Simanei

Currently there are few Simanei left in Crecia, most have either died or mated with Starovenians so much that over the generations their unique blood has been lost.

Simanei are notable for being particularly adept with magic, with bloodlines being traced back generations to some of the most powerful mages on record.

Simanei tend to have longer lifespans, pure-blooded ones can easily live up to hundreds of years.

Secret society keeping information through the years.

• Descendants of the aristocratic class, magical, rare

Specialties:

• Magic
• Education
• Espionage

Isfala - The Tainted Lands

• The Tainted Lands were once lush and fertile and home to the mighty Isfala Empire, who worshipped the wolf (native to the human homeland).
• Long ago the Isfala were in a losing battle with Bjorsine to the south and resorted to black magic from the Everglow. However they were unable to control such power and it resulted in the destruction of their cities and their people, and awakened a Ch-Chari hive.
• The lands are believed to be forever tainted by the dark magic, causing rumors to surrounding regions of what remains.
• Between the mountains and the Tainted Lands, the only secure way south of the Gwynhart Sea on foot is through the city of Demeria. The collapse of the kingdom is what caused Demeria to become as wealthy and strategic as it is now.

Stornwor & Vastra

• The lands of Stornwor and Vastra are largely uninhabited, and are too cold to carry life for much of the year. Nomad tribes have been known to travel from village to village, or occupy remnants of abandoned castles from another age. Law takes a back seat to survival, and not many city states or nations are eager to claim the land.
• Both Humans and Bjorsine freely walk these parts, and as such has led to a noticeably high Bjorsine population south of the Gwynhart Sea, but aside from merchants and mercenaries, few travel further north than Hadrien.

Demeria

• Demeria is an ancient Bjorsine colony, likely established by the Volduric on their expansions north. It was mostly used as a fishing settlement and small trading city due to its location on a strait into the Gwynhart Sea.
• In the Bjorsine Wars, Demeria was an important location for moving armies south and north without going seabound, but it was ultimately claimed by Human forces
• Upon the destruction of Isfala, Demeria entered a golden age due to the increased importance and trade

The Summit of Agavor

• The Summit is believed to be the landing location of the ships from the Old World, thousands of years ago. It has become a holy site and has largely been transformed into a museum and archive of the Old World and Human/Karmirian tradition.
• It is one of the few known locations of confirmed knowledge of time before the Starfall, the other prominent places being the Bjorsine Archives in Oksta, the Lost City of Kishgaraal beneath Dagon, the Vaults of Valarus, and the Great Library of Sikhara.

The Eyrielands

• Home to griffons. Nests are extremely protected by griffons, and respected by the Arnoli. Tamed griffons are rare and exceedingly powerful, and act as the sigil for Morningstar.

Yingmian

• Formed out of a marital alliance between the Ying and Mian dynasties.
• The Ying and Mian were powerful families dating back to before Humans’ arrival on Crecia.
• The Ying commanded the flagship, Yinghao, and the Mian commanded Mianzhe. The families stayed powerful through the Karmirian Wars and settled their empires, locked in a state of cold war.
• Two members of the family arranged to marry in secret, however at the wedding they were discovered and a war began. However, the groom was killed by a Simanei mage belonging to a secret society.
• The two nations broke out in an absolute war, temporarily uniting together and hunting down all Simanei within their borders, with the widowed princess going on a crusade to avenge the killer.
• In the fight, the capital of the Mian dynasty was razed.
• When the society was brought down, the two families agreed to peace, uniting themselves through a new marriage, creating the Yingmian empire, centered around a repurposed Ying capital.
• This not only marked the beginning of the Yingmian empire, but the birth of the antimagic order, which promoted the safe use of magic within Crecia, constructing monasteries around the world. Among them is Tridesta.
• An uncommon theory is that the Simanei society sacrificed themselves for the betterment of the Ying and Mian empires to prevent further wars between them and instability in the region. They assassinated the prince (possibly with his knowledge) and willingly died to allow the families to unite together with a common enemy.

Notable Cities

Morningstar

Morningstar is the beacon of Human civilization, second only to Dagon. This conquered Bjorsine settlement quickly grew into the center of the Arnoli empire, founded by Starovenian aristocrats in an attempt to unite against both the retreating Bjorsine and the advancing Karmirians. Since then, the Arnoli influence has only spread across the continent, absorbing cities into the empire of Arnolwatch, the largest Human empire to have ever existed.

The city is named for the sword of the same name, the Morning’s Star. It was created in the Old World and imbued with a demon’s soul, allowing it to collect light and use it as a weapon. When the city was discovered it was under the control of a dark demon and its army, and was defeated by the human saviors and the Morning’s Star.

• The international capital of human powers.
• Center of human diplomacy and trade
• Home to the Morningstar Academy, the largest scientific institution in Crecia that is open to anyone who qualifies entry.

Horizon

While in the early years of Human occupation many cities were conquered and claimed in the name of Humanity, Horizon was the first recorded city to be founded completely by Starovenians on Crecian soil. Ever since its founding, Horizon has been seen as the cradle of Humanity, although it is often overshadowed by its gargantuan sister city, Morningstar, across the Albalto Sea.

Dagon

Dagon is a city older than recorded history, noted as one of the oldest and most mystical cities (allegedly founded during the height of the ancient Kokkori empire). While in the center of the Sirraya Desert, Dagon is located at the fork of the two most plentiful rivers in the world, acting as the main form of transport into and out of the city.

Often considered to have been founded by the Ura millennia ago under the name of Kishgaraal, Dagon is was the center of mighty Ura clans in Sirayya, and is all that survived the terrible droughts that plagued the continent. When Humans invaded Mirasia, Simanei sorcerers occupied the city, succeeding their former occupants. Built upon an ancient source of magic, Dagon is a city full of mysteries, and although currently under majority Human control, is seen by many as the center of Crecian society.

Within the last 4000 years Dagon has been under the control of Ura, Escorrasi, Bjorsine and Humans, with the Humans having owned it for the past 2 millenia.

The city is separated into 2 major districts: the Old City and the New City.

• The Old City is a circular fortress filled with ornate towers and domes. It was constructed by the Ura Matriarch during their rule under the name of Kishgaraal.
• The New City is the expanded mass of the city that has stretched beyond the horizon into the dunes and riverlands as humans have populated it.

A major canyon runs through the dunes of the city.

Beneath the city is hard stone, which were extremely rich in their mana stockpiles. Mining complexes go deap into the ground where sunlight does not hit, into the caves and bedrock. While many of the mines have been abandoned, some have become population centers while others have become home to crime and cults.

Barahazar

Barahazar is the trading crossroads of the world, acting as the bridge between the Sentrum and Aqtamani, linking many seafaring empires together. Although founded by Qadima explorers, the island of Mavumbi has become a melting pot of ideals and cultures of both Humans and other species, most notably the Ura and Caralai.

Bravel

The unofficial capital of the islands of Skoror, Bravel is the pirate capital of Sentrum Sea. The location began as a convenient waypoint for traders between Qadima and Arnolia, and quickly became an important port city, and a haven for pirates. The rocky landscape is easy to hide in and defend, and the location is useful for patrolling the Sentrum, separating north from south and east from west.

Kastor

The ruler of Kastor has long been under the control of Arnoli aristocracy, in order to keep the wild tribes of Taighan in check, and out of Arnoli lands. The city is easily accessed by sea, and easily protected from the foothills. The city acts as a ward for the settlements in Taighan, mostly used for mining, and is the middleman between them and Morningstar.

Tridesta

Tridesta is the home of a famed monastery, practicing anti-magic. It is one of the most southern settlements of Yingmian origin, between their lands and those of the Arnoli, however their ancient order has been granted permission to remain. Although their heritage comes from Yingmian, it is rumored that their practices date back to the times of the Old World, and one of the few places in Crecia where such magic is passed down.

Yingmian City

Yingmian City is the capital of the Yingmian Empire.

Domenia

Domenia and the surrounding regions act as a megacity, and collectively are the largest city in the world and the capital of the Karmirians. Confined to the northwest coast of Dannen by the Starovenians long ago, the Karmirian Sprawl was gradually created to sustain the increasing Karmirian numbers.

Hua Tutura

• Last refuge of the Kapura, far to the north. They are extremely protective of their lands, given their bloody history with the Karmirians. Joining the Tutura navy is mandatory for everyone.
• The island chains of Hua Tutura are protected by the Torrent, the last remaining ark the humans took from the Old World.

• Sailed to Crecia long ago on a huge ship originating from another continent. All records of this past civilization have been lost. A single tribe from an unknown place of origin, suspected to be in the north. It is unknown why they left their home. The tribe known as the Cestovarians (travelers) sailed from their home using the stars as their guide to find Crecia.

Cestovas

The early humans followed the constellation, Cestovas. Supposedly the twelve stars that made the constellation appeared in the night sky on the same night that Starfall appeared. Some took the appearance of the constellation as an omen to leave their home and follow the traveler's guidance. Sometime after landing on the Crecian shores, Cestovas was said to have completely disappeared from the night sky.

The Cestovarians travelled to Crecia on 12 ships, named for each of the stars of Cestovas:

1. Morningstar
   • Flagship of the Cestovarian flotilla
   • Primarily Starovenian
2. Sentrus (Sentrum Sea)
   • Primarily Simanei ship
3. Karmire
   • Led the Karmirian fleet
4. The Torrent
   • Led Kapura fleet
5. Molegna
   • Primarily Karmirian
6. Yinghao (Yingmian)
   • Primarily Starovenian
7. The Dag (Dagon)
   • Simanei/Starovenian
8. Kodus (Home)
   • Kapura/Starovenian
9. Maia (daring)
   • Primarily Kapura
10. Mianzhe (Yingmian)
    • Primarily Starovenian
11. Agavor
    • Primarily Karmirian
12. Divotra
    • Kapura/Starovenian

The Exodus War

War that ensured between the Cestovarians and the other humans as they attempted to prevent them from leaving. Little is known about this period and much as faded into legend and myth. Thousands of Cestovarians escaped onto fleets of shipped lead by 12 lead ships as they made their way off the continent. Many Cestovarians sacrificed themselves as they defended their kin.