Ardania

Ardania is the wealthiest kingdom of Tilia, lying on a mostly flat region of land, with many deep woods, plains and moors. The region is populated by humans, which have created a place for themselves by eradicating many other species in order to raise their own cities and villages. Most people of Ardania are simple peasants that have lived their lives modestly and plainly, but above them lay the nobles and royalty, which rule the kingdom.

Although Ardania has a single ruler, anyone beneath the rank of a noble is likely to not be affected by politics of that scale, instead responding directly to their landlords who are renting out their properties and farms. Because of the crowded, dirty and poor way of living in most cities, commoners have short lifespans and low expectations for their lives.

The lives of nobles, however, are terribly different. A noble is determined by their family and last name. They generally live in the cities of Ardania, which are bursting with life and opportunity, if one can afford it. The capital of Ardania, New Vennen, is a contrast of great decadence and great struggle. People searching for work can’t often afford to stay in the city for more than a few days due to the expense of life, and the people who do live there are either born into wealth, or working hard for their spot there.

The old capital, Vennengrad, was a smaller, Northern city that burned down centuries ago during a war with Maldera, and is now used as a city of scholars. The court mages at the time rebuilt the city and made it into a refuge for the arts and culture, funding the creation of Ardania’s magic academy, and many other colleges and centers.

Despite the advancements made in the populated areas of Ardania, there are many places that have not been fully discovered, or were left unpopulated due to the creatures that took hold of them first. It is not unlikely to meet monsters of all sorts when travelling through the Ardanian woods at night. Similarly, small, unprotected villages often need to pay hunters and guardians to protect them from such horrors. As for the climate, Ardania is fortunate enough to have long summers and short, merciful winters in most areas, which makes the weather perfect for agriculture and viticulture, which is where most of Ardania’s wealth comes from.