No Good Can Come Of This

History and Politics

The Mandate of Heaven falls away

History

Corath:

A great Eladrin kingdom, naught remains of it but dust. Even the Eladrin themselves remember little about it; it stood as the first kingdom of any living race.

Arkohsia:

The Dragonborn of Arkhosia raised a great empire on the island of Arkohs, an enormous mass to the west of Melan. After using forbidden Titan magics to bring about the end of the Tiefling Empire, they were struck down for their hubris by the Dragons at the command of Bahamut and Tiamat. It is believed that the Dragons merely moved Arhkos, shrounding it with great magic, and that it's secrets and treasures lie intact.

Bael Turath:

Threatened by the Dragonborn's close relations with Dragons, the empire of Bael Turath entered into bargins with Devils, leading to the creation of the Tiefling Empire. Destroyed near totally by forbidden sourcery, the former Tiefling nation's ruins lie in the Baal'alth Desert. Vor Kragal stands alone, weathered by sandstorms and lightning, standing alone and intact, if abanonded by it's former masters. The Capitol sits under fathoms of water off the northern coast.

The Kelethine Empire

The Kelethine Empire rose after the devastation of Bael Turath, ruled by Humans. It took control of amost all of Melan, only excepting the Wastes, where horrors lurked. The Stars themselves cast down Keleth; all that remains of the city is at the bottom of a crater where a shooting star landed, destroying the Royal Family.

The Era of Stars

The modern era is a dark one, where points of light twinkle against a backdrop of darkness, like stars in night.

The Kingdom of Sereth:

A mixed race kingdom, Sereth is currently ruled by King Theain VIII, a half-elf. Each king is chosen from among five major bloodlines who formed the kingdom by the Serethine Accords, by the Privy Council; a group of 7 men, one chosen by each bloodline, and two chosen by the king himself. No King may hold the throne for more than 100 years, a concession of the accords which thus far has simply meant that Kings may step down and become the power behind their relative's throne.

The Five Bloodlines are:

Kemmiln: This half-elven bloodline currently holds the throne; their holdings are small, but they have access to unusual amounts of Residuum, which they use to empower their troops and ensure the fertility of the fields.

Koren: This house of Dwarves left Hammerhold more than 2 centuries ago, and signed the Serethine Accords as a military force, and has since become a Mercantile house, producing high quality goods.

Takeem: Predominently human, this house of dark skinned travellers run caravans across Sererth. Without Takeem's caravans, the kingdom would likely have fallen apart in it's early years, and their influance is strongest in the countryside where their Rangers and Caravans prevented many atrocities. A number of Halfling familes are nominally members of House Takeem, no matter their lack of blood-connection.

Esstor: The elves of Esstor owns much farmland in the Sereth Basin, and many peasent farmers lease their land from Esstor. Esstor's military is thinly streched with recent Kobold and Cultic activity.

Denack: House Denack runs Fallcrest, the fort which sits on the southern-eastern border of the land. Denacks small elite mercenary corps forms the core of the military of Sereth.

Sereth is the largest and most powerful of the active nations; it's military strength is great enough to project force outside it's borders, and inside of them travel is safer than any other nation. More cosmopolitan than any other nation, Serethites often hold pride in their ability to achive great ends by working together. The predominant religion in Sereth is the Radiant Congregation; for decades the Pontiff of the Congregation has been one of the king's apointees to the Privy Council.

Ashaline:

The Elves of the Ashala Forest remain under the rule of the Dalaian regency. Ruling for thousands of years, Ashaline is highly conservative, remaining aloof from contact with the major powers. The Dalaian government is generally minimal, excepting pushing back infernal depredations from the Desert to the East, and Goblinoid Raids from the West. Many younger elves feel their nations aloofness and conservatism is ill-considered in this declining age, and venture into others lands to forge stronger ties with other races. Those who do not return often marry into the Serethine House of Esstor.

Eredi:

This untamed forest comes into contact with the Feywild, and it is here that the influance of the Eladrin is most felt. Their castles visit, one for each season, and they patrol the forest. Each court is organized differently, and has it's own, unique method of government. The Fomori also have holds here, and skirmish against the Eladrin and the Dwarves. Few venture into these kingdoms, for their ways are strange, and their rulers are rumored to be as fickle as the changing seasons themselves, but those seeking the deepest arcane knowledge have few other options in this day and age.

Hammerhold:

Once, under the Hammerhold Mountains, 13 great dwarven cities arose, bordering an underground lake. Now, only four still stand; the others have been flooded, as Demons, Elementals, and Kua-Toa have nessecitated the flooding of them, with water or iron. The Moradin of Hammerhold never holds the position long, as it is never given before he reaches old age.