Noverra

The continent of Noverra was known for its diverse range of flora and fauna.

Ancient Noverra was a vastly different place to what it is now. It was home to a variety of indigenous tribes, each with their own beliefs, customs, and practices. These tribes lived in harmony with the bountiful flora and fauna that existed in the form of rainforest-style jungle and vast open plains. The land was rich in resources, and the tribes used them wisely and sustainably.

As the centuries progressed, these tribes began to develop their own unique cultures, languages, and settlements. Despite their differences, they lived in relative peace and harmony. That was until traders from Arius arrived on the shores of Noverra. They were fascinated by the exotic lands and people they encountered. They soon set up trade with the locals, exchanging goods and knowledge. This interaction with the outside world brought new ideas and technologies to Noverra. Over time, the tribes began to adopt these innovations, leading to a new era of growth and development.

The five countries that make up modern-day Noverra then began to take shape. They had each developed their own unique identities, cultures, and economies. They were still relatively isolated from each other, but trade and diplomacy kept them in contact.

When the technological revolution came the countries of Noverra began to harness the power of water and steam, leading to the development of rudimentary factories and machinery. This new technology helped to provide greater efficiency in agriculture, transportation, and manufacturing. It also allowed for the growth of cities and towns, as people migrated from the countryside in search of work.

Vandria was the first to undergo a cultural revolution. They embraced religion and a new way of life, leading to a golden age of art, architecture, and knowledge. This country became known as the centre of learning and a beacon of light in the world.

Despite this period of innovation and growth, the countries of Noverra were still prone to conflict. They fought several minor wars over resources and territory. But around 60 years ago they erupted into a full-scale war. The conflict began over a dispute over the rich and fertile land along the major river that bisected the continent. The five countries saw this land as crucial to their continued growth and prosperity. They fought a bloody war for over 50 years, with no clear victor emerging.

Today, Noverra is a land divided. Its once-bountiful resources have been depleted, and its people are exhausted from years of war. The countries of Noverra struggle to rebuild and find a new path forward amidst the ruins of a once-great civilisation.

Vandria: The Heart of Noverra

Vandria, often called "The Cradle of Knowledge", is a nation defined by its deep connection to both history and nature. Nestled along the vast central river that bisects Noverra, Vandria’s lands range from dense rainforest to fertile floodplains, making it one of the most resource-rich regions on the continent. It was here that the first great cities of Noverra rose, built upon the foundations of the indigenous tribes who once thrived in harmony with the land.

History and Culture

Vandria was the first of Noverra’s nations to fully embrace the influence of foreign traders from Arius. Its people, naturally curious and adaptable, integrated new technologies and ideas into their own traditions. As a result, Vandria became the continent’s foremost centre of learning, religion, and art. The capital, Illvaris, is home to grand temples, sprawling libraries, and universities dedicated to philosophy, history, and the sciences. Vandrians see themselves as the custodians of Noverran identity, preserving ancient knowledge even as the modern world continues to change.

Vandria’s Cultural Revolution, which began centuries ago, transformed the nation into a beacon of enlightenment. Religion played a central role in shaping society, with Vandria developing a structured belief system that merged native spiritualism with influences from Arius. Great cathedrals and towering monuments still stand as testaments to this period, drawing scholars and pilgrims from across Noverra.

Geography and Economy

The Great River of Vandria is the nation's lifeblood, providing fertile soil for agriculture and a crucial artery for trade. Before the war, Vandria was known for its thriving farmlands, vast plantations, and sophisticated irrigation networks. However, the long conflict over the river's fertile banks devastated the landscape, leaving once-prosperous towns in ruins.

Despite this hardship, Vandria remains a key economic power. Its surviving cities are centres of commerce and industry, producing textiles, refined metals, and luxury goods such as fine art and religious artefacts. The Vandrian Steamworks, a network of river-driven factories, helped propel the nation into the modern era, though many of these industrial centres suffered heavy damage during the war.

The War and Its Aftermath

Vandria played a central role in the Great Noverran War, both as a battleground and as one of the leading powers in the conflict. The war began over control of the fertile river valley, and Vandria, with its deep historical claim to the region, refused to back down. The fighting raged across its lands for decades, leaving much of the country in ruins. Once-thriving rainforests were burned or stripped for resources, and entire generations were lost to the conflict.

Though Vandria never secured a decisive victory, it also never suffered total defeat. By the war’s end, it remained a formidable power, but its people were weary, its economy strained, and its religious and academic institutions divided on how to proceed. Today, Vandria stands at a crossroads, torn between rebuilding what was lost, embracing a new era, or seeking vengeance against its rivals.

Modern Vandria

Vandria remains a proud nation, but its future is uncertain. The war left behind scars that have yet to heal, both physically and culturally. Many of its people still cling to the old ways, seeing their traditions as the key to restoring the nation’s former glory. Others believe Vandria must evolve, forging new alliances and abandoning its more rigid customs.

Despite its struggles, Vandria continues to be a leader in education, philosophy, and the arts. Its grand universities are still active, though their influence has waned, and its religious institutions remain powerful, though fractured. The nation’s fate now rests on whether it can rise from the ashes of war and reclaim its status as the guiding light of Noverra.

Kostira: The Warlords of the Eastern Reaches

Kostira, the easternmost nation of Noverra, is a land shaped by conflict, ambition, and resilience. Once home to nomadic warrior tribes that roamed the open plains and jungle fringes, it has since evolved into a nation renowned for its martial prowess and unyielding spirit. Unlike Vandria’s scholarly traditions or the mercantile focus of its neighbors, Kostira has always valued strength above all else. Even in times of peace, its people remain ever vigilant, their identity forged in the crucible of war.

History and Culture

Kostira’s origins lie in the ancient clans that once dominated the eastern plains and highland regions beyond the great rainforest. These tribes, hardened by a life of constant struggle, lived by a warrior’s code, one of honor, duty, and conquest. When the Arianians arrived on Noverra’s shores, the Kostirans were among the first to challenge them. While they could not prevent foreign traders from gaining a foothold, they adapted swiftly, incorporating new weapons, tactics, and strategies into their own brutal style of warfare.

Unlike Vandria, which embraced foreign customs, Kostira absorbed only what made it stronger. Its people remained fiercely independent, wary of outside influence. However, the growing conflicts over resources and territory forced the Kostiran warbands to unite, forging the first semblance of a true nation. The warrior clans merged under a ruling caste of Warlords, powerful leaders chosen through combat and cunning rather than noble birth. Even today, Kostira’s political structure reflects this brutal meritocracy, only the strongest and most capable may rule.

Kostiran culture is deeply tied to concepts of loyalty, discipline, and personal honor. Their legends tell of warriors who never surrendered, of battles fought against impossible odds, and of leaders who led by example, wielding the same weapons as their soldiers. Even in modern times, the idea of proving one’s worth through battle remains central to Kostiran identity, though today’s conflicts are often waged in politics and economics rather than on the battlefield.

Geography and Economy

Kostira’s lands are as unforgiving as its people. The eastern plains, once home to vast herds of wild beasts, are now dotted with fortified cities and sprawling industrial complexes. Though the great rainforest encroaches upon its western border, much of Kostira is made up of savannah, rocky highlands, and rolling grasslands, making agriculture difficult outside the fertile riverbanks.

Lacking the natural abundance of Vandria or the coastal advantages of its neighbors, Kostira turned toward industry and warfare to sustain itself. During the early years of industrialization, the nation focused on armaments, metalworking, and heavy industry, producing some of the most advanced weapons, steam-powered vehicles, and fortified structures in Noverra. The Kostiran Steelworks remain among the largest on the continent, exporting high-quality steel and machinery to other nations, sometimes even to former enemies.

However, the scars of the Great Noverran War run deep in Kostira. While the nation’s economy survived by sheer determination and its war-driven industry, the people suffered greatly. The war drained the population, forced entire generations into military service, and devastated key production centers. Despite this, Kostira remains resilient, slowly rebuilding itself into a formidable power once more.

The War and Its Aftermath

Kostira was one of the most aggressive participants in the Great Noverran War, believing that the fertile riverlands at the heart of the continent rightfully belonged to those strong enough to claim them. For decades, Kostiran armies fought with relentless discipline, utilizing superior tactics and industrialized warfare to seize strategic territory.

Yet, for all its military success, Kostira was ultimately unable to secure a decisive victory. The war dragged on, grinding its armies down in a brutal war of attrition. By the time the conflict ended, Kostira had gained little and lost much. Entire cities had been reduced to rubble, resources were stretched thin, and even the warrior caste began to question whether their sacrifices had been in vain.

In the war’s aftermath, Kostira has struggled to redefine itself. While still a militarized society, there is growing unrest among its people. Some believe the nation should turn its strength toward rebuilding and diplomacy, forging alliances rather than seeking conquest. Others argue that Kostira must reclaim its former glory, preparing for the next inevitable conflict. This divide has led to political instability, as rival warlords and industrial magnates vie for control over the nation’s future.

Modern Kostira

Today, Kostira is a nation at a crossroads. While its industrial sector remains strong, the wounds of war have not fully healed. Cities are being rebuilt, new generations of warriors are being trained, and the ruling warlords debate how best to ensure Kostira’s survival in a rapidly changing world.

Despite its struggles, Kostira remains one of the most disciplined and formidable nations of Noverra. Its military is still the envy of many, its steelworks supply much of the continent’s infrastructure, and its people continue to embody the iron-willed resilience that has defined them for centuries.

Whether Kostira chooses the path of diplomacy or once again takes up the sword, one thing is certain, it will not be ignored.

Kostira: The Warlords of the Eastern Reaches

Kostira, the easternmost nation of Noverra, is a land shaped by conflict, ambition, and resilience. Once home to nomadic warrior tribes that roamed the open plains and jungle fringes, it has since evolved into a nation renowned for its martial prowess and unyielding spirit. Unlike Vandria's scholarly traditions or the mercantile focus of its neighbours, Kostira has always valued strength above all else. Even in times of peace, its people remain ever vigilant, their identity forged in the crucible of war.

History and Culture

Kostira's origins lie in the ancient clans that once dominated the eastern plains and highland regions beyond the great rainforest. These tribes, hardened by a life of constant struggle, lived by a warrior's code, one of honour, duty, and conquest. When the Arianians arrived on Noverra's shores, the Kostirans were among the first to challenge them. While they could not prevent foreign traders from gaining a foothold, they adapted swiftly, incorporating new weapons, tactics, and strategies into their own brutal style of warfare.

Unlike Vandria, which embraced foreign customs, Kostira absorbed only what made it stronger. Its people remained fiercely independent, wary of outside influence. However, the growing conflicts over resources and territory forced the Kostiran warbands to unite, forging the first semblance of a true nation. The warrior clans merged under a ruling caste of Warlords, powerful leaders chosen through combat and cunning rather than noble birth. Even today, Kostira's political structure reflects this brutal meritocracy; only the strongest and most capable may rule.

Kostiran culture is deeply tied to concepts of loyalty, discipline, and personal honour. Their legends tell of warriors who never surrendered, of battles fought against impossible odds, and of leaders who led by example, wielding the same weapons as their soldiers. Even in modern times, the idea of proving one's worth through battle remains central to Kostiran identity, though today's conflicts are often waged in politics and economics rather than on the battlefield.

Geography and Economy

Kostira's lands are as unforgiving as its people. The eastern plains, once home to vast herds of wild beasts, are now dotted with fortified cities and sprawling industrial complexes. Though the great rainforest encroaches upon its western border, much of Kostira is made up of savannah, rocky highlands, and rolling grasslands, making agriculture difficult outside the fertile riverbanks.

Lacking the natural abundance of Vandria or the coastal advantages of its neighbours, Kostira turned toward industry and warfare to sustain itself. During the early years of industrialisation, the nation focused on armaments, metalworking, and heavy industry, producing some of the most advanced weapons, steam-powered vehicles, and fortified structures in Noverra. The Kostiran Steelworks remain among the largest on the continent, exporting high-quality steel and machinery to other nations, sometimes even to former enemies.

However, the scars of the Great Noverran War run deep in Kostira. While the nation's economy survived by sheer determination and its war-driven industry, the people suffered greatly. The war drained the population, forced entire generations into military service, and devastated key production centres. Despite this, Kostira remains resilient, slowly rebuilding itself into a formidable power once more.

The War and Its Aftermath

Kostira was one of the most aggressive participants in the Great Noverran War, believing that the fertile riverlands at the heart of the continent rightfully belonged to those strong enough to claim them. For decades, Kostiran armies fought with relentless discipline, utilising superior tactics and industrialised warfare to seize strategic territory.

Yet, for all its military success, Kostira was ultimately unable to secure a decisive victory. The war dragged on, grinding its armies down in a brutal war of attrition. By the time the conflict ended, Kostira had gained little and lost much. Entire cities had been reduced to rubble, resources were stretched thin, and even the warrior caste began to question whether their sacrifices had been in vain.

In the war's aftermath, Kostira has struggled to redefine itself. While still a militarised society, there is growing unrest among its people. Some believe the nation should turn its strength toward rebuilding and diplomacy, forging alliances rather than seeking conquest. Others argue that Kostira must reclaim its former glory, preparing for the next inevitable conflict. This divide has led to political instability, as rival warlords and industrial magnates vie for control over the nation's future.

Modern Kostira

Today, Kostira is a nation at a crossroads. While its industrial sector remains strong, the wounds of war have not fully healed. Cities are being rebuilt, new generations of warriors are being trained, and the ruling warlords debate how best to ensure Kostira's survival in a rapidly changing world.

Despite its struggles, Kostira remains one of the most disciplined and formidable nations of Noverra. Its military is still the envy of many, its steelworks supply much of the continent's infrastructure, and its people continue to embody the iron-willed resilience that has defined them for centuries.

Whether Kostira chooses the path of diplomacy or once again takes up the sword, one thing is certain, it will not be ignored.

Zanora: The Merchant Princes of the Southern Coast

Zanora, the jewel of Noverra's southern coastline, is a land of trade, wealth, and ambition. Unlike the warlike Kostirans or the scholarly Vandrians, the Zanorans built their nation not through conquest, but through commerce. For centuries, its bustling ports and grand markets have made it the gateway between Noverra and the wider world, its influence felt in every corner of the continent. Yet beneath the gilded façade of prosperity lies a history of intrigue, shifting alliances, and ruthless competition.

History and Culture

The ancestors of modern Zanorans were once a collection of coastal fishing villages, isolated from the great plains and rainforests of the continent's interior. These early communities, however, had an undeniable advantage: access to the sea. Long before the arrival of Ariusian traders, Zanoran sailors explored distant shores, establishing early trade routes with other indigenous tribes. When the first Arianians landed on Noverran soil, they did so on Zanoran shores, where they were welcomed not as conquerors, but as business partners.

While the inland nations of Noverra viewed the foreign traders with suspicion, the Zanorans saw opportunity. They quickly adapted to Arianian technologies, shipbuilding techniques, and financial systems, turning their coastal settlements into thriving trade hubs. Over time, the once-independent city-states of the southern coast coalesced into a single nation, bound together by mutual economic interests rather than military conquest. The ruling class of Zanora did not emerge from kings or warlords, but from merchant families, powerful dynasties who controlled trade routes, shipping fleets, and banking houses.

Zanoran culture reflects this deeply ingrained mercantile tradition. Wealth is seen as the ultimate marker of success, and ambition is prized above all else. From a young age, Zanorans are taught the arts of negotiation, investment, and deception. Business acumen is respected as much as military strength in other nations, and a sharp mind is considered deadlier than a blade. In politics, diplomacy, and commerce, the ability to outmanoeuvre one's rivals is the highest form of skill.

Despite their reputation for cunning, Zanorans are also known for their cosmopolitanism and appreciation for art, fashion, and philosophy. As the first point of contact for many foreign traders, they have incorporated diverse influences into their society, making their cities some of the most culturally vibrant in Noverra. While the aristocrats of Vandria build grand cathedrals and the warlords of Kostira construct fortresses, the merchant princes of Zanora commission breathtaking palaces, operas, and sprawling market districts that rival anything found in Arius itself.

Geography and Economy

Zanora's geography is uniquely suited to its role as a trade empire. Located along the warm southern coast, it boasts natural harbours, fertile coastal plains, and a temperate climate ideal for agriculture and shipping. The great rainforest that dominates central Noverra ends just beyond Zanora's borders, allowing for open trade routes inland while also providing access to rare and valuable resources.

The nation's economy is built on trade, finance, and craftsmanship. Unlike Kostira, which thrives on heavy industry and military production, or Vandria, which specialises in knowledge and religion, Zanora's wealth comes from its control of commerce. Its vast merchant fleet dominates the waters of Noverra, carrying goods from one end of the continent to the other. Every major trade route, whether by land or sea, passes through Zanoran hands, ensuring that its merchant houses remain powerful.

The Zanoran Banking Consortium, a collection of powerful financial institutions, is one of the most influential organisations in Noverra. Many nations, including their former enemies, rely on Zanoran banks to fund infrastructure projects, trade expeditions, and even military campaigns. This has made Zanora politically untouchable, as any attempt to invade or disrupt its trade would cripple not just its own economy, but that of its neighbours as well.

The War and Its Aftermath

Unlike the other nations of Noverra, Zanora did not engage directly in the Great Noverran War. Instead, it played a dangerous game—funding, arming, and profiting from both sides while remaining neutral. Zanoran merchants sold weapons to Kostira, supplied food to Vandria, and brokered secret deals with every faction involved. As a result, when the war finally ended, Zanora emerged not as a battered nation struggling to rebuild, but as the single wealthiest and most stable power on the continent.

However, this strategy came at a cost. While the war-torn nations relied on Zanoran money to recover, they also resented its opportunism. Some saw it as a necessary evil, while others viewed it as shameless profiteering. In the years since the war, tensions have simmered beneath the surface, with some nations seeking to reduce their dependence on Zanoran trade and finance.

Recognising this, Zanora has begun shifting its approach. While it still wields economic dominance, it has made efforts to present itself as a peacemaker, funding reconstruction efforts, mediating disputes, and investing in infrastructure projects that benefit all of Noverra. Whether this is genuine goodwill or simply another calculated move remains a matter of debate.

Modern Zanora

Today, Zanora stands as Noverra's economic powerhouse, its influence felt in every corner of the continent. Its merchant fleets continue to grow, its banks remain indispensable, and its cultural institutions attract the brightest minds from across the world. While other nations struggle with political instability and economic hardship, Zanora enjoys an era of unprecedented prosperity.

Yet challenges loom on the horizon. Some within the merchant elite fear that their enemies may one day unite against them, resentful of their wartime profiteering. Others worry that Zanora has become complacent, too reliant on wealth alone to maintain its power. In the shadowy halls of its grand trading houses, powerful families plot their next moves, seeking to ensure that Zanora remains untouchable, no matter the cost.

Whether it continues to thrive as Noverra's financial heart or is eventually undone by its own ambition remains to be seen. One thing, however, is certain: Zanora never bets on a losing hand.

Ormecia: The Emerald Frontier

Ormecia, the land of dense rainforests, untamed rivers, and ancient traditions, is Noverra’s wild heart. Of all the nations on the continent, it is the one that has remained closest to its pre-Ariusian past. While other nations embraced industry, finance, and militarism, Ormecia clung to its deep connection with the land, resisting outside influence longer than any of its neighbours. It is a nation of contrasts, where sprawling cities rise amidst the jungle canopy and where ancestral traditions blend with the demands of an increasingly modern world.

Once seen as a land of mystery and danger, Ormecia has become a vital part of Noverra’s balance. It provides the continent with the raw materials that fuel its progress while also acting as a guardian of Noverra’s past. Yet, as industry and progress threaten to consume what remains of its great wilderness, the question looms: how long can Ormecia resist the march of time?

History and Culture

Ormecia’s history is one of resilience. Long before the arrival of Ariusian traders, the people of this land formed a vast network of jungle tribes, bound together by a shared reverence for the natural world. Their shamans, warrior-priests, and scholars were the keepers of knowledge passed down for generations, believing that the land itself was alive and that to harm it carelessly was to bring disaster upon oneself.

The first Ariusian traders who ventured into the Ormecian rainforest found people who were not hostile, but neither were they eager to embrace outside influence. Unlike the coastal Zanoran merchants, who welcomed foreign trade, or the ambitious Kostiran warlords, who sought power through conquest, the Ormecians saw change as something to be feared as much as it was to be embraced.

For centuries, Ormecia resisted external rule. While neighbouring nations adopted Ariusian technologies and political structures, Ormecia remained decentralised, governed by a loose confederation of tribes and city-states, each with its own laws and traditions. This changed when the demand for exotic goods, medicinal plants, and rare minerals from the rainforest grew. Seeing their homeland at risk of being carved apart by foreign interests, the Ormecian tribes united under a single banner for the first time in their history, forming a government that could negotiate as equals with the other nations of Noverra.

Today, Ormecia is a nation divided between tradition and progress. While its cities grow and industry slowly spreads, many Ormecians remain deeply tied to their ancestral ways, wary of the cost of modernisation. Some seek to integrate into the wider world, while others believe that Ormecia must remain apart, lest it lose its soul to the same forces that devastated other parts of the continent.

Geography and Economy

Ormecia is defined by its great rainforest, which covers much of the land, making it the least industrialised nation in Noverra. Unlike the fertile fields of Vandria or the bustling ports of Zanora, Ormecia’s wealth lies in its natural resources. Its vast jungles contain rare woods, medicinal plants, and gemstones, many of which cannot be found anywhere else on the continent.

Despite its reluctance to embrace full-scale industrialisation, Ormecia is a crucial part of Noverra’s economy. Its timber, precious metals, and exotic goods are sought after across the continent, and its vast rivers make it a key transportation hub for trade between the inland nations and the coast. However, its government has placed strict limits on deforestation and mining, fearing that unchecked exploitation will destroy the very land that sustains them. This has led to frequent clashes between conservationists and industrialists, both within Ormecia and beyond its borders.

Agriculture in Ormecia is unique compared to other nations. Rather than vast farmland, the Ormecians cultivate their crops within the jungle itself, using sustainable farming techniques that allow them to produce food without clearing large sections of land. They are also known for their advanced herbal medicine, which has been studied and adapted by doctors across Noverra.

The War and Its Aftermath

Ormecia’s role in the Great Noverran War was complex. Though its people had little interest in expansion or conquest, the rainforest’s resources made it a battleground for the warring factions. Vandria, seeking rare plants for medicine and dyes, sought to establish trade posts deep in Ormecian territory. Kostira, in desperate need of raw materials for its war machine, attempted to seize key mining regions. Even Zanora, despite its supposed neutrality, funded private expeditions to secure its own stake in Ormecia’s wealth.

The Ormecians, unwilling to be pawns in another nation’s war, fiercely resisted outside interference. Though they lacked the industrialised armies of their neighbours, their guerrilla warfare tactics, combined with their knowledge of the land, made them nearly impossible to conquer. The jungles swallowed entire battalions of foreign soldiers, and many learned that Ormecia could not be claimed by force.

However, the war left lasting scars. The conflict caused widespread environmental destruction and, even after the war ended, foreign corporations, many backed by Zanoran and Kostiran interests, continued to exploit Ormecia’s resources. In the post-war years, this has led to mounting tensions, as the nation struggles to balance economic survival with environmental preservation.

Modern Ormecia

Today, Ormecia stands as a nation at a crossroads. On one side are those who believe that Ormecia must embrace modernisation, harnessing its resources to build a future where it can stand as an equal to the great nations of Noverra. On the other are the traditionalists, who warn that to abandon the old ways would mean the death of Ormecia’s spirit.

Its cities, though smaller than those of Vandria or Kostira, are among the most beautiful in the world, built into the landscape rather than against it. Great wooden structures rise amidst the canopy, connected by hanging bridges and intricate walkways. Even the most industrialised parts of the country blend with nature, reflecting the Ormecian belief that progress should not come at the cost of harmony with the land.

However, the challenges ahead are great. Foreign interests still seek to carve up the rainforest for profit, and not all Ormecians agree on how to handle the growing pressure from the outside world. Some have begun cooperating with international businesses, while others have turned to eco-sabotage and resistance movements to fight back against those they see as threats to their homeland.

Ormecia remains one of the most unique nations in Noverra, a land where ancient traditions and modern ambitions exist in uneasy balance. Whether it can maintain that balance or be forced into choosing one path over the other is a question that will define its future.

Tzantil: The Blood-Stained Throne

Tzantil is a land of contrasts and contradictions, where the echoes of the past still shape the present. Once the most powerful kingdom in Noverra, it was the first to rise and the hardest to fall. Tzantil’s history is one of conquest, ambition, and betrayal, a tale of warlords who forged empires and kings who watched them crumble. Its people are hardened by centuries of strife, carrying both the pride of their ancestors and the scars of their failures. Though its golden age has long since passed, Tzantil remains a formidable force, a nation of warriors, strategists, and survivors, forever seeking to reclaim its former glory. Even now, in a world weary of war, Tzantil refuses to bow.

History and Culture

Tzantil’s origins lie in the great warrior clans that once roamed the central plains of Noverra. Before the arrival of Ariusian traders, these clans waged endless battles for dominance, forging a culture built on strength, discipline, and loyalty. When the first city-states formed, they were not built for trade or diplomacy, but as fortresses, bastions of power ruled by warlords who sought to unite the land under their banners. And one of them did.

The great warlord Ixomel the Conqueror led a campaign that saw nearly all of central and southern Noverra brought under Tzantil’s rule. It was an age of blood and iron, where diplomacy was backed by the threat of overwhelming force. But like all empires built on war, Tzantil’s dominion could not last forever. As the other nations of Noverra developed their own strengths, Vandria through knowledge, Zanora through trade, Ormecia through unity with the land, Tzantil’s reliance on military might proved to be both its greatest weapon and its fatal flaw.

Over the centuries, internal strife and external conflicts weakened the empire. The Great Noverran War was the final blow. Once a dominant power, Tzantil found itself locked in a conflict it could no longer control. The war left it in ruins, its armies spent, its economy shattered, its people divided. The once-great empire was reduced to a fractured kingdom, struggling to hold itself together in a world that had moved on from its old ways.

Yet, despite all this, Tzantil has never truly been defeated. Even in decline, its warriors remain among the most feared in Noverra, its generals among the most brilliant, and its people among the most unyielding.

Geography and Economy

Tzantil lies in the southern plains of Noverra, a land of rolling grasslands, rugged hills, and blood-soaked battlefields. Its climate is harsh, with hot summers, bitter winters, and little in between. The land is rich in minerals, iron, and coal, but lacks the fertile farmland of Vandria or the rainforest wealth of Ormecia. It is a land built for war, where survival demands strength and discipline.

Unlike Zanora’s sprawling trade networks or Kostira’s industrial wealth, Tzantil’s economy was historically built around military conquest. In its prime, it sustained itself through tribute, plunder, and forced labour. When its empire collapsed, so too did its economy.

Today, Tzantil struggles to find its place in a world that no longer rewards conquest. Its greatest export is mercenaries, battle-hardened warriors who sell their skills to the highest bidder. Many Tzantilans, unable to find work in their homeland, serve as soldiers, bodyguards, or enforcers across Noverra. Others have turned to organised crime, creating powerful syndicates that operate both inside and outside their borders.

Despite its hardships, Tzantil is adapting. Some warlords have turned their forges towards industry, repurposing old weapons factories into steel mills and machine works. Others have begun exploiting their land’s mineral wealth, supplying iron and coal to the very nations that once sought to destroy them. And still, there are those who whisper of a return to the old ways, that Tzantil’s true destiny lies not in trade or diplomacy, but in war.

The War and Its Aftermath

No nation suffered more in the Great Noverran War than Tzantil. Once the most militarised power on the continent, it found itself stretched too thin, fighting on multiple fronts against enemies who had outgrown its brute-force tactics. What was supposed to be a war of dominance became a war of survival. By the time the fighting ended, Tzantil had lost nearly half its land, its economy was in ruins, and its people were starving.

But Tzantil did not break.

Its warriors fought to the bitter end, and even in defeat, they refused surrender. The post-war years were marked by chaos, as rival warlords fought for control, each claiming to be the rightful heir to the old empire. It was only through sheer resilience and bloodshed that a fragile peace was restored. Today, Tzantil is ruled by a military council, a collection of former generals and warlords who maintain control through a mix of strategy and fear. It is not an ideal system, but it is the only thing holding the nation together.

The scars of the war are still fresh. Many Tzantilans believe they were betrayed—by allies who abandoned them, by leaders who failed them, and by a world that sought to erase them. This has fuelled a deep sense of nationalism, as well as a growing divide between those who seek to rebuild through diplomacy and those who dream of reclaiming their lost glory through war.

Modern Tzantil

Tzantil today is a nation of survivors. Its people are hardened, its leaders pragmatic, and its culture unyielding. It is no longer the empire it once was, but it is not yet willing to accept its fate as a broken relic of the past.

Its cities are fortresses rather than metropolises, with high walls and watchtowers still standing as reminders of a time when war was a way of life. Even in peacetime, Tzantilans train for battle, believing that strength is the only true safeguard against destruction. Their warriors are among the best in the world, their generals unmatched in strategy, and their blacksmiths still produce some of the finest weapons and armour in Noverra.

But for all its strength, Tzantil is at a crossroads. Will it adapt and find a place in the modern world, forging a new destiny for itself? Or will it seek to reclaim its past, plunging Noverra into war once more?

One thing is certain: Tzantil will not go quietly.