Continent of Solhara
Solhara — The Emberlands of the East
Solhara is a continent of tension and contrast — a land where fire and faith, ambition and tradition, and secrecy and scholarship all burn beneath the surface. Though often viewed as the “southern half” of Ciryndal, Solhara is a world unto itself — one where history is being rewritten day by day.
The Empire of Cilese — “The Iron Phoenix”
Once a coastal kingdom, Cilese has rapidly transformed into a sprawling empire that now dominates the northern half of Solhara. Its rise has been swift and ruthless — fueled by a hunger for control and a disturbing rumor: the systematic eradication of magic.
The Cilese Empire preaches purity, order, and progress, claiming magic has weakened the world, fractured the people, and allowed ancient terrors to persist. Their army is disciplined, efficient, and bolstered by strange technologies and anti-magical weaponry. Entire magical enclaves have vanished behind their lines — and no one speaks of what’s found in their wake.
Publicly, the Empire proclaims stability and peace. Privately, they’re a storm gathering speed.
The Solaris Republic — “Light on the Water”
Far to the south, across the shimmering Delaran Sea, lies the island nation of Solaris — a peaceful republic known for its quiet fishing villages, lighthouse-dotted coasts, and respectful embrace of magic.
But beneath its calm surface lies one of Aurelia’s greatest treasures: The University of Scholara, a sprawling university-city that has trained the continent’s finest wizards, clerics, paladins, and magical scholars. At its heart stands the The Arcana Library, a beacon of preserved magical knowledge and prophecy — unmatched anywhere in the known world.
Solaris champions freedom of thought, arcane study, and spiritual exploration, placing it in direct philosophical — and increasingly political — opposition to the Cilese Empire. Though open diplomacy still exists, the reality behind closed doors is far more volatile.
Emperor Lucious Raventide, ruler of Cilese, has begun undermining the Republic from within, spreading misinformation, funding subversive factions, and leveraging economic pressure to isolate Solaris from its allies. His aim is clear: destabilize Scholara, erode the people's trust, and extinguish the last great bastion of magical freedom.
Tensions rise like steam off the sea — and while open war has not yet broken, the whispers of Raventide are already sowing doubt in the hearts of even the most faithful.
