Athania

Finally, I wish to speak in brief about the current lay of the land. There are three main principalities within Athania, and each has its own peculiarities and customs. It is important that you understand these, for a person whom doesn't know that to steal in Danoria will cost him his hand may soon find himself answering to the nickname Stubbie. -- Tholaris

Calor

The Kingdom of Calor spans from Tornham's Hold in the south, north to the coast, and west to Brighton's Keep and Port Kaleer. The capital city is the port city of Vhelmar, and it is also the largest in the country. Calor is ruled over by King Rathan III -- a strong and fair-minded man whom has led his country to the highest level of prosperity it has ever seen. Under his rule, Calor has thrived. The roads are in good condition, there is little banditry on the highways, and trading relations are good with Atharia.

Calor is also the first -- and so far the only -- country to outlaw slavery within its borders. This last has created some tension between Rathan and Dauron Vilbrask -- the king of Atharia. For it is a well-known fact that Vilbrask keeps a palace full of young women slaves to serve his rather rapacious desires. Nevertheless, both men are smart enough to not let the issue of slavery interfere with the prosperous merchant traffic that flows between Vhelmar and Tanilon.

It is also worthy to note that Rathan is the first ruler of Calor ever to attempt to re-establish diplomatic relations with the tellurians. Progress is slow -- for the telurrians are a long-lived race, and not quick to forget or to forgive. But several meetings between tellurian emissaries from Nightmist Forest and Calorians have been held at Tornhams Hold, and this bodes well. Under Rathan, the tellurians living within Calor enjoy more freedom and protection than at any other time in Athanian history.

Atharia

The largest kingdom within Athania is Atharia. It stretches from Brighton's Keep in the west to the Covani River in the east. Atharia was built upon the remnants of the old Nevar Empire, and its cities and castles are some of the oldest in the land. In fact, to this day the great marble palace that Black King Geoff built in Tanilon over 300 years ago is still used. The society of Atharia is, in a word, decadent. The vast majority of the country's wealth is held in the hands of a few hundred nobilemen and merchants, while the vast majority of its population work in either indentured servitude or slavery. In the capital city of Tanilon gladiator events are held weekly, where slaves are forced to battle each other as well as foul monsters all for the perverse pleasure's of the city's rich and wealthy. Graft, corruption, and bribery are rampant in every aspect of Atharian business, as each person tries to claw their way up the backs of those above them while stepping on the hands of those below.

The Kingdom of Atharia is ruled over by King Vilbrask, a fat, bald man whom wears most of the king's treasury in jewelry whenever he goes out in public -- which is not too often. The King is counciled by Ephelias, a sly, conniving man whom is arguably one of the most powerful archmagi within all the land. Many whisper behind closed doors that Ephelias is the real ruler of Atharia, and Vilbrask merely his puppet. However, this is not the case. Vilbrask is a shrewd who keeps his own thoughts -- and though Ephelias is unquestionably powerful, it is Vilbrask whom ultimately has the final say in all matters of the state.

The royal army of Atharia are known as the Green Dragons, and they wear the Atharian colors of green and gold, and bear the royal dragon crest upon their shields. The Atharian army is still the largest within the land, numbering over 10,000. But it suffers from the same corruption that pervades all of Atharia, and has grown weak over the centuries -- some say too weak.

Danoria

The eastern portion of the continent now lies within the kingdom of Danoria, and it is not a friendly place. Thirty years ago, Danoria was known as Tamar, and its last king -- Naret Bhandel, died without a heir. For the next fifteen years, the four largest families within the country -- the House of Feshail, the Houst of Iodan, the House of Danar, and the House of Bolash -- fought and squabbled with each other for control of the country. During the interim, the kingdom was ruled by a council of representatives from each of the four houses, whom more often than not fell to such petty arguing and bickering that few things were ever decided upon.

It was during this time that a young nobleman from the house of Danar -- Gethpin Danar -- grew into manhood. He was quick witted, charismatic, and clever. In meetings held with each of the other three houses, over a period of time Gethpin convinced the other families that Tamar was quickly falling into ruin without a single strong leader -- and that the families would never come to agree amongst themselves who should rule the country. He convinced them that an arbiter should be called upon from outside the country. All of the senior members of each family would gather for a grand banquet, the arbiter would listen to lengthy discourses from each family stating the reasons why they would be most fit to run the country, and then decide. The arbiter's decision would be final, and Tamar would once again finally have a single, strong rulership. This seemed the wisest course of action to all of the families, and a neutral meeting place was decided upon -- Twin Moon Mansion in the town of Veelon, on the edge of the Lake of Tears.

The banquet was held. All of the senior members of each family were present, and it was an affair the likes of which the small town of Veelon had never seen. During the banquet, Gethpin received a message that his wife -- at home in Fanelle -- had taken ill, and then he must tend to her immediately. Excusing himself, he asked his younger brother Hainar to take his place, and departed.

Throughout the night, the nobilemen talked and argued, each pleading their case before the arbiter from Seluvial. Unbeknownst to the banquet members though, an immense storm was gathering strength over the Lake of Tears. All night the storm grew in strength, and out of it's fury a giant wave larger than any ever seen by mankind was born in the center of the lake. The wave rushed with terrible ferocity across the lake, building in size and fury as it traveled. It was reported by witnesses that when the wave crashed into Veelon, it was hundreds of feet hight and stretched for miles in either direction. The town of Veelon was devasted -- the Twin Moon Mansion utterly destroyed -- and every nobileman within killed. Suddenly, Danar Gethpin found himself the sole nobileman with enough forces to rule the country -- and so he did.

He siezed the country like a sword, and over the next ten years set about remaking the country in the image of himself and his House. The country was renamed to Danoria, and swordfish bay became The Bay of Danar. Gethpin set up martial law throughout the country, and quickly enacted laws to force his militia to grow. It is now the law within Danoria that every male whom is physically fit must enter into the Danorian Milita when he reaches the age of 17, and once there must serve a term of at least five years. The Danorian Military is known as the Blackswords -- and they are everywhere. Each person must now obtain written credentials to travel from one city to another, and the Blackswords may stop anyone at anytime to verify those credentials. The laws within Danoria are strict, and punishment is usually severe. To speak against the country may cost you your tongue, and to speak against King Danar himself is treason -- punishable by death.

It is rumored that Gethpin Danar is counciled by a Lightning Wizard -- a man that proportedly came out of Darkelm. Whether this is true or not no one can say, for no one has ever seen this phantom wizard. However, it is wise not to repeat such rumors in public -- at least within the country itself. However, there is much truth to the speculation that the storm that blew up on the Lake of Tears that fateful night was not natural in origin, and could only have been created by the forces of magic.

And so there you are. I hope this little excerpt has been helpful. As you travel throughout Athania, remember what I have told you here, and use this knowledge well. For knowledge gives you strength... and in Athania, only the strong will survive.
-- Tholaris