Celesteria

Celesteria is the continent that was sealed off from the rest of Alyria. It is a massive continent with many different countries.

Council of Elderwin

Elderwin is a mountainous country located in the upper northwest of Celesteria. It has bitter cold weather year round, and even harsher winters. Many races live here, but the most common types are humans, goliaths, halflings, and dwarves.

Magic

Magic isn’t regarded as highly here as other places, but it is not necessarily looked down upon except in certain circumstances such as a duel. The most common magic you’ll find here are magics that help with everyday activities such as mage hand, thaumaturgy, prestidigitation, and in the capital you can find weapon enchanters, although nothing too fancy.

Government

Elderwin is controlled by 3 clans, Clan Hounde, Clan Bravant, Clan Lightfoot. The country is ruled by the strongest clan, which is determined usually around every 5-10 years when one of the clans challenges the clan that’s in power to a duel. The leaders of the clans then have a one on one duel and whoever wins gets to have their clan be the leaders.

The current leading clan is the Lightfoot Clan. It's been a week since he challenged Gunther Hounde. This is a big deal because the Lightfoot Clan has not ruled for a very long time.

Clans

Clan Hounde and Clan Bravant are considered the two strongest, and have been the leaders of Elderwin for a majority of the time, with it being very unusual for Clan Lightfoot to be in charge. The clans aren’t that different from each other, the only difference between the clans is what clan you were born into. Each clan is run by the descendents of the family with the same last name, for example, the Bravant family is in charge of Clan Bravant. Other people besides that family are in Clan Bravant because their ancestors pledged loyalty thousands of years ago. People don’t change clans, you join by whatever Clan your parents are part of when you are born. There are some instances where the parents are from different clans, and if that is the case, you join the clan of the parent that raises you. If your parents both raise you and are from different clans, you choose on your 16th birthday.

Clan Hounde

Clan Hounde is led by Garth Hounde. This clan is typically found in the south of the country. Garth is the leader of Javerbell City. Clan Hounde has an interest in magic, and many of their members know basic level magic.

Clan Bravant

This clan is run by Arthur Bravant. This clan is renowned for their strength and barbaric fighting styles. This clan is mostly found in the northern part of Elderwin, and Arthur Bravant is the leader of Komorok.

Clan Lightfoot

Hendrick Lightfoot is the leader of this clan. They are located in the center region of Elderwin, and Hendrick rules Geldhollow, and currently Strassa. The lightfoots are considered the weaker of the three clans, and they are more known for their cleverness and agility than brawn. 

Welden Landing

This town only recently sprung up because travellers from other continents just started coming over and land in this spot. This town really serves no purpose except for the arrival of travellers.

Geldhollow

 Much like Welden Landing, this city really serves no purpose other than travellers, because it is located in the center of the country. It is the largest city in Elderwin. It grew to be the largest city because it is about the halfway point between all cities

Javerbell

Once a fort to protect the southern border from Saenad, it has grown into a city. Because of Garth’s interest in magic, there is more magic to be found in this city than others in Elderwin.

Komorok

This large mining city resides in a valley in the Calamest Mountain Range. Although it is a mining city, it’s still a nice city. A very dangerous road from Komorok to Fort Dunwich that goes through the Calamest Mountains exist, but it is very dangerous and has been abandoned.

Caelda

 This town is a very pretty almost christmas like village. It is not super huge but attracts a lot of tourism.

Fort Dunwich

 This fort is far north so it does not attract many visitors. It exists to keep watch over Elderwin’s border with Drachus.

Strassa

The Capital city of Elderwin. Whichever clan leader is the current ruler resides in Strassa and becomes the city's leader. Strassa has a large fighting arena specifically for the battle of succession of the clans. The capital is so close to the border because a long time ago Elderwin won a war against Tritus and claimed the strip of land it’s on, then put their capital on it to rub salt in the wound.

Religion

The people of Elderwin worship Aurora, due to the fact that most people make their living off of hunting, however it is not uncommon to worship other gods.

Tritus

Tritus is a heavily jungled country to the south of Elderwin. Tritus is said to have some of the oldest ruins buried deep within the Wimerian Jungle. Tritus is home to a population consisting mostly of Tritons and Tabaxi.

Magic

Magic is viewed as an ancient wonder in Tritus, and those who wield it are regarded as powerful reincarnations of ancestors from the past. The Wimerian Jungle is teeming with magic, leading it to be deadly yet rewarding to explore.

Government

The Tritus government is consisted of a leader that is selected by popular vote. The people generally choose a wise old respected leader, who then serves until their death. The current leader is a Triton named Pereclesius.

Zaron

Zaron is the capital city of Tritus, with half the capital being located entirely underwater and half on land, due to the Tabaxi/Triton treaty. This city is the central trade port for Tritus.

Wark

Wark is mainly a tourist city, offering a wide variety of goods and services. Many resorts, fancy bars, and inns reside in Wark. 

Cego

Cego is a city that is very difficult to travel to. Located in the middle of the jungle, any attempt to make a permanent path is overgrown in a year. Due to the dangerous nature of the Jungle, the residents built all their structures high up in the trees. Many adventurer guilds operate here, because the jungle is filled with magic items. This city also resides near mount Oniwa.

Gesut

This city is located on a beach at the base of cliffs. The city is primarily a fishing city, however the occasional pirate activity takes place in Gesut.

Religion

Most of the people of Tritus worship Otyx, but there is a large following for Avreus too.

Drachus

Drachus is the most powerful country on all of Celesteria. The mountains not only provide excellent natural defense from invaders, but they also provide a large amount of precious and valuable materials, making the country very rich. The land is swampy in Drachus. Mostly Humans and Elves reside here, however many dwarves live near the mountains.

Magic

Magic in Drachus is very tightly controlled and limited. Only people who have been sanctioned to practice magic by the country may do so. Performing unsanctioned magic is punishable by life in prison or possibly death. Magical trinkets and items are technically illegal, but not enforced very heavily. 

Typically if one wants to be granted a magical license, they must be chosen by the magic council who resides on the Isle of Celesteria. They are then taken there and trained. Typically young children are the only ones who are chosen by the magic council to learn magic, and not many who are sent to the Isle return. 

Government

Drachus is a monarchy, currently ruled by the Cordelan family. King Cordelan has absolute power over everything within his borders. When the current ruler dies, the power is passed to the oldest legitimate child of the ruler. If they have no legitimate children, the power is passed down to the oldest sibling of the current ruler, if they are all dead, then it is passed to the oldest niece or nephew of the current ruler, and if none of those exist, there will most likely be a war to see which noble family can seize power.

The King has an elite team of guards known as the Crow Knights. It is rumored that these elite guards hunt and track down magic users, and serve as an elite royal assassination unit, however very few have ever seen a Crow Knight and lived to tell the tale.

Cities and Towns

The cities in Drachus are extremely large, due to the immense wealth of the country. While not perfectly pictured on the map, almost all of the non forested areas are inhabited by towns and villages, not empty fields.

Great Bridge Fort

This fort is built by the Great Bridge to protect from any invaders, and for border control. The Great Bridge was built after Drachus made a huge quarry in the mountain pass. The now abandoned quarry goes very deep, some myths even say it’s bottomless.

Argania

This is the biggest mining city in Drachus, and the entire continent. Part of the city has expanded into the mountain. The city has a large dwarven population. It is also home to the largest prison in Drachus. It is nicknamed “The Hole” on the account that the prison is quite literally a huge hole in the deep recesses of the mines in the mountain, with the bottom only being accessible by a very long elevator. 

Vodwell

Vodwell is the center of Drachus. It is a crowded city with towering stone buildings. Vodwell is a holy city, with many temples and churches dedicated to the gods, but some suspect the holiness might be a charade.

Wall of Drachus

The wall of Drachus was built to protect the northern borders from Zarus, a rival country. The wall is a couple hundred feet high, and many miles long. The wall has dramatically decreased raids from Zarus, but a few small bands from Zarus still slip over the mountains from time to time.

Harchus

Harchus is the capital of Drachus. The king's massive castle resides here, and many other noble families live in the city as well. This is said to be one of the most beautiful cities in all of Celesteria.

Arella

Arella is a city outside the wall of Drachus. It is home to the Drachian Catacombs, which was once an attempt to make tunnels around the continent to be able to secretly move troops, however this failed for numerous reasons, and the tunnels were instead used as catacombs for the large population of Drachus. It is unknown how large the catacombs are, and some say they are still expanding.

Isle of Celesteria

This island can be seen from the shores of Harchus and Prexegary, with a castle and a large tower on it. Magic initiates are brought here to be trained, and if successful, they join the magic council, carrying out tasks for them. Nobody who isn't invited by the Magic Council has ever stepped foot on the island. It is said that even the King couldn’t go without an invitation.

Religion

The main deity worshipped in Drachus is the Allfather, but any other non evil gods are worshipped here heavily as well.

Saenad

Saenad is a tropical country on the gulf of Celesteria. Many pirates base their operations around Saenad, and a lot of organized crime use the country to conduct business. There is also a lot of legit trade that happens off the coasts of Saenad. Saenad has a high population of Genasi and Aarakocra, with a sizable population of humans as well.

Magic

Magic is pretty rare in Saenad, some suspect this is due to the alliance with Drachus. While not practiced or sold openly very often, it is still passed around secretly.

Government

While technically they have a monarch, the real people who run the country are the people with enough money. The Celesterian Trading Company is the biggest business that has the most influence, however the onyx ravens also have a decent chunk of influence.

Royal Port

The capital of Saenad. This city is the biggest port city on the continent. A lot of silks, spices, and other exotic goods are traded here. The Celesterian Trading Company is based here, and offers cargo jobs to people with boats. Very rarely do pirates try and raid the capital.

Groghaven

Groghaven is a city filled with crime and pirates. Most pirates that visit land end up in Groghaven. Pirates assemble crews and restock supplies here. Because pirates use this as a supply hub, they don't ever raid the city even though it is coastal. 

Loroa

Loroa is the black market center of the continent. Pirates use it to sell stolen goods and criminals use it to launder money. This is probably one of the most dangerous cities on the continent.

Magos and Novossa

Both of these are tropical resort cities, both used to draw in tourists from Prexegary and Drachus. A lot of money is made from these cities.

Religion

The people of Saenad worship Kami, due to their strong ties to the sea, and they also worship the Raven Queen.

Prexegary

Prexegary is the second strongest country on the continent, a rival to Drachus. They are at odds with Drachus because they believe they shouldn’t hoard magic for only a select few. Prexegary has a balanced population of races.

Magic

Magic is standard in Prexegary, not rare or super common. There are no special regulations on magic.

Government

Prexegary is a democracy with a voted in leader known as the Emperor. Emperor Alfrando is currently the ruler.

Brine

Brine is a city built off the coast of Prexegary on a network of docks, using houses on stilts or boats as buildings. Pirate activity is pretty common here.

Ondoross

This city offers a college for magic users, known as the Elderwood Academy. 

Dunnage

Dunnage is a mining city that is built into a giant hole. The building are carved into the side of the hole in the walls.

Harbingers Watch

This fort was originally built to protect from Khavaria, and now serves to keep out any monsters that might try and cross from Khavaria to Prexegary.

Aedyr

Aedyr is a beautiful capital city of Prexegary, built on the coast of Lake Celestia. It is home to the Talon’s headquarters. 

Religion

Geldir and Avreus are heavily worshipped in this country, due to the strong ties to justice, law, and magic in this country.

Khavaria

Khavaria is a rocky mountainous country with steep cliff shorelines. The landscape is very alien to the rest of the continent, with geysers and large tree-like mushrooms dotting the landscape. They were always a militaristic country set on expanding their borders, waging endless wars upon the other countries of the continents. However, very recently the country has fallen due to the entire country becoming infested with monsters of all variety. The people of Khavaria are rumoured to have all transformed into monsters, with very few survivors. Nobody has been deep within the country since it’s fall, so the extent of the infestation is currently unknown. The cause of this plague is also unknown. The population of the country before infestation was mostly humans with a decent chunk of dragonborn

Magic

Magic was studied in Khavaria to use as a weapon during war time, so the evocation and destruction side of magic was defined here.

Government

The Government in Khavaria was a monarchy, with the king being named Selmire. They were very territorial and borders to Khavaria remained closed almost all the time.

Streganna

The capital city of Khavaria is a huge walled off city. It is said to be an impenetrable fortress. The city is built up in layers, and it its very tall.

Adwick

Adwick has the biggest port on the continent, but it’s all used for military ships. A large wall surrounds the city, just like all the cities in Khavaria.

Avolire

Avolire had a large library dedicated to the countries study of magic, however it is unknown the state of the library due to the fall of the country.

Mirador

Mirador was a lake side city with the hall of heroes, a large place where war heroes or any other respected figure was honored.

Religion

The people of Khavaria worshipped Kami, due to the conflict and strength aspect.

Aurella

Aurella is a heavily forested country located in a valley. The country only has one city, and the borders are magically sealed off so that nobody can enter or exit unless the Circle allows it. The main race that inhabits the country are moon elves, and kalashtar.

Magic

Magic is regarded very highly here, and magic research is conducted to the highest extent here.

Government

There are eight council members, one for each school of magic, and each school of magic is also linked to a phase of the moon. The Council is called the Circle, and the lead council person is whichever phase of the moon it was on the start of the new year.

Izhara

Izhara is a grand elven city, which is said to be beautiful, however barely anybody has ever seen it. It is said to be able to move at the will of the Circle if need be. Many magic research and libraries can be found in Izhara.

Religion

The people of Aurella worship Avreus exclusively.

Zarus

Zarus isn't technically a country, it is not officially recognized by any country. It is just a tundra that no country has claimed currently due to its uselessness. The place was inhabited by monstrous races after the great purge war. Races that live there include Firbolg, goblin, bugbear, kenku, hobgoblin, kobold, lizardfolk, centaur, minotaur and various other outcast races. Only two cities exist, but many tribes of goblins/hobgoblins/bugbears roam the wilderness.

Magic

There is no restriction on magic, it is just hard to learn there due to lack of resources.

Government

There is no official government or ruler, because it is not an official country, however a bugbear man who calls himself the King of Monsters founded a city named Glottingham, where outcast races can live in peace. There is another leader who calls herself Altia, a goblin, who founded another permanent city called Longdale, which is a city that houses outcast races who want to exact revenge upon those who wronged them long ago in the great purge war.

Cities and Towns

Many tribes roam the wilderness, not setting up a permanent camp because resources are scarce, so many different villages or camps are all over the Zarus wilderness, however two people got a following large enough to found and maintain permanent settlements

Glottingham

Glottingham is a city that is nestled into the mountains for fresh spring water. Ruled by the King of Monsters, they live a relatively peaceful life. They offer payments to a silver dragon for protection. The silver dragon is named Pendir, who pities them for the situation they have been forced into.

Longdale

Longdale is basically just a really large campground, where they train and get ready for raids on neighboring countries to exact revenge. Longdale is nowhere near the size of Glottingham. It is rumoured that Longdale trades with Elderwin for weapons.

Yeesut Desert

The Yeesut desert is a vast desert filled with sand and sand dunes. Like Zarus, it is not a country, just a very large desert. The Yeesut desert is very dangerous, and those who attempt to cross often don’t survive.

Oasis

There’s one city in the Yeesut desert where outcast races from the great purge war fled to, simply called oasis. The main races are orcs and tieflings. The city is filled with bazaars, where you can find almost anything. It is said that pirates who are on the run hide out here because it is extremely dangerous to get to.