An Outlander's Guide to Istra

"She is a beautiful land, our fair Istra, crowned with glory and yet so troubled in this hour. A golden age is coming to a close. We are being plunged into darkness once more."

-Sir Haldrith Sirathane of Lieretsa, 14082

A lesson plan from the desk of Lucaeron Vanthaxol, a professor at the University of Avamaris in Ceskaevya. Dated 14083.

Welcome to your first day in my History of Istra class. We have students from many nations who have all come to the isle of Ceskaevya for one purpose: to understand, to gain knowledge, and to ask questions. Today, I ask you all a question. Where did we come from, and where will we go now?
I don't consider myself to be a dramatic man, but I would be remiss in overlooking the obvious. We are at the crossroads of destiny. The Harthaen have been unleashed upon Istra and although we see little change at the moment, we are in the final hours of peace before these dark spirits sweep away any sense of normalcy we have grown to cherish. With this in mind, where will we go from here? As we study the nations of Istra, I ask you to consider this question. Perhaps one of your bright minds has the answer we need.
As you know, Istra has a northern and southern continent, separated by the Synnavall Sea. The continents were once connected, but the war between the gods 14,083 years ago was so violent that the fighting smashed the landmass in two, or so it is claimed by several religions. The more scientifically-minded among us, myself included, might point to a seismic event. Regardless, both continents are referred to as Istra, and when referring to one or the other, it is called Northern or Southern Istra.

Northern Istra

Sekhav

Sekhavi Mountains (Julian Mora)

We begin at the top of the map, in the northwest, with the nation of Sekhav. It is a cold and mountainous land that some may call primitive, but I would ask you to rethink this viewpoint. While the Sekhavi may not be advanced in their technology or architecture, they have a rich language, legal system, and vibrant stories. The northern Sekhavi Mountains are jagged and covered in snow, and that is where the sacred Mount Elatrasvae is located. The mountains lessen in size as you head south, until you reach the foothills. Even there, the air is thin and many have died trying to reach heights their bodies cannot handle. The Sekhavi have very pale skin, dark hair, and light colored eyes. They are short and stocky, and their bodies have adapted to live in harsh conditions.
The Sekhavi mostly live in clans consisting of villages, but some are nomadic groups independent of any clan. Each clan is tasked with guarding the grave of one of their gods, which they believe are asleep rather than dead. When I traveled there, I noticed how formal they acted towards me. They are suspicious of outsiders, and who can blame them? The mining operations in the eastern mountains are frightening wildlife and disrupting their way of life. The other nations have changed much over time, but the Sekhavi have managed to remain the same.

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Lieretsa

Lieretsan castle (Nico Benedickt)

Here we have another nation in a cold climate, although not as treacherous as Sekhav. Lieretsa is in the northeast and is situated in the Kliesa Mountains, which are half the size of the Sekhavi Mountains, as well as the surrounding tundra. The land is bitter cold and the Luminae Sea's icy waters make matters worse. A mage's experiment gone wrong has doomed much of Lieretsa to an eternal winter, though the southernmost portion has recovered. Many of you are from Lieretsa, the land of magic and the pursuit of knowledge. Lieretsans have light skin and light features, and like the Sekhavi, tend to be shorter. They are ruled by a king who, if I am permitted to express a common opinion, is a figurehead. The Council of Magi has the true power.
Lieretsans worship the goddess Kalle, who rules over the heavens. The stars and celestial bodies are sacred to these people, and this is reflected in their art and architecture. Each temple is equipped with an observatory from which worshipers can view the night sky. The Sacred Church of Kalle has great power in the north of Lieretsa. With a weak king and a Council that is crippled by infighting, the Church's power is more prevalent to the common people.

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Vathne

Korathia Mountains (Matt Palmer)

Vathne is south of Sekhav on the west coast of the northern continent. The nation sits in the Korathia Mountains, which are an extension of the Sekhavi Mountains, though they are about a third of the size. It is, perhaps, more appropriate to call it a loose coalition. The land is forested and lush in the north, but as you progress south, you are met with arid, rocky soil. The Vathne people are hardened warriors with a strict code. They are divided into houses based on family ties and competition for the land is deadly. The nation is segmented into dozens of provinces clinging to shaky alliances or locked in fierce battle. The Vathne warriors are feared, but for the past hundred years, yet another war with the Eleviraki is keeping them occupied.
The Vathne worship no gods, but instead, they elevate their heroes. Children are named after Vathne heroes and shrines to them are present in every town and city. The Vathne Code is a lengthy set of laws that is held in the highest respect and sections are frequently recited, almost like a prayer. Vathne have tanned skin and blonde to light brown hair, and they are of average size, but are very muscular. Their entire philosophy promotes the improvement of the body and mind for the purpose of bettering oneself. This individualistic attitude and focus on the self is perhaps the reason their nation is so divided as opposed to Elevirak, a similar warlike nation, that promotes unity.

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Bolaan

Bolaani horses (Bethany Legg)

Bolaan is a large nation in the center of the northern continent, dominated by grassy plains and rolling hills. To the east lies their capital city, Daanivalli, a vast metropolis and the one of the largest cities in Istra, second only to Karak in Elevirak. The Bolaani are famous for their horsemanship and their ability to fight while riding. This nation has the greatest clash between rural and urban life. While many of their people live among tribes in the plains, the cities in the east hold the greatest power. People from all over Istra visit Daanivalli to trade. The Bolaani have dark skin, dark hair, and are very tall and strong. In my time passing through Bolaan, I was treated with hospitality and warmth, but I kept a careful eye on my coin purse. They are known for taking advantage of unsuspecting outsiders.
The Bolaani in the eastern cities are ruled by a corrupt bureaucracy that fights amongst itself. The old nobility is at war with the newly-wealthy merchants. The tribes are led by a democratically-elected leader. Leaders are expected to be strong warriors and excellent horsemen. Their pantheon of gods are presumed to be dead, but their spirits watch over the people. Horses are considered sacred and have almost as many rights as humans do.

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Rhyldraleth

Cairthaenna River (Tienko Dima)

Next, we have a nation unlike any other. Rhyldraleth is a large nation in the eastern forests and swamps in the eastern part of the northern continent. The forest is a wild place with dangerous plants and animals that have killed many eager adventurers. Rhyldralethans are not born, but they come to be when a tree in the Heartwood is awakened using magic. When they die, they return to their state as a tree. For this reason, it is forbidden to cut down trees in the Heartwood, as it is akin to murder. Heartwood trees are the highest quality in Istra and many people have tried to harvest the wood, only to be killed by the Sentinels of the Heartwood, an armed force that protects the trees.
Rhyldralethans live in families that are not connected by blood in the traditional sense, but by the mage who awakened them. All Rhyldralethans consider themselves to be family, as they have come from the same sacred forest. They are gentle and lively people with skin the color of the tree they came from, usually a medium brown, and green or brown eyes. They are light and swift, enabling them to leap from branch to branch with ease. Visitors tend to remain in villages that dot the landscape, where they can be safe from the hazards in the forest.

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Elevirak

Eleviraki Desert (Kent Tupas)

The haunting desert sands in the southwest of the northern continent belong to Elevirak. The Eleviraki Desert is overrun by the Maivira, the undead warriors of an ancient cursed civilization. The Maivira roam the desert at night and as a result, the Eleviraki have built the strongest army in all of Istra. Karak is their largest city, and outsiders are forbidden from entering this lavish place, but reports of its extravagance have reached far and wide. The people have brown skin, dark hair, and light eyes, with golden eyes being considered blessed. They are lean and well-muscled. Their caste of male warriors, called Dal-Sol, undergo years of strict training in order to fight the Maivira and to keep their city safe. Very few people live outside of Karak due to the danger of the Maivira and the harsh desert climate.
The highest calling an Eleviraki can follow is to become a warrior and to serve the sun god Sol, who died in battle and whose spirit rises for a short time during the day and rests at night. Every aspect of their society is geared towards war and defense, for if they fail, their city will be invaded by the undead. They are ruled by the Sun King, a powerful warrior who is said to be an incarnation of every previous king.

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Kieruska

Althainian Coastline (Kal Visuals)

Kieruska sits off the southwestern coast of the northern continent and two-thirds of the island consists of dense redwood forests. The eastern portion has rolling hills and many large cities where trade flourishes. Kieruskans are surrounded by the raging waters and their ships are durable enough to handle the worst of the waves. The Synnavall Strait lies to the north, and to the south lies the Dreadsea, a ruthless body of water. Their culture is based around trade and clever competition between merchant guilds. Pirates and privateers lurk in the sea and merchants use them to their advantage, taking out their competitors in any way possible. There is a stark contrast between the people in western Kieruska who live a simple life in the forest, and the people in eastern Kieruska who live in the shadow of the merchant guilds. The people are tall and lanky, with olive skin and dark hair, and are expert fishermen, sailors, and whale hunters.
Power in Kieruska is gained by riches and influence rather than by royal birth. The Kieruskan black market and underground operations are highly dangerous, but tempting for many. The coastal cities are filled with corruption, but are a beautiful sight to see. These people worship a pantheon of sea gods, but religious devotion is scarce in the east with the exception of the gods of commerce and trade.

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Ceskaevya

Ceskaevyan coastal town (Artiom Vallat)

Across the water in the east Synnavall Sea, we reach Ceskaevya, an island paradise with gleaming white buildings and crystal blue waters. The main island has hundreds of smaller islands surrounding it, with some being too small to see on a map, but others are much larger. The land is filled with farmland and aspen forests, but the crown jewel of Ceskaevya is Avamaris, where we are today. Ceskaevyans promote knowledge and the study of the arts, and here at the University of Avamaris, we carry on an ancient tradition of learning. Ceskaevyans tend to have tanned skin and light hair, but are one of the most diverse ethnicities in all of Istra, particularly due to their openness towards outsiders over the centuries. Their navy has been fighting Kieruska for control of the seas as long as both nations have existed. The Dreadsea lies to the south, but the worst of the waves crash against Kieruska, not Ceskaevya.
Life in Ceskaevya is ruled by the Court of Intrigue, the court in the Alabaster Palace where the king and queen rule. Courtly life is a game, and not everyone makes it out alive. Beneath the shiny exterior of this place, there is a great darkness. Assassins lurk in the shadows, waiting to carry out the orders of their paying clients who will do anything to advance their social status.

Southern Istra

Cauth

Here, we come to Southern Istra, south of the Dreadsea that separates the two continents. Cauth is located in the red desert sands that cover the northeastern part of the southern continent. The Cauthori are a tragic people whose origins were swept away with time. They were once giants, roaming the land as demigods, but they were cursed to become a shadow of their former self. Now, they have slightly scaly copper skin, flame-colored eyes, horns and claws, and red or black hair. They are locked in battle with Althain.

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Althain

On the eastern coast of the southern continent lies the vast kingdom of Althain that stretches down south into the Withering Marches, an uncharted wild territory. The Althainians are determined to expand their kingdom, due to their lack of natural resources, and threaten much of the south with their power. They are diverse in their appearance due to the smaller nations they have conquered, but are primarily light-skinned with dark hair.

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Seitsene

In the western mountains of the southern continent, the Seitsene lay in hiding. Seitsene is an ancient kingdom hidden by magic and natural obstacles, and the people have been able to withstand Althainian invasions for centuries. They are a very shy people with ghostly pale skin, red eyes, and dark hair. They have been cursed with incredible magical abilities, but at the cost of their own sanity. Little is known about them, and they are not eager to offer answers.

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With that, we conclude today's lesson. Istra is a land of wonder and prosperity, and I have had the privilege of traveling to most of its nations. I encourage you all to continue in your studies of these lands and to consider how the growing Harthaen threat will impact each nation.