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[GMichelIV]

I think you are doing a great job.

What is the mark of Nethys?

I love reading about the setting as I start to dream up my backstory.

[Girlinhat]

When I started my campaign I had a half an idea.  Worlds evolve as you progress through them.  Being a DM of a custom campaign is no different from being an author, and no author has their setting 100% laid out when they start writing it up.  Except maybe Tolkien...  But I think we can all agree how very dry his books are.  Epic, certainly, but the style is simply dry.

[Neonivek]

Tolkien has what people call "Setting Porn"

This setting isn't complete though. There is plenty of room for more.

Heck the underground is almost completely unexplored to the extent that even the Boredom hole doesn't know all the nations it connects to.

[GMichelIV]

haha boredom hole. Sounds like an ex-girlfriend of mine.

[Paul]

Huh. I just happened to pick Dwarven as one of my char's languages, too. That'll be convenient if we start in dwarfland.

[GMichelIV]

Yeah, I did that as well. Awesome for us all.

[Girlinhat]

I am a dwarf!  Also got like 18 int, so I can pick 4 more languages.  "Undercommon" is probably a good choice.

[GMichelIV]

I haven't chosen my last bonus language. That may be wise.

[Paul]

I already submitted my char before learning of the starting area, but had already picked Undercommon and Dwarven. Actually I had already picked those languages for the char before I even learned of the setting at all, haha. I just swapped out Elven for something else after learning that elves as a culture no longer exist

[Girlinhat]

Then again, Elven may allow you to read exotic ruins...  Or I can cast Comprehend Language and read EVERYTHING.

[Neonivek]

Got quite a bit done including a timeline.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The Continent of Nethys

World History:

0: Isle of Nethys Comes into being
745: First Emporer of Grotten establishes first kingdom to fight back against the wild
1667: The Great Taming of the Lands
2307: The Fight to the Surface, Creation of East March
2973: Birth of Nation of Nethys, Great magical boon
3743: Grand High Mage Leo Kitrani rules Nethys and ushers in new Regime
4458: Nethys rises to most powerful nation wielding unmatched magic
5139: Nethys wages war on all races, Creation of Borehole, Grotten destroyed

5221: Nethys sends large portions of its population to a demiplane
5273: East Marsh
5330: Nethys completes its conquest and destroys all opposition
5393: The Great disaster, the god Nethys destroys namesake nation and floods the west with demons
5466: Future Second Great Emporer of Grotten starts gathering people
5544: The shattered remains of Nythes break off and reform into Grotten
5628: The Kitrani School of Warmagic becomes known
5708: East March discovers vast wealth in mines
5798: Grotten begins conquest to retake the continent, remaining elves are slaughtered
5862: Grotten establishes itself as only remaining power

5866: Second great emperor of Grotten dies.
5871: Orient visits East March
5872: East March's sudden prosperity creates mass banditry completely uncontrolled
5874: Grotten claims ownership of the Borehole
5880: Rumors that the Grotten War machine grows weak
5883: Grotten Appoints next Emperor who vows total dominance of continent

Nations and factions:

Dakama:
Capital: Dakama
Important Towns and cities: Darmasa
Economy: Poor
Magic: Banned
A small nation carved from the ruins of the one before it. It is almost entirely disconnected from the main continent due to a large magical wall keeping the sparse nation safe from the demon hoards that plague the land beyond. Due to the lack of a governmental structure this nation tends to be mostly anarchistic, yet their willingness to work together in a crisis allows them to all fight under one banner.
-It exists purely on substance farming and while there are ruins brimming with treasure dotting the land, it is far to dangerous to explore.

East March:
Capital: Harthorn
Economy: Wealthy
Magic: Basic
The second largest nation and one of great sorrow and misery. The rich control a vast majority of the wealth and deprive their subjects of any proper recompense. East March has suddenly found itself in possession of many gold and silver mines and their sudden prosperity means that their military has not caught up to the forming of bandits, who have taken over most trade routes to the extent that only heavily armed carrivans can travel these roads, allowing hoards of roaming monsters to harass the country side. While the people tend to be poor miners and farmers the rich and nobility however are traders and as such there is no nation that can enjoy the level of exuberance that those of East March do. East March also has the only connection to the orient
-It should be noted that East March exists both above and below ground. While the surface of East March is almost unreachable by foot thanks to being built into the side of cliffs, the underground contain large series of mines.

Dieties:
-Gorzeh: The provider, the one whom the world does sit, the cradle. The god of nature and the protector of all living things, While Nethys is of the sky Gorzeh is of the earth itself.
-Nethys: The Black Curtain. Represented by the black upon which the stars sits, Nethys, the god of magic, paints the earth in magic in the same way she paints the sky. Nethys is known for great generosity and boons of power making Nethys the most popular deity of worship. Though help those who would betray or let down Nethys who will curse and destroy all who do so.
-The Stars of Destiny: Minor gods individually but together they outline the destiny of the world. Every aspect of existence is told in the stars and their movement. They are worshiped and studied. Occasionally a star will fall from the heavens, though few know why.

Races:
-Humans: composing over 99% of the surface world the Humans have completely taken the Continent of Nethys and in their pride consider themselves superior to all others. Their collective spirit and ability to adapt is the sword and shield at which they conquer the world.
-Halfelves: The children of humans and elves, they are all that is left of the once mighty elf nation.
-Elves: While true elves do not exist, rarely (1 in 100) the child of two halfelves will born a true Elf. Considered cursed by Nethys, elves are taboo and tend to be shunned in polite society and removed at worst. All Elves carry the mark of Nethys upon birth to give away their heritage. Elves unlike most races all carry the potential for magic.
-Dwarves: The second most dominant race, their ability to create battlements and dig underground has allowed them to remain defensible. As well they are the only non-human race that tends to carry little stigma.

Other information:
-Adamantine: This is a nearly indestructible metal falls from shooting stars.

I should state that 0 is just when the continent was created.

Whatcha think about the timeline? I still have to fill it in and fill in the important locations.

[Kansa]

It all looks awesome to me so far

[DoomOnion]

'5273: East Marsh'

Pretty sure this needs fixing :p

[Neonivek]

'5273: East Marsh'

Pretty sure this needs fixing :p

Fixed and remembered what I was supposed to add in there. A Plague in East March.

[GMichelIV]

I think it's great. Keep up the good work. Let us know if you need any help/details.