Kingdoms/Countries

Highland

Once, the crown jewel of humanity, with its endless green pastures and fertile soil. Now, an open wound, a memento mori to every human. It was the first of the five lands to be settled after the First Landing when the humans arrived from the sea, surrounded by massive mountains and elevated between them higher than any other. Always thought to be loved by the Gods, its ancestral magic attracted all kinds of plants and animals, from the lowly rat to the majestic bison, which not long after its settling became the country's symbol. As the rest of the lands squabbled over territory during the settling wars, Highland prospered, growing its wealth and culture and improving the quality of life of its people. Prosperity was not meant to last though, as not two hundred years after its founding the Black Dragon with its undead armies arrived. Twice the land was defended, the undead repelled. But at the third, during the Fourth Landing, the country was overrun, and the earth itself consumed, with not but a few hundred Highlanders escaping the maw of the Dragon, now dubbed the Darkness. Nowadays, Highlanders roam the lands in search of adventure and renown, upholding their pride in their lost country and ensuring its legacy is passed on, and their ancestors remembered.

New Unified Flower Empire

Set on the largest of the five lands and the last one to be settled, the NUFE did not come to be until a thousand years after the First Landing. Despite the countless flowers to grow on it, the soil is infertile. The food is scarce, and the people are many. Historically a poor and hungry country, the seven clans that the Empire consists of always resorted to war and raids to survive. The first attempt at unification happened under the tyrannical rule of the Sakura clan, the biggest and most well-armed, bringing the clans together under a frail peace agreement. Its proud and honorable warriors dominated the world during the Settling Wars, but the unfair sharing of the lands and resources secured led to the fall of the Empire. For generations, what remained of the feared people of the Flowers was a shell of their former selves. Until a new ruler of the Sakura clan proposed another treaty, this time by opening the vast Sakura armories to everyone willing to join. Not long after, the NUFE was born, governed not by an Emperor with absolute power, but by a council with representatives from every clan. The war campaigns and food raids turned outwards, and once again, the world was reminded of what the flag of the Empire stood for.

Myrkrland

Under the watchful gaze of the goddess Moon, the frozen and dark land was the third to welcome its settlers. The hostile environment, plagued by the freezing cold and the predators of the night, was not easy to conquer and thrive on, but the thirteen tribes of the settlers endured every trial until the land was rightfully theirs. Despite uniting under one flag, and one elected King, the tribes safeguarded their diversity, each of them living under its own rules and with its own traditions. They embraced their differences and became stronger off of them, earning a fair piece of the world in the Settling Wars and elevating their society to greater heights than any other land. Nowadays they are known for their somber, quiet songs and their caustic and thought-provoking poetry, both of them exported in large quantities and touching people all around the world. Despite their peaceful existence though, they are not to be confused as weak as their warriors train and prepare for the inevitable time the Darkness comes for their land. or their land.

NUFE Annex and Midland Protectorate

Deep into Sun Country, the penultimate land to be settled, used to stand the Sky Kingdom. Its people were known far and wide as brilliant artists and magic users, with many scientific breakthroughs and inventions originating from them. Despite their brilliance, though, they were plagued by a massive divide. On the deep side of the country, the furthest away from the rest of the world were the conservatives. Focused on their traditions and worship of the god Sun, they scorned the rest of the world as lost and indecent and advocated the total closure of their borders as a means to protect their legacy. On the other hand, where the progressives. Focused on their art and science, they advocated for radical alterations of their society and the total abolition of their borders, so the beauty and wealth of their land could be shared with the world. The conflict grew and festered over generations until it peaked into a civil war when the Progressives attempted to secede, which soon escalated into a world war when the NUFE and Midland kingdoms took sides. The war lasted for ten years, ending with the annexation of the conservative lands by the NUFE and of the progressives by the Midland Kingdom. Despite the end of the war though, tensions continue to rise and a new armed conflict seems to be on the horizon.

Midland Kingdom

Second of the lands to be settled, the Kingdom sits in the middle of the five. Its wealth and influence are ensured by its unique position on the world map, as they have complete control of worldwide trade, while the infertile land is rich in minerals and gemstones, making it the leader in technological advancement. Despite historically being a melting pot of cultures though, welcoming all kinds of immigrants and refugees, xenophobia and religious extremism have always been the norm, with the Church of the Two Gods enforcing a tyrannical authority that matches that of the King himself. The people are split into hierarchical classes and kept obedient through fear and hunger as the infertile land makes food scarce. Grime and poverty plague the lower class, while the nobles and clerics enjoy lavish and exorbitant lifestyles, using and abusing their power to their heart's content. All that seemed to change though, when a **** uprising shook the country to its core. The tyrant kind Darius the I was usurped by a ****, naming himself Darius the II as an act of disrespect, and signing many treaties and accords that transform the Kigndom from the inside out. While there is still a long way to go until the tolerance and acceptance the King envisions can be achieved, through the combined efforts of him and many progressive nobles around the Kingdom, the betterment of society does not seem out of reach.