Pharea Pass

The pass is an old friend of mine, and I have sailed upon it hundreds of thousands of times. I can say that it is what enables pirates, smugglers, and all sorts of ill folk to make a living running merry among the waves. While the pass is long, land isn’t far, which reduces the risk of traveling on it. While this might change, the contentious political climate of the current era means that countries happily sign deals with these folk for protection, attacks on rival nations, and illegal goods. To be a captain of a large vessel is to be an elite among the many that call the pass their home, and if someone thinks they can rip you off, countries included, they will. While I could go on for days of my many trips and adventures sailing the scar, that is outside the scope of this book and I shall make my point concise. Pay for protection if you wish to cross, or prepare for a fight if you go without.

Velsir 

By far the most populated and widely hospitable land across the world, Velsir is home to many. The vast Isgore mountain range on the east side of the region prohibits travel and serves as a defensive yet inhospitable position for all the kingdoms and countries who border it. Through questioning several scholars in the area, the name seems to have evolved either from the old elvish word for wide plains, or some sort of mythological underworld. Most controlled territories harass those passing between their borders, but if you can find a local to pay for directions, there are plenty of ways to slip past the border. The region is largely ruled by elfs, being their heartland, but still has many ancestries that call it their home. With Seva Desal, the holy land of the elfs, so close, most worship Lepa and raise grand churches in their name, so don’t profane their name and respect the customs. Trade is heavy in this region, so most cultures blend or at the very least aren’t rejected violently.

Seva Desal

Kingdom of Dolge 

Togvinska 

Majire

Ribe Commune 

Nanje Dictate 

The Dictate is the oldest of all the nations in terms of continuous rule. While Seva Desal might claim to have been around the longest due to being the heartland of the elfs, the Nanje Dictate has had the longest continuous rule. This is due to what locals in the capital call the ‘Valdanjan Writ’ which seems to choose the next ruler from the current population. 

Stories of young children chosen as prophesied rulers run about, but for anyone living inside the Dictate, the chosen are much more obvious. The Dictate has a long line of strong leaders, all decided at the peak of their life. Thus, all political factions within the country groom and train the younger generation constantly in the off chance that their successors are selected. However, all those chosen seem to exhibit the trait of having extremely strong wills and opinions for what is best for the country. This makes it difficult for the factions to control the new ‘Blasken’ with some even suspecting magical influence that slowly causes them to become more independent. Personally, I can’t speak on the matter other than the fact that any government official I ask keeps trying to get me in a cell whenever the topic is brought up.

Currently, the latest ‘Blasken’ has been ruling for the past fifteen years and has been very aggressive with their foreign policy. Time and time again, the Dictate shows that they are willing to push the envelope as they integrate the smaller border kingdoms near the Isgore mountains. However, it is obvious to everyone that they are waiting for Ribe Commune to make a mistake or get attacked before they pile on to take the Dolge river. How long will the current ruler last? Who knows, the numbers are very mixed with some ruling for upwards of fifty to sixty years while others barely make it more than five. One thing is for certain, they either die a horrific death or simply disappear one day with no exceptions, meaning that the empire tends to focus on the short term, leading to their expansionist mindset.

Nova Republic 

Druz Families

The Druz Families are an interesting collection of various divided territories that are all united under the same elfish ancestry. Through ‘Family Gatherings’ they hold court and decide policy that they will have throughout the territories. This policy is typically only defensive in nature, stopping other nearby powers from attempting to shrink the outer reaches of the family. Participation is ensured through male rulers being sent to rule or assist in ruling within other branch family territories. 

Female heirs hold control over the succession of the line through both cultural and physical means. Regardless of the ancestry of the father in these families, the women will always be born as an elf, although their heritage has not been disclosed. This means that marriage to nobles typically comes down to wealth and status, meaning that marriage to commoners happens often. The families typically make their wealth through trade, with many schools in the most influential territory, the main Druz line, that revolutionized economic theory.

Thus, the families are nobility in name only, their special ancestry only acting to keep them in power as their territories serve as perfect testing grounds for economic experimentation. Currently, they are trying to reclaim the rivers that run besides the country. While technically they still lay claim to the land, any development near or around the rivers are met with hostile force from the Ribe Commune, who also claim the river. The land has been fully integrated into the Commune’s territory, with hostile dryads and nature spirits defending the land with impunity. War hasn’t been declared as the Dictate looms across the Dolge river, and would definitely take advantage of the split forces of the Families.

Valentina

One of the many port cities, located within the territory of the Valentia Branch of the Druz Family. Currently attempting to expand its ports to increase the inflow of trade into the city, yet the returns to the main branch family haven’t changed much despite the development. Known for its lumber and fish, the port isn’t particularly impressive, and the city is only just getting recognized and a potential defensive bastion after large walls were erected around the city by a previously deposed mayor.

Stranekland 

Isgore Mountains