FEF4re World Lore

THE TALE OF SAVIOR:

In the ancient times, a great cataclysm, a flood of monstrosities, threatened Centaurs. Centaurs prayed to their Creator-Gods, and they provided them with 12 Orbs that repelled the monstrosities. That we know from ancient Centaur frescos and murals of their forsaken barrows and kurhans.

In the old times, the Demon Race threatened Zorestrian peoples, and their Hero-King, Qasmir, embarked on a quest to distant lands as far as beyond the Endless Steppes, re-assembling the 12 Orbs. A ritual then brought the very Creator himself to the world, and the Demon Race was vanquished in Three Generations' War.

Now, another cataclysm threatens perhaps the entire known world; the Red Devil, a moon that has appeared on the skies some fifty years ago, has began to grow larger, and wise men and scholars determined that it is going to fall upon the land. But the 12 Orbs are nowhere to be seen, and unknown is the name of the savior who shall save the world...

CULT OF THE CREATOR:

The Divine Lord, the Creator, has created the Zorestrian peoples, and then others, so serve in His image. He has forged the World out of the darkness of Void and flames of the Abyss.

He has sent Angels to teach Zorestrians agriculture, iron-working, mathematics, astronomy and crafts. He has came down from the Heaven to help Hero-King Qasmir in defeating the Demon Race, and His Angels served as commanders of Zorestrian Legions.

Obviously, His worship is the most popular of religions in Zorestria, albeit peoples of Miccah might be the more zealous ones. Another enclave of the Cult is in and around the City of Savita, due to the Savitian's long, common history with Zorestrians and the Cult of the Creator.

Only His image is the image of true god; all others are fakes, made to blaspheme against Him, and to upset those who worship Him.

FOUNDATION OF ZORESTRIAN EMPIRE:

Once upon a time, when the Grey Wasteland was known as utopia of rivers, hills and meadows, Zorestrians were living in nomadic communities. This changed when they received wisdom of the Creator via His Angels.

They've migrated and expanded south and east, finally ending in what is now known as Prosperous Lowlands. The Three Generations War devastated the ancestral home of Zorestrians and killed their old rulers.

Their Hero-King, Qasmir, founded Zorestrian Empire of Lowlands (also called 'The Second'), and since then their mighty riders, arcane scholars and shrewd diplomats expanded their influence across the world.

And thus, for the last eight hundred years, Zorestria grew strong and proud, and its borders have finally encroached upon the ruined Grey Wasteland. Perhaps, if the Coming of the Red Devil is thwarted, they shall re-settle the Wasteland as well.

OTHERS:

There are numerous others, and in past centuries, there was even more of them.

City-State of Savita:
Once a city-state of Savitian peoples, it contended for dominance with other city-states in the region, like Todor, Charnik and Belo. In a stroke of genius (or perhaps luck), Great Prince Simen married a Zorestrian princess and converted to Creator worship, earning himself a powerful ally in the south. Obviously, with such a great force at his back, it didn't take long until Savitia conquered the remaining city-states in the name of the Creator. After Simenian dynasty become extinct in previous generations, its peoples decided to fully join Zorestria, enjoying many priviledges and freedoms since then.

Kingdom of Kovalia:
Proud peoples who tended to sheep, goats and famed pegasi, and mined silver and iron in their mountains - all that made them rich and prosperous. They once worshipped their pagan gods, holding strong in their faith, and repeatedly rejected Creator's missionaries. This led to series of numerous wars, which saw Kovalian territories shrink and its native religion weakening. Finally, less than hundred years ago, the Kovalians lost their final war and had to accept Zorestrian suzerainty and the principles of their faith. Albeit many of young peoples are educated in Zorestrian ways, their parents and grandparents are still prejudiced against Zorestrians, as shown in some incidents of violence - which seem to have increased in frequency as of late.

Zorestria, Second Zorestrian Empire of the Lowlands:
Since it settled in the Prosperous Lowlands, its peoples have grown in power, numbers and territories. The ancient Zorestrian dynasty, founded by Hero-King Qasmir, is still holding the throne, with the current King, Qasmir VI, a cruel, violent, and lustful man, holding the peoples and the lands together with his iron first. His numerous children are nothing like the father, at least in terms of character, and his current heir, Yosif Aliberti, being at best strong-willed, but compassionate and dutiful soldier. Albeit everything seems fine at first glance, digging deeper into the inner workings of the Empire betray its real state; plagued with uppity vassals, religious prejudices, mysterious doom cults and peasant insurrections in the borderlands. The appearance of The Red Devil didn't help with Empire's state of affairs, of course.

Abbi Tribes:
The Abbi Horsemen are comprised of eleven tribes, each ruled by a local chieftain. There have been attempts to unite the tribes, but usually it resulted in a big, and often bloody, civil war. Zorestrian influence on the Abbi tribes have helped them settle down, albeit most of Zorestrian cavalry is still comprised of Abbi cavaliers and bow archers. Abbi markets are also wandering commercial hubs in the western Empire, with goods from as far as Kovalia and Shari-Val ending on Abbian bazaars and market stands. Despite missionary work and establishment of temples, the Abbis still hold onto their beliefs of ancestral worship and veneration of natural spirits.

Miccah:
Long ago, Kingdom of Miccah ruled the lands between the Great Desert and the Hills of Abbi, and venerated the Holy Triiumvirate. The militaristic Kingdom came to conflict with Zorestrians, especially on grounds of differing faiths, and the War of Holies saw the ancient state of wyvern knights devastated. Their King, Koriakos III, had to accept Zorestrian suzerainty, but hesistated on tearing down the temples of Triiumvirate. Twenty four years later, his son and successor, Koriakos IV, a devout worshipper of the Creator, had ordered immediate destruction of all of the old temples. Supporters of Koriakos IV clashed with the Old Faith Worshippers, which resulted in the Black War; Koriakos IV was victorious and the old faith was abolished. About half of Miccahian populace perished in the conflict. Nowadays, peoples of Miccah believe in the Creator even stronger than the Zorestrians. Their Wyvern Knights remain as fearsome as they were in the ages past, used as the shock troops of Zorestrian army, ready to strike down enemies and pagans alike.

Shari-Val:
The newest addition to the Zorestrian Empire, Shari-Val could be considered an independent Kingdom if not for their status as a vassal and requirement to pay taxes to Zorestrian Emperors. However, the jungle and swamp folk of Shari-Val have great autonomy, especially in matters of faith. Their ancient Cult of Vadas remains dominant in the Waterlands except the westernmost cities, and each household has a shrine devoted to one or more Vadas, which are spirits of nature, forest, sea and rivers, numbering around five dozen. Shari-Valians are also experts in alchemy and dark magic, and their light spearmen and archers remain dangerous to face both in field and in the Shari-Valian forests.

GEOGRAPHY:

The Grey Wasteland:
Once upon the time, this blasted land was called Zorestrian Hills. They slowly migrated towards the Prosperous Lowlands, and not long afterwards, the Three Generations War destroyed the land, as many of the greatest battles were fought in the Zorestrian Hills. There are still artifacts dug up in the Wasteland, although restless spirits, ancient curses and walking dead successfully repel all but most courageous of treasure hunters and gravediggers.

The Northern Wildlands:
Intermediary between The Grey Wasteland and The Prosperous Lowlands. Thick forests and rocky plateaus in this region never interested many settlers, and thus even today, the Wildlands are sparsely populated, with most cities and settlements sitting atop trade routes between Abbi Tribes and Kovalia.

Iron Mountains:
Site of many Kovalian iron, silver and copper mines. These provided Kovalians with immeasurable wealth, albeit most of it ended in Zorestrian hands once the Kingdom became its vassal. Since then, many of the famous mines were closed down as the ore-bearing rock started to run out. Kovalian economy relies heavily on the mines, and unrest grew in recent years, further fueled by the older generations' dislike toward Zorestrian oppression.

Hills of Blood:
When Kovalia was still independent, Hills of Blood were known for their pegasi ranches. When Kovalians fought against Zorestrians, the hills were the area in which most of the battles were fought, destroying the prosperous region, and since then, Pegasi are raised on the slopes of the Iron Mountains.

The Coast of Silver:
Before Savitia conquered its neighbours, the Coast was divided between several states, all vying for dominance, either over land or the silver mines located in the eastern mountains. After Principality of Savitia was incorporated into Zorestria, the Coast of Silver became one of the most prosperous regions in the Empire, and its luxury goods sought after as far as Miccah.

Isle of Tunis:
Tunis was a city-state living on the periphery of Zorestrian interests. The local fishermen and pearl-gatherers were guided by council of mage-aristocrats, devoted to the study of the stars above and the waters around them. A missionary from Zorestria, named Yakub Zastani, came to the isle, and, during his work as a preacher, has convinced many of the local nobles and their subjects to accept Zorestrian ways. The ruling council did so, and... not much have changed since then. The locals are still engaged in fishing and pearl-gathering, and their nobles still prefer to devote themselves to study of stars and seas, rather than partake in mainland politics.

The Waterlands:
A dark maze of tall, broadleaf jungles and swamplands, the Waterlands were perhaps the most dangerous enemy of advancing Zorestrian forces. The fact that Shari-Val archers and militia knew the forests like the back of their palm helped preserve the autonomy of the natives. Civilized Zorestrian peoples keep away from the Waterlands, and those who do have business in the Island City of Sharia, hire locals as guides and caravan guards to find way.

The Great Desert:
A vast expanse of white and red sands. Nomadic peoples, related to Shari-Val, tend to their camels and goats at the oases. In the deep south, a vast mountain chain separates the Desert from another continent. Few ships ventured along the coasts of the Desert, and even fewer returned to tell the tale of the strange lands filled with coniferous forests, giant beasts, harsh weather and barbaric savages.

Wyvern Peaks:
Aptly named, the mountains surrounding the Kingdom of Miccah host the Wyvern egg hatcheries, which provide the eponymous mounts for Miccahian and Zorestrian armies. While the tops of the mountains are inhabited by wyvern-folk, the bottoms are dug through by miners in search for iron and coal. The few green valleys and slopes are extensively farmed, with hops and grapes being the most cultivated of plants in the region.

The Hills of Abbi:
Ancestral home of the Abbi tribes, before they expanded northwards towards the Endless Steppes more suited toward Abbi nomadic lifestyle. The Hills have the greatest concentration of agrarian settlements and trade cities, and are the place where Abbi nomads and Zorestrian citizens exchange goods and news with each other.

The Endless Steppes:
If Great Desert is a sea of sand, then the Endless Steppes are the sea of grass. Nobody but Abbi horsemen venture forth on years-long journeys west, only to return home with loads of exotic spices, luxurious crafts and magnificent gemstones, along with tales of gold-coated temples, enormous coastal cities and rich empires of ivory-skinned, red-eyed peoples.

//Cheat-sheet of real world counter-cultures:

Savita and the North: (Kievan) Rus
Kovalia: Greece, Anatolia
Zorestria: Sassanian Persia
Abbi Tribes and the Endless Steppes: Bulgaria, Hungary
Miccah: Byzantium
Isle of Tunis: Malta, Sicily
Shari-Val: Gupta Empire (Northwest India)