Tellurian Chronicles

 Tellurian Chronicles Realms of Known World

A new fantasy world

History

Legends tell of the great Dragon Empire of the High Elves that stretched from coast to coast and the rise of the Orcs, and the empires own infighting that brought about its doom.  From the empires ashes rose the feudal kingdoms of man. These are the lands of the Known World that battle for survival.

The Three Kingdoms

The three Kingdoms were once unified but 200 years ago King Alphonso split the land between his three sons to try and prevent a civil war. Sadly a generation later the first war of unification broke out. Tales of gallant cavaliers and fire-breathing dragons dominate the cultural zeitgeist of this land—though these days, dragons are sparse on the ground, and cavaliers far more worldly and unpleasant.

Kingdom of Gavaria

Government: Monarchy
The most warmongering of the three kingdoms. They are constantly fighting with Penhalia and Danlanders.

Kingdom of Kasmira

Government: Monarchy
Capitol: Absalom
Queen Elspeth rules the land from the capital Absalom on the northern coast. Due to its geographical location it has become the most prosperous of the three kingdoms but is constantly aware of the possible threat from both north and south.

Kingdom of Penhalia

Government: Monarchy
The poorest of the three kingdoms they are relient on purchasing food from the Shires while defending the kingdom on three sides. Orcs to the west; Undead from the Barrowdowns to the north and soliders from Gavaria to the east.

Grand Dutchy of Tarnow

Government: The Grand Duke, and council of Barons
Somehow Tarnow has managed to remain independent mostly through carefully negotiated marriage and treaties. Even so they still pay an annual tithe to Kasmira.

Aranor

Government: Council of Elders
Capitol: Aranor City
Language: Elven, Goblin
The great forest of the Sylvan Elves forms a buffer between the Three Kingdoms and Edessa and they have treaties with all nations. The Elves arboreal cities are said to be a great wonder to behold. Known for its many high magic areas, where monsters magically appear and the fey are found in greater number than anywhere else.

Five Shires

Government: Representative
Capitol: Shiretone
Language: Halfling (or Hin)
A peaceful farming nation, the Five Shires are the home of the tranquil Hin, or Halflings. Comprised of rolling hills and fertile farm land the Shires produce far more food than even the hin could eat. Fought over heavily in the past, the hin have liberated their lands three times from orcs, dwarves and other invaders.
The Shires - Eastshire, Heartshire, Highshire, Westshire, Southshire.

Storm Thorn Peaks

These mountains are known to be populated by Orcs, Ettins and Goblinoids. They also contain the fractured kingdoms of the dwarves. Great Sky Citadels, now mostly abandoned, either mined out or overrun by monsters.

Vidin Empire

Government: Viceroy (Provincal Governers) to the Emporer
Though the deserts in this region may seem inhospitable, its rivers teem with life and the provinces of an ancient empire stretch across the golden sands. Here the cities run rich with opportunity, but the deserts still threaten to swallow them and all their luxuries. The empire was built on the power of trade but is filled with ruins from its glorious past that have been abandoned due to the shifting sands causing rivers to change cource or dry up.

Empire of Edessa

Government: Monarchy
Edessa is the most powerful nation on the mainland. While it is an empire in decline, it is still very much a force to be reckoned with. Lead by Emperor Thincol I an accomplished general. He has tried to turn the decline around, with mixed results. They still maintains a strong military, and their campaign against the Hinterlands shows their expansionist policies have not changed. Edessa is still one of the last nations to embrace slavery, and their reputation for treachery and intrigue is well deserved.

Danlands

North of the Barrowdowns lie the Danlands. Tales say this is a place where winter is constant, wild animals can talk, and mysterious witches rule. While all of these are true, to some degree, the Jarldoms of the frozen north are infact many tribes from a mix of Human and Orc ancetery not a single unified people.

Pearl Cities

Government: Plutocracy
Capitol: None
The archipelago stretching across the Azure sea is a collection of small city-states each rules by a merchant prince or king. They form a loose confederacy but overall are a powerful naval trading nation. It is also the most racial diverse with Elves, humans, hin and dwarve working together. For many years the islands have been a haven for pirates even on the few islands that try and maintain the rule of law.

Gliter Geists

Government: Dictatorship
Language: Draconic, Elvish
These sparsely populated islands are home to the last of the high Dragon Lords their paranoia of each other prevents these Elves from working together except against invasion from the mainland. The universities and libraries here contain some of the most powerful magical secrets in the land; if you can gain access to them.