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[micelus]

To the north of the Alvay Confederation lies the Pearl of the Eastern Sea, Kelph. The city was founded and is still primarily inhabited by Higantes. Of smaller stature, the Kelphian Higantes make up for this with the flexibility of their tusks and ears. Kelph is a city of adventure and riches for both locals and visitors alike; a stroll down the Grand Bazaar might lead to a new expedition to chart the Southern Lands or fight in one of the many wars. In some quarters, old mage cabals and shamans practice their arts right next to the newly built science academies.

Of course, Kelph has only been able to maintain its affluence through two factors: its several colonies throughout the Eastern that send back raw material, and the presence of the great goddess Kelph within the city of Kelph. The Higante goddess takes pride in what her people, through her guidance, has been able to accomplish. Through trade, intrigue and at times outright war, Kelph has seen the Pearl of the Sea rise ever higher...although memories of the Turban razing of the city still leaves a mark on both the deity and the city itself.

While ostensibly a Higante nation, Kelphans never truly cared for race or species, in stark contrast to their Alvay brothers. Indeed, they have even broken the tradition of matriarchy; males and females are both allowed to enjoy equality in society...supposedly. Regardless, squid, dweller, arveen and many other races under the sky call Kelph and her colonies home. Indeed, several have risen up to the position of Councillors in the ruling city councils. The amateur historian and professional silk merchant Tevor Akini is one such man.

While the goals and duties of each individual within Kelph is their own, except those due to mother Kelph and her cities, there have been talks of a major expedition into the Alvay lands. While forbidden to cross into the Confederation due to mining an ancestral grave, the Fire Pillar offers a magnificent bounty for many Kelphan moguls. With its natural protectors either dead or defeated, it has been left unguarded. Aware of the Alvay's own victories against the Bog, many Kelphans now plot to sneak pass Alvay territory, locate the Fire Pillar and mine it. Of course, all such discussions are illegal and against the directive of mother Kelph. No true son of Kelph would dare break a direct order...

[Tack]

These profiteers of Kelph are also eyeing off (In a purely hypothetical sense, honest sailor, glory to mother Kelph) the sea pillar located far to the north of themselves.
To get there would require a long sail (Argh in not wanting to quantify how large the bog-square is) north along the shore of the bog, and the subjugation of whatever tribe happened to be inhabiting the flotsam quay which currently surrounds it- but could provide profitable mining without risking angering the Alvay (just everyone else, and whatever is inside it).

However the isolated nature of the sea-pillar makes this an even less realistic dream, especially as the sullen blue hue of the pillar makes it blend in with the sea and sky, making it very difficult to find, despite posessing whatever scraps of maps were left from the dissolution of the ESL.

[Kadzar]

Many consider the Northern Forest to be uncivilized wilderness, but the inhabitants of the Yvolkan Kingdom would disagree. Comprised mostly of human and bearfolk inhabitants, the kingdom is actually quite wealthy, primarily from trading their abundant timber and furs. It is home to many stately timber lodges that would but most of the palaces of the south to shame, all owned by powerful merchant and nobles.

The position of nobility is open to all races who prove themselves highly capable combatants and leaders, though most nobles tend to be either human or bearmen. Noble titles are non-hereditary; an individual must prove him or herself and be approved by the Yvolkan Noble Council, but many nobles do tend to be the sons or daughters of nobles themselves. The title of king or queen is likewise not hereditary; when the old monarch dies, a new one is selected by the Council of the noble they believe most fit to rule.

Though the Yvolkan Kingdom has no tradition of crystal magic, which is probably why many consider them "barbarians", They do very well with bound spirits. Those mages who mock Yvolkan magic are often trepidatious to face any amount of bearmages in battle, and for good reason. Bear magic is exceedingly powerful for spirit magic, though rarely practiced by any other than bearfolk themselves due to the great deal of strength and endurance it requires.

[Ama]

Unbeknownst to the rest of the world, far far to the east, the ESL had not fallen. Founded as a colony of the ESL, the Crimson Empire, a collection of cities primarily owned by Crab Men still stood and grew even though there parent empire was gone. Unlike the ESL the Crimson Empire has no access to any pillars and instead uses the pure brute force of their large Crab Men army to protect their borders from hostile sea monsters. A very xenophobic and honor bound society they are ruled over by collection of Elders that have absolute power. Even though they have many cultural differences from the ESL they still consider themselves a part of the ESL.

[micelus]

The Thinking Trees (their name amongst themselves being quite long) of the Kalhani are unique amongst the civilisations of the world for the obvious fact that they are intelligent plant life in a world run by animals. Regardless, the Trees have developed a society of their own that once studied, mirrors those of many other races. Each tree lays claim to their surrounding plots of land. These trees themselves owe allegiance to a stronger tree which are termed Lords by the Alvay. Each Lord lays claim to a fiefdom of the Kalhani and manages the governing of it. The self-given titles of these Lords, when translated into a comprehensible language, are verbose. A Lord who lays claim to only 10 of its own kind may grant itself the title of 'Magnificent Baron of the Whitestone River-by-the-Ancient'. Those with more authority may have a whole host of titles that have thankfully been transliterated to a much shorter, if still lengthy, form.

The trees, despite their sedentary nature, are not at all inactive. Using pheromones which have only been recently discovered by the outside world, they are able to subtly direct pollinators towards certain areas, making them into ignorant messengers and weapons towards others. Weapons, the trees, often have need for not only to defend against invaders but to combat rivals for control of the Kalhani Fiefs. Though odd, the trees have great mastery over the element of fire, most probably due to some kind of innate ability or pheromone. Of course, there has been speculation that the Kahlani is rich in fire god crystals although this has yet to be proven. Regardless, a battle between rival lords at night can be a most terrifying yet beautiful spectacle with the whole land on fire and armies of pollinating creatures pressed into the Lordly armies.

[Rex Invictus]

Occasionally crystals fall from the sky itself. Known as Star Crystals, these essences have properties at odds with the crystals found on the planet itself. The only ones found so far have been small in size, equal to that of a sprite-gem.

Those who spend a great deal of time in contact with a Star Crystal are found to become secluded from society and the people who know them closely say that they are never themselves again. It is said that especially prolonged contact can twist the forms of any of the Godsworn races.

According to rumour, an arcano-engineer got his hands on enough of the Star Crystals to power a construct. According to rumour, as soon as the last crystal was installed and the crycuits ((crystal circuits hueuheu) were connected, the golem began to speak in a language no Godsworn should hear and the arcano-engineer was driven mad from the very sound. According to rumour, the golem was never seen again and the arcanist himself was put into a prison for those who have lost their god-granted faculties.

Of course, that is all rumour.

((PS. All relevant quotes in main post, including this post. If anyone wants to summarise it properly, I'd be greatful otherwise I'll do it today / tomorrow.

PPS. No one's mentioned the Gods at all. Keep in mind that gods are quite happily walking the earth. As I understand it, the god-crystals are just fragments of divine power in crystalised form.))

[LORD GOAT THE 120524TH]

The Gods are thoroughly accepted in both magical and technological studies to be the creator of our universe and to have great
power of which few can understand.

The Earth God:
He is commonly worshipped by the dwellers, to give them luck in their mining and enough supplies for everyone.
His personality, approximated by his actions Is believed to be Usually calm and stern, but giving and sometime he becomes purely livid.

Known actions:
Guided the Dwellers to Adamant, Created Rock, Soil and sand etc, Caused the Great Earthquake of 45.

[endlessblaze]

The minor Goddess of will gives favors to those of strong will, if she encounters them. The crystals attuned to her are used in focus enhancers, but are rare and the enhancers are not safe for long term use.

[Rex Invictus]

The Gods are thoroughly accepted in both magical and technological studies to be the creator of our universe and to have great
power of which few can understand.

The Earth God:
He is commonly worshipped by the dwellers, to give them luck in their mining and enough supplies for everyone.
His personality, approximated by his actions Is believed to be Usually calm and stern, but giving and sometime he becomes purely livid.

Known actions:
Guided the Dwellers to Adamant, Created Rock, Soil and sand etc, Caused the Great Earthquake of 45.

The Earth God takes the form of a giant badger crafted from stone. In place of eyes, the God has giant rubies.

[Kadzar]

The Kingdom of Yvolkan is tired of the rest of the world thinking them uncivilized. Many nobles have wished to take their armies to conquer the southern lands and show their might, but their forces are not numerous enough, and most of them are needed to protect their cities, towns, and villages from the ferocious monsters which inhabit the Northern Forest. All they can muster otherwise is the occasional raiding party.

So, instead, they seek to gain prestige by other means. One of the more popular ideas of how they'd do this is by obtaining possession of a god-pillar. For a while, the current Yvolkan monarch, King Rruugwar the bearman, has been in negotiations with the Dwellers to try to ownership of the Earth Pillar.

Also, rumors of the Fire Pillars unguarded state have recently reached the Yvolkan Kingdom, so some nobles have suggested that a small force could be sent to capture the pillar at least temporarily. By this they hope to goad the Alvay Confederation into attacking the kingdom, where they have a massive home field advantage and can put their defenders to use. Others oppose this plan, as it could potentially weaken the kingdom to monster attacks.

[LuckyKobold]

Rumors of the Dead walking in the Far North begin to circulate...

[micelus]

PPS. No one's mentioned the Gods at all. Keep in mind that gods are quite happily walking the earth. As I understand it, the god-crystals are just fragments of divine power in crystalised form.))

((Well I did mention the goddess Kelph quite happily ruling the city of Kelph.))


...And as rumours, they can be quite far away from the truth. While to the savages of Yvolkan these odd shambling beings seem to be Undead, in truth, they are far far worse. They in truth are the last unlucky followers of the Leper God Ostov. Protector of those who were infected by the disease, Ostov bade his followers into seclusion so as to live the remainder of their lives without persecution. In time, he called the worst afflicted of his followers to the Far North so as to keep a better eye on them, as they had seemed to develop a far worse strain of the disease. With even a few hours of staying in the same area, another could be infected.

Pankea, goddess of healing, took it upon herself to rid the world of the disease hoping to end the disease permanently. Sending a band of her most trusted agents to the north, armed with especially blessed arcano-tech, they set about killing the lepers they could find.

Ostov of course, was furious. He withdrew his followers farther and farther north and into the glaciers and caves. Eventually however, he was cornered and was faced with either letting his wards die, or outright killing* the invaders. He obviously chose the latter. While taking down many of Pankea's elites, he was not a powerful god and was eventually killed. When he died, what remained of his essence was transferred to his followers who were...changed dramatically. Perhaps they went insane from the raw essence or they no longer cared for mortal ways, but from that moment onward they became expert killers. They could infect those they saw and progress the disease to such an extent that they could kill within in a matter of minutes.

Since then, the Far North has been...dangerous for those not wishing to pay respects to Ostov. Those who journey north and encounter these Ostovite Lepers seldom return, although it has been observed that the Lepers grow in number each time.


*He's sworn this world's version of the hippocratic oath.

[Kadzar]

((Since this hasn't been updated in about a day, I think I'll temporarily ignore the five post rule.))

Legend tells that, in the time of the Jhulani Empire, the Southern Desert was once not a desert, but a rainforest, more lush and vibrant than the Kalhani. It further says that the jungle empire of the Jhulani people had more wealth and power in its zenith than all the current nations of the earth, sea, and air combined.

But the empire soon became decadent and prideful. They disdained worship of the gods, and instead began worshiping their own emperor as a deity. And so, as punishment, Crysilia, the rain goddess, vowed that the lands of their empire would not receive so much as a drop of precipitation ever again. Without rain, the Great Southern Rainforest soon dried out and became only so much kindling in the sun. It burned up in a great inferno (the soot of which ultimately formed the Ash Islands), taking the once proud Jhulani Empire with it.

A few tiny villages were able to avoid the fire, however, and now act as oases for caravans heading for the southernmost nations, since they have underground reservoirs of water that are tapped by wells. However, each year they must dig the wells deeper and deeper to get water, and some minor side-routes have been abandoned in the past because the wells in those towns were simply tapped out.

Besides acting as a trade route, the Southern Desert is also of great interest to archaeologists and treasure hunters. Though most of the former empire's surface structures were burnt up in the great fire, many stone structures are believed to have survived the conflagration, though most are now buried in sand.

The Jhulani Empire was also known to have built several elaborate underground structures, which are even further buried. The only way to rediscover most of these places is by extrapolating their location from old maps, which requires a very skilled navigator and a good deal of supplies to survived the trip through the waterless desert. But finding such a structure is often deemed worth it, considering the wealth of information to be found such places and the actual wealth to be found there, as legends say most of the Jhulani Empire's vast treasures are still buried beneath the sands.

[endlessblaze]

(Yha with how slow this is going a five post limit seems self destructive)

[Rex Invictus]

(( I've rescinded it. ))