General World Information

### Creation

For a moment, there was nothing. And then there was blinding everything and with that energy came the gods. Gods of different realms, different planets, different planes of existence. The eight gods of system Kronus created Iatov in their image and with that created almost a utopian society. There seemed to be no motivation for the brand new creatures of this world to have technological advancements or to become better as a society and the Lozoi feared that their creation would never grow and change- that is, until Prince Vesta used her celestial power to create something not only devastating, but necessary. That thing was death and thus, the cycle of life death and everything in between was created. Vesta went into hibernation for the next hundred thousand years. During that time, civilization had advanced greatly and the inhabitants of the mortal plane worshipped the Lozoi and the cycle that they created.

### Geography

The planet of Iatov consists of only one large continent. The vast majority of it is covered in a dense seasonal rainforest. contains a range of tree species: only some of which drop some or all of their leaves during the dry season. There are extremes differences which are very much evident between the wet and dry seasons in a tropical seasonal forest. It has a very distinct wet followed  with an often cooler dry season. These forests represent a range of habitats influenced by the tropical savannah.

Additionally, the vast majority of Iatov is ocean. Ocean water contains a high concentration of dissolved gases, including oxygen, carbon dioxide and nitrogen. This gas exchange occurs at the ocean's surface and solubility depends on the temperature and salinity of the water. The increasing concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere due to fossil fuel combustion causes higher amounts in ocean water, resulting in ocean acidification. A lot of creatures and races depend on this acidic ocean water to survive and one will notice that all of the races that inhabit Iatov are equipped to filter salt and absorb acid from water through their kidneys.

### Culture and Values

There are eleven kingdoms that all control a section of the continent, and while there are beliefs and faiths unique to each kingdom, sometimes they bleed over the political lines into each other. High class folk in each kingdom dress according to their kingdom's colors

Magic is something that hasn't been highly regulated because of the lack of knowledge of how to use it and general distrust people have for it. Those who use magic in the open are subject to being asked to leave whatever premises they are on. Certain figures, for example the Archmages of Capricornus, are revered for their knowledge and usage of magic. It truly depends on who is wielding magic and what they choose to do with it.

All people from Iatov have the ability to filter salt and acid through their kidneys effectively so clean water isn't as much of an issue for people especially on the coast. Seafood, fish, and veggies are really big on the people living on the coast and then more towards the middle of the continent is where you see more animal/grain eaters.

### Festivals and Celebrations

Weiß Erde Fest- Celebrates the first fall of snow. It's not celebrated in all kingdoms, as some of them are at the equator so its very hot, but it is not uncommon for people to travel north or south to attend festivities. Snowberries are the main event of the Weiß Erde Fest and there are a lot of mead makers who hone their craft and do a competition to see who can make the best meal to pair with their snowberry mead. The winner gets a grand prize and then  all the cooks make food for everyone at the festival

Kérato Fest- Celebrates the shedding of horns and life bursting through the earth in First Seed. The Dóro all congregate in the small settlement of Polifestivá, where the two Dídymo rivers intersect. At this festival, the Fýllo take the remains of their shed horns and make art from them. Some choose to make tankards, while others carve something out of them. The rest of the Dóro partake in a multitude of other festivities like making home made tea, whittling from discarded wood, fishing, making bonfires, and all around enjoying each other's presence. This festival lasts for  seven days total and at the end, the Dóro go back to business as usual.

### Guilds and Known Associations

Mages Guild- The Mages Guild is a guild intended to provide magical education and services to the people of Iatov, and promote an understanding of Magic. The Mages Guild is dedicated to ensuring that all people in Iatov benefit from the use of magic and magical items. Members of the Guild received many benefits, including training, services, and education in the established laws regarding the proper use of magic. Anyone can attend. Becoming a fully qualified mage takes 8 years split up into a 2 year introductory, 2 year intermediate, and then 4 years in a chosen field. Students then get a magic tattoo that symbolizes the completion of their education.

The Sleight of Hands- Based in Aquariana with outposts in every kingdoms, the Sleight of Hands has a lot of influence over Iatov. In order to start a contract, the person wishing to have an item stolen will flip a coin into any body of water and simply wish for what they want. The details of the mission will be written upon the coin and will appear in the guild's wishing fountain. When a contract is completed, the guild member will toss the spoils back into the fountain and it will appear in the abode of those who made the contract. No other attempts to send things through the wishing fountain have been successful.

The Nakam- Based in Taura with outposts in every nation, The Nakam takes contracts in the form of messenger Crows that gather at known outposts through Iatov. Each crow is a familiar to a mage titled "the receiver" in every branch and it is their job to post the jobs and collect payment.

Orcs- Residing underground and mostly hidden from the world, the Orcs are an antisocial group that use their own rules and have their own beliefs and gods. Not many have found where the Orcs live, and even fewer have tales to tell.

### Passage of Time

Every hundred thousand years is shown by a letter of the alphabet in order, followed by a dash and then the year after the hundred thousand. For example, the world has been in existence for 3,360 years so the year written would be C-360.

Calendar

January- Morning Star

February- Sun’s Dawn

March- First Seed

April- Rain’s Hand

May- Second Seed

June- Mid Year

July-Sun’s Height

August- Last Seed

September- Hearthfire

October- Frost Fire

November- Sun’s Dusk

December- Evening Star

Days of the Week

Monday- Mondas

Tuesday- Tirdas

Wednesday- Middas

Thursday- Turdas

Friday- Fredas

Saturday- Loredas

Sunday- Sundas

### Places of Interest

The Grand Arcanum in Capricornus. The Dean of Students is Archon Basileus Alepou

The Evergreen Market in Capricornus' Gloomsong District

The Flaming Dragon tavern in Scorpionus

Thieves guild hall in Leonus

Adventurer's guild hall bordering Scorpionus and Capricornus

The entrance to the Void in Arein

Everlasting peace center in Libran

The Ice vales in Aquariana

The Badlands in Cancum

The Goddess Plains in Geminiah

Nessie's Playground in Aquariana's south sea

The Amber Range in Aquariana through Scorpionus

### Known Realms

Feywild

Layers of the Lozoi

The Scorching Valley

The Abyss