Legends and Distant Lands

While events takes place primarily in the land of Olaran and its surrounding realms, other nations exist in the world of Adrasil, and their history too is woven into our story…

Arkadia - Though once a large and powerful nation, Arkadia has slowly sunk into insignificance in the eyes of surrounding nations. The ancient ore mines that once made the nation wealthy have long been exhausted, and because few other valuable resources exist in the region, it neither has the power to attack its wealthier neighbors, nor does it make a very tempting target for its enemies. A remnant of the ancient and powerful armies of Arkadia still hold its border forts, and while this army stands, the nations around it seem uninterested in becoming embroiled in a meaningless fight over a land with such poor resources. One location of note is the great temple of Luminos that still stands intact among the ruins of Ka’ramar in the large island in the midst of the Keldaran Channel. This temple has long remained a place of worship for both Olar and Arkadian devotees of Luminos, and after the sacking of the Temple of Luminos in the Fire Mountains by a Hearth-Guard Jarl in YL 1122, it is now the largest extant temple to the god of light.

The Barrens - The lands to the north of Throi are wide, but cold and rugged, earning well their name. Across these vast lands dwell many small tribes. Constant warring between the tribes over the scarcity of resources has kept this region poor and disorganized, though the towns and villages along the southern coasts are richer and more organized, because the tribes who dwell there can depend on the coast for food and trade. The Sea Lords of Throi have often made war or peace with the various tribes through the long years, and many a Throian sailor can trace their ancestry back to one of the tribes who dwell in The Barrens or along its southern coast.

Goltha - to the south of Olaran lies its ancient foe - the Kingdom of Goltha. With a harsh, arid environment and with natural resources long depleted, Golthans have developed a reputation as fierce and aggressive warriors despite having been slowly beaten into submission through a series of unsuccessful military endeavors throughout the known world. The nations of Goltha and Olaran have been at war on and off for the last millenia, until the devastating loss that King Osric dealt to the Golthans in YL 1112 reduced the Golthan military to a shadow of its former might. The Golthans primarily attacked Olaran through the regions of Lannock and Murnock, for they desired the rich mines of these regions, needing more resources than their poor land could offer. It was in defense of this region that King Osric enlisted the help of Duke Killian, whose guard of “Blood Cloaks” became what is now the Hearth-Guard. The primary land forces were made up of Kingsmen infantry and Ranger scouts and archers. Indeed, it was the Ranger border patrols who first discovered the Golthan incursion and held off the foe while help was sent for from the Kingsmen Academy at Olaran. Many of the Kingsmen and Ranger warriors who now serve in the armies of Olaran fought their first battles against the Golthans at this time.

While the battles between Goltha and Olaran that took place in Lannock and Murnock were a resounding victory by the land forces of Olaran, the Sea Lord forces under the command of the young Commodore Torvin Saelithend spent most of the war raiding the Golthan coast, harrying the enemy, and then quickly returning to their boats: a strategy that successfully diverted forces from the frontlines. The Golthans became so frustrated by this constant threat that they built and launched their own sizable armada in an attempt to take Thriese by force from the sea. Leaving from Suden Moar, this mighty fleet sailed no further than Keln before the Sea Lord fleet engaged them in an enormous fleet battle and obliterated the Golthan navy to the last rowboat. Commodore Torvin Saelithend led his Sea Lords in this naval battle from the decks of the newly christened flagship Leviathan, earning a reputation as a shrewd and competent leader. It was during this battle that the newly introduced longbows of the Sea Lord archers (a technology that Torvin had learned the use of during his time training with the Rangers of Olaran) were used to devastating effect. Rumor has it that Torvin’s sister Kaiþera snuck aboard the flagship before the fleet left Thriese and fought in the battle, though forbidden to do so by her father because of her youth.

With their fleet destroyed, and their defeat at the hand of Duke Killian the Red with his newly christened "Blood Cloaks," Goltha had no choice but to surrender and pay massive reparations to Olaran. Some of this gold was given to Torvin in gratitude for his defeat of the Golthan navy, and it was out of this wealth that the ships Kraken and Atalanta were built. The rest of the gold was used by King Osric to strengthen the various Kingsmen strongholds across the lands, as well as expanding the Kingsmen Academy in Olaran.

The defeat of Goltha at this time was so complete, that although more than a decade has passed, the nation remains unable to field an army large enough to fight Olaran in its divided state, though spies along the borders of the Hearthlands have heard rumors that the Golthans may intend a foray into the lands now held by the Hearth-Guard who first came into being as the “Blood Cloaks” of Killian, their bitter foe.

Ithacus - Far to the south and west is the island of Ithacus. Long held to be a place of strange magic, it is scarcely inhabited. Rumors say that the Sword of Hope was found here in YL1118 by Brandis, who gave it to the Rangers of Olaran (though some doubt whether or not the sword he found was truly what was claimed). The land itself matches its mysterious reputation: full of tall, dark pines, with red clay soil and small streams that wend their way through the gloomy forests. Legends say that any who step foot on the shores of Ithacus will find strife not far away, though no one knows what causes it…

Themisia - Across the ocean in a land of black sand deserts, craggy mountains, and long coastlines, an ancient empire has existed time out of mind. Long before the tribe later known as the Sea Lords left its shores, the Empire of Themisia was strong. A thousand years later, though beset by enemies and internal strife, Themisia still stands. While Themisia is known for many natural and cultural wonders, they are mostly known for their fierce fighting units: the Agema Phalanx. With this powerful unit, the Empire of Themisia has long held sway over the lands surrounding its black deserts and sandstone fortresses.

Legends are told of the ancient and mysterious Honored Mothers who seem to have great influence in the political and religious affairs of Themisia, though not much is known of them in the lands outside of the Themisian Empire. Rumor says that they teach diplomacy and train many of the ambassadors of the court of the current emperor, Darius II. Kallisto, the Commander of the First Agema (the empire’s finest phalanx) is said to have received training from this mysterious order.

Zevaran - Far to the south of Goltha lies a land of swamps and mountains called Zevaran. An insular people, the Zevarani seldom engage in political struggles outside their borders. The long coastline of Zevaran is difficult for large armies to access because of its marshy nature. Only trained Zevarani scouts can navigate the many fens and swampy paths of the northern coastline. The area around the capital city of Zevaran is more accessible, and much trade occurs between ships of the Throian merchant fleet and the Zevarani coastal traders. The city of Zevaran is the largest city by far in the land, and has almost as many canals as it has streets, with small boats plying up and down the waterlanes, hawking wares or carrying goods down to the harbor.