Sen Shaeras

**Sen Shaeras** is a kingdom located in the north of [CONTINENT]. While primarily known for its scenic forests and hospitality toward travelers, the politically inclined know to beware the vicious labyrinth of court politics.

## Location Overview

### Lore

Sen Shaeras was founded centuries ago by Zendar Torth, a half-elf warrior famed for both his strength and his kindness in equal measure. It is said that he brokered a peace agreement between several warring nomadic groups who decided to combine their territories into one country and established their capital at Il Serine. As Zendar was the one who was able to establish peace after years of war, he was made king, and thus the line of Torth was established.

#### Philosophy of Magic

Sen Shaeran philosophers view magic as something both physical and metaphysical, a life-sustaining force likened to blood. They believe magic flows from the heart of creation through all living things as if they were vessels and capillaries. For this reason, the different schools of magic are often referred to as "Veins," such as the Vein of Abjuration or Vein of Necromancy.

Heavy emphasis is placed on a caster's place as a descendant in these magical "bloodlines." Students are taught to study mages of the past, both living and deceased, as a way of finding their place within the accumulated magical genealogy of their particular Vein.

##### Innate Magic

Innate magic is highly prized in Sen Shaeras, as those who possess it are believed to be more closely connected with the heart of creation. Creatures that have innate magic often have a much longer lifespan than those who do not, but the reason for this is uncertain.

#### The Underworld

Where there is light, there must also be darkness, and Sen Shaeras is no exception. Some exceptionally brave travelers claim there is a vast network of criminal activity operating in the shadows of the kingdom, dealing in business too dark and twisted to speak about for fear of being overheard. These stories are widely regarded as fantasy, but there are some who insist them to be true, although none have evidence.

### Culture

Sen Shaerans value ambition and believe in the perfectibility of the spirit. Education, honor, artistic pursuit, and upward social mobility are all deeply important to the Sen Shaeran people, especially those living in large cities. Children from even the lowest socioeconomic backgrounds are given access to schooling, but those living in remote areas are known to fall through the cracks.

Sen Shaeras is notorious for its highly ritualized cultural customs. There are thousands of unspoken rules that are second nature to natives but strike fear in the hearts of those visiting; foreign diplomats may devote years to learning the intricacies of Sen Shaeran social etiquette. Yet, despite this, Sen Shaerans are often regarded as surprisingly friendly, and many will happily open their doors to travelers for a meal or a warm place to sleep.

### Politics

Sen Shaeras is governed by a hereditary monarchy whose line can be traced directly back to the kingdom's founder, Zendar Torth. While the current king, Ishtol, is fairly popular, his wife Amaline is one of the most beloved monarchs in the kingdom's history. Amaline has been working for years to provide easier access to education for children in remote regions of the kingdom, as well as organizing social programs to provide food and housing for the destitute. In contrast, the crown prince Caeldrin is unpopular enough that people have been discussing the selection of a different heir, breaking the line of inheritance for the first time in the kingdom's history.

Despite the cultural importance of honor, Sen Shaeran politics are infamously cutthroat; as far as politics are concerned, honor only dictates what can be done in the public eye. While the King, Queen, and Court Magician are to be paragons of respectability, backstabbing among courtiers and lesser nobles is all but expected.

#### Court Magicians

A unique institution of the Sen Shaeran court is the presence of a Court Magician. The Court Magician serves as a right hand, advisor, and confidant to the monarch, offering insight and a voice of reason when needed. As the Magician holds a great deal of influence, it is imperative that their morals and motivations are good, and Magicians will often train multiple students to ensure that at least one will be of good character. This training may begin years or even decades before the current Magician plans to retire.

### Religion

While Sen Shaeras has no official state religion, most people practice the joint worship of Thymis, the Mother of Martyrs, and her son Sestus, the First Vein. Sen Shaerans believe Sestus to be the first creature born with innate magic. His innate magic granted him the power to achieve incredible magical feats, as well as the ability to grant the same power to others. People came from far and wide to beg Sestus to share his magic with them, but many were refused; only those who greeted his mother and treated her kindly upon visiting would be blessed.

Those who were rejected grew angry and, seeking to gain his power by force, gravely wounded him before leaving him for dead. When Thymis found her son dying, she swore that no parent would lose their child as she had, and slit his throat to end his suffering. Sestus' blood soaked into the soil and his magic permeated the land and all those it fed, ensuring his magic could only be shared by those born with it. Thymis wept for seven days and seven nights over his body; although his body was dead, the lingering fragments of Sestus' soul were so pained by her grief that his spirit returned to stay with her.

Although Thymis and Sestus are worshipped as a unit, they have different domains: Sestus resides over the domains of Magic and [OTHER DOMAIN], while Thymis resides over the domains of Death and Protection. It is believed that Thymis extends special protection to parents and young children, and some believe Lake Deora was formed from the tears she shed over her son's body.

### Climate and Geography

Sen Shaeras is a sizeable country with a moderate maritime climate in most regions, although the higher mountains are known for their cold winters. Sen Shaeras is heavily forested in many areas, especially close to the mountains, and many large settlements have built themselves around the presence of the massive evergreens. The far north of Sen Shaeras is home its primary ports and maritime trade routes, although they are used less than the overland trade routes used to transport goods from the grassland regions to other countries nearby.

## Places

* Keswen
* Il Serine
* Lake Deora