XES

 As the Second Aeon closes, the gods view the world through eyes blurred with fatigue.  They see a half-century of changes in place as they lay down to rest.

  With the range of changes across the world, the mortals change along with it.  The governments begin shifting, agreements and wars change borders while revolutions and coups change leadership.  Even as the deities begin their slumber, it is clear the political realities will be quite different when they awaken.

  The City of Azduin grows in strength and technology, becoming a powerful force for growth in the Western Part of the World Gear.  The government of Azduin grows into an influential oligarchy, made of a single leader from each of the eight races that founded the city.  Underneath the oligarchy was a ministerial bureaucracy that organized the public works and growth of both the city and the nation that was growing around it.  Though the military was small in number, they were the best equipped military in the world, allowing them to ensure the safety of their people.  Among the people protected are villages and towns along the edge of El'Azduin where the Veul once roamed.  As the Veul are pressed outward, some are forced to swallow their pride and join Azduin society as second-class citizenry with no representation in the oligarchy.  Others continue to let themselves be pressed away as they attempt to eke out a living raiding Azduin caravans and farms with limited success.

Azduin:
Kedua      -  5841
Narla      -  5885
Vor'Kedua  -  5841
Doshrun    -  5268
Chorus     -  2234
Voush Noru -  3061
Aquaria    - 52864
Vischt     - 51048
Veul       -  6916
(Total Population: 138,958)

  The Eastern Inarium Empire, led by the Inarium Priesthood and the Inarium Council remains strong and maintains control of the Inarium Empire in the Northeast quadrant of the White Metal Forest from Kota Besar.  The theocracy changes its organization, but never loses control of its powerful military or the cities in its control.  The end result of the political changes left a strong High Priest ruling as Theocrat of the Inarium Empire.  The Au keep the Inarium from using undead or demons to keep control of the roads, but both still keep the peace within the cities, including Kota Besar.  The large army and advanced researchers advance military magitech to new levels as they create defenses against the Au, the remnants of the Confederacy, Okha's army, and even Tru.  Yet, even as the Eastern Inarium grows in power, it also tightens its borders and becomes more isolationist, keeping its advances to itself and shunning ideas from other places.
  The Western Inarium Empire, was included in being cut off from the Eastern Inarium Empire, and the Inarium leadership weakened here.  Priests of deities other than Konigin grew in power and popularity, and the Inarium priesthood didn't have the strength to truly oppose them.  As the political power of the priesthood wanes, the power of the military, craftsmen, and merchants grows.

Eastern Inarium:
Kedua         -  4154798
Vorhut        -    28341
Vor'Kedua     -     6671
Chorus        -     2442
Nether Chorus -       84
Aquaria       - 11124952
Garoo         -    41602
Gikan         -  1954597
Outland Gikan -     9584
Kyre Symbiote -     5437
Veul          -    24206
Wylder        -    31447
(Total Population: 15,625,061)

Western Inarium:
Kedua         -  3116099
Vorhut        -    70850
Vor'Kedua     -    15565
Chorus        -      611
Nether Chorus -      961
Aquaria       - 16687428
Garoo         -    86690
Gikan         -   837685
Outland Gikan -     4107
Kyre Symbiote -     5659
Wylder        -   111492
Veul          -    10374
(Total Population: 20,947,521)

  The Confederacy of Death had fallen upon challenging times.  Though their mystical abilities with glyphs and phlaxan runes had left their individual cities stronger than ever, they now controlled only six of their original twelve cities in the Plains of Death.  Indeed, every city to the west of the Valley of the Gods had been conquered by the Inarium or Okha.  Seeing their culture collapsing, they consolidated their power in the remaining cities and the plains surrounding them.  Seeking a new way to honor the Mistress Death and her Death Masks, the meritocracy that had so long governed the Confederacy gave way to a more firm aristocracy, with a fascist ruler over each city and an emperor at Menara ruling over each of the aristocratic rulers.  Because of the nature of genetic memory, the ruling positions had been hereditary for centuries anyway, and this allowed swifter decisions to be made and more direct action to be taken to defend the new Empire of Death.

Empire of Death:
Kedua         -    19175
Chorus        -     9120
Aquaria       - 62036785
Garoo         -   130392
Gikan         -   229983
Kyre Symbiote -     5139
(Total Population: 62,430,594)

  The Veul-controlled city of Pilseta Vara, in the Northeast Plains of Death, grew increasingly warlike, though their military technomancy and arkana magika did not advance particularly well.  The city became a haven for runaways, criminals, and exiles of other races and cultures, harboring bandits and former warlords alike.  The only rule of law in Pilseta Vara became the Rule of Strength, and the Veul ensured that no one had more power in their city than they did.

Pilseta Vara:
Kedua         -     1915
Chorus        -      911
Voush Noru    -      208
Aquaria       -  6203675
Garoo         -    13036
Gikan         -    22998
Dovri         -      163
Kyre Symbiote -      513
Veul          -    34620
(Total Population: 6,278,039)

  The city of Tru had been having trouble with gaining control of the territory they had earned in the war with the Shadow-Touched.  Between Inarium interference, the Au, the Great Schizm, and the Earth Chorus, Tru had barely extended their control beyond the immediate region around the city.  And, with no true warfare to maintain his strength, Imbuki was feeling his age.  So, before the deities fell truly asleep, they witnessed Imbuki retiring from leadership of Tru and yielding his position to a Kyre Symbiote Priest of truth that had distinguished itself in military and spiritual leadership. Under the leadership of this Kyre, Tru began to expand its control through the region it controlled, allied itself with Tempat Agung, and began annexing the regions to the south that had spun off from the Khanya Alliance.

Tru:
Kedua         -    12580
Vor'Kedua     -    59486
Nether Chorus -     3125
Aquaria       -  7658030
Garoo         -    15720
Kyre Symbiote -    49319
(Total Population: 7,798,260)

  The Earth Chorus of Tempat Agung continue to pretend to be chorus and voush noru and ally with Tru to ensure they are not annexed or discovered.  Their individual power makes them known throughout Tru as powerful warriors, and their illusory ability gives them a reputation as wily arkanists.  With their alliance to Tru, they are able to maintain racial purity in Tempat Agung.

Tempat Agung:
Earth Chorus  -   48,306

  The D'koyre of Stadenmark have been growing swiftly and improving their power and techniques ambitiously.  Their Biomancers and natural ephemera power makes them an unassailable force, and their economic strength makes them a political and economic force world-wide.  As guardians of the rebuilt Azduin Pass and primary ally of Azduin, they also have access to the latest in technomancy out of Azduin, letting them make their lives even easier.

Stadenmork:
D'koyre       - 1,708,287

  The Khanya Alliance has mixed success in maintaining their stability.  Without Shadow-touched to unify against and with the Valley of the Gods dividing the Realm of Endless Day, the Khanya Alliance was dividing into various smaller parts.  The Order of the Light's leadership had moved to the Floating Islands, so there no longer was centralized leadership in the Realm of Endless Day at all.  Instead, various leaders were gaining strength in various locations, including Aquaria, Garoo, Veul, Kyre Symbiote, and Chorus leaders.

Realm of Endless Day:
Chorus        -    31040
Aquaria       - 14926551
Garoo         -   140748
Kyre Symbiote -   163044
Veul          -    69160
(Total Population: 15,330,543)

  Okha's territory had been strong and unified through the entire Aeon, for Okha had been a strong leader.  However, as he was leading the final battle to solidify control of the final city in the Western Confederacy, a Gikan soul mage of great power managed to strike at Okha in secret and assassinated the great leader.  Okha's strength of will had held the nation together, but there had been no heir designated and without Okha's will, infighting in Okha's heirarchy almost immediately divided the great nation into pieces.
  The southernmost portion of the nation, in the White Metal Forest, the Nether Chorus rule was overthrown altogether.  Here, a republic of races was built, with each cultural segment receiving representation in a congress of peoples.
  The former Confederacy cities were divided among three of Okha's most powerful military leaders, General Imbi, General Okuhle, and Field Marshal Ubasi.  The three Nether Chorus leaders each controlled one of the former Confederacy cities west of the Valley of the Gods.  Skirmishes regularly occur as each group tries to gain control over the other two, but no one has the power to overcome the other.
  The region between the Plains of Death and the Badlands collapsed into chaos as a dozen warring states led by natives, Okha's lieutenants, and Veul warlords tried wrestling for control over the largest pieces of territory they could claim.
  The area of the badlands where Okha had ordered cities created were reclaimed by Wylder tribes who established them as supply and trade outposts, as well as a place for the Wylder tribes to gather and discuss policy.  The string of six small cities in the Badland desert became known as the Desert Pearls.
  The Unending Volcano itself had very little argument over leadership, since Okha hadn't been back to the Volcano in centuries and had left General Umlilo in charge of the region while he was gone.  Under her leadership, the Nether Chorus maintained their strong military discipline and prepared for an eventual return to prominence.

Republic of Free Races:
Vor'Kedua     -    41757
Nether Chorus -    13046
Aquaria       - 10144971
Garoo         -   687043
Gikan         -   124499
Outland Gikan -     2490
Kyre Symbiote -     4603
Wylder        -  2838493
(Total Population: 13,856,902)

Barat (Field Marshal Ubasi's Nation):
Kedua         -     2555
Vor'Kedua     -    25850
Chorus        -     1721
Nether Chorus -     4632
Aquaria       -  5630459
Garoo         -   322498
Gikan         -    42365
Outland Gikan -      847
Kyre Symbiote -    12807
Wylder        -   946164
Mal'drak      -     1317
Veul          -     7626
(Total Population: 6,998,841)

Buruk (General Imbi's Nation):
Kedua         -     2108
Vor'Kedua     -    21762
Chorus        -     1681
Nether Chorus -     4118
Aquaria       -  4869587
Garoo         -   332901
Gikan         -    41500
Outland Gikan -      830
Kyre Symbiote -    14560
Wylder        -   958234
Mal'drak      -     1135
Veul          -     7823
(Total Population: 6,256,239)

Baik (General Okuhle's Nation):
Kedua         -     1726
Vor'Kedua     -    29938
Chorus        -     1640
Nether Chorus -     4297
Aquaria       -  4717411
Garoo         -   384917
Gikan         -    40635
Outland Gikan -      812
Kyre Symbiote -    14054
Wylder        -   934095
Mal'drak      -     1076
Veul          -     7604
(Total Population: 6,138,205)

Chaotic Warfare:
Chorus        -     4124
Nether Chorus -     8653
Aquaria       -  2820006
Garoo         -   487632
Gikan         -    12348
Outland Gikan -      580
Kyre Symbiote -     1234
Wylder        -  2838492
Mal'drak      -      392
Veul          -    11527
(Total Population: 6,184,988)

Desert Pearls:
Nether Chorus -     9421
Aquaria       -    17623
Garoo         -    23765
Kyre Symbiote -      806
Wylder        -  5676984
(Total Population: 5,728,599)

Unending Volcano:
Nether Chorus -    44167
Mal'drak      -     3920

  The Otiosin Rainforest is kept open to pilgrims for the Temple of the Ten Deities by the Voush Noru remaining in the Rainforest.  Though the Voush Noru are few, they have grown to be determined.  And, in addition to the Voush Noru, religiously dedicated Aquaria, Garoo, and Veul from the region devote themselves to the Temple and its protection.  Though these people never become a true government, they organize into a single-minded society of guardians and priests.  The only others living in the Rainforest are independent villages that insist on avoiding government and corporate "tyranny."

Temple of Ten Deities:
Voush Noru    -     1146
Aquaria       -     6127
Garoo         -      816
Veul          -       92
(Total Population: 8,181)

Guardians of the Temple:
Voush Noru    -     1386
Aquaria       -    26133
Garoo         -     8230
Veul          -      213
(Total Population: 35,962)

Otiosin Rainforest (Not associated with the Temple):
Aquaria       -  1117364
Garoo         -   190519
Veul          -    24475
(Total Population: 1,332,358)

  The former Three River Protectorate stood as a shattered series of farming communities.  With the rivers destroyed, the major cities that had been along them were also gone.  Without the rivers, the farmland could never be as fertile as they had been before the Great Schizm, but the people of the region still work hard to grow food for their families and to sell to the travelling merchants.

Great Southern Farmland:
Aquaria       -  3352093
Garoo         -   571559
Veul          -    16317
(Total Population: 3,939,969

  The Five Magika Kingdoms in the south were still recovering from the loss of so many of their arkanists in the Great Schizm.  Indeed, because the arkanists were no longer able to guarantee safety, weather, or even basic arkana magika services, the people have grown a tendancy to ignore dictates of the arkanists, and more than a few cities and villages have begun declaring their independence.  In an attempt to counter this, the five Schools Arkana united the five kingdoms into one kingdom known as the Magika Kingdom.

Magika Kingdom:
Kedua         -    44489
Chorus        -     7814
Aquaria       - 19726049
Garoo         -   305423
Kyre Symbiote -   429394
Veul          -    13699
(Total Population: 20,526,868)

  The Water Nation is an economic powerhouse.  The leadership of the Water Nation is made up of a series of hereditary barons with a customary bribe price that effectively makes the government a Plutocracy.  The cities of ice upon the ocean become wealthy by orders of magnitude over the other nations.  And, a combination of bribery and economic manipulation gives the Water Nation effective control over its neighbors.  In addition, because of Aquaria's swift breeding rate and the ability to live both above and below the surface of the water, the population of the Water Nation has grown to ten times greater than any other nation in the World Gear.  Thus, the militia and private armies of the Water Nation allows the Water Nation to remain safe without need for a standing army, like so many other nations must maintain.  In addition, the fact that Aquaria are such a large portion of so many nations in the world gives the people of the Water Nation strong contacts within those nations, allowing the people of the Water Nation to have heavy influence on nearly every nation in the world.

Water Nation:
Aquaria      - 501,335,273

  The Badlands which surround most of the Settled Lands are dominated by the Wylder Tribes, united under the Ruling Spirit of the Wylder.  These Wylder tribes periodically gather around the Desert Pearls, but otherwise tend to stay on the move to allow them to survive with the limited wells and food available in the desert of the Badlands.

Badlands:
Wylder        - 53,669,076

  To the East of the Melting Lands, along the inside border of the Badlands, are a series of hills and mountains known as the Hills of Tears.  This territory has been colonized by a variety of peoples, all drawn eastward by Arlenaalin in one way or another.  Once there, each group of people established a series of small villages along the shoreline of the Hill of Tears.  The closest thing the villages have to a central government is the family line of Gelkin, who held Incogno; this family acted as a mediator and advisor for the villages.  Though the villages have no central governing authority, they all keep in contact and trade between them, allowing them to share a culture and a sense of unity.

Hills of Tears:
Doshrun       -      609
Voush Noru    -    12265
Vischt        -     1962
Garoo         -  1104364
(Total Population: 1,119,200)

  To the Far South, between the Badlands and the edge of the World-Gear, mobile settlements of Chorus develop to take advantage of the Gear of Light.  The long-lived Chorus quickly realize that the Gear of Light shifts location relative to the World-Gear, so willingly accept the mobile life.

Far South:
Chorus        -    72578

  The Floating Islands had been war-torn, destroyed by the Great Schism, and populated only by the lowest-population-growth races in the Physical Planes.  As a result, there are barely a single city worth of people to spread across the numerous remaining Floating Islands.  Only the formerly Cursed Island had enough people to populate the islands, and most of those people remained confined to those islands, and the lack of weather and new water for the Lake Settlement left the renewable food supply limited.  Yet, the Orders of Light and Song settled in the Lake Settlement and when the hidden Aquaria Settlement revealed themselves, the Orders devoted themselves to supplying the population and ensuring their survival and prosperity.

Floating Islands:
Chorus        -    79888
Voush Noru    -     4984
Nether Chorus -    44167
(Total Population: 129,039)

Lake Settlement in the Sky:
Chorus        -    47451
Aquaria       - 11251345
Garoo         -    97209
Kyre Symbiote -    51010
(Total Population: 11,447,015)