Caves 2 Starter

Major civs are:
Fortriu - Now ruled by a constitutional monarchy. Delwyn, freed and helped back into power by Loyd (who died shortly after her return to power due to pooping too hard), rules the house of Lords. House of Commons is manned by elected officials. Currently making political power moves to take back Osraige, which was recently left economically devastated by the secession of Kenmer. Very traditional nation, budding center of magic with their position as such bolstered by the invasion and disappearance of Parthia. Military is being bolstered by the recent addition of guns to their arsenal, making them one of the most powerful military forces on the continent.

East Alban - An economically wealthy nation controlling the majority of the trade across the western end of the continent. Unless cargo is travelling by sea, it has to go through East Alban to get anywhere. East Alban has the best-maintained road network of any modern civilization, and makes heavy use of their waterways to send goods long distances to distant Osraige and Fortriu.  The recent loss of Parthia has hurt them economically, but not to any serious degree. East Alban boasts the highest population of any of the countries, and the largest military as well.

Dahea - A nation of mostly independent cities, all united under a common heritage and social structure. The body of the government, as well as the sources for trade, are located in the three major cities on a few of the larger islands that make up the country. The Shattered Isles themselves are inhabited mostly by various tribes, most of which are too busy dealing with surviving the harsh environments of the Isles to be overly concerned with what goes on in the outside world. The south, on the contrary, is a thriving center of trade. Any ship seeking passage through the shattered isles requires a Dahean pilot, or else risks sinking their ship on the treacherous waters of the Shattered Isles.

Scythia - Economically hurting after their decades-long war with Parthia, Scythia was recently devastated by an incredible magical force from Parthia, unleashed by Parthia after they were trapped in the Caves by the Scythians. Scythia lost almost all of its able-bodied military age men as a result of the Frostfall. Most Scythians are now occupied by their southern border with Parthia, continually fighting back the encroaching frost from the south. Scythia is a country on the brink of annihilation, and their long-standing attitude of icy isolationism from the western half of the continent means that any who might be inclined to help are keeping far away.

Parthia - Once a proud nation of scholars and merchants, Parthia has been all but wiped off the map by the Frostfall, which rendered the vast majority of their land uninhabitable and locked the majority of their population inside the Caves, where they are currently unreachable. Some scattered settlements survived the explosive release of energy from the Frostfall, but most have been lost. The fate of those within the Caves is unknown.

Jaqaru - An enigmatic, heavily jungled country of beastmen. Jaqaru is a center for the study of nature magic, and those who seek a closer bond with nature flock to the country's centers of study. Jaqaru's borders remain closed to most other outsiders, and even those who can prove their bond with nature have a difficult time gaining entrance. Following the slight global cooling following the Frostfall, parts of Jaqaru's jungles have begun to die off, much to the concern of the druids who live there.

City States:
Kenmer - Until recently a part of Osraige. Kenmer declared its independence from Osraige shortly after the Frostfall, following the results of a referendum that Osraige chose not to honor. Kenmer's independence is currently being supported by East Alban, preventing Osraige from launching an attack to reclaim their territory at the risk of cutting off their land routes to the rest of the continent.

Shiraz - An isolated center for the study of the forbidden isle of Jutland. Shiraz is the center of divination magic for the entire continent, and one of the foremost centers of magical study, boasting the oldest magical college in the world. Their studies now focus on the release of magic across the world caused by the Frostfall, and the new magical doorways that release has unlocked in the populace of the Axehead.

Silifke - Home to the desert tribe of Grippli, and the area that has been the most heavily affected by the magical blast from the Frostfall. The Grippli of Silifke have a strong oral history, and are a cultural center of the world. The arts flourish here, as does trade due to their position as the only port city within several week's travel along the southern tip of the continent.


Artuin - The other city of the Singing Sands, Artuin is home to a significant population of Yuan-Ti, a race of snakemen who make their living in the sands and guard the isles of Muroia, monitoring the powerful magical emanations that regularly spike from the isles. Shiraz and Artuin share much in common, and send regular envoys to each other carrying the latest data gathered by their respective monitoring stations.