Realms of Akara

Akara is a kingdom in the southwest of the continent of Karutan. It is made up of 4 provinces ruled by the king who governs from Andros, two dukes who govern Galat and Talava, and a rector who oversees the merchant republic of Balatonia.

Bordering Akara to the north are the vast expanse of the Jadestone Mountains which continue to the Frozen Sea in the far north. Under the mountains are the secretive and vastly wealthy dwarven city states and subterranean empires in which the dwarves toil endlessly to perfect their crafts and mind deeper into the earth in search of metals and gemstones. Dwarven traders are an uncommon sight in the human lands as men produce little of interest to the dwarves. On rare occasions an emissary will journey to the Veiled Spire to petition for the aid of the mages in exchange for artifacts or knowledge as dwarves are one of the few races in the known world to have no affinity for magic.

To the east the mountains continue and reach an incredible height. It is known that the mountains are nearly impassible and only the most foolhardy or desperate have attempted to cross them for on the other side is a great forest home to warring tribes and petty kingdoms. Beyond that are fertile plains and arid wastes of the eastern steppe peoples, masters of mounted warfare said to ride giant lizards into battle, and finally the lands of far Angko, a land vast in wealth in a perpetual state of internecine conflict. It is said that many terrible monsters dwell in the mountains and the monster hunting Order of Teraton has been known to send acolytes into the mountains to prove themselves worthy of carrying the hunter's badge.

To the southeast beyond the Serpent's Tongue River lies the tribal confederation of Auriga. The chieftains of the various tribes vote for the greatest among them to be their ruler who governs for life or until unseated. The native Saemu are a race of beastkin with mostly human appearances but with animal-like horns, hooves, and hairy lower bodies with tails. The tribes of the Serpent's Tongue valley are known to have more deer-like appearance while those in the south resemble goats. There is a long standing feud between Akara and Mauriga over a crusade roughly 190 BI in which the war-like Akarans seized Serpensa and Troezon from the Saemu, reaping a bloody toll among the beastkin people as they did so. The border along the river is dotted with watchtowers and forts to repel raids from boths sides.

To the south is the Saphire Sea, a tropical sea renowned for crystal clear blue waters rich in fish and coral reefs near Wavemeet. Red coral is a prized possession for trade and is only found in that region. Once harvested it deepens in color whereas other corals turn gray. The sea is home to a number of dangers however. Pirates raid merchant shipping from their hideaways on the many islands off the coast of Andros. Some even have private enclaves in the islands of Mauriga. The sea is home to several creatures widely feared by seamen, such as sirens, various sea serpents, and the dreaded thalatte, a massive shark capable of crushing a warship in its jaws. Because of the dangers shipping routes deliberately take ships through shallow waters in order to limit the possibility of encountering the massive creature. This importance means that one of the most critical positions on any ship is that of leadsman.

To the west is the Darkwave Expanse, named so for the dark blue icy waters that stretch off far into the distance. It is known that there is land beyond the horizon but the journey by sea is fraught with peril from rough seas, monstrous creatures, and the occasional northern pirate ship. Kraken stalk the seas, attacking all but the fastest or most well-armed ships or even stalking prey on the shore and seizing them with their long arms. Khazin, after adapting to the region for hundreds of years plies the seas with fast carracks optimized for speed and protected by ballistae as well as building a network of armed watchtowers along the coast to serve as an early warning system for kraken and other sea monsters.

TALAVA

Talava was the northern kingdom of the Warring States Era and is based on Ancient Latvia. It grew from the city of Irbene, conquering the other Latgali peoples of Bandava which was based in Vidutina. Next they conquered Piemare which was based in Vari before launching a genocidal war on a city founded by an unknown people who came from across the sea on gigantic metal ships. These Sea People possessed great war machines that killed scores of Talavan soldiers but in the end, the city was no match for the cunning of king Brolovis the Thunderbolt whose mighty wizardry tore down the walls and caused the city to erupt in flames. A terrible explosion ripped through the city as the machines and supplies to maintain them exploded, killing everyone within the walls and leaving a blasted, water filled crater where a once marvelous city had stood moments before. The Siege of the Lost City as it became known weakened Talava enough for it to be conquered by Akara following the untimely death of Brolovis just a few months later.

The settlement of Cold Harbor was built near the ruins and will never reach the same level of grandeur that the lost city before it once had. The city would become a hot spot as adventurers and treasure seekers would search for ruins and artifacts of the outlanders to sell for exorbitant prices. There are labyrinths that survived the destruction which catacomb the region and have not been entirely explored, for not all who enter are known to return.

Irbene is a city of approximately 100,000 people and is a key land trading hub as it lies next to one of the three main crossings over the Niberon River. Merchants here have among first pick of most of the merchandise that comes from the dwarf realms and human settlements far to the north. The rich clothe themselves in expensive white furs of the northern frost lions and the prized phantom stag. It has a large fishing fleet which can be called upon to form an militia navy of sorts in dire situations.

BALATONIA

Balatonia, based on Slavic culture, was settled roughly 1,000 years before the demonic invasion in AU 158 by the Vanati people. They consisted of three large human tribes called the Spori, Antas, and the Claveni, all of which were expelled from the far north after a devastating war against the dwarves and traveled down the coast until they found the sparsley settled lands of the northern Maw which they named Balatonia.

The land is heavily wooded and stalked by a variety of dangerous predators. The refugees were forced to construct fortress towns in order to repel the nightly onslaught of the creatures. Eventually the Vanati established numerous townships and city-states completely enclosed within sturdy walls or other natural defenses such as cliffs, rivers, and hills. The first and greatest of these fortress cities is Khazin, whose walls are known to be 10 paces thick and nigh impervious to most siege weapons and monsters known to inhabit the region.

The dangers that stalked the forests succeeded in discouraging neighbors from encroaching on Balatonian territory and over the centuries the people of the region became renowned merchants, hunters, and mercenaries. Young men seeking to join hunting fraternities or knightly orders are known to venture into the forests alone with the aim of slaying one of the great beasts that stalks the night. Many are never heard from again but those that return have proven their worth.

During the Warring States period the dangerous forests prevented land campaigns from succeeding for decades but King Kailan the Great of Andros cut a path through the trees and burned down entire swaths of forest in order to reach Zenica. The fires drove the monsters further west, overwhelming the defenses of the smaller walled towns and leading to great devastation and loss of life. Watchtowers with trained marksmen where set up at regular intervals along the new road to protect supply caravans and travelers.

Zenica fell after a bloody siege and Kailan began the process again of cutting a road through the forest to Khazin, the final prize. The Siege of Khazin lasted for three years and ended when a dragon emerged from the sea and laid waste to the city's defenders while leaving Andros' forces untouched for unknown reasons. Great destruction was done to the city before the beast returned to the sea and the westerners stormed the still reeling city, seizing what remained and looting the city of much of its opulent riches. Afterward, the doges and mayors of the other Balatonian states swore fealty to Kailan who appointed a Grand Doge to rule over all in his name from Khazin.

GALAT Making up the eastern plains between the Altona River and the Jadestone Mountains, Galat was the ancient home of the Obri people who were a peaceful people who excelled at agriculture and thrived due to a temperate climate, fertile soil, and absence of large numbers of dangerous creatures as in the west. About 800BU a tribe known as the Dakia invaded and the two warred for many years before peace was reached. A great ceremony was held in which the two tribes intermarried and eventually merged to form the modern Galati people. Their farming knowhow is renowned and they field some of the best light horsemen in the known world. Roughly half the population was wiped out in the opening months of the Invasion and more still have perished during the demon occupation or taken into the Abyss never to be seen again.

Before the Invasion Galat was home to one large city, Vamaj, which functioned as a tribal gathering place, trade hub, and seat of government. There are a number of walled towns and small cities within the province but there are many more small settlements and hamlets though not all of them are noted on current maps. New settlements spring up and others disappear as farmers move to where the soil is best and migrants from other parts of the kingdom come to make a living with the most fertile in Akara.

Galat borders the Dwarven lands to its northern frontier and dwarven goods, particularly tools and metalwork, are highly prized. Despite the aloof disposition of the mountainfolk, one could almost always find a kiosk set up in Bridgeton, Stonyfield, or Vamaj.

Since the Invasion, Galat has been massively depopulated. Many of the farmers who once toiled endlessly to harvest their bounty have been killed or fled and the slaves brought in from elsewhere do not obtain the same yields. Thus the people of the region and wider Akara constantly live hand to mouth with the threat of starvation hanging endlessly over their heads. The slaves who toil usually only survive a few months before they die of exhaustion and malnutrition, at which point a raiding party is organized to obtain more labor for the depleted fields. After all, the demons only plan on keeping the mortals fed long enough for them to be marched off to the Abyss.

ANDROS

Andros is the largest, wealthiest, most populous, and most militarily powerful of the provinces of Akara. It is the royal seat of power, home of the High Priestess of the Temple of Vari, as well as the Royal College of Magic at the Veiled Spire.

Andros was the home of the ancient Dohrans, a race of people said to have sailed from the east beyond the mountains about 500BU. They established the city of Phrygia at the convergence of the two great rivers the Niveron and the Alvona with the Saphire Sea. This position made the city the dominant center of trade in the region and allowed the fledging city-state to use its location to exert influence on other realms by controlling trade and access to the sea.

Dohrans are a martial people, having their left their homeland to carve out a realm for themselves. Much of the initial migration was made up of young warriors eager to earn a fortune and make a name for themselves. These men would go on to clash with the established tribes to the north and west and attempt to subjugate the variety of deadly creatures infesting the forests to the west and south west.

The Androsian heartland is generally not as dangerous as neighboring Balatonia and so the people were allowed to flourish. Andros elected their kings who served a life term until Kailan conquered the whole of Akara in 0AU. Andros has always maintained a disciplined, well-trained military with a strong focus on heavy infantry. Noble families often earned their rank due to battlefield achievements or martial glory and so meritocracy is considered a key foundation of their fighting forces. This value on ability gave Andros a distinct advantage in its wars with its neighbors due to the plutocratic nature of their societies.

Another advantage is the Androsian ability to adapt their fighting doctrines when faced with setbacks. Their heavy infantry are second to none and their armored cataphracts riding ronskin chargers into battle are enough to sweep most foes from the field with ease.

Phrygia had once been known as the Jewel of the West and was fabulously wealthy from commerce. Peasants from the provinces say the streets themselves are paved with gold. The four main cities of Andros: Phrygia, Cetus, Masalia, and Serpensa waged war for decades in ever shifting alliances before being unified by the Phrygian king Cadmus roughly 180BU after defeating the other three cities in a terrible battle and marrying princesses from Cetus and Serpensa, as well as the widowed queen of Masalia.

Seeking to direct the energies of his restless veteran troops rather than let old hatreds bubble up, he led a crusade against the nature worshipping Saemu of Auriga, a race of humanoid beastfolk in the thick jungles to the southeast. After a brief but savage war Troezon was seized and a fortified border was established on the Serpent's Tongue River.