Terra

Terra is a high magic world set in times with medieval technology and ancient technology, with some exceptions. There are hidden cities with more advanced technology and magic, but those cities do not intervene in the politics of Terra and are rarely found. Terra, for the most part, is a sword and sorcerer world with all of the different schools of magic. The world hosts a multitude of creatures. Terra contains all normal domestic animals, from dogs to horses and pigs and cows and everything else. But the wilds of Terra also contain monsters, including monsters listed in Dungeons and Dragons Fifth Edition. Only the weakest monsters appear near settlements like forts, towns, cities. But the more remote the location, the higher the level of monster or mob or brigand or pirate or robber. But not all of the monsters are hostile, and some can join the party depending on the party's disposition, skill, and dominance, among other things. Terra one thousand years ago was united and peaceful. But that time is no longer. Though ancient secrets exist, Terra is now a land of multiple kingdoms all fighting each other.

Terra is a large world, but most of it is unknown. The Known Lands, as they are called, include four regions. Scandfeld is the northern region. Within Scandfeld, the land is mountainous in the northern half. Towns and cities generally rest in protected valleys of those mountains. Generally, these towns and cities only pay homage to the Scandfeld empire, but they are not completely loyal and mostly autonomous. Ancient dwarves used to delve into the northern mountains away from the Scandfeld towns and cities, and occasional ancient dwarven forts and mines can be found in the wilderness. Rumor has it that dwarves still maintain in-mountain cities that connect via tunnels in the farther northern regions of Scandfeld. Rumors of dragons nesting in the mountains also persist. Scandfeld flattens out as a person moves south. The southern half of Scanfeld is filled with fields and cities and towns as well as a couple of large castles. The woods and certain small hills and lake regions are still wild, but much of southern Scanfeld is civilized. The land is not as fertile as the southern regions, but it still produces a good amount of winter hardy food. All of Scanfeld is surrounded by water, except for an isthmus connecting Scanfeld and its neighbor to the south, Midguard. Scandfeld is governed by a single kingdom: Nordi. Nordi is a climate and warrior based kingdom. Nordi has always recognized the value of warriors and those that can handle the cold. Consequently, Nordi born humans, dwarves, and dragonborn makeup the nobility of Nordi. Nadaar is a dragonborn that is king of the Nordi. He rules over many nobles of different types in Nordi. He has a daughter named Akra and an eldest son and heir named Torinn. Nadaar governs the Nordi fairly, but he does not suffer fools, and he makes sure that the southern lands do not invite danger into Scandfeld. That being said, much of his attention is spent protecting Nordi from the dangers in the northern mountains. The second region of Midguard is shielded by the ocean on its western shores and its eastern shores, though further east is the fourth region of Inigmar--an island region. Midguard is not an island. It has a narrow, though not insubstantial, border with Scandfeld. To the south, Midguard share s a border with the third region Riza. Midguard is a temperate middle region. Midguard has a temperate climate with geography akin to central Europe. It has mountains, yes, but it is mostly forest and fields. Midguard is the most populous region. Midguard is controlled by four kingdoms--and each kingdom almost as powerful as the Nordi. The four kingdoms are monarchies named after the four families: Farell, Caesar, Runwell, and Fleur. The four kingdoms are in constant turmoil, and they are geographically split into effectively four sub squares of Midguard--Farell holds the Northwest and the border with the Nordi, Caesar controls the northeast, Runwell controls the southeast, and Fleur controls the southwest, which borders Riza. Farell is a fair nation, it's king seeks to keep the peace with Nordi to the north and overall maintain good relations with the other Midguard kingdoms. Farell has the fewest overall resources of the four kingdoms, though it is not barren. Farell has a mixture of agriculture and industry, and Farell is the primary trade center for goods that go to and come from Nordi. It's capital city is Pax, which lies in the center of the kingdom, though the city of Norfa, which lies right on the northern border with Nordi, is the dominant trade city. Caesar is a military kingdom borne from the fact that Caesar has the best metal resources--iron, bronze, and the other necessary elements--to produce the best weapons and armor in all the land. Caesar does not have good farmland, though it has good hill grazing land for sheep and other grazers. Caesar trades its wool, weapons, and armor, for food. But Caesar also is looking to expand so that it is not dependent on trading. Consequently, Caesar generally attracts more warlike persons and races. Caesar's capital city and fortress, Ares, lies on the far northeastern coast. Runwell to the southeast is renowned for its hospitality and trading. Runwell welcomes all types as long as they have coin and abide by the rules. Runwell is the trade center of all of Terra--especially Runwell's capital city of Agora. Agora is the biggest city in Terra and is the biggest port as well. Ships from Agora are able to travel to all of Terra's regions quickly. Fleur is the southwestern region of Midguard. It is geographically flat, except for the mountains on the eastern border with Runwell. Fleur's capital is Lille. Lille lies near the border between Fleur and it's southern neighbor, Riza. Fleur has a history with magic, and Midguard's Mage University is in Lille. Some of the best mages come from Fleur. Fleur is very hot, as it is near the jungle region of Riza. Many young mages, as they sweat in their apprentice robes at the Mage University, wonder why Lille is the location. But Lille is an ancient city. The kingdoms are frightened of intelligent monsters, even if they are not warlike--except Runwell, which welcomes everyone. To the south of Midguard is the jungle region of Riza--the third region. Riza's western and northern areas has development, and the region's biggest city is Memphi, which lies southeast of Lille on the coast (making trade with Runwell even easier). Riza has no kingdom. Every city is run by a warlord, rich merchant, hero, community, or other circumstance. the jungles of Riza obscure ancient temples and castles of the highest order that hold immense secrets and treasures. Riza is home to ancient technology and magic, though much of that has been grown over by the jungle. The fourth region, Inigmar, is a large region separated from Scandfeld, Midguard, and Riza by the ocean. It is a large region with varied geography, and little is known about it. It is said that ancient texts tell that there are treasures, dangers, and secrets in Inigmar. Legends say that Inigmar may have been the intellectual center of the Old Empire one thousand years ago. But proof has been lost... Scandfeld, Midguard, and Riza are all connected from north to south. And though each region's center is equal in width, the northeastern edges of Scandfeld and the southeastern edges of Riza jut out prominently for hundreds of miles. Consequently, Sandfeld, Midguard, and Riza take the shape of a crescent moon surrounding the center island region Inigmar.

All DND races exist. Most everyone in Scanfeld, Midguard, and Riza speak the Common Tongue. The Nordi prefer cold-based races and cultures, and Riza's heat does not allow that. Likewise, cold-based races and cultures rarely make it to Riza. The dominant races of Midguard in civilizations are Humans, Elves, Dwarves, and Halflings. Cultures split by the kingdom: Farell is a jack-of-all-trades and peaceful culture; Caesar is a militaristic culture; Runwell is a bureaucratic culture; and Fleur is a magic-based culture. Riza is a jungle area, and thus the dominant races in civilizations are humans, wood-elves, lizard folk, and some fairies. No one knows if their are civilized races in Inigmar. There may be many, but no one knows.

The Kingdoms at Midguard are always on guard against each other. Recently, Caesar's king, who was a belligerent but fair man that kept the peace, died mysteriously. The heir to the king, Claudius, is ambitious and is advised by a mysterious mage, Draman, who few know and only recently appeared before the king's death. Now, messengers of Claudius are demanding concessions from the other regions of Midguard. War in Midguard appears inevitable. In Nordi, many nobles are becoming increasingly jingoistic and nationalistic--stating that the only good Terran (a person from Terra) is a Nordi Terran. Nordi's king, Nadaar, struggles to keep his belligerent populace form gathering to make war against those that are not "Nordi," especially those to the south in Farell. Fleur concentrates inward, ignoring any warnings from Caesar, Nordi, Farell, or Riza. Nonetheless, reports have come in that a Riza force is actually uniting some of the towns in that region. As usual, no one has heard anything about Inigmar, and its secrets remain secret...

Magic follows DND rules. The classes that can wield magic can cast it, and the monsters that DND rules say know magic can cast magic within the DND rules. The god Gaia is an all-seeing god and graceful god that protects Terra. Paladins can call on Gaia's grace to grant specific powers under DND rules. Legend has it that Gaia's younger brother, Tulruk, grows in power by converting those in the Far West (an area not known by the citizens of Scanfeld, Miguard, Riza, or even Inigmar). Tulruk's power enables the undead, and rumors have spread that certain necromancers worship Tulruk. Inigmar may have ancient knowledge as to how to defeat Tulruk, if that need ever arises.

Two thousand years ago, Terra's Known Regions were in turmoil. Few kingdoms existed--only warlords and chaos. One day, a merchant woman named Frey watched in horror as a group of warlord-backed ruffians broke into her shop, killed her husband, and then slit the throat of her only daughter, Enigma. Like a recently uncaged animal, Frey tore through the warlord's fort governing her city. The people looked at her in awe, and Frey gathered support. She conquered warlord after warlord and region after region. The people anointed her Empress Frey of the Freyfold Empire. Empress Frey's empire built numerous castles and founded the Mage University. Empress Frey and her descendants developed Inigmar to be the focus of intellectual learning. But after a thousand years, the Freyfold Empire folded upon itself. New warlords challenged the weakened empire. And much learning was forgotten. Anyone that learns the secrets of the old empire may be able to lead a new empire. As the citizens of Terra understand things, there is no hidden heir to the Freyfold Empire; rather, the secrets of the Freyfold Empire may lead to the foundation of a new empire. That being said, the Freyfold cult would disagree--they are a mysterious cult that focuses on secrecy. The little information given suggests that they are looking for ancient knowledge for unknown reasons.

Coin is the currency throughout Terra. Nordi trades most directly with Farell. Caesar has the best weapons and the most metal resources. Runwell has the largest ports and trading centers, and Fleur trades the most with Riza. Caesar's current warlike stance is cutting into its trade and thus making war even more likely, as it does not grow enough food for its population. Caesar appears to be eyeing war with Runwell first.

At the lowest level, if guards catch a person stealing or simply fighting, then the offender pays a fine. If they refuse to pay the fine, then they spend a certain number of days in jail--one day for every 50 Coins. Each kingdom sets its own rules. Most of the kingdoms view adventurers in good spirit. But certain cities in Riza are hostile to adventurers, and no one really knows how anyone in Inigmar will greet an adventurer.

A goblin king fortified in a southeast coastland fort threatens Runwell. The goblin king is pressing on caravans and small hamlets, growing in power. Dragons have hordes in Scandfeld, though they will not attack unless provoked. Jungle-born enemies are multiplying in Riza. Threats of the undead from Tulruk are building in the West, and his cult permeates all of Terra. They are necromancers that rely on the undead. No one knows what is in Inigmar. Rumors have spread that an evil cult has formed to destroy the relevance of the Freyfold Empire. No one knows why. If the one-thousand-year-old Empire is that old, then why is there a cult to stop it? Could there be an heir? No one knows how is behind the cult. It could be a large or ancient evil. Everyone already knows that the dragons in Scandfeld are threatening enough. But they have generally been peaceful. Communication may lead to an understanding of whether there is a king of the dragons threatening Terra.