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| Verist |
The continent of Verist is very stable. A balance of power maintained by several powerful factions have kept the continent more or less stable for several centuries. However the ever encroaching Empire of Rein from across the seas threatens that balance.
Regions and Countries:
Karmichael: The country of Karmichael, often just called The Kingdom, is named for and modeled after the Goddess of Punishment and Justice. They are a rigidly lawful people, obviously. The staunchly conservative country is peopled almost entirely by humans. They are a warmongering and expansionist people who have spread across the entire middle of the continent. Held in check however by the Magisterium and its powerful mages to the south and a powerful nomadic centaur race to the north.
The Black Lands: This hard scabble land to the north is peopled by a diverse collection of peoples and monsters. Several trading towns dot the wilderness but for the most part it's a rugged wilderness.
Ko / Po: Legends tell of a people from a far distant land across the ocean, who were stranded on these shores. Their great ships destroyed this hardy and strangely featured people settled these lands. Finding a great river and mountains that reminded them of their far of Continent of Leyung.
Azure: Something of an anomaly, the lands of Azure are full of perfectly straight rows of every vegetable or fruit that you could think of. Originally an experiment in horticulture many centuries ago by several powerful mages of the Magisterium. It was quickly forgotten by the flighty mages. Then a strange collection of devout farmers settled the lands. It would seem to any observer that this land would be conquered easily by the well trained forces of Karmichael but this hasn't happened. After two failed campaigns to subjugate the farmlands, campaigns in which two armies disappeared whole never to be heard from again, the Kingdom decided that it was cheaper just to purchase their crops instead of own the lands.
Turlack: Is a steam powered city of Gnomes. These inventive and secretive gnomes have built a massive 100ft wall and peppered the lands outside with exploding mines to keep out foreigners. Every few decades a massive explosion wipes out most of its inhabitants and the survivors rebuild and repopulate. Though to be fair little is factually known about the residents of Turlack.
The Magisterium or Arcanum (depending on where you are in the world): The most powerful school of magical study in the world. It has satellite academy's on every continent. It is an independent organization that attempts to tie every practitioner of magic (arcane magic and clerical) to themselves. To be deemed an Archmage by the Magisterium allows one the social rank of a powerful lord in almost every land. Though they have always purported to be a truly independent agency, they have been known to form alliances throughout their long history with several powerful empires. Most of these alliances are secret but they are currently in an open alliance with the Rein Empire. This has proved problematic to enemies of the Empire because the Magisterium still claims to be a neutral faction.
Calith & Calot: The race of (fox was it?) creatures that live in these fertile valleys claim to have once ruled an empire which spanned the continent. Several ruins that dot Verist may in fact prove these claims, no proper study has ever been performed and the mages stay silent on the history. Whether this is true or not all that remains now are these two ancient cities and a tired worn down race, harried by their neighbors to the east.
The Steppes: East of the city Calot is a rugged steppe peoples with a nomadic race of half-elves. These children of the fey kill all outsiders. Their strange magic deadened lands are sacred to them. Several historians have tried studying them. Let us pause to reflect on their prematurely ended lives...
