[b]Summary of Almerinte (for quick reference during RP):[/b]

[hider=Meraly]
[b]Politics:[/b] Strict isolationism, utopian socialism-type communities/tribes, current rulers are Queen Voryna and King Vollyros, of the ancient Liyyr clan

[b]Economy:[/b] Based on communal cooperation and bargaining within Meraly (no real monetary system), mostly isolated from world trade (has one port city named Vavvya, this is the only place that foreigners are allowed)

[b]Religion/Appearance:[/b] Ver'lya is their goddess. The Meraliti value wisdom and patience and reliability. They are a very peaceful people who are content with what they have and believe strongly in the natural order of the universe. Meralitians tend to be tall and lithe, with dark skin, black hair, and golden eyes. The Meraliti have built a magnificent stone temple in Ver'lya's honor. The goddess herself does no more than ensure that the sun shines, the rain falls, the crops grow, and that all is as it should be. Quiet meditation and contemplation is considered very important. Ver'lya chooses to be mentally connected with everyone in realm, and she has been known to send her people visions of what is to come.

[b]Social:[/b] The Meraliti live in tribes throughout most of their islands. They are ruled jointly by the chief, the medicine man/woman, and the oracle. Their lifestyle is a simple one, devoted to growing/gathering food and worshiping their goddess.

[b]Intellectual/Cultural/Technology:[/b] The Meraliti are content to follow the wisdom of the high priests and priestesses. Their technology is very primitive. Typical cuisine consists of local vegetation, depending on the region. Fish is also popular. Meraliti music is very rhythmic and features lots of drumming, and the Meraliti are famous for their gowns and robes of sheer silk, though most people don light cotton or linen tunics for everyday wear. Some regions are known for their incorporation of vibrant feathers or colorful seashells into their headdresses.

[b]Location/Geography/Places of Note:[/b] Meraly is an island located at the western end of the Known World, across the Shimmering Sea from mainland Almerinte. Its capital is Miravy. The climate/terrain varies widely, but it's hot no matter where you are. The Sum'ell Mountains cut through the middle of the island (Ver'lya lives in deep jungles of the mountains). The port city of Vavvya sits on the eastern coast.[/hider]

[hider=Itervia]

[b]Politics:[/b] (centralized) feudal monarchy-one ruler in capital of Illyri, landholding nobles scattered throughout realm, expansionist and a bit militaristic, currently ruled by Queen Marleyna and King Alran Farwynd

[b]Economy:[/b] primarily based on mining, ship-building, and furs and exporting these goods to Cyraine and Alumnall, any agriculture/fishing is usually kept within Itervia, trade thrives on southern coast but peters off as one goes north

[b]Religion/Appearance:[/b] their goddess, Ophelia, is cold and severe. The Itervians respect her power tremendously and regard her with a mixture of profound reverence and fear. Ophelia normally only communicates to the people through her priests and priestesses, but if she is displeased, the entire realm will feel her wrath. Itervians are pale with blue eyes and brown hair. The worship of Ophelia involves many complex rituals. Ophelia primarily uses her power to affect the weather of the realm. 

[b]Social:[/b] Great emphasis on honor and chivalry and obeying one's "social superiors", respect and integrity, etc. Itervia is big but sparsely populated, ruled by lords and ladies and kings and queens and the like, uphold rigid standards of propriety and value rationality and logic and staying calm no matter what

[b]Intellectual/Cultural/Technology:[/b] Itervians do not tend to be creative geniuses. Their military is formidable, blessed with Ophelia's iron strength, and they are primarily an expansionist power. Technology is not advanced, but it isn't backwards, either. Many of their weapons incorporate magic somehow. They wear furs and wool and medieval clothing in general (think Game of Thrones), and eat fish and caribou and wild berries and any vegetables that they can manage to grow in the poor, rocky soil.

[b]Location/Geography/Places of Note:[/b] marble temple for Ophelia is located at the foot of the Inner Wytesias, and Ophelia resides somewhere past the mountains in an icy tundra. Outer Wytesias are mostly used for mining. Itervia is heavily forested and has a rocky terrain, capital city of Illyri on southern coast
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[hider=Cyraine]

[b]Politics:[/b] monarchy but w/ hella court intrigue and political maneuvering, tends to be rather corrupt, very involved in trade and exports lots of foodstuffs, usually neutral in overseas disputes, currently ruled by Queen Gracelynn and King Aren Allyrion

[b]Economy:[/b] agriculture and textiles are the main industries, very much a trade-based economy, merchants are politically powerful

[b]Religion/Appearance:[/b] goddess is Lativia, who is the embodiment of a fair, innocent maiden in her flighty, kind-hearted, and rather naive ways. She is pretty much completely isolated from Cyrainese politics and concerns herself with making flowers and crops grow, priests are corrupt and bought and paid for by the rich, meaning that they push for their masters' causes when they communicate with Lativia. The Cyrainese have peachy complexions, blonde hair, and green eyes

[b]Social:[/b] typical medieval society structure, w/ villages and towns and cities, ruled by landed aristocracy and monarchs. Cyrainese come across as gentle and carefree, but some of the nobles can be quite cunning. Common people value honest, hard work, while nobles are concerned w/ monetary gain

[b]Intellectual/Cultural/Technology:[/b] technology is not the greatest (about Itervian-level), military focuses on naval power, the Cyrainese favor colors and flowers and whatnot. Cuisine in Cyraine features many fruits and vegetables that grow in temperate climates. Breads and cheeses are also popular. The rich wear colorful, hand-sewn gowns decorated with delicate lace and expensive jewels, while the common people favor loose, flowing clothing in more muted hues

[b]Location/Geography/Places of Note:[/b] Celine Rivers (the Upper and the Lower Celine) flow to Shimmering Sea, capital of Mirielle is located where they intersect, Cyraine has lots of grassland and fields of wildflowers and rolling hills and forests and meadows, Lativia lives in a meadow beyond the nigh on impenetrable Cyrainese forest in the northwest, tower-temples used to worship goddess
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[hider=Alumnall]

[b]Politics:[/b] parliamentary monarchy w/ a rather large bureaucracy (lots of ministers to oversee governance), very active overseas, the current rulers of Alumnall are Queen Letitia and King Philander Forrester.

[b]Economy:[/b] primarily trade-based, not much agriculture due to mountainous terrain and windy climate, export lots of manufactured goods and items created by artisans

[b]Religion/Appearance:[/b] Scarletta is fickle and mischievous and adventurous and so very human, which is what Alumnallens love about her. They value curiosity and creativity and they are known for having short tempers and acerbic tongues. Scarletta is a trickster and frequently involves herself in Alumnallen affairs by changing her appearance. She imbues her people with creative, intellectual energy and doesn't do much in terms of weather besides the wind. Alumnallens are lightly tanned, usually freckled, with brown eyes and red hair

[b]Social:[/b] Alumnall is a densely populated realm, despite the mountains. A village in Alumnall is considered a city in Meraly. Alumnallens tend to have looser morals and they value intelligence, freedom of expression, and witty comebacks

[b]Intellectual/Cultural/Technology:[/b] Alumnall is the most advanced technology-wise in Almerinte. They have created gear- and wind- powered contraptions with the help of ancient magic (think high fantasy steampunk). Alumnallen fashion is quite unconventional compared to the other realms, and they eat a wide variety of food due to their position in world trade. 

[b]Location/Geography/Places of Note:[/b] capital city of Corvell is nestled in a valley, while port cities dot the coast of the Shimmering Sea. In general, very mountainous terrain (which spurred on the invention of wind-powered airships), very windy and brisk climate, trees perpetually have red leaves
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[b][u]Updates to Lore:[/u][/b]

*Alumnallen technology and society-think high fantasy steampunk

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*When two people who are not of royal blood and are from different realms have children, they are known as half-bloods. Half-bloods frequently share characteristics from both parents, both in their appearance and personality. Half-bloods are ostracized and cast out by the people of all four realms. They are viewed as a disgrace to the goddesses and people believe their very existence is a grave insult to the aforementioned goddesses. Due to their mixed blood, half-bloods are not connected to any one goddess and therefore receive no protection/insight from them. Half-bloods are frequently beaten to death in highly public spectacles if they are discovered

*When two people of royal blood from different realms have children, the children take after their mother (Almerintian society is matrilineal)

*Marleyna Farwynd and her Cyrainese husband, Alran Farwynd (formerly Alran Allyrion), have ascended the Itervian throne