Ardras (old)

Named "The First Eye" by the ancient Essebu who once presided on its surface, the pangea world of Ardras is home to several nations and a variety of indigenous races. From the spanning valleys of Aristolia, the winding dunes of The Drylands, or the rolling hills of Lithos, Ardras is a land filled with enchanting cultures, strange magic, and dangerous wild lands.   The world is led by the trade superpower of Aristolia, a mercantile nation that controls about 90% of the trade in the world, who has just come out of a long war with the nation of Lithos, a scattered kingdom state that has become unified after the Aristolian occupation following their defeat. The Merchant's Guild is the ruling power of Aristolia, led by five Trade Princes, the richest merchant's in the entire guild.   Powerful forces guide this world, the twelve gods of Ardras; each deity rules over a sphere of influence in the world, always with an opposing force. To peace there is war and to creation, there is always destruction. Divinity is the source of all magic in this world, and to use magic is bend the very nature of reality. From the gods came the enigmatic ancient sages the Essebu, their tall frames, and owl-like features stand several feet taller than the average man. They are the ancient and immortal historians of the world, as they have existed since its inception. However, as the legend goes, a rogue Essebu stole the power of magic from the Essebu and gave this gift of magic to mankind.   With magic in their hands, mankind sought to overthrow the Essebu and take their rightful place as the stewards of the world. After centuries of bloody conflict, the philosopher king Zedekiah tore the world asunder, in a devastating attack that shattered the landscape of Ardras forever. The last remaining strongholds of the Essebu were torn from the land and cast adrift the winds, separating Essebu and mankind for centuries. And though there is the rare Essebu scholar-traveler, they are a rare sight these days.   But, man has a lust for power burning inside of him. A hunger insatiable that threatens to consume mankind and all he has fought so valiantly to achieve. Wars, atrocities, plagues, and much evil thrives in this world. And yet too does honor, justice, bravery, and kindness. Man is ever a creature in between good and evil, from where he came to whence he is going. .tb_button {padding:1px;cursor:pointer;border-right: 1px solid #8b8b8b;border-left: 1px solid #FFF;border-bottom: 1px solid #fff;}.tb_button.hover {borer:2px outset #def; background-color: #f8f8f8 !important;}.ws_toolbar {z-index:100000} .ws_toolbar .ws_tb_btn {cursor:pointer;border:1px solid #555;padding:3px} .tb_highlight{background-color:yellow} .tb_hide {visibility:hidden} .ws_toolbar img {padding:2px;margin:0px} .tb_button {padding:1px;cursor:pointer;border-right: 1px solid #8b8b8b;border-left: 1px solid #FFF;border-bottom: 1px solid #fff;}.tb_button.hover {borer:2px outset #def; background-color: #f8f8f8 !important;}.ws_toolbar {z-index:100000} .ws_toolbar .ws_tb_btn {cursor:pointer;border:1px solid #555;padding:3px} .tb_highlight{background-color:yellow} .tb_hide {visibility:hidden} .ws_toolbar img {padding:2px;margin:0px} .tb_button {padding:1px;cursor:pointer;border-right: 1px solid #8b8b8b;border-left: 1px solid #FFF;border-bottom: 1px solid #fff;}.tb_button.hover {borer:2px outset #def; background-color: #f8f8f8 !important;}.ws_toolbar {z-index:100000} .ws_toolbar .ws_tb_btn {cursor:pointer;border:1px solid #555;padding:3px} .tb_highlight{background-color:yellow} .tb_hide {visibility:hidden} .ws_toolbar img {padding:2px;margin:0px}