Morvanior

Morvanior's crest

A map of Morvanior

**Morvanior**, or as it is officially known, the Sovereign Marmoreal Realm of Morvanior is a dunn realm in the continent of Thardoryn. It is the first officially founded realm of Thardoryn.

## **Geographical Background**

Morvanior lies on Northeastern Thardoryn which is known as the Ring. It is bordered by the leiven realm Galanodel to its west; Nohahan to its southwest. It has a coastline along the Orabel Ocean to the east and the Covian Sea to the north.

Morvanior’s capital is Upper Aston. Apart from the capital, the realm houses the cities of Lower Aston, Easthaven, Pinella Pass, and Harthwaite. All cities are directly governed from Upper Aston, with their mayors or lords being somewhat autonomous in their internal decisions.

## **Social Background**

Morvanior is home to many different cultures and ethnicities as it is the oldest permanent settlement of Thardoryn. Founded by dunn settlers, Morvanior has played host to many cultures from all around Thardoryn as well as other continents with its ports and its

### **Dunns in Morvanior**

Morvanior was founded by Alwyn Morvan who led the first dunns—or True Dunns as they like to call themselves—to Northeastern Thardoryn. They named the land in their family name with hopes of cultivating their own culture and initiate a True Dunn heritage. They named their first city; Aston. This would be the philosophical and operational capital of True Dunn legacy.

As other dunn families arrived at Morvanior, the Morvan Dynasty saw that Morvanior was expanding greatly and they were losing control over their ideals so they believed the only way to preserve their ideals were segregation. Based on Alwyn’s ideals, Wren Morvan decided to separate Aston into two different cities—Upper Aston; where True Dunns—*the Gwirdunn*—would live and Lower Aston; where Lesser Dunns—the Llaidunn—would continue their lives without any obligation to adhere to True Dunn policies.

#### ***Second Age (Age of Fury)***

Age of Fury has brought many changes for dunns in Morvanior. The old customs started dying after the big war between Luzen and Niarthr's armies. Luzen became Father Protector and started gaining disciples. From there, he chose eleven only and sent the rest back. This was the first step to form the Twelve Knights.

A big part of dunn culture started reshaping itself around Luzen and protecting the homeland. The War for Light was too big of a burden for everyone on Luzen's side and at the end of the day, leivens and glaives had their homeland Galanodel to return to but dunns only had Luzen to hold on to.

#### ***Fifth Age (Age of Atonement)***

Dunns have enjoyed a lot of liberties in Morvanior as it has been mainly a dunn realm even though there have been many political unrests between the Gwirdunn and the Llaidunn. However, two centuries ago, the Morvan Dynasty was ousted by a heavily armed army of volos who took control of the realm for themselves. While volos did nothing to civilians, they retaliated heavily to those who opposed them. Tension rises as both dunn fractions are scared of the volo reign in their homerealm.

### **Glaives in Morvanior**

Glaives are very familiar faces in Morvanior. After the Great Emancipation Struggle in Galanodel, they were free to leave Galanodel or stay there. Many glaives did not trust their former leiven neighbors so they emigrated to Morvanior, where they could live freely, without any fear of relapse of leiven rule.

As True Dunns of Morvanior adored leivens, glaives were not welcome mentally even though they were rightful to enter the country and assume Morvanian citizenship. Few families and communities were able to adhere to True Dunn philosophy and they were allowed to stay in Upper Aston whereas others have been pushed to the southern regions of Morvanior where they faced double discrimination from the Llaidunn as well. This led many glaives to turn to their former lives as they had been used to it.

Today glaives live in their own communities and they also get along with tyrs who are also alone. Rumors say that tyrs and glaives actually own Morvanior’s underground with Upper Aston remaining to be infiltrated.

### **Gigants in Morvanior**

Like many other races, gigants have always been segregated in Morvanior. Before the Great Gigant Unrest, gigants were deemed to be only fit for physical labor. The marble quarries of Morvanior required a lot of physical labor and gigants were perfect as their stamina and physical power multiplied dunns. To make gigants submit to dunns, Aeron Morvan made a deal with leivens and used their echoes to scare and threaten gigants and their families. Many settlements were raided, gigant children were kidnapped and tortured before their parents’ eyes and if the adults did not submit, they were also tortured by leiven echoes. Since gigants were afraid of echoing, they submitted, hoping that would help them to go back to their normal lives once this was over.

With the Great Gigant Unrest, the gigants started a bloody revolution, reclaiming their liberty. They moved beyond Pinella Pass in the south to found their first permanent settlement, Nohahan. As per their agreement with dunns, gigants were free to enter and leave Morvanior. However, their history with dunns has led gigants to hold grudges against dunns.

### **Leivens in Morvanior**

Being a leiven in Morvanior has always had its advantages as the Gwirdunn and the Morvan Dynasty has been fascinated with them. Apart from their geographical proximity, the Gwirdunn and the leiven always felt close and throughout history, they have shared bloodlines.

Leivens were also the ones who taught early dunns the art of echoing. This also strengthened the bonds between them, forging a long-lasting alliance. However, many llaidunns openly express their disdain for leivens by referring to them as longface.

#### **Current Status in *Age of Atonement***

Leivens have enjoyed their many advantages throughout centuries. However, since the volo came into power, things have not been the same. Border and visitor controls have become more commonplace compared to the once more flexible regulations.

### **Tyrs in Morvanior**

In a realm of prejudice, stereotypes, and politics, tyrs get their fair share of social stigmatization. Known as the Deep Ones or the deeps by the majority of the population, tyrs use this to their advantage.

As a timid and introverted people, tyrs naturally dislike attention and attraction. Their appearance in Morvanior dates to the time of the First Echo of the Dunn. It has been said that tyrs appeared after the First Echo of the Dunn’s experience with the Bane of Avarice. Some have theorized that tyrs were the product of the First Echo of the Dunn’s deal with the Bane of Avarice.

### **Volos in Morvanior**

Naturally a race with no homeland in Thardoryn, volos have always been fascinated with Morvanior and the Marmorean City of Upper Aston. Their connection to the city has probably to do with their own history.

#### **Current Status in *Age of Atonement***

Two hundred years ago, the city was invaded by the volo and the reigning Morvan Dynasty was ousted. From that day, the volo ruled Morvanior with peace—however, they also crushed their opposers with an iron fist.

## **Political Background**

THE Sovereign Realm of Morvanior has been lately tormented with a political civil war that has been going on for the last two centuries on top of having hosted the most famous ethnic unrests in Thardoryn.

The first one was the Great Gigant Unrest which was resolved by the founding of Nohahan as an independent realm of gigants. Dunns of Morvanior had used gigants as slaves because of their physical prowess and stamina until gigants rebelled.

The second one is actually still going on. The unrest is between two dunn ethnicities; gwirdunns and llaidunns. Gwirdunns are proud of their bloodlines shared with the leivens and they tend to disrespect all other ethnicities apart from leivens.

#### **Age of Atonement**

The founding forefathers of the realm, Morvan Dynasty, was wrestled out by the volo, a race proud of their ancient, mysterious roots. With the throne and the authority of the once-great dunn realm of Morvanior belonging to the volo, they crushed their only potential enemies, the Morvan Dynasty, with tenacity.

Nobody actually knows why the volo came to Morvanior. While not a native of Thardoryn, the volo has been known as master manipulators with little regard to compassion. Their history is not very well-known but tales among people suggest that the volo were once Undergods, aspiring for godhood. Once their plans to undermine and to oust Pthoneia were known, other races rushed down to annihilate them so that the balance of the world was not at stake.

While there is no open war going on in the realm, the people always feel terrorized by political assassinations and institutionalization of religious orders such as the Order of the One and the Order of Luzen. The royal family of the volo reside in Marmoreal Palace in Upper Aston, the capital city. They mostly destroyed all remnants of Morvan Dynasty and drove Morvans and their supporters to the neighboring city of Lower Aston and Easthaven. It has been rumored that the patriarch of Morvan Dynasty, Prince Morvan, is hiding somewhere around Lower Aston and has his spies everywhere in Morvanior. As these people risk being killed on the spot, they remain loyal to Prince Morvan and act with utmost secrecy, going as far as killing themselves if their actions jeopardize the whole organization.

It is widely known that Prince Morvan actually wants to take back his birthright and declare himself as the rightful King of Morvanior. For the last two centuries, Prince Morvan is the most ambitious patriarch of the dynasty to come close to claiming the throne and the crown. He is secretly supported by the Gwirdunn, because of his ethnic background. As a gwirdunn, Prince Morvan upholds his gwirdunn heritage and promotes gwirdunn culture. While this is the case, the Llaidunn are skeptical of Prince Morvan’s reclamation of power.

## **Religious Background**

Historically, organized religion had never been a big part of Morvanian culture. Since its foundation, Morvan Dynasty controlled organized religion very strictly. Thardorynic culture is based on the belief that Amserbild is Pthoneia’s perception of linear time. It is also believed that Aeth is Pthoneia’s Word. Dunn belief in Pthoneia is nothing more than universal facts.

### **Disciples of Umbri**

> *Main article: Disciples of Umbri*
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Some religious fractions appeared after a llaidunn echo called Umbri the First Echo of the Dunn passed away. Umbri supposedly had an experience with another entity during her studies into leivens’ art of echoing. According to Umbri’s exegesis, she was reached by an entity who called itself Xaethu. After several experiences with Xaethu, Umbri became more and more secluded, pursuing the pleasure that the experience gave her. Umbri started travelling all over Thardoryn to reveal the truth that Pthoneia was not the only entity that was a part of their reality. The news was not welcomed by many organizations and communities. She gained a massive amount of followers who called themselves Disciples of Umbri. The disciples tasked themselves with spreading Umbri’s message and called people to claim their freedom with Xaethu instead of submitting to Pthoneia’s Cycle of Existence. The Disciples travelled with Umbri to protect her while caring for her. Umbri’s practices were called the Xaethuan Pledge (or the Pledge as it was called by Umbri and her followers) is an existentialist belief system that promotes total spiritual and mental freedom. It has been named after Umbri's experience with Xaethu. The nature of it being a pledge is the pledgers vow to live their lives by every word of it. It was the way how Umbri lived her life and today, it is considered the pieties of the Disciples of Umbri.

In pursuit of spreading her revelations, Umbri and her disciples were captured and killed by the Twelve Knights of the One. Although more than capable of defeating the Knights, Umbri ordered her disciples to surrender and she welcomed her end. Arch Knight Reylane Kraven was the one who drove his sword into Umbri’s heart as per the Knight’s Code as she had surrendered herself. The disciples also surrendered under the terms that they should be executed.

### **Order of the One**

> *Main article: Order of the One*
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As a religious order, the Order—as it is more commonly known—does nothing more than to promote and represent the cyclic nature of Aeth and guide followers and believers in their lives. One of the most important doctrine of the Order is the Cycle of Existence. The Cycle is based on nature of Pthoneia and Aeth; everything that exists is Pthoneia’s reality and perceptions. All things are borrowed from Pthoneia’s reality as long as Pthoneia thinks and when Pthoneia stops, beings return back to unite with her essence. Many Morvanians come to the Order for guidance even if they are not followers.

After Morvan Dynasty was ousted and the volo came to power in Morvanior, the Order of the One gained more importance as the volo have been observed as more religious and pious regarding Pthoneia and the Order’s doctrines. While there is no top-down pressure regarding religion, followers and members of the Order of the One seem to enjoy better privileges.

The Order also has the most elite warriors of Thardoryn—the Twelve Knights of the One. While they were formerly the guards of the sovereign, now their status has become somewhat more symbolic.

### **Temple of Luzen**

> *Main article: Temple of Luzen*
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While similar to the Order, the Temple of Luzen promotes the teachings of the ancient hero Luzen, who supposedly battled and defeated nethergod Niarthr.

The Temple of Luzen also accepts Pthoneia as All-God but their main aim is to spread Luzen’s teachings all over the world. Every spring, Luzenic people celebrate longer days and sunshine to revere Luzen.

## **Cities of Morvanior**

### **Easthaven**

> *Main article: Easthaven*
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As the biggest port of Thardoryn, Easthaven gets many visitors from many parts of Thardoryn. The Port of Easthaven is the most historical as it has been a trade spot for the realm for centuries. With its cosmopolitan atmosphere, Easthaven is a place where cultures join together with the attitude of “live and let live.” Many glaive and tyr communities are formed within the city where they can express themselves freely without the prejudice of the gwirdunn. Many people in Easthaven speak at least one other language besides Dunn. Entertainment and food are widely varied to suit the visitors’ needs. While the multicultural nature of the city makes it a bustling center of commerce and tourism, the complacency to promote the city has unfortunately led to a very active underground criminal activity.

New arrivals to Morvaniors are always welcomed by Morvanian Realm Guards since the volo came to power. Entrance of echoes is controlled strictly. While echoing is not banned, it is regulated with the help of dregs; magical familiars that absorb alternum resulting in echoing. Echoes that set foot in Easthaven are provided with a document from the City or the Realm Guard that enables them to purchase a dreg within the city. Any other echoes that come to Morvanior are directly escorted to Easthaven for centralization of border controls.

### **Emerald Isles**

Mostly uninhabited, the Emerald Isles take their name from their lush forests and glowing nature. Early expeditions to the Isles led people to believe that no one other than some hermits reside in the place but explorers praised the beauty of the Isles for their widely varied flora and fauna. Many stories also attracted explorers and adventurers to the locale with hopes of finding treasures of the Gwirdunn but none of this has been verified.

The Isles do not have any ports and piers so sailing to the Isles is usually considered a fool’s errand.

### **Harthwaite**

> *Main article: Harthwaite*
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To the southeast, surrounded by Rivenwoods and bordering Hearth Bay is the city of Harthwaite. Mostly overlooked by visitors and travellers alike, Harthwaite is a port city which exports the majority of wood supplies of the continent. Traders are attracted to Harthwaite since it is more remote, offers lower prices, and a not that scrutinized.

People of Harthwaite are proud of their local hero, Lucan Aegis for saving the city many times. A big statue is erected in the city center and many other small ones can be found within Waldenburg. Lucan Aegis disappeared after he went on an expedition to the abandoned keep south of Harthwaite. The day he went missing is considered his day of death and he is remembered by a vigil every year next to his statue.

### **Island of Glor**

While technically a part of Morvanior, the Island of Glor is a harmonious mix of dunn and leiven cultures. Many half-leiven or half-dunn communities live on the island peacefully.

The Island is also locally governed by a community of leiven and dunn residents. The Island of Glor supplies Morvanior with the best wines in Amserbild; Dorianis and Monsentya. These wines are very expensive and exclusive.

### **Lower Aston**

> *Main article: Lower Aston*
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Known as the best of cities and the worst of cities, Lower Aston is a very big metropolis that caters to everyone’s needs. With its bustling center to its many local parts where the gwirdunn and llaidunn culture meet, Lower Aston is the meeting point of low-brow and high-brow culture; the llaidunn and the gwirdunn; the monarchists and the anarchists; the pacifists and the warmongers; the Morvan fraction and the Alluria fraction. It is a city of fusion with common understanding and tolerance.

However, all these clashes come with a price. The various quarters of Lower Aston are also riddled with crime, predominantly ruled by glaives and tyrs.

### **Pinella Pass**

> *Main article: Pinella Pass*
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Known as the birthplace of Umbri the First Echo of the Dunn, Pinella Pass is Morvanior’s gateway to the south of Thardoryn. Bordering Nohahan to the south, Pinella Pass encompasses a large area and usually home to quarries.

It is also known as the main residential places of llaidunns.

### **Upper Aston**

> *Main article: Upper Aston*
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As the capital of Morvanior, the Marmorean City of Morvanior, is home to the throne of Morvanior. With its historical background, Upper Aston houses the great architecture of earlier gwirdunn culture.

Upper Aston has a bustling city center and it is also tightly guarded. Since it is also home to the Marmorean Tower, the volo reign has chosen their elite guards to run a tight ship in the city. Crime is virtually non-existent, and the city is kept safe from chaos with all the political battles.

Upper Aston was formerly the center of the capital city Aston. When the Gwirdunn – Llaidunn Unrest surfaced, the city was annexed and called Aston on its own. Trade difficulties and pressure from the Congregation forced Morvan Dynasty’s hand to change the city’s name to Upper Aston.

The capital city is also home to the former protectors of the sovereign, the Twelve Knights of the One. Their role was to protect the sovereign of Morvanior; however, since the volo occupation of the city and Morvanior, their roles have become somewhat symbolic. It has been said that many knights have become mercenaries and some of them have gone rogue to put their skills to better use.

Morvan Dynasty has been completely driven out from Upper Aston. The remnants of Morvan Dynasty have been left intact as the volo want to show the world that they are in fact a peaceful race and they only came to not to erase the past but to build the future.

The wealthy families of Upper Aston have shown no interest to the volo occupation as they have not been untouched. The majority state that a revolution is brewing.