THE MATERIAL PLANE
CIVILISATIONS PAST AND FUTURE, THROUGH THE AGES
Introduction
Through the many ages, many great kingdoms had come and go, rising to power and falling to ruin. Through the many ages, the many varied races of this world waxed and waned, fighting with each other, amongst themselves, or cooperating together to build sprawling civilisations. Much of this world lies untamed, with a few thriving hubs of civilisation, ruled now in majority by Mankind, in their age.
The continents were named long ago, in an ancient Draconic tongue from the First Age of Dragonkind, and these names have slowly filtered down, warped, and sometimes changed, to the ones used today. The names provided are those used predominantly in the Great Kingdom of Rivian.
Dacrame, the Known World
Named originally Dir Kromea, literally the Iridescent (colourful) Land.
Dacrame is the land upon the Great Blue Sea, the stronghold of civilisation since the Age of Steel. At its beating heart lies the still strong remanant of a great empire, serving as the centre of trade and culture of the western world. The land is fractured, many kings and emperors ruling small parcels of land, locked in endless competition. Here is young ideas flourish: the pantheons of Gods both old and new; the philosophy of morality, thought, and existence, all discussed, pondered and written into scriptures that would fit great libraries for powerful kings.
Comparatively, though, Dacrame harbours younger empires than several other places within the Material Plane.
The borders of Dacrame stretches from the Insel Fries in the west, to the Drakou and further the Jugalvisk mountains in the East, from the furthest south island of Hélios to where civilisation ends in the North.
Aseron, the Lands Far East
Named Asiiron, literally 'of Asyr Shai', generally meaning Homeland of God. In Yan Asyrian, it is named Anzhou, 'Asyr's Continent'
The lands of Aseron are mysterious and ancient, with a history and a civilisation spanning multiple millenia, back to the first Age, the Age of Fire. Trade flows between here and the west, however tentatively, under the whim of the Golden Khaganate and Parsor, and the most the West and Rivian will see will be Ancient Empire silks and pottery, and the most they will hear will be the legends and stories from there. Closer to home is Parsor, the Empire of Sun and Twisted Flax, which has in history butted heads with both Rivenians, Elyrians and recently the Khaganate. Their lands are dry and arid, and their cities are mighty citadels which host the king of kings.
None known have yet dared the perilous journey east, but rumours say that should they make it, they will be welcomed into the Ancient Empire of the East, where the palaces and temples are gold and blue shingle, and all, even dragonkind, bow to their Emperor, Son of Heaven.
Aseron stretches from where Dacrame ends, all the way far east, past the borders of the Ancient Empire, to a great sea beyond.
Marakar, the Realm of Forever Winter
Named originally Mara Kae, roughly Only Winter.
North of the Insel Fries, north of the Visigean Tribes and Tarkarvia, is a hostile place covered in eternal winter. The Kingdoms in Dacrame know only that their north shore borders a frigid sea, beyond which is presumed to be a vast archipelago, the lands getting colder and colder with each step further. Those in Aseron know of an unexplored and hostile land, past the Dongping shore, where mysterious tribes peoples practice their eldritch rituals. This hostile place is far beyond the control of any established empire, whether that be Rivian, Frisia, the Ancient Empire, or the Khaganate.
Stories are told of wild tribesmen who repel any attempts at diplomacy, and raiders occasionally hitting Northern shores. Their makeup, as well, isn't human, being fierce otherworldly creatures and human like beings. The most temperate land within Marakar is a frigid island named by the Fries as Coubarousz, after the Cumbrions, the only tribe of these north peoples who seem to be receptive to diplomacy. Still, any attempt at establishing more advanced relations have failed.
Marakar stretches East to West from Coubarousz to the northern tip of Tcalmatka, in Aseron. To the north is completely unknown, and people have theorised that Marakar ends in a great wall of ice, the end of the world.
Qara Qai, Land of the Fifth Sun
Tclan qar qat'tcelinca anochtit athlan!
Qara Qai is the only truly unknown lands. None from the known world have set foot in this place. No legends speak of it, no folklore suggests its existence. It is, in this, truly isolated.
Qara Qai is a lush continent, sparsely populated, with few Kingdoms, and many uncivilised tribes migrating across its great forests and plains.
There are only two true kingdoms, those who could rival some realms in Dacrame. Qetzlan, an empire of peoples who through the ages and profane rituals, are now more serpentine than human; and Aakcarin, a republic of elves, aasimar, and other races somewhat of a rarity in the old world.
Sea of Shattered Stars
Named after the sparse islands that inhabit the sea
Surrounding Aseron is an endless sea. Travelling east, the continent breaks up and makes way for countless islands, scattered over a stretch of ocean so vast none from the mainland have crossed it.
These islands range from the size of craggy rocks to tens of miles wide, and the Asyrians have termed these islands the "Shattered Stars". Thus, arises the name of the sea.
The Sea of Shattered Stars is sparsely populated, and the seas and islands are often home to ferocious beasts, that make human colonisation difficult if not impossible. No great power known has established itself within these islands, and the distance between them make even flight difficult.
Of the habitable islands, ordinary people make up the comparative minority, with most people possessing either some magical or martial ability. The idea of State and Empire has never permeated this realm, and islands are often controlled by martial clans and magical sects, than kings and emperors.
