Twelve countries lay claim to the Western Continent, and while many stand united in purpose, tensions often run high and minor rivalries and political games threaten the delicate balance, particularly as the horrors and dangers of the past fade farther and farther into antiquity.
This page presents a brief overview of the peoples and society present in each major country, with far more detail and backstory available to characters raised in or familiar with a given province or kingdom. More information about the various gods mentioned herein can be found on the Deities page.
The world timeline has more information about the founding, politics, and relationships between the western powers and their Angarak neighbors.
• Kingdoms of the West
(Almost) completely unified against the forces of Torak, the Kingdoms of the West form a bulwark against further military expansion from their eastern neighbors. Of all the western kingdoms, Rivans and Ulgos are the rarest to be seen outside of their homelands while Drasnians and Tolnedrans can be found in every corner of almost every country. Everyone else falls somewhere in-between.
All western kingdoms speak Common, through regional dialects exist.
Isle of the Winds / Riva
Rivans—perhaps owing to their desolate location and grim purpose of protecting the fabled Orb of Aldur—are seen to be just as stern, private and unapproachable as the island which is their home. They revere the bear god Belar and are naturally suspicious of oursiders; it even took the silver-tongued Tolnedrans decades to establish trade routes to the island.
The seneschal to the throne of Riva is always named Brand, and they patiently await the return of their fabled king.
Cherek
Known for its unrivaled sailors and legions of frenzied berserkers, Cherek is a raccous and untamed land filled with trolls and other woodland monsters. Fighting and drinking are the two most common pastimes throughout the long winters, a perfect reflection of the Cherek spirit. There is never any doubt where one stands with a Cherek; their emotions are always on full display. They revere the bear god Belar with true zeal and furvor.
King Anheg “the Sly” rules over Cherek.
Drasnia
It is said that if you meet a Drasnian on the road, you can be sure they work for the royal intelligence service. While that isn’t necessarily true, it’s still a good bet that they pass along anything they learn. With merchants and entertainers spread across the continent, it seems Drasnians will do anything to avoid the harsh winters and brakish fens of their homeland. They follow the bear god Belar, but generally less devoutely then their fellow Alorn brethren.
King Rhodar and Queen Porenn rule Drasnia jointly.
Sendaria
A country solely created to help buffer the Arendish civil war from spilling farther afield, Sendars are a simple, hard-working folk with a passion for farming and an open and welcoming attitude. It is not uncommon for a local to break bread with visitors from countries across the continent, welcoming them in and offering to tend to their horses. On the whole Sendars do not revere any one particular god, but rather celebrate the entire pantheon, their way of showing respect for all peoples.
The ruler of Sendaria is a pleasant man named Fulrach.
Algaria
Known as the horse lords, Algaria is defined by the vast, seemingly endless plains across which they drive their herds. Nomadic and bereft of physical attachments, their primary concerns are the animals they shepherd and of being the first line of defense against incursion from the eastern kingdoms. They follow the bear god Belar.
Algaria’s Chief of all Clan-Chiefs is a man named Cho-Hag.
Arendia
A single peoples divided by bitter rivalry and scorn, the two duchies of Mimbre and Asturia have been at each others’ throats since the start of the Arendish civil war more than two thousand years ago. Mimbrate knights hold chivalry and duty as the highest ideals, while Asturians pride themselves on freedom and bowing before no lord. All Arends follow Chaldan, the stubborn bull god.
Korodullin is Duke of Mimbre and holds the respect of Mimbrate knights, while his wife Mayaserana is Queen of Arendia and is honored by all Asturians.
Ulgoland
A relatively unknown group of self-described outcasts, the reserved Ulgos live deep underground, preferring to dedicate themselves to the goddess UL rather than become embroiled in worldly affairs. Their lands are treacherous and filled with monsters, but they hold all life as sacred, no matter how frightening or unusual it may seem. Most people in the world know little of the Ulgos or their culture.
The leader of Ulgoland is an aged priest named Gorim.
Tolnedra
The West’s oldest empire, Tolnedra is the most organized kingdom the world has ever known—courtly political squabbles and rites of succession notwithstanding. Their highly-trained legions are famous for their stalwart bravery, but history whispers also of unchecked greed and ambition. The Tolnedran gold coin has become the standard unit of payment across the west. Though they are the chosen of the lion goddess Nedra, they are fiercely skeptical of anyone claiming to have actual sorcerous or divine powers.
Emperor Ran Borune XXIII sits upon Tolnedra’s lion throne.
Nyissa
Completely overrun with dense jungle and dangerous swamps, the kingdom of Nyissa has a reputation for danger, intrigue, and seduction. The concoctions they distil from the region’s many secret plants can provide all manner of pleasant or horrifying sensations, which makes them useful and welcome as peddlers of both pleasure and torture. Generally mistrusted by other countries, Nyissans traditionally shave all of their body both out of respect to the snake goddess Issa and for the more practical purpose of preventing infestation.
“Eternal” Salmissra is the once and forever queen of Nyissa.
• Angarak Kingdoms
The dragon god Torak’s followers have established three sprawling countries on the eastern and southern edges of the Western Continent, and are a nearly constant source of concern, frustration, and threat to the western powers. When their armies march, they need to be stopped. When their armies are at rest, their plots need to be discovered.
That isn’t to say that everyone born and raised in these countries is evil or filled with a thirst for conquest, but that the society itself rewards ruthlessness and unfaltering devotion to their oppressive and demanding diety and—by extension—his bloodthirsty priests.
The eastern nations all speak Angarak, which is largely unintelligible for residents of the West.
Gar og Nadrak
Home of the Nadraks, the peoples who have settled here represent the most mercantile of all Angaraks, with a trade empire that rivals Drasnia and even Tolnedra. They largely endeavor to keep themselves out of military conflicts, which raises suspicions about their motives as an intelligence-gathering force instead.
All Nadraks (begrudgingly) accept the dominion of Torak’s Grolim priests, in the dead god’s name.
Mishrak ac Thull
Home of the Thulls, the Angarak peasant class, they form the bulk of eastern armies, Agnarak slave labor, and food production. While technically self-governing, they live in constant fear of Torak’s priests and hope beyond all else to not be noticed, whether for military conscription or ritual sacrifice.
All Thulls accept the dominion of Torak’s Grolim priests with fear and terror.
Cthol Murgos
Murgos are Angarak nobility and form the highest tier of eastern society on the Western Continent. Not much is known about the farthest reaches under Murgo control, but there seems to be a never-ending supply of scar-faced knights ready to fight for the glory of their dragon god. All of Torak’s priests, called Grolims, are Murgos.
All Murgos accept the dominion of Torak’s Grolim clergy, the leaders of whom were Torak’s personal disciples.