Nations

Altea is split into two large continents, Aedin and Obira, in addition to various other smaller land masses. Aedin is home to many nations, both large and small while Obira is dominated mainly by Balasht with a handful of smaller states around it. Each nation may differ drastically in their culture and ideologies, below is a brief description of each of the major areas.

### **Aedin**

**Esparia:** The Esparian Republic is an island city-state. Esparia is perhaps the youngest nation on Aedin, a mere 64 years has past since its founding. Home to traders and any who would take their chances upon the open seas, Esparia welcomes all who seek to make their fortunes or find a fresh start.

**Odesh:** The Odeshen Empire was founded approximately three hundred years ago when Arris Nalvir united the independent Drow Clans into a single empire. Odesh boasts the largest empire Aedin has ever seen, however much of it is untamed and unforgiving desert, with refuge and civilization few and far between. Included under the umbrella of the Odeshen Empire's borders are proud nomadic tribes of Leonin and Tabaxi.

**Duvain:** The Duvaini Kingdom is a pair of Dwarven holds under the northern mountain range in Altea. The Duvaini dwarves are a hardy folk, accustomed to a difficult climate and unforgiving land. Their sister-cities dive deep beneath the mountains, the sheer fact that the rock above them remains stable is a testament to their skill and craft.

**Belglen:** A city-state located south of the Aedinian Sea, Belglen is the oldest human centric city on Aedin. Over its nearly 700 year history, Belglen has seen many other states rise and fall, and nearly suffered the same fate many a time. Over time, Belglen has garnered a reputation as the unofficial center of culture and learning amongst its peers.

**Ezrokrod:** An oddity amongst Aedin, Ezrokrod is a recently founded and loosely formed coalition of states between a handful of expeditionary groups from Obira. The coalition compromises of Goblinoid, Orc, and several more monstrous humanoid races such as Bugbears and Minotaurs. The Ezrokrodians arrived over a decade long period beginning nearly 120 years ago, settling on the same territory whereupon they made landfall.

**The Ardan Forest:** This mysterious and seldom visited forest is said to be as much belonging to beings of the Feywild as it is to the material plane. What is known is that the Elves that dwell there are either seldom welcoming of visitors, or that they are overly welcoming of visitors, and it's frankly concerning which possibility is worse.

**Jeres:** A unique and colorful nation along Aedin's southern shores, Jeres exists just beyond Odesh's reach beyond the Crimson Peaks and across the Southern Gulf. Jeres participates in trade with its fellow cities, but remains armed to ensure its independence. Jeres' claims to have been founded by two elemental spirits who raised the city from the desert sands to create a sanctuary for those who dwelled within the desert.

### **Obira**

**Balasht:** The dynasty is home to the Dragonborn, considered by most of Altea's peoples to be too distant to be of any significant note. Much of what is known of the dynasty comes from Merchants and sailors who have braved the journey there and returned with exotic goods and tales of the dynasties' strange inhabitants.