Terra

Terra is the world where countless adventures take place.

Map of Terra

## Continents

Terra consists of five large continents:

* The Reclining Drake
* Ghaliztan
* Terre de Lys
* Land of Sunrise
* Quetza

## Waters

Between the Reclining Drake and Ghaliztan lies the Sea of Khal, which separates the two continents. East of the Sea of Khal is the Arc Stream, a region often affected by storms and strong winds. Where the Arc Stream and Crystal Sea meet lies the Bay of Embers. The Emerald Sea is the ocean between the Terre de Lys and Land of Sunrise. Finally, north of the Land of Sunrise is the Ocean of Lost Souls, which earned its name because no one has ever crossed it and returned alive.

## Nations of Terra

### Vanhaui

The land of Vanhaui (/vɑnˈhɔɪ/, demonym: hauian), located on the Terre de Lys, is a trilingual alliance of three provinces: Hauiland, Lutessia, and Bretannia. Most citizens of Vanhaui speak two to three different languages. Each city is governed by a duke or duchess faithful to the Crown. The people are divided into nobles, clercs, the rich bourgeoisie, and the common people. Life in Vanhaui, particularly Hauiland, is known to be expensive.

The capital city, Avahs, is built on the Holy Grounds of Amarynth, the Goddess of Aesthetics, a lesser deity of the Varkadian Faith. The Paladins of Amarynth were an independent order until the Court adopted their faith, essentially unifying the Crown and Clergy. After the merge, the Queen at the time decreed the city to be the beacon of beauty. Avahs is considered to be the most beautiful city in the world.

### Bravoure

The land of gold. Bravoure is one of the oldest nations of Terra and is the birthplace of the world's main religion. Bravoure is a powerful trade force and rich in gold and gems and is seen across Terra as a cultural superpower. The land is known for its considerable architectural achievements. The construction of arches, domes, columns, and temples during the Age of Rise has influenced the rest of the world. Two of Bravoure's most prized architectural jewels are the Cathedral of Bravoure and the Arena of Sud (Colosseum).

#### Tazman

Tazman is an autonomous region of Bravoure rich in limestone and ruby. Its warm weather and jungle-like forests makes it quite an attractive place, and it was a strategic economic target. Unification of the two lands occurred in 933:AV. Tazman operated as an autonomous region inside the kingdom until its independence in 1603.

### Fallvale

Fallvale is the birthplace of the elves. Nowadays, the ljosalfar, the high elves of Terra, govern over the land. Grand elven cities stand tall on cliffs among the many winter canyons. The capital, Norsika, is built at the start of the Valley of Tears. Fallvale offers vast forests and beautiful waterfalls of which the waters are said to withhold magic. The elves have taken great pride in preserving the land, isolated from the rest of Terra.

### Iskala

Iskala is a collection of settlements of nomad Iskalan tribes. The people of Iskala are known to be robust warriors and powerful shamans. They don't follow the traditional Terran religion but have their own system based on the worship of nature spirits. Iskala's main resource is *blackiron*, a smithing stone harder than steel.

### Galies

The Land of Sultans (demonym: Ghalizi). Kal'Hachir, the capital, is the home of the Grand Palace Al'Akhbar. Galies is known for the exports of spices, olives, nuts, colored fabrics, and potions of all kinds. Sorcery is Galies is methodically practised in the court by soldiers and grand viziers.

### Kanjuuna

Kanjuuna (demonym: Kanjuunese) is divided into multiple states, each state controlling a part of the land. States are governed by a *daimyo* (lord). In 760:AV, a treaty of subordination was signed by the daimyo of Hahn, Chaikun, Mokido, Bankao, and Shaijin to unite under the *kuge* (aristocrat) of Gojun’s rule. The daimyo of Gojun, Shenyi Gojun, then became Emperor of Kanjuuna.

#### Rise of the Shogunate

In 1375:AV, the daimyo of Shaijin was overthrown by the shogun (military leader), a warlord in control of a powerful and ruthless army of *samurais* (military noble). Near the end of the 1360s, there were many disputes between states and doubt whether Jira Gojun, the empress at the time, should remain on the throne. The tensions rose, and the Shogun devised an elaborate plan to ignite the War of States in 1371:AV.

#### War of States

The six different states entered a vicious competition for the throne of Kanjuuna. Everyone had a part to play. Sōhei monks were conscripted. Magi were turned into shinigamis. The Shogunate had a secret guild of bloodmages harvested from squalor and ghettos and turned into ruthless assassins, members of the Hidden Cobra. At the end of the war, Jira Gojun lost the throne, and the shogun proclaimed himself Emperor of Kanjuuna.

#### Crime and Curfew

Crime in Kanjuuna and especially in Shinai has increased dramatically after the War of States. In order to maintain the city, the Emperor installed several measures. Chosen samurais formed the Patrol and march the districts every day. A curfew two hours after sundown was put in place. Whoever was caught in the streets after the Zero Hour risked imprisonment. Religion was forbidden. People who wished to defy the Patrol often involved themselves in crime groups like the Blossom, the Black Lotus, or even the Red Dragon. Magic was also forbidden in all districts of the capital but Onmyōdō. If someone was caught performing magic, they were immediately executed.

#### Resistance

A few months after the Emperor’s authoritarian grasp, a few ronins who had lost their masters from all states allied to fight against the oppression. They were inspired by surviving members of the temples and other people who wished for a better life. The Resistance grounds slither underneath the city in basements or even abandoned parts of the sewers. The Red Dragon has been funding the Resistance with arms and money. The Resistance is much larger than the Emperor knows. The shogun was later overthrown by the resistance, which restored the rightful heir to the throne.

### Rallis

The desert and arid land of Rallis (demonym: Rallisan) is the home of the sithrax, the relentless lizardmen. Each Rallisan city is split into districts governed by a crime or drug lord.

The Kingpin, Rallis' most infamous criminal mastermind, resides in the harbour city of Hokva. Non-sithrax folk that wander the streets of Rallis are forced to coexist in the Outcast district. Some citizens of the Outcast obey the rule of the Reaper, a broker operating in the shadows but tolerated by the sithrax.

## The Dwellunder

Deep underneath Terra is a world known for the chaos and treachery that reigns. Home of the dark elves, it is an empire of power-hungry monarchs, illicit trade, slavery, torture, and preachers of the demon-god Khor. Beneath the lesser tunnels lies the vast caverns of Mal, one of the largest provinces of the Dwellunder. Talmuur is the second largest province and a rival of Mal.

Most provinces have a mandatory military service for any child of age. Even the magi, members of the Circle, have followed severe training in combat. The Circle is the arcane directive to teach magic to the "Talented", citizens gifted with magic. The Circle is the only administrative body of magic on Terra that still teaches **Ritualism**, which is affiliated with the **Occult** branch of magic.

## Island Kingdoms

### Ailura

Ailura is the home of the sindur (demonym: Ailuran). The capital city, Kotma Ata, is located on the northern edge of the island. A large desert spans from the outskirts of the capital all the way to the jungle mountains south. Between 1101 and 1571:AV, Ailura was part of the Rallisan empire. Several ancient constructions are scattered around Ailura, like temples of a different past. Those structures still puzzle most historians today. One theory is that those were either built by the Ancients or perhaps another civilization that has long disappeared.

### Ilia

The first people of Ilia (demonym: Ilian) were the forefathers of the Lutessian people. The language resembles traditional Lutessian. In Ilia, magic is strictly forbidden. Some time during the Age of Dark, magic was banned from the island. Anyone suspected of practising magic was slaughtered. Those who had magic had to hide or disguise as healers. Witches and warlocks were hunted. Ever since the Hunt, Ilian leadership regularly organized raids to purge villages and spread fear to anyone who dared practice magic.

Galafrelle is the kingdom located on the isle of Ilia. Ilian natives pray to the lesser god Vicarinth, grandson of Dracuuria, an ancient drake who turned himself into stone to become immortal, forming the island of Ilia. Vicarinth is seen as the god of rain and crops. The islanders believe the god still controls the weather. There are a few temples around the mountain, mostly centered around cliffs, dedicated to Vicarinth.

### The Moors

The Moors are the swamp islands north of Kanjuuna. It is the home of a froglike species called the Toadins. In ancient times, the Moors were green farmlands full of life. Something poisoned the land long ago and transformed it into the swamps and bogs of the Moors.

### Vargna

Vargna is also referred to as the Isle of Pirates. Many sea clans gather at the centre of Vargna for trade or entertainment. There is not one kingdom there, only a state of anarchy.

### Indus-Kali

Indus-Kali (demonym: Indus) is the archipelago known as the Spice Isles. Many trade ships find their way to the capital, Taj-Kaa-Port, for the export of spices, tea, coffee, tobacco, and iron. Indus-Kali's king, the Maharaja, resides in a temple on holy grounds outside the capital. The religion in Indus-Kali is very different from the traditional Varkadian Faith, with higher beings referred to as Devas, representing a higher order of existence. It is said that the holy grounds of Indus-Kali used to be the pedestal of a long lost ancient city. Historians believe the Devas are another term for the Ancients.

### Teh

Teh is a region composed of three islands, hence three different kingdoms. Three tribes of the older world argued for control over Teh. It was then decided that each tribe would be granted one island.

#### Kesmet

Settlers from ancient Galies obtained Kesmet and built a new home. Kesmet is known for its pyramid-shaped palace and rituals relating to death. People of Kesmet (demonym: Kesmetian) follow a binary religious system based on sun and moon goods. Sun gods represent power, glory, wrath, war, prosperity, and more, while moon gods represent softer attributes like peace, sadness, femininity, and life.

#### Holmur

Home of the vikings, Holmur was once an overseas settlement of barbarian forces of ancient Hauian origin. Vik is the capital city, and the *Keizer* of Vik is the leader of the kingdom. Holmur has a powerful naval army for its size and many renegade soldiers have become pirates.

#### Vidal

In contrast to Kesmetian beliefs, Vidal people celebrate life. Even rituals surrounding death involve souls celebrating in the afterlife. Vidal is separated into territories controlled by different lords. Because the Vidal language loosely resembles Old Bravan, it has been theorised that Vidal was built by settlers from Bravoure.

### Elb

The small isle of Elb is home to a wood elf tribal kingdom. Those settlers have grown so distant from their ancestors that their language is a very strange mix of Vidthralfari and Kanjuunese.

## Skyshrine

Long believed to be a myth, Skyshrine, referred to as *the lost city*, is the citadel built by the Ancients on Luna. The building is powered by the light of Sol, through a complex structure that harnesses and stores sunlight.

The citadel is made of transluscent stones that make it look like a castle of glass. It consists of symmetrical towers of increasing sizes, distributed as square pillars that meet in the middle, each taller than the other. The center tower, the highest of all, stands over the lunar fields. Around the large edifice is a collection of faraway houses, built with white moon rocks that sparkle in the light of Sol.

The library of Skyshrine is home to many old books. However, efforts to travel back and forth from the citadel were abandoned, as it had become too dangerous to venture there.

## Unexplored

Some corners of Terra have not yet been explored. Quetza, the most southern continent, still remains a mystery to most people. Nobody knows what lies beyond the Ocean of Lost Souls. Perhaps an eternal void, or an entirely new, never-discovered, civilization.