Ontrath

Ontrath is one of the two main landmasses that make up the world of Ellseworld. It is comprised of Kingdoms that independently rule their own lands and have their own laws. Despite this there has always been a High King of Ontrath, an arbitrator elected by all nations who settles disputes and other matters that concern multiple kingdoms.

Until very recently the people of Ontrath thought they were alone in Ellseworld, with Rel'Kaoer locked behind the ever present storms that occluded the passage across the seas. As this western ocean opened up travellers, traders, explorers have made the still perilous journey in order to seek new riches, lands or simply to let old eyes see new sights. Through this exploration the folk of Ontrath learned that in the time they were separated the Age of Artifice had led to high degree of technological disparity. Many of the steam and magical powered devices that were common place in Ontrath (such as the warforged, airships and guns) were still a mystery to their rediscovered neighbours.

Ontrath is currently in the process of finding a new High King after the death of King Rezzult Uar’Vold of the Dwarves 10 years ago.

## Kingdoms

The continent known as Ontrath is comprised of 8 official kingdoms:

* **The Golden Kingdom** - The largest kingdom in Ontrath ruled by the Dragon King Merzillious Myzark and his dragon council. It is seen by many as the heart of Ontrath as it boasts the most fertile land as well as the largest city in all the kingdoms - The Golden Tooth. A city built around and up the side of Myzark's ancestral roost, the tallest mountain in Ellseworld. It is a city of wonder, home to many of the worlds greatest inventors, merchants and arcane experts as well as being densely populated by folk of all kind.

* **Nargoli** - The second largest kingdom, comprised mostly of plains and sandy desert, the two biomes split by a mountain range known as The Searing Peaks. It is home to the dwarven city of Djarak, capitol of Nargoli and was the seat of the late High King Rezzult Uar’Vold.

* **The Zarrath Republic** - A territory to the North and formally part of Nargoli, the Zarrathi claimed their independence from Djarak long ago and took the semi-arid/steppe desert as their home. In the middle of the kingdom they crafted their masterwork - An enormous fortress city known as Castellan's Keep, their capitol that has never failed to repel a siege (of which there have been many).

* **Il'Drothe** - A smaller kingdom to the north, the lands Il'Drothe are almost entirely made up of the woodland from whic the kingdom takes its name. The Elves here are split into two distinct groups, with the high elven descendants of Eldrad mostly living in the capitol of Ker'Drothe and the wood elven decedents of Elleria living in scattered settlements in the forest.
* **The Nemesis Peninsula** - Famous for their rivalry, the twinned cities of the peninsula (both called Nemesis City) are in a constant technologically powered cold war, each claiming to be the first, the superior, and (most importantly) the Capitol. The scrap wastes lie between the cities, remains of Forge Titans who have duelled for their city's supremacy.
* **The Cape of Borea** - Once a part of the Golden Kingdom, the land to the north was granted to a large Orcish tribe after a failed rebellion was pacified by Masterion Myzark (ancestor of the current king Myzark). The lands are a combination of boreal & evergreen forest, moorland and tundra to the very north.
* **Austral Headlands** - A small kingdom to the south west, the headlands are now serve as a warning to the people of Ellseworld not to dabble in dark arts. The old kingdom was destroyed in a great war between the forces of life and undeath and the new kingdom is a shadow of its former self, serving the other kingdoms as keepers of this cursed land.
* **The Leviathan Coast** - Named with a touch of irony, the smallest kingdom in Ontrath is in fact a leviathan in more than one aspect. Its immense navy keeps the coastal cities safe from pirates and monsters, while its traders are considered by all to be blessed with silver tongues. The merchant lords of the coast more than make up for their kingdom's small size with gold and black powder.

## The Ontrath League

The Ontrath League is the name of the council of rulers that come together in times of crisis and they also nominate and elect the high kings of Ontrath. At present all the kingdoms of Ontrath have a councillor at the high table apart from the Austral Headlands, who have elected the councillor from The Golden Kingdom to act in their shared interests. After the High King's death his nominated second was the Merchant Prince Ko, from The Leviathan Coast. The responsibility for temporarily heading the League and electing a new High King lies with him. The Merchant Prince has been ruling as "president" of the council for almost 15 years now as, by the laws laid down in ages past, can take place until all kingdoms have nominated a candidate from their royal family or elected heads of state.