Continent of Kings

## The Continent of Kings

In ancient times three beings of unknown origin appeared and divided the continent up between themselves. They are the three Ancient Kings. They are the Tempest King, Mordenkainen, the Elder King, and the King Below. They are comparable in power and influence to demigods who are but a hair’s breadth from ascendancy. The King Below is individually the weakest of the three with the Tempest King being approximately twice as strong as he. The Elder King is of unknown power, but it is assumed that he is the strongest since neither of the others have ever invaded his lands though they have warred with each other almost constantly.

### The Elder King

Little is known about the Elder King. His country is very isolated and totalitarian. He defends his borders completely with a massive army commanded by extremely powerful generals. He takes no interest, generally, in the affairs of the wider world unless they directly impact his lands and people. His laws are followed by the people in his nation to the letter. There has been no recorded crime since the nation’s founding. In the wider world people refer to that region Eldamaire. Trade is regular and predictable with Eldamaire, and traders and merchants are treated with stiff formality while inside its borders.  Visitors without an approved purpose are generally turned away at the gates. Legend has it that the Elder King was the last King to rise to power in the World and did so through a divine contract with Torm, which he has since discarded. It is said that Torm raised the Elder King to power to establish a place of refuge from the Twin King Wars that ravaged the lands between the Empire and Mordenland to the south. So it was that the Elder King founded Eldamaire, and promptly walled it off from the outside world. At first anyone was welcome to take refuge there, but since the end of the last Twin King War, its borders have been shut to immigrants.

### The Tempest King

Mordenkainen, in all his Might and Glory, is much more well known in the world than his peers. As the tales say he was the first King to arrive on the continent of Aon. He treated the people he found as friends and comrades. It follows then that he would lead the defense of Aon against the King Below upon his incursion. Though frequently on the losing side, Mordenkainen fights personally with his Peacekeepers against the King Below to this day. Between wars, he can frequently be seen traveling the length and breadth of his nation, which he has named Mordenland. For each village in his nation there is one Peacekeeper. For each town, there are two. For each city there are between 5 and 10 depending on its size. The Peacekeepers are the arbiters of Mordenkainen’s justice, personally punishing any malfeasance that takes place under their domain. Mordenland is the closest parallel to a traditional “fantasy” kingdom as can be found in this world; in a vacuum it is basically a points of light style setting. Mordenkainen refuses to police the areas between his cities because, as he says, “Without dirty rats, how else would a hero’s tale begin?”

### The King Below

The King Below is rarely seen. His aloofness is of a darker nature however. His nation has no formal name, and is referred to as the Empire by those outside it. It is rumored to be a hateful place, populated by necromancers and undead. He rules through secrecy and lies. His lieutenants are masters of poison and assassination and he employs powerful illusionists and warlocks to govern his people. He rewards those who serve him well with wealth and power and his government is rife with corruption. Members of his personal guard are required to take psychoactive and hallucinogenic potions and tinctures that distort their mentality to a point bordering psychosis. While under the effects of these mixtures they will only obey orders that emanate directly from the King Below, and are instantly aware of any threat to his person within a fifty meter radius. Once a creature has been administered these potions the effect is permanent, resulting in death a few weeks later. The King Below is a master necromancer, however, so the loss of a royal guard is merely the gain of some other, lesser, servant.

### The Free Countries

* Peloran
* Norofen
* Dalen
* Sorowal
* Lenori
* Arkhosia