Atlas of the Known Realms

The atlas is separated into three main sections, based on geographical divisions. The Western continent covers all of the area West of the Serpent River, and includes the Tilth, Svarus, Rastgoth and Northern lands. The South Isles includes all of the islands in the middle of the Great Sea and the Eastern Continent covers Giorandi, the Forbidden City and the lands of Mirvia. Descriptions of several areas are purposefully sketchy, and will be left to readers to develop.

How to use this Atlas

The main Atlas page has brief descriptions of the three main continents, Western continent, Eastern Continent, and the South Isles. The text contains many hyper-links to more detailed reference material. The map on the main Atlas page has hyper-links to other maps that are at a smaller scale and are in greater detail. For instance, clicking on the City of Rastgoth will bring up a detailed map of the city, and an in-depth text description. Gray titles are works in progress, and will be filled in soon, or are areas that are not scheduled to be developed.

[ Top ]

The Western Continent

Human Races

The Western Continent, like the rest of the world, is predominantly human. Humans outnumber demi-humans 4 to 1, and while the hordes of humanoids cannot be accurately counted, it is hoped that humans enjoy at least a 3 to 1 advantage in numbers.

There were three distinct human races indigenous to the Western Continent: Rudkeric, Malderic, and Mirvic. Each race was comprised of several tribes, or sub-races, in the case of the Mirvic. Little exists of theses ancient humans, but many of the current nations today can trace their roots back to these ancestors.

The Rudkeric were a fierce nomadic race that inhabited the northern portion of the continent. From the Laine river north to what is today Neredaine, these hunters followed herds of animals across the northern plains. The three southernmost tribes, the Cu Rudkeric, the Tan Elkin and the Mog were the first to cross the mighty Laine river, where they found the fertile north valley (what is today Northern Tilth) and began to settle. These ancient forerunners of the modern Tilth inhabitant were characterized by their fair complexion and blond hair tones. The Mog tended to be taller, with red the most common hair color.

The Malderic developed an agricultural society very early in their evolution . The first settlements recorded were in the southern foothills of the Iron Mountains, where records in the form of cave paintings still remaining. Less bellicose than their northern neighbors, the Malderic are thought to be the first to develop a written human language. Many assume that came from contact with the dwarves of the western mountains (written records for Clan Stonefist apparently predate human records). The Malderic were content to spread southward until pressure from the Mirvic nations forced them north, were they mingled with the tamer tribes of the Rudkeric.

The Malderic blended more easily (or were absorbed) with neighboring peoples, so no record exists of a typical physical characteristic. It is thought that they were, perhaps, the closest to "modern" human arch-type.

The Mirvic people were technically one race, with many distinct sub-races, and several splinter tribes. Like modern Mirvia, their society was vast, varied, but they were able to cling to common traits that marked them as part of the Mirvic nation. In the development of the western continent, the most important sub-race of Mirvics was the Corvic. The Corvic tribes were plainsmen that inhabited the Coreal Plain (south of Bormahrl). Three millennia ago, the Coreal was an abundant grassland. This changed nearly 2,500 years ago. Whether the change was gradual, or sudden is unclear. Today it a waste of tough dry grass with very little open water, uninhabited by humans.

The change in their homeland forced the Corvic to chose between a move north or a move east. North, they would encounter the less aggressive Malderic, and be able to settle with little effort. However, they would be cut off from the rest of the Mirvic peoples, and lose their identity. East, they would meet with resistance from other sub-races and tribes of the ancient Mirvics, and have a more difficult time being assimilated. Gradually, the Corvics left the plain, some moving east to join Mirvic tribes, but most moved north, pushing the Malderic north of the Iron Mountains where they began to mingle with the Rudkeric.

[ Top }

Recent History

Current Events

Society

Religion

Western religion is a complex pantheon borrowed from several religions, and incorporating a number of more ancient beliefs and practices from ancient Druidic teachings. Deities worshiped change from region to region, but worship is centered around a group of beings the Westerners call "The Erynines" — an ancient term meaning "The Lords of Men." From culture to culture, names and spheres of influence change, the worship of some deities is supplanted in favor of others, but essentially the same Powers are worshiped on the Western Continent, from Sunder to the Snake River Seaway.

[ Top ]

Politics

As the Western Realms evolve and grow, the political landscape is beginning to change. The classic feudal system of government is slowly giving way to a limited monarchy. As the typical feudal duties to the crown in the form of military support are giving way, monarchies are forced to support militaries with cash, and new class of warrior, the professional soldier, is beginning to emerge. Absolute monarchies with the power to levy taxes are beginning to be replaced with a more limited monarchy which answers to a council comprised of the nobility. Kings find themselves short of cash as their power to tax is being limited.

Economy

The economy of the Western Continent is changing. While the economies of the Western Continent are still based on agriculture, cities have started to flourish, and a free middle class of merchants and tradesmen have begun to emerge. In some cities, Rastgoth for example, the upper middle class has wrested control from the nobility. The minor nobility has started to merge with wealthy middle class elements, as the power base is shifting.

Countries of the Western Continent

[ Top ]

The South Isles

The South Isles inhabitants are a mix of races and cultures that have begun to blend into their own nation. The indigenous peoples, the Magirie, had lived for centuries in a primitive state, until the fall of the Mirvian Empire about seven centuries ago (The founding of the Tilth dates to the defeat and rout of Mirvian invaders, 763 years ago. That defeat, engineered by Elgin Quellor, broke the empire, and began the reign of the current ruling Dynasty of the Tilth). With the fall of the Mirvian Empire, the South Isles saw their first wave of new settlers, refugees of the years of civil war that heralded the decline of Mirvian Culture.

With the arrival of the Mirvians, the islands began to change character. The Mirvian settlers were more interested in exploration, and, in some respects, conquest. Thus, the islands were no longer a secret, as Mirvian sailors set out from their new homes in search of trade and plunder. The islands added westerners, Giorands and the odd humanoid tribe to become the mix they are today.

[ More ]

The Eastern Continent

Human civilization on the Eastern Continent is older than the civilizations of the West. Barbarism gave way to civilizations earlier, and groups merged more easily, forming a larger national identity than western culture. The east has twice the number of inhabitants in basically the same amount of space. Crowding is a problem in some regions, and there tends to be less open space.

Human Races

Like the Western Continent, humans are the dominant race on the Eastern Continent. Demi-human culture has been squeezed to remote corners of the Continent, and elven culture continues to decline the most rapidly.

• Giorandi

• The Headlands

• The Emirates

• Mirvia

• Upper Mirvia
• Lower Mirvia
• Mirvia
• The Forbidden City