recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Baletier Scholar

As a child, you were inquisitive when your playmates
were possessive or raucous. In your formative years, you found your way to the most prestigious academy in all of Esai, Baletier. Perhaps you were born in some small village, proving your worth through rigorous study and natural aptitude. Or maybe you were an aristocrat who paid into the academy. Either way, you've survived the rigors of the Baletier, a feat many cannot attest to. While the academy is at least outwardly against the study of magic and the arcane, many secret societies exist within its walls that delve into the the true nature of the world. If you were one a member on one of them, you have passed through stringent entry procedures, and endured many strange rights. With that said, access to their eldritch knowledge could be quite useful moving forward.

***Skill Proficiencies:*** History, and you choice of Arcana, Religion, and Nature

***Languages:*** Two of your choice

***Equipment:*** The scholar's robes of your Baletier, a writing kit (small pouch with a quill, ink, folded parchment, and a small penknife), a borrowed book on the subject of your current study, and a pouch
containing 10 gp

**Feature: Library Access**

Though others must often endure extensive interviews and significant fees to gain access to even the most common archives in your library, you have free and easy access to the majority of the library, though it might also have repositories of lore that are too valuable, magical,or secret to permit anyone immediate access.You have a working knowledge of your cloister's personnel and bureaucracy, and you know how to navigate those connections with some ease. Additionally, you are likely to gain preferential treatment at other libraries across the Realms, as professional courtesy shown to a fellow scholar.

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#### **Suggested Characteristics**

Scholars are defined by their extensive studies, and their characteristics reflect this life of study.
Devoted to scholarly pursuits, a Baletier Scholar values knowledge highly—sometimes in its own right, sometimes as a means toward other ideals.

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Ketrus's Prayers

Prayers to Ketrus

Great Kertus

We ask that you grant us your blessing in the coming festivities

Give us the chance for a grand festival

Promote this party to that of legend

You the greatest of all gods

Bringer of revels and great times

Enjoy these times with us

Ensure the ale is cold and strong, the women are beautiful, and the mutton is delicious

Your presence grants us cheer

Your influence gives us merriment

Your light gives us hope for tomorrow and a grand time tonight

Sit diis Esai benedicat tibi
Godswar

The Godswar was the massive conflict between the entire pantheon, the center of which lay The God of Man Zavan and his lover, Mordukai(God of Death). At the end of the hour long war, all of the gods were never heard from again, presumed to have killed each other during the conflict.

At the height of the Hundred Years War between the Duergar and the other races of Man, many Gods grew wary of man’s increasing power. A pact was formed from an unlikely cabal of Siforr, Xunos, Vodon, Vistrix, Voara and Barros. On the first day of the second year of Zavan, they attacked all at once, intent on killing the God of Man with a single strike.

What they had not planned on was Death finally taking a lover. They had certainly not planned on how fiercely he would fight to protect him. The titanic conflict that ensued quickly spilled across the entire pantheon as each Deity was forced to chose a side.

The Great Godswar had begun. It would barely last an hour.

As the Gods battled for control over the mortal realm, they tore the planet asunder. Millions of creatures died within minutes as divine energies not seen since the creation of the universe were harnessed as sword and shield.

Sifor broke the heavens, searing the lands with all powerful rays of light and heat with vaporized those in it's immediate vicinity. Vodon incited the rage of man to invoke the masses against Zavan. Xunos turned the land itself against their adversaries, provoking the rage of the God of Man against the land he was sworn to protect. The gods of order and chaos worked together for the first time since their births, combining their divinities to sow destruction with surgical precision, turning the flow of rivers and sowing discord in the mind of the God King.

However, for each of the gods that sought to destroy Zavan, many more saught to oppose them

In the final moments of the hour-long war, Zavan gave his life defending the continent. Siforr struck at him again and again, sundering the land with earthquakes and volcanos. In order to save the city of Ani, Zavan sacrificed a third of Velend raising the Spine of Ogun and much of the countryside surrounding the capitol city as it sank beneath of the waters of a new inland sea. In his dying moments, Zavan willed his Divinity into the fabric of his armor, weapons, clothing and crown, and then willed these artifacts to a simple farmer from Velend named Jakub Cladivo. The last artifacts ever forged will be forever bonded to the most worthy of those born within the Five Kingdoms.
Black Hawk Trading Company

The Black Hawk Trading Company is one of the largest trading empires in all of Esai. The company is led by Mr. Carter Arvon. Where Baron LaFleur's company is a organization that thrives on illegal deals the Black Hawks pride themselves on being a good and honest business. The company has been around since shortly after The Gods War when the world was in need of a realiable way to move materials and merchanise now that inter planer travel was not possible. The Companies founder Ulf Baldric saw this oppurtunity and took full advantage of it.

The company will move any item that is not illegal, and prides itself on fair prices and reliable service. People who wish to have their goods distributed with the business have three main ways of doing so. The first and ost common option is to sell your goods to the caravan who will then resell them to buyers. The second method is to travel with one of the caravans and sell your goods when you arrive in towns, then paying a percentage of the profits you make. The final way is to pay the company much like a guild to use their seal and travel on your own. This method allows venders to have more freedom with their wares so long as they follow the groups guidelines. If they don't follow these guidelines the group will refuse to work with them again.

Being one of the largest trading companies in the world the group operates

* 4 Caravans ranging between 10 and 15 wagons
* 5 Storage warehouses
* 5 Ships
* Over 20 independent wagons

Each Caravan and ships includes merchants, guards, and even some preforms who find following the caravan is a good way to travel safely and make money
Zavan's Prayers

Prayers to Zavan

Mighty Zavan

True god of man and savior of all

May your grace bless and protect us

And may you guide us to salvation

For it is you dear lord who we follow

You and your sword, may the blade protect us

And the flat guard us

May your divine light illuminate the night

And show us the path to live by

By your grace we ask

Sit diis Esai benedicat tibi
Hankala

Though the orcs of Clan Flatrock are a nomadic people, though they do possess one permanent settlement, Hankala. Nestled between the outskirts of the Black Wastes and the ashen gulf surrounding Ytar's Rage, Hankala is a hub for the many wandering orc groups to trade goods and news. Despite their inclusive ways, Clan Flatrock does not allow any non-orcs into the city, though the Khan can make specific exceptions in times of need. Since the desert is home to many wandering horrors like the sand wurms and ankheg, magic barriers set in place over a millennia ago keep the city safe. Recently, the barriers that keep the city safe have been eroding due to the populations inability to use magic to renew them.

The entirety of the city is carved from one contiguous mountain, each building and structure attached to each other by the original stone placed by Ogun. While this method makes expansion difficult, it also protects the city from the frequent desert earthquakes. The layout of the city is essentially a large number of stone building usually used as temporary homes for small orc groups surrounding a large temple to Ogun where the Khan resides. As Clan Flatrock is a particularly religious group, many temples to the gods are scattered throughout the city, especially to Etos and Tir. By orc standards, the laws of Hankala and quite rigid, but they really only encompass crimes such as murder and treason. Within the city all residents are expected to protect their own belongings and property. Theft of any kind is frowned upon, but retribution is left to the victim to deal with. Honesty is of utmost importance to the clan, and most would talk about any crimes or misdeeds they omitted in broad daylight rather than be accused of deception.

The current Khan is Derthag Ga'at. He rose to the throne after the previous Khan stepped down from old age. A tribunal of all the elders of the various tribes was convened, and they chose the orc who they believed would maintain the neutrality that their clan required. Derthag is a pacifist to a fault, exemplifying the personal restraint that many even in Clan Flatrock lack. This disposition is more than some can take, and some of the more militaristic members of the clan are vying for his position.
Udea's Prayers

Prayers to Udea

Great goddess Udea

Divine mother of the land and protector of its inhabitants

We ask for blessing in the coming months

As we enter this time of strife we ask you protect and guide us

You the scion of all the races of Esai

Patron of the world

May your majesty influences all and protects us all

Your guidance is our greatest hope

Your blessing is our salvation

Sit diis Esai benedicat tibi
Radia(Goddess of Will)

Radia's Human Form

Radia is the goddess of Will, born of the union of Yala(Goddess of Life) and Sifor(God of the Sun). Taking after her father more than her sisters, Radia was formed from Sifor's force of will made reality, and her domain was shaped by that concept. Any thought or idea formed by the goddess could be shaped into physical form, and as such she worked to shape the first intelligent life on Esai, early precursors to the races of Man. Those beings were among the first to achieve sentience, the first to craft tools from their imagination. Worshipers of Radia were able to share in her power, forming physical constructs out of the purplish astral energy many of the gods' magic took the form of.

When Sifor began his plans to sunder the God of Man, one of his first recruits was to his daughter. Radia responded promptly, understanding her father's goals and wishing to help him. Expecting only a brief confronation, Radia was one of the first gods to be brought into single combat. When Shakti came to Zavan's defense, the powers of reality and illusion were brought to a head, and while Shakti emerged technically victorious, both goddesses succumbed to their wounds. Sifor, enraged at the death of a loyal child, turned his attention to all men, burning their lands and homes with barely a passing glance.

Radia never personally formed any creatures. She instead imbued baser animals with the ability to reason and create, thus elevating them to sentience. High elves often worshiped her for gifting them the ability to shape the world around them. While in mortal form, Radia would take often appear as one of her high elf followers, with pale skin and black hair. The goddess of will rarely personally meddled in the affairs of mortals, but particularly charismatic individuals could be granted audiences with her, occasionally resulting in a child being created from the pairs will made real. These demigods were said to be able to shape divinity in any way their imagination would comprehend, making them incredibly versatile spellcrafters.
Gnomeandy

Gnomeandy is the ancestral home of all gnomes in Esai. A rare breed descended from the divinity of Epona(Goddess of Knowledge) and Kalos(God of Invention). A skittish and private race, for a long period of time before the Godswar, the entire town was masked with elaborate illusions and wards, which helped hide the area from unwanted travelers. Famous tinkerers and arcanists, gnomes often find themselves as travellers peddling their latest invention to adventurers with extra gold.

The village of Gnomeandy is nestled between the mountains of Thol Moldir and southern Ocarus. The mountains to the south shield the forest on three sides, while wards that are still present after the Godswar prevent unwanted eyes from snooping in. The gnomes are on good terms with the goliaths of Thunukalagi, while the orcs of Clan Deathhammer have never seemed smart enough to have made it through the wards. If one manages to enter the village, Gnomeandy is quite a lively and bustling place to live. While less revelrous than halflings, gnomes are known for their enjoyment a well planned festival, and Gnomeandy seems to have one on a near weekly basis. In addition, some of the finest and most eclectic arcane texts can be found in the village's library. It is the mechanical crafts that interest gnomes the most however, and many a gadget and tool has been first invented within the borders of the village.

Most of the homes in Gnomeandy are carved from within the large trees that grow in the forest. Due to their small size and vast intellect, gnomes can carve into a tree while not damaging it enough to halt its growth, with ancestral homes growing up to 30 feet in diameter. One of the most sacred places in the village is a single massive ironwood that grows in the center of it. It was a gift given to gnomes from the elves of the Ironwood Forest. A gesture of faith and goodwill towards other forest dwelling creatures. It is the only such gift in existence, and it serves as a reminder of the unbreakable bonds of friendship between the two races. Other than the elves, gnomes are often skittish around new people, particularly those larger than them such as the orcs and goliaths.

The current mayor of Gnomandy is a man by the name of Gratix Arigim. An elderly gnome, he has experienced the horrors of the Godswar and still remained steadfast in his devotion to Kalos. Indeed, most of Gnomeandy is still a bastion of worship to the gods, with temples to all of them having some manner of temple within the village.
Vodon(God of War)

Vodon's Mortal Form

Vodon is not god of war, born from the union of Ova(Goddess of Beasts) and Pelios(God of Emotions). Esai is a world of great beauty and compassion. It is also a world plagued by constant war. Even before Vodon was born the races of Man were petty and violent, staking claims over vast lands as their own. As the gods of Beasts and Emotions danced, Pelios became overwhelmed by the hatred and pain of Man and gave form to the divinity of Vodon. The God of War was a being of pure hatred and anger, his very proximity to a being enough to spur violence. In his early years he attracted the attention of Etos, serving as a true born antithesis of the God of Peace. Many wars were fought due to Vodon's overt influence, and many times he was brought down by his rivals calming divinity.

Vodon was angry and prone to rages of violent divine energy. But he had a substantial cunning as well, and as the years go on he shaped his plane into a proving ground of battle. Those with strong enough wills would be asked to be taken to the Plane of War to prove their strength and resolve. Many died, but as only the willing were taken the other gods could not intervene. Vodon's world was a hellscape of unimaginable horrors, but those that were true warriors would over the years make homes there as his trusted emissaries, raising the next generation of warriors in the Plane of War.

Vodon's Horde, as it came to be known, only vaguely resembled the creatures that first entered the plane. Though it was composed mostly of humans, orcs, and goliaths, all races of men were represented so long as they could fight alongside the others. Their forms have been twisted and corrupted, shaped to the whims of Vodon. Any semblance of compassion and kindness had been stripped of them long ago and replaced with battle prowess. Added limbs to accommodate more weapons, thickened hide to deflect weapons, claws extended into razor sharp daggers. War's horde was designed to do exactly that, and after a millennia of grooming, it would finally get the chance to do so.

Sifor(God of the Sun) was the leader of the cadre of gods who sought Zavan's destruction. But if Sifor was the Commander in Chief, Vodon was his general, and he had trained his entire existence for this conflict. As he mobilized his army to cross the Astral Plane towards the Prime Material Plane. Though half of his army was destroyed when Sah collapsed the astral plan on itself, thousands still poured through various breaches all around Esai. The devastation caused by the horde still remains to this day. Millions died as the rays of the Sun burnt the earth and the army of Vodon killed many. Near the end of the conflict the remaining gods who served to defend Zavan stood against the the God of War. Etos(God of Peace), Barros(God of Order), and Ketrus(Goddess of Revels) challenged Vodon, and while all of them lost their lives, the combined divinities of three gods was still too much for the God of War to survive. His divinity left the world and his plane crumbled, as did the magic enabling his horde to function. The horde collapsed and was quickly killed off by the remnants of humanity.
Ius(God of the Moon)

Ius's Astral Form

Ius is the God of the Moon, born of the union of Emitaf(God of Water) and Ogun(God of Earth). A well known trickster god famous for involving himself with the the affairs of mortals, Ius was born soon after his brother Sifor. While Sifor took a radiant, life giving celestial object as the focus of his divinity, Ius chose to hide in shadow. However, his brother's radiance still illuminates him, shedding light on his unscrupulous activities. It is said that the phases of the moon are caused by Ius attempting to hide from his brother, wrapped in a constant ebb and flow. Because of this, Ius is at his most powerful during a new moon, when he is completely hidden from Sifor.

When Sifor went after Zavan during the Godswar, Ius aligned himself with the God of Man. This was not an act of charity, as Ius considered a decent opportunity to get rid of his brother once and for all. Although the Godswar was a particularly chaotic period, there are no verified stories of his actions during the war, though like all of the other gods he has not been heard from since it happened. Most prescribe his lack of action in the war however as the result of Cenos's death before reaching Ius's plane.

Ius took the mortal form of whatever pleased him at the time, though he often chose elves and halflings for the natural dexterity and cunnning. The elusive changelings and the deceptive mimics can both trace their origins to his influence.
Hilo's Prayers

Prayers to Hilo

Mighty Hilo

Lord of the free may you allow us freedom

Freedom from the chains that bond us to the ground

Allow us to take flight and join in your angelic choir

Give us the chance to leave the restraints that weigh us down

And be free of the attachments that hold us back

Your grace guides us to freedom

Sit diis Esai benedicat tibi
Turtle Bay

Turtle Bay is a small port town in northwest Lindelt. It is famous for its annual Turtle Festival, with a myriad of games, competitions, and turtle-themed activities that attracts even Anian royalty.

After the Godswar, the animals that remained were forced to radically adjust their ways of life. A group of female sea turtles swollen with eggs found themselves washed up on the southern coast of the Northern Peninsula, near a small fishing village known then as Betchel Bay. Near exhaustion, the turtles had no choice but to burrow into the unfamiliar sand, lay their eggs and hope for the best.

As luck would have it, the young turtles thrived in this new environment. Gleeful to see such a wonder of nature, the residents of Betchel Bay took to helping the little turtles on their way to the ocean in any way they could. Children run along the beach waving branches and blowing horns to scare away predatory birds. Adults dig tunnels, pull up fences and move entire grazing herds to make way for them. The mayor dons a wool suit died bright emerald green and carries a tortoise-shell cane.

The mayor owns an old tortoise named Shelly the he places in the middle of the town square on the first morning of Turtlefest, with several piles of local vegetables and herbs gathered around her. It is said that whichever she eats first will be the bumper crop that year.

In addition to many turtle foods, turtle shell trinkets and a variety of turtle dances and parties, there are a series of events over the week-long Turtlefest that include:

* Turtle Race: Pairs of two people run all the way up and down the town square. Each way, one of the team must carry the other, switching places when they run back to the starting point. This is done as a single race, and contestants are pressed close to each other, which results in much physical jostling.
* Turtle Wrestling: A wrestling tournament in which the contestants wear huge wooden turtle shells and try and knock each other out of the ring.
* Turtle Boats: A week-long boat building competition that ends with everyone trying to race from one end of Turtle Bay to the other. Prizes are awarded for speed and  originality of their boat design.
* Turtle Toss : Its just a pole toss. They just like turtles.
* Turtle Soup : Contestants have three days to gather ingredients, and then have 1 hour to cook a turtle based dish. The turtle meat is provided from mother turtles who pass on after laying eggs on the beach.
Cenos(God of Speed)

Cenos's Astral Form

Cenos is the god of speed, born from the union of Ova(Goddess of Beasts) and Pelios(God of Emotions). His parent's union was a particularly vibrant one, and more gods came into being under their dance than any other. Many niches had not been filled, and as the races of Man began to spread throughout Esai, a paragon of the progress and expansion of humanity was born. Cenos was fond of humanity and was a patron of explorer's, builders, and adventurers.

A young god like his siblings, Cenos often toiled directly in the affairs of mortals much to the dislike of his elders. He was angered at the sedantary lifestyle of the dwarves, and envious of the magic they hoarded for themselves. His followers began to beseech his aid, to take the magic of the dwarves and give it to the rest of the world. The God of Speed agreed to these this, and took the form of a halfling. With the aid of a group of rebellious hill dwarves who scorned their Duergar bretheren, Cenos infiltrated the mountains of Thol Moldir and found the King's library that held the secrets of their magic. Gathering the information and attempting to escape, the team was caught. The dwarves did not know of the God of Speeds true identity, and sacrificed themselves so that the knowledge of magic could be free. Underscoring the meaning of that sacrifice, Cenos escaped Thol Moldir in halfling form, never having reached into his divinity. Magic was quickly disseminated to the world, finding a particularly steadfast home in the Velendian city of Baletier where many famous wizards were trained.

Cenos naturally allied himself with mortals, so when Zavan came under attack by the God of Man, Cenos served as the messenger to all the other gods. Invoking his divinity to travel across the astral realm with blinding speed, Cenos dispatched a message from Death himself, a call to arms for all the gods who he thought would come to Man's defense. Within minutes the message was given, but as he was rushing to the domain of Ius(God of the Moon), Cenos was intercepted by Valhena(God of Strength). The two fought to the death just as Cenos was about to reach the Moon.
Lindelt

Lindelt is a racially diverse kingdom whose northern border hugs the Heart of Emitaf. The large peninsula serves as both the central naval trade hub as well as the continents main source of food. Though the kingdom was similarly ravaged by Sifor's rampage, it's large sweeping plains were left mainly untouched by the godswar. With Velend and Brennis's grain fields destroyed and temporarily uncultivatable, many of the central kingdoms relied on Lindelt potato and wheat crops to survive the post war period. Many still starved with Lindelt alone unable to keep up with demand. In the meantime, the kingdom made enormous sums of money off of the calamity and used it to rebuild the ports that were destroyed by the tidal waves generated by Ceto(God of the Sea).

Lindelt has three major port cities, the northern Port Bliss, the western Port Kane, and the southern Port Brask. Port Bliss is the largest of the three, as it provides trade to Ani, Mirrah, and Ocarus. Each is known for a different trade specialty, as well as a strong criminal element in the citys' underbelly. The region is ruled by a constitutional monarchy. Every region selects a representative to serve as an advisory council to the monarch. The council, currently comprised of 23 members, can override any decision made by the monarch with a unanimous vote. The current king of Lindelt is a high elf named Glanduil Jodove. The king is also responsible for choosing a representative to serve on the Anian Council. The seat of power in the region has shifted many times in the past 100 years, and it is currently situated in Wolfwater.

Important cities/towns

Turtle Bay

Penshaw

Yala's Vale

Windrip

Port Bliss

Port Kane

Port Brask
Ova's Prayers

Prayers to Ova goddess of beasts

Hear our humble prayer Ova god and protector of all beast on this world

For our friends the animals, especially for those who are suffering

For animals that are overworked, underfed and cruelly treated

For all wistful creatures in captivity

For any that are hunted or lost or deserted or frightened or hungry

We entreat for them all your mercy and pity

and for those who help them we ask for your blessing

Make us, ourselves, to be true friends to animals,

and so to share the blessings of your holiness

Sit diis Esai benedicat tibi
Jakub Cladivo

Jakub Cladivo is the current God King of Ani. He is a dark skinned man of above average height, with thick black hair he keeps constantly maintained. Boistered by the power of his divine artifacts, he is an imposing sight composed of thick rippling muscle and a casual grace which endears him to his followers. Though he is typically seen in full divine garb, in his downtime he often dresses in a much more plain, subdued manner similar to his farmer's background.

By infusing the last of his Divinity into his possessions and arms, Zavan passed on a great deal of power to Jakub Kladivo, a humble but bright young farmer from Velend. His inherited swords, armor, cloak, boots, helmet, gauntlets, belt and tabard were artifact-level items, instantly transforming him into the world’s last Demigod.

After a period of adjustment to near-Godhood, Jakub set about putting the great city of Ani in order. He established a ruling council staffed half by public vote and half by royal bloodline. The throne secure, he turned his attention to the shattered remains of his once proud kingdom.

Though hunger would would claim many over the next decade, Jakub was able to organize a fleet of relief vessels in an attempt to stem the starvation. And while their most fertile lands had been lost to the scorching rays of the Sun, ash from the Ytar's Rage caused lands in the South to flourish.

King Cladivo still stands as the ruler of Ani, aging barely imperceptibly in his hundred year reign. He is beloved by his people, though he faces increasing dissent from the rules on the central continent, particularly Velend. Still, he is considered wise and strong by even his staunchest opponents. His powerful artifacts help solidify his position, their almost indescribable power serving as a warning to those who would foster his enmity.
Velend

Velend is one of two majority human kingdoms left after the Godswar. It's primary feature is the large mountain range that runs along its western border, the Spine of Ogun, while its eastern border faces the sea. Prior to the Godswar, it was a relatively peaceful and productive, using its masses of open, fertile land to harvest the delicate flowers and vines necessary to produce the variety of fine dyes and perfumes the region was famous for. However, when the Godswar tore the land asunder, the Spine of Ogun rose from suddenly from the fields that gave wealth to the eastern kingdom. Gone are the fine goods the fertile land once produced, as well as the deposits of shellfish and pearls that gave supplementary income to the Velendian nobles, due to the lake surrounding the then dormant volcano, Ytar's Rage, becoming heavily polluted from the ash that continually billows out of the now active crater.

The vast majority of Valendians blame the gods directly, and have renounced them. To fill the void that the gods left, the populous formed an anti-theocratic church that rejects the gods, and everything associated with them. Namely, magic and magical artifacts. Harsh penalties are imposed on anyone possessing "heretical objects or knowledge" outside of official research purposes. Since magical artifacts still function, any found are placed in a spire in the capital(Siegelind) known as Barros's Union.

Due to the perceived ineptitude of the male leaders of Velend during the crisis, the women of Velend have wrested control of the government and remain in power to this day. The majority of elite soldiers are women, including the entirely female Draco Knight corp. The current queen of Velend is Catherine Jarif.

Velend made an attempt to press for more farm able land by invading the neighboring territory of Brennis. After making some minor successes against the poorly defended farming villages, they were eventually pushed back by the new God of Man, Jakob Cladivo. Utilizing his newfound divine artifacts, the Velendians were pushed back, and most of their magic artifacts that were not hidden away were seized and moved to Ani. Since this defeat, a tentative peace has been formed, with Velend holding a seat on the Anian council.

However, there are rumors of a rising tensions along the Velendian coast, with the construction of a naval fleet that could stand to rival even Ani. Also, a discovery has been made during excavations in the Spine of Ogun which has the potential to further solidify Velend as a dominant military power.

Major Locations:

Siegelind

Baletier

Northport

Darkwater Prison

Dawn

Manos

Spinewall
Radia's Prayers

Prayers to Radia goddess of will

Dear Great Radia goddess of will

I come to you in my time of need

I ask that you give me strength to overcome the obstacles in my life

I do not ask that you remove the obstacle

But instead lend me the power to overcome it

May you lend me your divine strength

That I  may do you biding and carry out your will

Sit diis Esai benedicat tibi
Wodea's Prayers

Prayers to Wodea goddess of plants

Hear us now great goddess Wodea

Help us in this our time of need

Give us the blessing of your divine grace

That we may go forth and sew the land with seeds

Lend us aid that we may reap the harvest when the time has come

And enable us to see that all that we are comes from your grace

Sit diis Esai benedicat tibi
Nishka

Most towns in Brennis were devastated by the Godswar, struck with mass destruction, famine, and disease. Located in the north eastern corner of the region, Nishka seems to be the exception to the rule. A small farming village before the war, Nishka was never of any particular note to the world at large. When Sifor's rays burnt the land, and Wodea's poisons rendered it infertile, Nishka should have been among the first to dissolve. However, quite the opposite has seemed to occur. Since the war, Nishka has not only survived, but grown substantially. However, this growth seems to have had interesting effects on the population. They have seemed to closed themselves off from the rest of the world, turning travelers away civilly but firmly.

Passive glances at Nishka reveal that their arable land is in much the same state as the rest of the region. Any farmer would tell you that even conservative estimates on the town's population would be incapable of sustaining themselves on such a meager food supply. And thus the question on the minds of many Brennisians; what is happening in Nishka? Occasionally, brave souls will try to enter the town. Those that do have told tales of an outwardly ordinary village, though the inhabitants don't seem to spend any time farming, nor do they import any food from elsewhere. The villagers have been observed eating, though their meals seem to consist entirely of some form of meat that these unobserved visitors could not identify at a short glance. At any rate, trips into the village are few and far between, and all unsanctioned by the inhabitants of Nishka. Its probably all just rumors, right?
Brennis

Brennis is the kingdom located in the central south of the continent.  A land of wide planes and dense forests, it is a kingdom in name only. The elves of the ironwood to the northwest pay no taxes, nor allow any official boot to tread into there forest. The sand dunes of the far east near the Spine of Ogun are nearly uninhabitable, patrolled only by the relatively peaceful desert dwelling orcs of Clan Flatrock and the massive sandwurms that burrow for the metal scraps left after decades of war.

The center of the region is the only area under any direct control of the government, but even much of that is untamed wilderness. There are no large cities with the exception of the capital Elifsas and the former trade port of Doveport and settlements of more than 500 people are few and far between. The wilds of Brennis are stalked with all manner of beasts and monstrosities, many unleashed during the Godswar by Ova(Goddess of Beasts) and Xunos(Goddess of the Wilds) to combat each others minions. Those creatures that were not slain during the conflict now wander the land, creating a nearly inhospitable environment along the frontier. However, the tide of humanoid progress is not cowed so easily.

The wilderness of Brennis is being slowly conquered by those of the races of Man not perturbed by the dangers the region poses them. Humans, Dwarves, and even some of the Sun Elves travel along the wilds, eeking out meager income from slaying monsters and collecting trophies and exotic meat. This is greatly distressed the Wood Elves of the Ironwood Forrest due to increased pressure to open their borders to others. Still, the only path through the region is the Godroad, carved out from the forest by Wodea in a rare agreement between the plant goddess and Zavan.

Noteworthy cities and towns:

Elifsas

Doveport

Solaris

Nishka

Hankala

Plainsdale

And a list of the commonly found monsters in Brennis
Rosecliff

Rosecliff is the center of Sun Elf culture and trade. Built on large cliff face in central Mirrah, it is nestled between the Tabaxi controlled jungle to the south and the untamed forest to the north known only as The Deep. The central exports of Rosecliff are weapons and armor, as well as a variety of high quality metal and stoneworked goods.

The artisans of the Sun Elves turned their skills honed during their enslavement to help their newly freed community thrive and prosper. With the help of a small number of golems stolen from the Duergar during their escape from Thol Moldir, the elves set to work to colonize the destroyed wilds of Mirrah. Using discarded and burnt trees, they shaped them into magnificent structures nestled against the natural barrier of the cliff face. They named their city Rosecliff for the vast variety of flowers and fauna that grew back soon after the Godswar.

In an attempt to provide each Sun Elf with equal rights and freedoms, their society is entirely democratic. Any vote of any importance with regards to politics, economics, and trade is handled by a mass vote. Each elf of mature age without regards for sex or wealth is given a vote of equal importance to all others. A council of elected representatives handle day to day activities, though any decision reached by this counsel can be overturned by a popular vote initiated after a grievance petition attains a small number of signatures from the people.

Due to this system, very few laws govern the activities of Sun Elves in Rosecliff, as well as visitors to their land. The worst crime a person can commit in Rosecliff is depriving another entity of freedom. This applies to murder, kidnapping, slaving, and even indentured servitude. These protections even extend to children and pets. If a Sun Elf is found to force those under their care into unjust service or restrictions, the same penalties for slaving can often be found. This lends itself into a very hands off approach to parenting, leading many elves born after the Godswar to have developed into very audacious individuals when compared to their subdued and quiet parents. The penalty for any of these crimes is at worst banishment and removal of any future voting rights in Rosecliff.
Black Mane Lodge

The Black Mane Lodge is the largest Hunting Lodge in Solaris. Despite their strict recruitment policies, many flock to their walls from all around the continent to make their fortune. Led by a human mercenary, Rowan Hayden, the Black Mane focuses its emphasis on fame and glory, choosing only to hunt those quarries that would lend the greatest story to their group. Their lodge is covered in trophies from different kills across the years; almost all available space covered in tails, tongues, and talons from all manner of creature, the most significant of which is the perfectly preserve purple worm carcass hanging from their ceiling, snaking through the large sides rooms adjacent to the main hall. Joining the Black Mane Lodge is difficult, but not impossible. However, even though the laws of Solaris prohibit discrimination based on race or gender, it would seem the the Black Manes have conspicuously few non human members.

Ranks in the Black Mane Lodge

* Cloak
* Redknife
* Stingblade
* Warduke
* Lioncrown
Wolfwater

Wolfwater is a quiet town in southern Lindelt, dominated by the small fortress that serves as the homestead of Glanduil Jodove. Cool air from the mountains and moisture from the sea keep the farmland of the area stable and hearty, however unstable tectonic activity generated after the Godswar makes longstanding structures difficult to maintain. However the Aeskrow, the fortress occupied by the King of Lindelt, was built by a family of Fire Giants several centuries before the war. The architecture of the structure makes up in integrity what it lacks in aesthetics. The region is rocked by frequent tremors punctuated by an extremely powerful earthquake which wrecks many of the homesteads in the area. Glanduil, the current king, has engendered much faith in the region by offering his vast estate as temporary shelter whenever such events occur.

Wolfwater is known mostly as a political hub for local lords and foreign dignitaries to discuss matters of national importance with the king. Wolfwater provides almost all of the food and luxury goods necessary to sustain the castle and its inhabitants, which is extremely helpful given the relative isolation of the mountain town. The trek to Wolfwater is often considered an adventure in and of itself, and it is said the Glanduil prefers it that way. His view is that the geography of the area keeps trivial concerns delegated to the local governances so that can remain focused on larger issues.

The Wolfwater Guard defends the fortress against any and all hostile forces. They are considered one of the most best trained and disciplined groups in the world, and were originally tasked with defending the God King Jakob Cladivo during his rise to power. Now sworn to defend the King of Lindelt, the Guard mostly deals with monster incursions in the surrounding area, though recent military actions by Velend have concerned the King, and the Guard is prepared to deal with any and all hostilities from the coastal nation.
Mivia(Goddess of Time)

Mivia's Astral Form

Mivia is the goddess of time, born from the union of Ova(Goddess of Beasts) and Etos(God of Peace). When magic was gifted to the world, particularly clever dwarves were able to construct an elaborate magic circle capable of rending holes in time. This circle was fairly unstable, but did manage small groups to travel into the recent past. This power came at a price however, and rifts in time and space began appearing across the world, swallowing everything they came into contact with and ejecting it into the void. Mivia was born of these rifts, her divinity made up of the bits of fragmented time that was created, that power coalesced into astral form. Mivia closed these breaches in her first moments, and halted the use of the circle that caused it. Of her three triplets, Mivia was perhaps the most vital. All of causality rested on her shoulders, and unlike her cousin Lordros, Mivia had the power to change the past and future at her will.

This power was a temptation, and one Mivia often fell to.she mabye hate her parents

After all, if one changes the past, then who would know the difference. Mivia was one of the youngest goddesses in the early years of Esai, and she was rash and arrogant. In her first journey back in time, a corruption occurred. A small tear in time threatened the world and it was the God of Fate who was able to fix it. His Grand Tapestry contained the details of the world as it was, and by combining their divinities the managed to bring the world back from the brink. However, in this fix something was lost. A piece of the record that had to be sacrificed, and with it a chunk of history that would never again be recalled. Some say it was related to the cosmos before the Gods came into existence. Whatever it was, that history was removed from the memories of all, the only record remaining in Epona's Record, a secret she guarded closely. This secret died with her, and the destruction of the Record.

The torrent of magical energy released during the Godswar was unmatched by anything Mivia had seen. Tears in time were being rended faster than Mivia could fix them, and the constant astral travel by Vodon's army didn't help. Mivia's role in the war is a subject of debate with most believing she simply used her divine power to seal the gaps in time left by the others Gods. However, some of her most fervant followers believe a grander story, one where Mivia travels back and alters a key detail of the war, some small moment that changed the fate of the conflict to what it was today. No one knows what it could have been, or what the future she saved the world from was like. Whatever it was, the destruction of the Record leaves us with no information on what it possibly could have been.
Spinewall

Covering an eight mile wide area in northern Velend, the Spinewall raises over 60 feet tall in some areas over its entire length. Built 30 years after the Godswar, the Spinewall is the only viable method for land travel to Velend through Brennis. Several gates are scattered along the wall, all heavily fortified and defended by large amounts of infantry. Since it was built, the Spinewall is said to be an impenetrable fortress, a show of force from an increasingly militaristic nation.

When the Spine of Ogun rose in western Velend during the Godswar, the new mountain range not only destroyed large swathes of arable land; It also cut off almost all viable land travel from Brennis. The sharp peaked mountains and steep hills the now divided a large portion of Esai down the middle forced almost all travel to be done overseas. The exception to this is an eight mile wide swath of mostly flat land in the north that was for some unknown reason unaffected by the raising of the Spine. This was considered a boon in the post war period, food and goods were still able to be passed from Brennis.

For some reason, privy only to the elite of Velend, construction of a massive wall began a few decades after the war. It was finished in seven years. Rumors abound as to how the project was completed in such a short time. Some say that it was simply the efforts of a determined workforce. Some say it was the result of illegal slave labor. Regardless, the iron and stone walls that now covered the valley stood impenetrable. For what violent conflict the Velendians anticipated, the world may never know. But the wall has stood for seventy years now, and it seems to have no plans of falling.
Ova(Goddess of Beasts)

Yala's Elf Form

Ova is the goddess of Beasts, born of the union of Yala(Goddess of Life) and Sifor(God of the Sun). Commonly worshipped among Druid circles, Ova is responsible for the elevation of most terrestrial life. Rarely taking humanoid form, she instead preferred to walk among the wilds in the form of various animals, though the direwolf was said to be here favorite. She was the first born of the third generation of gods which ushered in the massive pantheon that currently exists, and as such she had profound impact on the wildlife of Esai.

The natural beasts of the world, such as wolves, elk, snakes, and fish were all made by Ova's influence. In the early years of the world, the aggressive monsters that now prowl Brennis were not common and in fact many mortals found safe homes in the wilderness as long as they did not bother the existing inhabitants. This natural contract was upheld by most, and the races of Man lived in harmony with the natural world. It was humanity that later brooked quarrel with the Goddess of Beasts. Their constant expansion and ambition threatened many of the creatures that Ova took as her followers. In response, she created the first monstrosities, like the roc, warg, and behir to protect the forests from human interference.

During the Godswar, Ova called upon many of her bestial subjects to come to her aid, conflicting mainly with Wodea and her waves of plant minions. In response, Ova created quickly created a number of monstrosities capable of defeating the land itself. Protecting humanity was far from her original goal, but the destruction of Sifor's cadre was a clear threat to Ova's domain. While her new creations managed to emerge victorious, her shortsighted actions led to the collapse of Brennis as it was known then. Now the region is now infested with horrors patrolling the forests as well as the remnants of Wodea's plant army.

When Ova did take on humanoid form, it was often in as an elf or human. Reported sighting of her included accounts that she wore little to no clothing, and stories tell of her wearing robes made of interlocked living animals; squirrels, birds, and foxes shifting and crawling over her while she spoke with her subjects.