Agdivari Dominion
Agdivari
Ashveil
Great Wood
Al-Adkha Caliphates
Meleche Saytrapy
Taurea
Kingdom of Varyth
Principality of Khelle
Divine Protectorate of the Yorbisian Church
Southern Marches
Adyr
Suwelll
Atythan
Tyneth
Free cities of the Velos sea
Bowlend
Telfort
Nevett
Vurh
Oarhaven
Thevar
Highcoast
Archduchy of Highwold
Thace
Margraviate of Tetheios
Southern Marches
Harmont
Lygdell
Whiteshield
March of Aevoril
The North Marches
Igraal
Urtoum
Cohpten
Kingdom of Velsia
Viscounty of Hewton
Viscounty of Spearwold
Tillworth
Rootshire
Realm of the Great Khan
’Zol Confederacy
People of the Wolf
Horse Tribes
Caribou People
People of the Bear
Na’nhootlee
Snow Lands of the Ehg’dnee
Varland
The Baronics
Barony of Dalgos
Barony of Althar
Barony of Bilor
Barony of Cadorne
Voldorne
Scar Downs
Kingdom of Malnos
Kingdom of Valdyr
The largest political force on the continent of Durnia is that of the Agdivari Dominion. It is also home to the largest city on the continent, Agdivari. The Agdivari Dominion is ruled by a Triumvirate of three powerful positions: The Emperor, The Matriarch, and The Plutarch. The Emperor is a hereditary title, and they have the most power of the three. The Matriarch (or Patriarch) is the titular head of the Old Faith. This position is elected by Old Faith High Priests once every twelve years. The Plutarch is the position of Master of the Treasury. They are appointed by a group of powerful merchant and trade guilds in Agdivari appointed every ten years.
The Agdivari are one of the dominant ethnic groups of Durnia, ranging in appearance from light to tanned skin tones, blonde to black hair, and the typical range of eye colors. They typically consider themselves urbane and more sophisticated than the other ethnic and cultural groups, except the Moon Elves or perhaps the city-dwelling Adkhani from Al-Adkha.
The Agdivari culture values art, literature, and athleticism. They can be ruthless in business dealings, but they are generally considered honest people. The majority of the Agdivari are followers of the Old Faith.
The great city of Agdivari is the capital of the Agdivari Dominion, the Seat of the Emperor, Office of the Matriarch (or Patriarch), and the House of the Plutarch. It is the hub of most economic activity and trade along the Eastern coasts of Durnia. It is the base of operations for the Gold Fleet, the Agdivari Dominion’s navy. One of the two great magic academies, the Universitatis figmenta poetarum et magicarum artium, or the University of the Magical Arts.
Ashveil (once known as Ashvale) is the home of the Fire Elves. Ashveil’s capital, Charwood was once known as Brightwood. The territory was severely damaged by a piece of The Scourge that hit Durnia. The residual magic from The Scourge blighted the land, even after the great fires subsided. This magic also affected the Forest Elves that lived there, transforming them into Fire Elves.
This blighted land was once predominately Forest (Wood) Elves, but since the destruction wrought by The Scourge, the surviving Forest Elves moved South to join their Forest and Moon Elf kin in The Great Wood.
To date, little vegetation grows in the area, and what little that does is twisted by the magic that pollutes this land. Several Goblinoid tribes have been making incursions from the Redstone Mountains over the last one hundred years or so. It is unclear why the Goblins desire such wretched territory, but the Fire Elves will defend Ashveil to the death.
The Great Wood is home to the Moon Elves and Forest Elves. The capital is called Moonpool by outsiders. Moonpool is also the location of the Moon-Oak or Soul-Oak, a massive tree, many times taller than any other tree on Durnia. It is venerated by all Elves as the source of all life. Sitting in its massive roots is the court of the Elf Queen, a divine monarch (Queen-Goddess) who rules over all the Elves and is in spiritual communion with the Soul-Oak.
Very few outsiders have ever seen the tree in person. Moonpool is a sacred city to Elves and outsiders are almost never allowed in the city. Most diplomatic activities are done in the city of Ul’Fethin to the North. Ul’Fethin is the second-largest city in the Great Wood.
The Al-Adkha Caliphates are a series of city-states ruled by various Caliphs who in turn are ruled by a Grand Caliph. The area is populated by Adkhani and Nahkhani people. The Adkhani come from a continent to the Southwest that they call Greater Adkhania. The Al-Adkha Caliphates continue to keep close trading relationships with their original homelands, and serve as Durnia’s primary conduit for many luxury goods like silks and spices. The Caliphates are renowned as having the most skilled sailors anywhere. The Caliphate cities tend to be far more cosmopolitan than most other Durnian cities.
The Grand Caliph, currently Kahuel Bin Al Dihat, resides in the city of Deemahr – City of Jewels, and it is considered the jewel of the Caliphate cities. It is an opulent city with many gardens, fountains, and home of the Grand Bazaar, where nearly anything legal (and many things illegal) can be bought, for the right price.
The other cities of Caliphates (and their city titles) are:
- Hadaar – City of Spice
- Adwen – City of the Pearl
- Neemool – City of Wind
- Kaveel – City of Fishes
- Kybaar – City of Smoke
- Sadileen – City of Ships
- Tahar – City of Salt
- Wahud – City of Silver
- Niharth – City of Blessings
- Zimadaar – City of Markets
- Tezeen – City of Baskets
- Ildecheen – City of the Book
- Adimaar – City of Beasts
- Teraveen – City of Dreams
- Zanaar – City of Song
- Gaaleem – City of Silence
The Meleche Saytrapy was formerly the Kingdom of Meleche. After The Scourge, the kingdom fell into a period of great instability. Droughts and famines led to volatile political upheavals. In a period of 50 years, twenty-three monarchs were dethroned. After this period, the Al-Adkha Caliphates invaded and established a new regime. The ruler is chosen from a council comprised of provincial rulers and representatives of the Grand Caliph of Al-Adkha. This leader, the Bey, rules from the port city Havreen.
Havreen and Meleche’s second city, Adrabech, are the centers of the monastic traditions of the Chimoshi cult.