed to this sentiment, leading many to dismiss the region as little more than a dangerous marsh.

Despite this reputation, the Floodplains are an old and integral part of the Empire. Little by little, what was once a scattered collection of independent farming communities submitted to Imperial rule in the interest of maintaining their trade relations with the principalities of Uhel– jeopardized by the Imperial conquest of that region after a brief and bloody campaign– and gaining protection from marauders flowing into their lands from Vranir.

The art, attitudes, and customs of the Floodplains are deeply influenced by the region’s heavy Nsoni population. Perfumes and incense are fixtures of many villages across the region, as are the quirks of ilseiss architecture: Tall, narrow doors and windows adorn the buildings that line the paths, scented smoke coiling lazily from censers suspended above each threshold. The citizenry go about their business wrapped in drab, simple garments and a veritable mist of fragrance, with brightly-colored markings carefully applied to their throats and arms.

#### Auchord

Situated between Exted and Sumarfold, the province of Auchord remains a foreign and mysterious realm to much of the Empire. Large portions of the land are concealed by the dense forests native to Sumarfold, which make travel a confusing and potentially dangerous venture should one wander beyond the major towns and groves at the region’s edge.

More familiar than most with the elemental rifts of Sumarfold, Auchord has historically enjoyed fair weather and unnaturally fertile soil brought about by their close proximity to the climate-shaping magic of the rivtenya. A small sect of mages proficient in this art have existed for many years since receiving instruction from the court of Aphoset, but the distance between Auchord and the rifts limits their influence over the land.

Magic and astronomy are common pursuits in Auchord, which has styled itself after the courts of Sumarfold with expansive libraries in each city housing esoteric knowledge and a long line of philosopher-sovereigns steering affairs with a stern hand. Stately observatories and greenhouses line the streets, illuminated in strange colors by captive ghost lights. With mundane concerns such as agriculture managed through arcane means, an appreciation for all things opulent has taken hold of the Chordian populace. Though the study of arcana is a frequent path, citizens find themselves free to pursue any path they please. The result is a vibrant region of artists, scholars, and craftsmen that revel in the strange and grandiose.

Intricately-embroidered garments and hands covered in colorful tattoos are as synonymous with Auchord in the rest of the Empire as tales of travelers lost to the woods or mistrustful rumors of dark magic at work beyond the treeline. The style carries clear influence drawn from the lavish fashions of neighboring Sumarfold and Exted, but remains unique and distinctive. As a result, Chordian garments are sought after by the upper crust of Imperial society as symbols of status and erudition.

#### Barlovia Island

The largest of Auldenon’s islands, Barlovia is a sprawling, sleepy expanse of meadows that rise in a series of plateaus as one travels further inland. Small hamlets dot the lower reaches, while Imperial fortifications and boroughs loom in the mist that covers the upper levels.

Barlovia is known as a quiet isle, serving as an inconspicuous and efficient nexus of Imperial bureaucracy. The settlements lining its lower regions tend to be peaceful fishing villages, merchant ports, or farmsteads, none of which operate with any particular urgency. Time moves slowly on Barlovia and its inhabitants are untroubled by the outside world.

Barlovian fashion differs little from the styles of Niva Pontos, albeit constructed of cheaper materials and half-hidden beneath thick cloaks that ward against the rain and fog. Likewise, religious practice on the island seems to borrow from Exted, with each citizen revering the spirits and deities that most directly impact their own lives. However, the innumerable cults and webs of intrigue that define Exted are noticeably absent on Barlovia.

#### Exted

If Godbury styles itself as the moral center of the Empire, then Exted has fast come to represent its heart and passion. The rocky shores and verdant plains are home to innumerable small towns, linked by narrow roads that spread like cobwebs from the major cities near the region’s center. The Ethtine cling tightly to their ways and customs even in the face of Imperial efforts to homogenize culture within its borders. Indeed, the freedom to keep to their traditional way of life was among the terms struck when Empress Herachia rode to the capital of Lepris armed with her chalice.

Ethtine culture is something of an anomaly, having developed in relative isolation for most of human history. The result is a shockingly vibrant and broad-minded region whose practices seem all but alien to foreigners. Inhabitants of Exted tend to eschew organized religion, with individuals instead electing to worship a particular deity or group that holds personal significance, essentially creating their own personal pantheon of gods, saints, and minor spirits. Small cults dedicated to these figures are commonplace, each with their own unique rites and practices.

In keeping with the Ethtine fondness for small, tight-knit groups, secret societies flourish in the region. Membership in one or more of these groups is common and associates make their affiliations known through a variety of symbols ranging from distinctive jewelry to secret gestures or phrases. Conflict between these hidden groups is inevitable, though, and intrigue has become a fact of life in Exted. Indeed, plain aggression and outright warfare are frowned upon as barbaric; unseen schemes are the method of choice for dealing with one’s opponents, whether political, social, or economic.

A stunning blur of color and motion belie the turbulent undercurrents of Exted. Citizens dress in many layers of colorful, flowing garments accented with the characteristic jewelry and cosmetics of their secret societies, banners and flags of all shapes and colors line the streets, and the disparate cults hold frequent festivals dedicated to obscure spirits. As a result, many of the more conservative regions tend to view Exted as a province of libertines and heathens. Despite this reputation, though, the vibrance and passion of Ethtine culture have quickly left the region’s mark on the Empire as a whole.

## Notable Locations

* Niva Pontos, an ancient city with a size to rival Darnelis itself dating back to the arrival of the first Pontic settlers. The stately avenues and gardens of the city stretch as far as the eye can see, while floating stones the size of mountains drift overhead. The city is divided into numerous wards, each a metropolis in its own right. The palace of the Emperor rests at the heart of the city, as does the central temple of the Tresceian faith which houses its oracles and prophets;
* Godbury, a mountain that the doctrine of Tresceia names as the place nearest to the realm of the gods. It is said that the palaces of the gods rest above the peak of the mountain, while the entrance to the underworld lies somewhere below. Pilgrims flock to the mountain and the city at its base in order to pray and petition for divine aid, with a rare few daring to ascend partway up the slopes in order to meditate at the ancient shrines constructed along the paths. The peak of the mountain is entirely forbidden by the clergy and has been designated as a holy place to remain unsullied by mortal hands;
* The border settlement of Menath’vha. Situated along the northern fringes of the Empire and the cultural heart of the Nsoni, the small town has recently been thrust into the spotlight as the center of the Heir’s growing following and home to her armies. As yet, there has been no open conflict between the Sunchasers and the Empire, although tensions continue to grow as the Heir’s influence expands;
* Barlovia Island, a large landmass off the Empire’s western shore roughly the size of the neighboring nation of Sumarfold. Acting as a self-sufficient administrative borough, the island was brought into the Empire several generations ago, with a portion of its northern peninsula being ceded to the Rauthite city-state of Klas as part of the compact;
* The northernmost reaches of the Empire have become a warfront as the Emperor attempts to bring the small nation of Entari into the fold by force. The defenders, relying on hired mercenaries and support from the neighboring nation of Syldor, have drawn the conflict to an uneasy stalemate which neither side appears able to break. Conflict has since lulled to minor skirmishes as tacticians and diplomats work in a frenzy behind the curtain in an effort to bring the war to a close as swiftly as possible.