Syv Nova (Humans)

### Origins

Novans are the combined demonym of those born upon Syv Nova.  Dwarven history records a time before the arrival of the humans and the time after it, but speaks little of what occurred during their arrival making it seem they gradually took place in various regions.  They inhabited three primary locations: the open plains that would become Volantris, the dense foliage that would become Bastion, and the gothic swamps that became Schwar. Other kingdoms exist in the region, though these three maintain the greatest position of political importance.

#### Bastii

The Bastii are the least likely to consider themselves an ethnic group among those in Syn Nova.  The first were soldiers from Volantris that were sent to the north to protect against beasts that came from the Bramble and more importantly, the Or’Kati.  Eventually settling and establishing their own protectorate.

#### Volanti

The Volanti claim to be descended from northern gods.  They are the oldest human settlement on Syv Nova and the heartland from which humanity spread its wealth.  Venerated and prestigious, their strong traditions mark a great deal of Novan society and protocol.

#### Schwara

The Schwara inhabit the territory southeast of Skyvale and west of Bastion.  While Bastion was filled with fertile though dangerous land, Schwar was built upon swamp.  Its people are known to be dour and grim, with some claiming relation to the Sikvar people that share territory with the Or’Kati. They are a militaristically simplistic region that rely on magic more than might.

### Organization

#### Bastii

The Bastii are led by the Grand Duke, the supreme military commander in the region.  Although in theory the Grand Duke can be selected from any citizen, the oligarchy of families at the top of the command posts have determined which bloodlines will often serve.  Since the Dread Tumult, this has been the Lionsford family.  The current Grand Duke, Garmac Lionsford, is considered a good man, though growing old in years.

Borrowing their legislative system from the dwarves, of which they maintain the best relation of any human kingdom, they have developed a senate.  This senate advises the grand duke on actions, though the grand duke can overrule any recommendation that is supported by fewer than 75% of the senators.  Senators are selected on a representative basis, with a percentage of the population’s races represented among them, with 100 total senators.  As Bastii make up roughly 85% of the population, the remaining 15% are of various  non-human races.

This has led to two political parties forming, referred to as Aspida and Spathi.  The former advocate for peace and strengthen national defense, while the latter seek war as a preventative measure against future aggression.  Lesser political factions exist, but generally seek support from one group or the other.

The Bastii are the most racially diverse Novan group, welcoming any that are willing to place effort and time into defending the realm.  As time has gone and and peace has been relatively established, fewer come directly to Bastion though it is still seen as one of the most egalitarian realms in Terovin.

#### Volanti

They are ruled by the Lotharil family and have been for the past two thousand years.  Because of this venerable distinction they are believed to have the “blood of kings” and many lesser kingdoms (and even other great ones) establish rights through their sanguinity.

Power is divided between two immediate contemporaries: the King of Volantris and the High Pontiff of the Church.  The king maintains authority over all secular matters and is entrusted with divinity, but the High Pontiff declares the appropriateness of actions.

The current king is King Hesrik II.   He is considered a largely inoffensive man, though some would go so far as to say insignificant in the face of his imperious wife’s demands.  Queen Adalis is of Bastii blood and as such, seen as being slightly too abrasive.

High Pontiff Larsmar is extremely old, but understands the working of politics better than any other when his mind is about him.

#### Schwara

Being in command of a vast amount of land that requires constant hard work to maintain, the Schwara adopted an almost bureaucratic system to their aristocratic governance.  Though they are led by a monarch, land is divided out among junior members of the nobility with each reporting to the rank above them and that, reporting ultimately back to the monarch.

Their heartland is within the only area to receive direct sunlight in the region.  It is maintained by the House of Zonnen, which claims descent from the Volanti line of Lotharil.  Because of this, bloodlines rank their importance in the region to how closely they are related to the Zonnen, even if they may have a closer connection to the Lotharil.

Initially the Schwara also practiced a system of separating church and state, but during the Dread Tumult the Scarlet Queen joined the two titles into one and ruled with authority as she saw fit.  Since then, female rulers are preferred to males and the roles have not been separated save in the case when a king rules and his wife becomes the head of church affairs.

The current queen is Magda, who has recently assumed the throne following the deposing of her aunt, whose claim lasted only a month.  Magda is very popular among the common folk due to her beauty and blunt manner.

### Military

#### Bastii

The Bastii have, quite likely, the most impressive army in the region.  Though they have no spellcasting tradition to speak of, they value physical prowess and utilize technology where it can be accessed.  Their standing army is the bulwark against a great many threats for other kingdoms, a distinction they take seriously.

#### Volanti

Volantris once was the greatest of all kingdoms but has lost much of its military prestige.  It relies on its neighbors for overt defense, though it is capable of its own in combat.  Its army is the weakest of the three great kingdoms, but its navy proves to be second only to Zatheri, likely because the two often compete for access to trade routes to Jian and Syv Augur.  Their connection to Skyvale gives them the most impressive magical academy at Prysma.

#### Schwara

Schwara are an assortment of middling powers.  Their army is talented in defense, but has little method of projection.  Their navy, a distant second to Volantris and incapable of controlling the seas.  Their spellcasting is largely relegated to druidic traditions or necromancy.

### Religion

#### Bastii

Bastion worships almost all gods that are good or neutral aligned and has little particular favor for any that isn’t immediately seen as utile to the greater good.  Their primary goddess is Frejla the Fierce, a goddess of liberty in the face of injustice.

#### Volanti

Volantris worships any good aligned god of the civilized choir.  Their favored god is Gerech the Diviner, a god of justice and peace.

#### Schwara

Schwarans have a duality of religions.  They worship Gerech overtly, but many worship Salah the Serpent.  Some, it is whispered, even worship Dryss though this is considered cultish at best.  Still, the whole of them follow many traditions of the Old Ways, passed down from the Sikvar.

### Historical Significance

The Novan kingdoms banded together during the Dread Tumult and beat back the Barbarous races.  They took the lead in the Coalition, making them the backbone of peace in the eyes of many.

Beoth is located in Bastion and Makan in Schwar, making each responsible for a minority population.  Because of their hatred of Dryss, Schwaran routinely hire dark elves to root out cultish sects.

Volantris maintains a longstanding alliance with Taivans, ensuring elven support in times of need.