Cyndania

High magic, typical "medieval" high fantasy. Rife with flights of heroism but with some grim-dark elements. Low technology, but some amount of magical artifice is present which enables some amenities such as indoor lighting and other mechanical wonders.

There is a great expanse of ice-capped mountains to the north called the Crystalline Spine, populated by the reclusive Giants. Just to the south of the Crystalline Spine is the Erran Highlands, home of mountain dwarves, gnomes, and hardy human races who specialize in blacksmithing and artifice magic in the capital of Anvilheim. Further south and to the east is the Shimmering Coast, where mercantile folk of all walks trade in goods and information, and sellswords look to make their fortune as protection or couriers, in the port town of Hope's Landing. In the center of this land is the rolling valleys and hills of Crimshire, where most trade routes pass through and many simple villages and towns are dotted throughout. The Crimshire acting capital is Crosshaven, right in the center of the map. Just to the west of Crimshire is the mighty Elranthor forest, home of elves and druidic folk and where the barrier to the fey realm is thinnest, allowing mythical faerie folk and other fey creatures and races into the mortal world. Further to the west of Elranthor is the Ichoren Swamp, where some of the darker fey folk and others of magical persuasion reside. Many mortals believe the Swamp to be haunted or cursed. To the south is an expanse called the Twilight Demesne, noted for being a near utopia of sentient creatures of all types (including vampires, lycanthropes, witches, and warlocks) living in harmony within the capital of Resandria- but the other parts of the Twilight Demesne could be dangerous for mortals. Past the Twilight Demesne to the southernmost region is the sandy Uron Desert, where a primarily human kingdom presides from within its capital city of Uronir.

Many races and cultures make up the world and do not adhere to any particular place or pantheon. Humans are adaptable and can be found in all parts. Gnomes and dwarves favor the more mountainous regions of the Erran Highlands. Giants roam the Crystalline Spine mountains, but few mortals have ever seen them, much less engaged with them in any way. Many elves and druidic humans, as well as fey folk, inhabit the Elranthor Forest. The Ichoren Swamp is home to darker fey creatures such as hags. Goblins can be found in nearly any part of the world, but aren't trusted in some of the more populated places. In the Twilight Demesne exists many races that some might consider "monstrous," such as minotaur, werewolves, vampires, demons, and half-demons, as well as mortals of darker persuasions looking for a relatively peaceful life. Halflings, like humans, are adaptable and can be found in many places, but particularly in Crimshire, the Highlands, Coast, and Forests.

Threats include small scope such as bandits, goblins, beasts, and corrupt merchant lords, as well as larger scale such as demonic incursions, undead, and powerful monsters. There is likely some tension between some of the regions, with the human kingdom of the Uron Desert ramping up military presence just south of the Twilight Demesne, and with the elves of the Elranthor seeking to isolate themselves and disallow travel through their forests for greedy merchants.

Magic works like in any heroic fantasy adventure, with those skilled in it able to create elemental blasts, summon creatures, heal wounds, and manipulate the world around them. The mortal plane here is rich with magical energy, but not all people are attuned to it and lead perfectly mundane lives. The Pantheon of deities includes: An ice goddess called Rimelyn. She is particularly revered by the giants and other northern folk. A fire god called Volkayn, particularly revered by the mountain folk, blacksmiths, and those with the flame of war in their hearts. A wind goddess called Zephyra, revered by the human kingdom in the Uron Desert. A sea and water goddess called Galia, revered by seafarers, riverfolk, and fishermen. A god of sun and light called Auron, relatively new, and founded within the Crimshire by some seemingly well-to-do humans, dwarves, and halfings. A goddess of night and darkness named Umber, revered in the Twilight Demesne. While many folk outside the Demesne assume Umber is evil, her followers find comfort in the dusk. The peoples hailing from the Elranthor Forest revere the Summer and Winter Courts of the Fey realms.

There is an infernal plane, birthplace of demons ranging from minor imps, to tempting succubi and conniving devils, to massive, powerful demons like the monstrous balrogs and warmongering orthon. There is a fey realm as previously mentioned, with fey creatures of many alignments and goals, including satyrs, dryads, sprites, pixies, hags, nymphs, and powerful archfey. There is a celestial plane inhabited by agents of the gods and goddesses, including elementals and angels.

In the Crystalline Spine there are traces of a kingdom of Snow Elves, long gone and with little history to go off of. No one knows what happened to them or if any are left. Most of Cyndania hasn't changed much besides some light industrial revolutions in building and artifice.

Gold is the primary currency, with a heavy emphasis on bartering services as well. Trade routes go mostly through Crimshire in the middle of the map between the Erran Highlands, the Shimmering Coast, the Twilight Demesne, and the Uron Desert.

Each city and state has its own enforcement tied to a judicial system. In nearly all places of the world, self-defense is permitted. "Adventurer" is a popular job title in a world full of folks who need threats exterminated, property protected, and goods delivered.

Threats are made up of small time worldly villains like bandits, goblins, beasts, errant undead, and corrupt merchant lords, as well as larger scale demonic, fey, and celestial incursions. Not all who practice necromancy, witchcraft, or are of demonic persuasion are evil, but many are.