The Continent of Esynia

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Esynia is a massive continent that is home to many races and cultures. This continent spans over a 3000 miles from north to south and nearly double that from east to west. Its interior is dominated by a massive plains, great rivers and endless barrows providing live to the millions of humanoids who dwell there. Its coastlines are dominated by forests both mundane and magical in nature. The great Thunder mountains dominate the west of the continent, stretching from the northern to southern coasts is a great barrier dividing the continent in two. This continent has been home to many civilization but none have been so grandiose in scale and population as the Phoenix Empire. The Phoenix Empire has existed for 650 years and in that time has become the dominant power on the continent. Its domains stretch from the Esyirion river in the far north to the bay of Merope in the south. It is home to nearly 20 million humanoids with cities that sprawl out for miles along the great rivers of the south. Chief among the peoples of the Empire are the phoenix worshiping Morekasians, a strong people who value strength of will and order above all else. There legions marched to conquer all of Esynia and bring order to the savage lands surrounding them gradually bringing more races and cultures to the fold. The first of these peoples to be subjugated were the Cerilians, another culture of humans who put chivalry and personal honor before all else. The nomadic Slobodins of the North were conquered and forced to convert to give up their old lives and convert to the Imperial culture. The Empire is also home to tens of thousands of halflings, dwarves, elves and other humanoids incorporated into the Empire vast bulk. The Empire can boast that largest army in the known world and has led it to countless victories over their neighbours through tight disipline and superior tactics. However in recent years a new challenger has appeared to challenge the Empire Hegemony.   The Dominion of the High Elves is the oldest of all the civilizations in Esynia. Founded when mankind was little more then nomads and small disparate tribes, it had once had dominated the continent before it was forced to abandon the mainland during the Great Calamity and settle of the isle of Siniath Dór. For over 2000 years the High Elves had dwelt on their island obvious to the rest of world. 350 years after the Empire had been founded the Elves once again found themselves on the brink of extinction. A great fissure had opened up in the Earth and spilled out hundreds of thousands of the creatures from the Underdark unto the surface of Siniath Dór. When all hope seemed lost a young Elf by the name of Andrathath appeared and turned the tide of the invasion. Eventually he would either exterminate or enslave the creatures that had very nearly ended his people. Over the next 300 years he rebuilt the Dominion and massively expanded its army. He had plans to restore the great Elven Empire that had dominated Esynia some 2300 years previous. The only thing that stood in his way was the Phoenix Empire and its people, who the Elves generally viewed as inferior. To do this the Elves planned a massive invasion that would embroil Esynia in the most horrific conflict it had ever seen simply known as the Great War.   The Great War has lasted for 30 years, although it has significantly been scaled back since the first few years. In those years the Elves looked invincible, sinking the entirety of the Imperial Navy and defeating any army that was sent against them. Eventually it was the the twin sieges of Merope, the trading hub of the Empire, and the Imperial Capital Morekas that would lead to the defeat of the Elves on land and sea. These early years claimed the lives of nearly 2 million Imperial citizens as the Elves attempted to either starve or exterminate any human they came across. The Elves themselves lost some 200,000 troops and were forced to withdraw to their island where they remain to this day. Now 29 years after the breaking of Siege of Morekas, its hero, the old Emperor Germanicus Aurelian lies dying all his heirs either dead or disgraced. His 3 brothers all vie to be his succesesor and civil war looks like a grim possibilty on the horizon. The Empire's people, having been traumatized by the experience of the Great War, pray that no such war will come to pass but there is little they can do to prevent it from happening. Storm clouds gather as the Empire looks to tear itself apart in an orgy of bloodshed and destruction as the Elves in the Dominion look on and laugh. In this desperate time, the common people need hero's, hero's to protect them from the coming chaos, from the monsters and wicked men who lurk in the dark. Hero's that could stop the madness that is about to unfold. If none can be found then the Empire's populace knows they will suffer a fate worse then their predecessors.