Aiur

Aiur is what most call the entirety of the vast continent.

Aiur is made up of a group large, medium and small land masses separated by inland seas, straights, and smaller bodies of water. The lands Auir are ruled by many different kingdoms, some of which are civil for fear of war. It is ,however, unfortunate that many of the kingdoms have darker plans. Plans of conquest, rule, and absolute power. Plans of dark days for their neighboring Nations... Unrest lie ahead in the world. Someone must come forward and put and end to this... Heroes are needed, and any promising traveler is welcome to attempt salvation, should they be so bold...

## History

### War of the Crown

Setting the war into motion approximately 150 years ago, the High King of Jast (who had decided that his power was not sufficient) allied with the nearby Aedamungardians to wage war against the other kingdoms. Their first target was the peaceful Brelloks. The declaration of War caused the Brellocks to form an alliance with Peschen who controlled the Northwest peninsula. In search of Bolstering their numbers to fight the Insatiable Double-Headed beast, the Brellok also requested aid from Aefel and Ivendar who sent their own forces to prevent the hostile takeover, knowing they would be next if the Brelloks fell. Unbeknownst to Ivendar, the Wyvengurns (a previously landlocked nation) were shown how to build warships by the Jastians in order to attack Ivendar while their forces were gone destroying and obliterating their lands.

After many years of bloody fighting the Jastians agreed to a truce with the Peschens. In return they gained Brellok as a vassal. After the truce Aedamungard turned their sights north to Leivendael and quickly overran their soldiers and enslaving them. To this day they are forced to provide most of the food they produce to Aedamungard and Jast.

### Aftermath

Many kingdoms are still rebuilding in the wake of the wars. The Brelloks hold a grudge against the Peschens, viewing their surrender as a betrayal. For the kingdoms of Ivendar and Wyvengurn, the war rages on, 150 years after it began.

Peschen, who suffered heavy losses during the wars, was forced to relinquish their northern lands. Over time these lands formed into the kingdoms of Kelurna and Mjolnenhall.

The kingdom of Jast also released lands as a result of the war, which formed into the kingdom of Rooken. However, many feel as if this was simply for show, as the Rookens are more than willing to bend to the will of the King of Jast.

## Religion

Perhaps one of the most influential aspects in daily life is religion. After the War of the Crown many religious heads left the cities and instead founded their own holy sites. These sites became dedicated to various gods and remain to this day. However, the average citizen has begun to lose their faith instead focusing on their own strife. The local religious city states warn this is angering the gods but most seem to ignore their preaching as the ravings of lunatics.

## Kingdoms

### Kelurna

The lands of Kelurna are mostly uninhabitable baron arctic desert. Kelurna has little to no centralized form of government. It is largely controlled by individual tribes of half-orcs that have formed into a loose society of hunter-gatherers. The capital, Glodiff, is the closest thing to a true city in all of Kelurna and is where the half-orc High Chief Gromebash resides.

### Mjolnenhall

Mjolnenhall is a mountainous region in western Aiur . It has traditionally been the homeland of the Dwarven race due to the fact that the entire mountain range is rich in ores. In recent times, humans have begun to settle the region as well, due to the fertile soil at the base of the mountain range. The dwarves were initially unhappy with the perceived incursion of the humans. That unhappiness led to some minor fistfights between a few young dwarven and human men. The uneasiness between the groups was shortlived due to the humans skills in farming and agriculture. The wonderful new foods that the humans advanced farming techniques brought with them was seen as a welcome addition by the dwarves, because they had grown quite tired of the bland foods harvested by their rudimentary agricultural knowledge (that relied heavily on slimy mushrooms grown in caves). The capital of Mjolnenhall is Jhorenguln, which resides deep in the heart of the mountains, though it has begun to grow to include various human settlements spread out in the daylight.

### Peschen

Peschen was once one of the most prosperous and powerful kingdoms of Aiur do to its vast economy, expansive fertile lands an abundance of natural resources and natural defensive borders. Its borders once contained the lands now known as Kelurna. In the wake of the War of the Crown, it is but a shadow of its former self. The capital city of Mistandael is home to many races, but is predominantly populated by humans and elves.

### Wyvengurn

Wyvengurn is an island kingdom located off the western coast of the Aiur mainland. It is named for the large population of dragons and wyverns that dwell in the high mountains that line the western coast. The people of Wyvengurn are largely looked down on by the other kingdoms as being uncivilized due to their tendency to solve all of their problems with combat and war rather than diplomacy. Though the technology of Wyvengurn is primitive in comparison with many of the other kingdoms of Aiur, their ability to tame dragons and use them in battle allow them to fight back against any would-be invaders. The High Chief of the Wyvengurn resides in the city of Taegon Nest. Dragonborn are the dominant race of the kingdom, and they view all other races with extreme prejudice. The only place in the kingdom non-dragonborn can find a friendly welcome is in the free city-state of Sol-Marna, located near the northernmost point of the kingdom.

### Ivendar

The island kingdom of Ivendar was once known as the paradise of the High Elves. Ample resources from the Sprite Mountains and Kitewood Forest ensured that the peoples of Ivendar wanted for nothing, allowing them to focus on producing wondrous works of art, music, and architecture. During the War of the Crown, their paradise crumbled when the neighboring kingdom of Wyvengurn invaded, riding in on the backs of mighty dragons and wyverns. Ivendar, reeling from the suddenness and ferocity of the invasion, quickly lost many of their great cities. Though they were in the end able to muster their forces and repel the Dragonborn invaders, their society was left in ruins. Chirrhen, the capital of Ivendar, is the last great city remaining to the kingdom, and is home to a large majority of the population. Those that do not reside in the capital live either in small, scattered villages or in the ruins of destroyed cities that they are attempting to rebuild. Though many races can be found in Ivendar, the High Elves keep a wary eye on them, as the actions of the Wyvengurn Dragonborn have left the peoples of Ivendar distrusting of foreigners. In spite of the lack of trust, all of the peoples of Ivendar work together tirelessly in their attempt to rebuild their fallen society. These attempts are often hampered by the Wyvengurn who, despite the War of the Crown having long since ended, continue to launch a steady stream of raids upon them.

### Aefel

Aefel is often referred to as the "Kingdom of Merchants." Its society (comprised mostly of Wood Elves and Dwarves) is based almost entirely around trade. Ores and stone from the mines of the Felran Mountains, pelts and furs from Laena's Wood, and fish from the Sea of Chimes. Due to their focus, and dependence, on trade, the people of Aefel tend to have good relations with many of the other kingdoms of Aiur. They have very little military power, which has in the past made them a target for aggressive Wyvengurn. However, Wyvengurn is now kept at bay by Ivendar, who are in turn provided with food and supplies from Aefel as payment for keeping the merchant kingdom safe. Kaemhall, the capital of Aefel, is famous across Aiur for being a place travellers can find any item they may be looking for.

### Leivendael

Leivendael is a peaceful kingdom comprised of farmers of various races. Rather than having a monarch, Leivendael is ruled by a senate that gather together in the capital city of Clovendell to determine policy and matters of state. The kingdom lacks a standing army, its military force instead being comprised of various local militia. Though the militias are well equipped to handle the usual incursions of beasts and bandits, were a foreign kingdom to invade they would be largely defenseless. In the past, the neighboring kingdom of Aedamungard took advantage of this and managed to capture some of Leivendael's southern lands, which it holds to this day.

### Aedamungard

Aedamungard is a powerful military kingdom made up of half-orcs, humans, and dwarves. It is a feudal society where those with the largest military power and influence rule over the various provinces that comprise the kingdom. These Feudal Lords will often send out raiding parties to neighboring kingdoms to bring back captives to use as slaves to work their fields and mines. Above these Lords is the King, who rules over the lands with an iron fist from his seat in the center of the capital fortress-city Hrotheneim.

### Brellok

Brellok vassals to the Jastians, the Brelloks are about an equal mixture of wood elves and humans. Ranaduke the capital city can be found on the edge of the Krellwood forests. The Brelloks are only allowed a small military force for protection against raids by their masters.

### Wrunkardhelm

Wrunkardhelm is a wealthy province which was settled by half-orcs at the capital Dianholt. Though once a purely martial society, Dwarves came from Aefel to begin mining operations which in turn made the Wrukardhelms very rich.

### Thorengrum

Thorengrum made up of dark skinned humans the cracked desert is very unforgiving and deadly. Vurghenkar is not as much of a city as it is a fortress built into the mountain to be used in times of war. Even still it is considered the capital by the constantly roaming tribes.

### Valkellen

Valkellen "The frozen North" as many call it is a tribal nation made up of mostly humans and half-orcs. It is commonplace for the natives of Valkallen to constantly raid other kingdoms for resources. The inhabitants of the region are likely some of the most fair and attractive humans and half orcs that you will ever see in Aiur. This is likely because then raiding parties often take the prettiest women they can find and take them home as claimed bounty.

The land of Valkellen has a substantial amount of precious gems, and ores but the human and half-orc inhabitants seem completely unaware of the bounties of their land. Their culture almost pokes fun at any locals that attempt to "waste their time and effort playing in the dirt to dig up the pretty stuff". The Valkellen people believe that the best way to obtain riches and pretty women is to take it from others because no one is going to stop them.

### Jast

Jast is one of the most powerful kingdoms. Rich in resources and largely protected by the mountain ranges on either side. Rolandis is the capital formed to keep an eye on their "ally" Aedamungard. The people are largely a peaceful society made up of many of the races found throughout the world.

### Dunenmare

Dunenmare originally settled by high elves who over time grew darker skin than the other elves commonly found in Aiur. They have grown angry and aggressive over the years and as such few venture to their cities. Various rumors persist as to why the Dunenmare are so isolated and aggressive,but not much insight is truly known as to why they are so angry.

### Rooken

Rooken a martial society ruled by stratocratic governing body in Gisharnn. Created when the city state of Jast freely gave up their Southern lands to please the people of the Rooken area. The largest proportion of inhabitants come from the races of humans, dragonborn, and tieflings.

From the moment they are able to lift their head from a mothers bosom to their last dying breath, every Rooken is taught the art of war. The Rooken take their young from their mothers to begin prepping for battle as soon as the young are able to feed themselves. The people of Rooken are considered soldiers first, workers second, citizens third, and individuals last.

\*There are whispers that the king of Jast controls the military government as a puppet master controls his puppet.

### Wundengael

Wundengael is vassal to Jast. It was settled by the people of Jast, having no indigenous races prior to settlement. The city of Hintergard was formed by the original Jastian settlers to harvest the mineral and ore rich lands and the rare glasswood trees.