The Reprehensible Realm

The Reprehensible Realm is a land of smugglers, thieves, and worse. There is high magic but it has been forbidden and many magic users have been banished to the wilds. The travelers and adventurers here rely on the traditional sword, shield, crossbow, bow, etc. These lands would be written off like some criminal wasteland if it weren't for the rare treasures and secrets that can be discovered within.

The Reprehensible Realm has a continent-sized prison island in the middle of a treacherous ocean that can only be traversed when the tides and nature agree. This island is named Oblivia and for nearly one thousand years has been where the rest of the world ships their worst criminals, scoundrels, and magic users. A number of small hamlets have sprung up over time but there is one major city that is government run: Highlandia. This city serves to defend, maintain, and control the prison population on the island. There are a group of guards and vendors here that are not part of the ostracized population but they are far outnumbered by the banished. The civilized world is far from here, in the form of the city of Callais in the realm of Leafgarden. It is a place of proper behaviors, high morality, and a hub for academia and intellectualism. Once someone has crossed the laws of Leafgarden or been caught wielding magic, they are shipped to Oblivia. Callais is the home to the most reputable guilds, colleges, and business. The world's king also sits on his throne in Callais at the Temple of Thrius. The world's oceans are unfriendly and deadly but, once per month, they calm for thirty-six hours, an unexplainable event. During this time, adventurers travel from island to island but, once the seas rage, an adventurer will find themselves stuck for thirty days.

The major races that are accepted by the civilized people are the humans and the elves. Dwarves are around as well but are considerate a bit crude by the highest classes. There are rumors of orcs, trolls, goblins, kobolds, and worse monsters in the world but the most civilized of cities wall them out and/or exterminate them.

There is always a race to harness the power of magic in order to upgrade a kingdom's technologies. While it is a crime to wield magic, there are stones in Oblivia that can be found that can store magic and use it to power crude machines. Social class is the primary indicator of one's importance or value and, as such, the wealthy are always looking to pay adventurers to foray into the wilderness or Oblivia in search of gems or relics. Finally, the world's climate seems to be suddenly shifting. The days are becoming shorter, the seas are becoming more violent, and the temperature is dropping. It is rumored that some of the magic users banished to Oblivia have conducted dark magic rituals that have opened up a rift that is beginning to eat away at the stability of the world.

Magic is useful but banned. If one is caught, then they will be shipped to Oblivia. However, there is a flourishing black market of magic users who can enchant weapons and armor, make scrolls, teach rituals, etc. The primary magic users tend to be clerics, wizards, and bards.

On Oblivia, there is evidence and ruins of what was once a great and enormous castle. There is no record of what this kingdom was or who inhabited it but there is great money in finding those answers.

The popular currencies are gems, platinum, gold, and silver. Trade routes run throughout the wilderness. For the island of Oblivia, there is a singular trade route open once per month when the seas calm and become passable.

Justice here is administered swiftly and through banishment. As soon as someone is found guilty of a crime, they are transported directly to the island of Oblivia where they are to serve their lifetime sentence. The greatest crimes are the use of magic and crimes against the kingdom. While adventurers do not maintain a high social standing, they are sought out by the rich in order to attain more wealth, relics, or other treasures. Because of this, there is a basic respect for adventurers. As the world also needs answers to the climate changes occuring, the value and necessity of adventurers is quickly rising.

Dark magic, seemingly corrupted by something within the wilderness of Oblivia, is a major evil that threatens the world. Monsters seem to be flooding into the world from unknown or unseen places as well. These monsters seem to be the undead but they do not resemble any life that anyone here is familiar with.