FEF3 Lore

NATIONS OF THE WORLD:

Countries:

New Alvada (capital: Duo Alva):
New Alvada is continuation of the all-powerful Alvadan Kingdom (sometimes called Alvadan Empire). It was a nation of scientists and archmages, who brought the untold wonders into the world with the help of Gods or the devices they've given to the humans. However, the Alvadans became too proud and in their folly, they tried to conquer the skies and the darkness above it, which were restricted to the Gods alone. This brought on the calamity that destroyed Alvadan Empire and shattered the continent.
Now, the remainder of the old ruling family, or rather their descendants, govern a confederation of city-states and island ports. While, by the law, the cities are under direct control of New Alvadan Kings and Queens, the further away from the capital, the more autonomous local landlords become. On certain occassions, the city lords arrive in Duo Alva for 'Council', where, together with current ruler, they deal with extraordinary issues that have required the Council to convene.
The people of New Alvada enjoy moderate freedom of thought and movement; however, religious practices are mostly limited to the worship of the Old Gods; the belief that Gods can forgive the humanity is strong amongst the descendants of the old Empire. Members of other religions have it hard in New Alvada; while Demurans are somewhat accepted, the worshippers of Undine are often shunned or even persecuted, as the clergy of Old Gods believes that worshipping human like a god is a grave sin, a heresy that must be dealt with.

Free Kingdom of Zeekonrik (capital: Zeekonrik):
Zeekonrik are the only rulers of the Northern Shores. Their capital was founded by Undine herself; but the descendants of the first Lord of Zeekonrik quickly turned against Undine's domain and proclaimed the independence of Zeekonrik. Given its remote location and logistical difficulties in crossing the nearby terrain, the rulers of Zeekonrik managed to repel all seven attempts by Domiria to regain control, and by the end of third century, Zeekonrik was left alone to its own business.
However, Zeekonrik is far from trying to be isolationist nation; it has vast resources at its disposal, namely sea and mineral salts, copper and tin ores in the mountains, and the northern, mild climate is a boon when it comes to cultivation of wheat and vegetables. With the almost perfect habitat for cows and horses, Zeekonrik managed to become a mercantile power that is shipping trade goods to every known port of the Alvadan Continents.
Magic of any kind is welcomed in Zeekonrik; magicians often find employment in helping refine ores and salts, or to encourage the growth of plants. Even Zeekonrik Sea Corps employ many mages, that are able to burn down pirate vessels to cinders within minutes. The only thing Zeekonrik has problems with is population; recent census puts the number of entire Zeekonrik citizenry at fifty thousands, which is barely four times the amount of people living in Duo Alva, capital of New Alvada, alone.

Domiria (capital: Domiria):
Domiria was founded by the allmighty heroine Undine, after she have dealt with monsters, bandits and the dragon Eht; these deeds rendered the Western Continent safe for widespread expansions. Refugees from Eastern and Southern continents bolstered the fledging population and within a century, Domiria was a rather powerful and large nation. Unfortunately, a religious conflict between Undines, worshippers of Queen Undine, and Demurans, worshippers of Rebel God Demura, have split the country in two.
While founded by open-minded and progressive leader, Domiria became somewhat orthodox and traditionalist; it's population is rather unwelcome to foreigners except for Zeekonrik merchants, whom most of Domirians still consider part of their own kingdom. Undine's worship can be seen on the streets of Domirian cities in the ways of temples, shrines or traveling preachers. The two other religions, Demurans and Old Gods' Cult, while accepted, has little influence in Domiria.
Currently, the future of Domiria is rather uncertain; most of the royal family died during a storm a decade ago, Frankonen fell to a surprise attack from Dseleudisian army, and influence of King Rovan is diminished due to the lack of trust the noblemen and populace places in the hands of barely twenty-years old ruler.

Dseleudis (capital: Dseleudis):
The territories that currently form Dseleudis were once part of Domirian Kingdom. Unfortunately for Domiria, the religious dissonance between Undines and Demurans exploded into a civil war; the lands to the west have rebelled and formed an independent nation. An elective monarchy, the ruler of Dseleudis is determined by voting; one hundred and one Demurans, often elderly advisors, scholars, officers and such convene after the death of previous King and choose the most competenent (and more often, most popular) man for the throne.
Worshippers of Demura are open-minded and friendly to foreigners, but the tensions with Domiria are high and often result in skirmishes, rarely in prolonged conflicts. Recently, however, Dseleudisian army launched a successful offensive that saw the fall of Frankonen, the city far north from Dseleudis. The vast amount of mineral resoruces that once supplied Domirian industry now travels south.

City-states:

Holy City Demura:
When Demura, the Rebel God, died of old age, his remains were entombed and sealed in expansive underground complex. On top of that, a temple was erected, where priests and paladins would keep watch over the remains of the God of Humans. Within time, various people migrated and settled around the temple to provide services to the clergy. Within time, the settlements grew and united into a single entity along with the temple complex, creating what is now known as Holy City Demura.
Pilgrimages from other nations form the basis of Demuran economics; various holy items and souvenirs are sold to the travelers, and noble families often send their daughters and younger sons to join the Temple - entry and tuition fees provide quite a bit of the income that covers the expenses of the Temple.
The leaders of the city, the Demuran clergy, is vary of Undine and Old Gods' worshippers, albeit allow them entry as long as they acquire a permit - for a price, of course. Similarily, healers and magicians are welcome as well; however, due to the conflict known as War of Darkness and Light, the scholars from Xos, or any dark mages in general, are treated with suspicion and unease.

Xos:
The Dark City, the City of Otherworldly Magic; the City of Xos. It is a small, remote city, where adepts of dark magics convene to improve themselves and learn to control the destructive powers, as well as master the art of summoning and/or necromancy. All these were introduced by Demura himself, who decided to share his magical knowledge with the people of the destroyed Alvadan Empire so they could protect themselves better.
Ironically, the people of Xos have rather hard time in foreign countries, the knowledge they bring is often as dangerous as the dark mages themselves. Only Zeekonrik welcomes the adepts of Xos with open arms; in the wilderness of the northern continent, powerful magicians are very valuable assets. Xos does a little trading and production on its own; local mountains aren't abundant in resources, and there are only few farmlands in the hills surrounding the citadel of dark magic.

ALVADAN RELIGIONS:

The Old Gods:

The Old Gods are the very beings that have destroyed Alvada and shattered the continent. The people of New Alvada pray to them frequently and perform lavish sacrifices, but the Old Gods seem to not listen anymore.
Still, the people of New Alvada continue their worship, hoping that one day the Old Gods will return, forgive the humanity for their deeds and restore the land into single continent again.
The names of the Old Gods are mostly unknown to commonfolk; only learned people can read the Old Tongue and learn that there was Dseo, Hela, Temi, Tena, Seidon, Edes, Jonisus, Atlis, and several more; the inscriptions on the ancient altars are worn and they're interpreted differently nowadays, leading to numerous variations of almost every name.

Undine, Heroine of the Seas:

Undine was a brave explorer and young princess of early New Alvada, who had braved the New Sea and helped the peoples settle on the Western Continent. She had great influence on leaders and commonfolk.
She has driven the gargoyles of the north-western mountains out of their caves, helped create the city of myriad islands, Zeekonrik; she united the people against Dragon Eht and finally slain the migthy beast after day-long duel. Then she went on to become the first Queen of Domiria, a newly formed nation of seafarers and scholars.
Whilst she was ordinary (but brave and capable) sailor lady, people began to venerate and worship her, believing that she might've been the avatar of Tena, the Goddess of War, or maybe the deity itself. This irks the priests of Old Gods and people of New Alvada who believe this is heresy, to make human aking to god. Worship of Undine is small in New Alvada, but popular elsewhere.
People pray to Undine so that she bestows them with peace, prosperity and safety, especially on the sea; traders and sailors often leave sacrifices at her shrines.

Demura:

Demura was the Rebel God; only he protested against the plans of Old Gods to shatter the continent and ruin Alvada Empire. For this, he was struck down from the sky and his wings were torn. However, he didn't lose his magical powers and divine might.
Demura, adamant in his love to the Humans, lived among them, taught them how to cast iron, how to prepare magical items and how to summon beasts and loyal devils; he also taught them the once-unknown Anima magic and the secrets of otherwordly Dark Magic.
Despite being ex-God, Demura lived for three centuries, before the old age, the characteristic of the Humans he loved so much, claimed his being. He is the only God known to die in any way. Tomb was erected to keep his remains safe and a fortified temple complex was built on top of it; within decades and centuries, it has grown into indepedent, wealthy city.
But the Holy City Demura isn't the only place of worship; most of the humans, especially those dabbling in magic, are grateful for his deeds and worship his name; the cult is spread in both West and the East.

CHRONOLOGY OF THE HUMAN TIME:

Before Alvadan Era:
-330: 'Old Kingdom' Period begins
-82: 'Old Kingdom' Period ends; people scattered into small tribes
-11: 'New Kingdom' Period begins, nomads united by Son the Mighty
-five days: New 'star' sighted in the heavens
-two days: Day becomes night as sun turns black
-one day: Starfall; a giant flaming stone smashes into northern part of Continent. Dust rises and sun is obscured, as humans die from heat and toxic mists; few southern tribes escape to the deserts.

Alvadan Era:
One day after Starfall, the Old Gods descend from the heavens. They promise humanity to make them plenty, strong and prosperous if only the Old Gods will be worshipped. Humanity agrees.

1: Alvadan Kingdom, unitying all Old Gods worshippers, is created.
1-40: Alvadan Kingdom wages war against the heretics, and slowly expands north, south and east.
125: Alvadus VI claims that Humans are strong again, and shall 'conquer the land'
190: With almost entire continent settled by humans, Alvadossa II claims that it is time to 'conquer the seas'
220: Western Isle and Seven Sisters of the North settled by humans. Gargoyles and sea devils slain by Divine Weapons of the Gods.
~270: Humans master ships that can dive under the sea and create machines that can propel them into skies without use of wings.
335: Alvadus XII says that Humans do not need Gods more and it is time to 'conquer the Heaven and the Unknown behind it'
338: Flying armada of Alvadus XII enters the 'Dark' beyond the skies; the Gods curse the humanity and raise the sea to plunge the world into chaos; their mighty Lances of Light shatter the land, obliterating cities, and Mist of Pestilence kills off many humans. Remains of land in the east become 'Greater Pleiades', islands in the west 'Lesser Pleiades'. Peninsula of Opals becomes an island, and northern part of Continent is split into two with giant river-like channel between them.
340: Eleven years old Alvadus XIII is murdered; Alvadan Kingdom is plunged into chaos as Gods do not provide guidance nor miraculous devices anymore. Demura protests the calamity and is cast down to live as ordinary Human.

Age of the Seas:

~30: Scattered humanity unites under banner of Evon, and New Alvada Kingdom is founded. With Demura refusing to give 'godly' powers to Humans, and with divine artifacts gone, humans have to rely on old technology. Sail-equipped ships appear on the waters again.
95: Princess Undine's flotilla reaches the remnants of continent in the West, and find ruins and skeletons of inhabitants that were long gone. Gargoyles rediscovered and made enemies of Humans once more.
99: Princess Undine manages to kill off all Gargoyles. Their cousins, Wyverns, form a bound with Undine; in exchange for survival, they shall renounce ability to talk and become beasts of burden and travel.
104: Princess Undine founds Zeenkonrik, City of Myriad Islands.
106: Dragon Eht arrives and claims ownership of the Western Continent.
107: Princess Undine slays Dragon Eht and frees the Western peoples.
110: Princess Undine leaves New Alvada forever and titles herself Queen of Domiria; Domiria is created.
143: Queen Undine of Domiria dies at age of 77.
~150: Deeds of Undine slowly gain her cult-like following.
190-205: Holy Wars; the worshippers of Undine and worshippers of Demura split Domiria in series of conflicts; the west forms Dseleudis, where Undine's worship is shunned and Demura the Fallen is worshipped as the one and only being worthy of being a God.
244: Usher, Lord of Zeekonrik, rebels against Domiria and formally declares the creation of Independent Kingdom of Zeekonrik.
301: Demura the Fallen perishes from old age; his remains are entombed in eastern Domiria, and temple complex is built on top to secure the body of God of Humans.
333: War of Light and Darkness; scholars of Dark Magic attack mages of Light, but the latter beat the former. Xos, city of Dark Magic, is created in the far north-west.
359: Patriarch of Demuran Temple establishes the Holy City Demura.
~370: Last settlements in Eastern Continent are abandoned as desert spreads and vegetation dies off. Only city of Quo, protected from harsh environment by mountains, remains.
419: Beautiful creatures, called Pegasi, spotted in forests south of Narosten.
420-430: Pegasi are tamed and bred by Zeekonrik merchants; the slender creatures quickly become used for military and courier purposes.
505: Undus, King of Domiria, perishes with his wife and three eldest children during a storm off the coast of Ile d'Opal. His youngest son, Titus, ascends Domirian throne.
515: TODAY