[b]WORLDS AND NATIONS OF THE ELAN UNIVERSE[/b] Gaea - A lush blue planet that has an atmosphere much like present day Earth except it is not overly dominated by the two gasses oxygen and carbon dioxide. It is the home world of various races including the very large and dominant Human race which covers most of the planet today despite over half of the planet being uninhabitable due to the Mortal-Spirit War in the past ages that devastated it. Half of the Gaelan population lives in the sky due to half of the surface being uninhabitable due to the war. The largest nations of the Gaelan planet are the Kingdom of Windgrace which is shrouded in complete mystery and the dominant military power hungry Cimmeria Empire which is like a parasite leaching off of everything it conquers in its wake. [b]CONTINENTS[/b] Melist Ianthill - Melist Ianthill is one of the largest continents on Gaea only to be seconded by the large landmass known as Verell Alese Eria. The continent Melist Ianthill suffers due to being devastated in the past due to the Mortal-Spirit War. Much of the population of the continent has to live in the sky, because many of the lower parts are contaminated so bad that the disease that plagues the planet spreads like wildfire. This large continent is provided its protection by a unilateral barrier installed in place by the peace loving races the Elves and Sylvan. Over the course of years like the war aforementioned, chunks of this once beautiful paradise is now becoming a waste land barren and stripped of lot of its beautiful panoramic scenery. Those wars mostly either civil or domestic depending on the leader. Whenever peace has tried to cast itself into this region plentiful with valuable rare natural resources, it is always short lived due to those who wish to continue to envelop the region in chaos such as the Cimmeria Empire and the Mahzok Tribe, who are the rulers of the Romantha Empire, which is the largest nation on the continent while the Lumina Kingdom caught between it and the two feudal nations is the smallest since the Pangaea Order is considered a mediating government with autonomous status meaning it is not recognized as a nation of its own and solely belongs to the tyrannical Cimmerian Empire. The feudal lords of the Guardia and Rudoria Kingdom have been at their throats because of this spreading conflict that knows no end. [b]NATIONS[/b] [b]Kingdom of Guardia[/b] Capital : Ereis Eisan History : Guardia is an ancient nation. It was formed of a coalition of old races, mostly the Phaedrian, in order to combat the threat of the Harken. Guardia eventually fell under the rule of an evil tyrant, and so ancients banded together and overthrow him. They then renamed the kingdom to Rudoria. A civil war broke the kingdom culturally into Guardia and Rudoria. The original settlement is on a different continent. Historians are unsure exactly when and why the movement occurred, however the old continent is now inhabitable. While it theorized the two is related, the land is to inhospitable to do proper tests making the theory just an educated guess. Guardia also controls an island territory known as the Xi island chain. It gained this territory during the Cimmeria-Xi War, where Cimmeria tried to conquer the region, Guardia step in and prevented the hostile take-over, and then made Xi a protectorate in order to "prevent Cimmeria from making a second admit of taking over the region." In order to increase revenue, Guardia placed a tax on mana-related goods on all of its territories. While this tax was universal, Xi's main export is mana-related goods, where as Guardia produces an insignificant amount. Due to this unrest, a Xian alchemist gained favor with the King Razhard, father of the current king, and assassinated him. Guardia is now ruled over by a young king and his two sisters. Due to new kings lack of experience, the corrupt nobles of Guardia manipulate him like a puppet. The same nobles that pushed for the mana tax. Description : Guardia is a benevolent nation, but due to powerful and greedy nobles who try to control the hearts of the people it is corrupted making it hard for people to trust the advisers of the king. Many people feel that both the Ingrassia and Regalus Houses are using their influence to manipulate the king's actions. One of the many detested suggestions that the king has employed due to the fear of those who might try to aid the queen was to enforce martial law. Though martial law is enforced by the king, he reminds his soldiers and nobles to be courteous toward the people. Unfortunately, not all of his subordinates listen to his suggestions and try to steal common wealth from various common-folk who they do not want to become powerful like they are for the fear they might try to influence the king to stop listening to his most supposedly trusted subjects. Guardia is still enveloped in civil wars and has domestic problems that even the king can't solve at this time. The nation has strict laws when it comes to magic usage. They only allow practical means of magic to be practice and all forms of magic that are offensive and meant to harm are not allowed to be used within public influence. Those who use magic must register themselves in order to be legal practitioners of magic. Legal practitioners of magic carry around cards confirming that the Magic Council is allowing them the privilege to harness and hone their magic at the expectation of the use of it will be proper and not mishandled. The common folk have still lost their faith in Guardia despite the king trying to stand up for them so they aren't isolated like royals like to do. They are still persecuted by various houses that only temporarily support the King's cause. Due to the military support he needs and the lack of resources, the king has no choice other than to listen to his advisers for now. Some of the common folk mock him calling him a figurehead or puppet for the nobles to use and abuse. The technology on Gaea is not very advanced and a lot of its residence are still within the steam age. The most logical form of technology used by this nation is Steam-tech which has produced some powerful vessels that the king can use at his disposal to safeguard his nation from a Rudorian invasion. These airships that are produced have many capabilities, but most are used in the military to further the king's resolve to unify the lands torn apart by the queen's tyranny. The architecture and buildings of the nation are quite medieval where there are some areas that are influenced by Phaedrian Windgracian Magitek. Though these areas are scarce and there isn't a whole lot known about the Magitek other than the necessary Magitek technology that Windgrace provides toward the people of Guardia. Some of the Magitek is used to make the airships manufactured by the Guardian company giant Reizenfelt Enterprises stronger and more versatile. The people of Guardia are devout followers of their ideal goddess Emerlink. She is the one who helped found their nation originally and her guidance is what most people seek in the Phaedrian community. She is considered to be a form of Deity Worship since those who follow the Emerlink tradition are only found within the walls of the Guardian nation. The only other devout followers of the goddess is the rival nation of Rudoria. Those who believe in the Goddess of Salvation believe that she encourages them to seek happiness and prosperity through their own free will. Though some have deemed the martial law imposed as acting against the goddess and call those who imposed as heathens and infidels. [b]The Queendom of Rudoria[/b] Capital: Theobald aus Vanier History: The Queendom of Rudoria is an old nation. Formed by the refugees that escaped the Fall of the Ancient Empire. Under the leadership of Eirvanthasa Rudoria, the refugee cast off to a new beginning on the continent of Melist Ianthill. They initially worked together with the refugees that formed the nation of Guardia, however their relation soon soured for reason long forgotten and it developed into the frequently violent rivalry they had to the present. The current Queen, Ezmeralda, attempted to mend their relation. However, it was a fool notion at best as the nations seemed to disagree. Raids became more frequent, diplomats and representatives missing during their visit, and sudden sickness plagued the upper echelons of both nations. Life in Rudoria is peaceful, there’re no strife and the people have everything they could ever want. It’s an utopia and something they’d see the Guardia try to take from them. Description: The land in Rudoria is mostly dominated by plains and hills, with exceptions to the north where great forests mark their border with Guardia and the mountains to the west. However, most notable are several areas where the landmass were raised to the sky on top of gigantic plant-like structure. Settlements on those landmass were mostly isolated bar what few sky caravans that can be directed towards them. The 'trunk' of the structure were infested with various kind of insectoids monsters, making onfoot journey both perilous and hazardous. The advent of skyships had largely solved both issue as the ships' higher load and requiring less rest time had them capable of traveling back and forth more often. [b]Romantha Empire [/b] Capital: Levenphal Description: Situated toward the northern colder part of the continent where there is not a lot of light lies the Mahzoks Tribes' nation known as the Romantha Empire. The Romantha Empire is filled with corruption and deceit. One thing that is always commonplace in this area is murder. This empire was established by former members of the Underworlders Organization that was headed by two powerful demons, Leventhalus and Nephenthal. The Mahzok Tribe was formed out of their hatred for Humans who they blame for the poisoning of other races that make up the Erewhon Pavilion or EP for short. This nation formed an alliance with the Cimmerian Empire to destroy a potential threat known as the Anzier Empire. The Mahzok believed that the Anzier's rapid development was due to the influence of another organization, however the lack of evidence made such suspicion suspect at best and delusional at worst. The Romantha Empire is stationed in the dark mountainous regions north of the Guardia and Rudoria Kingdoms with the Lumina Kingdom lying in the dead center of both, with Romantha toward its north and the two feudal nations to its south. Romantha Empire is not very technologically advanced and the most common methods used by them is the Steamtech as they have a very powerful relationship with the airship veterans of the sky called the Steel Barons. They use specially enhanced lighting and fixtures to light up their regions since there is hardly any sunlight in any of the areas. Rain like crime is also commonplace in the Romantha Empire. Various water systems were built to withstand the massive amounts of rain so the water drains through the various aqueducts built on the shore lines, lake and riverbeds. They were built so the heavy rain does not overwhelm the societies that make up this region. The Romantha Empire is centered on the idea they do not like outsiders and outside influence is always not welcomed in their nation. Their leader a Vampire from another planet named Drausius, may be strict ruling with an iron fist, but he's also as peaceful as a saint caring about his people's needs while not trying to coddle or spoil them. [b]Kingdom of Lumina[/b] Capital: Laegael Description: The Kingdom of Lumina is the smallest nation on the continent Melist Ianthill; however, its technology level exceeds both Guardia and Rudoria. While it isn't militarily as powerful as nations like the Kingdom of Windgrace and the Cimmerian Empire, it still does excel in the field of Magitech technology. The Kingdom of Lumina is both built on solid land and floating islands in the sky that circle around the region is located on. It is a very fertile mountainous land that is plentiful in vegetation as it does a lot of trading with other nations when it comes to food products. The country is lead by its prominent leader named Princess Aurelian. Princess Aurelian is a kind-hearted figure who has inspired the people and the nobles are as kind to the commonfolk as they are her. It is a nation that has enjoyed peace for several years. While it is caught in between three nations which seem to be aggressive, it has established an edict of peace with these nations using its vegetation it grows as a gross domestic product. It also trades some of its Magitech secrets it's uncovered from the Elven Empire Ruins that are in the center of the nation with the capital of Lumina in the mountainous sky islands that soar way above the mountains below the lower parts of the colossal grandiose city known as Laegael. Unlike other nations, it is a very prosperous and rich nation that is kind to all people including those who are not so fortunate. Princess Aurelian every month donates to several charities including giving to the poor so they can rise up from their poverty so they aren't as oppressed. The only people who are persecuted in the nations are criminals. These are the kind of people the princess doesn't take lightly to.